Patent Publication Number: US-11377256-B2

Title: Packaging element constructed from folded blank

Description:
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 15/738,665 filed 16 Mar. 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,703,535, Ser. No. 15/738,665 is the national stage (Rule 371) of international application No. PCT/EP2016/063490 filed 13 Jun. 2016 which claims foreign priority benefit to German application No. DE 202015103276.5 filed 22 Jun. 2015. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The system described herein relates to a packaging element and more particularly to a packaging element for accommodating at least one product. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A packaging element may include a blank which has the following portions connected to one another by folding lines:
         an accommodating portion having at least one receptacle, the shape of which is matched to the shape of a product to be accommodated;   a first side-wall portion;   a first cover-wall portion;   a second side-wall portion;   a second cover-wall portion.       

     The blank consists in particular of paperboard, board or the like flat fiber material, which for example can be produced as a molding by pulp molding. Here, the term “blank” merely designates a one-piece element of thin fiber material which has not necessarily been produced by cutting but instead can be formed by a molded pulp process, for example. 
     For the dispatch of books, for example, use is made of board blanks in which the accommodating portion has a receptacle delimited by covering flaps. A book is laid between the covering flaps and the covering flaps are folded over the book. Then, along the folding lines, the first side-wall portion, the first cover-wall portion, the second side-wall portion and the second cover-wall portion are each folded through 90° toward each other, so that they form a closed parallelepiped. 
     The second cover-wall portion rests on the side of the accommodating portion that faces away from the book, and is stuck to said portion. 
     There is a desire to configure such packaging elements to be more esthetically pleasing and capable of better stacking. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Described herein is a packaging element having a first cover-wall portion that has at least one hollow, and a second cover-wall portion that has at least one protrusion with a shape and position complementary to the hollow. 
     In some embodiments, one side of the packaging element, in particular the upper side, is provided with at least one protrusion, and the other side, primarily the underside, is provided with at least one hollow, into which a protrusion arranged on the upper side of a second identically shaped packaging element can be inserted. However, the protrusions can also be arranged on the underside and the hollows on the upper side. It is also possible both to arrange one or more protrusions on the underside with complementary hollows on the upper side and also to arrange one or more protrusions on the upper side with complementary hollows on the underside. In some embodiments, protrusions and hollows should be arranged such that, in the case of two stacked identically shaped packaging elements, the protrusions and hollows on the upper side of the lower packaging element project into hollows and protrusions on the underside of the upper packaging element. If the protrusions are arranged on the underside of the packaging element, they can form stable supporting surfaces, so that the packaging element can be placed on the protrusions in a stable manner. 
     In this way, the packaging element can be stacked optimally and in a manner secure against displacement. The protrusion which, for example, is arranged on the cover-wall of the lower packaging element, projects into the complementary hollow on the bottom of the upper packaging element and prevents the stacked packaging elements slipping relative to each other. The protrusion can be of any desired shape and, for example, form symbols such as letters and numbers and also logos or illustrations of the packaged products. Such a protrusion may enhance the optical appearance of the container and serves at the same time as a transport safeguard. 
     In some embodiments, the packaging element has the product receptacles in the accommodating portion, the two cover-wall portions and the two side-wall portions formed from a blank, the different portions of which are connected via folding lines. The folding lines can in practice extend parallel to one another. The blank made of pulp fibers is simple and inexpensive to produce and simple to handle and dispose of. As explained further below, the blank can have additional accommodating portions and side-wall portions. 
     As mentioned herein, in practice the accommodating portion can be enveloped by the two side-wall portions and the two cover-wall portions by folding along the folding lines. In practice, the first cover-wall portion and the second cover-wall portion can extend in mutually parallel planes, so that the packaging elements can be stacked securely. The side-wall portions do not necessarily have to be parallel. They can extend obliquely, so that, in side view, the packaging element is given the shape of a flat trapezoid or parallelogram. 
