Cardboard folding box for accommodating sanitary towels stacked one above the other
The folding box design with a dual-segment dividing line addresses the challenge of easy wipe removal by creating an elastic window cover without gluing, enhancing usability and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MUGLER MASTERPACK
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing folding boxes made of cardboard for holding hygiene wipes face difficulties in easy removal of wipes due to low flexibility of the cardboard wall, requiring an additional window cover glued inside, which complicates production and increases material use.
A folding box design with a dividing line having two segments, one inserted from the outside and one from the inside, without penetrating the wall, creates a detachable window cover that is more elastic than the rest of the box wall, facilitating wipe removal while eliminating the need for gluing.
Enables easy removal of individual hygiene wipes without a glued window cover, simplifying production and reducing material usage.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a folding box made of cardboard for holding stacked hygiene wipes, wherein a prepared surface, detachable along a dividing line, is provided on an upper side of the folding box to release a dispensing window, and wherein a window cover is arranged in the dispensing window and this window cover is designed to be more elastic than a wall of the folding box outside the dispensing window, and wherein the dispensing window has a dispensing opening for removing the hygiene wipes stacked in the folding box.
[0002] Such folding cartons made of cardboard are known in the prior art, for example, from EP 2 152 605 B1. This folding carton has a substantially cuboid shape with a top surface. A slot-like dispensing opening is provided on this top surface. Since the low flexibility of the cardboard wall makes it difficult to remove hygiene wipes from the folding carton through the slot-like dispensing opening, the slot-like dispensing opening is integrated into an elastic support layer (window cover). This elastic support layer, in turn, covers a larger recess (dispensing window) in the wall on the top surface of the folding carton. The elastic window cover makes it easier to reach the top hygiene wipe inside the folding carton with the fingers.Furthermore, the partial covering of the dispensing window with the window cover provides support when removing the wipes, thus ensuring that individual wipes can be taken from the folding box. With a large dispensing window in the wall at the top of the folding box without a window cover, there is a risk of several wipes being pulled out at once. The window cover therefore also acts as a retainer for the stack of wipes and thus serves as a dosing aid for the targeted removal of individual wipes from the folding box. The window cover usually consists of a thin layer of paper or plastic film, and is glued to the inside of the wall at the top of the folding box (see also...). Fig. 1 und Fig. 2 (of the present document). Such folding boxes have generally proven their worth. However, gluing a window cover to the inside of the folding box (called "window backing") requires an additional work step and additional material such as kraft paper or PE film.
[0003] Folding cartons made of cardboard without window covers are known, for example, from US2953293A, US3019944A and US20130186800A1. To facilitate opening the dispensing opening of these folding cartons or to prevent damage to wipes when removing them from the cartons via their dispensing openings, a material thinning is provided at the edge of the dispensing opening.
[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to create a folding box made of cardboard for holding stacked hygiene wipes, in which hygiene wipes can be easily removed from the folding box through the slot-like removal opening, but at the same time a window cover glued to the inside of the folding box is omitted.
[0005] This task is solved by ensuring that the area ratio of the dispensing opening to the area of the dispensing window is in the range of 1:1.5 to 1:10, and that the dividing line has at least a first segment and a second segment. The first segment of the dividing line is inserted into the wall of the top of the folding carton from an outer surface without completely penetrating the wall. The second segment of the dividing line is inserted into the wall of the top of the folding carton from an inner surface, also without completely penetrating the wall. An outer contour of the second segment is located within an outer contour of the first segment, with the first and second segments touching at at least one tear point. The first segment of the dividing line defines the outer contour of the dispensing window. The second segment of the dividing line defines the outer contour of the dispensing opening.Depending on the desired shape of the dispensing window and opening, the two sections are adjusted accordingly. When the folding carton is in use, after removing the detachable section to reveal the dispensing window, the window covering is formed by a portion of the carton's top wall. In this area, the wall is split and has a thinner layer than the carton wall outside the dispensing window.
