WO2007062701A1

WO2007062701A1 - Container made of cardboard or paperboard

Info

Publication number: WO2007062701A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/008308
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eiko Hasse; Wolfgang Barthel
Original assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien
Priority date: 2005-12-01
Filing date: 2006-08-24
Publication date: 2007-06-07
Also published as: DE102005057664A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (1) made of cardboard or paperboard, having at least one side wall (2, 4, 5) which has two spaced-apart linear weakening regions for forming a tear-open strip element (8) with a tearing tab (14) at the end, wherein, at least in the region of the tearing tab (14), at least one of the two linear weakening regions comprises a scoring line (21) on the top side of the side wall and an opposed scoring line (23) on the underside of this wall, and wherein a spacing between the scoring line (21) and a longitudinal centre axis (20) of the strip element (8) differs from a spacing between the opposed scoring line (23) and the longitudinal centre axis (20).

Description

Containers made of cardboard or cardboard

The invention relates to a container made of cardboard or cardboard, with at least one side wall, which has two mutually spaced line-shaped weakening regions for forming a frangible strip element with an end-face tear flap.

From US 5,363,981 a cuboid container made of cardboard is known, which has six side walls, namely a front wall, a rear wall, two end walls and a top wall and a bottom wall. A frangible strip element extends over the two end walls and the front wall. The strip element is limited by two parallel, mutually spaced lines of weakness. At one end of the strip element a tear-off tab is provided, by means of which the strip element can be torn open. After the rupture of the strip element, the container can be opened by opening a lid member, wherein the pivot axis of the lid member is formed as a crease or weakening line on the rear wall.

A container made of cardboard or paperboard is also known from DE 103 33 953 A1, which has such a strip element in order to be able to lift or unfold a cover element after the strip element has been torn open from the rest of the container. The tearing behavior of the strip element can be problematic: Thus, the force required to be too great to tear the strip element; There is also the risk that the strip element rips itself or tear the side wall not along the intended lines of weakness, but deviating from it. This can be the case with consumers who use the product in the container and therefore open the container by tearing the strip element would lead to a corresponding dissatisfaction that may influence the decision to buy more containers.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a container made of cardboard or cardboard with a frangible strip element that can be easily ripped and without much effort.

The object underlying the invention is achieved with the feature combination according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The container according to the invention is characterized in that, at least in the region of the tear strip, at least one of the two line-shaped weakened regions comprises a scribe line on the top of the side wall and a counter-line on the underside of the side wall, wherein there is a spacing between the scribe line and a longitudinal central axis of the strip element differs from a distance between the scoring line and the longitudinal central axis. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the scribe line and the longitudinal center axis is greater than the distance between the counter scribing line and the longitudinal central axis. In other words, in the preferred embodiment, the counter-score line is offset with respect to the scribe line toward the longitudinal center axis of the strip element. Due to the given offset between the scribe line on the top of the side wall and the counter scribe line on the underside of the side wall, a much easier opening of the container is achieved. When the strip element is torn by means of the tear tab, a defined crack results due to the material of the side wall which extends from the score line to the counter-score line.

A scribe line or an opposing line shall be a line of separation or weakening, in which the separation or weakening of the terials of the sidewall does not extend over the entire thickness of the material. Thus, the intersection of a score line on the top of the side wall in the material ends between the top and bottom, ie, starting from the top before reaching the bottom.

Preferably, the strip element is formed symmetrically to the longitudinal central axis. This means that the tearing tab is also symmetrical to the longitudinal center axis and that both weakening areas each have a score line and a counter-score line. Due to the symmetry, the distances between the scribe line and the longitudinal central axis or between the counter scribing line and the longitudinal central axis of a linear weakening region correspond to the corresponding distances of the other linear weakened region. It is also possible that, in particular, the tear tab is designed asymmetrically due to special requirements in terms of design and marketing.

In a preferred embodiment, the strip member is reinforced with a tear strip at the bottom of the side wall. The tear strip of preferably a material that is significantly more tear resistant than cardboard or cardboard, can be glued to the side wall and ensures that the strip element does not tear itself when tearing. Also, the pasted tear strip allows a purposeful opening of the container in the direction to be opened.

