BRACED TUBULAR CARTON AND BLANK THEREFOR

Abstract: A tubular carton and a carton blank for accommodating at least one article such as a bottle (B) comprises first and second panels (20, 12/26). The first panel (20) has one or more apertures (58, 59) for receiving articles. At least one of the apertures (58, 59) has one or more foldable tabs (60, 63) hinged to the first panel (20). At least one of the foldable tabs (60, 63) of the at least one aperture (58, 59) has upper and lower portions (130, 132) of which the lower portion (132) projects into the inside of the tubular carton (134) and the upper portion (130) projects upwardly to engage the underside of the radially protruding part of an article present in that aperture (58, 59). The second panel (12/26) comprises a hinged bracing flap (48, 52) adapted to restrict movement of the first panel (20) relative to the second panel (12/26). The bracing flap (48, 52) abuts the lower portion (132) of the at least one foldable tab (60, 63) to restrict hinging movement of the bracing flap (48, 52).

Description: BRACED TUBULAR CARTON AND BLANK THEREFOR Background of the Invention The invention relates to a carton produced for packaging one or more articles, for example, bottles. More particularly, the invention relates to a carton of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of the articles thereby securing the articles together in one unit . It is known to provide top gripping cartons which comprise so called "sunburst" apertures each having a series of circumferentially arranged tabs which enable a bottle top to pass through the respective aperture which tabs engage the underside of the bottle cap or the flange of the bottle neck to prevent the removal of the bottle from the aperture . A problem arises when such sunburst type apertures are used for articles with long necks, for example champagne bottles. In this example, the location where the tab engages a bottle top is high up on the bottle neck, which creates a package in which the bottles are unstable. Further, the tabs are weakened by the unstable nature of the bottles within the carton so reducing its effectiveness . A further problem is that a top gripping carton needs to be of sufficient strength to support the bottles. A rigid structure would address this problem but produces its own difficulties. In particular, the top panel and/or base panel of known cartons does not provide requisite rigidity and sufficient strength to support such articles. Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems associated with the prior art. One solution proposed by the present invention is to form a tubular structure for engaging the top portions of articles . Additional support is provided to assure the rigidity of the tubular structure by a bracing flap extending between first and second hinged panels of the structure. Therefore, the carton can be of a structural strength sufficient to hold long-necked bottles without having its material increased in thickness. One aspect of the invention provides a carton for accommodating one or more articles, for example bottles, which carton is tubular in structure and comprises first and second panels . The first panel has one or more apertures . At least one of the apertures has one or more foldable tabs hinged to the first panel. At least one of the foldable tabs has upper and lower portions of which the lower portion projects into the tubular structure and the upper portion projects upwardly to engage the underside of a radially protruding part of an article present in the that aperture . The second panel comprises a hinged bracing flap for restricting movement of the first panel relative to the second panel. The bracing flap has a portion that abuts the lower portion of the at least one foldable tab to restrict hinging movement of the bracing flap. According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the at least one foldable tab may be hinged to the first panel along a pair of divergent fold lines interconnected at their adjacent ends by a slit, which slit defines a free edge of the lower portion of the foldable tab. Preferably, the slit may be arched or substantially "V" shaped. According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the at least one aperture may comprise a pair of foldable tabs struck from the first panel. The tabs may be disposed in substantially opposed positions. Each of the foldable tabs may comprise a recessed portion adapted to receive the radially protruding part of an article. According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the second panel may be hinged to the first panel, and the bracing flap is hinged to the second panel . According to still a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, an edge of the bracing flap may abut the first panel to brace the first and second panels in an angular relationship. According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the carton may be a wraparound carton. Alternatively, the carton may be a top gripping type carton. Another aspect of the present invention provides a unitary blank for forming a carton which comprises a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including first and second panels. The first panel has one or more apertures . At least one of the apertures has one or more foldable tabs surrounding that aperture and hinged to said first panel to stand out of the general plane of the first panel. The second panel has a bracing flap struck from the second panel . The bracing flap is displaceable out of the plane of the second panel so that a portion of the bracing flap abuts both the first panel and a portion of one of the foldable tabs once a carton is set up. According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the one foldable tab may be hinged to said first panel along a pair of divergent fold lines interconnected at their adjacent ends by a slit, which slit defines a free edge of the lower portion of the one foldable tab. A further aspect of the present invention provides a carton comprising first and second panels. The first panel has one or more apertures for receiving articles. At least one of the apertures