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 restrained by a belt-like member 15 to be integrated. In the outer container 10, an integrated state of the upper opening box and the lower opening box may be disintegrated by releasing the restraint. 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. In a state that the lower opening box is removed, a user can conduct an operation to pour a content while holding a bag container 4 with the upper opening box.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

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 formed on 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. As one embodiment, the bag 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, it is preferable that one of the inner box and the outer box is an upper-opening box in which the upper part of the peripheral wall portion is open, the lower opening of the peripheral wall portion is closed by a bottom surface portion, and an insertion portion through which the pouring portion can be inserted is formed in the front portion. In one embodiment, the other of the inner box and the outer 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 integrated by being restrained by a separate belt-shaped member arranged around them. In one embodiment, it is preferable that the integrated state of the upper opening box and the lower opening box can be released by releasing the restraint by the belt-shaped member. In one embodiment, it is preferable that 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. In one embodiment, it is preferable that, with the lower opening box removed, it is possible to perform a pouring operation from the bag container while holding the bag container with the upper opening box.

[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] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the inner box shown in FIG. 2 is used after the integrated state is released. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exterior container shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the bottom side. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the exterior container shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the top surface side. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bag-in-box shown in FIG. 1 is used as a stand. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the outer container of the present invention, with the inner box lifted up. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the bag-in-box shown in FIG. 7 is used as a stand. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a blank for forming the outer box shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a blank for forming the inner box shown in FIG. [Figure 11] 11(a) to 11(c) are perspective views showing a method for assembling the outer box shown in FIG. [Figure 12] 12(a) to 12(c) are perspective views showing a method for assembling 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 6 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 this embodiment, the inner box 2) and the bottom-opening box (in this embodiment, the outer box 3) are integrated by being restrained by a separate belt-shaped member 15 arranged around them. In this embodiment, with the inner box 2 covered by the outer box 3, the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 are integrated by a separate belt-shaped member 15 arranged around them (see FIG. 1). Hereinafter, such a state will be referred to as an "integrated state".

[0015] In the integrated 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 integrated state, when placed with the container bottom portion 10u as the bottom and the front wall portion 10f as the front, the outer container 10 of this embodiment 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, 36 disposed 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, 36 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, 36. 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 lower edges of the front portion 31, the back portion 33, and the pair of side portions 35, 36. 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, 36, and the top portion 37 are each made of a plate-like member, and these plate-like members define a storage space in which the inner box 2 is stored.

[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 has a rectangular portion that is long in the height direction Z when viewed from the front, and a semicircular portion that protrudes from the upper edge of the rectangular portion. In the outer box 3, the pouring portion 41 of the bag container 4 contained 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 that can form 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 that partially cuts 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 h1 extending in the height direction Z is formed in a pair of side surface portions 35, 36. Through this viewing opening h1, 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.

[0020] In the outer box 3 of this embodiment, a top side portion 35t that forms the top surface of the outer box 3 is connected to the upper edge of one side portion 35. The top side portion 35t has approximately the same length in the depth direction Y as the side portion 35, and has approximately the same width (length in the width direction X) as the front portion 31 and the back portion 33. The top side portion 35t closes the upper opening of the peripheral wall portion 3r. Such top side portion 35t forms the container top surface portion 10t. The side flap portion 35f is connected to the edge of the top side portion 35t along the depth direction Y on the opposite side to the side portion 35 connected thereto. The side flap portion 35f has approximately the same length in the depth direction Y as the top side portion 35t, and is folded into the outer box 3 around the edge connected to the top side portion 35t as an axis. The side flap portion 35f is adjacent to the inner surface of the other side portion 36 along the height direction Z.

[0021] The top side surface portion 35t has a pair of openings 35d, 35d extending in the width direction X. The pair of openings 35d, 35d are formed at both ends of the top side surface portion 35t in the depth direction Y and are spaced apart from each other in the depth direction Y. Tips of the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t, which will be described later, are inserted into the pair of openings 35d, 35d. The top side surface portion 35t has a side flap portion 35f formed thereon, and an edge along the depth direction Y is disposed at the upper edge portion of the other side surface portion 36 to close the upper opening of the peripheral wall portion 3r. The side flap portion 35f has an engaged opening 35e formed along the depth direction Y on the edge side connected to the top side surface portion 35t.

