EP0587630B1 - Package for flowable goods - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP92/01180 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 6, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 6, 1993 PCT Filed May 26, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO92/21578 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 10, 1992.A package for flowable goods includes an inner thin-walled plastic body for receiving pourable goods. The inner plastic body has a rectangular cross section, and is surrounded by a supporting envelope having an open top and bottom, and an upper stacking edge for resting on the plastic hollow body in the packaging position. A depression is formed in at least one corner of the inner body for receiving a tongue of the supporting envelope, whereby the tongue is cut out transversely to the corner depression, and hinged via two lateral edges for permitting the tongue to be folded into the depression.

Description

The invention relates to a packaging for bulk goods, such as liquids or free-flowing fine granules or the like, which consists of an inner, the goods to be packaged, blown thin-walled plastic hollow body with preferably substantially rectangular cross-section and a surrounding the plastic hollow body in the packaging position there is a bottom and lid-free support jacket, preferably with an upper support edge, which is in contact with the hollow plastic body, an upper support shoulder for supporting on the support edge of the support jacket preferably being provided in the plastic hollow body and the plastic hollow body having at least one indentation at a distance from the floor and shoulder surfaces and the support jacket is provided with at least one tab-like punch-out which can be folded inward into the indentation and is designed as a fixing element for the supporting jacket.

Such packaging is known from DE-A-3921258 by the applicant. In the case of this known packaging, the hollow plastic body, which is very thin-walled in comparison to conventional plastic bottles, can be produced from blow-molded plastic by means of a blowing process, as a result of which the plastic portion of the packaging can be kept very low. The strength and stability is provided by the support jacket, while the connection of the support jacket and plastic hollow body through an upper support edge of the envelope, on which the support shoulder of the plastic hollow body supports, and is guaranteed by foldable tab-like punching into the indentation.

This known packaging is environmentally friendly due to its low plastic and cardboard content and can be disposed of separately by the user due to its relatively simple division into two parts after use (disassembly into hollow plastic body and support jacket), in particular the support jacket can be recycled. However, the known packaging still has the disadvantage that the fixation of the two packaging parts, the hollow plastic body and the supporting jacket, especially when the packaging is full and therefore heavy, is not yet satisfactory. The tab-like punchings are articulated on only one side on the support jacket and have a punched line in the longitudinal direction of the support sleeve. As a result, there is a risk, particularly in the case of previously known packaging without the latching elements locking the tabs, that the tab-like punched-out portions fold back due to the material restoring forces and the plastic hollow body then slips out of the support sleeve when the packaging is gripped. In addition, the design of the recessed grips is still not optimal.

From DE-A-932899 a cross-sectionally rectangular bottom and lid-free cardboard cover is known as packaging for light bulbs. In each of its corner edges, this sleeve has two punched-out punched-out sections. These are arranged in such a way that they rest on the glass body of a light bulb at the top and bottom, which is packed in the packaging. This previously known packaging sleeve does not interact with another packaging part on which it would have to be locked.

The object of the invention is to provide a solution with which the handling of a generic type of packaging, in particular the connection of the hollow plastic body and the supporting jacket, can be improved, while at the same time keeping the plastic and cardboard content in the packaging low.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a packaging of the type described in the introduction in that at least one indentation is formed in only one corner edge or two opposite corner edges, into which a flap which is articulated on two side edges on the supporting jacket and is cut transversely to the corner edge is folded.

With this design, the handling of such packaging is significantly improved without increasing the plastic and cardboard content of the packaging, i. H. the packaging is also environmentally friendly. An indentation in a corner edge of the hollow plastic body with a tab-shaped punch-out folded in is sufficient for fixing the support jacket to the hollow plastic body. Characterized in that the tab-like stamping is articulated with two side edges on the support jacket and cut transversely to the corner edge, this is designed with two legs and projects with both legs against the wall of the indentation into it. There is no longer any danger of the flap-shaped punch-out being unfolded due to material restoring forces. If indentations are formed on two opposite corner edges, they can simultaneously serve as a gripping aid.

In an embodiment, the invention provides that the plastic hollow body in each case at two diagonally opposite corner areas has an approximately cuboid indentation, each of which is associated with a foldable tab. This configuration and arrangement of the indentations with the assigned tabs of the support jacket provide the user with a particularly user-friendly handle adapted to the user's hand. Simultaneously with a perfect locking of the support jacket on the hollow plastic body, these indentations create an optimal gripping aid. Cuboid bulges have proven to be particularly advantageous for fixing the tabs.

It is particularly advantageous if there are recessed handling openings in the foldable tabs. This configuration has the advantage that for later separate disposal of the container, the wrapping can be easily stripped off by simply pulling the tabs out of the associated indentations beforehand.

