The present invention relates to packaging and more particular, to article carriers such as cartons enclosing a plurality of articles such as beverage filled cans or the like; especially cartons having a non-traditional shape.
In the packaging of articles, such as canned beer, soft drinks and the like, various types of carriers have been employed, generally in the form of cartons, with provision for accepting a predetermined number of the cans, for example, six, eight or twelve, arranged in row formation. The prior cartons have almost invariably had, and continue to have, rectangular walls and hence are generally cubic in appearance. Consequently, beverage producers such as brewers must rely only on carton decoration to differentiate their products from those of others. One type of such packaging container or carrier which has been employed has been in the form of an open ended tube or sleeve with provision for retaining the cans against excessive movement therein or accidental removal through the open ends. In another packaging arrangement tubular packaging containers have been provided which have some means for closing the ends, either wholly or in part, so as to confine the cans and prevent accidental removal from the package. Where end and also top panel closures have been employed, sealing, generally with hot melt adhesives, has generally proven to be costly in terms of material and the skilled labour required. In addition, there are known in the art, many examples of beverage cartons which have an article dispenser arrangement for providing access through an opening from which articles in the carton may be removed. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,894,681; 4,364,509; 5,368,196 and 6,478,219 described cartons which provide a tear strip to gain access to the articles in the carton. Such an arrangement has a number of disadvantages. For example, during use, the board material surrounding the opening formed by removal of a tear strip usually from an end and a side wall often tears, assuming the lines of perforation function correctly in first place. Problems also arise because the tear strip includes part of both a side wall and an associated end wall and this can cause loss of structural rigidity which can cause problems when the carton is reused to return the empty carton to a recycling facility. Another example of cartons having an article dispensing features include that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,128 where provision is made for part of a center wall to angle outwardly from its associated vertical wall so as to form a spout or trough through which articles can be extracted. This is a relatively complex and expensive system and can have difficulties with heavy articles such as beverage-filled cans. Other examples of this type include cutouts in the side walls adjacent the trough to allow an article to be extracted.
Finally, the tab used in these cartons to initiate the tear sequence to form the strip or trough is often not convenient to use. Usually this tab is pressed into the carton to enable it subsequently to be grasped and pulled. However, the initial pressing step frequently results in the carton walls deforming and tearing but not along the desired lines. Finally, the initial pushing of the tab action may be hindered or even rendered ineffective by the shape and location of the carton contents. In summary, the prior cartons have generally left something to be desired and have proven to be inconvenient and unreliable.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a secondary carton for containing a plurality of primary containers which container has two opposing side walls which are not rectangular and as a consequence, the carton is conspicuous and stands out from the usual rectangular shaped cartons containing competitive products.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a container which has an improved convenient dispensing feature for the enclosed primary containers.
It has now be found that a secondary carton for containing a plurality of primary containers such as beverage filled cans, which secondary carton has two opposing non-rectangular side walls having at least one coincident acute angle and connected by end walls has an irregular shape which not only provides increased consumer visibility but also flexibility as to product configurations. Furthermore, in a closed carton where the side walls have at least one acute angle, the juncture or join of the associated base or bottom wall and end wall which connect the two side walls result in the end wall being inclined to the vertical. Providing an access port or opening in said end wall at, or preferably slightly spaced from, the join thereof with the bottom wall creates a can dispensing means through which cartons may be conveniently accessed and removed without requiring deformation of the carton side walls to provide part of the opening.
Because of inclined nature of the end wall, the can or the like article in the carton adjacent that wall upon said opening being formed becomes sufficiently exposed to be easily grasped and removed.
The carton can have opposing walls of various shapes e.g. trapezoid, such as a triangle having its upper part cut off by a line parallel to the base or a rectangle where one pair of adjacent right angles is replaced by an acute angle and an obtuse angle pair.
The angle between the end wall and its associated bottom wall can vary and depends on various factors including the size and shape of the articles to be enclosed in the carton and the configuration they are to assume in the carton. It is preferred however that the carton has two opposing side walls which are each triangular and that these are joined together by three end walls, one of which constitutes a base wall. Further, it is especially preferred that the triangles are isosceles or equilateral, the latter having three acute angles of 60° each at the two end wall-to-bottom wall and are end wall to end wall joins. For example, in the specific case of a triangular carton of the present invention which is to enclose 15–355 ml cans of beer, a pyramidal formation i.e. having rows of 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 cans, with 5 being at the base, would result in a carton having three angles of 60° each, each side wall being an equilateral triangle having sides of about 35 cm. However, similar cartons to enclose more or less of the cans may need to be dimensioned accordingly and present several options. For example, a triangular carton for containing say nine such cans in a single 4, 3, 2 formation could have a base of about 38 cm; and end wall of about 32 cm and a width of about 26 cm (i.e. one can width). This carton would leave a volume in the top apex of the carton free to locate a premium or the like. In this case, it may be preferable to locate an inner “wall” between the opposing end walls parallel to the base wall, above and adjacent the top two cans.