[0022] The outer box 3 of this embodiment has a top flap portion 34, which is inserted into and locked in the engaged opening 35e, at the upper edge of the other side surface portion 36. The top flap portion 34 is a rectangular protruding piece protruding upward from the upper edge of the other side surface portion 36. The top flap portion 34 has a lower edge connected to the side surface portion 35 and is rotatable about the lower edge as a rotation axis. The top flap portion 34 has a tip portion 34f protruding from the other side surface portion 36 as a portion to be inserted into the engaged opening 35e. The tip portion 34f is longer in the depth direction Y than the base end portion of the top flap portion 34.

[0023] 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, 26 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, 26 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 upper edges of the front portion 21, the back portion 23, and the pair of side portions 25, 26. 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.

[0024] In the inner box 2 of this embodiment, the front portion 21, the back portion 23, the pair of side portions 25, 26, 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] The inner box 2, which is an upper-opening box in this embodiment, is equipped with gripping protrusions 25a, 26a protruding upward from the upper edges of a pair of side surface portions 25, 26. The gripping protrusions 25a, 26a 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, 26. When the bag container 4 is accommodated in the accommodation space of the inner box 2, the gripping protrusions 25a, 26a support the bag main body portion 40 from both sides in the width direction X.

[0027] The inner box 2, which is an open-top box in this embodiment, has gripping openings 25h, 26h that are long in the depth direction Y in each of a pair of side surface portions 25, 26. Fingers are inserted through the gripping openings 25h, 26h when the inner box 2 is gripped. The grip openings 25h, 26h of this embodiment may be formed. For example, the entire periphery of the grip openings 25h, 26h is formed by an easy-to-break line (not shown), and the easy-to-break line is broken by pressing the area surrounded by the easy-to-break line toward the inside in the width direction X to form the grip openings 25h, 26h penetrating the side surface portions 25, 26. Alternatively, the grip openings 25h, 26h may have an upper edge portion of the periphery formed by a line, and the rest of the periphery formed by the easy-to-break line. In this case, when the area surrounded by the periphery of the grip openings 25h, 26h is pressed, the upper edge portion connected to the side surface portions 25, 26 becomes a rotation axis, and the sheet piece consisting of the area can be rotated inward in the width direction X. Such a configuration is preferable in that when fingers are inserted through the grip openings 25h, 26h, the end faces (broken end faces) of the grip openings 25h, 26h broken along the easy-to-break lines are unlikely to come into contact with the fingers.

[0028] In the inner box 2 of this embodiment, one side surface portion 25 and the other side surface portion 26 are continuous via a bottom side surface portion 25u (see FIG. 4). The bottom side surface portion 25u forms the outer surface of a bottom surface portion 29 of the inner box 2. In this embodiment, one edge of the bottom side surface portion 25u along the depth direction Y is connected to one side surface portion 25, and the other edge of the bottom side surface portion 25u along the depth direction Y is connected to the other side surface portion 26. This bottom side surface portion 25u is disposed between the pair of side surface portions 25, 26 in the width direction X, and closes a lower opening of the peripheral wall portion 2r of the inner box 2.

[0029] The other side surface portion 26 of this embodiment has an outer wall surface portion 26c connected to the bottom side surface portion 25u and forming the outer surface of the side surface portion 26, and an inner wall surface portion 26d arranged on the inner side of the outer wall surface portion 26c. This other side surface portion 26 has a double-wall structure in which the outer wall surface portion 26c and the inner wall surface portion 26d are adjacent to each other in the width direction X. The other side surface portion 26 has a gripping protrusion piece 26a between the outer wall surface portion 26c and the inner wall surface portion 26d in the width direction X, and the inner wall surface portion 26d is connected to the upper edge portion of the outer wall surface portion 26c on both sides of the gripping protrusion piece 26a in the depth direction Y. The inner wall surface portion 26d is a portion that extends upward from the upper edge portion of the outer wall surface portion 26c, and the inner wall surface portion 26d is rotated toward the inside of the inner box 2 around the upper edge portion as a rotation axis to form the double-wall structure (see FIG. 2). The gripping protrusion 26a protrudes upward from the upper edge of the outer wall surface portion 26c.

