U.S. patent application number 12/730997 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for cardboard tank packaging.
Invention is credited to Mario PADOVANI.
Application Number | 20100282827 12/730997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41338669 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100282827 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PADOVANI; Mario |
November 11, 2010 |
CARDBOARD TANK PACKAGING
Abstract
A tank pack comprising a box-shaped body with a bottom and
defining a housing, made from cardboard, and a sack made from
plastic for containing liquids, purees or similar products suitable
for being housed in the housing is described. The sack is provided
with at least one outlet valve and one inlet valve. The outlet
valve is connected to a cardboard support base of the sack that
comprises a base sheet suitable for being arranged laying over the
bottom. A front wall of the body is provided with an opening to
externally expose the outlet valve. The support also comprises a
front sheet foldably connected to the base sheet. Anchoring means
are provided for the outlet valve and suitable for internally
laying over the front wall of the body. A manipulation and
fastening flap is foldably connected to the front sheet so as to be
accessible near or at the upper end of the body.
Inventors: |
PADOVANI; Mario; (Firenze,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steinfl & Bruno
301 N Lake Ave Ste 810
Pasadena
CA
91101
US
|
Family ID: |
41338669 |
Appl. No.: |
12/730997 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/117.27 ;
229/162.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/445 20130101;
B65D 77/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/117.27 ;
229/162.6 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/56 20060101
B65D005/56; B65D 25/54 20060101 B65D025/54 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2009 |
IT |
FI2009A000098 |
Claims
1. A tank-like packaging comprising a box-shaped body made of
cardboard with a bottom and defining a housing, and a sack made of
plastic material, the sack being adapted to be housed in said
housing and comprising at least one outlet valve and at least one
inlet valve, said outlet valve being connected to a sack support,
made of cardboard and comprising a base sheet adapted to be
arranged laying over said bottom of said body, wherein a front wall
of said body comprises an opening for externally exposing said
outlet valve, wherein said sack support further comprises: a front
sheet foldably connected to said base sheet, comprising anchoring
means for said outlet valve and adapted to internally superimpose
said front wall of said body; and a manipulation and fastening flap
foldably connected to said front sheet to be accessible near or at
the upper end of said body.
2. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said manipulation
and fastening flap comprises fastening means for fastening the
support to the body and grip means adapted to allow the grip by the
hands of a worker.
3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said manipulation
and fastening flap comprises anchoring means for said inlet
valve.
4. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said manipulation
and fastening flap acts as a covering sheet adapted to shut
substantially entirely the top of said housing, said covering sheet
being arranged substantially parallel to said bottom above said
sack.
5. The packaging according to claim 4, wherein at least one
inspection door is formed in said covering sheet.
6. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said grip means
comprise one or more windows for insertion of hands of a
worker.
7. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said anchoring means
for said outlet valve and/or said inlet valve comprise shaped
patterns including holes, cut or pre-cut lines on respective sheets
or flaps.
8. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means
comprise a tongue foldably projecting from said manipulation and
fastening sheet or flap and adapted to engage with engagement means
formed in a top front flap foldably extending from said front wall
of said body and with engagement means formed in said manipulation
and fastening sheet or flap.
9. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means
comprise a foldable edge adapted to be engaged with a rear wall
opposite said front wall of said body.
10. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising at least
one stiffening sleeve, made of cardboard, adapted to be inserted
within said housing for increasing stiffness of the side walls.
11. The packaging according to claim 10, wherein said foldable edge
is tucked between said rear wall and said at least one stiffening
sleeve.
12. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein from at least one
among said base sheet, said front sheet and said manipulation and
fastening sheet or flap, foldable flaps extend towards the inside
of said housing, for strengthening the packaging at the corners and
increasing stability.
13. The packaging according to claim 8, wherein said body
comprises, in addition to said top front flap, other top flaps
foldably extending from respective other side walls of the body,
wherein key engagement means are provided for carrying out a mutual
engagement between said top flaps to form a partial covering of the
top of said housing.
14. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said base sheet,
said front sheet and said manipulation and fastening sheet or flap
are mutually separated by twin folding or creasing lines, adapted
to permit a book-like folding of the sheets, in a stocking
arrangement when the sack is empty, defining a volume suitable to
contain the same sack and the relative outlet valve, the packaging
further comprising locking means for stabilizing said stocking
arrangement, said locking means being arranged between said
manipulation and fastening sheet or flap and said base sheet.
15. The packaging according to claim 14, wherein said locking means
comprise said fastening tongue cooperating with a slot formed in
said base sheet.
16. The packaging according to claim 14, wherein said locking means
comprise at least one tang formed in said base sheet cooperating
with a slot of said manipulation and fastening flap.
17. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein tying means formed
on said base sheet further comprising for allowing string-like
means to be connected, said string-like means being adapted to be
gripped from outside the packaging for assisting rotation of the
same base sheet towards said front sheet, to squeeze said sack.
18. An assembly comprising a sack made of plastic materials for
containing liquids or the like and a cardboard support realized and
adapted be used in the packaging according to claim 1.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to Italian Patent
Application No. FI2009A000098, filed on May 11, 2009, which is
incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure concerns the field of the production
of containers made from paper-based material, and more specifically
it concerns a new tank packaging intended for storing and
transporting liquid or viscous materials in the field of
agri-foodstuffs and chemicals, such as in particular, but not
exclusively, preserves, mashed substances etc.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Cardboard tank packagings are known and highly appreciated
due to their biodegradability and ease of recycling. The
parallelepiped shape allows the transportation and storage
logistics to be optimized. The packaging comprises an outer body
made from cardboard of suitable strength, which houses a
collapsible sack made from plastic intended for containing liquids.
The sack is supported by a cardboard base that is inserted into the
outer body for internally superimposing the bottom of the body. The
base and the sack are fixedly connected to one another by an outlet
valve for the outlet of the liquid from the sack. Said valve, when
arranging the sack with the relative base inside the body, has to
be placed in correspondence with a preformed opening on a side wall
of the body, near to the bottom. In addition to the outlet valve,
the sack includes a filling valve, in an opposite position to the
outlet valve.
[0004] Such known packagings have two main types of drawbacks.
Firstly, the arrangement of the sack with its support base in the
body is very difficult and troublesome, in particular as far as the
control of the correct positioning of the valve is concerned,
working from outside of the body. Regarding this, it is worth
remembering that the body has very high side walls, for which
reason the arms of a worker cannot reach the area of the bottom
inside the body, and they are also hindered by the presence of the
sack. Secondly, when the sack is progressively emptied of its
content, and consequently collapses in the body, the folds form
pockets that trap the material, preventing complete emptying unless
a part of the sack is lifted manually, inserting the arm inside the
body, with the difficulties already mentioned for the operator.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to the present disclosure, a new tank packaging
that, thanks to original constructive features, is easier to
assemble and more user-friendly and safe in use than analogous
known packagings.
[0006] According to a first aspect, a tank-like packaging
comprising a box-shaped body made of cardboard with a bottom and
defining a housing, and a sack made of plastic material is
provided, the sack being adapted to be housed in said housing and
comprising at least one outlet valve and at least one inlet valve,
said outlet valve being connected to a sack support, made of
cardboard and comprising a base sheet adapted to be arranged laying
over said bottom of said body, wherein a front wall of said body
comprises an opening for externally exposing said outlet valve,
wherein said sack support further comprises: a front sheet foldably
connected to said base sheet, comprising anchoring means for said
outlet valve and adapted to internally superimpose said front wall
of said body; and a manipulation and fastening flap foldably
connected to said front sheet to be accessible near or at the upper
end of said body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be given as
examples and not for limiting purposes, with reference to the
attached drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 schematically represents a perspective view of a
cardboard packaging according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an inner sack and the relative
cardboard support in the packaging of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front view of the assembly of FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlargement in the area of the outlet valve of
the assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0012] FIGS. 5 and 6 show respective successive and final steps of
the stabilisation procedure of the assembly of the previous figures
to the rest of the pack, through perspective views of the upper
area of the latter;
[0013] FIGS. 7 to 9 are respective cardboard flat blanks of
different embodiments of the support of the sack according to the
invention, cut edges being represented with a continuous line,
while discontinuous lines represent folding lines, the blank of
FIG. 7 substantially corresponding to the support in the embodiment
according to the previous figures; and
[0014] FIG. 10 is a flat blank of a further, different embodiment
of the support of the sack according to the invention, intended for
a prism-shaped pack with an octagonal base.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0015] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, a packaging according to an
embodiment of the disclosure comprises a box-shaped body 1 made
from corrugated cardboard, in the illustrated embodiment having a
parallelepiped shape, substantially cubic, formed according to the
usual techniques of the field. On a front wall 1a, near to the
bottom 1d, an opening 2 is formed for the insertion and exposure to
the outside of an outlet valve Vu which shall be discussed in
greater detail later on.
