Patent Application
20250083858
The present invention relates to carriers and to blanks for forming the same. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a carrier in the form of a tray which is collapsible into a flat form and stackable or nestable with one or more similar carriers.
In the field of packaging, it is known to provide article carriers or cartons for carrying multiple articles. Cartons are well known in the art and are useful for enabling consumers to transport, store and access a group of articles for consumption. For cost and environmental considerations, such cartons or carriers need to be formed from as little material as possible and cause as little wastage in the materials from which they are formed as possible. Further considerations are the strength of the carton and its suitability for holding and transporting large weights of articles. It is desirable that the contents of the carton are secure within the carton.
It is an object of the present invention to provide to a carrier in the form of a tray for carrying articles. It is desirable to reduce transportation costs and maximise the packing density of the carriers during transportation and storage.
It is desirable that the blank from which the carrier is formed can be readily assembled into a carrier in a simple and efficient manner.
The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of cartons, typically formed from paperboard or the like.
A first aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles. The article carrier comprises a plurality of panels forming a tray, the plurality of panels includes: a base panel: a pair of opposed side walls, hingedly connected to the base panel; and a pair of opposed end walls, hingedly connected to the base panel. The carrier further comprises at least one corner structure coupling one of the pair of opposed side walls to one of the pair of opposed end walls. The corner structure comprises a corner panel extending between said end wall and said side wall, when the carrier is in an erected condition. The corner panel is hingedly connected to one of said end wall or said side wall by a first hinged connection. The corner structure further comprises a web panel hingedly connected to the corner panel by a second hinged connection and a securing panel hingedly connected to the web panel by a third hinged connection. The securing panel is secured to the other one of the end wall and side wall to which the corner panel is hingedly connected. The article carrier is foldable into a flat collapsed state, in which the securing panel is disposed between the end wall and the side wall, and is erectable into a tray, in which the securing panel is disposed between the one of the end wall and the side wall to which it is secured and the web panel.
Optionally, in the flat collapsed state, the web panel and the corner panel are disposed between the end wall and the side wall.
Optionally, in the erected condition, the tray is nestable with one or more similar erected tray.
Advantageously, the carrier comprise two states in which they optimise the volume that a plurality of carriers occupy. In one state the carriers a flat and may be transported, in another state the carriers may be nested one at least partially within another and this may reduce handling time during loading of the carrier, for example when manually handled and directly loaded with fresh produce, such as, but not limited to, fruit or vegetables, in the field.
Optionally, the article carrier is formed from a substrate having a pair of opposed surfaces, a first surface forming an outer surface of the tray and a second surface forming an inner surface of the tray, wherein the outer surface of the securing panel is secured to the outer surface of one of the end wall and side wall.
Optionally, the securing panel is hingedly connected to the other one of the end wall and side wall to which the corner panel is hingedly connected by a fourth hinged connection.
Optionally, each of the first hinged connection, second hinged connection, third hinged connection, and fourth hinged connection intersect to form a vertex disposed at the corner of the base panel.
Optionally, the carrier comprises a relief structure for facilitating assembly of the carrier, the relief structure comprising a pair of fold lines in at least one end wall and/or at least one side wall.
Optionally, the pair of fold lines are convergently arranged with respect to each other and converge at the hinged connection between the base panel and the side or end wall in which they are provided.
Optionally, the side or end wall to which the securing panel is secured comprises at least one locking tab extending from a side edge thereof.
Optionally, the side or end wall to which corner panel is hingedly connected comprises a receiver for receiving the at least one locking tab to retain the carrier in a flat collapsed state.
Optionally, the receiver takes the form of an aperture struck at least in part from the side or end wall to which corner panel is hingedly connected.
Optionally, the side or end wall to which the securing panel is secured comprises a pair of locking tabs extending from opposed side edges thereof.
Optionally, each of the side or end walls to which a respective corner panel is hingedly connected comprises a receiver for receiving a respective one of the pair of locking tabs, each receiver taking the form of an aperture struck at least in part from the side or end wall to which a respective corner panel is hingedly connected.
Optionally, the second hinged connection is interrupted by a cutline, the cutline forming a cutout in the corner panel for accommodating the locking tab, in an erected condition.
Optionally, the carrier comprises a plurality of corner structures, each corner structure couples one of the pair of opposed side walls to one of the pair of opposed end walls.
Optionally, the carrier comprises at least one ventilation opening.
