Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARTON AND CARTON B><.ANI
Background of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a carton having a~n article retention
feature and more
particularly to a wraparound type article carzier designed for articles such
as connected
plastic cups containing yoghurt ox other similar foodstuff.
The prior art illustrates wraparound cartons with end closure panels for
closing the ends of
l0 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
gusset panels,
examples of which are shown iz~ US 5 180 054, FR-A-1424536. Prior art
structures illustrate
carriers for carrying articles with planar side's for example cans or bottles
and end retention
structures are therefore formed in a planar relationship with respective sides
and ends of the
corner.
When articles with tapered sides or articles provided with flanges, for
example yoghurt pots,
are packaged in groups or meat trays, there will tend to be relative movement
between
articles) and ttxe carton which is undesirable. Prior art carriers do not
provide satisfactory
2o retention fox articles of this type.
Another problem associated with the prior acct is that the retentio» structure
in some cases
tends to collapse within the carrier.
Summary of the~nvention
The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or at
least mitigate the
problems of the prior art.
3o One aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for holding one or
more articles, for
example connected plastic cups or a tray, comprising a first wall, opposed
side walls and a
second wall hingedly connected together to form a tubular structure and
wherein there further
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comprises article retention means hingedly connected to said first wall and
said second wall,
which article retention means is formed by a pair of interconnected panels
formed from
adjacent carton walls and inwardly folded to retain the articles within the
carton
characterised in that the pair of interconnected panels comprises a gusset
panel
s connected to a side retention panel wherein the gusset panel is hingedly
connected to the
first wall and includes a part that is adapted to be placed interDaediate the
first wall and
an article so that the side retention panel is retained in a set up condition.
Beneficially, the article carrier can be applied to az'ticles with tapered or
planar sides where it
io is desired to provide a retention structure that does not need to be glued.
Preferably, the gusset panel may be inwardly folded to be disposed in face
contacting
relationship with the first wall and wherein the side retention panel is
hingedly Connected
to the second wall.
I5
Preferably, the gusset panel includes a tab portion, extending inwardly of the
carrier
from the gusset panel, for placement between the packaged article and the
first wall.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention an
aperture may be
20 defined between side retention panel and the adjacent side wall and wherein
said tab portion
projects inwardly into the aperture beyond the hinged connection between the
interconnected
panel when in a flat collapsed condition.
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention an inner edge
of the side
z5 retention panel may be arranged to abut against an article.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention the side
retention panel
may comprise upper and lower parts hingedly connected together to be
temporarily folded
out of alignment during construction of the article retention structure to
assist with
30 construction of the second wail.
AMENDED SHEET
Empfao~__... .-
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A secorAd aspect of the invention provides a carton blank for forming an
article carrier for
holding an article for example a tray, comprising a first side panel, a first
wall panel, a second
side panel and a second wall panel hir~gedly connected together in series,
wherein there
further comprises article retention means hingedly connected to said first
wall panel and said
second wall panel, which article retention means is formed by a plurality of
panels including
a side retention panel so constructed and arranged to taper inwardly towards
said second wall
panel to substantially conform to the shape of an adjacent article held in a
set up carton.
Preferably, the plurality of panels may further comprise a gusset panel
connected to the side
Io retention panel wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to the
second wall panel and
includes a part adapted to be placed intermediate the second wall panel and an
article so that
the side retention panel is retained in a set up condition.
More preferably, an aperture may be defined between the side retention panel
and the
adjacent side wall and wherein the gusset panel includes a rah portion
projecting into the
aperture beyond the hinged connection between the gusset panel and side
retention panel.
brief Description of the D wings
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of
example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -
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FIGURE 1 illustrates a blank for forming a carton according to an aspect of
the invention;
FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the carton during the different stages of
construction from the
blank shown in Figure 1;
FIGURE 5 illustrates the carton loaded with articles formed from the blank of
Figure 1;
FIGURE 6 illustrates a blank for forming a carton according to a second
embodiment of the
W vention;
to
FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the carton during the stages of construction
from the blank
shown in Figure 1; and
FIGURES 1 l and 12 illustrate the carton loaded with an article formed from
the blank of
Figure 6.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to the drawings, and in particular Figure l, there is shown a carton
blank for
2o forming a carton made from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material.
In these
embodiments, wraparound type cartons can be formed from the blanks. It will be
recognised
that rather than the bottom wall being formed from the interlocked panels, the
carton blank
may be rearranged whereby some other wall such as a top wall or a side wall is
formed from
the interlocked panels.
Turning to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the blank 10 comprises a first
base panel 12,
first side wall panel 14, top panel 16, second side wall panel 18, second base
panel 20
hingedly connected one to the next along fold lines 22, 24, 26 and 28
respectively.
