Childproof container and process of making the same
11548679 · 2023-01-10
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65D50/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D5/6685
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D2215/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D85/1045
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D5/0254
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D5/6608
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B65D5/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D50/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
The present invention relates to a childproof container (1) comprising a store (2) and a closure system (7) and defining a compartment (8). The container comprises a safety device (11) with a first coupling portion (12) and a second coupling portion (13) configured to engage each other stably in an internal volume of the container (1) in a closing condition of the closure system (7) to define a locking condition wherein they prevent the closure system (7) from switching from the closing to the opening condition. The closure system (7) comprises an unlocking portion (18) configured to define a through access (19) that allows, in the locking condition of the safety device (11), the insertion of an opening device (20) into the internal volume of the container (1) that allows the disengagement between the first and second coupling portions (12, 13). The container comprises a guide body (24) carried by at least one between the second coupling portion (13) and the closure system (7). The guide body (24), in the closing condition of the closure system (7), is placed in the internal volume of the container (1) and is configured to guide the opening device (20) towards the safety device (11).
Claims
1. A childproof container comprising: a store made of sheet material comprising a front wall, a rear wall opposite to the front wall, a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, wherein said front wall, rear wall, first side wall and second side wall define a passage opening delimited by a free edge, a closure system made of sheet material engaged to the rear wall of the store at the free edge and movable with respect to the free edge of the store between: a closing condition in which the closure system interdicts communication between the opening passage of the store and an environment to the container, an opening condition in which the closure system allows communication between the opening passage of the store and the environment external to the container, the closure system comprising a top panel from which a front panel, a first side panel and a second side panel emerge, the top panel, the front panel, the first side panel and the second side panel defining a compartment delimited by a respective free edge, wherein the closure system and the store, in the closing condition, cooperate to define an internal volume of the container, a safety device made of sheet material having: at least a first coupling portion carried by the front panel of the closure system, at least a second coupling portion arranged, in the closing condition of the closure system, in the internal volume of the container, said second coupling portion at least partly directly facing the front wall, of the store, wherein the second coupling portion is configured to cooperate with said first coupling portion, wherein the first and second coupling portion are configured to engage each other in the internal volume of the container in the closing condition of the closure system to define a locking condition in which said first and second coupling portion prevent the closure system from switching from the closing to the opening condition, wherein the front panel of the closure system comprises an unlocking portion configured to define a through access configured to allow, at least in the locking condition of the safety device, the insertion of an opening device into the internal volume of the container allowing the disengagement between the first and second coupling portions, wherein the container further includes a guide body carried by at least one of the second coupling portion and the closure system, said guide body, in the closing condition of the closure system, being placed in the internal volume of the container and facing the unlocking portion, wherein the guide body emerges beyond the free edge of the store and configured to guide the opening device towards the safety device.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the guide body, in the closing condition of the closure system, extends into the compartment of the closure system.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein, the guide body, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion, in the closing condition of the closure system, are entirely housed in the internal volume of the container.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein guide body is directly carried by the second coupling portion, the guide body being in a single piece with the second coupling portion.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the guide body extends from the second coupling portion along a direction exiting the store.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the store comprises a bottom wall connected to the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall and the second side wall of the store on the opposite side with respect to the passage opening of the store itself, wherein the guide body is arranged at a height greater than a height of the free edge of the store, these heights of the guide body and of the free edge of the store being respectively defined as the distance of the guide body and the free edge from the bottom wall respectively.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the through access is delimited perimetrically by a closed path profile, wherein the through access develops completely on the front panel of the closure system, wherein the through access is spaced from the free edge of the closure system and from the top panel.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the second coupling portion is arranged inside the store at the free edge of sad store.
9. The container of claim 1 comprising a pushing device arranged at least partially inside the store at the second coupling portion, the pushing device being configured to push on at least one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portions to ensure the engagement of the latter and thus keep the safety device in the locking condition.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the pushing device is configured to contact the first coupling portion during the passage of the closure system from the opening to the closing condition and push said first coupling portion against said second coupling portion, wherein the pushing device acting in push only on the first coupling portion.
11. The container of claim 9, wherein the pushing device is elastically movable between: a thrust condition in which the pushing device itself operates in thrust on the safety device in the closing condition of the closure system to keep the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion engaged, and a rest condition.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the pushing device defines the rest condition in the opening condition of the closure system, wherein the movement of the pushing device between the rest condition and the thrust condition is triggered by the first coupling portion during the passage of the closure system from the opening condition to the closing condition and defines a snap engagement between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.
