EP2030913B1

EP2030913B1 - Packaging for tablet like products

Info

Publication number: EP2030913B1
Application number: EP20070114045
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claude Berthold
Original assignee: Van Genechten Packaging NV
Current assignee: Van Genechten Packaging NV
Priority date: 2007-08-08
Filing date: 2007-08-08
Publication date: 2009-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-08
Also published as: EP2030913A1; DE602007001693D1

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging for a slab-shaped product, comprising a first and second main face provided to be positioned on opposite sides of the slab-shaped product,

wherein the first main face comprises an upper folded portion and a lower folded portion that are fastened to each other in a releasable manner,
wherein the main face comprises a first and a second pair of side edges, wherein a first side edge of the first pair is provided to connect the upper folded portion to the second main face by means of a first upright side face and a second side edge of the first pair is provided to connect the lower folded portion to the second main face by means of a second upright side face, the first and second upright side face extending on opposite sides of the first and second main face,
wherein the second pair of side edges of the first main face is connected to the second main face by means of a third and fourth upright side face
the upper folded portion comprising at least one tearing line which delimits a first and at least a second closure portion;
the first closure portion, after having torn the tearing line, being moveable between an open and a closed position with the purpose of giving access to the interior of the packaging;
the second closure portion being fastened to the lower folded portion, according to the preamble of the first claim.
From CH692110 a paper envelope for table chocolate is known, the blank of which comprises a rectangular front plane, two substantially triangular small side flaps on the opposite short sides of the front plane and two large side flaps on the opposite long sides of the front plane which take the form of a truncated triangle. When constructing the envelope, first the two short side flaps are folded in upward direction along a first folding line and then along a second folding line to run parallel to the front plane; thereafter a first large side flap is folded in upward direction so that it partly overlays the small side flaps; finally the second large side flap is folded to partly overlay the small side flaps and the first large side flap. The inner face of the second large side flap may be fastened to the outer face of the first large side flap along the edge which runs parallel with the long sides of the envelope. Fastening can be achieved through gluing or through a removable strip.
The paper envelope however is only suitable for decorative and promotional purposes, but does not protect the chocolate or any other contents wrapped by it. Besides that the upright side walls of the envelope are connected to each other by means of triangular tabs, also at the position of the second large side flap which provides access to the interior. The presence of these tabs hinders re-positioning of the chocolate tablet after it has been removed. The wrapper cannot be closed again without using additional tape.
DE10102959 discloses a paper wrapper for rectangular chocolate tablets having a bottom side that is somewhat larger and broader than the top side, which leaves an improved visual impression after opening of the wrapper. Thereto the wrapper comprises a bottom side whish smoothly covers the bottom side of the chocolate tablet and is larger than the top side. On the top side at least two of the folding flaps are fastened to each other in an envelope-like manner. The top side contains product information. However, to remove the chocolate tablet, the packaging needs to be fully opened and to be re-folded upon closing. As a result the visual appearance of the paper deteriorates the more frequently it is opened.
GB780412 discloses a wrapper sheet for chocolate cakes, which can be easily and rapidly opened and is not damaged during opening. The wrapper sheet comprises two folded portions adapted to overlap each other on the backside of the cake. The upper folded portion has an adhesive-coated surface portion adapted to be bonded to the other folded portion laying beneath. The boundary line of the adhesive-coated surface portion is at least partly formed by perforations, so that the adhesive-coated surface may be detached from the lower folded portion along the perforations, to release the upper folded portion. Since only part of the lower folded portion is torn off, the wrapper can be re-used when only part of the tablet has been withdrawn, to completely enclose the remainder of the tablet. However, the wrapper cannot be closed again. Besides that re-positioning of the cake is difficult since material is present in the folds which connect the upper folded portion to side flaps which extend below the lower folded portion. As a consequence re-positioning of a cake having about the size of the original cake cannot take place without damaging the edges.
GB2156767 discloses a wrapping cover for slab-shaped food, such as chocolate, having a first and second main face provided to be positioned on opposite sides of the slab-shaped product. The wrapper has four flaps which are folded on the first main face, which is the underside of the package and are covered by a label. The upper flap of the four flaps together with the label forms an upper folded portion and the other flaps form a lower folded portion. The first main face comprises a first and a second pair of side edges. The first side edge of the first pair is provided to connect the upper folded portion to the second main face by means of a first upright side face. The second side edge of the first pair is provided to connect the lower folded portion to the second main face by means of a second upright side face. The first and second upright side face extend on opposite sides of the first and the second main face. The second pair of side edges of the first main face is connected to the second main face by means of a third and fourth upright side face. The label has two tearing lines which delimit a first, a second and a third closure portion. The tearing lines are torn by pulling up the first closure portion to open the wrapper. The second and third closure portions are fastened to the lower portion. However, the wrapper, after opening, can not be closed again.
There is thus a need for a packaging for tablet-like products which permits an easy removal and repositioning of the product, in a way that the risk to deteriorating the visual appearance of the packaging, is minimal.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a packaging for tablet-like products which permits an easy removal and repositioning of the product, at minimum risk to deteriorating the visual appearance of the packaging.
This is achieved with a packaging showing the technical features of the characterizing portion of the first claim.
Thereto, the packaging of this invention is characterized
in that co-operating locking means are provided on the first closure portion and on one or both of the lower folded portion and the second closure portion, to permit a releasable fastening of the first closure portion
in that in a corner between the first upright side face on the one hand and the third and fourth upright side face on the other hand, material is removable.

