FR2791321A1 - PACKAGING IN SEMI-RIGID MATERIAL, COMPRISING A BODY AND A PIVOTING MOUNTED PART FORMING A CLOSABLE COVER - Google Patents

Abstract

In this packaging, a structural element separate from the body of the packaging or adjoining one of the side walls of the latter is arranged inside the body and comprises a part (10a, 10b) rigidly secured to the internal face of the packaging. a wall (1), this element comprising at least one tab (14) articulated on it by a fold line and folded towards the inside of the body, this tab being arranged such that in the closed position of the packaging, it is stressed by the elasticity of the semi-rigid material towards the housing (22).

Description

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  PACKAGING IN SEMI-RIGID MATERIAL, INCLUDING A

  BODY AND A PIVOTING MOUNTED PART FORMING A LID

RESEALABLE.

  The present invention relates to a packaging in a semi-rigid material, such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, comprising a body, in particular of the type of American boxes, and a pivotally mounted part forming a resealable cover, capable of being snapped into place.

  closed position on the rest of the body.

  Many types of packaging are known, whose body, open at least partially at its upper part, comprises a bottom part of polygonal shape, generally rectangular, to which are adjoined by fold lines of the side walls hinged together by fold lines perpendicular to this bottom, the cover itself being attached to one of these side walls by a line of

folding parallel to the bottom.

  These packages are used for the packaging of extremely diverse products, for example granular or pulverulent products, such as detergents, or alternatively pellets forming elementary doses of detergent product for washing machine or dishwasher, or

  more confectionery or chewing gum dragees.

  For all these applications, when the full packaging is sold, the cover is generally locked in the closed position on the body and an opening means such as a tear strip or a line of breakers

  is usually provided to release the cover.

  To take doses of the packaged product, the cover is pivoted around the joint formed by the fold line to separate it from the body and provide access to the interior thereof. To close the packaging, the lid is simply folded down so that it

come and comb the body again.

  In this position, it is however desirable that the cover, without being truly locked in

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  closed position, offers a certain resistance to opening, on the one hand, to prevent it from accidentally opening and its contents being spilled, on the other hand, to prevent young children from having access to it . To this end, it has been proposed for many years to provide, on at least one wall of the body which the cover comes to cover in the closed position, at least one blocking element such as a tab, a tongue or an articulated band. on this wall by a fold line parallel to the bottom and folded towards the outside of the body, while a lateral part of the cover, which comes to bear against the external face of this wall in the closed position, has a recessed part arranged in a position such that the blocking element comes there

  only fit in the lid closed position.

  When the cover is folded down on the body, the lateral part of the cover comprising the hollowed out part is first biased towards the wall of the body to which it is attached, until the time when the cover is completely folded down and o 'blocking element is located opposite the recessed portion intended to receive it and is no longer biased towards the wall to which it is attached. This element is thus suddenly released and, by the elasticity of the cardboard or corrugated cardboard, it abruptly departs from the wall of the body on which it is hinged to snap into its housing and strike the bottom thereof, in producing a sharp noise,

  which informs the user that the cover is closed.

  To open the cover, it is therefore necessary to exert an effort against the blocking element to release it from its housing and this effort, admittedly minimal, is however sufficient to prevent accidental opening of the packaging or prevent young child

to access it.

  Such packages with a sound effect locking member are well known in the art and have been

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  many variations have been proposed (see, for example, US-A-4,326,631, US-A-5,163,734, WO-A-95/05318 or EP-A-0 679 581). It is this general type of packaging that the present invention is interested in and it aims to adapt in a simple way the snap closure systems of the prior art to packages such as cases.

American or other.

  Recall that this generic term designates packaging comprising four walls articulated together by parallel fold lines, each wall being perpendicular to the two adjoining walls and comprising at each of its ends a flap articulated by a perpendicular fold line to the previous ones, these flaps being erected perpendicular to the adjoining walls and which can be made integral in various ways with the adjoining flaps to form a bottom part of the body and an upper part parallel to this

bottom part.

  The subject of the invention is therefore a packaging in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, in particular of the type of American boxes, the body of which comprises two first walls parallel to each other, to which are respectively adjoined by two parallel fold lines. two first flaps, erected perpendicular to the adjoining walls, and two second walls, perpendicular to the previous ones and to which are respectively adjoining, by fold lines perpendicular to the first walls, two second flaps, erected perpendicular to the adjoining walls, so as to be applied against the face of the first flaps facing the interior of the body, the first flaps and the second flaps in mutual contact being rigidly secured to each other, this packaging being characterized in that: - a structural element distinct from the body or adjoining a side wall of it by a line folding

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  perpendicular to the first and second fold lines is disposed inside the body and comprises a part rigidly secured to the internal face of one of the first walls, this element comprising at least one tab or the like articulated on it by a line folding and folded towards the inside of the body, this tab being arranged in such a way that in the closed position of the packaging, it is stressed by the elasticity of the semi-rigid material in the direction of the first flap associated with this first wall; - In one of the second flaps applied against this first flap is provided a cutout adapted to receive this tab in the closed position of the American body; - The part of the second part in which this cutout is made and which is applied against this first part is separated by a cutting line from the part applied against the other first part associated with the other first wall; a fold line perpendicular to the second walls is provided in the first flap which is integral

the structural element.

