GB2269803A

GB2269803A - Packet with inner leaflet

Info

Publication number: GB2269803A
Application number: GB9217683A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Bernard Attenburrow
Original assignee: Smurfit Ltd
Current assignee: Smurfit Kappa UK Ltd
Priority date: 1992-08-20
Filing date: 1992-08-20
Publication date: 1994-02-23
Also published as: GB9217683D0

Abstract

A paper blank (10), when glued and folded, forms a closed packet having an integral leaflet portion (16) which is arranged to be at least partially released within the interior of the packet when a perforated side strip (H) of the packet is torn away to open the packet. The blank comprises first and second integral blank portions (12, 14) connected along a first fold line (C) for forming front and back parts of the packet, lateral flaps (18, 20) for respectively closing two opposite ends of the packet, a leaflet portion (16) connected to the first portion (12) by a second fold line (A), and first and second perforation lines (2, 3) formed parallel to and on each side respectively of the second fold line (A). The first and second perforation lines (2, 3) are positioned to be mutually superimposed in the assembled state of the packet whereby to define the perforated strip (H). <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION PACKET WITH INNER LEAFLET The present invention is concerned with products constructed using folded paper blanks and, in particular, with a construction for achieving a packet or sachet made from paper based materials and having an inner leaflet.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a paper blank which, when glued and folded, forms a closed packet having an integral leaflet portion disposed therewithin which is arranged to be at least partially released within the interior of the packet when a perforated side strip of the packet is torn away to open the packet.

In one embodiment, removal of the perforated side strip releases the leaflet portion fully so that it can then be simply withdrawn from the interior of the packet.

In another embodiment, removal of the perforated side strip leaves the leaflet portion attached to the remainder of the packet by a perforation line which can be easily broken, by pulling the leaflet portion, to enable the leaflet portion to be withdrawn from the interior of the packet.

In one embodiment, the paper blank comprises first and second integral blank portions connected along a first fold line for forming front and back parts of the packet, lateral flaps for respectively closing two opposite ends of the packet, a leaflet portion connected to said first portion by a second fold line, parallel to said first fold line, and first and second perforation lines formed parallel to and on each side respectively of said second fold line, the first and second perforation lines being positioned to be mutually superimposed in the assembled state the packet whereby to define said perforated strip which is removed to open the packet and at least partially release the leaflet portion.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.l shows a paper blank for constructing one embodiment in accordance with the present invention and indicating the various fold and perforation lines; Figs. 2 to 6 show various stages in the construction of a packet using the blank of Fig.l; Figs. 7 to 10 show how the packet of Figs. 1 to 6 is opened and the internal leaflet removed; and Fig. 11 shows a paper blank for constructing another embodiment in accordance with the present invention which can be used when the packet is to be filled by hand.

Referring first to Fig.l, there is shown the outline configuration of the blank 10 for forming the first embodiment, which is intended to be adopted when the resulting packet is to be filled mechanically by an automated process. A particular application of this packet is for the vending of horticultural seeds where there is a need or requirement to provide the customer, not only with the seeds (usually in their own pre-package), but also with a separate leaflet carrying information and/or a promotional message.

However, the resulting packet can be used for any product capable of being packaged in a flat packet/sachet.

The blank 10 has a first portion 12 for forming the front of the eventual packet and a second portion 14, joined to the first portion by a fold line C, for forming the back of the eventual packet. Connected to the portion 12 by a further fold line A is a portion 16 which will form the leaflet. The leaflet portion 16, which contains a fold line B, is cross-hatched in Fig.l to enable it to be clearly identified. Lateral flap portions 18,20 are connected to the portion 12 by way of further fold lines D and E. Perforation lines 1, 2, 3 and 4 are formed where indicated in Fig.l.

The packet is formed by performing the following operations on the blank 10, either manually or (usually) mechanically by machine.

Operation 1 - The blank is folded on Fold Line A, as shown in Fig.2.

Operation 2 - The leaflet part 16 of the blank is folded in two on the Fold Line B, as shown in Fig.3.

Operation 3 - Adhesive is applied firstly either to a part of the blank portion 14 indicated at J in Fig.3 or to the part marked K in Fig.3 (or both) and secondly either to the part of the blank portion 14 outboard of the perforation line as shown in Fig.3 at F, or to the part marked G in Fig.3 (or both), and a further fold is made along Fold Line C, as shown in Fig.4.

Operation 4 - Adhesive is applied to flap portion 18 and this flap is then folded along Fold Line D to form the closed base of the packet (Fig.5).

Operation 5 - The packet is now in the state in which it can be filled with the required contents, such as a separate seed packet (not shown), either mechanically or by hand. After filling, adhesive is applied to the flap portion 20 and this flap is then folded along Fold Line E to form the sealed top of the packet (Fig.6). Fig.6 thus shows the packet in its fully closed "vending" state.

When viewed from the front (or back), the packet has a perforated strip H down its one side, as shown in Fig.7, formed by the aligned sets of perforations 1, 2 and 3. In order to open the packet, a user/customer tears off the strip H, thereby breaking open the perforations 1, 2 and 3 (Fig.8). When the strip H has been removed, the contents of the packet (whether loose in the packet or in a separate package) can be taken out and the inner leaflet 16 becomes accessible. In this embodiment, the leaflet 16 is only attached by way of the perforation No.4 and slight pressure (pulling) will break this perforation and allow the leaflet 16 to be removed (Figs. 9 and 10). The leaflet can be pre-printed with suitable information/promotional material before or after the blank 10 is formed.

The above described packet is intended primarily for situations where it is intended to be filled mechanically. Where the packet is to be filled by hand, an alternative arrangement can be adopted where the leaflet portion is not fixed by way of the perforation line 4 but is adapted to be released by the action of tearing the strip H. A blank for such an embodiment is shown in Fig.ll. As well as the omission of perforation line 4, in this embodiment the adhesive area J or K is omitted (see Fig.3) altogether. As a result of the latter construction, when the perforated strip H is torn off (Fig.7), the leaflet is fully released whereby it can simply be withdrawn from the packet. In the embodiment of Fig.ll, the leaflet portion is actually slightly larger than in the case of the embodiment of Fig.l, as indicated.

The possible size that can be selected for the leaflet portion is virtually unlimited and the leaflet portion therefore can be larger or smaller than the embodiments illustrated and can contain fewer or more folds.

Claims

1. A paper blank which, when glued and folded, forms a closed packet having an integral leaflet portion disposed therewithin which is arranged to be at least partially released within the interior of the packet when a perforated side strip of the packet is torn away to open the packet.

2. A paper blank as claimed in claim 1, wherein removal of the perforated side strip releases the leaflet portion fully so that it can then be simply withdrawn from the interior of the packet.

3. A paper blank as claimed in claim 1, wherein removal of the perforated side strip leaves the leaflet portion attached to the remainder of the packet by a perforation line which can be easily broken, by pulling the leaflet portion, to enable the leaflet portion to be withdrawn from the interior of the packet.

4. A paper blank as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 which comprises first and second integral blank portions connected along a first fold line for forming front and back parts of the packet, lateral flaps for respectively closing two opposite ends of the packet, a leaflet portion connected to said first portion by a second fold line, parallel to said first fold line, and first and second perforation lines formed parallel to and on each side respectively of said second fold line, the first and second perforation lines being positioned to be mutually superimposed in the assembled state of the packet whereby to define said perforated strip which is removed to open the packet and at least partially release the leaflet portion.

5. A paper blank substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.