WO2011001580A1

WO2011001580A1 - Package

Info

Publication number: WO2011001580A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/003068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takeshi Bando; Ikue Hiramatsu; Eisuke Takeda
Original assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
Priority date: 2009-07-03
Filing date: 2010-04-28
Publication date: 2011-01-06
Also published as: JP5654767B2; AR077273A1; CN101985324B; CN101985324A; TW201114657A; TWI499544B; JP2011026002A; CN201882436U

Abstract

To provide a package in which a closure flap covering an opening is not easily detached from a package body and does not easily return to a state covering the opening when being peeled. A package 1 includes a package body 10 having an opening 11 and a closure flap 30, in which the closure flap includes: a lower layer sheet 31 adhering to a periphery of the opening 11; an upper layer sheet 32 having a main portion 321 layered upon an outer side of the lower layer sheet 31 and an extending portion 322 extending from one end side of the lower layer sheet 31 and adhering to the outer face of the package body 10 so as to be difficult to peel; and a slit portion 323 formed in between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322 on the upper layer sheet 32.

Description

PACKAGE

The present invention relates to a package. More particularly, the present invention relates to a package including a package body provided with an opening and a closure flap that covers the opening of the package body so as to be openable and closable.

A package for accommodating a plurality of wet tissues has been known in the field of packages as including a package body having an opening through which the plurality of wet tissues can be taken out and a closure flap that covers the opening of the package body so as to be openable and closable.

As such a package, for example, it is known in the field that a package is provided with a closure flap including a main portion in which a first sheet and a second sheet are layered and an extending portion in which only the second sheet extends and in which the closure flap adheres to the package body with an adhesion force greater than that of the main portion. In addition, it is also known in the field that a package includes a closure flap composed of two film layers in which a slit is provided on one film layer, on an opposite side to a peel starting point of the closure flap.

The inventor(s) have discovered that in the package proposed in the art, since the extending portion adheres to the package body with an adhesion force greater than that of the main portion, detachment of the closure flap from the package body can be prevented when the closure flap is peeled in order to take out a wet tissue. However, depending on a size and the like of the closure flap, the closure flap in a peeled state may return to a state covering the opening, due to a repulsive force of the second sheet constituting the closure flap.
In the package proposed in another art, the closure flap is configured to be able to maintain a peeled state by providing a slit on the one film layer; however, depending on a material used for the other film layer on which the slit is not provided, the closure flap in a peeled state may return to a state covering the opening. In addition, in the package proposed in the art, since an adhesion force of the closure flap with respect to the package body is uniform, the closure flap may be detached from the package body when the closure flap is peeled.

Therefore, there is a need for providing a package in which a closure flap covering an opening is not easily detached from a package body and does not easily return to a state covering the opening when being peeled.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a package, including: a package body provided with an opening; and a closure flap that covers the opening from an outer side of the package body so as to be openable and closable, in which the closure flap includes: a lower layer sheet that peelably adheres to a periphery of the opening on an outer face of the package body with a first adhesion force; an upper layer sheet having a main portion that is layered upon an outer side of the lower layer sheet and an extending portion that projects beyond a boundary of the lower layer sheet and adheres to the outer face of the package body with a second adhesion force greater than the first adhesion force; and a relatively weak portion that is formed in a vicinity of a borderline between the main portion and the extending portion of the upper layer sheet.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a package, including: a package body having an opening; and a closure flap that covers the opening from an outer side of the package body so as to be openable and closable, in which the closure flap includes: a main portion which includes first and second layer sheets bonded together, and is adhered to a periphery of the opening on the outer side of the package body with a first adhesion force so as to be peelable in a peeling direction from the package body to expose the opening; and an extending portion which is defined only by the second layer sheet, extends from the main portion in the peeling direction, and is adhered to the outer side of the package body with a second adhesion force greater than the first adhesion force; and a weak portion in the second layer sheet and extending in a transverse direction to the peeling direction in a vicinity of a borderline between the main portion and the extending portion to define a hinge portion for the closure flap.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a package, including: a package body provided with an opening; and a closure flap that covers the opening from an outer side of the package body so as to be openable and closable, in which the closure flap includes: a lower layer sheet that peelably adheres to a periphery of the opening on an outer face of the package body with a first adhesion force; an upper layer sheet having a main portion that is layered upon an outer side of the lower layer sheet, a first extending portion that extends from a first end side in a first end edge of the lower layer sheet and adheres to the outer face of the package body with a second adhesion force greater than the first adhesion force, and a second extending portion that extends from a second end side in the first end edge and adheres to the outer face of the package body with the second adhesion force; and a notch portion formed between the first extending portion and the second extending portion, at which the lower layer sheet and the upper layer sheet are not disposed.

