PACKAGING COMPRISING COUPLED BOXES

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport packaging comprising at least two boxes (1, 2) which are placed against one another at a contact surface (6') and are joined together along at least one outer surface (4, 5) extending transversely with respect to the contact surface by a securing sheet (7), which securing sheet (7) extends over both boxes (1, 2) and, at the level of the contact surface, is cut through in a transverse direction of the securing sheet (7) from side edges (21) thereof to respective end points. A line of weakening (8) which touches the end points delimits a coupling piece (11) which can be removed from the securing sheet (7) by breaking of the line of weakening (8), in order to release the coupled boxes, the line of weakening (8) of the coupling piece (11) at the location of the end points lying at a distance, in the transverse direction, from a line of weakening (8) of a coupling piece section which is remote from the contact surface which is such that the coupling piece is joined to the securing sheet in a form-fitting manner.

Description: Packaging comprising coupled boxes The invention relates to a packaging comprising at least two boxes which are placed against one another at a contact surface and are joined together along at least one outer surface extending transversely with respect to the contact surface by a securing sheet. The invention relates in particular to a packaging comprising at least two boxes which are placed against one another at a contact surface and are joined together along at least one outer surface extending transversely with respect to the contact surface by a securing sheet, which securing sheet extends in the longitudinal direction over both boxes and, at the level of the contact surface, is cut through in a transverse direction of the securing sheet, from side edges thereof to respective end points, two lines of weakening, which touch the intersection and are at a distance from one another, delimiting a coupling piece which, by breaking the lines of weakening, can be detached from the securing sheet in order to release the coupled boxes. Consumer products, such as foodstuffs, are generally packaged in consumer packagings, such as cardboard boxes. These consumer packagings are in turn grouped together in larger numbers to form the sub-packagings which are placed into a transport packaging, such as an outer box, in which they are transported from the factory to shops. In the shop, the transport packagings are removed and the sub-packagings or the consumer packagings are placed in the shop. The cardboard boxes which have been used as transport packaging have to be disposed of by the retailer. A transport packaging of this nature therefore has the drawback that a large amount of waste material is produced. Also, this waste material has to be at least temporarily stored in or in the vicinity of the shop, and consequently this waste material takes up large amounts of space. The transport packagings are not suitable for removing individual consumer packagings or small amounts of consumer packagings from the transport packaging while the remaining consumer packagings remain securely in the transport packaging so that they can easily be handled as a group. EP-A-0 260345 has disclosed a packaging according to the preamble of Claim 1 which couples together a plurality of consumer packagings. The known packaging comprises a U-shaped coupling piece which covers the bottom of a series of adjoining boxes. The coupling piece extends over two opposite side walls and the top side of the series of adjoining boxes. On one of the limbs of the U-shaped coupling piece there is tear strip which can be pulled off so that the bottom of a number of boxes is opened simultaneously. The transport packaging from the prior art is afflicted with a number of drawbacks. For example, the consumer packagings are difficult to remove individually. Generally, when the tear strip is torn open, various consumer packagings are released, while it is not possible to dispense a single consumer packaging in a controlled manner. The removal of the known tear strip also has the effect of opening a plurality of consumer packagings, since when a consumer packaging is uncoupled the bottom is also opened. Another drawback which can be pointed out is that the tear strip provides part of the coupling force. Consequently, if the consumer packagings are joined securely to one another the tear strip is difficult to pull off. Furthermore, the transport packaging according to the prior art is unsuitable for coupling consumer products of relatively large size. The tear strip is relatively unable to withstand forces which are generated in the plane of the line of weakening. If this force becomes too great, the known transport packaging quickly tears. A further drawback is that the known packagings can no longer be coupled once they have been removed. The tear strip is intended for single use and, once it has been torn off, can no longer be refitted. One object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, material- efficient packaging which protects products during transport thereof, makes the coupled transport packagings, sub-packagings or consumer packagings easy to stack and handle and, at the same time, produces less waste than the previously known transport packagings. Another object is to provide a packaging in which the coupled transport packagings, sub-packagings or consumer packagings can be removed individually and which is easy to use. A further object of the invention is to provide a packaging which can be