Powder-Tight Packaging

Abstract

A powder-tight packaging for a material, in particular for a powdered material, preferably a washing or cleaning powder, which packaging is constituted from at least one foldable cut piece that encompasses in continuous fashion, delimited by fold lines, at least one rear face (10), one front face (2), and two lateral faces (3) of the packaging, which cut piece is closed into a tubular shape in order to construct the packaging, and encompasses at least one top flap (5, 6, 7) and at least one bottom flap (13, 14, 15) for closing the bottom (12) and the top (1) and for constituting the bottom surface and top surface of the packaging, which are respectively adjacent, via fold lines, to lower and upper peripheries of the front face, the rear face, and/or the lateral faces, comprises a respectively octagonally embodied bottom surface (12) and top surface (1), the foldable cut piece encompassing additional side regions (4) which are arranged in such a way that in the closed tubular shape, one of the additional side regions (4) extends respectively between the rear face (10) and each lateral face (3) and between the front face (2) and each lateral face (3), the two lower corners of the additional side region participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the bottom surface (12), and its two upper corners participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the top surface (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a powder-tight packaging for a material, in particular for a powdered material, preferably a washing or cleaning powder, which packaging is constituted from at least one foldable cut piece that encompasses in continuous fashion, delimited by fold lines, at least one rear face, one front face, and two lateral faces of the packaging, which cut piece is closed into a tubular shape in order to construct the packaging, and encompasses at least one top flap and at least one bottom flap for closing the bottom and the top and for constituting the bottom surface and top surface of the packaging, which are respectively adjacent, via fold lines, to lower and upper peripheries of the front face, the rear face, and/or the lateral faces.

The invention further relates to a foldable cut piece for an aforesaid packaging.

Such packaging has been on the market in a cuboidal form for decades, in particular for washing-agent powders. Such packaging is also used for pourable foodstuffs such as, for example, breadcrumbs, corn flakes, or the like.

A packaging of this kind is to be distinguished in particular from packaging that is constituted from a so-called “wraparound” cut piece, and are used in particular for agglomerated materials, for example for washing-agent tablets. The tablets to be packaged are placed in stacked fashion, for example, on a bottom region of a foldable cut piece, and in order to close the packaging and envelop the agglomerated material the cut piece is then folded up and, so to speak, wrapped around the material, and the packaging is closed. A packaging of this kind need not, in particular, be powder-tight.

In the case of the packaging of the species, on the other hand, firstly a packaging space is created that remains open on only one side and is then filled with the pourable material, after which the last side (and thus the entire packaging) is closed. For this purpose, firstly a tubular shape can be constituted from the cut piece, and the bottom can then be closed. Filling would then be accomplished, and lastly the top would be closed. It is in principle also possible, however, lastly to close, for example, a lateral face after filling.

It is the object of the present invention to improve a packaging of the aforesaid species in terms of its handling.

This object is achieved, according to the present invention, in that the bottom surface and the top surface of the packaging are each embodied octagonally, and the foldable cut piece encompasses additional side regions which are arranged in such a way that in the closed tubular shape, one of the additional side regions extends respectively between the rear face and each lateral face and between the front face and each lateral face, the two lower corners of the additional side region participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the bottom surface, and its two upper corners participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the top surface.

As a result, the packaging according to the present invention advantageously acquires a shape in which the top and bottom are octagonal, and the body of the packaging correspondingly exhibits eight surfaces. The result of this is preferably that the lateral faces can be narrowed as compared with a cuboidal shape. This in turn advantageously makes the packaging according to the present invention easier to grip, since such packaging, in particular for washing-agent or cleaning powders, has a size that can be taken off the shelf, from the side, with one hand. This is easier with the packaging according to the present invention, however, since the lateral-face region, which is now made up of one lateral face and two additional side regions adjacent thereto, conforms better (because it is bent back) to the rounded shape of a grasping hand, is narrower in the lateral-face region, and in particular is more pleasant to hold because it is less perceptibly angular. This is advantageous in particular for women, since on average they have somewhat smaller hands than men.

For transport of the packaging, for example from a commercial establishment to a home, such a packaging is usually put into a shopping bag, a carrier bag, or the like. Such a bag is then usually held suspended from one hand and transported. It is known that in this context, it often happens that the bag, with its contents, strikes the leg of the person carrying it. The packaging according to the present invention is more pleasant in this regard as well, since because the edges are flattened in accordance with the octagonal shape of the bottom and top surfaces, the edges are no longer so sharp and are less unpleasant on impact. Sharp, right-angled edges, in contrast, can certainly draw blood. With the packaging according to the present invention, in particular, the respective corner region is also blunted, since a tetrahedral angular shape with right angles is not formed but instead, in the region of the octagonal shapes, flattened corner regions occur having, in some cases, obtuse angles. The expression “obtuse angle,” which geometrically denotes an angle greater than 90°, can indeed be taken in the present state of affairs to mean “dull” with regard to the risk of injury.

