CA2067539C - Bevel corner carton for beverage containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A carton comprises a bottom wall, a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of the bottom wall, a top wall foldably joined along the side edges thereof respectively to the upper edges of the side walls, the side walls being disposed perpendicular to the top and bottom walls to form a sleeve. An end flap is foldably joined to each end of the side walls, with at least a portion of each of the end flaps being disposed perpendicular to the major axis of the sleeve. A first fold line is disposed between each end flap and the associated one of the side walls. A second fold line is disposed in at least one of the end flaps and is generally parallel to the first fold line to define a bevel panel between the first and second fold lines. The top wall defines a pair of end edges, at least one of the end edges having a main portion and an end portion connecting the main portion with one of the side edges of the top wall. The end portion is disposed adjacent a top edge of the level panel and forms an angle with the main portion of between 90° and 180°.
A forming flap is foldably connected to the end portion and extends downwardly therefrom, substantially adjacent to the inner surface of the bevel panel.

Description

2067~39 .

1~-26~

BEVEL COl~NER ~ARTON FOR BEVERAGE CONT~INERS

The present invention rela~es g~n~rally ~o paper~ard carton6 u~;ed to p~cXage beverz~ge contA i ners s~oh ~g glas~ bottles ~ More par~icularly, the ~ hvention relates to ~i~ch car~ons h~ving ~eveled corners) with forming flaps being provided t~ ~s~i~t in proper p<~ ioning of the be~ eled corners during carton erectl~n.

It i~ common t~ pac~age mu~tiple, cylindrical beverage con~ainE~r~ ~UCll as l~ottle~ o~ can~ in ~æ~perb~d sleevs-type carton~. such cart~Jns inçlude interconne~:ted top, bo~t~T~ ~nd ~ide wall~, with 'che car~on~ loaded by moving 'che beverage containe~- into the carton ~hrough one or ~oth o$ thB
open carton en~s . An end f lap arr~ngemen~ is typically p~o~lded at eao~h end of the carton to close the carton ends ~hexeby ~ecuring the ~everage containers insi~le.

One ~y~ o~ such ~verage carton incll~des corners haYing beveled panel~ . Su~h panel~ aan provi~e a un~ ~e appeaxan~e ~o the carton, ~n~ more ~o~;ely con~or~ to the c~c)n~i.guration of the beverage c~n~ain~rs posi~ioned in the ~o carton corners~ Thi~ can produae ~he ~vantage~ of ~ ti~hter fitti.ng c~ton an~ reduc:ed da~a~e to the aarton corner~ during ~h~pmen~ and handllng.

An examp~e of a bevel corner carton ~ay ~e ~ceen in Canadiar~ patent No. ~,0~7,~4. In thi~ c~e, the carton ~5 include~ end f lap~ nnected to bo~h the side wall~ and the top and ~t~om wall~ o~ the carton 61eeve, w~th t~e be~el p~nel~ fo~ed ln the en~ f 121p8 connected to the side wall~
Adjac:q~nt e~ laps are interc:on~e~ted by we~ co~ne~ panels, the interconnection~ a~:i6ting in ~}le manipulation of the ~--26~9 -- 2 --c:srton flap~ ~or c~o~ure. Xn th~ di~closed carton, l.~w~r, ~e end flap~; attached to ~he çarton ride wall~i an~ ~:ontAin1~q th~ bevel ed panel~; do not cor~pletely c:lose th~ ca~on en~l, i . ~ ., the wldth of ~uch f l~p~ le~;~ than ~h~ wid~h of ~he carton end. ~n a c~ where it ~ de~ d to ha~e both the side enc~ f lap~s and tlle tap and ~ottom end f lap:3 completely close ~e carton end, the~e~y ~orDIing a two-p~ ~nd cl~:u~e structure, the in~ercr~u,~~ .. by we~) panel2~ o~ ad~acent end flap~ ~ay malce it mor~ dii~icu~t to ~anipulat~ t~e end flap~
1~ during ::7 ~ . At the f;a~e ~ , eli~ina~ n o$ the we~
al60 ~alce~ po~i~$oning o~ the fir~-folded p~i~ of end ~lap~ diff icult. ~here i~ nothin~ to ~orce folding af the bevel p~nel6 or to ~ecu~e ~c:h flap~ in posi~ion until t~e second pair of fl~pE; i~ ~olde~ and glued. This can ~e~ult in ~ ali~n~ent or improper positioning c~f ~he end ~laps~

