WO2018122743A1

WO2018122743A1 - Container for pourable food products

Info

Publication number: WO2018122743A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/058434
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca PARADISO; Luca Petrucci
Original assignee: Ipi Srl
Priority date: 2016-12-27
Filing date: 2017-12-27
Publication date: 2018-07-05
Also published as: IT201600131072A1

Abstract

A packaging container (1; 1') for pourable food products, comprising: a bottom wall (2); two side walls (3), opposite to each other, transverse to the bottom wall (2); a top wall (4) opposed to the bottom wall (2) and comprising a first portion (4') which is inclined relative to the bottom wall (2); pouring means (10) disposed at the first portion (4'); two flaps (9), each of which is connected to the top wall (4) and folded on a side wall (3); the top wall (4) of the container (1, 1') comprises a second portion (4") which is inclined relative to the first portion (4') and each side wall (3) forms a recess at the respective flap (9).

Description

DESCRIPTION

CONTAINER FOR POURABLE FOOD PRODUCTS.

Technical field

This invention relates to a packaging container for pourable food products. Aseptic packaging containers (for example, used for pourable food products such as fruit juices) are obtained from a continuous web of packaging material composed of a plurality of layers of different materials coupled to each other (generally paper, aluminium, and heat-sealable plastic material such as polyethylene, for example) and which is processed in a dedicated automatic machine.

Background art

Known in the prior art are a plurality of containers for pourable food products.

Patent document EP1332969, for example, discloses a packaging container made of multilayer material comprising a bottom, a top wall and side walls, where the top wall is inclined relative to the bottom and comprises means for pouring the product.

One drawback of the container described in that document, however, is that it is difficult for the consumer to hold; more specifically, the container can be held only by two side walls, below the flaps. Thus, pouring the product out of the container may be relatively awkward.

Patent document EP1275588, on the other hand, describes a container whose side walls have top portions which are slightly recessed and have wings folded thereon under which the web of packaging material is suitably folded.

With this solution, however, the container is considerably rounded at the flaps on account of the thickness of the underlying folded material, which also makes the container very rigid and not easy to hold. Aim of the invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a packaging container for pourable food products to overcome the above mentioned drawback of the prior art. More specifically, this invention has for an aim to provide a packaging container for pourable food products which gives the consumer an easy hold, making the use of the container more convenient (for example, to pour out the product it contains).

This aim is fully achieved by the packaging container for pourable food products according to this invention as characterized in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of a plurality of embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a packaging container according to this disclosure;

- Figure 2 is a top view of a packaging container according to this disclosure;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a packaging container according to this disclosure;

- Figure 4 is a side view of a packaging container according to this disclosure;

- Figure 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of a packaging container according to this disclosure;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a packaging container according to this disclosure;

- Figure 7 is a side view of a third embodiment of a packaging container according to this disclosure. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The reference numerals 1 , 1 ' in the accompanying drawings denote a packaging container for pourable food products. With reference to the drawings, the container 1 , 1 ' has an axis of extension H along a longitudinal direction.

The packaging container 1 , 1 ' is, for example, of the type obtained from a continuous web of packaging material composed of a plurality of layers of different materials coupled to each other (generally paper, aluminium, and heat-sealable plastic material such as polyethylene, for example) and which and can be processed in a dedicated automatic machine.

The container 1 ; 1 ' comprises: a bottom wall 2; two side walls 3, opposite to each other, transverse to the bottom wall 2; a front wall 5 and a rear wall

6 opposite to each other, transverse to the bottom wall 2; a top wall 4 opposed to the bottom wall 2 and comprising a first portion 4' which is inclined relative to the bottom wall 2; pouring means 10 disposed at the first portion 4'; two flaps 9, each of which is connected to the top wall 4 and folded on a side wall 3.

Each flap 9 is made up of two superposed edges of packaging material: an inner edge which is attached, for example, by adhesive or glue, to the respective side wall 3; and an outer edge 30.

In particular, the top wall 4 comprises a second portion 4" which is inclined relative to the first portion 4'; furthermore, each side wall 3 forms a recess

7 at the corresponding flap 9. In other words, each side wall 3 forms a recess 7 in the part of it which is proximal to the top wall 4 and which joins the latter.

