GB2259907A

GB2259907A - Carton with wraparound strap handle

Info

Publication number: GB2259907A
Application number: GB9120651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Chaussadas
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1991-09-28
Filing date: 1991-09-28
Publication date: 1993-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-28
Also published as: GB2259907B; FR2681838B1; FR2681838A1; GB9120651D0

Abstract

A carton (c) encloses a group of uniform articles such as bottles or cans which are disposed in a plurality of rows and arranged or configured such that a void is formed in opposed ends of the carton. The carton is encircled by a close fitting band (B) disposed intermediate a top (22) and a base of the carton. The band spans the void and also a portion (90) of the carton spans the void. The portion of the carton and the portion of the band together provide a handle by which the carton can be carried. <IMAGE>

Description

CARTON WITH WRAPAROUND STRAP HANDLE This invention relates to a carton which accommodates a group of articles such as bottles or cans in which the arrangement or the configuration of the articles in the rows is such that a void is present at each end of the carton intermediate the outer article rows. The carton incorporates a carrying handle in the form of a 'wrap-around' band, preferably of a plastics material which includes a portion which spans the void at each end of the carton and there provides a length of the band which is incorporated into the carton to provide a handle which may be readily grasped.

EP-A-O 244 047 discloses a carton having voids at each end of the article group within the carton. The voids are formed by arranging the articles in the or each inner row to have fewer articles than the outermost rows and so that the articles in the or each inner row are each disposed between a pair of adjacent articles in the neighbouring outer row. The carton encloses a group of uniform articles such as bottles or cans disposed in at least three parallel rows and which comprises at least one central row and at least two adjacent outer rows of articles arranged in mutually abutting relationship. The number of articles in the central row is less than in the adjacent outer rows whereby a void is formed at each end of the group intermediate the outer rows of articles.The carton comprises a top and base interconnected by spaced side walls, thereby forming a tubular structure and end closure panels closing each end of the tubular structure. The end closure panels at each end of the carton comprise a top end closure panel hinged to the top and having a central portion displaced into the adjacent void and a bottom end closure panel hinged to the base which has an end flap secured to the top end closure panel within the void.

The present invention provides a carton enclosing a group of uniform articles such as bottles or cans disposed in a plurality of rows and arranged or configured such that a void is formed in at least one side of said carton wherein the carton is encircled by a close fitting band disposed intermediate a top and a base of said carton and wherein said band spans said void, characterised in that a portion of said carton spans the void and in that said portion of the carton and said portion of the band together provide a handle by which the carton can be carried.

According to a feature of the invention, a portion of the carton may comprise a handle strap which is reinforced by said portion of the band.

According to another feature of the invention at least a pair of opposite wall panels each may be provided with one of said voids including a handle as aforesaid.

According to a still further feature of the invention the carton may comprise a top, and a base interconnected by spaced side walls thereby forming a tubular structure and end closure panels closing each of two opposite ends of the tubular structure, said end closure panels at each of said ends comprising a top end closure panel hinged to said top and a bottom end closure panel hinged to said base and wherein said bottom end closure panel is formed to provide said handle portion of the carton which spans the adjacent void.

A carton embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view of a blank of paperboard for forming a carton of the end loading type according to the invention; FIGURE la is a schematic plan view of a carton according to the invention showing a typical arrangement of the articles therein; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton which shows one end of the carton before its end closure panels have been closed; FIGURE 2a is a perspective view similar to Figure 2 but in which the top end closure panels have been folded into a closed position and the handle panel disposed in an upright position; FIGURE 2b is similar to Figure 2a but wherein the bottom corner end closure panels also have been folded into a closed position;; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the carton which shows one end of the carton fully closed by the end closure panels and in which the carton handle panel is in a flat stowed position; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 but in which an encircling band has been applied to the carton, and is secured to the carton handle panel.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, an elongate carton blank 10, for forming a polygonal end loading type carton, is formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. The blank comprises, in series, a base panel 12, a first side wall 14 constituted by lower 16, intermediate 18 and upper 20 side wall panels; a top panel 22; a second side wall 24 constituted in part by upper 26 and intermediate 28 side wall panels hinged one to the next along longitudinal fold lines 34-44. A lower side wall panel 30 of the second side wall 24 is hinged to the free edge of base panel 12 along longitudinal fold line 32.

