WO2022214442A1

WO2022214442A1 - Carton, carton blank and method for making a carton

Info

Publication number: WO2022214442A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/058914
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Westman; Markus Palmnas
Original assignee: McNeil AB
Current assignee: McNeil AB
Priority date: 2021-04-08
Filing date: 2022-04-05
Publication date: 2022-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carton, a carton blank, and a method for folding a carton comprising a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a first dust flap extending from a top edge of the first side panel, a second dust flap extending from a top edge of the second side panel, and a reclosable top closure panel extending from a top edge of the rear panel, the top closure panel being at least as long as a top edge of the first side panel and being fastened to each of the first and second dust flaps along the top edge of the first and second side panels, respectively, for prohibiting removal of goods from an interior of the carton.

Description

CARTON, CARTON BLANK AND METHOD FOR MAKI NG A CARTON

TECHN ICAL FIELD

[0001 ] The present invention relates to a carton, a carton blank and a method for making a carton.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A carton is a packaging container made from in paper-based substrate that is folded to form the packaging container or carton. Commonly a carton is a box, a container or a tube usually made of cardboard. Cardboard is a material made from cellulose fiber (such as wood pulp) like paper but usually thicker. The carton or packaging container are commonly folded from a blank, also referred to as a carton blank. The blank comprises substantially all panels and flaps forming the carton. There are plenty of carton designs on the market today. However, most of the simple cartons are not particularly sturdy and most of the sturdy cartons are quite complex.

[0003] From the above it is understood that there is room for improvements and the invention aims to solve or at least mitigate the above and other problems.

SUMMARY

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide an improved carton.

[0005] The invention is defined by the appended independent claims. Additional features and advantages of the concepts disclosed herein are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the described technologies. The features and advantages of the concepts may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the described technologies will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosed concepts as set forth herein.

[0006] In a first aspect, a carton comprises a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a first dust flap extending from a top edge of the first side panel, a second dust flap extending from a top edge of the second side panel, and a reclosable top closure panel extending from a top edge of the rear panel, the top closure panel being at least as long as a top edge of the first side panel and being fastened to each of the first and second dust flaps along the top edge of the first and second side panels, respectively, for prohibiting removal of goods from an interior of the carton. An advantage of fastening the top closure panel to the dust flaps is that it is made more difficult to access the interior of the carton and also it is made more difficult to access the interior of the carton to remove goods without leaving a trace indicating that the carton has been accessed.

[0007] In some embodiments the top closure panel is fastened to each of the first and second dust flaps by adhesive. Further, an area of the first and second dust flaps where the adhesive is arranged may be provided with a pattern that is formed by cuts extending partially through the first and second dust flaps, respectively. By arranging the cuts on the dust flaps where the adhesive is to be arranged, which in a majority of cases is on an outer surface of the carton blank used for the carton, the adhesive will more easily adhere to the surface of the dust flap. Further, when the adhesive bond between the dust flap and the top closure panel is broken, resulting from the interior of the carton being accessed, the surface of the dust flap will have an increased chance of visible damages to the surface that may easily be recognized as a sign that someone has tampered with the carton.

[0008] Moreover, in some embodiments the top closure panel is fastened to the first and second dust flaps at least at an area positioned at a midpoint along the top edge of the first and second side panels, respectively. The advantage of this positioning of the area for fastening is that is that it makes the carton more difficult to access without leaving a trace.

[0009] In some embodiments the top closure panel is fastened to the first and second dust flaps at least at an area extending in a direction parallel to the top edge of the first and second side panels, respectively, for at least half the length of the top edge of the first and second side panels, respectively. The advantage of such an area for fastening is that it makes the carton more difficult to access without leaving a trace.

[0010] In some embodiments the carton further includes a top tuck flap extending from an edge of the top closure panel opposite to the edge of the top closure panel that is connecting the top closure panel to the rear panel, the top tuck flap being arranged to be tucked in between the front panel and the first and second dust flaps when the first and second dust flaps are folded into an angle in relation to respective side panel, thereby enabling reclosure of the carton.

