JP3154489B2 - Carton for multiple items - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a carton for receiving a plurality of cans (12). The carton has apertures in its side walls (21, 22) for receiving the heel portions of the cans (12) and gusset portions between each side wall (21, 22) and the top panel (13). When assembled, one panel (35) of each gusset portion extends partially across the open end area of the carton to prevent dislodgement of the tops of the cans (12).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a carton.

Various cardboard sleeves for multipacks are known and generally have holes at the junction of the side and top panels to accommodate the top edge of the item. In certain articles, especially articles having a corner or heel at the lower edge, such as cans, the required holes are located very close to the edge of the sleeve.
When handling the pack, it is easy to break the rest of the connected parts. Of course, tearing has a significant effect on the usefulness of the sleeve, but compactness of the carton is essential not only from an aesthetic standpoint but also from a commercial standpoint. It is clearly desirable to use as small a cardboard as possible while maintaining structural integrity. In addition, bulky cartons occupy more space and increase transportation costs.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton for containing a plurality of items, the carton comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, two side portions, and an upper side panel connecting the top portion and the side portions. The upper part of the side part and the upper side panel form two upper corners at the upper corner of the opening at each end of the carton, the side part and / or the bottom part Comprises at least some of the lower corners of the article having a portion to be engaged by the lower edge of the carton when the article is placed in the carton, i.e., the heel of the article, wherein the gusset section is provided. A carton is provided between the side portion and the upper portion and extends at least partially across openings at both ends of the carton, i.e., across upper corners at both ends of the carton.

The openings at both ends of the carton are preferably provided with two gussets between each side portion and each upper portion. The structure for engaging the heel is in the form of a hole for receiving and holding the heel, respectively.

In a preferred embodiment, each gusset section comprises two panels, a first panel hinged to the upper portion and a second panel hinged to the corresponding side portion, Both panels are hingedly connected, but the gusset is separate from the upper side panel. As a result, the second panel is bent toward its corresponding side portion and sandwiched between the side portion and the item received in the carton, and the first panel is the upper portion of the carton. , I.e., across the upper corners of both ends of the carton.

It is a feature that the second panel of each gusset section is preferably not provided with any further hinged ones. Further, one of the panels of each gusset is held in contact with a corresponding upper or preferably side portion of one of the items.

The upper portion is hingedly connected to the side portions along opposing side edges, and each side portion is hingedly connected to the bottom panel, and the two bottom panels are securely fastened together. It is preferred that the bottom part is formed by being formed.

In one configuration, the two bottom panels are formed in an interlocking configuration so as to secure them together.
Alternatively, the two bottom panels can be glued together.

Conveniently, the carton is adapted to contain two rows of items, so that the two items face the openings at both ends of the carton, and the items are gusseted and each item The heel portion is retained in the carton by a structure for engaging the heel portion provided one by one.

Ideally, the carton is formed from cardboard and the hinged connection can be constituted by fold lines, scored lines, or discrete scored lines.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrams.

 FIG. 1 shows a blank according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1 being assembled into a carton.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carton of the present invention made from the blank shown in FIG.

 FIG. 4 is an end view of the carton shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of items as shown in FIGS.
In this case, there is shown a blank 10 for forming a carton 11 surrounding six drink cans 12 arranged in two rows of three cans each. The carton 11 has an upper portion 13 formed with two finger holes 14 to facilitate carrying the carton. The upper side panels 17 and 18 adapted to fit the face of the beveled part of the top of the can 12 have a fold line 1
It is hingedly connected to each side edge of the upper part along 5,16. The side parts 21,22 are hingedly connected to the respective sides of the upper side panels 17,18 along fold lines 19,20. The lower side panels 25, 26, which subsequently connect to the bottom panels 29, 30 along fold lines 27, 28, are hinged to the lower edges of the side partial panels 21, 22 along fold lines 23, 24. Be linked.

Panels 25, 29, 26, 30 and side portions 21, 22 are formed with holes 31 and structures 32 for engaging and retaining the heel of can 12. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the heel of the can protrudes to some extent through a hole or notch 31, which prevents large lateral movements of the can 12 in the carton 11.

The bottom panels 29, 30 may have various structures 33 designed to interlock and interengage to close the blank 10 and form the carton 11 into a sleeve. The blank 10 is also formed with gussets 34 that interconnect each side 21, 22 with the upper portion 13. Each gusset part 34,
Along the fold line 37, it has a first panel 35 hingedly connected to the upper part 13 and a second panel 36 hingedly connected to the side parts 21,22. First and second panels 35,
The hinge 36 is hinged along a fold line 38, but the gusset 34 is separate from the upper side panels 17,18. In other words, the gusset part 34 is not connected to the upper side panels 17, 18. The upper side panels 17, 18 are bypassed by providing rounded holes 39 without sharp corners. The provision of these upper side panels 17, 18 and the rounded holes 39 not only improves the contact of the carton 11 with the can, but also saves the material of the blank 10 and facilitates the manufacture and without stress concentration. This facilitates the folding of the gusset part 34 described later.

