(19) |
|
|
(11) |
EP 2 522 589 B1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
(45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
|
02.04.2014 Bulletin 2014/14 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 08.05.2012 |
|
(51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
|
(54) |
Protective packaging for delicate articles
Schutzverpackung für empfindliche Artikel
Emballage de protection pour articles délicats
|
(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
(30) |
Priority: |
09.05.2011 FI 20115441
|
(43) |
Date of publication of application: |
|
14.11.2012 Bulletin 2012/46 |
(73) |
Proprietor: Takon Kotelotehdas Oy |
|
33101 Tampere (FI) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Asikainen, Janne
53300 Lappeenranta (FI)
- Jormanainen, Teemu
33101 Tampere (FI)
|
(74) |
Representative: Ahlskog, Tatu Kari Petteri et al |
|
Seppo Laine Oy
Itämerenkatu 3 B 00180 Helsinki 00180 Helsinki (FI) |
(56) |
References cited: :
WO-A1-01/98179 DE-U1- 20 004 695 GB-A- 1 308 014 US-A- 3 955 744 US-B1- 6 220 443
|
DE-U1- 8 602 038 DE-U1-202008 009 001 US-A- 1 171 083 US-A- 5 322 210
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
[0001] The present invention relates to a packing base. The invention particularly relates
to a packing base according to the characterizing portion of claim 1 for receiving
and storing delicate articles, such as confectionary.
[0002] Delicate articles, such as confectionary, incandescent lamps, etc., are usually packed
on packing bases for transportation and storage. Document
DE 860203841 for example discloses a packing base according to the preamble of claim 1. The packages
are typically deeply recessed bases of a plastic mixture, which are equipped with
pits to receive the articles. When storing delicate articles, a packing base by itself
does not, however, provide sufficient protection. Thus, the packing bases are usually
packed in a cardboard box, which protects the articles stored in the pits in the packing
base. Thus, the packages, which comprise both the packing base and the protective
cardboard box, use a considerable amount of material to store the articles, which
is not particularly economical. In addition, the protective cardboard box requires
a separate packing stage and apparatus when packing the articles.
[0003] The present invention is intended to create a package for the protective storage
of delicate articles, using the least possible amount of packing material.
[0004] The aim of the invention is achieved by means of a new type of packing base, which
comprises a group of consecutive reception elements combined by folding and equipped
with recesses receiving the articles. The packing base according to the invention
can be arranged in a spread-open position, in which the packing base's group of parallel
reception elements is arranged to receive the articles in the visible recesses, and
to be closed into a position, in which the reception elements are bent to protect
the recesses surrounding the packing base, in order to form a closed package. The
reception elements have a first side and a second side, which sides are farther from
each other at one end than at the other end, where they are connected by an end ridge,
in which recesses are arranged to receive the said articles.
[0005] More specifically, the packing base according to the invention is characterized by
what is stated in the characterizing portion of Claim 1.
[0006] Considerable advantages are achieved with the aid of the invention. Because the packing
base can be folded into a closed position, the packing base itself forms a package
protecting delicate articles, so that a separate protective structure, such as a cardboard
box, is not required. By means of the construction according to the invention, significant
savings are achieved, thanks to the reduced need for packing material. In other words,
using less packing material a sufficiently sturdy package is achieved for storing
delicate articles.
[0007] In the following, embodiments of the invention are examined in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a spread-open package according to one embodiment,
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the package of Figure 1 in the closed position,
Figure 3 shows a detailed view of one protrusion of the package according to Figure
1,
Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the protrusion of Figure 3, which is equipped with
locking claws,
Figure 5 shows a top view of a blank for the manufacture of a package according to
Figure 1, and
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a package according to a second embodiment, in
the closed position.
[0008] As can be seen from Figure 1, the packing base 1 according to one embodiment of the
present invention comprises six consecutive combined reception elements 10a ... 10f
equipped with recesses 14 receiving an article. In Figure 1, the packing base 1 is
shown in the spread-open position, in which the reception elements 10a ... 10f are
parallel to each other, in such a way that the recesses 14 for receiving delicate
articles are visible. The shaping of the recesses 14 is dealt with in greater detail
later. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the packing base 1 comprises a sheet-like
base 20 and six parallel reception elements 10a ... 10f protruding from this. Thus,
the base 20 has a first surface, from which the reception elements 10 are arranged
to protrude, and a second surface forming the outer jacket of the package when the
packing base 1 is in the closed position, which is also dealt with in greater detail
later. The sheet-like base 20 is preferably a cardboard sheet, which is cut into a
rectangular shape.
