Outer container and bag-in-box including the same

Abstract

To provide an outer container which enables volume reduction and is excellent in usability, and to provide a bag-in box including the outer container.SOLUTION: An outer container 10 of the invention includes an inner box 2 and an outer box 3. One of the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 is an upper opening box. The other of the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 is a lower opening box. In a state that the lower opening box covers the upper opening box from above or the lower opening box is housed in the upper opening box, the upper opening box and the lower opening box are coupled and integrated by a joint part 10c. The coupling state between the upper opening box and the lower opening box may be released by a predetermined operation. A height of the upper opening box is lower than a whole height of the outer container 10 before the lower opening box is removed from the upper opening box. In a state that the lower opening box is removed, a user can conduct an operation to pour a content from a bag container 4 while holding the bag container 4 with the upper opening box.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an outer container and a bag-in-box having the outer container. [Background technology]

[0002] A bag-in-box is known that includes a flexible bag container that contains a liquid or other content therein and an outer container that contains the bag container. The bag-in-box is generally configured so that the content can be poured out through a pouring portion provided in the bag container. From the viewpoint of facilitating the pouring out of the content, various studies have been conducted on the configuration of the outer container.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an outer box for a liquid container with a stopcock, which has a bag-shaped container, an outer box main body for housing the container, and a base, and is used by setting the outer box main body on top of the base. Patent Document 2 discloses a bag-in-box formed by adhering adhesive strips and reinforcing strips to both ends of a continuous side body, the bag-in-box having a pair of elongated holes formed near both ends of the continuous side body. Patent Document 3 discloses a liquid storage container that includes a bag, an inner box that houses the bag, and an outer box that houses the inner box, with an inclined plate provided on the inner bottom surface of the inner box.

[0004] Patent document 4 describes a bag having a pair of first side walls that form a body and have first flaps connected to them, the first flaps including a pair of first inner wall portions that face the inner surfaces of the pair of first side walls, a pair of first lid portions extending from the tip of one of the inner wall portions, and a pair of support portions extending from the tip of the lid portion in one axial direction, and when placed on an installation surface, the pair of first lid portions form an inclined bottom portion that slopes downward from the rear to the front and supports the inner bag. Patent Document 5 discloses a bag-in-box which includes an inner bag and an outer box covering it, the outer box being a polyhedron or a three-dimensional shape formed by adding curved surfaces to a polyhedron, with the bottom and top surfaces each having a surface parallel to the horizontal plane, and one of the surfaces of the outer box being provided with a hole through which fingers can be inserted to grip the outer box. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-263239 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-240698 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2015-000740 A [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2021-014289 [Patent Document 5] Patent Publication No. 2021-147075 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When the amount of contents remaining in the bag container becomes small, the bag-in-box is prone to a situation where the installation space for the bag-in-box becomes too large for the amount of contents remaining. The techniques of Patent Documents 1 to 5 leave room for improvement in terms of usability of such bag-in-boxes.

[0007] The present invention relates to providing an outer container that can be reduced in volume and is easy to use, and a bag-in-box including the outer container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention relates to an outer container that houses a bag container having a spouting portion for spouting a content, and has a depth direction and a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction. In one embodiment, the outer container includes an inner box in which the bag container is disposed, and an outer box capable of covering the inner box, It is preferable that each of the inner box and the outer box has a peripheral wall portion including a front portion and a rear portion opposed to each other in the depth direction, and a pair of side portions opposed to each other in the width direction. In one embodiment, one of the outer box and the inner box is preferably an open-top box in which the upper part of the peripheral wall is open and the lower opening of the peripheral wall is closed by a bottom part. In one embodiment, the upper opening box is preferably configured so that an insertion portion through which the spout portion can be inserted can be formed in the front portion. In one embodiment, the other of the outer box and the inner box is preferably a bottom-opening box in which the lower part of the peripheral wall is open and the upper opening of the peripheral wall is closed by a top surface part. In one embodiment, when the lower opening box is placed over the upper opening box, or when the lower opening box is contained within the upper opening box, it is preferable that the upper opening box and the lower opening box are integrally connected together by a joint formed between the upper opening box and the lower opening box. In one embodiment, the outer container is preferably capable of releasing the joined state of the upper opening box and the lower opening box by a predetermined operation. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the height of the upper-opening box of the outer container is lower than the overall height of the outer container before the lower-opening box is removed from the upper-opening box. In one embodiment, it is preferable that, when the lower opening box is removed from the outer container, the upper opening box can hold the bag container while allowing the bag container to be poured out.

[0009] The present invention also relates to a bag-in-box. In one embodiment, the bag-in-box preferably includes the outer container and the bag container housed in the outer container. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The outer container and the bag-in-box equipped with the outer container of the present invention enable volume reduction and are easy to use. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a bag-in-box equipped with an outer container of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bag-in-box shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3(a) to 3(c) are perspective views for explaining a predetermined operation (separation operation) for releasing the combined state of the bag-in-box shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the inner box shown in FIG. 3 is used after the combined state is released. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the exterior container shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the bottom side. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exterior container shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the top surface side. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bag-in-box shown in FIG. 1 is used as a stand. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the outer container of the present invention, with the inner box lifted up. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bag-in-box shown in FIG. 8 is used as a stand. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a blank for forming the outer box shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a blank for forming the inner box shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The present invention will now be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show an embodiment of an outer container 10 according to the present invention and a bag-in-box 1 equipped with the outer container 10. The bag-in-box 1 includes the outer container 10 and a bag container 4 accommodated in the outer container 10. The bag container 4 provided in the bag-in-box 1 includes a bag body 40 consisting of a bag or pouch formed from a flexible sheet, and a pouring part 41 attached to the bag body 40 (see FIG. 2). Examples of the flexible sheet material forming the bag body 40 include synthetic resin sheet materials such as polyethylene, nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and sheet materials laminated with these materials. The bag main body 40 contains contents therein. The contents may be, for example, liquid or powder. Examples of liquid contents include liquid hair care products such as shampoo, hair conditioner, and hair rinse, liquid soaps such as body soap and hand soap, liquid detergents for clothes and dishes, fabric softeners and bleaches, liquid cleaners for bathrooms, toilets, and floors, liquid cosmetics, liquid beverages, foods, medicines, and engine oils. The contents may also be high-viscosity liquids such as creams. Examples of powder contents include powdered soap and powdered bleach.

[0013] The pouring part 41 attached to the bag main body 40 is a pouring member having a spout part 42 for pouring the contents to the outside of the bag container 4 and a tube part 43 that connects the inside of the spout part 42 with the inside of the bag main body 40 (see FIG. 1), and has an internal flow path that connects with the inside of the bag main body 40. The pouring part 41 is provided with an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the flow path with a valve, and is capable of pouring a desired amount of contents to the outside of the bag container 4. The pouring portion 41 of this embodiment is equipped with a circular flange portion 44 extending radially from the outer surface of the tube portion 43. This flange portion 44 has an outer diameter larger than that of the insertion portion 22 described below, and in a state in which the tube portion 43 is inserted into the insertion portion 22, the flange portion 44 is disposed outside the insertion portion 22. This makes it possible to stably maintain the spout portion 42 of the pouring portion 41 in a state in which it is exposed to the outside of the outer container 10. The pouring portion 41 is a molded product made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, and is preferably formed by injection molding.

