BLANK FOR A RECLOSABLE CONTAINER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a blank for a flip-top container and a method for producing a blank for a flip-top container and a method of producing a flip-top container from a blank. A blank according to the present invention may preferably comprise a section for an outer body part and a section for an inner frame. The section of the blank for the outer body comprises two side panels, a front panel and a rear panel. Each side panel is typically connected to the front panel at opposite vertical folding lines; the rear panel is typically connected to one of the side panels along a vertical folding line. A scoring line is provided in the side panels and in the front panel; the scoring line extends downwardly sloping in the side panels towards front panel and extends horizontally in at least a part of the front panel. Each of the side panels, front panel and rear panel has a flap connected at an upper and at a lower horizontal folding line of the panel. Further, the section of the blank for the inner frame comprising two inner side parts and an inner front part, wherein each inner side parts is connected to the inner front part at opposite vertical folding lines, and the inner front part comprising a flap connected at an upper horizontal folding line, said flap comprising a scoring line defining a flap part above the scoring line.

Claims

1. A blank for a flip-top container comprising a section for an outer body part and a section for an inner frame, wherein: the section of the blank for the outer body comprises two side panels, a front panel and a rear panel, each side panel is connected to the front panel at opposite vertical folding lines; the rear panel is connected to one of the side panels along a vertical folding line, each of the side panels, front panel and rear panel has a flap connected at an upper and at a lower horizontal folding line of the panel, and a scoring line is provided in the side panels and in the front panel, the section of the blank for the inner frame comprises two inner side parts and an inner front part, each inner side parts is connected to the inner front part at opposite vertical folding lines, the inner front part comprises a flap connected at an upper horizontal folding line and the flap comprises a scoring line extending horizontally across the flap defining a flap part above the scoring line, and the blank further comprises an intermediate part being connected to one of the inner side parts and to the rear panel along a vertical folding line.

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the scoring line in the side panels and front panel extends downwardly sloping in the side panel towards front panel and the scoring line extends horizontally in at least a part of the front panel.

3. A blank according to claim 2, wherein a folding line is provided in rear panel.

4. A blank according to claim 3, wherein the folding line extends horizontally between the vertical folding lines at which the rear panel is connected to a side panel and the intermediate part, and extends at the horizontal position of said side panel's scoring line's intersection with the folding line.

5. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the flap is trapezoid shaped with the shorter horizontal line defining an outer edge in the blank.

6. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the upper margins of the inner side parts extend downwardly sloping from the vertical folding lines at which the inner side parts are connected to inner front part.

7. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the upper most part of each the upper margin of the inner side parts extends above the scoring line in the side panel.

8. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the blank is flat.

9. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the blank is made of cardboard.

10. A blank according to claim 1, wherein at least two parallel and spaced apart transverse cuts are provided at or near a central part of the folding line in the rear panel, the transverse cuts perforating the rear panel through the thickness, and the transverse cuts extending substantially symmetrically across and perpendicular to the folding line.

11. A blank according to claim 1, wherein each of the scoring lines in the side panels is a row of perforations each comprising two coherent first and second cuts with a blunt angle there between, these perforations being arranged to provide a row of tooth-shaped regions, where each tooth-shaped region is defined by a first cut and a second cut, respectively, from two mutually adjacent but non-coherent perforations, and the first cuts are arranged parallel to each other but staggered so that they are not arranged along one line.

12. A method of producing a blank for a flip-top container comprising a section for an outer body part and a section for an inner frame, wherein: the section of the blank for the outer body comprises two side panels, a front panel and a rear panel, each side panel is connected to the front panel at opposite vertical folding lines; the rear panel is connected to one of the side panels along a vertical folding line, each of the side panels, front panel and rear panel has a flap connected at an upper and at a lower horizontal folding line of the panel, and a scoring line is provided in the side panels and in the front panel, the section of the blank for the inner frame comprises two inner side parts and an inner front part, each inner side parts is connected to the inner front part at opposite vertical folding lines, the inner front part comprises a flap connected at an upper horizontal folding line and the flap comprises a scoring line extending horizontally across the flap defining a flap part above the scoring line, and the blank further comprises an intermediate part being connected to one of the inner side parts and to the rear panel along a vertical folding line, the method comprising: providing a sheet of material having an outer size larger than the outer contour of the blank; cutting the outer contour of the blank; embossing the folding lines to the blank; and cutting the scoring lines.