  Advantageously, separation means such as lines of initiation of rupture or tear strips are provided in the two second walls of the body, from the ends of this fold line to the connecting lines of these second walls and second associated flaps, so that after rupture of these separation means, when the packaging is opened for the first time, the assembly consisting of a part of the first wall which is not integral with the structural element, the first adjoining flap and the parts of the second shutters integral with this first shutter, can pivot in the manner of a cover around the fold line, in order to be able to open the package, with extraction of the tab from its housing, or to close it, simultaneously bringing the tab in look of his accommodation, in

  which it comes to engage by elasticity.

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  Preferably, of course, the structural element integral with one of the first walls will comprise two tabs capable of coming to engage respectively in cutouts made in corresponding position in the two second flaps. When the tabs snap into the housings defined by the cutouts of the second flaps and the underlying first flap, they suddenly strike this first flap, producing, as in the prior art, a dry click, which informs the user of

closing the packaging.

  To open it, as in the prior art, it is necessary to exert an effort to disengage the leg (s) from their respective housings and this effort, admittedly minimal, is sufficient so that very young children cannot open the body , and access the packaged product. Similarly, if the packaging is accidentally overturned, it does not open in shock

  and its contents therefore do not spread on the ground.

  The structural element associated with the body may conform to the internal shape of a part of this body and in particular have a U-shaped section, the part corresponding to the base of the U and comprising the blocking tab or tabs being applied against the non-pivoting part. of the first wall and glued for example against it, while the parts corresponding to the two branches of the U are applied respectively against the two second walls

  and glued for example against them.

  The packaging can be filled in the same way as the usual American boxes and the separation means that the second walls may include are broken by the user himself, when the packaging is opened for the first time, thus providing the

  guarantee of inviolability of the full packaging.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear in the detailed description which follows

  of an embodiment of such packaging.

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  In this description, reference will be made to the drawings

  attached, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the full package, before its first opening; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open package, in a first position, with the pivoting part forming the cover raised; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the closed package, in a different position than in Figure 1; FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views of the precut and repressed corrugated cardboard blanks, from which the American box and the structural element respectively come

  reported inside of it.

  The packaging shown comprises an American box from the blank of FIG. 4, which usually comprises two first rectangular walls 1 and 2 parallel to each other and two second rectangular walls 3 and 4, perpendicular to the walls 1 and 2, on which they are articulated by parallel fold lines. A strip 5, articulated on the wall 3 by a fold line parallel to the previous ones, is glued against the face of the adjoining wall 2 facing

inside the box.

  At the two ends of the first walls 1 and 2 are articulated by fold lines perpendicular to the walls 3 and 4 of the first flaps, respectively 6 and 7, folded perpendicular to the adjoining walls, while at the two ends of the second walls 3 and 4 are articulated by fold lines perpendicular to the walls 1 and 2 of the two second flaps, respectively 8 and 9, also folded perpendicular to the adjoining walls 3 and 4. The flaps 6 and 7 are arranged outside the American box and the flaps 8 and 9 are glued against their internal face, thus closing the

  American body at both ends.

  According to the invention, a structural element is

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  inserted in the American box.

  In the embodiment shown in the drawings, this structural element is distinct from the American body and comes from the blank shown in FIG. 5, but it could also be attached to the wall 2. This element here comprises a central panel 10, applied against the inner face of the wall 1 of the American body, and two side panels 11 and 12, articulated on the panel 10 by parallel fold lines and applied respectively against the internal face of the walls 3 and 4 of the body. A notch 13 formed in the panel 10 defines therein two lateral arms 10a, the end of which adjoins the flaps 6 and 7 is extended by lugs 14, articulated on the arms 10a by fold lines and folded in the direction of the opposite wall 2. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the tabs 14 are divided by a fold line into two parts 14a, 14b, in order to facilitate their engagement in the housings which will be described below,

  but they could also be in a single part.

  A fold line 15 perpendicular to the walls 3 and 4 is formed transversely in the wall 1, to divide this wall into two parts, one of which can be applied against the arms 10a of the panel 10 of the structural element, without being integral with these, and the other lb

  being glued against the rest of the panel 10.

  In the walls 3 are provided respectively tear strips, respectively 16 and 17, which extend from the ends of the fold line 15, to which they can be connected by a cutout, respectively 18 and 19 and / or by a cutting line, up to the flaps 8 and 9 contiguous to the lugs 14. Cutting lines, respectively 20 and 21, start from these tear strips, dividing the flaps 8 and 9 into two parts,

8a, 8b and 9a, 9b respectively.

