BE1028216B1 - Secondary packaging with foldable dividers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a secondary package for holding a plurality of articles, the package comprising: a primary container comprising a top open housing, the housing having a base portion and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the base portion and defining an interior space therebetween; a partition insert positioned within the top open housing, the partition insert being formed from a plurality of plural partition panels joined together and which are transferable in an unfolded state to form a generally three-dimensional partition structure; wherein the at least one panel of the partition insert and the at least one wall of the top open housing are positioned opposite each other so that their position relative to each other cannot change substantially; and wherein the partition insert is attached to at least one of the side walls of the top-open housing at a predetermined distance above the base portion of the top-open housing, such that when unfolded, the three-dimensional partition structure forms an inner compartment for dividing of the housing open at the top.

Description

-1- Secondary packaging with foldable separations BE2020/5200

TECHNICAL AREA

The present disclosure relates generally to a secondary package and an expandable separator thereto for storing articles separated from each other in said secondary package.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the trend of grouping a large number of articles, e.g. beverage containers in the form of multipacks, for various purposes such as ease of transportation, handling and the like, has increased many times. For example, cans and bottles are often packaged in batches of six, twelve and more for sale to consumers.

As a result, the use of folding cartons for manufacturing secondary packages for holding such groups of articles has increased considerably. Most of this secondary packaging contains multipack boxes made of cardboard and/or cardboard.

In order to avoid the problem of breakage or damage of, in particular, glass articles during transportation, much attention has been paid to the development of partitions or partitions for use within such secondary packages, to prevent , mainly glass articles, during handling.

Such partitions or partitions have traditionally been fairly rigid panels of cushioning paper material, such as corrugated board or paperboard, and positioned to form compartments. Although these known separations are very effective in preventing damage to articles during transport, they have a significant drawback. Typically, these known partition panels have to be cut individually and slotted together by crossing each other at the level of the cuts (so-called fence-shaped panels).

_2- separations). In general, this makes the construction of the entire BE 2020/5200 separation structure rather slow.

The trend is shifting towards the use of partitions adapted to form generally three-dimensional partitions formed from thin foldable material. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,505,371 discloses a partition structure constructed from a single cut and scored corrugated cardboard blank which is folded and arranged to form a modified Z-type distribution with three load cells.

U.S. Patent No. 4,583,677 discloses an internal partition that is foldable to form opposing end walls, opposite side walls and a partition, thereby providing two cells between the partition and the opposite end walls of the partition. The partition further includes spacer tabs extending terminally beyond the end walls of the partition to cooperate with the end walls of the carton to allow stability of the partition.

A strikingly typical feature of these prior art partitions is that they must first be positioned in the final form of separation and then placed in the package, this placement typically taking place through the outer circumferential edges of the separation along the inner side walls of a top-open package until the separation touches the inner bottom of the package, to fix the separation position in the package.

From a sustainability point of view, where the reduction of material usage plays an important role, the prior art separations consume relatively large amounts of material. The challenge addressed with the present invention is to provide separations with minimal material usage while maintaining the necessary strength of the general

-3- packaging is insured and the packaged items are efficiently separated to prevent damage during transport BE2020/5200.

RESUME

The present invention provides a secondary package formed of a top open housing having a base portion and a plurality of walls including a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls joined to and extending upwardly from the base portion for defining an interior space therebetween, accessible through a surface open at the top. The secondary package is characterized by a fold separation with a height less than the height of the package when closed, which when unfolded is positioned at a certain height in the inside of the package, at a predetermined height above the bottom of the package .

The divider insert includes a plurality of divider panels defining a pair of opposing end wall panels and a pair of opposing sidewall panels joined across a plurality of notched connectors such that when folded over the scored connectors, the divider insert is adapted to form a three-dimensional dividing structure .

During assembly of the final package, (a) blanks for the top open housing and the separator insert are provided, respectively; each is brought into a state in which the top-open housing is capable of receiving the fold separation such that; (b) when the partition insert is received within the interior space of the open top housing, the folded partition is unfolded along the creases until at least one of the end wall or side wall panels is at least

-4- touches one of the inner end or side walls of the enclosure BE 2020/5200 open at the top; (c) wherein the deployed separation insert is positioned at a predetermined height above the bottom of the package and, (d) wherein the at least one of the end wall or side wall panels of the separation insert and the at least one of the inner end or side walls of the top open housing are positioned opposite each other so that their position relative to each other cannot change substantially.

The three-dimensional divider structure can have any geometric shape suitable for dividing the individual articles in the final secondary package.

Optionally, the partition structure includes a pair of opposing panel side walls, each having a length in width that is substantially the same as that of the pair of opposing side walls of the housing, and a pair of opposing panel end walls, each having a length in width that is substantially less. than that of the pair of opposing end walls of the top open housing.

