GB2577061A

GB2577061A - A carton

Info

Publication number: GB2577061A
Application number: GB1814772.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lunn Adam
Original assignee: Coveris Flexibles UK Ltd
Current assignee: Coveris Flexibles UK Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-11
Filing date: 2018-09-11
Publication date: 2020-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-11
Also published as: GB2577061B; GB201814772D0

Abstract

A carton 10 for food comprises a body 12 configured to receive food, the body defining an opening (23, fig 3) and a lid 14 secured to the body at a first edge thereof 30 and configured for sealing in a closed position over the opening. The body defines a first side wall 16 adjacent the first edge, wherein a first portion of the side wall 24 secured to the lid at the first edge is configured for opening with the lid to provide access to the contents of the carton. The carton is preferably in the form of a triangular prism and the first side wall is triangular. The carton may be used for packaging sandwiches.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A carton Abstract Title: A carton (57) A carton 10 for food comprises a body 12 configured to receive food, the body defining an opening (23, fig 3) and a lid 14 secured to the body at a first edge thereof 30 and configured for sealing in a closed position over the opening. The body defines a first side wall 16 adjacent the first edge, wherein a first portion of the side wall 24 secured to the lid at the first edge is configured for opening with the lid to provide access to the contents of the carton. The carton is preferably in the form of a triangular prism and the first side wall is triangular. The carton may be used for packaging sandwiches.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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Fig. 3

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Fig. 4

A carton

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a carton for food. The present invention further relates to a blank for forming a carton for food, and a method of manufacturing such a blank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cartons made from paperboard material for packaging triangular cut sandwiches are well known and widely used for sandwiches sold in supermarkets, cafes and convenience food outlets. The board is readily printed so that the sandwich is attractively presented on the shelf, and the packs are relatively low cost and user-friendly for the consumer.

Such a carton usually has a triangular-prism shaped body to hold a sandwich and a lid for sealing over the body, to ensure that food remains fresh. The lid must be sealed or hinged to the body on all sides to properly protect the food. Typically, a series of flanges is used to seal the lid to the body. The lid and/or the flanges conventionally include a cut (e.g. a perforated line), whereby contents of the carton can be accessed by a consumer tearing the lid away from the body.

There is a range of similar cartons with different opening arrangements, depending on the carton manufacturer and/or type of the carton. It is not always obvious to a consumer how the lid of a particular carton is to be opened, as it can be unclear from where opening of the lid should started. Furthermore, it can be difficult to effectively grasp the lid, and to neatly separate the lid from the body. The carton can be damaged on opening due to such difficulties.

A consumer may wish to re-close a sandwich carton in order to store an uneaten part of a sandwich. However, re-closing a carton as described above can be difficult. A reclosure arrangement is not commonly provided. The initial opening of the carton can leave the carton in a damaged condition thus preventing re-closure.

The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention provides a carton for food, the carton comprising a body configured to receive food, the body defining an opening. The carton further comprises a lid secured to the body at a first edge thereof and configured for sealing in a closed position over the opening. The body defines a first side wall adjacent the first edge. A first portion of the side wall secured to the lid at the first edge is configured for opening with the lid to provide access to the contents of the carton.

Opening of the carton is made easier by the side wall portion being opened with the lid, rather than the lid alone being opened. The optimum opening method is more obvious to the consumer. Use of a portion of the side wall to improve ease of opening means that no additional material is required, as would be the case were an additional tab to be provided. The side wall portion offers options for reclosing the pack.

The side wall first portion may be defined in relation to the remainder of the first side wall by a cut.

The cut allows simple separation of the first portion from the remainder of the side wall by the consumer.

The cut may comprise a first cut partway through the outside of the side wall, and a second cut partway through the inside of the first side wall, proximal the first cut, such that delamination of the first side wall takes place on opening of the side wall first portion with the lid.

This concora cut arrangement advantageously provides ease of opening for the consumer, without affecting sealing of the carton and so allowing the contents of the carton to retain freshness.

The body may define a flange adjacent the opening; and wherein the lid is configured for sealing to the flange in the closed position.

At least the body may comprise a substrate and a barrier material.

The side wall first portion may comprise a tab, wherein the tab is defined by a cut through the full depth of the substrate.

