EP1203722B1 - Case with tamper proof and foldable spout - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tamper-proof and unfoldable pourable case, which can contain fluid products, such as powder and grains. It relates more particularly to a case of the type defined by a box, whose sides are preferably parallel, and wherein the aforementioned beak is formed on the edges of the box and is delimited by the side, upper and front walls thereof . This case is also of a type for which the spout is made as a part of a thin material, of the sheet type or the like, from which the box is manufactured, and moreover, it deploys a closing position at an open position of the box and vice versa. This thin material will be hereinafter referred to as "sheet material".

In the state of the art, several types of cases for powdered products or grains are known, whether they are products for cleaning, for example soap powder or granules, or food products, for example milk powder, coffee, spices, cereals, etc., to mention only the most common cases or frequent in their use. Most of these cases are in the form of a sealed rectangular parallelepiped box, for which, in one of the corners, lines have been printed which indicate the cut to be made, for example using a pair of scissors or any other cutting instrument, to open an outlet of the contained product and, further, to introduce the side walls and the front wall of the box in order to conform a channel or spout of the product. In other cases, the printed lines in the corner of the box coincide with a weakening of the wall of the sheet material to make a cut by manually pressing on the area defined by the aforesaid lines.

The main disadvantage of this type of case lies essentially in the fact that, once the cut material, and an opening opening and a spout or channel are formed, the box can not be closed properly, which not only can cause the product to overturn if the box accidentally tilts, but also exposes the products to the entry of particles, foreign objects and / or liquids, which degrades the physical and / or chemical properties of these products and, in general, their purity itself. This disadvantage must be avoided especially when it comes to food products.

Another type of holster of the same nature includes, in the corner intended for an outlet orifice and the spout, an accessory added to the front wall of the box, generally made of metal, which consists of a kind of plug-nose foldable pourer articulated through its lower part, and which is mostly sealed, for example using a self-adhesive label, to ensure the inviolability of the holster. It could be considered that this type of holster with a built-in beaker solves, in principle, the problems of the boxes which open by cutting, like those mentioned previously.

However, this configuration is not free of drawbacks. The materials and parts used, the machines and the stages of the manufacturing processes for the shaping of the box from the sheet material and the mounting of the plug in this box, have a considerable impact on the manufacturing costs. , which is felt on the price of the final sale to the public.

Also known from EP 0 636 544, a tamper-proof and unfoldable pourable case, which can contain fluid products, the box type. The spout is made on an edge of the box and delimited by the side walls, upper and front thereof. The case is constructed from a pre-cut sheet material. The spout is foldable between closing and opening positions. The upper wall of the box has a flat portion inclined downwards with first folds formed on the side walls of the box. The beak is defined on the front wall of the box from second folds on the side walls and projects upwardly from a transverse impression of the lower hinge of the front wall, terminating on an upper edge, secured by detachable way to said box. A holster of this type is also known from US-A-3,133,688.

The aim of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of cases of the prior art, some of which have just been recalled, as the most representative examples.

The object of the invention is to provide a case which not only considerably simplifies the structural aspects of the spout box to be obtained, but also considerably reduces manufacturing costs and, moreover, offers advantages that are particularly apparent when a consumer uses the holster.

Indeed, the case according to the invention, as will be described in more detail below, allows a very simple, fast and cheap. With regard to its use, it will be shown that it combines all the practical advantages of shaped cases in a single piece of sheet material and has an efficient pouring cap and spout and easy handling.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a tamper-evident and unfoldable pourable case which may contain fluid products, such as powder and grains, made from a single piece of sheet material, in which the spout is a part of the sheet material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inviolable and unfoldable pourable spout case, in which the spout can be opened without the necessity of using sharp or similar elements and, once the case is opened and formed an outlet of the product contained in the case, the nozzle also serves as closure member.

Finally, the object of the present invention is to provide an inviolable and unfoldable pourable spout case, in which the elements which concede to it the inviolability character form part of the sheet material constituting the case.

