US20120261413A1

US20120261413A1 - Packaging unit comprising a packaging pouch and outer packaging

Info

Publication number: US20120261413A1
Application number: US13/501,617
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Bossel; Yves Morgenthaler; Peter Kancsar
Original assignee: Amcor Flexibles Kreuzlingen AG
Current assignee: Amcor Flexibles Kreuzlingen AG
Priority date: 2009-10-13
Filing date: 2010-10-06
Publication date: 2012-10-18
Also published as: CH702022A2; WO2011044991A1; EP2488422A1; RU2012119526A; CH702018A2; RU2520904C2; BR112012008736A2

Abstract

In a packaging unit with a packaging pouch and with a substantially dimensionally stable outer packaging, the outer packaging) is tubular with a tube axis and is configured with open ends and the ends, in the viewing direction of the tube axis in a first position, form a polygon with at least two sides enclosing an angle a<180° and lying mirror-symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry and, in a second position, form a polygon with at least one side lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, wherein a straight fold edge runs in the first position between the corner points of the sides of the two ends lying mirror-symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry, and, in the second position, the sides of the two ends lying mirror-symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry form an angle a=180°, wherein the outer packaging can be brought from the first position into the second position by pressing in the straight fold edge(s), and wherein at least two curved fold edges run in the first and second position between the two ends in such a way that, in the second position, the outer face(s) of the outer packaging extending between the side(s) of the two ends lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry is/are concavely curved.

