Packaging

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a package comprising a one-piece blank whereby the side walls have support tabs (12) which project from them at both ends and which are delimited from the edge sections by means of a first fold indication (13), and whereby the support tabs (12), in a storage state, are located in the same plane as the raised first edge sections (2,3), as a result of which the packages, with their edge sections diverging from the bottom section in this unfilled state, can be pressed down into each other for space-saving stacking of empty packages, and whereby the support tabs (12) are provided with locking portions (16) and, after the support tabs have been folded down to a support position in which each support tab (12) rests against an upper edge of the adjacent second edge section (4,5), said locking portions (16) are arranged to project completely outside said upper edge.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a package comprising a one-piece blank from which a bottom section is formed, and first and second pairs of opposite raised edge sections which form side walls and end walls, respectively, and are delimited from the bottom section by first and second fold lines, respectively.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The package according to the invention is primarily intended for foods of the type which the consumer would wish to see before purchasing, in order to check their quality and appearance.

[0003] A conventional package for pieces of meat and minced meat consists of a tray made of foamed plastic, and after it has been filled this tray is sealed with a plastic film arranged about the tray and the product.

[0004] This package has a number of disadvantages. Tools for producing foamed plastic trays are costly and it is therefore not possible to change the size and shape of the foamed plastic trays at reasonable cost, and instead the retail trade and consumers have been restricted to a small number of sizes of specific shape.

[0005] A serious disadvantage of meat packages consisting of foamed plastic trays is that filled packages cannot be stacked on top of one another without the risk of damaging the meat or minced meat. When filled, the packages do not in fact have any stacking surfaces. If a number of filled packages are stacked on top of one another, the weight of the meat or minced meat is taken up. If a stack of meat packages comprising trays made of foamed plastic is high, the load on the meat or minced meat in the lower parts of the stack is considerable and there is a risk of pressure damage. The meat juices can be pressed out, which of course is not desirable.

[0006] In addition, minced meat for example becomes discoloured when it is exposed to pressure, and although the quality of the minced meat is not always impaired to any appreciable extent by this discolouring, it is likely that consumers will not buy these products or at least will have doubts concerning their quality, which can cause problems for the retailer.

[0007] In the case of known plastic trays with meat products and a surrounding plastic film, loads caused by other plastic trays are often taken up directly by an unsupported plastic film, which can stretch and break.

[0008] Despite the obvious disadvantages both from the environmental point of view and in terms of handling, foamed plastic trays have long dominated the market.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention makes available a package which completely eliminates the abovementioned problems.

[0010] The package according to the invention is characterized in that the first pair of opposite edge sections, for example those forming the side walls, have support tabs which project from them at both ends of the respective edge section and which are delimited from the edge sections by means of a first fold indication,
in that the opposite edge sections in the raised state diverge slightly in the direction from the bottom section,
in that said support tabs, in a storage state before the support tabs have been folded inwards about their said first fold indications, are located in the same plane as the raised first edge sections, as a result of which the packages, with their edge sections diverging from the bottom section in this unfilled state, can be pressed down into each other for space-saving stacking of empty packages,
in that the support tabs are provided with locking portions and, after the support tabs have been folded down to a support position in which each support tab rests against an upper edge of the adjacent second edge section, said locking portions are arranged to project completely outside said upper edge,
in that the locking portion of each support tab is delimited from the rest of the support tab by means of a second fold indication which is designed to offer very low resistance to folding-down of the locking portion towards the outside of the second edge section, and the package is intended to be sealed by means of a plastic film or the like which, when applied, is designed to cover at least the top of the package and upper portions of each edge section.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the invention is characterized in that adjacent edge sections are joined to each other by means of corner portions which are folded and are in one continuous piece with said adjacent edge portions, which corner portions are delimited from the first pair of edge sections by means of third fold lines and from the second pair of edge sections by means of fourth fold lines, said third fold line forming a first obtuse angle with the first fold line, and the fourth fold line forming a second obtuse angle with the second fold line, in that a fifth fold line is arranged between the third and fourth fold lines, in that the corner tabs, when the edge sections are raised, are arranged to be folded at the third and fourth fold lines and double-folded about the fifth fold line, and in that the double-folded corner portions are connected to two opposite raised edge sections.

