Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6332538
-
Patent Number
6,332,538
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, June 14, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 25, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Fidei; David T.
- Luong; Shian
Agents
- Gipple & Hale
- Hale; John S.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 206 5243
- 206 807
- 229 118
- 229 207
- 229 208
- 229 210
- 229 212
- 229 221
- 229 223
- 229 224
- 229 227
- 229 238
- 229 145
- 229 146
- 229 148
- 229 1602
- 229 225
- 229 186
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A reclosable container (10) is disclosed comprising a box (12) having an opening and comprising a base panel (20), end panels (22, 24), a back panel (26), a front panel (28) and a lid (14) which is hingedly connected to the box. The lid comprises a top panel (30) and a skirt (16) which incorporates a tamper evident seal, preferably formed as a tear strip (18). When the seal has been broken the lid can pivot between a position in which it closes the box and an open position. The container may be formed from a single sheet and a back folded locking arrangement (60) is incorporated in the container.
Description
The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to a container for use with loose particulate or bagged particulate materials such as, for example, tea, herb, fruit and other similar beverages. It also relates to a container blank, a method of assembling a container and adhesives for use in the assembly of the container.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a container, or presentation box, which is tamper evident, and reclosable.
It would also be desirable to provide a container which is easy and cheap to construct and fill on a production line, and which uses as little material as possible.
The container of the present invention has thus been designed with a view to overcoming one or more of the following problems:
1. It should be tamper evident;
2. It should be easy to open and be reclosable;
3. It should be lockable to the extent that the contents are not emptied if the container is, for example, accidentally knocked over;
4. It should provide an aroma barrier;
5. It should provide a moisture barrier;
6. It should be constructed to alleviate, as far as possible, dusting; and
7. It should be strong, thus reducing the need for secondary (e.g. cellophane wrap) and tertiary (e.g. boxing for transit) packaging.
These problems have been addressed in a number of ways:
Thus, the container may be made tamper evident by the provision of a lid which is sealed over the opening of a box, which seal is broken by the end-user. This is preferably achieved using a “tear strip” , most preferably one produced by a process called Concora. It will, however, be appreciated that other methods of producing “lines of weakness” could be used.
Most preferably the lid is designed to pivotally open. In a preferred construction the lid comprises a top panel and a skirt and the tear strip runs around all three sides of the skirt. In this way the lid can be integrally and hingedly connected to the box making it easy to open and re-close the container by pivoting the lid over the box's opening.
The applicant has found that the container can be made lockable using a “click lock” mechanism. The preferred “click lock” mechanism is one known as a Z-lock. Thus, by providing a “back fold” on at least a portion of a rim of at least one of the panels which define the box's opening, preferably on the panel opposite the hinge, the skirt of the lid, when the lid is closed, moves over the “back fold” , which is resiliently biased to exert a locking force against it and a raised surface formed on the inside of the skirt of the lid, thus preventing accidental emptying of the container.
Preferably the container is constructed from a barrier board. Preferred barrier coatings include:
1. High density polyethylene (HDPE) which provides an aroma and moisture barrier;
2. Vinyl polymers which provide an aroma and moisture barrier; and
3. Acrylic polymer varnish which also provides an aroma and moisture barrier.
To overcome the problem of dusting (escape of the fine particulate material from the container) it proved necessary to reduce air change within the container. The applicant determined that air change can be reduced by making the container stronger and by creating better seals. One way of achieving this was by reinforcing the container at its vertices and providing deflectors about the rim of the box's opening. The resulting improvement in strength was also found to reduce or alleviate a need for secondary and tertiary packaging.
The vertices are reinforced by increasing the thickness of the carton about them. In one embodiment this is achieved by gusseting. Preferably, an integral gusset is formed from a substantially L-shaped tab situated between the fold lines of a carton blank which when the blank is folded form the vertice. The L-shaped tab is pleated bringing the respective fold lines forming the vertice together and the pleat is then secured by gluing it to a panel adjacent to the vertice. To simplify the gluing procedure one or more apertures are formed in one of the arms making up the L-shape such that by gluing a single surface it is possible to stick the two arms of the L-shape together and the resulting pleat to the panel adjacent to the vertices the adhesive on one of the arms being able to secure the pleat to the panel by virtue of the fact it can pass through the aperture in the other arm. Another significant feature of the invention is the provision of delaminating areas.
A first delaminating area comprises a “die cut” area formed through a layer of the laminate so that the layer of the laminate within the “cut” may be lifted away. This technique allows a tear strip formed in the lid to be glued at its ends to the box so as to seal the container yet, at the same time, enhance ease of opening, since when the tear strip is pulled back the die cut area will lift away. Preferably, the die cut is shaped to terminate in a point which is directed in the direction in which the tear strip is pulled to open the container.
