Field of invention

The invention relates to a blank intended to be erected into a package. The package may have folded handles extending outwardly from the package when erected. The invention also relates to a package.

Technical Background

Many different types of objects are packaged in packages which are made from a blank, the package being assembled by folding the blank. Sometimes the package is folded around an object, enclosing the object as the package is assembled of the blank.

The blanks are most often made of a two-dimensional material which is cut, provided with fold lines and then folded.

For such packages, formed from folded two-dimensional blanks, it is a general problem to create them with as little waste material as possible while still being simple and quick to assemble. At the same time such packages might not provide for a satisfactory protection of therein packaged objects against mechanical impacts. In fact, the design of the package may even hinder the use of protection or thermal insulation.

Summary of invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a blank intended to be erected into a package, which is made with an efficient use of material and which is simple and quick to assemble, and which offers the possibility to provide thermal insulation.

This object has been achieved by a blank for forming a package, wherein the blank comprises a first, a second, a third and a fourth main panel being arranged one after the other along a longitudinal direction, and being foldably connected to each other about transversally extending fold lines; a first and a second top panel extending transversally from a first side of the first and the third main panel, respectively, and being foldably connected to the respective main panel about longitudinally extending fold lines; a first and a second handle panel being connected to and extending transversally from a first side of the second and the fourth main panel, respectively; a first set of connection panels, each connection panel being directly or indirectly foldably connected to a respective transversally extending side of the first top panel and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein respective connection panel is also foldably connected to a respective one of the handle panels; and a second set of connection panels, each connection panel being foldably connected to a respective transversally extending side of the second top panel and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein respective connection panel is also foldably connected to a respective one of the handle panels.

The first side of the first and the third main panel, respectively, is on the same side as the first side of the second and the fourth main panel, respectively, that is, the top panels and the handle panels are positioned on a first side of the blank being intended to face upwardly when the blank is erected into a package.

By using such a blank, the first and second sets of connection panels together with the handle panels may form two upright parts on opposing sides of the erected package, the upright parts being suitable for use as handles. Thus, when folding the blank into a package, the first and the second handle panel may form an outer wall of the upright part on opposite sides of the package. Aligned with the respective one of the first and the second handle panel, a respective one of the connection panels of the first set of connection panels together with a respective one of the connection panels of the second set of connection panels forms an inner wall of the upright part. Thus, the upright part which is suitable to use as a handle is formed with a double wall structure wherein the outer wall is formed of one of the handle panels and the inner wall is formed of one connection panel of the first set of connection panels together with one connection panel of the second set of connection panels, each being folded around fold lines provided along the respective interconnection between the handle part and the respective connection panel. The upright parts may extend upwardly from the top of the erected package, thereby allowing the erected package to have its handles in parts extending upwardly from the package and in turn thereby allowing the walls of the package to be formed as whole panels without any cut-outs to provide handles. Thereby it is e.g. possible to provide a fully closed package, which may be beneficial when it comes to keeping piece-wise goods inside the package. It is also advantageous when there is a desire to provide a mechanical impact protection and/or thermal insulation inside the package, since it is often preferred that those extends along the inside surface of the walls which would make difficult to get a grip around the cut-out handles in the walls and which also would make the mechanical impact protection and/or thermal insulation prone to be damaged.

Preferred embodiments appear in the dependent claims and in the description.

Each handle panel may have an internal cut-out configured to form handles. It should be understood that by internal, it is meant that the cut-outs are fully surrounded by a material. Thus, the internal cut-outs are placed at a distance from the end of the handle panels such that the internal cut-out may be used as a handle of the package.

Each panel in the first set of connection panels may have a cut-out, preferably an internal cut-out, configured to at least partly align and coincide with the respective cut-out of the handle panels as the blank is folded to form a package.

The cut-out of each of the connection panels can be configured at different distances from the longitudinally extending end of the panel, such that the cut-out is placed at a distance from the end and thereby forms an internal cut-out or such that the cut-out is integrated with the end and thereby forms an open ended cut-out.

