WO2004018309A1

WO2004018309A1 - Packaging, in particular a folded carton made from cardboard or cardboard laminate

Info

Publication number: WO2004018309A1
Application number: PCT/CH2003/000337
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erich Specker
Original assignee: Rondo Ag
Priority date: 2002-08-21
Filing date: 2003-05-30
Publication date: 2004-03-04
Also published as: AU2003229230A1

Abstract

The packaging (1) has a lid (6a, 6b), on which a flexible, preferably parallelogram-shaped hollow strip (9) with a clipping tongue (7) is arranged. A hollow strip (10) is also arranged in the region of a front face wall (5), which forms a clipping edge (8), behind which the clipping tongue (7) may be clipped in the closed state. As a child security measure an opening of the lid is only indirectly possible, whereby the clipping tongue (7) is pushed back under the clipping edge (8) through a grip opening (16a, 16b). The clipping tongue, arranged close to the base and roughly parallel to the base (2) of the packaging has the advantage of not being accessible from the outside except for the clipping opening.

Description

Packaging, in particular folding boxes made of cardboard or cardboard laminate

The invention relates to packaging, in particular a folding box made of cardboard or cardboard laminate according to the preamble of claim 1.

Packaging of this type is used for various purposes, including in the pharmaceutical industry for the packaging of medicines. The packaging can be closed again and again until the contents of the pack are finally used up. The child lock is used to make it impossible for children to open the closed packaging. The cover can only be swung open if the opening function is known precisely.

A packaging of comparable type has become known, for example, from FR 2 760 428. The flat plug-in element is provided with openings which engage in locking tongues when inserted. The locking tongues are approximately in the same plane as the openings. The latching can only be released by a double movement, by first pushing the lid a little deeper into the packaging and then pressing the packaging sideways so that the locking tongues are lifted out of the openings. This opening function is relatively complicated and is difficult even for adults, especially older people. In addition, the system cannot be applied to certain types of packaging.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide packaging of the type mentioned at the outset which can be opened easily with the child safety function being as optimal as possible. This object is achieved according to the invention with a packaging which has the features in claim 1. The latching tongue arranged on the lid or in the region of a side wall section, which extends near the floor and approximately at the floor level, has the advantage that it is not accessible from the lid side when the packaging is closed. In the locked position, the latching tongue engages behind a corresponding latching edge under spring tension, which is audible and perceptible when closing, so that there is certainty that the packaging is actually properly closed. To release the latching, the latching tongue must be pushed away from the latching edge approximately plane-parallel to the floor against the spring preload, which can be done in different ways. Handle openings are conceivable, for example, through which the pack can be intervened to release the latching, but the function of such openings is not recognizable for children.

The latching tongue is particularly advantageously arranged on a hollow strip that is preferably deformable in parallelogram cross-section. With the help of such a hollow strip, a spring property can be achieved due to the resilience of the selected material. The parallelogram-like deformation has the advantage that the latching tongue always remains in the plane of the floor and thus only releases the latching when it is completely detached from the latching edge. The locking tongue could also be arranged on a simple web or the like.

The latching tongue is advantageously arranged on the cover, because in the closed state it can then rest practically flat on the bottom of the packaging. A dimensionally stable latching results when the latching tongue extends over the entire width of the cover. But it would also be conceivable to have several locking tongues to be arranged evenly or unevenly on the lid. Finally, according to the principle of kinematic reversal, the latching tongue could also be arranged in the region of a side wall section, the cover having to form a latching edge in a suitable manner.

A particularly efficient manufacture of the packaging results if the latching tongue is formed as a fold on a side wall of the hollow strip on the cover. Such a, preferably glued fold results in an extremely dimensionally stable latching tongue.

The latching edge is advantageously also formed by a hollow strip which is part of an end wall section. Such a hollow strip is dimensionally stable and rigid and does not change its shape even after numerous opening and closing processes.

The inner wall of such a hollow strip is particularly advantageously inclined at an angle to the floor in such a way that the latching tongue runs onto the inner wall when the cover is closed and is pushed back against the spring preload. This ensures that the latching tongue engages when reaching the latching edge using the maximum possible pretensioning force and in its entire depth.

A dimensionally stable packaging which is well protected against external influences can also be achieved if it has two parallel hollow side walls which run at right angles to the articulation axis of the cover and are rectangular in cross section. To stabilize the hollow side walls, they can be glued directly or indirectly to a rear side wall section or to an end side wall section. The hollow side walls have a particularly positive effect on the child safety of the packaging if the side edges of the cover which are parallel to the hollow side walls have side skirts which run parallel to the inner walls of the hollow side walls and preferably bear against them. Obviously, this leaves no free side edge on the lid as an opportunity for violent tearing open. Even with a pointed object or the like, it is not possible to reach under and lift the lid. The stability can be increased further if the cover and the side wall aprons are double-layered, the two layers being at least partially glued to one another.

