This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102022000026874 filed on Dec. 27, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a pack for consumer articles provided with a hinged closing tab.
Advantageously, the consumer articles contained in the box of the pack are arranged in order (that is, they are not haphazardly arranged in the pack).
The present invention finds advantageous, but not exclusive, application to a pack for capsules for infusion products.
The infusion products contained inside the capsules typically, without thereby losing generality, are products in powder, granules, solid pieces, leaves or a combination thereof. Typically, the infusion product comprises (non-exhaustive list) coffee, barley, chocolate, milk powder and tea.
In particular, the present invention also finds convenient application (without thereby losing generality) in packs for sweets, such as example for chocolates, candies, or biscuits.
Furthermore, the present invention also finds advantageous application (without thereby losing generality) in packs for smoking articles. The term “smoking articles” refers to both cigarettes and, without losing any generality, to other types of articles (such as cigars, small cigars or cigarillos, electronic cigarettes or ecigs, auxiliary products such as filters, refills for ecigs and other tobacco products or alternative or substitute components for tobacco).
In addition, the present invention also finds advantageous application for consumer articles comprising vials or small bottles.
At present, packs for consumer articles with an elongated shape are known, in which the articles are arranged haphazardly on the inside thereof. This leads to involuntary mutual damage to the consumer articles collected therein due to the impacts to which they are subjected. In fact, the consumer articles arranged in bulk, not occupying a predefined position within the pack, are subjected to relative movements towards one another during the manipulation of the pack, which causes the articles to collide with one another.
To overcome this drawback, packs are known within which the consumer articles are arranged in an orderly manner and with a specific positioning in the pack itself. Packs of this type are typically elongated in shape and have an openable end. In other words, in these packs when the pack is opened for the first time, the user tears the end of the pack to expose and remove the articles contained therein. Typically, the torn portion is completely removed or has at least one portion that remains joined to the body of the pack.
However, known types of packs have the disadvantage that once opened they cannot be resealed. In other words, once the pack has been opened, the user cannot close the same again until further articles are removed. However, this causes involuntary and unwanted dropping of articles from the pack, during the manipulation thereof by the user.
Furthermore, the torn portion of the pack typically remains dangling from the open end of the pack, which therefore, in addition to being unsightly, also presents the risk of inadvertently detaching completely from the remaining part of the pack, for example falling to the ground and therefore actually polluting the surrounding environment.
Known type of packs also have the disadvantage that the torn portion tends to fall apart. In other words, since the packs are made by folding and gluing a blank, the panels of the torn portion tend to detach from one another and not maintain their shape and mutual post-tearing position, given that the structural bond of the adjacent panels is missing. Therefore, once opened the pack tends not to maintain its initial shape.
From the documents in GB2323352A, GB1333981A and U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,581A, however, packs with openings at the side wall of the pack are known.
The object of the present invention is to provide a pack for consumer articles provided with a hinged closing tab, which is free from the drawbacks described above and is, at the same time, easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
According to the present invention, a pack for consumer articles is provided, provided with a hinged closing tab, as claimed in the attached claims.
The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention and form an integral part of the present description.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:
In
In the following disclosure, the term consumer articles 3 for example (non-exhaustive list): capsules for means infusion products (illustrated schematically in
In
The box 2 is parallelepiped (with a predominantly horizontal direction of extension) and houses within the same the plurality of consumer articles 3. The box 2 has two bottom walls 4 parallel and opposite one another and arranged orthogonally relative to the longitudinal extension L of the pack 1 and four side walls 5 which are arranged parallel to the longitudinal extension L of the pack 1 and are in parallel and opposite pairs between the same.
Four longitudinal corners are defined between the side walls 5 of the box 2, while four transverse corners are defined between the side walls 5 and each bottom wall 4, respectively.
The box 2 also has an extraction opening 6 for the articles 3 and a closing tab 7. The extraction opening 6 for the articles 3 is arranged at a distance D1 and D2 other than zero (that is, they are spaced apart) from both bottom walls 4 and is obtained through at least one side wall 5. The closing tab 7 is hinged along a hinge 8 so as to rotate between an open position (illustrated in
Advantageously, according to the illustrated embodiment, the extraction opening 6 extends through two side walls 5 adjacent and perpendicular to one another. In particular, the extraction opening 6 exclusively extends through two sole side walls 5 which are adjacent and perpendicular to one another. Therefore, as illustrated in the attached figures, in this case the closing tab 7 comprises (in particular it is made up of) two panels 9 and 10. In the closed position of the closing tab 7 the two panels 9 and 10 are substantially orthogonal to one another. In other words, in the closed position, the closing tab 7 is “L”-shaped. While in the open position of the closing tab 7, the two panels 9 and 10 can assume a different mutual positioning, that is, they are transversal (in particular they can still be orthogonal) to one another. This different positioning of the panels 9 and 10 is due to the elastic return due to the deformation of the folded rigid material.