The wrapper of the present invention will usually be produced of board with a caliper of at least 400µ, shows a certain rigidity, is less easily damaged upon use and is capable of protecting its contents. The packaging can only be opened by tearing the tearing line. This improves safety and permits opening of the packaging with minimum risk to damaging the visible face of the lower folded portion and second closure portion. Re-positioning of the tablet after removal, by sliding it into the packaging over the first main face is facilitated and may be done at minimum risk to damaging the packaging because material in the corner where the first upright side face connects to the third and fourth upright side faces has been removed. The opening provided by the first closure portion is open to the largest possible extent and the third and fourth upright side faces can act as a guiding for guiding the displacement of the tablet.
Preferably all material is removed in the corner where the first upright side face connects to the third and fourth upright side faces.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, that the co-operating locking means comprise a lip which is connected to the first closure portion along a folding line, the folding line connects to the tearing line and permits folding of the lip with respect to the tearing line and the first closure portion. The lip contains along part of the folding line an incision forming a tongue which protrudes from the lip and one or both of the second closure portion and lower folded portion comprise a slit for receiving the tongue upon closing of the packaging. The presence of the lip provides good grip and permits easy tearing of the tearing line and opening of the packaging. The co-operating tongue and slit permit repeated opening and closing of the packaging without adversely affecting the quality of the external face of the packaging.
Tearing is facilitated in case the tearing line comprises a first and second tearing line part, which extend from the lip in opposite directions.
Preferably the first and second upright side face extend in longitudinal direction of the packaging, the first and second tearing line slant with respect to the longitudinal edges of the packaging, or in other words in the direction in which forces occur when grasping the lip and pulling the lip in upward direction. Optimum distribution of tearing forces is achieved when the lip is positioned substantially centrally of the tearing line, in particular in case the first and second tearing line part have substantially the same length.
The invention is further elucidated in the appending figures and figure description.

Figure 1 shows a blank for a preferred embodiment of the packaging of this invention.
Figures 2a, 2b and 2c show subsequent stages of folding of the blank of figure 1 into a packaging for tablet like products.
Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the packaging in the closed state.
Figure 4a and 4b show opening of the packaging.

