Packaging

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging (1, 100) comprising a shell (2) and a cover (3), wherein the shell (2) and the cover (3) enclose an interior of the packaging (1, 100), the shell (2) has a front surface (4) and at least one first side wall (5), and a first fold edge (9) runs between the front surface (4) and the first side wall (5), characterized in that the first fold edge (9) has a predetermined breaking point (13) so that the packaging (1, 100) can be opened by tearing open the predetermined breaking point (13). The invention also relates to a method for opening a packaging (1, 100) according to claim 11, characterized in that a segment (14) of the predetermined breaking point (13) extends onto the first side wall (5) and, when the predetermined breaking point (13) is torn open in the region of the segment (14), a portion (15) of the side wall remains connected to the front surface (4).

Description

[0001] Packaging

[0002] The invention relates to a packaging, in particular a packaging for piece goods, such as hygiene articles, and a method for opening the packaging.

[0003] Retail goods are often offered in so-called transparent packaging, also known as blister packs. Transparent packaging is particularly used for hygiene products such as toothbrushes.

[0004] Blister packaging typically comprises a lid and a tray, which together enclose an interior in which the item is stored. The lid and / or tray can be made of a transparent material or have viewing windows to allow a view of the product inside the packaging. In addition, the lid and / or tray usually include a hanging tab for hanging the packaging on a hook. This allows the packaging to be stored and displayed on a store shelf. The lid is often made of cardboard, while the tray is made of plastic. For environmental reasons, both the lid and the tray are increasingly made of recyclable, cellulose-containing material, particularly cardboard or paperboard.

[0005] The lid is typically made from a flat blank, while the tray has a front surface and at least one side wall angled from the front surface. The side walls of the tray are typically glued to the lid. To facilitate bonding between the tray and lid, the side walls of the tray typically have sealing edges angled from the side walls. These sealing edges form a flange along the edge of the tray and can be easily glued to the lid.

[0006] One problem with transparent packaging is how the user can open the packaging to remove the item without damaging the product.

[0007] A possible solution to this problem is disclosed in DE 195 32 162 A1. This document shows a transparent packaging whose lid has a perforation for opening the packaging. To open the packaging, the lid is torn open along the perforation, creating a sufficiently large opening on the back of the packaging.

[0008] Another variant of a packaging is disclosed in DE 10 2019 216 307 A1. Here, the tray has several side walls with sealing edges, wherein the sealing edges are glued to the lid. In addition, there is a perforation between a first side wall and the adjoining first sealing edge, so that when the packaging is opened, the first sealing edge is first torn off from the first side wall together with the section of the lid glued to it. The remaining sealing edges are then peeled off the lid. In this way, the tray and lid are separated from one another. Against this background, the present invention has the object of providing packaging for piece goods that can be opened easily. The packaging should preferably be a transparent packaging. Particularly preferably, it should be packaging for hygiene articles, in particular for toothbrushes.In particular, the packaging should be made from environmentally friendly, recyclable material.

[0009] To achieve this object, the present invention relates to a package comprising a tray and a lid, wherein the tray and the lid enclose an interior of the package, the tray has a front surface and at least one first side wall, and a first fold edge extends between the front surface and the first side wall. The package is characterized in particular in that the first fold edge has a predetermined breaking point, so that the package can be opened by tearing open the predetermined breaking point.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for opening the packaging according to the invention. The method is particularly characterized in that the front surface is separated from the first side wall by tearing open the predetermined breaking point in order to open the packaging.

[0011] Because the packaging according to the invention has a predetermined breaking point along a first folded edge between the front surface of the tray and a first side wall of the tray, the front surface of the tray is separated from the side wall when the packaging is opened. Unlike the prior art described above, the lid itself is not torn open or separated from the tray. This has the advantage that when the packaging according to the invention is opened, the side wall of the tray remains attached to the lid and thus continues to support the packaged item. The lid remains undamaged. The packaged item can remain in the packaging without falling out. This property is particularly important for so-called multipacks, which contain several products that are consumed step by step.

[0012] The predetermined breaking point is preferably formed by a perforation. This means that the material of the shell has holes at regular intervals along the predetermined breaking point. The size and spacing of the holes can be selected so that the predetermined breaking point can be easily torn open by hand, but will not be torn open by accidental contact.

