DIAGONALLY OPENING PACKET

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a packet according to the preamble of claim 1, that can be used to package loose products in pieces, such as sweets or chewing gums, and to a method to make said packet.

Background Art

[0002] Packets for chewing gums are known which comprise a box, a lid and means for connecting the lid to the packet and allowing the lid to move between a closed position and an open position to allow the product to be dispensed through an opening made in the top wall of the box.

[0003] In prior art packets of this type, the opening is as large as the entire top face of the box, making it awkward to control the quantity of product pieces to be taken out. Once the lid is open, it is very easy for more than the required quantity of product to come out.

[0004] Also known are packets made like the one just mentioned but where the dispensing hole is reduced in size to allow a controlled quantity of product to be dispensed. The hole can be closed by a lid that is hinged to one of the edges of the packet.

[0005] US 3127085 discloses a packet according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] Although packets of this kind do offer the possibility of controlling the amount of product dispensed, they have several disadvantages. In particular, while the product is being dispensed, the lid must be held open with the hand to prevent the hole from being partly closed by the movement of the lid itself, stopping the product from coming out easily.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0007] This invention accordingly provides a packet according to claim 1.

[0008] That way a packet is obtained which allows the dispensed quantity of product in pieces to be controlled, where opening of the packet and dispensing of the product are easy to accomplish using only one hand and where the lid, once fully opened, will not, unless the user pushes it, slide back to partly cover the wall where the dispensing hole is made.

[0009] All this is achieved with a minimum amount of material and thus has a limited impact on the environment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] These and other characteristics of the invention may be clearly inferred from the preferred embodiments described below purely by way of example and without limiting the scope of protection.

• Figure 1 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the packet when closed;
• Figure 2 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the packet when open;
• Figure 3 is a rear view of a first preferred embodiment of the packet when open;
• Figure 4 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the blank used to make the first preferred embodiment of the packet;
• Figure 5 is a front view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the packet closed , showing the detail of the fastening system of the lid to the packet;
• Figure 6 is a front view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the packet closed, showing the detail of the fastening system of the lid to the packet;
• Figure 7 is a plan view of a part of the blank used to make a second preferred embodiment of the packet, showing the detail of the hinge line for rotating the lid;
• Figure 8 is a plan view of a part of the blank used to make the third preferred embodiment of the packet, showing the detail of the hinge line for rotating the lid;
• Figure 9 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the blank used to make the first preferred embodiment of the packet;
• Figure 10 is a front view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the packet when open;
• Figure 11 is a plan view of the blank used to make the sixth preferred embodiment of the packet;
• Figure 12 is a front view of a seventh preferred embodiment of the packet when open;
• Figure 13 is a plan view of the blank used to make the seventh preferred embodiment of the packet;
• Figure 14 is a front view of a eighth preferred embodiment of the packet when open;
• Figure 15 is a plan view of the blank used to make the eighth preferred embodiment of the packet;
• Figure 16 is a front view of a ninth preferred embodiment of the packet when open;
• Figure 17 is a plan view of the blank used to make the ninth preferred embodiment of the packet;
• Figure 18 is a front view of a tenth preferred embodiment of the packet when open;
• Figure 19 is a plan view of the blank used to make the tenth preferred embodiment of the packet.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

[0011] Figures 1 to 3 show a first preferred embodiment of the packet 1 according to the invention, comprising an outer container body, in particular in the form of a box-shaped body, made preferably of paperboard or other foldable material, and provided with product containment means in the form of a plurality of peripheral walls that delimit a box-shaped body with a rectangular base.

[0012] Although the rectangular shape is especially preferred, a container body whose base has another polygonal shape or includes curvilinear sides is also imaginable.

[0013] In particular, this box-shaped body comprises two main sidewalls, namely a front sidewall 105 and a rear sidewall 102, opposite each other and larger or equal in area to the other walls of the packet, two secondary, left- and right-hand sidewalls 104, 106, joined permanently to the front wall 105 and to the rear wall 102, as well as a bottom wall 107 and a top wall 103 which complete the parallelepiped-shaped structure of the packet.

[0014] This packet is obtained from the blank 40 shown in Figure 4, by suitably folding the blank and gluing the panel 417 to the corresponding front gluing zone on the inside of the panel 413.

