WO2006092185A1

WO2006092185A1 - Container

Info

Publication number: WO2006092185A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/000083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Barthel; Salvatore Fileccia; Ulf Arno Timmann; Rudolf TÖPLER; Thomas Bindner
Original assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien
Priority date: 2005-03-01
Filing date: 2006-01-07
Publication date: 2006-09-08
Also published as: JP2008531418A; DE502006000959D1; EP1855951A1; DE102005055814A1; EP1855951B1; ATE398579T1; PL1855951T3; ES2306418T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a container, in particular, for free-flowing bulk materials, comprising a cut-out (16) made from planar, flexible material, in particular, cardboard, which may be folded into at least one part of the container, a first wall (1) and a second adjacent wall (4) of the container. The walls (1, 4) are arranged at an angle to each other and connected to each other to form one piece in the region of a common edge (5), whereby a weakened line (7) runs over each of the walls (1, 4) and encloses the region of a resealable pouring element (6), essentially embodied in the material of the walls (1, 4), whereby a fold line (15) for the pouring element (6) runs across the edge (5) and divides the pouring element (6) into a pouring section (6a) and an operating section (6b). According to the invention, a container permitting a higher number of opening and closing cycles may be achieved, whereby the operating section (6b) comprises a reinforcement element (9) in the region of the edge (5).

Description

container

The present invention relates to a container, in particular for flowable goods, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A large number of containers are known from the prior art with which, in particular, free-flowing goods such as salt can be stored, transported and dispensed. For the purpose of dispensing from the container, a number of solutions are known in which a Dosierschütte can be pulled out of the container. Such solutions are disclosed in US 3,692,227, US 3,404,828 or US 3,313,847.

For example, US Pat. No. 3,692,227 discloses a carton in which a pouring element in the region of an edge of the carton is defined by a weakening line, wherein a lower section of the pouring element can be pressed in by finger pressure, whereupon an upper part of the pouring element folds outwards. The upper part can subsequently be folded in again, whereupon a closed state of the shaking element can be restored.

Such known solutions have disadvantages in practice, since only a small number of repeatable openings of the shaking element is possible before this mechanism becomes inoperable due to the wear of the carton.

This is of relevance in so far as the concentrations of active substance in the bulk materials, such as bulk detergents and detergents, steadily increase with the same packaging size, whereby the number of doses per packaging unit and thus the number of opening and closing cycles of a Dosing chute have grown significantly. It is the object of the invention to improve a container mentioned above in such a way that a higher number of opening and closing cycles is made possible.

This object is achieved with the characterizing features of claim 1.

Due to the reinforcing element in the operating section, wear of the edge, on which a finger pressure is expediently exerted for opening the pouring element, is effectively reduced. In addition, the reinforcing element is a target object for the user of the container, so that a finger pressure at the wrong place, which is usually associated with a particularly high wear or damage to the container material, is effectively avoided. Even when applying the finger pressure at a point deviating from the ideal point, increased wear is largely avoided. A container according to the invention is particularly suitable for the storage of coarse or fine-grained powders, in particular detergents, cleaning agents or salt for dishwashers. The pouring element is very well suited due to its shape for a dosage of dishwasher salt in a provided on the dishwasher feeder.

Contrary to the prevailing view in the art that it is particularly advantageous to align the main fold direction parallel to the fiber direction, according to a preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention, the container is formed of a fibrous material, such as cardboard, with a predominant fiber direction substantially perpendicular to that Main fold direction is aligned. As a result, the function of the shaking element is optimized in a simple and surprising manner with regard to non-isotropic material properties and with regard to corresponding wear.

For example, it has been shown that by the vertical direction of the main folding direction fiber arrangement a significantly higher number of opening and Closing cycles of the chute according to the invention can be achieved without it comes to a material fatigue of the fiber material, for example in the form of cracking. This makes it possible to use a thinner and thus lighter fiber material with the same number of predicted opening and closing cycles.

Furthermore, it has been found that the vertical fiber arrangement increases the restoring forces of the chute such that the snap effect of the chute does not decrease noticeably and measurably over more than ten opening and closing cycles, as with a main folding direction aligned parallel to the grain direction.

The complete snapping of the chute is thus ensured by the inventive arrangement of fiber to folding direction even after a variety of opening and closing cycles and thus ensures the aroma and moisture resistance of the package even with intensive use.

Particularly preferably, the reinforcing element is formed by deformation of the flexible material. In particular, the reinforcing element advantageously comprises a substantially closed score line. As a result, an inventive container can be formed at a particularly low production cost.