[0016] From the upper edges of the side walls of the body 1
respective upper flaps foldably extend, and more specifically: a
front flap 3a, at the front wall 1a, two side flaps 3b at
respective side walls 1b adjacent to the front wall 1a, and a rear
flap 3c at a rear wall 1c parallel and opposite to the front wall
la. The upper flaps have key engagement means formed on them,
suitable for ensuring that they are engaged with one another to
obtain a partial top closure of the body 1. Such engagement means
comprise, in particular, arrow-shaped tabs 4 on the free margins of
the front and rear flaps 3a, 3c, suitable for being inserted in
slits 5 that extend on the side flaps 3b, according to a
construction technique that is commonly used in the field.
[0017] In the housing 6 internally defined by the body 1, one or
more (two in the illustrated example) tubular sleeve structures 7,
8 for stiffening and strengthening the side walls are preferably
inserted. In practice, these are strips folded into a sleeve shape
so as to define, in turn, side walls that internally line the walls
1a-1c of the body 1, thickening them. On the front walls 7a, 8a
that lay on the front wall 1a respective openings 7b, 8b are
formed, corresponding to the opening 2 for the outlet valve Vu.
[0018] The body 1 also comprises a cover 9, formed according to
conventional techniques, to shut the housing 6 on top. This housing
6 houses a sack S (FIG. 2), made from plastic such as a transparent
food contact PE film of suitable strength, connected to a support
made from corrugated cardboard 10.
[0019] The support 10 consists of a strip on which parallel and
consecutive transverse folding lines 11 define (reference is made
in particular to FIG. 7): a base sheet 12, suitable for internally
superimposing the bottom of the body 1 and sized to this purpose; a
front sheet 13 adapted to internally lay on the front wall 1a (and
relative stiffening walls 7a, 8a); and a fastening flap 14 adapted
to be arranged substantially flush with the upper edge of the body
1.
[0020] In greater detail, the base shape 12 is the actual lower
support of the sack 9, whereas the front sheet 13, in a suitable
position near to the fold with the base sheet 12 (defined by two
adjacent side-by-side lines), houses a fitting 15 for anchoring the
valve Vu. The valve, with characteristics that can vary according
to the prior art, is, in any case, represented by a rigid tubular
element. In the depicted example the fitting (not represented in
FIG. 1) is formed from a hole with a periphery having deformable
radial tongues 15a, which allow for the insertion of the valve and
hold it exerting a certain elastic clamping. As described shortly
hereafter, the fitting can take up different configurations,
according to the type of valve and, however, in accordance with
what is already known as such.
[0021] Also the fastening flap 14 has a pre-cut fitting 17, in this
case intended to hold an inlet (filling) valve Vi of the sack 9, in
turn consisting of a rigid tubular element. Also in this case the
fitting can take up different shapes, for example that of a seating
shut by a foldable tongue that, by lifting, opens the seat itself
to a lesser or greater extent, also acting as a holding element.
The fitting 17 can also, like in the example here considered, be
housed by an inner portion 14a of the flap 14, adapted to be
articulated along one of the folding lines 11 with respect to an
end portion 14b, all of this also in view of the positioning of the
inlet valve in a stocking configuration that will be discussed
shortly hereafter.