[0015] Thus, the box shaped body is erected by gluing the bottom flaps 422, 424, 425 and 426 in known manner to form the bottom wall 107 of the box-shaped body and then folding the flaps 434 and 436, the flap 435 and finally the flap 433 and gluing them in a suitable gluing order to form the top wall 103.

[0016] The lid 2 is made by folding the flap 411 over the corresponding panel 416, the flap 410 over the corresponding panel 415 and then, in sequence, the flap 431, the flap 430 and, lastly, the flap 432, joining them to each other with suitable glue spots.

[0017] Hot melt glue is preferably used.

[0018] In a different preferred embodiment, the flap 431 may be absent and the lid 2 is then made by folding the flap 411 over the corresponding panel 416, the flap 410 over the corresponding panel 415 and then, in sequence, the flap 430 and the flap 432, joining them to each other with suitable glue spots.

[0019] These operations may be performed in a different order or simultaneously without thereby departing from the scope of the protection offered by this embodiment of the invention.

[0020] As illustrated, the container comprises, on the front wall 105, an opening 3 for dispensing the product and whose shape and size depend on the size of the product inside the packet.

[0021] The opening 3 is preferably circular in shape but it may also have other shapes, for example rectangular, or it may be formed by two straight sides and two curved sides or, more generally, by a series of curved and straight sides.

[0022] The shape and size of the panel 410 are such that it fully covers the product outlet opening 3.

[0023] The lid 2 is connected to the rear wall 102, opposite the front wall 105 of the packet by connecting means embodied by a hinge line 4 in the form of a straight crease 4 made in the panel 413 and inclined at an angle to the sides that delimit the panel itself.

[0024] In a second preferred embodiment of the pack, the hinge line of the lid 2 is in the form of a curved, concave crease 74, as shown in Figure 7 which shows a detail of the blank identical to the one represented in Figure 4 except for crease 74.

[0025] In a third preferred embodiment of the pack, the hinge line of the lid 2 is in the form of a curved convex crease 84, as shown in Figure 8, which shows a detail of the blank identical to the one represented in Figure 4 except for crease 84. These particularly advantageous embodiments make the hinge line stiffer and substantially create an elastic load that tends to oppose the opening of the lid when not forced.

[0026] The crease line may also be in the form of a combination of straight and curved stretches such as to obtain a correct force of reaction to opening.

[0027] Thanks to its geometrical construction, the lid 2, once fully opened, cannot close again unless the user applies a force to the lid in order to deform it, since the distance between the free front edge 5 of the lid, that is, the edge which delimits the free side of the panel 410, and the hinge line 4, is less than the distance between the hinge line 4 and the comer formed by the front wall 105, the right-hand side wall 106 and the top wall 103 of the packet 1.

[0028] Since the hinge line is diagonal, the panel 410 of the lid 2, during closure, slides over the comer where the three walls 105, 103 and 106 meet and which substantially pushes the panel along the latter's centre line, that is to say, the part of it that is easiest to deform, thereby allowing the lid to be closed if pushed with sufficient force.

[0029] In Figure 5 is shown a fourth particular embodiment of the pack, identical to the first pack embodiment except for the free front edge 5 that is suitably shaped to form a flap 505 to be inserted inside into the product outlet opening 3 and to form a mean for fastening to the inside of the profile 503 of the product outlet opening 3, in such a way as to guarantee effective closure of the packet.

[0030] In Figure 6 is shown a fifth particular embodiment of the pack, identical to the first pack embodiment except for the profile 603 of the product outlet opening 3 that is suitably shaped to form a flap 613 in which the free front edge 5 is inserted to form a fastening mean for the edge 5, in such a way as to guarantee effective closure of the packet.

[0031] Other fastening means, as for example, a tab that extends from the profile 5 and is inserted into a slit made at a corresponding position on the wall 415, are not illustrated since they are known to those familiar with the trade.

[0032] The first preferred embodiment of the packet 1 may be obtained also from the blank 90 shown in Figure 9, by suitably folding the blank and gluing the panel 917 to the corresponding front gluing zone on the inside of the panel 913.

