Shelf-Ready Package and Method for Manufacturing the Same

Abstract

The invention covers a shelf-ready packaging (1) and a method for forming it. The shelf-ready packaging comprises at least a package base (2) and at least one detachable part (3), and the package base (2) and the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) are attached to each other with a fastener (4), and the shelf-ready packaging (1) has one or more tearing elements (5) essentially lengthwise along the fastener (4) for opening the shelf-ready packaging (1). The package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) comprises at least a base (2a) and a back end (2b). The detachable part (3) and the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) are attached to each other with fasteners (4), which form a fastening 20 seam between at least two edges of the walls (2a, 2b, 2e) of the package base (2) and the walls (3a, 3b, 3c, 3b′) of the detachable part (3).

Description

The object of the invention is a shelf-ready packaging for products described in the preamble of claim 1 and a method for forming shelf-ready packaging for products described in the preamble of claim 11.

The shelf-ready packaging according to the invention relates advantageously to made-to-order manufacture of easy-to-use shelf-ready cardboard or paperboard packaging to be used for the packaging and display of different products in stores.

In a solution according to prior art, shelf-ready packaging is made by folding carton blank plates to create a package around the products, said package having perforated sides that can be torn open to get the products out of the package. This packaging technique is called the “wraparound” technique. The problem in these solutions is the perforation's unreliability and lack of precision. When ripping the package open, the package may tear at the wrong line—in which case the products are not displayed as planned, they fall out of the package, or they are hard to pick from the package. The torn part may also be sharp and may sometimes injure the hand of the person handling it or the hands of store customers. Opened packages may also be unsightly if the perforation tears in the wrong place. In addition, the opening of perforated shelf-ready packaging requires physical hand-strength and takes a lot of time. In the existing tear strip implementations, the tear strip is located on the inside of the closed shelf-ready package, and when opening the shelf-ready package, the tear strip cuts the paperboard wall of the shelf-ready package at the tear strip location ripping the wall of the shelf-ready package into two, leaving an unattractive tear surface.

In another solution according to prior art, products are placed on top of a base, which is folded from its edges, and then the actual carrying carton is placed upside down on top of the products. This packaging technique is generally known as the “tray” technique. This technique requires a lot of packaging material: most parts of the product are covered by two layers of packaging material, and there are even more layers at the edges as they are reinforced by folding. Because the carton has a lot of folded edges, opening empty packages to form compact plates for recycling is a lot of work.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above and to create shelf-ready packaging that can be opened quickly, easily and safely. Another aim is to create shelf-ready packaging that is suitable as such for recycling and that can be easily and quickly turned into essentially straight plates to take up little space and to make it easy to deliver the packaging to recycling. Yet another aim is to create shelf-ready packaging that provides an easy way to arrange an information platform for the contained product. In addition, the aim of the invention is to create an easy and cost-effective method for forming shelf-ready packaging for products. Shelf-ready packaging for products according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1. Correspondingly, the method according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 11. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims.

In a solution according to the invention, the base of the shelf-ready packaging is advantageously made with carton forming equipment configured to produce dimensions appropriate for each batch of products. A detachable side or sides of the detachable part of the packaging, for example a lid, one end and the sides, are set into place and attached to the package base with a fastener, such as adhesive paper or tape. A tearing element, such as a tear strip, is placed between the outer surface of the shelf-ready packaging and the fastener, which attaches the detachable part and the package base to each other. When the shelf-ready packaging is opened, the tearing element rips open the seam made by the fastener between the package base and the detachable sides allowing the shelf-ready packaging to be opened easily and safely at exactly the right location. The tearing element rips the fastener lengthwise, leaving the shelf-ready packaging walls completely intact. The lengthwise tearing element placed between the outer surface of the shelf-ready packaging and the fastener can be integrated for example into the fastener's adhesive side or, alternatively, attached to the outer surface of the shelf-ready packaging with adhesive, either on the edge of the wall of the detachable part or on the edge of the wall of the package base.

