Packaging comprising a screen protection layer and method for applying the screen protection layer to the screen of a mobile terminal device by means of such packaging

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a packaging with a screen protection layer and a method for applying the screen protection layer to the screen of a mobile terminal device by means of such a packaging.

[0002] CN 103 935 548 A already discloses a mounting frame with a base on which a projection is arranged at each of the four corners, which engages the respective corner of the mobile device. Within the projections, a raised portion is provided on the base, the height of the raised portion corresponding to the thickness of a screen protector to be applied. The mobile phone is precisely positioned on the inserted screen protector with the display facing the screen protector. Furthermore, there is an opening in the base so that the screen protector can be pressed onto the display from the opposite side of the mobile phone.

[0003] From CN 203 819 765 U, an auxiliary device in the form of a frame for applying a screen protector to a mobile phone is known, comprising a box with a recess for a mobile phone. A lid is pivotally mounted on one long side of the box. The lid can be positioned and secured in the closed position on the box via a magnetic connection. Furthermore, a recess for a screen protector is provided in the lid. Once the mobile phone and the screen protector are inserted into the appropriate recesses, the lid is folded onto the box so that the screen protector can be applied to the display.

[0004] Finally, WO 2012 / 141505 A1 relates to an auxiliary device in the form of a frame for applying a screen protection layer to a mobile phone display, as an example of a mobile terminal. A receiving device with a two-stage recess is provided. The screen protection layer is inserted into a lower recess, with a portion of the cover film previously removed from the screen protection layer. The mobile phone is then placed on the screen protection layer with the display facing down, so that the mobile phone is positioned precisely relative to the screen protection layer. The base of the receiving device is elastic or has an opening so that the screen protection layer can be pressed centrally onto the display.The mobile phone is then removed from the holder so that the remaining sections of the cover film can be removed and the screen protection layer can be fully applied.

[0005] US 8 517 367 B1 discloses a packaging comprising a sleeve and an insert with an elastically deformable base.

[0006] As further prior art, reference is made to the documents US 10 688 712 B2, US 2019 / 149183 A1, US 2023 / 002105 A1 and US 10 336 048 B1.

[0007] Until now, it has been common practice to manufacture packaging for screen protectors entirely from plastic, as this offers very good mechanical and moisture protection, thus preventing damage during transport or delivery to the buyer. However, the disadvantage is that such plastic packaging requires complex disposal after delivery, and the plastic used results in relatively high material expenditure and thus costs. Avoiding plastics is particularly necessary and sensible for environmental reasons. The packaging known to date, thanks to the screen protectors that can be used within them, certainly allows for the correct application of the screen protector to the touch-sensitive screen, i.e., the display of a mobile device.

[0008] However, the invention is based on the object of providing a packaging that has a simpler structure than known designs and, in addition to the possibility of applying a supplied screen protection layer to the touch-sensitive screen of a mobile device, can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly and easy manner. Furthermore, a method is to be specified for how a screen protection layer can be applied to the touch-sensitive screen of a mobile device using such a packaging.

[0009] The invention solves this problem with the features of independent patent claims 1 and 12.

[0010] Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the respective subsequent subclaims.

[0011] A packaging comprising a cover and at least one insert, wherein the cover serves to protect the at least one insert, and wherein a base of the insert has a frame which has a cutout into which a mobile terminal can be inserted with a precise fit, so that an outer surface of the terminal inserted into the cutout is flush with an outer surface of the frame, wherein the packaging as a whole consists of a compressed natural material or a natural material solidified by a binder and a screen protection layer with a cover film covering the screen protection layer in the delivery state is inserted into the cutout receiving the terminal, was further developed according to the invention in such a way that the at least one insert has at least one perforation section for forming an opening in the base.

[0012] The consistent use of a compacted natural material or one solidified by a binder as the packaging material avoids the use of plastics, resulting in a simple design of the packaging according to the invention that is also more cost-effective than plastic packaging. Another very significant advantage in this case is that the disposal of packaging made of compacted natural material or one solidified by a binder is easier and more environmentally friendly than with plastic packaging. Natural materials that can be used include, for example, plant fibers such as grasses, straw or hay, as well as wood fibers, so that a special embodiment of the invention consists in the packaging being made entirely of cardboard or compacted paper. The aforementioned natural materials can be easily composted with organic waste or disposed of with waste paper.Incineration is also possible without releasing harmful substances. A pulp is produced from the natural material and any binding agent used, for example, by adding water. This pulp is pressed into a suitable mold and then dried, thereby achieving the strength required for the specific application. The design of the packaging according to the invention also allows for the simple application of such a screen protection layer to the surface of the touch-sensitive screen.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the insert inserted into the sleeve be made at least partially of corrugated cardboard and have a flat outer surface. The use of corrugated cardboard has the significant advantage that the packaging as a whole is very stable and, thanks to the existing cavities, is very lightweight. This low weight significantly facilitates transport and handling of the packaging. The flat outer surface of the insert also allows the insert to be inserted into the sleeve as a unit with a mobile device accommodated therein.

