DISPOSABLE PACKAGING, IN PARTICULAR FOR A SET OF PACKAGES

Abstract

Disposable packaging comprising a set of packages comprising a cardboard box provided with a first side panel, a second side panel, an expulsion side panel, a hold and/or pull side panel, a top panel, and a bottom panel, wherein the expulsion side panel and the hold and/or pull side panel are opposing side panels. The expulsion side panel and the hold and/or pull side panel may comprise an inspection aperture surrounded by a perimetrical frame that holds the set of packages, and the frame of the expulsion side panel and the hold and/or pull side panel can be torn manually to open it.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention refers to disposable packaging, in particular for a set of packages. It has features of a Shelf Ready Packaging (SRP) box. The packaging has four side walls, like a prism with a rectangular or square base, which closes both at the top and at the bottom by means of four flaps, and laterally by means of a fifth seam flap located at one of its four corners. The packaging facilitates shelf placement of the product inside it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is known that the cost of restocking product on the shelves of commercial establishments comprises one of the most significant items in the operating costs of commercial distributors for the mass market.

[0003] Distributors are therefore asking manufacturers to present their products in boxes that facilitate shelf placement, called SRP. In one specific implementation, these boxes are placed directly on the shelves after having removed a hood or cover, exposing the product in the box itself on a type of tray, which once empty, must be removed from the shelf to be destroyed.

[0004] However, there are different reasons why this type of solution may not be attractive for certain manufacturers:

[0005] In some categories it is preferable that the product not be covered by any type of cardboard, otherwise it hinders visual and physical access to it by the buyer, which results in a reduction of sales.

[0006] The cost of this type of box with a lid, depending on the type of implementation, is much higher than the cost of a conventional cardboard box, known as the B1 box. Boxes with lids use more cardboard and are better finished; they also require significant investments in the manufacturers' facilities in order to change the production processes for making the boxes. The impact on the manufacturers of these extra costs and investments may be much greater than the savings made in distribution, so this type of solution may not be economically sustainable from the point of view of the extended supply chain.

[0007] Moving from a B1 box to an SRP box with a lid in most cases means an increase in the amount of material used, therefore implementing this type of solution is counter to the environmental sustainability objectives of the manufacturers.

[0008] Utility model ES1073781 describes disposable packaging comprising a cardboard box provided with four side panels, a top panel, and a bottom panel, including a side panel for expulsion of the set of packages and an opposing side panel for holding and/or pulling the box, and said opposing side panels having an inspection aperture surrounded by a perimetrical frame that holds the packages; the frame of the expulsion panel can be torn manually to open it, so that the set of packages can pass through the open expulsion panel, depositing it on a surface, such as a shelf of a commercial establishment, while in turn the frame of the hold and/or pull panel is capable of being pulled and/or held until it has been completely removed from the box.

[0009] A structurally simple cardboard box is obtained that facilitates the removal and placement of a set of packages on the shelves of commercial establishments, thus allowing for a reduction of up to two-thirds of the distributors' costs of restocking the commercial establishment.

[0010] All of this without adding extra costs for manufacturers who, in addition, do not need to make any change to their processes since this box is processed in exactly the same way as the known state-of-the-art B1 box, this being a B1 box in which two openings have been made in the form of a window on two of its opposing side panels.

[0011] As mentioned, each window is composed of a cardboard frame around the opening of said window. The function of this frame is to maintain the necessary rigidity of the box so that the box and product content do not get damaged and/or fall out or get stolen during the production, palletizing, and distribution processes.

[0012] In addition, no trace of it remains on the shelf of the commercial establishment, which facilitates product visibility, order, and clarity on the shelf.

[0013] On the other hand, said box is manufactured using a smaller quantity of cardboard, which means improved environmental sustainability and may result in a cost savings for manufacturers.

[0014] It should be pointed out that once the box is empty, the operator should fold it so that it can subsequently be recycled. To do this, the operator must break the frame of the hold and/or pull panel in order to open and then fold it. In practice, this process of tearing and folding the boxes has proven to be slow and arduous. Moreover, it is often difficult to fold the boxes properly which implies increased volume of the discarded boxes.

