GB2034281A - Easter Egg or Like Carton - Google Patents

Abstract

A cut and creased blank of sheet material is erectable into a container by a punch and die operation, which causes sections (30-40) of the blank to deflect out of main panels (10, 12, 14) to define a cradle which serves to hold a Chocolate Easter Egg or other article, which the container is to hold. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements Relating to Packaging Containers This invention relates to packaging containers constructed from sheet material most commonly cardboard, and in particular blanks from which such containers can be erected.

The chocolate easter egg trade although seasonal, uses annually a large number of packaging containers for the eggs, and in addition to there being a new demand annually for new designs of containers in order to improve the aesthetic appeal of presentation of the eggs, there is also a demand annually to improve the container construction both from a technical point of view and from a commercial point of view.

The present invention is concerned with a novel form of container construction and in particular concerns a blank of sheet material which is adapted to be erected into a container in a simple and effective manner.

Although reference is made herein and hereinafter only to packaging containers for holding individual chocolate easter eggs, it is to be pointed out that the article which is held by the container according to the invention may be other than a chocolate easter egg without departing from the scope of the invention and it is therefore desired that the expression "Easter Egg" as used herein be construed accordingly.

Also, the blank of the invention for convenience is described as being of cardboard, but it is to be pointed out that other sheet material, such as sheet plastic, can be used.

According to the invention a blank of sheet material such as cardboard is erectible into a container for a chocolate easter egg and comprises at least two main panels which are hinged together along a fold line, said blank being for erection by punch and die operation, to hinge the said at least two main panels relatively to define walls of the container, said at least two main panels having crease lines defining auxiliary panels which folds inwardly in the punch and die operation to define a cradle for support of the easter egg.Preferably, there are three main panels, a first main panel to a pair of opposite edges of which are respectively hinged second and third main panels for hinging relative to the first main panel along fold lines at said opposite edges in the erection of the blank, and there are fold lines defining the said auxiliary panels in the first, second and third panels some of which are hinged edge to edge and some of which lie wholly in the main panels or lie partly in the first and second main panels and interrupt the fold line therebetween, and lie partly in the first and third main panels and interrupt the fold line therebetween so that in folding the second and third main panels to the erected condition the auxiliary panels are induced to fold relative to each other and when inwardly directed relative to the folded second and third panels define said cradle for the easter egg. In the blank, the auxiliary panels surround an aperture or apertures in the blank which opens or open up to a larger size when the auxiliary panels are folded inwardly to define the cradle, so that the easter egg can be seen through said aperture or apertures, when such egg is in the erected container.

The first main panel preferably is four-sided, adjacent sides being at right angles and there may be fourth and fifth main panels respectively hinged to the other pair of opposite sides of the first main panel, the said second to fifth main panels also being four sided with adjacent sides at right angles. The sides of the second and third panels opposite those which are hinged to the first panel have strengthening flaps which are adapted to be folded onto and glued to the second and third main panels to strengthen same and also to provide locks for locking flaps hinged to the fourth and fifth main panels in effecting erection of the blank so that a box like container results having four walls defined by the second to fifth main panels and the two remaining walls strengthening flaps and the locking flaps.The second to fifth panels may additionally be glued together by means of glue flaps on the fourth and fifth main panels which are glued to the second and third main panels. The said glue flaps may have hinged sections which can be hinged out of the planes of said flaps to engage the article to be held by the container.

The blank constructed above is adapted to have a first stage of erection on which the second to fifth panels are folded to erected condition relative to the first panel by a punch and die operation and then the auxiliary panels are tucked inwardly, to complete the container.

The invention also provides a packaging container erected from a blank as aforesaid.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows how the strengthening flaps are folded in the erection of the blank of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 1 to illustrate the erection of the blank; Figure 4 is a side view of a container erected from the blank of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank according to another embodiment of the invention; Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views showing two stages in the erection of the blank of Figure 5; Figures 8 and 9 respectively are a rear view and a perspective front view of a container erected from the blank of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a plan of a blank of sheet material according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 11 is a perspective view of part of the blank of Figure 10, when partially erected; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a platform which is for use in connection with the blank of Figure 10; Figure 13 is a perspective view showing how the erected blank of Figure 11, the Easter Egg to be held by the container and the platform of Figure 12 are assembled; Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the erected and filled container; Figure 1 5 is a plan view similar to Figure 10 but shows another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 16 is a perspective view which is similar to Figure 11, but shows the blank of Figure 1 5 in partially erected condition.

