CONTAINER

The invention relates to a container for accommodating objects to be packaged, comprising a container body, which comprises a container wall for forming an accommodating space for the objects to be packaged, wherein the container body comprises an output opening and wherein the container body comprises an inner contour comprising at least one guide section for resting against the objects to be packaged.

Such containers are used in a variety of embodiments. For example, tubular containers comprising a cylindrical inner and outer contour are known for packaging stacked circular effervescent tablets. Such a container is described in DE 40 13 799 A1.

In contrast, the invention has the object of specifying a container, which is suitable to securely accommodate the objects to be packaged and which can furthermore be designed in an optically appealing manner.

This object is solved by means of the features of claim 1. For this purpose, provision is made in the case of the above-mentioned container for the container body to comprise holding sections, which point outwards, to which a laminar material is fastened, which forms an outer contour of the container.

Due to the inner contour comprising at least one guide section, objects to be packaged having the form of pieces can be accommodated securely in the container. The guide section(s) can thereby preferably be adapted to the objects to be packaged such that they prevent or reduce a movement of the objects to be packaged. In this manner, sensitive objects to be packaged having the form of pieces, such as molded bodies of pressed powder, can be packaged and transported securely. The container according to the invention is particularly suitable to package tablets, such as, in particular, medical tablets, vitamin tablets, effervescent tablets and the like. Other products, such as molded bodies, tabs, dishwashing detergent tabs, etc., can also be packaged securely. Preferably, disk-shaped objects to be packaged are accommodated in the container in a stacked form. This helps to avoid uncontrolled movements of the objects to be packaged, which can lead to damages. In addition, the available space is used effectively in the case of stacked objects to be packaged.

The claimed embodiment of the container body makes it possible to design the container in a particularly appealing manner. An outer contour of the container, which differs from the inner contour, can thereby be realized by means of the holding sections, which point outwards. A container comprising an inner contour and an outer contour, which deviates therefrom, can be realized in this manner, for example. This provides for outer contours comprising an outer diameter of the container, which widens or decreases in longitudinal direction of the container, e.g. In addition, containers can be realized, in the case of which the outer contour comprises a basic shape, which differs from the inner contour. For example, the container can comprise a cylindrical inner contour and an angled outer contour and/or an outer contour comprising straight surfaces.

The laminar material allows a cost-efficient design of the outer side of the container. The laminar material can comprise a film, paper and/or cardboard, for example. It can be designed and/or printed in color at manufacturer's option. An appealing and individual design of the outer side of the container can be realized in this manner. The laminar material is fastened to the holding sections, which point outwards, and can be designed so as to rest against them under tension, for example.

According to an advantageous embodiment, provision is made for a distance to be provided at least in sections between the container wall and the laminar material. Among others, this design provides for a large design freedom for the outer contour and the inner contour and contributes to low production costs. It is particularly advantageous, if the holding sections, which point outwards, define at least one hollow space, which is arranged between the laminar material and a section of the container body.

An improvement is furthermore achieved, when the holding sections are arranged and provided such that the outer contour comprises a basic shape, which differs from the inner contour. For example, a round inner contour and a triangular, square, polygonal or oval outer contour can be obtained in this manner. In addition, a constant inner width, which is defined by the guide sections, can be attained in the direction of the longitudinal center axis of the accommodating space whereby the outer diameter changes. If the inner width across the accommodating space defined by the guide sections is constant, all of the stacked bodies can be transported securely.

In the case of a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the holding sections, which point outwards, to be formed by first areas of the container wall and for the at least one guide section to be formed by a second area of the container wall, which is offset inwards relative to the first area. The first areas can thus be arranged at a distance further away from a longitudinal center axis of the container than the second area. In addition, the second area can be designed as a corrugation, which points inwards. This also increases the stability of the container, which also contributes to a reduction of the production costs.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the holding sections, which point outwards, to be formed by spacers arranged on the outer side of the container wall. In a particularly advantageous manner, such spacers can be designed as webs, which furthermore improve the stability of the container.

It is furthermore advantageous, if the container is designed to accommodate stacked bodies, in particular to accommodate stacked tablets. The invention thereby also refers to containers, which are filled with stacked bodies. The stacked bodies can be disk-shaped molded bodies, e.g. Provision can hereby be made in an advantageous manner for the inner contour comprising the at least one guide section to be designed to accommodate round, in particular circular stacked bodies.

