US20200180810A1

US20200180810A1 - Folding blank and shipping package folded therefrom

Info

Publication number: US20200180810A1
Application number: US16/691,899
Authority: US
Inventors: Alex Hessel; Steffen THEISS
Original assignee: Coburger Kartonagenfabrik & Co KG GmbH
Current assignee: Coburger Kartonagenfabrik & Co KG GmbH
Priority date: 2017-11-24
Filing date: 2019-11-22
Publication date: 2020-06-11
Also published as: EP3489161B1; EA201992539A2; DE202017006084U1; EP3489161A2; EA201992539A3; CN111216995A; EP3489161A3; EA038735B1

Abstract

In a square cover plate, a one-piece folding blank has a square cutaway that is rotated by 45° relative to the square shape of the cover plate. This square cutaway is arranged concentrically to a convex, octagonal groove-line and scoring-line structure. In this case, groove lines and scoring lines alternate respectively in such a way that the scoring lines wind up parallel to the outside edges of the cover plate, and the groove lines wind up parallel to the outside edges of the square cutaway. From the center of the scoring lines, in each case perpendicular to the scoring line, a flap separation cut up to the respective corner of the inside square cutaway is inserted into the cover plate. As an alternative, a flap main separation cut is inserted in the direction of the center of the respectively opposite scoring line and perpendicular to this scoring line in the cover plate from the respective corner of the inside square cutaway. This flap main separation cut branches at a bifurcation point into two flap free-position separation cuts at a point along the stretch between the respective corner of the inside square cutaway and the center of the respectively opposite scoring line, which cuts run symmetrically to one another to the axis of the flap main separation cut from the bifurcation point up to the respective scoring line.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a folding blank, in particular a one-piece, flat folding blank made of corrugated cardboard, cardboard or similar pulp-based or natural-fiber-based packaging materials, as well as a shipping package that can be folded from a folding blank, for example for intermediate packaging of pastry products, such as, for example, tarts or cakes.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Confectionery goods, such as, for example, custard pies or ice cream cakes, are often retailed in deep-frozen form. To this end, it is necessary to select a type of packaging in which the confectionery goods are well protected against shipping damage. Folding packages, as disclosed in, for example, DE 80 07 232 U1, are well-suited in principle for such packaging, but frequently do not have the necessary mechanical stability.
Other types of packaging, for example made of foamed or expanded polystyrene, as shown by way of example in DE 80 18 011 U1, cannot be shipped and stored in a compact form. To this are added the poor environmental sustainability, the low sustainability of the resources that are used for the production thereof, as well as the cumbersome disposal by the consumer.
Previous solutions made of cardboard relate to, for example, dimensionally-stable cake packaging with bottom and cover sections, which are connected by a crosspiece section as well as a separate laminated-paper sleeve as a cake receptacle, as disclosed in, for example, DE 20 2017 102 150 U1. Such cake packages are, however, composed of multiple parts due to production requirements and are therefore complicated to put together. Other packages that consist of one-piece blanks—as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,189,151 A or U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,225 A—are inherently unstable, however, and cannot adequately protect confectionery goods transported therein from shifting and damage.
There is therefore a need for options for the production of shipping packages, which make possible an efficient production process that consists of a one-piece folding blank. In addition, there is a need for shipping packages with a high mechanical shipping stability.

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention, an essential idea is to use a one-piece folding blank, for example made of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, which in a square cover plate has a square cutaway that is rotated by 45° relative to the square shape of the cover plate. This square cutaway is arranged concentrically to a convex, octagonal groove-line and scoring-line structure. In this case, groove lines and scoring lines alternate respectively in such a way that the scoring lines wind up parallel to the outside edges of the cover plate, and the groove lines wind up parallel to the outside edges of the square cutaway.
In a first possible implementation of this invention, in this case from the center of the scoring lines, in each case perpendicular to the scoring line, a flap separation cut up to the respective corner of the inside square cutaway is inserted into the cover plate.
In a second possible implementation of this invention, a flap main separation cut is inserted in the direction of the center of the respectively opposite scoring line and perpendicular to this scoring line in the cover plate from the respective corner of the inside square cutaway. This flap main separation cut branches at a bifurcation point into two flap free-position separation cuts at a point along the stretch between the respective corner of the inside square cutaway and the center of the respectively opposite scoring line, which cuts run symmetrically to one another to the axis of the flap main separation cut from the bifurcation point up to the respective scoring line.
In principle, the scoring lines and flap separation cuts or flap main separation cuts and flap free-position separation cuts in both possible implementations in this case make possible the separation of inside-wall flaps that are placed between the square cutaway and the octagonal groove-line and scoring-line structure and that remain hinged on the cover plate when the folding section is folded over the groove lines and in this case folded downward form an octagonal inner recess below the cover plate.
Together with four side walls that are hinged outside at the outside edges of the square cover plate via outside groove lines, the inside-wall flaps therefore define an octagonal inside-wall structure that can accommodate circular packing goods, such as, for example, tarts or cakes, considerably better than square inside-wall structures.
In the first possible implementation of this invention, the inside-wall flaps can have score lines on the corners that are defined by scoring lines and flap separation cuts, on which score lines the respective inside-wall flap can be turned down. As a result, locking straps can be made on the vertical inside-wall flap edges, which straps can be engaged in the side walls of the folding blank during folding with plug-in openings or locking strap receptacles corresponding in size and position in the side walls of the folding blank. The corners of the inside-wall flaps that are turned down toward the inside form, on the one hand, a mechanical reinforcement of the inside-wall flaps on the locking straps, but on the other hand contribute to an increase in the material thickness on the locking strap receptacles.
Therefore, in the second possible implementation of this invention, it can be advantageous for the corners that in each case fold inward in the first possible implementation to be omitted from the outset. To this end, the two flap free-position separation cuts together with the section of the scoring line placed between the points of intersection thereof with the scoring line form an approximately delta-shaped recess. The material in the folding blank that is omitted by this recess makes possible a direct latching of the inside-wall flaps with corresponding locking receivers in the side walls or in the intermediate-wall flaps that are upstream in the side walls.
In each case, the one-piece folding blank in the folded state therefore offers high mechanical stability relative to warp, shear stress, shear forces or pressure, since the side walls are already connected in a stable manner to the cover plate via the side knuckle lines and the inside-wall flaps in each case secure two adjacent side walls to one another in their orientation via the locking strap connections. In this case, the one-piece folding blank according to the invention offers the considerable advantage that adhesive connection are not absolutely necessary to keep the folded shipping package in its proper shape.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described more precisely below in connection with and relative to the exemplary embodiments as in the attached drawings.

