EP1120356B1 - Package for dispensing sheet-like articles one by one - Google Patents

Abstract

The tissue box has a flap (2) which is made up of two sections (2', 2). The section (2) attached to the box when the flap is opened produces a curved aperture (1) from which the tissues can be extracted. The remaining section (2') is attached to the first section to complete a rectangular flap which can be used to reseal the box.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of packaging, in particular packaging serving simultaneously as distributors, in particularly for the packaging and distribution of sheet products, namely handkerchiefs or the like, and relates to packaging intended for this purpose.

The presentation of tissues or similar is good known. Generally, handkerchiefs are either stacked individually, be tangled in such a way that a pull on the handkerchief near the opening and exit of the latter automatically cause the presentation of the edge of the handkerchief or the like next in the opening packaging.

For this purpose, said packages are provided with an opening of distribution cut out on one of their faces. Such packaging distributors and the corresponding manufacturing processes include known from documents FR-A-2 334 584, EP-A-0 275 481 and EP-A-0 401 621.

Thus, FR-A-2 334 584 describes a packaging for handkerchief in paper or the like, which is provided with a tissue opening or others, cut at the edge of one of its faces and recoverable by means a flap forming an integral part of the package, connected in a manner definitive to the latter by one of its edges and of which at least two others edges of the contour are detachably attached to said front packaging use. Thus, a partial uprooting of the closing flap allows a access to the contents of the packaging and removal of tissues.

Furthermore, according to this document, the packaging is provided near the free edge of the flap of a means of retaining it by adhesion, in view a temporary closure after tearing off these two weakened edges of said packaging. Such a retaining means ensures closure hygienic packaging between two uses.

We also know, from EP-A-0 401 621, a packaging intended for the distribution of handkerchiefs or the like, which has a means to access the contents of the packaging consisting of a flap forming part integral of said packaging and the first opening of which is carried out by uprooting on part of its contour along a weakened line.

These packaging allow to respond satisfactorily to the problems posed by a seizure followed by an individual delivery of handkerchiefs or the like by the corresponding face.

The packaging thus produced is obtained by cutting blanks in a continuously moving strip, said blanks then being folded back to form the packaging and simultaneously provided with their contents, then closed, by using machines adapted for this purpose, such as those known from EP-A-0 275 481.

However, the packaging thus produced presents the disadvantage of not allowing a hygienic closure of their opening for gripping handkerchiefs or the like only if the closing flap is perfectly applied above said opening and held there. This is more particularly the case when the closing flap has a surface exactly corresponding to that of the opening of grabbing handkerchiefs or the like and is only kept in a position of reseal only with an adhesive tab (EP-A-0 401 621).

DE-U-8 901 535, on which the preamble of the claim is based 1, describes a package comprising an adhesive strip attached to a flap in one piece with packaging.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by offering packaging for distributing sheet products, namely handkerchiefs or the like allowing easy access to the products to be distribute, while ensuring the possibility of being able to close said packaging while preserving the hygiene of its contents as much as possible.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a shaped packaging rectangular and of rectangular cross section, provided with a opening for extracting a sheet product, such as a handkerchief or similar, characterized in that said opening is provided with a flap at minus two superimposed elements of different sizes, the element more small size being arranged on the inside of this flap, the elements forming the flap being made in one piece with the packaging and being connected, before first use, by at least part of their outline said packaging via weakened lines.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un emballage conforme à l'invention en position fermée avant utilisation ;

la figure 2 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1 de l'emballage après ouverture ;

la figure 3 est une vue en élévation frontale et en coupe de l'emballage suivant la figure 1;

la figure 4 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 3 d'une variante de réalisation de l'emballage

la figure 5 est une vue partielle en perspective représentant la découpe de flan destiné à la réalisation d'emballages conformes à l'invention ;

les figures 6A à 6C représentent les étapes de réalisation de l'emballage, et

la figure 7 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 2, d'une variante de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package according to the invention in the closed position before use;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of the package after opening;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view in section of the package according to Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 of an alternative embodiment of the packaging

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view showing the blank blank for the production of packaging according to the invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6C represent the steps for producing the packaging, and

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 to 4 and 7 of the accompanying drawings show a packaging with parallelepiped shape and cross section rectangular, provided with an opening 1 for extracting a sheet product, such as a handkerchief or the like.

