CARTON WITH INTERIOR PARTITION

Abstract: A carton is provided which is suitable for accommodating articles, e.g. beverage cans, in a plurality of tiers (C1, C2), an internal partition structure (12) for separating the adjacent tiers of articles includes a hinged end flap (38) constructed and arranged, when in an operative position, to facilitate the introduction of articles into the carton during loading. The hinged end flap is connected to closure flaps (64; 48/88) and the end of opposed side walls of the carton such that when the partition end flap is folded into a stowed position such folding initiates closing movement of end closure flaps.

Description: CARTON WITH INTERIOR PARTITION This invention relates to a carton for accommodating a plurality of articles particularly, but not exclusively, accommodating beverage cans in two tiers. The carton includes partitioning means to create upper and lower chambers in which the respective tiers of articles are accommodated and which separate one tier of articles from the other. Cartons for beverage containers having dividers or partition panels are well known. It is also known to construct both the carton and the divider from a single blank as is shown, for instance in US 4 293 091. US 4 487 358 in particular shows an end closure flap connected to a divider which can be used as a part of the closure structure. US 4 416 412 has a similar arrangement. Although the dividers in these particular prior art arrangements are for use in a vertical position, horizontal dividers also are well known in the carton art. However, in the present invention, a carton with an internal partition structure is provided which includes end portions adapted to facilitate loading of the articles into the carton. The end portions are then folded inwardly (downwardly) into a stowed position once the carton has been loaded so that the end closure flaps of the carton can be closed. These end portions are advantageously hinged to opposed end closure panels at opposed wall panels of the carton so as to stabilise the end portions during the carton loading process and also so that as they are folded into their stowed position, they initiate folding of the end closure flaps associated with the opposed wall panels of the carton. One aspect of the present invention provides a carton suitable for accommodating articles in a plurality of tiers, an internal partition structure for separating the adjacent tiers of articles which partition structure includes a hinged end flap constructed and arranged, when in an operative position, to facilitate the introduction of articles into the carton during loading thereof said hinged end flap being connected to opposed walls of the carton such that when the partition end flap is folded into a stowed position relative to adjacent parts of the partition panel such folding initiates closing movement of end portions of the said opposite wall panels. According to a feature of this aspect of the invention said hinged end flap may be connected to opposed walls of the carton by means of foldable elements which elements are displaced out of the plane of the partition panel during folding of said end flap. In constructions where such foldable elements are provided, said foldable elements may comprise web structures foldably joined to said end flap and to an adjacent end closure panel comprising said end portion of an adjacent wall panel. According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, when said end flap may be disposed in its operative position it is substantially coplanar with said adjacent parts of said partition panel and may extend outwardly beyond said end portions of the said opposite wall panels. Another aspect of the indention provides carton blank for forming a carton of the type according to any of the three immediately preceding paragraphs which blank comprises a series of main panels including, in series, a partition panel, a first side wall panel, a bottom panel, a second side wall panel, a top panel and a third side wall panel hinged one to the next and wherein said partition panel includes a foldable panel adapted to be secured to said second side wall panel and includes opposed end flaps hinged thereto said end flaps being hinged to respective end portions of said first side wall panel. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of a carton blank from which a carton according to the invention is formed; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a carton formed from a blank according to Figure 1 as seen from below and from one end and in which the carton end closure flaps are shown in an open position. Referring to the drawings, an elongate blank 10 is formed from paperboard or similar sheet material and in some respects is similar to the carton blank described and shown in EP 0 013 479 Bl, particularly in relation to the so-called "bevelled corner" structure and to which the reader is directed. In some other respects, the carton blank is similar to that described and shown in US-A 5 307 932, particularly in relation to the handle structure, and to which the reader is directed. The carton of the present invention includes an internal partition structure in order to create two vertically separated article chambers within the carton. Thus, blank 10 comprises, in series, a partition panel 12, a first side wall panel 14, a bottom panel 16, a second side wall panel 18, a top panel 20 and a third side wall panel 22, hinged one to the next along transverse fold lines 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 respectively. At its free transverse edge the partition panel includes a securing strip 34 hinged to the partition panel 12 by transverse fold line 36. The blank 10 is symmetrical about its longitudinal centre line - t and, therefore, the features of the blank above the longitudinal centre line (as shown in Figure 1) will now be described in detail. It is to ,be appreciated that the features of the blank below the longitudinal centre line and which in part relate to the opposite end of the carton are the same in all respects to those to be described and like parts are designated like reference numerals with the addition of the prefix 1. The partition panel 12 includes an end flap 38 which is hinged to the partition panel 12 along a longitudinal fold line 40. The end flap 38 includes a projecting tongue portion 38-. Side wall panel 14 includes a minor end closure flap 42 which is hinged to the panel 14 along longitudinal fold line 44. An additional bend line 46 is formed in the minor end closure flap 42 and defines together fold line 44 a "bevelled corner" panel 48 of the type disclosed in EP 0 013 479 Bl. End closure flap 42 is hinged to the end flap 38 by means of a web structure l disposed outwardly of aperture Al. Web Wl is hinged to the end closure flap 42 by means of a fold line 50 and is hinged to the end flap 38 by means of a fold line 52. Bottom panel 16 has a major end closure flap 54 hinged to its longitudinal end along a fold line 56 and also includes an outer bend line 58. End closure flap 54 is hinged to end closure flap 42 by means of a web structure W2 which is hinged .to the end closure flap 54 along a fold line 60 and is also hinged to the end closure flap 42 along a fold line 62. Aperture A2 has a function similar to aperture Al and is provided to facilitate forming the bevelled corner of the carton. Side panel 18 also has an end closure panel 64 hinged to its longitudinal edge along fold line 66 and includes an additional bend line 68 thereby defining together with fold line 66 a bevelled corner panel 70. End flap 64 is connected to end flap 54 by means of a web structure W3 which is foldably joined to the end flap 64 along a fold line 72 and is foldably joined to the end flap 54 along a fold line 74. Aperture A3 is provided to facilitate forming the bevelled corner structure. Top panel 20 includes a pair of handle apertures HI and H2 which include hinged reinforcing flaps Fl and F2 thereby defining a handle strap S at the centre of the top panel 20. The top wall is specially constructed so as to distribute the deadload in the panel when the carton is lifted. Thus, a formation of score lines are provided in the top wall which emanate from a point close to each end of each handle aperture and which diverge towards each corner of the top panel at the bevelled corners of the top panel similar to the arrangement disclosed in US-A 5 307 932. A major end closure panel 76 is hinged to the longitudinal edge of top panel 20 along a fold line 81. End closure panel 76 is hinged to end closure panel 64 by means of a web structure W4. Web structure W4 is hinged to the end closure panel 76 along a fold line 78 and is also hinged to the end panel 64 along a fold line 80. Aperture A4 is provided in order to facilitate the formation of the corner bevelled panel 70. Side panel 22 has a minor end closure panel 82 hinged thereto along a longitudinal fold line 84 and includes an additional bend line 86 thereby defining a bevelled corner panel 88. End closure panel 82 and 76 are hinged together by means of a web structure W5 which is hinged to end closure panel 82 along a fold line 90 and is also hinged to end closure panel 76 along a fold line 92. Aperture A5 is provided to facilitate forming the bevelled corner panel 88. The securing strip 34 is adapted to be glued to the internal face of side wall 18 when the carton is made up from the blank. Thus, securing strip 34 is formed with an end portion 94 which is adapted to be secured in superposed relation with the minor end closure panel 64. End portion 94 is hinged to the end closure flap 38 by means of a web structure W6. The web structure W6 is hinged to the end closure flap 38 by means of a fold line 96 and is hinged to the end portion 94 by means of a fold line 98. A panel 98 is defined between fold line 99 and bend line 100 and is arranged so as to be secured in aligned superposed relation with the bevelled corner panel 70 associated with side wall 18. Aperture A6 is provided to facilitate