LOOSE ARTICLE DISPENSING PACKAGE AND BLANKS ASSEMBLY FOR MAKING A LOOSE ARTICLE DISPENSING PACKAGE

Abstract

A loose article dispensing package including a container having a bottom wall and a top wall; an outer casing slidingly coupled to the container along a sliding direction between a raised position and a lowered position, the outer casing including a main portion and an auxiliary portion, wherein, in the raised position of the outer casing, the bottom wall of the container is substantially aligned with a free end of the auxiliary portion; a dispensing opening of the container; wherein the outer casing includes a predetermined separation line arranged between the auxiliary portion and the main portion, and wherein the auxiliary portion of the outer casing is configured to be separated from the main portion of the outer casing along said predetermined separation line.

Claims

1. A loose article dispensing package, comprising: a container for containing a plurality of loose articles (A), comprising a bottom wall and a top wall; an outer casing arranged outside the container and slidingly coupled to the container along a sliding direction between a raised position and a lowered position, a dispensing opening of the container adjacent to the bottom wall in a direction transverse to the sliding direction and spaced from the bottom wall of the container along the sliding direction when the outer casing is in the raised position; a shutter that is active on the dispensing opening and movable between a closing configuration, in which the shutter closes the dispensing opening, and an opening configuration, in which the shutter opens the dispensing opening; wherein the shutter is connected to the container and to the outer casing so that in the raised position of the outer casing the shutter is in the closing configuration; wherein: the outer casing comprises a main portion and an auxiliary portion, wherein, in the raised position of the outer casing, the bottom wall of the container is substantially aligned with a free end of the auxiliary portion; the outer casing comprises a predetermined separation line arranged between the auxiliary portion and the main portion, wherein the auxiliary portion of the outer casing is configured to be separated from the main portion of the outer casing along said predetermined separation line.

2. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein, when said outer casing is in the raised position, said dispensing opening is arranged at a first distance from the bottom wall along the sliding direction and wherein said auxiliary portion has an extension in the sliding direction equal to or less than said first distance.

3. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein said outer casing comprises a cutting or weakening line at said predetermined separation line.

4. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein the main portion of the outer casing comprises four walls and wherein the auxiliary portion comprises at least three walls that are coplanar to respective three walls of the main portion.

5. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary portion comprises a tear-off appendage not connected to the main portion and configured to be grasped by a user.

6. The dispensing package according to claim 5, wherein said tear-off appendage develops along the sliding direction between the predetermined separation line and said free end of the auxiliary portion.

7. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein the main portion comprises a longitudinal end on an opposite side with respect to the auxiliary portion; said longitudinal end of the main portion being substantially aligned with the top wall of the container when the outer casing is in the raised position.

8. An assembly of blanks for making a dispensing package comprising: a first flat blank comprising: a main portion configured to define a container; first appendages arranged at a first longitudinal end of the main portion and configured to define a top wall of the container; second appendages arranged at a second longitudinal end of the main portion configured to define a bottom wall of the container; a pair of third appendages arranged in a recess of the main portion, facing each other and longitudinally interposed between the first appendages and the second appendages; said pair of third appendages being configured to define a shutter for a dispensing opening of the container; wherein the assembly of blanks comprises a second flat blank configured to define an outer casing which can be slidingly inserted onto said container, comprising a main portion and an auxiliary portion distinguishable from one another by a separation line.

9. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said separation line is parallel to a first longitudinal end of the main portion of the second flat blank.

10. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said auxiliary portion of said second flat blank comprises an appendage configured to define a tear-off appendage.

11. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said separation line is defined by a sequence of incisions in said second flat blank.

12. The assembly of blanks according to claim 11, wherein said sequence of incisions distinguishes the main portion from the auxiliary portion of the second flat blank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of indicative and non-limiting example, in which:

[0074] FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic representations of a loose article dispensing package according to the present invention in a first operating configuration;

[0075] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the package of FIG. 1A in a second operating configuration;

[0076] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a loose article dispensing package in accordance with the present invention;

[0077] FIG. 4 represents the dispensing package of FIG. 3 with the auxiliary portion of the outer casing removed;

[0078] FIG. 5 represents a first flat blank of a blanks assembly for making a dispensing package in accordance with the present invention; and

[0079] FIG. 6 represents a second flat blank of a blanks assembly for making a dispensing package in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] In the appended figures, a loose article dispensing package according to the present invention is generically indicated by the numerical reference 1.

[0081] The package 1 comprises a container 2 configured to contain a plurality of loose articles A and an outer casing 20 slidingly fitted on the container 2.

[0082] The container 10 comprises a bottom wall 3 and a top wall 4. The bottom wall 3 has a smaller extension in the transverse direction than the extension in the same transverse direction of the top wall 4, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1A.

