WO2003053796A1

WO2003053796A1 - Carton and carton blank

Info

Publication number: WO2003053796A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/040957
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Michel Auclair; Patrick Blin
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc
Priority date: 2001-12-19
Filing date: 2002-12-19
Publication date: 2003-07-03
Also published as: AU2002360708A1; EP1456088A1; EP1456088B1; ATE337230T1; ES2271364T3; DE60214231T2; GB0130319D0; DE60214231D1

Abstract

An article carrier and blank for forming an article carrier for accommodating one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming an outer carton (O) and an article support structure (A) that is slidable within the outer carton. A reclosable cover flap (C) is hinged to one (18) of the panels forming the outer carton, wherein the support structure (A) is secured to the cover flap (C) and is slidable in response to moving the cover flap thereby to reveal the article through an opening in the outer carton made by the cover flap.

Description

CARTONAND CARTONBLANK

Background of the Invention

The invention relates to an article carrier for accommodating one or more articles, for example high value items such as perfume or the like; which carrier is provided with an access structure for the introduction to or removal of the articles from the carrier. The invention also provides an article feeder to assist in the removal of articles.

When seeking to protect items of high value, it is common to protect the items by paperboard packaging. Such packaging usually requires an outer carton with advertising indicia and may sometimes include an inner support structure to reduce the likelihood of the item being damaged in transit. The article is usually engaged by the support structure, which makes it difficult to remove the article from the package.

Thus, a problem associated with the prior art is how to provide a positive feed to improve the removal of the article without damaging the integrity of the carton.

The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for accommodating one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming an outer carton and an article support structure that is slidable within the outer carton. There further comprises a reclosable cover flap hinged to one of the panels forming the outer carton wherein the support structure is secured to the cover flap and is slidable in response to moving the cover flap thereby to reveal the article through an opening in the outer carton made by the cover flap. Optionally, the cover flap is hinged to the first side wall panel and comprises a top panel and a front flap, the front flap is adapted to engage the opposing side wall panel, wherein the support structure is secured to the front flap of the cover flap.

Preferably, the front flap is connected to the top panel of the cover flap by an intermediate panel.

According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the article support structure comprises a top panel, and a securing flap hingedly connected to the top panel. The top panel of the article support structure is greater than the width of the top panel of the outer carton, and in a set up condition, the top panel of the article support structure diverges from the top panel of the outer carton to form a brace.

According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention the article support structure comprises a side wall panel and a base hingedly connected together, the securing flap is hingedly connected to the side wall structure so that as the cover flap is moved, so the base is caused to move.

According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the cover flap is moved from a closed position to an open position such that the article structure is caused to slide in an upward direction to reveal the article through an upper opening.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier for accommodating one or more articles comprising a first side wall panel, a first end wall panel, a second side wall panel and a second end wall panel hingedly connected together in series for forming an outer carton and an article support structure adapted to be slidable within the outer carton in a set up condition, and a reclosable cover flap hinged to one of the panels for forming the outer carton wherein the support structure is secured to the cover flap.

Optionally, the cover flap is hinged to the first side wall panel and comprises a top panel and a front flap. Preferably, the front flap is connected to the top panel of the cover flap by an intermediate panel.

More preferably, the article support structure comprises a top panel, and a securing flap hingedly connected to the top panel, wherein the top panel of the article support structure is greater than the width of the top panel of the outer carton.

According to an optional feature of this aspect of the present invention, the article support structure comprises a side wall panel and a base hingedly connected together, the securing flap hingedly connected to the side wall structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Exemplary embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming an outer carton according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a blank forming an article support structure according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the blank of Figure 2 in a set up condition;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank of Figure 1, illustrating the access structure in an open position;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are cross sections of the carton and article structure showing the cover flap moving from a closed position (Figure 5) to an open position (Figure 7), as shown in Figure 4; FIGURE 8 shows the carton and article support structure in a set up condition ready to receive an article; and

FIGURE 9 illustrates the carton of Figure 8 in the closed position.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a two part blank for forming a carton or article carrier, which blanks are formed from paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material that has thin cut and fold lines added. The carton is used to hold one or more articles, for example high value items such as perfume, and to dispense the article.

In the illustrated embodiment a two part blank has been used, although it is envisaged that a unitary blank could be used by combining those features shown in Figures 1 and 2, for example connecting the blank 60 of Figure 2 to the main blank 10, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Turning to the outer carton O (Figure 4), there comprises a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure. In this embodiment, the tubular structure is provided by a first end wall 12, a first side wall panel 14, a second end wall panel 16 and a second side wall panel 18 hingedly connected together in series along fold lines 20, 22 and 24. In order to secure the panels in a tubular arrangement, there further comprises securing means, which in this embodiment is provided by a securing flap 26 hingedly connected to one of the outermost panels, for example second side wall panel 18 along fold line 28.

