JP2008531418A - container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container, in particular, for free-flowing bulk materials, comprising a cut-out (16) made from planar, flexible material, in particular, cardboard, which may be folded into at least one part of the container, a first wall (1) and a second adjacent wall (4) of the container. The walls (1, 4) are arranged at an angle to each other and connected to each other to form one piece in the region of a common edge (5), whereby a weakened line (7) runs over each of the walls (1, 4) and encloses the region of a resealable pouring element (6), essentially embodied in the material of the walls (1, 4), whereby a fold line (15) for the pouring element (6) runs across the edge (5) and divides the pouring element (6) into a pouring section (6a) and an operating section (6b). According to the invention, a container permitting a higher number of opening and closing cycles may be achieved, whereby the operating section (6b) comprises a reinforcement element (9) in the region of the edge (5).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

  The present invention relates to a container, in particular to a container for a flowable substance according to the preamble of claim 1.

  The prior art discloses a number of containers in which a flowable substance, such as salt, is stored, transported and distributed in metered quantities. Numerous solutions are known in which an assigned outlet is withdrawn from a container to distribute the contents from the container. Such a solution is disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,692,227, 3,404,828, or 3,133,847.

  For example, US Pat. No. 3,692,227 discloses that the injection element is defined by a weak line in the region of one edge of the carton, and it is difficult to press the bottom part of the injection element using finger pressure, but the top of the injection element Discloses a carton that swings outward. The top can swing inwardly, thereby restoring the closed state of the injection element.

  The known solution as described above is disadvantageous because the repeatable opening movement of the injection element is only possible several times before this mechanism stops functioning as a result of use on the carton.

  This is appropriate. This is because, for example, the active substance concentration in the flowable material, such as flowable detergents and synthetic detergents, always increases, while the package is the same size, so the number of measured quantities per package unit, and This is because the number of opening and closing operations of the assigned discharge port is increased.

  The object of the present invention is to improve the above-described container to the extent that more opening and closing operations are possible.

  This object is achieved by the present invention characterized by claim 1.

  The strengthening element at the operating site effectively reduces wear on the edge where finger pressure is properly applied and opens the injection element. In addition, the reinforcing element is a target for container users, and inaccurate finger pressures that normally cause a particularly high level of wear or damage to the container members are effectively avoided. Even if finger pressure is not applied to the ideal point, large wear is generally avoided. The container according to the invention is particularly suitable for storing coarse or finely divided powders, in particular synthetic detergents, detergents or salts for dishwashers. With regard to its shape, the injection element is very suitable for measuring the washing salt to the supply means provided in the dishwasher.

  In the preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention, contrary to the prevailing idea that the direction of the main fold is particularly advantageous that the direction of the main fold is parallel to the fiber direction, the container is for example cardboard Formed from fiber members, the dominant fiber direction is generally perpendicular to the main fold direction. With regard to the anisotropic member properties and with respect to the corresponding wear, the function of the injection element is optimized both end-to-end and surprisingly.

  For example, by arranging the fibers perpendicular to the direction of the main fold, there is no fatigue of the fiber member, such as the occurrence of tears, and the opening and closing for the release of a large number of times according to the present invention Operation can be realized. Thus, the same number of conventional opening and closing operations can be achieved using thinner, lighter fiber members.

  Positioning the fibers orthogonally increases the recovery power of the outlet, and the snap action of the outlet with more than 10 opening and closing movements is when the main fold direction is parallel to the fiber direction It has also become clear that there is no significant and debilitating decline.

  By arranging the fiber direction with respect to the direction of folding according to the present invention, even after a number of opening and closing operations, the operation of snapping and closing the discharge opening at full limits is ensured. As a result, even if the latter half is used violently, the package fragrance and humidity sealing are protected.

  The reinforcing element is particularly preferably formed from a member that can be deflected by deformation. Here, it is particularly preferable that the reinforcing member includes a continuous score line. This makes it possible to form a container according to the present invention at a particularly low production cost.

  In order to ensure that the injection element of the container according to the invention functions effectively, the weak line is curved convexly at least in the region of the operating site. With such curvature, the closing and opening forces in the reclosable infusion element can actually be better distributed.

  For good function, it is further preferred that in the region of the injection site the weak line includes two straight sides that surround an angle of about 90 ° or less, more preferably about 70 ° or less.

  More preferably, in the region of the edge, the bend line has an angle with respect to the planar workpiece. It is particularly preferred that this angle is open in the direction of the injection site and is between about 110 ° and about 150 °. This also ensures that the injection element functions particularly effectively.

