WO2006126874A1

WO2006126874A1 - Bag-in-box package

Info

Publication number: WO2006126874A1
Application number: PCT/NL2006/000262
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Paul Van Eijndhoven
Original assignee: Smurfit Kappa Gsf B.V.
Priority date: 2005-05-27
Filing date: 2006-05-24
Publication date: 2006-11-30
Also published as: NL1029146C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a package for a Bag-in-box package. This package comprises an outer package (2) and an inner package (3), set up from separate cardboard blanks. The outer package comprises a bottom panel (7) and upright sidewall panels (4) surrounding the bottom panel. The inner package (3) abuts against the sidewall panels (4) such that between the inner and outer package, at the location of the corners of the outer package, tubular spaces (10) are formed which, in use, can serve as corner stiffening provisions. The invention further relates to a method for setting up such a package and providing an inside bag therein.

Description

Title: Bag-in-box package

The invention relates to a package for a so-called Bag-in-box package, comprising a package set up from cardboard and a flexible inside bag included therein.

Such Bag-in-box packages are known and are generally utilized for packaging liquid, semi-liquid or powder-form products, as a replacement of conventional plastic jerry cans or containers. These packages offer the advantage that the cardboard can be easily printed and, after use, can be folded flat and recycled. Furthermore, the packages have a well-stackable form, compared to the conventional jerry cans. Characteristic for the above-mentioned products to be packaged is that, during use, shock waves can occur therein as a result of abrupt changes in speed or accelerations, for instance during transport or a fall. As a result, the products will exert a great impulse on the package, which is to be absorbed by this package. To that end, known Bag-in-Box packages are provided with tubular corner stiffening provisions, set up from corner stiffening flaps integrally connected to sidewall panels of the package. These corner stiffening flaps can for instance be rolled-in to form tubes, closed upon themselves. Alternatively, these corner stiffening flaps can be folded as shown in, for instance, JP 9040016. Here, a middle part of the corner stiffening flap extends substantially diagonally between two sidewalls, thereby enclosing a triangular, tubular space, and remaining parts of the corner stiffening flap extend as far as approximately halfway these sidewalls. In this manner, the corner stiffening flaps jointly form a kind of octagonal inner package which, under the influence offerees applied thereto in use, can bend round somewhat to form a cylinder shape. From the point of view of interplay of forces, this is the most favourable shape, with a relatively favourable stress distribution in the respective packaging material. However, a drawback of this known package is that the corner stiffening flaps are to have a relatively great length. This leads either to an unfavourable, non-rectangular blank form and associated losses of material, or, when the rectangular blank shape is maintained, to great restrictions in design choice with respect to the dimensions of the other package parts.

The object of the invention is to provide a package of the above- described type, with which at least a part of the drawbacks of the known package is obviated, while maintaining the advantages thereof. To that end, a package according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 1. With a package according to the invention, an outer package and an inner package are provided, which are set up from separate blanks. The design of the two outer packages is such that in the corners of the outer package, tubular spaces are enclosed between the inner and outer package. These tubular spaces form corner stiffening provisions, which help increase the rigidity and stacking strength of the package. In addition, the sidewalls, partly of double-walled design, ensure an overall reinforcement of the package. The abutting parts of the inner package are preferably fixedly connected to the outer package, for instance with glue. As a result, the overall rigidity of the package will be increased still further. As the inner and outer package are set up from separate blanks, they can be designed and dimensioned independently of each other. This enables a large design choice, with respect to, inter alia, the shape and dimensions of the tubular corner stiffening provisions, while the blanks can maintain an economical, substantially rectangular shape. The outer package can have, for instance, a substantially rectangular form and the inner package a substantially multi- angular cross- section, in particular an octagonal cross-section. As a result, between the inner and outer package, triangular tubular stiffening provisions will be formed which take up little space and have good stacking properties. Furthermore, the octagonal inner package can relatively easily deform into a cylinder-form, so that forces or impulses exerted on the inner package from within, by products included in this package, can be resisted even better.

