Packaging for a plurality of individual products packed in individual packagings
A pack, especially a retail pack, for a plurality of individual products packed in separate individual packs, characterized in that each individual pack has a retaining section which is firmly joined to a common pack carrier and from which a remaining portion of each individual pack can be separated in order to remove it from the pack carrier so that an individual product can be removed from the remaining portion.
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This application is a national phase filing of PCT/EP02/08613 filed Aug. 2, 2002 claiming priority to DE 101 41208.8 filed Aug. 22, 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates to a pack, especially a retail pack, for a plurality of individual products packed in separate individual packs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONProducts which have only a limited shelf life, such as foodstuffs, are usually packed for sale to end users in relatively small individual packs, which then gives rise to the problem that, when large quantities of such products are sold, it is difficult to provide an (overall) pack that is easy to handle and store. Loose storage of small individual packs in a larger box, for example, is unsatisfactory because the latter still takes up a relatively large amount of space on shelves and the like even after some of the individual products have been removed. Nor is it always easy to store loose individual products in boxes tidily.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe problem of the invention therefore consists in providing a pack, especially a retail pack, for a plurality of individual products packed in separate individual packs, which makes it possible both to store them tidily in the minimum amount of space and to access the individual packs simply. It is also intended that the pack should be easily disposable, with the packaging materials (paper, cardboard, plastic etc.) separated where appropriate and/or necessary.
This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by means of a pack according to Claim 1.
Advantageous further embodiments of the invention are shown in the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention will now be explained by means of one embodiment, with reference to a drawing in which
FIGS. 1 to 9 show the order in which a pack is put together in accordance with the invention and how it is used (removal of an individual pack).
As
After the inner pack 6 has been inserted, the individual pack 2 is sealed by closing and optionally sticking together closure tabs which are shown in the open position in
As
As
In order to give the overall pack additional stability, it can be provided for the individual packs to be joined together not only on their retaining sections 4, but also on the remaining portions 5, with an adhesive point in each case (indicated by 7d in
It is a good idea for the breaking line 9 to have a security strip (not shown) stuck over it, which ensures that it is air-tight or vacuum-sealed and which, when torn off, makes it possible for the section 6a of the inner pack 6 located above the breaking line 9 to be torn off with no difficulty and for the individual product to be removed.
After use, the (empty) inner pack 6 can be removed by unsticking the adhesive points 7c (where present), and all the parts of the pack 1 can be disposed of with the different materials sorted accordingly.
Claims
1. A pack, especially a retail pack, for a plurality of individual products packed in separate individual packs, comprising:
- individual packs each having a retaining section which is firmly joined to a common pack carrier and from which a remaining portion of each individual pack can be separated in order to remove it from the pack carrier, so that an individual product can be removed from the remaining portion.
2. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the individual packs are arranged in one plane.
3. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein each individual pack has at least two flat outer surfaces.
4. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the individual packs are polygonal and/or sectoral in shape.
5. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining section forms a part of an individual pack, said part being lid-like and at a top portion of the pack.
6. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining section extends over about 10% to 30% of the height of an individual pack.
7. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein a perforation or some other kind of material weakening extending over at least part of the periphery of the individual pack is disposed between the retaining section and the remaining portion of an individual pack.
8. A pack as claimed in claims 1, wherein the pack carrier has a flat carrier section and a peripheral edge section which overlaps the carrier sections of the individual packs.
9. A pack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the edge section substantially overlaps the retaining sections.
10. A pack as claimed in claims 1, wherein each individual pack has an inner pack for receiving the individual product.
11. A pack as claimed in claim 10, wherein, the inner pack is an air-tight pack or vacuum pack.
12. A pack as claimed in either of claim 10 wherein the inner pack is releasably joined to the individual pack.
13. A pack as claimed in claim 10 wherein the inner pack has a breaking line.
14. A pack as claimed in claim 13, wherein the breaking line is disposed in a region corresponding to the perforation.
15. A pack as claimed in claim 13 wherein a security strip is placed over the breaking line.
16. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pack carrier and/or the individual packs are made of paper, paperboard, cardboard or plastic.
17. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pack carrier is made from a blank of material.
18. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pack carrier is provided with carrying tabs capable of being folded outwardly.
19. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein individual packs in the common pack carrier are releasably joined together.
20. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining sections of the individual packs are joined to the pack carrier by adhesive.
21. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner pack or the individual pack his filled with a product.
22. A pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the individual packs arranged in one plane are in a row or a circle.
23. A pack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shape is a block or prism.
24. A pack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the inner pack is releasably joined to the individual pack by means of adhesive points.
25. A pack as claimed in claim 19, wherein the individual packs are releasably joined together by means of adhesive points.
26. A pack as claimed in claim 21, wherein the product is a pourable or flowable product.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 2, 2002
Publication Date: Jan 11, 2007
Applicant: MARS INCORPORATED (MCLEAN, VA)
Inventors: Herbert Cordes (Frankenfeld), Guido Kruse (Hoya), Friedel Meyer (Kirchlinteln/Gross), Heinz-Dieter Rabbe (Dorverden-Wahnebergen)
Application Number: 10/487,390
International Classification: B65D 65/00 (20060101); B65D 73/00 (20060101); B65D 75/00 (20060101);