Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/20—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
  • B65D5/24—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form with adjacent sides interconnected by gusset folds
  • B65D5/241—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form with adjacent sides interconnected by gusset folds and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/20—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
  • B65D5/2004—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form the container body having hollow side-walls
  • B65D5/2009—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form the container body having hollow side-walls all formed by folding extensions of the side walls
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/20—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
  • B65D5/2038—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape
  • B65D5/2047—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape trapezoidal, e.g. to form a body with diverging side walls
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
  • B65D5/44—Integral, inserted or attached portions forming internal or external fittings
  • B65D5/441—Reinforcements
  • B65D5/445—Reinforcements formed separately from the container

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a carton (or tray) for accommodating foodstuff, for example fish or meat, and more particularly, to a carton formed from one or more blanks of paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material.
• Tray structures formed from board generally lack strength when compared to trays formed from plastics material, so more commonly trays are formed from polystyrene or other plastics material.
• a further fluid tight tray is disclosed in US 5 183 201.
• the tray comprises a single base panel with side and end panels hingedly connected thereto.
• the side wall panels are greater in length than the base panel and are connected to the end panels.
• a first aspect of the present invention provides a tray for holding foodstuff or the like which tray is formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material and can be erected from a flat collapsed condition into a position of use, the tray comprising a plurality of panels including a base panel, opposed side and end panels and wherein there further comprises a gusset structure spanning the side and end panels to prevent egress of fluid from the base panel at each said corner of the tray, wherein the gusset structure and end panels are automatically deployed in response to the folding of the opposed side wall panels towards each other.
• the panels forming the tray are a composite structure comprising inner and outer panels forming the base, side and end walls. More preferably, the inner and outer side wall panels are separated by a spacer panel to improve rigidity of the side walls.
• this aspect of the invention there may further comprise a beam support structure formed at one end of the tray from the inner end panel foldably connected along a first fold line to the lateral margin of the inner base panel and the outer end panel foldably connected along a second fold line to the outer base panel, wherein the first and second fold lines are offset such that the inner end panel extends upwardly to abut the outer end panel thereby to define the beam.
• the gusset structures may comprise at least one gusset panel foldably interconnecting the inner end panel to its adjacent inner side wall panel.
• the at least one gusset panel is triangular in shape and wherein said adjacent side wall panels includes a bevelled edge to which the triangular gusset panel is foldably connected.
• the angle between the fold lines for defining the at least one gusset panel may be less than 45 degrees.
• the gusset panel may project outwardly from the inner end wall panel.
• the outer end wall panel and outer side wall panel may cover the gusset panel.
• the outer panels may be formed from a first blank and the inner panels are formed from a second blank.
• a second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a tray comprising a plurality of first side wall panels, an inner base panel, a second side wall panel and an outer base panel hingedly connected together in series and opposed inner and outer end panels hingedly connected to the inner and outer base panels respectively wherein there further comprises a gusset panel spanning the side and inner end panels to prevent egress of fluid from the base panel at each said corner of the erected tray, wherein the gusset and inner and outer end panels are so constructed and arranged to be automatically deployed in response to the folding of the opposed side wall panels towards each other during set up of the carton.
• the panels forming the tray may be a composite structure comprising inner and outer panels forming the side walls.
• the inner and outer side walls may be separated by a spacer panel.
• the second aspect of the invention there may further comprise a beam support structure formed from the inner end panel foldably connected along a first fold line to the lateral margin of the inner base panel and the outer end panel foldably connected along a second fold line to the outer base panel, wherein the first and second fold lines are offset such that when erected the inner end panel extends upwardly to abut the outer end panel thereby to define the beam.
• the gusset structures may comprise at least one gusset panel foldably interconnecting the inner end panel to its adjacent inner side wall panel.
• the at least one gusset panel may be triangular in shape and wherein said adjacent side wall panels includes a bevelled edge to which the triangular gusset panel is foldably connected.
• the angle between the fold lines for defining the at least one gusset panel may be less than 45 degrees.
• the gusset panel may project outwardly from the inner end wall panel.
• the outer end wall panel and outer side wall panel may cover the gusset panel.
• the inner panels may be provided by a second blank.
• a third aspect of the invention provides a method of forming a tray from a blank, which method comprises the steps: forming a two ply base, end and side wall structures; folding the side walls out of alignment with the base such that the inner end panels are automatically erected in response to folding the opposed side walls towards each other; and folding the outer end panels to abut a portion of the inner end walls to be secured to the side walls thereby to complete construction of the tray.
