Multiple package of packs of sheets, formed by a laminar material that forms a dispenser and laminar material for forming said package

A multiple package of packs of sheet products includes a box, inside which the packs of sheet products are accommodated. The box is formed by a folded laminar material. A first portion of the laminar material delimited by first pre-cut lines is adapted to form a first dispenser for at least one of said packs of sheet products. The first dispenser is obtainable by detaching the first portion of laminar material from the box along the first pre-cut lines and folding it along respective fold lines.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of sheet products, for example interfolded cellulose sheets, for domestic or professional use. More in particular, the present invention concerns improvements to multiple packages that contain two or more packs of sheets.

BACKGROUND ART

Many sheet products for hygiene or for cleaning, both for domestic and professional use, are marketed in packs that are in turn packaged in multiple packages, containing two, four, six or more packs of sheet products. Typically, these products are produced by cellulose sheets, or also by nonwoven sheets, or the like. Often the sheets are folded and interfolded with one another, so as to be taken individually from a dispenser.

In some cases, the packs of sheets are packaged in a wrapping film, for example a plastic film. The user tears the wrapping film and places the pack of sheets in a dispenser for repeated use, for example made of plastic or metal.

In some cases, the dispenser is made, for example, of cardboard and is sold together with the pack of interfolded sheets, of which it forms the packaging box. The dispenser is opened by tearing a strip of cardboard along a perforation line, which is removed to leave an elongated opening for removing the sheets contained in the dispenser. When the pack of sheets is finished, the dispenser is discarded.

This type of dispenser is very practical for the user, but represents a considerable source of pollution and of waste of raw materials, above all if the empty dispenser is not disposed of correctly as recyclable waste.

Therefore, there is the need to provide a dispenser that eliminates or reduces the problems of the dispensers of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Substantially, according to one aspect, a multiple package of packs of sheet products, for example of interfolded sheets of web material, is provided, which comprises a box, inside which the packs of sheet products are accommodated. The box is formed by a folded laminar material. At least a first portion of the laminar material delimited by first pre-cut lines is adapted to form a dispenser for at least one pack of sheet products contained in the package. The dispenser is obtainable by detaching the first portion of laminar material from the box along the first pre-cut lines and folding it along respective fold lines.

In this way, the box, which is normally discarded after having removed the packs of sheets therefrom, is used a second time transforming it at least in part into a dispenser to dispense the single sheets of each pack contained in the package.

As will be clear from the description of some embodiments set forth below, the sheet dispenser can be formed by a single portion or by a plurality of mutually combined portions of laminar material.

The laminar material can typically be cardboard, specifically corrugated board, suitably cut, scored and perforated or pre-cut along the pre-cut lines that form the portion or portions of laminar material with which the dispenser is assembled.

According to a further aspect, a laminar material for producing a box by folding along respective fold lines is provided. The laminar material comprises at least a first portion of laminar material delimited by pre-cut lines on which fold lines are produced. The first portion of laminar material is configured to be separated from the remaining part of the laminar material along the pre-cut lines and folded along the fold lines to form a first dispenser of sheet products.

Further advantageous features and embodiments of the laminar material and of the package that can be produced therewith are described below and defined in the appended claims, which form an integral part of the present description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a flat view of a sheet of laminar material1for producing a box forming the outer casing of a package of packs of sheets, for example made of cellulose material, such as tissue paper or the like. The sheets can be folded and interfolded.

In exemplary embodiments, the laminar material1is formed by corrugated board. The corrugated board can be single wall, i.e., formed by two sheets of smooth paper, also called liners, between which a sheet of fluted paper is glued. It would also be possible to use a multiple flute corrugated board, or a laminar material other than corrugated board, for example a sheet of plastic material, for example bioplastic or polymer material. Hereinafter, for the sake of brevity, reference will be made specifically to corrugated board.

As described in greater detail below, the laminar material1has cut and scored lines and a shape such that, by folding the laminar material1a prismatic shaped box is obtained for containing single packs of sheets, for example of folded and interfolded sheets of cellulose material.FIGS.2and3show the box formed and closed, indicated with 3.FIG.7shows the box partially open during the insertion of eight packs5of sheets F therein.FIG.16schematically shows a portion of a pack of folded and interfolded sheets F in a schematic side view.

The laminar material1has four substantially rectangular panels1.1,1.2,1.3and1.4, joined to one another along scored lines1.6,1.7and1.8, forming fold lines. Reference number1.6indicates an end flap that, when the box is formed, is glued along the free edge of the panel1.1. Reference numbers1.9,1.10,1.11and1.12indicate panels connected to the panels1.1,1.2,1.3and1.4along respective scored lines1.13,1.14,1.15and1.16. The panels1.9-1.12form the top closure of the box. Likewise, reference numbers1.17,1.18,1.19and1.20indicate panels connected to the panels1.1,1.2,1.3and1.4along respective scored lines1.21,1.22,1.23and1.24. The panels1.17-1.20form the bottom closure of the box.