To ensure a good function of the shaking element of the container according to the invention, the weakening line has a convexly curved course, at least in the region of the operating section. Such a curved course has resulted in practice in a good distribution of the closing and opening forces of the resealable Schüttelements.

In terms of good functionality, it is also advantageously provided that the weakening line in the region of the pouring section comprises two substantially straight sides which enclose an angle of less than about 90 degrees, particularly preferably less than about 70 degrees. Further advantageously, the bend line in the region of the edge at an angle, based on a flat blank on. This angle is more preferably open to the bulk section and has a size of between about 110 and about 150 degrees. This also ensures a particularly good function of the pouring element.

Furthermore, a preferred embodiment has a reinforcement. of the shaking element at least in a part of a bordered by the line of weakness edge region. Particularly advantageously, the reinforcement is designed as a tab of the blank, which has a recess substantially reshaped to the pouring element. Overall, this ensures increased wear protection in the edge regions of the shaking element and, moreover, increased preloading of the shaking element in the closed or open state can be achieved. A slight overlap of the reinforcement with the edge region of the shaking element also increases the tightness in the closed state, so that an improved aroma protection and / or moisture protection is given.

Furthermore, upon opening the shaking element, a clear noise preferably occurs in the course of a snap-on of the pouring section, whereby the user of the container according to the invention receives a positive feedback when operating the container.

Further advantages and features will become apparent from the below-described embodiment and from the dependent claims.

Hereinafter, a preferred Ausführungsbeispiei a container according to the invention will be described and explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a container according to the invention, wherein the pouring element is in a closed state.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the container of Fig. 1, wherein the pouring element is in an open state.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a blank from which the container of

Fig. 1 can be folded.

4 shows a schematic detail view of the shaking element of the container according to the invention from FIG. 1.

The container according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 consists entirely of cardboard which has a predominant fiber direction. The container is a rectangular box with six pairs of opposite sides. The container is foldable from the blank 16 shown in Fig. 3, wherein the vertical sides 1, 2, 3, 4 are serially connected to each other and delimited by creasing lines 8 around which the sides 1, 2, 3, 4 are bendable. A bottom of the box is formed by bottom tabs 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b respectively arranged on the sides via score lines 8. A lid of the container is seen on corresponding Deckella see 1a, 2a, 4a formed.

By the creasing line located between the front side 1 and a front side 4, an edge 5 is formed, wherein a first wall formed by the front side 1 and a second wall formed by the end face 4 integrally connected via the edge 5 and at an angle of about 90 Degree are arranged to each other. In the region of this edge 5 there is a pouring element 6. The pouring element 6 comprises an upper pouring section 6a and a lower operating section 6b, wherein the pouring element 6 is formed overall symmetrically with respect to the edge 5. The shedding element 6 is enclosed by an overall closed weakening line 7, wherein a part of the weakening line 7 forms the outer edge of the pouring section 6a and a second whose part of the weakening line 7 forms the outer edge of the operating section 6b.

An approximately half pitch of the shaking element 6 in the pouring section 6a and the operating section 6b is defined by a crease line 15, which in its course crosses the edge 5 and, like the weakening line 7, is formed symmetrically to the edge 5. In detail, the weakening line 7 and the crease line 15 are formed as follows. Crease line 15 is a cut or cut line, with material webs 15a being left for the material-like connection of pouring section 6a and operating section 6b (see FIG. 4). The weakening line 7 is a line intersected in the area of the pouring section 6a except for short webs, the remaining webs tearing at a first opening of the pouring section 6a. In the region of the operating section 6b, the weakening line 7 is not cut through, but rather cut into the flexible material only to a certain depth. As a result, the operating section is good kinkable with respect to the walls 1, 4, but it remains materially connected to these.

In the region of the edge 5 in which it passes through the operating section 6b, a reinforcing element 9 is arranged on the pouring element 6 or the operating section 6b. The reinforcing element 9 is a double crease line, which is formed as a pointed ellipse, which lies with its large half-axis on the edge 5. The crease line of the edge 5 is not continuous in this area, but branches into the elliptical arches 9a, 9b (see FIG. 4). In this way, a surface is defined inside the circumferential creasing line of the reinforcing element 9, to which the user of the container can exert with a finger pressure, without the edge 5 being pressed in and being affected.

