Gable-top closure and gable-top packaging provided with such a closure

The invention relates to a gable-top closure for a packaging for products, in particular food products. The invention also relates to a gable-top packaging provided with such a closure. The invention further relates to a blank for manufacturing such a gable-top packaging. In addition, the invention relates to a method for opening a gable-top closure according to the invention. The invention moreover relates to a method for closing a gable-top closure according to the invention.

Dairy products, such as milk, cream and yoghurt, can be packaged in various types of package. A common packaging for these dairy products is formed by a gable-top packaging, a packaging shaped substantially as a parallelepiped, with a rectangular cross-section and provided with a closure formed as a gable top, of which two gable walls in triangular form are connected at an angle to each other, between which gable walls are arranged a rear wall and a front wall, or spout wall, which can be deformed to form a spout. The spout wall comprises two fold-back walls which are connected pivotally to the respective gable walls, and two closing walls which are connected pivotally to the respective fold-back walls, wherein the two closing walls are also connected pivotally to each other. In closed position of the packaging the spout wall is folded together such that the spout wall forms a W-shaped fold, wherein the fold-back walls are located in the plane of the gable walls and wherein the two closing walls are enclosed by the fold-back walls. The orientation of the initially formed W-shaped fold can be fixed by means of an adhesive and/or a weld. By deforming the spout wall the W-shaped fold will be unfolded to form a spout bounding a passage opening for the dairy product received in the packaging. The known gable-top packaging is generally manufactured from a cardboard material layer provided with a thermoplastic coating. Although the known gable-top packaging is suitable to enable packaging of dairy products in reliable and relatively durable manner, the gable-top packaging also has multiple drawbacks. A significant drawback of the known gable-top packaging is that opening of the gable-top closure by unfolding the W-shaped folded spout wall is generally relatively difficult because the spout wall delaminates relatively quickly, which results in tearing of the spout wall. The gable-top closure can moreover only be opened if a person carries out a series of specific operations to be performed

successively, wherein forces must be exerted successively in different directions on the gable-top closure, which makes opening of the gable-top closure even more difficult.

The invention has for its object to provide a gable-top closure for a gable-top packaging which can be opened in relatively simple manner.

The invention provides for this purpose a gable-top closure of the type stated in the preamble, comprising: at least two mutually connected gable walls, which gable walls enclose a mutual angle, and at least one spout wall connected to the gable walls, which spout wall comprises at least one fold-back wall pivotally connected to a gable wall and at least one closing wall pivotally connected to the fold-back wall, wherein the spout wall is deformable between a closed position, in which at least a part of the spout wall is folded together to form a fold, and an opened position in which the at least one fold- back wall and the at least one closing wall form a spout bounding a passage opening for a product received in the packaging, and wherein in the closed position of the gable-top closure the at least one fold-back wall is at least substantially enclosed by the gable wall pivotally connected to the fold-back wall and the closing wall pivotally connected to the fold-back wall. By no longer having the closing wall(s) enveloped or enclosed in the closed position by the one or more fold-back walls, as is the case in the conventional known gable-top closure, but by having the fold-back wall enveloped or enclosed by a closing wall and a gable wall in the closed position of the gable-top closure, a gable-top closure is provided which can be opened in simplified manner. Owing to the particular method of folding of the spout wall, the gable-top closure according to the invention can be opened in a single movement directed substantially toward the user, this enhancing the ergonomics and thereby the user-friendliness of the gable-top closure. Owing to the improved folding of the spout wall, whereby forces only have to be exerted on the gable-top packaging in a relatively favourable direction, it will be possible to prevent delamination of the spout wall, which further enhances the user-friendliness of the gable-top closure. The at least one gable wall, the at least one fold-back wall pivotally connected to the gable wall, and the at least one closing wall pivotally connected to the fold-back wall will generally have a substantially Z-shaped orientation relative to each other in the closed position of the gable-top closure. In the closed position of the gable- top closure the at least one fold-back wall preferably at least partially covers the gable wall connected to the fold-back wall, whereby in the closed position the fold-back wall

thus lies outside a space defined by gable walls. The same applies for the at least one closing wall which in the closed position of the gable-top closure preferably at least partially covers the gable wall connected to the closing wall via the fold-back wall. Due to this orientation both the fold-back wall and the closing wall will be pivoted in a direction away from the gable wall(s) during opening of the gable-top closure, which facilitates opening of the gable-top closure in a single movement (in a single direction). The at least one closing wall will here at least partially enclose the at least one fold-back wall in the closed position of the gable-top closure whereby, as already noted in the foregoing, the fold-back wall will in the closed position be positioned between the gable wall and the closing wall.