According to a possible embodiment not illustrated, the extraction opening 6 can extend through a single side wall 5. In this case the closing tab 7 only has the panel 10.
As illustrated in the attached figures, the four side walls 5 have the same dimensions and therefore the pack 1 has a square cross section.
Alternatively, two opposite side walls 5 could have a different dimension compared to the other two side walls 5 opposite and orthogonal to the same. In this case, the pack 1 has a rectangular cross section.
According to a further possible alternative embodiment, the pack 1 has more than four side walls 5 and therefore in this case the pack 1 has a polygonal cross section.
Advantageously (but not limitedly), as illustrated in the attached figures, the hinge 8 of the closing tab 7 is arranged in the area of a corner defined between two adjacent side walls 5. According to a possible alternative (not illustrated), the hinge 8 of the closing tab 7 is arranged spaced apart from the corner defined between two adjacent side walls 5. In other words, in the latter case the hinge 8 is arranged in the area of a portion of one of the side walls 5 which is different from its edge.
Advantageously (but not limitedly), the closing tab 7 is delimited by at least two tearable weakening lines 11 (comprising for example incisions, notches, or perforations), along which the tab 7 can be separated from the remaining portion of the at least one side wall 5 (through which it is obtained). Specifically, when opening the pack for the first time, the user tears the weakening lines 11 to separate the closing tab 7 from the remaining portion of the side wall 5. In particular, in
Advantageously (but not limitedly), the closing tab 7 is delimited by the two tearable weakening lines 11 which are parallel to one another and that originate in the area of opposite ends of the hinge 8 and by a separation line 12 (comprising, for example, a cutting line) which is perpendicular to the two tearable weakening lines 11 and joins (that is, connects) the two tearable weakening lines 11 to one another.
Advantageously (but not limitedly), as illustrated in the attached figures, the weakening lines 11 comprise at least a portion at which the two weakening lines 11 are not parallel to one another.
According to a possible, non-limiting embodiment, the extraction opening 6 can have at least one portion of the (non-exhaustive list): square, rectangular, semi-circular, or trapezoidal shape.
Advantageously, the separation line 12 is arranged parallel and spaced apart from the hinge 8. According to a possible alternative not illustrated, the separation line 12 is arranged transversely and spaced apart from the hinge 8
According to a possible embodiment not illustrated, the separation line 12 is shaped so as to define a gripping edge of the closing tab 7.
The pack 1 is made by folding a single blank 13 (one embodiment thereof is illustrated in
Advantageously, but not limitedly, the pack 1 comprises a locking means 15 configured to hold the closing tab 7 in the closed position.
According to the possible embodiment illustrated, the locking means 15 comprises at least a seat 16 obtained in the inner panel 5′ and a claw 17 which is obtained in an inner surface of the closing tab 7 (in particular in the panel 10) and is configured to engage the seat 16 (when the tab 7 is in the closed position). In particular, the claw 17 is configured to engage the seat 16 by interference, when the closing tab 7 is in the closed position so as to hold the same in said position.
According to a possible alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the locking means 15 comprises a re-stick glue (that is, a weak glue) arranged between an inner surface of the closing tab 7 (in particular the panel 10 of the tab 7) and the inner panel 5′. The re-stick glue does not dry and allows the closing tab 7 to be positioned several times in a closed position of the extraction opening 6 for the consumer articles 3. In particular, the re-stick glue can be applied to the panel 10 of the closing tab 7 and/or to the inner panel 5′.
Advantageously, as illustrated in the attached figures, the extraction opening 6 is arranged at a distance D1 from one of the bottom walls 4 and at a distance D2, which is less than the distance D1, from the other bottom wall 4. In other words, the extraction opening 6 is arranged decentralized (that is, it is not arranged centrally or in the middle of the side wall 5 of the box 2) and is moved towards one of the bottom walls 4. In particular, the distance D2 ranges from 5 to 40%, preferably from 5% to 20%, of the distance D1.
Advantageously, as illustrated in the attached figures, a dimension D3 of the extraction opening 6 measured parallel to the longitudinal extension L of the pack 1 ranges from 10% to 30% of the respective total dimension (that is, the sum of the distances D1 and D2 and of the dimension D3) of the box 2. In other words, the extraction opening 6 has a dimension D3 which is much smaller than the total dimension of the box 2.
Preferably, the extraction opening 6 has a dimension D3 such as to remove one consumer article 3 at a time. In other words, the extraction opening 6 has a dimension D3 such as to prevent multiple consumer articles 3 from dropping out of the pack 1.
In use, upon opening the pack 1 for the first time, the user grabs the closing tab 7 (in particular, lifts the closing tab 7 in the area of the separation line 12) and tears one or two side walls 5 (depending on the extension of the weakening lines 11) to obtain the extraction opening 6 so as to withdraw the consumer article 3. Once the consumer article 3 has been withdrawn, the user repositions the closing label 7 in the closed position. The closing label 7 is held in this position by the locking means 15.
