GB2128077A - Carton holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle 100 which may be attached to a carton 1 consists of a frame 3 which supports a conveniently shaped holding area, 4, and a clamps which slides within the frame. When the clamp is raised an aperture is formed through the frame which allows a corner 2 of the carton to be passed through. As the clamp is lowered onto the top surface of the carton, the folded corner of the carton is forced through a sharp bend over a supporting blade 9 and held in this position by the close proximity of a section of the clamp which closes the aperture in the frame, as the clamp is lowered. When the clamp is fully lowered, so as to hold the top surface of the carton, it is locked in the down position by detent 7 to prevent release of the carton. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Carton holder The present invention relates to a holder which is removably attachable to a carton, for example a liquid containing carton, to enable lifting of the carton and pouring of the carton contents.

Many cartons are presently being produced for containing liquid which is intended for intermittent use. Such cartons are usually designed to facilitate the forming of a spout area which assists in the control of the directional flow of their contents.

However the cartons are usually constructed of inherently non-rigid material e.g. a laminate of any two of cardboard, foil or plastics or all three to facilitate their manufacture, which gives rise to problems of handling once the pouring spout has been formed.

When the carton is closed, squeezing of the carton is resisted by pressure created internally. However, once an opening is made, the inherent stability of a closed chamber is lost resulting in a generally more easily deformable carton structure. It is frequently found that, whilst the spout is being formed, spillage of the carton contents occurs. This is because forming the spout usually entails tearing and/or deformation of a part of the carton body which requires the user to exert a firm grip on the carton body which is full of liquid thereby urging some of the carton contents towards the spout area. When an opening is made, the pressure applied by the hand of the user together with the overall movement of the carton which often accompanies the formation of the spout causes some of the contents to spill out of the spout.

An object of this invention is to overcome these problems by providing a carton holder forming a rigid holding area externally of the carton body, and attachable to the carton body prior to forming a spout in the carton and having a conveniently positioned handle means to facilitate control of pouring of the carton contents. The invention aiso aims to create an aesthetically pleasing appendage for a carton thus extending the carton's usage.

According to the present invention there is provided a holder which is movably attachable to a carton, for example a liquid-containing carton of semi-rigid material, and having a flexible tab extending from a wall of the carton, the holder including a handle and being configured such that when the holder and carton are retained in engagement with each other the carton can be supported, and tilted for pouring, by means of the handle, and the holder comprising a frame adapted to receive the tab and retaining member movable relative to the frame to trap the tab and thereby retain the holder and carton in engagement.

The invention provides a holder enabling a carton of a semi-flexible nature to be held firmly but without compression or distortion of said carton which may cause the contents of the carton to be forced out of any opening in the carton. The holder is convenient to use being quickly and easily attach able to a carton and may advantageously be made of easily moulded components which require a minimum of critical tolerances.

Preferably, the frame comprises an aperture for receiving the tab positioned adjacent edge defining means so that the retaining member is movable to bend the tab over the edge and trap the tab between itself and the edge defining means.

In a particular embodiment, the frame is configured to abut a rear wall of the carton body remote from a pouring outlet in the carton and wherein the retaining member is generally L-shaped and comprises a first arm slideable in the frame for trapping the tab and a second arm for abutting a top wall of the carton when the retaining member has been fully slid into the frame. The holder is thus configured so as to concentrate force on the carton body at ponts which will not distort unduly under such forces, thus minimising distortion of the carton.

A particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a holder according to the present invention in readiness for attachmenu to a carton.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the holder fitted to the carton.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing an initial position of the clamp during attachment of the holder to a carton.

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the handle secured to the carton.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the holder during removal from the carton.

Referring to the drawings, a holder according to the present invention is indicated generally at 100 and comprises a frame 3 which is a one-piece plastics moulding comprising a handle 4, and a retaining member 5 which slides within the frame 3 and when depressed, is secured in this position by a resilient detent 7.

