WO1993011045A1

WO1993011045A1 - Cartons

Info

Publication number: WO1993011045A1
Application number: PCT/GB1992/002223
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Palmer; David Batchen; Martin Palmer
Original assignee: Dalgety Spillers Foods Limited
Priority date: 1991-12-02
Filing date: 1992-12-01
Publication date: 1993-06-10
Also published as: GB2262735A; AU4028693A; GB9216920D0

Abstract

A carton (2) for transporting/storing as well as displaying products has four flaps (52, 54, 56, 58) for closing one side of the carton (60) during transporting/storage. The flaps (52, 54, 56, 58) are rearrangeable to permit access to the interior of the carton (2) for displaying product. One of the flaps (52) is supported by interengagement with two adjacent flaps (52, 56) so as to provide an outwardly directed tray (64).

Description

CARTONS

The present invention relates to cartons and in particular but not exclusively to cartons of cardboard or other suitable sheet material which are used to transport goods and subsequently to display the goods at a point of sale.

Cardboard cartons are known for the transportation of products such as snack products, confectionery and the like. Typically, such cartons are cuboid in form, having six faces at least one of which is defined by overlapping flaps which may be glued, taped or stapled together. The flaps are opened to allow the contents of the carton to be removed, but they tend to interfere with display of the contents at a point of sale. This may be dealt with in a crude fashion by simply tearing off the flaps which close the carton at one end thereof. However, this results in an unsightly dispenser for the contents. Furthermore, if the carton is displayed on its side there will be a tendency for the contents to spill out of the carton.

A more sophisticated approach is to provide, in one of the faces of the carton, a part to be removed surrounded by a region of weakness. For example, some known cartons have a circular region on a side of the carton surrounded by an area of weakness such as perforations or score lines. When the carton is received by the retailer, the circular region is removed by applying manual pressure to the weakened area and/or by use of a sharpened instrument such as a knife. With the circular region removed, it is possible for the product to be displayed in the carton and removed through the circular hole. The disadvantage with such an arrangement is that it is difficult to see clearly into the carton, unless it is at eye level, and even then, visibility may not be good. A person may in certain circumstances - such as when the carton is nearly empty - be unable to determine whether there are any packages of product in the carton. Thus, a retailer may be uncertain as to the contents remaining. In supermarkets where purchasers select goods themselves, such purchasers will encounter the same problem. Furthermore, to remove any packets from the carton, it is necessary to insert not only a hand but also part of an arm into the carton, through the restricted opening, to find a package. This is inconvenient both for retailers (whether in shops or bars etc.) and for purchasers in supermarkets and the like. This can be an irritating problem if there are only a few products left in the carton, and they have to be located by feel rather than by sight.

Another type of carton employs a similar principle but the opening is rectangular and formed partly in the top and partly in the front surface of the carton. To a certain extent the same problems apply. Furthermore such cartons are not always suitable for stacking once opened, as is sometimes desired when the contents of cartons having different products (such as potato snacks of different flavours) are to be displayed. When the cartons are stacked, access to the interior is limited to the cut-out area at the front of the carton and this is likely to give rise to the problems discussed above.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton constructed from folded sheet material, having a face which comprises a first flap extending along and hingedly connected to a first edge of the carton and second and third flaps hingedly connected to second and third edges of the carton respectively, said second and third edges extending from said first edge, the carton having a closed condition in which the flaps lie in the plane of said face .and an open condition in which at least part of the first flap is supported by interengagement with said second and third flaps in a position away from said face such that access to the interior of the carton is permitted whilst a wall is provided to retain contents of the carton.

Thus, embodiments of the invention can be arranged so as to allow easy access to the interior of the carton. Furthermore product may be encouraged to rest against or even on the outwardly extending part of the first flap. In addition to making the product more accessible, this may cause the product to be eye catching to the would-be purchaser.

Preferably the carton is made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like. Corrugated cardboard is a preferred material as it is both strong and inexpensive. Obviously the carton can be constructed out of other suitable materials such as plastics or laminated cardboard. The criteria used in selecting the material for the construction of certain embodiments would usually be that the material is light, foldable, strong enough for the carton to be rigid, and cheap in relation to the product contained therein.

