SE545326C2

SE545326C2 - A blank and a package having integrated buffer and being erected from a blank

Info

Publication number: SE545326C2
Application number: SE2151366A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Daniel Axelsson
Original assignee: Stora Enso Oyj
Priority date: 2021-11-08
Filing date: 2021-11-08
Publication date: 2023-07-04
Also published as: WO2023079501A1; SE2151366A1

Abstract

A blank for forming a package having an integrated buffer, the blank comprising: a base panel (101), and at least a first set of a plurality of buffer panels (102a-d) connected to a first end (101 a) of the base panel (101) and arranged one after the other along a longitudinal direction (L) and being connected to the base panel (101) and each other along transversely extending fold lines (110a-d), wherein the buffer panels (102a-d) are configured to be folded inwardly in a first folding direction (A) relative to the base panel (101) and relative to each other in said first folding direction (A) to form a coil, wherein at least two of the buffer panels (102c, 102d) are provided with tabs (103) and wherein the base panel (101) and the plurality of buffer panels (102a-d) are provided with at least two associated recesses (104) configured to receive said tabs (103) thereby providing a nested dual locking mechanism as the buffer panels (102a-d) are folded into said coil. A package is also disclosed.

Description

A BLANK AND A PACKAGE HAVING INTEGRATED BUFFER AND BEING ERECTED FROM A BLANK Field of the invention The invention relates to a blank for forming a package having an integrated buffer. The blank is intended to form a package being especially, but not exclusively, suitable for protecting the inside from damages. The invention also relates to such a package.

Background art Packages formed of paperboard, cardboard or corrugated cardboard are used for protecting and facilitating transportation of a wide variety of goods. Packages made for transporting products and goods are often made from corrugated cardboard or a thicker paperboard. The packages are typically produced by cutting out a blank from a flat sheet and typically also simultaneously or in direct connection therewith providing the blank with fold lines. Thereafter, the blank may be pre-glued and pre-folded into a flat-laid package before it is transported to the site where it is to be erected and filled with goods. Alternatively, the blank as such is transported to the site where it is to be erected and filled with goods. lt is often desirous that the packages are designed in such a way that several packages can be stacked upon each other in a stable way. lt is further also often desirous that the packages are designed such that they can be erected without the use of glue. Packages made from cardboard are often beneficial since they do not take up much space before they are erected, such as during transport to the site of use. lt is often desirous that the packages are designed in such a way that they protect the goods from damages inferred by impact from the surrounding to the package. lt is often desirous to provide packages in a single piece and in a flat- laid, ready-to-erect state. lt is often also desirous to provide a closing mechanism for the package such that the package can be locked in a closed state such as to facilitate stacking.

Summary ln view of that stated above, the object of the present invention is to provide a blank which makes efficient use of the material, which is easy to transport, and which provides with structures for protecting the goods from impacts from the surrounding.

To achieve at least one of the above objects and also other objects that will be evident from the following description, there is according to the present invention provided a blank for forming a package, the blank comprising a blank for forming a package having an integrated buffer insert, the blank comprising: a base panel, at least one side panel connected to the base panel through a respective, longitudinally extending fold line, the side panel having an extension along the base panel and extending along a transverse direction from the base panel, and at least a first set of a plurality of buffer panels connected to a first end of the base panel and a second set of plurality of buffer panels connected to a second end, opposite the first end, of the base panel, the buffer panels being arranged one after the other along a longitudinal direction and being connected to the base panel and each other along transversely extending fold lines, wherein the buffer panels are configured to be folded inwardly in a first folding direction relative to the base panel and relative to each other in said first folding direction to form a coil, characterised in that wherein at least two of the buffer panels are provided with tabs and wherein the base panel and the plurality of buffer panels are provided with at least two associated recesses configured to receive said tabs thereby providing a nested dual locking mechanism as the buffer panels are folded into said coil.

The at least two associated recesses are preferably provided in or between at least two different panels. The at least two associated recesses are preferably separated a distance along the longitudinal direction being equal to a width of one buffer panel as measured along the longitudinal direction. lt may be noted that the term at least two associated recesses refers to the fact that there is in total at least two recesses; at least one recess in one panel, such as the base panel, and at least one recess in another panel, such as a first buffer panel.

