Packaging body

Abstract

A package in a simple and novel shape is provided. The package includes a front portion formed of a material having flexibility into a plate-like shape; an opening portion provided in the front portion, the opening portion having a length smaller than a dimension in a longitudinal direction of a packaged item and a width corresponding to a dimension in a widthwise direction of the packaged item; a back portion formed in a plate-like shape having a dimension in a longitudinal direction smaller than a dimension in a longitudinal direction of the front portion, the back portion being configured to be located to face the front portion; and a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion configured to, in a state substantially upright with respect to the back portion, connect ends of the front portion and the back portion and other ends of the front portion and the back portion, respectively, wherein the package is configured to accommodate the packaged item in a state where the front portion is curved to protrude toward the back portion and where both ends of the packaged item in the longitudinal direction are inserted underneath the front portion toward the back portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a package.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, commercial products such as ballpoint pens and other writing instruments, cosmetics, and cutlery are arranged on display shelves for sale in states such that the products are contained in cases, accommodated in plastic packages, and hung on hooks.

[0003] A package for accommodating a product may be, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in a form where various measures are applied so as to secure the product, protect the product from being soiled or damaged, and allow a consumer to visually recognize the product.PRIOR ART PATENT DOCUMENT

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-114262SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

[0005] In recent years, from a global environmental perspective, there has been a growing trend towards reduction of plastic use, and a package for writing instruments that protects the products from external impacts and that may be provided in low cost and made of environmentally friendly materials is demanded. Furthermore, there is a need for improved packaging designs that protect the product, ensure consumer visibility, and allow for easier product packing during a production process, thereby increasing work efficiency.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of these issues, and an object thereof is to provide a package having a further improved form.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0007] (1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following means. That is, a package includes a front portion formed of a material having flexibility into a plate-like shape; an opening portion provided in the front portion, the opening portion having a length smaller than a dimension in a longitudinal direction of a packaged item and a width corresponding to a dimension in a widthwise direction of the packaged item; a back portion formed in a plate-like shape having a dimension in a longitudinal direction smaller than a dimension in a longitudinal direction of the front portion, the back portion being configured to be located to face the front portion; and a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion configured to, in a state substantially upright with respect to the back portion, connect ends of the front portion and the back portion and other ends of the front portion and the back portion, respectively, and the package is configured to accommodate the packaged item in a state where the front portion is curved to protrude toward the back portion and where both ends of the packaged item in the longitudinal direction are inserted underneath the front portion toward the back portion. (2) Optionally, the package according to the present invention may be composed of a sheet-like body, in which the first connecting portion, the back portion, the second connecting portion, and the front portion are arranged in this order, and to which roll-folding line formation process is applied; and the package may further include a slit portion formed in an end portion of the package on a side of the first connecting portion, and a protruding portion provided in an end portion of the package on a side of the front portion, the protruding portion being configured to be inserted into the slit portion. (3) Optionally, in the package according to the present invention, the packaged item may be a writing instrument including a clip, and the opening portion may include a cutout portion having a shape corresponding to a shape of the clip at an end of the opening portion toward the protruding portion. (4) Optionally, the package according to the present invention may further include a first through hole provided between an end of the first connecting portion and the slit portion, a plate-like portion formed of an end portion of the front portion extending in a plate-like shape, and a second through hole formed by cutting the protruding portion out from the plate-like portion; and the first connecting portion may be configured to be folded toward the front portion by being bent at a transverse line including the slit portion, and the protruding portion may be configured to be inserted into the slit portion in a state where an end portion of the writing instrument is inserted into the first through hole. EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a package capable of accommodating a product more easily is provided, and as a result, material cost and production cost may be reduced.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a package according to a present embodiment. [FIG. 2A] FIG. 2A is an exemplary front view of the package according to the present embodiment. [FIG. 2B] FIG. 2B is an exemplary rear view of the package according to the present embodiment. [FIG. 2C] FIG. 2C is an exemplary rightward side view of the package according to the present embodiment. [FIG. 3A] FIG. 3A is an illustrative view of a procedure for accommodating a writing instrument in the package. [FIG. 3B] FIG. 3B is an illustrative view of the procedure for accommodating the writing instrument in the package. [FIG. 3C] FIG. 3C is an illustrative view of the procedure for accommodating the writing instrument in the package. [FIG. 3D] FIG. 3D is an illustrative view of the procedure for accommodating the writing instrument in the package. [FIG. 3E] FIG. 3E is an illustrative view of the procedure for accommodating the writing instrument in the package. [FIG. 3F] FIG. 3F is an illustrative view of the procedure for accommodating the writing instrument in the package. [FIG. 3G] FIG. 3G is an illustrative view of the procedure for accommodating the writing instrument in the package. [FIG. 4A] FIG. 4A is an exemplary front view of the writing instrument accommodated in the package. [FIG. 4B] FIG. 4B is an exemplary leftward side view of the writing instrument accommodated in the package. [FIG. 4C] FIG. 4C is an exemplary perspective view of the writing instrument accommodated in the package. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The inventors of the present disclosure discovered that, by improving a package for a product to a simpler and more innovative shape, the product may be protected and visibility for a consumer may be ensured while work efficiency in the production process may be improved, and have reached the present disclosure.

