NZ723413A - A carton and blank - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carton and blank having a bottom portion that can be moved between a collapsed condition and an erected condition, and a lid portion that can be used to the hold the bottom portion in the erected condition. The carton can be collapsed by a user, for example, by removing the lid. moving the lid.

Description

A CARTON AND BLANK FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a carton and a blank for making the carton. The carton can be used for serving takeaway food items such as a hamburger, chicken nuggets, and alike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many requirements that a carton must satisfy to be commercially acceptable, including the carton being easy to use for the customer and staff, the carton meeting hygiene standards, the carton being environmentally responsible, and the carton not being cost prohibitive.

One type of carton is presently being widely used for hamburgers has a “clamshell” structure that comprises equally sized upper and lower halves pivotally connected and that can be maintained closed by a tongue and slot arrangement. While the clamshell carton has proven to be successful over an extended period. However, there are a number of considerations concerning the use of this type of the carton, including the contents can cool quickly, it can be difficult to remove the contents from the carton, and once opened, the carton serves little purpose and is usually discarded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a carton for serving takeaway food, the carton including a bottom portion and a lid portion: the bottom portion includes a base wall and a side wall having side panels that are joined to the base wall, wherein the side panels are moveable between a collapsed condition in which the side panels extend outwardly from the base panel, and the side panels can be moved upwardly into an erected condition relative to the base wall to form an enclosure for receiving a food item, and the lid portion can be located in an operative position on the bottom portion in which the lid portion engages the side panels and holds the side panels in the erect condition, and wherein the side panels of the bottom portion can be released and returned to the collapsed condition after the lid portion has moved from the operative position to allow access to the food item.

Although it is possible that the carton may include releasable adhesive or interlocking panels between, for example, the side panels to help secure the side panels in the erect condition, 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 ideally, the engagement between the lid portion and the bottom portion is the only means that holds the side panels in the erected condition.

In one situation, the side panels of the bottom portion can be released and returned to the collapsed condition by removing the lid portion from the operative position.

A user can place an item to be packaged in the carton either: i) while the carton is an the collapsed condition, and/or ii) after the carton has been placed into erected condition.

The term “operative position” of the lid portion embraces the lid portion being located over a range of orientations. For instance, the lid position may be located in the operative position when the lid portion is partially ajar and in which the lid portion engages at least one of the side panels. In another instance, the lid portion may be fully closed so as to extend about all of the side panels, including the side panel opposite to which the lid is pivotally connected.

The bottom portion may include gussets that interconnect the side panels, and the side panels are joined to the base wall by first fold lines and the gussets are joined to the side panels by second fold lines.

Ideally, the first and second fold lines are continuous fold lines along the sides of the base wall, the sides of the side panels and the side of the gussets so that the bottom portion forms a liquid tight receptacle when in the erected condition. The liquid tight receptacle can prevent leakage of juice, source and other liquids from the bottom half of the carton.

The side panels may be arranged about or around the perimeter of the base wall and the side panels are arranged adjacent to each other and interconnected by one of the gussets, each gusset may include two or more pleat sections that are folded to at least partially overlay each when the bottom portion is in the erect condition. To enable the bottom portion to be readily moved from the erected condition to the collapsed condition, the pleat sections can be unfolded and the side panels lowered. Ideally, the pleat sections are not glued to each other, or to the side panels when in the erect condition.

In one embodiment, the side panels and the base wall are arranged in a flat relationship when in the collapsed condition. For example, the side panels and the base wall may be arranged in a co-planar relationship. An advantage of this features is that the bottom portion can be stacked one on top of the other.

In another embodiment, the side panels are reclined outwardly at an angle to the base panel and an erected condition in which the side panels extend upright from the base panel.

In one embodiment, the lid portion may be separate from the bottom portion. For instance the lid portion may be made from a separate blank to the bottom portion. In any event, the lid portion may be configured so as to be able to fit around the side panels when the lid is in the operative position. In this embodiment, the lid portion may be adapted to extend around the perimeter of the side wall. 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 In another embodiment, the lid portion may be joined by a fold line to one of the side panels and has an overlapping portion that at least partially extends about at least some of the other side panels to which the lid portion is not joined when located in the operative position.

The fold line between the lid portion and the side panel may be frangible so that the lid portion can be separated from the bottom portion of the carton when desired.

