AU710146B3 - A blank for a packaging article - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: AMCOR LIMITED GORDON MELLIS CULLEN

CO.,

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

A BLANK FOR A PACKAGING ARTICLE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: This invention relates to a blank for a packaging article.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to a blank for a packaging article adapted for securely holding a container such as a punnet made from plastic material. It should be appreciated that the description of the invention with reference to a plastic punnet is given by way of example only and that the blank for a packaging article of the invention may be used for receiving and securely holding a plurality of other containers or one or more discreet articles to be packaged.

In addition the blank may be configured into a cover or sleeve or may be used as a stand for a display shelf.

Plastic punnets for produce such as for example bean sprouts are known and consist of a plastic tray having a base wall and upstanding side walls terminating in a lip. The punnet has a lid adapted to fit over the lip in order to seal off the tray. In the past, such two part punnets have been packaged in outer containers such RSC containers, in order to ensure that the punnet is securely held with the lid engaged against the lower tray to prevent the contents of the punnet from escaping. The use of a complete RSC container is not particularly economical, although packaged in such a manner, the punnet was securely held.

The punnets described above have also, in the past, been simply taped shut so that the lid was held relative to the tray. Although the use of tape was economical, tape on its own was not effective in securely holding the lid relative to the tray and there was a danger of contents leaking from the punnet because the lid was able to separate from the tray.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a packaging article which at least minimises some of the disadvantages referred to above.

According to one aspect the invention provides a blank for making a packaging article from a blank of foldable material, the blank having a main panel adapted to form a base in the article formed from the blank and a pair of opposed side walls hinged to the main panel along opposed fold lines, at least one retaining strips extending along and separated from an edge of the main panel and at right angles to the fold lines which extend ,T O between the side walls and the main panel, the retaining strip having a main portion extending substantially along the full length of the associated edge of the main panel and opposed end portions hinged to opposed ends of the main portion about fold lines which form extensions to the fold lines which separate the side wall from the main panel, each of the end portions being divided into an inner section hinged to the main portion and an outer section hinged to the inner section by a fold line parallel to the fold line which separates the inner section from the main portion of the retaining strip, the outer sections being hinged to a side edge of an associated said side wall, whereby to erect an article from the blank, the side walls are folded over the main panel, the retaining strip is folded to overlie the side walls and the side walls are configured to extend outwardly from the main panel so that the main portions of the retaining strip extends between the side walls at a location spaced from the main panel.

Preferably the blank includes two opposed retaining strips of the type mentioned. The strips extend along opposed edges of the main panel.

Each retaining strip may be folded over in the manner described so that each of them extends between the side walls at a location spaced from the main panel.

Preferably a locking tab extends from a free edge of each of the outer sections of the retaining strips and a locking aperture is located on the fold lines which separate the inner sections of the end portions of the retaining strips from the from the main portions of the retaining strips. When an article is erected from a blank configured in this way, the tabs locate in an associated aperture to maintain the article in its erected state.

If desired, rather than having tabs and locking apertures, the article may be held in its erected state by a suitable adhesive or by stapling.

If desired the article may not have the opposed end portions of the strip or strips secured to adjacent side walls and the article may be maintained in its erected state by the object placed within it.

In one embodiment, the blank may be provided with locating members at corners of the resultant article which may be configured to extend IV T inwardly of the corners to securely retain the punnet within the packaging article. The locating members, when in their inwardly extending condition inhibit removal of the punnet from the article.

The locating members may consist of locating strips or toggles bridging between the side walls and the main panel and separated from the side walls and the main panel by fold lines parallel to the fold lines which separate the side walls from the main panel.

The locating strips or toggles may be moved from a first position where parts of the toggles are in the plane of the side walls and main panel to a second position where they extend inwardly and are out of the plane of the side walls and main panel.

Particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of a blank according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view of a blank according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a view of the blank of Figure 2 shown partially erected.; Figure 4 is a view of the blank of Figure 2 shown with the retaining strips folded over the side walls; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the article ready to receive a plastic punnet; Figure 6 is a detailed view of one of the locating members; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an article with two of the locating members directed inwardly to retain a punnet inserted into the article; Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the article of the invention with a punnet partially within the article; and Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the article of the invention with a punnet within it and all four locating members directed inwardly to retain the punnet within the packaging article.

Figure 1 shows a view of a blank 10 for making a packaging article according to one embodiment of the invention. The blank 10 has a main panel 11 adapted to form a base in an article formed from the blank. A pair of opposed side walls 12 and 13 are hinged to opposite edges of the main panel by fold lines 14 and Retaining strips 16 and 17 extend along opposed sides of the main panel 11. Each retaining strip has a main portion 18 and 19 separated from the main panel 11 by slits 20 and 21.

The retaining strips 16 and 17 each have opposed end portions 22, 23 and 24, 25. Each end portion is hinged to a respective main portion by double fold lines 26. Each end portion consists of an inner section 27 separated from the associated side wall by a slit 28 and an outer section 29 hinged to the inner section 27 by a fold line 30. The outer sections each have a locking tab 31 provided along a free edge thereof. A locking aperture 32 is present between the double fold line 26. Outer section 29 is hinged to a respective side wall by a fold line 33 which extends at right angles to the fold lines which separate the side walls from the main panel.

