WO2022264022A1 - Container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material and method for making it - Google Patents

Container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material and method for making it Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022264022A1
WO2022264022A1 PCT/IB2022/055486 IB2022055486W WO2022264022A1 WO 2022264022 A1 WO2022264022 A1 WO 2022264022A1 IB 2022055486 W IB2022055486 W IB 2022055486W WO 2022264022 A1 WO2022264022 A1 WO 2022264022A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wings
sheet
container
edge
thermoplastic material
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2022/055486
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Giovanni Mondini
Nazzareno Mondini
Original Assignee
G.Mondini S.p.a.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by G.Mondini S.p.a. filed Critical G.Mondini S.p.a.
Publication of WO2022264022A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022264022A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/20—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
    • B65D5/2038—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape
    • B65D5/2047—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape trapezoidal, e.g. to form a body with diverging side walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/56—Linings or internal coatings, e.g. pre-formed trays provided with a blow- or thermoformed layer
    • B65D5/563—Laminated linings; Coatings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and a method for making it. Therefore, the containers to which the present invention relates are, on the whole, tray or bowl-shaped containers in which the outer part consists of the outer skeleton and the inner part consists of the layer of thermoplastic material.
  • the present invention arises with reference to those known containers in which the outer skeleton consists of a paper-industry article, which is to say an article made of cellulosic material (paper, card or cardboard), comprising a plurality of flaps of material connected to each other, and generally provided with folding lines, and which, beginning from a spread configuration in which it mainly develops in one plane, can be brought into a three-dimensional configuration corresponding to the shape of the outer skeleton to be formed, by folding the various flaps as appropriate. Nevertheless, the present invention does not relate to the material from which the outer skeleton is made.
  • a paper-industry article which is to say an article made of cellulosic material (paper, card or cardboard), comprising a plurality of flaps of material connected to each other, and generally provided with folding lines, and which, beginning from a spread configuration in which it mainly develops in one plane, can be brought into a three-dimensional configuration corresponding to the shape of the outer skeleton to be formed, by folding the various flap
  • containers of this type can be of various types.
  • the outer skeleton consists of a single sheet of card or cardboard that extends continuously over the entire outer surface of the container.
  • This sheet before assuming the three-dimensional shape of the skeleton, has a central zone (the zone intended to form the bottom wall of the skeleton, surrounded by a main annular portion of material, which is intended to form the lateral walls of the skeleton.
  • a central zone the zone intended to form the bottom wall of the skeleton, surrounded by a main annular portion of material, which is intended to form the lateral walls of the skeleton.
  • the main annular portion is surrounded by an additional secondary annular portion suitable for forming a perimetric flange for the container, which extends outward from the upper edge of the lateral walls. Given that the perimetric flange also has a lower length on plan than the secondary annular portion, the wrinkled zones also continue onto the annular flange.
  • the outer skeleton comprises a main flap and a plurality of secondary flaps extending outward from the main flap.
  • the main flap is the one located at the container’s bottom wall, while the secondary flaps are the ones located at the container’s lateral walls. Therefore, depending on the embodiments, the secondary flaps may or may not include external appendages, which, if present, are positioned at the container’s upper perimetric flange.
  • the second type of skeletons generally have no wrinkled zones, and some continuity is achieved in the extension of the lateral walls or the perimetric flange solely by trying to bring the edges of the adjacent flaps as close together as possible.
  • Examples of containers using the second type of outer skeletons are described in the following papers: US 3358900, US 3489331 , US 4046310, FR 2406522, US 5253801 , FR 2826938, FR 2933329, WO 2012/049005 and WO 2018/017783.
  • the containers created by the present invention are containers generally intended to enable food products to be packaged in controlled environments.
  • the inner thermoplastic material ensures that a protective environment is preserved throughout the useful life of the food product.
  • the container itself is intended to be sealed at the top by a protective film welded to the inner thermoplastic material.
  • sealing generally occurs at the perimetric flange, but it can also extend over the rest of the container's free surface (skin packaging).
  • skeleton includes a continuous annular portion of cellulosic material at their perimetric flange.
  • the outer skeleton is obtained from a single sheet of material folded back on itself and the lateral walls and bottom wall are defined by wings of the skeleton extending from the continuous annular portion (either inward or inward from it in the sheet in a spread configuration).
  • the main drawback of this embodiment is the structural complication of having to fold the sheet back on itself in such a way as to create a paper-industry article that can then be shaped three-dimensionally.
  • a second example of containers of the continuous flange type is described, for example, in patent applications WO 2019/020863 A2 and WO 1999/067143 A2, wherein the outer skeleton is formed by a plurality of distinct sheets, one of which defines the annular frame at the annular flange, and one of which defines the skeleton at the bottom wall.
  • the various sheets are fixed to each other by an adhesive to form the skeleton onto which the thermoplastic material layer is then thermoformed.
  • This manufacturing solution has the advantage of making the sheets easy to handle as long as they are separated, but also has the notable disadvantage of requiring them to be glued together to form the outer skeleton to which the layer of thermoplastic material is then applied.
  • the technical purpose underlying the present invention is to implement a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and a method for making it, which offer a solution to the drawbacks mentioned above.
  • the technical purpose of the present invention is to implement a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and a method for making it, which provide greater simplicity of production than those in the prior art and in which the outer skeleton is continuous at the perimetric flange of the container.
  • the main technical purpose is substantially achieved by a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and by a method for making it, in accordance with the contents of the accompanying independent claims.