     In practice, the at least one protrusion and the at least one hollow can have complementary shapes and be provided at mutually corresponding positions, so that the underside of a second identically shaped packaging element can be laid flush on the upper side of a packaging element, the protrusion on the upper side of the lower packaging element projecting into the complementarily shaped hollow on the underside of the upper packaging element. In some embodiments, if multiple protrusions are provided on the upper side, then the underside has hollows with corresponding shapes and positions, so that when two identically shaped packaging elements are stacked, a respective protrusion projects into a respective hollow. As mentioned, alternatively or additionally, protrusions can be arranged on the underside and hollows on the upper side. 
     In practice, the packaging element can have at least one of the following features:
         the at least one protrusion of the upper side has the shape of a symbol, in particular a logo, a number or a letter;   the at least one protrusion has the shape of a product accommodated in the container.       

     In some embodiments in particular, company logos, company names but also illustrations of the products in a three-dimensional configuration, promoting sales, are suitable for decorating the packaging element with simultaneous stabilization of a stack of such elements. 
     In practice, the accommodating portion and/or the cover-wall portion resting thereon can have a closure element, with which the accommodating portion and the cover-wall portion resting thereon can be connected. In the simplest case, at least one portion of a two-sided adhesive tape is arranged between the two portions, bonding the latter. However, it is also possible for two magnetic elements or a magnetic element and an iron-containing element to be attached to the two portions at mutually corresponding positions, so that these elements attract each other. Any desired other closure devices, such as closure flaps which are inserted into slots, or hook-and-loop fasteners, can be used to connect an accommodating portion and a cover-wall portion resting thereon. 
     In practice, the packaging element can be produced from molded pulp. Molded pulp is an environmentally friendly board material made of pulp fibers, which can be obtained from renewable and biodegradable raw materials and also from waste paper. Beer mats and egg cartons are usually also made from molded pulp. Molded pulp can be molded in very different shapes and is particularly well suited to making complex shapes from pulp fibers economically. However, it is also possible to produce the packaging element from paper material or board material in the deep-drawing process. The deep-drawing of paper or board is known, for example, from the document DE 10 2012 201 882 A1. Both in the case of molded pulp and in the deep-drawing process, the packaging element can consist of pulp fibers of any desired color. In this way, a very attractive visual effect can be achieved. 
     In practice, the packaging element can have at least one additional accommodating portion with at least one receptacle. At least one folding line can extend between the first accommodating portion and the additional receptacle. In practice, the additional accommodating portion can rest on the accommodating portion. Thus, multiple accommodating portions can be arranged above one another, each accommodating the product to be packaged, accessories for the product or information materials such as operating instructions, proofs of authenticity, etc. A side-wall portion, which extends only over part of the height of the side wall, can extend between the first cover-wall portion and the first accommodating portion. Two accommodating portions folded back onto each other then follow. An additional side-wall portion can adjoin the additional accommodating portion, extending over the remaining part of the height of the side wall. It is also possible for further division of the height of the packaging element to be provided by a second additional accommodating portion. 
     The receptacles for the objects to be accommodated do not necessarily have to surround these objects in the form of a hollow. The object can, for example, also be accommodated in that the receptacle is formed as a protrusion and the object to be accommodated is pushed onto the receptacle, for example if the object has the shape of a ring or of a closed hoop. 
     The packaging element can also be inserted into a box-like holding carton having a lid. The upper side of the lid can have at least one hole, the shape and position of which corresponds to the shape and the position of the at least one protrusion of the adjacent cover-wall portion. The underside of the holding carton can have a hole, the shape and position of which corresponds to the shape and the position of the at least one hollow of the adjacent cover-wall portion. The outer walls of the holding carton can be configured or printed in a different color than the packaging element, so that a very attractive packaging carton, which can be stacked, easily results. As mentioned, the protrusions can also be on the underside of the packaging element and the hollows on its upper side, corresponding holes being formed in the upper side and underside of the holding carton. 
