ES2360265T3 - PAPER NAPKIN CONTAINER UNDERSTANDING A NAPKIN DISPENSER. - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a multiple package (1) of packs of napkins (6), with which there is associated a container or dispenser (9) for said napkins, produced in sheet material folded in a collapsed position and expansible in a using position.

Description

Technical sector

The present invention relates to the disposable paper products sector, in particular for domestic use. Specifically, the present invention relates to the sector of paper napkins or similar products. The term paper napkins is provided within the context of the present invention and the appended claims as any product made of paper, preferably tissue paper, folded and stacked to form packages of items.

Technical background

Currently paper napkins are normally packaged in containers containing a variable number of folded napkins, for example 25, 50, 100, 250 napkins, of varying dimensions, for example 15x15 to 40x40 cm. Each container is closed by a plastic film. When the container is opened by tearing the plastic film, the napkins are devoid of a container, they can get dirty and the pile of napkins that form the container become messy. For practical use of this type of consumable material, dispensers or containers have been produced, into which the individual piles of folded napkins are inserted. These containers or dispensers are usually in the form of an open tray, with plan dimensions equal to the dimensions of the folded napkin alone. In some cases the container is equipped with a containment element for the napkins, such as a metal bar, which prevents the napkins from spilling or fluttering, for example when the package is intended for outdoor use.

Other products, in particular paper interleaved tissues, are packaged in individual cardboard boxes, which have an opening protected by a separable cardboard portion along a perforation line. This type of packaging is expensive, since each group of tissues must be equipped with a box, which represents a cost in terms of material and also makes the packaging process more complex, long and expensive.

US-A-4,595,093 discloses a package of compressed rolls of toilet paper. The package is formed by a thermoplastic film in combination with a convertible support panel. The support panel is made of cardboard and forms the base of the container. The film is attached to the support panel. Said support panel is convertible, since it can be converted into an exposure tray, where the rolls of toilet paper can be placed once the thermoplastic film has been removed from the package.

Document GB-A-2043598 discloses a cardboard formed from preforms. Each cardboard has a body and a closing cover, made of two cardboard preforms. The cardboard is intended for fruit, vegetables or similar. Once the cover has been removed, the cardboard body forms an exhibition unit to display the merchandise contained therein. The cartons are designed such that they can be placed on top of each other without falling apart.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a novel packaging of napkins that totally or partially overcomes the drawbacks of the known products mentioned above. This object is achieved with a package according to claim 1. The dependent claims refer to additional advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Sensibly according to one aspect, the invention provides a multiple package of napkin packs, linked to which there is a container or dispenser for said napkins, made of folded sheet material in the collapsed position and expandable in the use position. The container or dispenser is preferably housed in a bag, made for example of paper or plastic film, in which said individual packages or packages of napkins are contained.

The container or dispenser can be made of material in plastic sheets, folded and welded. Preferably, however, also for reasons of environmental impact, the container or dispenser is made of suitable cardboard weight. This allows it to be easily recycled.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container or dispenser comprises a body and a cover, each produced from a respective piece of folded sheet material. In this way, the container or dispenser can be placed more easily and quickly in the position of use, simply by lifting, with respect to the respective base of the body and the cover, of the lateral sides that, during production, have been formed by folding and stuck or soldier.

In an advantageous embodiment, the container or dispenser has an open tongue when pulled along a perforation line, to form an opening to remove the napkins from the container. The tongue can remain tight to the cover, for example along a fold line after tearing along the perforation line, so as to form a non-removable protection element, which closes the opening to remove the napkins, allowing however an easy extraction of the same. To obtain a wide and practical opening, in one embodiment, the body has a recessed edge, the shape of which preferably corresponds to a portion of the edge of the opening defined by the tab on the cover provided for closing the body of the container or dispenser.

In a preferred embodiment, the body and cover each respectively have a base and four lateral sides. Preferably, the tongue of the cover is partially made on the base and partly on one of the sides of the cover.

Although it is preferable to pack the container or dispenser together with the packages or packages of napkins, it would also be possible to use the container or dispenser individually, that is to say independently of the napkin containers. For example, they could be arranged as advertising or promotional means, or as a gadget to deliver to the consumer as a free present with the purchase of a certain number of napkin containers and / or similar items.

Additional features and embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be better understood by following the description and accompanying drawings, which show a practical non-limiting embodiment of the invention. More particularly, in the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bag or a multiple container containing a container or dispenser.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a napkin dispenser or container in the folded position in which it is inserted into the package or multiple bag of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 show in an unfolded position the punched sheets provided to form the top or cover and the bottom or body of the container or dispenser of Figure 2;

Image 5 shows an intermediate stage of the operation for folding and gluing the body or lower part of the container or dispenser; Y

Image 6 shows an exploded view of the container or dispenser with a stack or container of napkins to be introduced therein.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment

Figure 1 shows a multiple package or bag indicated in general with reference 1. In some embodiments, the multiple package 1 is formed by a sheet or film of plastic material 3 folded or welded, with which it is also possible to form a strip upper 4, in which a handle 5 is made per cut. A plurality of multiple packages or packages 6 of napkins is disposed within the film or sheet 3. In the example shown, package 1 contains four individual packages or packages 6, but it would also be possible to produce multiple packages 1 with a different number of packages or individual containers.

