GB2467741A

GB2467741A - Carton

Info

Publication number: GB2467741A
Application number: GB0902235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Heath
Original assignee: Heathpak Ltd
Current assignee: Heathpak Ltd
Priority date: 2009-02-11
Filing date: 2009-02-11
Publication date: 2010-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-11
Also published as: GB2467741B; GB0902235D0

Abstract

A carton 10 has a base portion 12 having first and second edge regions which extend substantially perpendicularly to one another, a first side portion 14 which extends from the first edge region of the base portion 12 in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the base portion 12 and a second side portion 16 which extends from the second edge region of the base portion 12 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base portion 12. The first side portion 14 includes an extension 18 which overlaps and is bonded with the second side portion 16 using a bonding agent 22, so as to form a corner region of the carton 10. The bonding agent 22 extends from a free edge region of the second side portion 16 towards the base portion 12.

Description

CARTON

Background to the invention

The present invention relates to a blank for forming a packaging carton and to a packaging carton formed from the blank.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to a blank intended to be supplied to a user who then with the aid of machinery assembles a carton from the blank.

Conventional cartons are typically formed by folding a blank along pre-formed fold lines and, where appropriate, employing an adhesive or other fixing means (such as staples or the like) to secure adjacent panels together and thus hold the final carton in the conect, closed configuration.

Whilst such cartons may be suitable for containing dry packages, they are unsuitable for containing wet packages, such as items packed in ice, as they are not typically leak-free due to the gaps present at the joints between adjacent panels at the corners of the cartons.

I

This is due to the conventional arrangements for applying adhesive to template blanks. The adhesive is typically applied during the assembly process. As the carton blank is passed through assembling machinery, the adhesive is applied to the carton blank in the direction of travel of the blank. This results in a series of adhesive spots located in specific areas to allow adjacent panels in the assembled carton to be held together. Alternatively, if lines of adhesive are applied to the carton blank, a series of parallel lines of adhesive would result from application of the adhesive in the direction of travel of the carton blank during assembly.

I

However, as a result of the application of adhesive in this way, gluing of the corners of the carton conventionally occurs at right angles to the corner. This means that the point of the corner i.e. where the corner meets the base of the carton, there is a small gap through which fluid egress may occur from the interior to the exterior of the carton. Therefore such cartons are not appropriate for the containment of packages that include moisture or liquid, such as fresh food packed on ice, and the like.

In addition, packaging cartons with conventional corners as described above often also lack strength when loaded and the corner joints provide a weak point which, when the carton is loaded, split such that adjacent panels separate from one another and the carton is no longer appropriate for function.

Therefore, conventionally polystyrene boxes are used to contain, store and/or transport wet packages such as meat and fish. However, due to environmental concerns over the excessive use and disposal of polystyrene packaging. the use of such materials is unsustainable.

There is therefore a need for a carton with strengthened corner regions and which also has sealed corner regions such that egress of fluid from the interior to the exterior of the carton through the carton corners is prevented, and where the carton is composed of an environmentally acceptable material.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to address the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a carton comprising a base portion having first and second edge regions which extend substantially perpendicularly to one another, a first side portion which extends from the first edge region of the base portion in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the planar base portion, a second side portion which extends from the second edge region of the base portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar base portion, wherein the first side portion includes an extension which overlaps and is bonded with the second side portion using a bonding agent, so as to form a corner region of the carton, and wherein the bonding agent extends from a free edge region of the second side portion towards the base portion.

This application of bonding agent in a direction along the corner of the carton towards the base results in a close bonding along the length of the corner, thus facilitating the sealing the corner of the carton from fluid egress from within.

Preferably, the bonding agent extends onto the base portion. In this way, the glued corner joint will be sealed all along its length and beyond onto the base of the carton. Thus further ensuring the leak-proof property of the corner of the carton.

