WO2007052065A1

WO2007052065A1 - Partially open-ended packaging box

Info

Publication number: WO2007052065A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/004153
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodrigue Dias; Jacobus Simon Petrus Van Diepen
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V.; Reckitt Benckiser (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2005-11-07
Filing date: 2006-11-07
Publication date: 2007-05-10
Also published as: GB0522657D0

Abstract

A packaging box comprises a tunnel, preferably formed by a front panel (8), a back panel (10), a top wall (6) and a bottom panel (4), the box having at least one open end through which consumable products (32) may be inserted into the tunnel during packing. The box has retaining means (16, 18, 20) to partially close said end once the loading of the consumable products is complete. The box is formed of a single sheet of material, secured to itself to form the tunnel.

Description

PARTIALLY OPEN-ENDED PACKAGING BOX

This, invention relates to a packaging box, in particular to a packaging box used for storage and transportation of products between a factory (e.g. a manufacturing plant or packing depot), and a sales outlet.

Naturally to facilitate the transportation of products from a factory to a sales outlet they are packaged as multiples in packaging which is discarded at the sales outlet e.g. when the products are removed and placed on shelf.

A known approach for packaging of this type is to use a tray, on which the products stand, and to provide a hood formed of three panels, located over the multiple products and glued to the tray, so that the tray and hood together extend around the products .

This is a simple and inexpensive solution but from time to time the hood separates from the tray, allowing the products to fall. When this happens at the factory there is a costly disruption to the packing operation. When this happens at the sales outlet there is disruption to the unpacking operation, and user dissatisfaction.

Packaging boxes are well-known in the art. See for example FR-A-2, 488, 568, GB-A-736, 218, EP-A-1348634 and FR-A-2,843,943.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging box comprising a tunnel formed by walling material, the tunnel having at least one open end through which consumable products may be inserted into the tunnel during packing, the box having retaining means to partially close said end once the loading of the consumable products is complete, the packaging box being formed of a single sheet of walling material, folded and secured to itself to form the tunnel .

The packaging box of the invention has the advantage that it is sufficiently sturdy to be used to convey consumable products but still allows visibility of the products contained within it. The packaging box has the further advantage that it requires less material to produce it than do many conventional ^Λtray and hood' tunnels. This is achieved through the two semi-open sides of the tunnel and also by controlling the areas of overlap of the packaging box.

The packaging box could be of any space-enclosing^' shape, with the tunnel preferably being of substantially constant cross-section. For example if could be of triangular, rectangular (including square) , rhomboidal, trapezoidal pentagonal or hexagonal cross-section. It could alternatively be of circular or oval cross-section; preferably oblate, having at least one generally flat region on which it can stably rest.

Preferably, however, the tunnel is formed by front, back, top and bottom panels; the cross-section of the tunnel preferably being rectangular (including square) . Preferably the packaging box is not intended to be seen on shelf (i.e on the shelves of sales outlets) by purchasers of the consumable products; the products preferably being unpacked from the packaging box before being put on shelf, or when put on shelf. The unpacking site may, for example, be the stockroom of a shop or supermarket (as the products are unpacked and put on trolleys before being put on shelf) or an aisle of a supermarket (as products are put on shelf) . The packaging box may be "shelf-ready packaging", wherein the packaging box may be momentarily placed on a shelf, the ends of the tunnel opened and the products pushed out, or held in place as the packaging box is withdrawn.

Given the preferred use of a packaging box of the present invention as "intermediate" packaging, to be used between factory and sales outlet but not actually intended to be displayed at the sales outlet, the packaging box is preferably not printed. Suitably it may merely bear basic information as regards the product, product pack size, destination, and so on. Most frequently such information will be provided by means of a code, for example provided by inkjet coding or a barcode, and provided on a label or carried directly on the external surface of the packaging box, which is preferably otherwise plain.

However it is not excluded that in some embodiments the packaging box may be used on shelf. In such embodiments it may be expected that the external surface of the packaging box will bear consumer information and cues, such as a trade mark and get-up. Because the retaining means only partially closes the end the ' consumable products within may be identified by sight, just by looking at the end of the packaging box. Thus, because of the visibility of its contents the filled packaging box provides an easy visual indication of the contents even if it is not printed itself.

To secure the sheet of walling material to itself to form the tunnel, the sheet is preferably formed with a flap, to be secured to another portion of the sheet with which it is brought into contact, when the tunnel shape is formed. Preferably the securement is by means of gluing. Preferably the flap extends substantially along the whole length of the tunnel. Preferably the sheet of material is formed (e.g. stamped or cut) so that the securement flap is at the upper region of the tunnel i.e. preferably along one of its two top edges, in the case of a preferred tunnel, formed from four panels. The advantage of this is that when the packaging box is lifted it may be held or gripped below the securement position, reducing any tendency for inadvertent separation.