It has proven to be particularly expedient if the latching tongue can be displaced against the spring preload by at least one handle opening, preferably arranged on the floor, in order to release the latching. Of course, the configuration of the handle opening should be selected so that it is just sufficient to release the catch. Without additional information on the packaging using pictograms or text, the opening function would not be readily apparent to adults, either.

However, it would also be conceivable for the latching tongue to be displaceable against the spring preload in order to release the latching by pressing on at least one pressure point arranged on the bottom or on the lid and possibly marked. This version is particularly advantageous if the latching tongue, as described above, is arranged on a hollow strip on the cover and if this hollow strip is inclined at an angle to the bottom of the packaging. The hollow strip, which has a parallelogram cross-section, is deformed by opposing pressure on the base and lid, the latching tongue sliding out of the latching. The packaging according to the invention is basically suitable for all packaging goods which have to be kept away from children. In certain cases, it is expedient if, on a section of the packaging, a preferably flat packaging item is held captive and can be swung out of the packaging interior. In this way, blisters could be fixed with tablets or capsules, for example. In this way, a patient or a doctor always has an overview of the medication already consumed.

Further advantages and individual features of the invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment and from the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1: a blank for a packaging with the features of the invention,

Figure 2: the cut according to Figure 1 after a first

Folding and gluing operation,

FIG. 3: a package from the blank according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the erected and opened state,

Figure 4: the packaging according to Figure 3 in the closed

Status,

Figure 5: a greatly enlarged partial cross section through the

3 in the area of the latching device shortly before the lid is closed, FIG. 6: the cross section according to FIG. 5 in the closed state, and

Figure 7 shows a cross section analogous to Figure 6, but in an alternative embodiment without a handle opening.

FIG. 1 shows a blank generally designated 18, for example made of cardboard, which was punched out or cut out with a corresponding tool. Adjacent sections, which later do not lie in the same plane, are separated from one another by fold lines 19 shown in broken lines or by perforation lines 20 shown in broken lines. At a rectangular bottom 2 close laterally from the inside to the outside side wall sections 4, 4, the tops 22, 22 ^{Λ of} the later hollow side walls, the inner walls 14, 14 ^{Λ of} the later hollow side walls and the adhesive tabs 21, 21 ^Λ .

A rear side wall section 3 is arranged on one long side of the base 2 and an end side wall section 5 is arranged on the opposite long side. The latter two sections are connected to the side wall sections 4, 4 ^Λ at each end via a joint fold 23. When erected, these hinge folds create a dustproof and tamper-proof connection of the corner edges.

A web 27 follows on the rear side wall section 3 and is later glued laterally onto the upper sides 22, 22. The actual cover 6a with the side skirts 13a, 13a ^{Λ is} arranged on the web 27. A second cover section 6b with side skirts 13b, 13b ^Λ is later glued to the cover section 6a. An end face 33 of a later hollow strip, a folding web 32 for the formation of the later locking tongue, a bottom 31 of the later hollow strip and a rear wall 30 of the later hollow strip are connected to the cover section 6a. Adhesive tongues 29 are cut out in the region of the end face 33, to which the web 32 is later glued. Finally, connecting tongues 28 are cut out of the cover section 6b, to which a blister strip is later glued.

The top side 24 of a later hollow strip is arranged on the end wall section 5. This is laterally glued to the tops 22 and 22. On the upper side 24 there is an inner wall 15 and a bottom 25 of the later hollow strip and finally an adhesive tab 26 which is later glued to the bottom 2. A handle opening 16a or 16b is arranged both in the base 2 and in the adhesive tab 26, which openings lie one above the other in the glued state.

After a first folding and gluing operation according to FIG. 2, the glue tabs 21, 21 ^λ and 26 are glued to the base 2. In addition, the cover section 6b is glued to the cover section 6a underneath. The side skirts 13a, 13b and 13a ^Λ , 13b are also firmly connected to one another, but they do not run congruently.

In a next operation, the hollow side walls 11, 11 ^λ or the hollow upright bars 9 and 10 and stabilized by an appropriate adhesive. Be The final state of the ready-to-use packaging is shown in FIG. 3, a tablet blister 17 being glued to the connecting tongues 28 on the inside of the lid. The cuboid packaging obtains its lateral stability by gluing the web 27 or the upper side 24 to the upper sides 22, 22 of the hollow side walls 11, 11 ^Λ . The lower edge 34 of the cover section 6b projects beyond the outer cover section 6a, which is not visible here, so that it rests against the inside of the web 27 when the cover is closed. The side skirts 13a, 13b and 13a, 13b abut the inner walls 14, 14 of the hollow side walls 11, 11 ^Λ .

A locking tongue 7 is now arranged on the hollow strip 9 assigned to the cover, the appearance and function of which will be described in more detail below.

According to FIG. 4, the cuboid packaging 1 in the closed state in the area of the cover 6a is delimited on three sides by the upper sides 22, ^22λ and 24. The lid can be pivoted about the articulation axis 12, and under no reach is possible at any point because of the side skirts 13a, 13b, 13a ^Λ , 13b ^Λ or because of the end face 33 (FIG. 3). The packaging is extremely torsion-resistant and impact-resistant. Tearing or scratching can be made more difficult if a cardboard box with a plastic coating is selected as the starting material.