[0011 ] In further embodiments the carton further comprises an outer top closure panel extending from the front panel and being folded down on top of the top closure panel, the outer top closure panel being fastened on top of the top closure panel, wherein at least part of the transition of the carton blank from the front panel to the outer top closure panel is arranged as a perforated line to facilitate tearing of the outer top closure from the front panel. One advantage of the arrangement of the outer top closure panel is that the carton will get increased stability in both as an unopened carton and as a reclosed carton.

[0012] In some embodiments the outer top closure panel is extending over the top closure panel less than half the length of the top edge of the side panels.

[0013] According to another aspect a carton blank comprises a rear panel, a first side panel, a front panel, a top closure panel extending from a top edge of the rear panel, the top closure panel being at least as long as a top edge of the first side panel, a first dust flap extending from a top edge of the first side panel, the dust flap including a surface pattern cut partially through the dust flap, and a second dust flap extending from a top edge of the second side panel, the dust flap including a surface pattern cut partially through the dust flap. The advantages presented in relation to the first aspect is applicable to this additional aspect as well.

[0014] In some embodiments the surface pattern is in the form of a hatched or crosshatched area.

[0015] Moreover, some embodiments further comprises an outer top closure panel extending from the front panel, wherein at least part of the transition from the front panel to the outer top closure panel is arranged as a perforated line to facilitate tearing of the outer top closure from the front panel.

[0016] According to yet another aspect a method for producing a carton according to any previously described embodiments comprises folding the rear panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the front panel into a tube, folding the first and second dust flaps so that they are protruding in a direction towards the interior of the tube and substantially perpendicular to the first and second side panel, respectively, and folding the top closure panel on top of the first and second dust flaps closing the top of the carton, the top closure panel being fastened to each of the first and second dust flaps by adhesive arranged between the top closure panel and the first and second dust flaps, respectively. The advantages presented in relation to the first aspect is applicable to this additional aspect as well.

[0017] Some embodiments further comprises folding an outer top closure panel, the outer top closure panel being a panel extending from the front panel, on top of the top closure panel, the outer top closure panel being fastened to the top of the top closure panel by adhesive arranged between the top closure panel and the outer top closure panel.

[0018] A further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. Hence, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described as such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a panel" or "the panel" may include several sensors, and the like. Furthermore, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] In order to best describe the manner in which the above-described embodiments are implemented, as well as define other advantages and features of the disclosure, a more specific description is provided below and is illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, the examples will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] Fig. 1 is a diagram over a carton blank according to some embodiments of the invention,

[0021 ] Fig. 2a is a perspective view of a carton made from the blank in Fig. 1 , and

[0022] Fig. 2b is a perspective view of the carton in Fig. 2a after initial opening of the carton.

[0023] Further, in the figures like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts or features throughout the several figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Hereinafter, certain embodiments will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the inventive concept. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosed herein. The embodiments herein are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept, and that the claims be construed as encompassing all equivalents of the present inventive concept which are apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventive concept pertains. If nothing else is stated, different embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0025] The present invention relates to a packaging container made from a paper- based substrate that is folded to form the packaging container or carton. A carton should be understood as a box or container usually made from cardboard, wherein cardboard is a material made from cellulose fiber (such as wood pulp) like paper and usually, but not necessarily, thicker.

[0026] Now referring to Fig. 1 , a carton according to some embodiments of the invention includes a carton blank 10 formable into a carton having a lid that is arranged to be opened and enabled to be closed after it has been opened a first time. The carton blank 10 and, thus, the carton, includes a rear panel 12, a right side panel 14, and a left side panel 16 and a front panel 18 which in combination in the erected carton defines the opening to the carton and form the walls of the carton. Sometimes, these walls, when combined as described, is referred to as a tube. The bottom panels of the carton may be designed in many ways as long as there is a bottom formed in the carton. For instance, the bottom may be formed by an inner bottom closure panel 20, an outer bottom closure panel 22, a right side bottom closure flap 24 and a left side bottom closure flap 26. The right side bottom closure flap 24 being arranged to extend from a bottom edge 28 of the right side panel 14 and the left side bottom closure flap 26 being arranged to extend from a bottom edge 30 of the left side panel 16. The inner bottom closure panel 20 being arranged to extend from the bottom edge 32 of the rear panel 12 and the outer bottom closure panel 22 being arranged to extend from the bottom edge 34 of the front panel 18.