[0011] That is, a package according to the present invention includes a front portion formed of a material having flexibility into a plate-like shape; an opening portion provided in the front portion, the opening portion having a length smaller than a dimension in a longitudinal direction of a packaged item and a width corresponding to a dimension in a widthwise direction of the packaged item; a back portion formed in a plate-like shape having a dimension in a longitudinal direction smaller than a dimension in a longitudinal direction of the front portion, the back portion being configured to be located to face the front portion; and a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion configured to, in a state substantially upright with respect to the back portion, connect ends of the front portion and the back portion and other ends of the front portion and the back portion, respectively, and the package is configured to accommodate the packaged item in a state where the front portion is curved to protrude toward the back portion and where both ends of the packaged item in the longitudinal direction are inserted underneath the front portion toward the back portion.

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For easier understanding of the description, same reference numerals are used to denote identical components in the drawings of each embodiment, and redundant explanations are omitted.[1] Configuration of Package

[0013] FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a package according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 2A-2C are exemplary front, rear, and rightward side views of the package according to the present embodiment. For describing the present embodiment, a writing instrument is used as an example of a product to be accommodated in the package (also referred to as a packaged item 51), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the package may be used for accommodating cosmetics such as an eyeliner, cutlery such as a spoon, a fork, and a knife, and other products having an elongated shape.

[0014] Further, the package according to the present embodiment will be described using, as an example, a package made of a paper base material. From a global environmental perspective, the material may preferably be made using paper base material, but is not limited thereto. For example, a plastic such as a resin may be used.

[0015] A package 1 includes at least a front portion 11, a back portion 13, a first connecting portion 15, and a second connecting portion 17. The front portion 11 is formed of a material having flexibility into a plate-like shape (rectangular shape). In the present specification, a rectangle refers to not only a rectangle and a substantially rectangular shape but also a square and a substantially square shape.

[0016] The front portion 11 is configured such that a length thereof in a longitudinal direction is greater than a length in a longitudinal direction of the back portion 13. As such, by reserving the length in the longitudinal direction of the front portion 11 to be greater than the length in the longitudinal direction of the back portion 13, the front portion 11 may form a curve so as to protrude toward the back portion 13 or toward a side opposite to the back portion 13.

[0017] Further, the front portion 11 includes two openings (a first opening portion 21 and a second opening portion 23) each having a length, which is smaller than a dimension of the writing instrument being the packaged item 51 in a longitudinal direction, and a width, which corresponds to a dimension of the packaged item 51 in a widthwise direction.

