PRODUCT COMBINATION CONTAINING A PACKAGE INSERT AND AN INSERTS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a product combination comprising a divisible packaging insert suitable for placement in a packaging container, such as those used in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, and similar industries, and an accompanying insert. In particular, the divisible packaging insert can be used in conjunction with containers made of cardboard or plastic.

[0002] Currently, additional packaging components used in the pharmaceutical industry include package inserts, sometimes called leaflets, printed on thin paper. These are folded several times and then included with the drug product before it is packaged, for example, in a folding carton and subsequently shipped for sale. The possibilities for adding further products as additional packaging components to a main product are currently limited because each additional product means extra work and, depending on the type of product, may require modifications and additions to complex packaging machines and lines, resulting in significant additional costs.

[0003] JP H01 124526 U discloses a measuring container which is cut from a single piece of cardboard and is foldable in such a way that it can be unfolded from a flat state by simply pressing on an edge for use, for example for dispensing liquids or powders.

[0004] US Patent 2016 / 341590 A1 discloses a modular insert product that can be manufactured from a flat, one-piece blank. A modular spoon or scoop, for example, is proposed as the insert product. After die-cutting, the insert is contained within a surrounding frame and can be removed from this frame for assembly and use.

[0005] JP H09 159506 A similarly proposes a packaging insert, in particular a spoon, as an additional product, which can be manufactured from a single-piece blank. The single-piece blank has a frame in which the additional product is arranged in a flat, planar state. The packaging insert, together with the additional product, is placed in a folding carton. For use, the additional product can be detached from the surrounding frame and reassembled.

[0006] DE 42 22 531 A1 discloses an accessory product integrated into a one-piece blank of a folding carton. In this case, the accessory product is specifically a measuring cup for washing powder. The accessory product is not arranged within a surrounding frame, but rather attached to an edge area of ​​the folding carton, which at least partially forms the lid, by means of a tear-off line. The accessory product can be separated from the lid and reassembled.

[0007] GB 2 547 098 A concerns a package insert that includes a cutlery set as an additional product. The cutlery set is formed from a single piece of material, which consists of two parts. These parts are separated by folds. The first part is used as the cutlery set. The second part covers the first part before the cutlery is used. The cutlery set is included in a flat, closed form and can then be assembled for use. Alternatively, it is also provided that the cutlery set is a section of a larger packaging blank that can be detached.

[0008] It is therefore desirable and the object of the present invention to provide a product combination of a packaging insert and an insert that offers added value to the user of the main product, can be processed on essentially the same devices or with the same manufacturing processes as before, does not increase the complexity of the packaging process and thus generates hardly any additional costs.

[0009] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1 of the present invention. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0010] According to the invention, a product combination consisting of a divisible packaging insert and an insert is suitable for placement in a packaging container. The divisible packaging insert comprises a one-piece blank, a frame, and an additional product. In a first state, the additional product and the frame are connected, so that the packaging insert forms a substantially flat layer of material with at least one guide edge. The product combination is configured to be guided in a processing machine. In a second state following the first state, the additional product is detached from the frame and functionally prepared for use. Furthermore, the packaging insert and the insert are detachably connected to one another. The combination of the one-piece blank and the flat layer of material with a guide edge has the advantage that such a product combination can be used in already known packaging machines.Existing packaging lines can be used without requiring complex modifications. This creates added value because a functional product can be added to the packaging container. The manufacturing processes and packaging lines of the industry do not need to be significantly altered for the use of the product combination according to the invention, so that despite the considerable added value for the buyer of the product, the additional manufacturing costs are not significantly higher.

[0011] The packaging insert is preferably made of cardboard or plastic. Cardboard has long been used in the packaging industry; it is inexpensive, a sustainable raw material, and flexible in processing, making it a very reliable choice. Plastic is increasingly used, particularly in the food industry, and is also readily available at a reasonable price.

[0012] A further advantage is that at least one die-cut line is formed on the packaging insert in its initial state, preferably between the additional product and the frame. Optionally, the die-cut line can also be created by heating the material, as is common with plastic films. This die-cut line creates a separation line or break line along which a user can easily separate the additional product from the frame, usually by hand.

