Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6223892
-
Patent Number
6,223,892
-
Date Filed
Monday, March 27, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 1, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 206 140
- 206 141
- 206 434
- 294 872
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A carton and carton blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of containers, for example bottles, which carton is tubular in structure and comprises a first panel having a plurality of apertures, each of which has at least one foldable retention tab which operatively engages the underside of the radially protruding part of a container present in the aperture wherein a brace tab is connected to one of said retention tabs and is disposed between a pair of adjacent containers to minimize relative movement between those containers and wherein a free edge of said brace tab operatively engages the underside of the radially protruding part of one of said adjacent containers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a carton produced for packaging a plurality of articles, for example bottles. More particularly the invention relates to a carton of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of the articles thereby securing the articles in an array.
It is known to provide top gripping cartons which comprise so called sunburst apertures having a series of circumferencially arranged tabs which enable the bottle top to pass through the apertures which tabs engage on the underside of a bottle top or on the flange of a bottle neck to prevent the removal of the bottle from the aperture. A problem arises when such sunburst type apertures are used for bottles, in particular the location in which the tab engages the underside of the bottle top is high up on the bottle neck. This creates a carton that is unstable. Further, the tabs are weakened by the unstable nature of the bottles within the carton so reducing its effectiveness.
A further problem is that a top gripping carton needs to be of sufficient strength to support the bottle. A rigid structure would address this problem but produces its own difficulties. In particular, a top panel and/or base panel does not provide requisite rigidity and sufficient strength to support the bottle.
Known cartons of this type are disclosed in EP0541334 A1. This patent specification discloses keel construction suitable for retaining and/or separating articles. However, the keels are somewhat complex to set up from a collapsed form in the carton blank. Several different embodiments of keels are shown and described however, each keel acts to separate two articles in adjacent rows is formed from at least two separate tabs which are struck from the base of the carton which panels are required to be interlocked for example at a co- operating tab and aperture in order to form an erected keel. In some embodiments the base of the carton is formed from two overlapping base panels which are also required to be interlocked and accordingly the formation of the carton and keel structure is fairly complex.
The invention seeks to avoid or at least mitigate these and other problems of the prior art. Positional support is provided to maintain top and base panels in a spaced arrangement while additional strength is provided by multi layering the panels. Therefore the board can be reduced in thickness without reducing the strength needed to hold the bottle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in one form of the invention there is provided a carton of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of containers, for example bottles, which carton is tubular in structure and comprises a first panel having a plurality of apertures each of which has at least one foldable retention tab which operatively engages the underside of a radially protruding part of a container present in the aperture wherein a brace tab is connected to one of said retention tabs and is disposed between a pair of adjacent containers to minimize relative movement between those containers and wherein a free end edge of said brace tab operatively engages the underside of the radially protruding part of one of said adjacent containers.
According to one optional feature each aperture may be defined by a pair of retention tabs struck from said first panel. The retention tabs of the pair are disposed in positions where they are opposed to each other.
According to another optional feature said brace tab may be placed in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship with the said first panel.
Another aspect of the invention provides a unitary blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type which comprises a first panel having a plurality of apertures each of which has at least one foldable retention tab around each aperture and foldable to stand out of the general plane thereof and a brace tab struck from one of the apertures and hingably connected to one of said retention tabs, the brace tab being foldable out of the plane of the retention tab so that the end edge of the brace tab abuts a retention tab from an adjacent aperture when said carton is set up.
A further aspect of the invention provides a keel structure for separating two adjacent articles and/or retaining said articles in a carton, comprising first and second retention tabs hingably connected to a panel of the carton, said first and second retention tabs respectively engaging the underside of the radially protruding parts of the adjacent articles, wherein said first retention tab comprises a brace tab which extends between the first and second retention tabs to separate and/or retain said adjacent articles.
Preferably, the keel structure resiliently separates two adjacent articles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1
is a plan view of a carton blank for forming a carton according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a schematic perspective view of a carton formed from a carton blank shown in
FIG. 1
according to the invention; and
FIGS. 3 and 4
are a schematic perspective representations of two stages in the process of forming a keel structure and part of a carton according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and in particular
FIG. 1
thereof, there is shown a carton blank
10
for forming a top gripping carton made from paper board or similar foldable sheet material. The blank
10
comprises glue flap
12
, first side panel
14
, base panel
16
, second side panel
18
, and top panel
20
, hingably connected one to the next along fold lines
22
,
24
,
26
and
28
respectively.