[0014] The outer container 10 comprises an inner box 2 in which a bag container 4 is placed, and an outer box 3 capable of covering the inner box 2. Examples of materials for the inner box 2 and the outer box 3 include paper cardboard, thick paper, and plastic cardboard. These materials may be treated to be water repellent. The inner box 2 has an internal storage space capable of storing the bag container 4, and the outer box 3 has an internal storage space capable of storing the inner box 2. In the outer container 10 of this embodiment, the outer box 3 is a bottom-opening box having an opening at the bottom, and the inner box 2 is an top-opening box having an opening at the top. The top-opening box and the bottom-opening box will be described later. In the outer container 10, the top-opening box (in the present embodiment, the inner box 2) and the bottom-opening box (in the present embodiment, the outer box 3) are joined together. In this embodiment, the outer box 3 is joined together while covering the inner box 2 (see FIG. 1). This state will be referred to as a "jointed state" below. The top-opening box and the bottom-opening box are maintained in a joined state by a joint 10c formed between them. The details of the joint 10c will be described later.

[0015] In the combined state, the outer container 10 has a hexahedral shape including a bottom surface 10u (hereinafter also referred to as "container bottom surface 10u"), a top surface 10t (hereinafter also referred to as "container top surface 10t") facing the bottom surface 10u, and walls 10f, 10s, 10s, 10b surrounding the four sides formed by the peripheral wall 3r of the outer box 3 (see FIG. 1). Of these walls, the wall 10f where the spouting portion 41 is located is also referred to as the "front wall 10f", and the wall 10b facing the front wall 10f is also referred to as the "rear wall 10b". In addition, a pair of walls 10s, 10s facing each other and located between the front wall 10f and the rear wall 10b are also referred to as the "side walls 10s, 10s". In the assembled state, the outer container 10 of this embodiment, when placed with the container bottom portion 10u as the bottom and the front wall portion 10f as the front, has a depth direction Y, a width direction X perpendicular to the depth direction Y, and a height direction Z perpendicular to the depth direction Y and the width direction X. This height direction Z coincides with the vertical direction. In the outer container 10 of this embodiment, the walls 10f, 10s, 10s, 10b form a rectangular cylindrical peripheral wall that stands upright relative to the container bottom surface 10u, and the upper opening of the peripheral wall is closed by the container top surface 10t.

[0016] The outer box 3 has a peripheral wall portion 3r including a front portion 31, a rear portion 33 facing the front portion 31 in the depth direction Y, and a pair of side portions 35, 35 arranged between the front portion 31 and the rear portion 33 and facing each other in the width direction X. The peripheral wall portion 3r of the outer box 3 forms the peripheral wall portion of the outer container 10, and in the outer box 3, the front portion 31 forms the front wall portion 10f, the rear portion 33 forms the rear wall portion 10b, and the pair of side portions 35, 35 form a pair of side walls 10s, 10s (see FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, the outer box 3 has a rectangular cylindrical peripheral wall portion 3r that extends in the height direction Z with a front portion 31, a rear portion 33, and a pair of side portions 35, 35. As shown in Fig. 1, the outer box 3 has a top surface portion 37 that closes an opening at the top of the peripheral wall portion 3r. The top surface portion 37 forms the container top surface portion 10t. On the other hand, the lower portion of the peripheral wall portion 3r of the outer box 3 is open (see FIG. 2). The outer box 3 of this embodiment has an opening 38 defined by the front portion 31, the back portion 33, and the lower edges of the pair of side portions 35, 35. The opening 38 and the top surface portion 37 face each other in the height direction Z. In this manner, the outer box 3 of this embodiment is an open-bottom box in which the lower part of the peripheral wall portion 3r is open and the upper opening of the peripheral wall portion 3r is closed by the top surface portion 37.

[0017] In the outer box 3 of this embodiment, the front portion 31, the back portion 33, the pair of side portions 35, 35, and the top portion 37 are each made of plate-like members, and these plate-like members define a storage space for storing the inner box 2.

[0018] The outer box 3 has a front opening 32h in the front portion 31 that exposes the pouring portion 41 (see FIG. 1). The front opening 32h in this embodiment is a missing portion in which the front portion 31 is partially missing, and the pouring portion 41 of the bag container 4 accommodated in the inner box 2 is exposed to the outside of the outer container 10 through the front opening 32h. The front opening 32h may be made formable. In this case, an easy-to-break line capable of forming the front opening 32h is provided in the front portion 31, and the front opening 32h can be formed by breaking the front portion 31 along the easy-to-break line. In this specification, the easy-to-break line is formed in a known form such as a perforation or a cut line formed by partially cutting the sheet material forming the outer box 3 or the inner box 2 in the thickness direction.

[0019] In the outer box 3 of this embodiment, a viewing opening 35h extending in the height direction Z is formed in a pair of side surface portions 35, 35. Through this viewing opening 35h, the inside of the outer container 10 can be visually observed, and the remaining amount of the content of the bag container 4 can be visually confirmed. The outer box 3 of this embodiment has a pair of side portions 35, 35 each having a pressing piece 34 that is long in the depth direction Y or extends along the depth direction Y. During a separation operation described later, the pressing piece 34 becomes a sheet piece partially separated from the side portion 35 by breaking an easy-to-break line (not shown) along the periphery of the pressing piece 34. The pressing piece 34 has an upper edge portion formed of a line connected to the side portion 35, and the upper edge portion serves as a rotation axis to be rotatable. The periphery of the pressing piece 34 is formed with the easy-to-break line except for the upper edge portion. When the pressing piece 34 is pressed inward in the width direction X, the side portion 35 breaks along the easy-to-break line, and the pressing piece 34 except for the upper edge portion is separated from the side portion 35, and an opening that is long in the depth direction Y along the periphery of the pressing piece 34 is formed.

[0020] Similar to the outer box 3, the inner box 2 has a peripheral wall portion 2r including a front portion 21 and a back portion 23 opposed to each other in the depth direction Y, and a pair of side portions 25, 25 opposed to each other in the width direction X (see FIG. 2). In the inner box 2 of this embodiment, the front portion 21, the back portion 23, and the pair of side portions 25, 25 form a rectangular cylindrical peripheral wall portion 2r extending in the height direction Z. The inner box 2 has a bottom surface portion 29 that closes the opening at the bottom of the peripheral wall portion 2r. This bottom surface portion 29 forms the container bottom surface portion 10u. On the other hand, the upper part of the peripheral wall portion 2r of the inner box 2 is open (see FIG. 2). The inner box 2 of this embodiment has an opening 28 defined by the front portion 21, the back portion 23, and the upper edges of the pair of side portions 25, 25. The opening 28 and the bottom portion 29 face each other in the height direction Z. In this manner, the inner box 2 of this embodiment is an open-top box in which the upper part of the peripheral wall portion 2r is open and the lower opening of the peripheral wall portion 2r is closed by the bottom surface portion 29.

[0021] In the inner box 2 of this embodiment, the front portion 21, the back portion 23, the pair of side portions 25, 25, and the bottom portion 29 are each made of a plate-like member, and these plate-like members define a storage space in which the bag container 4 is stored.