The lid portion may have a top wall that is joined by the fold line to the side panel.

When the lid portion is in the operative position, the top wall may be located adjacent to an upper edge of the side wall, and ideally the inner face of the lid portion can make contact with the upper edge of the side panels of the side wall. A potential benefit this can provide is that when the lip portion is in a fully closed position, air flow through the carton can be reduced, thereby potentially reducing the rate of cooling of the food item.

Ideally, the side wall has four of the side panels, of which the lid is pivotally connection to one of the side walls, and the inner face of the top wall of the lid can make contact with the upper edge of three other the side walls. In addition, the overlapping portion of the lid portion at least partially overlaps three other side walls.

Ideally, the carton also includes a locking assembly for securing the lid portion in the operative position.

The locking assembly may have a first flap on the lid portion that extends from the overlapping portion toward the top wall, and a second flap on one of the side panels that extends away from the side panel, and when the lid portion is located in the operative condition the first and second flaps can inter-engage to releasably hold the lid portion in the operative condition.

The first and second flaps may be arranged such that as the lid portion is being moved toward the operative position, the first and second flaps can cause either one or both of the first and second flaps to be urged toward the overlapping portion or the side panel respectively, and when the first and/or seconds flaps extend past the other, the first and/or second flaps can inter-engage to retain the lid in a closed position.

In one example, the first and second flaps move past each other when the lip portion is fully closed, and when the first and second flaps have past each other, and either one or both of the first flap and/or the second flaps can recoil and the first and second flaps can inter-engage to hold the lid portion in the operative position.

In one embodiment, the first flap may be fastened to the overlapping portion of the lid portion in which an upper edge of the first panel forms a ridge extending across the overlapping portion, and the second panel may be a flap that is movable about a fold line interconnecting the second flap to the side panel of the bottom portion, and when the lid portion is located in the operative position, a free distal edge of the second flap can engage the ridge across the overlapping portion to hold the lid portion in the operative position. To open the lid portion, 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 the overlapping portion can be pulled outwardly to disengage the distal edge of the second flap from the ridge. Similarly, the side wall of the carton can be pushed inwardly.

In another embodiment, both the first and second flaps may be movable about fold lines, in which case the first flap and the overlapping portion form a first coupling formation, and the second flap and the side panel form a second coupling formation, and when the lid portion is located in the operative position, the first flap is located in the second coupling formation and the second flap is located in the first coupling formation.

In another embodiment, the second flap may be fastened to the side panel in which the distal edge of the second flap forms a ridge extending across the side panel, and the first flap may be movable about a fold line interconnecting the first flap to the overlapping portion, and when the lid is located in the operative position, a free distal edge of the first flap can engage the ridge across the side panel to hold the lid in the operative position.

The second flap may be joined to the side wall section by a fold line and extend outwardly from the side wall section.

The first flap may be joined to the overlapping portion by a fold line and extend inwardly from the overlapping section.

When the lid portion is in the operative position, the overlapping portion is located to the outside of the side wall of the carton. In this situation, the first and second flaps of the coupling assembly may inter-engage between the side wall section and the overlapping portion.

The present invention relates to a carton for serving takeaway food, the carton including: a base wall; a side wall including side panels that extend from the base wall and gussets that interconnect the side panels, such that the base, the side panels and the gussets provide a bottom portion that can form a liquid tight receptacle when the side wall is erected on the base wall; and a lid that can be moved between an opened position to allow access to food in the carton and a closed position for keeping food therein warm, wherein the lid has, i) a top wall that is hinged to an upper edge of one of the side panels, and ii) an overlapping portion that extends laterally from the top wall, such that when the lid is in the closed position, the overlapping portion is position to the outside of the side wall.

The present invention relates to a carton for serving takeaway food, the carton including a bottom portion and a lid portion for co-operating with the bottom portion; 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 the bottom portion includes a base wall and a side wall having side panels that are joined to the base wall, wherein the side panels are moveable between a collapsed condition the bottom portion includes a base wall and a side wall having side panels that are joined to the base wall, wherein the side panels are moveable between a collapsed condition about the food item, and the lid portion is adapted to hold the side panels in the erected condition when locating in an operative position on the bottom portion by extending about and engaging the side panels, and wherein the bottom portion can be returned to the collapsed condition after the lid portion has been opened to allow access to the food item.

