GB2225774A

GB2225774A - Packaging sleeve

Info

Publication number: GB2225774A
Application number: GB8824881A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Reginald Osborne
Original assignee: Allen Davies and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Allen Davies and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-24
Filing date: 1988-10-24
Publication date: 1990-06-13
Also published as: GB8824881D0

Abstract

A packaging sleeve for an article (14) is formed from a blank having panels (6) which are separated from one another by slits (5), but joined to one another at creases (8). When an article (14), such as a tapered pot, is pushed into an aperture (4) of the flat blank, the panels (6) splay apart to form wall portions partially surrounding the article (14). <IMAGE>

Description

PACKAGING SLEEVE AND BLANK FOR FORMING IT This invention relates to packaging materials, and in particular to packaging sleeves for containers such as jars, tubs or pots, and to blanks for forming the sleeves.

There are several advantages of using a packaging sleeve when presenting goods for sale. A sleeve is more cheaply and easily printed than a container and the wording on the sleeve may be more readily modified when required. If the container and its lid are formed of a lightweight plastic material, a sleeve may prevent the lid from becoming detached from the container. A sleeve forms a convenient holder for containers intended for frozen fbod which would otherwise be difficult to pick up. In addition, a sleeve can prevent the container from being opened and its contents contaminated prior to sale. This would be important, for example, in both the food and cosmetics industries.

Prior art packaging sleeves have been of two principal forms. Some sleeves are generally tubular and designed to receive a container from either of the openings. The disadvantage of these sleeves is that the container may fall out in transit or on handling by the consumer. Others are designed so that the base of a container protrudes from an aperture in the sleeve, the container being held insposition by inclined tabs around the aperture. The tabs may be easily bent too far, releasing the container through the aperture.

Clearly, neither of these forms of sleeve is without problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a blank suitable for forming a packaging sleeve for enclosing part of an article, the blank comprising stiff material and including a planar panel which has means for receiving the article, the means including a plurality of slits in the material of the panel, the slits at least partially defining edge regions in the material, the edge regions being inclinable relative to one another when the article is received by the means, so that the article is contained within an opening in the panel and the edge regions lie against respective different regions of the article.

Preferably, the slits radiate from one or more points on the panel and a continuous band of the panel remains around the periphery of a region containing the slits.

More preferably, the slits radiate from an aperture in the panel, the aperture being, for example, polygonal in shape or having curved edges. Most preferably, the aperture is square and each of the slits radiates from a corner of the square at an angle of 1350 to an edge of the square.

Preferably, the slits lead to fold lines provided in the panel. More preferably, at least some of the fold lines are co-linear with the respective slits.

Most preferably, at least some of the fold lines are orientated at an angle in the range from 120 to 1500 relative to respective external edges of the panel, although these angles may change depending on the depth and shape of the container.

Preferably, a second planar panel adjoins the first-mentioned planar panel along an edge of the panel. More preferably, a small planar panel adjoins the first-mentioned planar panel along another edge of the panel. Most preferably, the second planar panel is provided on one edge with means for engagement with complementary means provided on the small planar panel, the means for engagement preferably comprising a tab and the complementary means preferably comprising a slit for receiving the tab.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a packaging sleeve, suitable for enclosing part of an article, the sleeve being formed from a folded blank as hereinbefore described.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of the blank of Figure 1 in a partially folded condition; Figure 3 is a side view of the packaging sleeve comprising the fully folded blank of Figure 1 (but with the flap omitted, for clarity); Figure 4 is an end view of the packaging sleeve of Figure 3 enclosing a container; and Figure 5 is a plan view of another blank, for a twin pack arrangement, in accordance with the present invention.

In Figure 1, the blank includes an oblong planar panel 1 bounded on opposing sides by fold lines 2 and 3. The panel 1 is provided with a centrally located rectangular aperture 4 which may be oblong but in this case is square and which has edges 7 parallel and perpendicular to the fold lines 2 and 3. Radiating from each of the corners of the square, and inclined at an angle of 1350 to the edges 7 of the aperture 4, are slits 5 in the material of the panel 1, the slits 5 forming edge regions 6 in the panel. The slits 5 stop short of the external edges of the panel 1 but lead into fold lines 8 which are co-linear with the slits 5 and which terminate at external edges of the panel 1.