In order to o~e~qome t~ese di~:ad~an~açle~, the present inven~on provide~ a carton compri~ing a ~otto~ wall, pair of ~;ide walls foldably Jolned re3pectively to the ~:ide edge6~ of the ~ottom wall, a top wall ~olda~ly ~oined alon~r the ~0 ~ide edges ~:herec~f re6pe~t~re~y ~o t~e ~pper ed~s of the side wall~:, the side wall~ ~ein~ di posed perpendic~ r ~c~ the top om wall~a to for~ a ~ e . An end f lap i 6 fold~b1 y join~d to eac:h end o the ~ide wall~, with at ~ea~;t ~ portion of each of the end f lap~ b~ing di~r~e~l pe~pendi~lar to t~e ~a~o~ axis of the ~leeve. ~ fir~t fold line i~ dispo~ed betw~en eaoh end f lap ~n~ the ~sociated oste of t~e eide wall~.. A ~econd ~old line is di~:po~ed in at lea~t o~e of the end flaps and i~ generally parallel to ~he fir~t fold line to de~ine a be~rel panel between the f ir~t ~nd s~çond f~ld lines .
~rhe top wall defines a pair o~ end edge~, at lea~t one C~f the en~ edge~ havinq a main po~tion and an end port~on connectirg the ~in portton wi~ on~ of t~e aide ecl~es o~ the top ~11.

D--~6~9 - 3 --Ths ~nd portion i~ ~rro~e~ ad~cent a top ed~e o~ thR b4VB1 panel and ~orm~ an an~le with ~e ~ain portio~ of between g~-and 1~. A formln~ flap ig foldably co~ Let~ to the end portion and extend~ d~wnwaraly ~herefro~, ~ tantia~ly S adj~L~ent to the inner ~:urface of 1:he be~,rel panel.

The c:arton may fu~ther lnclude addi~ional er~d flap~
fold~hl~ ~oined ~o each end of th~ top wall and botto~ ~all.
The end flap~; are d~poaed perpendic~lar to ~1~ m~jor axi~ of ~e ~lee~e and ~r~ positioned a~ainst ~e end fl~p~ joined to the t;:ide wall~ in overlapping rel~tionship. ~uch an en~ flap whi~h i~ iolned to an ~nd l~dgR 0~ tbe ~op wall having a ~a~n portion and an end portion i8 joine~l only along t~le ~ain portion of ~uch ed~e.

In a prefQrred form of the invention, each end fl~p ~oi~ecl to ~he ~iide ~ralls~ includes the ~c~n~1 fold line to for~
be~el panel ln su~h en~ ~l~p~ In such a cace, each end edste of the top wa~ll i n~lw3es a main portion, with ~nd portiona cor~necting ~he ~ain ~l~rtion wlth each side edge c~f ~e top wall .

2 0 Ttle prosent inYention f~rther provi~ a blank f orc~ton Co~ isin~ a bot~o~n wall t a pair C~f ~ide Wall8 ~oldat~y ~oined ~:~Fp~C;t~ ~r~ly t:o the side edges of ~he ~otto~
wall, a tc>p wall folda~ly ~olned alon~ one slde edqe the~ec~f to the upper edge of one of the ~:ide wall~ lu~ flap ioined 2 5 to the oppo~lte s i de ~dg~ o$ the top wal 1 and an end f lap foldably joined to each end edge of the ~;~de wall~ along the ~irst: fold line. A ~ old line is di-~os~ in at le~t one of the er~d flaps and i8 generally par~llel to ~he first fold line to define a bevel panel ~e~ween the fir~t and ~ond fold line~. The ~p wall defines a pair ~f end edge~, at -~266g _ 4 _ lea~t one ~f whiç~l has a main portion an~ an ~nd p4rt~0n c~nnecting the ~ain portion with one of the ~ide ed~s of ~e ~o~ wall. T~e end. portion is di~po~ ad~acent a top edge of the ~e~el pan~l and forll~n ~n angle with the main portion of be~een gO' and 180-. A forlnin~ ~lap i8 fo~dably con~ l to the end portion ~nd ex~ends outwardly theref~o~