The preferred embodiment of the packaging 25 of the present invention shown in figure 3 comprises a first main face 1 and a second main face 2. The first main face 1 may either form the front or back face of the packaging, similarly, the second main face 2 may either form the back or front face of the packaging. The second main face 2 comprises a first and second pair of folding lines 6, 16 and 7, 17. The first pair of first and second folding lines 6, 16 extends along a first pair of opposite sides of the second main face 2, and connects a third and fourth upright side face 22, 21 to opposite sides of the second main face 2. In a preferred embodiment the third and fourth upright side face 22, 21 extend along the short sides of the second main face and are transversely extending side faces. The second pair of folding lines 7, 17 extends along a second pair of opposite sides of the second main face 2, and connects a second pair of first and second side faces 24, 23 to the second main face 2. In the preferred embodiment shown, the second pair of folding lines 7, 17 extends along the opposite long sides of the second main face 2, and connects a first and second upright longitudinal side face 24, 23 to opposite longitudinal sides of the second main face 2.
Similarly, the first main face 1 comprises a first and second pair of folding lines 36, 37 and 9, 19. The first pair of folding lines 36, 37 of the first main face 1 connects a third and fourth upright side face 22, 21 to opposite sides of the second main face 2. In the preferred embodiment shown, the third and fourth upright side face 22, 21 extend along the short sides of the second main face and are transversely extending side faces. The second pair of folding lines 9, 19 of the first main face 1, extends along a second pair of opposite sides of the first main face 1, and connects the first and second upright second side faces 24, 23 to the first main face 1. In the preferred embodiment shown, the second pair of folding lines 9, 19 extends along the opposite long sides of the first main face 1.
However, if so desired in view of the intended application, the first and second upright side faces 24, 23 may form the short upright sides of the packaging, and the third and fourth side faces 22, 21 may form the long upright sides of the packaging.
The packaging further comprises an upper folded portion 11 and a lower folded portion 8, 12, 18. In the upper folded portion 11 at least one tearing line 5, 15 is provided. The tearing line 5, 15 divides the upper folded portion 11 in a first closure portion 10 and at least one second closure portion 20, 30, but this depends on the shape and dimensions of the upper folded portion as will be discussed below.
The tearing line 5, 15 may take any form considered suitable by the person skilled in the art and may for example be a straight line which runs parallel to the longitudinal sides 23, 24 of the packaging, or slants with respect thereto (embodiment not shown). In case a single tearing line is present, the tearing line 5, 15 divides the upper folded portion in a first closure portion 10 on a side of the tearing line facing folding line 9, and at least one second closure portion 20, 30 on a side of the tearing line 5, 15 facing the folding line 19 on a side of the first main face opposite folding line 9. Folding lines 9, 19 simultaneously form the longitudinal edges of the first main face 1. The tearing line 5, 15 may however also comprise two or more tearing line parts in case the application so requires. This embodiment is shown in the attached figures. In the embodiment shown in figure 3, the tearing line comprises a first and a second tearing line part 5, 15. The first and second tearing line part 5, 15 may run parallel to the longitudinal edges 9, 19 of the first main face 1 or slant with respect thereto, the latter being preferred as the tearing line parts 5, 15 then extend in the direction in which tearing forces are strongest. In the embodiment shown, the tearing line parts 5, 15 extend in long direction of the packaging. If so desired in view of the intended application, the tearing line parts may also extend in transverse direction of the packaging.
According to the preferred embodiment shown in the annexed figures, the tearing line comprises a first tearing line part 5 on a first side of the upper folded portion 11 and a second tearing line part 15 on a second side of the upper folded portion 11 opposite the first side (half cuts). The first and second tearing line part 5, 15 extend from opposite sides of a lip 3, in opposite directions. The first and second tearing line part 5, 15 may have the same or a different length, but preferably have the same length as this provides optimum distribution of tearing forces towards opposite sides of the packaging and opening is facilitated. In that case the lip 3 is positioned substantially centrally of the tearing line. The first and second tearing line part may extend under the same angle with respect to the side edges 9, 19 of the packaging, or under a different angle, depending on the envisaged application. Preferably however, the first and second tearing line part 5, 15 extend under the same angle with respect to the side edges 9, 19. As a tearing line, any form of locally weakening of the card board may be used, to provide a tear-open strip element.
If so desired, the second and third closure portion 20, 30 may be made in one part with part of the lower folding portion 12 (not shown). However, to facilitate production and to permit saving on material, the upper folded portion 11 preferably comprises a second and a third closure portion 20, 30 on opposite sides of the first closure portion 10. The lip 3 may be connected to the second and third closure portion 20, 30 by means of a further tearing line, however it is preferred to have no connection between the lip 3 and the second and third closure portion 20, 30 as this facilitates grasping of the lip and opening of the packaging.
The lower folded portion 8, 12, 18 comprises a first part 12, which is provided to co-operate with the upper folded portion 11 to form the first main face 1. The lower folded portion may however also comprise a first and a second side flap 8, 18, which are respectively attached to the third and fourth short side face 22, 21 along the folding lines 36, 37. This way the packaging is completely closed at the side of the first main face and sufficient rigidity is provided along all sides.
In view of aesthetic reasons, preferably parts of the lower folded portion 12, which extend along the sides adjacent the folding line 19 and overlay the second side flaps 8, 18, are cut off. This way repositioning of a chocolate tablet is facilitated at minimum risk of damaging the packaging, as no resistant creating edges are present in a lower part of the interior of the packaging. This way also the risk to forming a stack of material in the corners is minimized.
The upper folded portion 11 preferably comprises a lip 3, to facilitate opening of the packaging. The lip 3 is preferably connected to the first closure portion 10 along a folding line 26, which permits folding of the lip with respect to the first closure portion 10 and facilitates grasping. The folding line 26 connects to the tearing line 5, 15 and permits folding of the lip 3 with respect to the tearing line 5, 15 and the first closure portion 10. To facilitate repeated and releasable opening and closing, the lip 3 contains along part of the folding line an incision forming a tongue 4 which protrudes from the lip into the closure portion 10. The lip 3 is provided to co-operate with a corresponding slit 14 on the lower folded portion 12. By folding the lip 3 in upward direction, the tongue 4 automatically engages slit 14. However, if so desire, the tongue 4 may also protrude from the edge of the first closure portion 10 towards the lower folded portion 12 and engage a correspondingly provided slit. In stead of a co-operating tongue and slit, any other suitable co-operating and engaging locking means known to the person skilled in the art may be used.
