GB2259071A

GB2259071A - A packaging sleeve

Info

Publication number: GB2259071A
Application number: GB9118279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Austin Fisher; Eric Edwards
Original assignee: FISHER MATTHEWS ENGINEERING LI
Current assignee: FISHER MATTHEWS ENGINEERING LI
Priority date: 1991-08-24
Filing date: 1991-08-24
Publication date: 1993-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-24
Also published as: GB2259071B; GB9118279D0

Abstract

A blank (11) for a sleeve for packaging frustoconical containers comprises a central rectangular panel (12) having side panels (13, 14, 15, 16) foldably connected to each side of the central panel through fold lines (17). Shaped recesses (19) are located along the fold lines for receiving respective outer flanges at the upper portions of the containers, and locking flaps (21) in a centre portion of the central panel (12) engage inner portions of container flanges to hold the containers to the sleeve. The sleeve thus serves as a carrier for, as shown, four containers, held by their upper portions in side-by-side relation. <IMAGE>

Description

A Packaging Sleeve This invention relates to sleeve or holder for retaining together a plurality of containers It is known to hold together a plurality of frustoconical pots of for example, Yoghurt or desserts by the use of cardboard sleeves that encircle a number of pots arranged in a line . Yet another arrangement is for a cardboard sleeve or retainer to wrap around and grip diameterially opposite sides of the tops of a number of pots arranged in a line so that the pot in effect dangles from the sleeve.

Because of the shape of the frustoconical pots it is difficult to pack the pots in pairs with for example four pots being arranged in a square formation. One means of achieving this is for the for pots to be manufactured with the tops of the pots joined by a break-line for subsequent separation.

The present invention provides a sleeve that allows frustoconical pots to be packaged side by side in pairs and which is extremely economical in its use of cardboard Accordingly there is provided a a blank for a sleeve for packaging containers, said blank comprising a central rectangular panel having side panels foldably connected to each side of the central panel through fold lines, shaped recesses located along the fold lines for receiving respective portions of the containers , and locking flaps in a centre portion of the central panel also for engaging a portion of the containers Preferably there are two sets of locking flaps , each of which in use engages a portions of a pair of side by side containers Also there is provided a sleeve four holding a plurality of containers in side by side relationship, said sleeve comprising a rectangular central panel which in use seats against the tops of the containers, side panels connected to each side of the central panel through fold lines for folding around the upper side portions of the containers, shaped recesses located in the fold lines to receive respective portions of the containers , and at least one locking flap located in the central panel and which is conncted to the central panel by fold lines and is foldable to engage a portion of at least one container to hold said one container to the central-panel.

Such a sleeve with the containers held therein is very rigid.

Preferably the there are a pluarality of locking flaps and conveniently each locking flap retains two side by side containers to the central panel.

Preferably the central panel is square and the sleeve is for holding four containers in assembly together.

There is also provided a package comprising a plurality of pairs of containers held together by a sleeve as described above.

Preferably the containers are sealed frusoconical pots each having radially outward projecting flange at the sealed open end thereof, said flange locating in the shaped recesses and being held by the locking flaps.

Convieniently the flanges of adjacent pots overlap The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a plan view of a blank according to the invention, Fig 2 is a sketch of a side elevation of a sleeve holding containers therein, and Fig 3 is a sketch of a view from underneath the sleeve of Fig 2 showing the containers as held by the locking means. With reference now to Fig 1, there is illustrated a cardboard blank 11 for a packaging sleeve. The blank comprises a central rectangular panel 12 which is square for a four container sleev but would be rectangular for a two carton sleeve or a six carton sleeve. There are four side panels 13,14,15, & 16 joined to each side of the central panel 12 through a respective fold line 17 so that each side is foldable relative to the central panel 12.

The sleeve is in use to hold pairs of containers side by side so that the end side panels 13 & 15 have two recesses 18 therein located along the fold lines 17, and the other side panels 14 & 16 have one recess 19 per pair of containers located along their respective fold lines 17a In this case with only four containers there are only two recesses 19 but if there were six containers there would be three recesses 19 along each fold line 17a.

In the mid portion of the central panel 12 , there are localed two locking flaps 21. Each flap is rectangular and is cut from the centtral panel 12 to wich it is connected only along the mid portion 20 of one long side by a fold line 22 allowing each flap to be folded out of the plane of the central panel 12. There is a slot 23 cut out each side of the fold line 22 to provide a gap between the flap and the central panel after folding.

The side portions 24 of each locking flap 21 are connected to the mid portion 20 thereof by inclined fold lines 26.

The recesses 18 and 19 are each shaped inwards of the respective fold line in use to receive a portion of a container and also to form an upraised tongue 27 which in use grips a respective container. There is a split line 28 in each tongue.

With reference to Fig 2 and Fig 3 there is illustrated the sleeve in use forming a four container assembly. The containers 30 are frustoconical pots made from plastics material which have a radially outwardly projecting flange 31 at the open end thereof.The pots 30 are sealed and are assembled as two side by side pairs with the tops against the central panel 12. The four side panels 13,14,15,7 16 are folded to enclose the upper portion of the pots 30 and the outer portions of the flange 31 of each pot extends through the adjacent recesses. The term outer is used in respect of the panel 12. The tongues of each recess lock under the flange to hold the side panels in position.

Preferably the flanges 31 of adjacent pots overlap.

The inner portions of the flanges 31 ( that is inner relative to the panel 12 ) are held in position against the underside of the central panel by the locking flaps 21 which are folded down and the end portions 24 then folded back across a respective flange which is accomodated in the respective slot 23.

The whole package in which the pots are held on their outer edges by the use of four side panels, the flanges of adjacent pots overlap , and the flanges are further secured on their innermost edges r provides an extremely rigid package which uses a minimum of card board material.

Because the sealed top of each container lies against the central panel this helps prevent tampering with the contents of the pots.

Claims

Claims.

1 . A blank for a sleeve for packaging containers, said blank comprising a central rectangular panel having side panels foldably connected to each side of the central panel through fold lines, shaped recesses located along the fold lines for receiving respective outer portions of the containers , and locking flaps in a centre portion of the central panel also for engaging an inner portion of the containers

2. A blank as claimed in Claim 1 wherein there are two sets of locking flaps each set of which in use engages portions of a pair of side by side containers.

3. A blank as claimed in Claim 2 wherein each set of locking flaps comprises a single flap the opposite end portion of which each engage a container.

4, A sleeve for holding a plurality of containers in side by side relationship, said sleeve comprising a rectangular central panel which in use seats against the tops of the containers, side panels connected to each side of the central panel through fold lines for folding around the upper side portions of the containers, shaped recesses located in the fold lines to receive respective outer portions of the containers , and at least one locking flap located in the central panel and which is connected to the central panel by fold lines and is foldable to engage an inner portion of at least one container to hold said one container to the central panel.

5. A sleeve as claimed in Claim 4 wherein there are a pluarality of locking flaps each of which engages at least one container.

6. A sleeve as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein each locking flap engages two side by side containers to hold them to the central panel.

7. A sleeve as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the central panel is square and the sleeve is for holding four containers in assembly together.

8. A package comprising a plurality of pairs of containers held together side by side by a sleeve as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7.

9. A package as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the containers are sealed frusoconical pots each having radially outward projecting flange at the sealed open end thereof, each said flange locating in a shaped recesses and being held by the locking flaps.

10. A package as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the flanges of adjacent pots overlap