A second delaminating area allows the lid to be glued to the box near its pivot. When the lid is hingedly opened delamination occurs.
A fuller understanding of the delaminating areas will be gleaned from the specific description.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a reclosable container comprising:
a box having an opening and comprising a base panel, two end panels, a back panel, and a front panel; and
a lid comprising a top panel and a skirt incorporating a tamper evident seal;
said lid being hingedly connected to said box such that on breaking the tamper evident seal it can pivot between a first position in which it lies over the opening of the box closing the container and a second position in which it is remote from the opening of the box leaving the container open.
Preferably, the container is formed from a single sheet. This saves on materials and reduces assembly costs.
Preferably the box's opening is substantially the same size as the base of the box and includes dust deflector tabs about the rim.
Preferably the tamper evident seal is in the form of a tear strip.
Preferably the container is lockable, and the provision of one or more tabs “back folded” along all or a portion of an edge of the front panel of the box provides the locking means. The back fold is biased to exert a force against the inner face of the lids skirt which preferably also comprises a stop. The resulting appearance gives rise to it being known as a Z-lock.
Preferably the container is constructed of box or carton board although other materials such as, for example, paper, plastics, metal plastics or other metal coated materials could be used.
More preferably the container is constructed from a barrier board (in this case a coated box board). Most preferably the outer most face is coated with a combination of primer and over lacquers which can be conventionally or ultra violet cured. Preferably the lacquers are polyvinyl polymers and acrylic which provide moisture and aroma resistance.
The use of a barrier coating is particularly important for containers carrying beverages containing citrus oils, since these will attack the adhesives traditionally use d in the manufacture of cartons. T he applicant has found that polyamide based adhesives are less prone to degradation by these oils and these are preferred.
An advantage of an acrylic outer most coating is that it can easily be overprinted.
The use of polyamide adhesives in the constructions of the container, the carton blank and the method of constructing the container are separate and further aspects of the present invention.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a container blank comprising nine panel forming sections, six panel connectors, a locking tab and two deflector tabs which serve to retain particulate material within the box.
The nine panel forming sections comprise five panels which form a box with an opening and four panels which form a lid with a skirt.
The five panels which form the box with an opening are arranged such that the base forming panel is central and two end panels, a front panel and a back panel extend therefrom in the form of a cross.
Four L-shaped panels, disposed between respectively the front and end panels and the back and end panels strengthen the vertices of the box when erected.
Extending from each end panel is a deflector tab which when the blank is folded, extends inwardly from the rim and serves to retain particulate material within the box when erected.
Extending from an edge of the front panel is a tab which when the blank is folded forms a locking means.
The top panel of the lid extends from the back panel of the box and a fold line therebetween serves to hingedly connect the lid to the box when the blank is folded. Extending from the top panel of the lid are three skirt forming panels. Each of the skirt forming panels are sub-divided into three sections, the true skirt forming portion, a portion which forms a tearaway strip and a portion which is used to seal the lid over the opening of the box with glue after the container has been filled.
Extending from the two end forming panels of the lid are tabs which enable the front panel of the lid to be connected to the end panels to thereby form the lid skirt.
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing and filling a container according to the invention comprising the steps of:
i) forming a box having an opening and strengthened vertices;
ii) filling the box;
iii) forming a lid; and
iv) closing the lid over the box's opening and sealing it in place.
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of a polyamide adhesive in the manufacture of a container which is filled or to be filled with a citrus oil containing beverage.
A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an opened container in an “open” configuration;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of an unopened container;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of a partially opened container;
FIG. 4
is a plan view of an inner face of a container blank;
FIG. 5
is a plan view of an outer face of a container blank; and
FIG. 6
is a view showing a partially folded container blank.
Referring to
FIG. 1
the opened reclosable container
10
of the invention comprises a box
12
having an opening and comprising a base panel
20
, two end panels
22
,
24
, a back panel
26
and a front panel
28
, and a lid
14
which is hingedly attached to said box via fold line T. The lid
14
of the opened container comprises a top panel
30
and a skirt
16
comprising end panels
32
,
34
and a front panel
38
. The skirt
16
of the lid
14
extends over at least a portion of the two end panels
22
,
24
, and front panel
28
of the box when the “opened” container is closed.
The front panel
28
of the box has a tab
60
which is “back folded” along a line of weakness S towards the outermost face
228
of the front panel
28
of the box
12
. This tab, which extends substantially along the whole of fold line S is biased to exert a force against the inner face of the lid's skirt
16
thereby providing a locking means. It also locks against a stop formed by an edge of the glue tabs which are used to form the skirt of the lid.
The end panels
22
and
24
of box
12
are made stronger about the rim of the opening with fold down portions
62
and
64
which also serve as deflectors and help to retain particulate material within the box.
The four vertices
2
,
4
,
6
,
8
of the open box are strengthened with gussets
80
. Further details of their construction are given hereinafter.
