JP7775640B2 - Sleeves and Composite Containers - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sleeve and a composite container, for example, a composite container having a cardboard sleeve and a plastic container body inside the sleeve.

Composite containers consisting of a plastic tray or plastic cup and a paper sleeve to hold it are commonly used for food packaging. Paper sleeves are easy to assemble from blank sheets, and can also be printed with a lot of information. Furthermore, paper sleeves have the advantage of being able to protect the contents by absorbing shocks caused by dropping, etc.

Figure 6 shows the appearance of a conventional composite container. Figure 6 shows four conventional examples of composite containers consisting of a plastic container body 2 (e.g., a jelly container) with a flange portion 2f and a paper sleeve 1 that houses the contents. Figure 6(A) is a top view and front view of a composite container in which the container body 2 has a circular flange portion 2f, and Figure 6(B) is a top view and front view of a composite container in which the container body 2 has an oval flange portion 2f. Figures 6(C) and 6(D) are both top view and front view of a composite container in which the container body 2 has a rectangular flange portion 2f. Figure 6(C) uses the same fixed-type sleeve 1 as Figures 6(A) and (B), while Figure 6(D) uses a different fixed-type sleeve 1 from Figures 6(A) and (B).

The sleeve 1 shown in Figures 6(A) to (D) is configured so that the container body 2 is visible from the openings 1A on the front and back sides, making it highly aesthetically pleasing. It also requires less space for attachment, making it easy to machine. However, the type shown in Figures 6(A) to (C) is configured so that the container body 2 is fixed by inserting the flange portion 2f into the notches 1a formed on both sides of the sleeve 1 and causing part of the flange portion 2f to protrude from the sleeve 1, which limits the shape of the flange portion 2f that can be used.

For example, if the flange portion 2f is circular or elliptical (FIGS. 6(A) and (B)), the flange portion 2f hooks onto the edge of the slit 1a, fixing the position of the container body 2, preventing the container body 2 from slipping out of the opening 1A of the sleeve 1. The same is true if the flange portion 2f is rectangular (FIG. 6(C)), where the flange portion 2f hooks onto the edge of the slit 1a, fixing the position of the container body 2. However, if the flange portion 2f is to hook onto the edge of the slit 1a (FIG. 6(C)), the sleeve 1 must be lengthened to prevent a decrease in strength of the sleeve 1. In other words, if the flange portion 2f is rectangular, there are no hooking locations on the linear portions on both sides of the flange portion 2f, making it difficult to fix the position of the container body 2 without lengthening the sleeve 1. Therefore, the entire container body 2 is housed within the sleeve 1 (FIG. 6(D)), and the position of the container body 2 is fixed by friction against the sleeve 1.

Patent Document 1 proposes a composite container equipped with a sleeve as an outer box, as shown in Figure 6 (D) above. This composite container is composed of a tray container with a storage space that is open at the top, and an outer box that stores the tray container. The outer box has peripheral walls that contact the tray container from the periphery and frictionally hold the tray container, a bottom wall, and an opening facing the bottom wall that allows the tray container to be slid in and out, and the wall portion located below the periphery of the opening of the outer box is folded into the storage space for the tray container.

JP 2017-88178 A

As with the composite container shown in Figure 6 (D), it is difficult to stably secure the container body 2 to the sleeve 1 solely through friction. For example, there is a high possibility that the container body 2 will slip out of the opening 1A of the sleeve 1 during transportation, display, etc. On the other hand, with the composite container described in Patent Document 1, the outer box has only one opening at the top, so the tray container is unlikely to suddenly pop out of the outer box during transportation, etc. However, because the opening in the outer box is designed to allow the tray container to slide in and out, it is difficult to reliably prevent the tray container from suddenly popping out. Therefore, measures such as covering the entire composite container with shrink film are necessary, which inevitably increases the complexity and cost of the configuration.

The present invention was made in light of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a sleeve that can stably secure contents with a simple structure, and a low-cost composite container that uses the sleeve.

In order to achieve the above object, a sleeve of a first invention is a sleeve made of a single blank plate bent into a cylindrical shape so that a storage space for storing contents is formed inside,
The blank plate has an end portion formed with a locking plate which is folded into the storage space and has an opening for locking the contents in the storage space.