  • FIG. 1 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a first embodiment of a first sheet that forms part of the outer skeleton of a container as described in the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a first embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 1 to make the outer skeleton;
  • FIG. 3 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a second embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 1 to make the outer skeleton;
  • FIG. 4 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a third embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 1 to make the outer skeleton;
  • FIG. 5 and 6 schematically show the coupling between a first wing and a second wing of the sheets in Figures 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 7 and 8 schematically show the coupling between a first wing and a second wing of the sheets in Figures 1 and 3;
  • FIG. 9 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a fourth embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 1 to make the outer skeleton;
  • FIG. 10 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a second embodiment of a first sheet that forms part of the outer skeleton of a container as described in the present invention
  • FIG. 11 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a first embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 10 to make the outer skeleton;
  • FIG. 12 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a third embodiment of a first sheet that forms part of the outer skeleton of a container as described in the present invention
  • FIG. 13 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a first embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 12 to make the outer skeleton;
  • FIG. 14 and 15 schematically show the coupling between a first wing and a second wing of the sheets in Figures 12 and 13;
  • FIG. 16 shows a schematic cross-section of a container according to the present invention, wherein the skeleton is formed by the first sheet and the second sheet shown in Figures 1 and 3, respectively;
  • FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of a second sheet that can be used in combination with the first sheet in Figure 18;
  • Container 1 according to the present invention comprises an outer skeleton 2, and a layer 3 of thermoplastic material stuck to the inside of the outer skeleton 2.
  • the outer skeleton 2 is made from cellulosic material, advantageously paper, card or cardboard.
  • the outer skeleton can also be made with other materials.
  • it can be made of fossil-based plastic, bioplastic, naturally-derived plastic, biodegradable or compostable plastic, mixtures thereof, aluminium, lignin ora multi-layered laminated material based on one or more of those mentioned above.
  • thermoplastic material can consist of fossil-based plastic, bioplastic, naturally-derived plastic, biodegradable or compostable plastic, or mixtures of thereof, or of a multi layered laminated material based on one or more of those mentioned above.
  • thermoplastic material preferably has a thickness of between 10 pm and 200 pm, more preferably of between 10 pm and 100 pm, and even more preferably of between 40 pm and 60pm.
  • a bottom wall 4 As shown 3 in Figure 16, a bottom wall 4, a plurality of lateral walls 5 which are connected at their bottom to the bottom wall 4, and an annular perimetric flange 6 extending outward from an upper edge of the side walls 5 can be identified in the container 1 .
  • the outer skeleton 2 extends across the perimetric flange 6, the lateral walls 5 and the bottom wall 4.
  • the outer skeleton 2 comprises a first sheet 7 and a second sheet 8 distinct from each other (and separated prior to the container’s assembly).
  • the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 can be made from the same or different materials; they can also have the same or different thickness, as well as the same or different grammage and/or density.
  • the first sheet 7 is placed at least at the bottom wall 4 and lateral walls 5, and the second sheet 8 is placed at least at the perimetric flange 6 and lateral walls 5.
  • the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 at least partially superpose each other at the lateral walls 5 of the outer skeleton 2, as better described below.
  • the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 are fixed to each other exclusively by the layer 3 of thermoplastic material that is stuck to both.
  • the first sheet 7 includes a central portion 9, which forms the outer skeleton 2 at the bottom of the container 1 , and a plurality of first wings 10.
  • each first wing 10 extends along at least one side wall 5; specifically, in the side wall 5, the first wing 10 extends towards the annular perimetric flange 6 from an outer edge 11 of the central portion 9.
  • the second sheet 8 comprises an annular-shaped main portion 12 and a plurality of second wings 13.
  • the main portion 12 defines the outer skeleton 2 at the annular perimetric flange 6, and has an outer annular edge 14 and an inner annular edge 15.
  • the outer edge 11 of the central portion 9 and the inner annular edge 15 of the main portion 12, respectively, have a plurality of first straight stretches and a plurality of second straight stretches. In other embodiments, however, they may appear curvilinear or with one or more straight sections and one or more curvilinear sections.
  • Each second wing 13 extends at least along one side wall 5; specifically, in the lateral wall 5, the second wing 13 extends towards the bottom wall 4 from an inner annular edge 15 of the main portion 12.
  • first wings 10 and/or second wings 13 extend substantially across the entire height of the lateral walls 5.
  • first wings 10 extend from the outer edge 11 until they are near the inner annular edge 15, and/or at least some of the second wings 13 extend from the inner annular edge 15 until they are near the inner annular edge 15.
  • the second wings 13 may extend substantially across the entire height of the lateral wall 5, or may have a lower height than that of the lateral wall 5, or they may have a higher height than that of the lateral wall 5 (in the latter case they are partly folded over, and stick to, the central portion 9).
  • the outer edge 11 of the central portion has at least one free curvilinear section 22 (i.e. where no first wings 10 are fixed) while one or more first wings 10 are connected to the central portion 9 at one or more corresponding straight sections 23 of the outer edge 11 adjacent to the free curvilinear section 22.
  • the first wings 10 have a width greater than that of the straight section 23 to which they are connected, so as to define at least one free inner edge 24.
  • the free inner edge 24 is spaced apart from the central portion 9 when the first sheet 7 is in the spread configuration, whereas in the finished container 1 it is adjacent to the free curvilinear section 22 of the outer edge 11 .
  • FIG 18 An example of this type is shown in Figure 18, in which the central portion 9 is, in a first approximation, circular and four straight sections 23 and four free curvilinear sections 22 alternate along the outer edge 11.
  • Four first wings 10 are fixed to the straight sections 23; each has a free inner edge 24 on either side of the straight section 23, intended to face, in the assembled container 1 , part of a corresponding free curvilinear section 22.
  • the free inner edges 24 intended to face the same free curvilinear section 22 may have a total length equal to that of the free curvilinear section 22, or they may be slightly longer or slightly shorter.
  • the first wings 10 are arranged one in continuation of the other in the finished container 1. In the second case, they are partly superposed. In the third case they are slightly spaced apart.
  • the first sheet may also comprise a different number of first wings 10 and free curvilinear sections 22.
  • Figure 17 shows a second sheet 8 couplable to the first sheet 7 in Figure 18.