According to one aspect of the invention, the inner package can be set up to form a tubular sleeve closed upon itself. Such a form, closed upon itself, increases the overall rigidity of the package and is further favourable to the stacking strength and the resistance against bulging under the influence of the above-mentioned forces exerted on the package from within.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the outer package is provided with tubular corner stiffening provisions which are included inside the tubular spaces. As a result, the corners of the package are reinforced even further, which contributes to the overall rigidity. These tubular corner stiffening provisions may be formed from (lengthened) glue flaps which can be integrally connected to sidewall panels of the outer package, and which can, for instance, be rolled-in to form a tube. As a rule, such a tubular shape has a high buckling resistance.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, the tubular spaces have a height which is at least twice as large as a circumference of the cross-section of the respective space. As a result, relatively slim, high corner stiffening provisions are obtained, which take up relatively little packaging space and, furthermore, cost relatively little packaging material. Furthermore, such slim corner stiffening provisions have a very high buckling resistance, which is favourable to the stacking strength and rigidity of the package. Owing to the use of two separate blanks, such a lengthening and/or narrowing of the corner stiffening provisions can take place without this necessarily leading to inefficient blank shapes and loss of material. This applies in particular when the outer package is provided with the above-described rolled-in corner stiffening provisions. In a package according to the invention, these can be lengthened at wish, without this necessarily leading to inefficient use of material. Any openings that may be formed in the sidewall panels of the outer package through such a lengthening can be advantageously closed off by the inner package, so that a package closed all around is obtained.

Furthermore, owing to the use of separate planes for the inner and outer package, the freedom is obtained to manufacture these blanks from different materials, with different material properties. For instance, one of the blanks can be manufactured from a lighter type of cardboard than the other, or from a different sort of cardboard, for instance corrugated cardboard. Moreover, the blanks or the different blank sides can be provided with different finishing surfaces, depending on the location of this surface in the set-up package. For instance, the blank side that, in set-up condition, forms the outside of the package can be provided with a water resistant and/or well- printable surface. Naturally, both blanks can also be manufactured from the same material In that case, the blanks may be designed such that separately, they may not be, but jointly they are substantially rectangular. As a result, as the case may be, an even larger design choice can be obtained for the separate blanks.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, at least one of the blanks is manufactured from solid cardboard, with a relatively low weight, for instance less than 500 gr/m². Such a light type of cardboard can be used in that, owing to the use of two separate blanks, the freedom is obtained to utilized cardboard material in an efficient manner, that is on the locations where this increases the rigidity and strength of the package most. It will be clear that through the use of such a light type of cardboard, much material can be saved. Naturally, the quality of cardboard to be used can be geared to the size of the package content. With a larger package content for instance, a heavier type of cardboard can be chosen.

According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the inner package can be provided with recesses, adjacent a lower and/or upper edge, between the tubular spaces. Owing to such recesses, the outer package can bend round or slightly bulge at that location. This is advantageous with respect to liquid or powder-form products to be included in this package. Such products can produce a great impulse on the package, for instance during a fall. As a result, stresses occur in the packaging material which may lead to the formation of tears. With a spherical shape, such stresses are distributed better over the material, so that especially stresses on the outer surface can be reduced. Consequently, the package will, on balance, be able to resist such internal loads better.

By providing the recesses only between the tubular corner stiffening provisions, these corner stiffening provisions can continue over the entire package height so that the good stacking properties of the package are maintained.

According to a further aspect of the invention, at least a number of the folding lines between adjoining wall parts can be formed through creases which, in set-up condition, are located on an inside of a corner included between these wall parts. This is advantageous in particular for folding lines that are in a corner that, in use, wants to stretch or bend round, so that a tensile load is applied to these folding lines. It has appeared that when the creases are thus oriented, these tensile stresses can be uniformly distributed over cardboard material contiguous to the crease, so that the material will tear less rapidly at that location. In addition, with such a location of the crease, the folding accuracy can be increased. Also, the crease can be prevented from forming a projecting ridge in the respective corner. Such a ridge prevents the overlapping packaging parts from linking up with each other accurately at that location, so that cracks are formed. Owing to a crease according to the invention, such cracks can be prevented whereby finer products can be directly received in the package without the interposition of, for instance, an inside bag or the like.

A package according to the invention can be closed off in various manners, for instance by means of closing flaps, which can be integrally connected to sidewall panels of the inner or outer package, or by means of a form-retaining lid that may be injection-molded from plastic. In this latter case, the package is preferably provided with a folded-over longitudinal edge or longitudinal edge parts, on which this lid can be secured. Thus, a closed off package can be obtained in a very simple manner, the closure furthermore being of a nature such that it can resist the internal forces acting on the package during use. Moreover, the lid can be used for fastening a flexible inside bag thereto through, for instance, sealing or clamping. As a result, upon provision of the lid, simultaneously, the bag can be secured in the package. Here, the bag can be filled prior to, or after introduction thereof into the package. The first option offers the advantage that as a result, the package needs to comply to less stringent requirements (according to UN-standards in force), for instance no excess pressure test. The second option however offers the advantage that the Bag-in-box package can be filled on a conventional filling device for jerry cans. As a result, no great adaptations need to be carried out to such filling devices, so that the conventional jerry cans can simply be replaced by a package according to the invention.