13. The container of claim 9, wherein the second coupling portion comprises a hook delimiting an undercut and defining a passage seat, said hook of the second coupling portion having a concavity facing, in the closing condition, the opposite side with respect to the closure system, the pushing device being placed at least partially inside the passage seat of the hook of the second coupling portion.
14. The container of claim 13, wherein the first coupling portion comprises a hook delimiting an undercut and defining a respective seat, the hook of the first coupling portion, in the locking condition, being engaged to the hook of the second coupling portion, wherein the pushing device is configured to push the first coupling portion, in the closing condition of the closure system, to keep the hook of the first coupling portion engaged to the hook of the second coupling portion.
15. A childproof container comprising: a store made of sheet material comprising a front wall, a rear wall opposite to the front wall, a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, wherein said front wall, rear wall, first side wall and second side wall define a passage opening delimited by a free edge, a closure system made of sheet material engaged to the rear wall of the store at the free edge and movable between: a closing condition in which the closure system interdicts communication between the opening passage of the store and an environment to the container, an opening condition in which the closure system allows communication between the opening passage of the store and the environment external to the container, the closure system comprising a top panel from which a front panel, a first side panel and a second side panel emerge, the top panel, the front panel, the first side panel and the second side panel defining a compartment delimited by a respective free edge, wherein the closure system and the store, in the closing condition, cooperate to define an internal volume of the container, a safety device made of sheet material having: at least a first coupling portion carried by the front panel of the closure system, at least a second coupling portion arranged, in the closing condition of the closure system, inside the store at the free edge of said store, said second coupling portion at least partly directly facing the front wall of the store, wherein the second coupling portion is configured to cooperate with said first coupling portion, wherein the first and second coupling portion are configured to engage each other in the internal volume of the container, in the closing condition of the closure system, to define a locking condition in which said first and second coupling portion prevent the closure system from switching from the closing to the opening condition, wherein the front panel of the closure system comprises an unlocking portion configured to define a through access configured to allow, at least in the locking condition of the safety device, the insertion of an opening device into the internal volume of the container allowing the disengagement between the first and second coupling portions.
16. A childproof container comprising: a store made of sheet material comprising a front wall, a rear wall opposite to the front wall, a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, wherein said front wall, rear wall, first side wall and second side wall define a passage opening delimited by a free edge, a closure system made of sheet material engaged to the rear wall of the store at the free edge and movable between: a closing condition in which the closure system interdicts communication between the opening passage of the store and an environment to the container, an opening condition in which the closure system allows communication between the opening passage of the store and the environment external to the container, the closure system comprising a top panel from which a front panel, a first side panel and a second side panel emerge, the top panel, the front panel, the first side panel and the second side panel defining a compartment delimited by a respective free edge, wherein the closure system and the store, in the closing condition, cooperate to define an internal volume of the container, a safety device made of sheet material having: at least a first coupling portion carried by the front panel of the closure system, at least a second coupling portion arranged, in the closing condition of the closure system, in the internal volume of the container, said second coupling portion at least partly directly facing the front wall of the store, wherein the second coupling portion is configured to cooperate with said first coupling portion, wherein the first and second coupling portion are configured to engage each other in the internal volume of the container, in the closing condition of the closure system, to define a locking condition in which said first and second coupling portion prevent the closure system from switching from the closing to the opening condition, wherein the front panel of the closure system comprises an unlocking portion configured to define a through access configured to allow, at least in the locking condition of the safety device, the insertion of an opening device into the internal volume of the container allowing the disengagement between the first and second coupling portions, wherein the container includes a pushing device arranged at least partially inside the store at the second coupling portion, the pushing device being configured to push on at least one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion to ensure the engagement of the latter and thus keep the safety device in the locking condition.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein the pushing device, during the passage of the closure system from the opening condition to the closing condition, pushes said first coupling portion against said second coupling portion.
18. The container of claim 16, wherein the pushing device is elastically movable between: a thrust condition in which the pushing device thrusts on the safety device to keep the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion engaged, and a rest condition.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Some embodiments and some aspects of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided by way of indication and therefore not by way of limitation, in which:
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DEFINITIONS AND CONVENTIONS
(18) It should be noted that in the present detailed description, corresponding parts shown in the various Figures are indicated with the same reference numerals. The Figures may show the object of the invention by means of not-to-scale representations; therefore, parts and components shown in the Figures relating to the object of the invention may exclusively relate to diagrammatic representations.