The packaging according to the present invention is, however, easier to handle in another context as well. Because eight vertical edges and surfaces are present, the packaging according to the present invention can be stacked, in particular also palleted, in much more stable fashion; the requisite footprint does not become larger, but in fact can become substantially smaller in the corner regions. If an octagonal shape that is made smaller in the corner regions as compared with a rectangular shape is nevertheless to retain the same volume, a greater height for the volume must accordingly be made available. In reality, however, such packaging is never filled up to the top, especially simply in terms of filling technology, so that it is easily possible to vary the fill level inside the packaging with no need to modify the height of the packaging itself, i.e. the external dimension. In this regard as well, it is advantageous with regard to the packaging according to the present invention that nothing must be changed in terms of storage. In Germany, the fill level is to be provided in the context of DIN 55540.

A preferred embodiment of the packaging according to the present invention provides for the additional side regions to be narrowed, as compared with the width of the lateral faces, into bevel surfaces. This therefore means that as compared with a cuboidal shape, in reality substantially only the edges are flattened, i.e. each vertical edge is replaced by two edges spaced not very far apart from one another. This too improves, in particular, the capability for gripping and stacking the packaging according to the present invention. In the closed tubular shape, the additional side regions are preferably approximately at angles of 135° to the lateral faces adjacent to them, and to the rear face and front face. They thus form, in their corner regions and edge regions, a relatively large obtuse angle with said adjacent faces. As compared with the cuboidal shape of a conventional packaging, and with the rectangular shape of the top surface and bottom surface of a conventional packaging, the additional side surfaces thus intersect the vertical edges diagonally at an angle of approximately 45°.

A subsequent development of the invention provides that dust flaps, which in the foldable cut piece extend between each two top flaps and/or two bottom flaps, are attached to the additional side regions in the direction toward the top and/or bottom via fold lines. This feature of the present invention ensures that the powder-tightness of the packaging according to the present invention is guaranteed, in particular, in these regions as well. Additionally or alternatively, this could optionally also be effected or assisted by a suitable cut profile of other top flaps and/or bottom flaps.

Provision is preferably made for that purpose, according to a development, for the dust flaps and the top and/or bottom flaps to be substantially uninterruptedly next to one another in the flat foldable cut piece.

In particular, the dust flaps can prolong the additional side regions, substantially in their linear extension, in straight-line fashion, or the dust flaps can also prolong the additional side regions in obliquely extending fashion.

As already mentioned, the other top and bottom flaps can also take into account the octagonal shape of the top or bottom. They can, however, also take into account the space requirement and cut profile of the dust flaps of the additional side regions, by the fact that they preferably receive said additional dust flaps uninterruptedly between them and in part fit around them. A preferred embodiment of the packaging according to the present invention provides, for this purpose, for the top flaps and/or the bottom flaps of the lateral faces to be substantially T-shaped in terms of the area requirement of the dust flaps. Another, preferably additional embodiment of the packaging according to the present invention provides for the top flaps and/or bottom flaps of the rear face and/or of the front face to be made wider in serif fashion, in terms of the area requirement of the dust flaps, in their boundary region with respect to the rear and/or front face, i.e. in the vicinity of their fold lines, than in a region that is made narrower in tongue-like fashion toward their free end.

The foldable cut piece is preferably adhesively bonded in a seam region in order to constitute the tubular shape. An adhesive flap can preferably be provided for this purpose, which flap is arranged in particular, via a fold line, on a periphery of the front or rear face that has no additional side region. The packaging according to the present invention is then therefore adhesively side-seam bonded before it is filled, preferably by the fact that an adhesive flap and an additional side region cover one another for adhesive bonding, preferably in such a way that a butt edge of the seam region is located in a region of a vertical packaging edge. Other adhesive bonds can, of course, nevertheless also be provided, including especially in the region of the rear face. Preferably, however, adhesive bonding should be accomplished so that the seam also interferes as little as possible with handling of the packaging.