[0018] The first opening portion 21 accommodates and supports an upper portion of the writing instrument (an end portion opposite to a side of a writing tip of a pen or a brush). The second opening portion 23 accommodates a lower portion of the writing instrument (an end portion on the side of the writing tip of the pen or the brush). The first opening portion 21 and the second opening portion 23 each have a substantially elongated elliptical shape (a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners), and are provided such that a major axis of the substantially elongated elliptical shape coincides with a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the front portion 11. A length of a minor axis of the substantially elongated elliptical shape is substantially equal to the width of the writing instrument to be accommodated, and may be appropriately changed in accordance with a shape, a width, and the like of the writing instrument to be accommodated. The length of the minor axis of the opening portions and a width of the writing instrument to be accommodated in a direction of the minor axis are preferably equal. If not equal, an error in dimension between the lengths is preferably within ±2 mm.

[0019] Meanwhile, a shape of the writing instrument may vary depending on a type thereof. As long as the writing instrument to be accommodated is secured at any two locations on a side surface thereof by the first opening portion 21, the second opening portion 23, and / or a first through hole 33 which will be described later, the width of the first opening portion 21 and the width of the second opening portion 23 are not necessarily equal to the width of the writing instrument to be accommodated.

[0020] Furthermore, the writing instrument to be accommodated contacts an upper end portion of the first opening portion 21 and a lower end portion of the second opening portion 23; therefore, the first opening portion 21 and the second opening portion 23 may secure the writing instrument to the package 1 not only by the side surface of the writing instrument but also by a front surface of the writing instrument.

[0021] Between the first opening portion 21 and the second opening portion 23, a slit 25 is formed. Although a method for accommodating the writing instrument will be described later, when the writing instrument is being accommodated in the package 1, the slit 25 is widened leftward and rightward in a view toward the drawing, and edges of the slit 25 are pushed underneath (toward the back side) of the writing instrument (FIGS. 3E, 3F). Through this process, the writing instrument is accommodated in the package 1. As such, forming the slit 25 enables, not only easy accommodation of the writing instrument in the package 1 easily, but also the front portion 11 to be placed underneath (on the back side of) the writing instrument, thereby enabling the front portion 11 to curve in the shape protruding toward the back portion 13 or toward the opposite side to the back portion 13.

[0022] This form of the package 1 enables the front portion 11 to apply a force in a direction toward the back portion 13 to the writing instrument at an upper end portion (the upper end portion of the first opening portion 21) and a lower end portion (the lower end portion of the second opening portion 23) thereof, and a force in a direction opposite to the back portion 13 to the writing instrument at a central portion thereof where the slit 25 is formed. As a result, the package 1 may secure and accommodate the writing instrument therein. In the present embodiment, the package 1 having two openings in the front portion 11 has been described as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the opening may be a single substantially elongated elliptical opening where the first opening portion 21 and the second opening portion 23 are combined.

[0023] The first opening portion 21 may include a cutout portion 27 in a shape corresponding to a shape of a clip at an end thereof toward a protruding portion 35 described later. If the writing instrument to be accommodated has a clip portion at an upper position on a side surface thereof, the cutout portion 27 may secure the clip portion therein. In the present embodiment, the cutout portion 27 is formed, but the cutout portion 27 is not necessarily formed. Further, the packaged item 51 such as the writing instrument does not necessarily include a clip portion.

[0024] The front portion 11 includes a protruding portion 35, which is formed by a cutting work, and by cutting the protruding portion 35 out from the front portion 11, a second through hole 37 is formed. The protruding portion 35 is in a substantially polygonal shape having a width greater than a width of a slit portion 31, which will be described later. By having the width greater than the width of the slit portion 31, the protruding portion 35 inserted in the slit portion 31 is enabled to be engaged with the slit portion 31.

[0025] Optionally, the protruding portion 35 and the second through hole 37, which are formed by cutting works, may be formed not in the front portion 11 but in a plate-like portion 19, which is formed of an end portion of the front portion 11 extending in a plate-like shape. The second through hole 37 is a hole for inserting a hook when the writing instrument is arranged, for example in a store, in a hanging state on, for example, a hook provided on a display shelf or the like.