Description

The invention relates to a packaging unit with a packaging pouch made of a flexible film-like first material and with a substantially dimensionally stable outer packaging made of a second material, in which the outer packaging is tubular with a tube axis and is configured with open ends, and the ends, in the viewing direction of the tube axis, in a first position, form a polygon with at least two sides enclosing an angle α<180° and lying mirror symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry and, in a second position, form a polygon with at least one side lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, wherein a straight fold edge runs in the first position between the corner points of the sides of the two ends lying mirror symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry, and, in the second position, the sides of the two ends lying mirror symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry form an angle α=180°, wherein the outer packaging can be brought into the second position from the first position by pressing in the straight fold edge(s), and wherein at least two curved or two straight fold edges which are bent in the centre thereof run between the two ends in the first and second position in such a way that, in the second position, the outer face(s) of the outer packaging extending between the side(s) of the two ends lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry is/are concavely curved or bent inwardly by two level part faces.
A packaging unit of the type mentioned at the outset is known from EP 1 798 159 B1. A substantial drawback of this known packaging unit is that concavely curved outer faces of the outer packaging, which are formed during the pressing in of the straight fold edges from the first into the second position, may tear along the fold edges at their free ends. The risk of tearing is high, particularly in the cardboard material which is preferably used for the outer packaging.
The invention is based on the object of improving a packaging unit of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that tearing of the concavely curved outer faces of the outer packaging, which are formed during the pressing in of the straight fold edges from the first into the second position, along the fold edges at their free ends can also be prevented in tear-sensitive materials, such as, for example, cardboard, by simple means.
The fact that the outer packaging is divided along the straight fold edge(s) between the centre thereof and the open ends and at a spacing from the open ends and at a spacing from the centre over a respective part length leads to the achievement of the object according to the invention in a packaging unit of the type mentioned at the outset.
In a preferred embodiment of the packaging unit according to the invention, the ends, in the first position, form a hexagon with two sides lying parallel and two respective sides enclosing an angle α<180° and lying mirror symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry and, in the second position, form a quadrilateral with two sides lying parallel and two sides lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, one respective straight fold edge running in the first position between the corner points of the sides of the two ends lying mirror symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry, and the sides of the two ends lying mirror symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry, in the second position, each forming an angle α=180°, it being possible to bring the outer packaging into the second position from the first position by pressing the straight fold edges against one another.
The curved fold edges or the straight fold edges which are bent in the centre preferably run in the first and second position between the corner points of the two sides of the two ends lying parallel to the plane of symmetry in such a way that, in the second position, the outer faces of the outer packaging extending between the sides of the two ends lying parallel to the plane of symmetry are convexly curved or bent outwardly over two level part faces and the outer faces of the outer packaging extending between the sides of the two ends lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry are concavely curved or are bent inwardly over two level part faces.
One end of the outer packaging expediently provides a standing face for the packaging pouch projecting from the other end with a separable opening part.
The packaging pouch arranged in a pouch longitudinal direction corresponding to the tube axis in the outer packaging is preferably at least partially fastened to the inside of the outer packaging.
The part lengths of the outer packaging which are separated along the straight fold edges are at least 20% of the length of the fold edges and are spaced apart by substantially at least 10% of the length of the fold edges from the centre thereof and the ends.
