LOOSE ARTICLE DISPENSING PACKAGE AND BLANKS ASSEMBLY FOR MAKING A LOOSE ARTICLE DISPENSING PACKAGE

Abstract

A loose article dispensing package including a container having a bottom wall and a top wall; an outer casing slidingly coupled to the container along a sliding direction between a raised position and a lowered position, the outer casing including a main portion and an auxiliary portion, wherein, in the raised position of the outer casing, the bottom wall of the container is substantially aligned with a free end of the auxiliary portion; a dispensing opening of the container; wherein the outer casing includes a predetermined separation line arranged between the auxiliary portion and the main portion, and wherein the auxiliary portion of the outer casing is configured to be separated from the main portion of the outer casing along said predetermined separation line.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a loose article dispensing package and to a blanks assembly for making a loose article dispensing package, preferably loose articles of the food or confectionery sector such as, for example, candies, sugared almonds, chewing gums in the form of tablets, chocolates and the like.

BACKGROUND

The loose article dispensing package of the present invention is of the type enabling both the storage and the containment of loose articles (i.e. bulk articles), and the dispensing of such articles on demand by a user. In such a dispensing package it is not possible, without compromising the integrity of the package itself, to access the loose articles directly, but they are made available by being ejected from the package through a dispensing opening actuated by a user. In particular, the dispensing opening is actuated by the user between a closing condition in which the loose articles are prevented from exiting the dispensing opening and an opening condition in which the loose articles exit the dispensing opening.

This type of dispensing packages is particularly appreciated due to the fact that it prevents or in any case strongly limits any contamination of the loose articles when contained in the package, as the loose articles are not directly reachable and therefore cannot come into contact with external agents or the user's hands before being consumed. In addition, this type of packages prevents any possibility of reintroducing an already dispensed article into the package.

This type of dispensing packages can be made of plastic or metal material using appropriate moulds, or it can be made starting from assemblies of flat blanks, which are folded and glued to define a three-dimensional structure.

The use of assemblies of flat blanks to make these types of dispensing packages makes it possible to use completely or almost completely recyclable materials and is therefore often preferred in place of moulds (which are also expensive in some cases) in the production of the packages.

A dispensing package obtained starting from an assembly of flat blanks is described in document WO2019116194A1. The dispensing package described in this document comprises a container for loose articles and a casing arranged outside the container and slidingly coupled to the container. An occlusion element acts on an outlet opening for the loose articles to open and close the outlet opening. The latter is placed at one end of a conveyor channel of the container and at the opposite end of this conveyor channel there is provided a dosing element which can be switched between a closing condition of the conveyor channel and an opening condition of the conveyor channel. The reciprocal sliding between the outer casing and the container alternately actuates the occlusion element and the dosing element in such a way that the opening of the one corresponds to the closing of the other. The conveyor channel is sized to contain a predetermined number of loose articles at a time, so that when the dosing element is opened, a predetermined number of loose articles are loaded into the conveyor channel and when the occlusion element is opened, only the predetermined number of loose articles contained in the conveyor channel is dispensed.

SUMMARY

The Applicant has noted that such a dispensing package allows for a very smooth dispensing and is easily implemented by a user simply by moving the outer casing and container reciprocally.

The Applicant has also noted that such a dispensing package allows for the dispensing of a predetermined number of loose articles. Therefore, a constant and predetermined dispensing of loose articles can be guaranteed.

However, the Applicant has perceived that the production of the above-mentioned dispensing package may not be easily implemented on automated manufacturing lines.

In particular, the Applicant has perceived that it might be difficult to wrap the dispensing package in an automatic cellophaning station, e.g. with a film that protects the integrity of the package and its contents before first use.

The Applicant has in fact noticed that the dispensing package, when in the condition with closed occlusion element, presents a shape substantially referable to two rectangular parallelepipeds superimposed with the upper rectangular parallelepiped having a base greater than the lower rectangular parallelepiped. This shape produces eight surfaces for the dispensing package which, in the Applicant's experience, may present difficulties for automated wrapping with a film.

