Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
to FFR ?002 18:32 H l B B 01788 540783 N0.8056 P.
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1
HEVERAGE CARTON WITH STRAP TYPE CARRYING HANDLE
This invention relates to a carton which is particularly but not only suitable
for
accommodating beverage containers such as cans and bottles and which
incorporates a
"strap-type" carrying handle.
Beverage cartons which include carrying handles and indeed, strap type
carrying handles are
known. For example, US 4,166,570 (Laterand et al) discloses a packaging carton
for
beverage cans which a strap type handle. The handle strap has a central user
portion exposed
to view in a handle access aperture in top wall of the carton, extends across
the top wall and
has opposite ends which terminate in respective ones of a pair of end closure
flaps which are
hinged to the top wall. The handle strap is reinforced by a separate strip of
reinforcing
materiai, for example, a fibrous tape.
WO 97!07031 (Riverwood International Corporation) discloses a packaging carton
for
beverage cans having a handle strap secured at each end thereof to an outer
face of an end
panel of the carton between a pair of cuts which extend across the hinge
between the top
panel and the respective end panel. As the carton is lifted via the handle,
the provision of a
fold line extend between the pairs of cuts on the top panel allows the
portions bounded by the
cut lines to deflect inwardly.
The present invention seeks to provide, in a carton, a multiply strap type
handle that does not
protrude above the top pane! in a stored position and that can be deployed to
a position of use
by providing displaceable portions of the carton at either end of the carton
while ensuring a
sufficient strength of handle.
One aspect of the invention pmvidcs, in a carton, a handle structure in the
form of a strap
which can be raised from a stowed position, in which it is substantially
coplanar with a top
wall of the carton, to a raised user position relative to the top wall by
grasping a user portion
of the strap in a handle aperture area of the top wall, the handle strap being
attached at least at
one end thereof to an inwardly displaceable portion of a side wall of the
carton, said inwardly
displaceable portion being displaced inwardly of the carton when the handle is
raised into its
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user position thereby providing a surplus of x»aterial to facilitate use,
characterised by a
second ply of material which overlies at least a part of the inwardly
displaceable portion and
in that the second ply of material comprises a further inwardly displaceablo
portion in
substantial registry with the inwardly displaceable portion of said side wall,
the said one end
of the strap being secured together with the inwardly displaceable portion of
the side wall and
the inwardly displaceable portion of the overlying second ply of material.
Preferably, the
inwardly displaceable portion may be a tab struck from the side wall.
In one embodiment, the tab may be defined by cut lines that intersect with a
fold line
hingedly interconnecting the top wall and the side wall.
Preferably, the said one end of the strap is secured between the inwardly
displaceable portion
of the side wall and the inwardly displaceable portion of the overlying second
ply of material.
Preferably, the inwardly displaceable portions of the side walls may be formed
iategrally
with an elongate strip detachable from, and extending across the top wall.
Preferably, the
strap is secured to at least part of the strip, and is coextensive therewith.
According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, the top wall may
be a composite
of first and second at least partially lapped panels. Preferably, the lapped
portion of the top
panel has the handle strap secured thereto.
According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, the second ply
of material may
be a separate insert secured to the carton.
According to yet another feature of this aspect of the invention, a blinding
parcel may be
arranged so as to substantially prevent access to the interior of the carton
through the
aperture. Preferably, the blinding panel is hingedly connected to the top
wall. The blinding
panel may be formed from a separate blank secured over the aperwrc. Yn some
constructions
according to this aspect of the invention, the second ply of material may
provide the blinding
panel.
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According to a still further feature of this aspect of the invention, the
inwardly displaceable
portion or portions may be adapted to separate and support adjacent articles
in the package
when the handle is raised.