The attached drawings are used for better understanding of this invention, and they illustrate exemplary variant embodiments of the invention. They are used to explain principles, advantages, technical effects and variation possibilities. Of course, other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of the invention are also conceivable, in particular examining the detailed description of the invention that is presented below. The elements in the drawings are not necessarily depicted to scale and are depicted in partially simplified or schematized form for the sake of clarity. The same reference numbers in this case refer to the same or similar components or elements.

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective bottom view of a shipping package that has been folded from a folding blank according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective top view of a shipping package that has been folded from a folding blank according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a detail view of a corner of a shipping package that has been folded from a folding blank according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 20 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 21 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 22 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 23 shows a diagrammatic view of a folding blank according to another embodiment.

FIG. 24 shows a perspective bottom view of a shipping package that has been folded from a folding blank according to FIG. 23.

Although special embodiments are described and depicted herein, it is clear to one skilled in the art that many other alternative and/or equivalent implementations can be selected for the embodiments, without departing significantly from the basic idea of this invention. In general, all variations, modifications and variants of the embodiments described herein are also to be considered as being covered by the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The folding blanks that are shown below are in each case one piece, i.e., they are produced from a continuous piece of blank material by cutting outside edges and forming recesses or punch-outs in the inside area of the blank material. The blank material can in this case comprise, for example, corrugated cardboard with various types of waves (A-, B-, C-, D-, E-, F-, G-, N-waves or combinations thereof), cardboard or similar pulp-based materials, such as, for example, paper composites with or without plastic coating.
In particular, to avoid adhesion of foodstuffs stored in a shipping package produced from a folding blank shown below, such as, for example, ice cream cakes, cakes, tarts and similar confectionery goods, individual inside folding blank elements such as straps, flaps or side walls can be provided with a grease-proof and/or moisture-proof coating or barrier, such as, for example, a PE coating, on an inner side of the shipping package on one side (or else on two sides).
In terms of this invention, knuckle lines are all pre-shaped target folding lines or groove lines in the blank material, along which a knuckle is provided in the blank material for later three-dimensional production of a shipping package. In terms of this invention, cutaways are in this case openings that are cut, punched-out or otherwise cut into the blank material and are completely surrounded by blank material in the folding blank plane. In particular, in terms of this invention, cutaways can be narrow, elongated openings of approximately 1 millimeter to 2 centimeters in width, which can extend over an opening slot of 1 centimeter up to a few tens of centimeters. Such cutaways can be formed by punching out blank material and have punch ends that run toward the starting and end points in a pointed or rounded manner.
In terms of this invention, score lines are all target folding lines in which the blank material is cut to a portion of its thickness, for example two-thirds of the thickness. The blank material can then be folded along such score lines under less stress than blank material of full thickness, such as, for example, on a groove line.
FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic depiction of an unfolded folding blank Z in the top view of the folding blank plane. The depicted folding blank Z is in this case in general flat. The outside contour of the entire folding blank Z in each case comprises cut edges, from which the folding blank Z is cut out of blank material from a larger layer—and which are depicted inside edges (except for the contour of the inside cutaway Q, which is further explained below), in general in each case knuckle lines or groove lines, along which a later knuckling of the folding blank Z is provided.
The folding blank Z in general comprises a cover plate D as a central blank element, which defines an upper flat plane of the formed shipping package in the folded or arranged state of the folding blank Z. The cover plate D has a square outside contour and has in its interior an inside cutaway Q, which has a square shape at the point relative to the square outside contour of the cover plate D. The inside cutaway Q defines the lower edges of inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are formed by parts of the cover plate D.
In the example of FIG. 1, the cover plate D of the folding blank Z comprises two side-wall knuckle lines D1 and D2 (left and right in FIG. 1), on which in each case two side walls S1 and S2 are hinged, as well as two side-wall knuckle lines D3 and D4 (bottom and top in FIG. 1), on which in each case two side walls S3 and S4 are hinged. For folding the shipping package PK, the side walls S1 to S4 are folded from the folding blank 90° around the side-wall knuckle lines D1 to D4 relative to the cover plate D downward (in FIG. 1 through the drawing plane).
In each case, side-wall straps B1 to B4 are hinged on the front sides of the side walls S1 and S2 via side-wall strap knuckle lines M1 to M4. The side-wall straps B1 to B4 can be implemented with a tilted inside edge and have in each case a slightly reduced width compared to the width of the side walls S1 and S2. The side-wall straps B1 to B4 can be attached inward to the insides of the side walls S3 or S4 that are folded downward and can be glued there with the insides of the side walls S3 or S4 after the side walls S1 to S2 are arranged. To this end, it can be advantageous for the side walls S3 and S4 to be provided in each case on the front end sections with double groove lines U1 to U4 that run diagonally to the width of the side walls S3 and S4, at which double groove lines the edges of the side walls S3 and S4 can be reinforced as double walls by folding the side-wall reinforcements E1 to E4 that are produced on the insides of the side walls S3 and S4. The respective side-wall straps B1 to B4 can then be glued to the side-wall reinforcements E1 to E4 that are folded inward. In this case, it should be clear that the double groove lines U1 to U4 do not necessarily have to be provided and that the respective side-wall straps B1 to B4 can also be glued, attached or plugged into the single-wall side walls S3 and S4. In additional alternatives, single groove lines U1 to U4 can also be provided.
In many variants, it can also be possible to leave open a slot between the two groove lines that form the respective double groove lines U1 to U4, so that the side-wall straps B1 to B4 do not have to be glued to the insides of the side walls S3 and S4 but rather can instead be plugged into the slot that is left open between the double groove lines U1 to U4. As a result, at the expense of mechanical stability of the side-wall structure, an expensive gluing of the side-wall straps B1 to B4 is no longer necessary.
The inside cutaway Q in the interior of the cover plate D is arranged concentrically to a convex octagonal sequence that consists of scoring lines T1 to T4 and groove lines O1 to O4 that adjoin one another. In this case, the scoring lines T1 to T4 run respectively parallel to the side-wall knuckle lines D1 to D4. Between the ends of each two adjacent scoring lines T1 to T4, each one of the groove lines O1 to O4 runs at a 45° angle thereto. As a result of the scoring lines T1 to T4 being in each case the same length, and the groove lines O1 to O4 also being in each case the same length, the sequence that consists of scoring lines T1 to T4 and groove lines O1 to O4 forms a double symmetrical octagon. Because of this double symmetry, the groove lines O1 to O4 run parallel to the edges of the inside cutaway Q.
The inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are formed from parts of the inside area of the cover plate D are ultimately separated from one another by flap separation cuts LT1 to LT4. The flap separation cuts LT1 to LT4 in this case run from the center of each one of the scoring lines T1 to T4 perpendicular to the scoring line up to in each case one of the corner points of the inside cutaway Q. The inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 thus have a convex hexagonal outside contour, which in each case is formed by an inside edge of the inside cutaway Q, one of the groove lines O1 to O4, two of the flap separation cuts LT1 to LT4, and in each case one-half of two of the scoring lines T1 to T4. Because of the free-standing nature of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 at all edges of the outside contour thereof up to the edge formed by the respective one of the groove lines O1 to O4, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can be folded through relative to the cover plate plane of the cover plate D into the drawing plane of FIG. 1.
In addition to the free-standing nature of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 along a portion of the outside contour thereof, locking straps F11 to F42 are made free-standing diagonally via the corners of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are formed by the flap separation cuts LT1 to LT4 and the scoring lines T1 to T4. This is carried out in such a way that strap sections become free-standing approximately in the center of the diagonal connections over the corners, and the edge-side diagonal connections are provided with knuckle lines. As a result, the respective corner can be bent inward or outward in an approximately triangular shape, and thus the respective locking strap F11 to F42 is able to project outward freely. For example, the locking strap F11 is formed by a press cut in the center of the diagonal connection between the scoring line T1 and the flap separation cut LT1. The other locking straps F12 to F42 are formed in a corresponding way. The shape of the locking straps F11 to F42 is in this case approximately rectangular and can optionally be configured with rounded or tilted corners.
