BACKGROUND TO THE PRESENT INVEM ION This invention relates to packaging and in particular to the packaging of certain particulate materials; for example sugar, flour and the like.

Up until this time, with the packaging of certain materials, and in particular with the packaging of sugar, problems have arisen in that sugar has often been packaged in individual packets of a desired weight, for use in retail outlets. However, before individual packets of, for example, sugar, reach retail outlets and the like, they must be transported and stored. This has involved many different means of parcelling, whereby a large number of individual packets have been packaged and bound together in for example, general paper parcels, in plastic film and the like. To a large extent this has been unsatisfactory, in that this has often resulted in the individual packages being broken and compressed, resulting in spillage, difficulties in handling and general inefficiencies.

Such packaging in for example paper and plastic film, has also resulted in the material being compressed, this also resulting in the breaking or bursting of individual packets. For example, where paper or plastic wrapped packages or individual packets are stored and transported, they are often placed one on top of the other, or adjacent each other, such as to place pressure on one or other; it is often this pressure that results in the breaking of the packets, this in turn resulting in difficulties with spillage, handling, inefficiencies and the like.

It is an object of this invention to go at least some way towards overcoming or at least minimising the above problems.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a straightforward and efficient packaging arrangement.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a packaging arrangement, including a base having a bottom surface and at least two upwardly extending base side walls on opposite sides thereof; a cover having a top surface and downwardly extending cover side walls on each side thereof; material to be packaged being located on said bottom surface of said base and within an area defined by at least the at least two upwardly extending base side walls; the cover being positioned over the base and said material to be packaged, such that lower side edges of said cover side walls extend below upper side edges of said at least two base side walls; at least two opposing cover side walls each being provided with at least one deformable flap; attachment means being provided between adjacent surfaces of said base side walls and said deformable flaps.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a packaging arrangement including a base having a bottom surface and upwardly extending base side walls on each side thereof; a cover having a top surface and downwardly extending cover side walls on each side thereof; a plurality of packets of particulate material being located on said bottom surface of said base and within an area defined by the upwardly extending base side walls; the cover being positioned over the packets located in said base, such that lower side edges of said cover side walls extend below and inwardly of upper side edges of said base side walls; at least two opposing cover side walls being provided with at least two laterally spaced apart and substantially vertical slots extending upwardly from lower side edges of said cover side walls, so as to define a deformable flap therebetween; bonding agent or adhesive being provided between an outer surface of each deformable flap and an adjacent inner surface of a base side wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 : is a partially exposed side perspective view of an arrangement according to one aspect of the invention;

Figure 2: is a sectional view of an arrangement according to a further form of the invention, Figure 3 : is a further sectional view of an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention sets out to provide an arrangement for packaging (and in particular the storage and transport) of packaged materials such as packaged particulate material (for example, flour, sugar and the like). By way of example only, the invention will be described with regard to the packaging of a plurality of granular sugar. This is however by way of example only.

In order to overcome the problems discussed above, the present invention provides a packaging arrangement which is able to package and contain packets of for example, sugar, to enable them to be stored and transported, in a manner such that the individual packets do not normally burst, tear or rip such as to cause the problems outlined above.

The packaging arrangement of the present invention is preferably constructed of an appropriate cardboard such as a reinforced or corrugated cardboard material, or alternatively from a reinforced plastics material which still retains some degree of flexibility. The invention does however provide for the packaging arrangement to be constructed of a material which is far stronger and more resilient than the paper and plastic film wrapping materials used up until this time. As discussed, these have not prevented packets from being compressed such that they burst and tear thus causing problems; they have also resulted in the general packaging being ripped and torn, this causing additional problems.

While the invention is described by way of example only, with reference to being constructed of cardboard material, it should be appreciated that the invention has equal application to other materials which have a degree of rigidity, while still retaining some degree of flexibility.

Referring therefore to the accompanying drawings, the packaging according to a preferred arrangement of the present invention includes a base 1 having a bottom surface 2 of a generally rectangular configuration, base side walls 3 extending upwardly from each side thereof to define an open-faced base 1.

The bottom surface 2 and base side walls 3 can be integrally formed or folded, or alternatively can be separate integers connected one to the other.

A cover 4 is provided which includes a top surface 5 of a generally rectangular configuration and downwardly extending cover side walls 6 extending downwardly from each side of the top surface 5.