[0027] According to some embodiments the top panels of the carton blank 10 includes a top closure panel 36 that is reclosable, an outer top closure panel 38, a right dust flap 40, and a left dust flap 42. The top closure panel 36 being arranged to extend from a top edge 44 of the rear panel 12 and the outer top closure panel 38 being arranged to extend from a top edge 46 of the front panel 18. The right dust flap 40 being arranged to extend from a top edge 48 of the right side panel 14 and the left dust flap 42 being arranged to extend from a top edge 50 of the left side panel 16. The carton blank 10 have one outer surface 52 and one inner surface, not shown in Fig. 1 . The outer surface 52 of the carton blank 10 is the surface that will form the outside of the carton when assembled and the inner surface of the carton blank is the surface that will be forming inside of the carton. Each of the right and left dust flaps 40,42, is provided with a hatch pattern 54 cut through the surface of the outer surface 52 of the carton blank material. The cuts of the hatch pattern 54 may have a depth that allows the cut to closely penetrate a surface coating of the cardboard to a depth that is half the thickness of the carton. The hatch pattern 54 may in some embodiments be a crosshatch pattern 45. The hatch pattern 54 may be positioned in an area of each dust flap 40, 42, where they are to be attached to the top closure panel 36 by use of an adhesive. [0028] Further the top closure panel 36 extends at a front edge 55 of the top closure panel 36 into a top tuck flap 56, which is arranged to facilitate the reclosing of the top closure panel. The front edge 55 of the top closure panel 36 is the edge of the top closure panel that when the carton blank is folded into a carton is at the front of the folded carton. Some features of the top tuck flap 56 arrangement that are facilitating the reclosure of the top closure panel are two through cuts 58 extending from the left and right side of the top tuck flap 56 in a direction parallel to the front edge of the top closure panel 36 and extending only a portion of the distance between the left and right side of the top closure panel 36. In some embodiments it is extending between 3 mm and 10 mm. In some cases these through cuts 58 ends at a distal end, seen from the right and left edge, respectively, of the flap, with a connecting cut perpendicular to the through cuts 58.

[0029] At least part of the top edge 46 of the front panel 18, connecting the front panel 18 to the outer top closure panel 38 may, be perforated to facilitate the separation of the outer top closure panel from the front panel 18. The perforation may further form an arc from the top edge into the front panel to form a thumb grip 60 that may, when the carton blank has been formed into a carton, be pushed loose from the front panel allowing a user to insert a finger and thereby facilitating the pulling free of the outer top closure panel 38 from the front panel 18 and thereby opening the carton.

[0030] Now referring to Figs 1 and 2a-b, the cartonlOO may be formed from any embodiment of the above-described carton blank 10, where the carton blank is forming a carton by folding the blank into a tube comprising the rear panel 12, the right panel 14, the left panel 16 and the front panel 18. One of these panels 12, 14, 16, 18, not being connected to two neighboring panels is attached to another one of the panels not being connected to two neighboring panels by means of a glue flap 62 extending from one of these two panels. In a carton made from the carton blank 10 of Fig. 1 the glue flap 62 is arranged to attach the rear panel 12 to the right panel 14.

[0031 ] The bottom of the carton 100, not shown in Figs 2a-b may in some embodiments be formed by the two bottom closure flaps 24, 26, the inner bottom panel 20 and the outer bottom panel 22. The bottom closure flaps 24, 26 may be shorter panels folded into a position where they each seal an edge, e.g. the right hand bottom edge and the left hand bottom edge, between one of the walls of the carton and the bottom. The inner bottom panel 20 and the outer bottom panel 22 may be folded after the bottom closure flaps 24, 26 and be attached to each other two create a firm bottom of the carton 100. In some embodiments the inner bottom panel 20 is folded first and then the outer bottom panel 22 is folded into contact with the surface 52 of the inner bottom panel 20. This position of the inner bottom panel 20 in relation to the outer bottom panel 22 may be fixed by providing adhesive between the two panels. Further, the surface of the two bottom closure flaps 24, 26, may also be attached to both or at least one of the inner bottom panel 20 or the outer bottom panel, e.g. by using a suitable adhesive.

