LID FOR A CONSUMER CONTAINER AND DRAFT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SUCH LID

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled: “Lid for a container for consumables and rough-hewn for the production of such a lid” by: Fameccanica.Data SpA, Italian nationality, via Aterno, 136, 66020 San Giovanni Teatino (CH). Designated Inventor: CORAZZA Federico. Filed on: July 4, 2024 **** DESCRIPTION TEXT Field of invention The present invention relates to containers for consumer goods. The invention was developed in particular for the production of containers for single-dose soluble capsules, for example, laundry and dishwasher detergent capsules. More specifically, the invention relates to a lid for a container for consumables. In other respects, the invention concerns a rough-hewn for the production of such a lid. Known technique Single-dose soluble capsules such as detergent capsules for laundry and dishwashers include water-soluble films containing soluble compounds such as laundry detergents or for dishwashers, fabric softeners, etc. Soluble capsules single-dose are becoming increasingly popular thanks to the ease of use for the user and the positive impact on the sustainability. Single-dose soluble capsules typically have a design elaborate and multi-colored and the display of such items to of children carries the risk that children may confuse them with sweets. In light of the dangers arising from ingestion of single-dose soluble capsules by children, the manufacturers of packaging have been committed to the development of containers child-proof, the introduction of which has reduced the incidence of accidental ingestion of substances potentially dangerous by children of age under 5 years old. Given the increasingly frequent use of this type of packaging, it was necessary to define the characteristics and the related testing methods in order to to provide adequate guarantees and avoid confusion and misunderstandings in a sector of great importance for the child safety. To meet this need, UNI has published the UNI EN ISO 8317:2005 "Child-resistant packaging - Requirements and test procedures for reclosable packaging". This standard establishes the characteristics that must have resealable packages before being placed on the market market. Child-resistant containers must provide a degree satisfactory resistance to opening by the children but - at the same time - a sufficient level of accessibility of content by adults. According to the regulations, a package is considered compliant if: − at least 85% of the children were unable to open the package within the first five minutes, and − at least 80% of children were unable to open the package within five minutes of a demonstration of openness by an adult. The vast majority of capsule containers single-dose solubles currently on the market are made in plastic, due to the need to equip the containers with elastic snap-action formations and elements of blocking necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements childproof. It would be highly desirable to make containers for single-dose soluble capsules in eco-sustainable materials low environmental impact such as paper or cardboard. However, the production of child-proof containers made of paper or cardboard makes it difficult to meet standards child-proof opening and ensuring a secure closure effective after a certain number of openings and closings. EP4071073A1 of the same Applicant describes a paper or cardboard container, comprising a body of container having an opening and a movable lid removably applied to the opening. The body of container includes a back wall and a pair of side walls each having an outer layer having a through hole and an inner layer having a window through hole facing the through hole of the outer layer. The lid comprises a top wall and two walls side panels with respective folding tabs respective external surfaces. In a closed configuration the engagement tabs engage in respective windows passers-by of the side walls of the body and hold the lid on the container body. The user can disengage the lid from the container body by inserting one finger in each of the holes in the side walls and pressing inward to disengage the locking tabs from their respective windows. This solution allows you to create a container entirely made of paper material and with good resistance characteristics to opening by children. However, this solution has some drawbacks due to to the limited resistance of the lid to attempts at openings made by trying to extract the lid with strength. Furthermore, the tabs that form the proof closure of children exhibit a reduction in the ability to hold effectively closed the lid after repeated openings and closures. Another need is to design containers for consumer products which, in addition to having high resistance characteristics to opening by children, have greater stability and greater ease in stacking when placed on the shelves of points of sale. The stability of consumer product containers is fundamental for several reasons. First of all, it guarantees the safety of consumers and staff working in the commercial spaces, preventing the risk of falls accidental which could cause injury or damage to products. Furthermore, stable and well-designed containers optimize shelf space, allowing for a neat arrangement that facilitates identification and customer choice of products. This aspect is crucial also to maximize the efficiency of the warehouse operations, reducing the time needed to the storage and handling of goods. Finally, a Stable packaging helps preserve integrity of the product during transport and handling, ensuring that the consumer receives the goods in the best possible conditions. Purpose and summary of the invention The object of the present invention is to provide a lid for a container for single-dose soluble capsules which has improved resistance characteristics to be opened by children and at the same time have greater stability and greater ease in stacking. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a lid for a container resealable made of sustainable material that offers greater resistance against opening attempts made by trying to forcefully remove the lid from the container body, which ensures effective closure even after repeated openings and closings, and which offers greater stability to the stacking of containers. According to the present invention, these objects are reached by a lid having the characteristics of the claim 1. From another perspective, the invention concerns a rough-hewn for the production of a lid according to the claim 10. Brief description of the drawings The present invention will now be described in detail. with reference to the attached drawings, given for information purposes only non-limiting example, where: - Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a container according to the present invention respectively in a closed configuration and in an open configuration, - figure 3 is a section along the line III-III of figure 1, - figure 4 is a larger scale detail of the part indicated by the arrow IV in figure 3, - figures 5 and 6 are plan views of rough drafts used for the construction and body of the container and of the lid of figures 1 and 2, and - Figures 7 and 8 are front and side views of the container of figure 1. It will be appreciated that the attached drawings are schematic and that the different figures may not be represented in the same scale. Detailed description With reference to figures 1 and 2, the number of reference 10 indicates a container for consumables of cellulose-based material. The container 10 comprises a container body 12 and a lid 14. The container body 12 has an opening 16 having a upper edge 18. The lid 14 is separable from the body of container 12 and is movable with respect to the body of container 12 between a closed configuration illustrated in figure 1 and an open configuration illustrated in figure 2. The container body 12 and the lid 14 are formed starting from respective flat rough sketches 20, 22 having the shapes illustrated in figures 5 and 6. The blanks 20, 22 are cut from flat sheets of sustainable materials based on cellulose such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, or from materials composed of multiple layers of materials several in which the cellulose component is the main one. The container body 12 and the movable lid 14 are obtained by folding the respective blanks 20, 22 along lines of bending indicated in figures 5 and 6 with dotted lines continuous. The blanks 20, 22 can be compostable or recyclable in the paper supply chain. With reference to figures 1-4 and 6, the cover 14 comprises a base wall 24, a pair of first walls lateral 26 connected to the base wall 24 along their respective first folds 28 and a pair of second side walls 30 connected to the base wall 24 along respective thirds folds 32. With reference to figure 4, at least one of the first side walls 26 comprises an outer layer 34 and a inner layer 36 spaced apart. In a preferred embodiment, a layer intermediate layer 38 can be placed between the outer layer 34 and the inner layer 36. Preferably, each of the first side walls 26 comprises an outer layer 34, an inner layer 36 and a intermediate layer 38 overlapping and fixed together. The outer layer 34 has at least one notched portion forming at least one engagement tab 40 that is deformable elastically with respect to the outer layer 34 between a rest position in which the engagement tab 40 protrudes from an outer surface of the outer layer 34 and an elastically deformed position in which the engagement tab 40 is flush with the outer surface of the outer layer 34. The three-layer structure of the side walls 26 makes the lid 14 particularly stable and robust and with a greater ability to resist opening attempts performed by trying to forcefully extract the lid from the container body 12. With reference to figures 2 and 6, the tab of commitment 40 can be defined by two first through cuts 42 orthogonal to the first fold 28 and from a second cut loop 44 parallel to the first fold 28. The one illustrated is only one of the possible ones solutions. In general the engagement tab 40 can be defined by at least one through cut 40, 44 having ends aligned with each other along an overlapping hinge line 46 to the said first fold 28. This feature makes the engagement tab 40 at rest protrudes from the outer surface of the layer external 34 and which, after being pushed inwards, tends to spontaneously return to the resting position when the inward thrust ceases. Thanks to this feature the engagement tab 40 has the ability to effectively hold the lid 14 in closed position after repeated opening and closing. In possible forms of implementation the commitment tab 40 can be defined by through cuts 42, 44 forming a polygonal shape, such as a regular trapezoid shape or irregular, or it can be defined by a single cut loop with an arched shape, such as a U-shape upside down. In possible forms of implementation each of the first side walls 26 may include two engagement tabs 40. With reference to figure 6, each of the first side walls 26 include a first flap 48 connected to the base wall 24 from the first fold 28 and forming the outer layer 34 and a second flap 50 connected to the respective first flap 48 from a second fold 52 and forming the inner layer 36. Still referring to figure 6, each of the second side walls 30 includes a third flap 54 connected to the base wall 24 by a respective third fold 32. The third flaps 54 of the second side walls 30 have respective end portions 58 intended to be folded around respective end folds 60. When the blank 22 is folded to form the lid 14, the end portions 58, bent around the respective end folds 60, extend between respective first and second flaps 48, 50 of the first side walls 26 and form the intermediate layers 38 of the first side walls 26. The second side walls 30 may comprise respective fourth flaps 62 connected to the respective thirds flaps 54 along respective fourth folds 64, which are overlapping and fixed to their respective third edges 54. With reference to figures 1,2 and 5, the body of container 12 has a bottom wall 66, a pair of first side walls of body 68 and a pair of second walls body sides 70. At least one of the first lateral walls of body 68 comprises an outer layer 72 having a hole pass-through 74 and an inner layer 76 having a window through hole 78 facing through hole 74 of the layer external 72. In the example illustrated in the figures, each of the first lateral walls of body 68 comprises a layer external 72 having a respective through hole 74 and a layer interior 76 having a respective through window 78 facing the respective through hole 74. When the cover 14 is applied to the body of container 12 the engagement tab 40 engages the window through 78 of the side wall of body 68 and holds the lid 14 on container body 14. A user can release the lid from the body of container by inserting two fingers into the through holes 74 and pressing inwards on the engagement tabs 40 in so as to disengage the engagement tabs 40 from the pass-through window 78 and at the same time lift the lid 14. With reference to figure 5, each of the first side walls of body 68 include a first flap 80 connected to the back wall 68 by a first fold 82 and forming the outer layer 72 and a second flap 84 connected to the respective first flap 80 by a second fold 86 and forming the