(19) In the context of this description, the use of terms such as ‘top’, ‘bottom’, ‘bottom’, ‘side’, ‘side’, ‘horizontal’, ‘vertical’, ‘front’, ‘front’, ‘front’, ‘rear’, ‘rear’, ‘rear’ and the like refers, unless otherwise stated, to at least one condition of normal use/take of the container, namely a normal handling of the container by a user.
(20) The term product means an article or a compound of articles of any kind. For example, the product may be of the type containing tobacco, such as a cigarette or cigar, or of the type suitable for use with a product containing tobacco.
(21) The term paper material means paper or cardboard, for example at least 50% by weight, optionally at least 70% by weight, of organic material comprising one or more cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lignin derivatives. The paper material may be in sheet material with a weight between 100 and 500 g/m.sup.2. The paper sheet material may be covered at least partially by a plastic coating, for example a film, the purpose of which is to: reinforce the paper sheet material, define a barrier to water and/or moisture. The coating can be between 10 and 50 μm thick and made of one or more of the following materials: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PE.
(22) The term blank means a flat semi-finished product made of sheet material, for example paper sheet material, which can be folded back on itself to make a container. The blank can be in a single piece and can be obtained by die-cutting a single sheet.
(23) Bent blank folding configuration of the blank means a configuration in which the blank is folded to form the container.
(24) The term sheet material means a material with two dimensions, for example length and width, which are significantly larger than a third dimension such as thickness.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(25) Container
(26) A childproof container is indicated with 1. The container 1 comprises a type of closure and an unlocking portion, which will be described in detail below, which allow the container 1 to be opened only under certain conditions and in particular to prevent it from being opened by children.
(27) The container 1 comprises a store 2 defining a compartment 3 configured to house one or more products. In more detail, the store 2 comprises a prefixed number of walls and has a substantially parallelepipedic shape. As illustrated in the enclosed figures, store 2 can have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The store can comprise, in its parallelepipedic form, a front wall 4a, a rear wall 4b opposite the front wall 4a, a first side wall 4c between the front wall 4a and the rear wall 4b and a second side wall 4d opposite the first side wall 4c: the first side wall 4c and the second side wall 4d are interposed between the front wall 4a and the rear wall 4b by opposite parts of the store 2 and connect the front wall 4a and the rear wall 4b at opposite longitudinal edges. The store 2 may also include a rear wall 4e to delimit the compartment 3 below. Alternatively, the store 2 may include a number of side walls other than four. The bottom wall 4e, the front wall 4a, the rear wall 4b and the side walls 4c, 4d cooperate to define a concavity of the compartment 3 facing towards the external environment.
(28) The front wall 4a, the rear wall 4b and the side walls 4c, 4d define at least one passage opening 5 delimited by a free edge 6. The free edge 6, as well as the passage opening 5, is defined as opposed to bottom wall 4e. The passage opening 5 is configured to connect the compartment 3 of the store 2 with the external environment. The enclosed figures show the container 1 with a single passage opening 5; however, it is not excluded the possibility of creating, for example, a the store 2 without a bottom wall and with two openings defined at the opposite longitudinal ends of the store 2.
(29) As can be seen in the attached figures, the store 2 can extend longitudinally along a direction of prevalent development, along which a length of the store 2 is defined. The store 2 can be suitably sized according to the type of product and the quantity of product to be contained in the store 2. The container 1 may be of small dimensions, namely it may have a store 2 with a compartment 3 whose volume is substantially comprised between 40,000 and 200,000 mm.sup.3. The container 1 may be used for the packaging of medium-sized products; in this condition, the store 2 may have a compartment 3 whose volume is greater than 500,000 mm.sup.3, and optionally between 800,000 and 1,400,000 mm.sup.3. However, the possibility of using the containers 1 for the packaging of large-sized products is not excluded; in such a case, the store 2 may have a compartment 3 whose volume is greater than the volumes specified above, for example more than 10,000 cm.sup.3.
