Container and lid for consumer products, related kits of blanks, and consumer product

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates to a container for consumer products.

[0002]The invention has been developed in particular for the production of containers for single-dose soluble capsules, for example laundry and dishwasher detergent capsules.

[0003]According to other aspects, the invention relates to a lid for a container for consumer products, a kit of blanks for manufacturing the container and the lid, and a consumer product comprising such a container.

PRIOR ART

[0004]Single-dose soluble capsules such as laundry and dishwasher detergent capsules comprise water-soluble films containing soluble compounds such as laundry or dishwasher detergents, fabric softeners, etc. Single-dose soluble capsules are becoming increasingly popular due to their ease of use for the user and their positive impact on sustainability.

[0005]Single-dose soluble capsules typically have an elaborate and multicolored design, and the exposure of such articles to children poses the risk that children may confuse them with candies.

[0006]In view of the dangers arising from the ingestion of single-dose soluble capsules by children, packaging manufacturers have committed to developing child-resistant containers, the introduction of which has reduced the incidence of accidental ingestion of potentially dangerous substances by children under the age of 5.

[0007]Given the increasingly frequent use of this type of packaging, it has become necessary to define its characteristics and related testing methods in order to provide adequate guarantees and avoid confusion and misunderstandings in a sector of great importance for the safety of children.

[0008]To meet this need, UNI has published the UNI EN ISO 8317:2005 standard “Child-resistant packaging—Requirements and test procedures for reclosable packaging”. This standard establishes the characteristics that reclosable packages must have before being placed on the market.

[0009]Child-resistant containers must provide a satisfactory degree of resistance to opening by children but—at the same time—a sufficient level of accessibility to the contents by adults.

[0013]The vast majority of containers for single-dose soluble capsules currently on the market are made of plastic, due to the need to equip the containers with elastic snap-fit formations and locking elements necessary to ensure compliance with child-resistant requirements.

[0014]It would be highly desirable to produce containers for single-dose soluble capsules in eco-sustainable materials with low environmental impact such as paper or cardboard. However, the production of child-resistant containers in paper or cardboard poses difficulties in meeting child-resistant opening standards and ensuring effective closure after a certain number of openings and closings.

[0015]EP4071073A1 by the same Applicant describes a paper or cardboard container, comprising a container body having an opening and a removable lid applied to the opening. The container body includes a bottom wall and a pair of side walls each having an outer layer with a through-hole and an inner layer with a through-window facing the through-hole of the outer layer. The lid includes a top wall and two side walls having respective engagement tabs folded onto respective outer surfaces. In a closed configuration, the engagement tabs engage in respective through-windows of the side walls of the body and retain the lid on the container body. The user can disengage the lid from the container body by inserting a finger into each of the holes in the side walls and pressing inward to disengage the engagement tabs from the respective windows.

[0016]This solution allows for the creation of a container entirely made of paper material and with good characteristics of resistance to opening by children.

[0017]However, this solution has drawbacks due to the limited resistance of the lid to opening attempts made by trying to forcefully extract the lid. Moreover, the tabs that form the child-proof closure exhibit a reduction in the ability to effectively keep the lid closed after repeated openings and closings.

[0018]Another requirement is to design containers for consumer products that, in addition to having high characteristics of resistance to opening by children, have greater stability and ease of stacking when placed on the shelves of retail outlets.

[0019]The stability of consumer product containers is fundamental for several reasons. First and foremost, it ensures the safety of consumers and staff operating in commercial spaces, preventing the risk of accidental falls that could cause injuries or damage to products. Furthermore, stable and well-designed containers optimize shelf space, allowing for an orderly arrangement that facilitates product identification and selection by customers. This aspect is also crucial for maximizing the efficiency of warehouse operations, reducing the time required for storage and handling of goods. Finally, stable packaging helps to preserve the integrity of the product during transport and handling, ensuring that the consumer receives the merchandise in the best possible conditions.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020]The object of the present invention is to provide a container for single-dose soluble capsules that has improved characteristics of resistance to opening by children and at the same time has greater stability and ease of stacking.

[0021]More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a reclosable container made of sustainable material that offers greater resistance against opening attempts made by trying to forcefully extract the lid from the container body, that ensures effective closure even after repeated openings and closings, and that offers greater stability in the stacking of containers.

[0022]According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by a container having the features of claim 1.

[0023]According to other aspects, the invention relates to a consumer product according to claim 9, a lid for a container for consumer products according to claim 10, and a kit of blanks for manufacturing the container and the lid according to claim 15.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0025]FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a container according to the present invention respectively in a closed configuration and in an open configuration,

[0026]FIG. 3 is a cross-section along line III-III of FIG. 1,

[0027]FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the part indicated by arrow IV in FIG. 3,

[0028]FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views of blanks used for the production of the container body and the lid of FIGS. 1 and 2, and

[0029]FIGS. 7 and 8 are front and side views of the container of FIG. 1.