[0012] According to an especially environmentally friendly embodiment, the invention is characterized in that the blank is made of corrugated board or cardboard laminated with a plastic film which is arranged on that side which forms the inside of the package after the blank has been erected.

[0013] It is of course important that the packages can be made easily and cost-effectively and can be made in different sizes which can be adapted to customer requirements.

[0014] The customer will want to have assembled packages which can be filled directly with the product in question. This places demands on empty packages taking up as little space as possible during storage and transportation.

[0015] After the products have been packed, the packages must be able to be sealed with minimum manual handling.

[0016] After the product has been packed, the package according to the invention is intended to be sealed by means of the support tabs at the ends of two opposite edge sections being first manually folded down to their final position in contact with the edge of the adjacent edge section, after which the support tabs and associated locking portions are automatically brought to the intended position when the package is wrapped in the plastic film.

[0017] It is important that the second fold indication which delimits the locking portion from the rest of the support tab offers very low resistance to the folding-down about the fold indication. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, this has been achieved by the fact that the second fold indication, which delimits the locking tab from the rest of the corner tab, has a continuous groove which extends along the fold indication, and which groove extends across the greater part of the fold indication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment which is shown in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the blank for a package according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the blank according to Figure 1 in an almost assembled state.

Figure 3 shows a number of assembled packages according to Figures 1 and 2 and arranged in a stack.

Figure 4 shows an assembled package according to Figures 1 and 2 with a support tab folded down.

Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic representation of a filled package according to Figures 1, 2 and 4 enclosed in a plastic film.

Figure 6 shows two sealed packages according to Figure 5 stacked one on top of the other.

Figure 7 shows an example of how assembled and stacked and empty packages according to Figure 3 can be arranged in large containers for transportation and storage.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

[0019] The blank according to Figure 1 consists of a rectangular bottom section 1, a first pair of opposite edge sections 2, 3, and a second pair of opposite edge sections 4, 5. The first pair of edge sections 2, 3 are intended to form the side walls of the package and are delimited from the bottom section 1 by means of first fold lines 6. The second pair of edge sections 4, 5 are intended to form the end walls of the package and are delimited from the bottom section 1 by means of second fold lines 7.

[0020] The one-piece blank has corner portions 8 which join adjacent edge portions, for example the edge portions 2 and 4. The corner portions 8 are delimited from the first pair of edge sections 2, 3, the side walls, by means of third fold lines 9, and from the second pair of edge sections 4, 5, the end walls, by means of fourth fold lines 10. The third fold line 9 forms an obtuse angle with the first fold line 6, and the fourth fold line 10 forms an obtuse angle with the second fold line 7. A fifth fold line 11 is arranged between the third and fourth fold lines on each corner portion 8.

[0021] When the edge sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 are raised to form the side walls and end walls of the package, the corner portion 8 is folded at the third and fourth fold lines 9 and 10 and double-folded about the fold line 11.

[0022] At both ends of the edge sections 2, 3 forming the side walls, the plane blank has projecting support tabs 12 which are delimited from the edge sections by means of first fold indications 13. These each consist of a fold line 14 and of a continuous fold slit 15 which, in the illustrative embodiment shown, extends across a third of the fold indication 13. The fold slit 15 is intended to reduce the risk of the support tab springing back when it has been folded about the fold indication 13.

[0023] The support tabs 12 are provided with locking portions 16 which are delimited from the rest of the support tabs by means of a second fold indication 17, which second fold indication is designed to offer very low resistance to folding-down of the locking portion.

[0024] In the illustrative embodiment shown, the second fold indication 17 consists of a continuous groove extending along the indication, which groove extends across the greater part of the second fold indication.

[0025] The corners 18 of the side walls 2, 3, located between the corner portions 8 of the blank and the support tabs 12, are gently rounded to give the assembled package rounded upper corners.