The Applicant has further perceived that it would be advantageous to be able to equip the dispensing package described in WO2019116194A1 with an element for checking the integrity of the dispensing package that is only removable following its first use, in order to highlight any tampering or misuse of the dispensing package before its first actual use.

The present invention therefore relates, in a first aspect thereof, to a loose article dispensing package comprising a container for containing a plurality of loose articles, comprising a bottom wall and a top wall.

Preferably, the dispensing package comprises an outer casing arranged outside the container and slidingly coupled to the container along a sliding direction between a raised position and a lowered position.

Preferably, the outer casing comprises a main portion and an auxiliary portion, wherein, in the raised position of the casing, the bottom wall of the container is substantially aligned with a free end of the auxiliary portion.

Preferably, the container comprises a dispensing opening adjacent to the bottom wall in the direction transverse to the sliding direction.

Preferably, the dispensing opening is spaced from the bottom wall of the container along the sliding direction when the outer casing is in the raised position.

Preferably, the container comprises a shutter that is active on the dispensing opening and movable between a closing configuration, in which it closes the dispensing opening, and an opening configuration, in which it opens the dispensing opening.

Preferably, the shutter is connected to the container and to the outer casing so that in the raised position of the outer casing the shutter is in the closing configuration.

Preferably, the outer casing comprises a predetermined separation line arranged between the auxiliary portion and the main portion.

Preferably, the auxiliary portion of the outer casing is configured to be separated from the main portion of the outer casing along said predetermined separation line.

The dispensing of loose products from the container is therefore actuated by sliding the outer casing with respect to the container. In particular, in the raised position of the outer casing the shutter is in the closing condition and the loose articles cannot exit the dispensing opening.

The Applicant has perceived that this configuration is suitable for the insertion of loose articles into the container during the operations performed in an automated manufacturing line. In this regard, the Applicant has verified that by providing for the open top wall of the container, the loose products can be inserted and the top wall can be subsequently closed.

The Applicant has found that by arranging the auxiliary portion of the outer casing in such a way that it reaches, in the sliding direction, the bottom wall of the container when the outer casing is in the raised position (a configuration in which the dispensing opening is spaced from the bottom wall of the container), the step formed between the bottom wall of the container and the dispensing opening is covered or surmounted by the auxiliary portion of the casing.

The Applicant has verified that this makes it possible to obtain an outer surface of the dispensing package (given in substance by the casing) with a regular shape, for example in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, which can be easily wrapped with a removable film in an automatic cellophaning station.

The Applicant has also verified that when the dispensing package is used for the first time, the outer casing must be moved with respect to the container from the raised position to the lowered position in order to open the dispensing opening. This operation can be carried out by pushing the bottom wall of the container into the outer casing along the sliding direction.

The Applicant has verified that the auxiliary portion of the outer casing in the raised position of the outer casing would tend to hinder this operation since, by reaching the bottom wall of the container, it would not permit acting on the bottom wall easily for pushing it slidingly inside the casing as far as bringing the outer casing into the lowered position. During such sliding, in fact, the auxiliary portion of the outer casing would extend beyond the bottom wall of the container.

The Applicant has found that by providing for the auxiliary portion of the outer casing to be removable with respect to the main portion along the predefined separation line, the auxiliary portion can be removed prior to the first use of the dispensing package allowing for proper and easy handling of the container with respect to the outer casing when the container must be pushed into the outer casing to actuate the first dispensing.

The Applicant has also found that the auxiliary portion of the outer casing can also serve as an element for checking the integrity of the dispensing package, as its presence on the outer casing indicates that the dispensing package has never been used.

In a second aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a blanks assembly for making a loose article dispensing package, preferably for making a loose article dispensing package in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

This assembly of blanks comprises a first flat blank and a second flat blank.

Preferably, the first flat blank comprises a main portion configured to define a container.

Preferably, the first flat blanks comprise first appendages arranged at a first longitudinal end of the main portion and configured to define a top wall of the container.

Preferably, the first flat blank comprises second appendages arranged at a second longitudinal end of the main portion configured to define a bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, the first flat blank comprises a pair of third appendages arranged in a recess of the main portion, facing each other and longitudinally interposed between the first appendages and the second appendages; said pair of third appendages being configured to define a shutter for a dispensing opening of the container.

