EP1183188A1

EP1183188A1 - Packaging comprising at least two coupled boxes

Info

Publication number: EP1183188A1
Application number: EP00931731A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paulus Maria Van Gurp; Hubertus Johannes Bernardus Schoeren
Original assignee: Kappa Golfkarton BV; Kappa Trimbach BV
Current assignee: Smurfit Kappa MNL Golfkarton BV; Smurfit Kappa Trimbach BV
Priority date: 1999-05-20
Filing date: 2000-05-19
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Also published as: WO2000071429A1; AU4956000A; AU4955900A; NL1012113C2; EP1183189A1; WO2000071428A1; WO2000071426A1; EP1181214A1; AU4956400A; WO2000078619A3; WO2000071427A1; AU5114800A; AU4956100A; WO2000071438A1; EP1194336A1; AU4956500A; WO2000078619A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging comprising at least a first and a second box (18, 19, 20), each provided with side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the boxes being placed against one another by means of a respective wall. The boxes are provided with securing means (21, 22) for detachably joining the boxes to one another, which securing means are formed out of the material of a wall of the first box (19, 20) and comprise a joining element (8) which is joined to the second box (20, 21) by an adhesive. The securing means comprise a breakable line of weakening (9) which when broken releases the joining element (8) from the first box (19, 20), which joining element (8) remains connected to the second box (20, 21) when the boxes are detached. The packaging is used to couple a series of outer packagings for transporting a series of outer packagings which are coupled to one another, to couple series of sub-packagings which each contain a number of consumer packagings, or to couple a number of consumer packagings, and has the advantage that the individual boxes can be released without the remaining boxes in the same transport packaging being released, and that relatively little material is used.

Description

Packaging comprising at least two coupled boxes

The invention relates to a packaging comprising at least a first and a second box, each provided with side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the boxes being placed against one another by means of a respective wall, and securing means for detachably joining the at least two boxes to one another.

Consumer products, such as foodstuffs, are generally packaged in consumer packagings which are formed, for example, by cardboard boxes. The consumer packagings in which these products are packaged are in turn placed in generally larger numbers in a sub-packaging which may be formed from a plastic sheet, a paper wrapper or a box. A plurality of sub-packagings can be grouped together and placed into a transport packaging, such as an outer box, in which they can be transported from the factory to shops. In the shop, the transport packagings are removed and the sub- packagings or the separate consumer packagings are placed in the shop. The known separate outer boxes have the drawback that they are treated as separate units during transport to and delivery at a point of sale. Consequently, it is relatively difficult to keep groups of transport packagings, possibly with different compositions, together and to transport and deliver them jointly.

Furthermore, with the known outer boxes it is relatively difficult to form packages comprising consumer packagings with different contents which can easily be uncoupled by the user.

Furthermore, the known cardboard outer boxes which have been used as transport packaging have to be removed by the retailer. The retailer therefore has to carry out a number of operations before the cardboard box disappears from his shop again. A transport packaging of this nature has the drawback that a large amount of waste is produced. This waste has to be stored somewhere awaiting removal. The space required to store the used cardboard boxes is considerable.

The sub-packagings as known from the prior art are not suitable for removing individual consumer packagings or small quantities of consumer packagings from the sub-packaging and placing them on the shelf in a shop while the remaining consumer packagings remain safely inside the sub-packaging and can therefore easily be handled as a group.

One object of the invention is to provide a packaging with which transport packagings, sub-packagings or consumer packagings can be detachably coupled to one another while obtaining considerable flexibility in the chain of packaging, transport, unpacking at the point of sale, placing in the shelves, sale and use by a final user. -Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging with coupled boxes which allows flexible logistics and with which different groups of coupled outer boxes, sub-packagings or consumer packagings can be put together in a simple and efficient way.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging of coupled consumer packagings in which the used and empty packagings from a series can be removed in a simple way and can be disposed of, which is important in particular for frozen products, for example.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transport packaging which enables individual consumer packagings to be uncoupled while the remaining consumer packagings remain connected in the transport packaging or sub-packaging in a reliable way. A final object of the invention is to provide a packaging in which a number of transport packagings, sub-packagings or consumer packagings are coupled to one another, and in which the material which is used for the coupling is minimized.