Further another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for handling a package, the package having: a package body provided with an opening; a closure flap that covers the opening from an outer side of the package body so as to be openable and closable; in which the closure flap includes: a lower layer sheet that peelably adheres to a periphery of the opening on an outer face of the package body with a first adhesion force; an upper layer sheet having a main portion that is layered upon an outer side of the lower layer sheet and an extending portion that projects beyond a boundary of the lower layer sheet and adheres to the outer face of the package body with a second adhesion force greater than the first adhesion force; and a relatively weak portion that is formed in a vicinity of a borderline between the main portion and the extending portion of the upper layer sheet, the method comprising: gripping a portion of the closure flap at an opposite side to the weak portion and lifting up the portion; opening the closure flap with the weak portion as a hinge portion; and maintaining the closure flap in an opened state by the weak portion.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the package of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a closure flap in the package according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the closure flap in the package according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-X in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line Y-Y in FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the package with the closure flap being peeled; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line Z-Z in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to a second embodiment; FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to a third embodiment; FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 9A; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to a fourth embodiment; FIG. 11A is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to a fifth embodiment; FIG. 11B is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to a sixth embodiment; FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to a seventh embodiment; FIG. 13A is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to an eighth embodiment; FIG. 13B is a plan view showing an upper layer sheet of the closure flap according to the eighth embodiment; FIG. 13C is a plan view showing a lower layer sheet of the closure flap according to the eighth embodiment; FIG. 14A is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to a ninth embodiment; FIG. 14B is a plan view showing an upper layer sheet of the closure flap according to the ninth embodiment; FIG. 14C is a plan view showing a lower layer sheet of the closure flap according to the ninth embodiment; FIG. 15A is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to a tenth embodiment; FIG. 15B is a plan view showing an upper layer sheet of the closure flap according to the tenth embodiment; FIG. 15C is a plan view showing a lower layer sheet of the closure flap according to the tenth embodiment; FIG. 16A is a plan view showing a closure flap of a package according to an eleventh embodiment; FIG. 16B is a plan view showing an upper layer sheet of the closure flap according to the eleventh embodiment; FIG. 16C is a plan view showing a lower layer sheet of the closure flap according to the eleventh embodiment; FIG. 17A is a plan view showing an exemplary modification to the closure flap; and FIG. 17B is a plan view showing another exemplary modification to the closure flap.

Some preferred embodiments of the package according to the present invention are explained hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a package 1 according to a first embodiment.
The package 1 according to the first embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a package body 10 having an opening 11, a plurality of wet tissues 20 accommodated in the package body 10, and a closure flap 30 that is attached to an outer face of the packaging body 10 and covers the opening 11 to open and close the opening 11.

The package body 10 is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, composed of one or more sheet members and may be formed in a bag shape that is substantially rectangular in plan view. Examples of such sheet member composing the package body 10 include, but are not limited to, a liquid impermeable film material formed by laminating polyethylene terephthalate film, aluminium foil and the like.
The opening 11 is provided in a substantially central portion of a top face of the package body 10. The opening 11 is formed by cutting out a portion of the sheet member composing the package body 10.

The plurality of wet tissues 20 are each formed, in some embodiments, in a substantially rectangular shape (not shown). The plurality of wet tissues 20 may be accommodated in the package body 10 in a state of being folded into a predetermined shape along a plurality of folding lines (not shown) provided substantially parallel to each other and stacked.
The plurality of wet tissues 20 are disposed such that, for example, a first side edge is exposed through the opening 11 while a second side edge is interfolded with another wet tissue disposed below. As a result, when the wet tissue 20 positioned closest to the opening 11 is taken out through the opening 11, a part of the wet tissue 20 disposed in a layer below projects through the opening 11. It is thus easy to take out the wet tissues 20 accommodated in the package body 10. However, embodiments of the invention may by used with any configuration of wet tissues.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the closure flap 30 in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-X, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line Y-Y in FIG. 2.
The closure flap 30 has, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially rectangular shape in planar view. The closure flap 30 is attached to the package body 10 such that a longitudinal direction of the closure flap 30 is oriented along a longitudinal direction of the package body 10.
The closure flap 30 is provided with, as shown in FIG. 3, a lower (first or second) layer sheet 31 that is disposed at a side of the package body 10 and an upper (second or first) layer sheet 32 that is layered on an outer face of the lower layer sheet.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, a size of the lower layer sheet 31 is configured to be greater than a size of the opening 11. The lower layer sheet 31 has, as shown in FIG. 3, a substantially rectangular shape with one end edge in a longitudinal direction being formed in an arcuate shape. The precise shape shown is merely exemplary. As shown in FIG. 4, an adhesive 41 is applied on a face facing the package body 10 (a lower face) of the lower layer sheet 31 in a region corresponding to a periphery of the opening 11, except for a tip portion of the end edge formed in an arcuate shape. The adhesive 41 has a first adhesion force such that the lower layer sheet 31 can repeatedly be attached to and peeled from the package body 10. The lower layer sheet 31 peelably adheres to a periphery of the opening 11 on an outer face of the package body 10 with the first adhesion force. Examples of such an adhesive include, but are not limited to, a polyester or an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive.
Examples of a material constituting the lower layer sheet 31 include, but are not limited to, a synthetic resin film such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride and the like.