Preferably, the second flat blank is configured to define an outer casing which can be slidingly inserted onto said container. Preferably, the second flat blank comprises a main portion and an auxiliary portion distinguishable from one another by a separation line.

In this description and in the subsequent claims, the term “longitudinal” or “longitudinal direction” refers to a direction parallel to the prevailing direction of development of the dispensing package. This direction is directed between an upper end of the dispensing package and a lower end of the dispensing package and is preferably perpendicular to an upper wall of the dispensing package. A longitudinal direction coincides with a sliding direction between the outer casing and the container.

In the present description and in the subsequent claims, the term “transverse” or “transverse direction” refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The present invention may have, in both aspects discussed above, at least one of the preferred features described below. These features can therefore be present individually or in combination with each other, unless expressly stated otherwise, either in the package of the first aspect of the present invention or in the assembly of blanks of the second aspect of the present invention.

Preferably, the outer casing is a tubular body.

Preferably, when said outer casing is in the raised position, said dispensing opening is arranged at a first distance from the bottom wall along the sliding direction.

Preferably, said auxiliary portion has an extension in the sliding direction equal to or less than said first distance.

Preferably, when the outer casing is in the lowered position, the shutter is in the opening condition.

Preferably, said outer casing comprises a cutting or weakening line at said predetermined separation line.

Preferably, said cutting or weakening line is configured to create a fracture line along said predetermined separation line when a separation force is applied between the auxiliary portion of the outer casing and the main portion of the outer casing.

Preferably, the auxiliary portion is removable from the main portion of the outer casing.

Preferably, when the auxiliary portion is removed from the main portion, the main portion comprises a free edge facing the bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, when the auxiliary portion is removed from the main portion, and when the outer casing is in the lowered position, the free edge of the main portion is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, the main portion of the outer casing comprises four walls.

Preferably, said four walls surround four side walls of the container.

Preferably, the auxiliary portion of the outer casing comprises at least three walls that are coplanar to the respective three walls of the main portion.

Preferably, said at least three walls of the auxiliary portion are arranged at the dispensing opening of the container.

Preferably, the auxiliary portion of the outer casing comprises four walls that are coplanar to respective four walls of the main portion.

Preferably, said auxiliary portion comprises a tear-off appendage not connected to the main portion and configured to be grasped by a user.

Preferably, the tear-off appendage is made as one piece with the auxiliary portion.

Preferably, the tear-off appendage is coplanar with a wall of the main portion of the outer casing.

Preferably, the tear-off appendage can be raised with respect to said wall of the main portion of the outer casing.

Preferably, said tear-off appendage develops along the sliding direction between the predetermined separation line and a free end of the auxiliary portion.

Preferably, when the outer casing is in the raised position, the predetermined separation line is longitudinally aligned with the dispensing opening.

Preferably, when the outer casing is in the lowered position, the predetermined separation line is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, the outer casing is made of a single material.

Preferably, the container is made of a single material.

Preferably, the material from which the outer casing is made is the same as the material from which the container is made.

Preferably, such material is a material based on plant fibres, such as paper or cardboard.

Preferably, the second blank comprises a longitudinal end for the main portion and a free end for the auxiliary portion.

Preferably, the longitudinal end and the free end are parallel to each other.

Preferably, the longitudinal end defines an upper edge of the outer casing.

Preferably, the free end defines a lower edge of the outer casing.

Preferably, said separation line is parallel to the longitudinal end of the main portion.

Preferably, said auxiliary portion of said second flat blank comprises an appendage configured to define a tear-off appendage.

Preferably, said separation line is defined by a sequence of incisions in said second flat blank.

Preferably, said sequence of incisions visually distinguishes the main portion from the auxiliary portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of indicative and non-limiting example, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic representations of a loose article dispensing package according to the present invention in a first operating configuration;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the package of FIG. 1A in a second operating configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a loose article dispensing package in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 represents the dispensing package of FIG. 3 with the auxiliary portion of the outer casing removed;

FIG. 5 represents a first flat blank of a blanks assembly for making a dispensing package in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 represents a second flat blank of a blanks assembly for making a dispensing package in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the appended figures, a loose article dispensing package according to the present invention is generically indicated by the numerical reference 1.

