U.S. patent application number 13/697465 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-07 for folding-box insert, and folding box for a folding-box insert.
This patent application is currently assigned to AUGUST FALLER KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Marco Beier, Gunther Lade, Ralph Pfister, Armin Rambach, Claus Thuemichen. Invention is credited to Marco Beier, Gunther Lade, Ralph Pfister, Armin Rambach, Claus Thuemichen.
Application Number | 20130056527 13/697465 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43661516 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130056527 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thuemichen; Claus ; et
al. |
March 7, 2013 |
FOLDING-BOX INSERT, AND FOLDING BOX FOR A FOLDING-BOX INSERT
Abstract
The invention relates to a folding-box insert (10; 50), in
particular for cylindrical articles (2), such as ampoules, bottles
and the like, having a blank (1; 51) which forms two accommodating
chambers (31, 32) for accommodating in particular the end portions
of the articles (2), wherein the accommodating chambers (31, 32)
each comprise a wall portion (14; 14a, 15; 15a) which is spaced
apart from a base portion (11) and has a cutout (29; 29a) for
accommodating the respective end portion of the article (2), and
wherein the wall portion (14; 14a, 15; 15a) has flaps (33, 34; 52,
53) which are articulated via folds (36, 37; 55) and can be folded
over in the direction of the base portion (11). According to the
invention, it is provided that the flaps (33, 34; 52, 53) are
designed as means for propping up the accommodating chambers (31,
32).
Inventors: |
Thuemichen; Claus;
(Obersimten, DE) ; Lade; Gunther; (Berglen,
DE) ; Rambach; Armin; (Waldkirch, DE) ;
Pfister; Ralph; (Weinstadt, DE) ; Beier; Marco;
(Gutach, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Thuemichen; Claus
Lade; Gunther
Rambach; Armin
Pfister; Ralph
Beier; Marco |
Obersimten
Berglen
Waldkirch
Weinstadt
Gutach |
|
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
AUGUST FALLER KG
Waldkirch
DE
ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Stuttgart
DE
|
Family ID: |
43661516 |
Appl. No.: |
13/697465 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2010/007609 |
371 Date: |
November 12, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/120.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/5425 20130101;
B65D 5/504 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/120.06 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/04 20060101
B65D025/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2010 |
DE |
10 2010 020 254.1 |
Claims
1. A folding box insert (10; 50), having a blank (1; 51) which
forms two accommodating chambers (31, 32) for accommodating end
portions of the articles (2), wherein the accommodating chambers
(31, 32) each comprise a wall portion (14; 14a, 15; 15a) which is
spaced apart from a base portion (11) and has a cutout (29; 29a)
for accommodating the respective end portion of the article (2),
and wherein the wall portion (14; 14a, 15; 15a) has flaps (33, 34;
52, 53) which are articulated via folds (36, 37; 55) and can be
folded over in a direction of the base portion (11), characterized
in that the flaps (33, 34; 52, 53) provide as means for propping up
the accommodating chambers (31, 32).
2. The folding box insert according to claim 1, characterized in
that the flaps are disposed as first flaps (33, 34) via folds (36,
37) at at least one lateral delimiting edge (38, 39) of the wall
portion (14, 15), wherein the first flap (33, 34) has such a form
that said first flap can be folded into a lateral opening
cross-section (42, 43) of the accommodating chamber (31, 32).
3. The folding box insert according to claim 2, characterized in
that the fold (36, 37) of the first flap (33, 34) is disposed
laterally indented at the delimiting edge (38, 39) of the wall
portion (14, 15).
4. The folding box insert according to claim 1, characterized in
that the flaps are designed as second flaps (52, 53), in that the
second flap (52, 53) is articulated via a fold (55) at the cutout
(29a) for accommodating the end portion of the article (2) and in
that said second flap (52, 53) can be folded in the direction of
the base portion (11) into a lateral opening cross-section (42, 43)
of the accommodating chamber (31, 32).
5. The folding box insert according to claim 2, characterized in
that the first flaps (33, 34) interact with side wall portions (12,
13, 16, 17) of the blank (1; 51), which connect the wall portion
(14; 14a, 15; 15a) to the base portion (11).
