Patent Application
20160214757
The present invention relates to a sealed package for pourable food products.
The present invention also relates to a sheet packaging material for producing sealed packages for pourable food products.
As is known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by creasing and sealing laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminium foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, on which a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized on the packaging machine, e.g. by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, which, once sterilization is completed, is removed from the surfaces of the packaging material, e.g. evaporated by heating; the web so sterilized is then maintained in a closed, sterile environment, and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, which is fed vertically.
In order to complete the forming operations, the tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile-processed food product, and is sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced cross sections.
More precisely, the tube is sealed longitudinally and transversally to its own axis.
Pillow packs are so obtained, which have a longitudinal seal and a pair of top and bottom transversal seals.
Alternatively, the packaging material may be cut into blanks, which are formed into packages on forming spindles, and the packages are then filled with the food product and sealed. One example of this type of package is the so-called “gable-top” package known by the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trademark).
A package is known which comprises:
A longitudinal seal extends perpendicularly between the transversal seals and along the centerline of the rear panel.
In greater detail, rear and front panels are parallel to one another, lateral panels are parallel to one another, and lateral panels are orthogonal to both rear and front panels.
Furthermore, the top panel is slanted with respect to the bottom panel and is descending proceeding from the relative first edge to the relative second edge.
In other words, the distance between first edges of bottom and top panels is greater than the distance between second edges of such bottom and top panels.
As a consequence, the height of the rear panel is greater than the height of the front panel.
The top panel also comprises:
More precisely, the opening device substantially comprises a frame fitted to the first area of the top panel and a cap which is releasably coupled with the frame, so as to free a pouring opening of the food product, when unscrewed.
The above type of package is known under the name Tetra Brik Edge (Registered Trademark). Its main characteristic is the slanted top panel, which brings two advantages: an angled top panel which improves the pourability, and a transversal seal, crossing the top panel, being offset towards the rear panel, leaving a greater area for placing a cap.
Such a known package could be uncomfortable to pick up, especially when it stands between several other similar packages on the shelf, or in a secondary package such as a cardboard box.
Furthermore, in correspondence with other carton packages, the reduced circulation of air between the packages, as a consequence of being tightly packed, could cause the formation of moisture onto such packages, especially if packed in a closed environment, such as a plastic wrap or a cardboard box, and even more so when subjected to humid weather conditions.
Due to the height of an opening device and to the inclination of the top panel, the opening device may protrude from the first area of the top panel beyond a hypothetical prolongation of the front panel as shown in
A group of packages is often stored and transported in boxes as shown in
Furthermore, the opening device of the second package interferes with the rear panel of the first package and therefore exerts a pressure against this rear panel.
Accordingly, there is a risk that such pressure causes the opening devices to come off from the relative packages. The opening device could also cause a dent on the adjacent package, which causes an unwanted appearance and could make a customer reject the package. The dent could in worst case also affect the integrity of the package.
Furthermore, the interference between the opening device of the second package and the rear panel of the first package tends to slightly detach the front panel of the second package from the rear panel of the first package.
Accordingly, the rear panel of the last package and the front panel of the first package are forced against the walls of the box.
As a consequence, there is a risk of damaging the packages within the box or the shrink wrap, or even to cause damage to the secondary box or shrink wrap itself.
Finally, packages with opening devices applied thereon are normally transferred on a belt conveyor within the packaging plant.
In case that the conveyor is stopped or packages are grouped, a queue of packages with opening devices is formed. This happens relatively regularly in the packaging line.
In this situation, the packages are pushed against each other, and can become slightly angled or leaning with respect to the conveyor as a consequence of the interference between their opening devices and the rear panel of the adjacent package, as shown in
As a result, there is the risk that one or more of the packages fall over on the conveyor. This can cause a jam and the filling line must be stopped to fix the problem. It is also possible that some packages fall off the conveyor, due to this inclination, leading to waste of packaging material and product.
Furthermore, a need is felt within the industry to easily detected the fermentation of the pourable food product within the package and/or the leakage of air (or another gas) into the package.
EP-A-277673 discloses a sealed package comprising a quadrilateral top wall, a quadrilateral bottom wall, front and rear sidewalls and lateral sidewalls. The top wall is not provided with an opening device.
The joint portion between each two adjacent walls of the front, rear and lateral four side walls is formed with two ridgelines interconnecting the corresponding pair of corners of the top and the bottom walls.
The front wall extends between the front edges of top and bottom walls. The rear wall extends between the rear edges of top and bottom walls.