Figures 5 and 6 show details of the locking device. First of all, the configuration of the hollow strip 9 on the cover, which is parallelogram-like in cross section, can be seen. The rear wall 30 and end wall 33 have approximately the same width, so that the bottom 31 with the latching tongue 7 can be displaced approximately plane-parallel to the cover 6a in the direction of arrow a. Since the application of adhesive in the area of the folding web 32 is difficult, the adhesive tongue is formed to form the latching tongue 7 on the adhesive tongues 29 broken out of the end wall 33. The parallelogram is prestressed against the free end of the latching tongue 7.

In cross section, the hollow strip 10 on the end wall 5 does not form a parallelogram, but an irregular square. The Inner wall 15 is inclined at an angle to the floor 2. An acute-angled inclination to the base 2 is also provided for the base 25 of the hollow strip 10, so that a locking edge 8 is formed in the connection area between the inner wall 15 and the base 25.

When the cover is pressed in the direction of arrow b, the latching tongue runs on the inner wall 15 until it engages under the latching edge 8 according to FIG. 6. The parallelogram is obviously deformed against the spring preload in the opposite direction. Because of the wall sections 15 and 33 lying approximately flat against one another, it is not possible to grasp the lid from the outside. To release the latching, for example, a thumb 35 must be gripped through the handle openings 16a, 16b in order to push the latching tongue 7 back in the direction of the arrow c until it leaves the latching edge 8. Now the lid can be pushed up again in the direction of arrow d.

In the alternative embodiment according to FIG. 7, the blank is basically the same as that in FIG. 1. However, the handle opening 16a, 16b, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, is missing. The closing movement is exactly the same as in the previous embodiment. To open the lid, however, pressure must be exerted on the two pressure points 36a and 36b in the direction of the arrows d and e. These pressure points are directly offset laterally over the rear wall 30 of the hollow bar 9 on the cover. As a result, the hollow strip is deformed in the manner of a parallelogram, as is indicated by the dash-dotted lines. As can be seen, the latching tongue 7 is pulled away under the latching edge 8. In this intermediate position, the pressure is shifted from arrow direction e to arrow direction f, while it is maintained in arrow direction d. This means that the packaging is easily opened in the entire cross-section arc, whereby the already retracted locking tongue 7 comes to rest on the inclined inner wall 15 of the hollow strip 10. This finally enables the lid to be opened.

Of course, it is also necessary in this exemplary embodiment to mark the pressure points 36a, 36b and 36c, with appropriate pictograms or legends giving the user information on handling the packaging. Experiments with packaging according to the invention on a group of children have shown that they are unable to access the packaging contents within a certain period of time. On the other hand, the packaging can easily be opened by older people and then properly closed again.

Claims

claims

1. Packaging (1), in particular folding box made of cardboard or cardboard laminate, with a bottom (2), a side wall formed from preferably several sections (3, 4, 4 ^Λ , 5) and a hinged lid (6a, 6b), and with a locking means which can be locked in a locked position for child-proof closing of the packaging, in which the lid cannot be swung open, the locking being releasable only by targeted force on at least one element of the packaging, characterized in that the locking means has at least one has on the cover or in the region of a side wall section arranged latching tongue (7) which runs close to the floor and approximately in the floor plane, and which can be latched behind a corresponding latching edge (8) in the locked position under spring tension.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching tongue (7) is arranged on a hollow strip (9) which is preferably deformable in parallelogram cross-section.

3. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that the latching tongue (7) is arranged on the cover (6a, 6b) and preferably extends over the entire width of the cover.

4. Packaging according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the latching tongue (7) is formed as a fold on a side wall (33) of the hollow strip (9).

5. Packaging according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the latching edge (8) is formed by a hollow strip (10) which is part of an end wall section (5).

6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner wall (15) of the hollow strip (10) on the end wall (5) is inclined at an angle to the floor (2) such that the latching tongue (7) when the lid is closed the inner wall runs up and is pushed back against the spring preload.

7. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it has two parallel hollow side walls (11, 11) which run at right angles to the articulation axis (12) of the cover and have a rectangular cross section.

8. Packaging according to claim 7, characterized in that the parallel to the hollow side walls (11, 11 ^Λ ) side edges of the lid have side skirts (13a, 13b, 13a 13b ^λ ) which are parallel to the inner walls (14, 14 ^Λ ) of the hollow side walls run and preferably lie against them.

9. Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover (6a, 6b) and side skirts (13a ^Λ , 13b ^λ ) are double-layered, the two layers being at least partially glued to one another.

10. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the latching tongue (7) for releasing the latching by at least one preferably on the bottom (2) arranged handle opening (16a, 16b) is displaceable against the spring preload.

11. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the latching tongue (7) for releasing the latching by pressing on at least one each on the bottom or on the lid arranged and possibly marked pressure point is displaceable against the spring preload.

12. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a preferably flat packaging material (17) is held captive on a section (29) of the packaging and can be swung out of the packaging interior.