WO2002087981A2

WO2002087981A2 - Container

Info

Publication number: WO2002087981A2
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001761
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey Radley
Original assignee: A & R Carton (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2001-04-25
Filing date: 2002-04-16
Publication date: 2002-11-07
Also published as: GB0110148D0; AU2002251295A1; WO2002087981A3

Abstract

A carton (2) for containing small items of confectionary is disclosed. The carton (2) is generally rectangular in cross-section and is provided with a lid configuration (6, 18) which allows the carton (2) to be opened and re-closed as required. The carton (2) has a bottom end wall panel (4), two side wall panels (10) and inner and outer front wall panels (8b, c). The lid configuration comprises an outer top end wall panel (18) which is joined along a rear edge (14) to the rear wall panel (8a) of the carton partially along a fold line, the remaining portion being joined by a series of frangible nibs (60) whereas the portion of the front edge (24) of the outer top end wall (18) panel which corresponds to that portion of the rear edge which is joined to the rear wall panel by frangible nibs (60) is foldingly joined to a stabilising panel (16) which is perpendicularly orientated with respect to the outer top end wall panel (18) and is capable of sliding between the inner and outer front wall panels (8b, c).

Description

CONTAINER

This invention relates to a container and particularly to a container of the type having dispensing means.

Although the following description of containers is provided with almost exclusive reference to the provision of containers for containing small items of confectionery, such as pastilles, tablets and the like, it will be immediately understood by those skilled in the art that this invention may have applications in a variety of different situations, and in particular the invention is in no way limited by the contents of the carton. Of course the invention is most useful where the contents of the carton are small and commonly contained in numbers greater than 10. Common examples include sweets, pastilles, pharmaceutical tablets, pills, small items of ironmongery such as nails, screws, tacks etc.

Containers for dispensing items therefrom, particularly for dispensing confectionary items therefrom typically include a housing having closure means in the form of a lid. The lid is removed from the housing to gain access to the contents stored in the housing. In one example the lid is integrally formed with the housing and at least a portion of the lid is required to be torn from the housing to allow a user to gain access to the container. A problem with this type of container is that once the container is opened the container cannot subsequently be closed easily. The contents of the container may therefore degrade, become damaged or lost if the contents are not used at the time of opening the container. In a further example the lid is detachably attached to the housing but a problem associated with this type of container is that the lid can become lost and again the contents of the container may therefore degrade, become damaged or lost. Perhaps the most relevant prior art in this technological field is the carton schematically represented in Figures 1A, IB provided herewith. In these figures there is a simple carton 2X originally erected from a single sheet of cut and creased sheet material, typically in a low calliper board or card. A base end 4X of the carton is closed whereas the top end 10X of the carton comprises a rotateable lid configuration. It is to be mentioned that the contents of the carton are typically small items of confectionary (e.g. Skittles® manufactured by Mars Confectionery are currently sold in the UK in this type of carton) .

In cases where the cartons are intended to be opened for the first time by their ultimate uses, the cartons are usually filled during or simultaneously with the erection process, and the erection of this carton is no different. Once the small confectionery items have been deposited into the partially erected carton, the erection is completed, in this case by adhering a flap joined to the front wall panel of the carton by a plurality of frangible nibs over the top end 10X of the carton to complete the rotateable lid configuration.

In order to open the carton and dispense the items contained therein, a user pulls the top end wall panel 12X away from the front wall panel 6X in the direction shown by arrow 11X thus breaking the frangible nibs and allowing said end wall panel 12X to rotate as shown in Figure IB. As can be seen from this figure, the rotateable lid configuration include an inner flap 14X which is tucked behind the front wall panel 6X and is provided with an aperture 16X through which the contents within the carton can easily be dispensed or even poured. Accordingly it can be seen that the rotateable lid configuration provides a means of opening the carton and dispensing its contents without compromising the structural integrity of the carton and which can just as easily be closed to prevent the contents of the carton from escaping accidentally.

