WO2018024651A1

WO2018024651A1 - A package and a method of assembling and filling such package

Info

Publication number: WO2018024651A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/069267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Isabell Maria WEISS
Original assignee: Unilever N.V.; Unilever Plc; Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever
Priority date: 2016-08-05
Filing date: 2017-07-31
Publication date: 2018-02-08
Also published as: EP3494062B1; EP3494062A1; PL3494062T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a package (100) for holding a pouch (150), and to a method to assemble the package. The package comprises a first main panel (102), a first side panel (104), a second main panel (106), a second side panel (108), arranged to define a tube¬ like body (109), and a bottom flap (118) hingedly connected to the first main panel. The first main panel comprises a first slit line (120) defining a first tongue (122), and the bottom flap comprises a second slit line (126) defining a second tongue (128). The bottom flap is folded towards the inside of the tube-like body so that the bottom flap contacts the inner surface (114) of the first main panel and the first and second slit lines substantially overlap. The first and second tongues jointly define a double layered tongue (130) adapted to be pushed to the inside of the tube-like body to form a double layered support tongue for receiving and holding the pouch.

Description

A PACKAGE AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING AND FILLING SUCH PACKAGE

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a package, for example, for holding a pouch; and to a method of assembling and filling such package.

Background of the invention

Boxes comprising a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a bottom panel and a top panel are commonly used for holding a pouch, for example a pouch comprising a gel-like, liquid or pasteous substance. The box is generally formed from a blank made of paper or cardboard and is suitably cut, scored and folded to produce a generally rectangular shaped box.

As the assembling process and in particular the folding step is a time consuming and thus expensive step, there is a need for an improved package for holding a pouch.

GB789294A shows a valved bag with a protective outer paper or cardboard cover.

The outer cover includes a flap that folds inward and to a slot on the opposite side of the housing to form a base support for the bag. The cover includes a second flap on the opposite side for pressing inwards and expelling the contents of the bag. Such a cover relies on the flap to cross from one side to the other and connect to and through the other side in order to provide proper support. This can add complication and time to any assembly process.

GB980051A describes a package for an electric light bulb. The packages includes a folded sheet body, adapted for accommodating a sling that receives the light bulb. A pair of ears, which are outlined by arcuate cuts, are provided in side wall panels of the body. These ears are adapted to engage with straight edges of two apertures in end portions of the sling, to support the sling when accommodated inside the sheet body.

US4676394A describes a cereal box for receiving and sealing an inner bag. The box is provided with a tear-line in a front wall, to define a tab that may be pressed to project inwardly of the box and utilized to maintain a previously opened bag in a closed orientation inside the box.

Other sleeves or devices for storing and/or holding a pouch can be seen in WO03/086897, US3684156, JP2007-02261 1A and WO2014/133573A1. Each of these requires some sort of base or bottom part extending between the sides of the devices for securing the pouch in the packaging, making for a somewhat complicated assembling process.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package for holding a pouch that can be folded in an efficient way.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a package that allows quick filling with a pouch.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a package, which may reliably hold a pouch.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method to assemble a package and filling such package with a pouch.

These and other objects are accomplished in the invention set forth.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a package for holding a pouch is provided. The package comprises a first main panel, a first side panel, a second main panel and a second side panel. The first main panel, the first side panel, the second main panel and the second side panel are arranged to define a tube like body. The tube like body has an inside and an outside and has a top opening and a bottom opening. The first main panel, the first side panel, the second main panel and the second side panel have an inner surface facing the inside of the tube like body and an outer surface facing the outside of the tube like body. The first main panel is provided with a first slit line defining a first tongue. The first tongue is adapted to form a support tongue for receiving and holding a pouch. The package further comprises a bottom flap, which is hingedly connected to the first main panel, and folded towards the inside of the tube-like body so that the bottom flap contacts the inner surface of the first main panel. The bottom flap comprises a second slit line defining a second tongue. The first slit line and the second slit line substantially overlap when the bottom flap is folded to the inside of the tube-like body to contact the inner surface of the first main panel. The first tongue and the second tongue define a double layered tongue adapted to be pushed to the inside of the tube-like body, to form a double layered support tongue for receiving and holding the pouch.

By pushing the double layered tongue to the inside of the tubular shaped body, i.e. in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first main panel and/or perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the bottom flap, the double layered tongue is at least partially protruding from the first main panel and/or from the bottom flap, and forms the double layered support tongue for receiving and holding the pouch.