A particularly reliable accommodation of the objects to be packaged can take place, if provision is made for at least two guide sections, which are spaced apart from one another. Preferably, provision is made for at least three guide sections, which are distributed around the circumference. The guide section can hereby be adapted to the shape of the objects to be packaged.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for the container body to comprise at least one stopper for closing the output opening. In that this stopper is connected to the container edge via an integral hinge, the container can simply also be opened and closed with one hand. The stopper can be provided with a warranty seal, which indicates, whether the packaging has already been opened.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the laminar material to comprise a film. The latter can in particular be designed as a shrink film. Such a film provides for an advantageous design of the outer contour. The film can hereby be printed and/or dyed. In addition, a high tension, by means of which the laminar material rests against the holding sections, can be realized. In addition, it is avoided that the laminar material can be pushed into hollow spaces located below the laminar material when used as intended. When using shrink film, the production is particularly simple, because the shrink film contracts when heated and thus tightens and fixes the laminar material.

The production is further improved, if the laminar material surrounds the container body in at least one section. The laminar material can hereby be designed as a tube, for example. This tube can be pulled over the holding sections. When using shrink film, the tube can be pulled over the holding sections and can then be heated. The tube of shrink film then contracts and wraps around the holding sections with tension. A high tension, which provides the product with a stable outer contour, can also be attained in this manner.

If the container body comprises a cylindrical inner contour, it can be used particularly well for accommodating cylindrical bodies. The large contact surface in particular reduces stresses during transport.

In addition, the container can comprise a desiccant, which regulates the moisture content in the packaging. The desiccant can be arranged in a desiccant chamber in a stopper, for example.

Further objects, features, advantages and possible applications of the instant invention follow from the below description of exemplary embodiments by means of the drawings. All of the described and/or shown features describe alone or in any combination thereby form the subject matter of the invention, also independent from the combination in individual claims or from the dependency thereof.

FIGS. 1
a-1e show a first embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 2
a-2b show a second embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 3
a-3b show the container of FIGS. 2a and 2b, illustrated with laminar material;

FIGS. 4
a-4b show a further embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 5
a-5b show a further embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 6
a-6d show the container from FIGS. 5a and 5b, illustrated with laminar material;

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 8
a-8c show a further embodiment of a container according to the invention;

FIGS. 9
a-9b show a further embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 10
a-10b show a further embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 11
a-11c show a further embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 12
a-12b show a further embodiment of a container according to the invention, illustrated without laminar material;

FIGS. 1
a to 1e show a first embodiment of a container 1 according to the invention, which is suitable to accommodate non-illustrated objects to be packaged. FIG. 1a hereby shows a perspective illustration of the container 1. FIG. 1b shows a cross section along line B-B in FIG. 1c. FIGS. 1c and 1d show a side and a front view of the container 1, while FIG. 1e illustrates a longitudinal section of the container along lie A-A in FIG. 1d.

The illustrated container 1 comprises a container body 2, the container wall 3 of which forms an accommodating space 4 for the objects to be packaged. At its upper end, the container body 2 thereby comprises an output opening 5, through which the container can be filled with the objects to be packaged and the objects to be packaged can be removed again. The output opening 5 can be closed by means of a non-illustrated stopper.

The container body 2 comprises an inner contour 6 comprising at least one guide section 7 for resting against the objects to be packaged. In addition, the container body 3 comprises holding sections 8, which point outwards, for a laminar material, which forms an outer contour of the container 1. For the sake of clarity, the laminar material is not illustrated in FIG. 1, so as to be able to show the container body 2 and the container wall 3 thereof in all details.

In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1e, provision is made for four guide sections 7, which are distributed across the circumference, as can be seen particularly well in FIG. 1b. In addition, the embodiment illustrated in these figures comprises holding sections 8, which point outwards and which are arranged between the guide sections 7. In this regard, it can in particular be gathered from FIG. 1b that provision is made for four holding sections 8, which point outwards. The holding sections 8, which point outwards, are thereby formed by the first areas of the container wall 3. The guide sections 7 are formed by second areas of the container wall 3, which are offset inwards relative to the first area. In this regard, it can be seen well from the figures that the guide sections 7 are arranged closer to the longitudinal center axis of the accommodating space 4 than the first areas, which form the holding sections 8, which point outwards.

In longitudinal direction of the container 1, the guide sections 7 thereby comprise a constant distance to the longitudinal center axis L of the accommodating space 4. The objects to be packaged can thus be held securely in lateral direction across the entire height of the container. A secure accommodation of the objects to be packaged is furthermore also ensured, if stacked molded bodies, such as disk-shaped tablets, for example, are accommodated in the container 1. The guide sections 7 thus make it possible for the container to have a shape, which is adapted to the objects to be packaged. In this context, FIG. 1b shows well that the guide sections 7 are adapted to the objects to be packaged. For this purpose, the guide sections 7 have a curved shape, which is designed in a concave form in the case of the illustrated exemplary embodiment. In particular, the guide sections 7 can form a section of a circular arc. In addition, other embodiments of the guide sections are also possible. FIG. 1e shows well that the guide sections 7 have a constant distance to the longitudinal center axis of the accommodating space 4. FIGS. 1a to 1e furthermore show that the guide sections 7 are designed as a corrugation, which points inwards. Provision is made for connecting areas 10 between the guide sections 7 and the holding sections 8, which point outwards.