(30) As can be seen from the attached figures, the container 1 also comprises at least one closure system 7, optionally joined together in one piece, at the rear wall 4b of the store 2 at the free edge 6 and movable in relation to the store 2. In particular, the closure system 7 is hinged to the free edge 6 of the store 2 and movable by rotation in relation to the latter. The closure system 7 is configured to define at least one locking condition (see for example
(31) In more detail, the closure system 7 comprises a top panel 7a, a front panel 7b and a first and second side panel 7c, 7d. The first and second side panels 7c, 7d emerge from opposite parts of the top panel 7a to essentially define the sides of closure system 7. The front panel 7b emerges frontally from top panel 7a in between the first and second side panel 7c, 7d. The closure system 7 may also include a rear panel 7e engaged at the free edge 6 of the store 2. As illustrated in the attached figures, the rear panel 7e of the closure system 7 may be the only constraint of the closure system 7 to the free edge 6 of the store 2. The engagement between the rear panel 7e and the free edge 6 of the store 2, for example engaged by means of a hinge-type constraint, allows the rotation of the closure system 7 between the closed and the opening condition, and vice versa. The rear panel 7e emerges from the top panel 7a on the opposite side to the front panel 7b in interposition between the first and second side panel 7c, 7d. In other words, the rear panel 7e emerges at the rear from top panel 7a. In the closure condition of the closure system 7, the top panel 7a, the front panel 7b, the first side panel 7c, the second side panel 7d and the rear panel 7e cooperate to interdict the access to compartment 3. In structural terms, top panel 7a, the front panel 7b, the first side panel 7c, the second side panel 7d and, where provided, the rear panel 7e, shall cooperate to define a compartment 8 of the closure system bounded by a respective free edge 9 and having a concavity facing, in the closing condition of the closure system 7, towards the compartment 3 of the store 2. In the closing condition of the closing system 7, the concavities of the compartment 3 of the storage unit and the compartment 8 of the closing system 7 shall be opposite each other: the compartment 3 of the storage unit 2 and the compartment 8 of the closing system 7 shall cooperate to define an internal volume of the container 1.
(32) The container 1 also comprises a panel 10 engaged to the front wall 4a of the store 2. The panel 10 is located in the compartment 3 and faces the rear wall 4b of the store 2. The panel 10 straddles the free edge 6 of the store 2; in other words, the panel 10 comprises a basic portion 10a extending below the free edge 6 of the store 2, namely between the bottom wall 4e and the free edge 6 of the store 2, and an end portion 10b extending beyond the free edge 6 of the store 2. The end portion 10b is joined to the base portion 10a.
(33) The container 1 also comprises at least one safety device 11 having at least a first coupling portion 12 carried by the front panel 7b of the closure system 7 and at least a second coupling portion 13 engaged to the front wall 4a of the store 2. The first and second coupling portion 12, 13 are configured to stably engage each other during a locking condition of the closure system 7 (see for example
(34) With regard to the first coupling portion 12, in the closing condition of the closure system 7, it is configured to fit at least partially into the compartment 3 of the store 2 in order to stably engage the second coupling portion 13. As shown in
(35) The attached figures illustrate the embodiments of the container 1 in which the first coupling portion 12 is engaged in the front panel 7b of the closure system 7. The first coupling portion 12 and the front panel 7b can be joined together to form a single body. In the embodiments shown in the attached figures, the first coupling portion 12 and front panel 7b are joined together in one piece and the first coupling portion 12 comprises a flat sheet body coplanar to the front panel 7b. In the embodiments shown in the attached figures, the first coupling portion 12 is made of paper sheet material and is elastically deformable.
(36) In more detail, the first coupling portion 12 has at least one hook 14 configured to stably engage the second coupling portion 13 located inside the store 2 in the closing condition of the closure system 7. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the hook 14, in the closing condition of the closure system 7, is distinct and spaced from the free edge 6 of the store 2. As illustrated in
(37) As shown in the attached figures, the second coupling portion 13 is defined at the base portion 10a of the panel 10. The second coupling portion 13 comprises a main body 15 and a hook 16 engaged to the main body 15. The hook 16 is configured to allow the engagement of the hook 14 of the first coupling portion 12 to the second coupling portion 13 in the locking condition of the safety device 11. Between the hook 16 and the main body 15 is defined as a passage seat 17 having a concavity facing opposite the free edge 6 of the store 2; the passage seat 17 is at least partially bounded by the hook 16. In the attached figures, a passage seat 17 is shown whose concavity points towards the bottom wall 4e of the store 2. The passage seat 17 basically defines a window in the panel 10 act to allow the insertion of the first coupling portion 12; the first coupling portion 12 is inserted in passage seat 17 (see
(38) From a structural point of view, the hook 16 comprises a central body 16′ and a first and second connecting ends 16″,16′″ opposed to the central body 16′ (