The advantages of the solution according to the invention include the ability to detach the sides of a shelf-ready packaging easily, gently and quickly with tear strips. Compared to current shelf-ready packagings, the time required to open the package is cut in half. The tear strips allow the package to be opened reliably from the right place by tearing the fastener in two, thus avoiding any accidental ripping of the package base. A shelf-ready packaging can be opened with precision for example from the junction of the base and the side walls and from the junction of the back end and the side walls. In addition, the edge left after opening is clean and safe because no sharp edges are left behind. When only the base and back wall of the shelf-ready packaging remain, the products in the packaging are easily accessible by customers. Anti-slippage structures can be added to the base of a shelf-ready packaging to prevent products from falling over when the packaging is opened. An example of a simple anti-slippage structure is a corrugated surface made of corrugated cardboard.

Another advantage is that an almost minimum amount of material is used when manufacturing the packaging because there are very few overlapping package surfaces, which keeps the packaging material costs low. Shelf-ready packaging according to the invention is folded so that the best possible bearing capacity with the minimum amount of material is achieved. Another advantage is that it is light, easy and quick to open up used packaging into a single plate for recycling.

An advantage of another advantageous embodiment is that the package front end (or part thereof) can be folded downwards to display its inner surface, which can contain product information in the form of printed text and/or images, for example. An advantage of yet an another embodiment is that the package front end (or part thereof) can be folded downwards, revealing anti-slippage structures such as corrugated cardboard on its inner surface. This supplementary anti-slippage package base can be used to display products from a previous batch in front of newer same kind of products.

The following section describes the invention in greater detail using embodiment examples with reference to the attached simplified drawings, in which

FIG. 1 presents one of the basic principles of a shelf-ready packaging used in the solution according to the invention, viewed obliquely from the side and above,

FIG. 2 presents the shelf-ready packaging according to FIG. 1 while being opened, viewed obliquely from the side and above,

FIG. 3 presents the shelf-ready packaging according to FIG. 1 and the detachable part when fully opened, viewed obliquely from the side and above,

FIG. 4a presents one opened carton blank of the package base of the shelf-ready packaging according to the invention,

FIG. 4b presents the folding pattern of the carton blank from FIG. 4a for turning it into the package base of the shelf-ready packaging,

FIG. 4c presents the carton blank from FIG. 4a folded into the package base of the shelf-ready packaging, viewed from behind and obliquely from above,

FIG. 5 present a second and a third basic principles of the shelf-ready packaging used in the solution according to the invention, both closed and opened, viewed obliquely from the side and above,

FIG. 6 present a fourth basic principle of the shelf-ready packaging used in the solution according to the invention, both closed and opened, viewed obliquely from the side and above,

FIG. 7 present sectioned and simplified front views of two fastener principles of the lid or the side of the shelf-ready packaging according to the invention,

FIG. 8 presents one fastener, such as adhesive paper or tape provided with a tear strip, used in the shelf-ready packaging according to the invention, viewed obliquely from the side and above,

FIG. 9a presents another opened carton blank of the detachable part of the shelf-ready packaging according to the invention,

FIG. 9b presents the folding pattern of the carton blank from FIG. 9a for turning it into the detachable part of the shelf-ready packaging, and

FIG. 9c presents the carton blank from FIG. 9a folded into the detachable part of the shelf-ready packaging, viewed from the front and obliquely from above.

In FIG. 1, one of the basic principles of the shelf-ready packaging used in the solution according to the invention, is presented obliquely from the side and above. The shelf-ready packaging 1 consists at least of a package base 2, a detachable part 3, a fastener 4 and tearing elements 5. Tearing element 5 can be a strip-like or thread-like element. For example, it can be a thin tear strip, thread, string or some other suitable thin and/or narrow element with good tear resistance, with which the fastener 4 can be torn from the corners of the shelf-ready packaging 1. In this example solution, tearing element 5 is a tear strip.

