GB2276532A

GB2276532A - Holder for a carton

Info

Publication number: GB2276532A
Application number: GB9406358A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl Wieland
Original assignee: BARKENTINE Ltd
Current assignee: BARKENTINE Ltd
Priority date: 1993-04-03
Filing date: 1994-03-30
Publication date: 1994-10-05
Also published as: GB9306965D0; GB9406358D0

Abstract

A holder for a carton comprises a series of hingedly connected panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20), means (36, 38) in the form or mutually engaging studs and holes for forming the panels into a carton enclosure and handle means (34). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Holder for Cartons DESCRIPTION This invention concerns a holder for cartons.

Cardboard cartons are commonly used as containers for fruit juices but are difficult to use. Apart from the problem of opening such cartons, it is difficult to pour with them as undue pressure by the hand when pouring can squeeze out contents of the carton more quickly than desired causing spillage.

The object of this invention is to provide a holder for such cartons whereby pouring out of container contents is facilitated.

According to the present invention there is provided a holder for a carton comprising a series of panels hingedly connected, means for forming the panels into a carton enclosure and handle means.

The means for forming the panels into a carton enclosure may be provided at each end of the series of panels. Said means preferably comprise mutually engaging formations on mating faces such as, for example, studs and holes which snap fit together.

The handle means may be connected to the end of one said panel preferably extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. Alternatively and more preferably the handle means is formed in two parts which mate together, said parts being provided at each end of the series of panels. The handle forming parts conveniently have the means for coupling them together to form the carton enclosure.

The panels of the holder of the invention are preferably apertured, especially to an extent that some or all of the panels comprise a relatively narrow periphery. At least one pair of opposing panels has a lip or the like on its inner lower edge to provide support for a carton placed in the holder.

The holder is preferably moulded in one piece from plastics material and hinged connections between panels are preferably formed of thinner material between the panels which is flexible.

In use, the holder of the invention is folded to form an enclosure with end panels connected edge to edge and a carton is then placed into the holder with its pouring spout on the opposite side to the handle. The contents of the container can then be poured out using the handle of the holder to lift and tilt the carton.

Thus, no pressure is applied to the sides of the carton, which reduces the risk of spillage.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a holder for a carton laid out flat; Figure 2 shows the holder of Figure 1 partially folded; Figure 3 shows the holder of Figure 1 fully folded; and Figure 4 shows the holder of Figure 1 containing a carton.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a holder 10 for a carton moulded in one piece of plastics material. The holder is formed as a series of hingedly connected panels 12,14,16,18 and 20, with panels 12 and 20 being provided with means for connecting them edge to edge to complete a rectangular section enclosure. The panels are hingedly connected by means of thinning of the plastics material between each panel to provide flexible hinges 21.

The panels 12 and 20 together form one end of the rectangular enclosure, panel 16 forms the opposite end of the enclosure and panels 14 and 18 form the sides of the enclosure. Each panel is formed with an aperture 22,24,26,28 and 30 respectively. For panels 12,14,18 and 20, their aperture is generally central and leaves only a peripheral portion of material remaining for each panel, whereas panel 16 has its aperture spaced up from the lower edge of the panel to leave a section of panel material 31 on which identifying matter may be moulded or affixed.

Each panel has on its lower edge an internal lip 32 to provide a support for a carton placed in the formed holder.

The panels 12 and 20 each have a handle forming portion 34 extending perpendicularly therefrom, which handle portions mate to provide a handle for the holder. A mating face of one handle portion 34 has a series of studs 36 thereon and the mating face of the other handle portion 34 has a series of holes 38 therein which the studs snap fit when the two handle portions are pressed together The handle portions 34 each have a transverse aperture 40 one edge of which has indentations 42 to provide finger grips. The mating studs and holes are provided near the outer edge of each handle forming portion and at the top and bottom thereof near to where the handle forming portions are connected to the panels 12 and 20.

The holder 10 is used in the following way. The holder is folded so that the handle forming portions overlie each other and the handle forming portion pressed together so that the studs 36 are retained in the holes 38. Then a carton 46 such as of fruit juice, either before or after opening thereof, is placed into the holder as shown in Figure 4 with its intended spout 48 on the opposite side of the holder to its handle.

The carton can then be easily tipped up using the holder held by its handle to pour out contents of the carton.

It is probably better to open the carton when it is in the holder. It is necessary to squeeze a carton in order to cut or tear an opening through which the contents may be poured. This squeezing action reduces the volume of the carton thus pressurising it and causing the contents to gush out when the carton is breached. By placing the carton into the holder before cutting or tearing an opening controls the squeezing action and retains much more of the cartons original volume.

Claims

1. A holder for a carton comprising a series of panels hingedly connected, means for forming the panels into a carton enclosure and handle means.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for forming the panels into a carton enclosure are provided at each end of the series of panels.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle is connected to an end of one said panel.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handle extends substantially perpendicularly from the said panel.

5. A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handle is formed in two parts which mate together, said parts being provided at each end of the series of panels.

6. A holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handle forming parts have the means for forming the panels into a carton enclosure.

7. A holder as claimed in claims 2, wherein the means for forming the panels into a carton enclosure comprises mutually engaging formations on mating surfaces at each end of the series of panels.

8. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mutually engaging formations are studs and holes which snap-fit together.

9. A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the panels are apertured.

10. A holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein some or all of the panels comprise a relatively narrow periphery.

11. A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one pair of opposing panels has a lip or the like on their inner lower edge to provide support for a carton in the holder.

12. A holder as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 11, moulded in one piece form plastics material.

13. A holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein hinged connection between panels are formed of thinner material between the panels which is flexible.

14. A holder for a carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.