EP2143648B1

EP2143648B1 - Easy-opening container with inner lining

Info

Publication number: EP2143648B1
Application number: EP09163644A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simon Holka
Original assignee: A&R Carton AB
Current assignee: A&R Carton AB
Priority date: 2008-06-30
Filing date: 2009-06-24
Publication date: 2012-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-24
Also published as: SE0801539L; SE0801539A0; EP2143648A1; ATE545595T1

Abstract

A container produced in a rigid material with side parts (2), a bottom part (3), and an upper part (4), and a lining (16) attached internally in a body (1). The upper part (4) has first and second upper panels (5, 7) for forming a ridge. At least one of the first and second upper panels (5, 7) has a projecting flap (11) for folding jointly with a projecting length (17) of the lining (16), to lie against the opposite upper panel (5 or 7), against which they are secured in a closed state. The upper part (4) further has at least one gable part, which is infolded between the first and second upper panels (5, 7) in the closed state. The projecting flap (11) has a first tear line (19) and a second tear line (20) for simplifying tearing off of an outer part (21) of the flap (11). The lining (16) has a first weakening (22) in line with the first tear line (19), and the lining has also a second weakening (24) in line with the second tear line (20) on the flap (11), for opening of the lining (16) together with the infolded gable part.

Description

The present invention concerns a container comprising a body produced in a rigid material, and with side parts, a bottom part, and an upper part, and a lining attached internally in the body, wherein the upper part has first and second upper panels, which form a ridge, said upper panels are opposite and leaning toward each other, wherein at least one of the first and second upper panels has a projecting flap folded to lie against the opposite upper panel along an upper fold line, the lining has a projecting length for facilitating folding of the lining jointly with the projecting flap against the opposite upper panel, wherein the upper part further comprises at least one gable part, which is infolded between the first and second upper panels in a closed state, and the projecting flap has a first tear line and a second tear line arranged at an angle with respect to each other to simplify tearing off of an outer part of the flap to accomplish an opened state of the container.

BACKGROUND

Containers made of a rigid material, like plastic or paperboard, have been used in the packaging industry for a long time. Packages having an outer casing of paperboard and an inner lining in form of a bag are especially used in the food industry to package dry products see for example US 3339820 . Examples of such products are for example dried baby food, milk powder, formula powder, porridge powder etc.
To keep the content in an outer package comprising an inner lining for a predetermined amount of time when the package is in a closed state, it is necessary that the lining has barrier properties that prevents intrusion of influencing factors, like moisture, oxygen, light, vermin etc., which can influence the shelf life and properties of the content of the package.
When there are high demands on the barrier properties for preventing intrusion of for example moisture, oxygen, light, vermin, and to prevent escape of aroma from the content, it is necessary to produce the lining from a hermetic material, which often leads to a lining that is resistant to tearing, strong and tough. A comparison can be made between the material properties of the lining and the material properties of the outer package produced from paperboard, which package is easy to tear and comparatively fragile.
There are many different models of outer packages that are provided with an inner lining. Some package models require use of a sharp object, like a scissor, to facilitate access to the content of the package. This way is not particularly user friendly because it requires unnecessary time and is often difficult, and therefore often a more user friendly package model is used, which can be opened by means of the user's fingers only. These packages are formed with a roof ridge and are provided with a spout, which in the closed state of the package is located between a pair of opposite panel walls of the package. These panel walls join at the rood ridge, which is located at the top of the package. The panel walls are connected with side panels, which at their top edge have gable foldings, which during opening of the package are unfolded to form the spout. During opening of the package, it is necessary to tear of a flap of the outer package at the ridge along a weakened line of the package material. During tearing of the flap of the outer package, an upper part of the inner lining is torn simultaneously for access to the content of the lining. This type of package works fine in cases where low demands are put on the barrier properties of the lining. To facilitate easy tearing of the lining together with the flap in the outer package, it is necessary that the lining material is easy to tear. A fragile and weak material facilitates tearing of the lining material.
In case a lining with high barrier properties, like resistant to tearing, strong and tough, is used together with the above mentioned configuration of the outer package, problems will arise during tearing of the lining material. Due to toughness of the lining material among other things, a very uneven tearing line will be obtained, if the user succeeds tearing the lining at all. The user must thus use much more strength than desired to tear the lining. When the user finally has managed to tear the lining, the torn edge of the lining must probably be trimmed with a scissor to obtain the required packing pouring properties.
There is thus a need for an improved device for opening of packages by hand without the use of tools, which packages comprises a lining that is resistant to tearing, strong and tough.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the present invention, a container has been accomplished according to the type mentioned in the introduction, which container substantially removes the problems that have been related to the prior known devices.
A container accomplished according to the invention is defined by the features of claim 1.