(39) The central body 16′ and the first and second connecting ends of the 16″, 16′″ define an undercut 16a of the hook 16 and delimit the passage opening 17. The passage seat 17 allows the undercut 14a of the first coupling portion 12 to engage the undercut 16a of the second coupling portion 13 in the locking condition of the safety device 11; the locking condition is illustrated for example in
(40) The container 1 also comprises at least an unlocking portion 18. The unlocking portion 18 is defined at the front panel 7b of the closure system 7. The unlocking portion 18 is configured to allow the closure system 7 to switch from the closing condition to the opening condition. The unlocking portion 18 is configured to define at least a through access 19. The through access 19 allows the access, under certain conditions and by means of appropriate opening devices detailed below, to the internal volume of the container 1 to operate on the closure system 7 to allow the passage of closure system 7 from the closing condition to the opening condition. The through access 19 is distanced from the free edge 9 of the closure system 7 and shall be spaced from the top panel 7a of the closure system 7. The through access 19 is configured to allow, in the locking condition of the safety device 11, the insertion of an opening device 20 into the inner volume of the compartment of the container 1. The opening device 20 is designed to allow the disengagement between the first and second coupling portion 12, 13 and consequently the passage of the closure system 7 from the closing condition to the opening condition. The through access 19 is perimetrically delimited by a closed path profile developing completely on the front panel 7b of the closure system 7. The closed path profile delimits a free passage section of the through access 19. The free passage section may be suitably sized to allow easy insertion of the opening device 20. Optionally, the free passage section of through access 19 is at least partially counter shaped the opening device 20. As illustrated in the attached figures, the through access 19 is defined in correspondence of a portion of the front panel 7b intended to be facing, in the closing condition of the closure system 7, to the extremal portion 10b of panel 10. The attached figures illustrate embodiments in which the unlocking portion 18 has two through accesses 19 having the same rectangular profile, spaced out each other and defined completely in correspondence with the front wall 7b of the closure system 7 at the same distance from the top panel 7a. In possible variants, the number of the through accesses 19 may differ from two, the profile of the through accesses 19 may differ in shape or size and the through accesses 19 may be located at different distances from the top panel 7a.
(41) The container 1 may include an opening device 20. The opening device 20 may have one or more of the characteristics described above. The opening device 20 is configured to allow the passage of the closure system 7 from the closing condition, corresponding to the locking condition of safety device 11, to the opening condition. The opening device 20 can therefore ensure the opening of the container 1 by operating on the safety device 11 in such a way as to determine the disengagement between the first and second coupling portion 12, 13. The opening device 20 may be supplied to a user together with the container 1. In this embodiment, the free passage section of the through access 19 and the opening device 20 may be at least partially counter-shaped from each other. The opening device 20 is dimensioned and designed to be inserted, in the closing condition of the closure system 7, at least partially into the internal volume of the container 1 through the through access 19. The opening device 20 may be made of paper sheet material; however, the opening device 20 may be made of other materials, such as plastic sheet or metal sheet material. From a structural point of view, the opening device 20 has a gripping portion 21 from which one or more appendices 22 emerge (see, for example,
(42) The container 1 also comprises a guide body 24. The guide body 24 is configured to guide, in the closing condition of closure system 7, the opening device 20 towards the safety device 11. For this purpose, the guide body 24 is arranged with respect to the through access 19 in such a way that it is contacted, for example by the appendix 22 of the opening device 20, when inserting the opening device 20 into the internal volume of the container 1, by the opening device 20. In other words, the guide body 24 is arranged in such a way that it is intercepted by the opening device 20 when it is inserted into the internal volume of the container 1; by intercepting the opening device 20, the guide body 24 directs the opening device 20 towards the safety device 11. In particular, the guide body 24 is arranged in such a way that a plurality of possible inserting directions of the opening device 20 into the inner volume of the container 1 intercept the guide body 24. With reference to the closing condition of the closure system 7, the guide body 24 is placed in the internal volume of the container 1 and faces the unlocking portion 18; in more detail, the guide body 24 develops in the compartment 8 of the closure system 7 (see
(43) As will be described in detail below with reference to the method of opening the container 1, the guide body 24 guides the opening device 20 towards the first coupling portion 12 of the safety device 11 in such a way as to contact it and consequently allow the disengagement from the second coupling portion 13.
(44) The container 1 may also include a pushing device 25; in that regards see for example
(45) As shown in
(46) Method of Opening the Container
(47) This invention also relates to a method of opening a container 1 according to any one of the accompanying claims.
