HANDLE FOR BOXES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handle (100) for boxes comprising a bottom liner (101); a top liner (102) secured to the bottom liner (101) and comprising a central cut-out portion (103); and a strip (104), wherein the strip (104) comprises a first end portion (105), a second end portion (106) and an elongated central portion (107) which extends between the first end portion (105) and the second end portion (106), wherein the first end portion (105) and the second end portion (106) are secured between the bottom liner (101) and the top liner (102) adjacent opposing ends of the central cut-out portion (103); and the elongated central portion (107) has a length exceeding a length of the cut-out portion (103) and is arranged to form an arch when pulled in a direction away from the bottom liner (101). The strip (104) comprises at least a layer A, a layer B and a layer C, wherein the layer B is arranged between the layer A and the layer C, wherein the layer A comprises nonwoven, the layer B comprises an adhesive, and the layer C comprises a reinforcement material, and wherein the layer A constitutes an exterior surface of the strip (104). This provides a handle with good mechanical properties which is comfortable to grip.

Claims

1. A handle for boxes comprising a bottom liner; a top liner secured to the bottom liner and comprising a central cut-out portion; and a strip, wherein the strip comprises a first end portion, a second end portion and an elongated central portion which extends between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are secured between the bottom liner and the top liner adjacent opposing ends of the central cut-out portion, and the elongated central portion has a length exceeding a length of the cut-out portion and is arranged to form an arch when pulled in a direction away from the bottom liner, wherein the strip comprises at least a layer A, a layer B and a layer C, wherein the layer B is arranged between the layer A and the layer C, wherein the layer A comprises nonwoven, the layer B comprises an adhesive and the layer C comprises a reinforcement material, and wherein the layer A constitutes an exterior surface of the strip.

2. The handle according to claim 1, wherein layer B and layer C are arranged as a core and layer A is arranged as a casing substantially covering the core.

3. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the strip is folded so as to arrange the layer A as an exterior surface for substantially the entire strip.

4. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises a polyethylene-based adhesive having a weight of from 10 to 50 g/m.sup.2.

5. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the nonwoven has a weight of from 20 to 100 g/m.sup.2.

6. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the nonwoven is selected from the list consisting of nonwoven polymer, nonwoven jute, nonwoven bamboo and nonwoven textile.

7. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement material has a weight of from 20 to 200 g/m.sup.2.

8. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement material is selected from the list consisting of kraft paper, high density polyethylene, jute, paper and textile.

9. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the strip has a width of from 5 to 35 mm, such as from 7 to 30 mm, such as from 10 to 25 mm.

10. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the strip has a breaking strength of at least 100 kg as evaluated by means of the test described in the detailed description.

11. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the bottom liner comprises paperboard.

12. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the bottom liner has a weight of from 160 to 190 g/m.sup.2, such as from 165 to 185 g/m.sup.2, such as from 170 to 180 g/m.sup.2.

13. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion of the strip are secured to the bottom liner and the top liner through adhesive means.

14. The handle according to claim 1, further comprising a layer D comprising an adhesive; and a layer E comprising a paper-based cover material, wherein the layer D is arranged on top of the layer C and the layer E is arranged on top of the layer D so as to form a stack.

15. The handle according to claim 14, wherein the paper-based cover material has a weight of from 30 to 140 g/m.sup.2.

16. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the layer A is wrapped around layers B and C, and optionally layers D and E.

17. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the bottom liner and/or the top liner has a width of from 20 to 90 mm, such as from 30 to 80 mm, such as from 40 to 70 mm.