The increased strength conferred by these gussets
80
makes the container less susceptible to damage during transport alleviating or reducing the requirement for secondary and/or tertiary packaging. It also results in better sealing of the lid
14
once the container has been opened thus resulting in improved user shelf life. It also helps alleviate dusting.
FIG. 2
shows an assembled and filled container
10
. The lid
14
, at this stage, extends completely over the end panels and front panel of the open box (which are not therefore seen). In addition to a top panel
30
and a skirt
16
comprising two end panels
32
and
34
, and a front panel
38
, the lid, at this stage, can be considered to additionally comprise a tear away strip
18
comprising sub-panels
42
,
44
and
48
and a portion
19
comprising sub-panels
52
,
54
and
58
which enable the lid to be sealed and glued over the filled open box.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the consumer opens the container
10
by removing the tearaway strip
18
. Once the tearaway strip
18
, comprising portions
42
,
44
and
48
, has been removed, the true lid
14
can be pivoted about hinge T between open (see
FIG. 1
) and closed positions.
Many features of the invention can be appreciated more clearly by reference to the container blank (
FIGS. 4 and 5
) and the way in which the container is assembled (FIG.
6
).
The container blank
300
has an inner face
100
and an outer face
200
. Where possible the same numbering is used to refer to like parts. Thus, the number
1
is used to prefix a part to indicate it is the inner face and the number
2
is used to prefix a part to indicate it is the outer face. Referring to
FIG. 4
inner face
100
of the container blank comprises a box forming portion
112
comprising a base forming panel
120
, two end forming panels
122
and
124
, a back forming panel
126
and a front forming panel
128
. It additionally comprises a tab
160
which forms the Z-lock, two tabs
162
and
164
which help retain particulate material within the folded box and four gusseting panels
172
,
174
,
176
and
178
which are substantially L-shaped. It is via these gusseting panels that end panels
122
and
124
are connected to the back panel
126
and front panel
128
. Each L-shaped panel comprises a portion
180
with compressed or indented areas
182
, and a portion
184
with holes
186
formed therein. Each portion
180
and
184
is separated by a fold line A, B, C or D and when each L-shaped panel
172
,
174
,
176
and
178
is pleated the compressed areas
182
and holes
186
are aligned (see FIG.
6
).
The inner face or the container blank also comprises a lid forming portion
114
comprising a top forming panel
116
, end forming panels
133
and
135
, a front forming panel
139
and two sets of gluing tabs
190
for connecting end forming panels
133
and
135
to front forming panel
139
. These gluing tabs
190
have an edge
191
which assists in the locking of the Z-lock by providing a stop against which tab
160
reacts.
End forming panel
133
comprises three portions, a skirt forming portion
132
, a portion
142
which is removed when the box is opened, (i.e. it forms a tear strip) and a portion
152
which enables the lid to be sealed over the filled box.
The portion
142
has lines of weakness
143
marked thereon.
End forming panel
135
similarly comprises three portions, a skirt forming portion
134
, a portion
144
which is removed when the box is opened, (i.e. it forms the tear strip) and a portion
154
which enables the lid to be sealed over the filled box.
Portion
144
has lines of weakness
143
marked thereon.
Front panel
139
similarly comprises three portions, a skirt forming portion
138
, a portion
148
which is removed when the box is opened (i.e. it forms a tear strip) and a portion
158
which enables the lid to be sealed over the filled box.
The portion
148
has lines of weakness
143
marked thereon.
Referring to
FIG. 5
outer face
200
of the container blank comprises a box forming portion
212
comprising a base forming panel
220
, two end forming panels
222
and
224
, a back forming panel
226
and a front forming panel
228
. It additionally comprises a tab
260
which forms the Z-lock, two tabs
262
,
264
which provide additional strength to the folded box and function as dust deflectors and four gusseting panels
272
,
274
,
276
and
278
which are substantially L-shaped. It is via these gusseting panels that end panels
222
and
224
are connected to the back panel
226
and front panel
228
. Each L-shaped panel comprises a portion
280
with raised areas
282
, and a portion
284
with holes
286
formed therein. Each portion
280
and
284
is separated by a fold line A, B, C or D and when each L-shaped panel
272
,
274
,
276
and
278
is pleated the raised areas
282
and holes
286
are aligned (see FIG.
6
).
The outer face or the container blank also comprises a lid forming portion
214
comprising a top forming panel
216
, end forming panels
233
and
235
, a front forming panel
239
and two sets of gluing tabs
290
for connecting end panels
233
and
235
to front panel
239
. End panel
233
comprises three portions, a skirt forming portion
232
, a portion
242
which is removed when the box is opened, (i.e it forms a tear strip) and a portion
252
which enables the lid to be sealed over the filled box.
The portion
242
has lines of weakness
243
marked thereon.
