A CARTON HAVING A LOCKING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract: There is provided a carton formed from a paperboard blank (10) having oppositely disposed ends. Flaps (27) project from one end edge of the blank and each flap (27) has an associated opening (29). At the other end of the blank is an aperture (24) for cooperation with each flap (27). The flaps (27) are passed through the apertures (24), tabs (25) engage edges (30) of the openings (29) and the flaps (27) are folded over the edge portion of the other end of the blank and pushed into the openings (29). The barbs (35) then engage in cuts (31) provided at the lateral edges of the openings (29).

Description: A Carton Having a Locking Arrangement This invention relates to locking arrangements for locking together first and second panels of a carton. In particular, but not exclusively, the two panels may be the base panels of a carton. This may be a multipack for a number of articles such as bottles or cans and may take the form of a wrap, basket type package or any other type of carton. According to the present invention there is provided a carton having a lock arrangement for locking together first and second panels of the carton, the arrangement comprising a flap projecting from the edge of the first panel, an opening formed in the first panel, opening engaging means provided on the flaps, and a cooperating aperture in the second panel such that in use the flap is passed through the aperture in an outwardly direction relative to the carton, is folded back over the portion of the second panel between the aperture and the free edge of the second panel and is inserted into the opening in the first panel such that the engaging means of the flap is retained by the opening as a main lock. Preferably an initial lock is provided by a tab on the second panel projecting into the aperture from the side of the aperture closest to the free edge of the second panel, which tab engages an edge of a hole formed in the first panel. Ideally said hole edge is constituted by the opening. In some embodiments the aperture is generally rectangular having a width similar to the width of the flap which has generally parallel sides. A preferred feature of the invention is that the engaging means of the flap are constituted by oppositely disposed, laterally extending barbs which engage behind cuts which extend laterally from the opening. Another preferred feature is that the flap is hingedly connected to the remainder of the first panel along a fold line. Preferably the fold line is in two parts, the opening extending therebetween, part way into the flap, with the tab engaging edge being at the flap-side extremity of the opening and the cuts being at the opposite extremity. Conveniently a second fold is provided in the flap substantially parallel to the hinge connection to the remainder of the first panel to facilitate insertion of the barbed end of the flap in the opening. Normally the carton will provide a number of said lock arrangements at spaced locations along the base. One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a blank for producing a carton according to the present invention, and Figures 2 to 6 are perspective views of the various phases of the locking action of the carton. There is shown a paperboard blank 10 which is folded around a 2 x 3 group of six bottles 1 1 to form a wrap which retains the six bottles 11 in the 2 x 3 formation as a multipack. The blank 10 provides a top 12, two first side panels 13 hingedly connected to the top 12, two second side panels 14 hingedly connected to respective first side panels 13, two heel panels 15 hingedly connected to respective second side panels 14 and first and second base panels 16, 17 hingedly connected by folds 18 to respective heel panels 15. The first side panels provide first holes 19 for receiving the closures of the bottles 11 in use and the heel panels 15 provide second holes 20 for receiving the heel portions of the bottles 11. The holes 19, 20 are standard features for retaining the bottles 11 in such cartons although alternatives are known and could be used here. Cut away portions 21 are also provided in the top panel 12 to constitute handle means. Other types of handle could, however, be provided. To close the blank 10 in a secure manner around the bottles 11 there are provided a series of three pairs of cooperating locking formations 22, 23 in the first and second base panels 16, 17 respectively. Each formation 23 in the second base panel 17 comprises a generally rectangular aperture 24 having a tab 25 projecting into the aperture 24 from the direction of the free edge 26 of the second base panel 17. Each formation 22 in the first base panel 16 comprises a flap 27 projecting away from the first base panel 16 which flap 27 remains hingedly connected to the first base panel 16 by means of a hinge line formed in two sections 28. Between the two hinge sections 28 is a quadrilateral opening 29 having a tab engaging edge 30 at one end which edge 30 has