[0013] It has proven particularly advantageous if the packaging insert is essentially rectangular in its initial state. The flat design of the material layer with a guide edge, combined with the additional rectangular shape, optimizes the packaging insert for use in conventional erecting or gluing machines. This allows for significantly higher speeds.

[0014] The flat material layer advantageously has a flap on at least one side. This flap can serve as a handle to facilitate removal. An adhesive dot can be applied to the flap, and the flap can be easily detached from the frame or the additional product by means of a die-cut line. As is common with cardboard or plastic boxes, the shape of the flap can be semicircular, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, or even irregular, depending on the application.

[0015] A further advantage is that the flat material layer can have a recess on at least one side. This recess can preferably serve as a point of engagement for the user to detach the frame from the accessory product, with the user preferably grasping opposite ends of the recess. The recess can have a round, oval, or polygonal shape.

[0016] According to the present invention, it is advantageous if the additional product is selected from the following group: dosing aid, opening aid, spatula, handle, spoon, fork, knife, or a combination thereof. The dosing aid could, for example, be a foldable measuring container as described above. The design of the additional product depends on the properties of the main product in the packaging container. For example, it may be useful to include a spoon with the package insert for an orally administered liquid medical device, allowing for easy dosing of the medical device. A handle with a serrated profile similar to a knife, which can be used to open the main product contained in a plastic film, is also conceivable.

[0017] The insert can preferably be a package leaflet, a foil container, a label, a sample pack, or a combination thereof. The connection between the package insert and the insert is advantageously achieved by at least one adhesive point, a band, a staple, a magnetic connection, a hook-and-loop fastener, or a heat-activated adhesive connection.

[0018] These and other advantages of the present invention will be described below with reference to the description of the Figure 9 and described for better understanding using various embodiments not according to the invention, in which: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the packaging insert in the form of a one-piece blank; Fig. 2 shows a representation of a cut-out additional product in operation according to the illustration in Fig. 1Figure 1 shows the embodiment shown; Figure 3 shows a representation of a second embodiment of the packaging insert in the form of a one-piece blank; Figure 4 shows a representation of a cut-out additional product according to the one shown in Figure 3. Fig. 3 The embodiment shown is illustrated; Fig. 5 shows a representation of a second embodiment of the packaging insert in the form of a one-piece blank; Fig. 6 shows a representation of a cut-out additional product according to the one shown in Fig. 5 The embodiment shown is illustrated; Fig. 7 shows a representation of a second embodiment of the packaging insert in the form of a one-piece blank; Fig. 8 shows a representation of a cut-out additional product according to the one shown in Fig. 7 The illustrated embodiment shows; Fig. 9 shows a representation of a product combination according to the invention comprising the packaging insert according to Fig. 1and a package insert in a pre-assembled, assembled and pre-glued state; Fig. 10 shows an alternative product combination not according to the invention, comprising the package insert according to Fig. 1 with a folding box, and Fig. 11 shows a further illustration of an alternative, non-inventive product combination of the packaging insert similar to Fig. 1 shown with a folding box.

[0019] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the packaging insert 1 in the form of a single-piece blank 3, which in the embodiment shown here is rectangular. The packaging insert 1, or blank 3, comprises a frame 5 formed around an additional product 6, with the frame 5 and the additional product 6 abutting each other at a separation line 13. The blank 3 has a center line 15, which essentially defines a vertical axis of symmetry. A straight guide edge 7 limits the blank 3 at the top and bottom, with the exception that a tab 9 is formed on the upper guide edge 7 on the left side of the illustration, which is connected to the frame 5 via a fold line 11. The shape of the tab 9 is essentially semicircular, although it can also assume another shape.

[0020] The accessory product 6, in the embodiment shown here, is a dispensing aid comprising a grip area 17 and two container areas 19 on each side. A fold line 16 is formed between the grip area 17 and the container area 19, and a fold line 16 is also formed between each of the adjacent container areas 19. The fold lines 16 are oriented such that they point towards a central point. A recess 10, symmetrically formed with respect to the center line 15 and extending from this central point, is formed in the embodiment shown here as an isosceles triangle.

[0021] It should be noted that the in Fig. 1 The cut shown in section 3 represents the initial form or state of the packaging insert 1, namely the state where it was formed, for example, from a flat sheet of cardboard by means of punching or cutting.

