CARTON

Abstract

A carton (1) having a first end and a second end; a plurality of side panels (9, 11); and a sloping face at the first end of the carton. The sloping face is defined by a first triangular lid panel (3) at the first carton end. A first edge of the first triangular lid panel (3) is connected along a foldline (15) to the end of a first one of the side panels at the first carton end. The carton includes a second triangular lid panel (5) at the first end of the carton providing an end face for the carton at the first carton end. A first edge of the second triangular lid panel (5) is connected to a second edge of the first triangular lid panel (3) along a foldline (17). The carton includes a plurality of lid support panels underlying the first and second triangular lid panels (3,5) at the first carton end.

Claims

1. A carton having a first end and a second end, a plurality of side panels, and a sloping face at the first end of the carton, wherein the sloping face is defined by a first triangular lid panel at the first end of the carton, wherein a first edge of the first triangular lid panel is connected along a foldline to the end of a first one of the side panels at the first end of the carton, the carton further comprising a second triangular lid panel at the first end of the carton providing an end face for the carton at the first end of the carton, wherein a first edge of the second triangular lid panel is connected to a second edge of the first triangular lid panel along a foldline, the carton further comprising a plurality of lid support panels underlying the first and second triangular lid panels at the first end of the carton: wherein two adjacent ones of the side panels of the carton, the first and second side panels, are trapezoidal, and a further two adjacent ones of the side panels of the carton, the third and fourth side panels, are parallelograms, wherein the first triangular lid panel extends between and connects the trapezoidal side panels, and the second triangular lid panel extends between and connects the parallelogram shaped side panels.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first edge of the first triangular lid panel is connected along the foldline to the end edge of the first side panel at the first end of the carton, wherein the foldline connecting the first edge to the end edge of the first side panel is inclined.

3. (canceled)

4. The carton of claim 1 wherein the second triangular lid panel is in the form of a flap.

5. (canceled)

6. The carton of claim 1 wherein a third edge of the first triangular lid panel extends along an inclined end edge of the second side panel at the first end of the carton.

7. (canceled)

8. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first and second side panels are connected to one another along the shorter parallel sides of the trapezoids.

9. The carton of claim 6 wherein the first triangular lid panel defines a point furthest from the first end of the carton corresponding to the point at which the first and third edges of the first triangular panel meet.

10. (canceled)

11. The carton of claim 1 wherein each lid support panel is in the form of a flap.

12. (canceled)

13. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first and second triangular lid panels are adhesively secured to respective ones of the lid support panels.

14. The carton of claim 1 wherein a plurality of overlapping lid support panels underlie the second triangular lid panel at the first end of the carton.

15. The carton of claim 1 wherein a plurality of lid support panels are provided underlying the second triangular lid panel at the first end of the carton, the lid support panels having edges aligned with one another along a line corresponding to the position of the foldline connecting the second triangular lid panel to the first triangular lid panel.

16. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton comprises first, second, third and fourth side panels, and first, second and third lid support panels are attached to the second, third and fourth side panels respectively, wherein the second lid support panel is in surface to surface contact with at least a portion of the third lid support panel, and the second triangular panel is in surface to surface contact with at least a portion of the second lid support panel.

17. The carton of claim 16 wherein the second lid support panel is in surface to surface contact with at least a portion of the third lid support panel.

18. The carton of claim 17 wherein the second lid support panel overlaps at least a portion of the third lid support panel.

19. The carton of claim 1 wherein the second triangular panel provides a flat end face to the carton at the first end thereof.

20. (canceled)

21. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton comprises first, second, third and fourth panels, and the third side panel comprises a glue flap extending along a side edge thereof, which is connected to the fourth side panel.

22. The carton of claim 21 wherein the first, second, third and fourth side panels are connected to one another along respective fold lines.

23. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton also has a sloping face at the second end of the carton, wherein the sloping face is defined by a first triangular lid panel at the second end of the carton, wherein a first edge of the first triangular lid panel is connected along a foldline to the end of a first one of the side panels at the second end of the carton, the carton further comprising a second triangular lid panel at the second end of the carton providing an end face for the carton at the second end thereof, wherein a first edge of the second triangular lid panel is connected to a second edge of the first triangular lid panel at the second end of the carton along a foldline, the carton further comprising a plurality of lid support panels underlying the first and second triangular lid panels at the second end of the carton.

24. The carton of claim 13 wherein the carton comprises a plurality of further side panels in addition to the first side panel, and a lid support panel is connected along a foldline to an edge of each of the second, third and fourth side panels of the carton.

25. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton is formed from a single piece blank.

26. A blank of foldable sheet material for making a carton in accordance with claim 1 the blank comprising a plurality of side panels for providing the side panels of the erected carton, a first triangular lid panel for providing the first triangular lid panel which provides the sloping face of the carton at the first end thereof, the first triangular lid panel of the blank being connected to the end of a first one of the side panels of the blank along a foldline at an end which will be located at the first end of the carton, the blank further comprising a second triangular lid panel connected to the first triangular lid panel along a foldline for providing the second triangular lid panel providing the end face for the carton at the first end thereof, the blank further comprising a plurality of lid support panels for providing the lid support panels of the carton, the lid support panels of the blank being foldable to underlie the first and second triangular lid panels in the erected carton.

27-30. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0070] Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0071] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above and one side showing a carton in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

[0072] FIG. 2 is a view of the carton shown in FIG. 1 from the front;

[0073] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton shown in FIG. 1 from the same side as FIG. 1;

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a blank for forming the carton of FIG. 1 from the surface that will form the exterior of the carton;

[0075] FIG. 5 shows a first stage in an embodiment of a process of closing the top end of the semi erected blank of FIG. 4 to produce the carton of FIG. 1;

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a second stage in the process of closing the top end of the semi erected blank of FIG. 4 to produce the carton of FIG. 1;

[0077] FIG. 7 shows a third stage in the process of closing the top end of the semi erected blank of FIG. 4 to produce the carton of FIG. 1;

[0078] FIG. 8 shows a fourth stage in the process of closing the top end of the semi erected blank of FIG. 4 to produce the carton of FIG. 1;

[0079] FIG. 9 illustrates a carton from above in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

[0080] and

[0081] FIG. 10 illustrates a blank for use in providing the carton of FIG. 9.

[0082] A carton in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to FIGS. 1-4. FIGS. 1-3 show the erected carton, and FIG. 4 shows the blank 48 from which the carton is erected. The carton is formed from a single piece blank. The carton includes first, second, third and fourth side panels 7, 9, 11 and 13 (the fourth side panel not shown in FIGS. 1-3). A first edge of a first triangular lid panel 3 is connected to the first side panel 7 along a first foldline 15. A second edge of the first triangular lid panel 3 is connected to a first edge of a second triangular lid panel 5 along a second foldline 17. The first and second triangular lid panels are adhesively secured to underlying ones of a plurality of lid support panels to close the top of the carton. The second triangular lid panel is in the form of a flap. The lid support panels may be seen in FIG. 4, and are described in more detail below. The first triangular lid panel 3 provides a sloping upper face of the carton, while the second triangular lid panel 5 provides a flat top face to the carton.

[0083] The first and second side panels 7, 9 are trapezoidal in shape, and are connected to one another along the shorter parallel edges of the trapezoids along a third foldline 19. The third and fourth side panels 11, 13 are rectangular in shape. The second side panel 9 is connected to the third side panel 11 along a fourth foldline 21. Although not shown in FIGS. 1-3, the first side panel 7 is connected to the fourth side panel 13 along a fifth foldline 23. The fourth side panel 13 is connected to the third side panel 11 by adhesively securing a glue flap 27 attached to the third side panel 11 to the interior of the fourth side panel 13. The glue flap 27 is connected to the third side panel 11 along a sixth foldline 28.

