EP0881153B1 - System-locking,hexagonal carton with handle - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to packaging of hexagonal shape obtained by folding a blank of cardboard that has a lower fold line and an upper fold line between which lines of folding extend a series of folding edges substantially vertical to give birth by folding said hexagonal package and a series cutouts below the bottom fold line for give birth to the bottom as well as a series of vertical extensions above the fold line upper to position, among other things, two handles located at the end of the extensions cited above.

The object of the invention is to achieve hexagonal packaging that can be put under form a volume that is sufficiently non-deformable so that the packaging can be used to transport products with a well-defined shape and poorly tolerating contact with the internal wall of packaging. A very particular object of the invention is to produce such packaging whose volume can take place by simple pressure from the outside in two diametrically opposite places and and by the subsequent folding of two flaps.

To achieve this goal according to the invention, the packaging according to the invention is characterized in that above the upper fold line and between two extensions vertical the lateral edges of these are join at a point on a folding edge between two folding edges belonging to one and the other to a vertical extension and in that two additional small folding edges extend both from the above point towards from where the top fold line cuts the nearest folding stop belonging to a vertical extension.

Still according to the invention the edges above-mentioned verticals form a slight angle between them and the upper and lower fold lines follow a slightly curved line so that after the packaging volume this presents a truncated pyramid shape with large base at the top, when considering the packaging in normal position of use.

Other details and features of the invention will emerge from the description which will be given below of a hexagonal packaging according to the invention. This description is given only as an example and does not limit the invention. The Reference notations refer to the attached figures.

Figure 1 shows a blank of carton with its fold lines and edges.

Figures 2 to 5 show, in perspective, the successive stages leading to the implementation volume of the packaging according to the invention.

The packaging according to the invention will be described with reference first to Figure 1. The cardboard blank which must give rise to a packaging hexagonal in the shape of a truncated pyramid is characterized by the presence of two lines of folding i.e. the top folding line 1 and the lower fold line 2. Each fold line is slightly curved and is actually made up of the succession of straight segments which extend between six vertical folding edges 3,4,5,6,7 and 8.

Below the bottom fold line 2 extend a series of knives and cutouts 9 to 12 which are not particularly characteristic of the invention and which must allow after folding the along the various vertical fold lines to form a hexagonal volume with a truncated pyramidal base.

This volume is reached after bonding projections 13 and 13 'on the back of the surface of box to the right of lines 22 and 8 (referring in Figure 1).

Between the vertical folding edges 3, 4 on the one hand and 6, 7 on the other hand, extend above of the upper horizontal fold line 1 two extensions 15 which have lateral edges 16. The extensions 15 extend far enough to form handles 17 which, in this case, each have two gripping holes 17 '.

The invention must, at this stage, be seen in the means which make it possible to easily bring the upper parts 15 'of extensions 15 to position in contact with each other.

To achieve this goal, the sectors straight 16 'from each of the side edges 16 join at points 18, which are each located on a folding edge 5 or 8.

As this point 18 is located at the intersection of lines 19 and 20 which intersect each, by their opposite end, the edges of folding 4 and 6 in one case and the edge 7 and the edge 14 in the other case, it is formed with the straight lines 21 and 22 two triangles 23 and 23 'which have a function decisive in closing the packaging.

Indeed, on reading Figures 2 to 5, it appears that by folding on each side of packaging each of the sets formed by the triangles 23 and 23 'it is formed below the plane formed by the various segments of the fold line upper 2, a flap which is placed in a so-called "no return" position.

To reach this stage, the user exercises on the wrapped volume, a slight pressure at two diametrically opposite points located under the top fold line, while in the at the same time a slight downward pull is exerted on the lateral edges 16, at the height of the straight lines 16 '.

These two operations are suggested by Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3, the arrow P indicates the place where the pressure is exerted towards the center of the package while in figure 4 is illustrated the gesture of the user causing lowering the triangles 23 and 23 'to give birth, with the original triangle formed by straight lines 19 and 20 and the fold line segments superior 1, to the so-called "no return" situation mentioned above. This stage is illustrated by the Figure 5 which shows the packaging set in volume. The upper parts 15 'of the two extensions 15 automatically placed themselves in contact to make appear handles 17 which can essentially be constituted by two holes 17 '. Small 17 "tabs are provided inside the holes 17 'from one of the handles 17 and can be folded down over the lower edge of the 17 "holes of the other handle.

The packaging according to the invention allows, thanks to two manipulations of the user, easily and surprisingly, from a cardboard blank folded over on itself, a package offering a non-deformable volume and, in any condition cause, difficult to deform so that consumer products such as "burgers" by example can be served in excellent conditions.

Claims (4)

1. An hexagonal-shaped package achieved by folding of a cardboard blank presenting a lower folding line (2) and an upper folding line (1), between said folding lines (1, 2), series of approximately vertical folding edges (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) are extending to yield, by folding, said hexagonal-shaped package and series of cutting up (9, 10, 11, 12) under the lower folding line (2) to yield the bottom as well as series of vertical prolongations (15) above the upper folding line (1) to position, among other things, two handles (17) situated at the end of the above-mentioned vertical prolongations (15), characterized in that: above the upper folding line (1) and between two vertical prolongations (15), lateral borders of these latest meet at a point (18) on a folding edge between two folding edges (4, 6; 3, 7) each one belonging to a vertical prolongation (15) and, in that two additional small folding edges (19, 20) are both extending from the above-mentioned point (18) toward the direction of the place where the upper folding line (1) cuts the nearest folding edge (4, 6, 7, 3) belonging to a vertical. prolongation (15).
2. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that the above-cited vertical edges (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) form a light angle between them and the upper (1) and lower (2) folding lines follow a so feebly curved line as to, after the putting into volume of the package, the latter presents a truncated pyramidal shape which large base is situated on the upper part, when the package is considered in its normal position of use.
3. A package according to any of the claims 1 and 2, characterized in that a last horizontal folding line is extending through each of the above-cited vertical prolongations (15) to allow, in use, to bring the terminal part (17) of each of these prolongations (15) dose one to another and form therefor a handle, said terminal part (17) ending for this purpose, in at least one handle-forming orifice (17').
4. A package according to claim 3, characterized in that a straight line is extending in oblique line between the point where said last horizontal folding line cuts the lateral edge of a prolongation (15) and the place where the upper folding line (1) cuts the first folding edge (3, 4, 6, 7) which meets said horizontal folding line.

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