The locking straps F11 to F42 are used in the respective securing of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 to the side walls S1 to S4 that are also bent downward. To this end, two locking strap receptacles A11 to A42 each that correspond in each case in shape and position are inserted into the side walls S1 to S4 as cutaways in the side walls S1 to S4. As depicted in FIG. 4 in a higher degree of detail, the respective corner of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can be turned down toward the rear, i.e., in the direction of the corner of the finished shipping package PK that is located nearer, so that the locking strap (in FIG. 4, by way of example, the locking strap F31) can be engaged with the locking strap receptacle (in FIG. 4, by way of example, the locking strap receptacle A31).
Even if in each case corners of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are turned down toward the rear are depicted in FIGS. 2 to 4, it can also be possible to turn down the corners of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 toward the front, i.e., toward the inside of the octagonal inner recess that is produced. Even though, as a result, no smooth or flat surface on the insides of the side walls S1 to S4, which point inward to the inner recess, is produced, the angle around which the corner of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 must be turned down is no longer 135°, as in the examples of FIGS. 2 to 4, but rather still just 45°. As a result, at the expense of the smoothness of the inside of the shipping package PK, the material stress on the knuckle lines can be reduced.
The detail view of FIG. 4 shows the view from below into a corner of the shipping package PK. As depicted, the corners of the shipping package PK are covered by a part of the cover plate D upward. The respective central areas on the side walls S1 to S4 are covered by narrow material arms of the cover plate D, whose thickness d, depending on the size of the cutaway, can be between 0.5 mm and 3.0 cm. The thickness d is in this case determined by the distance of the scoring lines T1 to T4 from the side-wall knuckle lines D1 to D4.
Below, with reference to the exemplary views of FIGS. 2 and 3, it is shown how the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 are folded downward in order to create an octagonal inner recess in the cover plate D and can be halted via the locking straps F11 to F42 in each case with the locking strap receptacles A11 to A42 in the side walls S1 to S4. The exemplary view in FIG. 2 shows a perspective bottom view of a shipping package PK, which had been folded from a one-piece folding blank Z according to FIG. 1. The exemplary view in FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from above of a shipping package PK, which had been folded from a one-piece folding blank Z according to FIG. 1.
After being made free-standing, the locking straps F11 to F42 are in this case guided by folding the respective corners of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 at a 45° angle through the locking strap receptacles A11 to A42 that are assigned in each case. Both in the vertical direction and in the diagonal direction along the plane of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4, mechanical stabilization of the entire shipping package PK is thus produced, which stabilization counteracts undesirable shearing strain along both extending directions of the side walls. In addition, to this end, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 are in each case halted at a 45° angle relative to the side walls and offer improved shifting protection for the essentially circular confectionery goods that are accommodated in the shipping package PK.
Other possible variants for folding blanks Z are explained below with reference to the diagrammatic depictions of FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. All of these depictions show unfolded folding blanks Z in the top view on the folding blank plane. In this case, the depicted folding blank Z is in general flat in all cases. The outside contour of the entire folding blank Z in all cases respectively comprises cut edges, from which the folding blank Z is cut out of blank material from a larger layer—and which are depicted inside edges (except for the contour of the inside cutaway Q, which is further explained below, and optionally the essentially delta-shaped recesses between the cover-plate-side meeting points of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4), in general in each case knuckle lines or groove lines, along which a later bending of the folding blank Z is provided.
For each of the folding blanks Z of FIGS. 5 to 15 and 19, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can be folded downward for making an octagonal or essentially octagonal inner recess in the cover plate D and can be halted via corresponding locking straps in each case with locking strap receptacles A11 to A42 that are placed in or on the side walls S1 to S4. In this case, any of the one-piece folding blanks Z of FIGS. 5 to 15 and 19 can be used as a basis for setting up a shipping package PK. For each of the folding blanks Z of FIGS. 16 to 18 and 20, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can also be folded downward for making an octagonal or essentially octagonal inner recess in the cover plate D. For these folding blanks Z, however, other securing options of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can be selected, for example a securing via locking strap receptacles in respective counter-wall flaps in a base plate or via gluing with respective counter-wall flaps in a base plate.
Common to the folding blanks Z of FIGS. 5 to 20 is that they in general comprise a cover plate D as a central blank element, which in the folded or arranged state of the folding blank Z defines an upper flat plane of the formed shipping package. The cover plate D has a square outside contour and in its interior has an inside cutaway Q, which has a square shape at the point relative to the square outside contour of the cover plate D. The inside cutaway Q defines the lower edges of inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are formed by parts of the cover plate D.
In the example of FIGS. 5 to 20, the cover plate D of the folding blank Z comprises two side-wall knuckle lines D1 and D2 (respectively top and bottom in FIGS. 5 to 15 and 19; the same in FIGS. 16, 17, 18 and 20, but not explicitly called out), on which in each case two side walls S1 and S2 are hinged, as well as two side-wall knuckle lines D3 and D4 (respectively left and right in FIGS. 5 to 15 and 19; the same in FIGS. 16, 17, 18 and 20, but not explicitly called out), on which in each case two side walls S3 and S4 are hinged. For folding the shipping package PK, the side walls S1 to S4 are folded from the folding blank 90° around the side-wall knuckle lines D1 to D4 relative to the cover plate D downward (in FIGS. 5 to 20 through the drawing plane).
On the front sides of the side walls S1 and S2, in each case intermediate-wall straps B1 to B4 are hinged via side-wall-strap knuckle lines M1 to M4. The intermediate-wall straps B1 to B4 can be implemented with a tilted inside edge and have in each case a slightly reduced width compared to the width of the side walls S1 and S2. The intermediate-wall straps B1 to B4 can be attached inward to the insides of the side walls S3 or S4 that are folded downward and can be glued there with the insides of the side walls S3 or S4 after the side walls S1 to S2 are arranged. To this end, it can be advantageous for the side walls S3 and S4 to be provided in each case on the front end sections with double groove lines U1 to U4 that run diagonally to the width of the side walls S3 and S4, at which double groove lines the edges of the side walls S3 and S4 can be reinforced as double walls by folding the side-wall reinforcements E1 to E4 that are produced on the insides of the side walls S3 and S4. The respective intermediate-wall straps B1 to B4 can then be glued to the side-wall reinforcements E1 to E4 that are folded inward. In this case, it should be clear that the double groove lines U1 to U4 do not necessarily have to be provided and that the respective intermediate-wall straps B1 to B4 can also be glued, attached or plugged into the single-wall side walls S3 and S4. In additional alternatives, single groove lines U1 to U4 can also be provided.
In addition, in each case, intermediate-wall straps B12 or B34 are hinged on the edges of the side walls S1 and S2 that are opposite to the respective side-wall knuckle line D1 or D2, which straps can also be attached inward to the insides of the side walls S1 or S2 that are folded downward and can be glued there with the insides of the side walls S1 or S2 after the side walls S1 to S2 are arranged. As a result, a smooth structure that is not interrupted by functional elements is produced on the outside of all side walls S1 to S4, which structure, on the one hand, makes an aesthetically pleasing impression on a user, and, on the other hand, can also glide easily and smoothly in an outer package that is wrapped around a shipping package PK that is set up from the folding blank Z. In other words, all knuckles, straps and cutaways that are necessary for mechanical solidarity of the shipping package PK can be moved by the intermediate-wall straps B1 to B4 as well as B12 and B34 into the interior of the righted shipping package PK and can be made invisible from the outside.
In many variants, it can also be possible to leave open a slot between the two groove lines that form the respective double groove lines U1 to U4, so that the intermediate-wall straps B1 to B4 do not have to be glued to the insides of the side walls S3 and S4 but rather can instead be plugged into the slot that is left open between the double groove lines U1 to U4. As a result, at the expense of mechanical stability of the side-wall structure, an expensive gluing of the side-wall straps B1 to B4 is no longer necessary.
