WO2021099050A1

WO2021099050A1 - Packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2021099050A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/079516
Authority: WO
Inventors: Solape OGUNGBAYI; Jacqueline JAGER; Dale NICHOLLS; James Pryor
Original assignee: Kraft Foods Schweiz Holding GmbH
Current assignee: Kraft Foods Schweiz Holding GmbH
Priority date: 2019-11-22
Filing date: 2020-10-20
Publication date: 2021-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-22
Also published as: GB201917008D0; GB2589847A

Abstract

Packaging Assembly A packaging assembly (10) includes a tray (14) with a base and a peripheral side wall (20a-20d) for holding a plurality of products (12) and a foldable cover (16). The cover has a central panel on which the tray is loosely received and a plurality of wrap over portions (72a-72d). Each wrap over portion includes a side panel (74) connected to the central panel by a first fold line and a closure flap (78a-78d) connected to the side panel by a second fold line. The cover is foldable between an open configuration in which each of the wrap over portions projects outwardly from the tray and a closed configuration in which each of the wrap over portions is folded up and over the tray so that the side panel extends adjacent a corresponding side wall region of the tray with the closure flap extending across the upper face of the tray. When the cover is in its closed configuration, the closure flaps overlie one another and in combination close the tray. The closure flaps (78a-78d) may be shaped so that an outer surface region of a number of the flaps is visible when the packaging assembly is closed. The tray and the cover can both be made of cardboard. The packaging assembly is particularly suitable for confectionery products.

Description

PACKAGING

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packaging and in particular, but not exclusively, to packaging for confectionary or other food products which may be given as a gift or presented for sharing at a special occasion. Aspects of the invention relate to a packaging assembly.

Background to the Invention

It is known to package confectionary and other food items in a carton or box, especially as a gift item or an item which is to be presented for sharing at a special occasion such as during a holiday season or at a party. It is known for example to package chocolates in a presentation box comprising a tray in which the chocolates are held and a removable and replaceable lid. Typically, an insert is provided in the tray which holds the individual chocolates in position so that when the box is opened the chocolates are presented in a set pattern which looks attractive. Often the insert will be moulded from a polymeric material to define pockets for holding individual chocolates. Whilst this method of packaging is well established, there is an increasing drive to reduce the amount of materials used for packaging and particularly to reduce the amount of polymeric and other materials used which are easily recycled.

There is also an ongoing drive to create innovative and novel forms of packaging which are attractive to the consumer and which add to the experience of the end user, especially on first opening. It is also desirable to create new forms of packaging that are simpler and easier to manufacture and fill.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an alternative packaging assembly.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide a packaging assembly which is simpler and easier to manufacture that known packaging assemblies.

It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a packaging assembly which uses less material than known packaging assemblies whilst providing a similar level of end user experience.

Summary of the Invention Aspects of the invention relate to a packaging assembly.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a packaging assembly having a tray with a base and a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the base about its periphery to define together with the base an interior volume for holding a plurality of products, a foldable cover having a central panel corresponding in size and shape to the base of the tray and on which the tray is received, the cover having a plurality of wrap over portions, each wrap over portion comprising a side panel connected to the central panel by a first fold line and a closure flap connected to the side panel by a second fold line, the cover being foldable between an open configuration in which each of the wrap over portions projects outwardly from the tray and a closed configuration in which each of the wrap over portions is folded up and over the tray so that the side panel extends adjacent a corresponding side wall region of the tray with the closure flap extending across the upper face of the tray, the closure flaps in combination substantially fully closing the tray when the cover is in its closed configuration.

The tray may be removably mounted in the cover. The tray may be loosely held in the cover.

The packaging assembly may have an arrangement for releasably holding the cover in the closed configuration. The arrangement may comprise a peelable sticker holding at least an outermost closure flap in a closed position. Alternatively, at least an outermost flap may have a closure tab at a free end which is insertable in a slot to hold the outermost closure flap in a closed position.

The tray may be polygonal in plan having at least three straight sides with a side wall region provided along each side, the cover having a corresponding wrap over portion for each side of the tray. In an embodiment, the tray has four sides, the cover having four wrap over portions, each wrap over portion corresponding to a respective side of the tray. The tray may be square or rectangular in plan.

In an embodiment, the peripheral side wall comprises an inner side wall surface extending substantially perpendicular to the base and an outer side wall surface inclined at an angle to the inner side wall surface such that the side wall tapers, getting narrower in a direction from the base towards an upper edge of the side wall.