The outer packaging preferably has openings consisting of the two halves, which are rotationally symmetrical with respect to the straight fold edges, the part lengths corresponding to connecting lines of the rotationally symmetrical halves of the openings.
The fold edges which are curved in an arcuate manner are preferably severed in at least one region extending over at least the centre thereof, forming at least one slot-like recess or at least one separating cut. This achieves a cushioning so the system does not flatten so rapidly upon lateral pressure.
The edge of the convexly curved outer faces between the fold edges limiting these is expediently provided with a curvature pointing away from the standing face at the end forming a standing face. After clicking into the second position, this brings about a flat base and therefore stability of the standing face.
A base with an insertion flap or an automatic base may be provided on the outer packaging.
An important advantage of the packaging unit according to the invention is, on the one hand, the flat pouch form of the first position, which is excellently suitable for transportation, and, on the other hand, the cup-shaped, dimensionally stable second position ideal for removing the filling product.
The pouch material and the outer packaging material are preferably organoleptically and chemically neutral mono-materials with respect to the filling product.
The packaging pouch itself may be a stand-up pouch without its own stability, a tubular pouch or an extruded pouch. The pouch material for the packaging pouch according to the invention may, in comparison to the stiff material required for a stand-up pouch with its own stability, have a smaller thickness and is therefore economical. The removal opening which is formed after the removal of the opening part by lateral pressure on the straight fold edges of the outer packaging, owing to the dimensionally stable second position of the outer packaging, remains completely and permanently opened.
The pouch material of the packaging pouch according to the invention is preferably a single-layer or multi-layer film made of plastics material and optionally laminated with a paper layer, or a paper laminated from plastics material, and is preferably present as a mono-material.
To avoid migration of extraneous substances into the pouch interior, the packaging pouch is preferably unprinted.
The outer packaging material may be made of any economical mono-material. A preferred outer packaging material is cardboard, corrugated cardboard or a transparent or opaque plastics material. Starch, maize and similar biodegradable materials are also suitable, for example, for the outer packaging. The outer packaging may be printed as desired.
The packaging pouch is suitable, in particular, for packaging drinkable or spoonable filling products and filling products that can be stirred with liquid to form drinkable or spoonable products. A further preferred application area is the packaging of filling products which are provided for heating in microwave ovens. The packaging is also suitable for animal foodstuffs and for further filling products, such as, for example, washing powder and other free-flowing and pourable filling products.
Foods, such as for example soups, can be heated in the packaging pouch according to the invention together with the outer packaging in the opened state, optionally after stirring with cold water, directly in a microwave device. The advantage here of the packaging unit according to the invention is the heat-insulating outer packaging, which makes it possible to hold it with the bare hand. The use of corrugated cardboard as a material for the outer packaging leads to a particularly heat-insulating configuration.
With carbonated or uncarbonated water, the packaging system serves to store the filling product and simultaneously serves as a drinking vessel.
Depending on the type of filling product, this is also mixed with liquid, such as, for example, soup pouches with hot water, or the filling product is already in a liquid or spoonable form, for example yogurt.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments, and with the aid of the drawings in which, schematically

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging pouch with an outer packaging in a first position;

FIG. 2 shows a section through a part of the packaging pouch with outer packaging of FIG. 1 along the line I-I in an enlarged view;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the packaging pouch with outer packaging of FIG. 1 in a second position with a separated opening part;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the outer packaging of FIG. 3 in an enlarged view;