The respective connection panel may be foldably connected to a respective handle panel by a fold line extending along a corner fold line direction extending from a corner between a pair of main panels extending between the respective connection panel and handle panel at an angle, preferably at an angle between 35 and 55 degrees, more preferably at an angle of about 45 degrees, measured from the fold line connecting the respective top panels and handle panels.

This allows the respective connection panels to form the inner wall and the respective handle part to form the outer wall of the upright part, when folding the blank into a package. The angle of the corner fold line may be chosen depending on the shape of the upright part.

Each connection panel of the second set of connection panels may have, as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank, a length in the transversal direction being less than 50 %, preferably less than 35 %, of a length along the longitudinal direction of the second and the fourth main panel, respectively.

Thus, one or both of the connection panels of the second set of connection panels may have a length in the transversal direction being less than 50 %, preferably less than 35 %, of a length along the longitudinal direction of the second respectively, the fourth main panel.

By designing the second connection panel/-s with a limited length there is provided space making it possible to design the first connection panel/-s with a longer length and providing the first connection panels with an internal cut-out providing a strong handle and still avoiding an overlap between the connection panels.

Each connection panel of the first set of connection panels may have, as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank, a length in the transversal direction being greater than 50 %, preferably greater than 65 %, of a length along the longitudinal direction of the second and the fourth main panel, respectively.

Thus, one or both of the connection panels of the first set of connection panels may have a length in the transversal direction being greater than 50 %, preferably greater than 65 %, of a length along the longitudinal direction of the second respectively the fourth main panel.

By designing the first connection panel/-s with a larger length there is provided space to provide the first connection panels with an internal cut-out providing a strong handle and allowing such an internal cut-out to be aligned with handle cut-outs in the respective handle panel.

A total length in the transversal direction, as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank, of a connection panel of the first set of connection panels and an associated connection panel of the second set of connection panels may be equal to or marginally smaller than a length along the longitudinal direction of the second and the fourth main panel, respectively. It may be noted that when the blank is folded into a package, the length in the transversal direction, as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank, of the connection panels will end up along the longitudinal direction.

Thus, when folding the blank into a package, the pair of one of the first set of connection panels and one of the second set of connection panels that forms the inner wall of the upright part, i.e. the two associated connection panels, may together equal, or at least almost equal, the length of the handle panel of which they align. It may be noted that, they need not meet at the center of the handle panel but they may meet at any position of the handle panel as seen along the longitudinal direction of the handle panel. The two panels together may be marginally smaller, with marginally smaller meaning that their total length is still at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 %, of the length of the handle panel. The lengths are preferably chosen such that there is no overlap between the connection panels. Even more preferred, the lengths are also chosen such that there is no or close to no gap between the ends of the connection panels being folded towards each other.

The blank may further comprise a locking panel foldably connected to the second top panel on a longitudinal extending side of the second top panel opposite the third main panel.

The locking panel may be configured such that it can be folded into the erected package and thereby provide the package with means for locking the top panels. Thus, by this the blank while erected into a package may give a secure locking mechanism of the package such that it can be folded and locked and kept in a locked state without any use of glue or tape or anything the like. It may be noted that the first, second, third and fourth main panels are arranged one after the other in consecutive order along the longitudinal direction and that they are intended to form side walls one after the other in consecutive order along a circumferential direction. However, the blank may be cut basically along any one of the fold lines between any pair of neighbouring main panels. In the disclosed embodiment, the cut is provided such that the first main panel is the left most one and the fourth panel is the right most one. The blank could also be cut such that the order from left to right could be e.g. the fourth, the first, the second, and the third, or e.g. the third, the fourth, the first, and the second, or e.g. the second, the third, the fourth, and the first. The two main panels at either end along the longitudinal direction, in the disclosed embodiment the first and the fourth main panel, are interconnected to each other by a fifth panel. It may also in this context be noted that the labels first, second, third, fourth, and fifth when it comes to the main panels has been kept since there are different properties and additional panels, such as connection panels, associated with the different main panels and since that association in most cases remains relevant independently of the actual position of the specific main panel. Thus, rather than changing the labels based on the actual position from left to right, the labels has been kept but as mentioned above, the blank could be cut in different manners keeping the order of the first to fourth main panels but with different starting points from left to right, i.e. different permutations of the starting point from left with the order kept intact. The fifth panel may thus be said to be positioned between different sets of the main panels.