[0022] The inner box 2, which is an upper-opening box, is configured so that an insertion portion 22 for inserting the pouring portion 41 of the bag container 4 can be formed in the front portion 21. The insertion portion 22 in this embodiment is a circular opening, and serves as an insertion opening through which the pipe portion 43 of the pouring portion 41 is inserted when the bag-in-box 1 is in use. When the bag-in-box 1 is in an unopened state, the insertion portion 22 consists of an area surrounded by an easy-to-break line formed in a circular shape on the front portion 21, and the insertion portion 22 is formed when the user breaks the front portion 21 along the easy-to-break line. The front part 21 shown in FIG. 2 has an insertion part 22 that is a circular opening through which the pipe part 43 is inserted, and a substantially pentagonal home plate-shaped front large opening 22a that is continuous with the upper edge of the insertion part 22. The front large opening 22a is an opening that is continuous with the insertion part 22, and is closed by a flap part that is continuous with the front part 21. The flap part has a shape that corresponds to the periphery (contour) of the front large opening 22a, and a part of the periphery of the flap part is connected to the front part 21 and can rotate around a part of the periphery as a rotation axis. In this embodiment, the upper edge of the flap part is connected to the front part 21, and the spout part 41 including the spout part 42 and the flange part 44 can be exposed to the outside of the inner box 2 from the front large opening 22a by flipping up the flap part.

[0023] The inner box 2 of this embodiment is equipped with gripping protrusions 25a, 25a protruding upward from the upper edges of the pair of side surface portions 25, 25. The gripping protrusions 25a, 25a are rectangular sheet pieces that are long in the depth direction Y, and the lower ends of the sheet pieces are continuous with the side surface portions 25. The gripping protrusions 25a, 25a support the bag main body portion 40 from both sides in the width direction X when the bag container 4 is accommodated in the accommodation space of the inner box 2. The inner box 2 of this embodiment has a pair of side portions 25, 25 each having a pressing piece 24 that is long in the depth direction Y or extends along the depth direction Y. During a separation operation described later, this pressing piece 24 also becomes a sheet piece that is partially separated from the side portion 25 by breaking an easy-to-break line (not shown) along the periphery of the pressing piece 24. The pressing piece 24 of this embodiment has an upper edge connected to the side portion 25, and the upper edge of the pressing piece 24 is rotatable around a rotation axis. This upper edge is a ruled line extending in the depth direction Y. The periphery of the pressing piece 24 is formed with the easy-to-break line except for the upper edge. When this pressing piece 24 is pushed inward in the width direction X, the side portion 25 breaks along the easy-to-break line, and the pressing piece 24 except for the upper edge is separated from the side portion 25, and a long opening is formed in the depth direction Y along the periphery of the pressing piece 24. This opening becomes a gripping opening 26h through which fingers are inserted when gripping the inner box 2. In another embodiment, the pressing piece 24 may have an easy-to-break line (not shown) formed along its entire periphery. In this case, by pressing the pressing piece 24 inward in the width direction X, the side surface portion 25 breaks along the periphery of the pressing piece 24, and an opening 26h penetrating the side surface portion 25 is formed.

[0024] Hereinafter, in order to distinguish between the respective parts of the outer box 3 and the inner box 2, the peripheral wall part 3r, the front part 31, the back part 33, the side parts 35, 35, and the top part 37 of the outer box 3 will also be referred to as the outer peripheral wall part 3r, the outer front part 31, the outer back part 33, the outer side parts 35, 35, and the outer top part 37. In addition, the opening 38 of the outer box 3 will also be referred to as the outer opening 38, and the pressing piece 34 of the outer box 3 will also be referred to as the outer pressing piece 34. The peripheral wall portion 2r, the front portion 21, the back portion 23, the side portions 25, 25, and the bottom portion 29 of the inner box 2 are also referred to as the inner peripheral wall portion 2r, the inner front portion 21, the inner back portion 23, the inner side portions 25, 25, and the inner bottom portion 29. The opening 28 of the inner box 2 is also referred to as the inner opening 28, and the pressing piece 24 of the inner box 2 is also referred to as the inner pressing piece 24.

[0025] As described above, in the combined outer container 10, the lower opening box (outer box 3) and the upper opening box (inner box 2) are combined and integrated. More specifically, when the lower opening box is placed over the upper opening box (see FIG. 1), the upper opening box and the lower opening box are combined and integrated by a joint 10c formed between the upper opening box and the lower opening box. In other words, when the outer box 3 is placed over the inner box 2 (see FIG. 1), the inner box 2 and the outer box 3 are combined and integrated by a joint 10c formed between the inner box 2 and the outer box 3. The joints 10c in this embodiment are formed between each pair of inner side surface portions 25, 25 and outer side surface portions 35, 35. More specifically, they are formed between a portion of the inner side surface portion 25 located below the inner pressing piece 24 and a portion of the outer side surface portion 35 located below the outer pressing piece 34 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The joints 10c can be formed by a known joining means such as an adhesive.

[0026] In the combined outer container 10, the outer front portion 31 and the inner front portion 21 are adjacent to each other in the depth direction Y, and the outer back portion 33 and the inner back portion 23 are adjacent to each other in the depth direction Y. The outer side portions 35, 35 and the inner side portions 25, 25 are adjacent to each other in the width direction X, and further the outer pressing piece 34 and the inner pressing piece 24 are adjacent to each other in the width direction X, and the inner separation portion 26, which will be described later, is adjacent to each other in the width direction X. When the side wall portions 10s, 10s are viewed from the width direction X, the outer pressing piece 34 and the inner pressing piece 24 overlap in the width direction X. In the combined outer container 10, the outer box 3 is placed over the inner box 2. In this state, the lower end of the inner box 2 may or may not extend downward from the outer opening 38 of the outer box 3. In the latter case, the position of the lower edge of the outer peripheral wall portion 3r of the outer box 3 and the position of the bottom surface portion 29 of the inner box 2 approximately coincide with each other in the height direction Z.

[0027] In the outer container 10 of this embodiment, in a combined state, the side portions 25, 35 of the adjacent inner box 2 and outer box 3 are formed with a joint portion 10c and an easy-to-break line FL (see Figs. 1 and 2, hereinafter also referred to as "easy-to-break lines FL, FL for separation") surrounding the joint portion 10c. More specifically, the inner side portion 25 and the outer side portion 35 are formed with a pair of easy-to-break lines FL, FL for separation that extend in the height direction Z and sandwich the joint portion 10c on both sides in the depth direction Y (see Fig. 2). Furthermore, the inner side portion 25 and the outer side portion 35 are formed with bottom end separation lines 26b, 36b that extend in the depth direction Y and connect the bottom ends of the pair of easy-to-break lines FL, FL for separation. The bottom end separation line 26b of the inner side portion 25 (hereinafter also referred to as "inner bottom end separation line 26b") is a slit that penetrates the inner side portion 25. The lower end separation line 36b of the outer surface portion 35 (hereinafter, "the outer lower end separation line 36b") is a line connecting the portion (sheet piece) between a pair of easy-to-separate tear lines FL, FL in the outer surface portion 35 and the outer surface portion 35. The portion (sheet piece) between the pair of easy-to-separate tear lines FL, FL is rotatable about the outer lower end separation line 36b as a rotation axis. Hereinafter, the portion 26 (sheet piece) in the inner surface portion 25 defined by the lower end edge of the pressing piece 24, the pair of easy-to-break lines FL, FL for separation, and the inner lower end separation line 26b is also referred to as the "inner separation portion 26." Also, the portion 36 (sheet piece) in the outer surface portion 35 defined by the lower end edge of the pressing piece 34, the pair of easy-to-break lines FL, FL for separation, and the outer lower end separation line 36b is also referred to as the "outer separation portion 36." When the side wall portions 10s, 10s are viewed from the width direction X, the inner separation portion 26 and the outer separation portion 36 overlap in the width direction X. The joint portion 10c in this embodiment is formed between the inner separation portion 26 and the outer separation portion .