Optionally, the ventilation opening is struck from the side wall.
Optionally, the ventilation opening comprises a cutaway struck, at least in part, from the side wall and is disposed adjacent to a corner of the base panel.
Optionally, the cutaway is struck in part from an adjacent end wall and in part from the base panel.
A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier. The blank comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming walls of a tray, the plurality of panels includes: a base panel: a pair of opposed side walls, hingedly connected to the base panel; and a pair of opposed end walls, hingedly connected to the base panel. The blank further comprises at least one corner structure for coupling one of the pair of opposed side walls to one of the pair of opposed end walls. The corner structure comprises a corner panel extending between said end wall and said side wall, when the carrier is in an erected condition. The corner panel is hingedly connected to one of said end wall or said side wall by a first hinged connection. The corner structure further comprises a web panel hingedly connected to the corner panel by a second hinged connection and a securing panel hingedly connected to the web panel by a third hinged connection. The securing panel is securable to the other one of the end wall and side wall to which the corner panel is hingedly connected. The blank is foldable into a flat collapsed tray, in which the securing panel is disposed between the end wall and the side wall, and is erectable into a tray, in which the securing panel is disposed between the one of the end wall and the side wall to which it is secured and the web panel.
A third aspect of the invention provides a flat collapsed carrier for forming a tray, the carrier comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming walls of the tray, the plurality of panels including: a base panel: a pair of opposed side walls, hingedly connected to the base panel; and a pair of opposed end walls, hingedly connected to the base panel. The flat collapsed carrier further comprises a plurality of corner structures for coupling each of the pair of opposed side walls to each of the pair of opposed end walls. Each of the corner structure comprising at least two panels coupling a respective end wall to a respective side wall. One of the at least two panels is hingedly connected to one of the side and end walls and another of the at least two panels is secured to the other one the side and end walls. The at least two panels are disposed between the side and end wall which they coupled together, and wherein each of the pair of opposed side walls comprises proximal portion hingedly connected to the base panel and a distal portion hingedly connected to the proximal portion, the distal portion of one of the pair of opposed side walls being disposed in at least partial overlying relationship with the distal portion of the other one of the pair of opposed side walls.
Optionally, the distal portion of the other one of the pair of opposed side walls is folded with respect to the proximal portion to which it is hingedly connected to be in face-to face relationship therewith.
Optionally, the at least two panels includes a corner panel is hingedly connected to one of the side and end walls by a first hinged connection, a web panel hingedly connected to the corner panel by a second hinged connection, and a securing panel hingedly connected to the web panel by a third hinged connection, and wherein the securing panel is securable to the other one of the side and end walls to which the corner panel is hingedly connected, and is erectable into a tray, in which the securing panel is disposed between the end or side wall to which it is secured and the web panel.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings and discussed below.
Within the scope of this application, it is envisaged or intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings may be considered or taken independently or in any combination thereof.
Features or elements described in connection with, or relation to, one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless there is an incompatibility of features. One or more features or elements from one embodiment may be incorporated into, or combined with, any of the other embodiments disclosed herein, said features or elements extracted from said one embodiment may be included in addition to, or in replacement of one or more features or elements of said other embodiment.
A feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment disclosed herein may be extracted in isolation from other features of that embodiment. Alternatively, a feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment may be omitted from that embodiment.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the package, blanks and cartons are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. Indeed, it will be understood that the packages, blanks and cartons described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.
Referring to
In the embodiments detailed herein, the terms “carton” and “carrier” refer, for the non-limiting purpose of illustrating the various features of the invention, to a container 90; 190 for engaging and carrying articles.
The blanks 10; 110 are formed from a sheet of suitable substrate. It is to be understood that, as used herein, the term “suitable substrate” includes all manner of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, combinations thereof, and the like. It should be recognised that one or other numbers of blanks may be employed, where suitable, for example, to provide the carrier structure described in more detail below.
The packaging structure or carton 90 described herein may be formed from a sheet material such as paperboard, which may be made of or coated with materials to increase its strength or moisture resistance. An example of such a sheet material is tear-resistant NATRALOCK® paperboard made by WestRock Company. It should be noted that the tear resistant materials may be provided by more than one layer, to help improve the tear-resistance of the package. Typically, one surface of the sheet material may have different characteristics to the other surface. For example, the surface of the sheet material that faces outwardly from a finished package may be particularly smooth and may have a coating such as a clay coating or other surface treatment to provide good printability. The surface of the sheet material that faces inwardly may, on the other hand, be provided with a coating, a layer, a treatment or be otherwise prepared to provide properties such as one or more of tear-resistance, good glue-ability, heat sealability, or other desired functional properties.