Optionally, said at least one of the end wall or side wall panels of the partition insert and said at least one of the inner end or side walls of the open top housing can be engaged using one or more selected engagement means selected from one or more of, but not limited to, lip attachment, notch-based engagement, adhesive patches, and the like.

In particular, the one or more engagement means includes a first engagement means adapted for coupling a first panel end wall of the pair of opposing panel end walls of the partition structure to a first end wall of the open top housing.

-5-

Furthermore, the one or more engagement means includes a second engagement means adapted for coupling the second panel end wall of the pair of opposing panel end walls of the partition structure to the second end wall of the open top housing.

Optionally, the first or second panel end wall of the pair of opposing panel end walls of the partition structure may be adapted to frictionally engage the corresponding end walls of the open top housing.

Optionally, each of the partition panels has a length in height that is less than the maximum height of the side walls or end walls of the housing so that the height of each of the panel walls of the partition structure is less than that of the side walls of the top open housing.

Further optionally, the partition structure includes an upper portion extending within the top open housing to a height substantially equal to the maximum height of the outer housing, while a lower portion of the partition structure is spaced above the base portion of the open top housing is positioned.

Optionally, the upper portion of the partition structure extends to a height above the maximum height of the outer housing, while a lower portion of the partition structure is positioned a distance above the base portion.

Further optionally, the upper portion of the partition structure includes one or more gripping means configured on one or more of the side walls and/or end walls of the partition structure.

Still further optionally, the gripping means may comprise any suitable retaining mechanism known in the art and selected from one or more of, but not limited to, a loop structure, retaining means, and the like.

-6-

Optionally, the final package includes a handle BE2020/5200 integrated, attached, glued or otherwise configured to an outer surface of the open top housing to facilitate gripping of the primary container.

In general, the open top housing may be made of a foldable paperboard blank formed from a material selected from one or more of, but not limited to, all types of paper, fiberboard, paperboard, any hybrid material, and the like.

Further, the separator insert may be made of a foldable paperboard blank formed from a material selected from one or more of, but not limited to, all types of paper, fiberboard, paperboard, paperboard, plastic, any hybrid material, and the like.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of mounting the secondary package is disclosed. The method includes receiving a folded partition insert within the interior space of the open top housing and attaching at least one of its end wall panel to one of the end walls of the housing, or at least one of its side wall panel to one of the side walls of the housing, at a predetermined distance above the base portion thereof. The method further includes unfolding and/or expanding the separation insert to form a three-dimensional separation structure.

Preferably, the predetermined distance above the base portion of the top open housing is more than half the height of the side walls of the open top housing.

The details, other aspects, features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the description, the drawings and the claims.

-7- BE2020/5200

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a illustrates a schematic diagram representing a secondary package, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1b illustrates a partition insert and a corresponding partition structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a primary container of a secondary package with a separation structure, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a foldable blank for forming an outer housing of the primary container, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4a illustrates an exemplary partition insert and a corresponding partition structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4b illustrates an exemplary installation of the exemplary separation insert within the outer housing in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5a illustrates a second exemplary partition insert and a corresponding partition structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

-8-

FIG. 5b illustrates an installation of the second exemplary separator insert 29/9200 within the outer housing in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. Ga illustrates a secondary package with a first exemplary separation structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 6b illustrates a secondary package with another exemplary separation structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application discloses a secondary package formed of a top open housing and a separator insert adapted to form a three-dimensional partition structure for holding a plurality of individual articles, such as, for example, beverage containers. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention can be used in combination with various types of articles, regardless of size, shape and materials, which are used in the beverage or other industry.

FIG. 1a illustrates a schematic diagram depicting a secondary package 100 for holding a plurality of individual articles, such as beverage containers 190. The secondary package 100 includes a top-open housing 110. The housing 110 includes a base portion 111 and a plurality of walls 112 including a pair of side walls 1124 and a pair of end walls 112b connected to the base portion 111 and extended to a top open surface 113 defining an interior space 119 therebetween.

-9-

The secondary package 100 further includes a separator insert 120 which is 3080/9200 adapted to be positioned in the top open housing 110. The separator insert 120, as illustrated in FIG. 1b, includes a plurality of partition panels 121 sequentially joined together to form a loop structure when deployed. The plurality of partition panels 121 includes a pair of opposing end wall panels 121a and a pair of opposing side wall panels 121b. Each of the partition panels 121 is connected to the other via a scored fold line 127, adapted to facilitate the folding and unfolding of the partition insert 120 between an expanded state Pur and a folded state Pe. From the folded state, the partition insert 120 is expanded to form a three-dimensional partition structure 130 defined by a plurality of panel walls 131 including a pair of opposing side walls 135 and a pair of opposing end walls 136 joined together to define a interior space in between.