INVENTION DISCLOSURE

The present invention concerns a container comprising a body produced in a rigid material with side parts, a bottom part, and an upper part, and a lining attached internally in the body.
The upper part has first and second upper panels for forming a ridge, which upper panels are opposite and leaning toward each other, wherein at least one of the first and second upper panels has a projecting flap folded to lie against the opposite upper panel, along an upper fold line.
According to one embodiment, the lining has a projecting length for facilitating folding of the lining together with the projecting flap toward the opposite upper panel, wherein the upper part further has at least one gable part, which is infolded between the first and second upper panels in a closed state.
According to one embodiment, the projecting flap has a first tear line for simplifying tearing off of an outer part of the flap to accomplish an opened state of the container.
According to one embodiment, the lining is fixedly arranged on the projecting flap, and which lining has a first weakening in line with the first tear line on the projecting flap, and a second tear line is arranged at an angle with the first tear line, and the second tear line has a second weakening arranged on the projecting flap and in line with the second tear line.
According to one embodiment, the lining has a first weakening at an upper edge of the lining, and in line with the first tear line on the flap, and the lining has also a second weakening at an upper part of the lining, and in line with the second tear line on the flap.
According to one embodiment, the part of the flap that is delimited by the first and second tear lines is arranged to function as an enlarged catch- and holding-on part during tearing off of an outer part of the flap, and the lining attached thereto, along the first tear line to bring about tearing off of the lining for opening of the lining together with the infolded gable part.
According to one embodiment, the upper panel, on which the flap is arranged, is arranged to function as holding-on along the upper fold line during tearing off of the outer part of the flap along the second tear line for opening of the container, wherein the second tear line substantially coincides with the upper fold line.
According to one embodiment, the second weakening on the lining at the second tear line is arranged below or in line with a closure line, arranged for closure of an open upper end of the lining.
According to one embodiment, the projecting flap is provided with the first tear line and a stiffening flap, which is adheredly arranged on the projecting flap, wherein the projecting flap, the stiffening flap and the upper part of the lining are attached to one of the upper panels in the non-opened state.
According to one embodiment, the upper part of the lining is adheredly arranged between the projecting flap and the stiffening flap.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the second weakening is arranged in an inner area of the lining, mainly perpendicular to and beginning at the end of the first tear line.
In an alternative embodiment, a tear line is arranged to extend across and intersect an outer corner of the projecting flap, wherein a weakening is arranged in the lining at one or both edges of the lining in line with the tear line.
In another alternative embodiment, a tear line is arranged in line along the ridge, in the projecting flap, and an outer part of the projecting flap is delimited at an angle to the tear line by means of tear line extending from an upper edge of the projecting flap to the tear line arranged along the ridge, and the outer part of the projecting flap is attached against an upper panel by means of attaching means, in a non-opened state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained with reference to the attached drawings. On these:

fig. 1: shows an isometric view of a closed package according to the invention;
fig. 2: shows an isometric partial view of a package with a partly opened gable part comprising a projecting flap made in a single material layer according to the invention;
fig. 3: shows an enlarged partial view of the invention comprising a projecting flap with an unfolded stiffening flap;
fig. 4: shows an isometric partial view of the package with an opened gable part according to the invention;
fig. 5: shows an isometric partial view of the package with an unfolded gable part according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the description below, direction terms like for example upper, lower, side etc. will be used. These direction statements refer to an upright standing package, when this is standing with its bottom on a support structure.
The invention concerns a container, which will be described below with reference to fig. 1-5. The container showed in fig. 1 comprises a body 1 produced in a rigid material like for example plastic, paper board etc. The body 1 has side parts 2, a bottom part 3 and an upper part 4. The upper part 4 is formed form the side parts 2, which are joined to each other to form a ridge. The side parts 2 consists of a first and a second side panel 6, 8 and a first and second end panel 9, 10. The ridge in the upper part 4 of the package is formed by a first upper panel 5 on the first side panel 6, and a second upper panel 7 on the second side panel 8, wherein the first and second upper panels 5, 7 are opposite and leaning toward each other, and the first and second end panels 9, 10 are opposite each other.
At least one of the first and second upper panels 5, 7 has a projecting flap 11 folded to lie against the opposite upper panel 5 or 7, along an upper fold line 12.
In the upper part 4 of the container, at least one of the first and second end panels 9, 10 comprises a gable folding. The gable folding has a foldable main panel 13 and a first and a second gable support panel 14, 15. In the closed state of the package, the first and second side panels 6, 8 are leaning and angled towards each other at their upper part, wherein the gable folding is infolded between the first and second side panels for forming the ridge.
The container further comprises a lining 16 in shape of a bag, which is arranged internally in the body 1, which is showed in fig. 2 and 3.
During selection of material of the container and of the lining 16, a number of different material combinations having varying layers and thicknesses might be possible. As an example of choice of material, a paper board material with a weight of 290g/m² can be used for the container, and to this paper board material, a lining that is produced of polythene with a weight of 35g/m² can be used for example.
The lining 16 has a projecting length for facilitating folding of the lining 16 jointly with the projecting flap 11 toward the opposite upper panel 5 or 7.
In fig. 2, an isometric partial view of a package with a partly opened gable part is shown, comprising a projecting flap 11 composed of a single material layer according to the invention, and fig. 3 shows an enlarged partial view of the invention comprising a projecting flap 11 with an unfolded stiffening flap 18 to form a double material layer on an outer part 21 of the projecting flap 11.
The projecting flap 11 showed in fig. 2 and 3 has a first tear line 19 and a second tear line 20 arranged at an angle to each other for simplifying tearing off of the outer part 21 of the flap 11 to accomplish an opened state of the container. The lining 16 has a first weakening 22 at an upper edge 23 of the lining 16, and in line with the first tear line 19 on the flap 11. The lining 16 further comprises a second weakening 24 at an upper part 23 of the lining 16, and in line with the second tear line 20 on the projecting flap 11. The weakenings 22, 24 can be formed by means of a cut in the lining 16.
The second weakening 24 is arranged in a side edge 25 of the lining 16, and the second weakening 24 can be arranged in line with, or below, a closure line 26 of the lining 16, the purpose of the closure line 26 is to close the bag. The closure line is preferably composed of a weld line, which advantageously can have an L-shape, as shown in fig. 3, wherein the second weakening 24 is arranged in a projecting part 27 of the closure line 26. The closure line 26 of the lining 16 is accomplished for example by means of heat treatment, which weakens the material along the closure line to simplify tearing off. The reason to why the second weakening 24 is arranged in the projecting part 27 of the L-shaped weld line 26 is to accomplish a closure of an upper open end of the lining 16, before this has been opened by means of tearing. In case the second weakening 24 is arranged below the welded area for the closure line 26, moisture could enter the package when the package is in its closed and non-opened state. In a non-opened state, the second weakening 24 extends only a small distance into the weld line, and does not extend completely through the weld line before the upper part of the lining 16 has been torn off.
The part of the projecting flap 11 that is delimited by the first and second tear lines 19, 20 is arranged to function as an enlarged catch- and holding-on part during tearing off of an outer part 21 of the projecting flap 11, and the lining 16 attached thereto along the first tear line 19.
The upper panel 5 or 7, on which the projecting flap 11 is arranged, is arranged to function as holding-on along the upper fold line 12 during tearing off of the outer part 21 of the flap 11 along the second tear line 20 for opening of the container. The second tear line 20 can coincide with the upper fold line 12 for the projecting flap 11.
The projecting flap 11 can further be provided with a stiffening flap 18, which is arranged on the projecting flap 11 as showed in fig. 3. The stiffening flap 18 can be shaped as a sideways projecting flap arranged on, and projecting from, the projecting flap 11. This stiffening flap 18 can be folded along a fold line 28 along the edge of the upper part of the package, for forming of a flap with double paper board layers together with the projecting flap 11. In this case, the projecting part 17 of the upper part of the lining 16 is adheredly arranged between the projecting flap 11 and the stiffening flap 18.
The projecting flap 11, the stiffening flap 18 and the upper part 17 of the lining 16 are jointly adhered to one of the upper panels (5 or 7) in the non-opened state of the package, for example by means of gluing.
In fig. 4, an isometric partial view of the package with an opened gable part, on which the outer part of the projecting part, an upper part of the lining, and possibly jointly with the stiffening flap, have been torn off along the first and second tear lines.
Fig. 5 shows an isometric partial view of the package according to fig. 4, with an unfolded and opened gable part for formation of a spout, through which the content of the package can be dispensed.
In a closed state of the package as shown in fig. 1, the first and second end panels 9, 10, comprising panels 13, 14, 15 included in the gable folding, are infolded between the first and second upper panels 5, 7. When opening the package as shown in fig. 2 and fig. 4, a part of the projecting flap 11, possibly the stiffening flap 18, and the lining 16 is torn along the first tear line 19 and along the second tear line 20 in an upper corner of the package. The upper corner of the package and its lining 16 can be torn off along the first tear line 19, and subsequently along the second tear line, or inversely, starting at an outer edge of the package and the lining 16. The upper corner of the package and its lining can also be torn off along the first tear line 19, starting at an outer edge, and subsequently along the second tear line 20, starting at an inner edge arranged at the end of the second tear line 20, that is, a weakening is arranged in an inner area of the lining 16, mainly perpendicular to and starting at the end of the first tear line 19, or opposite.
After the upper corner 21 of the package has been torn off, as showed in fig. 4, the gable folding can be unfolded from the infolded position to accomplish the opened state, as showed in fig. 5. The gable folding is consequently unfolded along fold lines 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35 arranged between the first and second upper panel 5, 7, an end panel 10, the main panel 13, the first and second gable supporting panels 14, 15.
The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments, but can be modified within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Container comprising
- a body (1) produced in a rigid material with side parts (2), a bottom part (3), and an upper part (4), and