[0033] Thus, the box shaped body is erected by gluing the bottom flaps 922, 924, 925 and 926 in known manner to form the bottom wall 107 of the box-shaped body and then folding the flaps 934, the flap 935 and, finally, the flap 933 and gluing them in a suitable gluing order to form the top wall 103.

[0034] The lid 2 is made by folding the flap 911 over the corresponding panel 916, the flap 910 over the corresponding panel 915 and then, in sequence, the flap 930, the flap 932 and, finally, the flap 931 over the flap 911, joining them to each other by suitable gluing spots.

[0035] These operations may be performed in a different order or simultaneously without thereby departing from the scope of the protection offered by this embodiment of the invention.

[0036] In a sixth preferred embodiment 10 of the packet, shown in Figure 10, identical to the first pack embodiment except for the position of the product outlet hole, the product outlet hole 113 is made entirely on a secondary side wall 106 of the packet.

[0037] In a seventh preferred embodiment 12 of the packet, shown in Figure 12, identical to the first pack embodiment except for the position of the product outlet hole, the product outlet hole 133 is made partly on the front wall 105 and partly on a secondary side wall 106 of the packet.

[0038] In a eigth preferred embodiment 14 of the packet, shown in Figure 14, identical to the first pack embodiment except for the position of the product outlet hole, the product outlet hole 153 is made partly on the top wall 103 and partly on the front wall 105 of the packet.

[0039] In a nineth preferred embodiment 16 of the packet, shown in Figure 16, identical to the first pack embodiment except for the position of the product outlet hole, the product outlet hole 173 is made entirely on the top wall 103 of the packet.

[0040] In a tenth preferred embodiment 18 of the packet, shown in Figure 18, identical to the first pack embodiment except for the position of the product outlet hole, the product outlet hole 193 is made entirely on the rear wall 102 of the packet.

[0041] The invention thus provides a packet which can contain and dispense a product in pieces and which is easy to open, allowing the product to be dispensed using only one hand and keeping the lid open without the user having to hold it open, and which is just as easy to close. Moreover, the amount of packaging material used to make the packet is minimal.

[0042] The packets illustrated herein are used for descriptive purposes only without limiting the field of application of the invention.

[0043] Modifications and extensions may be developed on the basis of the teachings hereof and of the current state of the art and such modifications and extensions are deemed to be within the scope of this present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A packet comprising: a box-shaped body, made preferably from paperboard or other foldable material, for containing a product, in particular chewing gum, sweets, pastilles, chocolates and the like; an outlet opening for dispensing the product, located in one wall of the box-shaped body; a lid made preferably of the same material as the box-shaped body, and means for connecting the lid to the box-shaped body; the box-shaped body comprises a front sidewall (105) and a rear sidewall (102), opposite each other and larger or equal in area to the other walls of the packet, two secondary, left- and right-hand sidewalls (104, 106), joined permanently to the front wall (105) and to the rear wall (102), as well as a bottom wall (107) and a top wall (103) which complete the parallelepiped-shaped structure of the packet; the packet being characterized in that the means for connecting the lid to the box-shaped body are defined by a hinge line (4) which connects the lid to the rear wall (102) of the packet and is positioned not at right angles to any of the sides that delimit the wall (102); and in that the lid (2) is geometrically so construed that the distance between the free front edge (5) of the lid, which delimits the free side of a respective lid panel (410) opposite to the hinge line (4) of the lid, and the same hinge line (4), is less than the distance between the hinge line (4) and the comer formed by the front wall (105), the right-hand side wall (106) and the top wall (103) of the packet (1).

2. The packet according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for connecting the lid to the wall are located on the wall (102) opposite that where the product outlet opening (3) is made.

3. The packet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for connecting the lid to the wall are located on the wall (106) adjacent to that where the product outlet opening (3) is made.

4. The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for connecting the lid to the wall are located on the same wall (105) as that where the product outlet opening (3) is made.

5. The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for connecting the lid to the wall are embodied by a crease (4) made in the panel that constitutes the wall itself.

6. The packet according to claim 5, characterized in that the crease (4) is rectilinear.

7. The packet according to claim 5, characterized in that the crease (4) is curvilinear.

8. The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises means for fastening the lid (2) in the closed position to the box-shaped body.

