GB2313829A

GB2313829A - Carton with secured locating means

Info

Publication number: GB2313829A
Application number: GB9711431A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Campbell
Original assignee: Riverwood International Corp
Current assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC
Priority date: 1996-06-05
Filing date: 1997-06-04
Publication date: 1997-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-04
Also published as: GB9711431D0; GB2313829B

Abstract

A carton 11 for receiving a product, eg a pie 14 with peripheral rim 15, has a sleeve section comprising a base (17 fig 3), top 16 and a pair of sides 18, (19 fig 3), and a pair of oppositely disposed end closure means 23, at least one of which has a projecting portion 22 projecting inwardly into the sleeve section to engage the product, eg at the top of the pie rim 15, retaining it relative to the base. The projection portions 22 are held from moving towards the top 16 of the carton 11, incase the carton 11 is upturned, by spacer means 29 thus protecting the pie 14 from damage due to contact with the top 16. Preferably a projecting portion 22 is hingedly connected to each end closure portion 23. The spacer means and projecting means may be interengaged with a tab 32 and a slot 24 arrangement, the projecting means engaging an aperture (53 figs 6, 7) of an end side flap 28, or an extension (61 figs 8, 9) of the projecting means may engage the top 16. The carton 11 is preferably made from a single blank (figs 1,4, 6, 8).

Description

CARTON WITH PRODUCT RETENTION This invention relates to cartons in which the product is retained.

Products benefiting from such retention include food products such as pies which could be damaged in conventional cartons if the cartons are inverted or partially inverted.

According to the present invention there is provided a carton for receiving a product, said carton having a sleeve section comprising a base, a top and a pair of oppositely disposed sides, a pair of oppositely disposed end closure means, at least one end closure means having a projecting portion which projects inwardly into the sleeve section and is positioned between the base and the top so as, in use, to engage the top of the product thereby to retain the product relative to the base, and spacer means which prevents movement of the projecting portion of the or each end closure towards the top of the carton.

Ideally both end closure means have a projecting portion.

In preferred arrangements each projecting portion is constituted by the end section of a first end flap which is hingedly connected to the base, said end section being hingedly connected to the remainder of the first end flap, the hinged connections being substantially parallel such that, in use, the end section is substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the first end flap which in turn is substantially perpendicular to the base.

With further preferred embodiments the sides are substantially perpendicular to the top and base and a pair of oppositely disposed side end flaps are provided at each end of the carton, hingedly connected to respective sides for overlying the first end flap in use. Preferably the portions of the side end flaps remote from the hinges with the sides are hingedly connected to the main parts of the side end flaps so as, in use, to be folded inwards into the carton to extend between the projecting portion and the top thereby to constitute said spacer means.

A further preferred feature is that location means is provided on the spacer means and the projecting portion so as to retain the spacer means in position relative to the projecting portion. In one arrangement the location means comprises a downwardly extending tab on each spacer portion of the side end flaps which engages in a slot formed in the projecting portion and also the projecting portion is substantially parallel to the top and to the base.

With other preferred embodiments the sides are substantially perpendicular to the base and top and a pair of oppositely disposed side end flaps are provided at each end of the carton, hingedly connected to respective sides for disposition behind the remainder of the first end flap in use. Preferably the portions of the side end flaps remote from the hinges with the sides are hingedly connected to the main parts of the side end flaps so as in use to be folded inwards into the carton.

In some arrangements the remote portions of the side end flaps are substantially perpendicular to the main parts of the side end flaps and to the top of the carton, the projecting portion having side end panels hingedly connected thereto, which side end panels in use are angled upwardly relative to the main part of the projecting portion and lie against the remote portions of the side end flaps. Preferably the side end panels have tabs adjacent the upper ends of their hinges with their remote portions, below which tabs, formations on the respective side end panels engage to constitute said spacer means.

In other arrangements the remote portions are angled relative to the main parts of the side end flaps and each incorporate a substantially horizontal slot which in use receive a corner section of the projecting portion remote from the hinge with the remainder of the first end flap.

Conveniently a second end flap is hingedly connected to the top so as to close off fully the ends of the carton.

In other embodiments the sides are substantially perpendicular to the base and top, a pair of oppositely disposed side end flaps are provided at each end of the carton, hingedly connected to respective sides and the projecting portion is constituted by the end section of a first end flap which is hingedly connected to the remainder of the first end flap such that, in use, the projecting portion is substantially parallel to the top and base, and substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the first end flap, spacer means comprising the end section of the projecting portion being provided, whereby said end section is hingedly connected to the main portion of the projecting portion such that, in use, the end section is folded upwardly and outwardly inside the carton such that the remote edge of the end section engages in the angle of the hinge connecting the top and a second end flap.