The upper layer sheet 32 includes: as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a main portion 321 that is layered on an outer face side (upper face side) of the lower layer sheet 31; an extending portion 322 that extends from a first end side of the main portion 321 to project beyond a boundary of the lower layer sheet 31, and a relatively weak portion, such as a slit portion 323, that is formed in the vicinity of a boundary or borderline between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322.
As used herein, a "weak portion" in a sheet is a portion that is weaker or lower than a remainder of the sheet in one or more of mechanical strength, thickness, or stiffness.
As shown in FIG. 3, the main portion 321 is formed in a shape substantially similar to that of the lower layer sheet 31. More specifically, in the longitudinal direction of main portion 321, one end side is formed in a linear shape and another end side is formed in an arcuate shape.
As shown in FIG. 3, the extending portion 322 extends from an end edge that is linearly formed on one end side in a longitudinal direction of the main portion 321. In other words, the extending portion 322 extends from a side of one end in the longitudinal direction of the closure flap 30. In some examples, the extending portion 322 is substantially equal in width to that of the main portion 321. The extending length of the extending portion 322 (i.e., amount by which sheet 32 extends beyond sheet 31) may be smaller than width of the upper layer sheet 32 in the extending portion 322.

The slit portion 323 is formed by cutting out a portion of the upper layer sheet 32, as shown in FIG. 4. The slit portion 323, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, may be provided in a substantially central portion of the upper layer sheet 32 in a width direction of the closure flap 30 and extends along the width direction of the closure flap 30. In the first embodiment, the slit portion 323, as shown in FIG. 4, is provided on a side to the extending portion 322 in the vicinity of a boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322. In other words, the closure flap 30 has a through hole in a portion where the slit portion 323 is provided.

The above described upper layer sheet 32 is configured to have lower stiffness than that of the lower sheet 31. For example, by configuring a thickness of the upper layer sheet 32 to be smaller than that of the lower layer sheet 31, stiffness of the upper layer sheet 32 is configured to be smaller than that of the lower layer sheet 31. In addition, in some embodiments, the upper layer sheet 32 may be transparent. Such an upper layer sheet 32 can be configured using a material similar to that of the lower layer sheet 31.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an adhesive 42 is applied to substantially an entire area of a lower face of the upper layer sheet 32, the adhesive 42 having a second adhesion force greater than that of the adhesive 41 applied to the lower face of the lower layer sheet 31. The adhesive 42 bonds the lower layer sheet 31 to the upper layer sheet 32 and the extending portion 322 to the outer face of the package body 10.

Next, a mode of a manufacturing method of the closure flap 30 according to the first embodiment is described.
First, a sheet material composing the lower layer sheet 31 and a sheet material composing the upper layer sheet 32, which are formed to have the same width, are prepared.
Next, only the sheet material composing the lower layer sheet 31 is cut to be a predetermined width (an extending length of the extending portion 322).
Then, the sheet material composing the upper layer sheet 32 is layered on the sheet material composing the lower layer sheet 31. Here, the sheet material composing the lower layer sheet 31 and the sheet material composing the upper layer sheet 32 are layered such that a first end edge of the sheet material composing the upper layer sheet 32 extends from a first end edge of the sheet material composing the lower layer sheet 31.
Thereafter, a layered body of the sheet material composing the lower layer sheet 31 and the sheet material composing the upper layer sheet 32 is cut into a shape of the closure flap 30 and a slit portion 323 is formed in an extending portion of the upper layer sheet 32 in the layered body. The closure flap 30 including the extending portion 322 and the slit portion 323 is thus manufactured.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the extending portion 322 of the upper layer sheet 32 of the abovementioned closure flap 30 adheres to the outer face of the package body 10 so as to be difficult to peel. In addition, a portion of the closure flap 30, where the lower layer sheet 31 and the main portion 321 of the upper layer sheet 32 are layered, covers the opening 11 and adheres to a periphery of the opening 11 on the package body 10 so as to be peelable. In other words, the portion of the closure flap 30, where the lower layer sheet 31 and the main portion 321 of the upper layer sheet 32 are layered, adheres to the periphery of the opening 11 with a first adhesion force lower than a second adhesion force with which the extending portion 322 of the upper layer sheet 32 adheres to the outer face of the package body 10.
A preferable size and the like of the closure flap 30 are described hereinafter, by way of example only. A length in a longitudinal direction of the main portion 321 of the upper layer sheet 32 constituting the closure flap 30 is preferably 45 to 60 mm, and a length in a width direction thereof is preferably 30 to 40 mm. In addition, a length of the slit portion 323 in the first embodiment is preferably 10 to 20 mm. By configuring a size of the closure flap 30 within the abovementioned ranges, the closure flap in a peeled state does not easily return to a state covering the opening, although embodiments of the invention may be used with sizes out of these ranges.

