WO2008133531A1

WO2008133531A1 - Packaging carton

Info

Publication number: WO2008133531A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2008/000063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Mackenzie
Original assignee: Intellectual Property Energy Mad Limited
Priority date: 2007-04-30
Filing date: 2008-03-20
Publication date: 2008-11-06
Also published as: NZ554833A

Abstract

A packaging carton which includes: a main body having at least one aperture therein; and an open end portion which can receive and display a portion of the packaged item; the carton characterised in that the open end portion is surrounded by a wall or walls which terminate(s) with a horizontal section of greater dimensions than the thickness of the wall(s).

Description

PACKAGING CARTON

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a packaging carton. In particular, the present invention relates to packaging cartons suitable for light bulbs, or other small devices.

BACKGROUND ART

For ease of reference only the present invention will now be described in relation to packaging containers suitable for light bulbs. However, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention which may also have application to packaging cartons for other items.

The packaging of light bulbs can be problematic as a number of factors must be taken into account including:

- the fragile nature of light bulbs;

- the type of light bulb (e.g. energy efficient, halogen, frosted glass, or clear glass);

- the style of light bulb;

- the type of socket into which the bulb can be attached.

In addition, consumers typically want to see, the actual bulb itself and electrical fitting type of the bulb, to visually confirm its suitability for their needs. This additional requirement therefore presents a further problem when considering the packaging of the bulb itself.

Thus, conventional light bulb packaging whilst addressing some of the above factors still have a number of draw backs which can include one or more of the following:

- the type of bulb is not visible from within the packaging;

- the type of socket into which the electrical fitting of the bulb is adapted to engage is not visible from within the packaging; and/or

- the packaging of the bulb does not allow for packaged bulbs to be easily stacked upon one another in a substantially stable manner.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging carton which includes:

• a main body having at least one aperture therein; and

• an open end portion which can receive and display a portion of the packaged item;

the carton characterised in that the open end portion is surrounded by a wall or walls which terminate(s) with a horizontal section of greater dimensions than the thickness of the wall(s).

In preferred embodiments the packaged item may be a light bulb.

For ease of reference the packaged item will now be referred to as being a bulb.

However, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present invention as the features of the present invention may also have application to packaging other items.

It is envisaged that the packaging carton may generally be made from cardboard or other paper based types of material. However, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present invention.

The main body of the carton may have a variety of different shapes and configurations without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In some embodiments the main body may have at least one circular wall. In some embodiments the main body may have at least three walls.

In preferred embodiments the main body may have four walls.

In some embodiments the aperture may be in at least one wall of the main body.

In some embodiments where the main body is formed via a circular wall there may be provided substantially opposed apertures in the main body.

In preferred embodiments there may be provided two apertures located in opposed walls of the main body section.

It will be understood that the size of the aperture may vary.

In general the size of the aperture may be sufficient so as to view the type and style of bulb located within the main body of the packaging carton.

In further preferred embodiments the size of the aperture may be substantially in the region of 30-70% of the wall in which it is located.

Preferably, the apertures in opposed walls may be substantially aligned with one another. However, this should not be seen as necessarily limiting as in some embodiments the apertures may be positioned within opposed walls so that, although not perfectly aligned with one another, a substantial portion of each aperture overlaps with the other aperture.

The main body also includes a closure flap located at one end of one wall. In use, the closure flap can be opened to receive the packaged item and then closed to retain the packaged item within the main body.

The main body also includes a second flap which has an aperture therein through which a portion of the packaged item, in use, can protrude, or at least be viewed, from the open end portion. In preferred embodiments the size of the aperture in the second flap is dimensioned so as to be smaller than that of the cross sectional dimension of the packaged item so that the item can be retained within the main body of the carton.

In preferred embodiments the end of the walls of the main body opposite the closure flap terminate with a horizontal section. The advantage of this configuration is that it allows for one piece construction of the carton.

However, in some embodiments it should be appreciated that the opened portion could be created with its own walls which are independent of the walls of the main body.

In preferred embodiments the second flap may be configured to create one of the horizontal sections of the open end section.

In such preferred embodiments the second closure flap may be folded to:

- sit a set distance below the horizontal sections of the open end portions; and

- create a horizontal section at the terminus of one wall.

In preferred embodiments the width of the horizontal sections is sufficient to support in a stable manner at least one, but preferably two, carton(s), placed thereon to form a stack.

In some embodiments there may be up to around four cartons in a stack.

The remaining flat sections may be formed by flaps formed by the end regions of the other walls, which are folded back to form the horizontal section, as well as a new vertical section. Thereby effectively reinforcing the strength of the walls of the open end section. In general the width of each horizontal section should be around at least 8% of the width of the carton. The open end portion may, in preferred embodiments, have a number of wall flaps which help support the horizontal section.

In preferred embodiments the carton may also include an insert section which fits within the main body.

In some preferred embodiments the insert section may be a folded sheet of material which encases the object to be packaged on at least two opposable sides. In use the insert is positioned so that the non-encased sides of the item are aligned with the apertures in the walls of the main body.

In some further preferred embodiments the insert section may be a different colour to the packaging. As coloured insert sections can help provide a contrast to allow for better viewing of the packaged item within the carton.

In some even further preferred embodiments the insert section may include one or more apertures as required to allow for a flush fit against the inside surface of the walls of the main body.

