The present invention relates to a packaging made of cardboard, paper or the like, comprising a base wall and a top wall, at least a respective front wall and rear wall, which connect the base wall and top wall and are intended for forming end sides of the packaging, wherein the packaging is designed in the form of a prismatic body along a longitudinal axis running parallel to the base wall and top wall, and also comprising at least one dust flap, which is articulated at one end at least of a front wall and rear wall. The invention also relates to a blank for producing such a pack.
A large number of such packagings are known. In particular, such packagings are used for receiving, transporting and storing packaged or non-packaged free-flowing goods. The goods can be, for example, cereals, cornflakes or other pourable and free-flowing foods, or also washing powder and the like. However, it is also possible to store liquids, in appropriately liquid-tight intermediate packagings, in the aforementioned packagings. DE 20 2004 011 165 U1 discloses a powder-tight pack for pulverulent goods. The known pack here is designed in the form of a prismatic, octagonal body. The disadvantage with such prismatic-design packs, however, is that a plurality of dust flaps have to be formed, in addition to the top flaps, for the purpose of sealing the top structure and/or base structure. In particular the corner regions of the top structure and/or base structure are exposed, in addition, to instability when subjected to compressive loading, for example when said packagings are stored or stacked one above the other. This can result in undesirable damage to the packaging. US 2011/111938 A1 and EP 0 468 860 A1 disclose comparable cardboard packagings and corresponding blanks. It is also the case that WO 2015/010726 A1 discloses similar packagings and blanks. However, the packagings disclosed here, as is also the case with the prior-art packagings described above, are “upright” prismatic bodies formed along a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis runs parallel to a longitudinal extent of the front wall, rear wall and side walls. The longitudinal axis is therefore arranged perpendicularly to a base surface or top surface.
In the case of packagings of the type in question which are designed in the form of a “horizontally lying” prismatic body along a longitudinal axis running parallel to the base wall and top wall, the larger bearing surface area of the base wall and top wall and the “horizontally lying” stacking arrangement, for example in a sales rack, give rise to less compressive loading in the regions of the corresponding base structure and top structure. However, such packagings are protected only to an insufficient extent against loading of the side walls, in particular during storage or transportation of the packagings in the “upright” state, i.e. when the prismatic bodies are being stored with the longitudinal axis in an upright, vertically erected position.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a packaging of the type in question and also a blank therefor which, alongside secure closure and reliable covering in the region of the side walls of the packaging, ensure increased loading stability of the packaging in said regions, in particular during “upright” storage or transportation of the packaging with the longitudinal axes in an upright, vertically erected position.
These objects are achieved by a packaging of the type in question according to the features of claim 1 and by a blank according to the features of claim 10. Advantageous configurations with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims, wherein advantageous configurations of the packaging can be considered to be advantageous configurations of the blank, and vice versa.
A packaging according to the invention made of cardboard, paper or the like comprises a base wall and a top wall, at least a respective front wall and rear wall, which connect the base wall and top wall and are intended for forming end sides of the packaging, wherein the packaging is designed in the form of a prismatic body along a longitudinal axis running parallel to the base wall and top wall, and also comprises at least one dust flap, which is articulated at one end at least of a front wall and rear wall. As an option, at least a respective side flap, which is articulated on the base wall and/or the top wall, can be formed for the purpose of closing the pack laterally. The dust flap here is designed such that, in a closed position, it rests, at least in part, at least on one of the, or on the, front and rear walls on which it is not articulated and/or on the base wall and/or top wall, and projects beyond the same at least in part. The configuration of the dust flap according to the invention ensures secure closure and reliable covering of those regions of the packaging which include the front wall and/or rear wall and/or the corresponding side walls or flaps. Furthermore, the fact that the dust flap rests, at least in part, on the front wall and/or rear wall and/or the base wall and/or top wall of the packaging results in increased loading stability of the pack in said regions. Such packagings can therefore readily be stacked one beside the other with the longitudinal axes of their prismatic bodies in an upright, vertically erected position, which is necessary, and advantageous, for example for dispatch on pallets. Furthermore, it is possible to use thicknesses of cardboard which are thinner, if appropriate, than in the case of previously known packagings. This reduction in the amount of material used means that the pack according to the invention involves considerable cost-related advantages. The fact that the dust flap projects, at least in part, beyond the front wall and/or rear wall and also the corresponding dimensioning of the dust flap ensure that a front end side and/or rear end side of the packaging is reliably covered over. Even possible compressive loading of said regions when the packaging according to the invention is stored in an upright position does not result in the dust flap being displaced from its resting place on the front wall and/or rear wall and/or the base wall and/or top wall. “Resting on the front wall and/or rear wall and/or the base wall and/or top wall” is also understood to mean that the dust flap does not rest directly on a respective edge of the front wall and/or rear wall and/or of the base wall and/or top wall. It is thus also possible for the dust flap to rest, at least in part, on a packaging element which is articulated on the respective front wall and/or rear wall, for example on a further dust flap. The critical factor is that the dust flap projects beyond the corresponding front wall and/or rear wall and/or the base wall and/or top wall.
