AU739933B2

AU739933B2 - Carton for dispensing sheets

Info

Publication number: AU739933B2
Application number: AU21232/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tamotsu Aiba
Original assignee: Kureha Corp
Current assignee: Kureha Corp
Priority date: 1998-03-18
Filing date: 1999-03-17
Publication date: 2001-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-17
Also published as: HK1023102A1; TW458927B; CN1082476C; JPH11263336A; CN1231255A; AU2123299A; JP3827435B2

Description

Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: CARTON FOR DISPENSING SHEETS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to US CARTON FOR DISPENSING SHEETS FID OFTIE NVENTION The present invention relates to a carton for dispensing various kinds of sheets such as synthetic resin wrap films, aluminum foils or kitchen sheets after it is cut into a desired length, so as to use the sheets for packing foods or the like, and in particular, a carton for dispensing sheets, which can be easily collapsed after being used.

BACKGROUND OF HEINVENTION 1.0 A sheet-dispensing carton in which a wrap film or the like is stored, comprises a housing (or a box without a lid) in which the wrap film or the like wound in a roll is stored, and a cover wall panel joined to a back wall panel of the housing and adapted to i be rotated through a hinge part, for opening and closing an opening part of the housing.

The wrap film or the like can be drawn out from the sheet-dispensing carton by opening the opening part of the housing with the cover wall panel pulled slightly upward. A cutting member having saw-teeth is provided to an edge part of a hood panel "connected to a front edge of the cover wall panel or a lower edge part of a front wall panel of the housing. Further, the wrap film or the like drawn out from the housing by a "predetermined length is cut and dispensed by the cutting member.

.ooo,: The sheet-dispensing carton is usually made of paper, and will be discarded and incinerated after the wrap film or the like therein is completely consumed for use.

However, such a carton has a predetermined bulk since it has a box-like shape, and would be bulky in a garbage can if it is discarded as it is.

Accordingly, it is preferable to collapse the sheet-dispensing carton before it is discarded. However, it is difficult to collapse the carton by a manual force. That is, the sheet-dispensing carton has been firmly erected so as to prevent the box-like shape thereof from being deformed by a retaining force by hands or a cutting reaction force -1acting upon the cutting member when the wrap film or the like is drawn out from the housing and is then cut by the cutting member. Thus, a relatively large force is required for collapsing the carton even though it has become empty. In bonded parts between end panels of the carton and other panels, the bonding is considerably strong in order to enable the carton to be firm. Accordingly, it is also difficult to peel off the end panels from the other panels for stretching and extending the carton flat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet-dispensing carton 10 which has a sufficient strength to bear against cutting of a sheet during use and can be easily collapsed when it is discarded.

To the end, according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet dispensing carton in which a sheet material wound in a roll is to be stored, the carton comprising: a front wall panel, a bottom wall panel, a back wall panel, a cover wall panel and a hood panel which are all foldably connected in series; end panels foldably connected to opposite ends of the bottom wall panel, respectively; "first flaps formed therein with first series of perforations and foldably connected to opposite ends of the front wall panel, respectively; second flaps formed therein with second series of perforations and foldably connected to opposite ends of the back wall panel, respectively; and a cutting member provided at one edge of one of the panels, for severing the sheet material to be dispensed from the roll thereof; wherein the front wall panel, the bottom wall panel, the back wall panel and the end panels are folded so as to form a housing having an opening, the hood panel is adapted to be superposed over the front wall panel so as to cover the opening with the -2cover wall panel, the first flaps and the second flaps are superposed over the end panels, the first series of perforations are included in first bonding areas in which the first flaps and the end panels are bonded to each other, and the second series of perforations are included in second bonding areas in which the second flaps and the end panels are bonded to each other.

With the carton having the above-mentioned structure, when the end panels are pulled down outward after the sheet material is completely consumed, the flaps can be cut off along the series of perforations, and then the end panels are separated from the front wall panel and the back wall panel so that the carton is broken down. Thus, the 1.0 carton can be discarded without being bulky.

Further, each one of the end panels is bonded to the first and second flaps at the first and second bonding areas, for example, by applying an adhesive thereto, and the first and second series of perforations are included in the first and second bonding areas.

Therefore, even though the strength of the flaps is lowered at the series of perforations, 15 the end parts of the housing are never lowered in their strength since the bonding is conducted to cover the series of perforations. Thus, even when the carton is firmly held with hands and a large cutting reaction force is imparted thereto by cutting the sheet material pulled out from the carton with the cutting member, the carton is hardly deformed.