In the further subclaims, further advantageous embodiments are described of a package according to the invention and methods for setting it up. In clarification, exemplary embodiments of a package according to the invention will be further elucidated with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. IA shows a blank for an inner package according to the invention; Fig. IB shows a blank for an outer package according to the invention;

Fig. 1C shows a package according to the invention set up from the blanks according to Figs. 1A,B;

Fig. 2A shows a blank for an alternative embodiment of an outer package according to the invention; Fig. 2B shows a package set up from the blanks according to Figs. IA and 2A;

Fig. 3A shows a blank for an alternative embodiment of an inner package according to the invention; Fig. 3B shows a blank for an alternative embodiment of an outer package according to the invention;

Fig. 3 C shows a package according to the invention set up from the blanks according to Figs. 3A and 3B;

Figs. 4A, B show two variants on the inner package shown in Figs. 3A and 3C;

Fig. 5 shows a lid for an inner package according to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a package according to the invention, composed of an outer package according to Fig. 3B, an inner package according to Fig. 4 and a lid according to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows, in further detail, the cooperating parts of the lid and the package according to Fig. 6, in cross-section; and

Figs. 8A,B show, in further detail, a possible embodiment of a folding line according to the invention, in unfolded and folded condition, respectively. Fig. 1C shows a first embodiment of a package 1 according to the invention, provided with a substantially rectangular outer package 2 and a sleeve-shaped inner package 3. Figs. 1A,B show the blanks 30, 20 that are the basis for these inner and outer packages 3, 2.

The outer package 2 is of the American folding-box-type, provided with four pivotally interconnected sidewall panels 4, which are set up with the aid of a glue strip 5 to form a rectangular tube closed upon itself. Each sidewall panel 4 is provided adjacent a top and bottom side with closing flaps 6 pivotally connected thereto, which can be folded inwards through approximately 90° for forming a bottom panel 7 and a closing top panel 8 (in Fig. 1C, the latter is only shown in open condition). The inner package 3 has the shape of a sleeve closed upon itself, with an octagonal cross-section. The sleeve is formed by three sidewall panels 14 and two half sidewall panels 14A,B which are mutually pivotally connected via corner panels 15, as shown in Fig. IA. In set-up condition, the half wall panels 14A,B are secured in an overlapping manner.

The dimensions of the inner and outer package 3,2 are such that, in composed condition, the inner package 3 (Fig. 1C) is fittingly included in the outer package, while the sidewall panels 14, 14A,B of the inner package 3 abut against the sidewall panels 4 of the outer package 2, and the corner panels 15 extend diagonally between adjoining sidewall panels 4 of the outer package 2. As a result, between the inner and outer package 3, 2, triangular tubular spaces 10 are formed which, in use, function as corner stiffening provisions. In order to increase the rigidity and strength of these tubular stiffening provisions 10, the sidewall panels 14, 4 of the inner and outer package are preferably secured against each other, for instance through gluing.

Thus, from two substantially rectangular blanks 20, 30, a package 1 according to the invention can be formed, with triangular, tubular corner stiffening provisions 10, and walls 4, 14 of partly double-walled design. Owing to the corner stiffening provisions 10 and the rectangular contour, such a package 1 has good stacking properties and, further, has a great resistance to internal pressure, due to the sleeve-shaped inner package 3 closed upon itself, the sidewalls 4, 14 of partly double-walled design and the tubular corner stiffening provisions 10. This renders such a package 1 highly suitable as a so- called Bag-in-Box package, for packaging liquid or semi-liquid products. Owing to the rectangular shape of the blanks 20, 30, when the blanks are cut out, little waste material will be generated. Further, the dimensions of the package 1 or parts thereof can be modified in a simple manner, without this necessarily being disadvantageous to the rectangular blank shape. For instance, the corner stiffening provisions 10 can be designed to be slimmer through reduction of the width b of the corner panelslδ and increase of the width B of the sidewall panels 14. It clearly appears from Fig. IA that as a result, only the dimensions of the blank 30 will change, not the rectangular shape. Also, for instance the height H of the package 1 can be increased through increase of the length H of the sidewall panels 14, 4. As appears from Figs. IA, B, this too will not influence the rectangular shape of the blanks 30, 20. This in contrast with a package according to the earlier mentioned state of the art (JP 940016), wherein the above-described modifications of the dimensions would lead to a non-rectangular and, hence, inefficient form of the blank. With a package 1 according to the invention, a large design choice can be coupled to an efficient use of material through the use of two separate blanks 20, 30.