Another feature is that the edge of the spacer end section means adjacent its hinge connection with the projecting portion has a cut-out section.

A still further preferred feature is that the free edge of the projecting portion opposite its hinge connection is contoured according to the product being retained.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a blank for producing a carton according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the figure 1 blank in a part assembled condition, Figure 3 is a lengthwise cross-section through an assembled carton including a retained product, Figure 4 shows a blank for producing an alternative carton according to the present invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the figure 4 blank in a part assembled condition, Figure 6 shows a blank for producing a further carton according to the present invention, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the figure 6 blank in a part assembled condition, Figure 8 shows a blank for producing a still further carton according to the present invention, and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the figure 8 blank in a part assembled condition.

In figures 1 to 3 there is shown a blank 10 for producing a carton 11 for receiving a product. In the example shown, the product is a pie 12 disposed in a metal foil tray 13 and having a raised pastry cover 14. The pie has a peripheral marginal portion 15. When such products are packed in conventional cartons, damage is easily caused by inversion or even partial inversion of the carton. This situation is of course not desirable but such handling errors are commonplace and difficult to eradicate.

The blank 10 is made of paperboard but other materials could be used.

The blank has a top 16, a base 17 and first and second sides 18, 19 all hingedly connected together. The base 17 also has an adhesive panel 20 for attaching to the inside of the first side 18, thereby forming a basic sleeve construction for receiving the pie 12. The carton could be supplied to an end user in this partassembled condition, folded flat. Alternatively, the end user could assemble the blanks 10 immediately prior to product insertion and carton closure.

The blank 10 also provides for each end a first end flap 21 hingedly connected to the base 17. Each first end flap 21 comprises a projecting portion 22 which is hingedly connected to a closure portion 23 parallel to the hinge with the base 17. The projecting portion 22 has a pair of spaced slots 24 and a shaped recess 25 therebetween. A second end flap 26 is hingedly connected to the top 16 at each end.

A pair of side end flaps 27 is provided at each end, hingedly connected to the sides 18, 19. Each side end flap 27 has a main part 28 and a remote spacer part 29 hingedly connected to the main part 28. An upper edge 30 of the spacer part 29 is generally aligned with the hinge connection 33, 34 between the top and the respective sides 18, 19. A lower edge 31 of the spacer part 29 is provided with a tab 32 which in use projects downwardly.

To assemble the carton the following steps are required. Firstly the blank 10 is formed into the sleeve construction mentioned above by gluing panel 20 to the first side 18. The product, the pie 12 in this case, is then inserted through one of the open ends of the sleeve so that it sits generally centrally of the base 17. The end panels can then be folded although for brevity only one will be described to avoid repetition.

The projecting portion 22 is folded to a position generally perpendicular to the closure portion 23 which is then folded relative to the base so as to be generally perpendicular thereto such that the projecting portion 22 is disposed inside the sleeve and is lying against the upper marginal portion 15 of the pie 12. The side end flaps 27 are then folded relative to the sides 18, 19 such that the main parts 28 lie against the closure portion 23 of the first end flap 21.

The spacer parts 29 are then hinged relative to the respective main parts 28, see arrows 33, deflecting slightly as they pass over the projecting portion 22 until the tabs 32 snap into the respective slots 24 in the projecting portion 22. This is clearly illustrated in figure 2 attached. The second end flap 26 is then folded down and secured to the closure portion 23 of the first end flap 21 by adhesive although other connection means could be used, such as interengaging formations.

It will be appreciated that the projecting portions 22 retain the pie 12 relative to the base 17 even if the carton 11 is inverted, thereby preventing damage to the pie 12. The spacer parts 29 prevent deflection of the projecting portions 22 towards the top 16 in the event of inversion of the carton 12 thereby ensuring that the pastry cover 14 does not contact the top 16.

The blank 110 shown in figure 4 has many features which are identical to the blank 10 shown in figure 1. These features have been given the same reference numerals in figure 4. In blank 110 the projecting portion 22 has a main portion 40 and oppositely disposed side end panels 41 which remain hingedly connected to the main portion 40 along angled folds 42. Each side end panel 41 has a hook-like formation 43 remote from the fold 42.

Each side end flap 27 has a remote portion 45 remote from the hinge with the associated side panel 18, 19, which remote portion 45 is hingedly connected to the main part of the side end flap 27 by a fold 46 which is substantially parallel to the hinge of the side end flap 27 with the side panel 18, 19. Each side end flap 27 also has a projecting tab 47 remote from the hinge with the side panel 18, 19, which tab in use is adjacent the top 16.

