GB2473276A

GB2473276A - Collapsible carton

Info

Publication number: GB2473276A
Application number: GB0915633A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maximilian James Collingwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-08
Filing date: 2009-09-08
Publication date: 2011-03-09
Also published as: GB0915633D0

Abstract

A carton 1 comprises a top section 21, a bottom section 22 and a mid section. The mid section comprises one or more compressible units 24, 25, 26, wherein the compressible units, 24, 25 and 26, have a number of pre-formed fold lines, such that when the units are folded along these fold lines, the volume of the carton 1 is reduced. The ability to reduce the volume of the carton 1 allows; a) the volume of the carton 1 to be reduced to a volume equal to that of its contents so that it can be kept in the absence of air, b) the contents of the carton 1 to be actively squeezed out, and c) the empty carton 1 to be compressed to minimise the volume of the waste. Preferably each compressible unit 24, 25, 26 has a four sides, wherein two of the opposing sides have an arrangement of fold lines in a cross pattern 14, and the other two opposite sides have an arrangement of fold lines in a line pattern 15. Various patterns of fold lines are illustrated across three embodiments best shown in figures 2,4, and 6. Preferably the carton 1 is formed from a packaging laminate which is water tight.

Description

CARTON

The present invention relates to a carton, the volume of which can be varied.

Cartons are known and a very well known example is that of Tetra PakTM S Tetra RexTM carton. Typically these cartons are used for packaging liquid foodstuffs and are commonly manufactured using, or using a combination of, plastics, metals and paper, such as that in PT1440015(E). It is common to package liquid goods such as fruit juices, milk and other liquids of similar viscosity in cartons. Normally when part of the contents have been dispensed from the carton, air replaces the volume of liquid dispensed and this can lead to accelerated decomposition and also allow contamination, by air borne vectors, of the remaInder of the contents. Normally more viscous liquids are not packaged in cartons due to difficulties In dispensing the contents using the pull of gravity atone due to cohesion of the liquid and adhesion of the liquid to the walls of the carton. Normally, when all of the contents have been dispensed, it is difficult to reduce the volume of the carton for efficient disposal without dismantling it or without mechanical help. The present invention seeks to provide a modified carton for packaging lIquids to overcome each of the individual limitations stated above.

The present invention proposes a carton which is able to be compressed, each carton comprising a top section, a bottom section and a mid section; wherein the mid section comprises one or more compressible units; wherein the compressible units have a number of pre-formed fold lines; such that when the units are folded along these fold lines, the volume of the carton Is reduced.

The ability to compress a carton has three stand-alone advantages. Firstly, the reduction in volume of the carton will allow all of the air to be expelled from the carton when some of the contents of the carton have been dispensed, allowing the remainder of the contents to be kept in the absence of air. Alternatively, the contents can be actively squeezed out of the carton so that the remainder of the contents is not in contact with air at anytime. Secondly, it will enable viscous liquids to be dispensed from the carton efficiently and with ease as they can be actively squeezed out of the carton. Thirdly, when the entire contents of the carton has been dispensed and the carton is to be disposed of, the carton can be compressed to minimise the volume of the waste.

Preferably the height of the carton is in the range 5-30cm.

Preferably the width of the carton is In the range 5-12cm.

Preferably the depth of the carton is in the range 5-12cm.

Preferably the carton will have a resealable, or valve type, lid so that when the carton is compressed and sealed, the volume of the carton remains constant as air cannot enter the carton.

Preferably the compressible units are adjacent to each other, that is the bottom of each unit is joined to the top of the next, except where the compressible unit is adjacent to the top section or bottom section of the carton.

Preferably the material from which the carton is made will not rupture in any way along the fold lines from multiple compressions and expansions of the carton.

Preferably the material from which the carton is made is impermeable to water and air.

Preferably each compressible unit of which the carton comprises is at a 90° rotation to its adjacent compressible unit along the vertical central axis of the carton, enabling a tighter compression and the greatest reduction in carton volume.

