GB2464159A

GB2464159A - Transit and Display Container with Front Layer Hingedly Connected to Side Wall

Info

Publication number: GB2464159A
Application number: GB0818748A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Hackney
Original assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-13
Filing date: 2008-10-13
Publication date: 2010-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-13
Also published as: GB0818748D0; GB2464159B

Abstract

A transit and display container 1 formed from a rupturable material e.g. cardboard or a fluted material, has a lid 2, a pair of side walls 6a, 6b and a front wall 3, 5 having at least one layer which is hingedly connected to a side wall 6b of the container, and removed when lid 2 is removed by rupture of lines of weakness 8 in the container to provide access openings 4a, 4b. Also claimed is a single blank from which the container is formed (figure 3). The lines of weakness may be cuts, creases or perforations. The panel 3 forming the front wall may be uninterrupted over the whole surface of the front wall for secure transport. The front wall may have a second layer 5 defining a cut out portion 4a. The lid may be removed by pulling a flap 9 or through a 'finger' hole in the front panel 3.

Description

IMPROVEMENT IN PACKAGING

The invention relates to improvements in packaging, and particularly to packaging which can be used as both transport and a display packaging, for example as a container for transit and display. In such containers, usually formed from material such as card or fluted board, there are perforations which allow a first or top part to be separated from a second or bottom part at a point of display, thereby exposing the contents to the view of customers.

These containers often have a front opening, for manual removal by a customer of a product or products forming part of the contents of the container, for example chocolate bars. However, there can be a disadvantage that a line or lines providing for separation of the first and second parts can leave an "unclean" or jagged edge, which is not aesthetically pleasing, and can also lead to fragments of the material of the container becoming mixed with the contents of the container.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a transit and display container formed from a rupturable material, comprising a plurality of walls, including an in use lid, a pair of in use side walls and an in use front wall having at least one layer, said layer of the front wall being hingedly connected to at least one side wall of the container, and removed when at least a portion of the lid is removed by rupture of lines of weakness (as herein defined) in the container to provide an access opening in the front wall and in an upper part of the container.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a blank of rupturable material for erecting into a transit and display container, comprising a pair of opposite panels forming side walls of the erected container, pairs of opposite panels forming front and rear walls of the erected containers, panels respectively hinged to the side and rear walls for forming a lid of the erected container in a transit mode and panels hingedly connected with the front, rear and side panels for forming a base of the erected container, the side walls comprising lines of weakness extending across from the respective join with the rear wall to the opposing respective side thereof, the blank comprising a panel, which is rotatable about a hinge line to form a front wall in a transit mode, the panel being joined to the side walls on one side of the respective lines of weakness whereby it is able to be separated from the other side of the lines of weakness of the side walls to provide a display mode.

It will be understood that the expression "a line or lines of weakness" means a line or lines defined by cuts, creases or perforations.

The hingedly connected layer of the front wall may be connected to the side walls via shoulders formed from cut outs from panels of the lid and rotated to be superposed with respective side walls.

The panel forming the front wall may be uninterrupted over substantially the entire surface area of the front wall. This provides for a secure container in a transit mode.

The front wall may include an inwardly extending flap, which is joined to a lid of the container in a transit mode. This provides for removal of the front wall panels and lid in one operation, particularly when the lid may comprise respective panels hingedly and rupturably connected with a rear (in use) wall of the container, and when the side walls comprise the ruptureable lines of weakness. The rupture of the lines of weakness, together with rupture of the connection between the lid and the rear wall, may cause separation of the lid and said one of the layers of the front wall from the remainder of the container. There may further be a rupture of a line of weakness extending along the hinge between the lid and respective side walls.

More than one layer may be provided in the front wall. The removable layer of the front wall (which may be the inner layer) may extend substantially over the entire front side of the container. This also provides a secure container in a transit mode, and allows said one of the layers of the front wall to structurally support the lid of the container in transit.

The other of the layers of the front wall (which may be the outer layer) may define a cut out area in the front wall in which said other of the layers does not extend. This allows the access opening to be defined by removal of said one of the layers, without removal or change of configuration of the other of the layers.

The panels of the lid may be secured to the outer panel of the front wall by securing means, for example adhesive tape. This provides for ease of conversion from the transit mode to the display mode.

The lines of weakness may extend at least partially along respective folds between respective panels the lid and respective side panels.

The front wall in the transit mode may comprise two panels which are superposable about the hinge line, one panel of which is joined to the side walls on one side of the respective lines of weakness, the other of which is joined on the other side of the respective lines of weakness whereby they are able to be separated therefrom to provide a display mode.

