GB2146310A - Display carton - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable display carton comprises a body defined by side wall panels (10,12,14 and 16), and a plurality of base forming panels (20,22,24,42) provided at the lower edges of the side wall panels and so interconnected that the side wall panels and the base forming panels can be displaced from a folded condition, in which they are substantially in flat face-to-face relation, to an open condition, in which the base forming panels are disposed in at least partially overlapping relation in a substantially common plane transverse to the side wall panels. One of the side wall panels (16) has an integral foldable extension (30) at its lower edge, and one of the base forming panels (42) is foldably connected to such extension. The one base forming panel (42) may be formed from material taken from the one side wall panel (16), or may be integrally connected to an outer panel of the extension (30) which is foldable into face-to-face relation with an inner panel of said extension. The extension (30), can be folded into a flat position beneath the base of the carton, or an extended position in which it serves as a leg to support the carton at an angle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION "Carton" This invention relates to cartons of a kind particularly adopted for the dispiay of their contents, and has for its object the provision of a carton with an external support such that when in use on a horizontal surface, the body of the carton is presented at an inclination to that surface.

According to the invention, we provide a foldable carton comprising a body defined by a plurality of a side wall panels, and a plurality of base forming panels at their lower edges so interconnected that the side wall panels and the base forming panels can be displaced from a foldable condition, in which they are substantially in flat face-to-face relation, to an open condition, in which the base forming panels are disposed in at least partially overlapping relation in a substantially common plane transverse to the side wall panels, wherein one of said side wall panels has an integral foldable extension at its lower edge, and one of said base forming panels is foldably connected to said extension. Such extension serves as a support to space the side wall to which it is connected from a surface on which the carton is placed.

in one arrangement, the extension may comprise an inner panel which is foldably connected to said one wall panel and an outer panel which is foldably connected to the inner panel so as to be foldable into face-to-face relation therewith, said one base forming panel being foldably connected to the outer panel.

In an alternative arrangement, said one base forming panel may be formed by material taken from said one side wall panel so that the latter is apertured.

in either case, the extension is arranged to be foldable into face-to-face relation with the base of the carton, and preferably is formed with lateral flaps which are integrally connected with the body of the carton by means of foldable gussets which limit movement of the extension away from the base of the carton in order to afford a rigid support.

These and other features of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate two alternative embodiments by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a blank for the construction of one embodiment of carton in accordance with the invention, the blank being shown in a flat, unfolded condition; Figure 2 shows, in underneath perspective view, an erected carton formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1 with a support panel shown in a folded condition; Figure 3 shows a perspective view from above of the carton shown in Fig. 2, with the support panel in its extended condition; and Figure 4 shows an alternative form of blank for forming a second embodiment of carton in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, both illustrated embodiments incorporate a rectangular body formed from side wall panels 10, 12, 14 and 16, one of which is formed integrally with a foldable glue flap 18 in conventional manner. Three of the side wall panels carry respective base forming panels 20, 22 and 24 of conventional design.Two of the base forming panels include generally triangular gussets 26 and 28 respectively which are adapted to be adhesively secured to respective adjacent base forming panels, in known manner to form a foldable base of the kind in which, when the blank is assembled into a flat folded condition, the base forming panels are folded inwardly into face-to-face relation with the respective side wall panels, and are automatically brought into partially overlapping, substantially co-planar condition to form a base which extends transversely at the lower edges of the side wall panels. The foregoing structure is conventional.

However, in accordance with the present invention, one of the side wall panels, namely that which is, in use, intended to be the back panel, as shown at 16, carries an integral extension 30 foldably connected at its lower edge.

In the first embodiment, the extension 30 comprises a single rectangular panel 32 which has lateral flaps 34, 36 which are themselves integrally connected through foldable gussets 38, 40 to the lower edges of the side wall panel or glue flap laterally adjacent to the back panel 16.