[0030]It will be appreciated that the attached drawings are schematic and that the different figures may not be represented to the same scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference number 10 indicates a container for consumer articles made of cellulose-based material.

[0032]The container 10 comprises a container body 12 and a lid 14.

[0033]The container body 12 has an opening 16 with an upper edge 18. The lid 14 is separable from the container body 12 and is movable relative to the container body 12 between a closed configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 and an open configuration illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0034]The container body 12 and the lid 14 are formed from respective flat blanks 20, 22 having the shapes illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The blanks 20, 22 are cut from flat sheets of sustainable cellulose-based materials such as, for example, cardboard or corrugated cardboard, or from composite materials made up of multiple layers of different materials in which the cellulose component is the main one. The container body 12 and the movable lid 14 are obtained by folding the respective blanks 20, 22 along fold lines indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6 with solid lines. The blanks 20, 22 may be compostable or recyclable in the paper stream.

[0035]Referring to FIGS. 1-4 and 6, the lid 14 comprises a base wall 24, a pair of first side walls 26 connected to the base wall 24 along respective first folds 28, and a pair of second side walls 30 connected to the base wall 24 along respective third folds 32.

[0036]Referring to FIG. 4, at least one of the first side walls 26 includes an outer layer 34 and an inner layer 36 spaced apart from each other.

[0037]In a preferred embodiment, an intermediate layer 38 may be interposed between the outer layer 34 and the inner layer 36.

[0038]Preferably, each of the first side walls 26 includes an outer layer 34, an inner layer 36, and an intermediate layer 38 superimposed and fixed to each other.

[0039]The outer layer 34 has at least one cut-out portion forming at least one engagement tab 40 that is elastically deformable relative to the outer layer 34 between a rest position in which the engagement tab 40 protrudes from an outer surface of the outer layer 34 and an elastically deformed position in which the engagement tab 40 is flush with the outer surface of the outer layer 34.

[0040]The three-layer structure of the side walls 26 makes the lid 14 particularly stable and robust and with a greater ability to resist opening attempts made by trying to forcefully extract the lid from the container body 12.

[0041]Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the engagement tab 40 can be defined by two first through-cuts 42 orthogonal to the first fold 28 and by a second through-cut 44 parallel to the first fold 28.

[0042]The illustrated one is only one of the possible solutions. In general, the engagement tab 40 can be defined by at least one through-cut 40, 44 having ends aligned with each other along a hinge line 46 superimposed on said first fold 28.

[0043]This feature ensures that the engagement tab 40 in the rest position protrudes from the outer surface of the outer layer 34 and that, after being pushed inward, it spontaneously tends to return to the rest position when the inward push ceases.

[0044]Thanks to this feature, the engagement tab 40 has the ability to effectively keep the lid 14 in the closed position after repeated openings and closings.

[0045]In possible embodiments, the engagement tab 40 can be defined by through-cuts 42, 44 forming a polygonal shape, for example a regular or irregular trapezoidal shape, or it can be defined by a single through-cut with an arcuate shape, for example an inverted U shape.

[0046]In possible embodiments, each of the first side walls 26 may include two engagement tabs 40.

[0047]Referring to FIG. 6, each of the first side walls 26 comprises a first flap 48 connected to the base wall 24 by a first fold 28 and forming the outer layer 34, and a second flap 50 connected to the respective first flap 48 by a second fold 52 and forming the inner layer 36.

[0048]Also referring to FIG. 6, each of the second side walls 30 includes a third flap 54 connected to the base wall 24 by a respective third fold 32. The third flaps 54 of the second side walls 30 have respective end portions 58 intended to be folded around respective end folds 60. When the blank 22 is folded to form the lid 14, the end portions 58, folded around the respective end folds 60, extend between the respective first and second flaps 48, 50 of the first side walls 26 and form the intermediate layers 38 of the first side walls 26.

[0049]The second side walls 30 may include respective fourth flaps 62 connected to the respective third flaps 54 along respective fourth folds 64, which are superimposed and fixed to the respective third flaps 54.

[0050]Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the container body 12 has a bottom wall 66, a pair of first body side walls 68, and a pair of second body side walls 70. At least one of the first body side walls 68 includes an outer layer 72 having at least one through-hole 74 and an inner layer 76 having at least one through-window 78 facing the through-hole 74 of the outer layer 72. In the example illustrated in the figures, each of the first body side walls 68 includes an outer layer 72 having a respective through-hole 74 and an inner layer 76 having a respective through-window 78 facing the respective through-hole 74.

[0051]When the lid 14 is applied to the container body 12, the engagement tab 40 engages the through-window 78 of the body side wall 68 and retains the lid 14 on the container body 14.