The scribe line can approach the longitudinal central axis starting from a free end of the tear strip. Analogously or additionally, the counter-score line can approach the longitudinal central axis starting from the free end of the tear-off tab. By appropriate lines of scribe line and Gegenritzlinie can be a tear flap design, which is wider compared to the other strip element. The tear tab can be better recognized and grab because of their larger width, also can be better informed by a corresponding imprint on the top of the side wall to the strip element. In a preferred embodiment, have at the free end of the tearing tab Gegenritzlinie and scribe line on a same starting point. Starting from this starting point, the scribe line and the counter-scribe line run differently, so that the above-described offset between the scribe line and the counter-scribe line is established. The offset or the distance between the scribe line and the counter-scribe line can therefore vary in size over the length of the strip element or over the length of the tear-off strip.

In a preferred embodiment, the scribe line at least in the region of the tear strip on spaced apart holding points. By combining these breakpoints with the score line and the counter score line in conjunction with the tear strip, a particularly positive opening effect is achieved.

The tear strip can be glued to the underside of the side wall with a glue flap of the container, wherein starting from the glue flap and from the longitudinal center axis at least one scribe on the bottom leads to the counter-scribe line. An incision to the counter-incision line of the one weakening region and a scoring to the counter-incision line of the other weakening region can be arranged to each other V-shaped. The scratches on the underside ensure that, even with a glued-on tear strip, unwanted crack propagation does not occur within the tear strip.

It should be noted that the strip element may extend over a plurality of side walls. For example, the strip element can extend over all four vertical side walls of a cuboid container. It may also be possible that the at least one side wall has a plurality of strip elements. Thus, a strip element can not only be designed to open a cardboard container, but also to bring it into a smaller format or to disassemble it after its complete emptying. The invention is also directed to a folding blank made of cardboard or paperboard for producing a container according to claim 1 or for producing a container, as described in the dependent claims to claim 1.

Reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the invention is explained in detail. Show it:

Figure 1 is a cuboid container;

Figure 2 shows a folding blank for the production of the cuboid container of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows a tear tab of the folding blank of FIG. 2 in detail;

Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a further tear tab.

FIG. 1 shows a cardboard or cardboard container which is designated 1 in its entirety. The container has the shape of a cuboid and comprises a front wall 2, a top wall 3, a first end wall 4 and a second end wall 5, a bottom wall 6 and a rear wall 7, wherein the three latter walls (second end wall 5, bottom wall 6 and rear wall 7) are hidden due to the perspective view of the container 1. The container 1 furthermore comprises a strip element 8 in an upper region and an additional strip element 9 in a lower region. The strip element 8 and the additional strip element 9 extend over the first end wall 4, the front wall 2 and the second end wall 5.

FIG. 2 shows a folding blank designated in its entirety by 10, from which a container as shown in FIG. 1 can be produced. The folding blank 10 has four side wall parts 2, 4, 5, 7 which are separated from one another by score lines 11. A side wall portion of Faltzuschnittes 10 is doing with the reference numeral corresponding to the side wall part wall of the figure

1 (so the side wall part 2 of the folding blank 10 forms the front wall

2 of the container 1).

Separated by creasing lines 12, bottom flaps 2 a, 4 a, 5 a, 7 a and cover flaps 2 b, 4 b, 5 b, 7 b adjoin the side wall parts 2, 4, 5, 7. The bottom flaps 2a, 4a, 5a, 7a form the bottom wall 6 in the folded state. The cover flaps 2b, 4b, 5b, 7b form the top wall 3 in the folded state.

As already described in FIG. 1, the strip element 8 and the additional strip element 9 extend over the side wall parts 2, 4, 5. The strip element 8 (as well as the strip element 9) has a tear flap 14 at one end 13. At another end 15, the strip element 8 terminates in an obliquely to the score line 12 extending portion 16. In contrast, the additional strip element 9 ends immediately before the score line 11 between the side wall portion 5 and the side wall portion 7, wherein between the additional strip element 9 and the score line 11 a small gap or distance 17 remains.

