DK2765094T3 - Subject and three-dimensional structure made therefrom - Google Patents

Description

Blank and three-dimensional structure produced therefrom Description:

The present invention relates to a blank for producing a three-dimensional structure of paper, cardboard or plastic, in particular of a packaging, of a display or the like, including multiple folding edges. The invention also relates to a folding box for storing goods, in particular folding boxes of cardboard, paper or the like, including at least one front wall, at least one rear wall and at least one first and one second side wall respectively for connecting the front and rear walls, a bottom construction for bottom-side closure of the folding box, and multiple folding edges.

Blanks, three-dimensional structures and folding boxes of this kind are known in large numbers. These blanks or three-dimensional structures or folding boxes are, inter alia, collapsible boxes which represent a common packaging form for cigarettes and the like. DE 43 11 568 Al, EP 2 141 090 Al, DE 101 06 547 Al, US 6 276 600 B1 and DE 600 28 078 T2 therefore describe types of packaging in the form of a prismatic body along their longitudinal axis, with a lid being hinged to a container-like receiving region. One drawback of these known types of packaging, however - as in types of packaging for other goods - is that, firstly, they do not permit the contents of the packaging to be seen and, secondly, packaging material disposed in the packaging cannot be incorporated as a whole in the design of the packaging. Further promotional designs of the three-dimensional structure or folding box are also ruled out due to the closed folding box structure. The same applies to a blank for a folding box described in DE 2 166 517 A. In the folded state of the blank an additional surface is connected by expansion openings to a side wall of the resulting folding box. The expansion openings rest on a corresponding wall region of the folding box, so no passing openings result and it is therefore not possible to see the contents of the box. Furthermore, the expansion openings do not produce any further design options which could contribute to advantageous presentation of the folding box. A folding box according to the precharacterising clause of claim 1 is known from WO 2012/123189 Al. The folding surfaces form rounded corner areas of the folding box and have a plurality of tear lines which can form geometric patterns. EP 2 773 576 A1 discloses a blank and a corresponding folding box having the features of the pre-characterising clauses of claims 1 and 7.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a generic blank for producing a three-dimensional structure of paper, cardboard or plastic, a corresponding three-dimensional structure and a corresponding folding box of paper, cardboard or plastic by way of which improved shaping and designs of the structure or the folding box on the one hand, and optionally a view of the product may be achieved. A blank having the features of claim 1, a three-dimensional structure having the features of claim 6 and a folding box having the features of claim 7 are used to achieve these objects. Advantageous embodiments having expedient developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims, wherein advantageous embodiments of the blank should be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the three-dimensional structure according to the invention or the folding box according to the invention, and vice versa. A blank according to the invention for producing a three-dimensional structure of paper, cardboard or plastic, in particular of a packaging, of a display or the like, comprises multiple folding edges, wherein at least one folding edge is formed as a folding surface. The folding surface has an assembly of a plurality of openings passing through the blank and formed therein, wherein the openings are formed as geometric shapes spaced from each other. Openings are taken to mean geometric shapes which are already formed in the blank as geometric shapes. The folding surface has openings of different size and/or geometry. A view of the product inside the three-dimensional structure or folding box, which can both be produced from said blank, can be achieved by the configuration of at least one folding edge as a folding surface having appropriately disposed openings. A folding surface is taken to mean the plane configuration of the respective folding edge produced by the geometry and dimension of the openings. Furthermore, the specific configuration of the folding edge as a folding surface having a plurality of openings provides the possibility that a material disposed inside the three-dimensional structure or folding box, in particular packaging material, can be incorporated in the design of the structure or folding box. Further advantageous and promotional design options result, moreover. Therefore, at least one element having patterns, a graphic, an image and/or a structure, a colour strip or band, a transparent and/or non-transparent foil, a fluorescing and/or reflecting strip, a luminous strip or band or a combination of these elements can be at least partly disposed, for example, in the region of the folding edge formed as a folding surface in such a way that at least part of the openings is covered and the at least one graphic effect and/or colour effect and/or reflecting effect and/or luminous effect of these elements can be seen through the openings covered thereby. This results in distinct promotional options for the design which are not possible with conventional blanks, three-dimensional structures or folding boxes. For example, the folding box according to the invention can be used for storing tobacco, in particular cigarettes. Cigarettes are conventionally surrounded inside the corresponding folding boxes by a further packaging sleeve. In the case of the invention the design, surface and/or colour of this packaging sleeve can be seen by the user and therefore co-determines the visual appearance of the corresponding three-dimensional structure or folding box.