The package 1 comprises a container 2 configured to contain a plurality of loose articles A and an outer casing 20 slidingly fitted on the container 2.

The container 10 comprises a bottom wall 3 and a top wall 4. The bottom wall 3 has a smaller extension in the transverse direction than the extension in the same transverse direction of the top wall 4, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1A.

Adjacent to the bottom wall 3 along a transverse direction, the container 2 comprises a dispensing opening 5 configured to dispense the loose products A contained in the container 2. The dispensing opening 5 has an extension in the transverse direction given by the difference between the extension, in the same transverse direction, of the top wall 4 and of the bottom wall 3.

The container 2 further comprises a first side wall 6, a second side wall 7 opposite the first side wall 6, a front wall 8 substantially perpendicular to the first side wall 6 and to the second side wall 7, and a rear wall 9 opposite the front wall 8 (in FIGS. 1A and 1n FIG. 2 the container has been shown with the front wall 8 removed and in FIG. 1B the container has been shown with the first side wall 6 removed to illustrate the inside of the container 2).

The first side wall 6 is connected to front wall 8 and to the rear wall 9 and the second side wall 7 is connected to the front wall 8 and to the rear wall 9.

A prismatic body 10 is provided inside container 2. The prismatic body 10 comprises a first wall 11, a second wall 12 and a third wall 13 which are substantially parallel to the front wall 8 and to the rear wall 9 of the container 2.

The second wall 12 of the prismatic body 10 is in contact with the front wall 8 of the container 2 and the third wall 13 of the prismatic body 10 is in contact with the rear wall 9 of the container 2.

The first wall 11 of the prismatic body 10 is arranged between the second wall 12 and the third wall 13 and is parallel to and transversely spaced from the first side wall 6 of the container 2.

A loose article conveyor channel 14 is defined between the first wall 11 of the prismatic body 10 and the first side wall 6 of the container 2. Such a conveyor channel 14 is preferably transversely sized so as to be able to be traversed by one loose product A at a time, as shown in FIG. 1A.

The prismatic body 10 also comprises a fourth wall 15 connected to the first wall 11, to the second wall 12 and to the third wall 13 to define a lead-in chute for the loose articles in order to enter the conveyor channel 14.

The prismatic body 10 is closed, on the longitudinal side opposite the fourth wall 15, by the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

The outer casing 20 is slidingly inserted on the container 2 in order to be able to translate in a longitudinal direction with respect to the container 2.

The outer casing 20 comprises a main portion 21 and an auxiliary portion 22, as shown in FIG. 3.

The main portion 21 comprises a first side wall 23, a second side wall 24 opposite the first side wall 23, a front wall 25 which is substantially perpendicular to the first side wall 23 and to the second side wall 24, and a rear wall 26 opposite the front wall 25.

The package 1 comprises a shutter 40 that is active on the dispensing opening 5 and movable between a closing configuration (illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B) in which it closes the dispensing opening 5, and an opening configuration (illustrated in FIG. 2) in which it opens the dispensing opening 5.

The shutter 40 comprises a first flap 41 and a second flap 42 which are switchable between a first position in which they project into the conveyor channel 14 and close the dispensing opening 5 and a second position in which they are substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction and leave the dispensing opening 5 open.

The first flap 41 of the shutter 40 is connected at a first end to the container 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connected to the main portion of the outer casing 20.

The second flap 42 of the shutter 40 is connected at a first end to the container 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connected to the main portion of the outer casing 20.

When the outer casing 20 is in a raised position (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), the first flap 41 and the second flap 42 are arranged in the first position. In this configuration, a longitudinal end 27 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20 is aligned longitudinally with the top wall 4 of the container 2.

In particular, the longitudinal end 27 defines an upper edge 27a for the outer casing 20.

When the outer casing 20 is in a lowered position (shown in FIG. 2), the first flap 41 and the second flap 42 are arranged in the second position. In this configuration, the longitudinal end 27 of the main portion of the outer casing 20 is moved away in the direction of the bottom wall 3 to the top wall 4 of the container 2.