is defined at least in part by one or more foldable tabs hinged to the first panel. The foldable tabs are folded upwardly to have their distal ends engage the underside of a radially protruding part of an article in the at least one aperture. At least one of the foldable tab comprises means for defining a slot in the first panel in response to upward folding of the at least one foldable tab. The second panel has a bracing flap hinged thereto and is folded to a bracing position where the bracing flap extends between the first and second panels to restrict movement of the first and second panels relative to each other. The bracing flap has a portion received in the slot to lock the bracing flap in the bracing position. The slot-defining means may comprise a slit formed along the proximal end of the at least one foldable tab. The slit may be arched or substantially "V" shaped. The slot-defining means may further comprise a pair of divergent fold lines along which the at least one foldable tab is hinged to the first panel . The divergent fold lines may be interconnected at their adjacent ends by the slit. The first and second panels may be directly hinged together. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments 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 an unfolded single paperboard blank from which a carton according to one aspect of the invention is formed; FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate a carton in part erected condition formed from a carton blank substantially as shown in Figure 1; and FIGURES 4 and 5 show the carton formed from the part erected carton shown in Figures 2 and 3. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a carton blank for forming a top gripping type carton made from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material . It is envisaged that a wraparound carton could alternatively be made without departing from the scope of this invention. The blank 10 comprises a side panel 12, a handle panel 14, a second handle panel 16, a support panel 18, a top panel 20, a second side panel 22, base panel 24 and an inner support panel 26 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 respectively. In this embodiment, a glue flap 42 extends from the end edge of inner support panel 26 and is hingably connected thereto along interrupted fold line 44. Optionally, an aperture 46 is struck from a central portion of inner support panel 26 and the glue flap 42. In use, the aperture 46 makes folding of the carton an easier operation. As shown in Figure 1, a first bracing flap 48 being substantially triangular in shape is formed from an outer end portion of the inner support panel 26. In the blank form of FIG. 1, the upper edge 150 of bracing flap 48 is collinear with fold line 44. First bracing flap 48 is hingably connected to the inner support panel 26 along a fold line 50 disposed in an angular relationship with fold line 44. In this embodiment, a second bracing flap 52 (also substantially triangular in shape) is formed from the opposed outer end portion of the inner support panel 26. The upper edge 152 of second bracing flap 52 is collinear with fold line 44. Likewise, the second bracing flap 52 is hingably connected to the inner support panel 26 along fold line 54 disposed in an angular relationship with fold line 44. It is envisaged that the bracing flaps 48, 52 can be formed in different shapes, for example rectangular, and alternatively can be struck from other panels, for example the base panel 24 or side panel 22, without departing from the scope of invention. A pair of apertures 56, 57 are struck from base panel 24 in a spaced relationship. Each aperture 56, 57 is shaped to engage a neck portion of an article when the carton is in a set up condition. In this embodiment, the apertures 56 and 57 are circular. Referring again to Figure 1, a pair of apertures 58, 59 are formed in top panel 20 in corresponding positions to the apertures 56, 57 respectively formed in base panel 24 whereby when the carton is in a set up condition, the apertures 58, 59 in top panel 20 are in vertical registry with the apertures 56,57 in the base panel 24. In this embodiment, the apertures 58, 59 formed in the top panel 20, each include at least one and preferably a pair of article gripping tabs positioned on opposed sides of the respective apertures 58, 59. Turning to the detailed configuration of one pair of article gripping tabs 60, 62 of aperture 58, the first foldable (article gripping) tab 60 is struck from and hingably connected to top panel 20 at its proximal end by a pair of divergent fold lines 64, 66. Fold line 64 extends to an edge of aperture 58 and fold line 66 intersects fold line 36 and cut line 80, hereinafter described. Divergent fold lines 64, 66 are interconnected at their adjacent ends by a slit 68 extending along the proximal end of the tab 60. The slit 68 is preferably arched or "V" shaped. The distal end of tab 60 extends into aperture 58, to define an article engaging edge 70. Likewise, the second foldable (article gripping) tab 62 positioned on the opposing side of aperture 58 is struck from and hingably connected to top panel 20 at its proximal end by a pair of divergent fold lines 70, 72. Fold line 70 extends to an edge of aperture 58 and fold line 72 intersects fold line 36 and cut line 82, hereinafter described. Divergent fold lines 70, 72 are interconnected at their adjacent ends by a slit 74, the slit 74 preferably being arched or "V" shaped. The distal end of tab 62 extends into aperture 58, to define an article engaging edge 76. In this embodiment, the article engaging edges 70, 76 are arcuate, but other profiles can be used according to the shape of the article. A further preferred feature is shown in Figure 1 : a third tab 78 extends from side panel 22 into aperture 58. Tab 78 is substantially trapezoidal in shape being defined along its side edges by cut lines 80, 82. The upper edge 84 of third tab 78 is adapted to engage a portion of an article . Likewise, aperture 59 is also formed with a pair of oppositely disposed tabs 61, 63 and a third tab 79 extending from side panel 22, each of these tabs is identical in