The present invention also relates to a set comprising one or more blanks for making a carton for serving takeaway food, the set including: a base panel for forming a base wall of the carton; side panels extending from the base panel, wherein the side panels are moveable between a collapsed condition in which a food item can be placed on the base wall and the side panels can be moved upwardly into an erected condition relative to the base wall about the food item, and a lid panel that is adapted for making the lid portion of the carton, wherein the lid portion is adapted to hold the side panels in the erected condition when locating in an operative position on the bottom portion by extending about the side panel, and wherein the bottom portion can be returned to the collapsed condition after the lid portion has been removed from the operative position to allow ready access to the food item.

The lid panel may be joined to one of the side panels by a fold line.

The present invention also relates to a blank for making the carton, the blank including: a base panel for forming a base wall of the carton; side panels extending from the base panel; gusset panels that interconnect the side panels, such that when the blank is erected the base, the side panels and the gusset panels form a liquid tight receptacle; and a set of lid panels for forming a lid that can be moved between an opened position to allow access to food in the container and a closed position for keeping food therein warm, wherein the set of lid panels includes, i) a top wall panel that is hinged to an upper edge of one of the side panels, and 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 ii) outer panels extending from the top wall panel, and when the blank is made into the carton, the outer panels can form an overlapping portion that extends from the top wall, such that when the lid is in the closed position an inside face of the top wall can be located adjacent to (contact) an upper edge of the side panels and the overlapping portion overlaps at least part of the side panels to restrict air movement through the carton.

The blank may also include any one or a combination of the features of the carton described herein. Similarly, the carton may also include any one or a combination of the features of the blank described herein.

Throughout this specification references to a carton or a blank for making the carton embraces a carton or blank made with paper based materials including any fibrous material such as but by no means limited to paper, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, and laminations thereof. The fibrous material may include synthetic fibres, but more typically include natural fibres such as cellulosic, hemp, cotton and alike. It is also possible that the carton or packaging may include a layer of non-paper based materials including a polymeric or wax layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carton for takeaway food items such as a hamburger, the carton having a lid located in an opened position and a bottom portion in an erected condition; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carton shown in figure 1 in which the lid is located in fully closed and an operative position on the erected bottom portion to hold the bottom portion in an erected condition; Figure 3 is a perspective of the carton in figure 1 in which the lid has been moved into an opened position, and the bottom portion is in a collapsed condition to allow ready access to the food item in the carton; Figure 4 illustrates a blank for making the carton shown in figures 1 to 3; and Figure 5 is perspective view of a carton according to an alternative embodiment having the same features as the carton shown in figures 1 to 3, save for the side wall of the carton having a tapering outwardly profile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A carton and a blank for making the carton according to a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures. Reference numerals have been used in 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 the following text to help identify the features in the drawings. The same reference numerals have been used to identify the same or substantially the same features of the carton and the blank.

With reference to the figures, the carton 10 includes a lid portion 11 and a bottom portion 12 having a quadrangular base wall 13 and a side wall 15 extending from the base wall 13 that can be moved between an erected condition as shown in Figure 1 and a collapsed condition as shown in Figure 3, and vice versa. The lid portion 11 is operable to hold the side wall 15 of the carton 10 in an erected condition without requiring the use of adhesive or inter-locking panels on the side wall 15. Moreover, by removing the lid portion 11, the bottom portion 12 can move from the erected condition to a collapsed condition to allow ready access to food in the carton 10 and allow the bottom portion 12 to be used a “plate, tray or bowl” from which the food can be consumed.

The side wall 15 includes four side panels 15a that are joined around the perimeter of the base wall 13 by continuous fold lines 16. The side wall 15 also includes gusset panels 17 that interconnect the side panels 15a and are joined to the side panels 15a by continuous fold lines 18. As can best be seen in Figure 4, the gusset panels 17 each comprise two pleats 17a that are joined together along a pleat fold line 19.

When the bottom portion 12 is erected, the side panels 15a are folded upwardly relative to the base wall 13, and the pleats 17a are folded inwardly to overlay each other, as best seen in Figure 1. Preferably, no adhesive is present in the pleats 17a or the side panels 15a to hold the side wall 15 in the erected condition shown in the Figure 1. When the bottom portion 12 is located in the operative position, the base wall 13, the side panels 15 and the gusset panels 17 form a liquid tight receptacle or enclosure that can contain juices, sauce and other liquids of the food in the carton 10.