Preferably the retaining means at said end. is located^' in the lower region of the end. Suitably the retaining means comprises a flap extending from one side of the tunnel to the other, at the bottom of the open end.

Preferably the retaining means comprises two tabs, to be secured to the flap, with the flap in its raised position, once all the consumable products have been inserted into the- packaging box. Securement is preferably by gluing. The tabs may be displaced inwards, then the flap may be raised into its retaining position, and secured to the tabs. Alternatively the flap may be raised first then the tabs displaced inwards to- locate over respective end regions of the flap, on the outside of the flap.

If one considers a single sheet of material from which a preferred packaging box of the invention is to be formed, having four panels, the panel which is to be the bottom panel preferably has the flap, and the panels which are to become the front and back panels preferably each have a tab. There may be a small gap between each tab and the flap. In an alternative embodiment the flap may be contiguous with one or both flaps .

In principle only one open end, having said retaining means, is needed. Preferably, however, two open ends are provided, each with a retaining means which partially closes the respective end, when brought into use. Preferably each end has identical retaining means; preferably a retaining flap and two retaining tabs. Preferably, when the tunnel is formed, the ends are configured identically to each other both during loading with consumable products (retaining means in their withdrawn position) , and during storage and transportation (retaining means in their retaining position) . However another possibility is that one retaining means is brought into use before the consumable products are inserted. The consumable products ^'can then be pushed into the tunnel until they are stopped, by this retaining means. When the tunnel is full the other retaining means can be brought into use, to retain the consumable products in place.

Preferably the packaging box is of a card or carton or board material. For example it may be of flat single ply form or it may be of corrugated board form.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a filled packaging box of the first aspect. In the second aspect the packaging box is filled with the consumable products which are retained by the retaining means . The consumable products may be_, identified by looking at the partially closed "open" end(s) of the packaging box. Preferably the consumable products are ready-to-sell items (e.g. bearing a trade mark, product information, get-up and other graphical content etc.) whilst the packaging box is plain (not bearing a trade mark, product information, get-up and other graphical content etc.). The consumable products may be of a size such that only one product is present, at any given position along the tunnel; this means that only one consumable product can be seen, looking at a said end of the packaging box. Alternatively the products may be of a size such that two or more products are present, at any given position along the tunnel; this means that two or more consumable products can be seen, looking at a said end of the packaging box. In the first case the consumable products preferably have a cross- section that matches the cross-section of the tunnel, so that the consumable products form a closely fitting row within the tunnel. Where two or more consumable products form a closely fitting row within the tunnel, the cross- section is chosen such that the combination of the consumable products form a closely fitting row within the tunnel. However shape and size matching is not a necessity. The consumable items could have a cross- sectional shape which matches that of the tunnel but be undersized relative to the tunnel; or could have a cross- sectional shape different to the cross-section of the tunnel. For example the tunnel could be rectangular in cross-section and the consumable items could be triangular or trapezoidal in cross-section. Where reference is made herein to ^Λa consumable product' this should also be construed to mean ^Λtwo or more consumable products' as the context so requires.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a filled packaging box in accordance with the second aspect, the method comprising forming the tunnel, inserting a plurality of consumable products into the tunnel until the tunnel is full, and then bringing into use the retaining means to partially close said end.

The tunnel may be formed by taking said sheet of •material, formed with the appropriate shape in a two- dimensional form, displacing it (e.g. by bending it or folding it) , and securing it to itself to form the tunnel with at least one completely open end ^' (i.e. with retaining means out of use or disengaged) . This operation may be effected just before packing. In another embodiment the tunnel may be pre-formed, displaced into a flat form, and stored until needed. It may be expanded to form the tunnel just before packing. The packaging box is designed to take consumable products which are cuboid in shape. Preferably these are themselves boxes, in particular boxes which are found on the shelves of shops. In this invention the ultimate consumable products are preferably detergents, for use in dishwashers and fabric washing machines. They contain detergents, and these may be in the form of, for example, powders, tablets or soluble capsules.

The tunnel may be filled with consumable products by any suitable means e.g. manually or by using automatic filling equipment such as those using side-movement of the consumable products in an upright orientation. This type of machinery is known for filling tray and hood type packaging boxes and can be easily modified to be used with the tunnel packaging boxes of the present invention.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material used to make a packaging box of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet of Fig. 1, formed into the shape of the box, with consumable products about to be inserted into it; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a filled and closed box of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, a sheet has been stamped to shape, and formed with several fold lines 2. It has four main panels, each rectangular. Panels 4 and 6 are identical in size to each other; these are to become the bottom and top panels of the box. Panels 8 and 10 are identical to each other; these are to become the front and back panels of the box.