[0009] Each of the protruding reception elements 10a ... 10f comprises a first side 11 and
a second side 12. The said sides 11, 12 are farther from each other at the base 20
end than at the free end, where they join to form an end ridge 13. The end ridge 13
is equipped with the said recesses 14 for receiving articles. The reception elements
10a ... 10f are linked in such a way that the end next to the base 20 of the second
side 12 of the preceding reception element 10a is linked bendably to the corresponding
end of the first side 11 of the following reception element 10b. In other words, the
reception elements 10a ... 10f are formed on the base 20 in such a way that the packing
base 1 can be bent at the joints between the reception elements 10a ... 10f.
[0010] The chain of reception elements is preferably manufactured from a separate sheet,
which is shaped to form protruding ridges. The sheet to be shaped can be manufactured
from, for example, card, or it can be deep-drawn from a thin polymer blank. The joint
15 between the reception elements 10a ... 10f is preferably creased or otherwise scored,
in order to promote bending. Once the sheet has been shaped, it can be attached to
the base 20, for example by gluing, particularly by hot, cold, or self-adhesive gluing.
Alternatively, the sheet can be attached to the base 20 by seaming. Other known attachment
methods, such as ultrasound joints, are also possible.
[0011] The wedge-like reception elements 10 formed by bending on the base 20 permit the
packing base 1 to be bent into a closed position. As can be seen from Figure 2, in
the closed position the reception elements 10 of the packing base 1 are bent to protect
the recesses 14. The closed position is created by bending the packing base 10 in
such a way that the end next to the base 20, of the first side 11 of the first reception
element 10a, is brought next to the corresponding-side end of the second side 12 of
the last reception element 10f, so that the end ridges 13 point towards each other.
The recesses 14 are then surrounded by the packing base 1, so that the packing base
1 forms a closed package, which can be locked into the closed position, for example,
by taping or by fitting a sleeve, or a corresponding belt (not shown) preserving the
closed shape, around the package. Alternatively, the first reception element 10a and
last reception element 10f of the packing base 1 are equipped with locking shapes
(not shown) connecting to each other, which connect to each other when the packing
base 1 is bent into the closed position, when the package will remain closed. In the
closed position, the outer jacket of the package is formed by the under surface of
the base 20 of the packing base. Because the packing base 1 comprises, according to
the embodiment shown in Figure 1, six parallel reception elements 10a ... 10f, the
closed package has a hexagonal shape when viewed from the end. As is stated later,
other cross-sectional shapes are also possible by altering the shape of the reception
elements 10. In the closed position, the sides 11, 12 of the reception elements 10
support each other as a chain, so that the package becomes considerably sturdy.
[0012] Figure 3 shows in greater detail an end ridge 13 and a recess 14. The recess 14 is
thus an opening formed in the end ridge 13, i.e. in the free end opposite to the base
20 of the wedge-like reception element 10, which is shaped to receive a corresponding
delicate article, such as a piece of confectionary, or a small incandescent lamp.
The recess 14 can be formed, for example, by stamping a groove open from the base,
in the ridge 13. The recesses 14 can be formed alternatively by deep drawing, cutting,
or perforation. Other ways too are possible.
[0013] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 4, locking claws 16, which extend over
the recess 14 parallel to the end ridge in such a way that they lock in place the
article (not shown) embedded in the recess 14, are arranged in the end ridge. Other
forms of locking are also possible. As shown in Figure 5, the articles can be locked
into the recesses 14, for example, by arranging a locking strip 17 on top of the end
ridge 13. The locking strip 17 can be attached to the end ridge 13, for example, by
gluing, in which case the articles remain pressed between the recess 14 and the locking
strip 17. According to one further embodiment, the packing base 1 is equipped with
both locking claws 16 and locking strips 17.