The lid portion 11 can be moved between an opened or non-operative position, as shown in Figure 1, and an operative position as shown in Figure 2, for keeping food warm and holding the carton 10 in the erected condition. Figure 2 illustrates the lid portion 11 in a fully closed position. However, it will be appreciated that the lid portion 11 may be located in an ajar position and still; be operative holding the side panels in an erected condition. The lid portion 11 has a top wall 20 that is hinged to an upper side of one of the side panels 15a along a continuous fold line 21 that extends the width of the top wall 20 and the side panel 15a to which the top wall 20 is connected. The lid portion 11 also includes a partial skirt that forms an overlapping portion 33 extending from the top wall 20. The overlapping portion 33 includes two tapered panels 23 that are joined to opposite sides of the top wall 20 by fold lines 24 that extend laterally to the fold line 21 between the top wall 20 and the side panel 15a.

The overlapping portion 33 also includes an end panel 25 joined by a fold line 29 to the top wall 20. Side flaps 26 extending from the end panel 25 and are glued to the tapered panels 23 to secure the overlapping portion 33 in the assembled position shown in the figure 3. 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 It will also be appreciated that the flaps 26 can be shaped so that when the lid portion 11 is erected, as shown in figure 3, flaps 26 either frictionally engage or have a die cut slit with the overlapping portion 33 to secure the flaps 26 in erected position.

The fold line 21 may also be a frangible line of weakness such as serrated fold line.

As can best be seen in figure 2, when the lid portion 11 is in the operative position, the side panels 23 are in an erected condition, including the side panel 15a to which the lid portion 11 is connected and the overlapping portion 11 overlaps to the outside of three of the side panels 15a such that all four side panels 15a are prevented from collapsing from the erected condition by the overlapping portion 11. By moving the lid portion 11 away from the side panels 15a so that the overlapping portion 11 is moved clear of the side panels 15a, the side panels 15a and gussets 17 can be moved from the erected condition to the collapsed condition as shown in figure 3.

The carton 10 also includes a closure or locking assembly for releasably holding the lid portion 11 of the carton 10 in the operative position. The locking assembly includes a first flap 27 joined to the end panel 25 of the overlapping portion 33, and a second flap 31 joined by a fold line 32 to an upper side of the side panel 15a opposite to the side panel 15a to which the lid portion 11 is pivotally connected. The first flap 27 is folded inwardly toward the top wall 20 of the lid portion 11 and glued to the inside face of end panel 25 to form a ridge 34, best seen in figure 3, that extends across an inside face of the end panel 25. The second flap 32 is folded outwardly of the side panel 15a.

When the lid portion 11 is located in the operative position, the second flap 31 can releasably engage the ridge 34, thereby holding the lid portion 11 in the operative closed position. To release the locking assembly, the end wall 25 of the overlapping portion 11 can be pulled outwardly by hand until the second flap 31 disengages from the ridge 34, thereby allowing the lid portion 11 to be moved away from the side panels 15a to open the lid 11.

As can best be seen in figure 4 the base wall 13, the side panels 15, and the gusset panels 17 are formed by a section of the blank without any cuts, slits or openings such that the base wall 13, and side wall 15 form a receptacle that can contain juices, sauces and other liquids.

With reference to figure 4, the blank 40 for making the carton 10 shown in figures 1 to 3 includes bottom portion 11 comprising a square base panel 13 for forming the base wall of the carton, four side panels 15a joined by first continuous fold lines 16 about the perimeter of the base panel 13, and gussets 17 joined on either side to adjacent side panels 15a by second continuous fold lines 18. The gussets 17 include two pleats 17a joined together by the central fold line 19. When the bottom portion 11 of the blank 40 is erected, the side panels 15a are folded upwardly from the base panel 13 and the pleat panels 17a are moved inwardly.

The blank 40 also includes lid portion 11 having a top panel 20 joined to one of the three side panels 15a by a fold line 21. The top panel 20 forms the top wall of the carton. Two side 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 panels 23 having a tapered profile are joined by fold lines 24 to opposite sides of the top wall that are arranged laterally to the fold line 21 between the side panel 15a and the top panel . An end panel 25 is joined by a fold line 29 to the opposite side of the top wall 20 and attachment flaps 26 extend from the opposite sides of the of the end panel 25. When the lid portion 11 is assembly, the side panels 23 and the end panel 25 are folded at an angle to one side of the top panel 20, and the attachment flaps 26 are glued in the position.