6. The folding box insert according to claim 1, characterized in
that the base portion (11) which is disposed between the two
accommodating chambers (31, 32) interacts with end portions (18,
19) of the blank (1; 51) and is locked and where applicable
adhesively bonded to the same, the end portions (18, 19) being
disposed on a bottom of the base portion (11).
7. A folding box (60) for a folding-box insert (10; 50) according
to claim 1, comprising a blank (61), which has closure flaps (64,
68 to 70) on opposite sides, via which the folding box insert (10;
50) with the articles (2) disposed therein can be laterally
inserted into an erected blank (61) when the closure flaps (64, 68
to 70) are open, wherein said blank (61) has means for holding the
folding-box insert (10; 50) in the folding box (60) when an article
is removed, characterized in that the means are formed by a cover
wall (65) of said blank (61), which rests against the folding-box
insert (10; 50).
8. The folding box according to claim 7, characterized in that the
blank (61) has a cover (73) which is disposed at least in the cover
wall (65) and in that the means are designed as regions (77 to 80)
of the cover wall (65) which are disposed outside of the cover
(73).
9. The folding box according to claim 8, characterized in that the
cover (73) is connected to the blank (61) via perforations (74) or
at least one scoring.
10. The folding box according to claim 8, characterized in that the
cover (72) is configured to enter into a side wall portion (67) of
the blank (61) and has a tear-open tab (75).
11. The folding-box insert according to claim 4, characterized in
that the second flaps (52, 53) interact with side wall portions
(12, 13, 16, 17) of the blank (1; 51), which connect the wall
portion (14; 14a, 15; 15a) to the base portion (11).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a folding-box insert and a folding
box for a folding-box insert.
[0002] Such a folding-box insert, which is denoted as a tray pack,
and such a folding box are already known from the European
Parliament patent specification EP 0 491 399 B1. The known
folding-box insert serves to accommodate cylindrical articles, in
particular ampoules, syringe bodies, vials, small bottles or
something similar, as said articles are used particularly in the
pharmaceutical field. To this end, the known folding-box insert
forms two accommodating chambers comprising cutouts for
accommodating the end portions of the cylindrical articles in a
clamping manner. The accommodating chambers are formed by wall
portions, which are disposed spaced apart from a base portion of
the folding-box insert. The folding-box insert is manufactured from
a single piece blank, wherein the accommodating chambers are formed
by strip-shaped regions of the blank, which are connected to each
other via fold edges, wherein the opposing end regions of said
blanks are folded over against the base portion of said blank and
bonded to the same. The accommodating chambers can subsequently be
formed by erecting the opposing end regions of the blank in order
to subsequently fill said chambers with the corresponding articles.
The disadvantage with this is that the folding-box insert has to be
held in the region of the accommodating chambers while being filled
with the articles so that said accommodating chambers do not fold
back into the original, flat-lying position thereof. Flaps, which
are articulated via fold edges at the wall sections of the
accommodating chambers on the side opposite to the base portion,
are in fact provided on the folding-box insert known from the
European Parliament patent specification EP 0 491 399 B1; however,
said flaps serve to connect said folding-box insert to a folding
box enclosing the same so that said folding-box insert is captively
fastened within the folding box.
[0003] At the same time, this fastening of the folding-box insert
in the folding box by means of flaps bonded by an adhesive ensures
that said folding-box insert does not detach from said folding box
when removing the articles from the latter. In so doing, a simpler
and better handling is facilitated when removing the contents from
said folding box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] On the basis of the prior art described above, the aim
underlying the invention is to further develop a folding-box insert
such that a simpler handling is facilitated when filling the
folding-box insert with the corresponding articles. Particular
attention should thereby be paid to preventing the accommodating
chambers from returning to the original, flat-lying state thereof
prior to the articles being inserted. In addition, it is the aim of
the invention to further develop a folding box for a folding-box
insert such that the manufacturing costs of the packaging
comprising the folding-box insert and folding box are reduced in so
far as the additional processing steps resulting from bonding areas
between the folding-box insert and the folding box surrounding said
folding-box insert are eliminated, wherein at the same time, said
folding-box insert is to be fixed in the folding box if articles
are removed from the latter. These aims are met by a folding-box
insert and a folding box for a folding-box insert, according to the
invention.