Each panel has at least one flap or tab extending from it. Top panel 6 has a flap 12 extending from most of its leading edge. Bottom panel 4 has wider flaps 14, 16 extending from the whole of its respective lateral edges . Front panel 8 has two small flaps in the form of tabs 18, 20, of the same width as flaps 14 and 16. There is a small gap between the flap 14 and the tab 18, and between the flap 16 and the tab 20. Rear panel 10 also has such flaps in the form of tabs 22, 24. Front panel 8 has two small flaps in the form of tabs 18, 20, of the same depth as flaps 14 and 16. There is a small gap between the flap 14 and the tab 18, and between the flap 16 and the tab 20.

The sheet is supplied with the flap 12 pre-glued.

From the sheet shown in Fig. 1 the tunnel-shape of Fig. 2 is formed. The sheet is simply formed into a box shape, with the assistance of the fold lines. The flap 12 is folded inwards from the plane of the sheet by 90° and when it meets the leading edge of the opposite panel 8 it is pressed into securement with it to form the tunnel 30. Consumer products in the form of cuboid packs 32 are then pushed into the tunnel, through one of the open ends. When the tunnel is filled with the consumable products the retaining flaps at each end are brought into use or engaged, to retain the products. At each end the tabs 18, 20, 22 and 24 are turned inwards. The two retaining flaps 14 and 16 are then raised, and secured to the retaining flaps by hot melt adhesive spots . The ends of the tunnel are now .partially closed, and the consumable packs held inside.

The sheet material of the packaging box is plain - without graphical content etc. In this embodiment it is not intended ever to be seen on shelf. It may bear basic information about the contents, packing time, storage location, delivery e.g. by means of electronic coding, perhaps carried by a label rather than being printed. In contrast the consumable products carry all the eyecatching printing, colour, branding, and use information of the type that one would expect of products to be offered to the consumer. Since the retaining flaps only obscure a small portion of the ends, at the very lower region of the ends, it is easy for operatives to see what the consumable product .

Unpacking is simple and quick. The operative can break the retaining means at both ends and put the consumer products out, from the tunnel. This can be done, for example, onto trolleys in a loading bay or directly onto supermarket shelves

Many variations are possible, of which we mention a few, as follows . In one _ variation the flap 12 is carried by panel 8 instead of panel 6.

In one variation the tabs 18, 22, and 20, 24 are secured to the outside of the respective flaps 14 and 16, to partially close the ends of the tunnel.

In one variation the tabs 18, 22, and 20, 24 are longer, and extend to the mid-region of the respective flap 14 and 16; so improving the strength of retaining means.

In one variation the tabs 18, 22, and 20, 24 are contiguous with the respective flap 14 and 16; that is, there 'are slits between adjacent tabs and flaps, not gaps .

In one variation the external surface of the packaging is intended to be placed on shelf and carries at least a trade mark and get-up to indicate the consumable product it contains. In another variation one or more surfaces of the tunnel may carry the same type of information e.g. at least a trade mark and get up. This information may be applied for example by printing or shrink-wrapping with a suitable material.

In one variation the tunnel is pre-formed and displaced into a flat form and expanded to form the tunnel shortly before it is filled.

Claims

1. A packaging box comprising a tunnel formed by walling material, the tunnel having at least one open end through which consumable products may be inserted into the tunnel during packing, the box having retaining means to partially close said end once the loading of the consumable products is complete, the packaging box being formed of a single sheet of walling material, secured to itself to form the tunnel.

2. A packaging box as claimed in claim 1, wherein consumable products within the packaging box may be identified by viewing the partially closed end.

3. A packaging box as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the exterior surface of the packaging box is plain.

4. A packaging box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein to secure the sheet of material to itself to form the tunnel, the sheet is formed with a flap, to be secured to another portion of the sheet, with which it is brought into contact when the tunnel shape is formed.

5. A packaging box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the end is partially closed by means of one flap carried from one side to the other at the bottom of the end and two tabs, secured to the respective end regions of the flap.

β. A packaging box as claimed in any preceding claim, the packaging box having an open end and said retaining means at each end of the tunnel.

7. A packaging box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sheet of material is formed so that the securement of the material to itself is at the upper region of the tunnel.

8. A packaging box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tunnel is formed by front, back, top and bottom panels .

9. A packaging box as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tunnel is rectangular in cross-section.

10. A filled packaging box as claimed in any preceding claim, filled with consumable products.

11. A method of providing a filled packaging box as claimed in claim 10, the method comprising forming the tunnel with at least one open end, inserting a plurality of consumable products into the tunnel until the tunnel is filled, and then operating the retaining means to partially close said end.