[0014] Since mobile devices sometimes have buttons that protrude beyond their outer circumference for operating the device, it is particularly advantageous if, according to a further development of the invention, at least one bulge or at least one recess is introduced into the frame, which accommodates the protruding buttons of the mobile device and also serves to facilitate removal of the device from the frame. This proposed solution therefore aims to design the bulges in such a way that both functions can be implemented if possible, thereby keeping the number of existing bulges in the frame to a minimum. In other words, the bulges are provided in the area of ​​the buttons of the mobile device and are sized to additionally allow manual intervention in order to easily remove the mobile device from the frame.

[0015] Screen protection layers for application to a touch-sensitive screen of a mobile device have a surface that is either an adhesive layer, as preferred according to the invention, or has physical adhesion forces, meaning the screen protection layer adheres to the display without the use of any adhesives or glues. When the film is removed from the display, no residue remains on the screen with the latter variant, making this connection between the screen protection layer and the screen advantageous. To prevent a random and inaccurate connection between the screen protection layer and the touch-sensitive screen of a mobile device inserted into the packaging, the screen protection layer is provided with a cover film.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, to facilitate the removal of the cover film, it is proposed that a sticker, loose on at least one side, or a tab for peeling off the cover film be applied to the freely accessible outer side of the cover film of the screen protection layer. The user can thus grasp the sticker, loose on one side, or the tab with their fingers and then easily peel the cover film off the screen protection layer before the screen is bonded to the screen protection layer in the desired manner.

[0016] To ensure the easiest possible connection between the screen protector and the touch-sensitive screen, it is advantageous if at least one perforation in the base of the insert extends partially or across the entire frame cutout. The larger the perforation, the easier it is to remove the screen protector from the insert or to connect it to the screen, and any air bubbles that may be present between the screen surface and the screen protector can be smoothed out during application of the screen protector.

[0017] Since, according to the invention, the screen protection layer is already arranged in the packaging and the mobile device is inserted into the packaging above the screen protection layer, it corresponds to a further measure of the invention that the base and the frame are two individual elements made of a natural material, in particular cardboard, arranged one above the other and connected to one another by a material bond. The inventive idea of ​​this proposal is that the frame particularly preferably consists of two materially connected layers, with the lower layer closest to the base corresponding to the thickness of the screen protection layer. With this proposed solution, it can be achieved that the outer surface of the mobile device is flush with the outer surface of the insert, allowing the insert to be easily inserted or introduced into the casing that accommodates the insert.

[0018] A special embodiment of the invention provides for the insert, consisting of the base and frame, to be inserted into the casing, which is equipped with an insertion opening. In this proposed solution, the casing has a single opening, which can be provided, for example, at the front or on one of the long sides of the casing and serves to accommodate the entire insert. An alternative design variant can consist of a two-part casing, comprising a lower part with a pivoting lid attached to it. Both solutions are considered equivalent.

[0019] In any case, it is advantageous to provide the casing with a recess or opening on its opening side to facilitate removal of the insert. In a variant with a lid, this recess or opening is incorporated into the lid or a suitable tab is provided on the lid. If the casing is closed on all sides except for one insertion opening, such a recess or recess is provided in the area of ​​the insertion opening.

[0020] The screen protection layer is a protective film or a protective glass, whereby the protective glass is usually a polyacrylic material or Plexiglas.

[0021] The method according to the invention for applying a screen protection layer to the screen of a mobile terminal using a packaging as described above is characterized by the following method steps: Removing the insert from the case, peeling off the cover film from the screen protector using the sticker or the tab, inserting the end device into the precisely cut-out in the insert so that the screen protector comes into contact with the screen, and removing at least one perforation from the base so that the screen protector can be released when the mobile device is removed from the packaging.