The base is preferably substantially planar. However it will be appreciated that the base may be of any desired contour and may optionally include integral projections to act as feet for the base and/or grooves, ripples, dimples, ridges or any other desired contours on which the package received within the carton may rest during containment. Alternatively, or in addition, the base may include contours which correspond to the contours of the material to be contained within the carton such that the contained material is held in position within the container.

The bonding agent may extend along the second side portion in two spatially separate lines. This provides additional strength to the bonded edge as the extension portion will be bonded to the second side portion at two positions along its length. In addition, it provides additional protection against egress of fluids from the interior to the exterior of the carton when containing a wet package.

In a further embodiment, the carton further comprises a border portion which extends from an edge of the first side portion distal to the base portion.

Preferably, the border portion includes an extension which overlaps and is bonded with the second edge portion using a bonding agent. This allows the border portion to act as a strengthening brace between the two second side portions as well as provide an upper surface at opposing edges of the carton to allow cartons to be stacked on one another. Finally, this upper surface may be used to secure a lid to the carton by use of a bonding agent applied between the border portion upper surface and the interior surface of the lid base.

In a further embodiment, the base portion is substantially rectangular and provided with four of said corner regions, one located at each corner of the substantially rectangular base portion. This is the most conventional shape of base, allowing for efficient stacking and/or packing of cartons together for transit.

Preferably, a bonding agent extends across at least a portion of the surface of one or both of the first and second side portions on the exterior surface of this carton.

This facilitates bonding of a lid to the carton to facilitate retention of the packaged material within the carton during storage and/or transit. In addition, not only will the bonding agent assist in retention of the lid on the carton, it may also assist in sealing the lid to the carton so as to prevent egress of fluid from the carton during storage/transit of wet packages.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a lid for a carton according to a first aspect of the present invention, the lid comprising a base portion having first opposing edge regions, a first side portion extending from each respective first opposing edge region, the base portion being further provided with second opposing edge regions, a second side portion extending from each respective second opposing edge region, a bonding agent extending from a first edge portion across the base portion and across at least a portion of the opposing first edge portion, the bonding agent extending substantially parallel to the second edge region.

By providing a lid having bonding agent located in positions as described, the lid may be applied to a carton according to a first aspect of the present invention and secured in place by bonding to selected portions of said carton.

In one embodiment, the bonding agent extends adjacent both opposing second edge regions and wherein, in use, the bonding agent bods the lid base portion and lid first edge portions to the corresponding carton border portions and carton second side portions, respectively, when the lid is fitted to the carton.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a carton blank of stiff but foldable board material for forming a carton according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, the blank comprising a base portion and a plurality of edge regions extending around the perimeter of the base portion, a plurality of side portions extending from respective edge regions, and a bonding agent extending across at least one side portion towards the base portion and across at least a portion of the base portion.

I

A further aspect of the present invention provides a carton formed from a carton blank in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembled carton in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention and an embodiment of an assembled lid in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention; Figure 2A is a plan view of an upper surface of a carton blank for the carton of figure 1; Figure 2B is an enlarged section of a portion of figure 2A; Figure 3 is a plan view of an under-surface of the carton blank of figure 2A; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a lid blank for the lid of figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembled carton 10 in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention and a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembled lid 50 in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention. The planar blank from which carton 10 is assembled is shown in figure 2A. An enlarged view of the corner region of the blank of carton 10 is shown in figure 2B. Figure 4 shows the planar blank from which lid 50 is assembled.

Carton 10 is composed of: An outer layer of 125 g/m2 brown Kraft polyethylene; An intermediate layer of 1013 gum2 of unlined chip sprayed with a sizing agent to render it highly water resistant; and An inner layer of 62 g/m2 of white Kraft polyethylene.

Lid 50 is composed of: An outer layer of 125 g/m2 brown Kraft polyethylene; An intermediate layer of 813 g/m2 of unlined chip sprayed with a sizing agent to render it highly water resistant; and An inner layer of 62 g/m2 of white Kraft polyethylene.