In some preferred embodiments, the slit line defining a tongue may be in the second main panel.

The first slit line may comprise a curved downward section. The term "curved downward section" is used to refer to a section that is curving in or hollowing inwards. For a curved downward section the tangent line of a point of the curved downward section lies above the curved downward section or closer to a top of the panel.

Preferably, the first tongue is defined by the curved downward section of the first slit line. By pushing the first tongue to the inside of the tubular shaped body, i.e. in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first main panel, the first tongue is at least partially protruding from the first main panel and forms a support tongue for receiving and holding a pouch.

In a first preferred embodiment the first slit line consists of a curved downward slit line. In other preferred embodiments the first line comprises a curved downward section and a first and second side section, the first side section being positioned at one side of the curved downward section and the second side section being positioned at the other side of the curved downward section. By providing the curved downward section of the first slit line with a first and second side section the risk of tearing the first tongue when receiving or holding a pouch is considerably decreased.

Although the first and the second side section of the first slit line may have different shapes, a first slit line with a curved downward main section and with a first curved upward side section as first side section and a second curved upward side section as second side section is preferred and has advantages for stability and decrease risk of tearing. "Curved upward section" is used to indicate a curve in the opposite direction of a "curved downward section", whereby the tangent line of a point of the curved upward section lies under the curved upward section or further towards a bottom of the panel.

A first slit line comprising a curved downward section as main section and a first and a second curved upward section as first and second side section offers a good support for a pouch and reduces the risk of the first tongue tearing when receiving or holding the pouch. The height of the main section (the curved downward section), is preferably higher than the height of the first and second side sections (the first and second curved upward side sections).

The package according to the present invention preferably has no bottom panel. Such a package has the advantage that it can be assembled more efficiently than conventional used packages having a bottom panel.

Preferably, the bottom flap may be temporarily or permanently connected to the inner surface of the first main panel, for example by at least partially adhering the bottom flap to the inner surface of the first main panel.

When the bottom flap is folded towards the inside of the tube like body to contact the inner surface of the first main panel, preferably the second slit line may comprise a curved downward section.

In a first preferred embodiment the second slit line consists of a curved downward slit line. In other preferred embodiments the second slit line comprises a curved downward section and a first and second side section, the first side section being positioned at one side of the curved downward section and the second side section being positioned at the other side of the curved side section. By providing the second slit line with a first and second side section, the risk of tearing the second tongue when receiving or holding a pouch is considerably decreased.

Although the first and the second side section of the second slit line may have different shapes, a second slit line with a curved downward main section and with a first curved upward section as first side section and a second curved upward section as second side section is preferred. A second slit line comprising a curved downward section as main section and a first and a second curved upward section as first and second side sections offers a good support for a pouch and reduces the risk of that the second tongue is tearing when receiving or holding the pouch.

Preferably the package for holding a pouch according to the present invention may comprise a top flap. Preferably the top flap may be hingedly connected to the first main panel or to the second main panel and is adapted to be folded over the top opening of the tube like body to contact the outer surface of the opposed main panel, i.e. the second main panel when the top flap is connected to the first main panel, or to the first main panel when the top flap is connected to the second main panel. The top flap is, for example, connected to the first main panel or to the second main panel by adhesive.

Preferably, the package for holding a pouch according to the present invention may be provided with one or more viewing windows. By providing the package with one or more viewing windows, the content of the package is at least partially visible for the consumer.

Preferably, the location of the one or more viewing windows may be in the second main panel. The one or more viewing windows are preferably not located in front of the first tongue or before the second tongue when the first main panel, the first side panel, the second main panel and the second side panel are arranged to form a tube like body and the bottom flap is folded towards the inside of the tube like body to contact the inner surface of the first main panel. In this way the one or more viewing windows are not obscured by a pouch introduced in the package and held by the first tongue or by the double layered support tongue comprising the first tongue and the second tongue. The location, size and shape of the one or more viewing windows may vary depending on the package and/or the pouch.

Preferably, the package for holding a pouch according to the present invention may be made of a fibre or polymer material, for example, cardboard or paper. For example, the package for holding a pouch may comprise cardboard or paper having a weight of at least 160 g/m².

