GB2381259A

GB2381259A - Tubular carton

Info

Publication number: GB2381259A
Application number: GB0125505A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philippe Lebras
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 2001-10-24
Filing date: 2001-10-24
Publication date: 2003-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-24
Also published as: FR2831138B1; FR2831138A1; GB0125505D0; GB2381259B

Abstract

A tubular carton formed from a blank comprises a first wall such as a top wall formed from inner(20) and outer (12) panels disposed in face-contacting relationship. The inner panel (20) has an end flap (62,64) extending therefrom, the outer panel (12) has an outer first end wall panel (30), and at least the outer end wall panel (30) is secured to an inner end panel (38) that is hingedly connected to a second wall (16) such as a base wall opposed to the first wall. The end flap (62,64) is disposed intermediate the inner and outer end wall panels (38,30) to improve the rigidity of the inner panel (20) with respect to the other panels of the carton. The inner end wall panel (38) is secured to end flaps (54a,54b) on side wall panels (14,18) by a locking arrangement (46,48,53).

Description

1 2381259

CARTON AND CARTON BLANK

This invention relates generally to a carton for holding one or more articles and more particularly to a wraparound type article carrier designed for articles such as connected S plastic cups containing foodstuff or the like.

The prior art illustrates wraparound cartons with end closure panels for closing the ends

of the carton that are connected to respective side and base panels by a series of gusset panels that assist in forming the end closure panels. There are many arrangements of 10 gusset panels, examples of which are shown in US 3 035 756 and US 5 328 089. Prior art

structures illustrate carriers for carrying articles with planar sides, for example cans or bottles, and end retention structures are, therefore, formed in a planer relationship with respective sides and ends of the corner.

15 The arrangements are usually complicated to manufacture due to the folding and carton construction thee is required.

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

A first aspect of the invention provides a tubular carton comprising a first wall such as a top wall formed of inner and outer panels disposed in face-contacting relationship, wherein the inner panel has an end flap extending therefrom, the outer panel has an outer À.... first end wall panel, and at least the outer end wall panel is secured to a inner end wall 25 panel that is hingedly connected to a second wall such as a base wall opposed to the first wall, wherein the end flap is disposed intermediate the inner and outer end wall panels to -; improve the rigidity of the inner panel with respect to the other panels of the carton.

. Preferably, the outer end wall panel is secured to the outside surface of the inner end wall 30 panel. More preferably, both the outer end wall panel and end flap are secured to the inner end wal I panel.

Optionally, the size of the end flap is smaller than that of the outer end wall panel so that at least some portion of the outer end wall panel may be directly secured to the inner end wall panel while the end flap is interposed between the outer and inner end wall panels.

5 A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a carton comprising a first wall such as a top wall formed of inner and outer panels disposed in fac contacting relationship, wherein the inner panel has an end flap extending therefrom, the outer panel has an outer first end wall panel, and at least the outer end wall panel is secured to a inner end wall panel that is hingedly connected to a second wall such as a base wall opposed to 10 the first wall, A third aspect of the invention provides an arrangement for securing a triple ply structure comprising an intermediate panel between a first panel and a second panel, wherein the intermediate panel is smaller than the first and second panels such that glue applied to an 15 inner face of the first panel in register with the second panel secures together said first, second and intermediate panels when placed together in face contacting relationship.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE I illustrates a blank for forming a carton according to one aspect of the invention; FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the carton during the different stages of construction 25 from the blank shown in Figures 1; FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate the carton loaded with articles formed from the blank of . Figure I shown as top plan view and perspective views respectively; and 30 FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a locking arrangement for engaging the side wall and end wall so as to maintain the panels in a set up condition.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1, there is shown a carton blank for forming a carton made from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. In these

embodiments, wraparound type cartons can be formed from the blanks. However, it is envisaged the invention can be applied to other types of cartons, for example fully enclosed or clip type cartons, without deviating from the present invention.

5 The blank 10 comprises a plurality of panels for forming the outer walls of the carton, so in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, there comprises an outer top panel 12, a First side wall panel 14, a base panel 16 and a second side wall panel 24, hingedly connected one to the next in series along fold lines 22, 24 and 26 respectively.