The inside cutaway Q in the interior of the cover plate D is arranged concentrically to an essentially convex octagonal sequence that consists of scoring lines T1 to T4 and groove lines O1 to O4 that adjoin one another. In this case, the scoring lines T1 to T4 run essentially parallel to the side-wall knuckle lines D1 to D4. In particular, the scoring lines T1 to T4 can have a slightly bent or convex curvilinear course, so that the octagonal sequence that is produced better approximates the outside shape of a circle. Between the ends of each two adjacent scoring lines T1 to T4, each one of the groove lines O1 to O4 runs at a 45° angle thereto. As a result of the scoring lines T1 to T4 being in each case the same length, and the groove lines O1 to O4 also being in each case the same length, the sequence that consists of scoring lines T1 to T4 and groove lines O1 to O4 forms a double symmetrical octagon. Because of this double symmetry, the groove lines O1 to O4 run parallel to the edges of the inside cutaway Q.
The inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are formed from parts of the inside area of the cover plate D are ultimately separated from one another by combinations of separation cuts. In this case, first flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 run from one of the corner points of the inside cutaway Q in the direction of the center of the respectively opposite scoring lines T1 to T4. The flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 are perpendicular to this scoring line into which cover plate D is inserted. The flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 in each case end at a bifurcation point P at a point along the stretch between the respective corner of the inside cutaway Q and the center of the respectively opposite scoring lines T1 to T4.
In each case, two from a total of eight flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 then branch from the bifurcation point P. The flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 in this case connect to flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 and run symmetrically to one another to the axis of the related flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 from the bifurcation point P up to the respective scoring lines T1 to T4. As a result, between two of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 and the respective scoring lines T1 to T4, an approximately delta-shaped cutaway is made free-standing, so that the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 thus have a convex octagonal outside contour, which is formed in each case by an inside edge of the inside cutaway Q, one of the groove lines O1 to O4, two of the flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4, two of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42, and in each case, one-half of two of the scoring lines T1 to T4. Because of the free-standing nature of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 at all edges of the outside contour thereof up to the edge formed by the respective one of the groove lines O1 to O4, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can be folded through relative to the cover plate plane of the cover plate D into the drawing plane of FIGS. 5 to 20.
Since the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 are already detached from one another via the delta-shaped cutaway, no more corners have to be turned down in order to form locking straps F11 to F42 along the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42, as in the variant in FIG. 1. Rather, it is sufficient either to use the entire length of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 as locking straps (as in, for example, the configuration of FIG. 14), or to detach in each case locking straps F11 to F42 along the eight flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 for the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 between the bifurcation point P and the respective scoring lines T1 to T4 (as in, for example, the configurations of FIGS. 5 to 13 and 19). This can be done by, for example, having the released locking straps F11 to F42 be hinged on the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 via the straight connection between bifurcation point P and groove lines following the respective scoring lines T1 to T4. It can also be quite simply possible, however, to select the paths of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 so that the locking straps are formed by suitable press cuts of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42. For example, the locking strap F11 can be formed by a corresponding press cut in the center of the connection between the scoring line T1 and the bifurcation point P. The other locking straps F12 to F42 are formed in a corresponding way. The form of the locking straps F12 to F42 is in this case approximately rectangular and can optionally be configured with rounded or tilted corners. In addition, the locking straps F11 to F42 can connect directly to the bifurcation point P (as in, for example, FIGS. 5 and 13), or can be formed in the center along the paths of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 (as in, for example, FIGS. 6 to 11 and 19).
The locking straps F11 to F42 are used in the respective securing of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 to the side walls S1 to S4 that are also bent downward. To this end, two locking strap receptacles A11 to A42 each that correspond in each case in shape and position are inserted into the intermediate-wall flaps B1 to B4 or B12 and B34 as cutaways. As depicted in FIGS. 5 to 14 in a higher degree of detail, shape, size, positioning and number of such locking strap receptacles A11 to A42 can be varied, as further explained in detail below. In any case, the locking straps (for example, the locking strap F31) can be engaged with the corresponding locking strap receptacle (for example, the locking strap receptacle A31).
The locking straps F11 to F42 can in this case be guided at a 45° angle through the respectively assigned locking strap receptacles A11 to A42. Both in the vertical direction and in the diagonal direction along the plane of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4, mechanical stabilization of the entire shipping package PK is thus produced, which stabilization counteracts undesirable shearing strain along both extending directions of the side walls. In addition, to this end, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 are in each case halted at a 45° angle relative to the side walls and offer improved shifting protection for the essentially circular confectionery goods that are accommodated in the shipping package PK. As already mentioned, in FIGS. 5 to 19, the plug-in connections between inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 and the respective side-wall elements are configured in such a way that the side of the side walls S1 to S4 that can be seen from outside in each case does not have any plug-in connecting elements. As a result, the shipping package PK that is set up looks smooth and can be shipped more easily in an outer package wrapped over it.
Below, characteristics of the variants of the folding blanks Z, shown in FIGS. 5 to 20, will be explained in detail. It should be clear in this case that individual specific configurations of various variants can also be combined with other variants from other drawings. In particular, the configuration of the cover plate D together with the shape, size and specific contour of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can be adapted to the respective shape, size and specific contour of the side walls S1 to S4, the functional elements that are hinged on the side walls S1 to S4, as well as their respective cutaways and recesses, in order to ensure a mechanically appropriate latching of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 with the side walls of the folding blank Z that is set up to form a shipping package PK.
In FIGS. 5 and 6, in the intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34, in each case two locking strap receptacles A11, A12 or A21, A22 are cut out to form plug-in connections with the respective locking straps F12, F21 or F32, F41. The intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34 are turned down inward after the side walls S1 or S2 are folded and thus form an intermediate wall, upstream from the side walls S1 or S2, in the interior of the shipping package PK. To an equal extent, the recesses A31, A32, A41, A42 that are made in the intermediate-wall flaps B1 to B4 in each case form locking strap receptacles for the locking straps F11, F22 or F31, F42 in the intermediate walls, upstream from the side walls S3 or S4, in the interior of the shipping package PK.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, each two locking strap receptacles that are located on an intermediate wall can be connected to one another in addition via groove line areas A1 to A4. In these groove line areas A1 to A4, the wall material is thinner and thus more rigid, so that the insertion of locking straps into the locking strap receptacles when righting the shipping package PK is facilitated.
The variants of FIGS. 7 and 8 are distinguished relative to the variants of FIG. 6 essentially in that in the intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34, each two additional locking strap receptacles A5 and A6 or A7 and A8 are formed. The latter are used to receive side-wall locking straps E5, E7 or E6, E8 that are hinged on the respective side walls S3 and S4. As a result, the corners of the side walls S1 to S4 are better mechanically locked to one another and prevent the side walls S1 to S4 from springing open relative to one another. In this case—as illustrated in FIG. 7—the locking strap receptacles A5 to A8 can be made parallel to the locking strap receptacles A11 to A42 or—as illustrated in FIG. 8—perpendicular thereto. This means that the corresponding side-wall locking straps E5, E7 or E6, E8 must be provided with knuckle lines or not, depending on the orientation of the locking strap receptacles A5 to A8, in order to make possible a mechanical latching of the respective latching elements.
