PACKAGING UNIT WITH SUPPORT SECTION

Abstract

A packaging unit having two planar elements arranged on each other that form, by virtue of being spaced apart in certain regions, a closed chamber between each other and are joined to each other in a collar region encircling the chamber, the collar region being bounded by an outer edge. The chamber has, for a controlled dispensing of a medium stored therein, an opening element that is disposed on a side of the chamber facing away from a first edge section of the outer edge. Provision is made that the collar region has a support section that is deflectable from an initial position, about a deflection region away from the opening means into a supporting position, in which the support section together with the first edge section form spaced-apart leg means whereby the packaging unit is rendered standable.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging unit for packaging and apportioning, or dispensing, a medium, for example from the fields of medicine, cosmetics, chemistry, or the food industry. The packaging unit has two planar elements arranged on each other that are made up, for example, of foils, bowl-shaped or lid-like plastic parts, such as deep-drawn plastic parts, or of a combination of the same.

The term “planar” in this context is intended merely to express that the elements substantially cover a surface area, which does not mean, however, that they must, in particular, be designed flat; rather they may also have certain contours. The two planar elements form, by virtue of being spaced apart from each other in certain regions, a closed chamber. The planar elements are joined to each other in a collar region that encircles the chamber, with the collar region being bounded by an outer edge.

To provide for a controlled dispensing of a medium stored in the chamber, an opening means is provided. The same is disposed on a side of the chamber facing away from a first edge section of the outer edge and faces a second edge section situated opposite the first one on the outer edge.

The patent document DE 201 02 348 U1 discloses a packaging unit that is supported on another packaging. In one embodiment, the packaging unit has two partial units that are connected to each other via a deflection region. The partial units have, for dispensing a stored medium, an opening means facing away from the deflection region in each case. Both opening means are opened by removal of a detachable element.

A packaging unit of this type can be opened comfortably without auxiliary means and permits a precise dispensing of the medium that is contained in the chamber.

Particularly for uses in the field of veterinary medicine or pediatrics, however, it has been shown that after opening of the packaging unit, the administration of the medium often needs to be interrupted or postponed because the patient is at least temporarily not available to receive the medium. A shortcoming of the known packaging unit in such a case, however, resides in that once it has been opened, it must be held by the user until the time of administration, since the medium will otherwise leak out from the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention serves to prevent the above-mentioned shortcomings in a packaging unit of this type and provide a storage option also after opening, in which the medium does not unintentionally leak out.

This is achieved with a packaging unit in which the collar region has a support section that is deflectable from an initial position about a deflection region away from the opening means into a supporting position, in which the support section and the first edge section form spaced-apart leg means whereby the packaging unit is rendered capable of standing essentially upright.

To achieve this, the collar region has, for example on the second edge section, a support section that is deflectable from an initial position, in which it substantially extends along the remaining collar region, about a deflection region into a supporting position. In the process of this deflection the support section is swung or bent away from the opening means. In the supporting position the support section then forms, together with the first edge section, spaced-apart leg means whereby the packaging unit can be stood up upon a storage surface.

As a result of the above-described spacing-apart of the support section from the opening means, the same is then oriented away from the storage surface, i.e. oriented upward. The leg means may be formed, depending on the profiling of the first edge section and the support section, by at least three supporting points, or by two supporting lines, or by one supporting line and at least one supporting point.

In each case, the packaging unit can thus initially take a preferably very compact initial position that is suitable, for example, for storage or transport. After it has been opened, the supporting position may then be set up in which the packaging unit can be placed upright in a statically defined and consequently stable manner in a position in which the opening means is disposed above the chamber relative to the direction of gravity. Consequently, in this position of the packaging unit no medium can leak out, despite the opening means being open.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the deflection region is made to be plastically deformable, as a result of which the support section, after deflection into the supporting position, remains in this position, which, again, permits a safe setting down of the packaging unit.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the support section is deflectable into a supporting position in which a support angle of less than 140° is enclosed between the support section and a prop-up portion of the collar region that is bounded by the first edge section. In this manner it can be guaranteed that the chamber with the opening means, when stood upon a storage surface, takes a sufficiently upwardly tilted position in which no medium exits from the chamber even when the opening means is open.

The support section is advantageously separated from the remaining collar section by a linear material weakening. The material weakening has, at a distance from the outer edge, a first end at which the deflection region can be created toward the outer edge. In this manner, the support section can be comfortably removed from the supporting position. Furthermore, through the selected position of the first end, a particularly advantageous position of the deflection region can be predefined in the process.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the material weakening extends in a U-shape about the opening means and has, in addition to the first end, a second end that is likewise disposed at a distance from the outer edge, at which a second portion of the deflection region can now be created toward the outer edge. In this manner a relatively wide support section is available that permits a particularly stable propping up of the packaging unit. Additionally, the support section in this embodiment may serve in the initial position as a protective means for the opening means, so as to prevent, for example, an inadvertent opening of the same.