9. The packet according to claim 8, characterized in that the fastening means are obtained by interference of the profile of the free front edge (5) of the lid (2) with the profile (503) of the product outlet opening when the lid is closed.

10. The packet according to claim 8, characterized in that the fastening means are in the form of a tab (505) extending from the free front edge of the lid and a slit made in the panel in which the product outlet opening is made.

11. The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 10, characterized in that the lid (2) is embodied by at least 2 substantially rectangular walls (410, 411) and at least one substantially triangular wall (412).

12. A method for making a packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises obtaining the lid by gluing to each other panels that are adjacent to the panel where the inclined crease line connecting the lid to the container body is made.

13. The method for making the packet according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises gluing the flaps to form the lid using hot melt glue.

Ansprüche

1. Schachtel, umfassend: einen kastenförmigen Körper, der vorzugsweise aus Karton oder anderem faltbaren Material hergestellt ist, um ein Produkt zu enthalten, insbesondere Kaugummi, Süßigkeiten, Pastillen, Pralinen und Ähnliches; eine Auslassöffnung zur Ausgabe des Produkts, die in einer Wand des kastenförmigen Körpers liegt; einen Deckel, der vorzugsweise aus demselben Material wie der kastenförmige Körper hergestellt ist sowie Mittel zum Verbinden des Deckels mit dem kastenförmigen Körper; wobei der kastenförmige Körper eine vordere Seitenwand (105) und eine hintere Seitenwand (102), die einander gegenüber liegen und deren Fläche größer oder gleich groß wie die anderen Wände der Schachtel sind, zwei sekundäre Seitenwände (104, 106) links und rechts, die permanent an die vordere Wand (105) und an die hintere Wand (102) angefügt sind, sowie eine untere Wand (107) und eine obere Wand (103) umfasst, welche die parallelepipedförmige Struktur der Schachtel vervollständigen, wobei die Schachtel dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass die Mittel zum Verbinden des Deckels mit dem kastenförmigen Körper durch eine Scharnierlinie (4) definiert werden, welche den Deckel mit der hinteren Wand (102) der Schachtel verbindet und mit keiner der die Wand (102) begrenzenden Seiten im rechten Winkel positioniert ist; und dass der Deckel (2) geometrisch so konstruiert ist, dass der Abstand zwischen der freien vorderen Kante (5) des Deckels, welche die freie Seite einer entsprechenden Deckeltafel (410) gegenüber der Scharnierlinie (4) des Deckels begrenzt, und dieser Scharnierlinie (4) geringer als der Abstand zwischen der Scharnierlinie (4) und der Ecke ist, die von der vorderen Wand (105), der rechten Seitenwand (106) und der oberen Wand (103) der Schachtel (1) gebildet wird.

2. Schachtel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mittel zum Verbinden des Deckels mit der Wand an der Wand (102) gegenüber der liegen, an der die Produktauslassöffnung (3) hergestellt ist.

3. Schachtel nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mittel zum Verbinden des Deckels mit der Wand an der Wand (106) benachbart zu der liegen, an der die Produktauslassöffnung (3) hergestellt ist.

4. Schachtel nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mittel zum Verbinden des Deckels mit der Wand an derselben Wand (105) liegen, an der die Produktauslassöffnung (3) hergestellt ist.

5. Schachtel nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mittel zum Verbinden des Deckels mit der Wand durch eine Falte (4) ausgeführt sind, die in der Tafel hergestellt ist, welche die Wand bildet.

6. Schachtel nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Falte (4) geradlinig ist.

7. Schachtel nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Falte (4) gebogen ist.

8. Schachtel nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie Mittel zum Befestigen des Deckels (2) am kastenförmigen Körper in der geschlossenen Position umfasst.

9. Schachtel nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Befestigungsmittel durch Überlagerung des Profils der freien vorderen Kante (5) des Deckels (2) mit dem Profil (503) der Produktauslassöffnung erhalten werden, wenn der Deckel geschlossen ist.

10. Schachtel nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Befestigungsmittel in Form einer Zunge (505), die sich von der freien vorderen Kante des Deckels ausdehnt, und eines Schlitzes, der in der Tafel hergestellt ist, in welcher die Produktauslassöffnung hergestellt ist, vorliegen.