Another aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a carton for
accommodating at
least one article, which blank includes a handle structure in the form of a
strap which can be
raised from a stowed position, in which it is substantially coplanar with a
panel of the blank
which will become the top wall of the carton, to a raised user position
relative to the top wall
panel by grasping a user portion of the strap in a handle aperture area of the
top wall panel,
the handle strap being attached at its ends to an inwardly displaceable
portion of respxtive
panels which are to become the side walls of the carton, said inwardly
displaceable portions
being displaced inwardly of the carton when the handle is raised into its user
position thereby
providing a surplus of material to facilitate use, characterised by a second
ply of material
which overlies at least a part of the inwardly displaceable portions and in
that the second ply
of material comprises further inwardly displaceable portions in substantial
registry with the
inwardly displaceable portions of said side wall panels, the each ends of the
strap being
secured together with the inwardly displaceable portion of a side wall panel
and the inwardly
displaceable portion of the overlying second ply of material.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will no'w be described by way of
example, with
reference to the following drawings in which:
FIGURE IA is a plan view of a blank of a wraparound carton according to ane
embodiment
of the invention;
FIGURE 1B is a plan view of an insert blank which may be secured to the blank
of figure
1 A;
FIGURE I ~ is a plan view of an alternative insert blank which may be secured
to the blank
of Figure lA;
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FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank shown in Figure I B with glue applied
thereto;
FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank of Figure IA in which the blank of Figure
IB has been
secured thereto;
~0 FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank shown in
Figure l;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the carton shown in Figure 3 illustrating
the handle
structure in a set up condition;
is FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank of a carton according to a second
embodiment of the
invention;
FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the blank shown in Figure 6 that has been partially
folded;
2o FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank shown in
Figure 6;
FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the carton shown in Figure 8 illustrating
the handle
structure in a set up condition;
25 FIGURE I0 is a plan view of a blank for a carton according to a third
embodiment of the
invention;
FIGURE I 1 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank shown in
Figure 10;
30 FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the carton shown in Figure 11
illustrating the handle
structure in a set up condition;
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FIGURE 13 is a plan view of a blank according to a fourth embodiment of the
invention;
FIGURE 14 is a plan view of the blank of Figure 13 that has been partially
folded;
FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of Figure
13;
FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the carton shown in Figure 15 illustrating
the handle
structure in a set up condition;
to
FIGURE 17 is a plan view of a blank according to a fifth embodiment of the
invention;
FIGURES 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d are perspective views of a folding and securing
operation
relating to one portion of the blank of Figure 17;
FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of Figure
17; and
FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of the carton shown in Figure 19 illustrating
the handle
structure in a set-up condition.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to the drawings, and in particular Figures 1 A, 1 B, 1 C, 6, 10, I 3
and 17 thereof, a
carton is formed from a two-part or unitary blank 10, 80, 90, 110, 210, 310,
410 made from
paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material, which can be adapted to
accommodate a
variety of articles, for example twelve bottles arranged in three rows of four
bottles each. It is
envisaged the carton can be adapted to accommodate a different number of
bottles or other
articles according to user requirements.
Turning to the first embodiment of the carton blank 10 illustrated in Figure
lA, this blank
includes a first base panel 12, a first side wall panel that may comprise
lower side panel 14
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and upper side panel 16, top panel 18, and a second side wall panel that may
comprise second
upper panel 20, and a second lower side panel 22. The aforesaid panels are
hingedly
connected one to the next in a longitudinal plane along fold lines 24, 26, 28,
30 and 32
respectively. A securing flap 23 may be hingedly connected to one end of the
blank, for
example the second lower side panel 22 along fold line 25. In alternative
embodiments, other
securing arrangements may be used.
Preferably, the blank further comprises an end closure structure indicated
generally by
numeral 34 including a pair of upper and lower end closure panels 38, 40
hingedly connected
1 o to top panel 18 and base panel 12, along fold lines 42 and 44
respectively.
In one class of embodiments, the end closure structure 34 further includes
connected together
gusset panels 46 and 48. Gusset panels 46, 48 extend outwardly from lower and
upper side
panels 22, 20 respectively and are connected thereto by fold lines 52, 54. A
further
overlapping panel 56 is connected to end panel 38 by lateral fold line 30 and
to gusset panel
48 along fold line 58. The gusset panels 46, 48 and overlapping panel are
adapted to form a
corner structure as is well known in the art.
Likewise, the opposing corner of the end closure structure 34 also includes
gusset panels 60
and 62. Gusset panels 60, 62 extend outwardly from lower and upper side panels
14, 16 and
are connected thereto by fold lines 66, 68. A further overlapping panel 70 is
connected to end
panel 38 by lateral fold line 28 and to gusset panel 62 along fold line 72.
It is envisaged that there may comprise one or more end closure structures
without departing
from the scope of the invention.
