CONTAINER FOR ARTICLES, RELATIVE BLANK AND METHOD OF

MAKING

Technical field

This invention falls within the technical sector of containers for articles obtained from blanks, generally made of paperboard or in any case of cellulose-based material. More in detail, the invention relates to a container for articles, the relative blank and a method for making the container.

This type of container is used in various sectors (cosmetics, food etc.) for containing articles of various types. Background art

A container of this type usually has lateral walls, a bottom and an upper opening opposite the bottom, which may be closed by a lid or by a closing flap connected to the lateral walls.

Patent document GB2451281 describes a container for articles according to the preamble to claim 1.

Generally, a container of this type has a longitudinal axis of extension and a substantially frustoconical cross-section, with the smaller base and the truncated cone which constitutes the bottom, and the larger base which constitutes the opening, or a circular or oval cross-section.

A container of this type is obtained by folding and gluing a blank which in the majority of cases is made of paperboard. More in detail, the parts which are folded and glued are usually the lateral walls, which are joined together to define the inner space of the container, and the bottom, which must remain firmly closed once the container has been formed.

For this purpose, the bottom consists of two panels which, when the container is completed, are superposed on each other. The two panels are locked by interference between the lateral walls of the container, in an operating configuration wherein they are positioned at right angles to the axis of extension of the container. The stability of the bottom panels in the relative operating configuration, once the container is made, is therefore essential to maintain the shape of the container.

However, it is often the case that unwanted impacts or pressures, even minimal, incurred at the bottom, result in the panels which constitute the bottom modifying the relative configuration relative to the operating ones, causing a“flattening” of the container, which collapses on itself, thereby losing the shape which was given to it.

Aim of the invention

The aim of this invention is to overcome the above mentioned disadvantage.

The aim is achieved by providing a container for articles, a blank and a method for making articles according to the accompanying claims.

Advantageously, the invention guarantees the stability of the container once formed, in particular the stability of the bottom is guaranteed, allowing the shape of the container to remain with the passage of time, even in the case of impacts or stresses accidentally incurred on the bottom.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other advantages are more apparent in the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a container for articles according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the container of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a plan view from below of the container of Figure 1 ;

- Figures 4 and 5 are two variant embodiments of a blank according to the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the numeral 1 denotes a container according to the invention.

The container 1 according to the invention may be used in various sectors (cosmetics, food etc.) for containing articles or products of various types.

In the preferred embodiment, the container 1 has a longitudinal axis of extension and is equipped with an upper end 2 and a lower end 20 opposite each other (see Figure 1 ).

The container 1 according to the invention comprises: a first lateral wall 3 and a second lateral wall 4 connected to each other, each having an inner surface 30, 40 and an outer surface (facing each other); and a bottom 5, positioned at the lower end 20 of the container 1.

The bottom 5 in turn comprises a first bottom wall 51 connected to the first lateral wall 3 and a second bottom wall 52 connected to the second lateral wall 4. Preferably, the first bottom wall 51 is made integrally with the first lateral wall 3 and the second bottom wall 52 is made integrally with the second lateral wall 4.

The first bottom wall 51 and the second bottom wall 52 are superposed on each other, with the first bottom wall 51 outermost with reference to the internal space of the container 1 (see in particular Figure 3).

The container 1 also comprises an upper opening 6 (shown in Figures 1 and 2), opposite the bottom 5, at the upper end 2 of the container 1 , to allow the introduction of articles/products inside the container 1.

More in detail, the container 1 according to the invention further comprises bottom blocking means 7, 8 (see Figures 1 and 2), in turn comprising a first abutment flap 7 which is fixed to the inner surface 30 of the first lateral wall 3. The first abutment flap may be fixed substantially at the bottom end 20 of the container 1 : this means that it is proximal to the lower end 20 of the container 1 and distal to the upper end 2 of the container 1.

The first abutment flap 7 comprises a lower abutment edge 70.

Moreover, the bottom blocking means 7, 8 comprises a second abutment flap 8 connected to the second bottom wall 52 and comprising an upper abutment edge 80. In detail, the second abutment flap 8 is folded against the inner surface 30 of the first lateral wall 3, at the lower end 20 of the container 1 for abutting with the relative upper abutment edge 80 the lower abutment edge 70 of the first abutment flap 7. Preferably, the second abutment flap 8 is made integrally with the second bottom wall 52.

Advantageously, the bottom locking mans 7, 8, configured in this way, guarantee that the container 1 maintains its shape even in the case of unwanted stresses or pressures incurred at the bottom 5, unlike the prior art containers. In particular, the first abutment flap 7 and the second abutment flap 8 are mutually prepared in such a way that the second abutment flap 8, folded against the inner surface 30 of the first lateral wall 3, abuts with the respective upper abutment edge 80 against the lower abutment edge 70 of the first abutment flap 7. In this way, the second abutment flap 8 is blocked by the lower abutment edge 70 of the first abutment flap 7 and, therefore, remains fixed in that position even in the case of stresses. Consequently, the entire bottom 5 of the container 1 stably maintains its configuration. On the other hand, in the absence of the first abutment flap 7 and the second abutment flap 8 prepared as described above, an unwanted stress of the bottom 5 would result in the movement, necessarily causing the“collapse” of the lateral walls which are positioned around the bottom and the flattening of the container on itself (that is to say, of the lateral walls on one another), as occurred in the prior art. The term“stable configuration of the container” means an operating configuration wherein the bottom is substantially at right angles to the axis of extension of the container.

