GB1592081A - Cartons and carton blanks - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CARTONS AND CARTON BLANKS (71) We, VIBIXA LIMITED, a British Company, of Kingsditch Lane, Cheitenham, 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 a carton formed from cardboard or like semi-rigid sheet material and to a blank for constructing such a carton. The invention is particularly concerned with cartons of the type having an integral partition dividing the enclbsed space into two parts.

According to the' invention in one aspect, a blank for a rectangular self-erecting carton comprises first, second, third and fourth wall-forming portions interconnected end-toend at respective fold lines, first, second, third and fourth base-forming portions separated from one another by cuts and each interconnected to the corresponding wallforming portion at a respective fold line, the first and third base-forming portions being of combined width substantially equal to the length of the second and fourth wall-forming portions and each having a respective partition-forming portion connected to the edge thereof opposite to the corresponding wallforming portion at a respective fold line, the second base-forming portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the first and second wall-forming portions to the edge thereof opposite to the second wallforming portion to form a triangular tab and having the end opposite to said tab cut away along a line extending from the fold line between the second wall-forming portion and said second base-forming portion to the opposite edge of said second base-forming portion, and a fourth base-forming portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the third and fourth wall-forming portions to the edge thereof opposite to the fourth wall-forming portion to form a triangular tab and' having the end thereof opposite to said' tab cut away along a line extending from the fold line between the fourth wall-forming portion and said fourth base-forming portion to the opposite edge of said fourth base-forming portion.

According to the invention in another aspect, a rectangular self-erecting carton comprises first, second, third and fourth side walls interconnected at the corners of the carton by folding joints, first, second, third and fourth base portions separated from one another by cuts and each connected to the corresponding side wall by a respective folding joint, the first and third base portions being of combined width substantially equal to the length of the second and' fourth side waIls and each having a respective' partition portion foldably connected to the edge thereof opposite to the corresponding side wall; the second base portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the first and second side walls to the edge thereof opposite to the second side wall' to form a triangular tab of which at least part is attached to the bottom surface of the first base portion, the fourth base portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the third and fourth side walls to the edge thereof opposite to the fourth side wall to form a triangular tab at least part of which is attached to the bottom surface of the third base portion, whereby, if the base of the erected carton and the corners thereof between the first and fourth side walls and between the second and third side walls are pressed inwardly, the carton collapses and, if the ends of the collapsed carton between the first and second side walls and between the third and fourth side walls are pressed inwardly, the carton erects, with the two partition portions abutting each other, the ends of the second and fourth base portions opposite to the triangular tabs being cut away so as not to obstruct the first and third base portions respectively during collapsing and erection.

An embodiment of the invention will' now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a carton-forming blank in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of an erected carton formed from the blank shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a plan view from below showing the carton illustrated in Figure 2 in partially erected form.

Figure 1 shows a blank having first, second, third and fourth wall-forming portions 10, 11, 12 and 13 interconnected at respective fold lines 14, 15 and 16. A tab 17 is attached to the end of the wall-forming portion 13 at a fold line 18 on the opposite edge to the fold line 16.

Each of the wall-fonning portions 10 to 13 has a respective base-forming portion 19, 20, 21 and 22 connected thereto at respective fold lines 23, 24, 25 and 26 perpendicular to the fold lines 14, 15 and 16. Each of the first and third base-forming portions 19 and 21 has a respective partition-forming portion 27, 28 connected thereto at respective fold lines 27a and 28a on the opposite edges to the fold lines 23 and 25.

The second base-forming portion 20 has a fold line 29 extending thereacross from the corner adjacent to the fold line 14 at an angle of 45" to the fold line 24 so as to form a triangular tab 30 on one corner of the baseforming portion 20.

A similar fold line 31 is provided on the fourth base-forming portion 22 so as to form a similar triangular tab 32. The outer corners of the second and fourth base-forming portions 20 and 22 opposite to the corners adjacent to the fold lines 14 and 16 are cut away along respective lines 33 and 34 extending at 45" to the fold lines 24 and 26 respectively.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the edges of the base-forming portions 19 and 21 and the tabs 30 and 32 which extend perpendicular to the fold lines 23, 24, 25 and 26, are cut away to leave gaps between adjacent baseforming portions when the blank is flat as shown in Figure 1. The result of this is that, when the tab 17 is joined to the free end of the wall-forming portion 10 so that the wallforming portions form a rectangle, the baseforming portions lie entirely within such rectangle. In other words, the edges of the base-forming portions are cut away to allow for the thickness of the card from which the blank is formed.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, in order to form a carton from the blank, the tab 17 is glued to the free end of the first wall-forming portion 10. The first and third base-forming portions 19 and 21 are folded inwardly along the fold lines 23 and 25 so that the two partition-forming portions 27 and 28 abut against one another to form a partition extending between the side walls formed by the wallforming portions 11 and 13. The second and fourth base-forming portions 20 and 22 are folded inwardly along their respective fold lines 24 and 26 so as to abut the underneath surfaces of the base-forming portions 19 and 21. The upper surfaces of the tabs 30 and 32 are then glued to the confronting parts of the underneath surfaces of the base-forming portions 19 and 21.