Turning to
The blank 10 comprises a plurality of primary panels 12, 14B, 14A, 16A, 16B, 18, 20 including a base panel 12 to a first end of which a first end panel 18 is hingedly connected by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 17. A second end panel 20 is hingedly connected to a second end of the base panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 19.
A first side panel 14A/14B is hingedly connected to the base panel 12, along a first side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 13. A second side panel 16A/16B is hingedly connected to the base panel 12, along a second side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 15. A first extension flap 22 is hingedly connected to the first side panel 14A/14B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 21. A second extension flap 24 is hingedly connected to the second side panel 16A/16B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 23. The first and second extension flaps 22, 24, in some embodiments, may be folded inwardly and secured to each other to form a top panel partially closing an upper end of a loaded carrier 90. In some embodiments, a label or similar may be secured to one or both of the first and second extension flaps 22, 24, the label may secure the first and second extension flaps 22, 24 together.
The first side panel 14A/14B comprises a first or proximal portion 14A hingedly connected to the base panel 12 by fold line 13 and a second or distal portion 14B hingedly connected to the first portion 14A, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 13A. The first extension flap 22 is hingedly connected to the second portion 14B.
The second side panel 16A/16B comprises a first or proximal portion 16A hingedly connected to the base panel 12 by fold line 15 and a second or distal portion 16B hingedly connected to the first portion 16A, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 15A. The second extension flap 24 is hingedly connected to the second portion 16B.
Each of the first and second side panels 14A/14B, 16A/16B comprises a cutaway in the form of an aperture A5. The aperture A5 may be contoured in shape and/or may be decorative for example representing a logo or product contained therein. The aperture A5 may provide ventilation, allow air flow through the tray 90 and the escape of moisture.
The side panels 14A/14B, 16A/16B are provided with, or coupled to, corner structures for coupling the side panels 14A/14B, 16A/16B to the end panels 18, 20.
A first corner structure comprises a first corner or bevel panel 26A hingedly connected to the first side panel 14A/14B, along a first side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 25A. A first web panel 28A is hingedly connected to the first bevel panel 26A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 27A. A first securing panel 30A is hingedly connected to the first web panel 28A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 29A.
The fold line 27A may be interrupted by, or terminated by, a cutline C1; the cutline C1 extends inwardly from an upper end of the first bevel panel 26A and defines in part a tab T1. The cutline C1 creates a cutaway, recess or slot between the first bevel panel 26A and the first web panel 28A when the first bevel panel 26A is folded with respect to the first web panel 28A.
A second corner structure comprises a second corner or bevel panel 26B hingedly connected to the first side panel 14A/14B, along a second, opposing, side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 25B. A second web panel 28B is hingedly connected to the second bevel panel 26B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 27B. A second securing panel 30B is hingedly connected to the second web panel 28B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 29B.
The fold line 27B may be interrupted by, or terminated by, a cutline C2; the cutline C2 extends inwardly from an upper end of the second bevel panel 26B and defines in part a tab T2. The cutline C2 creates a cutaway, recess or slot between the second bevel panel 26B and the second web panel 28B when the second bevel panel 26B is folded with respect to the second web panel 28B.
A third corner structure comprises a third corner or bevel panel 26C hingedly connected to the second side panel 16A/16B, along a first side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 25C. A third web panel 28C is hingedly connected to the third bevel panel 26C by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 27C. A third securing panel 30C is hingedly connected to the third web panel 28C by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 29C.
The fold line 27C may be interrupted by, or terminated by, a cutline C3; the cutline C3 extends inwardly from an upper end of the third bevel panel 26C and defines in part a tab T3. The cutline C3 creates a cutaway, recess or slot between the third bevel panel 26C and the third web panel 28C when the third bevel panel 26C is folded with respect to the third web panel 28C.
A fourth corner structure comprises a fourth corner or bevel panel 26D hingedly connected to the second side panel 16A/16B, along a second, opposing, side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 25D. A fourth web panel 28D is hingedly connected to the fourth bevel panel 26D by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 27D. A fourth securing panel 30D is hingedly connected to the fourth web panel 28D by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 29D.