[0028] The outer container 10 can release the joined state of the inner box 2, which is an upper opening box, and the outer box 3, which is a lower opening box, by a predetermined operation. Such release is performed by removing the portion where the joint portion 10c is formed from the inner box 2 and the outer box 3. More specifically, the outer container 10 of this embodiment can release the joined state by a separation operation shown in FIG. 3. First, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the outer pressing piece 34 of the joined outer container 10 is pushed inward in the width direction X. As a result, the outer pressing piece 34 rotates about its upper edge portion as an axis, and the inner pressing piece 24 adjacent to the outer pressing piece 34 is also pushed in while rotating about its upper edge portion as an axis, forming a grip opening 26h. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the inner separation portion 26 and the outer separation portion 36 located below the pressing pieces 24, 34 are pulled outward in the width direction X. As a result, a pair of easy-to-break lines for separation FL of each of the inner side surface portion 25 and the outer side surface portion 35 breaks, and the outer separation portion 36 is rotated outward in the width direction X about the outer lower end separation line 36b. Since the inner separation portion 26 is joined to the outer separation portion 36 by the joint portion 10c, as the outer separation portion 36 rotates, the inner separation portion 26 breaks along the pair of easy-to-break lines for separation FL, and further the entire inner separation portion 26 is separated from the inner side surface portion 25. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(c), the outer box 3 is lifted and removed from the outer container 10. As a result, the joint portion 10c and the inner separation portion 26 joined to the inner surface of the outer side surface portion 35 are also removed together with the outer box 3. By the above-mentioned separation operation, a separation opening 26i that is continuous with the grip opening 26h is formed in the inner side surface portion 25 of the inner box 2 by breaking (separating) the inner separation portion 26. The separation opening 26i in this embodiment is a rectangular opening, and has a width (length in the depth direction Y) shorter than that of the grip opening 26h. The separation opening 26i is located below the grip opening 26h.

[0029] The height of the upper opening box is lower than the overall height of the outer container 10 before the lower opening box is removed from the upper opening box. In this embodiment, the height H2 (see FIG. 2) of the inner box 2 is lower than the overall height H1 (see FIG. 1) of the outer container 10 before the outer box 3 is removed (H1>H2). The overall height H1 of the outer container 10 before the outer box 3 is removed is the height of the outer container 10 in the combined state, and is the length between the top surface 37 of the outer box 3 and the bottom surface 29 of the inner box 2 in the height direction Z. The height H2 of the inner box 2 is the maximum length of the inner box 2 in the height direction Z. Since the inner box 2 in this embodiment has gripping protrusions 25a, 25a, the height H2 of the inner box 2 is the length between the upper edge of the gripping protrusions 25a and the inner bottom surface 29 in the height direction Z. When the inner box 2 does not have the gripping protrusions 25a, 25a, the height H2 of the inner box 2 is the maximum length in the height direction Z between the upper edge of the inner circumferential wall portion 2r and the inner bottom surface portion 29.

[0030] Even when the lower opening box (outer box 3) is removed from the outer container 10, the bag-in-box 1 can be used with only the upper opening box (inner box 2) as shown in FIG. 4. The inner box 2 of this embodiment contains the bag container 4, and the pipe part 43 is inserted into the insertion part 22 (not shown in FIG. 4) of the inner front part 21 to expose the pouring part 41 to the outside of the inner box 2. This inner box 2 is capable of holding the bag container 4 and pouring the contents from the bag container 4. The upper opening box (inner box 2) of this embodiment supports the bag body part 40 by surrounding it with the inner bottom surface part 29 and the inner peripheral wall part 2r, so that the contents can be poured out by gripping the upper opening box (inner box 2) and tilting the pouring part 41 side downward (see FIG. 4). The outer container 10 of this embodiment can effectively reduce the volume of the outer container 10 itself by removing the outer box 3 through the separation operation described above. This allows the bag-in-box 1 to have a compact appearance depending on the remaining amount of contents, and allows for space-saving installation. Furthermore, since it has a simple structure consisting of only the inner box 2, it is easy to perform the pouring operation while holding it in your hand (see FIG. 4). In particular, if you hold the inner box 2 in your hand and tilt it, the contents will easily gather in the pouring section 41, and the amount of poured contents remaining in the bag container 4 can be reduced. In this way, the bag-in-box 1 (outer container 10) of this embodiment can be reduced in volume and is easy to use.

[0031] From the standpoint of further improving the volume reduction and retention of the bag container 4, it is preferable that the overall height H1 (hereinafter also referred to simply as "overall height H1") of the outer container 10 before removing the lower opening box (in this embodiment, the outer box 3) and the height H2 of the upper opening box (in this embodiment, the inner box 2) be within the following range. The overall height H1 (see FIG. 1) is preferably 1.2 to 2 times, more preferably 1.2 to 1.6 times, the height H2 (see FIG. 2) of the upper opening box. The difference between the overall height H1 (see FIG. 1) and the height H2 (see FIG. 2) of the upper opening box is preferably 35 mm or more and 110 mm or less, more preferably 35 mm or more and 85 mm or less. The overall height H1 (see FIG. 1) is preferably 150 mm or more and 300 mm or less, and more preferably 180 mm or more and 230 mm or less. The height H2 of the upper opening box (see FIG. 2) is preferably 75 mm or more and 250 mm or less, and more preferably 90 mm or more and 190 mm or less.

[0032] In the combined state, the inner box 2 is covered by the outer box 3. From the viewpoint of making the combined state more stable and making separation by a separation operation easier, it is preferable that the dimensions of the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 (see FIG. 2) be within the following ranges. The ratio (W2 / W3) of the outer width W2 of the inner box 2 to the inner width W3 of the outer box 3 is preferably 94% or more and 98% or less, more preferably 96% or more and 98% or less. In this specification, "width" refers to the length in the width direction X. The difference between the inner width W3 of the outer box 3 and the outer width W2 of the inner box 2 is preferably 2 mm or more and 7 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm or more and 5 mm or less. The ratio (L2 / L3) of the outer dimension L2 in the depth direction Y of the inner box 2 to the inner dimension L3 in the depth direction Y of the outer box 3 is preferably 95% or more and 98% or less, more preferably 96% or more and 98% or less. The difference between the inner dimension L3 in the depth direction Y of the outer box 3 and the outer dimension L2 in the depth direction Y of the inner box 2 is preferably 4 mm or more and 12 mm or less, more preferably 4 mm or more and 10 mm or less. The inner width is the length between the inner surfaces of a pair of side portions opposing each other in the width direction X. The outer width is the length between the outer surfaces of a pair of side portions opposing each other in the width direction. The inner dimension in the depth direction Y is the length between the inner surfaces of the front and rear parts facing each other in the depth direction Y. The outer dimension in the depth direction Y is the length between the outer surfaces of the front and rear parts facing each other in the depth direction Y.

[0033] From the viewpoint of further improving the gripping ability of the open-top box and the holding ability of the bag container 4, it is preferable that the dimensions of the open-top box are within the following ranges. The outer width W2 of the top-opening box is preferably 90 mm or more and 150 mm or less, and more preferably 100 mm or more and 130 mm or less. The outer dimension L2 in the depth direction Y of the upper-opening box is preferably 150 mm or more and 300 mm or less, and more preferably 180 mm or more and 270 mm or less.