The construction along the opposing side of the top panel and bottom comprises
an end
closure structure 36 which is similar and therefore like parts at one end of
the top panel are
designated by reference numerals to like parts of the opposite end with the
addition of suffix
'a' and are not described in any greater detail.
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Turning to the construction of the handle structure, there comprises a central
user aperture 74
struck from top panel 18. In this embodiment, the central user aperture 74 is
substantially
rectangular in shape.
An outer displaceable tab 76 is struck from the blank in the second upper side
panel 20 so that
the flap 76 is hinged to that panel, but otherwise cut out from the blank
along cut lines 73, 75
and 77. Cut lines 73 'and 75 preferably converge towards cut line 77. Cut line
77 is, in this
embodiment, arranged to interrupt fold line 30 although in alternative
embodiments this is not
necessarily the case. Likewise, a second flap 78 is struck from the first
upper side panel 16
and is hingedly connected thereto by a similar arrangement. The first and
second flaps are,
preferably, located substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the
aperture 74.
The other features of the handle structure are described by reference to
Figure 1 B, in which
there is shown a second blank 80 arranged to be secured to the first blank 10.
The blank
comprises in series a first side panel 84, a top panel 86 and a second side
panel 88 hingedly
interconnected along interrupted fold lines 85 and 87. A displaceable tab 83
that may
advantageously be of substantially identical dimensions to tab 76 on blank 10
is struck from,
and hingedly interconnected to, second side panel 88, and is preferably
defined by convergent
cut lines 59 and 61 and an aperture H2. A similar flap 81 is likewise struck
from first side
panel 84 and is defined in part by aperture H 1. A plurality of apertures 89
may additionally
interrupt fold lines 85 and 87 and are preferably used to aid the manipulation
of the blank 80.
A handle strap 82 is preferably glued at glue point G to the first and second
side panels 84
and 88, and to flaps 81 and 82, and is arranged to extend across upper panel
86, as shown.
Figure 1 C illustrates an alternative embodiment of the insert blank. The
blank 90 comprises a
first side panel 94, a top panel 96 and a second side panel 98 hingedly
interconnected in series
along interrupted fold lines 95 and 97. As in blank 80, opposed tabs 91 and 93
are struck
from the first and second side panels respectively, but are interconnected by
an elongate strip
79 struck from the top panel 96 and extending between fold lines 95 and 97.
Tab 93 is
3o defined by convergent cut lines 69 and 71, and tab 91 is preferably
similarly arranged. A
handle strap 92 is preferably secured by glue at glue point G to first and
second side panels 94
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and 98, elongate strip 79, and tabs 91 and 93. In alternative embodiments,
other securing
means known in the art may be used.
It is preferred that the handle strap 82, 92 of Figures 1 B and 1 C is formed
from paperboard,
laminated paperboard, fibrous tape or other suitable plastics material capable
of supporting
the weight of the carton and its contents.
Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, glue is applied preferably at glue point G to
the insert blank
80, and the insert is then secured to blank 10 in the position illustrated in
Figure 3 such that
1o inner tab 81 overlies outer tab 78, inner tab 76 overlies outer tab 83, and
the strap 82 is
secured therebetween. In other embodiments, glue may be applied to blank 10
rather than the
insert blank 80. The strap 82 is preferably visible through user aperture 74.
In an alternative
embodiment, insert 90 may alternatively be secured to blank 10 in a similar
manner such that
the strap 92 and/or strip 79 handle is visible through the aperture 74.
Turning now to the construction of the carton illustrated in Figures 4 and 5,
the blanks require
a series of sequential folding and/or 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
2o according to particular manufacturing requirements.
The carton is usually supplied to a bottler in a flat collapsed tubular
condition whereby lower
side panel 22 is secured to base panel 12 by securing glue flap 23 using glue
or other suitable
means. In order to set up the carton, the sides, top and base panels are
folded from a flat
condition to form a tubular structure, as is well known.
Thereafter, articles are introduced into the carton and the end closure
structure is formed.
Gusset panels 46, 48, 50 and 60, 62, 70 are folded inwardly about fold lines
52, 54 and 66, 68
respectively and the end closure panels 38, 40 are folded inwardly to form one
end of the
sleeve, whereby the gusset panels come into face to face relationship with end
closure panels
38 and 40. Panels 56, 70 come into face to face contact with their respective
adjacent gusset
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panels 48, 62. Optionally, the faces of gusset panels 46, 48, 60, 62 may be
secured to the
upper and lower end closure panels 38, 40 by means known in the art to hold
the end closure
panels in place. The opposing end structure 36 is formed in like manner, so
the carton is in a
set up and loaded condition as shown in Figure 4.