18. The handle according to claim 1, wherein the top liner comprises a laminate or a kraft paper.

19. A method for manufacturing a handle according to claim 1, comprising: providing a bottom liner; providing a top liner; providing a strip; providing an adhesive; combining the bottom liner, the top liner, the strip, and the adhesive to form the handle.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing a strip comprises providing a layer A, a layer B and a layer C and stacking the layers A-C to form the strip.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the layer A has a width that is larger than the layer B and the layer C such that after stacking, lateral portions of the layer A extends beyond lateral ends of the layer B and the layer C, and wherein the lateral portions of the layer A are wrapped around the layer B and the layer C, such that layer A provides an exterior surface for substantially the entire strip.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein after stacking, the strip is folded so as to arrange the layer A as an exterior surface for substantially the entire strip.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing the strip further comprises providing a layer D and a layer E and stacking the layers A-E to form the strip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] This and other aspects of the present invention will now by way of example be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0066] FIG. 1a schematically shows an exploded view of the handle according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0067] FIGS. 1b-d schematically show, from different perspectives, the handle according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0068] FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the strip of the handle according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0069] FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a folded strip of the handle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0070] FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the strip of the handle according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a flow-sheet of the steps of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0072] The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person.

[0073] FIG. 1a shows an exploded view of a handle 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 1b-d show the same handle 100 in a perspective view, a cross-sectional side view, and from below, respectively. The handle 100 comprises a bottom liner 101, a top liner 102 secured to the bottom liner 101 and comprising a central cut-out portion 103, and a strip 104. The strip 104 comprises a first end portion 105, a second end portion 106 and an elongated central portion 107 which extends between the first end portion 105 and the second end portion 106. The first end portion 105 and the second end portion 106 are secured between the bottom liner 101 and the top liner 102 adjacent opposing ends of the central cut-out portion 103, such that the elongated central portion 107 protrudes from the cut-out portion 103 and extends between the opposing ends of the same. The elongated central portion 107 further has a length exceeding a length of the cut-out portion 103 and is arranged to form an arch when pulled in a direction away from the bottom liner 101. The first end portion 105 and the second end portion 106 may each extend between the bottom liner 101 and the top liner 102 from respective opposing ends of the central cut-out portion 103 of the top liner 102 to corresponding lateral ends 108 of the handle 100. The first and second end portions 105, 106 may alternatively extend from respective opposing ends of the central cut-out portion 103 to a distance therefrom which is shorter than the distance between the end of the central cut-out portion 103 and the corresponding lateral end 108 of the handle 100, as shown in FIG. 1b.

[0074] The first and second end portions 105, 106 of the strip 104 may be secured between the top liner 102 and the bottom liner 101 by simply adhering the top liner 102 to the bottom liner 101 having arranged the first and second end portions 105, 106 of the strip 104 at corresponding portions there between. Alternatively, the first and second end portions 105, 106 may be first secured, e.g. by means of an adhesive, to the bottom liner 101 whereafter the top liner 102 may be secured to the bottom liner 101. In a further alternative, the first and second end portions 105, 106 are first secured, e.g. by means of an adhesive, to the top liner 102, whereafter the top liner 102 may be secured to the bottom liner 101.

[0075] The strip 104 comprises at least a layer A, a layer B and a layer C, wherein the layer B is arranged between the layer A and the layer C, as shown in FIG. 2. The structure of the strip will be described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 2-4.

[0076] The top liner 102 may comprise a laminated material or a kraft paper.

[0077] The bottom liner 101 may comprise paperboard.

[0078] The bottom liner 101 may have a thickness of from 100 to 500 ?m, such as from 150 to 450 ?m, such as from 200 to 400 ?m.

[0079] The top liner 102 may have a thickness of from 200 to 2500 ?m, such as from 300 to 2250 ?m, such as from 200 to 2000 ?m.

[0080] The strip 104 may have thickness of from 300 to 2500 ?m, such as from 500 to 2500 ?m, such as from 600 to 2000 ?m, such as from 600 to 1200 ?m.

[0081] FIG. 2 shows, in cross-section, a strip 200 of a handle according to an embodiment of the invention. The strip 200 comprises a layer A 201, a layer B 202 and a layer C 203. The layer B is sandwiched between the layer A and the layer C. The layer A 201 may comprise nonwoven, the layer B 202 may comprise an adhesive and the layer C 203 may comprise a reinforcement material.

