WO2006077479A1

WO2006077479A1 - A pocket-size pack for consumer products

Info

Publication number: WO2006077479A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/000071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano De Maria; Fulvio Boldrini
Original assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A.
Priority date: 2005-01-24
Filing date: 2006-01-18
Publication date: 2006-07-27
Also published as: ITBO20050037A1

Abstract

Confectionery products (2) such as sweets or pastilles are arranged in a pocket-size pack composed of an outer wrapper (3) , and an inner wrapper (4) fashioned from two matched leaves (7, 8) of pliable heat-sealable material joined together by a network of weld lines (5) so as to create a matrix of sealed pockets (6), each containing a single product (2); the weld lines (5) are also scored lengthwise with respective easy-tear lines (9) so that the sealed pockets (6) can be separated cleanly one from another.

Description

POCKET-SIZE PACK FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pocket-size pack for consumer products .

In particular, the invention concerns a pocket-size pack for confectionery products , typically sweets or candies , pastilles , chocolates and the like, albeit no limitation in scope is implied .

Background Art

Leaving aside the conventional "stick" type pack, used to wrap products of substantially parallelepiped or flattish appearance stacked together in groups of predetermined number, many other types of packs are familiar in the art field of confectionery, serving to contain predetermined quantities of products . By way of example , these include packs that consist in a box-like container of paper, plastic or metal material , furnished with a lid and designed to hold a predetermined quantity of loose products .

Packs of this type are not able to guarantee the standards of hygiene demanded by modern consumers ; regarding the question of hygiene, moreover, products often cannot be successfully dispensed in the number actually desired, so that when more confections than intended are released from the box-like container, the surplus items must be put back in . The obj ect of the present invention is to provide a socket-size pack for consumer products such as will 3e unaffected by the drawbacks mentioned above in connection with the prior art .

Disclosure of the Invention The stated obj ect is realized according to the present invention, in a pocket-size pack for consumer products as characterized in one or more of the claims appended.

The invention will now be described in detail , by way of example , with the aid of the accompanying drawings , in which :

-figure 1 is a perspective view showing a pocket-size pack for confectionery products , typically sweets , pastilles , chocolates and the like , illustrated in a first embodiment ;

-figure 2 is a perspective view showing a pocket-size pack for confectionery products , typically sweets , pastilles , chocolates and the like , illustrated in a second embodiment ; -figure 3 is a perspective view showing a detail of the pack illustrated in figure 1 ;

-figure 4 is a perspective view of a pack containing confectionery products shaped differently to those illustrated in figures 1 and 2 ; -figure 5 shows a detail of the pack according to invention, viewed fragmentarily and in section .

With reference to figures 1 and 2 , numeral 1 denotes a pack of pocket size for consumer products , in its entirety, and typically for confectionery products 2 including sweets , pastilles , chocolates and the like .

Referring in particular to figure 1 , the pack 1 comprises an outer wrapper 3 made of rigid material , such as cardboard, and an inner wrapper 4 of pliable heat-sealable material . The inner wrapper 4 presents a plurality of weld lines 5 , extending substantially at right angles one to another in the examples illustrated, by which it is divided into a plurality of sealed pockets 6 each designed to contain a single product 2.

The wrapper 4 in question presents a substantially flat appearance and consists , as discernible from figure 5 , in two portions 7 and 8 of heat-sealable material matched and secured one to another by the aforementioned weld lines 5.

The weld lines 5 are scored with respective crease or break lines 9 such as will allow a single pocket 6 and the relative product 2 to be detached from the wrapper without any risk of the adj oining pockets 6 being torn (see figure 3 ) .

Once separated from the remainder of the inner wrapper 4 , the single pocket 6 becomes an independent pack in its turn, maintaining the same conditions of hygiene as when joined to the selfsame wrapper 4.

In another embodiment of the pack, not illustrated but readily inferable from the accompanying drawings , the products 2 can be vacuum-packed internally of the sealed pockets 6 to guarantee optimum preservation. In the example of figure 1 , the outer wrapper 3 of the pack 1 presents a supporting wall 10 to which the inner wrapper 4 is anchored stably and permanently; more exactly, the inner wrapper 4 is attached to the inside face of the wall 10 by way of a heat-sealed seam or a bead of adhesive 11 extending along one peripheral edge 12 (see also figure 3 ) .

The outer wrapper 3 also presents a second wall 13 functioning as a closure or lid and j oined hingedly to the supporting wall 10 , for example along a hinge line 14 adj acent to the heat-sealed seam 11 , and a flap 15 j oined to the side of the supporting wall 10 opposite to the side along which the inner wrapper 4 is anchored . A tab denoted 16 combines with a matching slot 17 cut into the flap 15 to establish separable fastening means by which the lid 13 and the flap 15 can be connected to provide the pack 1 with a stable closure . In the example of figure 2 , the outer wrapper 3 appears as a substantially parallelepiped box 18 furnished with a lid 19 and proportioned to contain one or more inner wrappers 4 , which in this instance are detached and removable from the outer wrapper 3. Likewise in the embodiment of figure 1 , the pack 1 might contain a plurality of inner wrappers 4.

To facilitate the step of opening the single pockets 6 , notches 20 are impressed along parts of the weld lines 5 bordering each pocket 6. Whilst the products 2 in the examples of figures 1 , 2 , 3 and 5 are flat in appearance and substantially of square outline , the products 2 shown in figure 4 are substantially oval in shape .

It will be appreciated that the outer wrapper 3 , at least , might be of any given shape and furnished with any given type of separable fastening means 16 and 17 such as will ensure a stable closure of the pack 1.

Claims

1) A pocket-size pack for consumer products , characterized in that it comprises an inner wrapper (4) of pliable heat-sealable material presenting a plurality of weld lines (5) designed to create a plurality of sealed pockets (6) containing single products (2 ) , and an openable outer wrapper (3 ) containing the inner wrapper (4) .

2 ) A pack as in claim 1 , wherein the inner wrapper (4) consists in two portions (7 , 8) of heat-sealable material matched and united one to another by the weld lines (5) .

3 ) A pack as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the weld lines (5) are scored with crease or break lines ( 9) serving to facilitate the separation of single sealed pockets (6) from the inner wrapper (4) .

4) A pack as in preceding claims , wherein the inner wrapper (4 ) is anchored permanently to the outer wrapper (3 ) .

5) A pack as in claim 4 , wherein the inner wrapper

(4 ) is anchored permanently, at least along one peripheral edge (14 ) , to an inside face of the outer wrapper (3 ) . 6) A pack as in preceding claims, wherein the outer wrapper (3 ) is fashioned from rigid material .

7) A pack as in claim 5 , wherein the outer wrapper (3 ) presents a first wall (10) supporting the inner wrapper (4 ) and, hinged to the supporting wall (10) , a second wall (13 ) functioning as a closure .

8 ) A pack as in claim 7 , comprising separable fastening means (16 , 17) by which the second wall (13) is secured to the supporting wall (10) in a position coinciding with the closure of the pack (1) .

9) A pack as in claims 1 to 3 , wherein the outer wrapper (3 ) is fashioned from rigid material and consists in a box-like element (18) .

10 ) A pack as in preceding claims , wherein the sealed pockets (6) of the inner wrapper (4) are vacuum-filled .

11) A pack as in preceding claims , wherein the weld lines (5) of the inner wrapper (4) present suitably placed notches (20 ) serving to facilitate the step of opening the sealed pocket (6) .

12 ) A pack as in preceding claims , comprising a plurality of inner wrappers (4) .