[0006] Since the first section of the tear line is inserted into the top wall from the outside and the second section into the top wall from the inside, without either section penetrating the wall, tearing the separable area to release the dispensing window, starting at the tear point, separates the area of the top wall of the folding carton located between the outer contour of the first section of the tear line and the outer contour of the second section (the wall is split along a plane). A top portion of this area of the wall is removed as part of the tearable area. A lower portion of this area remains in the dispensing window as a window cover, with this lower portion still connected to the top wall of the folding carton outside the dispensing window.When the tearable area is opened, the area of the wall of the top of the folding carton that lies within the outer contour of the second section is completely removed as part of the tearable area, thus creating the dispensing opening.
[0007] The window cover is formed by splitting the area of the wall on the top of the folding carton located between the outer contour of the first section of the dividing line and the outer contour of the second section. This layer is more elastic due to its reduced thickness compared to the original wall, thus facilitating the grasping of the top hygiene wipe inside the carton. At the same time, the window cover retains sufficient stability to ensure that individual hygiene wipes can be easily removed from the carton.
[0008] As a result, it is no longer necessary to glue a window cover to the inside of the folding box, thus eliminating a process step in the production of the folding box and reducing the manufacturing effort.
[0009] It is proposed that the first section be inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth ranging from one-fifth to four-fifths of the layer thickness. The second section of the dividing line is advantageously inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth equal to the layer thickness of the top surface wall minus the depth of the first section.
[0010] One embodiment provides that the first and second sections of the dividing line are each inserted halfway into the wall of the top surface. This means that when the detachable surface is torn, the wall is split at approximately half the thickness of the wall in the area of the top surface of the folding carton located between the outer contour of the first section of the dividing line and the outer contour of the second section.
[0011] In one embodiment, the first section is inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth of up to one quarter of the layer thickness, and the second section of the dividing line is inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth of up to three quarters of the layer thickness, or the first section is inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth of up to three quarters of the layer thickness, and the second section of the dividing line is inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth of up to one quarter of the layer thickness.
[0012] In another embodiment, the first section is inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth of up to one-third of the layer thickness, and the second section of the dividing line is inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth of up to two-thirds of the layer thickness, or the first section is inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth of up to two-thirds of the layer thickness, and the second section of the dividing line is inserted into the wall of the top surface to a depth of up to one-third of the layer thickness.
[0013] The thickness of the remaining window covering after the tear-off area is removed can be adjusted by the penetration depth of the first and second sections. If the second section of the separation line is inserted deeper into the wall than the first section, the window covering will have a greater thickness than if the first section of the separation line is inserted deeper into the wall than the second section.
[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, a further dividing line is provided on the top of the folding carton, wherein the outer contour of the first section is arranged within the outer contour of this further dividing line. This further dividing line extends from an outer surface of the top of the folding carton into the wall of the top surface without completely penetrating the wall. This additional dividing line further increases the elasticity of the top surface wall in the area of the dispensing window, thus further simplifying the insertion of fingers into the folding carton to reach the top hygiene wipe inside.
[0015] A further advantageous embodiment provides that an engagement section is provided at the tear point on the top of the folding carton, and this engagement section is bounded by a further dividing line. At least one section of this dividing line, which bounds the engagement section, extends from an outer surface of the top of the folding carton into the wall of the top surface without completely penetrating the wall. At least one further section of the dividing line, which bounds the engagement section, extends from the outer surface of the top surface of the folding carton completely through the wall of the top surface. This allows at least part of the engagement section to be pressed towards the inside of the folding carton, so that an edge of the tearable surface becomes accessible at the tear point, thus facilitating the gripping of the tearable surface for opening.
[0016] It is further proposed that the outer contour of the first section of the dividing line and / or the outer contour of the subsequent dividing line be oval, elliptical, or circular.
[0017] Furthermore, it is proposed that the outer contour of the second section of the dividing line is essentially rectangular.
[0018] The separation lines in the cardboard of the folding carton are created using well-known methods. For example, the separation lines can be created using a laser. Alternatively, the separation lines can also be created using a suitable die-cutting unit.