  • the second sheet 8 has second wings 13 that are significantly lower in height than the height of the first wings 10, as well as a plurality of second wings 13 for each first wing 10 (three second wings 13 for each first wing 10); these two arrangements allow the second wings 13 to stick optimally to the first wings 10 despite the presence of the free curvilinear sections 22.
  • the first wings 10 are connected to the central portion 9 at the outer edge 11 whereas the second wings 13 are connected to the main portion 12 at the inner annular edge 15. In the respective spread unfolded sheet, the first wings 10 therefore extend outward from the central portion 9 ( Figures 1 , 10 and 12), while the second wings 13 extend inward from the main portion 12 ( Figures 2-4, 11 and 13).
  • the central portion 9 can also extend as an annular frame and, in the first spread sheet 7, at least some first wings 10 extend inward from the annular frame and are then folded 180° outward so that they extend to overhang the outer edge 11 in the assembled container 1.
  • the first wings 10 are connected to the central portion 9 by a first connecting portion intended to face the central portion 9 after the 180° rotation.
  • At least some second wings 13 can also extend outward from the outer annular edge 14 and can then be folded 180° over the main portion 12 to overhang internally within the assembled container 1 .
  • the second wings 13 are connected to the main portion 12 by a second connecting portion 16 intended to face the main portion 12 after the 180° rotation.
  • the first wings 10 and the second wings 13 at least partially superposing each other at the lateral wall 5.
  • first wings 10 and the second wings 13 can be made to superpose each other in two different ways:
  • the words inner wings 17 will indicate the wings, either the first wings 10 or the second wings 13, which in the superposing zone are positioned toward the inside of the container 1
  • the words outer wings 18 will indicate those which in the superposing zone are placed toward the outside of the container 1.
  • the first wings 10 in Figures 1 and 10, and the second wings 13 in Figure 13, are intended to serve as outer wings 18 in the assembled container 1
  • the first wings 10 in Figure 12 and the second wings 13 in Figures 2 to 4 and 11 are intended to serve as inner wings 17. Further details will be given below. Since the layer 3 of thermoplastic material is applied to the inside of the outer skeleton 2 (and therefore of the container 1), the layer 3 of thermoplastic material is in contact with the entire surface of the inner wings 17 facing the inside of the container 1 , and only with part of the surface of the outer wings 18 facing the inside of the container 1 ; in fact, the inner wings 17 cover part of the surface of the outer wings 18.
  • each outer wing 18 facing towards the inside of the container 1 , it is possible to identify, respectively, at least one first zone 19 where the outer wing 18 is in contact with one or more inner wings 17, and at least one second zone 20 where the outer wing 18 is in contact with, and stuck to, the layer 3 of thermoplastic material.
  • Figures 5 to 8 and 14-15 each show the superposing of an inner wing 17 (in the foreground) with an outer wing 18 (in the background); in these figures, the cross-hatched areas are the second zones 20 where the surface of the outer wings 18 is in contact with the layer 3 of thermoplastic material in the assembled container 1.
  • the inner wings 17 are shaped in such a way that the second zones 20 constitute fixing points for the outer wings 18 of those zones to the layer 3 of thermoplastic material and in such a way that the fixing points thus obtained are capable of preventing (especially as these are aesthetically unacceptable for the market) the first zones 19 from undesirably detaching from the inner wings 17 (meaning the first zones 19 of the outer wing 18 itself, to which the second zones 20 belong, and which serve as fixing points).
  • this effect is achieved by shaping the inner wings 17 in such a way that each point in each first zone 19 identifiable in an outer wing 18 meets at least one, and preferably both, of the following conditions:
  • At least some of the inner wings 17 define windows 21 ( Figures 2, 4 and 11 ) inside them, through which the layer 3 of thermoplastic material is in contact with the underlying outer wings 18 ( Figures 5 and 6).
  • the part of the second wings 13 located at these windows 21 corresponds to a second zone 20.
  • the inner wings 17 have a maximum width, measured parallel to the inner annular edge 15 or to the outer edge 11 , which is less than 10 cm, and preferably less than 6 cm.
  • two or more inner wings 17 extend either from the outer edge 11 at the same first straight stretch, or from the inner annular edge 15 at the same second straight stretch ( Figures 3 and 9) and, preferably, are coupled to a single outer wing 18 with a greater extension ( Figures 7 and 8).
  • the inner wings 17 extending from a same first straight section or from a same second straight section are also shaped in such a way as to demarcate between them a gap at which, in the assembled lateral wall 5, the layer 3 of thermoplastic material can come into contact with the outer wings 18; these first wings 10 are thus alternated with second zones 20 ( Figures 3, 7 and 8).
  • Also described in the present invention are a method for making the container 1 using a first sheet 7 and a second sheet 8 (made according to the description above) to create the outer skeleton 2, as well as the set of the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 to be used for this purpose (which, unlike sheets in the prior art, are both free of bonding elements and have the characteristics described above).
  • the method described in the present invention involves taking the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8, and placing the first one and then the other one in a shaped thermoforming mould that advantageously has substantially the shape as the final container 1 to be obtained.
  • the shape of the thermoforming mould male or female
  • the order in which the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 are inserted into, or placed on, the thermoforming mould determine which of the first wings 10 and the second wings 13 will form the outer wings 18 and which will form the inner wings 17.
  • the first sheet 7 to be inserted into the mould (or placed on it) will be the one defining the outer wings 18.
  • the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 are positioned in, or on, the shaped mould by positioning the two unfolded sheets one on top of the other on top of the mould and then pressing them against the mould with a piston or dolly to shape them by making them stick to the shape of the mould.
  • the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 partially superpose each other inside the shaped mould; specifically, the first wings 10 and the second wings 13 superpose each other.
