Product package and product package blank

Abstract

The invention relates to a product package and to a product package blank. The product package comprises a body part provided with a bottom (1), at least side walls (2) and end walls (33), edge portions (5, 6) at the upper edges of the walls (2, 3) folded outwardly along fold lines and forming a substantially planar rim portion, and corner walls (4) between the walls (2, 3), the body part comprising a receiving space for a product to be packed, wherein the upper part of each corner wall (4) comprises at least one projection (7) and the edge portions (5, 6) forming the rim portion comprise cuts (8) for forming a recess for the projections (7) at the ends of the corner walls (4).

Description

[0001] PRODUCT PACKAGE AND PRODUCT PACKAGE BLANK

[0002] The invention relates to a product package, such as for example a tray-like food package, which is made mainly of recyclable fibre material , and to a product package blank for manufacturing the product package .

[0003] It is known that there are various food packages into which, for example, ready meals are packed, which can be heated in a microwave oven or the like . The majority of such packages are nowadays manufactured entirely from plastic, which cannot be recycled. This constitutes a major environmental problem . In addition, the design comprises a horizontal rim flange extending around the entire upper edge of the package, intended as an attachment surface and sealing platform for the lid of the package, by which the package is tightly sealed, for example by heat sealing, when the package has been filled and the food therein has been cooked if necessary .

[0004] Food packages are also known which are made, for example, from cardboard or the like and lined on the inside with a separate food film, as in conventional plastic packages . One such solution is disclosed in patent publication No . EP2441696 . In the food package made of cardboard described in the publication, the upper edge comprises a substantially horizontal , laterally directed planar rim flange for attaching the lid . In the product packages according to Figures 1A and 2 of the publication, there are no reinforcements or locking solutions between the end walls , side walls and the horizontal rim flange, whereby the product package according to the publication has poor rigidity and very low durability . In general , known product packages made of cardboard may have very inconsistent rigidity and durability .

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an advantageous ,sturdy and space- and cost-efficient product package . A further purpose is to provide a product package which, when nested, does not cause stack compression and whereby stacks of product packages can be reliably utilised in an automated filling process . A further purpose of the invention is also to enable simplification of the manufacturing stages of the product package and to reduce the possibility of manufacturing errors by omitting one process stage, i . e . the gluing stage, entirely . A further purpose is to provide a more rigid structure of the product package, which in turn enables thinner material and thereby material savings . One purpose is also to provide a product package that is as environmentally friendly and ecologically recyclable as possible .

[0006] The product package according to the invention is characterised by what is presented in the characterising parts of the independent claims . Other embodiments of the invention are characterised by what is presented in the other claims .

[0007] The product package according to the invention comprises a body part provided with a bottom, a set of walls , such as side walls , end walls , corner walls between them, and edge portions at the upper edge of part of the walls , bent outwardly along fold lines and forming a substantially planar rim portion, the body part comprising a receiving space for the product to be packed . Preferably, the corner walls comprise projections which are positioned in corresponding recesses of the rim portion / rim flange, whereby the foldable parts of the product package can be easily aligned and the corner walls kept in place during installation of the film . At the same time , the projections stiffen the product package and keep it in its shape . In addition, in one preferred embodiment the projections extend above the surface formed by the rim portion and simultaneously act as separators when stacking finished product packages on top of one another .In one preferred solution, in the erected product package, one or more reinforcing parts are arranged on the inner surface of an adjacent wall , to which the reinforcing part ( s ) are attached by means of an inner lining attached to the inner surface of the product package .

[0008] In another preferred solution, the product package further comprises separators , by means of which stacked product packages do not press tightly against one another and the stacked product packages can be easily separated from one another .

[0009] In one preferred solution of the invention, the product package blank comprises a plate-like structure made of recyclable fibre material , in which a bottom portion, wall portions and edge portions are separated by fold lines and cuts for a product package to be manufactured by folding the product package blank . Preferably, the product package blank comprises projections projecting from the end of each corner wall , which, when the product package is folded, settle into recesses formed by adjacent edge portions and reinforce the corner structure and assist in positioning the corner during the manufacturing stage of the product package .

