CARTON BOX AND CARTON BOX FOR THE SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a cardboard box and a preform to form a cardboard box for carrying a plurality of articles, for example flexible bags or bottles and one or more Beam structures to improve the rigidity of the carton. It may further comprise a flap open by tearing which can be closed again. The use of beam structures is known, for example, in U.S. Patent 5,673,840, a corner post structure is shown to improve the stiffness of the carton. The invention is particularly useful where it is desirable that cartons containing articles be enclosed to protect each article, eg, information discs or food products. An example of resealable sleeves formed from one or more cardboard preforms is found in U.S. Patent 3,078,030 which illustrates a cardboard box having an integral, reclosable integral hinged top. The upper part is provided by a front cover panel and a spacer panel secured to one side of the front cover panel to interengage with an upper engaging portion of the front panel of a box. Clamping means are formed from a double layer portion separated from the front panel. However, the separate portion is attached to the lower surface of the cover flap, resulting in a stepless non-planar frontal surface. In the North American patent 3, 894, 680 an assortment tip or weir is provided in a cardboard box adapted to accommodate powdered materials, for example detergents, such a peak being adapted to remain closed after it has been cut. The fastening means are formed of a triple layer portion separated from the front panel but do not define a cavity to retain the spout. In addition, the support of the weak parts of a cardboard box, such as corners and the like is well known. For example, U.S. Patent 5,673,840 illustrates a corner post structure. However, in the automatic packaging, it is necessary to load the items to the carton at high speeds; therefore, it is undesirable to have a complicated arrangement to form a corner post structure. The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art. One aspect of the invention provides a carton for holding a plurality of articles, for example bottles, comprising a collapsible tubular corner post, formed from a series of interconnected panels extending from a side wall of the box. cardboard, characterized in that the corner post is adapted by providing a longitudinally extending, complementary fold line to move from a flat stuck condition when it extends outwardly from the carton to be automatically erected - by folding of the corner post inwards, such a corner post further comprises a substantially triangular cross section to form a rigid structure in service and because one such interconnected panel is secured to the wall of the carton. An advantage of this arrangement is that the preform and corner post can be supplied to the end user in a flat folded condition. It can then be automatically deployed by automatic packing machinery through a simple folding process. Beneficially, the amount of carton for the corner post can be reduced and standard equipment can be used to secure the end panels. Preferably, the corner post can have a triangular cross section to serve as a rigid structure, wherein the corner post has a longitudinally extending fold line to allow the corner post to be folded flat only out of the box of cardboard. More preferably, the corner post may comprise an end panel, a reinforcing panel and a securing panel connected in an articulated manner together in series and the securing panel is secured to the side wall of the carton. Optionally, the longitudinally extending crease line can be formed in the end wall. According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the end panel can be adapted to secure a flap at the end of the carton to close the carton. A second aspect of the invention provides a cardboard box for containing a plurality of articles, for example bottles, such a cardboard box comprising a reclosable tear-open flap formed from a first wall of the carton and a reinforcing element of the end of the articulated wall to the first wall of the carton. The reinforcing element is fixed at least in part to the inner surface of the first wall of the carton, in such a way that the reinforcing element is located below the first wall of the carton along the length of at least a part of the tear line. Optionally, the reinforcing element extends above the tear line to provide in the breaking of the tear line, a coupling element for retaining the flap in a resealed position A third aspect of the invention provides a carton to contain a plurality of articles, for example bottles, such a cardboard box comprises a resealable tear open flap that includes a first panel formed from a first wall of the carton and a fixed coupling panel at least in part to the inner surface of the first wall of the carton.The coupling panel extends above the tear line to provide to provide, on rupture of the tear line, a coupling element for retaining the flap in a resealed position In accordance with an optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the coupling panel It is provided by a reinforcing element hinged to one of the panels adjacent to the panel of the first wall of the carton. Preferably, the reinforcing element is located under the first wall of the cardboard box at the corner with a second wall of the cardboard box, thereby reinforcing the corner. According to another optional feature of the second or third aspect of the invention, the flap opened by tearing comprises a second panel hingedly connected to the first panel. Preferably, the flap opened by tearing further comprises a pull tab. More preferably, the first wall of the