a similar lateral extent to the tab 25 and a pair of cuts 31 at the other end. The cuts 31 initially extend from the lateral edges of the opening 29 slightly towards the adjacent heel panel 15 before extending laterally outwards. Each projecting flap 27 has an end section 32 which is hingedly connected to the remainder by way of fold 33. The flap 27 is cut away at the areas 34 at the ends of the fold 33 to give the end section 32 a pair of spaced barbs 35. The assembly of the blank 10 around the bottles 11 will be described below in more detail. Firstly the blank 10 is placed over the bottles 11 such that the top 12 engages the closures of the bottles. The side panels 13, 14 are then folded down in a standard manner. Figures 2 to 6 show a slightly simplified arrangement for the sake of clarity in that the heel panels 15 and second holes 20 have been omitted. The function of the locking formations 22, 23 however remains the same. The two base panels 16, 17 are folded slightly underneath the bottles ι ι SU ch that the projecting flaps 27 pass through the corresponding apertures 24 in the second base panel 17 from the inside to the outside. The tabs 25 engage behind the respective tab engaging edges 30 of the openings 29 in the first base panel 16. This effectively constitutes an initial lock as shown in figure 3 and ensures correct positioning of the two base panels. The flaps 27 are then folded back about the hinge line sections 28 as shown in figure 4 over the portions of the second base panel 17 between the 5 apertures 24 and the free edge 26. The end sections 32 are then bent about folds 33 relative to the remainders of the flaps 27 as shown in figure 5. The end sections 32 are then inserted into the still exposed areas of the respective openings 29 such that the barb 35 engage securely behind the cuts 31. The 0 assembled base panels are clearly shown in figure 6. The result is a simple yet strong locking arrangement. It will be appreciated that modifications could be made to the locking formations 22, 23. Also any number could be provided on a given carton. • j c Furthermore any type or size of carton could employ such locking arrangement for the base panels. In other cartons each openings 29 may be of any chosen shape and may comprise a pair of holes, one for engaging the tab and the other for receiving the free end of the flap 27. 20 25 30 35

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A carton having a lock arrangement for locking together first and -* second panels of the carton, the arrangement comprising a flap projecting from the edge of the first panel, an opening formed in the first panel, opening engaging means provided on the flaps, and a cooperating aperture in the second panel such that in use the flap is 0 passed through the aperture in an outwardly direction relative to the carton, is folded back over the portion of the second panel between the aperture and the free edge of the second panel and is inserted into the opening in the first panel such that the engaging means of the flap is 5 retained by the opening as a main lock. 2. A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein an initial lock is provided by a tab on the second panel projecting into the aperture from the side of the aperture closest to the free edge of the second panel, which tab engages an edge of a hole formed in the first panel. 3. A carton as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hole edge is constituted by the opening. 5 4. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the aperture is generally rectangular having a width similar to the width of the flap which has generally parallel sides. 0 5. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the engaging means of the flap are constituted by oppositely disposed, laterally extending barbs which engage behind cuts which extend laterally from the opening. 6. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the flap is hingedly connected to the remainder of the first panel along a fold line. 7. A carton as claimed in claim 6 wherein the fold line is in two parts, the opening extending therebetween, part way into the flap, with the tab engaging edge being at the flap-side extremity of the opening and the cuts being at the opposite extremity. 8. A carton as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein a second fold is provided in the flap substantially parallel to the hinge connection to the remainder of the first panel to facilitate insertion of the barbed end of the flap in the opening. 9. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein there are provided a number of said lock arrangements at spaced locations along the base. 10. A paperboard blank for producing a carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Inventors: SCHOENWALD SANDRA, SCHOENWALD, SANDRA
Applicants: RIVERWOOD INT CORP, RIVERWOOD INT LTD, SCHOENWALD SANDRA, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, SCHOENWALD, SANDRA
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D
IPC codes: B65D71