  • the method involves using the shaped thermoforming mould to thermoform the layer (3) of thermoplastic material onto the first sheet (7) and onto the second sheet (8), making it stick to both, and thus fixing their positions relative to each other.
  • the method provides for using a same type of second sheet 8 in conjunction with a plurality of different types of first sheets 7, which are distinguished from each other by the different height of the first wings 10.
  • This solution is advantageously usable for containers of different depths. Consequently, depending on the height of the first wings 10 used from time to time, in the assembled container the second wings 13 may extend substantially along the entire height of the lateral wall 5, may have a lower height than that of the lateral wall 5, or may have a higher height than that of the lateral wall 5, and may be partly folded over the central portion 9.
  • the present invention offers significant advantages.
  • the present invention has enabled the implementation of a container 1 comprising an outer skeleton 2 and an inner layer of thermoplastic material 3, and a method for making it, wherein, on the one hand, the outer skeleton is continuous at the perimetric flange 6 of the container 1 and, on the other hand, the container 1 can be made with greater simplicity of production than those in the prior art.
  • first wings 10 and second wings 13 with relatively large extensions (e.g. with heights substantially equal to that of the entire lateral wall 5), and which superpose each other for much of their extension, allows for particularly robust lateral walls 5.
  • relatively large extensions e.g. with heights substantially equal to that of the entire lateral wall 5
  • glue to keep them together.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
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Abstract

A container (1) comprising an outer skeleton (2) and a layer (3) of thermoplastic material stuck to the inside of the outer skeleton (2), wherein the container (1) comprises a bottom wall (4), a plurality of lateral walls (5) which are connected at the bottom to the bottom wall (4) and an annular perimetric flange (6) which extends outwards from an upper edge of the lateral walls (5), wherein the outer skeleton (2) extends at the perimetric flange (6), at the lateral walls (5), at the bottom wall (4), wherein the outer skeleton (2) comprises a first sheet (7) placed at the bottom wall (4) and at the lateral walls (5), and a second sheet (8) placed at the flange and at the lateral walls (5), wherein the first sheet (7) and the second sheet (8) are at least partly superposed at the lateral walls (5) of the outer skeleton (2), and wherein the first sheet (7) and the second sheet (8) are fixed to each other exclusively by the layer (3) of thermoplastic material stuck to both.

Description

CONTAINER COMPRISING AN OUTER SKELETON AND AN INNER LAYER OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AND A METHOD FOR MAKING IT
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and a method for making it. Therefore, the containers to which the present invention relates are, on the whole, tray or bowl-shaped containers in which the outer part consists of the outer skeleton and the inner part consists of the layer of thermoplastic material.
In particular, the present invention arises with reference to those known containers in which the outer skeleton consists of a paper-industry article, which is to say an article made of cellulosic material (paper, card or cardboard), comprising a plurality of flaps of material connected to each other, and generally provided with folding lines, and which, beginning from a spread configuration in which it mainly develops in one plane, can be brought into a three-dimensional configuration corresponding to the shape of the outer skeleton to be formed, by folding the various flaps as appropriate. Nevertheless, the present invention does not relate to the material from which the outer skeleton is made.
At present, containers of this type can be of various types.
In the first type, the outer skeleton consists of a single sheet of card or cardboard that extends continuously over the entire outer surface of the container. This sheet, before assuming the three-dimensional shape of the skeleton, has a central zone (the zone intended to form the bottom wall of the skeleton, surrounded by a main annular portion of material, which is intended to form the lateral walls of the skeleton. When folding the lateral walls upward relative to the bottom wall, wrinkled areas are created in the latter walls themselves to compensate for the lesser surface extension that results from the folding. In many applications, the main annular portion is surrounded by an additional secondary annular portion suitable for forming a perimetric flange for the container, which extends outward from the upper edge of the lateral walls. Given that the perimetric flange also has a lower length on plan than the secondary annular portion, the wrinkled zones also continue onto the annular flange.
In a second known type, on the other hand, the outer skeleton comprises a main flap and a plurality of secondary flaps extending outward from the main flap. The main flap is the one located at the container’s bottom wall, while the secondary flaps are the ones located at the container’s lateral walls. Therefore, depending on the embodiments, the secondary flaps may or may not include external appendages, which, if present, are positioned at the container’s upper perimetric flange.
Unlike the first type described above, the second type of skeletons generally have no wrinkled zones, and some continuity is achieved in the extension of the lateral walls or the perimetric flange solely by trying to bring the edges of the adjacent flaps as close together as possible. Examples of containers using the second type of outer skeletons are described in the following papers: US 3358900, US 3489331 , US 4046310, FR 2406522, US 5253801 , FR 2826938, FR 2933329, WO 2012/049005 and WO 2018/017783.
Flowever, both of these prior-art technologies have some significant drawbacks.
The containers created by the present invention are containers generally intended to enable food products to be packaged in controlled environments. On the one hand, the inner thermoplastic material ensures that a protective environment is preserved throughout the useful life of the food product. On the other hand, once the product has been placed in the container, the container itself is intended to be sealed at the top by a protective film welded to the inner thermoplastic material. In both types of containers described above, sealing generally occurs at the perimetric flange, but it can also extend over the rest of the container's free surface (skin packaging).
Over the years, however, it has been found that the presence of this type of outer skeleton at the perimetric flange, although desirable for ensuring the mechanical rigidity of the container, makes the operations of welding the upper protective film critical. In fact, at the wrinkled zones and the zones of skeletal discontinuity, the welding may in many cases prove to be either ineffective (i.e. small air passages air remain) or otherwise weak (i.e. it easily gives way when handled by users), respectively.
In an attempt to overcome this drawback, additional embodiments have been proposed, characterised by the fact that the skeleton includes a continuous annular portion of cellulosic material at their perimetric flange.
