Commonly vases are formed from plastics material or glass. Such structure are relatively expensive to manufacture. Vases formed from paperboard or the like are known. For example, US 3,924,795 and US 4,910,913. A problem associated with the prior art is that known paperboard containers are not liquid-tight. Furthermore, known paper containers generally lack strength when compared to vases formed from plastics material particularly when it is desirable for containers to be self-supporting structures.

The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a receptacle for holding articles for example flowers or the like which receptacle is formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material and can be erected from a flat collapsed condition into a position of use, a carton comprising a pair of side panels foldably connected together along opposed side edges and the base foldably connected to said side panels to form a sealed open-topped

compartment, wherein said side panels are displaced out of the flat collapsed condition to create an open-ended tubular structure to receive said articles by folding the base inwardly between the side panels such that a central part of the base is displaced inwardly beyond its ends in order to encourage the receptacle to remain in a set up condition until it is loaded.

Preferably, said central part of said base is displaced so as to act as a strut to resist collapse until said receptacle is loaded. More preferably, the base may comprise first and second panels foldably connected together by a lateral fold line which are folded inwardly between the side panels and out of alignment about said lateral fold line such that said lateral fold line is interposed said side walls so as to act as the strut.

According to an optional feature of the first aspect of the invention the base may be folded about a fold line extending longitudinally along a portion of said base to define a pair of base portions folded about said longitudinal fold line and in face contacting relationship when said receptacle is in a flat collapsed condition.

According to a further optional feature of the first aspect of the invention said side walls may comprise one or more fold lines so arranged with said lateral fold line to create a polygonal tubular structure.

According to yet another optional feature of the first aspect of the invention there may further comprise one or more support panels connected to one of said side panels and extending

beyond said base to provide at least one support edge such that the carton is held in an upright self-supporting position by said support edge on a surface. Preferably, there comprises a pair of support panels shaped to provide two support edges in spaced relationship.

According to yet another optional feature of the first aspect of the invention the side walls may be foldably connected together at their side edges to form one or more support flanges wherein said outer side panel is connected along its opposite ends to said one or more support flanges and wherein a lower edge of the or each side flange assists in supporting the container on a surface in an upright position.

A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a receptacle for holding articles for example flowers or the like formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material, which blank may comprise a first side panel, a base and a second side panel hingably connected together in longitudinal arrangement wherein base comprises first and second base panels in lateral alignment being connected together by a lateral fold line extending between said first and second side walls and capable of enabling the base to be displaced inwardly so as to act as a strut to resist collapse of a set up carton.

According to another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, one of the side panels may be connected to first and second support panels foldably connected together in series and capable of supporting the set up carton in an upright position, said first and second

support panels are partially separated therefrom by a cut line shaped to provide a protrusion extending from each of said first and second support panels, which protrusion is capable of providing a supporting edge to support a set up container on a surface in an upright position.

According to yet an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention the base may further comprise a fold line extending longitudinally along a portion of said base foldable to define a pair of base portions to be placed in face contacting relationship when the carton is in a part-erected flat collapsed condition.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a detailed view of a portion of the blank shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of a carton formed from a blank shown in Figure 1; and FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate perspective views of a carton formed from the blank illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a blank 10 for forming a carton (or receptacle) made from one or more blanks of paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. The paperboard may be coated with suitable known layer to seal it thereby to prevent fluid from being absorbed. The blank 10 comprises first side panel 12, foldably connected to a base 14 along fold lines 16 and 18. Likewise, a second side panel 19 is foldably connected to the opposing edges of base 14 along fold lines 20,22.

Base 14 comprises a pair of base panels 24,26 hingedly connected together in a lateral relationship by fold line 29. Figure 1 shows base panels 24,26 that are triangular in shape and so arranged to define a diamond shaped base (in flat form). Fold line 56 can also be provided extending between the lower and upper edges of side panels 12 and 19. In this embodiment, fold line 56 is an extension of lateral fold line 29 to enable the tubular compartment to be formed corresponding to the shape of the base 14.

Of course, the base (and/or tubular compartment), could be square, rectangular or another polygonal shape, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, fold line 29 could be replaced with two lateral fold lines spaced apart by another panel, which would define a hexagonal base.

Turning in detail to the construction of the first and second base panels, fold lines 16 and 20 inwardly diverge towards lateral fold line 29 and likewise, fold lines 18 and 22 inwardly diverge towards fold line 29 to define triangular shaped panels. Preferably, there may further comprises a fold line 28 extending longitudinally along base 14. In this embodiment, fold line 28 bisects first and second base panels 24,26.

There may further comprise a pair of support panels 30,36 foldably connected to side panel 19 by fold line 32 which optionally extends from an upper end of side panel 19.

In this embodiment, fold line 32 is interrupted by cut line 34 extending across a portion of the upper edge of support panel 30. The support panels 30,36 are foldably connected together along interrupted fold line 32, and preferably, are separated thereto by cut lines 40,42, described in more detail below. In other classes of embodiments, one or more separate blanks may be used to form the support panels. It can be seen fold line 56 also extends between lower and upper edges of support panels 30,36.

