WO2023002053A1

WO2023002053A1 - Blank for manufacturing a device for packaging at least one windscreen wiper blade, and corresponding packaging device

Info

Publication number: WO2023002053A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/070707
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Caetano; Guillaume MOULEYRE; Maxime LAGET; Agustin Gonzalez; Christophe LECAT
Original assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
Priority date: 2021-07-23
Filing date: 2022-07-22
Publication date: 2023-01-26
Also published as: FR3125509B1; FR3125509A1; EP4373755A1; CN117677567A

Abstract

The invention relates to a blank for manufacturing a device (10) for packaging at least one windscreen wiper blade (50). Said blank (1) is elongate in shape and comprises at least one first and one second adjacent longitudinal zone (2, 3), each of said at least one first and one second longitudinal zone (2, 3) being intended to form a longitudinal face (2', 3') of the packaging device (10), said first and second longitudinal zones (2, 3) being pivotably connected at each end thereof to a first and a second end zone (21, 22, 31, 32) via a transverse folding line (11, 12, 13, 14), said first and second end zones (21, 22, 31, 32) being able to form a first and a second flap (R1, R2), respectively, which flaps are substantially transverse to the packaging device (10). The longitudinal length (L1) of the first end zone (21, 22) is greater than that (L2) of the second end zone (31, 32), and the first flap (R1) is intended to be formed before the second flap (R2).

Description

Blank for the manufacture of a device for wrapping at least one wiper blade and corresponding wrapping device

The invention relates to the field of the packaging and packaging of spare parts, in particular for automobiles, and it relates more particularly to a blank for the manufacture of a device for packaging at least one wiper blade. -glace, as well as a device for packaging at least one wiper blade, made from said flank. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the packaging device.

A motor vehicle is commonly equipped with a windshield wiper system to ensure wiping of the windshield and to prevent the driver's view of his environment from being disturbed. Such a system generally comprises one or two wiper blades which carry wiper blades made of an elastic material. These blades, one positioned in front of the driver and the other in front of the front passenger, rub against the windscreen and evacuate water by bringing it outside their field of vision.

There is now a new generation of windscreen wiper blades whose particularity is that they do not have lifter structures, unlike the blades with straight blades commonly used. This new type of broom, called flat broom or "flat blade" in English, still has a flexible scraper blade, but the external frame responsible for supporting it is replaced here by a flexible structure which is directly integrated into the blade. . The assembly is arranged so that at rest, the blade longitudinally has a concave shape in its sagittal plane, but that in contact with a surface to be wiped, said blade is able to straighten up by elastic deformation of its flexible structure in order to best fit said surface throughout its movement.

Precisely because of its curved shape, such a windscreen wiper blade with a curved blade can take up much more space when at rest than its counterpart with a crossbar structure and straight blade. It is thus desirable to use a packaging device of elongated shape which makes it possible to straighten the broom in an upright position so as to reduce the size of the broom.

It is known for this purpose to use for the manufacture of the packaging device a sidewall comprising two adjacent longitudinal zones that can be articulated together via a longitudinal fold line, each longitudinal zone being intended to form a longitudinal face of the packaging device. Each of the two longitudinal zones is articulated at each of its longitudinal ends to an end zone, via a transverse fold line. Each end zone is capable of forming a substantially transverse flap of the packaging device.

The packaging device is then manufactured by folding the side along the longitudinal fold line, for example using an adhesive longitudinal flap connected to one of the longitudinal faces, so as to form a transversely closed contour. comprising the longitudinal faces of the packaging device. The manufacture of the packaging device is completed by folding over the side flaps in the direction of the transversely closed contour, so as to form the transverse end faces of the packaging device.

However, such a packaging device is generally fragile at the level of the closure via the side flaps vis-à-vis an external impact, for example by transporting the packaging device. In other words, it is easy to return at least one folded flap to its unfolded state after an external impact, in particular on the longitudinal surfaces. In this state, the packaging device becomes more cumbersome because of the unfolded flaps. It is thus more difficult to put the packaging device into boxes and it therefore requires an additional handling step in order to fold up the unfolded flap(s).

It is also possible to use fastening means such as tape or glue to ensure the folded state of the flaps. However, it requires additional means and at least one additional step, which makes the method of manufacturing the packaging device more expensive and more complex.

There is thus a need to propose a technical solution making it possible to facilitate the putting into cases of a device for packaging at least one windscreen wiper blade manufactured from a blank while ensuring the manufacturing process of the sidewall at maintained cost and reduced complexity.

