Collapsible carton

Abstract

A collapsible carton, which may be flat-packed for storage but easily erected to form a many-sided box, and a blank ( 1 ) for forming such are disclosed. The carton comprises a base ( 2 ) having a plurality of base edges ( 13 a, b, c ), and a continuous sidewall ( 3 ) defining a base aperture for accepting the base ( 2 ), when the carton is erected. In a first aspect, the base ( 2 ) comprises two hingedly-joined base portions ( 11, 12 ), hingedly joined to the sidewall ( 3 ). The carton is characterised in that the base ( 2 ) is larger than the base aperture. In a second aspect, the sidewall ( 3 ) comprises a plurality of sidewall notches ( 26 a, b, 36 a, b ). The carton further comprises an integral lid ( 4 ) having two lid portions ( 40, 50 ) hingedly joined to the sidewall ( 3 ). Both lid portions ( 40, 50 ) comprise two or more hingedly-joined wings ( 42 a, b, 52 a, b ). Each wing ( 42 a, b, 52 a, b ) comprises a wing notch ( 43 a, b, 53 a, b ) adapted to cooperate with a corresponding one of the sidewall notches ( 26 a, b, 36 a, b ) such that the lid portions ( 40, 50 ) may be secured in a closed configuration when the carton is erected.

1 . A collapsible carton, comprising: 
 a base having a plurality of base edges and comprising first and second hingedly joined base portions; and    a continuous sidewall hingedly joined to both of said first and second base portions and defining a base aperture, when said carton is fully erected, for accepting said base;    characterised in that said base is larger than said base aperture.    
   
   
       2 . The collapsible carton of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said base edges is convex.  
   
   
       3 . The collapsible carton of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall comprises a plurality of sidewall panels, being hingedly joined together and corresponding in number to said plurality of base edges.  
   
   
       4 . The collapsible carton of  claim 3 , wherein said sidewall comprises first and second sidewall portions, a first panel of said first sidewall portion being hingedly joined to a first base edge and a first panel of said second sidewall portion being hingedly joined to a second base edge.  
   
   
       5 . The collapsible carton of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of base edges is an even number between 6 and 12.  
   
   
       6 . The collapsible carton of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second base portions are formed from a single panel hinged by means of two closely-spaced longitudinal base folds.  
   
   
       7 . The collapsible carton of  claim 4 , wherein said base further comprises two transverse base folds extending from the ends of said first base edge to the ends of said second base edge.  
   
   
       8 . The collapsible carton of  claim 3 , wherein said sidewall further comprises a plurality of stays provided at hinged junctions between selected ones of said sidewall panels, each stay being configurable to support a corner of said base when said carton is erected.  
   
   
       9 . The collapsible carton of  claim 8 , wherein each stay comprises a slit, extending perpendicularly to and across ones of said hinged junctions, and two folds, extending parallel to said junction from each end of said slit to an adjacent sidewall edge.  
   
   
       10 . A blank for forming the collapsible carton of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 a base, having a plurality of base edges and comprising first and second hingedly joined base portions; and    a sidewall, being hingedly joined to said base, and having first and second sidewall portions, and at least one flap being hingedly joined to a first end of said sidewall, such that said flap may be fixed to a second end of said sidewall to form a continuous sidewall.    
   
   
       11 . The blank of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second sidewall portions are discrete, being hingedly joined to said first and second base portions respectively, such that respective first ends and second ends of said sidewall portions may be fixed to each other by one of said flaps to form a continuous sidewall, each flap being hingedly joined to either of said sidewall portions at said respective ends.  
   
   
       12 . A collapsible carton, comprising: 
 a base having a plurality of base edges;    a continuous sidewall defining a base aperture, when said carton is erected, for accepting said base and comprising a plurality of sidewall notches; and    an integral lid having first and second lid portions hingedly joined to said sidewall, each lid portion being provided with two or more hingedly joined wings, each of said wings being provided with a wing notch adapted to cooperate with a corresponding one of said sidewall notches, such that said lid portions may be secured in a closed configuration by mutual engagement of cooperating ones of said wing notches and said sidewall notches when said carton is erected.    
   
   
       13 . The collapsible carton of  claim 12 , wherein said lid portions partially overlap when secured in said closed configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The collapsible carton of  claim 12 , wherein said sidewall comprises a plurality of hingedly joined sidewall panels corresponding in number to said plurality of base edges.  
   
   
       15 . The collapsible carton of  claim 14 , wherein said sidewall comprises first and second sidewall portions, a first panel of said first sidewall portion being hingedly joined to said first lid portion and a first panel of said second sidewall portion being hingedly joined to said second lid portion.  
   
   
       16 . The collapsible carton of  claim 15 , further comprising tabs hingedly joined to second and third sidewall panels adjacent said first sidewall panels, said tabs being adapted to support said lid portions when said lid portions are secured in said closed configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The collapsible carton of  claim 12 , the first lid portion further comprising first and second perforations and the second lid portion further comprising an elongate opening, arranged such that when said lid portions are secured in said closed configuration said elongate opening overlies said perforations, such that said perforations are located at each end of said opening.  
   
   
       18 . The collapsible carton of  claim 17 , further comprising a flexible handle member secured at an interior face of said first lid portion, and passable through said elongate opening for use in carrying said carton.  
   
   
       19 . The collapsible carton of  claim 17 , wherein a corrugation direction of said carton is parallel to said elongate opening.  
   
   
       20 . A blank for forming the collapsible carton of  claim 12 , comprising: 
 a base, having a plurality of base edges;    a sidewall, being hingedly joined to said base, and having first and second sidewall portions, and at least one flap being hingedly joined to a first end of said sidewall, such that said flap may be fixed to a second end of said sidewall to form a continuous sidewall; and    an integral lid, having first and second lid portions being hingedly joined to said first and second sidewall portions respectively, each lid portion having a plurality of wings being hingedly joined to each side of said lid portions;    wherein each of said wings is provided with a notch and said sidewall is provided with cooperating notches.    
   
   
       21 . The blank of  claim 20 , wherein said first and second sidewall portions are discrete, being hingedly joined to said first and second base portions respectively, such that respective first ends and second ends of said sidewall portions may be fixed to each other by one of said flaps to form a continuous sidewall, each flap being hingedly joined to either of said sidewall portions at said respective ends.  
   
   
       22 . A collapsible carton, comprising: 
 a base having a plurality of base edges and comprising first and second hingedly joined base portions;    a continuous sidewall hingedly joined to both of said first and second base portions and defining a base aperture, when said carton is fully erected, for accepting said base and comprising a plurality of sidewall notches; and    an integral lid having first and second lid portions hingedly joined to said sidewall, each lid portion being provided with two or more hingedly joined wings, each of said wings being provided with a wing notch adapted to cooperate with a corresponding one of said sidewall notches, such that said lid portions may be secured in a closed configuration by mutual engagement of cooperating ones of said wing notches and said sidewall notches when said carton is erected;    wherein when said base is larger than said base aperture.    
   
   
       23 . A blank suitable for forming the carton of  claim 22.