MXPA04010984A

MXPA04010984A - Carton.

Info

Publication number: MXPA04010984A
Application number: MXPA04010984A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Mark Weintroub Adrian
Original assignee: Jeremy Neil Weintroub
Priority date: 2002-11-08
Filing date: 2003-11-07
Publication date: 2005-09-08
Also published as: GB0226089D0; AU2003279465B2; EP1560758A1; CA2471819A1; WO2004041664A1; US20050017062A1; GB2397291A; GB0407035D0; AU2003279465A1; GB2397291B

Abstract

The present invention concerns a carton for holding granular or other products in a bag. The carton comprises a substantially rectangular sleeve having front, rear and side panels (1, 2, 3). The front and rear panels have flaps (21, 22) which resiliently engage in a channel (20) formed when the side panels (3) are deformed inwardly along crease patterns (5), the resulting inter-engagement of components holding the top of the carton securely together. A bag is secured and sealed internally of the carton by being located under one of the flaps (22) which is biassed to clamp the bag.

Description

BOX The present invention relates to a box for containing products such as cereal. There are many types of boxes and each one must be carefully designed and prepared for your particular application. The boxes are usually made of a section, which can be made of a flat material such as cardboard or a malleable plastic such as acetate.

Conventionally, cereals and other dry granule or grain-type products are sold, for example, by establishments such as supermarkets and wholesale outlets in standard rectangular-shaped cartons where the product inside the box is contained. in a sealed air-proof bag.

The box usually contains numerous doses. In a home, the doses are dispensed over a period of time from the initial opening of the box, the rest of the package being kept until the next time the product is desired. For example, a box containing 12 doses can last a family for 2 weeks during which the box is opened and closed several times.

In order to re-close such boxes, they typically have a pair of opposite end flaps, provided with an appendage and an opposite slot arrangement.

After an initial opening, the appendix on one of the fins can slide inside the slot provided in the other fin to hook the two together and close the upper part of the box.

Many families, in the cereal for breakfast so that very high volumes of such boxes are produced. For this reason (and hygiene) it is common that these boxes are automatically packed in a machine packaging line. Also for this reason, the boxes tend to be purchased by the cereal manufacturer at very low prices and have been designed to use as little raw material as possible.

Machine packaging lines are designed to run large volumes of products frequently working on a 24-hour basis. It is not unusual for cereal manufacturers or their engineers to want to adjust the machines to accommodate different styles or constructions and many machine packing lines are designed to accept only one size and box style. In this regard, it is common to see box designs with different surface printing.

There are several disadvantages associated with the typical cardboard cereal box type. First, the mechanism for reclosing the case tends not to work particularly well since the appendix and the slot engage only to a limited extent. The demand for economy in the box in. this aspect does not allow additional material to be used to make a satisfactory closing mechanism.

Secondly, the bag (which contains the cereal) is not closed safely inside the box once it opens and tends to get rid of itself and leave the contents open to the environment. Consequently, there is a degradation in the quality of the product with respect to freshness. For example, a cereal will lose its x, firmness. "This will happen after the box has been opened and stored on the kitchen shelf, which is not air-proof.

A third disadvantage is a result of the combination of two problems mentioned above. If the box is hit, for example while it is on the table for breakfast, it is very likely that the product falls out of it. The current designs are not usually x, spill-proof. " It is recognized by the breakfast cereal industry that a better closure of the box and the bag is high on the list of consumer requirements.

Several attempts have been made to create, a better mechanism to reclose on a standard cereal box. For example, U.S. Patent No. 2789751 describes a reclosable box for packaging breakfast foods, and U.S. Patent No. 2345486 discloses another box for reclosing to pack food for breakfast. Both of these packages use an appendage and slot arrangement to "re-close the package." A disadvantage of such appendage and slot arrangements is that once the appendage is inserted into a slot and subsequently removed, the closure tends to to fail in the additional use.This is because any damage or minimal wear to the appendix or to the slot stops its operation.

