GB2342914A

GB2342914A - Containers sealable by adhesive tape

Info

Publication number: GB2342914A
Application number: GB9822927A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wim Wouters; Suzanne Baldwin; August Artois
Original assignee: SCA Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: SCA Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1998-10-20
Filing date: 1998-10-20
Publication date: 2000-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-20
Also published as: GB9822927D0; GB2342914B

Abstract

A container formed from a blank e.g. of cardboard has two cooperating closure panels (5,6) which are sealable closed along a junction line (20) therebetween by a strip of adhesive tape (21) one of whose ends extends on to an adjacent panel (3). The panel (3) is formed with a cut to enable a user to access the under side of the end of the tape and thus grip the same to strip it off. The cut is substantially in line with the junction line (20) and preferably separates two parts (17,18) having upper edges bounded by an arcuate cut.

Description

"Containers" This invention relates to containers made of cardboard, corrugated board or similar lightweight foldable sheet material and to blanks for making the same.

It is well known to seal such a container closed by means of one or more strips of adhesive tape. For example, if the top of the container is closed by two opposite top closure flaps with their edges abutting, the tape may be applied all along the abutting edges, with its ends extending down the opposite ends of the container and stuck to the end faces also. The base of the container may be sealed in similar fashion.

Such a process is efficient but it does have the problem that it is not easy to remove the tape when the container is to be opened. The tape is thin, and it sticks well to the board, and consequently it is often difficult to lift up a corner of it at one end, so as to get a grip on the tape and strip it off.

Consequently, various proposals have been put forward which involve making a portion of the container wall which underlies the end of the tape readily detachable, e. g. by means of suitably located perforations in the board, so that detaching such portion also lifts up the end of the tape to enable it to be stripped off.

However, these proposals have the disadvantage that an aperture of substantial size is left in the wall of the container when the detachable portion is removed, which is undesirable because it can lead to ingress of dirt and/or loss of contents, for example.

According to the present invention there is provided a blank of cardboard, corrugated board or similar lightweight foldable sheet material, adapted to form a container having two cooperating closure panels which are sealable closed along a junction line therebetween by a strip of adhesive tape one of whose ends extends on to an adjacent panel, wherein the latter panel is formed with a cut to enable a user to access the under side of the end of the tape and thus grip the same, the said cut being substantially in line with the said junction line.

When a container formed from such a blank is sealed closed by a strip of adhesive tape extending along the said junction line, with one of its ends extending on to the said adjacent panel, the said end of the tape may be positioned to terminate part way along the said cut. A user may then press in on the line of the cut to insert a finger under the end of the tape and thus grip it and strip it off. This operation does not leave an aperture in the panel in which the cut is formed, except of course for the cut itself whose size is insignificant compared with previous proposals. Furthermore the operation is facilitated by the cut being substantially aligned with the said junction line and thus also with the length of the tape.

In many circumstances it will be sufficient to provide only a single cut in the panel concerned. Such a cut may be substantially straight, or it may be of other configurations such as zig-zag, to facilitate the insertion of a user's finger. In a preferred form of the invention, however, the said panel is formed with a second cut, transverse to the first cut, at the end of the latter nearer to the said closure panels. This makes it easier for a user to open the first cut and grip the tape. The combination of the first and second cuts may be substantially T-shaped. Preferably the said second cut is curved, with the inside of the curve on the side facing the first cut.

Preferably, so as to make it even easier for a user to open the cut, the ends of the said second cut are joined to the distal end of the first cut by fold lines formed in the board.

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 plan view of a blank according to the invention; and Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of a container made from the blank of Figure 1, illustrating successive stages in the removal of an adhesive tape therefrom.

Referring first to Figure 1, a blank for making a container in the form of a so-called"American box" comprises side wall forming panels 1 and 2, end walls forming panels 3 and 4, side top closure flaps 5 and 6, end top closure flaps 7 and 8, side base closure flaps 9 and 10, and end base closure flaps 11 and 12.

The end wall forming panel 3 is formed with an openable part, generally indicated at 13, to enable a user to grip the end of a strip of adhesive tape as will be explained below with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

The openable part is defined by a first cut 14, an arcuate second cut 15 extending transversely to the first cut so as to form a substantially T-shaped combination, and two fold lines 16 joining the ends of the second cut 15 to the distal end of the first cut 14.

The openable part thus comprises left and right halves 17 and 18 separated by the cut 14. A similar openable part 19 is defined in the other end wall forming panel 4.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, when the container is erected the edges of the two side top closure flaps 5 and 6 abut along a junction line 20. To seal the top of the container a strip of adhesive tape 21 is applied along the junction line 20, and its ends are stuck down on the end walls 3 and 4. It will now be observed that the first cut 14 in the openable part 13 is so located that in the erected container it is substantially in line with the junction line 20 and is thus aligned also with the centre of the tape 21. The end 22 of the tape terminates about half way down the openable part.

When it is desired to remove the tape 21, to open the container, a user presses his finger against the first cut 14 so that the two halves 17 and 18 of the openable part temporarily separate, as shown in Figure 2, to enable the user to grip the end of the tape and strip it off. When the user's finger is removed, the two halves 17 and 18 automatically come together again, as shown in Figure 3, so that an aperture is not formed in the wall 3. As paper fibers will stick to the under side of the tape when the parts 17 and 18 are pressed in, the under side of the tape will not be sticky where it is gripped by the user.

The bottom of the container is similarly sealed closed by a strip of adhesive tape 23, which can be stripped off in the same fashion by way of the openable part 19 formed in the other end wall 4, to open the bottom of the container when it is desired to collapse it flat for disposal, for example.

Claims

Claims 1. A blank of cardboard, corrugated board or similar lightweight foldable sheet material, adapted to form a container having two cooperating closure panels which are sealable closed along a junction line therebetween by a strip of adhesive tape one of whose ends extends on to an adjacent panel, wherein the latter panel is formed with a cut to enable a user to access the under side of the end of the tape and thus grip the same, the said cut being substantially in line with the said junction line.
2. A blank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said panel is formed with a second cut, transverse to the first cut, at the end of the latter nearer to the said closure panels.
3. A blank as claimed in claim 2, wherein the combination of said first and second cuts is substantially T-shaped.
4. A blank as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the said second cut is curved, with the inside of the curve on the side facing the first cut.
5. A blank as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the ends of the said second cut are joined to the distal end of the first cut by fold lines formed in the board.
6. A blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
7. A container formed from a blank as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.