recoupled, substantially without using additional materials. These objects are achieved by the fact that the securing sheet comprises a removable part which is removably connected to the boxes, and a coupling piece which is adhesively bonded to the boxes, which coupling piece is removably joined, in a form-fitting manner, to the removable part. _As a result of using a form fit between the coupling piece and the adjoining parts of the securing sheet, the invention does not even have to provide any substantial coupling force between the coupling piece and the removable parts, such as for example the line of weakening. Consequently, the line of weakening can be detached easily and, although of weak design, can still supply good coupling. Also, in a transport packaging according to the present invention, the individual packagings can be removed in a defined way. Since the line of weakening scarcely has to supply any coupling force, it is also possible for large packagings to be coupled to one another securely. There is also no need to use a closed or partly open outer box around the sub-packagings or consumer packagings. Consequently, the transport packaging can be of lightweight design and a considerable amount of material can be saved. Finally, the individual packagings, once they have been removed, can easily be recoupled. The coupling piece which was removed in the first instance can be fitted back into the opening in the securing sheet by engaging in a form- fitting manner therewith, using a simple action. In the context of the present application, the term "line of weakening" is intended to mean a partial or complete cut through the material thickness, along a broken line (perforation) or along an unbroken line. In one embodiment, the lines of weakening of the coupling piece at the location of the end points, in the transverse direction, are located at a distance from the lines of weakening at a position which is remote from the contact surface which is such that the coupling piece is connected in a form- fitting manner to adjoining parts of the securing sheet. The coupling piece according to the invention may be provided with a relatively wide part in the transverse direction of the securing sheet and an adjoining relatively narrow part, the ratio between the width of the wide part and the narrow part being sufficiently great for the coupling piece to be joined in a form-fitting manner to adjoining parts of the securing sheet. The width of the wide part is therefore, for example, at least 1.5 times, preferably at least twice, the width of the narrow part. Preferably, the width of the relatively wide part is at least 2 cm. The result is a good form fit, enabling relatively great forces to be absorbed in the plane of the securing sheet. ^ In an advantageous embodiment, the coupling piece may be designed in the form of a wave-shaped or sawtooth-shaped strip which is delimited by two lines of weakening and is substantially elongate. By lifting the coupling piece out of the plane of the securing sheet, it is possible to break the line of weakening and to detach the coupling piece from the securing sheet. In an advantageous embodiment, the lines of weakening end at the end points of the incision. In this way, the coupling piece remains connected to the securing sheet at a base. Consequently, after the coupling pieces have been removed, lugs are formed which can be used to lift up the consumer packaging. In a further advantageous embodiment, the coupling piece is substantially in the shape of an arrow or a mushroom. The substantially flat bottom side of the arrow-shaped coupling piece then ensures the necessary form fit in the vertical direction. The forces which are transmitted in the vertical direction between two boxes then act on the surface which is formed by the bottom side of the mushroom-shaped or arrow-shaped coupling piece. Since this surface has to be able to absorb the forces acting on it, the thickness of the securing sheet is preferably greater than 2 mm. This thickness is also advantageous for enabling the boxes to be recoupled. A further advantage of the arrow-shaped or mushroom-shaped coupling pieces is that they can be used to lift the boxes during transport, since the coupling pieces project above the side wall of the box which has been removed. In a further advantageous embodiment, the securing sheet is made from cardboard, such as corrugated board, solid board or foldable board. Preferably, the securing sheet is made from the same material as the material from which the packagings are made. This facilitates production and simplifies reuse without the need to separate materials when disposing of the packaging. In an advantageous embodiment, two or more boxes are attached to one another by the fact that the securing sheet is stuck over the boxes. The adhesive edge of the securing sheet is arranged along the two side edges of the sheet. The coupling strip in the securing sheet, which is delimited by the two lines of weakening which are at a distance from one another, is not stuck onto the boxes. By breaking the lines of weakening, the coupling strip is released, so that it can be removed from the securing sheet, with the result that the boxes are uncoupled. A number of embodiments of a packaging according to the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures shown in the appended drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an assembly of two boxes with a securing sheet which is to be placed thereon and has a wavy coupling strip; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of two coupled boxes according to the invention with a partially broken coupling strip; Fig. 3 shows the two boxes from Figs. 1 and 2 with a coupling strip which has been removed entirely; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment according to the invention, in which three boxes are coupled to one another by means of an arrow- shaped lip; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, with the top box having been removed; Fig. 6 shows a coupling strip which is designed as a wavy strip between two lines of weakening; Fig. 7 shows a coupling strip which is designed between two sawtooth- shaped lines of weakening; Figs. 8a and 8b show a suitable line of weakening formed by parallel incisions in a multilayer securing sheet, in the divided and undivided state, respectively, and Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of a box coupling produced by a form fit. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembly of two boxes 1, 2 with a securing sheet 7 which is to be placed over the boxes. The two boxes 1, 2 are placed against one another by way of a contact surface 6' (see also Figure 3). On the side to which the securing sheet 7 is attached, in this case the top side 4, 5 of the two boxes 1, 2, a layer of adhesive 3 is applied along positions corresponding to side edges 21 of the securing sheet 7, in the vicinity of the side faces 6. This layer of adhesive 3 preferably consists of a layer of glue which joins the securing sheet 7 to the two boxes 1, 2. The layer of adhesive 3 may also be applied to the securing sheet 7. The security sheet 7 consists of a sheet-like or board-like material, such as paper, plastic, cardboard or a laminate of these materials. The securing sheet is provided with two lines of weakening 8 which extend in the longitudinal direction L, in which the security sheet spans both boxes 1, 2. As a result, a coupling strip 11 which is not adhesively bonded to the boxes 1 , 2 is formed. The lengths on either side of the strip 11, which are adhesively bonded to the boxes 1, 2, remain behind on the boxes 1, 2 after the strip 11 has been removed, as can be seen from Fig. 2. These weakenings may cut through the entire thickness of the material of the security sheet 7. In this case, the strip 11 is joined to the boxes 4, 5 by breakable spots of adhesive. The lines of weakening 9 may also comprise a perforation or any other suitable weakening in the material. To ensure that the boxes 1, 2 are easily detached from the securing sheet 7 after the strip 11 has been removed, two incisions 9 are made, extending from the side edges 21 of the securing sheet 7 at the level of the contact surface 6' towards the centre of the securing sheet. As an alternative to incisions 9, it is also possible to use a weakening of the same type as the line of weakening 8. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the packaging in which the coupling strip 11 is being removed by breaking the lines of weakening 8. On one narrow side, the strip 11 is preferably provided with a lip 14 to facilitate removal of the strip. The strip can be pulled off from this side. After the strip 11 has been pulled off, there is no longer any material in the contact surface 6' between the two boxes 1, 2. The two boxes can simply be pushed apart. According to this embodiment, a form fit is produced by the wavy pattern of the strip 11, the lines of weakening 8 -,- die location of the end points 22 of the incisions 9 being located at a relatively great distance a from the side edge 21, while the lines of weakening 8 at a position remote from the contact surface 6' are at a relatively short distance b from the side edge 21. In this case, the distance b is preferably at least 0.5 cm and the distance a at least 1 cm, so that the amplitude d of the wave-shaped coupling strip 11 is at least 0.5 cm, preferably at least 2 cm. Figure 3 shows the two boxes 1,2 of the packaging after they have been detached, together with the coupling strip 11 which has been removed. After they have been detached, the boxes can be treated as separate units. A plurality of boxes may be uncoupled one by one. It is also possible to rejoin the boxes to one another. To do this, the strip 11 is placed back onto the position from which it was originally removed. The shape of the strip, which, as seen in the longitudinal direction, comprises a variable width in which the width of the wide part b' is at least twice the width of the narrow part a', produces a reliable form fit. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention, in which three boxes 30, 31, 32 are coupled to one another by means of arrow-shaped coupling pieces 45, 46. Unlike in the previous figures, the form fit is not produced by a coupling piece which runs continuously substantially in the longitudinal direction L, but rather by the fact that the coupling pieces 45, 46 are arrow-shaped. The boxes 30, 31 are stacked on top of one another by means of their top and bottom sides 33 and, at a side wall 35, are provided with a security sheet 36 which, in the stacking direction L of the boxes, extends over the entire width D thereof. At the parting surfaces of the boxes 30, 31, 32, the securing sheet 36 is provided with incisions 37, 38 which extend from the side edges 39, 40 of the securing sheet. The incisions 37, 38 end at points 41, 42. From each end point 41, 42 there runs a line of weakening 43, 44, which lines of weakening 43, 44 delimit arrow-shaped coupling pieces 45, 46. The arrow-shaped coupling pieces 45, 46 are not connected to one another and remain connected to the securing sheet 36 along a base edge when the line of weakening is broken. As shown in Figure 5, the width a' of the coupling