Next, a mode of usage of the package 1 of the first embodiment is described.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the package 1, the opening 11 is covered by the closure flap 30 when not being used, in order to keep moisture in the wet tissues 20 accommodated in the package body 10. When the package 1 is to be used, a portion of the closure flap 30 formed in an arcuate shape, which is at an opposite side to the weak portion in a longitudinal direction, is gripped, lifted up and pulled toward opposite side in the longitudinal direction (toward the extending portion 322). In other words, the longitudinal direction is the peeling direction in this embodiment. This action peels a bonded portion between the lower layer sheet 31 of the closure flap 30 and the package body 10, thereby exposing the opening 11. Here, since the extending portion 322 adheres to the package body 10 so as to be difficult to peel while the lower layer sheet 31 peelably adheres to the package body 10, a bonded portion between the extending portion 322 and the package body 10 is not peeled. As a result, in a state where the closure flap 30 is peeled and the opening 11 is exposed (hereinafter referred to as an opened state), as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the closure flap 30 is reversed at the vicinity of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322 of the upper layer sheet 32, while the extending portion 322 of the closure flap 30 adheres to the package body 10. In other words, the vicinity of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322 of the upper layer sheet 32 acts as a hinge portion for the closure flap 30. Thus, the closure flap 30 is opened with the weak portion as the hinge portion. Such hinge portion extends in a transverse direction to the peeling direction. In this embodiment, the peeling direction is the longitudinal direction of the closure flap and the transverse direction is the width direction of the closure flap. Other arrangements are within the scope of this invention.

In this embodiment, the upper layer sheet 32 is configured to have a thickness smaller than that of the lower layer sheet 31. In addition, in the vicinity of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322 of the upper layer sheet 32, a slit portion 323 is provided. In such a configuration, the closure flap 30 in the opened state does not easily return to a state covering the opening 11 (hereinafter referred to as a closed state), and closure flap 30 in the opened state is maintained by the weak portion.

The package according to a first embodiment produces the following effects, amongst others.
(1) The closure flap 30 is configured to include the upper layer sheet 31 and a lower layer sheet 32, and the slit portion 323 is provided in the vicinity of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322 of the upper layer sheet 32. As a result, the stiffness of the closure flap 30 can be lowered in the vicinity of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322, which acts as the hinge portion, thereby lowering a resiliency force of the closure flap 30. In such a configuration, the closure flap 30 in the opened state does not easily return to a state covering the opening 11.
In addition, since the stiffness of the closure flap 30 is lowered in the vicinity of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322, which acts as the hinge portion, the lower layer sheet 31 and the main portion of the upper layer sheet 32 can be configured to be small. Furthermore, the thickness of the closure flap 30 can be configured to be small.

(2) The lower face of the lower layer sheet 31 peelably adheres to the package body 10 and the extending portion 322 of the upper layer sheet 32 adheres to the package body 10 so as to be difficult to peel. As a result, when the closure flap 30 covering the opening 11 is opened, the closure flap 30 is not easily detached from the package body 10. The convenience of the package 1 can thus be improved.

(3) The slit portion 323 is provided in the vicinity of a boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322 so as to extend in the width direction of the closure flap 30. As a result, even if the closure flap 30 is configured to be greater in width, the stiffness of the closure flap 30 can be lowered in the vicinity of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322. Since the closure flap 30 can be configured to be greater in length in the width direction (wider in width), the width of a design option on the closure flap 30 is broadened.

(4) The slit portion 323 is provided substantially in the central portion in the width direction of the upper layer sheet 32. As a result, even in a case where the closure flap 30 is repeatedly peeled and attached, the upper layer sheet 32 is not easily broken from the portion where the slit portion 323 is provided. Durability of the closure flap 30 can thus be improved.

Next, exemplary second to eleventh embodiments of the package 1 according to the present invention will be described hereinafter. In the following description of the embodiments, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified.
The second to eleventh embodiments have a configuration similar to that of the package 1 of the first embodiment except for a configuration of the closure flap 30.

As shown in FIG. 8, a closure flap 30A of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in a shape of the weak portion. More specifically, the weak portion in the second embodiment is an opening portion 323A formed in a substantially oval shape that is long in the width direction of the upper sheet 32. In the second embodiment, the opening portion 323A is formed on both a side of the main portion 321 and an adjacent side of the extending portion 322 across a boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322. As seen in FIG. 8, the boundary of the lower layer sheet 31 is exposed through the opening portion 323A.
The second embodiment produces at least the same effects as the first embodiment. The shape of the opening portion 323A producing the effects is not limited to above-described oval shape, e.g., the shape of the opening portion 323A may be any shape, such as a generally elongate or rectangular shape, or other shapes.
Any embodiment of the invention may have any shape of slit.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a closure flap 30B of the third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment in that the weak portion is an opening portion 323B similar to the opening portion 323A of the embodiment of FIG. 5. However, the third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the opening portion 323B extends further into the lower layer sheet 31 to create a lower cut-out or recess portion 311 in the lower layer sheet 31. More specifically, the lower cut-out portion 311 is formed by cutting out the lower layer sheet 31 at a position overlapping with the opening portion 323B provided in the upper layer sheet 32. As a result, the boundary of the lower layer sheet 31 is not exposed through the opening portion 323B in FIG. 9A. However, the opening portion 323B and the lower cut-out or recess portion 311 need not necessarily be the same shape and/or size.
The third embodiment produces at least the following effect, in addition to the same effects as the first and the second embodiments, amongst other effects.
(5) The lower cut-out portion 311 is provided at a position overlapping with the opening portion 323B. By performing a slitting or a punching operation in a state where the upper layer sheet 32 and the lower layer sheet 31 are already layered, the opening portion 323B and the lower cut-out portion 311 can be formed simultaneously. The closure flap 30B thus can be easily manufactured.

