GB2434360A

GB2434360A - Carton for packaging articles such as sandwiches

Info

Publication number: GB2434360A
Application number: GB0600919A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Clough; Kevin Topfer
Original assignee: Field Group PLC
Current assignee: Field Group PLC
Priority date: 2006-01-17
Filing date: 2006-01-17
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Also published as: GB0600919D0

Abstract

A carton comprises first and second generally prismatic parts rotatably joined together about a first hinge line 16 such that the parts may be arranged in a face to face orientation. Each prismatic part comprising first and second triangular side panels 8, 10 and first and second quadrilateral end panels 12, 14 joining the first and second side panels 8, 10. The first hinge line 16 is formed between respective first quadrilateral end panels 12 of the two parts. The carton further comprises respective flanges 22 extending from opposable edges of said triangular side panels 8, 10, adjacent flanges 22 preferably being joined together about a frangible hinge line (26). The flanges 22 may extend the whole length of the hypotenuse of each triangular panel. Each panel 12 may include a window.

Description

CARTONS

The present invention relates to cartons, and in particular, but not exclusively, cartons for packaging articles such as sandwiches.

It is now common to package sandwiches and the like in cartons erected from blanks of cardboard, paperboard or similar foldable sheet materials. Typically such containers comprise a generally prismatic body, one wall of the prismatic body being openable to allow sandwiches to be removed from the carton. The present invention seeks to provide an alternative form of carton which can present sandwiches or other goods in a different manner.

From a first aspect, the invention provides a carton comprising first and second generally prismatic parts rotatably joined together about a first hinge line such that the parts may be arranged in a face to face orientation, each prismatic part comprising first and second triangular side panels and first and second quadrilateral end panels joining the first and second triangular side panels, said first hinge line being arranged between respective first quadrilateral end panels of the two parts.

Thus in accordance with the invention a carton has first and second prismatic parts joined together around a hinge line. The carton may be opened and closed by rotating the parts about that hinge line, to envelop the carton contents and to display them in an attractive manner Preferably the carton further comprises respective flanges extending from opposable edges of said triangular side panels, adjacent flanges preferably being joined together about respective hinge lines.

The flanges will allow the carton to be opened into a tray-like configuration, say for stacking or filling, and can then be folded into or out of the carton when it is closed.

In a first embodiment, therefore, the flanges may extend inwardly into the carton so as, for example, to separate products arranged in each part.

In an alternative embodiment, however, the flanges may extend outwardly from the carton so as, for example, to provide a fanciful or other desired appearance.

The respective further hinge lines may be frangible. With such an arrangement, the cartons can be stacked and filled with the frangible hinge lines between the flanges intact However, when that hinge line is broken, the two carton parts can be rotated further apart to allow easier access to the contents of each carton part, e.g. for removal. This is particularly advantageous in those embodiments where the flanges are folded into the carton, as otherwise the flanges may obstruct removal of the contents from each carton part. In those embodiments where the flanges are folded out of the carton, this is not so critical, since the mouth of each part will tend to gape when the carton is opened, facilitating removal of the contents.

Indeed, in those embodiments it may be advantageous to have the further hinge lines remain intact (i.e. they should be non-frangible), to prevent accidental separation of the flanges while the carton is closed.

Preferably the respective flanges extend along substantially the entire hypotenuse of each triangular side panel.

Preferably the hinge line between the flanges is generally aligned with the first hinge line between the respective first quadrilateral panels of each part.

Preferably one or more of the panels comprises an opening to allow the contents of the carton to be viewed. Preferably, one of more of the quadrilateral panels is provided with a viewing opening. The opening may be covered with a transparent material.

Preferably the carton comprises releasable fastening means holding the first and second parts together. In a preferred embodiment the fastening means comprises respective fastener parts provided on the respective second quadrilateral panels of the two parts. For example, a locking tab may extend from one carton part into a slot in the second carton part.

Depending on the product being packaged, the quadrilateral panels may be rectangular or trapezoidal. A trapezoidal shape will cause the respective second quadrilateral end panels to diverge from one another and the open mouth of the carton parts to flare. This facilitates stacking of cartons prior to filling.

may facilitate insertion and removal of sandwiches into and from each carton part.

It will be understood that the invention also extends to a blank for producing a carton in accordance with the invention. From a further aspect, therefore, the invention provides a blank of cardboard, paperboard or other foldable sheet material comprising respective first quadrilateral panels joined at a first hinge line; respective first and second triangular panels hingedly attached to opposed edges of said first quadrilateral panels, the hypotenuses of the respective triangular panels being inclined towards said first hinge line; and a respective flange hingedly attached to the hypotenuse of each said triangular panel about respective second hinge lines.

Preferably the adjacent ends of said flanges are joined to each other about respective further hinge lines, preferably frangible hinge lines.

Preferably respective second quadrilateral panels are attached to selected panels of the blank. In one embodiment the respective second quadrilateral panels are attached to respective triangular panels arranged on the same side of the blank.

Alternatively, the respective second quadrilateral panels may be attached to the ends of the respective first quadrilateral panels. Gluing tabs and panels may be provided as necessary on the edges of other panels The respective flanges may have an edge which mns parallel to the respective further hinge lines attaching the panels to the triangular panels.