[0026] The back portion 13 is formed in a plate-like shape (a rectangular shape) such that a length in the longitudinal direction of the back portion 13 is smaller than the length in the longitudinal direction of the front portion 11. The back portion 13 is formed in a dimension such that a length in a minor-axis direction thereof is smaller than or equal to a length in a minor-axis direction of the front portion 11. The length of the back portion 13 in the minor-axis direction is set to be smaller than or equal to the length of the front portion 11 in the minor-axis direction in consideration of a design so that the back portion 13 is not visible when the package 1 accommodating the writing instrument is viewed from front. However, when the length of the back portion 13 in the minor-axis direction is excessively smaller than the length of the front portion 11 in the minor-axis direction, strength of the back portion 13 may be reduced, and once the writing instrument is accommodated, the package 1 may not maintain the shape thereof. Accordingly, it is more preferable that the length of the back portion 13 in the minor-axis direction is smaller than the length of the front portion 11 in the minor-axis direction by approximately 2 mm.

[0027] The first connecting portion 15 is located at one end of the back portion 13 in the longitudinal direction, and connects an end of the front portion 11 and an end of the back portion 13 in a state substantially upright with respect to the back portion 13. In the first connecting portion 15, the slit portion 31 is formed by a cutting work. The protruding portion 35 formed in the front portion 11 as described above is inserted in the slit portion 31, thereby being engaged with the slit portion 31.

[0028] Further, a first through hole 33 is formed between an end of the first connecting portion 15 and the slit portion 31. The first through hole 33 is a hole for inserting and thereby securing an upper end portion of the writing instrument (the end portion opposite to the writing tip of the pen or the brush). Preferably, a shape and a size of the first through hole 33 are identical to those of a cross section of the upper end portion of the writing instrument, from a perspective of securing the upper end portion of the writing instrument, but are not limited thereto. The shape and the size of the first through hole 33 are not limited as long as the first through hole 33 is capable of accommodating the upper end portion of the writing instrument therein.

[0029] A second connecting portion 17 is formed in a plate-like shape and, similarly to the first connecting portion 15, connects an end of the front portion 11 and an end of the back portion 13 in a state substantially upright with respect to the back portion 13. Further, the second connecting portion 17 supports a lower end portion of the writing instrument (the end portion on the side of the writing tip of the pen or the brush) when the writing instrument is accommodated.[2] Method for Accommodating Writing Instrument

[0030] Next, a procedure for accommodating the writing instrument in the package 1 will be described. FIGS. 3A-3G illustrate the procedure for accommodating the writing instrument in the package 1. FIGS. 4A-4C are a front view, a leftward side view, and a perspective view exemplarily illustrating a state of the package 1 accommodating the writing instrument therein.

[0031] FIG. 3A shows a developed view of the package 1. The package 1 is composed of a sheet-like body 100 (the package 1), in which the first connecting portion 15, the back portion 13, the second connecting portion 17, and the front portion 11 are arranged in this order, and to which roll-folding line formation process is applied.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3A, the sheet-like body 100 is processed to have five transverse folding lines, namely, a first transverse line 101, a second transverse line 103, a third transverse line 105, a fourth transverse line 107, and a fifth transverse line 109.

[0033] First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first connecting portion 15 of the sheet-like body 100 is folded toward the front portion 11 (toward a viewer of the drawing) by being bent at the first transverse line 101 including the slit portion 31 and at the second transverse line 103 (step S1). FIG. 3B illustrates a state after performing step S1.

[0034] Next, in the sheet-like body 100 having the shape shown in FIG. 3B, the upper end portion of the writing instrument to be accommodated is inserted into the first through hole 33 (step S2). FIG. 3C illustrates a state after performing step S2.

[0035] Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the front portion 11 of the sheet-like body 100 is folded from the lower position toward the viewer of the drawing and upward by bending at the third transverse line 105 and the fourth transverse line 107 (step S3).

