The invention relates to a package, in particular a folding box composed of cardboard or cardboard laminate, as claimed in the precharacterizing clause of claim 1.
Packages of this type are used for different purposes, including, inter alia, for the packaging of medicaments in the pharmaceutical industry. They can be produced easily, filled and sealed on automatic packaging lines, and, furthermore, they are user-friendly. Until the contents of the package have been finally consumed, the package can be repeatedly sealed by means of the insert cover.
It is already known for comparable packages of this generic type to be provided with a guarantee function, providing an indication when they are opened for the first time. This guarantee function is provided, for example, by perforations, safety tapes or security tapes or security seals which can be torn open. However, once opened, the packaging unit is easily accessible by children, because the insert cover can be opened without any effort In particular with regard to pharmaceutical products, but also for other goods such as insecticides, fertilizers etc., such easy accessibility is obviously undesirable, because of their toxic effect. Child-proof packages are admittedly already known in which a slide can be withdrawn from the outer sheath with the packaged item. This can be done only after appropriate manipulation on the outer sheath. One example of a package such as this is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,829.
One object of the invention is therefore to provide a package of the type mentioned initially which is likewise child-proof without any adverse affect on the other functions, that is to say a package which can be opened only by knowledge of specific manipulation actions. The expression child-proof is defined by the relevant guidelines, with which those skilled in the art will be familiar. According to these guidelines, it must not be possible for the package to be opened within a specific time within a randomly selected group of children of a specific age class.
The stated object is achieved by a package which has the features of claim 1. The arrangement of the locking means on the insert tongue ensures in a very simple way that a correctly sealed package is secured, and that no additional manipulation actions are required for security. The latch can be released only by deliberate application of force to the locking means, and this function is not evident to children. Despite this, the package is user-friendly even for relatively elderly people, and the opening process does not require any complicated manipulation actions. The application of force to the locking means and the opening of the insert cover preferably take place at the same time, in order to achieve a high degree of security. The necessity to carry out two movements simultaneously is not evident to children. However, in certain circumstances, it would be feasible for the locking means to remain in a released position after the application of force, and for the cover to be opened later The locking means latches in again only after resealing.
It is particularly advantageous for the locking means to be a locking strip which is arranged on the insert tongue and, together with the insert tongue, forms an element with a V-shaped cross section, whose tip points toward the base and whose end facing the insert cover can be latched in behind a locking edge in the area of the holding opening. A locking strip such as this can absorb relatively large forces, although the lock can be released even by a small amount of pressure. The locking strip in this case forms a type of locking catch which does not produce any major resistance to the closing of the cover.
The holding opening for the insert tongue may at least partially be arranged in an additional wall section which is connected to an end side wall section and runs parallel to the base when the package is closed, with the locking edge being formed by an edge area of the holding opening in the additional wall section. However, it would also be feasible for the holding opening to be arranged exclusively on one end side wall section, or even on the base of the package.
The locking strip may face the end side wall section, with at least one unlocking opening being arranged in the end side wall section, through which a force can be exerted on the locking strip in order to release the latch. Alternatively, however, the locking strip may also face away from the end side wall section, with at least one unlocking opening being arranged in the insert cover, through which a force can be exerted on the locking strip in order to release the latch. Finally, it is also feasible for the locking strip to face away from the end side wall section, and for at least one unlocking opening to be arranged in the base, through which a force can be exerted on the locking strip in order to release the latch. Fundamentally, the unlocking opening allows access to the locking strip, although this on its own is not yet sufficient to open the cover. In addition, it is necessary to know the way in which force must be applied to the locking strip in order to release the lock.
However, in certain circumstances, it is also feasible for the latch not to be released by direct action on the locking strip, but by a relative movement between the insert cover and the end side wall section or the additional wall section. This can be achieved solely by appropriate deformation of the closed package, for which purpose the necessary pressure points must be known. However, it is also feasible to arrange at least one grip opening in the base and/or in the insert cover, in an area facing the rear side wall section, through which the lengthened additional wall section can be moved relative to the insert cover.