Alternatively, the edge may be contoured relative to that hinge line.

One or more openings may be provided in one or more of the panels, most preferably one or more of the quadrilateral end panels. The opening or openings may be covered by a transparent material e.g. a plastics material, preferably bonded to the blank.

The blank may comprise releasable fastening means, for example respective fastener parts provided on the respective second quadrilateral panels of the blank.

The respective quadrilateral panels may be rectangular, or trapezoidal. The latter is preferred as it allows the carton mouth to gape when opened, facilitating insertion and removal of the contents as discussed above.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a first carton in accordance with the invention in a closed configuration; Figure 2 shows the carton of Figure 1 in a first open configuration; Figure 3 shows the carton of Figure 1 in a second open configuration; Figure 4 shows the carton of Figure 1 in a partially opened configuration; Figure 5 shows a blank for making the carton of Figures 1 to 4, Figure 6 shows a modification of the blank of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows an opened carton made from the blank of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a further modified blank; Figure 9 shows a further carton in accordance with the invention in a closed configuration; and Figure 10 shows a blank for making the carton of Figures 9 and 10.

With reference to Figures 1 to 5, a paperboard carton 2 in accordance with the invention comprises two generally prismatic parts 4, 6. Each part 4, 6 comprises a pair of opposed first and second side panels 8, 10 joined by respective first and second quadrilateral end panels 12, 14. The respective first quadrilateral end panels 12 are arranged between the respective triangular panels 8, 10 and are joined by a first hinge line 16. The respective second quadrilateral end panels 14 are each attached to an edge of the respective second side wall panels 10, as can most clearly be seen in Figure 5. A first of these second end wall panels 14 is provided with a locking tab 18 along one edge and the other of the second end wall panels 14 is provided with a slot 20 for receiving this locking tab 18.

Respective flanges 22 are hingedly connected to the respective first and second triangular side wall panels 8,10 along respective hinge lines 24. The hinge lines 24 on either side of the carton/blank converge towards the ends of the first hinge line 16. Adjacent flanges 22 on either side of the carton 2 are connected by a frangible hinge line 26 (e.g. a cut and crease line or a perforated line) which is aligned with the first hinge line 16.

Glue tabs 28 are attached to a further edge of each triangular side wall panel 8. Glue tabs 30 are also attached to the free edges of the respective first end wall panels 12.

As can be seen, most particularly from Figure 5, the first and second end wall panels 12, 14 are trapezoidal in shape. Each of the first end wall panels 12 is also provided with a window 32 which can be covered by a transparent plastics material (not shown).

The carton 2 is erected from the blank shown in Figure 5 by folding the side wall panels 8, 12 upwardly so as to lie at approximately 90 to the respective first end wall panels 12. The glue tabs 28, 30 and the second end wall panels 14 can then be folded in and glued to form a carton as shown in Figure 2. In this condition, due to the trapezoidal shape of the first end wall panels 12, the mouth of the carton 2 gapes slightly so as to facilitate placement of product, e g. sandwiches, in each half of the carton. The sandwiches are cut to substantially the same shape as the side wall panels 8, 10. In this condition the carton is prevented from opening fully due to the hinge line 26 connecting the respective adjacent flanges 22.

To close the carton, the carton halves 4,6 are rotated inwardly towards one another about the hinge line 16, as shown in Figure 4, and at the same time the flanges 22 are deflected inwardly so as to overlie the edges of the product within each carton half. When the carton is fully closed, the locking tab 18 may be introduced into the slot 20 so as to hold the carton closed.

To open the carton, the locking tab 18 is withdrawn from the slot 20 or broken away and the two carton parts 4, 6 then rotated away from one another. The carton will open initially to the position shown in Figure 2. However, if the user continues to rotate the parts 4, 6 away from one another then the hinge line 26 will break, allowing the carton to assume the position shown in Figure 3. In this position, the contents can be removed from each carton part 4, 6 quite easily. It will be noted that, due to the trapezoidal shape of the end panels 12, 14, each carton part 4, 6 flares towards its open mouth, thereby facilitating removal of the product.

Turning now to Figure 6, a modified blank 30 is shown The same reference numerals have been used to denote the same or equivalent features as those of the first embodiment The only significant modification in this blank in the one shown in Figure 5 is that each first end wall panel 12 is rectangular rather than trapezoidal. This has the effect, as shown in Figure 7 of producing a partially erected carton having a planar bottom face 32. Also in this carton, the erected side walls 8, 10 will lie parallel to one another, rather than flaring outwardly from one another.

A further blank 40 is shown in Figure 8. Again, the same reference numerals have been used to denote the same or equivalent features as those of the first embodiment.

In this blank, the respective second end wall panels are hingedly connected to the outer edges 42 of the respective first end wall panels 12. A carton is erected from the blank 40 in generally the same manner as in the embodiment of Figure 1, except that the respective second end wall panels 14 are glued to the glue tabs 44 rather than the glue tabs 28, 30.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 9 and 10. Whilst the general construction of the carton 50 shown in Figure 9 is similar to that of the carton of Figure 1, there are a number of differences.