• the gusset panels may be automatically folded inwardly and upwardly in response to folding the side walls.
• the gusset panels may be pre- folded prior to final folding of the side and end walls.
• FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
• FIGURE 2 illustrates an underside view of a part- formed carton of the blank illustrated in Figure 1
• FIGURE 3 illustrates the top plan view of a part- formed carton of the blank illustrated in Figure 1;
• FIGURES 4 and 5 are perspective views of the carton shown during folding
• FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURES 7 and 8 are perspective views of the carton formed from the blank shown in Figure 6;
• FIGURES 9A and 9B is a plan view of a two part blank for forming a carton according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURES 10A, 10B and IOC illustrate the formation of the carton from the blanks of Figures 9 A and 9B;
• FIGURES 11 and 12 are perspective views of the carton formed from the blank shown in Figures 9 A and 9B.
• a blank 10 for forming a collapsible tray or carton made from one or more blanks of paperboard or similar foldably sheet material.
• the blank 10 comprises first outer base wall flap 12, outer and inner side wall panels 14, 16, inner base wall panel 18, a second pair of inner and outer side wall panels 20, 22 and an outer base wall panel 24 hingably connected together in series along foldlines 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 respectively.
• separate blanks may be used to form the two ply structure or indeed a single ply structure incorporating the invention is envisaged.
• each outer end wall panel 38 may each further comprise a support flap 39, 43 to support the stretch film positioned along outer edges of outer end flaps 34, 36 respectively along fold lines 41 and 45 described below.
• Suitable securing means for connecting the end and side wall panels is provided.
• the securing flaps 46, 48 are adjacent the end panels 38, 42 and are separated therefrom by cut lines.
• a second pair of securing flaps 50, 54 are foldably connected to opposite ends of outer side wall panel 14 along fold lines 52, 56 respectively.
• a first liquid retaining structure 57 shown in Figure 4 is provided by an end flap 58 foldably connected to base wall panel 18 along fold line 60.
• the first liquid retaining structure is provided by end flap 58 which is connected to opposing inner side wall panels 16 and 20 respectively by a corner structure.
• the corner structures are provided by gusset panels 62 and 66.
• Gusset panel 62 is foldably connected to a side edge of end flap 58 along an extension of fold line 30 and is foldably connected to inner side wall panel 16 along fold line 64.
• fold line 64 is configured to converge towards the intersection of fold lines 30 and 60, so that gusset panel 62 is substantially triangular in shape.
• gusset panel 66 is foldably connected to the opposing side edge of end flap 58 along an extension of fold line 32. Gusset panel 66 is connected to inner side wall panel 20 along fold line 68. Fold line 68 may converge towards the intersection of fold lines 60 and 32, so that gusset panel 66 is preferably triangular in shape. In some embodiments the fold lines connecting the end flap 58 to the gusset panels 62, 66 will be offset from the fold lines 30, 32 connecting the side and base wall panels.
• a second liquid retaining structure 71 which in this embodiment is struck from the opposing end edge of inner base wall panel 18.
• the second structure is similar to the first structure and is provided by an end flap 70 foldably connected to base wall panel 18 along fold line 72.
• End flap 70 is also connected to opposing inner side wall panels 16, 20 respectively by gusset panels 74 and 78.
• Gusset panel 74 is foldably connected to a side edge of end flap 70 along an extension of fold line 30 and is foldably connected to inner side wall panel 16 along fold line 76.
• fold line 76 is configured to converge towards intersection of fold lines 30 and 72 so that gusset panel 74 is substantially triangular in shape.
• gusset panel 78 is foldably connected to the opposing side edge of end flap 70 along an extension of fold line 32.
• Gusset panel 74 is connected to inner side wall panel 20 along fold line 80.
• Fold line 80 converges towards the intersection of fold lines 72 and 32 so that gusset panel 78 is preferably a triangular shape.
• inner side wall panels 16, 20 are greater in length than the inner base wall panel 18 such that the opposite ends of the inner side wall panels projects outwardly beyond the end edges of the inner base wall panel.
• Each projecting end portions of each inner side wall panel has a bevelled edge to which the adjacent gusset panel is foldably connected. This configuration encourages automatic folding to occur during the tray set up to which a liquid retaining structure is formed, to inhibit egress of fluid from the tray.