As shown in FIG. 10, a closure flap 30C in the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the weak portion includes a pair of cut-out portions 323C formed in one end and in another end (i.e., at opposite ends) in the width direction of the closure flap 30, respectively, so as to longitudinally extend in the width direction of the upper layer sheet 32. An edge of each cut-out portion 323C substantially coincides with the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322.
The fourth embodiment produces at least the following effect, in addition the abovementioned effects (1) to (3), amongst other effects.
(6) The cut-out portions 323C are provided at opposite ends in the width direction of the upper layer sheet 32. As a result, the cut-out portions 323C can be easily formed in the vicinity of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322. The closure flap 30C thus can be easily manufactured. The shape of the cut-out portion is rectangular in this embodiment, however, the cut-out portion may be simply a cut line or other shape.

As shown in FIG. 11A, a closure flap 30D of the fifth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in the shape of the cut-out portions 323D and in that the cut-out portions 323D extend further into the lower layer sheet 31 to create respective lower cut-out portions 311D, similar to the lower cut-out portion 311 in the third embodiment disclosed with respect to FIG. 9B. More specifically, the cut-out portions 323D are provided in the one end and another end in the width direction of the upper layer sheet 32, and formed in a substantially square shape in plan view. In the fifth embodiment, each cut-out portion 323D is formed on both a side of the main portion 321 and a side of the extending portion 322 across a boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322. In addition, the lower cut-out portion 311D is formed by cutting out the lower layer sheet 31 at a position overlapping with the cut-out portion 323D provided in the upper layer sheet 32. As a result the boundary of the lower layer sheet 31 is not exposed through the cut-out portions 311D in FIG. 11A.

As shown in FIG. 11B, a closure flap 30E of the sixth embodiment is configured to be similar to the fifth embodiment except that cut-out portions 323E are formed in an arcuate shape, e.g., a substantially semicircular shape, in plan view.
The fifth and sixth embodiments produce at least the abovementioned effects (1) to (3), (5) and (6), amongst other effects.

A length in the width direction of the upper layer sheet 32 of each of the weak portions 323C to 323E in the fourth to sixth embodiments is preferably 7 to 12 mm, although it may be more or less than this.

As shown in FIG. 12, a closure flap 30F in the seventh embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the weak portion includes a plurality of slit portions or opening portions 323F provided at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the upper layer sheet 32. More specifically, the slit or opening portions 323F may be provided, for example, at least in one end side, in another end side, and in a substantially central portion in the width direction of the closure flap 30F. There slits or opening portions 323F may be otherwise distributed and positioned across the closure flap 30F. In the FIG. 12, three slits or opening portions are shown, but there may be more or less than this, and their shape is not restricted to that shown.
The seventh embodiment produces at least the abovementioned effects (1) to (3), amongst other effects.

The closure flap 30G according to the eighth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, is different from the first embodiment in that a slit portion 323G is configured to include a first slit 324G, a second slit 325G, a third slit 326G, a fourth slit 327G, and a fifth slit 328G.

The first slit 324G composes a first end side of the slit portion 323G and extends along an extending direction of the extending portion 322G.
The second slit 325G composes a second end side of the slit portion 323G and extends along the extending direction of the extending portion 322G.
A length of the first slit 324G and the second slit 325G is preferably from 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm, and more preferably from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

The third slit 326G is provided between the first slit 324G and the second slit 325G and extends to be substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the extending portion 322G. The third slit 326G is provided more inward than an inner end portion of the first slit 324G and an inner end portion of the second slit 325G.

The fourth slit 327G extends at a predetermined angle (for example, 45 degrees) with respect to the extending direction of the extending portion 322G. The fourth slit 327G connects a first end of the third slit 326G and the inner end portion of the first slit 324G. The fifth slit 328G extends at a predetermined angle (for example, 45 degrees) with respect to the extending direction of the extending portion 322G.
The fifth slit 328G connects a second end of the third slit 326G and the inner end portion of the second slit 325G.
In other words, the first end of the third slit 326G is continued to the first slit 324G via the fourth slit 327G, and the second end of the third slit 326G is continued to the second slit 325G via the fifth slit 328G.

In addition, in the eighth embodiment, a lower layer slit portion 311G is provided on the lower layer sheet 31G at a position corresponding to the slit portions in the upper layer sheet 32G.

The eighth embodiment produces the following effect, in addition to the abovementioned effects (1) to (4), amongst other effects.

(7) In manufacturing the closure flap 30 of the first embodiment, a position of the slit portion 323 may be slightly dislocated in the extending direction of the extending portion 322 in a step of forming the slit portion 323. In such a case, the effect of lowering a repulsive force of the closure flap 30 by the slit portion 323 may be reduced due to dislocation in the extending direction between: a position of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322, which acts as the hinge portion; and a position of the third slit 326G.
Given this, in the eighth embodiment, the slit portion 323G is configured to include the first slit 324G and the second slit 325G that extend in the extending direction of the extending portion 322G. In such a configuration, even in a case where a position in the closure flap 30G, at which the slit portion 323G is provided, is slightly dislocated (for example, by about 1 mm) in the extending direction of the extending portion 322G, and thereby causing dislocation in the extending direction between: a position of the boundary between the main portion 321 and the extending portion 322, which acts as the hinge portion; and a position of the third slit 326, the first slit 324G and the second slit 325G are disposed across the hinge portion. Therefore, even in a case where a position in the closure flap 30G, at which the slit portion 323G is provided, is slightly dislocated in the extending direction of the extending portion 322G, the hinge portion and the third slit 326G can be connected via the first slit 324G, the fourth slit 327G, the second slit 325G and the fifth slit 328G, thereby preventing lowering a repulsive force of the closure flap 30G by the third slit 326G.