In the blanks shown in the drawings the convention of showing fold lines, in this case lines of creasing, in double chain-dotted lines, and cut edges in full lines, has been adopted.

The blank shown in Figure 1 comprises a first main panel 10 which in this example is of rectangular form, to a pair of opposite edges of which are hinged second and third main panels 12 and 14 respectively. To the other pair of opposite edges respectively are hinged fourth and fifth main panels 16 and 18. Panels 12 to 1 8 are also of rectangular form as shown. To the edges of panels 12 and 14 are hinged strengthening flaps 1 2A and 14A. These panels 1 2A, 1 4A have but out locks 1 2B, 148, fold lines 1 2C, 1 4C, defining rectangular panels of which the end ones form glue tabs 12E. 14E.In the erection of the blank 2 to form a packaging container, firstly the strengthening-flaps 1 2A, 1 4A are glued to the inside of panels 12 and 14 as shown in Figure 2.

The glue is applied to the insides of tabs 1 2E, 1 4E and flaps 1 2A, 1 4A are folded over to become glued to panels 12, 14 as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3. Next, the panels 12 to 1 8 are folded upwardly in Figure 1 out of the plane of the paper, by a punch and die operation, and glue tabs 11 and 13 hinged to a pair of opposite sides of panels 12 and 14 are glued to the insides panels 16 and 18 in order to hold all of the panels 12 to 18 in the upwardly folded condition.Locking tabs 20 and 22, respectively hinged to the edges of panels 1 6 and 18 are hinged are finally folded inwardly as shown in Figure 4, after the upwards folding of panels 12 to 18 and after placement of the egg in the thus erected blank, so as to interlock in the locks 12B, 148 in the flaps 12 and 14. Said tabs 16, 18 with said flaps 12, 14, in effect form a sixth side of the container, which side is opposite the panel 10. The said side defined by tabs 20 and 22 and flaps 12 and 14 will have an opening through which the easter egg held in the container can be viewed, and the curved edges of flaps 20 and 22 in fact engage the easter egg and hold it in position in the container.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention, the blank is additionally provided with 6 auxiliary panels 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 of which panels 40, 30 and 32 are hinged together along fold lines 42 and 44, whilst panels 34, 36 and 38 are hinged together as shown along fold lines 46 and 48. Panels 32 and 34 and 38 and 40 although adjacent are not in fact hinged together to enable the auxiliary panels 30 to 40 to hinge along lines 42 to 48 in the erection of the blank.

The panels 30 to 40 surround an aperture 50 and at their opposite edges together define a generally hexagonal shape which overlaps the main panel 10 and extends into second and third main panels 12 and 14. In fact, auxiliary panels 32 and 34 lie partially in panel 10 and panel 12 and interrupt the fold line between panels 10 and 12 whilst, in a similar manner, auxiliary panels 38 and 40 lie partially in panels 10 and 14 and extend across the fold line between panels 10 and 14, interrupting same.By this arrangement, when panels 12 and 14 are folded upwardly as explained herein, the auxiliary panels 30 to 40 are induced by suitable means such as a plungers or tuck fingers to hinge about the fold lines 42 and 48 in order to ensure during the punch and die erection that the auxiliary panels 30 to 40 fold inwardly in order to create the inwardly directed cradle as shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 9, these figures show another embodiment of the invention, and in particular Figure 5 shows a blank which is erectable into a container holding an easter egg which is generally of the triangular configuration shown in Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 5 in detaii, the blank comprises first and second main panels 100 and 102 connected together along fold line 104. The panels 100 and 102 are of the same size and are of rectangular form. They are provided with inclined crease lines 106 and 108 to define the auxiliary panels 110 and 112 which bound a central aperture 114. The solid lines 11 6 indicate cuts in the blank material, to enable the auxiliary panels 110 and 112 to fold inwardly, as shown in Figure 6, when the blank is subjected to a punch and die erection operation.

Each of the panels 100 and 102 has hinged to the other longer side thereof, a closure panel 11 8, to the other side of which is hinged a locking flap 120, having locking slots 122 and glue tabs 124.

