EP2418156B1

EP2418156B1 - Bottom or top part of an octagonal package, and a flat folded structure thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2418156B1
Application number: EP10172305A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joris Panis
Original assignee: SCA Packaging Benelux BV
Current assignee: DS Smith Packaging Netherlands BV
Priority date: 2010-08-09
Filing date: 2010-08-09
Publication date: 2012-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2030-08-09
Also published as: PL2418156T3; PT2418156E; EP2418156A1; DK2418156T3; ES2394186T3

Description

The invention relates to a bottom or top part of an octagonal package, and a flat folded structure thereof.
In the field of packaging, octagonal packages are known, which are usually made from carton or corrugated board. The dimensions of the packages are such that one octagonal package occupies one pallet, which makes the package highly useful for transportation. In the context of the invention octagonal packages are envisaged which consist of a tubular part of upright walls, and the ends of the tubular part being capped by a bottom and a top part which join with the tubular part. For positioning the bottom or top part (hereinafter also referred to as: capping part) in joined connection with the tubular part, the capping part 5 has an end plate with upright parts that are more or less perpendicular to the end plate. The upright parts or side-panels snugly fit inside the walls of the tubular part or vice-versa.
There is a general need to provide octagonal packages which are easy to set up before use, and at the same time easy to transport when not in use. The tubular part is for instance easily folded into a flat structure, which is easily formed into a tubular structure. Up till now, the capping part is made out of separate parts (flat and easy for transport) which therefore have to be interlocked or glued together before use. An alternative is known which consists of an eight cornered end plate which has side panels wherein adjacent side panels are glued to each other over a connecting flap. The side panels can be folded inwardly wherein a zig-zag part between adjacent panels is formed. Such flat folded capping part has the advantage that it can be readily open folded into a structure for use to cap a tubular part, but comes with some disadvantages. First, the flat-folding of the capping part is not perfectly flat: the zig-zagging parts have a tendency to fold open automatically. Thus, a stack of stored capping parts are prone to shifting and do not form a stable stack. Second, in open folded configuration the capping part has the tendency to re-fold into a closed, flat folded configuration. This makes positioning for joining with a tubular part less easy, or more cumbersome. Furthermore, a less stable configuration of a capping part might compromise the function as a lid for the octagonal package.
Document DE 20 2004 005 667 U1 discloses a blank to be erected into an octogonal package, the blank comprising alternating male and female panels to be folded into engagement with each other.
Therefore, the need exists for a capping part which has a stable configuration when flat folded (for transportation), as well as when open folded (for use as a lid for a package).
To that aim, the invention provides a flat folded structure of a bottom or top part of an octagonal package, which is readily open-foldable into a stable erected position, comprising:

an eight-cornered end plate delimited by eight side-lines wherein at each side-line a foldable side-panel is attached, each side-panel being foldable over the respective side-line,
the side-panels being alternating male and female panels, wherein a male panel comprises a main part having two flaps at its lateral sides, wherein each flap is foldable over a fold-line which separates the flap from the main part, and wherein a female panel consists of an inward part adjacent to the side-line, and an outward part adjacent to the inward part, the two parts of a female panel being separated by an envelope fold line for double folding the two parts over each other into an envelope structure,
wherein the flat folded structure has the additional requirements:
- the female panels and the male panels are inwardly double-folded over the respective side-lines in a subsequent order of first folding the female panels and subsequently the male panels, so that the flaps of the male panels are overlapping on top of the female panels, and the female panels are subsequently outwardly double-folded over the envelope fold-line so that the outward parts overlap on top of the flaps of the male panels,
wherein each female panel has its outward part in a fixed position towards the inward part by a durable fixation between both parts, wherein each female panel forms an envelope structure between which neighbouring lateral flaps of a male panel are moveably held.