[0022] Fig. 2shows a schematic representation of the additional product 6 from the in Fig. 1 The embodiment shown. As already mentioned, the additional product 6 is a dosing aid whose support area 18 is bounded by four container fields 19, which in turn adjoin each other at fold lines 16. The gripping surfaces 17 from the one-piece blank 3 are glued together and thus form a flat gripping area.

[0023] It should be noted at this point that the partial gluing of the grip panels 17 takes place in a state where the frame 5 and the additional product 6 of the packaging insert 1 are not yet separated. The packaging insert 1 is folded along the center line 15 and partially glued, i.e., both the frame 5 and the additional product 6 are glued on the corresponding, opposing panels. This is important because the assembly of the packaging insert 1 should involve as many preliminary manufacturing stages as possible, so that in this case, after being removed from the frame 5, the dosing aid only needs to be folded along the separation line 13 in such a way that the support area 18 is opened and thus ready to receive the bulk material for dosing. An operator can grasp and pick up the dosing aid or the additional product 6 with their fingers at the grip area.Further advantages of the flat material layer are discussed below with reference to . Fig. 9 referred.

[0024] Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 These refer to a second embodiment of the packaging insert 1 according to the invention, wherein the additional product 6 represents an opening aid or a letter opener. For the material of the blank 3, for example, a rigid cardboard material or a plastic material can be selected. In the case of a plastic material, the separation line 13 between the frame 5 and the additional product 6 is formed by an additional heat treatment, so that a predefined weakening of the material in the area of ​​the separation line 13 ensures that the additional product 6 can be easily broken out of the frame 5 by an operator. In contrast to the dosing aid as an additional product, as in the Fig. 1 and 2As shown, with regard to the letter opener as an additional product, it should be noted that the cutout 3 does not need to be folded before it is included or added to a package or main product.

[0025] The same applies to the third embodiment, which is described in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 The illustration shows the additional product 6 as a spatula, which is included, for example, with cosmetic or pharmaceutical products. Even with the spatula as additional product 6, it is advantageous if the base material of the packaging insert 1 is plastic, cardboard, or paper.

[0026] Even those in the Figures 7 and 8The fourth embodiment of the packaging insert 1 according to the invention, as illustrated, has a similar structure to the second and third embodiments described above. In the fourth embodiment, the additional product 6 is a knife with a handle and a cutting area with a sawtooth profile. As with the letter opener and the spatula, the material is preferably designed to provide sufficient strength when the knife is used.

[0027] A detailed explanation of the individual elements of the third and fourth embodiments is omitted here, as they have already been described in detail above with reference to the first two embodiments.

[0028] In Fig. 9 is a product combination of the packaging insert according to the invention. Fig. 1The product combination is shown in its assembled state with a package insert or leaflet. In this case, "product combination" means that the packaging insert 1, together with a package insert 20, is configured in such a way that it can be added, either mechanically or manually, as a whole to a main product in a folding carton or other packaging container. This allows additional products to be flexibly integrated into a packaging line, where, for example, main products are inserted into pre-assembled folding cartons along with package inserts, without altering the entire packaging process and thus incurring increased costs. In particular, existing packaging machines and processes can be used for such product combinations.

[0029] In Fig. 9The package insert 20 is visible in the upper section, while the middle and bottom sections are obscured by the package insert 1 in the illustration shown here. The connection between the package insert 20 and the package insert 1 can be achieved in several ways: by a band, for example, made of paper, plastic tape, or lightweight cardboard; by a magnetic connection; by a hook-and-loop fastener; by a staple; by an adhesive bond; or by a heat-activated adhesive. With a band, a loop is wrapped around both products, which are stacked on top of each other, perpendicular to their length. This ensures that the two elements can only be separated by breaking the band. The connection methods mentioned above are cost-effective and easy to implement.

[0030] Furthermore, one can in Fig. 9recognize that the grip areas 17 lie directly on top of each other and are already bonded together over their entire surface, so that the dosing aid or the additional product 6 only needs to be folded at the container areas 19 after being detached from the frame 5, resulting in a protective area as shown in Fig. 2 The dosing aid is shown in the illustration. Detaching it from the frame 5 is made easier by gripping the recess 10, because the separating punch line 13 is already partially exposed there.