construction and orientation to the respective tabs 60, 62, 78 formed in aperture 58 and are not therefore described in any greater detail . Optionally, a pair of handle support panels 90, 92 are provided along opposed end edges of first and second handle panels 14, 16 being hingably connected thereto along fold lines 94, 96. In this embodiment, apertures 91, 93 are struck from the handle panels 14 , 16 and handle support panels 90, 92 respectively at the intersection of fold lines 94, 30 and 96, 30 respectively. The apertures 91, 93 are shaped to provide curved corner portions of the handle panels 14, 16 and to assist in folding the handle support panels 90, 92. To form a handle, hand aperture 98 is struck from handle panel 16 and support panel 18 thereby interrupting fold line 32. A tab 100 extends into aperture 98 being hingably connected to handle panel 16 along fold line 102. Likewise, a corresponding hand aperture 104 is formed from handle panel 14 and side panel 12 thereby interrupting fold line 28. A tab 106 extends into aperture 104 being hingably connected to handle panel 14 along fold line 108. A second embodiment is illustrated in Figure 2 which is substantially identical to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 and therefore only the differences of the second embodiment are hereinafter described. A transverse fold line 120 is formed in the top panel 122 extending between opposed end edges of top panel 122 and which, in this embodiment, bisects the slits 124 of each tab 126 and apertures 128, 129. Turning to the construction of the carton from a carton blank as illustrated in Figure 1, the blank 10 requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations which is preferably performed in a straight line machine so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and can altered according to particular manufacturing requirements. Thus, handle support panels 90, 92 are folded inwardly about fold lines 94, 96 and into a face-to-face contacting relationship with handle panels 14, 16. Base panel 24, inner support panel 26 and glue flap 42 are then folded about fold line 38 to be in a face-to-face contacting relationship with second side panel 22, top panel 20 and support panel 18 respectively and glue flap 42 and support panel 18 are secured together by glue or other means known in the art. Thereafter, side panel 12 and handle panel 14 are folded about fold line 30 into a face-to-face contacting relationship with handle panel 16 and inner support panel 26 and are secured respectively to the panels 16 and 26 by glue or other means known in the art. Thus, the carton is in a flat collapsed condition, similar to the carton illustrated in Figure 2. Thereafter, the carton can be applied to an array of bottles (or supplied in a flat collapsed condition ready for loading) . In order to complete the carton in the form similar to the carton shown in Figures 4 and 5, the opposed side panels 12, 22, top panel 20 and base panel 24 are moved apart from their face contacting arrangement by folding the aforesaid panels along fold lines 34, 36, 38 and 40 to form a substantially rectangular tubular configuration, shown in Figure 3. The carton is then ready- to receive two articles, for example bottles B which are loaded by relative vertical movement between the bottles B and carton, preferably, during forward feed movement well known in the art, by which the bottles enter their respective apertures 56, 57 in the base panel 24. Thereafter, the bottles pass through the apertures 58, 59 in the top panel 20, thereby displacing the foldable tabs 60, 62; 61,63 out of their general plane about fold lines 64, 66; 70, 72 to move an upper portion 130 of each tab upwardly and a corresponding lower portion 132 downwardly into the carton. The lower portion 132 of each foldable tab 60, 61, 62, 63 is defined by the respective slit 68, 74. Because of the downwardly moved lower portion 132, a slot 140 (shown in Figures 4 and 5) is defined in the top panel 20 in response to upward folding movement of each foldable tab, which will be described later in more detail. As shown in Figure 4 and 5, the first and second bracing flaps 48, 52 (only one flap shown in Figures 4 and 5) hinged to the inner support panel 26 are folded about fold lines 50, 54 respectively and into an angular relationship with the inner support panel 26. Each bracing flap 48, 52 is folded into abutment with lower portions 132 of the respective outermost tab 60, 63 adjacent the end of the tubular structure 134 : the lower portions 132 acting as stoppers to restrict movement of the respective bracing flaps 48, 52. As illustrated in the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 5 , the invention may include a further preferred feature: the slit 124 defining an edge 138 of the top panel 122, which edge 138 intersects the free edges of the lower portions 132. Top panel 122 forms a shallow "V" shape by folding it about transverse fold line 120, thereby to define a slot 140 between edge 138 and lower portion 132 which receives and engages the upper edge 150, 152 of the respective bracing flap 48, 52 to restrict its hinged movement . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foldable (article engaging) tabs 60, 63 can be held in place by the abutment of the bracing flaps 48, 52 with a respective lower tab portion 132. Further or alternatively, the upper edges of either or both bracing flaps 48, 52 abut the top panel 20 to restrict relative movement of the side panel 12 (or inner support panel 26) and top panel 20, thereby to maintain the carton in a tubular shape. Additionally or alternatively, the presence of the bottles in the carton maintains the apertures 58, 59 of the top panel in registry with corresponding apertures 56, 57 of the base panel to maintain the integrity of the tubular structure 134. In use, handle tabs 100, 106 are folded inwardly along fold lines 102, 108 respectively to create a hand aperture to receive a user's finger to enable the carton to be carried and to provide additional support for the handle H. Referring again to the drawings, and in particular Figure 5, there is shown a carton for accommodating