According to the invention and as shown more particularly Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the opening 1 is provided with a flap 2 in at least two superimposed elements of sizes different, the 2 "element of smaller size being arranged on the face inside of this flap 2. The element 2 "is integral, at least before the first use, of the portion of an underlying film 3 forming a lining the packaging. Elements 2 'and 2 "forming the flap 2 are made in one piece with the packaging and are connected by a part from their contour to said packaging, via weakened lines 4.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the element 2 "more small size forming the inner face of the flap 2 determines at least in part of the surface of the opening 1 of the packaging, while the element 2 'of larger, which forms the outer face of the flap 2, is arranged with possibility of partial tearing off on a covering rim of one side of the packaging including that comprising the element 2 "forming the face interior of said flap 2.

The opening 1 is arranged astride an edge 5 connecting two adjacent sides of the package. In the example shown in the figures attached, this edge 5 connects a large side 9 to a small side 10, the flap 2 presenting its articulation axis 6 on the short side 10.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the packaging is consisting of a film forming an envelope and the ends of which are overlap on two adjacent sides, so the packaging is lined on these two sides. The smaller 2 "element forming the face interior of flap 2 is part, at least partially, of the lining internal 3. This 2 "element includes a first part 2" A, on the most long side 9, which extends over a second part 2 "B covering at less the small side 10.

To allow the removal of the two elements 2 'and 2 "of the flap 2, when the packaging is used for the first time, element 2 "forming the inner face is secured, for example by welding, of the element 2 ' forming the outer face, at least along the part 2 "B and possibly partially from part 2 "A.

Thus, when opening the packaging, a pull on the free edge of the element 2 'of the flap 2 will cause, after the initial tear of the start of the contour of this element 2 'a training of part 2 "B more small size and simultaneous tearing of its outline, so that opening 1 is automatically released.

After extracting a handkerchief or the like, it will suffice to reposition the flap 2 by folding along the corresponding side of the packaging to close the opening 1.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the packaging can advantageously be provided near the free edge of element 2 ′, of a removable fastener 8, such as a self-adhesive adhesive pad or tape. Thus, it is possible to ensure a secure maintenance of the closing the flap 2 after removing a handkerchief or the like, even after several openings and closings.

In known manner, as shown more particularly by the Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, the packaging according to the invention is produced by folding a precut blank along the fold lines shown in fine mixed lines. This blank is provided with preformed weakening lines 4 corresponding to the contours of the tear-off elements 2 'and 2 "intended for form the flap 2. The arrangement of these elements 2 ′ and 2 "makes it possible to produce contour weakening for the two elements 2 'and 2 "with one and same tool. This is, for example, a line consisting of cutouts according to dashes separated by tenons.

Indeed, because the flap 2 is constituted by the superposition from a larger element 2 'to a smaller element 2 ", it is enough to provide weakened tear lines, so that these extend, on the one hand, over a part of the packaging corresponding to a short side 10 and to an adjacent surface of the long side 9 and, on the other hand, on part of the packaging corresponding to an edge 11 folded over the long side 9 and partially to short side 10 corresponding to each packaging on a moving strip. Cutting the blank into elements each corresponding to a package is then carried out from such that one of its ends AA is formed by the edge 11 comprising the element of larger size 2 ′ and that the other end BB is formed by a short side 10 provided with the smaller element 2 " extending in part on the large adjacent side.

Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings shows a variant of embodiment of the invention, in which part 2 "B has been folded over the part 2 "A. These parts are joined to each other by the joint formed by the fold. Part 2 "B is itself integral with the internal face of element 2 'located above the long side 9 of the package. This part 2 "B is glued or thermo-welded on the element 2 '. This embodiment improves the lifting of the element 2 "at the time of the first use. It also makes it possible to obtain, in the area of the opening 1, packaging a triple wall thickness of the flap 2 further promoting further closing the packaging after use and thus improving the hygiene.