The first end and the second end advantageously each have a distance from the outer edge that amounts to at least 10% of a crosswise, ot transverse, extension of the packaging unit at the height of the two ends. The crosswise extension in this case is perpendicular to a longitudinal extension between the first edge section and a second edge section facing away from the first edge section. The provided minimum distance between the two ends guarantees on one hand that, especially in the case of a repeated deflection between the initial position and supporting position, no tear will develop in the deflection region. On the other hand, such a minimum extension of the deflection region permits the plastic deformability of the same to be implemented by means of a relatively large number of materials.

Additionally it is advantageous if at least the first end is disposed, relative to the longitudinal extension, in the center third, in particular exactly in the center, of the packaging unit, thereby permitting a stable propping up of the packaging unit.

The material weakening is advantageously formed over its entire length by a cut so that the support section can be moved away from the initial position particularly easily.

In this context it is advantageous if multiple adhesion points are provided along the cut whereby the support section is held relatively solidly and securely in the initial position.

According to an alternative embodiment hereto, the material weakening is formed by a perforation, whereby on the one hand a stable position of the support section in the initial position is guaranteed, and on the other hand a comfortable deflection into the supporting position is made possible.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the opening means is formed by a tapering of the chamber, at which a predetermined break line is provided for creating an opening. In this manner, the packaging unit can be opened particularly comfortably and without the need for auxiliary means.

It is particularly advantageous in this context if the predetermined break line extends between opposed sections of the U-shaped material weakening. In this manner the predetermined break line is protected against damage in the initial position by the support section.

According to another advantageous embodiment, additional stabilizing means are provided on the support section, the additional stabilizing means being formed, for example, by deep-drawn regions and lend a higher degree of stability to the support section.

Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if a peelable foil is provided that adheres to the support section and to the remaining collar region. This permits the packaging unit to be made childproof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a packaging unit according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the packaging unit in the plane II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the packaging unit according to FIG. 1 with a protective section in the deflected position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a part of the packaging unit according to FIG. 1, with an alternative material weakening.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 of the packaging unit according to FIG. 1, with a material weakening alternatively designed in the form of perforations

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 of an alternative embodiment of the packaging unit with stabilizing means.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rear of the packaging unit of FIG. 1 with a foil provided thereon.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the packaging unit of FIG. 7 with the foil removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a packaging unit 2 for containing and apportioning, or dispensing, or dosing, a medium 4 that may be made up, for example, of a fluid from the fields of medicine, in particular veterinary medicine or pediatrics, cosmetics, chemistry, or the food industry.

Packaging unit 2 is formed for this purpose substantially of a first planar element 6 and a second planar element 8. These planar elements 6, 8 may be produced, for example, from a plastic material in the form of a foil, or may be cast parts or deep-drawn parts.

In this embodiment, the first planar element 6 has, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, a bulged contour 10 that forms a chamber 12 that is closed by second planar element 8 and in which medium 4 is stored.

Around chamber 12, the two elements 6, 8 form a collar region 14 in which the two elements are joined to each other. The union, or joint, may be created by gluing, welding or sealing, for example. Toward the outside, the collar region 14 and the packaging unit 2 as a whole are bounded by an outer edge 16. Outer edge 16 has, relative to the depicted spatial arrangement of the packaging means 2, a first edge section 18 disposed below chamber 12, and a second edge section 20 facing away from first edge section 18 and disposed above chamber 12.

To provide for a controlled dispensing of medium 4, chamber 12 is provided with an opening means 22 that forms an outlet path 24 that communicates with chamber 12 and faces second edge section 20. Via this outlet path 24, medium 4 is able to exit from chamber 12.

Opening means 22 is formed for this purpose by a tapering of chamber 12, at which tapering a predetermined break line 26 is provided, for example by creasing and scoring. Alternatively, opening means 22 may also have other known and suitable forms.

Predetermined break line 26 extends between two opposed sections 28 of a material weakening that is designated in its entirety with the reference numeral 30. Weakening 30 extends at a distance from outer edge 16 in a U-shape about opening means 22 and is designed, by way of example, in the form of a cut that extends over its full length. In this manner material weakening 30 bounds a support section 32 of collar region 14 that is disposed on second edge section 20 and is also substantially U-shaped.

Support section 32 may be deflected, or bent, or folded, from the initial position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which section 32 is substantially disposed in the plane of the remaining collar region 14, into a supporting position as shown in FIG. 3. In the process, a deflection region 38 that deforms plastically is created in each case at a first end 34 and at a second end 36 of material weakening 30 toward outer edge 16. The ends 34, 36 of material weakening 30 are then positioned in such a way that they have a distance a from the outer edge that amounts to at least 10% of a crosswise, or transverse, dimension q of packaging unit 2 at the height of the ends 34, 36.

Furthermore, the ends 34, 36 are disposed, relative to a longitudinal dimension L located perpendicular to crosswise dimension q, between first edge section 18 and second edge section 20 in a center third M of dimension L, preferably exactly in the center mD.