[0010] An advantage of the solution according to the invention is , among other things , that the product package according to the invention is particularly well suited for manufacturing shallow product packages in which the side walls and end walls form a large angle on the interior of the product package . In such a case, the projections of the corner walls are supported in a recess formed by the cuts in the edge portions , whereby the shape of the product package can be better positioned and the product package also maintains its shape better . In addition, according to one preferred embodiment , the projections of the corner walls extending above the planar surface of the edge portions simultaneously function as separators between product packages stacked on topof one another . Preferably, no glue is used in the manufacture of the product package, but the product package maintains its shape by means of an inner lining on its inside . One advantage is also that the structure maintained in shape by the projections and the inner lining enables the use of thinner material and thereby material savings and cost savings , and also improves environmental friendliness . Environmental friendliness is further improved by the fact that no glue is used and that the fibre-based body part of the product package is recyclable as such once the easily removable inner lining, for example made of food plastic, has been removed from it . A further advantage is that without a gluing stage the production process is simpler and the required production equipment is simpler, whereby the space required for production may also be smaller . The solution according to the invention thus also improves the energy efficiency of the production process .

[0011] In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures , in which

[0012] Figure 1 presents , as a partial view, one preferred product package blank according to the invention, Figure 2 presents , as a partial view seen obliquely from above, a product package folded from the product package blank according to Figure 1 ,

[0013] Figure 3 presents the product package according to Figures 1 and 2 seen from the side,

[0014] Figure 4a presents , as a partial view, one preferred embodiment of a corner structure of the product package blank,

[0015] Figure 4b presents , as a partial view seen obliquely from above, a corner of a product package folded from the product package blank according to Figure 4a,Figure 5a presents , as a partial view, another preferred embodiment of a corner structure of the product package blank,

[0016] Figure 5b presents , as a partial view seen obliquely from above, a corner of a product package folded from the product package blank according to Figure 5a, Figure 6a presents , as a partial view, yet another preferred embodiment of a corner structure of the product package blank,

[0017] Figure 6b presents , as a partial view seen obliquely from above, a corner of a product package folded from the product package blank according to Figure 6a, Figure 7a presents , as a partial view seen from above, one preferred embodiment of separators of the product package blank, and

[0018] Figure 7b presents , as a partial view seen from the side, a separator according to Figure 7a .

[0019] In Figure 1 , a product package blank according to the invention is presented as a partial view . The product package blank consists of a bottom 1 and eight wall portions , namely two side walls 2 , two end walls 3 (of which only one is visible in the partial view) and four corner walls 4 (of which only two are visible in the partial view) , which are positioned between the side walls 2 and the end walls 3 . In addition, the product package blank comprises edge portions 5 and 6 extending outwardly from the edges of the wall portions 2 and 3 , the edge portions 5, 6 being arranged to form a substantially flat surface for the lid of the product package when the product package blank is folded into a finished product package . The first edge portions 5 are located on the sides of the product package and the second edge portions 6 are located at the ends of the product package . At the end of each corner wall 4 there is a projection 7 , which is arranged to be positioned in a recess formed by cuts 8 in the edge portions 5 and 6 , which are joined by a butt joint when the product package blank is folded . The fold lines ofthe package blank are indicated in the figures by dashed lines . The product package blank may also be provided with two or more projections 7 in each corner wall 4 , in which case the cuts 8 provided for the projections may be located elsewhere than at the joint connecting the planar surface .

[0020] In the solution according to the invention, the projection 7 located in the upper part of the corner wall 4 is thus arranged to be positioned in a recess jointly formed by the cuts 8 made at the ends of two different edge portions 5 , 6 . This recess is located at the joint 9 between the first edge portion 5 and the second edge portion 6 that are fitted opposite one another, whereby the projection 7 is simultaneously in structural contact with the edge portions 5 , 6 of both the side wall and the end wall . In this way, a combined guiding effect of three elements is created in the corner region, in which the projection 7 and the cuts 8 of the edge portions 5 , 6 together guide the positioning of the corner wall 4 and the edge portions connected thereto into the correct relative position when the product package is folded .