  Further, in a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the peripheral area defined by the weak line is provided with an injection element reinforcement site. The reinforcement part is designed as a semi-finished flap, which is particularly preferred to have an aperture of the same shape as the injection element. Overall, this ensures better protection against wear in the peripheral area of the injection element and makes it possible to achieve an increase in the compressive stress of the injection element in the closed or open state. Furthermore, a slight overlap between the peripheral area of the infusion element and the strengthening site will increase the sealing in the closed state and improve the protection of scent and / or moisture.

  It is further preferred that when the injection element is opened, the action of snapping and opening the injection site produces a clear sound, so that when the user uses the container, the user of the container according to the invention You will hear a clear sound.

  Further advantages and features are derived from the exemplary embodiments shown below and the dependent claims.

  Preferred exemplary embodiments of the container according to the present invention will be described and explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The container according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 is entirely composed of cardboard with a dominant fiber orientation. The container is a rectangular parallelepiped in which six side surfaces are arranged to face each other in pairs. The latter may be folded from the blank 16 shown in FIG. 3, where the vertical sides 1, 2, 3, 4 continue and are connected to each other and separated from each other by the score line 8, at which the sides 1, 2 3, 4 can be bent. The bottom of the box is formed by bottom flaps 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b. They are respectively arranged in contact with the side surface via the cut line 8. The cover of the container is formed via corresponding cover flaps 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a.

  The edge 5 is formed by a score line located between the front side surface 1 and the end side surface 4, and the first wall formed by the front side surface 1 and the second wall formed by the end side surface 4 are formed by the edge 5. This means that they are integrated and connected to each other and arranged so as to form an angle of approximately 90 ° with each other. The injection element 6 is arranged in the region of this edge 5. The injection element 6 includes a top part, an injection part 6a and a bottom part, an operation part 6b, and the injection element 6 as a whole is formed to be symmetric with respect to the edge 5. The injection element 6 is entirely surrounded by a continuous weak line 7, a part of the weak line 7 forms an outer periphery of the injection part 6 a, and another part of the weak line 7 forms an outer periphery of the operation part 6 b. To do.

  The injection element 6 is divided into an injection part 6 a and an operation part 6 b approximately half way by a bending line 15 straddling the edge 5, and is formed symmetrically with respect to the edge 5 in the same manner as the weak line 7. More specifically, the weak line 7 and the bent line 15 are formed as follows. The bent line 15 is a line that is partially or wholly cut through the container member, and the cutting operation occurs behind the horizontal portion of the member, and the injection site 6a and the operation site 6b are integrated and connected ( (See FIG. 4). The weak line 7 is a line that is partly or entirely cut away from the short horizontal part and passes through the container member in the region of the injection part 6a. The remaining horizontal part is opened first by the injection part 6a. When separated, it is separated. In the region of the operating site 6b, the weak line 7 is not cut through the flexible container member, but is cut into this member to a certain depth. Accordingly, the operation part can be appropriately bent with respect to the walls 1 and 4 while being integrally connected to the walls 1 and 4.

  In the region of the edge 5 where the latter half passes through the operating part 6b, the reinforcing element 9 is arranged on the injection element 6, ie the operating part 6b. The reinforcing element 9 is a double score line and is in the form of an ellipse which tapers towards a point and whose semi-major axis is arranged on the edge 5. The cut line of the edge 5 does not run continuously, but branches into elliptical curves 9a and 9b in this region (see FIG. 4). As a result, the inside of the score line around the reinforcing element 9 defines a surface to which the container user can apply finger pressure without the edge 5 being pushed in or acting in the opposite direction.

  The particular configuration of the injection element 6 is provided with further features that ensure the function of the latter half. In particular, the weak line 7 bends in a convex shape in the region of the operation site 6b. The convex curves are denoted by 7a and 7b in FIG. In the region of the injection site 7a, the weak line 7 has two substantially straight sites 7c and 7d that surround an angle of approximately 57 °. However, these two straight parts 7c and 7d do not intersect at one point, but are in the form of a part of a circle, and at the same time form a round tip of the injection part 6a. The line of the bend 15 has an angle with respect to the planar workpiece in FIG. 3, and the line is bisected by the edge 5 to a total of approximately 130 °. When the dimensional ratio and shape information are described in more detail, the semi-processed product according to FIG. 3 and the detailed view according to FIG. 4 are represented by the actual size notation of the container according to the present invention.