The blank 40 also includes a locking assembly including first and second flaps 27 and 31 respectively, located at opposite ends of the blank 40 that inter-engage when the lid portion 11 is formed, the base portion 12 is erected and the lid portion 11 located in the operative position. The first flap 27 extends across the width of the end panel 25 and joined thereto by a fold line 28. During assembly of the lid portion 11, the first flap 27 is folded toward the top panel 20 and glued to an inside face of the end panel 25 to form a ridge 34 (see figures 3) at the edge of the first flap 27. As can be seen in figure 3, the first flap 27 is sized so that ridge 34 is located intermediate between the fold lines 28 and 29.

The second flap 31 is joined by a fold line 32 to the side panel 15a opposite to which the side panel 15a joined to the top panel 20. The second flap 31 is folded outwardly of the side panel 15a and is not glued so as to be able to pivot about the fold line 32. When the lid portion 11 is located in an operative position, as shown in figure 2, the distal end of the second flap 31 engages the ridge 34 formed by the edge of the first flap 27. To release the locking assembly, the end wall 25 is pulled outwardly by hand to disengage the first and second flaps 27 and 31 to allow the lid portion 11 to be move away from the from the side wall 15 and in turn, allow the side wall 15 to move from the erected condition shown in figure 2 to the collapsed condition shown in figure 3.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example although not shown in the figures, the carton 10 and the blank 40 for making the carton 10 may include a locking mechanism for holding the gusset panels 17a against one of the adjacent side panels 15a of the carton 10 when the carton 10 is located in the erected position. The locking mechanism may be of any suitable form, and in one example, the locking mechanism may include a tab extending from the gusset panels 17a that is received by an opening formed in the side panel 15a. The opening in the side panel 15a may, for example, be a hole or slot formed in the side panel 15a. The locking mechanism may also assist in securing the side panels 15 of the carton 10 in the erected position. Moreover, the locking mechanism may be able to retain the side panels 15 in the erected position without assistance of the lid 20 being located into an operative position.

By holding the gusset panels 17a against the side panels 15a of the carton 10, the gusset panels 17a are prevented from impinging on the items contained within the carton 10. In addition, the locking mechanism may be released, allowing the gusset panels 17a to move 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16 away from the side panel 15a, when the carton 10 is moved from the erected condition into the unerected or collapsed condition, for example, when a consumer opens the lid portion 20 of the carton 10. 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/08/16

Claims (8)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A carton for serving takeaway food, the carton including a bottom portion and a lid portion: the bottom portion includes a base wall and a side wall having side panels that are 5 joined to the base wall, wherein the side panels are moveable between a collapsed condition in which the side panels extend outwardly from the base panel, and the side panels can be moved upwardly into an erected condition relative to the base wall to form an receptacle for receiving a food item, and the lid portion can be located in an operative position on the bottom portion in which 10 the lid portion engages the side panels and holds the side panels in the erected condition, and wherein the side panels of the bottom portion can be released and returned to the collapsed condition after the lid portion has moved from the operative position to allow access to the food item. 15

2. The carton according to claims1, wherein the side panels and the base wall can be arranged in a co-planar relationship when in the collapsed condition.

3. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the side panels are reclined outwardly at an angle to the base panel when in the collapsed condition and in the collapsed condition, and the side panels are prevented from being arranged at an angle to the base panel. 20

4. The carton according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement between the lid portion and the bottom portion is the only means that holds the side panels in the erected condition.

5. The carton according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the bottom portion forms a liquid tight receptacle when in the erected condition. 25

6. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bottom portion includes gussets that interconnect the side panels, and the side panels are joined to the base wall by first fold lines and the gussets are joined to the side panels by second fold lines.

7. The carton according to claim 6, wherein the first and second fold lines are continuous fold lines along the sides of the base wall, the sides of the side panels and the side of the gussets. 30

8. The carton according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the side panels are arranged about or around the perimeter of the base wall and the side panels are arranged adjacent to each other and interconnected by one of the gussets, each gusset may include two or more pleat sections that are folded to at least partially overlay each when the bottom portion is in the erected condition. 8106196_1 (GHMatters) P100593.NZ 19/