[0030] 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, 36, 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, 36, 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. The peripheral wall portion 2r, the front portion 21, the back portion 23, the side portions 25, 26, 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, 26, and the inner bottom portion 29. In addition, the opening 28 of the inner box 2 is also referred to as the inner opening 28.

[0031] As described above, in the integrated outer container 10, the lower opening box (outer box 3) and the upper opening box (inner box 2) are integrated by being restrained by the belt-shaped member 15. More specifically, in a state where the lower opening box (outer box 3) is placed over the upper opening box (inner box 2) (see FIG. 1), when viewed from the depth direction Y, the belt-shaped member 15 is continuously arranged along the four sides of the outer side surface portion 36, the inner bottom surface portion 29, the outer side surface portion 35, and the outer top surface portion 37. That is, the upper opening box (inner box 2) and the lower opening box (outer box 3) placed thereon are integrated by the annular belt-shaped member 15. The belt-shaped member 15 may be made into a ring shape by a fastener that connects one end and the other end of the belt-shaped member 15, or may be made into a ring shape by joining the one end and the other end. The belt-shaped member 15 may be, for example, a polypropylene band (PP band), a polypropylene rope (PP rope), hemp string, or the like.

[0032] In the integrated 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, 36 and the inner side portions 25, 26 are adjacent to each other in the width direction X. In the integrated 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.

[0033] In the outer container 10, the integrated state of the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 can be released by releasing the restraint by the belt-shaped member 15. This release makes it possible to remove the outer box from the outer container 10. The restraint by the belt-shaped member 15 may be released by cutting the belt-shaped member 15, or by removing the fastener from the belt-shaped member 15.

[0034] 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 an integrated 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 and 26a, 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, 26a, 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.

[0035] 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. 3. 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. 3) 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. 3). The outer container 10 of this embodiment can be easily released from the integrated state by releasing the restraint by the belt-shaped member 15, and the outer container 10 itself can be effectively reduced in volume by removing the outer box 3. This allows the bag-in-box 1 to have a compact appearance according to the remaining amount of contents, and the installation space can be saved. Furthermore, since it has a simple structure with only the inner box 2, it is easy to perform the pouring operation while holding it in your hand (see FIG. 3). In particular, if you hold the inner box 2 in your hand and tilt it, the contents will easily gather in the pouring part 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] In the integrated state, the inner box 2 is covered by the outer box 3. From the viewpoint of making it easier to release the integrated state, it is preferable that the dimensions of the outer box 3 and the inner box 2 (see FIG. 2) are 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 2 mm or more and 7 mm or less, more preferably 2 mm or more and 5 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] The inner bottom surface portion 29 of the inner box 2, which is an upper-opening box of this embodiment, has a bottom side surface portion 25u connected to the lower edge portions of the pair of inner side surface portions 25, 26, 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. 4). In this inner box 2, both side edges along the depth direction Y of the bottom side surface portion 25u, i.e., the connecting portions between the bottom side surface portion 25u and the pair of inner side surface portions 25, 26, are folded outward, and the pair of inner side surface portions 25, 26 stand up from the bottom side surface portion 25u. The bottom front surface portion 21u is rotatable about the connecting portions connected to the inner front surface portion 21 as a rotation axis, i.e., about the upper edge portion of the bottom front surface portion 21u (the 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 their joints so that the bottom side portion 25u overlaps with the bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u, and folding them inwardly of the inner box 2. The bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u are folded inwardly of the bottom side portion 25u.

