GB2539567A

GB2539567A - Packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2539567A
Application number: GB1610142.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mclaren Michael
Original assignee: MCLAREN PACKAGING Ltd
Current assignee: MCLAREN PACKAGING Ltd
Priority date: 2015-06-16
Filing date: 2016-06-10
Publication date: 2016-12-21
Also published as: CN106275689A; GB201610142D0; GB201510541D0

Abstract

A container 48 has a base 58 with a side wall 10 projecting up from it. The side wall has two layers 12, 14 with overlapping apertures 16, 18. One of the layers has an embossed recess 42 around its aperture. A cover 44 is received in the recess 42 and sandwiched between the two layers so that it covers the aligned apertures. Ideally the cover is transparent and the layers are opaque so that a window is formed. The apertures are ideally the same shape and size. Preferably the embossing results in the layer having a reduced wall thickness so that the internal and external walls are smooth despite the presence of an additional layer around the apertures. The cover and/or layers can be bonded by adhesive. The container can be a carton and the layers can include fold lines. The carton can have a metalised reflective internal coating to better display the product.

Description

PACKAGING

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packaging, a method for producing same, and a blank for forming same. The invention especially relates to packaging used to hold and display other items, especially bottles.

Background to the Invention

Display packaging is often required for merchandise being sold. One example is for alcoholic beverages, including whisky and the like. Premium whiskies will often be packaged in a carton board display tube or box, with the distiller's Trade Marks and other marketing features displayed on the display tube or box.

The box or tube provides a degree of protection to the relatively fragile bottle, and may serve as a useful gift box if the bottle is being purchased for that purpose.

If the display box or tube is fully opaque, the consumer cannot view the contents without opening the tube or box, and may be impeded from doing so in a retail environment by anti-tamper or theft devices, such as a simple adhesive strip holding the tube or box closed.

Providing a box with a window allows the contents to be viewed and also allows generically labelled boxes to be used. The window may be a simple aperture in the sidewall of the box. However an aperture allows the possibility of tampering and environmental damage taking place.

Alternatively, a simple aperture may be cut and a clear film affixed over the aperture.

This will usually be simply glued to the interior of the box, leaving a more appealing exterior finish and preventing the clear film being peeled off from the outside. The drawbacks of such an approach are several: a consumer may push the clear film into the box, thereby detaching it; on inserting a product into the box the perimeter of the clear film may be fouled and be detached by movement of the product in the box; or the adhesive may degrade over time leading to the clear film wholly or partially detaching from the box.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided packaging comprising a base and a sidewall, partially or completely surrounding and projecting from said base, the sidewall comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first and second layers having first and second cooperating apertures formed in a portion thereof, and an aperture cover sandwiched between said first and second layers, covering at least a portion of the first and/or second apertures, wherein one of the first and second layers has an embossed recess formed around the corresponding one of the first and second apertures to receive the aperture cover.

The first and/or second layers may be substantially opaque. The first and/or second layers may have different sizes, or may be substantially identical.

The aperture cover may be translucent. The aperture cover may be transparent.

The first and/or second apertures may be substantially identical.

Preferably the recess comprises an area of the first or second layer having a reduced wall thickness.

The first and second layers may be bonded together with adhesive. The aperture cover may have a border which is bonded by adhesive to the first and/or second layers.

The first and/or second layers may have one or more fold lines formed in them.

The first layer may form the outer surface of the packaging. The second layer may form the inner surface of the packaging. The first and second layers may be carton board. The second layer may be provided with a reflective coating at the inner surface of the packaging. The second layer may be a metalised board.

The packaging may be a carton board display tube or box for a bottle.

The carton board display tube or box may contain a bottle having a label thereon, the bottle being positioned within the carton board display tube or box such that the label is visible through the aperture cover from outside the carton board display tube or box, or is substantially aligned with the aperture cover.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for forming packaging comprising the steps of: forming an aperture in a first layer of board, forming an aperture in a second layer of board, forming a recess of reduced wall thickness around the aperture in one of the first and second layers by embossing the first or second layer, such that the recess has a wall thickness less than the wall thickness of the first or second layer adjacent to the recess, sandwiching a transparent or translucent aperture cover between the first layer and the second layer, locating said aperture cover in the recess of reduced wall thickness, bonding the first layer to the second layer, and forming the first and second layers to form a packaging wall.