Although the abovementioned carton works satisfactorily, it is an object of this invention to provide a similar type of re- closable carton for dispensing small items having an alternate lid configuration which in certain embodiments enhances the novelty and aesthetic value of the carton while maintaining the enhanced opening operation provided by the abovementioned rotateable lid configuration.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a carton having a rear wall panel and inner and outer front wall panels, side wall panels, a bottom end wall panel and a top lid configuration and being erected from a single blank of cut and creased sheet material such that the inner and outer front wall panels are in superposed relationship, said lid configuration consisting of at least an outer top end wall panel having front, rear and side edges and being characterised in that the outer top end wall panel is joined along its rear edge to the rear wall panel, partially by a series of frangible nibs and partially by a fold line to permit a portion of said outer front wall panel to be foldingly rotated about a line parallel with one of the side edges thereof, said outer top end wall panel being additionally foldingly joined to a stabilising panel which is disposed between the inner and outer rear wall panels and slides therebetween during the rotational movement of said outer top end wall panel, the rotational motion of said lid configuration serving to reveal an aperture through which the contents of the carton can be dispensed. It is to be mentioned that a particular advantage of the carton described above is that the lid configurations is retained in its open or closed condition by virtue of the fiϊctional resistance between the inner and outer rear walls and the stabilising panel which slides therebetween.

In one embodiment of the invention, the aperture is defined immediately beneath the lid configuration, said aperture being covered by the outer top end wall panel when the lid configuration is in the closed condition and revealed when outer top end wall panel is rotated upwardly away therefrom and the lid configuration is in its open condition.

Preferably, the lid configuration comprises both an outer top end wall panel and an inner top end wall panel which is foldingly joined to said inner front wall panel, said outer top end wall panel being superposed over the inner top end wall panel when the lid configuration is closed to conceal the aperture which is defined within said inner top end wall panel.

Most preferably, said inner top end wall panel is provided with a substantially continuous line of weakness to define a removable tab which is adhered to the underside of the outer top end wall panel during carton erection such that first opening of said lid configuration automatically tears said removable tab from said inner top end wall panel, said aperture being defined by the resulting edge coincident with said line of weakness.

In an alternative embodiment, the aperture is provided through the outer and inner front wall panels of the carton in a predetermined position depending on the shape and size of the stabilising panel such that when the lid configuration is closed, the stabilising panel is disposed between the apertures provided in the inner and outer front wall panels, and when the outer top end wall panel is rotated to open the lid configuration, the stabilising panel rotatingly slides between said inner and outer front wall panels to reveal the aperture in the inner front wall panel and thus provide an opening through which the contents of said carton can be dispensed.

Preferably, said stabilising panel is of a width less than that of the inner and outer front wall panels which are adhered to each other during the carton erection along a line adjacent the free edge of the outer front wall panel.

It is most preferred that the free edge of the stabilising panel which is most proximate the side wall to which the outer front wall panel is foldingly joined is arcuate along at least a portion thereof to prevent interference with side wall panel during the sliding rotational motion of said stabilising panel.

Preferably, said stabilising panel is provided with a locking tab portion towards its lowermost end, and a slit is provided where the outer front wall panel and the side wall panel are foldingly joined such that during the rotational sliding motion of the stabilising panel between the inner and outer front wall panels, the locking tab portion thereof emerges through the slit and further rotational movement of the lid configuration as a whole is prevented by virtue of the upper edge of the locking tab portion coming into contact with the uppermost end of the slit.

An advantage of the present invention is that the closure means of the container provides a novel and interesting way of accessing the contents of the container, thereby maintaining the interest of the user, particularly if the user is a child. The closure means does not need to be ripped or removed completely and therefore the container can be re-used as often as is required without damage to or loss of the closure means. The container is typically used for small confectionary items but it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the container of the present invention can be used to dispense any number of different items, such as granular products, other food products and/or the like. Preferably the container is made from material suitable to maintain the quality of the products contained therein.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures wherein:

Figures 1A, I B show a carton of prior art constructions as described above,

Figure 2A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container in an open condition;

Figure 2B is a perspective view of the container in Figure l a in a closed condition;

Figure 3 A is a perspective view from the front of a further embodiment of the container in an open condition;

Figure 3B is a perspective view from the back of the container in Figure 3A;

Figure 3C is a perspective view from the front of the container in Figure 2a in a closed condition;

Figure 4 is a blank of the container in Figures 2A and 2B; and

Figure 5 is a blank of the container in Figures 3A-3C. Referring firstly to figures 2A and 2B, there is illustrated a container 2 having a base 4, a top 6, side walls 8 and end walls 10. A dispensing aperture 12 is provided on top 6 for dispensing one or more items therefrom.