FIGS. 6A to 6C schematically represent the sequence operations enabling the packaging according to FIG. 4 to be produced.

After cutting from a film, for example plastic transparent, the flank 100 is introduced, by means of an element forming a pusher, in a shaping cell 111, formed at the periphery of a wheel 110. Two panels 102 'and 102 "B of the side protrude of the socket and are applied against the outer peripheral surface of the wheel (Figure 6A). After moving a fraction of turns, the wheel comes place the cell in front of a means of loading a packet P of handkerchiefs which is then introduced into it.

Then, a means, such as an air jet associated with a belt, fold the panel 102 '180 °. It follows that this panel 102 'covers the opening of the cell 111 and the panel 102 "B (FIG. 6B). A bar heated 112 then welds the panels 102 'and 102 "B together. Then, the package is expelled from the cell and a pad of self-adhesive adhesives 102 such as a "hot melt" adhesive, is deposited on the outside of the package carrying the panel 102 "B (FIG. 6C) then the assembly formed by the two panels are folded over the adhesive pavement and adheres to it. The package then undergoes the other stages of training and assembly in a known manner.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to produce a packaging of distribution that can be easily manipulated by the user and allowing ensure, throughout the duration of use, repeated closing correct said packaging. It can thus be ensured a backup of the hygiene of the content, this being accessible only after a maneuver voluntary flap 2, so the risk of content pollution is practically canceled.

In addition, the extraction of handkerchiefs or the like is facilitated, the fact that the opening 1 can have relatively large dimensions important. The opening 1 can be placed in the longitudinal direction of the case or in the transverse direction, as it appears more particularly in Figure 7. In addition, the extraction opening can be planned large.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, especially from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without leaving for as much of the protection field of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Packaging with a parallelepiped shape and rectangular cross-section provided with an aperture (1) for extracting a sheet-like product, such as a handkerchief or the like, said aperture (1) being provided with a flap (2) consisting of at least two superimposed elements (2', 2") of different sizes, the smaller element (2") being disposed on the internal face of this flap (2), the elements (2', 2") being connected, prior to the first use, by at least a portion of their contour to said packaging by weakened lines (4), characterised in that the elements (2', 2") forming the flap (2) are produced in a single piece with the packaging.
2. Packaging, according to claim 1, characterised in that the smaller element (2") forming the interior face of the flap (2) at least partly determines the surface of the packaging aperture (1), while the larger element (2') forming the external face of the flap (2) is disposed with the possibility for partial tearing along a covering rim of a packaging face encompassing that comprising the element (2") forming the internal face of said flap (2).
3. Packaging, according to either one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the aperture (1) spans an edge (5) connecting two adjacent sides of the packaging, namely an edge (5) connecting a large side (9) to a small side (10), the flap (2) having its axis of articulation (6) on the small side (10) of the packaging.
4. Packaging, according to either one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the element (2") forming the internal face of the flap (2) is a part, at least partially, of the interior lining (3).
5. Packaging, according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, characterised in that the element (2") forming the internal face of the flap (2) comprises a first portion (2"A) on the larger side (9), which extends along a second portion (2"B) at least partially covering the small side (10), and is integral with the element (2') forming the external face of said flap (2), at least along the portion (2"B) and optionally, partially the portion (2"A).
6. Packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that it is provided, close to the free edge of the larger element (2') which forms the external face of the flap (2), with a detachable fastener (8) such as a self-adhesive block or an adhesive strip.
7. Packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the flap (2) is formed by the superimposition of an element of larger size (2') on an element of smaller size (2"), the smaller size element comprising two superimposed portions (2"A and 2"B) which are integral with one another owing to an articulation formed by the fold, the portion (2"B) itself being integral with the internal face of the element (2').
8. Packaging, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it is produced by folding from the blank which is precut and provided with folding lines and weakening lines (4) corresponding to the contours of the tearable elements (2' and 2") intended to form the flap (2).

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