Packing carton

Abstract

 A packing carton (1) comprising front panel (21), back panel (22), opposing side panels (23), and a top panel (24) wherein an opening is formed in the front panel (21) to display articles contained within the carton (1) and to permit removal of the articles from the carton (1) as desired, the opening extending into the top panel (24) of the carton, the opening extension in the top panel (24) being at least large enough to permit sequential removal of the articles from the carton, characterised in that the packing carton (1) comprises a hood (20) comprising the front panel (21), back panel (22), side panels (23), and top panel (24) and the packing carton (1) further comprises a tray (10), the tray (10) and hood (20) being assembled together to form the packing carton (1).

Description

[0001] There is a demand for packing cartons in the form of "display-ready packaging" which comprises cartons containing multiple units of articles for retail sale, such as consumer goods, wherein the carton can be presented on shelves of supermarket, or any other retail outlet, in such a way that the articles for sale are displayed visibly to the shopper, without the need for the carton to be opened in any way before shelving.

[0002] US-A-5,398,869, issued on March 21st 1995, discloses display-ready cartons each of which include an opening formed in one vertical plane both to display articles within the carton and to permit their removal as desired.

[0003] In order to provide the cartons described in US-A-5,398,869 with sufficient strength the openings include a removable reinforcing element extending across the opening.

[0004] The display-ready packaging carton comprises front panel, back panel, opposing side panels, and a top panel, wherein an opening is formed in the front panel to display articles contained within the carton and to permit removal of the articles from the carton as desired, the opening extending into the top panel of the wrap, the opening extension in the top panel being at least large enough to permit sequential removal of the articles from the carton.

[0005] There remains a need to provide an alternative display-ready packaging which avoids the requirement for any removable reinforcing element across the opening but which is at the same time strong enough to resist damage when placed on-shelf in retail outlets whilst at the same time offering a front panel opening which is large enough to display the articles for retail sale and to enable articles to be easily removed by the shopper from the packing carton.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a packing carton of the display-ready package type described above wherein the packing carton comprises a hood comprising the front panel, back panel, side panels, and top panel, and the packing carton further comprises a tray, the tray and hood being assembled together to form the packing carton.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] 

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a packing carton according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the hood of the packing carton according to the present invention.

Description of the Invention

[0008] The packing carton described herein comprises a tray and a hood described in more detail below.

[0009] By "tray" it is meant a base panel upon which the articles for retail sale rest, and four sides which extend perpendicular to the base panel. Generally the height of the sides of the tray is designed to extend less than 50%, and preferably less than 30%, of the overall height of the tray and hood assembly. The height of the sides of the tray need not be identical at all positions around the perimeter of the tray base panel. For economical reasons the tray is generally formed from a single blank, although this need not necessarily be the case.

[0010] By "hood" it is meant a packing carton element comprising front, back, side and top panels. Typically the front, back and side panels extend perpendicular to the top panel.

[0011] The height of the front, back and side elements should be selected so that it corresponds to the height of the articles to be packaged therein, or only slightly greater than the height of the articles. An opening in the front panel enables the articles to be displayed. The opening extends into the top panel, the opening extension in the top panel being at least large enough to permit sequential removal of the articles from the packing carton. Optionally one or more of the back and side panels, preferably the back panel, may also comprise an opening extending into the top panel. For economical reasons the hood is generally formed from a single blank, although this need not necessarily be the case.

[0012] The size and shape of the hood top panel generally corresponds to the size and shape of the tray base panel so that the depending panels of the tray and hood fit together to form the assembly of the packing carton. Preferably the areas of the front, back and side walls which are furthest from the top panel of the hood fit within the four sides of the tray. The areas of the front, back and side walls which are furthest from the top panel of the hood may optionally be attached, for example by gluing, within the four sides of the tray.

[0013] The tray and hood may be constructed from any suitable material, corrugated board being the preferred material.

[0014] A tray and hood packing carton is described in EP-A-0 706 947, published on April 17^th 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0015] Figure 1 shows an assembly 1 comprising a tray 10 and a hood 20. The tray comprises a base panel 11 and sides 12. The hood 20 comprises a front panel 21, back panel 22, side panels 23 and top panel 24. The opening in the front panel 21 extends into the top panel 24.

[0016] Figure 2 shows the hood 20 comprising front panel 21, back panel 22, side panels 23, and top panel 24. The hood 20 illustrated in Figure 2 comprises two openings, one opening in each of the front panel 21 and the back panel 22. Each opening extends into the top panel 24.

Claims

1. A packing carton (1) comprising front panel (21), back panel (22), opposing side panels (23), and a top panel (24) wherein an opening is formed in the front panel (21) to display articles contained within the carton (1) and to permit removal of the articles from the carton (1) as desired, the opening extending into the top panel (24) of the carton, the opening extension in the top panel (24) being at least large enough to permit sequential removal of the articles from the carton, characterised in that the packing carton (1) comprises a hood (20) comprising the front panel (21), back panel (22), side panels (23), and top panel (24) and the packing carton (1) further comprises a tray (10), the tray (10) and hood (20) being assembled together to form the packing carton (1).

2. A packing carton (1) according to claim 1 further comprising a second opening in the back panel (22), the second opening extending into the top panel (24) of the carton, the opening extension in the top panel (24) being at least large enough to permit sequential removal of the articles from the carton.

3. A packing carton (1) according to either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the tray (10) comprises a base panel (11) and four side walls (12) and wherein the areas of the front wall (21), back wall (22) and side walls (23) which are furthest from the top panel (24) of the hood (20) fit within the four sides (12) of the tray (10).

4. A packing carton (1) according to claim 3 wherein the areas of the front wall (21), back wall (22) and side walls (23) which are furthest from the top panel (24) of the hood (20) are attached to the four sides (12) of the tray (10).

Drawing