The sleeve of the second invention is the sleeve of the first invention, wherein the blank plate has opposing top and bottom plates, opposing first and second side plates, and a folding plate positioned overlapping the bottom plate so as to surround the storage space,
The blank plate is folded at each boundary between the first side plate and the top plate and the bottom plate, and the blank plate is folded at each boundary between the second side plate and the top plate and the folding plate,
The blank plate is bent at the boundary between the locking plate and the folding plate.

The sleeve of the third invention is the same as the second invention, except that a locking piece is formed at the end of the bottom plate, a notch is formed at the boundary between the second side plate and the folding plate, and the locking piece is inserted into the notch to form the blank plate into a cylindrical shape.

The sleeve of the fourth invention is any one of the first to third inventions, characterized in that the blank plate is made of paper or resin.

The composite container of the fifth invention is characterized by comprising a sleeve according to any one of the first to fourth inventions and a container body that is accommodated as the contents in the accommodation space.

The composite container of the sixth invention is the fifth invention, characterized in that the container body is locked by the locking plate by fitting a portion of the container body into an opening in the locking plate.

The composite container of the seventh invention is the fifth or sixth invention described above, characterized in that the container body is composed of a tray or cup for containing food and a lid for closing the opening of the tray or cup, and the container body is locked by the locking plate by fitting the bottom of the tray or cup into the opening of the locking plate.

According to the present invention, the locking plates formed on the ends of the blank plates are folded into the storage space and have openings for locking the contents within the storage space. This allows the entire contents to be stored within the storage space of the sleeve and stably fixed in place. For example, even if a cut is formed in the sleeve to allow a portion of the contents to protrude and not be hooked, the contents can be fixed in place within the storage space without increasing the size of the sleeve. Moreover, the simple structure of locking the contents within the storage space with the locking plates by folding a single blank plate is also effective in reducing costs. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a sleeve that can stably secure contents with a simple structure, and a low-cost composite container using it.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment of a sleeve and a composite container. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a blank plate of the sleeve in FIG. 1 ; 2A to 2C are external views showing the procedure for assembling the sleeve and composite container in FIG. 1 . FIG. 10 is a front view showing an embodiment of a composite container in which the shape of the sleeve is changed. FIG. 10 is a top view showing an embodiment of a composite container in which the shape of the container body is changed. 1A and 1B are external views showing four types of conventional composite containers.

The following describes a sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention, as well as a composite container using the same, with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows the front appearance of the sleeve 1 and composite container 10 (before opening), and Figure 2 shows the blank plate 1B that constitutes the sleeve 1.

The composite container 10 (Fig. 1) is composed of a cardboard sleeve 1 made from a single blank plate 1B (Fig. 2) folded into a cylindrical shape, and a plastic container body 2. The sleeve 1 has a storage space 1S for storing the container body 2 as its contents, and an opening 1A for revealing the container body 2 within the storage space 1S from outside the sleeve 1. The opening 1A can also be used, in some cases, to insert the container body 2 into the storage space 1S or to lift the composite container 10. The container body 2 is also composed of a molded tray 2a for storing food F (e.g., frozen or chilled foods such as hamburger steaks and pasta; or confectioneries such as jelly, pudding, and ice cream) as its contents, and a lid 2b (here, a plastic film top seal is assumed) for closing the opening of the tray 2a.

The sleeve 1 is formed by bending a single blank plate 1B. The blank plate 1B is formed by punching out a plate-shaped sheet material as shown in the developed view (Figure 2), but the material of the blank plate 1B is not limited to thick paper (such as cardboard). For example, a resin plate (a transparent or opaque resin plate made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polypropylene) may also be used as the sheet material. If the sleeve 1 is configured as a clear resin case, product information and the like can be displayed on both the sleeve 1 and the container body 2. Note that the container body 2 is made of the same material as the blank plate 1B, and materials (plastic, paper, etc.) can be used as needed.

Blank plate 1B (Figure 2) consists of a top panel 4, a bottom panel 5, a first side panel 6, a second side panel 7, a folding panel 8, and a locking panel 9. In other words, blank plate 1B has opposing top and bottom panels 4 and 5, opposing first and second side panels 6 and 7, and a folding panel 8 that overlaps with bottom panel 5, surrounding storage space 1S (Figure 1). Additionally, a locking panel 9 is formed at the end of blank plate 1B, which is folded into storage space 1S and has an opening 9a for locking container body 2 within storage space 1S.