In order to ~ett~r underatand th~ present in~.rent~on, ~efçrence i~3 now r~ade to the drawing~ ~rein:

FIG. ~ i~ a ~er~ ive view of an a~e~n~led carton in aocordance wi~h ~h~ present inventi~n, ~howing one end ~nd one ~ide of the carton;
~IG. 2 i~ a ~op view of a ~l~nlc used to for~ the carton ~hown in FIG. l; and FI~S. 3-b is a ~equen~e of view~ ai~ilar to FIG. 1, but illu~trating ~he foldin~ o~ the end flap~ in order to alo~;e the coD~ t~d carton.

Referrin~ n~w to FIG~ 1, a c:a~ton for pack~g~ ng a plurali~y of ~ever~e bottle~ i~ shown. The çzsrton include~
a side wa~l 10 an~ ~n end ~tructure 12. An ident~cal ~ide zO wall ~nd end ~txuc~ for~ the oppo~ite ~ide of the car~on (not shown~, and clo~ure of the ~a~ton is c::on~pleted by top and bottom w~ ; (not ~;hown). Side wall 10 and end ~3tructure 1~
are conn~cted by a bevel pan~l 14, a similar be~rel panel 16 connectlng end structu~e ~2 and ~he unseen, oppo~ e ~ide ~5 ~.rall. ~rl~e r~lean~ la i~ f~r~ed in ~he end ~;tructu~e 12 of ~he c~rton. ~n iden~ical han~e ~ean~: ~no~ ~;hown) is formed irl the opp~3ite end ntruc~ure.

The blank fo~ fo~ing ~he carton i8 ~ho~n in l~I~;. 2.
Si~e wall 10 is connecte~ along fold line 20 at its upper e~ge U--~66~ -- S --~o tc~p wal~ ~2, ~nd by fold lin~ 24 alon~ otto~ s~lge to bottom panel 26. Top wall ~2 i8 c~ e~ted ~r ~ fold line 28 to glu~ fl~p 30. Bot~o~ wall 2~ ~ c~neçted at i~;6 c~rite ~lde edge along ~la line ~2 to side wal~ 34.

Side wall 10 ~s connected along fo~d lino 36 to an end i~lap 38 wtli~h incl~ldes an addit;ion~l fold line 40 generally parallel to the fold llne 3~. ~e~.rel p~nel 14 i8 defined between the fold lines 36 and 40 with 'che rem~lining portion 42 of end flap 38 inc~luding a h~n*l~ o~Dnin~ 44 for~Rd therein. ~rhe r~n;ng 44 i~ clos~ad ~y n handls flap ~tructure . At the oppo~lte ~nd of ~ide wall lo, an ~nd fl~p 48 i~
c:onnec~e~ along ~o~d l~ne ~0. An additional ~old J.itu~ 52 ~lef ines a bevel panel 54 between the fo~d line~ SO and 52 .
The remaining portion 56 of end f lap 48 include~ a handle 1~ openin~ ei8, whi ::h i~ ccsY~ d by handle f l~p ~truot~re 60 .
OppoBing side wall 34 has an end flap 62 att~che~ along a fold line 64. Fold linQ 66 de~ln~ a bevel pane~ 68 be~ n fold lines 64 and ~6. A partial handle opening 70, c~ve~ a par~:ial handle flap structure 72, i8 ~orD~ed in the re~n~n~
portion 74 of end ~lap 62. Likewi~e, end flap 7~ nnn~ted to the opposi~ side ~ge of side wall 34 along ~old line 78.
Fold llne ~0 define~ a bevel panel ~2 between fold line~ 78 a~d 8G. A partial handle ~r~ning 84, cloæed by a part:~al handle flap str~lc~ur~ ~6 i8 for~d in ~he portion 88 of end f lap ~ .

