GB2070569A - Lined cartons - Google Patents

Abstract

A generally rectangular lined carton has a liner sleeve 3 secured within an outer case 1 with the open end of the sleeve projecting from the open end of the case at at least one end, the sleeve 3 being smaller in cross section than the case 1 so that the latter is divided into a first lined compartment 33 within the sleeve and a second un-lined compartment 35. An internal case closure flap 13 and an external closure flap 17 are foldably connected to opposite walls 5 of the case 1 and a supporting lug 39 is foldably connected to the inner flap 13 and is secured to the projecting portion of the wall of the liner 3 separating the two compartments 33, 35, which lug 39 preferably extends completely across the case 1 and is foldable about a central line 45 so as to encourage the formation of a gusset fold in the said wall of the liner during closure of the carton, <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lined cartons This invention relates to lined cartons. More specifically the invention relates to rectangular lined cartons having two compartments therein, one within a liner and a second, small un-lined compartment having one wall formed by a wall of the liner and the others by the outer case of the carton. Hence, the two compartments are separated by a wall of the liner. Such twocompartment lined cartons are used for example for packaging together a powdered cake mix and one or more sachets of jam (which are located in the un-lined compartment) or, for example, powedered milk for a baby and a feeding spoon, which again would be located in the un-lined compartment.

Normally, the liner sleeve of a lined carton is attached to the interior of the carton case so that the carton can be erected from a partially erected lay-flat state by automatic erecting, filling and sealing machines.

Two-compartment lined cartons normally have their lined compartment closed initially by pulling opposite edge portions of the liner sleeve (which projects upwardly from the squared carton and its end closure flaps) outwardly and then forming a seal which is known as a fin-style seal. This produces a satisfactory initial seal but after the outer case of the carton has been closed off, opening of the lined carton is not easy unless it is cut with scissors and re-closure is not very effective.

The present invention has been evolved to enable a gusseted fold and seal to be performed on the end closure of the liner of the carton thereby permitting easier opening and re-closure of the carton, including, of course, the compartment within the liner.

According to the present invention, we provide a generally rectangular lined carton having an outer case with a liner sleeve secured therein with, at at least one end of the carton the open end of the sleeve projecting from the open end of the case, the liner sleeve being smaller in cross sectional area than the outer case so as to form within the outer case a first lined compartment defined by the sleeve and a second un-lined compartment separated from the first compartment by a wall of the liner and, at said at least one end of the carton, an internal case closure flap foldably connected to an end edge of one side wall of the case and an external end closure flap foldably connected to an end edge of the opposite side wall of the case, there being a supporting lug foldably connected to an end portion of the inner end closure flap and adhesively secured to an end portion of the wall of the liner separating the two compartments, said supporting lug preferably extending completely across the case and having a line of weakness therein extending generally parallel to the side walls of the case and equally spaced therefrom, so as to encourage the formation of a gusset fold in said wall of the liner during closing of the carton.

Preferably, the inner end closure flap is adhesively secured to an end portion of one side wall of the liner sleeve.

Preferably, also a traditional supporting lug and gusset panel are foldably connected respectively to the opposite end of the inner end closure flap and to a top edge of the side wall of the carton remote from the second compartment, the supporting lug and gusset being adhesively secured to an end portion of the side wall of the liner remote from the second compartment, and the supporting lug being joined to the gusset panel by an inclined fold line, and preferably extending completely across the case and having a fold line therein to encourage the formation of a gusset fold in the wall of the liner to which it is attached during closing of the carton.

In one construction, an extension flap is foldably connected to the inner end closure flap alongs its edge remote from the edge pivotally connected to a side wall of the case and this extension flap together with a similar extension of the liner enables a sealed portion of the liner to be removed for opening of the pack, leaving a length which folds back on itself for re-closure.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one end of one embodiment of lined carton prior to formation of the end closure, and Fig. 2 is an end elevation, in the direction of arrow A in figure 1 and, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified lined carton showing the end closure of the carton partly formed.

Referring to the drawing, the carton shown therein has an outer case 1 formed of fibrous sheet material, into which a liner sleeve 3 of appropriate material is adhesively secured. On the outer case, full lines depict cuts, whereas fold lines are shown in broken lines, and perforations by dotted lined. In the two views, like parts have the same reference numerals.

The outer case 1 has a first pair of parallel spaced side wall 5, 7 and a second pair of parallel spaced side walls 9, 11, with the side wall 5 secured to the side wall 9 in known manner with the aid of a glue flap. An inner end closure flap 13 is foldably connected to side wall 5 about a fold line 15, and an outer end closure flap 1 7 is foldably connected to side wall 7 about a fold line 19. The inner end closure flap 13 is adhesively secured to an end portion of the liner 3, with a portion of the liner projecting beyond the free edge of the flap 13.