As shown in Figure 2, folds L1 to L5 are formed at the boundaries between the plates 4 to 9 that make up blank plate 1B. Blank plate 1B is folded at each boundary (folds L4, L5) between the first side plate 6 and the top plate 4 and bottom plate 5; at each boundary (folds L1, L2) between the second side plate 7 and the top plate 4 and folding plate 8; and at the boundary (fold L3) between the locking plate 9 and folding plate 8. A locking piece 5b is formed at the end of the bottom plate 5, and locking piece 5b folded at fold L6 is inserted into a notch 7a formed at the boundary (fold L2) between the second side plate 7 and folding plate 8 (Figure 1).

Figure 3 shows the assembly procedure for the sleeve 1 and composite container 10. In Figure 3, (A) and (B) are top views showing the blank plate 1B and container body 2, (C) is a front view showing the blank plate 1B and container body 2, (D) is a front view showing the composite container 10 consisting of the sleeve 1 and container body 2, and (E) is a top view showing the composite container 10 consisting of the sleeve 1 and container body 2.

First, the container body 2 is placed on the top panel 4 of the blank plate 1B (FIG. 3(A)), and the blank plate 1B is folded along creases L1-L3, aligning the edge of the locking plate 9 with crease L1 (arrow m1). The blank plate 1B is further folded along creases L1-L3 until the folding plate 8 is parallel to the top panel 4 (arrow m2 in FIG. 3(B)). The folded locking plate 9 is then folded toward the container body 2, and the second side panel 7, folding plate 8, and locking plate 9 form a triangular prism-shaped bag-like space. As a result, the bottom 2d of the tray 2a that constitutes the container body 2 fits into the opening 9a of the locking plate 9, and the container body 2 is locked to the locking plate 9 (FIG. 3(C)).

Next, the blank plate 1B is folded along creases L4-L6 (arrow m3 in Figure 3(B)), and the locking piece 5b is inserted into the notch 7a (arrow m4 in Figure 3(C)). This forms a cylindrical blank plate 1B, forming a storage space 1S within the sleeve 1 and securing the container body 2 within the storage space 1S (i.e., the container body 2 is wrapped around the blank plate 1B). This results in a composite container 10 with isosceles trapezoidal openings 1A formed on both sides (front and back) of the sleeve 1 (Figures 3(D) and (E)). The container body 2 is secured within the storage space 1S by the locking plate 9, with its bottom 2d fitted into the opening 9a, preventing it from popping out of the opening 1A. This provides a much more effective positioning than holding the container body 2 solely through friction with the sleeve 1.

It is also possible to assemble the sleeve 1 first, and then insert the container body 2 into the storage space 1S through the opening 1A using the elasticity of the blank plate 1B. The bottom plate 5 and the folding plate 8 may also be fixed with adhesive, and the locking piece 5b and the second side plate 7 may also be fixed with adhesive.

To open the composite container 10, a zipper 5a formed by perforations on the bottom panel 5 or a hole 7b formed in the second side panel 7 is used (Figs. 2 and 3(E)). The bottom panel 5 has zippers 5a formed parallel to each of the folds L1 to L6, and the composite container 10 is opened when the bottom panel 5 is torn using the zipper 5a. Alternatively, the composite container 10 is opened when a finger is hooked in the hole 7b formed in the second side panel 7 and the locking piece 5b is removed from the notch 7a. When heating food F, after opening the composite container 10, the container body 2 is removed from the sleeve 1, and the lid 2b is slightly peeled off from the tray 2a before heating in a microwave oven.

Figure 4 shows the front appearance (before opening) of a composite container 10A in which the shape of the sleeve 1 has been changed. In the composite container 10 (Figure 1), the opening 1A of the sleeve 1 is formed in an isosceles trapezoid shape, whereas in the composite container 10A (Figure 4), the opening 1A of the sleeve 1 is formed in a rectangular shape. In other words, in the composite container 10A, the sleeve 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. This allows for highly efficient loading during transportation, display, etc.