[0032] The top of the carton 100, being the end of the carton 100 where the interior of the carton 100 is to be accessed, is formed by each of the dust flaps 40, 42, being folded towards each other, then the top closure panel 36 is folded over the dust flaps 40, 42 and the top tuck flap 56 is folded and inserted at a position between the inner surface of the front panel 18 and edges of the dust panels 40,42. The outer top closure panel 38 is then folded onto the outer surface of the top closure panel 36 and fixed to the top closure panel 36 by means of adhesive. The top closure panel 36 is also fixed to the two dust flaps 40, 42, by means of adhesive 102, the adhesive 102 being arranged in the area of each dust flap 40, 42, coinciding with the hatched area 54. Further the hatch pattern 54 may be positioned to cover a central portion of each of the dust flaps 40, 42, central in respect of the direction of the right and left top edges 48, 50, respectively. The area hatched 54 may have a width, i.e. a length in a direction perpendicular to the corresponding left or right top edge 48, 50, that is at least 50% of the width of the corresponding dust flap 40, 42. The length of the area hatched 54, i.e. in a direction parallel to the corresponding left or right top edge 48,

50 may be at least 40% of the length of the corresponding top edge 48, 50 for each dust flap 40, 42. In some embodiments the length of the hatched area is substantially the full length of the dust flap 40, 42, with some margins at each end, e.g. the length may correspond to at least 90% of the length of the corresponding top edge 48, 50. The adhesive is arranged on the hatched area and as a result of the positioning on the dust flaps 40, 42, attachment to the top closure panel 36 it will be very difficult, if not even impossible, to access the interior of the carton 100 and remove and or tamper with items placed in the carton 100 without tearing the hatched surface of the dust flaps 40, 42, from the base structure of the dust flaps 40, 42, and thereby leaving a clearly visible indication that the carton has been tampered with. Moreover, this arrangement also facilitates the opening of the carton 100, because the hatched surface 54 of the dust flaps 40, 42 will detach from the base structure of the carton more easily if the adhesive 102 for example is aggressively attached to the surfaces of the cartoon. In some embodiments the hatching helps to make the adhesive 102 stick to a surface that otherwise may be difficult to have the adhesive stick to. The adhesive used may be any type of adhesive normally used in the making of cartons, e.g. hot glue, white glue, tape, etc. The positioning and the extent of the area hatched 54 may, as discussed above, vary. However, the positioning and extend should at least be covering such an area that it makes it difficult, even impossible, for someone to access the interior of the carton 100 and remove items without tearing away the hatched area on a dust flap 40,42. Another advantage of the fixing the dust flaps 40, 42, to the top closure panel 36 as discussed above is that the top closure panel stay close to the top edge of the carton 100 and do not arc leaving an opening into the carton 100. The arrangement will also secure items in the cartons during transport. Another advantage is that the above discussed embodiments of the carton, with all the advantages to integrity and security of the carton and the items provided in the carton, still is easy to open for a user.

[0033] The act of a user opening a carton is further facilitated by the arrangement of the perforation along the parts of the top edge 46 of the front panel 18 and the thumb grip 60 defined by additional perforations forming an arc into the front panel 18 and connecting to the perforation or perforations along the top edge 46. By this arrangement, the outer top closure panel 38, which is fixedly attached to the top of the top closure panel 36, will be easily disconnected from the front panel 18 and thereby leave the user to only break the connection between the top closure panel 36 and the dust flaps in order to open the carton. The top closure panel 36 retain the top tuck flap 56 during an opening operation of the carton and thereby the carton will be reclosable after the carton has been opened the first time, even after breaking all the bonds arranged to fixedly arrange the top closure arrangement for transport and for avoiding unnoticed access of the interior of the carton. After the carton has been opened the first time the outer top closure panel 38 may still be attached to the top closure panel 36 at the end where the top tuck flap 56 extends from the top closure panel and the outer top closure panel 38 may thereby reinforce that edge of the top closure panel 36 and facilitating the reclosure of the top closure panel.

[0034] The embodiment depicted in the figures is provided with side panels 14, 16 that each is longer in the top edge direction than the length of any one of the rear panel 12 and the front panel 14 in corresponding top edge direction. Cartons formed like this are prone to tampering or theft of the goods from the interior of the carton.