At each end, panel 100 has hinged thereto an end panel 126, whilst panel 122 has hinged to each end an end panel 128. These panels 126 and 128 are truncated at a corner region thereof, in order to provide the erected container with the triangular appearance as shown in Figure 10.

Each of the panels 128 is provided with glue tabs 130 and a locking flap 132 on the truncated edge.

In order to erect the blank described with reference to Figure 5, in the first stage of erection, it is subjected to a punch and die operation which relatively hinges the panels 100 and 102 about the fold line 104 and simultaneously the auxiliary panels 106 and 108 are tucked inwardly as shown in Figure 6 to form a cradle for the easter egg to be supported in the finally erected container. Simultaneously, the panels 126 are folded relative to the panel 100 and panels 128 are folded similarly, the panels 126 being innermost and being glued to the panels 128 where they overlap as shown in Figure 6.

To complete the erection of the container from the condition shown in Figure 6, the tabs 1 30 are folded inwardly, and then the panels 118 are folded over with the tabs 1 30 to the positions shown in Figure 7, the tabs 124 being glued to the inner faces of the panels 126. The egg is now placed in the container so as to rest on the cradle defined by the inwardly folded auxiliary panels 106 and 108, and then the locking panels 132 are simply folded inwardly from the position shown in Figure 7 to lock in the locking slots 122 so that the erected condition shown in Figure 8 is achieved.Figure 9 illustrates the container in perspective elevation and shows the aperture 114 which has become enlarged from the condition shown in Figure 6 by the inward folding of the auxiliary panels 106 and 108.

In a modification, the blank may be constructed to have a strip of blank material lying across the aperture 50 in the Figures 1 to 4 embodiment or across the aperture 114 in the Figures 5 to 9 embodiment which is designed to wrap behind the egg and to urge the egg against the cradle formed by the auxiliary panels thereby to hold the egg more firmly in position. Should this be shown to be desirable with such modification, the blank has to be designed to enable the egg to be placed in the container by being pushed through the aperture 50 or 114 which is surrounded by the auxiliary panels, and in being so inserted the egg deflects the said strap inwardly of the container.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 10 to 14, the blank comprises a first main panel 200 to which are hinged second and third main panels 202 and 204, and fourth and fifth main panels 206 and 208. All of these panels are of rectangular configuration as shown, the outer edges of panels 202 and 204 having hinged thereto lock flaps 210 and 212, whilst the outer edges of panels 206 and 208 have complementary lock tabs 214 and 216.

The other pair of edges of panel 202 is provided with glue flaps 218 and 220 which have cradle sections 21 8A and 220A. Similarly, panel 204 is provided on the other pair of opposite edges with glue tabs 222 and 224 which have cradle sections 222A and 224A similar to glue flaps 218 and 220.

Auxiliary panels 208A and 2088 are formed in panel 208 and are hinged to complementary auxiliary panels 200A and 200B in panel 200. An aperture 226 extends across the panels 208 and 200 as shown, and there is a similar symmetrical arrangement of auxiliary panels 206A, 2068 and 200A and 200B with an aperture 228 bridging panels 206 and 200.

It is to be noted that there are interlocking slots 21 88 2208 222B and 2248 at the edge of the blank where the appropriate cradle section 21 8A, 220A, 222A and 224A is formed.

The blank illustrated in Figure 10 is erected by punch and die operation in the manner already described in relation to previous embodiments, and during the punch and die operation, the auxiliary panels 200A, 2008, 206A, 206B and 208A and 208B fold inwardly whilst the panels 202, 204, 206 and 208 are folded upwardly relative to the panel 200. Figure 11 shows half of the erected blank. The other half is symmetrically arranged and will be similariy erected.In the erection operation, the glue flaps 218, 220, 222 and 224 are folded at right angles relative to their panels 202 and 204, and the cradle panels 21 8A, 220A, 222A, and 224B are also hinged relative to the panels 218, 220, 222 and 224 to which they are hinged, so that not only do the glue panels 220 and 224 (and likewise panels 218 and 222 which are not shown in Figure 11) overlap, but they also interengage by their slots 220B and 2248, and the deflected cradle panels 220A and 224A co-operate, shown clearly in Figure 11 with the auxiliary panels 200A, 200B, 206A and 206B in providing a cradle support for the article to be held by the container. The panel 220 and 224 are in fact glued to the inner side of panel 206 to keep the container in erect condition.It is to be borne in mind that the other half of the erected container will be identical.

