EP1770026A2

EP1770026A2 - Container particularly for precut sheets

Info

Publication number: EP1770026A2
Application number: EP06010629A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Elizabeth Chiappa; Giorgio Paoli
Original assignee: Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti SpA
Priority date: 2005-09-29
Filing date: 2006-05-24
Publication date: 2007-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-24
Also published as: EP1770026B1; DE602006004522D1; ATE419196T1; EP1770026A3; ITMI20051821A1

Abstract

A container (1) particularly for precut sheets (37), provided with a mechanism (31) for lifting the paper which is inserted within the bottom of the container and allows to lift the pre-cut sheets (37) to the height required in order to prevent the sheets from sliding into the container (1), making them difficult to remove. The container also has incisions (53) for supporting the paper which are located at the sides of the opening (41) of the box, again in order to retain the sheets.

Description

The present invention relates to a container particularly for precut sheets.
As is known, tissues, handkerchiefs and other precut paper sheets are inserted in containers constituted by a cardboard box provided with an upper opening to allow the removal of one sheet at a time.
The folding arrangement of the sheets within the container, and the shape of the container opening, allow to present one sheet at the opening for an easy grip.
The openings of currently commercially available containers are arranged longitudinally on the upper face of the container and generally have a rectangular shape with a constant cross-section or an oval shape.
As is known, during use of the product, when the precut sheets drop below a certain level, the sheets often slide inside the container, making it difficult to remove the sheets that follow.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a container for precut sheets that overcomes the drawbacks of the cited prior art.
A particular object of the invention is to provide a container in which there is always a sheet at the opening, ready for removal.
A further object of the invention is to provide a container which, in addition to making it always easy to extract the sheets, is cheap and easy to manufacture with techniques and machines which are already commercially available.
A further object is to provide a container which can be used for various types of precut paper sheet.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a container particularly for precut sheets, comprising a box-like body adapted to contain precut paper sheets that can be removed through an upper opening, characterized in that it comprises a lifting device adapted to lift the paper sheets towards said opening.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container in an overturned position;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the operation for lifting the precut sheets contained within the container;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the the lifting operation with the container in the overturned position;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the die-cut cardboard sheet suitable to constitute the container according to the invention.

With reference to the cited figures, a container according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, includes a die-cut body 3, which is constituted by a side piece 5, an upper piece 7, a second side piece 9, and a resting base 11.
As shown more clearly in Figure 5, tabs 13, 15, 17 and 21 protrude from the free edges of the side pieces 5 and 9 and cooperate with interlocking tabs 23 and 25, that protrude from the free edges of the resting base 11, and with a front piece 27 and a rear piece 29, that protrude from the free edges of the upper piece 7, in order to close and lock the die-cut body 3 so as to constitute the container 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4.
According to the invention, the container has a device for lifting the sheets of paper. The device is located on the bottom of the box and is activated when the quantity of sheets drops below a certain level.
More particularly, the lifting device is constituted by a precut strip 31, which lies on the bottom 11 and continues partially on the sides 5 and 9, forming lateral regions 33.
When the sheets of paper inside the structure drop below a certain level, the user presses the regions 33 located on the sides 5 and 9, as shown in Figure 3, making part of the strip 31 on the bottom 11 retract into the package, as shown in Figure 4, consequently raising the sheets to the required level.
Preferably, in order to allow the user to determine when it is time to raise the sheets, the container has an indicator means for indicating the level of the sheets of paper. The indicator means is constituted by an opening 35 through which the sheets of paper 37 are visible.
A colored line, or other marking, 39 is provided next to the window 35 and constitutes a minimum level indicator for activating the lifting system.
By way of example, for a container having standard dimensions, the precut strip 31 provided on the bottom has dimensions of 4.5 x 11.9 cm, and the regions on the sides have dimensions of 4.5 x 2.5 cm.
The container has an upper opening 41, which runs longitudinally along the upper piece 7 and is constituted by a central region 43, which is almost rectangular, with curved longer sides 45 and rounded corners 47.
The central portion 43 is connected to lateral portions 49, which are substantially rectangular, have a smaller cross-section than the central portion and end with rounded terminal edges 51.
Respective longitudinal incisions 53 are provided at the terminal edges 51.
When a sheet is removed, the next one is simultaneously pulled up and positioned outside the opening.
The incisions 53 provided on the sides of the opening, in which the paper is gripped, prevent the sheet from falling back into the package.
In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, a container having been provided which always allows easy extraction of the sheets and at the same time is cheap and easy to manufacture.
The container according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, within the scope of the appended claims. All the details may be replaced with technically equivalent elements.
The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Claims

A container particularly for precut sheets, comprising a box-like body adapted to contain precut paper sheets which can be removed from an upper opening, characterized in that it comprises a lifting device adapted to lift the paper sheets towards said opening.
The container according to claim 1, characterized in that said lifting device comprises a die-cut portion on the body of the container itself.
The container according to claim 2, characterized in that said die-cut portion comprises at least two positions: a position in which it is substantially flush with the walls of the container body and a position in which it lies partially within said container body.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a die-cut body constituted by a side piece, an upper piece, a second side piece, and a resting base.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises tabs that protrude from the free edges of said side pieces and cooperate with interlocking tabs, that protrude from the free edges of said resting base, and with a front piece and a rear piece, that protrude from the free edges of said upper piece, in order to close and lock said die-cut body so as to constitute said container.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lifting device is arranged on the bottom and can be activated when the amount of sheets drops below a certain level.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lifting device is constituted by a die-cut strip, which lies on said bottom piece and continues partially on said side pieces, forming side regions.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that by pressing said regions the part of said strip on said bottom piece is retracted into the structure, consequently lifting said sheets to the necessary level.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to allow the user to determine when it is time to raise the sheets, the container has an indicator means for indicating the level of the sheets of paper.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said indicator means comprises an opening through which the sheets of paper are visible.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a marking, which is arranged next to said window and constitutes a minimum level indicator for activating the lifting system.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for a container having standard dimensions, said die-cut strip formed on the bottom has dimensions of 4.5 x 11.9 cm and said regions have dimensions of 4.5 x 2.5 cm.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper opening is provided with longitudinal incisions which run from the terminal edges of said opening.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper opening runs longitudinally along said upper piece and is constituted by a central portion, which is almost rectangular with curved main sides and rounded corners, said central portion being connected to side portions which are substantially rectangular and have a smaller cross-section than the central portion and end with rounded terminal edges, said longitudinal incisions being provided at said terminal edges.