[0001] The present invention relates to a carton formed at least from an outer blank and
an inner blank, as defined in the preamble of claim 1.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Cartons are typically shipped in bulk quantities. During shipping, the cartons may
be vertically stacked upon each other in order to maximize the amount of product shipped
in a particular vessel. The amount of product shipped may depend, however, on the
load-bearing capacity of the stacked cartons. It is therefore desirable to produce
cartons having high rigidity and/or strength in compression for shipping, and for
other purposes such as the protection of the carton contents in general.
[0003] A conventional method for increasing the strength of a carton is to produce the carton
from a blank of a different, stronger board material, or to produce the blank from
the same carton material but of greater thickness or caliper. Such methods typically
increase the costs associated with manufacturing the carton, with the material costs
of manufacture generally increasing according to the cost of increasing the strength
and/or thickness of the entire blank. Some sections of the blank, however, may not
be load-bearing, and the additional costs associated with increasing the strength
of non-load bearing sections of the blank are wasted.
[0004] Insert members may be introduced into certain carton structures to increase carton
strength. Features of a certain complexity such as insert members, however, may require
the carton blank to be prepared in a batch process, where feartures or articles are
individually cut and/or glued to the carton blank. Batch processing may be slow, however,
and may involve high costs.
[0005] A carton of the generic type as defined in the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed e.g.
in
DE 10 2005 005 500 B3. So as to allow reclosing of the carton after its initial opening there is provided
a latch at the top edge of the inner blank front panel which latch cooperates with
a counter-piece provided at the inner surface of the lid portion of the outer blank
front panel. A similar carton is disclosed by
DE 10 2005 053 561 A1.
[0006] The present invention aims at providing for a carton of the generic type which is
improved in terms of handling and ease of use.
SUMMARY
[0007] The object set out above is achieved by a carton as defined in claim 1.
[0008] According to the invention, the carton is formed from an inner blank adhered to an
outer blank. A lid pattern is formed at least in the outer blank and defines a pivotable
lid in a top portion of the carton. A latch feature more precisely defined in claim
1 is formed in the carton that allows the lid to be selectively opened and reclosed.
The latch feature can incorporate portions of the inner and outer blank that interact
to maintain the lid in a closed position. When opened, the lid may separate from the
inner blank ply of the carton and can be pivoted between open and closed positions.
[0009] According to one aspect of the first embodiment, the inner blank forms a reinforcing
sleeve lining on an inner surface of the outer blank that increases the strength of
the carton. The inner blank can be configured to reinforce the exterior blank at any
number of desired locations. Selected reinforcement of specific areas of the exterior
blank can produce a high strength carton while using relatively small amounts of board.
[0010] According to another aspect of the described embodiment, multi-ply carton blanks
can be formed in a continuous process where outer and inner webs are individually
and/or simultaneously provided with repeating patterns of disruption. The outer and
inner webs are joined together in the continuous process to form carton blanks that
have one or more multi-ply sections. The inner and outer carton blanks can be formed
from material webs that are capable of, for example, continuous and simultaneous processing
on the same production line so that the multi-ply blanks are quickly and easily manufactured.
[0011] Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be more completely
understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction
with the drawings and from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a continuous process production line for producing
multi-ply carton blanks.
[0013] FIG. 2A is a plan view of a multi-ply blank used to form a carton having a reclosable lid
according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2B is an isolated plan view of an inner blank ply of the multi-ply blank of
FIG. 2A.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates adhesive lines formed by the production line illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a pattern of lines of disruption formed in a first material web by the
production line illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a pattern of lines of disruption formed in a second material web by the
production line illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a pattern of lines of disruption formed in the first and second material
webs.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates the multi-ply carton according to the first embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIGS. 8 and
9 illustrate opening of the reclosable lid of the first carton embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 10 illustrates reclosure of the reclosable lid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Briefly described, an aspect of the present invention is directed to a multi-ply
carton
190 (illustrated in
FIG. 7) having enhanced strength and rigidity. The carton
190 is formed from a multi-ply blank
8 (illustrated in
FIG. 2A) comprising an exterior blank 5 reinforced with one or more interior reinforcing
blanks adhered to the exterior blank. The multi-ply carton
190 may have a pivotable lid that is easy to access, open, and reclose. The lid may also
interact with a reinforcing blank to prevent product from escaping the carton when
the lid is closed. In this specification, the terms "bottom," "front," "back," "end"
and "top" are used to indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected
cartons placed in upright configurations, and are not intended to limit the scope
of the invention.