pieces 45, 46 along the fixed base edge, which lies in line with the incisions 37, 38, is less than the width b' at a distance from the incisions 37, 38. The lines of weakening 43, 44 which form the periphery of the arrow- shaped coupling pieces 45, 46 may be designed as a perforated line or as complete or partial incisions through the securing sheet 36, as shown in Fig. 3. After it has been removed, the coupling piece 45 can easily be put back into the congruent opening 47. By stacking the boxes back on top of one another after the coupling pieces 45, 46 have been removed and pushing the form-fitting coupling pieces 45, 46 back into the openings 47, it is possible to obtain a packaging which recouples the boxes 30, 31, 32 to one another without additional material being required. Because of the special shape of the form- fitting components, the vertical forces which are generated in the coupling pieces 43, 44 when one or more boxes are coupled to one another can be absorbed by the substantially arrow-shaped sections. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, with the top box 30 having been removed. The form-fitting coupling piece 45 which has provided the connection between the boxes 30 and 31 remains secured to the bottom box 31 and can be used as a handle for transporting the boxes 31, 32. Figure 6 shows a securing sheet 1 with a coupling strip which is formed between two wavy lines of weakening 50 which are in phase with one another. Incisions 52 extend from the side edges of the securing sheet to the lines of weakening 50. The width of the strip therefore remains the same at any point in the longitudinal direction. Additional lines of weakening 52' may be made in the coupling strip in order to remove and connect individual boxes from or to a series of coupled boxes. Figure 7 shows a securing sheet 3 with incisions 5 and a coupling strip which is formed between two sawtooth-shaped lines of weakening 4 which are symmetrical with respect to the centre axis of the securing sheet. In this embodiment of the strip, the width of the strip varies in the longitudinal direction L. A preferred removal direction in the direction of the arrow L is obtained with this embodiment. Fig. 8 shows a slightly enlarged axionometric view of a tear line 64 which can be used as line of weakening 8 in Fig. 1 or line of weakening 43, 44 in Fig. 4 or line of weakening 50, 54 in Figures 6 and 7, in the undivided and divided states. In this embodiment, cardboard is used, with a core 65 provided with a layer of paper 66 on either side. Other covering layers may also be used, such as for example polyethylene. The tear line 64 comprises two parallel cuts 67, 68, which are offset from one another as seen from the side. The first cut line 67 is formed from a first side of the securing sheet 60, while the second cut line 68 is formed from the opposite side. The first cut line 67 and second cut line 68 are both of a depth which is such that they do not cut all the way through the cardboard and at least the layer 66 lying on the opposite side from that on which the cut line 67, 68 in question is made is not reached. The core 65 is completely or partially cut through by each of the cut lines 67, 68. Consequently, the securing sheet 60 still has sufficient load-bearing capacity yet can be torn off relatively easily. When a first surface 61 is torn off from an adjacent second surface 62 along the tear line 64, only the core 65 between the cut lines 67, 68 will have to be broken or at least torn off, which is relatively simple to achieve, in particular if the core 65 is made from laminated cardboard or similar fibrous cardboard. A tear line 64 of this nature has the advantage that relatively smooth edges are obtained during tearing, in particular as a result of the relevant cut lines 67, 68, so that an attractive appearance is maintained and tearing at a suitable position is ensured. It should be noted that a tear line can be formed in a similar way in, for example, solid board, corrugated board or the like, or sandwich board formed in some other way. It is also possible to form a tear line 64 in some other way, for example by forming a line of weakening from one side of the securing sheet 60, by perforating the sheet 60 or by other suitable tear means which are known per se. If suitable material is used, the tear line 64 can also be designed as a breaking line, for example if the sheet 60 is formed from relatively brittle and breakable material, in which case a local weakening in the material, for example a thinned section, may be arranged at the location of the breaking line. These and numerous similar variations are deemed to lie within the scope of the person skilled in the art. By making the cut lines 67, 68 taper with respect to the direction of the material thickness, from a top side towards a bottom side, in a "dovetail' '-like manner, the recloseability of the connection is increased by the fact that the wide part of the joining strip can be pushed behind the top edge of the surrounding sloping side parts. Fig. 9 shows three boxes 71, 72, 73 which on opposite sides are provided with a securing sheet 74. Each securing sheet 74 comprises a coupling piece 76, 77, 78 which is formed by incisions or perforations and on which there is, for example, a symbol and a removable part 79 which is removably joined to boxes 71-73 by means, for example, of a few spots of adhesive. The form fit between the removable parts 79 and the coupling pieces 76-78 which are joined to the boxes 71-73 securely by adhesive bonding results in an operationally reliable and easily detachable coupling between the boxes.