Another disadvantage of such arrangements is that the closing mechanism covers a certain amount of the decoration area that can be printed on the surface of the package. This area is seen as valuable for advertisements and an additional disadvantage of the appendage and the appendage and slot closure arrangement is that the slot hole has to be cut in. the announcement area.

In addition, the cuts and slots in several areas are disadvantageous for the strength and integrity of the box. The cuts and slots on the outside of the packages are also undesirable for retailers and manufacturers because they are not "obvious violations".

The Patent of the United States of America No. 2178730 describes a box having an upper part which is formed of two upper fins which each extend through the whole of the upper part of the box. To re-close the box, this upper part has to be cut along three sides of the box and then folded inside, with the side panels having been deformed inwards. The requirement to cut the upper fin is awkward for the user. In addition, the box requires relatively large amounts of material in its manufacture, since the upper fins must extend to the entire upper part of the box.

The present invention seeks to provide a box that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages. Even though this style of construction is perfectly suited to the current market for the packing of cereals, there are several other end uses for which it is suitable.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a reclosable box comprising the front and rear panels, and the side panels; wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap at the top thereof; the side panels are configured to deform so that together with one of said fins provided inside the box, they form a channel in the upper part of the box to receive the other of said fins.

In this manner, a mechanism for reclosing the engagement of the front and rear panel fins is formed in a channel formed between one of the front and rear panel fins and the deformed side panels. In this aspect, the front and rear panel fins can be elastically pressed against being bent inside the box. Therefore, when the front and rear panel fins are inserted in the channel, they are pushed one against the other, increasing the friction between them and thus improving the safety of the mechanism for reclosing.

Conveniently, said fins are folded into the interior of the box to thereby form, in association with the front, rear and side panels, two internal compartments in the upper part of the box, the fins being pressed one against the other when They fold inside the box to promote the resistance of the fins to be removed from the top of the box.

The internal compartments have two main functions. The function of a smaller one of the compartments is to retain a closed open bag. The function of both compartments is to generally seal the internal environment of the box. By closing both the bag and the box, the air is prevented from reaching the product and therefore the product retains its freshness for a longer period.

The box may comprise an essentially rectangular tube. Conveniently, the sides of the box are each provided with a marking pattern extending downward from its top. The marking pattern may in this aspect comprise a vertical marking line extending down from the top of the box essentially parallel to the vertical sides of the side panel, and an essentially triangular marking line whose top vertex connects to the line of vertical marking, the remaining corners of the triangular marking line terminate on the vertical sides of the side panel.

Conveniently, the side panels are provided with the fins at their upper end, the panel fins being foldable inside the box. When they are folded into the interior of the box, the side panel flaps promote the overall tisura of the upper part of the box, and also additionally push the respective compartments into an inter-engagement thus increasing the friction within the closing arrangement. and also increasing the resistance of the fins to be released from the upper part of the box.

The side panel fins can be provided with the marking pattern which lies on that of the side panels when they are folded into the interior of the box against the inner surface of the side panel.

Conveniently, one of said front and rear panel fins has a line of weakness extending parallel with an upper edge of said front or rear panel. This line of weakness helps facilitate the insertion of the fin inside the channel.

The present invention further comprises a box together with a bag for containing the product inside the box, wherein after a first opening of the box, an upper part of the bag can be placed under a first of the front panel flaps and after when they are placed inside the box, the side panels are collapsible and the remaining one of said front and rear panel fins can be inserted in the channel created by the folded side panel and the first one of said front panel fins and subsequent to thereby close the box and exert a sealing pressure on the bag. The front and rear panel fins inter-engage as to compress the flap below which the bag is provided, thereby applying a sealing pressure thereto.

Conveniently, the box and / or the bag have means for securing a surface of the bag in position on or to one side of a first of said front and back panel flaps.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a box comprising the front and rear panels connected by the side panels; the front and rear panels have fins on their upper parts; wherein an upper part of each side panel is formed to be deformable from an open position of the box to a closed position of the box against an opening force, the side panels in the closed position define a channel together with a first of the front and rear panel fins; and wherein the other of the front and rear panel fins can be inserted into the channel and engages the first of the front and rear panel fins, the fins being pressed into one grip hook with each other.