- a lining (16) attached internally in the body (1), wherein

- the upper part (4) has first and second upper panels (5, 7) for forming a ridge, which upper panels (5, 7) are opposite and leaning towards each other, wherein at least one of the first and second upper panels (5, 7) has a projecting flap (11),

- the lining (16) has a projecting length for facilitating folding of the lining (16) jointly with the projecting flap (11) toward the opposite upper panel (5 or 7), wherein

- the upper part (4) further has at least one gable part, which is infolded between the first and second upper panels (5, 7) in a closed state, and

- the projecting flap (11) has a first tear line (19) for simplifying tearing off of an outer part (21) of the flap (11) to accomplish an opened state of the container,

- the lining (16) is fixedly arranged on the projecting flap (11),
characterised in that the lining (16) has a first weakening (22) in line with the first tear line (19) on the projecting flap (11), and
the projecting flap (11) is folded so as to lie against the opposite upper panel (5 or 7), along an upper fold line (12).
Container according to claim 1, characterised in that a second tear line (20) is arranged at an angle with the first tear line (19), and the lining (16) has a second weakening (24) arranged on the projecting flap (11) and in line with the second tear line (20).
Container according to claim 2, characterised in that the part of the flap (11) that is delimited by the first and second tear lines (19, 20) is arranged to function as an enlarged catch- and holding-on part during tearing off of an outer part (21) of the flap (11), and the lining (16) attached thereto, along the first tear line (19) to accomplish tearing off of the lining (16) for opening of the lining (16) jointly with the infolded gable part.
Container according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the second tear line (20) substantially coincides with the upper fold line (12).
Container according to any of claims 2-4, characterised in that the second weakening (24) on the lining (16) at the second tear line (20) is arranged below or in line with a closure line (26), arranged for closure of an open upper end (23) of the lining (16).
Container according to claim 2, characterised in that the upper panel (5 or 7), on which the flap (11) is arranged, is arranged to function as holding-on along the upper fold line (12) during tearing off of the outer part (21) of the flap (11) along the second tear line (20) for opening of the container.
Container according to claim 6, characterised in that the projecting flap (11) is provided with the first tear line (19) and a stiffening flap (18), which is adheredly arranged on the projecting flap (11).
Container according to claim 7, characterised in that the projecting flap (11), the stiffening flap (18) and the upper part (17) of the lining (16) are attached to one of the upper panels (5 or 7) in the non-opened state.
Container according to claim 8, characterised in that the upper part (17) of the lining (16) is adheredly arranged between the projecting flap (11) and the stiffening flap (18).