Carton 10 comprises a base 12 having a first pair of opposing side portions 14. 14' and a second pair of opposing side portions 16, 16'. Extension portions 18, 18' extend from either end of each of opposing side portions 14, 14'. Side portions 14, 14' are further provided with border portions 20, 20' extending from side portions 14, 14' away from base 12. As can be seen in figures 2A and 2B, although side portions 14, 14', 16, 16' are attached to base 12, side portions 14, 14', 16 and 16' are not connected to one another until the carton 10 is assembled for use.

The side portions, extensions portions and border portions are held together relative to one another in assembled carton 10 by means of bonding agent in the form of glue. The glue is primarily hot wax applied during assembly.

Two lines of glue 22 are provided adjacent opposing edges of side portions 14, 14'.

A further two lines of glue 24 are provided at extreme edges of border portions 20, 20'.

On the underside of carton 10, further lines of glue 26 are provided on side portions 16, 16'.

The blank from which lid 50 is assembled is shown in figure 4. Lid 50 comprises a base 52 and two pairs of opposing side portions 54, 54' and 56, 56'. Tabs 58. 58' extend from side portions 54, 54', respectively.

Lines of glue 60, 60' are provided on side portions 56, 56' and on tabs 58, 58'. In addition, two lines of glue 62, 62' extend from side portion 54 across base 52 and partially across side portion 54'.

All the glue lines provided on both the carton 10 and lid 50 are parallel to one another. This allows ease of application of the glue line to the blanks during manufacture as the glue may be applied in the direction of travel of the blank as it passes through rollers during assembly.

Assembly of Carton 10 1. The blank for carton 10 is provided as shown in figure 2A: 2. Side portions 14, 14' are bent upwards towards base 12 into a position substantially transverse to base 12; 3. Extension portions 18, 18' are bent towards base 12 into a position substantially transverse to both base 12 and side portions 14, 14', respectively.

4. Side portions 16, 16' are bent upwards towards base 12 into a position substantially transverse to base 12 such that glue lines 22 contact the underside of panel x of respective extension portions 18, 18', thereby bonding extension portions 18, 18' to respective side portions 16, 16'.

Extension portions 18, 18' are then bent towards respective side portions 14, 14' such that the underside of panel y of respective extension portions 16, 16' contacts glue lines 15 on respective side portions 14, 14', thereby holding side portions 14, 14', 16, 16' in place relative to one another; 5. Border portions 20. 20' are bent towards base 12 until touching side portions 16, 16'; 6. Opposing edges are then bent towards side portions 16, 16' until glue lines 24 make contact with the underside of side portions 16, 16', thereby bonding border portions 20 to side portions 16, 16'.

As the glue line 22 located at the outside edge of side portions 16, 16' extends along the full length of the edge of respective side portions 16, 16' and onto a portion of base 12, when side portions 16, 16' are bonded to extension portions 18, 18' the corner of carton 10 becomes sealed along the full length of the joint between respective side portions 14, 14' and 16, 16'. In this way, the corners of carton 10 are sealed against fluid egress from carton 10 making it suitable for the containment of wet packages, such as items packed on ice. This is particularly important for fresh foods such as fish and meat, which may be transported by air.

The egress of any fluid, for example, water from melting ice on which the food is packed and/or fish/meat juices, is prohibited due to metal fatigue and rust that may result from unwanted moisture leakage in aircraft environments.

It should be noted that in the carton blank prior to assembly and bonding, the extension portions 18, 18' are separated from respective side portions 16, 16' by a cut in the carton blank material that runs along the full length of the edge of extension portion 18, 18' adjacent respective side portion 16, 16'. As can be seen from figure 3, this separation between extension portion 18, 18' and respective side portion 16, 16' takes the form of a cut-out region or slit 100 and an adjacent cut 110 extending towards, and stopping at, base 12. This facilitates the bending of extension portion 18, 18' relative to side portion 16, 16', whilst at the same time the narrowing of cut 110 from slit 100 provides the narrowest of gaps to be sealed by means of glue lines 22 at the extreme side edges of side portions 16, 16' at the corner of the assembled carton.

