AU2012101641A4

AU2012101641A4 - A carton and blank

Info

Publication number: AU2012101641A4
Application number: AU2012101641A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Graeme Hawke
Original assignee: Opal Packaging Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Opal Packaging Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-10-26
Filing date: 2012-10-26
Publication date: 2012-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-26

Abstract

- 15 The present invention relates to a carton and blank for making the carton. the carton may be used for a range of 5 items including facial tissues and is specifically adapted to make it easier to remove items from the carton when the amount of the items in the carton reduces by moving the base wall of the carton toward the entrance of the carton. 3805480_1 (GHMatters) P91763.AU 26/10/12

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant(s): Amcor Limited Invention Title: A CARTON AND BLANK The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: -2 A CARTON AND BLANK FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a carton for items such 5 as, but by no means limited to, facial tissues and a blank for making the carton. The carton can also be used for other items such as disposable medical gloves, sheet materials or other consumables. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Facial tissues are typically sold in a box in which the tissues partially overlap and are folded one on top of the other to form a line of separable tissues. The box i5 typically has a top wall with a removable panel that forms a window when removed, and a polymeric film having a slit is positioned over the window through which tissues are pulled from the box. 20 Once the removable panel has been removed, the first tissue can be pulled through the slit which enables the top tissue to be is separated from the tissue next in line. As each tissue is individually pulled out of the box, the next tissue is only partially pulled through the 25 slit, and thereby automatically places the next tissue in a dispensing position. The polymeric film is relatively effective whilst the level of tissues in the box is high, however the film 30 becomes less effective as the level of tissues reduces which requires the tissues to pass further upwardly within the carton before passing through the slit. When the level of tissues in the carton becomes low, for example when the capacity of the box falls below 50%, gravity 35 tends to overcome friction between the overlapping tissues and friction between the tissues and the polymeric film, causing the tissues to fall back into the box. A problem with this is that it can be challenging to dig 40 into the box and find the starting tissue, and pull it up through the slit. Moreover, every time a user puts their 3805480_ (GHMatters) P91763.AU 26/10112 - 3 hand through the slit, the slit stretches and its ability to frictionally engage the tissues is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an s alternative carton and blank for making the carton. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a carton for items such 10 as, but by no means limited to, facial tissues, the carton includes: a base wall; a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall; an openable entrance that faces the base wall and 15 through which the items can be pulled out of the carton; and at least one predefined movable panel that can be manoeuvred by a user to change from an initial condition in which the movable panel forms part of the side wall and 20 in part provides (i) an initial storage space for items between the entrance and the base wall, to (ii) an operative condition in which at least part of the entrance and the base wall are located closer to each other than in the initial condition, so that items in the carton can be 25 supported on the base wall closer to the entrance. An advantage of the present invention is that the height or depth profile of the carton can be reduced by changing the orientation of the movable panel, for example, when 30 the carton has been partially emptied. The items remaining in the carton can then be supported on the base wall closer to the entrance, which for items such as tissues, are then less likely to fall back into the carton. 35 In one example, the movable panel forms part of the side wall so as to be aligned with the side wall when in the initial condition, and can be manoeuvred to be out of alignment with the side wall when in the operative 40 condition to move the entrance and the base wall toward each other. 3805480_1 (GHMatters) P91763 AU 26/10/12 -4 The movable panel may form part of the side wall and may be aligned with, and preferably co-planar with, the side wall when in the initial condition. 5 The movable panel may form part of the base wall when in the operative condition, and preferably has the same profile or is co-planar with the base wall, and suitably the base wall is located closer toward the entrance when 10 the movable panel is in the operative condition. Suitably, the movable panel is positioned to be aligned with the base wall. Even more suitably, the base wall has a planar profile when the movable panel is in the initial condition, and has a non-planar profile that extends 15 towards the entrance when the movable panel is in the operative condition, and the non-planar profile of the base wall registers, represents or conforms with the profile of a non-linear line joining the movable panel to the side wall. 20 The base wall may be planar and orthogonal to the side wall when the movable panel is in the initial condition. By moving the movable panel from the initial condition to the operative condition in which the movable panel forms 25 part of the base wall( or aligns with the base wall), the base wall may change profile to be non-planar, such as concave profile. When in the operative condition, the base wall may have a curvature that is the same a fold line joining the movable panel to the side wall. 30 The side wall may include two adjustable side panels that are oppositely disposed and two other side panels extending between the two adjustable side panels, and the movable panels align with and are thereby included in the 35 adjustable side panels when in the initial condition, and by manipulating at least part of the base wall inwardly toward the entrance, the movable panels become unaligned with the adjustable side panels, and preferably form part of the base wall, when in the operative position so as 40 that the base wall is closer to the entrance of the carton. 