Paper or cardboard containers
By introducing folding lines and articulated structures into containers made of paper or cardboard, the problem of difficult to manufacture paper or cardboard containers in the prior art that meet the standards for preventing child errors is achieved, and the dual goals of safety and sustainability are achieved. , reducing plastic use and environmental impact.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202210358011.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-04-06
- Filing Date
- 2022-04-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-03
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-04-06
AI Technical Summary
The prior art has difficulty in manufacturing reclosable containers made of paper or cardboard that meet child-proof misstart standards through sustainable materials, especially in providing child safety and recyclability.
A child-proof open container made of paper or cardboard is designed, and a complex closed and open structure is formed by introducing folding lines and articulated structures into the container body and movable cover, ensuring that children cannot open easily and are suitable for adults. Used by people. The container is made entirely of paper or cardboard and does not require any plastic parts in the design and can be recycled as paper waste.
It achieves safety compliance with the anti-child error-start standards, while reducing the use of plastics, promoting sustainable resource utilization, improving packaging recycling rate, and reducing environmental impact.
Smart Images
Figure CN115196142B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to containers, particularly containers for household products, especially child-resistant paper or paperboard containers.
[0002] The present invention has been developed with a view to its application to containers for laundry and dishwasher detergent boxes. Background Art
[0003] Laundry and dishwasher detergent pods are water-soluble pouches that hold highly concentrated laundry detergent, softener and other laundry products. Detergent pods are becoming increasingly popular given their ease of use for users and their positive impact on sustainability as they are a way to reduce wasteful use of powdered and liquid detergents by precisely measuring loads.
[0004] There are concerns about children accidentally coming into contact with the laundry pods, as their patterned and multi-colored designs make them resemble candy and there is a risk that children may confuse them.
[0005] In 2012, in response to a child swallowing a Tide box, Procter & Gamble said they would make the box containers more difficult to open by adding double latches to the lids, and refocused their advertising to make it clear that the product should always be kept out of the reach of children. The box packaging was also changed to an opaque orange color, rather than the original clear plastic gumball machine-type expression, to make them appear less appetizing. Other manufacturers followed suit with the same packaging changes. In 2013, Consumer Reports stated that there were nearly 7,700 reported incidents of children 5 years old or younger coming into contact with the Tide boxes, and that year a child in Florida died after ingesting a box. In 2014, a study published in Pediatrics found that there were more than 17,000 calls to poison control centers from 2012 to 2013 regarding children who had come into contact with the boxes. Despite the industry's move toward safer packaging, a 2017 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that the number of chemical eye burns associated with laundry detergent pods in children ages 3 to 4 soared from fewer than 20 cases per year to almost 500 between 2012 and 2015. In 2015, these injuries accounted for 26% of all chemical eye burns in this population.
[0006] In view of the dangers posed by ingestion of boxes by children, packaging manufacturers have worked on the development of child-resistant containers, the introduction of which has reduced the incidence of accidental ingestion of potentially hazardous substances by children under 5 years of age. Whether this is due to the use of this type of packaging is not easy to assess, but there is no doubt that child-resistant packaging has made a positive contribution to this reduction. In view of the increasing frequency of the use of this type of packaging, it is necessary to define its characteristics and the relevant test methods in order to provide adequate assurance and avoid confusion and misunderstanding in an area that is very important for the safety of children.
[0007] To meet this need, UNI has issued the UNI EN ISO 8317:2005 standard "Child-resistant packaging - Requirements and test procedures for reclosable packaging". This standard specifies the characteristics that resealable packaging must have before it can be placed on the market (especially for solvents, household hygiene products, strong acid or alkaline preparations, substances used in gardening, etc.).
[0008] When tested in accordance with this standard, child-resistant containers must provide a satisfactory degree of resistance to opening by children while at the same time providing adequate access to their contents by adults.
