Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARTON WI~H RECESS~D ENDS AND BLANK ~HEREFOR
This invention relates to a carton which
accommodates a group of articles disposed in at least
three parallel rows in which the arrangement of the
articles in the rows is such that a void is present at
each end of the carton intermediate the outer article
rows. ~he invention also is concerned with a carton
blank which is formed from a single sheet of paperboard
or like oldable ~aterial for forming such a carton.
~he carton specifically is formed so that it has
recessed ends which are produced during folding of the
blank by causing end closure panels to be displaced
into the void at each end of the blank. ~he recessed
ends may of themselves provide handle portions by which
the carton readily can be grasped. However, more
particularly the carton may be adapted to receive a
close-fitting encircling band which passes across the
recessed ends and there provides a length of the band
which maY be readily grasped to facilitate portage of
the carton.
~he voids at each end of the article group are
formed by arranging the articles in the or each inner
row to have fewer articles than the outermost rows and
so that the articles in the or each inner row are each
disposed between a pair of adjacent articles in the
neighboring outer row.
One aspect of the invention provides a carton
accommodating a group o~ articles disposed in at least
three parallel rows in which the arrangemen~ of the
articles in said rows is ~uch that a void is present at
each end of the carton intermediate the outer rows of
articles, the carton comprising a top and a base
interconnected by spaced side walls thereby forming a
tubular structure and end closure panels closing each
end of the tubular structure, said end closure panel
hinged to said top and having a portion displaced into
said void and a bottom end closure panel hinged to said
base and having a portion secured to said displaced
portion of the top end closure panel within said void,
. characterized in that said bottom end closure panel is
lS displaced into said void from a foldable connection to
said base which is substantia].ly aligned with opposed
endmost articles in said outer rows.
Another aspect of the invention provides a carton
blank for packaging a group of articles disposed in at
least three parallel rows in which the arrangement of
the articles in said rows is such that a void is
present at each end of the carton intermediate the
outer rows of articles, the blank being formed from a
single sheet of foldable material and comprising a
first base panel, at least one first side wall panel, a
top panel, at least one second side wall panel, and a
second base panel hinged one to the next along fold
lin~s disposed so as to allow said
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blank to be formed into a tubular structure, said first base
panel, said side wall panels and said top panel all having
end closure panels at each of their opposite ends for closing
the ends of the tubular structure, characterized in that said
end closure panel hinged to said first base panel comprises
a central panel and a wing panel hinged to each of the
opposed side edqes of said central panel, each wing panel
including a pair of hinged flaps for s~curing the base end
closure panel to the remaining end closure panels.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way
of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
~igure 1 is a schematic plan view of a carton in which a
group of articles are arranged so as to produce a void at
each end of the carton;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton of
the end loading type according to the invention;
Figures 3, 4 + 5 are perspective views of the carton which
2~ show one end of the carton partially closed by the end
closure panels; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the carton in which one end
of the carton is fully closed by the end closure panels.-
Referring first to Figure 2 of the drawings, an elongate
carton blank 10, for forming a polyagonal end loading typecarton, is formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheet
material. The blank comprises, in series, a base panel 12;
a first side wall 14 constituted by lower 16, intermediate 18
and upper 20 side wall panels; a top panel 22; a second side
wall 24 constituted in part by upper 26 and intermediate 28
side wall panel hinged one to the next along longitudinal
fold lines 34-44. A lower side wall panel 30 of the second
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side wall 24 is hinged to the free edge of base panel 12
along longitudinal fsld line 32.
A csntral bottom end closure panel 46 is hinged to one end
edge of base panel 12 centrally along transverse fold line
48. A pair of bottom corner end closure panels 50 and 52
also is hinged to the same end edge of base panel 12 along
oblique outwardly divergent fold lines 54, 56 respectively,
one on each side of the centrally hinged end closure panel
46. The central bottom end closure panel 46 constitutes of
an outwardly tapered centre panel 58 and wing panels 60 and
62 hinged to opposed side edges of centre panel 46 along
convergent fold lines 64 and 66, respectively.
Wing panel 60 includes a connecting web 68 which is hinged to
the centre panel along fold line 64 and a securing flap 70
hinged to the connecting web 68 along line Y2. Wing panel 62
is of similar form and includes connecting web 74 hinged to
centre panel 46 along fold line 66 and a securing flap 76
hinged to connecting web 78 along fold line 78. Central
bottom end closure panel 46 terminates in end flap 80 hinged
to centre panel 58 along fold line 82 parallel to fold line
48.