Advantageously, the packaging container 1 , 1 ' proposed is easy for the user to hold, with its particularly ergonomic and practical shape. More in detail, this result is fully achieved because the two recesses 7, formed by the side walls 3 at the flaps 9, constitute what may be considered as a "guide", creating two recessed grips which make it easy and natural for the user to get a firm hold of the container 1 , 1 '. As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, thanks to the two recesses 7 described above, the first portion 4' and the second portion 4" of the top wall 4 are each trapezoidal in shape.

Preferably as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the two recesses 7 are aligned and symmetrical about the axis of extension H along a longitudinal direction.

The flaps 9 are superposed and inserted in the recesses 7 in such a way that they are also recessed in the lateral surface of the container 1 and form the recessed grips which make the container 1 , 1 ' easy to hold. Looking at Figures 2 and 4, for example, the flaps 9 have a first upper side 20 and a second upper side 21 .

The sides 20 and 21 match corresponding sides of the trapeziums which, as mentioned above, define the first and second portions 4, 4' of the top wall.

More in detail, again with reference to the drawings, the minor base of the trapezium defined by the first portion 4' is connected to the minor base of the trapezium defined by the second portion 4" of the top wall 4; preferably, the minor base of the trapezium defined by the first portion 4' coincides with the minor base of the trapezium defined by the second portion 4" of the top wall 4 (as illustrated in Figure 2).

In the embodiments illustrated for example in Figures 2 and 3, the top wall 4 comprises a transverse seal 1 1 disposed in such a way as to join together at least its first portion 4' and its second portion 4".

In other words, the seal 1 1 is interposed between the first portion 4' and the second portion 4" of the top wall 4 of the container 1 , 1 '.

As illustrated, the seal 1 1 , or rather, the strips of packaging material joined at the seal 1 1 , is folded onto the second portion 4" of the top wall 4.

The seal 1 1 also extends on the edge 30 of the flap 9, in practice dividing it into two wings or flanks 31 , 32 which are thus delimited, at the top on the sides 20 and 21 and at the join thereof, by the seal 1 1 .

Thanks to the shape of the edge 30, the flap 9, once folded and attached to the respective side wall 3, defines a concavity 33 facing opposite the wall 3.

More precisely, the recess 7 is formed in the side wall 3 by adhesion of the suitably shaped flap 9.

The concavity 33 of the flap 9 is shaped to match the recess 7 in the side wall 3.

Each concavity 33 is composed of two flanks 31 , 32 which meet at the seal 1 1 ; since the faces of the top wall are trapezoidal, the flanks of the recesses extend from the sides of the respective trapezium to the seal 1 1 . The concavity 33 has a bottom, substantially at the seal 1 1 from which the wings 31 , 32 extend.

In practice, the seal 1 1 defines the bottom of the concavity 33.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the container 1 has a longitudinal seal 15 of the type which is formed when the container is sealed "horizontally" in substantially known manner.

More specifically, the seal 15 closes the side walls 3 and the bottom wall 2.

The seal 15 extends on an inner edge of the flaps 9.

In the embodiment illustrated, the outer edge 30 is divided into the wings 31 , 32 by a line of weakness 16 made in the packaging material and which defines the bottom of the concavity 33.

Thanks to the shape of the weakened edge 30, the flap 9, once folded and attached to the respective side wall 3, defines the concavity 33.

Each concavity 33 is composed of two flanks 31 , 32 which meet at the line of weakness 16; since the faces of the top wall are trapezoidal, the flanks of the recesses extend from the sides of the respective trapezium to the line of weakness 16.

The concavity 33 has a bottom, substantially at the line of weakness 16 from which the wings 31 , 32 extend.

In practice, the line of weakness 16 defines the bottom of the concavity 33.

According to this disclosure, the flaps 9 are always folded, to form the concavity 33, along the line joining the wings 31 , 32 and which may be the seal 1 1 or the line of weakness 16.

The line joining the wings 31 , 32 corresponds to, or is the extension of, a line joining the two portions 4, 4' of the top wall 4 of the container 1 , 1 '. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 , 2, 3, 4, the second portion 4" of the top wall 4 is parallel to the bottom wall 2 of the container 1 .

Advantageously, this embodiment allows two or more containers 1 of the same kind to be optimally stacked, for example for transportation or storage purposes. In contrast, some prior art containers, in particular the one described in EP1332969, are difficult to stack because the inclination of the top wall of one container prevents it from being stably aligned with the bottom wall of the container above it; as a result, in addition to not being well stacked, there is the risk of flattening the top wall of a container out of shape, thus spoiling its appearance. On the other hand, the shape of the container 1 of this invention according to the embodiment described above allows two or more containers to be stably stacked on top of one another because the second portion of the top wall of one container 1 affords a larger supporting surface for the container on top of it.