The closure flap 30H according to the ninth embodiment is, as shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C, different from the first embodiment mainly in that the extending portion is configured differently and a notch portion 33H is included in place of the slit portion.
The closure flap 30H according to the ninth embodiment is provided with a lower layer sheet 31H, an upper layer sheet 32H, and the notch portion 33H.
As shown in FIG. 14C, the lower layer sheet 31H has a shape in which a central portion of a first end edge, which is at a side of one end in a first direction D1 of a rectangular shape, is curved to be convex outward and a first end side and a second end side of the first end edge extend straight in a second direction D2 that is orthogonal to the first direction D1. The first end side and the second end side of the first end edge of the lower layer sheet 31H are positioned on substantially the same straight line. In addition, a position of a curved end in the central portion of the first end edge is also positioned on substantially the same straight line as the first end side and the second end side of the first end edge.
Furthermore, a second end edge, which is at a side of another end in a first direction D1 of the lower layer sheet 31H projects in an arcuate shape having a diameter that is a length of the lower layer sheet 31H in the second direction D2 and further projects from a curved end in an arcuate shape having a diameter smaller than the length of the lower layer sheet 31H in the second direction D2.

As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the upper layer sheet 32H is provided with a main portion 321H, a first extending portion 34H, and a second extending portion 35H.
The main portion 321H has a shape substantially identical to a shape of the lower layer sheet 31H.
The first extending portion 34H extends in the first direction D1, from a first end side in a first end edge, which is at the side of one end in a first direction D1 of the lower layer sheet 31H. The second extending portion 35H extends in the first direction D1, from a second end side in the first end edge. The first extending portion 34H and the second extending portion 35H adhere to the outer face of the package body with the second adhesion force so as to be difficult to peele.
The notch portion 33H is a region in which the lower layer sheet 31H and the upper layer sheet 32H are not disposed and formed between the first extending portion 34H and the second extending portion 35H in the second direction D2.

In the abovementioned closure flap 30H, a first boundary 341H, which is a boundary portion between the first extending portion 34H and the main portion 321H, and a second boundary 351H, which is a boundary portion between the second extending portion 35H and the main portion 321H, extend in the second direction D2, respectively. As described, the second direction is substantially orthogonal to the first direction D1 which is the extending direction of the first extending portion 34H and the second extending portion 35H. In addition, the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H are disposed in substantially the same straight line.

Furthermore, a central boundary 331H, which is a boundary portion with respect to the notch portion 33H on the upper layer sheet 32H and the lower layer sheet 31H, which are layered, is configured to include a curved portion 332H that is curved to be convex in the first direction D1. As shown in FIG. 14A, a first end and a second end of the curved portion 332H are positioned more inward in the first direction D1 than the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H. Moreover, a curved end of the curved portion 332H is positioned in a straight line that connects the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H.

The ninth embodiment produces the following effect, in addition to the abovementioned effect (2), amongst other effects.

(8) The closure flap 30H is configured to include: an upper layer sheet 32H having a first extending portion 34H and a second extending portion 35H; and a notch portion 33H formed between the first extending portion 34H and the second extending portion 35H. As a result, the stiffness of the closure flap 30H can be lowered in the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H, which act as the hinge portion, thereby lowering a repulsive force of the closure flap 30H. Therefore, the closure flap 30H in the opened state does not easily return to a state covering the opening 11.
In addition, since the stiffness of the closure flap 30H is lowered in the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H, which act as the hinge portion, the lower layer sheet 31H and the main portion of the upper layer sheet 32H can be configured to be small. Furthermore, the thickness of the closure flap 30H can be configured to be small.

(9) A curved end of the central boundary 331H is positioned in a straight line that connects the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H. As a result, since the curved end of the central boundary 331H is positioned in a straight line that connects the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H, which act as the hinge portion, the curved end can act as a guide portion in bringing the closure flap 30H back from an opened state to a closed state. Therefore, dislocation of the closure flap 30H can be reduced in bringing the closure flap 30H back from an opened state to a closed state.

The closure flap 30I according to the tenth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C, is different from the ninth embodiment mainly in shapes of a first extending portion 34I and a second extending portion 35I. More specifically, in the tenth embodiment, a length of an extended end of the first extending portion 34I in the second direction D2 is configured to be greater than a length of the first boundary 341I. In addition, a length of an extended end of the second extending portion 35I in the second direction D2 is configured to be greater than a length of the second boundary 351I.

The tenth embodiment produces the following effect, in addition to the abovementioned effects (2), (8) and (9), amongst other effects.