By such a blank, there may be provided protective buffer panels with a self-locking mechanism. The nested tabs and recesses are arranged such that no glue or tape are needed to lock the buffer panels. Thus, inter-locking the recesses and tabs enables easier handling of the blank after folding. When the buffer panels are folded into a coil, they stay in the locked position until deliberately unfolded. The buffer panels provide protection against mechanical impact from objects outside of the package. Thus, the handling is efficient for the user. Moreover, the blank may provide with efficient use of the material it is made from. The blank is made such that it is simple and quick to assemble into a package of the blank.

By a plurality of buffer panels also being provided at a second end, opposite of the first end, of the base panel, there is provided protective buffer panels on two sides of the goods. This provides protection against for instance mechanical impacts from two sides. lt may be noted that in the preferred embodiment, the first set and second set of buffer panels are the same in their configuration and design of the buffer panels but they are mirror-images of each other as if they were mirrored in a line extending in a major plane of the base panel and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction. However, it may be noted that the first set and second set of buffer panels may be designed differently as long as they fulfil the features discussed above. The first and second buffer panels may optionally also be designed according to the various preferred embodiments discussed below and may as such be mirror-images of each other or may be designed differently as long as they fulfil those optional preferred features.

By the blank further comprising at least one side panel connected to the base panel through a respective, longitudinally extending fold line, the side panel having an extension along the base panel and extending along a transverse direction from the base panel, the blank may provide a cover for a package. The at least one side panel may rest on top of the buffer panels after the folding of said buffer panels. Preferably, the blank is provided with two side panels connected to a respective longitudinally extending side of the base panel. lt may in this context be noted that the respective side wall panel may be provided with an internal, longitudinally extending fold line such that the respective side panel may form a respective side wall and part of a top wall.

Preferred embodiments appear in the dependent claims and in the description.

The plurality of buffer panels may further comprise: a first buffer panel being foldably connected, at a first end of the first buffer panel, to the first end of the base panel; a second buffer panel being foldably connected, at a first end of the second buffer panel, to a second end, opposite the first end, of the first buffer panel; a third buffer panel being foldably connected, at a first end of the third buffer panel, to a second end, opposite the first end, of the second buffer panel, and; a fourth buffer panel being foldably connected, at a first end of the fourth buffer panel, to a second end, opposite the first end, of the third buffer panel.

The base panel and at least the first buffer panel may further comprise a respective one of said recesses; wherein at least the third and the fourth buffer panel may comprise a respective one of said tabs; and wherein the recess of the first buffer panel is configured to receive the tab of the fourth buffer panel and the recess of the base panel is configured to receive the tab of the third buffer panel as the buffer panels are folded into said coil.

The longitudinal extension of each of the plurality of buffer panels may be equal for the respective buffer panel.

By this, the buffer panels may be folded into a square coil. lt may be noted that equal in this context refers to their nominal extension along the longitudinal extension. The longitudinal extension may be slightly larger for the first buffer panel with the longitudinal extension becoming slightly smaller for the respective buffer panel with increasing distance from the base panel to take into account the material thickness and the fact that the buffer panels are folded into a coil. However, it is conceivable to have a slight tension in the coil by not fully taking the material thickness into account.

The blank may be made of a paper-based material, preferably corrugated cardboard material.

By this the folding of the blank may be simple and will not only require a strength easily provided by hand by an ordinary person. Further, a paper- based material will provide buffer panels which may effectively absorb mechanical impacts to the package, thus protecting a therein held object.Further the present invention may also relate to a package formed by erecting the blank into a package, the package being formed by folding the buffer panels relative to the base panel and relative to each other into a coil such that the tabs are received into the associated recesses. ln this position, the package is prepared to receive the goods. Alternatively, the goods may be positioned on the base panel before the buffer panels has been folded into a coil. lrrespective of the order of folding the buffer panels and placing the good, once the buffer panels has been folded and the goods has been positioned on the base panel, the package is preferably closed by folding the side panels relative to the base panel such that there is formed a side wall and a cover.

The package may be used for transporting goods. The goods may be protected from mechanical impact by the buffer panels, which are formed by the blank at least at one of the two ends, and preferably at both ends, of the blank.

The invention may also be said to relate to a package having at least a plurality of puffer panels at least at a first side of the package. Said blank comprising: a base panel, and a plurality of buffer panels connected to a first end of the base panel and arranged one after the other along a longitudinal direction and being connected to each other along transversely extending fold lines, wherein the buffer panels are configured to be folded inwardly in a first folding direction relative to the base panel and relative to each other in said first folding direction to form a coil, wherein at least two of the buffer panels are provided with tabs and wherein the base panel and the plurality of buffer panels are provided with at least two associated recesses configured to receive said tabs thereby providing a nested dual locking mechanism as the buffer panels are folded into said coil.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

Brief Description of the Drawinqs The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates blank for forming a package having a set of buffer panels configured to form an integrated buffer.