[0013] However, the predetermined breaking point can also be formed in other ways. In general, the predetermined breaking point can be formed by a material weakening along the folded edge between the front surface and the first side wall. For example, the material of the tray can be superficially incised along the folded edge. Alternatively, the material of the tray can have a smaller thickness along the folded edge than in the area of ​​the front surface or the side wall. It is also possible for the front surface and the side wall to be glued together along the folded edge, with the adhesive bond having a smaller strength than the material of the side wall and the front surface.

[0014] The predetermined breaking point can extend along the entire length of the folded edge or only over a portion of the first folded edge. Preferably, the predetermined breaking point extends over the entire length of the first folded edge.

[0015] Preferably, a section of the predetermined breaking point extends onto the first side wall. This means that the predetermined breaking point does not run along the folded edge in some sections, but detaches from the folded edge and extends partially onto the first side wall. The predetermined breaking point thus defines a partial area of ​​the side wall which is torn off from the rest of the side wall when the predetermined breaking point is torn open and remains connected to the front surface. This partial area can be lightly pressed in with a finger when the packaging is opened. This makes it easier to tear open the remaining predetermined breaking point. Preferably, the predetermined breaking point extends in an arc over part of the first side wall in this section. Particularly preferably, the predetermined breaking point runs on both sides of the section along the first folded edge.In this case too, the predetermined breaking point - apart from the section of the predetermined breaking point that extends to the first side wall - preferably extends over the entire length of the folded edge.

[0016] The tray and / or lid are preferably made of a cellulose-containing material. Particularly preferably, they are made of a recyclable cellulose-containing material. The lid and / or tray are preferably made of paper, cardboard, or carton. However, it is also possible for the lid and / or tray to be made of plastic or another suitable material.

[0017] Preferably, the tray and the lid are glued together. For this purpose, the first side wall preferably has a first sealing edge that is angled outwardly away from the interior, with the lid being glued to the first sealing edge.

[0018] The lid and the front surface of the tray are preferably both formed from a flat material. Preferably, the lid and the front surface are arranged parallel to each other. The first side wall of the tray, however, is arranged obliquely or at right angles to the front surface and the lid.

[0019] The front surface of the shell can, for example, have a round or rectangular base.

[0020] The term "round base" is not necessarily limited to a circular base, but includes, for example, circular, oval, elliptical, kidney-shaped, or similar bases. With a round base, the first side wall preferably runs along the entire outer circumference of the base and encloses the interior space defined by the front surface and the lid on all sides.

[0021] Preferably, the front surface has a rectangular base. In this case, the tray preferably has four side walls. A folded edge runs between each side wall and the front surface. In this case, the tray and the lid preferably define a substantially cuboid-shaped interior space.

[0022] The side walls are preferably formed integrally with the front surface. For example, the side walls and the front surface can be formed from a deep-drawn plastic film or from a folded blank of a cellulose-containing material. Preferably, the side walls and the front surface are formed from a folded blank of paper, cardboard, or carton. However, it is also possible for the front surface and the side walls to be each made from separate flat parts that are bonded together via an adhesive joint.

[0023] In the case of multiple side walls, each connected to the front surface via a folded edge, the predetermined breaking point can extend across one, several, or all of the folded edges. In the case of a tray with four side walls, the predetermined breaking point can extend across one, two, three, or all four folded edges.

[0024] In the case of several side walls, preferably some or all of the side walls each have a sealing edge as described above, which is angled outwards away from the interior and can be glued to the lid.

[0025] In one embodiment, the tray has a second side wall adjacent to the first side wall, with a second folded edge extending between the front surface and the second side wall, and the predetermined breaking point extending to the second folded edge. The remaining folded edges preferably do not have a predetermined breaking point in this embodiment.

[0026] In a further embodiment, the tray has a third side wall adjacent to the first or second side wall, with a third folded edge extending between the front surface and the third side wall, and the predetermined breaking point also extending to the third folded edge. The remaining folded edges preferably do not have a predetermined breaking point in this embodiment.

[0027] Because the predetermined breaking point extends over more than one folded edge, the opening of the packaging is enlarged and the removal of the items is made easier.

