GB1575502A - Containers folded from a blank - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONTAINERS FOLDED FROM A BLANK (71) We, UNILEVER LIMITED, a com- pany organised under the laws of Great Britain, of Unilever House, Blackfriars, London E.C.4., England, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to improvements in or relating to a container folded from a blank of foldable sheet material and particularly to a container which is stable when stood on an end formed by end flaps.

It has been previously proposed to form containers having an end wall which forms the bottom of the container in which the end wall is formed by end flaps joined together by a seam which is folded to lie in contact with the outer face of the end wall.

The presence of the seam on the outside of the end wall leads to instability of the container when stood on that end wall.

According to the present invention there is provided a container folded from a blank of foldable material comprising a first pair of opposite side walls and a second pair of opposite side walls, one end of the container being formed from end flaps foldably connected to each of the side walls and to the adjacent end flaps, and securing flaps along the edges of each of the end flaps remote from their connection to the side walls, the securing flaps being secured together to form a seam- to close the end of the container, the seam lying inside the container. The extra thickness of material arising from the seam does not therefore lead to instability of the container when the container is stood on that end wall.

Preferably the container has a central fold line - in each of the second pair of opposite side walls and a fold line connecting one end of each of said central fold lines extending centrally across the end of the container. This enables the container to be transported in a flat collapsed condition and be readily brought to the erected condition immediately before filling with the product ,to be contained. The central fold lines also facilitate the seaming or securing together of the securing flaps which can then be carried out with the container in the -collapsed flat condition.

Conveniently the central fold lines divide each of the securing flaps on the end flaps connected to the second pair of opposite side walls into two parts lying on opposite sides of the central fold lines, the two parts of respective securing flaps being secured each to opposite ones of the securing flaps connected to the end flaps of the first pair of opposite side walls.

The end flaps and the securing flaps con necked to the second pair of opposite side walls are advantageously provided with diagonal fold lines, the diagonal fold lines in respective end and securing flaps intersecting with the intersection of the respective central fold line and the fold line connecting respective securing flaps and end flaps to facilitate erection of the container from the flat collapsed condition. Simi larly diagonal fold lines in the end flaps and securing flaps connected to the first pair of opposite side walls arranged to be contiguous with the first diagonal fold lines when the container is in the flat collapsed condition also facilitate erection of the container.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for a container; Figure 2 is a view showing the blank of Figure 1 partly folded; Figure 3 is a view of the end of the con -tainer from below and to one side and F-igure=--A is a .plan view of the inside of the container as shown in Figure 3 on an e-nlarged scal -- Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a flat blank I - of carton board divided- by longitudinal fold lines 2, 3, 4 and 5.The bldnkPs is also divided by transverse fold lines 6, 7, 8 and 9 which divide that por ,tion of, the blank between the fold lines 2 and 3 intg side wall panels 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The longitudinal fold lines 2 and 4 and the transverse fold liners define end flaps 15, 16, 17, 18- and 19 foldably connected to the side wall panels along-foldç line 2 and to adjacent flaps by fold lines 6, -7, 8 and 9. The fold line 4 connects securing 'flaps 15a, 16a, 17a, 18a and 19a to respective end flaps.The length of the end flaps 15 to 19, i.e. the distance be tween the fold lines 2 and 4,-is equal to one half the width of the wall panels 11 and 13, i.e. the distance between fold lines 6 and 7, and 8 and 9.

,The fold lines 3 and 5 similarly define at the top of the blank as shown in Figure 1 end flaps 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 and securing flaps 20a, 21a, 22a, 23a and 24a f6ld- ably connected to the side wall panels 10 to 14 respectively. The distance between the fold' lines 3 and 5 is however greater than one half the width of the side wall panels 11 and 13.

A fold line 25 extends transversely across the blank centrálly of each of the side wall panels 11 and 13. Diagonal fold lines 26 in the end flaps 21 and 23 méet at the intersection of the fold lines 5 and 25 and extend to the intersections of the fold line 3 with the transverse fold lines 6, 7, 8 and 9. Similar fold lines 27 are provided in the end flaps 16 and 18 extending from the intersections of the fold line 2 with the transverse fold lines 6, 7, 8 and 9 through the intersections of the fold line 4 with the fold lines 25 to the edge of the blank.

Further"diagonal fold lines 28 extend across the end flaps 15, 17 and 19 from the intersections of the fold line 2 with" the fold lines 6, 7, 8 and 9 to the edge of the blank and at the same angle to the fold lines 6, 7, 8 and 9 as the fold lines 27.

A cut-out 29 is provided at one end of the blank so that the end flap 15 and secur ing flap 15v does not extend to the edge of the blank and a cut-out 30 of the same size is formed in the side wall panel 14 adjacent the fold line 2.

Referring now to Figure 2 the container is formed by first folding the end flaps 15 to 19 and the respective securing flaps through 180 degrees along the longitudinal fold line 2 to lie against the inside of the side wall panels 10 to 14. The blank is then folded along the transverse fold lines 6, 7, 8 and 9 and the central fold lines 25 as shown at the top of Figure 2 until they reach the position shown at the bottom of Figure 2.The side wall panel 14 is folded down first as shown in Figure 2 followed by' the side wall panel 10 which overlays the edge of panel - 14. - The end flap 19 and securing flap 19a are exposed by the' cut- out 30 so that when the side wall 10 is folded down the end flap 15 and securing flap 15a contact the end flap 19 and- securing flap 19cn respectively. Similarly the cut-out 29 allows the side wall panel 10 to contact the side wall - panei 14 over the whole of its height between the fold lines 2 and 3.

