EP1279618B1 - Closed packaging case and lid made of different materials - Google Patents

Abstract

The carrying package for bottles has a base (3), a lid (4) and a handle (100) with a first section (36) cut out of the base. The base has an end wall (8) on which the ends of the bottles rest and a strap (56) with sidewalls extending around the end wall to border the containers. The base is made of a different material than the lid.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention applies in particular to the packaging of bottles, especially beer.

To avoid the degradation of beer over time, it is useful that the bottles that contain it are packed in a completely wrapped closed.

Generally, such closed packaging, commonly known as a "suitcase ", Is obtained from a single blank of cardboard folded and glued to form a scabbard with open ends. This sheath is set in volume to place the containers. Then we just close the ends of the sheath to get closed packaging.

These sleeves are packaged in special cases and then delivered to the companies producing the bottles. These companies then provide volume setting, filling and closing of the sleeves.

The associated logistics costs are relatively high, in particular because of the special conditioning that the sleeves require.

The direct volume of the single blank around the bottles would solve the logistical problems mentioned above. However, it would imply the use, by the companies producing bottles, of machines complex and expensive packaging.

US-4,715,493 describes a package produced from two blanks distinct from the same material. A handle is formed by an attached strip.

We also know from FR-2 707 260 a packaging according to the preamble of claim 1. A grip handle is cut from the wall upper part of the cap part. To transport the packaging containing a consumer grabs this handle.

It was found that the resistance of such packaging to operations grip and transport is particularly weak, so it opens frequently with the risk of the containers escaping and breaking On the ground.

This risk is all the more important as the containers to be packaged are heavy or numerous. Thus, such packaging is unsuitable for packaging a large number of beer bottles.

An object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing a packaging according to the preamble of claim 1 which is more resistant to operations grip and transport and which generates reduced costs.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a packaging according to claim 1.

Specific embodiments of the packaging are the subject of dependent claims 2 to 12.

The invention further relates to an assembly according to claim 13.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un emballage fermé selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective illustrant la caisse de l'emballage de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en plan d'un flan de carton pour former la caisse de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle, schématique, agrandie et en coupe prise suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective de la coiffe de l'emballage de la figure 1,
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique en plan d'un flan de carton pour former la coiffe de la figure 5,
• la figure 7 est une vue partielle, schématique, agrandie et en coupe prise suivant le plan VII-VII de la figure 1,
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 6 illustrant une variante de l'emballage de la figure 1,
• la figure 9 est une vue analogue à la figure 1 illustrant un emballage selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, et
• la figure 10 est une vue schématique en plan d'un flan de carton pour former la caisse de l'emballage de la figure 9.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given only by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a closed package according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the box of the packaging of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a cardboard blank for forming the box of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view, enlarged and in section taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cover of the packaging of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a cardboard blank for forming the cover of FIG. 5,
• FIG. 7 is a partial, schematic view, enlarged and in section taken along the plane VII-VII of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating a variant of the packaging of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a package according to a second embodiment of the invention, and
• FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a cardboard blank for forming the box of the packaging of FIG. 9.

Figure 1 illustrates a closed package 1 containing a group of containers 2 of which only some have been shown.

These containers 2 are for example beer bottles.

The closed packaging 1 comprises a box 3 covered by a cap 4.

Box 3, more particularly illustrated in Figure 2, was obtained from a blank of cardboard 6, previously cut and provided with grooves, and illustrated by figure 3.

This blank 6 is symmetrical with respect to a transverse median axis, which is vertical in Figure 3.

The blank 6 comprises a rectangular bottom wall panel 8 extended at its long sides by a side wall panel 10 and by a side wall panel 12, which is of reduced height than the panel 10.

The panels 10 and 12 are connected to the bottom wall panel 8 by severely interrupted cutting lines 14 which form lines of folding. These lines 14 are horizontal (as seen in Figure 3).

The panel 10 is extended at its short sides, that is to say to the right and to the left in FIG. 3, by flaps 16 in the form of trapezoid rectangle. Each flap 16 is connected to the panel 10 by a line of vertical folding 18 (as seen in Figure 3).

