Packaging assembly and holder

Abstract

A holder for a packaging assembly, said holder comprising a sheet of corrugated board having a plurality of slots formed in a face therein for retaining respective containers therein via a lip of each container, wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a first linerboard, a second linerboard and at least one flute located between the first and second linerboard, wherein said slots have a depth less than the thickness of the corrugated board such that they extend through the first linerboard but not through the second linerboard.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a packaging assembly and in particular to a packaging assembly for packaging a plurality of containers, such as pots or cups, each having a peripheral rim.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many food and beverage items are sold in pots having a card side wall and a card base, said base being coupled to the side wall via a folded peripheral lip at a lower end of the side wall, a lid or seal closing an upper opening of the pot. Such pots are commonly supplied in multi-packs of four, six or twelve pots, wherein the pots are located in apertures provided in a tray or holder formed from a folded flat blank.

[0003] A problem with such known packaging is that the pots can easily rotate within the receiving apertures in the tray or holder, leading to labelling on the pots facing inwardly rather than outwardly. Furthermore, the depth of the tray or holder required to provide sufficient support for the pots can lead to a portion of the labelling on the pots being obscured. The apertures in the tray or holder also provide insufficient retention for the pots should the packing being tipped up, often requiring plastic shrink-wrap to be applied to retain the pots in the tray or holder.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging assembly comprising a holder and a plurality of containers, each container having a lip, said holder comprising a sheet of corrugated board having a plurality of slots formed in a face therein, each slot being dimensioned to receive the lip of a respective container to locate and retain said container on the holder, wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a first linerboard, a second linerboard and at least one flute located between the first and second linerboard, wherein said slots have a depth less than the thickness of the corrugated board such that they extend through the first linerboard but not through the second linerboard.

[0005] The width of each of said slots is preferably substantially equal to or less than the width of said lip of each of said plurality of containers, whereby each slot grips the lip of a respective container when said lip is inserted into said slot.

[0006] In one embodiment, said sheet of corrugated board may comprise a single flute located between said first and second linerboard, wherein said slots extend through the first linerboard and through at least a portion of said single flute, but not through the second linerboard. In an alternative embodiment, for example where greater rigidity of the holder is required, said sheet of corrugated board may comprise a first flute, said first flute being located between said first linerboard and an intermediate linerboard, and a second flute, said second flute being located between said intermediate linerboard and said second linerboard, wherein said slots extend through the first linerboard and through at least a portion of said first flute but not through said intermediate linerboard. It is also envisaged, in an alternative embodiment, that the slots may extend through both the first and intermediate linerboards, but not through the second linerboard.

[0007] Preferably each slot comprises an endless cut line formed in the first linerboard and corresponding in shape to the lip of each container. Alternatively, each slot may comprise a series of discontinuous sections, depending upon the shape and construction of the lip of the containers to be held therein.

[0008] In one embodiment said holder comprises a flat sheet. In an alternative embodiment said holder comprises a tray having raised peripheral side walls. Said tray is preferably formed from a single flat blank, folded to define said tray.

[0009] In one embodiment said lip of each container may define an endless wall converging inwardly towards an outer edge thereof. Alternatively said lip of each container may comprise an endless wall having parallel sides. In a further embodiment, said lip of each container may comprise an endless wall diverging outwardly towards an outer edge thereof.

[0010] Each of said plurality of containers may be formed from a paper based material. Each of said plurality of containers may comprise a cup or pot. Said lip of each container may be defined by a connection between a side wall of the respective container and a base thereof, said connection defining a peripheral lip extending around the base of the container and depending therefrom. Said sidewall may diverge outwardly and upwardly from said base to define a frustoconical cup or pot.

[0011] To further enhance retention of the container in the holder, a paper wrapping may be applied over and around the containers and affixed to the holder.

[0012] The holder may be printed on one or both sides to make the packaging assembly more attractive to customers.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a holder for a packaging assembly, said holder comprising a sheet of corrugated board having a plurality of endless slots formed in a face therein for retaining respective containers therein via a lip of each container, wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a first linerboard, a second linerboard and at least one flute located between the first and second linerboard, wherein said slots have a depth less than the thickness of the corrugated board such that they extend through the first linerboard but not through the second linerboard.