The container 1 , in its preferred embodiment, has a substantially frustoconical cross section, with the smaller base of the truncated cone forming the bottom 5, and the larger base of the truncated cone forming the upper opening 6, if necessary closed by a lid or by another closing element (situation not illustrated). However, it is clear that any other shape may be provided for the container 1 , for example the opening and the bottom may have the same shape and size.

Preferably, the first bottom wall 51 and the second bottom wall 52 are connected to each other (partly) by adhesive applied at an edge of them.

In the embodiment illustrated, the first bottom wall 51 has, in a first relative portion 510, proximal to the first lateral wall 3, an opening 50 (that is to say, an absence of material) with dimensions preferably equal to those of the first abutment flap 7 (see in detail Figure 3). It is clear that the dimensions of the opening 50 may also be greater than those of the first abutment flap 7. The opening 50, obviously, when the container 1 is formed, is not a through opening since it is occluded by the second bottom wall 52. The opening 50 may also be larger than the first abutment flap 7, depending on whether or not the container 1 provides a waste at the bottom 5, as described in more detail below.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom 5, the first and the second lateral walls 3, 4 and the bottom blocking means 7, 8 are made of cellulose-based sheet material (preferably paperboard). Moreover, the first abutment flap 7 is preferably glued to the inner surface 30 of the first lateral wall 3.

With reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated, the lower end 20 of the container 1 has an end edge 21 (shown in Figure 3) which defines a closed profile, that is to say, a closed loop profile (although its shape is not necessarily ring-shaped). The bottom 5 of the container 1 is positioned at a certain distance, which is not zero, from the above-mentioned end edge 21 , in such a way as not to protrude relative to the above-mentioned end edge 21 (see Figure 3). In other words, the bottom 5 of the container 1 is more inside than the above-mentioned end edge 21 , with reference to the inner space of the container 1 . Advantageously, this aspect reduces the possibility of unwanted pressures or impacts on the bottom 5, since the latter is not exposed to external stresses.

The invention further relates to a blank 1’ (illustrated in Figures 4 and 5) for making a container 1 for articles according to any one of the embodiments described above.

The blank 1’ comprises a first lateral panel 3’ and a second lateral panel 4’ connected to each other (in particular made integral with each other) and designed for defining respectively the first lateral wall 3 and the second lateral wall 4 of the container 1 described above.

The blank T also comprises a first bottom panel 5T and a second bottom panel 52’, each comprising a perimeter edge 50T, 502’. The first bottom panel 51’ and a the second bottom panel 52’ are connected respectively to the first lateral panel 3’ and the second lateral panel 4’ and are designed to be superposed on each other in order to define the bottom 5 of the container 1 described above. Substantially, therefore, the first bottom panel 5T and the second bottom panel 52’ of the blank T correspond, respectively, to the first bottom wall 51 and the second bottom wall 52 of the container 1 described above.

Moreover, the blank T comprises a preferential fracture line 50’ provided on the first bottom panel 5T, and which delimits a portion 7’ preferably equal to the above-mentioned first abutment flap 7 described above with regard to the bottom blocking means 7, 8 of the container 1 (reference should therefore be made to what has been said about the first abutment flap 7). It is clear, therefore, that the dimensions of the portion 7’ may also be greater than those of the first abutment flap 7.

In other words, the portion 7’ delimited by the preferential fracture line 50’ is at least partly designed to define the first abutment flap 7 of the container 1. The preferential fracture line 50’ is therefore designed to allow the detachment of a part of the first bottom panel 5T to form the first abutment flap 7. More in detail, with reference to the drawings, the preferential fracture line 50’ is provided in a first portion 510’ of the first bottom panel 51’, proximal to the first lateral panel 3’.

The blank T also comprises a tab 8’ connected to the second bottom panel 52’ and which protrudes relative to the corresponding perimeter edge 502’, designed to define the above-mentioned second abutment flap 8 of the container 1 (therefore, practically coinciding with the second abutment flap 8, already described above and to which reference should be made for details).

In other words, the preferential fracture line 50’ of the first bottom panel 51’ and the tab 8’ of the second bottom panel 52’ are designed to form the bottom blocking means 7, 8 described for the container 1 . In particular, the first abutment flap 7 of the container 1 is defined by the detachment of the portion 7’ delimited by the preferential fracture line 50’ of the first bottom panel 51’, as described in more detail with reference to the making method.

Advantageously, the blank 1’ according to the invention allows the container 1 described above to be made, which has a bottom 5 with optimum stability, and, therefore, allows the maximum stability of the container 1 .

The first lateral panel 3’ and the second lateral panel 4’ each comprise a lower edge 2T designed to form the end edge 21 of the container 1 described above.