In order to bring the handle to a position of use as illustrated in Figure 5,
the user part of the
strap 82 is accessed via the user aperture 74, and may be pulled so as to
stand proud of the top
panel 18. Composite flaps 76, 83, and 78, 81 deflect inwardly out of the plane
of upper side
panels 16 and 20 to provide the surplus of material to enable the strap to be
brought into a
to position of use. When in a deployed position, the composite flaps may act
to stabilise or
space the necks of articles contained within the carton thereby ensuring that
the bottles or
other articles are packed tightly within the carton. The sandwiching of the
strap between the
inner and outer displaceable tabs ensures that the strap is firmly secured to
the carton. Top
panel 86 of the insert substantially prevents the contents of the carton from
being seen or
accessed. Aperture H 1 and H2 advantageously allow for the substantially
unhindered
displacement of the tabs.
The handle of a carton formed using insert blank 90 (not shown) is brought
into use in a
similar manner, although both the strip 92 and strap 79 form the user part.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), to enable the carton to be carried
more
comfortably, a frangible user portion attached to top panel 18 may replace
user aperture 74.
The user portion may be secured to the strap 82 when insert 80 is secured to
blank 10 using
glue or other suitable means, and the user portion may be supplied with side
cushioning flaps
which fold underneath strap 82 to cushion the hand of the user.
The second embodiment shown in Figure 6 and 7 corresponds substantially to the
first
embodiment and therefore like parts are designated by reference numerals which
are prefixed
with the numeral "1 ". Only those parts of the second embodiment which differ
from the first
embodiment are hereinafter described. Thus, in this embodiment, the tubular
carton is
formed by lapping a first top panel 118 with a second top panel 119 and first
upper end
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closure panels 138, 138a with a second upper end closure panels 139, 139a
hinged to second
top panel along fold lines 143, 143a. This arrangement is used to assist the
construction of
the handle which, in this embodiment, is formed longitudinally with respect to
the carton,
rather than transversely, as in the first class of embodiments.
An elongate strip 179 is struck from first top panel 118 and is arranged to
extend between
fold lines 142 and 142a in a direction substantially parallel to fold line
128. The strip 179 is
hingedly interconnected to an outer displaceable tab 193 struck from, and
hingedly connected
to, end closure panel 138, the tab 193 being defined by cut lines 169, 171
which converge
l0 towards strip 179. A similar tab 191 is provided in end closure panel 138a.
A user aperture
174 arranged substantially parallel to fold line 130 is provided in second top
panel 119.
A handle strap 182 is secured to strip 179, flaps 191 and 193, and preferably
end closure
panels 138 and 138a using glue or other suitable means known in the art. The
strap 182
preferably acts to reinforce strip 179. Again, it is preferred that the handle
strap is formed
from paperboard, laminated paperboard, fibrous tape or other suitable plastics
material.
An aperture cover or blinding panel 186 is hingedly connected to top panel 118
along fold
line 131, and is further hingedly connected to strap cover panels 184 and 188
along
2o extensions of fold lines 142 and 142a. The strap cover panels are
additionally hingedly
connected to end cover panels 138 and 138a along extensions of fold line 131.
Inner
displaceable tabs 176 and 178 are struck from strap cover panels 184 and 188
respectively.
Tab 176 is defined by cut line 175 and 151 and is arranged, when cover panel
184 is folded,
to substantially overly cut line 171. Preferably cut line 151 is struck from
panel 186.
Displaceable tab 178 is similarly arranged.
As shown in Figure 6, tabs 176 and 178 may extend partially into cover panel
186. The cover
panel is further advantageously provided with score lines which, when the
carton is erected,
are substantially co-extensive with the score lines of the first and second
top panels 118, 199.
3o Glue is applied to glue areas G, and panels 186, 184 and 188 are folded
through substantially
180° so as to overlie strap 182 and panels 118, 138 and 138a. In
alternative embodiments,
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glue may be applied to panels 184, 186, 186a. The strap is thereby secured
between
composite tabs 176, 193 and 178, 191 at its ends, as illustrated in Figure 7.
