WO2010048132A1

WO2010048132A1 - Carton and carton blank

Info

Publication number: WO2010048132A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/061254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Michel Auclair
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc
Priority date: 2008-10-20
Filing date: 2009-10-20
Publication date: 2010-04-29
Also published as: GB0819187D0; WO2010048126A1; DE112009002545T5

Abstract

A carton comprising opposing side walls (16, 20), opposing end walls (14a, 14b, 18), base panel (22a, 22b) and a handle structure, a top cover (1 10) for preventing removal of an article (B) within the carton, the top cover being secured to either the opposing side or end walls and having an access means (88a, 88b, 88c, 88d) operable to be deployed to remove an article from the carton.

Description

CARTON AND CARTON BLANK

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a carton and a blank for forming a carton. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a carton of the basket carrier type and blank therefor, having means for preventing pilfering of products contained in the carton and being adapted for returning products to a point of sale or recycling point.

Background of the Invention

In the field of packaging it is often desirable to provide consumers with a carton which can be used by a consumer to transport primary containers including a product from a point of sale, the carton having a means for gaining access to the primary container contained therein. It is further desirable that the carton retain sufficient integrity to be used to return the empty primary containers to a point of sale or to a recycling point for easy transportation of the primary containers.

It is also desirable to provide a carton which prevents pilfering of the cartons contents and providing a means of an end user to access the carton contents. US 5765684 to Van Dore discloses a container having a base with integrally formed handle which base receives a plurality of articles; a shroud is provided to cover a top portion of the articles and comprises an opening to accommodate the handle. It does not provide a reuseable container for returning articles to a point of sale or recycling point. Nor does it provide an access means for allowing a user to remove the articles and replace the articles within the carton. The shroud can be easily removed from the handle and replaced such that articles can be pilfered from the carton furthermore there would be no visible evidence of such tampering having taken place. Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate these and other problems associated with the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a carton comprising opposing side walls, opposing end walls, base panel and a handle panel, a cover panel for preventing removal of an article within the carton, the cover panel being secured to either the opposing side or end walls and having an access means operable to be deployed to remove an article from the carton.

Preferably, the cover panel comprises apertures for receiving an upper portion of an article and wherein the access means comprises a weakened line of severance disposed between a pair of apertures.

Preferably, at least a portion of the handle panel is received by the cover panel. Preferably, the cover panel is secured to an outer surface of the opposing side or end walls.

Preferably, the cover panel comprises an elongate aperture.

Preferably, the handle panel is reinforced by at least one reinforcing panel. More preferably the at least one reinforcing panel is secured to the handle panel such that each outer surface of a composite handle thereby formed has a printable surface.

Preferably, the carton is a basket carrier.

Preferably, the carton can be loaded from the top or bottom.

Preferably, the handle panel comprises an internal partition structure.

Preferably, the cover panel maintains the carton in an erected condition. Preferably, the cover panel forms a partitioning device for separating articles within the carton.

Preferably, the handle panel extends between the opposing side walls or opposing end walls.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a package comprising the carton as herein before described and a plurality of articles received therein in which the package is resistant to pilfering and/or comprises a tamper evident indicia.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a basket carrier formed from two separate blanks comprising a first blank for forming a basket carrier and a second blank for forming a top cover, the carton comprising opposing side walls opposing end walls base panel and a handle panel disposed between the opposing side walls or opposing end walls formed from the first blank a cover panel having apertures each for receiving at least an upper portion of an article and a slot for receiving at least an upper portion of the handle panel the cover panel comprises a pair of securing flaps disposed on opposing edges of the cover panel and being secured to an outer surface of the side or end walls.