[0083] Adjacent to the bottom wall 3 along a transverse direction, the container 2 comprises a dispensing opening 5 configured to dispense the loose products A contained in the container 2. The dispensing opening 5 has an extension in the transverse direction given by the difference between the extension, in the same transverse direction, of the top wall 4 and of the bottom wall 3.

[0084] The container 2 further comprises a first side wall 6, a second side wall 7 opposite the first side wall 6, a front wall 8 substantially perpendicular to the first side wall 6 and to the second side wall 7, and a rear wall 9 opposite the front wall 8 (in FIGS. 1A and 1n FIG. 2 the container has been shown with the front wall 8 removed and in FIG. 1B the container has been shown with the first side wall 6 removed to illustrate the inside of the container 2).

[0085] The first side wall 6 is connected to front wall 8 and to the rear wall 9 and the second side wall 7 is connected to the front wall 8 and to the rear wall 9.

[0086] A prismatic body 10 is provided inside container 2. The prismatic body 10 comprises a first wall 11, a second wall 12 and a third wall 13 which are substantially parallel to the front wall 8 and to the rear wall 9 of the container 2.

[0087] The second wall 12 of the prismatic body 10 is in contact with the front wall 8 of the container 2 and the third wall 13 of the prismatic body 10 is in contact with the rear wall 9 of the container 2.

[0088] The first wall 11 of the prismatic body 10 is arranged between the second wall 12 and the third wall 13 and is parallel to and transversely spaced from the first side wall 6 of the container 2.

[0089] A loose article conveyor channel 14 is defined between the first wall 11 of the prismatic body 10 and the first side wall 6 of the container 2. Such a conveyor channel 14 is preferably transversely sized so as to be able to be traversed by one loose product A at a time, as shown in FIG. 1A.

[0090] The prismatic body 10 also comprises a fourth wall 15 connected to the first wall 11, to the second wall 12 and to the third wall 13 to define a lead-in chute for the loose articles in order to enter the conveyor channel 14.

[0091] The prismatic body 10 is closed, on the longitudinal side opposite the fourth wall 15, by the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

[0092] The outer casing 20 is slidingly inserted on the container 2 in order to be able to translate in a longitudinal direction with respect to the container 2.

[0093] The outer casing 20 comprises a main portion 21 and an auxiliary portion 22, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0094] The main portion 21 comprises a first side wall 23, a second side wall 24 opposite the first side wall 23, a front wall 25 which is substantially perpendicular to the first side wall 23 and to the second side wall 24, and a rear wall 26 opposite the front wall 25.

[0095] The package 1 comprises a shutter 40 that is active on the dispensing opening 5 and movable between a closing configuration (illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B) in which it closes the dispensing opening 5, and an opening configuration (illustrated in FIG. 2) in which it opens the dispensing opening 5.

[0096] The shutter 40 comprises a first flap 41 and a second flap 42 which are switchable between a first position in which they project into the conveyor channel 14 and close the dispensing opening 5 and a second position in which they are substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction and leave the dispensing opening 5 open.

[0097] The first flap 41 of the shutter 40 is connected at a first end to the container 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connected to the main portion of the outer casing 20.

[0098] The second flap 42 of the shutter 40 is connected at a first end to the container 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connected to the main portion of the outer casing 20.

[0099] When the outer casing 20 is in a raised position (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), the first flap 41 and the second flap 42 are arranged in the first position. In this configuration, a longitudinal end 27 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20 is aligned longitudinally with the top wall 4 of the container 2.

[0100] In particular, the longitudinal end 27 defines an upper edge 27a for the outer casing 20.

[0101] When the outer casing 20 is in a lowered position (shown in FIG. 2), the first flap 41 and the second flap 42 are arranged in the second position. In this configuration, the longitudinal end 27 of the main portion of the outer casing 20 is moved away in the direction of the bottom wall 3 to the top wall 4 of the container 2.

[0102] The package 1 also comprises a dosing device 50 that is active at the inlet of the conveyor channel 14 and movable between a closing configuration (illustrated in FIG. 2) in which it closes the inlet of the conveyor channel 14, and an opening configuration (illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B) in which it opens the inlet of the conveyor channel 14.

[0103] The dosing device 50 comprises a first flap 51 which can be switched between a first position in which it projects into the conveyor channel 14 and closes the inlet of the conveyor channel 14 and a second position in which it is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction and leaves the inlet of the conveyor channel 14 open.

[0104] The flap 51 of the dosing device 50 is connected at a first end to the container 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connected to the main portion of the outer casing 20.

