GB2172268A - Cartons - Google Patents

Abstract

A carton blank 2 comprises two generally rectangular blank portions 4 and 6 separated by a cut line 8 and joined along a fold line 10. The entire blank 2 is generally rectangular in peripheral outline. The carton is assembled by folding the blank along fold line 10 and then along fold line 14 so that the blank panel portions F and B overlie each other followed by folding up of remaining wall-defining panels C, G. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Carton blanks This invention relates to blanks, such as carton blanks, for use in manufacturing cartons, cardboard boxes, and other containers and the like from material such as cardboards, plastic sheet and counterpart materials.

In the case of known carton blanks, the overall design of the blank, as stamped from cardboard sheet, is such that the base of the carton is arranged centrally, and the four side walls extend laterally from its four sides, and the tabs or flaps provided for joining purposes form extensions of these various walls. As a result, the entire structure is generally in the shape -of a cross and therefore it will be appreciated that there is considerable wastage of cardboard material in the corners of the cross shape when successive blanks are stamped from a large sheet of cardboard.

Such wastage of material contributes significantly to the cost of the finally assembled carton and represents an important disadvantage.

Other shortcomings of the prior art include inadequate or insufficient structural integrity, ease of assembly and related matters.

Accordingly, we have identified a need for considerable improvement in the structure of blanks for the construction of cartons, boxes and the like, and it is an aim of the present invention to provide a blank, a carton, box or the like assembled from same, and a method of constructing a carton or box or the like, providing improvements to relation to one or more of the matters discussed above, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided a blank for the construction of a carton, box or the like, the blank being generally rectangular. The blank includes all the necessary formations by way of cuts, creases or folds, and tabs or the like in order that the carton or box can be assembled by mere manipulation of the blank so as to form a carton or container of rectangular or other desired shape.

In the embodiment described below, the generally rectangularly shaped blank enables significant savings of material to be achieved, as compared with previously known blanks, such savings running to cost savings of between 5 and 15%.

The blank may be formed with a single cut line dividing the blank into two generally rectangular portions joined along a line which is to provide a fold line.

The blank is preferably formed with no tabs or flaps along at least one side of the rectangle.

In the case where the rectangie is formed with a single cut line dividing it into two joined rectangles, one of these latter rectangles may be adapted to be angularly swung across the other about the fold line joining same so as to provide an arrangement in which two panels of the structure overlap. At least one tab or flap may be cut from one of the two overlapping panels, whereby the portion removed for the flap does not form an aperture in the carton or box.

The invention also provides a method of assembling a carton or box or other container from a blank comprising angularly moving one of two rectangular blank portions which are joined along a fold line, to a position in which two panels of the blank are in an overlapping position.

The invention also provides a blank and a method of assembling same, incorporating any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention in the form of a carton blank; Fig. 2 shows, in perspective, the blank of Fig.1 in the course of assembly into a carton; and Figs. 3 and 4 correspond respectively to Figs. 1 and 2, showing a second embodiment incorporating detailed differences from the embodiment of Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a carton blank 2 comprises two generally rectangular blank portions 4 and 6 separated by a cut line 8 and joined along a fold line 10.

The entire blank 2 is, as shown in Fig. 1, generally rectangular in peripheral outline, with only minor departures therefrom.

Blank portion 6 comprises panels A, B, C and D. Blank portion 4 comprises further rectangular panels B, F, G.

Projecting from the blank portions 4 and 6 are tabs or flaps H, J, K, L, M and N, as shown.

Creases or fold lines are formed in the blank portions 2 and 4 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, these being formed by scoring the blank in the course of the process of stamping it from its original cardboard sheet.

Reference numerals 10, 12 and 14 identify three of these fold lines.

The blank 2 is assembled by manual manipulation. Fig. 2 shows the partially assembled blank. From the Fig. 2 position, it is believed that the final assembly of the blank into a rectangular carton will be a matter of a series of obvious steps. Panels C and D are raised, panel C forming a side wall, and panel D the top of the carton. Tabs or flaps H, K and N are folded down to horizontal positions, and tab J is inserted into slot 20 and ear 22 then fits into the semi-circular notch 24.

Attention is particularly drawn to the angular movement of the blank portion 4 relative to blank portion 6 in the initial assembly oper ation from the Fig. 1 position to the Fig. 2 position, the direction of angular movement being indicated by arrow 18 in Fig. 1 . This movement causes panel F to overlie panel B, whereby the carton has a double strength base portion.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the tabs L and M are relatively small and do not detract significantly from the generally rectangular shape of the blank, and in any case can be nested into the next blank to be cut. As a result, blank 2 provides significant material savings.

In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the general structure of the blank 80 is similar to that of blank 2, and the general mode of assembly is similar to that described above.