3805480_1 (GHMatners) P91763.AU 26/10/12 -5 The movable panel may be predefined at least in part by a line that is provided on the side panel of the side wall. The line demarcating on the side wall where the side wall 5 is folded, when the movable panel is manoeuvred. For example, the line may be any one or a combination of: * a print line, " pre-crease line or indentation line, * a line of weakness, such as a serrated line or 10 perforated line. The movable panel may also in part be defined by a fold line between the base wall and the side panel. is The carton may also have directions on the carton instructing a user to press the base wall of the carton inwardly to move the movable panel between the initial condition and the operative condition in which the base wall is located closer to the entrance. 20 It is also possible that the movable panel may form part of the side wall when in the initial condition, which defines the maximum height of the carton, and when in the operative condition, the movable panel forms part of a top 25 wall of the carton which has moved closer to the bottom wall. The openable entrance of the carton may be formed in the top wall. The present invention also relates to a blank for making a 30 carton that can contain items such as, but by no means limited to, facial tissues, in which the blank includes: a base panel for forming the base wall of the carton made from the blank; two side panels for forming a side wall extending 35 from the base wall of the carton made from the blank; wherein when the blank is made in the carton, the carton has an openable entrance that faces the base wall and through which the items can be pulled out of the carton; and 40 at least one predefined movable panel that can be manoeuvred by a user to change from an initial condition 38054801 (GHMatners) P91763.AU 26/10/12 -6 in which the movable panel forms part of the side wall and in part provides an initial storage space for items between the entrance and the base wall, and an operative condition in which at least part of the entrance and the 5 base wall are located closer to each other than in the initial condition, so that items in the carton can be supported on the base wall closer to the entrance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 10 The present invention will not be described with reference to the accompanying representations, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a carton for facial tissues in which the carton is in an initial condition where a base wall and an opened entrance in the 15 top wall of the carton are spaced apart to provide maximise storage space according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the carton of Figure 1 in which the carton has been manoeuvred 20 into a first operative condition to reduce the spacing between the base wall and the entrance; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the carton shown in Figure 1 in which a side panel of the side wall is transparent; 25 Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the carton shown in Figure 2 in the first operative condition, and in which a side panel of the side wall is transparent in order to show the level of tissues inside of the carton at a lower level; 30 Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the carton shown in Figure 2 in a second operative condition in which the base wall has been located further toward the opening of the carton than in the first operative condition illustrated in Figure 2; 35 Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of an underside view of the carton shown in Figures 1 and 3; Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of an underside view of the carton shown in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a photograph showing a perspective view 40 of a carton in an initial condition according to another embodiment of the present invention; 3805480_ 1 (GHMatters) P91763.AU 26/10/12 -7 Figure 9 is a photograph showing a side view of a carton shown in Figure 1 in which the base wall has been moved into an operative condition; Figure 10 is a photograph showing a perspective view 5 of the underside of the carton in Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a schematic illustration of a blank for making the carton shown in Figures 8 to 10 respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10 In the following text, reference numerals have allocated to specific features of the carton and blank according to embodiments of the invention. However, in order to maintain clarity of the Figures, not all of the reference numerals may be used in each Figure. In addition, it will is be appreciated that although the cartons shown in the Figures contain facial tissues, other items can also be contained the cartons while providing the same or similar benefits. 20 With reference to the Figures, the carton 20 includes a base wall 21, a side wall 22 having four side panels extending from the base wall, and a top wall 23 having an opened entrance 24 through which tissues can be pulled from the carton. The tissues in the carton are partially 25 overlapped and folded in zigzag pattern so that friction between the tissues allows the tissues to be pulled from the carton in a line, and end tissues can be separated from the line consecutively. As the level of tissues stored in the carton 20 begins to reduce, the weight of 30 the tissues can cause the line to fall back into the carton 20. This problem has at least in part been addressed by the carton 20 having predefined movable panels 25 that can be 35 manoeuvred by a user from a position in which the movable panels form part of two adjustable side panels 26a. The adjustable panels 26a, including the movable panels 25, are oppositely disposed and extend along the length of the carton 20. Two opposite end panels 26b interconnect the 40 adjustable side panels 26a. 3805480_1 (GHMatters) P91763.AU 26110/12 - 8 Figures 1 to 7 illustrate an embodiment in the side panels have a movable panel with first and second segments 25a, 25b respectively. The first segment 25a is defined between a fold line 27 joining the base wall 22 to the side wall s 22 and a first pre-creased line 28, and the second segment 25b is define between the first pre-creased line 28 and a second pre-creased line 29. As can be seen, the first and second pre-creased lines 28, 29 may be any non-linear line, and in the embodiments shown, the pre-creased lines 10 28, 29 are concave lines. In the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 11, the side panels 26a have a movable panel 25 with a single segment defined by the fold line 27 joining the side panel 26a and the base wall 22, and one concave pre-creased line 28. 