In a first example of this type, which is described, for example, in patent application WO 2020/033350 A1 , the outer skeleton is obtained from a single sheet of material folded back on itself and the lateral walls and bottom wall are defined by wings of the skeleton extending from the continuous annular portion (either inward or inward from it in the sheet in a spread configuration). The main drawback of this embodiment is the structural complication of having to fold the sheet back on itself in such a way as to create a paper-industry article that can then be shaped three-dimensionally.
A second example of containers of the continuous flange type is described, for example, in patent applications WO 2019/020863 A2 and WO 1999/067143 A2, wherein the outer skeleton is formed by a plurality of distinct sheets, one of which defines the annular frame at the annular flange, and one of which defines the skeleton at the bottom wall. The various sheets are fixed to each other by an adhesive to form the skeleton onto which the thermoplastic material layer is then thermoformed.
This manufacturing solution has the advantage of making the sheets easy to handle as long as they are separated, but also has the notable disadvantage of requiring them to be glued together to form the outer skeleton to which the layer of thermoplastic material is then applied. In this context, the technical purpose underlying the present invention is to implement a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and a method for making it, which offer a solution to the drawbacks mentioned above.
In particular, the technical purpose of the present invention is to implement a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and a method for making it, which provide greater simplicity of production than those in the prior art and in which the outer skeleton is continuous at the perimetric flange of the container.
The main technical purpose is substantially achieved by a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and by a method for making it, in accordance with the contents of the accompanying independent claims.
The other technical purposes indicated are achieved by at least one of the dependent claims.
Further features and the advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon careful reading of the detailed description of several preferred, non-limiting embodiments of a container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material, and a method for making it, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a first embodiment of a first sheet that forms part of the outer skeleton of a container as described in the present invention;
- Figure 2 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a first embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 1 to make the outer skeleton;
- Figure 3 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a second embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 1 to make the outer skeleton;
- Figure 4 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a third embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 1 to make the outer skeleton;
- Figures 5 and 6 schematically show the coupling between a first wing and a second wing of the sheets in Figures 1 and 2;
- Figures 7 and 8 schematically show the coupling between a first wing and a second wing of the sheets in Figures 1 and 3;
- Figure 9 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a fourth embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 1 to make the outer skeleton;
- Figure 10 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a second embodiment of a first sheet that forms part of the outer skeleton of a container as described in the present invention;
- Figure 11 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a first embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 10 to make the outer skeleton;
- Figure 12 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a third embodiment of a first sheet that forms part of the outer skeleton of a container as described in the present invention;
- Figure 13 shows, in plan view and in a spread configuration, a first embodiment of a second sheet that can be combined with the first sheet in Figure 12 to make the outer skeleton;
- Figures 14 and 15 schematically show the coupling between a first wing and a second wing of the sheets in Figures 12 and 13;
- Figure 16 shows a schematic cross-section of a container according to the present invention, wherein the skeleton is formed by the first sheet and the second sheet shown in Figures 1 and 3, respectively;
- Figure 17 shows another embodiment of a second sheet that can be used in combination with the first sheet in Figure 18; and
- Figure 18 shows another embodiment of a first sheet configured to make a container with a curvilinear perimeter bottom. Container 1 according to the present invention comprises an outer skeleton 2, and a layer 3 of thermoplastic material stuck to the inside of the outer skeleton 2.
In the preferred embodiments, the outer skeleton 2 is made from cellulosic material, advantageously paper, card or cardboard.
In other embodiments, however, the outer skeleton can also be made with other materials. By way of example, it can be made of fossil-based plastic, bioplastic, naturally-derived plastic, biodegradable or compostable plastic, mixtures thereof, aluminium, lignin ora multi-layered laminated material based on one or more of those mentioned above.
Since this is an aspect known per se to a person skilled in the art, neither the characteristics that the thermoplastic material must have to enable it to stick to the outer skeleton 2 nor the relevant thermoforming method will be described here. Advantageously, however, the thermoplastic material can consist of fossil-based plastic, bioplastic, naturally-derived plastic, biodegradable or compostable plastic, or mixtures of thereof, or of a multi layered laminated material based on one or more of those mentioned above. Furthermore, the thermoplastic material preferably has a thickness of between 10 pm and 200 pm, more preferably of between 10 pm and 100 pm, and even more preferably of between 40 pm and 60pm.
As shown 3 in Figure 16, a bottom wall 4, a plurality of lateral walls 5 which are connected at their bottom to the bottom wall 4, and an annular perimetric flange 6 extending outward from an upper edge of the side walls 5 can be identified in the container 1 .
The outer skeleton 2 extends across the perimetric flange 6, the lateral walls 5 and the bottom wall 4.
According to the present invention, the outer skeleton 2 comprises a first sheet 7 and a second sheet 8 distinct from each other (and separated prior to the container’s assembly). The first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 can be made from the same or different materials; they can also have the same or different thickness, as well as the same or different grammage and/or density.
In the assembled container 1 , the first sheet 7 is placed at least at the bottom wall 4 and lateral walls 5, and the second sheet 8 is placed at least at the perimetric flange 6 and lateral walls 5.
The first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 at least partially superpose each other at the lateral walls 5 of the outer skeleton 2, as better described below. According to a first innovative aspect of the present invention, the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 are fixed to each other exclusively by the layer 3 of thermoplastic material that is stuck to both.
The first sheet 7 includes a central portion 9, which forms the outer skeleton 2 at the bottom of the container 1 , and a plurality of first wings 10. In the assembled container 1 , each first wing 10 extends along at least one side wall 5; specifically, in the side wall 5, the first wing 10 extends towards the annular perimetric flange 6 from an outer edge 11 of the central portion 9.
The second sheet 8 comprises an annular-shaped main portion 12 and a plurality of second wings 13.
The main portion 12 defines the outer skeleton 2 at the annular perimetric flange 6, and has an outer annular edge 14 and an inner annular edge 15.