[0009] Therefore, the testing procedure should be carried out in two phases: testing with children and testing with adults. Testing with children is carried out in an environment familiar to them in the presence of a supervisor: a group of no more than 200 children aged between 42 and 51 months is formed. Each pair of children is given a number of packages that they can open in any way they want. They have 10 minutes: if they cannot open or reach the contents of the product in the first five minutes of the test, they must watch a demonstration of the opening of the package by an adult; after that, they have another five minutes to try to open the package.
[0010] A packaging is considered to comply if:
[0011] - At least 85% of children fail to open the package within the first five minutes, and
[0012] - At least 80% of children were unable to open the package within five minutes of watching the demonstration.
[0013] The vast majority of containers for detergent boxes currently on the market are made of plastic material because of the need to provide the container with a resilient snap-fit engagement configuration and locking elements which are necessary to ensure compliance with child-resistant requirements.
[0014] One of the main goals today is to achieve sustainable resource utilization, especially in packaging solutions. While plastic containers can be recycled when designed as a mono-material solution, in practice only 80% of the material can actually be recycled.
[0015] In addition, the global average plastic recycling rate was only 8% in 2019, and plastic is an undesirable material from a sustainable development perspective. Therefore, the use of plastic should be minimized.
[0016] However, all known solutions fall far short of minimizing the amount of plastic when it comes to providing the desired functionality and features of the packaging.
[0017] Nowadays, many containers are made to a greater or lesser extent from paper or cardboard, which represent environmentally sustainable materials that have a low environmental impact since they are fully recyclable.
[0018] However, creating a child-resistant container made of paper or paperboard for a detergent box is a challenge because it is difficult to manufacture a reclosable child-resistant container made of paper or paperboard that meets the requirements of child-resistant standards. Summary of the invention
[0019] It is an object of the present invention to provide an ecologically sustainable container for a detergent box which overcomes the problems of the prior art.
[0020] More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a child-resistant reclosable container made of paper or paperboard.
[0021] According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the container according to the invention.
[0022] According to another aspect, the present invention is directed to a paper or paperboard blank for use in making a child-resistant container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples only, in which:
[0024] - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a container according to the present invention in a closed configuration,
[0025] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a container in an open configuration,
[0026] - Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of
[0027] - Figure 4 and Figure 5 It is used to manufacture Figure 1 and Figure 2 A plan view of the paper or paperboard blank of the container,
[0028] - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a container according to the present invention in a closed configuration,
[0029] - Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A perspective view of a container in an open configuration,
[0030] - Figure 8 It is along Figure 6 A cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of
[0031] - Fig. 9 It is used to manufacture Figure 6 and Figure 7 A plan view of the paper or paperboard blank of the container,
[0032] - Fig.10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a container according to the present invention in a closed configuration,
[0033] - Fig.11 yes Fig.10 A perspective view of a container in an open configuration,
[0034] - Fig.12 It is along Fig.10 A cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of
[0035] - Fig.13 It is used to manufacture Fig.10 and Fig.11 A plan view of the paper or paperboard blank of the container,
[0036] - Fig.14 yes Fig.11 A variation of the container, and
[0037] - Fig.15 It is used to manufacture Fig.14 A plan view of a paper or paperboard blank of a container.
[0038] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are schematic and that the various figures may not be represented to the same scale. In addition, in the various figures, some elements may not be shown to better show other elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a paper or paperboard container is indicated by reference numeral 10. The paper or paperboard container 10 includes a container body 12 and a removable cover 14. The container body 12 has an orifice 16, and the removable cover 14 is removably applied to the orifice 16 and can be removed at Figure 1 The closed structure shown and Figure 2 Move between the open configurations shown.
[0040] exist Figure 1-5 In the illustrated embodiment, the removable cover 14 is removable from the container body 12 .
[0041] The container body 12 and the movable cover 14 are provided with Figure 4 and 5 A corresponding flat sheet blank 12', 14' of the shape shown is produced. The blank 12', 14' is cut from a flat sheet of paper or paperboard or from a continuous sheet of paper unrolled from a reel. The blank 12', 14' has a plurality of fold lines which are formed at the Figure 4 and 5 The container body 12 and the removable cover 14 are obtained by folding the respective blanks 12', 14' along the folding lines. The container 10 is made entirely of paper or cardboard and can be recycled as paper waste without removing any plastic parts.
