Container

This invention relates to containers made of cardboard, paperboard or similar lightweight foldable sheet material and is particularly directed to the provision of an improved container in the form of a tub, made from a one piece blank.

<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP734956A"><text>EP-A-734956</text></patcit> discloses a substantially liquid tight ice cream container made from a foldable blank. <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US4200219A"><text>US-A-4200219</text></patcit> discloses a container for liquid products which is formed of a single sheet of paperboard folded into a cup-like container. <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE1486436A"><text>DE-A-1486436</text></patcit> shows a liquid carton.

According to the invention there is provided a container in the form of a tub, made from a one piece blank of cardboard, paperboard or similar lightweight foldable sheet material, comprising: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a base panel;</li><li>a first side wall panel hinged to and upstanding from one edge of the said base panel; and</li><li>a second side wall panel hinged to and upstanding from an opposite edge of the said base panel and having its opposite side regions overlapping the opposite side regions of the said first side wall panel and secured thereto;</li></ul> wherein the said base panel has a central portion to opposite edges of which the said side wall panels are hinged, and two opposite outer portions inclining upwardly from the central portion into the container, each outer portion comprising a central panel which is hingedly connected to the central portion and is spaced from the adjacent side wall panels, has the central panel having converging edges; and wherein edge panels are hingedly attached to respective edges of the central panels to at least partially close the space formed between the central panels and the adjacent side wall panels.

Preferably the side walls are generally upright. By "generally upright" we mean that the side wall could be vertical or it could slope somewhat outwardly or, less preferably, somewhat inwardly. The walls could, however, slope outwardly at a greater angle to give a more dish like appearance.

Preferably each central panel is generally triangular, but other shapes, for example trapezoidal shapes, may be suitable.

Preferably each said edge panel has an arcuate outer edge so that it may follow more closely the curved side wall of the container.

Preferably each edge panel is inclined downwardly with respect to the central panel to which it is attached to give further strength to the base of the container.

The edge panel may also be hingedly attached to an adjacent side wall panel.

The central panels and edge panels need not be attached to the side wall panels. In a preferred embodiment, however, a glue tab may be provided on one or more of the panels for gluing to one or more of the side wall panels. Preferably the glue tab is hingedly attached to the respective central or edge panel.

In one embodiment a glue tab is hingedly connected to each edge panel for bonding to a respective side wall. Preferably each such tab is folded up with respect to its edge panel so that it lies inside and is glued to the inside of the tub.

In another, more preferred embodiment, however, a single glue tab is hingedly connected to just one of the edge panels at either end of the base panel. The tab is preferably configured so that it extends circumferentially beyond the panel to which it is attached, preferably substantially as far as the other edge panel at that end of the base. Preferably the glued tab overlaps the join between the side wall panels in the base region to strengthen that join. Preferably the tab is folded down with respect to the edge panel so that it lies within and is glued within the recessed base of the tub.

The side wall panels may be of substantially similar widths. Preferably however one of the panels is wider than the other, to allow for overlap between the panels to secure the panels together.

The present invention also extends to a blank for making a container in accordance with the invention.

From a further aspect, therefore the invention provides a one piece blank of cardboard, paperboard or similar lightweight foldable sheet material for erection into a container, said blank comprising: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a base panel;</li><li>a first side wall panel hinged to one edge of the said base panel; and</li><li>a second side wall panel hinged to an opposite edge of the said base panel and configured such that upon erection its opposite side regions overlap opposite side regions of the said first side wall panel for secural thereto;</li><li>said base panel having a central portion to opposite edges of which the said side wall panels are hinged, and two opposite outer portions hingedly connected to the central portion;</li><li>each outer portion comprising a central panel with edge panels hingedly attached to respective edges of the central panel, each edge panel having a cut edge facing the adjacent side wall panel for at least partially closing a space formed between the central panel and the adjacent side wall panel.</li></ul>

