Field of invention

The invention relates to a package comprising a front wall comprising two panels and a handle being integrally formed in the front wall panels.

The invention also relates to a blank comprising two front wall panels configured to together form a front wall of a package, and comprising a handle integrally formed in the front wall panels.

Technical Background

Packages for objects should generally fulfil several functions. One function being the protection of an object packaged therein, both protecting the object from damage and from tampering from the outside. Another function is to facilitate transportation the object. This latter functionality in turn implicates several requirements; the package should be easily storable and stackable and should be easily carried, such as by being provided with a handle by which the package is carried.

FR2841218 discloses a package provided with a handle. Flowever, it is cumbersome to close the container and thread the handle through the slit in the front panel. WO96/17780 also discloses a package provided with a handle. Flowever, also this package is cumbersome to close since the handle also in this case is disclosed to be threaded through a slit in the front panel.

Summary of invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a package which protects an object therein, which is easy to transport, which is easily assembled and at the same time is made with an efficient use of material.

This object has been achieved by a package comprising

a front wall comprising an inner front wall panel and an outer front wall panel, a handle being integrally formed in the front wall and being outwardly foldable, the handle being formed from a handle portion of the inner front wall panel and a handle portion of the outer front wall panel,

a lid panel,

a central front panel being foldably connected to the lid panel, the central front panel being configured to be positioned between the inner front wall panel and the outer front wall panel and inside of the handle portion of the inner front wall panel and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel, and

a front cover panel being foldably connected to the lid panel, the front cover panel comprising:

a first side portion and a second side portion, each being positioned on a respective transverse side of the central front panel and being configured to be positioned on an outer side of the front wall, a first tab and a second tab, each being foldably connected to a respective side portion of the front cover panel,

the first tab being configured to interact with a first side wall and the second tab being configured to interact with a second side wall to keep the package closed.

Such a package is easy to carry as it provides a handle by which the package can be carried. The handle does not need to protrude out from the package until it is deliberately outwardly folded from the package. Thus the package can be stored and stacked in an efficient manner as it can be assembled without any protruding parts. It is even possible, if it is desirable, to have the handle portion of the inner front wall panel and/or the handle portion of the outer front wall panel still being attached to its respective front wall panel. One or both of the handle portions may e.g. be cut from its respective front wall panel along the majority of its contour but still be attached to its respective front wall panel at one or more points aiding in keeping the handle in a tucked away position and still making it easy to fold the handle outwardly. Alternatively, one or both of the handle portions may be attached to its respective front wall panel along a perforation line extending along its contour. Combinations of completely cut contour line, perforated contour line and attachment points are also conceivable.

Further, the package can protect any object held therein by the provision of the central front panel. When the handle being formed from a handle portion of the inner front wall panel and a handle portion of the outer front wall panel is outwardly folded, it leaves an opening in the front wall of the package, but by providing the central front panel this opening may be fully covered by the central front panel, thus protecting the object, both from damage and from tampering from the outside. Thus the package can be easily carried while still protecting an object held in the package.

As the central front panel is configured to be positioned between the inner and outer front wall panel it can be securely positioned and may prevent access from the outside to an object held in the package.

Such a package can be made with an efficient use of material. This since the central front panel can be mainly made from the front cover panel which panel is needed anyway to hold together the package with the first and second tab and the handle comes from the front wall which also is needed anyway. Thus every part of the package can come from a single blank and no external parts have to be attached. Further, no extensions have to be made to such a blank in order to provide the central front panel or the handle.

A transversal width of the central front panel may be larger than a transversal width of the handle.

Thus it can be made sure that the central front panel can cover an opening left in the front of the package by outwardly folding the handle. It can also make sure that the central front panel can be positioned between the inner and outer front wall panel on both transversal sides of the handle, thus locking the central front panel in place.

It can be enough that a portion of the central front panel has a transversal width larger than the transversal width of a corresponding portion of the handle in order to provide the desired locking effect. Flowever, it is preferred that a transversal width of every portion of the central front panel is larger than the corresponding width of the handle such that the central front panel can cover the opening.

Corresponding here meaning that the longitudinal position of a point on the central front panel in a fully closed package is equal to the longitudinal position of a point on the handle which is not outwardly folded or of a point of the opening formed when the handle is outwardly folded.