In some embodiments, each individual package or package 6 of napkins is conventionally formed with an outer welded film or sheet of plastic material that encloses the stack of napkins. It would also be possible to produce the packaging, that is the sheet that encloses the individual container 6 and / or the multiple container 1, in a different material, such as paper, in which case the closure can take place in a different way, for example by glued.

Preferably, a folded container or dispenser, generally indicated by reference 9, is placed inside the multiple bag or container 1, into which the user can insert the individual packages 6, after having removed the outer film or the packaging of the same.

The container or dispenser 9 comprises two parts, each formed by a sheet of laminated, stamped, folded, folded and glued or welded material in a suitable manner, so that the container ready for use can be obtained simply by opening and assembling the two portions of which it is formed and which are packaged in the collapsed or folded position in the multiple bag or container 1. In figure 2 the container or dispenser is shown in the folded position, in which it is housed in the multiple container 1.

The structure of the container or dispenser 9 and the manner in which it is constructed and used will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, 6.

Figure 6 shows in an exploded view a package or stack P of napkins and the dispenser 9 formed by an upper part or cover 9A and by a lower part or body 9B. The body or lower part 9B is in the form of a tray with a base and four sides, into which the stack P of folded napkins T is inserted. The stack P may be formed by the entire individual container 6, or even by a fraction of said container. It would also be possible to produce the container 9 of a height greater than the container 6, to introduce more than one individual napkin container into it. The protective plastic wrap or film (or the like) is removed from the stack P of napkins T before it is inserted into the bottom or body 9B of the dispenser or container 9.

The lower body 9B has a parallelepiped shape with a dimension in the upper view corresponding to the size of the napkin T. One of the edges thereof is cut to form a wide recess 9C, which serves to facilitate the removal of individual napkins from the container 9.

The side or side walls and the base of the body or lower part 9B of the container are made from folded and suitable portions of a die cut sheet shown in the extended position thereof in Figure 4, and which will be described in greater detail in continuation.

The cover or upper part 9A of the container or dispenser 9 has a shape similar to that of the body or lower part 9B, but of a slightly larger dimension, so that it can fit with the body or lower part 9B, with the sides thereof on the outside with respect to the sides of the body 9B. The cover 9A is obtained from a die cut sheet in the extended position in Figure 3 and described in more detail below.

Referring to Figure 4, the die-cut sheet provided to form the body or lower part 9B of the container 9, also indicated by reference 9B, has an approximately square section, with a square central portion 9.1 forming the base of the container. The central square portion 9.1 is bounded by two fold 9.2 lines opposite and parallel to each other and by two 9.3 fold orthogonal lines to the 9.2 lines. Along the two fold lines 9.2 two appendices 9.4 are connected to the central portion 9.1, which, once folded along the fold lines 9.2 to 90 ° to position orthogonally to the central portion 9.1, forming two of the four sides (again indicated with reference 9.4 in figure 6) of the body 9B of the container or dispenser 9.

One of the two appendices 9.4 is cut to form the shaped edge 9C mentioned above.

Two shaped tabs 9.6 are connected to appendices 9.4, along the fold lines 9.5, orthogonal to the fold lines 9.2. When the container (figure 9) is in the assembled condition, the fold lines 9.5 define the corners of the body or lower part 9B.

Connected to the central square portion 9.1, along the fold lines 9.3, there are two lateral appendages 9.7, each of which is bounded by two respective and inclined fold lines 9.9, which represent fold lines of triangular tongues 9.10 . The triangular tabs 9.10 can be folded 180 ° along the fold lines 9.9 to fold them down on the respective appendages 9.7 in order to allow the body 9B of the container 9 to be folded in a collapsed position after the die cut sheet has been folded and glued in the manner described below to form the body 9B.

The body 9B is obtained from the punched sheet 9B of Figure 4 by reciprocally gluing each tongue 9.6 with the adjacent triangular tongue 9.10. This operation can take place with the use of normal paper processing machines. Figure 5 shows an intermediate stage of the operation for gluing the body 9B of the container 9. The tabs 9.6 have been folded down with folds along the fold lines 9.5 on the corresponding appendices 9.4. Appendices 9.7 have been folded down along the fold lines 9.3 on the central portion 9.1 and the triangular tabs 9.10 have been folded down along lines 9.9 on the face of the appendices 9.7 opposite to that is in contact with portion 9.1.

Having reached this position, a glue can be applied to the free surfaces of the triangular tabs 9.10 and / or the exposed surfaces of the tabs 9.6. In Figure 5, the glue, indicated with reference C, has been applied to triangular tongues 9.10.

The assembly is completed by folding down the appendices 9.4, with folds along the fold lines 9.2, on the central portion 9.1. The tabs 9.6 remain between the appendages 9.4 and the tabs 9.10.

