GB2364995A

GB2364995A - A transit and display carton and a blank therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2364995A
Application number: GB0015710A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger David Newman
Original assignee: Cundell Corrugated Ltd; Smurfit UK Ltd
Current assignee: Smurfit Kappa Corrugated UK Ltd; Smurfit Kappa UK Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-27
Filing date: 2000-06-27
Publication date: 2002-02-13
Also published as: GB0015710D0

Abstract

A transit and display carton comprises side walls 18/19/20/21 and a base, one of the side walls 21 comprising a display aperture defined by a cut-line 33 which, during assembly of the carton, is closed off by the re-orientation of part of this same side wall to locate another part 42 of the panel in a position in which it closes the display aperture. The aperture may be closed by a hinged panel which pivots relative to the remainder of the side, the pivoting motion locating this panel immediately behind the aperture. The closure panel 42 may be pivotable around one or more crease lines 36/37 and may be removed, along these crease lines, to create a display carton. The carton may include a flap portion or portions 23/24/25 to form a top for the carton and the panel may further comprise a flap 46 to support this carton top. Also claimed is a blank for such a carton. In use, the carton is particularly suited for the transit and display of consumable items for sale at supermarkets.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> Carton and Carton Blank The invention relates to cartons and to carton blanks which can be erected in order to forin a carton. It is particularly concerned with a carton blank which can be erected to form a carton which call be used both to convey items such as consumable items and also to act as a display carton once it has reached its destination.

Cartons which can be used as packaging both to store items, such as consumable items, during transit and subsequently during display at all outlet such as a supermarket are known and exist in a variety of designs. For example it is known to provide a two piece pack where a lid section is removed after transit in order to expose the contents for sale. Another design comprises a one piece pack where a part of a fi-ont panel and the top of the pack call be removed along what are known as rip strips or perforated tear-off portions in order to convert the pack to a display configuration. A problem with the tear-off sections is that they are difficult to use and the part which is torn off tends to tear untidily.

The present invention is concerned with a carton blank which call be erected to form a carton which can be used both for transit and display purposes and which is an improvement on existing designs.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a

carton blank which can be erected to form a carton having side walls and a base, wherein the section of the blank which forins one of said side walls is fornied with a cut-line which defines, at least partially, the shape of a display aperture, a portion of said blank section including the part within said cut-line coinprising a panel which, during erection of the carton, call be re-orientated to locate another part of the panel in a position in which it closes the display aperture.

Tile panel may be a hinged panel which is pivotable relative to the reinainder of said section in order to re-orientate the panel. The pivoting movement of the panel may bring said other part to a position immediately behind the display aperture. The panel may be removable ill order to create a display carton. The panel may have a first portion around which the cut-line extends and a second portion which, oil pivoting movement of the panel., closes said aperture. 'File panel may be pivotable about one or more crease lines and may be removable by tearing along said crease lines. The cat-toil may include flap portion or portions which can be folded to form a top for the carton. The first panel portion may include a crease line or perforation about which the first panel portion can be folded to form a flap for supporting the carton top.

The carton blank may be arranged to form a carton having four side walls and base, and the blank may be designed to have an intermediate

position in which two blank sections are folded over to lie on top of the other two blank sections, and juxtaposed portions of the fbided-over section are secured together.

The securing may be carried out using adhesive.

Another aspect of the invention provides a carton which has been formed fi-orn a carton blank according to said one aspect.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a carton having side walls and a base which define a enclosure within which items can be stored for transport and display, wherein one wall of said carton is formed with a cut line which defines, at least partially, the shape of a display aperture, a portion of said wall including the part within the cut-line comprising a panel which can be re-orientated by moving said part away fi-oin the cut-line to locate another part of the panel in a position in which it closes the display aperture.

The panel may be a hinged panel which can be re-orientated by pivotable movement about a hinge connection with said wall.

The panel may be removable ftom said wall to create a display carton. The carton may include a top.

The hinged panel may be pivotable through approximately i8o'. The panel may have a first portion about which the cut-line extends, and a second portion which, after said pivoting movement, closes said aperture.

The second portion of the panel may be so dimensioned that. after said re-orientation, its bottom end edge rests on said base.

