AU2005100982A4

AU2005100982A4 - Container for Holding Viscous Animal Feed and Blank Therefor

Info

Publication number: AU2005100982A4
Application number: AU2005100982A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard Harley
Original assignee: AMCOR Ltd
Current assignee: Amcor Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-28
Filing date: 2005-11-28
Publication date: 2006-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-28

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant Actual Inventors Address for Service: Invention Title: The following statement is a performing it, known to us: Amcor Limited Richard Harley CULLEN CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia Container for Holding Viscous Animal Feed and Blank Therefor full description of this invention, including the best method of I2 0 Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to containers and, in particular, to 0 Z containers for holding viscous liquids.

0 Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to moulding a viscous animal feed supplement mixture into lick blocks, it will be i appreciated that the invention may be used for other purposes.

0 oBrief Discussion of the Prior Art ISome feed supplements for animals such as cattle and sheep are moulded 0 10 into solid blocks which are commonly referred to as "lick blocks" because cattle and sheep consume the blocks by licking them.

Feed supplement lick blocks such as molasses-based protein and mineral lick blocks are usually made by mixing together various ingredients including molasses and a hardener, and then pouring the viscous mixture into moulds where it is allowed to harden into solid blocks.

The moulds are usually paperboard containers which double as packaging for the lick blocks.

A known paperboard container which is used as a mould for molasses-based protein and mineral lick blocks is manually erected from a blank which is fabricated from a sheet of corrugated paperboard. The container includes a sleeve and a plurality of closure flaps which are hinged to the sleeve along fold lines and which are able to close the ends of the sleeve. The sleeve is octagonal in shape to facilitate rolling the container and the heavy lick block contained therein along the ground.

The prior art container is filled with lick block mixture by closing a lower end of the sleeve and then pouring the mixture into the container through the upper end of the sleeve.

A problem with the aforementioned prior art paperboard container is that the mixture tends to leak out of the lower end of the sleeve because the closure flaps which close that end do not adequately seal the lower end of the sleeve.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a container which overcomes or ameliorates the aforementioned problem.

0 Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate,

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Z one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above, or to provide the 00 consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent C, from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying 00 illustrations, wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of o the present invention is disclosed.

1According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a I 10 container for moulding a viscous animal feed supplement into a solid lick block, the container comprising a sleeve, a bottom wall panel received by the sleeve, a plurality of flaps hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines and surrounding the perimeter of the bottom wall panel, wherein the flaps overlie and are secured to an interior surface of the sleeve such that a seal is thereby formed between the flaps and the sleeve which inhibits a viscous animal feed supplement from leaking out of the container between the sleeve and the bottom wall panel.

The container may be any suitable size. Preferably, the container has a capacity of between 5 and 200 litres. In a first particular preferred form, the container has a capacity of 100 litres. In a second particular preferred form, the container has a capacity of 50 litres. In a third particular preferred form, the container has a capacity of 20 litres.

Preferably, the container also comprises a top wall panel which is received by the sleeve, and a plurality of flaps which are hinged to the top wall panel along fold lines and which surround the perimeter of the top wall panel, wherein the flaps overlie and are secured to an interior surface of the sleeve such that a viscous animal feed supplement held in the container is inhibited from leaking out of the container between the sleeve and the top wall panel.

The flaps which are hinged to the bottom wall panel are preferably located in the interior of the container. Likewise, the flaps which are hinged to the top wall panel are preferably located in the interior of the container.

The sleeve may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the sleeve is octagonal to facilitate rolling the container and a lick block contained therein along the ground or n 4 0 0another surface.

The sleeve preferably includes eight side wall panels hinged to each other

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Z along fold lines. Four of the side wall panels are preferably slightly wider than the 00 other four side wall panels. Preferably a flap is hinged to one of the side wall panels along a fold line and is secured to another one of the side wall panels. In a particular preferred form, the flap is glued to one of the side wall panels.

O0 The bottom wall panel and the top wall panel may be any suitable shape.

oPreferably, the bottom wall panel and the top wall panel are octagonal. Four sides of othe bottom wall panel and the top wall panel are preferably slightly wider than the other four sides of the bottom wall panel and the top wall panel.

Preferably, a respective flap is hinged to each side of the bottom wall panel and to each side of the top wall panel.

The flaps which are hinged to the bottom wall panel and the top wall panel may be any suitable size. Preferably, flaps of two different sizes are hinged to the bottom wall panel and to the top wall panel.

The flaps which are hinged to the bottom wall panel and the top wall panel may be any suitable shape. In a preferred form, the flaps are generally rectangular.

Each flap hinged to the bottom wall panel and the top wall panel preferably overlies a respective side wall panel of the sleeve.

The top wall panel preferably includes an opening so that lick block mixture may be poured into the container through the opening. A closure flap for covering the opening is preferably hinged to the top wall panel along a fold line.