The package 1 also comprises a dosing device 50 that is active at the inlet of the conveyor channel 14 and movable between a closing configuration (illustrated in FIG. 2) in which it closes the inlet of the conveyor channel 14, and an opening configuration (illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B) in which it opens the inlet of the conveyor channel 14.

The dosing device 50 comprises a first flap 51 which can be switched between a first position in which it projects into the conveyor channel 14 and closes the inlet of the conveyor channel 14 and a second position in which it is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction and leaves the inlet of the conveyor channel 14 open.

The flap 51 of the dosing device 50 is connected at a first end to the container 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connected to the main portion of the outer casing 20.

When the outer casing 20 is in a raised position (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), the flap 51 is in the second position. In this configuration, the longitudinal end 27 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20 is aligned longitudinally with the top wall 4 of the container 2.

When the outer casing 20 is in a lowered position (shown in FIG. 2), the flap 51 is in the second position. In this configuration, the longitudinal end 27 of the main portion of the outer casing 20 is moved away in the longitudinal direction from the top wall 4 of the container 2.

The auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20 comprises a first side wall 28, a second side wall 29 opposite the first side wall 28, a front wall 30 which is substantially perpendicular to the first side wall 28 and to the second side wall 29, and a rear wall 31 opposite the front wall as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the first side wall 23 of the main portion 21, the second side wall 29 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the second side wall 24 of the main portion 21, the front wall 30 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the front wall 25 of the main portion 21, and the rear wall 31 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the rear wall 26 of the main portion 21.

Between the main portion 21 and the auxiliary portion 22 there is arranged a separation line 32 parallel to the longitudinal end 27 of the main portion and parallel to a free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22. The separation line 32 is also indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B (for convenience of representation) although not visible in these representations of the dispensing package.

The free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 defines a lower edge 33a of the outer casing 20 when the main portion 21 and the auxiliary portion 22 are joined.

The separation line 32 is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a weakening line, for example made by incisions.

The auxiliary portion 22 further comprises a tear-off appendage 34 superimposed on one of the walls of the auxiliary portion 22, preferably superimposed on the first side wall 28.

The size in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary portion 22 is equal to the difference between the size, in the longitudinal direction, of the container 2 and the size of the main portion 21. The size of container 2 is measured between the top wall 4 and the bottom wall 4.

The size in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary portion 22 is further equal to the sliding distance that the outer casing 20 travels between the raised position and the lowered position along a sliding direction.

The tear-off appendage 34 has the same size in the longitudinal direction as the auxiliary portion 22.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, when the outer casing 20 is in the raised position, the free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

In this configuration, the package 1 has an external shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a first face given by the front wall 25 of the main portion 21 and by the front wall 30 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, a second face given by the rear wall 26 of the main portion 21 and by the rear wall 31 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, a third face given by the first side wall 23 of the main portion 21 and by the first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, a fourth face given by the second side wall 24 of the main portion 21 and by the second side wall 29 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, and a fifth face given by the top wall 4 of the container 2.

The sixth face of said rectangular parallelepiped is partially realised by the bottom wall 3 of the container 2 and is perimetrically delimited by the free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

The auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20 is configured to be removed prior to a first use of the package 1.

For this purpose, the tear-off appendage 34 can be raised with respect to the first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 in order to be grasped by a user and pulled. This action causes the outer casing 20 to break or tear along the separation line 32 and thereby detach the auxiliary portion 22 with respect to the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

When the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21, the main portion 21 of the casing is the only portion that defines the outer casing 20 itself.

The end portion 27 of the main portion 21 is, in this case, longitudinally opposed to a free edge 35 of the main portion 21.

The configuration in which the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 2.

In particular, FIG. 4 shows a condition in which the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21 and in which the outer casing 20 is in the raised position. In this condition, the free edge 35 of the main portion 21 does not reach the bottom wall 3 of the container 2 but is longitudinally spaced therefrom.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the condition in which the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21 and in which the outer casing 20 is in the lowered position, the free edge 35 of the main portion 21 is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show respectively a first flat blank 100 and a second flat blank 200 of a blanks assembly configured to make the dispensing package 1.