Where the carton 10 is to be transported by road, where the package does not have to be fluid sealed, or where drainage of fluid, such as water from melted ice, is desired, drainage holes 28 may be provided in base 12. It will be appreciated that these drainage holes are optional and are shown in figures 2A and 3 for the purposes of illustration only.

Assembly of lid 50 on carton 10 1. After insertion of material to be contained within carton 10, lid 50 is positioned over carton 10 such that base 52 of lid 50 is aligned with base 12 of carton 10 such that a portion of glue lines 62, 62' bond with the facing surface of respective border portions 20, 20' 2. Once lid 50 is in position, side portions 56, 56' of lid 50 are bent downwards towards respective side portions 14, 14' of carton 10 until glue lines 60. 60'provided on the surface of side portions 56, 56' contact respective side portions 14, 14' thereby bonding side portions 56, 56' to respective side portions 14, 14'; 3. Side portions 54, 54' are then bent downwards towards respective side portions 16, 16' of carton 10 until the remainder of glue lines 62, 62' make contact with and bond to side portions 16, 16' of carton 10; 4. Tabs 58, 58' are then bent towards side portions 14, 14' of carton 10 until glue lines 60, 60' of respective tabs 58, 58' make contact with and bond to side portions 14, 14' of carton 10.

The result is a carton 10 which is sealed against egress of fluid from the interior of carton 10 to the exterior of carton 10.

Although aspects of the invention have been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment shown and that various changes and modifications may be effected without further inventive skill and effort.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A carton comprising a base portion having first and second edge regions which extend substantially perpendicularly to one another, a first side portion which extends from the first edge region of the base portion in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the planar base portion, a second side portion which extends from the second edge region of the base portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar base portion, wherein the first side portion includes an extension which overlaps and is bonded with the second side portion using a bonding agent, so as to form a corner region of the carton, and wherein the bonding agent extends from a free edge region of the second side portion towards the base portion.
2. A carton according to Claim 1, wherein the bonding agent extends onto the base portion.
3. A carton according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the base is substantially planar.
4. A carton according to any preceding Claim, wherein the bonding agent extends along the second side portion in two spatially separate lines.
5. A carton according to any preceding Claim, further comprising a border portion which extends from an edge of the first side portion distal to the base portion.
6. A carton according to Claim 5, wherein the border portion includes an extension which overlaps and is bonded with the second edge portion using a bonding agent.I
7. A carton according to any preceding Claim, wherein the base portion is substantially rectangular and provided with four of said corner regions, one located at each corner of the substantially rectangular base portion.
8. A carton according to any preceding Claim, wherein a bonding agent extends across at least a portion of the surface of one or both of the first and second side portions on the exterior surface of this carton.
9. A lid for a carton as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 8, the lid comprising a base portion having first opposing edge regions, a first side portion extending from each respective first opposing edge region, the base portion being further provided with second opposing edge regions, a second side portion extending from each respective second opposing edge region, a bonding agent extending from a first edge portion across the base portion and across at least a portion of the opposing first edge portion, the bonding agent extending substantially parallel to the second edge region.
10. A lid according to Claim 9, wherein the bonding agent extends adjacent both opposing second edge regions and wherein, in use, the bonding agent bods the lid base portion and lid first edge portions to the corresponding carton border portions and carton second side portions, respectively, when the lid is fitted to the carton.
11. A carton blank of stiff but foldable board material for forming a carton according to any one of Claims 1 to 8. the blank comprising a base portion and a plurality of edge regions extending around the perimeter of the base portion, a plurality of side portions extending from respective edge regions, and a bonding agent extending across at least one side portion towards the base portion and across at least a portion of the base portion.
12. A carton according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 formed from a carton blank according to Claim 11.
13. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompany drawings.
14. A lid substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A carton blank substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.