The flaps hinged to the bottom wall panel and the top wall panel are preferably separated from each other by slots. The slots preferably terminate short of the perimeters of the bottom wall panel and the top wall panel.

The flaps are preferably glued to the interior surface of the sleeve such that a seal is thereby formed between the flaps and the interior surface of the sleeve.

The glue which is used to secure the various flaps of the container is preferably a non-toxic glue so that ingestion of the glue by an animal will not poison the animal.

The sleeve, bottom wall panel, top wall panel, and flaps are preferably fabricated from paperboard. Preferably, the sleeve, bottom wall panel, top wall panel, o and flaps are fabricated from corrugated paperboard. In a particular preferred form, the sleeve, bottom wall panel, top wall panel, and flaps are fabricated from double-

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Z faced double-flute corrugated paperboard. The paperboard is preferably non-toxic so 00 that ingestion of the paperboard by an animal will not poison the animal.

N Brief Description of the Illustrations 00 In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into 0 Opractice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the 0 accompanying illustrations, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a sleeve of a container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is erected; Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank which includes a bottom wall panel of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is erected; Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank which includes a top wall panel of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is erected; Figure 4 depicts a partially assembled container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 depicts a completed container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Illustrations Figure 1 of the illustrations depicts a blank 10 from which an octagonal sleeve of a container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected. Blank 10 is fabricated from a sheet of foldable corrugated paperboard and includes four identical rectangular side wall panels 11, and four identical rectangular side wall panels 12. Each of the side wall panels 11 is 235 mm wide and 333 mm long, and each of the side wall panels 12 is 200 mm wide and 333 mm long. The side wall panels 11, 12 are arranged in an alternating manner, and are hinged to each other along fold lines 13. One of the side wall panels 12 is hinged to a flap 14 along a fold line An octagonal sleeve is erected from the blank 10 by suitably folding the side wall panels 11, 12 relative to each other along the fold lines 13. The flap 14 is folded relative to the endmost side wall panel 12 along the fold line 15 and is then adhered to an exterior surface of the endmost side wall panel 11 so that the fold line 15 overlies a 0 Z free edge 16 of the endmost side wall panel 11. Non-toxic starch-based glue is used to 00 secure the flap 14 to the exterior surface of the endmost side wall panel 11 and to form a seal between the flap 14 and the endmost side wall panel 11.

oFigure 2 depicts a blank 20 which is fabricated from a sheet of foldable 0O corrugated paperboard. Blank 20 includes an octagonal bottom wall panel 21 which ois adapted to be received by the octagonal sleeve which is erected from the blank 1 such that the bottom wall panel 21 blocks a lower end of the sleeve. Four of the sides o of the bottom wall panel 21 are slightly wider than the other four sides thereof as a consequence of the side wall panels 11 of the blank 10 being wider than the side wall panels 12 thereof The wider sides of the bottom wall panel 21 are separated from each other by the narrower sides thereof. Each wider side of the bottom wall panel 21 is located opposite another wider side of the bottom wall panel and is separated therefrom by a distance of 508 mm.

Four generally rectangular flaps 22 are each hinged to a respective wider side of the bottom wall panel 21 along a fold line 23, and four generally rectangular flaps 24 which are slightly longer than the flaps 22 are each hinged to a respective one of the other sides of the bottom wall panel 21 along a fold line 25 such that the perimeter of the bottom wall panel 21 is surrounded by the flaps 22, 24.

The flaps 22, 24 are partially separated from each other by slots 26 which terminate short of the perimeter of the bottom panel 21.

Figure 3 depicts a blank 30 which is fabricated from a sheet of foldable corrugated paperboard. Blank 30 includes an octagonal top wall panel 31 which is identical to the bottom wall panel 21 of the blank 20 except for the presence of a square closure flap 32 which is located in the centre of the top wall panel 31 and which is hinged to the top wall panel 31 along a fold line 33. The top wall panel 31 is adapted to be received by the octagonal sleeve which is erected from the blank such that the top wall panel 31 blocks an upper end of the sleeve. A finger-receiving opening 34 between the closure flap 32 and the top wall panel 31 allows a person to insert at least one of their fingers into the opening 34 so that they can open the closure flap 32.

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o Four generally rectangular flaps 35 are each hinged to a respective wider side of the top wall panel 31 along a fold line 36, and four generally rectangular flaps 37 0 Z which are slightly longer than the flaps 35 are each hinged to a respective one of the 00 other sides of the top wall panel 31 along a fold line 38 such that the perimeter of the top wall panel 31 is surrounded by the flaps 35, 37.

C, The flaps 35, 37 are partially separated from each other by slots 39 which 00 terminate short of the perimeter of the top wall panel 31.