As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, base panel
16
is formed with two pairs
30
and
32
of retention tabs being struck from base panel
16
adjacent to fold line
24
and laterally spaced intermediate the side edges of base panel
16
. Each pair
30
and
32
of retention tabs are struck from base panel
16
to define the pair of article receiving apertures
34
illustrated partially in FIG.
2
.
Turning in detail to the configuration of one pair
30
of retention tabs, there comprises retention tab
36
struck from and hingably connected to first side panel
14
along fold line
24
. Tab
36
extends inwardly of base panel
16
to its distal edge
38
. Tab
36
comprises opposed side edges
40
and
42
which arcuately curve outwardly and diverge from each other toward the distal edge
38
such that the length of the distal edge
38
is greater than the fold line connecting tab
36
to first side panel
14
.
A second retention tab
44
is hingably connected to base panel
16
along fold line
46
and is positioned in a central region of base panel
16
. In this embodiment, tab
44
is oppositely disposed to tab
36
and extends into aperture
34
. In this embodiment, distal edge
48
of tab
44
is juxtaposed to the distal edge
38
of tab
36
. Likewise, the side edges
50
,
52
of tab
44
arcuately curve outwardly and diverge from each other towards distal edge
48
to provide the distal edge
48
having a greater length than the fold line
46
. The curved side edges
40
,
42
;
50
,
52
of tabs
36
and
44
respectively define a substantially circular aperture
34
shown in
FIG. 2
, when the retention tabs
36
,
44
are in a set up condition.
A brace tab
54
is hingably connected to the distal edge
48
of tab
44
along fold line
56
. Tab
54
is struck from and extends into retention tab
36
. In this embodiment, brace tab
54
is substantially trapezoidal in shape.
Likewise, the second pair
32
of retention tabs is substantially identical in size and configuration to the first pair
30
of retention tabs described above and are not therefore described in any greater detail.
Base panel
16
is also formed with two further pairs
60
and
62
of retention tabs. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the further pairs
60
and
62
of retention tabs are struck from base panel
16
adjacent to fold line
26
and laterally spaced intermediate the side edges of base panel
16
. Each pair
60
and
62
of retention tabs are struck from base panel
16
to define the pair of article receiving apertures
64
, illustrated partially in FIG.
2
.
Turning in detail to the configuration of one pair
60
of retention tabs, there comprises retention tab
66
struck from and hingably connected to second side panel
18
along fold line
26
. Tab
66
extends inwardly of base panel
16
to its distal edge
68
. Tab
66
comprises opposed side edges
70
and
72
which arcuately curve outwardly and diverge from each other toward the distal edge
68
such that the length of the distal edge
68
is greater than the fold line connecting tab
66
to second side panel
18
.
A second retention tab
74
is hingably connected to base panel
16
along fold line
76
and is positioned in a central region of base panel
16
. In this embodiment, fold line
76
is in a parallel and spaced relationship with fold line
46
such that retention tabs
44
and
74
are aligned. It is envisaged that such alignment is not necessary in all embodiments. Tab
74
is oppositely disposed to tab
66
and extends into aperture
60
. In this embodiment, distal edge
78
is juxtaposed to the distal edge
68
of tab
66
. Likewise, the side edges
80
,
82
of tab
74
arcuately curve outwardly and diverge from each other towards distal edge
78
to provide the distal edge
78
having a greater length than the fold line
76
. The curved side edges
70
,
72
;
80
,
82
of tabs
66
and
74
respectively define a substantially circular aperture
64
shown in
FIG. 2
, when the tabs
66
,
74
are in a set up condition.
The second pair
62
of retention tabs is substantially identical in configuration to the first pair
60
of retention tabs described above and are not therefore described in any greater detail.
It is envisaged that suitable handle means generally known may be provided.
Turning to the construction of the carton as illustrated in
FIGS. 2
,
3
and
4
, the blank
10
requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations which can be performed in a straight line machine so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.
Thus, bottles B are grouped together in two rows of two bottles b
1
, b
2
and the blank
10
is introduced to the group from above by relative vertical movement between the bottles and the blank
10
, preferably during forward feed movement well known in the art. It is envisaged that blank
10
can be adapted to accommodate any number of articles in any number of rows.