To assemble the blank 110 the following steps are required. Firstly the blank 110 is formed into a sleeve by gluing panel 20 to the first side 18. The product, the pie 12 in this case, is then inserted through one of the open ends of the sleeve so that it sits generally centrally of the base 17. The end panels can then be folded, although to avoid repetition the closure of only one end will be described.

The side end flaps 27 are folded into the open end so as to be generally perpendicular to the side 18, 19. The projecting portion 22 is then folded to a position generally perpendicular to the closure portion 23 which is then folded relative to the base so as to be generally perpendicular thereto such that the projecting portion 22 is disposed inside the sleeve and is lying against the upper marginal portion 15 of the pie 12.

During the folding of the closure portion 23 into its position perpendicular to the base, the side end panels 41 attached to the projecting portion 22 are deflected upwards by engaging the remote portions 45 of the side end flaps 27, which remote portions 45 are deflected inwardly. The hook formations 43 then snap behind and below the projecting tabs 47 of the side end flaps 27.

This interengagement provides a basic locking mechanism holding the panels in position and constitutes spacer means to prevent upward deflection of the projecting portion 22 in use. This ensures that the pie 12 is retained in position relative to the base even if the carton 111 is inverted.

The blank 210 shown in figure 6 has many features which are identical to the blank 110 shown in figure 4. These features have been given the same reference numerals in figure 6. In blank 210 the projecting portion 22 has oppositely disposed corner sections 50 either side of the shaped recess 25.

Each side end flap 27 has a remote portion 51 remote from the hinge with the associated side panel 18, 19, which remote portion 51 is hingedly connected to the main part of the side end flap 27 by a fold 52 which is substantially parallel to the hinge of the side end flap 27 with the side panel 18, 19. Each remote portion 51 has a substantially horizontal slot 53 extending from a position partway up the fold 52.

To assemble the blank 210 the following steps are required. Firstly the blank 210 is formed into a sleeve by gluing panel 20 to the first side 18. The product, the pie 12 in this case, is then inserted through one of the open ends of the sleeve so that it sits generally centrally of the base 17. The end panels can then be folded, although to avoid repetition the closure of only one end will be described.

The side end flaps 27 are folded into the open end so as to be generally perpendicular to the side 18, 19 and the remote portions 51 are preferably folded slightly inwardly relative to the main parts 28. The projecting portion 22 is then folded to a position generally perpendicular to the closure portion 23 which is then folded relative to the base so as to be generally perpendicular thereto such that the projecting portion 22 is disposed inside the sleeve and is lying against the upper marginal portion 15 of the pie 12.

During the folding of the closure portion 23 into its position perpendicular to the base, the remote portions 51 are urged inwards relative to the main parts 28 by the corner sections 50 until the corner sections 50 move into the horizontal slots 53. This causes the remote portions 51 of the side end flaps to snap back outwardly until the ends of the slots 53 remote from the folds 52 engage the respective front edges of the corner sections 50 of the projecting portion 22.

This interengagement provides a basic locking mechanism holding the panels in position and constitutes spacer means to prevent upward deflection of the projecting portion 22 in use. This ensures that the pie 12 is retained in position relative to the base even if the carton 211 is inverted.

The blank 310 shown in figure 8 has many features which are identical to the blank 210 shown in figure 6. These features have been given the same reference numerals in figure 8. In blank 310 the projecting portion 22 has an end section 61 which is hingedly connected thereto by reverse folds 65 remote from and parallel to the closure portion 23. This end section 61 constitutes a spacer means. The spacer means 61 has a cut-out section 62 between the folds 65 and opposite the recess 25 in the projecting portion 22, which in turn is connected to the closure portion 23 by a fold 63 which is substantially parallel to the hinge of the closure portion 23 with the base 17. The combined height of the closure portion 23 and the spacer portion is greater than the overall height of the assembled carton for reasons which will become apparent.

To assemble blank 310 the following steps are required. Firstly the blank 210 is formed into a sleeve by gluing panel 20 to the first side 18. The product, the pie 12 in this case, is then inserted through one of the open ends of the sleeve so that it sits generally centrally of the base 17. The end panels can then be folded, although to avoid repetition the closure of only one end will be described.

The side end flaps 27 are folded into the open end so as to be generally perpendicular to the side 18, 19. The spacer means 61 is reverse folded outwardly about folds 65 relative to the projecting portion 22. The projecting portion 22 is then folded to a position generally perpendicular to the closure portion 23 which is then folded relative to the base 17 so as to be generally perpendicular thereto, so that both the projecting portion 22 and spacer means 61 are disposed inside the sleeve. This causes the spacer means to engage fold 64 between the second end flap 26 and the top 16 which urges the spacer means to take up an acute angle relative to the projecting portion 22 with the remote edge 66 of the spacer means 61 engaged in the fold 64 connecting the top 16 to the second end flap 26. In this position, the geometry is such that the projecting portion 22 lies against the upper marginal portion 15 of the pie 12. This engagement provides a basic locking mechanism holding the side end flaps 27 in position with the spacer means 61 preventing upward deflection of the projecting portion 22 in use. This ensures that the pie 12 is retained in position relative to the base even if the carton 311 is inverted.