[0022] The fastening flap, in addition to grip windows 16,
comprises a foldable tongue 18, with contoured ends, projecting
from the free edge of the flap, free edge which corresponds to one
of the transversal sides of the strip that realizes the support 10.
The tongue 18 is suitable for laying over the front top flap 3a of
the body 1, to engage with a slot 21 formed therein, and finally
with a further, corresponding slot 19 in the same fastening flap
14. The front top flap 3a of the body 1 is also equipped with a
passage 20 to give access to the inlet valve 18.
[0023] In use, the arrangement of the sack S in the housing 6 of
the body 1 can be controlled by a worker precisely by operating
from the outside on the fastening flap 14 through the grip windows
16, which act as handles, whereas the front sheet 13 constitutes an
element for transmitting the displacement to the base sheet 12.
Therefore, there is a real manoeuvrability of the support, which
can be arranged with precision, effortlessly and above all without
needing to insert the arms in the housing 6. The same capabilities
also make it easy to extract the sack/support assembly, when
required.
[0024] A further characteristic deriving from the special structure
of the support 10 consists in the possibility of anchoring the
inlet valve Vi at the top, which, besides making the filling
operations of the sack S easier, has the effect of supporting the
latter as is emptied, preventing it from completely collapsing,
counteracting the formation of folds and pockets that trap the
liquid contained, and therefore promoting regular flow up to the
end. If necessary, such a flow can also be further assisted by
lifting the side of the base sheet 12 opposite the front sheet 13,
so as to make the former close in rotation towards the latter and
thus obtain a sort of squeezing of the sack. To this purpose, as
represented in FIG. 2, a string F, to be gripped from the outside
of the packaging, can be linked to a slot 25 formed in a suitable
position in the base sheet 12.
[0025] It should also be noted that the assembly of the support 10
and the sack S, once extracted and separated from the body 1, can
be folded neatly so as to occupy a very small space in a stocking
arrangement. Indeed, thanks to folding lines (or creases) arranged
in pairs, like in the example, it is possible to fold the two base
and front sheets 12, 13 like a book, leaving in between the volume
necessary to contain and clamp the encumber of the empty sack S and
the valve Vi. The closure of the assembly can be ensured by the
same tongue 18 that will engage with the aforementioned slot
25.
[0026] With reference now also to FIGS. 8 and 9, numerous variants
can be proposed in the configuration of the strip-like sheet that
constitutes the cardboard support of the sack S. Firstly, in the
embodiment of FIG. 8 it can be seen that the fastening flap can be
more elongated, until it degenerates into an actual covering sheet
114 that shuts the entire opening gap, or open top, of the housing
6 of the body 1 and protects the sack S on top. The manipulation
and fastening sheet 114 has two pairs of gripping windows 116, and
at the end of the strip a foldable edge 123 to stabilize the sheet
itself, being tucked in between the reinforcement sleeves 7, 8 and
the rear wall 1c of the body 1.
[0027] Moreover, an inspection door 124 is foldably articulated at
the center of the manipulation and fastening sheet 114. The
foldable fastening tongue 118 in this case is actually formed by
subtracting material from the door, at the opposite side to that of
articulation. Furthermore, a locking tang 122 is arranged at the
end of the base sheet 112, to act as a locking element of the
assembly in the aforementioned stocking configuration folded like a
book, engaging with the slot 119 that, when the support is
assembled with the body 1, receives the tongue 118. Finally, it
should be noted that an engagement fitting 115 of the outlet valve
is shaped in this case more simply according to a polygonal
outline, as in a different known standard.
[0028] In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the fastening, manipulation and
shutting sheet 214 has in turn an inspection door 224, of a smaller
size than in the previous case, and there can be noticed engagement
fittings 215, 217 for the discharge and inlet (filling) valves,
respectively, shaped again differently with respect to the previous
examples, for both of the valves. In particular, in this case, and
according to a further standard, known as such, there will be
tongues 215a, 217a with an isosceles trapezoidal profile, incident
to the periphery of a circular hole 215b, 217b and adapted to be
lifted to make such a perimeter breakable upon the act of insertion
of the relative valve. The stabilization of the sheet via the edge
223 on the rear side can make the presence of an engagement tongue
superfluous; in fact, the tongue is indeed absent in this
embodiment. Nevertheless, it is possible to see the slot 219 that
in this case will only be used to engage with the locking tang 222
in the stocking arrangement.