By means of a hinged to the side wall part 7 adhesive flap 18 can be side wall part 4 and side wall part 7 after folding of the folding blank 10 stick together to form a tube. As can be seen clearly from FIG. 2, the tear tab 14 protrudes clearly beyond an edge 19 delimiting the side wall part 4 (see also FIG. 1). It should be noted at this point that the shape of the tear tab 14 shown in FIG. 2 differs from the shape of the tear tab shown in FIG. 1, which is likewise designated by 14 in FIG.

The circle marked III in FIG. 2 is intended to indicate that FIG. 3 represents the tear tab 14 on a larger scale. FIG. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. The strip element 8 with the tear tab 14 results from two mutually spaced-line weakening regions of the side wall 4. The strip element 8 is constructed symmetrically to a longitudinal central axis 20. For this reason, a description of the individual features of the strip element 8 and the tear strip 14 in Figures 3 and 4 only on one of the two separated by the longitudinal central axis 20 halves of the strip element eighth

A line-shaped weakening region of the side wall part 4 comprises a score line 21 which is introduced on an upper side 22 of the side wall part 4. The depth of the scribe line 21 is significantly smaller than a thickness d of the side wall part 4 and the strip element 8 with the tear flap 14. In the illustration of Figure 3, the depth of the scribe line 21 is about one third of the thickness d of the side wall part. If the side wall part 4 consists of several layers, then the cut associated with the scribe line 21 can only be limited to a layer near the surface.

Laterally offset from the scribe line 21 applied to the upper side 22, the weakened region has a counter-scribe line 23 on a lower side 24 of the side wall part 4. The depth of the score line 23 is also significantly smaller than the thickness d of the side wall portion 4. The tear tab 14 and the strip member 8 is reinforced by a tear strip 25 which is adhered to the bottom 24. The tear strip 25 extends from a free end 26 of the tear strip 14 along the entire strip element eighth

Scratch line 21 and counter scribe line 23 have a common starting point 27. Starting from this starting point 27, the counter-score line runs obliquely in the direction of the longitudinal central axis 20, wherein the score line runs parallel to the longitudinal central axis 20. Thus, starting from the free end 26 after the starting point 27, a lateral offset between the scoring line 21 and the counter-scoring line 23 occurs. In a middle region 28 of the tear tab 14, scribe line 21 and counter-scribe line extend. scribe line 23 parallel to the longitudinal central axis 20. Accordingly, in the central region 28 of the tear tab 14, the lateral offset between scribe line 21 and counter scribe line 23 is constant. In an end region 29 of the tear tab 14, the score line 21 is guided in the direction of the longitudinal central axis up to a point 30, from which it now again runs parallel to the longitudinal central axis 20. The Gegenritzlinie 23 reduced in the end portion 29 of the tearing flap 14 their distance from the longitudinal central axis 20. From the free end 26 seen from behind the point 30, the Gegenritzlinie 23 extends parallel to the longitudinal central axis 20 in the immediate vicinity of the tear strip 25, wherein also in this area a lateral Offset between scribe line 21 and counter scribe line 21 is given.

By the lines of the scribe line 21 and the Gegenritzlinie 23 is a crack or the cracks that occur in the tearing of the strip element 8 in the material of the side wall part 4, set. A corresponding crack between scribe line 21 and scribe line 23 is identified by the reference numeral 31 in FIG.

The scribe line 21 is interrupted in the region of the tear flap 14 by holding points 32 spaced apart from one another. The combination of scoring line 21, counter scoring line 23 and the holding points 32 makes it possible to achieve a simple and controlled rupturing of the tear strip 14 and of the strip element 8.