The frame 3 is of a suitable width for its two side flanges 3a, 3b to make contact with the side edges of a rear wall 1 a of a carton 1, and contains an aperture 6 for receiving a folded tab 2 formed at the junction of the rear wall 1a with a top wall 1 b of the carton 1 therethrough. Rigidly mounted on the frame 3 is a handle 4. Within the frame 3, a blade 9 forming the edge defining means spans the width of the frame 3 at a level adjacent to the aperture 6 and is contiguous at each side with the side flanges 3a and 3b respectiveiy. The blade 9 is positioned to allow the tab 2 of the carton 1 to be inserted over the blade 9 and through the aperture 6 so that a plate portion 5a of the retaining member is slidabiey insertable into the frame 3 to fold the tab 2 over the blade 9 and trap the tab 2 between itself and the blade 9.The tab 2 is thus held in a cavity 14 (see Figure 4) between the blade 9 and the retaining member 5. A spacer II closes the bottom of the cavity 14 and defines the depth of the cavity 14.

The retaining member 5, which slides within the frame 3, is generally L-shaped and has an upper arm 13 angle at slightly less than 90" to the plate portion 5a. The upper arm 13 has a V-shaped cut out 15 so as not to restrict the formation and function of a spout on the carton 1. The inclination of the upper arm 13 is such that only the end 8 of the arm 13 contacts the top wall 16 of the carton 1 when the retaining member 5 is fully lowered into the frame 3. The width of the plate portion 5a of the retaining member 5 is such that it will pass within the sides 3a and 3b of the frame 3 and is of a length so that when it is lowered it will close the aperture 6 in the frame 3. A U-shaped portion of the plate portion 5a is cut away to form a resilient detent 7 having a thickened lip 7a.

When the retaining member 5 is slid into the frame 3, the detent 7 springs outwardly into the aperture 6 and upward movement of the retaining member 5 in the frame 3 is restricted by engagement of the lip 7a against the underside of the wall of the frame 3 forming the top of the aperture 6. The plate portion 5a of the retaining member 5 is contiguous with two parallel lower legs 5b and Sc (5c not shown in the drawings). The legs 5b and Sc are slidable within the frame 3 and retain the retaining member 5 in the frame 3 when it is in it's uppermost position (see Figure 3) in which the underside of the retaining member 5 does not overlie the aperture 6.The legs 5b, Sc each carry a stop 10 which restricts movement of the retaining member 5 beyond this uppermost position by abutting the underside of the spacer II on the frame 3.

To attach the holder 100 to the carton 1, the tab 2 is pulled away from the rear face 1a of the carton 1. The holder 100 with the retaining member 5 in the raised position (see Figure 1), is placed alongside the rear wall la of the carton 1 and the tab 2 is inserted over the blade 9, into the aperture 6 as shown in Figure 3 so that the side flanges 3a and 3b of the frame 3 abut the side edges of the rear wall 1a. The frame 3 is held securely against the carton 1 whilst the clamp 5 is slid into the frame 3 until the upper arm 13 abuts the top wall 16 of the carton 1. This movement causes the tab 2 to be bent over the blade 9 by the lower edge of the plate portion 5a of the retaining member 5, traversing the aperture 6.When the retaining member 5 is fully lowered, the end 8 of the upper arm 13 of the retaining member 5 is brought into contact with the top wall 1 b of the carton 1 at a point spaced from the junction of the top wall 1 b with the rear wall la of the carton 1. This urges the end of the tab 2 attached to the carton 1 downwardly onto the top of the blade 9 and urges the rear wall 1a against the side flanges 3a, 3b of frame 3, as shown in Figure 4. In this position, the lip 7a of the detent 7 on the plate portion 5a of the retaining member 5 engages the underside of the wall at the top of the aperture 6 in the frame 3, thus preventing the retaining member 5 from sliding upwardly in the frame 3 and releasing the carton 1.

With the holder 100 thus firmly mounted on the carton 1 with the upper arm 13 and the frame 3 abutting the top wall 1 band the rear wall 1 a respectively of the carton in supporting engage ment, the handle 4 can be used to lift the carton 1 and tilt it for pouring once a spout has been formed in the body of the carton.

To remove the holder 100 from the carton 1, it is necessary to place the carton 1 in an upright position on a firm surface orto hold it in such a way as to resist downwards movement of the carton 1. The lip 7a of the detent 7 is depressed into the aperture 6 to clear the underside of the wall of the frame 3 forming the top of the aperture 6. The handle 4 is then used to slide the frame 3 downwardly along the rear wall 1 a of the carton 1. This causes the tab 2 of the carton 1 to disengage the blade 9 and leave the cavity 14 thereby becoming detached from the holder 100 as shown in Figure 5. The retaining member 5 is restricted from sliding completely out of the frame 3 by the stops 10 which engage on the underside of theapacerll.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention just described, the components are moulded entirely of plastics and it may be observed that this can be done with a minimum of precise tolerance requirements.