[0034] 3, it is preferable that the inner pressing piece 24 is adjacent to the inner separation portion 26, and the outer pressing piece 34 is adjacent to the outer separation portion 36. In other words, it is preferable that the pressing pieces 24, 34 are partially adjacent to the separation easy-break line FL. In this embodiment, the inner pressing piece 24 is adjacent to the inner separation portion 26 in the height direction Z, and the outer pressing piece 34 is adjacent to the outer separation portion 36 in the height direction Z, and these pressing pieces 24, 34 are partially adjacent to the separation easy-break line FL. There is no particular limitation on the direction in which the inner pressing piece 24 and the inner separating portion 26 are adjacent to each other, and the direction in which the outer pressing piece 34 and the outer separating portion 36 are adjacent to each other. For example, the inner pressing piece 24 and the inner separating portion 26 may be adjacent to each other in the depth direction Y, and the outer pressing piece 34 and the outer separating portion 36 may be adjacent to each other in the depth direction Y.

[0035] In the combined state, each of the inner pressing piece 24 and the outer pressing piece 34 has a part or the whole of its periphery formed by an easy-to-break line. From the viewpoint of making the separation operation easier, it is preferable that the inner pressing piece 24 has a part of its periphery connected to the inner side surface portion 25, and the other periphery connected to the easy-to-break line for separation FL of the inner separation portion 26. Similarly, it is preferable that the outer pressing piece 34 has a part of its periphery connected to the outer side surface portion 35, and the other periphery connected to the easy-to-break line for separation FL of the outer separation portion 36. For example, the outer pressing piece 34 in this embodiment has an upper edge connected to the outer surface portion 35, and a lower edge connected to the upper end of the easy-to-break-off line for separation FL of the outer separation part 36 (see FIG. 1). With this configuration, the outer separation part 36 can be more easily picked up through an opening formed by breaking the periphery of the outer pressing piece 34, and the outer separation part 36 can be more easily separated along the easy-to-break-off line for separation FL. Similarly, the inner pressing piece 24 may have an upper edge formed of a crease connected to the inner surface portion 25, and a lower edge connected to the upper end of the easy-to-break-off line for separation FL of the inner separation part 26. There is no particular limitation on the portion where the pressing pieces 24, 34 connect to the side surface portions 25, 35. The pressing pieces 24, 34 may be connected to the side surface portions 25, 35 at any of the upper edge portion, the lower edge portion, and the side edge portion along the height direction Z. From the viewpoint of easily rotating the pressing pieces 24, 34 when pressed in, it is preferable that the pressing pieces 24, 34 have a part of the peripheral portion formed of a ruled line and are connected to the side surface portions 25, 35 via the ruled line.

[0036] In this embodiment, the outer separation portion 36 and the inner separation portion 26 have corresponding contour shapes. In other words, in this embodiment, the outer separation portion 36 and the inner separation portion 26 are substantially the same in shape and area. The outer separation portion 36 and the inner separation portion 26 are arranged such that their peripheries (contours) overlap each other. The outer separation portion 36 and the inner separation portion 26 may have different shapes and areas. In this case, it is preferable that the entire inner separation portion 26 is contained within the range of the outer separation portion 36 in the combined state. With such a configuration, the separation operation shown in FIG. 3 can be performed more easily.

[0037] The outer separation portion 36 and the inner separation portion 26 have an area larger than that of the joint portion 10c. From the viewpoint of facilitating the separation operation, the area of ​​each of the outer separation portion 36 and the inner separation portion 26 is preferably 110% or more and 170% or less, more preferably 120% or more and 150% or less, of the area of ​​the joint portion 10c.

[0038] The bonding portion 10c of the present embodiment is formed by coating with an adhesive. The adhesive may be coated in a pattern that includes an uncoated portion, such as a spiral pattern, or may be coated in a so-called solid manner that includes no uncoated portion. From the viewpoint of maintaining the bonded state more stably and from the viewpoint of making it easier to separate the container, the area of ​​the joint 10c can be set according to the mass of the contents at the initial stage of use. For example, the area of ​​the joint 10c is preferably 300 mm 2 More than 2100mm 2 Less than or equal to 600 mm, more preferably 2 More than 1500mm 2When the bonding portion 10c is formed by coating the adhesive in a pattern in which an uncoated portion exists, the area of ​​the bonding portion 10c includes the area of ​​the uncoated portion.

[0039] In the outer container 10 of this embodiment, the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 are joined together at joints 10c formed on both sides in the width direction X, in other words, at joints 10c between a pair of outer side surfaces 35, 35 and a pair of inner side surfaces 25, 25. Alternatively, the outer container 10 may be joined together at joints 10c formed on both sides in the depth direction Y. In this case, the joints 10c are located between the outer front surface portion 31 and the inner front surface portion 21, and between the outer back surface portion 33 and the inner back surface portion 23. The outer container 10 of this embodiment has two joints 10c, but the number of joints 10c is not particularly limited. There may be one or more joints 10c, and there may be two or more joints 10c.

[0040] The inner bottom surface portion 29 of the inner box 2, which is an upper-opening box of this embodiment, has a pair of bottom side surface portions 25u, 25u connected to the lower edge portions of the pair of inner side surface portions 25, 25, a bottom front surface portion 21u connected to the lower edge portion of the inner front surface portion 21, and a bottom back surface portion 23u connected to the lower edge portion of the inner back surface portion 23 (see FIG. 5). The pair of bottom side surface portions 25u, 25u are rotatable around a connecting portion connecting to the pair of inner side surface portions 25, 25 as a rotation axis, i.e., around an upper edge portion of the bottom side surface portion 25u (lower edge portion of the inner side surface portion 25) as a rotation axis. The bottom front surface portion 21u is rotatable around a connecting portion connecting to the inner front surface portion 21 as a rotation axis, i.e., around an upper edge portion of the bottom front surface portion 21u (lower edge portion of the inner front surface portion 21) as a rotation axis. The bottom back portion 23u is rotatable about a connection portion that connects to the inner back portion 23 as a rotation axis, that is, about the upper edge portion of the bottom back portion 23u (the lower edge portion of the inner back portion 23) as a rotation axis. The inner bottom surface portion 29 is formed by folding the bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u at the joints so that the pair of bottom side portions 25u, 25u overlap, and folding them inward of the inner box 2. The bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u are folded inwardly of the pair of bottom side portions 25u, 25u, and the pair of bottom side portions 25u, 25u are folded inwardly with their leading edges butted against each other in a double door manner. The leading edge of the bottom side portion 25u is the edge opposite the joints (the upper edge of the bottom side portion 25u), and is the edge on the inside in the width direction X when folded.

[0041] In this embodiment, the pair of bottom side portions 25u, 25u are formed with cutout portions n1, n1 formed by cutting out the corners on both sides of the tip edge in the depth direction Y. When the pair of bottom side portions 25u, 25u are folded in a double-door manner, the bottom side engagement portion 2E is formed by butting the cutout portions n1 on both sides of the width direction X together with the tip edge. The bottom side engagement portion 2E is an opening formed by the cutout portion n1, and the opening is closed by the bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u. As a result, the bottom side engagement portion 2E has an opening formed by the cutout portion n1, and is a recess with the bottom front portion 21u or the bottom back portion 23u as the bottom portion. In this manner, the bottom surface portion 29 of the top-opening box of this embodiment has the bottom surface side engagement portion 2E.