The panel 12 is extended at its short sides, that is to say to the right and to the left in FIG. 3, by flaps 20 in the form of trapezoid rectangle. These shutters are each connected to the panel 12 by lines 22 vertical folding (as seen in Figure 3).

The bottom wall panel 8 is extended at its small sides, i.e. to the right and to the left in Figure 3, by side wall panels 24. Each panel 24 is connected to panel 8 by a vertical fold line 26 (as seen in Figure 3).

A severely interrupted central cutting line 28 is provided in each panel 24. This line 28 forms a fold line. She is parallel to line 26 and divides panel 24 into a first adjacent zone 30 at line 26 and which is rectangular, and in a second area 32 of shape converging towards the outside of the blank 6.

Two interrupted cutting lines 34 extend longitudinally in the side wall panel 10 and in the adjacent flaps 16. The lines 34 have cusps 35 at their longitudinal ends.

The lines 34 delimit between them a first region 36 under form of a strip and whose longitudinal ends 38 located in the flaps 16 are slightly divergent.

The ends 38 of the first region 36 each extend over substantially half the length of the corresponding flap 16.

The cusps 35 are oriented towards the transverse median axis of the blank 6 and towards the outside of the first region 36.

A tab 40 is also cut from the side wall panel 10 to be adjacent to the first region 36. This tab 40 is delimited by one of the cutting lines 34 and by another curved cutting line 42.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the blank 6 is made of corrugated cardboard comprising a flat sheet 44, which will form an inner face in the box 3, a fluted sheet 46 and a flat sheet 48, which will form an outer face in the box 3.

The fluted sheet 46 is located between the two flat sheets 44 and 48. Typically, the grammage of the cardboard of the blank 6 is between about 350g / m ² and about 500g / m ^2, e.g., about 425g / m ^2.

The blank 6 comprises a straight reinforcing strip 50 which extends over the entire length of the side wall panel 10 and adjacent flaps 16. This strip 50 extends in the region 36 and therefore over its entire length. The strip 50 is arranged between the flat sheet 44 and the fluted sheet 46 of the blank 6. This strip 50 is for example made of polypropylene fibers coated with glue. It was inserted between the flat sheet 44 and the fluted sheet 46 during the blank cardboard manufacturing process 6.

This strip 50 is orthogonal to the direction in which the grooves 52 of the grooved sheet 46 extend.

To form the box 3 of figure 2 from the blank 6 of figure 3, the panels 10 and 12 are folded relative to the lower wall panel 8 thanks to lines 14 until they are orthogonal to panel 8. We fold then the flaps 16 and the flaps 20 towards the inside of the lower wall panel.

The side wall panels 24 are then pivoted to that they are orthogonal to the lower wall panel 8. We then glue the flaps 16 and 20 by their outer faces on the inner faces of the first zones 30 of the side wall panels 24.

The body 3 thus obtained comprises a bottom wall or bottom 8, two large opposite side walls 10 and 12 and two small side walls opposite 54. The walls 54 are each formed by a panel 24 and the flaps 16 and 20 correspondents. The side walls 10, 12 and 54 form a belt 56 extending continuously around the entire periphery of the bottom 8.

The side walls 10, 12 and 54 and the bottom 8 delimit together four trihedra each located in a corner of the bottom 8. In particular, the walls 8, 10 and 54 define two trihedrons T1 and T2 situated in front in FIG. 2.

The side walls 10, 12 and 54 came integrally with the wall lower 8 along the fold lines 14 and 26. The side walls 54 are on the one hand with the side wall 10 along the lines of folding 18, and on the other hand with the side wall 12 along the folding lines 22.

Thus, the side walls 10, 12 and 54 and the bottom wall 8 are rigidly connected to each other.

The cap 4, illustrated more particularly by FIG. 5, is obtained from a blank of cardboard 60, previously cut and provided with grooves and illustrated by figure 6.

The blank 60 is symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal axis oriented vertically in Figure 6.