[0005] All combinations from at least two of the features disclosed
in the claims, description and/or the figures fall within the scope
of the invention. Provision is made in a first design
implementation of the folding-box insert for the flaps to be
disposed as first flaps, which are articulated via folds, at at
least one lateral delimiting edge of the wall portion, wherein the
first flap has such a form that said flap can be folded into the
lateral opening cross-section of the accommodating chamber.
Particularly an interaction of the flap with the delimiting walls
of the blank of the accommodating chamber is caused by folding the
first flap into the opening cross-section of the accommodating
chamber. As a result, said accommodating chamber is fixed or
positioned in the erected state thereof.
[0006] In order to prevent the first flap from folding back out of,
or respectively swinging out of, the opening cross-section of the
accommodating chamber, provision is thereby made in a preferred
manner for the folded edge of said first flap to be disposed
laterally indented at the delimiting edge of the wall portion.
[0007] In an alternative embodiment of the folding-box insert,
provision is made for the flaps to be designed as second flaps, for
the second flaps to be articulated via folds at the cutout for
accommodating the end portion of the article and for the second
flaps to be able to be folded into the lateral opening
cross-section of the accommodating chamber in the direction of the
base portion. This solution has the advantage of requiring less
material for the blank of the folding-box insert.
[0008] In a further advantageous embodiment of the folding-box
insert, provision is made for the base portion disposed between the
two accommodating chambers to interact with end portions of the
blank and to be locked and where applicable adhesively bonded to
said end portions, said end portions being disposed on the bottom
of the base portion. This solution provides the advantage of the
folding-box insert having a particularly high bending stiffness in
the longitudinal direction thereof, which facilitates the handling
of the articles or respectively the insertion of said articles into
the accommodating chambers. In addition, this solution has the
advantage of providing the observer with an improved physical
appearance by a side of the material of the blank being coated.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the folding box for a
folding-box insert, provision is made for the blank to have a
cover, which is disposed at least in the cover wall, for the means
to be designed as regions of the cover wall disposed outside of the
cover. Hence, the regions of the cover wall disposed outside of the
cover fix or hold the folding-box insert counter to the removal
direction of the articles out of receptacles of the folding-box
insert.
[0010] Provision is made in a preferred manner for the cover to be
connected to the blank via perforations or at least one scoring. In
so doing, a simple opening of the cover is facilitated.
[0011] It is furthermore particularly preferred for the cover to be
designed to enter into a side wall portion of the blank and to have
a tear-open tab. A simple gripping of the cover and therefore a
simple handling for opening the cover are thereby facilitated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further advantages, features and details of the invention
ensue from the following description of preferred exemplary
embodiments as well as with the aid of the drawings.
[0013] In the drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows the blank of a first inventive folding-box
insert in a top view,
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the blank of a second inventive folding-box
insert in a top view,
[0016] FIG. 3 shows in perspective view the folding-box insert from
the blank of FIG. 1 in the erected state,
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a top view onto a blank of a folding box for
use with a folding-box insert pursuant to FIG. 1 or 2 and
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an opened folding box
having articles disposed therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The same parts or parts having the same function are
provided with identical reference numerals in the figures.
[0020] The blank 1 of a first folding-box insert 10 is depicted in
FIG. 1. The blank 1 in this case consists particularly of a piece
of cardboard, wherein preferably a piece of coated cardboard is
used, the one side of which (visible to a user) has a smooth, white
surface. Said blank 1 is of substantially rectangular design and
has portions 11 to 19 disposed parallel to one another. In this
case, said blank 1 is of substantially symmetrical design and has
the base portion 11 in the center, at which in each case an inner
side wall portion 12, 13 is articulated via folds 20, 21. The inner
side wall portions 12, 13 are connected via folds 22, 23 to wall
portions 14, 15 forming cavity walls. Outer side wall portions 14,
15 attach to the upper wall portions 14, 15 via folds 24, 25. The
outer side wall portions 16, 17 are in turn connected via folds 26,
27 to end portions 18, 19. Cutouts 29 are configured in, or
respectively punched out of, the inner side wall portions 12, 13 as
well as the upper wall portions 14, 15. In order to form the
folding-box insert 10, the two end portions 18, 19 are folded
towards the bottom of the base portion 11 and particularly
adhesively bonded to said base portion. In so doing, a flat blank 1
is formed in a manner known per se, in which the inner side wall
portions 12, 13 and the upper wall portions 14, 15 rest on the
outer side wall portions 16, 17 and the end portions 18, 19.