(10) A length of the first extending portion 34I in the second direction D2 is configured to be greater than a length of the first boundary 341I, and a length of the second extending portion 35I in the second direction D2 is configured to be greater than a length of the second boundary 351I. In such a configuration, an adhesion force of the first extending portion 34I and the second extending portion 35I with respect to the package body 10 can be increased, thereby making the closure flap 30 not easily detachable from the package body 10.

The closure flap 30J according to the eleventh embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C, is different from the ninth embodiment mainly in a shape of a central boundary 331J. More specifically, in the eleventh embodiment, the central boundary 331J is provided with a first straight line portion 333J and a pair of second straight line portions 334J.
The first straight line portion 333J extends in the second direction D2. The first straight line portion 333J is formed on substantially the same straight line as the first boundary 341J and the second boundary 342J.
The pair of second straight line portions 334J extends from a first end and a second end of the first straight line portion 333J, respectively, toward the inside of the closure flap 30J. The pair of second straight line portions 334J extends at a predetermined angle (for example, 45 degrees) with respect to the first direction D1.

The eleventh embodiment produces the following effect, in addition to the abovementioned effects (2) and (8), amongst other effects.

(11) The central boundary 331H is configured to include the first straight line portion 333H and the pair of second straight line portions 334J, in which the first straight line portion 333J is positioned in a straight line that connects the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H. As a result, since the first straight line portion 333J is positioned on a straight line that connects the first boundary 341H and the second boundary 351H, which act as the hinge portion, the first straight line portion 333H can act as a guide portion in bringing the closure flap 30J back from an opened state to a closed state. In such a configuration, dislocation of the closure flap 30J can be reduced in bringing the closure flap 30H back from an opened state to a closed state.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above; however, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be accordingly modified.
For example, in the abovementioned first to seventh embodiments, the longitudinal direction of the closure flap 30 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the package body 10; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, the longitudinal direction of the closure flap can also be disposed in any other direction, e.g., along a width direction of the package body.

In addition, a shape of the closure flap 30 is not limited to the shape described in the abovementioned embodiments. In other words, the closure flap 30 can be configured to be any shape, for example, long in a width direction, as shown in FIG. 17A. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 17B, a frame member 50, which may be composed of substantially same material as the closure flap 30, can be disposed in a peripheral portion of the closure flap 30 on an outer face of the package body.

In one or more modifications, the main portion 321 of the upper layer sheet 32 and the lower layer sheet 31 need not be of the same size and/or shape. In other words, any of the main portion 321 and the lower layer sheet 31 can have a portion projecting beyond the boundary of the other. Such portion, in some modifications, releasably adheres to the periphery of the opening 11.
In one or more modifications, the lower layer sheet 31 and the upper layer sheet 32 switch place, i.e., the layer sheet having the extending portion 322 and the weak portion 323 is the lower layer sheet 31.
In some modifications, adhesive 41 also adheres the extending portion 322 to the package body 10. The adhesion force of the adhesive 41 is made different for the extending portion 322 and for the periphery of the opening 11 by, e.g., providing the periphery of the opening 11 with a coating that allows the adhesive 41 to be easier to peel than in the portion of the package body 10 corresponding to the extending portion 322 where such coating is not provided.
The modifications disclosed herein provide one or more of the effects detailed at (1) through (11).

Combinations of any one or more embodiments/modifications disclosed herein with any other one or more embodiments/modifications disclosed herein are within the scope of the present invention.
The entire content of Japanese Patent Application 2009-158762 (filed on July 3, 2009) and 2010-090764 (filed on April 9, 2010) are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention can be applied to a package body for accommodating wet tissues used as baby wipes, a package body for accommodating cleaning sheets for cleaning plumbed areas such as a kitchen, bathroom and sink, and the like, or to other packages.
The slits in embodiments enable a portion to be formed that is relatively weak, i.e., weaker than the adjoining part of the larger sheet. Other ways of providing weakening may be used.