[0014] Figure 5 shows, in addition, one way to locate the recesses 14 in the end ridges
13 of the reception elements 10. According to the embodiment depicted, the recesses
of every second reception element 10 are mutually aligned and the recesses 14 of consecutive
reception elements 10a, 10b are staggered relative to each other in the direction
of the end ridge 13. The staggering between the consecutive reception elements 10a,
10b creates a situation, in which, in the closed position, the articles embedded in
the recesses 14 are not in line with each other, so that no excessive compression
acts on them. Indeed, the packing base 1 is preferably dimensioned in such a way that
an article in a recess 14 of the previous reception element 10a is supported on the
end ridge 13 of the next reception element 10b, when the packing base 1 is bent into
the closed position (Figure 2). The depth of the recess 14 and the distance of the
end ridge 13 from the base 20 are then dimensioned in such a way that, in the closed
position, the distance from the bottom of the recess 14 of the previous reception
element 10a of the packing base 1 to the end ridge 13 of the following reception element
10b corresponds to the dimension in the direction of the recess 14 of the article
being stored.
[0015] Figure 5 further shows a blank for manufacturing a package according to Figure 1,
in which blank six reception elements 10 are made. As stated, the desired number of
parallel reception elements can be made in the packing base 1, which will dictate
the shape of the package's cross-section in the closed position. According to one
embodiment, the packing base 1 comprises eight reception elements 10, in which case
the cross-section of the package will be an octagon (Figure 6). In practice, the packing
base 1 preferably comprises from three to twelve reception elements, preferably six
reception elements. The number of reception elements affects the angle between the
sides 11, 12 (Figure 1), i.e. the opening angle of the wedge-like reception elements.
Table 1: Reference-number list.
number |
part |
1 |
package |
10 |
protrusion |
11 |
first side |
12 |
second side |
13 |
ridge |
14 |
recess |
15 |
fold |
16 |
locking claw |
17 |
locking strip |
20 |
base |
1. Packing base (1) for receiving and storing delicate articles, which:
- packing base (1) comprises a group of consecutive bendably combined reception elements
(10) equipped with recesses (14) for receiving an article, and that
- the packing base (1) is confgured to be arranged in a spread-open position, in which
the packing base's (1) group of parallel reception elements (10) is arranged to receive
the articles in the visible recesses (14), and in a closed position, in which the
reception elements (10) are bent to protect the recesses (14), in order to form a
closed package surrounded by the packing base (1),
characterized in that the reception elements (10) have a first side (11) and a second side (12), which
sides (11, 12) are farther from each other at one end than at the other end, where
they are joined by an end ridge (13), in which the recesses (14) are arranged in order
to receive the said articles.
2. Packing base (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reception elements (10) are arranged
consecutively in a first direction and a group of recesses (14) is arranged in each
reception elements (10) in a second direction, which is essentially transverse to
the first direction.
3. Packing base (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the parallel reception elements
(10) are linked as a chain, in such a way that the first end of the second side (12)
of the previous reception element (10a) is linked bendably to the first end of the
first side (11) of the following reception element, in such a way that the packing
base (1) can be bent at the joints between the reception elements (10) into a closed
position, in which case the joining of the first and last reception element (10) of
the packing base (1) closes the packing base (1) in such a way that the joining of
the sides (11, 12) of the parallel reception elements (10) closes the packing base
(1) in such a way that the side (11, 12) of the parallel reception elements (10a,
10b) support each other and the recesses (14) remain inside the closed packing base
(1).
4. Packing base (1) according to claim 1, wherein the packing base (1) comprises a sheet-like
base (20), from the first surface of which reception elements (10) are arranged to
protrude, in which case the second surface of the base (20) forms the outer jacket
of the package when the packing base (1) is in the closed position.
5. Packing base (1) according to any of the above claims, wherein the recesses (14) of
the consecutive reception elements (10a, 10b) are staggered relative to each other
in the direction of the end ridge (13).
6. Packing base (1) according to claim 5, wherein the recesses (14) of every second reception
element (10) are in line with each other.
7. Packing base (1) according to any of the above claims, wherein locking claws (16)
are arranged in the end ridges (13), which claws extend parallel to the end ridge
(13) over a recess (14), in such a way that they are arranged to lock in place an
article embedded in the recess (14).