[0026] According to an expedient embodiment, the blank according to Figure 1 consists of a laminate of corrugated board and a liquid-tight plastic film applied to one side of the latter. Corrugated board in the form of so-called E-flute corrugated board with a thickness of the order of 1 mm has been found to be suitable for food packages such as trays for portions of meat or for minced meat.

[0027] The liquid-tight plastic film is applied to that side of the blank which is intended to form the inside of the package, thus preventing liquid from leaking out of the package or being absorbed by the packaging material. Liquid which is drawn into the material would of course affect the strength characteristics of the package. Examples of suitable plastic films are polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester. The plastic and the thickness of the plastic film in the laminate will be chosen based on the intended use.

[0028] In the illustrative embodiment shown, when the edge sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the package are raised, it has been chosen to fold the corner portions 8 outwards, as is best seen from Figure 2, and thereafter to adhesively bond the double-folded corner portions against the outsides of the edge sections. This has been chosen in order to achieve a stronger connection by means of the adhesive than would be the case if adhesive were applied between 2 plastic surfaces, i.e. if the corner tabs were folded in against the inside of the edge section. Connecting the double-folded corner portions to the outside of the edge sections is also suitable for the reason that it avoids contact between liquids in the food and the adhesive which is used.

[0029] In the raised state, the opposite edge sections 2, 3 and 4, 5, respectively, i.e. the opposite side surfaces and end surfaces, diverge in the direction away from the bottom section 1. This has been achieved by the fact that, as was mentioned above, the third and fourth fold lines 9 and 10 form obtuse angles with the first and second fold lines 6 and 7, respectively.

[0030] In Figure 1, said obtuse angles have been indicated by showing the angles by which each obtuse angle exceeds 90°. In the drawings, these angles have been marked as b and c. As will be seen from Figure 1, the angle c is considerably greater than the angle b. The angle c determines how much the end walls 4, 5 slope outwards in the raised state, and the angle b determines how much the side walls 2 and 3 will slope outwards in the raised state. The reason why the angle c in the illustrative embodiment shown is preferably greater than the angle b is that the corner portions 8 have been folded outwards, as is best seen from Figure 2, and double-folded against the outside of the end walls 4, 5, which means that the end walls together with the double-folded corner portions are considerably thicker than the side walls, and the angle c has been chosen greater than the angle b in order to compensate for the increase in the thickness of the end walls caused by the double folding of the corner portions. The angles b and c and the thickness of the side walls and end walls determine the depth by which empty packages can be pressed into each other upon stacking of empty packages for transportation and storage.

[0031] In the example in which the blank has a thickness of the order of 1 mm, as was indicated above, angles b of the order of 3° and angles c of the order of 15°, which angles have been chosen in the illustrative embodiment shown, provide for efficient and space-saving stacking of empty packages inserted into each other. Figure 3 shows assembled packages formed from the blank according to Figure 1 and stacked in each other.

[0032] The corner portions 8 which have been folded outwards and double-folded about the fifth fold line 11, when the side walls and end walls of the package are raised, are preferably connected to the outside of the end walls 4, 5 by means of adhesive. The fifth fold line 11 is symmetrically arranged between the third and fourth fold lines. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the angles a are of the order of 36°.

[0033] In Figure 4, which shows an assembled package, one support tab 12 has been folded down to its support position, in which a portion in immediate proximity to the second fold indication 17 rests against the upper edge of the end wall 5. The locking portion 16 of the support tab has been arranged to ensure that a portion of the support tab at all times rests against the upper edge of the end wall so that loads directed from above on each support tab are taken up by the end walls.

[0034] The locking portion 16 is folded down on the outside of the respective end wall by being folded about the second fold indication 17 which, by means of the groove extending across the greater part of the fold indication, offers low resistance to folding-down.

[0035] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the aim is that the locking portion will be brought automatically to the intended position when a filled package is sealed by means of a plastic film which, when wrapped sealingly around the end walls, carries the locking portion with it and holds the latter in the intended position.

[0036] Since the fold indication 17 offers low resistance to folding of the locking portion, and since the corners 18 are gently rounded, there is no risk of a plastic film applied across a filled package being torn against the tabs or corners on the upper part of the package.