13. A method of producing a content containing container, the method comprising: providing a blank; folding an inner frame by folding along the vertical folding lines at which the inner side parts are connected to the inner front part by an amount of 90?, folding the flap 180? along a folding line along which the flap is connected to the inner front part, folding an outer body part, around the folded inner frame by folding, by an amount of 90? along the vertical folding lines of the outer body part; adhering the side panel forming an outer margin of the blank to the intermediate part and adhering at least a section of the flap part to the inner surface of the front panel; arranging content into a container produced from a blank, which blank are folded to form an outer body part and an inner frame, with the flaps of respectively the side panels, the front panel and the rear panel being unfolded, and the flap of the inner front part being folded 180? along the folding line along which the flap is connected to the inner front part and adhered to the inner surface of the front panel, folding the flaps along the folding lines to form a bottom panel and a top panel of the container, and adhering the two outer most flaps of respectively the bottom panel and top panel together.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0054] The present invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and are not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates a blank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a perspective and schematic illustration of a container made from a blank and a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container is illustrated in a closed configuration.

[0057] FIG. 3, is a perspective and schematic illustration of the container of FIG. 2 in an open configuration.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective and schematic illustration of a section of the container of FIG. 2; the section is shown with some material removed to reveal a part of the interior container.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a photograph which illustrates a rear view of the folding line of a closed container made from a blank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] FIG. 6 is a photograph which illustrates a rear view of the folding line of an open container made from a blank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 7 is a photograph that shows an example of a scoring line on the side panels of the container in FIG. 1; the scoring line having tooth-shaped regions.

[0062] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of steps involved in folding a blank into a container according to a preferred embodiment; the right hand side of FIG. 8 is shown in a larger scale that the left hand side of the figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0063] FIG. 1 discloses a blank from which a container according to the present invention can be produced by folding the blank. In FIG. 1, the scoring line 7 is shown by a line with hatching in order to distinguish this line from folding lines, which each is referenced FL in FIG. 1. The panels 3, 4, 5 are shown with reference numerals in circles. The bottom panel 2 is formed by the four flaps 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d below the panels 3 and marked with reference numerals in circles, 4, 5, and the top panel 6 is formed by the flaps 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d above the panels 3, 4, 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner front section 10 and the inner side sections 9 are made integral with the other parts of the blank. In FIG. 1, it is shown that glue is used to keep the folded container assembled; however, welding may also be used instead or in combination with glue.

[0064] As presented above, a container made from a blank according to the present invention may be seen as comprising an outer body part and an inner frame. The outer body part comprises the side panels 4, the front panel 3, the rear panel 5, the top panel 6 and bottom panel 2. The inner frame comprises the inner front part 10 and the inner side parts 9. With reference to FIG. 1 a blank for a container comprising an outer body part and an inner frame is disclosed in the following.

[0065] The sections of the blank for the outer body comprise the two side panels 4, the front panel 3 and the rear panel 5. As depicted, each of the side panels 4 is connected to the front panel 3 at opposite vertical folding lines FL, and the rear panel 5 is connected to one of the side panels 4 along a vertical folding line FL. As shown in this configuration the vertical margin of one of the side panels 4 constitutes a part of the outer margin of the blank.

[0066] Further, each of the side panels 4, the front panel 3 and rear panel 5 has a flap 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d connected at an upper and at a lower horizontal folding line of the panels. Thereby, the margin of the flaps (not connected to the panels) constitutes a part of the outer margin of the blank.

[0067] The sections of the blank for the inner frame comprise the two inner side parts 9 and the inner front part 10. Each of the inner side parts 9 is connected to the inner front part 10 at opposite vertical folding lines. Further, the inner front part 10 comprises a flap 12 connected at an upper horizontal folding line.

[0068] In addition, the blank comprises an intermediate part 20 being connected to one of the inner side parts 9 and to the rear panel 5 along a vertical folding line.

[0069] Thus, as shown by the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the blank does not contain any excess material and constitutes an unbroken element which upon folding may provide a container e.g. as in FIG. 2.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 1, a scoring line is provided in the side panels 4 and in the front panel 3. This scoring line extends downwardly sloping in the side panel 4 towards front panel 3 and extends horizontally in at least a part of the front panel 3. Comparing this progression of the scoring line with the container shown in FIG. 2, it is seen that upon folding of the side panels 4 backwardly 90?, that it resembles the scoring line 7 shown in FIG. 2.