15 Figure 1 illustrates the carton 20 in an initial condition in which the spacing between the entrance 24 of the carton 20 and flat planar base wall 21 is maximised. When the carton 20 is relative full, the line of tissues is less 20 likely to fall back into the carton 20. However, this is not the case as level of tissues begins to reduce. Figures 2 and 4 illustrates the carton 20 in a first operative condition in which the base wall 21 has been 25 pressed inwardly, or in a direction toward the top wall 23, such that the base wall 21 adopts a concave shape. As can best be seen in Figures 4 and 9, the side panel 26a and movable panel 25a has been moved outwardly causing the fold line 27 to flatten while folding the pre-creased line 30 28. Ideally, the movable panels 25a, 25b align with the curvature of the base wall 21 when located in the first operative position, however, this need not necessarily be the case. When the movable panel 25a has been manoeuvred to form part of the base wall 21, is will be clear to the 35 user that the movable panel 25a has been located in the intended position. The curvature of the pre-creased line 28 and straightening of fold line 27 allows the movable panel 25a to align with, and form part of, the base wall 21 when in the operative position. 40 In addition, the stiffness of the paper based material 3805480_1 (GHMatters) P91763.AU 26/10/12 -9 from which the carton 20 and blank 40 are made, as well as the curvature of the pre-creased line 28, 29 which the base wall 21 adopts when pressed inwardly, can urge the movable panels 25a, 25b to remain in the operative 5 condition rather than moving back into the initial condition. In other words, the panels 21, 25a, 25b, and 26a of the carton are relatively relaxed when in the operative condition and are required to pass through a peak stress to move between the initial condition and 10 operative condition. Figure 5 illustrates the situation in which the base wall 21 has been further pressed inwardly toward the entrance 24 so that second segment 25b of the movable panels 25 is changes orientation from being aligned with the side panel 26a to align with the base wall 21. The carton 20 shown in Figure 5 is in the second operative condition, in which, the effective spacing between the base wall 21 and the entrance 24 is further reduced and, in turn, the tendency 20 for tissues to fall back into the carton is reduced. As can be seen in Figures 4, 5 and 9, as the base wall 21 is pressed inwardly, the end panels 26b also move inwardly at an angle from their initial upright orientation. In 25 addition, an end space 29 between the ends of the tissues and the end panels 26b of the carton 20 is therefore provided when the carton 20 is in the initial condition to allow for inward movement of the end panels. 30 Figure 7 is an underside view of the carton 20 shown in Figure 5 illustrating the movable panels 25a, 25b forming part of the base wall 21, the end panels 26b angled inwardly, the side walls 22 bulging outward and the base wall 21 being pressed inwardly into a curved profile that 35 is substantially the same as the curvature of the pre creased fold lines 28, 29. Figure 8 is photograph of a carton 20 having moveable panels 25a in an initial condition in which the panels 25a 40 form part of the side panels 26a. The moveable panels 25a being defined by the fold line 27 joining the base wall 21 3805480_1 (GHMauers) P91763.AU 26/10/12 - 10 to side panel 26a and the pre-creased line 28. Figure 9 illustrates the movable panel 25a in an operative condition which raises the base wall 21 toward the entrance 24 of the carton 20 by moving the base wall 21 5 inwardly. The base wall 21 also adopts a curvature of the pre-creased line 28, which is best seen in Figure 10. Figure 11 illustrate a blank 40 for making the carton shown in Figures 8 to 10 having four panels joined side io by-side by fold lines. The panels include a base panel 21 for forming the base wall of the carton, joined by fold line 27 to a side panel 26a for forming part of the side wall of the carton, the side panel includes a movable panel 25 pre-defined by the fold line 27 and a pre-creased 1 fold line 28. The side panel 26a is joined by a fold line 41 to the top panel 23 having a removable panel 42 for forming the openable entrance 24 of the carton. The top panel 23 forms the top wall of the carton and is joined by a fold line 42 to another side panel 26athat forms the 20 opposite side panel of the carton 20. The base panel 21, side panels 26a and top panel 23 have end flaps 26 which when the blank is assembled are overlayed and glued using suitable adhesive to form the 25 end panels 26b of the side wall of the carton. In addition, the base panel includes an attachment flap 43 that overlaps and is glued to the side panel when the blank is assembled. 30 Although the blank shown in Figure 11 is specifically adapted for forming the carton shown-in Figures 8 to 10, it will be appreciated that blank 40 could be modified to include an additional pre-creased fold line in order to provide first and second segment 25a, 25b of the movable 35 panel 25 in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9. Those skilled in the art of the present invention will appreciate that many variations and modifications may be 40 made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 3805480_ I (GHMatters) P91763.AU 26/10112 - 11 For example, although the carton and blank have pre creased lines that in part define the movable panels when the carton is in the initial condition, it is possible 5 that the pre-creased lines could be substituted with printed lines, or lines of weakness, indicating to a user where to fold the side wall to form the movable panels. 3805480_1 (GHMatters) P91763.AU 26110112