     In practice, the protrusions can project by at least approximately 2 mm out of the surface of the upper side, the hollows accordingly being at least approximately 2 mm deep. In this way, an effective safeguard against slipping is formed. However, the height of the protrusions can also be considerably greater, given a correspondingly greater depth of the hollow. In addition, the base of the hollow does not have to extend flat, so that protrusion and hollow have an inclined or curved profile of the base surfaces opposite each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In the following description, illustrative embodiments of the packaging container according to the system described herein will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a three-dimensional plan view of a blank which can be folded to form a packaging element, according to some embodiments of the system described herein, 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the blank from  FIG. 1 , according to some embodiments of the system described herein, 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the blank folded to form a packaging element, according to some embodiments of the system described herein, 
         FIG. 4  shows the packaging element from  FIG. 3  when it is inserted into a box-like holding carton with a lid, wherein holding carton and lid are sectioned in the center, according to some embodiments of the system described herein, 
         FIG. 5  shows a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of a packaging element, according to some embodiments of the system described herein, 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the packaging element from  FIG. 5 , according to some embodiments of the system described herein, and 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of the packaging element from  FIG. 6  when pulled apart, according to some embodiments of the system described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1-4  show a blank  401  which forms a packaging element  419  having multiple receptacles for products to be inserted therein. The blank  401  is made of, e.g., consists of, pulp and has an accommodating portion  402 . The accommodating portion  402  has multiple receptacles  403 - 407 , which can each accommodate a product to be inserted. Each of the receptacles  403 - 407  is formed as a shell-like depression, into which the products can be laid. The receptacles  403 - 407  merge partly into one another. It is important that the walls of the receptacles  403 - 407  fix the product to be inserted therein in at least a point-by-point manner. The receptacle  403  is intended for a mobile phone, for example. The receptacle  404  can be intended for the power unit of the mobile phone. The receptacle  405  can be intended for a headset or power plug. The same is true of the receptacle  406 . The receptacle  407  can be intended for a power cable. The shape and arrangement of the receptacles  403 - 407  can be matched in any desired way to the purpose of the respective packaging. It should be noted that the contours of the receptacles  403 - 407  do not have to correspond exactly to the contours of the products to be accommodated. Widened regions  408 ,  409 , which make it easier to grip and remove the accommodated products, can be seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     The accommodating portion  402  is connected via a first folding line  410  to a first side-wall portion  411 . Via a second folding line  412 , a first cover-wall portion  413 , in the center of which a hollow  420  in the shape of a bitten pear is formed, adjoins the first side-wall portion  411 . The first cover-wall portion  413  merges via a third folding line  414  into the second side-wall portion  415 . A fourth folding line  416  and a second cover-wall portion  417  adjoin the second side-wall portion  415 . The second cover-wall portion  417  has the protrusion  423 , which has a shape complementary to the hollow  420 . 
     In some embodiments, all the folding lines extend parallel to one another. At all the folding lines, the adjacent wall portions are folded through 90° toward one another, so that when folded along all the folding lines, the cube-like packaging element  419  that can be seen in  FIG. 3  is produced. As mentioned above, however, embodiments are also possible in which the folding angle differs from 90° and the packaging element that is produced can have the cross section of a flat trapezoid or a flat parallelogram. 
     The packaging element  419  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is cube-like. A connecting element  429 , in the present case a two-sided adhesive strip, is arranged between the second cover-wall portion  417  and the accommodating portion  402  parallel thereto and connects these two portions to each other. It should be noted that other connecting elements, for example magnetic connecting elements or flaps of the blank, can be used in order to connect these two portions  417  and  402  to each other. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the packaging element  419  can be inserted into a box-like holding carton  422 , the lower wall of which has a hole  421  which is matched to the hollow  420  and the contour of which corresponds to the contour of the hollow  420 . In the bottom view, the hole has the same position as the hollow  420 . The packaging element  417  inserted into the holding carton  422  can be seen in  FIG. 4 . Both the holding carton  422  and the lid  425  are illustrated as sectioned in the center, so that the packaging element  419  is visible. The lid  425 , in the upper side  427  of which there is formed a hole  424 , the contour of which substantially corresponds to the contour of the protrusion  423 , is put on from above. The holding carton  422  also has a hole  426  on the underside  428 , which in contour and position corresponds to the contour and position of the hollow  420 . The lid  425  and the holding carton  422  form the outer side of the packaging container  400  from  FIG. 4 , except in the region of the protrusion  423  and the hollow  420 . 
     In  FIGS. 2-4  it can be seen that a curved relieving portion  418 , with which dimensional inaccuracies of the blank  401  can be compensated, is arranged close to the fourth folding line  416 . 