[0015] Another drawback of this type of packaging is that for packaging with smaller dimensions, the inspection aperture, defined by the frame of the hold and/or pull panel, has proven too small for a hand to pass through for the purpose of holding onto the packages when pulling the box or pushing the packages while holding the box (or any intervening operation) during the process of extracting the packages. As a consequence, this type of box is not suitable for small packaging which, due to its configuration, has an inspection aperture on the hold and/or pull panel that is too small for a hand to pass through.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The objective of the disposable packaging, in particular for a set of packages, of the present invention, is to overcome the drawbacks presented by packaging known in the art, providing a structurally simple packaging that optimizes the process of folding the boxes for their subsequent recycling, as well as the process of holding and/or pushing the packages while they are being placed on the shelf of a commercial establishment.

[0017] The disposable packaging of the present invention, comprises a cardboard box provided with four side panels, a top panel, and a bottom panel, including a side panel for the expulsion of the set of packages and an opposing side panel for holding and/or pulling the box, and said opposing side panels including an inspection aperture surrounded by a thick perimetrical frame that holds the packages, wherein the frame of the expulsion panel can be torn manually to open it, so that the set of packages can pass through the open expulsion panel depositing it on a surface, such as a shelf of a commercial establishment, while in turn the frame of the hold and/or pull panel is capable of being pulled and/or held until it has been completely removed from the box. It is characterized in that said frame of the side hold and/or pull panel can also be torn manually to open it, facilitating the process of holding and/or pushing the packages onto the surface while the box is pulled off and/or held, as well as the process of folding the box for its subsequent recycling.

[0018] Due to the fact that the frame on the side hold and/or pull panel can also be torn for opening it, the process of folding the boxes is optimized once they are empty and ready to be discarded and subsequently recycled. Therefore, the operator does not need to make a great effort to break and open the hold and/or pull panel in order to fold the box, as occurred with packaging known in the art, resulting in a fast and effective process.

[0019] Furthermore, when boxes with small dimensions are used and which, due to their configuration, have an inspection aperture too small to pass a hand through to hold or push the packages when it is necessary to pull or hold the box while extracting the packages, it is possible to fully or partly tear the frame of said side hold and/or pull panel so that the packages can be extracted.

[0020] In one embodiment, the frame of the hold and/or pull panel and the frame of the expulsion panel respectively include lines of perforation or similar to facilitate tearing and opening them.

[0021] In one embodiment, the box is made from a single flat cardboard blank, with perforated areas, pre-perforated lines, and provided with slits or lines.

[0022] In one embodiment, the box is made of corrugated cardboard formed of three or five layers, with the corrugation lines arranged vertically or horizontally.

[0023] In one embodiment, said hold and/or pull panel includes two inner flaps adjacent to both upper and lower edges of the same respectively, and which remain hidden under both top and bottom panels of the box.

[0024] Generally, the expulsion panel includes two inner flaps adjacent to both upper and lower edges of the same respectively, and which remain hidden under both top and bottom panels of the box.

[0025] Optionally, the expulsion panel includes a single inner flap adjacent to the upper edge of the same, which remains hidden under the top panel of the box, the inner flap adjacent to the lower edge of said expulsion panel having been previously eliminated to facilitate the removal of the packages.

[0026] Also optionally, the expulsion panel lacks inner flaps, having been previously eliminated to facilitate the removal of the packages.

[0027] Therefore, the expulsion panel may include two flaps, upper and lower respectively, or a single inner flap at its upper portion, or may not include any inner flap. Consequently, when there is no flap in the lower area of the expulsion panel, the extraction of the packages is made notably easier, preventing them from becoming stuck in the box during the expulsion process.

[0028] In one embodiment, said inner upper and/or lower flap of the expulsion panel includes a flattened edge in the shape of a wedge to facilitate the expulsion of the packages.

[0029] Optionally, said inner upper and/or lower flap of the expulsion panel includes an edge that is shaped according to the shape of the set of packages it contains, to optimize the surface that is in contact with the packages during their expulsion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] For the purpose of facilitating the description of what is set forth above, some drawings are attached which, schematically and only by way of non-limiting example, represent a practical case of an embodiment of the disposable packaging, in particular for a set of packages of the present invention, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the box of the invention that contains a set of packages;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box showing the torn frame of the expulsion panel;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box placed on a shelf of a commercial establishment, with the hold and/or pull panel facing the front and the open expulsion panel facing the back of the shelf;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the unit, showing the extraction of the box, with the set of packages coming out of the box and being placed on the shelf;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the set of packages placed on the shelf and with the box completely removed;

