Recloseable, cuboidal folding box

Abstract

Recloseable, cuboidal folding box 1 having a front side wall 11, a rear side wall 12, a right-hand side wall 13, which connects the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12, and a left-hand side wall 14, having a base closure 20, which is formed, in particular, by four base closure flaps 21, 22, 23, 24, having a top closure 30, it being possible for two base closure flaps 21, 22 to be adhesively bonded to one another, having a tear-open tab 40, which is integrated in the rear side wall 12, is retained in the rear side wall 12 by means of a weakening or predetermined tearing line 41,

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a recloseable, cuboidal folding box having a front side wall, a rear side wall, a right-hand side wall, which connects the front side wall and the rear side wall, and a left-hand side wall, having a base closure, which is formed, in particular, by four base closure flaps, having a top closure, it being possible for two base closure flaps to be adhesively bonded to one another, and having a tear-open tab which is integrated in the rear side wall, is retained in the rear side wall by means of a weakening or predetermined tearing line.

[0002] DE 39 32 441 A1 discloses a recloseable folding box which comprises a front side wall and a rear side wall as well as two side walls which connect the front side wall and the rear side wall, a base part and a top closure flap, it being the case that the closure flap is connected, via a fastening tab, to an insertion tongue which, for its part, is arranged in the rear side wall or front side wall via a weakening line and be torn out of said side wall. This folding box, however, does not provide any possible means for hanging it on a hook in any way.

[0003] Once said folding box has been filled with the goods which are to be sold, it has to be displayed to the customer in a manner which shows it to best effect and which allows it to be handled easily. A very clearly laid-out display may be provided in sales racks by means of the generally known self-service hooks, which make it possible for a plurality of folding boxes to be received one behind the other.

[0004] In order that the folding box described can be hung on such a hook, a correspondingly shaped blank with a hanging device has to be fitted on the folding box in addition. This usually takes place by this part with the corresponding hanging device being adhesively bonded on the folding box at a suitable location in an additional operation. However, the production process of the folding box is thus made more complicated, inter alia, as a result of the production of the further blank or the adhesive bonding of the latter on the finished box, and the greater number of operating steps increases the amount of time required for the production process; furthermore, this means a very much higher outlay in terms of apparatus.

[0005] DE 43 22 555 A1 likewise discloses a recloseable, cuboidal folding box. This folding box comprises a rear side wall, which is formed by an outer side-wall part and an inner side-wall part, a front side wall, two side walls which connect the front side wall and the rear side wall, a base closure and a top closure, it being the case that the outer side-wall part has, in its top region, a hanging tab with a correspondingly shaped hanging device, for example round holes or slots.

[0006] The hanging tab can be used to position the folding box on a hook. However, since the hanging tab is merely of single-layer design and consists of the same material as the rest of the folding box, problems arise during practical usage of the folding box.

[0007] If, taking into consideration environmental reasons and reasons of cost, the folding box is produced from thin material, the hanging tab has insufficient stability. Even if the folding box is subjected to a slight, unintentional pulling action, the hanging tab tears off, with the result that the hanging tab loses its function and it is no longer possible for the box to be hung up as desired. Furthermore, the appearance of the box is adversely effected as a result and it is no longer possible for the box to be displayed to the customer.

[0008] Conversely, producing the folding box from thicker, more stable material means that, although the hanging tab can be subjected to tensile loading to a very much greater extent, a large amount of material is wasted unnecessarily at the same time because the rest of the wails of the folding box are over-dimensioned.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,533 describes a box which has a hanging means which is made up of two individual hanging tabs.

[0010] However, this box has several disadvantages as far as its production and use are concerned.

[0011] The blank of the box disclosed in the American patent has a vertical construction, i.e. the two hanging tabs and the end tab, which together form the hanging means of the box, are arranged in a straight line with the four side walls, the individual parts being connected to one another by a folding line in each case. This type of folding blank means that, once the body of the box has been assembled, the box can only be filled from the side and not, as is generally customary and desired, from above. This makes it necessary to use cartoning and filling machines which are specifically designed for this blank and are otherwise rather unconventional.

[0012] Furthermore, when the box has been completed, there is a section, in the region of the hanging means, which has a threefold material thickness, as a result of three walls located one above the other, and is thus over-dimensioned, which makes the box more expensive to produce, as a result of increased material consumption, and at the same time results in the weight of the box increasing, with the generally known disadvantages. It is only possible to open the box by first of all a strip of material over the actual opening being removed in an irreversible manner and thus ending up as waste, which, from current environmental standpoints, is undesirable. The box is then torn open at a perforation line.