[0082] The nonwoven of layer A 201 may be of a nonwoven polymer, nonwoven jute, nonwoven bamboo and nonwoven textile. The nonwoven of layer A may have a weight of from 20 to 100 g/m.sup.2.

[0083] The adhesive of layer B 202 may be a polyethylene-based adhesive, such as a polyethylene-based adhesive having a weight of from 10 to 50 g/m.sup.2.

[0084] The reinforcement material of layer C 203 may be selected from the list consisting of kraft paper, high density polyethylene, jute, paper and textile. The reinforcement material of layer C 203 may have a weight of from 20 to 200 g/m.sup.2.

[0085] The strip 200 may have a width of from 5 to 35 mm, such as from 7 to 30 mm, such as from 10 to 25 mm.

[0086] FIG. 3 depicts, in cross-section, a folded strip 300 of the handle according to an embodiment of the invention. The strip comprises a layer A 301, a layer B 302 and a layer C 303. The layer B is sandwiched between the layer A and the layer C. The layer A 301 may comprise nonwoven, the layer B 302 may comprise an adhesive and the layer C 303 may comprise a reinforcement material. The strip 300 comprises a fold 304 constituting a mantle in a lengthwise direction as a result of the folding. The skilled person understands that the dashed line of FIG. 3 merely serves as a tool highlighting the fold of the handle, and that the dashed line is in fact not a part or feature of the strip 300 of the handle of the invention.

[0087] The strip 300 is folded so as to arrange the layer A 301 as an exterior surface for substantially the whole strip 300. The strip 300 may be folded in a longitudinal direction. The strip 300 is, according to the exemplifying embodiment shown in FIG. 3, folded in the middle of the strip i.e. essentially equidistant from two opposing lateral ends of the strip. The strip 300 may, however, also be folded at least once, such as at least twice. The strip 300 may be folded at a third of the width of the strip, at a first and a second third of the width of strip, at a fourth of the width of the strip, at a first and a second fourth of the width of strip, and/or at a first, a second and a third fourth of the width of strip. The strip 300 may be folded so as to overlap at the middle of the strip 300. The strip 300 may be folded so as to provide two folds in a longitudinal direction, forming a first side portion, a second side portion and a centre portion. The first side portion and the second side portion may be folded so as to overlap, for example folded so as to overlap at substantially the middle of the folded strip e.g. in the middle of the centre portion. It is understood that the three sections may be of substantially same or different widths. The first side portion, the second side portion and the centre portion may be secured to each other after folding using for example a polyethylene-based adhesive.

[0088] The folded strip 300 may have a width of from 5 to 35 mm, such as from 7 to 30 mm, such as from 10 to 25 mm.

[0089] The nonwoven of layer A 301 may be of a nonwoven polymer, nonwoven jute, nonwoven bamboo and nonwoven textile. The nonwoven of layer A may have a weight of from 20 to 100 g/m.sup.2.

[0090] The adhesive of layer B 302 may be a polyethylene-based adhesive, such as a polyethylene-based adhesive having a weight of from 10 to 50 g/m.sup.2.

[0091] The reinforcement material of layer C 303 may be selected from the list consisting of kraft paper, high density polyethylene, jute, paper, and textile. The reinforcement material of layer C 303 may have a weight of from 20 to 200 g/m.sup.2.

[0092] FIG. 4 shows, in cross-section, a strip 400 of the handle 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The strip comprises a layer A 401, a layer B 402, a layer C 403, a layer D 404 and a layer E 405. The layers A-E are stacked consecutively to form the strip.

[0093] The layer A 401 may comprise nonwoven, the layer B 402 may comprise an adhesive, the layer C 403 may comprise a reinforcement material, the layer D 404 may comprise an adhesive, and the layer E 405 may comprise a paper-based cover material or a kraft paper.