Each of the side walls 12, 13 has a stepped portion 34 extending along a major part of its free edge. When a plurality of articles made from a blank like that shown in Figure 1 are erected into packaging articles, a plurality of such articles may be stacked one of top of the other and the stepped portions 34 abut against the underside or side of an article placed on top of a lower article made from such a blank.

The blank 40 of Figure 2 has many parts in common with the blank 10 illustrated in Figure 1 and for ease of reference the like parts in Figure 2 are identified with corresponding numerals to those used in Figure 1.

The blank of Figure 2 includes locating members 50, 51, 52 and 53. These members bridge between the side walls and the base panel. Members and 52 are hinged to the side wall 12 by fold lines 54 and 55 and these fold lines are parallel to fold line 14. Members 50 and 52 are hinged to the main panel 11 by fold lines 56 and 57. Apart from the fold lines 54, 55, 56, 57 the locating members are separated from the side walls, the main panel and the retaining strip. The fold line 14 and 15 are continued through the locating members.

Figure 3 shows the blank 40 partially erected. In this view the side walls 12 and 13 have been folded over the main panel 11. Once the configuration of Figure 3 is reached, the next step in the erecting process is as shown in Figure 4. The retaining strips 18 and 19 are folded from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4 where those strips overlie the side walls 12 and 13.

To achieve the configuration shown in Figure 5 the side walls 12 and 13 are hinged about their respective fold line until they assume a position substantially at right angles to the main panel 11. As a consequence of moving the side walls 12 and 13 into the position shown in Figure 5, the locking tabs 31 are caused to project through the locking apertures 32 and the article is retained in the position shown in Figure 5. The detailed view shown in Figure 6 shows the manner in which the locking tabs 31 project through the locking apertures 32 to maintain the article in the configuration shown in Figure The locating members 50, 51, 52 and 53 initially assume the configuration shown in Figure 6 and are located in the planes represented by the side walls 12 and 13 and the main panel 11. Each of the locating members are ultimately moved to the position shown in Figure 6 for the illustrated locating member 53. Figure 7 shows locating members 50 and 51 moved into their second position where they extend into the packaging article and assume the position for retaining a punnet 60 (see Figure 8) within the article Once the locating members 50 and 51 have been moved into the position shown in Figure 7 a punnet 60 may then be placed into the packaging article 40 as shown in Figure 8. Once the punnet 60 is within the article 40 as shown in Figure 9 the remaining two locating members 53 and 54 are then moved into their second position where they extend into the article and the punnet 60 is securely held and retained within the article The main portions 18 and 19 of the retaining strips extend over the punnet 16 and the side walls 12 and 13 and the main panel 11 locate relative to other sides of the punnet 60 to securely hold it in place.

The blank 10 of Figure 1 does not have locating members 51, 52 and 53 like that shown in the other views.

Where the blank has only one retaining strip instead of the two shown in Figure 5, the resultant packaging article may be used as a cover or sleeve adapted to extend over an article such as a refrigerator for example.

The main panel may extend over the door of the refrigerator to protect it from damage.

A packaging article with only one retaining strip may be used as a stand to form a display. The packaging article may stand on a support surface with the end which has the retaining strip uppermost and spaced from the support surface. A display shelf may be received within the article and held adjacent the retaining strip to be supported above the surface.

Claims (3)

1. A blank for making a packaging article from a blank of foldable material, the blank having a main panel adapted to form a base in the article formed from the blank and a pair of opposed side walls hinged to the main panel along opposed fold lines, at least one retaining strips extending along and separated from an edge of the main panel and at right angles to the fold lines which extend between the side walls and the main panel, the retaining strip having a main portion extending substantially along the full length of the associated edge of the main panel and opposed end portions hinged to opposed ends of the main portion about fold lines which form extensions to the fold lines which separate the side wall from the main panel, each of the end portions being divided into an inner section hinged to the main portion and an outer section hinged to the inner section by a fold line parallel to the fold line which separates the inner section from the main portion of the retaining strip, the outer sections being hinged to a side edge of an associated said side wall, whereby to erect an article from the blank, the side walls are folded over the main panel, the retaining strip is folded to overlie the side walls and the side walls are configured to extend outwardly from the main panel so that the main portions of the retaining strip extends between the side walls at a location spaced from the main panel.

2. The blank of claim 1 having two said retaining strips extending along opposed edges of the main panel with both said retaining strips being configurable to extend between the side walls and spaced from the main panel when the packaging article is erected from the blank.

3. The blank of claim 1 or claim 2 including locating members extending between the side walls and the main panel and being hinged thereto and moveable between a position where the locating members are in the planes of the side walls and the main panel to a position where the locating members extend out of the planes of the side walls and the main panel and into the packaging article when the article is made from the blank. R, 7S 9 DATED this 30 th day of June 1999 AMCOR LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.