Sleeves and Composite Containers

Abstract

To provide a sleeve allowed to stably fix a content with a simple structure and a cost-reduced composite container using the same.SOLUTION: A composite container 10 comprises a paper sleeve 1 and a plastic container body 2. The sleeve 1 consists of one blank plate bent into a tube form such that an accommodation space 1S for accommodating the container body 2 is formed therein. The blank plate is formed at an end with a lock plate 9 bent into the accommodation space 1S and having an opening 9a to lock the container body 2 within the accommodation space 1S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sleeve and a composite container, for example, a composite container having a cardboard sleeve and a plastic container body provided inside the sleeve. [Background technology]

[0002] Composite containers consisting of a plastic tray or plastic cup and a paper sleeve to house it are commonly used for food packaging. Paper sleeves are easy to assemble from blank plates and can be printed with a variety of information. Furthermore, paper sleeves have the advantage of absorbing shocks from drops and protecting the contents.

[0003] Figure 6 shows the appearance of a conventional composite container. It shows four conventional examples of composite containers each consisting of a plastic container body 2 (e.g., a jelly container) with a flange 2f and a paper sleeve 1 that holds the contents. Figure 6(A) is a top view and a front view of a composite container in which the container body 2 has a circular flange 2f, and Figure 6(B) is a top view and a front view of a composite container in which the container body 2 has an elliptical flange 2f. Figures 6(C) and 6(D) are both top views and a front view of a composite container in which the container body 2 has a rectangular flange 2f. Figure 6(C) uses the same fixed-type sleeve 1 as Figures 6(A) and (B), while Figure 6(D) uses a different fixed-type sleeve 1 from Figures 6(A) and (B).

[0004] The sleeve 1 shown in Figures 6(A) to 6(D) has an excellent design because it is configured so that the container body 2 can be seen from the openings 1A on the front and back sides. Furthermore, since only a small amount of space is required for attachment, it is also easy to machine. However, in the type shown in Figures 6(A) to 6(C), the container body 2 is fixed by inserting the flange portion 2f into the notches 1a formed on both sides of the sleeve 1 and causing part of the flange portion 2f to protrude from the sleeve 1, which limits the shape of the flange portion 2f that can be used.

[0005] For example, if the flange portion 2f is circular or elliptical (FIGS. 6(A) and (B)), the flange portion 2f hooks onto the edge of the slit 1a, fixing the position of the container body 2, preventing the container body 2 from slipping out of the opening 1A of the sleeve 1. The same is true if the flange portion 2f is rectangular (FIG. 6(C)), where the flange portion 2f hooks onto the edge of the slit 1a, fixing the position of the container body 2. However, if the flange portion 2f is to hook onto the edge of the slit 1a (FIG. 6(C)), the sleeve 1 must be lengthened to prevent a decrease in strength of the sleeve 1. In other words, if the flange portion 2f is rectangular, there is no hooking portion on the linear portions on both sides of the flange portion 2f, making it difficult to fix the position of the container body 2 without lengthening the sleeve 1. Therefore, the entire container body 2 is housed within the sleeve 1 (FIG. 6(D)), and the position of the container body 2 is fixed by friction with the sleeve 1.

[0006] Patent Document 1 proposes a composite container equipped with a sleeve as an outer box, as shown in Fig. 6(D) above. The composite container is composed of a tray container with a storage space that is open at the top, and an outer box that stores the tray container. The outer box has peripheral walls that contact the tray container from the periphery and frictionally hold the tray container, a bottom wall, and an opening facing the bottom wall that allows the tray container to be slid in and out, and a wall portion located below the periphery of the opening of the outer box is folded into the storage space for the tray container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-88178 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] As with the composite container shown in FIG. 6(D), it is difficult to stably fix the container body 2 to the sleeve 1 solely through friction. For example, there is a high possibility that the container body 2 will slip out of the opening 1A of the sleeve 1 during transportation, display, etc. On the other hand, in the composite container described in Patent Document 1, the outer box has only one opening at the top, so the tray container is unlikely to unexpectedly pop out of the outer box during transportation, etc. However, because the opening in the outer box is intended to allow the tray container to slide in and out, it is difficult to reliably prevent the tray container from unexpectedly popping out. Therefore, measures such as covering the entire composite container with shrink film are necessary, which inevitably increases the complexity and cost of the structure.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a sleeve that can stably fix contents with a simple structure, and a low-cost composite container using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a sleeve of a first invention is a sleeve made of a single blank plate bent into a cylindrical shape so that a storage space for storing contents is formed inside, The blank plate has an end portion formed with a locking plate which is folded into the storage space and has an opening for locking the contents in the storage space.