[0084] A first lid support panel 29 is attached to the top edge of the second side panel 9 along a seventh foldline 31. A second lid support panel 33 is connected to the top of the third side panel 11 along an eighth foldline 35. A third lid support panel 37 is connected to the top of the fourth side panel 13 along a ninth foldline 39. The lid support panels are in the form of flaps. The shape and size of the lid support panels may vary from the particular example illustrated.

[0085] Each of the first, second, third and fourth side panels has a panel 41, 43, 45, 47 respectively connected to the bottom edge thereof along a foldline 49, 51, 55, 53 which are used to provide a closed bottom end to the carton. The panel 41 provides the flat bottom panel of the carton, with the panels 43, 45, 47 underlying the panel as known in the art.

[0086] Erection of the blank 48 shown in FIG. 4 to provide the carton of FIGS. 1-3 will now be described by reference to FIGS. 5-8. FIGS. 5-8 illustrate an exemplary sequence of steps used in closing the top end of the semi erected carton. The process of erecting the carton from the blank is carried out entirely by a machine, i.e. is a fully automated process, and does not require any steps to be manually performed.

[0087] The construction of the blank to provide a semi-erected carton will not be described in detail. Briefly, the blank is partially erected to provide the semi erected carton of FIG. 5. The blank is folded along the third, fourth, and fifth foldlines 19, 21, 23 to adopt a three dimensional configuration, and the exterior of the glue flap 27 adhesively secured to the interior of the fourth side panel 13 to retain the semi erected carton in a 3 dimensional configuration having closed sides. The panels 41, 43, 45, 47 are used to provide a closed bottom end to the semi-erected carton.

[0088] A particular sequence of steps which may be used to provide a closed top end to the carton will now be described. This particular sequence is merely exemplary, and it will be appreciated that other sequences may be used depending upon factors such as the type of machinery used to assemble the carton. In the first step, as shown in FIG. 5, the first lid support panel 29 is folded along the seventh foldline 31 toward the interior of the semi erected carton in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5, and adhesive is applied to the upper surface thereof. The application of adhesive and folding of the lid support panel may be accomplished in a single step by a machine.

[0089] In the second step, as shown in FIG. 6, the third lid support panel 37 is folded inwardly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 toward the interior of the partially erected carton along the ninth foldline 39. Adhesive may optionally be applied to the upper surface of the third lid support panel 37 if it is desired to provide the panel with additional closure strength. The folding of the third lid support panel 37 and the application of adhesive thereto may be accomplished in a single step by a machine.

[0090] In the third step, as shown in FIG. 7, the second lid support panel 33 is folded in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7 along the eighth foldline 35 toward the interior of the partially erected carton, so as to overlie a portion of the third lid support panel 37. Adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the second lid support panel 33. The application of adhesive and folding of the lid support panel may be accomplished in a single step by a machine.

[0091] As may be seen in FIG. 7, once folded, edges of the second and third lid support panels 33, 37 are aligned along a line A-A extending across the diagonal of the open end of the carton. This line corresponds to the position of the foldline 17 connecting the second triangular lid panel 5 to the first triangular lid panel 3 when the first and second triangular lid panels are folded over to close the top of the carton in the fourth and final step. This prevents the lid support panels from interfering with the ability to fold the second triangular lid panel into position.

[0092] In the fourth and final step, as shown in FIG. 8, the first and second triangular lid panels 3, 5 are folded in the direction of the arrow about the first and second foldlines 15, 17 as they are brought up to close the top of the carton. Folding may occur first about the first foldline 15 and then about the second foldline 17. The second triangular lid panel is adhesively secured to the upper surface of the second lid support panel 33, and optionally to an exposed portion of the third lid support panel 37. The first triangular lid panel 3 is adhesively secured to the upper surface of the first lid support panel 29.

[0093] The first and second triangular lid panels may be handled as one unit, as they are folded over to close the top of the carton, facilitating performance of this step by a machine.