(48) The method of opening the container 1 involves the preparation of the container 1 according to any one of the embodiments described above. The previously prepared the container 1 has the closure system in closing condition. If the container has no through access, the method of opening the container 1 involves the definition of at least a through access 19 on the unlocking portion 18. The phase of defining at least one through access 19 may involve releasing the through access 19, for example by removing a removable panel act to occlude the through access 19;
(49) the removable panel may, for example, be counter-shape to the through access 19. The method involves the at least partial insertion of the opening device 20 through the through access 19. The at least partial insertion of the opening device 20 involves the insertion of at least an appendix 22 within the respective through access 19. In case the two appendices 22 are provided, the at least partial insertion of the opening device 20 involves the insertion of each appendix 22 within the respective through access 19. The method may involve inserting the opening device 20 into the inner volume of the container 1 through the through access 19 until a condition of maximum penetration of the opening device 20 into the inner volume of the container 1 is reached; said step involves bringing in hammering the stop edge 23 of the opening device 20 with a section of the unlocking portion 18 interposed between the through accesses 19. The configuration for inserting the opening device 20 into the inner volume of the container 1 is exemplarily shown in
(50) An embodiment of the method that provides for the preparation of the container 1 with a tamper evident portion 26, in order to determine the opening of the container 1 the method provides, at the time of a first opening of the container 1 or a first attempt to open the container 1, to non-reversibly determine the passage of the tamper evident portion 26 from the intact condition to the violated condition in such a way as to make accessible the through access 19. Said step is prior to the phase of the at least partial insertion of an opening device 20 through the through access 19 and may involve removing a removable portion 26 or tearing a tearable portion from the unlocking portion 18 and, in addition or alternatively, plastically deforming a membrane, for example by fracturing it.
(51) Blank
(52) The present invention also relates to a blank 50 in paper sheet material from which it is possible to make a container 1 according to any of the accompanying claims. The procedure for making a container 1 from the respective blank 50 is detailed in the following of the present description.
(53) The blank 50 comprises at least a first sheet 51. The first sheet 51 comprises at least a first and a second portion 52, 53 interconnected by a central connecting portion 54. The first portion 52, the second portion 53 and the central connecting portion 54 are aligned along a connecting direction. The first and the second portion 52, 53 comprise at least two opposite extremal edges 52a, 52b, 53a, 53b and two opposite longitudinal edges 52c, 52d, 53c, 53d.
(54) As shown in
(55) The blank 50 also comprises a second sheet 59 connected to an extremal edge 52b of the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51. The second sheet 59 comprises a first, a second and a third portion 60, 61, 62 joined together in one piece. The first and third portions 60, 62 comprise at least two opposite extremal edges 60a, 60b, 62a, 62b and at least two opposite longitudinal edges 60c, 60d, 62c, 62d. The extremal edge 60a of the first portion 60 of the second sheet 59 may coincide substantially with the extremal edge 52b of the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51. The first portion 60 of the second sheet 59 is interposed between the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51 and the second portion 61 of the second sheet 59 and the second portion 61 of the second sheet 59 is interposed between the first portion 60 of the second sheet 59 and the third portion 62 of the second sheet 59. The third portion 62 of the second sheet 59 is joined in one piece to the second portion 61 of the second sheet 59. The third portion 62 of the second sheet 60 has at least one through access 19 or a portion configured to define a through access 19. The first, the second and the third portions 60, 61, 62 of the second sheet 60 are configured to form the rear panel 7e, the top panel 7a and the front panel 7b of the closure system 7 of the container 1, respectively. The second sheet 59 may also comprise a fourth portion 63 and a fifth portion 64 joined to the first portion 60 at opposite longitudinal edges 60c, 60d. The second sheet 59 may also comprise a sixth portion 65 and a seventh portion 66; in the blanks of
(56) The blank 50 also comprises a third sheet 67. As shown in
(57) The blank 50 also comprises a fourth sheet 71. The fourth sheet 71 comprises at least one portion 72 joined in one piece to the third portion 62 of the second sheet 59. The fourth sheet 71 is configured to form the first coupling portion 12 of the safety device 11.
(58) As shown in
(59) Unlike the blanks 50 in
(60) In the blank 50 of
(61) In the blank of
(62) In the blank of
(63) The blank 50 of
(64) The blank 50 may also include a seventh sheet. The seventh sheet may be separated from the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth sheets 51, 59, 67, 71, 73, 75. Alternatively, the seventh sheet may be in one piece with at least one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth sheets 51, 59, 67, 71, 73, 75, for example along a weakening line along which the seventh sheet may be removed from at least one other sheet 51, 59, 67, 71, 73, 75. The seventh sheet comprises at least a portion configured to form the opening device 20. The seventh sheet may be detachable, for example along the said weakening line, to enable the opening device 20 to be prepared.