The dispensing aperture 12 is provided with closure means in the form of flap 14. The flap 14 comprises a side wall portion 16 and a top portion 18. The flap 14 is movable between an open condition wherein the top portion of the flap is removed from the dispensing aperture 12 to a position spaced above the aperture, as shown in Figure 2A, and a closed condition wherein the top portion of the flap covers the dispensing aperture, as shown in Figure 2B.

The side wall portion 16 of flap 14 is slidable in and out of the container as shown by arrow 20, between a position where the side wall portion 16 extends from the container in an open condition, to a position where the portion 16 is retracted in the container in a closed condition.

A user can manipulate flap 14 using edge(s) 22 and/or 24 of the top portion 18, thereby opening and closing said container as required. When in an open condition, the flap in this embodiment provides a funnel type effect to guide one or more items contained within the container therefrom.

Referring to Figures 3A-3C, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the container 102 according to the present invention. Container 102 has a base 104, a top 106, side walls 108, 109 and end walls 110. A dispensing aperture 112 is provided on side wall 108 for dispensing one or more items therefrom. In this embodiment the dispensing aperture 112 is provided with closure means in the form of flap 114. The flap 114 comprises a top portion 118 and a side wall portion 116. The flap 114 is movable between an open condition wherein the side wall portion 116 of the flap is removed from dispensing aperture 112, as shown in figures 3 A and 3B, and a closed condition wherein the side wall portion 116 of the flap is behind the dispensing aperture, thereby covering the aperture, as shown in figure 3C.

The flap 1 14 is manipulated by a user using edges 120 and 122 of top portion 118. As the user moves the flap 114 in and out of the container, as shown by arrow 124, the end 126 of the side wall portion 116 moves in and out of slit 128 on edge 130 of the container, as shown by arrow 132. The side wall portion 116 moves between a position where portion 116 extends from the container in an open condition, to a position where the portion 116 is retracted in the container in a closed condition. The end 126 also moves between an extended position when the container is in an open condition, to a retracted position within the container in a closed condition.

It is noted that the aperture 128 is not necessarily required and the side wall portion 116 can be shaped such that movement of the portion 116, from behind the dispensing aperture 112 in a closed condition to an open condition, does not result in end 126 protruding from the container.

Referring to Figure 4, there is illustrated a blank for forming container 2 in figures l a and lb. The blank is formed by bringing side walls 8a and 8b are towards each other and folding the blank along lines 26 and 28. End walls 10a and 10b are adhered to end walls 10c and l Od respectively by folding along lines 30, 32, 34 and 36. Tabs 38 and 40, attached to base 4, are adhered to the inner most surface of side walls 10c and l Od respectively by folding along lines 42 and 44. Side wall 8c is adhered to the outer surface of side wall 8b by folding along line 46.

Tabs 48 and 50 of top 6 are adhered to end walls 10c and l Od by folding along lines 52 and 54 respectively. Tab 56 is adhered to side wall 8a by folding along line 58. Side wall portion 16 of the flap 4 is folded along line 60 and located between side walls 8b and 8c. Side wall portion 16 is slidable between side walls 8b and 8c between the open and closed conditions of the container as described above.

Referring to Figure 5, there is illustrated a blank for forming container 102 in figures 2a-2c. The blank is formed by bringing side walls 109 and 108a towards each other by folding along lines 134 and 136. End walls 110a and 110b are adhered to end walls 1 10c and l l Od respectively by folding along lines 138, 140, 142 and 144. Tabs 146 and 148, attached to base 104 are adhered to inner most end walls 110c and H Od respectively by folding along lines 150 and 152. Side wall 108b is adhered to side wall 108a, such that dispensing apertures 112a and 112b overlap, by folding along line 130.