Conveniently, the other of the front and rear panel fins has a tapered profile to provide an "interference notch" with the channel when the upper edges of the front and rear panels are adjacent to each other. the front and rear panel fins are pushed in completely, a "xentalle with interference" is achieved, the other of the front and rear panel fins being wedged in position.

Each side panel can also have an upper part on its upper part, which can be placed inside the box to assist in the gripping engagement of the front panel fins, and rear.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a section for use in forming a box comprising: the front and rear panels, and a pair of side panels; wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap at the upper end thereof; the side panels have a marking pattern that allows the side panels to be formed to form a channel with one of said front and rear panel fins when it is folded into the interior of the box.

Conveniently, the marking pattern comprises a vertical marking line extending downwardly from an upper part of the side panel essentially parallel to the vertical sides of the side panel, and an essentially triangular marking line whose apex connects to the vertical marking line , the remaining corners of the triangular marking line end on the vertical sides of the side panel.

One of the front and rear panel fins may have a marking line extending parallel with the upper edge of said front or rear panel.

Conveniently, one of said fins is dimensioned to engage within said channel. In addition, each side panel can be provided with a side panel flap at its top. The front and rear panel fins can be dimensioned so that they extend only partially through the top of the box.

The present invention can therefore provide a box so that a smaller one of the two compartments can be used to secure the upper part of a bag (containing the product) by the front and rear panel fins and the side wall of the compartment by pressing the two sides of the bag together and keeping it closed. The configuration of the reclosing device creates a box which does not open unless it is specifically opened, even if it is overturned or thrown and is therefore spill-proof. "This configuration changes the shape of the rectangular box to a "house form", for example a structure that has an upper part that resembles a tapered roof.This appearance is pleasing to the eye.

As all the elements of the device for reclosing are internal without cuts or slots in any of the panels, the announcement capabilities on the panels are not diminished. Similarly, the resistance to the integrity of the box is maintained during manufacturing, and the processes of machine packaging and delivery.

The fins provided in the front, rear and side panels can be formed from the same four panels that form the upper part of the rectangular box in the machine packaging process. General wear and tear or minor damage to the fins does not impede the performance of the device to close over the life of the box.

The structure that forms the compartments makes a strong closing. This makes the box spill-proof. "The spill test in this case is defined as preventing the product from falling or running out of the box due to accidental events such as throwing in. This design feature is desirable and can be required by companies or individuals where the product is not kept in a stock exchange.

The present invention does not require additional material to make the device reseal. The "extra material" used is created by the compression or deformation of the two side panels.

The present invention operates whether the overlap of the top panel fins of the box is minimal or complete and can be used over a variety of different box sizes.

The present invention will operate on existing packaging lines with little or no modification. This is beneficial for many manufacturers who have several factories in the world, since there is little or no cost associated with implementing the present invention worldwide. The cost implications are within the hardware for the manufacture of boxes and are minimal.

The design of the locking mechanism can determine whether the front panel flap folds to the latter or whether the rear panel flap folds to the latter or can be constructed so that any hitch member can be chosen to fold the latter. This has no effect on the formation of the compartments. This decision is the responsibility of the buyer of the box (product manufacturer) to instruct the box manufacturer to produce the hardware accordingly.

As there are no slots or cuts in the outer walls of the box in the retail outlets, the packaging is "tamper proof".

The present invention can be printed according to existing methods.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a reclosable box comprising the front, rear and side panels; the side panels being configured to deform when the front and rear panels are put together, so that one or more retention areas are created between an interior face of the side panel and an interior face of one of the front or rear panels, the one or more retaining areas have an increased support effect when the front and rear panels are joined, wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap on an upper part thereof, and where in a reclosing operation , the front and rear panels can move together and the fins can be placed in a common support area.