Another development of the packaging according to the present invention provides that a tear strip that extends substantially parallel to the top is incorporated into the foldable cut piece. The packaging can then therefore be made available in sealed and filled fashion, and then deliberately opened by a consumer who tears off the tear string and thus visibly unseals the packaging. In the region of the torn-off tear strip the top in particular is also easy to grip so that it can be opened, for example with the fingertips or fingernails. For easier tearing, the tear strip is preferably delimited by material weakening lines. A grip tab can be arranged at one end of the tear strip for holding purposes. This grip tab is preferably made very comfortably large to allow secure and easy grasping. The grip tab could, in particular, be approximately thumbnail-sized. Grasping this grip tab then does not require any special fine-motor ability on the part of the user. This is advantageous in particular for older people. The tear tab is thereby also easier to detect visually. An embossed or punched-out area can additionally be provided in the grip tab to improve haptic properties.

A subsequent development of the invention provides that a flap hinge region, in which the top remains connected to the rear face, is unoccupied by the tear strip. This therefore results in a flap top that is easy to open and close again, preferably as compared with a top that needs to be removed entirely (which is of course also possible in principle).

Another development of the invention provides for the packaging to comprise an internal frame that is substantially adapted to the tubular shape. An internal frame of this kind further improves the packaging according to the present invention in terms of its stability and powder-tightness.

A development provides for the internal frame to protrude beyond the course of the tear strip toward the top, and to remain undamaged by the tear strip. This offers two simultaneous advantages. Because the internal frame protrudes beyond the tear strip which proceeds at a certain distance from the top surface, the top can be more securely reclosed by being, so to speak, slipped over the projecting portion of the internal frame upon reclosing. To prevent any impairment of the hinging operation in this context, provision can be made to round off the internal frame in accordance with the pivoting path of a hinged top. Because the internal frame moreover remains undisturbed by the tear strip, the internal frame also continues to ensure sealing in this region. In particular, it forms a kind of labyrinth seal with the reclosed top.

The internal frame can be a portion of the foldable cut piece of the overall packaging, so that the packaging according to the present invention is constituted by a single foldable cut piece that has, so to speak, two plies in substantial regions. The foldable cut piece can, however, also be constituted by two separate parts, with individual foldable cut pieces for an outer casing and for an internal frame. In each of these two cases, it is preferred to provide for the internal frame to be adhesively bonded to the tubular shape.

A further development of the invention proposes that for reclosure of the top, a snap/detent connection can be provided which can be arranged in particular in the region of the top facing away from the flap hinge. The flap hinge ought preferably to be arranged on the rear face of the packaging, whereas reclosure is accordingly accomplished preferably in the region of the front face. Additionally or alternatively, however, such closure devices could certainly also be provided in the side-surface region.

The packaging according to the present invention preferably comprises a carrying handle, by preference in the region of the top, for transporting it. This carrying handle could once again be constituted by additional regions of the foldable cut piece itself. Provision is preferably made, however, to pivot-mount a strip-shaped carrying handle, i.e. a kind of bail, at its ends in upper regions of the lateral faces. A carrying handle of this kind can be embodied in material-saving, economical, and robust fashion, for example, from a plastic strip. This plastic strip can be, for example, riveted onto the lateral faces in powder-tight fashion. Numerous other possibilities for configuring a carrying handle of this kind are of course conceivable.

The packaging is preferably produced substantially from cardboard and/or paperboard. At least a part of the packaging can be produced from corrugated board. In particular, an internal frame is preferably produced from corrugated board, the wave crests of the corrugated board preferably extending vertically when the packaging is upright, so that this corrugation also additionally enhances the stacking stability of the packaging. One “wave” of this corrugated board can have, for example, a wave height and/or a half-wavelength of approximately 1 mm. This on the one hand results in excellent stability and on the other hand avoids excessive application of material, in particular for an internal frame, which negatively affects the internal volume of the packaging. Numerous other types of corrugation having other dimensions are nevertheless, of course, also conceivable.

Independent protection is claimed for a foldable cut piece for constitution of a packaging according to the present invention.

Exemplifying embodiments, from which further inventive features are apparent but to which the present invention is nevertheless not limited in its scope of protection, are depicted in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the packaging according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the packaging according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the packaging according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a second lateral view of the packaging according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the packaging according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view from below of the packaging according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a packaging according to the present invention having a bail as a carrying handle.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the packaging according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the packaging according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a lateral view of the packaging according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a second lateral view of the packaging according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the packaging according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the packaging according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a top view of a first exemplifying embodiment of a foldable cut piece for a packaging according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a top view of a foldable cut piece for an internal frame for a packaging according to FIG. 1, matching the foldable cut piece according to FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an oblique view of the inner side of the foldable cut piece according to FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a top view of a second exemplifying embodiment of a foldable cut piece for a packaging according to FIG. 28;