The first blank 100 is configured to make the container 2.

The first blank 100 comprises a main portion 101 and an auxiliary portion 102 that is connected to the main portion 101.

The main portion 101 comprises a first panel 109 configured to define the rear wall 9 of the container 2, a second panel 108 configured to define the front wall 8 of the container 2 and a third panel 107 arranged between the first panel 109 and the second panel 108 to define the second side wall 7 of the container 2.

A fourth panel 106a is arranged on the side of the first panel 109, on the opposite side with respect to the second panel 108, and a fifth panel 106b is arranged on the side of the second panel 108, on the opposite side with respect to the first panel 109. The fourth panel 106a and the fifth panel 106b cooperate to define the first side wall 6 of the container 2.

In a first longitudinal end 101a of the main portion 101 of the first blank 100 and above the first panel 109, the second panel 108, the third panel 107 and the fifth panel 106b there are arranged respective first appendages 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d configured to define the top wall 4 of the container 2.

In a second longitudinal end 101b of the main portion 101 of the first blank 100 and below the first panel 109, the second panel 108 and the third panel 107 there are arranged respective second appendages 103a, 103b, 103c configured to define the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, a recess 101c of the main portion 101 of the first blank 100 is defined below the third panel 107 and between the first panel 109 and the second panel 109.

A pair of third appendages 140, 141 defining the shutter 40 are provided at the recess 101c.

An appendage 140 of this pair of appendages comprises three panels 140a, 140b, 140c which define the first flap 41 of the shutter. This appendage 140 is laterally connected to the first panel 109.

The other appendage 141 of said pair of appendices comprises three panels 141a, 141b, 141c which define the second flap 41 of the shutter 40. This appendage 141 is laterally connected to the second panel 108 and faces the other appendage 140.

A fourth appendage 150 is defined on the third panel 107 which defines the dosing device 50. The fourth appendage comprises three panels 150a, 150b, 150c which form the flap 51 of the dosing device 50.

The auxiliary portion 102 of the first blank 101 is connected to the fifth panel 106b of the main portion 101 and is one piece with the main portion 101.

The auxiliary portion 102 comprises a first panel 113, a second panel 111, and a third panel 112 which respectively define the third wall 13, the first wall 11, and the second wall 12 of the prismatic body 10.

A fourth panel 114 is arranged on the side of the third panel 112 and is intended to be superimposed on the fifth panel 106a of the main portion 101.

Above the first panel 113, the second panel 111 and the fourth panel 114 there are arranged respective appendages 115a, 115b, 115c which define the fourth wall 15 of the prismatic body 10.

The second blank 200 (FIG. 6) comprises a main portion 201 and an auxiliary portion 202 that is connected to the main portion 201 and is integral with the main portion 201.

The second blank 200 is configured to make the outer casing 20.

The main portion 201 of the second blank 200 defines the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20, and the auxiliary portion 202 of the second blank 200 defines the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main portion 201 is distinguishable from the auxiliary portion 202 by a separation line 210.

Said separation line 210 is parallel to a longitudinal end 201a of the main portion 201 which defines the upper edge 27a of the outer casing.

The separation line 210 is also parallel to a free end 202a of the auxiliary portion 202 which defines the lower edge 33a of the outer casing 20.

The distance separating the longitudinal end 201a of the main portion 201 from the free end 202a of the auxiliary portion 202 in the longitudinal direction is equal to the height, measured in the longitudinal direction, of the outer casing 20.

The main portion 201 comprises a first panel 205 which defines the front wall 25 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

The main portion 201 comprises a second panel 204 which defines the second side wall 23 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

The main portion 201 comprises a third panel 206 which defines the rear wall 26 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

The second panel 204 is interposed between the first panel 205 and the third panel 206. A fourth panel 203a is arranged on the side of the third panel 206 on the opposite side to the second panel 204. A fifth panel 203b is arranged on the side of the first panel 205 on the opposite side to the second panel 204. The fourth panel 203a and the fifth panel 203b cooperate to define the first side wall 23 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a first panel 230 which defines the front wall 30 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a second panel 229 which defines the second side wall 29 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a third panel 231 which defines the rear wall 31 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

The second panel 229 is interposed between the first panel 230 and the third panel 231.

