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
  • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
  • B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
  • B65D71/36—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00129—Wrapper locking means
  • B65D2571/00135—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
  • B65D2571/00141—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper glued
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
  • B65D2571/00518—Handles or suspending means with reinforcements
  • B65D2571/00524—Handles or suspending means with reinforcements integral
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00648—Elements used to form the wrapper
  • B65D2571/00654—Blanks
  • B65D2571/0066—Blanks formed from one single sheet
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00709—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element
  • B65D2571/00722—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular with end walls, e.g. walls not extending on the whole end surface
  • B65D2571/00728—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular with end walls, e.g. walls not extending on the whole end surface the end walls being closed by gluing

Definitions

• the invention relates to cartons, and more particularly, to cartons having a closure structure that enhances carton integrity and appearance.
• Modern beverage cans usually have top and bottom components that are smaller in diameter than the body of the can. This means that there is often substantial space between the corners of the end structure of a carton and the tops and bottoms of the cans, hi addition, the cans are typically designed to telescopically nest when they are stacked one upon another. Thus, when packages of cans are stacked upon one another the cans tend to nest as much as they are able. This action decreases the overall height of a carton thereby causing the end walls to bow outwardly. This outward bowing, or bulging, is also known as blousing.
• Blousing creates problems because it can place undue stress upon the flaps forming the end walls of cartons thereby causing glued panels to fail.
• a blousing type of carton deformation also creates a protrusion, which can cause snags or otherwise interfere with handling.
• the present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
• One aspect of the invention provides a carton comprising opposing top and bottom panels and opposing side panels adjoining one another forming a tubular structure, side flaps foldably adjoining said side panels along respective first weakened lines of joinder each arcing toward said side flaps, major flaps foldably adjoining said top panel along respective second weakened lines of joinder, and minor flaps adjoining said bottom panel along respective third weakened lines of joinder, and wherein a length of at least one of said top and bottom panels is less than a distance between apexes of arcs of said side panels.
• the lengths of both said top panel and said bottom panel are lengthwise less than said distance between apexes of arcs of said side panels.
• the top panel and the bottom panel may be of substantially equal length.
• a second aspect of the invention provides a carton for accommodating a plurality of articles comprising opposing top and bottom panels and opposing side panels adjoining one another forming a tubular structure, a pair of opposed side flaps hingedly connected to each of said side panels along opposed first fold lines, major flaps hingedly connected to said top panel along respective second fold lines, and minor flaps hingedly connected to said bottom panel along respective third fold lines of joinder, characterized in that the length of at least one of said top and bottom panels is less than a distance between first fold lines of each said side panel so that the second and third fold lines are closer to the outermost articles thereby to reduce outward bowing.
• the opposing first fold lines may be arcuate. More preferably, the lengths of both the top panel and the bottom panel may be lengthwise less than the distance between apexes of opposing first fold lines.
• the top panel and the bottom panel may be of substantially equal length.
• the second aspect of the invention there may further comprise inwardly-inclined transition panels at respective ends of the side panels each formed by the first fold line and a fourth fold line positioned inwardly of the notional corner of the carton thereby to tighten the carton around the articles.
• the fourth fold line may be arcuate to define a transition panel of an ellipsoidal shape.
• the carton may have a handle structure, wherein the fourth fold line is placed across a panel forming the handle structure.
• each side panel may be separated from its adjacent side flap by the transition panel(s).
• a third aspect of the invention provides a blank for foiming a carton, the blank comprising a first panel for forming one of a top or bottom panel in the erected carton foldably adjoining a second panel for forming one side panel in the erected carton foldably adjoining a third panel forming the other of said top or bottom panel in the erected carton foldably adjoining a fourth panel for forming another side panel in the erected carton, side flaps foldably adjoining said second and fourth panels along respective first weakened lines of joinder each arcing toward said side flaps, major flaps foldably adjoining said first or third panel that serves as the top panel in the erected carton along respective second weakened lines of joinder, minor flaps adjoining said first of third panel that serves as the bottom panel in the erected carton along respective third weakened lines of joinder, and wherein a length of at least one of said first and third panels is lengthwise less than a distance between apexes of arcs of said second and fourth panels.
• the first panel and the third panel maybe of substantially equal length.
• a fourth aspect of the invention provides a carton for forming a blank for accommodating a plurality of articles comprising opposing top and bottom panels and opposing side panels adjoining one another forming a tubular structure, a pair of opposed side flaps hingedly connected to each of said side panels along opposed first fold lines, major flaps hingedly connected to said top panel along respective second fold lines, and minor flaps hingedly connected to said bottom panel along respective third fold lines, characterized in that the length of at least one of said top and bottom panels is less than a distance between first fold lines of each said side panel so that the second and third fold lines are closer to the outermost articles thereby to reduce outward bowing.
• the opposing first fold lines may be arcuate. More preferably, the lengths of both the top panel and the bottom panel may be lengthwise less than the distance between apexes of opposing first fold lines.
• the top panel and the bottom panel maybe of substantially equal length.
• the fourth aspect of the invention there may further comprise inwardly-inclined transition panels at respective ends of the side panels each formed by the first fold line and a fourth fold line positioned inwardly of the notional corner of the carton thereby to tighten the carton around the articles.
• the fourth fold line may be arcuate to define a transition panel of an ellipsoidal shape.
• the carton may have a handle structure, wherein the fourth fold line is placed across a panel forming the handle structure.