[0094] In an alternative exemplary sequence, rather than folding the first lid support panel 29 as an initial step before folding the third and second lid support panels 37, 33, the folding sequence may commence with the folding of the third lid support panel 37, with the second lid support panel 33 being folded second, and the first lid support panel 29 being folded third, before the first and second triangular lid panels are brought up to close the top of the carton. The folding of each lid support panel, and the application of adhesive thereto may be in accordance with the earlier embodiment described.

[0095] It will be appreciated that while the end of the carton with the sloping face has been described as the top end thereof, this does not confer any limitation in terms of function or use, and the end may alternatively be referred to as a first end.

[0096] It will be appreciated that as well as the possible variation in the sequence of folding of panels, the application of adhesive to the lid support panels and triangular lid panels may differ from that described in the above examples, in terms of the location and/or the timing of adhesive application e.g. depending upon the machinery, e.g. packing line used. It is not necessary that adhesive be applied to each of the lid support panels provided that the triangular lid panels may ultimately be secured in position. Alternatively or additionally adhesive may be applied to the first or second triangular lid panels. For example it is envisaged that adhesive could be applied only to the first and second triangular lid panels as part of the final closure step (and not to the underlying lid support panels), or might only be applied to the second triangular lid panel. Application of adhesive to the outer surface of a lid support panel is advantageous as this may be achieved at the same time as folding the lid support panel in an automated process.

[0097] The alignment of the edges of the lid support panels underlying the second triangular lid panel across a diagonal of the open end of the carton, and preferably so as to be aligned with the foldline connecting the second triangular lid panel to the first triangular lid panel is an advantageous feature in its own right, and is not limited to the particular embodiment, or folding sequence illustrated. Similar arrangements may be obtained using different shaped and sized lid support panels to those illustrated.

[0098] Referring to FIG. 9, a carton 50 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is shown. This carton is similar to that of the first embodiment, but includes a sloping face 56, 58 at both a first 52 and second 54 end thereof. The arrangement used to provide the sloping face at each end of the carton 50 is identical to that used to provide the sloping face at the top end of the carton of the earlier embodiment. Each sloping face 56, 58 is provided by a respective first triangular lid panel at the applicable end of the carton 50. The first triangular lid panel at each end extends toward the opposite end of the carton from an end face of the carton provided by a respective second triangular lid panel connected along a foldline to the applicable first triangular lid panel (not visible in FIG. 9).

[0099] FIG. 10 illustrates a blank 60 which may be used to provide the carton 50. The blank includes identical sets of panels and flaps at each end 62, 64 for providing the closed first and second ends 52, 54 of the carton respectively. It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, the first and second ends of the carton are interchangeable, and the carton is symmetrical about a transverse (and longitudinal axis). The components corresponding to those of the blank 48 of the earlier embodiment are given corresponding reference numerals. The components for providing the closed second end of the carton are given the same reference numerals as those associated with the corresponding structure for providing the first closed end of the carton, but annotated by a symbol. Thus, the first triangular lid panel at the second end is 3, the second triangular lid panel at the second end 5, and the second, third and fourth lid support panels at the second end are 29, 33 and 37 respectively, and so on. The corresponding foldlines are labelled in a corresponding manner.

[0100] The method of using the set of flaps and panels 64 at the second end to provide the second closed end incorporating a sloping face may be in accordance with any of the embodiments described in relation to using the set of panels and flaps at the top end of the embodiment of the earlier blank 48 to provide a closed top end to the earlier carton. Thus, the steps involved in using the sets of flaps and panels 62, 64 of the blank 60 for providing the closed first and second ends of the carton may be identical, and may be in accordance with the earlier embodiment. The closing of the first end and second end may occur in any order, or simultaneously.

[0101] While in the embodiment illustrated the first triangular lid panel, and hence the lid support panels, for providing the second closed end including a sloping face, are associated with the same side panels to which the corresponding components for providing the first closed end including a sloping face are associated, this need not be the case.