(19)
(11) EP 2 735 527 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
20.04.2016 Bulletin 2016/16

(21) Application number: 14155505.2

(22) Date of filing: 22.04.2009
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B65D 85/04(2006.01)
B65D 81/22(2006.01)
B65D 21/032(2006.01)
B65H 75/16(2006.01)

(54)

Package of cutting line for lawn mowers, brush cutters and the like

Verpackung beinhaltend einen Mähfaden für einen Rasentrimmer, Freischneider oder dergleichen

Emballage comprenant une ligne de coupe de tondeuses à gazon, débroussailleuses et analogue


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 28.04.2008 IT FI20080024 U

(43) Date of publication of application:
28.05.2014 Bulletin 2014/22

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
09738582.7 / 2279138

(73) Proprietor: Arnetoli Motor S.r.l.
55066 Reggello (FI) (IT)

(72) Inventor:
  • Arnetoli, Fabrizio
    55066 Reggello (FI) (IT)

(74) Representative: Mannucci, Michele et al
Ufficio Tecnico Ing.A. Mannucci S.r.l. Via della Scala 4
50123 Firenze
50123 Firenze (IT)


(56) References cited: : 
CH-A- 330 424
US-A- 6 051 172
FR-A- 1 227 794
US-A- 6 109 005
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] In the field of gardening equipment for use at both amateur and professional level, the use is well known of grass cutting heads for lawn mowers, brush cutters and the like, which use, as cutting elements, cutting lines in polymeric material. These lines project from a housing, which is carried in fast rotation around the drive shaft of the machine, and, due to centrifugal effect, they cut the vegetation. The cutting lines are subject to wear and breakage, and therefore they must be often replaced. For this purpose, packages of cutting lines in polymeric material are marketed, containing a several meters of line for its replacement in the cutting heads.

    [0002] Usually, these lines are produced in polyamides with different chemical structures, all usually containing amide group CO-NH. Among the most important starting products for the production of these cutting lines there are the caprolactam, the adipic acid, and the hexamethylene diamine. Polyamides 6 and 6.6 are often associated with the mark "nylon". The features of the single polyamides do not differ much from each other; Immediately after the thermoplastic working, under dry condition, they are hard and less or more fragile materials. Following the absorption of water from the atmosphere or following water conditioning, they become more tough and abrasion resistant.

    [0003] The packages used for marketing these materials are usually open and can last for a very long time before they finish, above all if the user does not use great quantities of line. This can entail, also based upon the environmental conditions of use, an excessive drying of the product and thus the loss of the characteristics of abrasion resistance and of toughness linked with the water absorption inside the polymeric structure.

    [0004] The object of the invention is to provide a package, which allows a better conservation of the polymeric material forming the cutting line also after the first use thereof. This object is achieved with a package according to claim 1.

    [0005] Further characteristics and embodiments of the package according to the invention are described in the appended dependant claims, and will be described in greater detail with reference to an embodiment disclosed hereunder.

    [0006] The drawings 5 and 6 show a practical non limiting embodiment of the invention.

    figure 1 shows a side view of a package not falling within the scope of the claims;

    figure 2 shows a side view similar to that of figure 1 of a plurality of stacked packages;

    figure 3 shows a plan view according to III-III in figure 1;

    figure 4 shows a modified embodiment of the package not falling within the scope of the claims;

    figure 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention in an axonometric view; and

    figure 6 shows a section along VI-VI in figure 5.



    [0007] With initial reference to figures 1 to 3, the package, indicated as a whole by reference number 1, can include a shell structure formed by a pair of semi-shells 1A 1B made of thermoformed, for example vacuum molded, plastic material. Once coupled, the semi-shells 1A, 1B define a housing space, inside which the cutting line F is wound, as shown in figure 3. More in particular, the semi-shells 1A, 1B are welded along the edge 1C of the package and can have respective projections, which form a slot or eyelet 1 D for hanging the package on a displayer.

    [0008] Characteristically, one of the two semi-shells (in the example the semi-shell 1A) has an approximately round aperture in a substantially central position.