The one or more containment areas are arranged to grasp the fins together in position.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a resealable box comprising the front, rear and side panels; the side panels are configured to deform in the upper part of the box when the front and rear panels are brought together, so that the interior space within the upper part of the box is provided with one or more projecting butt surfaces. inwards on the sides of the box, wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap on an upper part thereof, and wherein in a reclosing operation, the front and rear panel flaps are provided in the interior of the box to thereby form two compartments defined by the interior surfaces of each of the front and rear panels and their associated fins, wherein said one or more of the butt surfaces are arranged not to project inside. from one of said two compartments.

The present invention also provides a section for forming the box according to the present invention. The present invention is formed of the section as is conventional by joining several areas of the box section to each other. This can occur both in the manufacture of the box and the machine packaging.

The embodiments of the present invention are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a section of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an external view of a box formed of the section formed in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the formed box showing all the main panels (including those which can not be seen from the front) formed of the section, shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a top plan view of the box shown in Figures 2 and 3 once it has been originally opened; Figure 5 shows a top plan view of the box shown in Figure 4 undergoing a reclosing operation; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the box after it has been originally opened and reclosed.

Figure 7 shows an internal plan view from below of the box showing the interior components of the upper part of the box in a closed state of nine - Figure 8 shows a plan view of an alternate cardboard section; Figure 9 shows a plan view of an alternate cardboard section; Y Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the cardboard of the present invention partially in a reclosing operation.

Referring to Figure 1, a section 100 of the present invention is formed of a flat sheet of solid (or acetate / plastic) board and comprises four main panels, including a front panel 1, a rear panel 2 and two side panels 3 On the upper part of these panels are provided the associated fins 21, 22, 23 and 23 which form four latching members of the reclosing device and the upper part of the box.

The base of the box is formed of four fins 7. A glue seam 4 on the side facilitates the formation of the box 200 of the section 100 as shown in Figure 2.

The fins 21, 22, 23 and 23 are shown in Figure 1 in an unfolded position. In this aspect, the flap 21 has a fold 11 along its length to facilitate re-closing of the box. The fold allows the fin 21 to be bent and therefore be at a favorable angle for insertion into the box as described more fully below.

The fins 23 are folded with a marking pattern 10 as shown in Figure 1, to allow inward folding, followed by the crease or marking pattern 5 provided to the compressible or collapsible side panels.

The crease pattern 5 on the relatively narrow side panels 3 allows the box to deform in the upper part, to the shape required for reclosing. In particular, the upper part of the side panels can deform inwardly as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and as described more fully below.

The folds 5 can be straight or arched as shown in the figures. The glue seam 4 itself includes a pattern 6 marking adjustment to allow the box to be bent at this point easily. It should be understood that the folds shown can be replaced by combinations of marks or cuts to help build them.

A. box 200 of the present invention formed of the section 100 shown in Figure 1, is indicated in Figures 2 and 3 and is initially prepared from section 100 as follows.

As shown in Figure 3, the fins 21, 22, 23 and 23 and the base 7 are bent inward at 90 degrees along the fold lines 8 and 9 and are fixed for example by gluing forming a rectangular box . This is the configuration in which the box with the product inside will be sold initially.

Figure 4 shows a view that sees inside the top of the box once it has been opened initially. The front and rear panel fins 21 and 22 have been bent outwardly and the fins 23 are 90 degrees from the sides of the box 3.

Figure 5 shows the beginning of the constitution of the device for reclosing. The rear panel flap 22 is bent inwardly through the fold 8 so that it projects down into the interior of the box. It is arranged to face the inner surface of the adjacent back panel 2.

In this manner, and as shown in Figures 7 and 10, there is formed a first compartment 17 between the rear panel 2 and the rear panel flap 22. This compartment is used to cover the upper part of a bag (provided inside). inside the box to hold the product) in use. In this aspect, the side panel fins 23 are shown bent inwardly through the fold 13 against the inner surface of the side panels 3.

As shown in Figure 10, the side panels 3 on the top of the box are pushed in according to the configuration of the folds 5. The upper part of the box is shown as being compressed or folded together. To re-close the box, the front panel flap 21 is pushed into the openings or channel 20 defined by the deformed side panels 3 and its fins 23 and the rear panel flap bent inward 22. In Figure 10 the flap of the rear panel 22 and the lower part of the front panel fin 21 are shown in phantom lines since they would not be visible, being inside the interior of the box. The front panel flap 21 may include a fold 11 along its length to allow the front edge of the box to be angled for insertion into the channel 20.