  The parts 8a and 9a of the flaps 8 and 9 are respectively adjacent to the parts 3a and 4a of the walls 3 and 4

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  adjoining portion 1a of wall 1 and form with them a free assembly to pivot around the line

  folding 15 in the manner of a resealable cover.

  The parts 3a and 4a of the walls 3 and 4 are not integral with the panels 11 and 12 of the structural element against which they are applied, while the rest

  walls 3 and 4 is glued against these panels.

  A notch, respectively 22 and 23, is cut in parts 3a and 3b of the flaps 3 and 4, so as to be opposite the folded tabs 14 of the structural element, in the closed position of the American body, so that these folded tabs 14 can be engaged in the housings formed by these notches 22, 23, and the flap 6

glued against parts 8a and 9a.

  When the full packaging is delivered to its recipient, the latter only has to tear the tear strips 16 and 17, to separate the pivotally mounted part from the rest of the packaging, and then to straighten this part, as shown in the Figure 2, to access the interior of the packaging. If he then wishes to close it, he can simply fold the swivel part towards the rest of the packaging, like a cover. The tabs 14 snap in by elasticity into their housings, when they come opposite them, and come to strike the internal face of the corresponding flap 6, producing a dry click, which

  means that the packaging is closed.

  To reopen the packaging, it is therefore necessary to exert a certain effort to release the tabs 14 from their housings, which provides a guarantee of security.

against untimely opening.

  In Figures 1 and 2, the packaging has been shown as resting on a side face 2 of large dimensions. It can naturally also rest on the end part constituted by the flaps 6-9, as shown in FIG. 3, and can be used in this position both when it is closed and when it is

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  open. The American box of the tray can also be devoid of the tear strips 16 and 17. In such an embodiment, the full tray is then delivered to users surrounded by a sheath of a plastic film which the user must tear to access the

  tray and which guarantees the inviolability thereof.

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Claims (5)

  1. Packaging in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, in particular of the type of American boxes, the body of which comprises two first walls (1, 2) parallel to each other, to which are respectively attached, by two lines of parallel folding two first flaps (6, 7), erected perpendicular to the adjoining walls, and two second walls (3, 4), perpendicular to the previous ones and to which are adjoining, respectively, by fold lines perpendicular to the first walls (1, 2) , two second flaps (8, 9), erected perpendicular to the adjoining walls, so as to be applied against the face of the first flaps facing the interior of the body, the first flaps (6, 7) and the second flaps (8 , 9) in mutual contact being rigidly secured to each other, this packaging being characterized in that: - a structural element distinct from the body of the packaging or adjoining one side walls thereof by a fold line perpendicular to the first and second fold lines is arranged inside the body and comprises a part (10a, 0lb) rigidly integral with the internal face of one (1 ) of the first walls, this element comprising at least one tab (14) articulated on it by a fold line and folded towards the inside of the body, this tab being arranged so that in the closed position of the packaging,   it is stressed by the elasticity of the semi-material   rigid towards the housing (22).   - In one of the second flaps (8) applied against this first flap (6) is provided a cutout adapted to receive this tab (14) in the closed position of the American body; - The part (Sa) of the second flap (8, 9) in which this cutout (22, 23) is formed and which is applied against this first flap (6) is separated by a line of it 2791321 cut (20, 21) of the part (8b, 9b) applied against the other first flap (7) associated with the other first wall (2); - A fold line (15) perpendicular to the second walls is provided in the first flap (1) which is   integral with the structural element (10).   2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that separation means such as lines of initiation of rupture or tear strips (17) are provided in the two second walls (3, 4) of the body, from the ends of this fold line (15) up to the connecting lines of these second walls and of the associated second flaps, so that after rupture of these separation means, when the packaging is opened for the first time, the assembly consisting of a part (la) of the first wall (1) not integral with the structural element, the first flap (6) adjoining and the parts of the second flaps (8a, 8b) integral with this first flap, can pivot in the manner of a cover around the fold line (15), in order to be able to open the packaging, with extraction of the tab (14) from its housing, or to close it, simultaneously bringing the tab (14) opposite its housing, in which she comes from engage by elasticity.   3. Packaging according to one of claims 1 and   2, characterized in that the part (10) of the structural element integral with one (1) of the first walls of the body comprises two tabs (14), capable of coming to engage respectively in two cutouts (22, 23 ) arranged in corresponding position in the two second flaps   associated (8, 9), in the closed position of the body.   4. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that the structural element comprises a central panel (10), integral with the non-pivoting part (lb) of the wall (1) of the body, and two side panels (11, 12), articulated by lines parallel folding on the central panel (10) and integral with the 12 2791321   non-pivoting parts of the second side walls (3, 4).   5. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to   4, characterized in that the tabs (14) are divided by a fold line into two parts (14a, 14b).