MXPA98009837A - Packaging container and exhibition box improved - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with packaging containers formed from a generally flat material such as cardboard or paperboard. More specifically, the invention is concerned with a packaging container box, which is assembled without holding a leading edge with a gluing or glue flap or an equivalent structure. The container is assembled from upper, lower, left and right side panels and associated flaps in each panel, but does not include a gluing flap. The upper part or top of the container can be opened by separating the upper flaps of the joining points, to allow access to the contained articles or to display the contained articles. The container functions as a packaging container and an exhibit box

Description

PACKAGING CONTAINER AND IMPROVED EXHIBITION BOX Background of the invention Field of the invention This invention is concerned with boxes for packaging and / or displaying articles. More specifically, it relates to cartons of the type made of cardboard or similar materials that can be used to pack items and then easily opened to display the articles. The contained articles may include primary packages, which in turn contain articles or a product.

Description of Related Art Many retail items and food items are generally packaged in warehouses in cardboard packaging containers, which are subsequently unloaded and discarded. The products are often manually labeled and then transferred to the display shelves or alternatively re-assembled in low profile open cardboard boxes, which are then stacked vertically to display the products. However, recent marketing trends have emphasized warehouses where consumers realize price savings by purchasing goods that are no longer removed from the carton and stacked REF: 28911 individually on a display shelf, but instead from this they are displayed in the same cardboard boxes. The emphasis of such companies is to pass the work savings made by not storing the shelf for consumers. Thus, it can be seen that many packaging containers in use today are operable to convert to the same container in which the products were packed, in a display point unit to attract attention to the products contained therein. Thus, these dual function containers have become well known and various types and versions have been developed to suit specific functions or needs, such as end of aisle display units, or shrink wrap display units for displaying bottles, etc. The use and importance of double-function packaging cartons has increased enormously and the increase is expected to continue. Many of the items packaged by display packaging and other media are contained in wrapping cartons or containers. As used herein, cartons and containers are used as synonyms and interchangeably. Containers known as wrapping containers are formed by wrapping machines that wrap the container pre-forms around pre-arranged groups of articles traveling through the machine, where several flaps of the containers are glued or clamped together to form relatively thin but strong cardboard containers. The containers can also be formed manually, without the use of packaging machines. For this purpose, it has become common practice to provide double-function containers with side, end or top or bottom panels that include an additional tab or gluing flap (often referred to as the manufacturer's gasket) to receive deposits of glue or adhesive glue in order to join the panels of the cardboard box together and seal the connection face. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,562,922 issued to Midura discloses an exhibit carton that requires a plurality of gumming tabs around the laminar preform to effectively seal and seal an exhibit portion and portions of the exhibit. extreme. Another example is U.S. Patent No. 4,553,666 issued to Gullikson wherein each of the face panels is formed with a pair of flaps that are glued or glued together. In addition, this carton is provided with a panel half extending from one of the front panels. The panel half works like a glue panel to seal and secure the edges of the large front panels together. A bell and tray carton box design is illustrated in US Pat. No. 5, 195,677, issued to Quintana, which provides a glue tab on an end panel in order to form the connection and seal the bell section. Similarly, folded triangles are provided in the tray portion that are used as gluing tabs to join the sides together. The container can carry out the individual packing function only or can carry out a double packing and display function. Thus, it can be appreciated that no matter the purpose or specific design with which the individual function or double function container serves, it is common industrial practice to provide at least one gluing tongue whose sole function is to seal the joint joining the front panels jointly. Since the concept of open display has generally become an accepted mode of sales, a more recent emphasis has been placed on improving the appearance and cost effectiveness of providing such containers. One of the drawbacks of prior art wrapping containers is that they contain one or more gluing flaps which are specifically arranged to provide extra structural strength and edge protection of the carton during packaging. These gluing flaps are an additional flap of the material protruding from a terminal edge of the preform and wrapping around an area of the exposed edge, to seal the edge and attach to an attached side. In some instances, these flaps are problematic as they not only add material and cost to the container, but must be glued or glued and subsequently opened to allow access to the items or items in the container and / or convert the cardboard box in a display unit. Pulling a gluing flap to facilitate conversion to a display unit will frequently tear the surface of the container, which adversely affects the appearance of the display unit, to avoid this problem, tear strips or perforated tear sections have been described in the art. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4946042 issued to Ferreri discloses a container having a tear-off front section. Quite often, packaging containers with size flaps are used only to pack the product, because these containers are destroyed at least partially when the contents are removed. This partial destruction makes the vessel less useful as an exhibition vessel. This means that the content has to be separated to a separate display unit. This process takes a substantial amount of labor and time and results in added costs. In addition to the cost of additional material for the gluing flap, extra glue or gluing also has to be used to seal the container. The present invention eliminates the use of typical glue flaps and the bonding and separation process of the associated glue and other problems and related costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates the need for a gluing or glue flap to fasten and seal the panels of wrapping-style packaging and display containers. This structure and method facilitate the construction of the container opening the container and its conversion to an exhibition box. An open edge, without holding, is created in a premeditated way by eliminating the gluing flap. It is an object of the present invention to use a four-panel pre-form serving the same purpose of a five-panel preform, wherein the fifth panel would normally be a gluing flap. A related object of the present invention is to provide a self-opening container having side flaps which are easily opened afue -a, to allow the top panel to open upwards to leave exposed the items or items such as primary packages for its exhibition and / or separation. Another object of the invention is to provide a container box that avoids, in one embodiment, the need to cut or tear perforation lines to open the box, thereby increasing appearance and quality. Another object of the present invention is to eliminate a sealed gasket and an unclamped open edge created in a premeditated way in the container, while still maintaining its structural integrity. A further object of the present invention is to provide a single container that can serve as a packaging container and later as an exhibit box, without the need to separate items from the container. A final object of the invention is to provide a container utilizing the inner surface of the upper panel and other surfaces of the inner panel as an advertising surface to display words and / or images, coupons or other advertising media.