The invention will now be illustrated, by way of examples only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the blank for the body of a carton in accordance with the invention; Figures 2a -2c are a series of perspective views showing the blank in Figure 1. in its assembled state at stages between fully uncompressed (Figure 2a), and fully compressed (Figure 2c); Figure 3 shows an alternative version of the blank for a body of a carton in accordance with the invention; Figures 4a -4c are a series of perspective views showing the blank in Figure 3 in its assembled state at stages between fully uncompressed (Figure 4a), and fully compressed (Figure 4c); FIgure 5 shows another alternative version of the blank for a body of a carton in accordance with the invention; Figures 6a -6c are a series of perspective views showing the blank in Figure 5 in its assembled state at stages between fully uncompressed (Figure 6a), and fully compressed (Figure 6c).

Figure 1 shows the blank of the outer face of the carton, 1, comprising a lid 2, adhesive strips 3 (hatched area), 4 (hatched area), and S (shaded area), and preformed fold lines.

The blank is made from a packaging laminate which itself is made from a combination of plastic, metal and paper such as that in PT1440015(E). Three discrete sections can be identified; the top section, 21, the mid section, 23, and the bottom section, 22. The dotted lines represent preformed inward folds Into the body of the carton, and the solid lines represent preformed outwards folds. Therefore when 90° folds are made to the full length of lines 6, 7, 8 and 9 and the inner face of the strip 5' Is bonded to the outer face of the adhesive strip 5, a cuboid shape (with four sides) is formed. When the fold lines 10, 11, 12 and 13 are folded to 90° positions In their respective directions shown in the diagram, and the remaining fold lines in the top and bottom sections are allowed to fold in their respective directions, the opposing inner faces of the adhesive strip 3, can be bonded together, as can the opposing inner faces of the adhesive strip 4. The result of the above Is a non-compressed carton, 1, Illustrated in Figure 2a.

The side walls are typically planar before any forces are applied to any part of the carton, as in Figure 2a, but will adopt a crumpled position (Figure 2b) when slight forces are applied to the side walls, and the carton will adopt a fully compressed position (Figure 2c) when the carton is compressed with a downward force.

The carton, 1, in Figure 2a comprises the top section, 21, the bottom section, 22, and the mid section which itself comprises three compressible units, 24, 25 and 26. Each unit comprises 4 sides, the angle between the connected walls being 90°. Each unit has a number of preformed fold lines, the dotted lines representing inward folds into the body of the carton and solid lines representing outward folds. Each side has one of two patterns of fold line, either simple cross pattern, 14, or single line pattern, 15. The simple cross pattern consists of two inward fold lines, 16 and 17, and outward fold line, 18. The single line pattern consists of an inward fold line, 19. Adjacent sides of the same or adjacent units are connected by outward bordering fold lines, 6, 7 and 20.

Adjacent compressible units are arranged at 9d around the central vertical axis of the carton.

Thus in action, when light forces are applied to the sides of a compressible unit to create initial folds in the unit, and then a further compression force is applied to the top and bottom, the unit will fold along its fold lines thus decreasing the volume of the carton. This compression may be used to physically expel the contents of the carton, or to reduce the volume of the carton after some of its contents have been dispensed. In the uncompressed carton, the height of each unit is equal to the unit's width and is also equal to the unit's depth, resulting in a residual volume of a fully compressed carton of nil.

Modifications and improvements can be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. Such modifications may involve other features which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features already described herein. For example, the materials used to form the carton may be different to those described herein. For example, the size of the carton and the ratio of its dimensions may be varied. For example, the dimensions of each unit may be varied to leave a residual volume in a fully compressed carton. For example, a different method to assemble the uncompressed carton from the blank may be used. For example, the carton may be made to have a flat top section, as described herein, or alternatively it may be made to have different top section such as a pyramidical top section. For example, the number of units in a carton may be varied.

Typically the main body of the carton is made so that the depth and the width of the carton are of equal lengths. In an alternative version, the fold lines can be modified in some units, and this may be favoured where a residual volume greater than nil is required in a fully compressed carton, or where a carton is required to have a width and depth of different lengths. Figure 3 shows the blank of a carton, 31, modifIed for a width and depth of different lengths. An inward fold line, 32, has been incorporated into the simple cross pattern sides of non-adjacent units to form sides with horizontally extended cross patterns, 33.

