EP0688722A1

EP0688722A1 - Package for metal sections

Info

Publication number: EP0688722A1
Application number: EP95105148A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Mangani
Original assignee: BOCCHIOTTI SOCIETA'PER L'INDUSTRIA ELETTROTECNICA SpA
Current assignee: BOCCHIOTTI SOCIETA'PER L'INDUSTRIA ELETTROTECNICA SpA
Priority date: 1994-06-22
Filing date: 1995-04-06
Publication date: 1995-12-27
Also published as: ITGE940023V0; ITGE940023U1; IT234996Y1

Abstract

Package for metal sections comprising a cardboard blank (1) comprising a base plane (101), two side bands (201,201') joined to the larger sides of the said base plane, which is basically rectangular, a closure plane (221) joined to one of the two side bands (201') and a side flap (211) joined to the opposite side band (201), two end bands (301) joined to the smaller sides of the said base plane (101) and two end flaps (311) respectively joined to the said end bands (301); the said blank has, at the sides of the base plane, in the portion lying between the two ends, two die-cut portions (231,241) which can be removed as a result of suitable weakened lines (251,261), their removal forming two box-like end elements which are open at their facing ends and are joined together at the said open ends by a back strip made up of the intermediate part of the base plane (101).

Description

The present model relates to a package for metal sections, and in particular to the packaging of metal sections used in the installation of electrical systems.
Usually, metal sections of this type are packaged by wrapping them tightly together in bundles with heat-shrinkable plastic sheets or wound film, and they are then unpacked at the sales outlet and are stood upright and loose in a suitable wall rack or laid flat on suitable shelves.
These known systems for packaging metal sections have, as may be clearly seen, considerable drawbacks and disadvantages. This is because it is very easy for similar sections to get mixed up once they have been unpacked, making sorting them out a tedious job. In addition, it is not always easy immediately to find the exact type of section required in amongst all those stocked, etc.
With the aim of overcoming these disadvantages, it has been proposed to adopt packaging which locks in place both ends of a bundle of metal sections by means of caps or open box-like elements, and to lock these open box-like elements onto the ends of the bundle of sections by means of hoop-irons or similar straps. However, this type of package has not proved to be particularly sturdy or long-lasting, and tends easily to come undone during transportation or after the packaging has been opened.
The object of the present model is therefore to provide a package for metal sections which enables them to be stored whilst offering the possibility of checking the contents of the package at any time, and which additionally keeps its sturdy shape even after it has been opened, enabling the product to be displayed neatly and to be removed easily, so that it can be sold loose.
The subject of the present model is therefore a package for metal sections comprising a die-cut cardboard blank comprising a base plane, two side bands joined to the larger sides of the said base plane, which is basically rectangular, a closure plane joined to one of the two side bands and a side flap joined to the opposite side band, two end bands joined to the smaller sides of the said base plane and two end flaps respectively joined to the said end bands, characterized in that the said blank has, at the sides of the base plane, in the portion lying between the two ends, two die-cut portions which can be removed as a result of suitable weakened lines, their removal forming two box-like end elements which are open at their facing ends and are joined together at the said open ends by a back strip made up of the intermediate part of the base plane. In this way, the two box-like elements are securely joined together without the possibility of slipping off the end of the bundle of sections, while the sections are visible and can therefore be easily and readily examined. In addition, information containing technical descriptions of the product, together with any other necessary instructions, can be applied to the said box-like end elements in the form of labels or other items.
At the point of sale, if the packet is to be displayed upright in a rack, one of the two box-like end elements can be conveniently removed. This can be done quite simply by ripping or cutting the back strip which connects the two box-like end elements. For this purpose, weakened lines or tear lines may be provided on the back element.
Further advantages and characteristics will become evident from the following detailed description of two embodiments of the present model, which description is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cardboard blank of the package according to the present model;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the package according to the present model; and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the package according to the present model.

In Figure 1, the numeral 1 denotes a cardboard blank for forming the package according to the present model. This blank 1 has a base plane 101, which is basically rectangular in shape, from which extend respectively: the lateral bands 201, 201' from the larger sides, and the end bands 301 from the smaller sides. Extending in turn from the said side bands 201, 201' are respectively: a side flap 211 from one side (201), and a closure plane 221 from the other side (201'); the end flaps 311 extend in turn from the end bands 301. In the portion of the blank 1 lying between the two ends, approximately in the middle thereof, are located two die-cut portions 231 and 241 which respectively consist of a rectangular portion of the closure plane 221 and a trapezoidal portion of the lateral band 201', delimited by the weakened broken line 251; and of a rectangular portion of the flap 211 and a trapezoidal portion of the band 201, delimited by the weakened broken line 261. The purpose of the said die-cut portions 231, 241 will be described below. According to a variant of the model, the base plane 101 can have two weakened lines 111 and 121, at the points where the weakened lines 251, 261 of the die-cut portions 231, 241 meet the said base plane.
Figure 2 shows the package according to the model placed in a horizontal position and containing a number of sections 2, supported by two supports 3. The die-cut portions 231 and 241 have been removed before closing the package, and therefore the central portion of the said package is open, the sections 2 resting on the base plane 101 and being contained in the two intact ends of the package. The end band 301 is shown open for the removal of the sections in the package.
Figure 3 shows the package in the vertical position. In this case, one end of the package and a part of the base plane 101 have also been removed, detaching them along the weakened line 111 or 121 shown in Fig. 1.
The way in which the package according to the model works may be clearly understood from the following description. The two die-cut portions 231, 241 are firstly taken away from the blank 1 shown in Fig. 1 by detaching them along the weakened lines 251, 261. This gives a package which is stable and effective but which also allows the contents of the package to be visible. The blank 1 is then filled with sections and the package is thus formed. The use of this system allows the sections packed in this way to be transported easily, but also enables the said materials to be checked visually. For the subsequent stage of display and sale of the products, two different solutions are possible: in the first case, as illustrated in Figure 2, the package is placed in a horizontal position, and the sections are therefore removed via one of the ends, by opening an end band 301; in the second case, illustrated in Figure 3, the package is placed in a vertical position and, since one of the two ends is superfluous, it can be removed, together with a part of the base plane 101. For this purpose, the remaining end and the base plane are detached along the weakened line 111 or 121.
In this way the package thus produced allows its contents to be checked without adversely affecting the sturdiness of the package and also enables the products to be displayed and sold in two different, but equally valid, display arrangements.

Claims

Package for metal sections comprising a cardboard blank (1) comprising a base plane (101), two side bands (201, 201') joined to the larger sides of the said base plane, which is basically rectangular, a closure plane (221) joined to one of the two side bands (201') and a side flap (211) joined to the opposite side band (201), two end bands (301) joined to the smaller sides of the said base plane (101) and two end flaps (311) respectively joined to the said end bands (301), characterized in that the said blank (1) has, at the sides of the base plane (101), in the portion lying between the two ends, two die-cut portions (231, 241) which can be removed as a result of suitable weakened lines (251, 261), their removal forming two box-like end elements which are open at their facing ends and are joined together at the said open ends by a back strip made up of the intermediate part of the base plane (101).
Package according to Claim 1, in which one of the two ends of the said package can be removed along the pre-established weakened lines (111, 121), made in the back strip of the base plane (101).