The container is now ready to receive the article to be held, e.g. a chocolate easter egg, and a platform such as is shown in Figure 12 for the effect of holding of the egg in position inside the container. The platform shown in Figure 12 is constructed from cut and creased sheet material, and comprises simply a rectangular panel 230 with side flanges. The panel erection takes place as shown in Figure 13. Firstly the egg 232 is placed in the erected container, so as to rest on the cradle defined by the auxiliary panels 200A, 200B, 206A, 2068, 280A, 280B, and the cradle sections 21 8A, 220A, 222A, and 224A. Next the platform 230 is positioned in the container over the egg 232 so the aperture thereof also engages the egg, and finally the platform 230 is locked in position by inwardly folding the locking tabs 210, 212, 216 and 214.The finished container is shown in perspective view in Figure 14, and it will be seen that the egg 232 is visible through the apertures 226 and 228 which have effectively increased in size by the inward folding of the said auxiliary panels.

The arrangement shown in Figures 1 5 and 16 is essentially similar to that shown in Figures 10 to 14, except that the requirement for the platform 230 of Figure 12 is removed. In Figures 15 and 16 reference numerals similar to those used in Figures 10 to 14 for corresponding part have been used. It will be seen that glue flaps 218 to 220, 222 and 224 are truncated, and the locking tabs 210, 212, 214 and 216 are wider.

After the initial punch and die erection of the blank shown in Figure 1 5 to the condition shown in Figure 16, corresponding to the erected position shown in Figure 11 of the previous embodiment, the egg is simply placed into the container to engage the cradle formed by the auxiliary panels and the cradle sections, and then the locktabs210, 212, 214and 216 are stuck inwardly so as on the one hand to interlock, and on the other hand to engage the egg which is now in position in the container, to hold same in position.

In some constructions according to the invention, it will be possible to insert the egg through one of the walls in the erected container.

For example, in the embodiment of Figures 1 5 and 16, the container can be fully erected, and the egg pushed through the aperture in the wall defined by the interlocking tabs 210, 212, 214 and 21 6, which enhances automatic filling of the container.

Claims (8)

Claims

1. A blank of sheet material, such as cardboard, erectible into a container for a chocolate easter egg and comprising at least two main panels which are hinged together along a fold line, said blank being for erection by punch and die operation, to hinge the said at least two main panels relatively to define walls of the container, said at least two main panels having crease lines defining auxiliary panels which fold inwardly in the punch and die operation to define a cradle for support of the easter egg.

2. A blank according to Claim 1 wherein, there are three main panels, a first main panel to a pair of opposite edges of which are respectively hinged second and third main panels for hinging relative to the first main panel along fold lines at said opposite edges in the erection of the blank, and there are fold lines defining the said auxiliary panels in the first, second and third panels so that in folding the second and third main panels to the erected condition the auxiliary panels are induced to fold relative to each other and when inwardly directed relative to the folded second and third panels define said cradle for the easter egg, and in the blank, the auxiliary panels surround an aperture in the blank which opens up to a larger size when the auxiliary panels are folded inwardly to define the cradle, so that the easter egg can be seen through said aperture, when such egg is on the erected container.

3. A blank according to Claim 2, wherein the first main panel is four-sided, adjacent sides being at right angles and there may be fourth and fifth main panels respectively hinged to the other pair of opposite sides of the first main panel, the said second to fifth main panels also being four sided with adjacent sides at right angles.

4. A blank according to Claim 3, wherein the sides of the second and third panels opposite those which are hinged to the first panel have strengthening flaps which are adapted to be folded onto and glued to the second and third main panels to strengthen same and also to provide locks for locking flaps hinged to the fourth and fifth main panels in effecting erection of the blank so that a box like container results having four walls defined by the second to fifth main panels and the two remaining walls being defined by the first main panel and the interlocked strengthening flaps and the locking flaps.

5. A blank according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the seond to fifth main panels additionally are adapted to be glued together by means of glue flaps on the fourth and fifth main panels which are glued to the second and third main panels.

6. A blank according to Claim 5, wherein said glue flaps have cradle sections which are adapted to be folded out of the planes of the glue flaps to engage the easter egg to be held by the container and assist in holding such egg in positicn.

7. A blank of sheet material, such as cardboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A container created from a blank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.