[0071] Further, a folding line may be provided in rear panel 5. This folding line extends horizontally between the vertical folding lines at which the rear panel is connected to a side panel 4 and the intermediate part 20, and extends at the position of the intersection between the scoring line in side panel 4 and said folding line. Again, when comparing with FIG. 2 this folding line resembles the one in FIG. 2, around which the lid rotates during opening and closing.

[0072] The flap 12 provided on the inner front part 12 has a scoring line 18 which extends horizontally across the flap thereby defining a flap part 12 above the scoring line 18. Upon folding of the container, the part 12 is fastened to the inside of the lid 8 (positioned at the inside of section 3) and thus forms the ledge 14, as depicted in FIG. 4.

[0073] The flap 12 including the flap part 12 is trapezoid shaped with the shorter horizontal line defining an outer edge in the blank as presented in FIG. 1.

[0074] The upper margins of the inner side parts 9 extend downwardly sloping from the vertical folding lines at which the inner side parts 9 are connected to inner front part 10. And, when the upper most part of each the upper margin of the inner side parts extends above the scoring line 7 (as presented in FIG. 1) in the side panel 4, the upper margins of the inner side parts 9 extend above scoring line as shown in FIG. 3, when the blank is folded into a container.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 1 the blank is flat.

[0076] The blank is in preferred embodiments made from a so called GD2 carton which has the characteristics: WLC (White Lined Chipboard), CCN (Clay Coated News), CNB (Coated News Back) Pigment coated recycled carton board with special volume (>1.4 cm.sup.3/g).

[0077] Reference is made to FIG. 2 which illustrates schematically and in a perspective view a reclosable container 1 made from a blank and a method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the container 1 comprises a bottom panel 2, a front panel 3, two side panels 4, a rear panel 5 and a top panel 6. The panels of the container are preferably flat sheets of material, which panels are connected to each other at folding lines (as disclosed below).

[0078] The container 1 comprises a lid 8 which is provided by sections of the front panel 3 and the two side panels 4 above a scoring line 7 and a section of the rear panel 5 above a folding line provided in the rear panel. As presented in the figure, the scoring line 7 (dotted line) extends from the edge between the side panel 4 and the rear panel 5 along the side panel 4, continues across the front panel 3 and to the edge between the opposite side panel 4 and the rear panel 3. As also visible in FIG. 2, the scoring line 7 extends downwardly sloping from the rear panel 5 in the side panels 4 and horizontally in at least a part of the front panel 3. It is noted that the scoring line in the side panels 3 may extend in a direction being different from downward sloping (although that is preferred), and extend e.g. horizontally or even upwardly sloping.

[0079] As no scoring line 7 is provided in the rear panel 5, the lid is not separated from the container upon opening and the lid 8 is moveable by rotation along the folding line 21 in the rear panel 5. It is noted, that the scoring line 7 may also extend into the rear panel, but not in a manner or an extent so that the lid is separated from the rear.

[0080] The folding line 21 in the rear panel 5 may be provided prior to a first opening of the lid 8, e.g. by embossing during production of the container, or it may be provided by the action of the first opening of the lid 8. As the lid 8 may be folded backward more the 90 degrees, the lid 8 may stay open without any need for retaining it. In FIG. 2, the lid is shown in its open position.

[0081] In order to provide an easy reclosing of the container 1, the front panel 3 further comprises (see FIG. 3) an inner front part 10 extending above the scoring line 7 in the front panel 3 without being attached to the front panel 3 above the scoring line 7; the inner front part 10 further comprising a downwardly protruding flap 12 which will be disclosed in details below. Further, each side panel 4 comprises an inner side part 9 extending above the scoring line 7 in the side panel 4 without being attached to the side panel 4 above the scoring line 7. Advantageously, the upper margin of each of the inner side parts 9 extends downwardly sloping towards the rear panel 5, as shown in FIG. 3. This downward sloping towards the rear panel 5 may be seen as providing a guide which reduces the risk of unintentional engagement of the sections 4 with inner side part 9 during closing of the container 1.