FIG. 5 shows various punched-out forms for producing the openings of the outer packaging of FIG. 4 being used to interrupt the straight fold edges;

FIG. 6 shows the side view of the outer packaging in FIG. 4 in the first position;

FIG. 7 shows the plan view of the outer packaging of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows the side view of the outer packaging of FIG. 6 in the second position;

FIG. 9 shows the side view of the outer packaging of FIG. 8 rotated through 90°;

FIG. 10 shows the plan view of the outer packaging of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a side view of a different embodiment of the outer packaging corresponding to the side view of FIG. 6, in the first position;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the outer packaging of FIG. 11 in the second position;

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the packaging pouch with outer packaging with a first opening variant in the first position;

FIG. 14 shows a side view of the packaging pouch with outer packaging with a second opening variant in the first position;

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a packaging pouch with outer packaging with a third opening variant in the transition from the first position into the second position;

FIG. 16 shows a side view of a further embodiment of an outer packaging corresponding to the side view of FIG. 6, in the first position;

FIG. 17 shows the plan view of the outer packaging of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 shows the side view of the outer packaging of FIG. 16 in the second position;

FIG. 19 shows the plan view of the outer packaging of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20, 21 show side views of the outer packaging of FIG. 4 in the first position with further options.

A packaging unit shown in FIG. 1 to 3 is composed of a packaging pouch 10 and an outer packaging 28. The packaging pouch 10 which is produced from a flexible film material, such as, for example, polyamide, and arranged in the outer packaging 28, in the present example is a stand-up pouch with a sealed-in base, not visible in the drawing, a front wall 14 and a rear wall 16. Two longitudinal sealing seams 18, 19 which are arranged laterally and defining a longitudinal direction l of the pouch connect the two pouch walls 14, 16 projecting from the base and, together with a transverse sealing seam 20 connecting the longitudinal sealing seams 18, 19 at the end remote from the base, lead to the closed packaging pouch 10.
The transverse sealing seam 20 at the end of the packaging pouch 10 which is remote from the base is part of an opening part 26 that can be separated from the pouch. To open the packaging pouch 10, the opening part 26 is torn away along a tearing line 24 arranged in the pouch walls 14, 16 and parallel to and at a short spacing from the transverse sealing seam 20. Tearing notches 22, 23 with a tip ending at the tearing line 24 are provided as a tearing aid in the longitudinal sealing seams 18, 19.
The tubular outer packaging 28 which is produced from a substantially dimensionally stable material, such as, for example, cardboard, in particular corrugated cardboard, the open ends 31, 33 of which lie parallel to one another and perpendicular to a tube axis z, encloses the packaging pouch 10 in a first position shown in FIG. 1 with a front wall 30 and rear wall 32, extends from the base thereof over the pouch walls 14, 16 toward the opening part 26 and ends at a short spacing from the tearing line 24. The pouch longitudinal direction l of the packaging pouch 10 lies in the tube axis z of the outer packaging 28. One end 31 of the tubular outer packaging 28 is used as a standing face for the packaging unit, so the packaging pouch 10 does not itself have to be stable. The packaging pouch 10 can therefore also be a simple tubular pouch with a longitudinal seam, or an extruded pouch without a longitudinal seam with two transverse seams.
The packaging pouch 10 which is arranged in the outer packaging 28 is at least partially fastened to the inside of the outer packaging 28. The pouch walls 14, 16 are, for example, partially fastened to the inside of the outer packaging 28, in particular to the edge thereof close to the opening part 26 of the packaging pouch 10, by point-wise adhesive points 36. A second adhesion preferably takes place, for example, approximately in the centre or even below the centre between the open ends of the outer packaging 28. This lower second adhesion gives the pouch 10 increased stability in the outer packaging 28 and leads to improved mounting of the pouch base.
The outer packaging 28 shown in FIG. 1 to 3 is shown in detail in FIG. 6 to 10.
The tubular outer packaging 28 is produced by an overlap 34 of the two ends of a level pre-cut part and the adhesion of the ends in the overlap region (FIG. 6, 7).
The open ends 31, 33 of the outer packaging 28, in the first position in the viewing direction of the tube axis z, form congruent hexagons with two sides a, b lying parallel to a plane E of symmetry and two respective sides c1, c2 or d1, d2 enclosing an angle α<180° and lying mirror symmetrically with respect to the plane E of symmetry.
A straight fold edge g, h, in each case, runs between the common corner points of the sides c1, c2 or d1, d2 of the two ends 31, 33 lying mirror symmetrically with respect to the plane E of symmetry.
In the second position shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 to 10, the open ends 31, 33, in the viewing direction of the tube axis z, form congruent quadrilaterals with the two sides a b, lying parallel to the plane E of symmetry and the two quadrilateral sides c, d lying perpendicular to the plane E of symmetry and formed from the hexagon sides c1, c2 or d1, d2 by widening the angle α to 180°. One end 31 of the tubular outer packing 28 is used as a standing face.