Claims

1. A carton for items such as, but by no means limited to, facial tissues, the carton includes: 5 a base wall; a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall; an openable entrance that faces the base wall and through which the items can be pulled out of the carton; and 10 at least one predefined movable panel that can be manoeuvred by a user to change from, (a) an initial condition in which the movable panel forms part of the side wall and in part 15 provides an initial storage space for items between the entrance and the base wall, to (b) an operative condition in which at least part of the entrance and the base wall are located 20 closer to each other than in the initial condition, so that items in the carton can be supported on the base wall closer to the entrance. 25

2. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the movable panel forms part of, and is aligned with, the side wall when in the initial condition, and can be manoeuvred to be out of alignment with the side wall when in the operative condition to move the entrance and the base wall toward 30 each other.

3. The carton according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable panel forms part of, and is aligned with, the base wall when in the operative condition. 35

4. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base wall has a planar profile when the movable panel is in the initial condition, and has a non planar profile that extends toward the entrance when then 40 movable panel is in the operative condition, and the non planar profile of the base wall conforms with the profile 3805480_1 (GHManters) P91763.AU 26110/12 - 13 of a non-linear line joining the movable panel to the side wall.

5. The carton according to claim 4, wherein the movable 5 panel is predefined by a fold line joining the side wall and the base wall, and a non-linear line joining the movable panel and the side wall, and the non-linear is in the form of any one or a combination of: * a printed line, io e pre-crease fold line or indentation line, or * a line of weakness.

6. The carton according to any one of clams 1 to 5, wherein the side wall includes two adjustable side panels 15 that are oppositely disposed and two other side panels arranged between the two adjustable side panels, and the movable panels align with, and are thereby included in, the adjustable side panels when in the initial condition, and by pressing at least part of the base wall inwardly 20 toward the entrance, the movable panels move out of alignment with the adjustable side panels, and form part of the base wall in the operative condition.

7. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 25 wherein the carton has directions instructing a user to press the base wall of the carton inwardly to move the movable panel between the initial condition and the operative condition. 30

8. A blank for making a carton that can contain items such as, but by no means limited to, facial tissues, in which the blank includes: a base panel for forming the base wall of the carton made from the blank; 35 two side panels for forming a side wall extending from the base wall of the carton made from the blank; wherein when the blank is made in the carton, the carton has an openable entrance that faces the base wall and through which the items can be pulled out of the 40 carton; and 3805480_1 (GHMatters) P91763 AU 26/10/12 - 14 at least one predefined movable panel that can be manoeuvred by a user to change from (a) an initial condition in which the movable panel forms part of the side wall and in 5 part provides an initial storage space for items between the entrance and the base wall, to (b) an operative condition in which at least part of the entrance and the base wall are io located closer to each other than in the initial condition, so that items in the carton can be supported on the base wall closer to the entrance. 15 3805480_1 (GHMauers) P91 763.AU 26/10/12