10 Preferably, there further comprises an inner top panel 20 hingedly connected to the second side wall panel 24 along fold line 28.

A series of panels for forming the end closure structures are provided along opposing longitudinal edges of the carton. Each end closure structure is identical, so like references I 5 have been used and, therefore, only one side will now be described.

The end structure comprises inner and outer end wall panels 30 and 38 hingedly connected to opposing panels of the tubular structure. Thus, in this embodiment, outer end panel 30 is hingedly connected to outer top wall panel 20 along fold line 34 and inner 20 end wall panel 38 is hingedly connected base panel 16 along fold line 42.

There further comprises end support flaps 54a and 54b hingedly connected to opposing side wall panels 14 and 18 respectively along an extension offold line 42. End support flaps are separated from inner end wall panel by a cut line 55a and 55b...DTD: There may further comprise a tab 62 hingedly connected to inner top wall panel 20 along fold line 66. Optionally, there may comprise a second tab 64 extending from and .... hingedly connected to the opposing edge of inner top panel 20 along fold line 68. The or each tab 62, 64 is shorter in length L than outer end wall panel 30. In use, tab 62, 64 is 30 interposed between the inner and outer end wall panels30, 38 to improve rigidity of the pack and to avoiding sliding movement of inner top panel 20.

In one class of embodhnents, there further comprises means for securing the side and end wall panels 14, 18; 38, in a perpendicular set up arrangement. In thisembodiment the

securing means is provided by a locking arrangement 43, so that end flaps 54a and 54b are engaged with end wall panel 38. The locking arrangement in one corner is provided by a flap 47 struck from end wall panel 38 and defined by cut line 46. A second cut line 49 defines in end flap 56 a second and third panel portions 5 I and 53 respectively.

Likewise, a similar locking arrangement is provided at each of the corners between the end wall panel 38 and side wall panel I 4, I 8 and as they are identical in structure they are not described in any greater detail. The construction of the locking arrangement is described in more detail below with reference to Figures 8 to 10.

The top wall may further comprise one or more windows 70, 72 to show the content of the package. In this embodiment the inner top panel comprises a pair of apertures 70, 72 that function as display windows. There also comprises a recess 74 in the outer top wall panel with edges 76, 78 and 80 shaped to reveal at least part of the windows.

Turning to the construction of the carton from the carton blank as illustrated in Figure I, the blank IO requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations which is preferably performed in a straight line machines, so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its constructions. The folding process is not limited to that 20 described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.

As the carton blanks is moved forward continuously in a packaging machine, it is constructed in a manner shown in Figures 2 to 5 and is applied to an array of articles, for example a pair of articles P connected together along a common edge of their respective 25 flanges and arranged in a single row, as shown in Figure 4. The first stage of construction is shown in Figures 2 and 3, whereby the side wall panels 14 and 18 and inner end wall panels 38 are folded inwardly along fold lines 24, 26 and 42 and are secured in a .. substantially perpendicular relationship with respect to base wall panel I 6.

30 The side and end wall panels are held in place by securing the end flaps 54a and 54b to the respective end wall panels 38 and 40 by glue or other suitable means known in the art.

In this embodiment a locking arrangement 43 is provided which will now be described in further detail by reference to Figures 8, 9 and I O.

The first step is to move the male portion 47 ofthe locking arrangement 61 out of alignment with end wall panel 38, which in this embodiment is in a downward or outward direction. The inner end wall panel 38 is then folded inwardly along fold line 42 and side wall panel 14 is also folded inwardly along fold line 24, as shown in Figure 2. As side 5 wall panel 14 is folded inwardly, the adjacent end flap 54a is also folded inwardly along fold line 56b so that engaging flap 49 is aligned with the aperture 55 defined by male part 47. Thereafter engaging flap 49 is pushed through the aperture 55 so as to be engaged by an upper edge of aperture SS defined by cut line 52. The upper portion of engaging flap 49 is prevented from being removed by face contacting arrangement with part 63 of the 10 end wall panel 38 and by flap 47 returning to its original position, so that the panels are engaged in an interference type fit as shown in Figure 9 in cross section and Figure 10 when viewed from within the carton.