According to a second aspect, and in accordance with the advantages and effects described herein above, there is provided a combination of a package according to the first aspect, and a pouch inserted into the tube-like body of the package. The first tongue in the first main panel and the second tongue in the bottom flap of the package jointly define the double layered tongue, which is pushed to the inside of the tube-like body of the package to form the double layered support tongue that receives and supports the pouch.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method to assemble a package for filling with a pouch is provided. The method comprises the steps of - providing a blank, said blank having an inner surface and an outer surface, said blank comprising a first main panel, a first side panel, a second main panel, a second side panel, and a bottom flap hingedly connected to said first main panel, said first main panel being provided with a first slit line defining a first tongue, and said bottom flap comprising a second slit line defining a second tongue;

arranging said first main panel, said first side panel, said second main panel and said second side panel to form a tube like body, said tube like body having an inside and an outside and having a top opening and a bottom opening;

folding the bottom flap of the blank to the inner surface of said first main panel before arranging said first main panel, said first side panel, said second main panel and said second side panel to form the tube-like body, wherein said first slit line and said second slit line substantially overlap when said bottom flap is folded to said inside of said tube-like body to contact said inner surface of said first main panel; and

inserting a pouch in said tube-like body by sliding said pouch from the top opening in said tube-like body while pushing said first and second tongues at least partially towards said inside of said tube-like body to form a support tongue for receiving and holding said pouch.

The first tongue is preferably pushed perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first main panel. By pushing the first tongue towards the inside of the tube like body, the first tongue protrudes from the surface of the first main panel. Pushing of the first tongue and the second tongue at least partially towards the inside of the tube like body may for instance proceed perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first main panel and/or perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the bottom flap, to form the support tongue for receiving and holding the pouch.

In some preferred embodiments the blank further comprises a top flap. The top flap is preferably connected to the first main panel or to the second main panel, for example hingedly connected to the first main panel or to the second main panel. Preferably the top flap may be adapted to be folded over the top opening of the tube like body to contact the outer surface of the opposite main panel, i.e. the second main panel when the top flap is connected to the first main panel or to the first main panel when the top flap is connected to the second main panel.

In case the blank further comprises a top flap, preferably the method may comprise an additional step of closing the top opening of the tube like body by folding the top flap over the top opening to contact the outer surface of the first main panel or to the second main panel. Possibly, the top flap is connected to the first main panel or to the second main panel, for example, by adhesive. Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described into more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings whereby

Figure 1 is an illustration of a first embodiment of a package for holding a pouch according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an illustration of the package for holding a pouch shown in Figure 1 in its closed state holding a pouch;

Figure 3 is an illustration of a blank used for assembling a package as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an illustration of a blank used for assembling a second embodiment of a package for holding a pouch according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is an illustration of the blank shown in Figure 4 with its bottom flap folded to the inner surface of the blank.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional illustration of a package assembled from the blank of Figure 4, and holding a pouch.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto by only by the claims. The drawings are only schematic and are not limiting. In the drawings, the size, shape and placement of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustration purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Figure 1 is an illustration of a first embodiment of a package 100 for holding a pouch according to the present invention. Figure 2 is an illustration of the package shown in Figure 1 holding a pouch 150 in its closed state. Figure 3 is an illustration of a blank 101 used for assembling a package 100 as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

The package 100 comprises a first main panel 102, a first side panel 104, a second main panel 106 and a second side panel 108. The first main panel 102, the first side panel 104, the second main panel 106 and the second side panel 108 are arranged to define a tube like body 109.

The first main panel 102 may form for example the back panel of the tube like body 109 whereas the second main panel 106 may form the front panel of the tube like body 109. In alternative embodiments the first main panel 102 may form the front panel of the tube like body 109 whereas the second main panel 106 may form the back panel of the tube like body 109.

The tube like body 109 has an inside 1 10 and an outside 1 1 1 and has a top opening 1 12 and a bottom opening 1 13. The first main panel 102, the first side panel 104, the second main panel 106 and the second side panel 108 have an inner surface 1 14 facing the inside 1 10 and an outer surface 1 16 facing the outside 1 1 1 of the tube like body 109. Preferably, one of the side panels 104, 108, for example the second side panel 108, is provided with a side flap 134. The side flap 134 is, for example, connected to the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102 to form the tube like body 109. Preferably, the connection may be through an adhesive, such as glue or through another method.

The first main panel 102 is provided with a first slit line 120 defining a first tongue 122 adapted to form a support tongue for receiving and holding a pouch 150. The first slit line 120 comprises a main curved downward section 123 and a first and second curved upward side sections 124, 124'.