A central bottom end closure panel 46 is hinged to one end edge of base panel 12 centrally along transverse fold line 48. A pair of bottom corner end closure panels 50 and 52 also is hinged to the same end edge of base panel 12 along oblique corner fold lines 54, 56 respectively, one on each side of the centrally hinged end closure panel 46. The central bottom end closure panel 46 consists of an outwardly tapered centre panel 58 and wing panels 60 and 62 hinged to opposed side edges of centre panel 58 along convergent fold lines 64 and 66, respectively.

Central bottom end closure panel 46 terminates in end flap 68 hinged to centre panel 58 along fold line 70 parallel to fold line 48.

The bottom corner end closure panel 50 has a securing flap 51 hinged to intermediate corner panel 53 along fold line 55.

Panel 53 is adjacent to but detached from securing flap 60.

Intermediate corner panel 53 is hinged to panel 50 along fold line 57 parallel to fold line 55 and is formed with aperture 53a which, in use, receives a portion of the encircling band.

Likewise, corner bottom end closure panel 52 has a securing flap 59 hinged to intermediate corner panel 61 along fold line 63, panel 59 being adjacent to but detached from securing flap 62. Intermediate corner panel 61 is hinged to panel 52 along fold line 65 parallel to fold line 63, and is formed with aperture 61a which, in use, also receives a portion of the encircling band.

A central top end closure panel 84 is hinged to one end edge of top panel 22 along transverse fold line 86. The top end closure panel comprises a main panel portion 88 hinged to top panel 22 and a central handle panel 90 hinged to the free end edge of main panel portion 88 along interrupted transverse fold line 92. Fold line 92 is interrupted by a handle aperture 94 which is substantially defined by top end securing panel 96 hinged to main panel portion 88 along fold line 98 at one edge of the aperture. The top end securing panel 96 is flanked on each side by one of a pair of side tabs 100, 102 hinged to panel 96 along crease lines 104, 106 respectively which are convergent towards the end of panel 96.

A pair of top corner end closure panels 116 and 118 respectively is disposed between the end edge of top panel 22 and the central top end closure panel 84 one at each side edge of the main panel portion 88. Top corner end closure panel 116 comprises outer panel 120 hinged to one side edge of main panel portion 88 along fold line 122 and an intermediate panel 124 hinged to top panel 22 along oblique fold line 126. Outer panel 120 and intermediate panel 124 are hinged together by means of a gusset panel 128 along fold lines 130, 132 respectively. Outer panel 120 carries at its free end edge a securing strip 134 hinged thereto along fold line 136 and is formed with an end notch 138.Likewise top corner end closure panel 118 comprises outer panel 140 hinged to one side edge of main panel portion 88 along fold line 142 and an intermediate panel 144 hinged to top panel 22 along oblique fold line 146. Outer panel 140 and intermediate panel 144 are hinged together by means of a gusset panel 148 along fold lines 150, 152 respectively. Outer panel 140 carries at its free end edge a securing strip 154 hinged thereto along fold line 156 and is formed with an end notch 158.

The lower, intermediate and top side wall panels of the first side wall 14 carry a side end closure structure comprising side end closure panels 160, 162 and 164 hinged to lower and intermediate side wall panels 16, 18 and 20 respectively along fold lines 161, 163 and 165.

End closure panel 160 is hinged to end closure panel 162 along an extension of fold line 36 which is interrupted by a slot 166 formed partially in lower and intermediate side wall panels 16, 18 and partially in side end closure panels 160 and 162. End closure panels 162 and 164 are hinged together by a bridging piece 168. Side end closure panel 164 is hinged to intermediate panel 124 by a gusset panel 170 along fold line 172 and by an extension of fold line 40.

Similarly, the upper, intermediate and lower side wall panels of the second side wall 24 also carry a side end closure structure comprising side end closure panels 178, 180 and 182 hinged to upper, intermediate and lower side wall panels 26, 28 and 30 along transverse fold lines 179, 181 and 183, respectively.

End closure panel 178 is hinged to intermediate panel 144 by a gusset panel 184 along fold line 186 and by an extension of fold line 42. End closure panels 178 and 180 are hinged together by a bridging piece 188. End closure panels 180 and 182 are connected together by glueing when the blank is preformed into a flat folded condition described shortly.

A slot 190 is struck partially from end panel 180 and partially from lower side wall panel 28 and which receives, in use, a portion of the encircling band.

The opposite end of the blank is of similar construction and is not therefore described further herein.