The blank 60 includes a rectangular top wall panel 62 extended at its long sides, that is to say upwards and towards the bottom in FIG. 6, by panels of inclined walls 64, then by two panels side walls 66 and 67 respectively, and finally by two flaps 68.

The inclined wall panels 64 are connected to the panel 62 by two fold lines 70 horizontal (as seen in Figure 6). These panels 64 are in the form of an isosceles trapezium diverging towards the outside of the blank 60.

The side wall panels 66 and 67 are connected by two lines 72 horizontal folding (as seen in Figure 6) to the panels 64. The panels 66 and 67 are rectangular.

The flaps 68 are connected to the side wall panels 66 and 67 by interrupted cutting lines 74 forming fold lines. These lines 74 are horizontal in Figure 6. The flaps 68 are slightly convergent to the outside of the blank 60.

The panels 64 are extended to the right and to the left on Figure 6, that is to say at their inclined edges, by flaps 76 of substantially triangular in shape. Each flap 76 is connected to the panel 64 corresponding by an oblique fold line 78.

The upper wall panel 62 is extended at its short sides, i.e. to the right and to the left in Figure 6, by flaps 80 in the form of an isosceles trapezoid diverging towards the outside.

These flaps 80 are connected to the upper wall panel 62 by vertical fold lines 82 (as seen in Figure 6).

Finally, cutouts are provided in panel 62 to delimit therein. a diamond 84 intended to be torn, after pressing two tabs 86 cut from the flaps 80 and located in opposite corners of the rhombus 84, to allow access to the containers 2 covered by the cover 4 in packaging 1.

The blank 60 is symmetrical with respect to a transverse median axis, oriented horizontally in Figure 6, except for what will be described later.

Two interrupted longitudinal cutting lines 88 are provided in the side wall panel 67 (bottom in Figure 6).

Two short interrupted 90 transverse cutting lines connect lines 88, a short distance from their ends 92. Lines 88 and 90 delimit between them a second region 94 in the form of a band and the ends of which are divergent. This second region 94 is extended at its ends by flaps 96 delimited by the ends 92 of lines 88 and by the lines 90. These flaps 96 are articulated to the rest of the side wall panel 67 by vertical fold lines 97 (as seen in Figure 6).

A tab 98 is cut from the panel 67 in the vicinity of the second region 94. This tab 96 is delimited by one of the two lines 88 and by a 99 curved cutting line. This tab 98 is adjacent to the second region 94.

The cardboard used to form the blank 60 is a compact cardboard, that is to say non-corrugated. Thus, this carton 60 comprises for example several layers or superimposed flat sheets.

Typically, the cardboard used for the blank 60 has a basis weight between about 250g / m ² and about 400g / m ² and for example about 360 g / m ^2.

To form the cap 4, it is rotated, thanks to the fold lines 70 and 72, the inclined wall panels 64 and the side wall panels 66 and 67 down from the top wall panel 62.

The shutters 76 are then folded inwards towards the inside of the wall panel upper 62 thanks to the fold lines 78. The flaps 80 are then pivoted downwards thanks to the fold lines 82, then the flaps 76 are glued by their external faces on the internal face of the flaps 80.

The end flaps 68 are folded towards the inside of the panel. upper walls 62 thanks to the fold lines 74.

Thus, the flaps 68 are substantially parallel to the upper wall 62 and the side walls 66 and 67 are substantially orthogonal to the wall upper 62. The walls 64 and the flaps 80 are inclined at a lower angle at 90 ° to the upper wall 62.

In the packaging 1 of FIG. 1, the containers 2 are arranged in the box 3 and are supported on its lower wall 8 by their bottoms or lower extremities.

The containers 2 are supported on the upper wall 62 of the cap 4 by their necks or upper ends.