In an embodiment of the container 1 ', illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, alternative to the one described above, the first portion 4' of the top wall 4 and the second portion 4" of the top wall 4 are symmetrically inclined relative to the axis H extending along a longitudinal direction of the container 1 '. In this embodiment, the top wall 4 of the container 1 ' is substantially divided into two half-parts which are inclined at a symmetrical angle, the two half-parts being the first portion 4' and the second portion 4".

For example, in the packaging container 1 ; 1 ', as shown in Figure 2, the first portion 4' of the top wall 4 is larger in size than the second portion 4" of the top wall 4. In this example embodiment, the larger size of the first portion 4' of the top wall 4 compared to the second portion 4" of the top wall 4 conveniently provides more room to house the pouring means 10. Furthermore, the first portion 4' of the top wall 4 thus formed makes it possible to provide larger pouring means compared to the prior art (in particular, those of EP1332969).

In another example embodiment, the first portion 4' of the top wall 4 and the second portion 4" of the top wall 4 are equal in size. In this example embodiment, the top wall 4 of the container 1 , 1 ' is substantially divided into two half-parts of the same size and which are inclined at a symmetrical angle, the two half-parts being the first portion 4' and the second portion 4".

For example, the pouring means 10 of the container 1 , 1 ' comprise a pouring opening and a cap 12 (illustrated in Figures 1 to 6) adapted to define an open condition and a closed condition of the container 1 , 1 '. More specifically, the cap 12 can be fitted to, or removed from, the pouring opening. In use, the cap 12 defines a closed condition of the container 1 , 1 ' when the cap 12 is fitted to the pouring opening; the open condition of the container 1 , 1 ', on the other hand, is defined when the cap 12 is removed from the pouring opening. Although not illustrated in detail, the cap 12 may be a screw cap or a pressure cap.

Claims

1 . A packaging container (1 ; 1 ') for pourable food products, comprising:

a bottom wall (2); two side walls (3), opposite to each other, transverse to the bottom wall (2); a top wall (4) opposed to the bottom wall (2) and comprising a first portion (4') which is inclined relative to the bottom wall (2) and a second portion (4") which is inclined relative to the first portion (4'); pouring means (10) disposed at the first portion (4') of the top wall (4); two flaps (9), each of which is connected to the top wall (4) and folded on a side wall (3); the container being

characterized in that each side wall (3) forms a recess at the respective flap (9), each flap (9) having a concavity (33) at the respective recess (7) and facing opposite the corresponding side wall (3).

2. The packaging container (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion (4") of the top wall (4) is parallel to the bottom wall (2).

3. The packaging container (1 ') according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion (4') of the top wall (4) and the second portion (4") of the top wall (4) are symmetrically inclined relative to an axis (H) extending along a longitudinal direction of the container (1 ').

4. The packaging container (1 ; 1 ') according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the first portion (4') of the top wall (4) is larger in size than the second portion (4") of the top wall (4).

5. The packaging container (1 ; 1 ') according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the first portion (4') of the top wall (4) and the second portion (4") of the top wall (4) are equal in size.

6. The packaging container (1 ; 1 ') according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein the first portion (4') of the top wall (4) and the second portion (4") of the top wall (4) are trapezoidal in shape, the smaller bases of each trapezoidal shape being coincident.

7. The packaging container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flaps (9) each comprise an outer edge (30) comprising a first and a second wing (31 , 32) joined to each other at a bottom (1 1 , 16) of the concavity (33).

8. The packaging container (1 , 1 ') according to claim 7, wherein the top wall (4) comprises a transverse seal (1 1 ) disposed in such a way as to join together the first portion (4') and the second portion (4"), the seal (1 1 ) which runs along the outer edge (30) dividing the first and second wings (31 , 32) and defining the bottom of the concavity (33).

9. The packaging container according to any of the claims from 1 to 7, wherein the side walls (3) and the bottom wall (2) have a second, longitudinal seal (15) which closes the container and runs along an inner edge of the flaps (9), the outer edge (30) being divided into the first and second wing (31 , 32) by a line of weakness (16) which defines the bottom of the concavity (33).