GB2135288A

GB2135288A - Container for beverage cartons

Info

Publication number: GB2135288A
Application number: GB08401814A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Herbert
Original assignee: Aladdin Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Aladdin Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1983-02-11
Filing date: 1984-01-24
Publication date: 1984-08-30
Also published as: AU2320084A; GB8401814D0; JPS59152150A

Abstract

A container 1 for milk or fruit juice carton 11 is adapted to enclose the carton (11, Fig. 3) totally and means 10 to pierce the top of the carton. This means 10 is in communication with a pre- formed pouring spout 12 on the top of the container 1. There may be a second piercing means 9 to provide an air vent for the carton, to assist in smooth flow of the carton contents during pouring. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for beverage cartons The present invention relates to a container for beverage cartons, such as cartons of milk, fruit juice and the like.

Milk, fruit juices and other beverages are quite often packaged these days in treated cardboard cartons, such as those distributed by Ex-Cell-O Corporation and Pure-Pak. These cartons are normally opened by forming a spout by separating two top edges of the container which have previously been temporarily joined together to help provide a temporary seal of the contents of the carton therein.

The formation of the spout in the manner advised by the manufacturer of the carton is not always successful, and accordingly the pouring efficiency of the carton is impaired.

Further, the regular manipulation of the carton spout-to either fold or unfold same-tends to provide a basis for contamination of the pouring spout with microorganisms which are transferred to the contents of the carton during pouring operations.

Further, cardboard beverage cartons are not aesthetically pleasing objects, especially if the carton has been damaged, or if it has been used-as is quite often the case-as a vehicle for displaying advertising material to the consumer. For this reason, many users tend to transfer the contents of the carton to a jug or other conventional container, for presentation at the table, and quite often transfer the remaining unused contents from the jug back to the carton. This practice considerably increases the chances of contamination of the contents of the carton.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for beverage cartons which overcomes many of the above referenced problems of the use of cartons, by providing a container which is simple and efficient to use and which has an aesthetically pleasing appearance and effectively covers or disguises the beverage carton therein.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container for beverage cartons which comprises means for gaining access to the contents of the carton and which provides a pouring spout which offers a substitute to the pouring spout built into the carton, and which does not require manipulation to either fold or unfold the spout with its resultant risk for contamination of the contents.

With these objects in mind, the present invention provides, in one aspect thereof, a container for beverage cartons comprising a base portion, four vertical side walls with each side wall substantially perpendicular to the next adjacent side wall, and a top portion, said base portion, side walls and top portion defining a cavity space (substantially rectangular in cross-section) therebetween adapted to house and enclose a beverage carton of predetermined dimensions, said top portion further comprising carton piercing means to provide access to the contents of the carton housed in the container, said carton piercing means being in communication with preformed pouring spout means provided on the exterior side of the top portion of the container.

Preferably the carton piercing means comprises two spaced apart tubular members depending downwardly from the interior side of the said top portion, with the lower end of each said tubular member being bevelled to provide a pointed end suitable for piercing the top of the carton, with one of said tubular members communicating with the pre-formed pouring spout means on the exterior side of the said top portion, and the other of said tubular members providing an air vent to the interior of the carton, to assist in the smooth flow of the contents of the carton through the first-mentioned tubular member.

The first-mentioned tubular member, which openly communicates with the pouring spout means, is preferably positioned adjacent to one of the side walls of the container and being adapted to pierce the top of the beverage carton housed in the container adjacent to a side wall of the carton. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first-mentioned tubular member is substantially half round in cross section and with a flat or planar side provided on the side of said tubular member closest to the said adjacent side wall.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the two tubular members are provided as part of a separate removable member adapted to form part of the said top portion of the container.

The invention can be further illustrated by reference to the enclosed drawings, which relate to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the container for beverage cartons; Figure 2 represents an exploded view of the container of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 represents a side elevation view of the container, partially opened, with a beverage carton contained therein.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the container 1 comprises a base portion 2, four vertical side walls (3, 4, 5, 6), a top portion 7 with a separate removable member 8 having two tubular members 9 and 10 adapted to depend downwardly into the container to pierce the top of the carton 11 (Fig.

7) housed in the container. One of the tubular members 10 is in open communication with a pre-formed pouring spout 1 2 provided on the opposite (outer) surface of the removable member 8, which pouring spout can be provided with an optional, preferably, hinged lid (not shown) to provide a closure for the container and to reduce the risk of contamination of the pouring spout by prolonged open exposure to the air. The removable member provides for ease of cleaning thereof and facilitates the moulding of the various components of the container-which are preferably manufactured from any suitable plastics material by techniques known in the plastics manufacturing arts.

The container of the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings comprises essentially two half portions 1 3 and 1 4 adapted to slide apart/together vertically to facilitate access to the interior of the container for insertion/removal of a carton 11 (Fig. 7). In the embodiment shown, the base portion 2 is removably attached to the lower end of one said half portion 1 3 whereas the top portion 7 forms part of the other said half portion 14. As shown the base portion preferably comprises a vertical flange or rim 1 5 about its outer perimiter to facilitate proper placement of a carton on the base portion.

Although the invention has been described with reference to drawings and to preferred features and embodiments, it will be appreciated that variations from specifically described features are possible and are included within the scope of the invention as broadly disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A container for beverage cartons, comprising a base portion, four vertical side walls with each side wall substantially perpendicular to the next adjacent side wall, and a top portion, said base portion, side walls and top portion defining a cavity space therebetween adapted to house and enclose a beverage carton of predetermined dimensions, said top portion further comprising carton piercing means to provide access to the contents of the carton housed in the container, said carton piercing means being in communication with pre-formed pouring spout means provided on the exterior side of the top portion of the container.

2. A container for beverage cartons according to claim 1, wherein the carton piercing means comprises two spaced apart tubular members depending downwardly from the interior side of the top portion, with the lower end of each said tubular member being bevelled to provide a pointed end suitable for piercing the top of the carton, with one of said tubular members communicating with the preformed pouring spout means on the exterior side of the said top portion, and the other of said tubular members providing an air vent to the interior of the carton.

3. A container for beverage cartons according to claim 2, wherein the first of said tubular members is positioned adjacent one of the side walls of the container and is adapted to pierce the top of the beverage carton housed in the container adjacent to a side wall of the carton.

4. A container for beverage cartons according to claim 3, wherein the first of said tubular members is substantially half-round in cross-section and is provided with a flat or planar side on the side of said tubular member in closest proximity to the adjacent said side wall of the container.

5. A container for beverage cartons according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the two tubular members comprise part of a separate removable member adapted to form part of the said top portion of the container.

6. A container for beverage cartons according to claim 1, wherein said pre-formed pouring spout means is provided with lid closure means.

7. A container for beverage cartons according to claim 1, wherein the side walls which define the outer perimeter of the container comprise two half-shell portions which are adapted for engagement together.

8. A container for beverage cartons according to claim 7, wherein the two half-shell portions are adapted for vertical slidable engagement together.

9. A container for, beverage cartons substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.