The invention therefore has for its main object a tamper-proof and unfoldable spout case, which can contain fluid products, such as powder and grains, of the type where said case is defined by a box, with preferably parallel sides, in which said spout is formed on the edges of said box and is delimited by the side, top and front walls thereof, so that said spout is part of a pre-cut or template of sheet material, from of which is made said box, and having the ability to move from a closed position to an open position of said box and vice versa, and said nozzle defines a closure of the outlet orifice and a channel member product contained in said box, said edge being a truncated edge which has a flat portion inclined downwardly from a transverse fingerprint formed on the upper wall of said box and pr first folds of the side walls of said box, while in addition, said spout is defined on the front wall of said box by a foldable flat portion projecting from a lower joint transverse impression and comprises a central sector, and second folds of the side walls of said box, this foldable flat portion ending on an upper edge detachably attached to said box, characterized in that from said upper edge of said foldable flat portion is projected at least one safety tab, fixed to said box with an adhesive material, which extends to least on said inclined flat portion, said tongue having a central cut-out which defines the perimeter of a latching, pulling, detaching and unfolding tab of said spout, and tear losses coincident with said upper edge of said portion foldable plane defined laterally with respect to said tongue.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective, de trois quart de face, en vue plongeante, illustrant un mode de réalisation préféré d'un étui selon la présente invention, illustré avec le bec verseur à l'état plié en position de fermeture de l'orifice de sortie du produit contenu dans l'étui ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective, de trois quart de face, en vue plongeante, montrant la partie supérieure de l'étui de la figure 1, qui illustre dans ce cas le bec verseur à l'état déplié en position d'ouverture de l'orifice de sortie du produit contenu ;
• la figure 3 représente schématiquement une coupe en élévation latérale partielle de la portion supérieure de l'étui des figures 1 et 2,

dans laquelle il est montré la forme adoptée par le bec verseur en position pliée comme illustré par la figure 1;

• la figure 4 représente schématiquement une coupe en élévation latérale partielle de la portion supérieure de l'étui des figures 1 et 2,

dans laquelle il est montré la forme adoptée par le bec verseur en position dépliée comme illustré par la figure 2 ;

• la figure 5 montre une pré-découpe utilisée pour la fabrication de l'étui objet de la présente invention, où la pré-découpe est illustrée totalement dépliée; et
• la figure 6 est un détail de la pré-découpe de la figure 5 correspondant à la portion définie par celui-ci pour la réalisation de l'orifice de sortie et le bec verseur de l'étui selon la présente invention.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view, three quarter front, in a plunging view, illustrating a preferred embodiment of a case according to the present invention, illustrated with the spout in the folded state in the closed position of the outlet port of the product contained in the case;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view, three quarter of a face, in a plunging view, showing the upper part of the case of FIG. 1, which illustrates in this case the pouring spout in the unfolded state in the open position the outlet of the contained product;
• FIG. 3 schematically represents a partial side elevation section of the upper portion of the case of FIGS. 1 and 2,

in which it is shown the shape adopted by the spout in the folded position as illustrated in Figure 1;

• FIG. 4 schematically represents a partial side elevation section of the upper portion of the case of FIGS. 1 and 2,

in which it is shown the shape adopted by the spout in unfolded position as shown in Figure 2;

• Figure 5 shows a pre-cut used for the manufacture of the case object of the present invention, where the pre-cut is illustrated fully unfolded; and
• Figure 6 is a detail of the pre-cut of Figure 5 corresponding to the portion defined by it for the realization of the outlet orifice and the spout of the case according to the present invention.

An embodiment of a case according to a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In these figures, the identical elements bear the same references and will only be re-described in as needed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are firstly considered. In these figures, it can be observed that the case according to the present invention is defined by a substantially rectangular parallelepipedic box, designated by the general reference number 1, which has side walls. 2, a front wall 3, an upper wall 4, a bottom wall 5 and a rear wall 6. A spout 8 is formed in a truncated edge 7 of the box 1. The spout 8 is delimited by the side walls 2, front 3 and upper 4 of the box 1. The spout 8 is part of a pre-cut sheet material, for example cardboard, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, The pouring spout 8 can move from a closed position to an open position of the box 1 and vice versa, defining both a closure of the outlet orifice of the container. contained product and a channeling portion of the product contained in the box.