(65) The blank 50 can be in paper sheet material. In detail, each of the sheets 51, 59, 67, 71, 73, 75 of blank 50 described above can be in paper sheet material.
(66) Container Manufacturing Procedure
(67) Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention a procedure for making a container 1 according to any of the accompanying claims. The container 1 made by said process is of the type described above.
(68) The container 1 is made from a single sheet of blank 50, for example in paper material, of the type described above. As will be seen in detail below, the procedure involves folding the blank 50 and the connection of some of its portions, for example by gluing, to form the container 1.
(69) The procedure for manufacturing a container 1 involves the arrangement of a blank 50 of the type previously described. Optionally, the process may include the arrangement of at least one product. The procedure may involve the preparation of several products, for example the type containing tobacco, such as cigarettes or cigars, or the type suitable for use with a product containing tobacco.
(70) The process of making a container 1 starting from the blank of
(71) The procedure involves folding the side connection portions 69, 70 of the third sheet 67 with respect to the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 and involves the arrangement the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 in front of the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51. The phase prior the arrangement of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 frontally to the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51 is shown in
(72) The procedure may involve the arrangement of at least one product on an area of blank 50 intended to form an inner surface of a wall of storage room 2. For example, the product or a number of products may be placed on an area of sheet 51, for example, an area of the first portion 52 of sheet 51 intended to form an inner surface of the rear wall 4b of storage room 2 facing compartment 3 of store 2. Said phase is realized such that the product is interposed between the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51 and the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67. The arrangement of the product on blank 50 may be carried out earlier than the arrangement of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 compared to the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51.
(73) The procedure involves the formation of the store 2. The store 2 is formed by folding and joining the lateral connecting portions 55, 56, 57, 58. The lateral connecting portions 55, 56, 57, 58 can be joined by gluing. The formation of the store 2 involves the arrangement, by folding the blank 50, first and second portion 52, 53 of the first sheet 51 in front of each other so that the central connecting portion 54 forms a bottom wall 4e of the store 2. During the phase of arrangement of the first and second portion 52, 53 of the first sheet 51 facing each other, the third lateral connecting portion 57 of the first sheet 51 and the first lateral connecting portion 55 of the first sheet 51 are brought closer and the fourth lateral connecting portion 58 of the first sheet 51 and the second lateral connecting portion 56 of the first sheet 51 are brought closer each other; said condition can be achieved by bringing the second portion 53 of the first sheet 51 closer to the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 starting from the condition of the blank 50 shown in
(74) The procedure also comprises the formation of the closure system 7. Said phase involves folding the first, second and third portions 60, 61, 62 of the second sheet 59 so as to respectively form the rear panel 7e, the top panel 7a and the front panel 7b of the closure system 7. The formation phase of the closure system 7 also involves the formation of the first and the first and second side panels 7c, 7d of the closure system 7 as described below. The formation of the side panels 7c, 7d of the closure system 7 involves folding the sixth portion 65 and the seventh portion 66 of the second sheet 59 with respect to the third portion 62 and approaching it in such a way as to define an internal space between them; surfaces of the sixth and seventh portion 65, 66 facing the internal space are essentially internal surfaces of the sixth and seventh portion 65, 66. The formation phase of the closure system 7 also involves folding the fourth and fifth portions 63, 64 of the second sheet 59 with respect to the first portion 60 of the second sheet 59 and approaching with respect to it; at this point, the fourth and fifth portions 63, 64 of the second sheet 59 are placed in correspondence with the internal space defined between the sixth and seventh portions 65, 66 of the second sheet 59. The formation phase of the closure system 7 also involves joining the sixth portion 65 to the fourth portion 63 of the second sheet 59, for example by gluing an inner surface of the sixth portion 65 to an outer surface of the fourth portion 63, and involves joining the seventh portion 66 to the fifth portion 64 of the second sheet 59, for example by gluing an inner surface of the seventh portion 66 to an outer surface of the fifth portion 64. The sixth and fourth portions 65, 63 of the second sheet 59 thus joined form the first side panel 7c of the closure system 7 and the seventh and fifth portions 66, 64 of the second sheet 59 thus joined form the second side panel 7d of the closure system 7.