In this position the overlying securing 'flaps 15 to 19v are secured together by glue or the like and the side wall panels 10 and 14 and the end flaps 20 and 24 and he securing flaps 20a and' 24cr also secured together. This the sidewall panels 10 and 14 - together form a single side wall of a first pair of opposite side walls of the container, the opposite wall of the pair being the side wall panel 12. A second pair of opposite side walls are formed by, the side wall panels 11 and 13.

Because the second pair of side wall panels 11 and 13 are folded along the central fold lines 25 parts of the securing flaps 16a and 18a on opposite sides of fold line 25 are secured to securing flaps 15a, '19cr and 17a connected to the end flaps on the first pair of opposite side wall panels 10, 14 and 12.

The blanks, folded and secured as described, can be erected into a container this erection involving folding of the end flaps 15 to 19 along ,the diagonal fold lines 27 and 28. Figures 3 and 4 show the partly erected container, the second pair of opposite side walls 11 and 13 not being com- pletely straight but still folded slightly along the central fold line 25. The fold lines 4 form a central fold line across the end of the container joining the ends of the central fold lines Z5.As the side walls 11 and 13 are straightened the end flaps- 15 to 19 fold down to lie substantially at right angles to the side walls Fold lines 27 and 28 in contiguous end flaps coincide and the gusset-like portions of the end flaps between adjacent fold lines 27 and 28 can be folded down to lie against the inside surface of the end formed by the end flaps.

The seam formed by- securing together the securing flaps lies inside the-caxton.

Only those parts of the end ffaps 15, 19 and 17 defined by the fold lines 2 and 4 and fold lines 28, and those parts of the end flaps 16 and 18 defined by the fold lines 2 and 27, are visible from the outside of the carton. The lack of projections on the outside of the carton provides a very stable base for the container when the container is stood on the end formed in this way.

The opposite end of the container can be closed in any convenient manner. The container shown iq the drawings is intended to be closed as a conventional gable top, securing flaps 20a to 24a being brought together lying outside of the container and secured together. The end flaps 20, 24 and 22 are then inclined to the side walls 10, 14 and 12 whilst the end flaps 21 and 23 are folded inwardly along the central folds 25 and diagonal fold lines 26.

The present invention thus provides a container having an end which can form a base on which the container can stand without instability and which can be readily folded and secured by a machine.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A container folded from a blank of foldable material comprising a first pair of opposite side walls and a second pair of opposite side walls, one end of the container being formed from end flaps foldably connected to each of the side walls and to the adjacent end flaps, and securing flaps along the edges of each of the end flaps remote from their connection to the side walls, the securing flaps being secured together to form a seam to close the end of the container, the seam lying inside the container.

2. A container according to Claim 1 having a central fold line in each of the second pair of opposite side walls and a fold line connecting one end of each of said central fold lines extending centrally across the end of the container.

3. A container according to Claim 2 in which the central fold lines divide each of the securing flaps on the end flaps connected to the second pair of opposite side wails into two parts lying on opposite sides of the central fold lines, the two parts of respective securing flaps being secured each to opposite ones of the securing flaps connected to the end flaps of the first pair of opposite side walls.

4. A container according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the end flaps and the securing flaps connected to the second pair of opposite side walls are provided with diagonal fold lines, the diagonal fold lines in respective end and securing flaps intersecting with the intersection of the respective central fold line and the fold line connecting respective securing flaps and end flaps.

5. A container according to Claim 4 in which the end flaps and securing flaps connected to the first pair of opposite side walls are provided with diagonal fold lines contiguous with the diagonal fold lines in the flaps connected to the second pair of opposite side walls when the container is in the flat collapsed condition.

6. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

7. A blank for a container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. stable base for the container when the container is stood on the end formed in this way. The opposite end of the container can be closed in any convenient manner. The container shown iq the drawings is intended to be closed as a conventional gable top, securing flaps 20a to 24a being brought together lying outside of the container and secured together. The end flaps 20, 24 and 22 are then inclined to the side walls 10, 14 and 12 whilst the end flaps 21 and 23 are folded inwardly along the central folds 25 and diagonal fold lines 26. The present invention thus provides a container having an end which can form a base on which the container can stand without instability and which can be readily folded and secured by a machine. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container folded from a blank of foldable material comprising a first pair of opposite side walls and a second pair of opposite side walls, one end of the container being formed from end flaps foldably connected to each of the side walls and to the adjacent end flaps, and securing flaps along the edges of each of the end flaps remote from their connection to the side walls, the securing flaps being secured together to form a seam to close the end of the container, the seam lying inside the container.

2. A container according to Claim 1 having a central fold line in each of the second pair of opposite side walls and a fold line connecting one end of each of said central fold lines extending centrally across the end of the container.

3. A container according to Claim 2 in which the central fold lines divide each of the securing flaps on the end flaps connected to the second pair of opposite side wails into two parts lying on opposite sides of the central fold lines, the two parts of respective securing flaps being secured each to opposite ones of the securing flaps connected to the end flaps of the first pair of opposite side walls.

4. A container according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the end flaps and the securing flaps connected to the second pair of opposite side walls are provided with diagonal fold lines, the diagonal fold lines in respective end and securing flaps intersecting with the intersection of the respective central fold line and the fold line connecting respective securing flaps and end flaps.

5. A container according to Claim 4 in which the end flaps and securing flaps connected to the first pair of opposite side walls are provided with diagonal fold lines contiguous with the diagonal fold lines in the flaps connected to the second pair of opposite side walls when the container is in the flat collapsed condition.

6. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

7. A blank for a container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6.