The gable-top closure according to the invention will generally form an integral part of a gable-top packaging. It is however also possible to envisage the gable-top closure being manufactured as a separate element and being assembled after manufacture with a packaging base structure to form the actual (re)closable product packaging. In a preferred embodiment the spout wall comprises a plurality of fold-back walls pivotally connected to different gable walls, and the spout wall comprises a plurality of closing walls, wherein each closing wall is pivotally connected to both a fold-back wall and an adjacent closing wall. By applying a plurality of fold-back walls, generally two, and a plurality of closing walls, generally also two, a symmetrical spout wall can be provided which can be folded in relatively durable manner. As already described, it is advantageous if in the closed position of the gable-top closure the fold-back wall(s) and die closing wall(s) are positioned outside a space enclosed by the gable walls in order to enable a considerably improved user-friendliness of the gable-top closure. The fold- back walls and the closing walls will here at least partially enclose the gable walls in the closed position of the gable-top closure. Since the closing walls wholly or partially enclose the fold-back walls in the closed position of the gable-top closure, it is advantageous if the length of a spout-defining longitudinal edge of the closing wall is greater than the length of a spout-defining longitudinal edge of the fold-back wall. In this manner material stresses in the spout wall can be prevented as far as possible in the closed position. It is a further advantage here if the length of a spout-defining longitudinal edge of the closing wall is a factor V greater than the length of a spout- defining longitudinal edge of the fold-back wall, wherein V lies between 1.1 and 2. A general requirement will be that the sealing capacity of the gable-top closure must be

optimized in order to enable the best possible conservation of products in a gable-top packaging provided with the gable-top closure. It is therefore advantageous if the gable walls are connected to each other in substantially medium-tight manner, and more preferably are substantially form-retaining. The mutual connection will usually be realized at the position of the gable top of the gable-top closure. The mutual connection generally takes place by means of a welded connection and/or adhesive connection. Substantially form-retaining embodiment of the gable walls is understood to mean that the gable walls will not deform during opening and closing of the gable-top closure.

The gable walls are preferably given a substantially trapezium-shaped form. By giving the gable walls a substantially trapezium-shaped form instead of a triangular form as in the known gable-top closures, the (maximum) width of the fold-back walls can be reduced, which in general considerably facilitates the initial opening of the closure. In an initial closed position the at least one fold-back wall will generally be releasably connected locally to the adjacent gable wall in order to substantially fix the orientation of the fold-back wall relative to the gable wall. In an initial closed position the at least one closing wall will preferably be releasably connected locally to the adjacent fold- back wall for the purpose of substantially medium-tight sealing of the gable-top closure. By reducing the (maximum) width of the fold-back wall it will likewise be possible to limit the length of the adhesion seam (or weld), whereby the initial substantially medium-tight closure according to the invention can be opened with a reduced force.

The gable-top closure is preferably provided with at least one locking element for locking the orientation of the spout wall in at least the closed position of the gable-top closure. In this way a reliable sealing of the gable-top closure can be guaranteed in the closed position. Undesired unfolding of the spout wall folded into a fold in the closed position can be prevented, or at least be countered, by applying the locking element. The locking element can be formed by a clip or clamp which can be arranged round at least a part of the spout wall after closing of the gable-top closure. The locking element is preferably connected to at least one gable wall. In a particular preferred embodiment the orientation between the locking element and the gable walls can be changed. The locking element can herein for instance be slidably and/or pivotally connected to at least one, and preferably both gable walls.