11. Packung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Deckel (2) durch mindestens 2 im Wesentlichen rechteckige Wände (410, 411) und mindestens eine im Wesentlichen dreieckige Wand (412) ausgebildet ist.

12. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Schachtel nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es den Erhalt des Deckels durch Aneinanderkleben von Tafeln umfasst, die benachbart zu der Tafel sind, an der die schräge Faltlinie, die den Deckel mit dem Behälterkörper verbindet, hergestellt ist.

13. Verfahren zur Herstellung der Schachtel nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es das Verkleben der Laschen zum Formen des Deckels mithilfe von Schmelzklebstoff umfasst.

Revendications

1. Paquet comprenant: un corps en forme de boîte, de préférence en papier-carton ou d'un autre matériau pliable, pour contenir un produit, en particulier des chewing-gums, bonbons, pastilles, chocolats et similaires; une ouverture de sortie pour distribuer le produit, située dans une paroi du corps en forme de boîte; un couvercle étant de préférence du même matériau que le corps en forme de boîte, et des moyens pour relier le couvercle au corps en forme de boîte; le corps en forme de boîte comprend une paroi latérale antérieure (105) et une paroi latérale postérieure (102), opposée l'une à l'autre et ayant une surface plus large ou équivalente aux autres parois du paquet, deux parois latérales secondaires situées à gauche et à droite (104, 106), en permanence assemblées à la paroi antérieure (105) et à la paroi postérieure (102), ainsi qu'une paroi de fond (107) et une paroi supérieure (103) complétant la structure parallélépipédique du paquet; le paquet étant caractérisé en ce que les moyens permettant de relier le couvercle au corps en forme de boîte sont définis par un axe d'articulation (4) qui relie le couvercle à la paroi postérieure (102) du paquet et n'est pas positionné de façon orthogonale par rapport à l'ensemble des côtés délimitant la paroi (102); et en ce que le couvercle (2) est géométriquement construit de telle façon que la distance entre le bord antérieur libre (5) du couvercle, délimitant le côté libre d'un panneau de couvercle respectif (410) opposé à l'axe d'articulation (4) du couvercle et ledit axe d'articulation (4), est inférieure à la distance entre l'axe d'articulation (4) et le coin formé par la paroi antérieure (105), la paroi latérale de droite (106) et la paroi supérieure (103) du paquet (1).

2. Paquet selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens permettant de relier le couvercle à la paroi sont situés sur la paroi (102) opposée à celle où est réalisée l'ouverture de sortie (3) du produit.

3. Paquet selon les revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que les moyens permettant de relier le couvercle à la paroi sont situés sur la paroi (106) adjacente à celle où est réalisée l'ouverture de sortie (3) du produit.

4. Paquet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que les moyens permettant de relier le couvercle à la paroi sont situés sur la même paroi (105) que celle où est réalisée l'ouverture de sortie (3) du produit.

5. Paquet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que les moyens permettant de relier le couvercle à la paroi sont réalisés par un pli (4) fait dans le panneau constituant la paroi elle-même.

6. Paquet selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que le pli (4) est rectiligne.

7. Paquet selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que le pli (4) est curviligne.

8. Paquet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens pour fixer le couvercle (2) dans la position fermée par rapport au corps en forme de boîte.

9. Paquet selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de fixation sont obtenus par interférence du profil du bord antérieur libre (5) du couvercle (2) avec le profil (503) de l'ouverture de sortie du produit lorsque le couvercle est fermé.

10. Paquet selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de fixation ont la forme d'une languette (505) se développant à partir du bord antérieur libre du couvercle et d'une fente créée dans le panneau dans lequel est réalisée l'ouverture de sortie du produit.

11. Paquet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 10, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (2) est réalisé par au moins 2 parois substantiellement rectangulaires (410, 411) et au moins une paroi substantiellement triangulaire (412).

12. Procédé de fabrication d'un paquet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes de 1 à 11, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend la réalisation du couvercle en le collant à chacun des autres panneaux étant adjacents au panneau où est réalisé l'axe du pli incliné reliant le couvercle au corps de récipient.

13. Procédé de fabrication du paquet selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend le collage des rabats pour former le couvercle en utilisant de la colle thermofusible.

Drawing