Alternatively, the top apex part of the carton can be eliminated, replaced by a top wall parallel to the base wall of length equal to about two can diameters. In other words, the carton would then have a side wall the shape of a trapezium.
A port or opening can be located in an end wall preferably a short distance from the join of the end wall and the bottom wall so as to leave a small horizontal strip of board material extending across the width of the end wall. A can or like article at the port is then prevented from simply rolling out of the carton by that strip but is readily available due to the angled end wall to be grasped and removed by being lifted out. In view of the stacking arrangement of the cans and the pressure extended by the upper layers thereof, removal of one can automatically results in its place being taken by another until there are only five left in a single row and a slight lift of the carton from back to front would result in those being presented to the user one at a time.
Initially, the port or opening is sealed by a can access panel which is adapted to be readily severed to create the opening and provide access to the enclosed cartons. Preferably, the panel is not fully severed but remains hingedly attached so as to be able to re-seal the opening if desired. This would, for example, assist in retaining the beverage in the cans remaining in the carton cool if the carton is not maintained in a fridge or similar cool environment.
In a further embodiment, the carton of the invention is adapted to accommodate two “banks” of stacked cans with an end of each can in one bank being located adjacent an end of a can in the adjacent bank. The interior of the carton may be constituted as a single compartment or may be divided into two by way of partition means such as a dividing wall. In a further embodiment, such a two-compartment carton is adapted to be severable into two individual cartons. Each of the two backs may have its own can access port, especially when the basic carton is severable into two individual cartons.
The cartons of the present invention may be produced from a one-piece blank of paperboard, preferably corrugated board for strength. Upon being erected, the various walls and the like of the blank may be secured in position using adhesives. However, it may be preferably because of the irregular shapes of the cartons to have the carton secured in its erected condition via mechanical locking means such as a series of tab and slot locking combinations, or a combination whereby the carton is partially pre-glued to form a blank which is set up, filled with cans and mechanically locked.
It is also preferred to have the base or bottom wall constructed of multiple plies of material, again to provide additional strength and ensure structural rigidity and prevent any tendency for the carton base to bow despite the weight of the contents. A modification of the basic blank of the present invention therefore involves providing mechanical locking means to secure the multiply ply base together, these means comprising least one rotatable tab formed in the outermost ply of the base and adapted to extend through at least the adjacent ply and bend around so as to lie thereon and be covered by one more ply. Essentially, this creates a “sandwich” with the tab grasped between the outer and an inner ply of the carton base and held in place by the weight of the carton contents lying on the innermost ply of the base.
Another form of mechanical lock may be used especially to secure non-base side and end walls together, this comprising a tab adapted to enter an associated slot such that when the carton is being carried in the usual manner, a force is extended between an edge of said tap and an edge of its associated slot thereby providing a strong frictional engagement there-between. The latter is enhanced by further providing said slot of an end which the tab engages with a further slot extending at an angle to said first slot thus presenting a V-shape in the board for the edge of the tab to engage.
As the container of the present invention will in most circumstances, be transported in bulk using a standard palleting system, the size of the pallet relative to the size and shape of the carton is of importance if optimum transporting efficiency is to be achieved. A standard Canadian brewery pallet measures 48″×40″ (122 cm×100 cm) and consequently optimum utilization of the pallet area would be achieved if the carton size and shape is such that if a plurality of the cartons when assembled in a rectangular configuration in a layer would, if possible, approximate the area of the pallet. In the carton embodiment described above, that is, a carton to enclose 15 355 ml standard beer cans, which carton has a base of about 30 cm and a height of about 20 cm, a layer of cartons comprising 42 cartons would form a block about 120 cm by 120 cm which indicates excellent utilization of pallet space. Each pallet would support between 9 and 11 such layers.
