Set consisting of a folding box and an electronic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding box (2), having a lid region (10) and a base region (11), which in the closed state of the folding box (2) enclose an interior volume (40), wherein in the lid region (10) and / or in the base region (11) at least one light entrance opening (20) and at least one light exit opening (21) are provided, wherein a) the light entrance opening (20) provides a path from the outer surroundings of the folding box (2) to the interior volume (40), via which path a light beam emitted from an electronic device (3) enters, and the light exit opening (21) provides a path from the interior volume (40) to the outer surroundings of the folding box, via which path a part of the entered light beam exits again, b) the surface of the lid region (10) facing the interior volume (40) and the surface of the base region (11) facing the interior volume (11) are provided at least in some regions with a barrier layer (27) which has light-reflecting properties, c) the light entrance opening (20) is closed by a flap part (25) which is displaced inwards or outwards during use of the folding box (2), and c1) the flap part (25), in the version of the folding box in which the flap part is displaced inwards, is provided with a reflection element (26) on the outer side facing the outer surroundings, by means of which reflection element the entering light beam is at least partially guided to the interior volume (40), or c2) the flap part (25), in the version of the folding box in which the flap part is displaced outwards, does not carry a reflection element (26) and the entering light beam is guided directly to the interior volume (40).

Description

Set consisting of a folding box and an electronic device Field of the invention The invention relates to a set consisting of a folding box and an electronic device. The folding box serves, for example, as a packaging and / or gift box for food. State of the art The patent EP 3 673 264 Bl discloses food packaging provided with a QR code

[0044] The QR code is read using a communication device, in particular a smartphone, which can be used to select and / or capture at least one piece of information about the food in the packaging and / or about the packaging itself. The communication device can also be used to initiate an investigation based on the captured parameters and / or to carry out and / or initiate an evaluation of the capture.

[0044] . EP 3 843 008 A1 shows a cardboard package with a QR code (Fig. 2). The QR code can only be read with a smartphone after the cardboard package has been opened. The smartphone is equipped with special software, allowing the user to access websites, information, and online videos (see summary). EP 3 974 152 A1 discloses a method for coding a packaging container with a QR code

[0013] This code can be read by a user with a smartphone to obtain information about the packaging contents and other data about the food manufacturer

[0023] . Document WO 2014 / 023735 A1 shows a packaging box for medicines provided with a code field 4 (Fig. 1). The code field 4 can be a QR code (p. 7, para. 3). The QR code can be read by a mobile phone, e.g., a smartphone (p. 7, para. 2). After scanning the QR code, the information contained therein is converted by a speech converter and output via a loudspeaker, e.g. in the form of an instruction (p. 11, paragraph 2). The publication JP 2018-135140 A is considered the most relevant prior art. Figures 1 to 3 show a folding box 1 with a light entry opening 27 and two light exit openings 20a, 20b. Figure 6 discloses a smartphone 5 placed on the folding box 1, as well as an object 4 inserted into the box through a lateral window closed by a flap 29. Furthermore, Figures 2 and 4 disclose a roof-shaped insert 3 that is both transparent and reflective.

[0022] ,

[0024] and

[0036] The English machine translation shows that the object 4 can be viewed through the two side openings 20a, 20b as well as through the transparent element 3 (cf. Fig. 6, arrows R / L), while at the same time an image or video is superimposed by the smartphone placed on top. Furthermore, JP 61-69545 A shows a packaging and presentation box for a toy doll. In Figures 1a / b and 2a / b in conjunction with paragraphs