In some embodiments, the outer edge 11 of the central portion 9 and the inner annular edge 15 of the main portion 12, respectively, have a plurality of first straight stretches and a plurality of second straight stretches. In other embodiments, however, they may appear curvilinear or with one or more straight sections and one or more curvilinear sections.
Each second wing 13 extends at least along one side wall 5; specifically, in the lateral wall 5, the second wing 13 extends towards the bottom wall 4 from an inner annular edge 15 of the main portion 12.
In the preferred embodiments, at least some of the first wings 10 and/or second wings 13 extend substantially across the entire height of the lateral walls 5. In other words, at least some of the first wings 10 extend from the outer edge 11 until they are near the inner annular edge 15, and/or at least some of the second wings 13 extend from the inner annular edge 15 until they are near the inner annular edge 15.
More generally, however, depending on the embodiments, the second wings 13 may extend substantially across the entire height of the lateral wall 5, or may have a lower height than that of the lateral wall 5, or they may have a higher height than that of the lateral wall 5 (in the latter case they are partly folded over, and stick to, the central portion 9).
The embodiments in which the outer edge 11 of the central portion 9 and the inner annular edge 15 of the main portion 12 substantially consist of a plurality of straight stretches are particularly suited to being used to make containers in which the bottom has a polygonal perimeter (such as a square or rectangle). In the context of the present invention, however, embodiments have also been developed in which the bottom of the container has a fully or partially curved perimeter. For example, the embodiment in Figures 17 and 18 provides for a container in which the bottom has a substantially circular perimeter (except for four short straight sections where the first wings 10 are connected to the central portion 9).
In these embodiments, the outer edge 11 of the central portion has at least one free curvilinear section 22 (i.e. where no first wings 10 are fixed) while one or more first wings 10 are connected to the central portion 9 at one or more corresponding straight sections 23 of the outer edge 11 adjacent to the free curvilinear section 22. Additionally, in this case, the first wings 10 have a width greater than that of the straight section 23 to which they are connected, so as to define at least one free inner edge 24. The free inner edge 24 is spaced apart from the central portion 9 when the first sheet 7 is in the spread configuration, whereas in the finished container 1 it is adjacent to the free curvilinear section 22 of the outer edge 11 .
An example of this type is shown in Figure 18, in which the central portion 9 is, in a first approximation, circular and four straight sections 23 and four free curvilinear sections 22 alternate along the outer edge 11. Four first wings 10 are fixed to the straight sections 23; each has a free inner edge 24 on either side of the straight section 23, intended to face, in the assembled container 1 , part of a corresponding free curvilinear section 22. Depending on the embodiments, the free inner edges 24 intended to face the same free curvilinear section 22 may have a total length equal to that of the free curvilinear section 22, or they may be slightly longer or slightly shorter. In the first case, the first wings 10 are arranged one in continuation of the other in the finished container 1. In the second case, they are partly superposed. In the third case they are slightly spaced apart.
Of course, in other embodiments, the first sheet may also comprise a different number of first wings 10 and free curvilinear sections 22.
Figure 17 shows a second sheet 8 couplable to the first sheet 7 in Figure 18. As can be seen, the second sheet 8 has second wings 13 that are significantly lower in height than the height of the first wings 10, as well as a plurality of second wings 13 for each first wing 10 (three second wings 13 for each first wing 10); these two arrangements allow the second wings 13 to stick optimally to the first wings 10 despite the presence of the free curvilinear sections 22.
In the preferred embodiments, if we consider the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 in their spread configuration (a configuration that can be achieved only before assembling the container 1 ), the first wings 10 are connected to the central portion 9 at the outer edge 11 whereas the second wings 13 are connected to the main portion 12 at the inner annular edge 15. In the respective spread unfolded sheet, the first wings 10 therefore extend outward from the central portion 9 (Figures 1 , 10 and 12), while the second wings 13 extend inward from the main portion 12 (Figures 2-4, 11 and 13).
In some embodiments not shown, however, the central portion 9 can also extend as an annular frame and, in the first spread sheet 7, at least some first wings 10 extend inward from the annular frame and are then folded 180° outward so that they extend to overhang the outer edge 11 in the assembled container 1. Advantageously, in this case the first wings 10 are connected to the central portion 9 by a first connecting portion intended to face the central portion 9 after the 180° rotation.
In some embodiments, such as that shown in Figure 9, in the second spread sheet 8 at least some second wings 13 can also extend outward from the outer annular edge 14 and can then be folded 180° over the main portion 12 to overhang internally within the assembled container 1 . Advantageously, in this case, the second wings 13 are connected to the main portion 12 by a second connecting portion 16 intended to face the main portion 12 after the 180° rotation. This manufacturing solution is useful for making very deep containers 1 , which is to say containers 1 with very high lateral walls 5; in this case, it may indeed be impossible to make all second wings 13 of the necessary height inside the main portion 12.
According to the present invention, the first wings 10 and the second wings 13 at least partially superposing each other at the lateral wall 5.
Depending on the embodiments, the first wings 10 and the second wings 13 can be made to superpose each other in two different ways:
- either by positioning the first wings 10 more internally within the container 1 ;
- or by positioning the second wings 13 more internally within the container 1 . In the remainder of this description, the words inner wings 17 will indicate the wings, either the first wings 10 or the second wings 13, which in the superposing zone are positioned toward the inside of the container 1 , and the words outer wings 18 will indicate those which in the superposing zone are placed toward the outside of the container 1.