The provision of a capping part with side-panels that comprise a durably fixed envelope structure of an inward and outward part between which a flap of a neighbouring panel is inserted and is moveably held, affords both a flat folded configuration which is stable, and an open-folded configuration that is stable - i.e. a stable perpendicular position of the panels with respect to the end plate. Furthermore, the capping part can be readily open-folded by a user into an erected configuration for use.
Advantageously, the flaps of a male panel have a basically triangular form. The triangular form allows for a suitable freedom of movement within the envelope structure.
In the invention, it is preferred that the outward part of the female panel further has a tab with a tab fold-line, for durable fixation with the respective inward part. The tab accomplishes a fixation by a mechanical interlocking way with the inward part, or preferably by gluing the tab to the inward part. Alternatively, the outward part may be glued directly on the inward part without the provision of a tab, or the use thereof.
In a further preferred variant of the invention, the flaps of a male panel have an extending cam part at their top side. The extending cam part has the function of gripping into the envelope structure once the open-folded configuration is complete - thereby further contributing to the stability of the configuration.
In a another preferred variant of the invention, the female panels are provided with slits near or on the envelope fold-line. The slits function as a receiving means for parts of the flaps when the structure is in open folded configuration, especially for cam parts of the flaps.
In a next preferred variant of the invention, the main part of the male panel and the outward part of the female panel have a rectangular form. When brought into open folded configuration these rectangular parts neatly form a closed ring of panels, which contributes to the function of the bottom or top part to secure a capping of the tubular package as a lid.
Further preferred in the invention, is that the inward part of the female panel has a rectangular form, or has an hour-glass shape with a partly reduced width. The freedom of movement for a flap within the envelope structure is influenced by the shape of the inward panel, along which a flap slides. Dependent on the specific material, sufficient room is achieved by the specific form of the inward part as defined.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a bottom or top part of an octagonal package, which is in an open-folded configuration of the flat folded structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the side-panels are brought in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the eight-cornered end plate. The bottom or top part as such, has all the advantages indicated above of a stable and durable positioning of side-panels with respect to the end plate. Which makes it advantageous for use as a lid for a octagonal tubular package part. Finally, the capping part is re-foldable into the flat folded configuration for instance for storage thereof after being used as a lid.
Preferably, in the bottom or top part of the invention, the flaps of a male panel have an extending cam part at their top side, and the female panels are provided with slits near or on the envelope fold-line, and in the open-folded configuration, the cam part is brought in interconnecting position with the corresponding slit. Such interconnection between panels further secures the stable positioning thereof with respect to each other and the end plate.
The invention will be further explained by the appended figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a blank for forming a flat folded structure according to preferred variant of the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a first folding step of the blank of fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a second folding step of the blank of fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows a final folding step of the blank of fig. 1;
Fig. 5 shows the flat folded structure according to a preferred variant of the invention, obtained by the steps shown in fig. 2-4;
Fig. 6 shows a bottom or top part of an octagonal package, which is in an open-folded configuration according to a preferred variant of the invention;
Fig. 7 shows a detail of fig. 6.

Figure 1 shows a blank 1, comprising
an eight-cornered end plate 3, delimited by eight side-lines 5, wherein at each side-line a foldable side- panel 7,9 is attached, each side- panel 7,9 being foldable over the respective side-line 5, the side-panels being alternating male panels 7 and female panels 9, wherein a male panel 7 comprises a main part 11 having two flaps 13 at its lateral sides, wherein each flap 13 is foldable over a fold-line 15 which separates the flap from the main part,
and wherein a female panel 9 consists of an inward part 21 adjacent to the side-line 5, and an outward part 23 adjacent to the inward part 21, the two parts 21,23 of a female panel being separated by an envelope fold line 25 for double folding the two parts 21,23 over each other into an envelope structure. The outward part 23 of each female panel 9 further has a tab 30 with a tab 32 fold-line, for durable fixation with the respective inward part 21.
Figure 2 shows the blank 1 of fig. 1, wherein the female side-panels 9 are inwardly double-folded over the respective side-lines 5. Each triangular flap 13 has an extension 14 on its top side, which functions as a cam. Each envelope fold line 25 is provided with two slits 26.
Figure 3, shows the structure of fig. 2, wherein the male side-panels 7 are inwardly double-folded over the respective side-lines 5, so that the flaps 13 of the male panels 7 are overlapping on top of the female panels 9. Further, a line of glue 35 is applied on the uncovered surface of female panel 9 between the overlapping flaps 13.
Figure 4, shows the structure of fig. 3, wherein the outward parts 23 are outwardly folded over the envelope fold-line 25 so that the outward parts 23 overlap on top of the flaps 13 of the male panels, and wherein the tab 30 is inwardly folded over the fold line 32, which tab is brought into contact with the glue line 35, and the uncovered surface of inward part 21 between the overlapping flaps 13.
Figure 5 shows the final phase of the flat folded structure 50 after completion of the last folding and fixation step of fig. 4. Herein, each female panel 9 has its outward part 23 in a durably fixed position with respect to the inward part by a durable fixation by the glue line 35 between both parts, wherein each female panel forms an envelope structure between which neighbouring lateral flaps 13 of a male panel 10 are moveably held.
Figure 6 shows a bottom or top part of an octagonal package 60, which is in an open-folded configuration, wherein the side- panels 7,9 are brought in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the eight-cornered end plate 3. The configuration of figure 6 is obtained by simply open-folding the flat folded structure 50 of figure 5, until a perpendicular orientation of the panels is achieved, and requires no further handling by a user. This orientation is stable because of the interlocking effect between the panels obtained by the mechanical connection between cams 14 which are positioned in the slits 26 of the envelope structure of the female panels 9.
Figure 7 shows a detail of the interlocking structure of a male panel 7 with a female panel 9, wherein the cam 14 of a flap 13 is sticking out through the slit 26 of the female panel 9, and hooks behind a part of the female panel that forms the envelope fold 25. By pressing down each cam part 13, the user may unlock the interlocking structures and bring the top or bottom cap back into a flat-folded configuration.