The tab aids opening of the side wall first portion and the lid, and makes it easier for consumers to identify the opening mechanism for the carton.

The tab may be unsecured with respect to the barrier film.

The first side wall substrate may comprise a cut-out adjacent the first portion.

The cut-out of the substrate provides easy identification of the carton opening mechanism, as well as making grasping of the side wall first portion easier.

The carton may further comprise a re-close arrangement for engagement of the side wall first portion with the remainder of the body.

The re-close arrangement allows the lid to be held over the opening, e.g. to protect food remaining in the carton.

The side wall may comprise a second portion; wherein the side wall second portion comprises the re-close arrangement.

The re-close arrangement may be configured to receive the tab.

The re-close arrangement may comprise exposed barrier material.

The carton may be in the form of a triangular prism.

The first side wall may be substantially triangular.

A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a carton as described herein.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method of forming a blank for a carton as described herein.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a carton for food, the carton comprising a body configured to receive food, the body defining an opening. The carton further comprises a lid secured to the body at a first edge thereof. The body defines a first side wall adjacent the first edge. A first portion of the side wall secured to the lid at the first edge is configured for opening with the lid to provide access to the contents of the carton. The first side wall further includes a second portion, separated from the first portion by a cut, wherein the cut comprises a first cut partway through an outside of the of the first side wall, and a second cut partway through an inside of the first side wall, proximal the first cut, such that delamination of the first side wall takes place on opening of the side wall first portion with the lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front view of an assembled carton according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a lid in a first, sealed condition;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled carton of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembled carton of Figures 1 and 2 with the lid in a second, opened condition.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for the carton of Figures 1 to 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a carton 10, which in this embodiment is for accommodating triangular sandwiches.

The carton 10 has a body 12 and a lid 14. The body 12 of this embodiment is made up of first and second triangular side walls 16, 18 and first and second trapezoidal end walls 20, 22. When the carton 10 is erected, the body 12 forms a triangular prism suitable for receiving triangular sandwiches, and defines an opening 23 through which food can be placed in the body 12. In alternative embodiments, the body of the carton is of some alternative shape, such as a tray or box, and the side wall is of some alternative shape.

The lid 14 is configured for sealing in a closed position over the opening 23, in order to protect food received within the body 12. The lid 14 is sealed over the opening 23 in that substantially the full perimeter of the lid 14 is secured to the body 12 in some suitable way, e.g. such that the connection between the lid 14 and the body 12 must be broken in order to gain access to the interior of the body 12. For example, a bond must be broke, or material must be torn, sheared or broken, about a significant portion of the lid 14 and/or body 12 in order to gain access to the interior of the body 12. However, the lid 14 of this embodiment is not hermetically sealed over the opening 23 as the corners may have 'pin hole' openings though which air may pass to a limited degree. In other embodiments the sealing may be substantially hermetic.

In this embodiment, the lid 14 is secured to the body 12 at a first edge 30. In this embodiment, the lid is hingedly secured to the body 12 at the first edge 30. The lid 14 of this embodiment is integral to the body 12. In an alternative embodiment the lid is separate to the body prior to securement at the first edge.

The first side wall 16 has a first portion 24 secured to the lid 14 at the first edge 30. The first portion 24 of the side wall is configured for opening with the lid 14, in order to provide access to the contents of the carton 10. Advantageously, the method of opening the carton is more obvious to the consumer due to the first portion of the side wall being opened with the lid 14. Indication of how and where to open the carton can be provided at the side wall 16.

In an alternative embodiment, a portion of an end wall, secured to the lid at an edge, is configured for opening with the lid to provide access to the contents of the carton.

In this embodiment, the first portion 24 is defined in relation to the remainder of the first side wall 16 by a cut 26. In this embodiment, the cut 26 is of the concora type. That is, the cut 26 includes a first cut 26a partway through the outside of the first side wall 16, and a second cut 26b (denoted by a line with crosses in Fig. 4) partway through the inside of the first side wall 16, proximal the first cut, such that delamination of the first side wall 16 takes place on opening of the first portion 24 with the lid 14. The first and second cuts 26a, 26b are substantially parallel to one another. Providing a 'concora' cut arrangement advantageously provides ease of opening, without affecting sealing of the carton 10 and so allowing the contents of the carton 10 to retain freshness.