[0037] In the illustrative embodiment shown, the locking portions are folded down and held in place solely by means of the wrapping film.

[0038] However, embodiments are also possible, within the scope of the invention, in which means are provided for connecting the respective locking portions to the outsides of the end walls.

[0039] A suitable example of such a connection is double-adhesive tape applied on the locking portion and/or on the outsides of the end walls.

[0040] In Figure 5, the package according to the preferred illustrative embodiment is shown enclosed in a plastic film 19.

[0041] A filled package can be wrapped in a plastic film in many different ways and is not a critical part of the invention.

[0042] The important point is that the support tabs 12 are folded down into their support positions and that a plastic film is thereafter stretched across the package and brings the locking portions 16 into their locking position, and that the plastic film is suitably anchored, said plastic film being applied in such a way that it at least sealingly encloses the product and holds the locking portions in place.

[0043] The support tabs 12 which are shown in their support position in the sealed package according to Figure 5 project a distance across the inside of the package in this position of use, and the four support tabs together form a very secure support surface for stacking filled packages on each other.

[0044] Figure 6 shows two packages stacked one on top of the other.

[0045] The package according to the invention solves many of the problems which were associated with previously known packages for pressure-sensitive products, in particular for foods which consumers wish to be able to see before buying.

[0046] The support tabs 12 with their locking portions 16 afford good stacking strength, and at the same time the products can be inspected through the plastic 19.

[0047] Important features are the space-saving stackability in the assembled but unfilled state of the package, and the stackability in the filled and sealed state.

[0048] It has been stated above that the package is suitable for storing meat products and minced meat. The package according to the invention is particularly suitable for all types of pressure-sensitive foods, for example fish, chicken and fruit. The package according to the invention is of course particularly suitable for very easily damaged products, such as strawberries.

[0049] As has been mentioned above, the package blank can be made of a laminate of corrugated board and a plastic film, the latter being applied to the side intended to form the inside of the package. On that side which is intended to form the outside of the finished package, the corrugated board is preferably treated in such a way that liquid, for example blood, which is spilled during filling of the package can be easily wiped off.

[0050] A suitable alternative to corrugated board, and one which is also environmentally friendly, is cardboard. Both corrugated board and cardboard can be provided with printed matter on the outside, for example for labelling the type of product, for promotional sales details, etc.

[0051] Other materials which from the functional point of view can be used for packages according to the invention are so-called channel plastic or so-called corrugated plastic.

[0052] Figure 7 shows a suitable example of how assembled empty packages according to the invention can be transported and stored. The drawing shows two large containers 20 for empty assembled packages according to the invention. The large container consists of a base 21 and a lid 22 having a design identical to the base, and side walls and end walls, which walls are made up of four identical wall portions 23. These are provided with three fold lines 24, 25, 26.

[0053] When forming the end walls, the wall portions are folded along the fold lines 24 and 25. On the side walls, which are longer, the fold lines can be used to facilitate removal of the side wall in order to open the large container, as is shown in Figure 7. The fold line 26 is also used for removing the side wall. A closed large container is opened by cutting open the lid and base along the lines 27. The figure shows a side wall which has been removed, and a high stack 28 of empty packages according to the invention.

[0054] The invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiment described above, and a number of variations are possible within the scope of the attached patent claims.

[0055] The size and shape can be varied; for example, the packages in the assembled state can be considerably deeper than is shown in the drawings.

[0056] The corner portions 8 do not necessarily have to be folded outwards and instead they can be folded inwards and double-folded against the inside of the end walls, for example. The connections between the corner portions and the inside of the package can then be formed, for example, by a weld seam.

[0057] The second fold indication 17 can consist of a perforation, but a continuous groove as described above is preferable since a fold indication with very low resistance to folding is desired, and this can be difficult to achieve with a perforation. This applies not least to manufacturing tolerances.