[0013] The box can only be reclosed by the hanging means, following corresponding folding, simultaneously serving as a closure cover and being pushed into the opening of the box. This rules out the possibility, once the box has been opened for the first time and closed again, of the box being hung up again by its actual hanging means. The hanging means thus loses its original, actual function.

[0014] Furthermore, it is not possible to rule out the situation, during closure of the box, where the closure cover, in particular when the box is no longer completely full, slips, in an uncontrolled manner, too far into the interior of the box, with the result that it is no longer possible to grip said closure cover and the box can then only be opened with very great difficulty.

[0015] Finally, the simultaneous use of the hanging means as a closure cover for the box means that when the box is still sealed, in particular when the box is of a large overall depth, a large, bulky hanging means is produced, and this results, for example, in the box taking up a very large amount of surface area when it is hung up in a rack, with the result that the actual capacity of the rack can only be utilized insufficiently by the boxes disclosed.

[0016] DE 195 41 904 A1 discloses a similar folding box. The folding box comprises a front side wall, a rear side wall, a right-hand side wall, which connects the front side wall and the rear side wall, and a left-hand side wall. The box has a base closure, which is formed by four base closure flaps, and a top closure, which is formed by four closure flaps, two closure flaps of the top closure and two base closure flaps being adhesively bonded to one another. Furthermore, integrated in the front side wall or in the rear side wall is a tear-open tab which is retained in the front side wall or the rear side wall by means of a weakening or predetermined tearing line and is connected to a closure flap of the top closure or to a base closure flap of the base closure via a folding line. At least one inner rear wall is provided in the folding box, to be precise if the tear-open tab is located in the rear side wall. In the case where the tear-open tab is located in the front side wall, then an intermediate wall and, adjoining the intermediate wall, an inner front wall are articulated.

[0017] Articulated on the rear side wall, in the region of the latter which is free of the tear-open tab, is a first hanging tab, which is located in the plane formed by the rear side wall and has a hanging device, such as slots or round holes. At the same time, a second hanging tab with a hanging device, such as slots or round holes, is punched out of the same region of the inner rear wall as in the case of the rear side wall, starting from the folding line between the inner rear wall and closure flap, it being the case that the closure flap which is articulated on the inner rear wall is of a greater width at the folding line than the second hanging tab.

[0018] DE 195 35 008 A1 has disclosed a recloseable, cuboidal folding box having a front side wall, a rear side wall, a left-hand side wall, which connects the front side wall and the rear side wall, and a right-hand side wall, having a recloseable base, preferably comprising three base closure flaps articulated on the side walls, and having three further closure flaps, which are articulated on the front side wall, on the left-hand side wall, which connects the front side wall and the rear side wall, and on the right-hand side wall and which are located opposite the base closure flaps, and having a fourth closure flap, which is articulated on the rear side wall and, together with the three further closure flaps, forms the top closure of the folding box, this making it possible to have a secure and stable means of hanging the folding box on the known self-service hooks of sales racks within shops or pharmacies.

[0019] The fourth closure flap is made up, according to the invention, of a plurality of sections, to be precise of

[0020] a first hanging tab with a hanging device, which is articulated on the rear side wall of the folding box via a folding line, there being articulated on the first hanging tab, via a folding line,

[0021] a second hanging tab with a hanging device, there being articulated on the second hanging tab, via a folding line,

[0022] an end tab,

[0023] it being the case that the first hanging tab, the second hanging tab and the end tab are arranged one behind the other in a straight line, it being the case that the three further closure flaps and the fourth closure flap are each articulated on the same side of the four side walls, and it being the case that, when the folding box has been completed, the end tab is adhesively bonded to the closure flap articulated on the front side wall.

[0024] This folding box has a double-layer hanging means, but does not have a tamperproof seal which is recloseable.

[0025] The disadvantage with all the boxes known from the prior art is that, in so far as they have the tamperproof seal disclosed by DE 43 22 555 A1, the hanging means is always provided on that side of the folding box which is located opposite the tamperproof seal, i.e. in the base region of the folding box when said folding boxes are ones with a single-part blank. For the reasons specified above, the task of adhesively bonding a hanging means on the box subsequently is always to be avoided.

[0026] It is annoying for the customer if the hanging means of the folding box and the closure are arranged on opposite sides of the folding box. Experience has shown that the customer takes the folding box in his/her hand and opens it at the top, that is to say in the vicinity of the hanging means, by irreversibly tearing open, and destroying, the folding box. Subsequent closure of said folding box is no longer possible.