Where the tray has four side wall regions, each side wall region may comprise an inner side wall surface extending substantially perpendicular to the base and an outer side wall surface inclined at an angle to the inner side wall surface such that each side wall region tapers, getting narrower in a direction from the base towards an upper edge of the side wall region. The package assembly may be shaped as a quadrilateral isosceles trapezoid in both longitudinal and lateral cross section. The overall shape of the package assembly may be a frustum of a quadrilateral (square or rectangular) pyramid.

The tray may be made entirely of cardboard or cartonboard or other paper-based and recyclable materials.

The cover may be made entirely of cardboard or cartonboard or other paper-based and recyclable materials.

In the closed configuration of the cover, at least some of the closure flaps may overlap one another. The closure flaps may be configured such that an outer surface region of at least two of the closure flaps is visible when the cover is in its closed configuration. Where the cover has four wrap over portions, an outer surface region of at least three of the closure flaps may be visible when the cover is in its closed configuration about the tray.

Where at least some of the closure flaps overlie one another when the cover is closed, at least an uppermost closure flap may be releasably secured in the closed position.

The package assembly may further comprise an array of products located within the interior volume of the tray.

In an embodiment, the tray defines an upstand extending upwardly from the base within the interior volume. The package assembly may further comprise an array of products located within the interior volume of the tray between the peripheral side wall and the upstand. In an embodiment where the tray is polygonal in plan, the upstand may have a corresponding number of side walls aligned parallel to the peripheral side wall regions of the tray. Where the tray has four sides, the upstand may have four side walls aligned parallel to the side wall regions of the tray. The products may be cuboid or bar shaped; the arrangement configured such that the products are held in position by the side wall regions, the upstand and each other such that they tend not to move laterally within the tray, at least whilst the tray is full.

The products may be chocolate bars. The upstand may have an upper wall comprising a mounting arrangement for holding a further product. The mounting arrangement may comprise a recess bounded by two or more resilient flaps for holding a further product. The further product may be a confectionery product and may be a chocolate bar. Where the products in the array are chocolate bars, the further product may be a cholate bar which is larger than the products in the array.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood several embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a packaging assembly in accordance with an aspect of the invention showing the packaging assembly in a closed configuration;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of figure 1 but showing the packaging assembly in an open configuration; Figure 3 is a plan view of a cover forming part of the packaging assembly of figures 1 and 2, showing the cover in a planar configuration;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tray forming part of the packaging assembly of figures 1 and 2;

Figures 5 is a view from above of the packaging assembly of figure 1 showing the package assembly with a pair of minor closure flaps of the cover in closed positions;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of figure 5 but also showing a first major closure flap of the cover in a closed position; Figure 7 shows a main blank used to form a main body part of the tray of figure

4;

Figure 8 shows a blank for forming an insert which forms part of the tray of figure

4; Figure 9 shows a blank for forming an upstand which also forms part of the tray of figure 4;

Figure 10 is a view similar to that of figure 1 but showing a further embodiment of a packaging assembly in accordance with an aspect of the invention;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a cover forming part of the packaging assembly of figure 10, showing the cover in an open configuration;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a tray forming part of the packaging assembly of figure 10;

Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 12 but additionally showing product loaded into the tray in broken line; Figure 14 shows a main blank used to form a main body part of the tray of figure

12;

Figure 15 shows a blank for forming an insert which forms part of the tray of figure 12; and

Figure 16 shows a blank for forming an upstand which also forms part of the tray of figure 12.

A first embodiment of a packaging assembly 10 will now be described with reference to figures 1 to 9. The packaging assembly 10 is configured for packaging a number of confectionary products 12. In the present embodiment, the confectionery products are chocolate bars, each shaped as a rectangular prism. The packaging assembly 10 is particularly intended for packaging high end confectionary items 12 as a gift item or for sharing at a special occasion such as during a holiday season or at a party.

The packaging assembly comprises a tray 14 for holding the products and an outer cover 16 which encloses the tray when the packaging assembly is in a closed configuration as shown in figure 1. The tray 14 has a planar base 18 and a side wall 20 extending upwardly from the base about its periphery to define an internal volume 22 in which the products 12 are held. In this embodiment, the tray is square in plan, having four side wall regions 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. However, the tray could be other shapes. Typically, the tray 14 will be polygonal in plan having at least three straight sides, each having a respective side wall region. The side wall 20 has an inner surface 24 which extends upwardly from the planar base 18 generally vertically and an outer surface 26 which is angled relative to the inner surface so that the side wall 18 is tapered, getting narrower in a direction from the base to the upper edge 28 of the side wall.