Claims: Claims 1. Packaging comprising at least two boxes (1, 2; 30, 31; 71-73) which are placed against one another at a contact surface and are joined together along at least one outer surface extending transversely with respect to the contact surface by a securing sheet (7, 36, 74), characterized in that the securing sheet comprises a removable part (11; 45, 46; 79) which is removably connected to the boxes, and a coupling piece which is adhesively bonded to the boxes, which coupling piece is removably joined, in a form- fitting manner, to the removable part (11; 45, 46, 79). 2. Packaging according to Claim 1, comprising at least two boxes (1, 2; 30, 31) which are placed against one another at a contact surface (6', 33) and are joined together along at least one outer surface extending transversely with respect to the contact surface by a securing sheet (7, 36), which securing sheet (7, 36) extends in the longitudinal direction (L) over both boxes (1, 2; 30, 31) and, at the level of the contact surface, is at least partially cut through (9; 37, 38) in a transverse direction (D) of the securing sheet (7, 36), from side edges (21; 39, 40) thereof at least to respective intersections (22; 41, 42), two lines of weakening (8; 43, 44), which touch the end points (22; 41, 42) and are at a distance from one another, delimiting a coupling piece (11; 45, 46) which can be removed from the securing sheet (7, 36) by breaking the lines of weakening (8; 43, 44) in order to release the coupled boxes, characterized in that the lines of weakening (8; 43, 44) of the coupling piece (11; 45, 46), at the location of the end points (22; 41, 42), in the transverse direction (D), lie, at a position which is remote from the contact surface, at a distance (d) from the lines of weakening (8; 43, 44) which is such that the coupling piece (11 ; 45, 46) is joined in a form-fitting manner to adjoining parts of the securing sheet (7, 36). 3. Packaging according to Claim 2, characterized in that the coupling piece (11; 45, 46) is provided with a part which is relatively wide in the transverse direction (D) of the securing sheet (7, 36) and an adjoining relatively narrow part, the ratio between the width (b') of the wide part and the width (a') of the narrow part being sufficiently great for the coupling piece (11; 45, 46) to be joined in a form-fitting manner to adjoining parts of the securing sheet (7, 36). 4. Packaging according to Claim 3, characterized in that the width b' of the wide part is at least 1.5 times, preferably twice, the width a' of the narrow part. 5. Packaging according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the width of the relatively wide part is at least 2 cm. 6. Packaging according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the lines of weakening (43, 44) end at or close to the end points (41, 42) of the incision (9, 37, 38). 7. Packaging according to Claim 6, characterized in that the coupling piece (45, 46) is at least partially in the shape of an arrow. 8. Packaging according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the lines of weakening (8) comprise two wave-shaped or tooth-shaped lines of weakening which are at a distance from one another and extend from or from close to a top edge to or to close to a bottom edge of the securing sheet (7), the securing sheet (7) being joined to the boxes (1, 2) between the lines of weakening (8) and the side edges (21). 9. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the securing sheet (7, 36) comprises cardboard. 10. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness of the securing sheet (7, 36) is greater than 2 mm.

Inventors: SCHOEREN HUBERTUS JOHANNES BER, VAN GURP PAULUS MARIA, SCHOEREN, HUBERTUS, JOHANNES, BERNARDUS, VAN GURP, PAULUS, MARIA
Applicants: GURP PAULUS MARIA VAN, KAPPA DE ZEEUW GOLFKARTON B V, KAPPA TRIMBACH B V, SCHOEREN HUBERTUS JOHANNES BER, KAPPA DE ZEEUW GOLFKARTON B.V., KAPPA TRIMBACH B.V., SCHOEREN, HUBERTUS, JOHANNES, BERNARDUS, VAN GURP, PAULUS, MARIA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5, B65D71