Fig. 2 illustrates one buffer in assembled state and one buffer in a semi-assembled state.

Fig. 2A-2C illustrates a rotational folding motion occurring when assembling the buffer.

Fig. 3, 4 and 5 illustrates the assembly of the blank into a package with an integrated buffer.

Description of Embodiments The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

With reference to Figs. 1-5, a blank 100 for forming a package having an integrated buffer is disclosed. Fig. 1 discloses a blank for forming the package having the integrated buffer. Fig. 2 discloses the blank with one integrated buffer being assembled or folded into a self-locking structure, while another integrated buffer is not yet folded into the assembled state. Figs. 2A- 2C discloses how the integrated buffer is rotationally folded into its self- locking position. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 discloses how the blank may be folded into a package having a buffer. Dashed lines are representing fold lines of the blank 100 while solid lines represent cut lines of the blank The blank 100 comprises a base panel 101, the base panel 101 having a first end 101a and a second end 101b. The first end and the second ends 101a, 101b are located opposite each other on the base panel 101. The blank 100 extends in a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T, as seen in the flat laid state of the blank Further, the blank 100 comprises at least a first set of a plurality of buffer panels 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d being connected to at least the first end 101a of the base panel 101. A second set of a plurality of buffer panels 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d may be, and preferably is, connected to the second end 101 b of the base panel 101 as well. ln the figures the plurality of buffer panels 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d are arranged on the first and second end of the base panel 101, however it should be realized that the buffer panels 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d may serve its purpose as integrated buffer when only arranged on the first end of the base panel 101. The plurality of base panels 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d are being arranged one after the other along a longitudinal direction L and being connected to the base panel and each other along transversely extending T fold lines 110a-d. The plurality of buffer panels 102a-d are configured to be folded inwardly about the fold lines in a first folding direction A relative to the base panel 101 and relative to each other in said first folding direction A to form a coil. Thereby an integrated buffer extending along the transverse direction T is formed on at least the first end 101a of the base panel At least two of the buffer panels 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d are provided with tabs 103. Further, at least two of the panels selected among the buffer panels 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d and the base panel 101, are provided with associated recesses 104. lt may be noted that the recesses 104 may be positioned within the respective panel, as is e.g. shown for the base panel 101, or in association with a fold line between two panels, as is e.g. shown for the first buffer panel 102a where the recess 104 is positioned in association with the fold line 110a between the base panel 101 and the first buffer panel 102a. The recesses 104 are configured to receive said tabs 103 such that they provide a nested dual locking mechanism as the buffer panels 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d are folded into said coil.

The plurality of buffer panels may comprise a first buffer panel 102a, a second buffer panel 102b, a third buffer panel 1020 and a fourth buffer panel 102d. Each of the plurality of buffer panels 102a, 102b, 1020 and 102d may have a first end 102a1, 102b1, 10201, 102d1 and a second end 102a2, 102b2, 10202, 102d2. The respective first end 102a1, 102b1, 10201, 102d1 and the respective second end 102a2, 102b2, 10202, 102d2 of the respective buffer panel 102-d may be arranged opposite each other along the longitudinal direction L. The first end 102a1, 102b1, 10201, 102d1 of the respective buffer panels 102a, 102b, 1020 and 102d may be facing the base panel The first buffer panel 102a may be foldably connected, at the first end 102a1 of the first buffer panel 102a, to the first end 101a of the base panel 101. The second buffer panel 102b may be foldably connected, at the first end 102b1 of the second buffer panel 102b, to the second end 102a2 of the first buffer panel 102a. The third buffer panel 1020 may be foldably connected, at the first end 10201 of the third buffer panel 1020, to the second end 102b2 of the second buffer panel 102b. The fourth buffer panel 102d may be foldably connected, at the first end 102d1 of the fourth buffer panel 102d, to the second end 10201 of the third buffer panel Further, the base panel 101 and the first buffer panel 102a may comprise one or more, preferably more than one, recesses 104, respectively. ln the disclosed preferred embodiment, there is a pair of recesses 104 in the base panel 101 and a pair of recesses in the first buffer panel 102a. The recesses 104 may be configured as cut-outs of the base panel 101 and the first buffer panel 102a, respectively. The recesses 104 on each of the panels 101, 102a are extending in the transverse direction T. The recesses 104 of the base panel 101 are preferably located a distance from each other along the transverse direction T. The recesses 104 of the first buffer panel 102a are preferably located at a distance from each other along the transverse direction T. The recesses 104 arranged at the base panel 101 may be placed at a distance along the longitudinal direction L from the first end 101a of the base panel 101 corresponding to a distance along the longitudinal direction L between the first end 102d1 and the second end 102d2 of the fourth buffer panel 102d. The longitudinal distance between the first end 102a1, 10201 and the second end 102a2, 10202 of the first 102a and of the third buffer panel 1020, respectively, may be equal. The Iongitudinal distance between the first end 102b1, 102d1 and the second end 102b2, 102d2 of the second 102b and of the fourth buffer panel 102d, respectively, may be equal. The Iongitudinal distance between the first end 102a1, 102b1, 10201, 102d1 and the second end 102a2, 102b2, 10202, 102d2 of the respective one of the plurality of buffer panels 102a, 102b, 1020 and 102d may be equal. The Iongitudinal distances referred to above refers to the blank 100 in the flat-laid state.

