NZ193238A - Two containers held together by top opening flaps - Google Patents

Description

193238 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: 193238 Date: 24 March 198 0 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or relating to components for packaging" W/We, AHI OPERATIONS LIMITED a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 640 Great South Road, Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which ^"/ we pray that a patent may be granted to me /us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 1S3238 This invention relates to components for packaging and has been devised particularly though not solely for use as a carton.

It is an object of the present invention to provide components for a package which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly the invention consists in a component for packaging comprising a pair of containers at least one surface of each of which is at least partly open, the periphery of each said opening having at least one substantially straight side and SMbs-Uurhallij 4+TAMJM" tufa each container having a flap extending from saiaAor one es said substantially straight sides, so those sides of said containers can be placed side by side and the flap of each container folded into the opening of the other container, to locate said containers one relative to the other.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and it is not our intention to limit the scope of the invention by those disclosurs and descriptions, or otherwise, than by the terms of the appended claims.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of containers forming components for packaging according to the invention, 23 JU^ 1983 8ECBVED 193238 Figure 2 is a view as in figure 1 with the containers being moved into close proximity one with the other, Figure 3 is a view as in figures 1 and 2 showing joining of the components for packaging, Figure 4 is a view as in"figures 1,2, and 3 showing further steps towards the joining of the containers, Figure 5 is a perspective view of joined containers, Figure 6 shows a step in separating joined containers, and Figure 7 shows a pair of separated containers.

Referring to the drawings components for packaging are provided as follows: A first component in the form of a container 1 is provided preferably formed of cardboard or the like and a further container 2 similarly formed"is provided. The containers may be arranged so that they can lie flat and are preferably of a self erecting base type so that opposite corners of the container can be pushed one to the other to form the container into the rectangular shape shown in a manner such that the base will "snap" closed.

The containers 1 and 2 preferably have at least one substantially straight side, 3 and 4 although in the preferred embodiment the containers are square or more preferably rectangular.

Extending from the substantially straight sides 3 or 4 are flaps 5 and 6 which are on the periphery of the opening 7 and 8 forming one side of the containers 1 and 2. With reference to figure 1 containers 1 and 2 are substantially identical so that when one container is rotated through 180° - I ~ 193238 the containers 1 and 2 show a left and right handed configuration.

The flaps 5 and 6 are joined to the upper edge of sides 3 and 4 along a fold line 9 and 10 which preferably is also provided with a series of slits, cuts or perforations.

The length of each side 5 and 6 along the sides 9 and 10 is preferably such that the flap, for example, the flap 5 extends from a point 11 adjacent one edge of the carton to a point 12 which is substantially mid-way along the length of the carton but in general the lengths of the boundary between flaps 5 and 6 and containers 1 and 2 is substantially equal to but less than one-half of the length of the sides 9 and 10.

The flaps 5 and 6 themselves have extended parts 13 and 14 so that in use as will be described later the flaps 5 and 6 overlap to some extent.

Further flaps are provided to enable the containers to be shut and for example a pair of closure flaps 15 are provided at opposite edges of the carton and flap 16 which is preferably at least three-quarters the width of the container 1 or 2.

The carton is erected as follows: The containers 1 and 2 are moved together as shown in figure 2 so that the flaps 5 and 6 overlap as shown in figure 2.

The flaps 5 and 6 are then folded over as shown in figure 3 until they become positioned as shown in figure 4 I i.e. with the flap 5 adjacent the wall 17 of container 2.

That is to say the wall 17 is positioned between the flap 5 193238 and the wall 18 of container 1 and similarly for flap 6. By then folding in firstly the flap^ 16 and then flaps 15 the package will then bear the form shown in figure 5.' Of j. p. & s.

II • to -On course the reverse order of flaps 15 and 16 may be used if desired.

The package can be separated by cutting or tearing the package along a line of slits cuts or serrations between for example the flap 5 and the wall 18 so that the construction becomes positioned as shown in figure 7. It may be desirable ~ j. p. & S. to open the packages about the hinge formed by the flaps 5 IM0-8J to and Xf connected to the sides 17 and 18 as shown in figure 6.

The use of the invention is as follows: The invention may be used particularly in situations where it is desired to package articles in a certain quantity, for example one dozen, but provide a facility whereby half packages can be sold in a simple manner for example in half dozen lots. A particular instance is the beer retail -industry where it is frequently desired .to sell beer in dozen or half dozen packages.

Thus it can be seen that components for a package are provided which at least in the preferred form of the invention has the advantage that the components for the package may be assembled in a simple manner to form a single transit unit or container but in which a single unit may be readily - halved inside whilst yet retaining a suitable integral container which has a robustness which is substantially equivalent to the original package. 193238 In use the container -when filled, for example, by bottles has advantages in that the articles themselves will hold the flaps down in position.

Claims (5)

IB WHAT WE CLATM TS- 183238

1. A component for packaging comprising a pair of containers at least one surface of each of which is at least partly open, the periphery of each said opening having at least one substantially straight side and each container having a flap extending from J P & *idt e>4 -<j• " said^or one -et said substantially straight sides, so those sides of said containers can be placed side by side and the flap of each container folded into the opening of the other container, to locate said containers one relative to the other.

2. A component for packaging as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said flap has a boundary with said opening which boundary is substantially half the length of one said substantially straight side so that when said substantially straight sides of said j. p. & S ' containers are placed in a side by side relationship, said flaps are cubotantially displaced"),one from the other.

3. A component for packaging as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each said flap is extended in a lengthwise direction boutntfUrti away from the connection to said periphery of said opening so ----- Jt a. that in use the sai4 flap forming part of one container extends J. P. & S. '( . tx/iu in excess of half the length of the substantially straight side of the other oaid- container.

4. A component for packaging as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said periphery of each said opening has further flaps extending therefrom adapted to be positionable to close each said opening.

5. A component for packaging substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. j. park & son p£r tr-rldu^' ag-nts for the APPLICANT