In the variants of FIGS. 9 and 10, the corner reinforcements of the side-wall meeting points are formed by side-wall corner reinforcements E9 to E12, which are hinged in the corners between adjacent intermediate-wall flaps. To this end, the longitudinal-side intermediate-wall flaps B12, B34 in each case can be shortened relative to the side-wall lengths of the side walls S1 and S2 in order to offer space to the side-wall corner reinforcements E9 to E12 and at the same time to avoid overly thick side walls S1 and S2 together with the intermediate wall.
The variants of FIGS. 11 and 12 are distinguished in that inside-flap reinforcements C1 to C4 are hinged outside on the respective ones of the intermediate-wall flaps B12, B34 via knuckle lines. These inside-flap reinforcements C1 to C4 can be folded inward and serve to reinforce the intermediate walls relative to the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that project inward, i.e., the inside-flap reinforcements C1 to C4 can in each case be folded behind the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 and increase the effective flap thickness of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4.
In the variant of FIG. 13, a more complex design of the locking strap receptacles A11 to A42 is provided in addition to the inside-flap reinforcements C1 to C4. To this end, a bridge-like crosspiece can be made free-standing over the actual recess, which crosspiece is hinged on the inside in each case via knuckle lines at the edges of the recess. The recess itself has a grip hole on the side opposite to the knuckle lines, so that after the locking strap is plugged into the locking strap receptacle, the bridge-like crosspiece can be folded around the knuckle line. As a result, the locking strap can be better locked in the locking strap receptacle in order to avoid an accidental slipping-out from inside and thus to reduce the danger of an unfolding of the inside-wall flaps.
FIG. 14 illustrates how locking strap receptacles A11, A12, A21 and A22 can be inserted diagonally into the side areas of the intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34. These locking strap receptacles A11, A12, A21 and A22 of the folding blank Z of FIG. 14 are used in this case to receive complete outside edges of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are formed by the flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4, so that corresponding locking straps F11 to F42 (as in the above variants) no longer have to be formed. Groove lines (or double groove lines) U5 to U8 that run obliquely in the side areas of the intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34 as well as corresponding perpendicular cuts in the intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34 ensure that triangular flap elements with the locking strap receptacles A11, A12, A21 and A22 can be folded inward around the corresponding outside edges of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4.
In the variant of FIG. 15, the role of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 and intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34 as latching and mating latching elements is switched—instead of bringing the locking strap receptacles into the intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34, locking strap receptacles are cut into the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4. Mating locking straps FL1 to FL4, which are then hinged via groove lines (or double groove lines) U5 to U8, which in turn run obliquely in the side areas of the intermediate-wall flaps B12 and B34, are used as counter-elements.
The variants of the folding blanks Z in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are distinguished in that on one of the side walls (in the examples, in each case, side wall S3), a base plate DB is hinged via another side-wall knuckle line DS3, which base plate has an octagonal sequence that is congruent in shape, size and placement and that consists of scoring lines and groove lines that are adjacent to one another and with corresponding base-plate cutaway QB. In turn, in this octagonal sequence—analogously to the free-standing nature in the cover plate D—inside-flap reinforcements LB1 to LB4 are made free-standing, and after the base plate DB is folded over, they can be bent around the side-wall knuckle line DS3 in the opposite direction from the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 and parallel to said flaps upward in the direction of the cover plate D. As a result, in each case, double-walled inside-wall flaps are produced from the flap elements L1 to L4 and LB1 to LB4. The inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can in this case be brought with their lower outside edge into latching engagement with corresponding flap receptacles AB1 to AB4, which are inserted as recesses into the respective inside-flap reinforcements LB1 to LB4.
Additional side walls S5 and S6 are hinged on the base plate DB corresponding to the side walls S1 and S2. The side walls S1 and S5 or S2 and S6 form common double-walled side walls after the folding blank Z is set up to form a shipping package PK. This makes it possible to design the side walls S1 and S5 or S2 and S6 with only half the height and corresponding adhesive straps in order to save on material in the folding blank Z. After the folding blank Z is set up, the side wall S4 can be glued to a short adhesive strap K that is hinged on the opposite side of the base plate DB, in order to produce a shipping package PK that is closed all around on the side surfaces.
The variants of FIGS. 16 and 17 are distinguished only in the type of flap receptacles AB1 to AB4, which can be formed either as closed cutaways in the interior of the inside-flap reinforcements LB1 to LB4 (FIG. 16) or as cutaways that are slit, partially open, and placed on the edge of the outside contour of the inside-flap reinforcements LB1 to LB4 (FIG. 17). The variant of FIG. 18 is a variant automatic device, i.e., a variant that can be set up mechanically by an automatic folding device. In this case, the respective side surfaces are glued to one another. To allow simpler mechanical processing, the intermediate-wall flaps B2 and B4 are not hinged on the side wall S4, but rather on an extended adhesive strap K on the side edge of the base plate DB that is opposite to the side wall S4.
FIG. 19 shows a variant automatic device, which is made analogously to the variant of FIG. 6. In this case, also to allow simpler mechanical processing, the intermediate-wall flaps B1 to B4 are not hinged on the side walls S1 and S2, but rather on the side walls S3 and S4. In particular, the intermediate-wall flaps B1 to B4 are divided into respectively three sections Q11 to Q43 that are delineated from one another by scoring/groove combinations. The respective first two sections from the boundary line to the side wall are seen in this case respectively folded inward in order to ensure stabilization of the corners of the shipping package by corresponding inner supports.
FIG. 20 also shows a variant automatic device, which is formed analogously to the variant of FIG. 18. In this case, however, locking strap receptacles in the inside-flap reinforcements LB1 to LB4 are no longer necessary. Instead, the inside-flap reinforcements LB1 to LB4 are glued behind with the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4.
FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 each show a diagrammatic depiction of an unfolded folding blank Z in the top view on the folding blank plane. The depicted folding blank Z is in this case generally flat. The outside contour of the entire folding blank Z comprises in each case cut edges, from which the folding blank Z is cut from a larger layer of blank material—which are depicted inside edges (up to the contour of the inside cutaway Q that is further explained below) in general in each case knuckle lines or groove lines or score lines, along which a later bending of the folding blank Z is provided.
The folding blank Z in general comprises a cover plate D as a central blank element, which in the folded or arranged state of the folding blank Z defines an upper flat plane of the formed shipping package. The cover plate D has a square outside contour and has in its interior an inside cutaway Q, which has a square shape at the point relative to the square outside contour of the cover plate D. The inside cutaway Q defines the lower edges of inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are formed by parts of the cover plate D.
In the example of FIGS. 21, 22 and 23, the cover plate D of the folding blank Z comprises two side-wall knuckle lines D1 and D2 (bottom and top in FIGS. 21, 22 and 23), on which in each case two side walls S1 and S2 are hinged, as well as two side-wall knuckle lines D3 and D4 (left and right in FIGS. 21, 22 and 23), on which in each case two side walls S3 and S4 are hinged. For folding the shipping package PK, the side walls S1 to S4 are folded from the folding blank 90° around the side-wall knuckle lines D1 to D4 relative to the cover plate D downward (in FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 through the drawing plane).
On the front sides of the side walls S3 and S4, in each case intermediate-wall straps B1 to B4 are hinged via side-wall strap knuckle lines. In each case, the folding blanks Z of FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 show variant automatic devices, in which to allow simpler mechanical processing, the intermediate-wall flaps B1 to B4 are not hinged on the side walls S1 and S2 but rather on the side walls S3 and S4. In particular, the intermediate-wall flaps B1 to B4 are divided into respectively three sections Q11 to Q43 that are delineated from one another by scoring/groove combinations. The respective first two sections from the boundary line to the side wall are seen in this case respectively folded inward in order to ensure stabilization of the corners of the shipping package by corresponding inner supports.
FIG. 24 shows a shipping package PK that is partially set up from the folding blank Z of FIG. 23, in which it can be detected that the intermediate-wall flap section Q12 (or Q22, Q32 and Q42) is arranged obliquely between the adjacent side walls and is supported by the respectively adjoining intermediate-wall flap sections Q11 and Q13 (or Q21 and Q23, Q31 and Q33 as well as Q41 and Q43) on the side walls. The mean intermediate-wall flap section thus is used as a back wall for the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are described below and that are folded downward from the cover plate D.