When forming the carton 11 surrounding the can 12, the upper part is placed over the top of the can and the side parts 21, 22
And the bottom panel are folded around the can 12. When folded, the second panels 36 of the gusset portions 34 are folded behind the connecting side portions 21, 22, and the bottom panels 29, 30 are joined. Finished carton
At 11, these lower portions of the first panel 35 and the second panel 36 are in the proper position between the can 12 and the side panels 21, 22 and the second panel 36 is It is sandwiched between 21 and 22 and cannot be pulled out easily. In the completed carton 11, the first panel 35 of the gusset section 34 is at each end of the carton,
The upper corners at both ends of the carton defined by 21, 22 and upper side panels 17, 18 and upper portion 13 are partially closed, thereby preventing the top of the can from coming off the carton. This is clearly shown in FIG. In other words, at both ends of the carton, there are two notches 31 for receiving the two gussets 34 and the heel of the can 12, respectively, and the four gussets 34 and the four notches 31 are used to connect the plurality of cans 12 to the carton. Keep inside.

It will be appreciated that the cartons described above may be used for items other than beverage cans. For example,
Cartons can be employed for use in bottles. In addition, various shapes of cans may require slightly modified panel designs. For example, if the can does not have an upper trapezoidal surface, the upper side panels 17, 18 may be removed, leaving the side portions 21, 22 directly hingedly connected to the upper portion 13. In addition, it will be appreciated that other bottom wall fastening techniques are envisioned. For example, another structure 33 could be used, or could simply be glued in place. Moreover, while the connections between the ends of the blank are shown as being at the bottom portion, it will be understood that they may be located at the side or top portions if desired. In another alternative embodiment, if desired, another fold line could be made in this gusset or any other panel to conform to the shape of the items to be contained.

Ideally, the carton is suitable for making from cardboard, but other rigid sheets can also be used. Further, the folding line may include a scored line or a combination of a folding line and a scored line in any combination.

The carton mold described above provides a secure package for multiple items and does not rely on holes to hold the top of the items. Thus, weaknesses between the holes and edges at the top end of known cartons are eliminated without increasing the thickness of the carton.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── (56) References US Patent 4,128,169 (US, A) US Patent 3,330,463 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65D 71/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of cylindrical cans, each having a heel.
A sleeve-shaped carton having openings open at both ends, said carton having opposing side edges (15, 16) and opposing end edges. With upper part (13) and one upper edge (19,2
0) and one bottom edge (23, 24) each having an end edge facing each other, and a plurality of spaced side portions (21, 22); , 22) connecting the respective upper edges (19, 20) to the corresponding side edges (15, 16) of the upper portion (13); and the plurality of side portions ( A bottom portion extending between and connecting the bottom edges of the side portions (21,22); and one end of the side portions (21,22). Four independent gussets (34) each extending between an edge and a corresponding one edge of the top part (13); a bottom part and a side part; A notch (31) for receiving and holding a heel of the plurality of cans (12) grouped in a group, wherein the side portions (21, 22) and the upper portion are provided. Part (13) and the upper side (17, 18) form two upper corners at the opening at each end of the carton, and each gusset (34) has a corresponding opening at the end of the carton. The upper edge of the side portion (21, 22) and the upper edge (13).
Hinged to the corresponding end edge of the door but separated from the adjacent upper side panels (17, 18) by holes (39) without sharp corners, and hinged to the side A first panel intermediate the connecting portion connected in a formal manner and the connecting portion hingedly connected to the upper portion, wherein the gusset portion (34) connects the gusset portion (34) to the upper portion (13). (35) and a single fold line (38) separating the second panel (36) connected to the side portions (21, 22), the second panel (36) corresponding to the side portion Portion (21,2
Folding along the fold line (38) to a position where it touches 2) so that the first panel (35) extends across the upper corner of the opening at the end of the carton. The carton, wherein the first panel (35) holds a plurality of the cans in the carton. 2. The bottom part is connected to one of the side parts (2
A first bottom panel (29) extending from the bottom edge of 1) and a second bottom panel (30) extending from the bottom edge of the other side portion (22); A carton according to claim 1, wherein the second bottom panel (29, 30) is joined to form the bottom portion. 3. The first panel of said gusset section when said second panel (36) of each gusset section (34) is folded to contact the corresponding side portion (21,22). (35) extends across the upper corner of the opening at the end of the carton and the second panel (36) has one of the side portions and one of the cans (12) received in the carton. Sandwiching the can (12) in the carton sandwiched between the two and holding the can (12) in the gusset part (3).
4. The carton of claim 1 wherein 4) is kept in place.