[0011] The sleeve of the second invention is the sleeve of the first invention, wherein the blank plate has opposing top and bottom plates, opposing first and second side plates, and a folding plate positioned overlapping the bottom plate so as to surround the storage space, The blank plate is folded at each boundary between the first side plate and the top plate and the bottom plate, and the blank plate is folded at each boundary between the second side plate and the top plate and the folding plate, The blank plate is bent at the boundary between the locking plate and the folding plate.

[0012] The sleeve of the third invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned second invention, a locking piece is formed at the end of the bottom plate, a notch is formed at the boundary between the second side plate and the folding plate, and the locking piece is inserted into the notch to form the blank plate into a cylindrical shape.

[0013] The sleeve of a fourth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third inventions, the blank plate is made of paper or resin.

[0014] The composite container of the fifth invention is characterized by comprising a sleeve according to any one of the first to fourth inventions and a container body that is accommodated as the contents in the accommodation space.

[0015] The composite container of the sixth invention is characterized in that, in the fifth invention, the container body is locked by the locking plate by fitting a part of the container body into an opening of the locking plate.

[0016] The composite container of the seventh invention is characterized in that, in the fifth or sixth invention, the container body is composed of a tray or cup for containing food and a lid for closing the opening of the tray or cup, and the container body is locked by the locking plate by fitting the bottom of the tray or cup into the opening of the locking plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, the locking plate formed at the end of the blank plate is folded into the storage space and has an opening for locking the contents within the storage space, so the entire contents can be stored within the storage space of the sleeve and their position can be stably fixed. For example, even if a cut is formed in the sleeve so that part of the contents cannot be hooked by protruding, the position of the contents can be fixed within the storage space without increasing the size of the sleeve. Moreover, the simple structure in which the locking plate locks the contents within the storage space by folding a single blank plate is effective in reducing costs. Therefore, a sleeve that can stably fix the contents with a simple structure and a low-cost composite container using the same can be easily realized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment of a sleeve and a composite container. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a blank plate of the sleeve in FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 2A to 2C are external views showing the assembly procedure of the sleeve and composite container in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a front view showing an embodiment of a composite container in which the shape of the sleeve is changed. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a top view showing an embodiment of a composite container in which the shape of the container body is changed. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows external views of four types of conventional composite containers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, a sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention and a composite container using the same will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows the front appearance (before opening) of a sleeve 1 and a composite container 10, and Fig. 2 shows a blank plate 1B constituting the sleeve 1.

[0020] The composite container 10 (Fig. 1) is composed of a cardboard sleeve 1 made of a single blank plate 1B (Fig. 2) folded into a cylindrical shape, and a plastic container body 2. The sleeve 1 has a storage space 1S for storing the container body 2 as a content, and an opening 1A for allowing the container body 2 in the storage space 1S to be seen from outside the sleeve 1. The opening 1A can also be used, in some cases, to insert the container body 2 into the storage space 1S or to lift the composite container 10. The container body 2 is also composed of a molded tray 2a for storing food F (e.g., frozen or chilled foods such as hamburger steaks and pasta; or confectioneries such as jelly, pudding, and ice cream) as a content, and a lid 2b (here, a plastic film top seal is assumed) for closing the opening of the tray 2a.

[0021] The sleeve 1 is formed by bending a single blank plate 1B. The blank plate 1B is formed by punching out a plate-shaped sheet material as shown in the developed view (Fig. 2), but the material of the blank plate 1B is not limited to thick paper (cardboard, etc.). For example, a resin plate (a transparent or opaque resin plate made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polypropylene) may also be used as the sheet material. If the sleeve 1 is configured as a clear case made of resin, product information, etc. can be displayed on both the sleeve 1 and the container body 2. Note that the container body 2 is made of the same material as the blank plate 1B, and materials (plastic, paper, etc.) can be used as needed.