FIG. 19 is a top view of the internal frame matching the foldable cut piece according to FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an oblique view of the inner side of the foldable cut piece according to FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 shows the foldable cut piece according FIG. 20, with regions folded up;

FIG. 22 shows the foldable cut piece according to FIGS. 20 and 21 in a folded-together state suitable for storage;

FIG. 23 shows the internal frame according to FIG. 19 in a folded-together state suitable for storage;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a tubular shape, formed from the cut piece according to FIG. 20 and adhesively bonded, constituting the body for a packaging according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 25 shows the tubular shape according to FIG. 24 with the bottom partly closed;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the upright tubular shape according to FIG. 25 with the bottom (not visible) closed and the top open, ready for filling;

FIG. 27 shows the tubular shape or packaging according to FIG. 26 with the top partly closed;

FIG. 28 shows the packaging according to FIG. 27 with the top completely closed, corresponding to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 29 shows the packaging according to FIG. 28 with the hinged top open.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplifying embodiment of a packaging according to the present invention for a powdered material.

In the depiction of FIG. 1, a top 1, a front face 2, and a lateral face 3 of the packaging are visible. Top 1 and, correspondingly, the bottom (which is not visible) have an eight-sided or octagonal two-dimensional shape. The body or jacket of the packaging, extending between top 1 and the bottom, must therefore be embodied as an octahedron, and thus encompasses not only a front face 2, a rear face (not visible) and two lateral faces 3, but also additional side regions 4, of which two additional side regions 4 are visible in the depiction of FIG. 1. These visible additional side regions 4 are located between front face 2 and a respective lateral face 3.

As compared with a cuboidal shape, the result of additional side regions 4 is that the vertical edges of the body or jacket of the packaging are, so to speak, cut off, additional side regions 4 enclosing in each case an angle of 135° with front face 2 and with lateral faces 3, and with the rear side (not visible). In other words, the imaginary edges of a cuboidal shape are, so to speak, cut off or flattened diagonally, at a 45-degree angle, by these additional side regions 4. Because additional side regions 4 are relatively narrow compared with front face 2 and the rear face and with lateral faces 3, additional side regions 4 look like bevels of the aforesaid imaginary vertical edges of a cuboidal shape.

Top 1 of the packaging is formed from top flaps and closed. One top flap 5 of front face 2, one top flap 6 of the rear face, and two top flaps 7 of lateral faces 3 are visible.

It is also evident from FIG. 1 that a tear strip 8, delimited by two material weakening lines 9, extends parallel to top 1.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the packaging according to FIG. 1. Visible in FIG. 2 are, in particular, front face 2 and additional side regions 4 adjacent to it, as well as tear strip 8.

When tear strip 8 is torn off, a hinged top is formed for opening the packaging; said top is made up of the actual top surface 1 and upper regions 2a, 3a, and 4a of front face 2, of additional side regions 4, and of lateral faces 3, adjoining said surface and extending as far as upper material weakening line 9 of tear strip 8.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the packaging according to FIG. 1. Rear face 10 of the packaging, and the additional side regions adjacent thereto, are therefore particularly visible in FIG. 3. Also visible are the ends of tear strip 8, of which one end is embodied as an approximately thumbnail-sized grip tab 11. These ends of tear strip 8 extend only into additional side regions 4 that are adjacent to rear face 10, while tear strip 8 is entirely absent from rear face 10 itself. Depending on the stiffness of the material used for the packaging, a flap hinge constituting a film hinge is constituted in the region of rear face 10, at the height of tear strip 8, when the hinged top of the packaging is swung up. A paperboard is preferably used to constitute the packaging. When the paperboard is first swung up, this can therefore cause the flap hinge to be constituted in the form of kinks and fold lines, after which subsequent opening of the top and reclosure of the top are facilitated. In the interest of a neatly defined hinged-flap region, the material of the packaging can be pre-weakened or otherwise modified, for example grooved, in the desired region of the rear face and possibly portions of the additional side regions.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show lateral faces 3 of the packaging 1, as well as additional side regions 4 adjacent thereto.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are top views of cover 1 of the packaging according to FIG. 1, and of bottom 12 of the packaging, respectively. It is evident in particular from FIG. 7 that bottom 12 is constituted from bottom flaps 13 to 15, corresponding to top flaps 5 to 7.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the packaging according to FIG. 1. In this exemplifying embodiment, the packaging has additionally acquired a bail 16 constituting a carrying handle, which is pivot-mounted at its ends in the region of lateral faces 3, for example by way of rivets or the like.