The two ridgelines are joined to each other at their upper and lower ends but are spaced apart from each other between these ends. The ridgelines extend smoothly as curved inwardly of the package to form a joint wall therebetween.
WO-A-2009/030910 discloses a package comprising a top and bottom walls, a front and a rear wall. And two lateral walls.
Top wall is sloped relative to sidewalls and to bottom wall. In a first embodiment, the front edge of the top wall—which coincides with the top edge of the front sidewall—is curved.
In a second embodiment, the package comprises a recess for receiving the nose of a consumer drinking directly from a spout. The recess is formed by providing a lenticular panel in the sheet packaging material from which package is formed.
Disclosed here is a sealed package for food product, which reduces at least one afore-mentioned drawback connected with the known packages and preserving, at the same time, the number of panels of the known packages.
Two preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Number 1 in
Opening device 3 is applied to package 1 by conventional fastening systems, such as adhesives, or by microflame, electric-current-induction, ultrasound, laser, or other heat-sealing techniques.
With reference to
Lateral panels 9 extend each from front panel 8 to rear panel 7.
Front panel 8 and rear panel 7 are adjacent to both lateral panels 9.
Bottom panel 6 comprises two horizontal edges 10, 11 parallel to one another, and two horizontal edges 12 interposed between and orthogonal to edges 10, 11. Edges 12 are parallel to one another.
Panel 5 comprises two horizontal edges 15, 16 opposite to each other and parallel to one another. More precisely, horizontal edges 15, 16 are parallel to and arranged over edges 10, 11 respectively.
Edges 15, 16 are rectilinear.
Panel 5 also comprises two edges 17, which extend between edges 15, 16 and are parallel to one another.
Edges 17 are arranged over respective edges 12.
In particular, the distance between edges 11, 16 is greater than the distance between edges 10, 15.
In other words, the height of rear panel 7 is greater than front panel 8.
Edges 10, 11 and 12 define a plane; top panel 5 is slanted with respect to such a plane, and is descending, proceeding from edge 16 to edge 15.
The rear panel 7 extends between edges 11, 16 and comprises two vertical edges 18a, 18b, which are parallel to one another and extend between edges 11, 16.
Front panel 8 extends between edges 10, 15 and comprises two edges 19, 20, which extend between edges 10, 15.
Each lateral panel 9 is bounded by edge 12, 17, by a relative edge 18a; 18b, and by a relative edge 19; 20.
Edges 19, 20 are the only edges which extend between edges 10, 15.
Edges 19, 20 are distinct and separate from each other, i.e. they do not have any common point.
Edge 19 bounds both front panel 8 and one lateral wall 9.
Edge 20 bounds both front panel 8 and the other lateral wall 9.
Edges 10, 15 define a theoretical plane P, which is perpendicular to bottom panel 6, parallel to rear panel 7 and arranged, when package 1 is standing on the bottom panel 6, vertically.
Package 1 also comprises a top transversal sealing 21 and a bottom transversal sealing (not shown), which extends across respective top and bottom panels 5, 6.
Sealing band 21 divides top panel 5 into two portions 22, 23, one (22) of which, adjacent to front panel 8 and bounded by edge 15, defines an area for the potential application of opening device 3, while the other portion (23), adjacent to rear panel 7 and bounded by edge 16, comprises along the centerline, an end portion of a flat longitudinal sealing band 24 of package 1. More specifically, sealing band 24 extends perpendicularly between sealing band 21 and bottom sealing band, and substantially along the centerline of rear panel 7.
Sealing band 21 extends beyond top panel 5 of package 1 into respective flat, substantially triangular lateral portions 26 of packaging material folded coplanar with and onto respective lateral panels 9 as of top panel 5.
Sealing band 21 also forms, lengthwise, a flat top tab 30 projecting from portions 22, 23 and from lateral portions 26 and folded onto portions 23 and onto portions 26 along a bend line formed at the base of tab 30.
Advantageously, edges 19, 20 extend on the opposite side of plane P with respect to panel 7; the whole front panel 8 extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect to panel 7; and panels 9 are concave.
In greater detail, edges 19, 20 comprise, proceeding from edge 15 towards edge 10:
In other words, edges 19, 20 extend outside of plane P with reference to panel 7.
Distances between edges 19, 20 and plane P are measured orthogonally to such plane P.