carton is provided with a securing tab hingedly connected thereto and a portion of the flap opened by tearing or as the case may be, pull tab is adapted to be connected intermediate to the first wall of the cardboard box and the securing tab to be retained therewith. A fourth aspect of the invention provides a preform for forming a cardboard box for containing a plurality of articles, for example bottles, such a cardboard box comprising a resealable tear open flap formed from a first wall of the carton and a reinforcement element of the end of the wall articulated to the first wall of the carton, wherein the reinforcing element is fixed at least in part to the inner surface of the first wall of the carton, in such a way that the reinforcing element is below the first wall of the carton along at least a part of the tear line. Preferably, the corner post can have a longitudinally extending fold line to allow the corner post to be folded flat only out of the carton. More preferably, the longitudinally extending fold line can be formed on the end panel. A fifth aspect of the invention provides a preform for forming a cardboard box for containing a plurality of articles, for example bottles, comprising a collapsible tubular corner post formed from an extension of a side wall of the carton, wherein the corner post comprises an end panel, a reinforcing panel and a securing panel connected in an articulated manner together in series, wherein said securing panel is adapted to be secured to the side wall of the carton. Optionally, the corner post has a longitudinally extending fold line to allow the corner post to be folded flat only out of the carton. Preferably, the longitudinally extending fold line is formed in such an end panel. A sixth aspect of the invention provides a preform for forming a cardboard box for containing a plurality of articles, for example bottles, such a cardboard box comprising a re-sealable tear open flap including a first panel formed from a first wall of the carton and a coupling panel fixed at least in part to the inner surface of the first wall of the carton, wherein the reinforcing element extends above the tear line to provide, at the break of the tear line, a coupling element for retaining the flap in a resealed position, when the carton is in a mounted position. Optionally, the flap opened by tearing further comprises a pull tab.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, as an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates the preform for forming the carton according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the construction of the corner support structure from the preform shown in Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the construction of the cardboard box from the preform shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows the cardboard box from the preform shown in Figure 1 in an upright condition; Figures 7 and 8 show the cardboard box of Figure 7 with the flap open by resealable tearing in open and closed positions; Figure 9 illustrates a cross section through B1-B2 of the carton of Figure 6; Figure 10 illustrates the preform to form a cardboard box according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 11 shows the carton formed from the preform of Fig. 10 in an upright condition with the flap open by resealable tearing in the closed position and Fig. 12 illustrates a cross section through B3-B4 of the cardboard box of figure 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, one embodiment of a preform is shown to form a cardboard box made from cardboard or a similar foldable sheet material. In the embodiment described below, the carton is of a "fully enclosed" type, although it will be recognized that the invention can be applied to a "wrapped" cardboard box or "basket-type" carton or other box cardboard, where it is required to provide a support structure in the corners of the cardboard box. The preform 10 comprises a plurality of panels to form an enclosed cardboard box. Returning to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, consists of the panel 12 of the first side wall, an upper panel 14, a panel of the second side wall 16 and a panel 18 hingedly connected to the next along the fold lines 20. , 22 and 24 respectively. The ends of the carton are constructed by one or more fins of the end or panels. In this embodiment, the end panels 30 and 42 are hingedly connected to the opposite ends of the panel 14 of the top wall along the fold lines 42 and 44 respectively. A second pair of end panels 34, 38 is provided along opposite end edges of the bottom panel 18 and hingedly connected thereto along the fold lines 36 and 40 respectively. Securing means are provided for jointly securing the panel 12 to the first side wall and the bottom panel 18. In this embodiment, the securing means are provided by a securing tab 26 hingedly connected to the panel 12 of the first side wall a along the fold line 28. It may further comprise an access structure to provide access to the interior of the carton. The access structure comprises a resealable tear open flap 50 formed from one of the wall panels of the carton. In this embodiment, the flap comprises an upper access panel 53 derived from the upper panel 14 and frangibly connected thereto along frangible lines 52 and 54 respectively. The upper access panel 53 is hingedly connected to the panel of the second side wall along the fold line 22. Preferably, it further comprises a side access panel 51 of the panel 12 of the first side wall and frangibly connected thereto to along the frangible fold lines 55 and 56 respectively. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the frangible lines 55 and 56 converge to a pull tab 58. Optionally, further comprises a securing tongue 60 hingedly connected to the panel of the first side wall along the fold line 61. The opening of the access structure 50 will be described in more detail later herein. According to one aspect of the invention, it consists of one or more beam structures formed internally to the carton. The beam structures are positioned intermediate to the upper and lower panels of the carton to improve the rigidity of the carton when subjected to vertical compression. In this mode, there are four corner posts 70a, 70b, 70c and 70d. Each corner post is substantially the same and therefore only the first beam structure 70a is described in further detail herein. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the corner post 70a comprises the securing panel 74a and the reinforcing panel 76a and an inner end panel 80a hingedly connected one to the next along the fold lines 82a, 84a. The corner post 70a is hingedly connected to the panel of the first side wall along the fold line 72a. In one class of embodiments, the fold line 82a has a shallow arched shape to assist in the flexing of the panels in the vertical plane, although in other embodiments it is linear or may be omitted. It may further comprise an intermediate bending panel 78a to the reinforcing panel 76a and the inner end panel 80a along the fold lines 84a and 86a respectively. In service, fold line 86a is used to position the corner post in a flat folded condition. It is contemplated that the panels for forming the corner post are not limited to the shape illustrated in Figure 1 and could certainly be replaced by other means to allow a beam to be juxtaposed to the upper and lower panels. For example, the reinforcement panel 76 could be arcuate in cross section to better receive and retain the adjacent article. Returning to the construction of the carton from the carton preform, as illustrated in Figure 1, each preform requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations, which are preferably performed in a straight line machine , in such a way that it is not required that the cardboard box and preform be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and may be altered in accordance with the particular manufacturing requirements. Returning to the construction of the corner structures of the preform 10, reference is made to Figures 2 and 3. The panels for forming each corner post structure 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d are folded inwards in the directions Wl , W, XI and X along the fold lines 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d to be secured to a respective panel of the first and second side wall panels 12, 16. In this embodiment, the securing panel 74 it is glued to the respective adjacent side wall panel by a strip of glue G (Figure 2). After this, the first side wall panel
12 and the bottom wall panel 18 are securely fastened, whereby, in this embodiment, the securing flap 26 is secured to the bottom panel 18 by glue or other suitable means known in the art. 7 Thus, the carton is in a flat folded position ready to be delivered to an end user to be loaded with articles. In order to erect the carton is constructed by folding the top panel 14, the first side wall panel 12, the bottom panel 18 and the second side wall panel 16 out of alignment with each other along the fold lines 28, 20, 22 and 24 respectively, to form a tubular structure as shown in Figure 4. The carton is in an intermediate construction stage, whereby the articles are inserted into the carton C from one of the ends. It will be seen from Figure 4, that the end panels 30 and 34 are preferably folded outwardly along the fold lines 32 and 36 respectively to guide the articles to the carton. Preferably, the opposite end wall is formed before receiving the articles, whereby the corner post structures 70b and 70d are formed in the manner described below and the end wall panels 38 and 42 are folded toward in along the respective fold lines 40 and 44 to be secured together by glue or other suitable means known in the art. After the items have been loaded into the carton, the corner post structures 70a and 70c are then formed.
In order to form the corner post structure 70a, the panel panel of the inner end 80a is folded inwardly in the direction Y along the fold line 72a.This action causes the reinforcement panel 76a and the intermediate panels 78a are folded out of alignment with respect to the securing panel 74a along the fold lines 82a, 84a and 86a, respectively, to automatically deploy the corner post within the carton. , the corner post has a substantially triangular cross section seen in more detail in Figure 9. In a class of embodiments, the purpose of the intermediate panel 78a is to provide a degree of resilience for the reinforcement panel 76a, where for example, a splice with the outer article is put in. However, in this embodiment, it is adapted to be placed in a collinear arrangement with the inner end panel 80a. set 70c and the other structures 70b, 70d are formed in substantially the same manner as the beam structure 70a and therefore are not described in further detail hereinafter. Thus, the carton is in the stage illustrated in Figure 4. In order to complete the construction of the carton C, the end wall panels are secured together. For this purpose, glue G is applied to the inner faces of the end wall panels 30 and 34 and then folded inwardly along fold lines 32 and 36 respectively and in splice to be secured together. Preferably, the end wall panels 30 and 34 are also secured to the inner end panels 80a and 80c of their respective corner post structures 70a and 70c to provide additional securing points. In alternative