A fourth panel 228 is arranged on the side of the first panel 230 on the opposite side to the second panel 229. The fourth panel 228 defines the first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

On the side of the third panel 231 on the opposite side to the second panel 229 there is arranged an appendage 234 which defines the tear-off appendage 34.

The first panel 205 of the main portion 201 is arranged above the first panel 230 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The second panel 204 of the main portion 201 is arranged above the second panel 229 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The third panel 206 of the main portion 201 is arranged above the third panel 231 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The fifth panel 203b of the main portion 201 is arranged above the fourth panel 228 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The fourth panel 203a of the main portion 201 is arranged above the appendage 234 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The separation line 210 is made by a sequence of weakening incisions.

The separation line makes the panels of the main portion 201 visually, and not physically, distinct from one another from the panels of the auxiliary portion 202.

Obviously, a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific and contingent needs, can make numerous modifications and variations to the invention described above while remaining within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A loose article dispensing package, comprising:

a container for containing a plurality of loose articles (A), comprising a bottom wall and a top wall;

an outer casing arranged outside the container and slidingly coupled to the container along a sliding direction between a raised position and a lowered position, a dispensing opening of the container adjacent to the bottom wall in a direction transverse to the sliding direction and spaced from the bottom wall of the container along the sliding direction when the outer casing is in the raised position;

a shutter that is active on the dispensing opening and movable between a closing configuration, in which the shutter closes the dispensing opening, and an opening configuration, in which the shutter opens the dispensing opening;

wherein the shutter is connected to the container and to the outer casing so that in the raised position of the outer casing the shutter is in the closing configuration;

wherein:

the outer casing comprises a main portion and an auxiliary portion, wherein, in the raised position of the outer casing, the bottom wall of the container is substantially aligned with a free end of the auxiliary portion;

the outer casing comprises a predetermined separation line arranged between the auxiliary portion and the main portion, wherein the auxiliary portion of the outer casing is configured to be separated from the main portion of the outer casing along said predetermined separation line.

2. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein, when said outer casing is in the raised position, said dispensing opening is arranged at a first distance from the bottom wall along the sliding direction and wherein said auxiliary portion has an extension in the sliding direction equal to or less than said first distance.

3. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein said outer casing comprises a cutting or weakening line at said predetermined separation line.

4. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein the main portion of the outer casing comprises four walls and wherein the auxiliary portion comprises at least three walls that are coplanar to respective three walls of the main portion.

5. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary portion comprises a tear-off appendage not connected to the main portion and configured to be grasped by a user.

6. The dispensing package according to claim 5, wherein said tear-off appendage develops along the sliding direction between the predetermined separation line and said free end of the auxiliary portion.

7. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein the main portion comprises a longitudinal end on an opposite side with respect to the auxiliary portion; said longitudinal end of the main portion being substantially aligned with the top wall of the container when the outer casing is in the raised position.

8. An assembly of blanks for making a dispensing package comprising:

a first flat blank comprising:

a main portion configured to define a container;

first appendages arranged at a first longitudinal end of the main portion and configured to define a top wall of the container;

second appendages arranged at a second longitudinal end of the main portion configured to define a bottom wall of the container;

a pair of third appendages arranged in a recess of the main portion, facing each other and longitudinally interposed between the first appendages and the second appendages; said pair of third appendages being configured to define a shutter for a dispensing opening of the container;

wherein the assembly of blanks comprises a second flat blank configured to define an outer casing which can be slidingly inserted onto said container, comprising a main portion and an auxiliary portion distinguishable from one another by a separation line.

9. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said separation line is parallel to a first longitudinal end of the main portion of the second flat blank.

10. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said auxiliary portion of said second flat blank comprises an appendage configured to define a tear-off appendage.

11. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said separation line is defined by a sequence of incisions in said second flat blank.

12. The assembly of blanks according to claim 11, wherein said sequence of incisions distinguishes the main portion from the auxiliary portion of the second flat blank.