8. Packing base (1) according to any of the above claims, wherein a locking strip (17)
is arranged on top of the end ridge (13), in order to lock articles between the recess
(14) and the locking strip (17).
9. Packing base (1) according to any of the above claims, wherein the packing base (1)
comprises six or eight parallel reception elements (10a ... 10f), in such a way that,
when the closed package is viewed from the end, it has a hexagonal or octagonal shape,
respectively.
1. Verpackungsboden (1) zur Aufnahme und Aufbewahrung empfindlicher Artikel, wobei der
Verpackungsboden (1) eine Gruppe aufeinander folgender, biegsam kombinierter Aufnahmeelemente
(10) mit Ausnehmungen (14) zur Aufnahme eines Artikels aufweist und wobei der Verpackungsboden
(1) zur Anordnung in einer aufgespreizten Stellung gestaltet ist, in der die Gruppe
paralleler Aufnahmeelemente (10) des Verpackungsbodens (1) zur Aufnahme der Artikel
in den sichtbaren Ausnehmungen angeordnet ist, und in einer geschlossenen Stellung,
in der die Aufnahmeelemente (10) zum Schutz der Ausnehmungen (14) gebogen sind, um
eine geschlossene, von dem Verpackungsboden (1) umgebene Verpackung zu bilden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Aufnahmeelemente (10) eine erste Seite (11) und eine zweite Seite (12) aufweisen,
wobei die Seiten (11, 12) an einem Ende einen größeren Abstand voneinander aufweisen
als an dem anderen Ende, wo sie durch einen Endsteg (13) verbunden sind, in dem die
Ausnehmungen (14) zur Aufnahme der Artikel angeordnet sind.
2. Verpackungsboden (1) nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die Aufnahmeelemente (10) aufeinander
folgend in einer ersten Richtung angeordnet sind und eine Gruppe der Ausnehmungen
(14) in jedem der Aufnahmeelemente (10) in einer zweiten, im Wesentlichen senkrecht
zu der ersten Richtung verlaufenden Richtung angeordnet ist.
3. Verpackungsboden (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, bei dem die parallelen Aufnahmeelemente
(10) derart miteinander verkettet sind, dass das erste Ende der zweiten Seite (12)
des vorangehenden Aufnahmeelements (10a) biegbar mit dem ersten Ende der ersten Seite
(11) des folgenden Aufnahmeelements verbunden ist, derart dass der Verpackungsboden
(1) an den Verbindungsstellen zwischen den Aufnahmeelementen (10) in eine geschlossene
Stellung biegbar ist, in welchem Fall die Zusammenführung des ersten und des letzten
Aufnahmeelements (10) des Verpackungsbodens (1) den Verpackungsboden (1) derart schließt,
dass die Zusammenführung der Seiten (11, 12) der parallelen Aufnahmeelemente (10)
den Verpackungsboden (1) derart schließt, dass die Seiten (11, 12) der parallelen
Aufnahmeelemente (10a, 10b) einander stützen und die Ausnehmungen (14) im Inneren
des geschlossenen Verpackungsbodens (1) verbleiben.
4. Verpackungsboden nach Anspruch 1, bei dem der Verpackungsboden (1) einen blattartigen
Boden (20) aufweist, von dessen erster Oberfläche die Aufnahmeelemente (10) hervorragen,
in welchem Fall die zweite Oberfläche des Bodens (20) die äußere Hülle der Verpackung
bildet, wenn sich der Verpackungsboden (1) in seiner geschlossenen Stellung befindet.
5. Verpackungsboden (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Ausnehmungen
(14) der aufeinander folgenden Aufnahmeelemente (10a, 10b) in der Richtung des Endstegs
(13) relativ zu einander versetzt angeordnet sind.
6. Verpackungsboden (1) nach Anspruch 5, bei dem die Ausnehmungen (14) jedes zweiten
Aufnahmeelements (10) miteinander fluchten.
7. Verpackungsboden (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, bei dem Sperrklauen (16)
in den Endstegen (13) angeordnet sind, welche Klauen sich parallel zum Endsteg (13)
über eine Ausnehmung (14) erstrecken, derart dass sie einen in der Ausnehmung (14)
angeordneten Artikel an seinem Ort fixieren.