embodiments, the glue can be applied to different areas of the preform, such as where a corner support structure is used. Thus, the cardboard box is in a mounted condition and fully loaded with articles ready to be supplied to the user, as shown in figure 6. In order to have access to the inside of the cardboard box, the access structure it can be opened, whereby, the securing tab 60 is pushed inward to reveal the pull tab 5.8. After this, the pull tab 58 is pulled in an outward direction, which causes the side access panel 51 to be separated from the first side panel 12 along the frangible lines 55 and 56. By continuing the pull on the pull tab 58 in an upward direction, the upper access panel 53 is separated from the top panel 14 along the fold lines 52 and 54 respectively. The access structure is folded back along the fold line 22 to reveal the contents of the carton, as shown in Figure 7. To re-close the access structure, opposite tabs 75a are provided and 75b, which are secured to the inner face of one of the top or side wall panels. In this embodiment, the tabs 75a and 75b are provided by the securing panels 74a and 74b. However, it is contemplated that these tabs could be applied independently of the beam structure and indeed, could be applied to cardboard boxes where beam structures are not provided. The tabs 75a and 75b are adapted in such a way that the panel of. Side access 51 can be placed inside the carton, in such a way that the outer face of the access panel 51 is connected to the inner surface of the insert 75a and 75b shown in Figure 8. In order to fit the side access panel 51, the pull tab 58 or - as the case may be - part of the access panel 51, the securing tab 60 and the side wall panel 12 are placed, thereby providing an array of clips for securing the pull tab 58 (or access panel 51) thereto and providing a resealable access structure shown in Figure 8. Returning to a second embodiment of the present invention in Figures 10 to 12, a preform 110 is shown. which consists of a plurality of panels to form an enclosed cardboard box. With reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the preform comprises a first side wall panel 112, an upper panel 114, a second side wall panel 116 and a bottom panel 118 hingedly connected together along the lines fold 120, 122 and 124 respectively. The ends of the cardboard box are constructed by one or more fins of the end or panels. In this embodiment, end panels 130 and 142 are hingedly connected to opposite ends of upper wall panel 114 along fold lines 132 and 144 respectively. A second pair of end panels 134, 138. is provided along opposite end edges of the bottom panel 118 and hingedly connected thereto along the fold lines 136 and 140 respectively. Securing means are provided to secure together the first side wall panel 112 and the bottom panel 118. In this embodiment, it is provided by an securing flap 126 hingedly connected to the first side wall panel '112 along the line of crease 128. It also comprises an access structure that provides access to the inside of the carton. The access structure is similar to the first embodiment and comprises a re-sealable tear open flap 150 formed from one of the wall panels of the carton. In this embodiment, the flap comprises an upper access panel 153 - derived from upper panel 114 and frangibly connected thereto along frangible lines 152 and 154 respectively. The upper access panel 153 is hingedly connected to the end wall panel 130 along the fold line 132. Preferably, it further comprises a side access panel 151 derived from the first end wall panel 142 and frangibly connected thereto. along the frangible fold lines 155 and 156 respectively. It will be seen from FIG. 10 that the frangible lines 155 and 156 converge to a pull tab 158. Optionally, further comprises a securing tab 160 hingedly connected to the end wall panel 142 along the fold line 161. The opening, of the access structure 150 will be described in more detail below. It further comprises one or more corner support structures formed internally of the carton. In the first embodiment, the support structures are positioned intermediate to the upper panels and the bottom of the cardboard box to improve the rigidity of the cardboard box in the weakest parts, for example the corners of the cardboard box. In the second embodiment there are four corner support structures 170a, 170b, 170c and 170d. Each corner support is substantially the same and consequently only the first corner support structure 170a is described in some additional detail. In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the corner support 170a comprises the securing panel 174a and the internal support panel 176a and an external support panel 180a hingedly connected together along the fold lines 184a, 186a. The corner support 170a is hingedly connected to the first side wall panel 112 along the fold line 172a. It is contemplated that the panels for forming the corner structure are not limited to the shape illustrated in FIG. 10 and could certainly be replaced by other means to allow the structure to be juxtaposed to the upper and lower panels. Returning to the construction of the cardboard box from the cardboard preform as illustrated in Fig. 10, again each preform requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations, which are preferably carried out on a machine in a straight line, in such a way that it is not required that the cardboard box and / or preform be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements. The panels for forming each corner support structure 170a, 170b, 170c, 170d are first folded inwardly along the fold lines 186a, 186b, 186c, 186d to be secured to the respective one of