The blank is pre-formed in flat folded condition from which it can be erected into a tubular structure, loaded with products and the ends of the tubular structure then closed as described below. In order to pre-form the blank into flat folded condition, intermediate side wall panel 28 is folded about transverse fold line 44 so that it overlies upper side wall panel 26 whereafter an application of glue is made to the exposed marginal edge of the panel 28 and the integral panels 180. Thereafter, the blank is folded about transverse fold line 36 so that the top panel 22 is brought into superposed relationship with base panel 12 and the glued edge of intermediate panel 28 and its dependent end panels is secured to the free edge of lower side wall panel 30 and its dependent end panels.The blank thus pre-formed may then be supplied to e.g. a canner or bottler, for erecting, loading and finally closing to form the completed carton.

Once the carton has been erected into its tubular form it can be filled with cans or bottles in the configurations shown in Figure la i.e. in which the bottles comprising the centre rows RC1 and RC2 are disposed intermediate a pair of adjacent bottles in each of the next adjacent outer rows RL and RR thereby creating a central recess CR at each end of the carton. Each of the ends of the carton is then closed in the following manner.

The top end closure panel 84 is folded downwardly relative to top panel 22 about fold line 86, the initial folding action of which is instigated by displacing inwardly of the tubular structure each of the gusset panels 128, 174, 170 and 184.

This folding action is accompanied by inward folding of the side end panels 160, 162 and 164 and also side end panels 178, 180 and 182 across the open end of the tubular structure relative to their associated side wall panels. During this folding action, both bridging pieces 168 and 188 are displaced inwardly. At the completion of this folding step, securing strip 134 partially overlies both the side end closure panels 160, 162 and likewise securing strip 154 overlies both the side end closure panels 180, 182.

The central handle panel of 90 is then displaced upwardly into an upright position so that it stands proud of the top end closure panel as shown in Figure 2a. An application of glue is then made to end flap 80 the ends of panels 50, 53, 51, 52, 61 and 59 and to both of the securing flaps 60 and 62. Both the bottom end closure panels 50 and 52 are then folded upwardly and adhered to securing flaps 154, 134 respectively.

Bottom end closure panel 46 including wing panels 60, 62 is then folded upwardly about transverse fold line 48 and the tapered centre panel 58 is displaced inwardly into the central recess CR whereby the wing panels 60 and 62 are flared outwardly of the recess CR and secured to panels 51 and 59 respectively. The end flap 68 of centre panel 58 is secured in overlapping relationship to panel 96 of top end closure panel (Figure 3).

With the end closure panels thus secured, the apertures 190, 53a, 61a and 16b are aligned about the end of the carton and the encircling band is then applied to and heat shrunk into position around the carton.

Of course, the opposite end of the carton is closed in a like manner. The apertured portions of the end closure panels provide locations for receiving portions of a tight-fitting encircling band B applied subsequently to the carton about its midriff. At the ends of the carton, the handle panels 90 are folded downwardly so that they extend across the associated end void and the band is secured to each handle panel so that together they provide a handle (Figure 5) to facilitate portage of the package. The recessed end construction allows the handle portion of the strap to be grasped more readily than otherwise would be the case in the absence of the void. Moreover, the carton handle panel 90 is hinged into the upright use position about fold lines 92 during which the encircling band will 'bite' into the apertures 190, 53a, 61a and 16b.

In this carton construction, the top end closure panels and side end closure panels are hinged together by fold lines and gusset panels to facilitate closure of those panels.

However, the central bottom end closure panel and the bottom corner end closure panels are not interconnected. This latter arrangement allows the bottom closure panels to be folded downwardly away from the base panel so that they are clear of the end opening of the tubular structure during end loading so as to prevent 'snagging' of the cans or bottles on the bottom closure panels.

Claims

1. A carton enclosing a group of uniform articles such as bottles or cans disposed in a plurality of rows and arranged or configured such that a void is formed in at least one side of said carton wherein the carton is encircled by a close fitting band disposed intermediate a top and a base of said carton and wherein said band spans said void, characterized in that a portion of said carton spans the void and in that said portion of the carton and said portion of the band together provide a handle by which the carton can be carried.

2. A carton according to claim 1 further characterised in that said portion of the carton comprises a handle strap which is reinforced by said portion of the band.

3. A carton according to claim 1 or claim 2 further characterised in that at least a pair of opposite wall panels are each provided with one of said voids including a handle as aforesaid.

4. A carton according to any of the preceding claims further characterised in that said carton comprises a top, and a base interconnector by spaced side walls thereby forming a tubular structure and end closure panels closing each of two opposite ends of the tubular structure, said end closure panels at each of said ends comprising a top end closure panel hinged to said top and a bottom end closure panel hinged to said base and wherein said bottom end closure panel if formed to provide said handle portion of the carton which spans the adjacent voids.