When the front panel flap 21 is fully pressed into the channel 20, the box 300 shown in Figure 6 is formed. As shown in Figure 4, the front panel fin may have a tapered profile as shown to provide a "interference-notch" with the channel 20 when the upper edges of the front and rear panels are adjacent to one another, in others When the box is closed again, therefore, when the front panel flap 21 is pushed completely, a "notch-interference" is achieved, the front panel flap being wedged in position at that point against the force of opening of the deformed side panels 3.

A second relatively large compartment 16 is formed inside the box, and is defined by the upper part of the front panel 1, the inner surface of the front panel fin 21 and the flaps of deformed side panels 23.

In this regard, the deformed side panel fins 23 and the side panels act as butt surfaces which project into the larger compartment 16 and against which the inner surface of the front panel fin 21 may be butted.

Figure 6 therefore shows a view of the exterior of the box 300 having undergone the closing operation. All fins 21, 22, 23 and 23 are internally folded into the upper part of the box and the box is held in a secure formation. The combination of the fins 21, 22, 23 and 23 pressing one against the other together with the side panels 3 deformed in their upper part according to the fold pattern 5 generates forces of cooperation and opposition that ensure the device to return to close closed.

The packaging provides a pleasing aesthetic appearance.

Referring to Figure 7 there is shown an internal view of the box made 300 shown in Figure 6 of the section 100 shown in Figure 1. The base shown folded back along the fold lines 9 to show the formation of the device to reclose at the top of the package. The side panels 3 of the box are compressed and shaped according to the fold lines 5 on either side. The side panel fins 3 have a fold pattern 10 that lies on the shape of the fold pattern 5. The two compartments formed 16 and 17 are on either side of the engaging fins 21 and 22. The smaller of The compartments 17 can be used to compress the sides of an open bag together to thereby seal the bag. In order to assist in locating such a bag under the flap 22, the bag can be attached to the inner surface of the box in a position which is located below the flap 22. For example a line of suitable adhesive that runs parallel to the upper edge of the panel 2 can be used to fix one side of the bag in the box. The adhesive line can also create a raised lip which can help pinch the bag to seal it when the box closes again.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of an alternate box section 400 where either of the catch vanes 18 or 19 can be first bent. In this embodiment both engagement wings have the characteristics to carry out the functions of either of the fins 21 or 22 as shown in Figures 1 to 7.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of an alternate section 500 where the glue seam 4 is fastened to the side panel 15. The section 500 is essentially identical to the section 100 shown in Figure 1.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the sections 100, 500, 400 and the boxes 200 and 300 will have printed material on the outer surface.

It will be understood that the illustrated embodiments describe the invention only for the purposes of illustration. In practice, the invention can be applied to many different configurations, detailed embodiments being direct to those skilled in the art for implementation.

Claims

1. A reclosable box comprising front, rear and side panels; wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap at the top thereof; the side panels are configured to deform so that together with one of said fins provided inside the box, they can form a channel in the upper part of the box to receive the other of said fins.

2. A box that can be closed again as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the side panels are configured to deform inwards.

3. A box that can be closed again as claimed in clauses 1 or 2, characterized in that said fins can be folded inside the box to form, therefore, in association with the front, rear and side panels, two compartments internal in the upper part of the box, the fins being pressed one against the other when they are folded inside the box to promote therefore the closing of the upper part of the box.

4. A box that can be reclosed as claimed in clauses 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the box comprises an essentially rectangular tube.

5. A box that can be resealed as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the sides of the box are each provided with a marking pattern extending down from its top.

6. A resealable box as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that, the marking pattern comprises a vertical marking line extending down from the top of the box essentially parallel with the sides verticals of the side panel, and an essentially triangular marking line whose upper vertex connects with the vertical marking line, the remaining corners of the triangular marking line terminate on the vertical sides of the side panel.

