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(11) | EP 3 760 552 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | FOLDING CARTON HAVING FLEXIBLE PANELS |
| (57) A packaging consisting of a folding carton with panels characterised by one or more
panels that have been fitted with a two-dimensional pattern of repeating cuts whose
cutting lines do not touch anywhere.
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[0001] A folding carton packaging is constructed from a piece of rigid cardboard that is divided into panels by embossing, cutting and perforating. The embossing, cutting and perforation lines function as hinges during the production, setting up and use of the folding carton. With these hinges it is possible to assemble the rigid cardboard in a two dimensional plan, and subsequently to deploy it in three dimensions and finally use it.
[0002] A disadvantage of packaging from folding carton is the stiffness of the cardboard panels. This is problematic, for example, when trying to pack irregularly shaped fruit or vegetables. The shape and size of a sweet pepper, for example, differs from one specimen to another. A folding carton intended to pack a sweet pepper will, because of the stiffness of its panels, have to allow the size of its interior space to be determined by the largest irregularly shaped sweet pepper to be packed. This means that the packaging will be too large for all other peppers.
This is inefficient and therefore costly. Small peppers, for example, will not be enrobed form-fittingly by the cardboard packaging. For example, they may rattle during transport and be damaged by the stiff walls of the folding carton.
[0004] According to the invention this object is achieved by a packaging according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are defined in dependent claims.
[0005] By providing one or more panels of a folding carton with a regular pattern of incisions extending in two dimensions, the panel is made flexible and is able to adapt its shape to its contents and to absorb shocks so that fragile contents are spared.
[0006] The invention is based on a pattern of repetitive cutting shapes with the characteristic that the cutting lines do not touch each other anywhere. The zones where the repeating cuts do nottouch each other are referred to as bridges. Under the load of the incised panel, the bridges can twist or bend and thus cause adjacent areas to hinge and/or twist with respect to each other. By choosing the size of the bridges, the resistance of the mentioned bending ortorsion can be chosen, with which the stiffness of the panel can be chosen.
Through the interplay of deformations, the panel as a whole can deform and move out of the flat plane. The surface of an article that is in contact with such an incised panel will partly allow the panel to assume its shape. The torsional and/or bending stiffness of the bridges will also give the deforming panel elasticity. This elasticity provides further shock-absorbing effect of the panel.
[0007] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below in connection with the attached drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a folding carton according to an embodiment;
Figure 2 shows the folding carton of Figure 1 cut-out along the line A-B in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a basic figure structure cutting pattern;
Figure 4 shows a cutting pattern according to an example 1;
Figure 5 shows a cutting pattern according to an example 2; and
Figure 6 shows a cutting pattern according to an example 3.
[0008] Figure 1 shows a folding carton according to an embodiment. Here AB is the line along the cross section of figure 2. Figure 2 shows the folding carton of Figure 1 cut-out along the line A-B in Figure 1. Here 1 is the floating bottom and 2 is a side wall. Figure 3 shows a basic figure structure cutting pattern. Herein 10 is an equilateral triangle, 11 the median lines, 12 the intersection of the median lines, 13 a vertex of the triangle and 14 the intersection of a median with a side of the triangle. Figure 4 shows a cutting pattern according to an example 1; Figure 5 shows a cutting pattern according to an example 2; and Figure 6 shows a cutting pattern according to an example 3.
[0009] In a preferred version, the repeating shape comprises or consists of lines that originate at the intersection point (12) of the median lines (11) of an equilateral triangle (10) and end in a vertex (13) of the equilateral triangle, in which the intersection shape is arranged in such a pattern that the intersections of the repeating shape point to the intersection point of the intersections (12) of other adjacent intersection shapes. This is shown in Figures 3 and 4.
[0010] In a further preferred version, the repeating intersection comprises or consists of lines that originate from the intersection point (12) of the median lines (11) of an equilateral triangle (10) and end in a vertex (13) of the equilateral triangle, where the intersection form is arranged in such a pattern, that rows of repeating cut shapes are formed within which the intersections of the repeating cut shape point to the intersection of the intersections (13) of other cut shapes within the same row and where between the rows the intersections are parallel to the intersections of other cut shapes in other rows. This is shown in Figures 3 and 5.
[0011] In a further preferred version, the recurring intersection comprises or consists of curves that originate at the intersection point (12) of median lines (11) of an equilateral triangle (10) and that end in a vertex (13) of the equilateral triangle, in which the intersection form is arranged in such a pattern that the intersection lines of the recurring intersection point to the intersection point (14) of the median lines (11) with the sides of the equilateral triangles (10) of other adjacent intersection forms. This is shown in figures 3 and 6.
[0012] In a further preferred version, the flexible panel is a floating bottom of a folding carton. This version is particularly suitable for packaging very delicate items such as raspberries or Christmas baubles. When such fragile items are on a rigid cardboard bottom, they can break or split open.
[0013] To prevent this, bubble wrap is often placed in the bottom. Another solution is to form thin paper and place it on the bottom before placing the articles in the packaging.
[0014] Both solutions are examples of adding a second material, which is logistically complicated, sometimes leads to problems in recycling and often requires additional handling and therefore additional costs.
1. A packaging comprising a folding carton with panels characterised by a two-dimensional pattern of repeating cuts whose cutting lines do not touch anywhere.
2. A packaging according to claim 1, in which a panel fitted with cutting lines is the
bottom (1) floating above the lower edge of the packaging.
3. Packaging in accordance with claim 1 or 2, in which the repeating cut is made up of
intersecting lines starting at the intersection (12) of the median lines (11) of an
equilateral triangle (10) and ending at a vertex (13) of the equilateral triangle,
the cut being oriented in such a pattern that the intersection lines of the repeating
cut point to the intersection (12) of the intersecting lines (12) of other adjacent
cuts.
4. Packaging according to any of the preceding claims, in which the repeating shape comprises
intersection lines which originate at the intersection point (12) of the median lines
(11) of an equilateral triangle (10) and end at a vertex (13) of the equilateral triangle,
where the cutting shape is arranged in a pattern so that rows of repeating cutting
shapes are formed within which the intersections of the repeating cutting shape point
to the intersection of the intersection lines (13) of other cutting shapes within
the same row and where between the intersections the intersection lines are parallel
to the intersections of other cutting shapes in other rows.
5. Packaging according to any of the preceding claims, in which the repeating intersection
form comprises curved intersection lines that originate at the intersection point
(12) of median lines (11) of an equilateral triangle (10) and that end in a vertex
(13) of the equilateral triangle (10), where the cutting shape is oriented in a pattern
so that the intersection lines of the repeating cutting shape point to the intersection
(14) of the median lines (11) with the sides of the equilateral triangles (10) of
other adjacent cutting shapes.