The more accurate shape of the shaking element 6 has further features to ensure the function: In particular, the weakening line 7 in the region of the operating section 6 has a convexly curved course, wherein the convex arcs 7a, 7b in Fig. 4 are designated. In the area of the pouring section 6a, the weakening line 7 has two substantially straight sections 7c, 7d which enclose an angle of approximately 57 degrees. However, these two straight sections 7c, 7d do not meet in a point but are connected to one another by means of a part-circular section 7e, which at the same time forms a rounded tip of the pouring section 6a. The bend line 8 has, based on the flat blank acc. Fig. 3, an angle which is bisected by the edge 5 and has a total size of about 130 degrees. For further exact dimensional relationships and shapes it is referred to that the cut acc. Fig. 3 and the detail acc. Fig. 4 shows a scale reproduction of a container according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the blank of the container according to the invention has a tab 11 shaped together with an adhesive tab 10, which comprises a first tab half 11a and a second tab half 11b separated by a score line 12. Symmetrical to the score line 12 and thus extending over both flap halves 11a, 11b, a recess 13 is punched out of the tab 11, which corresponds in shape and size substantially to the pouring element 6. In the folded state of the container, this recess 13 lies with its edge region 14 inside the container behind the pouring element 6, so that the pouring element is reinforced in its edge region defined by the weakening line 7. The pouring element 6 can thus overlap with the edge region 14 or even abut against it, so that an improved tightness is given and also an increased bias of the shaking element 6 in the closing direction is made possible.

The invention now works as follows:

Starting from the closed state of the container acc. Fig. 1, the user of the container exerts a pressure on the reinforcing element 9 with a finger, eg thumb or forefinger. As a result, the operating portion 6b is pressed toward the container interior, and the bent portions 7a, 7b the weakening line 7 are pressed outward, whereas the container walls 1, 4 and the reinforcement 11, 13 provide resilient resistance. The pouring portion 6a completes a movement opposite to the operating portion 6b, wherein the rounded tip 7e of the pouring portion 6a moves outwardly and releases an opening of the container. After exceeding a dead center, the spring forces of the walls 1, 4 no longer act against the user's finger pressure, but support, so that the pouring portion 6a suddenly opens outwards and the operating element 6b suddenly yields inward. Due to the previously introduced spring preload, the noise is caused by the deformed walls 1, 4, which can be described as "pop." In the above-described dimensions and angular dimensions, the pouring section 6a is in the open state with a similar angulation The operating section 6b has jumped into a folded position with respect to the angulation of its surfaces The closing of the container takes place by folding up the pouring section 6a, as a result of which the operating section 6b Again, there is a dead center, after which the bulk section 6 jumps with a noise in its closed position.

Claims

claims

1. container, in particular for flowable goods, comprising: a blank (16) made of flat, flexible material, in particular cardboard, which is foldable at least to a part of the container, a first wall (1) and an adjacent second wall (4) the container, wherein the walls (1, 4) arranged at an angle to each other and in the region of a common edge (5) are integrally connected to each other, wherein a line of weakness (7) over each of the walls (1, 4) extends and the area of a resealable Schüttelements (6), which essentially consists of the material of the walls (1, 4), wherein a bending line (15) passes through the pouring element (6) crossing the edge (5) and the pouring element (6) into a pouring section (FIG. 6a) and an operating section (6b) divides and the operating section (6b) in the region of the edge (5) has a reinforcing element (9), characterized in that the container of a Fasermateri al, such as paperboard, with a predominant fiber orientation substantially perpendicular to the edge (5).

2. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcing element (9) is formed by deformation of the flexible material.

3. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that the reinforcing element (9) comprises a substantially closed score line (9a, 9b).

4. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weakening line (7) at least in the region of the operating section (6b) has a convexly curved course.

5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weakening line (7) in the region of the pouring portion (6a) comprises two substantially straight sides (7c, 7d) which enclose an angle of less than about 90 degrees.

A container according to claim 6, characterized in that the two substantially straight sides (7c, 7d) enclose an angle of less than about 70 degrees.

7. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending line (15) has an angle in the region of the edge.

8. A container according to claim 8, characterized in that the angle of

Crease line (15) is open to the bulk section (6a) and has a size of between about 110 and about 150 degrees.

9. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pouring element (6a) has a reinforcement (11) at least in a part of a boundary line delimited by the weakening line (7).

10. A container according to claim 10, characterized in that the reinforcement (11) as a tab of the blank (16) is formed, which is a the

Has pouring element (6) substantially reshaped recess (13).

11. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when opening the shaking element (6) a significant noise in the course of snapping the bulk portion (6a) is formed.

12. Use of a container according to one of the preceding claims for the storage of coarse or fine-grained powder, in particular detergent, cleaning agent or salt for dishwashers.