Carton And Blank For The Packaging Of A Plurality Of Use Related Articles

Abstract

A carton tube for packaging a plurality of use related products having different dimensions and the blank for forming same is disclosed. The new carton includes an automatically set up internal bracing structure for retaining the smaller item in the top portion of the carton. The disclosed internal bracing structure is articulated to a dust flap and a sidewall panel of the carton and sets up in response to the inward folding of the dust flap during set of the carton.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally pertains to paperboard cartons for packaging a plurality of different items that are normally used in conjunction with each other. More specifically, the invention provides a boxlike carton, erected from a one-piece paperboard blank, that has an internal supporting structure for retaining an item that is smaller than the width of the carton.

The invention provides a carton for packaging a plurality of use related products in a single package, such as a roll of photographic film and a flash cube. Typically, the items packaged together are different in size in at least two dimensions. In the case of packaging a roll of film and a flash cube, the film, which is usually contained in a rectangular self-contained plastic cartridge, is larger than the flash cube in height and width, while their depths are approximately the same. In the combination packaging of these products, the finished carton should advantageously be rectangular in cross section with a width equal or slightly greater than that of the film cartridge, and a height equal to or slightly greater than the sum of film cartridge and flash cube heights. The items would advantageously be positioned in the package with the smaller flash cube resting on top of the film cartridge.

A significant problem is encountered in the packaging of a number of different sized items, such as the film cartridge and flash cube referred to, is the stabilizing of the smaller item on top of the larger item. Since the width of the carton is somewhat greater than the width of the smaller item, there would be a tendency for the smaller item to slide across the top surface of the larger item from one side wall of the carton to the other sidewall. In addition to being undesirable from a breakage and consumer acceptance standpoint, the shifting of the smaller item from side to side prevents it from being visually displayed by a window cut out in the front wall of the carton.

A prime objective of the invention is to provide an internal bracing structure in the top portion of a multiple item carton to retain the smaller of the items in a stabilized position. Advantageously, the internal bracing structure of the new carton extends horizontally from a sidewall of the carton and provides an article bracing surface, generally a straight vertically disposed member, spaced a sufficient distance from the sidewall of the carton to engage the smaller item. Most advantageously, and in accordance with the invention, the internal bracing structure of the new carton is self-erecting during setup of the carton from a blank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for a preferred embodiment of the new carton.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially set up carton from the blank of FIG. 1, partially broken away to show details.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 2 fully erected.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carton of FIG. 3 taken along line 4--4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred paperboard blank of the invention, indicated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 of the drawing, is of one-piece construction and includes a series of successively articulated rectangular panels forming the front, rear and sidewall of the carton. Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, first and second similar sidewall panels 11 and 12 are articulated to rear wall panel 13 along vertical score lines. Similarly, the front wall panel 14 is articulated to the second sidewall panel 12 on one side and to an auxiliary sidewall panel 15 on its other side along vertical score line 16.

A plurality of end flap members for closing the top and bottom ends of the tube T (FIG. 2) are articulated along top and bottom horizontal score lines 29 and 30 to the front, rear and sidewall panels of the new carton blank. The top and bottom flap members 17, 18, 19 and 20 articulated to the sidewall panels 11 and 12 are typically internal dust flaps that are overlaid by the top and bottom end flaps 21, 22 and 23 articulated to the front and rear panels 14 and 13 of the carton, as shown in FIG. 3.

In accordance with a significant aspect of the invention, an auxiliary sidewall panel 15 is articulated to an edge of the front wall panel along a vertical score line 16. The auxiliary sidewall panel 15 functions as a glue flap when the carton is erected and lies underneath, and is fastened to, the first sidewall panel 11 by the glue strip 31 shown in FIG. 2. The auxiliary panel 15 extends from the vertical score line 16 to the free edge 32 and preferably has the same width as the first sidewall panel 11.

In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the auxiliary sidewall panel 15 includes a bracing structure, generally indicated by the numeral 33 in FIG. 1, in its top portion. In its preferred form, the bracing structure 33 includes a glue flap member 34 articulated to a vertical bracing member 35 along score line 41. The vertical bracing member 35 is similarly articulated to a horizontal bracing member 36 along score line 40 which is articulated to the body of the auxiliary sidewall panel 15 along score line 39. The top edge 37 of the bracing structure glue flap 34 is preferably located the same distance above the horizontal score line 29 as the top edge of the sidewall panel 17. The width of bracing members 35 and 36 is usually less than the full width of the auxiliary panel 15 for ease of set up in the erected carton. Accordingly, the bracing structure 33 is separated from the upper portion of the auxiliary flap by a cut out section 38 or simply by a cut line (now shown) extending upward from the score line 39 to the top edge 42 of the auxiliary flap.