[0028] The tray preferably has at least one side wall whose folded edge is not provided with a predetermined breaking point, so that the front surface remains connected to the side wall when the predetermined breaking point is torn open. The lid and / or the tray preferably have a viewing window. In this way, the packaged item is visible from the outside. In the simplest case, the viewing window can be a hole in the material of the lid and / or the tray. However, it is also possible for the hole to be covered by a transparent material, for example a plastic film. It is also possible for the material of the lid and / or the tray to be transparent, either completely or only in places, in order to form the viewing window. For example, the lid can be made of a completely transparent material and thus serve as a viewing window.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the lid has one or more viewing windows. These are not damaged when the predetermined breaking point is torn open. The viewing windows are preferably formed as holes in the lid material.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the lid extends beyond the front surface of the tray on at least one side of the package. This allows the lid to form a tab by which the package can be held.

[0031] Preferably, the lid also has a recess for hanging the packaging. This recess is preferably provided in the tab described above.

[0032] For the packaging according to the invention, it is irrelevant which surfaces should preferably face the user and which surfaces form the front or back of the packaging with respect to the viewer. The packaging can, for example, be designed so that the lid faces the user during normal use of the packaging. In this case, the front surface of the tray can form the back of the packaging. However, it is equally possible for the front surface of the tray to face the user, with the lid forming the back of the packaging. All surfaces of the packaging, in particular the lid, the front surface of the tray and the side walls of the tray, can be labeled, printed or otherwise decorated.

[0033] The method according to the invention is characterized in that the package described above is opened by tearing along the predetermined breaking point, wherein the front surface is separated from the first side wall by tearing the predetermined breaking point in order to open the package.

[0034] Preferably, the method provides that the packaging is designed such that a section of the predetermined breaking point extends onto the first side wall, wherein when the predetermined breaking point is torn open in the region of the section, a part of the side wall remains connected to the front surface.

[0035] Particularly preferably, the method provides that the predetermined breaking point is first torn open by pressing in the side wall in the area where the predetermined breaking point extends onto the first side wall, and then further torn open along the folded edge. By initially pressing in the side wall, a grip is created for a finger, which facilitates further tearing.

[0036] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below in conjunction with the following drawings. These show:

[0037] Fig. 1 to 3 Perspective views of a packaging according to a first embodiment.

[0038] Fig. 4 to 6: Perspective views of a packaging according to a second embodiment.

[0039] Figures 1-3 show a packaging 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0040] Figures 1 and 2 each show perspective views of the front of the packaging 1. The front is formed by the tray 2. In this embodiment, the tray 2 is cuboid-shaped and comprises a front surface 4 and four side walls 5, 6, 7, 8 extending from the front surface 4, each at a right angle to one another.

[0041] The side walls 5, 6, 7, 8 each have sealing edges 16, 17, 18, 19 on their edges facing away from the front surface 4. The tray 2 is glued to the lid 3 via the sealing edges 16, 17, 18, 19. The lid 3 forms the back of the package, which is shown in perspective view in Figure 3.

[0042] Between the side walls 5, 6, 7, 8 and the front surface 4, fold edges 9, 10, 11, 12 run. Since the packaging 1 has an elongated shape overall, the fold edges 9, 11 are each significantly longer than the fold edges 10, 12. The fold edges 9, 11 thus run along the long side of the packaging.

[0043] The packaging 1 has a predetermined breaking point 13 that extends across the folded edges 9, 10, 11. In this embodiment, the predetermined breaking point 13 is formed by a perforation. The folded edge 12 is not perforated.

[0044] To make opening the packaging 1 easier, the predetermined breaking point 13 has a section 14 that extends onto the first side wall 5. This defines a partial area 15 of the first side wall 5. This partial area 15 can be pressed in when opening the packaging, creating a tear along the section 14 of the predetermined breaking point. This creates a grip for the user, making it easier for the user to tear open the predetermined breaking point 13 further. When the predetermined breaking point 13 is torn open further, the front panel 4 detaches from the side walls 5, 6, and 7, thereby opening the entire packaging. However, the front panel 4 remains connected to the fourth side wall 8, since no predetermined breaking point is provided on the corresponding fold edge 12. Likewise, the sealing edges 16, 17, 18, 19 remain connected to the lid 3, so that the packaging 1 is not torn into several pieces when opened.This facilitates disposal of the packaging. On the back of the packaging, the lid 3 has two viewing windows 20. In the embodiment shown here, these are formed by holes in the material of the lid 3. These holes can optionally be sealed with a transparent material (not shown here) to prevent foreign matter from entering the interior of the packaging.