The blank may further comprise a fifth main panel foldably connected to any of the first or fourth main panel opposite the second or third main panel, respectively, wherein the fifth main panel may comprise a third top panel extending transversally from a first side of the fifth main panel and being foldably connected to the fifth main panel about a longitudinally extending fold line; and wherein one connection panel of the first set of connection panels may be foldably connected to a transversally extending side of the third top panel and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein the connection panel connected to the third top panel may also be foldably connected to the associated handle panel. In any of these embodiments, the third top panel preferably has an extension along the transversal direction being equal to the extension of the associated panel of the first set of connection panels along their common transversally extending fold line.

The blank may further comprise a fifth main panel foldably connected to any of the second or third main panel opposite the first or fourth main panel, respectively, wherein the fifth main panel may comprise a third top panel extending transversally from a first side of the fifth main panel and being foldably connected to the fifth main panel about a longitudinally extending fold line; and wherein one connection panel of the second set of connection panels may be foldably connected to a transversally extending side of the third top panel and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein the connection panel connected to the third top panel may also be foldably connected to the associated handle panel. In any of these embodiments, the third top panel preferably has an extension along the transversal direction being equal to the extension of the associated panel of the second set of connection panels along their common transversally extending fold line.

The fifth main panel may be used to connect the first main panel to the fourth main panel or the second main panel to the third main panel when erecting the blank into a package. The fifth main panel may be foldably connected to one of the main panels and connected to the respective other panel by glue or tape or any other adhesive material. Thus, upon folding the main panels around the respective fold lines, the fifth main panel may overlap in the longitudinal direction, seen from the erected state, with the corresponding main panel of which is it connected to. Typically, the fifth panel has a length along the longitudinal direction being shorter than, such as about 10% of, the corresponding main panel of which it is connected to. Basically, the fifth panel is intended to allow the blank to be shaped as a continuous sweep with four sides such that the longitudinal direction as seen a flat-laid state of the blank becomes a circumferential direction.

The blank may further comprise a set of bottom panels configured to form a bottom of a package, the set of bottom panels being foldably connected to the main panels on a longitudinally extending side opposite the top panels and handle panels, respectively.

The blank may be formed of a paper-based material.

This facilitates manufacture of the blank, it allows the blank to be folded into a package both manually or by machine, and it allows the material to be recycled efficiently once the package has served its intended use. A paper-based blank may also be manufactured in a variety of different grades or qualities allowing the blank to be tailor-made for different users or user scenarios.

The invention further relates to a package formed by folding the blank as disclosed herein into a package, wherein; the main panels are folded relative to each other to form a parallelepipeds volume; the top panels are being folded relative to the main panels to form a top surface across an upper opening of the parallelepipeds volume; the handle panels extending upwardly relative to the folded top panels from the second and fourth main panels forming outer sides of upright parts, the connection panels being folded about the handle panels and the top panels and thereby extending along an inside of the upright parts.

By this, it is made possible to design a package being provided with smooth walls formed by the main panels. Since the handle panels extend upwardly, there is no need to form handle cut-outs in the main panels forming the walls of the package. The package is suitable for carrying heavy and/or fragile goods. The package is further suitable to stack on top of another package, which is an advantage since it saves space. The package is easy to handle and to carry.

One or more thermal insulating layers may be provided along an inside surface of a set of side walls of the parallelepipedic volume formed by the main panels.