The method may further comprise attaching the packaging wall to a base, such that the wall forms a sidewall of the packaging, partially or completely surrounding and projecting from said base.

The aperture cover may be affixed to the first and/or second layer with an adhesive.

The first and second layers may be offset from one another such that first and second tab portions extend from the completed assembly.

The first layer may form an outer surface of the packaging. The second layer may form an inner surface of the packaging. The first and second layers may be carton board. The second layer may be provided with a reflective coating at the inner surface of the packaging. The second layer may be a metalised board.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging blank comprising a first layer with a first aperture formed in it, a second layer with a second aperture formed in it, and an aperture cover, wherein the first layer and second layer are affixed with the aperture cover located between the first aperture and second aperture, wherein one of the first and second layers has an embossed recess formed around the corresponding one of the first and second apertures to receive the aperture cover.

The aperture cover may be translucent. The aperture cover may be transparent.

The first and/or second apertures may be substantially identical.

The first and/or second layers may have one or more fold lines formed in them.

The first and second layers may be carton board. The second layer may be provided with a reflective coating on the surface opposite the first layer. The second layer may be a metalised board.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of packaging according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a first layer of the packaging of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a second layer of the packaging of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a schematic of the first and second layers being joined to form a packaging blank; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a packaging blank; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line VI-VI in Fig. 5.

A packaging blank 10 comprises a first layer 12 and a second layer 14. The first layer 12 and second layer 14 are similar, and comprise carton board. Each layer 12, 14 is a rectangle of approximately 254 mm x 366 mm. First and second apertures 16, 18 are formed in the first and second layers 12, 14. In the present embodiment, the apertures 16, 18 are cut out of the layers 12, 14. The apertures 16, 18 are formed towards a first end 12a, 14a of each layer 12, 14. The first aperture 16 is approximately 165 mm x 79 mm and the second aperture 18 is slightly larger at approximately 167mm x 83mm with the greater dimension of each spanning the width (i.e. the lesser dimension) of the layers 12, 14. The apertures are formed with rounded edges 20 with approximately a 5mm radius.

Four fold lines 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e are formed in the first layer 12. Each fold line 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e is formed by a depression running across the width of the layer 12.

First fold line 12b is formed approximately 27mm from the first end 12a of the first layer 12. Second fold line 12c is formed approximately 148mm from the first fold line 12b or approximately 175mm from the first end 12a. Third fold line 12d is formed approximately 29mm from the second fold line 12c or approximately 204mm from the first end 12a. Fourth fold line 12e is formed approximately 148mm from the third fold line 12d or approximately 352mm from the first end 12a or approximately 14mm from a the second end 12f of the layer 12.

A first end tab 22 is formed between the first fold line 12b and the first end 12a. A front panel section 24 is formed between the first fold line 12b and second fold line 12c. The aperture 16 is formed in the front panel section 24. A side panel section 26 is formed between the second fold line 12c and the third fold line 12d. A rear panel section 28 is formed between the third fold line 12d and the fourth fold line 12e. A second end tab 30 is formed between the fourth fold line 12e and the second end 12f.

Four fold lines 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e are formed in the second layer 14. Each fold line 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e is formed by a depression running across the width of the layer 14. First fold line 14b is formed approximately 14mm from the first end 14a of the first layer 14. Second fold line 14c is formed approximately 148mm from the first fold line 14b or approximately 172mm from the first end 14a. Third fold line 14d is formed approximately 29mm from the second fold line 14c or approximately 201mm from the first end 14a. Fourth fold line 14e is formed approximately 148mm from the third fold line 14d or approximately 334mm from the first end 14a or approximately 14mm from a the second end 14f of the layer 14.

The fold lines 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e are formed by the scoring of score lines across the layers 12, 14.

A first end tab 32 is formed between the first fold line 14b and the first end 14a. A front panel section 34 is formed between the first fold line 14b and second fold line 14c. The aperture 18 is formed in the front panel section 34. A side panel section 36 is formed between the second fold line 14c and the third fold line 14d. A rear panel section 38 is formed between the third fold line 14d and the fourth fold line 14e. A second end tab 40 is formed between the fourth fold line 14e and the second end 14f.

A recess 42 is formed in the front panel section 34. It is an indentation 280mm x 132mm formed approximately 7mm from the lower edge 14g of the second layer 14 and 26mm from the upper edge 14h of the second layer 14. The aperture 18 is located approximately at the centre of the recess 42.