[0082] While the inner side part 9 reduces the risk of un-intentional engagement of the sections 4, the section 3 may still be prone to un-intentional engagement with the inner front part 10. In order to reduce this risk, the inner front part 10 comprises a flap 12 (see FIG. 3) extending downwardly from an upper margin of the inner front part 10. This flap 12 is arranged so that it abuts an inner surface of the section 3 of the front panel 3 above the scoring line 7 when the lid 8 is in the position where it closes the container 1. In the situation, where the lid 8 is in the position where the container is open, the flap 12 extends downwardly and outwardly, where the outwardly extending typically is provided by the material being resilient and the flap is provided by folding along a folding line which after folding is the upper margin of the inner front part 10.

[0083] Accordingly, when the lid 8 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the upper margins of the inner side parts 9 will guide the sections 4 outwardly and/or the sections 4 will guide the inner side parts 9 inwardly during the first part of a closing operation. When the closing operation is at the stage where the section 3 meets the inner front part 10, the flap 12 (which extends outwardly and downwardly) will guide the section 3 outwardly and/or the inner front section 10 inwardly. Thereby an easy reclosing of the container 1 is provided.

[0084] The container is prevented from being opened un-intentionally by a locking mechanism, which locking mechanism should preferably provide a tactile and/or a hearable response to inform the user that the container is closed and locked. Reference is made to FIG. 4 showing which illustrates such a locking mechanism. Upon a first opening of the lid 8, a ledge 14 is provided on the inner surface of the section 3 of the front panel 3 above the scoring line 7 in a position where the lower margin of the downwardly extending flap 12 engages with ledge 14, when the lid 8 is in the position where it closes the container 1. As illustrated in particular in FIG. 4B, the ledge 14 is provided by the flap part 12 of the flap 12 and is provided upon an initial first opening of the container as the flap part 12 is separated from the flap 12 along the scoring line 18 as the flap part 12 is adhered to the inside of the lid section 3. Thus, the position pointed at by the arrow designating the ledge 14 in FIG. 4B is the position of the scoring line 18 prior to initial first opening of the container 1.

[0085] Thereby, the flap 12 will, when the lid 8 is to be positioned in the closed position, bend inwardly and/or the section 3 will bend outwardly until the flap 12 is able to bend outwardly. This may provide a snapping of the flap 12 which depending on the strength of the material used for the container provide a hearable and/or a tactile snap. The position at which the container is locked is shown in FIG. 4b, which illustrate the interior of the container at an upper corner with a part of the section 4 cut away for illustration only.

[0086] The scoring line (18) is in general constituted by a local weakening of the material along the line which weakening will provide a kind of tear open of the container along the line when a force is applied to the parts forming the flap (12) the during the initial opening operation; the weakening is typically of such a kind that the container may be opened by hand without requiring any kind of tools.

[0087] A downwardly protruding tongue 15 may be provided in the lid 8. This tongue is in the embodiment shown in the figures provided by the scoring line 7 in the front panel 3 curve downwardly in between two substantial straight parts, and the section 3 of the front panel 3 above the scoring line 7 comprising a downwardly protruding tongue 15 resembling the curvature of the scoring line 7. This tongue 15 provides an intuitive starting point to push inwardly in order to provide an initial brake of the scoring line 7 when the container is opened for the first timeat later openings, the tongue 15 may also serve as a flap that can be gripped during opening. Further, the tongue 15 may also co-operate with the flap 12 to further enhance an easy reclosing of the container 1.

[0088] The container 1 may advantageously be made from paper, cardboard and/or plastic.

[0089] Although other shapes than box-shape of a container 1 is possible, the box shape may be preferred in many instances. Such box-shape containers have horizontal and vertical rectangular cross sections as shown in the figures.

[0090] FIG. 5 shows an example of a container provided from a blank according to the present invention, where the container is illustrated as seen from the rear side. As shown in FIG. 1 as well as in FIG. 3, the blank comprises a folding line 21 in the rear panel 5. In preferred embodiments, the scoring lines 7 provided in the side panels 4 extends into the rear panel and terminates at two end cuts 32 (as represented in FIG. 5) provided in the rear panel 5, which end cuts 32 are arranged near but at a distance from each end of the folding line 21. Typically, each of the end cuts 32 are coherent. These end cuts 32 go through the thickness of the rear panel 5. Further and as shown in FIG. 5, the folding line 21 may be provided with perforations 33. Each of the end cuts 32 preferably extends substantially symmetrically across the folding line 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the end cuts 32 have an angle (?) between the coherent sub-cuts, which angle is typically between 90? and 175?, such as between 110? and 160?, such as 125?.