The thermal insulating layers may be in the form of a single insulating sleeve extending around the inside of the walls, formed by the main panels, of the package. The thermal insulating layers may be in the form of separate members placed parallel to one or more of the main panels forming the package.

The separate members and/or the ends of the insulating sleeve may be provided with tabs and cut-outs to lock the separate members to each other, to counteract movement of one of the separate members.

The insulating members or layers may also be provided at the bottom and the top of the parallelepipeds volume. Such insulating members or layers at the top or bottom may be in the form of separate members or in the form of portions being foldably connected to insulating members or layers extending along one or more of the side wall panels.

The invention may also in short be said to relate to a blank comprising a first, a second, a third and a fourth main panel being arranged one after the other along a longitudinal direction, a first and a second top panel extending transversally from a first side of the first and the third main panel, respectively, a first and a second handle panel being connected to and extending transversally from a first side of the second and the fourth main panel, respectively; a first set of connection panels, each being foldably connected to a respective transversally extending side of the first top panel also foldably connected to a respective one of the handle panels; and a second set of connection panels, each being foldably connected to a respective transversally extending side of the second top panel also foldably connected to a respective one of the handle panels. The invention may also be said to relate to a package formed of such a blank.

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 discloses a blank intended to be erected into a package.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an open package erected from the blank. Figure 3 is a perspective view of an open package erected from the blank.

Figure 4a is a perspective view of a closed package erected from the blank.

Figure 4b is a perspective view of a closed package erected from the blank.

Figure 4c is a perspective view of a closed package erected from the blank.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an open package erected from the blank having insulating layers.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows a blank 100 intended to be erected into a package. The package having upright parts suitable to be used as handles, such that there is no need for handles being formed at the walls of the package, thereby making the package suitable for having thermal insulating layers and/or protective layers along the walls. Thermal insulating layers may protect the goods, as well as keeping the goods at a suitable temperature.

In Figure 1 -5, dashed lines represent fold lines of the blank 100 while solid lines represent cut lines of the blank 100. The blank 100 is generally formed as a two-dimensional design from a material having a uniform material thickness.

In the disclosed preferred embodiment, the blank 100 is a single piece blank. The blank 100 is preferably formed of a paper based material. The blank 100 may be formed of a different material which is sufficiently rigid but still foldable. It may also be noted that the blank 100 may be formed of a material comprising several layers of materials as seen along the material thickness of the blank 100. It may e.g. be formed of a paper based material being coated on the inside and/or the outside with a polymer based layer, which e.g. may be used to provide a moisture resistance. It may also be noted that the paper based material may be in the form of several paper based layers having slightly different properties. The blank may e.g. be formed of a porous or undulating core layer, which e.g. may be relatively thick, being covered on the inside and/or the outside by a cover layer, which e.g. may be relatively thin. Thereby the properties of the blank may be tailor- made for different use scenarios.

The blank 100 comprises a first 1 10, a second 120, a third 130 and a fourth 140 main panel. The main panels 110, 120, 130, 140, are arranged one after the other along a longitudinal direction L, and being foldably connected to each other about transversally T extending fold lines 10a-d. The main panels 1 10, 120, 130, 140 are intended to form the major walls of the package, when folded around each respective fold line 10a-d. The blank 100 further comprises a fifth main panel 1 15. In Figure 1 , the fifth main panel 1 15 is foldably connected to the fourth main panel 140. The fifth main panel 1 15 is intended to be used as a connection panel between the fourth main panel 140 and the first main panel 110, such that the fifth main panel 1 15 may be glued or taped or by any other adhesive means connected to the first main panel 1 10 at the side of the first main panel 110 opposite which the first main panel 1 10 is foldably connected to the second main panel 120. Alternatively, the fifth main panel 1 15 may be foldably connected to the first main panel 1 10 and by glue, tape or any other adhesive means connected to the fourth main panel 140. Alternatively, the fifth main panel 1 15 may be foldably connected to the second main panel 120 and by glue, tape or any other adhesive means connected to the third main panel 130 or the fifth main panel 1 15 may be foldably connected to the third main panel 130 and by glue, tape or any other adhesive means connected to the second main panel 120. By this, four walls of the package are formed. The connection by glue, tape or any other adhesive means may be made when the blank 100 is erected into a package or it may be performed as a preparatory step such that the blank 100 is delivered as a continuous sweep but still flat-laid such that two neighbouring main panels forms an upper layer and the other two neighbouring main panels forms a lower layer .