A main difference is that the flanges 22 provided on the triangular side panels 8,10 have a wave-like appearance, as opposed to lying substantially parallel to the hinge line 24 as in the earlier embodiments Also, the flanges 22 are folded outwardly during erection of the carton, as shown in Figure 9, and the hinge lines 26 between the flanges 22 are not frangible, but are rather formed as standard creases.

The aperture 32 in a first end wall panel 12 is also given an irregular shape.

The effect, as seen in Figure 9, is to give the carton the appearance of a lion's head, the flanges 22 forming the lion's mane, and the opening 32 forming its jaws.

It is not necessary in this embodiment to make the hinge lines 26 between the flanges 22 frangible, as the fact that the flanges 22 have been folded outwardly of the carton means that the mouth of each carton part will gape slightly when the carton is opened, thereby facilitating removal of the contents. A continuous hinge line 26 may also help in avoiding the flanges 22 moving apart from one another when the carton is closed.

The cartons and blanks described above may be made from cardboard, paperboard or other foldable sheet material It will be appreciated that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the second quadrilateral panels may be attached to a combination of triangular side wall panels and first quadrilateral end wall panels. Also it will be understood that the terms "sid&' and "end" as used herein do not imply any particular orientation of the carton.

Also, while it is preferred in the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 to have non-frangible hinge lines 26 between the flanges 22, these hinge lines may be frangible.

Claims

Claims 1. A carton comprising first and second generally prismatic

parts rotatably joined together about a first hinge line such that the parts may be arranged in a face to face orientation, each prismatic part comprising first and second triangular side panels and first and second quadrilateral end panels joining the first and second side panels, said first hinge line being between respective first quadrilateral end panels of the two parts, said carton further comprising respective flanges extending from opposable edges of said triangular side panels.

2 A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein adjacent flanges are joined together about a respective further hinge line.

3. A carton as claimed in claim 2 wherein said further hinge line is frangible.

4. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flanges extend inwardly into the carton.

5. A carton as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the flanges extend outwardly from the carton 6. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the respective flanges have an outer edge which is contoured relative to respective further hinge lines attaching the flanges to the triangular panels.

7. A carton as claimed in any preceding wherein the flanges extend along substantially the entire hypotenuse of respective triangular side panels.

8. A carton as claimed in claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 7 as dependent thereon, wherein the further hinge line is generally aligned with the first hinge line between the respective first quadrilateral panels of each part.

9 A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one or more of the panels comprises an opening to allow the contents of the carton to be viewed.

10. A carton as claimed in claim 8 wherein one of more of the quadrilateral panels is provided with a viewing opening.

ii. A carton as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the opening is covered with a transparent material.

12. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the carton comprises releasable fastening means for holding the first and second parts together.

13 A carton as claimed in claim 12 wherein the fastening means comprises respective fastener parts provided on the respective second quadrilateral panels of the two parts.

14. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the quadrilateral panels are rectangular.

15. A carton as claimed in any of claims ito 13 wherein the quadrilateral panels are trapezoidal.

16. A blank of cardboard, paperboard or other foldable sheet material comprising respective first quadrilateral panels joined at a first hinge line; respective first and second triangular panels hingedly attached to opposed edges of said first quadrilateral panels, the hypotenuses of the respective triangular panels being inclined towards said first hinge line; and respective flanges hingedly attached to the hypotenuse of respective triangular panels about respective second hinge lines.

17. A blank as claimed in claim 16 wherein adjacent ends of said flanges are joined to each other about respective further hinge lines.

18. A blank as claimed in claim 17 wherein said further hinge lines are frangible.

19 A blank as claimed in claim 17 wherein said further hinge lines are non-frangible.

A blank as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19 wherein second quadrilateral panels are attached to selected panels of the blank.

21. A carton as claimed in claim 20 wherein the respective second quadrilateral panels are attached to respective triangular panels arranged on the same side of the blank.

22. A carton as claimed in claim 20 wherein the respective second quadrilateral panels are attached to the ends of the respective first quadrilateral panels 23 A carton as claimed in any of claims 16 to 22 wherein the respective flanges have an outer edge which runs parallel to the respective further hinge lines attaching the panels to the triangular panels.

24. A carton as claimed in any of claims 16 to 22 wherein the respective flanges have an outer edge which is contoured relative to the respective further hinge lines attaching the panels to the triangular panels.

25. A carton as claimed in any of claims 16 to 24 comprising one or more openings provided in one or more of the panels.

26. A carton as claimed in claim 21, wherein the opening or openings are covered by a transparent material.

27. blank as claimed in any of claims 16 to 26 wherein the blank comprises releasable fastening means.

28 A blank as claimed in claim 27 wherein the fastening means comprises respective fastener parts provided on the respective second quadrilateral panels of the blank.

29. A carton as claimed in any of claims 16 to 28 wherein the respective quadrilateral panels are rectangular.

30. A carton as claimed in any of claims 16 to 28 wherein the respective quadrilateral panels are trapezoidal.