[0027] The customer who has had a little more experience of such boxes opens the folding box, as envisaged, at the tamperproof seal, removes the desired product, for example a plaster, and then closes the box again. If the latter is then hung on a hook by the hanging means, the closed closure is located at the bottom. It is thus not possible to rule out the situation where the folding box comes open unintentionally and the products located therein drop out.

[0028] A second problem with the folding box known from DE 43 22 555 A1 is that, in order to form the tamperproof seal, it is always necessary to have a fifth wall, which is located within the folding box and necessitates the use of additional material.

[0029] This wall results in a relatively complicated blank with a relatively large amount of waste, and furthermore it increases the material cost. Finally, the wall increases the folding-box weight which has to be disposed of.

[0030] The task of the invention is to solve the problems described.

[0031] The object of the invention is to provide a recloseable, cuboidal folding box which has a tamperproof seal which has a high stability, with as little material being used as possible, which can be produced cost-effectively, with as little material being used as possible, which can be erected, filled and closed easily and quickly with the aid of machines, and of which the folding blank is in a single piece.

[0032] This object, on which the invention is based, is achieved by the teaching of the main claim. Advantageous configurations are explained in the subclaims. The invention also comprises a punched blank of the folding box according to the invention.

[0033] The recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to the invention thus comprises a front side wall, a rear side wall, a right-hand side wall, which connects the front side wall and the rear side wall, and a left-hand side wall. The folding box has a base closure, which is formed, in particular, by four base closure flaps, and a top closure, it being possible for two base closure flaps to be adhesively bonded to one another. Furthermore, integrated in the rear side wall is a tear-open tab which is retained in the rear side wall by means of a weakening or predetermined tearing line. Articulated on the front side wall is a top closure flap which is made up of

[0034] a) a cover section which is articulated on the front side wall via a folding line,

[0035] b) a tab which is articulated on the cover section via a folding line,

[0036] c) it being the case that, when the folding box has been completed, the tab engages in the outward direction over the tear-open tab in the rear side wall and is adhesively bonded to the tear-open tab.

[0037] The construction of the preferred embodiment of the folding box is similar to a construction known from ECMA Code A 1020 (see “THE ECMA CODE of FOLDING CARTON STYLES”, published by ECMA (European Carton Makers Association), Reprint January 2000).

[0038] It has been found to be particularly advantageous if there are provided in the top closure flap a first hanging tab with a hanging device and a second hanging tab with a hanging device, which are connected to one another, in particular, via a folding line.

[0039] It is preferable here for the hanging tabs to be arranged between the front side wall and the cover section. In this case, the front side wall and the first hanging tab may be combined to form a single wall without a separating folding line.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, the hanging tabs are arranged between the cover section and the tab. In this case, the second hanging tab and the tab may be combined to form a single wall without a separating folding line.

[0041] In a further alternative embodiment, the hanging tabs divide the cover section into two parts. In order to ensure that the folding box hangs vertically within a sales rack, the cover section is particularly preferably divided in the centre by the hanging tabs.

[0042] In a further preferred embodiment of the folding box, the dimensions of the first and second hanging tabs correspond, and the hanging device in the first hanging tab is advantageously of larger dimensions than the hanging device in the second hanging tab, to be precise in order to ensure that, despite the unavoidable inaccuracy during the folding operation of the folding box, the requirements for the dimensions of the opening, which is formed from the hanging devices located, possibly not completely, one above the other, are fulfilled.

[0043] Furthermore, the two hanging tabs may also be adhesively bonded to one another, in order to increase the stability of the hanging means of the folding box, which is formed from the two hanging tabs.

[0044] In order that the first and, if appropriate, second hanging tabs achieve greater flexibility at the respective folding lines, be this between the front side wall and the cover section, between the cover section and the tab or within the cover section, with the result that the hanging tabs can be bent over more easily, punched sections in the manner of knife cuts may be provided over the entire length, or merely in certain areas, of said folding lines.

[0045] It is likewise possible for the folding line between the first hanging tab and the second hanging tab to be provided with punched sections in the manner of knife cuts.

[0046] It is further particularly preferable for the cover section to cover the tear-open tab fully over the entire surface area.

[0047] Once the folding box has been torn open for the first time, the tear-open tab thus cannot be seen beneath the cover section, with the result that the appearance of the folding box is not adversely affected. Furthermore, this embodiment has the advantage that the gap which is present in the rear side wall once the tear-open tab has been removed is completely closed by the cover section when the latter is guided beneath the rear side wall in order to close the folding box.

[0048] This reliably prevents the penetration of dust or particles of dirt.