FIGS.2and3show two opposite axonometric views of the box20obtained by folding the panels of the laminar material1.

A few packs5of interfolded sheets F can be inserted into the box20, as shown by way of example inFIG.7. The shape and the size of the box20illustrated in the accompanying drawings is purely an example and it must be understood that boxes of different shapes and sizes can also be provided, for example to contain a different number of packs5and/or a different arrangement of the packs5inside the box20.

Characteristically, one or more portions of laminar material detachable from the box20to form a dispenser are formed in the laminar material1, by means of pre-cut lines, for example perforation lines. For example,FIG.1shows three portions of laminar material, indicated with25,27A and27B. For a better understanding, inFIG.4the three portions of laminar material25,27A,27B are shown separated from the rest of the laminar material1.

More in particular, the portion of laminar material25has approximately the shape of an H with three zones25.1,25.2and25.3joined to one another by two mutually parallel scored lines25.4and25.5. The portion of laminar material25further comprises two tabs25.6and25.7, joined to opposite edges of the portion25.1along respective scored lines, and two tabs25.8and25.9, symmetrical to the previous tabs, joined to opposite edges of the portion25.3along respective scored lines.

The portion of laminar material25is obtained in the panel1.2of the laminar material1by pre-cut lines, for example perforation lines, indicated with a dashed line and all marked with the number30inFIG.1.

The two portions27A and27B of laminar material are symmetrical to each other and each has a central portion27.1and two lateral portions27.2,27.3, joined by scored lines27.4,27.5. Slots or incisions27.6and27.7, respectively, are provided along each scored line.

The two portions27A,27B are formed in the panel1.4of the laminar material1and are delimited by pre-cut lines, for example perforation lines, indicated with a dashed line inFIG.1and all marked with the reference number30.

The three portions25,27A,27B of laminar material can be detached from the box20once this has been opened to extract the packs5of sheets F therefrom.FIG.5shows the three portions25,27A,27B folded along the respective fold or scored lines before their assembly. InFIG.6the three portions are shown in the layout assembled to form a dispenser40, in which the packs5of folded and interfolded sheets F can be placed. To keep the portions25,27A,27B joined to one another, the tabs25.6-25.9are folded and inserted into the incisions27.6,27.7of the portions27A,27B.

In this way, the package of packs5contained in the box20can be used after opening of the box20and removal of the packs5, by assembling the dispenser40. If the box20is larger and contains a larger number of packs5, it would be possible to provide, in the laminar material1that forms it, a larger number of detachable portions of laminar material, with which to form two dispensers40instead of one.

In some embodiments, a double-sided adhesive41can be applied to one of the portions of laminar material intended to form the dispenser40, for example to the surface of the portion of laminar material which is positioned on the outside of the dispenser40when the dispenser is assembled. The double-sided adhesive41can be formed by a substrate that has an adhesive on a surface adhering to the laminar material and a second adhesive on the opposite surface, facing towards the outside of the dispenser, suitably protected by a detachable protective film. In this way, the dispenser40can be attached to a supporting surface.

A double-sided adhesive41of this type is shown indicatively inFIGS.4,5and6. It must be understood that the position in which the double-sided adhesive41is shown is by way of example and not binding.

FIG.1andFIGS.4,5and6show a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a dispenser that can be obtained from parts of laminar material detached from the box20along the pre-cut lines30. In fact, many different shapes of portions of laminar material can be obtained in the laminar material1to build a dispenser40therewith. Further exemplary embodiments are shown inFIGS.8to15.

More in particular,FIG.8shows a flat view of a portion of laminar material25with relative scored lines, which can be obtained from the laminar material1forming the box20.FIG.9shows the dispenser obtained by folding the portion of laminar material ofFIG.8.

FIG.10shows a different embodiment of a portion of laminar material25, with which the dispenser ofFIG.11can be obtained.

FIG.12shows yet another portion of laminar material25, with which a dispenser of the type illustrated inFIG.13can be formed.

Finally,FIG.14shows yet another example of a portion of laminar material25, with which a dispenser40of the type illustrated inFIG.15can be produced.

Contrary to the embodiment ofFIGS.1to6, the embodiments ofFIGS.8to15provide for a single portion of laminar material25, which allows a dispenser40to be formed (by folding and interlocking of lateral tabs in corresponding incisions).

While inFIG.1the portions25,27A,27B of laminar material intended to form the dispenser40are obtained separately on different panels of the laminar material1that forms the box, in other exemplary embodiments the portion of laminar material25intended to form the dispenser can extend on two or more contiguous panels of the laminar material1, for example by aligning one or more of the scored lines of the portion of laminar material25with respective scored lines along which the laminar material1is folded to form the box20.

As mentioned above, in particular for boxes20of large size, several portions of laminar material25or25,27A,27B can be provided, to form two or more dispensers therewith.