EP0709294A1 - Sealed carton box - Google Patents

Abstract

A first grooving (10,10a) is formed in one upper end (6) perpendicular to a closing strip (5). A second grooving (12) is coincident with the first and two third groovings (11,11a) extend in the upper end (6) from the junction point of the first and second groovings to the free end of the closing strip (5). The upper end (6) has a part (8), folded the length of the grooving, which has a rupture section (13) which forms a pouring mouth. Two complementary grooves (14,14a) extend from near an intermediate median point of the second grooving (12) to an intermediate point of each of the third groovings (11,11a) to close the pouring mouth after use.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements to cardboard boxes of the welded type.

The invention relates to cardboard boxes of generally parallelepipedal shape, one end of which is closed by welding the lips thereof to form a strip which is folded flat against said end and whose end portions are folded down and glued against the corresponding side faces.

In such boxes at least one of the end portions, has a breaking point or an impression such as a dotted line indicating the cut to be made after said end portion has been peeled off and brought back above the upper end to form a spout.

One of the drawbacks of such boxes is that when the spout is formed, it is no longer possible to close the box.

One of the aims of the present invention is to remedy this drawback.

The improvements according to the invention apply to cardboard boxes of the type having a generally parallelepiped shape with four side walls, a bottom and an upper end closed by edge-to-edge welding of the lips of said upper end to present a strip. parallel to two opposite side walls, said boxes having a first crease formed in the upper end perpendicular to the strip and in line with one of the walls perpendicular to those parallel to the strip, a second crease coinciding with the first crease and formed in said wall perpendicular to those parallel to the strip and in the vicinity of the upper end and two third grooves extending in the upper end from the junction point from the first and second creasing to the corresponding free end of the strip, the upper end having an end portion which is folded along said creases, folded against the corresponding side wall and glued against it, said end portion having a breaking point or a dotted line extending transversely to the strip and along which a part is cut in order to form a pouring spout, said improvements being characterized in that two complementary grooves are made which extend from the vicinity of a median intermediate point of the second creasing to an intermediate point of the initiation of rupture in the direction of each third creasing.

Thanks to this arrangement which is very simple and does not involve any significant modifications in manufacturing, it suffices, in order to close the box, to press on one of the third grooves, the two parts delimited by the first and the second creasing coming from extend perpendicular to each other, then press the other third crease so that the corresponding parts are placed in the same way as said first parts by covering them. To reform the spout, simply press on the side walls adjacent to the terminal part.

According to a constructive characteristic, each additional creasing extends from the midpoint of the second creasing to the point of intersection of the third creasing and the initiation of breakage or the dotted line.

Two grooves can be provided between the complementary grooves and extending from a median intermediate point of the second groove to the initiation of breakage or the dotted line, which facilitates the closing of the box.

It is also possible to provide creases made between each first and third crease and extending from their junction point to the beginning of the break or the dotted line. Such an arrangement further facilitates closing the box.

Finally, the creases can be made between the second crease and each third crease and extend from their junction point to the initiation of breakage or the dotted line.

• Figure 1 est une vue en perspective partielle d'une boîte perfectionnée, selon l'invention.
• Figure 2 montre en perspective la boîte de la figure 1, l'extrémité supérieure étant en partie déployée pour permettre de former le bec verseur.
• Figure 3 montre en perspective la boîte lorsqu'on forme le bec verseur.
• Figure 3 A montre en perspective la boîte avec le bec verseur formé.
• Figure 4 et figure 5 sont des vues en perspective montrant les phases de fermeture du bec verseur.
• Figure 6, figure 7 et figure 8 sont des vues en perspective montrant des variantes de réalisation.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to particular embodiments given by way of example only and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of an improved box, according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows in perspective the box of Figure 1, the upper end being partially deployed to allow to form the spout.
• Figure 3 shows in perspective the box when forming the spout.
• Figure 3A shows in perspective the box with the spout formed.
• Figure 4 and Figure 5 are perspective views showing the phases of closing the spout.
• Figure 6, Figure 7 and Figure 8 are perspective views showing alternative embodiments.

The box shown in the different figures is a cardboard box intended to contain liquid or powder products, this box having a generally parallelepiped shape with four side walls 1, 2, 3 and 4.

At least one of the ends 6 of the box has a bonding or welding edge to edge of the lips to form a strip 5, this strip extending parallel to the walls 1 and 3, being folded against said end 6. The latter thus has two end parts 7 and 8 which are folded and glued against the corresponding side walls 2 and 4.

The end portion 8 is separated from the end 6 by a first groove 10, 10 a located at the right of the wall 4 and extending perpendicular to the strip 5. A second crease 12 coincides with the first crease 10 and 10 a and allows the folding of the terminal part 8.

Finally, two third grooves 11 and 11 a are provided which extend from the junction point, on the one hand, grooves 10 and 12 and, on the other hand, grooves 10 a and 12, up to l free end of the strip 5 (see fig. 2).

These boxes generally include either a break point or an impression such as a dotted line 13 indicating the place where the cut must be made to obtain a pouring spout. This dotted line 13 extends from the strip 5 to a point in the terminal part 8 situated substantially halfway between the creasing 12 and the strip 5.