Preferably the carton is adapted to be used to transport and/or store product contained in the carton as well as to display product. It is therefore desirable that the carton be completely closable. As a result of this interchangeability of function of the carton, advantages in terms of convenience and/or economy can be obtained as specially constructed units for displaying products are not required.

In preferred embodiments there may be four flaps, one being connected to each of four edges of the face. The flaps will be folded to close the face of the carton, and secured together by e.g. staples, adhesive tape or the like so the products may be transported and/or stored therein.

In a preferred construction, two opposed flaps lie underneath the two other opposed flaps, as in known cartons, although more complex arrangements are possible. Cartons are frequently oblong and the longer flaps usually lie on top of the shorter side flaps in such cases. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is a longer flap which is supported away from the carton. A fourth flap may be used for a specific purpose or may be removed (e.g. by tearing, cutting or folding inwardly) . In any event, restriction of access to the interior of the carton should preferably be avoided. In the case of a fourth flap which is opposite the one which is supported away from the face, this may be substantially cut away to provide a wider opening to allow access to the interior of the carton. In certain embodiments, a relatively small portion of this flap may be left over the top of the opening. This can be used to present information regarding the product in the carton whilst at the same time not substantially hindering access to the interior of the carton. Of course this flap can be completely removed to allow maximum access to the carton.

In other embodiments, a fourth flap opposed to the outwardly extending flap i.e. the first flap may be folded inwardly so as to extend parallel to the top face of the carton to provide additional strength. This is advantageous where it is desired to stack the cartons to display a number of products in a relatively small space. This flap may be retained in place by the use of bonding or securing means or alternatively by using at least a portion of the adjacent second and third, side flaps.

A part of each of the flaps adjacent to the first outwardly extending flap may be arranged so as to provide side walls for the outwardly extending flap as well as supporting that flap. In certain embodiments, part of each side flap may be used to support the outwardly extending flap whilst another part of each side flap may be used to retain an upper flap opposing^" the outwardly extending flap, in an inwardly folded position as discussed above. Alternately, upper parts of the side flaps may be removed wholly or partially, or may be folded inwards. In another preferred embodiment, each side flap may be arranged with at least a portion extending outwardly of the carton face above the outwardly extending flap and a portion of each side flap supporting the outwardly extending flap. The side flaps may be used to support the flap opposed to the outwardly extending flap which has preferably been cut away. This supporting of the opposed flap gives additional strength to the carton so that the number of cartons which can be stacked when in the open configuration is increased.

In preferred embodiments the support for the outwardly extending first flap is provided by interengagement with portions of adjacent side flaps which are not engaged when the carton is in the closed position and without the need for additional securing or bonding means. For example the interengagement may be provided by a tongue and slot arrangement. Thus, the outwardly extending flap may have slots into which correspondingly shaped portions serving as tongues of the adjacent flaps may be fitted or vice versa. For example, the side flaps may be of generally conventional, rectangular, shape and have an extension at one end to fit into slots adjacent either end of the outwardly extending flap. The extensions may have slots which interengage with the slots on the flap. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the side flaps are arranged to have a generally L-shape with the "vertical" part of the L extending outwardly and the "horizontal ' part of the L folded so as to be in a plane perpendicular to the vertical part and to support the outwardly extending flap.

If no additional bonding or securing means such as staples, glues etc. are required, the conversion of the carton into a display and dispensing mode can be conveniently carried out and does not rely on the retailer having the additional bonding or securing materials to hand. It will however be appreciated that the use of bonding or securing means, either on their own or in combination with interengagement means as described above, in order to support the outwardly extending flap is still within the ambit of the present invention and there may be certain instances where the use of such bonding or securing means may have advantages. For example if the packages of product contained in the carton are relatively heavy, then the outwardly extending flap may not be able to retain the packages of product without collapsing unless the flap is supported by such bonding or securing means for example adhesives, staples etc. Pre-positioned strips of adhesive, covered by removable protective sheets, may be provided.

It is desirable that the carton be converted into one for displaying product involving nothing more than tearing, cutting or folding of the flaps. To this end, the flap or flaps may include weakened areas along which it or they can be torn or cut. Such regions of weakness may be defined by score lines, perforations or areas of thinner material.