The packaging according to FIG. 8 otherwise corresponds to the packaging according to FIG. 1. The views in FIGS. 9 to 14 correspond to the views in FIGS. 2 to 7. Identical components are labeled with the same reference numbers as in the aforesaid Figures.

FIG. 15 is a top view of a foldable cut piece for constituting a packaging according to FIG. 1. Here again, identical components are labeled with the same reference numbers as in FIG. 1.

It is furthermore evident from FIG. 15 that in order to improve or ensure the powder-tightness of the packaging, intermediate side regions 4 also have dust flaps 18 that extend between top flaps 5 to 7 and contribute to forming top 1 in the corner regions. These dust flaps 18 are not visible in FIG. 1 in the context of the completed packaging, since they are located beneath top flaps 5 to 7 and are completely covered by them. Dust flaps 18 are also correspondingly arranged at the bottom on the additional side regions that extend between bottom flaps 13 to 15.

To ensure that top flaps 5 to 7 and bottom flaps 13 to 15 are relatively uninterruptedly next one another, but that dust flaps 18 can nevertheless be constituted and accommodated, in the exemplifying embodiment of FIG. 15 top flaps 7 of lateral faces 3 and bottom flaps 15 of lateral faces 3 are made substantially T-shaped. This results ultimately from cutouts that these top flaps 7 and bottom flaps 15 exhibit in deference to dust flaps 18, which prolong additional lateral regions 4 toward the top and bottom in substantially straight-line fashion.

Also evident on the cut piece according to FIG. 15 as depicted in FIG. 15, at the right-hand periphery, is an additional adhesive flap 19 that can be adhesively bonded to the leftmost additional side region 4 in order to produce a tubular shape from the cut piece. This adhesive flap 19 also comprises dust flaps 18 at its ends. Adhesive flap 19 is moreover also embodied to be substantially approximately congruent with an additional side region 4.

Preferably only the outer casing of a packaging according to FIG. 1 is formed from the cut piece according to FIG. 15. An internal frame—as depicted by way of example, and in a fashion matching the cut piece according to FIG. 15, in a top view in FIG. 16—can be utilized in particular to reinforce this outer casing or outer jacket. This internal frame 20 comprises regions 2′, 3′, 4′, and 10′ that match the corresponding regions 2, 3, 4, 10 of the cut piece according to FIG. 15 in terms of their dimensions. One of the lateral faces 3′ of the cut piece of internal frame 20 is embodied by adhesive bonding of two lateral-face regions 3′ upon the creation of a tubular shape.

A cut piece of this kind for an internal frame 20 can also, in principle, be appended integrally and in supplementary fashion to the cut piece according to FIG. 15, so that a tubular shape having an internal frame and outer jacket could then be constituted substantially by folding up this overall cut piece twice. A two-part embodiment as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is, however, preferred.

With regard to FIGS. 15 and 16 it may be noted additionally that in the cut piece according to FIG. 15, there is indicated in the region of rear face 10 a kind of weakening line or impression 21 that is arranged approximately at the height of tear strip 8 and already defines a film-hinge region for a hinged top. Internal frame 20 has no tear strip, and also remains undisturbed by tear strip 8 of the cut piece according to FIG. 15. The vertical extent of regions 2′, 3′; 4′, 10′ of internal frame 20 is dimensioned so that it approximately corresponds substantially to the vertical extent of regions 2, 3, 4, 10 of the cut piece according to FIG. 15. This means that these regions of internal frame 20 protrude beyond the height of tear strip 8. When tear strip 8 on the completed packaging is torn off and a hinged top is thereby formed that can be swung up together with hinged-top regions 2a, 3a, 4a, the upper portions of internal frame 20 are therefore exposed when the hinged top is swung up, and protrude in particular beyond lateral faces 3 and front face 2 of the packaging. When the packaging is maximally filled, the internal frame can thus enclose and retain the contents when the hinged top is open, and the internal frame can at the same time serve as a guide and sealing element, along the lines of a labyrinth seal, for the hinged top.

FIG. 17 is an oblique view of the inner side of the cut piece according to FIG. 15. Identical components are labeled with the same reference numbers as in FIG. 15. For the sake of clarity, however, not all the regions are labeled in this FIG. 17.

