GB2459373A

GB2459373A - Transit and display box

Info

Publication number: GB2459373A
Application number: GB0906855A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Schrimshaw
Original assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2008-04-21
Filing date: 2009-04-21
Publication date: 2009-10-28
Also published as: GB0807260D0; GB0906855D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a transit and display container 1 formed from a single blank of rupturable material such as cardboard or fluted board. At least a front wall 2 of the container 1 has a double thickness of the material which defines via lines of weakness 3, 4 superposed panels 5, 6 which are removable when hand force is applied to the lines of weakness to define an access opening 7 in the front wall. Before rupture of the lines of weakness 3, 4, there is no access opening in the front panel of the front wall. The invention is said to mitigate the problem of jagged edges being formed after removal of a rupture panel.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKAGING

-The invention relates to improvements in packaging, and particularly to packaging which can be used as both transport and a display packaging, for example as a container for transit and display. In such containers, usually formed from material such as card or fluted board, there are perforations which allow a first or top part to be separated from a second or bottom part at a point of display, thereby exposing the contents to the view of customers.

These containers often have a front opening, for manual removal by a customer of a product or products forming part of the contents of the container, for example chocolate bars. However, there can be a disadvantage that a line or lines providing for separation of the first and second parts can leave an "unclean" or jagged edge, which is not aesthetically pleasing, and can also lead to fragments of the material of the container becoming mixed with the contents of the container.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a transit and display container formed from a rupturable material, comprising a plurality of walls, at least a front one of which in use has a double thickness of said material which defines via lines of weakness (as herein defined) superposed panels at least one of or a part of which is removable when force is applied to the lines of weakness to define an access opening in the front wall.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a blank of rupturable material for erecting into a transit and display container, comprising a pair of opposite panels forming side walls of the erected container, pairs of opposite panels forming front and rear walls of the erected container, panels respectively rupturably hinged to the side and rear walls for forming a lid of the erected container in a transit mode and panels hingedly connected with the front, rear and side panels for forming a base of the erected container, the front wall in the transit mode comprising two panels which are superposed about a hinge line and which are defined by lines of weakness in the front wall whereby to be able to be separated therefrom in the transit mode to provide a display mode.

It will be understood that the expression "a line or lines of weakness" means a line or lines defined by cuts, creases or perforations.

The outer panel of the double thickness panel of the front wall may be uninterrupted over substantially its entire surface area. This provides for a secure container in a transit mode.

The front wall may include an inwardly extending flap which is joined to a lid of the container in a transit mode. This provides for removal of the front wall panels and lid in one operation, particularly when the lid may comprise respective panels each hingedly and rupturably connected with a respective one of side and rear (in use) walls of the container.

The panels of the lid may be secured to the outer panel of the front wall by securing means, for example adhesive tape. This provides for ease of conversion from the transit mode to the display mode.

The panels of the lid may be secured together and not to the front panel.

The rear wall may have a separable part defining a carrying handle.

The container may be made of cardboard or from a fluted material.

Embodiments of transit arid display containers and blanks are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. I is a perspective view of one container in an open position prior to a transit mode.

Figs. 2A -2D show perspective views of a second container in stages from forming the transit mode (Figs. 2A, 2B) and conversion to a display mode (Figs. 2C and 2D); Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank for erection to form the container of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank for erection to form the container of Figs. 2A -2D; Fig. 5 is a plan view of another blank which can be used for erection to form a container according to the invention; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of yet another blank which can be used for erection to form a container according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a transit and display container 1, 100 (Figs. I and 2A -2D) formed from a single blank of rupturable material (Figs. 3 -6) such as cardboard or fluted board, at least a front wall 2 of which in use has a double thickness of the material which defines via lines of weakness 3, 4 superposed panels 5, 6 which are removable when force is applied to the lines of weakness 3, 4, to define an access opening 7 in the front wall.