Creases 9 appear when the blank is folded to form a packaging sleeve to receive a container. A flap 10 adjoins the panel 1 at the fold line 3. Situated near tb centre of the fold line 3 and displaced towards the flap 10 is a slit 11. A lid panel 12 adjoins the panel 1 at the fold line 2, the lid panel 12 having a tab 13 centred at its edge remote from the fold line 2, the tab 13 being dimensioned so as to fit into the slit 11 when the sleeve is assembled.

Figure 2 shows the configuration of the blank of Figure 1 when partially folded, before the panels 10 and 12 are folded towards each other.

In Figure 3, there is shown the position of the edge regions 6 when the sleeve has been assembled with the tab 13 inserted in the slit 11. The fold lines 8 are machined on to the blank during manufacture whereas the creases 9 form during sleeve assembly. These creases 9 form at an angle of from 85 to 950 to the fold lines 8. The precise angle depends on a number of factors such as the thickness and stiffness of the material comprising the blank, the inclination to the vertical of the edge regions in the assembled sleeve and the force applied to incline the edge regions from the horizontal.

Fig. 4 shows the assembled sleeve enclosing a container 14 which has walls tapering downwardly in contact with the edges 7, the edges 7 supporting the container 14 within the sleeve.

Preferably, the blank is formed into the packaging sleeve by applying the container 14 to the edge regions 6. The weight of the container 14 on the edge regions 6 causes the edge regions 6 to separate at the slits 5 and to incline from the horizontal in the direction of application of the container 14. The panel 1 folds along the fold lines 8 and the creases 9 appear. The inclination of the edge regions 6 causes the aperture 4 to enlarge until it contacts the walls of the container 14 and the edge regions 6 hold the container 14 in position within the aperture 4. The flap 10 is rotated abut the fold line 3 and the lid panel 12 is rotated about the fold line 2 until the lid panel 12 lies over the top of the container and the flap 10. The tab 13 is inserted into the slit 11 so as to secure the assembled sleeve onto the container.

Figure 5 shows a blank for a twin pack arrangement equivalent to two blanks of Figure 1 in side-by-side relationship. The components indicated by the reference numerals 21 to 33 in Figure 5 correspond in function to the components indicated by the reference numerals 1 to 1 3 respectively in Figure 1.

The process of forming the blank into a packaging sleeve may be carried out automatically by using machinery that is familiar to those in the packaging industry.

It is possible to form the blank from various materials, including card, plastic or metal, provided that such materials have sufficient stiffness to form a relatively rigid and protective packaging sleeve.

Claims

1. A blank, suitable for forming a packaging sleeve for enclosing part of an article, the blank comprising stiff material and including a planar panel which has means for receiving the article, the means including a plurality of slits in the material of the panel, the slits at least partially defining edge regions in the material, the edge regions being inclinable relative to one another when the article is received by the means, so that the article is contained within an opening in the panel and the edge regions lie against respective different regions of the article.

2. A blank according to Claim 1, wherein the slits radiate from one or more points on the panel and a continuous band of the panel remains around the periphery of a region containing the slits.

3. A blank according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the slits radiate from an aperture in the panel.

4. A blank according to Claim 3, wherein the aperture is polygonal in shape.

5. A blank according to Claim 3, wherein the aperture has curved edges.

6. A blank according to Claim 4, wherein the aperture is square and each of the slits radiates from a corner of the square at an angle of 1350 to an edge of the square.

7. A blank according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the slits lead to fold lines provided in the panel.

8. A blank according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein at least some of the fold lines are co-linear with respective slits.

9. A blank according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein at least some of the fold lines are orientated at an angle in the range from 120 to 1500 relative to respective external edges of the panel.

10. A blank according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a second planar panel adjoins the first-mentioned planar panel along an edge of the panel.

11. A blank according to Claim 10, wherein a small planar panel adjoins the first-mentioned planar panel along another edge of the panel.

12. A blank according to Claim 11, wherein the second planar panel is provided on one edge with means for engagement with complementary means provided on the small planar panel.

13. A blank according to Claim 12, wherein the means for engagement comprises a tab and the complementary means comprises a slit for receiving the tab.

14. A blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1, 2 and 3 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A blank, suitable for forming a plurality of joined packaging sleeves for enclosing part of each of a plurality of articles, the blank corresponding to a plurality of blanks according to any one of claims 1 to 13 in joined relationship.

16. A packaging sleeve, suitable for enclosing part of an article, the sleeve being formed from a folded blank according to any one of Claims 1 to 15.

17. A packaging sleeve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.