Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D71/40—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
  • B65D71/46—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a tubular element

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a wraparound carton and blank. More particularly, the invention relates to a wraparound carton and blank for packaging articles such as pots of foodstuff, for example yoghurt, in which the base of the article protrudes through an aperture in the base of the carton.
• US 3 189 215 to Currie discloses a wraparound carton for packaging bottles, slotted apertures extending across the width of the top wall and being arranged to accommodate the necks of two bottles.
• the present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
• a first aspect of the present invention provides a wraparound article carrier for packaging an article such as a pot of foodstuffs, for example, the carton comprising opposed top and base walls interconnected by opposed side walls thereby forming a tubular structure.
• An aperture is provided in the base wall panel to accommodate a portion of the article.
• a bracing tab is struck from the aperture and folded so as to act as a spacer, thereby causing the top wall and base wall to be spaced by a predetermined distance.
• the bracing tab is struck from said base wall panel to define the aperture, the bracing tab extending into and hingedly connected to one of the panels forming the side wall.
• the one side wall panel is a securing flap which flap is secured to an outer side wall panel.
• the distance between the free edge of the securing flap and the fold line of the bracing tab is, preferably, less than the distance between the free edge and the fold line of the securing flap.
• the bracing tab extends to a flange of the article or to a panel opposed to the base wall panel.
• a second aspect of the present invention provides a blank for forming a wraparound carrier for packaging an article such as a pot of foodstuffs, for example, the blank comprising a first top panel, a first side wall panel, a base wall panel and a second side wall panel hingedly connected together in series for forming a tubular structure.
• An aperture is provided in the base wall panel to accommodate a portion of the article wherein a bracing tab is struck from the aperture and so folded in a set up condition to act as a spacer thereby causing the top and base wall panels to be spaced by a predetermined distance.
• bracing tab may further comprise a securing flap hingedly connected to the base wall panel and wherein the bracing tab is struck from the base panel to define the aperture, the bracing tab extends into the securing flap and is hingedly connected to the securing flap.
• a third aspect of the present invention provides a wraparound article carrier for packaging an article for example a primary carton, the carton comprising opposed top and base walls interconnected by first and second side walls so as to form a tubular structure.
• An aperture is struck from the base wall to receive a protruding portion of the article wherein the aperture extends into a panel adjacent the top wall so as to facilitate the folding of the top wall over the protruding portion during construction of the carton.
• the panel adjacent the top wall is a securing flap arranged to secure the top wall to one of said first or second side walls.
• the securing flap is disposed on the outside surface of the side wall and a portion of the side wall is disposed in the aperture to e ⁇ gage the article in the aperture.
• a blank for forming a wraparound article carrier for packaging an article such as a sachet for example comprising in series a first side wall panel, a base wall panel, a second side wall panel, a top wall panel and a securing flap, an aperture being struck from the top wall panel so as to receive a protruding portion of the carton in use.
• the aperture extends into a panel adjacent the top wall panel so as to facilitate the folding of the top wall panel over the protruding portion during the folding of the blank to form a carton.
• the adjacent panel is the securing flap.
• a fifth aspect of the present invention provides a method of forming a wraparound carton comprising a first side wall panel, a second side wall panel, a top wall panel and a securing flap, hingedly interconnected in series so as to form a tubular structure, the top wall panel having an article receiving aperture struck therefrom and extending into the securing flap, the method comprising the steps of: i) introducing the article to the carton; ii) folding the top wall panel and securing flap about a first fold line hingedly interconnecting the second side wall panel; and iii) introducing a protruding portion of the article into the extended portion of the aperture whilst folding the top wall and securing flap, thereby allowing the securing flap to clear the article.
• the method may further comprise the step prior to step (ii) of placing the article on the top panel and folding the base wall and second side wall around the article.
• the method of the fifth aspect may further comprise the step of folding a bracing tab out of the plane of the base panel before the folding and introducing step and the step of bringing the bracing tab into abutment on a flange of the article or on the top panel before folding the securing flap toward the opposed panel.
• FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for folding a carton according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIGURES 2 and 3 are perspective views of the blank of Figure 1 during successive stages of the carton erection article loading procedure with the carton and articles inverted;
• FIGURE 4a is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank of Figure 1 in a fully . set-up and loaded condition
• FIGURE 4b is a cross section view of the carton shown in Figure 4a through X - X.
• FIGURE 5 is a blank for forming a carton according to a second embodiment of the present invention
• FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 5 illustrating one stage of the carton erection procedure with the carton and articles in an inverted state;
• FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank of Figure 5 in a fully set-up and loaded condition
• FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the blank for forming a carton according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
• FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 8 at one stage of the carton erection procedure with the carton and articles shown in an inverted state;
• FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of Figure 8 in a fully setup and loaded condition.
• a blank 10 of paperboard or like foldable sheet material for forming a wraparound carton there comprises a plurality of panels for forming a top wall, a base and opposed side walls.
• the blank 10 comprises in series a base wall panel 14, first side wall panel 16, top wall panel 18 and second side wall panel 20 hingedly interconnected in series along fold lines 24, 26 and 28 respectively.
• FIG. 1 there is shown a pair of aperture structures 30 and 32 are struck from base wall panel 14 and, in this embodiment, extends into securing flap 12. Each structure is substantially identical and therefore only aperture structure 30 is described in further detail.
• cut lines 59a and 59b are dispensed with.
• the end of tab 34 remote from fold line 38 is, in this embodiment, substantially parallel to fold line 38 so as to define a portion to engage the flange of an article or a panel of the article carrier.
• Opposed pairs of article retention structures 42, 44; 46, 48 are preferably provided along fold lines 26 and 28 respectively, the structures being arranged so as to interrupt the aforesaid fold lines.
• Each retention structure is substantially identical, and therefore only structure 46 is described in further detail. It can be seen from Figure 1 that structure 46 comprises a protruding portion 50 of top wall panel 18 arranged so as to interrupt fold line 28 and being defined by curved cut line 52.
• the structure further comprises a pair of spaced parallel cut lines 54 and 56 which is, in this embodiment, arranged substantially perpendicular to fold line 28, to extend from curved cut line 52 and terminates part way down second side wall panel 20.
• the cut lines 54 and 56 thereby define a tab portion 57.
• the carton of any of the embodiments of the present invention are formed by a series of sequential folding and gluing operations in a straight line machine so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction.
• the folding process is not limited to that described below and may be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.
• top wall panel 18 is placed so as to overlie the planar top face of the articles A. All references to directions are to be understood as if the blank and articles are in an upright state. Top wall panel 18 is dimensioned, in this embodiment, such that flange portions F of the articles A extend beyond fold lines 26 and 28.
• Spacer tabs 34 are then folded downwardly out of alignment with securing flap 12 thereby revealing aperture 36 completely. Subsequently, first side wall panel 16 is folded inwardly out of alignment with top wall panel 18 and base wall panel 14 is folded inwardly and upwardly about fold line 24 out of alignment with first side wall panel 16.
• the elongate nature of apertures 36 enables base wall panel 14 to fold over the base of articles A without fouling on securing flap 12.
• securing flap 12 is folded upwardly and inwardly about fold line 22 and second side wall panel 20 is folded downwardly and inwardly about fold line 28 as shown in Figure 3.
• spacer tabs 34 are guided between second side wall panel 20 and the side of the respective article A and are thus brought into engagement with the under side of flange portions F of the articles A to restrict relative movement of the article A shown in Figure 4b.
• the outer face of securing flap 12 is brought into face contacting relationship with the inner face of second side wall panel 20.
• Panels 12 and 20 are preferably secured together using glue or other suitable means known in the art.
• first and second side wall panels 16 and 20 causes flange portions F to protrude laterally beyond fold lines 26 and 28 and the thickness of the flange portions causes tabs 57 to fold outwardly slightly beyond the plane of first and second side wall panel 20.
• the tabs 57 thereby engage underneath the flanges F, shown in Figures 4a and 4b, and assist in the retention of the articles A within the carton.
• the carton is now in a fully set-up and loaded condition as illustrated in Figure 4.