     In practice, the blank can be formed from molded pulp, as mentioned. 
       FIGS. 5-7  show an alternative embodiment of a packaging element  519  according to the system described herein. An important difference from the version described above resides in the fact that the packaging element  519  has an additional accommodating portion  532 , which rests on the first accommodating portion  502 . The two accommodating portions  502  and  532  adjoin each other via two folding lines  530 ,  531 , so that they can be folded over through 180° relative to each other until they rest substantially on each other. 
     In a way similar to the embodiment described above, the first accommodating portion  502  has two shell-like depressions  503 ,  504 , which each form a receptacle for accessories, for example a power unit or a headset. A first side-wall portion  511  adjoins the first accommodating portion  502  via a first folding line  510 . It can be seen in  FIG. 5  that the first side-wall portion  511  extends over only part of the height of the packaging element  519 . A first cover-wall portion  513 , in which the hollow  520  is formed, adjoins the first side-wall portion  511  via a second folding line  512 . The second side-wall portion  515 , which has a similarly wide extent to the first side-wall portion  511 , adjoins via a further folding line  514 . A first marginal web  505  adjoins the second side-wall portion  515  via a further folding line  516 . 
     The second, additional accommodating portion  532  has on its underside a circumferential spacer rib  518 , so that a certain distance prevails between the two main planes of the two accommodating portions  502  and  532 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the second accommodating portion  532  has a receptacle  533 , which is formed as a protrusion projecting upward. The object  534  to be accommodated, in this case a digital wristwatch, is pushed onto the outer side of this protrusion  533 . The additional accommodating portion  532  and the second cover-wall portion  517 , extending above the accommodating portion  532  and parallel thereto, each have a fixing rib  524  and  525 , which fix the object  534  to be accommodated in the folded-together position of the packaging element  519  that is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     The additional accommodating portion  532  is adjoined via a folding line  535  by a further side-wall portion  536 , which extends in the same vertical plane above the side-wall portion  511 . The second cover-wall portion  517 , in which the protrusion  523  is formed, which is formed so as to be substantially complementary to the hollow  520  of the first, lower cover-wall portion  513 , adjoins via a folding line  537 . In the folded-together state of the packaging element  519 , illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the protrusion  523  is located on the upper side  527  and the hollow  520  on the underside  528 . In this way, a second identical packaging element  519  can be laid on the upper cover-wall portion  517  of a lower packaging element  519 , the protrusion  523  on the upper side  527  of the lower packaging element  519  projecting into the hollow  520  on the underside  528  of the upper packaging element  519 . The objects packaged in this way can be stacked on this side so as to be secure against displacement. It can be seen, in particular in  FIG. 5 , that the protrusion  523  has the shape of the packaged object  534 . In this way, the packaging is enhanced visually and the object  534  packaged therein is presented attractively. 
     A further side-wall portion  539  adjoins via a further folding line  538 , once more a marginal web  541  at the end of this side-wall portion  539  likewise adjoining via a folding line  540 . 
     In some embodiments, all the portions of the packaging element  519  are formed from a one-piece molded pulp blank  501 , the different protrusions and hollows being formed in the molding. This packaging element can also be inserted into a carton, the upper side and underside of which each have a hole, the contour of which corresponds to the contour of the protrusion and of the hollow. 
     It is readily possible to insert further accommodating portions into the packaging, so that the packaging can be folded open substantially like an accordion with accommodating portions folded onto one another. In the embodiment described here, the side-wall portions  515 ,  539  located at the end of the blank each extend over only part of the height of the packaging element  519 . Alternatively, one of these two side-wall portions  515 ,  539  can extend over the entire height of the packaging element  519 . The second side-wall portion can then be omitted or, for example, folded back underneath the upper cover-wall portion  517 . 
     The features of the system described herein disclosed in the present description, in the drawings and in the claims can be important both on their own and in any desired combinations for the implementation of the system described herein in its various embodiments. The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described. It can be varied within the context of the claims and whilst taking into account the knowledge of the appropriate person skilled in the art. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification and/or an attempt to put into practice the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as illustrative only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.