Approximately at the centre of the base 18 within the internal volume 22 is an upstand or island 30 which is square in plan having an upper wall 32 and four side walls 34. The tray 14 is configured so that a number of bar shaped products 12 can be arranged in an array in the internal volume between the side wall regions and the upstand. The arrangement is such that the products 12 are held in position by the side wall regions, the upstand and each other and will not move laterally to any significant extent within the tray, at least whilst the tray is full. The products may be arranged in vertical stacks, with the position of each stack shown in broken lines in figure 2. When the packaging assembly 10 is open, the products 12 can be viewed and accessed for removal through the open upper face of the tray.

The tray can be manufactured from any suitable material. In an embodiment, the tray is manufactured from a foldable material. The foldable material may be recyclable. The foldable material may be cardboard or cartonboard or some other paper-based material. In the present embodiment, the tray 14 is produced from three blanks of cardboard as illustrated in figures 7 to 9. A main tray blank 36 forms the main body of the tray including a lower wall of the base 18 and the side wall regions 20a-20d. A planar insert 38 forms an upper wall of the base and has an aperture 40. An upstand blank 42 is folded to form the upstand 30 and a number of mounting flaps 44 which project outwardly from a lower end of the side walls 34 of the upstand. The mounting flaps 44 are located between the lower wall of the base and the insert 38, with the cubic main body of the upstand projecting upwardly through the aperture 40 in the insert. The main tray blank 36 comprises a central panel 46 which forms the lower wall of the base 18. Connected along each side of the central panel and separated by fold lines 48, 50, 52 are a side wall region outer surface panel 54, a side wall inner surface panel 56 and an inner tab 58. To form each side wall region, the side wall outer surface panel 54 is folded relative to the central panel about fold line 48 and the side wall inner surface panel 56 is folded relative to the side wall outer surface panel 54 about fold line 50 in a constant direction, whilst the inner tab 58 is folded relative to the side wall inner surface panel 56 about the fold line 52 in the opposite direction so that the inner tab sits on the central panel projecting inwardly from the lower edge of the side wall inner surface panel 56.

Between each adjacent pair of side wall outer surface panels is connected a series of comer panels 60 which interconnect the side wall outer surface panels 54 and are folded inwardly when the side wall regions are formed. Attached at opposite ends of an opposed pair of the side wall inner surface panels 56 are stmt portions 62a, 62b. When the side wall regions are formed, the stmt portions 62a, 62b are folded at right angles to their respective side wall inner surface panels 56 along fold lines 64 so as to locate between the inner and outer side wall surface panels 54, 56 of the adjacent side wall region. The free ends of the stmt portions 62a, 62b have corresponding slots 66a, 66b which enable the stmts from opposed sides to be interlinked at their free ends. The interlinked stmts interconnect the opposed side wall inner surface panels 56a, 56b so as to provide additional stmctural rigidity.

When forming the tray, the main blank 36 is folded to form the main body of the tray including the side wall regions with interlinked stmt portions 62a, 62b. The upstand blank 42 is folded to form the upstand 30 and the main body of the upstand inserted through the aperture 40 in the insert 38, with the mounting flaps 44 projecting outwardly adjacent the inner surface of the insert. The insert 38 with the upstand 30 in position is then inserted inside the main body so as to overlie the inner tabs 58 of the side wall regions. The insert has tabs 66 on each side which locate in corresponding slots 68 provided along the fold lines 52 between each inner tab 58 and the corresponding side wall inner surface panel 56. The cover 16 comprises a planar blank of foldable material such as cardboard or cartonboard or some other paper-based material. The cover has a central panel 70 which corresponds in shape and dimension to the outer periphery of the tray 14. Foldably connected along each side of the central panel 70 is a respective wrap over portion 72. Each wrap over portion 72 has a side panel 74 connected to the central panel by a first fold line 76 and a closure flap 78 connected with the side panel 74 by a second fold line 80.

To form the package assembly, the tray 14 loaded with product 12 is placed on the central panel 70 of the planar cover in its open configuration as shown in figure 2 in which the wrap over portions 72 extend outwardly from their respective sides of the tray. Each wrap over portion 72 is foldable from the open position into a closed position in which it is folded up and over the tray so that the side panel 74 extends adjacent its respective side wall region 20 of the tray with the closure flap 78 extending across the open upper face of the tray. The side panels 74 correspond in size and shape to the outer surfaces 26 of their corresponding side wall regions 20. The closure flaps 78 are differently shaped and none of them fully covers the open upper face of the tray. However, in combination the closure flaps 78 cooperate to fully close the tray when all the wrap over portions 72 are in the closed position as shown in figure 1.

