GB2240765A

GB2240765A - Packaging containers

Info

Publication number: GB2240765A
Application number: GB9002763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andre Philip Wilkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-07
Filing date: 1990-02-07
Publication date: 1991-08-14
Also published as: GB9002763D0

Abstract

A packaging container or carton includes a body defining a chamber in which articles can be stored, the body having an inspection opening 40, and mounting means 51 housed in the chamber for mounting at least a portion of an article 80 at a location adjacent to said inspection opening 40, the mounting means 51 being adapted to anchor the article 80 so as to restrain its removal through the inspection opening 40. <IMAGE>

Description

TAMPER-EVIDENT CONTAINER/CARTON The present invention relates to a tamper-evident container or carton.

In our co-pending UK patent application 9001377.2 we disclose a tamper-evident container or carton which has a lid construction which cannot be opened without destruction of the material from which the container is produced.

A general aim of the present invention is to provide a modification to the container disclosed in our copending UK patent application 9001377.2 wherein an inspection opening is provided in the container through which access may be gained to touch and feel the contents of the container but which is constructed so as to restrain removal of the article through said inspection opening. This type of facility is particularly suitable for the packaging of textile piece goods such as articles of clothing.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging container or carton for articles, the container including a body defining a chamber in which articles can be stored, the body having an inspection opening and mounting means housed in the chamber for mounting at least a portion of an article at a location adjacent to said inspection opening, the mounting means being adapted to anchor the article so as to restrain its removal through the inspection opening.

The inspection opening will typically be located in a wall of the carton at a convenient location for viewing and the mounting means preferably comprises a mounting sheet member formed of card (or similar sheet material) which lies adjacent to the wall containing the inspection opening to form a partition to close off or separate the inspection opening from said chamber. Accordingly articles located in the chamber are not able to pass through the inspection opening due to the presence of the mounting sheet member.

For articles which are made of fabric, the mounting sheet member is preferably adapted so as to anchor a portion of the fabric adjacent the opening with the remainder of the fabric located in the chamber. Such adaption could be for instance achieved by defining a flap in the sheet member and supporting the fabric on the flap.

Various aspects are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view of a carton according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing mounting of an article on the sheet member; Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton shown in Figure 1 and a blank of the sheet member.

A carton 10 includes a body 11 which defines a chamber 12 in which articles to be stored are retained.

The body 11 includes a front wall 14, a rear wall 16 which are spaced apart and secured to one another by a pair of side walls 18.

As seen in Figure 4, the front wall, one side wall and rear wall are interconnected by fold lines, the remaining side wall being secured to the front wall in the erected carton by means of a flap 19 which is secured by, for example, glue to the inner surface of the side wall. Accordingly, in the erected carton, the sidewalls 18, front and rear walls 14,16 respectively define a tube. One end of the tube is closed by a bottom wall construction 20 comprising interlocking flaps 22 and the other end of the tube is closed by a lid construction 25.

The bottom wall construction 20 constructed so as to form a permanent closure.

The lid construction 25 includes a first lid member 26 foldably connected to the front wall along fold line 27 and a second lid member 28 foldably connected to the rear wall 16 along fold line 29.

The second lid member 28 includes an intermediate fold line 30 which together with fold line 29 defines an upper wall 32 of the carton.

The first lid member includes a fold line 31 which defines flap portion 34 which in the erected carton underlies the upper wall 32. The terminal flap portion 34 and upper wall 32 are secured to one another so as to prevent separation and thereby prevent -access being gained by opening of the lid construction 25.

Preferably, the upper wall 32 and flap portion 34 are secured together by anchorage means as described in our co-pending UK patent application 9001377.2 and to this end, co-operating slits 36 are formed along fold lines 30 and 31 respectively.

An inspection opening 40 is formed in the first lid member 26; the opening 40 being defined by a cut-out.

The opening can be of any desired peripheral shape.

Located within the body 11 is an article mounting means 50 which serves to position an article adjacent to the opening 40 and also serves to prevent its removal thrugh the opening. In the illustrated embodiment a preferred mounting means for a fabric article is shown which comprises a sheet member 51 which is positioned to underlie the first lid member 26 and thereby isolate the opening 40 from the chamber 12. Preferably as illustrated, the sheet member 51 has width and length dimensions comparable with those of the chamber 12 so as to fully partition the interior of the body 11 and thereby totally isolate the opening 40 from the chamber 12.

The sheet member 51 includes a flap 55 defined by a slit 56 which is positioned on the sheet member 51 so as to lie adjacent the opening 40. The flap 55 is hingedly connected to the remainder of the sheet member 51 and a portion of fabric 80a to be displayed at the inspection opening 40 is mounted on the flap 55 with the remainder of the fabric 80 being located in the chamber. The flap 55 includes inwardly directed upper edges 55a to provide support for the fabric. It will be appreciated that differently shaped flaps 55 may be incorporated if desired.

Thus a portion of fabric is exposed at the inspection opening 40 and a potential purchaser is able to touch and feel the exposed fabric.

Should the purchaser attempt to pull the article through the inspection opening 40, the flap 55 engages the article and prevents such movement. In this respect, if the flap 55 is located in-board of the remainder of the sheet member 51 pulling on the exposed fabric portion causes the flap to deflect to pass through the slit 56 in the sheet member 51. Since fabric is wrapped about the periphery of the flap 55 the thickness of the fabric is trapped between the periphery of the flap 55 and the edge of slit 56. If the flap 55 is located out-board of the sheet member 51 the outward movement of flap 55 is restricted by interference with the adjacent wall of the body 11 and so restrains movement of the fabric.

If desired the article may be positively attached to the sheet member, for example, by a tag.

The second lid member 28 preferably overlies the first lid member 26 and thereby defines a dust cover for the inspection opening. Advantageously, the second lid member 28 is provided with a window 60, formed for instance by a film of clear plastics material, which enables the contents of the inspection opening to be viewed.

Claims

1. A packaging container or carton for articles, the container including a body defining a chamber in which articles can be stored, the body having an inspection opening and mounting means housed in the chamber for mounting at least a portion of an article at a location adjacent to said inspection opening, the mounting means being adapted to anchor the article so as to restrain its removal through the inspection opening.

2. A packaging container or carton according to claim 1, wherein the opening is located in a wall of the carton and the mounting means comprises a mounting sheet member which lies adjacent to said wall to form a partition to close off or separate the opening from said chamber.

3. A packaging container or carton according to claim 2, for storing a fabric article wherein the sheet member is adapted so as to anchor a portion of fabric adjacent the opening with the remainder of the fabric located in the chamber.

4. A packaging container or carton according to claim 3, wherein the sheet member is adapted by the provision of a flap defined by a slit in the sheet member, the flap being hingedly connected to the remainder of the sheet member.

5. A packaging container or carton according to claim 4, wherein the flap projects downwardly toward the base of the container and is located within the chamber to support the fabric portion.

6. A packaging container or carton according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the sheet member is formed from card or similar material.

7. A packaging container or carton according to any preceeding claim wherein the carton includes a closable lid which overlies the aperture.

8. A packaging container or carton according to claim 7, wherein the lid includes a window located so as to permit contents in the opening to be viewed when the lid is closed.

9. A packaging container or carton substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.