Preferably, the cover panel comprises an access means comprising a weakened line of severance disposed between a pair of apertures.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank for forming a carton comprising panels for forming a first end wall, a first side wall, a second end wall and a second side wall hinged one to the next, a handle panel and base panel, wherein a cover panel is provided for preventing removal of an article within the carton when in a setup condition and wherein an access means is provided for gaining access to the carton contents. Brief Description of the Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

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

FIGURE 2 is a plan view from above of blank for forming a cover according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view from above illustrating part of the construction of the carton of FIGURE 1 ;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view from above of illustrating loading the partially assembled carton of FIGURE 1 ;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view from above illustrating placement of the cover;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view from above illustrating assembly of the cover;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view from above of a package comprising a carton loaded with articles;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view from above of illustrating deployment of an access means; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view from above illustrating removal of an article from the carton. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to FIGURE 1 , there is shown a plan view of a blank 10 for forming a carton. Blank 10 comprises a series of hinged panels for forming walls of the carton which blank is formed from foldable sheet material such as paperboard or similar suitable foldable material.

These panels include: handle panel 12; first end wall panels 14a, 14b; first side wall panel 16; and second end wall panel 18 and second side panel 20. These panels are hinged along fold lines 34, 36, 38 and 40. In addition, securing or glue flaps 28 and 30; hinged along fold lines 32 and 46 respectively are provided for holding the blank 10 in an erected condition thereby forming a carton. A pair of bottom wall panels 22a, 22b are provided and hinged to the first and second side wall panels 16, 20 respectively. (In other embodiments alternative bottom wall forming structures are used which comprise one or more than two bottom wall panels). Finally, first and second handle reinforcing panels 24 and 26 are hinged to an upper portion of handle panel 12. In this arrangement first handle reinforcing panel 24 is hinged directly to handle panel 12 along fold line 54 and, second handle reinforcing panel 26 is indirectly connected to the handle panel 12 by means of being hinged to the first reinforcing panel 24 along fold line 56. In other embodiments, only one reinforcing panel is provided; in yet further embodiments more than two handle reinforcing panels 24, 26 are provided. The specific hinged arrangement of the handle panel 12 and handle reinforcing panels 24, 26 is not limited to that exemplified in the illustrated embodiment and can take a variety of formats. Preferably, the reinforcing panels are formed as an integral part of the blank 10, but it some embodiments these panels are provided as a separate attached portion.

The handle panel 12 comprises means by which the carton can be grasped; in this embodiment the carrying means comprises a pair of hand or finger apertures 58a, 58b each formed with a cushioning flap 64. Similarly, each of the first and second reinforcing panels 24, 26 is provided with a pair of hand or finger apertures 60a, 60b, 62a, 62b. The second reinforcing panel 26 is to become sandwiched between the handle panel 12 and first reinforcing panel 24 and therefore, no cushioning flaps 64 are associated with the hand or finger apertures 62a, 62b formed within this second, optional, reinforcing panel 26. The hand or finger apertures 60a, 60b associated with the first reinforcing panel 24 are however provided with cushioning flaps 64 such that once formed a composite handle structure can be grasped from either side and cushioning flaps 64 provided. Handle panel 12 forms an internal partition structure dividing the assembled carton into two compartments. It is envisaged that handle panel 12 may comprise additional partitioning devices for dividing each of the two compartments into smaller sections each capable of receiving a single article; in this way the articles can be separated from one another.

It is entirely optional that two hand or finger apertures 58a/58b; 60a/60b; 62a/62b are provided; what is important is that each is arranged such that when folded and overlaid, the apertures are aligned such that apertures 58a, 60a, 62a are overlaid and likewise apertures 58b, 60b, 62b are overlaid to form a composite carrying handle structure.

Preferably, and as shown in the illustrated embodiment, each of the end wall forming panels (first end wall panels 14a, 14b and second end wall panel 18) are provided with fold or crease lines 52a, 52b, 46; 48a, 48b 48c so that the blank 10 can be part- formed and flat-folded for shipping or to allow the carton to be collapsed flat for reuse. The fold or crease lines 52a, 52b, 46; 48a, 48b 48c are arranged to coincide with the outer contour shape of the first end wall panels 14a, 14b and second end wall panel 18.

Each of the bottom wall panels 22a, 22b are provided with mechanical locking means (not numbered) as is known in the art; other bottom wall forming structures and other bottom wall securing means are well known in the art and any suitable known structure or combination can be substituted for that shown here.

