Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Christian Senning Verpackungsautomaten GmbH ~ Co.,
Kalmsweg 10, 2800 Bremen 21
Pllable packing for non-rectangular flat artlcles
De~cription
The invention relate~ to a pliable pacXing for non-
rec~angular, flexible flat articleR, more especially elongated
slip-on pads which are rounded at the ends and which sre
covered in the folded state with foil material.
The slip-on pad~ which are more e~pecially to be
considered here are flat, multi-layer articles of absorbent
ti~sue material of elongated form. They are considerably
rounded - almost to semi-circular form - at their short ends,
for the purpose of being adapted to the body and the clothing
of the wearer. For marketing purposes, ~tacks of the~e pad~
are generally packed and sold in carton~.
Because of the bulkines~ of such supply packages, small
packages have also been developed which contain single slip-on
pad~. In this case, the length dimension of the pad is
reduced by tran~verse folds to about 1/3rd of its length and
the three-layer pad is arranged in a bag-like foil package.
However, there 19 also a demand for a handlable and
marketable unit of several slip-on pads, because the individual
packaging is cost intensive and the carrying of several
individually packed ~lip-on pad~ is inconvenient. Moreover,
these latter also occupy a disproportionately large amount of
space. Finally, with the kno~n transverse folding, the
crease~ are disposed at such positions of the slip-on pads that
they become inconveniently apparent when they are being ~orn.
The packaging of a stack of slip-on pads in the mar~ner of
folded paper pocket handkerchiefs, ~hich ~eems to be tenable,
in view of the similarities in shape and consistency, i8
actually not posslble, because the soft packaglng in general
use at the present time for packs of handkerchiefs cannot be
closed around the non-rectangular slip-on pads - at lea~t not
in a reliable manner. Moreover, it is scarcely able to
satisfy the further desire of 80 developing the soft packaging
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carton for a small pack of slip-on pads that, after the first
time a pad has been extracted, the c~rton can be closed again,
and that thl~ procedure can be repeated several ti~es until all
the pads have been used.
The invention provides a way out of thiY difficulty. It
consist~ in that a plurality of flat articles folded to
rectangular form are ~acked one above the other aDd i8
enclosed by a parallelipipedic packaging sleeve fittlng
relatively tightly on the stack, and that the packaging sleeve
i~ con~tructed for being opened over the full width of one
lateral surface of the parallelipiped and at least a part of
its depth and for being closed again.
Here the invention make~ use of the folding of slip-on
pads, which is known per se, in a novel manner: The
rectsngular form which is produced with the folding of the flat
articles - and thu~ also of slip-on pads - permits the
formation of a parallelipipedic stack and the enclosure thereof
in a soft package or carton which fits tightly on all side~ and
can be resealed. However, it has to be observed that an
extraction of the folded article3, becsuse of the stiffening
which occurY in the region of the sharp fold, is only possible
when the side wall providing acce~s i~ opened over the full
width ~of the article and thu~ of the package), in order to -
ensure extraction in a problem-free manner and without damaging
the package and/or the article.
The folding of articles such a~ slip-on pads can be 90
effected in the known manner that the oppositely f~lded end
regions lie one upon the other. With equal number, a flatter
but naturally longer package i8 produced if the folded end
regions lie ad~acent one another. Moreover, in t~is case, the
transverse folds are displaced to positions longitudinally of
the pads, where they are troublesome during wear.
In the latter case, it could also be possible with
advantage to package such sllp-on items (or comparable
articles) which are thickened in the middle region: In this
case, only such small end regions are folded over as to achieve
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the rectangular shspe and the folded-over sectlon~ lie ad~acent
the thickened middle section and a substantisllr uniform
thickness i~ produced, which in thi~ way also leads to the
parallelipipedic form of the packed stack.
The invention is hereinafter more fully explained by
reference to constructional examples shown in the drawings,
wherein:
Fig. 1 i~ a slip-on pad in the unfolded state;
Fig. 2 is a slip-on pad in the folded state;
Fig. 3 is a stack of slip-on pads which sre folded
together;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a soft package or carton
for holding the stack of folded slip-on pads ~ho~n
in Fig 3,
Fig. 5 i~ 8 laid-out blank of a synthetic plastics foil,
for the production of the ~oft package which is
~hown in Fig. 4; and
Fig. 6 is a laid-out blank of a synthetic pla~tic foil
for the production of another constructional form
of a soft package.