The intermediate-wall flaps B1 to B4 can be attached inward to the insides of the side walls S3 or S4 that are folded downward according to an arrangement of the side walls S1 to S2 and are glued there with the insides of the side walls S3 or S4.
In the interior of the cover plate D, the inside cutaway Q is arranged concentrically to a convex octagonal sequence that consists of scoring lines T1 to T4 that adjoin one another and scoring line/groove line combinations O1 to O4. In this case, the scoring lines T1 to T4 in each case run parallel to the side-wall knuckle lines D1 to D4. Between the ends of each two adjacent scoring lines T1 to T4, each one of the scoring line/groove line combinations O1 to O4 runs at a 45° angle thereto. Since the scoring lines T1 to T4 are in each case the same length and the scoring line/groove line combinations O1 to O4 are also in each case the same length, the sequence that consists of scoring lines T1 to T4 and scoring line/groove line combinations O1 to O4 forms a double symmetrical octagon. The scoring line/groove line combinations O1 to O4 run parallel to the edges of the inside cutaway Q based on this double symmetry.
The scoring line/groove line combinations O1 to O4 have groove lines in a central area and are cut in the respective outside areas. Thus, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 that are formed from parts of the inside area of the cover plate D are made partially free-standing at the edges and are ultimately separated from one another by combinations of separation cuts. In this case, flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 first run from one of the corner points of the inside cutaway Q in the direction of the center of the respectively opposite scoring lines T1 to T4. The flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 are inserted perpendicular to this scoring line in the cover plate D. The flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 in each case end at a bifurcation point P at a point along the stretch between the respective corner of the inside cutaway Q and the center of the scoring lines T1 to T4 that are opposite in each case.
In each case, two from a total of eight flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 then branch from the bifurcation point P. The flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 in this case connect to the flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 and run symmetrically to one another to the axis of the related flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 from the bifurcation point P up to the respective scoring line T1 to T4. As a result, an approximately delta-shaped cutaway is made free-standing between two of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 and the respective scoring line T1 to T4, so that the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 thus have a convex octagonal outside contour, which is formed in each case by an inside edge of the inside cutaway Q, one of the scoring line/groove line combinations O1 to O4, two of the flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4, two of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 and in each case one-half of two of the scoring lines T1 to T4. Because of the free-standing nature of the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 at all edges of the outside contour thereof up to the edge formed by the respective one of the scoring line/groove line combinations O1 to O4, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 can be folded through relative to the cover plate plane of the cover plate D into the drawing plane of FIGS. 21, 22 and 23, as illustrated by way of example in the perspective depiction of FIG. 24.
Unlike in the variants of FIGS. 1 to 20, the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4 are glued with the respective intermediate-wall flaps or side walls and are not secured via locking strap connections. To this end, inside-wall flap score line combinations R1 to R4 from three sides of a rectangle postforming score lines are cut into the inside-wall flaps L1 to L4. The area that runs within the inside-wall flap score line combinations R1 to R4 then forms the actual inside-wall flap, during which edge areas can be partially driven in in order to ensure plane-parallel gluing with the respectively adjoining surfaces of the intermediate-wall flaps or side walls of the shipping package.
The paths of the flap free-position separation cuts G11 to G42 can in this case be selected specifically, since no more locking straps whatsoever are to be made. To allow an improved free-standing nature of the edge areas outside of the inside-wall flap score line combinations R1 to R4, various possibilities can be taken into consideration. For example, the flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 between the bifurcation point P and the inside cutaway Q can be weakened by a rhombic recess (see FIG. 21). As an alternative to this, it can be possible to take away partial cuts from the flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 into the edge areas of the inside-wall flap score line combinations R1 to R4 in order to achieve better separation of these edge areas (see FIG. 22). Finally, the geometry of the edge areas can also be selected so that the corners of the inside-wall flap score line combinations R1 to R4 wind up lying directly on the flap main separation cuts HT1 to HT4 so that no more separating or free-position intersecting lines whatsoever have to be inserted into the cover plate D (see FIG. 23).
FIG. 24 illustrates how one of the inside-wall flaps L1 can be folded downward around the respective groove line O1. In this case, the edge areas that are defined by the inside-wall flap score line combinations R1 to R4 are easily deflected inward so as to be able to cling flat to the side walls.
Moreover, specific scoring-line or groove-line paths in the area of the side walls and/or the intermediate-wall flaps of FIGS. 1 to 20 can also be carried over in a suitable way to the variants of FIGS. 21 to 23, without in this case impairing or changing the basic principle of the inside-wall flap free positions L1 to L4.
The goods, such as, for example, tarts or cakes, which are accommodated in a shipping package PK that is set up from one of the folding blanks Z that are further described above, can be stored on a separate shipping base before they are accommodated in the shipping package P, since the shipping package PK is open on the base side due to production requirements. In a like manner, when the shipping package PK is removed, the packaged goods remain on the separate shipping base and the latter are removed optionally only at a later time.
In many variant embodiments, it can also be possible to hinge a base plate as a shipping base that is integrated into the folding blank Z on one of the side walls of the folding blank Z. As a result, when the folding blank Z is folded, the shipping base is made integral with the shipping package PK. The hinged shipping base can be secured, for example, via additional plug-in connections to the opposite side wall.
In addition, the shipping package PK can be used as inner packaging for another outer packaging, for example a customary rectangular folding package or a circumferential folding sleeve. As a result, it is not absolutely necessary that the shipping package PK or the underlying folding blank Z have decorations or markings printed on it—such printing, for example for retail or wholesale, can be applied to the outside packaging.
The shipping packages PK that are to be folded from the depicted and described folding blanks Z are simple to produce since, except for optionally some material for an adhesive connection of the side-wall straps to the adjoining side walls, no additional tools or aids are necessary. Adaptation of various blank parts to one another also is avoided since the folding blank Z already exists in single-part or one-piece form.
The folding blanks Z offer the possibility of producing a mechanically stable shipping package PK, which is suitable, on the one hand, for the production of goods packaged therein, such as, for example, foodstuffs in the confectionery field. In the shipping package PK, intermediately-packaged and essentially cylindrical pastry products, such as, for example, custard pies, cream tarts, ice cream cakes, wafers, pyramid cakes, gingerbread or the like are protected against shifting within an outer package that is designed around the shipping package PK.
On the other hand, the shipping package PK that is produced from the folding blanks Z can also be used within the framework of the manufacture of pastry products, for example to ensure more reliable shipping of cylindrical tarts or cakes from one processing station to the next. For example, first for producing custard pies, tart blanks can first be baked from one or more layers of tart bases. These tart blanks can then be intermediately packaged in shipping packages PK in order to ensure the stability of the tart blanks during shipping and to prevent tart blanks that are lying beside one another from sliding into one another. When the tart blanks are cooled, they can be moved from the baking station to a frosting station, where the shipping packages PK are removed again, and the tart blanks can be frosted with custard cream and/or other decorations such as fondant.
Moreover, the folding blanks Z make possible an extremely efficient and permanent production, since in the production of folding blanks Z, very little scrap and thus very little waste accumulates. This is of great advantage in particular when using the shipping package PK that is produced from the folding blanks Z as a temporary protective package within the manufacture of pastry products. However, even when the shipping package PK is used as intermediate packaging of confectionery goods that are to be supplied to end customers, the folding blanks that consist of corrugated cardboard or cardboard offer advantages, since, on the one hand, they are lightweight and, on the other hand, they can replace package material that is cumbersome to dispose of and not always environmentally sound, such as Styrofoam molded parts.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