The container may be made of cardboard or from a fluted material.

Embodiments of transit and display containers and blanks are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a container in a transit mode; Figure 2 shows a container in a display mode, with a part thereof separated; Figure 3 shows a blank of material to be formed into a container according to figure 1; Figure 4 shows the blank of material as it is initially folded to form the container of figure 1; Figure 5 shows a container of a second embodiment in a transit mode; and Figure 6 shows the container of figure 5 in a display mode, with a part thereof separated.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a transit and display container 1 (Figures 1 and 2) formed from a single blank of rupturable material (Figures 3 and 4) such as cardboard or fluted board, comprising a plurality of walls, including an in use lid 2, in use side walls 6a,6b, and an in use front wall 3,5, said layer of the front wall being hingedly connected to at least one side wall 6b of the container, and removed when at least a portion of the lid 2 is removed by rupture of lines of weakness (as herein defined) in the container to provide an access opening in the front wall 4a and in an upper part 4b of the container.

The front wall thus comprises a panel or part 3 which is joined to the lid and folded over 1800 via the hinge or hinges to lie in use behind another part 5. The container 1 also comprises a rear wall 7. At least the front wall in use has a double thickness of said material over at least a part of its extent.

As marked in figure 1 the side walls 6a, 6b each comprise a line of weakness 8. A further line of weakness is provided at the fold between the rear wall 7 and the lid 2.

When the container is to be changed from the transit mode to the display mode, the lid 2 is removed from the remainder of the container 1 initially by separation of the lid 2 from the rear wall 7 along the line of weakness (as described in more detail below). The lines of weakness 8 on the side walls then also rupture, which allows the upper part of the side walls 6b to separate from the lower parts 6a. The lid 2 can then be lifted away from the remainder of the container 1, the lid including the upper parts of the side walls 6b. The first (inner) front panel 3 is secured to the lid, but not to the second (outer) front panel 5, to the lower parts of the side walls 6a, or to the base. Therefore, the inner front panel 3 is removed from the container 1 with the lid 2. The inner front panel 3 extends over substantially the whole of the front side of the container. In this way, and in particular with the fluting of the board being directed downwards, the inner front panel 3 can transfer a load placed on the lid 2, through to the base. The outer front panel S does not extend over the whole front side of the container. Instead, it includes a cut out portion 4a.

As shown in Figure 2, when the lid 2 is removed, together with the front panel 3, an opening 4a, 4b is formed in the front side and in the upper part of the container. The cut out in the outer front panel 5 provides the front access opening 4a, while the removal of the lid 2 and the upper portions of the side walls 6b provides the opening in the upper part of the container 4b. In the present embodiment, the access openings combine to form a single opening. The lid 2 is removed by initially forcing a flap 9, which is defined by a line of weakness in the rear side 7, which line of weakness is conjoined and forms a part of a single line of weakness that extends between the lid 2 and the rear side 7. Application of force to this flap 9, ruptures the line of weakness and allows the flap 9 and rear portion of the lid 2 to be held and pulled upwards, so causing the lines of weakness 8 in the sides to rupture and the lid 2 and front panel 3 to be removed. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) more than one flap is provided.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the lid 2 and front panel 3 are removed via a "finger" through hole in the front panel, which allows manual engagement with the front panel and removal from the front, rather than from the rear, of the container 1. The through hole may be formed by a for example circular line of weakness, allowing a circular area of the front panel to be removed.

Turning now to figure 3, this shows a blank for forming a container as shown in figures 1 and 2. The blank is formed from a substantially rectangular cut out. Where the depth of the container is to be less than twice the width, the front panel 3 does not protrude beyond the tabs forming the lid of the container, allowing for a rectangular board to be used, so saving material. Further, where this does not occur, manufacture of two blanks from a single board, which are mutually rotated by 1800 allows a smaller board to be utilised as the front panels are offset from the centre of the blank, and so each can overlap the other during cutting. The front panel 3 is attached to an inner panel 11. The inner panel is not connected to the side panels 6a, 6b, or to the outer front panel 5 from which it is cut.

As shown in Figure 4, the front panel 3 and inner panel 11 are rotated about hinges 12, which are formed between the front panel 3 and the upper side panels 6b, rather than as part of the front panel. In this way, as shown in Figure 4 (which shows partial rotation of the front and inner panels 3, 11), the front panel 3 and inner panel 11 (inwardly extending flap) are interchanged, and the front panel 3 are superposed in their area of overlap. The front panel is connected to the hinges via shoulders 14, which are cut from the tabs forming the lid.

