CA2045825C

CA2045825C - End-load carton

Info

Publication number: CA2045825C
Application number: CA 2045825
Authority: CA
Inventors: Chris Maclean
Original assignee: Molson Breweries of Canada Ltd
Current assignee: Molson Canada 2005
Priority date: 1991-06-27
Filing date: 1991-06-27
Publication date: 1993-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-27
Also published as: CA2045825A1

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

A beverage carton includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and a pair of side panels. Vertical end flaps extend from each of the side panels part way across each end and meet each other.
Horizontal end flaps extend from the top and bottom panels part way down and up, respectively, each end, and meet each other. The vertical end flaps extending from each side panel across the end are of unequal width and meet in a substantially vertical line off-set from mid-way between the side panels.

Description

2045~25 The present invention relates to the field of beverage cartons. In particular, the present invention provides a novel end-load carton, particularly useful for use in packaging bottles in a 3 x 4 configuration.

The brewing industry has utilized end-~oad beer cartons for a number of years. Basically, they are manu~actured from a blank which is formed into a tube having opened ends. Bottles are loaded in through the ends and then flaps extending from the top, bottom and side panels of the carton are folded in and glued in lo place. The top panel of the carton is perforated so that it may be easily opened ~or access to the beer bottles inside.

Two particular disadvantayes of end-load cartons have faced the brewing industry for some time. First, since the end-load carton is primarily used in connection with returnable beer bottles, it is desirable that the top of the carton, once opened, can be re-closed. With a per~orated opening which is punched in and pulled open, this is very dif~icult to accomplish and therefore one is usually left with a container for empty beer bottles which will not close properly.
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Secondly, in order to ensure that the end flaps of the carton are securely glued so that the ends of the carton do not ac~identally come open, it is necessary to apply substantial pressure to the ends~of the cartons when they are glued closed.
That is, when the carton is closed, Plaps extending from the side 2045~25 panels of the carton are folded in first. These side flaps meet in a vertical line mid-way between the sides of the carton. Then glue is applied to the end flaps extending from the side panel~.
The end flaps extending from the top and bottom panels are then folded over the side flaps and pressed in place. It has been observed by the applicant thak a better adhesive bond is obtained where the side flaps are direc~ly overlying beer bottles. This . . ~
is because the bottles act as a backing and permit the top and bottom flaps to be pressed harder against the side ~laps.
However, in conventional cartons, since the side flaps meet in the centre of the middle bottle it is impossible to apply glue in exactly the place where one wants to obtain the best adhesive bond: on the side flaps directly over the centre of the bottle.
In this line, there are merely the edges of the side flaps, and these edges are not susceptible of being securely glued to the top and ~ottom flaps, because they do not present a ~lat, continuous surface. ~ -~

The object of the present invention is to provide an end load beer carton which overcomes the disadvantages associated in the known end-load beer cartons, as discussed above. In particular, an object o~ the present invention is to provide an -~
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end-1O3d beer carton with substantially reclosable top formed by perforations.
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A ~urther object of the pre~ent invention is to provide an end-load carton which is susceptible of being securely closed by . .
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the application of a layer of glue on a side flap directly overlying the middle bottle in a row of three.

In a broad aspect, the present invention relates to a beverage carton including: a top panel; a bottom panel; a palr of side panels~ and a pair of vertical end flaps extending from each of said side panels part way across each end of said carton and meeting each other: horizontal end flaps extending from said top and bottom panels part way down and up, respectively, each said end, and meeting each other; characterized in that the said vertical end flaps extending across a said end are of unequal width and meet in a subætantially vertical line off set from ~id-way between said side panels.

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A further object of the present invention i8 to provide an end-load carton which is susceptible of being securely closed by ~:
the application of a layer o~ glue on a side flap directly overlying the middle bottle in a row of three.
''' ' In a broad aspect, the pre~ent invention relates to a beverage carton including: a top panel: a bottom panel; a pair of side panels; and a pair of vertical end flaps ~xtending from each of said side panels part way across each end of said carton and mee~ing each other: horizontal end flapG extending from said top and bottom panels part way down and up, respectively, each said end, and meeting each other: characterized in that the said vcrtical end flaps axtending across a sald end are of unequal ' ,'- ::' :~ 3 ~:
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width and meet in a substantially vertical line off set from mid-way between said side panels.