• each side panel may be separated from its adjacent side flap by the transition panel.
• almond-shaped transition panels further facilitate a snug, secure end closure that is not easily deformed by bulging or blousing.
• FIGURE 1 is an isometric illustration of a carton having closure structure in accordance with the teachings of a preferred embodiment of the invention
• FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton of Figure 1 ;
• FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the carton of Figure 1 from an end thereof.
• a carton 10 having closure structure in accordance with the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1.
• a blank 12 suitable for forming the carton 10 is shown in Figure 2.
• a tubular structure, shown in Figure 1, is formed from panels, which for convenience of reference, are referred to as top 22, a first side wall 24, bottom 26, and second side wall 20/28 panels hingedly connected together in series.
• orientation of these panels relates to the orientation of articles such as cans C that are packaged in the articles which is non-limiting.
• the upright orientation of a can C corresponds to the designation of the panels 22 and 26 as top and bottom panels, respectively, and the designation of panels 24 and bifurcated panel 20/28 as side panels.
• the panels that assume top and bottom panel disposition in the erected carton 10 are designated 22 and 26 and may be considered first and third panels in the blank.
• the end-most side panel is shown in bifurcated form 20/28 but does not necessarily have to be formed in that fashion to practice the teaching of the invention.
• the first side panel 24 in the blank may be considered the second panel and the outermost side panel may be considered the fourth panel.
• each one of the pair of side panels with respect to one another and each one of the pair of top and bottom panels with respect to one another is inconsequential in the operation and teachings of the invention.
• the top panel 22 may be used as the bottom panel 26 without departing from the teachings of the invention.
• a plurality of flaps and gusset structures form end closure for the tubular structure.
• side flaps 25, 21/29 are adjoined to respective ends of the side panels 24, 20/28 along scored, perforated or otherwise weakened lines of joinder 55.
• first weakened lines of joinder are referred to as first weakened lines of joinder.
• All of the weakened lines of joinder described herein maybe scored, perforated or otherwise weakened.
• Major flaps 23 are adjoined to the top (or first) panel along second weakened lines of joinder 45.
• Minor flaps 27 are adjoined to the bottom (or third) panel along third weakened lines of joinder35.
• the first weakened lines of joinder 55 are arcuate, toward the side flaps 25, 21/29.
• the arcuate lines of joinder 55 have the effect of making the carton 10 widthwise more narrow at the ends (as shown in Figure 3).
• the length L2 or L3 (that is, the distance between the second weakened lines of joinder 35 or third weakened lines of joinder 45) of at least one of the top and bottom panels 26, 22 is less than the length LI (that is, the distance between the apexes of the arcuate first weakened lines of joinder 55 so as to provide a tighter carton closure structure that is less prone to deformation by so-called blousing.
• the lengths L2, L3 of the top 22 and bottom 26 panels are less than the distance LI between the apexes of the side walls 24, 20/28, so that the fold lines 45, 35 of the major 23 and minor 27 flaps, respectively, lie closer to or are even coincident with the chimes of cans C or similar articles that are packaged.
• This enables the package to be more tightly formed initially with less free or unencumbered major and minor flap area subject to the blousing effect. Accordingly, the side flaps 25, 21/29 are able to rest against the cans (C) while the major and minor flaps 23, 27 fit snugly against the top and bottom portions of the cans.
• the carton end closure is made even more snug fitting with respect to the articles held within the carton through placement of a transition panel 50, 60 intermediate the side panels 24, 20/28 and the end walls of the carton.
• Each transition panel 50, 60 is formed from a first weakened line of joinder 55 and a fourth weakened line of joinder 58.
• the two lines are outwardly arcuate with respect to the transition panels 50, 60, whereby the fourth weakened line of joinder 58 is arced toward the opposite end of the respective side panel. This enables the end structures to adhere even more closely to the packaged articles (such as cans C).
• the arcuate weakened lines 55, 58 define an elipse, whereby transition panels/gussets have ends that intersect at the corners of the carton.
• transition panels provide a smooth transition from the side panels to a more narrow end wall and structure, shown in more detail in Figure 3.
• each first weakened line of joinder 55 is disposed to coincide with the body of a corner article, at the end of a carton.
• the apex of the fourth weakened line of joinder 58 may be disposed to coincide with the body of the corner article at its tangent with the side panel, so that at least part of the transition panel will abut a portion of the side of the article C.
• handle structure H including a handle strap shown in
• the fourth weakened line of joinder 58 is adapted to be positioned across, or through, the strap. It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “base”, “end”, “side”, “major” and “minor” do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another . Any reference to hinged connection or lines of joinder 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 size and shape of the transition panels and/or lines of joinder may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape, or alternative top and base closure structures may be used.
• the carton may accommodate more than one article in different arrays.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)
• Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
• Closing Of Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (10)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=24757529

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Cited By (18)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2000
  • 2000-11-03 ES ES00975571T patent/ES2240196T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-03 EP EP00975571A patent/EP1326788B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-03 AU AU1360101A patent/AU1360101A/xx active Pending
  • 2000-11-03 AU AU2001213601A patent/AU2001213601B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2000-11-03 CA CA002464719A patent/CA2464719C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-03 DE DE60020408T patent/DE60020408T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-03 BR BRPI0017352-5A patent/BR0017352B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-11-03 WO PCT/US2000/030369 patent/WO2002030785A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-11-03 AT AT00975571T patent/ATE296239T1/de active
  • 2000-11-03 PT PT00975571T patent/PT1326788E/pt unknown
  • 2000-11-03 MX MXPA03002942A patent/MXPA03002942A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-11-03 JP JP2002534181A patent/JP4542310B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-03 DK DK00975571T patent/DK1326788T3/da active

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