Gripping means for containers

Abstract

A container blank ( 2 ) for forming a container having respective opposite first and second planar surfaces, and comprising a row of body portion forming panels (P 1 -P 4 ) arranged side-by-side, the boundaries between the panels being defined by respective boundary lines of weakness (S 1 -S 4 ) extending from top to bottom of the panels substantially perpendicularly to the row, at least one body portion forming panel (P 2 ) including a line of depression ( 12 ) in the first surface ( 14 ) which is not visible on the respective opposite second surface ( 16 ), the line of depression having a grip enhancing substance ( 18 ) deposited therein.

1 . Packaging material for forming a container having respective opposite first and second surfaces, and comprising a row of body portion forming panels arranged side-by-side, the boundaries between said panels being defined by respective boundary lines of weakness extending from top to bottom of said panels substantially perpendicularly to said row, at least one body portion forming panel including a line of depression in the first surface, the line of depression having a grip enhancing substance deposited therein. 
     
     
         2 . Packaging material according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip enhancing substance is a friction-increasing material. 
     
     
         3 . Packaging material according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip enhancing substance is a high-friction ink or varnish. 
     
     
         4 . Packaging material according to  claim 3 , wherein the high-friction ink or varnish is composed of modified acrylic resins. 
     
     
         5 . Packaging material according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaging material further comprises a laminate packaging material comprising a paperboard substrate, a first layer of thermoplastics material on the first planar surface, and on the second planar surface, a second layer of thermoplastics material and a barrier layer disposed between the paperboard substrate and the second layer of thermoplastics material, the line of depression being formed in the first layer of thermoplastics and the surface of the paperboard layer facing the first layer of theremoplastics. 
     
     
         6 . Packaging material according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip enhancing substance is wholly contained within the line of depression. 
     
     
         7 . Packaging material according to  claim 5 , wherein the depth of the line of depression is less than half the thickness of the paperboard substrate. 
     
     
         8 . Packaging material according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of lines of depression form one or more gripping zones on the at least one body portion forming panel. 
     
     
         9 . Packaging material according to  claim 1 , wherein a line of depression is present on second and fourth body portion forming panels in a row of first, second, third and fourth body portion forming panels. 
     
     
         10 . A container comprising a loop of body panels, the boundaries between said panels being defined by respective boundary lines of weakness extending from top to bottom of said panels substantially perpendicularly to said loop, each body panel having respective outside and inside planar surfaces, the outside surface at least one of the body panels including a line of depression, the line of depression having a grip enhancing substance deposited therein. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 10 , wherein the grip enhancing substance is a friction-increasing material. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 10 , wherein the grip enhancing substance is a high-friction ink or varnish. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the high-friction ink or varnish is composed of modified acrylic resins. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 10 , said container being comprised of a laminate packaging material comprising a paperboard substrate, a first layer of thermoplastics material on the first planar surface, and on the second planar surface, a second layer of thermoplastics material and a barrier layer disposed between the paperboard substrate and the second layer of thermoplastics material, the line of depression being formed in the first layer of thermoplastics and the surface of the paperboard layer facing the first layer of theremoplastics. 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 10 , wherein the grip enhancing substance is wholly contained within the line of depression. 
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 14 , wherein the depth of the line of depression is less than half the thickness of the paperboard substrate. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of lines of depression form one or more gripping zones on the at least one body panel. 
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 10 , wherein a line of depression is present on opposite body panels in the loop. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a container blank of sheet material comprising marking the sheet material with a pattern of lines of weakness defining body portion forming panels of the container blank, the container blank having respective opposite first and second p-ta-nar surfaces, forming a line of depression in the first surface of at least one of the body portion forming panels and depositing a grip enhancing substance in said line of depression. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the container blank comprises a laminate packaging material comprising a paperboard substrate, a first layer of thermoplastics material on the first planar surface, and on the second planar surface, a second layer of thermoplastics material and a barrier layer disposed between the paperboard substrate and the second layer of thermoplastics material, the forming of the line of depression being by compression of the first layer of thermoplastics and the surface of the paperboard layer facing the first layer of theremoplastics. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the compression comprises compressing the line of depression to a depth of less than half the thickness of the paperboard substrate. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the depositing of the grip enhancing substance is by an ultra-violet printing process.