ES2967117T3 - Childproof packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to child-resistant packaging and child-resistant packaging, such as cardboard packaging, useful for constructing child-resistant packaging. The package comprises an outer casing and an inner casing slidably disposed within the outer casing and movable between a closed position and an open position, where immediate opening of the package from the closed position to the open position is prevented. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Childproof packaging

Technical field

The present invention relates to child-resistant packaging and to a packaging die-cut, such as a cardboard die-cut, useful for the manufacture of child-resistant packaging. Child-resistant packaging is needed for products considered dangerous for children if they have free or unsupervised access to them, such as pharmaceuticals or household chemicals.

Background of the invention

Child-resistant packaging generally refers to packaging that, to open, requires steps that are not immediately obvious to a child. Child-resistant packaging makes it difficult for children to remove the hazardous materials, such as pharmaceuticals, they contain. There is a need for child-resistant packaging that can be prepared at low cost from a single cardboard die-cut, has simple construction, is relatively easy to open by adults, and retains child-resistant properties after of numerous openings and closings of the packaging.

GB 2544090 A discloses an open-close container comprising an outer casing and an inner casing slidably arranged within the outer casing and movable between a closed position and an open position, where opening is prevented. immediate of the container from the closed position to the open position, the outer casing comprising an outer upper wall, an outer lower wall, a first and a second outer side wall and a first connection panel arranged adjacent to the second outer side wall; the inner casing comprising an inner top wall, an inner bottom wall, a first and a second inner side wall, an inner front wall and a second connection panel disposed adjacent the first inner side wall; wherein the corner between the outer top wall and the first outer side wall is provided with a locking opening, the corner between the first inner side wall and the second connection panel comprises a locking button, with the locking button and the locking cavity overlapping in the closed position, and a set of contact bridges is provided between the edges of the first connection panel and the second connection panel.

Summary of the invention

The present invention comprises a child-resistant packaging comprising an outer casing and an inner casing slidably disposed within the outer casing and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein immediate opening of the package is prevented. packaging from the closed position to the open position. Child-safe properties are retained after numerous openings and closings of the packaging, and the packaging can be formed by folding from a single cardboard die-cut. Packaging can be produced on automated assembly machines at low cost and with consistent child-safe quality.

The child-resistant packaging of the present invention comprises an outer shell and an inner shell. The inner casing is slidably arranged within the outer casing and is movable between a closed packaging position and an open packaging position. In the open packaging position, the inner shell containing the product, for example a medication, can be separated from the outer shell. The outer and inner casings are usually in the shape of a box open at one end.

When the packaging die is folded into the packaging configuration, the inner shell and the outer shell are formed around the inner shell. The inner shell is attached to the outer shell until the packaging is opened for the first time. The inner and outer casings are connected to each other through at least one set of contact bridges formed between the edges of an outer connection panel and an inner connection panel. Therefore, the packaging die-cutting forms a die-cutting sheet. The contact bridges form a line of weakness. The upper or lower wall of the outer casing is provided with at least one release flap with a hinged structure. Pushing the release flap inward breaks the line of weakness and the connection between the inner shell and the outer shell, thus dividing the packaging into two separate shells.

Once the packaging has been split into two separate casings by first pressing the release flap, immediate opening of the packaging is prevented by a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a locking button, which is formed in the inner casing between two cut-out areas in the longitudinal corner between the inner side wall and the inner connection panel of the inner casing. The locking button has sufficient elasticity so that it can be pushed down from a higher position to a lower position, and when no force is applied to the locking button, it is pushed up again. In the closed packaging position, the locking button overlaps a locking cavity located in the outer casing, so that the locking button maintains its upper position and forms, with the locking cavity, a type packaging closure. latch. To open the packaging, the user must press the locking button and simultaneously pull the inner casing so that it slides inside the outer casing and finally separates from it. To ensure correct operation of the locking button, the locking cavity is provided in an angular recessed wall, which forms a flattened area towards the inside, in the longitudinal corner between the top wall and the side wall of the outer casing. When the inner casing is moved from the open position to the closed position, the locking button is pushed down by the flattened recessed wall surface of the outer casing or, alternatively, the locking button raises the wall upward. flattened angular recess, until the lock button overlaps the lock cavity, with the lock button fitting into the lock cavity to form the latch-type closure. This arrangement ensures that the locking mechanism retains its child-safe properties after numerous openings and closings of the packaging.

Therefore, according to one aspect, the present invention provides a child-resistant packaging comprising an outer shell and an inner shell slidably disposed within the outer shell and movable between a closed position and an open position, in which that the immediate opening of the packaging from the closed position to the open position is prevented,

comprising the outer casing

- an outer upper wall, an outer lower wall, a first and a second outer side wall, an outer rear wall and a first connection panel arranged adjacent to the second outer side wall; comprising the inner casing

- an inner upper wall, an inner lower wall, a first and a second inner side wall, an inner front wall and a second connection panel arranged next to the first inner side wall; in which

- the corner between the outer upper wall and the first outer side wall is provided with an angular recessed wall with a locking cavity;

- the outer upper or lower wall comprises at least one release flap;

- the corner between the first inner side wall and the second connection panel comprises a locking button formed between two cut-out areas, with the locking button and the locking cavity overlapping in the closed position;

- a set of contact bridges is provided between the edges of the first connection panel and the second connection panel, arranged so that the release flap at least partially overlaps the set of contact bridges in the closed position.

