Patent Publication Number: US-2010127051-A1

Title: Packaging for a chocolate bar for mailing

Description:
The present invention relates to a packaging for a chocolate bar, wherein said packaging serves at least partially for postal purposes. 
     Chocolate bars are offered today in different forms of packaging. Conventionally, these are above all chocolate bars that are wrapped in foil and subsequently surrounded in a decorative paper wrapper. The decorative paper wrapper serves substantially only to stimulate the consumer to make a purchase in that corresponding images of portions are placed on the upper surface of said packaging. The reverse side customarily and also preferably contains information on the declarative ingredients corresponding to the requirements of the food regulations. 
     Document DE A 101 02 959 furthermore discloses a packaging of a chocolate bar, in which packaging the tongues that are customarily positioned on the reverse side of a chocolate bar and overlap and are adhered together are arranged on the front side. The purpose consists in the fact that this makes it possible for the decorative side of the chocolate to be visible upon opening the packaging of the chocolate bar as opposed to the reverse side, as is customarily the case. 
     Furthermore, chocolate bars have recently been marketed the outer wrapping of which is composed out of a cardboard-like material in which the overlaps in the region of the adhesive locations are substantially smaller and thus effect both an aesthetically-improved appearance as well as reduce the amount of materials used. 
     In day-to-day life, situations frequently arise in which one would like to send to someone not only a brief posting but would also like to sweeten the message by sending a bar of chocolate along with the message. Typical occasions in which one could send something sweet along with a short greeting are in sending thanks for an invitation, birthday greetings, by way of excuse for having been late or a cancelled arrangement etc. For such purposes, the bar of chocolate must have a special packaging that is suitable for said purposes. Swiss patent document CH 683 904 discloses packaging for a chocolate bar, in which disclosure a part of the packaging can be separated by pulling on it and then used as a postcard. In tourist areas in particular, chocolate is sold that is provided with an external packaging that has decorative image, in particular images of landscapes. Using such landscape images further and correspondingly as a postcard is entirely appealing and ecologically logical. The actual lettering and addressee information are placed on the reverse side that is positioned on the interior side of the chocolate packaging. The solution is cumbersome and accordingly also minimally economically successful because the outer packaging that is otherwise printed only on one side has to be printed on the reverse side as well. The double-sided printing increases the packaging price, in particular also because for postal regulations, a postcard must have a prescribed stability. This in turn means that the entire packaging must be manufactured of the same material and additionally would also logically have to be provided with perforations in order to facilitate a simple separation of the postcard. The patent application, however, moreover mentions the possibility of inserting this postcard between the inner and outer packaging as a virtual cardboard inlay. None of the solutions shown here is suitable, however, for sending the bar of chocolate itself. 
     What&#39;s more, document JP-A-811 9370 discloses a chocolate shipping package. The chocolate rests in a tray that is fastened onto cardboard. The entirety is then positioned in a wrapper on which one can write, and said wrapper is inserted into a second, transparent plastic wrapper for posting. This solution is complex and requires a packaging that is entirely different in nature from known packaging, said different packaging also needing to be taken into consideration in the manufacture of the chocolate as well. 
     The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that of creating a packaging for a bar of chocolate of the previously mentioned type that requires no additional, complicated packaging changes and thus can practically be processed in today&#39;s fully-automatic packaging lines. 
    
    
     
       This problem solves the packaging of a bar of chocolate with the features of claim  1 . Additional advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, and their meaning and mode of functioning will be explained in the following description with use of the appended drawing. 
       It is shown in: 
         FIG. 1  the development drawing of a packaging according to the invention with a view of the surfaces that are positioned on the exterior during use; 
         FIG. 2  the same packaging with a view of the surfaces that are positioned in the interior during use; 
         FIG. 3  the packaging in an intermediate stage in which it is swung open to facilitate writing upon the flap; 
         FIG. 4  the bar of chocolate, which is ready for shipping, in the packaging according to the invention with a view of the reverse side. 
     
    
    