3o A series of panels for forming an article retention structure is provided
along one side and end
of the carton. The article retention arrangement 29 at one corner of side and
base panels 18,
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20 comprises an upper gusset panel 30 hingedly connected to top panel 16 along
an extension
of fold line 26. There further comprises a side retention panel 32 hingedly
connected to base
panel 20 along fold line 36. Side retention panel 32 and upper gusset panel 30
are
interconnected by a fold line 34. In this embodiment, fold lines 26, 34 and 36
are
substantially parallel, although the orientation of these fold lines can be
altered according to
the shape of article to be packaged.
An aperture 38 may be provided which in Figure 1 is formed intermediate side
wall panel 18
and side retention panel 32 and, preferably, extends into base panel 20.
l0
Upper gusset panel 30 is separated from side panel 18 by cut line 40 and it
may further
comprise a tab portion 31 extending from panel 30 into the aperture 38 beyond
fold line 34.
In use, tab portion 31 is adapted to project inwardly of the side retention
structure 29 to be
retained between the top panel 16 and an outer article to retain the side
retention panel 32 in a
15 set up condition.
Likewise, the opposing side of base and side wall panels 20 and 18 further
comprises a
similar article retention arrangement 47 comprising an upper gusset panel 42
hingedly
connected to top panel 16 along an extension of fold line 26. There further
comprises a side
2o retention panel 44 hingedly connected to base panel 20 along fold line 48.
Side retention
panel 44 and upper gusset panel 42 are interconnected by a fold line 46.
An aperture 50 may be provided which in Figure 1 is formed internediate side
wall panel 18
and side retention panel 44 and, preferably, extends into base panel 20.
Upper gusset panel 42 is separated from side panel 18 by cut line 52 and it
may further
comprise a tab portion 43 extending from panel 42 into the aperture 50 beyond
fold line 46.
In use, tab portion 43 fixnctions in the same manner as tab portion 31
described above.
3o In one class of embodiments, the lower edge 39, 51 of the apertures 38, 50
may diverge away
from a point of intersection with fold line 28 to define an obtuse angle with
fold line 28,
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thereby to define a protruding portion of the base in a set up condition.
Optionally, the inner
edges 54, 55 of side retention panels 32, 44 may taper inwardly or otherwise
conform to the
shape of the articles with respect to a notional vertical plane and/or
correspond to the
difference in distance between the bottom of the cup and the top flange of the
cup.
A second embodiment shown in Figure 6 is adapted to package meat trays. The
blank 110
comprises a first base panel 112, first side wall panel 114, top panel 116,
second side wall
panel 118, outer base panel 119 and inner base panel 120 hingedly connected
one to the next
along fold lines 122, 124, 126, 117 and 128 respectively.
A series of panels for forming one or more article retention structures 129,
147 is provided
along one side and end of the carton. Preferably, the article retention
arrangement 129 is
positioned at one end of side wall panel 118 and inner and outer base panels
119, 120. The
article retention arrangement 129 comprises a pair of interconnected panels
including an
inwardly folded panel hingedly connected to the base wall to be disposed in
face contacting
relationship therewith and wherein the other of the interconnected panels is
hingedly
connected to the top wall.
It will be seen from Figure 6 that the pair of interconnected panels comprise
a gusset panel
130 hingedly connected to outer base panel 120 along an extension of fold line
128. There
further comprises a side retention panel 132 hingedly connected to top panel
116 along an
extension of fold line 126. Side retention panel 132 and gusset panel 130 are
interconnected
by a fold line 134.
Preferably, side retention panel 132 comprises upper and lower parts 132a and
132b hingedly
interconnected along fold line 136.
An aperture 138 may be provided, which in Figure 6 is formed intermediate side
panel 118
and side retention panel 132 and may extend adjacent to inner base panel 119.
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Preferably, gusset panel 130 is separated from inner base panel 119 by cut
line 140 and it may
further comprise a tab portion 131 extending from gusset panel 130 into the
aperture 138
beyond fold line 134. In use, tab portion 131 is adapted to project inwardly
of the side
retention panel to be retained between the base panel 120 and the article T to
retain the side
retention panel 132 in a set up condition, shown in Figure 11.
Likewise, the opposing end of inner and outer base panels 119, 120 and side
wall panel 118
further comprises a similar article retention arrangement 147 comprising a
gusset panel 142
hingedly connected to base panel 120 along an extension of fold line 128.
There may further
to comprise a "two part" side retention panel 144a and 144b hingedly connected
to top panel
116 along fold line 126. Side retention panel 144 and gusset panel 142 are
interconnected by
a fold line 146.