Figure 2 illustrates a blank 1 10 for forming a cover panel, which blank 1 10 comprises securing panels 72, 74 disposed along opposing side edges of main panels 68, 70. Main panels 68, 70 form a lid or top panel in a setup carton. Main panels 68, 70 comprise apertures 80a, 80b, 80c, 8Od, 8Oe, 8Of arranged in two rows of three. Each aperture 80a, 80b, 80c, 8Od, 8Oe, 8Of is capable of receiving at least an upper portion of an article B. Main panels 68, 70 are unitary in construction and are separated by a slot or elongate aperture 86 for receiving at least an upper portion of the handle panel 12. Slot 86 is disposed centrally in main panels 68, 70 such that it bisects the main panels 68, 70 and is disposed between the rows of three apertures 80a, 80b, 80c, 8Od, 8Oe, 8Of. Optionally additional cut lines 76 may be provided which are disposed in line with the slot 86, cut lines 76 facilitate folding or deformation of the main panels 68, 70 such that the main panels 68, 70 take a pitched configuration.

Arcuate cut line 88a is disposed between apertures 80a and 80b and forms a tear initiation device for an access means similarly arcuate cut lines 88b, 88c, 88d are disposed between apertures 80b/80c, 80d/80e, 80e/80f respectively.

Turning to the construction of the carton as illustrated in Figures 3 to 7; it is envisaged that the carton can be formed by a series of sequential folding operations 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 may be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.

The blank 10 illustrated in FIGURE 1 is illustrated with the coated surface i.e. the surface bearing printing/graphics uppermost. Starting with the "brown" side or unphnted side of the blank uppermost glue or other suitable fixing means is applied to first or second reinforcing panel 24, 26; then, second reinforcing panel is folded about fold line 56 to overlie first reinforcing panel 24 and is secured thereto. Glue is then applied to either the coated side of second reinforcing panel 26 or the uncoated side of handle panel 12; first and second reinforcing panels 24, 26 are then folded about fold line 54 to overlie the handle panel 12. In this way a reinforced handle structure having only coated, printable surfaces outwardly facing is created. Handle panel 12 is then folded about fold line 34 so that it is positioned in face contacting relationship with first end panel 16. Second end wall panel 18 is then folded about fold line 48c and about fold line 48a such the coated sides of second end wall panel 18 are in face contacting relationship and such that they overlie the second side wall panel 20. Securing panel 30 is then folded about fold line 46 to overlie first end wall panel 14. Glue or other suitable securing means is applied to either the coated surface of securing panel 30 or to the handle panel 12 in the region of fold line 34 and to either the uncoated surface of second end wall panel 18 between fold line 48b and 48a in the region of fold line 48a or to the coated side of securing flap 28. Handle panel 12 and first side wall panel 16 are folded about fold line 48b to overlie second side wall panel 20. In doing so the securing flap 28 is secured to second end wall panel 18 between fold line 40b and 48a in the region of fold line 48a and handle panel 12 is secured to securing flap 30. In this way a partially assembled carton is formed. This partially formed or part formed carton can be shipped or distributed in flat form.

The part formed carton is then erected as shown if FIGURE 3 to 7. The flat collapsed carton is then formed into a tubular structure as shown in FIGURE 3 and 4; in the preferred embodiment articles B are then loaded into the tubular structure either by, loading from the top or the bottom of the tubular structure and the n the bottom structure can be formed. In alternative embodiments the bottom wall panels may be constructed prior to loading the carton with articles B, in this embodiment it is envisaged that the carton is top loaded.