[0042] The outer top surface portion 37 of the outer box 3 of this embodiment has a pair of top side portions 35t, 35t connected to the upper edges of the pair of outer side portions 35, 35, a top front portion 31t connected to the upper edge of the outer front portion 31, and a top back portion 33t connected to the upper edge of the outer back portion 33 (see FIG. 6). The pair of top side portions 35t, 35t are rotatable around a connecting portion connected to the pair of outer side portions 35, 35 as a rotation axis, that is, around a lower edge portion of the top side portion 35t (upper edge portion of the outer side portion 35) as a rotation axis. The top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t are flap portions having a width shorter than that of the outer front portion 31 and the outer back portion 33, respectively. The top front part 31t is rotatable about a connecting part connecting to the outer front part 31, i.e., about the lower edge part of the top front part 31t (the upper edge part of the outer front part 31) as the rotation axis. The top back part 33t is rotatable about a connecting part connecting to the outer back part 33, i.e., about the lower edge part of the top back part 33t (the upper edge part of the outer back part 33) as the rotation axis. The outer top surface portion 37 is formed by folding the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t at the joints so that the pair of top side portions 35t, 35t overlap, and folding them inwardly of the outer box 3. The pair of top side portions 35t, 35t are folded in a double door manner with their leading edges butted against each other, and are folded inwardly of the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t. The leading edge of the top side portion 35t is the edge opposite the joints (the upper edge of the top side portion 35t), and is the edge on the inside in the width direction X when folded.

[0043] In this embodiment, the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t are stacked on a pair of top side portions 35t, 35t to form a top side engagement portion 3E (see FIG. 6). The top side engagement portion 3E is a convex portion having a step with the top side portion 35t. In this way, the top portion 37 of the lower opening box in this embodiment has the top side engagement portion 3E.

[0044] The top surface side engaging portion 3E and the bottom surface side engaging portion 2E have substantially the same contour shape and are capable of engaging with each other. The bag-in-box 1 of this embodiment can be used in a state where the upper opening box (in this embodiment, the inner box 2) is placed on the lower opening box (in this embodiment, the outer box 3) (hereinafter, also referred to as a "stacked state") after the above-mentioned combined state is released (see FIG. 7). This allows the pouring position of the pouring part 41 to be higher than in the combined state, so that a space for placing the container 11 to be filled can be easily secured below the pouring part 41. Furthermore, the content can be poured without any particular hindrance even if the installation location of the bag-in-box 1 is not limited to the edge of a table, etc. These effects are effective in that the pouring operation into a tall container 11 becomes easier. When the inner bottom surface portion 29 and the outer top surface portion 37 are opposed to each other and the inner box 2 is placed on the outer box 3 in a stacked state, the bottom surface side engagement portion 2E and the top surface side engagement portion 3E engage with each other (see FIG. 7). This allows the inner box 2 to be stably placed on the outer box 3, and effectively prevents the inner box 2 from shifting and falling.

[0045] The outer container 10 (bag-in-box 1) of this embodiment is easy to use because the contents can be poured out in either the combined state (see FIG. 1), the state with only the inner box 2 (see FIG. 4), or the loaded state (see FIG. 7) depending on the remaining amount of the contents or the height of the container 11 to which the contents are to be transferred. The outer container 10 (bag-in-box 1) of this embodiment may be used to pour out the contents in either the state with only the inner box 2 (see FIG. 4) or the loaded state (see FIG. 7) even when the bag container 4 is fully filled.

[0046] The outer container of the present invention and the bag-in-box including the same are not limited to the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 7, and may be in other forms. Another embodiment of the outer container of the present invention will be described below. In the following, the other embodiment will be described mainly with respect to components different from the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7, and similar components will be given the same reference numerals and description will be omitted. For components that are not particularly described, the description of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7 will be applied as appropriate.

[0047] In the outer container 10 of the embodiment described above, the inner box 2 has the bottom surface 29, and the outer box 3 has the top surface 37, but conversely, the inner box 2a may have the top surface and the outer box 3a may have the bottom surface, as shown in Fig. 8. That is, the outer box 3a may be an upper-opening box, and the inner box 2a may be a lower-opening box. In the outer container 10a shown in Fig. 8, the inner box 2a has an opening at the bottom of the inner peripheral wall 2r, and the opening at the top of the inner peripheral wall 2r is closed by an inner top surface 27. This inner top surface 27 forms the container top surface of the outer container 10a in the combined state. The inner box 2a is configured so that a front opening 22h can be formed in the inner front surface 21. The front opening 22h has a structure similar to the front opening 32h provided in the outer box 3 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. The outer box 3a has an opening at the top of the outer peripheral wall 3r, and an opening at the bottom of the outer peripheral wall 3r is closed by an outer bottom surface portion 39. This outer bottom surface portion 39 forms the container bottom surface portion of the outer container 10a in the combined state. The outer box 3a is configured so that an insertion portion 32 and a large front opening 32b can be formed in the outer front surface portion 31. The insertion portion 32 and the large front opening 32b have the same configuration as the insertion portion 22 and the large front opening 22a of the inner box 2 of the embodiment shown in FIG. The outer box 3a also has gripping protrusions 35a, 35a protruding upward from the upper edges of the pair of outer side surface portions 35, 35.

[0048] In the outer container 10a of this embodiment, in the combined state, the lower opening box is accommodated in the upper opening box. That is, the inner box 2a is accommodated in the outer box 3a. The combined state of the outer container 10a of this embodiment can be released by the same method as the above-mentioned separation operation. First, the outer pressing piece 34 of the outer box 3a is pushed inward in the width direction X, the periphery of the outer pressing piece 34 is broken, and the outer pressing piece 34 is rotated around the upper edge part consisting of the line as the rotation axis. This forms a grip opening 36h in the outer surface part 35. In addition, with the pushing of the outer pressing piece 34, the periphery of the inner pressing piece 24 overlapping with the outer pressing piece 34 in the width direction X is also broken and rotated inward in the X direction around the upper edge part consisting of the line as the rotation axis. In this way, by breaking a part of the periphery of the pressing pieces 34, 24, the grip openings 36h, 26h can be formed. Next, the inner separation portion 26 and the outer separation portion 36 are pulled outward in the width direction X. As a result, a separation opening 36i is formed in the outer side surface portion 35, and the entire inner separation portion 26 is separated from the inner side surface portion 25, thereby releasing the joined state.

[0049] In this embodiment, after the joined state is released, the lower opening box (inner box 2a in this embodiment) can be taken out (detached) from the upper opening box (outer box 3a in this embodiment). The height of the upper opening box is lower than the overall height of the outer container 10a before the lower opening box is taken out from the upper opening box. The height relationship between the overall height and the height of the upper opening box is the same as in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7 described above. In the outer container 10a of this embodiment, when the inner box 2a, which is a bottom-opening box, is removed, the bag container 4 is held in the outer box 3a, which is an top-opening box, and pouring from the bag container 4 can be performed. That is, similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the outer container 10a can be made compact, and it can be used with only the top-opening box (outer box 3a) containing the bag container 4.

[0050] The bottom surface portion 39 of the outer box 3a of this embodiment has the same configuration as the inner bottom surface portion 29 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7. That is, the bottom surface portion 39 has a pair of bottom side portions 35u, 35u in which a notch portion n1 is formed, and a bottom front portion 31u and a bottom back portion 33u that are folded inside the outer box 3a from the bottom side portion 35u, and these form a bottom side engagement portion 3F. This bottom side engagement portion 3F has an opening formed by the notch portion n1, and is a recess with the bottom front portion 31u or the bottom back portion 33u as the bottom portion. That is, the bottom side engagement portion 3F of this embodiment has the same configuration as the bottom side engagement portion 2E of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7.

[0051] The inner top surface portion 27 of the inner box 2a of this embodiment has the same configuration as the outer top surface portion 37 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7. That is, the inner top surface portion 27 has a pair of top side portions 25t, 25t, a top front portion 21t, and a top back portion 23t, which form a top surface side engagement portion 2F. In this top surface side engagement portion 2F, the top front portion 21t and the top back portion 23t are convex portions having a step with the top side surface portion 25t. That is, the top surface side engagement portion 2F of this embodiment has the same configuration as the top surface side engagement portion 3E of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7. In the outer container 10a of this embodiment, in a stacked state in which the outer box 3a is placed on the inner box 2a, the bottom engaging portion 3F on the bottom portion 39 of the outer box 3a can engage with the top engaging portion 2F on the top portion 27 of the inner box 2a (see FIG. 9). This allows the outer box 3a to be more stably placed on the inner box 2a.