[0040] The bottom side surface portion 25u in this embodiment has trapezoidal cutout portions n1, n1 formed by cutting out both ends inward in the depth direction Y. In the inner bottom surface portion 29 in this embodiment, the bottom side surface portion 25u overlaps the outside of the bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u, so that the opening formed by the cutout portion n1 is closed by the bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u. In the present embodiment, the inner bottom surface portion 29 has a bottom surface side engagement portion 2E formed by overlapping the cutout portions n1, n1 with the bottom front portion 21u and the bottom back portion 23u. The bottom surface side engagement portion 2E has an opening formed by the cutout portion n1, and is a recess having the bottom portion at the bottom of the bottom front portion 21u or the bottom back portion 23u. In this manner, the bottom surface portion 29 of the top-opening box of this embodiment has the bottom surface side engagement portion 2E.

[0041] The outer top surface portion 37 of the outer box 3 of this embodiment has a top side surface portion 35t connected to the upper edge portion of one of the outer side surfaces 35, a top front surface portion 31t connected to the upper edge portion of the outer front surface portion 31, and a top back surface portion 33t connected to the upper edge portion of the outer back surface portion 33 (see FIG. 5). The top side surface portion 35t can be rotated around a connection portion connected to one of the outer side surfaces 35 as a rotation axis, that is, around the lower edge portion of the top side surface portion 35t (upper edge portion of the outer side surface portion 35) as a rotation axis. The top front surface portion 31t and the top back surface portion 33t are flap portions each having a width shorter than the outer front surface portion 31 and the outer back surface portion 33. The top front surface portion 31t can be rotated around a connection portion connected to the outer front surface portion 31 as a rotation axis, that is, around the lower edge portion of the top front surface portion 31t (upper edge portion of the outer front surface portion 31) as a rotation axis. The top rear portion 33t is rotatable about a connection portion that connects to the outer rear portion 33 as a rotation axis, that is, about the lower edge portion of the top rear portion 33t (the upper edge portion of the outer rear portion 33) as a rotation axis. The outer top surface portion 37 is formed by folding the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t at their joints so that the top side portion 35t overlaps with the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t, and folding them inwardly of the outer box 3. The top side portion 35t is folded inwardly of the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t.

[0042] In this embodiment, the top front portion 31t and the top back portion 33t are stacked on the top side portion 35t to form the top side engagement portion 3E (see FIG. 5). 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.

[0043] 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 integrated state is released (see FIG. 6). This allows the pouring position of the pouring part 41 to be higher than in the integrated state, so that a space for placing a container (not shown) to be filled can be easily secured below the pouring part 41. Furthermore, the contents 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 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. 6). 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.

[0044] 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 integrated state (see FIG. 1), the state with only the inner box 2 (see FIG. 3), or the stacked state (see FIG. 6) depending on the remaining amount of contents or the height of the container 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. 3) or the stacked state (see FIG. 6) even when the bag container 4 is fully filled.

[0045] The outer container of the present invention and the bag-in-box including the same are not limited to the form shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 6, and may be in another form. 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 Fig. 1 to Fig. 6, and similar components will be given the same reference numerals and description will be omitted. For components not specifically described, the description of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 6 will be applied as appropriate.

[0046] In the outer container 10 of the embodiment described above, the inner box 2 has a bottom surface 29, and the outer box 3 has a top surface 37. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the inner box 2a may have a top surface and the outer box 3a may have a bottom surface. 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. 7, the inner box 2a has an opening at the lower part of the inner peripheral wall part 2r, and the opening at the upper part of the inner peripheral wall part 2r is closed by the inner top surface part 27. This inner top surface part 27 forms the container top surface part of the outer container 10a in the integrated state. The inner box 2a is configured so that a front opening 22h can be formed in the inner front part 21. The front opening 22h has a configuration 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 integrated 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 a pair of outer side surface portions 35, 36.

[0047] In the outer container 10a of this embodiment, in the integrated state, the lower opening box is housed in the upper opening box. That is, the inner box 2a is housed in the outer box 3a. The integrated state of the outer container 10a of this embodiment can be released by releasing the restraint by the belt-shaped member 15 (not shown in FIG. 7).

[0048] In this embodiment, after the integrated 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 outer box 3a 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 6 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. 3, 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.