[0036] Next, as shown in FIG. 3D, the protruding portion 35 is inserted into the slit portion 31, and a clip is fitted to the cutout portion 27 (step S4). In FIG. 3D, the writing instrument is not illustrated for a purpose to clearly show the structure, but actually as described in step S2, the upper end portion of the writing instrument is inserted into the first through hole 33. FIG. 3E illustrates a state after performing step S4.

[0037] Next, as indicated by arrows shown in FIG. 3E, the slit 25 is widened rightward and leftward in the view toward the drawing, and as shown in FIG. 3F, the slit 25 is pushed underneath (toward the back side) of the writing instrument (step S5). FIG. 3G illustrates a state after performing step S5. According to this procedure, the writing instrument is accommodated in the package 1.

[0038] As the writing instrument is accommodated in the package 1 according to the procedure described above, the front portion 11 forms a curve protruding toward the back portion 13, and therefore the side surface of the writing instrument is retained at two positions on the first opening portion 21 (a1 and a2 in FIG. 3G) and at two positions on the second opening portion 23 (b1 and b2 in FIG. 3G). Further, the writing instrument accommodated in the package 1 is retained by an upper portion (c1 in FIG. 3G) of the first opening portion 21 and a lower portion (d1 in FIG. 3G) of the second opening portion 23 on the front surface.

[0039] As described above, according to the above embodiment, by using a package composed of a single sheet-like body made of a paper base material, a package having a simpler and more novel shape is provided, a product is protected, visibility for a consumer is ensured, and moreover work efficiency in a production process is improved.DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0040] 1: Package 11: Front portion 13: Back portion 15: First connecting portion 17: Second connecting portion 19: Plate-like portion 21: First opening portion 23: Second opening portion 25: Slit 27: Cutout portion 31: Slit portion 33: First through hole 35: Protruding portion 37: Second through hole 51: Packaged item 100: Sheet-like body 101: First transverse line 103: Second transverse line 105: Third transverse line 107: Fourth transverse line 109: Fifth transverse line

Claims

1. A package comprising: a front portion formed of a material having flexibility into a plate-like shape; an opening portion provided in the front portion, the opening portion having a length smaller than a dimension in a longitudinal direction of a packaged item and a width corresponding to a dimension in a widthwise direction of the packaged item; a back portion formed in a plate-like shape having a dimension in a longitudinal direction smaller than a dimension in a longitudinal direction of the front portion, the back portion being configured to be located to face the front portion; and a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion configured to, in a state substantially upright with respect to the back portion, connect ends of the front portion and the back portion and other ends of the front portion and the back portion, respectively, wherein the package is configured to accommodate the packaged item in a state where the front portion is curved to protrude toward the back portion and where both ends of the packaged item in the longitudinal direction are inserted underneath the front portion toward the back portion.

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the package is composed of a sheet-like body, in which the first connecting portion, the back portion, the second connecting portion, and the front portion are arranged in this order, and to which roll-folding line formation process is applied; and wherein the package further comprises: a slit portion formed in an end portion of the package on a side of the first connecting portion; and a protruding portion provided in an end portion of the package on a side of the front portion, the protruding portion being configured to be inserted into the slit portion.

3. The package according to claim 2, wherein the packaged item is a writing instrument including a clip, and wherein the opening portion includes a cutout portion having a shape corresponding to a shape of the clip at an end of the opening portion toward the protruding portion.

4. The package according to claim 3, further comprising: a first through hole provided between an end of the first connecting portion and the slit portion; a plate-like portion formed of an end portion of the front portion extending in a plate-like shape; and a second through hole formed by cutting the protruding portion out from the plate-like portion, wherein the first connecting portion is configured to be folded toward the front portion by being bent at a transverse line including the slit portion, and the protruding portion is configured to be inserted into the slit portion in a state where an end portion of the writing instrument is inserted into the first through hole.

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