    [0009] Around the central aperture of the upper semi-shell or semi-shell 1A, a ring or collar 3 is applied, for example a ring in plastic material welded, for example by means of ultrasounds, or glued, or in any way blocked to the laminar material forming the upper semi-shell 1A. The ring or collar 3 can be coupled in a reversible manner to a cover or cap 5. The coupling can be made through a thread, a bayonet grafting, a shape coupling joint or in any other manner. The coupling can be provided with a security seal which, once removed, allows to remove and to place the cap 5 again, so as to open and close the container or package 1. In this way, the user can open the package and extract the desired quantity of cutting line, cut it and close the package again by means of the cap 5. This safeguards the humidity conditions inside the package 1, conditions which can be made optimal in terms of saturation of the polyamide or other analogous polymer which forms the line F by adding of a small quantity of water inside the package.

    [0010] Advantageously, in order to allow a simpler storage of the packages 1 in a small space, both for display and for transportation or storage, on the face of the package 1 opposite to that on which the cap 5 is applied to the ring 3, the semi-shell 1 B has a cavity 7 having a shape substantially corresponding to, and preferably slightly wider, than the cap 5. In this way it is possible to stack (see figure 2) more packages 1 one on top of the other, in such a way that the cap of each package inserts in the cavity 7 of the overlying package.

    [0011] In a modified embodiment (figure 4) the aperture for the extraction of the cutting line F is obtained in a tangential position or on the edge of the package, instead of on the front face of one of the semi-shells 1 A, 1 B forming the package, so that the line exits laterally and not centrally. In this case, according to an advantageous embodiment, the aperture can be surrounded by a bush 11 which forms the seat for a cap 13 which can be inserted in a reversible manner inside the bush 11 in order to close the package 1 with a sufficient sealing degree, analogously to what occurs with the cap 5 in the embodiment of figures 1 to 3. In this case again, the user can close the package 1 with the cap 13 every time he/she has extracted the desired quantity of line F, to safeguard the desired high humidity conditions inside the package and therefore to maintain the characteristics of toughness and abrasion resistance of the line F. In order to facilitate unwinding of the line, this can be wound on a spool rotatingly housed inside the package.

    [0012] Figures 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the package according to the invention. In this case, the package is produced by blow molding, in a manner similar, for example to the technique used for producing bottles of mineral water. The package indicated with the reference number 51 is formed by a single body 53 instead of by two welded semi-shells. The body 53 is produced by blow-molding in a mold, in which a tube made of polymeric material and coming from the extruder is inserted. The mold is closed so as to cut the tube of polymeric material along a substantially circular edge, and air is blown inside the tube of polymeric material still at the plastic status. The air is injected through a needle which perforates the polymeric material in correspondence of the portion which will be subsequently removed to form the aperture for the extraction of the line. With the molding operation the body 53 of the package is obtained, provided with a collar or ring 55 formed by molding along with the body 53. The ring or collar 55 is provided with a thread or other constraining mechanism, formed by molding, on which the cover 57 screws or engages. The membrane of plastic material which remains for closing the collar 55 is removed by means of an adequate cutting tool after cooling of the molded package. With the same molding it is possible to form - if required - a projection 59 forming a slot, an eyelet or a hook for hanging the package on a displayer.

    [0013] The cover 57 can be engaged in a reversible manner with the collar or ring 55, instead of through a thread, by means of a bayonet grafting, through friction or in other suitable manner.

    [0014] A cavity is provided on the face opposite to the cap or cover, to allow more packages to be stacked.

    [0015] With the package object of the present invention it is possible for the user to maintain the line F always in the optimal conditions for its use, guaranteeing that it is always water-logged or in any way sufficiently impregnated with water. It is also possible that a certain quantity of water is loaded inside the package during the phase of production of the package itself, so that, even in case of particularly long periods of storage in dry environmental conditions and with an imperfect seal of the package 1, the line F remains always water-logged and therefore it remains always ready for use as the package is open.


    Claims

    1. A package (51) of cutting line (F) made of polymeric material for brush cutters, lawn mowers, cutting devices for removing side shoots and the like, including: a laminar plastic material defining a housing shell for housing said cutting line (F), said housing shell having a substantially flat form; an aperture arranged in a nearly central position on a first face of said housing shell and provided with a removable cap (57), which can be applied in a reversible manner to said package (51) and which projects from said housing shell; a cutting line (F) in said housing shell; characterized in that said housing shell is made as a single body (53) by blow-molding; and that a cavity is provided on a second face of said housing shell, to allow more packages to be stacked.
     
