CARTON HAVING LOCKING FEATURES SUI TABLE FOR HAND-PACKING

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claim? the benefit of priority under 35 U. S. C. § 1 19(es of provisional application seπal number 60/761 %$ .0 led on January 25, 2006, wlneh rs hereby incorporated by reference m its eno ^' reis"-

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENIlON

1 his invention relates generally io unions lor packaging articles such as beverage cans, and more particularly to a canon v-nύi a feature formed in a canon end vvall to provide for a locking closure suitable for manααi packing of said carton.

Cartons having closure mechanisms are well known tn the art. An exam ple of a locking mechanism is disclosed in fm'εrnahonal Application PCT /IJ S 03 /04484 in which a carton is illustrated as hirving a tab-and-aperusre locking mechanism in a iop closure over contents such as boitlcs, In this mechanism, the locking tab is hinged Iy connected to a panel and the locking tab itself remains essentially flat daring the locking operation. Another locking mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,959,337 ,where the locking tab has a different shape bnt remains essentially ϊlat during ihe locking operation. Vet another locking mechanism is disclosed io U.S. Paϊom 4,077,095, where the locking tab cooperates with an adjoining snppon flap, Another lockimg. mecbasnsio is disclosed io U.S. Paten* 3,746,245. where the locking tab is folded, hut closαrc is achieved by nsmg two locking tabs along wish an adhesive.

Locking closure n'secbamsrns allow- canons to be closed by machinery or by manual operation, somet!nu-« with die added use of adhcsivcs. What is needed is a carton ha\big an integral easily-operated feaiure for manual closure and locking of the carton, wnhout needing adhessves irs ihe closure step, and w Ub a set ore locking capabiUty that is no? easily opened

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a canon including a top panel a pair of side panels hmgCiis> connected io the lop panel, and a bottom panel hingedly connected to the side panels. The canon, partially erected, forms a tubular structure to be tilled with containers such as beverage cans or bottles. The top, side, ύuά bottoms panels have end panels at each end, which may he folded in overlapping arrangement io close the respective ends. The end panels comprise apertures and tabs for providing a locking closure of the filled ca.rr.OB.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OP THE DRAWINGS

FlG. ! shows a plan view of a blank as viewed from Hs inner surface, from which a carters according to this kwemioπ is formed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a completed carton erected from the blank of PlG. i .

FlG. 3 is a further view of a completed carton, showing containers within the carton,

FlGs. 4 through 7 are further views of a completed cation., showing end flaps iolded over daring closing of the carton.

FlGs, 8 and 9 are end views of a completed carton, showing structural derads.

FIGs. SO through 12 are perspective vievvs of portions of the end panels io overlapped arrangement, showing their spatial relationship before and during the locking step,

FIG. 13 is a cross- section aide view of the end panels after the locking step.

FIG. H is a cross-section top view of the canon crsd after the locking step,

FfG. 15 is a view of a locking tab from within the carton.

FlG. 15 is an end view of the carton showing a tear-open feature.

FlG. 17 shows a plan view of a blank as viewed from its inner surface, from which another canon according to this invention is formed,

FIG, 18 is a perspective view of a completed canon erected from the blank of FIG. ) 5, showans- the side end Haps iolded over during closing of the carters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG, 1 , there is shown a blank 100 which when constructed, forms a canon 101 shown in FIG . 2 for packaging a plurality of articles such as beverage cans or bottles. In this embodiment, the canon 101 is a flu Iy enclosed carton designed to accommodate eight cans in iwo rows each containing four cans, but ihe blank or canon may be modified tor any number of cans, bottles, or other articles.

The blanl 100 has a top panel 1 10 a pair of side panels 120 and 130 hinged iy connected thereto along fold lines 1 17 and 118 respectively, and boUom panel 140 bingedly connected Io side panel 120 along fold line 127 Bottom panel 140 also is fnngedty connected to longitudinal glue flap 150 along fold iine 147. The ibid hncs 1 17, 1 18, 127, and 147 may he simple score lines, partially cut score lines, perforated lines or other suitable means.

Tbe top, side, and bottom panels each have hingεdly attached end panels connected thereto along fold hoes 152 and 154. The bottom panel I -K) has lower end flaps 141 and 142 which in use are folded to partially close the carton, Tbe top panel 1 10 has iop end (laps 1 1 1 and 1 12 which in use are folded down. Hingεdiv connected to me side panels 120 and 1 30 aion« told Imes are side end flaps 121 , 122, 131 , and 1 32 which are folded inwardly. The end flaps when ihns folded overlap certain other end flaps and are locked together as described .herein so as to fully enclose the ends of the carton 101 .