The laminar material can be fastened to the holding sections 8, which point outwards, so as to form an outer contour of the container 1. The holding sections 8 thereby make it possible to design the outer contour independent from the inner contour. In the case of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1e, the guide sections 7 are designed to accommodate cylindrical disk-shaped bodies, such as effervescent tablets, for example. The outer contour differs from this in various ways. On the one hand, the outer contour has a different basic shape, because a substantially rectangular shape results after fastening of the laminar material, which is placed around the sections, which point outwards, and which is held by them. The holding sections 8 hereby comprise rounded corners 9, which prevent damages to the laminar material by the holding sections. In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the holding sections 8 furthermore comprise a distance from the longitudinal center axis L of the accommodating space 4, which changes in longitudinal direction. It can be seen well in the figures that the sections 8, which point outwards, are pulled further outwards towards the end, which is located opposite the output opening 5. This results in a shape of the container body 2, which widens towards the bottom, comprising an increased base.

The illustrated container 1 is designed to accommodate stacked bodies. These can in particular be stacked tablets, such as effervescent tablets, for example. For example, these tablets can be designed in a disk-shaped form comprising a circular outer contour.

The further figures show further embodiments of containers according to the invention. To avoid repetitions, corresponding parts are thereby provided with the same reference numerals. If there is correspondence, the corresponding paragraphs of the description also apply for the further embodiments.

FIGS. 2
a,
2
b and 3a, 3b show a further embodiment of a container according to the invention. The container body 3 is illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b without the laminar material. FIGS. 3a and 3b show the same container body 2, but with the laminar material. FIGS. 2a and 3a hereby show a perspective illustration. A horizontal cross section is in each case illustrated in FIGS. 2b and 3b.

It can be seen well in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 3b that the container body 2 comprises a container wall 3, which comprises three guide sections 7. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, they are distributed across the circumference and are arranged about an imaginary circular line. The container wall 3 furthermore forms holding sections 8, which point outwards and which, in turn, are provided with rounded corners 9. The holding sections 8, which point outwards, thereby have a shape, which widens from the upper to the lower end of the container body 3. As a whole, this results in a container comprising a triangular basic shape, as can be seen particularly well in FIG. 3b. The dimensions of the triangle thereby increase towards the bottom and form a widened base. Towards the top, towards the output opening 5, the triangular shape merges into a circular contour.

To better support the objects to be packaged, a hoisted contact surface 11 is provided for the objects to be packaged in the bottom of the packaging body 3. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the contact surface 11 has a circular shape.

FIGS. 3
a and 3b show well that a laminar material 12 is fastened to the holding sections 8, which point outwards. Said laminar material surrounds the container body 3 at least partially. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the side surfaces of the container body 3 are surrounded by the laminar material 12. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the laminar material 12 is formed by a film, which is designed as a shrink film. The laminar material is thereby designed as a tube, which surrounds the container body 3. During the production, the container body 3 is introduced into a trimmed section of the shrink film. Initially, the shrink film has a diameter, which is larger than the diameter of the container body 3. In this manner, the container body 3 can be inserted into the shrink film easily. The shrink film is then heated. The shrink film contracts hereby and attached to the holding sections 8 under tension. The laminar material 12 thus surrounds the holding sections 8 and rests against them in a crease-free manner. An additional fastening by means of adhesion can, but does not need to take place.

A distance 16 is provided in sections between the container wall 3 and the laminar material 12. FIG. 3b shows well that the distance 16 is provided between the area of the container wall 3, which is pulled inwards and which forms the guide section 7, and the laminar material 12. The holding sections 8, which point outwards, hereby define a hollow space, which is provided between the laminar material 12 and the container body 3.

FIG. 3
a shows clearly that the laminar material 12 forms a smooth outer contour of the container 1. The laminar material can thereby be dyed and/or printed. The dying or printing, respectively, is carried out in a particularly simple manner, before the laminar material 12 is fastened to the holding sections 8. In the alternative, the printing can also take place after the laminar material 12 was fastened to the holding sections 8.

FIGS. 4
a and 4b show a further embodiment of the container 1 according to the invention. The container body 2 thereby comprises a tubular section 13, which defines the accommodating space 4. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the tubular section 13 is designed cylindrically. The output opening 5 is arranged at the upper end of the tubular section 13. The tubular section 13 thereby forms a circumferential guide section 7 for the objects to be packaged. The illustrated container 1 is thereby particularly well suited to accommodate cylindrical objects to be packaged, for example in the form of stacked tablets comprising a circular outer diameter.