In advantageous embodiments of the blank according to the invention the folding surface is at least partially strip-like, straight and/or curved. Furthermore, it is possible that the folding surface is defined by a series of openings disposed one behind the other and/or comprises at least two series of openings, extending parallel to each other, and/or a number of openings formed randomly to each other. The openings formed in the folding surface can be, for example, circles, semi-circles, ovals, crescents, stars, letters, numbers, symbols and/or polygons. Other shapes are also conceivable. Furthermore, a wide variety of shapes can be used within one folding surface. This plurality of configuration options for the folding surface in turn produces a plurality of construction and design options when developing the three-dimensional structures produced from the blank according to the invention. The folding surface is always designed in such a way that it replaces a conventional folding edge so its function has the same effect. Furthermore, the folding surface can be dimensioned on such a way that in the folded state of the blank, i.e. in the case of the three-dimensional structure or folding box, a rounded folded area is formed. With an appropriate configuration of the folding edges between the side surfaces of a three-dimensional structure or folding box a structure or folding box with rounded corners is therefore advantageously produced, wherein this design feature can in turn be used as a promotional innovation in the packaging sector. In particular it is advantageous in the case of the structure or folding box with rounded corners to form this folding edge, formed as a folding surface, along the fibre orientation of the blank.

In further advantageous embodiments of the blank according to the invention the openings forming the folding surface are produced by means of punching or laser energy. This produces openings with particular contour accuracy, and these assist the function of the folding surface as a folding edge on the one hand and have a positive effect on the design of the structure or folding box on the other hand. In a further advantageous embodiment of the blank according to the invention, the blank is formed for producing a packaging for storing goods and comprises wall and bottom elements connected by folding edges to form at least one container-like receiving region in the folded state of the blank, wherein at least one folding edge is formed as a folding surface. The folding edges connecting the side walls to the front wall and rear wall can, in particular, be formed as the folding surfaces in the process. This results in a particularly advantageous design of the packaging produced form the blank according to the invention. Furthermore, if this is desired, the interior of the packaging can be seen by way of the openings in the folding surface. There is the possibility, moreover, of the rear wall being connected by a bending line to a first lid wall, of the first lid wall being connected by a bending line to a second lid wall and of the second lid wall being connected by a third bending line to a third lid wall in order to form a closure lid when the blank is in the folded state. Furthermore, in particular the first wall can be connected by folding edges to cover side walls and the third lid wall can be connected by folding edges to further cover side walls, with these folding edges also being formed as folding surfaces. The advantageous result of this is that the packaging produced using this blank according to the invention has a closure lid in which the design of the folding surfaces is likewise developed and continued. This produces a particularly advantageous visual impression of the overall packaging therefore.

The present invention relates, furthermore, to a three-dimensional structure of paper, cardboard or plastic which is produced from at least one blank, as described above. The design options and advantages of a three-dimensional structure produced in this way result from the design options and advantages of the blank described according to the invention likewise described above. The three-dimensional structure can be, in particular, a packaging, a display, in particular for the presentation of goods or the like.

The present invention relates, furthermore, to a folding box for storing goods, in particular a folding box of cardboard, paper or the like, including at least one front wall, at least one rear wall and at least one first and one second sides wall respectively for connecting the front and rear walls, a bottom construction for bottom-side closure of the folding box, and multiple folding edges. At least one folding edge is formed as a folding surface, wherein the folding surface has an assembly of a plurality of passing openings and the openings are formed as geometric shapes are spaced from each other. The folding surface has openings of different size and/or geometry. A folding surface is taken to mean the plane configuration of the respective folding edge produced by the geometry and dimension of the openings. The configuration of at least one folding edge as a folding surface with appropriately disposed openings means the product can be viewed from the outside. Furthermore, the specific configuration of the folding edge as a folding surface having a plurality of openings means a material disposed inside the folding box, in particular packaging material, can also be incorporated in the design of the folding box. Therefore, for example at the inner side of the folding box, at least in the area of the folding edge formed as a folding surface with the assembly of a plurality of passing openings, at least one element having patterns, a graphic, an image and/or a structure, a colour strip or band, a transparent and/or non-transparent foil, a fluorescing and/or reflecting strip, a luminous strip or band or a combination of these elements can be at least partially disposed such that at least part of the openings is covered and the at least one graphic effect and/or colour effect and/or reflecting effect and/or luminous effect of these elements is recognisable to the outside through the openings covered thereby. The luminous strip or band can be equipped with at least one LED.