These and other objects are made by the article and method of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top view of the container in a disassembled state. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container showing the placement of the items to be contained in the final assembled container before the assembly of the container. Figures 3-5 are perspective views of the container of the present invention in partially assembled states. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container in the fully assembled state. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the container in a display state. Figure 8 is a top view of a prior art container. Figure 9 is a top view of a prior art container. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a container in a display state. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the container in the fully assembled state showing strips of tear. Figures 12-13 are perspective views of the container in partially assembled states.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the container in a partially assembled state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a four-panel preform 10 having an upper panel 1 and two upper flaps 5, a first side panel 2 having two first side flaps 6, a bottom panel 3 or lower having two lower flaps 7 or of the bottom and a second side panel 4 having two second side flaps 8. The contained items 9 are shown placed in the lower panel 3 before the assembly of the pre-form 10 of four panels to a container. The contained articles 10 may be loose but preferably are primary packages which contain items or products by themselves. These primary packages provide additional structural integrity to the container. In this embodiment, the pre-form 10 of four panels is shown as it moves along a container mounting machine. This modality shows the flaps and panels that have different sizes; The flaps and panels can also be all the same size and it should be noted that the sizes from the flaps and panels may vary depending on the application.

Figure 2 illustrates the pre-form 10 of four panels having the items 9 contained in the lower panel 3 before the assembly of the container. Figure 3 illustrates the pre-form 10 of four panels during the first stage of assembly. The contained items are placed in the lower panel 3. In one modality, these items can be primary product packages such as food retail boxes. In one embodiment, prior to assembly, all four panels fall substantially in the same plane for purposes of this description, in a horizontal plane. This horizontal plane is shown viewed from the top in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the second side panel 4 can be turned up substantially 90 ° from the horizontal to form a first vertical side. The first side panel 2 can be turned up substantially 90 ° from the horizontal to form a second vertical side. The top panel 1 moves outward from the original horizontal plane together with the first side panel 2 as the first side panel 2 is turned up from the original horizontal position. An interior space is defined between the first side panel 2 and the second side panel 4.

In Figure 4, the first side flaps 6 and the second side flaps 8 are rotated from their original inward orientation substantially 90 ° into the interior space to form and present attachment points 12 for the top flaps 5 and the bottom flaps 7. In one embodiment, the attachment points 12 are disposed on an outer surface of the flaps 6 and 8. In practice, the first and second side flaps 6 and 8 can be turned in before, after or simultaneously with the rotation of the flaps. second and first side panels 4 and 2. Figure 12 illustrates the container in a partially assembled state similar to Figure 4 described above. However, here the top flap 1 and the first side panel 2 are shown in a substantially vertical plane, where they have been rotated to this position together, as also shown in Figure 13. Figure 13 illustrates the preform 10 of four panels during a first stage of assembly, as also shown in Figure 3. However, here, the top flap 1 and the first side panel 2 are shown in a substantially vertical plane, as also shown in Figure 12 Also, it will be noted that the items 9 contained are preferably placed first in the container at this assembly stage, as shown in Figure 13 instead of as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 14 illustrates the container after the top panel 1 and the top flaps 5 have been turned downwards on the interior space. This step follows the step shown in Figure 4 or Figure 12. The lower flaps 7 may be substantially in a horizontal plane in this stage, as shown or may be in a substantially vertical plane, attached to the first and second side flaps 6 and 8. Figure 5 illustrates the lower flaps 7 after they have been turned up from the horizontal substantially 90 ° to form the tray area. The lower flaps 7 can be fixed by adhesive or other means such as staples, tape or other mechanical means to the attachment points 12, not shown in Figure 5, on exterior surfaces of the first and second side flaps. To complete the assembly of the container, the upper panel 1 is rotated downward to fall flat against the upper edges 11 of the first side flaps 6, the second side flaps 8 and the second side panel 4. Then, the top flaps 5 are rotated substantially 90 ° downwardly to engage with the outer surfaces of the first side flaps 6 and the second side flaps 8 and are joined in a manner similar to the attachment of the bottom flaps 7, described above. Figure 6 illustrates the container in its assembled form. The terminal edge 15 is shown in the present when it is joined to the top edge 11. In this embodiment, there is a space through which the content can be displayed. This space may also not be present. Figure 11 illustrates the container in its assembled form and shows the tear strips 16 which can be included to facilitate the separation of the top panel 1. The tear strips can take the form of a plastic material or a cord or cord that runs along the area to be torn. Any of the known tear strip means can be employed. Figure 7 illustrates the use of the container as an exhibit box after it has performed its job as a packaging container. In order to open the container to separate the items in one embodiment, the upper flaps 5 are pulled outward from their points of attachment 12 not shown in Figure 7 on the outer surfaces of the first side flaps 6 and the second side flaps 8. Then, the upper panel 1 is rotated through an angle, usually 90 ° and in some embodiments further to reveal a printed message, advertisement, coupon envelope or other item of interest contained in the exhibition area 13 of the inner surface of the upper panel 1. The display area 13 can be held upright by support against a wall or other structure. In a further embodiment, if the upper edge of the first side panel 2 is punctured or weakened in a known manner, such as along the fold line 14, the entire top panel 1 together with the top flap 5, can be separated by tearing, cutting or other means, to expose the container content for display and sale. In all these figures, dotted lines represent fold lines for container assembly. Figure 10 illustrates the use of the container as an exhibit box. The upper panel 1 and the two upper flaps 5 have been removed. It will be understood that the embodiments shown in the appended figures show only a few of many variations of the inventive concept. Other container shapes and configurations are contemplated depending on the size and shape of the contained articles. The flaps and associated panels, for example, may vary in size and may be non-uniform in size, depending on the items contained, the container assembly machinery and other considerations. For example, the upper and lower flaps can be premeditatedly shortened in such a way that the terminal edges of the upper and lower flaps are not found and a space is formed to allow the display of the items contained in a mounted box. The removal of the glue or gluing flap or similar structure substantially saves on material costs, reduces the work to assemble and open the container and facilitates the use of the container as an exhibit box. It is noted that, in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (7)