In order to enable initial medium-tight sealing of the gable-top closure the gable-top closure comprises a rear wall connected to the gable walls. The rear wall is preferably folded together to form a fold, in particular a W-shaped or at least V-shaped fold. The W-shaped or at least V-shaped folds of the rear wall and the connection of the rear wall to the gable walls is already known from the prior art gable-top packagings. In a particular preferred embodiment the rear wall and the gable walls define a receiving space for receiving at least a part of a spout wall of another gable-top closure. In this manner it becomes possible to nestably stack different gable-top closures or have them lie against each other in other manner, which is generally favourable from a logistical viewpoint, and consequently usually also from a financial viewpoint.

In a preferred embodiment the gable-top closure according to the invention is manufactured integrally and is more preferably formed by a deformed blank. The advantage hereof is that the blank, and thereby the gable-top closure, are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The gable-top closure can be manufactured from various materials. Preferably however, the gable-top closure is at least partly manufactured from cardboard and/or plastic. The gable-top closure is more preferably manufactured from a cardboard material layer which is coated with a thermoplastic plastic, such as for instance polyethylene, in order to enable realization of a relatively durable and substantially medium-tight gable-top closure.

The invention also relates to a gable-top packaging comprising a gable-top closure according to the invention. The gable-top packaging is adapted to hold and in particular to conserve food products, such as for instance dairy products such as (butter)milk, cream, yoghurt or via custard. It is also possible to envisage packaging other types of food product, such as fruit juices, or consumer sprinkled food products, such as for instance chocolate sprinkles, by means of the gable-top packaging according to the invention. The gable-top closure preferably forms an integral part of the gable-top packaging, wherein the gable-top packaging as such is formed by a deformed blank. The gable-top packaging preferably comprises a bottom element and a plurality of side walls connected to the bottom element and supporting the gable-top closure. In a particular preferred embodiment a (front) side wall connected to the spout wall is

provided with at least one weakening line, and more preferably a plurality of weakening lines enclosing a mutual angle. It is thus possible to realize that the (front) side wall can expand slightly when the gable-top closure is opened, which can considerably facilitate removal of the food product from the gable-top packaging. In a preferred embodiment the width of the side wall connected to the spout wall increases gradually in the direction of the spout wall, whereby a relatively wide spout wall can be applied. This has the advantage that a relatively large spout can be formed, which can considerably facilitate removal of product received in the gable-top packaging, particularly in the case that solid constituents, such as for instance fruits or parts thereof, are received in the packaging. The spout wall will generally at least partly protrude here relative to a plane defined by the side wall connected to the spout wall. It is however also possible to envisage giving the spout wall, and thereby the spout, a more compact form such that in the closed position of the packaging the spout wall does not protrude relative to the side wall connected to the spout wall, which can be particularly favourable from a logistical viewpoint.

In another preferred embodiment the gable walls and the side walls connected to the respective gable walls are provided with at least one weakening line (fold line) in order to enable compressing of the gable-top packaging before it is filled with product and/or after it has been emptied, whereby the volume enclosed by the gable-top packaging can be reduced, this generally being advantageous from a practical, logistical and, consequently, usually a financial viewpoint.

The invention further relates to a blank evidently intended for the manufacture of a gable-top packaging according to the invention. The blank is preferably provided with at least one - generally triangular - recess arranged in a peripheral edge of the blank, which recess defines the form of a spout wall to be formed by deforming the blank. In this way an improved spout wall can be realized which does not have to protrude relative to the gable walls in the closed position, this usually being advantageous from a practical viewpoint and from a viewpoint of durability. In a particular preferred embodiment a peripheral wall of the blank, situated opposite the peripheral wall in which the recess is arranged, is provided with a - generally triangular - protrusion in order to enable minimizing of material losses during the cutting, punching or other methods of manufacturing the blank. It is further particularly advantageous here if the

recess arranged In the blank and the protrusion forming part of the blank have substantially the same form and substantially the same dimensions.

The blank is preferably manufactured at least partially from cardboard and/or plastic. In a particular preferred embodiment the blank is manufactured from a laminate of at least one cardboard material layer and at least one plastic material layer. This laminate can be manufactured in relatively inexpensive manner and provides the gable-top packaging according to the invention with a relatively good stability and durability.