The blank 100 comprises a first top panel 150a. The first top panel 150a extends transversally T from a first side of the first main panel 1 10 and is foldably connected to the first main panel 110 about a longitudinally extending L fold line 20a. The first top panel 150a is intended to, in the erected state of the package, extend from the first main panel 110 towards the third main panel 130 and to extend in the gap between the second 120 and fourth 140 main panel.

The blank 100 comprises a second top panel 150b. The second top panel 150b extends transversally T from a first side of the third main panel 130 and is foldably connected to the third main panel 130 about a longitudinally L extending fold line 20b. The second top panel 150b is intended to, in the erected state of the package, extend from the third main panel 130 towards the first main panel 110 and to extend in the gap between the second 120 and fourth 140 main panel. The second top panel 150b is further intended to, in the erected state of the package, be folded inwardly/downwardly before the first top panel 150a.

The first and second top panels 150a, 150b are intended to overlap while folded into the erected state of the package, such that the second top panel 150b is placed under the first main panel 150a. The second top panel 150b has a length in the transversal direction T, when in the unfolded state, being shorter than the length of the first top panel 150a.

The blank 100 comprises a third top panel 150c. The third top panel 150c extends transversally T from a first side of the fifth main panel 115 and is foldably connected to the fifth main panel 115 about a longitudinally L extending fold line 20c. The third top panel 150c is intended to, in the erected state of the package, be glued or taped or by any other adhesive means connected to the first top panel 150a such that it is aligned with the first top panel 150a and works as being part of the first top panel 150a.

The blank 100 comprises a locking panel 155. The locking panel 155 is foldably connected to the second top panel 150b on a longitudinally L extending side of the second top panel 150b opposite the third main panel 130. The intention of the locking panel 155 is to be folded into the inside of the package, when being in the erected state.

The blank 100 comprises a first handle panel 160a being connected to and extending transversally T from a first side of the second main panel 120. The first handle panel 160a is connected to the second handle panel 120 by a longitudinally L extending fold line 40a. In the erected state, the first handle panel 160a is intended to be in an upright position extending transversally from the package. The first handle panel 160a may be folded around the fold line 40a, to be aligned with the outside of the wall of the package which consists of the second main panel 120 or to be aligned with the top panels 150a, 150b.

The blank 100 comprises a second handle panel 160b being connected to and extending transversally T from a first side of the fourth main panel 140. The second handle panel 160b is connected to the fourth main panel 140 by a fold line 40b. In the erected state, the second handle panel 160b is intended to be in an upright position extending transversally from the package. The second handle panel 160b may be folded around the fold line 40b, to be aligned with the outside of the wall of the package which consists of the fourth main panel 140 or to be aligned with the top panels 150a, 150b.

The first and second handle panels 160a, 160b each have a respective internal cut-out 165, configured to be used as a handle. By internal, it is meant that the cut-out is placed at a distance from the end of the respective handle panels 160a, 160b such that it is completely surrounded by the material which makes up the blank 100.

The intention of this configuration of the handle panels 160a, 160b is to provide the package with handles, but having the handles placed at another place than at the side walls of the package. By this, the package is easy to handle and to stack on top of another package, but yet it is possible to for instance have an insulating material alongside the entire side walls without a handle cut-out interfering with the insulating material.