1. Claims 1. A container for packaging articles, manufactured from a four-panel preform, characterized in that it comprises: a top panel with at least two integral top flaps, a first side panel with at least two first integral side flaps , a bottom panel with at least two integral bottom flaps and a second side panel with at least two second integral side flaps, the top panel, the first side panel, the bottom panel and the second side panel are consecutively arranged adjacent to each other , wherein the upper flaps and the lower flaps can be attached to the first and second side flaps to form a box-shaped container with an unbonded open edge, wherein the unbonded, open edge does not have a gluing flap or separate joining means. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a propaganda material exhibited on an internal surface of the upper panel, wherein after the separation of the upper flaps and of rotating the upper panel, the advertising material it is shown together with the contents of the container. 3. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises perforations along an edge joining the upper panel and the first side panel, where after the separation of the upper flaps of the side flaps, the upper panel together With the upper flaps it is separable and removable from the first side panel and the container. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower panel forms a horizontal base, the lower flaps are arranged upward, substantially at right angles to the lower panel, the first and second side panels are arranged up substantially at right angles to the lower panel, the first side flaps and the second side flaps are arranged inward substantially at right angles to the first and second side panels, the first and second side flaps can be attached to the bottom flaps, The upper panel is arranged to rest against an upper edge formed by the termination of the first and second side panels and flaps, the upper flaps are trimmed down substantially at right angles to the upper panel, the upper flaps can be attached to the upper panels. first and second flaps lat In this case, a terminal edge of the top panel is not attached to the second side panel or to the container. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one tear strip disposed along at least one of the upper flaps, wherein tearing the tear strip facilitates the opening of the tear strip. container. 6. A method for mounting a container from a four-panel pre-form having a top panel with at least two integral top flaps, a first side panel with at least two first integral side flaps, a bottom panel with at least two integral lower flaps and a second side panel with at least two second integral side flaps, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: initially orienting the four-panel preform in a substantially planar orientation; rotating a first and second side panel, one towards the other through substantially 90 ° with respect to a lower panel; rotating inward substantially 90 ° a pair of first and second side flaps on each of the first and second side panels; rotating upwards through substantially 90 ° a pair of lower flaps on the lower panel; rotating a top panel attached to the first side panel such that it falls in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom panel and contacts the upper edges of the side panels and the edge panels, thereby forming a cover for container; rotating down substantially 90 °, a pair of top flaps, and attaching the top flaps and bottom flaps to respective first and second side flaps without attaching a terminal edge of the top panel to an upper edge of the second side panel or to the container, wherein an unbonded open edge is formed at the interface of the upper edge of the second side panel and the upper panel end edge. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper panel is first rotated to a substantially vertical position and then rotated to fall in a plane substantially parallel with the lower panel- and to contact the upper edges of the panel. the side panels and the edge panels. PACKAGING CONTAINER AND IMPROVED EXHIBITION BOX SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with packaging containers formed from a generally flat material such as cardboard or paperboard. More specifically, the invention is concerned with a packaging container box, which is assembled without holding a leading edge with a gluing or glue flap or an equivalent structure. The container is assembled from upper, lower, left and right side panels and associated flaps in each panel, but does not include a flap. The upper part or top of the container can be opened by separating the upper flaps of the joining points, to allow access to the contained articles or to display the contained articles. The container functions as a packaging container and an exhibition box.