[0021] Such a flat blank 1 can be erected in such a way that the
upper wall portions 14, 15 are disposed spaced apart from the base
portion 11 and thereby form accommodating chambers 31, 32 (see
FIGS. 3 and 5).
[0022] The accommodating chambers 31, 32 serve to accommodate the
end portions of articles 2 (see FIG. 5) which are particularly
designed as cylindrical articles 2 in the form of cylindrical
ampoules, small bottles or something similar. The end portions of
the articles 2 can be inserted here into the cutouts 29 arranged in
the accommodating chambers 31, 32, said end portions of the
articles 2 being held in a clamping manner in said cutouts 29.
[0023] The blank 1 of the first folding-box insert 10 comprises in
accordance with the invention side flaps 33, 34 disposed on
opposite sides in the region of the upper wall portions 14, 15. The
side flaps 33, 34 are connected via folds 36, 37 to the upper wall
portions 14, 15, or are respectively articulated to said upper wall
portions 14, wherein the folds 36, 37 are disposed laterally
indented with respect to the otherwise continuous lateral
delimiting edges 38, 39 of the blank 1. In the depicted exemplary
embodiment, the side flaps 33, 34 each optionally comprise a tuck
in flap 40, 41 on the side opposite to the folds 36, 37. It is
essential to the invention that the form or the size of the side
flaps 33, 34, or respectively the tuck in flaps 40, 41, is such
that said side flaps 33, 34 can be folded over in the direction of
the end portions 18, 19 when the accommodating chambers 31, 32 have
been formed, wherein said side flaps 33, 34 swing into the
laterally open opening cross-sections 42, 43 (FIG. 3) of the
accommodating chambers 31, 32. If need be, the tuck in flaps 40, 41
can be interlocked with, or adhesively bonded to, the corresponding
end portions 18, 19 of the blank 1 after the folding-box insert 10
has been placed in a packaged good conveyance and is transported
further.
[0024] As a result of the folds 36, 37 of the side flaps 33, 34
being laterally indented with respect to the outer delimiting edges
38, 39, the lateral edges 44, 45 of the side flaps 33, 34 interact
with the inner side wall portions 12, 13 and the outer side wall
portions 16, 17 such that an erected attitude, or an erected
position, of the accommodating chambers 31, 32 is assured. An
improved handling is thereby facilitated when filling the
folding-box insert 10 with the articles 2 or the folding box
machine is simplified in the setup thereof in its product chain.
This is the case because holding means or something similar along
the product chain can be eliminated where appropriate or simpler
holding means can be used.
[0025] The second folding-box insert 50 depicted in FIG. 2 varies
from the first folding-box insert 10 in that the blank 51 of the
second folding-box insert 50 does not have any lateral side flaps
33, 34. Instead of that, the cutouts 29a comprise inwardly
protruding flaps, which are articulated via folds 55, in the region
of the upper wall portions 14a, 15a, said flaps being in the form
of erecting portions 52, 53 which abut against each other and are
uncoupled from each other by means of perforations, or respectively
a slot 54. In this regard, provision is made for the erecting
portions 52, 53 to be pushed downwards, i.e. in the direction of
the end portions 18a, 19a, when the blank 51 is erected upon
inserting the articles 2 into the cutouts 29a. In so doing, the
erecting portions 52, 53 protrude in analogy to the side flaps 33,
34 into the opening cross-sections of the accommodating chambers
31, 32, and therefore said accommodating chambers 31, 32 are
prevented from folding back into the original flat-lying position
thereof. Furthermore, said accommodating chambers are fixedly held
in the cutouts 29a, or where applicable locked in their position,
when the articles 2 have been inserted.
[0026] A blank 61 of a folding box 60 according to the invention is
depicted in FIG. 4. In this case, the folding box 60 particularly
serves to accommodate a first folding-box insert 10 or a second
folding-box insert 50, can however also basically be used for
folding-box inserts which are differently designed.