the first and second wall panels. side 112, 116. In this embodiment, the securing panel 174 is glued to the respective adjacent side wall panel. After this, the first side wall panel 112 and the bottom wall panel 118 are secured together, thereby, in this embodiment, the securing flap 126 is secured to the bottom panel 118 by glue or other suitable means known in the art. technique. Thus, the carton is in a flat folded position ready to be delivered to an end user for loading with articles. In order to erect the "cardboard box is constructed by folding the upper panel 114, the first side wall panel 112, the bottom panel 118 and the second side wall panel 116 out of alignment with each other along the fold lines 128, 120, 122 and 124 respectively, to form a tubular structure The cardboard box is in an intermediate construction stage, whereby the articles are inserted into the carton C from one end. The end panels 138 and 142 are preferably folded outwardly along the fold lines 140 and 144 respectively to guide the articles to the carton C. More preferably, the opposite end wall is formed before receiving the articles. , whereby the end wall panels 130 and 134 are folded inwardly along the fold lines 132 and 136 respectively to be secured together by glue or other m appropriate edios known in the art. In order to complete the construction of the cardboard box C, the end wall panels are secured together. For this end, glue is applied to the inner faces of the end wall panels 138 and 142 and then folded inwardly along the fold lines 132 and 136 respectively and in splice to be secured together. Preferably, the end wall panels 130 and 134 are also secured to part of the external support panels 180a and 180c of the corner support structures 170a and 170c respectively to provide additional securing points.
In additional embodiments, glue can be applied to different areas of the preform, such as where corner support structures are used. Thus, the cardboard is in a fully assembled and loaded condition with articles ready to be supplied to the user, as shown in figures 11 and 12. It will be seen from figure 12 that the support structures 170a, 170b, 170c, 170d They are located at the corners of the outer carton to provide additional support for the weakest parts of the carton. In order to have access to the interior of the carton, the access structure can be opened, whereby, the securing tab 160 is urged inward to reveal the pull tab 158. After this, the tab of traction 158 is pulled in an outward direction, which causes side access panel 151 to be separated from first side wall panel 112 along frangible lines 155 and 156. By continuing traction on the pull tab 158 in an upward direction, the upper access panel 153 is separated from the upper wall panel 114 along the fold lines 152 and 154 respectively. The access structure is folded back along fold line 122 to reveal the contents of the carton.
In order to re-close the access structure, opposite tabs 175a and 175b are provided, which are secured to the inside face of one of the top or side wall panels. In this embodiment, tabs 175a and 175b are provided by securing panels 174a and 174b. It will be seen from Figure 11 that the corner structure 170a provides a tongue to assist with the re-engagement of the end closure flap. Of course, it is contemplated that the corner support structure could be replaced by a panel hingedly connected to the side wall 112 to provide such a tongue. It is contemplated that these tabs could be applied independently of the corner structure and indeed, could be applied to cardboard boxes where corner structures are not provided. The tabs 175a and 175b are adapted in such a way that the side access panel 151 can be placed inside the cardboard box, such that the outer face of the access panel 151 is connected to the inner surface of the tab 175a and 175b, shown in Figure 11. In order to engage the lateral access panel 151, the pull tab 158 'or - as the case may be - part of the access panel 151, the securing tab 160 may be placed. and the side wall panel 112, thereby providing an array of clips for securing the pull tab 158 (or access panel 151) thereto and for providing a reclosable access structure. The present invention and its preferred embodiments are concerned with an arrangement for providing a corner post structure in a fully enclosed cardboard box and for providing a tear open flap. However, it is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers and is not limited to those of the fully enclosed type described above and could be used for numerous applications where it is desired to provide a carrier with improved rigidity. It will be recognized that, as used herein, the directional references such as "upper", "bottom", "extreme", "lateral", "internal" and "external" do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but that only serve to distinguish these panels from others. Any reference to articulated connection should not be interpreted as necessarily referring to a single fold line; of course, it is contemplated that the articulated connection may be formed from one or more of the following: a slagging line, a frangible line or a crease line, without deviating from the scope of the invention. It should be understood that various changes can be made within the scope of the present invention; for example, the size and shape of the panels and openings can be adjusted to accommodate articles of different size or shape or alternative top and bottom closure structures can be used, without deviating from the scope of the invention. A single opening for glue may be provided in some embodiments. The cardboard box can accommodate more than one item in different arrangements.