Formed into end Dap 1 ! 2 are provided & plurality of cut or score lines 180 which define a perforated or partially perforated region for tearing open a finished carton, as described later. Score hnes 182 may be provided to define a liap for grasping dtmng such a tearing operation,

On the end iiapa arc provided certain features which upon closing the carton will overlap to allow for locking of the end ilaps. The iop end Oaps 1 1 1 and i ! 2 are provided with locking tabs 170 thar include centra! regions 170 and side wings 172. The side end panels 121 , 122. 131 , and 132 are provided with apertures 1 55 that include a wider edge I 58 suitable for readily receiving locking tab 170, and narrower shoulder regions 156 lor helping retain locking tab 170

The bottom end panels 14] , 142 are provided with apenures 160 suuable for receiving locking tab 170, and also yielding flaps 162 thai a?x? bounded by the apertures !6O ₅ cut or score lines 164, and fold lints 166.

Also shown are regions demarcated by dotted lines, a.s exemplified by region 148. which daring assembly of the carton may be provided by adhesive to close or help close die carton. IJI particular, longitudinal glue flap 150 may be thus adhesively attached to side panel !3O ₁ to form a tubular structure prior to filling the carton. However., tor manual filling operations, closure of the end liana may preferably be accomplished without die use of an adhesive.

.MG. 2 shows the canon 101 bemg assembled from blank 100, into a tubular arrangement where securing lab 150 has been glued to iom bottom panel 140 wdh side panel 130, One or both ends of the carton may be opers at this point. For simplicity, only the "'near-" end of the carton will be deseπbed, whkh includes four end flaps considered to be ""adjacent" to one another {as opposed to the "iaf end of the carton, which has an additional four end flaps noi adjacent so the near end flaps.)

At this stage the carton could be filled with product, tor example with beverage combiners such as cans 102 as shown in FKJ. 3. For simplicity in illustration, the cans 102 are omitted from some of the following figures.

FlG. 4 shows the carton 1 Ol being assembled with an e.od partially closed as side end flap 132 has been iblded inward FlG. 5 shows a further step as side end flap 122 has been folded inward. The side end Daps 122 and 132 overlap, and apertures 1 55 of the side end flaps become superimposed as shown.

FIG. 6 shows the umher step of bottom εrκl flap 142 having been Iblded upward, with its aperture 160 and yielding flap 162 now overlapping die apertures 155 (no _* , shown) of l.be side end (laps. FlG. 7 shows Jhe further step of top end (lap 1 12 having been folded downward. Al this point, the carton is closed and ready for locking using locking tab 1 ?0.

FlG. R provides a detailed end view of the carton al this point, a - lso showing (or reference the approximate location of beverage cans 102 which are shown artificially shifted upward for clarity. FIG- 0 shows an end view of the carton., as ii would appear if the side wings 172 of kicking tab 170 are .(bided toward the viewer. When the locking tab 170 is pressed inward as shown in the following steps, the onibϊdeά side wings 172 are too wide to pass through apertures 160 and 155 on the bottom end Hap and side end flaps respectively, and the side wings 172 will thus yield or fold oiuward as the central portion j 74 of locking tab 170 moves inward into the canon.

FIG. K) shows an "exploded'" perspective view of portions of the overlapping end (laps, including side end flaps ! 32 and 122 S each having an aperture 155), bottom end flap 14? (having an aperture 160 and yielding tab 162) and top end flap I H (having locking tab 1 70).

FKJ. 1 1 is a view from Use same vantage poim, except that ύ\ύ side and bottom end flaps are shown brought together, which superimposes apertures 155 and 160. λt this point, ail the flaps may still be considered to he essentially in parallel piaises.

RG. 12 shows the locking action starting as the central portion 174 of ioeknig tab 170 is pushed inward into the canon. Yielding flap !62 begins to bend inward along fold line 106, and side wings 1 72 of locking tab 170 begin to fold outward along fold lines 1 76, thus reducing the effective width of locking tab 170 and allowing n to move inward and start to pass through the superimposed aperture 160 and the two apertures 155. As this occurs, the locking tab 170 bends inward from top end flap 112, bending along fold (me 1 78, Once the locking tab 170 goes through apertures 1 55 and !60 _s the wider shoulder area 163 helps retain the locking tab 170 within the carton.