Bottom w~ll 26 include~ a pair of en~ edge extending between ~old l;nes 24 and 32. Each end edge includes a main po~ wl defined ~y fe;~d lines ~4 and ~2.
Lower end f laps g4 and 96 are connected to bottom wal~ ~6 by 3~ fold line~ ~0 ~nd ~2 ~e~ rely. Eac~ end edge fur~her includes bevel end port:; ons 98 . !rhe }~vel end portion~ g8 ., -~-~ 6~9 - 6 e~ch form an ang~ with respect to the f~ld line~ ~0 or g~ o~
~e~ween ~0 and 180~.

Top wall 22, in addition to fold l~n~s 20 and 28 i~;
boun~ed by en~ edge~, each incll~inq a main portion con~pri~:in~
fold line~ 100 and 102 rs~ tively. ~x~e~tn~ frola th~ end of each ~ain por~:~on 100 and 102 to th~ adjaoent fol~ line ao or 2~ l~i an end por~ion compr~clng ~old line 104. Conn~cted to fo~d lin~ 100 i8 an upper end flap 106, h~ving ~orme~
therein a hand~e or~n~n~ 108 clo~ed by a handle flap ~txuature 1~ 110. ~ ila~ly, an upp~r end Ylap 112 i~: connected to ~op panel ~ by fold line 102. F~r~ed in upper end panel 112 i~
a handle opening 11~ c~o6ed b~ h~n~le ~lap stru~ture 116.

Also ~onn~ctsd to top p~ne~ ~2, along ~old lines 104, i~ a plurality of forming fl~p~ , lzO, 122 and 124.
For~i.hg flapæ 118 an~ ~22 ar~ po~itioned along the ~lank betw~en end p~n01s 38 and 106, and end panel~ 48 and 11~, L~s~e~ively. Forming fl~p~ 1~0 ~nd lZ4 are positione~ at the end o$ ~he blan~, ~djacent end panel~ 106 ~nd 112 respeat~ely.

~o ~lo~ure of a ~ton ~or~ed from the blanX of FIG. 2 can be ~een by reference to FI~:S. 3-6~ ~B ~hown in FI~. 3, the blank i5 1 nitiall~ conrl~cl~s~ to form a tube ~>y securing qlue ~lap ~o ~o the inner ~urf~c:e ~t ~he top of side wall 34, Nex~, bellrera~e bott~es or cans are loaded using c~nventional, known ~achinery ~hrough ~ach open ehd of the ~a~ton ~hown in FIG . 3 . ~he beve~E-ge cont~ ~ ner~ have been omitted fr~ ~h~
~a~i ngs f or clarity, in order that the various por~ o~
the car~con m~y be ~ore easily oeen. An example of mach~nery ~;uita~e ~or loa~1ng the di~lo~ arton io ~:crll~ed in ~.S.
patent ~o~ 4, ~37, 673~

D-2669 - 7 ~

In clo~ing the end ~tructure, ~orDling flaps 1}8 and 120 are folded downw~ardly about ~old lin~-~ 104 as ~hown in ~IG~ 3. (While not lllu~txated here~n, an ~dentical oper~tion i~ per~ormed in ~:lo~ing t~e oppo~ite end of the car~on. 1 Referring next to EIG. 4, end panel 3~ i8 fo~ded ln~o po~it~on ~y ~endln~ ~bout fold line~ 3 ~ ~n~ 40 . 'Thi~
in~ further posi~ion~ the bevel pa~el 14 in i~ ,.e~
loca~ion. Du~ing such operation, ~orming flap 118 is di~ro~
~ehind the upper end of be~el panel 14, thereb~ ~nv~rly lû locating the l~evel panel and forcing the end panel to properly fold a~out ~old line6 ~6 and 40. Moreover, it will aleo be appr~ciatetl ~ha~ upon co~pletlon of ~he carton, foxlning f l~p 118 uill retain ~evel panel 14 in the proper position and will resist mo~eD~ent of t~e ~e~e~ panel 14 in an inward direction wi~h respect to the ~a~ton, which ~ould ~therwi~e ~>e çaused du~ing shipping and h~n-ll i n~.