[0042] The container body 12 includes a bottom wall 18 opposite to the opening 16 , a pair of body front walls 20 parallel to each other and perpendicular to the bottom wall 18 , and a pair of body side walls 22 parallel to each other and perpendicular to the bottom wall 18 .
[0043] Each body side wall 22 includes an outer layer 24 and an inner layer 26 which overlap each other. The outer layer 24 has a through hole 28, and the inner layer 26 has a through window 30 facing the through hole 28 of the outer layer 24.
[0044] refer to Figure 4 , the inner layer 26 of each of the body side walls 22 may be formed by a first portion 32, which is connected to the bottom wall 18 of the container body 12 via a first folding line 34. The outer layer 24 of each of the body side walls 22 may be formed by two second portions 36, which are connected to the corresponding body front wall 20 of the container body 12 via corresponding second folding lines 38. Each of the two second portions 36 forming the outer layer 24 has a half hole 40. When the two second portions 36 are coplanar with each other, the two half holes 40 form a through hole 28.
[0045] The two second portions 36 forming the outer layer 24 may be fixed to the respective first portions 32 forming the inner layer 26 , for example by gluing.
[0046] Reference Figure 2 The movable cover 14 includes a top wall 42 and a pair of cover side portions 44 parallel to each other and orthogonal to the top wall 42. The movable cover 14 may include two cover front walls 46 parallel to each other and orthogonal to the top wall 42.
[0047] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 5, the removable cover 14 has a pair of engagement tabs 48 protruding from the distal side of the corresponding cover side 44. Each engagement tab 48 is folded over the outer surface of the corresponding cover side 44. The engagement tabs 48 can be fixed to the corresponding outer surface of the cover side 44, for example by gluing, or they can be free, that is, not fixed to the corresponding outer surface of the cover side 44.
[0048] The engagement tab 48 and the through window 30 may be located in the central portion of the cover side 44 and the body side wall 22, respectively.
[0049] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 In the closed configuration of the paper or paperboard container 10 , the outer surface of the cover side 44 contacts the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the corresponding body side wall 22 , and the cover front wall 46 contacts the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the body front wall 20 .
[0050] Reference Figure 3 In the closed configuration, the engagement tabs 48 of the cover side portions 44 engage into corresponding through windows 30 of the body sidewall 22 and retain the removable cover 14 to the container body 12 .
[0051] The user may release the removable cover 14 from the container body 12 by inserting a finger into each through-hole 28 and pressing the engagement tabs 48 inwardly, thereby disengaging the engagement tabs 48 from the corresponding through-windows 30 , while lifting the removable cover 14 .
[0052] The manipulations required to remove the removable cover 14 are sufficiently complex to ensure that the paper or paperboard container 10 is child-resistant.
[0053] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one possible embodiment, the inner layer 26 of each body side wall 22 has a flap 50, which is folded orthogonally to the inner layer 26 and extends along the lower edge of the through window 30. The flap 50 prevents the movable cover 14 from being pushed into the container body 12 beyond the position where the engagement tab 48 engages with the corresponding through window 30.
[0054] Figure 6-9 A second embodiment of a paper or paperboard container 10 according to the invention is shown. Elements corresponding to those disclosed previously are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0055] exist Figure 6-9 In the embodiment of the present invention, the movable cover 14 is hinged to the container body 12. The movable cover 14 and the container body 12 are hinged to the container body 12. Fig. 9 A single paper or paperboard blank 12' of the shape shown begins by passing along Fig. 9 The blank 12' is produced by folding the blank 12' along the folding line indicated by the dot-dash line.
[0056] The removable cover 14 is hinged to the container body 12 along a hinge line 52 that extends along one edge of the top wall 42 of the removable cover 14 and along a top edge of one of the front walls 20 of the container body 12 .