The third buffer panel 1020 may comprise one or more tabs 103, preferably more than one. The fourth buffer panel 102d may comprise one or more tabs 103, preferably more than one. ln the disclosed embodiment, the third buffer panel 1020 and the fourth buffer panel 102d comprise a pair of tabs 103 each. The tabs 103 extend from the respective buffer panel 1020, 102d along the Iongitudinal direction L in a direction away from the base panel 101 _ The respective tabs 103 also have an extension in the transverse direction T. lt may be noted that the tabs 103 of the third buffer panel 1020 extends into and are cut out of a portion of the fourth buffer panel 102d in connection with the fold line 110d between the third and fourth buffer panels 1020, 102d. The tabs 103 of the third buffer panel 1020 are preferably located a distance from each other along the transverse direction T. The tabs 103 of the fourth buffer panel 102d are preferably located a distance from each other along the transverse direction T.

The tab or tabs 103 of the third buffer panel 1020 are configured to be received by the recess or recesses 104 of the base panel 101. The tab or tabs 103 of the fourth buffer panel 102d are configured to be received by the recess or recesses 104 of the first buffer panel 102a.

The insertion of a tab into a recess, in the described nested configuration, provides the blank 100 with an integrated buffer, having a self- locking mechanism. lt may in this context be noted that when the buffer panels 102a-d has been folded into a coil, the third buffer panel 1020 and the tab or tabs 103 of the third buffer panel 1020 extend along the same plane as the base panel 101 whereas the fourth buffer panel 102d and the tab or tabs 103 of the fourth buffer panel 102d extends in a direction forming a normal to the plane of the base panel 101 _ Thus, the two directions are basically rectilinear to each other. Any tendency of the tabs 103 of the fourth buffer panel 102d to be removed from the associated recesses 104 by a movement along the plane of the base panel 101 is counteracted by the tabs 103 of the third buffer panel 102c. Any tendency of the tabs 103 of the third buffer panel 103 to be removed from the recesses 104 in the base panel 101 is counteracted by the fact that this would necessitate an uncoiling motion which in turn would necessitate the tabs 103 of the third buffer panel 102c to move along a sweeping or curved path; i.e. not only a movement along the normal direction but also a component of the movement along the plane of the base panel 101. This uncoiling or sweeping movement of the tabs 103 of the third buffer panel 102c is necessitated by the provision of the fourth buffer panel 104 being held parallel to the base panel 101 by its tabs 103 being received in the recesses 104 in the first buffer panel 102a. Thus, no adhesives are needed to lock the integrated buffer. By having the buffer formed at least at the first end 101a of the blank 100, the package formed from the blank 100 provides an improved security for goods transported within the package.