• spacer tabs 34 are dimensioned such that during the folding operation, their positioning underneath flanges F ensures that the free edge of second side wall panel 20 is substantially co-extensive with fold line 28 when securing flap 12 is brought into face contacting relationship with second side wall panel 20, thus ensuring that, in this embodiment, base and top wall panels 14 and 18 are substantially parallel because the first side wall 16 is the same width W as the resulting second wall formed by securing flap 12 and second side wall panel 20.
• the alternative arrangement of achieving such a parallel arrangement with a relatively small engagement flap requires the flap to be secured to the outer face of second side wall panel 20.
• the disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the side wall surface is interrupted and therefore the display of information and/or advertising indicia is compromised.
• the free edge of spacer tab 34 may abut the inner surface of the top panel to achieve the same effect. This is particularly useful for articles without flanges. It is not necessary for the free edge of side wall panel 20 to be co-extensive with fold line 22, for example where the side wall panel is narrower and securing flap is wider, then the spacer tab would be used to determine the position of overlap for the securing flap and second side wall panel.
• the second embodiment of Figure 5 differs from the first embodiment largely in relation to the aperture structures.
• the aperture structures 130 and 132 are contained entirely within the base wall panel as it is not necessary for the apertures 136 to be elongate to prevent securing flap 112 fouling on the base of the article A.
• the erection procedure is substantially identical to that of the first embodiment and, as before, tabs 134 act as a spacer so as to ensure that the top and base walls of the erected carton are parallel as shown in Figure 7.
• the third embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 and in particular to the blank as shown in Figure 8: again the blank of the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and like numerals have where possible been used for like parts where possible with the addition of the prefix "2". Only the differences between the third embodiment in relation to the first have therefore been described below.
• the blank of Figure 8 differs from that of Figure 5 in that spacer tab 234 does not follow the cut line 258 defining aperture 236 rather the side edges thereof are defined by extensions of cut lines 259a and 259b.
• the erection procedure of the blank to form the completed carton of the third embodiment is substantially identical to the erection procedure of the first and second embodiments and is shown in Figure 9.
• the fully set-up and loaded carton formed from the blank of Figure 8 is shown in Figure 10.
• the invention can be applied to a wraparound carton or an end loading carton with only minor amendments to the structure.
• the bracing tab could be struck entirely from the securing flap in those cartons without article apertures.
• the width of the securing flap (and therefore the bracing tab) can be adjusted according to the size of the carton.
• hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.
• the carton may be adapted to accommodate a single article or more than two articles.
• the size and shape of the apertures and panels may be adjusted according to the particular requirements of the articles to be packaged and other known article retention means may be employed.
• the present invention and its preferred embodiment relates to a carton which is shaped to provide satisfactory rigidity to hold items such as primary containers securely but with a degree of flexibility.
• the shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required for the carton.
• the items can be applied to the carrier by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated the invention can be applied to a variety of carton or tray types and not limited to those of the wraparound sort.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (14)

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• 2001
  • 2001-02-07 GB GBGB0103023.8A patent/GB0103023D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2002
  • 2002-02-07 PL PL02363040A patent/PL363040A1/xx unknown
  • 2002-02-07 RU RU2003127075/12A patent/RU2286933C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-02-07 EP EP02709412A patent/EP1360123A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-02-07 EE EEP200300374A patent/EE200300374A/xx unknown
  • 2002-02-07 SK SK1121-2003A patent/SK11212003A3/sk not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-02-07 BR BR0207060-0A patent/BR0207060A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-02-07 CA CA002444999A patent/CA2444999A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-02-07 IL IL15717802A patent/IL157178A0/xx unknown
  • 2002-02-07 CZ CZ20032359A patent/CZ20032359A3/cs unknown
  • 2002-02-07 HU HU0400729A patent/HUP0400729A3/hu unknown
  • 2002-02-07 MX MXPA03007035A patent/MXPA03007035A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2002-02-07 WO PCT/US2002/003692 patent/WO2002062676A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2003
  • 2003-08-01 NO NO20033430A patent/NO20033430L/no not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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