Portions 40, 42 join to one another at point Q while portions 41, 43 join to one another at point R (
In other words, each edge 19, 20 comprises, proceeding from edge 15 to edge 10, a relative portion 40, 41 which extends at increasing distances from plane P and a relative portion 42, 43 which extend at decreasing distances from such plane P.
Portions 40, 41 converge towards one another, i.e. have a decreasing distance from each other, from edge 15 to a segment S, which connects points Q, R. Segment S is, in the embodiment shown, horizontal, and is arranged on the opposite side of edges 10, 15 relative to rear panel 7.
Points Q, R are arranged at the same distance from edge 10 and at the same distance from edge 15.
The distance of points Q, R, i.e. the length of segment S, is within +/−5% of the half of the distance between edges 10, 15.
Alternatively, the distance of points Q, R, i.e. the length of segment S, is within +/−5% of the average of the distance between edges 10, 15 and the distance between edges 11, 16.
Portions 42, 43 converge towards one another, i.e. have a decreasing distance from each other, from edge 10 towards segment S.
In other words, portions 40, 41 extend at increasing distances from plane P and at decreasing distances from one another, proceeding from edge 15 to segment S. Differently, portions 42, 43 extend at decreasing distance from plane P and at increasing distances from one another, proceeding from segment S to edge 10.
In this way, edges 19, 20 are arranged at the narrowest distance from one another at points Q, R.
As a consequence of the shape of edges 19, 20, lateral panels 9 are not flat but are defined by relative concave surfaces which at first converge towards one another and then diverge from one another, proceeding from relative edges 17 to relative edges 12.
Portions 40, 41, 42, 43 are, in the embodiment shown, curvilinear.
More precisely, edges 19, 20 are shaped, in the embodiment shown, as parabolic arcs.
Panel 8 is convex.
The maximum distance of panel 8 from plane P is reached at the mid-section of package 1, i.e. at a plane orthogonal of plane P and having the same distance from edges 15, 10.
Bottom panel 6 coincides with the projection of top panel 5 on a plane orthogonal to an axis D (
Furthermore, the inclination angle of panel 5 relative to the plane defined by edges 10, 11 ranges between 15 and 20 degrees. In particular, such an inclination angle is 17 degrees.
Front panel 8 is symmetrical with respect to a curvilinear axis C which joins the middle-point of edge 15, the middle-point of segment S and the middle-point of edge 10. Axis C lies on and follows the front panel 8.
Axis C extends at increasing distance from plane P, proceeding from edge 15 to segment S; and extends at decreasing distances from plane P proceeding from segment S to edge 15.
Axis C has a similar conformation of edges 19, 20. In the embodiment shown, axis C is, therefore, shaped as a parabolic arc, although other curvatures are possible.
All sections of package 1 parallel to a plane U (
In top panel 5, the package 1 may have a removable portion (not shown in
Opening device 3 substantially comprises a frame 51 applied onto portion 22 of top panel 5, and a cap 52 screwed onto a neck defined by frame 51 (
Packaging material 2 from which package 1 is made has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, for stiffness, and a number of lamination layers covering both sides of base layer.
In the example shown, the lamination layers comprise a first layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, and a number of second layers of heat-seal plastic material covering both sides of both base layer and first layer. In other words, such solution comprises, in succession and from the side eventually forming the inside of package 1, a layer of heat-seal plastic material, a layer of barrier material, another layer of heat-seal plastic material, base layer, and another layer of heat-seal plastic material.
The inner layer of heat-seal plastic material contacting the food product, in use, may, for example, be made of strong, in particular, high-stretch, metallocene-catalyzed, low-linear-density (LLD) polyethylene.
Normally, layers of heat-seal plastic material are laminated on the base layer in a melted state, with successive cooling.
As a possible alternative, at least the inner layers of plastic material may be provided as prefabricated films, which are laminated on the base layer; this technique allows reducing any risk of formation of holes or cracks at or around the removable portion during the forming operations for producing sealed package 1.
The letter M in
In the first case, basic unit M is folded on a known crease spindle (not shown), is filled with the food product, and is sealed at the top and bottom to form package 1. In the second case, the web of packaging material 2, comprising a succession of basic units M, is:
Basic unit M has a crease pattern 60, i.e. a number of crease lines defining respective fold lines, along which packaging material 2 is folded to form the finished package 1.
It is important to mention that the term crease lines is used in the present description lines along which basic unit M is folded to form a relative package 1, 1′. In particular, decorative lines are not crease line in the meaning of the present description.