These objects are achieved by a packaging according to the invention comprising at least a first and a second box, each provided with side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the boxes being placed against one another by means of a respective wall, and securing means for detachably joining the at least two boxes to one another, in which packaging the securing means are formed out of the material of a wall of the first box and comprise a joining element which is joined to the second box by an adhesive, as well as a breakable line of weakening which, when it is broken, releases the joining element from the first box, which joining element remains connected to the second box when the boxes are detached.

Through using box material to provide the coupling, it is possible to efficiently form a breakable connection which also provides a strong coupling between the boxes. The individual outer boxes, sub-packagings or consumer packagings can be grouped together in a simple way, for example in order to obtain packages with a different product composition, after which the boxes can be stuck together via the joining elements. Since the coupled boxes are easily accessible and only a minimal amount of material has to be removed during uncoupling, the coupled boxes can easily be uncoupled again, so that, for example, the logistics can be split up or so that the end user can uncouple an empty box from the series and throw it away. This is important in particular for frozen products where efficient use of the freezer compartment is required. As a result of using the box material to provide the coupling, it is furthermore possible, virtually without any additional packaging material, to form a stable series of transport packagings, sub-packagings or consumer packagings or a "multibox packaging". Consequently, the waste produced during removal of one or more packagings from the series of coupled packagings remains limited and it is possible to remove individual packagings from the multibox packaging while the other packagings remain coupled to one another. Also, the volume of the packagings remains virtually unchanged when they are coupled, so that effective use can be made of the transport space or storage space available.

The securing means arranged in the wall may be made in a side wall, top wall or bottom wall of the box as well as in the dust flap, bottom flap or in a sticking clip and the like. The box may be formed from corrugated cardboard, solid board, foldable cardboard, combinations of the abovementioned types of cardboard, in a single-layer or multilayer design.

In one embodiment, the wall of the first box is formed from a multilayer cardboard having a top layer and a bottom layer, the line of weakening comprising an incision in the top layer which runs along a closed contour. The incision forms a weakening in the multilayer cardboard which can be broken by exerting a tensile force perpendicular to the surface but which exhibits a high level of strength in the plane of coupling. A coupling between a series of boxes in this way is described in detail in Dutch Patent Application No. 1012113 in the name of Kappa Trimbach B.V. and in International Patent Applications "Packaging provided with a series of sub-packagings" and "Packaging provided with a series of sub-packagings with an improved load- bearing capacity", which were filed on 19 May in the name of the applicant.

In a second advantageous embodiment, a bottom wall of the second box is placed onto the top wall of the first box, a side wall of the first box being provided with a top flap which is folded along a transverse edge of the side wall, at right angles to the side wall, and forms part of the top wall, the securing means comprising a lip which is cut out of the top flap, which, by means of a base, along the transverse edge is connected to the side wall, which is placed in the plane of the side wall of the first box and which is connected to the corresponding side wall of the second box. The lip may be provided with lines of weakening which delimit a joining surface which is attached by means of an adhesive bond to a side wall of a packaging located above it. By breaking the line of weakening, the connection between the two packagings is broken and the packagings can be detached, the joining surface being removed from the lip and remaining behind on the top box. In this embodiment too, no additional material is required to form a series of coupled consumer packagings. The term "line of weakening" as used in the present application is intended to mean a complete or partial incision through the material thickness, either as a continuous line or as a broken line (perforation).

