GB2126194A - Cartons formed from blanks - Google Patents

Abstract

A carton has a rectangular base (15), generally rectangular front and rear walls (3, 1) extending upwardly from parallel edges of the base, and a pair of end walls (9, 13) extending upwardly from the base (15) and extending between and foldably connected to the front and rear walls. The end walls (9, 13) have gussets adapted to allow movement of the front and rear walls between an open configuration in which the front and rear walls are separated along their length and a closed figuration in which the front and rear walls converge towards their upper ends to form a wedge shape. In the closed configuration, the end walls (9, 13) fold inwardly with respect to the carton. A fastening flap (61) retains the carton in the closed configuration and handles (55, 59) are provided at the upper ends of the front and rear walls. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in cartons and blanks therefor The invention relates to cartons and blanks therefor.

According to the invention there is provided a carton comprising a rectangular base, generally rectangular front and rear walls extending upwardly from parallel edges of the base, and a pair of end walls extending upwardly from the base and extending between and foldably connected to the front and rear walls, the end walls having gussets adapted to allow movement of the front and rear walls between an open configuration in which the front and rear walls are separated along their length and a closed configuration in which the front and rear walls converge towards their upper ends to form a wedge shape and in which closed configuration the end walls fold inwardly with respect to the carton, there being retaining means for retaining the carton in the closed configuration and at least one of the front and rear walls having a handle at the upper end thereof.

The carton is preferably formed from a single blank of sheet material, for example cardboard.

The base preferably comprises a base panel foldably connected to at least one of said front rear and end walls, preferably one of said front and rear walls.

Each end wall preferably comprises a lower panel connected by converting first and second fold lines to first and second edge panels respectively, each edge panel having a side edge constituting a side edge of the end wall, and a free edge, the free edges of the two edge panels diverging the one relative to the other in a direction away from the carton base. The first and second fold lines may be fully scored through for part of their length. The first and second fold lines preferably converge to a point and the free edges preferably define a substantially V-shaped portion removed from the end wall.

The end walls are preferably rectangular such that in the open configuration the front and rear walls are parallel.

The retaining means preferably comprises a fastening flap at the upper end of one of the front and rear walls, which fastening flap is engageable in flap engaging means on the other of the front and rear walls. Preferably the flap is substantially mushroom shaped having a head portion and a stalk portion and is cut from the associated front or rear wall to define a handle. Preferably the flap engaging means is an aperture in the other of the front and rear walls, and the aperture is preferably of a shape conforming to that of the flap to provide a further handle.

The invention further provides a blank for a carton according to the invention.

A carton and a blank therefore according to the present.invention are now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of an assembled carton, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation of an assembled carton.

Referring to Fig. 1, a blank for a carton comprises a sheet of semi-rigid cardboard material having a first panel and a second panel 3, both of generally rectangular shape. The first and second panels 1, 3 are foldably connected by respective side edges 5 and 7 to a first gusseted panel 13.

A bottom panel 15, of generally rectangular shape, is foldably connected to one end of the first panel 1 about a fold line 1 7 which extends at right angles to the side edge 5 of the first panel.

Foldably connected to the bottom panel 15, about a fold line 16, is a base closure flap 18. each end of the fold line 1 6 is fully scored through to form short slits 20, for a purpose which will be more fully explained below.

The first and second gusseted panels 9, 1 3 both have end flaps 1 9 which are foldably connected to the gusseted panels about fold lines 21 which are co-linear with the fold line 17 of the first panel 1 when the blank is flat. Each end flap 19 has a free edge 23 and side edges 25, 27. The side edges 25 extend substantially parallel to the side edges 5, 11 of the first and second gusseted panels. The side edges 27 of the end flaps are angled with respect to the side edges 25 so as to facilitate assembly of the carton. With the same object, the edges 25, 27 are all rebated at 29, 30.

The rebates 31 are slightly set back from the fold lines 21 so as to form shoulders 32. In the assembled carton, the shoulders 32 are accommodated in the slits 20 which are formed in the fold line 1 6 between the bottom panel 15 and the base closure flap 18. This helps to ensure a more positive closure of the base of the carton.

A generally rectangular glue flap 33 is foldably connected to the second gusseted panel 12 about a fold line 35 extending parallel to the side edge 11. It will be appreciated that the glue flap could be connected to the first panel 1.

The first and second gusseted panels 9, 13 each comprise a lower panel portion 37 which is connected by converging first and second fold lines 38, 41 to first and second edge panel portions 43, 45 respectively. The edge portions 43, 45 have diverging free edges 47, 49 The first and second fold lines 39, 41 have portions which are scored through completely, as shown diagrammatically at 51,53.