A supporting wall section may be arranged on the additional wall section and is arranged running adjacent to the locking edge, approximately parallel to the end side wall section. The additional wall section ensures that the locking strip is always held in the correct locked position. This is particularly important when the locking strip is not fixed but is designed in a freely sprung manner. In a situation such as this, the supporting wall section limits the maximum possible opening angle of the locking strip. The robustness of the package is further increased by the additional wall section.
Before the package is opened for the first time, the unlocking openings can be sealed by means of a guarantee section which can be knocked out, in order to ensure a guarantee function. It is therefore impossible to access the locking strip, and thus to open the package, without removing the guarantee section, thus also providing an indication of opening for the first time, in a very simple manner. A guarantee section such as this may, of course, also seal the grip openings, which were mentioned above, in the base and/or in the insert cover.
In the case of an additional guarantee function or an alternative guarantee function, the additional wall section may extend as far as the rear side wall section, with a guarantee opening which is sealed by means of a guarantee section being arranged in the rear side wall section. The outer edge of the additional wall section facing the rear aide wall section furthermore has a guarantee tongue which passes through the guarantee opening when the latch is first released. This guarantee function is particularly suitable for those latches which can be released by relative movement between the cover and end side wall section or additional wall section.
As already mentioned, the end of the locking strip may be designed such that it is freely sprung. This has the advantage that no additional adhesion operations or the like are required. However, it is also possible for the end of the locking strip to be connected via a connecting section to the insert cover or to the insert tongue. In this case, the locking strip together with the insert tongue always forms a robust wedge with a constant wedge angle.
Advantages are furthermore achieved if the additional wall section mentioned above is in the form of a supporting section which can be unfolded and on which a packaged item is held such that it cannot be lost. Thus, for example, the supporting section may be fitted with a blister film with a welded-in packaged item, having openings through which the packaged item can be pushed out of the blister film. The supporting section which has been mentioned may be formed from two layers, with the blister film being held between the two layers. However, instead of a blister film, the supporting section could also be fitted with another packaged item, such as individual containers or the like which can be torn off. However, a blister film can also be sealed to the additional wall section such that it can be pivoted out freely.
It is particularly advantageous to manufacture the package from a single blank, which can be erected by means of folding and adhesion operations to form a robust box.
It is also advantageous for the package to be approximately cuboid and for it to have two hollow side walls, which run at right angles to the rear side wall section and each have an outer wall and an inner wall, which can be erected like a parallelogram from the plane of the base. The hollow side walls result in particularly advantageous robustness, with the package being resistant, in particular, to pressure. Furthermore, the prefabricated blank may be delivered in the flat state, in which case this blank can easily be handled on the packaging line.
Finally, the side wall of the package may have four side wall sections which can be unfolded and are connected via in each case one hinge fold at the mutually abutting ends. In consequence, each side wall section can be folded out on its own into the plane of the base, which results in advantages in the filling of the package, depending on the package type. On the other hand, this also ensures a dust-tight connection, which is protected against access, at the corners of the package. The side wall of the package and the outline of the base could, of course, also be designed to be polygonal or curved. A straight side wall section should be arranged only in the area of the insert tongue over a specific distance, in order to ensure secure locking.
The package may be manufactured from cardboard or from a laminate. In this case, it has been found to be particularly advantageous to use a cardboard polymer laminate, in particular a cardboard nylon laminate with a particularly smooth and tear-resistant surface. A laminate such as this is virtually impossible to tear manually. The smooth surface makes impermissible manipulation actions from the outside more difficult, and, furthermore, the package is water-repellant.
Further advantages can be achieved if the insert cover is at least partially adhesively bonded to another section of the package, for example to an additional wall section located underneath it, before it is opened for the first time. The adhesion points may in this case be separated by means of tear lines from that part of the insert cover which can be unfolded, thus providing an indication when it is first opened.
Various exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail in the following text and are illustrated in the drawings, in which:
The rear side wall section 3 and the end side wall section 12 are connected to the two outer walls 18 via a hinge fold 27 in each case, which is folded inwards during the erection of the side wall sections. A holding opening 5 is stamped out in the area between the end side wall section 12 and the first supporting section 20. In addition, a grip section 33 is also cut out by means of a weakened line 32 in the first supporting section 20, although this could also be stamped out completely in the same way as the holding opening 5.