[0017] until

[0021] The English machine translation discloses a light exit opening 2 through which the doll can be viewed. Light entry openings 3 and 4 allow daylight into the box interior and are provided with foils 6 / 7, which may be colored and / or patterned. Also shown is a C-shaped, translucent support 8 for the doll. Finally, GB 2 426 241 A discloses a cup holder consisting of a folding carton that can be converted into a periscope. The folding carton periscope has a light entry opening (Fig. 1, item 14 with page 6, line 22) and a light exit opening (Fig. 1, item 12 with page 7, line 1). The description section also discloses two flap parts 8, 10 and two mirrors 9, 11 on page 6, lines 15-18. In view of this prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a set comprising a folding box and an electronic device, which generally has the purpose of presenting the contents of the folding box in a striking manner with light and / or sound effects. The object is achieved with a folding box according to the present invention having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention are described in the Subclaims set out. The folding box according to the invention is a folding box for foodstuffs, e.g., cakes, cake slices, chicken pieces, pizzas, chocolates, oily sweets such as baklava, moist cake slices, etc. The term "folding box" here refers to a three-dimensional, closed container produced from a plate-shaped, cut, and grooved or perforated pre-product by folding and joining, which consists of a lid area and a base area. In this context, "closed" means that the folding box encloses an internal volume with its walls on all sides, although at least one light entry opening and at least one light exit opening are provided in the lid area and / or the base area. The material used for the folding box can be either solid or corrugated cardboard, as well as carton or paper; plastics or metals are also conceivable. The type of box itself is not relevant to the invention; it can be any box, such as a hinged-lid box, a folding box, or a slip-lid box, but is not limited to these. For the sake of example, the present invention is explained here using a folding box. Short description of the characters Fig. 1 shows a folding box according to the invention according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 shows a folding box according to the invention in the closed state; Fig. 3 shows the folding box according to the invention from Fig. 2 with the electronic device placed on it; Fig. 4 shows a section through the folding box according to the invention; Fig. 5 shows a second, simplified embodiment of the folding box according to the invention; and Fig. 6 shows a simplified variant of the first embodiment of the folding box according to the invention. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments Fig. 1 shows a folding box 2, which consists of a lid area 10 and a base area 11. The lid area 10 comprises a box lid 12a and Lid area side walls 12 and a closure flap 12b. The base area 11 comprises a box base 13a and base area side walls 13. The lid area 10 contains a light exit opening 21 and a flap part 25 pre-punched on three sides, the functions of which are explained below. The shape and design of the box lid 12a, the box base 13a, the lid area side walls 12, and the base area side walls 13 are optional, as are the design and number of closure flap(s) 12b. Fig. 2 shows a folding box according to the invention in the closed state. Visible are the flap part 25, which still closes the light entry opening 20 (see Fig. 4), the light exit opening 21, and a printed or glued-on code element 30. Furthermore, one or more markings 50 are visible, which indicate where an electronic device 3 (not shown) is to be placed. Fig. 3 shows a view of the folding box of Fig. 2, but with the electronic device 3 placed on it. Fig. 4 shows a schematic section through the folding box according to the invention. The placed electronic device 3 can be seen. The light entry opening 20 is formed by pressing the flap part 25 (see also Fig. 1 or 2) inward into the folding box. During pressing, the corresponding bottom area side wall 13 serves as a stop; the recovery behavior of the cardboard material ensures that the flap part 25 is at an appropriate angle, which may range from approximately 80° to approximately 45° relative to the electronic device 3. This pressing process is uncritical as long as the flap part 25 is pressed in until it makes contact with the bottom area side wall 13. The flap part 25 positions itself securely at an angle suitable for the intended reflection, since the permissible angle range is quite large. The light exit opening 21 is advantageously closed with a transparent film 21a.This film 21a is shown here mounted on the inside, but can also be applied (e.g., glued) to the outside of the box lid 12a. It is also possible to omit the transparent film 21a; in this case, the light exit opening 21 is pre-punched in the box lid 12a and is formed by unfolding the correspondingly punched contour. On the flap part 25 there is a reflective element 26, and a barrier layer 27 is also provided. This barrier layer 27 covers a large part of the inner surface of the closed folding box 2 and has a dual function, which is The purpose of the barrier layer 27 is to protect the material of the folding box from moisture, oil, and greasy substances that may originate from the food inside, as well as to form one or more reflective surfaces. The barrier layer 27 can, for example, be a separate, inserted aluminum foil or an aluminum vapor deposition on the inside of the folding box 2. With reference to Figures 2 to 4, the functioning of the set 1 according to the invention will now be explained: First, the flap part 25 with the reflection element 26 located thereon is pressed inward to form the light entry opening 20 (see Figure 4). Then, the electronic device 3, preferably a smartphone, is used to scan the code element 30. The code element 30, preferably a QR code, triggers a specific process. This process consists in the electronic device 3 generating light pulses and emitting tones, sounds, speech, and / or songs. After scanning the code element 30, the electronic device is placed on the folding box so that the camera or exposure unit of the electronic device is positioned over the light entry opening 20. One or more markings 50 (Figure 2) are helpful here, showing how the device should be placed for various standard smartphone sizes. A specific application, for example, is for the electronic device to emit three stroboscopic flashes of light and, at the same time, play a birthday song. Inside the folding box, a birthday cake, for example, would then be illuminated in stroboscopic fashion, and the recipient would hear, for example, "Happy Birthday to You." Fig. 5 shows a second, simplified embodiment of the folding box according to the invention. In this embodiment, the light beam (indicated by an arrow) from the electronic device 3 strikes the barrier layer 27 directly, in other words, without prior reflection. In this second embodiment, the light entry opening 20 is pre-punched on the box lid 12a, and there is no flap part 25 at all. Optionally, the light entry opening 20 can also be provided on the base region 11, preferably on the base region side walls 13. If such lateral light entry openings are provided, light entry openings are also present at the corresponding positions on the lid region side wall(s) 12. In this case, the electronic device would then be placed laterally against the folding box, and the light beam would penetrate laterally into the interior volume 40.In all these cases, the light entry opening 20 is expediently placed at such a position that the light beam emitted by the electronic device 3 does not hit the. inserted product, but on the reflective barrier layer 27. Since the inserted products are often circular (e.g. pizzas, cakes), the preferred location for the light entry opening 20 is accordingly in the corners of the folding box 2. In this embodiment without a flap part, the light entry opening 20 is permanently covered with a transparent film 21a. Fig. 6 shows the set according to the invention in the form of a simplified variant of the first embodiment of the folding box according to the invention. Here, the flap part 25 is folded outward to form the light entry opening 20; furthermore, the reflective element 26 can be omitted here. The folded flap part 25 serves as a support for the electronic device 3, which thus rests at an angle on the box lid 12a and then emits the light beam inward onto the vertical part of the barrier layer 27, which is indicated by an arrow. The barrier layer 27 and / or the transparent film 21a can be colored to create special visual effects. It is important that the barrier layer 27 remains highly reflective and the transparent film 21a does not lose its transparency. Code element 30 triggers a process that involves the generation of light and sound. This can be accomplished in an incredible variety of ways with a special app. For example, after scanning code element 30, electronic device 3 can play not only music, excerpts from music clips, sounds, or spoken greetings, but also an advertising message. List of reference symbols:

Claims

Patent claims 1. A folding box (2) comprising a lid region (10) and a base region (11) which, when the folding box (2) is closed, enclose an internal volume (40), wherein at least one light inlet opening (20) and at least one light outlet opening (21) are provided in the lid region (10) and / or in the base region (11), wherein a) the light inlet opening (20) provides a path from the external environment of the folding box (2) to the internal volume (40), via which a light beam emitted by an electronic device (3) enters, and the light outlet opening (21) provides a path from the internal volume (40) to the external environment of the folding box, via which a portion of the entered light beam exits again, b) the surface of the lid region (10) facing the internal volume (40) and the surface of the base region (11) facing the internal volume (40) are at least partially provided with a barrier layer (27) which has light-reflecting properties,c) the light entry opening (20) is closed by a flap part (25) which is folded inwards or outwards when the folding box (2) is in use, and c1) the flap part (25), in the version of the folding box in which it is folded inwards, is provided with a reflective element (26) on the outside facing the outside environment, wherein the reflective element (26) of the flap part (25) interacts with the light-reflecting barrier layer (27) by directing the incoming light beam towards the barrier layer (27), or c2) the flap part (25), in the version of the folding box in which it is folded outwards, does not have a reflective element (26) and the incoming light beam is directed directly towards the barrier layer (27).

2. Folding box (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the barrier layer (27) is additionally moisture-resistant.

3. Folding box (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a code element (30) is printed or glued on the outside of the folding box (2).

4. Folding box (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a marking (50) is printed on the outside of the folding box (2) or glued on.

5. Set consisting of the folding box (2) according to one of the preceding claims and the electronic device (3), wherein the electronic device (3) has an exposure unit which generates the incoming light beam.

6. Use for the set according to claim 5 for illuminating the contents of the folding box (2) by the illumination unit of the electronic device (3) and / or for emitting a sequence of words and / or sounds by the electronic device (3).

7. Use according to claim 6, characterized in that, when the set is in use, the electronic device (3) is positioned on the folding box (2) by means of the marking (50) in such a way that the illumination unit of the electronic device (3) emits its light through the light entry opening (20) towards the inner volume (40) of the folding box (2).

Images