The secondary package 100 further includes one or more engagement means 170 for facilitating a position of at least one end or side wall panel of the top open housing and at least one end or side wall panel of the partition insert to oppose each other. so that their position relative to each other cannot change substantially. Such engagement means 170 may be configured either on the pair of end wall panels 1214 and/or the corresponding side walls 112 of the housing 110, and/or configured on the pair of end wall panels 136 and/or the corresponding side walls 135 of the partition insert 130. In a preferred embodiment. said gripping means 170 may be an adhesive patch or strip configured at a predetermined distance L above the base portion 111.

-10-

In use, the folded partition insert 130 makes it possible to divide the 2020/5200 upper housing 110 into three compartments, without using additional support means for installation thereof. The separator insert can be configured to allow for dividing the upper housing into more than three compartments.

The secondary package 100 further includes a handle 180 secured to the top open housing 110 using one or more fixation mechanisms (not shown) to one or more sidewalls 112 thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the handle is configured to be attached, glued or configured about the ends of the side walls 1124, generally transverse to the end walls of the partition 136, such that a gripping portion of the handle is visibly accessible through the top open housing 110 and extendable therefrom. In such a case, the handle 280 can either be attached to the ends of the side walls 1124 or can be passed through one or more handle openings configured on the corresponding side walls 112a.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the arrangement of the basic components of the secondary package 100 of the present disclosure. However, in the construction of commercial functional units, secondary components such as flaps, handles, support structures and other functional components, which are known to those skilled in the art of secondary packages, may be integrated into the secondary package 100. Such commercial arrangements are encompassed by the present invention. invention so long as the structural components and arrangements described herein are present. Accordingly, it should be contemplated that the secondary packaging 100 may be configured to be used for any kind of article or object, including beverage and/or liquid and/or food containers and

-11- can be integrated in any form at our discretion without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the housing panels 262 of the secondary package 210 include, in some embodiments, one or more closure flaps 269 configured on one or more sidewall panels 265 to allow closure of the housing. In use, the plurality of sidewall panels 265 are arranged around the base panel 263 to form the three-dimensional outer housing 210 when they are folded and joined together.

The top open housing 210 thus formed includes a receiving portion 202 for vertically receiving the plurality of articles. The receiving portion 202 includes an interior space defined by a base portion 263 connected to a plurality of upright sidewalls 265.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing 210 may be made of a foldable blank of a material selected from, but not limited to, any paper, fiberboard, paperboard, cardboard, any hybrid material, and the like. In other embodiments, however, housing 210 is integrally formed and made of a lightweight plastic material selected from one or more of, but not limited to, plastic material such as a group of thermoplastics, including acetal, acrylic, cellulose acetate, polyethylene, polystyrene, vinyl, and nylon. In such cases,

Referring to FIG. 4a, a folded separator insert, generally represented by a numeral 3005, is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In a first embodiment, the partition insert 300F is in the form of a generally parallelogram-shaped loop and is formed from a folded blank 350 comprising a plurality of interconnected partition panels and including a first end wall panel 311,

-12- a second end wall panel 312, a first side wall panel 313, and a tweed:2920/5200 side wall panel 314. Specifically, the first side wall panel 313 is extended to a second side wall panel 314 through the first end wall panel 311 in a first direction F1. Further, the first side wall panel 313 is extended toward the second side wall panel 314 through the second end wall panel 312 in a second direction F2. The partition insert 300 further includes fold lines 317 defining the fold positions of each of the plurality of panels 310 which, when unfolded or expanded, form a three-dimensional open partition structure 300uF dividing the housing 210 as shown to the right of FIG. 4a.

In the present example, where the primary container 200 is cubic, each of the lower surface 211, the upper open surface 213, the plurality of sidewalls 212, has a generally rectangular shape. In further preferred embodiments, the housing 210 can have different shapes, such as, for example, rounded corners C.

In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 5a, 5b, the separation insert 300 is in the form of two similarly connected twills. The separation insert 300, in such an embodiment, includes a pair of V-shaped portions 360 joined together at their narrow ends 362 to form a central connecting portion 364, so that when pulled apart, the insert 300 expands to accommodate the separation. forming a generally cubical partition structure 400. In such embodiments, engagement can be readily achieved by virtue of the engagement means 370 connected to both end walls 435 of either the housing or the partition insert or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 4b, the dimensions of the insert 300 are such that the formed

-13- partition structure 400 is rotated at a predetermined angle to be engaged 2920/5200 within the corresponding side walls, either by the engagement means 370 or otherwise due to frictional coupling between the end walls of the partition 436 and the corresponding end walls 233, 234 of the housing.