[0014] Said sheet of corrugated board may comprise a single flute located between said first and second linerboard, wherein said slots extend through the first linerboard and through at least a portion of said single flute, or, where greater rigidity is required, said sheet of corrugated board may comprise a first flute, said first flute located between said first linerboard and an intermediate linerboard, and a second flute, said second flute located between said intermediate linerboard and said second linerboard, wherein said slots extend through the first linerboard and through at least a portion of said first flute but not through said intermediate linerboard. It is also envisaged, in an alternative embodiment, that the slots may extend through both the first and intermediate linerboards, but not through the second linerboard.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a holder of a packaging assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a tray of a packaging assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the holder of figure 1 carrying and retaining six pots; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tray of Figure 2 carrying and retaining twelve pots; Figure 5 to 7 are part sectional views of the holder of Figure 1 showing the mounting of different types of pots, cups or other products therein; Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the formation of a holder or tray of a packaging assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the holder or tray comprises a single flute; and Figure 9 is a sectional view showing the formation of a holder or tray of a packaging assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the holder or tray comprises a double flute. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, a holder 2 for a packaging assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a flat sheet of corrugated board, comprising one or more flutes located between first and second linerboard, a plurality (six in the example shown) of circular slots 4 being cut through the first linerboard and having a depth less than the thickness of the sheet such that the slots do not extend through the second linerboard, whereby the slots 4 are shaped and dimensioned a to receive a peripheral lip 6 of a respective container 8 to locate and retain a plurality of said containers 8 on the holder 2.

[0017] In one embodiment (with reference to Figures 3 and 5), each container 8 may comprise a cup or pot formed from a paper based material, the cup or pot having a frustoconical sidewall 10 coupled to a base 12 via a depending peripheral lip 6 at a lower end of the cup or pot, whereby said depending peripheral lip 6 of each cup or pot can be received in a respective slot in the holder to locate and retain the respective cup or pot 8 on the holder 2.

[0018] However, the holder 2 may be used to hold and retain numerous other types of containers 8, such as plastic cups, pot or cartons. The lip 6 of the container 8 may be provided at a lower end of the container 8 or at an upper end thereof or may form part of a lid or cap of the container. The lip 6 of each container 8 and the corresponding slots 4 of the holder may be circular, oval, square or any other shape. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate different types and shapes of container 8 held within the slots 4 of the holder 2. The lips of the containers, and the corresponding slots, may be discontinuous.

[0019] Preferably the width of each slot 4 is substantially equal to or, more preferably, slightly less than the width of the lip 6 of each container 8 such that the slot 4 grips the lip 6 of the respective container 8 to resist removal of the containers from the holder. Because the sides of the slots 4 grip both sides of the lip 6 of the respective container 8 an enhanced retention of the containers 8 on the holder 2 is achieved compares to prior art holders with simple apertures, which only engage an outer side of the container.

[0020] The high retention of the lips 6 of the container 8 in the slots 4 of the holder 2 maintains the correct orientation of the containers 8 and may even allow the holder to be tipped or inverted It has also been surprisingly found that an enhanced grip is provided under conditions of high humidity, which would normally be expected to reduce the effectiveness of the holder. This is due to the hygroexpansivity of the linerboard forming the holder 2, causing the material of the first linerboard to expand on either side of the slot, effectively reducing the width of the slots 4 and enhancing their grip on the lips 6 of the containers 8.

[0021] In an alternative embodiment, shown in Figures 2 and 4, the holder 2 may be adapted to form a tray by folding up side regions of the sheet to form side walls 14. This may provide enhanced rigidity where heavier containers are to be held by the holder 2.