[0105] When the outer casing 20 is in a raised position (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), the flap 51 is in the second position. In this configuration, the longitudinal end 27 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20 is aligned longitudinally with the top wall 4 of the container 2.

[0106] When the outer casing 20 is in a lowered position (shown in FIG. 2), the flap 51 is in the second position. In this configuration, the longitudinal end 27 of the main portion of the outer casing 20 is moved away in the longitudinal direction from the top wall 4 of the container 2.

[0107] The auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20 comprises a first side wall 28, a second side wall 29 opposite the first side wall 28, a front wall 30 which is substantially perpendicular to the first side wall 28 and to the second side wall 29, and a rear wall 31 opposite the front wall as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0108] The first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the first side wall 23 of the main portion 21, the second side wall 29 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the second side wall 24 of the main portion 21, the front wall 30 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the front wall 25 of the main portion 21, and the rear wall 31 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the rear wall 26 of the main portion 21.

[0109] Between the main portion 21 and the auxiliary portion 22 there is arranged a separation line 32 parallel to the longitudinal end 27 of the main portion and parallel to a free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22. The separation line 32 is also indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B (for convenience of representation) although not visible in these representations of the dispensing package.

[0110] The free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 defines a lower edge 33a of the outer casing 20 when the main portion 21 and the auxiliary portion 22 are joined.

[0111] The separation line 32 is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a weakening line, for example made by incisions.

[0112] The auxiliary portion 22 further comprises a tear-off appendage 34 superimposed on one of the walls of the auxiliary portion 22, preferably superimposed on the first side wall 28.

[0113] The size in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary portion 22 is equal to the difference between the size, in the longitudinal direction, of the container 2 and the size of the main portion 21. The size of container 2 is measured between the top wall 4 and the bottom wall 4.

[0114] The size in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary portion 22 is further equal to the sliding distance that the outer casing 20 travels between the raised position and the lowered position along a sliding direction.

[0115] The tear-off appendage 34 has the same size in the longitudinal direction as the auxiliary portion 22.

[0116] As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, when the outer casing 20 is in the raised position, the free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

[0117] In this configuration, the package 1 has an external shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a first face given by the front wall 25 of the main portion 21 and by the front wall 30 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, a second face given by the rear wall 26 of the main portion 21 and by the rear wall 31 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, a third face given by the first side wall 23 of the main portion 21 and by the first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, a fourth face given by the second side wall 24 of the main portion 21 and by the second side wall 29 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, and a fifth face given by the top wall 4 of the container 2.

[0118] The sixth face of said rectangular parallelepiped is partially realised by the bottom wall 3 of the container 2 and is perimetrically delimited by the free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

[0119] The auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20 is configured to be removed prior to a first use of the package 1.

[0120] For this purpose, the tear-off appendage 34 can be raised with respect to the first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 in order to be grasped by a user and pulled. This action causes the outer casing 20 to break or tear along the separation line 32 and thereby detach the auxiliary portion 22 with respect to the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

[0121] When the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21, the main portion 21 of the casing is the only portion that defines the outer casing 20 itself.

[0122] The end portion 27 of the main portion 21 is, in this case, longitudinally opposed to a free edge 35 of the main portion 21.

[0123] The configuration in which the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 2.

[0124] In particular, FIG. 4 shows a condition in which the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21 and in which the outer casing 20 is in the raised position. In this condition, the free edge 35 of the main portion 21 does not reach the bottom wall 3 of the container 2 but is longitudinally spaced therefrom.

[0125] As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the condition in which the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21 and in which the outer casing 20 is in the lowered position, the free edge 35 of the main portion 21 is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

[0126] FIGS. 5 and 6 show respectively a first flat blank 100 and a second flat blank 200 of a blanks assembly configured to make the dispensing package 1.

[0127] The first blank 100 is configured to make the container 2.

[0128] The first blank 100 comprises a main portion 101 and an auxiliary portion 102 that is connected to the main portion 101.

[0129] The main portion 101 comprises a first panel 109 configured to define the rear wall 9 of the container 2, a second panel 108 configured to define the front wall 8 of the container 2 and a third panel 107 arranged between the first panel 109 and the second panel 108 to define the second side wall 7 of the container 2.

[0130] A fourth panel 106a is arranged on the side of the first panel 109, on the opposite side with respect to the second panel 108, and a fifth panel 106b is arranged on the side of the second panel 108, on the opposite side with respect to the first panel 109. The fourth panel 106a and the fifth panel 106b cooperate to define the first side wall 6 of the container 2.

[0131] In a first longitudinal end 101a of the main portion 101 of the first blank 100 and above the first panel 109, the second panel 108, the third panel 107 and the fifth panel 106b there are arranged respective first appendages 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d configured to define the top wall 4 of the container 2.