[0094] The nonwoven of layer A 401 may be of a nonwoven polymer, nonwoven jute, nonwoven bamboo and nonwoven textile. The nonwoven of layer A may have a weight of from 20 to 100 g/m.sup.2.

[0095] The adhesive of layer B 402 may be a polyethylene-based adhesive, such as a polyethylene-based adhesive having a weight of from 10 to 50 g/m.sup.2.

[0096] The reinforcement material of layer C 403 may be selected from the list consisting of kraft paper, high density polyethylene, jute, paper, and textile. The reinforcement material of layer C 403 may have a weight of from 20 to 200 g/m.sup.2.

[0097] The strip 400 may in some embodiments be folded as described with reference to FIG. 3, to provide the layer A 401 as an exterior surface of substantially the entire strip 400.

[0098] The strip 400 may have a width of from 5 to 35 mm, such as from 7 to 30 mm, such as from 10 to 25 mm.

[0099] FIG. 5 shows a flow-sheet over different steps of a method 500 for manufacturing the handle disclosed herein. The method 500 comprises: providing 501 a bottom liner; providing 202 a top liner; providing 503 a strip; providing 504 an adhesive; and combining 505 the bottom liner, the top liner, the strip, and the adhesive to form the handle.

[0100] The method 500 may further comprise providing a layer A, a layer B and a layer C and stacking the layers to form the strip.

[0101] The provided layer A may have a width that is larger than the layer B and the layer C such that after stacking, lateral portions of the layer A extends beyond lateral ends of the layer B and the layer C, and wherein the lateral portions of the layer A are wrapped around the layer B and the layer C, such that layer A provides an exterior surface for substantially the entire strip.

[0102] The method 500 may comprise, after stacking folding the strip so as to arrange the layer A as an exterior surface for substantially the entire strip.

[0103] The method 500 may further comprise providing a layer D and a layer E, and stacking the layers A-E, consecutively, to form the strip.

EXAMPLES

Materials and Manufacture

[0104] An embodiment of the inventive handle IH1 was manufactured comprising a strip having a layer A comprising a nonwoven, a layer B comprising a polyethylene adhesive and a layer C comprising a FibreForm? paper. The strip was folded so that layer A constitutes an exterior surface of the strip. The structure of the strip of IH1 is presented in table 1.

[0105] Comparative handles CH1, CH2 were manufactured. The structure of the strip of the comparative handles CH1, CH2 are presented in table 1.

[0106] The inventive handle IH1 as well as the comparative handles CH1, CH2 has a handle structure as described herein, with top and bottom liners between which the first and the second end portions of the strip are secured.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Structure and thickness of the tested strips Sample Strip structure Strip width IH1 3 layers, folded arrangement: 16 mm Layer A: nonwoven Layer B: PE adhesive Layer C: FiberForm? paper CH1 5 layers wherein outermost layer 16 mm comprises kraft paper CH2 Corresponds to IH1 without layer A 16 mm

Evaluation of Handles

[0107] An embodiment of the inventive handle IH1 was compared in a load bearing test to the comparative handles CH1 and CH2. The results of the load bearing evaluation are shown in table 2. Consequently, the inventors have surprisingly found that the inventive handles show a higher load bearing capacity as compared to the comparative handles.

[0108] The load bearing test was conducted by arranging a handle on a surface and securely fastening said handle between the surface and a plate comprising an opening so that the strip of the handle is accessibly arranged in the opening of the plate. Expressed differently, the plate is arranged so as to fixate the handle to the surface by applying pressure on the top liner and the bottom liner of the handle using the plate. The strip is then pulled substantially orthogonally away from the top and bottom liner using a holder designed to replicate the shape and width of a human hand until the strip reaches failure i.e. until the strip breaks and thusly the maximum load bearing capacity is identified.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Load bearing capacity of the tested strips. Sample Load bearing capacity [kilograms] IH1 115 CH1 50 CH2 40

[0109] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0110] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.