[0022] In one embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, the holder 2 may be formed from a sheet of corrugated board having a single flute 16 between said first and second linerboard 18,20. The slots 4 may extend through the first linerboard 18 and at least partially through the single flute 16, but do not extend through the second linerboard 20, thereby retaining the material of the holder 2 in the centre of each slot 4, unlike conventional holders where the containers are located within apertures in a holder.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 9, where greater rigidity may be required, the holder 2 may be formed from a corrugated sheet comprising a double flute, having a first flute 16A located between the first linerboard 18 and an intermediate linerboard 22 and a second flute 16B located between the intermediate linerboard 22 and the second linerboard 20. Where the sheet forming the holder 2 comprises a double flute, the slots 4 preferably have a depth such that they do not extend through the intermediate linerboard 22. However, it is envisaged that the slots may extend through both the first and intermediate linerboards 18,22 where deeper slots are desired.

[0024] Figures 8 and 9 illustrate how the slots may be formed in the holder using a die cutter having a first set of blades 30 arranged to cut through a card blank to form the holder and a second set of shorter blades 32 adapted to cut through just the first linerboard and a portion of the flute 16 (or first flute 16A in a double flute board) to form the slots 4.

[0025] While the slots 4 are able to provide a strong retention of the containers 8 via the insertion of the peripheral lips 6 of the container therein, should a more secure retention of the containers 8 be required, the holder 2 and the containers 8 mounted thereon may be wrapped, preferably with a paper or paper-based wrapping material.

[0026] The surfaces of the holder and / or any wrapping may be printed to make the packaging assembly more attractive to customers.

[0027] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

Claims

1. A packaging assembly comprising a holder and a plurality of containers, each container having a lip, said holder comprising a sheet of corrugated board having a plurality of slots formed in a face therein, each slot being dimensioned to receive the lip of a respective container to locate and retain said container on the holder, wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a first linerboard, a second linerboard and at least one flute located between the first and second linerboard, wherein said slots have a depth less than the thickness of the corrugated board such that they extend through the first linerboard but not through the second linerboard.

2. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of each of said slots is substantially equal to or less than the width of said lip of each of said plurality of containers.

3. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a single flute located between said first and second linerboard, wherein said slots extend through the first linerboard and through at least a portion of said single flute; or wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a first flute, said first flute being located between said first linerboard and an intermediate linerboard, and a second flute, said second flute being located between said intermediate linerboard and said second linerboard, wherein said slots extend through the first linerboard and through at least a portion of said first flute but not through said intermediate linerboard.

4. A packaging assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each slot comprises an endless cut line formed in the first linerboard corresponding in shape to the lip of each container.

5. A packaging assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said holder comprises a flat sheet.

6. A packaging assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said holder comprises a tray having raised peripheral side walls.

7. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tray is folded from a single flat blank8. A packaging assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said peripheral lip of each container defines an endless wall converging inwardly towards an outer edge thereof.

9. A packaging assembly as claimed in an of claims 1 to 8, wherein said peripheral lip of each container comprises an endless wall having parallel sides.

10. A packaging assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said lip of each container comprises an endless wall diverging outwardly towards an outer edge thereof.

11. A packaging assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of said plurality of containers is formed from a paper based material.

12. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said containers comprises a cup or pot, said lip of each container is defined by a connection between a side wall of the respective container and a base thereof, said connection defining a peripheral lip extending around the base of the container and depending therefrom to be received within a respective slot in the holder.

13. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sidewall diverges outwardly and upwardly from said base to define a frustoconical cup or pot.

14. A holder for a packaging assembly, said holder comprising a sheet of corrugated board having a plurality of slots formed in a face therein for retaining respective containers therein via a lip of each container, wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a first linerboard, a second linerboard and at least one flute located between the first and second linerboard, wherein said slots have a depth less than the thickness of the corrugated board such that they extend through the first linerboard but not through the second linerboard.

15. A holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a single flute located between said first and second linerboard, wherein said slots extend through the first linerboard and through at least a portion of said single flute, or wherein said sheet of corrugated board comprises a first flute, said first flute located between said first linerboard and an intermediate linerboard, and a second flute, said second flute located between said intermediate linerboard and said second linerboard, wherein said slots extend through the first linerboard and through at least a portion of said first flute but not through said intermediate linerboard.

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