    2. Package according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is arranged nearly in correspondence of said aperture, in such a way that a plurality of packages can be stacked by arranging the cap (57) of one package in correspondence of and inside the cavity of an adjacent package.
     
    3. Package as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said aperture is surrounded by a ring or collar (55), molded together with the shell, provided with means for reversible application of the removable cap.
     
    4. Package as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, containing water in order to maintain said cutting line (F) under optimum humidity conditions.
     
    5. Package as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said cutting line (F) is made of a plastic material containing amide groups (CO-NH).
     
    6. Package as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said cap (57) is a screw or bayonet cap.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verpackung (51) für einen Mähfaden (F) aus Polymermaterial für Freischneider, Rasentrimmer, Schneidgeräte zum Entfernen von Seitentrieben und dergleichen, umfassend: ein laminares Kunststoffmaterial, das einen Gehäusemantel zur Aufnahme des Mähfadens (F) definiert, wobei der Gehäusemantel eine im wesentlichen flache Form aufweist; eine Öffnung, die in einer annähernd mittigen Position auf einer ersten Oberfläche des Gehäusemantels angeordnet ist und mit einer abnehmbaren Kappe (57) versehen ist, die auf lösbare Weise an der Verpackung (51) angebracht werden kann und von dem Gehäusemantel vorragt; einen Mähfaden (F) in dem Gehäusemantel; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Gehäusemantel als einziger Körper (53) durch Blasformen gebildet wird und dass eine Vertiefung auf einer zweiten Oberfläche des Gehäusemantels gebildet ist, damit mehr Verpackungen gestapelt werden können.
     
    2. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Vertiefung annähernd in Entsprechung zu der Öffnung derart angeordnet ist, dass eine Mehrzahl von Verpackungen gestapelt werden kann, indem die Kappe (57) einer Verpackung in Entsprechung zur Vertiefung einer angrenzenden Verpackung und innerhalb von dieser angeordnet wird.
     
    3. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Öffnung von einem Ring oder Kragen (55) umgeben ist, der zusammen mit dem Mantel gebildet wurde und mit Mitteln zur lösbaren Befestigung der abnehmbaren Kappe versehen ist.
     
    4. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2 oder 3, die Wasser enthält, um den Mähfaden (F) unter optimale Feuchtigkeitsbedingungen aufzubewahren.
     
    5. Verpackung nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Mähfaden (F) aus Kunststoffmaterial hergestellt ist, das Amidgruppen (CO-NH) enthält.
     
    6. Verpackung nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Kappe (57) eine Schraub- oder eine Bajonettverschlusskappe ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Emballage (51) de ligne de coupe (F) faite de matériau polymère pour débroussailleuses, tondeuses à gazon, dispositifs de coupe pour retirer des pousses latérales et similaires, comprenant : un matériau plastique laminaire définissant une coque de logement pour loger ladite ligne de coupe (F), ladite coque de logement ayant une forme sensiblement plate ; une ouverture formée dans une position presque centrale sur une première face de ladite coque de logement et doté d'un bouchon amovible (57), lequel peut être appliqué de façon réversible sur ledit emballage (51) et se projette à partir de ladite coque de logement ; une ligne de coupe (F) dans ladite coque de logement ; caractérisé par le fait que ladite coque de logement est réalisée sous la forme d'un unique corps (53) par moulage par soufflage ; et par le fait qu'une cavité est prévue sur une seconde face de ladite coque de logement, pour permettre à davantage d'emballages d'être empilés.
     
    2. Emballage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite cavité est formée presque en correspondance de ladite ouverture, d'une manière telle qu'une pluralité d'emballages peuvent être empilés par positionnement du bouchon (57) d'un emballage en correspondance et à l'intérieur de la cavité d'un emballage adjacent.
     
    3. Emballage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel ladite ouverture est entourée d'un anneau ou collier (55), moulé conjointement avec la coque, doté de moyens pour l'application réversible du bouchon amovible.
     
    4. Emballage selon la revendication 1 ou 2 ou 3, contenant de l'eau afin de maintenir ladite ligne de coupe (F) dans des conditions d'humidité optimales.
     
    5. Emballage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite ligne de coupe (F) est faite d'un matériau plastique contenant des groupes amide (CO-NH).
     
    6. Emballage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit bouchon (57) est un bouchon à vis ou à baïonnette.
     




    Drawing