• collage des rabats 68 de la coiffe 4 sous la paroi inférieure 8 de la caisse 3,
• collage des rabats 80 de la coiffe 4 sur les deuxièmes zones 32 des parois latérales 54 de la caisse 3, ces zones 32 étant repliées légèrement vers l'intérieur de la caisse 3, grâce aux lignes de pliage 28 (figure 2), pour suivre l'inclinaison des rabats 80,
• collage de la paroi latérale 66 de la coiffe 4 sur la paroi latérale 12 de la caisse 3, et
• collage de la paroi latérale 67 de la coiffe 4 sur la paroi latérale 10 de la caisse 3.

The box 3 and the cover 4 are fixed to each other by:

• bonding of the flaps 68 of the cover 4 under the lower wall 8 of the box 3,
• bonding of the flaps 80 of the cover 4 on the second zones 32 of the side walls 54 of the box 3, these zones 32 being folded slightly towards the inside of the box 3, thanks to the fold lines 28 (FIG. 2), to follow the inclination of the flaps 80,
• bonding of the side wall 66 of the cover 4 on the side wall 12 of the box 3, and
• bonding of the side wall 67 of the cover 4 on the side wall 10 of the box 3.

More specifically, the side wall 67 of the cap 4 is glued to the side wall 10 of the body 3 on the one hand under the first and second regions 36 and 94, and on the other hand above these regions 36 and 94. A collage is also insured between overlapping regions 36 and 94, the second region 94 having dimensions greater than those of the first region 36 as seen in Figure 1.

When a consumer presses overlapping tabs 98 and 40 also, he can enter the first region 36 of the body 3 and the second region 94 of the cap 4 and pull them outwards. The side panel 10 of box 3 (Figure 2) then breaks along lines 34 and the panel lateral 67 of the cap 4 (FIG. 5) breaks along the cutting lines 88 and 90.

The second region 94 then detaches from the rest of the panel 67 and follows the first region 36 towards the outside of the packaging 1. Regions 36 and 94 then form a grip 100 (Figure 1) projecting from the rest of the packaging 1.

As seen in Figure 7 for the left end 38 of the first region 36 of the handle 100, the ends 38 then partially marry the side walls 102 of the containers 2 arranged in the corners or trihedrons before T1 and T2 (figure 2) of the body 3. This is obtained thanks to the fact that the ends 38 of the first region 36 extend in the walls 54 towards the rear beyond the longitudinal axes A of containers 2 placed in the corners T1 and T2.

Thus, when a tensile force is exerted on the handle 100, these ends 38 are applied against the side walls 102 of the containers 2 located in the corners T1 and T2 and tend to push them towards the inside of packaging 1.

It has been found that the packaging 1 is particularly resistant to handle 100 and transport operations.

• présence d'un organe de renfort 50 intégré au carton de la caisse 3,
• découpage de la première région 36 dans trois panneaux latéraux 10 et 54 adjacents de la caisse 3, ces trois panneaux étant liés rigidement les uns aux autres et à la paroi inférieure 8 de la caisse 3,
• utilisation d'un carton ondulé et donc résistant pour former la caisse 3,
• coopération des extrémités 38 de la poignée 100 avec les récipients 2 situés dans les coins T1 et T2 de la caisse 3, cette coopération limitant les concentrations de contraintes,
• présence de rebroussements 35 prévus aux extrémités des lignes de découpe 34 délimitant la première région 36 dans la caisse 3,
• utilisation d'une caisse 3 comprenant une ceinture de parois latérales 56 bordant latéralement les récipients 2 sur tout le pourtour de la paroi inférieure 8 de la caisse 3.

This is due in particular to the following characteristics;

• presence of a reinforcing member 50 integrated into the carton of the box 3,
• cutting of the first region 36 in three side panels 10 and 54 adjacent to the body 3, these three panels being rigidly connected to each other and to the bottom wall 8 of the body 3,
• use of corrugated and therefore resistant cardboard to form the box 3,
• cooperation of the ends 38 of the handle 100 with the containers 2 located in the corners T1 and T2 of the body 3, this cooperation limiting the concentrations of stresses,
• presence of cusps 35 provided at the ends of the cutting lines 34 delimiting the first region 36 in the body 3,
• use of a box 3 comprising a belt of side walls 56 laterally bordering the containers 2 around the entire periphery of the bottom wall 8 of the box 3.