In the preferred form of the invention the top surface 5 and side walls 6 are dimensioned so that they are able to closely fit within the confines of the base 1, as defined by the bottom surface 2 and base side walls 3. This is however, by way of example only, and in other forms of the invention the cover 4 can be dimensioned so that the cover side walls 6 will sit over and about outer surfaces of the base side walls 3.

The top surface 5 and cover side walls 6 of the cover 4 are preferably formed or folded integrally, or can be formed of separate integers, which are secured together in any appropriate manner.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, individual packets 7 of particulate material such as sugar are stacked within the base, on the upper surface of the bottom surface 2 and within that area defined by the base side walls 3. The cover 4 is then located over the packets 7 so that the cover side walls 6 fit inside the base 1 between outer surfaces of the packet 7 and inner surfaces of the side walls 3, and so that lower side edges 6b of the cover side walls 6 are positioned below upper side edges 3b of base side wall 3.

It is of course important to make sure that the cover 4 is attached to the base 1, because if they become separated or are detached one from the other, the packets 7 will become

loose and thus disadvantages such as those associated with known means of packaging, will occur.

The present invention therefore provides that adjacent sides of the cover and base be connected together, such as by an appropriate adhesive, glue, bonding agent or some other means of attachment. Such attachment will avoid the cover 4 and base 1 being separated or disconnected one from the other, such as during packaging, transport and the like, but will allow for a positive and intentional separation when for example it is desired to remove the packets 7 such as for example for retail display/sale, use and the like.

In the present invention therefore, an appropriate bonding agent or glue is applied between adjacent outer surfaces 6a of two opposing sides 6 of the cover 4 and two opposing inner surfaces of base sides 3 a of the base 1.

It has however been found that following such attachment and where the packaging arrangements are stacked one on top of the other, downward or inward pressure on certain packaging arrangements (for example those below others), will cause a downward movement to be applied to the cover 4, thus causing it to move downwardly relative to the base 1 (as shown by way of arrows in the accompanying drawings). If a straight connection between the base and cover existed, this might be broken by such movement, thus causing problems such as those discussed above.

In order to overcome or minimise this problem, at least two opposing cover side walls 6a are formed with a deformable flap 10, preferably intermediate ends of the opposing side walls 6. For example, such deformable flaps 10 can be provided on each of opposing sides 6a of the cover 4. The flaps 10 are preferably formed by two laterally spaced apart slots 11 being formed in the sides 6a, the slots 11 being elongate and extending upwardly from a lower edge surface 6b of the side walls 6a for a predetermined distance, so as to define a hinged flap 10 therebetween. In, or subsequent to, locating the cover 4 in position, relative to the base 1, (for example as shown in figure 2 of the accompanying drawings), an appropriate attachment means such as for example a bonding agent 12 is

applied between the outer surface of the flap 10 and the inner surface of a base side wall 3a.

It lias therefore been found that if and when a downward moment is applied to the cover 4 during stacking, transport and the like (and as indicated by arrows in the accompanying drawings), the deformable flap 10 formed of a material having some inherent flexibility, will concertina or fold, allowing the cover 4 to move downwardly to accommodate such movement from above while preventing the breaking of the connection 12 between the cover 4 and base 1.

It has been found in experimentation that this is a particularly effective way of overcoming the problems outlined above. As described, if and when it is desired to remove packets 7 from the packaging arrangement 1, a positive cutting or breaking moment can be applied to the connection 12 between the cover 4 and the base 1, while movement of the cover 4 relative to the base 1, during packaging, storage and the like, can be accommodated by means of the present invention, without, or at least minimising the likelihood of, an involuntary breaking of the connection.

By way of example only, however, it has been found that in one form of the invention it is appropriate to provide the slots 11 approximately 40mm apart, and of a height of approximately 60mm, extending upwardly from the lower edge surface 6b of the side 6a of the cover 4.

While the invention is described and illustrated with reference to one side of a container 1, it will be appreciated that corresponding features are provided on an opposing side, for example the opposing sides 3 a and 6a of the packaging arrangement shown in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

While the invention has been described by way of example only to the connection means between the cover 4 and base 1 being in the form of adhesive or bonding agent, it should be appreciated that other forms of connection could be utilised such as for example

staples and the like. It is however important that the connections be able to be disconnected on a positive or voluntary action being taken.

While the present invention has been described with reference to opposing side walls 6 having a single deformable flap 10, it should be appreciated that if desired, side walls 6 can be provided with a plurality of spaced apart deformable flaps.

The present invention has been described by way of example only and modifications and improvement may be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.