A PACKAGE

Abstract

 A package (1), which comprises an outer sleeve (2) and a tray (3) accommodated slidably within the outer sleeve and capable of motion between a closed position and an open position, and the package comprises a locking mechanism for preventing immediate opening of the package from the closed position to the open position. A tray (3) of the package further comprises a projecting part (7) at an end of the tray for preventing that the items may be pulled from the tray of the package when the package is closed.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a package according to the preamble of the independent claim presented below.

Background of the invention

[0002] When the package contains items that should not be easily accessible for children, for instance medicine, it is known to use packages with a child resistant locking mechanism. However, there is a need for a package made of a paper board, which also comprises a child resistant lock. The requirements for the carton package are that it is difficult for a child to open and at the same time has a simple construction.

Objects of the invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a carton package that is considered to meet the requirements for a package to be child resistant.

[0004] The object of the present invention is further to provide an improved child resistant carton package, which also prevents that the items may be pulled from the tray of the package when the package is closed.

[0005] Further, the object of the invention is to provide an improved package with a simple construction, which is made of paper board.

[0006] In order to achieve among others the objects presented above, the invention is characterized by what is presented in the characterizing parts of the enclosed independent claims.

[0007] Some preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in the other claims.

Description of the invention

[0008] A typical package of the present invention comprises an outer sleeve and a tray accommodated slidably within the outer sleeve and capable of motion between a closed position and an open position, and the package comprises a locking mechanism for preventing immediate opening of the package from the closed position to the open position. In a typical package of the present invention said locking mechanism comprises

• a locking part arranged inside the outer sleeve,
• a first flap arranged to a first end of the tray, and which first flap has bound outside the side wall of the tray, wherein an end of the first flap is arranged against the locking part of the outer sleeve, when the package is in closed position, and
• an opening flap arranged to the outer sleeve, and the opening flap and the first flap are arranged at least partly overlapping when the package is in closed position,

and the tray further comprises a projecting part at a second end of the tray, which projecting part is folded inside the outer sleeve when package is in closed position.

[0009] A package according to the invention is preferably a carton package. The present invention is based on a structure of the package comprising two parts: an outer sleeve and a tray. The outer sleeve is around the tray when the package is in closed position. A combination of the structural elements arranged to the outer sleeve and the tray provides child proof locking mechanism for preventing immediate opening of the package from the closed position to the open position, and an additional security mechanism for preventing pull out the products from the package when the package is closed.

[0010] A package according to the invention comprises two large planar surfaces, namely a front surface and a back surface. Further, it comprises a first and a second sidewall, and a first and a second end wall, which are essentially perpendicular to the upper surface and to the back surface. The package of the invention is formed from two parts: an outer sleeve and a tray accommodated slidably within the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve forms a front surface, a back surface, a first and a second side walls and one of the end walls of the package, when the package is closed. The end wall formed by the outer sleeve is a bottom part of the package. Another end wall of the package is formed by the end of the tray, and it makes possible to open package and slide the tray out from the outer sleeve. The tray is otherwise inside the outer sleeve when the package is closed.

[0011] A first end of the tray is the end, which is inside the outer sleeve, i.e. the end which is the first when tray is slid inside the outer sleeve. A second end of the tray is the end, which is visible when the package is in closed position. In addition to the first and the second ends, the tray comprises side walls and a bottom surface. An upper surface of the tray is open. The item(s) or product(s) to be packed are arranged on the tray inside the outer sleeve.

[0012] The structural elements relating to the locking mechanism of the package are constructed both to an outer sleeve and to a tray of the package. The locking mechanism of the package prevents immediate opening of the package from the closed position to the open position. The locking mechanism comprises a locking part arranged to the outer sleeve and positioned inside the outer sleeve, a first flap arranged to a first end of the tray and an opening flap arranged to the outer sleeve. The first flap of the tray has bound outside the side wall of the tray, wherein an end of the first flap is arranged against an end of the locking part of the outer sleeve, when the package is in closed position, and thus preventing the opening of the package. The opening flap and the first flap are arranged at least partly overlapping when the package is in closed position for providing releasing of the locking mechanisms by pushing the opening flap inside. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening flap and the first flap of the tray are substantially fully over-lapped when the package is in closed position.

