AU784585B2

AU784585B2 - A container

Info

Publication number: AU784585B2
Application number: AU50115/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Carter
Original assignee: Amcor Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Amcor Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-06-04
Filing date: 2001-06-04
Publication date: 2006-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-04
Also published as: AU5011501A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Amcor Limited David Carter Address for Service: Invention Title: CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

A Container The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: A CONTAINER Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a container for holding goods and, in particular, to a container having a base panel that is adapted to receive a stacking lug of another container.

Description of the Prior Art Stackable containers, particularly those that are constructed from cardboard or other foldable materials, often have stacking lugs extending from their side walls and stacking lug receptacles situated in their base panels. The stacking lugs and stacking lug receptacles of the containers are arranged so that the receptacles in the base panels of each container in a stack are able to receive the lugs of an adjacent lower container. This •••ee S 15 arrangement provides a means of maintaining the alignment of the stacked S* containers so that the side walls of the lower containers support the upper containers in the stack. As a consequence of the containers being aligned with each other, the tendency of each container in the stack to settle inside an adjacent lower container and to possibly damage the contents of the lower container, especially after prolonged stacking periods, is substantially reduced.

A problem with the above containers is that the stacking lugs are offset from the stacking lug receptacles. Thus, when stacking the containers, it is necessary to align the lugs and the receptacles of adjacent containers either by bending the lugs or by manipulating the side walls from which the lugs extend. This can be a tedious task especially when there are a relatively large number of lugs and receptacles that need to be aligned.

The above problem is currently addressed by constructing containers with inwardly sloping side walls from which the stacking lugs extend so that the stacking lugs are able to be captured by the stacking receptacles of an adjacent container. Alternatively, the stacking lugs are configurable so that they can be captured by the stacking receptacles of an 3 adjacent container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container having a base with a stacking lug receptacle that is adapted to receive a stacking lug of an adjacent container.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container having: a base panel; a side wall panel hinged to the base panel about a fold line, wherein the side wall panel is substantially perpendicular to the base panel; a stacking lug receptacle located in the base panel adjacent to the side wall panel, wherein the fold line is configured such that the base panel is *flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacle; and a stacking lug extending from the side wall panel, wherein the stacking lug is opposite to and substantially aligned with the stacking lug receptacle.

Preferably, the stacking lug receptacle is an aperture. The fold line may be discontinuous at the stacking lug receptacle. The container may be *6.

constructed from a blank of a foldable material.

Preferably, the container has a tab extending from the side wall panel, wherein the tab is adjacent to the stacking lug receptacle. The tab may be configured such that when the base panel of the container is resting on a planar support surface a free edge of the tab abuts against the surface.

Preferably, a lower portion of the side wall is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a container having: a base panel; a first pair of opposed side wall panels hinged to the base panel about fold lines, wherein the side wall panels are substantially perpendicular to the base panel; a second pair of opposed side wall panels hinged to the base panel about fold lines, wherein the side wall panels are substantially perpendicular to the base panel; a pair of extension panels hinged to each of the second pair of opposed side wall panels about fold lines, wherein the extension panels are fixed to the first pair of opposed side wall panels; a first pair of stacking lug receptacles located adjacent to the second pair of opposing side wall panels, wherein the fold lines about which the second pair of opposing side wall panels are hinged to the base panel are configured such that the base panel is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacles; and a first pair of stacking lugs extending from the second pair of opposing side wall panels, wherein each stacking lug is opposite to and *substantially aligned with a stacking lug receptacle.

15 Preferably, the container has: a second pair of stacking lug receptacles located adjacent to the second pair of opposing side wall panels, wherein the fold lines about which the second pair of opposing side wall panels are hinged to the base panel are configured such that the base panel is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacles; and a second pair of stacking lugs extending from the second pair of opposing side wall panels, wherein each stacking lug is opposite to and substantially aligned with a stacking lug receptacle.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put 25 into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first blank including an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of two stacked containers that are each formed from the blank of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second blank including an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of two stacked containers that are each formed from the blank of Fig. 4.

Detailed Description Referring to Fig. 1, a blank 10 is formed from a foldable material.

The blank 10 includes a base panel 11 having a pair of stacking lug receptacles 12, 13 in the form of apertures. A first pair of opposing side wall panels 14, 15 are hinged to the base panel 11 about fold lines 16, 17. A second pair of opposing side wall panels 18, 19 are hinged to the base panel 11 about fold lines 20, 21. Fold lines 20, 21 are configured such that the base panel 11 is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacles 12, 13.

ooooo S 15 Also, fold lines 20, 21 are discontinuous at stacking lug receptacles 12, 13.

Tabs 22, 23 extend from the side wall panels 18, 19 into the stacking lug receptacles 12, 13. Stacking lugs 24, 26 extend from free edges 25, 27 of side wall panels 18, 19 and are aligned with stacking lug receptacles 12, 13.

Extension panels 28, 29 are hinged to side wall panels 18, 19 about fold lines 30,31.