In a first embodiment of an outer packaging 28, arcuately curved fold edges i, k, l, m run between the mutually corresponding corner points of the congruent quadrilaterals of the open ends 31, 33. Two mutually adjacent, arcuately curved fold edges i, k, l, m in each case form, together with the sides a, b, c, d connecting them, outer faces 37, 39, or 41, 43 of the outer packaging 28. The outer faces 37, 39 or 41, 43 of the outer packing 28, which oppose one another pair-wise, are concavely or convexly curved pair-wise.
In a second embodiment of an outer packaging 28, indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 4, 6, 8, 9, straight fold edges i′-i″, k′-k″; l′-l″, m′-m″ which are bent in the centre thereof run between the mutually corresponding corner points of the congruent quadrilaterals of the open ends 31, 33. Two mutually adjacent straight fold edges i′-i″, k′-k″; l′-l″, m′-m″ which are bent in the centre in each case form, together with the sides a, b, c, d connecting them, outer faces 37, 39, 41, 43 of the outer packaging 28. The outer faces 37, 39 or 41, 43 of the outer packaging 28, which oppose one another pair-wise, are composed pair-wise of two respective level part faces 37′-37″, 39′-39″ or 41′-41″, 43′-43″ and are bent inwardly or outwardly.
The concavely curved outer faces 37, 39 in each case have two openings 50, 52.
As emerges from FIG. 6, the outer packaging 28 is divided along the straight fold edges g, h between the centre M thereof and the open ends 31, 33 over a part length u, in each case. The separation has a spacing s from the open ends 31, 33 and a spacing t from the centre M. The part lengths u of the outer packaging 28 which are separated along the straight fold edges g, h are at least 20% of the length of the fold edges g, h and are spaced apart by at least 10% of the length of the fold edges g, h from the centre M thereof and to the ends 31, 33.
In the outer packaging 28 which is shown by way of example in FIG. 6, the latter has openings 50, 52, which consist of two halves, which are rotationally symmetrical with respect to the straight fold edges g, h, the part lengths u corresponding to connecting lines of the rotationally symmetrical halves of the openings 50, 52.
As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the convexly curved outer faces 41, 43 may also have openings 60, 62. The opening 60 may, for example, be designed as a tear-off part bordered by a perforation line. This tear-off part, which is connected to the packaging pouch located therebelow, is, if necessary, released from the outer packaging, so a pour-out or shake-out opening is produced.
The contours of the open ends 31, 33 which are formed in the second position of the outer packaging 28 in the viewing direction of the tube axis z may, as quadrilaterals, be square or rectangular, with outwardly curved side edges or with outwardly pointing corners, or may also have other continuous or discontinuous contours.
The outer packaging 28 present in the first position can be pressed together in a planar manner, so the hexagonal sides c1, b, d1 rest congruently at the two ends 31, 33 on the sides c2, a, d2 lying mirror symmetrically with respect to the plane E of symmetry, and the fold edges i, k, or the outer face 41 bordered by them rest congruently on the fold edges l, m or on the outer face 43 bordered by them. Likewise, the first halves of the outer faces 37, 39 which are bordered by the arcuately curved fold edges i, k, and the straight fold edges g, h rest congruently on the second halves of the outer faces 37, 39 bordered by the fold edges m, l and the straight fold edge g, h.
In the first position, pressed together in a planar manner, of the outer packaging 28, the openings 50, 52 can be produced by simultaneous punching out of two halves, which are rotationally symmetrical with respect to the straight fold edge g, h.
FIG. 5 shows a selection of punched figures, which represent rotationally symmetrical halves of the openings 50, 52 with respect to the straight fold edge g, h. The punched figures are not limited to the selection shown and may have practically any desired contours. The openings 50, 52 of an outer packaging 28 may all, or for example pair-wise, have the same contour. However, the openings 50, 52 may also all have different contours on one and the same outer packaging 28.
As explained below with the aid of FIG. 6 to 10, the form shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the outer packaging 28 is produced by transferring it from a first position into a second position, forming the concave curvature of the outer faces 37, 39.
By pressing the straight fold edges g, h together between the openings 50, 52 in the arrow direction A, the second position of the outer packaging 28 is produced from the first position. The outer faces 41, 43 of the outer packaging 28 extending between the sides a, b of the two ends 31, 33 lying parallel to the plane E of symmetry are formed pair-wise into convexly curved faces or bent outwardly over two level part faces 41′-41″, 43′-43″, and the outer faces 37, 39 extending between the sides c, d lying perpendicular to the plane E of symmetry are formed pair-wise into concavely curved faces or bent inwardly over two level part faces 37′-37″, 39′-39″. When pressing the straight fold edges g, h together, the outer faces 37, 39 spontaneously spring, shortly before reaching the second position, into their dimensionally stable end position, which is concavely curved or bent inwardly over the two level part faces 37′-37″, 39 ′-39″.
It should also be mentioned here that the particular configuration of the outer packaging 28 with the two openings 50, 52 on the two sides of a centre plane M does not only prevent the tearing of the outer packaging 28 on the fold lines g, h in the region of the open ends 31, 33, but simultaneously leads to the user pressing the outer packing 28 together in the optimal region between the two openings 50, 52.
The second position of the outer packaging 28 shown in FIG. 6 to 10 has, for example, the following dimensions:


	height H	80 mm
	first width A1 of the open ends 31, 33	50 mm
	second width B1 of the open ends 31, 33	35 mm
	first width A2 halfway up (40 mm)	35 mm
	second width B2 halfway up (40 mm)	50 mm

Proceeding from these dimensions, all uniformly symmetrically enlarged or reduced forms, lead to ideal outer packagings with regard to the formation and stability of the second position. Obviously, other forms with differing proportions are also possible. Further possible forms with proportions differing from the ideal form can be determined by simple tests.
The outer packaging 28 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 only has two arcuately curved fold edges i, l. In the second position, this produces only a concavely curved outer face 37, and the open ends 31, 33 have a substantially triangular contour.
In the packaging unit shown in FIG. 13, an opening 53 is not completely punched out, but limited by a weakening line 51, for example in the form of a line perforation. The packaging pouch 10 is glued, for example by hot-melt, in the region of the weakening line 51 to the outer packaging 28 in such a way that when the part of the outer packaging 28 freeing the opening 53 and bordered by the weakening line 51 is separated, an opening is also produced in the packaging pouch 10 located therebelow. The packaging pouch is preferably also provided in this region with a weakening line. The separation which is required to protect the straight fold edge from being torn takes place simultaneously here with the formation of the opening 53, which can be used as a pouring or shaking opening, depending on the type of filling product.
In the packaging unit shown in FIG. 14, a weakening line 54, for example in the form of a line perforation, is arranged below the upper end 33 of the outer packaging 28. The weakening line 54 begins at the straight fold edge g, runs for a short distance parallel to the upper end 33 of the outer packaging 28 and then to the upper end 33, forming a tear-off part 56. The packaging pouch 10, in the region below the weakening line 54, is provided with a tear notch and connected to the tear-off part 54, for example by hot-melt. When the tear-off part 56 is torn away, the packaging pouch 10 also tears, and by further pulling of the tear-off part 56 along the upper end 33 of the outer packaging 28, the packaging pouch 10 is opened close to the upper end. Therefore, the transverse sealing seam 20 may be arranged just above the upper end 33, so packaging material can be saved.
In the packaging unit shown in FIG. 15, the transverse sealing seam 20 of the packaging pouch 20 is peelable in such a way that when the straight fold edges g, h are pressed together in the arrow direction A, the separating force acting on the transverse sealing seam 20 in the arrow direction B is exceeded. During the transition of the outer packaging 28 from the first into the second position, an automatic opening of the packaging pouch 10 therefore takes place. By selecting a correspondingly stiff material for the outer packaging 28, the transverse sealing seam 20 may have an adequately high adhesive force for many filling products. Apart from a peelable hot seal, a cold seal may also be used, for example.
A special embodiment of an outer packaging 28 is shown in FIG. 16 to 19. Here, a part of the rear wall 32 in the form of a handle 44 projects over the straight fold edge h. The fold edge h runs as a limiting line to a narrow strip 35, which is glued to the inside of the rear wall 32 to form the tubular outer packaging 28, in the front wall 30. The sides d1, d2 adjacent to the handle, of the open ends 31, 33 are longer than the more distant sides c1, c2. When the straight fold edges g, h are pressed together in the arrow direction A, a concave outer face is produced only on the side opposing the handle, so the ends 31, 33 of the outer packaging 28 form a pentagon. A packaging unit with a packaging pouch 10 and an outer packaging 28 according to FIG. 16 to 19, in the first position, produces a flat pouch packaging and, in the second position, a cup.
The handle 44 which is formed as an arched handle, can also be configured as a strip, which is parallel to the fold edge h and optionally also separable from the outer packaging 28.
On tearing the opening part 26 away or on opening the packaging pouch 10 by cutting away the pouch end, an opening 38 is produced in all the embodiments of the invention in the packaging pouch 10, said opening being able to be adjusted by pressing together the straight fold edges g, h or the sealing seams 34, 35 of the outer packaging 28 in the arrow direction A to the maximum opening size predetermined by the second position.
Further design possibilities of the outer packaging 28 are shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.
In the outer packaging 28 shown in FIG. 20, the arcuately curved fold edges i, k, l, m are severed in a region extending over the centre M thereof, forming a slot-like recess 64. In the example shown, the recesses 64 in each case extend into the concavely curved outer faces 37, 39. Instead of the recesses 64, only separating cuts may also be provided in the curved fold edges. For example, three to five separating cuts may be provided between the open ends 31, 33 in each of the arcuately curved fold edges i, k, l, m. These slot-like recesses 64 or separating cuts can prevent the concavely curved outer faces 37, 39 from springing back from the folded open second position of the outer packaging 28 even during strong pressing together of the two convexly curved outer faces 41, 43.
Furthermore, it is provided in the outer packaging 28 shown in FIG. 20 that on the end 31 forming the standing face, the edge of the convexly curved outer faces 41, 43, between the fold edges i, k, or l, m bordering them, is provided with a curvature 66 pointing away from the standing face. This produces a more stable standing face for the outer packaging 28 in the folded open second position.
In the outer packaging 28 shown in FIG. 21, a base 68, which projects from the edge of one of the convexly curved outer faces 41, 43, is provided with an insertion flap 70 at the end 31 forming the standing face. The base 68 projects upwardly in the first, folded-together position. When the outer packaging 28 is transferred from the first into the second, folded open position, the base 68 folds down against the standing face and the insertion flap 70 springs into an insertion opening 72 which is arranged in the opposing outer face 41, 43. The base 68 gives the outer packaging 28 increased stability and improved standing ability. The base 68 also prevents the concavely curved outer faces 37, 39 from springing back. The base 68 can also be configured as a conventional automatic base.
It should also be mentioned at this point that the radii of the arcuately curved fold edges i, k, l, m may also lie asymmetrically with respect to the centre of the outer packaging 28, so that in the second, folded open position, for example, a square upper and a rectangular lower opening is produced.
All the elements contained in FIGS. 20 and 21, such as the recesses 64 or part cuts in the curved fold edges i, k, l, m, the base 68 and the curved edge 66, may be present in the outer packaging 28 individually or else in any desired combination.

