NZ243880A

NZ243880A - Blank and carton made therefrom for holding series of cans; gusset portion between the side and top is made up of two panels

Info

Publication number: NZ243880A
Application number: NZ243880A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Geoffrey Campbell
Original assignee: Riverwood Int Ltd
Priority date: 1991-08-09
Filing date: 1992-08-07
Publication date: 1995-06-27
Also published as: GB9117272D0; DE69211521T2; JPH06503791A; AU2410892A; EP0551490A1; ZA925953B; ATE139203T1; NO931094L; FI931557A0; CA2091988C; EP0551490B1; HK1002909A1; FI931557A; KR930702206A; WO1993002943A1; PT8575T; BR9205378A; JP3154489B2; PT8575U; CA2091988A1

Abstract

There is provided a carton for receiving a plurality of cans (12). The carton has apertures in its side walls (21, 22) for receiving the heel portions of the cans (12) and gusset portions between each side wall (21, 22) and the top panel (13). When assembled, one panel (35) of each gusset portion extends partially across the open end area of the carton to prevent dislodgement of the tops of the cans (12).

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> • - ■ '>< J C (} \ \ - * Prior;*,-' U3«o(s): £0rv.niat*» Snciftao'.on ....7k.vv Cta.- "lOiSm Pvj'. > D^te: .. •? ■ „ a •! • '• >: .. Patents Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION CARTONS AND BLANKS THEREFOR WE, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a British Company of Filwood Road, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3SB, United Kingdom hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 1 - (followed by page la) ^-9 OCT 1992 v 10 15 20 30 2 4 3 __ , v w 0 • !<*• Cartons and Blanks Therefor This invention relates to cartons and blanks therefor. Various cardboard sleeves for multipacks are known, but generally have apertures at the junction of the side and top panels for receiving the top edges of the articles. With certain articles, especially cans, the necessary aperture is located very close to the end edge of the sleeve and thus render the remaining strip of card vulnerable to tearing whenever the pack is handled. Tearing of course seriously affects the usefulness of the sleeve, but compactness of carton is essential not only from an aesthetic point of view but also from a business point of view. Clearly it is desirable to use as little cardboard as possible whilst retaining structural integrity and also bulkier cartons occupy more space and increase transport costs. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a carton for receiving a plurality of articles, each of which articles has a heel portion, said carton comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and two side portions together forming a generally open-ended sleeve, the region of the junction between said side portions and the bottom portion being provided with formations in the form of apertures each for receiving a heel portion of at least one of the articles, and gusset portions provided between the side portions and the top portion so as to extend across part of each open end of the carton, each open end having two of said gusset portions, which are separate from each other, one gusset portion between each side portion and the top portion. 3b In a preferred embodiment each gusset portion^ ^ Q comprises two panels, the first of which is hingedlW^\^ !• ^ (followed by page ,V' v-'tcv; 'M.VihO 10 30 -2- connccted to the top portion and the second of which is hingedly connected to the associated side portion, both panels being hingedly connected together such that one of said panels is bent towards its associated portion to allow the other panel to extend across the open end area of the carton. It is a preferred feature that no further ninges are provided in said other panel of each gusset portion. Also said one panel of each gusset portion is held against its associated top or preferably side portion by one ol said articles. Preferably, the top portion is hingedly connected alonq opposite side edges to the side portions and each side portion is hingedly connected to a bottom panel, the two bottom panels being secured together to constitute said bottom portion. In one arrangement the two bottom panels are formed with interengaging formations to effect their securing together. Alternatively, the two bottom panels could be adhesively secured together. Conveniently the carton is adapted to receive two rows of articles so that two articles face each open end and the articles are retained in the carton by the gussetted portions and the heel engaging formations, one of which is provided for each article. Ideally, the cartons are formed from cardboard and the hinged connections may be constituted by fold lines, score lines or skip/score lines. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank for producing a carton for receiving a plurality of articles, which blank provides panels, for constituting a top portion, two side portions and a bottom portion, which panels are hingedly connected together, said blank providing at least one gusset portion between a side portion and the top portion at each end thereof, each gusset — " ' 0 243880 portion being constituted by two panels, the first of which is hingedly connected to the associated side portion and the second of which is hingedly connected to the top portion, both panels of the gusset portion being hingedly connected together such that in use one of said panels is bent towards its associated portion to allow the other panel to extend across the open end area of the carton and said one panel of each gusset portion is, in use, held against its associated top or preferably side portion by one of said articles. Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a blank according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 1 being assembled into a carton, , ' Figure 3 is a perspective view of a carton : according to the present invention made from the. blank shown in Figure 1, and ■ , Figure 4 is an end view of the carton shown in Figure 3. Figure 1 shows a blank 10 for forming a carton 11, as shown in figures 2 to 4, around a plurality of articles which in this case is six cans 12 for beverages arranged in two rows of three. The carton 11 has a top portion 13 formed with two finger holes 14 for facilitating the carrying of the carton. Hingedly connected to each side edge of the top portion along fold lines 15, 16 are upper side panels 17, 18 which are adapted to conform to the bevelled upper surfaces of the cans 12. Hingedly connected to each side of the upper side panels 17, 18 along fold lines 19, 20 are main side panels 21, 22. Hingedly connected tc the lower edges of the side panels 21, 22 'i i) (j i') i J with apertures 31 and formations 32 for engaging and retaining heel portions of the cans 12. As can be seen in figure 4, the heel of the can protrudes to some extent through the aperture 31 and this serves to prevent to a great extent transverse movement of the 5 can 12 within the carton 11. The bottom panels 29, 30 are provided with various formations 33 which are arranged so as to interlock and interengage so as to close the blank 10 to form the sleeve-like carton 11. 