The transversal width of the central front panel may be larger than a transversal width of the handle such that the central front panel will abut portions of the inner front wall panel and outer front wall panel also when the handle has been folded outwardly and thereby be kept in position between the inner and outer front wall panels.

The outer front wall panel may comprise a cut-out facilitating initial insertion of the central front panel between the inner front wall panel and the outer front wall panel, the inner front wall panel may comprise an abutment surface being exposed by said cut-out in the outer front wall panel.

This facilitates the positioning of the central front panel between the inner and outer front wall panel.

The front wall may comprise a top end, and the central front panel may be configured to be positioned between the inner front wall panel and the outer front wall panel by being inserted in an opening in the top end of the front wall.

This allows for a simple and easy way to position the central front panel between the inner and outer front wall panel. By being inserted in the top end of the front wall the package can be made compact and suitable for storing and stacking.

The package may comprise a fold line along the top end, wherein the outer front wall panel and the inner front wall panel may be foldably connected to each other via the fold line.

By this the front wall can be made from a continuous piece of material and can thus be made stronger and more resistant to damage, thus better protecting any object held inside. By the front wall being made from a continuous piece of material the package may be made in a more material efficient manner and it also facilitates the package being formed from a single-piece blank.

The handle portion of the outer front wall panel and the handle portion of the inner front wall panel may be foldably connected to each other via the fold line.

By this the handle can be made from a continuous piece of material and can thus be made stronger and thus provide for an improved way of carrying the package.

The top end may comprise a cut-out along the fold line, and the central front panel may be configured to be positioned between the inner front wall panel and the outer front wall panel by being inserted through the cut-out of the top end.

The cut-out may provide for that the central front panel is securely positioned between the inner and outer front wall panel. It also allows for the positioning to be done in a simple manner.

The front cover panel may comprise a transversely extending connection portion connecting the first side portion and the second side portion with each other.

By this the package may be better held together and kept close in a more secure manner.

The connection portion may be formed at a distance from the lid panel, which distance may be longer than the distance by which the central front panel extends from the lid panel as seen along the front wall. The distance may also be equal.

The handle may be outwardly foldable with the connection portion positioned below the handle.

This positioning of the connection portion aids in preventing the package from being opened when the handle is outwardly folded as the handle then can be in the way of the connection portion, preventing the front cover panel and thus the tabs to be moved such that the package is opened. By below is here meant that the connection portion is closer to the bottom of the package than the handle is. The bottom of the package is the side of the package which is opposite to the lid when the package is closed. This positioning of the connection portion may also be used to strengthen the package. Unintentional further tearing of the handle portions will reach the upper edge of the connection portion and the handle will have a tendency to be folded around the upper edge of the connection portion rather than being torn further.

A longitudinal extension of the central front panel, from the lid panel towards the bottom of the package, is such that the central front panel as seen along the longitudinal extension covers the opening in the front wall which is formed by folding the handle outwardly, and preferably extends a distance past the opening towards the bottom of the package.

By this the central front panel may cover the opening and may be locked in place between the inner and outer front wall panels.

If the central front panel also is designed such that any transversal width of the central front panel is wider than the corresponding transversal width of the handle, it is possible to completely cover the opening, not only as seen along the longitudinal direction but also as seen along the transversal direction. It may however be noted that it is conceivable to provide a small inspection opening or the like in the central front panel if the user scenario requires so. However, in the user scenario contemplated in the present case, it is preferred that the central front panel completely covers the opening in the front wall and thereby prevents tampering with the goods inside the package.

The first side wall and the second side wall may each comprise an inner side wall panel and an outer side wall panel, and the first tab may be configured to be positioned between the inner side wall panel and the outer side wall panel of the first side wall and the second tab may be configured to be positioned between the inner side wall panel and the outer side wall panel of the second side wall.

