GB2425301A

GB2425301A - Carton having a display panel

Info

Publication number: GB2425301A
Application number: GB0508024A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philippe Le Bras
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Current assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Priority date: 2005-04-21
Filing date: 2005-04-21
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Also published as: DE602006008769D1; ATE440788T1; GB0508024D0; WO2006116229A1; EP1877322A1; US20090242444A1; EP1877322B1; JP2009501679A

Abstract

A carton for containing a plurality of articles, such as yoghurt pots has main panels for forming the carton top (428), side and bottom (430) walls and further comprises a display panel (418) struck from at least one of the carton walls. The display panel (418) is defined in part by a first aperture (422) struck from said wall and in part by a shaped edge (426) and may be used to increase the advertising effect of the carton.

Description

1 2425301

CARTON WITH ADVERTISING MEANS

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a carton for containing a plurality of articles and in particular to a carton which is provided with a display panel to increase the advertising effect of the carton.

Cartons for packaging multiple articles, such as beverage or food containers are often formed from high-grade paperboard and have graphic printable surfaces, which are necessary for providing cartons with advertising printed on the carton. When using cartons constructed from a minimum amount of material the surface area available for printing such graphics may be reduced. Similarly, if low-grade paperboard material is used to construct a carton, the outer surfaces of the carton may not be printable with graphic or the quality may be poor. it is therefore desirable to provide a carton having other means of incorporating advertising and marketing material.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton for containing a plurality of articles, such as yoghurt pots, the carton comprising a plurality of main panels for forming carton top, side and bottom walls, the carton further comprising a display panel struck from at least one of said carton walls, the display panel being defined in part by a first aperture struck from that carton wall and in part by a shaped edge.

Preferably, the first aperture is struck entirely from a side wall of the carton and is defined by a contoured endless edge, wherein said contoured endless edge extends between the top wall and the bottom wall.

According to an optional feature of this aspect of the present invention, the shaped edge is inset from an adjacent end edge of the top wall of the carton.

* * *. : * * : .0 *.. * : . *: :.

Alternatively, the display panel may be substantially symmetrical.

Alternatively, the display panel is shaped similarly to an outline of an article to be contained within the carton to emulate a feature of that article on the one carton wall.

Alternatively, the aperture and shaped edge both substantially extend between the top wall and bottom wall of the carton.

Alternatively, the display panel is formed solely from the one carton wall.

Alternatively, the display panel is printed with a graphical representation of an object and at least part of an outline of the object is defined by one or both of the first aperture and the shaped edge.

Alternatively, the shaped edge in part defines a second aperture formed in the one carton wall.

Alternatively, some of the articles to be contained within the carton are exposed to view through the first and/or second apertures.

Alternatively, the shape of the display panel represents a downwardly pointing arrow.

Alternatively, the first aperture and the shaped edge are spaced from each other and do not intersect such that the display panel remains integral with the one wall. S *

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Brief Description of the Drawings

Five exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a main panel, which may form part of a carton, the main panel being provided with a display panel according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a main panel, which may form part of a carton, the main panel being provided with a display panel according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a main panel, which may form part of a carton, the main panel being provided with a display panel according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a main panel, which may form part of a carton, the main panel being provided with a display panel according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a main panel, which may form part of a carton, the main panel being provided with a display panel according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a carton incorporating the main panel of Figure 5;

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

A main panel 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1. The main panel 10 may form a wall of a carton, such as the side wall of a wraparound carton 450 as illustrated in connection with a fifth embodiment of the invention and shown in Figure 6. The main panel 10 is vertically elongate as viewed in Figure. 1 and is formed of paperboard or other foldable material such as a plastic sheet or the like. The main panel 10 of this embodiment is designed to form part of a carton 450 for packaging articles such as yoghurt pots or beverage containers.