[0019] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a spatial representation of a folding cardboard box for holding stacked hygiene wipes. Fig. 2 a sectional view along the section line AA according to Fig. 1 for a folding box according to the prior art Fig. 3 a folding box blank of an embodiment of the folding box according to the invention made of cardboard for holding stacked hygiene wipes Fig. 4a a sectional view of the folding box according to Fig. 3 along the in Fig. 1 Section line AA shown before removal of the detachable area Fig. 4 sectional view of the folding box according to Fig. 3 along the in Fig. 1 Section line AA shown after removal of the detachable area Fig. 5a shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of the folding box according to the invention along the line shown in Fig. 1 Section line AA shown before removal of the detachable area Fig. 5 leg sectional view of the further design of the folding box according to Fig. 5a along the in Fig. 1 shown section line AA after removal of the separable area
[0020] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional representation of a cardboard folding box 1 for holding stacked hygiene wipes. The folding box 1 has a substantially cuboid shape with a top surface 2. A prepared area 4, which can be torn off along a dividing line 3, is provided on the top surface 2 of the folding box 1 to reveal a dispensing window 5. After the dispensing area 4 is torn off, a window cover 6 remains in the dispensing window 5. This cover is more elastic than a wall 7 of the folding box 1 outside the dispensing window 5. The window cover 6 has a slot-like dispensing opening 8 for removing the hygiene wipes stacked in the folding box 1.
[0021] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view along the section line AA according to Fig. 1 for a folding box 1 according to the prior art. The window cover 6 with the dispensing opening 8 is formed from a thin layer of paper or a plastic film, wherein this window cover is glued to the inside 9 of the wall 7 on the top 2 of the folding box 1.
[0022] Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a cardboard blank of an embodiment of the folding box 1 according to the invention for holding stacked hygiene wipes. The top 2, side panels 10, and bottom 11 of the folding box 1, as well as various adhesive and dust flaps 12, are visible on this blank. The tear line 3 for removing the detachable section 4 to release the dispensing window 5 is shown on the top 2 of the folding box 1. The tear line 3 has a first section 3a and a second section 3b. The first section 3a of the tear line 3 is inserted into the wall 7 of the top 2 from an outer surface 13 of the top 2 of the folding box 1, without completely penetrating the wall 7. The second section 3b of the tear line 3 is inserted into the wall 7 of the top 2 from an inner surface 9 of the top 2 of the folding box 1, without completely penetrating the wall 7.An outer contour of the second section 3b is arranged within an outer contour of the first section 3a, wherein the first section 3a and the second section 3b touch at tear points 14a, 14a' and 14b, 14b'.
[0023] The inner side 9 of wall 7 is the side facing the interior of the folding box 1. The outer side 13 of wall 7 is the side facing the surroundings of the folding box 1.
[0024] At the tear points 14a, 14a' and 14b, 14b' on the top surface 2 of the folding carton, an engagement section 15 is provided at each point. This engagement section 15 is bounded by a further dividing line 16, wherein at least one section 16a of this dividing line 16, which bounds the engagement section 15, extends from an outer surface 13 of the top surface 2 of the folding carton 1 into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 without completely penetrating the wall 7. At least one further section 16b of the dividing line 16, which bounds the engagement section 15, extends completely through the wall 7 of the top surface 2 from the outer surface 13 of the top surface 2 of the folding carton 1. Thus, at the tear points 14a, 14a' and 14b, 14b', a tear tab 4a or 4b of the detachable surface 4 is formed. To remove the detachable surface 4, it is torn at the engagement section 15 (more precisely at the interface 16 and 16b) at one of the tear tabs 4a or 4b.4b (or also at both tear tabs 4a, 4b) is gripped and pulled off, whereby the surface 4 at the tear points 14a, 14a' or 14b, 14b' along the dividing line 3 (and thus along the sections 3a, 3b) detaches, resulting in the splitting described above of the area of the wall 7 on the top 2 of the folding carton 1 between the outer contour of the first section 3a of the dividing line 3 and the outer contour of the second section 3b. In the state of use of the folding box 1, after the removal of the detachable surface 4 to release the removal window 5, the window cover 6 is formed by the area of the wall 7 on the top 2 of the folding box 1 located between the outer contour of the first section 3a and the outer contour of the second section 3b, wherein in this area the wall 7 is split and has a lesser layer thickness than the wall 7 of the folding box 1 outside the removal window 5.