In addition, the invention relates to a method for opening a gable-top closure according to the invention, comprising of simultaneously displacing both the at least one fold-back wall and the at least one closing wall from a closed position of the gable-top closure in a direction away from the at least one gable wall, thus forming a spout.

The invention moreover relates to a method for closing a gable-top closure according to the invention, comprising of simultaneously displacing both the at least one fold-back wall and the at least one closing wall from an opened position of the gable-top closure in a direction toward the at least one gable wall, thus forming a fold, wherein the at least one fold-back wall and the at least one closing wall are positioned substantially outside a space enclosed by the gable walls. Advantages and a further elaboration of the methods according to the invention have already been described at length in the foregoing.

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein: figure Ia shows a perspective view of a gable-top packaging according to the invention in a closed position, figure Ib shows a simplified top view of the closed gable-top packaging according to figure Ia, figure Ic shows a perspective view of the gable-top packaging according to figure Ia in an opened position, figure Id shows a simplified top view of the opened gable-top packaging according to figure Ic,

figure Ie shows a top view of a blank for manufacturing the gable-top packaging according to figures Ia- Id, figure 2a shows a perspective view of the opened gable-top packaging according to figure Ia, wherein the gable-top packaging is provided with a locking element, figure 2b shows a perspective view of the closed gable-top packaging according to figure Ib, wherein the gable-top packaging is provided with a locking element, and figure 3 shows a top view of another blank for manufacturing a gable-top packaging according to the invention.

Figure Ia shows a perspective view of a gable-top packaging 1 according to the invention in a closed position. Gable-top packaging 1 comprises a bottom element 2, four side walls 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d connecting to bottom element 2 and a gable-top closure 4 connected to side walls 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. Gable-top closure 4 comprises two gable walls 5a, 5b which enclose a mutual angle and which are glued together at a gable top 6. Gable-top closure 4 also comprises a rear wall 7 which is arranged in folded manner between the two gable walls 5a, 5b. Gable-top closure 4 is also provided with a spout wall 8, which spout wall 8 comprises two fold-back walls 9a, 9b pivotally connected to respective gable walls 5a, 5b, and two closing walls 10a, 10b pivotally connected to respective fold-back walls 9a, 9b. Spout wall 8 can be displaced from the shown folded, closed position of gable-top packaging 1, in which each fold-back wall 9a, 9b is enclosed or enveloped on the one hand by the gable wall 5a, 5b connected to fold-back wall 9a, 9b and on the other by closing wall 10a, 10b connected to fold-back wall 9a, 9b (see figure Ib), to an unfolded opened position of gable-top packaging 1 (see figures Ic and Id), and vice versa. Allowing the closing walls 10a, 10b to protrude slightly relative to gable walls 5a, 5b and fold-back walls 9a, 9b as shown has the advantage on the one hand that material stresses in closing walls 10a, 10b can be minimized and on the other that closing walls 10a, 10b can be mutually connected relatively quickly and easily by means of a welded connection. Because only two layers must be welded to each other here, this can take place relatively quickly and efficiently, wherein the chance of local overheating, and thereby local damage, to gable-top packaging 1 can be prevented. As shown in figure Ib, a user need only perform a single operation to open gable-top packaging 1 by pivoting fold-back walls 9a, 9b in a direction away from gable walls 5a, 5b (see arrow A), whereby a spout 11 can be formed (see figures Ic and Id), via which spout 11 a food product received in gable-top packaging 1 can be removed from gable-

top packaging 1. As shown in figure Ia, spout wall 8 does not protrude relative to gable top 6, which helps prevent damage to spout wall 8. Front side wall 3b of gable-top packaging 1 is provided with two fold lines 12a, 12b, which enclose a mutual angle and converge at a fold line 13 arranged between closing walls 10a, 10b, whereby front side wall 3b will pivot slightly forward when gable-top packaging 1 is opened, this increasing the accessibility of spout 11 for the food product received in gable-top packaging 1. Figure Ie shows a top view of a blank 14 for manufacturing gable-top packaging 1, which clearly shows that the two fold lines 12a, 12b of front side wall 3b converge at fold line 13 arranged between closing walls 10a, 10b. At the position of spout wall 8 the peripheral edge 15 of the blank is provided with a recess 16 to enable an optimized shape of spout wall 8, particularly in the closed position of gable-top packaging 1. Figure Ie also shows that the gable walls have a form varying from a triangular shape, and in particular have a trapezium-shaped form. Bottom element 2 has a segmented structure with four bottom parts 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d which partly overlap in the gable-top packaging. One of the side walls 3c is provided with a seam flap 17 to enable mutual attachment of the two outermost side wails 3c, 3d.

