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EP 0 541 334 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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24.04.1996 Bulletin 1996/17 |
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Date of filing: 03.11.1992 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B65D 71/26 |
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Carton with article separating keel structure
Karton mit einer Rippenstruktur zum getrennten Lagern von Gegenständen
Carton avec une structure de nervure pour la séparation d'articles
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI NL PT SE |
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Priority: |
06.11.1991 GB 9123562
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Date of publication of application: |
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12.05.1993 Bulletin 1993/19 |
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Proprietor: THE MEAD CORPORATION |
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Dayton
Ohio 45463 (US) |
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Inventors: |
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- Domansky, Philippe
F-36000 Chateauroux (FR)
- Saulas, Alain
F-36000 Chateauroux (FR)
- Chaussadas, Jean
F-36130 Deols (FR)
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(74) |
Representative: Hepworth, John Malcolm |
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Hepworth Lawrence Bryer & Bizley
Bloxam Court
Corporation Street Rugby,
Warwickshire CV21 2DU Rugby,
Warwickshire CV21 2DU (GB) |
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] This invention relates to a carton accommodating a plurality of articles which includes
a keel construction upstanding internally of the carton to provide both separating
and retaining means for the packaged articles. Typically the articles comprise tubs,
pots or jars containing foodstuff. A carton according to the preamble or claim 1 is
known from FR-A-2647421.
[0002] The invention provides a carton accommodating a plurality of articles of the type
having an internal keel structure which protrudes inwardly of the carton to form a
separator to space apart adjacent articles on either side of the keel structure, said
keel structure comprising two portions arranged in spaced relationship with respect
to each other, each of which portions is provided by at least one side panel, the
carton being characterised in that said keel portions comprise complementary securing
portions which cooperate to form a bridge element and thereby set up the said keel
structure.
[0003] According to a feature of the invention, each keel portion may comprise a side panel
which is hingably attached to a panel of said carton and a top panel which is hingably
attached to the keel side panel and which provides one of said securing portions.
[0004] According to another feature of the invention, each keel securing portion may comprise
a tab which abuts the other keel securing portion in face contacting relationship.
In constructions where this feature is adopted, the keel securing portions may comprise
complementary tabs which can be glued together to secure the keel in an operative
set-up position.
[0005] According to yet another feature of the invention one of the keel securing portions
may comprise an aperture and the other of the keel securing portions may comprise
a tab which passes through the aperture when the keel is in a set-up operative position.
[0006] According to a further feature of the invention, said keel portions may be struck
from a single panel of the carton. In constructions in which the keel portions are
struck from a single panel, the single panel may be a base panel of the carton.
[0007] According to a still further feature of the invention, a plurality of keels may be
provided in one or more rows in which each keel acts to separate two adjacent articles.
[0008] Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a formed carton according to the invention in a
first embodiment;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the unformed blank for forming the carton shown in Figure
1;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an unformed keel structure of the blank shown in
Figure 1;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a formed keel structure of the blank shown in Figure
1;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of second embodiment of a carton according to the invention;
FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a carton blank for forming the carton shown in Figure 5;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of an unformed keel structure part of the blank shown
in Figure 6;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a formed reel structure of the carton blank shown
in Figure 6;
FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a modified keel similar to that shown in Figure
8;
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a completed carton in a third embodiment of the
invention;
FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the carton blank for forming the carton shown in Figure
10;
FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of an unformed keel structure which is a modification
of the arrangement shown in Figure 7;
FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the Figure 12 structure shown formed and which
is a modification of the keel structure shown in Figure 8;
FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a modified keel structure similar to that of Figure
12; and
FIGURE 15 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 8, showing the modified keel of
Figure 14 in a set-up condition.
[0009] Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a carton 'P' of the wraparound type
formed from a blank 10 of paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material. The
carton accommodates an array of four articles A disposed in two rows of two. Carton
blank 10 comprises top panel 12 and side panels 14 and 16 hinged to top panel 12 along
transverse fold lines 18 and 20 respectively. The base of the carton comprises base
panels 22 and 24 hinged to side wall panels 14 and 16 along transverse fold lines
26 and 28, respectively. A keel structure K is formed from panel sections 30, 32 and
34, 36. More specifically, the keel structure comprises side walls 30 and 34 hinged
to base panels 22 and 24 respectively, along interrupted transverse fold lines 38
and 40. Keel K further comprises two top panel portions 32 and 36. Keel top panel
portion 32 is hingably connected to keel side panel 30 along interrupted fold line
42 whilst keel top panel portion 36 is hingably connected to keel side wall panel
34 along interrupted fold line 44. Keel top panel 32 comprises a tab receiving recess
48 whilst top panel 36 comprises keel locking tab 50. Formation of the keel into a
set-up condition is shown in Figures 3 and 4. Tab 50 is passed into recess 48 and
caused to underlie top panel 32. The marginal portions of keel top panel portion 32
adjacent recess 48 are caused to underlie keel top panel portion 36 thus creating
an interlocked top panel portion to keel K. Keel K is further stabilised by the interlocking
of the base panels by means of locking tab 52 which is rotated upwardly about hinge
54 and caused to pass through a complementary locking aperture 56 defined by flap
58 and struck from tab 50 formed in base panel portion 24. This embodiment requires
no gluing of the keel and is found to be more economical in its use of carton material,
such as paperboard, than known carton keel constructions.