The fold line 27D may be interrupted by, or terminated by, a cutline C4; the cutline C4 extends inwardly from an upper end of the fourth bevel panel 26D and defines in part a tab T4. The cutline C4 creates a cutaway, recess or slot between the fourth bevel panel 26D and the fourth web panel 28D when the fourth bevel panel 26D is folded with respect to the fourth web panel 28D.
The blank 10 comprises corner cutaways separating the panels of the corner structure from the first and second end panel 18, 20. A first corner cutaway separates the first corner structure from the first end panel 18. The first corner cutaway removes a corner portion of the first side panel 14A/14B, proximate the fold line 13, a corner portion of the base panel 12, and a corner portion of the first end panel 18 proximate the fold line 17. The corner cutaway may be considered to remove lowermost portions of the first bevel panel 26A, first web panel 28A, and first securing panel 30A, in this way free edges of the first bevel panel 26A, first web panel 28A, and first securing panel 30A are offset with respect to the fold line 13. The corner cutaway may remove a side portion of the first end panel 18 so as to offset a portion of the side edge of the first end panel 18 with respect to the fold line 13. The first end panel 18 comprises a locking tab L1 extending from the side edge of the first end panel 18 and integral therewith. The locking tab L1 is disposed proximate or adjacent to a free end edge of the first end panel 18, the free end edge opposing a hinged edge defined by the fold line 17. The first securing panel 30A may comprise a corner recess struck from a corner of the first securing panel 30A, the corner recess spacing the first securing panel 30A from the locking tab L1. The locking tab L1 may be struck from, or provided by, material which would otherwise form the first securing panel 30A. The locking tab L1 projects from the side edge of the first securing panel 30A and extends beyond a notional line extension of the fold line 13. In this way when the first securing panel 30A is folded into face-to-face relationship with the base panel 12 the locking tab L1 projects beyond the fold line 13 and overlies the first side panel 14A/14B. A receiver in the form of a first receiving aperture A1 is struck, at least in part, from the first side panel 14A/14B and is positioned to receive the locking tab L1 when the first securing panel 30A is folded into face-to-face relationship with the base panel 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the first receiving aperture A1 is struck, in part, from the first side panel 14A/14B and in part from the base panel 12.
The blank comprises second, third and fourth corner cutaways; the second corner cutaway separates the second corner structure from the second end panel 20, the third corner cutaway separates the third corner structure from the first end panel 18, and the fourth corner cutaway separates the fourth corner structure from the second end panel 20. The second, third and fourth corner cutaways are substantially similar in construction to the first corner cutaway and will not be described in further detail. The first, second, third and fourth corner cutaways provide openings in the corners of the erected tray 90, these openings along with the receiver apertures A1, A2, A3, A4 further facilitate ventilation of the interior of the tray 90.
The first end panel 18 comprises a third locking tab L3 extending from a second, opposing side edge thereof for interlocking with a receiver in the form of a third receiver aperture A3.
The second end panel 20 comprises second and fourth locking tabs L2, L4 extending form opposed side edges thereof for interlocking with respective receivers in the form of second and fourth receiving apertures A2, A4.
Turning to the construction of the blank 10 into a tray 90, the first and second end panels 18, 20 are folded with respect to the base panel 12, about fold lines 17, 19 respectively to be brought into face-contacting relationship with the base panel 12.
Each of the corner panels 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D is folded with respect to the one of first and second side panels 14A/14B, 16A/16B to which they are hingedly connected into face-to-face relationship therewith. In doing so, the web panels 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D and the securing panels 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D are also folded in to face-to-face relationship with said one of first and second side panels 14A/14B, 16A/16B.
Glue or other adhesive treatment GA is applied to the securing panels 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D or to corresponding regions GA of the first and second end panels 18, 20.
The first side panel 14A/14B is then folded about fold line 13 to bring the first securing panel 30A into face-contacting relationship with the first end panel 18 and the second securing panel 30B into face-contacting relationship with the second end panel 20. The first securing panel 30A is secured to the first end panel 18 and the second securing panel 30B is secured to the second end panel 20. The distal portion 14B of the first side panel 14A/14B (along with the first extension flap 22) is folded with respect to the proximal portion 14A, about fold line 13A, to be brought into face-to-face relationship therewith.
