GB2324293A

GB2324293A - Carton with hinged lid panels.

Info

Publication number: GB2324293A
Application number: GB9707965A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-19
Filing date: 1997-04-19
Publication date: 1998-10-21
Also published as: GB9707965D0

Abstract

A carton (51, Figs. 8-12) is constructed from a blank 11 which has all side panels 13, 16 connected to a base panel 12. A first pair of opposing side panels 13 have reclosable lid panels 21 hinged to them. The lid panels 21 have lid panel flaps 22 extending from each end, the lid panel flaps resting against the inside of adjacent side panels to hold the lid in a closed position. In its preferred form the other pair of side panels 16 are doubled over to enclose extensions 14, 15 of the first pair of side panels. These panels are all held together by a handle cut out flap 34 in the outermost panel 16 being pushed through handle holes 24, 25, 27 in the remaining panels, the handle cut out flap having tabs 32 which engage against the innermost panel 17 so that it is held in place. Preferably, the lid panels 21 have holes 41 to enable them to be opened easily and the lid panel flaps 22 are profiled to facilitate insertion and withdrawal. Also disclosed is a corner reinforcing piece (Fig. 15) that provides support for stacked cartons.

Description

Carton with Integrated Lid This invention relates to hollow structures, and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with folding or collapsible cartons with integral lids.

Economy and convenience of manufacture are important considerations in deriving cartons from folded flat sheet material.

Suitable fabrication materials include corrugated plastics sheet material, such as 'Correx' or 'Corruboard' (Trade Marks) Generally, a wide variety of collapsible carton configurations comprise a flat sheet subdivided by multiple cuts and folds - allowing progressive folding into an erected threedimensional, assembled form.

A common such carton (blank) configuration has a central panel - representing the base of the erected carton - with an array of panels extending from the edges thereof, representing the peripheral upstanding side walls of the erected carton.

Carton strength and structural integrity may be imparted by using multiple overlapping layers of material for some of the side walls - as described in the Applicant's earlier UK Patent Application No 9615899.3.

In some situations, it is desirable for a carton to have a lid - to protect or restrain the contents, and help preserve the carton's overall structural strength, rigidity and integrity.

For ease of use, a carton with an integral lid is desirable.

For convenience of manufacture and minimal wastage, it is desirable to achieve such a carton from a common sheet.

According to one aspect of the invention, a carton is fabricated from sheet material, incorporating a plurality of cuts and folds, to achieve an assembled form, with a peripheral wall, upstanding from a base, and lid panel(s), extending from wall portion(s), with edge retention flaps, for location alongside adjacent walls, upon lid closure.

The lid(s) may comprise a single layer of sheet material, as extension(s) of single-layer side wall(s).

In order to impart strength, rigidity and structural integrity, side walls without lid panels desirably comprise multiple overlying folded layers.

Additional strength and structural integrity is imparted by the closed lid.

Conveniently, lid retention flaps are located within the erected carton structure when the lid panel is folded over the otherwise open carton top face.

The lid panel flaps edges may be profiled for a smooth lid opening and closing action.

Additional, (say, latch or tab) fastenings may be included to hold the lid securely closed.

Alternatively, the flaps could interact with handle elements formed in the multi-layer side walls.

In order to reinforce the assembled carton and to facilitate stacking and help withstand and distribute attendant stacking loads, supplementary individual discrete corner fittings may be employed at each corner of the carton mouth, alongside the lid.

There now follows a description of some particular embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a carton in its laid out in its flat, unfolded configuration; Figure 2 shows initial erection of a singlelayer wall; Figure 3 shows initial folding of a multi-layer wall; Figure 4 shows opposite single-layer wall erection; Figure 5 shows ongoing multi-layer wall folding; Figure 6 shows further multi-layer wall folding; Figure 7 shows completion of a multi-layer wall; Figure 8 shows a fully erected carton with open lid; Figure 9 shows inward folding of lid panel flaps; Figure 10 shows lid panel flaps slotted behind handle flaps; Figure 11 shows an erected carton with closed lid portion; Figure 12 shows an erected carton with both lid portions closed; Figure 13 shows in greater detail the inter-fit of a lid panel flap and handle cut-out; Figures 14a through 14d show various views of an individual corner piece; Figure 15 shows the corner piece from Figures 1 4a - 1 4d fitted to the assembled carton; and Figure 16 shows a stack of cartons with corner pieces fitted.

Referring to the drawings, a carton 51 is fabricated from a flat shape or 'carton blank' 11 - cut out of sheet material 43 - and progressively folded, as indicated in Figures 1 through 8.

The assembled carton 51 is shown in Figure 8, and features two opposed multi-layer walls 42 - alternating with two opposed, single-layer walls, with 'hinged' lid panels 21 extending from their upper edges.

The correct relative positioning of the multiple (overlying) layers 14, 15, 16, 17 constituting the (thicker) walls 42 is preserved by a handle multiple aligned cut-out and locating flap configuration, shown in greater detail in Figure 13.

Each layer 14, 15, 16, 17 has a handle cutout, aligned in the folded configuration to form a profiled aperture for use as a carry handle.

The innermost layers 14, 15, 17 have similar cut-outs 24, 25, 27.

The outer layer 16 has a marginally wider cutout 26, 'releasing' a shaped flap 31, with tabs 32 extending from each side.

In the assembled configuration, the flap 31 is folded inwards along fold 33 and pushed through the aligned handle cut-outs 24, 25, 27.