inner layer 76. Still referring to figure 5, each of the second side walls of body 70 includes a third flap 88 connected to the back wall 68 by a respective third fold 90. The third flaps 88 of the second side walls of body 70 have respective end portions 92 intended to be folded around respective end folds 94. When the blank 20 is folded to form the body of container 12, the end portions 92, bent around the respective end folds 94, they extend between the respective first and second edges 80, 84 of the first side walls of body 68 and form intermediate layers 96 (figure 4) of the first side walls of body 68. The second side walls of body 68 can include respective fourth flaps 98 connected to the respective third flaps 88 along respective fourth folds 100, overlapped and fixed to the respective third flaps 88. With reference to figures 1, 2 and 7, 8 the first walls lateral walls 26 and the second lateral walls 30 of the lid 14 have respective first upper edges 102 and second edges upper 104 and the base wall 24 is lowered compared to the first and second upper edges 102, 104. The first and second side walls 26, 30 and the base wall 24 define a compartment 106 having a truncated pyramid shape configured in so that when a plurality of lids 14 are stacked, each lid 14 located above another cover 14 is inserted into the compartment 106 of cover 14 below. According to possible forms of implementation, at least one of the first side walls 26 and at least one of the second walls lateral walls 30 are inclined with respect to the base wall 24 of an angle α less than 90°. In possible forms of implementation, at least one of the first side walls 26 and at least one of the second side walls 30 are inclined with respect to the base wall 24 of a angle α between 70° and 85°. In possible embodiments the first side walls 26 and the second side walls 30 are inclined with respect to to the base wall 24 of respective equal angles α between They. One aspect of the present invention is a blank of paper material 22 configured to be folded in a way to form a lid 14 as previously described. The present invention solves the problem of providing a lid having child proof locking mechanisms and a space for penetration starting from a single rough draft. Referring to figures 2, 3 and 4, the pair of prime side walls of body 68, the pair of second walls side walls of body 70, and the back wall 66 define a volume 108 of truncated pyramid shape. The truncated pyramid shape of the container body 12 and the cover 14 allows to form a stop of the lid 14 with respect to the container body 12 which prevents the cover 14 from penetrating inside the body of container 12 beyond the normal closed position and prevents opening attempts made by trying to push the cover 14 towards the inside of the body of container 12. The lid compartment 106 is configured to receive a lower portion of a container body 12, so that when a plurality of containers 10 are stacked, each container 10 located above another container 10 has a lower portion inserted into the compartment 106 of the lid 14 of a container 10 below. At least one of the first side walls of body 68 and second side walls of body 70 of the container body 12 are inclined with respect to the base wall 24 and to the back wall 66 of an angle α less than 90°. In possible forms of implementation the inclination angle α can be between 70° and 85°. The inclination of at least two adjacent side walls allows you to stack the lids 14 on top of each other and stack between them the container bodies 12. This is advantageous in the case in which the lids 14 and the container bodies 12 are offline formats compared to a filling machine, in as in lids 14 and container bodies can be stacked in respective piles from which they can be removed taken from manipulating devices. The lids 14 and Container bodies 12 can also be formed in-line with a filling machine by folding and gluing of blanks 20, 22. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first side walls 26 and second side walls 30 of the cover 14 and the first side walls of body 68 and second side walls of body 70 are all inclined with respect to to the base wall 24 and to the back wall 66 of a corner α. In the illustrated example the inclination angle α is same for the side walls 26, 30 of the lid 14 and the side walls 68 and 70 of the container body 12. In possible forms of implementation, each of the walls sides 26, 30 of the cover 14 and the corresponding walls side panels 68 and 70 of the container body 12 can be inclined at different angles of inclination from the inclination angles of the other side walls 26, 30 of the cover 14 and side walls 68 and 70 of the body of container 12. The invention is particularly useful for the packaging of single-dose soluble capsules as the structure of the container 10 previously described is in able to meet the standards for proof containers of children. One aspect of the present invention is a product of consumption including a container 10 as previously described and at least one single-dose soluble article. Another aspect of the present invention is a kit comprising a first draft of paper material 20 and a second draft of paper material 22, in which the first rough draft of paper material 20 and the second rough draft of paper material 22 are configured to be folded in so as to form a container body 12 respectively and a lid 14 as previously described. Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the construction details and the forms of implementation may vary widely from as described and illustrated without going out from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. Lid (14) for a container for consumables (10), formed from a flat blank (22) of paper material, comprising a base wall (24), a pair of first side walls (26) having respective first upper edges (102) and a pair of second side walls (30) having respective second upper edges (104), wherein the base wall (24) is lowered with respect to said first and second upper edges (102, 104) and wherein the first and second side walls (26, 30) and the base wall (24) define a compartment (106), and wherein at least one side wall (26) between said first and second side walls (26,30) comprises an outer layer (34) having at least one notched portion forming at least one engagement tab (40) that is elastically deformable between a rest position in which the engagement tab (40) protrudes from an outer surface of the outer layer (34) and a elastically deformed position in which the engagement tab (40) is flush with the outer surface of the outer layer (34)., 2. Lid (14) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one side wall (26) comprises an inner layer (36) spaced from said outer layer (34).