To clarify the invention, a number of examples of packagings according to the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures shown in the appended drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a blank of a box for forming a packaging according to the invention by being coupled to other boxes;

Fig. 2 shows a blank in accordance with Fig. 2, which has been formed into a box, in the open state;

Figs. 3a-3c show an assembly of a plurality of boxes which are attached to one another along their side edges;

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a connecting lip with a transversely oriented line of weakening;

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a connecting lip with two V-shaped lines of weakening; Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment in which the joining means comprise a piece which has been punched out of the wall;

Fig. 7 shows a box which is of a similar type to the box shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 shows a series of coupled boxes in which the connecting lip has been formed out of the top wall, in which an opening remains; Fig. 9 shows two coupled boxes in which the connecting lip is arranged on a side wall which projects beyond a top or bottom surface;

Fig. 10 shows the boxes shown in Fig. 9 in the uncoupled state; Fig. 11 shows two boxes which are coupled via a wrapper and are provided with a connecting lip according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a blank 1 of a box for use in a multiple packaging according to the invention. The blank 1 according to the invention can be punched in a single piece out of a sheet-like piece of cardboard or similar material. The blank comprises a rectangular bottom wall 2, to which two opposite side walls 3 are connected on the long sides and to which two opposite side walls 4 are connected on the short sides.

The long side walls 3 are provided at their ends with a top flap 5 which, in a closed state of the packaging, will form the top side of the packaging 1. On their short edges, the long side walls 3 are provided with adhesive strips 11 which hold the box together at the side walls in the assembled state.

The short side walls 4 each comprise a dust or top flap 6 which is folded transversely with respect to a fold line 12 in the top surface and, in the assembled state as shown in Fig. 2, extends at right angles to the transverse edge 15. The securing means according to the invention are arranged on the top flaps 6, in the form of joining lips 7.

The joining lips 7 are delimited by incisions 10 which extend from an end edge 16 of the lip 7 to the fold line 12. The lips 7 also comprise an incision 10' which runs from the end point of the incision 10 at the fold line 12, along the fold line 12 towards the centre of the top flap 6. The incisions 10, 10' may be replaced by lines of weakening, such as perforations or scored lines. Furthermore, the lips 7 comprise lines of weakening 9 which extend from the end edge 16 to the fold line 12, substantially parallel to the incisions 10. The lines of weakening 9 may comprise perforations or partial incisions through a laminate from which the top flaps 6 are formed. Incisions of this nature are described in detail in Dutch Patent Application No. 1012113, in the name of Kappa Trimbach B.V. and in the International Patent Applications "Packaging provided with a series of sub-packagings" and "Packaging provided with a series of sub-packagings with improved load-bearing capacity", which were filed on 19 May in the name of the applicant. It will be clear that the invention may also advantageously be employed for other types of boxes. Instead of the blank 1 illustrated, it is also possible to use a blank of an American box which is known per se. Figure 2 shows a box according to the invention in the assembled state. The box is delimited by the bottom wall 2, the two long side walls 3 and the two short side walls 4 and is closed off on the top side by top flaps 5, 6. When the box is closed, the side parts 6' of the top flaps 6 are folded towards the inside of the box about the fold line 12 until the side parts 6' are parallel to the bottom wall 2. The joining lips 7 remain parallel to the short side walls 4.

When the side parts 6' of the top flaps 6 have been positioned parallel to the bottom wall 2, the long top flaps 5 can be folded inwards until they are also parallel to the bottom wall 2. In this parallel state, the long side edges of the long top flaps 5 bear against one another or at a short distance from one another. They can then be secured to one another, for example by means of adhesive tape. The closed boxes with the erect joining lips can then be placed on top of one another and joined to one another via the joining lips 7, as shown in Figs. 3a-3c.