According to one aspect, there is provided a blank for the manufacture of a device for packaging at least one wiper blade. Said sidewall is elongated and comprising at least a first and a second adjacent longitudinal zones, each of said at least a first and a second longitudinal zones being intended to form a longitudinal face of the packaging device, said first and said second longitudinal zones being respectively hinged at each of its ends to a first and a second end zone, via a transverse fold line, said first and said second end zone being capable of forming respectively a first and a second substantially transverse flap of the device packaging, characterized in that the longitudinal length of the first end zone is greater than that of the second end zone and the first flap is intended to be formed before the second flap.

It is understood that the first flap is intended to be folded or folded down before the second flap. In other words, the second flap is configured to be placed on the first flap when the first and second flaps are folded or folded down. In other words, when the two flaps are superimposed, the second flap is located towards the outside of the packaging device relative to the first flap.

Such a flank advantageously makes it possible to have a first flap and a second flap whose longitudinal length is less than that of the first flap. As the first flap is intended to be folded before the second flap, it is always the second flap which is unfolded first in the event of an external impact. With the reduced longitudinal length of the second flap, such a flank advantageously makes it possible to have a space requirement maintained even if the second flap is unfolded.

Furthermore, since no fastening means have been added, there is therefore no additional cost or additional process step for the manufacture of a packaging device from such a blank.

According to one embodiment, the transverse fold line is curved, preferably in the form of an arc of a circle, and curved concave towards the center of the first or the second longitudinal zone.

The first end zone may for example comprise, opposite the transverse fold line, a curved and convex curved edge complementary to the shape of the transverse fold line, and the second end zone may for example comprise , opposite the transverse fold line, a straight border.

By way of non-limiting example, the longitudinal length of the second end zone is equal to or less than half that of the first end zone.

Advantageously, such a longitudinal length of the second end zone, in other words the longitudinal length of the second flap, makes it possible to ensure an identical size of the packaging device made from the sidewall even if the second flap is unfolded. Therefore, it will advantageously have no negative impact on the packaging of the packaging device.

According to one embodiment, the first end zone comprises polarizing means intended to be masked by the second flap formed from the second end zone.

Such a flank comprising foolproof means makes it possible to avoid possible mishandling of the use during the manufacture of the packaging device from the flank. As the mistake-proofing means are intended to be masked by the second end zone after the formation of the second flap, the user will be aware that he has made a bad manipulation if the mistake-proofing means still remain visible after the manufacture of the device. packaging.

By way of indication but not limitation, the error-proofing means include indicators in the form of a sentence and/or a symbol and/or a solid color.

So it can clearly help the user to follow the correct manufacturing order of the packaging device.

According to another embodiment, the sidewall is made of plastic materials or cardboard.

The sidewall can be made of a plastic material, preferably transparent or translucent, and preferably of a rigid plastic material. The material can thus be chosen from poly (ethylene terephthalate) (more commonly called PET), poly (vinyl chloride (PVC) or even polypropylene (PP). Alternatively, the sidewall can also be made of cardboard. .

In another aspect, there is provided a packaging device for at least one wiper blade. The packaging device is made from a blank as defined above.

According to one embodiment, the packaging device contains at least one wiper blade.

According to yet another aspect, there is proposed a method of manufacturing a device for packaging at least one wiper blade, by means of a sidewall as described above. The process includes folding and even gluing steps. The first flap is formed from the first end zone and then the second flap is formed from the second end zone.

Such a manufacturing method advantageously makes it possible to ensure the maintained size of the packaging device even if the second flap is unfolded.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description of embodiments, in no way limiting, and of the appended drawings in which:

the illustrates, in a perspective view, an embodiment of a blank for the manufacture of a device for packaging at least one wiper blade,

the illustrates in a perspective view, an embodiment of a device for packaging at least one wiper blade made from a sidewall,

the illustrates a method of manufacturing a device 10 for wrapping at least one wiper blade 50 by means of the sidewall 1 in the wrong order, and

the illustrates a method of manufacturing a packaging device 10 of at least one wiper blade 50 by means of the sidewall 1 in a good order.

It should be noted that the identical elements bear, in all FIGS. 1 to 4, the same reference numbers.

Reference 1 on the designates a sidewall, according to an example of the invention, for the manufacture of a device for packaging at least one windscreen wiper blade comprises at least two

longitudinal zones

2, 3 hinged together by a first line of longitudinal folding 4.