[0049] In the outer box 3a of this embodiment, the outer side surface portions 35, 36 have a configuration similar to that of the inner side surface portions 25, 26 shown in Fig. 2. That is, one outer side surface portion 35 and the other side surface portion 36 are continuous via the bottom side surface portion 35u, and the other side surface portion 36 has a double-wall structure in which the outer wall surface portion and the inner wall surface portion are adjacent to each other in the width direction X. 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 6. That is, the bottom surface portion 39 has a bottom side portion 35u in which a pair of cutout portions 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 cutout portion n1, and is a recess with the bottom front portion 31u or the bottom back portion 33u as its 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 6.

[0050] In the inner box 2a of this embodiment, the inner side surface portions 25, 26 have the same configuration as the outer side surface portions 35, 36 shown in Fig. 2. That is, a top side surface portion 25t forming the top surface portion of the inner box 2a is connected to the upper edge portion of one of the inner side surface portions 25, and a side surface flap portion 25f having an engaged opening is connected to the edge of the top side surface portion 25t along the depth direction Y on the opposite side to the one of the inner side surface portions 25. Furthermore, a pair of openings 25d, 25d extending in the width direction X are formed in the top side surface portion 25t. The other inner side surface portion 26 has a top surface flap portion 24, which is inserted into and engaged with the engaged opening, at the upper edge portion of the side surface portion 26.

[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 6. That is, the inner top surface portion 27 has a top side portion 25t, a top front portion 21t, and a top back portion 23t, which form a top surface side engagement portion 2F. This top surface side engagement portion 2F is a convex portion in which the top front portion 21t and the top back portion 23t have 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 6. 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 inner top portion 27 of the inner box 2a (see FIG. 8). 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 using the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 as an example. 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. 9 and 10). 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 has easy-to-break lines at appropriate positions to form the viewing opening h1, the front opening 32h, and the top flap portion 34. The blank 20 forming the inner box 2 has easy-to-break lines at appropriate positions to form the insertion portion 22 and the large front opening 22a.

[0054] The blank 30 shown in Figure 9 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, 36, and an outer front portion 31, which are divided by folding portions b6, b7, and b8 extending in the perpendicular direction Z1. In the blank 30 of this embodiment, the outer side portion 36, 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, 36 are connected to both sides of the outer front portion 31 in the lateral direction R1 via folding portions b6, b6. One outer side portion 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 is connected to the outer surface portion 35 via a bent portion b8 and forms the other end portion of the blank 30 in the lateral direction R1.

[0055] A top side portion 35t is connected to one of the outer side portions 35 on one side in the orthogonal direction Z1 via a bent portion b3 extending in the horizontal direction R1. The length of the top side portion 35t in the orthogonal direction Z1 is approximately the same as the width (length in the horizontal direction R1) of the outer front portion 31 and the outer back portion 33, and is capable of closing the upper opening of the outer peripheral wall portion 3r. A pair of openings 35d, 35d are formed in the top side portion 35t at both ends in the horizontal direction R1. A side flap portion 35f is connected to the outer edge of the top side portion 35t in the orthogonal direction Z1. The top side portion 35t and the side flap portion 35f have approximately the same length in the lateral direction R1. The side flap portion 35f has an engaged opening 35e extending in the lateral direction R1 formed on the inner side in the orthogonal direction Z1. The engaged opening 35e is located in the center of the side flap portion 35f in the lateral direction R1. A bent portion b9 extending in the lateral direction R1 is formed between the side flap portion 35f and the top side portion 35t, and the side flap portion 35f is connected to the top side portion 35t via the bent portion b9.