Advantageously, the score lines 40 and 41 are positioned to result in a vertical bracing member 35 having a dimension approximately equal to the vertical height of the item to be retained in the top portion of the carton. Similarly, score line 39 is positioned to provide a horizontal bracing member having a long dimension approximately equal to the difference between the horizontal width of the carton and the horizontal width of the item packaged in the top portion of the carton.

The preferred carton of the invention is erected by first forming a tube T, as shown in FIG. 2. The first sidewall panel 11, which overlies the auxiliary panel 15 is adhesively joined thereto by activating the glue strip 31. The step of joining panels 11 and 15 also results in the joining of the glue flap 34 of the bracing structure to the dust flap 17 along a glue strip 31a which is a continuation of the glue strip 31.

After the tube is formed and adhesively sealed, the top and bottom end flaps are folded inward and joined to form the carton. The items to be packaged can be introduced through either the top or bottom ends after one end of the carton is closed.

The bottom end of the carton is closed and sealed in the conventional manner for cartons having a four-flap end closure. In accordance with the invention, the bracing structure 33 is fully set up in response to the operation of folding the dust flap 17 inwardly to its final horizontal position as shown in FIG. 4.

The bracing structure 33 is fixed at both ends by being adhered to the dust flap 17 and articulated to the auxiliary sidewall panel 15. In response to the folding of the dust flap 17 inwardly during carton erection, the bracing structure is forced to bellow outward to form an internal structure within the top portion of the finished carton. By providing score line 40 in the preferred embodiment, the right angular internal bracing structure shown in FIG. 4, having a horizontal bracing member 36 and a vertical bracing member 35 is automatically formed.

As shown in the drawing, the preferred embodiment of the new carton includes a number of features designed to make the package more attractive to the consumer and easier to handle and display by the merchant. Referring to the drawing, the top outer flap of the new carton 21 overlies the dust flaps 17 and 18 and extends across the full depth of the sidewalls 11 and 12 of the erected carton from the front wall 14 to the rear wall 13. A hanging display flap 24 having a hole 25 which is large enough to accept the typical display rod is articulated to the top edge of the flap 21. The flap 24 is the same size as flap 26, which is articulated to the top of the rear panel 13, and the hole 25 is disposed to align with the hole 27 in flap 26 when the carton is fully erected. In the erected position, the flap 26 extends vertically upward from the rear panel 13 and aligns with the flap 24 which extends vertically upward from the flap 21 with the holes 25 and 27 in registry. The upwardly extending two ply flap provides a convenient means for the retailer to hang the package on a display rack.

The preferred carton of the invention also includes a window cutout 28 in the front wall 14. The window cutout 28 permits the consumer to see the smaller item in the top portion of the carton and instantly informs him that a plurality of items are included in the package.

The new carton provides a simple and economical means for adequately retaining a relatively small subsidiary item such as a flash cube in the top portion of a carton containing a relatively large item, such as a film cartridge. The new carton includes a unique bracing structure that is set into place automatically during erection of the carton. The new bracing structure is forced into position in response to the operation of closing a top dust flap of the carton to provide an effective internal bracing structure.

Claims

I claim:

1. A one-piece paperboard carton blank for forming a tubular box, comprising

a. consecutively articulated first side, rear, second side and front wall panels,

b. first and second horizontal score lines respectively defining the vertical dimension of saidwall panels,

c. a top dust flap member articulated to said first sidewall panel along said first horizontal score line,

d. an auxiliary sidewall glue flap articulated to said front wall panel by a vertical score line extending between said first and second horizontal score lines,

e. said auxiliary sidewall glue flap including the following elements (i) a vertical free edge parallel to said vertical score line, (ii) an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion (iii) said upper edge portion extending from the intersection of said vertical and first horizontal score line cut terminating at a first point intermediate of said vertical score line and said vertical free edge, (iv) said lower edge portion extending from the intersection of said vertical and second horizontal score lines to said vertical free edge, (v) a vertical cut line extending from said first point and terminating at a second point intermediate of the upper and lower edge portions, (vi) a horizontal hinge line extending from said second point to said vertical free edge, and (vii) an automatically erectable bracing structure extending upward from said horizontal hinge line to a point above said first horizontal score line,

f. flap means articulated to the bottom edge of at least one of said first side, rear, second side and front wall panels along said second horizontal score line, and

g. overlying flap means articulated to the top edge of at least one of said front and rear wall panels.

2. The carton blank of claim 1, wherein

a. said dust flap extends a predetermined distance which is not more than the width of said front wall above said first horizontal line,

b. said bracing structure extends said predetermined distance above said first horizontal line.

3. The carton blank of claim 1, wherein

a. the upper portion of said bracing structure includes a glue flap member extending the full width of said auxiliary sidewall glue flap.

4. The carton blank of claim 1, wherein

a. said bracing structure includes a horizontal bracing member articulated to a vertical bracing member.