0 oBlanks 10, 20 and 30 are each fabricated from non-toxic double-faced t double-flute corrugated paperboard.

0 10 Figure 4 depicts a partially assembled container 40 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The container 40 includes an octagonal sleeve 41 which is erected from the blank 10 in the previously described manner.

The container 40 also includes the blank 20. The flaps 22, 24 of the blank are folded relative to the bottom wall panel 21 along the fold lines 23, 25 so that the flaps 22, 24 are upstanding with respect to the bottom wall panel 21. The bottom wall panel 21 and flaps 22, 24 are then inserted into the sleeve 41 so that they are located adjacent to a lower end of the sleeve 41.

Each flap 22 of the blank 20 overlies an interior surface of a respective side wall panel 11 of the sleeve 41, and each flap 24 of the blank 20 overlies an interior surface of a respective side wall panel 12 of the sleeve 41. Non-toxic starch-based glue is used to secure the flaps 22, 24 to the interior surfaces of the side wall panels 11, 12 and to form a seal between the flaps 22, 24 and the interior surfaces of the side wall panels 11, 12.

The container 40 also includes the blank 30. The flaps 35, 37 of the blank are folded relative to the top wall panel 31 along the fold lines 36, 38 so that the flaps 37 are upstanding with respect to the wall panel 31. The top wall panel 31 and flaps 35, 37 are then inserted into the sleeve 41 so that they are located adjacent to an upper end of the sleeve 41.

Each flap 35 of the blank 30 overlies an interior surface of a respective side wall panel 11 of the sleeve 41, and each flap 37 of the blank 30 overlies an interior surface of a respective side wall panel 12 of the sleeve 41. Non-toxic starch-based glue is used to secure the flaps 35, 37 to the interior surfaces of the side wall panels o 11, 12 and to form a seal between the flaps 35, 37 and the interior surfaces of the side >wall panels 11, 12.

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Z The completely assembled container 40 is depicted in figure 00 Flaps 22, 24, 35, 37 are located between the bottom wall panel 21 and the top wall panel 31 in interior of the container C, The container 40 is particularly suitable for moulding up to 100 litres of a 00 viscous animal feed supplement into a solid lick block, and for serving as a package 0 o for the block. The viscous animal feed supplement may be poured into the container n 40 through an opening 42 in the top wall panel 31 which is exposed by lifting the closure flap 32. The viscous liquid is inhibited from leaking out of the container between the sleeve 41 and the wall panels 21, 31 by virtue of the flaps 22, 24, 35, 37 overlying the interior surfaces of the side wall panels 11, 12 of the sleeve 41, and by virtue of securing the flaps 22, 24, 35, 37 to the sleeve 41 such that a seal is formed between the flaps 22, 24, 35, 37 and the interior surfaces of the side wall panels 11, 12.

Terminating the slots 26, 39 of the blanks 20, 30 before they reach the perimeter of the wall panels 21, 32 assists in minimising leakage between the corners of the wall panels 21, 32 and the sleeve 41, and also assists in providing a tight fit between the sleeve 41 and the blanks 20, Once the liquid in the container 40 solidifies, the container 40 and the solidified lick block contained therein can then be moved by turning the container on its side and rolling the container 40 along the ground or another surface.

The solidified lick block can be fed to an animal after completely or partially removing the block from the container 40 by appropriately tearing or cutting the container Fabricating the container 40 from non-toxic paperboard and using non-toxic glue to secure the various flaps 14, 22, 24, 35, 37 to the various side wall panels 11, 12 prevents an animal which ingests any part of the container 40 from being poisoned.

Throughout the specification and the claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to Z the value for the range qualified by the terms.

00 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing C, from the spirit and scope thereof The variations and modifications as would be 00 apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and 0 oambit of the invention as herein set forth.

t It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, that reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Claims

1. A container for moulding a viscous animal feed supplement into a solid lick 0 Z block, the container comprising a sleeve, a bottom wall panel received by the sleeve, 00 a plurality of flaps hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines and surrounding the perimeter of the bottom wall panel, wherein the flaps overlie and are secured to an C, interior surface of the sleeve such that a seal is thereby formed between the flaps and 00 the sleeve which inhibits a viscous animal feed supplement from leaking out of the ocontainer between the sleeve and the bottom wall panel.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the flaps are located in the interior of the 0 container.

3. The container of any one of the previous claims, wherein the flaps are separated from each other by slots which terminate short of the perimeter of the bottom wall panel.

4. The container of any one of the previous claims, wherein the flaps are glued to the interior surface of the sleeve such that a seal is thereby formed between the flaps and the interior surface of the sleeve. A container erected from a blank which is fabricated from a sheet of foldable material, the container being substantially as herein described with reference to the illustrations. DATED this 2 8 th day of November 2005 AMCOR LIMITED By its Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.