The truncated edge 7 has a plane portion 9 inclined downwardly defined from a transverse fingerprint 10 formed on the upper wall 4 and first folds 11 of the side walls 2 of the box 1. In the context of the present description, the words "imprint" and "folds" shall be used indiscriminately and their meaning shall be interpreted, more generally, as referring to any type of marking, pre-cut line or weakening line along which we may make a fold or fold a desired part. The spout 8 is defined on the front wall 3 of the box 1 by a foldable flat portion, which projects from a transverse footprint 12 of lower articulation and comprises a central sector 13 and second folds 14 of the side walls. 2. The foldable flat portion ends on an upper edge 15 which is detachably fixed on the flat portion 9 of the upper wall 4 by a safety tab 16 which projects from the upper edge 15 to the inclined portion 9 at which it is fixed, for example, with glue or other type of adhesive material. Optionally the safety tab 16 may also extend partially on the top wall 4, or it may be disposed under the fold line 10, and even below the most exposed end of the tongue 16, depending on what which is considered the most practical.

To allow the unfoldable portion which constitutes the spout 8 to come off, the tongue 16 has a pre-cut, comprising two parts, referenced 15a and 15b respectively, coinciding with lateral segments of the upper edge 15 defined on each side of a central cutout 16 ', which in turn defines the tab 17 for attachment, traction, detachment and unfolding spout 8.

In FIGS. 2 and 4, it can clearly be seen how the tongue 16 remains fixed on the inclined flat portion 9 after having detached and unfolded the spout 8 by pulling on the tongue 17.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen how, in the folded position, the pouring spout 8 closes the box 1, whereas, in FIGS. 2 and 4, it can be observed that when the spout 8 is unfolded, an outlet orifice 18 being formed, through which the product contained in the box 1 can flow freely, the product being channeled by the spout 8.

To describe in more detail the realization of the case object of the present invention as a case and spout formed integrally from a pre-cutting of sheet material, such as cardboard, we will now consider the figures 5 and 6.

In fact, in FIG. 5 it can be seen that in the pre-cut illustrated two upper planes or flaps 4a and 4b have been defined, to form the top wall 4 and the lower planes or flaps 5a and 5b, to form the bottom wall. 5 of the box 1, to which are added, respectively, the flaps 4c and 5d which project from the rear wall 6 to join the latter with the upper walls 4, 5 and 5c. On the other hand, of the wall 2 that is seen on the left of this figure 5, a flap 6a is projected to join the side wall 2 to the rear wall 6. To form the inclined flat portion 9, from the flaps 4a and 4b project, respectively, the flaps 9a and 9b, which remain totally or partially superimposed during the folding of this pre-cut for the manufacture of the box 1. These flaps 9a and 9b have fold lines10a and 10b, respectively .

A central sector 13 is defined by lower portions 13a and 13b, which for greater clarity have been separated by a dotted line. The lower portion 13a has straight lateral edges 19. The upper portion 13b has substantially the shape of a shell, and has curvilinear lateral edges 20, which meet at the end of the central sector 13 where the hooking tab 17 is defined.

Between the flaps 9a and 9b and the respective side walls 2, we see the first folds 11 of the walls 2, which are triangular sectors whose small angle α, shown in FIG. 6, is defined by a peak 21 and coincides with the In a preferred embodiment, the angle α is approximately equal to 30 ° and, when folding the sheet material for the manufacture of the box 1, it determines an approximate inclination of 60 ° of the inclined flat portion 9 relative to the upper wall 4. However, it must be clear that the value of the angles may vary, for example, depending on the manufacturing processes of the box, or depending on the volumetric proportions of the box 1.

Each of the second plies 14 of the side walls 2 of the box 1 is defined by a first triangular sector 22, whose apex 23 corresponds to the small angle β (see FIG. 6) coinciding with the corresponding end of the transverse articulation footprint 12 of the spout 8. The short side of the first triangular sector 22 coincides with an opposite segment 24 of the upper edge 15 of the foldable flat portion which forms the spout 8, while a side 22 'of the first triangular sector 22, which is adjacent to the central sector 13, coincides with the lateral right edge 19 of the latter and extends to the upper edge 15 of the folding plane sector.