There may further comprise intermediate side wall panels 115 and 121 formed in
first and
second side walls and hingedly connected thereto along fold lines 126, 199 and
159, 132
respectively. This allows the carton to be held in a flat collapsed condition
about foldlines
199 and 159.
Turning now to the construction of the carton with reference in particular to
Figure 7, the
blank is folded such that top panel 119 overlies top panel 118, and is secured
thereto using
glue or other known means, the panel being arranged such that strip 179, as
reinforced by
strap 182, is visible through user aperture 174. First and second upper end
closure panels
138, 139 and 138a, 139a may also be secured together. The carton is now in a
flat collapsed
condition, as it would usually be supplied to a bottler.
Thereafter, the construction of the carton is substantially identical to the
construction of the
carton as illustrated in the first embodiment. The fully erected carton is
illustrated in Figure
8. One advantage of this embodiment is that the outer displaceable tabs 191
and 193 are not
visible from the exterior of the carton, as they are covered by upper end
closure panels 139
and 139a respectively.
As in the first embodiment, the composite strip and strap handle may be
engaged by the user
and lifted out of the plane of composite top wall panel 1 18 and 119 so as to
stand proud
thereof. Inner and outer displaceable tabs 191, 193, 176, 178 are displaced
inwardly to
provide surplus material for the strap to be brought into a position of use.
Cover panel 186
substantially prevents the contents of the carton being seen or accessed. The
score lines
provided in the top panels aid the distribution of the load from the handle to
the carton walls.
The third embodiment shown in Figures 10 to 12 corresponds substantially to
the first and
3o second embodiments in many respects and therefore, where possible, like
parts are designated
by numerals which are prefixed with the numeral "2". The most significant
difference being
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that the top panels 218, 218a are lapped transversely such that the handle may
also be
constructed transversely.
Turning to the carton blank 210 illustrated in Figure 10, this blank includes
a first top panel
218, first upper end panel 238, first intermediate end panel 289, lower end
panel 240, first
base panel 212, second lower end panel 240a, second intermediate end panel
239a, second
upper end panel 238a, and second top panel 218a hingedly interconnected in
series along fold
lines 242, 241, 243, 244, 244a, 243a, 241 a, 242a respectively.
to The blank further comprises one or more side closure structures including
first and second
upper side closure panels 220, 220a and 216, 216a hingedly connected to first
and second top
panels 218, 219 along fold lines 230, 230a and 228, 228a respectively. In this
embodiment,
the side closure structures also include lower side closure panels 222, 214
hingedly connected
to base panel 312 by fold lines 225, 224 respectively formed along the opposed
longitudinal
edges of base panel 312.
The side closure structure may also include gusset arrangements 234, 234a and
236, 236a that
are substantially identical to the end gusset arrangements of the previous two
embodiments
above, and will not therefore be discussed in greater detail.
A handle arrangement similar to that of the second embodiment is provided in
this
embodiment. In this embodiment, however, the handle strap extends transversely
across the
top panel, rather than longitudinally. Furthermore, no blinding panel or strap
cover panels are
provided, although it is envisaged that in alternative embodiments these
panels could be
provided.
An elongate strip 279 is struck from second top panel 218a and is arranged to
extend between
fold lines 228a and 230a in a direction substantially parallel to fold line
242a. The strip 279
is hingedly interconnected to an inner inwardly displaceable tab 293 struck
from, and
3o hingedly connected to, side closure panel 220a, the tab 293 being defined
by cut lines 269,
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271 which may preferably converge towards strip 279. A similar tab 291 is
provided in side
closure panel 216a.
Optionally, a handle strap 282 is provided to be secured to strip 279, tabs
291 and 293 and,
preferably, side closure panels 220a and 216a using glue or other suitable
means. Again, it is
preferred that the handle strap is formed from paperboard, laminated
paperboard, fibrous tape
or other suitable plastics material.
Outer displaceable tabs 276 and 278 are struck from first upper side closure
panels 220 and
216 respectively. Tab 276 is defined by cut lines 275 and 273 and 277 and is
arranged to
substantially overlie tab 293 when the blank is folded to form a flat tubular
structure.
Displaceable tab 278 is similarly arranged to overlie tab 291. A user aperture
274 is arranged
substantially mid-way between tabs 276 and 278.