In this embodiment, the concora cut 26 extends along the lid 14. The lid 14 of this embodiment has a lid portion 40 configured to open with the first portion 24 of the side wall 16, and a lip 42 at each end of the lid 14 separated from the lid portion 40 by the concora cut 26. The lips 42 remain connected to the carton body 12 when the lid portion 40 has been opened.

The body 12 has a flange or a series of flanges 32 (best seen in Figures 3 and 4) extending around the opening 23. The flanges 32 of this embodiment extend from free edges of the end walls 20, 22 and the second side wall 18. The lid 14 is configured for sealing to the flanges 32 to reach the closed position. In this embodiment, the lid 14 is sealed to the flanges 32 on closing by heat sealing, although in other embodiments an alternative means of sealing may be used, e.g. adhesive or ultrasonic welding.

The carton 10 of this embodiment is formed from a blank manufactured from a sheet of laminate formed of a substrate 31 covered with a barrier material 33. The substrate 31 of this embodiment is paperboard, although in alternative embodiments other suitable materials may be used. The substrate 31 imparts a desired degree of rigidity to the laminate and typically is readily printed with product information.

The barrier material 33 of this embodiment is a sheet of suitable plastics material (e.g. polyethylene (PE) or polylactic acid (PLA) oriented polypropylene (OPP), cast polypropylene (CPP) or Cellulose attached to the substrate 31 with adhesive. The barrier material 33 is provided to substantially prevent liquid and fats from the sandwich from contacting the substrate (which could otherwise cause the paperboard to weaken and/or be discoloured), and to inhibit the passage of gases in and out of the body 12. The barrier material 33 also enables heat sealing to occur by virtue of the facing layers of material fusing together when heated. In alternative embodiments, the barrier material may take some other suitable form, for example a co-extruded plastics material bonded to the substrate.

The first portion 24 of the first side wall 16 has in this embodiment a tab 34. The tab 34 is defined by a cut 35 through the full depth of the substrate 31 at the side wall 16. The carton 10 remains sealed as the cut does not extend through the barrier material 33. The tab 34 is intended for grasping by a consumer in order to ease opening of the carton

10. Additionally, the tab 34 makes the opening means of the carton 10 more obvious to the consumer. In this embodiment, the tab 34 is defined by a solid cut. In alternative embodiments, the tab 34 may be defined by a perforated cut, and (continuous) by a cut extending partway through the depth of the substrate.

The tab 34 of this embodiment extends from the first portion 24 in a plane that is aligned with a plane of the first side wall 16 when the lid 14 is in the first, closed condition.

In an alternative embodiment, the carton does not define a tab. The first portion of the side wall is itself grasped by the consumer for opening.

The tab 34 is in this embodiment unsecured with respect to the barrier film 31. The tab 34 is left without adhesive, or an adhesive deadener is used, or some other suitable method is used to prevent the tab being secured to the barrier material. The tab being unsecured with respect to the barrier film makes the tab 34 easier to grasp.

The first side wall 16 defines a cut-out region 36 around the tab 34 from which the substrate is removed. The barrier film is not removed from the cut-out 36, so that an area of exposed barrier film 38 remains. The cut-out region 36 makes the tab 34, and the whole opening mechanism of the carton 10, easier for a consumer to identify.

In alternative embodiments no cut-out region is defined around the tab, or a cut-out region of a different shape is provided.

The carton 10 of this embodiment has a re-close arrangement for the lid 14. The re-close arrangement is provided by engagement of the first portion 24 with the remainder of the body 12. In this embodiment, the first side wall 16 comprises a second portion 28, separated from the first portion 24 by the cut 26. The second portion 28 provides in this embodiment the re-close arrangement. The re-close arrangement allows the lid 14 to be closed over the opening 23, so that any remaining food can be kept inside the carton 10.

The re-close arrangement of this embodiment is configured to receive the tab 34. In alternative embodiments the re-close arrangement is configured for engagement with some alternative part of the first portion 24.

The re-close arrangement of this embodiment comprises the exposed area 38 of barrier material. When the first side portion 24 is opened with the lid 14, an edge 39 of the exposed barrier material 38 is left exposed. This is achieved by the second cut 26b extending across the barrier material as can be seen in Fig.4. On re-closure, the tab 34 engages the edge 39, securing the tab 34 in relation to the body 12. Advantageously, the re-close arrangement of this embodiment requires no additional material.

