GB2165527A - Carton or box for presentation packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

A box is arranged so that an object therein such as a lampshade or glassware is well protected and displayed. The box is folded from a blank having an outer blank surface and an inner white surface. The box has cut-outs in 2 adjacent sidewalls which define flaps (11, 12) which are hinged along edges (13, 14) and folded inwardly to overlie the inside surfaces of the other 2 sidewalls. The vertical portion (17) between the cut-outs serves as a carrying handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Presentation packaging This invention relates to presentation packaging typically a carton or box.

The transport and storage of fragile items such as glassware requires packaging robust enough to prevent damage. Square cartons are difficult to carry and it is therefore usual to provide a handle at the top. This is usually slotted into the cardboard container and may become detached.

Ideally it should not be necessary to transfer e.g.

an item of glassware from the box in which it has been transported onto a fixed, presentation shelf because of the hazards of handling. However, cardboard cartons are not attractive as display items unless suitably printed. If the box is opened to display the goods it will be necessary also to colour the interior of the box and to colour both sides of a sheet of cardboard, or other material from which the carton has been folded, adds greatly to cost.

Among objects of the present invention are to provide presentation packaging which will protect fragile contents both in transit and when on display, which will have a convenient and strong built-in handle and which is suitable for display purposes even through the sheet material from which it is folded is coloured or printed on one side only.

According to the invention there is provided a presentation carton generally polygonal as seen in plan view, characterised in that flaps are formed in each of two adjacent sidewalls, the flaps are each hinged along a vertical edge remote from the corner common to the adjacent sidewalls, and the flaps are folded inwardly to overlie the inside surface of another sidewall, the vertical portion of the carton between the flaps serving as a carrying handle.

In a preferred feature the carton has four sidewalls and is generally rectangular as seen in plan view.

The carton is preferably constructed by folding to shape a suitably cut out blank of cardboard or another suitable sheet material, and preferably the top and the bottom of the carton are reinforced by separate box or tray-like structures, that at the top of the carton being formed with one or more suitable openings to receive an upper part of the item to be packaged so as to locate the same and prevent it moving laterally in the package.

The invention includes a blankto be folded in the carton.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a box in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a cardboard blank from which the box of Figures 1,2 and 4 is folded together with separate top and bottom inserts, and Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1.

The box 10 illustrated is constructed by folding to shape the cardboard blank A illustrated in Figure 3, locating in the top of the thus-formed rectangular box a tray-like insert B and locating in the bottom of the box a flat, rectangular box-shaped insert C. The cutting out and folding of the blank A and the formation of the inserts B and C is a well-known technique per se and does not require detailed description.

The blank A differs most importantly from known box blanks in that it comprises two rectangular flaps 11 and 12 which, in the finished box, are hinged along vertical edges 13 and 14 respectively. When these are folded back against the other two, plain sidewalls 15 and 16 of the box, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, there remains in the corner of the box between the flaps a pillar-like structure 17 of L-section which will serve as a carrying handle for the box.

The broken line D in Figure 2 represents, by way of example, a glass lampshade which is to be carried and displayed in the box 10. This has a circular metal top fitting (not shown) which is received in a hole E provided for the purpose in the top insert B. With the insert B fitted in the top part of the box and held between its closed top and the lampshade the latter is prevented from moving laterally. It rests on the bottom structure C and is prevented from moving vertically by the inserts B and C.

The blank A is coloured on one side only to save cost. A preferred colourforthe display of glass articles is black. With the structure opened to display the contents D it is undesirable that any of the reverse, uncoloured side of the blank should be visible. The blank A is folded so that its coloured side is outermost, and when the flaps 11 and 12 are pushed in, (priorto inserting the article D to be displayed through the top or lid of the box), the coloured sides of the flaps 11 and 12 will be presented outwardly of the openings left by the flaps and will mask the uncoloured interior surfaces of the plain sidewalls 15 and 16 and so present a black backcloth better to display the lampshade.

There will be a gap between the flaps 11 and 12 in the corner of the box diametrically opposite the handle structure 17, but with the glassware Din place this gap will be concealed from view.

The box-like structure 10 with its reinforcing inserts B and C is impact-absorbing and resistant to crushing. The item to be packaged and displayed is held securely. The flaps 11 and 12 not only mask the interior surfaces of the walls 15 and 16 but, when open, provide a convenient carrying handle 17 for the box which is integral, which does not project from the box to interfere e.g. with stacking, and which does not require any extraneous provision such as slots, tabs or gluing.

In the embodiment shown the box is rectangular as seen in plan. It may however be any other suitable polygonal shape and the number of flaps may be varied. The flaps may overlie each other and need not be of the same shape. More than one article may be present.

Claims (10)

1. A presentation carton, generally polygonal as seen in plan view, the carton having side walls, characterised in that a flap (11,12) is formed in each of two adjacent sidewalls, and the flaps are each hinged along a vertical edge (13, 14 respectively) remote from the corner common to the adjacent sidewalls, and the flaps (11, 12) are folded inwardly to overlie the inside surface of the other sidewalls (15,16), the vertical portion (17) of the carton between the adjacent sidewalls serving as a carrying handle.

2. A carton according to claim 1 characterised in that the flaps (11, 12) are each cut out from the respective sidewall and are of generally U shape as seen in plan.

3. A carton according to claim 1 or 2 characterises in that the outside surface of the sidewalls is of a different colour from the inside surface.

4. A carton according to claim 3 characterisedin that the outside surface of the sidewalls is black and the inside surface is left plain.

5. A carton according to any preceding Claim 2, 3 or 4 characterised in that the carton includes a floor (C) and a ceiling (B) and the object to be presented is engaged between the floor (C) and ceiling (B) and displayed through the cut outs with the folded over flaps (11,12) defining a backcloth.

6. A carton according to claim 5 characterised in that the object is a lampshade (D).

7. A carton according to any preceding Claim characterised in that the carton has four sidewalls and is generally rectangular as seen in plan view.

8. A blank (A) for making a carton according to any preceding Claim characterisedby sidewalls joined together, the inner sidewalls having cutouts defining flaps (11, 12), the flaps (11, 12) being hinged at the side adjacent the outer sidewalls, one surface of the blank being a different colour from the other surface.

9. A presentation carton substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

10. A blank substantially as described with reference to the drawings.