GB2294254A

GB2294254A - Packaging sleeves

Info

Publication number: GB2294254A
Application number: GB9420767A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Watkins
Original assignee: ASSIDOMON PACKAGING UK Ltd
Current assignee: ASSIDOMON PACKAGING UK Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-14
Filing date: 1994-10-14
Publication date: 1996-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-14
Also published as: GB2294254B; GB9420767D0

Abstract

A blank 10 for a tubular packaging sleeve has opposite ends which may be brought adjacent to one another and secured together by interengagement to form the sleeve. Preferably a tab 30 engages a slotted formation 32 when the blank has been bent about fold lines 22, 24, 26, 28. Exposed edges of the tab 30 and formation 32 on the inside of the erected sleeve all lie either parallel to or diagonally of the sleeve axis, so that primary packs can be inserted into or removed from the sleeve without snagging. <IMAGE>

Description

PACKAGING SLEEVES We have developed tubular packaging sleeves fillable with groups of primary packs of for example food produce.

The filled sleeves form secondary packs which can be transported to supermarkets or other retailers, where the sleeves are emptied directly onto display shelves by applying hand pressure to the primary packs at the forward-facing open end of the sleeve, and withdrawing the sleeve in the forward direction from around the primary packs. During transport, the primary packs are retained within the sleeve by strapping, shrink wrapping or any other convenient means.

There is a need for such a packaging sleeve which is economical in materials and readily fillable. Accordingly, the present invention provides a tubular packaging sleeve formed from a blank or a blank for forming a tubular packaging sleeve, the blank having opposite ends which may be brought adjacent to one another and secured together by interengagement to form the sleeve. Such a sleeve may be cut from stock material with relatively little waste and can be assembled from the blank around the group of primary packs for easy filling. A pre-glued tubular sleeve by contrast can only be filled from its open ends: a more difficult process.

Preferably interengagement of the blank ends is achieved in a manner whereby the interior of the sleeve presents edges running only longitudinally of or obliquely to the sleeve axis, so that the primary packs can easily ride over or past such edges as the sleeve is emptied.

Interengagement of the blank ends may be by means of a tab on one end engageable with a slotted formation on the other end. The tab may comprise chamfered front corners, and sides running obliquely of the sleeve axis towards a root portion. These sides may be formed by cuts separating the tab from the remaining blank material. The cuts may terminate in a pair of relatively short aligned cuts running substantially parallel to the sleeve axis for locking the tab in position in the erected sleeve.

The slotted formation may comprise a cut out at the opposite end of the blank to the tab, the cut out having a bottom edge configured to lie substantially parallel to the axis of the erected sleeve, and a pair of chamfered side edges. At each junction of the cut-out bottom and side edges, a cut line may be formed, the two cut lines running obliquely to the sleeve axis. These cut lines may also terminate in a pair of relatively short aligned cuts running substantially parallel to the sleeve axis for locking the tab and formation together in the erected sleeve.

In an alternative form, the locking tab may extend from one end of the blank and comprise a pair of chamfered sides, and a pair of relatively small cuts extending generally longitudinally of the erected sleeve, separating the tab from the remaining blank material, the two small cuts terminating short of each other to define a neck portion by which the tab is attached to the remainder of the blank. In this case, the slotted formation may comprise a slit extending generally longitudinally of the erected sleeve of a length slightly greater that the width of the tab neck but slightly less than the widest part of the tab. From the ends of the slit, a small pair of cuts may diverge towards the adjacent end of the blank.

Other forms of interengagement for securing together the blank ends will be apparent.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a blank forming a first embodiment of the invention, the chain-dotted lines representing creases; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of Fig. 1 wrapped partly around a group of primary packs; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank made up into tubular form, with its ends secured together but without primary packs for clarity; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view, partly broken away, showing the ends of a blank forming a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a generally rectangular blank 10 divided into five panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 by fold lines 22, 24, 26, 28 extending parallel to the sleeve axis. At one end of the blank 10 there is provided a tab 30 engageable with a slotted formation 32 when the blank has been bent about the fold lines 22, 24, 26, 28 to form a tubular sleeve, with the panel 12 overlying the panel 20 on the outside. Tab 30 comprises a leading edge 34 running parallel to the sleeve axis, chamfered front corners 36, 38 and sides formed by a pair of cuts 40, 42 separating the tab from the remainder of the blank and tapering towards the tab root. The cuts 40, 42 terminate in a pair of relatively short aligned cuts 44, 46 which serve to lock the tab into the slotted formation.