Between each of the first triangular sectors 22 and the upper portion 13b of the central sector 13 of the pouring spout 8, an elastic property portion 25 is defined. The latter, when pulling from the tongue 17, reacts, in a correlative manner. both at the opening and at the closing of the pouring spout 8. The resiliently-shaped portion 25 has a substantially triangular shape and has a curvilinear side coinciding with the segment defined by the curvilinear edge 20 of the upper portion 13b In addition, this resiliently-elastic portion 25 has a first right-hand side coinciding with an upper segment on the adjacent side of the first triangular sector 22 and, on the other hand, a second right-hand side coinciding with an intermediate segment 26 of the upper edge 15 of the central sector 13, from which the safety tab 16 projects.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the aforementioned second plies 14, the small angle of the first triangular sector 22 is approximately 15 ° to 18 °, which, when folding the pre-cut for the manufacture of the box 1, defines an approximate inclination of 30 ° of the central sector 13 with the portion with elastic property 25, that with respect to the front wall 3. In this way, at least a portion of the upper portion 13b of the sector 13 and the portion 25 is superimpose on the inclined flat portion 9, closing the outlet 17 (see Figure 3). Again, it should be clear that the values of the angles may vary, for example, depending on the manufacturing processes of the box, or depending on the volumetric proportions of the box 1.

It should be noted that the perimeter of the first folds 11 and second folds 14 of the side walls 2 of the box 1 are imposed by imprints which, in the particular case of the second folds 14 define lines of articulation of the spout 8. The first folds 11 define the rest surfaces of the pouring spout 8, when it is closed, and of adhesion of the tongue 16.

FIG. 6 shows the main proportions of the dimensions such as the angular and length / width relations of the parts of the pre-cut of FIG. 5, which are linked together to allow the construction of the spout 8 according to the particularities functionalities already mentioned.

Indeed, in the first place it is noted that the width I ₁₇ of the latching tongue 17 and the width I ₁₆ associated with the curvilinear edges 20 for induction of the opening and closing of the spout 8, have a relation in a report. 2/3, from I ₁₆ to I ₁₇ . On the other hand, the width I ₃ of the front wall 3, in this embodiment, is approximately equal to the height h ₂₂ taken between the cavity 12 of the front wall 3 and an adjacent side 22 'of the triangular sector 22. , being, in addition, the length of the right lateral edge 19 of the central portion 13 half of the aforesaid height h ₂₂ . In the side walls 2, the ply generator defined by the edges 22 'of the triangular sector 22 and the resultant of folding, define an estimated angular variation of folding between 5 and 30 °. In this exemplary embodiment, in the folds 11, with an angle α = 30 °, an angle β = 15 ° of the triangular sector 22 is defined, and an angle δ = 135 ° between the sides 11 'and 22 ". these values are values adopted in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, they are specified only by way of non-limiting example, while remaining within the scope of the invention, it is of course possible to adopt other values. , depending on the specific application considered.

The dashed line T is the resultant of the bending of the sector 22, while the dashed line T 'is the resultant of the bending of the sector 11 on the wall 2, when they are found in the folded position. T is obtained according to the angle β chosen, with further β = γ.

As explained in the present description, when the upper wall 4 is folded down and made, it creates a coplanar resting surface at the result of the folding of the side walls 2, but with a translation proportional to the thickness of the material in sheet used for the construction of the box 1. The thickness of the material is represented by the separation distance between the lines T and T '. As previously noted, all values, such as the angles and lengths of the crease lines may vary depending on the size and type of box, the sheet material of the box and manufacturing processes. For example, for boxes of special sizes, there may be fold lines, also called fingerprints, which are arranged on the plans or flaps 9a and 9b.

With these footprints 26, a manufacturing machine can fold more easily the flaps 9a and 9b inwardly, to form the inclined portion 9, when the size of the box that the portion 9a or 9b is more resistant. Aided by the lines 26, each flap 9a and 9b forms an arc downwards when they are pressed by a part of the machine provided for this purpose and, in this way, the portion 9 rotates around the line 11 'and all along the angle α.