Note that these characteristics can be used independently from each other to increase the resistance of the packaging 1.

Regarding the cooperation of the ends 38 of the handle 100 with the containers 2, it will be noted that this characteristic can be obtained without the ends 38 extending in the walls 54 beyond the longitudinal axes Has containers 2. This is particularly the case when the containers have a section different from the circular section shown in FIG. 7, by example a polygonal section. It then suffices that the ends 38 extend enough in the side walls 54 to come, when a consumer grips the handle, press against the side walls 102 of the 2 receptacles arranged in the corners T1 and T2.

• utilisation d'un matériau moins résistant et moins coûteux pour la coiffe 4 que pour la caisse 3, la caisse 3 assurant la majorité de la reprise des efforts lors des opérations de saisie de la poignée 100 et de transport de l'emballage 1,
• intégration de la bande de renfort 50 dans le carton de la caisse 3 lors du procédé de fabrication de ce carton et non dans une étape ultérieure de fabrication de l'emballage 1,
• réalisation de l'emballage 1 en deux parties distinctes initialement séparées.

In addition, the packaging 1 induces reduced costs. This is due in particular to the following characteristics:

• use of a less resistant and less expensive material for the cover 4 than for the box 3, the box 3 ensuring the majority of the recovery of forces during operations for gripping the handle 100 and transporting the packaging 1,
• integration of the reinforcing strip 50 into the cardboard box 3 during the manufacturing process of this cardboard and not in a subsequent step of manufacturing the packaging 1,
• realization of the packaging 1 in two distinct parts initially separated.

More specifically, the packaging 1 being produced in two separate parts 3 and 4, blanks 6 and 60 can be supplied flat to a company having a machine for setting volume of these blanks. Due to the size reduced by these blanks, such a machine is simple and of reduced cost.

Furthermore, the blanks 6 are less costly to package and deliver. as prior art sleeves which require conditioning especially at checkout.

On the contrary, the blanks 6 and 60 can be stored on pallets at the output of the blank cutting and printing machines 6 and 60.

The logistics costs associated with packaging 1 are therefore reduced.

Note that other pairs of materials than corrugated cardboard and a compact carton reduce the overall cost of packaging 1 by using a less expensive material for the cover 4 than for the case 3.

Thus, the packaging 1 makes it possible to condition at low cost a number important beer bottles. Typically, the packaging 1 makes it possible to condition a group of twenty four bottles 2 divided into four rows of six bottles.

FIG. 8 illustrates a variant of the packaging 1 of FIG. 1 in which the flaps 76 of the cover 3 are connected to the flaps 80 by lines of folding 103 obliques. Each component 76 is divided in two by a line of folding 104 oblique. The flaps 76 thus form gussets which are folded the inside of the cap 3 and which is glued to the flaps 80 to reach the structure Figures 1 and 5.

In another variant not shown, the upper wall 62 of the cap 3 comprises a network of openings for passage of the upper ends containers 2.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention according to which the handle 100 is provided on a small side wall 54 of the body 3 and no longer on the side wall 10 of the body 3 and on the wall lateral 67 of the cover 4.

Thus, and as seen in FIG. 10, the blank 6 used to form box 3 no longer includes flaps 16 and 20.

On the other hand, the side wall panels 24 are extended at the level of their short sides, that is to say up and down in the figure 10, by flaps 105 in the shape of a rectangular trapezoid.

These flaps 105 are each connected to the corresponding panel 24 by a horizontal fold line 106 in FIG. 10.

The first region 36, and therefore the interrupted cutting lines 34, extend transversely in the right panel 24 (as seen in the figure 10) and in the corresponding flaps 105. Similarly, tab 40 is spared in the same panel 24.

In this embodiment, and as seen in FIG. 9, the handle 100 is formed simply by the first region 36. It will be noted that the cap 4 no longer has a second region 94.

It will also be noted that the orientation of the cardboard grooves of the blank 6 has been modified from that in Figure 3, so as to ensure that the reinforcing member 50 is orthogonal to the direction in which the grooves extend.