[0049] In a further preferred embodiment of the folding box, the tear-open tab does not extend over the entire width of the rear side wall. Rather, the tear-open tab is of relatively narrow design, to be precise such that provided alongside the tear-open tab in the top region of the rear side wall are crosspieces which, once the tear-open tab has been removed from the rear side wall, ensure increased stability of the rear side wall and thus of the folding box as a whole.

[0050] The folding box has a tamperproof seal beneath the visible tab. This tamperproof seal is provided in that the surface of the underside of the cover section forms an adhesively bonded unit with the perforated tear-open tab on the body of the folding box. This perforated tear-open tab is located beneath the adhesively bonded insertion tab located on top, and is perforated such that said tabs are severed from the body of the folding box when the latter is opened for the first time, by the two adhesively bonded surfaces located one above the other being pressed in slightly. The folding box can be reclosed, as is known, by the cover section being reinserted. Once the folding box has been opened, the product can be removed.

[0051] The severed surface area in the region of the removal opening additionally produces an improved, enlarged removal surface area for the product.

[0052] It is further preferably possible for the tear-open tab to have a further closure tab articulated on it via a folding line, said closure tab being located in extension of the rear side wall.

[0053] When the folding box is adhesively bonded at a later stage, this increases the stability of the same. The closure tab is swung over through 90°, positioned on the closure flap and adhesively bonded thereto. This increases the compressive strength of the folding box such that sagging of the top closure of the folding box can be ruled out.

[0054] The recloseable, cuboidal folding box can be used particularly advantageously for packaging flat articles, in particular one or more plasters.

[0055] The invention also relates to the punched blank for producing a folding box which is characterized in the claims.

[0056] The advantage of this folding box resides in the fact that the closure of the folding box and the hanging means formed from the hanging tabs are fitted on one side of the folding box. There are also further advantages, for example, when the tamperproof pack is closed, unauthorized opening of the box can be detected immediately.

[0057] The folding box is machine-compatible; it is provided with adhesive when the blank is the flattened-out state, is erected by the cartoning machine and is transported to the filling station, the hanging tab having already been formed on the folding box. The front and rear sides of the folding box provide excellent design possibilities. Once the folding box has been erected and filled, simple adhesive bonding of the head region and of the central region is possible. This adhesive bonding achieves good dustproofing, this dispensing with the need for the folding box to be fully wrapped subsequently or provided with additional packaging.

[0058] The folding box is adhesively bonded, dustproof, provided with a tamperproof seal and recloseable; it is easy to handle and can be designed in various ways. Problem-free processing is possible. Furthermore, the folding box is environmentally friendly and is produced from a folding blank with minimum material consumption.

[0059] During assembly of the folding box, a hanging means is formed on the same, said hanging means being made up of two hanging tabs—and therefore of two layers of material. This has the advantage that the hanging means is characterized by high stability, with the result that it withstands even relatively high tensile loading without there being any risk of it being torn off. In particular if the two hanging tabs are adhesively bonded to one another, the result is a fixed composite arrangement, which may also be designed in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

[0060] Apart from the hanging means, as far as the folding box is concerned, the walls, with the exception of envisaged adhesive-bonding areas, are otherwise of single-layer design in each case. This means that, overall, a very small amount of material is used up for designing the folding box, although a load-bearing hanging means is nevertheless formed.

[0061] The integration of the hanging means in the folding blank of the folding box allows the folding box to be completed within one operating step. The subsequent task, thus involving unnecessary outlay, of adhesively bonding a hanging means on the otherwise finished box is dispensed with.

[0062] The folding-box design according to the invention reduces the sources of disruption when the products, in particular plasters, are introduced into the folding box, because the latter does not contain in its interior any protruding edge on which the products may catch.

[0063] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the folding box along with the punched blank is explained in more detail, without there being any intention of thereby limiting the invention unnecessarily, with reference to the figures, which are described hereinbelow and in which:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of the folding box of particularly advantageous design,

[0065] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the completed and closed folding box in the region of the top closure, to be precise, in the former case, before the folding box has been opened for the first time and, in the latter case, once the folding box has been opened for the first time,

[0066] FIG. 4 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of a folding box of alternative design,

[0067] FIG. 5 shows the completed and closed folding box according to FIG. 4 in the region of the top closure, to be precise before the folding box has been opened for the first time,

[0068] FIG. 6 shows the completed and closed folding box according to FIG. 4 in the region of the top closure in a slightly different form,

[0069] FIG. 7 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of a further folding box of alternative design,