**. *. : * * * * * .80 **. * 8: : : * * *. . *.. 8 * S S S *** S In the fifth embodiment the articles illustrated are yoghurt pots which are arranged in arrays of 8 pots each, contained in two tiers. It is however envisaged that other articles and/or different numbers of articles may be contained within a carton including a main panel of the invention and that the main panel may therefore be sized accordingly. Furthermore, the wraparound carton 450 is shown by way of example only to illustrate the type of carton in which the main panels 10, 110, 210, 310, 410 of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated.

Other embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in Figures 2-6, each embodiment contains similar features to those of the first embodiment and such features are therefore depicted by similar reference numerals in the figures. For ease of understanding the reference numerals in subsequent embodiments have been raised by a factor of 100, 200, 300 or 400 respectively.

The main panel 10 will now be described in detail with specific reference to Figure 1.

Main panel 10 may form a complete carton wall or may only form part of a composite carton wall, when incorporated in a set up carton (such as that shown in Figure 6).

Main panel 10 comprises an upper edge 28 and a lower edge 30, which in a set up carton arrangement may be formed by respective connections with a top wall or a bottom wall of the carton, with the main panel 10 providing a side wall of the carton.

This is the case in the fifth embodiment as shown in Figure 6, where main panel 410 forms a side wall of a wraparound carton 450 and the main panel 410 is connected between a top wall 428 and a bottom waIl 430.

Returning to the main panel 10 of Figure 1, a display panel 18 is formed from the main panel 10, the remainder of which main panel 10 is denoted as portion 16. in Figure 1, it can be seen that the display panel 18 is struck from the main panel 10, and the outline of the display panel 18 is defined in part by an aperture 20 and in part by a cut line or shaped edge 26. The first aperture 20 comprises a substantially vertical edge 22 which extends along a notional line between the top edge 28 of the main portion 16 and the bottom edge 30.

The first aperture 20 is also defined by a second edge 24, which edge 24 also defines an edge of the display panel 18. In this embodiment the display panel 18 has an * **. : . * : : : *** * : . : .1: : outline shape which represents a character's head, such as a cartoon monkey. The display panel 18 is further defined by a second edge 26, which edge 26 is shaped accordingly so that the display panel 18 depicts the character's head. The display panel 18 remains integral with the main portion 16 by spacing and separating the cut edge 26 and the aperture 20. The first aperture 20 is further defined by an upper edge 32 and a lower edge 34, which are spaced from the upper and lower edges 28, 30 of the main panel 10.

In Figure 1, the main panel illustrated is shown without any illustrations printed on the outer surface. However, it is envisaged that the main panel 10 will be printed with graphics and that the graphical representation printed onto the display panel 18 will provide the details of the character's face. In this way the shaped outline of the display panel 18 is complementary to the printed graphics and serves to enhance the advertising effect of the overall carton. Furthermore, because the display panel 18 remains integral with the main panel 10, the structural integrity of the carton is not reduced. The aperture 20 also serves as a window through which the articles contained within the carton can be viewed. These advertising effects can be used to enhance the appearance and marketing value of the carton.

In the first embodiment of the invention, the cut line or shaped edge 26 is recessed from a notional end edge of the main panel 10. Because the cut line 26 is recessed, when the main panel 10 is disposed within a set up carton 450, articles contained within the carton may be exposed to view at the end of the main panel 10.

A second embodiment is illustrated in Figure 2. Since the embodiment is similar to the first, only the differences will be described in detail. In this embodiment the display panel 118 is substantially oval in shape. Again the display panel is in part defined by a recessed or inset edge 126 and in part is defined by an edge 124 of an aperture 120. The aperture 120 is defined by an endless contoured edge 122, 132, 124, 134 which in this embodiment extends between the top edge 128 and the lower edge 130 of the main panel 110. The upper and lower portions of the endless contoured edge 132 and 134 are spaced from the upper and lower edges 128, 130 of the main panel 110 such that the aperture 120 is formed entirely from the main panel 110.