In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a beverage carton for holding a plurality of bottles and having a top panel, a bottom panel, opposed side panels, opposed end panels, and handles formed in said end panels, said handles being elongated apertures cut through sai.d end panels along their side and bottom edges and hinged to said end panels along first hinge lines formed along their upper edges, whereby said handles may be folded into said carton along their upper edges by ~inger pressure to present an aperture ~or the insertion of a persons fingers which may then grasp said end panel along the upper edge o~ said handle; and in particular to the improvement in siaid carton comprising a second hinge llne on said handles, extending hetween the side edges thereof between the upper and lower edges thereof.

In one preferred e~bodiment of such improvements, said hinge lines are lines of perforation.

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In another preferred embodiment o~ such improvement said ...
hinge lines are pressure formed lines of debossing.

In either preferred e~bodiment of such improve~ent, it is . . ; : -advantageous if said second hinge line is ~paced from said first -~
hinge line by a distance less than or equal to t~e distance ' .

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:' - . .' between t~e neck of a bottle in said bevera~e carton, and said end panel, whereby said handle will tend to fold along sald second hinge line when the handle is folded inwardly and meets said neck of a bottle.

In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a beverage carton for holding à plurality of beverage con~ainers and having a top panel, a bottom panel, opposed side panels, and opposed end panels; and in particular to the improvemen~ in such carton comprising a generally H-shaped access opening in said top pan~l, formed from perforations so that access to the contents of the carton may be gained by tearing open the top of the carton V,j 1"-`. !
along the cross member and legs o~ the H, the cross member of the H including a trapezoidal extension from one side o~ the H to the :
other so that upon opening, a pair of opposed flaps are formed, -one with a pair o~ outwardly extending ears and one with a pair ~ -of complimentary inwardly extending notches, where~y said flaps may be olded down and said car~on at least partially re-closed ~y insertion of said ears into said notches.

The cross-member of said H-~haped opening extends in the lengthwise direction of said carton, in one preferred embodiment.
-, The cross-member of said H-shaped opening extends in the .

widthwise direction of said carton, in another pre~erred embodiment.

~, 2045~25 In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one inwardly directed triangular notch is provided at an end of the cross- -mamber of said H, to facilitate the initial tearing open of said aecess opening. -In drawings which illustrate the present invention by way of example~
Figure 1 is a plan view of an end load carton blank :.
according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, of an :~
end-load carton according to the present invention; ~ .:
Figure 3 is a top view of an opened end-load carton acoording to the present invention, with a number of bottles : -placed therein; and Figure 4 is a sectional view through line IV-IV in Figure 3. -.. . ~ .
''.'. '.' :'' Referring now to Figure 1, it will be sean that the blan~
of the present invention is provided with ~our main panels hinged .
together along common edges. ~hese are the top panel 9, a side :
panel 8, the bottom panel 7, and another side panel 6. A short :~
connecting flap 1 extends from the top panel 9 and when the blank : :
is folded together in a tubular configuration, connecting flap 1 is glued to the topmost margin of side panel 6. As can be seen ~ -from Figure 1, side ~laps 11 and 3 extend from one side panel 8.
In a ~olded together configuration (see Figure 2), these flaps -. :
meet side ~laps 13 an~ 5 re~pectively from the other side panel - -.

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6. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, flaps 11 and 3 are substantially wider than flaps 13 and 5. The additional width on 1aps 11 and 3 permits the outermost margin oE ~laps 11 and 3 to overlie the centre of a bottle in a four by three configuration. This overlying margin, which is indicated with shading on Figure 1, can have glue applied to it.