Crease pattern 60 substantially comprises:
Crease lines 63, 61, 62 are parallel to each other and orthogonal to crease lines 65, 66a.
In particular, crease line 63 comprises a first segment 80 which extends between an edge 64 of crease pattern 60 and crease line 65;
Crease line 67 comprises:
Furthermore, crease pattern 60 comprises:
More precisely, the bottom flaps are folded onto panel 6 of finished package 1.
Crease line 110 (112; 115; 117) extends between end point 101 (103; 100; 102) and the midpoint of a segment of crease line 61 (61; 62; 62) interposed between crease lines 65, 69 (66a, 71; 65, 68; 66a, 70). Crease line 111 (113; 114; 116) extends between intersection point of crease lines 65, 67 (66a, 67; 65, 63; 66a, 63) and the midpoint of the segment of crease line 61 (61; 62; 62) interposed between crease line 65, 69 (66a, 71; 65, 68; 66a, 70).
End points 100, 101 are joined by a theoretical reference segment 105 (shown in a dotted-line in
Advantageously, crease lines 120, 121 extend within an area 123, rectangular in the embodiment shown, bounded by segment 82 of crease line 63, segment 92 of crease line 67 and by theoretical reference segments 105, 106.
In greater detail, crease lines 120, 121 comprise relative first ends which coincide with end points 100, 102, and second ends 124, 125, opposite to first ends, which are at a certain distance from relative end points 101, 103 of crease lines 69, 71.
Crease line 120 is the only crease line which originates from one (100) of end points 100, 101 and extends towards the other one (101) of end points 100, 101.
In the very same way, crease line 121 is the only crease line which originates from one (102) of end points 102, 103 and extends towards the other one (103) of end points 102, 103.
Crease lines 120, 121 are distinct and separate from each other, i.e. they do not have common points.
Crease lines 120, 121 at first converge towards one another and then diverge from one another, proceeding from end points 100, 102 of crease lines 68, 70 towards relative second ends 124, 125.
Crease lines 120, 121 extend at first at increasing distances from relative theoretical reference segments 105, 106 and then at decreasing distances from relative theoretical reference segments 105, 106, proceeding from end points 100, 102 of crease lines 68, 70 towards relative second ends 124, 125.
Crease lines 120, 121 extend also symmetrically with respect to an axis B, which joins the middle-points of segments 82, 92. Axis B is, in the embodiment shown, vertical.
Basic unit M has a constant width measured orthogonally to axis B. In this way, it could form a tube of packaging material from which packages 1, 1′ are obtained after their folding.
Crease lines 120, 121 are curvilinear. More precisely, crease lines 120, 121 are, in the embodiment shown, shaped as parabolic arcs.
Number 1′ in
Sealed package 1′ differs from sealed package 1 in that edges 18a′, 18b′ extend on the opposite side of a theoretical reference plane T′ defined by edges 11, 16, relative to panel 8; and in that the whole panel 7′ extends, on the opposite side of plane T′, relative to panel 8 (
Panel 7′ is, in particular, convex.
Edges 18a′, 18b′ are the only edges which extend between edges 11, 16.
Edges 18a′, 18b′ are distinct and separate from each other, i.e. they do not have any common point.
Edge 18a′ bounds both rear wall 7 and one lateral wall 9.
Edge 18b′ bounds both rear wall 7 and one lateral wall 9.
Plane T′ is, in the embodiment shown, parallel to plane P.
In greater detail, edges 18a′, 18b′ comprise, proceeding from edge 16 towards edge 11 (
The distance between edges 18a′, 18b′ and plane T′ are measured orthogonally to such plane T′.
Portions 45′, 47′ and 46′, 48′ join to one another respectively at points W′, Z′ which are joined by a theoretical reference segment V′.
Segment V′ is, in the embodiment shown, horizontal, is arranged on the opposite side of edges 11, 16 relative to panel 8, and is parallel and staggered relative to edges 11, 16.
Portions 45′, 46′, 47′, 48′ are, in the embodiment shown, curvilinear.
More precisely, edges 18a′, 18b′ are shaped, in the embodiment shown, as parabolic arcs. Other curvatures or shapes are possible of edges 18a′, 18b′.
Rear panel 7′ is symmetrical with respect to a curvilinear axis A′ which joins the middle-point of edge 16, the middle-point of segment V′ and the middle-point of edge 11.
Axis A′ extends at increasing distances from plane T′, proceeding from edge 16 to segment V′; and extends at decreasing distance from plane T′, proceeding from segment V′ to edge 16.