For example, the illustrates a sidewall comprises a first longitudinal zone 2 and a second longitudinal zone 3, which will lead to the manufacture of a packaging device provided with two longitudinal side faces, here for example a front face 2' and a rear face 3' connected by a first edge 4' formed by the first longitudinal fold line 4. The sidewall 1 may however comprise more than two longitudinal zones, the plurality of longitudinal zones then defining for the packaging device once manufactured a polygonal longitudinal profile.

The sidewall 1 further comprises a longitudinal flap 5, here for example adjacent to the first longitudinal zone 2, and articulated via a second longitudinal fold line 6 to the first longitudinal zone 2. The first and second

longitudinal fold lines

4, 6 are substantially parallel here.

This longitudinal flap 5 is advantageously a flap which makes it possible to cause one face of this longitudinal flap 5 to adhere by adhesive, bonding or welding to a portion of one face of the second longitudinal zone 3. After such adhesion, the second line of longitudinal fold 6 is substantially coincident with a longitudinal edge 9 of the second longitudinal zone 3 located on the opposite side of the first fold line 4.

At least one

longitudinal zone

2, 3, here for example both, is hinged at each of its longitudinal ends to an

end zone

21, 22; 31, 32, via a

transverse folding line

11, 12, 13, 14, namely two

first end zones

21, 22, and two

second end zones

31, 32.

Each of the

first end zones

21 and 22 is intended to form a substantially transverse first flap R1 of the packaging device and each of the

second end zones

31 and 32 is intended to form a substantially transverse second flap R2 of the packaging device. packaging. Furthermore, the first flap R1 is intended to be formed before the second flap R2.

The transverse folding lines are generally identical and can be curved, in particular in the form of an arc of a circle. Their convexities can be oriented towards each other so as to be concavely curved towards the counter of the first or the

second end zone

2, or 3. By way of example, the packaging device present after manufacture convex curved front longitudinal faces 2' and 3' and two concave curved transverse faces 31' and 32'.

The

first end zone

21 or 22 comprises a first longitudinal length L1 and the

second end zone

31 or 32 comprises a second longitudinal length L2. This first longitudinal length L1 is greater than the second longitudinal length L2.

By way of example as shown in the , the first and

second end zones

21, 22, 31, 32 each comprise, opposite the corresponding

transverse fold line

11, 12, 13, 14, a curved and convex curved border substantially complementary to the shape of the corresponding

transverse fold line

11, 12, 13, 14.

As indicated above, the first flap R1 is intended to be formed before the second flap R2. In this case, if the wrapping device made from sidewall 1 receives an external impact, it is more likely that the second flap R2 will be unfolded. As the longitudinal length L2 of the

second end zone

31, 32, in other words of the second flap R2, is less than that L1 of the

first end zone

21, 22, in other words of the first flap R1, the device Packaging with the second flap R2 unfolded becomes less cumbersome and putting such a packaging device into cases has become easier without using any glue or other fixing means.

We now refer to the which illustrates another embodiment of the packaging device 10 made from a blank 1 according to the invention.

The indeed illustrates just one longitudinal side of the packaging device 10 made from the sidewall 1. Only the rear face 3' is visible on the . The transverse fold line 13, 14 is shown here as a dotted line. The first and

second end zones

21, 22, 31, 32 are in their unfolded states.

As a variant of the example illustrated in the , the

second end zone

31, 32, in other words the second flap R2, comprises, opposite the transverse fold line 13, 14, a straight edge 15.

Moreover, the longitudinal length L2 of the

second end zone

31, 32 is equal to or less than half the longitudinal length L1 of the

first end zone

21, 22.

As can be seen on the , even if the

second end zone

31, 32, in other words the second flap R2 is in its unfolded state, its right edge 15 does not exceed the end of the second longitudinal zone. In other words, the packaging device made from the sidewall 1 can advantageously maintain its size even if the second flap R2, formed after the first flap R1, is in its unfolded state.

Consequently, if the order in which the first flap R1 is formed before that of the second flap R2 is respected, the first flap R1 can always be folded to prevent the exit of said at least one brush contained in the packaging device and the second flap R2 does not prevent the packaging device from being placed in cases even if the second flap R2 is in its unfolded state.

In order to ensure the correct order of formation of the first and second flaps R1 and R2, reference is made to FIGS. 3 and 4 which illustrate other examples of a packaging device manufactured from the blank 1 comprising the first zone of

end

21, 22 comprising polarizing means 40.