Fig. 3a shows three boxes 18, 19, 20 which have been stacked on top of one another and are joined together along the side walls by means of securing means 21, 22. The areas of the top joining lip 7 which lie between the line of weakening 9 and the incisions 10, 10' are adhesively bonded to the side wall of the box 18, 19. By means of a fold line 13, a top handle is formed which can be picked up by the user, after which the central part of the joining lip 7 can be pulled off, as shown in Fig. 3b. The joining lip 7 remains attached to the side edge 15 of the box 19 along the base 17. The projecting parts of the joining lips 7 can be used as handles in order to move the boxes 19, 20. The side areas 8 remain behind on the box 18.

The boxes shown in Figs. 2 to 3c may be outer boxes in which a plurality of series of sub-packagings containing coupled consumer packagings are placed. The boxes may also be formed by sub-packagings containing a plurality of consumer packagings which, in the form of boxes or in bags or the like may contain packaged products, or may be consumer packagings in which the loose product is packaged.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the securing means comprise a lip 26 which is securely joined to a side wall of the bottom box 32 along a base 27 and has two side edges 28, 29 and an end edge 25. Two lines of weakening 31, 30 extend substantially parallel to the base 27, between the side walls 28, 29. That part of the joining clip 27 which lies between the top line of weakening 31 and the end edge 25 is attached to the side wall of the top box 33 by adhesive. By bending out one of the lips at the side edges 28, 29 and tearing off the strip of material which lies between the two lines of weakening 30, 31, it is possible to uncouple the boxes 32, 33.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment in which three boxes 39, 40, 41 are connected via joining lips 35 which in this case are provided with two V-shaped lines of weakening 36. These lines of weakening 36 extend from a widened top part of the joining lip 35 to the end points of the incisions 38, which end in the vicinity of a centre axis of the joining lip 35. Those parts of the joining lip 35 which lie between the peripheral edge and the line of weakening 36 are joined to the box 39, 40 by adhesive.

The V-shaped line of weakening 36 produces a form fit between the joining lip 35 and the adjoining side parts of the joining lip. As a result, the forces from the central part of the joining lip are transmitted to the side parts without excessive loads being imposed on the lines of weakening 36.

The central part of the joining lip 35 can easily be removed from the top box 39, 40 and can be detached from the box 40, 41 below it so that, after the joining lips have been uncoupled, they have been completely removed from the boxes and do not form any obstacle to stacking the boxes in shelves in a shop.

Fig. 6 shows an assembly of boxes 46, 47 which are coupled to one another at their side faces 45, at least side walls 45 being formed from a laminate such as for example a double-layer cardboard. Lines of weakening 48, 49 in the shape of rectangles which are stuck to the side walls of the box 47 by adhesive are formed in the top layer of cardboard. When box 47 is broken away sideways, the joining elements 50, 51 will remain on the side wall of box 47, the joining elements corresponding to at least the top layer from the side wall 45, which can be removed from the layer located below. Since the removed joining elements 50, 51 cover the areas of adhesive by which they are stuck to the box 47, no adhesive becomes visible, so that an attractive appearance of the assembly 46 and of the box 47 is maintained.

Fig. 7 shows a box of a similar type to that shown in Fig. 2, with identical reference numerals being used for similar components. In the embodiment shown, the incisions 10 do not continue all the way to the end edge 16, but rather end at a predetermined distance from the end edge 16. As a result, a bridge 6" is formed between the two side parts 6', so that in the closed state the top flap 6 provides better support for the flaps 5 and a better closure. o

Fig. 8 shows an assembly of three coupled boxes, of the type corresponding to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, with the joining lip 26 having been punched out from a top surface 33', with the result that an opening 34 is formed in the top surface.

Fig. 9 shows two boxes 32, 33, with the joining lip forming part 26 of the side walls 32', which each project beyond the top surface or bottom surface 33' on one side of the box 32, 33. The projecting side wall parts 32' make it possible to produce a stable stack, counteracting lateral displacement of the boxes 32, 33.

Fig. 10 shows the uncoupled boxes 32, 33, clearly illustrating the side walls 32' which project beyond the top and bottom surfaces 33'. Finally, Fig. 11 shows two boxes 60, 61 which are connected to one another by means of a wrapper 62 made, for example, from paper. The wrapper is provided with a joining lip 63 which releases the two boxes 60, 61 once it has been torn off.