The first wings 10 in Figures 1 and 10, and the second wings 13 in Figure 13, are intended to serve as outer wings 18 in the assembled container 1 , while the first wings 10 in Figure 12 and the second wings 13 in Figures 2 to 4 and 11 are intended to serve as inner wings 17. Further details will be given below. Since the layer 3 of thermoplastic material is applied to the inside of the outer skeleton 2 (and therefore of the container 1), the layer 3 of thermoplastic material is in contact with the entire surface of the inner wings 17 facing the inside of the container 1 , and only with part of the surface of the outer wings 18 facing the inside of the container 1 ; in fact, the inner wings 17 cover part of the surface of the outer wings 18. Consequently, on the surface of each outer wing 18 facing towards the inside of the container 1 , it is possible to identify, respectively, at least one first zone 19 where the outer wing 18 is in contact with one or more inner wings 17, and at least one second zone 20 where the outer wing 18 is in contact with, and stuck to, the layer 3 of thermoplastic material.
Figures 5 to 8 and 14-15 each show the superposing of an inner wing 17 (in the foreground) with an outer wing 18 (in the background); in these figures, the cross-hatched areas are the second zones 20 where the surface of the outer wings 18 is in contact with the layer 3 of thermoplastic material in the assembled container 1.
According to a further innovative aspect of the present invention, the inner wings 17 are shaped in such a way that the second zones 20 constitute fixing points for the outer wings 18 of those zones to the layer 3 of thermoplastic material and in such a way that the fixing points thus obtained are capable of preventing (especially as these are aesthetically unacceptable for the market) the first zones 19 from undesirably detaching from the inner wings 17 (meaning the first zones 19 of the outer wing 18 itself, to which the second zones 20 belong, and which serve as fixing points).
In some embodiments, this effect is achieved by shaping the inner wings 17 in such a way that each point in each first zone 19 identifiable in an outer wing 18 meets at least one, and preferably both, of the following conditions:
- along a line parallel to the outer edge 11 , it is less than 10 cm, and preferably less than 6 cm, from at least one point of a second zone 20 of the same outer wing 18;
- transversally to the line parallel to the outer edge 11 , it is less than 3 cm, and preferably less than 1 .5 cm, from at least one point of a second zone 20 of the same outer wing 18. Some preferred embodiments that can achieve this result are described below.
In some embodiments, at least some of the inner wings 17 define windows 21 (Figures 2, 4 and 11 ) inside them, through which the layer 3 of thermoplastic material is in contact with the underlying outer wings 18 (Figures 5 and 6). The part of the second wings 13 located at these windows 21 corresponds to a second zone 20.
In some embodiments, the inner wings 17 have a maximum width, measured parallel to the inner annular edge 15 or to the outer edge 11 , which is less than 10 cm, and preferably less than 6 cm.
In some embodiments, two or more inner wings 17 extend either from the outer edge 11 at the same first straight stretch, or from the inner annular edge 15 at the same second straight stretch (Figures 3 and 9) and, preferably, are coupled to a single outer wing 18 with a greater extension (Figures 7 and 8). Advantageously, the inner wings 17 extending from a same first straight section or from a same second straight section are also shaped in such a way as to demarcate between them a gap at which, in the assembled lateral wall 5, the layer 3 of thermoplastic material can come into contact with the outer wings 18; these first wings 10 are thus alternated with second zones 20 (Figures 3, 7 and 8).
Also described in the present invention are a method for making the container 1 using a first sheet 7 and a second sheet 8 (made according to the description above) to create the outer skeleton 2, as well as the set of the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 to be used for this purpose (which, unlike sheets in the prior art, are both free of bonding elements and have the characteristics described above).
In its preferred implementation, the method described in the present invention involves taking the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8, and placing the first one and then the other one in a shaped thermoforming mould that advantageously has substantially the shape as the final container 1 to be obtained. The shape of the thermoforming mould (male or female) and the order in which the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 are inserted into, or placed on, the thermoforming mould determine which of the first wings 10 and the second wings 13 will form the outer wings 18 and which will form the inner wings 17. As an example, in the case of a female mould, the first sheet 7 to be inserted into the mould (or placed on it) will be the one defining the outer wings 18.
In some embodiments, the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 are positioned in, or on, the shaped mould by positioning the two unfolded sheets one on top of the other on top of the mould and then pressing them against the mould with a piston or dolly to shape them by making them stick to the shape of the mould.
When the shaping is finished, the first sheet 7 and the second sheet 8 partially superpose each other inside the shaped mould; specifically, the first wings 10 and the second wings 13 superpose each other.
At that point, the method involves using the shaped thermoforming mould to thermoform the layer (3) of thermoplastic material onto the first sheet (7) and onto the second sheet (8), making it stick to both, and thus fixing their positions relative to each other.
In some implementations, the method provides for using a same type of second sheet 8 in conjunction with a plurality of different types of first sheets 7, which are distinguished from each other by the different height of the first wings 10. This solution is advantageously usable for containers of different depths. Consequently, depending on the height of the first wings 10 used from time to time, in the assembled container the second wings 13 may extend substantially along the entire height of the lateral wall 5, may have a lower height than that of the lateral wall 5, or may have a higher height than that of the lateral wall 5, and may be partly folded over the central portion 9.
The present invention offers significant advantages.
Firstly, the present invention has enabled the implementation of a container 1 comprising an outer skeleton 2 and an inner layer of thermoplastic material 3, and a method for making it, wherein, on the one hand, the outer skeleton is continuous at the perimetric flange 6 of the container 1 and, on the other hand, the container 1 can be made with greater simplicity of production than those in the prior art.
Additionally, the use of first wings 10 and second wings 13 with relatively large extensions (e.g. with heights substantially equal to that of the entire lateral wall 5), and which superpose each other for much of their extension, allows for particularly robust lateral walls 5. Until now, however, making the containers 1 in this way, without running the risk of the outer wings 18 flexing outward by partly detaching from the inner wings 17, had only been possible by using glue to keep them together.
The same result has now been achieved by having the inner wings 17 shaped in such a way as to create a plurality of second zones 20 in direct contact between the layer 3 of thermoplastic material and the outer wings 18, which are sufficiently close together to prevent the first wings 10 from significantly detaching from the second wings 13.