Referring to FI~;. 5, a s~ilar operation i~
perfor~ed with end flap 62. The end flap i~ mo~ed into position l~y ~ding about fo~d lines 64 and 6~, th~3reby moving ~e~/el panel 3~ to 1;he p~ope~ lo~ation. ~ollowing ~uch folding, forming flap 120 i8 ~ poged behind the upper end of bevel parlel 1~, ~che~e~ p~ope~ly loaating the p~nel~ ~3nd flap 6~ ectlred tn end ~lap 38 ~y gluing.

C~n~pletion of the c~rton ~lo~ure can be seen ~y ~S reference ~o FIG. 6. Upper en~l fl~p 106 is folded downw~r~ly al:out fold lin~ 100~ whil~ lower end flap ~a~ is folded upw~r~ly ~out fold llne 90. Upper and lower end flap~ 106 a~d g4 a~e sea~ed in posi~ion by gluing ~o end fl~ps 38 and ~2 ~

2067~39 r~--26~9 -- 8 --will ~ rero~n; zed that if ~e~ ed, ~orr~ pc ~{mll.a~r to flaps 1}8, 120, 122 and 1~4 ma~ be provided alon~
t~e portion~ g~ of t;~e ~nd ~ges of ~otto~ wa~ ich are loca~d ad~ac:ent ~e r~sp~ctive bevel panel~

Claims (2)

1. A carton comprising:
a bottom walls a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said bottom wall, and a top wall foldably joined along the side edges thereof respectively to the upper edges of said side walls, said side walls being disposed perpendicular to said top and bottom walls to form a sleeve;
said top wall defining a pair of end edges, at least one of said end edges having a main portion and an end portion connecting said main portion with one of said side edges of said top wall, said end portion forming an angle with respect to said main portion of between 90° and 180°;
a first end flap foldably joined along a first fold line to an end edge of said side wall, a second fold line being disposed in said first end flap generally parallel to and spaced from said first fold line to define a bevel panel between said first and second fold lines;
said bevel panel being disposed generally adjacent and parallel to said end portion of said end edge of said top wall, and the remaining portion of said first end flap being disposed generally perpendicular to the axis of said sleeve, an upper end flap foldably connected to said main portion of said end edge of said top wall and disposed generally perpendicular to said axis of said sleeve and in overlapping relationship with said remaining portion of said first end flap;
and a forming flap foldably connected to said end portion of said end edge of said top wall and extending downwardly therefrom to a free end, said forming flap being disposed substantially adjacent to the inner surface of said bevel panel.

2. A blank for forming a carton, the carton comprising:
a bottom wall, a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said bottom wall, and a top wall foldably joined along the side edges thereof respectively to the upper edges of said side walls, said side walls being disposed perpendicular to said top and bottom walls to form a sleeve;
said top wall defining a pair of end edges, at least one of said end edges having a main portion and an end portion connecting said main portion with one of said side edges of said top wall, said end portion forming an angle with respect to said main portion of between 90° and 180°;
a first end flap foldably joined along a first fold line to an end edge of said side wall, a second fold line being disposed in said first end flap generally parallel to and spaced from said first fold line to define a bevel panel between said first and second fold lines, said bevel panel being disposed generally adjacent and parallel to said end portion of said end edge of said top wall, and the remaining portion of said first end flap being disposed generally perpendicular to the axis of said sleeve;
an upper end flap foldably connected to said main portion of said end edge of said top wall and disposed generally perpendicular to said axis of said sleeve and in overlapping relationship with said remaining portion of said first end flap;
and a forming flap foldably connected to said end portion of said end edge of said top wall and extending downwardly therefrom to a free end, said forming flap being disposed substantially adjacent to the inner surface of said bevel panel.