Claims

1. Packaging comprising at least a first and a second box (18, 19; 46, 47), each provided with side walls (3, 4; 45), a bottom wall (2) and, if appropriate, a top wall (5, 6), the boxes being placed against one another by means of a respective wall, and securing means (21, 22; 48, 49, 50, 51) for detachably joining the at least two boxes to one another, characterized in that the securing means (21, 22; 48, 49, 50, 51) are formed out of the material of a wall (2, 3,4, 5, 6; 45) of the first box (19, 46) and comprise a joining element (8, 50, 51) which is joined to the second box (18, 47) by an adhesive, as well as a breakable line of weakening (9, 48, 49) which when broken, releases the joining element (8, 50, 51) from the first box (19, 46), which joining element (8; 50, 51) remains connected to the second box (18, 47) when the boxes are detached.

2. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterized in that the wall (45) of the first box (46) is formed from a multilayer cardboard having a top layer and a bottom layer, the line of weakening (48, 49) comprising an incision in the top layer which runs along a closed contour.

3. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterized in that a bottom wall (2) of the second box (18) is placed onto the top wall (5, 6) of the first box (19), a side wall (4) of the first box (19) being provided with a top flap (6) which is folded along a transverse edge (15) of the side wall (4), at right angles to the side wall (4), and forms part of the top or bottom wall (5, 6), the securing means comprising a lip (7) which, by means of a base (17), along the transverse edge (15) is connected to the side wall (4), which is placed in the plane of the side wall (4) of the first box (19) and which is connected to the corresponding side wall (4) of the second box (18).

4. Packaging according to Claim 3, characterized in that the lip (7) is cut out of the top flap (6).

5. Packaging according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lip (7) comprises two side edges (10) which extend transversely with respect to the base (17), an end edge (16) which lies at a distance from the base (17), and two lines of weakening (9) which extend from the base (17) to the end edge (16), at a distance from the side edges (10), those parts of the lip (7) which are between the side edges (10) and the lines of weakening (9) being joined to the second box (18) by adhesive.

6. Packaging according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lip (26) comprises two side edges (28, 29), the line of weakening (30, 31) extending at a distance from the base (27), transversely with respect to the side edges (28, 29) of the lip (26), a lip part between the line of weakening (31) and an end edge (25) of the lip (26) being adhesively joined to the second box (3).

7. Packaging according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lip (35) comprises two lines of weakening (36) which run in a V shape from an end edge to the base.

8. Box (46) formed from a multilayer cardboard with a top layer and a bottom layer, having an incision (48, 49), which runs along a closed contour, in the top layer in a side wall.

9. Box comprising side walls (3, 4), a bottom (2) and a top wall (5, 6), one side wall (4) being provided with a top flap (6) which is folded at right angles to the side wall along a transverse edge (15) of the side wall and forms part of the top or bottom wall (5, 6), the box being provided with securing means for joining the box to a second box which is placed against it, which securing means comprise a lip (7), a base (17) of which is joined to the side wall (4) along the transverse edge (15) and which can be placed in the plane of the side wall (4), which lip (7) is provided with a breakable line of weakening (9) which joins a first part of the lip (7) to a second part (8).

10. Box according to Claim 9, characterized in that the lip (7) is cut out of the top flap (6).

11. Box according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the lip (7) comprises two side edges (10) which extend transversely with respect to the base (17), an end edge (16) which lies at a distance from the base (17) and two lines of weakening (9) which extend from the base (17) to the end edge (16), at a distance from the side edges (10).

12. Box according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the lip (35) comprises two V-shaped lines of weakening (36) which extend from the end edge to the base.

13. Box according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the line of weakening (30, 31) extends at a distance from the base, transversely with respect to the side edges

(28, 29) of the lip (26).