Further, since the above-mentioned series of perforations are formed in the flaps which are placed inside of the end panels, the series of perforations are covered with the end panels, viewed from the outside of the carton. Accordingly, the series of perforations are externally invisible during use of the carton, so that the series of perforations do not spoil the appearance of the sheet-dispensing carton.

In the carton as mentioned above, it is preferable that a lower end part of the first series of perforations formed in each one of the first flaps extends toward a corner between the bottom wall panel and the front wall panel, and a lower end part of the -3second series of perforations formed in each one of the second flaps extends toward a corner between the bottom wall panel and the back wall panel. In this case, when the flaps are cut off along the series of perforations, the cutting can easily reach the corners, and accordingly, all the lower edges of the flaps can be pulled down together with the end panels. Thus, the bottom wall panels, the front wall panel, the back wall panel and the end panels can be easily stretched and extended in a planar shape.

Further, it is preferable that an upper end part of the first series of perforations extends toward a first cavity which is formed in each one of the first flaps at the upper edge thereof, and an upper end part of the second series of perforations extends toward a 10 second cavity formed in each one of the second flaps at the upper edge thereof. In this :case, when the end panels are pulled down, the flaps can be easily cut off along the series of perforation from the upper end part thereof. In this case, furthermore, it is preferable that at least one of the cavities is formed in a V-like shape and the associated series of perforations extend toward a bottom corner of the V-like cavity.

*2..15 Moreover, it is preferable that the first and second flaps are formed therein with stepped parts so that the first and second flaps are lower than the end panels in the S"center parts thereof on the opening side. Further, it is preferable to form the first and second cavities in concave corners where the stepped parts are formed.

Further, it is preferable that the second flaps are larger than the first flaps. In this case, the second flaps are preferably superposed over the first bonding areas in the first flaps in order to maintain the strength of the carton.

In such structure, moreover, it is preferable that each one of the second flaps is formed therein with a third cavity and a cutting line corresponding to the first cavity and the first series of perforations, respectively. Preferably, the first cavity is substantially formed in a parallelogram shape, and the second and third cavities are formed in a Vlike shape and the cutting line extends toward a bottom corner of the V-like third cavity.

In addition to the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present -4invention, other features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent when the following detailed explanation are read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an end part of a carton for dispensing sheet according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the carton in such a condition that an end panel is pulled down.

9.0 Fig. 3 is a partly developed view illustrating the carton.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the carton in its entirety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fig. 4 shows a sheet-dispensing carton in which a wrap film W wound on a core is to be stored. The wrap film W is a resin film of, for example, a vinylidene chloride copolymers, a vinyl chloride, a polyethylene, a polypropylene or a nylon.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 depict the structure of the carton shown in Fig. 4, at one end part thereof. Needless to say, the other end part of the carton has the same structure as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

20 A body 10 of the sheet-dispensing carton is made of one piece of cardboard (see Fig. 3) and consists of a housing 10A a box without a lid) and a lid The housing 10A of the sheet-dispensing carton is composed of a bottom wall panel 11, a front wall panel 12, a back wall panel 13, two end panels 14, 14, two first flaps 12a, 12a and two second flaps 13a, 13a. The front wall panel 12 and the back wall panel 13 extend continuously from the opposite sides of the bottom wall panel 11.

The end panels 14, 14, the first flaps 12a, 12a and the second flaps 13a, 13a extend continuously from the opposite ends of the bottom wall panel 11, the front wall panel 12 and the back wall panel 13, respectively.

With these components folded substantially at a right angle to one another, the housing 10A is formed such that the front wall panel 12 and the back wall panel 13 are connected to the end panels 14, 14 by the first flaps 12a, 12a and the second flaps 13a, 13a, respectively. Therefore, the housing 10A having an opening 15 is formed as shown in Fig. 1.

The lid O10B is composed of a cover wall panel 17, a hood panel 18, two end cover panels 19, 19 and two flaps 18b, 18b. The cover wall panel 17 extends continuously from the upper edge of the back wall panel 13 of the housing 10A, and the 10 cardboard is creased at the boundary between the back wall panel 13 and the cover wall panel 17 so as to form a hinge part 16. The hood panel 18 extends continuously from the front end of the cover wall panel 17. The end cover panels 19, 19 and the flaps 18b, S•18b extends continuously from the opposite ends of the cover wall panel 17 and the hood panel 18, respectively. With these components folded substantially at a right angle to one another, the lid 10B is formed such that the end cover panels 19, 19 are connected to the hood panel 18 by the flaps 18b, 18b. The lid O10B can be rotated through the hinge part 16 in relation to the housing As shown in Fig. 4, a front edge 18a of the hood panel 18 has a V-like shape.