Furthermore, there is the option that the element having a structure is formed such that the raised areas of the structure at least partially protrude through the openings. Finally, the element having patterns, the graphic, an image and/or a structure, the colour strip or band, the transparent and/or non-transparent foil, the fluorescing and/or reflecting strip, the luminous strip or band or a combination of these elements can be formed as an inliner to be separately introduced into the folding box. Overall a plurality of design options result for the three-dimensional structure or folding box which achieves promotional effects which are not possible with conventional folding boxes. For example, the folding box according to the invention can be used for storing tobacco, in particular cigarettes. Cigarettes are conventionally surrounded inside the corresponding folding boxes by a further packaging sleeve. In the case of the invention the design, surface and/or colour of this packaging sleeve can be viewed by the user and therefore co-determines the visual appearance of the corresponding folding box.

In advantageous embodiments of the folding box according to the invention the folding surface is strip-like, straight and/or curved. Furthermore, it is possible that the folding surface has a series of openings disposed one behind the other and/or at least two series of openings, extending parallel to each other, and/or a number of openings formed randomly to each other. The openings formed in the folding surface can be, for example, circles, semi-circles, ovals, crescents, stars, letters, numbers, symbols and/or polygons. Other shapes are also conceivable. Furthermore, a wide variety of shapes can be used within one folding surface. This plurality of configuration options for the folding surface in turn produces a plurality of construction and design options when developing the folding box according to the invention. The folding surface is always designed in such a way that it replaces a conventional folding edge so its function has the same effect. Furthermore, the folding surface can be dimensioned on such a way that a rounded folded area is formed. With an appropriate configuration of the folding edges between the side faces of the folding box, a folding box with rounded corners is therefore advantageously produced, wherein this design feature can in turn be used as a promotional innovation in the packaging sector.

In further advantageous embodiments of the blank according to the invention the openings formed in the folding surface are produced by means of punching or laser energy. This produces openings with particular contour accuracy, and these assist the function of the folding surface as a folding edge on the one hand and have a positive effect on the design of the folding box on the other hand.

In further advantageous embodiments of the folding box according to the invention it has a closure lid. The closure lid can be hinged to the rear wall. The corresponding folding edges of the closure lid can in turn be formed as folding surfaces and be adapted to an appropriate configuration of the folding edges or folding surfaces of the receptacle of the folding box.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of two embodiments and with reference to the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be used not just in the combination disclosed in each case, but also in other combinations, or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an inventive blank according to a first embodiment, and

Fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an inventive blank according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a blank 10 for producing a three-dimensional structure of cardboard. The three-dimensional structure is a packaging, in particular a folding box. The blanks comprise wall and bottom elements 12,14,16, 26, 28, 30, 32 connected by folding edges 50, 52, 54, 56,70,72 in order to form at least one containerlike receptacle in the folded state of the blank 10 (not shown). Furthermore, it can be seen that the rear wall 16 is connected by a bending line 74 to a first lid wall 22, the first lid wall 22 is connected by a bending line 76 to a second lid wall 18 and the second lid wall 18 is connected by a third bending line 78 to a third lid wall 20 in order to form a closure lid 92 in the folded state of the blank 10 (not shown). The first lid wall 22 is connected, moreover, by the folding edges 54, 56 to cover side walls 34, 36. The third lid wall 20 is connected by folding edges 58, 60 to further cover side walls 38,40. Furthermore, glue tabs 46, 48 are formed on the cover side walls 34, 36 by bending lines 86, 88 and in the folded state of the blank 10 rest on an inner side of the second lid wall 18 and are glued therewith. At the side opposing the second lid wall 18 the third lid wall 20 has, moreover, a bending line 80 by way of which it is connected to a further glue tab 24.