The second side panel 16A/16B is then folded about fold line 15 to bring the third securing panel 30C into face-contacting relationship with the first end panel 18 and the fourth securing panel 30D into face-contacting relationship with the second end panel 20. The third securing panel 30C is secured to the first end panel 18 and the fourth securing panel 30D is secured to the second end panel 20. The distal portion 16A of the second side panel 16A/16B is brought into at least partial overlying relationship with the distal portion 14A of the first side panel 14A/14B. The resulting flat collapsed tray 90F is shown in
The locking tabs L1, L2, L3, L4 in the flat collapsed carrier 90F engage the receivers in respective one of the receiving apertures A1, A2, A3, A4 securing the carrier 90 in the flat collapsed condition.
The flat collapsed carrier 90F can be erected to form the tray 90 as shown in
The erected carrier or tray 90 can be loaded through the open top end with produce or articles. In some embodiments, the tray 90 and the produce may be wrapped and sealed in a film or placed into a bag.
The cutlines C1, C2, C3, C4 allow the locking tabs L1, L2, L3, L4 to pass the respective one of the bevel panels 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D substantially unencumbered during erection of the flat collapsed carrier 90F into a tray 90. The cutlines C1, C2, C3, C4 may create a slot or opening between the bevel panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D and web panel 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D which may receive the locking tab L1, L2, L3, L4 to maintain the tray 90 in the erected condition.
Referring now to
The blank 110 comprises a plurality of primary panels 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 including a base panel 112. A first end panel 118 is hingedly connected to a first end of the base panel 112 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 117. A second end panel 120 is hingedly connected to a second end of the base panel 112 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 119.
A first side panel 114 is hingedly connected to the base panel 112, along a first side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 113. A second side panel 116 is hingedly connected to the base panel 112, along a second side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 115.
The side panels 114, 116 are coupled to the end panels 118, 120 by corner structures.
A first corner structure comprises a first corner or bevel panel 126A hingedly connected to the first side panel 114, along a first side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 125A. A first web panel 128A is hingedly connected to the first bevel panel 126A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 127A. A first securing panel 130A is hingedly connected to the first web panel 128A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 129A. The first securing panel 130A is hingedly connected to the second end panel 120 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 131A.
A second corner structure comprises a second corner or bevel panel 126B hingedly connected to the first side panel 114, along a second, opposing, side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 125B. A second web panel 128B is hingedly connected to the second bevel panel 126B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 127B. A second securing panel 130B is hingedly connected to the second web panel 128B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 129B. The second securing panel 130B is hingedly connected to the first end panel 118 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 131B.
A third corner structure comprises a third corner or bevel panel 126C hingedly connected to the second side panel 116, along a first side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 125C. A third web panel 128C is hingedly connected to the third bevel panel 126C by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 127C. A third securing panel 130C is hingedly connected to the third web panel 128C by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 129C. The third securing panel 130C is hingedly connected to the second end panel 120 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 131C.
A fourth corner structure comprises a fourth corner or bevel panel 126D hingedly connected to the second side panel 116, along a second, opposing, side edge thereof, by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 125D. A fourth web panel 128D is hingedly connected to the fourth bevel panel 126D by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 127D. A fourth securing panel 130D is hingedly connected to the fourth web panel 128D by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 129D. The fourth securing panel 130D is hingedly connected to the first end panel 118 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 131D.
The first end panel 118 comprises a pair of fold or crease lines F1, F2 arranged to form a “V” shape. The pair of fold lines F1, F2 converge to form a vertex or intersection lying on the fold line 113. The pair of fold lines F1, F2 are medially disposed in the first end panel 118, and lie upon opposing sides of a notional line perpendicular to the fold line 113 bisecting the first end panel 118. The second end panel 120 comprises a second pair of fold or crease lines F3, F4 arranged to form a “V” shape in a substantially similar arrangement to the first pair of fold lines F1, F2
The fold lines F1, F2, F3, F4 provide relief structures in each of the first and second end panels 118, 120 facilitating construction and assembly of the blank 110 into a flat collapsed tray 190F and erection of the flat collapsed tray 190F into a tray 190.
Turning to the construction of the carton 190, the carton 190 can be formed by folding the first and second end panels 118, 120 into face-to-face relationship with the base panel.
The panels 126A, 128A, 139A, 126B, 128B, 130B of each of the first and second corner structures are brought into face-to-face relationship with the first side panel 114 and the panels 126C, 128C, 130C, 126D, 128D, 130D of each of the third and fourth corner structures are brought into face-to-face relationship with the second side panel 116.