••Along the front edge 18a, a cutting member 20 having saw-like teeth is provided.

During the use of this sheet-dispensing carton, the housing 10A is held, for example, with the left hand, the cover wall panel 17 is opened, and thereafter, the wrap film W is drawn out through the opening 15 with the right hand. After the wrap film W is drawn out by a desired length, the cover wall panel 17 is closed so as to hold the wrap film W between the front wall panel 12 and the hood panel 18, and the wrap film W which has been drawn out from the housing 10A is cut off by the cutting member As shown in Fig. 1, the first flap 12a is folded inward of the housing substantially at a right angle along a crease line which is the boundary between the -6first flap 12a and the front wall panel 12 as shown in Fig. 3. A stepped part is formed in the first flap 12a on the opening 15 side so that the first flap 12a is lower than the end panel 14 in the vicinity of the center part 30 shown in Fig. 1, after erection of the housing 10A. A cavity 12b substantially having a parallelogram shape is formed in the first flap 12a, along the upper edge 12g of the above-mentioned stepped part. More specifically, it is formed in a concave corner of the stepped part. Further, first series of perforations 21 is formed in the first flap 12a. A lower end part 21a of the first series of perforations 21 extends toward a corner 12c between the bottom wall panel 11 and the front wall panel 12 or a position in the vicinity of the corner 12c. Meanwhile, an upper end part 21b of the first series of perforations 21 extends toward a bottom side 12d of the above-mentioned cavity 12b or a corner of the cavity 12b.

*.i The second flap 13a is also folded inward of the housing 10A, substantially at a right angle along a crease line which is the boundary between the second flap 13a and the back wall panel 13. Another stepped part is formed in the second flap 13a on 5 the opening 15 side so that the second flap 13a is lower than the end panel 14 in the vicinity of the center part 30, after erection of the housing 10A. A V-like cavity 13b is S°formed in the second flap 13a, along the upper edge 13g of the above-mentioned stepped part. More specifically, it is formed in a concave corner of the stepped part.

°°Further, second series of perforations 22 is formed in the second flap 13a. A lower end 20 part 22a of the second series of perforations 22 extends toward a corner 13c between the bottom wall panel 11 and the back wall panel 13 or a position in the vicinity of the corner 13c. Meanwhile, an upper end part 22b of the second series of perforations 22 extends toward a bottom corner 13d of the above-mentioned V-like cavity 13b.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, another V-like cavity 13e is formed in the second flap 13a, along the upper edge 13g of the stepped part, and the second flap 13a is perforated so as to form a cutting line 13f single perforation) extending from the vicinity of a bottom corner of the V-like cavity 13e toward the inside of the second flap -7- 13a. Incidentally, the cutting line 13f may be formed by series of perforations extending toward the corner 12c or the vicinity thereof instead of the single perforation, or may be formed to extend continuously from the V-like cavity 13e. As shown in Fig.

1, the V-like cavity 13e and the cutting line 13f are formed at positions where they are substantially superposed with the cavity 12b and the first series of perforations 21 formed in the first flap 12a, at the time of erection of the housing At the time of erection of the housing 10A, the front wall panel 12 and the back wall panel 13 are folded along crease lines (iii) and (iv) so that they stand upright from the bottom wall panel 11 in parallel with each other. Further, on each end part of the to io housing 10A, the first flap 12a is folded inward along the crease line while the second flap 13a is folded inward along the crease line and the first and second flaps o 12a, 13a are superposed with the inner surface of the end panel 14 which has been folded along a crease line from the bottom wall panel 11. In this case, the end panel 14, the first flap 12a and the second flap 13a are overlaid in the mentioned order, seen ifrom the outside of the housing 10A. The first flap 12a and the second flap 13a are bonded to the end panel 14 by an adhesive. At this time, the above-mentioned adhesive is applied to the first flap 12a over an area (hereinafter referred to as "first bonding area") including the first series of perforations 21 while is applied to the second flap 13a over an area (hereinafter referred to as "second bonding area") including the second oo.: series of perforations 22. That is, the first flap 12a is bonded to the end panel 14 in the first bonding area which is applied with the adhesive and extends across the first series of perforations 21, and the second flap 13a is bonded to the end panel 14 in the second bonding area which is applied with the adhesive and extends across the second series of perforations 22. With such structure, even though the series of perforations 21, 22 are formed in the flaps 12a, 13a, the strength of both the end parts of the housing 10A is prevented from being lowered.