Panels 0, P, O, R, S, T, U and V correspond to panels A to G and flap N , respectively. Likewise tabs or flaps, W, X, Y, and V correspond to corresponding tabs or flaps H, J, K and N in Fig. 1, respectively.

Tabs L and M in Fig. 1 have counterparts Z1 and Z2 and Z3 in Fig. 3.

It is of particuiar signficance that tab Z2 is stamped out from a gap or notch 86 in blank portion 82 (corresponding to portion 4 in Fig.

2). The presence of notch 86 in panel T does not matter since this forms part of the doublewalled base of the carton.

In this embodiment, it will be noted that tabs Z1 and Z3 are inserted into the slot formed by folding of panels U and V, thereby greatly adding to the integrity of the structure.

Tab X is inserted into slot 88 in a manner corresponding to that of the previous embodiment.

Naturally, many modifications to the abovedescribed shapes can be made while remaining within the basic concepts of the invention.

Such changes include modification of the relative proportions of the panels of the blanks, and the detailed peripheral shapes of the tabs and other parts.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, for example, it would be possible to eliminate at least some, if not all of the following tabs or flaps provided therein, namely items L, M, N, K, H and J. Similar. modifications could be made in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4. In such an arrangement it may be desirable or necessary for certain applications to employ adhesive or other securing means for assembly purposes. A further modification envisaged includes the provision of full length flaps at each end of blank portion 4, by extending the tabs or flaps K and N so as to form double thickness box walls with their complementary panel portions E and G respectively. Short tabs could be provided on the thus-extended tabs or flaps, these to be received in corresponding slots formed at each end of panel portion F.

Likewise, panel portion A could be provided with a laterally projecting tab corresponding to tab Z1 in the Fig. 3 embodiment.

The blanks of the present invention may be manufactured in a variety of materials includ irtg cardboard, fibreboard, plastics materials and other materials for use in mail-order, retail, horticultural, packing and general industrial applications. The oblong quadrilateral blanks could be otherwise than completely rectangular as shown, for certain applications.

Claims (20)

1. A blank for the construction of a carton, box or the like, the blank being generally rectangular and including all the necessary formations, such as cuts, creases or folds, tabs or the like, in order that the carton, box or the like can be assembled by mere manipulation of the blank so as to form a carton or container of rectangular or other desired shape.

2. A blank according to claim 1 wherein a single cut line divides the blank into two generally rectangular pbrtions joined along a line which is to provide a fold line.

3. A blank according to claim 2 wherein said line joining said two generally rectangular portions of the blank forms a continuation of said single cut line.

4. A blank according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the blank is formed with no tabs or flaps projecting from at least one side of the generally rectatgular shape of the blank.

5. A blank according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein one of said two generally rectangular portions of the blank is adapted to be angularly swung across the other of said two rectangular portions about a fold line joining same, so as to provide an arrangement in which said two rectangles of the structure overlap.

6. A blank according to claim 5 wherein at least one tab or flap is cut from one of said two overlapping rectangles or panels whereby the portion removed for the flap does not form an aperture in the carton, box or the like.

7. A blank according to any one of claims 2, 3, 5 or 6 wherein further fold lines are formed in said two generally rectangular portions, the further fold lines in each portion being parallel, or substantially parallel, to each other.

8. A blank according to claim 7 wherein said further fold lines of one of said rectangular portions are substantially parallel to the further fold lines of the other rectangular portion.

9. A blank according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said further fold lines extend at an attitude approximately at right angles to- said fold line dividing the blank into said two generally rectangular portions.

10. A blank according to any one of claims 7, 8 or 9 wherein each of said two generally rectangular portions is formed with three fold lines dividing said portion into four body panels for the carton, box or the like.

11. A blank according to claim 10 wherein means is provided at least one end of each of said two rectangular blank portions for securing same in an assembled position.

12. A blank according to claim 11 wherein said means for securing comprises a tab, flap or panel portion.

13. A blank according to claim 12 wherein a slot is stamped in the blank to receive said tab, flap or panel portion in its assembled position.

14. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of said two rectangular blank portions is formed with at least one laterally projecting tab or flap adapted to be folded to engage and support in the assembled condition of the blank, a panel of said other of the two blank portions.

15. A blank according to claim 14 wherein said laterally projecting tab or flap is formed on a portion of said one of said two rectangular blank portions which forms an end one of four body panel portions formed in said one rectangular blank portion.

16. A blank according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein said laterally projecting tab or flap portions of one of the two rectangular blank portions are adapted to be received between two tab, flap or panel portions of the other of said two rectangular blank portions.

17. A method of assembling a carton, box or the like from a blank comprising angularly moving one of two rectangular blank portions which are joined along a fold line, to a position in which two panels of the blank are in an overlapping position.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said blank comprises a blank according to claim 1 or claim 2.

19. A blank for the construction of a carton, box or the like substantially'as described herein and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs.

3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A method of assembling a carton or box or other container from a blank substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.