[0052] Each of the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 in the above-described embodiments is formed using one blank. The blank will be described below with reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. The outer box 3 and the inner box 2 can each be formed using a single blank 20, 30 capable of forming a rectangular parallelepiped or cube (see Figs. 10 and 11). These blanks 20, 30 can be easily obtained by punching and cutting a single sheet material made of paper so that the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 each have a predetermined shape when unfolded. To more reliably ensure the strength required for use as the bag-in-box 1, the thickness of the sheet material forming the blanks 20, 30 is preferably 1.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or more and 4 mm or less.

[0053] The blanks 20, 30 are subjected to creasing such as creasing, cutting, etc. to form each portion defined by the folded portion. The blank 30 forming the outer box 3 is provided with easy-to-break lines for forming the viewing opening 35h, the front opening 32h, and the outer pressing piece 34, as well as separation breaking lines FL, FL, at appropriate positions. The blank 20 forming the inner box 2 is provided with easy-to-break lines for forming the insertion portion 22, the large front opening 22a, and the inner pressing piece 24, as well as separation breaking lines FL, FL, at appropriate positions.

[0054] The blank 30 shown in FIG. 10 forms the outer box 3, and has a horizontal direction R1 corresponding to the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall portion 3r and an orthogonal direction Z1 corresponding to the height direction Z, and has a long shape in the horizontal direction R1. The blank 30 has an outer back portion 33, a pair of outer side portions 35, 35, and an outer front portion 31, which are divided by folding portions b6, b7, b8 extending in the perpendicular direction Z1. In the blank 30 of this embodiment, the outer side portion 35, the outer front portion 31, the outer side portion 35, and the outer back portion 33 are arranged in this order from the left along the lateral direction R1. The outer side portions 35, 35 are connected to both sides of the outer front portion 31 in the lateral direction R1 via folding portions b6, b6. One of the outer side portions 35 is one end of the blank 30 in the lateral direction R1. The other outer side portion 35 is located between the outer front portion 31 and the outer back portion 33, and is connected to the outer back portion 33 via the folding portion b7. A joint portion 33r extending in the perpendicular direction Z1 is connected to the outer back surface portion 33 on the outer side in the lateral direction R1. The joint portion 33r constitutes the other end portion of the blank 30 in the lateral direction R1.

[0055] A top side portion 35t is connected to each of the pair of outer side portions 35, 35 on one side in the orthogonal direction Z1 via a bent portion b5 extending in the horizontal direction R1. The length of the top side portion 35t in the orthogonal direction Z1 is half the width (length in the horizontal direction R1) of the outer front portion 31 and the outer back portion 33, and the two top side portions 35t, 35t are capable of closing the upper opening of the outer peripheral wall portion 3r in a double door manner. Each of the pair of outer side surface portions 35, 35 is provided with an outer pressing piece 34, as well as separation breaking lines FL, FL and a lower end separation line 36b that define an outer separation portion 36.

[0056] A top front forming portion 31p is connected to one side of the outer front portion 31 in the orthogonal direction Z1 via bent portions b1, b2 extending in the lateral direction R1. The top front forming portion 31p is a rectangular protruding piece protruding outward in the orthogonal direction Z1 from the outer front portion 31, and has a top front portion 31t cut into the top front forming portion 31p in a trapezoidal shape, and an inverted U-shaped outer peripheral portion 31e surrounding the periphery of the top front portion 31t. The cut (slit) that forms the outer peripheral edge of the top front portion 31t also forms the inner peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion 31e. The bent portions b2 connecting the outer periphery 31e are located on both sides of the bent portion b1 connecting the top front portion 31t, and are approximately aligned in the orthogonal direction Z1 with the bent portion b5 connecting the top side portion 35t. The bent portion b2 connecting the outer periphery 31e is located slightly inward in the orthogonal direction Z1 from the bent portion b1 connecting the top front portion 31t. By shifting the positions of the bent portions b1 and b2 in the orthogonal direction Z1 in this way, a convex portion (top surface side engagement portion 3E) made of the top front portion 31t can be easily formed. The bent portions b3 and b4 connecting the top back forming portion 33p described later also have the same configuration as the bent portions b1 and b2 connecting the top front forming portion 31p.

[0057] A top back forming part 33p is connected to one side of the outer back part 33 in the orthogonal direction Z1 via bent parts b3 and b4 extending in the horizontal direction R1. The top back forming part 33p is a rectangular protruding piece protruding outward in the orthogonal direction Z1 from the outer back part 33, and has a top back part 33t cut into the top back forming part 33p in a trapezoidal shape, and an inverted U-shaped outer periphery part 33e surrounding the periphery of the top back part 33t. The cut (slit) forming the outer periphery of the top back part 33t also forms the inner periphery of the outer periphery part 33e.

[0058] The blank 20 shown in FIG. 11 forms the inner box 2, and has a lateral direction R1 corresponding to the circumferential direction of the inner wall portion 2r and an orthogonal direction Z1 corresponding to the height direction Z, and has a long shape in the lateral direction R1. The blank 20 has an inner back portion 23, a pair of inner side portions 25, 25, and an inner front portion 21, which are divided by folding portions b15, b16, b17 extending in the perpendicular direction Z1. In the blank 20 of this embodiment, the inner side portion 25, the inner front portion 21, the inner side portion 25, and the inner back portion 23 are arranged in this order from the left along the horizontal direction R1. The inner side portions 25, 25 are connected to both sides of the inner front portion 21 in the horizontal direction R1 via the folding portion b16. A joint portion extending in the perpendicular direction Z1 is connected to one of the inner side portions 25 via the folding portion b15 outward in the horizontal direction Y. The inner back portion 23 is connected to the other inner side portion 25 via the folding portion b17 outward in the horizontal direction Y. The joint portion 25r is one end of the blank 20 in the lateral direction R1, and the inner back surface portion 23 is the other end of the blank 20 in the lateral direction R1.

[0059] The inner side portions 25, 25 are continuous with gripping protrusions 25a, 25a protruding to one side in the orthogonal direction Z1. The end of the inner front portion 21 on one side in the orthogonal direction Z1 (upper side in the height direction Z) protrudes outward in the orthogonal direction Z1 further than the inner back portion 23, but is located inward in the orthogonal direction Z1 than the gripping protrusions 25a, 25a. Each of the pair of inner side surface portions 25, 25 is provided with an inner pressing piece 24, as well as separation breaking lines FL, FL and a lower end separation line 26b that define an inner separation portion 26.

[0060] A bottom side portion 25u is connected to the other side of the pair of inner side portions 25, 25 in the perpendicular direction Z1 (the lower side in the height direction Z) via a bent portion b11 extending in the horizontal direction R1. The bottom side portion 25u has a cutout portion n1 at each of the corners on both sides in the horizontal direction R1. The length of the bottom side portion 25u in the perpendicular direction Z1 is half the width of the inner front portion 21 and the inner back portion 23, and the two bottom side portions 25u, 25u are capable of closing the lower opening of the inner wall portion 2r in a double-door manner. A bottom front portion 21u is connected to the other side in the perpendicular direction Z1 (the lower side in the height direction Z) of the inner front portion 21 via a bent portion b12 extending in the lateral direction R1. A bottom rear portion 23u is connected to the other side in the perpendicular direction Z1 (the lower side in the height direction Z) of the inner rear portion 23 via a bent portion b13 extending in the lateral direction R1.