[0025] Furthermore, an additional dividing line 17 is provided on the upper surface 2 of the folding box 1, wherein the outer contour of the first section 3a of the dividing line 3 is arranged within an outer contour of the additional dividing line 17. The additional dividing line 17 is inserted into the wall 7 of the upper surface 2 from the outer surface 13 of the upper surface 2 of the folding box 1, without completely penetrating the wall 2. This additional dividing line 17 is, however, not mandatory.
[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the outer contour of the first section 3a of the dividing line 3 and the outer contour of the further dividing line 17 are elliptical. However, the invention is not limited to this. For example, these outer contours can also be oval or circular. The outer contour of the second section 3b of the dividing line 3 is essentially rectangular, but the invention is not limited to this.
[0027] In the Fig. 3 All dividing lines that completely cut through the wall of the folding box are shown as solid lines. All dividing lines that extend from the outside 13 of the top 2 of the folding box 1 into the wall 7 are shown as dash-dot-dash lines. All dividing lines that extend from the inside 9 of the top 2 of the folding box 1 into the wall 7 are shown as dash-dot-dot-dash lines. Folding lines are shown as evenly spaced dotted lines.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the area ratio of the area of the dispensing opening 8 to the area of the dispensing window 5 is approximately 1:2. According to the invention, the area ratio is in the range of 1:1.5 to 1:10.
[0029] Fig. 4a shows a sectional view of the folding box 1 according to Fig. 3 along the in Fig. 1 shown section line AA before removing the separable area 4.
[0030] Fig. 4b shows a sectional view of the folding box 1 according to Fig. 3 along the in Fig. 1 section line AA shown after removal of the separable area 4.
[0031] As already mentioned, the further dividing line 17 is not mandatory. Fig. 5a shows a cross-sectional view of such a design of the folding box 1 along the in Fig. 1 shown section line AA before removing the separable area 4.
[0032] Fig. 5b shows a sectional view of the design of the folding box 1 according to Fig. 5a along the in Fig. 1 section line AA shown after removal of the separable area 4.
[0033] In the presentation Fig. 4a and Fig. 5a It is evident that the first section 3a and the second section 3b of the dividing line 3 are each inserted halfway into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 of the folding box 1. However, the invention is not limited to this. In general, the first section (3a) can be inserted into the wall (7) of the top surface (2) to a depth ranging from one-fifth to four-fifths of the layer thickness. The second section (3b) of the dividing line (3) is advantageously inserted into the wall (7) of the top surface (2) to a depth corresponding to the layer thickness of the wall (7) of the top surface (2) minus the depth of the first section (3a).
[0034] In other embodiments not shown, the first section 3a is inserted into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 to a depth of up to one-quarter of the layer thickness, and the second section 3b of the dividing line 3 is inserted into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 to a depth of up to three-quarters of the layer thickness. Conversely, the first section 3a can also be inserted into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 to a depth of up to three-quarters of the layer thickness, and the second section 3b of the dividing line 3 can be inserted into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 to a depth of up to one-quarter of the layer thickness.
[0035] In another embodiment, the first section 3a is inserted into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 to a depth of up to one-third of the layer thickness, and the second section 3b of the dividing line 3 is inserted into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 to a depth of up to two-thirds of the layer thickness. Conversely, the first section 3a can also be inserted into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 to a depth of up to two-thirds of the layer thickness, and the second section 3b of the dividing line 3 can be inserted into the wall 7 of the top surface 2 to a depth of up to one-third of the layer thickness.