The outwardly extending flap may only extend part of the way towards the opposite edge. Preferably the outwardly extending flap extends no more than half way towards the opposite edge of the carton in the closed condition. Such arrangements are used in known cartons.

The outwardly extending flap may define in combination with the plane of the face a semicircular, rectangular or triangular cross-sectional shape to retain or receive the product. Of course any other suitably shaped cross-sectional shape can also be defined. In some embodiments, the outwardly extending flap may have ridges, ribs or pleats on which the product may be displayed. Such ridges, ribs or pleats may provide not only ornamentation but also means for individually supporting packages or rows of packages. The outwardly extending flap may be of any suitable shape for example rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular or semicircular. It is however preferred that the outwardly extending flap be rectangular or in the shape of a truncated triangle.

The face of the carton which includes the flaps referred to above may be in any orientation for transportation etc. although in most cases it will be the upper face. For dispensing of the products, the carton will then be placed on its side, so that the outwardly extending flap will be at the lower end of the face. There will then be a large opening above the flap to allow easy access to the contents of the carton. Not all of the first flap need extend outwardly. There could, for example, be a transverse fold line part way up the flap, so that there is an initial portion in the plane of the face, before an outwardly extending portion.

In the preferred embodiment opening defined in the carton is substantially as large as the face itself in which the opening is defined subject to there being e.g. a small portion remaining of an upper flap. In other embodiments the various flaps may only be partially removed or folded back to define the opening. Whilst the size of the opening is then reduced, this may not cause inconvenience depending on the overall size of the carton and in certain embodiments can give additional strength to the carton.

It will of course be appreciated that the outwardly extending flap may be arranged not only to extend along an entire length of an edge of the face but may in alternative embodiments be arranged so to extend only partially along such an edge.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a substantially cuboid carton for transporting and/or storing product, there being at least three flaps for closing the carton on one side during transportation and/or storage, said flaps being movable so as to permit access to the interior of the carton, wherein one of said flaps is rearrangeable so as to provide an outwardly directed tray and the other two of said flaps are rearrangeable to support the tray by interengagement therewith.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a blank of foldable sheet material for forming a substantially cuboid carton, the blank having a central portion along which four sides of the carton are defined, and four flaps along each edge of the central portion which will co-operate to close the other sides of the carton, wherein two of the flaps along one edge are provided with means for engaging with a third flap along such edge which will be disposed between said two flaps in the constructed carton, so that said third flap may be supported in a condition in which it projects away from the carton.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a blank for a carton embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a carton made from the blank of Figure 1 as used during transportation of goods;

Figure 3 shows the carton of Figure 2 with the flaps in an unfolded position;

Figure 4 shows a front perspective view from above and to one side of the carton of Figure 2 configured so as to be able to display products;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the carton of Figure 2 from below and to one side.

Figure 6 shows a blank for another carton embodying the present invention; and

Figure 7 shows a front perspective view from above and to one side of a carton made from the blank of Figure 6.

A first carton embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Figure 1 shows a blank 1 used to construct a carton 2 such as shown in Figures 2 to 5. The blank 1 can be considered to have three main sections:- a middle section 3, and two side sections 4,5, one on either side of the middle section 3. As will be appreciated from Figure 1, the two side sections 4,5 are of differing construction as will be described later.

The middle section 3 of the blank 1 is divided into four side forming regions 6,8,10,12 which are used to define four sides 14,16,18,20 of the carton 2. These four sides 14,16,18,20 are all perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 22 (see Figure 2) of the carton 2. A narrow flap 24 is provided at one end of the middle section 3, next to region 6, for securing side 14 of the carton to side 20 (see Figure 3) to make a rectangular section which forms the body of the carton. Conventional means are used to secure flap 24 to side 20 such as an adhesive or staples. As will be appreciated the middle regions are arranged to be folded along lines 26,28,30 and 32 to form the carton body.

