U.S. patent application number 14/761247 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-17 for gripping means for containers.
The applicant listed for this patent is ELOPAK SYSTEMS. Invention is credited to Martin Kurt WIESER.
Application Number | 20150360819 14/761247 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47758092 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150360819 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WIESER; Martin Kurt |
December 17, 2015 |
GRIPPING MEANS FOR CONTAINERS
Abstract
A container blank (2) for forming a container having respective
opposite first and second planar surfaces, and comprising a row of
body portion forming panels (P1-P4) arranged side-by-side, the
boundaries between the panels being defined by respective boundary
lines of weakness (S1-S4) extending from top to bottom of the
panels substantially perpendicularly to the row, at least one body
portion forming panel (P2) including a line of depression (12) in
the first surface (14) which is not visible on the respective
opposite second surface (16), the line of depression having a grip
enhancing substance (18) deposited therein.
Inventors: |
WIESER; Martin Kurt;
(Vettre, NO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ELOPAK SYSTEMS |
Glattbrugg |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
47758092 |
Appl. No.: |
14/761247 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
January 16, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2014/050115 |
371 Date: |
July 15, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.3 ;
428/514; 493/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/4208 20130101;
B65D 5/4266 20130101; B65D 5/067 20130101; B65D 25/34 20130101;
Y10T 428/31906 20150401 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/34 20060101
B65D025/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 16, 2013 |
GB |
1300820.6 |
Claims
1. Packaging material for forming a container having respective
opposite first and second surfaces, and comprising a row of body
portion forming panels arranged side-by-side, the boundaries
between said panels being defined by respective boundary lines of
weakness extending from top to bottom of said panels substantially
perpendicularly to said row, at least one body portion forming
panel including a line of depression in the first surface, the line
of depression having a grip enhancing substance deposited
therein.
2. Packaging material according to claim 1, wherein the grip
enhancing substance is a friction-increasing material.
3. Packaging material according to claim 1, wherein the grip
enhancing substance is a high-friction ink or varnish.
4. Packaging material according to claim 3, wherein the
high-friction ink or varnish is composed of modified acrylic
resins.
5. Packaging material according to claim 1, wherein said packaging
material further comprises a laminate packaging material comprising
a paperboard substrate, a first layer of thermoplastics material on
the first planar surface, and on the second planar surface, a
second layer of thermoplastics material and a barrier layer
disposed between the paperboard substrate and the second layer of
thermoplastics material, the line of depression being formed in the
first layer of thermoplastics and the surface of the paperboard
layer facing the first layer of theremoplastics.
6. Packaging material according to claim 1, wherein the grip
enhancing substance is wholly contained within the line of
depression.
7. Packaging material according to claim 5, wherein the depth of
the line of depression is less than half the thickness of the
paperboard substrate.
8. Packaging material according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of
lines of depression form one or more gripping zones on the at least
one body portion forming panel.
9. Packaging material according to claim 1, wherein a line of
depression is present on second and fourth body portion forming
panels in a row of first, second, third and fourth body portion
forming panels.
10. A container comprising a loop of body panels, the boundaries
between said panels being defined by respective boundary lines of
weakness extending from top to bottom of said panels substantially
perpendicularly to said loop, each body panel having respective
outside and inside planar surfaces, the outside surface at least
one of the body panels including a line of depression, the line of
depression having a grip enhancing substance deposited therein.
11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the grip enhancing
substance is a friction-increasing material.
12. A container according to claim 10, wherein the grip enhancing
substance is a high-friction ink or varnish.
13. A container according to claim 12, wherein the high-friction
ink or varnish is composed of modified acrylic resins.
14. A container according to claim 10, said container being
comprised of a laminate packaging material comprising a paperboard
substrate, a first layer of thermoplastics material on the first
planar surface, and on the second planar surface, a second layer of
thermoplastics material and a barrier layer disposed between the
paperboard substrate and the second layer of thermoplastics
material, the line of depression being formed in the first layer of
thermoplastics and the surface of the paperboard layer facing the
first layer of theremoplastics.
15. A container according to claim 10, wherein the grip enhancing
substance is wholly contained within the line of depression.
16. A container according to claim 14, wherein the depth of the
line of depression is less than half the thickness of the
paperboard substrate.
17. A container according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of lines
of depression form one or more gripping zones on the at least one
body panel.
18. A container according to claim 10, wherein a line of depression
is present on opposite body panels in the loop.
19. A method of forming a container blank of sheet material
comprising marking the sheet material with a pattern of lines of
weakness defining body portion forming panels of the container
blank, the container blank having respective opposite first and
second p-ta-nar surfaces, forming a line of depression in the first
surface of at least one of the body portion forming panels and
depositing a grip enhancing substance in said line of
depression.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the container blank
comprises a laminate packaging material comprising a paperboard
substrate, a first layer of thermoplastics material on the first
planar surface, and on the second planar surface, a second layer of
thermoplastics material and a barrier layer disposed between the
paperboard substrate and the second layer of thermoplastics
material, the forming of the line of depression being by
compression of the first layer of thermoplastics and the surface of
the paperboard layer facing the first layer of theremoplastics.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the compression
comprises compressing the line of depression to a depth of less
than half the thickness of the paperboard substrate.