Figure 5 shows the top surface appearance (before opening) of composite containers 10, 10A (Figures 1 and 4) and composite containers 10B to 10D in which the shape of the container body 2 has been changed. In Figure 5, (A) is a top view of composite containers 10, 10A in which the container body 2 has a rectangular flange portion 2f, (B) is a top view of composite container 10B in which the container body 2 has an oval flange portion 2f, (C) is a top view of composite container 10C in which the container body 2 has an oval flange portion 2f, and (D) is a top view of composite container 10D in which the container body 2 has a circular flange portion 2f.

In any of the composite containers 10, 10A-10D shown in Figures 5(A)-(D), the container body 2 is secured by hooking the bottom 2d of the tray 2a onto the locking plate 9 (see Figure 1, etc.), and not by hooking the flange 2f of the tray 2a into a notch or the like. In other words, the structure of securing the position of the container body 2 with the locking plate 9 is effective not only when the linear portions on both sides of the flange 2f are too long to provide a hooking location, as in Figures 5(A) and (B), but also when there is a hooking location, as in Figures 5(C) and (D) (corresponding to Figures 6(A) and (B)). The same applies when the composite containers 10, 10A-10D are constructed using a cup instead of the tray 2a.

The sleeve 1 shown in Figures 5(A) to (D) is slightly larger on the opening 1A side than the container body 2, allowing for some leeway in size, but it may also be the same size as the container body 2. If the size is set so that the container body 2 does not protrude from the sleeve 1 and the entire container body 2 is stored within the sleeve 1, it becomes possible to transport, display, and other items with high loading efficiency while maintaining a compact size. Furthermore, if the container body 2 does not protrude from the sleeve 1, the entire composite container 10A to 10D can be easily and stably covered with shrink film. In other words, functions such as preventing tampering (such as the introduction of foreign objects) can be easily added.

As described above, with the sleeve 1 according to each embodiment, the locking plate 9 formed at the end of the blank plate 1B is folded into the storage space 1S and has an opening 9a for locking the container body 2 within the storage space 1S. This allows the entire container body 2 to be stored within the storage space 1S of the sleeve 1 and stably fixed in position. For example, even if a notch is formed in the sleeve 1 so that a portion of the container body 2 cannot be hooked by protruding, the position of the container body 2 can be fixed within the storage space 1S without increasing the size of the sleeve 1. Moreover, the simple configuration in which the container body 2 is locked by the locking plate 9 within the storage space 1S by folding a single blank plate 1B is effective in reducing costs. Therefore, a sleeve 1 that can stably secure the container body 2 with a simple configuration and a low-cost composite container 10 using it can be easily realized.

1 Sleeve 1S Storage space 1A Opening 1B Blank plate 1a Notch 2 Container body (contents)
2a Tray 2b Lid 2d Bottom 2f Flange 4 Top plate 5 Bottom plate 5a Zipper 5b Locking piece 6 First side plate 7 Second side plate 7a Notch 7b Hole 8 Folding plate 9 Locking plate 9a Opening 10, 10A to 10D Composite container L1 to L6 Folds F Food

Claims (5)

A sleeve made of a single blank plate bent into a cylindrical shape so that a storage space for storing contents is formed inside,
The blank plate has opposing top and bottom plates, opposing first and second side plates, and a folding plate positioned overlapping the bottom plate so as to surround the storage space,
A locking plate is formed at an end of the blank plate, the locking plate being folded into the storage space and having an opening for locking the contents in the storage space ;
The blank plate is folded at each boundary between the first side plate and the top plate and the bottom plate, and the blank plate is folded at each boundary between the second side plate and the top plate and the folding plate,
The blank plate is folded at the boundary between the locking plate and the folding plate,
A sleeve characterized in that a locking piece is formed at the end of the bottom plate, a notch is formed at the boundary between the second side plate and the folding plate, and the locking piece is inserted into the notch to form the blank plate into a cylindrical shape . 2. The sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the blank plate is made of paper or resin. A composite container comprising: the sleeve according to claim 1 or 2 ; and a container body that is accommodated as the contents in the accommodation space. 4. The composite container according to claim 3 , wherein the container body is locked by the locking plate by fitting a part of the container body into an opening of the locking plate. 5. A composite container according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the container body is composed of a tray or cup for containing food and a lid for closing the opening of the tray or cup, and the container body is locked by the locking plate by fitting the bottom of the tray or cup into the opening of the locking plate.