The blank 100 may further comprise at least one side panel 105. The blank may comprise at least two side panels 105 arranged on and foldably connected to a respective longitudinally extending side of the base panel 101 and opposite each other as seen in the transversal direction T. The respective side panel 105 may have an extension along the base panel 101 and may extend along a transverse direction T from the base panel (101). The at least one side panel 105 may be connected to the base panel 101 through at least one longitudinally extending fold line 105a. The respective side panel 105 may also be provided with an internal, longitudinally extending fold line 105b. Thus, there may be two parallel fold lines 105a, 105b extending longitudinally from the first end 101a of the base panel 101 to the second end 101 b of the base panel 101. The distance, as measured along the transversal direction T in a ﬂat-laid state of the blank 100 as seen in Fig. 1, between the fold lines 105a, 105b may be equal to a distance between the first and the second end 102a1, 102a2 of the first buffer panel 102a. The distance, as measured alongthe transversal direction T in a flat-laid state of the blank 100 as seen in Fig. 1, between the fold lines 105a, 105b may also be equal to a distance between the first and the second end 10201, 10202 of the third buffer panel 1020. After folding the plurality of buffer panels 102a, 102b, 1020 and 102d, the at least one side panel 105 may be folded about the at longitudinal folding line 105a and about its internal fold line 105b, thereby providing the resulting package with a side wall and top portions to cover the goods.

The two side panels 105 may have a total orjoint extension along the transverse direction T as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank 100 such that they overlap each other when forming the top of the package. Alternatively, the two side panels 105 may have a total orjoint extension along the transverse direction T as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank 100 such that they do not overlap each other. An overlap may be used to provide a connection between the side panels 105, such as by providing a strip of an adhesive. A non-overlap may be advantageous in that there is only a single material thickness along the top of the package. The side panels 105 may be attached to each other by a strip of an adhesive tape being positioned such that it overlaps both the two side panels 105. lt may e.g. be a longitudinally extending strip of an adhesive tape partly attached to a first of the side panels 105 and partly attached to the other of the side panels The blank 100 may be made of paper-based material, preferably corrugated cardboard material.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. ln the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependentclaims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. A blank for forming a package having an integrated buffer, the blank comprising: a base panel (101), at least one side panel (105) connected to the base panel (101) through a respective longitudinally extending fold line, the side panel having an extension along the base panel (101) and extending along a transverse direction from the base panel (101 ), and at least a first set of a plurality of buffer panels (102a-d) connected to a first end (101a) of the base panel (101) and a second set of a plurality of buffer panels (102a-d) provided at a second end (101 b), opposite of the first end (101a), of the base panel (101), the buffer panels (102a-d) being arranged one after the other along a longitudinal direction (L) and being connected to the base panel (101) and each other along transversely extending fold lines (110a-d), wherein the buffer panels (102a-d) are configured to be folded inwardly in a first folding direction (A) relative to the base panel (101) and relative to each other in said first folding direction (A) to form a coil, characterised in that at least two of the buffer panels (102c, 102d) are provided with tabs (103) and wherein the base panel (101) and the plurality of buffer panels (102a-d) are provided with at least two associated recesses (104) configured to receive said tabs (103) thereby providing a nested dual locking mechanism as the buffer panels (102a-d) are folded into said coil.

2. The blank according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of buffer panels (102a-d) comprises: a first buffer panel (102a) being foldably connected, at a first end (102a1) of the first buffer panel (102a), to the first end (101a) of the base panel (101);a second buffer panel (102b) being foldably connected, at a first end (102b1) of the second buffer panel (102), to a second end (102a2), opposite the first end (102a1), of the first buffer panel (102a); a third buffer panel (102c) being foldably connected, at a first end (102c1) of the third buffer panel (102c), to a second end (102b2), opposite the first end (102b1), of the second buffer panel (102b), and; a fourth buffer panel (102d) being foldably connected, at a first end (102d1) of the fourth buffer panel (102d), to a second end (102c2), opposite the first end (102c1), of the third buffer panel (102c).

3. The blank according to claim 2, wherein the base panel (101) and at least the first buffer panel (102a) comprises a respective one of said recesses (104); wherein at least the third and the fourth buffer panel (102c, 102d) comprises a respective one of said tabs (103); and wherein the recess (104) of the first buffer panel is configured to receive the tab (103) of the fourth buffer panel (102d) and the recess (104) of the base panel (101) is configured to receive the tab (103) of the third buffer panel (102c) as the buffer panels (102a-d) are folded into said coil.

4. The blank according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the longitudinal extension of each of the plurality of buffer panels (102a-d) are equal for the respective buffer panel (102a-d).

5. The blank according to any one of the clams 1-4, wherein the blank is made of paper-based material, preferably corrugated cardboard material.

6. A package formed by erecting the blank of any one of claims 1-5 into a package, the package being formed by folding the buffer panels (102a-d) relative to the base panel (101) and relative to each other into a coil such that the tabs (103) are received into the associated recesses (102).