The present invention will be further described but not limited by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
NOTE: In the following FIGS, the access panel is in a closed condition;
For simplicity, similar elements in the various FIGS. Are referred to by the same number. With reference to
A second and approximately similar end wall structure extends from hinge line 13 of side wall 12, the structure comprising end wall 16, attached thereto by hinge line 35 is panel 36 which has two angled score lines 37. Panel 36 has a length slightly less than that of end wall 16. Tab 38, bridges end wall 16 and panel 36 defined by cut line 40 and hinge line 41 has a centre hinge line 42.
End wall 18, which forms part of the multiple ply base or bottom wall of the erected carton, is extended longitudinally by a first tuck flap 43 foldable along hinge or fold line 44 and a second tuck flap 45 foldable along hinge line 46. Tuck flap 43 is provided with a cutout of the same size and shape as handhole 21. End wall 18 is provided with a carton dispensing structure comprising an access panel 47 defined by severable lines of perforations or weakness 48, 49 and 50, and score or hinge line 51. Extending laterally from each perforated line 48 and 49 of access panel 47 and connected thereto via hinge or score lines 52 and 53 are respectively, push tabs 54 and 55. A threshold or can retention panel 39 extends the width of flap 45 and between hinge lines 46 and 51.
A second side wall 60, of the same size and shape as the first side wall 12, is attached via hinge line 61 to the longitudinal edge of end wall 18. A further panel 62 is attached to a side of second side wall 60 via hinge line 59, this panel being generally rectangular but with its shorter ends 63 and 64 being angled to its longitudinal axis and rounded at the corners 65 and 66. Located approximately midway along hinge line 59 is a lock slot 58. Attached to the remaining edge of second side wall 60 is panel 67 of similar shape and dimensions as panel 62 but which, in addition, is provided with a cut-out 68 defined by cut line 69 the shape being part of the shape of handhole 21. It is also provided with corresponding locking slot 70. The blank is made of a paperboard or similar material especially a corrugated board for increased strength. Turning to the remaining drawings, and not all elements are shown in all the FIGS., there is shown an erected carton, generally designated 11, of the present invention. This comprises two triangular shaped side walls 12 and 60 connected by end walls 16, 17 and 18. It should be noted that end wall 16 is part of the base 19 of the container which comprises multiple plies or layers of paperboard.
Turning to
In
In
Turning to
A first tuck flap 20 is shown folded along hinge or fold 19 so as to lie along a surface of panel 26 (not shown in this FIG. since it extends from hinge or fold 35) and between that surface and a surface of panel 62. Second tuck flap 45 is shown folded along hinge or fold 46 so as to line along and between a surface of panel 26 (not shown in this FIG. since it extends from hinge or fold 35) and a surface of panel 62.
Turning to the top plan view shown in the
Turning to
In
Also shown are several cans of beer 87 in a stacked or layered position they adopt when in the carton. It can be seen that any tendency of the base to bow or sag under the weight of the contents is additionally resisted by this locking feature. This is especially so since the base 19 is anchored along one full side, namely via hinge 13, and at three longitudinally spaced locations, namely via locking tab 40 and the two locking features along the other longitudinal base edge. Turning to
Each bank of cans has an associated access port or opening shown closed by panel 47—refer to
Turning to
The blank of
To activate or create the handhole, it is only necessary to sever line of perforations 22, force with the hand the panel 29 through the underlying cut-outs 27, 47 and 67 whereupon, the lower i.e. free section of panel 29 rotates about hinge 24 to provide a flat “cushioned” holding surface. To open the carton and access the cans, the carton is sat on its base 19 and each of the push tabs 54 and 55 are pushed into the carton 11. It will be noted—refer to FIG. 4—that these tabs are positioned so that they lie opposite the void 74 existing between the two cans located in the carton immediately behind access panel. Consequently, there is nothing to hinder the severing of the lines of perforation defining the tabs and rotating same into the carton. It is then a simple matter by pulling on the access panel 47 to sever the remainder of the perforations 49 and 50 defining the access panel 47 and lifting the latte, rotating same about hinge line 57 to take up the position shown in
In a similar fashion to that described above, the carton of
The operating features of this carton are activated in a similar manner to that described above for the triangular embodiments of the invention.
The present invention has been described in detail with reference to its use in packaging a beverage and, in particular, beer. However, its general applicability for other articles are items which are contained in multi-packs but are used individually will be apparent.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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101652 | Dec 2002 | CA | national |
2417290 | Jan 2003 | CA | national |
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6478216 | Wiart | Nov 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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524319 | Jan 1993 | EP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040159698 A1 | Aug 2004 | US |