[0022] The method is significantly advantageous because the packaging also provides a screen protection layer, and the mobile device can be precisely positioned within this packaging so that the screen protection layer contained therein can be optimally applied to the screen of the mobile device after removal of the cover film. Application is very simple because the base is either deformable or has the perforation section according to the invention, the removal of which creates a sufficiently large opening suitable for pressing the mobile device with its screen side against the screen protection layer and for removing the screen protection layer with the mobile device from the insert.

[0023] According to a special embodiment of the method, by removing at least one perforation section from the base, an opening is created in the base of the insert through which the terminal device can be pressed against the screen protection layer.

[0024] After the screen protection layer has been applied, according to one embodiment of the method, the end device is removed from the insert and the screen protection layer is then smoothed out to remove any air bubbles that may still be present under the screen protection layer.

[0025] As already stated several times, the key advantage of the packaging made of natural materials, especially cardboard, is that the entire packaging can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner as organic waste, with waste paper, or incinerated. This allows for residue-free disposal.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiment does not represent a limitation to the variant shown, but serves merely to explain a principle of the invention.

[0027] Identical or similar components are always designated by the same reference numerals. To illustrate the functionality of the invention, the figures show only highly simplified schematic diagrams, omitting components that are not essential to the invention. However, this does not mean that such components are not present in a solution according to the invention.

[0028] It shows: Figure 1: the use of a packaging in a spatial view, Figure 2: the use of a packaging viewed from the bottom side and Figure 3: the entire packaging in a perspective view with the insert inserted.

[0029] In the Figure 1 is a recording of a Figure 1 A spatial view of an insert 3 suitable for a mobile device (not shown) is shown. The insert 3, which in the example shown is made entirely of cardboard, is inserted into a cover 2, as can be seen more clearly from the illustration in Figure 3 and thus forms an essential part of a packaging 1. The insert 3 has a base 5, which in the case of Figure 1 The example shown is equipped with a frame 6 made of corrugated cardboard, which in turn has a cutout 7 that is precisely designed to fit the mobile device to be inserted therein. To facilitate the removal of a mobile device inserted into the cutout 7, the frame 6 has lateral protrusions 11 and 12 that are arranged in the area of ​​the buttons present on the mobile device. In the frame 6 of the Figure 1Furthermore, a screen protection layer 9 is embedded in the insert 3 shown, the upper side of which later faces the touch-sensitive screen of the mobile terminal device and is provided with a cover film 10. The frame 6 in turn consists of two materially bonded, superimposed layers 6.1 and 6.2, of which at least the upper layer 6.2 is made of corrugated cardboard. The special feature in this case is that the lower, bottom-near layer 6.1 corresponds to the material thickness of the screen protection layer 9 and the layer 6.2 arranged above it corresponds to the thickness of the mobile terminal device to be inserted into the insert 3. This has the result that when the mobile terminal is inserted into the insert 3, the surface of the mobile terminal is flush with the outer surface 8 of the frame 6 of the insert 3.A further special feature in this case is that the base 5 of the insert 3 has a perforation section 4, which can be removed from the base 5 to connect the screen protection layer 9 to the touch-sensitive screen of the mobile device or to facilitate the removal of the screen protection layer 9 from the insert 3. For this purpose, the perforation section 4 is provided all around with a suitable perforation 17, which completely cuts through the base 5 in this area in the manner shown in dashed lines. To facilitate the removal of the cover film 10 from the screen protection layer 9, there is also a sticker 14, which is connected to the cover film 10 by one section and can be grasped by hand with its free section. The method for applying a screen protection layer 9 to the screen of the mobile device is as described below.First, the insert 3 is removed from the cover 2. The cover film 10 can then be removed from the screen protection layer 9 using the provided sticker 14. If the mobile device is subsequently inserted into the precisely designed cutout 7 of the insert 3, the surface of the screen protection layer 9 inevitably comes into contact with the screen of the mobile device and bonds to the surface of the screen of the mobile device due to the existing adhesive layer or due to the adhesive forces. The user of the packaging 1 then deforms the base 5 toward the screen protection layer 9 so that the screen of the mobile device adheres to the screen protection layer 9.

[0030] By removing the perforation section 4 in the bottom of the insert 3, an opening is created through which the mobile device clings to the screen protection layer 9 when pressure is exerted on the back of the mobile device and by means of which the removal of the screen protection layer and the mobile device from the insert 3 is facilitated.

[0031] The Figure 2 illustrates the insert 3 of a packaging 1 viewed from the bottom side. This once again clearly shows the perforation section 4, which consists of a perforation 17 that makes it possible to open the bottom 5 in sections by removing the perforation section 4. In the Figure 2In the embodiment shown, a total of four circular recesses 13 are also provided in the base, which can be grasped with the fingers in order to facilitate the removal of the mobile device or the mobile device provided with the screen protection layer 9 from the insert 3. The illustration of the Figure 2 the screen protection layer 9 is visible from its underside.