In the case of the embodiment according to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the holding sections 8, which point outwards, are designed as spacers 14, which are arranged on the outer side of the container wall 3. The length of the holding sections 8 is thereby dimensioned such that, after fastening the laminar material to two side surfaces of the container 1, laminar surfaces are created. After fastening the laminar material, the two other side surfaces are in each case designed so as to be partially laminar and then merge into a rounded shape with the shape of a segment of a circle. By correspondingly providing the spacers 14, a plurality of desired outer contours can thereby be created. In this context, it can be seen well in FIG. 4a that the diameter of the outer contour of the container 1 does not change in the direction of the longitudinal axis L.

The situation is different in the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b. Here, the diameter of the outer contour widens from top to bottom. For this purpose, the spacers 14 comprise a length, which increases from top to bottom. FIGS. 4a and 5a also show well that the holding sections 8, which point outwards, are designed in a web-shaped form. In the case of the illustrated embodiments, the webs thereby extend in longitudinal direction of the container body 2.

FIGS. 6
a to 6d show the container from FIGS. 5a and 5b, but provided with the laminar material 12. FIG. 6a hereby shows a side view and FIG. 6b shows a perspective illustration of the container. FIG. 6c illustrates a longitudinal section along line A-A in FIG. 6a. FIG. 6d shows a horizontal cross section through the container 1. In particular FIGS. 6c and 6d show well, how the laminar material 12 is fastened to the holder sections 8 and surrounds the container body 3. The laminar material 12 is thereby designed as a film, which envelopes the container body 3. A distance is thereby provided in sections between the laminar material 12 and the container wall 3. The hollow spaces, which are provided in this manner between the laminar material 12 and the container body 3, can also be seen well.

FIG. 6
c shows well that the bottom 15 is pulled slightly inwards so as to form a contact surface 11 for the objects to be packaged.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the container according to the invention. The container body 2 is illustrated without laminar material in perspective illustration. The container 1 comprises four guide sections 7, which are distributed across the circumference and which are formed by areas of the container wall 3, which are pulled inwards. Provision is furthermore made for two larger holding sections 8 located opposite one another and for two smaller holding sections 8, which are also located opposite one another. As a whole, after application of the laminar material 12, which is not illustrated herein for the sake of clarity, the container 1 thus has a contour with an oval cross section, whereby the dimensions of the outer contour change across the length of the container body 2.

FIGS. 8
a-8c show a further embodiment. FIG. 8a specifies a perspective illustration of the container body 1. The container body is illustrated herein with the laminar material 12. FIG. 8b shows the same container body 2, but without the laminar material 12. FIG. 8c shows the container body 2 from FIG. 8b in cross section. FIGS. 8b and 8c clearly show that the guide section 7 is formed by means of an area of the container wall 3, which is pulled inwards. The holding sections 8, which point outwards, are formed by the areas of the container wall 3 located further outside.

FIGS. 9
a and 9b as well as 10a and 10b show further examples for possible embodiments of the container body 2. A cross section is hereby specified in FIGS. 9b and 10b in each case. FIGS. 9a and 10a in each case show the container body 2 in perspective illustration. The containers are shown without the laminar material 12. The guide sections 7, in turn, are formed by areas of the container wall 3, which are located further on the inside.

The holding sections 8 are formed by sections of the container wall 3, which are located further on the outside.

FIGS. 11
a to 11c and 12a to 12b show further possible embodiments of the container body 2. In the case of these embodiments, provision is made for a tubular section 13 for accommodating the objects to be packaged, which has a cylindrical shape in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. The holding sections 8, which point outwards, are arranged at the outer side of the tubular container wall 3. Said holding sections have the shape of webs, which are arranged at the outer side of the container wall 3. In the case of the embodiment according to FIGS. 11a to 11c, the webs point approximately outwards in radial direction in each case. The length of the holding sections is thereby dimensioned such that an outer shape, the cross section of which is substantially square, results. FIGS. 11a and 11b thereby show well that the diameter of the outer contour changes across the length of the container. In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12a and 12b, the webs forming the holding sections 8 are arranged in parallel.

The illustrated containers can in each case be provided as plastic products and can be made by way of injection molding. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12 can be produced directly as plastic injection molded parts. The further embodiments can be produced, for example, in that an injection molded body is prepared initially and that the latter is then brought into the respective illustrated shape by means of a correspondingly prepared mold by means of a blow molding process. Both methods are cost-efficient and allow for a production in large quantities.

To protect the objects to be packaged, the container can be provided with a desiccant, which can be accommodated in a known manner in a desiccant chamber of a stopper, for example. In so doing, it is possible to also safely store and/or transport moisture-sensitive objects to be packaged for longer periods of time. In addition, the stopper can comprise a resilient element for fastening to the objects to be packaged, so as to mechanically protect the package goods.

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