[0023] The multi-ply blank
8 used to form a carton
190 may be formed, for example, in a continuous process production line capable of forming
multi-ply blanks.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of such a continuous process production line. In
FIG. 1, first and second webs of material
A and
B are unrolled continuously and processed in the production line. The web
A may be provided with lines of disruption at a disrupting station
D. The web
B may be provided with adhesive at station
E before the webs
A and
B are laminated together at a lamination station
F. The combined webs
A,
B are subsequently passed through a disrupting station
G. The laminated webs
A,
B may then be separated into individual multi-ply carton blanks
8 at the disrupting station
G, and also provided with additional lines of disruption in the combined webs
A,
B. The combined webs
A,
B are generally separated into the individual, multi-ply blanks
8 at locations between repeating patterns of lines of disruption in the webs
A,
B. Repeating patterns of disruption in the web
B may differ, for example, from patterns formed in the web
A, if any, so that the individual plies of the laminate blanks
8 have different properties and/or capabilities.
[0024] Referring to
FIG. 2A, the multi-ply blank
8 used to form the carton
190 is formed from an outer blank
5 and an inner, reinforcing blank
6 adhered, laminated or otherwise joined to the outer blank
5. The outer blank
5 can be formed from, for example, a web of continuously moving web of material such
as the web
B shown in
FIG.1, and the inner blank
6 can be formed from a continuously moving web of material such as the web
A. The terms "outer" and "inner" are used in this specification to indicate the location
of the respective blank plies
5,
6 in cartons formed or erected from the finished multi-ply blanks
8. In
FIG. 2A, the entire outer or exterior print surface of the outer blank
5 is visible, and the inner blank
6 is joined to the opposite, interior or underside of the outer blank
5. The inner blank
6 is not visible in
FIG. 2A and the lead line from reference number 6 is therefore shown by dashed lines. Upper
and lower edges
7 and
9, respectively, of the inner blank
6 are indicated in
FIG. 2A by dashed hidden lines. The inner blank ply
6 is illustrated separately (i.e., in isolation) in
FIG. 2B.
[0025] The final multi-ply blank
8 is "multi-ply" in that the joined inner and outer blank plies
6 and
5 comprising the multi-ply blank
8 include substantial overlapping portions. Also, a majority of the overlapping surfaces
of the inner and outer blank plies
6,
5 may be adhered adjacent to one another. For example, the blanks
5 and
6 have slightly different perimeters or "footprints" and do not overlap at all points,
but at least substantially all of the surface of the inner blank
6 is adjacent and/or adhered to the outer blank
5.
[0026] Referring again to
FIG. 2A, the outer blank ply
5 comprises a back panel
10 foldably connected to a first end panel
20 at a first transverse fold line
21, a front panel
30 foldably connected to the first end panel
20 at a second transverse fold line
31, and a second end panel
40 foldably connected to the front panel
30 at a third transverse fold line
41. An adhesive panel
50 may be foldably connected to the second end panel
40 at a fourth transverse fold line
51. The blank
8 is two-ply where the inner blank
6 overlaps the sections of the outer blank
5 defined by the panels
10,
20,
30,
40,
50.
