GB2276610A

GB2276610A - Wraparound carton holder

Info

Publication number: GB2276610A
Application number: GB9306883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marc Vincent Kavanagh
Original assignee: CREST CARTONS Ltd
Current assignee: CREST CARTONS Ltd
Priority date: 1993-04-01
Filing date: 1993-04-01
Publication date: 1994-10-05
Also published as: GB9306883D0

Abstract

A holder (10) for holding one or more cartons (12) of a carton type having a seam (14) on at least one carton face (16) and folded over to lie adjacent to the face (16) comprises interlock means (38a, 38b) for forming an interlock with the seam (14) to thereby locate the carton (12) in the holder. The ends (18) of the seam are folded down and adhered adjoining faces (22) of the carton. The interlock means include a retaining tongue (38a, 38b) to engage between the seam (14) and the adjacent carton face (16). The holder is a wrap around sleeve holder, formed from a card blank (50). <IMAGE>

Description

CARTON HOLDER This invention relates to a holder for one or more cartons.

In particular it relates to a holder for cartons of a carton type having a seam on at least one carton face, the seam being folded over to lie adjacent to the carton face.

Cardboard cartons having such a construction are commonly used to contain beverages, for example, fruit juices. The cartons may be sold singly, but often it is preferred to sell the cartons in the form of a multi-pack of two or more cartons.

In one form of conventional multi-pack, a sleeve of card fits around the cartons to hold the pack together, and to provide a surface on which promotional material may be printed. The sleeve includes an integral handle to enable the pack to be carried easily. However, problems exist in ensuring that the cartons are held reliably in the sleeve such that they cannot fall out of the open ends of the sleeve, for example, during rough transit or accidental mishandling. To avoid additional manufacturing costs, it is preferred not to incorporate additional material to blockoff the open ends.

One present solution has been to provide a wrap-around sleeve with a snap-together locking arrangement which can be secured with the sleeve wrapped tightly around the cartons.

However, it can be difficult to ensure that a sufficiently tight fit will always be achieved to hold the cartons securely.

The present invention has been devised with the above problems in mind.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a holder for holding one or more cartons of a carton type having a seam on at least one carton face and folded over to lie adjacent to the face, the holder comprising interlock means for forming a mechanical interlock with the seam thereby to locate the carton in the holder.

With such an arrangement, the carton can be positively retained by the mechanical interlock, to prevent the carton accidentally from coming loose from the holder.

Preferably, the holder comprises a plurality of the aforementioned interlock means, for locating a plurality of cartons in the holder. Preferably, but not essentially, such interlock means are provided for each carton which the holder is to carry.

Preferably, the interlock means comprise retaining means for engaging between the seam and the adjacent carton face of a said carton to be carried in the holder. Preferably, the cartons with which the holder is intended to be used are of a type in which the ends of the seam project beyond the edge of the carton face. The seam ends are folded to lie flat against, and be adhered to, adjoining faces of the carton. For example, the seam may extend over a top face of the carton, and the ends of the seam may be adhered to the end faces of the carton. With such a carton, the retaining means can serve as an abutment stop to limit possible movement of the carton in the direction of the seam.If the carton should slide relative to the retaining means such that the retaining means moves along the seam, the retaining means will eventually lodge in the corner where the seam is folded to lie against one of the said adjoining faces of the carton.

Preferably, the retaining means is positioned such that a carton will be capable of only a limited amount of slidable movement before the retaining means lodges at a corner of the seam thereby to prevent further movement. In the preferred embodiment, the movement is less than about 20mm.

Preferably, the holder further comprises an abutment surface, for example a panel adjacent to the retaining means which panel, in use, fits over the seam and the carton face to press the seam against the face. Such an interlock arrangement with the seam further improves the positive retention of the carton in the holder.

Preferably, the holder comprises a sleeve for fitting around the one or more cartons. The sleeve may be made of card.

Preferably, interlock means are provided to locate the or each respective carton which, in use, will be disposed adjacent to an open end of the sleeve.

Preferably, the or each retaining means of the interlock means comprises a lug or a tongue extending from a wall or panel of the holder. Preferably, the lug or tongue is generally planar.