[0056] The top front forming part 31p is connected to one side of the outer front part 31 in the orthogonal direction Z1 via the bent parts b1 and b2 extending in the lateral direction R1. The top front forming part 31p is a part extending outward in the orthogonal direction Z1 from the outer front part 31, and has a top front part 31t cut into the top front forming part 31p in a substantially trapezoidal shape, and an inverted U-shaped outer peripheral part 31e surrounding the periphery of the top front part 31t. The top front part 31t has an insertion flap part 31f that is long in the lateral direction R1 at the tip part on the outer side in the orthogonal direction Z1. The top front part 31t and the outer peripheral part 31e are spaced apart in the orthogonal direction Z1, and an inverted U-shaped opening is formed between the top front part 31t and the outer peripheral part 31e. The bent portions b2 connecting the outer peripheral portion 31e to the outer front portion 31 are located on both sides of the bent portion b1 connecting the top front portion 31t to the outer front portion 31. The bent portion b2 connecting the outer peripheral portion 31e is located slightly inward in the orthogonal direction Z1 than 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 b4 and b5 connecting the top back surface 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] The top back forming part 33p is connected to one side of the outer back part 33 in the orthogonal direction Z1 via the bent parts b4 and b5 extending in the horizontal direction R1. The top back forming part 33p is a part extending 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 substantially trapezoidal shape and an inverted U-shaped outer peripheral part 33e surrounding the periphery of the top back part 33t. The top back part 33t has an insertion flap part 33f that is long in the horizontal direction R1 at the tip part on the outer side in the orthogonal direction Z1. The top back part 33t and the outer peripheral part 33e are spaced apart, and an inverted U-shaped opening is formed between the top back part 33t and the outer peripheral part 33e.

[0058] The blank 20 shown in Figure 10 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 orthogonal direction Z1. The blank 20 has a T-shaped connection between a portion where the inner front portion 21, one inner side portion 25, and the inner back portion 23 are aligned in the horizontal direction R1, and a portion where the bottom side portion 25u, the outer wall surface portion 26c, and the inner wall surface portion 26d are aligned in the perpendicular direction Z1. The blank 20 has an inner front portion 21, one inner side portion 25, and an inner back portion 23, which are divided by folding portions b11, b12, and b13 extending in the perpendicular direction Z1. In the blank 20 of this embodiment, the inner front portion 21, one 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 front portion 21 and the inner back portion 23 are connected to both sides of the one inner side portion 25 in the horizontal direction R1 via the folding portion b11. That is, the one inner side portion 25 is sandwiched between the inner front portion 21 and the inner back portion 23 in the horizontal direction R1. A peripheral wall flap portion f1 extending in the perpendicular direction Z1 is connected to the inner front portion 21 via the folding portion b12 outward in the horizontal direction Y. A peripheral flap portion f3 extending in the perpendicular direction Z1 is connected to the inner back surface portion 23 via a bent portion b13 outwardly in the lateral direction Y. The pair of peripheral flap portions f1, f3 form both ends of the blank 20 in the lateral direction R1.

[0059] One of the inner side surfaces 25 is continuous with a gripping protruding piece 25a protruding on one side in the orthogonal direction Z1, and a bottom side surface 25u is connected to the other side in the orthogonal direction Z1. The end of the inner front surface portion 21 on one side in the orthogonal direction Z1 (upper side in the height direction Z) protrudes outward in the orthogonal direction Z1 more than the one of the inner side surfaces 25, but is located inward in the orthogonal direction Z1 more than the gripping protruding piece 25a.

[0060] A bottom side portion 25u is connected to the other side in the orthogonal direction Z1 (the lower side in the height direction Z) of the one inner side portion 25 via a bent portion b14 extending in the horizontal direction R1. The bottom side portion 25u has a pair of cutout portions n1, n1 located at both ends in the horizontal direction R1, and is constricted inward in the horizontal direction R1. The length of the bottom side surface portion 25u in the orthogonal direction Z1 is approximately equal to the width of the inner front surface portion 21 and the inner back surface portion 23, and is capable of closing the lower opening of the inner peripheral wall portion 2r. 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 b19 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 b20 extending in the lateral direction R1.