[0027] The back panel
10 is foldably connected to a back top flap
12 and a back bottom flap
14. The first end panel
20 is foldably connected to a first end top flap
22 and a first end bottom flap
24. The front panel
30 is foldably connected to a front top flap
32 and a front bottom flap
34. The second end panel
40 is foldably connected to a second end top flap
42 and a second end bottom flap
44. The top flaps
12,
22,
32,
42 extend along a first or top marginal area of the outer blank
5, and may be foldably connected along a first longitudinally extending fold line
62. The bottom flaps
14,
24,
34,
44 extend along a second or bottom marginal area of the outer blank
5, and may be foldably connected along a second longitudinally extending fold line
64.
[0028] The first and second longitudinal fold lines
62,
64 may be, for example, generally straight fold lines, or, the fold lines
62,
64 may be offset at one or more locations to account for, for example, blank thickness
or other factors. When the carton
190 (
FIG. 7) is erected, the top flaps
12,
22,
32,
42 close a top of the carton
190, and the bottom flaps
14,
24,
34,
44 close a bottom of the carton
190. The front top flap
32 can include a longitudinal fold line
35 defining a distal section
36 in the front top flap
32. The front bottom flap
34 can include a longitudinal fold line
33 defining a distal section
38.
[0029] The upper and lower edges
7,
9 of the inner blank
6 are spaced a small distance within the first and second longitudinal fold lines
62,
64, respectively. The clearances between the edges
7,
9 of the blank
6 and the respective fold lines
62,
64 in the outer blank
5 allow the top and bottom flaps
12,
22,
32,
42,
14,
24,
34,
44 to be folded inwardly when erecting the carton
190.
[0030] The outer blank
5 is provided with a lid pattern 80 comprising lines of disruption that define a pivotable
lid
100 (illustrated in
FIGS. 7-10) in the multi-ply carton
190. The lines of disruption forming the lid pattern
80 may be formed, for example, so that they do not extend into the inner blank play
6, or extend into the inner ply a small degree.
[0031] The lid pattern
80 includes oblique breachable lines of disruption
102,
104 that extend across the end panels
20,
40, respectively, and define the side edges of a front wall
120 of the lid
100. The breachable lines of disruption
102,
104 may be, for example, tear lines formed from a series of cuts and/or perforations.
A pair of spaced parallel breachable lines of disruption
106,
108 extend through the panels
20,
30,
40 and define a tear strip
116 that defines a lower edge of the front wall
120. The breachable lines of disruption
102,
104 may be, for example, tear lines formed from a cut-scores. Arcuate cuts
110,
112 may be formed in the cut-score
108 to facilitate tearing of the tear strip
116. Nicks may be formed at one end of the tear strip
116 to define a tear tab
118 at an end of the tear strip
116.
[0032] According to the invention, a click-shut latch
130 is formed in the outer blank
5, and has an outer perimeter defined by a breachable perimeter line of disruption
140. The breachable perimeter line of disruption
140 may be formed from, for example, a series of cuts and/or perforations. A base portion
134 of the click-shut latch
130 is foldably connected to a latch tab or flap
132 at a longitudinal hinge or fold line
136. The pivotable lid
100 (
FIG. 7) defined in the outer blank
5 may remain unadhered to the inner blank
6, except at the base
134 of the click-shut latch
130. The pattern of adhesion of the inner blank
6 to the outer blank
5 is described in detail below with reference to
FIGS. 2B and
3.
