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(11) | EP 2 522 589 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Protective packaging for delicate articles |
| (57) The packing base (1) according to the present invention creates a package for storing
and protecting delicate articles while using the least possible amount of packing
material. The packing base (1) comprises a group of consecutive bendably connected
reception elements (10) equipped with recesses (14) receiving an article. The packing
base (1) according to the invention can be arranged in a spread-open position, in
which the packing base's (1) group of parallel reception elements (10) is arranged
to receive 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). 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 recesses (14) are arranged, in order to receive the said articles.
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[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. 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 configured 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.