In this embodiment, further, a reinforcing flap 12e extends from the front wall -8panel 12, as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 1, this reinforcing flap 12e is folded along the upper edge of the front wall panel 12, that is along a crease line and is superposed with the housing 10A on the inside thereof. Then it is bonded to the front wall panel 12 by the adhesive. As a result, the front wall panel 12 is reinforced.

At the time of erection of the lid O10B, on each of the end parts of the lid 10B, the flap 18b extending from an end part 18c of the hood panel 18 is folded inward, and the end cover panel 19 is folded inward from the cover wall panel 17 along a crease line (vii). Thereafter, the flap 18b and the end cover panel 19 are overlaid and bonded to each other by an adhesive.

to Explanation will be hereinbelow made of a method of collapsing (stretching and o extending) the housing 10A after use.

When the, wrap film W in the housing 10A is completely consumed, both the Ooo S°end panels 14 are pulled down as shown in Fig. 2. At this time, on each of the end parts of the housing 10A, the first flap 12a is cut off by the pull-down force along the first .15 series of perforations 21 into two parts: a proximal part and a distal part That is, the end panel 14 is peeled off from the proximal part by breaking the bonding therebetween while the distal part is pulled down together with the end panel 14.

Similarly, the second flap 13a is also cut off by the pull-down force along the second series of perforations 22 into two parts: a proximal part and a remaining part (together with a center part and a distal part That is, the end panel 14 is peeled off from the proximal part by breaking the bonding therebetween while the center part and the distal part are pulled down together with the end panel 14.

The first series of perforations 21 extend from the cavity 12b which is formed in the first flap 12a at the upper edge 12g thereof, more specifically at the concave corner of the stepped part, and the second series of perforations 22 extend from the cavity 13b which is formed in the second flap 13a at the upper edge 13g thereof, more specifically at the concave corner of the stepped part. Accordingly, the pull-down force with which -9the end panel 14 is pulled down can be easily applied to the series of perforations 21, 22, and a result, the flaps 12a, 13a can be easily cut off along the series of perforations 21, 22. Further, in this embodiment, the stepped parts are formed in the first and second flaps 12a, 13a on the opening 15 side so that the first and second flaps 12a, 13a are lower than the end panel 14 in the center part 30. Therefore, the length to be cut along the series of perforations 21, 22 for collapsing the housing 10A becomes shorter compared with the case where the flaps 12a, 13a have no stepped part, so that the flaps 12a, 13a can be cut off easily.

Further, the lower end part 21a of the first series of perforations 21 extends .0 toward the corner 12c between the bottom wall panel 11 and the front wall panel 12 or a position in the vicinity thereof, and the lower end part 22a of the second series of perforations 22 extends toward the corner 13c between the bottom wall panel 11 and the S: •back wall panel 13 or a position in the vicinity thereof. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 2, the end panels 14 can be pulled down such that they are flush with the bottom wall 15 panel 11. At this time, the bonding between the end panel 14 and the proximal parts of the flaps 12a, 13a can be easily broken at the corners 12c, 13c since the lower end S"parts 21a, 22a of the series of perforations 21, 22 extend up to the corners 12c, 13c or the positions in the vicinity thereof. Further, after the end panels 14 are pulled down, •the front wall panel 12 and the back wall panel 13 are both pulled down so as to be flush .ooo.: 20 with the bottom wall panel 11. That is, the housing 10A of the sheet-dispensing carton can be easily collapsed (stretched and extended).

Referring to Fig. 2, the distal part of the second flap 13a is pulled down together with the end panel 14 without being cut off along the cutting line 13f from the center part However, in the bonding process for bonding the flaps 12a, 13a to the end panel 14, there will be such a possibility that the distal part of the second flap 13a is firmly bonded to the proximal part of the first flap 12a due to the excessive application of the adhesive. In such a case, the distal part of the second flap 13a is cut off from the center part of the second flap 13a due to the V-like cavity 13e and the cutting line 13f, and only the center part is pulled down together with the end panel 14. That is, the distal part overlying the proximal part of the first flap 12a is cut off substantially along the first series of perforations 21 and remains bonded to the inside of the proximal part Therefore, with the provision of the cavity 13e and the cutting line 13f, the housing 10A can be surely collapsed (stretched and extended) into a planar shape even though the distal part of the second flap 13a is firmly bonded to the inside of the first flap 12a.