Fig. 2B shows an alternative embodiment of a package 101 according to the invention, wherein use is made of a similar octagonal inner package 3 as shown in the preceding exemplary embodiment (Figs. IA and 1C). The outer package 102 however is set up from a blank 120 as shown in Fig. 2A. This blank 120 comprises a substantially rectangular bottom panel 107, a pair of first sidewall panels 104, which are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the bottom panel 107, and a pair of second sidewall panels 104A, which are pivotally connected to the two other sides of the bottom panel 107. The blank 120 further comprises four glue flaps 105, which are pivotally connected on both sides of the first sidewall panels 104, and two top panels 108 that are each pivotally connected to a side of the first sidewall panels 104 remote from the bottom panel 107. One of these top panels 108 is provided on both sides with third sidewall panels 104B which are pivotally connected to the respective top panel 108.

As shown in Fig. 2B, the second and third sidewall panels 104A,B each have a height h that is twice as small as a height H of the first sidewall panels 104. Hence, the second and third sidewall panels 14a,B are too small to bridge the height H mentioned, and the set-up outer package 102 will have two partly open sides. Naturally, this can be avoided by increasing the height h, or increasing a width w of the glue flaps 105. However, both options are not very attractive, because they result in an unfavourable, non-rectangular blank shape 120, as will be immediately clear from Fig. 2A. However, with a package 101 according to the invention, these open sides can be covered by the inner package 3 so that, still, a package 101 closed all around can be realized. Here, the sidewall panels 14 of the inner package 3 can be secured against the second and third sidewall panels 104A,B and against edges of the glue flaps 105 of the outer package 102. This gluing will, again, contribute to the rigidity and buckling resistance of the tubular spaces 10 and will contribute to the overall strength and (torsion) rigidity of the package 101. The package 101 further has all advantages as mentioned hereinabove with package 1.

Figs. 3 A, C show yet another alternative embodiment of a package 201 according to the invention. Identical or corresponding parts are indicated with identical or corresponding reference numerals, increased by two hundred. The package 201 comprises an inner package 203, whose blank 230 (as represented in Fig. 3A) corresponds substantially to the blank 30 according to Fig. IA, but in which, in the upper edge of the half sidewall panels 214A,B, two recesses U are provided. The blank 220 for the outer package 202 (see Fig. 3B) too, substantially corresponds to that of Fig. 2A. However, the glue flaps 205 are each provided with two additional folding lines, which subdivide the glue flaps 205 into three parallel strips 205A,b,c. With these, the glue flaps 205 can be rolled-in to form tubular corner stiffening provisions 211 with a triangular cross-section which, in set-up condition, are fittingly included in the tubular spaces 210 between the inner and outer package 203, 202 (represented in broken lines in Fig. 3C, in which Figure, for the sake of clarity, the inner package 203 is shown in somewhat extended condition). Here, the glue flap strips 205a are secured against the second and third sidewall panels 204A,B and the glue flap strips 205c are secured against the first sidewall panels 204, and the middle glue flap strips 205B abut against and are preferably secured against the corner panels 215 of the inner package 203. Thus, a package 201 is obtained with very rigid corners, giving the package 201 great rigidity and strength.

In this embodiment too, the blanks 220, 230 have, again, a substantially rectangular shape. Here, the dimensions of the blank 220 for the outer package 202 are comparable to those of the above-described blank 120 of Fig. 2. That is to say, the second and third sidewall panels 204A,B have a height h which is relatively small, at least more than twice as small as a height H of the first sidewall panels 204. As a result, in set-up condition, the outer package 202 has partly open sides. These open sides can, again, be covered by the inner package 203, in order to obtain a closed package 201 (as shown in Fig. 3C).