The package 100 has a top flap 140, which is hingedly connected to the second main panel 106. When the package 100 is closed, as shown in Figure 2, the top flap 140 is folded over the top opening 1 12 so that the top flap 140 contacts the first main panel 102. The top flap 140 may be glued to the outer surface of the first main panel 102, or may connect fixedly or temporarily in another manner. In some preferred embodiments, the top flap does not have to adhere or fix to panel 102 and the configuration and/or materials may hold top flap 140 in a desired orientation.

The second main panel 106 may comprise a viewing window 136. The shape, size, placement, etc. of the viewing window 136 are, for example, for viewing purposes only and may be varied.

Figure 4 is an illustration of a blank 101 used for assembling a package 100 for holding a pouch 150 according to the present invention. The blank 101 of Figure 4 corresponds with the blank of Figure 3 but is provided with a bottom flap 1 18. Figure 5 is an illustration of the blank 101 of Figure 4 with its bottom flap 1 18 folded to the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the blank The bottom flap 1 18 is provided with a second slit line 126 defining a second tongue 128. The bottom flap 1 18 preferably comprises one or more adhesive areas 1 19. When the bottom flap 1 18 is folded towards the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102 as shown in Figure 5, the bottom flap 1 18 is preferably adhered to the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102 by the adhesive areas 1 19. The second slit line 126 preferably overlaps substantially or completely with the first slit line 120 when the bottom flap 1 18 is folded to the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102. This means that the first tongue 122 and the second tongue 128 substantially or completely overlap and form a double layered tongue 130 adapted to receive and hold a pouch 150.

When the bottom flap 1 18 is folded towards the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102, the second slit line 126 preferably comprises a curved downward section 131 as main section and preferably a curved upward section 132, 132' as first and second side sections.

The side flap 134 of the second side panel 108 preferably comprises an adhesive area 135.

The first main panel 102 may be provided with a hole 142. The hole 142 may allow the penetration of adhesive, for example, adhesive applied on the top of first main panel 102, which penetrates tubular body 109 into the hole 142 when the top flap 140 is folded over the top opening 1 12 to close the tube like body 109.

The blank 101 of Figure 4 is preferably assembled by first folding the bottom flap 1 18 to the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102. Preferably, the bottom flap 1 18 is be adhered to the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102 for example by the glue of the adhesive areas 1 19. Once the bottom flap 1 18 is folded to the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102 the first tongue 122 and the second tongue 128 overlap and form a double layered tongue 130.

Subsequently, a tube like body 109 is obtained by adhering the side flap 134 of the second side panel to the inner surface 1 14 of the first main panel 102, for example by the glue of the adhesive area 135. In a next preferred step, a pouch 150 is inserted in the tube like body 109 by sliding the pouch 150 from the top opening 1 12 into the tube like body 109 while pushing the double layered tongue 130 towards the inside 1 10 of the tube like body 109 to form a support tongue for receiving and securing the pouch 150. The top flap 140 of the second main panel 106 is preferably folded over the top opening 1 12 of the tube like body 109, and may be secured with adhesive. The adhesive applied on the top of the first main panel (102) may penetrate through the hole 142. Once penetrated through the hole 142, the adhesive will stick to the pouch 150. Using this method, with adhesive penetrating through the hole 142, the connection to pouch 150 may function as tamper evidence.

Tongues 122, 128, 130; flaps 1 18, 140; holes 136, 142, etc. have been shown for example purposes only and could be different sizes, shapes and/or located in different places. For example, tongues 122, 128, 130 may extend the entire space between first main panel 102 and second main panel 106, or even further depending on package 100 and/or pouch 150 requirements.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A package (100) for holding a pouch (150), said package (100) comprising a first main panel (102), a first side panel (104), a second main panel (106) and a second side panel (108), said first main panel (102), said first side panel (104), said second main panel (106) and said second side panel (108) being arranged to define a tube-like body (109), said tube-like body (109) having an inside (1 10) and an outside (1 1 1 ) and having a top opening (1 12) and a bottom opening (1 13), said first main panel (102), said first side panel (104), said second main panel (106) and said second side panel (108) having an inner surface (1 14) facing said inside (1 10) and an outer surface (1 16) facing said outside (1 1 1 ) wherein said first main panel (102) comprises a first slit line (120) defining a first tongue (122) adapted to form a support tongue for receiving and holding said pouch (150), said package (100) further comprising a bottom flap (1 18) hingedly connected to said first main panel (102), said bottom flap (1 18) being folded towards said inside (1 10) of said tube-like body (109) so that said bottom flap (1 18) contacts said inner surface (1 14) of said first main panel (102), wherein said bottom flap (1 18) comprises a second slit line (126) defining a second tongue (128), wherein said first slit line (120) and said second slit line (126) substantially overlap when said bottom flap (1 18) is folded to said inside (1 10) of said tube-like body (109) to contact said inner surface (1 14) of said first main panel (102), so that said first tongue (122) and said second tongue (128) define a double layered tongue (130) adapted to be pushed to said inside (1 10) of said tubelike body (109) to form a double layered support tongue adapted to receive and hold said pouch.