Thus, the first and second tab can be securely positioned and it is not necessary to use any adhesive. Further, each tab can be protected from the outside by respective outer side wall panel. The object of the invention is also achieved by a blank intended to be erected into a package, the blank comprising:

an inner front wall panel and an outer front wall panel,

the inner front wall panel and the outer front wall panel being configured to, in an erected state of the blank, together form a front wall, a handle portion of the inner front wall panel being integrally formed in the inner front wall panel and a handle portion of the outer front wall panel being integrally formed in the outer front wall panel,

the handle portion of the inner front wall panel and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel being configured to, in an erected state of the blank, together form a handle being integrally formed in the front wall and being outwardly foldable,

a lid panel,

a central front panel being foldably connected to the lid panel, the central front panel being configured to, in an erected state of the blank, be positioned between the inner front wall panel and the outer front wall panel and inside of the handle portion of the inner front wall panel and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel, and

a front cover panel being foldably connected to the lid panel, the front cover panel comprising:

a first side portion and a second side portion, each configured to, in an erected state of the blank, be positioned on a respective transverse side of the central front panel and to be positioned on an outer side of the front wall,

a first tab and a second tab, each being foldably connected to a respective side portion of the front cover panel,

the first tab being configured to, in an erected state of the blank, interact with a first side wall and the second tab being configured to, in an erected state of the blank, interact with a second side wall to keep the package closed.

The blank is preferably a single-piece blank.

The blank is preferably made of a paper based material. The features and associated advantages mentioned in relation to the package are applicable to the blank and vice versa. The handle is preferably configured to be in a storage position in which it extends in parallel with the front wall when the package is transported.

Foldable in an outward direction from the front wall to a usage position in which it extends away from the front wall at an angle relative to the front wall being sufficiently large to allow a person gripping the handle and thereby allowing the user to carry the package by the handle.

It may be noted that a central front panel positioned inside of the handle portion of the inner front wall panel and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel relates to that the central front panel is positioned closer to an inside of the package compared to the handle portions.

Longitudinal is here a direction which extends from the inner front wall panel to the front cover panel. In the blank this would be straight line when the blank is flat. In the blank when erected or in the package this would be a line which turns along with the folds of the blank. Thus, in the erected package this would be a line which circumvents the package along the front wall to the bottom to the back wall to the lid and to the front cover panel.

Transverse is here a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The invention may also in short be said to relate to a package comprising

a front wall comprising an inner front wall panel and an outer front wall panel,

a handle being integrally formed in the front wall and being outwardly foldable, the handle being formed from a handle portion of the inner front wall panel and a handle portion of the outer front wall panel,

a lid panel,

a central front panel being foldably connected to the lid panel, the central front panel being configured to be positioned between the inner front wall panel and the outer front wall panel and inside of the handle portion of the inner front wall panel and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel. Brief description of the drawings

The invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which shows a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package in a partly closed state.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package in a partly closed state.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the package in a fully closed state.

Figure 4 is a top down view of a blank intended to be erected into the package of Figure 1 to 3.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Figure 1 , 2 and 3 shows a package 10. In Figure 1 and 2, the package 10 is partly closed and in Figure 3 the package is fully closed. Figure 4 shows a blank which the package 10 can be erected from. The below description of the erected package of Figure 1 to 3 will be better understood if taking into account the blank of Figure 4, and vice versa.

The package 10 comprises a front wall 20. The front wall comprises an inner front wall panel 21 and an outer front wall panel 22.

The package 10 comprises a handle 30. The handle 30 is integrally formed in the front wall 20. The handle 30 is outwardly foldable. The handle 30 is formed from a handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 and a handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32.

The package 10 comprises a lid panel 40.

The package 10 comprises a central front panel 51 being foldably connected to the lid panel 40. The central front panel 51 is configured to be positioned between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 and inside of the handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32.

The package 10 comprises a front cover panel 50. The front cover panel 50 is foldably connected to the lid panel 40. The front cover panel 50 comprises a first side portion 52 and a second side portion 53, each being positioned on a respective transverse side of the central front panel 51 and being configured to be positioned on an outer side of the front wall 20.

The front cover panel 50 comprises a first tab 54 and a second tab 55, each being foldably connected to a respective side portion 52, 53 of the front cover panel 50.

The first tab 54 is configured to interact with a first side wall 60 of the package 10 and the second tab 55 is configured to interact with a second side wall 70 of the package 10 to keep the package 10 closed.

The transversal width of the central front panel 51 is larger than a transversal width of the handle 30. As can be seen in the figures the transversal width of every portion of the central front panel 51 is such that the central front panel covers the opening left in the front wall by folding the handle 30 outwardly. In other words, the transversal width of every portion of the central front panel 51 is larger than every corresponding portion of the handle 30.