[0057] exist Figure 6-9 In the embodiment of the present invention, the movable cover 14 has only one cover front wall 46 opposite the hinge line 52. The engagement tab 48 and the through window 30 can be located in the side edge portion of the cover side 44 and the body side wall 22, which is opposite to the side edge portion of the cover side 44 and the body side wall 22 adjacent to the hinge line 52.
[0058] refer to Figure 7 and Fig. 9 ,exist Figure 6-9 In the embodiment of the present invention, the outer layer 24 of each body side wall 22 can be formed by a third portion 54 connected to the bottom wall 18 of the container body 12 through a third folding line 56, and the inner layer 26 of each body side wall 22 can be formed by two fourth portions 58 connected to the corresponding body front wall 20 of the container body 12 through corresponding fourth folding lines 60. Also in this embodiment, the third portion 54 forming the outer layer 24 can be fixed to the corresponding fourth portion 58 forming the inner layer 26, for example, by gluing.
[0059] Also in Figure 6-9 In the embodiment, in the closed structure, the engaging tabs 48 of the cover side 44 engage into the corresponding through windows 30 of the body side wall 22 and hold the movable cover 14 to the container body 12, and the movable cover 14 can be released from the container body 12 by inserting a finger into each through hole 28 and pressing the engaging tabs 48 inward to disengage the engaging tabs 48 from the corresponding through windows 30 while lifting the movable cover 14.
[0060] Figure 10-13 A third embodiment of a paper or paperboard container 10 according to the invention is shown. Elements corresponding to those disclosed previously are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0061] In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the movable cover 14 is hinged to the container body 12. Also in this third embodiment, the movable cover 14 and the container body 12 are hinged to each other. Fig.13 A single paper or paperboard blank 12' of the shape shown begins by passing along Fig.13 The blank 12' is produced by folding the blank 12' along the folding line indicated by the dot-dash line.
[0062] Compared with the second embodiment, the third embodiment is designed to improve moisture resistance. Fig.11 , 1213, each body side wall 22 includes an intermediate layer 62 disposed between the inner layer 26 and the outer layer 24. The intermediate layer 62 has a second through hole 64 aligned with the through hole 28 of the outer layer 24.
[0063] Reference Fig.12 and Fig.13 The outer layer 24 of each body side wall 22 is formed by a fifth portion 66 connected to the bottom wall 18 of the container body 12 via a fifth folding line 68 .
[0064] The intermediate layer 62 is formed by two sixth portions 70 connected to the respective body front wall 20 of the container body 12 via respective sixth folding lines 72 .
[0065] The inner layer 26 is formed by a seventh portion 74 connected to the distal edge of the corresponding fifth portion 66 by a seventh folding line 76. In the corresponding seventh portion 74, a through window 30 and a corresponding flap 50 are formed.
[0066] exist Figure 10-13 In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , the seventh portion 74 forming the inner layer 26 may extend only over the top portion of the corresponding body side wall 22 .
[0067] Reference Fig.13 , the body front wall 20 opposite to the hinge line 52 may include an inner layer formed by an eighth portion 78 folded inwardly along an eighth folding line 80. The eighth portion 78 forming the inner layer of the body front wall 20 may extend only over the top portion of the corresponding body front wall 20.
[0068] Fig.14 and Fig.15 Shows Figure 10-13 A variation of the embodiment of the present invention is provided in which the seventh portion 74 of the inner layer 26 forming the body side wall 22 extends over the entire length of the corresponding body side wall 22. In this case, the seventh portion 74 can have a corresponding notch 82 protruding from the corresponding distal edge and engaging a corresponding slot 84 formed in the bottom wall 18 adjacent to the corresponding fifth fold line 68.