The outer carton O (Figure 4) further comprises a base structure, which in this embodiment is provided by base panel 30 hingedly connected to first side wall panel 14 along fold line 32 and securing flap 34 hingedly connected to base panel 30 along fold line 36. In one class of embodiments, there may further comprise opposed end flaps 38, 42 hingedly connected to first and second end wall panels 12, 16 respectively along fold lines 40 and 44. A cover flap structure C is provided which, in this embodiment, is hingedly connected to the second side wall panel 18 along fold line 47. The cover structure C may comprise a top wall panel 46 hingedly connected to the second side wall panel 18 and a front securing flap 52 connected to top panel 46 along fold line 50. In the preferred embodiment, there further comprises an intermediate panel 48 hingedly connecting top panel 46 to front flap 52 along fold lines 50 and 54 respectively.

Optionally, a recess R is formed in the opposing side wall panel 14 to help gain access to the article contained in the set up carton.

The article support structure is formed from blank 60 shown in Figure 2 and comprises means to support the article and a securing flap 76 to be secured to the cover flap structure C.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the article support structure comprises a plurality of panels for protecting the side, bottom, front and rear of the article contained in the carton so that there comprises a first end wall panel 64, first side wall panel 62 and a second end wall panel 68 hingedly connected together in series along fold lines 66 and 70.

There further comprises a base panel 80 hingedly connected to the first side wall panel 62 along fold line 82. In this embodiment, there may further comprise a second side wall panel 84 which is hingedly connected to the base wall panel 80 along fold line 86.

The securing flap 76 is hingedly connected to the first side wall panel 62, although in the illustrated embodiment there further comprises a top wall panel 72 which hingedly interconnects the securing flap 76 to side wall panel 62 along fold line 78 and 74 respectively.

Of course, in other embodiments the top wall panel 72 can be dispensed with, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Turning now to the construction of the carton as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the blanks require a series of sequential folding and gluing operations which are preferably performed in a straight line machine 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 particular manufacturing requirements.

The outer carton O is constructed by folding the side wall panels 14 and 18 and end wall panels 12 and 16 out of alignment along fold lines 20, 22 and 24 and into a tubular arrangement, whereby end wall panel 12 is secured to side wall panel 18 by securing the securing flap 26 to end wall panel 12 by glue, or other suitable means known in the art.

Once the outer carton O is a tubular structure shown in Figure 4 it is ready to receive an article or the inner article support structure.

The article support structure A (Figure 3) is constructed by folding the base wall panel 80 and front wall panel 84 inwardly towards the first side wall panel 62 along fold lines 82 and 86, so that base panel 80 is substantially perpendicular to second side wall 62 and first side wall panel is substantially parallel and spaced from side wall panel 62, in a set up condition.

Similarly end wall panels 64 and 68 are folded inwardly along fold lines 66 and 67 so that the article support structure is in a set up condition, shown in Figure 3. The article support structure is then inserted into the tubular structure by relative movement between the outer carton O and article support structure A. The securing flap 76 is secured to the cover flap structure C.

In this embodiment, the securing flap 76 is secured to the front flap 52 by glue G (Figure 4) or other suitable means known in the art. Thereafter the article is placed in the carton and the base structure and cover flap structure C are constructed.

In order to construct the base structure, the end flaps 38 and 42 are folded inwardly along fold lines 40, 44 and base wall panel 30 and securing flap 34 are folded inwardly along fold line

32 and out of alignment with each other along fold line 36, so that flap 34 is tucked within the carton such that the outer face of flap 34 is in face contacting arrangement with the inner face of second side wall panel 18.

The cover flap structure is constructed by folding top wall panel 46 inwardly along fold line 47 and folding securing flap 52 and, in some embodiments intermediate panel 48, inwardly along fold lines 50 and 54 so as to tuck the securing flap within the tubular structure.

Thus, the article carrier is in a set up condition, as shown in Figures 6 and 9.

It is envisaged that the construction of the carton from the blanks of Figure 1 and 2 is not limited to the method described above. For example, the article support structure blank 60 could be placed on the blank 10 forming the outer carton and securing flaps 76 and 52 secured together prior to folding or constructing the article structure A or outer carton O. If this approach is adopted then the support structure A is constructed at the time of forming the tubular structure; the base panels 80 and second side wall panel 84 are folded inwardly into a set up condition. Thereafter the tubular structure is formed in like manner to that described above which causes the end wall panels 64 and 68 of the article support structure A to be automatically folded inwardly. The base structure and cover flap structures are formed in the same manner as described above. One advantage of this approach is that the time to construct the carton is reduced.