Preferably, the holder incorporates a carry handle or an opening into which a person may insert the ends of his fingers to carry the holder. The handle and the one or more retaining means may be stamped from the material of one or more walls or panels of the holder. In the preferred embodiment, the holder is formed from a one-piece blank.

In a second closely relates aspect, the invention relates to a blank, preferably a sleeve blank for forming into a sleeve, from which the holder described above is made.

In a third closely related aspect, the invention provides a assembly comprising a holder as aforesaid and at least one carton carried by the holder, the carton having a seam on at least one face thereof and the seam being folded over to lie adjacent to the carton face, the interlock means of the holder being interlocked with the seam of the carton thereby to locate the carton in the holder.

The assembly may incorporate any of the preferred features described above.

In a closely related fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of assembling a pack from a sleeve blank as aforesaid and one or more cartons, the or each carton having a seam on at least one face thereof and folded over to lie adjacent to the face, the method comprising presenting the one or more cartons to the surface of the sleeve blank, forming a mechanical interlock between the interlock means of the blank and the seam of at least one carton, wrapping the panels of the sleeve blank around the one or more cartons to form a sleeve holder, and securing together the respective ends of the blank.

Embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first multi-pack (4carton) arrangement; Fig. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing a detail of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the holder used in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the first multi-pack (4-carton) arrangement; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second multi-pack (6carton) arrangement.

Referring to Figs. 1-3 a multi-pack comprises a holder in the form of a sleeve 10 in which are contained four cartons 12a-d. Each carton is of a type which includes a projecting seam 14 on its top face 16. The seam 14 is folded over to lie substantially flat adjacent to the face 16. The ends 18 of the seam are folded downwardly and are adhered to the end faces 20 of the carton 12.

The sleeve 10 is made of card and comprises a top panel 22, a depending front panel 24 hingedly attached to the top panel 22, a depending rear panel 26 hingedly attached to the top panel 22, a first lower panel 28 hingedly attached to the first side panel 24, and a second lower panel 30 hingedly attached to the second side panel 26. As best seen in Fig. 3, the first lower panel 28 has two locking tongues 31 behind which are located respective locking tabs 32 formed by cuts 33. The second lower panel 30 includes two generally inverted-U-shaped openings 34, each with a respective outer edge 35. The locking tongues 31 locate in the openings 34 to secure the first and second lower panels 28 and 30 together to form a bottom wall of the holder. The locking tongues 31 enter the openings 34 in the direction of the arrows 36 from the underside of the pack.Once the locking tongues 31 have been fully inserted into the openings 34, the locking tabs 32 are then pressed or punched inwardly so that they engage behind the edge 35 of each opening 34.

Referring to Figs 1-3, the top panel includes a first cut to define a first retaining tongue 38a and a second cut 39 and an opening 40 to define a second retaining tongue 38b.

The tongues 38 serve to form an interlock with the seams 14 of two of the cartons 12a and 12b, respectively, positively to retain the cartons in the holder. The position of each tongue 38a,b on the top panel matches substantially the position of the seam 14 on the top of each respective carton 12a,b. The respective carton 12a,b is positioned such that the seam 14 is folded towards the tongue 38a,b. Each tongue 38a,b is engaged under the respective seam 14 such that it fits between the seam 14 and the adjacent top face 16 of a respective carton 12a,b.

The interlock with the seams 14 prevents the cartons 12a,b from accidentally coming loose from the sleeve 10. The sleeve forms a tight fit around the cartons 12 such that the top panel 22 of the sleeve 10 also tends to press the seams 14 downwardly against the top faces 16 of the cartons 12, thereby providing a frictional interlock between the seams 14 and the retaining tongues 38.