An aperture 150 may be provided which is preferably formed intermediate side
panel 118 and
side retention panel 144 and may extend adjacent to inner base panel 119.
Similarly, gusset panel 142 is separated from side panel 118 by cut line 152
and it may further
comprise a tab portion 143 extending from panel 142 into the aperture 150
beyond fold line
146. In use, tab portion 143 also projects inwardly of the side retention
panel 144 to be
2o retained between the outer base panel 120 and the article T to retain the
side retention panel
144 in a set up condition.
The blank may further comprise securing means for securing together the
opposed ends of the
blank to form a wraparound carton. In this embodiment, the securing means
comprises a pair
of support panels 160 and 164 extending beyond the ends of base panels 112 and
120 and
hingedly connected thereto along fold line 162 and interrupted fold line 166
respectively. In
use, the support panels form a two ply structure to provide additional support
where the
panels engage, which is commonly the weakest part of the carton. The securing
means of this
embodiment further comprises a locking arrangement comprising a plurality of
locking tabs
3o 172a, 172b and 172c extending outwardly from support panel 164. There also
comprises
corresponding apertures for receiving the locking tabs which are defined by
cut lines 168a,
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170a, 168b, 170b and 168c, 170c extending substantially along interrupted fold
line 162. It is
envisaged that other known securing means could be used, for example glue or
other locking
arrangements without departing from the scope of invention.
In one class of embodiments, there further comprises one or more display
windows to view
the contents of the article contained in the Garner. In this embodiment, there
comprises two
display windows 176 and 178 struck from top panel 116.
Turning to the construction of the carton from a carton blank as illustrated
in Figures 1 and 6,
l0 the blanks 10 or 110 require a series of sequential folding and gluing
operations which is
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 to particular manufacturing requirements.
15 As the carton blank of the first embodiment is moved forward continuously,
it is constructed
in the manner shown in Figures 2 to 5 and is applied to an array of articles
A, for example
four articles A arranged in a two by two formation, whereby the top panel 16
is supported by
the tops of the articles.
20 The first stage is shown in Figure 2 whereby the side panel 18 is folded
out of alignment with
top panel 16 along fold line 26 and base panel 20 is folded out of alignment
with side panel
16 along fold line 28 so that side and base panel 18 and 20 are folded
inwardly in direction X.
As side panel 18 and base panel 20 are folded the construction of the article
retention
structures 29, 47, described below, may take place, automatically.
Each article retention structure is formed in a substantially like manner so
only the
construction of article retention structure 29 will now be described. It is
usual for the
retention structures on a blank to be formed at substantially the same time by
a suitable
arrangement of guides and/or locating means.
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Thus, article retention structure 29 is formed by, first, folding upper gusset
panel 30 about
fold line 26 such that it is folded into face contacting relationship with top
panel 16 shown in
Figures 2 and 3.
As upper gusset panel 30 is folded inwards in direction Y (Figure 3) towards
top panel 16, it
is folded out of alignment with side retention panel 32 along fold line 34
into a substantially
perpendicular relationship which causes the side retention panel 32 to be
moved out of
alignment along fold line 36 with side wall panel 18 and into an angular
relationship with
base panel 20. Thus, the side retention panel 32 may be caused to taper
inwardly towards the
1o base panel 20, as shown in Figure 3. Optionally the upper gusset panel 30,
and in those
embodiments with tab 31 can be secured to the top panel 16 by glue or other
suitable means
known in the art.
The opposing article retention structure 47 is formed in a similar manner, as
shown in Figures
1s 2and3.
The articles A are then loaded into the carrier from the side or from the end
by suitable
packaging machinery with the tabs 31, 43 positioned between the top of the
adjacent articles
and the inner face of the top panel, shown in Figure 4. The articles are held
in place by
2o abutment with the inner edges 54, 56 of panels 32 and 44. The shape of the
base panel 20
allows articles to be placed in the protruding portion 58 of base panel 20,
adjacent side wall
panel 18.
Thereafter, the folding of base and side wall panels 12, 14 is completed by
folding these
2s panels along fold lines 22 and 24 respectively so that a portion of base
panel 12 is placed in
face contacting relationship with a corresponding overlapping portion of base
panel 20 and is
secured together to form a base structure, by glue or other means known in the
art as
illustrated in Figure 5. Thus, the carton is in a fully erected and loaded
condition.
3o Figure 5 illustrates a carton formed from a blank of the first embodiment
shown in Figure 1.