Glue GA or other adhesive treatment is applied to the securing panels 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D or to corresponding regions GA of the first and second end panels 118, 120.
The first side panel 114 is then folded with respect to the base panel 112, about fold line 113, to bring the first and second securing panels 130A, 130B into face-contacting relationship with the respective one of the first and second end panels 118, 120. The first securing panel 130A is secured to the second end panel 120, the second securing panel 130B is secured to the first end panel 118.
The second side panel 116 is then folded with respect to the base panel 112, about fold line 115, to bring the third and fourth securing panels 130C, 130D into face-contacting relationship with the respective one of the first and second end panels 118, 120. The third securing panel 130C is secured to the second end panel 120, the fourth securing panel 130D is secured to the first end panel 118.
In this way, a flat collapsed carrier 190F is formed (as shown in
The present disclosure provides an article carrier 90; 190 in the form of a tray, the tray comprises a base panel 12; 112 and a pair of opposed side walls 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116 hingedly connected thereto. The carrier 90; 190 comprises a pair of opposed end walls 18, 20; 118, 120 hingedly connected to the base panel 12; 112. The carrier 90; 190 further comprises at least one corner structure coupling one of the pair of opposed side walls 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116to one of the pair of opposed end walls 18, 20; 118, 120. The carrier 90 may comprise a plurality of corner structures, each corner structure couples one of the pair of opposed side walls 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116 to one of the pair of opposed end walls 18, 20; 118, 120. The or each corner structure comprises a corner panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D; 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D extending between an end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 and a side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116 in an erected carrier 90; 190 and hingedly connected to one of said end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 or said side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116 by a first hinged connection in the form of a first fold line 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D; 125A, 125B, 125C, 125D. The corner structure comprises a web panel 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D; 128A, 128B, 128C, 128D hingedly connected to the corner panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D; 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D by a second hinged connection in the form of a second fold line 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D; 127A, 127B, 127C, 127D. The corner structure comprises a securing panel 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D; 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D hingedly connected to the web panel 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D; 128A, 128B, 128C, 128D by a third hinged connection in the form of a third fold line 29A, 29B, 29C, 29D; 129A, 129B, 129C, 129D.
The securing panel 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D; 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D is secured to the other one of the end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 and side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116 to which the corner panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D; 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D is hingedly connected.
The article carrier 90; 190 is foldable into a flat collapsed state in which the securing panel 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D; 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D is disposed between the end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 and the side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116. In the flat collapsed state, the web panel 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D; 128A, 128B, 128C, 128D and the corner panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D; 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D may be disposed between the end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 and the side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116. The article carrier 90; 190 is erectable into a tray in which the securing panel 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D; 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D is disposed between the end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 or side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116 to which it is secured and the web panel 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D; 128A, 128B, 128C, 128D.
The article carrier 90; 190 is formed from a substrate having a pair of opposed surfaces, a first surface forming an outer surface of the carrier 90; 190 and a second surface forming an inner surface of the carrier 90; 190, wherein the outer surface of the securing panel 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D; 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D is secured to the outer surface of one of the end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 and side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116.
The securing panel 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D; 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D may be hingedly connected to the other one of the end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 and side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116 to which the corner panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D; 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D is hingedly connected by a fourth hinged connection in the form of a fourth fold line 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D; 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D. Each of the first fold line 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D; 125A, 125B, 125C, 125D, second fold line 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D; 127A, 127B, 127C, 127D, third fold line 29A, 29B, 29C, 29D; 129A, 129B, 129C, 129D, and fourth fold line 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D; 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D intersect to form a vertex lying at the corner of the base panel 12; 112.
The carrier 90; 190 may comprise a relief structure for facilitating assembly of the carrier 90; 190, the relief structure may comprise a pair of fold lines F1/F2, F3/F4 in one or both of the pair of end walls or one or both of the pair of side walls 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116.
The pair of fold lines F1/F2, F3/F4 are convergently arranged with respect to each other and may converge at the hinged connection between the base panel 12; 112 and said side or end wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120 in which they are formed.
The side or end wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120 to which the securing panel 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D; 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D is secured may comprise at least one locking tab L1, L2, L3, L4 extending from a side edge thereof.