3. Lid (14) according to claim 2, wherein - 17 said at least one side wall (26) comprises an intermediate layer (38) which extends between the respective outer layer (34) and the respective inner layer (36).

4. Lid (14) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said compartment (106) has a truncated pyramid shape and is configured so that when a plurality of lids (14) are stacked, each lid (14) located above another lid (14) is penetrated into the compartment (106) of the lid (14) below.

5. Lid (14) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said pair of first side walls (26) and said pair of second side walls (30) are connected to the base wall (24) along respective first folds (28) and third folds (32), and wherein said at least one engagement tab (40) is defined by at least one through cut (40, 44) extending through the respective outer layer (34) and having ends aligned with each other along a hinge line (46) superimposed on the respective first fold (28).

6. Lid (14) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said first side walls (26) comprises a first flap (48) connected to the base wall (24) by the respective first fold (28) - 18 and forming said external layer (34) and a second flap (50) connected to the respective first flap (48) by a second fold (52) and forming said internal layer (36).

7. Lid (14) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said second side walls (30) comprises respective third flaps (54) connected to the base wall by respective third folds (32), wherein said third flaps (54) of the second side walls (30) have respective end portions (58) which extend between respective first and second flaps (48, 50) of the first side walls (26) and form the intermediate layers (38) of the first side walls (26).

8. Lid (14) according to claim 7, wherein said second side walls (30) comprise respective fourth flaps (62) connected to the respective third flaps (54) by respective fourth folds (64) and overlapped and fixed to the respective third flaps (54).

9. Lid (14) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said first side walls (26) and at least one of said second side walls (30) are inclined with respect to the base wall (24) by an angle (α) between 70° and 85°.

10. A blank of paper material (22) configured to - 19 be folded to form a lid (14) according to any of the preceding claims.