2. The package (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said first slit line (120) comprises a curved downward section (123), said curved downward section (123) defining said first tongue (122).

3. The package (100) according to claim 2, wherein said first slit line (120) further comprises a first side section (124) and a second side section (124'), said first side section (124) and said second side section (124') comprising a curved upward section.

4. The package (100) according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein when said bottom flap (1 18) is folded towards said inside (1 10) of side tube-like body (109) to contact said inner surface (1 14) of said first main panel (102), said second slit line (126) comprises a curved downward section (131 ), said curved downward section (131 ) defining said second tongue (128).

5. The package (100) according to claim 4, wherein said second slit line (126) further comprises a first side section (132) and a second side section (132'), said first side section (132) and second side section (132') comprising a curved upward section.

6. The package (100) according to any one of claims 1 -5, wherein said bottom flap (1 18) is at least partially connected to said inner surface (1 14) of said first main panel (102).

7. The package (100) according to any one of claims 1 -6, wherein said package comprises a top flap (140), said top flap (140) being hingedly connected to said first main panel (102) or to said second main panel (106) and being adapted to be folded over said top opening (1 12) to close said package (100) thereby contacting said outer surface (1 16) of said second main panel (106) or said outer surface (1 16) of said first main panel (102).

8. The package (100) according to any one of claims 1 -7, wherein said second main panel (106) is provided with at least one viewing window (136).

9. A combination of a package (100) according to any one of claims 1 -8, and a pouch (150) inserted into the tube-like body (109) of the package, wherein the first tongue (122) in the first main panel (102) and the second tongue (128) in the bottom flap (1 18) of the package (100) jointly define the double layered tongue (130) that is pushed to the inside (1 10) of the tube-like body (109) of the package to form the double layered support tongue that receives and supports the pouch (150).

10. A method for assembling a package (100) according to any one of claims 1 -8, said method comprising: providing a blank (101 ), said blank (101 ) having an inner surface (1 14) and an outer surface (1 16), said blank (101 ) comprising a first main panel (102), a first side panel (104), a second main panel (106), a second side panel (108), and a bottom flap (1 18) hingedly connected to said first main panel (102), said first main panel (102) being provided with a first slit line (120) defining a first tongue (122), said bottom flap (1 18) comprising a second slit line (126) defining a second tongue (128);

arranging said first main panel (102), said first side panel (104), said second main panel (106) and said second side panel (108) to form a tube-like body (109), said tubelike body (109) having an inside (1 10) and an outside (1 1 1 ) and having a top opening (1 12) and a bottom opening (1 13);

folding the bottom flap (1 18) of the blank (101 ) to the inner surface (1 14) of said first main panel (102) before arranging said first main panel (102), said first side panel (104), said second main panel (106) and said second side panel (108) to form the tubelike body (109), wherein said first slit line (120) and said second slit line (126) substantially overlap when said bottom flap (1 18) is folded to said inside (1 10) of said tube-like body (109) to contact said inner surface (1 14) of said first main panel (102); and

inserting a pouch (150) in said tube-like body (109) by sliding said pouch (150) from the top opening (1 12) in said tube-like body (109) while pushing said first tongue (122) and said second tongue (128) at least partially towards said inside (1 10) of said tube-like body (109) to form a support tongue for receiving and holding said pouch (150).

1 1 . The method according to claim 10, wherein said blank (101 ) further comprises a top flap (140), said top flap (140) being hingedly connected to said first main panel (102) or to said second main panel (106), said method further comprising the step of closing said top opening (1 12) of said tube-like body (109) by folding said top flap (140) over said top opening (1 12) to contact said outer surface (1 16) of said second main panel (106) or said outer surface (1 16) of said first main panel (102).