(75) The procedure also comprises the arrangement of the fourth sheet 71 to form the first coupling portion 12 of the safety device 11. The first coupling portion 12 is defined by the first portion 72 of the fourth sheet 71.
(76) The procedure may also include the phase of forming the pushing device 25. With reference to the blank of
(77) The process of making a container 1 from the blank of
(78) The procedure involves forming the store 2 by joining the lateral connecting portion 69 of the third sheet 67 to the central connecting portion 54 of the first sheet 51, optionally by gluing. This phase is carried out by moving the third sheet 67 in such a way that, following the joining of the lateral connecting portion 69 of the third sheet 67 to the central connecting portion 54 of the first sheet 51, the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 is placed frontally with respect to the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51 to form the panel 10 and then the second coupling portion 13 and the guide body 24. In this way, window 17 of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 results facing the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51. The formation of the store 2 also involves folding the foldable portion 51a of the first sheet 51 with respect to the second portion 53 of the first sheet 51; in particular, the foldable portion 51a of the first sheet 51 is flattened to the second portion 53 of the first sheet 51. The foldable portion 51a of the first sheet 51 is then joined to the second portion 53 of the first sheet 51, for example by gluing together the mutually facing inner surfaces of the second portion 53 of the first sheet 51 and the foldable portion 51a. The procedure then involves folding the fifth sheet 74 with respect to the extremal edge 51a′ of the tilting portion 51a as it approaches an outer surface of the tilting portion 51a to form the pushing device 25. Following the joining of the lateral connecting portion 69 of the third sheet 67 to the central connecting portion 54 of the first sheet 51, the tilting portion 51a and the second coupling portion 13, which are now joined together as they were previously joined, are moved in such a way that the outer surface of the tilting portion 51a is located at an outer surface of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67. The outer surface of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 may be defined as the surface opposite an inner surface of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67, which is facing and directly facing the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51 forming the rear wall 4b of the store 2. The step that involves placing the tilting portion 51a on the outer surface of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 involves to insert the pushing device 25 in the window 17 of the third sheet 67 in such a way as to position the pushing device 25 in compartment 3 of the store 2. Optionally, the tilting portion 51a may be glued to the outer surface of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 to form the front wall 4a of the store 2. The step involving placing the tilting portion 51a on the outer surface of the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67 also involves placing the fourth portion 51c of the first sheet 51 in front of the third portion 51b of the first sheet 51, or vice versa. These portions may be folded with respect to the respective folding edges defined at the respective extremal edges 53a, 52a of the second portion 53 and the first portion 52 in such a way as to arrange the third portion 51b of the first sheet at the fourth portion 51c of the same first sheet 51. The third and fourth portions 51b, 51c of the first sheet 51 can then be joined together, for example by gluing, to form the bottom wall 4e of storage room 2. The procedure may also involve forming the tamper evident portion 26. The formation of the tamper evident portion 26 involves folding the third portion 78 of the sixth sheet 75 with respect to the first and second portions 76, 77 of the sixth sheet 75 and also involves moving the sixth sheet 75 towards the second sheet 59. The sixth sheet 75 can be moved together with the second portion 53 of the first sheet 51 in such a way as to bring, for example in the phase involving the arrangement the tilting portion 51a joined to the second portion 53 of the first sheet 51 to the first portion 68 of the third sheet 67, the tilting portion 51a joined to the second portion of the first sheet to the first portion 52 of the first sheet 51 and simultaneously bring the sixth sheet 75 to the second sheet 59. The third portion 78 of the sixth sheet 75 can be joined, for example by gluing, to the second portion 61 of the second sheet 59 and optionally to the seventh portion 66 of the second sheet 59. The joining of third portion 78 of sixth sheet 75 to the second portion 61 of second sheet 59 may be made by gluing an outer surface of the third portion 78 of sixth sheet 75 to an inner surface of the second portion 61 of second sheet 59 intended to face, in the assembled condition of the container 1, the compartment 8 of the closure system 7.
(79) Eventually, the process of making the container 1 may include a stage of providing the seventh sheet to form an opening device 20.
(80) The manufacturing process therefore makes it possible to create a childproof the container 1 of the type described above. At the end of the procedure, a the container 1 is obtained whose closure system 7 is in the opening condition and, where provided, in which the pushing device 25 is in the resting condition and, in addition or alternatively, in which the tamper evident portion 26 is in the intact condition, in which it prevents access to through access 19. The closure system 7 of the container 1 may then be brought into the closing condition; in this condition, the container 1 may be opened, by an adult, by means of the opening device 20 according to the opening method previously described.