In further advantageous configurations of the packaging according to the invention, the dust flap comprises at least one latching nose, wherein the latching nose is designed such that, in the closed position of the dust flap, it butts against the front and rear walls and/or the base wall and/or the top wall. Provision can be made here for the latching nose to latch in at least one recess or opening formed in the side flap. In addition, it is possible for said recess or opening to be formed in the transition region between the base wall and/or top wall and the corresponding side flap. The formation of at least one latching nose which, in the closed position of the dust flap, butts against the corresponding regions of the front and rear walls and/or of the base wall and/or of the top wall of the packaging ensures that the packaging maintains its shape. In particular, this is important when the packaging is erected, and filled, automatically and mechanically. Straightforward and reliable mechanical filling with, in particular, pourable, pulverulent and/or free-flowing foods is ensured only for dimensionally stable packaging. The dimensional stability of the packaging is increased, in addition, by the formation of the aforementioned recess or opening for the latching of the latching nose.
In further advantageous configurations of the packaging, the dust flap comprises at least a first portion, wherein the first portion is articulated on the corresponding front wall and/or rear wall and is designed such that, in the closed position of the dust flap, it covers over that region of a cross-sectional surface of the prismatic-body-design packaging which is formed by the front and/or rear walls, which are arranged on the end sides and/or at the rear, wherein the cross-sectional surface is formed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. This ensures that, irrespective of the surface area of the bottom of the prismatic-design packaging, the surfaces formed by the front and/or rear walls are reliably covered over, and closed, by the first portion of the dust flap. It is possible here for the dust flap to have at least a second portion, which adjoins the first portion, wherein the second portion is designed such that, in the closed position of the dust flap, it butts against the inner sides of the base wall and top wall. The abutment of the second portion against the inner sides of the base wall and top wall results in the distance between said elements of the packaging being clearly defined. The inner sides of the base wall and top wall are supported against the second portion of the dust flap. This contributes to the increased dimensional stability of the packaging according to the invention.
In further advantageous configurations of the packaging according to the invention, the latching nose is formed in the first portion and/or the second portion or in each case at least one latching nose is formed in the first portion and/or the second portion. Depending on the configuration of the packaging according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to arrange a predefined number of latching noses in different regions of the dust flap. This allows different stability-related requirements of different shapes of packaging to be met straightforwardly in terms of design.
In a further advantageous configuration of the packaging according to the invention, at least one tear-open flap is formed within the top wall. As a result, the packaging can be readily opened.
In further advantageous configurations of the packaging according to the invention, a cross-sectional surface is of polygonal design, in particular quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, nonagonal, decagonal or dodecagonal design, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the packaging of the prismatic-body-design packaging. However, other shapes, for example round shapes or combinations of round and polygonal shapes, are also possible. In addition, it has surprisingly been found that the packagings according to the invention make it possible for the amount of material, in particular cardboard material, used to be reduced considerably during the production of said packagings. Depending on the number of corners of the cross-sectional surface, it is possible for the amount of material used to be reduced by between 9% and 14%, with the volume remaining constant in relation to a conventional packaging. This gives rise to the amount of material used being reduced, in the case of a generally pentagonal configuration of the cross-sectional surface, by approximately 9% and, in the case of octagonal packagings, by approximately 14%.
