GB2141998A - Cartons - Google Patents

Abstract

A double carton for storing such items as floppy discs for computers comprises a pair of envelopes joined together adjacent an open side of each envelope by a connecting strip defined by two parallel fold lines (9,9a). The envelopes each consist of a rectangular front panel (1), an inner back panel (2) and pair of outer back panels (4) separated from the front panel (1) by fold lines (3,5). The opening side of the back panel (2) has an access flap or panel (6). The carton is closed by folding the envelopes over each other with the back panels in contact and the free sides may be secured together by suitable means such as adhesive labels or tape or by fabric ties. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cartons This invention relates to cartons intended to contain relatively thin and flexible articles such as "floppy discs" used in association with computers, such cartons being usually made of card, cardboard thick paper or sheet plastics material. These cartons are also usa ble for such articles as video and so-called "compact" discs, x-ray photographs, photo graphs and other similarly dimensioned articles requiring safe handling and storage.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a carton comprises a pair of sleeve like envelopes formed from a single sheet of material, each envelope consisting of a front panel of substantially rectangular shape and a back comprising an inner back panel connected to one side of the front panel and foldable flatwise over on to said front panel and a pair of outer back panels provided on opposite sides of said front panel adjoining said one side, said outer back panels also being foldable inwards to overlie said foldedover inner back panel, the two sleeve-like envelopes being connected together along the remaining side of their respective front panels in such a manner as to be foldable against one another with the back panel in face-toface relationship, each inner back panel including an access panel forming a part of the back of the associated envelope.

In making the carton from a single blank of suitable material, such as card of a chosen weight and composition the blank is cut so that each individual portion is defined by a cut edge or by embossed or scored fold lines.

To assemble the envelope, the inner back panel is folded inwards to overlie the inner face of the front panel, following which the two outer back panels are folded inwards from the adjacent sides of the front panel and they are secured to the inner back panel and to each other by means of suitable adhesive. The two outer back panels may have a mutual overlap for this purpose, or they may lie edge to edge on the inner back panel. The parts of the back of the envelopes can be secured in any convenient manner, such as by glue or like adhesive or by heat sealing or welding if this is dictated by the choice of material.

Additional score lines may be provided to make the envelope more flexible in order to accomodate more than one thin article or an article of greater thickness where necessary.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which; Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the carton is fabricated and Figure 2 is a plan view of the inner face of the blank with one of the envelopes assembled.

As shown in the drawings, the blank is of a sheet of card or like material having the desired characteristics for the finished carton, the shaped blank being cut and/or scored as necessary to define a pair of rectangular front panels 1, joined together along one side by a narrow strip formed by the two parallel lines 9 and 9a. From the opposite side of each front panel 1 extends an inner back panel 2, separated by a fold line 3 from the front panel, this fold line enabling the inner back panel 2 to be folded over to lie flat on the inner face of the adjoining front panel 1.

From the two remaining opposing sides of the front panel extends a pair of outer back panels 4, each of which is foldable about score line 5 to overlie the inner back panel 2 to which they are secured, for example by an adhesive. The outer panels 4 may have an area of material overlap or they may be cut so that their edges abut in order to avoid excessive thickness in this region. If the carton is made for example from a plastics-coated sheet material or from a sheet of synthetic plastics material, the back panels may be secured together with a suitable adhesive or by heat sealing or welding as appropriate.

Fig. 2 shows the blank with one envelope made up-the second envelope is formed in an exact mirror-image and on completion the two envelopes can be folded against one another about the lines 9 and 9a.

The outer edge of the inner back panel 2, opposite the front panel 1 incorporates an access panel or flap 6 defined by a fold line 7, this panel or flap being shaped to lie within a similarly shaped cut-out 11 formed in the free edges of the outer back panels 4. The free edge of the access panel 6 has a finger cut-out 8 to facilitate lifting of the panel 6 to permit insertion or extraction of the contents of each envelope.

In order to close the carton, for example for handling or storage, the two envelopes are folded together about the lines 9 and 9a so that the two backs are in contact. The two envelopes can then be held together by means of, for example, an adhesive label or adhesive tape. In a modified embodiment of the carton tapes may be provided on each of the envelopes which can be tied together to hold the carton in the closed condition. The carton is then readily opened or reclosed at will using fresh labels or adhesive tape or the like or by untying and retying the tapes when those are employed. The front panels 1 and the strip or connecting panel between the lines 9 and 9a maybe left blank or used to provide or carry instructions or information, particularly when the carton is to be sent through the post or otherwise transmitted, or used for storage purposes.

In the case of the "floppy discs" for computers and the like, or other carriers having magnetically stored information, to protect this information from the undesirable effects of stray magnetic fields, the inner surfaces of the carton may be coated or laminated with an anti-magnetic screening material.

Claims (10)

1. A carton comprising a pair of sleevelike envelopes formed from a single sheet of material and having an opening, each envelope consisting of a front panel of substantially rectangular shape and a back comprising an inner back panel connected to one side of the front panel and foldable flatwise over onto said front panel and a pair of outer back panels provided on opposite sides of said front panel adjoining said one side, said outer back panels also being foldable inwards to overlies said folded-over inner back panel, the two sleeve-like envelopes being connected together along the remaining side of their respective front panels in such a manner to be foldable against one another with the back panel in face-to-face relationship, each inner back panel including an access panel forming a part of the back of the associated envelope.

2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein each individual panel is divided from the adjoining panel by an embossed or scored fold line.

3. A carton according to claim 2 wherein the back panels are provided with additional embossed or scored fold lines.

4. A carton to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the carton is provided with a layer of anti-magnetic material.

5. A blank for producing a carton comprising a pair of sleeve-like envelopes, said blank comprising, for each said envelope, a substantially rectangular front panel, an inner back panel connected to one side of the front panel and a pair of outer back panels provided on opposite sides of said front panel adjoining said one side, said back panels being provided fron said front panel by means enabling said back panel to be folded so as to overlie said front panel and each other, the blank also having a portion connecting the two front panels together along a fourth side thereof, each inner back panel of the blank also having an access panel portion which forms a part of the back of the respective envelope.

6. A blank according to claim 5 wherein each individual panel is divided from the adjoining panel by an embossed scored fold line.

7. A blank according to claim 6 wherein each back panel is provided with two mutually parallel embossed or scored fold lines.

8. A blank according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the material of the blank is provided with a layer of anti-magnetic material.

9. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A blank for fabricating a carton sub stantially as hereinbefore described and with the reference to the accompanying drawings