In some embodiments, each of the sidewalls 212 of the open-top housing 210 has a height Hue that is significantly greater than the height H; of the articles, 290 to be stored therein so that the entire article is covered. As can be seen from Fig. Ga, in other embodiments, the height Hup of each of the side walls 212 of the open-top housing 210 is less than the height H; of the articles 290 and if the articles are beverage containers, it extends to a shoulder height Hss thereof.

Further, in some cases, each of the partition walls 431 has a height Hpw less than height Hue. But in some embodiments, the height Hpw of each of the partition walls 431 is generally less than half the height Hue. Further, in all such embodiments, each of the partitions extends to the height Hi so as to avoid collision of the shoulder portion 294 and the body in beverage containers. Further, in such embodiments, a lower portion 450 of the partition structure 400 extends a distance D above the base portion 211 to an upper portion 460 that extends toward the open-top surface 213 of the housing 210. In some other instances however, the height Hpw is such that the lower portion 450 of the partition structure 400 is in contact with the base portion 211 of the housing 210.

In one embodiment, the height Hpw of each of the partitions, the distance L from the attachment point are configured such that the distance D is generally more than half the height Hpw of the

-14- partition walls 431. Such an embodiment in particular saves BE2020/5200 much material needed to form the partition insert 300 while imparting sufficient strength to the contact point between the partition structure 400 and the side walls 212 of the top open housing 210.

In some other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 6a, the upper portion 460 of the partition structure 400 extends below the maximum height H; of articles 290, such as, for example, up to shoulder height Hss, in the case of beverage bottles.

In other embodiments, the top portion 460 of the partition structure 400 extends above the maximum height H; of the articles 290. In such embodiments, in some examples, the partition structure 400 may further include a handle and/or gripping means 470 configured on one or more side walls thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 6b for facilitating handling and/or grasping the secondary package. The gripping means 470 may be selected from one or more of, but not limited to, a loop structure, a soft-cushioned handle, and the like.

In all embodiments, the combined use of handle 280 and partition structure 400 provides support to each of the side walls 212 of the housing 210 and thus reinforces the package 100 in a cost-effective manner.

Claims (13)

-15- Conclusions BE2020/5200 A secondary package for holding a plurality of individual articles, the package comprising: a top open housing, the housing having a base portion and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base portion and defining an interior space therebetween; a partition insert positioned in the top open housing, the partition insert being formed of a plurality of partition panels joined together and transferable in an unfolded state to form a three-dimensional partition structure; wherein the at least one panel of the partition insert and the at least one wall of the top open housing are positioned opposite each other so that their position relative to each other cannot change substantially; and wherein the partition insert is positioned a predetermined distance above the base portion of the top open housing such that the three-dimensional partition structure when folded open forms an inner compartment for dividing the top open housing. The secondary package of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional partition structure is formed by two pairs of partition panels joined together and which can be unfolded to an unfolded state to form a generally three-dimensional partition structure. The secondary package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the three-dimensional partition structure is a generally open cubical partition structure. -16- BE2020/5200 The secondary package of claim 2 or 3, wherein the partition panels include a first pair of opposing side walls, each having a length in width substantially the same as that of a pair of opposing side walls of the housing, and a second pair of opposing end wall panels, each having a length in width less than that of a pair of opposing end walls of the housing. The secondary package of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the separator insert engages at least one of the walls of the top open housing using one or more engagement means selected from limb attachment, notch-based engagement, or an adhesive patch . A secondary package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the partition panels has a height which is lower than the maximum height of the walls of the housing, such that the height of each of the panel walls of the partition structure is lower than that of the pair of side walls of the open top housing. A secondary package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper portion of the partition structure extends to a height substantially the same as a maximum height of the outer housing and wherein a lower portion of the partition structure is positioned at a predetermined distance toward the base portion of the outer casing. The secondary package of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the partition structure extends to a height above the maximum height of the outer housing, and wherein a lower portion of the partition structure is a predetermined distance above the base portion of the outer housing -17- positioned. BE2020/5200 The secondary package of claim 8, wherein the top portion of the partition structure comprises one or more gripping portions configured on one or both pairs of side or end walls of the partition, whereby the partition structure can be used to hold the secondary package. The secondary package of claim 1, wherein the top open housing may be of any geometric shape, such as but not limited to cuboid, cubic, circular, hexagonal, pentagonal, and the like, preferably with generally rounded corners. The secondary package of claim 1, wherein the top-open housing is formed from a foldable blank of a material selected from one or more of, but not limited to, all types of paper, fiberboard, paperboard, plastic, cardboard, any hybrid material and the like. The secondary package of claim 1, wherein the separator insert is formed from a foldable blank of a material selected from one or more of, but not limited to, all types of paper, fiberboard, plastic, paperboard, cardboard, any hybrid material, and the like. The secondary package of claim 1, further comprising one or more handles configured on and/or attached to the side walls of the top open housing.