In order to achieve an even more secure locking between the plastic hollow body and the enveloping support jacket, which is particularly desirable for larger packaging or packaging with heavy filler material, the invention also provides an additional locking between the support jacket and the plastic hollow body, so that two in a corner edge of the plastic hollow body Indentations are each formed with an associated tab of the support jacket. This additional locking has the advantage that pushing or detaching of the supporting jacket from the hollow plastic body can be prevented in both directions, which is particularly helpful in the case of a substantially triangular indentation and tab.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer Verpackung mit teilweise aufgebrochener Umhüllung,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht einer Verpackung mit einem zusätzlichen Arretierungselement,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie III-III in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

einen Ausschnitt aus einem Faltzuschnitt für den Stützmantel der Verpackung,

Fig. 5

eine querschnittlich dreieckförmige Einbuchtung in einem teilweise dargestellten Kunststoffhohlkörper und in

Fig. 6

einen Ausschnitt aus einem Faltzuschnitt für den Kunststoffhohlkörper nach Fig. 5.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, for example. This shows in

Fig. 1

a side view of a package with a partially broken envelope,

Fig. 2

a side view of a package with an additional locking element,

Fig. 3

2 shows a section along line III-III in FIG. 1,

Fig. 4

a section of a folded blank for the support jacket of the packaging,

Fig. 5

a cross-sectionally triangular indentation in a partially shown hollow plastic body and in

Fig. 6

a section of a folding blank for the plastic hollow body according to FIG. 5.

The packaging, generally designated 1, consists in the area shown of a cross-sectionally essentially square hollow plastic body 2 and a supporting wrapping 3 made of cardboard or a comparable material.

The packaging 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is provided at two opposite corner regions of the hollow plastic body 2, each with an indentation denoted by 4, which is shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 and which is essentially cuboid. These indentations 4 serve as recessed grips into which tabs 5 of the support jacket 3 engage. The tabs are 5 formed by punching 6 or grooved fold lines 7 in the corresponding corner areas of the support jacket 3. Furthermore, each tab 5 has a handling opening 8, which is punched out accordingly and makes it easier to pull the tab 5 out of the respective indentation 4.

In the upper area of the hollow plastic body 2, a closure cover 9 and an upper support shoulder 10 are shown, which in the position of use are supported on the free edge 11 of the surrounding support jacket 3. The bottom region of the hollow plastic body 2 is designed with multiple arches to increase the stability, which is indicated by the reference number 12.

To improve the locking between the plastic hollow body 2 and the enveloping support jacket 3, a further, but smaller cuboid recess 13 is provided in the lower region of the hollow body 2 (FIG. 2), into which an associated, partially punched-out tab 14 of the support jacket 3 can be folded. The functioning and design of this locking device 13, 14 corresponds to that of the tabs 5 and indentations 4, it being possible, if appropriate, to dispense with the punching 8.

The inventive design of the recessed grips with the correspondingly shaped indentations 4 and associated tabs 5 overall makes the packaging 1 particularly easy to use. On the one hand, the recessed grips (indentations 4, tabs 5) form receptacles suitable for the hand of a user in order to be able to handle the packaging safely; 13, 14 can still be improved. Due to the special design of the Tabs 5 with the handling opening 8 make it easy to separate the two packaging parts 2, 3 again, so that the user is motivated to dispose of both packaging parts separately, in particular to supply the support jacket 3 to waste paper recycling.

The support jacket 3 can also be formed in multiple layers if this is necessary for reasons of stability.

In addition, the locking device 13, 14 can also be provided for packaging without recessed grips (indentations 4) and can serve as the sole locking element between the inner container 2 and the support jacket 3, as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the tab can also be triangular, as is shown with the tab 14a in FIG. 6. The tab 14a is delimited by a punching line 6 and two creasing lines 7 in the support jacket 3. Appropriately, but not necessarily, the tab 14a interacts with a cross-sectionally triangular indentation 13a in the hollow plastic body 2 (FIG. 5). If necessary, only two detents 13, 14 or 13a, 14a or 13, 14a can be arranged in a corner 1 of the plastic hollow body in a package 1, without recesses (recesses 4, tabs 5) being formed. The tabs 5, 14 and 14a are articulated to the support jacket 3 via creasing lines 7, which form their side edges, and have at least one punched or punched line 6 cut transversely to the corner edge.

Claims (4)

1. A pack (1) for pourable products, such as liquids or free-flowing fine granules or the like, which consists of an inner thin-walled blown plastic container (2), preferably of substantially rectangular cross-section, intended to hold the product and of a base- and cover-free supporting jacket (3) - preferably with an upper supporting edge (11) - surrounding the blown plastic container (2) and bearing against it in the in-use position of the pack, the blown plastic container preferably being provided with an upper bearing shoulder (12) for resting on the supporting edge (11) of the supporting jacket (3) and comprising at least one recess (4,13,13a) at a distance from its base and shoulder and the supporting jacket (3) being provided with at least one lap (5,14,14a) designed to fold over inwards into the recess (4,13,13a) as a fixing element for the supporting jacket (3), characterized in that at least one recess (4,13,13a) is provided at only one corner or at two opposite corners, a lap (5,14,14a) foldably connected to the supporting jacket (3) along two side edges and cut transversely of the corner being folded into said recess.
2. A pack as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the blown plastic container (2) comprises a substantially square recess (4) at each of two diagonally opposite corners, a folding lap (5) being associated with each recess.
3. A pack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that grip holes (8) are formed in the folding laps (5).
4. A pack as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that two recesses (4,13,13a) each with an associated lap (5,14,14a) of the supporting jacket (3) are formed in one corner of the blown plastic container (2).

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