As can be seen from Figure 1, bot*om flaps 4 and 12 extend outwardly from bottom panel 7 and handle flaps 10 and 2 extend outwardly from top panel 9. When the flaps 11, 3, 13, 5, which extend outwardly from the side panels 8, 6 are coated with adhesive and ~olded inwardly, then the flaps which extend outwardly from the bottom and top panel respectively may be folded over the side flaps and pressed against same for an adhesive bond to be formed, thereby to seal the carton. It will be appreciated khat since side flaps 11 and 3 are wider than complimentary flaps 13 and 5 pressure against bottom flaps 12 and 4 in the centre o~ the carton will bear directly against the adhesive applied on the outermoSt margin of ~laps 11 and 3 and against the vertical centre line of a bottle in a ~our by three a~rangement in the carton. This will result in a strong adhesive bond being developed between ~laps 12 and 4 and 11 and 3 respectively, to securely close the carton.

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As can be seen from Figure 1 and Figure 2, the top panel 9 is provided with a perforated pattern 18 which is the reclosable top o~ the carton. Rather t~an being shaped merely as a ;~ ~ 7 . . , rectangle, pattern 18 is provided with inwardly directed notches 19 which tend to catch the two sides of the reclosable top when they are pushed back down against top panel 9. Also, the trapezoidal shaped struckure 20 in the centre of the reclosable top perforation 18 will function, upon opening, as a reclosable tab and slot arrangement.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the end flap arrangement discussed above is illustrated in detail. It will be seen by providing one side flap wider than the other one achieves substantially the same effect as one would achieve if one made the flaps overlapping, but with a saving o~ material and ~etter adhesive contact. That is, if the flaps did overlap, one would not obtain solid adhesive contact between the side flaps and the top and bottom flaps because there would not be ~lat surface to surface contact therebetween.
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Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that handle flaps 2 and 10 are provided with handle cut-outs 17. The handle cut-outs correspond in location to handl~ indentations 15 ~ 16 in side flaps 11, 3, 13, 5 so that, when assembled, to grasp a carton by the handle, one merely pu~hes on cut-out 17. Cut-out 17 then folds inwardly along fold line 21, the remainder of its peri~eter being pre-cut to breakaway easily w~en pushed in. It will be observed that a second perforated foldline 22 is provided down about two thirds of the width of the cut-out. This ..
perforated fold line allows the handle cut-out 17 to bend easily '"'~` ' ' .

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`` 2045825 as it is pushed in past a beer bottle lined up with it.
Previously, without the provision of fold line 22 on a handle cut~out, the handle cut-out would fold awkwardly and perhaps tear vertically as it was pushed in against a bottle. The only solution is this annoyin~ problem heretofore known to the applicant was to provide a narrower handle cut-out that would not contact a bottle as it was pushed by same. This, of course, leads to a package that is less convenient to use.

Alternatively, that portion of cut-out 17 below fold line 22 may be excised entirely, so as to provide a narrow portion of the cut-out that actually ~olds in, while still retaining a conveniently large handle aperture.

It is to be understood that the examples dPscribed above are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. It is expected that numerous variants will be obvious to the person skilled in the beverage carton development and design field without any departure from the spirit of the present invention.
The appended alaims, properly construed, form the only limitation upon the scope o~ the present invention.

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Claims

1. A beverage carton including:
i) a top panel;
ii) a bottom panel;
iii) a pair of side panels;
iv) vertical end flaps extending from each said side panels part way across each end and meeting each other;
v) horizontal end flaps extending from said top and bottom panels part way down and up, respectively, each said end, and meeting each other;
characterized in that the said vertical end flaps extending from each said side panel across the end are of unequal width and meet in a substantially vertical line off-set from mid-way between said side panels.

2. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 1, further characterized in that said horizontal end laps overlie said vertical end flaps, and are adhesively secured thereto by glue between said vertical and horizontal end flaps.

3. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 2, further characterized in that said carton is of a width selected to hold three vertically oriented substantial cylindrical containers width wise, and said vertical end flaps meet along a line substantially parallel to but off-set from the middle one of said three containers.

4. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said top panel is provided with a pattern of perforations defining a user openable lid, said lid having two opposed longitudinal edges, each hinged to a side edge of said top panel, and two opposed lateral edges defined by perforations inwardly set from said edges of said side panel, said lateral edges having opposed inwardly directed notches at their mid-point, said notches being joined by perforations, whereby an openable lid with opposed halves is formed.

5. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said top panel is provided with a pattern of perforations defining a user openable lid, said lid having two opposed longitudinal edges, each hinged to a side edge of said top panel, and two opposed lateral edges defined by perforations inwardly set from said edges of said side panel, said lateral edges having opposed inwardly directed notches at their mid-point, said notches being joined by perforations, whereby an openable lid with opposed halves is formed.

6. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said top panel is provided with a pattern of perforations defining a user openable lid, said lid having two opposed longitudinal edges, each hinged to a side edge of said top panel, and two opposed lateral edges defined by perforations inwardly set from said edges of said side panel, said lateral edges having opposed inwardly directed notches at their mid-point, said notches being joined by perforations, whereby an openable lid with opposed halves is formed.

7. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the perforations joining said notches of the lateral edges of said lid are in the form of a straight line interrupted by a trapezoidal-shaped flap, said trapezoidal-shaped flap serving as a closure for said lid.

8. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the perforations joining said notches of the lateral edges of said lid are in the form of a straight line interrupted by a trapezoidal-shaped flap, said trapezoidal-shaped flap serving as a closure for said lid.

9. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the perforations joining said notches of the lateral edges of said lid are in the form of a straight line interrupted by a trapezoidal-shaped flap, said trapezoidal-shaped flap serving as a closure for said lid.

10. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein handle apertures are formed in the said horizontal and vertical end flaps, said handle apertures being dimensioned to fit a human hand, said handle apertures being covered by perforated handle flaps formed in said horizontal end flaps extending from said top panel, the upper edge of each said handle flap being hinged to said end flap, said handle flaps being provided with horizontally extending fold lines part way up their width so as to fold evenly when pushed in against a beverage container.

11. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 2, having opposed end panels formed by said end flaps, and handles formed in said end panels, said handles being elongated apertures cut through said end panels along their side and bottom edges and hinged to said end panels along first hinge lines formed along their upper edges, whereby said handles may be folded into said carton along their upper edges by finger pressure to present an aperture for the insertion of a person's fingers which may then grasp said end panel along the upper edge of said handle; wherein a second hinge line is provided on said handles, extending between and orthogonal to the side edges thereof, between and parallel to the upper and lower edges thereof.

12. The carton of Claim 11, wherein said hinge lines are lines of perforation.

13. The carton of Claim 11 or 12, wherein said second hinge line is spaced from said first hinge line by a distance less than or equal to the distance between the neck of a bottle in said beverage carton, and said end panel, whereby said handle will tend to fold along said second hinge line when the handle is folded inwardly and meets said neck of a bottle.

14. A beverage carton as claimed in Claim 2, having opposed end panels formed from said end flaps, including an access opening formed in said top panel, formed by a generally H-shaped pattern of perforations, so that access to the contents of the carton may be gained by tearing open the top of the carton along the cross member and legs of the H, the cross member of the H including a trapezoidal extension from one side of the H to the other so that upon opening, a pair of opposed flaps are formed, one with a pair of outwardly extending ears and one with a pair of complimentary inwardly extending notches, whereby said flaps may be folded down and said carton at least partially re-closed by insertion of said ears into said notches.

15. The carton of Claim 14, wherein the cross-member of said H-shaped pattern extends in the lengthwise direction of said carton.

16. The carton of Claim 14, wherein the cross-member of said H-shaped pattern extends in the widthwise direction of said carton.

17. The carton of Claim 14, 15 or 16, further including at least one inwardly directed triangular notch at an end of the cross-member of said H, to facilitate the initial tearing open of said access opening.