The outer front wall panel 22 comprises a cut-out 23. The cut out 23 facilitates initial insertion of the central front panel 51 between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22. The inner front wall panel 21 comprises an abutment surface 24 being exposed by said cut-out 23 in the outer front wall panel 22. As can be seen in Figure 2 the central front panel 51 can be inserted between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 by using the cut-out 23 and initially pressing the central front panel 51 against the abutment surface 24. The inner front wall panel 21 may also comprise a cut-out corresponding to the cut-out 23 of the outer front wall panel. If so, the area of the cut-out of the inner front wall panel 21 is preferably smaller than the cut-out 23 of the outer front wall panel 22.

The front wall 20 comprises a top end 25. As can be seen in the figures the central front panel 51 is configured to be positioned between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 by being inserted in an opening in the top end 25 of the front wall 20. The package 10 comprises a fold line 26 along the top end 25, wherein the outer front wall panel 22 and the inner front wall panel 21 are foldably connected to each other via the fold line 26.

The handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32 and the handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 are foldably connected to each other via the fold line 26.

The top end 25 comprises a cut-out along the fold line 26. The central front panel 51 is configured to be positioned between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 by being inserted through the cut out of the top end 26.

The front cover panel 50 comprises a connection portion 56. The connection portion 56 connects the first side portion 52 and the second side portion 53 with each other. The connection portion 56 is transversely extending.

The connection portion 56 is placed at a distance from the lid panel 40. Which distance is longer than the distance by which the central front panel 51 extends from the lid panel 40.

The handle 30 is outwardly foldable with the connection portion 56 positioned below the handle 30. As can be seen in Figure 3, when the package 10 is fully closed and the handle 30 is outwardly folded, the connection portion 56 is positioned below the handle 30.

The longitudinal extension of the central front panel 51 , from the lid panel 40 towards the bottom of the package 10, is such that the central front panel 51 as seen along the longitudinal extension covers the opening in the front wall 20 which is formed by folding the handle 30 outwardly. The central front panel thus, when the package is fully closed, extends downwards such that a locking mechanism is formed by squeezing of the central front panel 51 between the inner front wall panel 21 and the handle 30.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the central front panel 51 may comprise a protrusion 57. The protrusion 57 is configured to be inserted between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 through a handle opening of the handle 20. This will have the effect of increasing the locking the central front panel in place even more securely.

The first side wall 60 comprises an inner side wall panel 61 and an outer side wall panel 62. The first tab 54 is configured to be positioned between the inner side wall panel 61 and the outer side wall panel 62 of the first side wall 60. The second side 70 wall comprises an inner side wall panel 71 and an outer side wall panel 72. The second tab 55 is configured to be positioned between the inner side wall panel 71 and the outer side wall panel 71 of the second side wall 70.

In Figure 1 the package 10 is shown in a partly closed state. The handle 30 is yet to be outwardly folded. The central front panel 51 is yet to be inserted between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22. The front cover panel 50 is yet to be folded downwards. As such the first and the second side portion 52, 53 of the front cover panel 50 are yet to be positioned on an outer side of the front wall 20 and the connection portion 56 is yet to be positioned below the handle 30. The first tab and the second tab 54, 55 are yet to be folded relative the front cover panel 50 and to be inserted between the respective inner and outer side wall panel 61 , 71 , 62, 72.

In Figure 2 the package 10 is shown in a partly closed state. In Figure 2 the central front panel 51 has been positioned between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 and inside of the handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32. The handle 30 is outwardly folded such that the central front panel 51 can be positioned between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22. The handle 30 is not outwardly folded enough that it prevents the front cover panel 50 from being downwardly folded such that the first and the second side portion 52, 53 of the front cover panel 50 are positioned on an outer side of the front wall 20 and the connection portion 56 is positioned below the handle 30.

In Figure 3 the package 10 is shown in a fully closed state. The central front panel 51 has been positioned between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 and inside of the handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32. The front cover panel 50 has been folded downwards such that the first and the second side portion 52, 53 of the front cover panel 50 are positioned on an outer side of the front wall 20 and the connection portion 56 is positioned below the handle 30. The handle 30 has been outwardly folded such that the package 10 can be carried by the handle 30. The central front panel 51 fully covers the opening left in the front wall 20 by outwardly folding the handle 30.