This configuration also provides a front panel 3 which extends over the whole front side of the erected container, so improving structural strength of the container to vertical loads, which are transmitted from the lid to the base via the front panel 3. After the front panel and inner panel are rotated on the hinges 12. The inner panel 11 can then be attached to the lid 2 for example by adhesive or the like. In this way, when the lid 2 is removed from the erected container 1, the inner panel 11 is also removed, which as it is formed in a single piece with, or at least joined to, the front panel 3, causes removal of the front panel at the same time, so forming the access openings 4a, 4b.

Each blank 19 has a tab with securing mean such as glue on it for securing the container in the erected position by gluing to the inside of a side wall.

Figures 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from that shown in figures 1 to 4 in that the lines of weakness 108 in the side walls extend to define an upper part of the side walls 1 06b from the top of the outer front panel 105 diagonally to the fold line between the lid 102 and the remainder of the respective side walls 106a and then along the fold between the lid 102 and the remainder of the respective side walls 106a to the rear wall 107. This is conveniently towards the rear of the container.

The front wall is of double strength, and the rear wall can also be made so too.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A transit and display container formed from a rupturable material, comprising a plurality of walls, including an in use lid, a pair of in use side walls and an in use front wall having at least one layer, said layer of the front wall being hingedly connected to at least one side wall of the container, and removed when at least a portion of the lid is removed by rupture of lines of weakness (as herein defined) in the container to provide an access opening in the front wall and in an upper part of the container.
2. A container according to Claim 1, wherein said hingedly connected layer of the front wall is connected to the side walls via shoulders formed from cut outs from panels of the lid and rotated to be superposed with respective side walls.
3. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, the front wall including an inwardly extending flap, which is joined to panels of the lid of the container.
4. A container according to Claim 3, panels of the lid being secured to the extending flap by securing means.
5. A container according to Claim 3 or 4, the lid comprising at least one panel hingedly and rupturably connected with a rear (in use) wall of the container.
6. A container according to Claim 5, the side walls comprising the ruptureable lines of weakness, rupture thereof, together with rupture of the connection between the lid and the rear wall causing separation of the lid and said one of the layers of the front wall from the remainder of the container.
7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein said layer of the front wall extends substantially over the entire front side of the container.
8. A container according to any preceding claim, the at least the front wall in use having a double thickness of said material over at least a part of its extent.
9. A container according to Claim 8, wherein the frirther layer of the front wall defines a cut out area in the front wall in which said other of the layers does not extend.
10. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein said layer comprises the inner layer and said further layer comprises the outer layer.
11. A container according to any preceding claim, made of cardboard.
12. A container according to any of Claims ito 10, made from a fluted material.
13. A container according to Claim 12, the fluting being directed downwardly in said one of the layers of the front wall.
14. A transit and display container formed from a rupturable material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A blank of rupturable material for erecting into a transit and display container, comprising a pair of opposite panels forming side walls of the erected container, pairs of opposite panels forming front and rear walls of the erected containers, panels respectively hinged to the side and rear walls for forming a lid of the erected container in a transit mode and panels hingedly connected with the front, rear and side panels for forming a base of the erected container, the side walls comprising lines of weakness extending across from the respective join with the rear wall to the opposing respective side thereof the blank comprising a panel, which is rotatable about a hinge line to form a front wall in a transit mode, the panel being joined to the side walls on one side of the respective lines of weakness whereby it is able to be separated from the other side of the lines of weakness of the side walls to provide a display mode.
16. A blank according to Claim 15, wherein the lines of weakness extend at least partially along respective folds between respective panels the lid and respective side panels.
17. A blank according to Claim 15 or 16, the front wall in the transit mode comprising two panels which are superposable about the hinge line, one panel of which is joined to the side walls on one side of the respective lines of weakness, the other of which is joined on the other side of the respective lines of weakness whereby they are able to be separated therefrom to provide a display mode.
18. A blank according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the hinge line is on the side panels adjacent to the front panels.
19. A blank according to Claim 18, wherein the respective hinge lines are coincident with a part of the join between lid and the respective side panel.
20. A blank according to Claim 18 or Claim 19, wherein the separable front panel is joined to respective side panels via shoulders formed from cut outs from panels of the lid, the shoulders arranged to be rotated about the hinge line to be superposed with respective side walls.
21. A blank according to any of Claims 16 to 20, panels of which are to be secured together having securing means.
22. A blank according to Claim 21, the securing means being adhesive or glue.
23. A blank according to Claim 22, the adhesive or glue comprising spots.
24. A blank according to Claim 22, the adhesive or glue comprising an area of a flap.
25. A blank of rupturable material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.