A clear plastic aperture cover 44 measuring approximately 110mm x 195mm is adhesively bonded over the aperture 18 with a border of approximately 15mm surrounding the aperture 18. The plastic may be PET or any other suitable plastic.

The plastic may be clear and transparent, or may be coloured so that it remains translucent. The adhesive used to bond the aperture cover 44 to the recess 42 may be any suitable adhesive, for example cold PVA.

The recess 42 can be seen in the view of Fig. 6. The recess 42 is preferably formed by embossing. In Fig. 6 it is the second layer 14 which has the recess, but instead the recess may be provided in the inner layer 12. The recess comprises an area of the first or second layer having a reduced wall thickness. The effect is that the reverse surface of the layer with the recess is smooth, so that if the surface is an outer surface of the packaging, the visual appearance of the packaging is not impaired, and if the surface is an inner surface of the packaging, there are no uneven steps arising from the sandwich construction which may cause damage to the contents of the packaging, for example the decorative label of a bottle inside the packaging.

The two layers 12, 14 are adhesively bonded together with any suitable adhesive, for example cold PVA. The fold lines 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e of the first layer 12 are overlaid onto the fold lines 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e of the second layer 14, with the apertures 16, 18 being aligned and the aperture cover 44 being sandwiched between the two layers 12, 14. This forms a packaging blank 10 with corresponding fold lines 46b, 46c, 46d, 46e formed from the union of the fold lines 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e of the first layer 12 and the fold lines 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e of the second layer 14. At either end of the packaging blank 10 project the shorter first end tabs 22, 32 overlaid by the longer second end tabs 30, 40. Thus, although generally doubly ply, a single ply tab 46a, 46f projects from either end of the blank 10.

The packaging blank 10 may be assembled into a packaging tube or box 48. In the packaging tube or box 48 depicted in Figs. land 5, the blank 10 is folded around each of its fold lines 46b, 46c, 46d, 46e. The shorter tab 46a, 46f and side panel sections 50 are maintained substantially flat, whereas the front panel section 52, which includes the covered aperture 54, and rear panel section 56 are curved. Thus, a generally oval prism is formed. A corresponding shaped base 58 is affixed to one and of the packaging tube or box 48 and a corresponding removable top (not shown) is used as a closure to the box.

Suitable contents, such as a bottle B containing a beverage (not shown), may be placed into the box 48. The bottle B may have a label (not shown) describing its content, and the label may be visible through the aperture cover 44. Therefore, the box 48 itself need not carry product information additional to that already visible on the bottle label through the aperture 54.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described but may be modified.

For example, the fold lines 12b to 12e, 14b to 14e may be dispensed with and the resulting packaging tube or box may therefore be a cylindrical shape or it may be formed as an obround prism shape. More or fewer fold lines may be placed into the layers to provide differently shaped packaging of any suitable type.

Moreover, the layers 12, 14 need not be rectangular, but could be triangular, leading to a conical or pyramidal shaped packaging, or may be other quadrilaterals leading to frustum shaped packaging, or indeed any suitable shape.

The apertures 16, 18 and aperture cover 44 need not be rectangular or substantially rectangular, but may be of any shape or size to provide varying shapes of aperture for product to be viewed.

More apertures 16, 18 may be formed in the first and/or second layers 12, 14 to provide more apertures 54 within the blank 10 or packaging produced from the blank 10. They may or may not include aperture covers 44. For example, further apertures and an aperture cover may be formed in the layers such that a window is formed in the rear panel, side panel, or each panel may have multiple apertures formed in it; for example, the front panel may have two windows formed in it. The aperture may extend across one or more fold lines, so that the resulting window extends across two or more non-parallel panels.

A separate aperture cover 44 may be provided for each aperture 54, or a single aperture cover 44 may cover two or more apertures 54.

The layers 10, 12 may be formed from any suitable material, not necessarily carton board. Moreover, the aperture cover 44 need not be PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) but may be any suitable material. Moreover, the layers 10, 12 and aperture cover 44 need not be fully opaque and fully transparent, but instead may have differing light transmission properties, for example translucent and translucent, translucent and opaque, opaque and translucent and so forth, providing various product appearances.