Axis A′ has a similar conformation of edges 18a′, 18b′, and is, therefore, shaped as a parabolic arc in the embodiment shown.
The maximum distance of panel 7′ from plane T′ is reached at the mid-section of package 1′, i.e. at a plane orthogonal of plane T′ and having the same distance from edges 16, 11.
Package 1′ also differs from package 1 in that opening device 3′ substantially comprises a frame 51′ which straddles edge 15 and comprises two fastening portions 53a′, 53b′ at a predetermined angle to each other (
More precisely, portion 53a′ is applied onto portion 22 of top panel 5 while portion 53b′ is applied onto an area of front panel 8 adjacent to edge 15.
Letter M′ in
Basic unit of packaging material 2′ differs from basic unit of packaging material 2 in that crease pattern 60′ does not comprise crease line 65. Furthermore, crease pattern 60′ comprises, instead of crease line 65:
End point 187′ is in common between segments 80, 186′ as well as end point 188′ is in common between segments 90, 191′.
Furthermore basic unit of packaging material 2′ differs from basic unit of packaging material 2 in that it does not comprise crease line 66a.
Crease pattern 60′ comprises, instead of crease line 66a:
End point 189′ is in common between segments 84, 192′ and end point 190′ is in common between segments 94, 193′.
End points 187′, 188′ are joined by a theoretical reference segment 180′ (shown in a dotted-line in
Crease pattern 60′ finally comprises:
More precisely, crease line 182′ originates from end point 187′ and extends towards end point 188′. Differently, crease line 183′ originates from end point 189′ and extends towards end point 190′.
In greater detail, crease lines 182′, 183′ comprise relative first ends which coincide respectively with end points 187′, 189′; and second ends which are at a certain distance from relative end points 188′, 190′.
Advantageously, crease line 182′ extends within an area 184′ bounded by segments 80, 90, by a segment 85 of edge 64 interposed between segments 80, 90, and by theoretical reference segment 180′; and crease line 183′ extends within an area 185′ bounded by segments 84, 94, by a segment 88 along edge area 66b, and by theoretical reference segment 181′; crease line 182′ is the only crease line which originates from one (187′) of end points 187′, 188′ and extends towards the other one (188) of end points 187′, 188′.
In the very same way, crease line 183′ is the only crease line which originates from one (189′) of end points 189′, 190′ and extends towards the other one (190) of end points 189′, 190′.
Crease lines 182′, 183′ are distinct from each other, i.e. they do not have common points.
Areas 184′, 185′ are, in the embodiment shown, rectangular.
In greater detail, crease line 182′ (183′) at first converge towards segment 85 (88) and then diverge from such segment 85 (88), proceeding from end points 188′ (190′) towards end points 187′ (189′).
Crease line 182′ (183′) extends at first at increasing distances from theoretical reference segment 180′ (181′) and then at decreasing distance from theoretical reference segment 180′ (181′), proceeding from end points 188′ (190′) towards end points 187′ (189′).
Crease lines 182′, 183′ are curvilinear and, in the embodiment shown, shaped as parabolic arcs.
As a consequence, crease pattern 60′ comprises a first region and a second region adapted to define rear panel 7′ of finished package 1′, once that blank M′ has been folded along segments 90, 94 and crease lines 181′, 182′, and edge 85 has been sealed to edge area 66b.
In particular, the first region is bounded by segments 80, 85, 90 and by crease line 182′ while the second region is bounded by segments 84, 94, 88 and by crease line 183′.
Points Q, RE
The advantages of package 1, 1′ and sheet packaging material 2, 2′ and of the method of forming package 1, 1′ according to the present invention will be clear from the above description.
In particular, package 1, 1′ is easy to grip, in particular when it stands between several other similar packages 1, 1′.
As a matter of fact, when several packages 1, 1′ are placed side-by-side, such as on a retailer shelf, the waist of the packages, caused by the central narrowing of the front panels 8 (and rear panels 7′ if applicable), makes it easier to insert a finger on each side and pick out an individual package 1, 1′.
The presence of such a gap is due to the fact that front panel 8 extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect to rear panel 7, 7′,
Furthermore, due to the fact that each package 1, 1′ is not in full contact with adjacent packages 1, 1′, air is allowed to circulate between such packages 1, 1′, so reducing the moisture surrounding packages 1, 1′.
As a result, packages 1, 1′ are conserved in a particularly hygienic environment.