• gusset panels 62, 66 and 76, 78 provide a fluid retaining structure that can prevent egress of liquid contained in the tray and allow the end panels to be deployed automatically in the sense that it causes the adjacent inner end flap in this embodiment to be erected automatically in response to erection (or folding) of the adjacent inner side wall panel.
• the angle between the fold lines defining each gusset panel is less than 45 degrees, although it is envisaged that in some embodiments the angle could be greater.
• the blank and final construction and loading carton of the present invention can be formed by a series of sequential folding and gluing operations which can be formed in one or more straight line machines, so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction.
• the folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to the particular manufacturing requirements.
• outer side 1 and base wall panels, 22, 24 are first folded inwardly about fold line 34 and into superposed relationship with respective inner side and base wall panels 20, 18.
• Outer base wall panel 24 may be secured to inner base wall panel 18 by glue or other securing means known in the art. Commonly, one or more glue lines may be applied to the lower surface of inner base wall panel to provide an adhesive surface.
• outer side wall panel 14 and outer base flap 12 are folded inwardly about fold line 28 and into face contacting relationship with inner side wall panel 16 and inner base wall panel 18 respectively.
• Outer base flap 12 is secured inner base wall panel 18 by glue or other suitable means.
• outer base flap 12 is aligned with outer base wall panel 24, which, in this embodiment, is assisted by the provision of complementary protruding and recessed portions, shown in Figure 2.
• the carton is in a flat collapsed form as shown in Figures 2 and 3 to be supplied to the user, to be erected into a tray.
• the end wall flaps 58, 70 and gusset panels 62, 66; 76, 78 of inner base wall panel 18 are not secured to outer base wall panel 24 or respective outer end wall panels 38, 42 and are therefore moveable with respect to those panels.
• the gusset panels or corner structures are pre-folded to assist in final folding of the side and end walls.
• the sides and ends are formed by folding side wall panels 14/16; 20/22 inwardly about fold lines 30 and 32 respectively, as shown in Figure 4.
• folding action "X" to cause the gusset panels 62, 66 and 74, 78 to be folded in an upward and inward direction and into face contacting relationship with the respective inner side wall panels 16, 20 such that the inner end wall flaps 58, 70 are automatically folded inwardly and upwardly into an erected condition, as shown in Figure 4.
• this reduces construction time of the carton which is an important factor in automated packaging.
• the inner end wall flaps 58, 70 are positioned in an acute angle with respect to the base wall panel 18 to define part of a support structure referred to below.
• outer end wall panels 38, 42 are inwardly folded in direction Y along fold lines 40, 44 to abut the inner end wall flaps 58, 70 respectively and are secured in place by securing flaps 46, 50 and 48, 54 thereto to retain the tray in a set up condition, as illustrated in Figure
• FIG. 6 there is shown a blank 110 for forming a tray shown in Figure 8 which blank is formed from paperboard of similar foldable sheet material.
• the blank is substantially the same as the first embodiment and like parts are designated by the same reference numeral with the prefix of numeral "1". Therefore, only the differences between the two embodiments will be described in any detail.
• inner and outer side wall panels 114 and 116 are separated by a spacer panel 115 which is hingedly connected thereto along fold lines 128 and 129 respectively.
• a second pair of inner and outer side wall panels 120, 122 is also separated by a spacer panel 121 and hingedly connected thereto along fold lines 134 and 135. In use, these panels provide a beam structure along each side wall thereby to improve the rigidity of the tray, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
• a further difference relates to the fold lines 164, 168, 176 and 180 connecting the gusset panels 162, 166, 174, 178 to their respective side wall panels 116, 120. It will be seen that these fold lines are still preferably divergent, but that their orientation with respect to the adjacent fold lines 130 and 132 have been altered.
• This construction advantageously allows the automatic deployment of the inner end wall panels 158 and 170 and the gusset panels 162, 166, 174 and 178 so that the gusset panels 162, 166, 174 and 178 are folded into the voids formed by the side wall beam structures; with the result that the respective end panels 158, 170 can be placed in face contacting relationship with their adjacent gusset panels 164, 168; 174, 178 to provide a corner structure whereby the inner side and end panels abut to provide flush corners as shown in Figure 8.
• the third embodiment of the invention is illustrated by reference to Figures 9 A, 9B, 10 A, 10B, 10C and 11 and 12.