MG. 13 is a cross section side view showing how pushing inward on central portion 174 had moved locking tab 170 through apertures 100 and 155, that is, through the planes oi bottom end flap 142, side end flap 122, and side end flap 132 respectively. Once the side wings 172 of ioekmg tab 170 have passed through, the elasticity of the carton materia! (papsrbo&rd or other materia!) allows the side wings 172 to move sideways again, helping hold locking tab ! 70 within

the carton. The dihedral angle 175 between central portion 174 and top end 0aρ 1 12 Is preferably between 30 and 150 degrees, and more preferably between 6(J arid 1 20 degrees.

FlG. 14 shows a cross section top view showing how locking tab 170 is positioned within the carton, along wuh cans 102 that cooperate with the locking action, bracing the overall area of the end Haps i 12, 122, 132, and 142 by their contact along hues X, and providing space Y lor the locking tab 170 to fit between the cans 102.

FIG. 1 5 show a view of she locking tab from inside the carton. Here the locking tab as depicted by central region I 74 and side wings 172 has been pushed through an aperture 15SA in an outer flap and an aperture 155B in an i.aner flan. Yielding tab 160 bom another outer flap is also shown. In this example, the inner aperture 15SB is slightly larger thai* the outer aperture 155 A, This creates a lecige area 173 thai may help retain the wings 172 m a folded arrangement The dihedral angle 177 between central region 174 and each side wing 172 is preferably between 60 and 120 degrees, and rnore preferably between 75 and !0S degrees.

FlG. 16 shovys a tear-open feature of carton. 101 , On top end flap 1 12. a score of fold hnc 182 defines a peripheral or comer area 183 that may be grasped by a consumer, and used to start a tearing action 184 across score lines I SO, which will separate the lower part of top end flap 1 12 from the upper part thereof Once this separation occurs, eans may be removed from the carters through tlie now-open top comer, or the locking mechanism may be pulled apart to open the entire end of the carton.

F lG 17 shows a different blank 200 that when constructed, forms another carton 201 shown in FlG. 1 S for packaging a plurality of articles such as beverage cans or bottles. In tins embodiment, the carton 201 is a fuJiy enclosed carton designed to accommodate six cans in two rows each containing three cans, but the blank or carton may be modified for any number of eans, bottles, or other articles. Except for differences described below, the features of blank 200 and carton 20] are sinidsr to the features of blank 1 CKs and carton 101 previously described. The numbering is also similar, differing only in the first digit.

Where blank 100 had apertures 155 in the side end ilaps 121 , 1 22, 13 L and 132.. blank 200 has cutouts 255 in the Side end Haps 221, 222, 231, axsd 232.

FiG. 18 shows (he carton 201 being assembled with an end partially closed as side end Haps 222 and 232 have he^rt folded inward. Cutouts 255 of the side end flaps adjoin one another to loan an opening similar to that longed by the overlapping apertures 1.55 for carton 1OK The closing and locking action of carton 201 is otherwise similar to that of carton KH. The side end flaps may not overlap (as shown in FIG. 18) or they may pardy overlap.

The looking leatnre disclosed here is preferably located, as shown in the examples, adjacent to an open interior region of the carton, for example such as occurs when the content are cylindrical containers. For example, when cylindrical containers are placed upright in a regular array in a rectangular carton, the reaching void spaces between containers and carton walls are approximately triangular columns at the wall between each pair of containers. Other types of containers may leave n on -uniform void spaces at the wails, such as occur of "hourglass ¹⁵ shaped containers are irse-d, as with sport drinks, baby bodies, detergent containers, ete. Wish two rows of cylindrical containers as depicted Ln the examples herein, an open interior region of the carton occurs along a vertical centering at each end of the carton. If there are three rows of containers, two such open interior regions would ocetsr at each end of the carton Tht carton may in such a case be designed so that the locking tab 170 and the apertures 155 and 160 (or the locking tab 270, aperture 260, and cutouts 255) were located along either or both of said interior regions. If there are lour rows of container's, three open interior regions would occur at each end of the carton, and the carton locking features could he located along any of said interior regions. Pretetabhy the end flap locking features) will be located near the center of a carton.

The examples shown here depict an end closure and locking mechanism at one end of a carton, comprising adjacent end flaps, that is, end flaps at she same end of the carton. It should he understood that the opposite end of the easton could be closed arid locked in Use same mariner, that is, the disclosed end closure could be at either or both ends of the carton.