The or each article can be inserted into the carton after formation of the carton or prior to its construction, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The cover flap C is adapted to be reclosable. In order to open the cover flap structure to gain access to the interior, front panel 52 is folded upwardly, shown in Figure 6, about fold line 47 by the user, so as to fold top panel 46 and, in those embodiments with intermediate panel 48, to reveal an opening B to remove the article, as shown in Figure 8. The opening B may include the recess R which is used to help the user gain access to the article. By folding top panel 46, intermediate panel 48 and front panel 52 upwardly into a substantially collinear arrangement, shown in Figure 7, the article support structure A is caused to be raised thereby lifting the article above the upper edge of the side and end walls 12, 14, 16, 18 forming the tubular structure of the outer carton O, and making access to the article easier, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

One advantage of securing the article structure to the front flap is that the article support structure can be provided with a top panel 72 to protect an upper portion of the article.

Preferably, the securing flap 76 is secured to the front flap 52 in an offset arrangement so that the intermediate panel 48 is not secured to the securing flap 76. Therefore, by moving the intermediate panel 48 from a substantially perpendicular arrangement with top wall panel 46 of the cover flap structure C, to a collinear arrangement causes the upward movement of the article support structure A. It will be recognized that the position of the securing point between the article support structure and the outer carton O can be varied, so as to vary the distance that the article moves. Thus, by changing distance 'd' (Figure 6) will result in changing directly the distance 'g' (Figure 7) moved by the base wall 80 of the support structure.

As shown in Figure 5 the top panel 46 of the outer carton and the top panel 72 of the article support structure differ in width W so that the panels diverge to form a brace structure to improve the rigidity of the cover structure.

The use of a two part blank may, in some instances, simplify the mechanization of the carton construction process, as well as permitting differing materials (e.g., differing grades of paperboard) to be used for the tray and the cover, thereby minimizing the cost of producing each carton. Furthermore a multiply structure is provided to offer additional support around the packaged article.

It will be appreciated that a carton is formed which is fully enclosed to protect its contents whilst improving access to the article contained in the carton. It will be recognized that as used herein, directional references such as "upper", "lower", "top", "base", "end" and "side" do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to 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 that is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold articles securely, but with a degree of flexibility so that during transit the articles are retained within the carrier. The shape of the blank minimizes the amount of paperboard required and the carrier can be applied to one or more articles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers and is not limited to those of the fully enclosed type hereinabove described. Further or alternatively, the carton may be adapted to carry a greater number of articles without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAΓMS

1. An article carrier for accommodating one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming an outer carton and an article support structure that is slidable within the outer carton, a reclosable cover flap hinged to one of the panels forming the outer carton wherein the support structure is secured to the cover flap and is slidable in response to moving the cover flap thereby to reveal the article through an opening in the outer carton made by the cover flap.

2. An article carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover flap is hinged to the first side wall panel and comprises a top panel and a front flap, the front flap is adapted to engage the opposing side wall panel, wherein the support structure is secured to the front flap of the cover flap.

3. An article carrier as claimed in claim 2 wherein the front flap is connected to the top panel of the cover flap by an intermediate panel.

4. An article carrier as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the article support structure comprises a top panel, and a securing flap hingedly connected to the top panel, wherein the top panel of the article support structure is greater than the width of the top panel of the outer carton, and when the carton is in a closed position, the top panel of the article support structure diverges from the top panel of the outer carton to form a brace.

5. An article carrier as claimed in any preceding claim when the article support structure comprises a side wall panel and a base hingedly connected together, the securing flap is hingedly connected to the side wall structure so that as the cover flap is moved, so the base is caused to move.

6. An article carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cover flap is moved from a closed position to an open position such that the article structure is caused to slide in an upward direction to reveal the article through an upper opening.

7. A blank for forming an article carrier for accommodating one or more articles comprising a first side wall panel, a first end wall panel, a second side wall panel and a second end wall panel hingedly connected together in series for forming an outer carton and an article support structure adapted to be slidable within the outer carton in a set up condition, a reclosable cover flap hinged to one of the panels for forming the outer carton wherein the support structure is secured to the cover flap.

8. A blank as claimed in claim 7 when the cover flap is hinged to the first side wall panel and comprises a top panel and a front flap.

9. A blank as claimed in claim 8 when the front flap is connected to the top panel of the cover flap by an intermediate panel.

10. A blank as claimed in claim 9 when the article support structure comprises a top panel, and a securing flap hingedly connected to the top panel, wherein the top panel of the article support structure is greater than the width of the top panel of the outer carton.

11. A blank as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the article support structure comprises a side wall panel and a base hingedly connected together, the securing flap hingedly connected to the side wall structure.

12. A package comprising an article held by an article support structure in an article carrier as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.