[0091] As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, a blank according to the present invention may comprise at least two parallel and spaced apart transverse cuts 31 provided at or near a central part of the folding line 21 in the rear panel 5. These transverse cuts 31 perforate the rear panel 5 through the thickness of the rear panel 5 and the transverse cuts 31 extend substantially symmetrically across and perpendicular to the folding line 21. Further, folding lines 35 connect the ends of the transverse cuts 31.

[0092] The effect obtained by the transverse cuts 31 is shown in FIG. 6 in which the lid of the container is in an open position and the container is illustrated as seen from the rear side. As shown, the two transverse cuts 31 form a region 34 between the transverse cuts 31 which bends in the opposite direction, i.e. out of the plane of the paper, as compared to the rest of the folding line 21. This has shown to avoid or at least mitigate buckling of the rear panel 5 during opening of the container. The effect is found to be further improved by the folding lines 35.

[0093] Reference is made in particular to FIG. 7 which illustrates particular preferred embodiments wherein each of the scoring lines 7 in the side panels 4 is a row of perforations 23 each comprising two coherent first and second cuts 26, 27 with a blunt angle (a) there between. These perforations are arranged to provide a row of tooth-shaped regions 25, where each tooth-shaped region 25 is delimited by a first cut 26 and a second cut 27, respectively, from two mutually adjacent but non-coherent perforations 23. The first cuts 26 are arranged parallel to each other but staggered so that they are not arranged along one line. The tips of the tooth-shaped regions 25 are directed towards the rear panel 5.

[0094] The blunt angle (?) between first and second cuts 26, 27 of the perforations 23 in the side panels 4 is preferred to be between 145? and 175?, such as between 155? and 165? or between 165? and 175?.

[0095] As presented herein, a container is made from a blank according to the present invention, and such a blank comprises a section forming the inner frame and the outer body part of the container. In order not to limit the space unnecessarily, the dimension in the blank is chosen such the inner frame fits snugly inside the outer body part.

[0096] In often occurring situations the blank is produced at one location, and transported to another location where the blanks are folded into containers. In order to use less space during production, a plurality of blanks according to the present invention are stacked in a linear manner wherein blanks have a spatial orientation identical to each other and are placed on top of each other.

[0097] Blanks may be produced by providing a sheet of material having an outer size larger than the outer contour of the blank, cutting the outer contour of the blank, embossing the folding lines to the blank and cutting the scoring lines.

[0098] The cuttings may be carried out as a stamping.

[0099] Often the container is required to contain printed information, and such printed information may advantageously be provided to the surface of the blank prior to folding the blank into a container. It is noted that the printing may be provided prior to the cutting and embossing or after the cutting and embossing.

[0100] A container according to the present invention may advantageously be provided by the following steps after a blank has been provided. Initially an adhesive is applied onto the flaps 2a and 6a connected to the rear panel 5, the intermediate part 20, and preferably along the vertical margin of the inner side part 9 forming an outer margin of the blank. This is shown in FIG. 4 with hatched regions designated glue. Further, an adhesive is applied onto the flap 12 above the scoring line 18 (section 12 of the flap 12) on the surface facing opposite the surfaces of the flaps 2a, 6a being applied with adhesiveplease note that the glue applied to the flap part 12 is shown with a hatched contour as the glue is applied to the back side (as seen in FIG. 4) of the blank.

[0101] Thereafter, the inner frame is folded by folding along the vertical folding lines at which the inner side part (9) are connected to the inner front part (10) by an amount of 90?. This folding will provide an inner frame having a concave cross section.

[0102] After the inner frame has been folded, the outer body part is folded around the folded inner frame by folding by an amount of 90? along the vertical folding lines of the outer body part. The end result of this will be a tubular structure.

[0103] Finally, the side panel (4) forming an outer margin of the blank is adhered to the intermediate part (20), whereby the tubular structure is fixed.

[0104] The tubular structure is then closed at the ends by folding the flaps along the folding lines to form a bottom panel 2 and a top panel 6 of the container.