The width of the first and second side flap 8, 18 along the long second closure portion 12, and in the preferred embodiment shown along the long direction of the packaging, may vary within wide ranges but is preferably chosen such that the side flaps provide support for the second and third closure portion 20, 30. On a top face of the first and second side flap 8, 18 preferably an adhesive is provided to permit fastening of the second and third closure portion 20, 30. The adhesive is applied in a sufficient amount to permit fastening of the first and second closure portion. The lower folded portion further preferably comprises a further flap 12 which extends along the folding line 19, opposite the upper folded portion 11 and/or first closure portion 10. The adhesive is preferably applied in such a way that the further flap 12 may also be fastened to the first and second side flap 8, 18. In case the lower folded portion 12 is made in one part with the second and third closure portion 20, 30, fastening of the lower folded portion may be done similarly as described above. In case both the upper and lower closure portion 11, 12 comprises one single flap, the lower closure portion 12 may be fastened with a bottom face to the adhesive applied to part of the top face of the first and second side flap 8, 18 in a similar way as well.
Part, but preferably all of the material present in the corner between upright side face 24 running along the first closure portion 10 and the adjacent upright side faces 22, 21 is removed. This way sliding of a choclolate tablet into the packaging is facilitated as no material is present which could exert any resistance. Preferably also part, but more preferably all of the material present in the corner between upright side face 23 running along the lower closure flap 12 and the adjacent upright side faces 22, 21 is removed to minimize the presence of any mechanical resistance in the interior of the packaging.
Figure 1 shows a blank for the above described packaging. The blank comprises the second main face 2, and a first and second pair of opposite folding lines 6, 16, 7, 17 connecting the second main face to the upright side faces 24, 23, 22, 12. In the embodiment shown, the folding lines 6, 16 extend along the opposite short sides of the second main face 2, but they may extend along the long sides as well. The folding lines 7, 17 extend along the opposite long sides of the second main face 2, but they may extend along the short sides as well.
Folding lines 9, 19 and 36, 37 connect the first main face 1 to the first and second pair of upright side faces 24, 23, 22, 21. Folding lines 9, 19 run along the long sides of the packaging, but may run along the short sides as well and connect the first main face 1 to respectively the first and second upright side face 24, 23 on a side opposite the side containing the folding lines 7, 17. In particular folding lines 9, 19 connect respectively the upper 11 and part of the lower folded portion 12 to the upright side faces 24, 23. The upper folded portion 11 comprises a tearing line, with preferably a first and a second tearing line part 5, 15. The tearing line separates the upper folded portion 11 in a first closure portion or closure flap 10, and at least one second closure portion 20 which remains attached to the remainder of the packaging when tearing the tearing line.
Along opposite short sides of the second main face 2, short folding lines 6, 16 are provided which connect the second main face 2 to an upright short side face 22, 21. Short folding lines 36, 37 provided on a side of the short upright side face 22, 21 opposite short folding lines 6, 16, connect the short upright side faces 22, 21 to a first and second side flap 8, 18. Preferably parts of the lower folded portion 12, which extend along the edges opposite folding line 19 connecting the lower folded portion 12 to upright side face 23, are removed.
The first closure portion 10 comprises a lip 3 which may protrude with respect to the first closure portion, and which is connected to it along a folding line 26. Part of the folding line 26 comprises an incision to provide a tongue which is to be received in a corresponding slit 14 in the lower folded portion 12. The slit 14 may take any shape considered suitable by a person skilled in the art, but is preferably shaped in such a way that it is capable of co-operating with either lip 3 or tongue 4 to permit a releasable opening of the packaging.
Part, but preferably all of the material present in the corner between upright side face 24 running along the first closure portion 10 and the adjacent upright side faces 22, 21 is removed. Similarly, part, but preferably all of the material present in the corner between upright side face 23 running along the lower folded portion 12 and the adjacent upright side faces 22, 21 is removed.
The box is constructed by folding the short side faces 21, 22 in upward direction along the short folding lines 6, 16 and by folding the long side faces 23, 24 in upward direction along opposite long folding lines 7, 17. Then first and second side flaps 8, 18 are folded along short folding lines 36, 37 with respect to short side faces 22, 21, in inward direction of second main face such a way that the first and second side flaps 8, 18 run along the second main face 2; the lower folded portion 12 is folded along long folding line19 with respect to upright side face 23, in inward direction of the packaging to run along the second main face 2. Finally, upper folded portion 11 is folded along long folding line 9 towards the lower folded portion 12, in such a way that the upper folded portion 11 extends along the first main face 1 and may be fastened with an inner face facing the interior of the packaging, to the adhesive 27 present on an upper face of the first and second side flap 8, 18. Fastening is done along a part 20, 30 of the upper folded portion 11, which extends between the tearing line 5, 15 and an outer edge of the upper folded portion 11. Or in other words, fastening is done along part of the second and third closure flaps 20, 30. This way an envelope-like packaging is provided for tablet-like or slab-shaped products.
The packaging is opened by grasping lip 3 and tearing to open along tearing line 5, 15 to release the first closure portion 10 or closure flap, which is moveable between a closed position to close the packaging and an open position to permit access to the content of the packaging. Second and third closure flaps remain attached to the remainder of the packaging. A tablet contained in the packaging can be removed by sliding it along the short side faces 21, 22. The tablet can easily be replaced in the interior of the packaging without damaging the packaging or any wrapper present around the table, by positioning the tablet in the opening and sliding it from the opening towards the long upright side face 23. Because material present in the corner between the long upright side face 24 and the short side faces 21, 22 has been removed the tablet can be inserted again in the packaging without any trouble, with a minimum risk to damaging the wrapper or the packaging when the tablet is contained in a wrapper.
The packaging can be closed again by folding the tongue 4 with respect to the lip and inserting the tongue in slit 4 in the lower folded portion 12.