[0029] Between the two solutions indicated above (covering sheet
limited to a flap, or else a complete one shutting the entire open
top of the housing 6), there can also be intermediate solutions,
i.e. with a fastening, manipulation and covering sheet that
partially shuts the open top of the housing, and carrying the
engagement fitting of the upper valve cut on the relative free edge
or transversal side. The latter edge can also provide for foldable
keys that engage with slots of the bottom sheet, also in this case
to the purpose of keeping the sheets clamped together in the
stocking arrangement, again made possible by the folds/creases in
adjacent pairs that, suitably spaced, ensure that there can be a
properly compact boxing of the sack.
[0030] In all cases, the strip that makes the support 10 can also
comprise, along the longitudinal sides, i.e. those that extend
along the direction of development of the strip, but also along the
transversal side opposite the fastening one, some tabs that can be
folded towards the inside of the housing to consolidate the pack at
the corners and increase the stability of the assembly, at the same
time realizing side supports that make the inside of the corners
more regular, avoiding the formation of gaps that could even cut
the sack. An example of this is provided by the same FIG. 8, in
which it is possible to see tabs 126 along the longitudinal sides
of all three sheets. Furthermore, it is clear that the handles 16,
116, 216 can be positioned and configured differently, and that
both the base sheet and the front sheet can have low surface
extension in width through shaping or profiling of various
kinds.
[0031] Furthermore, FIG. 10 highlights the possibility of using
embodiments of the present disclosure also with packagings of a
different shape than a parallelepiped, for example prisms with a
hexagonal, octagonal or polygonal base and in general of any other
profile. The flat blank represented in such a figure is entirely
comparable to the example described earlier, with obvious
adaptations to the profile of the base sheet 312 and fastening and
manipulation sheet 314 (octagonal in this case). Otherwise, the
components correspond to those of the previous examples, as made
clear by the congruence between the various reference numerals.
[0032] The body 1, and consequently the support structure 10 with
the sack S, can of course be made according to various sizes, again
resulting in an ecological but very strong pack. The assembly as
described is made up of modules that are fitted together extremely
easily. The support 10 is introduced from the outside without the
need to manoeuvre the other components and acts also as a container
of the sack. Along with the possibility of locking also the filling
valve, it is even possible, contrary to known packagings, to use
standard filling units that can work on the valve exposed and
stabilized at the top. Thanks to the locking system of the upper
flaps of the body 1, the side walls stay firmly and precisely
upright, even after the sack has been filled.
[0033] The possibility of folding every component (even the body 1
that will, as mentioned, be made from a flat blank according to
conventional methods), ensures that the packaging, in unassembled
condition, occupies small spaces, with enormous advantages compared
to conventional tanks. All of the components can be recovered
and/or replaced when they have deteriorated. The use of cardboard,
in addition to the obvious advantages over materials like plastic,
iron and wood, also allows personalised prints to be applied,
making a great advertising power available. Finally, the high
thickness of the side walls constitute an effective insulating
barrier that protects the product contained from thermal
excursions, both during the summer and in extreme cold
conditions.
[0034] All of the engagement systems with arrow-like keys can be
replaced by analogous solutions appearing equivalent to a man
skilled in the art. At least some of the cutting lines of the flat
blank to which reference was made in the description can initially
be formed as pre-cut lines, to be torn at the time of forming the
packaging.
[0035] The assembly of support 10 and sack S with the special
features here described and claimed is obviously to be considered
within the scope of the present invention also when considered
alone, that is apart and isolated from the body 1.
[0036] The present invention has been here described with reference
to preferred embodiments. It should be understood that there may be
other embodiments within the same inventive concept, as defined by
the scope of protection of the following claims.
* * * * *