[0070] FIG. 8 shows the completed and closed folding box according to FIG. 7 in the region of the top closure, to be precise before the folding box has been opened for the first time,

[0071] FIG. 9 shows the hanging means of the folding box according to FIG. 8 in lateral section,

[0072] FIG. 10 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of a further folding box of alternative design,

[0073] FIG. 11 shows the completed and closed folding box according to FIG. 10 in the region of the top closure, to be precise before the folding box has been opened for the first time,

[0074] FIG. 12 shows the hanging means of the folding box according to FIG. 11 in lateral section,

[0075] FIG. 13 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of a further folding box of alternative design, and

[0076] FIG. 14 shows the completed and closed folding box according to FIG. 13 in the region of the top closure, to be precise before the folding box has been opened for the first time.

[0077] FIG. 1 illustrates the punched blank 10 of the folding box 1. The punched blank 10 may consist of cardboard, paperboard or another suitable material. The body of the erected folding box 1 is formed by the front side wall 11, the rear side wall 12, the right-hand side wall 13, which connects the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12, and the left-hand side wail 14.

[0078] The tear-open tab 40, which is provided for opening the folding box 1, is retained in the rear side wall 12 by means of a weakening or predetermined tearing line 41, to be precise in the region of the top closure 30.

[0079] The rear side wall 12 has articulated on it a tab 16, it being possible for the tab 16 to be adhesively bonded to the left-hand side wall 14 for the purpose of non-releasable closure of the body of the folding box.

[0080] All the side walls 11, 12, 13, 14 are of rectangular shape, although the front side wall 11 and rear side wall 12, which are preferably of the same dimensions, are somewhat wider than the other two side walls 13, 14, which are likewise preferably of identical dimensions. The tab 16, on the one hand, is of such a width as to allow reliable adhesive bonding to the left-hand side wall 14, but, on the other hand, is no wider than the two side walls 13, 14.

[0081] The individual side walls 11, 12, 13, 14 and the tab 16 are connected to one another via corresponding folding lines 101, 102, 103, 104.

[0082] The base closure 20 is made up of the four base closure flaps 21, 22, 23, 24, which are attached to the corresponding side walls 11, 12, 13, 14 by means of folding lines 201, 202, 203, 204. The base closure flap 21, which is articulated on the front side wall 11, and the base closure flap 22, which is articulated on the rear side wall 12 via the folding line 202, are preferably of rectangular shape. The length or height of the two closure flaps 21, 22 advantageously corresponds more or less to the width of the two narrower side walls 13, 14, with the result that, when the folding box 1 has been erected, the base closure flaps 21, 22, which are swung inwards at an angle of 90°, overlap, and are advantageously adhesively bonded to one another, this providing the base closure 20 with increased protection against the penetration of dust or other particles of dirt.

[0083] Two further base closure flaps 23, 24 are articulated on the two narrow side walls 13, 14 via the folding lines 203, 204, said further base closure flaps tapering towards their free end and being of essentially trapezoidal design.

[0084] The top closure 30 is made up of a top closure flap 31 which is articulated on the front side wall 11 via the folding line 301, and of two closure flaps 33, 34, which are correspondingly attached to the side walls 13, 14 via the folding lines 303, 304.

[0085] The two closure flaps 33, 34 are preferably of the same shape and dimension as the two base closure flaps 23, 24.

[0086] The top closure flap 31 comprises

[0087] a) a cover section 311 which is articulated on the front side wall 11 via a folding line 301,

[0088] b) a tab 314 which is articulated on the cover section 311 via a folding line 302,

[0089] c) it being the case that, when the folding box 1 has been completed, the tab 314 engages in the outward direction over the tear-open tab 40 in the rear side wall 12 and is adhesively bonded to the tear-open tab 40.

[0090] The cover section 311, which is articulated on the front side wall 11, is preferably of rectangular shape. The length and height of the cover section 311 advantageously correspond more or less to the dimensions of the base closure flaps 21, 22.

[0091] Two further closure flaps 33, 34 are articulated on the two narrow side walls 13, 14 via the folding lines 303, 304, said further closure flaps tapering towards their free end and being of essentially trapezoidal design. The tab 314, which is articulated on the cover section 311, extends over the entire width of the front side wall 11. The tab 314 fully covers the tear-open tab 40 over the entire surface area, with the result that the tear-open tab 40 is located beneath the tab 314 and cannot be seen there from the outside.