According to one embodiment, the angular recessed wall of the packaging is bounded by two opposite, mirror image, symmetrical arcuate fold lines branching from and interrupting the longitudinal fold line separating the outer top wall and the first outer side wall.

According to another embodiment, the first and second connecting panels arranged adjacent to the second outer side wall and adjacent to the first inner side wall, respectively, extend to approximately half the width of the packaging, so that the edges of the connecting panels exterior and interior connection are adjacent to each other. According to another additional embodiment, in the area surrounding the locking button, the second connection panel and the first inner side wall comprise a curved cut that provides elasticity.

According to another further embodiment, the upper inner wall comprises at least one opening that at least partially overlaps the set of contact bridges in the closed position.

Packaging die-cutting comprises fold lines (fold lines) necessary so that the packaging can be formed by folding. Fold lines can be provided in the cardboard, for example, by applying sufficient pressure to reduce the thickness of the material at the desired location, so that the cardboard can be easily folded along the fold line without the cardboard material becoming damaged. The packaging of the present invention is conveniently manufactured from a cardboard with a weight between 200 and 600 g/m2 and which can be coated, at least on one side, with a polymer with a thickness between 10 and 150 pm.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a plan view of a packaging die cut in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a package in a folded state according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the package is in a closed position.

Detailed description of the invention

The packaging according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated below by way of example, with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the child-resistant packaging according to the invention in an unfolded state, that is, a packaging die-cut. Figure 2 shows the packaging in a folded state.

The packaging comprises an outer shell (1) and an inner shell (2), connected to each other by contact bridges (19) that form a weakening line. The outer casing comprises the outer upper wall (3) followed by a first outer side wall (5), an outer lower wall (4), a second outer side wall (6) and a first connection panel (8). The outer upper wall (3) forms the first side edge of the die cut of Figure 1. The outer rear wall and the rear end of the packaging are formed by the flaps (7) that extend from the outer upper wall (3) and the outer lower wall (4), and by the corresponding flaps that extend from the side walls (5, 6). From the lower exterior wall (4), at the front end of the packaging, a single support flap extends, intended to be folded inside the packaging. The walls of the die are separated by longitudinal fold lines, so that the packaging can be formed by folding. The first connection panel (8) of the outer casing and the second connection panel (13) of the inner casing are separated from each other by a cut, except in the area of the connection bridges (19). The connecting bridges (19) form a weakening line that connects the first (8) and second (13) connecting panels to each other. Figure 1 shows an embodiment comprising two sets of connection jumpers (19) located near the front and rear ends of the first connection panel (8). The front ends of the first and second outer side walls (5, 6) comprise a curved cutout area (26) to assist the user in grasping and separating the inner casing from the outer casing. Conveniently, an adhesive strip is added, for example, to the outer surface of the first connection panel (8) to secure it to the inner surface of the outer top wall (3) during folding. Likewise, an adhesive strip is suitably added to the surface of one of the flaps (7) to close the rear end of the outer casing.

The inner casing (2) comprises an inner top wall (9) followed by a second inner side wall (12), an inner bottom wall (10), a first inner side wall (11) and a second connection panel (13). arranged next to the first interior side wall (11). An inner front wall (25) is formed by flaps extending from the upper inner wall (23) and the lower inner wall (10), and by corresponding flaps extending from the side walls (11, 12). The inner front wall (25) also constitutes the front end of the packaging. A support wall (24) arranged next to the inner upper wall (9) constitutes the second lateral end of the punch. The first and second connection panels (8, 13) extend to approximately half the width of the packaging, so that the edges of the first and second connection panels (8, 13) are adjacent to each other. Again, the walls are separated by fold lines, so that the packaging can be formed by folding. Conveniently, an adhesive strip is added, for example, to the inner surface of the second connection panel (13) to secure it to the outer surface of the inner top wall (9) during folding. Likewise, an adhesive strip is suitably added to the surface of one of the inner front wall flaps (25) to close the front end of the inner casing.

So that the user can separate the inner casing from the outer casing when the packaging is opened for the first time, the outer upper wall (3) is provided with a release flap (16) with an articulated structure that is best seen in Figure 2 In the embodiment shown in the Figures, two release flaps (16) are provided on the outer upper wall (3), positioned symmetrically near the front and rear ends of the outer upper wall (3). When the packaging is in a folded state in the closed position, as shown in Figure 2, the release flaps (16) overlap the two sets of contact bridges (19) located just below the release flaps ( 16). At the same time, the inner upper wall (9) comprises openings (23) that overlap the contact bridges (19) and are located just below the contact bridges (19). Pressing the release flaps (16) inward breaks the line of weakening of the contact bridges (19), thus dividing the packaging into the inner and outer shells. The openings (23) allow room for inward movement of the release flaps (16).