The blank may have the further preferred features described above.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a plan view of a blank for making a first embodiment of a container according to the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> is a perspective view of the container made from the blank of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, partly erected;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref> is a perspective view of the container made from the blank of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, in a later stage of erection;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> is a perspective view of the container fully erected, from above;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 5</figref> is a perspective view of the container fully erected, from below</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 6</figref> is a plan view of a blank for making a second embodiment of the invention; and</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Figure 7</figref> is a plan view of a blank for making a second embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

Referring firstly to <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, a cardboard blank 2 for making a container in the form of a tub 4 (<figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref>) with a rounded side wall comprises a base panel 6, a first side wall panel 8, and a second side wall panel 10. The second side panel 10 has display openings 12 formed therein. These are covered by a transparent plastic sheet 14 attached to the inner face of the side wall panel 10.

The base panel 6 is of a generally oval configuration and comprises a central portion 16 to whose opposite edges the first and second side wall panels 8, 10 are connected by way of hinge lines 18. It further comprises two outer portions 20 connected to the central portion by hinge lines 22.

Each outer portion 20 comprises a central, triangular, panel 24 to either side of which edge panels 26 having an arcuate free edge 28 are attached by hinge lines 30. The end of each edge panel 26 adjacent the hinge lines 22 is also attached to its adjacent side wall panel 8,10 by a hinge line 32.

A glue tab 34 is connected to one edge panel 26 at each side of the base panel 4 by a hinge line 36.

To facilitate hinging of the various panels, the hinge lines 30, 32 and 36 are formed as intermittent cuts.

Referring now to <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005">Figures 2 to 5</figref>, to erect the tub the side wall panels 8,10 are folded up about the respective hinge lines 18, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>.

As the side wall panels 8,10 are being curved around into a curved configuration, each triangular panel 24 is hinged upwardly around its hinge line 22. At the same time, the edge panels 26 are hinged downwardly about the hinge lines 30 and upwardly around the hinge lines 32 so as to incline outwardly towards the adjacent side wall panels 8,10, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref>.

The tabs 34 are folded downwardly about their hinge lines 36 so as to come into contact and overlap the side wall panels 8,10 at the base of the tub.

When the side walls 8,10 are fully curved around and the base panel 6 fully folded, overlapping regions 38 of the walls 8,10 are glued together to hold the walls in a generally upright position, and the tabs 34 glued into position to consolidate the base of the tub 4. Although only one outer portion 20 of the base panel 6 is shown folded in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref>, both outer portions are folded at the same time.

The folding and shaping of the tub can be effected using a suitable mandrel which may enter the top and base of the tub as it is formed. Alternatively the tub can be erected in some other manner, for example by hand.

The erected tub 4 is shown in <figref idref="f0004">Figures 4</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">5</figref>. As can be best seen in <figref idref="f0005">Figure 5</figref>, the folding of the various panels results in the triangular panels 24 being upwardly inclined relative to the central portion 16 of the base panel 6 in the erected tub, with the edge portions 26 being downwardly inclined relative to the triangular panels 24 so as to close the space between the triangular panels 24 and the side wall panels 8,10. The tabs 34 are glued inside the side wall panels 8,10 at the base of the tub to provide additional strength to the base.

Turning now to <figref idref="f0006">Figures 6</figref> and <figref idref="f0007">7</figref>, two blanks 42, 44 for forming modified tubs are shown.

In the embodiment of <figref idref="f0006">Figure 6</figref>, the tab 34 of the first embodiment has been replaced by two separate glue tabs 46. In this case, the tabs will be folded upwardly around the hinge lines 48 during erection so as to lie within the tub 4.

In the embodiment of <figref idref="f0007">Figure 7</figref>, the tabs 34, 46 have been omitted altogether.

The embodiments of the invention shown in the Figures are open topped tub of generally oval shape in horizontal section, with an outwardly inclined wall. In a further modification, the side wall panels may have longitudinal fold lines to form a faceted, rather than a rounded, tub.

Tubs according to the invention may be provided with a top closure of any convenient form, for example in the form of a plug made of plastics, cardboard, polystyrene or a pulp material.