[0027] The blank 61 of the folding box 60 comprises a base portion
62, a first side wall portion 63 having lateral first closure flaps
64, a cover portion 65 as well as in each case a second side wall
portion 66, 67 which is articulated to the base portion 62 or the
cover portion 65, wherein the second side wall portions 66, 67 can
be adhesively bonded to each other in partial regions. In order to
close the folding box 60 in the conventional manner, the one side
wall portion 67 further comprises laterally disposed second closure
flaps 68, which interact with the first closure flaps 69, with the
third closure flaps 69, which are articulated to the cover portion
65 and with the fourth closure flaps 70, which are articulated to
the base portion 62. In this connection, the first folding-box
insert 10, or respectively the second folding-box insert, is
laterally inserted into the interior of the folding box 60; and
subsequently the folding box 60 is closed by means of the closure
flaps 64, 68, 69 and 70, wherein said closure flaps 64, 68, 69 and
70 are optionally adhesively bonded to one another in a cartoner
during the packaging process.
[0028] In order to remove individual articles 2, a cover 73 is
configured in the cover portion 65 and in the one side wall 67. The
cover 73 is formed by perforations 74, wherein said cover 73 has a
tear-open tab 75, which in the closed state of the folding box 60
is disposed spaced apart from a cutout 76 in the second side wall
portion 66 and can be easily grasped manually in order to open the
cover 73.
[0029] It deserves mention here that instead of perforations 74 as
weak points, scorings, which are preferably arranged offset to one
another, can be configured on both sides of the cover 73.
[0030] It is essential to the invention that the design of the
cover 73, or respectively the arrangement of the perforations 74,
is configured such that when the folding box 60 is open, i.e. when
the cover 73 is open, the cover portion 65 of said folding box 60,
in particular in the corner regions 77 to 80 thereof, interacts
with the first, or respectively the second, folding-box insert 10,
50 in such a way that the upper wall portions 14, 15 of said
folding-box insert 10, 50 are arranged in locating contact with the
corner regions 77 to 80 of said folding box 60 (FIG. 5). That means
that despite said folding box 60 being open, said folding-box
insert 10, 50 cannot be removed from said folding box 60 without
said folding box 60 being damaged or the closure flaps 67 to 70
being opened. When the closure flaps 67 to 70 are adhesively bonded
to one another, a tamper-evident packaging can also, for example,
be formed.
[0031] The folding-box inserts 10, 50 described so far as well as
the folding box 60 can be modified or varied in diverse ways
without deviating from the thought of the invention. The
folding-box inserts 10, 50 are particularly designed for
accommodating at least one article 2, usually however for
accommodating a plurality of articles 2, the articles 2 being
disposed parallel to one another. In addition, provision can also
be made to dispose a package insert (information and direction for
use) within the folding box 60, e.g. in the region between the
articles 2 and the base portion 11 or else between the articles 2
and the cover portion 64.
REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST
[0032] 1 blank [0033] 2 article [0034] 10 folding-box insert [0035]
11 base portion [0036] 12 side wall portion [0037] 13 side wall
portion [0038] 14, 14a upper wall portion [0039] 15, 15a upper wall
portion [0040] 16 outer side wall portion [0041] 17 outer side wall
portion [0042] 18, 18a end portion [0043] 19, 19a end portion
[0044] 20 fold [0045] 21 fold [0046] 22 fold [0047] 23 fold [0048]
24 fold [0049] 25 fold [0050] 26 fold [0051] 27 fold [0052] 29, 29a
cutout [0053] 31 accommodating chamber [0054] 32 accommodating
chamber [0055] 33 side flap [0056] 34 side flap [0057] 36 fold
[0058] 37 fold [0059] 38 lateral delimiting edge [0060] 39 lateral
delimiting edge [0061] 40 tuck in flap [0062] 41 tuck in flap
[0063] 42 opening cross-section [0064] 43 opening cross-section
[0065] 44 lateral edge [0066] 45 lateral edge [0067] 50 second
folding-box insert [0068] 51 blank [0069] 52 erecting portion
[0070] 53 erecting portion [0071] 54 slot [0072] 55 fold [0073] 60
folding box [0074] 61 blank [0075] 62 base portion [0076] 63 first
side wall portion [0077] 64 first closure flap [0078] 65 cover
portion [0079] 66 second side wall portion [0080] 67 second side
wall portion [0081] 68 second closure flap [0082] 69 third closure
flap [0083] 70 fourth closure flap [0084] 73 cover [0085] 74
perforations [0086] 75 tear-open tab [0087] 76 cutout [0088] 77
corner region [0089] 78 corner region [0090] 79 corner region
[0091] 80 corner region
* * * * *