The blank 100 comprises a first set of connection panels 170a, 170b. Each connection panel 170a, 170b is directly or indirectly foldably connected to a respective transversally T extending side of the first top panel 150a and extending longitudinally L therefrom. In Figure 1 , one of the first set of connection panels 170a is directly connected to the first top panel 150a via the fold line 30a, while the other one of the first set of connection panels 170b is indirectly connected to the first top panel 150a by being connected to the third top panel 150c via the fold line 30b. In the erected state of the package, the fifth main panel 1 15 will be connected to the first main panel 110, the third top panel 150c will be connected to the first top panel 150a and by that the connection panel 170b is indirectly connected to the first top panel 150a.

It should be understood that if the fifth main panel 1 15 is connected to the first main panel 1 10, the second main panel 120 or the third main panel 130 there is a corresponding configuration as discussed with reference to the fifth main panel 1 15 being connected to the fourth main panel 140.

Each respective connection panel 170a, 170b is also foldably connected to a respective handle panel 160a, 160b.

Each panel in the first set of connection panels 170a, 170b has an internal cut-out 175 configured to at least partly align and coincide with the respective cut-out 165 of the handle panels 160a, 160b as the blank 100 is folded to form a package. Thereby there is formed a through-going opening through the upwardly extending parts.

The intention of the first set of connection panels 170a, 170b is to provide a back side of the handle parts, thereby making them stronger. Further, they also act to lock the first top panel 150a in its folded closed position.

The blank 100 comprises a second set of connection panels 180a, 180b. Each connection panel 180a, 180b is foldably connected to a respective transversally T extending side of the second top panel 150b and extending longitudinally L therefrom. Each respective connection panel 180a, 180b is also foldably connected to a respective handle panel 160a, 160b.

The intention of the second set of connection panels 180a, 180b is to provide a back side of the handle parts, thereby making them stronger. Further, they also act to lock the second top panel 150b in its folded closed position.

Thus, the first handle panel 160a is foldably connected to one of the first set of connection panels 170a through the fold line 60a and to one of the second set of connection panels 180a through the fold line 60b. Accordingly, the second handle panel 160b is foldably connected to the other one of the first set of connection panels 170b through the fold line 60a and to the other one of the second set of connection panels 180b through the fold line 60b. When erecting the blank into a package, the fold lines 60a, 60b allows the first and the second set of connection panels 170a, 170b, 180a, 180b to align at the backside of the respective handle parts 160a, 160b. The cut-out 175 of the first set of connection panels 170a, 170b aligns and coincides with the cut-out 165 of the respective handle panel 160a, 160b.

The fold lines 60a, 60b extends along a corner fold line direction, extending from a corner between a pair of main panels 110, 120, 130, 140 extending between the respective connection panel 170a, 170b, 180a, 180b and handle panel 160a, 160b at an angle y. Preferably the angle y is between 35 and 55 degrees, more preferably the angle y is about 45 degrees, measured from the fold line 20a, 20b, 40a, 40b connecting the respective top panels 150a, 150b and handle panels 160a, 160b.

Each connection panel of the second set of connection panels 180a, 180b may have, as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank 100, a length in the transversal direction T being less than 50 %, preferably less than 35 %, of a length along the longitudinal direction L of the second 120 and the fourth main panel 140, respectively. Thus, the length in the transversal direction T of one of the connection panels 180a of the second set of connection panels 180a, 180b may be less than 50 %, or preferably less than 35 %, of the length in the longitudinal direction L of the second main panel 120. Preferably, also the length in the transversal direction T of the other one of the connection panels 180b of the second set of connection panels 180a, 180b is less than 50 %, or preferably less than 35 %, of the length in the longitudinal direction L of the fourth main panel 140.

Each connection panel of the first set of connection panels 170a, 170b may have, as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank 100, a length in the transversal direction T being greater than 50 %, preferably greater than 65 %, of a length along the longitudinal direction L of the second 120 and the fourth main panel 140 respectively. Thus, the length in the transversal direction T of one of the connection panels 170a of the first set of connection panels 170a, 170 may be greater than 50 %, or preferably greater than 65 %, of the length in the longitudinal direction L of the second main panel 120. Preferably, also the length in the transversal direction T of the other one of the connection panels 170b of the first set of connection panels 170a, 170b is greater than 50 %, or preferably greater than 65 %, of the length in the longitudinal direction L of the fourth main panel 140.