[0061] The bottom side surface portion 25u is connected to the outer wall surface portion 26c via a bent portion b15 extending in the horizontal direction R1 on the side opposite to one of the inner side surface portions 25 in the perpendicular direction Z1. The bottom side surface portion 25u is formed with a pair of insertion openings 25e, 25e extending in the horizontal direction Y1 along the side edge to which the outer wall surface portion 26c is connected. The pair of insertion openings 25e, 25e have their outer edges in the perpendicular direction Z1 formed by the bent portion b15. The outer wall surface portion 26c is connected to the inner wall surface portion 26d via two bent portions b16, b17 extending in the lateral direction R1 on the opposite side of the bottom side surface portion 25u in the orthogonal direction Z1. The two bent portions b16, b17 are parallel to each other and are positioned slightly differently in the orthogonal direction Z1. The outer wall surface portion 26c has a grip opening 26h extending in the lateral direction R1 on the inner wall surface portion 26d side in the orthogonal direction Z1.

[0062] The inner wall surface portion 26d has a large gripping opening 26i formed in the center in the horizontal direction R1 on the outer wall surface portion 26c side in the orthogonal direction Z1, and a gripping protrusion 26a is formed in the large gripping opening 26i, protruding outward in the orthogonal direction Z1 from an outer end edge (bent portion b16) of the outer wall surface portion 26c in the orthogonal direction Z1. The gripping protrusion 26a divides the two bent portions b16, b17 at the center in the horizontal direction R1, and the inner wall surface portion 26d is connected to the outer wall surface portion 26c on both sides in the horizontal direction R1 of the gripping protrusion 26a. The inner wall surface portion 26d has a bent portion b18 located approximately in the center in the perpendicular direction Z1 and extending in the horizontal direction R1. A pair of insertion flaps 26f, 26f protrude outward in the perpendicular direction Z1 from the outer edge of the inner wall surface portion 26d in the perpendicular direction Z1.

[0063] 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 and 30 shown in Figures 9 and 10. The joining performed when assembling the outer box 3 from the blank 30 shown in Figures 9 and 10 can be performed by a known joining means such as an adhesive.

[0064] The blank 30 forming the outer box 3 has the joint portion 33r joined to the outer surface of the outer side surface portion 36 forming one end of the blank 30 in the lateral direction R1 to form the outer peripheral wall portion 3r (see FIG. 11(a)). 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 (not shown in FIG. 11) (see FIG. 11(b)). Next, the top side surface portion 35t is placed on top of the outer peripheral portions 31e, 33e, and the side flap portion 35f is inserted between the top side surface portion 35t and the outer side surface portion 36, and further the tip portion 34f of the top side flap portion 34 is inserted into the engagement opening 35e. Then, the front top portion 31t and the back top portion 33t are placed on top of the side top portion 35t, and the insertion flaps 31f, 33f of the front top portion 31t and the back top portion 33t are inserted into the pair of openings 35d, 35d of the side top portion 35t (see FIG. 11(c)). In this manner, the outer box 3 is assembled.

[0065] The blank 20 forming the inner box 2 is folded so that one of the inner side surfaces 25 stands up from the bottom side surface 25u, and the bottom front surface 21u and the bottom back surface 23u are overlapped on the bottom side surface 25u, and the inner front surface 21 and the inner back surface 23 are also folded up so that they stand up from the bottom side surface 25u (see FIG. 12(a)). This forms the inner bottom surface 29. Next, the peripheral wall flaps f1 and f3 connected to the inner front surface 21 and the inner back surface 23 are folded up so that they face one of the inner side surfaces 25. Next, the outer wall surface 26c is folded up so that it stands up from the bottom side surface 25u (see FIG. 12(b)), and then the inner wall surface 26d is folded inside the outer wall surface 26c along the folding portions b16 and b17 (not shown in FIG. 12), and the grip opening 26h and the large grip opening 26i are overlapped. At this time, the peripheral wall flaps f1, f3 are sandwiched between the inner wall surface portion 26d and the outer wall surface portion 26c, and further, a pair of insertion flaps 26f, 26f on the outer side of the inner wall surface portion 26d in the perpendicular direction Z1 are inserted into a pair of insertion openings 25e, 25e of the bottom side surface portion 25u (see FIG. 12(c)). The insertion of the flaps 26f, 26f can be easily performed by folding the inner wall surface portion 26d along the folding portion b18 (not shown in FIG. 12). In this way, the inner front surface portion 21, the pair of inner side surfaces 25, 26, and the inner back surface portion 23 are connected in an annular shape, and the inner box 2 is assembled.