[0022] Blank plate 1B (Fig. 2) is composed of a top panel 4, a bottom panel 5, a first side panel 6, a second side panel 7, a folding panel 8, and a locking panel 9. In other words, blank plate 1B has opposing top panel 4 and bottom panel 5, opposing first side panel 6 and second side panel 7, and folding panel 8 positioned overlapping bottom panel 5, so as to surround storage space 1S (Fig. 1), and also has a locking panel 9 formed at an end of blank plate 1B, which is folded into storage space 1S and has an opening 9a for locking container body 2 within storage space 1S.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, folds L1 to L5 are formed at the boundaries between the plates 4 to 9 constituting the blank plate 1B. The blank plate 1B is folded at each boundary (folds L4, L5) between the first side plate 6 and the top plate 4 and bottom plate 5, at each boundary (folds L1, L2) between the second side plate 7 and the top plate 4 and folding plate 8, and at the boundary (fold L3) between the locking plate 9 and folding plate 8. A locking piece 5b is formed at the end of the bottom plate 5, and the locking piece 5b folded at fold line L6 is inserted into a notch 7a formed at the boundary (fold line L2) between the second side plate 7 and folding plate 8 (Fig. 1).

[0024] Fig. 3 shows the procedure for assembling the sleeve 1 and the composite container 10. In Fig. 3, (A) and (B) are top views showing the blank plate 1B and the container body 2, (C) is a front view showing the blank plate 1B and the container body 2, (D) is a front view showing the composite container 10 consisting of the sleeve 1 and the container body 2, and (E) is a top view showing the composite container 10 consisting of the sleeve 1 and the container body 2.

[0025] First, the container body 2 is placed on the top panel 4 of the blank plate 1B (FIG. 3(A)), and the blank plate 1B is folded along creases L1-L3 to align the edge of the locking plate 9 with crease L1 (arrow m1). The blank plate 1B is further folded along creases L1-L3 until the folding plate 8 is parallel to the top panel 4 (arrow m2 in FIG. 3(B)). The folded locking plate 9 is then folded toward the container body 2, and the second side panel 7, folding plate 8, and locking plate 9 form a triangular prism-shaped space in the shape of a bag. As a result, the bottom 2d of the tray 2a constituting the container body 2 fits into the opening 9a of the locking plate 9, and the container body 2 is locked to the locking plate 9 (FIG. 3(C)).

[0026] Next, the blank plate 1B is folded along the creases L4-L6 (arrow m3 in FIG. 3(B)), and the locking piece 5b is inserted into the notch 7a (arrow m4 in FIG. 3(C)). This causes the blank plate 1B to become cylindrical, forming a storage space 1S within the sleeve 1 and securing the container body 2 within the storage space 1S (i.e., the container body 2 is wrapped around the blank plate 1B). As a result, a composite container 10 is obtained with isosceles trapezoidal openings 1A formed on both sides (front and back) of the sleeve 1 (FIGS. 3(D) and 3(E)). The container body 2 is secured within the storage space 1S by the locking plate 9 with its bottom 2d fitted into the opening 9a, preventing it from protruding from the opening 1A. This provides a much more effective positioning than holding the container body 2 solely by friction with the sleeve 1.

[0027] Alternatively, the sleeve 1 may be assembled first, and then the container body 2 may be inserted into the storage space 1S through the opening 1A by utilizing the elasticity of the blank plate 1B. Alternatively, the bottom plate 5 and the folding plate 8 may be fixed together with an adhesive, and the locking piece 5b and the second side plate 7 may be fixed together with an adhesive.

[0028] When opening the composite container 10, a zipper 5a formed by perforations on the bottom plate 5 or a hole 7b formed in the second side plate 7 is used (FIGS. 2 and 3(E)). A zipper 5a is formed on the bottom plate 5 parallel to each of the folds L1 to L6, and when the bottom plate 5 is torn using the zipper 5a, the composite container 10 is opened. Alternatively, when a finger is hooked in the hole 7b formed in the second side plate 7 and the locking piece 5b is removed from the notch 7a, the composite container 10 is opened. When heating the food F, after opening the composite container 10, the container body 2 is removed from the sleeve 1 and the lid 2b is slightly peeled off from the tray 2a, and then the food is heated in a microwave oven.

[0029] Figure 4 shows the front appearance (before opening) of a composite container 10A in which the shape of the sleeve 1 has been changed. In the composite container 10 (Figure 1), the opening 1A of the sleeve 1 is formed in an isosceles trapezoid shape, whereas in the composite container 10A (Figure 4), the opening 1A of the sleeve 1 is formed in a rectangular shape. In other words, in the composite container 10A, the sleeve 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. This allows for transportation, display, etc. with high loading efficiency.