[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the empty box, folded for subsequent recycling;

[0037] FIG. 7 is a front view of a flat cardboard blank with projected fold lines for shaping the box, where the expulsion panel includes two inner flaps, upper and lower respectively, according to a first embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 8 is a front view of a flat cardboard blank with projected fold lines for shaping the box, where the expulsion panel includes a single inner flap at its upper portion, according to a second embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 9 is a front view of a flat cardboard blank with projected fold lines for shaping the box, where the expulsion panel does not include any inner flaps, according to a third embodiment; and

[0040] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an assembled box, according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, showing the inner flaps of both hold and expulsion panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 6, the disposable packaging, in particular for a set of packages 2, is composed of a B1 type cardboard box 1 with four side panels 3a-3d, a top panel 4, and a bottom panel 5.

[0042] Concerning the side panels, the box 1 includes a side panel 3a for expulsion of the set of packages 2 and an opposing side panel 3b for holding and/or pulling the box 1, said opposing side panels 3a,3b including an inspection aperture 6 surrounded by a thick perimetrical frame 7a,7b that holds the packages 2, wherein the frame 7a of the expulsion panel 3a can be torn manually to open it, so that the set of packages 2 can pass through the open expulsion panel 3a depositing it on a surface 8, such as a shelf of a commercial establishment, while in turn the frame 7b of the hold and/or pull panel can be pulled and/or held until it has been fully removed from the box 1, as explained in more detail below.

[0043] In this way, a structurally simple cardboard box 1 is obtained that facilitates the extraction and placement of a set of packages 2 on the shelves 8 of commercial establishments, thus allowing for a reduction of up to two-thirds of the distributors' costs of restocking the commercial establishment, without negatively impacting sales, costs, or sustainability objectives of the manufacturers.

[0044] The procedure for opening the package 1 and the placement of the set of packages 2 on the shelves 8 of the commercial establishments is described below:

[0045] First of all, the four sides of the frame 7a of the expulsion panel 3a are broken manually to open it, using the proper perforated lines 9a, leaving intact the frame 7b of the opposing hold and/or pull panel 3b, as can be observed in FIG. 2.

[0046] Then, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the box 1 is placed on the shelf 8, positioning the hold and/or pull panel 3b at the front, so that the expulsion panel 3a is facing the back of the shelf.

[0047] Next, optionally the four sides of the frame 7b of the holding and/or side panel 3b can be broken manually using suitable perforated lines 9b to facilitate tearing them.

[0048] Then, referencing FIG. 4, the box 1 can be removed, leaving the products 2 on the shelf 8. To do this, the products 2 are held with one hand 10 against the back of the shelf, while the other hand 11 pulls the frame 7b of the hold and/or pull panel 3b, so that the packages 2 pass through the expulsion panel 3a, until the box 1 has been completely removed.

[0049] Alternatively, this operation for extracting the packages 2 can be performed in another way (not shown), by holding the frame 7b of the hold and/or pull panel 3b with one hand while using the other hand to push the packages 2 against the back of the shelf 8 until said packages 2 have been fully extracted from the expulsion panel 3a.

[0050] Having previously torn the frame 7b facilitates the process of holding or pushing the packages 2 while the box 1 is being removed or held, mainly in the case of small-sized boxes 1 where it is difficult to insert the hand 10 into the inspection aperture 6 of the hold and/or pull panel 3b to grasp the frame 7b.

[0051] Finally, the set of packages 2 rests on the surface 8 of the shelf (see FIG. 5), and the box 1 is easily discarded.

[0052] The operator should proceed to fold and stack it so it can subsequently be recycled (see FIG. 6). To facilitate this folding process, the four sides of the frame 7b should be broken by the perforated lines 9b, unless they were torn previously during the process of placing the packages 2 on the surface 8 of the shelf as described.

[0053] This thus optimizes the process of folding the boxes 1 once they are empty for their disposal and subsequent recycling. Therefore, the operator does not need to make a great effort to break and open the hold and/or pull panel 3b in order to fold the box 1, as occurred with packaging known in the art, resulting in a fast and effective process.

[0054] The box 1 is made from a single flat cardboard blank, with perforated areas, pre-perforated lines, and provided with fold slits or lines, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 to 9.