The layers 10, 12 need not be carton board, and may be formed from any other suitable substrate, such as plastics, paper, etc. In one embodiment the second layer 14 may be provided with a reflective coating at the inner surface of the packaging. The second layer 14 may be a metalised board, or any board having a foil reflective layer. This offers the advantage of reflecting light from the inner surface of the packaging onto the bottle B in the packaging, so that the bottle B and its contents may be better viewed. The effective is enhanced if internal illumination is used in the packaging, or if the contents of the bottle B are clear or translucent.

Further, as will readily be apparent to the skilled addressee, the packaging is not limited to that for bottles, but may be used for any suitable goods or products which may require such packaging.

Claims

Claims 1. Packaging comprising a base and a sidewall, partially or completely surrounding and projecting from said base, the sidewall comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first and second layers having first and second cooperating apertures formed in a portion thereof, and an aperture cover sandwiched between said first and second layers, covering at least a portion of the first and/or second apertures, wherein one of the first and second layers has an embossed recess formed around the corresponding one of the first and second apertures to receive the aperture cover.
2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the aperture cover is translucent or transparent.
3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second apertures are substantially identical in shape and size.
4. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the recess comprises an area of the first or second layer having a reduced wall thickness.
5. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second layers are bonded together with adhesive
6. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the aperture cover has a border which is bonded by adhesive to at least one of the first and second layers.
7. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second layers have one or more fold lines formed in them.
8. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the first layer forms the outer surface of the packaging and the second layer forms the inner surface of the packaging.
9. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second layers are carton board.
10. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the second layer is provided with a reflective coating at the inner surface of the packaging.
11. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the surface of the embossed layer opposite the embossed recess is smooth.
12. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner surface of the packaging in the region of the embossed recess is smooth. 10
13. A method for forming packaging comprising the steps of: forming an aperture in a first layer of board, forming an aperture in a second layer of board, forming a recess of reduced wall thickness around the aperture in one of the first and second layers by embossing the first or second layer, such that the recess has a wall thickness less than the wall thickness of the first or second layer adjacent to the recess, sandwiching a transparent or translucent aperture cover between the first layer and the second layer, locating said aperture cover in the recess of reduced wall thickness, bonding the first layer to the second layer, and forming the first and second layers to form a packaging wall.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising attaching the packaging wall to a base, such that the wall forms a sidewall of the packaging, partially or completely surrounding and projecting from said base.
15. The method of any of claims 13 to 14, further comprising affixing the aperture cover to at least one of the first and second layers with an adhesive.
16. The method of any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the first and second layers are offset from one another prior to the bonding step such that first and second tab portions extend from the completed assembly.
17. The method of any of claims 13 to 16, wherein in the forming step the first layer forms an outer surface of the packaging wall and the second layer forms an inner surface of the packaging wall.
18. The method of any of claims 13 to 17, wherein the first and second layers are carton board.
19. The method of any of claims 13 to 18, wherein the second layer is provided with a reflective coating at the inner surface of the packaging wall.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second layer is a metalised board.
21. A packaging blank comprising a first layer with a first aperture formed in it, a second layer with a second aperture formed in it, and an aperture cover, wherein the first layer and second layer are affixed with the aperture cover located between the first aperture and second aperture, wherein one of the first and second layers has an embossed recess formed around the corresponding one of the first and second apertures to receive the aperture cover.
22. The packaging blank of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and second layers is substantially opaque.
23. The packaging blank of claim 21 or 22, wherein the first and second apertures are substantially identical in shape and size.
24. The packaging blank of any of claims 21 to 23, wherein the recess comprises an area of the first or second layer having a reduced wall thickness.
25. The packaging blank of any of claims 21 to 24, wherein the first and second layers are bonded together with adhesive.
26. The packaging blank of any of claims 21 to 25, wherein the aperture cover has a border which is bonded by adhesive to at least one of the first and second layers.
27. The packaging blank of any of claims 21 to 26, wherein the first and second layers have one or more fold lines formed in them.
28. The packaging blank of any of claims 21 to 27, wherein the first and second layers are carton board.
29. The packaging blank of any of claims 21 to 28, wherein the second layer is provided with a reflective coating on the surface opposite the first layer.
30. The packaging blank of claim 29, wherein the second layer is a metalised board.
31. Packaging according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the packaging is a carton board display tube or box for a bottle.
32. A package comprising packaging according to claim 31 and a bottle contained within the carton board display tube or box, wherein the bottle has a label thereon, and wherein the bottle is positioned within the carton board display tube or box such that the label is visible through the aperture cover from outside the carton board display tube or box, or is substantially aligned with the aperture cover.