Alternatively, a closed package 201 can be realized by increasing the height h of said second. and third sidewall panels 204A,B to at least half the height H of the first sidewall panels 204. However, in that case, a height w of the glue flaps 205 is to be increased accordingly, at least, if a rectangular blank is to be maintained (see Fig. 3B). This would result in corner stiffening provisions 211 with a relatively large cross-section. Conversely, in a package 201 according to the exemplary embodiment shown, the corner stiffening provisions 211 have an advantageously relatively slim shape. Such a shape is favourable to the buckling resistance of the corner stiffening provisions 211 and, furthermore, takes up little space and material.

It applies, for that matter, for each pair of blanks for a package 1, 101, 201 according to the invention that the separate blanks of this pair need not be rectangular. When these blanks together, when they are laid side by side, have a rectangular circumference, these blanks can still be cut from a rectangular length of cardboard in an efficient manner, with little loss of material.

The package 201 shown in Fig. 3C comprises top panels 208 with a locally lowered part 217 in which is included, in the exemplary embodiment shown, a spout 218 of an inside bag (not visible) received in the package 201. As a result, this spout 218 lies protected and, simultaneously, the stackability of the package 201 is maintained. The top panels 208 can further comprise, for instance, handles and/or attachment means for the above-mentioned inside bag. Naturally, many structural variants are possible. In Figs. 4 — 7, a further structural variant is shown of a package 301 according to the invention. Identical or corresponding parts are indicated with identical or corresponding reference numerals, increased by three hundred. This package 301 too is built up from an inner package 303 and an outer package 302. The outer package 302 can be designed according to one of the structural variants described hereinabove. The inner package 303 also substantially corresponds to the embodiments described and shown hereinabove, but is provided on an upper side with folded-over edges 324 (see Fig. 4A). For closing the package 201, a lid 309 can be clamped hereon as shown in Fig. 5, in bottom view. Preferably, this lid 309 is form-retaining and may be injection- molded from plastic. The lid 309 is provided all around with a groove 320, formed by a depending outer wall part 321 and an inner wall parts 322 extending at a distance, substantially parallel thereto, as can best be seen in Fig. 7. The inner wall part 322 is provided adjacent a bottom side with clamping means 323, in the form of a ridge or projections extending towards the outer wall part 321. Thus, a passage 325 to the groove 320 is at least partly hindered.

The package 301 can be closed off by sliding the lid 309 by the groove 320 over the folded-over edges 324 of the inner package 303, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Here, after having completely passed the passage 325, the folded-over edges 324 will slightly bounce back due to the resilience of the cardboard and thus, in cooperation with the clamping means 322, form a lock, so that the lid 309 is non-detachably connected to the inner package 303. Hence, the lid 309 is also connected to the entire package 301 in a non- detachable manner as the inner package 303 can be glued in the outer package 302 in the manner described hereinabove (with reference to, inter alia, Fig. 2B).

In an alternative embodiment, shown in Fig. 4B, opposite sidewall panels 314 of the inner package 303 can also be provided adjacent a lower side with an inward folded edge 324. However, these edges 324 are not folded through 180° like the edges 324 adjacent the upper side, but through approximately 90°. Such an edge 324 can help increase the resistance of the entire package 310 against tearing, in particular when the outer package 302 is set up from a blank 320 which is comparable to that according to Figs. 2A or 3B. The fact is that such an outer package 302 comprises folding lines between the bottom panel 307 and the second sidewall panels 304A which are quite susceptible to tearing because these folding lines extend substantially parallel to the fibre direction of the cardboard. This in contrast with the folding lines between the bottom panel 307 and the first sidewall panels 304 which extend substantially transversely to the fibre direction and, hence, are stronger. By, presently, providing the sidewall panels 314 of the inner package 303, abutting, in set-up condition, against the second sidewall panels 304A of the outer package 302, with said edges 324, the resistance to tearing of the entire package 301 can be increased. Here, the orientation of the folding lines of these edges 324 to the sidewall panels 314 is preferably such that these folding lines extend substantially transversely to the fibre direction of the blank 330. Optionally, the edges 324 can be secured against the bottom panel 307, but this is not necessary for obtaining the reinforcing effect. Naturally, the other two sidewall panels 314 of the inner package 303 can also be provided with such inward folded edges 324 (not shown). Further, such edges 324 can be provided adjacent an upper side of the inner package 303, if, for instance, the package 301 is not closed off by a lid 309, but in one of the manners described hereinabove (Figs. 1 - 3).