22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the depositing of the
grip enhancing substance is by an ultra-violet printing process.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to packaging and particularly to a
laminate packaging made of thermoplastics coated paperboard.
[0002] JP-A-2003276725 discloses a paper container consisting of a
laminate mainly composed of paper and having recesses and
protrusions at the outer surface of the container for the
improvement of non-slip properties, and a design effect. The
laminate is provided with an inner layer having at least a
thermally adherent resin layer on one of the faces of the paper and
an outer layer having at least a thermally adherent resin layer on
the other face thereof. Recesses and protrusions are provided at a
part of the paper container to improve the non-slip properties.
[0003] WO-A-0075038 relates to a commercial packaging that
comprises at least one plain or curved surface and an anti-theft
strip, with a groove being introduced into the surface in which the
anti-theft strip is located.
[0004] EPA-0615285 discloses integrated circuits such as
transponders attached to a substrate such as cardboard packaging
material by adhering an integrated circuit to the substrate,
applying a patch antenna to the substrate and the integrated
circuit, and applying a sealing layer over the integrated circuit
and at least a portion of the antenna. An indentation may be formed
in the substrate into which the integrated circuit is placed. The
patch antenna may be screen printed onto the substrate and the
integrated circuit, using conductive ink, or may be a metallic foil
which is applied to the substrate and the integrated circuit. Where
the integrated circuit is a transponder, it can be programmed with
an identification code, either before or after being attached to
the substrate.
[0005] GB-A-2471268 discloses a stackable box having upstanding
tabs on the tops of respective end panels, and holding tabs at the
bottoms of side panels, and an indentation proximate the centre of
the base of the box. Such a configuration allows an overlapping
stack of boxes to be formed in which the upstanding tabs of a first
box engage in the holding tabs of a second box and/or the
indentation of the second box, when the second box is placed on top
of the first.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a container blank for forming a container having
respective opposite first and second planar surfaces, and
comprising a row of body portion forming panels arranged
side-by-side, the boundaries between said panels being defined by
respective boundary lines of weakness extending from top to bottom
of said panels substantially perpendicularly to said row, at least
one body portion forming panel including a line of depression in
the first surface which is not visible on the respective opposite
second surface, the line of depression having a grip enhancing
substance deposited therein.
[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a container comprising a loop of body panels, the
boundaries between said panels being defined by respective boundary
lines of weakness extending from top to bottom of said panels
substantially perpendicularly to said loop, each body panel having
respective outside and inside planar surfaces, the outside surface
at least one of the body panels including a line of depression
which is not visible on the respective inside surface, the line of
depression having a grip enhancing substance deposited therein.
[0008] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of forming a container blank of sheet material
comprising marking the sheet material with a pattern of lines of
weakness defining body portion forming panels of the container
blank, the container blank having respective opposite first and
second planar surfaces, forming a line of depression in the first
surface of at least one of the body portion forming panels which is
not visible on the corresponding location of the second surface and
depositing a grip enhancing substance in said line of
depression.
[0009] Owing to these aspects, a substance with anti-slip
properties can be applied to the outside surface of a packaging
material without interfering with any part of a container
production process.
[0010] Forming of a line of depression in a first planar surface of
a laminate material which does not alter the surface profile of the
opposing second surface has the advantage of maintaining the inside
surface of body forming portions of the packaging material visibly
smooth and free from impressions made by embossings or the like
made on the first surface of the packaging material. This is
particularly advantageous with aseptic packaging, where as smooth
an inside surface as possible is desired, so as not to have any
action made to the packaging material which risks destroying the
barrier features of the resultant container.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the grip enhancing material is a
friction-increasing material to increase the amount of friction
between the fingers of a consumer and the body panels of the
container. Other substances could be used to, for example, convey
information to a user such as an indication of the temperature of
the contents.
[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container blank to be formed into
a container,
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container constructed from
the container blank of FIG. 1, and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section of a packaging material
suitable for using to construct the container of FIG. 2.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a container blank 2 having a first
planar surface that will form the outer surface of a constructed
container and a second planar surface that will form the inner
surface of a constructed container consists of a laminate
comprising a paperboard substrate layer and respective outermost
and innermost layers of a moisture barrier thermoplastics (with the
possible interposition of an oxygen barrier layer, e.g. aluminium
foil, between the substrate and the innermost thermoplastics
layer). The gable-topped container 4 or carton formed therefrom
(shown in FIG. 2) is used for packaging liquids, for example milk
or fruit juice, and, in particular, the aseptic packaging of such
liquids.