[0132] In a second longitudinal end 101b of the main portion 101 of the first blank 100 and below the first panel 109, the second panel 108 and the third panel 107 there are arranged respective second appendages 103a, 103b, 103c configured to define the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 5, a recess 101c of the main portion 101 of the first blank 100 is defined below the third panel 107 and between the first panel 109 and the second panel 109.

[0134] A pair of third appendages 140, 141 defining the shutter 40 are provided at the recess 101c.

[0135] An appendage 140 of this pair of appendages comprises three panels 140a, 140b, 140c which define the first flap 41 of the shutter. This appendage 140 is laterally connected to the first panel 109.

[0136] The other appendage 141 of said pair of appendices comprises three panels 141a, 141b, 141c which define the second flap 41 of the shutter 40. This appendage 141 is laterally connected to the second panel 108 and faces the other appendage 140.

[0137] A fourth appendage 150 is defined on the third panel 107 which defines the dosing device 50. The fourth appendage comprises three panels 150a, 150b, 150c which form the flap 51 of the dosing device 50.

[0138] The auxiliary portion 102 of the first blank 101 is connected to the fifth panel 106b of the main portion 101 and is one piece with the main portion 101.

[0139] The auxiliary portion 102 comprises a first panel 113, a second panel 111, and a third panel 112 which respectively define the third wall 13, the first wall 11, and the second wall 12 of the prismatic body 10.

[0140] A fourth panel 114 is arranged on the side of the third panel 112 and is intended to be superimposed on the fifth panel 106a of the main portion 101.

[0141] Above the first panel 113, the second panel 111 and the fourth panel 114 there are arranged respective appendages 115a, 115b, 115c which define the fourth wall 15 of the prismatic body 10.

[0142] The second blank 200 (FIG. 6) comprises a main portion 201 and an auxiliary portion 202 that is connected to the main portion 201 and is integral with the main portion 201.

[0143] The second blank 200 is configured to make the outer casing 20.

[0144] The main portion 201 of the second blank 200 defines the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20, and the auxiliary portion 202 of the second blank 200 defines the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

[0145] As shown in FIG. 6, the main portion 201 is distinguishable from the auxiliary portion 202 by a separation line 210.

[0146] Said separation line 210 is parallel to a longitudinal end 201a of the main portion 201 which defines the upper edge 27a of the outer casing.

[0147] The separation line 210 is also parallel to a free end 202a of the auxiliary portion 202 which defines the lower edge 33a of the outer casing 20.

[0148] The distance separating the longitudinal end 201a of the main portion 201 from the free end 202a of the auxiliary portion 202 in the longitudinal direction is equal to the height, measured in the longitudinal direction, of the outer casing 20.

[0149] The main portion 201 comprises a first panel 205 which defines the front wall 25 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

[0150] The main portion 201 comprises a second panel 204 which defines the second side wall 23 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

[0151] The main portion 201 comprises a third panel 206 which defines the rear wall 26 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

[0152] The second panel 204 is interposed between the first panel 205 and the third panel 206. A fourth panel 203a is arranged on the side of the third panel 206 on the opposite side to the second panel 204. A fifth panel 203b is arranged on the side of the first panel 205 on the opposite side to the second panel 204. The fourth panel 203a and the fifth panel 203b cooperate to define the first side wall 23 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

[0153] The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a first panel 230 which defines the front wall 30 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

[0154] The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a second panel 229 which defines the second side wall 29 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

[0155] The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a third panel 231 which defines the rear wall 31 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

[0156] The second panel 229 is interposed between the first panel 230 and the third panel 231.

[0157] A fourth panel 228 is arranged on the side of the first panel 230 on the opposite side to the second panel 229. The fourth panel 228 defines the first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

[0158] On the side of the third panel 231 on the opposite side to the second panel 229 there is arranged an appendage 234 which defines the tear-off appendage 34.

[0159] The first panel 205 of the main portion 201 is arranged above the first panel 230 of the auxiliary portion 202.

[0160] The second panel 204 of the main portion 201 is arranged above the second panel 229 of the auxiliary portion 202.

[0161] The third panel 206 of the main portion 201 is arranged above the third panel 231 of the auxiliary portion 202.

[0162] The fifth panel 203b of the main portion 201 is arranged above the fourth panel 228 of the auxiliary portion 202.

[0163] The fourth panel 203a of the main portion 201 is arranged above the appendage 234 of the auxiliary portion 202.

[0164] The separation line 210 is made by a sequence of weakening incisions.

[0165] The separation line makes the panels of the main portion 201 visually, and not physically, distinct from one another from the panels of the auxiliary portion 202.

[0166] Obviously, a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific and contingent needs, can make numerous modifications and variations to the invention described above while remaining within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.