During the deflection into the supporting position, support section 32 is movable into a position in which it encloses, together with a prop-up portion 40 of collar region 14 on first edge section 18, a support angle w that is less than 140°, preferably within a range of 60° to 120°.

First edge section 18 and second edge section 20 that forms a free end of the support section 32, now function in this supporting position as two spaced apart leg means in the form of supporting lines SL. With the aid of these, the packaging unit can be stood upon a support surface 42 in such a way that opening means 22 is directed upward relative to the direction of gravity G.

Alternatively to the shown straight edge sections 18, 20, it is also possible to provide at least one of them with a profile whereby, in lieu of the supporting line SL, at least one supporting point SP is, or two supporting points are, created, as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, a plurality of adhesion points 44 that are formed, for example, by a retroactively applied adhesion means, may be provided along the material weakening 30 that is designed in the form of a cut.

Alternatively, the material weakening 30 may also be formed by perforations 46 as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows an additional embodiment of packaging unit 2 in which additional stabilizing means 48 are provided on the collar region 14 that stiffen the support section 32, thereby increasing its bending stiffness. The stabilizing means 48 are formed, by way of example, as deep-drawn regions that extend in a U-shape about opening means 22, thereby protecting the same against inadvertent opening.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an additional embodiment of the packaging unit 2 in which a peelable foil 50 is provided that is disposed on a rear surface 52 of second planar element 8. This foil 50 extends both over support section 32 and over portions of the remaining collar region 14, in particular in the region of opening means 22, and adheres to both.

In order to be able to deflect support section 32 about deflection regions 38 so as to open and set down packaging unit 2 in an upright position, as described above, foil 50 must first be peeled off, as shown in FIG. 8. A non-adhering pull-tab 54 is provided for this purpose on foil 50.

This application relates to subject matter disclosed in German Patent Application 10 2008 009 712.8-27, filed on Feb. 19, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.

Claims

1. A packaging unit (2) having two planar elements (4, 6) arranged on each other that form, by virtue of being spaced apart in certain regions, a closed chamber (12) between said two planar elements and said two planar elements being joined to each other in a collar region (14) encircling said chamber (12), said collar region (14) being bounded by an outer edge (16),

wherein said chamber (12) has, for a controlled dispensing of a medium (4) stored in said chamber, an opening means (22) that is disposed on a side of said chamber (12) facing away from a first edge section (18) of said outer edge (46), and

further wherein said collar region (14) comprises a support section (32) that is deflectable from an initial position about a deflection region (38) away from said opening means (22) into a supporting position in which said support section (32) and said first edge section (18) together form spaced-apart leg means whereby said packaging unit (2) is rendered standable.

2. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein said support section is made of a material which enables said deflection region (38) to be plastically deformable.

3. The packaging unit according to claim 2, wherein said support section (32) in the supporting position encloses together with a prop-up portion (40) of said collar region that is bounded by said first edge section (18), a support angle (w) having a value of less than 140°.

4. The packaging unit according to claim 3, wherein said support section (32) is separated from the remaining collar region (14) by a linear material weakening (30) that has, at a distance from said outer edge (16), a first end (34), at which said deflection region (38) is located and extends toward said outer edge (16).

5. The packaging unit according to claim 4, wherein said material weakening (30) extends in a U-shape about said opening means (22) and, in addition to said first end (34), has a second end (36) also disposed at a distance from said outer edge (16), at which said deflection region (38) is located and extends toward said outer edge (16).

6. The packaging unit according to claim 5, wherein said first end (34) and said second end (36) are each disposed at a distance (a) from said outer edge (16) said distance (a) having a length of at least 10% of a transverse dimension (q) of said packaging unit (2) at the level of said first and second ends (34, 36), and wherein the transverse dimension (q) is perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension (L) between said first edge section (18) and a second edge section (20) facing away from said first edge section (18).

7. The packaging unit according to claim 6, wherein at least the first end (34) is disposed relative to the longitudinal dimension (L) in a center one-third (M) of the length of said packaging unit (2).

8. The packaging unit according to claim 7, wherein said material weakening (30) is formed over its entire length by a cut.

9. The packaging unit according to claim 8, wherein along said cut a plurality of adhesion points (44) are provided.

10. The packaging unit according to claim 7, wherein said material weakening (30) is formed by perforations (46).

11. The packaging unit according to claim 4, wherein said opening means (22) is formed by a tapering of said chamber (12), and a predetermined break line (26) at said tapering for creation of an opening.

12. The packaging unit according to claim 11, wherein said material weakening (30) is U-shaped and has opposed sections, and said predetermined break line (26) extends between said opposed sections (28) of said U-shaped material weakening (30).

13. The packaging unit according to claim 12, further comprising stabilizing means (48) provided on said support section (32).

14. The packaging unit according to claim 1, further comprising a peelable foil (50) that adheres on said support section (32) and a remaining part of said collar region (14).