Tabs 154 and 156 of top 106 are adhered to end walls 110c and l l Od by folding along lines 158 and 160 respectively. Tab 162 is adhered to side wall 109 by folding along line 164. Side wall portion 1 16 of the flap 104 is folded along line 166 and located between side walls 108a and 108b. Side wall portion 116 is slidable between side walls 108a and 108b between the open and closed conditions of the container as described above.

Groove 168 at end 126 is provided to engage with the uppermost edge 170 of slit 128 when the container is formed and in a fully open condition, thereby preventing the flap 104 from being removed completely from between the side walls 108a and 108b.

The container can be made from board and the ply of the board used typically depends on the mechanical strength required for the container.

Thus the present container provides dispensing means and can be made from a single blank which is inexpensive and can be constructed quickly and easily.

Claims

1. A carton having a rear wall panel and inner and outer front wall panels, side wall panels, a bottom end wall panel and a top lid configuration and being erected from a single blank of cut and creased sheet material such that the inner and outer front wall panels are in superposed relationship, said lid configuration consisting of at least an outer top end wall panel having front, rear and side edges and being characterised in that the outer top end wall panel is joined along its rear edge to the rear wall panel, partially by a series of frangible nibs and partially by a fold line to permit a portion of said outer front wall panel to be foldingly rotated about a line parallel with one of the side edges thereof, said outer top end wall panel being additionally foldingly joined to a stabilising panel which is disposed between the inner and outer rear wall panels and slides therebetween during the rotational movement of said outer top end wall panel, the rotational motion of said lid configuration serving to reveal an aperture through which the contents of the carton can be dispensed.

2. A carton according to claim 1 characterised in that the aperture is defined immediately beneath the lid configuration, said aperture being covered by the outer top end wall panel when the lid configuration is in the closed condition and revealed when outer top end wall panel is rotated upwardly away therefrom and the lid configuration is in its open condition.

3. A carton according to claim 2 characterised in that the lid configuration comprises both an outer top end wall panel and an inner top end wall panel which is foldingly joined to said inner front wall panel, said outer top end wall panel being superposed over the inner top end wall panel when the lid configuration is closed to conceal the aperture which is defined within said inner top end wall panel.

4. A carton according to claim 3 characterised in that said inner top end wall panel is provided with a substantially continuous line of weakness to define a removable tab which is adhered to the underside of the outer top end wall panel during carton erection such that first opening of said lid configuration automatically tears said removable tab from said inner top end wall panel, said aperture being defined by the resulting edge coincident with said line of weakness.

5. A carton according to claim 1 characterised in that the aperture is provided through the outer and inner front wall panels of the carton in a predetermined position depending on the shape and size of the stabilising panel such that when the lid configuration is closed, the stabilising panel is disposed between the apertures provided in the inner and outer front wall panels, and when the outer top end wall panel is rotated to open the lid configuration, the stabilising panel rotatingly slides between said inner and outer front wall panels to reveal the aperture in the inner front wall panel and thus provide an opening through which the contents of said carton can be dispensed.

6. A carton according to any preceding claim characterised in that said stabilising panel is of a width less than that of the inner and outer front wall panels which are adhered to each other during the carton erection along a line adjacent the free edge of the outer front wall panel.

7. A carton according to any preceding claim characterised in that that the free edge of the stabilising panel which is most proximate the side wall to which the outer front wall panel is foldingly joined is arcuate along at least a portion thereof to prevent interference with side wall panel during the sliding rotational motion of said stabilising panel.

8. A carton according to any preceding claim characterised in that said stabilising panel is provided with a locking tab portion towards its lowermost end, and a slit is provided where the outer front wall panel and the side wall panel are foldingly joined such that during the rotational sliding motion of the stabilising panel between the inner and outer front wall panels, the locking tab portion thereof emerges through the slit and further rotational movement of the lid configuration as a whole is prevented by virtue of the upper edge of the locking tab portion coming into contact with the uppermost end of the slit.

9. A carton blank from which the carton according to any of the preceding claims is erected.