In this solution, the package base 2 comprises a base 2a and a back end 2b of the shelf-ready packaging 1. Correspondingly, the detachable part 3 comprises a continuous top part i.e. a lid 3a, a front part i.e. a front end 3b and right and left sides 3c of the shelf-ready packaging 1. The package base 2 and the detachable part 3 are attached to each other with fasteners 4, such as tapes or adhesive papers. The fastener 4 can also be a paper strip, to which a tear strip 5 is attached. The paper strip with tear strip 5 is glued (e.g., with hot gluing) to the package base 2 and the detachable part 3 when the shelf-ready packaging 1 is closed. In the example mentioned above, the glue can be attached to either the paper strip or the packaging. Tear strip 5 is attached lengthwise to the glue surface of fastener 4, for example, essentially to the center line of the fastener. Tear strips 5 could also be attached to the lower parts of the side walls 3c and to the back parts of the side walls 3c of the detachable part 3, as long as the placement is close enough to the outer edge to catch the tear strips under fasteners 4 as the shelf-ready packaging 1 is being closed. The tabs of the tear strips 5 have opening cuts 5a to make it easier to open the tear strips.

In FIG. 2, the shelf-ready packaging 1 according to FIG. 1 is presented obliquely from the side and above while being opened. The shelf-ready packaging 1 is filled with a set of product packages 6. The shelf-ready packaging 1 according to the invention can be easily opened by pulling from the four tear strips 5 mentioned above, in which case the fasteners 4, such as tapes or adhesive papers, that attached the package base 2 and the detachable part 3 to each other tear lengthwise with the tear strips 5, separating the package base 2 and the detachable part 3 from each other. The tear strips 5 are manufactured from tough material to avoid breakage and to ensure they cut the fasteners 4 set on top of them. The package base 2 consists of the base 2a, the back end 2b and supportive parts 2c, which keep the back end 2b firmly in an upright position. In addition, an anti-slippage element 2d can be included into the package base, which anti-slippage element can be, for example, corrugated cardboard. The detachable part 3 and the package base 2 can be separated from each other with precision between the side walls 3c and the base 2a, between the side walls 3c and the back end 2b, and between the front end 3b and the base 2a. In the example according to FIG. 2, the front end 3b of the detachable part 3 has not been attached to the package base 2 with the fastener 4, which expedites the opening of the shelf-ready packaging 1.

In FIG. 3, the shelf-ready packaging 1 and the detachable part according to FIG. 1 are presented completely opened, viewed obliquely from the side and above. The detachable part 3 of the shelf-ready packaging 1 is completely detached from the package base 2 using the tear strips 5. Product packages are on display, making it easy for shop customers, for example, to pick them out of the shelf-ready packaging 1 placed on a shop shelf. Using the tear strips 5 to open the shelf-ready packaging 1, it opens from just the right, planned location, leaving the products 6 on a neat package base 2 with no visible tears. The anti-slippage element 2d prevents the product packages 6 from sliding and falling over in the opened shelf-ready packaging 1. The supports 2c included in the package base 2 make the package base 2 sturdy and keep the back end 2b upright. The detachable part 3 does not have side folds and it is easy and quick to deliver it to recycling as a straight plate.

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c present one possible package base 2 of the shelf-ready packaging 1 as an opened package blank and as assembled into the folded position according to the folding pattern of the package blank. In FIG. 4a, upper part o1 of the package blank forms the back end 2b of the package base 2 and part o2 at the bottom of the figure forms the base 2a of the package base. In FIGS. 4b and 4c, the folding pattern demonstrates how the package base 2 is formed from the straight package blank. The upper part o1 of the package blank has been raised and fixed in an upright position with support tape o3, forming the continuous back part i.e. the back end 2b of the package base 2. The lower part o2 of the package blank has been folded to be advantageously perpendicular to part o1, forming the base 2a of the package base. After use, the package base 2 can be easily and quickly opened to form a recyclable plate by tearing the part o2 of the back-part open with a simple pulling gesture, for example.