[0030] Fig. 5 shows the top surface appearance (before opening) of the composite containers 10, 10A (Figs. 1 and 4) and composite containers 10B to 10D in which the shape of the container body 2 has been changed. In Fig. 5, (A) is a top view of the composite containers 10, 10A in which the container body 2 has a rectangular flange portion 2f, (B) is a top view of the composite container 10B in which the container body 2 has an oval flange portion 2f, (C) is a top view of the composite container 10C in which the container body 2 has an elliptical flange portion 2f, and (D) is a top view of the composite container 10D in which the container body 2 has a circular flange portion 2f.

[0031] In any of the composite containers 10, 10A to 10D of Figures 5(A) to (D), the container body 2 is fixed by hooking the bottom 2d of the tray 2a onto the locking plate 9 (Figure 1, etc.), and not by hooking the flange portion 2f of the tray 2a into a notch or the like. In other words, the configuration of fixing the position of the container body 2 with the locking plate 9 is effective not only when the linear portions on both sides of the flange portion 2f are too long to provide a hooking location, as in Figures 5(A) and (B), but also when there is a hooking location, as in Figures 5(C) and (D) (corresponding to Figures 6(A) and (B)). The same applies when the composite containers 10, 10A to 10D are constructed using a cup instead of the tray 2a.

[0032] The sleeve 1 shown in Figures 5(A) to 5(D) is slightly larger on the opening 1A side than the container body 2, providing some leeway in size, but it may also be the same size as the container body 2. If the size is set so that the container body 2 does not protrude from the sleeve 1 and the entire container body 2 is stored within the sleeve 1, it becomes possible to transport, display, and the like with high loading efficiency while maintaining a compact size. Furthermore, if the container body 2 does not protrude from the sleeve 1, the entire composite container 10A to 10D can be easily and stably covered with shrink film. In other words, it is possible to easily add functions such as preventing tampering (such as the inclusion of foreign matter).

[0033] As described above, the sleeve 1 according to each embodiment has a configuration in which the locking plate 9 formed at the end of the blank plate 1B is folded into the storage space 1S and has an opening 9a for locking the container body 2 within the storage space 1S. This allows the entire container body 2 to be accommodated within the storage space 1S of the sleeve 1 and stably fixed in position. For example, even if a notch is formed in the sleeve 1 so that a portion of the container body 2 cannot be hooked by protruding, the position of the container body 2 can be fixed within the storage space 1S without increasing the size of the sleeve 1. Moreover, the simple configuration in which the container body 2 is locked by the locking plate 9 within the storage space 1S by folding a single blank plate 1B is effective in reducing costs. Therefore, a sleeve 1 capable of stably fixing the container body 2 with a simple configuration and a low-cost composite container 10 using the same can be easily realized. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 sleeve 1S Storage Space 1A aperture 1B Blank Plate 1a Notch 2 Container body (contents) 2a Tray 2b Lid 2d bottom 2f flange 4 Top plate 5 Bottom plate 5a zipper 5b Locking piece 6 1st side plate 7 Second side plate 7a notch 7b hole 8 Folding board 9 Locking plate 9a aperture 10,10A~10D composite container L1~L6 folds F Food

Claims

1. A sleeve made of a single blank plate bent into a cylindrical shape so that a storage space for storing contents is formed inside, The blank plate has opposing top and bottom plates, opposing first and second side plates, and a folding plate positioned overlapping the bottom plate so as to surround the storage space, A locking plate is formed at an end of the blank plate, the locking plate being folded into the storage space and having an opening for locking the contents in the storage space; The blank plate is folded at each boundary between the first side plate and the top plate and the bottom plate, and the blank plate is folded at each boundary between the second side plate and the top plate and the folding plate, The blank plate is folded at the boundary between the locking plate and the folding plate, A sleeve characterized in that a locking piece is formed at the end of the bottom plate, a notch is formed at the boundary between the second side plate and the folding plate, and the locking piece is inserted into the notch to form the blank plate into a cylindrical shape.

2. 2. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the blank plate is made of paper or resin.

3. A composite container comprising: the sleeve according to claim 1 or 2; and a container body that is accommodated as the contents in the accommodation space.

4. 4. The composite container according to claim 3, wherein the container body is locked by the locking plate by fitting a part of the container body into an opening of the locking plate.

5. 5. A composite container according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the container body is composed of a tray or cup for containing food and a lid for closing the opening of the tray or cup, and the container body is locked by the locking plate by fitting the bottom of the tray or cup into the opening of the locking plate.

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