  As FIG. 3 shows, the semi-finished product of the container according to the present invention has a flap 11 that is formed together with a marginal flap 11 and includes a first flap pair 11a and a second flap pair 11b. The second flap pair is separated from the first flap pair by a cut line 12. The aperture 13 extends symmetrically with respect to the cut line 12, straddles both the flap pairs 11 a, 11 b, substantially corresponds to the injection element 6 in terms of shape and size, and is punched out by the flap 11. In the folded state of the container, the peripheral region 14 of this aperture 13 is arranged inside the container, behind the injection element 6, so that the injection element is strengthened in the peripheral area defined by the weak line 7. The injection element 6 overlaps or protrudes with respect to the peripheral area 14, which improves the seal and further increases the compressive stress of the injection element 6 in the closing direction.

  Therefore, the function of the present invention is as follows. Starting from the closed state of the container according to FIG. 1, the user of the container applies pressure to the reinforcing element 9 with a finger, for example the thumb or forefinger. The operation part 6b is pushed inwardly of the container, the curved parts 7a and 7b of the weak line 7 are pushed outward, and the container walls 1 and 4 and the strengthening parts 11 and 13 become resistance counters that are elastic to this. . The injection site 6a moves in the opposite direction with respect to the operation site 6b, and the rounded tip 7e of the injection site 6a moves outward to release the container opening. When the dead center position is exceeded, the elasticity of the walls 1 and 4 no longer acts as a reaction to the pressure applied by the user's finger, but assists the pressure, which causes the injection site 6a to suddenly go out. The shake operation part 6b suddenly bends inward. Due to the pre-given elastic compressive stress, the deformed walls 1, 4 make a sound that can be represented by the “prop” sound. With respect to the dimensions and angle measurements described above, the angle of the surface of the open injection element 6a is similar to that of the closed state, so that the injection site is free to measure the packed contents in a particular way. Form an exit. Regarding the angle of the surface, the operation part 6b has moved to the reverse position. The container is closed by shaking the injection site 6a upward, so that the operating site 6b is returned to the initial position again. Again, there is a dead point position, and when the operation part 6b passes this position, the injection part 6 jumps to the closed position with a clear sound in the middle.

Fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a container according to the invention with the injection element in a closed state. FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the container of FIG. 1 with the injection element in an open state. FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a semi-finished product in which the container of FIG. 1 is folded. 2 is a detailed schematic diagram of the injection element of the container according to the invention shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

5... Edge, 6... Injection element, 6 a .. injection part, 6 b .. operation part, 9.

Claims (12)

A container for a flowable substance,
A semi-processed product (16) comprising a sheet-like cardboard or a flexible member and folded to form at least a part of the container;
Including a first wall (1) and a second adjacent wall that are angled with respect to each other and are connected together in the region of a common edge (5);
A weak line (7) runs across each of the walls (1, 4) and surrounds the region of the reclosable infusion element (6) formed by the members of the walls (1, 4);
The bending line (15) passes through the injection element (6), straddles the edge (5) in the middle, and the injection element (6) is divided into the injection part (6a) and the operation part (6b), and the operation part (6b) Has a reinforcing element (9) in the region of the edge (5),
A container characterized in that the container is made of cardboard or fiber material, and the dominant fiber direction is oriented perpendicular to the edge (5).   2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing element (9) is formed from a flexible member by deformation means.   A container according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing element (9) comprises a continuous score line (9a, 9b).   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the weak line (7) is curved in a convex shape at least in the region of the operation part (6b).   5. The injection region (6a), wherein the weak line (7) comprises two straight sides (7c, 7d) surrounding an angle of less than 90 [deg.]. A container according to any one of the above.   7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the two straight sides (7c, 7d) enclose an angle of less than 70 [deg.].   A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bend line (15) forms an angle in the region of the edge.   9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the angle of the bending line (15) is opened in the direction of the injection site (6a) and is between 110 ° and 150 °.   9. The injection element (6a) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a strengthening part (11) at least part of the peripheral region bounded by the weak line (7). container.   11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the reinforced part (11) is designed as a flap of the workpiece (16), the flap having an aperture of the same shape as the injection element (6).   11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the injection element (6) is opened, the action of the snap opening in the injection area (6a) makes a distinct sound.   Use of a container according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for storing coarse or finely divided powders such as synthetic detergents, detergents or salts for dishwashers.

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