According to the invention between a median intermediate point of the second crease 12 and one point of each first crease 11 and 11a are formed complementary creases 14, 14 a.

Preferably, the complementary grooves 14, 14 a extend from a median intermediate point of the groove 12, to the point of intersection of the first grooves 11, 11 a and the dotted line 13.

When we want to form the pouring spout, we take off the terminal part 8, we press on the walls 1 and 3 in the vicinity of the end 6 and of the wall 4, then we cut the terminal part 8 along the dotted line 13 ( see figure 3). It is possible, using the spout thus formed, to pour part of the liquid or powder contained in the package.

The packaging can then be closed by exerting pressure on the third crease 11 so that the part delimited by the dotted line 13, the first crease 10 and the third crease 11 and referenced 20 comes to extend in the plane of the creases delimiting the wall 4 of walls 1 and 3, while the part delimited by the third creasing 11, the second creasing 12 and the corresponding complementary creasing 14 and referenced 21 extends substantially perpendicularly to the part 20 (see fig. 4).

Then pressing the second third crease 11 a (see Fig. 5), the parts 20 a and 21a corresponding to portions 20 and 21 are partly cover the latter.

If you want to open the spout, it suffices (see arrows f, fig. 5) to exert pressure simultaneously on the walls 1 and 3 in the vicinity, on the one hand, of the wall 6 and, on the other hand , in the vicinity of the wall 4, the spout automatically returning to the position shown in Figure 3A. You can also obtain the opening of the spout by pinching the wall 4.

In certain cases, the end 6 has, on one side of the strip 5, a groove 30 which extends from the junction point of the grooves 10, 11 and 12 to an intermediate point of the strip 5 adjacent to the terminal part 8 and a corresponding groove 30a located on the end 6 on the other side of said strip 5. To facilitate the opening of the pouring spout (see FIG. 5), two grooves 31 and 31a can be provided which extend from the grooves 30 and 30a to the end portion 7 parallel to the strip 5. This arrangement is only shown in FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, it has been assumed that only the terminal end 8 was shaped to form a pouring spout but, of course, the terminal end 7 could also be arranged in the same way.

It was also assumed that the additional score lines 14 and 14 is extended from a median intermediate point of the second crease 12, but of course, the corresponding ends of these complementary creases could be located slightly above this intermediate point median and, in this case, the complementary creasing 14 would be extended by a creasing 14 b extending to the creasing 12 and the complementary creasing 14 a by a corresponding creasing 14 c (see fig. 6).

It is also possible to provide, between the complementary grooves 14 and 14 a (see FIG. 7), several intermediate grooves 24 and 25 which facilitate folding when the spout is to be closed. Such creases can also be provided in the case of FIG. 6.

Finally, it is also possible to provide (as shown in FIG. 8) additional grooves 26, 27, 26 a , 27 a which facilitate the closing of the pouring spout.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described and shown. Many detailed modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

Improvements to cardboard boxes of the type having a general parallelepiped shape with four side walls (1, 2, 3, 4), a bottom and an upper end (6) closed by welding edge to edge of the lips of said upper end to present a strip (5) parallel to two opposite side walls (1, 3), said boxes having a first groove (10, 10 a ) formed in the upper end perpendicular to the strip (5) and in line with one of the walls (4) perpendicular to those parallel (1, 3) to the strip (5), a second crease (12) coinciding with the first crease (10, 10 a ) and formed in said wall (4) perpendicular to those parallel (1 , 3) to the strip (5) and, in the vicinity of the upper end and two third grooves (11, 11 a ) extending into the upper end (6) from the junction point of the first (10, 10 a ) and from the second creasing (12) to the corresponding free end dante of the strip (5), the upper end (6) having an end portion (8) which is folded along said grooves, folded against the corresponding side wall (4) and glued against it, said end portion ( 8) having a breaking point (13) or a dotted line extending transversely to the strip (5) and along which a part is cut in order to form a pouring spout, improvements characterized in that two are practiced complementary grooves (14, 14 a ) which extend from the vicinity of a median intermediate point of the second crease (12) to an intermediate point of the initiation of rupture (13) in the direction of each third crease (11 , 11 a ). Improvements to cardboard boxes, according to claim 1, characterized in that each additional creasing (14, 14 a ) extends from the midpoint of the second creasing (12) to the point of intersection of the third creasing (11, 11 a ) and the breaking point or the dotted line (13). Improvements to cardboard boxes, according to claim 1, characterized in that two grooves (24 and 25) are formed between the complementary grooves (14, 14 a ) and extend from a median intermediate point of the second groove (12) up to at the start of the break or of the dotted line (13). Improvements to cardboard boxes, according to claim 1, characterized in that creases (27 and 27 a ) are formed between each first (10, 10 a ) and third crease (11, 11 a ) and extend from their point from junction to the initiation of rupture or the dotted line (13). Improvements to cardboard boxes, according to claim 1, characterized in that grooves (26, 26 a ) are formed between the second crease (12) and each third crease (11, 11 a ) and extend from their point of junction up to the initiation of rupture or the dotted line (13).

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