Claims

1. Package comprising a one-piece blank from which a bottom section (1) is formed, and first and second pairs of opposite raised edge sections (2, 3 and 4, 5) which form side walls and end walls, respectively, and are delimited from the bottom section by means of first and second fold lines (6 and 7) respectively, characterized in that

a first pair of opposite edge sections (2, 3), for example those forming the side walls, have support tabs (12) which project from them at both ends of the respective edge section and which are delimited from the edge sections by means of a first fold indication (13),

in that the opposite edge sections (2, 3 and 4, 5) in the raised state diverge slightly in the direction from the bottom section,

in that said support tabs (12), in a storage state before the support tabs have been folded inwards about their said first fold indications (13), are located in the same plane as the raised first edge sections (2, 3), as a result of which the packages, with their edge sections diverging from the bottom section in this unfilled state, can be pressed down into each other for space-saving stacking of empty packages,

in that the support tabs (12) are provided with locking portions (16) and, after the support tabs have been folded down to a support position in which each support tab (12) rests against an upper edge of the adjacent second edge section (4, 5), said locking portions (16) are arranged to project completely outside said upper edge,

in that the locking portion (16) of each support tab (12) is delimited from the rest of the support tab by means of a second fold indication (17) which is designed to offer very low resistance to folding-down of the locking portion (16) towards the outside of the second edge section (4, 5), and the package is intended to be sealed by means of a plastic film (19) or the like which, when applied, is designed to cover at least the top of the package and upper portions of each edge section (2, 3 and 4, 5).

2. Package according to Claim 1, characterized in that

adjacent edge sections (2) and (4) are joined to each other by means of corner portions (8) which are folded and are in one continuous piece with said adjacent edge portions, which corner portions (8) are delimited from the first pair of edge sections (2, 3) by means of third fold lines (9) and from the second pair of edge sections (4, 5) by means of fourth fold lines (10), said third fold lines (9) forming a first obtuse angle with the first fold line (6), and the fourth fold line (10) forming a second obtuse angle with the second fold line (7),

in that a fifth fold line (11) is arranged between the third and fourth fold lines, in that the corner portion (8), when the edge sections (2, 3 and 4, 5) are raised, is arranged to be folded at the third and fourth fold lines (9, 10) and double-folded about the fifth fold line (11), and in that the double-folded corner portions (8) are connected to two opposite raised edge sections (4, 5).

3. Package according to Claim 2, characterized in that
the blank is made of corrugated board or cardboard laminated with a plastic film which is arranged on that side which forms the inside of the package after the blank has been erected.

4. Package according to Claim 3, characterized in that
the corner portions (8) have been folded outwards about the fifth fold line (11) and, in the double-folded state, are folded towards and secured on the outside of two opposite edge sections (4, 5).

5. Package according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that
the blank is made of channel plastic, corrugated plastic or the like.

6. Package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the second fold indication (17) which delimits the locking portion (16) from the rest of the support tab (12) has a continuous groove which extends along the fold indication, which groove extends across the greater part of the fold indication.

7. Package according to any of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that

the first pair of opposite edge sections (2, 3) constitute the side walls of the package, and the second pair of opposite edge sections constitute the end walls (4, 5) of the package,

in that the corner portions (8) are folded towards the end walls and in that the first obtuse angle is greater than the second obtuse angle in order to compensate for the increase in thickness of the end walls (4, 5) caused by the double folding of the corner portions (8) in respect of the depth with which the packages can be pressed one into another upon stacking of empty packages.

8. Package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fold indications (13) each consist of a fold line (14) and of a continuous fold slit (15) which extends across part of the fold indication, said fold slit (15) being arranged to reduce the risk of the support tab springing back when it is folded down.

9. Package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking portions (16), after being folded down against the outside of the edge sections (4, 5), are intended to attach to the outside of the respective edge section, said attachment being effected by means of fastening surfaces, for example in the form of double-adhesive tape arranged on the locking portion (16) and/or the outside of the respective edge section (4, 5).

10. Package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking portions (16), which are delimited from the respective support tab (12) by means of a second fold indication (17) with very low resistance to folding down, are intended to be brought to the folded-down position bearing against the outside of the edge sections (4, 5) of the plastic film (19) sealing the package.

Drawing