Referring to Fig. 2, each container 40 is formed from a blank 10 by hinging side wall panels 14, 15 about fold lines 16, 17 until the side wall panels 14, 15 are perpendicular to the base panel 11. Side wall panels 18, 19 are hinged about fold lines 20, 21 until the side wall panels 18, 19 are perpendicular to the base panel 11. Extension panels 28, 29 are hinged about fold lines 30, 31 and are fixed to side wall panels 14, The stacking lugs 24, 26 of the lower container 40 are aligned with and received by the stacking lug receptacles 12, 13 of the upper container Side wall panels 18, 19 of the lower container 40 support the base panel 11 of the upper container Referring to Fig. 3, side wall panels 18, 19 are substantially perpendicular to the base panel 11, however a lower portion of side wall panels 18, 19 in the vicinity of the flares in the base panel 11 is inclined relative to the remainder of side wall panels 18, 19. The portions of the base panel 11 that are adjacent to the stacking lug receptacles 12, 13 are inclined relative to the remainder of the base panel 11. Tabs 22, 23 extend below the container 40 such that a free edge of tabs 22, 23 is substantially level with a lower portion of the base panel 11. Tabs 22, 23 are configured such.that if the base panel 11 rests on a planar support surface a free edge of the tabs 22, 23 will abut against the surface. Stacking lugs 24, 26 are aligned with the stacking lug receptacles 12, 13.

Referring to Fig. 4, a blank 100 is formed from a foldable material.

The blank 100 includes a base panel 101 having a plurality of stacking lug receptacles 102 to 105 in the form of apertures. A first pair of opposing side wall panels 106, 107 is hinged to the base panel 101 about fold lines 108, 109. A second pair of opposing side wall panels 110, 111 is hinged to the :o oi 15 base panel 101 about fold lines 112, 113. Fold lines 112, 113 are configured such that the base panel 101 is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacles 102 to 105. Also, fold lines 112, 113 are discontinuous at stacking lug receptacles 102 to 105. Tabs 114 to 117 extend from the side wall panels 110, 111 into the stacking lug receptacles 102 to 105. Stacking lugs 118 to 122 extend from free edges 120, 123 of the side wall panels 110, 111 and are aligned with stacking lug receptacles 102 to 105. Extension panels 124, 125 are hinged to side wall panels 110, 111 about fold lines 126, 127.

Referring to Fig. 5, each container 400 is formed from a blank 100 by hinging side wall panels 106, 107 about fold lines 108, 109 until the side wall panels 106, 107 are perpendicular to the base panel 101. Side wall panels 110, 111 are hinged about fold lines 112, 113 until the side wall panels 110, 111 are also perpendicular to the base panel 101. Extension panels 124, 125 are hinged about fold lines 126, 127 and are fixed to side wall panels 106, 107.

The stacking lugs 118 to 122 of the lower container 400 are aligned with and received by the stacking lug receptacles 102 to 105 of the upper container 400. Side wall panels 110, 111 of the lower container 400 support the base panel 101 of the upper container 400.

Side wall panels 110, 111 are substantially perpendicular to the base panel 101, however a lower portion of the side wall panels 110, 111 in the vicinity of the flares in the base panel 101 is inclined relative to the remainder of the side wall panels 110, 111. The portions of the base panel 101 that are adjacent to the stacking lug receptacles 102 to 105 are inclined relative to the remainder of the base panel 101. Tabs 114 to 117 extend below the container 400 such that a free edge of tabs 114 to 117 is substantially level with a lower portion of the base panel 101. Tabs 114 to 117 are configured such that if the base panel 101 rests on a planar support surface a free edge of tabs 114 to 117 will abut against the surface. Stacking lugs 118 to 122 are aligned with the stacking lug receptacles 102 to 105.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present eoooe 15 invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For :..":example, the fold line, which is configured to flare the base panel, may be continuous at the stacking lug receptacles. Also, the invention may be incorporated into containers of various designs such as standard jointed containers, fully die-cut containers and containers which have a lid and a base.

.ooo

Claims

1. A container having: a base panel; a side wall panel hinged to the base panel about a fold line, wherein the side wall panel is substantially perpendicular to the base panel; a stacking lug receptacle located in the base panel adjacent to the side wall panel, wherein the fold line is configured such that the base panel is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacle; and a stacking lug extending from the side wall panel, wherein the stacking lug is opposite to and substantially aligned with the stacking lug receptacle.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the stacking lug receptacle is an aperture.

3. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein the fold line is discontinuous 15 at the stacking lug receptacle.

4. The container of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container is constructed from a blank of a foldable material.

The container of any one of claims 1 to 4 further having a tab extending from the side wall panel, wherein the tab is adjacent to the stacking 2 o lug receptacle.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the tab is configured such that when the base panel rests on a planar support surface a free edge of the tab abuts against the surface.

7. The container of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a lower portion of the side wall is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacle.

8. A container having: a base panel; a first pair of opposed side wall panels hinged to the base panel about fold lines, wherein the side wall panels are substantially perpendicular to the base panel; a second pair of opposed side wall panels hinged to the base panel about fold lines, wherein the side wall panels are substantially perpendicular to the base panel; a pair of extension panels hinged to each of the second pair of opposed side wall panels about fold lines, wherein the extension panels are fixed to the first pair of opposed side wall panels; a first pair of stacking lug receptacles located adjacent to the second pair of opposing side wall panels, wherein the fold lines about which the second pair of opposing side wall panels are hinged to the base panel are configured such that the base panel is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacles; and a first pair of stacking lugs extending from the second pair of opposing side wall panels, wherein each stacking lug is opposite to and substantially aligned with a stacking lug receptacle.

9. The container of claim 8 further having: a second pair of stacking lug receptacles located adjacent to the 5 second pair of opposing side wall panels, wherein the fold lines about which the second pair of opposing side wall panels are hinged to the base panel are configured such that the base panel is flared in the vicinity of the stacking lug receptacles; and a second pair of stacking lugs extending from the second pair of 20 opposing side wall panels, wherein each stacking lug is opposite to and substantially aligned with a stacking lug receptacle. A container substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3; or Figs. 4 and 25 DATED this 6 th day of March 2006 AMCOR LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.