Figure 2a shows a perspective view of the opened gable-top packaging 1 according to figure Ia, wherein gable-top packaging 1 is provided with a locking element 18. Locking element 18 is pivotally connected to gable top 6 of gable walls 5a, 5b and is adapted to substantially fix the orientation of spout wall 8 in the closed position as shown in figures Ia and Ib, whereby undesired unfolding of spout wall 8 from the closed position can be prevented and whereby a reliable sealing of gable-top packaging 1 can be guaranteed. In order to fix the orientation of spout wall 8 in the closed position, locking element 18 is provided with a slot (not shown) for receiving a part of the two fold-back walls 9a, 9b and a part of the two closing walls 10a, 10b in the closed folded position of spout wall 8. In this manner a reliable and above all hygienic sealing of gable-top packaging 1 can be realized. By pivoting the locking element, or at least a part thereof, from a locking position (figure 2a) in a direction away from spout wall 8 to an unlocking position (figure 2b), spout wall 8 can be deformed to the opened position in relatively simple manner.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of another blank 19 for manufacturing a gable-top packaging according to the invention. Blank 19 comprises four bottom parts 20a, 20b,

20c, 2Od for manufacturing a bottom element and four side walls 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d connecting to the respective bottom parts 20a, 20b, 20c, 2Od. Two side walls 21a, 21c are each connected to a gable wall 22a, 22b, one side wall 21b is connected to a spout wall 23, and one side wall 21 d is connected to a rear wall 24, which can actually be formed by deforming blank 19 along the fold lines indicated by means of broken lines. Clearly shown is that spout wall 23 is provided with a triangular recess 25 and that an underlying bottom element 20b is provided with a substantially identical projection 26, whereby material losses during cutting of blanks 19 can be limited. In the assembly of the gable-top packaging the triangular projection 26 will be connected to a lip 27 forming part of an opposite bottom part 2Od. Spout wall 23 comprises two fold-back walls 28a, 28b connected respectively to gable walls 22a, 22b, and two closing walls 29a, 29b connected respectively to fold-back walls 28a, 28b. Fold-back walls 28a, 28b and closing walls 29a, 29b are adapted to together define (bound) a spout. In order to enable the material stresses to be minimized during closing of a gable-top packaging to be formed from the blank, the length of a spout-defining longitudinal edge of closing wall 29a, 29b is 35% longer in this exemplary embodiment than a spout-defining longitudinal edge of fold-back wall 28a, 28b. In order to increase the spout size to some extent, fold lines 30a, 30b bounding spout wall 23 and front side wall 21b are oriented diverging in the direction of spout wall 23, and in this embodiment herein enclose an angle 3 with the horizontal of 89.27°. In order to enable a further optimized size and form of the spout, fold lines 31a, 31b separating fold-back walls 28a, 28b from closing walls 29a, 29b enclose in this exemplary embodiment an angle ( with the vertical of 22°. Front side wall 21b is moreover provided with two fold lines 32a, 32b which enclose a mutual angle and converge at a fold line 33 arranged between closing walls 29a, 29b, whereby front side wall 21b will or at least can pivot slightly forward when the gable- top packaging is opened, which also enhances positioning, form and dimensioning of the spout. Gable walls 22a, 22b and the side walls connecting to gable walls 22a, 22b are also provided with fold lines 34a, 34b to enable easier compressing of the gable-top packaging in empty state, this usually being advantageous from a logistical and practical viewpoint.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described here, but that numerous variants, which will be self-evident to the skilled person in the field, are possible within the scope of the appended claims.