FIGS. 5a and 5b present a second embodiment example of the shelf-ready packaging 1 according to the invention. The package base 2 comprises a base 2a, a back end 2b and a front end 2e of the shelf-ready packaging 1. Correspondingly, the detachable part 3 comprises a continuous top part i.e. a lid 3a and side walls 3c of the shelf-ready packaging 1, which detachable part is attached to the base 2a, back end 2b and front end 2e of the package base 2 with fastener 4 or a similar fastener that comprises a tear strip 5. The front end 2e of the package base 2 has been arranged to be folded down to display not only product packages 6 but also product information 7, such as product description, placed on the inside of the front end 2e, which information would be visible below the actual products 6. Product information 7 can be attached to the front end 2e, among other ways, by printing it directly on the packaging material or by attaching it with an adhesive sticker on the packaging material. The seam between the base 2a and the front end 2e can also have a tearing crease, in which case the front end 2e including the product information 7 can be easily removed when needed.

FIGS. 5c and 5d present a third embodiment example of the shelf-ready packaging 1 according to the invention. This example is like the second example presented above, with the difference that the front end of the shelf-ready packaging 1 has two parts: upper part 3b′ of the front end, which is attached to the lid 3a of the detachable part 3, and lower part 2e of the front end, which is attached to the base 2a of the package base 2. The shelf-ready packaging 1 according to this example comprises product information 7, which can be folded down as in the previous example, but in this case the lower part 2e of the front end is not the full height of the shelf-ready packaging 1 as in the solution according to FIG. 5. Instead, the height of the lower part 2e of the front end can be optimized to be smaller when needed.

FIGS. 6a and 6b present a fourth embodiment example of the shelf-ready packaging 1 according to the invention. This example is like the second example presented above, but is different in that the front end 2e is folded out to become a horizontal extension of the base 2a. The upper surface of the folded front end 2e has an anti-slippage structure, the same as the upper surface of the base 2a. When there are product packages 6′ from the previous shelf-ready packaging left over on the product shelf, these can be easily placed in front of product packages 6 of a new shelf-ready packaging 1 on top of the front end 2e, provided with the anti-slippage structure, when it is folded down into its horizontal position.

FIGS. 7a and 7b present sectioned and simplified front views of two attachment principles for the detachable part 3 and the package base 2 of the shelf-ready packaging 1 according to the invention. The proportions of the figures are not necessarily correct and at least the thicknesses of the fastener 4 and the tear strip 5 have been exaggerated for clarity. The thickness of the tear strip 5 can normally be around 0.1 millimeters, for example. A product package 6 is packed inside the shelf-ready packaging 1 and it is bounded by the side wall 3c of the detachable part 3 from the side and the base 2a of the package base 2 from below. The package base 2 and the detachable part 3 are attached to each other with the fastener 4, which can be tape or adhesive paper, for example.

In the solution according to the invention, it is essential that the package base 2 and the detachable part 3 are separate from each other before they are attached to each other. The tear strip 5 is placed on the outer surface of the shelf-ready packaging 1 between the fastener 4 and the shelf-ready packaging 1, on the wall of either the package base 2 or the detachable part 3 and essentially close to the edge of the wall. The tear strip allows you to tear up the fastener 4, in which case the package base 2 and the detachable part 3 separate from each other reliably without risking that they rip apart uncontrollably. In the existing tear strip implementations, the tear strip is located on the inside of the closed shelf-ready package, and when opening the shelf-ready package, the tear strip cuts the paperboard wall of the shelf-ready package at the tear strip location ripping the wall of the shelf-ready package into two, leaving an unsightly tear surface.

In the implementation of FIG. 7a, the tear strip 5 is integrated lengthwise on the inner surface i.e. on the adhesive surface of the fastener 4. The tear strip 5 is located on the lower edge of the side wall 3c of the detachable part 3. When pulling the tear strip 5, it cleanly splits the fastener 4 lengthwise, reliably separating the package base 2 and the detachable part 3 from each other.