[0035] The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1 . A carton (100) comprising: a rear panel (12), a first side panel (16), a second side panel (14), a front panel (18), a first dust flap (42) extending from a top edge (50) of the first side panel (16), a second dust flap (40) extending from a top edge (48) of the second side panel (14), and a reclosable top closure panel (36) extending from a top edge of the rear panel (12), the top closure panel (36) being at least as long as a top edge (50) of the first side panel (16) and being fastened to each of the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) along the top edge (48, 50) of the first and second side panels (14, 16), respectively, for prohibiting removal of goods from an interior of the carton, wherein the top closure panel (36) is fastened to each of the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) by adhesive and wherein an area of the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) where the adhesive is arranged is provided with a pattern (54) that is formed by cuts extending partially through the first and second dust flaps (40, 42), respectively.

2. The carton (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the top closure panel (36) is fastened to the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) at least at an area positioned at a midpoint along the top edge (48, 50) of the first and second side panels (14, 16), respectively.

3. The carton (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the top closure panel (36) is fastened to the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) at least at an area extending in a direction parallel to the top edge (48, 50) of the first and second side panels (14, 16), respectively, for at least half the length of the top edge (48, 50) of the first and second side panels (14,16), respectively.

4. The carton (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further including a top tuck flap (56) extending from an edge (55) of the top closure panel (36) opposite to the edge of the top closure panel (36) that is connecting the top closure panel (36) to the rear panel (12), the top tuck flap (56) being arranged to be tucked in between the front panel (18) and the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) when the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) are folded into an angle in relation to respective side panel (14, 16), thereby enabling reclosure of the carton (100).

5. The carton (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an outer top closure panel (38) extending from the front panel (18) and being folded down on top of the top closure panel (36), the outer top closure panel (38) being fastened on top of the top closure panel (36), wherein at least part of the transition of the carton blank from the front panel (18) to the outer top closure panel (38) is arranged as a perforated line (46) to facilitate tearing of the outer top closure (38) from the front panel (18).

6. The carton (100) according to claim 5, wherein the outer top closure panel (38) is extending over the top closure panel (36) less than half the length of the top edge (48, 50) of the side panels (14,16).

7. The carton (100) according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the side panels (14, 16) are longer in a direction along the top edge (48, 50) of any one of the side panels (14,16) than any one of the rear panel (12) and the front panel (18) in a direction along a top edge of any one of the rear panel (12) and the front panel (18).

8. A carton blank (10) comprising: a rear panel (12), a first side panel (16), a second side panel (14), a front panel (18), a top closure panel (36) extending from a top edge of the rear panel (12), the top closure panel (36) being at least as long as a top edge (50) of the first side panel (16), a first dust flap (42) extending from a top edge (50) of the first side panel (16), the dust flap (42) including a surface pattern (54) cut partially through the dust flap (42), and a second dust flap (40) extending from a top edge (48) of the second side panel (14), the dust flap (40) including a surface pattern (54) cut partially through the dust flap (40).

9. The carton blank (10) according to claim 8, wherein the surface pattern (54) is in the form of a hatched or crosshatched area.

10. The carton blank (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 9, further comprising an outer top closure panel (38) extending from the front panel (18), wherein at least part of the transition from the front panel (18) to the outer top closure panel (38) is arranged as a perforated line (46) to facilitate tearing of the outer top closure (38) from the front panel (18).

11 . A method for producing a carton (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising: folding the rear panel (12), the first side panel (16), the second side panel (14), and the front panel (18) into a tube, folding the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) so that they are protruding in a direction towards the interior of the tube and substantially perpendicular to the first and second side panels (14, 16), respectively, and folding the top closure panel (36) on top of the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) closing the top of the carton (100), the top closure panel (36) being fastened to each of the first and second dust flaps (40, 42) by adhesive arranged between the top closure panel (36) and the first and second dust flaps (40, 42), respectively.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising folding an outer top closure panel (38), the outer top closure panel (38) being a panel extending from the front panel (18), on top of the top closure panel (36), the outer top closure panel (38) being fastened to the top of the top closure panel (36) by adhesive arranged between the top closure panel (36) and the outer top closure panel (38).