The tabs 32 are folded along folds 35 to fit through the marginally narrower cut-outs of the other layers.

The flap 31 then spans the width of the wall and protrudes into the carton 51.

The tabs 32 on the flap 31 revert to lying substantially in the same plane as the rest of the flap 31, and span beyond the adjacent handle cut-outs 24, 25, 27.

The tabs 32 thus inhibit spontaneous return or 'spring-back' of the flap 31 to its original position, co-planar with outer layer 16.

The lid comprises two opposed hinged lid panels 21, contiguous with the side wall panels 13.

Extending from each side of the lid panels 21 are lid panel side flaps 22.

The lid panels 21 can be folded to overlie the otherwise open face of the erected carton 51.

The lid panel flaps 22 are folded, perpendicular to the respective lid panel 21, and are pressed inside the carton 51, alongside the side wall 43.

As the lid is closed, the flaps 22 are located between the side wall 43 and the tabs 32 of the handle configuration - with an interference fit holding the lid panel flaps 22 in place and the associated lid panel 21 in the closed position.

Alternative size and shape lid panel flaps 22 may be used. For example, larger flaps contribute more to the overall strength, rigidity and structural stability of the carton when the lid is in the closed position - however, they may prove more awkward to manipulate.

In an alternative embodiment, the lid may comprise a single panel. Such a lid could have up to three flaps, held in place using either principle described above.

In such an embodiment, only the side wall with the lid panel is required to be of single layer thickness.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the exposed lid panel flap edges may be 'relief' profiled to facilitate lid opening and closing.

Additionally, a cut out or notch 41 on the free lid panel edge provides a finger-pull.

The carton may be reinforced, stiffened and braced by the insertion of discrete corner pieces, for example of moulded plastics. Such corner pieces could also be adapted to support and locate carton stacking.

Figures 14a - 14d show a reinforcement and stacking corner piece embodiment.

A corner piece 61 comprises perpendicular side walls 62, 63, braced by an inner ledge 64 with a depending inner leg 65, forming a shallow throat 67 with the side wall 63 and with a cutout or relief 166 at one edge to form a marginal throat 68 with the side wall 62.

The corner piece 61 is fitted to a corner of a carton, as shown in Figure 15, so that the ledge 64 rests upon the upper edge of a multi-layer carton wall 42.

The wall 42 is held snugly in the throat 67, alongside a lid retention flap 22, but without interfering with the lid hinging action.

The adjoining single layer wall 43 is held snugly in the throat 68.

The corner piece 61 thus helps preserve the correct relative (mutually orthogonal) positions of the adjoining carton walls 42, 43, increasing the overall structural strength, rigidity and stiffness of the assembled carton 51.

When fitted, the side walls 62, 63 of the corner pieces 61 extend marginally above the upper carton edge, to create collectively a shallow corner edge frame - for locating a stacked carton 51, as shown in Figure 16.

The corner pieces 61 thus help preserve the correct relative positions or alignment of stacked cartons 51, directly above one another, reducing the risk of dislodgment, for example by casual collision.

Component List 11 flat sheet ('carton blank') 12 base panel 1 3 (single-layer) wall panel 1 4 (multi-iayer) wall panel 1 5 (multi-layer) wall panel 1 6 (outer layer) wall panel 1 7 (inner layer) wall panel 2 1 lid panel 22 lid panel flap 24 handle cut-out (panel 14) 25 handle cut-out (panel 15) 26 handle cut-out (panel 16) 27 handle cut-out (panel 17) 3 1 handle flap 32 (handle flap) tab 33 (handle flap) fold 34 (handle flap) tab fold 4 1 lid panel cut-out 42 multi-layer wall 43 single-layer wall 5 1 assembled carton 61 comer piece 62 (corner piece) side wall 63 (corner piece) side wall 64 (corner piece) ledge 65 (corner piece) leg 66 cut-out 67 (shallow) throat 68 throat

Claims

Claims 1.

A carton, fabricated from sheet material, incorporating a plurality of cuts and folds, to achieve an assembled form, with a peripheral wall, upstanding from a base, and lid panel(s), extending from wall portion(s), with edge retention flaps, for location alongside adjacent walls, upon lid closure.
2.

A carton, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein two or more peripheral upstanding walls have a multi-layer structure, formed by overlapping and folding adjoining panels, and inter-nesting panels from adjacent walls, into face-to-face abutment.
3.

A carton, as claimed in Claim 2, with a handle, formed in a multi-layer wall (42), of overlying wall panels (14, 15, 16, 17) and handle cut-outs (24, 25, 26, 27), in each wall panel, aligned in the assembled carton (51), the outermost cut-out (26) being larger, and including a handle flap (31), with side tabs (32), said flap being pushed through the aligned cutouts into the carton, and said tabs extending beyond the adjacent innermost cut-out, to retain said handle flap (31).
4.

A carton, as claimed in Claim 3, configured whereby, upon closure of the lid panel(s) (21), the lid panel flap(s) (22) fit between the multi-layer wall (43) and handle flap tab (32).
5.

A carton, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein lid panel flaps have contoured edge profiles, to facilitate insertion and withdrawal.
6.

A carton, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein lid panel flaps have cut-outs (41), to facilitate opening of the closed lid panel (21).
7.

A carton, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, with discrete corner pieces, disposed to reinforce and brace the assembled carton structure and to support carton stacking.
8.

A carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
9.

A carton blank for a carton as claimed in any of the preceding claims.