The frictional interlock should, under normal circumstances, be sufficient to prevent the cartons 12 from sliding within the sleeve 10. However, if one of the cartons does begin to move towards the open end of the sleeve 10, for example, if the carton is accidentally handled roughly, then the retaining tongue 38 will lodge against the corner of the seam where each end 18 of the seam is folded downwardly and secured to an end faces 20 of the carton. Thus the carton 12 will be prevented from emerging substantially from the open end of the sleeve. In this embodiment, the retaining tongues 38 are arranged such that they will permit each carton 12a and 12b to move outwardly by less than about 20mm before the respective retaining tongue 38a, 38b abuts the corner in the seam.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, only two retaining tongues 38a and 38b are provided. However, as described in more detail below, other embodiments may employ more retaining tongues. In the holder of Figs. 1 and 2, the cartons 12c and 12d which are not retained by tongues are held in position by the tight fitting sleeve 10. The cartons 12c and 12d are pressed into frictional engagement with the cartons 12a and 12b, respectively, and with the rear panel 26 of the sleeve 10.

The opening 40 in the top panel 22 provides room for a person to insert the ends of his or her fingers under the top panel 22 to carry the pack. Two lines of perforations 42 and 44 extend away from the cutout 37 around the first retaining tongue 38a towards edges of the top panel 22. The perforations provide a tear-open facility to allow a person to tear the top panel as illustrated by the arrow 46 to gain access to the cartons 12.

In this exemplary embodiment, the sleeve 10 is formed from a blank 50 of card as illustrated in Fig. 3. The blank comprises a sheet divided by fold lines 25 and 29 into the top panel 22, the front panel 24, the rear panel 26 and the lower panels 28 and 30. The top panel 22 includes the first cut 37 defining the first retaining tongue 38a, and the second cut 39 and the opening 40 to define the second retaining tongue 38b. The first lower panel 28 includes the locking tongues 31 on its outer edge, and the second lower panel 30 includes the openings 34 for receiving the locking tongues 31.

To form the pack illustrated in Fig. 1, the cartons 12 are arranged together, and the top panel 22 of the blank 50 is presented to the top faces 16 of the cartons 12a and 12b.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, the retaining tongues 38a,b extend in the same direction (ie. from front to rear in Fig.

1), and the cartons 12a,b are arranged such that their seams 14 fold towards the retaining tongues 38. The tongues 38 are pressed into interlocking engagement under the seams 14.

The blank 50 is then wrapped around the cartons 12 to form the sleeve 10 by folding downwardly the front and rear panels 24 and 26, and folding upwardly the lower panels 28 and 30 to form the bottom wall of the sleeve. Once the sleeve has been wrapped tightly, the lower panels 28 and 30 are secured by inserting the locking tongues 31 into the respective cut-outs 34, and engaging the locking tabs 32.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the blank includes two generally Vshaped cuts 48 in each of the front and rear panels 24 and 26, and it also includes staggered cuts 49 along the joins with the lower panel areas 28a and 30a. These cuts provide positions at which automated packaging machinery can engage the blank to wrap the blank tightly around the cartons. It will be appreciated that the numbers and positions of the cuts may vary depending on the size of the blank, and on the machinery to fold the blank. For example, only one cut 48 might be provided in each panel, or three or more cuts might be used instead.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified embodiment of a four-carton pack which uses four retaining tongues 38a-d, one each to retain a respective carton 12a-d. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the tongues 38a-d all extend in the same direction to facilitate the process of engaging the tongues 38a-d under the seams 14 of the four cartons 12a-12d. The opening 40 is omitted in this embodiment, and a further opening 54 is provided to act as handle opening.

Fig. 5 illustrates a similar sleeve 60 containing six cartons 62a-f. Four retaining tongues 38a-d are provided in the top panel 22 of the sleeve 60 at positions to engage the outermost cartons 62a-d which are adjacent to the open ends 64 of the sleeve 60. No retaining tongues are necessary to engage the internal cartons 62e,f, since these cartons 62e,f are blocked-in by the outermost cartons 62a-d.

An integral handle 66 is provided across the top panel 22.

The handle extends a short way into the front and rear panels 24 and 26 so that it will not affect directly the tightness of the top panel 22 when the pack is lifted by means of the handle.