In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 4A, the edges 324 on the upper side of the inner package 303 are folded double inwardly. It will however be clear that in an alternative embodiment (not shown), these edges 324 may be folded outwards. In that case, the clamping means 323 can extend against an inside of the outer wall 321 of the lid 309. Naturally, other manners of attachment are possible. For instance, the lid 309 can for instance be glued or stapled against the package 301. Further, the lid 309 can advantageously be utilized with a package according to any one of Figs. 1 — 3, wherein the top panels of these packages can be omitted or be shortened, to form two opposite, folded-over edge parts on which the lid 309 can be clamped in the manner described hereinabove. The lid 309 can also be utilized for, for instance, anchoring an inside bag in the package 301. Here, the inside bag may project through the lid 309 with a spout 318. This spout 318 can also serve for attaching the bag to the lid 309. Alternatively, the bag can be sealed or clamped by an edge to the lid 309. For receiving and/or protecting such a spout 318, the lid 309 can be provided with a comparable, lowered part 317 as the package 201 shown in Fig. 3C. The lid 309 can further comprise a handle 319 as shown (see Fig. 6).

The above-described Hd 309 or the earlier described top panels 6, 108, 208, together with the bottom panel 7, 107, 207, 307 and a first or second pair of opposite sidewall panels, respectively, can form two tubes closed upon themselves whose central axes Ki,2 extend substantially perpendicularly to each other and to that of the inner package K3 (as shown in Fig. 6). Thus, a package 1, 101, 201, 301 can be obtained which is bounded in three octagonal directions by a tube closed upon itself.

In an advantageous embodiment, the lower edges of the inner package 3, 203, 303 can be recessed, at least partly, at the location of the sidewall panels 14, 214, 314, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3a. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these recesses 235 have a substantially concave shape and extend as far as the corner panels 215. In particular with structural variants wherein the package 1, 101, 201 is closed off by top panel 8, 108, 208, further, adjacent an upper edge of the inner package 3, 103, 203, similar recesses 235 may be provided (also shown in Fig. 3A). Owing to such recesses 235, the corners of the outer package, between the or each bottom panel 7, 107, 207, 307 and the adjoining sidewalls, or the top panels 8, 108, 208 and the adjoining sidewalls, respectively, can bend round slightly at that location and the package can thus take a somewhat spherical form, most favourable for absorbing the internal pressure.

Preferably, such corners which can stretch or bend round in use are provided with a folding line as shown in Figs. 11A,B. Fig. HA shows, in cross- section, a part of one of the above-mentioned blanks 20, 30, 120, 220, 230, provided with a crease 40 for forming a folding line. As a rule, such a crease 40 is provided in the very side of the blank P which, in set-up condition, is located on the outside of the angle β. In an embodiment according to the invention however, the crease 40 is provided in the opposite side, i.e., the side which, in set-up condition, is located on the inside of the angle β. Fig. HB shows the blank part P in set-up condition, with unloaded angle β (in full lines) and loaded angle β (in broken lines), the angle β stretching or bending round in the direction of the arrow R. In this stretched condition, the adjoining cardboard material applies tensile stress on the crease 40. As the cardboard is weakened by the crease 40, under the influence of these tensile stresses, it can tear relatively easily. However, through the provision of the crease 40 on the inside of the angle, according to the invention, the tearing behaviour can be improved significantly. This can be understood as follows. As a rule, solid cardboard is built up from two cover layers 41, 42 and an intermediate layer 44 of a lesser paper quality. When providing a crease 40, in particular the intermediate layer 44 is split or deformed. The cover layers 41, 42 remain intact. With an angle β with a conventional crease (not shown), when the angle β stretches, in particular the outer cover layer 42 will be stretched. The inner cover layer 41 retains a somewhat creased shape and can therefore hardly absorb tensile forces. As a result, virtually all load is exerted on the outer cover layer 42. Only when this cover layer tears and the angle β stretches further, a load will be applied on the inner cover layer 41. Therefore, with a conventional crease, the cover layers 41, 42 are, in fact, loaded one after the other. As a result, at that location, the strength of the cardboard will not be stronger than the (limited) strength of these separate cover layers 41, 42. However, with a crease 40 according to the invention, both cover layers 41, 42 will be stretched to a comparable extent when the angle β stretches (see Fig. HB). As a result, the tensile stresses will be distributed over the two cover layers 41, 42 more or less equally. Consequently, at that location, the cardboard will have a greater strength and tear less rapidly. All embodiments described and shown hereinabove have in common that they are built up from an inner and outer package, which are set up from separate blanks and which together, in set-up condition, enclose tubular spaces that can serve as corner stiffening provisions. Owing to the use of separate blanks, a large design choice is obtained, so that the geometry of the tubular spaces may be adjusted at wish in order to, for instance, obtain a specific buckling resistance while the respective blanks, each separately and/or jointly, can have a substantially rectangular, efficient shape. The inner package may serve for covering any openings in the outer package and/or for reinforcing the outer package locally, preferably there where it is most heavily loaded in use. Owing to such efficient use of material, a relatively thin and/or light type of cardboard can be utilized so that material can be saved.