In alternative embodiments an alternative re-closure arrangement is provided, such as an adhesive re-closure.

In this embodiment, the lid 40 defines a viewing opening or window 44, covered with transparent barrier material, through which the contents of the carton 10 can be viewed. In this embodiment, the viewing opening or window 44 is a rectangle having a quartercircle removed from its lower, right corner. In alternative embodiments, any shape of viewing opening or window which permits viewing of the contents within the body 12 may be used, e.g. circular or rectangular.

In use, once a consumer has lifted the tab 34 and torn back the first side portion 24 and the lid 40, the tearing process of the cut 26 is inhibited where the lid is bonded the flange 32 of the opposite side wall 18 as shown in Figure 3. At this point the consumer has substantially unencumbered access to the contents of the carton 10, making removal of the contents convenient.

A blank for the carton 10 is manufactured as follows. A sheet is provided to form the lid 14, and in this embodiment additionally forms the body 12. Incisions are made in the lid 14 to define the lid 40 and the adjacent lip 42. Incisions are made on the first side wall 16 to define the side wall first portion 24 and the side wall second portion 28. An area of the substrate of the second portion 28 is removed to define the cut out area 36. The tab 34 is formed as part of the first portion 24, and is configured to engage with the second portion 28.

The blank is generally of similar format to a sandwich blank, e.g. of the type shown in

GB2481681 except for the arrangement described above and that gusset panels 50 and that connect the side wall 18 to the end wall 22 are reduced in size so as not to overlie the area of the tab 34 when erected.

In other embodiments it will be appreciated that the carton may be erected from numerous other blanks which ultimately have a lid adjacent a side wall.

It will also be appreciated that the shape and the path of the cut that defines the first side portion and lid may be adjusted, for example such that the cut is offset inwardly from junction of one or both of the flanges 32 and the end walls, and/or so that portions of the cuts are curved rather than straight.

It should be noted that in this specification, the term sealing is used to refer to an air15 tight connection made between two or more features. It should therefore be understood that the carton described herein is suitable for storing food required to be stored in the carton, if necessary, for more than one day before being consumed. Nonetheless, the carton is equally suitable for storing food to be consumed on the same day.

Claims

1. A carton for food, the carton comprising:

a body configured to receive food, the body defining an opening; and a lid secured to the body at a first edge thereof and configured for sealing in a closed position over the opening;

wherein the body defines a first side wall adjacent the first edge;

wherein a first portion of the side wall secured to the lid at the first edge is configured for opening with the lid to provide access to the contents of the carton.

2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein the side wall first portion is defined in relation to the remainder of the first side wall by a cut.

3. A carton according to claim 2 wherein the cut comprises a first cut partway through an outside of the first side wall, and a second cut partway through an inside of the first side wall, proximal the first cut, such that delamination of the first side wall takes place on opening of the side wall first portion with the lid.

4. A carton according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the body defines a flange adjacent the opening; and wherein the lid is configured for sealing to the flange in the closed position.

5. A carton according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least the body comprises a substrate and a barrier material.

6. A carton according to claim 5 wherein the side wall first portion comprises a tab, wherein the tab is defined by a cut through the full depth of the substrate.

7. A carton according to claim 6 wherein the tab is unsecured with respect to the barrier film.

8. A carton according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the first side wall substrate comprises a cut-out adjacent the first portion.

9. A carton according to any preceding claim comprising a re-close arrangement for engagement of the side wall portion with the remainder of the body.

10. A carton according to claim 9 wherein the first side wall comprises a second portion; and wherein the side wall second portion comprises the re-close arrangement.

11. A carton according to claim 9 or claim 10 when dependent on claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the re-close arrangement is configured to receive the tab.

12. A carton according to claim 11 wherein the re-close arrangement comprises exposed barrier material.

13. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the carton is in the form of a triangular prism.

14. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the first side wall is substantially triangular.

15. A blank for forming a carton according to any preceding claim.

16. A method of manufacturing a repeating array of blanks according to claim 15.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No:

GB1814772.8