[0066] The inner box 2, which is an upper-opening box of this embodiment, is assembled without using adhesive by inserting the insertion flap portion 26f into the insertion opening 25e and sandwiching the peripheral wall flap portions f1, f3 between the inner wall surface portion 26d and the outer wall surface portion 26c. This configuration is preferable because the inner box 2 can be easily unfolded when the bag-in-box 1 is disposed of. In addition, since no adhesive that can become an impurity during recycling is used, it has excellent recyclability. From the viewpoint of such an effect, even when the top-opening box is the outer box 3a, it is preferable that the outer box 3a is assembled without using adhesive.

[0067] After the bag container 4 is housed inside the assembled inner box 2, the outer box 3 is placed over the inner box 2 through the outer opening 38. A belt-shaped member 15 is placed around the inner box 2 and outer box 3 in this state, and the inner box 2 and outer box 3 are restrained by the belt-shaped member 15 to obtain an integrated outer container 10 housing the bag container 4. The belt-shaped member 15 is made into a ring shape by fusion with an adhesive or fusion bonding, or by a fastener, and the inner box 2 and outer box 3 are integrated together. By the above method, the integrated bag-in-box 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be manufactured.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified as appropriate. 1 to 6, 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 outer bottom surface portion 39. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 Bag in box 10, 10a Outer packaging 10b Rear wall 10c joint 10f front wall 10s Side wall 10t container top section 10u bottom of container 2,2a Inner box 2E Bottom side engaging part 2F Top side engagement part 2r Inner peripheral wall 15 Belt-shaped member 20 Blank 21 Inner front part 21t top section 21u bottom front part 22 Insertion part 22a Large front opening 22h front opening 23 Inner back part 23t Top back part 23u bottom back face 24 top flap part 25 inner face 25a gripping projection piece 25d opening 25f side flap part 25h gripping opening 25t top side face 25u bottom side face 26 side face 26a gripping projection piece 26c outer wall face 26d inner wall face 26f flap part 26h gripping opening 26i large gripping opening 27 inner top face 28 inner opening 29 inner bottom face 3,3a outer box 3E top side engaging part 3F bottom side engaging part 3r outer peripheral wall part 30 blank 31 outer front face 31e outer peripheral part 31f insertion flap part 31p top front forming part 31t top front face 31u bottom front face 32 insertion part 32b large front opening part 32h front opening part 33 outer back face 33e outer peripheral part 33f insertion flap part 33p top back forming part 33r joint margin part 33t top back face 33u bottom back face 34 top flap part 35 outer side face 35a gripping projection piece 35d opening 35e engaged opening 35f side flap part 35h gripping opening 35u bottom side face 35t top side face h1 viewing opening 36 outer side face 36h gripping opening 37 outer top face 38 outer opening 39 outer bottom face 4 bag container 40 bag body part 41 pouring part 42 spout part 43 tube part 44 flange part f1, f3 peripheral wall flap 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 inner box and the outer box is an upper opening box in which an upper part of the peripheral wall part is open, an opening at a lower part of the peripheral wall part is closed by a bottom surface part, and an insertion part through which the spout part is inserted can be formed in the front part, the other of the inner box and the outer 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 within the upper opening box, the upper opening box and the lower opening box are integrated by being restrained by a separate belt-shaped member arranged around them, The integrated state of the upper opening box and the lower opening box can be released by releasing the restraint by the belt-shaped member, 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. 3. The outer container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the open-top box is assembled without the use of adhesive.

4. The bottom surface portion has a bottom surface side engagement portion, and the top surface portion has a top surface side engagement portion, 4. 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.

5. The outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the top-opening box has a gripping opening formed in the side portion.

6. The outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the upper opening box is the inner box, and the lower opening box is the outer box.

7. The outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the upper opening box is the outer box, and the lower opening box is the inner box.

8. A bag-in-box comprising the outer container according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and the bag container housed in the outer container.

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