Turning now to the construction of the carton in Figures 10 and 1 I the blank
is folded such
that first top panel 218 overlies second top panel 218a, and is secured
thereto by glue at glue
points G (Figure 10) or other suitable means, such that elongate strip 279, as
reinforced by
strap 282, is accessible through aperture 274. In addition tab 276 overlies
tab 293, and tab
278 overlies tab 291. In this embodiment, the tabs do not sandwich the ends of
the strap 282
2o as in the previous embodiments although it is envisaged that these could be
sandwiched
between the tabs without departing from the scope of the invention.
The carton is usually supplied to a bottler in this flat collapsed form. The
carton is
subsequently loaded and erected and the side closure structures are formed in
a similar
manner to the end closure structures of the previous embodiment. The carton is
now fully
erected, as illustrated in Figure 11.
In order to form the handle as illustrated in Figure 12, the elongate strip
279 is accessed via
the user aperture 274, and may be pulled so as to stand proud of the composite
top wall 218,
218a. Composite tabs 276, 293 and 278, 291 deflect inwardly out of the plane
of the upper
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side panels to provide the surplus of material to enable the strap to be
brought into a position
of use.
Turning now to Figures 13 to 16, there is illustrated a fourth embodiment of
the invention
which is a variation on the second embodiment of Figures 6 to 9 in which the
handle structure
is provided on a side wall of the carton rather than the top. As the fourth
embodiment
corresponds substantially to the second embodiment, like parts are designated
by like
reference numerals which are prefixed with the number "3" and only those parts
of the fourth
embodiment which differ from the second embodiment are hereinafter described.
Referring now in particular to Figure 13, there is shown a blank 310
comprising in series a
first lower side panel 313, base panel 312, second lower side panel 322, first
upper side panel
320, top panel 318, second upper side panel 316 and third lower side panel
314.
An elongate strip 379 is struck from first lower side panel 313 and is
arranged to extend
between fold lines 343 and 343a in a direction substantially parallel to the
end edge of the
blank. The strip 379 is hingedly interconnected to an inner inwardly
displaceable tab 393
struck from and hingedly connected to end closure panel 359, the tab 393 being
defined by
cut lines 369 and 371 which in this embodiment are preferably parallel, and
terminate in
2o stress relieving curved portions. A similar inner tab 391 is provided in
end closure panel
359a.
Optionally, a handle strap 382 is provided to be secured to the strip 379,
tabs 393 and 391
and, preferably, end closure panels 359 and 359a using glue or other suitable
means. The
handle strap is preferably formed from one of the materials described in the
previous
embodiments. A blinding panel 386 is advantageously further hingedly connected
to first
lower end panel 313 along fold line 131. A user aperture 374 preferably
extends transversely
across third lower side panel 314.
3o Glue is applied to glue points G and the blinding panel is folded in a
direction indicated by
the arrow in Figure 14 so as to overlie the elongate strip 379 and strap 382
along at least a
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portion of their length. The blinding panel is preferably of greater length
than user aperture
374.
To construct the carton, the blank is folded such that third lower side panel
314 overlies first
lower side panel 313, the panels being secured together using glue or other
known means
such that the elongate strip 379 can be accessed through user aperture 374.
The carton is usually supplied to a bottler in this flat tubular form. The
carton is subsequently
erected and loaded and the side closure structures are formed in a similar
manner to the end
to closure structures of the second embodiment. The carton is now fully
erected as illustrated in
Figure 15.
The elongate reinforced strap 379 may be engaged by the user as in the
previous
embodiments, with the surplus strap material being provided by the inward
displacement of
IS tabs 371 and 391 shown in Figure 16. The tabs are however hidden from view
by panels 360
and 360a of the end closure structure. Blinding panel 386 substantially
prevents the contents
of the carton being viewed and accessed once the reinforced strap 379 is
deployed.
The fifth embodiment shown in Figures 17 to 20 correspond substantially to the
second
2o embodiment therefore like parts are designated by like reference numerals
which are pre-
fixed with the numeral "4". Only those parts of the fifth embodiment which
differ from the
second embodiment are hereinafter described. Thus, in this embodiment the
tubular carton is
formed by lapping first top panel 418 with second top panel 419 and first
upper end closure
panel 438, 438a with a second upper end closure panel 439, 439a. This lapping
arrangement
25 is used to assist in the construction of the handle.