To prevent immediate opening of the packaging from the closed position to the open position once the inner casing has been separated from the outer casing, as explained above, the packaging is provided with additional locking means. The locking means comprise a locking button (17) arranged between the first inner side wall (11) and the second connection panel (13) of the inner casing. The locking button (17) is formed between two cut-out areas (18) in the longitudinal corner between the first inner side wall (11) and the second connection panel (13).

When the packaging is folded, a longitudinal space is created below the locking button (17), between the first inner side wall (11) and the support wall (24) to allow room for inward movement of the button. lock (17) when it is pressed. Said space is formed by an arrangement of the support wall (24). The support wall (24) extends in its longitudinal direction from the end of the package to a position that is between the front end of the package and the cutout area (18) when the package is folded. As shown in Figure 1, the front end of the support wall (24) is cut at a small distance inside the inner top wall (9), such that the fold line (fold line) between the supporting wall (24) and the inner upper wall (9) can be formed in a position that is a small distance from the side edge of the inner upper wall (9), thus creating said space when the packaging is folded. Furthermore, the second connection panel (13) and the first inner side wall (11) in the area surrounding the locking button (17) comprise a curved cut (22) that provides elasticity to provide the locking button (17) with sufficient elasticity so that it can be pushed down from its upper position to its lower position, while again maintaining its upper position when no force is applied to it.

The locking button (17) of the inner casing (2) interacts with a locking cavity (15) of the outer casing (1) to form a latch-type packaging closure. The locking cavity (15) is cut into an angular recessed wall (14) which is provided at the longitudinal corner between the outer top wall (3) and the first outer side wall (5) of the outer casing (1). In the closed packaging position, the locking button (17) overlaps a locking cavity (15) provided in the outer casing, as best seen in Figure 2. The angular recessed wall (14) is formed by two Opposite symmetrical arched fold lines (20), in mirror image, which branch from and interrupt the longitudinal fold line (21) that separates the upper outer wall (3) and the first outer side wall (5). When the package is folded, the angular recessed wall (14) forms a flattened or inwardly bent angular portion between the outer upper wall (3) and the first outer side wall (5). Therefore, in the embodiment shown in the Figures, the angular recessed wall (14) in the folded packaging forms a surface that is at an angle of approximately 45 ° with respect to the plane of the outer upper wall (3) and the first outer side wall (5). The locking button (17), superimposed on the locking cavity (15), is in its upper position, thus preventing the separation of the inner casing (2) from the outer casing (1). The closure can be released by pressing the locking button (17) and, simultaneously, pulling the inner casing (2) that appears in the cut-out area (26) so that the inner casing (2) slides inside the outer casing. (1) and finally separate from it.

The arrangement of the locking cavity (15) in the flattened or inwardly bent area of the angular recessed wall (14) guarantees the correct operation of the locking button (17). When the inner casing (2) is moved from the open position to the closed position, the locking button (17) is pushed down by the surface of the flattened angular recessed wall (14) or, alternatively, the locking button (17). The lock (17) raises the flattened angular recessed wall (14) upward until the locking button (17) overlaps the locking cavity (15), thus completing a latch-type packaging closure.

Claims (6)

1. Child-resistant packaging comprising an outer shell (1) and an inner shell (2) slidably arranged within the outer shell and movable between a closed position and an open position, in which the immediate opening of the packaging from the closed position to the open position, including the outer casing - an outer upper wall (3), an outer lower wall (4), a first and a second outer side wall (5, 6), an outer rear wall (7) and a first connection panel (8) arranged next to the second outer side wall (6); comprising the inner casing - an interior upper wall (9), an interior lower wall (10), a first and a second interior side walls (11, 12), an interior front wall (25) and a second connection panel (13) arranged next to the first inner side wall (11); in which - the corner between the upper outer wall (3) and the first outer side wall (5) is provided with an angular recessed wall (14) with a locking cavity (15); - the outer upper or lower wall (3, 4) comprises at least one release flap (16); - the corner between the first inner side wall (11) and the second connection panel (13) comprises a locking button (17) formed between two cut-out areas (18), with the locking button and the locking cavity overlapping in the closed position; - a set of contact bridges (19) is provided between the edges of the first connection panel (8) and the second connection panel (13), arranged so that the release flap (16) at least partially overlaps the set of contact bridges (19) in closed position. 2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the angular recessed wall (14) is delimited by two opposite symmetrical arcuate fold lines (20), in mirror image, which branch from and interrupt the longitudinal fold line (21). which separates the upper outer wall (3) and the first outer side wall (5). 3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second connection panels (8, 13) arranged next to the second outer side wall (6) and next to the first inner side wall (11), respectively, They extend to approximately half the width of the packaging, so that the edges of the outer and inner connecting panels are adjacent to each other. 4. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second connection panel (13) and the first inner side wall (11) in the area surrounding the locking button (17) comprise a curved cut (22). ) that provides elasticity. 5. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner upper wall (9) comprises at least one opening (23) that at least partially overlaps the set of contact bridges (19) in the closed position. 6. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the packaging is manufactured from a cardboard with a weight between 200 and 600 g/m2.