Furthermore, even when they are provided with an opening device 3, 3′ which protrudes beyond rear panel 7, packages 1, 1′ are prevented from being damaged when stored and/or transported in a plurality of rows within a box or when conveyed in a packaging plant.
As a consequence, when packages 1, 1′ are arranged in rows, for example within a box to be stored and/or transported, even if front panel 8 of a second package 1, 1′ contacts rear panel 7 of a first package 1, 1′, cap 52, 52′ of opening device 3, 3′ of second package 1, 1′ is substantially prevented from interfering with rear panel 7, 7′ of first package 1, 1′ (
Accordingly, the pressure exerted by cap 52, 52′ of opening device 3, 3′ against rear panel 7, 7′ of a first package 1, 1′ is dramatically reduced. As a consequence, also the risk that the cap 52, 52′ of the opening device 3, 3′ comes off as a result of the above-mentioned pressure is dramatically reduced.
Furthermore, rear panels 7, 7′ of packages 1, 1′ which contact the inner wall of the box are substantially prevented to exert a pressure against such inner wall.
Accordingly, also the risk of damaging packages 1, 1′ within box is dramatically reduced.
In case that packages 1, 1′ with opening device 3, 3′ applied thereon form a queue on a conveyor, packages 1, 1′ are substantially prevented from leaning with respect to one another.
In this way, even if a queue is particularly long, there is no risk that some packages 1, 1′ fall over onto the conveyor.
Due to the fact that panels 9 are concave, package 1, 1′ is particularly advantageous.
As a matter of fact, panels 9 create a space between packages 2 place side by side with respective panels 9 arranged side by side. This is effective in preventing mildew in shrink-wrapped multipack and/or in very difficult ambient conditions.
Furthermore, thanks to the presence of panels 9, it is much easier to detect if the pourable product has been fermented. In such a case, an internal pressure will press out panels 9 easily, making detection with available apparatus easily conducted. Furthermore, panels 9 could lose their concavity if air (or another gas) leaks into package 1, 1′, through an untight sealing, or a micro-crack. In this case, this leakage may be easily detected and the package 1, 1′ may be so discarded. In both the above cases, concave panels 9 create a small vacuum pressure inside package 1, 1′, which is used for the above visualizations.
Finally, if edges 18a, 18b are curved, they work like an arch-type reinformencent and are, therefore, able to contrast a force exerted from an adjacent package 1′.
Package 1′ reaches all the above-identified advantages, even when it is fitted with an opening device 3′ which extends a considerable distance outside of front panel 8.
As a matter of fact, not only front panel 8 of package 1′ extends on the opposite side of plane P with respect to rear panel 7′, but also rear panel 7′ of package 1′ extends on the opposite side of plane T′ with respect to front panel 8.
In this way, as shown in
It is important to mention that all the above-mentioned advantages are reached by the present invention without changing the quadrangular shape of package 1, 1′, i.e. by a package 1, 1′ which has two quadrangular bottom and top panel 6, 5 and four panels—front panel 8, rear panel 7, 7′ and two panels 9—interposed therebetween.
Clearly, changes may be made to packaging material 2, 2′ and the package 1, 1′ as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope defined in the accompanying claims.
In particular, only the portion of front panel 8 adjacent to edge 15 could extend on the opposite side of plane P with respect to rear panel 7. In a completely analogous way, only the portion of rear panel 7′ adjacent to edge 16 could extend on the opposite side of plane T′ with respect front panel 8.
Furthermore, second ends 124, 125 may coincide with end points 101, 103. In this case, crease lines 120, 121 extend between relative end points 100, 102 and relative end points 101, 103.
In a completely analogous way, second ends of crease lines 182′, 183′ may coincide with end points 188′, 190′.
Edges 18a, 18b, 19, 20 and crease lines 120, 121, 182′, 183′ may not be parabolic. For example, edges 18a, 18b, 19, 20 and crease lines 120, 121, 182′, 183′ may be shaped as a series of straight segments joined to one another and inclined with respect to one another.
Finally, the longitudinal seal of package 1, 1′ may extend along a panel other than rear panel 7, 7′.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10165116.4 | Jun 2010 | EP | regional |
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/519,973 filed on Jun. 29, 2012 which is a U.S. national stage application based on International Application No. PCT/EP2011/055385 filed on Apr. 6, 2011 and which claims priority to European Application No. 10165116.4 filed on Jun. 7, 2010, the entire content of all three of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13519973 | Jun 2012 | US |
| Child | 15088439 | US |