Turning again to the construction of the carton, reference is made to Figures 3 and 4. The 15 next stage is for the article to be placed on the base panel 16 by relative vertical movement between the article P and the part constructed tray, as the carton is in a partially set up and loaded condition as shown in Figure 4.

Thereafter the inner top panel 20 is folded into a spaced overlapping arrangement with 20 base panel 16 along fold line 22 with tabs 62 and 64 protruding outwardly beyond the end panels, as shown in Figure 5. In one class of embodiments glue is applied to the inner end wall panel 38 and outer top wall panel 12 is folded inwardly along fold line 22 into - face contacting arrangement with inner top wall panel 20, so that outer end wall panel lies . in face contacting arrangement with tabs 62 and 64.

To complete construction of the end wall panels, the outer end wall panel 30, 32 is folded downwardly which causes tabs 62, 64 to be folded downwardly, and outer end wall panel 32 is secured to the inner end wall panel 38. The tab is sandwiched between the end wall panels and prevents the inner top panel from snowing, thereby improving rigidity of the 30 structure as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

In alternative embodiments the glue is applied to the outer end wall panel 32 so that the tab is secured thereto prior to folding downwardly.

Thus, there is shown a package with inner and outer top panels which avoid sliding movement and strengthen the pack.

5 It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as ' top", "base", "end"' "side", "inner" and "outer" do not Ihnit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels one from 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 10 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 a carton that is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold articles securely, but with a degree of flexibility so 15 that during transit the articles are retained within the carrier. The shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required and the carrier can be applied to an array of articles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers and is not Ihnited to those of the wraparound type hereinbefore described. Further, or alternatively, the carton may be adapted to carry a 20 greater or lesser number of articles without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A tubular carton comprising a first wall such as a top wall formed of inner and 5 outer panels disposed in face-contacting relationship, wherein the inner panel has an end flap extending therefrom, the outer panel has an outer first end wall panel, and at least the outer end wall panel is secured to a inner end wall panel that is hingedly connected to a second wall such as a base wall opposed to the first wall, wherein the end flap is disposed intermediate the inner and outer end wall panels to improve the rigidity of the inner panel 10 with respect to the other panels of the carton.

2. The carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer end wall panel is secured to the outside surface of the inner end wall panel.

15

3. The carton as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein both the outer end wall panel and end flap are secured to the inner end wall panel.

4. The carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the size of the end flap is smaller than that of the outer end wall panel so that at least some portion of the outer end 20 wall panel may be directly secured to the inner end wall panel while the end flap is interposed between the outer and inner end wal I panels.

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5. A blank for forming a carton comprising a first wall such as a top wall fanned of inner and outer panels disposed in face-contacting relationship, wherein the inner panel 25 has an end flap extending therefrom, the outer panel has an outer f rst end wall panel, and at least the outer end wall panel is secured to a im1er end wall panel that is hingedly connected to a second wall such as a base wall opposed to the first wall,

6. The blank as claimed in claim 5 wherein the size of the end flap is smallerthan 30 that of the outer end wall panel so that at least some portion of the outer end wall panel may be directly secured to the inner end wall panel while the end flap is interposed between the outer and inner end wall panels.

7. An arrangement for securing a triple ply structure comprising an intermediate panel between a first panel and a second panel? wherein the intermediate panel is smaller than the first and second panels such that glue applied to an inner face of the first panel in register with the second panel secures together said first, second and intermediate panels 5 when placed together in face contacting relationship.

8. A carton incorporating an arrangement as claimed in claim 7.

9. A blank for forming a carton as claimed in any of claims I to4.

8. A method of foming a triple ply structure substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to or as illustrated in Figures 2, 3' 4, S or 6.

9. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to or as illustrated in 15 Figures2 3,4,5,60r7.

10. A blank substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to or as illustrated in Figures 1.

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