In a preferred embodiment of the tear tab 14 according to FIG. 3, the lateral offset between the score line 21 and the counter-score line 23 in the middle region 28 of the tear flap 14 is 2 to 6 mm, preferably 4 mm. The maximum width of the tear strip (spacing of the scribe lines 21 of the mutually spaced weakening areas) measures 20 to 25 mm. The width of the tear strip 25, regardless of the selected shape of the tear tab 14, preferably be between 3 and 5 mm. FIG. 5 shows a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the tear tab 14. The identification in FIG. 5 by reference symbols for the individual parts, lines etc. corresponds to the marking of similar or identical parts of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3.

The tear tab 14 in FIG. 5 essentially has the shape of an isosceles triangle with two legs 33, 34 which are perpendicular to one another and a base 35. The triangular tear tab 14 is not arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal central axis 20 of the strip element 8. The longitudinal central axis 20 extends parallel to the leg 34 and cuts the free end 26 formed as leg 33 at right angles. The base 35 has an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the longitudinal central axis 20. The base 35 and the legs 34 each form a weakened region of the tear tab 14.

The Gegenritzlinie 23 and the scribe line 21 of the base 35 are mutually offset laterally, wherein the distance of the Gegenritzlinie 23 to the longitudinal central axis 20 is smaller than the distance of the scribe line 21 to the longitudinal central axis 20. In contrast to the embodiment of Figure 3, scribe line 21 and Gegenritzlinie have no common Starting point on. At a point 36, the counter-score line 23 is at right angles from the score line 21, which after a short distance bends 90 degrees so that it then runs parallel to the score line 21 again. Shortly before reaching the tear strip 25, the Gegenritzlinie ends 23, to then - as seen from the free end 26 - after the point 30 in the immediate vicinity of the tear strip 25 to be continued parallel to it. It should be noted that as in the embodiment of Figure 3, the scribe line 21 on the top and the Gegenritzlinie 23 on the bottom of the wall 4 are. Also, the scribe lines 14 delimiting scribe lines 21 are interrupted by holding points 32 as in FIG. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 container

2 front wall

3 corner I wall first end wall

5 second end wall

6 bottom wall

7 rear wall

8 strip element

9 additional strip element

10 folding blank

11 crease line

12 crease line

13 end

14 tear tab

15 end

16 oblique area

17 distance

18 adhesive flap

19 edge 0 longitudinal central axis 1 scribe line 2 upper side 3 counter scribe line 4 lower side 5 tear-open strips 6 free end Starting point middle range

end

Point

Crack

halt

leg

Base

Point

Claims

claims

1. container (1) made of cardboard or cardboard, with at least one side wall (2, 4, 5), the two spaced-apart linear weakening regions to form a tearable strip element (8) with a endseiti- tearing tab (14), wherein at least a scribe line (21) on the upper side (22) of the side wall and a Gegenritz- line (23) on the underside of the side wall in the region of the tear tab at least one of the two line-shaped weakening areas, and wherein a distance between scribe line (21) and a A longitudinal center axis (20) of the strip element (8) from a distance between the counter-scribe line (23) and the longitudinal central axis (20) differs, characterized in that the scribe line (21) at least in the region of the tear strip (14) spaced apart holding points (32).

2. Container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the score line (21) and the longitudinal central axis (20) is greater than the distance between the counter-score line (23) and the longitudinal central axis (20).

3. Container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the strip element (8) to the longitudinal center axis (20) is formed symmetrically.

4. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the strip element (8) is reinforced with a tear strip (25) on the underside (24) of the side wall.

5. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the scoring line (21), starting from a free end (26) of the tear tab (14) of the longitudinal central axis (20) approaches.

6. container (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the GE genritzlinie (23), starting from the free end (26) of the tear tab (14) of the longitudinal central axis (20) approaches.

7. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the Gegenritzlinie (23) and the score line (21) have a same starting point (27).

8. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that on the underside (24) of the side wall, the tear strip (14) is glued to an adhesive flap (17), wherein of the adhesive flap (17) and of the Longitudinal central axis (20) starting at least one score on the bottom (24) leads to the counter-score line (23).

9. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the side wall has a plurality of strip elements (8, 9).

10. folding blank (10) made of cardboard or paperboard for producing a container (1) according to claims 1 to 9.