[0092] The essentially rectangular tear-open tab 40 is provided in the rear side wall 12, and can easily be torn out of the rear side wall 12 by a correspondingly provided weakening or predetermined tearing line 41. In order to open the top closure 30, the tab 314, which is adhesively bonded to the outside of the tear-open tab 40, is pulled, with the result that the weakening or predetermined tearing line 41 is severed and the tear-open tab 40 is removed from the rear side wall 12 and swung rearwards through, for example, 90° at the folding line 301 together with the tab 314.

[0093] In order to reclose the folding box 1, the tab 314 is inserted into the folding box 1, to be precise directly beneath the rear side wall 12.

[0094] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the completed and closed folding box 1 in the region of the top closure 30, to be precise, in the former case, before the folding box has been opened for the first time and, in the latter case, once the folding box has been opened for the first time.

[0095] The body of the folding box 1 has been erected. The cover section 311 closes the folding box 1 from above, and the tab 314 is adhesively bonded to the tear-open tab 40, with the result that the latter is fully covered. The folding box 1 thus cannot be opened without being damaged.

[0096] Following opening, in contrast—as FIG. 3 shows—the weakening or predetermined tearing line 41 has been severed, with the result that the tear-open tab 40 can be guided upwards together with the tab 314. In order to render access to the contents of the folding box 1 easier still, the closure flaps 33, 34 are swung open upwards.

[0097] FIG. 4 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of a folding box 1 of alternative design which is provided with a hanging means in the region of the top closure 30.

[0098] For this purpose, on the front side wall 11 on the one hand said closure flap 31 is articulated via a folding line 301 and on the other hand, on the opposite side, the base closure flap 21 is articulated via a folding line 201, it being the case that the closure flap 31 is made up of a first section 3111 of the cover section 311 which is articulated on the front side wall 11 via a folding line 301, of a first hanging tab 312 with a hanging device 35, which is articulated on the first section 3111 via a folding line 305, of a second hanging tab 313 with a hanging device 36, which is articulated on the first hanging tab 312 via a folding line 306, of a second cover section 3112, which is articulated on the second hanging tab 313 via a folding line 307 and of the tab 314, which is articulated on the second cover section 3112 via the folding line 302.

[0099] The sum of the widths of the two cover sections 3111 and 3112 corresponds approximately to the width of the two base closure flaps 21, 22. In the case of the preferred embodiment of the folding box 1 illustrated here, the two cover sections 3111 and 3112 are of the same width.

[0100] In order to assemble the folding box 1, the closure flaps 33, 34 are first of all swung inwards at an angle of 90°. The closure flap 31 is folded, with the result that the two cover sections 3111 and 3112 are aligned parallel to one another and form the cover surface of the folding box 1. The first hanging tab 312, which is essentially of rectangular shape, advantageously has centrally, in the centre of gravity of its surface area, a hanging device 35, which preferably displays a combination of slots and round holes, this resulting in the generally preferred shape for such recesses, the so-called standard European hole, which allows secure but at the same time also flexible positioning of the full folding box 1 in a sales rack with correspondingly provided sales hooks.

[0101] Articulated on the first hanging tab 312 is the second hanging tab 313, which is of the same shape and dimensions as the first hanging tab 312, the only difference being that the hanging device 36 is somewhat smaller than the hanging device 35 of the first hanging tab 312, but the second hanging tab is turned at an angle of 180° in relation to the first hanging tab 312, with the result that, when the second hanging tab 313 is bent over via the folding line 306, the two hanging tabs 312, 313 are located one above the other such that the two hanging devices 35, 36 are arranged congruently as far as possible. The two hanging tabs 312, 313 may advantageously be adhesively bonded to one another, which increases the stability.

[0102] For reasons of appearance, it is also possible for the total of four free corners of the two hanging tabs 312, 313 to be rounded identically preferably in the form of quarter-circles.

[0103] FIG. 5 discloses the completed and closed folding box 1 according to FIG. 4 in the region of the top closure 30, to be precise before the folding box 1 has been opened for the first time.

[0104] In order for the hanging means of the folding box 1 to be utilized with optimum functioning, it is possible, during the closure operation (once the folding box has been filled with products and then adhesively bonded in the cartoning machine), for a subsequently appearing possible roof inclination to be produced in the region of the top closure 30 (see FIG. 6, for example for hanging on the self-service hook), by slight, additional adhesive bonding 331, 341 of the closure flaps 33, 34 to the two cover sections 3111 and 3112.

[0105] This adhesive bonding is detached when the folding box 1 is opened for the first time, with the result that the latter cannot be adversely affected by the adhesive bonding when it is closed for the first time.

