EP0087933B1 - Multi-kilo pack, primarily for detergent powder - Google Patents

Abstract

A so-called "multi-kilo" pack manufactured from card or board and primarily intended for carrying detergent powder. The pack is provided with a set of closing flaps (10), (11), (16), (17) which permit powder-proof closure and re-closure, at the same time affording ready opening and use of a carrying handle (24).

Description

• This invention relates to a pack for detergent powder, and in particular to a large volume pack commonly known in the trade as a multi-kilo pack.
• Multi-kilo packs are now well known and are becoming increasingly popular both with the consumer and with the manufacturer, for the economies which can be made by manufacturing and buying detergent powders in bulk. One of the disadvantages of these packs is that when full they are relatively heavy, and so it has become common for them to be fitted with handles, so that they are easier to carry. For convenience in bulk storage the packs are generally made with a plastic handle, which prior to use lies collapsed beneath one of the closing flaps of the pack.
• One example of such a pack is shown in Swiss Patent No. 451004 (UNILEVER) in which a collapsible handle is provided on one of a first pair of closing flaps which is folded over a second pair of closing flaps, the second flap of the first pair having an aperture to expose the collapsible handle when this second flap is folded over all the other flaps. Another example of a similar pack is shown in European Patent Application No. 0 042 184 (PROCTER & GAMBLE).
• Belgian Patent Specification No. 712 332 (FIS-SLER) discloses a carton having an opening inclined to the other side walls, the opening being closed by two pairs of opposing closed flaps. Both of the first pair of closure flaps are folded to underlie to first flap of the second pair which has a handle attached thereto and a sub-flap which is folded inwardly into the carton. The second flap of the second pair has an opening to expose the handle when it is folded over the other flaps and a sub-flap which is inserted into a slot to secure the flaps.
• It is very desirable that multi-kilo packs should be designed so that they exhibit three other features. First and foremost they should be powder-tight when originally closed. Secondly they should be glued so that they are easily opened, and thirdly they should be re-closable in such a manner that it is still possible to use the collapsible handle. None of these designs disclosed are satisfactory in all of these respects.
• We have now designed a new pack which is powder tight, readily opened and in which the collapsible handle is usable after re-closure.
• Accordingly the invention provides a pack of substantially cuboid form having at one end two pairs of opposing closing flaps:
• a first flap of a first pair being provided with a collapsible handle and a sub flap adapted to be folded back over the two flaps of the second pair when these two flaps have been folded over this first flap;
• The second flap of the first pair being provided with an aperture arranged to expose the collapsible handle when this second flap is folded over all the other flaps, and with a sub-flap adapted to be sealed to an edge of the pack when the second flap is folded over all the other flaps;
• one or both of the second pair of flaps being provided with an aperture arranged to expose the handle when the second pair of flaps are folded over the first flap.
• The advantage of the design specified is that the second pair of flaps are folded over the handle-bearing flap, rather than having to fold the second pair over the opening as a first step. The arrangement in accordance with the invention gives a more complex path for powder to follow for it to leak out of the pack, and is consequently more powder-tight. The sub-flap attached to the handle bearing the first flap of the first pair prevents this first flap from falling away in the pack and putting the handle out of reach as well as ensuring that the closure is more powder-tight. The ability to tuck this sub-flap into the pack facilitates re-closure.
• The sub-flap attached to the apertured flap is absent in some prior proposals, which results in the underside of the apertured flap having to be sealed, for example by gluing, to the other flaps, which can make the pack difficult to open. In BE-A-712 332 as discussed above the sub-flap is inserted into a slot and involves a loss of powder-tightness and a less secure closure.
• Conventional packs of detergent powder are wet-glued, which makes them difficult to open, and we prefer that the sub-flap is sealed to the pack using a hot-melt (thermoplastic) glue, or with a combination of a wet-glue and a hot-melt one.
• The pack of the invention is further described with reference to and by means of the accompanying drawings, in which:
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cuboid pack in accordance with the invention with all four of the closing flaps folded back; and
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same pack with the handle-bearing flap folded over the opening.
• Referring first to Figure 1, a cuboid pack, formed from a cardboard or corrugated board blank, is formed with two pairs of opposing closing flaps (10, 11) and (15, 16). One of the flaps (10) of the first pair (10, 11) is provided with a collapsible plastic handle attached to a cardboard backing (21), the handle lying in a recess formed in the underside of flap (10) which is not visible in Figure 1. The other flap (11) of the pair (10, 11) is formed with an aperture (14) designed to expose the handle when flap (11) is folded over flap (10).
• The second pair of opposing flaps (15, 16) are also provided with apertures (18, 19) for the same purpose.
• . Each of flaps (10) and (11) carry sub-flaps. The handle-bearing flap (10) carries sub-flap (13) which is designed either to tuck into the opening (22) when the flap is folded over into a closing mode, or to fold back over flap (10). Apertured flap (11) carries sub-flap (15) which is intended to be sealed against the edge (20) of the pack as the last step in a closing operation.
• The pack is formed from a blank and glued into three-dimensions using overlapping tab (23).
• Referring now to Figure 2, flap (10), bearing handle (24) which is collapsed into recess (25) formed in the flap, is shown folded over the opening of the pack.
• In order to seal the pack, flaps (16) and (17) are folded over flap (10), sub-flap (13) is folded back over flaps (16) and (17), apertured flap (11) is folded over and sub-flap (15) is sealed against the edge (20), of the pack.
• This forms a powder-tight, readily opened pack. After opening, the pack can be reclosed (although not sealed) by tucking flaps (16) and (17) followed by sub-flap (13) into the opening and folding apertured flap (11) over. When that is done the handle (24) can be used as if the pack were sealed.
• The invention also comprises a sealed pack comprising a cleaning powder, and a blank for the pack claimed, made, for instance of cardboard or corrugated board.

Claims (4)

1. A pack of substantially cuboid form having at one end two pairs of opposing closing flaps:

a first flap (10) of a first pair (10, 11) being provided with a collapsible handle (24) and a sub flap (13) adapted to be folded back over the two flaps (16, 17) of the second pair when these two flaps (16, 17) have been folded over this first flap (10);

the second flap (11) for the first pair (10, 11) being provided with an aperture (14) arranged to expose the collapsible handle (24) when this second flap (11) is folded over all the other flaps, and with a sub-flap (15) adapted to be sealed to an edge (20) of the pack when the second flap (11) is folded over all the other flaps;

one or both of the second pair of flaps (16, 17) being provided with an aperture (18, 19) arranged to expose the handle (24) when the second pair of flaps (16, 17) are folded over the first flap (10).

2. A pack in accordance with Claim 1 sealed with a thermoplastic glue, or with a mixture of a wet glue and a thermoplastic one.

3. A pack in accordance with any preceding claim containing a cleaning powder:

4. A blank for a pack in accordance with any preceding claim.

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