[0069] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the details of construction can vary widely with respect to those described and illustrated, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A paper or paperboard container comprising a container body (12) having an orifice (16) and a removable cover (14) removably applied to the orifice (16) and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, in, The container body (12) comprises a bottom wall (18), a pair of body front walls (20) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the bottom wall (18), and a pair of body side walls (22) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the bottom wall (18), wherein each of the body side walls (22) comprises an outer layer (24) having a through hole (28) and an inner layer (26) having a through window (30) facing the through hole (28) of the outer layer (24), wherein the inner layer (26) of each of the body side walls (22) has a flap (50), the flap being folded perpendicular to the inner layer (26) and extending along the lower edge of the through window (30), The movable cover (14) comprises a top wall (42) and a pair of cover side portions (44) parallel to each other and orthogonal to the top wall (42), wherein each of the cover side portions (44) has an engagement tab (48) folded on a corresponding outer surface, wherein, in the closed structure, the outer surface of the cover side (44) contacts the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the corresponding body side wall (22), and wherein in the closed structure, the engaging tab (48) of the cover side (44) engages into the corresponding through window (30) of the body side wall (22) and holds the movable cover (14) to the container body (12), wherein the folding wing (50) prevents the movable cover (14) from being pushed into the container body (12) beyond the position where the engaging tab (48) engages into the corresponding through window (30), and wherein the user is able to release the movable cover (14) from the container body (12) by inserting a finger into each of the through holes (28) and pressing the engaging tab (48) inward.
2. The paper or paperboard container according to claim 1, wherein: The movable cover (14) is removable from the container body (12).
3. The paper or paperboard container according to claim 1, wherein: The movable cover (14) is hinged to the container body (12) along a hinge line (52), which extends along one side of the top wall (42) of the movable cover (14) and along the top edge of one of the body front walls (20).
4. The paper or paperboard container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The inner layer (26) of each of the body side walls (22) is formed by a first portion (32) connected to the bottom wall (18) of the container body (12) via a first folding line (34), and the outer layer (24) of each of the body side walls (22) is formed by two second portions (36) connected to the corresponding body front wall (20) of the container body (12) via corresponding second folding lines (38).
5. The paper or paperboard container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The outer layer (24) of each of the body side walls (22) is formed by a third portion (54) connected to the bottom wall (18) of the container body (12) via a third folding line (56), and the inner layer (26) of each of the body side walls (22) is formed by two fourth portions (58) connected to the corresponding body front wall (20) of the container body (12) via corresponding fourth folding lines (60).
6. The paper or paperboard container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: Each of the body side walls (22) includes an intermediate layer (62) arranged between the inner layer (26) and the outer layer (24), wherein the intermediate layer (62) has a second through hole (64) aligned with the through hole (28) of the outer layer (24), wherein the outer layer (24) of each of the body side walls (22) is formed by a fifth portion (66) connected to the bottom wall (18) of the container body (12) via a fifth folding line (68), wherein the intermediate layer (62) is formed by two sixth portions (70) connected to the corresponding body front wall (20) of the container body (12) via a corresponding sixth folding line (72), and wherein the inner layer (26) is formed by a seventh portion (74) connected to the distal edge of the corresponding fifth portion (66) via a seventh folding line (76).
7. The paper or paperboard container according to claim 6, wherein: The seventh portion (74) extends only over a top portion of the corresponding body side wall (22).
8. The paper or paperboard container according to claim 6, wherein: The seventh portion (74) extends over the entire length of the corresponding body side wall (22).
9. The paper or paperboard container according to claim 8, wherein: Each of the seventh portions (74) has a respective notch (82) projecting from the distal edge and engaging with a respective slot (84) formed in the bottom wall (18) adjacent the respective fifth fold line (68).
10. The paper or paperboard container according to claim 2, wherein: The engaging tab (48) and the through window (30) are located at the central portion of the cover side portion (44) and the body side wall (22), respectively.
11. The paper or paperboard container according to claim 3, wherein: The engagement tab (48) and the through window (30) are located in side portions of the cover side (44) and body side wall (22) that are opposite to side portions of the cover side (44) and body side wall (22) adjacent to the hinge line (52).
12. A paper or paperboard blank for producing a paper or paperboard container according to any one of claims 1 to 11.