[0105] It is noted, that the above adherence is disclosed with reference to a particular preferred embodiment and that glue may be provided to e.g. along the margin of the side panel 4 instead of along the margin of the inner side part 9or even at both positions. Similarly, the position where glue (or in general) adhesive is applied may be reverted with respect to the flaps. Furthermore, in case of adhering by e.g. welding, no adhesive may be needed.

[0106] With respect to the bottom panel 2 and the top panel 6, it is seen that the folding may typically comprise a four layered weaved construction where the order (outside-in) of the layers of flaps is 2d, 2a, 2c, 2b, with the flaps 2d and 2a adhered to each other. Thus, the two flaps 2a and 2d are the two outer most flaps of the bottom panel 2 and, respectively, the two flaps 6a and 6d are the two outer most flaps of the top panel 6.

[0107] During the process of folding the blank, the flap 12 is folded 180? along the folding line along which the flap 12 is connected to the inner front part 10, so that the surface of flap 12 faces the inner side of the front panel 3 when the blank is folded into a container. Further, a part 12 of flap 12 is adhered to the inner surface of the front panel 3

[0108] It is noted that the container as such is designed to contain content. Such content is placed inside the container 1 during production of the container, and typically prior to folding the flaps forming the top panel 6 or bottom panel 2. The content to be contained may be stored in pouch and such a pouch is placed in the container prior to forming the top panel 6 and/or bottom panel 2.

[0109] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of steps involved in folding a blank into a container according to a preferred embodiment. The left hand side of FIG. 8 which shows eight folding steps labelled 1) . . . 8) is drawn in a first scale and the right hand side of FIG. 8 which shows folding steps 9)-12) is drawn in larger scale in order to render the folding of the flaps more clearly identifiable. The box is seen in a cross sectional view at the left hand side and from the bottom or top in the right hand side. Further, please note that the gluing steps have not been indicated in FIG. 8 and that such gluing (adherence steps in general) are applied as outlined above. In addition, the step of folding of flap 12 has also been left out from FIG. 8. Such folding of flap 12 may be carried out a first step prior to step 1).

[0110] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the folding may be commenced (step 1) by folding the blank 90? at the folding line between the outer most (as seen from the blank) inner side part 9 and inner front part 10. Thereby the inner side part extends transverse to remaining part of the blank which is kept horizontal. At step 2, the blank is folded 90? at the folding line between inner front part 10 and the inner side part 9 connected to the intermediate part 20. At step 3, the blank is folded 90? at the folding line between the intermediate part 20 and the rear panel 5. As illustrated this folding is continued until the outer body part of the container is formed outside the inner frame.

[0111] It is seen from the illustration of FIG. 8 that the folding of the container inter alia resides in that the part of the blank not yet folded in the sequence of folding steps may be kept horizontal and that the folding process may be carried out as a sequence of steps in a horizontal folding machine thereby allowing for a very fast and efficient folding process.

[0112] In a preferred embodiment, the container is pre-folded prior to arranging content inside the container. By pre-folded it is meant that the inner frame and outer body of the container are provided with the flap 12 folded and the flap part 12 adhered to the inner side of the front panel 3. Thus, the container has accordingly the shape of a tubular element with open end, the flaps 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d being unfolded (as disclosed in FIG. 8; step 8)

[0113] In order to provide a package ready for e.g. end-consumers, a preferred embodiment of the invention may comprise the steps of arranging content into a container produced as described above from a blank according to present invention.

[0114] Subsequently, folding of the flaps 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and/or 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d along the folding lines to form a bottom panel 2 and/or a top panel 6 of the container, and adhering (such as gluing) together the two outer most flaps of respectively the bottom panel 2 and top panel 6.

[0115] It is noted that it may be advantageous to form the bottom panel 2 or the top panel 6 prior to arranging the content in the pre-folded container, and that this is considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0116] The content being arranged in the container is preferably contained in a pouch which is arranged in the container. Such a pouch may contain a powder product which is arranged in the pouch prior to sealing of the pouch.

[0117] In order to prevent the pouch from possibly inflicting the easy reclosing of the container, the pouch is typically provided with such dimensions that its horizontal extension is smaller than the distance from the bottom panel 2 of the container 1 and to the lower most position of the upper margin of each of the inner side parts 9 and, the outer shape of the pouch, when filled with a product, mimics the internal geometry of the container 1.

[0118] Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms comprising or comprises do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as a or an etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.