[0021] In Figure 2 , a product package folded into its finished form is presented as a partial view . The product package consists of a bottom 1 , side walls 2 , end walls 3 , and corner walls 4 , which corner walls 4 are located between the side walls 2 and the end walls 3 . The ends of the first edge portions 5 and the second edge portions 6 are fitted against one another by a butt joint on the vertical centre line of the corner walls 4 , whereby the joint 9 between the first edge portions 5 and the second edge portions 6 is also located substantially on the vertical centre line of the corner walls 4 . The number of j oints 9 , i . e . discontinuities , of the edge portions 5 and 6 of the product package is as small as possible, i . e . only four . The projections 7 of the corner walls 4 are positioned in the recess formed by the cuts 8 of the edge portions 5 and 6 , whereby they preferably (but not necessarily) extend above the planar surface formed by the edgeportions . When extending above the aforementioned planar surface, the projections 7 simultaneously function as separators when finished product packages are stacked on top of one another in a stack . In this way, individual product packages can be more easily separated from one another . When the length of the projections 7 of the corner walls 4 corresponds to the material thickness of the product package, the ends of the projections are arranged to be positioned in the plane formed by the edge portions 5 and 6 of the product package .

[0022] The projections 7 , together with the recesses formed by the cuts 8 , facilitate the assembly of the product package and the retention of its shape . This makes it possible to manufacture particularly lower product packages more smoothly, in which product packages the angle a between the bottom 1 and the side walls 2 inside the product package is large . In particular, the manufacture of product packages is facilitated when the angle a is greater than 120 degrees , and a significant advantage is achieved when the angle a is greater than 135 degrees . Solutions according to the prior art are not well suited for the manufacture of shallow product packages , because their corner structure is not sufficiently supported for a shallow configuration .

[0023] Similarly, the corner walls 4 , the side walls 2 and / or the end walls 3 of the product package may be manufactured without separate reinforcing parts and overlapping portions in the corners of the product package . However, the solutions according to the invention may also comprise such reinforcing parts , which are presented later in the embodiments of Figures 4a-6b . The corner walls 4 , the side walls 2 and / or the end walls 3 may also comprise separate separators which facilitate the separation of product packages placed on top of one another . Such solutions are presented in the embodiments of Figures 6a-7b .Figure 3 presents a side view of the product package seen from the direction of the end wall 3 . The side walls 2 are thus in the viewing direction . In this embodiment , the projections 7 of the corner walls 4 extend above the continuous planar surface formed by the edge portions 5 and 6 and enable the projections to be utilised as separators in respect of product packages stacked on top of one another .

[0024] Figures 4a-6b present certain preferred embodiments of the corner structure of the product package blank . In this context , the corner structure refers to the structure between the corner wall 4 and the end wall 3 or between the corner wall 4 and the side wall 2 . In its simplest form, the corner structure comprises a joint 9 , which is a butt joint , between the corner wall 4 and the side wall 2 and between the corner wall 4 and the end wall 3 , as presented in the earlier embodiments in Figures 1-3. However, the corner structure may also comprise various reinforcing parts 10 . Such reinforcing parts 10 form overlapping material portions in the corner structure and help the product package to retain its shape . In these examples only a few forms of such reinforcing parts 10 are presented, but it should be understood that their shape may vary freely . Each reinforcing part 10 may, for example, consist of one or more parts forming overlapping portions between two walls .

[0025] Figures 4a and 4b present , as partial views , a corner of a product package blank and of a corresponding product package . In this embodiment , the corner wall 4 comprises reinforcing parts 10 which extend in the product package over the adjacent walls (the end wall 3 and the side wall 2 ) inside the product package . The projection 7 of the corner wall 4 is positioned in the recess formed by the cuts 8 of the edge portions 5 and 6 . The cuts 8 are located at the end of the joint 9 formed as a result of joining the edge portions 5 and 6 , on the inside of the product package . In this embodiment , the projection 7 is in the same plane as theupper surface / planar surface formed by the edge portions 5 and 6 , whereby a substantially completely flat surface is obtained for the lid arrangement closing the product package .