[0010] Referring now to Figures 5 to 9 there is shown another carton Pa embodying the invention
in which like parts of the previous embodiment are designated like reference numerals
with the addition of suffix 'a'. The carton accommodates a group of four cartons 'Ca'.
The carton comprises a wraparound paperboard blank 10a having top panel portions 12a
and 12a′ and side panels 14a and 16a, respectively. Blank 10a is maintained in its
tubular structure by securing, as by gluing marginal top panel 12a′ to the underside
of top panel portion 12a. Top panel portion 12a is hinged to side panel 16a along
interrupted transverse fold line 20a and top panel portion 12a′ is hinged to side
wall panel 14a along interrupted transverse fold line 18a. Two individual keel structure
parts Ka and Ka′ are formed by striking a series of keel elements from a single base
panel 22a. Base panel 22a is hinged to side panel 14a along transverse fold line 26a
and to side panel 16a along transverse fold line 28a. The keel part Ka comprises side
panel elements 30a and 34a and top panel element 32a. To form the keel part, the side
panel elements 30a and 34a are hinged into an upstanding position about fold lines
38a and 40a respectively whilst top panel 32a is folded about fold line 42a. Keel
locking tongue 50a is inserted into a complementary keel locking aperture 48a in side
wall 34a. Tongue 50a can then be rotated upwardly about hinge line 44a in order that
side panel 34a and tongue 50a are generally co-planar and can lie smoothly against
the side of an article Ca. Keel part Ka¹ is formed in a similar manner. Thus, an interrupted
keel is formed which requires no gluing to retain its set-up formation. The keel elements
are formed from material struck from the base panel 22a and do not require additional
material.
[0011] Figure 9 shows a similar keel part Kb to that shown in Figure 8 but in which keel
part Kb is modified by removing tongue 50a and aperture 48a and substituting therefor
hinge 42b in keel side wall 30b thereby creating two approximately symmetrical side
walls 30b and 34b. Top flaps 32b and 36b are brought into superposed relation and
can be glued together to hold the keel together.
[0012] Referring now to Figures 10 and 11 there is shown yet another embodiment of the invention
in which carton Pc is formed from a wraparound paperboard blank 10c for packaging
a group of articles Cc such as tubs of yoghurt. Carton Pc comprises elements Kc and
Kc′ struck from base panels 22c and 24c. The elements Kc and Kc′ are similar to keel
parts Ka and Ka′ described above with reference to Figures 5 to 8. However, in this
embodiment carton Pc is formed into its tubular structure by interconnecting base
panel portions 22c and 24c by means of panel interlocking means 52c and 56c. In this
particular embodiment locking tabs 52c are struck from base panel portion 22c and
locking apertures 56c are struck in base panel portion 24c.
[0013] Keel part Kc comprises side panels 30c and 34c which are hingably connected to base
panel portions 22c and 24c respectively. Keel part Kc is formed by displacing keel
panels 30c and 34c upwardly about hinge line 38c and 40c respectively. The top of
keel part Kc is formed by panel 32c and the two side panel sections are interconnected
by means of tab 50c which passes through aperture 48c in keel panel 34c. Tab 50c is
hingably connected to top panel 32c along hinge line 51c and can thereby be folded
downwardly and abut side panel 34c to which it may be attached for example by glueing.
[0014] Referring next to Figure 12 and 13 there is shown a further embodiment of an 'interrupted'
keel comprising keel part Kd for separating articles such as tubs of yoghurt. Keel
part Kd comprises side walls 30d and 34d which are struck from carton blank base panel
22d and hinged upwardly about fold lines 38d and 40d respectively.
[0015] Keel part Kd further comprises top panel portions 32d and 36d. These top panel portions
are rotated about fold line 38d and 40d respectively and securing portions are engaged
to maintain the keel upright. Keel top panel 32d comprises securing flaps f₁ and f₂
and receiving aperture Rd. Top panel 36d comprises securing portions S₁, S₂ and securing
tongue 50d. Tongue 50d is struck from top panel 36d on its marginal edges by slots
50d′. Keel top panels 32d and 36d are brought together so that tongue 50d passes beneath
panel 36d whilst portions S₁, S₂ pass above it. Flaps f₁ and f₂ are passed beneath
top panel 32d and receiving aperture Rd moves into engagement with slots 50d′ thus
securing the keel part Kd in an upright position.