The first panel 1 has, at the end remote from the base panel 15, a handle portion 55 which is generally semicircular in shape. The handle portion 55 has a cut out portion 57, which is generally mushroom shaped to provide a semicircular head portion and a stalk portion defining steps 58.

The second panel 3 also has a generally semicircular handle portion 59. A fastening flap 61 is formed integrally with the handle portion 59. The fastening flap 61 is also of generally mushroom shape to provide a semi-circular head and a pair of shoulders in the flap, corresponding to a pair of stepped portions 62 in the surrounding part of the handle portion 59. The fastening flap 61 is connected to the handle portion 59 only along the fold line 63, being cut out from the handle portion 59 around its semi-circular perimeter and around the pair of stepped portions 62. Around the stepped portions 62, the flap 61 presents a pair of edges 71.

The flap 61 is provided with a further fold line 65, parallel to the fold line 63 and spaced slightly therefrom. In order to facilitate folding, both fold lines 63 and 65 are fully scored through along the part of their length as shown diagrammatically at 67, 69.

The assembly of the carton is as follows. The blank is folded along the fold lines 5, 7, 11, 35 so as to bring the glue flap 33 inside the first panel 1 and in overlapping relation thereto, where it is fixed in position by means of adhesive. The base of the carton is closed by folding in the end flaps 23 along the fold lines 21, folding in the bottom panel 15 and tucking the base closure flap 1 6 inside the second panel 3, so that the shoulders 32 engage in the slits 20.

At this stage, a carton is formed having a front wall formed from the second panel 3, a rear wall formed from the first panel 1, two end walls formed from the gusseted panels 37 and a base.

As the end walls are generally rectangular, when the carton is in an open configuration, the crosssection of the interior of the carton is uniform throughout its height, and corresponds to the base dimensions.

After placing a desired article or articles in the carton, the handles 55 and 59 are brought together to bring the carton into a closed configuration with the panel portions 37, 43 and 45 which provide the gusset in each end wall folded inwardly of the carton, and the front and rear walls converging to form a wedge shape (Fig. 3).

The carton is retained in the closed configuration by engaging the fastening flap 61 in the cut out portion 57 of the first panel 1 forming the rear wall. The fastening flap 61 is folded along the fold lines 63, 65, passed through the cut out portion 57 and retained in position by abutment of the edges 71 against the stepped portions 58 (Fig. 2).

As can be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the assembled carton has the general appearance of a lady's purse or handbag, with the front and rear walls converging towards the upper end of the carton when the carton is in the closed configuration. The carton represents a useful and attractive way of packaging articles such as make-up or hair-care products.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. A carton comprising a rectangular base, generally rectangular front and rear walls extending upwardly from parallel edges of the base, and a pair of end walls extending upwardly from the base and extending between and foldably connected to the front and rear walls, the end walls having gussets adapted to allow movement of the front and rear walls between an open configuration in which the front and rear walls are separated along their length and a closed configuration in which the front and rear walls converge towards their upper ends to form a wedge shape and in which closed configuration the end walls fold inwardly with respect to the carton, there being retaining means for retaining the carton in the closed configuration and at least one of the front and rear walls having a handle at the upper end thereof.

2. A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein each end wall comprises a lower panel connected by converging first and second fold lines to first and second edge panels respectively, each edge panel having a side edge constituting a side edge of the end wall, and a free edge, the free edges of the two edge panels diverging the one relative to the other in a direction away from the carton base.

3. A carton as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first and second fold lines are fully scored through for part of their length.

4. A carton as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the first and second fold lines converge to a point.

5. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the free edges of the end panels define a substantially V-shaped portion removed from the end wall.

6. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the end walls are rectangular such that in the open configuration the front and rear walls are parallel.

7. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base comprises a base panel foldably connected to at least one of said front, rear and end walls.

8. A carton as claimed in claim 7 wherein the base panel is foldably connected to one of said front and rear walls.

9. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the retaining means comrises a fastening flap at the upper end of one of the front and rear walls, which fastening flap is engageabie in flap engaging means on the other of the front and rear walls.

10. A carton as claimed in claim 9 wherein the flap is substantially mushroom shaped having a head portion and a stalk portion and is cut from the associated front or rear wall to define a handle.

11. A carton as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the flap engaging means is an aperture in the other of the front and rear walls.

12. A carton as claimed in claim 11 as dependent on claim 10 wherein the aperture is of a shape conforming to that of the fastening flap to provide a further handle.

13. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim formed from a single blank of sheet material.

14. A carton as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sheet material is cardboard.

1 5. A blank for making a carton as claimed in any preceding claim.

1 6. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A carton blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompaning drawings.