[0031] Furthermore, the Fig. 9 It can be deduced that an elongated and, in particular, straight design of the guide edge 7 is very well suited for automated processing in a packaging line. In the embodiment shown here, the tab 9 serves as a removal aid when pulling out the insert and / or to easily separate the packaging insert 1 from the package leaflet 20, which are glued together here.

[0032] Fig. 10Figure 1 shows an alternative product combination in which the packaging insert is directly connected to a folding carton 21 in a single piece. The folding carton 21 is a long-established cuboid container that has been used in various industries for decades. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection between the packaging insert and the folding carton 21 is made at an adhesive flap 23, to which the packaging insert is attached via a fold line 22. The advantage of this design is that the packaging insert no longer needs to be connected to the folding carton 21 by gluing or similar means, but can be die-cut or cut directly from the cardboard or plastic material. Fig. 10 It can be seen that the packaging insert with frame 5 and additional product 6 corresponds to the one in Fig. 1 The product combination shown corresponds to the one depicted. Does the user wish to use the product combination as shown? Fig. 10To use the additional product 6, he opens the finished, closed product container, removes the main product and processes the product container until, as above with reference to Fig. 9 As described, the package insert 20 and / or the supplementary product 6 can be separated from the frame 5. This is applicable to powders or granules in packaging that has a void at the top, which is a technical necessity after the products are filled. This void allows the user or consumer to separate the package insert 1, along with the supplementary product 6 and the package insert 20, along the perforation of the adhesive edge of the folding carton 21.

[0033] Another alternative embodiment of a product combination with a folding carton and packaging insert is described in Fig. 11 shown. In contrast to the embodiment according to Fig. 10The packaging insert is attached to a lid flap 25 and an intermediate flap 24, which are connected to each other via a punched line 26. Here too, the additional product 6 is a dosing aid as described above with reference to the Figure 1 , 9 and 10 described. In both embodiments according to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 Alternatively, during pre-assembly, i.e., when preparing the packaging container, only the main product needs to be inserted into the container, and the product insert can be equipped with an insert. For example, a package insert printed on thin paper can be added to the packaging container or product combination without requiring extensive and costly modifications to existing production lines.

[0034] The subject matter of the present invention provides a product combination consisting of a divisible packaging insert and an insert, which offers added value to the user of the main product, can be processed on essentially the same packaging lines or with the same manufacturing processes as before, does not increase the complexity of the packaging process and thus generates hardly any additional costs.

Claims

1. A product combination comprising a packaging insert (1) and an insertion (20), wherein the divisible packaging insert (1) is a single-piece precut part (3) comprising a frame (5) and an add-on product (6), wherein the add-on product (6) and the frame (5) are connected in a first state such that the packaging insert (1) forms a substantially flat material layer with at least one guiding edge (7), wherein the product combination is arranged to be guided in a processing machine, and wherein the add-on product (6) is separated from the frame (5) in a second state following the first state and is arranged functionally for use, characterised in that the packaging insert (1) and the insertion (20) are separably connected with each other, and the product combination is suited for inserting into a packing container.

2. The product combination as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the packaging insert (1) is formed of cardboard material or plastic material.

3. The product combination as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one die-cut line (13) is formed on the packaging insert (1) in the first state which optionally is additionally generated by heating the material.

4. The product combination as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the packaging insert (1) is formed substantially rectangularly in the first state.

5. The product combination as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the flat material layer has a tab (9) on at least one side.

6. The product combination as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the flat material layer has a recess (10) on at least one side.

7. The product combination as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the recess (10) is arranged as an engagement point for separating the add-on product (6) from the frame (5).

8. The product combination as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the add-on product (6) is selected from the group of dosing aid, opening aid, spatula, handle, spoon, fork, knife or a combination thereof.

9. The product combination as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the insertion (20) is selected from the group of package leaflet, foil container, label, sample pack or a combination thereof.

10. The product combination as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection between packaging insert (1) and insertion (20) is formed by at least one glue point, by a banderol, by a staple connection, by a magnetic connection, by a hook-and-loop connection or by a hotmelt connection.