Claims

1. A packaging unit with a packaging pouch made of a flexible film-like first material and with a substantially dimensionally stable outer packaging made of a second material, in which the outer packaging is tubular with a tube axis and is configured with open ends and the ends, in the viewing direction of the tube axis, in a first position, form a polygon with at least two sides enclosing an angle a<180° and lying mirror-symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry and, in a second position, form a polygon with at least one side lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, wherein a straight fold edge runs in the first position between the corner points of the sides of the two ends lying mirror-symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry, and, in the second position, the sides of the two ends lying mirror mirror-symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry form an angle a=180°, wherein the outer packaging is adapted to be brought into the second position from the first position by pressing in the straight fold edge(s), and wherein at least two curved or two straight fold edges which are bent in the centre thereof run between the two ends in the first and second position in such a way that, in the second position, the outer face(s) of the outer packaging extending between the sides of the two ends lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry is/are concavely curved or bent inwardly over two level part faces, wherein the outer packaging is divided along the straight fold edge(s) between the centre thereof and the open ends and at a spacing from the open ends and at a spacing from the centre over a part length.

2. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the ends, in the first position, form a hexagon with two sides lying parallel and two respective sides enclosing an angle a<180° and lying mirror-symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry and, in the second position, form a quadrilateral with two sides lying parallel and two sides lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, wherein a straight fold edge, in each case, runs, in the first position, between the corner points of the sides of the two ends lying mirror-symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry, and, in the second position, the sides of the two ends lying mirror-symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry in each case form an angle a=180°, wherein the outer packaging is adapted to be brought into the second position from the first position by pressing the straight fold edges against one another.

3. A packaging unit according to claim 2, wherein the curved fold edges or the straight fold edges which are bent in the centre run in the first and second position between the corner points of the sides of the two ends lying parallel to the plane of symmetry in such a way that, in the second position, the outer faces of the outer packaging extending between the sides of the two ends lying parallel to the plane of symmetry are convexly curved or bent outwardly over two level part faces and the outer faces of the outer packaging extending between the sides of the two ends lying perpendicular to the plane of symmetry are concavely curved or are bent inwardly over two level part faces.

4. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein one end of the outer packaging provides a standing face for the packaging pouch projecting from the other end with a separable opening part.

5. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the packaging pouch which is arranged in the outer packaging in a pouch longitudinal direction corresponding to the tube axis is at least partially fastened on the inside of the outer packaging.

6. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the part lengths of the outer packaging separated along the straight fold edges are at least 20% of the length of the fold edges.

7. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the part lengths of the outer packaging separated along the straight fold edges are spaced apart by at least 10% of the length of the fold edges from the centre thereof and the ends.

8. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer packaging has openings consisting of two halves which are rotationally symmetrical with respect to the straight fold edges, the part lengths corresponding to connecting lines of the rotationally symmetrical halves of the openings.

9. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the pouch material is a single-layer or multi-layer film made of plastics material and optionally laminated with a paper layer, or a paper laminated with plastics material, and wherein the outer packaging material is cardboard or a transparent or opaque plastics material.

10. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the packaging pouch is fastened to the inner wall of the outer packaging by point-wise adhesive points.

11. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the packaging pouch is a stand-up pouch, a tubular pouch or an extruded pouch.

12. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the arcuately curved fold edges are severed in at least one region extending over at least the centre thereof, forming at least one slot-like recess or at least one separating cut.

13. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the convexly curved outer faces between the fold edges bordering them is provided with a curvature pointing away from the standing face on the end forming a standing face.

14. A packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein a base with an insertion flap or an automatic base is provided on the outer packaging.

15. A method comprising using a packaging unit according to claim 1 to package a product.