The bottom corner end closure panel 50 has a securing flap 51
hinged thereto along fold lines 53 adjacent to but detached
from securing flap 70 and is formed with aperture 50a and
edge slot 50b. Likewise, corner bottom end closure panel 52
has a securing flap 55 hinged thereto along fold line 57
adjacent to but detached from securing flap 76 and is formed
with aperture 52a and edge slot 52b.
A central top end closure panel 84 is hinged to one end edge
of top panel 22 along transverse fold line 86.
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The top end closure panel comprises a main panel portion 88
hinged to top panel 22, a central tuck panel 90 hinged to the
free end edge of main panel portion 88 along transverse fold
line 92 and a pair of securing tabs 94 and 96 hinged to main
panel portion 88 along short fold lines 98, 100 respectively,
one on each side of the central tuck panel 90. The cental
tuck panel 90 includes a mid-part 102 which terminates in an
end part 104 foldably joined to mid-part 102 along transverse
fold line 106. The mid-part 102 is flanked on each side by
one of a pair of side tabs 108, 110 hinged to mid-part 102
along crease lines 112, 114 which are convergent towards end
part 104.
A pair of top corner end closure panels 116 and 118
respectivsly is disposed between the end edge of top panel 22
and the central top end closure panel 84 one at each side
edge of the main panel portion 88. Top corner end closure
panel 116 comprises outer panel 120 hinged to one side edga
of main panel portion 88 along fold line 122 and an
. intermediate panel 124 hinged to top panel 22 along oblique
: 20 fold line 126. Outer panel 120 and intermediate panel 124
are hinged together by means of a gusset panel 128 along fold
: lines 130, ~32 respectively. Outer panel 120 carries at its
free end edge a securing strip 134 hinged thereto along fold
:~ line 136 and is formed with an end notch 138. Likewise top
corner end closure panel 118 comprises outer panel 140 hinged
~: to one side edge of main panel portion 88 along fold line 142
: and an intermediate panel 144 hinged to top panel 22 along
oblique fold line 146. Outer panel 140 and intermediate
panel 144 are hinged together by means of a gusset panel 148
along fold lines 150, 152 respectively. Outer panel 140
carries at its free end edge a securing strip 154 hinged
thereto along fold line 156 and is formed with an end notch
158.
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The lower, intermediate and top side wall panels of the first
side wall 14 carry a side end closu~e structure co~prising
side end closure panels 160, 162, 164 hinged to lower and
intermediate side wall panels 16, 18 and 20 respectively
along fold lines 161, 163 and 165.
End closure panel 160 is hinged to end closure panel 162
along an extension of fold line 36 which is interrupted by a
slot 166 formed partially in lower and intermediate side wall
panels 16, 18 and partially in side end closure panels 160
and 162. End closure panels 162 and ~64 are hinged together
by a collapsible bridging piece 168 along fold lines 170, 172
respectively. Side end closure panel 164 is hinged to
intermediate panel 124 by a gusset panel 174 along fold line
176 and by an extension of fold line 40.
Similarly, the upper, intermediate and lower side wall panels
of the second side wall 24 also carry a side end closure
structure comprising side end closure panels 178, 180 and 182
hinged to upper, intermediate and lower side wall panels 26,
28 and 30 respectively along transverse ~old lines 179, 181
and 183.
End closure panel 178 is hinged to intermediate panel 144 by
a gusset panel 184 along fold line 186 and by an extension
of fold line 42. End closure panels 178 and 180 are hinged
together by a collapsible bridging piece 188 along short fold
lines 190 and 192 respectively. End closure panels 180 and
182 are con~ected together by glueing when the blank is pre-
formed into a flat folded condition described shortly.
A notch 194 is cut partially into the free edge of side panel
28 and end panel 180 and a further notch 196 is cut partially
into the free edge of side panel 30 and end panel 182 both
notches being brought into registry to form an aperture when
the carton is pre-formed.
