GB2335413A

GB2335413A - Packaging for bottles including self-closing cartons

Info

Publication number: GB2335413A
Application number: GB9805548A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Topfer
Original assignee: Field Group PLC
Current assignee: Field Group PLC
Priority date: 1998-03-16
Filing date: 1998-03-16
Publication date: 1999-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-16
Also published as: GB9805548D0; FR2775960A1; GB2335413B

Abstract

A case of bottles is formed by placing bottles 3 into cartons 2 arranged within the case 1. The cartons have at least one top flap which allows a bottle to be inserted past it but then automatically holds the bottle in the carton. This is preferably achieved by wedging part of an inwardly directed flap against the neck and/or shoulder of the bottle. The flaps may have a recess formed in one edge which sits around the neck of the bottle. This simplifies the filling of cases of bottles as once the cartons are arranged in the case the bottles can be inserted without interference from closure flaps.

Description

2335413 1 67511.598 "Packaging of bottles or like containers" This

invention relates to the packaging of bottles or like containers.

Some bottles, such as ones containing whisky or other spirits, are often packed in individual cartons, for sale. In turn, the cartons containing the bottles are packed, for example by the dozen, in cases, for storage and transportation. Conventionally, this is done by placing the cartons in the case with their top closures open, placing the bottles in the cartons, closing the tops of the cartons, and finally closing the is top of the case. This also involves the step of manoeuvring each of the bottles into its carton past the open top closure flaps thereof. It is a primary object of the present invention to simplify the above procedure.

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides packaging for bottles or the like, comprising a case containing an array of cartons for bottles, each such carton having at least one top flap arranged to allow a bottle to be inserted past it into the carton but then to automatically hold the bottle in the carton in non-return fashion.

With such an arrangement, a packer can insert each bottle in its carton in a single simple movement, without having to manoeuvre it past any top closure flaps, and furthermore he does not have to close the top of the carton. Thus the packing operation is substantially simplified and shortened.

Cartons having at least one top flap arranged to permit an article to be inserted past it and then to automatically hold the article in non-return fashion, are already known, although not particularly for bottles. Thus the cartons in packaging according to the - 2 is invention may be of a known kind.

Preferably the said at least one top flap is arranged to engage with the neck and/or the shoulder of a bottle to hold it. other arrangements may be envisaged, however, in which the said flap engages with a cap or with some other part of the bottle. Clearly the only essential is that the flap or flaps should hold the bottle securely in the carton once it has been inserted therein.

Preferably the said at least one top flap is hingedly connected to the top of a side wall of the carton. Other arrangements are however possible; for example the top flap could be connected to the carton body below the level of the top of a side wall.

So as to cause the said at least one top flap to automatically take up its bottle holding position upon a bottle being inserted past it into the carton, means may be provided for holding the said flap in a position extending inwardly of the carton, ready for a bottle to be inserted past it. Preferably such means is such as to hold the flap in a position pointing downwardly into the carton. of course, such a provision is also advantageous in making it unnecessary for a packer to hold the flap in its desired position while inserting a bottle in the carton.

In one form of the invention each carton has only one said top flap and the said flap holding means is provided by interference between the flap and at least one internal wall surface of the carton. In another form each carton has at least two said top flaps and the said flap holding means is provided by interlocking between the said flaps.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of packaging according to the invention, comprising a case containincg 3 twelve bottles in cartons; Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank for making a carton as used in the packaging of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top part of a carton made from the blank of Figure 2, with a bottle inserted; Figures 4 and 5 are similar views of a second blank and carton; Figure 6 is a plan view of packaging according to the invention containing cartons as shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a plan view of a third blank for making a suitable carton for use in packaging according to the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the top part of a carton made from the blank of Figure 7, with a bottle inserted; Figure 9 is a top plan view of the carton and bottle of Figure 8; and Figure 10 is a top plan view of the same carton without a bottle.

Referring first to Figure 1, packaging according to the invention comprises a case 1 of a conventional form, made of corrugated board, containing an array of twelve cartons 2 each containing a bottle 3.

The carton 2 of the packaging shown in Figure 1 is of the kind illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The carton has a conventional base structure formed from flaps 4. At its top it has two flaps 5 which are folded in and glued to their associated side walls 6 so as to provide smooth top edges at 7 in Figure 3, and two top flaps 8 and 9 which, when folded in, interlock with each other so as to be held in the position illustrated in Figure 3. Twelve cartons 2 are inserted in the outer case 1 in this condition, i.e. with the top flaps 8 and 9 folded in as shown in Figure 3, and the case and cartons are then ready to receive the bottles. It is then only necessary for a packer to insert each bottle into its 4 - carton by a simple single movement, so that the bottle is inserted past the top flaps 8 and 9 until it comes to rest on the bottom of the carton with the top flaps embracing the bottle neck by way of recesses 10 formed in the flaps. Clearly the bottle is now held in nonreturn fashion by the top flaps, and indeed it will remain in position even if the carton is held upside down.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, these show a second type of carton for use in the context of the invention, for receiving a bottle 11 whose body is substantially triangular in transverse cross-section.

Wall panels 12 and 13 of the blank of Figure 4 overlie each other in the erected carton to form a double thickness side wall 14 which is the base wall of a carton of trapezoidal shape in transverse crosssection, as seen in Figure 5.

Flaps 15 at the top of the carton are folded over and glued to their associated side walls 16 to 18 to produce smooth top edges, as in the previous embodiment. Top flap 19 is doubled over to form a double thickness top flap with a recess 20. When the carton is erected and this flap is pushed down into the interior as in Figure 5, it is held there by interference between it and the insides of the side walls 16 and 18 and the bottle 11 can then be inserted past it. That having been done, the interference between the top flap and the carton side walls results in the bottle being held in the carton in non-return fashion.

Figure 6 shows how twelve cartons of the kind illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 are packed in an outer case to form packaging according to the invention.

Referring now to Figures 7 to 10, a carton formed from the blank of Figure 7 has a conventional crash lock base formed by an array of base panels 21. At the top of the erected carton are four top flaps 22 which, when folded in and down into the interior of the carton, in clockwise order as seen from above, interlock with each other as shown in Figure 10. The top flaps are thereby held in their positions extending downwardly into the carton, ready to receive a bottle 23 which, having been inserted as shown in Figures 8 and 9, is held in nonreturn fashion in the carton by way of the top flaps, which are formed with recesses 24 to embrace the neck of the bottle.

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Claims

Claims:

1. Packaging for bottles or the like, comprising a case containing an array of cartons for bottles, each such carton having at least one top flap arranged to allow a bottle to be inserted past it into the carton but then to automatically hold the bottle in the carton in non-return fashion.

2. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said at least one top flap is arranged to engage with the neck and/or the shoulder of a bottle to hold it.

3. Packaging as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said is at least one top flap is hingedly connected to the top of a side wall of the carton.

4. Packaging as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, including means for holding the said at least one top flap in a position extending inwardly of the carton, ready for a bottle to be inserted past it.

5. Packaging as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said flap holding means is such as to hold the flap in a position pointing downwardly into the carton.

6. Packaging as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein each carton has only one said top flap and the said flap holding means is provided by interference between the flap and at least one internal wall surface of the carton.

7. Packaging as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein each carton has at least two said top flaps and the said flap holding means is provided by interlocking between the said flaps.

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8. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said at least one top flap is formed with recess in its edge to accommodate the neck of a bottle or the like.

9. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.