A fourth base forming panel 42 is cut from within the area of the back panel 1 6 and is foldably and integrally connected with the extension panel 32 along fold line 33 which is substantially aligned with the foldable connection between the extension panel 32 and the back panel 16. Adhesive is applied on the reverse side of the blank as indicated by the shaded areas. When the flat blank is folded and adhesively secured, the gusset 28 of base forming panel 24 is secured to panel 42 in generally known manner so as to pull panel 42 out of the plane of the back panel 1 6 when the carton is erected from its flat folded condition in which the base forming panels are folded inwardly into face-to-face relation with the side wall panels, the latter also being folded together in known manner.

When the carton is erected, by opening out the side wall panels, the base forming panels are automatically unfolded to form the base of the carton. The extension 30 however can be folded inwardly beneath the base, as shown in Fig. 2, the lateral flaps 34 and 36 being folded inwardly into face-to-face relation with the extension panel 32. The complete carton after filling may then be shrink-wrapped, or enclosed in an outer sleeve, for transport and storage. In use at the point of sale, for example, the external wrapping can be removed and the extension panel 32 can be folded downwardly away from the base of the carton, to an extent which is limited by the gussets 38, 40 so that it then forms an effectively rigid extension of the back panel 16.In this way, the carton can be placed on a horizontal supporting surface with the rear of the body raised above that surface by means of the extension panel 32.

Whilst in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the base forming panels collectively close substantially the whole of the base of the carton, such panels may be made of relatively reduced width so as to use less material and leave an opening in the base of the carton, in cases where the carton is intended to contain articles which require support only at their ends.

in the further embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the extension carried by the rear wall 1 6 comprises an inner, rectangular panel 32a which has lateral flaps 34a and 36a with gussets 38a and 40a, generally similar to the arrangement described above. However, in this case the extension also includes a foldably connected outer panel 44 which in turn carries a fourth base forming panel 42a foldably connected thereto as shown.

When the flat base is folded and adhesively secured, the outermost panel 44 is folded inwardly into face-to-face relation with the inner panel 32a, so that the base forming panel 42a lies against the inner face of the back panel 16, as shown in chain dotted lines, in substantially the same position as the panel 42 in the first embodiment. In this way, the integrity of the back panel 1 6 is preserved when the carton is erected. The folded extension consisting of the panels 32a and 44 can then be folded against the base of the carton as in the previously described embodiment.

The embodiments as illustrated may be constructed on conventional gluing and folding machines.

If desired, one or more of the remaining side wall panels, particularly the front panel, may be formed with a cut-out to facilitate access to the contents, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Alternatively, or additionally, a foldable cover panel may be integrally connected to, preferably, the rear panel at its upper edge.

Claims (8)

1. A foldable carton comprising a body defined by a plurality of side wall panels, and a plurality of base forming panels at their lowest edges so interconnected that the side wall panels and the base forming panels can be displaced from a folded condition, in which they are substantially in flat face-to-face relation, to an open condition, in which the base forming panels are disposed in at least partially overlapping relation in a substantially common plane transverse to the side wall panels, wherein one of said side wall panels has an integral foldable extension at its lower edge, and one of said base forming panels is foldably connected to said extension.

2. A carton according to Claim 1 wherein said extension comprises an inner panel which is foldably connected to said one wall panel and an outer panel which is foldably connected to the inner panel so as to be foldable into face-to-face relation therewith, said one base forming panel being foldably connected to the outer panel.

3. A carton according to Claim 1 wherein said one base forming panel is formed by material taken from said one side wall panel so that the latter is apertured.

4. A carton according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said extension is arranged to be foldable between one position in which it is in face-to-face relation with the base of the carton and another position in which it extends transversely from said base.

5. A carton according to Claim 4 wherein said extension is formed with lateral flaps which are integrally connected with the body of the carton by means of foldable gussets which limit movement of the extension in a direction away from the base of the carton in order to afford a rigid support.

6. A foldable carton substantially as here it before described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A foldable carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.