It is also possible for the cross-sectional surface to be of triangular design in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the packaging. This embodiment can have independent inventive content. In order to form the triangular shape of the packaging, either the front wall or the rear wall is connected to the base wall and top wall, wherein the base wall and top wall, in turn, are connected directly to one another. At least one dust flap, which is articulated on the front wall or rear wall, is designed here such that, in a closed position, it rests, at least in part, at least on one of the front and rear walls, and projects beyond the same at least in part. The configuration of the dust flap according to the invention ensures secure closure and reliable covering of those regions of the packaging which include the front wall and/or rear wall and/or the corresponding side walls or flaps. Furthermore, the fact that the dust flap rests, at least in part, on the front wall and/or rear wall of the packaging results in increased loading stability of the packaging in said regions. Such packagings can therefore readily be stacked one beside the other with the longitudinal axes of their prismatic bodies in an upright, vertically erected position, which is necessary, and advantageous, for example for dispatch on pallets.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a blank for producing a packaging made of cardboard, paper or the like, comprising base-wall, top-wall, front-wall and rear-wall elements, which are connected via folding lines and are intended for forming the packaging in the form of a prismatic body in the folded state of the blank. The blank here comprises at least one dust flap, which is articulated at at least one end of a front-wall and/or rear-wall element. According to the invention, the dust flap is designed such that, in the folded state of the blank and in a closed position, it rests, at least in part, at least on one of the, or the, front-wall and rear-wall elements on which it is not articulated and/or on the base-wall and/or the top-wall element, and projects beyond the same at least in part. As an option, at least a respective side flap, which is articulated on the base-wall and/or the top-wall element, can be formed for the purpose of closing the packaging laterally. A blank which is formed in this way ensures that a packaging produced therefrom is securely closed and reliably covered in those regions of the packaging which include the front-wall and/or rear-wall elements and/or the corresponding side-wall elements or flaps. In addition, the blank according to the invention results in the packaging produced therefrom having increased loading stability in said regions. The configuration of the dust flap according to the invention, in turn, ensures that the packaging produced from the blank is reliably covered by means of the dust flap and, in addition, has a considerably higher dimensional stability than comparable known packagings.
In further advantageous configurations of the blank according to the invention, the dust flap comprises at least one latching nose, wherein the latching nose is designed such that, in the closed position of the dust flap in the folded state of the blank, it butts against the front-wall and rear-wall elements and/or the base-wall element and/or the top-wall element. Provision can be made here so that, in the folded state of the blank, the latching nose latches in at least one recess or opening formed in the side flap. In addition, said recess or opening can be formed in the transition region between the base-wall and/or top-wall element and the corresponding side flap. The formation of at least one latching nose which, in the closed position of the dust flap in the folded state of the blank, butts against the corresponding regions of the front and rear walls and/or of the base wall and/or of the top wall of the packaging ensures that the packaging maintains its shape. In particular, this is important when the packaging is erected, and filled, automatically and mechanically. Straightforward and reliable mechanical filling with, in particular, pourable, pulverulent and/or free-flowing foods or detergents is ensured only for dimensionally stable packagings. The dimensional stability of the folded packaging is increased, in addition, by the formation of the aforementioned recess or opening for the latching of the latching nose.
In further advantageous configurations of the blank according to the invention, the dust flap comprises at least a first portion, wherein the first portion is articulated on the corresponding front-wall and/or rear-wall element and is designed such that, in the folded state of the blank and in the closed position of the dust flap, it covers over that region of the cross-sectional surface of the prismatic-body-design, folded packaging which is formed by the front-wall and/or rear-wall elements, which are arranged on the end sides and/or at the rear, wherein the cross-sectional surface is formed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the folded packaging. This ensures that, irrespective of the surface area of the bottom of the folded, prismatic-design packaging, the surfaces formed by the front-wall and/or rear-wall elements are reliably covered over, and closed, by the first portion of the dust flap. It is possible here for the dust flap to have at least a second portion, which adjoins the first portion, wherein the second portion is designed such that, in the closed position of the dust flap and in the folded state of the blank, it butts against the inner sides of the base-wall and top-wall element. The abutment of the second portion against the inner sides of the base-wall and top-wall element results in the distance between said elements of the folded packaging being clearly defined. The inner sides of the base-wall and top-wall elements here are supported against the second portion of the dust flap. This contributes to the increased dimensional stability of the packaging produced from the blank according to the invention.
In further advantageous configurations of the blank according to the invention, the latching nose is formed in the first portion and/or the second portion or in each case at least one latching nose is formed in the first portion and/or the second portion. Depending on the required configuration of the packaging produced from the blank according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to arrange a predefined number of latching noses in different regions of the dust flap. This allows different stability-related requirements of different shapes of packaging to be met straightforwardly in terms of design.