The first tab and the second tab 54, 55 have been folded relative the front cover panel 50 and inserted between the respective inner and outer side wall panel 61 , 71 , 62, 72. Thus, the first tab 54 interacts with the first side wall 60 of the package 10 and the second tab 55 interacts with the second side wall 70 of the package 10 to keep the package 10 closed.

Figure 4 shows a blank 11 intended to be erected into a package 1 as described above in relation to Figures 1 , 2 and 3. In Figure 4 dashed lines represent lines which the blank 11 can be folded along while thicker solid lines represent cut lines of the blank 11.

The blank 11 comprises an inner front wall panel 21 and an outer front wall panel 22.

The inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 are configured to, in an erected state of the blank 11 , together form a front wall 20 of a package.

The blank 11 comprises a handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31. The handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 is integrally formed in the inner front wall panel 21. The blank 11 comprises a handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32. The handle portion of the inner outer front wall panel 32 is integrally formed in the outer front wall panel 22.

The handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32 are configured to, in an erected state of the blank 11 , together form a handle 30 which is integrally formed in the front wall 20 and which is outwardly foldable.

The blank 11 comprises a lid panel 40. The blank 11 comprises a central front panel 51 being foldably connected to the lid panel 40. The central front panel 51 is configured to, in an erected state of the blank 11 , be positioned between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22 and inside of the handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 and the handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32.

The blank 11 comprises a front cover panel 50 being foldably connected to the lid panel 40.

The front cover panel 50 comprises a first side portion 52 and a second side portion 53. Each side portion 52, 53 is configured to, in an erected state of the blank 11 , be positioned on a respective transverse side of the central front panel 51 and to be positioned on an outer side of the front wall 20.

The front cover panel 50 comprises a first tab 54 and a second tab 55. Each tab 54, 55 being foldably connected to a respective side portion 52, 53 of the front cover panel 50.

The first tab 54 is configured to, in an erected state of the blank 11 , interact with a first side wall 60 and the second tab 55 to interact with a second side wall 70 to keep the package 10 closed.

The blank 11 comprises a fold line 26 situated between the inner front wall panel 21 and the outer front wall panel 22. The outer front wall panel 22 and the inner front wall panel 21 are foldably connected to each other via the fold line 26. The handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32 and the handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 are foldably connected to each other via the fold line 26.

The blank 11 comprises an inner side wall panel 61 and an outer side wall panel 62 configured to, in an erected state of the blank 11 , form a first side wall 60.

The blank 11 comprises an inner side wall panel 71 and an outer side wall panel 72 configured to, in an erected state of the blank 11 , form a second side wall 70.

Each panel or portion of the blank 11 is foldably connected to another panel of portion of the blank 11. The inner front wall panel 21 is foldably connected to the outer front wall panel 22, being positioned next to each other in a longitudinal direction. The outer front wall panel 22 is foldably connected to a bottom panel 80, being positioned next to each other in a longitudinal direction. The bottom panel 80 is foldably connected to a back wall panel 90, being positioned next to each other in a longitudinal direction. The back wall panel 90 is foldably connected to the lid panel 40, being positioned next to each other in a longitudinal direction. The lid panel 40 is foldably connected to the front cover panel 50, being positioned next to each other in a longitudinal direction.

Each inner side wall panel 61 , 71 is foldably connected to a respective outer side wall panel 62, 72. The inner side wall panels 61 , 71 each being positioned next to a respective outer side wall panel 62, 72 in a transversal direction. Each outer side wall panel 62, 72 is foldaby connected to the bottom panel 80. Each outer side wall panel 62, 72 is being positioned next to the bottom panel 80 in a transversal direction.

The first tab 54 takes the form of a panel which is foldably connected to the first side portion 52 of the front cover panel 50, being positioned next to the first side portion 52 in a transversal direction. The second tab 55 takes the form of a panel which is foldably connected to the second side portion 53 of the front cover panel 50, being positioned next to the second side portion 53 in a transversal direction.

The handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 is formed from the inner front wall panel 21 by cutting and by forming a fold line.

The handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32 is formed from the outer front wall panel 21 by cutting and by forming a fold line.

The handle portion of the inner front wall panel 31 is foldably

connected to the handle portion of the outer front wall panel 32, being positioned next to each other in a longitudinal direction.

The blank 11 is a single-piece blank. Thus the package 10 is formed from a single piece as well.

The blank 11 is made of a paper based material. Thus the package is made of a paper based material as well.