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The opposite end of the blan]~ is of similar construction and
like parts are designated like reference numerals. The blank
is pre-formed in flat folded condition from which it can be
erected into a tubular structure, loaded with products and
the ends of the tubular structure then closed as described
below. In order to pre-form the blank into flat folded
condition, intermediate side wall panel 28 is folded about
transverse fold line 44 so that it overlies upper side wall
panel 26 whereafter an application of glue is made to the
exposed marginal edge of the panel 28 and the integral panels
180. Thereafter, the blank is folded about transverse fold
line 36 so that the top panel 22 is brought into superposed
relationship with base panel 12 and the glued edge of
intermediate panel 28 and its dependent end panels is secured
to the free edge of lower side wall panel 30 and its
dependent end panels. The blank thus pre-formed may then be
supplied to a bottler for erecting, loading and finally
closing to form the completed carton.
once the flat-folded carton has been erected into its tubular
form it can be filled with bottles in the configurations
shown in Figure 1, i.e. in which the bottles comprising the
centre rows RCl and RC2 disposed intermediate a pair of
adjacent bottles in each of the next adjacent outer rows RL
and RR thereby creating a central recess CR at each end of
the carton. Each of the ends of the carton is then closed in
the following manner.
The top end closure panel is folded downwardly relative to
top panel 22 about fold line 90, the initial folding action
of which is instigated by displacing inwardly of the tubular
structure each of the gusset panels 128, 174; 148, 184.
During this folding action, the fold lines 132 and 176
associated with gusset panels 128 and 174 and the fold lines
152 and 186 associated with gusset panels 148 and 184 lead
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inwardly to bring gusset panels 174 and 184 into overlapping
relationship with the underside of the intermediate panels
124 and 144 respectively and to bring gusset panels 128 and
148 into overlapping relationship with the exposed face of
those intermediate panels.
This folding action is accompanied by inward folding of the
side end panels 160, 16~ and 164 and also side end panels
178, 180 and 182 across the open end of the tubular structure
relative to their associated side wall panels. During this
10 folding action, both bridging pieces 168 and 188 are
displaced inwardly. At the completion of this folding step,
securing strip 134 partially overlies both the side end
closure panels 160, 162 and securing strip 154 overlies both
the side end closure panels 180, 182.
The central tuck panel of 90 is displaced inwardly into the
central recess CR so that it slopes inward and downward
relative to the main panel portion 88. The side tabs 108,
110 are hinged outwardly as they strike against the endmost
bottles in the bottle rows RL and R~. An application of glue
20 is then made to end flap 80 the ends of panels 50, 51; 52, 55
and to both of the securing flaps 70 and 76. Both the bottom
end closure panels 50 and 52 are then folded upwardly and
adhered to securing flap and tab 154, 96 and to securing flap
and tab 134, 94 respectively. In doing so, notch 52b is
25 brought into register with aperture 166 and notch 50b is
brought into register with aperture 200 formed by notches
194, 196.
Bottom end closure panel 46 including wing panels 60, 62 is
folded upwardly abo~t transverse fold line 48 and the tapered
centre panel 58 is displaced inwardly into the central recess
CR whereby the wing panels 60 and 62 are flared outwardly of
the recess CR. The end flap 80 of centre panel 58 is secured
in overlapping relationship to end part 104 of top end
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in overlapping relationship to end part 104 of top end
closure panel.
When the bottom end closure panel is brought into its upward
folded position the securing flap 70 is superposed upon both
the side end closure flap 51 and the underlying securing tab
96 and is secured to those panels. Likewise, the opposite
securing flap 76 is superposed upon and secured to side end
closure flap 55 and the underlying securing tab 94.
With the end closure panels thus secured, the apertures 200,
50a 52a and 166 are aligned about the end of the carton.
Of course, the opposite end of the carton is closed in a like
manner. The apertured portions of the end closure panels
; provide location for a tight-fitting encircling band 13
applied subse~uently to the carton about its midriff. At the
- 15 ends of the carton, the bank provides a handle to facilitate
portage of the package and the recessed end construction
allows the handle portion of the strap to be grasped more
readily than otherwise would be in the absence of the void.
In this carton construction, the top end closure panels and
side end closure panels are hinged together by fold lines and
gusset panels to facilitate closure of those panels.
However, the central bottom end closure panel and the bottom
corner end closure panels are not interconnected. This
latter arrangement allows the bottom closure panels to be
folded downwardly away from the base panel so that they are
clear of the end opening of the tubular structure during end
loading so as to prevent 'snagging' of the bottles on the
bottom closure panels.