[0026] Figures 5a and 5b present , as partial views , a product package blank and a corresponding product package . In this embodiment , the reinforcing parts 10 are provided in the side wall 2 and in the end wall 3 and extend in the product package over the corner wall 4 . The projection 7 of the corner wall 4 located in the recess formed by the cuts 8 at the joint 9 is now longer than the material thickness of the product package . In this case, the projection 7 extends upwardly from the plane formed by the edge portions 5 and 6 and, in addition to reinforcing the structure of the finished product package, also functions as a separator when product packages are stacked on top of one another .

[0027] Figures 6a and 6b present , as partial views , a product package blank and a corresponding product package seen from the side . The corner wall 4 comprises a projection 7 which is fitted into the recess formed by the cuts 8 of the edge portions 5 and 6 . The length of the projection 7 corresponds to the material thickness of the product package, whereby the projection does not extend upwardly from the plane formed by the edge portions 5 and 6 in the folded product package . Separate separators 11 are formed in the side wall 2 and in the end wall 3 to facilitate the separation of product packages stacked on top of one another . The separators 11 are laterally extending projections positioned below the edge portion at the j oints between the walls 2 , 3 and / or 4 of the product package . In this embodiment , the separators 11 are presented as being formed in the side wall 2 and the end wall 3 , but it should be understood that the separators may instead be formed correspondingly in the corner wall 4 . In this embodiment , reinforcing parts 10 are presented which are located in the corner wall 4 . However, it should be un-derstood that the corner structure may be implemented without reinforcing parts 10 , or the reinforcing parts may be positioned as in the embodiments of Figures 5a and 5b .

[0028] Figures 7a and 7b present , as partial views , yet another embodiment of the separators 11 . In this example, the separator 11 is formed in the fold between the side wall 2 and / or the end wall 3 and the corresponding edge portion 5 or 6 . For the separator 11 , cut lines 12 and fold lines 13 are formed in the product package blank . The cut lines 12 extend on both sides of the fold line between the side wall 2 and / or the end wall 3 and the corresponding edge portion 5 or 6 . The separator 11 is formed in the finished product package by folding the separator outward as shown in Figure 7b . One or more separators 11 may be positioned on the end wall 3 and / or the side wall 2 .

[0029] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the solutions presented in the above examples may be combined to obtain a solution which is not presented as such in the figures . The scope of protection of the invention is defined in accordance with the claims set forth below .

[0030] A suitable recyclable fibre material is used as the manufacturing material of the product package blank . Preferably, the material is , for example, corrugated board, cardboard or some other suitable recyclable fibre material . In addition, the product package is provided with an inner film which protects the fibre material from moisture, maintains the product package in its shape and retains the products to be packed inside the product package . The film is attached to the product package using a method known from the prior art .

[0031] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited solely to the examples presented above, but may vary within the scope of the patent claims set forth below . Thus , for example, certain structural solutions maydiffer from those presented above . In such cases , for example, the shape, location or number of the reinforcing parts may vary . Instead of one substantially large continuous part , the reinforcing parts may consist of , for example, several smaller and overlapping parts which are attached either to the corner walls or to the side edges of the side walls and the end walls .

[0032] It is also obvious to a person skilled in the art that there may be only one reinforcing part in each wall , for example one reinforcing part at one end of each wall . In such a case, however, the number of reinforcing parts is the same as in the above-mentioned examples and their reinforcing effect is substantially the same .

[0033] It is also obvious to a person skilled in the art that the product packages may also differ in shape from those presented above . The simplest and most common body part of a product package is , for example, rectangular in shape . However, the shape of the package may also be other than a boxlike rectangular shape . In such a case, the shape may be, for example, polygonal depending, for example, on the fold lines of the preformed blank . When the shape differs from that presented in the figures, the number of walls may also differ from that presented above . In such a case, for example, separate side walls and end walls are not necessarily provided, but there may be several walls of equal size, whereby some of the walls (every other wall ) form, by means of foldable edge portions , a planar surface and a recess for the projection, and the walls between them comprise the projections . The shape of the product package may also be asymmetrical .

[0034] It is also obvious to a person skilled in the art that the product packages may be made of materials other than recyclable fibre material . In such a case, the body part of the product package may be manufactured from another foldablematerial , such as corrugated board . The body part of the product package may be manufactured, for example, from various boards , cardboards or papers , or also from woven material , or from combinations of different materials .