A1, . . . , A4 Groove line areas
A11, . . . , A42 Locking strap receptacles
A5, . . . , A8 Locking strap receptacles
AB1, . . . , AB4 Flap receptacles
AL1, . . . , AL4 Locking strap receptacles
B1, . . . , B4 Side-wall straps/Intermediate-wall flaps
B12, B34 Intermediate-wall flaps
C1, . . . , C4 Inside-flap reinforcements
D Cover plate
DB Base plate
d Projection width
D1, . . . , D4 Side-wall knuckle lines
E1, . . . , E4 Side-wall reinforcements
E5, . . . , E8 Side-wall locking straps
E9, . . . , E12 Side-wall corner reinforcements
F11, . . . , F42 Locking straps
FL1, . . . , FL4 Mating locking straps
G11, . . . , G42 Flap free-position separation cuts
H1, . . . , H4 Flap main separation cuts
L1, . . . , L4 Inside-wall flaps
LB1, . . . , LB4 Inside-flap reinforcements
LT1, . . . , LT4 Flap separation cuts
M1, . . . , M4 Side-wall strap knuckle lines
O1, . . . , O4 Inside-wall flap knuckle lines
P Bifurcation point
PK Shipping package
Q11, . . . , Q34 Intermediate-wall flap sections
Q Inside cutaway
QB Base plate cutaway
R1, . . . , R4 Inside-wall flap score line combinations
S1, . . . , S4 Side walls
T1, . . . , T4 Scoring lines
U1, . . . , U8 Double groove lines
Z Folding blank