[0017] In order to produce the container blank 2, a web of
packaging material can be passed between a pair of rollers in a
known manner which cut through the material around the edges of the
blank and form the lines of weakness which are visible on both the
first planar surface of the blank which will from the outside
surface of the final container and also the second planar surface
of the blank which will form the inside surface of the final
container.
[0018] The blank 2 consists of four body portion forming panels
P1-P4 with a fifth standard sealing panel, bounded by lines of
weakness in the form of score lines S1, S2, S3 and S4 there among.
The body panels P1 to P4 are bounded at their lower edges by
further lines of weakness in the form of score lines S5 to S8 and
thereby divided from a row of end closure portions P6 to P9.
Similarly, the row of body panels P1 to
[0019] P4 are bounded at their upper edges by further lines of
weakness in the form of score lines S9 to S11 and thereby divided
from a row of top obturating panels P10, P11 and P13. A top
obturating panel P12 is not separated from the adjacent body
portion P3 located immediately inwardly therefrom by a physical
score line, but there is an unseen line of weakness at a boundary
between the panels P3 and P12 where the top obturating panel P12
will fold relative to the body panel P3 when the container 4 is
constructed from the container blank 2. The panels P10 and P12 are
quadrangular and form respective quadrangular roof panels of the
gable-topped container 4, whilst the panels P11 and P13 are also
quadrangular but each divided by respective oblique score lines
S12, S13, S14 and S15 into three substantially triangular
sub-panels P11a to P11c and P13a to P13c. The row of top obturating
panels P10 to P13 are bounded at their upper edges by a row of
top-sealing panels P14 to P17 to form a sealing fin 6 of the
container 4 (see FIG. 2). The front, top obturating panel P12 is
formed with a through-hole 8 (or alternatively a loop of weakness
in the case of aseptic packaging) to which is applied a pour spout
fitment 10 (see FIG. 2).
[0020] In producing the container 4 from the blank 2 shown in FIG.
1, the blank 2 is converted into a container sleeve which is of
rectangular cross-section and in which the body panels P1 to P4
form a loop around the sleeve and the top closure panels P10 to P13
form a loop around the sleeve. The end closure panels P6 to P9 are
folded on a mandrel to form an end closure. Following the folding
of the end closure panels P6 to P9, these panels are sealed on the
mandrel to form a bottom closure. The sealing comprises heating and
pressing together the panels P6 to P9 to render the thermoplastics
layers tacky in order to create a sealed bottom closure.
Alternatively, other methods of sealing could be used, such as
gluing in which case heating would not be necessary. After filling
of the container 4, the top closure is formed by forming the fin
seal 6 in a known manner. Then, a flange of the pour spout fitment
10 (see FIG. 2) could be attached to the outside surface of the top
obturating sub-panel P12 by, for example, ultrasonic welding over
the loop of weakness 8. Alternatively, the flange of the pour spout
fitment 10 could be applied to the inside of the sub-panel P12
prior to filling with the pour spout protruding through the hole 8.
The container 4 would be suitable for use in the aseptic or
non-aseptic packaging of liquids.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, a laminate packaging material comprises
a paperboard substrate 100, an outer layer of thermoplastics
material 102, an inner layer of thermoplastics material 104 and a
barrier layer such as an oxygen barrier layer 106 disposed between
the paperboard substrate 100 and the inner layer of thermoplastics
material 104. Upon forming of the container blank 2, the pair of
rollers between which the packaging material passes may be
arranged, through compression of the outer layer of thermoplastics
102 and the surface of the paperboard layer 100 facing the outer
layer of thermoplastics 102, to make at least one line of
depression 12 in the surface of the material that will form the
outside surface 14 of the final container, whilst the corresponding
inside surface 16 remains smooth and flat. This can be achieved by
having a desired pattern made of one or more depression devices on
one of the rollers that will contact the outside surface 14, whilst
the corresponding location on the other roller is smooth. In this
way, the line of depression 12 would be visible on the outside
surface but not be visible on the inside surface.
[0022] Prior to the container blank 2 being converted into the
container sleeve, a grip enhancing substance 18 can be deposited
into the line(s) of depression 12, so that the substance 18 is
contained in the line(s) of depression 12 and does not spill out
onto the outermost surface of the outside surface 14. The substance
can be in the form of a friction-increasing substance. In this way,
the friction-increasing substance 18 is retained in the location it
is most required.
[0023] In the filling machine, container blanks with different
surface friction properties, such as the case when gripping
elements or the like are adhered to the outside surface of a
container and project outwardly therefrom, will often require
different adjustments of the filling machine which lead to
different performance in the filling machine when picking the blank
from a magazine, loading blanks onto the mandrel, transferring the
container off the mandrel into chain pockets, orienting of the
container in the chain pocket throughout the filling machine and
finally top sealing. The combination of the line(s) of depression
12 with the friction-increasing substance 18 contained within the
line(s) of depression 12 will not have a deleterious influence on
the filling machine performance.