As illustrated by the embodiments, it will be appreciated that the retaining tongues 38 form a simple but very effective interlock with the cartons 12 positively to retain the cartons in the holder. The tongues 38 do not require any additional material in the sleeve, as they can be formed from the material of the top panel 22.

Although in the above embodiments the seam 14 of each carton 12 is on the top face 16 of the carton 12, it will be appreciated that other cartons might have a corresponding seam on a different face. The position of the remaining tongues 38 on the holder can be adapted to match the position of the seam 14 on the carton.

It will also be appreciated that the number and size of the retaining tongues 38 can be adapted to match the application for which the holder is intended. A respective retaining tongue may be provided for each carton to be held, or only for cartons in one or more selected carton positions, for example, adjacent to an open end of the holder.

Although in the preferred embodiments the interlock means are in the form of the retaining tongues 38, it will be appreciated that different forms of interlock means might be used instead. The design of the interlock means may depend on the specific design of the carton seam with which the interlock means is intended to engage.

Although in the preferred embodiments the holder comprises a wrap around sleeve to enclose the cartons, it will be appreciated that other forms of holder could be used instead. For example, a holder which fits around only part of the carton or cartons might be used.

The above description is merely exemplary of preferred embodiments of the invention, and modifications of detail may be made without departing from the scope and principles of the present invention.

Claims

1. A holder for holding one or more cartons of a carton type having a seam on at least one carton face and folded over to lie adjacent to the face, the holder comprising interlock means for forming an interlock with the seam to thereby locate the carton in the holder.

2. An assembly comprising a holder according to claim 1 and at least one carton carried by the holder, the carton having a seam on at least one face thereof and the seam being folded over to lie adjacent to the carton face, the interlock means of the holder being interlocked with the seam of the carton to thereby locate the carton in the holder.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder comprises a plurality of said interlock means, for locating a plurality of cartons in the holder.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3, wherein interlock means are provided for each carton which the holder is to carry.

5. The invention as set forth in any preceding claim, wherein the interlock means comprises retaining means for engaging between the seam and the adjacent carton face of a said carton to be carried in the holder.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein the retaining means comprises a lug or tongue extending from a wall or panel of the holder.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 5 or 6, wherein the interlock means further comprises an abutment surface for engaging the seam and the top face of a said carton to be carried in the holder, to press the seam against the face.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7, wherein the abutment surface comprises a panel of the holder.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 7 or 8, wherein the retaining means extends from the abutment surface.

10. The invention as set forth in any preceding claim, wherein the holder comprises a sleeve for fitting around the one or more cartons to be held.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10, wherein the sleeve comprises a wrap-around sleeve for wrapping around the one or more cartons to be held.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11, further comprising securing means for securing the sleeve in its wrapped around condition.

13. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the interlock means comprises retaining means for engaging between the seam and the adjacent carton face, and wherein the seam of the carton extends beyond the edge of said carton face and each end of the seam is adhered to an adjoining face of the carton, whereby the retaining tongue limits lateral movement of the carton relative to the retaining means.

14. A pre-formed one-piece blank to be folded into a holder as included in any preceding claim, the blank comprising panels separated by fold lines along which the blank is to be folded to form the holder, and the blank including means on at least one panel to define the interlock means of the holder once formed.

15. A blank according to claim 13, wherein the means to define the interlock means area comprises an area for forming a tongue or lug.

16. A blank according to claim 15, wherein the said area extends within a panel, and is defined by at least partly a cut or cut-out in the panel.

17. A blank according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the blank comprises a sleeve blank for forming a wrap-around sleeve.

18. A blank according to claim 17, wherein the blank includes means for securing the sleeve in an erected wrapped-around condition.

19. A method of assembling a pack from one or more cartons and from a blank as defined in claim 16 or 17, the or each carton having a seam on at least one face thereof and folded over to lie adjacent to the face, the method comprising presenting the one or more cartons to the surface of the sleeve blank, forming a mechanical interlock between the interlock means of the blank and the seam of at least one carton, wrapping the panels of the sleeve blank around the one or more cartons to form a sleeve holder, and securing together the respective ends of the blank.

20. A holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A pack comprising a holder and one or more cartons, the pack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.