From a position such as the one depicted in FIG. 17—i.e. with the inner side upward and the outer side downward and resting on a kind of substrate—the foldable cut piece is folded, on the one hand for storage and stacking thereof so it can be stocked, and possibly also for delivery to a packaging machine, but on the other hand also for constitution of a packaging according to FIG. 1; upon constitution of this packaging it is then also, after a specific folding step, immediately filled before finally being closed. The aforesaid folding operations are discussed in more detail in conjunction with FIGS. 21 to 28. In the folding operations according to FIGS. 21 to 28, however, a different exemplifying embodiment of a foldable cut piece is used, which is explained in more detail in conjunction with FIGS. 18 and 20. These folding operations are, however, otherwise to be performed in exactly the same way with the foldable cut piece according to FIGS. 15 and 17. The foldable cut piece according to FIGS. 15 and 17 yields a completed packaging that corresponds to the external appearance in FIG. 1.

The foldable cut piece according to FIGS. 18 and 20 yields a packaging that, in principle, has exactly the same appearance as in FIG. 1 but corresponds in detail to what is depicted in FIG. 28. As is evident from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 28, the respective embodiment of the top (and correspondingly of the bottom) is somewhat modified. This is a consequence of the slightly modified embodiment of dust flaps 18 of additional side regions 4, and the resulting slightly different configuration of top flaps 5 to 7 and bottom flaps 13 to 15 in accordance with the cut piece in FIGS. 18 to 20, which will now be discussed in more detail.

FIGS. 18 and 20 show a second exemplifying embodiment of a cut piece for the outer casing of a packaging according to FIG. 28. This cut piece corresponds in principle to the cut piece according to FIGS. 15 and 17. The same reference numbers will therefore once again be used to designate identical components.

FIG. 19 shows the cut piece for an internal frame 20 that in fact corresponds exactly to the cut piece according to FIG. 16, since the cut pieces according to FIGS. 18 and 20 on the one hand, and 15 and 17 on the other hand, differ slightly only in the embodiment of the top and the bottom, so that the respective internal frames 20 remain completely unaffected thereby. The same reference characters as in FIG. 16 are therefore also used in FIG. 19.

As compared with the cut piece according to FIGS. 15 and 17, the cut piece according to FIGS. 18 and 20 merely has modified dust flaps 18 of additional side regions 4; specifically, said flaps now prolong additional lateral regions 4 toward the top and bottom not in substantially straight-line fashion, but instead in an oblique position.

As a result thereof, in order to accommodate these dust flaps 18, top flaps 7 and bottom flaps 15 are still substantially T-shaped but with an obliquely extending, substantially trapezoidal constriction toward the corresponding lateral face 3, and not (as in FIG. 15) by way of a more-rounded recess. Top flaps 5, 6 and bottom flaps 13, 14 are no longer, as in FIG. 15, substantially rectangular in shape, but instead respectively become narrower toward their free ends and comprise serif-like enlargements 22 in their regions bordering front face 2 and rear face 10.

As already alluded to earlier, FIGS. 21 to 28 depict and describe folding steps or folding sequences using the cut piece according to FIGS. 18 and 20 and the internal frame according to FIG. 19.

As also already indicated earlier, there are two folding operations, namely one folding operation to make the foldable cut piece available for storage and stacking or for delivery of the cut piece to a packaging machine, and a second folding operation for constituting a completed packaging, with filling of the packaging during the folding operation between two successive folding steps.

In FIGS. 21 to 28, the same reference characters as in the previous Figures are used for identical components, but in FIGS. 21 to 28 in particular, only a few reference numbers are used in each case for reasons of clarity, namely specifically those that are absolutely necessary to explain the respective folding step.

FIGS. 21 to 22 show the foldable cut piece according to FIG. 20, i.e. with its inner side upward, in two folding steps to bring about the folded state for storage and stacking of said foldable cut piece according to FIG. 22.

As shown in FIG. 21, for this purpose firstly on the one hand rear wall 10, with an additional side region 4 adjoining it and with adhesive flap 19, is raised or folded up, and on the other hand, at the other side of the foldable cut piece, a lateral face 3 and an additional side region 4 adjoining it are similarly raised or folded up. Front face 2, with additional side regions 4 and one lateral face 3 adjoining it, remains lying flat on a substrate.

The regions of the cut piece initially more or less raised up in FIG. 21 are then folded down inward onto the regions that remain flat on the substrate, so that the entire cut piece acquires as a whole a flat, double-ply shape in which it is stackable. In similar fashion, internal frame 20 according to FIG. 19 is brought together into a flat, double-ply, stackable form as evident from FIG. 23.

FIG. 24 begins the depiction and explanation of the second folding operation that was mentioned, i.e. to create a completed packaging. For this, firstly, as depicted in FIG. 24, a tubular shape is formed from the cut piece according to FIG. 20 by adhesively bonding adhesive flap 19 on the one side of the cut piece to additional side region 4 on the other side of the cut piece. The top region and bottom region remain open. In order to constitute the tubular shape according to FIG. 22, the cut piece is first brought, temporarily, from its storage position according to FIG. 22 back into the folded state approximately according to FIG. 21.