displacement of the web structure out of the plane of the partition panel 12 when end flap 38 is folded relative thereto. The end closure flaps and related structures at the opposite ends of the carton are similar to those described in which like parts are designated with like reference numerals, with the addition of the suffix 1. In order to form the carton, the various major panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 are folded relative to one another about the transverse fold lines 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 as is well known and the securing strip 34 also is folded about transverse fold line 36 and brought into a position at the midriff of side wall 18 to which it is secured, for example, by gluing. Thus, end portion 94 is secured to end closure flap 64 whereas panel 98 is secured to bevelled corner panel 70 whereby fold line 100 is aligned with fold line 68 and fold line 99 is aligned with fold line 66. The first and third side wall panels 12 and 22 are also secured together to provide a composite opposed side wall panel equivalent in depth to side wall panel 18. As is well known, the carton can then be supplied in flat collapsed form to a customer for erecting, loading and closure to complete the package. As can be seen by reference to Figure 2, the partition panel 12, when the carton is erected into a set¬ up condition ready for loading, occupies a position substantially centrally between the bottom and top carton walls therefore providing upper and lower compartments Cl and C2 within the carton. The carton is shown in Figure 2 with its end closure flaps in the open position ready for loading. The projecting tongue 38 of the end flap 38 of partition panel 12 protrudes beyond end closure panels 64 and 42/82 of the adjacent side wall panels in order to provide a guide tab to facilitate loading the cans into the upper compartment Cl of the carton. When articles have been loaded into both the upper and lower compartments of the carton the end flaps are folded inwardly into overlapping relationship to close the carton ends. The end flap 38 of the partition panel 12 is, however, first folded downwardly into a stowed position. This not only facilitates proper closing of the major and minor end closure flaps but also provides additional security at the end of the carton. This inward and downward hinging of the end flap 38 about fold line 40 causes the web structures Wl and W6 to flex about fold lines 50/52 and 96/97 respectively which, in turn, initiates the inward folding of the end closure flaps associated with the side walls 18 and 22/14 of the carton. Prior to closing, the web structures Wl and W6 help in improving the stability of the end flap 38 so that its projecting tongue 38 in particular is restrained from flexing during loading which otherwise could snag articles as they are introduced into the open end of the carton.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. In a carton suitable for accommodating articles in a plurality of tiers an internal partition structure for separating the adjacent tiers of articles which partition structure includes a hinged end flap constructed and arranged, when in an operative position, to facilitate the introduction of articles into the carton during loading thereof said hinged end flap being connected to opposed walls of the carton such that when the partition end flap is folded into a stowed position relative to the adjacent parts of said partition panel such folding initiates closing movement of end portions of the said opposite wall panels. 2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said hinged end flap is connected to opposed walls of the carton by means of foldable elements which elements are displaced out of the plane of the partition panel during folding of said end flap. 3. A carton according to claim 2 wherein said foldable elements comprise web structures foldably joined to said end flap and to an adjacent end closure panel comprising said end portion of an adjacent wall panel. 4. A carton according to any of the preceding claims wherein when said end flap is disposed in its operative position it is substantially coplanar with said adjacent parts of said partition panel and extends outwardly beyond said end portions of the said opposite wall panels. 5. A carton blank for forming a carton of the type according to any of the preceding claims which blank comprises a series of main panels including, in series, a partition panel, a first side wall panel, a bottom panel, a second side wall panel, a top panel and a third side wall panel hinged one to the next and wherein said partition panel includes a foldable panel adapted to be secured to said second side wall panel and includes opposed end flaps hinged thereto said end flaps being hinged to respective end portions of said first side wall panel.

Inventors: LAMAMY MICHEL, LAMAMY, MICHEL
Applicants: LAMAMY MICHEL, MEAD CORP, LAMAMY, MICHEL, THE MEAD CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D5, B65D71