It will also be apparent that the shaped recess 25 corresponds to the dimensions of the pie so as to engage the pie around a significant extent of its periphery whilst allowing the raised pastry cover 14 of the pie to extend above the plane of the projecting portion 22. In the fourth embodiment the cut out section 62 of the spacer accommodates the raised pastry cover 14. Indeed the plane of the projecting portion 22 need not be generally parallel to the base and top as shown in these examples. Also the precise shape and dimensions will of course vary from product to product.

Modifications would also be possible for a similar carton to accommodate a plurality of pies with perhaps a suitable spacer inside the carton 11.

Claims

1. A carton for receiving a product, said carton having a sleeve section comprising a base, a top and a pair of oppositely disposed sides, a pair of oppositely disposed end closure means, at least one end closure means having a projecting portion which projects inwardly into the sleeve section and is positioned between the base and the top so as, in use, to engage the top of the product thereby to retain the product relative to the base, and spacer means which prevents movement of the projecting portion of the or each end closure towards the top of the carton.

2. A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein both end closure means have a projecting portion.

3. A carton as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein, each projecting portion is constituted by the end section of a first end flap which is hingedly connected to the base, said end section being hingedly connected to the remainder of the first end flap, the hinged connections being substantially parallel such that, in use, the end section is substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the first end flap which in turn is substantially perpendicular to the base.

4. A carton as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sides are substantially perpendicular to the top and base and a pair of oppositely disposed side end flaps are provided at each end of the carton, hingedly connected to respective sides for overlying the first end flap in use.

5. A carton as claimed in claim 4 wherein the portions of the side end flaps remote from the hinges with the sides are hingedly connected to the main parts ofthe side end flaps so as, in use, to be folded inwards into the carton to extend between the projecting portion and the top thereby to constitute said spacer means.

6. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein location means is provided on the spacer means and the projecting portion so as to retain the spacer means in position relative to the projecting portion.

7. A carton as claimed in claim 6 wherein the location means comprises a downwardly extending tab on each spacer portion of the side end flaps which engages in a slot formed in the projecting portion and also the projecting portion is substantially parallel to the top and to the base.

8. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sides are substantially perpendicular to the base and top and a pair of oppositely disposed side end flaps are provided at each end of the carton, hingedly connected to respective sides for disposition behind the remainder of the first end flap in use.

9. A carton as claimed in claim 8 wherein the portions of the side end flaps remote from the hinges with the sides are hingedly connected to the main parts of the side end flaps so as in use to be folded inwards into the carton.

10. A carton as claimed in claim 9 wherein the remote portions ofthe side end flaps are substantially perpendicular to the main parts of the side end flaps and to the top of the carton, the projecting portion having side end panels hingedly connected thereto, which side end panels in use are angled upwardly relative to the main part of the projecting portion and lie against the remote portions of the side end flaps.

11. A carton as claimed in claim 10 wherein the side end panels have tabs adjacent the upper ends of their hinges with their remote portions, below which tabs, formations on the respective side end panels engage to constitute said spacer means.

12. A carton as claimed in claim 8 wherein the remote portions are angled relative to the main parts of the side end flaps and each incorporate a substantially horizontal slot which in use receive a corner section of the projecting portion remote from the hinge with the remainder of the first end flap.

13. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 sides are substantially perpendicular to the base and top, a pair of oppositely disposed side end flaps are provided at each end of the carton, hingedly connected to respective sides and the projecting portion is constituted by the end section of a first end flap which is hingedly connected to the remainder of the first end flap such that, in use, the projecting portion is substantially parallel to the top and base, and substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the first end flap, spacer means comprising the end section of the projecting portion being provided, whereby said end section is hingedly connected to the main portion of the projecting portion such that, in use, the end section is folded upwardly and outwardly inside the carton such that the remote edge of the end section engages in the angle of the hinge connecting the top and a second end flap.

14. A carton as claimed in claim 13 wherein the edge of the spacer end section means adjacent its hinge connection with the projecting portion has a cut-out section.

15. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 a second end flap is hingedly connected to the top so as to close off fully the ends of the carton.

16. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the free edge of the projecting portion opposite its hinge connection is contoured according to the product being retained.

17. A paperboard blank for producing a carton as described in any one of the preceding claims.