Shown in perspective in Fig. 1 iB a slip-on pad 2, which
has a maln region 4 and two end region~ 8. 9 opposite one - - -
another and connected with fold line3 6, 7 to the main region
4. While the main region 4 has a substantially rectangular
form, the end regions 8, 9 which adjoin the latter are strongly
rounded on their free side edges 10, 11 for fitting reasons.
With the example which is shown in Fig. 1, the two end regions
8, 9 are made substantially semi-circular.
As sho~n in Fig. 1, ehe complete slip-on pad 2 has a flat,
elongated form. It consists of a flat multi-layer blank of
absorbent tissue matèrial. The thickness of the slip-on pad 2
which is shown in Fig. 1 19 the same over its entire length,
i.e. both in the main region 4 and ln the end regions 8, 9.
However, it is also possible to make the main region 4 thicker
and thus more absorbent than the two end regions 8, 9.
For being arranged in a soft package or carton which is
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~till to be described, the sl~p-on pad 2 i9 folded according to
Fig. ~. For this purpose, the two end regions 8, 9 are folded
bsck on to the main regions 4 in opposite directions through
180 about the two crease lines 6, 7, which extend
~ubstantially parallel to one another and at right-angles to
the length dimension of the slip-on pad. In the folded state,
which i9 shown in Fig. 2, the two end regionq 8, 9 lie ad~acent
one another on the main region 4, the free side edges 10, 11 of
the end regions 8, 9 being disposed facing and ad~acent one
another. Such A folding is more especially advantageous when
the middle region 4 is thickened aQ compared with the end
region~ 8, 9 (not shown in the Figures). Since in this case
the folded end regions lie adjoining the thickened middle
region, there is then produced a substantially unlform
thickness of the folded slip-on pad. In contrast thereto, it
is also possible so to fold the slip-on pad that the end
regions folded in opposite directions lie one above the other.
This folding has the advantage that the slip-on pad, in the
folded stste, has only a particularly short length. In any
case, however, the slip-on pad 2 which iq rounded at the ends
has to be so folded that it t~ given a rectangular form in the
folded state, as shown by way of example in Fig. 2.
The rectangular form, which is provided by the folding of
the slip-on pads 2 in the previouQly described manner, allows
the formation of a parallelipipedic stack 12 of several folded
slip-on pads arranged one above the other, as shown in Fig. 3.
The slip-on pads 2 which are folded to rectangular form in
Fig. 2 and are stacked one above the other according to Fig. 3
are enclosed, in the packed condition, by a parallellpipedic
soft package or carton 20 fitting relatively tightly on the
stack 12, such carton being shown in an outside view in Fig. 4.
The stack 12 of the ~lip-on pads contained in the soft package
20 is only indicated in Fig. 4.
The soft package 20 consists of a packing foil, which i~
formed from a one-piece, rectangular blank 22 of a synthetic
plastics foil which can be heat-sealed or stuck Yith adhesive,
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for example, polyethylene. The blsnk 22 i9 shown in Flg. 5 in
plan view, before belng folded and stuck to form the soft
package. The blank 22 i9 first of all laid in tube-like form
around the stack 12 of slip-on pad~. Flap~ 23, 24 and 25 ~;
~hich project at the ends are then folded over against the
stack 12. The qeparate zones of the blank 22, which are
marked by corresponding lines ln Fig. 5, thereby form a front
wall 26, a rear wall 27, narrouer side walls 28 and 29 and al~o
end wall~ 30 and 31.
The end walla 30, 31 are formed by the ~uitably folded end
flaps 23, 24 and 25, of which the (outer) end flap 23
associated with the front wall 26, in the same manner as the
corresponding end flap 24 on the rear wall 27, are given a
trapezoidal form by the folding operation. The end flaps 23,
24 and 25 are connected to one another by heat welding or
pos~ibly also by gumming.
Side ~trips 32 and 33 of the blank 22 form, in the region
of the side wall 28, an overlap not shown here in detail. The
side strips 32, 33 are likewise connected to one another by
heat welding or possibly by adhesive.
The front wall 26 is limited by longitudinal edges 34 and
35 relatively to the side walls 28 and 29 and by a transverse
edge 36 relatively to the end wall 30.