Finally, it is worth noting that the present invention is relatively easy to make and that the cost associated with its implementation is also not very high. The invention described above may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept.
All details may be substituted with other technically equivalent elements and the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, may vary according to requirements.

Claims

1. A container (1) comprising an outer skeleton (2) and a layer (3) of thermoplastic material stuck to the inside of the outer skeleton (2), wherein the container (1) comprises a bottom wall (4), a plurality of lateral walls (5) which are connected at the bottom to the bottom wall (4) and an annular perimetric flange (6) which extends outwards from an upper edge of the lateral walls (5), the outer skeleton (2) extending at the perimetric flange (6), at the lateral walls (5), at the bottom wall (4), the outer skeleton (2) comprising a first sheet (7) placed at the bottom wall (4) and at the lateral walls (5), and a second sheet (8) placed at the flange and at the lateral walls (5), wherein the first sheet (7) and the second sheet (8) are at least partly superposed at the lateral walls (5) of the outer skeleton (2), and wherein the first sheet (7) and the second sheet (8) are fixed to each other exclusively by the layer (3) of thermoplastic material stuck to both.
2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the first sheet (7) comprises a central portion (9), which constitutes the outer skeleton (2) at the bottom wall
(4) of the container (1 ), and a plurality of first wings (10) which extend at the lateral walls (5), towards the annular perimetric flange (6), starting from an outer edge (11 ) of the central portion (9), wherein the second sheet (8) comprises a ring-shaped main portion (12), which defines the outer skeleton (2) at the annular perimetric flange (6), and which has an outer annular edge (14) and an inner annular edge (15), and a plurality of second wings (13) which extend at the lateral walls (5), towards the bottom wall (4), starting from the inner annular edge (15) of the main portion (12), wherein the first wings (10) and the second wings (13) are at least partly superposed at the lateral wall
(5), wherein those of the first wings (10) and the second wings (13) which, at their superposed zone, are placed inside the container (1 ) constitute inner wings (17), the others constituting outer wings (18), and wherein the layer (3) of thermoplastic material is in contact with a whole surface of the inner wings (17) and with part of a surface of the outer wings (18).
3. The container according to claim 2 wherein, at least some of the inner wings (17) define windows (21 ) inside them, through which the layer (3) of thermoplastic material is in contact with the underlying outer wings (18).
4. The container according to claim 2, wherein, the inner wings (17) have a maximum width, measured parallel to the inner annular edge (15) or to the outer edge (11), which is less than (10) cm, preferably less than (6) cm.
5. The container according to claim 4 wherein the outer edge (11 ) and the inner annular edge (15) respectively have a plurality of first straight stretches and a plurality of second straight stretches, and wherein, two or more inner wings (17) extend from the outer edge (11 ) at the same first straight stretch, or from the inner annular edge (15) at the same second straight stretch.
6. The container according to claim 5 wherein the inner wings (17) which extend from the same first straight stretch or from the same second straight stretch between them delimit, in the lateral wall (5), at least one second zone (20) in which the layer (3) of thermoplastic material is directly stuck to the outer wings (18).
7. The container according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein at least some of the first wings (10) extend from the outer edge (11 ) until they are near to the inner annular edge (15), and/or wherein at least some of the second wings (13) extend from the inner annular edge (15) until they are near to the outer annular edge (14).
8. The container according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein in the first sheet (7) the first wings (10) are connected to the central portion (9) at the outer edge (11 ) or at an inner zone thereof and are folded on the central portion (9), and/or wherein in the second sheet (8) the second wings (13) are connected to the main portion (12) at the inner annular edge (15), or at the outer annular edge (14) and are folded on the main portion (12).
9. The container according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein, respectively identifiable on the surface of each outer wing (18) directed towards the inside of the container (1 ) there are at least one first zone (19) in contact with the inner wings (17) and at least one second zone (20) in contact with the layer (3) of thermoplastic material, and wherein each point of the at least one first zone (19) is less than 10 cm, preferably less than 6 cm from at least one point of the at least one second zone (20), along a line parallel to the outer edge (11 ) or less than 3 cm, preferably less than 1.5 cm along a line transversal to the outer edge (11 ).
10. The container according to any of claims 2 to 8 wherein the outer edge (11 ) has at least one free curvilinear section (22) adjacent to a section (23) to which a first wing (10) is fixed, with such first wing (10) having a free inner edge (24) facing the free curvilinear section (22).
11. A set consisting of a first sheet (7) and a second sheet (8), according to any one of claims 1 to 10, for making an outer skeleton (2) of a container.
12. A method for making a container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the following operating steps: taking a first sheet (7) and a second sheet (8), according to any one of claims 1 to 10; positioning respectively the first sheet (7) or the second sheet (8) in a shaped thermoforming mould; positioning respectively the second sheet (8) or the first sheet (7) in the shaped thermoforming mould, partly superposing them; using the shaped thermoforming mould, thermoforming a layer (3) of thermoplastic material on the first sheet (7) and on the second sheet (8) making it stick to both and thereby fixing their positions relative to each other.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein a first sheet (7) and a second sheet (8) according to any one of claims (2) to (9) are used, and wherein in the step of positioning respectively the second sheet (8) or the first sheet (7) in the shaped thermoforming mould, partly superposing them, respectively partly superposing the second wings (13) over the first wings (10) or the first wings (10) over the second wings (13).
PCT/IB2022/055486 2021-06-16 2022-06-14 Container comprising an outer skeleton and an inner layer of thermoplastic material and method for making it WO2022264022A1 (en)

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FR2404567A1 (en) * 1977-10-03 1979-04-27 Impression Cartonnage Ste Pari SYNTHETIC-COATED CARDBOARD PACKAGING
US4555381A (en) * 1980-11-07 1985-11-26 Societe Parisienne D'impression Et De Cartonnage Process of making folded cardboard container covered by a layer of synthetic material and provided with a peripheral frame
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