In this embodiment, the ends 38 of the handle 100 cooperate with the containers 2 arranged in the right corners of the box 3, as previously described.

Thus, the packaging according to the second embodiment allows also to package a large number of containers 2 with costs reduced.

Typically, the number of containers 2 as the packaging 1 according to this second embodiment can condition is less than that the packaging of Figures 1 to 8 can condition. Thus, the packaging 1 according to the second embodiment can condition a group of twelve bottles 2.

Claims (13)

1. Closed packaging case (1) for packaging a set of containers (2), of the type comprising a part forming the base (3), a part forming the lid (4) separate from the part forming the base (3) and fixed thereto, and a handle (100) comprising at least one first region (36) cut out in a first one (3) of the parts, characterised in that the first part (3) comprises an end wall (8) on which ends of the containers (2) are adapted to bear, and a belt (56) of side walls extending all round the circumference of the end wall (8) in order to confine the containers (2) at the sides, and in that the first part (3) is made of a different material from the second one (4) of the parts.
2. Packaging case according to claim 1, characterised in that the first part ,(3) is made of corrugated cardboard and the second part is made of cardboard comprising (a) flat layer(s).
3. Packaging case according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second part (4) is made from a material with a lower weight per unit area than the first part (3).
4. Packaging case according to claim 3, characterised in that the weight per unit area of the material of the first part (3) is between about 350 g/m² and 500 g/m² and the weight per unit area of the material of the second part (4) is between about 250 g/m² and 400 g/m².
5. Packaging case according to one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the first part (3) is the part forming the base, the lower ends of the containers (2) being adapted to bear on the end wall (8).
6. Packaging case according to one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the belt of side walls comprises a central side wall (10; 54) and two adjacent side walls (54; 10, 12) extending the central side wall on both sides, the end wall (8) and the central side wall forming, with each adjacent side wall, a respective trihedron (T1, T2), in that the central wall (10; 54) is rigidly attached to the adjacent side walls (54; 10, 12) and the adjacent side walls (54; 10, 12) are rigidly attached to the end wall (8), and in that the first region extends in the central side wall (10; 54) and in the adjacent side walls (54; 10, 12).
7. Packaging case according to claim 6, characterised in that the central side wall (10; 54) and the adjacent side walls (54; 10, 12) are integrally formed with the end wall (8) along fold lines.
8. Packaging case according 10 claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the central side wall (10; 54) is integrally formed with the adjacent side walls (54; 10, 12) along fold lines.
9. Packaging case according to claim 8, characterised in that the adjacent side walls (54; 10, 12) comprise flaps (16, 20; 104) integrally formed with the central side panel (10; 54) along fold lines, and panels (24) glued to the flaps.
10. Packaging case according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the first region (36) extends sufficiently in at least one adjacent side wall (54; 10, 12) to come to bear on the side wall (102) of a container (2) placed in the trihedron (T1, T2) delimited by said adjacent side wall (54; 10, 12), by the central side wall (10; 54) and by the end wall (8), when a consumer grips the handle (100).
11. Packaging case according, to claim 10, characterised in that the first region (36) extends in said adjacent side wall (54; 10, 12) beyond a central longitudinal axis (A) along which the said container (2) extends between its lower end and its upper end.
12. Packaging case according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first part is the part forming the base (3), the lower ends of the containers (2) being adapted to bear on the end wall (8).
13. Unit comprising two blanks (6, 60) cut to shape and provided with fold lines for allowing assembly into a part forming the base (3) and a part forming the lid (4), respectively, of a closed packaging case for packaging a set of containers (2), the unit comprising a handle (100) having a first region (36) cut out in a first one of the blanks, characterised in that the unit is adapted to form a packaging case according to one of the preceding claims, the two blanks being made from different materials and the first blank being adapted to provide an end wall (8) on which ends of the containers are adapted to bear, and a belt (56) of side walls extending all round the circumference of the end wall in order to confine the containers at the sides.

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