The cover 16 is configured with a first and a second minor closure flap 78a, 78b on opposed first and second wrap over portions 72a, 72b and a first and a second major closure flap 78c, 78d on opposed second and third wrap over portions 72c, 72d. The first and second wrap over portions 72a, 72b are aligned with what will be referred to as top and bottom side wall regions 20a, 20b of the tray 14 whilst the third and fourth wrap over portions 72c, 72d are aligned with what will be referred to lateral side wall regions 20c, 20d of the tray 14.

The first and second minor closure flaps 78a, 78b are each dimensioned to extend across the full width of the open upper face of the tray between the lateral side wall regions 20c, 20d. The first and second minor flaps 78a, 78 do not extend over the full depth of the open upper face of the tray from the top to the bottom but their outer free ends 82 overlap when both are in the closed position so that they fully close the tray. When the package assembly is assembled, the first wrap over portion 72a with the first minor closure flap 78a is folded closed first followed by the second wrap over portion 72b so that the outer end of the second minor closure flap 78b overlaps the outer end of the first minor closure flap 58a as shown in figure 5.

Each of the first and second major closure flaps 78c, 78d extends fully across the width of the open upper face of the tray between the lateral side wall regions 20c, 20d when closed. The bottom edges 84 of the first and second major closure flaps 78c, 78d are angled so that major closure flaps are tapered, getting shallower from their inner ends adjacent the side panel 74 to their outer, free ends. When assembling the package assembly, the third wrap over portion 72c is folded to the closed position after second 72b so that the first major closure flap 78c overlies both the minor closure flaps 78a, 78b as shown in figure 6. The fourth wrap over portion 72d is folded closed last, bringing the second major closure flap 78d to overlie the first major closure flap 78c as shown in figure 1. An arrangement for releasably holding the closure flaps closed is provided. As illustrated in broken line, in one embodiment, a closure tab 86 projects from the free outer end of the second major closure flap 78d and is insertable in a slot 88 provided along the second fold line 80 of the third wrap over portion 72c to hold the cover closed. However, other arrangements can be used to hold the cover 16 in a closed configuration. For example, a pealable adhesive sticker could be provided to hold the second major closure flap 78d closed. The adhesive sticker may be both peelable and re-usable to allow the package assembly to be re-closed after initial opening. In an embodiment, a peelable sticker is used to hold the cover closed initially and a tab and slot arrangement provided for use in re-closing the cover 16 after initial opening.

Once the cover 16 is in the closed configuration, it substantially fully encloses the tray in the manner of a box, retaining the products 12. To open the package assembly, the closure tab 86 is released (or the closure sticker removed) and the wrap over portions 72a to 72d folded out to their open positions in the reverse order to that described above. Once the cover 16 is open, the user is able to view and select product 12 from the tray for removal. Since the tray 14 is not fixed to the cover, it can be removed from the cover 16, say to be passed around so that a number of people are able to select and remove product from the tray. If the user wishes to reclose the package assembly 10, the tray 14 is repositioned on the cover 16, the wrap over portions 72a to 72d re-folded to their closed positions and the closure tab 86 re-inserted in the slot 88 or the closure sticker used to hold the cover closed.

Figures 10 to 16 illustrate a second embodiment of a package assembly 110 in accordance with the invention. In the following, features in common with the first embodiment will be denoted using the same reference numerals but increased by 100.

The package assembly 110 of the second embodiment is essentially the same as that of the first embodiment 10 except that it is slightly larger and is rectangular in plan rather than square, with both the cover 116 and the tray 114 being appropriately dimensioned. The main difference is that the upstand 130 in the tray 114. In this embodiment, the upstand is rectangular rather than square and offset towards one side of the tray. A further difference is that the upper wall 132 of the upstand is used to mount an additional product 112a, which in this case is slightly larger than the other products 112b located in the internal volume 122 between the upstand 130 and the side wall regions 120a- 120d of the tray.

The cover 116 for the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment described above but appropriately dimensioned. The tray 114 is assembled from three blanks 136, 138, 142 of cardboard or the like in a similar manner to that described above in relation to the first embodiment. The main blank 136 and the insert 138 are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment but appropriately dimensioned and the aperture 140 in the blank is rectangular. The blank 142 for forming the upstand 130 is illustrated in figure 16. The upper wall 132 of the upstand defines a mounting arrangement 190 for supporting the additional product 112a. The mounting arrangement 190 in this embodiment is in the form of an aperture 192 bounded by resilient flaps 194 in which the additional product 112a is releasably held. In the embodiment disclosed, there is a resilient flap along each of the four sides of the aperture but the number of flaps can be selected as required provided the additional product is securely mounted. It will be appreciated that the size and shape of the upstand and the mounting arrangement can be varied as desired to accommodate additional products of different sizes and shapes.