The punched sheet 9A (Figure 3) that serves to form the upper part 9A or cover of the container 9 is cut and folded analogously and folded and pasted by a procedure analogous to that described above. In Fig. 3 the portions of the punched sheet 9A corresponding to those of the punched sheet 9B, are indicated with the same numerical references increased by 10. Therefore, the central portion corresponding to the portion 9.1 of the punched sheet 9B is indicated with reference 19.1 and so on.

As can be seen when comparing Figures 3 and 4, the two punched sheets 9A, 9B are substantially identical, except for the fact that the punched sheet 9A has no opening or recess 9C and instead a perforation line 9D has been provided. , which delimits, along with a fold line 19.12, a tongue 9G. There is also a cutting line 9E that forms a hole 9F.

In Figure 6 the various portions of the cover or upper part 9A are indicated with the same numerical references used in Figure 3. As can be understood from Figure 6, once the package or stack P of napkins T has been introduced in the lower part 9B of the container 9, it closes with the cover 9A, from which the tongue 9G is pulled along the perforation line 9D. The tongue 9G thus remains attached and articulated to the cover 9A along the fold line 19.12 and can be opened and closed to protect the napkins T and allow easy removal thereof through the wide opening that has been cleared by tongue 9G and recess 9C.

In the folded or folded position, the two upper and lower parts 9A, 9B of the container or dispenser 9 take a dimension equal to the dimension of the two base portions 9.1 and 19.1 respectively, and a maximum thickness equal to five times the thickness of the laminated material (for example, cardboard or cardboard), in which the die-cut sheets that form the two portions of the container or dispenser are made. These two folded portions can be placed adjacent and joined together, for example by means of a strip 10 (Figure 2), for example made of paper or other recyclable material and introduced into the multiple container 1 during the normal packaging operation.

When the first individual container 6 is used, the user opens the strip 10, separates the two portions or parts 9A, 9B from the dispenser or container and places them in the deployed or extended position, as shown in Figure 6, if necessary also breaking the perforation line 9D that holds the tongue 9B attached along the entire edge thereof to the cover 9A. After inserting the package or stack P of napkins T into the bottom 9B of the container or dispenser, it can be closed by adjusting the cover 9A thereon. The tongue 9G protects the napkins T contained in the container and at the same time allows easy removal thereof, simply by elevation.

It is understood that the drawing only shows a practical embodiment of the invention, which may vary in forms and arrangements without however departing from the scope of the fundamental concept of the invention as defined by the claims. Any numerical reference in the following claims is arranged solely to facilitate their reading in the light of the above description and the accompanying drawings, and in no way limit the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims (11)

one.

A multiple package (1) including a wrapping sheet (3) and a plurality of packages (6) of napkins disposed within said sheet, and also including a napkin dispenser (9), made of sheet material and disposed within said package folded in a collapsed and expandable position in a use position, said dispenser comprising a body (9B) and a cover (9A) that can be superimposed on each other, each of said body and said cover being made of said sheet material and suitable for adopting a collapsed position and an expanded position, said cover and said body being reciprocally engageable in said expansion position to define a closed volume into which said napkins are introduced.

2.

Container according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser is housed in a bag made of folded and welded plastic film (3), in which said napkin packages are enclosed.

3.

Container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said dispenser is made of cardboard.

Four.

Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said cover has an open tongue (9G) when pulled along a perforation line (9D), to form an opening to remove the napkins from the dispenser (9).

5.

A container according to claim 4, wherein said body (9B) has a lowered edge (9C), the shape of which is such that it corresponds to a portion of the edge of the opening defined by said tongue (9G).

6.

Container according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said tongue is connected to the cover (9A) along a fold or fold line (19.12), to remain stably attached to said cover after opening by tearing along of said drilling line.

7.

Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said body (9B) and said cover (9A) each have a base (9.1; 19.1) and four lateral sides (9.4, 9.7; 19.4, 19.7) respectively.

8.

Container according to claims 4 and 7, wherein said tongue (9G) of the cover (9A) is made partially on the base (19.1) and partially on one of the sides (19.4) of the cover.

9.

Container according to claims 5 and 7, wherein said lowered edge (9C) is made on one of the sides

(9.4) of the body of said dispenser.

10.

Package according to one or more of claims 7 to 9, wherein:

- a first pair of opposite sides (9.4; 19.4) of said body (9B) and of said cover (9A) are made by appendages of sheet material attached to the base (9.1; 19.1) along respective fold lines or fold (9.2; 19.2); - each of said appendages forming the first pair of opposite sides is joined to two lateral tabs (9.6; 19.6) along respective fold or fold lines (9.5; 19.5); - a second pair of opposite sides (9.7; 19.7) of said body (9B) and of said cover (9A) are each made by a respective additional appendix attached to the base (9.1; 19.1) along lines of folding or folding (9.3; 19.3) and by two lateral triangular tabs (9.10; 19.10) joined by folding or folding lines (9.9; 19.9) to said additional appendages; - each of said lateral tabs (9.6; 19.6) attached to the appendages forming the first pair of sides (9.4; 19.4) is connected to a respective triangular tab (9.10; 19.10).

eleven.

Container according to claim 10, wherein said lateral tabs (9.6; 19.6) attached to the appendages forming the first pair of sides (9.4; 19.4) are connected to the triangular tabs (9.10; 19.10) by gluing.