With this arrangement, if the centre of the base of the carton is pressed upwardly, the second and fourth base-forming' portions 20 and 22 fold along their respective fold lines 29 and 31. Then, if the two corners formed by the fold lines 15 and 18 are pressed inwardly, the carton will fold flat with the tabs 30 and 32 doubled back against their respective base-forming portions 20 and 22 and the tab 17 accommodated in a cut-out 35 in the base-forming portion 19. When it is desired to re-erect the carton, it is merely necessary to press the ends of the flattened carton formed by the fold lines 14 and 16 inwardly until further inward movement is prevented by abutment of the partition-forming portions 27 and 28, erection of the carton taking place completely automatically.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the carton is divided into two equal parts by the partition-forming portions 27 and 28. The relative size of the two parts of the carton is determined by the relative size of the first and third base-forming portions. When the carton is to be used to pack two rows of the same product, the two parts are made of equal size.

In the embodiment illustrated, the oblique fold lines 29 and 31 extend at 450 to the fold lines 24 and 26 respectively. With this configuration, there is no tendency for the tabs to move away from the first and third baseforming portions at any stage of the opening and closing operations. However, due to the flexible nature of the material from which the carton or blank is constructed, departure from the ideal angle of 45" is acceptable but it will then usually be preferable for only that portion of the tab which is remote from the oblique fold line to be secured to the confronting first or third base-forming portion.

In use, the presence of a product in the carton is normally sufficient to maintain the partition between the two parts thereof vertical. However, if additional stability is required, a stabilising flap may be attached to the edge of the partition-forming portion 27 adjacent to the tab 30 and a similar stabilising flap may be attached to the edge of the partition-forming portion 28 adjacent to the tab 32. The lower edge of each stabilising flap is aligned with the corresponding fold line 27a, 28a and the length thereof is not greater than and preferably equal to half that of the second and fourth wall-forming portions 11 and 13.

Thus, when the carton is erected, the stabilising flaps engage in the corners formed by the fold lines 15, 24 and 18, 26 respectively.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A blank for a rectangular self-erecting carton comprising first, second, third and fourth wall-forming portions interconnected end-to-end at respective fold lines, first, second, third and fourth base-forming portions separated from one another by cuts and each interconnected to the corresponding wall-forming portion at a respective fold line, the first and third base-forming portions being of combined width substantially equal to the length of the second and fourth wallforming portions and each having a respective partition-forming portion connected to the edge thereof opposite to the corresponding wall-forming portion at a respective fold line, the second base-forming portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the first and second wall-forming portions to the edge thereof opposite to the second wall-forming portion to form a triangular tab and having the end opposite to said tab cut away along a line extending from the fold line between the second wallforming portion and said second baseforming portion to the opposite edge of said second base-forming portion, and a fourth base-forming portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the third and fourth wall-forming portions to the edge thereof opposite to the fourth wall-forming portion to form a triangular tab and having the end thereof opposite to said tab cut away along a line extending from the fold line between the fourth wall-forming portion and said fourth base-forming portion to the opposite edge of said fourth base-forming portion.

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the oblique fold lines on the second and fourth base-forming portions extend at 45" to the fold lines between the second and fourth baseforming portions and the adjacent wallforming portions.

3. A blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the end opposite to the tab of each of the second and fourth base-forming portions is cut away along a respective oblique line extending from the edge thereof opposite to the wall-forming portion to which the baseforming portion is connected to the corner opposite to said tab and adjacent to the wallforming portion.

4. A blank according to claim 3, wherein each said oblique line extends at 45" to the fold line between the corresponding baseforming portion and the adjacent wallforming portion.

5. A rectangular self-erecting carton comprises first, second, third and fourth side walls interconnected at the corners of the carton by folding joints, first, second, third and fourth base portions separated from one another by cuts and each connected to the corresponding side wall by a respective folding joint, the first and third base portions being of combined width substantially equal to the length of the second and fourth side walls and each having a respective partition portion foldably connected to the edge thereof opposite to the corresponding side wall, the second base portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the first and second side walls to the edge thereof opposite to the second side wall to form a triangular tab of which at least part is attached to the bottom surface of the first base portion, the fourth base portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the third and fourth side walls to the edge thereof opposite to the fourth side wall to form a triangular tab at least part of which is attached to the bottom surface of the third base portion, whereby, if the base of the erected carton and the corners thereof between the first and fourth side walls and between the second and third side walls are pressed inwardly, the carton collapses and, if the ends of the collapsed carton between the first and second side walls and between the third and fourth side walls are pressed inwardly, the carton erects, with the two partition portions abutting each other, the ends of the second and fourth base portions opposite to the triangular tabs being cut away so as not to obstruct the first and third base portions respectively during collapsing and erection.