[0036] In versions not shown, the folding box may have only tear points 14a, 14a' or only tear points 14b, 14b'. Likewise, both tear points 14a, 14a' and 14b, 14b' may be combined into a single point. Furthermore, in addition to tear points 14a, 14a', 14b, 14b', other tear points may also be provided. Bezugszeichenliste
[0037] 1 Folding box 2 Top 3 Tear line 3a First section of the tear line 3 3b Second section of the tear line 3 4 Detachable area 5 Removal window 6 Window cover 7 Wall 8 Removal opening 9 Inside 10 Side panels 11 Bottom 12 Adhesive and dust flaps 13 Outside 14a, 14a' Tear point 14b, 14b' Tear point 15 Entry section 16d Entry section 15 Surrounding tear line 16a Section of the tear line 16 16b Section of the tear line 16 17 Further tear line
Claims
1. Folding box (1) made of cardboard for accommodating stacked hygiene tissues, wherein a detachable area (4) is provided on an upper side (2) of the folding box (1), said area being detachable along a separation line (3) to expose a removal opening (5), and wherein, after removal of the detachable area (4), a window covering (6) remains in the removal opening (5), said window covering (6) being more elastic than a wall (7) of the folding box (1) outside the removal opening (5), and wherein the removal opening (5) has a slot-like dispensing opening (8) for dispensing the hygiene tissues stacked in the folding box (1), characterised in that the ratio of the area of the dispensing opening (8) to the area of the removal opening (5) lies within a range of 1:1.5 to 1:10, and in that the separation line (3) comprises at least a first section (3a) and a second section (3b), and in that the first section (3a) of the separation line (3) is introduced from an outer side (13) of the upper side (2) of the folding box (1) into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) without fully penetrating the wall (7), and in that the second section (3b) of the separation line (3) is introduced from an inner side of the upper side (2) of the folding box (1) into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) without fully penetrating the wall (7), and in that an outer contour of the second section (3b) is arranged within an outer contour of the first section (3a), and in that the first section (3a) and the second section (3b) contact one another at at least one tear point (14a, 14a', 14b, 14b'), and in that, in the use state of the folding box (1) after removal of the detachable area (4) to expose the removal opening (5), the window covering (6) is a region of the wall (7) of the upper side (2) of the folding box (1), and in this region the wall (7) is split and has a smaller layer thickness than the wall (7) of the folding box (1) outside the removal opening (5).
2. Folding box (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first section (3a) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth in the range from one-fifth to four-fifths of the layer thickness.
3. Folding box (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the second section (3b) of the separation line (3) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth which corresponds to the layer thickness of the wall (7) of the upper side (2) minus the depth of the first section (3a).
4. Folding box (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the first section (3a) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to one quarter of the layer thickness and the second section (3b) of the separation line (3) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to three quarters of the layer thickness, or in that the first section (3a) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to three quarters of the layer thickness and the second section (3b) of the separation line (3) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to one quarter of the layer thickness.
5. Folding box (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the first section (3a) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to two-thirds of the layer thickness and the second section (3b) of the separation line (3) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to one-third of the layer thickness, or in that the first section (3a) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to one-third of the layer thickness and the second section (3b) of the separation line (3) is introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to two-thirds of the layer thickness.
6. Folding box (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the first section (3a) and the second section (3b) of the separation line (3) are each introduced into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) to a depth of up to one-half of the layer thickness.
7. Folding box (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a further separation line (17) is provided on the upper side (2) of the folding box (1), and in that the outer contour of the first section (3a) of the separation line (3) is arranged within an outer contour of the further separation line (17), and in that the further separation line (17) is introduced from an outer side (13) of the upper side (2) of the folding box (1) into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) without fully penetrating the wall (7).
8. Folding box (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a gripping section (15) is provided at the tear point (14a, 14a', 14b, 14b') on the upper side (2) of the folding box (1), and in that this gripping section (15) is delimited by a further separation line (16), and in that at least one section (16a) of the separation line (16) delimiting the gripping section is introduced from an outer side (13) of the upper side (2) of the folding box (1) into the wall (7) of the upper side (2) without fully penetrating the wall (7), and in that at least one further section (16b) of the separation line (16) delimiting the gripping section (15) extends from the outer side (13) of the upper side (2) of the folding box (1) completely through the wall (7) of the upper side (2).
9. Folding box (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer contour of the first section (3a) of the separation line (3) and / or the outer contour of the further separation line (17) is configured to be oval, elliptical or circular.
10. Folding box (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer contour of the second section (3b) of the separation line (3) is substantially rectangular.