*t. *. * ** *** * * * *.. I.. * * * . . * S ** * : . * * * * *.* . A third embodiment is depicted in Figure 3, again the embodiment is similar to the first, and so only the differences will be described in detail. In this embodiment the display panel 218 is defined by a first aperture 220 and a second aperture 240. Each aperture 220, 240 is defined by an endless contoured edge 222, 242 respectively. The display panel therefore has two shaped edges 224, 244 and the display panel 218 is also symmetrical, although it is envisaged that two apertures could be used to define a asymmetrical display panel 18. In this embodiment the shaped edge 244, which defines part of the display panel 218, is inset from an end edge 226 of the main panel 210. The end edge 226 may be adjacent an end of a top wall panel when the main panel 210 is disposed within a set up carton. In a similar fashion to previous embodiments, articles contained in a carton, in which the main panel 210 is contained, can be viewed or are on display through the two apertures 220, 240.

A fourth embodiment is shown in Figure 4 again the embodiment is similar to the first, and so only the differences will be described in detail. In this embodiment the display panel 318 is symmetrical. The shape of the display panel 318 is substantially provided by an inset or recessed edge 326 and by an edge 324 of the irregularly shaped aperture 320. Again, the endless contoured edge 332, 322, 334, 324 defines the aperture 320. In this embodiment the recessed or inset edge 326 and contoured edge 324 are mirror images of one another to thereby define a symmetrical display panel. In this embodiment the shaped display panel 318 is specifically shaped to be suggestive of a feature which may be used in advertising the articles to be contained within the carton.

A fifth embodiment is illustrated in Figure 5. The display panel 418 is shaped to represent an outline of a product package which may be recognisable to a consumer or be familiar to a consumer. In this way the shaped panel 418 may serve to emphasise the carton contents and as such may provide an additional marketing effect for the carton and the product contained within. In defining the display panel 418 by an inset edge 426 and a contoured edge 432, 422, 434, 424, the carton 450 has an increased marketing effect.

* . * * . * * S..

* * * a.. *,. * S : : * * ** * *.. S. * * S.. * It can be appreciated that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the main panels may be adjusted for use within cartons of differing size or shape. The main panel may also be shaped according to a variety of user requirements. Other variations may also be made within the scope of the invention. For example the display panel may be symmetrical or irregularly shaped and more than one display panel may be provided.

Indeed is also envisaged that the display panel may protrude past a notional edge of the carton in which it is contained and the aforementioned recessed or inset edge could in fact be a protruding edge.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower" do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to cut line or edge should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single uninterrupted cut or edge only; indeed it is envisaged that a cut line or edges can be formed from one or more of the following, a score line or a frangible line without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims

1. A carton for containing a plurality of articles, such as yoghurt pots, the carton comprising a plurality of main panels for forming carton top, side and bottom walls, the carton further comprising a display panel struck from at least one of said carton walls, the display panel being defined in part by a first aperture struck from that carton wall and in part by a shaped edge.

2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said first aperture is struck entirely from a side wall of the carton and is defined by a contoured endless edge, wherein said contoured endless edge extends between the top wall and the bottom wall.

3. A carton according to either claim I or claim 2 wherein said shaped edge is inset from an adjacent end edge of the top wall of the carton.

4. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the display panel is substantially symmetrical.

5. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the display panel is shaped similarly to an outline of an article to be contained within the carton to emulate a feature of that article on said one carton wall.

6. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the aperture and shaped edge both substantially extend between the top wall and bottom wall of the carton.

7. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein said display panel is formed solely from the one carton wall.

8. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the display panel is printed with a graphical representation of an object and at least part of an outline of the object is defined by one or both of the first aperture and the shaped edge.

9. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the shaped edge in part defines a second aperture formed in the one carton wall. S *

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10. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein some of the articles to be contained within the carton are exposed to view through said first and/or second apertures.

ii. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the shape of the display panel represents a downwardly pointing arrow.

12. A carton according to any preceding claim wherein the first aperture and said shaped edge are spaced from each other and do not intersect such that the display panel remains integral with said one wall. * * S

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