The invention is not limited in any manner to the exemplary embodiments represented in the description and the drawing. All combinations of (parts of) embodiments described and/or shown are understood to fall within the inventive concept. Furthermore, many variations thereon are possible within the framework of the invention as outlined by the claims.

For instance, the inner package can have a different cross-section, while, for instance, each corner panel can be provided with one or more additional folding lines, so that this corner panel no longer extends in a diagonal plane but will have a somewhat buckled, segmented shape. Consequently, the tubular space too will have a different shape, i.e. will no longer have a triangular cross-section. Alternatively, this tubular space can have a square or a multi-angle cross-section. The outer package can have a different shape than the rectangular shape shown. Further, the tubular corner stiffening provisions can, at least partly, be of double-walled design, for instance by rolling-in a glue flap with four strips to form a triangular tube, while the first and fourth strip can be secured against each other in an overlapping manner. Thus, an even stronger tube can be obtained.

These and many variations are understood to fall within the framework of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A package, comprising an outer package and an inner package, wherein the outer package comprises a bottom panel and upright sidewall panels surrounding the bottom panel, the inner package abutting against these sidewall panels such that between the inner and the outer package, at the location of the corners of the outer package, tubular spaces are formed, while the outer and inner package are set up from different blanks of cardboard.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the tubular spaces comprise a triangular cross-section.

3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer package comprises a substantially rectangular bottom panel, while a cross-section of the inner package extending parallel to this bottom panel has a substantially octagonal shape.

4. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner package comprises a tubular sleeve, closed upon itself.

5. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein adjoining sidewall panels of the outer package are interconnected by tubular corner stiffening provisions, which are included within said tubular spaces and which are set up from a glue flap which is integrally connected to one of these adjoining sidewall panels.

6. A package according to claim 5, wherein the tubular corner stiffening provisions have a rolled-in shape, closed upon itself.

7. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular spaces each have a height which is at least twice as large as a cross- sectional circumference of the respective space.

8. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sidewall panels of the outer package are partly open, while the inner package is designed for covering these open parts.

9. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second blanks each separately and/or together, in flat condition, side by side, have a substantially rectangular circumference.

10. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blanks are manufactured from solid cardboard with a weight per square meter that depends on the measure of capacity of the respective package, while, for instance, each of the blanks has a weight between approximately 400 and 500 grams per square meter with a measure of capacity of approximately 2 to 3 meters, and a weight between approximately 1000 and 1200 grams per square meter with a measure of capacity of approximately 25 litres.

11. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a longitudinal edge of the inner package proximal to the bottom panel and/or remote therefrom is provided between the tubular spaces with recesses.

12. A package according to claim 11, wherein the recesses have a substantially concave shape.

13. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a number of the folding lines, which are located in corners of the inner and/or outer package that stretch or bend round in use and thus apply a tensile load to the folding line, is formed by a crease which is provided in a blank side which, in set-up condition, is located on the inside of the respective corner.

14. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner package is provided, on a side remote from the bottom panel and/or a side proximal to this bottom panel, with folded-over edge parts.

15. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a side of the outer package remote from the bottom panel is provided with folded-over edge parts.

16. A package according to claim 14 or 15, wherein for closing the package, a form-retaining lid is provided which, adjacent at least a part of its circumference, is provided with a groove, designed for retaining therein the folded-over edge parts in a non-detachable manner.

17. A package according to claim 16, wherein a flexible inside bag is fixedly connected to the form-retaining lid, for instance fixedly sealed or clamped.

18. A method for realizing a Bag-in-Box package according to claim 17, wherein a package according to any one of claims 1 —15 is set up from two separate blanks, the package then being provided with a flexible inside bag and then being closed off, whereupon the inside bag is filled via a spout of the inside bag projecting through the package.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the bag is filled before it is placed in the package.