[0052]A user can release the lid from the container body by inserting two fingers into the through-holes 74 and pressing inward on the engagement tabs 40 to disengage the engagement tabs 40 from the through-window 78 and simultaneously lifting the lid 14.

[0053]Referring to FIG. 5, each of the first body side walls 68 comprises a first flap 80 connected to the bottom wall 68 by a first fold 82 and forming the outer layer 72, and a second flap 84 connected to the respective first flap 80 by a second fold 86 and forming the inner layer 76.

[0054]Also referring to FIG. 5, each of the second body side walls 70 includes a third flap 88 connected to the bottom wall 68 by a respective third fold 90. The third flaps 88 of the second body side walls 70 have respective end portions 92 intended to be folded around respective end folds 94. When the blank 20 is folded to form the container body 12, the end portions 92, folded around the respective end folds 94, extend between the respective first and second flaps 80, 84 of the first body side walls 68 and form intermediate layers 96 (FIG. 4) of the first body side walls 68.

[0055]The second body side walls 68 may include respective fourth flaps 98 connected to the respective third flaps 88 along respective fourth folds 100, superimposed and fixed to the respective third flaps 88.

[0056]Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, 8, the first side walls 26 and the second side walls 30 of the lid 14 have respective first upper edges 102 and second upper edges 104, and the base wall 24 is recessed relative to the first and second upper edges 102, 104. The first and second side walls 26, 30, and the base wall 24 define a compartment 106 having a truncated pyramidal shape configured so that when a plurality of lids 14 are stacked, each lid 14 located above another lid 14 is interpenetrated into the compartment 106 of the lid 14 below.

[0057]In possible embodiments, at least one of the first side walls 26 and at least one of the second side walls 30 are inclined relative to the base wall 24 at an angle α less than 90°.

[0058]In possible embodiments, at least one of the first side walls 26 and at least one of the second side walls 30 are inclined relative to the base wall 24 at an angle α between 70° and 85°.

[0059]In possible embodiments, the first side walls 26 and the second side walls 30 are inclined relative to the base wall 24 at respective angles α equal to each other.

[0060]An aspect of the present invention is a paper material blank 22 configured to be folded to form a lid 14 as previously described.

[0061]The present invention solves the problem of providing a lid having child-proof closure mechanisms and a compartment for interpenetration starting from a single blank.

[0062]Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the pair of first body side walls 68, the pair of second body side walls 70, and the bottom wall 66 define a volume 108 of truncated pyramidal shape.

[0063]The truncated pyramidal shape of the container body 12 and the lid 14 allows for the formation of a stop of the lid 14 relative to the container body 12 that prevents the lid 14 from penetrating inside the container body 12 beyond the normal closed position and prevents opening attempts made by trying to push the lid 14 inward of the container body 12.

[0064]The compartment 106 of the lid is configured to receive a lower portion of a container body 12, so that when a plurality of containers 10 are stacked, each container 10 located above another container 10 has a lower portion inserted into the compartment 106 of the lid 14 of a container 10 below.

[0065]At least one of the first body side walls 68 and second body side walls 70 of the container body 12 are inclined relative to the base wall 24 and the bottom wall 66 at an angle α less than 90°. In possible embodiments, the inclination angle α may be between 70° and 85°.

[0066]The inclination of at least two adjacent side walls allows for the stacking of the lids 14 and the stacking of the container bodies 12. This is advantageous in cases where the lids 14 and container bodies 12 are formed off-line relative to a filling machine, as the lids 14 and container bodies can be stacked in respective piles from which they can be picked up by handling devices. The lids 14 and container bodies 12 can also be formed in line with a filling machine by folding and gluing the blanks 20, 22.

[0067]In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first side walls 26 and second side walls 30 of the lid 14 and the first body side walls 68 and second body side walls 70 are all inclined relative to the base wall 24 and the bottom wall 66 at an angle α. In the example illustrated, the inclination angle α is the same for the side walls 26, 30 of the lid 14 and the side walls 68 and 70 of the container body 12. In possible embodiments, each of the side walls 26, 30 of the lid 14 and the corresponding side walls 68 and 70 of the container body 12 may be inclined at respective inclination angles different from the inclination angles of the other side walls 26, 30 of the lid 14 and side walls 68 and 70 of the container body 12.

[0068]The invention is particularly useful for the packaging of single-dose soluble capsules as the structure of the container 10 previously described is capable of meeting the standards for child-resistant containers.

[0069]An aspect of the present invention is a consumer product comprising a container 10 as previously described and at least one single-dose soluble article.

[0070]Another aspect of the present invention is a kit comprising a first paper material blank 20 and a second paper material blank 22, where the first paper material blank 20 and the second paper material blank 22 are configured to be folded to form respectively a container body 12 and a lid 14 as previously described.

[0071]Of course, while the principle of the invention remains unchanged, the construction details and embodiments may be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.