[0033] FIG. 2B is an isolated plan view of the side of the inner ply or blank
6 that is adhered to the outer blank
5. In
FIG. 2B, the inner ply
6 is shown separate and isolated from the outer blank
5 in order to more clearly illustrate the lines of disruption formed in the inner blank
6. The inner blank ply
6 comprises a back panel
210 foldably connected to a first end panel
220 at the transverse fold line
21, a front panel
230 foldably connected to the first end panel
220 at the transverse fold line
31, a second end panel
240 foldably connected to the front panel
230 at the transverse fold line
41, and an adhesive panel
250 foldably connected to the back panel
210 at a transverse fold line
51. The common reference numbers for the transverse fold lines
21,
31,
41,
51 in the blanks
5,
6 are used to indicate that the fold lines in the inner and outer blank
5,
6 can be formed in a single disrupting operation (e.g., in the same nip defined by
the male and female rollers
G1,
G2 of the disrupting station
G shown in
FIG. 1). In accordance with the first embodiment, this method of production ensures that
the panels
210,
220,
230,
240,
250 of the inner blank
6 generally correspond to and align with the panels
10,
20,
30,
40,
50 respectively, in the outer blank
5.
[0034] FIG. 3 is an adhesive or glue target drawing illustrating the locations of longitudinally
extending adhesive lines
160,
162,
164,
166,
168,
170,
172,
174 formed on the outer blank
5 in order to adhere the inner blank 6 to the outer blank
5. One or more of the adhesive lines
160,
162,
164,
166,
168,
170,
172,
174 may alternatively be applied to the inner blank
6 to adhere the blanks
5,
6 together. The adhesive lines
160,
162,
164,
166,
168,
170,
172,
174 may be applied, for example, at the adhesive application station
E shown in
FIG. 1. As shown in
FIG. 3, the area of the outer blank 5 within the lid pattern
80 is free of adhesive except at the base
134 of the click-shut latch
130. This allows the lid
100 formed from the lid pattern
80 to pivot away from the inner blank
6 when the latch
130 is breached. The adhesive lines
160,
172 extend longitudinally alongside an upper portion of the lid pattern
80 so that the inner blank
6 is adhered to the outer blank substantially to an upper edge of the carton
190 (shown in
FIG. 9).
[0035] An exemplary continuous processing method of forming multi-ply blanks
8 is discussed below with reference to
FIGS. 1-6.
[0036] Referring to
FIG. 1, the first and second webs of material
A and
B are unrolled continuously from rolls. The outer blank
5 can be formed from the web
B and the inner blank
6 can be formed from the web
A. Referring also to
FIG. 4, the first or inner web
A can be provided with longitudinal cuts that define the upper and lower edges
7 and
9 of the inner blank
6. The longitudinal cuts can be provided if the roll of inner web material
A has an initial width that is greater than the width of the final inner blank
6. The second or outer web
B may then be provided with the adhesive pattern illustrated in
FIG. 3. In
FIG. 1, the adhesive station
E is schematically illustrated by a glue spray nozzle arrangement. Other apparatus
for applying adhesive, such as print rollers, for example, can also be used to apply
an adhesive pattern to the outer web
B. After the application of adhesive, the webs
A and
B are laminated together at lamination station
F (e.g., by passing the webs through a nip defined between opposed rollers).
[0037] Referring to
FIGS. 1,
5 and
6, the disrupting station
G forms the patterns of disruption shown in
FIGS. 5 and
6 in the combined web
A,
B. The disrupting station
G may, for example, form differing patterns of lines of disruption in each of the webs
A,
B. In the exemplary embodiment, the disrupting station
G repeats the pattern shown in
FIG. 5 end-to-end continuously in only the outer web
B as the web is advanced through the continuous process production line. The pattern
shown in
FIG. 6 is formed in both the outer web
B and the inner web
A.
[0038] As described above, the disrupting station
G can comprise the first male roller
G1 and the second female roller
G2 with respective male and female die patterns for forming the patterns shown in
FIGS. 5 and
6. With respect to the pattern shown in
FIG. 5, the portions of the disrupting die used to form the outer web
B may also disrupt the inner web
A to some small degree. However, the pattern shown in
FIG. 5 is not intended to be formed in the inner web
A such that the functions associated with the pattern shown therein, particularly the
lid pattern
80, are imparted to the inner web
A.