When the blank in Figure 3 is assembled in a similar way to the carton described in Figure 1, the result is non-compressed carton 31, illustrated in Figure 4a. In Figure 4a, two of the units, 34 and 36, each has two sides each with a horizontally extended cross pattern and two sides each with a single line pattern, 15. The other unit, 35, has two sides each with a simple cross pattern, 14, and two sides each with a single line pattern, 15. In the uncompressed carton, the height of each unit is equal to the unit's depth and the unit's width is equal to the unit's depth plus the length of the additional fold line, 32. This results in the residual volume of the fully compressed carton being nil.

Figure 5 shows a blank of a carton, 41, modified for the height and depth of the compressible unit of different lengths. An inward vertical fold tine, 43, and an additional outward fold line, 44, have been incorporated into the simple cross pattern sides of the compressible unit to form sides with vertically extended cross patterns, 45.

An additional inward fold line, 46, has been incorporated into the single line pattern sides of the compressible unit to form sides with double tine patterns, 47. The length of the vertical fold lIne, 43 can be varied to suit the required height of the carton.

When the blank in FigureS is assembled in a similar way to the carton described in Figure 1, the result is non-compressed carton, 41, illustrated in Figure Ga. In Figure Ga, the compressible unit, 42, has two sides each with a vertically extended cross pattern and two sides each with a double line pattern. In the uncompressed carton, the depth of the unit is equal to the unit's width. The depth of the unit Is also equal to unit's height less the length of the horizontal fold line, 43. This results in the residual volume of the fully compressed carton being nil.

All of the versions of units described above can be brought together in various combinations to form hybrid cartons.

Claims

SCLAIMS1. A carton comprising a top section, a bottom section and a mid section; wherein the mid section comprises one or more compressible units; wherein the compressible units have a number of pre-formed fold lines; such that when the units are folded along these fold lines, the volume of the carton is reduced.
2. A carton according to claim 1, wherein the compressible unit has four sides, wherein two of the opposing sides each has an arrangement of fold lines in a cross pattern, the other two opposing sides each has an arrangement of fold lines in a line pattern, and all sides have bordering fold lines.
3. A carton according to claim 2, wherein the cross pattern consists an inward fold line from each corner of the side to a point in the respective corner's nearest quartile and an outward fold line from the said point in each quartile to the vertical edge of the side of the respective quartile.
4. A carton according to claim 3, wherein the said points in adjacent quartiles of the same side have an inward fold line connecting them.
5. A carton according to daims 3 and 4, wherein each side has four quartiles, wherein the quartiles consist four areas divided by two boundaries, wherein one boundary runs from midway between the top left corner and top right corner to midway between the bottom left corner and bottom right corner, and the other boundary runs from midway between the top left corner and bottom left corner to midway between the top right corner and bottom right corner.
6. A carton according to claim 2, wherein the line pattern consists one or more inward fold lines, each from the left edge of the side to the right edge of the side.
7. A carton according to claim 2, wherein the bordering fold lines consist outward fold lines between adjacent sides of the same, or adjacent, units.
8. A carton according to claim 2, wherein each side of a compressible unit is arranged at 90 degree angles to the other two sides to which it is joined.
9. A carton as claimed in any preceding daim, wherein the carton is made from a packaging laminate,
10. A carton according to claim 9, wherein the packaging laminate is water tight.
11. A carton as claimed in any preceding daim, wherein the fold lines are lengths along which the packaging laminate will form a natural crease when pressure is applied to the surrounding area.
12. A carton according to claim 11, wherein the fold lines allow the packaging laminate to be folded to a 180 degree position without rupturing.
13. A carton as claimed in any preceding daim, wherein the carton consists of more than one compressible unit, wherein the adjacent sides of two adjacent compressible units have different arrangements of fold lines, wherein one side has an arrangement of fold lines in a cross pattern, and the other side has an arrangement of fold lines In a line pattern.
14. A carton as claimed in any preceding daim, wherein the compressible units can be varied in degrees of folded position whereby the volume of the carton can be adjusted.
15. A carton as claimed in daim 14, wherein the volume of the carton can be reduced to nil when the fold lines are fully folded.
16. A carton as claimed in any preceding daim, further comprising a lid on the top section of the carton which can be sealed.
17. A carton as claimed in daim 16, wherein the lid is of a valve sort which will allow contents to be expelled from the inside of the carton when the volume of the carton is reduced.