[0013] A tray of the package according to the present invention comprises a projecting part arranged to a second end of the tray for preventing pull out the products from the package when the package is closed. When the package is in closed position the projecting part is inside the outer sleeve. In other words, the projecting part is folded inside the outer sleeve. The projecting part is bound substantially to same plane as the upper surface of the outer sleeve and thus it forms obstacle to take the products from the tray, since the upper surface of the tray is open. According to an embodiment of the invention, the projecting part has cut out from a flap of the second end of the tray, which flap is folded inside the second end of the tray. This enables a simple blank structure.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first end of the tray comprises a first flap and a second flap, which are bound outside of the side walls of the tray. A first and a second flap are arranged to opposite sides of the tray. In an embodiment of the invention, the first flap and the second flap of the tray are at least partly attached to the side walls. In an embodiment of the invention, the first flap and the second flap of the tray are attached, e.g. glued, to the side walls of tray by substantially whole length of the flaps. One of the flaps is a part of the locking mechanism as disclosed above. The locking mechanism of the package according to the invention may be formed in such a manner that it acts correctly irrespective of is the first flap or the second flap of the tray arranged against the locking part of the outer sleeve. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the first flap and the second flap have a slightly different shape. In an embodiment of the invention, a length of the first flap of the tray is arranged to be greater than the length of the second flap of the tray, wherein the first flap is preferably meant to be a part of the locking mechanism. The length of the first flap is dependent on the position of the opening flap in the outer sleeve. In an embodiment of the invention, the first flap of the tray is dimensioned so that it elongates to a folded line of the opening flap arranged to the outer sleeve when the package is in closed position.

[0015] In a typical embodiment of the invention, a first flap of the tray and a locking part of the outer sleeve are arranged in a same line, wherein an end of the first flap is arranged against the end of the locking part of the outer sleeve, when the package is in closed position. A locking part of the outer sleeve is typically a flap folded inside the outer sleeve.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, a second flap of the tray is arranged to be connection with a flap of the outer sleeve arranged at the side wall of the open end of the outer sleeve, when the package is opened for preventing to draw the tray fully out from the outer sleeve. This ensures that the tray is always right assembled to the outer sleeve, because the tray cannot be easily removed wholly inside the outer sleeve. Therefore, the locking mechanism of the package may be used several times and a function as a child resistant package is ensured.

[0017] In an embodiment of the invention, the side walls of the tray are two folded by providing strong side walls and therefore more strongly built tray. The first end of the tray may be made of a single wall since it is inside the outer sleeve, also in open position. It also makes a blank for the tray simpler and save material required.

[0018] The package according to the invention is formed from two blanks, a first blank for the outer sleeve and the second blank for the tray. Manufacturing of the package from two blanks makes possible it that the package also comprises a mechanism for preventing to draw the tray fully out from the outer sleeve.

[0019] The outer sleeve of the package according to the invention comprises an opening flap. An opening flap may have a hinged structure. At least one side of the opening flap comprises contacting points, the opening flap is connected to the outer sleeve with connecting points before the package is opened first time. Thus, it is possible to find out whether or not a package has been previously opened. This only works once but for certain applications it is useful for security reasons to have this function.

[0020] Typically, the blank for the package according to the present invention is made from paper board with a weight between 100 g/m² and 600 g/m². In an embodiment of the invention, the paper board is covered at least on one side with a coating having a thickness between 5 µm and 150 µm, more preferably between 25 µm and 75 µm. In an embodiment the paper board is covered on both sides.

Brief description of the Drawings

[0021] The invention will be described in more detail with reference to appended drawings, in which

Fig. 1

shows a package according to one embodiment, when the package is in closed position,

Fig. 2

shows a package according to one embodiment, when the package is partly opened,

Fig. 3

shows a tray according to one embodiment of the invention in a folded state,

Fig. 4

shows a blank for an outer sleeve according to one embodiment of the invention in an unfolded state, and

Fig. 5

shows a blank for a tray according to one embodiment of the invention in an unfolded state.

Detailed description of the Drawings

[0022] Same reference numbers have been used in the Figures for parts corresponding to each other.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a package 1 according to one embodiment of the invention, when the package 1 is in closed position. The package 1 comprises an outer sleeve 2 and a tray 3 arranged within the outer sleeve. A package according to the invention comprises two large planar surfaces, namely a front surface 14 and a back surface 13. Further, it comprises a first and a second sidewall and a first and a second end wall, which are essentially perpendicular to the upper surface and to the back surface. The outer sleeve 2 forms the outer casing of the package, but one end of the outer sleeve 2 is open in order that the tray 3 can be push inside the outer sleeve 2. When package is in closed position, one end of the tray 11 has visible. Another end of the package is closed by folding the flaps of the blank of the outer sleeve. An opening flap 5 has arranged to a side wall 16 of the outer sleeve 2. The end(s) of the side wall(s) 16 of the outer sleeve may be shaped (a curved line 26 in Fig. 1) so that the tray 3 is easier to pull out from the outer sleeve 2 wherein a part of the side wall 18 of the tray will be visible at the side walls of the package.