In the implementation of FIG. 7b, the tear strip is attached to the lower surface of the base 2a of the package base 2, essentially close to the side edge of the base 2a. The side wall 3c of the detachable part 3 and the base 2a of the package base 2 are attached to each other with the fastener 4 so that the tear strip remains between the lower surface of the base 2c and the fastener 4. When pulling the tear strip 5, it cleanly splits the fastener 4 lengthwise, reliably separating the package base 2 and the detachable part 3 from each other.

FIG. 8 presents a roll of fastener 4, used for the shelf-ready packaging 1 according to the invention, viewed obliquely from the side and above. There is an adhesive surface 8 on one side of the fastener 4, which can be an elongated tape or adhesive paper released from the roll, which adhesive surface attaches to the components to be attached to each other, such as the package base 2 and the detachable part 3 of the shelf-ready packaging 1, and attaches the components to each other. The lower surface of the fastener 4, which is the adhesive surface, has an integrated tear strip 5. Because the tear strip 5 is integrated into the fastener 4, it advantageously goes automatically in exactly the right place when the shelf-ready packaging 1 is being closed. The material used in the tear strip 5 is tough and durable so that it does not break when opening the shelf-ready packaging 1 and so that it can gently cut open the fastener 4 material.

FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c present another possible detachable part 3 of the shelf-ready packaging 1 as an opened package blank, as a folding pattern for the package blank and as a fully folded structure. In FIG. 9a, upper part a1 and a3 of the package blank form the front end 3b of the detachable part 3 and part a5 in the middle in the lower part of the drawing forms the lid 3a of the detachable part 3. Correspondingly, parts a4 and a6 form both sides i.e. the side walls 3c of the detachable part 3. In FIG. 9b, the folding pattern demonstrates how the detachable part 3 is formed from the straight package blank. Front parts a1 and a3 of the sides of the detachable part 3 are folded against each other to form the continuous front part i.e. the front end 3b of the detachable part 3. Parts a1 and a3 are attached to each other with a fastener 4 comprising a tear strip 5 and an opening cut 5a. The fastener 4 can also extend slightly over the lid 3a of the detachable part 3. After use, the detachable part 3 can be easily and quickly opened to form a recyclable plate by detaching parts al and a3 of the front end 3b from each other with the tear strip 5.

To a person skilled in the art, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to the embodiment examples above, but that it can be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. Accordingly, method phases, for example, may occur in a different order than presented above, method phases may be omitted or other method phases not presented may be included.

In addition, some method phases could include more or less steps than presented above.

To a person skilled in the art, it is also clear that shelf-ready packagings according to the invention can be different than those presented above. The simplest and most common shelf-ready packaging is rectangular in form. This is used as an example in all the figures. However, shelf-ready packagings can take other forms besides the typical rectangular box-like shape. Thus, the form could be, for example, polygonal, circular, or oval, depending e.g. on the form of the product packages placed inside the shelf-ready packaging. A shelf-ready packaging can also include more than one row of product packages.

To a person skilled in the art, it is yet clear that the detachable part of a shelf-ready packaging can be removed in some other manner than with two or more tear strips. For example, the detachable part can be removed with one tear strip circling completely around the detachable part.

In addition, to a person skilled in the art, it is clear that the tear strip can be unattached to the fastener, such as adhesive paper or tape, and merely be placed under it. In addition, it could be attached either to the side edges of the detachable part, as mentioned previously, or on the underside edge of the package base and/or the outer edge of the back end.

It is also clear to a person skilled in the art that shelf-ready packagings made with the method can be some other material than recyclable fiber material. In this case, a shelf-ready packaging can be manufactured from some other foldable material than corrugated cardboard. For example, shelf-ready packaging can be manufactured from different types of cardboard, paperboard, or paper, or even woven materials, plastic, metal, or a combination of materials. The package base and the detachable part of the box can be made from the same material or from different materials.