[0039] Both the inner web
A and the outer web
B are provided with the pattern of lines of disruption shown in
FIG. 6. The pattern shown in
FIG. 6 is repeated end-to-end continuously in the combined webs
A and
B as the webs are advanced through the production line. The perimeter cuts shown in
FIG. 6 separate the processed webs
A,
B into individual blanks
8. The resultant blanks
8 then exit the station
G as shown in
FIG. 1. Scrap material from the joined webs
A,
B can be removed at this time.
[0040] The patterns illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and
6 are illustrated as formed at a single disrupting station
G (e.g., nip) comprising opposed male and female die rollers. In an alternative embodiment,
flat reciprocating dies can be used at the disrupting station
G. In accordance with the first embodiment, the lines of disruption shown in
FIGS.
5 and
6 are formed "simultaneously" in the sense that they are formed at the same disrupting
station
G. In the exemplary embodiment, the respective patterns are formed simultaneously in
that a single pair of rollers
G1,
G2 forms the patterns. The patterns in
FIGS. 5 and
6 may also be formed by the same reciprocating die at the disrupting station
G.
[0041] An exemplary method of constructing the carton
190 from the blank
8 is discussed below.
[0042] Referring to
FIGS. 2A,
2B and
3, the carton
190 may be erected by folding the multi-ply blank
8 flat about the transverse fold lines
21,
41 and adhering the exterior side of the adhesive panel
50 to the interior side of the second end panel
240 of the inner blank
6. The multi-ply blank
8 may then be "opened" to have a generally rectangular tubular shape. To close the
bottom of the tubular carton form, the first and second end bottom flaps
24,
44 are folded inwardly, followed by the back bottom flap
14, then the front bottom flap
34. The underside of the front bottom flap
34 is adhered to the exterior side of the back bottom flap
14. Portions of the first and second end bottom flaps
24,
44 may also be adhered to one or both of the bottom flaps
14,
34. To close the top of the tubular carton form, the first and second end top flaps
22,
42 are folded inwardly, followed by the back top flap
12, then the front top flap
32. The underside of the front top flap
32 is adhered to the exterior side of the back top flap
12. Portions of the first and second end top flaps
22,
44 may also be adhered to the flaps
12,
32. The flaps
12,
22,
32,
42,
14,
24,
34,
44 may be adhered by, for example, glue, adhesives, or other means. Dispensable product,
such as, for example, laundry detergent, or other items, can be loaded into the carton
at any time before fully enclosing the carton. Other articles and dispensable products
may also be accommodated within the carton.
[0043] FIG. 7 illustrates the erected carton
190 with the top and bottom ends of the tubular form closed. The erected carton
190 has a generally parallelepipedal form, with the outer blank
5 forming an outer ply of the carton, and the inner blank
6 (not visible in
FIG. 7) reinforcing the carton interior. Referring also to
FIG. 1, the portion of the outer blank
5 defined by the lid pattern
80 in part defines a reclosable lid
100 in an upper portion of the carton
190. As shown in
FIG. 7, the tear strip
116 extends partially around the perimeter of the carton
190.
[0044] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate opening and reclosing of the pivotable lid
100. In
FIGS. 8-10, the surface of the inner blank
6 is shaded with stippling solely to distinguish the inner blank from the outer blank
5, which is not shaded. Referring to
FIG. 8, the pivotable lid
100 may be opened by grasping the tear tab
118 (shown in
FIG. 1) and removing the tear strip
116 along the tear lines
106,
108. The lid
100 may now be pivoted upward so that the outer blank
5 tears along the oblique lines of disruption
102 in the outer blank
5. If perforations are used to form the perimeter
140 of the latch
130, the user may also press in at the base
134 and/or tab
132 to pre-break the perforation
140 before pivoting the lid 100 open. The lid
100 can then be pivoted open about the fold or hinge line
62 as shown in
FIG. 9. As shown in
FIG. 9, the base
134 of the latch
130 is adhered to the inner blank
6 and separates from the remainder of the lid
100, which creates a latch aperture or opening
142 in the front wall
120 of the lid
100. The latch tab
132 remains attached to the base
134 and also separates from the lid
100. The inner blank
6 may remain intact and constitutes a reinforcing sleeve in the interior of the carton
190.