[0024] The friction-increasing substance 18 is advantageously a
fluid substance before it is applied, for example a high-friction
ink or varnish. A high-friction ink or varnish is composed of
modified acrylic resins, which behave like rubber material
(relatively very elastic with a relatively high degree of
flexibility) resulting in anti-slip properties. Furthermore,
high-friction ink or varnish does not contain any silicones or
waxes, known as slip agents.
[0025] The friction-increasing substance 18 may be deposited in the
line(s) of depression 12 during the same process as the other inks
used for decor of the container are applied, for example, in a
UV-printing process carried out at a separate ink station.
Ultraviolet (UV) printing is a relatively fast process since there
is no waiting around for inks to dry. Thus, the friction-increasing
substance 18 can be selected to cure when exposed to UV radiation
as do the inks used in this process. However, other methods of
printing the container decor can be used with a suitable
friction-increasing substance 18 being selectable accordingly.
[0026] In this way, the friction-increasing substance 18 can be
applied in various degrees to have different degrees of friction
and/or zones of friction, and other tactile features without
interfering with the production process. This facilitates the
stacking and unstacking of the flat container blanks or sleeves
since the friction-increasing substance 18 is wholly contained
within the line(s) of depression 12 and does not interfere with
contact with and processing of another adjacent container blank or
sleeve.
[0027] By acquiring such a container 4, a consumer would experience
an enhanced grip on the container. This is particularly
advantageous for those consumers who may have visual and/or
physical impairment. Use of the container 4 reduces the risk of
spilling of liquid food contents during pouring and the risk of
dropping the container 4.
[0028] The line(s) of depression 12 can be arranged in a particular
desired pattern to achieve optimal gripping properties, much like
the tread of a vehicle tyre which is designed to provide a surface
to grip the ground surface along which the vehicle travels. In this
way, the line(s) of depression 12 clearly indicate how the
container 4 should be handled by the consumer.
[0029] Owing to the inside surface 16 of the material being
unadulterated by the line(s) of depression 12, it remains smooth
and flat so that surface can be sterilized efficiently. Such a
smooth and flat inside surface is ideal for the sterilization
process since there are no ridges or crinkles in the packaging
material in which bacteria and other microbiological organisms can
continue to survive post-sterilization.
[0030] The depth of the line(s) of depression 12 is/are preferably
less than half the thickness of the paperboard layer, and most
preferably less than a quarter of the thickness of the paperboard
layer, in order to ensure that a minimal amount of the substance 18
is used and that there would be sufficient contact between skin of
the consumer's fingers and the substance 18.
[0031] The areas of the outside surface 14 which are not compressed
to form the line(s) of depression 12 remain relatively smooth as
with known containers of this kind. The line(s) of depression 12
therefore visually and/or tactilely delineate for the consumer one
or more gripping zones 20 for an advantageous handling of the
container 4.
[0032] The container 4 of FIG. 2 has a side body panel P2 with a
plurality of gripping zones 20 delineated by a plurality of the
line(s) of depression 12. One gripping zone 20 is formed from a
pattern of substantially circular lines of depression 12 and
another is formed from a pattern of a plurality of wave-from
line(s) of depression 12. The opposite side body panel may be
supplied with an identical pattern or a differing pattern to take
account of the way a consumer's fingers are positioned during the
holding of the container 4. The position and pattern of the line(s)
of depression 12 on the body panel P2 may also differ depending on
the size of the container 4. The differing gripping zones 20 shown
do not have to be provided together, such that they are independent
of each other and can be of any desired shape and pattern. The
pattern of the substantially circular lines of depression 12 shown
are slightly inclined relative to the horizontal from a junction
between the side body panel P2 and the rear body panel P1 to the
junction between the side body panel P2 and the front body panel
P3. This enables the consumer to take a natural grip of the
container 4. The respective opposite side body panels P2 and P4 and
the respective opposite top obturating panels P11b and P13b may
further comprise linear weaknesses 22 to indicate to the consumer
where to fold the container for waste disposal/recycling once all
of the liquid food content has been emptied out of the container 4
or for the facilitating of complete emptying of liquids of
relatively high viscosity, such as yoghurt, from the container 4 by
squeezing any residual liquid content from the folded container 4.
The linear weaknesses 22 do not pass through the gripping zones 20,
but indicate to the consumer general fold lines for collapsing the
container 4.
[0033] The wave-form lines of depression 12 may be continuous as
shown, or they may be discontinuous.
[0034] The gripping zones 20 may also form an area for specific
printing relating to the handling of the container, which printing
may take the form of text and/or images.
* * * * *