In FIG. 25, bottom region 12 is closed. Bottom flaps 15 of lateral faces 3 are already folded inward while bottom flaps 13 and 14 of front face 2 and of rear face 10 are still closed, after which the bottom flaps are adhesively bonded to one another for permanent closure of bottom 12. The bottom dust flaps 18 have also already been folded inward in FIG. 25, and are no longer visible under bottom flaps 15.

In FIG. 26 the bottom is closed and the packaging, completed up to this point, is placed onto the bottom so that the latter is no longer visible in the depiction of FIG. 26. Top region 1 is still open, so that in this folded situation the packaging can be filled with its contents through the open top face 1. The top is then also closed. For this, as depicted in FIG. 26, dust flaps 18 are already folded inward, while top flaps 5 to 7 are still in their open position.

In FIG. 27, top region 1 has already been closed again by the fact that top flaps 7 have now also been folded inward and dust flaps 18 are no longer visible. Top flaps 5 and 6 are still in the open position. As depicted in FIG. 28, the packaging is now filled and completely closed. In particular, top flaps 5 and 6 are now also closed, and the top flaps have been adhesively bonded to one another.

To open the packaging and remove the contents, tear strip 8 must now be grasped at grip tab 11 and torn out and off over its entire length. This then creates the aforementioned hinged top that can be swung up by means of film hinge 21. This is shown in FIG. 29. The upper region of internal frame 20 then projects out of the opening that is thereby exposed. Reclosure of the hinged top is possible. When the hinged top is closed, the protruding part of internal frame 20 can ensure the frictional engagement necessary for retaining the hinged top in its closed position. Because of the inherent elasticity of the material used in the region of the film hinge, however, it may happen that the hinged top still gapes open a little. To ensure better reclosure, provision may therefore additionally be made for providing snap/detent connections, in particular in the region of front face 2 and/or in the region of lateral faces 3; these positional indications can also, additionally or alternatively, refer to the corresponding region 2′ or 3′ of internal frame 20.

Claims

1-30. (canceled)

31. A powder-tight packaging for a material, in particular for a powdered material, preferably a washing or cleaning powder,

which packaging is constituted from at least one foldable cut piece that encompasses in continuous fashion, delimited by fold lines, at least one rear face (10), one front face (2), and two lateral faces (3) of the packaging, which cut piece is closed into a tubular shape in order to construct the packaging, and encompasses at least one top flap (5, 6, 7) and at least one bottom flap (13, 14, 15) for closing the bottom (12) and the top (1) and for constituting the bottom surface and top surface of the packaging, which are respectively adjacent, via fold lines, to lower and upper peripheries of the front face, the rear face, and/or the lateral faces, the bottom surface (12) and the top surface (1) of the packaging being each embodied octagonally, and the foldable cut piece encompassing additional side regions (4) which are arranged in such a way that in the closed tubular shape, one of the additional side regions (4) extends respectively between the rear face (10) and each lateral face (3) and between the front face (2) and each lateral face (3), the two lower corners of the additional side region participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the bottom surface (12), and its two upper corners participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the top surface (1),

wherein the packaging comprises an internal frame (20) that is substantially adapted to the tubular shape, the internal frame (20) being adhesively bonded to the tubular shape and either being a constituent of the foldable cut piece or being formed from a separate foldable cut piece.

32. The packaging according to claim 31, wherein the internal frame (20) protrudes beyond the course of the tear strip (8) toward the top, and remains undamaged by the tear strip.

33. The packaging according to claim 31, wherein the additional side regions (4) are narrowed, as compared with the width of the lateral faces (3), into bevel surfaces.

34. The packaging according to claim 31, wherein in the closed tubular shape, the additional side regions (4) are approximately at angles of 135° to the lateral faces (3) adjacent to them, and to the rear face (10) or front face (2).

35. The packaging according to claim 31, wherein dust flaps (18), which in the foldable cut piece extend between each two top flaps (5, 6, 7) and/or two bottom flaps (13, 14, 15), are attached to the additional side regions (4) via fold lines in the direction toward the top (1) and/or bottom (12).

36. The packaging according to claim 35, wherein the dust flaps (18) and the top (5, 6, 7) flaps and/or bottom flaps (13, 14, 15) are substantially uninterruptedly next to one another in the flat foldable cut piece.

37. The packaging according to claim 36, wherein the dust flaps (18) prolong the additional side regions (4), substantially in their linear extension, in straight-line fashion.