End panel
235
similarly comprises three portions, a skirt forming portion
234
, a portion
244
which is removed when the box is opened, (i.e forms the tear strip) and a portion
254
which enables the lid to be sealed over the filled box.
Portion
244
has lines of weakness
243
marked thereon.
Front panel
239
similarly comprises three portions, a skirt forming portion
238
, a portion
248
which is removed when the box is opened (i.e. it forms a tear strip) and a portion
258
which enables the lid to be sealed over the filled box.
The portion
248
has lines of weakness
243
marked thereon.
There are, however, a number of differences. Thus areas
282
the reverse of areas
182
, are raised areas in contrast to the indented areas
182
.
Each panel
222
and
224
is also provided with a gluing area (shown in shading) and a die cut area the function of which is described later, and a delaminating area
292
. The delaminating areas
292
are lemon shaped with ends
294
which are directed in the direction of the tear axis of the tear strip. Both areas
237
and
292
along with areas
296
,
297
and
298
and the gussets
280
and the tabs
290
are coated with an adhesive (shown in shading).
To construct the container
10
from the blank
300
the blank is folded along the fold lines A to Y as shown in FIG.
6
. The inner face
100
is shown upwardly.
A box
12
is formed by pleating L-shaped panels
180
such that they are glued to inner faces
122
and
124
of the end panels
22
,
24
. The glue, which is preferably a polyamide based glue, is disposed on the outer face portion
280
of the L-shaped panels
272
,
274
,
276
and
278
.
The box
12
is constructed by folding the respective L-shaped panels inwardly about fold lines A, B, C, and D and E, F, G and H to create an open box. The glue on outer face
280
of the L-shaped panels glues the arms
280
and
284
together. The glue passes through holes
286
and the vertices
2
,
4
,
6
,
8
, (
FIG. 1
) are thus strengthened by the gluing of the gussets
272
,
278
and
274
and
276
to panels
222
and
224
respectively. Tabs
62
and
64
are then folded over through 90° so that inner face
162
is folded towards inner face
122
and inner face
164
is folded towards inner face
124
. Tab
18
is reverse folded towards the outer face
228
to form a Z-lock.
The pleating of the L-shaped portion
180
and their fixation to the sides
22
and
24
strengthens each vertices IJ, MN and OP and additional strength is provided by the folding of tabs
62
and
64
over sides
22
and
24
towards inner face
122
and
124
respectively.
The lid portion
14
is created by folding the respective panels inwardly about fold lines U, V and W and gluing the outer face of the tabs
290
to the inner face
139
of the front panel
39
. The lid is then pivoted closed about fold line T and secured over the open box by gluing at glue areas
296
,
297
,
298
,
237
and
292
.
To open the container as illustrated in
FIG. 3
, tear strip
18
is removed. Strip
42
which is glued to the box at delaminating areas
292
, is peeled back causing delamination at areas
292
, thus avoiding unsightly tearing. The lid can then be pivotally opened causing delamination at the delaminating area
237
. On pivoting the lid back to close the box reverse folding tab
60
functions as a Z-lock closure exerting pressure against inner face
138
of the lid and the edge
191
of gluing tabs
190
which act as stops.
Claims
- 1. A reclosable container comprising:a box having an opening and comprising a base panel, end panels, a back panel, a front panel and gusseting panels connecting the end panels to respective front and back panels; and a lid comprising a top panel and a skirt incorporating a tamper evident seal; said lid being hingedly connected to said box such that after breaking of the tamper evident seal said lid can pivot between a first position lying over the opening of the box closing the container and a second position leaving the container open; said gusseting panels defining holes for receiving glue.
- 2. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is formed from a single sheet.
- 3. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opening is substantially the same size as the base panel.
- 4. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opening has a rim about which are provided dust tabs.
- 5. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tamper evident seal is in the form of a tear strip.
- 6. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one back folded tab positioned along at least a portion of an edge of the front panel of the box by means of which the container is lockable.
- 7. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 6 wherein each back folded tab is biased to exert a force on the skirt when the lid is in a first position, the skirt providing a stop for the lid.
- 8. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 7 wherein the back folded tab forms a locking mechanism.
- 9. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 constructed from barrier board.
- 10. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 9 wherein the board's outermost face is coated with a combination of primer and cured over lacquers which are ultra violet cured.
- 11. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the lacquers are selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl polymers and acrylic.
- 12. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panels are secured together with polyamide adhesive.
- 13. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container comprises a coated barrier board which provides an aroma and moisture barrier suitable to hold a citrus oil beverage.
- 14. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gusseting panels comprise one section provided with raised areas aligned with holes defined by another section when the container is assembled.
- 15. A reclosable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gusseting panels are L-shaped.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
0003704 |
Feb 2000 |
GB |
|
US Referenced Citations (19)