The illustrates a method of manufacturing a device 10 for wrapping at least one wiper blade 50 by means of the sidewall 1 in the wrong order.

It should be noted here that Figures 3 and 4 show views of a longitudinal side of the packaging device 10 after the formation of the front face 2' and the rear face 3'. The curved lines forming a sheath in Figures 3 and 4 designate the front face 2' and the rear face 3' respectively.

Once the sleeve has been formed, the packaging device 10 made from the sidewall 1 can receive at least one wiper blade, here for example a wiper blade 50 and possibly its associated adapters and connectors. If the second flap R2 is then formed, which has a shorter longitudinal length than that of the first flap R1 before the formation of the first flap R1 comprising polarizing means 40, it can be seen that, after the formation of the first flap R1, the polarizing means 40 still remain visible.

By way of indication, the misleading means 40 may comprise indicators in the form of a sentence and/or a symbol and/or a solid color such as a warning sentence and/or an exclamation mark so as to warn the user of the packaging device 10 that it is in the wrong order of formation of the first and second flaps R1 and R2.

The illustrates a method of manufacturing a packaging device 10 of at least one wiper blade by means of the sidewall 1 in a good order.

Following the formation of the front 2′ and rear 3′ faces, the packaging device 10 can receive at least one wiper blade, here for example a wiper blade 50.

By following the correct order, the first flap R1 is first formed from the

first end zone

21, 22 comprising the error-proofing means 40. As can be seen on the , the first flap R1 properly closes a lateral side of the packaging device 10 so as to hold said wiper blade 50 within the packaging device 10.

The second flap R2 is then formed from the

second end zone

31, 32. As the second flap R2 is formed after the first flap R1, the misleading means 40 are well hidden by the second flap R2 and are no longer visible. after the formation of the second flap R2.

In this case, even if the second flap R2 is unfolded due to an external impact, the size of the packaging device 10 is well maintained thanks to the reduced longitudinal length of the second flap R2, as can be seen more clearly notice on the . The packaging of the packaging device 10 will therefore advantageously not be disturbed by the second unfolded flap R2 and no additional fixing means is necessary.

Claims

Flank (1) for manufacturing a device (10) for packaging at least one windscreen wiper blade (50), said flank (1) being of elongated shape and comprising at least a first and a second adjacent longitudinal zones (2, 3), each of said at least a first and a second longitudinal zone (2, 3) being intended to form a longitudinal face (2', 3') of the packaging device (10), said first and said second longitudinal zones (2, 3) being respectively hinged at each of its ends to a first and a second end zone (21, 22, 31, 32), via a transverse fold line (11, 12, 13 , 14), said first and said second end zones (21, 22, 31, 32) being capable of forming respectively first and second substantially transverse flaps (R1, R2) of the packaging device (10), characterized in that the longitudinal length (L1) of the first end zone (21, 22) is greater than that (L2) of the second e end zone (31, 32) and the first flap (R1) is intended to be formed before the second flap (R2).
Flank (1) according to Claim 1, in which the transverse folding line (11, 12, 13, 14) is curved, preferably in the form of an arc of a circle, and curved concave towards the center of the first or second longitudinal zone (2, 3).
Flank according to Claim 2, in which the first end zone (2) comprises, opposite the transverse fold line (11, 12), a curved and convex curved edge complementary to the shape of the fold line (11, 12), and the second end zone (3) comprises, opposite the transverse fold line (13, 14), a straight edge (15).
Flank (1) according to Claim 3, in which the longitudinal length (L2) of the second end zone (31, 32) is equal to or less than half that (L1) of the first end zone (21 , 22).
Flank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first end zone (21, 22) comprises polarizing means (40) intended to be masked by the second flap (R2) formed from the second end zone (31, 32).
Flank (1) according to claim 5, in which the error-proofing means (40) comprise indicators in the form of a sentence and/or a symbol and/or a solid color.
Flank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, made of plastic material or cardboard.
Packaging device (10) for at least one wiper blade (50), characterized in that it is made from a blank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
Wrapping device (10) according to Claim 8, characterized in that it contains at least one windscreen wiper blade (50).
Method of manufacturing a device (10) for packaging at least one windscreen wiper blade (50), by means of a blank (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, comprising folding or even gluing steps, characterized in that the first flap (R1) is formed from the first end zone (21, 22) and then the second flap (R2) is formed from the second end zone (31, 32).