[0045] Referring to
FIG. 10, the lid
100 may be reclosed by first bending the latch tab
132 upwardly at the fold line
136 so that the latch tab
132 projects outwardly from the inner blank
6 in a latching position. Alternatively, opening of the lid
100 may be sufficient to bend the latch tab
132 to its latching position. The lid
100 is pivoted downwardly and selectively secured in a closed state by engaging the latch
tab
132 with the perimeter of the latch opening
142.
It is not required that the latch tab
132 bend outwardly to secure the lid in its closed position.
[0046] The pivotable lid
100 can be opened again by lifting upwardly on the lid
100 to disengage the latch tab
132 from the latch opening
142. According to the above embodiment, the latch tab
132 can emit an audible noise, such as a 'click,' when the tab
132 is engaged and/or disengaged with the latch opening
142.
[0047] According to the above embodiment, the carton
190 may be used as a dispensing container for detergent and other particulate product.
The carton
190 may be formed, for example, such that there are substantially no gaps between the
laminated plies of the carton. The folding and gluing process may be greatly simplified
through the elimination of separate insert pieces and the related equipment, resulting
in faster production.
[0048] Also according to the above embodiment, an exterior carton blank can be selectively
reinforced at desired locations by one or more reinforcing blanks. The carton formed
from the resulting multi-ply blank can accordingly have enhanced strength and rigidity
at selected sections of the carton. Selected reinforcement of specific areas of the
exterior blank produces a high strength carton while using comparatively small amounts
of board material.
[0049] In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the cartons may be constructed of paperboard,
for example. The webs used to form the blanks may be thicker and heavier than ordinary
paper. The blanks, and thus the cartons, can also be constructed of other materials,
such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the
carton to function at least generally as described above. For example, one or both
of the blanks may be formed from coated solid unbleached sulfate (SUS) board.
[0050] One or more panels of the blanks discussed above can be coated with varnish, clay,
or other, similar materials, either alone or in combination. The coating may then
be printed over with product, advertising, usage and other information or images.
The blanks may also be coated to protect any information printed on the blank. The
blanks may be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both
sides of the blanks.
[0051] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fold or hinge
line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, line of disruption
in the blank that facilitates folding or hinged pivoting therealong during ordinary
use and/or erection of a carton. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing
the scope of the present invention, fold lines include: score lines; crease lines;
a cut or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through a blank
along a desired line of weakness; and various overlapping and sequential combinations
of these features.
[0052] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together
by glue. The term "glue" is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly
used to secure carton panels in place.
[0053] For purposes of the description presented herein, the term "line of disruption" can
be used to generally refer to a cut line, a score line, a tear line, a crease line,
perforations, or a fold line formed in blank material (or a combination of at least
one cut line, score line, tear line, crease line, and/or fold line), or any form of
disruption in a blank, whether continuous or non-continuous. A "breachable line of
disruption" as disclosed in this specification refers to a line of disruption that
is intended to be breached or otherwise torn during ordinary use of a carton. A tear
line can be any breachable line of disruption as understood in the art that facilitates
tearing therealong during ordinary use of the carton.
[0054] In the present specification, the terms "panel" and "flap" may generally indicate
portions of blanks wholly or partially demarcated by lines of disruption. A "panel"
or "flap" need not be flat or otherwise planar. A "panel" or "flap" can, for example,
comprise a plurality of interconnected and/or overlapping generally flat or planar
blank sections.
[0055] The term "line" as used herein includes not only straight lines, but also other types
of lines such as curved, curvilinear or angularly displaced lines.
[0056] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the present invention
has been discussed above with reference to exemplary embodiments, various additions,
modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the invention
as set forth in the following claims.