Thus, preferred embodiments may have*a number of advantages over the prior art which can include:

• an improved packaging carton which takes into account such things as:

- the fragile nature of light bulbs;

- the type of light bulb;

- the style of light bulb; and

- the type of socket into which the bulb can be attached. • an improved packaging carton wherein consumers can see the actual bulb itself and electrical fitting type of the bulb.

• an improved packaging carton as detailed above which which allows for ease of stacking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a pre-cut sheet of material to be folded so as to form a carton in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a carton constructed from the pre-cut sheet of material shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a top perspective view of the carton shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an insert section which is encasing an eco-light bulb in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a pre-cut sheet of material to be folded so as to form the insert section shown in Figure 4.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With respect to Figures 1-4 and 6 like reference numerals will be used to indicate the same features of the carton (100).

In Figure 1 there is shown a sheet of material (1) in the form of cardboard, which has been pre-cut as shown by the solid lines and which will be folded along the dotted lines so as to form a carton (100) as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The carton (100) has a main body (2) and an open end portion (3). The main body (2) has two pair of opposed walls, namely, walls (4A) and (4B) and walls (5A) and (5B). A pair of aligned apertures (6A) and (6B) are located within respective walls (4A) and (4B). As can be seen the walls (4A), (4B), (5A) and (5B) of the main body also form the walls of the open end portion (3). The walls of the open end portion (3) terminate with horizontal sections (14A, 14B, 15C, and 15C).

The main body (2) has a closure flap (30) which extends from one end of the wall (4B). Located at the other end of the wall (4B) and extending out from flat section (15A) is a second flap (16) which has side flaps (17) extending therefrom. The second flap (16) is connected to the flat section (15A) of the wall (4B) via a connector flap (17A). The second flap (16) has an aperture (18) which can, in use, receive and display a portion of the packaged item within the open end portion (3). In Figure 3 the end portion (181) of a bulb (600) is shown. The second flap (16) is positioned a distance X away from the horizontal section (15A) in the finished carton by virtue of connector flap (17A) so as to create the open end portion (3) - refer Figures 2 and 3. The second flap (16) also has a slot (19) which can receive a lip portion (20) on a wall flap (24A). As can been seen wall flap (24A) extends from horizontal section (15A) and a wall flap (25A) extends from wall section (15A). Similarly a wall flap (25B) extends from flat section (15B). In the constructed carton (100) the wall flap portions (24A, 25A and 25B) rest upon the second flap (16).

With respect to Figures 4 and 5 there is shown an insert section (200). The insert section in use encases a bulb (600) after the insert (200) has been folded along the dotted lines in Figure 5.

The insert section has walls (310) and (320), a cover (330), a base (340) and a top (350). The base (340) has flaps (341) which are folded, in use, to meet cover (330) and similarly the cover (330) has a flap (331) which is folded to meet base (340).

The top (350) has an aperture (300) through which the base of the bulb (181) can pass together with a slot (301) which aligns with slot (19) in the carton (100). A further aperture (302) in the base (340) receives the top end of the bulb (not shown).

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A packaging carton which includes:

• a main body having at least one aperture therein; and

2. A packing carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the packaged item may be a light bulb.

3. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carton is made from cardboard or other paper based type of material.

4. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 1 which includes a main body having at least one circular wall.

5. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main body has at least three walls.

6. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main body has four walls.

7. A packaging carton as claimed in any one of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein the aperture is in at least one wall of the main body.

8. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is provided substantially opposed apertures in the main body.

9. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 6 wherein the main body has two apertures located in opposed walls.

10. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 7 wherein the size of the aperture is sufficient so as to view the type and style of item located within the main body of the packaging carton.

11. A packaging carton as claimed in the preceding claim wherein the size of the aperture is substantially in the region of 30-70% of the wall in which it is located.

12. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 9 wherein the apertures in opposed walls are substantially aligned with one another.

13. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main body includes a closure flap located at one end of one wall.

14. A packaging carton as claimed in the preceding claim wherein the main body also includes a second flap which has an aperture therein through which a portion of the packaged item, in use, can protrude, or at least be viewed, from the opened end portion.

15. A packaging carton as claimed in the' preceding claim wherein the size of the aperture in the second flap is dimensioned so as to be smaller than that of the cross sectional dimension of the packaged item, so that the item can be maintained within the main body of the carton.

16. A packaging carton as claimed in claim in any one of claims 4, 5, or 6 wherein the walls of the main body opposite the closure flap terminate with a horizontal section.

17. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 14 wherein the second flap may be configured to create one of the horizontal sections of the open end sections.

18. A packaging carton as claimed in the preceding claim wherein the second closure flap is folded to:

- a set distance below the horizontal sections of the open end portion; and

- create a horizontal section at the terminus of one wall.

19. A packaging carton as claimed in the preceding claim wherein the remaining horizontal sections are formed by flaps located at the end regions of the other walls, which are folded back to form the horizontal section, as well a new vertical section.

20. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the width of each horizontal section is around at least 8% of the width of the carton.

21. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the open end portion has a number of wall flaps which help support the horizontal wall section.

22. A packaging carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carton also includes an insert section which fits within the main body.

23. A packaging carton as claimed in the preceding claim wherein the insert section is a folded sheet of material which encases the object to be packaged on at least two opposable sides.

24. A packaging carton as claimed in the preceding claim wherein the insert section is a different colour to the packaging.