Claims

A flat folded structure (50) of a bottom or top part of an octagonal package, which is readily open-foldable into a stable erected position, comprising:
an eight-cornered end plate (3) delimited by eight side-lines (5) wherein at each side-line a foldable side-panel (7,9) is attached, each side-panel being foldable over the respective side-line (5),

the side-panels being alternating male (7) and female panels (9), wherein a male panel (7) comprises a main part (11) having two flaps (13) at its lateral sides, wherein each flap is foldable over a fold-line (15) which separates the flap from the main part,

and wherein a female panel (9) consists of an inward part (21) adjacent to the side-line, and an outward part (23) adjacent to the inward part, the two parts (21,23) of a female panel being separated by an envelope fold line (25) for double folding the two parts (21,23) over each other into an envelope structure,

wherein the flat folded structure (50) has the additional requirements:
the female panels (9) and the male panels (7) are inwardly double-folded over the respective side-lines (5) in a subsequent order of first folding the female panels (9) and subsequently the male panels (7), so that the flaps (13) of the male panels are overlapping on top of the female panels, and the female panels (9) are subsequently outwardly double-folded over the envelope fold-line (25) so that the outward parts (23) overlap on top of the flaps (13) of the male panels,

wherein each female panel has its outward part (23) in a fixed position towards the inward part (21) by a durable fixation (35) between both parts (21,23), wherein each female panel (9) forms an envelope structure between which neighbouring lateral flaps (13) of a male panel are moveably held.
The flat folded structure according to claim 1, wherein the flaps (13) of a male panel have a basically triangular form.
The flat folded structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outward part (23) of the female panel (9) further has a tab (30) with a tab fold-line (32), for durable fixation (35) with the respective inward part (21).
The flat folded structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the durable fixation (35) between both parts (21,23) of a female panel is accomplished by a glued connection (35).
The flat folded structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flaps (13) of a male panel have an extending cam part (14) at their top side.
The flat folded structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the female panels (9) are provided with slits (26) near or on the envelope fold-line (25).
The flat folded structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main part (11) of the male panel and the outward part (23) of the female panel have a rectangular form.
The flat folded structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inward part (21) of the female panel has a rectangular form, or has an hour-glass shape with a partly reduced width.
A bottom or top part of an octagonal package (60), which is in an open-folded configuration of the flat folded structure (50) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the side-panels (7,9) are brought in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the eight-cornered end plate (3) .
The bottom or top part (60) according to claim 9, wherein the flaps (13) of a male panel have an extending cam part (14) at their top side, and the female panels (9) are provided with slits (26) near or on the envelope fold-line (25), and in the open-folded configuration, the cam part (14) is brought in interconnecting position with the corresponding slit (26).