GB2367284A

GB2367284A - Packaging container

Info

Publication number: GB2367284A
Application number: GB0023974A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hulya Nilay Erciyas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-30
Filing date: 2000-09-30
Publication date: 2002-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-30
Also published as: GB0023974D0; GB2367284B

Abstract

A packaging container adapted to serve as a display device for merchandise comprises a base of non-circular curved outline without angles and a side 7 formed from a single rectangular piece of flexible material which is wrapped around the base to conform to the non-circular shape of the base. The side 7 defines the outlines of a plurality of compartments for housing the merchandise, preferably formed by tubular inserts 12. The container may be closed by a lid of the same shape as the base or each insert 12 may have a separate lid. A cord with toggles may be provided to form a carrying handle or shoulder strap.

Description

Packaging container

The invention relates to a packaging container for merchandise and aims to provide such a container which can be used for displaying the merchandise to its best advantage as well as for the conventional purpose of packaging it for transport or storage. Also, the container is to be cheap to produce and the invention extends to a method of making the container.

According to the present invention, a packaging container comprises a base of a non-circular curved outline without any angles and a side formedfrom a single rectangular piece offlexible material which has been wrapped around the base to conform to its non-angular shape and which defines the outlines of a plurality of compartments. for housing the contents of the container. The most suitable outline shape for the base from an aesthetic as well as structural and space saving point of view is trilobate.

Preferably, the base is a trefoil formed from three touching circles of equal diameter as will hereinafter be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which : Figs. 1 to 3 are constructional diagrams illustrating the formation of the preferred outline for a packaging container according to the invention ;

Fig. 4 is a pictorial view of the base of the container ; Fig. 5 is an underneath perspective view of the container ; Fig. 6 is a side perspective view of the container ; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the container ; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the container lying on its side ; Fig. 9 is a plan view showing reinforcing tubes for the containers ;

Fig. 10 is a view into the open top of the Fig. 6 container when lying on its side, and Fig. I is a diagram showing a plurality of stacked containers.

Referring to the constructional drawings of Figs. 1 to 3, the container outline is formed by three main circles 1 of equal diameter in tangential contact with each other as shown in Fig. 1. Tangential to each pair of main circles 1, there is a cusp-forming or outer circle 2 of the same diameter as the circles 1. This is shown in Fig. 2. If one now traces the continuous outline defined by the arcs of

all the touching circles 1 and 2, one obtains the trilobate outline shape 3 of Fig.

3 representing a trefoil with three cusps 2a.

The outline shape 3 of Fig. 3 can be regarded as the under plan of the base of a packaging container with three compartments la bounded by cusps 2a. Such a base, in the present case made of cardboard, is shown pictorially at 4 in Fig. 4. It has a continuous upstanding side 6 around which a rectangularflexible piece of material, say corrugated cardboard 7 (Fig. 5) constituting the side of the container, is wrapped to take on the same outline as that of the base 4. The free ends of the flexible material 7 may overlap and be secured together by staples or adhesive so that the trilobate shape is retained. Similarly, the container side 7 may be glued or stapled to the base 4. It is also possible to provide a tightening cord 8 as shown in Fig 7 for retaining the trilobate shape of the container or to vary its size, in which case gliting and stapling may be dispensed with. The cord 8 is desirably such that, with the aid of toggles 9 (Fig 8) it may y also serve as a carrying handle 11 or, if extended, as a shoulder strap.

Figs. 6, 9 and 10 show that, for strength, each of the previously described compartments 1 a defined by the container may be reinforced by, say, cardboard tube inserts 12. It is in these tubes that the goods 13 or advertising material 14 are displayed to their best advantage when the container is lying on its side.

Other kinds of stiffners or dividers may be employed instead of tubes.

For transport and storage, the tops of the tubes 12 ma be closed b circular y y lids or sponge stoppers (not shown).

As shown in the diagram of Fig. 11, the container according to the invention is particularly suitable for stacking because very little space is lost between juxtaposed and superposed containers. Of course the sizes of the compartments 1 a will depend on the nature of the articles to be contained in the container. They are shown asfootwear in the case offig. 10. The articles could be ftagile because they are suitably separated from each other by the tubes 12. The cord 8 could be in the nature of a shoe lace which threads through the lower part of the side wall 7 and can be pulled tight as required As will be evidentfrom Fig. 7, the cord does not interfere with the compartments defined by the lobes of the side wall. Nor does it obstruct the tubes 12.

The container as hereinbefore described may be closed at the top by a lid (not shown) which is very much like the base but of course inverted. This lid may be dispensed with if the tubes 12 are separately closed by individual lids of stoppers.

It might be mentioned that, apart from its aesthetic, structural and space-saving properties, the shape of a trilobate container is idealfor carrying the container overtheshoulderbecausetheshoulderbladenestlesintothehollowbetween adjacent lobes.

Claims

1. A packaging containerfor merchandise adapted to serve as a display devicefor the merchandise, comprising a base of a non-circular curved outline without angles and a side formed from a single rectangular piece ce flexible material which is wrapped around the base to conform to the non-circular shape of the base and which defines the outlines of a plurality of compartments for housing the merchandise.

2. A container according to Claim J, wherein the outline shape of the base is trilobate.

3. A container according to Claim 2, wherein the outline shape of the base is a trefoil formed by three touching circles of equal diameter and three cusps.

4. A container according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the base has a continuous upstanding side to which the rectangular piece of flexible material of the container side is attached.

5. A container according to any preceding Claim, wherein the container side is of corrugated cardboard.

6. A container accordingly to Claim 5, wherein the free ends of the container side overlap and are secured together by staples or adhesive.

7. A container according to Claim 6, wherein the container side is glued or stapled to the base.

8. A container according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein the container side is held to its trilobate shape by a cord which can be tightened to vary the container size.

9. A container according to Claim 8, wherein the cord is provided with toggles so that the cord forms a carrying handle or, if extended, a shoulder strap.

10. A container according to any one of Claims 3 to 9, wherein each compartment is reinforced by a tubular stiffening insert.

11. A container according to Claim 10, wherein each insert is a cardboard tube which forms a display receptacle for the merchandise.

12. A container according to any preceding Claim, wherein the top of the container is closed by a lid of the same shape as the base.

13. A container according to Claim 11, wherein the top of each tube is closed by a lid or stopper.

14. A method of making the container of any preceding claim, comprising taking a base of non-circular curved outline without angles, wrapping around it a substantially rectangular piece of flexible material to conform to the non-circular shape of the and define the outlines of a plurality of compartments for housing the merchandise, securing the ends of the flexible material together and securing the flexible material to the base.

15. The method of Claim 14, wherein the outline shape of the base is trilobate.

16. The method of Claim 15, wherein the base is a trefoil formed by arcs of three touching inner circles of equal diameter and arcs of three outer circles of the same diameter as the inner circles, the arc of each outer circle being in tangential contact with a pair of adjoining arcs of the inner circles.

17. A packaging container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of making a packing container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.