~ ith the constructional example which is ~hown here, the
rectangular front wall 36 in the region facing the end wall 30
i9 provided with a tearing flap 37 extending over the full
width of the front wall 26. ThiQ is therefore as wide as the
front wall 26. Th~ tearing flap 37 i~ limited by tearing
lines which, due to a material weakening of the synthetic
plastic foil, facilitate the tearing operation. ~ith the
constructional example as shwon, the tearing flap 37 is limited
by perforation lines 38, 39, which extend in the tearing
direction, i.e. in the dlrection towards the end wall 30.
In the constructional example which is shown in ~igs. 4
and 5, the tearing flap 37 has a substantia~ly trapezoidal
shape, aince it i~ formed by two line~ of perforations 38, 39
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extending respectively towards the corners 40, 41 of the front
wall 26. A flap end 42 dispo~ed approximately centrally of
the front wall 26 i9 here marked by an uninterrupted separatlon
cut 43 connecting the facing ends of the perforation lines 38,
39 to one another. This makes easier the critical starting of
the tearing operation by gripping and pulling up the flap end
42.
In order to obtain an openlng through the tearing flsp 37
for facilitating the extraction of the contents of the package,
the perforation line~ 38, 39 are continued in the region of the
front wall 30 by connected perforations 44, 45. With the
constructional example which i9 shown in Fig. 5, the connecting
perforations 44, 45 rectilinearly follow the perforation llnes
38, 39, as a result of which they coincide with the lateral
folding edges 46, 47 (see Fig, 4) of the outer end flap 23.
Fig. 6 show~ another conqtructional example of a blank
22', which only differs from the blank which is shown in Fig. 5
by the fact that the connecting perforations 44', 45' extend
along the transverse edges 48, 49 which connect the side wall~
28, 29 with the end wall 30.
It is important in each case that the connecting
perforations adjoining She perforation lines 38, 39 are 90
disposed that, with the opening of the tearing flap 37, also
the adjacent section of the end wall 30 is opened over the full
width, 90 that the slip-on pads are able to be easily removed.
It is also conceivable that the connecting perforations
44, 45 and respectively 44', 45' may be formed as penetrating
separation cuts.
As already mentioned, the perforation lines 38, 39, and
i~cluding the sepsration cut 43, are so arranged that the
tearing flap 37 is given a trapezoidal form. However, also
other geometrical forms are conceivable, such as, for example,
curved forms with concave sections which are directed outwardly
and/or inwardly. It is only in connection ~ith the formation
of the tearing flap 37 that care is taken that it is formed
over the full wldth of a square lateral surface, such as, for
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example, as far fl9 the longitudinal edges 34, 35 of the front
~all 26 with the soft package 30 which is sho~n in Fig. 4 and
over at least a part of the transverse wall adjoining it, for
example, the end ~all 30.
So that the tearing flap 37 csn be closed again after
being opened up, it has a closure member in the form of an
adhesive strip 50, as shown in Fi8. 4. Thi8 adhe~ive ~trip 50
is connected with an attached section 51 by being ~tuck to the
tearing flap 37. The adjoining tear-off section 52 is formed
with a considerably smaller adhesion surface and i9 stuck by
adhesive in a releasable manner on the subjacent part of the
front wall 26. A non-adhering gripping flap 53 formed on the
end of the adhesive strip 50 enables the latter to be grlpped
and pulled for opening purposes.
When the soft package or carton 20 i~ opened for the first
time, first of all the tear-off section 52 is detached from the
front wall 26. With further pulling action of the adhe~ive
strip 50, the tearing flap 37 is detached from the front wall
26 along the perforation lines 38, 39, since the adhesive strip
50, due to suitable adhesion, remains connected to the tear-off
flap 37. In addition, also that section of the front wall 30
still adjoining the tearing flap 37 is loosened along the
perforation~ 44, 45 (see Fig. 5) or 44', 45' (see Fig. 6).
By this tearing action, an opening defined by the
perforation line~ 38, 39 and connecting perforations 44, 45 or
44', 45' is expo~ed, this making possible the extraction of the
packed slip-on pads. After extracting a pad, the soft package
20 can be closed again, namely, ~ith the aid of the adhesive
strip 50. It is thus possible to carry out a repeated opening
and closing operation.
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