38. The packaging according to claim 37, wherein the dust flaps (18) prolong the additional side regions (4) in obliquely extending fashion.

39. The packaging according to claim 37, wherein the top flaps (7) and/or the bottom flaps (15) of the lateral faces (3) are substantially approximately T-shaped in terms of the area requirement of the dust flaps (18).

40. The packaging according to one of claim 37, wherein the top flaps (5, 6) and/or bottom flaps (13, 14) of the rear face (10) and/or of the front face (2) are made wider in serif fashion in terms of the area requirement of the dust flaps (18), in their boundary region with respect to the rear and/or front face, than in a region that is made narrower in tongue-like fashion toward their free end.

41. The packaging according to claim 31, wherein the foldable cut piece is adhesively bonded in a seam region in order to constitute the tubular shape.

42. The packaging according to claim 41, wherein an adhesive flap (19) is provided for adhesive bonding and constitution of the seam region.

43. The packaging according to claim 42, wherein the adhesive flap (19) is arranged, via a fold line, on a periphery of the front (2) or rear face (10) that has no additional side region.

44. The packaging according to claim 31, wherein a tear strip (8) is incorporated into the foldable cut piece and extends substantially parallel to the top (1).

45. The packaging according to claim 44, wherein the tear strip (8) is delimited by material weakening lines.

46. The packaging according to claim 44, wherein a grip tab (11) is arranged at one end of the tear strip (8).

47. The packaging according to claim 46, wherein the grip tab (11) is approximately thumbnail-sized.

48. The packaging according to one of claims 44, wherein a flap hinge region (21), in which the top (1) remains connected to the rear face (10), is unoccupied by the tear strip (8).

49. The packaging according to claim 48, wherein a snap/detent connection is provided for reclosure of the top (1).

50. The packaging according to claim 49, wherein the snap/detent connection is arranged in the region of the side of the top (1) facing away from the flap hinge (21).

51. The packaging according to claim 31, comprising a carrying handle (16) (at the top).

52. The packaging according to claim 31, wherein it is produced substantially from cardboard and/or paperboard.

53. The packaging according to claim 52, wherein at least a part of the packaging is produced from corrugated board.

54. The packaging according to claim 53, wherein the internal frame (20) is produced from corrugated board.

55. The packaging according to claim 53, wherein the wave crests of the corrugated board extend vertically when the packaging is upright.

56. A powder-tight packaging for a material, in particular for a powdered material, preferably a washing or cleaning powder, comprising:

at least one foldable cut piece that encompasses in continuous fashion, delimited by fold lines, at least one rear face (10), one front face (2), and two lateral faces (3) of the packaging, which cut piece is closed into a tubular shape in order to construct the packaging, and encompasses at least one top flap (5, 6, 7) and at least one bottom flap (13, 14, 15) for closing the bottom (12) and the top (1) and for constituting the bottom surface and top surface of the packaging, which are respectively adjacent, via fold lines, to lower and upper peripheries of the front face, the rear face, and/or the lateral faces, the bottom surface (12) and the top surface (1) of the packaging being each embodied octagonally, and the foldable cut piece encompassing additional side regions (4) which are arranged in such a way that in the closed tubular shape, one of the additional side regions (4) extends respectively between the rear face (10) and each lateral face (3) and between the front face (2) and each lateral face (3), the two lower corners of the additional side region participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the bottom surface (12), and its two upper corners participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the top surface (1); and

an internal frame (20) that is substantially adapted to the tubular shape, the internal frame (20) being adhesively bonded to the tubular shape and either being a constituent of the foldable cut piece or being formed from a separate foldable cut piece.

57. A foldable cut piece for forming a powder-tight package, comprising:

in continuous fashion, delimited by fold lines, at least one rear face (10), one front face (2), and two lateral faces (3) of the package, which cut piece is closed into a tubular shape in order to construct the package, and encompasses at least one top flap (5, 6, 7) and at least one bottom flap (13, 14, 15) for closing the bottom (12) and the top (1) and for constituting the bottom surface and top surface of the package, which are respectively adjacent, via fold lines, to lower and upper peripheries of the front face, the rear face, and/or the lateral faces, the bottom surface (12) and the top surface (1) of the package being each embodied octagonally, and the foldable cut piece encompassing additional side regions (4) which are arranged in such a way that in the closed tubular shape, one of the additional side regions (4) extends respectively between the rear face (10) and each lateral face (3) and between the front face (2) and each lateral face (3), the two lower corners of the additional side region participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the bottom surface (12), and its two upper corners participating respectively in the constitution of two of the corners of the top surface (1).