     Formally, the appearance of a chocolate bar packaged in a packaging according to the invention is no different from a conventionally packed bar of chocolate, as can be seen in  FIG. 4 . The packaging, the entirety of which is designated with reference sign  1 , has the conventional slab-like shape with slightly inclined longitudinal and width edges. This view of the packaging differs practically not at all from a conventional packaging with the exception that in the preferred embodiment form shown here, the reverse side is double surfaced since a flap  13  rests upon a bottom surface  5 , thereby considerably increasing the rigidity of the bottom side of the packaging, which is particularly advantageous for supporting the bar of chocolate during shipping. 
     Although the packaging is suited for chocolate in particular, other lasting foodstuffs that are present in bar-form, such as gingerbread [Lebkuchen] or slices of hard cheese can be packaged and shipped in such a manner. 
     A particularly preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Here, the packaging  1  according to the invention is shown with a view of surfaces that are positioned externally during use. The front sides  2  are attached all around to the longitudinal edge surfaces  3  as well as to the width edge surfaces  4 , the respective thicknesses of which roughly correspond to the thickness of a chocolate bar. The bottom surface  5  is integrally formed and connected by the one longitudinal edge surface  3 . The lateral adhesive tongues  7  are connected to both of the width edge surfaces  4 . In conclusion, the bottom surface  5  has a yet another longitudinal adhesive tongue  6  that, in the packaged end state, is adhered to a longitudinal adhesive tongue region  19 , that is part of a flap  13  in the in the solution according to the invention of the form shown here. The lateral adhesive tongues  7  connect, in the assembled state, the front surface  2  with the bottom surface  5  by means of the corresponding width edge surfaces  4 . 
     The noteworthiness of the packaging  1  according to the invention shown here rests primarily in the fact that the front surface  2  is provided with an address field similar to an aerogram or a postcard, in such a manner that the address information of the addressee can be written in. Preferably, a printed bar  9  runs above the address field  8 , on which bar a postage field  11  is present that is clearly visible. This postage field  11  can be provided with an already printed postage stamp. This is entirely logical since a chocolate packaging is conventionally composed of high-gloss paper and consequently postage stamps with water-soluble adhesive thereon do not adhere as favourably. However, in the use of self-adhesive postage stamps, this problem does not present itself. In order to solve this problem, however, the region of the postage field  11  can, for example, be provided with a special coating to which postage stamps with water-soluble adhesive can also adhere well. 
     In addition, a message  10  can be pre-printed on this front side  2  in the printed bar  9 . Depending on the nature of this message  10 , the purpose or the reason for the posting of the chocolate bar is practically indicated. Correspondingly, such messages can consist of a single phrase, such as, for example, “Thank you”, “Sorry”, “Congratulations”, “My apologies” etc. In a simplest solution, it is possible, in theory, for the aforementioned flap  13  to be absent and each part of the packaging can theoretically end with a longitudinal adhesive tongue  19 . In this case, a sender field  20  would be provided on the bottom surface  5  and the regulatory declaratory information  17  regarding the ingredients of the packaged chocolate would also be given on the bottom side  5 . However, such is not the case in present instance as is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . Here, the bottom surface  5  is designed as a letter surface  21 . This letter surface  21  is covered by the flap  13  in the posting-ready state. In this solution, the sender field  20  and the declaratory information  17  are now printed on the external side of this flap  13 . This flap  13  is provided with a longitudinal adhesive tongue region  19  that on the top abuts the bottom surface  5  and is adhered thereto. This longitudinal adhesive tongue region  19  is separated from the actual flap  13  by a fold  12 . The flap  13  can swing around this fold  12 . The interior side of the flap  13  is provided with an adhesive field  16 . Here, this adhesive field  16  is applied as an adhesive strip. In theory, the connection  13  with the bottom surface  5  can be realised with any adhesive material  14  whatsoever. In this manner, the adhesive means can also be, instead of an adhesive field  16 , an adhesive tongue  15  that is in the form of a rondelle, for example. It makes no difference whether the adhesive means  14  is realised as a rondelle-shaped adhesive tongue  15  or as an adhesive strip  16 , while it is indeed imperative that the adhesive means be realised preferably as an unconditionally sticking adhesive so that the flap can be opened and closed numerous times. A different solution to the problem addresses consists in the fact that, for example, the adhesive field  16  is realised as a strip of a self-adhesive strip that is then covered with a film that is first removed upon the definitive connection of the flap  13  with the bottom surface  5 . So that the adhesive means can be recognisable as the adhesive field  16 , for example, the flap  13 , which is shown with its internal side visible in  FIG. 3 , is here, too, designed as a letter surface  21 , and can be correspondingly ruled, for example. 
     In particular, in the use of the packaging according to the invention in tourist areas, the packaging can also be decorated with regional images. The flap  13  can also be printed with a vacation topic. In this manner, the individual who receives the chocolate can now removed the flap  13  and can post it to the sender as a postcard or greeting card in order to express thanks. In this case, the fold  12  is preferably additionally provided with perforations in order to make an easy removal possible. 
     The great advantage of the solution according to the invention consists in the fact that in order to post a bar of chocolate, the consumer no longer needs first to go to a store to purchase a bar of chocolate, take it home, package, label, and place postage on it, and finally go to the post office, but rather in that the consumer need only purchase the bar of chocolate that is already packaged and ready for posting, and merely write in a mailing address and a recipient&#39;s name, and write a few friendly lines if so desired. Chocolate packaged in such a manner is particularly suitable for sale directly at the post office or in vacation locations, in particular, at the kiosks, grocery stores, and at hotel reception desks. In particular, the solution with an additional flap on the reverse side increases the possibilities of using the chocolate in a manner similar to that of postcard. However, with an enlarged writing area that is moreover sealable and thus not externally visible. 
     Finally, it is also possible to insert a letter or a piece of cardboard for additionally rigidity between the flap  13  and the bottom surface  5 . For this purpose, a catching recess can also be provided on the longitudinal edge of the flap in order to make it easier to introduce or remove this insert more easily. 
     Slits can also be provided in the flap in order to secure a small card, such as a customer card, for example. 
     REFERENCE SIGN LIST 
     
         
           1 . Packaging 
           2 . Front surface 
           3 . Longitudinal edge surface 
           4 . Width surface 
           5 . Bottom surface 
           6 . Longitudinal adhesive tongue 
           7 . Lateral adhesive tongue 
           8 . Address field 
           9 . Printed bar 
           10 . Message 
           11 . Postage stamp field 
           12 . Fold, possibly with perforations 
           13 . Flap 
           14 . Adhesive means 
           15 . Adhesive tongue 
           16 . Adhesive field/Adhesive strip 
           17 . Field for declaratory information 
           18 . Gripping recess 
           19 . Longitudinal adhesive tongue region 
           20 . Addressee field 
           21 . Letter surface