10 The blank 10 is also formed with gusset portions 34 which interconnect each side panel 21, 22 with the top portion 13. Each gusset portion 34 has a first panel 35 hingedly connected to the top portion 13 and a second panel 36 hingedly connected to the 15 side panel 21, 22 along the fold line 37. The first and second panels 35, 36 are also hingedly connected together along fold line 38. The upper side panel 17, 18 is bypassed by the provision of a hole 39. When forming the carton 11 around the cans 12, . 20 the top portion is placed across the tops of the cans and the side panels and bottom panels are folded around the cans 12. During the folding the second panels 36 of the gusset portions 34 are tucked in behind their associated side panels 21, 22 and the 25 bottom panels 29, 30 are connected together. These second panels 36 and the lower part of the first portions 35 are, in the finished carton 11, sandwiched in position between the cans 12 and the side panels 21, 22 and cannot readily be pulled out. In the 30 finished carton 11 the first panels 35 of the gusset portions 34 partially block the open end areas of the carton and thereby prevent the tops of the cans from being removed from the carton. This is clearly shown in figure 4. 35 - "f,N? V t ■ . V i 9 OCT 1992 \v • I .*>.',01) -5- It will be appreciated that articles other than bi-veraq<' cans can be used in the above described "arton. For example, the carton could be adapted for use wi'h but t 1os. Also different types of can would i-.jjii'- s!;<:htly modified panel arrangements. For • '.xaiTipi • ■, i! t ho cans do not have an upper bevelled surlao.- t ! 11 ■ n the upper side panels 17, 18 may be omitloii to liMW the main side panels 21, 22 hingedly conn'-ct'-d directly to the top portion 13. In addition it will b»- appreciated that other bottom panel securing techniques are envisaged, for example different formations 33 may be used or the two panels may simply be secured with adhesive. Also the connect ion between the ends of the blank has been shown as b"inq in the bottom portion, but it will be appreciated that it could bo located in a side or the top portion if required. Further modifications may include further fold lines in the first gusset portion if desired or in any other panel so as to accommodate features of the articles being contained. The carton is ideally suited to manufacture from paperboard but other semi-rigid or rigid sheets could b<> used. Also fold lines could also encompass score lines, or any combination of fold lines and score 11nes . The above described type of carton provides a secure package for a plurality of articles and does not rely on apertures for retaining the tops of the articles. The weak spots between the endmost top apertures and the end edge of known cartons are therefore eliminated without adding bulk to the carton. * t </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 2438 -6- WHAT WE CLAIM IS: A carton for receiving a plurality of articles, each of which articles has a heel portion, said carton comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and two side portions together forming a generally open-ended sleeve, the region- of the junction between said side portions and the bottom portion being provided with formations in the form of apertures each for receiving a heel portion of at least one of the articles, and gusset portions provided between the side oortions and the top portion so as to extend across part of each open end of the carton, each open end having two of said gusset portions, which are separate from each other, one gusset portion between each side oortion and the top portion and each gusset portion comprising two oanels, the first of which is hingedly connected to the top portion and the second of which is hingedly connected to the associated side portion, both panels being hingedly connected together such that one of said panels is bent towards its associated portion to allow the other panel to extend across the open end area of the carton and said one panel of each gusset portion is, in use, held against its associated top or preferably side portion by one of said articles. 30 2. A carton as claimed hinges are provided gusset portion. in claim in said 1 wherein no further other panel of each 24388 -7- 3. A carton as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the top portion is hingedly connected along opposite side edges to the side portions and each side portion is hingedly connected to a bottom panel, the two bottom panels being secured together to constitute said bottom portion. 10 4. A carton as claimed in claim 3 wherein--the two bottom panels are formed with interengaging formations to effect their s* .ring together. 5. A carton as claimed in claim 4 wherein the two bottom oanels are adhesively secured together. 15 20 A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wmarein the carton is adapted to receive two rows of articles so that two articles face each open end and the articles are retained in the carton by the gussetted portions and the heel engaging formations, one of which is provided for each art icle. 7. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the cartons are formed from paperboard and the hinged connections may be constituted by fold ?r~> lines, score lines or skip/score lines. 8. A blank for producing a carton for receiving a plurality of articles, which blank provides panels for constituting a top portion, two side portions and a bottom portion, which panels are hingedly connected together, the region of the junction between said side portions and the bottom portion being provided with formations in the form of apertures each for receiving, in use, a heel 24388 -8- portion of at least one of the articles, said blank providing a gusset portion between each side portion and the top portion at each end thereof, the two gusset portions at each end being separate from each other and each gusset portion comprising two panels, the first of which is hingedly connected to the associated side portion and the second of which is hingedly connected to the top portion, both panels of the gusset portion being hingedly connected together such that in use one of said panels is bent towards its associated portion to allow the other panel to extend across the open end area of the carton and said one panel of each gusset portion is, in use, held against its associated top or preferably side portion by one of said articles. 9. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 10. A blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 30 RIVERWOOi) INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 3^> </div>