6. A carton according to claim 5, wherein the oblique fold lines on the second and fourth base portions extend at 45" to the fold lines between the second and fourth base portions and the adjacent side walls.

7. A carton according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each of the second and fourth base portions is cut away along a respective oblique line extending from the edge thereof opposite to the side wall to which the base portion is connected to the corner opposite to said tab and adjacent to the side wall.

8. A carton according to claim 7, wherein each said oblique line extends at 45" to the fold line between the corresponding base portion and the adjacent side wall.

9. A blank for a rectangular self-erecting carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A rectangular self-erecting carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and fourth wall-forming portions 11 and 13. Thus, when the carton is erected, the stabilising flaps engage in the corners formed by the fold lines 15, 24 and 18, 26 respectively. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A blank for a rectangular self-erecting carton comprising first, second, third and fourth wall-forming portions interconnected end-to-end at respective fold lines, first, second, third and fourth base-forming portions separated from one another by cuts and each interconnected to the corresponding wall-forming portion at a respective fold line, the first and third base-forming portions being of combined width substantially equal to the length of the second and fourth wallforming portions and each having a respective partition-forming portion connected to the edge thereof opposite to the corresponding wall-forming portion at a respective fold line, the second base-forming portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the first and second wall-forming portions to the edge thereof opposite to the second wall-forming portion to form a triangular tab and having the end opposite to said tab cut away along a line extending from the fold line between the second wallforming portion and said second baseforming portion to the opposite edge of said second base-forming portion, and a fourth base-forming portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the third and fourth wall-forming portions to the edge thereof opposite to the fourth wall-forming portion to form a triangular tab and having the end thereof opposite to said tab cut away along a line extending from the fold line between the fourth wall-forming portion and said fourth base-forming portion to the opposite edge of said fourth base-forming portion.

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the oblique fold lines on the second and fourth base-forming portions extend at 45" to the fold lines between the second and fourth baseforming portions and the adjacent wallforming portions.

3. A blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the end opposite to the tab of each of the second and fourth base-forming portions is cut away along a respective oblique line extending from the edge thereof opposite to the wall-forming portion to which the baseforming portion is connected to the corner opposite to said tab and adjacent to the wallforming portion.

4. A blank according to claim 3, wherein each said oblique line extends at 45" to the fold line between the corresponding baseforming portion and the adjacent wallforming portion.

5. A rectangular self-erecting carton comprises first, second, third and fourth side walls interconnected at the corners of the carton by folding joints, first, second, third and fourth base portions separated from one another by cuts and each connected to the corresponding side wall by a respective folding joint, the first and third base portions being of combined width substantially equal to the length of the second and fourth side walls and each having a respective partition portion foldably connected to the edge thereof opposite to the corresponding side wall, the second base portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the first and second side walls to the edge thereof opposite to the second side wall to form a triangular tab of which at least part is attached to the bottom surface of the first base portion, the fourth base portion having an oblique fold line extending from the corner thereof adjacent to the fold line between the third and fourth side walls to the edge thereof opposite to the fourth side wall to form a triangular tab at least part of which is attached to the bottom surface of the third base portion, whereby, if the base of the erected carton and the corners thereof between the first and fourth side walls and between the second and third side walls are pressed inwardly, the carton collapses and, if the ends of the collapsed carton between the first and second side walls and between the third and fourth side walls are pressed inwardly, the carton erects, with the two partition portions abutting each other, the ends of the second and fourth base portions opposite to the triangular tabs being cut away so as not to obstruct the first and third base portions respectively during collapsing and erection.

6. A carton according to claim 5, wherein the oblique fold lines on the second and fourth base portions extend at 45" to the fold lines between the second and fourth base portions and the adjacent side walls.

7. A carton according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each of the second and fourth base portions is cut away along a respective oblique line extending from the edge thereof opposite to the side wall to which the base portion is connected to the corner opposite to said tab and adjacent to the side wall.

8. A carton according to claim 7, wherein each said oblique line extends at 45" to the fold line between the corresponding base portion and the adjacent side wall.

9. A blank for a rectangular self-erecting carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A rectangular self-erecting carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.