[0035] It is also obvious to a person skilled in the art that , in order to reinforce the product package, the reinforcing parts may also be provided with an adhesive surface .

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A product package comprising a body part provided with a bottom ( 1 ) , at least side walls ( 2 ) and end wal ls ( 3 ) , edge port ions ( 5 , 6 ) at the upper edges of the wall s ( 2 , 3 ) folded outwardly along fold lines and forming a substantially planar rim port ion, and corner wall s ( 4 ) between the wal ls ( 2 , 3 ) , the body part compri sing a receiving space for a product to be packed, characterised in that the ends of f irst edge port ions ( 5 ) and second edge portions ( 6 ) are fitted oppos ite one another , and that the upper part of each corner wal l ( 4 ) comprises at least one pro j ect ion ( 7 ) , and that the edge port ions ( 5 , 6 ) forming the rim portion compri se cuts ( 8 ) at least at the j oint of the edge portions ( 5 , 6 ) for forming a recess for the pro jection ( 7 ) at the end of each corner wall ( 4 ) .2 . A product package according to claim 1 , characterised in that the length of the pro jections ( 7 ) corresponds to the material thickness of the product package , whereby the project ions ( 7 ) do not extend above the planar rim port ion of the product package .3 . A product package according to claim 1 , characterised in that the length of the pro j ect ions ( 7 ) is greater than the material thickness of the product package , whereby the project ions ( 7 ) extend above the planar rim portion of the product package .4 . A product package according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the product package compri ses reinforcing parts ( 10 ) positioned in the j oint between the side wall ( 2 ) and the corner wall ( 4 ) and / or between the end wall ( 3 ) and the corner wall ( 4 ) .5 . A product package according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the corner wal l ( 4 ) , the endwall ( 3 ) and / or the side wal l ( 2 ) comprise separators ( 11 ) positioned in the j oints between the wall s ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) below the rim port ion .6 . A product package according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that one or more cut lines ( 12 ) and fold lines ( 13 ) are formed in the fold lines between the side wall ( 2 ) and / or the end wal l ( 3 ) and the corresponding edge port ions ( 5 , 6 ) for forming the separators ( 11 ) .7 . A product package according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the angle (a) between the bottom ( 1 ) and the s ide wall ( 2 ) of the product package is greater than 120 degrees and preferably the angle (a) is greater than 135 degrees .8 . A product package according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the product package i s provided with an inner f ilm .9 . A product package blank compris ing a plate-like structure made of recyclable fibre material , in which a bottom ( 1 ) , wal ls ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) and edge port ions ( 5 , 6 ) are separated by fold l ines and cuts for a product package to be manufactured by folding the product package blank, characterised in that the product package blank comprises at least one pro ject ion ( 7 ) at the end of each corner wall ( 4 ) and the ends of the edge port ions ( 5 , 6 ) comprise cuts ( 8 ) , and that the ends of f irst edge portions ( 5 ) and second edge portions ( 6 ) are arranged to be fitted opposite one another and the pro jection ( 7 ) i s arranged to be f itted into a reces s formed by the cuts ( 8 ) when the product package blank i s folded .10 . A product package blank according to claim 9 , characterised in that the length of the pro j ections ( 7 ) corresponds to the material thickness of the product package blank .11 . A product package blank according to claim 9 or 10 , characterised in that the length of the pro j ect ions ( 7 ) is greater than the material thickness of the product package blank .12 . A product package blank according to any one of claims 9-11 , characterised in that the product package blank comprises reinforcing parts ( 10 ) pos it ioned on the s ides of the s ide wall ( 2 ) , the corner wall ( 4 ) and / or the end wall ( 3 ) .13 . A product package blank according to any one of claims 9- 12 , characterised in that the corner wall ( 4 ) , the end wall ( 3 ) and / or the side wall ( 2 ) comprise separators ( 11 ) .14 . A product package blank according to any one of claims 9- 13 , characterised in that cut lines ( 12 ) and fold l ines ( 13 ) are formed in the fold l ine between the side wall ( 2 ) and / or the end wal l ( 3 ) and the corresponding edge portions ( 5 , 6 ) for forming the separators ( 11 ) .

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