The total length in the transversal direction T, as seen in a flat-laid state of the blank 100, of a connection panel of the first set of connection panels 170a, 170b and an associated connection panel of the second set of connection panels 180a, 180b is preferably equal to or marginally smaller than a length along the longitudinal direction L of the second 120 and the fourth 140 main panel, respectively.

Thus, the total length of one of the first set of connection panels 170a and the associated one of the second set of connection panels 180a is equal to or marginally smaller, such as 90 % or 95 %, of the length along the longitudinal direction L of the second main panel 120. The total length of the other one of the first set of connection panels 170b and the other associated one of the second set of connection panels 180b is equal to or marginally smaller, such as 90 % or 95 %, of the length along the longitudinal direction L of the fourth main panel 140.

The intention of this is that, when erecting the blank 100 into a package, the associated first and second set of connection panels 170a, 180a, 170b, 180b, should not overlap when aligning with the respective handle part 160a, 160b. Instead, they are intended to form a single layer behind the respective handle part 160a, 160b.

The blank 100 comprises a set of bottom panels 190a-d. The bottom panels 190a-d are configured to form a bottom of the package. The set of bottom panels 190a-190d are foldably connected to the main panels 110, 120, 130, 140 on a longitudinally L extending side opposite the top panels 150a, 150b, 160a, 160b. It may be noted that in the disclosed embodiment two opposing bottom panels 190a and 190c are provided with a locking mechanism in the shape of a recess and a tongue. However, the bottom may be formed in numerous different manners. The bottom panels 190a-190d may be glued together at the bottom. Irrespective of the specific design of the bottom panels 190a-190d, it is preferred that there are four bottom panels 190a-190d, one connected to each main panel 110, 120, 130, 140, since such a design typically aids in keeping the package in the intended parallelepipeds design.

Figures 2-5 shows the blank 100 when erected into a package 200.

The package 200 is formed by folding the blank 100. The main panels 110, 120, 130, 140 are folded relative to each other to form a parallelepipeds volume. The main panels 110, 120, 130, 140 are folded about the fold lines 10a-d. The fifth main panel 115 is folded relative to the fourth main panel 140 and is attached on the inside of the first main panel 110 and thereby the fifth main panel 115 connects the fourth main panel 140 with the first main panel 110.

In Figure 2, the top panels 150a, 150b are not yet folded, thus providing an open package 200 suitable for loading goods.

Figure 3 discloses the folding of the top panels 150a, 150b around each respective fold line 20a, 20b relative to the first main panel 110 and the third main panel 130. The second top panel 150b is folded before the first top panel 150a. It can be seen from Figure 3 that when both top panels 150a, 150b are fully folded, they will form a top surface extending across and thereby closing an upper opening of the parallelepipeds volume.

Figure 4a, b and c disclose the package 200 in a closed state, when the top panels 150a, 150b form the top surface across the upper opening of the parallelepipeds volume.

The handle panels 160a, 160b are aligned with the respective first and second set of connection panels 170a, 170b, 180a, 180b. The Figures 4a-b discloses how the handle parts may be folded in three different ways. Specifically, in Figure 4a, the handles are folded as an extension of the top surface pointing outwardly from the package 200. This is the first position of the handle parts, after folding the blank into a package and closing the package. This may be a possible position for the handle parts when several packages are stacked on top of each other. Figure 4b discloses how the handles are extending upwardly from the side walls of the package 200 formed by the second and fourth main panel 120, 140. The cut-outs 165 of the handle panels 160a, 160b are aligned and coincides with the cut-outs of the first set of connection panels 170a, 170b and thereby there is formed handles which are in a position suitable of carrying the package 200. Figure 4c discloses a package 200 with the handle parts 160a, 160b folded against the top surface formed by the top panels 150a, 150b. This may be suitable for stacking packages when there is little space.