Claims (11)

1. Packaging container with tamper-proof unfoldable pouring spout, capable of containing fluid products, such as powder and grains, of the type where the said packaging container is defined by a box, with the sides preferably parallel, in which the said spout is formed on the edges of the said box and is delimited by the side, upper and front walls thereof, so that the said pouring spout forms part of a blank of sheet material from which the said box is produced, and having the ability to move from a closed position to an open position of the said box and vice versa, and where the said spout defines a closure of the outlet orifice and a member for channelling the product contained in the said box, the said edge being a truncated edge (7) which has a plane portion (9) inclined downwards starting from a transverse impression (10) formed on the upper wall (4) of the said box (1) and first folds (11) of the side walls (2) of the said box (1), while in addition, the said pouring spout (8) is defined on the front wall (3) of the box (1) by an unfoldable plane portion which extends from a lower transverse articulation impression (12) and comprises a central sector (13) and second folds (14) of the side walls (2) of the said box (1), this unfoldable plane portion ending at an upper edge (15) fixed detachably to the said box (1), characterised in that from the said upper edge (15) of the said unfoldable plane portion there extends at least one security strip (16), which is fixed to the said box (1) with the aid of an adhesive material and extends at least on the said inclined plane portion (9), the said strip (16) having a central cutout which defines the perimeter of a tab (17) for attaching, pulling, detaching and unfolding the said pouring spout (8), and tearing weakenings coincident with the said upper edge (15) of the said unfoldable plane portion defined laterally with respect to the said strip (16).
2. Packaging container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said security strip (16) also extends, at least partially, on the said upper wall (4) of the box (1).
3. Packaging container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said central sector (13) is defined by a lower portion with straight lateral edges (19) and an upper perimeter portion of curved development (20) and substantially ogive-shaped, which defines the said attaching tab (17) at the end at which its curved edges meet.
4. Packaging container according to Claim 3, characterised in that each of the said second folds (14) of the said side walls (2) of the said box (1) is defined by a first triangular sector (22), the vertex of the small angle (β) of which coincides with the corresponding end of the said transverse articulation impression (12) of the said unfoldable plane portion, in that the small side of the said first triangular sector (22) coincides with an opposite segment (24) of the upper edge (15) of the said unfoldable plane portion, in that the side (22') of the said first triangular sector (22) which is adjacent to the said central sector (13) coincides with the straight lateral edge (19) of the latter and extends as far as the said upper edge (15) of the said unfoldable plane sector.
5. Packaging container according to Claim 4, characterised in that between each of the said first triangular sectors (22) and the said upper portion of the central sector (13) of the said unfoldable plane portion there is defined a portion with elastic properties (25) for opening and closing the said pouring spout (8), the shape of which is substantially triangular and has a curved side (20) coinciding with a segment of the said upper portion (13b) of the said central sector (13) which extends between the meeting point with the straight edge of the latter and the said attaching tab (17), a first straight side coinciding with an upper segment of the adjacent side of the said first triangular sector (22) and a second straight side coinciding with an intermediate segment (26) of the upper edge (15) of the said central sector (13) defined between the said tab and the said opposite segment of the upper edge of the said unfoldable plane portion.
6. Packaging container according to Claim 5, characterised in that the said first folds (11) define triangular sectors, the small angle (α) of which, coinciding at the vertex with the said transverse impression (10) of the said upper wall (4) of the said box (1), is of the order of 30° and defines an inclination of the order of 60° of the said inclined plane portion with respect to the said upper wall (4), in that, at the said second folds (14), the small angle (β) of the first triangular sector is 15°, defining an inclination of 30° of the said unfoldable plane portion with respect to the said front wall (3) of the said box (1), while being partially superposed on the said inclined plane portion (9).
7. Packaging container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the perimeter of the said second folds (14) of the said side walls (2) of the said box (1) is formed by impressions which define articulation lines.
8. Packaging container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said box (1) and the said pouring spout (8) are made in one piece defined by a blank of sheet material from which the said packaging container is produced.
9. Packaging container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said blank is made of cardboard.
10. Packaging container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said downwardly inclined plane portion (9) is formed by the said superposed flaps (9a-9b), where each flap is joined to a corresponding wall and to two panels (4a-4b), which are superposed to form the said upper wall (4) of the said box (1).
11. Packaging container according to Claim 11, characterised in that each of the said flaps (9a-9b) has at least one folding line (10a-10b) to facilitate folding of the said inclined plane portion (9).

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