The slotted formation comprises a cut-out 48 at the end of the blank 10 opposite the tab 30. The cut-out 48 has a bottom edge 50 running parallel to the sleeve axis and a pair of chamfered side edges 52, 54. A cut line 56, 58 diverges from the junction of each chamfered side edge 52, 54 and the cut-out bottom edge 50. The cut lines 56, 58 also terminate in relatively small aligned cuts 60, 62.

In use, a group of primary packs 64, Fig. 2, is placed or assembled on one of the sleeve panels (18, say) and is then enfolded in the remaining panels. Finally the opposite ends of the blank are secured together to form the sleeve by interengagement of the tab 30 and slotted formation 32. The primary packs may be secured for transport in the sleeve by strapping or shrink wrapping.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the exposed edges 38, 42, 46, 62, 58, 54, 36, 40, 44, 60, 56, 52 of the tab 30 and slotted formation 32 on the inside of the erected sleeve all lie either parallel to or diagonally of the sleeve axis, so that the primary packs 64 can easily ride over or past them without snagging.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the tab 30 extends from an end 66 of the blank and has a leading edge 68 lying parallel to the sleeve axis, a pair of chamfered sides 70, 72, and a pair of relatively small cuts 74, 76 extending parallel to the sleeve axis and terminating short of each other to define a neck portion 78 by which the tab is attached to the blank end 66. The slotted formation of this embodiment comprises a slit 80 extending parallel to the sleeve axis, and a small pair of cuts 82, 84 diverging from the ends of the slit 80 towards the other end 86 of the blank. To secure the ends 66, 86 of the blank together to form the sleeve, the tab is inserted through the slit 80 so as to lie on the outside of the sleeve, leaving no exposed internal edges which may hinder unloading of the primary packs.

Where the sleeve is relatively long, more than one axially spaced tab and slotted formation may be provided.

Claims

1. A tubular packaging sleeve formed from a blank or a blank for forming a tubular packaging sleeve, the blank having opposite ends which may be brought adjacent to one another and secured together by interengagement to form the sleeve.

2. A sleeve or blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein interengagement of the blank ends is achieved in a manner whereby the interior of the sleeve presents edges running only longitudinally of or obliquely to the sleeve axis, so that primary packs contained within the sleeve can easily ride over or past such edges to empty the sleeve.

3. A sleeve or blank as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein interengagement of the blank ends is by means of a tab on one end engageable with a slotted formation on the other end.

4. A sleeve or blank as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tab comprises chamfered front corners, and sides running obliquely to the sleeve axis.

5. A sleeve or blank as claimed in claim 4 wherein the tab sides are formed by cuts separating the tab from the remaining blank material.

6. A sleeve or blank as claimed in claim 5 wherein the cuts terminate in a pair of relatively short aligned cuts running substantially parallel to the sleeve axis.

7. A sleeve or blank as claimed in any of claims 3-6 wherein the slotted formation comprises a cut-out at the opposite end of the blank to the tab, the cut-out having a bottom edge configured to lie substantially parallel to the axis of the erected sleeve.

8. A sleeve or blank as claimed in claim 7, wherein a cut line is formed at a pair of junctions formed between the cutout bottom and side edges of the cut-out, the two cut lines running obliquely to the sleeve axis.

9. A sleeve or blank as claimed in claim 8 wherein the cut lines terminate in a pair of relatively short aligned cuts running substantially parallel to the sleeve axis.

10. A sleeve or blank as claimed in any of claims 1-3 wherein the locking tab extends from one end of the blank and comprises a pair of chamfered sides, and a pair of relatively small cuts extending generally longitudinally of the erected sleeve, separating the tab from the remaining blank material, the two small cuts terminating short of each other to define a neck portion by which the tab is attached to the remainder of the blank.

11. A sleeve or blank as claimed in claim 10 wherein the slotted formation comprises a slit extending generally longitudinally of the erected sleeve, and a pair of relatively small cuts diverging from the ends of the slit towards the adjacent end of the blank.

12. A sleeve or blank substantially as described with reference to or as shown in the drawings.