Claims

A packaging (25) for a slab-shaped product, comprising a first and second main face (1, 2) provided to be positioned on opposite sides of the slab-shaped product, wherein the first main face (1) comprises an upper folded portion (11) and a lower folded portion (8, 18, 12) that are fastened to each other in a releasable manner, wherein the first main face (1) comprises a first (9, 19) and a second pair of side edges (36, 37), wherein a first side edge (9) of the first pair is provided to connect the upper folded (11) portion to the second main face (2) by means of a first upright side face (24) and a second side edge (19) of the first pair is provided to connect the lower folded portion to the second main face (2) by means of a second upright side face (23), the first and second upright side face (24, 23) extending on opposite sides of the first and second main face (1, 2), wherein the second pair of side edges (36, 37) of the first main face (1) is connected to the second main face (2) by means of a third and fourth upright side face (21, 22), the upper folded portion (11) comprising at least one tearing line (5, 15) which delimits a first (10) and at least a second closure portion (20, 30); the first closure portion (10), after having torn the tearing line, being moveable between an open and a closed position with the purpose of giving access to the interior of the packaging; the second closure portion (20) being fastened to the lower folded portion (8, 12, 18) ; characterized in that co-operating locking means (3, 4, 13, 14) are provided on the first closure portion (10) and on one or both of the lower folded portion (12) and the second closure portion (20), to permit a releasable fastening of the first closure portion (10); in that material present in a corner between the first upright side face (24) on the one hand and the third and fourth upright side face (22, 21) on the other hand is removable.
A packaging as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking means (3, 4, 13, 14) comprise a lip (3) which is connected to the first closure portion (10) along a folding line (26), in that the folding line (26) connects to the tearing line (5, 15) and permits folding of the lip with respect to the tearing line and the first closure portion, in that the lip contains along part of the folding line an incision (13) forming a tongue (4), in that one or both of the second closure portion (20) and lower folded portion (12) comprise a slit (14) for receiving the tongue (4) upon closing of the packaging.
A packaging as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the tearing line comprises a first and second tearing line part (5, 15), which extend from the locking means in opposite directions.
A packaging as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first and second upright side face (24, 23) extend in longitudinal direction of the packaging, in that the first and second tearing line part (5, 15) extend in longitudinal direction of the packaging and slant with respect to the longitudinal upright side faces (24, 23).
A packaging as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lip (3) is positioned centrally of the tearing line.
A packaging as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the lower folded portion comprises a first and a second flap (8, 18), which extend along opposite side faces of the main face along the tearing line.
A packaging as claimed in any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that the upper folded portion comprises a first closure part (10) which extends between the first and second tearing line part (5, 15) and the first side edge of the first main face (9), and a second and third closure part (20, 30) which extend on a side of the first and second tearing line part (5, 15) opposite the first closure part (10), facing the second side edge (19) of the first main face.