• the third embodiment is substantially the same as first and second embodiments and therefore like parts are designated by the same reference numerals but with the prefix "2". Therefore, only those differences with the first and second embodiments will be described in any greater detail.
• the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that it is formed from a two part blank.
• this allows those panels forming the inner tray structure to be coated with the suitable waterproof and/or greaseproof agents to enable it to receive foodstuffs. Therefore, the panels forming the outer tray are not required to go through that same process with the consequent cost savings.
• the formation of the third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that the inner tray blank is applied to the outer tray blank whereby the inner and outer base wall panels 218, 224 are placed in aligned face contacting arrangement and secured each other by glue G or other suitable known means.
• inner side wall panels 216 and 220 are secured to the inner side wall panels 219 and 217 respectively of the outer blank as shown in Figure 10B.
• the remaining panels are constructed in a like manner to these embodiments described above, thereby to provide a flat collapsed tray as shown in Figure 10C, which will be supplied to the user.
• the side walls are constructed by folding in direction X" which causes the inner end wall panels 258 and 270 to be automatically deployed in a similar manner to that described above and the outer end panels 238, 242 are folded and secured to the next adjacent side wall panels 222; 214 thereby to provide a tray as shown in Figure 12.
• a support structure is provided at each end, defined by inner and outer end wall panels and outer base wall panel which form a beam to improve the rigidity of the tray. It is envisaged that the support structure could be incorporated into the invention without there being fluid retaining structures present without departing from the scope of invention. Further, the comer structure is disposed internally of the outer panels of the tray (i.e. between inner and outer trays) to provide a more aesthetically pleasing tray and to allow promotional material to be viewed with ease.
• the support structure can be erected automatically by employing configurations other than those described above, without departing from the scope of invention.
• the or each support structure could be provided by the side wall panels or the end flap could be connected to the outer end panels to encourage automatic erection of the outer panels .
• end flaps 58, 70 are prevented from being folded beyond a predetermined point by first folding flaps 39, 43 such that the fold lines 41, 45 function as limit stops.
• Figures 5, 8 and 12 show a tray for holding foodstuff or the like which tray is formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material and can be erected from a flat collapsed condition shown in Figures 2 and 10C, into a position of use.
• the tray comprises a plurality of panels including a base wall panel, opposed side and end panels and wherein there further comprises a gusset panel structure spanning the side and end panels to prevent egress of fluid from the base wall panel at each said comer of the tray, wherein the gusset structure and end panels are automatically erected in response to folding the opposed side wall panels towards each other.
• the resulting support structure 90, 190, 290 shown in Figures 5, 8 and 12 created by the inner end wall flap, the outer end wall panel and outer base wall panel provides additional support to improve the rigidity of the carton.
• the two ply embodiment hereinbefore described provides a structure that is strengthened to retain foodstuff.
• the use of paperboard material provides an "environmentally friendly" alternative to trays formed from plastics material and the tray can include printed matter for marketing purposes.
• hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.
• the present invention and its preferred embodiment relates to an article carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory rigidity to hold items such as meat or fish securely but with a degree of flexibility.
• the shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required for the carton.
• the items can be applied to the carrier by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated the invention can be applied to a variety of carton or tray types and not limited to those of the flat tubular sort, for example the flat tubular structure could be replaced by a stracture with longer sides and end panels to receive larger cuts of meat.
• the support structure(s) can be formed from the side wall panels of the carton or without departing from the scope of invention.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)
• Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
• Centrifugal Separators (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=10852888

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Cited By (2)

Citations (6)

• 1999
  • 1999-05-06 GB GBGB9910433.3A patent/GB9910433D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2000
  • 2000-05-08 ES ES00932271T patent/ES2256010T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-05-08 EP EP00932271A patent/EP1235717B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-05-08 WO PCT/US2000/012809 patent/WO2000068093A2/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-05-08 JP JP2000617086A patent/JP2004512232A/ja active Pending
  • 2000-05-08 BR BR0010339-0A patent/BR0010339A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-05-08 AU AU50014/00A patent/AU5001400A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-05-08 DE DE60025262T patent/DE60025262T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-05-08 MX MXPA01011255A patent/MXPA01011255A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-05-08 AT AT00932271T patent/ATE314263T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-11-12 ZA ZA200109312A patent/ZA200109312B/en unknown

Patent Citations (6)

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