Side section 4 comprises four flap regions 34,36,38 and 40 which form four rectangular flaps which are used to close the carton, at a side perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 22, in known manner. The flaps 34,36,38 and 40 have cuts 44,46 and 48 extending between each other and are arranged to be folded inwardly along line 42. Flaps 34 and 38 are to be arranged to be folded inwardly first once the rectangular section has been formed. Flaps 36 and 38 are then folded in so as to close the carton. Tape is usually applied across the area where flaps 36 and 38 meet so as to securely close the box. Of course the flaps 34,36,38 and 40 may be interleaved with each other in known manner to close one end of the carton. The other side section 5 also has four flap regions 52,54,56 58 which form four flaps used to close the other end of the carton and are also used to convert the carton so that it is able to display products contained therein. The flaps 52,54,56 and 58 when used to close the carton are folded inwardly in the same manner as the other side flaps. First flaps 52 and 56 are folded inwardly along fold line 59 followed by flaps 54 and 58 which are also folded inwardly along the fold lines 59. The carton is sealed by the application of tape along the two adjacent sides of flaps 54 and 58 so as to produce a carton such as shown in Figure 2. Flaps 54 and 58 extend about half way across the face of the carton and meet along an approximate centre line. Thus the goods in the carton can be easily transported and/or stored in the carton.

To convert the carton to a display carton such as shown in Figures 4 and 5 the following is carried out. The flaps 52,54,56 and 58 are opened out as shown in Figure 3 and the carton is turned such that the face 60 formed by the flaps when closed forms a side face with flap 54 being uppermost. Flap 54 is cut or torn along line 57 so as to reduce the size of flap 54. This reduced size flap 54 which can be clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5 is used to indicate the nature of the product contained in the container.

Flap 58 is used to form the main body of a tray 64 and is arranged so as to extend outwardly of face 60. Flap 52 has two spaced apart parallel slots 66,68 which extend perpendicular to fold line 59. These slots 66 and 68 are arranged to receive a triangular interlocking portion 70 of each of the flaps 52 and 56 as will be described in more detail later.

Flaps 52 and 56 are mirror images of each other and have three regions; triangular interlocking portion 70 as mentioned above, a portion 72 which form a side for the tray 64 and a rectangular portion 73. Rectangular portion 73 is redundant, as far as the display carton is concerned, as can be seen from Figures 4 and 5 and is consequently removed by tearing or cutting along lines 76 and 78. Portions 72 form the sides of the tray 64 and are arranged so as to extend perpendicularly to the plane of the side of the container formed when flaps 52,54,56 and 58 are closed. Triangular interlocking portions 70 are then folded along line 71 so as to be perpendicular to portions 70 and to interlock in the slots 66 and 68 of flap 56 as can be seen particularly clearly from Figure 5 to form the tray.

Thus the same carton can be used to transport and/or store products as well as to display them.

Fold lines 26,28,30,32,42,59 and 71, are preferably indicated in some manner on the blank e.g. by ink or light scoring so that the blank may be easily folded. Lines 57,76 and 78 are preferably scored, weakened or perforated so that portions of the flaps to be removed can be removed by tearing although the portions to be removed may also be cut away.

The carton is usually made of corrugated cardboard as this material is cheap, lightweight and strong. However other suitable materials such as thick cardboard and certain types of plastics may also be used.

The interlocking between the flap portion 70 and the flap 58 to form the tray 64 may be reinforced by the use of for example adhesives or staples, or by providing the portion 70 with slots which interlock with the slots 66,68 in the flap. Of course the tray may be held together solely as a result of for example adhesives or staples.

The top flap 54 may be dispensed with entirely or may . a made so as to extend lower than shown, depending on the size of the openirj to be defined.

A second carton 102 emboα, ing the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. As with the first carton 2, a blank 101 is used to construct the carton 102. The blank 101 also has three main sections: a middle section 103 and two side sections 104 and 105 on either side of the middle section. Sections 103 and 104 are identical to section 3 and 4 of the blank 1 for the first embodiment.