It can be seen that the folding edges 50, 52,54, 56 connecting the side walls 26, 28, 30, 32 having the front and rear walls 12,16 are formed as folding surfaces. The same applies to the cover side walls 34, 36 which are likewise connected to the first lid wall 22 by folding edges 54,56 formed as folding surfaces. The folding edges 58, 60, by which the third lid wall 20 is connected to the further cover side walls 38, 40, are also formed as folding surfaces. The folding surfaces all have the same geometric pattern comprising a plurality of round openings 94. It can be seen that the openings 94 have different diameters and form a strip-like folding surface overall. The strip-like configuration of the folding surfaces is achieved by a parallel assembly of multiple series of the openings 94. In the illustrated embodiment, series comprising openings 94 having smaller diameters alternate with series comprising openings 94 having larger diameters. In the illustrated embodiment a total of seven series of alternating openings 94 are disposed parallel to each other. In terms of their function the folding surfaces match the function of conventional folding edges.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the folding surfaces are dimensioned in such a way that a rounded folded area is produced between the respective wall and bottom elements 12,16, 22, 20 and the adjoining side walls 26, 28, 30, 32 and the cover side walls 34, 36, 38, 40 in the folded state of the blank 10. Furthermore, the corners of the bottom element 14 and the second lid wall 18 are rounded in design, so the shape of these two elements adapts to the shape of the folding surfaces in the folded state of the blank 10.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the side walls 30, 32 have glue tabs 42, 44 hinged by corresponding bending lines 82, 84, with the glue tabs 42, 44 being glued to an inner face of the bottom element 14 in the folded state of the blank 10 (not shown). At the ends of the side walls 30, 32 opposing the glue tabs 42, 44 the side walls are separated from the cover side walls 34, 36 by corresponding cut lines. The cut lines extend up to the respective starting point of the bending line 74 which is formed between the rear wall 16 and the first lid wall 22. The glue tabs 42, 44 are used in collaboration with the bottom element 14 in order to form a bottom construction 90 in the folded-together state of the blank 10.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the blank 10. It can be seen that this second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1, so reference is made to the description of Fig. 1 in the description of the figures. In contrast to the first embodiment, the blank 10 according to the second embodiment has a different configuration to the folding edges 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 formed as folding surfaces. It can be seen that the openings 94 in turn have a round design, with the diameter and the spacing between the individual openings 94 being different from those shown in Fig. 1. In addition to the round shapes of the openings 94 shown in the embodiments, a plurality of further geometric shapes is also conceivable and usable.

The described blanks 10 for producing three-dimensional structures or folding boxes are conventionally made of cardboard, paper or plastic. Other suitable materials are also conceivable. The folding surfaces having the openings 94 can be produced by punching or by means of laser energy. Other suitable production methods are also conceivable.

Claims (14)

Subject and three-dimensional structure made therefrom Patent claims A blank (10) for manufacturing a three-dimensional structure of paper, cardboard or plastic, in particular a package, display or the like, comprising a plurality of folding edges (50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78), wherein at least one fold edge (50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60) is formed as a fold surface, the fold surface having an arrangement of a plurality of through-openings (94) formed in the blank (10) said apertures (94) being formed as separate geometric shapes; characterized in that the apertures (94) have different sizes and / or geometries. Blank (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding surface has a series of openings (94) and / or at least two parallel rows of openings (94) and / or a plurality of openings (94) formed independently of one another. . Blank (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings (94) in the folding surface are circles, semicircles, ovals, crescents, stars, letters, numbers, symbols and / or polygons. Blank (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding surface is dimensioned such that in the folded state of the blank (10) a rounded fold region is formed. Blank (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding surface is formed along the fiber direction of the blank (10). A three-dimensional structure of paper, cardboard or plastic made of at least one blank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims. A folding box for storing goods, in particular folding boxes of paper, paper or the like, comprising - at least one front wall (12), at least one rear wall (16) and at least one first and second side walls (26, 30; 28, 32) respectively connecting the front and rear walls (12, 16), - a bottom structure (90) for closing the folding box at the bottom, and - a plurality of folding edges (50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60,70, 72, 74, 76, 78), wherein at least one folding edge (50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60) is formed as a folding surface, the folding surface having an arrangement of a plurality of through-openings (94) and the openings (94) being formed as separate geometric shapes, characterized in that the apertures (94) have different sizes and / or geometries. Folding box according to claim 7, characterized in that the folding surface has a number of consecutive openings (94) and / or at least two mutually parallel rows of openings (94) and / or a number of openings formed independently of one another (94). Folding box according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the openings (94) in the folding surface are circles, semicircles, ovals, crescents, stars, letters, numbers, symbols and / or polygons. Folding box according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the folding surface is dimensioned so as to form a rounded folding region. A folding box according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that on the inside of the carton, at least in the region of a folding edge (50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60) formed as a folding surface comprising the arrangement of a plurality of through-openings (94), at least in part, at least a pattern, a graphic, an element having an image and / or a structure, a color strip or ribbon, a transparent and / or non-transparent film, a a fluorescent and / or reflective strip, a light strip or band, or a combination of these elements such that at least some of the apertures (94) are covered, and at least one graphic effect and / or color effect and / or reflective effect and / or illuminating effect of these elements is visible from the outside through the openings thus covered (94). Folding box according to claim 11, characterized in that the strip or light strip is equipped with at least one LED. A folding box according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the element having a structure is designed such that the raised areas of the structure protrude at least partially through the openings (94). Folding box according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the element with the pattern, graphic, the image and / or the structure, the color strip or the color band, the transparent and / or non-transparent film, the fluorescent and / or reflective strip, the light strip or the strip of light or a combination of these elements is formed as separate inliner to be inserted into the carton.