Further features of the invention can be gathered from the claims, from the exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, and also the features and combinations of features mentioned hereinbelow in relation to the exemplary embodiments, can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations, without there being any departure from the framework of the invention. In the drawings:
In addition, the packaging 10 has in each case one side flap 26, 28, which is articulated on the base wall and the top wall 12, 14 and is intended for closing the packaging 10 laterally (see also
It can also be seen that the dust flaps 36 are designed such that, in the respective closed position, they rest, at least in part, on the front and rear walls 22′, 22″, 24′, 24″ on which it is not articulated, and project beyond the same at least in part. It is also the case that the dust flaps 36 comprise in each case two opposite latching noses 44, which, in the closed position, each latch in corresponding recesses 30, 32 formed in the side flaps 26, 28. The recesses 30 here are formed in a transition region between the base wall 12 and the respective side flap 26, 28. The recesses 32 are formed in the transition region between the top wall 14 and the corresponding side flaps 26, 28. It can be seen that the recesses 30 are formed at the respective ends of a folding line 70, and the recesses 32 are formed at the respective ends of a folding line 34. The folding line 70 here forms the transition between the base wall 12 and the side flap 26; the bending line 34 connects a first portion 26′ of the side flap 26 to an insertion and/or adhesive-bonding flap 26″ (see also
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the front end side 16 is formed by the front walls 22, 22′, 22″ (see also
It can be seen that the dust flaps 36 comprise in each case two opposite latching noses 44, wherein the latching noses 44 are designed such that, in the folded state of the blank 50 and in the closed position of the dust flap 36, they butt against the front-wall and rear-wall elements 22′, 22″, 24′, 24″ and also sub-regions of the base-wall and of the top-wall elements 12, 14. In addition, it is clear that the length of the respective folding lines 74, 76 is smaller than the length and width of the respective dust flaps 36 in this region. This means that the respective dust flap 36 projects on either side beyond the articulation. The boundary lines of the respective first portions 40 of the dust flaps 36 here are designed to run at an angle of approximately 45°, or approximately 135°, starting from the respective folding line 74, 76 of the corresponding front-wall or rear-wall element 22, 24.
In addition, it is clear from
Furthermore, it is clear that the recesses 30, 32 are formed at the opposite ends of the respective folding lines 70, 72, 34. The folding line 34 here connects the first portion 26′, 28′ of the respective side flap 26, 28 to the corresponding second portion 26″, 28″ of the respective side flap 26, 28. The second portion 26″, 28″ here can be designed in the form of an insertion and/or adhesive-bonding flap.
In addition, the top-wall element 14 of the blank 50 has a tear-open flap 20, which is formed via the perforation lines 46, 48. In the region of the adhesive-bonding flap 58, the tear-open flap 20 is continued in a grip flap 88, which is formed via the perforation lines 84, 86. For easier opening of the tear-open flap 20, use is made of the pull tab 82, which is formed by means of the cut line 80.
Those exemplary embodiments of the packaging 10 and of the blanks 50 which are described in the figures above serve to clarify the basic principle of the present invention. In particular, a large number of differently designed packagings are conceivable. It is therefore possible for the cross-sectional surfaces 38 of the prismatic-body-design packaging 10 to be of not just octagonal design, but also of quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, nonagonal, decagonal, hendecagonal or dodecagonal design. However, other shapes, for example round shapes or combinations of round and polygonal shapes, are also possible.
The packagings described above are designed in the form of folding boxes. They, like the associated blanks, consist, in particular, of cardboard, paper, plastic or comparable materials.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2017/060249 | 4/28/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2018/197013 | 11/1/2018 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5147271 | Bacques et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
5292059 | Oliff | Mar 1994 | A |
6273330 | Oliff et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6315123 | Ikeda | Nov 2001 | B1 |
7350670 | Steeves | Apr 2008 | B2 |
7717838 | Strong | May 2010 | B2 |
7857743 | Barner | Dec 2010 | B2 |
7935041 | Graham | May 2011 | B2 |
8011564 | Garner | Sep 2011 | B2 |
8800854 | Chapman | Aug 2014 | B2 |
9022913 | Graham | May 2015 | B2 |
9114921 | Smith | Aug 2015 | B2 |
9409367 | Graham | Aug 2016 | B2 |
9701087 | Graham | Jul 2017 | B2 |
9701088 | Strong | Jul 2017 | B2 |
9919830 | Smith | Mar 2018 | B2 |
10189623 | Voelker | Jan 2019 | B2 |
10265919 | Graham | Apr 2019 | B2 |
20080203142 | Grossman et al. | Aug 2008 | A1 |
20100219232 | Smith | Sep 2010 | A1 |
20110111938 | Smith | May 2011 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
32394 | Apr 1997 | CL |
43358 | May 1999 | CL |
44881 | Aug 2002 | CL |
20 2004 011 165 | Dec 2005 | DE |
0 468 860 | Jan 1992 | EP |
2015030246 | Feb 2015 | JP |
2015010726 | Jan 2015 | WO |
2015011186 | Jan 2015 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report dated Jan. 16, 2018 in corresponding International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2017/060249. |
Chilean Office Action dated Dec. 16, 2020 in corresponding Chilean Application No. PCT/2019-003068. |
Office Action issued for Japanese Application No. 2019-557477, issued by the Japan Patent Office dated May 18, 2021 (with English translation). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20200087018 A1 | Mar 2020 | US |