Claims

1. Shelf-ready packaging that comprises at least a package base (2) and at least one detachable part (3) and where the package base (2) and the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) are attached to each other with a fastener (4), and, where the shelf-ready packaging (1) has one or more tearing elements (5) essentially lengthwise along the fastener (4) for opening the shelf-ready packaging (1), characterized in that, the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) comprises at least a base (2a) and a back end (2b), and that the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging and the package base (2) are attached to each other with fasteners (4), which form a fastening seam between at least two edges of the walls (2a, 2b, 2e) of the package base (2) and the walls (3a, 3b, 3c, 3b′) of the detachable part (3), and the lower edges of the side walls (3c) of the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) are attached with a fastener (4) to the side edges of the base (2a) of the package base (2).

2. (canceled)

3. Shelf-ready packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, the tearing element (5) is placed between the exterior surface of the shelf-ready packaging (1) and the fastener (4).

4. Shelf-ready packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, the fastener (4) is essentially thin and flexible adhesive paper or tape provided with a tearing element (5), and that the tearing element (5) is attached to the adhesive surface of the fastener (4), essentially to the center line of the fastener (4) so that the first side of the fastener (4) is on the first side of the tearing element (5) and the second side of the fastener (4) is on the second side of the tearing element (5).

5. Shelf-ready packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, the fastener (4) is attached to the package base (2) and the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) in a manner where one side of the fastener (4) is fastened to the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) and the other side of the fastener (4) is fastened to the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging (1), and that the tearing element (5) is essentially at the joint of the package base (2) and the detachable part (3).

6. Shelf-ready packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the upper surface of the base (2a) of the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1), there are forms that prevent slippage of the product packages (6).

7. Shelf-ready packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) comprises a lid (3a), a front end (3b) and side walls (3c).

8. Shelf-ready packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) comprises a front end (2e) or a part of the front end (2e) that can be folded down.

9. Shelf-ready packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that, the inner surface of the front end (2e) or of a part of the front end (2e) of the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) has product information (7) on the product packages (6) that are placed in the shelf-ready packaging (1).

10. Shelf-ready packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that, the inner surface of the folded down front end (2e) or of a part of the front end (2e) of the package base of the shelf-ready packaging (1) is a base for earlier product packages (6′).

11. Method for forming a shelf-ready packaging, said shelf-ready packaging (1) comprising at least a package base (2) and at least one detachable part (3), and the package base (2) and the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) are attached to each other with a fastener (4), which is arranged to be torn in two lengthwise by tearing element (5), characterized in that, the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) is arranged to comprise at least a base (2a) and back end (2b), and that the detachable part (3) and the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) are attached to each other with fasteners (4), which form a fastening seam between at least two edges of the walls (2a, 2b, 2e) of the package base (2) and the walls (3a, 3b, 3c, 3b′) of the detachable part (3).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that, the tearing element (5) is placed between the exterior surface of the shelf-ready packaging (1) and the fastener (4).

13. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that, the fastener (4) is attached to the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) and the detachable part (3) in a manner where one side of the fastener (4) is fastened to the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) and the other side of the fastener (4) is fastened to the detachable part (3) of the shelf-ready packaging (1), and that the tearing element (5) is placed essentially at the joint of the package base (2) and the detachable part (3).

14. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that, forms that prevent slippage of the product packages (6), are arranged onto the upper surface of the base (2a) of the package base (2) of the shelf-ready packaging (1).

15. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that, the detachable part (3) is arranged to comprise a lid (3a), a front end (3b) and the side walls (3c) of the shelf-ready packaging (1).

16. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that, the package base (2) is arranged to comprise a base (2a), a back end (2b) and a front end (2e) or a part of a front end (2e) of the shelf-ready packaging (1).

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that, the front end (2e) or a part of the front end (2e) of the shelf-ready packaging (1) is arranged to be folded down from its lower edge after the front end (2e) is torn open.

18. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that, the inner surface of the front end (2e) or of a part of the front end (2e), being arranged to be folded down, is provided with product information (7) on the products in the shelf-ready packaging (1).

19. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that, the inner surface of the front end (2e) or of a part of the front end (2e), being arranged to be folded down, is used as a base for previous product packages (6′).