The side or end wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120 to which corner panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D; 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D is hingedly connected may comprise a receiver for receiving the at least one locking tab L1, L2, L3, L4. The receiver may take the form of an aperture A1, A2, A3, A4. The at least one locking tab L1, L2, L3, L4 and the receiver cooperating to retain the carrier 90; 190 in a flat collapsed state.
The side or end wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120 to which the securing panel 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D; 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D is secured may comprise a pair of locking tab L1/L2, L3/L4 extending from opposed side edges thereof. Each of the side or end wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B, 18, 20; 114, 116, 118, 120 to which a respective corner panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D; 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D is hingedly connected may comprise a receiver for receiving the one of the pair of locking tabs L1/L2, L3/L4. The receiver may take the form of an aperture A1, A2, A3, A4.
The second hinged connection or fold line 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D; 127A, 127B, 127C, 127D may be interrupted by a cutline C1, C2, C3, C4 forming a cutout in the corner panel 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D; 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D for accommodating the locking tab L1, L2, L3, L4 in an erected condition.
The carrier 90; 190 may comprise at least one ventilation opening. The ventilation opening may be struck from the side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116. The ventilation opening may comprise an aperture or cutaway struck from the side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116 may be provided at a corner of the tray and may be struck in part from the side wall 14A/14B, 16A/16B; 114, 116, in part from the adjacent end wall 18, 20; 118, 120 and in part from the base panel 12; 112.
It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the size and shape of the panels and apertures may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape. The present invention is not limited to cartons of the basket carrier style, the invention may be employed with other carton styles such as, but not limited to, open top crates, lidded or closed top crates and fully enclosed cartons.
In one embodiment the medial panel may omitted, the partition structure may be formed from a first one of a pair of opposing wall panels, the opposing wall panels defining in part an interior of the carrier. The partition structure may divide the interior into two or more article receiving cells. The partition structure may comprise a lateral partition panel hingedly connected at a proximal end to said first one of the pair of opposing wall panels by proximal end fold line and at its distal end to a glue panel by a distal end joint, the glue panel being secured to the second one of the pair of opposing wall panels.
It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “bottom”, “base”, “front”, “back”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper” and “lower” do not necessarily limit the respective panels to such orientation, but may merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another.
As used herein, the terms “hinged connection” and “fold line” refer to all manner of lines that define hinge features of the blank, facilitate folding portions of the blank with respect to one another, or otherwise indicate optimal panel folding locations for the blank. Any reference to “hinged connection” should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed, a hinged connection can be formed from two or more fold lines wherein each of the two or more fold lines may be either straight/linear or curved/curvilinear in shape. When linear fold lines form a hinged connection, they may be disposed parallel with each other or be slightly angled with respect to each other. When curvilinear fold lines form a hinged connection, they may intersect each other to define a shaped panel within the area surrounded by the curvilinear fold lines. A typical example of such a hinged connection may comprise a pair of arched or arcuate fold lines intersecting at two points such that they define an elliptical panel therebetween. A hinged connection may be formed from one or more linear fold lines and one or more curvilinear fold lines. A typical example of such a hinged connection may comprise a combination of a linear fold line and an arched or arcuate fold line which intersect at two points such that they define a half-moon shaped panel therebetween.
As used herein, the term “fold line” may refer to one of the following: a scored line, an embossed line, a debossed line, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, an interrupted cutline, a line of aligned slits, a line of scores and any combination of the aforesaid options.
It should be understood that hinged connections and fold lines can each include elements that are formed in the substrate of the blank including perforations, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, a cutline, an interrupted cutline, slits, scores, any combination thereof, and the like. The elements can be dimensioned and arranged to provide the desired functionality. For example, a line of perforations can be dimensioned or designed with degrees of weakness to define a fold line or a severance line or both. The line of perforations can be designed to facilitate folding and resist breaking, to facilitate folding and facilitate breaking with more effort, or to facilitate breaking with little effort.
The phrase “in registry with” as used herein refers to the alignment of two or more elements in an erected carton, such as an aperture formed in a first of two overlapping panels and a second aperture formed in a second of two overlapping panels. Those elements in registry with each other may be aligned with each other in the direction of the thickness of the overlapping panels. For example, when an aperture in a first panel is “in registry with” a second aperture in a second panel that is placed in an overlapping arrangement with the first panel, an edge of the aperture may extend along at least a portion of an edge of the second aperture and may be aligned, in the direction of the thickness of the first and second panels, with the second aperture.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63581395 | Sep 2023 | US |