The invention will be described now by way of'example only, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure I is a plan view of a carton blank in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a partially erected blank; Figure 3 is it perspective view showing the next stage in erection of the carton; Figure + is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 showing the next stage; Figure or is a perspective view showing the erected blank ready for transit, and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the carton in its display condition.

Referring to Figure I of the drawings, a carton blank is formed from a sheet of creasable and foldable material such as cardboard. The blank has two longitudinally extending crease lines 10 and 11, three laterally extending crease lines 12, 1+ and 15, and laterally extending slits (17) which divide the blank up into two side wall portions (is, 19), two end wall portions (20, 21), tot) flap portions (23, 24 and 25) and bottom flap portions (26, 27, 28 and 29).

'rhe side wall portion (19) has integrally formed therewith a glue flap (30) which is connected to tile side wall portion (19) by a crease line (31).

The end wall portion (21) is formed with a generally U-shaped cut line (33) which terminates at points (3+ and 35). Crease lines (36 and 37) extend outwardly from points (34 and 35) and further slits (3s and 39) extend from tile crease lines to the edge portion of the blank. In this way a pivotable or hinged panel (+0) is formed in the wall part (21). A first portion of the panel (+o) as shown in Figure I includes a laterally extending crease or perforation line (+I) to define a flap (46). A second rectangular portion (12) of the panel has larger lateral dimensions than this first portion.

The formation of the blank shown in Figure i can be carried out using conventional equipment to form the cut and crease lines illustrated oil tile Figure.

In order to erect a carton tile part of the blank containing the wall portion (20) is folded about crease line (12) and the part of the carton containing the side wall (w) is folded about the crease line (16) so that tile flap (30) overlaps an edge part of the wall portion (20). The flap (30) is glued to that part of the wall (20). This condition is shown in Figure 2 of tile drawings. It will be seen that in this semi-erected condition the carton is still essentially flat so that it can be transported in this condition to, for example, a packing facility where it is to be filled with items such as consumable items.

Tile next stage in the erection procedure is to open out tile folded blank and to fbld the base flaps (26, 27, 28 and 29) about the crease line (11) and to seal those flaps to each other, for example, by gluing in order to forin the base of'the carton. Then the panel (+0) is pivoted through 18W about tile hinge fbi-nied by the crease lines (36 and 37) to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. It will be seen that what was the lower section of tile panel (+0) has become the tipper section with what was the wider upper section now moved to a lower position in which it closes the display opening defined by the cut line (33). The generally rectangular portion (,+2) of the pivotable flap (+0) is wider than the display opening so that edge portions of that section sit behind opposite side portions (4,+ and +5) of the wall (21) oil either side of the display opening defined by tile cut line (33). This rectangular portion (+2) call extend downwardly to the base of the carton so that its lower end edges rests oil the base to thereby provide additional strength for the carton.

The carton is now in the condition shown in Figure 3 and in this condition it call be filled with whatever contents are to be packed in and displayed by tile carton. Once tile carton has been packed the flap portion (46) can be folded around the crease line (41) as shown in Figure + of the drawings so that it locates above the contents of the carton. The pack call then be closed by folding the top flap portions (23, 2+ and 25) about crease

lines (io) so that they assume the position shown in Figure '5 of the drawings in which thev close the pack. In this condition it will be seen that the flap (+6.) provides support for one end of the two flap portions (21 and 26). In the condition shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the pack is ready for transit to an appropriate location.

It will be appreciated that the pivoting of the flap (,10) fi-om its position shown in Figure I effectively creates a display aperture defined by the cut out (.33), but as shown in Figure 5 this display aperture is closed for transit by the wall portion (12) locating behind the display aperture. This prevents spillage of the contents of the'earton during transit.

When the carton reaches its destination it can be easily and quickly converted to a display condition fbr location on, for example, the shelf of a supermarket. In order to do this the top flaps (23, 21 and 26) are removed and the panel (+0) is also removed by tearing along crease lines (36 and 37). Removal ofthese sections can be facilitated by the inclusion of a rip strip, or perforation, or other opening device so that ultimately the carton assumes the condition shown in Figure 6 of the drawings in which it can be used to display its contents. It will be noted that a clean, tidy display aperture is produced because most of it is cut during the blank formation.