The parts are easily moulded and assembled yet they function efficiently and dependably.

It will be understood however that other materials may be employed for making a holder according to the present invention.

The holder may be used with any form of semirigid container and is not solely for use with liquid containing cartons.

Claims (13)

1. A holder which is removably attachable to a carton, for example a liquid-containing carton of semi-rigid material, and having a flexible tab extending from a wall of the carton, the holder including a handle and being configured such that when the holder and carton are retained in engagement with each otherthe carton can be supported, and tilted for pouring, by means of the handle, and the holder comprising a frame adapted to receive the tab and a retaining member movable relative to the frame to trap the tab and thereby retain the holder and carton in engagement.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame comprises an aperture for receiving the tab positioned adjacent edge defining means so that the retaining member is movable to bend the tab over the edge and trap the tab between itself and the edge defining means.

3. The holder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the frame is configured to abut a rear wall of the carton body remote from a pouring outlet in the carton and wherein the retaining member is generally L-shaped and comprises a first arm slideable in the frame for trapping the tab and a second arm for abutting a top wall of the carton when the retaining member has been fully slid into the frame.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second arm subtends an angle of slightly less than 90 to the first arm.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the second arm is generally V-shaped.

6. A holder as claimed in any of claims 3-5 wherein a lower portion of the first arm of the clamping member comprises two parallel legs provided with means for engaging the frame to prevent the retaining member being slidably removed from the frame.

7. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means for locking the clamping member in a fully depressed position in which the carton tab is trapped in the holder.

8. A holder as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means comprises a resilient detent on the clamping member which springs into the aperture during movement of the retaining member into the frame and abuts a top edge of the aperture in the frame to restrict movement of the retaining member out of the frame.

9. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim configured for easy positioning against the carton prior to moving the retainer member to trap the tab and wherein moving the retaining member to trap the tab also serves to fit the holder on the carton in supporting engagement to enable tilting of the carton by means of the handle.

10. A handle for a carton to facilitate ease of handling comprising: a frame having a holding area rigidly attached and a blade adjacent to an aperture, which allows a section of a carton to be folded over it; a clamp slidably movable within the frame which, in a lowered position, engages the top surface of a carton attached to the frame by means of a section of the carton folded over the blade on the frame and restricting movement of the folded section by virtue of it's proximity to the blade.

11. A handle as described in claim 1 wherein the clamp comprises: an L-shaped bracket having an included angle of less than 90, and slidably movable within the framework; a slide section which contains a clip which engages within a frame when lowered against a carton to prevent retraction of said slide section from the frame; a slide section which produces a wall capable of attaining parallel proximity to a blade carried within a framework in which it slides; a slide which carries extended legs which retain engagement in a framework when in a raised position; a slide which carries extended legs on which a protrusion causes a restr ction to the extent of movement of the slide within a framework;

12.A handle as described in claim 1 wherein the framework comprises: a front section wherein an aperture is formed to allow a section of a carton to protrude into it; side portions which support the front section in such a position as to allow the folded section of a carton to be contained under the front section; a blade spanning the sides of the framework in a position parallel to the aperture; a slot through which a clamp slide may be entered so as to form a wall parallel to the blade and closing the aperture through the framework; a spacer mounted on the blade restricting the position of the clamp slide in relation to the blade and thus controlling the width of the slot between the blade and the blamp slide; a holding area suitably positioned on the framework to facilitate convenient holding of framework when attached to a carton.

13. A handle described in claim 1 wherein the clamp comprises: an L-shaped bracket slidably movable within a framework having in the clamp section, which engages the top surface of a carton, a cut-out which allows the unrestricted functioning of the carton with regard to forming a spout; an L-shaped bracket slidably moveable within a framework having in the clamp section extended legs which engage the top surface of a carton at or adjacent to the junction of the sides and the top of the carton; an L-shaped bracket, slidably movable, within the framework which engages the top surface of a carton at a distance from the surface against which the framework is lying.