7. A box that can be resealed as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses characterized in that the side panels are provided with fins at their upper end, the side panel fins being foldable inside the interior of the box.

8. A resealable box as claimed in clause 7 characterized in that the side panel fins have a marking pattern which covers that of the side panels when they are folded into the interior of the box against the interior surface of the side panel.

9. A box that can be reclosed as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses characterized in that one of the front and rear panel fins has a line of weakness extending parallel with the upper edge of the front or rear panel.

10. A box that can be reclosed as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses characterized in that one of said front and rear panel fins has tapered edges.

11. A box that can be resealed as claimed in any preceding clause, together with a bag to contain the product inside the box, where after a first opening of the box, an upper part of the bag can be trapped under a first of said fins of front and rear panels when folded inside the box, the side panels are then collapsible and the remaining of said front and rear panel fins being insertable into the channel created by the folded side panel and the first one of said front and back panel fins to thereby close the box and exert a sealing pressure on the bag.

12. A resealable box as claimed in clause 11 characterized in that the box and / or the bag has means for fixing a surface of the bag in position on or to one side of a first of said front panel flaps And later.

13. A reclosable box comprising the front and rear panels connected by the side panels, the front and rear panels have the fins on their upper parts; wherein an upper part of each side panel is formed to be deformable from an open position of the box to a closed position of the box against an opening force, the side panels in the closed position define a channel together with a first of the front and rear panel fins; and wherein the other of the front and rear panel fins is inserted into the channel and engages a first of the front and rear panel fins, the fins being pressed in a grip hook with each other.

14. A resealable box as claimed in clause 13 characterized in that the other of the front and rear panel fins has a tapered profile to provide a closed notch with the channel when the upper edges of the front and rear panels superior are adjacent to each other.

15. A box that can be closed again as claimed in clauses 14 or 15, characterized in that each side panel has a flap on its upper part, which is placed inside the box to assist in the attachment with grip of the front and rear panel fins.

16. A section to be used in the formation of a box comprising: - front and rear panels, and a pair of side panels; and wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a fin at the upper end thereof, the side panels have a marking pattern that allows said side panels to deform to form a channel with one of the panel fins. front and rear, when folded inside the box.

17. . A section as claimed in clause 16 characterized in that, the engraving pattern comprises a vertical marking line extending downwardly from an upper part of said side panel essentially parallel to the vertical sides of the side panel, and a line of essentially triangular marking whose vertex connects with the vertical marking line, the remaining corners of the triangular marking line terminate on the vertical sides of the side panel.

18. A section as claimed in clauses 16 or 17 characterized in that one of said front and rear panel fins has a marking line extending parallel with the upper edge of said front or rear panel.

19. A section as claimed in clauses 16, 17 or 18, characterized in that one of said fins is dimensioned to engage within said channel.

20. A section as claimed in any one of clauses 16 or 19, characterized in that each panel is provided with a side panel flap and its upper part.

21. A section as claimed in any one of clauses 16 to 20, characterized in that the front and rear panel fins are dimensioned so that they extend only partially through the upper part of the box.

22. · A reclosable box comprising the front, rear and side panels; the side panels are reconfigured to deform when the front and rear side panels are put together, so that one or more of the containment areas are created between an interior face of the side panel and an interior face of one of the front or rear panels , the one or more of the containment areas having an increased containment effect when brought together and closer to the front and rear panels, wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap at the top of the panels. same, and where in a re-close operation, the front and rear panels are moved together and the fins are placed in a common retention area.

23. A reclosable box comprising the front, rear and side panels; the side panels are reconfigured to deform in an upper part of the box when the front and rear panels are put together, so that the interior space within the upper part of the box is provided with one or more butt surfaces projecting inwards on the sides of the box, wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap at the top thereof, and where in a re-close operation, the front and rear panel flaps are provided in the interior of the box so as to form two compartments defined by the interior surfaces of each of the front and rear panels and their associated fins, and wherein said one or more butt surfaces are arranged not to project inside. from one of said two compartments.

24. A box essentially as described here with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A section essentially as described herein with reference to Figures 1, 8 and 9 of the drawings.