[0061] A method for manufacturing a bag-in-box 1 having an outer container 10 and a bag container 4 will be described using blanks 20, 30 shown in Figures 10 and 11. The joining performed when assembling the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 from the blanks 20, 30 shown in Figures 10 and 11 can be performed using a known joining means such as an adhesive. First, the bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u of the blank 20 forming the inner box 2 are folded inward in the orthogonal direction Z1 around the bent portions b12 and b13 extending in the horizontal direction R1, and the joint portion 25r is joined to the inner surface of the inner back portion 23 to form the inner peripheral wall portion 2r. Next, a pair of bottom side portions 25u, 25u are overlapped from above the bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u in a double-door manner. The bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u overlap the bottom side portions 25u, 25u at the portion on the inner side in the horizontal direction R1 from the notch portion n1. The overlapped portion is joined to form the inner bottom portion 29. In this manner, the inner box 2 is assembled. An adhesive is applied to the outer surface of the inner separation portion 26 of the obtained inner box 2, and the joint portion 10c is formed.

[0062] The blank 30 forming the outer box 3 has the joint portion 33r joined to the outer surface of the outer side surface portion 35 forming one end of the blank 30 in the lateral direction R1 to form the outer peripheral wall portion 3r. The outer peripheral wall portion 3r is formed so as to surround the inner peripheral wall portion 2r of the inner box 2. More specifically, for the inner box 2 with the inner bottom surface portion 29 as the ground surface, the inner front surface portion 21 and the outer front surface portion 31 are aligned, the inner back surface portion 23 and the outer back surface portion 33 are aligned, and further the inner side surface portion 25 and the outer side surface portion 35 are aligned to form the peripheral wall portion 3r. At this time, the outer surface of the inner separation portion 26 is joined to the inner surface of the outer separation portion 36 via the joint portion 10c. Next, the bag container 4 is placed in the inner box 2 through the upper opening of the outer peripheral wall portion 3r. Next, the outer peripheral portion 31e connected to the outer front portion 31 and the outer peripheral portion 33e connected to the outer back portion 33 are folded inward in the orthogonal direction Z1 around the folding portions b2, b4, respectively, and the pair of top side portions 35t, 35t are overlapped on top of the outer peripheral portions 31e, 33e in a double door manner. Next, the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t are overlapped on top of the top side portion 35t, and the overlapped portions are joined. In this manner, the outer box 3 is assembled, and the combined outer container 10 containing the bag container 4 is formed. By the above method, the bag-in-box 1 in the combined state shown in FIG. 1 can be manufactured.

[0063] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified as appropriate. 1 to 7, the top engaging portion 3E is a convex portion and the bottom engaging portion 2E is a concave portion, but the top engaging portion 3E may be a concave portion and the bottom engaging portion 2E may be a convex portion. In this case, the top engaging portion 3E is a concave portion formed on the top side portion 35t, and the bottom engaging portion 2E is a convex portion formed on the inner bottom portion 29. In addition, the outer separation portion 36 is connected to the outer surface portion 35 via the lower end separation line 36b which is a crease, but the lower end separation line 36b may be an easy-to-break line. In this case, the outer separation portion 36 can be removed from the outer surface portion 35 by a separation operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 Bag in box 10, 10a Outer container 10b Rear wall portion 10c Joint portion 10f Front wall portion 10s Side wall portion 10t Container top surface portion 10u Container bottom surface portion 2, 2a Inner box 2E Bottom - side engaging portion 2F Top - side engaging portion 2r Inner peripheral wall portion 20 Blank 21 Inner front portion 21t Top front portion 21u Bottom front portion 22 Insertion portion 22a Front large opening 22h Front opening 23 Inner rear portion 23t Top rear portion 23u Bottom rear portion 24 Inner pressing piece 25 Inner side portion 25a Gripping protrusion piece 25r Seam portion 25t Top - side inner portion 25u Bottom - side inner portion 26 Inner separation portion 26b Inner lower - end separation line 26h Gripping opening 26i Separation opening 27 Inner top surface portion 28 Inner opening 29 Inner bottom surface portion 3, 3a Outer box 3E Top - side engaging portion 3F Bottom - side engaging portion 3r Outer peripheral wall portion 30 Blank 31 Outer front portion 31e Outer peripheral portion 31p Top - front forming portion 31t Top front portion 31u Bottom front portion 32 Insertion portion 32b Front large opening 32h Front opening 33 Outer back surface 33e Outer peripheral part 33p Top back forming part 33r Joint margin part 33t Top back surface 33u Bottom back surface 34 Outer pressing piece 35 Outer side surface 35a Gripping protrusion piece 35h Visual recognition opening 35t Top side surface 35u Bottom side surface 36 Outer separation part 36b Outer lower end separation line 36h Gripping opening 36i Separation opening 37 Outer top surface 38 Outer opening 39 Outer bottom surface 4 Bag container 40 Bag body part 41 Pouring-out part 42 Spout part 43 Tube part 44 Flange part

Claims

1. An outer container that accommodates a bag container having a pouring portion for pouring out a content, and has a depth direction and a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction, The bag container includes an inner box in which the bag container is disposed, and an outer box capable of covering the inner box, Each of the inner box and the outer box has a peripheral wall portion including a front portion and a rear portion opposed to each other in the depth direction and a pair of side portions opposed to each other in the width direction, One of the outer box and the inner box is an upper-opening box in which an upper portion of the peripheral wall portion is open and an opening at a lower portion of the peripheral wall portion is closed by a bottom surface portion, and further, an insertion portion through which the spout portion is inserted can be formed in the front surface portion, the other of the outer box and the inner box is a bottom-opening box in which a bottom of the peripheral wall portion is open and an upper opening of the peripheral wall portion is closed by a top surface portion, In a state where the lower opening box is placed on the upper opening box or in a state where the lower opening box is housed in the upper opening box, the upper opening box and the lower opening box are joined together by a joint portion formed between the upper opening box and the lower opening box, The upper opening box and the lower opening box can be released from their combined state by a predetermined operation, the height of the upper opening box is lower than the overall height of the outer container before the lower opening box is removed from the upper opening box; With the lower opening box removed, the bag container can be held by the upper opening box while allowing pouring from the bag container to be performed.

2. 2. The outer container according to claim 1, wherein the overall height of the outer container before the lower opening box is removed is 1.2 times or more the height of the upper opening box.

3. The bottom surface portion has a bottom surface side engagement portion, and the top surface portion has a top surface side engagement portion, 3. The outer container according to claim 1, wherein the bottom engaging portion and the top engaging portion engage with each other when the upper opening box is placed on the lower opening box.

4. The outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top-opening box is configured so that a gripping opening can be formed in the side portion.

5. The outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the combined state, the side portions of the adjacent inner box and outer box are formed with the joint portion and a separation-use easy-break line surrounding the joint portion.

6. The side surface portions of the inner box and the outer box each have a pressing piece that is partially adjacent to the easy-to-separate breaking line, The outer container according to claim 5 , wherein a part of a periphery of the pressing piece is connected to the side surface portion, and another periphery is connected to the easy-to-break line for separation.

7. The outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper opening box is the inner box, and the lower opening box is the outer box.

8. The outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper opening box is the outer box, and the lower opening box is the inner box.

9. A bag-in-box comprising the outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and the bag container housed in the outer container.

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