Side section 105 has four flaps 152, 154, 156 and 158 which can close the carton _r when constructed, in a similar manner to the flaps 52, 54, 56 and 58 of the first embodiment. With this embodiment, to convert the carton when in a configuration similar to that shown in Figure 2 to display carton of Figure 7 the following is carried out. The flaps 152, 154, 156 and 158 are opened out in a similar manner to that required by the first embodiment and likewise oriented. Flap 154 is cut away or torn along line 157 to substantially reduce the size of the flap. This flap differs from the flap of the first embodiment in that the "protruding" portion 159 of the flap is trapezoidal as opposed to semi-circular¬ like. Flap 158, which forms the main body of the tray 164, has a truncated triangular shape as can be clearly seen from Figure 6. Flap 158 also has two arc-like slits 166 and 168 which receive the corner region 174 of respective side flaps 152 and 156. These side flaps 152 and 156 are mirror images and are torn or cut along line 153 so as to form a generally L-shape which is folded about line 155 to define first and second portions 170 and 173. These two portions 170 and 173 are arranged so as to be contained in substantially perpendicular planes. Portion 170 is arranged to support the tray 164, the edge of which tray lies along line 155 as can be more clearly seen in Figure 7. The corner region 171 of each portion 170 is arranged to be inserted in the respective slits 166 and 168. Additionally, portion 170 has a slit 175 which interengages with the respective slot 166 or 168 when the carton is in the display configuration. Portion 173 is arranged to extend in a generally outward direction, angled slightly inwardly. The portions 173 of each side flap are arranged, in the assembled carton, to support the remaining portion of flap 154. This can be clearly seen from Figure 7. The supporting of the flap 154 is advantageous in that the strength of the carton is increased as compared to that of the first embodiment so that the number of cartons which can be stacked, when configured to display product, is increased.

The blank 101 also has a circular portion 180 which is defined by a line of perforations 182 on side forming region 106 defining side 116 of the carton. This circular portion 180 can be removed from the assembled carton, when closed, so as to allow access to the contents of the carton in known manner. Thus, the carton allows for two different methods of gaining access to the contents of the carton depending on the requirements of the user.

Other features of the second embodiment are the same as that of the first embodiment and need not be described further.

Claims

1. A carton constructed from folded sheet material, having a face which comprises a first flap extending along and hingedly connected to a first edge of the carton and second and third flaps hingedly connected to second and third edges of the carton respectively, said second and third edges extending from said first edge, the carton having a closed condition in which the flaps lie in the plane of said face and an open condition in which at least part of the first flap is supported by interengagement with said second and third flaps in a position away from said face such that access to the interior of the carton is permitted whilst a wall is provided to retain contents of the carton.

2. A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carton is of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, plastics or laminated cardboard.

3. A carton as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said face comprises a fourth flap connected to an edge of the carton opposing the first flap.

4. A carton as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the fourth flap is removable.

5. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said face is rectangular.

6. A carton as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least part of each of said second and third flaps defines, together with said first flap, an outward directed tray for supporting carton contents.

7. A carton as claimed .in any preceding claim, wherein said first flap is supported, when the carton is in the open condition, by said second and third flaps by means of interengagement between portions which are not engaged when the carton is in the closed condition.

8. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said interengagement is provided by a tongue and slot arrangement.

9. A carton as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first flap comprises two spaced apart slots, said second and third flaps being arrangeable so as to be at least partially substantially parallel to and below said first flap, and a portion of each of said second and third flaps serving as a tongue to extend through the respective slot to thereby support said first flap.

10. A carton as claimed in claim 3, wherein a portion of each of said second and third flaps above the first flap is arranged to extend outwardly of said face, when said carton is in the open condition, to support at least a portion of said fourth flap.

11. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first flap extends only part way towards the opposite edge of the carton.

12. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first flap extends no more than half way towards the opposite edge of the face of the carton in the closed condition.

13. A method of preparing a carton as claimed in claim 9 for the presentation of and access to contents, comprising moving the flaps outwardly from the plane of said face, folding a portion of each of said second and third flaps so that said folded portions are substantially parallel to and underlie said first flap. and causing a portion of each of said second and third flaps to extend through the respective slots on said first flap to thereby define an outwardly extending tray.

14. A substantially cuboid carton for transporting and/or storing product, there being at least three flaps for closing the carton on one side during transportation and/or storage, said flaps being movable so as to permit access to the interior of the carton, wherein one of said flaps is rearrangeable so as to provide an outwardly directed tray and the other two of said flaps are rearrangeable to support the tray by interengagement therewith.

15. A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a substantially cuboid carton, the blank having a central portion along which four sides of the carton are defined, and four flaps along each edge of the central portion which will co-operate to close the other sides of the carton, wherein two of the flaps along one edge are provided with means for engaging with a third flap along such edge which will be disposed between said two flaps in the constructed carton, so that said third flap may be supported in a condition in which it projects away from the carton.