[0045] The packaging 1 shown here can be made, in particular, from cellulose-containing material, such as paper, cardboard, or carton. Two blanks of flat material are required to produce the packaging, with one of the blanks forming the lid 3 and a second blank forming the tray 4. The tray 4 is formed by folding a corresponding blank into the cuboid body shown here.

[0046] Figures 4 to 6 show a package 100 according to a second embodiment of the invention. This package is essentially similar in structure to the package 1 of the first embodiment, so that identical elements are designated with identical reference numerals.

[0047] Just as in the first embodiment, the packaging 100 has a predetermined breaking point 13 that extends across three fold edges, namely the fold edges 9, 10, 11. The fourth fold edge 12 has no predetermined breaking point. Just as in the first embodiment, the predetermined breaking point 13 of the second embodiment also comprises a region 14 that extends onto a first side wall 6 and defines a partial region 15 of the side wall 6 there. This partial region 15 can be pressed in when opening the packaging 100, just as in the first embodiment, in order to facilitate further tearing of the predetermined breaking point 13.

[0048] However, unlike the first embodiment, section 14 is not located on a long side of the packaging, but rather on a narrow side of the packaging. This ensures that section 14 is positioned centrally with respect to the entire length of the predetermined breaking point 13. This achieves a better distribution of the forces when tearing open the predetermined breaking point and enables a more uniform tearing open of the predetermined breaking point 13.

[0049] Unlike the first embodiment, the packaging 100 according to the second embodiment also has a tab 21, which is formed on one of the narrow sides of the packaging 100. This tab is essentially formed by an extension of the lid 3, which is glued to the sealing edge 17 in the region of the tab. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the sealing edge 17 extends essentially over the entire surface of the tab 21, thereby achieving greater stability of the tab 21. However, it is also possible for the sealing edge 17 to be narrower and to cover only a partial area of ​​the tab 21. A recess 22 is provided in the tab, which in the exemplary embodiment shown here has the shape of a so-called Euro hole. The recess 22 enables the packaging 100 to be hung on a hook.

[0050] Reference symbols

[0051] 1 , 100 packaging

[0052] Peel

[0053] 3 lids

[0054] Front surface

[0055] 5-8 side wall

[0056] 9-12 fold edge

[0057] 13 Predetermined breaking point

[0058] 14 Section of the predetermined breaking point

[0059] 15 Part of the side wall

[0060] 16-19 Seal edge

[0061] 20 viewing windows

[0062] 21 tab

[0063] 22 Recess

Claims

Claims Packaging (1, 100) comprising a tray (2) and a lid (3), wherein the tray (2) and the lid (3) enclose an interior of the packaging (1, 100), the tray (2) has a front surface (4) and at least one first side wall (5), and a first folded edge (9) runs between the front surface (4) and the first side wall (5), characterized in that the first folded edge (9) has a predetermined breaking point (13) so that the packaging (1, 100) can be opened by tearing open the predetermined breaking point (13). Packaging (1, 100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined breaking point (13) is formed by a perforation. Packaging (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a portion (14) of the predetermined breaking point (13) extends onto the first side wall (5).Packaging (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tray (2) and / or the lid (3) are made of a cellulose-containing material. Packaging (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tray (2) and the lid (3) are glued together. Packaging (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first side wall (5) has a first sealing edge (16) that is angled outwardly away from the interior, wherein the lid (3) is glued to the first sealing edge (16). Packaging (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tray (2) has a second side wall (6) which adjoins the first side wall (5), wherein a second folding edge (10) runs between the front surface (4) and the second side wall (6) and the predetermined breaking point (13) also extends to the second folding edge (10). Packaging (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tray (2) has a third side wall (7) which adjoins the first or the second side wall (5, 6), wherein a third folded edge (11) runs between the front surface (4) and the third side wall (7), and the predetermined breaking point (13) also extends to the third folded edge (11). Packaging (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (3) and / or the tray (2) have a viewing window (20). Packaging (1, 100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (3) has a recess (22) for hanging the packaging (1, 100).A method for opening a package, wherein the package (1, 100) has the features of one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the front surface (4) is separated from the first side wall (5) by tearing open the predetermined breaking point (13) in order to open the package (1, 100). A method for opening a package (1, 100) according to claim 11, characterized in that a section (14) of the predetermined breaking point (13) extends onto the first side wall (5), wherein when the predetermined breaking point (13) is torn open, a partial region (15) of the side wall remains connected to the front surface (4) in the region of the section (14).

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