There may further comprise a series of flanges 50,52,54 foldably connected to respective edges (preferably opposed side edges) of first and second side panels 12,19 by fold lines 51,53 and support panel 30 by fold line 55 respectively. In use, the side flanges are secured together to provide a sealed compartment. The flanges may also assist in supporting the vase on a surface.

Figure 2 shows first and second support panels 30,36 in more detail. It will be seen that there comprises a pair of diverging fold lines 46 and 48 which together with cut lines 40,42 defines a portion 44 of second support panel. In this embodiment, portion 44 is a triangular shape and corresponds to those parts of first and second base panels 12,14 intermediate longitudinal fold line 28 and first side panel 12.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that in this embodiment, cut lines 40 and 42 are separated by cut line 43 to define two protrusions 58,60 extending from support panels 30 and 36

respectively. In use, the free edge of each protrusion 58,60 provides a point of contact with a surface to assist in maintaining the carton in an upright position.

It is envisaged that the shape of the vase can be altered according to manufacturing or user requirements. For example, the upper portion 62 of the carton (shown in Figure 3) could be narrowed and/or the base 14 enlarged. By altering the shape of the carton, it is necessary by altering distance"A"increase or decrease the size of protrusions 58,60.

For example, if the upper portion 62 and base 14 are substantially the same size, then distance"A"needs to be increased to maintain the edges of protrusions 58,60 in contact with a surface.

The construction of the carrier is illustrated with reference to Figures 3,4 and 5: side panel 12 is folded about longitudinal fold line 28 and into face contacting relationship with second side panel 19 and are secured together by suitable means along their outer edges. In this embodiment, side flanges 50 of first side panel 12 are brought into face contacting relationship with side flanges 52 second side panel 19 and secured together by glue or other suitable means known in the art.

Thereafter, support panel 30 is folded about fold line 32 into face contacting relationship with second side panel 19 and is secured thereto by suitable securing means. In this embodiment, side flanges 54 are glued to side flanges 52. Second support panel 36 is folded about fold line 38 and is secured to the lower part of the outer face of first side panel 12 along its side edges or, as the case may be, outer portions 66 and flanges 50 respectively as shown in Figure 3. Thus, the carton is in a

flat collapsed form, shown in Figure 3, to be supplied to the user, so that it can be erected to provide a receptacle.

It is envisaged that the carton of the present invention can be formed by a series of sequential folding and gluing operations which can be formed in a straight line machine so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction.

The folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to the particular manufacturing requirements.

In order to set up the carton 68 into a position of use side panels 12,19 are folded in an outwardly direction about fold lines 51/53 and 56 to create an open-ended tubular structure which is polygonal in shape shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this embodiment, the structure is rectangular in shape although it is envisaged that the carton could be trapezoidal, rectangular, square, or another polygonal form.

At the same time, base 14 is pushed inwardly between side panels 12 and 19. In this embodiment, first and second base panels 24,26 are folded out of their collapsed condition such that the two portions of each base panel in face contacting relationship are moved apart by folding about longitudinal fold line 28 and fold lines 16,18 and 20, 22 respectively to form a flat panel. Thereafter, the base 14 continues to be pushed inwardly such that first and second base panels 24,26 are folded out of alignment about lateral fold line 29 in a tent like manner as shown in Figure 4. Base 14 is now configured to act as a strut 58. Thus, the carton is in a set-up condition shown in Figure 5 and it remains set up because base 14 exerts a reactive force on the side panels 12,19.

The protrusions 42,44 of support panels 30 and 36, and preferably, the lower edges of the support flanges 50,54 provide four points of contact to maintain the carton in a stable standing position when placed on a surface. In other classes of embodiments, there may be more or less points of contact, but usually at least three points of contact.

It is envisaged that the base 14 can be erected so as to act as a strut automatically by employing configurations other than those described above, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the lateral fold line need not be centrally positioned.

The base 14 in its position of use strengthens the overall carton structure and assists in maintaining the open-ended tubular structure when, for example, the carton is stored on a retail outlet shelf. Optionally, the second support panel 36 is partially separated from side panel 12 to receive a support bracket from a display stand. In other embodiments, the triangular panel portion 44 can be folded about fold lines 40 and 42 to abut part of the first and second base panels to provide additional support, by forming a two-ply structure.

Beneficially, the embodiment of the invention hereinbefore described provides a structure that is sufficiently strong to retain articles and to provide a water-tight paperboard receptacle or vase. The use of paperboard material provides an environmentally friendly alternative to vases formed from plastics material and the receptacle made from paperboard can include printed matter for marketing purposes.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as"top","base", "end"and"side"do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.

The present invention and its preferred embodiment relates to a carton or receptacle which is shaped to provide satisfactory rigidity to hold items such as flowers securely but with a degree of flexibility. The shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required for the carton. The carton can be constructed from a flat collapsed condition to a position of use by hand or automatic machinery. Furthermore, the base configured to act as a strut can be replaced by a strut formed from the outer panels of the carton and/or can include one or more struts without departing from the scope of the invention.