In an alternative folding operation, the handle parts are folded inwardly beneath the top panels 150a, 150b. In this folding operation the handle panels 160a, 160b are first slightly inclined inwardly. The first and second set of connection panels 170a, 170b, 180a, 180b will at this stage extend outwardly from, on one side, the edge of the slightly inwardly extending handle panels 160a, 160b and, on the other side, to the edge of the top panels 150a, 150b. The top panels 150a, 150b will due to their connection with the inwardly folded handle panels 160a, 160b, be slightly folded towards each other. At this stage, the user may continue to fold the handle panels 160a, 160b, inwardly and/or push the top panels 150a, 150b further inwardly and downwards. Once finally folded the handle panels 160a, 160b will extend inwardly and they will be closest to the interior of the package. The first and second connection panels 170a, 170b, 180a, 180b will end up on top of the handle panels 160a, 160b, i.e. on the other side of the handle panels compared to figure 4c. The top panels 150a, 150b will then end up as the upper most panels. Thus, the handle panels 160a, 160b, the connection panels 170a, 170b, 180a, 180b and the top panels 150a, 150b will end up in the reversed order compared to fig 4c. It may in this context be noted that the handle panels 160a, 160b may e.g. be folded inwardly beneath the top panels 150a, 150b in accordance with this alternative folding operation to prepare the package for distribution. The package folded according to this alternative folding operation may also be referred to as a distribution mode of the package. This may e.g. be a distribution from a manufacturing or loading site to a local store. In such a distribution, the packages may e.g. be handled several at the time using loading pallets or the like. As such, the provision of a handle is not considered important. On the contrary, a package with straight and smooth surfaces may be prioritized.

A user, such as a worker at the store, may at the local store open the package from its distribution mode and refold it according to the reversed order and thereby provide a package with lifting ears as shown in figure 4b. Thereby, the worker at the store can lift the packages using the handles in the ears. If the packages are to be temporarily stored at the store, the user can but need not return it to the distribution mode. The user may simply fold away the ears as e.g. shown in figure 4c to allow the packages to be stacked onto each other. This change between the state as shown in fig 4c and 4b may simply be repeated when the package is to be stacked respectively when moved at the store, and/or when carried home by a customer.

It may also be noted it is preferred that at least a portion 165’ of the material being cut when forming the respective internal cut-out 165 is still present within the area being intended to form the through-going opening. This portion 165’ is foldable relative to the respective handle panel 160a, 160b about a respective fold line 165”. This portion 165’ is intended to be folded into the corresponding cut-out 175 in the connection panels 170a, 170b and thereby provide a smooth surface and it may also be used to keep the connection panels 170a, 170b in position relative to the handle panels 160a, 160b. The fold line 165” preferably extends along the longitudinal direction L and is preferably positioned along an upper portion of the through- going opening to be formed by the cut-out 165 once the portion 165’ has been folded inwardly into the corresponding cut-out 175 in the connection panels 170a, 170b. The design of these portions 165’ is shown in Figures 1 -2 and the way they are folded is best shown in Figure 4b.

Figure 5 is a top view of an open package 200. Four pieces 21 Oa-d of an insulating layer 210 are provided along an inside surface of the set of side walls of the parallelepipeds volume formed by the main panels 1 10, 120, 130, 140.

The intention of this is to provide the package 200 with an efficient thermal insulation for temperature control. The thermal insulation may be replaced with or also act as a protection against mechanical impacts and thereby provide a reduced risk of the goods carried inside the package being damaged.

There may be one of more pieces 21 Oa-d of an insulating layer 210, provided along one or more of the set of side walls. The insulating layer 210 may be in the form of one or more separate sheets or pieces, as seen in Figure 5, or they may be provided in one sheet being folded or wrapped along the circumferential direction inside the package. The insulating layer 210 may be provided with tabs and cut-outs to lock the insulating members together. Corresponding insulating layers 210 or layers may also be provided at the bottom and the top of the parallelepipeds volume.