Claims

A package, comprising:
a package body provided with an opening; and
a closure flap that covers the opening from an outer side of the package body so as to be openable and closable,
wherein the closure flap includes:
a lower layer sheet that peelably adheres to a periphery of the opening on an outer face of the package body with a first adhesion force;
an upper layer sheet having a main portion that is layered upon an outer side of the lower layer sheet and an extending portion that projects beyond a boundary of the lower layer sheet and adheres to the outer face of the package body with a second adhesion force greater than the first adhesion force; and
a relatively weak portion that is formed in a vicinity of a borderline between the main portion and the extending portion of the upper layer sheet.
The package according to claim 1, wherein:
the weak portion comprises a slit portion having one or more slits and formed in the vicinity of the borderline between the main portion and the extending portion of the upper layer sheet.
The package according to claim 2, wherein:
the extending portion extends from a side of one end of the lower layer sheet in a longitudinal direction of the closure flap; and
the slit portion extends in a width direction of the closure flap.
The package according to claim 3, wherein the slit portion is formed substantially in a central portion of the upper layer sheet in the width direction of the closure flap.
The package according to claim 3, wherein
the slit portion is formed in opposite ends of the upper layer sheet in the width direction of the closure flap, respectively.
The package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a lower cut-out portion in the lower layer sheet at a position overlapping with the slit portion.
The package according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the slit portion includes:
a first slit that is provided on a first end side of the slit portion and extends in an extending direction of the extending portion;
a second slit that is provided on a second end side of the slit portion and extends in the extending direction; and
a third slit that is provided between the first slit and the second slit and extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction.
The package according to claim 1, wherein:
the weak portion comprises an opening portion elongated in the transverse direction and exposing the boundary of the lower layer sheet.
The package according to claim 1, wherein:
the weak portion comprises an opening portion elongated in the transverse direction and extending into the lower layer sheet to form a lower cut-out portion in the lower layer sheet.
The package according to claim 1, wherein:
the weak portion comprises cut-out portions or cut lines formed in opposite ends of the upper layer sheet in the transverse direction, respectively.
The package according to claim 10, wherein:
the cut-out portions or cut lines have an edge coinciding with the boundary of the lower layer sheet.
The package according to claim 10, wherein:
the cut-out portions extend into the lower layer sheet to form lower cut-out portions in the lower layer sheet, respectively.
The package according to claim 1, wherein:
the weak portion comprises multiple slit portions or opening portions formed at predetermined intervals in the transverse direction, respectively.
The package according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the extending portion is of substantially equal width to the main portion of the upper sheet.
The package according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the amount by which the upper sheet extends beyond the lower sheet is smaller than the width of the extending portion.
The package according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising:
a first adhesive releasably bonding the lower layer sheet to the periphery of the opening with the first adhesion force, and
a second adhesive bonding the lower layer sheet to the upper layer sheet, and bonding the extending portion to the package body with the second adhesion force.
A package, comprising:
a package body having an opening; and
a closure flap that covers the opening from an outer side of the package body so as to be openable and closable,
wherein the closure flap includes:
a main portion which
comprises first and second layer sheets bonded together, and
is adhered to a periphery of the opening on the outer side of the package body with a first adhesion force so as to be peelable in a peeling direction from the package body to expose the opening; and
an extending portion which
is defined only by the second layer sheet,
extends from the main portion in the peeling direction, and
is adhered to the outer side of the package body with a second adhesion force greater than the first adhesion force; and
a weak portion in the second layer sheet and extending in a transverse direction to the peeling direction in a vicinity of a borderline between the main portion and the extending portion to define a hinge portion for the closure flap.
A package comprising: a package body provided with an opening; and a closure flap that covers the opening from an outer side of the package body so as to be openable and closable,
wherein the closure flap comprises:
a lower layer sheet that peelably adheres to a periphery of the opening on an outer face of the package body with a first adhesion force;
an upper layer sheet having a main portion that is layered upon an outer side of the lower layer sheet, a first extending portion that extends from a first end side in a first end edge of the lower layer sheet and adheres to the outer face of the package body with a second adhesion force greater than the first adhesion force, and a second extending portion that extends from a second end side in the first end edge and adheres to the outer face of the package body with the second adhesion force; and
a notch portion formed between the first extending portion and the second extending portion, at which the lower layer sheet and the upper layer sheet are not disposed.
The package according to claim 18, wherein: a first boundary that is a boundary portion between the first extending portion and the main portion and a second boundary that is a boundary portion between the second extending portion and the main portion are formed to extend in directions substantially orthogonal to an extending direction of the first extending portion and the second extending portion, respectively; and
the first boundary and the second boundary are disposed on substantially the same straight line.
The package according to claim 19, wherein: a length of the first extending portion on a side to an extending end in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction is greater than a length of the first boundary; and
a length of the second extending portion on a side to an extending end in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction is greater than a length of the second boundary.
The package according to claim 19 or 20, wherein: a central boundary that is a boundary portion with respect to the notch portion on the upper layer sheet and the lower layer sheet includes a curved portion that is curved to be convex in the extending direction; and
a first end and a second end of the curved portion are positioned more inward than the first boundary and the second boundary.
The package according to claim 19 or 20, wherein: a central boundary that is a boundary portion with respect to the notch portion on the upper layer sheet and the lower layer sheet is provided with a first straight line portion that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction and a pair of second straight line portions that extends to the inside of the closure flap from a first end and a second end of the first straight line portion, respectively; and
the first straight line portion is formed on substantially the same straight line as the first boundary and the second boundary.
A method for handling a package, the package having:
a package body provided with an opening;
a closure flap that covers the opening from an outer side of the package body so as to be openable and closable;
wherein the closure flap includes:
a lower layer sheet that peelably adheres to a periphery of the opening on an outer face of the package body with a first adhesion force;
an upper layer sheet having a main portion that is layered upon an outer side of the lower layer sheet and an extending portion that projects beyond a boundary of the lower layer sheet and adheres to the outer face of the package body with a second adhesion force greater than the first adhesion force; and
a relatively weak portion that is formed in a vicinity of a borderline between the main portion and the extending portion of the upper layer sheet,
the method comprising:
gripping a portion of the closure flap at an opposite side to the weak portion and lifting up the portion;
opening the closure flap with the weak portion as a hinge portion; and
maintaining the closure flap in an opened state by the weak portion.