[0016] Referring now to Figures 14 and 15 there is shown a still further embodiment of a
keel part Ke which comprises side panel 30e and 34e. The keel panels are struck from
base panel 22e and are foldably connected thereto along hinge lines 38e and 40e respectively.
The side wall panels 30e and 34e are hinged upwardly about said hinges 38e and 40e
and top panel portions 32e and 36e are brought into abutting relation. Top panel portion
32e comprises article receiving recess, flap receiving recess Re and marginal flaps
f
1e and f
2e. Top panel 32e is hingably connected to side panel 30e along hinge line 42e which
extends from each side of the flap portion 64e cut from side panel 30e in order to
form article receiving recess 65e. Similarly top panel 36e is hingably connected to
side panel 34e along hinge line 44e where panel 36e comprises flap portion 67e defining
recess 66e. Top panel 36e further comprises central tab 50e and central tab marginal
slots 50e′ and marginal tabs 51e and 52e. Top panels 32e and 36e are engaged so that
tab 50c lies beneath panel 32e and the edge of recess Re is brought into engagement
with slots 50e′ whilst tabs 51e and 52e lie above flaps f
1e and f
2e. Article receiving recesses 65e and 66e of each side wall are therefore presented
in the formed keel Ke to receive the side wall of an article.
1. A carton (P, Pa, Pc) accommodating a plurality of articles of the type having an internal
keel structure (K, Ka-Ke) which protrudes inwardly of the carton to form a separator
to space apart adjacent articles on either side of the keel structure, said keel structure
comprising two portions arranged in spaced relationship with respect to each other,
each of which portions is provided by at least one side panel (30, 34; 30a-30e, 34a-34e),
said carton being characterised in that said keel portions comprise complementary
securing portions (32, 36; 32a, 34a; 32b, 36b; 32a, 48c; 32d, 36d; 32e, 36e) which
cooperate to form a bridge element and thereby set up the said keel structure.
2. A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein each keel portion (K, Kb, Kd, Ke) comprises
said side panel which is hingably attached to a panel (22, 24; 22a, 22b; 22c, 24c;
22d, 22e) of said carton and a top panel (32, 36; 32b, 36b; 32d, 36d; 32e, 36e) which
is hingably attached to the keel side panel and which provides one of said securing
portions.
3. A carton as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one of said keel securing
portions comprises a tab (50; 50a, 50a'; 32b, 36b; 50c; 50d; 50e) which abuts the
other keel securing portion in face contacting relationship.
4. A wraparound carton as claimed in claim 3 wherein said keel securing portions comprise
complementary tabs (32b, 36b) which are permanently secured together to hold the keel
in an operative set-up position.
5. A carton as claimed in claims 1 or 3 wherein one of the keel securing portions comprises
an aperture (48, 48a'; 48c) and the other of the keel securing portions comprises
a tab (50a, 50a'; 50c) which tab passes through the aperture when the keel is in a
set-up operative position.
6. A carton as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said keel portions are
struck from a single panel (10, 10a) of the carton.
7. A carton as claimed in claim 6 wherein said single panel is a base panel (10, 10a)
of the carton.
8. A carton as claimed in any of the preceding claims which comprises a plurality of
keels (Ka, Ka'; Kb; Kc, Kc'; Kd; Ke) in one or more rows wherein each keel acts to
separate two adjacent articles.
1. Schachtel (P, Pa, Pc), zur Aufnahme einer Mehrzahl von Gegenständen, des Schachteltypus',
der eine innere Kielstruktur (K, Ka-Ke) aufweist, welche im Inneren der Schachtel
zur Ausbildung eines Separators hervorsteht, um benachbarte Gegenstände auf beiden
Seiten der Kielstruktur voneinander zu trennen, wobei die Kielstruktur zwei Teile
umfaßt, die in beabstandeter Beziehung zueinander angeordnet sind und jedes der Teile
durch mindestens eine Seitenwandfläche (30, 34; 30a-30e, 34a-34e) bereitgestellt wird,
wobei die Schachtel dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß die Kielteile komplementäre Festmach-Abschnitte
(32, 36; 32a, 34a; 32b, 36b; 32a, 48c; 32d, 36d; 32e, 36e) umfassen, die zusammenwirken,
um ein Brückenelement zu bilden und dadurch die Kielstruktur aufbauen.