An insert tongue 6 is articulated on the insert cover 4. This is followed by a locking strip 7. An unlocking opening 14 is provided in the hinge area of the insert tongue 6, but is sealed by a guarantee section 16.
The first supporting section 20 is provided with openings 25 which, however, are likewise sealed via perforation lines by means of a guarantee section 26. Later on, a packaged item can be pushed out of a blister film through these openings, but only after the guarantee sections 26 have been torn away.
Openings 24 are likewise stamped out completely on the second supporting section 21, with these openings 24 being somewhat larger than the openings 25, and being arranged as mirror images of them. The openings 24 will later on be used to push the packaged item out of the blister film. A supporting wall section 15 is also arranged on one longitudinal face of the second supporting section 21.
As illustrated in
As is shown in
Once the package 1 as shown in
As illustrated, the insert tongue 6 forms an acute angle with the locking strip 7, and its tip 8 points toward the base 2 when the insert cover 4 is closed. The free end 9 of the locking strip 7 is latched in under the locking edge 10, with the maximum opening movement being limited by the supporting wall section 15. During insertion through the holding opening 5, the free end 9 may, however, be pressed in a sprung manner against the insert tongue 6. The unlocking opening 14 is now exposed, then it is possible, for example, to place a fingernail behind the free end 9, in order to push the latter away from the area of the locking edge 10, against the insert tongue 6.
In one alternative exemplary embodiment, the blank 28 as shown in
As illustrated in
Particularly in the case of elongated packages, it would be possible on the basis of the same principle and without any further problems to provide two separate insert tongues, arranged at a distance from one another, with locking strips on the insert cover 4, with each insert tongue being associated with a separate unlocking opening.
As can be seen, the locking strip 7 can be set at a desired angle with respect to the insert tongue 6 by appropriate choice of material and folding. However, in certain cases, it would also be feasible to fix the locking strip in the area of the pointed end 8, for example by introduction of an adhesive spot or by adhesively bonding in a foam material strip with adhesive on both sides. This would nevertheless ensure that the locking strips are resilient without there being any risk of the spring force being weakened by excessively frequent use.
The blank in a further exemplary embodiment shown in
A further difference is that the locking strip 7 is not designed such that it is freely sprung, but such that it can be fixed with the aid of a connecting section 39 to the cover 4.
A grip opening 37 on the side of the base 2 facing the rear side wall section 3 is bounded by perforation lines. In a corresponding manner to this grip opening, a semicircular grip lug 38 is also stamped out on the additional wall section 11, and can be bent at right angles to the additional wall section 11 (
Finally, a guarantee tongue 42 is also arranged on one outer edge of the additional wall section 11. When the additional wall section 11 is folded around into the plane of the base 2, this guarantee tongue 42 is located immediately in front of a guarantee opening 41, which is sealed by means of a guarantee section 40. This guarantee opening is bounded by perforations in the rear side wall section 3.
When the additional wall section b is moved for the first time, the guarantee tongue 42 passes through the guarantee opening 41, with the guarantee section 40 being destroyed or broken out, so that this indicates that the package has already been opened.
Finally, the alternative blank shown in
The opening function for this package can be seen in particular from
The exemplary embodiment shown in
An attachment section 44 is articulated on the additional wall section 11, and is provided with a sealing strip 46. The two stamped-out access openings 45, 45′ allow access via the grip opening 37′ when the package is in the closed state.
As can be seen from
In the further exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, a blister 47 is likewise sealed in place such that it can be pivoted out. However, the insert cover 4 has two layers with an additional layer 4′, in order to improve the stiffness. The insert cover is also provided with rounded areas 48, in order to avoid corners that bend up. Tearing-open lugs 45 are arranged in the area of the rounded area and are separated from the rest of the section of the insert cover by tear lines 49. The second layer 4′ may be inverted or, as indicated by dashed-dotted lines, may also be articulated on the section 4, at the side.
As can be seen from
The exemplary embodiments do not illustrate all of the combinations of the individual features. However, it is, of course, feasible for individual features to be exchanged as required, so that, for example, it would also be possible to form exemplary embodiments other than those illustrated with an adhesively bonded insert cover, with or without a hollow side wall and other similar features.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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01129720.7 | Dec 2001 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP02/04100 | 4/12/2002 | WO |