[0055] In one embodiment, the box 1 is made of corrugated cardboard formed of three or five layers, with the corrugation lines arranged vertically or horizontally.

[0056] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the hold and/or pull panel 3b includes two inner flaps 12b adjacent to both upper and lower edges of the same respectively, and which remain hidden under both top 4 and bottom 5 panels of the box 1.

[0057] In accordance with a first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the expulsion panel 3a includes two inner flaps 12a adjacent to both upper and lower edges of the same respectively, and which remain hidden under both top 4 and bottom 5 panels of the box 1.

[0058] In accordance with a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the expulsion panel 3a includes a single inner flap 12a adjacent to the upper edge of the same, which remains hidden under the top panel 4 of the box 1, the inner flap adjacent to the lower edge of said expulsion panel 3a having been previously eliminated to facilitate the removal of the packages 2.

[0059] According to a third embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the expulsion panel 3a lacks inner flaps, having been previously eliminated to facilitate the removal of the packages 2.

[0060] Therefore, the expulsion panel 3a may include two flaps 12a, upper and lower respectively, or a single inner flap 12a at its upper edge, or may not include any inner flap. Consequently, when there is no flap in the lower area of the expulsion panel 3a (see FIGS. 8 to 10), the extraction of the packages 2 is made notably easier, preventing them from becoming stuck in the box 1 during the expulsion process.

[0061] Said upper and/or lower inner flap 12a of the expulsion panel 3a may include a flattened edge in the shape of a wedge to facilitate the expulsion of the packages 2.

[0062] Optionally, said inner upper and/or lower flap 12a of the expulsion panel 3a includes an edge that is shaped according to the shape of the set of packages 2 it contains, to optimize the surface that is in contact with the packages 2 during their expulsion.

[0063] Even though a specific embodiment of the invention has been referenced, it is evident for a person skilled in the art that the described disposable packaging, in particular for a set of packages, is subject to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be substituted by others that are technically equivalent, without going outside of the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

[0064] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."

[0065] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

[0066] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. Disposable packaging comprising a set of packages comprising a cardboard box provided with a first side panel, a second side panel, an expulsion side panel, a hold and/or pull side panel, a top panel, and a bottom panel, wherein the expulsion side panel is used for the expulsion of the set of packages and the hold and/or pull side panel is used for holding the cardboard box, wherein the expulsion side panel and the hold and/or pull side panel are opposing side panels; wherein the expulsion side panel and the hold and/or pull side panel comprise an inspection aperture surrounded by a perimetrical frame that holds the set of packages, wherein the frame of the expulsion side panel can be torn manually to open it, such that the set of packages can pass through the expulsion side panel depositing it on a surface, wherein the frame of the hold and/or pull side panel can be pulled and/or held until it has been fully removed from the cardboard box, such that said frame of the hold and/or pull side panel can be torn manually to open it.

2. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the frame of the hold and/or pull side panel and the frame of the expulsion side panel, comprise lines of perforation to facilitate tearing and opening.

3. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the cardboard box is made from a single flat cardboard blank, wherein the cardboard blank comprises perforated areas, pre-perforated lines, fold slits, or fold lines.

4. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the cardboard box is made of corrugated cardboard formed of at least three layers, wherein the corrugated cardboard comprises corrugation lines arranged vertically or horizontally.

5. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the hold and/or pull side panel comprises two inner flaps adjacent to both upper and lower edges of the same respectively, wherein the inner flaps remain hidden under both top and bottom panels of the box.

6. The disposable packaging of claim 5, wherein the expulsion side panel comprises two inner flaps adjacent to both upper and lower edges of the same respectively, wherein the inner flaps remain hidden under both top and bottom panels of the box.

7. The disposable packaging of claim 5, wherein the expulsion side panel comprises a single inner flap adjacent to the upper edge of the same, wherein the inner flap remains hidden under the top panel of the box.

8. The disposable packaging of claim 5, wherein the expulsion side panel does not comprise inner flaps.

9. The disposable packaging of claim 6, wherein the inner upper and/or lower flap of the expulsion side panel comprises a flattened edge in the shape of a wedge.

10. The disposable packaging of claim 6, wherein the inner upper and/or lower flap of the expulsion side panel comprises an edge that is shaped according to the shape of the set of packages it comprises.

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