2. Schachtel nach Anspruch 1, wobei jedes Kielteil (K, Kb, Kd, Ke) die Seitenwandfläche
umfaßt, welche faltbar mit einer Wandfläche (22, 24; 22a, 22b; 22c, 24c; 22d, 22e)
der Schachtel verbunden ist und eine obere Wandfläche (32, 36; 32b, 36b; 32d, 36d;
32e, 36e), welche faltbar mit der Kielseitenwandfläche verbunden ist und welche einen
der Festmach-Abschnitte bereitstellt.
3. Schachtel nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei mindestens einer der Kiel-Festmach-Abschnitte
eine Lasche (50; 50a, 50a'; 32b, 36b; 50c; 50d; 50e) umfaßt, welche mit dem anderen
Kiel-Festmach-Abschnitt in flächiger Berührung aufeinander trifft.
4. Schachtel nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Kiel-Festmach-Abschnitte komplementäre Laschen
(32b, 36b) umfassen, welche permanent fest zusammengehalten sind, um den Kiel in einer
operativen Aufrechtstellung zu halten.
5. Schachtel nach Anspruch 1 oder 3, wobei einer der Kiel-Festmach-Abschnitte eine Öffnung
(48, 48a'; 48c) umfaßt und der andere Kiel-Festmach-Abschnitt eine Lasche (50a, 50a';
50c) umfaßt, wobei die Lasche durch die Öffnung hindurchgeht, wenn sich der Kiel in
seiner operativen Aufrechtstellung befindet.
6. Schachtel nach einem der vorgehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Kielteile aus einer einzigen
Wandfläche (10, 10a) des Kartons ausgestanzt sind.
7. Schachtel nach Anspruch 6, wobei die einzige Wandfläche eine untere Wandfläche (10,
10a) der Schachtel ist.
8. Schachtel nach einem der vorgehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Schachtel eine Mehrzahl
von Kielen (Ka, Ka'; Kb; Kc, Kc'; Kd; Ke) in einer oder mehreren Reihen umfaßt, wobei
jeder Kiel dazu dient, zwei benachbarte Gegenstände zu separieren.
1. Un carton (P, Pa, Pc) recevant une pluralité d'articles, du type comprenant une structure
en forme de poutre intérieure (K, Ka-Ke), dirigée en saillie à l'intérieur du carton
pour former une séparation afin d'espacer des articles adjacents les uns des autres,
de chaque côté de la structure en forme de poutre, ladite structure en forme de poutre
comprenant deux éléments disposés avec un rapport d'espacement l'un par rapport à
l'autre, chacun desdits éléments étant pourvu, au moins, d'un panneau latéral (30,
34; 30a-30e, 34a-34e), ledit carton étant caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments en
forme de poutre comprennent des parties de fixation complémentaires (32, 36; 32a,
34a; 32b, 36b; 32a, 48c; 32d, 36d; 32e, 36e) qui agissent solidairement pour former
un élément de pontage et constituer ainsi ladite structure en forme de poutre.
2. Un carton selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque élément en forme de poutre
(K, Kb, Kd, Ke) comprend ledit panneau latéral qui est articulé sur un panneau (22,
24; 22a, 22b; 22c, 24c; 22d, 22e) dudit carton et un panneau supérieur (32, 36; 32b,
36b; 32d, 36d; 32e, 36e) qui est articulé sur le panneau latéral de poutre et qui
forme l'un desdits éléments de fixation.
3. Un carton selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel, au moins, l'un desdits éléments
de fixation de poutre comprend une languette (50; 50a, 50a'; 32b, 36b; 50c; 50d; 50e)
qui vient en butée sur l'autre élément de fixation de poutre, en contact mutuel face
à face.
4. Un carton selon la revendication 3, dans lequel lesdits éléments de fixation de poutre
comprennent des languettes complémentaires (32b, 36b) fixées mutuellement de façon
permanente pour maintenir la poutre en position assemblée active.
5. Un carton selon la revendication 1 ou 3, dans lequel l'un des éléments de fixation
de poutre comprend une ouverture (48, 48a'; 48c) et l'autre élément de fixation de
poutre comprend une languette (50a, 50a'; 50c), ladite languette passant à travers
l'ouverture lorsque la poutre est en position assemblée active.
6. Un carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel lesdits
éléments en forme de poutre sont réalisés à partir d'un panneau (10, 10a) de carton
unique.
7. Un carton selon la revendication 6, dans lequel ledit panneau unique est un panneau
de base (10, 10a) du carton.
8. Un carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, qui comprend une
pluralité de poutres (Ka, Ka'; Kb; Kc, Kc'; Kd; Ke), en une ou plusieurs rangées,
dans lesquelles chaque poutre agit pour séparer deux articles adjacents.