In the preferred embodiment once the articles B are loaded the cover panel 1 10 is lowered over upper portions of the articles B and the carton such that the handle panel 12 is received in the slot 86 and the articles B are received in the apertures 80a, 80b, 80c, 8Od, 8Oe, 8Of as shown in FIGURE 5. Main panels 68, 70 are folded about a fold line defined in part by cut lines 76. Glue or other suitable means is then applied to either the inside surface of securing panels 72, 74 or the outer surface of side wall panels 16, 20. The securing panels 72, 74 are the folded about fold lines 82, 84 respectively and secured to the side walls 16, 20 as shown in FIGURE 6. The base panels 22a, 22b are then folded about fold lines 50 and 42 respectively and secured together. In the preferred embodiment mechanical fixing means is used however in alternative embodiments adhesive or other suitable means could be used. Apertures may also be provided in the base panels 22a, 22b for facilitating construction of the bottom wall, these apertures may be engaged by a suitable mechanical device or fingers for tensioning and alignment of the base panels 22a, 22b. The completed package is illustrated in FIGURE 7 in which the articles B are secured in the carton. Provision of cover panel 1 10 prevents pilfering of the articles B from the carton.

In order for a consumer to access the carton contents the access means 88a, 88b, 88c, 88d needs to be deployed. A user can engage the cut line 88c and 88d as shown in FIGURE 8 and tear each of the portions of the main panel 70 between the apertures 8Od, 8Oe, 8Of. Once both portions have been torn the central article B can be removed as illustrated in FIGURE 9. The endmost articles B can then be removed though the aperture created.

Once the articles B are empty they can be replaced in the carton through the access means in the reverse order, i.e. endmost article first. Once the carton has been loaded with empty articles B it can be used to transport the empty articles B for recycling or other purposes.

It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the panels and apertures may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape. In other embodiments of the invention it is envisaged that the carton may accommodate more or less than six articles.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower" 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 the following, a short slit, a frangible line or a fold line without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A carton comprising opposing side walls, opposing end walls, base panel and a handle structure, a top cover for preventing removal of an article within the carton, the top cover being secured to either the opposing side or end walls and having an access means operable to be deployed to remove an article from the carton.

2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein the top cover comprises apertures for receiving an upper portion of an article and wherein the access means comprises a weakened line of severance disposed between a pair of apertures.

3. A carton according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein at least a portion of the handle structure is received by the cover panel.

4. A carton according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the top cover is secured to an outer surface of the opposing side or end walls.

5. A carton according to claims 3 wherein the top cover comprises an elongate aperture in which the handle structure is received.

6. A carton according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the carton is a basket carrier.

7. A carton according to claim 6 wherein the carton can be loaded from the top or bottom.

8. A carton according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the top cover maintains the carton in an erected condition.

9. A carton according to claim 2 wherein the top cover forms a partitioning device for separating articles within the carton.

10. A carton according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the handle structure extends between the opposing side walls or opposing end walls.

1 1. A blank for forming a carton according to any of claims 1 to 10

12. A package comprising the carton of any one of claims 1 to 10 and a plurality of articles received therein in which the package is resistant to pilfering and/or comprises a tamper evident indicia.

13. A basket carrier formed from two separate blanks comprising a first blank for forming a open top basket and a second blank for forming a top cover, the open top basket comprising opposing side walls opposing end walls base panel and a handle panel disposed between the opposing side walls or opposing end walls, the top cover comprising a cover panel having apertures each for receiving at least an upper portion of an article and a slot for receiving at least an upper portion of the handle panel, the top cover further comprising a pair of securing flaps connected to opposing edges of the cover panel, the securing flaps being secured to an outer surface of the side or end walls.

14. A basket carrier according to claim 13 wherein the cover panel comprises an access means comprising a weakened line of severance disposed between a pair of said apertures.

15. A blank for forming a basket carrier according to claims 13 or 14.

16. A blank for forming a carton comprising panels for forming a first end wall, a first side wall, a second end wall and a second side wall hinged one to the next, a handle panel and base panel, wherein a cover panel is provided for preventing removal of an article within the carton when in a setup condition and wherein an access means is provided for gaining access to the carton contents.

17. A carton substantially as described herein and/or as illustrated by the accompanying Figures.

18. A package substantially as described herein and/or as illustrated by the accompanying Figures.

19. A flat collapsible part assembled carton substantially as described herein and/or as illustrated by the accompanying Figures.