It will be appreciated that the carton described above provides a relatively inexpensive way of producing a carton which can be used both fbr

transporting its contents to a destination and then acting as a display carton for showing the contents of the carton in an appropriate outlet such as a supermarket. The carton can be used for storage ofniany different kinds of products such as that used in the food industry or the electronics industry, engineering industry and many do-it-yourself iterns.

Several alternatives to the specific embodiment described above can be achieved. For example, it is possible to add a type of tear strip or perforation to enable the top flaps and if required a portion of the case depth to be removed easily and cleanly. This feature could extend around the perimeter of the carton at an appropriate vertical position which can be variable and parallel to the base creases (11). Such a feature could be shaped to give aesthetic appeal to the carton.

It will be appreciated that the shape ofthe display opening defined by the cut line (33) can take many forms and not,just that shown in the Figures. Either or both of the top flaps (24 and 25) and the base flaps (26 to 29) could be secured by a form of locking feature. These flaps may also be reduced in size in order to reduce the ainount ofmaterial used in the carton. It is also possible to provide locking tabs at the top edge ofthe panel (40) which can engage in a slot positioned on the base crease (i i) below that pariel (40). This can be used to ensure that the hinge panel would not be easily pushed into the case when used for packing soft contents.

A fin-ther locking fbature Could be used instead of gluing to form the corner joint provided by the flap (30). As another alternative tile case Couid be supplied as a flat blank utilising a modified blank erection machine to fold, form and fill the case.

The panel (40) could be arranged to pivot in the opposite sense so that tile portion (+2) locates in fi-ont ofthe aperture. This would require sonle securing means fbi- securing the panel in this position.

As a further alternative the lines (.36,37) could be formed as partial cuts so that instead of providing a hinged panel, the panel call be separated from the remainder of the blank in order to achieve tile configuration of Figure 3.

Claims

CLAIMS I A carton blank which can be erected to form a carton having side walls and a base, wherein the section of the blank which forms one of said side walls is formed with a cut-line which defines, at least partially, the shape of a display aperture, a portion of said blank section including the part within said cut-line comprising a panel which, during erection of the carton, can be re-orientated to locate another part of the panel in a position in which it closes the display aperture. 1 A carton blank according to claim I wherein said panel is a hinged panel which is pivotable relative to the remainder of said section in order to re- orientate the panel. 3. A carton blank according to claim 2 wherein pivoting movement of the panel brings said other part to a position immediately behind the display aperture. 4. A carton blank according to any preceding claim wherein said panel is removable in order to create a display carton.

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5. A carton blank according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said panel has a first portion around which the cut-line extends and a second portion which, on pivoting movement of the panel, closes said iperture. 6. A carton blank according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein said panel is pivotable about one or more crease lines and in removable by tearing along said crease lines. 7. A carton blank according to any preceding claim including a flap portion or portions which can be folded to form a top for the carton. 8. A carton blank according to claim 7 when dependent upon claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said first panel portion includes a crease line or perforation about which the first panel portion can be folded to form a flap for supporting the carton top. 9. A carton blank according to any preceding claim which is to form a carton having four sides walls and a base, wherein the blank is designed to have an intermediate position in which two blank sections are folded over to lie on top of the other two blank sections, and juxtaposed portions of the folded - over sections are secured together.

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10. A carton blank according to claim 9 wherein the securing is carried out using adhesive. 11. A carbon which has been formed from a carton blank according to any preceding claim. 12. A carton having side walls and a base which define an enclosure within which items can be stored for transport and display, wherein one wall of said carton is formed with a cut line which defines, at least partially, the shape of a display aperture, a portion of said wall including the part within the cut-line comprising a panel which can be re-orientated by moving said part away from the cut-line to locate another part of the panel in a position in which it closes the display aperture. 13. A carton according to claim 12 wherein said panel is a hinged panel which can be re-orientated by pivotable movement about a hinge connection with said wall. 14. A carton according to claim 13 wherein the panel is removable from said wall to create a display carton.

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15. A carton according to any one of claim 12 to 14 including a top. 16. A carton according to any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the hinged panel is pivotable through approximately 180'. 17. A carton according to any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein said panel has a first portion about which the cut-line extends, and a second portion which, after said pivoting movement closes said aperture. 18. A carton according to claim 17 wherein the second portion of the panel is so dimensioned that, after said re-orientation, its bottom end edge rests on said base. 19. A carton blank substantially as hereiribefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. 20. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.