FIGS. 3 and 4
show only a section of the carton substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, and are included to illustrate the folding process. It is envisaged that the shape of retention tabs and brace tabs is not limited to the type illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. Thus, each pair
30
and
60
of retention tabs, shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
are folded along their respective fold lines
24
,
46
;
26
,
76
and out of their general plane with respect to base panel
16
to create article receiving apertures
34
,
64
, shown in FIG.
2
. In this embodiment, tabs
44
and
74
are moved inwardly and upwardly in the direction of arrow ‘X’ and ‘Y’ respectively and are placed in a substantially upright position, while tabs
36
and
66
are moved outwardly and upwardly and are placed in a substantially upright position. The angle subtended between retention tabs for example
36
or
44
and the associated main carton panel such as base panel
16
is not crucial but is preferably in the region of 60-90°, but of course can be adapted to suit the shape of the packaged article.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the bottles b
1
and b
2
are moved into their respective apertures
34
and
64
until the distal edges
38
,;
68
,
78
of the retention tabs
36
,;
66
,
74
respectively come into contact with and are engaged with the underside of the respective protruding portion P
1
and P
2
of the bottles B associated within each of the apertures
34
,
64
. Optionally, the edge of each article receiving aperture
34
,
64
is in contact with a neck portion of each of the respective bottles B to provide additional support.
Brace tab
54
is folded backwardly about fold line
56
and placed in an angular relationship with retention tab
44
. Thus, distal edge
48
of tab
44
is engaged with the underside of protruding portion P
1
of bottle B
1
. Brace tab
54
extends towards retention tab
74
struck from the opposite aperture
64
and engages the protruding portion P
2
of an adjacent bottle b
2
. Preferably, brace tab
54
is abuts retention tab
74
and serves as a brace between the retention tabs
44
and
74
, as shown in FIG.
4
.
Thereafter, side panel
14
is folded about fold line
24
into a substantially perpendicular relationship with base panel
16
and glue flap
12
is folded about fold line
22
such that glue flap
12
is in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship with base panel
16
. Likewise side panel
18
is folded about fold line
26
into a substantially perpendicular relationship with base panel
16
and top panel
20
is folded about fold line
28
such that the free end portion of top panel
20
is placed in a face to face contacting relationship with glue flap
12
. Top panel
20
and glue flap
12
are secured together by glue or other means known in the art. Thus the carton is in a set up condition as shown in FIG.
4
.
In use, the brace tabs
54
, provide a horizontal brace to better maintain the bottles in their upright position.
The present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to an article carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that the load transferred through the retention tabs is absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the blank minimizes the amount of paper that would be required and the carrier can be applied to an array of bottles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carrier and not limited to those of the top gripping type.
Claims
- 1. A carton of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of containers, which carton is tubular in structure and comprises a first panel having a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures including a pair of foldable retention tabs struck from said first panel, said retention tabs of said pair being disposed in respective positions where said retention tabs are opposed to each other, wherein each said retention tab operatively engages the underside of a radially protruding part of a container present in said each aperture, and wherein a brace tab is connected to one of said retention tabs and is disposed between a pair of adjacent containers to minimize relative movement between those containers and wherein an edge of said brace tab operatively engages the underside of a radially protruding part of one of said adjacent containers.
- 2. The carton according to claim 1 wherein said brace tab is placed in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship with said first panel.
- 3. A unitary blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type which comprises a first panel having a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures including a pair of foldable retention tabs struck from said first panel, said retention tabs of said pair being disposed in respective positions where said retention tabs are opposed to each other, wherein each said retention tab is foldable to stand out of a general plane of said first panel and operatively engage the underside of a radially protruding part of a container present in said each aperture, and wherein a brace tab is hingably connected to one of said retention tabs and is disposed between a pair of adjacent containers to minimize relative movement between those containers and wherein an edge of said brace tab operatively engages the underside of a radially protruding part of one of said adjacent containers.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9713947 |
Jul 1997 |
GB |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
PCT/US98/14075 |
|
WO |
00 |
3/27/2000 |
3/27/2000 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO99/01356 |
1/14/1999 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 048 506 |
Mar 1982 |
EP |
0 541 334 |
May 1993 |
EP |
1 342 180 |
Dec 1973 |
GB |