The packaging assembly 10, 110 in accordance with the invention forms a complete package which has a similar overall quality to that of a conventional chocolate box but which uses less packaging material. In the embodiments disclosed, the packaging assembly 10, 110 is formed completely from carboard or cartonboard or other similar paper-based material which could be wholly or partially recycled material. Where a peelable closure sticker is provided, this may also be made of paper or other similar material. In embodiments, neither the packaging assembly as a whole or the tray are sealed in a polymeric wrapper. The products 12, 112a, 112b may be individually packaged. After use, the entire packaging assembly 10, 110 can be easily recycled.

The arrangement of overlapping closure flaps provides an enhanced user experience when opening the package assembly 10, 110. Both inner and outer surfaces of the cover 16, 116 can be provided with graphics which are sequentially revealed as each of the wrap over portions are opened in turn. In addition, the arrangement of closure flaps provided in the embodiments disclosed are configured so that the outer surface of at least three of the closure flaps to be seen when the package assembly is closed. This is not only aesthetically pleasing but enables information and/or other graphics provided on the visible parts of each of the three closure flaps to be seen when the package assembly is closed. The shapes of the closure flaps could differ from those shown but they are preferably shaped so that an outer surface portion of at least two or more of the closure flaps is visible when the packaging assembly is closed. However, many advantages of the packaging assembly can be obtained even where this is not the case and the outermost closure flap covers all the underlying closure flaps.

The sloping outer surfaces 26 of the side wall regions give the package assembly 10, 110 a shape which can be described as a quadrilateral isosceles trapezoid in both longitudinal and lateral cross section. The overall shape of the packaging assembly could alternatively be described as a frustum of a quadrilateral (square or rectangular) pyramid.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention in its various aspects as defined in the appended claims and set out in the various statements of invention in the summary of invention above.

Claims

1. A packaging assembly having a tray with a base and a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the base about its periphery to define together with the base an interior volume for holding a plurality of products, a foldable cover having a central panel corresponding in size and shape to the base of the tray and on which the tray is received, the cover having a plurality of wrap over portions, each wrap over portion comprising a side panel connected to the central panel by a first fold line and a closure flap connected to the side panel by a second fold line, the cover being foldable between an open configuration in which each of the wrap over portions projects outwardly from the tray and a closed configuration in which each of the wrap over portions is folded up and over the tray so that the side panel extends adjacent a corresponding side wall region of the tray with the closure flap extending across the upper face of the tray, the closure flaps in combination substantially fully closing the tray when the cover is in its closed configuration.

2. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein packaging assembly has an arrangement for releasably holding the cover in the closed configuration.

3. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tray is polygonal in plan having at least three straight sides with a side wall region provided along each side, the cover having a corresponding wrap over portion for each side of the tray.

4. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tray has four sides, the cover having four wrap over portions, each wrap over portion corresponding to a respective side of the tray.

5. A packaging assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each side wall region comprises an inner side wall surface extending substantially perpendicular to the base and an outer side wall surface inclined at an angle to the inner side wall surface such that each side wall region tapers, getting narrower in a direction from the base towards an upper edge of the side wall region.

6. A packaging assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tray is made entirely of cardboard or cartonboard.

7. A packaging assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cover is made entirely of cardboard or cartonboard.

8. A package assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, in the closed configuration of the cover at least some of the closure flaps overlap one another, and wherein an outer surface region of at least two of the closure flaps is visible.

9. A package assembly as claimed in claim 8 when dependent on claim 4, wherein, in the closed configuration of the cover an outer surface region of at least three of the closure flaps is visible.

10. A package assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, when the cover is in the closed configuration, at least some of the closure flaps overlie one another and wherein at least an uppermost closure flap is releasably secured in the closed position.

11. A package assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray defines an upstand extending upwardly from the base within the interior volume.

12. A package assembly as claimed in claim 11, the package assembly further comprising an array of products located within the interior volume of the tray between the side wall and the upstand.

13. A package assembly as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, both when dependent on claim 4, wherein the upstand is a quadrilateral having side walls aligned parallel to the side wall regions of the tray.

14. A package assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the products are cuboid, the arrangement configured such that the products are held in position by the side wall regions, the upstand and each other such that they tend not to move laterally within the tray, at least whilst the tray is full.

15. A package assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the upstand has an upper wall comprising a mounting arrangement for holding a further product.

16. A package assembly as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the products are chocolate bars.