The front wall thus comprises a panel or part 6 which is folded over to lie in use behind another part 5 within the area of the front wall and which parts are joined to the remainder of the front wall by the lines of weakness 3, 4, which are perforations or cuts or lines of reduced thickness in the thickness of the material. When hand pressure is applied to the parts 5, 6 from the outside, the lines of weakness 3, 4 rupture and the panels are removed, so providing access to the contents of the container. When the front panels are joined to the lid 9 in the transit mode by suitable means such as adhesive tape, the lid 9 is removed at the same time by rupturing panels 10, 11, 12 forming the lid along lines of weakness 13 joining them to respective side and rear walls 15, 16, 17.

Where the lid 9 and front wall 5 are not joined, the lid 9 is removed in a separate operation, see Figs. 2C and 2D.

The front panel of the two superposed panels 5, 6 has a disc part 15 defining by a circular line of weakness 16, a finger hole. When the material is removed, a finger can be inserted, passed through the hole so formed and through a hole 18 in the inner panel 6, to provide purchase for lifting and thus rupturing the lines of weakness (see Fig. 5).

Each blank 19 has a tab with securing mean such as glue on it for securing the container in the erected position by glueing to the inside of a side wall.

It will be understood that there is no access opening as such in the front surface of the front wall, and that there may be a front support dust flap 8 (Fig. 4).

The construction of container 1, 100 allows for full print on the outside or face panel, has an easy pull-away front, there is no damage to the front of the inner pack ties, and has an overall strength increase of about 10% as compared with previous containers.

The front wall is of double strength, and the rear wall can also be made so too.

In a modification, not shown, only the outer or front panel 5 of the front wall 2 may be removed, the inner panel 6 of the front wall 2 being used for strengthening the front wall, and hence the container, when erected. There would in this case be no line of weakness hidden behind the front panel 5, which would have no access opening, and the front panel could be connected to the lid. When the front panel is removed to reveal the interior of the container, the lid can be removed with it.

In a yet further modification, not shown, the front and rear panels may be secured together by adhesive such as a glue spot between the front and rear panels and hidden by the front panel. The whole of the inner panel can then be removed by applying hand pressure to rupture the glue spot so that the inner panel and lid can be removed. There is in this embodiment, no part of the inner panel which is separable from the remainder.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A transit and display container formed from a rupturable material, comprising a plurality of walls, at least a front one of which in use has a double thickness of said material which defines via lines of weakness (as herein defined) superposed panels at least one of or a part of which is removable when force is applied to the lines of weakness to define an access opening in the front wall.
2. A container according to Claim 1, the outer panel of the double thickness panel of the front wall being uninterrupted over substantially its entire surface area.
3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the front wall including an inwardly extending flap which is joined to a lid of the container in a transit mode.
4. A container according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, the lid comprising respective panels each hingedly and rupturably connected with a respective one of side and rear (in use) walls of the container.
5. A container according to any of Claims 2 to 4, the panels of the lid being secured to the outer panel of the front wall by securing means.
6. A container according to Claim 5, the securing means comprising adhesive tape.
7. A container according to any of Claims 2 to 4, the panels of the lid being secured together and not to the front panel.
8. A container according to any preceding claim, the rear wall having a separable part defining a carrying handle.
9. A container according to any preceding claim, made of cardboard.
10. A container according to any of Claims 1 to 8, made from a fluted material.
11. A container according to Claim 1, the outer panel being connected to the lid and being rupturable via the lines of weakness to provide a front access opening.
12. A container according to Claim I, the inner and outer panels of the front wall being secured together by rupturable securing means behind the front panel.
13. A transit and display container formed from a rupturable material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A blank of rupturable material for erecting into a transit and display container, comprising a pair of opposite panels forming side walls of the erected container, pairs of opposite panels forming front and rear walls of the erected container, panels respectively rupturably hinged to the side and rear walls for forming a lid of the erected container in a transit mode and panels hingedly connected with the front, rear and side panels for forming a base of the erected container, the front wall in the transit mode comprising two panels which are superposable about a hinge line and which are defined by lines of weakness in the front wall whereby to be able to be separated therefrom in the transit mode to provide a display mode.
15. A blank according to Claim 14, panels of which are to be secured together having securing means.
16. A blank according to Claim 14, the securing means being adhesive or glue.
17. A blank according to Claim 16, the adhesive or glue comprising spots.
18. A blank according to Claim 17, the adhesive or glue comprising an area of a flap.
19. A blank of rupturable material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.