[0032] From the Figure 3Finally, the packaging 1 as a whole is shown in a perspective view with the insert 3 inserted therein. The packaging 1 therefore consists of the sleeve 2, which in the example shown has an insertion opening 15 on only one side, into which the insert 3 is inserted. To facilitate the removal of the insert 3 from the sleeve 2, the sleeve has a recess 16 on one side on the side of the insertion opening 15. The entire packaging 1 is made of cardboard, so that it can be disposed of without difficulty. Disposal can be achieved by placing the entire packaging 1 in the waste paper or simply by incineration. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS:

[0033] 1Packaging 2Cover 3Insert 4Perforation section 5Bottom 6Frame 6.1 6.2First layer Second layer 7Cutout 8Outer surface (of the frame) 9Screen protection layer 10Cover film 11Bump 12Bump 13Recess 14Sticker (tab) 15Insertion opening 16Insertion recess 17Perforation

Claims

1. Packaging (1) comprising a sleeve (2) and at least one insert (3), wherein the sleeve (2) serves to receive the at least one insert (3) in protected fashion, and wherein a bottom (5) of the insert (3) has a frame (6) which has a cutout (7) into which a mobile terminal can be accurately fitted, with the result that an outer surface of the terminal inserted in the cutout (7) terminates flush with an outer surface (8) of the frame (6), wherein the packaging (1) overall consists of a natural material which is consolidated by a binder or compacted, and the cutout (7) designed to receive the terminal contains a screen protection layer (9) with a covering film (10) that covers the screen protection layer (9) in the as-delivered state, characterized in that the at least one insert (2) has at least one perforated portion (4) for forming an opening in the bottom (5).

2. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterized in that the packaging (1) overall consists of compacted paper or of cardboard.

3. Packaging according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (3) at least partially consists of corrugated cardboard and has a flat outer surface.

4. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that introduced in the frame (6) is at least one indentation (11, 12), or introduced in the bottom (5) is at least one aperture (13) for making it easier to take the terminal out of the frame (6).

5. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that applied to the covering film (10) of the screen protection layer (9) is a sticker (14) which is not fixed on at least one side or a tab for pulling off the covering film (10).

6. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one perforated portion (4) in the bottom (5) of the insert (3) extends at least in certain portions or over the entire cutout (7) of the frame (6).

7. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom (5) and the frame (6) are at least two individual elements which are arranged one on top of the other, integrally bonded to one another and made of the natural material, in particular of cardboard.

8. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (6) consists of two layers (6.1, 6.2) integrally bonded to one another, wherein a lower layer (6.1) close to the bottom corresponds to the thickness of the screen protection layer (9) and a layer (6.2) arranged on top thereof consists of corrugated cardboard.

9. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (3) formed of the bottom (5) and the frame (6) is slid in the sleeve (2) equipped with an insertion opening (15).

10. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (3) formed of the bottom (5) and the frame (6) is inserted in the sleeve (2) equipped with a closeable lid.

11. Packaging according to Claim 9, characterized in that the sleeve (2) on the side of the insertion opening (15) has a grip recess (16) or aperture for making it easier to withdraw the insert (3), or on the lid has a tab.

12. Method for applying a screen protection layer (9) to the screen of a mobile terminal by means of a packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, but having at least the features of Claim 5, characterized by the method steps of: - withdrawing the insert (3) from the sleeve (2), - peeling the covering film (10) off of the screen protection layer (9) by means of the sticker (14) or the tab, - inserting the terminal into the accurately fitting cutout (7) of the insert (3), with the result that the screen protection layer (9) comes into contact with the screen, and - removing the at least one perforated portion (4) from the bottom (5) in order that the screen protection layer (9) detaches when the mobile terminal is withdrawn from the packaging.

13. Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that removing the at least one perforated portion (4) from the bottom (5) produces an opening in the bottom (5) of the insert (3), and the terminal is pressed against the screen protection layer (9) through this opening.

14. Method according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, after the screen protection layer (9) has been placed on, the terminal is withdrawn from the insert (3) and the screen protection layer (9) is finally smoothed out, in order to remove any air bubbles under the screen protection layer (9).

15. Method according to one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the entire packaging (1) is disposed of or combusted as organic waste or waste paper in an environmentally friendly fashion.