Outer inwardly displaceable tab 493 is struck from the end edge of panel 439
and, optionally,
panel 419, is defined by cut lines 469 and 477 and preferably straddles fold
line 443, to
terminate at cut line 477. Cut line 469 advantageously terminates in a stress-
relieving curved
30 portion. A similar tab 491 is struck from panels 439a and optionally panel
419. A blinding
panel 479 hingedly interconnects to second top panel 419 along fold line 489
is provided
,y. rip. LVUL lif:~~ n ~ a ~ m lab ~~ur~s N~. ~U56 r. a i
19-02-2002 - US003471:
CA 02395181 2002-06-20
16
from panels 419 and 439a. A blinding panel 479 hingedly interconnects to
second top panel
419 along fold line 489 is provided intermediate outer displaceable tabs 491
and 493.
A similar arrangement comprising inner inwardly displaceable tabs 476 and 478
are provided
on the first top panel 418 and upper end closure panels 438 and 438a. Further
panels 495 and
497 are preferably hingodly connected to the free cads of the inner tabs 47f
and 478 and a
blinding panel 48b is preferably formed integrally with first top panel 418.
Referring now to figures 18A, 188, 18C and 18A there is shown a sequence of
steps for
securing a handle strap 482 to the blank. It can be seen from Figure 18B that
blinding panel
479 is folded out of alignment in direction "X" from second top panel 419 and
glue is applied
to glue points G on tabs 491 and 492 and panels 439 and 439a. The strap 48Z is
then
preferably secured to the blank as shown in Figure 18C. To complete the
operation, blinding
panel 479 is folded in direction "Y" back into substantial alignment with
second top panel
419 as illustrated in Figure 18D.
To form a fully erected carton as illustrated in Figure 19, the blank of
Figure 17 is folded
such that blinding panel 479 overlies blinding panel 486 and is secured
thereto using glue or
other suitable means, and that the strap 482, tabs 491 and 493, and optionally
end closure
panels 439 a»d 439a overlie tabs 476 and 478, panels 495 and 497 and end
closure panels
438 and 438a, and are secured thereto such that tab 476 is substantially in
register with tab
493, and tab 478 is substantially in register with tab 491. Handle strap 482
is secured there
between in this embodiment.
Oncc the carton has been loaded, and the ends closed and secured, the carton
is fully erected
as illustrated in Figure 19_
Emofan~AMENDED SHEET
WO 01/46023 CA 02395181 2002-06-20 PCT/US00/34712
-17-
Referring now to Figure 20, to lift the carton, an end user engages strap 482
such that the
composite tabs 476, 493 and 478, 491 thereby providing a surplus of material
to enable strap
482 to stand proud of the composite top wall 418, 419. The composite blinding
panel formed
by panels 486 and 479 enhances the structural integrity of the carton, as well
as substantially
preventing the contents of the carton being viewed. Also panels 495, 497
improve rigidity of
the carton.
It is envisaged that the inwardly displaceable portion of flaps 76, 78 are
adapted to be placed
intermediate adjacent articles to separate and support these bottles.
Furthermore, the
abutment of the flaps against the articles will encourage the handle to be
maintained in a
deployed position so that it can be re-used easily. A further advantage is
that the handles do
not protrude when in a stored position so that prior to use they do not tear
or snag other
cartons placed on top or around it.
It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as
"top", "base", "upper",
"lower", "intermediate", "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
2o score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the
scope of invention.
It will further be recognised that in the construction of the cartons of the
embodiments
described, the blanks require a series of sequential folding and gluing
operations which are
preferably performed in a straight line machine so that the cartons are not
required to be
rotated or inverted to complete their construction. The folding process is not
limited to those
described above and can be altered according to particular manufacturing
requirements.
It should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the scope of
the
invention, for example the size and shape of the panels may be adjusted so as
to package
3o articles of various sizes. Alternative known end/side closure means may be
used, and user
CA 02395181 2002-06-20
WO 01/46023 PCTNS00/34712
-18-
apertures in those embodiments where they are present may be replaced by user
panels which
may be secured to the strip/strap s;~ as to provide cushioning for the hand of
the end user.
Furthermore, the carton and handle structures of the present invention are
shaped to provide
s satisfactory rigidity to hold items such as bottles securely, but with a
degree of flexibility so
that the load from the handle, when the carton is carried, can be better
absorbed by it. The
shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required. The articles
can be applied
to the carton by hand or automatic machinery.