According to the preferred embodiment, the blank 1’ further comprises a first connecting strip 3T and a second connecting strip 4T, positioned respectively between the first lateral panel 3’ and the first bottom panel 51’, and between the second lateral panel 4’ and the second bottom panel 52’ (in particular between the first bottom panel 51’ and the end edge 2T of the first lateral panel 3’ and between the second bottom panel 52’ and the end edge 2T of the second lateral panel 4. With reference to the above description, by using the blank T it is possible to make the container 1 wherein the bottom 5 does not protrude beyond the end edge 21 of the lower end 20, thereby avoiding unwanted pressures or impacts on it.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate two variant embodiments of the blank T according to the invention. In the variant embodiment of Figure 4, the preferential fracture line 50’ delimits both the portion 7’ designed to form the first abutment flap 7 of the container 1 , and a waste portion 700’ which is then removed. In this case, preferably, the height of the waste portion 700’ coincides with, or is greater than, the height of the tab 8’, that is, of the second abutment flap 8 of the container 1. In this way, the stability of the container 1 is guaranteed once formed, that is to say, the operating configuration described above with the bottom 5 substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container 1.

In the variant of Figure 5, on the other hand, the preferential fracture line 50’ delimits only the portion 7’ with dimensions equal to the first abutment flap 7 of the container 1 ; in other words, in this case, there is no waste portion 700’ which is, on the other hand, present in the variant embodiment of Figure 4. In this case, the distance between the preferential fracture line 50’ and the distal perimeter edge 502’ of the second bottom panel 52’ coincides with the height of the tab 8’, that is, of the second abutment flap 8 of the container 1. In this way, the stability of the container 1 is guaranteed once formed, that is to say, the operating configuration described above with the bottom 5 substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container 1.

The blank T preferably comprises a plurality of folding lines 500’, 505’, 506’ to facilitate making the container 1. With reference to the accompanying drawings, the first bottom panel 5T of the blank T comprises a longitudinal folding line 500’, which separates the above- mentioned first portion 510’ from a remaining second portion 51 T. The longitudinal folding line 500’, in the accompanying drawings, divides into two equal parts the first bottom panel 5T in the corresponding first portion 510’ and second portion 51 T. As shown in the accompanying drawings, part of the preferential fracture line 50’ extends along the above- mentioned longitudinal folding line 500’.

Further, another folding line 505’ is set up between the second bottom panel 52’ and the tab 8’, to facilitate the folding of the tab 8’ during the formation of the container 1. Again with reference to Figures 4 and 5, further folding lines 506’ are provided between the lateral panels 3’, 4’ and corresponding connecting strips 31’, 41’, and between the latter 31’, 41’ and the corresponding bottom panels 51’, 52’ for favouring the making of the container 1 .

According to the preferred embodiment, the first and second connecting strips 31’, 41’, the second portion 51 1’ of the first bottom panel 51’ and the portion 7’ of the first bottom panel 51’ and at least one portion of a lateral panel 3’, 4’ are designed to receive adhesive, as will be made clearer in the description of the method which follows.

The invention further relates to a method for making a container 1 according to the embodiments described above starting from a blank 1’ of the type described above.

The method comprises the following steps:

a) applying glue at al least on an edge of the first lateral panel (3’) or the second lateral panel (4’) of the blank (1’) and at the portion (7’) of the first bottom panel (5T) intended to define the first abutment flap (7) of the container (1 ); and successively:

b) folding the first bottom panel 5T and the second bottom panel 52’ on the inner surface 30’, 40’ of the first lateral panel 3’ and the second lateral panel 4’ respectively;

c) folding outwards a second portion 51 T of the first bottom panel 5T, keeping the first portion 510’ on the inner surface 30’ of the first lateral wall 3’;

and successively:

d) applying glue on the folded second portion 51 T of the first bottom panel (51’);

e) folding the second lateral panel 4’ and the second bottom panel 52’ on the first lateral panel 3’, in such a way that the second bottom panel 52’ and the second portion 51 T of the first bottom panel 5T are overlapped and in contact;

and successively: f) shaping the container 1 , pushing the second bottom panel 52’ and the first bottom panel 51’ towards the outside of the container 1 (that is, towards the relative lower end 20), in such a way that the portion T corresponding to the first abutment flap 7 is detached from the first bottom panel 51’ and is bonded to the inner surface 30’ of the first lateral panel 3’, and the tab 8’ of the second bottom panel 52’ is folded against the inner surface 30’ of the first panel and abuts the portion 7’ (as described above for the container 1 ).

With reference to the embodiment of the blank 1’ comprising the first connecting strip 31’ and the second connecting strip 41’, respectively positioned between the first lateral panel 3’ and the first bottom panel 51’, and between the second lateral panel 4’ and the second bottom panel 52’, the method according to the invention also comprises the steps of:

g) applying glue on the first connecting strip 31’ and the second connecting strip 32’ and

h) folding also the first connecting strip 31’ and the second connecting strip 32’ respectively on the inner surface 30’, 40’ of the first lateral wall 3’ and the second lateral wall 4’ together with the first bottom panel 51’ and the second bottom panel 52’.