Claims

1. One-piece folding blank (Z), in particular that consists of corrugated cardboard or cardboard, with:

a cover plate (D) with a square outside contour;

four side walls (S1, S2, S3, S4) that are hinged on the cover plate (D) via side-wall knuckle lines (D1, D2, D3, D4);

a square inside cutaway (Q) that is arranged in the center of the cover plate (D); and

an essentially convex octagonal sequence that consists of scoring lines (T1, T2, T3, T4) and groove lines (O1, O2, O3, O4) that adjoin one another and that are cut into the cover plate (D) around the inside cutaway (Q).

2. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 1, in addition with:

four flap main separation cuts (HT1, HT2, HT3, HT4), which are cut from the respective corners of the inside cutaway (Q) in the direction of the center of the scoring line (T1, T2, T3, T4) that is opposite in each case and perpendicular to this scoring line in the cover plate (D); and

eight flap free-position separation cuts (G11, G12, G21, G22, G31, G32, G41, G42), of which in each case two run at a bifurcation point (P) at a point along the stretch between the respective corners of the inside cutaway (Q) and the center of the respectively opposite scoring line (T1, T2, T3, T4) from the flap main separation cut (HT1, HT2, HT3, HT4) symmetrically to one another to the axis of the flap main separation cut from the bifurcation point (P) up to the respective scoring line (T1, T2, T3, T4).

3. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 2, whereby along the eight flap free-position separation cuts (G11, G12, G21, G22, G31, G32, G41, G42), in each case locking straps (F11-F42) are released for the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4) between the bifurcation point (P) and the respective scoring line (T1, T2, T3, T4) for the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4).

4. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 3, whereby the free-standing locking straps (F11-F42) are hinged via the straight connection between bifurcation point (P) and groove lines following the respective scoring line (T1, T2, T3, T4) at the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4).

5. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 2, in addition with:

intermediate-wall flaps (B1, B2, B3, B4, B12, B34) that are hinged on two opposite ones of the side walls (S1, S2, S3, S4) via intermediate-wall knuckle lines.

6. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 5, whereby in the intermediate-wall flaps (B1, B2, B3, B4, B12, B34), locking strap receptacles (A11-A42) are inserted into the intermediate-wall flaps (B1, B2, B3, B4, B12, B34) as cutaways.

7. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 2, whereby in the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4), locking strap receptacles (AL1, AL2, AL3, AL4) are inserted into the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4) as cutaways.

8. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 7, in addition with:

intermediate-wall flaps (B12, B34) that are hinged on two opposite ones of the side walls (S1, S2, S3, S4) via intermediate-wall knuckle lines, on which flaps mating locking straps (FL1, FL2, FL3, FL4) are hinged for latching with the locking strap receptacles (AL1, AL2, AL3, AL4) of the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4).

9. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 2, in addition with:

a base plate (DB) that is hinged on one of the side walls (S3) via a side-wall knuckle line (DS3) with a square base plate cutaway (QB) that is arranged in the center of the base plate (DB) and an essentially convex octagonal sequence that consists of scoring lines and groove lines that adjoin one another and that are inserted into the base plate (DB) around the base plate cutaway (QB).

10. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 9, whereby inside-flap reinforcements (LB1, LB2, LB3, LB4) are made free-standing in the convex octagonal sequence of the base plate (DB).

11. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 10, whereby flap receptacles (AB1, AB2, AB3, AB4) are inserted into the inside-flap reinforcements (LB1, LB2, LB3, LB4) as cutaways, which can be latched in each case with a lower outside edge of one of the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4).

12. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 1, in addition with:

four flap separation cuts (LT1, LT2, LT3, LT4), which in the cover plate (D) run perpendicular to the scoring lines (T1, T2, T3, T4) from the center in each case of one of the scoring lines (T1, T2, T3, T4) to in each case a corner of the square inside cutaway (Q).

13. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 12, whereby four inside wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4) are released from the cover plate (D) and in each case have a convex hexagonal outside contour, which is formed in each case by an inside edge of the inside cutaway (Q), one of the groove lines (O1, O2, O3, O4), two of the flap separation cuts (LT1, LT2, LT3, LT4) and in each case one-half of two of the scoring lines (T1, T2, T3, T4).

14. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 13, whereby along one part of the outside contour of each of the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4), each two locking straps (F11-F42) are made free-standing in corners of the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4) that are formed by the flap separation cuts (LT1, LT2, LT3, LT4) and the scoring lines (T1, T2, T3, T4).

15. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 14, whereby in the side walls (S1, S2, S3, S4), each two locking strap receptacles (A11-A42) are inserted as cutaways into the side walls (S1, S2, S3, S4).

16. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 1, whereby side-wall straps (B1, B2, B3, B4) in each case are hinged via side-wall strap knuckle lines (M1, M2, M3, M4) on the front sides of two of the side walls (S1, S2).

17. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 16, whereby the side-wall straps (B1, B2, B3, B4) in each case have a width that is reduced relative to the width of the side walls (S1, S2).

18. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 1, whereby two of the side walls (S3, S4) in each case are provided on the front-side end sections with double groove lines (U1, U2, U3, U4) that run diagonally to the width of the side walls (S3, S4).

19. Folding blank (Z) according to claim 1, which is formed from corrugated cardboard of the F-wave or E-wave wave type.

20. Shipping package (PK), which is produced from a folding blank (Z) according to claim 1.

21. Shipping package (PK) for confectionery goods, which is produced from a folding blank (Z) according to claim 15, whereby the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4) and the side walls (S1, S2, S3, S4) are folded downward relative to the cover plate (D) by 90° and whereby the locking straps (F11-F42) have been engaged in each case with one of the locking strap receptacles (A11-A42).

22. Shipping package (PK) for confectionery goods, which is produced from a folding blank (Z) according to claim 11, whereby in each case, two of the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4) and the inside-flap reinforcements (LB1, LB2, LB3, LB4) lie parallel to one another, and the inside-wall flaps (L1, L2, L3, L4) are latched with the inside-flap reinforcements (LB1, LB2, LB3, LB4) via the flap receptacles (AB1, AB2, AB3, AB4).