As illustrated in
Advantageously, as illustrated in the attached figures, the first panel 5′ and the panel 5″ have the same size (measured both parallel and orthogonal to the longitudinal extension L of the box 2).
According to a possible alternative, not illustrated, the first panel 5′ and the panel 5″ have two different sizes. In particular, the first panel 5′ (namely, the one that forms the inner panel 5′ precedingly described) has a dimension measured orthogonally to the longitudinal extension L of the box 2 which is smaller than the respective dimension (measured in the same way) of the panel 5″ (namely, the one that forms on the outside the precedingly described panel 5″).
The blank 13 comprises, furthermore, a first pair of fins 4′, which are arranged on opposite sides of the first panel 5′, are joined to the first panel 5′ along the two transverse fold lines 18, and form part of the bottom walls 4 of the box 2 and second pair of fins 4′, which are arranged on opposite sides of the third panel 5′, are joined to the third panel 5′ along the two transverse fold lines 18, and form part of the bottom walls 4 of the box 2. In particular, in the embodiment illustrated in
The blank 13 comprises, furthermore, a pair of fins 4″, which are arranged on opposite sides of the second panel 5′, are joined to the second panel 5′ along the two transverse fold lines 18, and form part of the bottom walls 4 of the box 2 and overlapping and glued, in particular by means of permanent glue, to the corresponding tabs 4′ so as to form the respective bottom wall 4.
In addition, the blank 13 has a pair of fins 4′″, which are arranged on opposite sides of the fourth panel 5′, are joined to the fourth panel 5′ along the two transverse fold lines 18, and form part of the bottom walls 4 of the box 2 and overlapping and glued, in particular by using a permanent glue, to the corresponding tabs 4″ so as to form the respective bottom wall 4.
According to an alternative embodiment, the fins 4″ and 4′″ are reversed, namely, the pair of fins 4″ are arranged on opposite sides of the fourth panel 5′, are joined to the fourth panel 5′ along the two transverse fold lines 18, and form part of the bottom walls 4 of the box 2; while, the pair of fins 4′″ are arranged on opposite sides of the second panel 5′, are joined to the second panel 5′ along the two transverse fold lines 18, and form part of the bottom walls 4 of the box 2 and overlap and are glued, in particular by using a permanent glue, to the corresponding fins 4″ so as to form the respective bottom wall 4.
Advantageously, at least in the area of the panel 5″ (in particular, of the fourth and the panel 5″) the weakening lines 11 are provided and optionally also the separation line 12 which delimit the portion that forms the closing tab 7.
Advantageously, if the box 2 has the locking means 15, the latter will be present at least in the area of the first panel 5′. In particular, if the locking means 15 comprises a re-stick glue, it will be applied to the first panel 5′ in the area that faces the closing tab 7, in particular at one of its free ends, when the closing tab 7 is in the closed position. Whereas, if the locking means 15 comprises a claw 17 and its respective seat 16 then the blank 13 (as illustrated in
In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the longitudinal and transversal corners are straight; alternatively, the longitudinal and/or transversal corners could be rounded or bevelled.
The embodiments described herein can be combined one with the other without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The pack 1 described above has numerous advantages.
Mainly, the pack 1 described above has a high (structural) stability even if the first opening has already been carried out. In other words, the pack 1 maintains its original shape even if it has already been opened for the first time. In particular, the inner panel 5′, in addition to serving as a reinforcing and supporting element of the pack 1, also allows the size of the extraction opening 6 to be limited and also allows to serve as barrier for the consumer article 3 facing the extraction opening 6. In addition, the inner panel 5′ also forms a striker for the closing tab 7, which in the closed position is positioned against the same.
The pack 1 also has the advantage of being resealable, since the closing tab 7 can be arranged several times between the closed position and the open position. In other words, the locking means 15 (if present) allow the closing tab 7 to be held in the closed position, thus avoiding involuntary opening of the same with a consequent unwanted dropping out of the consumer articles 3.
Therefore, the pack 1 has better storage and preservation for the consumer articles 3. In particular, the pack 1 allows to avoid involuntary impacts and therefore dents between several adjacent articles 3. The pack 1, thanks to the presence of the re-closing tab 7, also allows the organoleptic characteristics (aroma, flavour, smell) of the consumer article 3 to be preserved.
The pack 1 also has the advantage that having an elongated parallelepiped shape and the extraction opening 6 being obtained in the side wall 5 close to one of the two bottom walls 4 and the consumer articles 3 being arranged in order along a row, at least one of the side walls 5 serves as a sliding surface for the consumer articles 3. In other words, to be positioned at the extraction opening 6, the consumer articles 3 can roll and/or slide against at least one side wall 5, which guides them precisely up to the extraction opening 6.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102022000026874 | Dec 2022 | IT | national |