[0024] Figure 2 shows a package 1 according to one embodiment of the invention, when the package is partly opened. The tray 3 is partly pull out from the outer sleeve 2. Figure 3 shows a tray 3 according to one embodiment of the invention in a folded state. The tray 3 comprises the side walls 18, 19, the bottom surface 12 and the ends 10, 11. An upper surface of the tray is open. A first end of the tray is arranged inside the outer sleeve, and a second end of the tray is visible when the package 1 is in closed position. The second end of the tray comprises a projecting part 7 at a second end of the tray, which projecting part 7 is folded inside the outer sleeve when package is in closed position, wherein the projecting part is arranged substantially same plane as the front surface 14 of the outer sleeve. A first end of the tray comprises the first and the second flaps 4, 8 folded outside the sidewalls 18, 19 of the tray.

[0025] Figure 4 shows a blank for an outer sleeve 2 according to one embodiment of the invention in an unfolded state. The outer sleeve comprises a front surface 14, a back surface 13, a first sidewall 15 and a second sidewall 16. A bottom end of the package will be formed by folding the flaps 24a, 24b, 28a and 28b of the blank. An open end of the outer sleeve is formed by folding flaps 9, 25a, 25b inside the outer sleeve, wherein they are arranged against the corresponding front surface 14, back surface 13 and side wall 15. A flap 17 is folded inside the outer sleeve and it is attached, e.g. glued to side wall 16 for forming the outer sleeve. A locking part 6 is folded inside the outer sleeve. It may also be attached, e.g. glued to the flap 17. A side wall 16 of the outer sleeve further comprises an opening flap 5. An opening flap 5 may have a hinged structure, wherein it comprises a folded line 27 and at least one side of the opening flap comprises contacting points by with which the opening flap is connected to the outer sleeve before the package is opened first time.

[0026] Figure 5 shows a blank for a tray 3 according to one embodiment of the invention in an unfolded state. The tray 3 comprises the side walls 18, 19, the bottom surface 12 and the ends 10, 11. The side walls 18, 19 of the tray are two folded by folding the flaps 20, 21 inside the tray and attaching, e.g. gluing them to the side walls. A first end 10 of the tray comprises a first flap 4 and a second flap 8, which are bound outside the side walls 18, 19. A second end of the tray is formed by folding the flaps 23, 22a, 22b inside the tray. A projecting part 7 has cut out from a flap 23 folded inside the second end of the tray.

Claims

1. A package (1), which comprises an outer sleeve (2) and a tray (3) accommodated slidably within the outer sleeve and capable of motion between a closed position and an open position, and the package comprises a locking mechanism for preventing immediate opening of the package from the closed position to the open position, characterized in that said locking mechanism comprises

- a locking part (6) arranged inside the outer sleeve (2),

- a first flap (4) arranged to a first end of the tray, and which first flap (4) has bound outside the side wall of the tray, wherein an end of the first flap (4) is arranged against the locking part (6) of the outer sleeve, when the package is in closed position, and

- an opening flap (5) arranged to the outer sleeve (2), and the opening flap (5) and the first flap (4) are arranged at least partly overlapping when the package is in closed position,

and the tray (3) further comprises a projecting part (7) at a second end of the tray, which projecting part (7) is folded inside the outer sleeve when package is in closed position.

2. The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the first end of the tray further comprises a second flap (8), which is bound outside of the side wall of the tray.

3. The package according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the side walls (18, 19) of the tray are two folded.

4. The package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first flap (4) and the second flap (8) of the tray (3) are at least partly attached to the side walls (18, 19) of the tray.

5. The package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projecting part (7) has cut out from a flap (23) folded inside the second end of the tray (3).

6. The package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the package (1) is formed from two blanks, a first blank for the outer sleeve (2) and the second blank for the tray (3).

7. The package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one side of the opening flap (5) of the outer sleeve comprises contacting points.

8. The package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first flap (4) of the tray has dimensioned so that it elongates to a folded line (27) of the opening flap (5) arranged to the outer sleeve, when the package is in closed position

9. The package according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the package is made from paper board with a weight between 100 g/m² and 600 g/m².

10. The package according to claim 9, characterized in that the paper board is covered at least on one side with polymer having a thickness between 5 µm and 150 µm.

Drawing