8. Verpackungsboden (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, bei dem ein Verschlussstreifen
(17) oben auf dem Endsteg (13) angeordnet ist, um Artikel zwischen der Ausnehmung
(14) und dem Verschlussstreifen (17) einzuschließen.
9. Verpackungsboden (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, bei dem der Verpackungsboden
(1) sechs oder acht parallele Aufnahmeelemente (10a...10f) aufweist, derart dass wenn
die geschlossene Verpackung stirnseitig betrachtet wird, sie eine sechseckige oder
achteckige Form aufweist.
1. Base d'emballage (1) pour recevoir et stocker des articles délicats, laquelle :
- base d'emballage (1) comprend un groupe d'éléments de réception consécutifs assemblés
de façon flexible (10) équipés d'évidements (14) pour recevoir un article, et que
- la base d'emballage (1) est configurée pour être agencée dans une position ouverte
de façon étalée, dans laquelle le groupe d'éléments de réception parallèles (10) de
la base d'emballage (1) est agencé pour recevoir les articles dans les évidements
visibles (14), et dans une position fermée, dans laquelle les éléments de réception
(10) sont pliés pour protéger les évidements (14), afin de former un emballage fermé
entouré par la base d'emballage (1), caractérisée en ce que les éléments de réception (10) possèdent un premier côté (11) et un second côté (12),
lesquels côtés (11, 12) sont plus éloignés l'un de l'autre à une extrémité qu'à l'autre
extrémité, où ils sont joints par une strie d'extrémité (13), dans laquelle les évidements
(14) sont agencés afin de recevoir lesdits articles.
2. Base d'emballage (1) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les éléments de réception
(10) sont agencés consécutivement dans une première direction et un groupe d'évidements
(14) est agencé dans chaque élément de réception (10) dans une seconde direction,
qui est essentiellement transversale à la première direction.
3. Base d'emballage (1) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle les éléments de
réception parallèles (10) sont liés sous forme de chaîne, de manière telle que la
première extrémité du second côté (12) de l'élément de réception précédent (10a) soit
liée de façon flexible à la première extrémité du premier côté (11) de l'élément de
réception suivant, de manière telle que la base d'emballage (1) puisse être pliée
aux joints entre les éléments de réception (10) dans une position fermée, auquel cas
la jonction des premier et dernier éléments de réception (10) de la base d'emballage
(1) ferme la base d'emballage (1) de manière telle que la jonction des côtés (11,
12) des éléments de réception parallèles (10) ferme la base d'emballage (1) de manière
telle que le côté (11, 12) des éléments de réception parallèles (10a, 10b) se supportent
et les évidements (14) restent à l'intérieur de la base d'emballage fermée (1).
4. Base d'emballage (1) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la base d'emballage (1)
comprend une base en feuille (20), à partir de la première surface de laquelle des
éléments de réception (10) sont agencés pour faire saillie, auquel cas la seconde
surface de la base (20) forme l'enveloppe extérieure de l'emballage lorsque la base
d'emballage (1) est dans la position fermée.
5. Base d'emballage (1) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
les évidements (14) des éléments de réception consécutifs (10a, 10b) sont décalés
les uns par rapport aux autres dans la direction de la strie d'extrémité (13).
6. Base d'emballage (1) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle les évidements (14) de
chaque second élément de réception (10) sont alignés les uns avec les autres.
7. Base d'emballage (1) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
des griffes de verrouillage (16) sont agencées dans les stries d'extrémité (13), lesquelles
griffes s'étendent parallèlement à la strie d'extrémité (13) par-dessus un évidement
(14), de manière telle qu'elles soient agencées pour verrouiller en place un article
inséré dans l'évidement (14).
8. Base d'emballage (1) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
une bande de verrouillage (17) est agencée par-dessus la strie d'extrémité (13), afin
de verrouiller des articles entre l'évidement (14) et la bande de verrouillage (17).
9. Base d'emballage (1) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
la base d'emballage (1) comprend six ou huit éléments de réception parallèles (10a
... 10f), de manière telle que, lorsque l'emballage fermé est vu à partir de l'extrémité,
il présente une forme hexagonale ou octogonale, respectivement.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description