A supporting lug 21 is foldably connected to a side edge of flap 13 about a fold line 23, and a gusset panel 25 is foldably connected to side wall 11 about a fold line 27. Gusset panel 25 is foldably connected to lug 21 about an inclined perforated fold line 29. The lug 21 and panel 25 are adhesively secured to an end portion of the liner sleeve 3. Although the lug 21 need only extend from the fold line 23 half way towards the opposite flap 1 7, it preferably extends completely across the carton, and is divided into two parts by a central perforated fold line 31 extending parallel to the side walls 5 and 7.

As can be seen from the drawing, the cross sectional area of the liner sleeve 3 is less than that of the outer case 1, and hence, when tight up against the side wall 11, there are two compartments, a lined one 33 and an un-lined one 35 within the carton, which are separated by a wall 37 of the liner sleeve 3. In use, granular, powdered or like material is placed in the compartment 33 whereas another product, such as a measuring spoon, or a container of jam or the like is located in the other.

In order to assist in the formation of the end closure of the liner, and so that it can be re-used, a supporting lug 39 is attached to the wall 37. The lug 39 is pivotally connected to the inner end closure flap 13 about a fold line 41, which is located in line with the wall 37 of the liner. This means that at one end 43, the flap 13 is not the full width of the carton. As shown, the lug 39 extends across the full width of the wall 37, and is divided in two by a perforated fold line 45 extending parallel to the side walls 5 and 7, but if need be the lug need only extend as far as the fold line 45.

It will thus be appreciated that the lug 19 and the lug 21 and panel 25 hold the liner sleeve 3 in a rectangular shape, thus enabling a gusseted fold to be formed in the liner. This is achieved, usually on a filling and forming machine, by applying pressure to the sides of the sleeve 3 in the vicinity of the fold lines 31 and 45, followed by folding in of the flap 13 to close off the end of the carton, and to move the projecting area 47 of the liner sleeve so as to lie up against the inner face of the outer end closure flap 17; the end closure is completed by folding in the outer end closure flap 1 7, and adhering it to the flap 13. If desired, the end portion 47 of the sleeve 3 may also be sealed off in some way.

It will be seen that flap 1 7 is divided into two by a perforated fold line 51 interrupted by a tongue 53. This is so that the free edge portion 55 of flap 17 may be peeled back from the flap 13 when it is desired to open the carton (in known manner) and the flap 13 lifted, to give access to the sleeve 3. When it is desired to reclose the carton, the tongue can be engaged in a slot 57 provided in the flap 13, again in known manner.

In the modified construction shown in figure 3, an extension flap 61 is attached along a fold line 63 to the inner end closure flap 13, which together with a similar extension 65 to the liner sleeve 3 enables a sealed portion to be provided at the free end of the sleeve, which can be removed for opening of the pack, still leaving a length which foids back on itself for reclosure.

The carton is designed so that when the lugs 21 and 39 are dog-legged inwards by the filling and erecting machine for sealing purposes, an extension of a tucker arm which performs this operation on the inner wall lug 39, also pushes over a short dust flap 49, at the same time, to a position where it will be held by the portion 43 of the inner end closure flap 13, and be pressed down into the horizontal position by the final closing of flap 1 3, prior to the outer flap 1 7 being brought over and glued in position to complete the closure operation.

Claims (7)

1. A generally rectangular lined carton having an outer case with a liner sleeve secured therein with, at at least one end of the carton, the open end of the sleeve projecting from the open end of the case, the liner sleeve being smaller in cross sectional area than the outer case so as to form within the outer case a first lined compartment defined by the sleeve and a second un-lined compartment separated from the first compartment by a wall of the liner and, at said at least one end of the carton, an internal case closure flap foldably connected to an end edge of one side wall of the case and an external end closure flap foldably connected to an end edge of the opposite side wall of the case, there being a supporting lug foldably connected to an end portion of the inner end closure flap and adhesively secured to an end portion of the wall of the liner separating the two compartments.

2. A lined carton according to claim 1 wherein the supporting lug extends completely across the case and has a line of weakness therein extending generally parallel to the side walls of the case and equally spaced therefrom, so as to encourage the formation of a gusset fold in said wall of the liner during closing of the carton.

3. A lined carton according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the inner end closure flap is adhesively secured to an end portion of one side wall of the liner sleeve.

4. A lined carton according to claims 1,2 or 3 wherein a supporting lug and gusset panel are foldably connected respectively to the opposite end of the inner end closure flap and to a top edge of the side wall of the carton remote from the second compartment, the supporting lug and gusset being adhesively secured to an end portion of the side wall of the liner remote from the second compartment, and the supporting lug being joined to the gusset panel by an inclined fold line.

5. A lined carton according to claim 4 wherein the supporting lug extends completely across the case and has a fold line therein to encourage the formation of a gusset fold in the wall of the liner to which it is attached during closing of the carton.

6. A lined carton according to any one of claims 1-5 wherein an extension flap is foldably connected to the inner end closure flap along its edge remote from the edge pivotally connected to a side wall of the case, the extension flap together with a similar extension of the liner enabling a sealed portion of the liner to be removed for opening of the pack, leaving a length which folds back on itself for re-closure.

7. A lined carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.