[0106] FIG. 6 shows the completed and closed folding box 1 according to FIG. 4 in the region of the top closure 30 in a slightly different form, to be precise a roof inclination in the region of the top closure 30 is specifically desired here in order to enhance the appearance of the folding box 1.

[0107] For this purpose, the two cover sections 3111 and 3112 are designed such that the sum of the widths of the two cover sections 3111 and 3112 far exceeds the width of the two base closure flaps 21, 22.

[0108] FIG. 7 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of a folding box 1 of alternative design, which is provided with a hanging means in the region of the top closure 30.

[0109] The closure flap 31 is made up of the cover section 311, of the first hanging tab 312 with a hanging device 35, of the second hanging tab 313 with a hanging device 36 and of the tab 314.

[0110] The second hanging tab 313 with a hanging device 36 and the tab 314 are combined to form a single wall.

[0111] As can be gathered from FIG. 8, which shows the completed and closed folding box 1 according to FIG. 7 in the region of the top closure 30, to be precise before the folding box has been opened for the first time, this type of design of the closure flap 31 achieves the situation where the hanging means is located in extension of the rear side wall 12.

[0112] Finally, FIG. 9 shows, in lateral section, how the hanging means according to FIG. 8 is made up.

[0113] FIG. 10 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of a further folding box 1 of alternative design, which is provided with a hanging means in the region of the top closure 30.

[0114] The closure flap 31 is made up of the first hanging tab 312 with a hanging device 35, of the second hanging tab 313 with a hanging device 36, of the cover section 311 and of the tab 314.

[0115] The first hanging tab 312 with a hanging device 35 and the rear side wall 12 are combined to form a single wall.

[0116] As can be gathered from FIG. 11, which shows the completed and closed folding box 1 according to FIG. 10 in the region of the top closure 30, to be precise before the folding box has been opened for the first time, this type of design of the closure flap 31 achieves the situation where the hanging means is located in extension of the front side wall 11.

[0117] Finally, FIG. 12 shows, in lateral section, how the hanging means according to FIG. 11 is made up.

[0118] FIG. 13 shows the flattened-out, non-adhesively-bonded punched blank of a folding box 1 of alternative design, which is provided with a hanging means in the region of the top closure 30.

[0119] The closure flap 31 is articulated on the front side wall 11 via a folding line 301, as is known from FIG. 4. The closure flap 31 is made up of a first section 3111 of the cover section 311, which is articulated on the front side wall 11 via a folding line 301, of the first hanging tab 312 with a hanging device 35, which is articulated on the first section 3111 via a folding line 305, of a second hanging tab 313 with a hanging device 36, which is articulated on the first hanging tab 312 via a folding line 306, of a second cover section 3112, which is articulated on the second hanging tab 313 via a folding line 307, and of the tab 314, which is articulated on the second cover section 3112 via the folding line 302.

[0120] The sum of the widths of the two cover sections 3111 and 3112 corresponds approximately to the width of the two base closure flaps 21, 22. In the case of the preferred embodiment of the folding box 1 illustrated here, the two cover sections 3111 and 3112 are of the same width.

[0121] The tear-open tab 40 has a further closure tab 42 articulated on it via a folding line 401, said closure tab being located in extension of the rear side wall 11. The closure tab is of more or less the same dimensions as the base closure flaps 21, 22.

[0122] FIG. 14 shows how the folding box 1 is assembled. The closure tab 42 is swung over through 90°, positioned on the closure flaps 33, 34 and adhesively bonded thereto.

[0123] The operation of assembling the folding box 1 according to FIG. 4 takes place in that, in order to erect the folding box 1, first of all, in the case of the top closure 30, the closure flaps 33, 34, which are located on the narrower side walls 13, 14, are swung inwards. The closure flap 31 is then made into the desired form by the hanging tabs 312, 313 being folded such that the two hanging tabs 312, 313 are located one above the other, so that adhesive bonding can take place, with the result that the double material wall renders the hanging means of the folding box 1 extremely stable.

[0124] The two cover sections 3111 and 3112 are aligned parallel to one another. The tab 314 is adhesively bonded to the tear-open tab 40.

[0125] In the case of the base closure 20, the base closure flaps 23, 24, which are located on the narrower side walls 13, 14, are swung inwards through 900, the base closure flap 22, which is located on the rear side wall 12, is folded onto the same, and then the base closure flap 21, which is located on the front side wall 11, is bent over correspondingly, adhesive bonding of the two base closure flaps 21, 22 likewise taking place here.

[0126] This means that the top closure 30 and the base closure 20 of the folding box 1 cannot be opened without force being applied and are thus protected against theft and dustproof.