a plurality of articles, for example bottles, which carton is tubular in structure and comprises a first (or top) panel 20 having a plurality of apertures 58, 59, each of which has at least one foldable tab 60, 62; 61, 63 hinged to the first panel 20 and having upper and lower portions 130 and 132 of which the lower portion 132 projects into the tubular structure 134 and the upper portion 130 projects upwardly to engage the underside of a radially protruding part of an article B present in the associated aperture 58, 59, and a second panel 12/26 comprising a hinged bracing flap 52 adapted to restrict movement of the first panel 20 relative to the second panel 12/26 and wherein the bracing flap 52 abuts the lower portion 132 of the foldable tab 60 to restrict hinging movement of the bracing flap 52. The present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to an article carrier that is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that load transferred to the handle is absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the blank minimizes the amount of paperboard required and the carrier is applied to an array of bottles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers, for example wraparound cartons, and is not limited to those of the top gripping sort hereinabove described. Further or alternatively, the carton may be adapted to carry three or more articles without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A carton for accommodating one or more articles which carton is tubular in structure and comprises a first panel having at least one aperture for receiving an article, said at least one aperture having at least one foldable tab hinged to said first panel, said at least one foldable tab having upper and lower portions, said upper portion projecting upwardly to engage the underside of a radially protruding part of an article present in said at least one aperture, said lower portion projecting into said tubular structure, and a second panel having a hinged bracing flap for restricting movement of said first panel relative to said second panel, a portion of said bracing flap engaging said lower portion of said at least one foldable tab to restrict hinging movement of said bracing flap. 2. The carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one foldable tab is hinged to said first panel along a pair of divergent fold lines interconnected at adjacent ends thereof by a slit, which slit defines a free edge of said lower portion of said at least one foldable tab. 3. The carton as claimed in claim 2 wherein said slit is substantially "V" shaped. . The carton as claimed in claim 2 wherein said slit is arched. 5. The carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one aperture is defined at least in part by a pair of foldable tabs struck from said first panel, each of said foldable tabs being disposed in substantially opposed positions. 6. The carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second panel is hinged to said first panel and wherein said bracing flap is hinged to said second panel. 7. The carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein an edge of said bracing flap abuts said first panel to brace said first and second panels in an angular relationship. 8. The carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carton is a wraparound carton. 9. The carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carton is a top gripping type carton. 10. A unitary blank for forming a carton which comprises a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including first and second panels, said first panel having at least one aperture for receiving an article, said at least one aperture having at least one foldable tab disposed therearound and hinged to said first panel to stand out of a general plane of said first panel, said second panel having bracing flap struck therefrom, said bracing flap being displaceable out of a plane of said second panel so that said bracing flap abuts both said first panel and a portion of said at least one foldable tab once a carton is set up. 11. The unitary blank as claimed in claim 9 wherein said at least one foldable tab is hinged to said first panel along a pair of divergent fold lines interconnected at adjacent ends thereof by a slit, which slit defines a free edge of said portion of said at least one foldable tab. 12. A carton for accommodating one or more articles, comprising first and second panels, said first panel having at least one aperture for receiving an article, said at least one aperture being defined at least in part by at least one foldable tab hinged to said first panel, said at least one foldable tab being folded upwardly to have a distal end thereof engage the underside of a radially protruding part of an article in said at least one aperture, said at least one foldable tab comprising means for defining a slot in said first panel in response to upward folding of said at least one foldable tab, said second panel having a bracing flap hinged thereto and being folded to a bracing position where said bracing flap extends between said first and second panels to restrict movement of said first and second panels relative to each other, said bracing flap having a portion received in said slot to lock said bracing flap in said bracing position. 13. The carton according to claim 12 wherein said slot-defining means comprises a slit formed along a proximal end of said at least one foldable tab. 14. The carton according to claim 13 wherein said slit is substantially "V" shaped. 14. The carton according to claim 13 wherein said slit is arched. 15. The carton according to claim 13 wherein said slot-defining means further comprises a pair of divergent fold lines along which said at least one foldable tab is hinged to said first panel, said divergent fold lines being interconnected at adjacent ends thereof by said slit. 16. The carton according to claim 12 wherein said first and second panels are directly hinged together.

Inventors: BOISSOU PATRICK, BOISSOU, PATRICK
Applicants: BOISSOU PATRICK, MEAD CORP, BOISSOU, PATRICK, THE MEAD CORPORATION
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D71