More particularly, there is illustrated an article Garner for holding articles
with tapered sides,
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for example connected plastic cups, comprising a top wall 16, opposed side
walls 14, 18 and
a base 12, 20 hingedly connected together to form a tubular structure and
wherein there
further comprises article retention means 29, 47 hingedly connected to one of
said side walls
14 and said base 12, which article retention means is formed by a pair of
interconnected
panels formed from adjacent carton walls and inwardly folded to retain the
articles within the
carton.
Beneficially, the articles are held in place by the article retention
structures, to prevent
unwanted removal. The retention structures are prevented from collapsing by
the tabs 31, 43
1o being engaged between the articles A and the top panel 16.
The carton blank 110 of the second embodiment is constructed in a similar
manner to the first
embodiment, whereby it is moved forward continuously as it is constructed in
the manner
shown in Figures 7 to 11. It is applied to an article T, for example a tray,
whereby the top
15 panel 116 is supported by the top of the article.
The first stage of construction is shown in Figures 7 and 8 whereby the top
panel 116 is
brought into contact with the top of the tray T. Thereafter, side panels 114
and 118 are folded
out of alignment with top panel 116 along fold lines 124 and 126 respectively
to wraparound
2o the article. Outer base panel 120 is folded out of alignment with inner
base panel 119 along
fold line 128, shown in Figure 9, so that base panel 120 is folded outwardly
in direction X.
As side panel 118 and outer base panel 120 are folded the construction of the
article retention
structures occurs, described in more detail below.
25 Each article retention structure is formed in a like manner so only the
construction of article
retention structure 129 will now be described. It is usual for the retention
structures on a
blank to be formed at substantially the same time by a suitable arrangement of
guides and/or
locating means.
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Thus, article retention structure 129 is formed by, first, folding gusset
panel 130 inwardly
about fold line 134. In one class of embodiments, this is achieved
automatically when the
outer base panel 120 is folded out of alignment with inner base panel 119.
This folding action is illustrated in Figure 9 and it will be seen that as
gusset panel 130 is
folded inwardly, it is also folded out of alignment with side retention panel
132 along fold
line 134 into a substantially perpendicular relationship. Also, side retention
panel 132 is
caused to be moved out of alignment with side panel 118 and into an angular
relationship
with top panel 116 along fold line 126. Thus, the side retention panel 132 may
be caused to
1o taper inwardly with respect to side panel 118 because fold lines 128 and
134 are offset, in the
vertical plane.
Thereafter, inner base panel 119 is folded out of alignment with side panel
118 along fold line
117 and side retention panels 132a and 132b are caused to be folded out of
alignment along
fold line 136.
The opposing article retention structure 147 is formed in a similar manner, as
shown in
Figures 7, 8 and 9.
2o As the side panels 114, 118 continue to be folded towards the sides of
article T, inner base
panel 119 is folded inwardly in direction W, shown in Figure 10, which
increases the spacing
between the side retention panel 132 and side wall panel 118. Base panel 119
is folded into
abutment with the base of the article T along fold line 117 and outer base
panel 120 is folded
towards gusset panels 130 and 142 in direction Y along fold line 128 into face
contacting
relationship with gusset panels 130, 142 and tabs 131, 142. At this stage of
the construction,
side retention panels 132 and 144 are thus positioned across the end face of
the carton to
prevent the tray from sliding out of either end of the carton.
Optionally gusset panel 130, and in those embodiments with tab 131, can be
secured to the
3o top panel 116 by glue or other suitable means known in the art.
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Base panels 112, 120 are secured together by suitable means known in the art,
whereby the
locking tabs 172 are inserted through the slits 168, 170 to be engaged
therewith. The
shoulder portions are engaged by the abutment with securing panel 160 shown in
Figure 11.
Thus, the article carrier is in a set up and erected condition as shown in
Figure 12 in which
there comprises a top wall 116, opposed side walls 114, 118 and a base wall
120, 112
hingedly connected together to form a tubular structure and wherein there
further comprises
article retention means hingedly connected to said top wall and said base
wall, which article
retention means is formed by a pair of interconnected panels 130, 132 formed
from adjacent
carton walls and inwardly folded to retain the article within the carton.
The article T is held in place by abutment with the inner edges of side
retention panels 132
and 144 to prevent unwanted removal.
It will be seen from Figure 12 that gusset panels 130, 142 and/or tabs 131,
143 are positioned
between the bottom of the article T and the inner face of base panel 120 to
prevent the
retention structures from collapsing.
It will also be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as
"top", "base",
"end", "side", "inner" and "outer" do not limit 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 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
minimises the amount of paperboard required and the carrier can be applied to
an array of
3o articles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the
invention can be applied to
a variety of earners and is not limited to those of the wraparound type
hereinabove described.
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Further or alternatively, the carton may be adapted to carry a greater or
lesser number of
articles without departing from the scope of the invention.