[0127] By virtue of the hanging means of the folding box 1 being folded back into the vertical position, the completed and closed folding box 1 is in the state in which it is supplied to the customer, who can than hang it in sales racks provided with hooks and advantageously display it for selling purposes.

Claims

1. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box 1 having a front side wall 11, a rear side wall 12, a right-hand side wall 13, which connects the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12, and a left-hand side wall 14, having a base closure 20, which is formed, in particular, by four base closure flaps 21, 22, 23, 24, having a top closure 30, it being possible for two base closure flaps 21, 22 to be adhesively bonded to one another, having a tear-open tab 40, which is integrated in the rear side wall 12, is retained in the rear side wall 12 by means of a weakening or predetermined tearing line 41,

it being the case that articulated on the front side wall 11 is a top closure flap 31 comprising

a) a cover section 311 which is articulated on the front side wall 11 via a folding line 301,

b) a tab 314 which is articulated on the cover section 311 via a folding line 302,

c) it being the case that, when the folding box 1 has been completed, the tab 314 engages in the outward direction over the tear-open tab 40 in the rear side wall 12 and is adhesively bonded to the tear-open tab 40.

2. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to claim 1, characterized in that there are provided in the top closure flap 31 a first hanging tab 312 with a hanging device 35 and a second hanging tab 313 with a hanging device 36, which are connected to one another, in particular, via a folding line 306.

3. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to claim 2, characterized in that the hanging tabs 312, 313 are arranged between the front side wall 11 and the cover section 311.

4. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to claim 2, characterized in that the hanging tabs 312, 313 are arranged between the cover section 311 and the tab 314.

5. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to claim 2, characterized in that the hanging tabs 312, 313 preferably divide the cover section 311 in the centre.

6. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hanging device 35 in the first hanging tab 312 is larger than the hanging device 36 in the second hanging tab 313.

7. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the folding box 1 has been completed, the first hanging tab 312 and the second hanging tab 313 are adhesively bonded to one another.

8. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tear-open tab 40 has a further closure tab 32 articulated on it via a folding line 401.

9. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tab 314 fully covers the tear-open tab 40 over the entire surface area.

10. Recloseable, cuboidal folding box according to at least one of the preceding claims, containing at least one flat article, in particular one or more plasters.

11. Punched blank for producing a recloseable, cuboidal folding box 1 having a front side wall 11, a rear side wall 12, a right-hand side wall 13, which connects the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12, and a left-hand side wall 14, having a base closure 20, which is formed by four base closure flaps 21, 22, 23, 24, having a top closure 30, which is formed by three closure flaps 31, 33, 34, it being possible for two base closure flaps 21, 22 to be adhesively bonded to one another, having a tear-open tab 40 which is integrated in the rear side wall 12, is retained in the rear side wall 12, by means of a weakening or predetermined tearing line 41 and, if appropriate, is connected to a closure flap 32 of the top closure 30 via a folding line 401, and having a tab 16,

it being the case that

the folding box 1 comprises a folding blank 10 made of paperboard, cardboard or another suitable material,

it being the case that the rear side wall 12, the right-hand side wall 13, which connects the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12, the front side wall 11, the left-hand side wall 14, and the tab 16 are arranged one behind the other in a straight line such that they are attached to one another in a row via folding lines 101, 102, 103, 104 in each case,

it being the case that on the right-hand side wall 13, which connects the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12, on the one hand a closure flap 33 is articulated via a folding line 303 and on the other hand, on the opposite side, a base closure flap 23 is articulated via a folding line 203,

it being the case that on the front side wall 11 on the one hand a closure flap 31 is articulated via a folding line 301 and on the other hand, on the opposite side, a base closure flap 21 is articulated via a folding line 201, it being the case that the top closure flap 31 comprises

a) a cover section 311 which is articulated on the front side wall 11 via a folding line 301,

b) a tab 314 which is articulated on the cover section 311 via a folding line 302,

c) it being the case that, when the folding box 1 has been completed, the tab 314 engages in the outward direction over the tear-open tab 40 in the rear side wall 12 and is adhesively bonded to the tear-open tab 40,

it being the case that on the left-hand side wall 14 on the one hand a closure flap 34 is articulated via a folding line 304 and on the other hand, on the opposite side, a base closure flap 24 is articulated via a folding line 204,

it being the case that integrated in the rear side wall 12 is a tear-open tab 40 which is retained in the rear side wall 12 by means of a weakening or predetermined tearing line 41 and, if appropriate, is connected to a closure flap 32 of the top closure 30 via a folding line 401.