Incidentally, in the case where the second flap 13a is designed to be firmly I .o bonded to the first flap 12a, the cutting line 13f is preferably formed by series of perforations extending toward the corner 12c or the vicinity thereof, corresponding to the first series of perforations 21.

:Further, the cavity 12b in the first flap 12a has substantially a parallelogram shape. This is because the width of the cavity 12b is so set as to be larger than that of 15 the V-like cavity 13e, at the bottom thereof. With such structure, even if the housing is erected with any errors with respect to the folding of the panels and flaps and the like, the cavity 12b in the first flap 12a can be precisely aligned with the cavity 13e in the second flap 13a when the first flap 12a and the second flap 13b are superposed with each other in the erection of the housing 10A. Accordingly, it is also possible that the cavity 12b in the first flap 12a is formed in a V-like shape while the cavity 13e in the second flap 13a is substantially formed in a parallelogram. Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, both cavities 12b and 13e may be formed in a Vlike shape.

It is noted, according to the present invention, that the series of perforations and the cutting line formed in the flaps are externally invisible, so that the appearance of the carton is not spoiled.

-11- While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to preferred embodiments and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

As used herein, "comprises" and all its grammatical forms specifies the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but dose not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

~o "Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

go 9° 99 9.

99 9'° 9 o 9 -12-

Claims

2.2 a cutting member provided at one edge of one of the panels, for severing the 13 sheet material to be dispensed from the roll thereof; wherein the front wall panel, the bottom wall panel, the back wall panel and the end panels are folded so as to form a housing having an opening, the hood panel is "16 adapted to be superposed over the front wall panel so as to cover the opening with the 17 cover wall panel, the first flaps and the second flaps are superposed over the end panels, "'18 the first series of perforations are included in first bonding areas in which the first flaps Sao* S19 and the end panels are bonded to each other, and the second series of perforations are included in second bonding areas in which the second flaps and the end panels are 21 bonded to each other. 1 2. A carton as defined in claim 1, wherein a lower end part of the first series 2 of perforations formed in each one of the first flaps extends toward a corner between the 3 bottom wall panel and the front wall panel, and a lower end part of the second series of 4 perforations formed in each one of the second flaps extends toward a corner between the bottom wall panel and the back wall panel. -13- 1 3. A carton as defined in claim 2, wherein an upper end part of the first 2 series of perforations extends toward a first cavity which is formed in each one of the 3 first flaps at the upper edge thereof, and an upper end part of the second series of 4 perforations extends toward a second cavity formed in each one of the second flaps at the upper edge thereof. 1 4. A carton as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one of the cavities is 2 formed in a V-like shape and the associated series of perforations extends toward a 3 bottom corner of the V-like cavity. :1 5. A carton as defined in claim 3, wherein the first and second flaps are S. 2 formed therein with stepped parts so that the first and second flaps are lower than the S. S °3 end panels in the center parts thereof on the opening side. oooooo o 1 6. A carton as defined in claim 5, wherein the first and second cavities are 2 formed in concave corners where the stepped parts are formed. 1 7. A carton as defined in claim 1, wherein the second flaps are larger than @5oO55 2 the first flaps. S o5.o 1 8. A carton as defined in claim 7, wherein the second flaps are superposed 2 over the first bonding areas in the first flaps. 1 9. A carton as defined in claim 8, wherein each one of the second flaps is 2 formed therein with a third cavity and a cutting line corresponding to the first cavity and 3 the first series of perforations, respectively. 1 10. A carton as defined in claim 9, wherein the first cavity is substantially 2 formed in a parallelogram shape, and the second and third cavities are formed in a V- 3 like shape and the cutting line extends toward a bottom corner of the V-like third cavity -14-
11. A cartonl as defined in claim 1, wherein the series of perforations are invisible in an overall surface of the carton. DATED this 17th day of March 1999. KEJREHA CHEMICAL INDUSTRY COMPANY, LIMITED se:* a 00 WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMVARK AT~TORNEYS BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN. VIC. 3122.