CA2576713A1 - Package for confectionery product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a package (32) for a food product (10) ), such as a confectionery item that is packaged in a strip rectangular (14) material which is wrapped around the product characterized in that the packaging comprises: an outer jacket (32) comprising an upper sheet (36) and a lower sheet (34) interconnected by a rear vertical back (38), which extend respectively opposite opposite faces of the product; and means (50, 80, 82) for retaining the product (10) inside the jacket (32). The conditioning shirt advantageously constitutes an advertising medium.

Description

"Packaging for a confectionery item"
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a packaging of a food product, in particular of parallelepipedal general shape rectangle such as a square of chocolate, or a confectionery item individual such as a candy, a biscuit, a madeleine or a bar.
The invention is also applicable to other products individualized and packaged food products such as salted products.
STATE OF THE ART
The invention thus relates to a packaging for a product distributed to the general public, especially in cafes, brasseries and hotels to accompany the cafes served by these traders.
The food product of this type most commonly distributed, for free with every cup of coffee, is a square of chocolate individual accompanying a coffee called "espresso" whose packaging usually has a first food contact sheet that fully protects the square of chocolate, and whose external appearance is usually metallized or shiny, and an outer shell called "chocolate ring".
The outer ring consists of a longitudinal strip of rectangular shape in a material that is most often a sheet rectangular paper and which in the process of manufacturing and packing, is wrapped around the square of chocolate with its leaf of food contact and which is then closed by gluing an area of the back of the band on a portion vis-à-vis the front it covers.
The ring shaped band perfectly matches the form of the food product, and in particular the parallelepipedic form rectangle of chocolate, and its primary function is to maintain the chocolate packaged in the first food contact sheet in avoiding any unwanted unpacking and for second function, have on its front, ie on its visible side by the consumer, certain information such as for example the name of the establishment which distributes the chocolates and other indications concerning the composition of chocolate and its origin.

WO 2006/024774

2 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 The opening of the packaging for consumption is a particularly delicate operation requiring some dexterity the consumer, in particular to allow him to catch a any of the ring to open it. In any case, the opening ends up tearing the ring.
Although it is disposable packaging for single use, and besides the difficulty of use, destroying the ring in order to the opening of the packaging makes its use unsuitable for dissemination effective lasting advertising messages on its faces, and especially on his front and back, while such support in paper is an important vector for the dissemination of messages because of the large quantity of products concerned and the type of consumer target it can target.
The invention also relates to a so-called packaging of the type "flow-pack" commonly used in the field of the distribution of various food products, including confectionery articles.
This type of packaging, and in particular used for distribution of the chocolate squares mentioned above, biscuits known as "speculos" or other articles such as madeleines, nougats, etc. which must be kept individually each in a waterproof package.
Like the packing ring mentioned earlier, a "flow-pack" type packaging consists of a rectangular sheet of flexible material that is wrapped around the product, for example around the square of chocolate or madeleine, and which is closed by heat sealing of two zones opposite both ends longitudinal lines of the strip or sheet of material that is generally a sheet or film of plastic material, transparent or opaque.
In the case of the paper ring mentioned above, the closing of the sheet of paper is ensured by gluing while, in this case the "flow-pack", the closure is ensured on the one hand by heat sealing the two longitudinal end sections opposite of the band, but also by heat sealing the edges opposing horizontals, up and down, of the band so as to constitute waterproof packaging.

WO 2006/024774

3 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 Packaging in the form of a "flow-type" envelope pack "are used in a very important way in the field of confectionery. In fact, in addition to packaging chocolate squares or biscuits, many chocolate bars or the like are thus packaged, individually or in multiple copies, for distribution.
This distribution is for example ensured in vending machines of the type in which each product unit, or group of products, is inserted between two turns consecutive helical worm screw wound wire.
The structure of the packaging and the good behavior of the products in the envelope are decisive for the good operation of such a dispenser. In addition, each product distributed undergoes a significant vertical drop after coming out of the screw which risks to damage it.
Whatever the application, the strip of flexible material of the "flow-pack" packaging, presents the same difficulties of opening as those mentioned above and is not well suited to communication advertising.
We also note that a sweet wrapped in "papillote" in a strip of material such as paper presents the same characteristics that a product packaged under "flow-pack", ie that his foil has two "flat" ends of end and other candy.
In all these examples of packaging, the strip of material wrapped around the product is closed at least in two areas of longitudinal ends, high and low, and which is for example closed by fixing, in particular by bonding or heat sealing, of two areas vis-à-vis the two longitudinal ends, high and low, Of the band.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention proposes a packaging a food product, such as a chocolate square, or a confectionery item such as a candy, a biscuit or a bar, which is packed in a rectangular strip of material that is wrapped around the product and which is closed at least in two zones longitudinal ends, high and low, of the band, characterized in that the conditionnemenfi comprises:

WO 2006/024774

4 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 an outer jacket, made of rigid or semi-rigid material, having an upper leaf and a lower leaf connected between they have a vertical back, and which extend respectively into opposite faces of the product;
and means for retaining the product within the shirt.
According to other features of the invention - said retaining means are constituted by at least one part of the shirt (32);
said retaining means comprise at least one tongue restraint that extends horizontally from the free vertical edge front of the bottom sheet of the shirt, inside the shirt and backward to cooperate with a complementary part of the wrapped product to retain the product;
- the retaining tab is centered vertically in relation to at the vertical front edge of the bottom sheet of the shirt;
- said retaining means comprise at least two components restraints, up and down, which extend horizontally from the edge free vertical front of the bottom sheet, inside the shirt and towards the rear, and which extend respectively opposite high and low of the product packaging to frame it between the two shutters;
the two up and down flaps constitute two high stops and low vertical retaining of the product packed inside the shirt;
the product wrapping sheet extends upwards and downwards, beyond the top and bottom ends of the product, by extensions up and down each of which is at least partially covered by a retainer flap, up and down respectively;
the wrapped product has a vertical slot, and in this that the retaining tab extends horizontally through the slot;
- the slot is closed at least at one of its two ends vertical to cooperate with a horizontal edge vis-à-vis the retaining tab;
- the slot is closed at both vertical ends opposite, and in that the width of the tongue is substantially equal to the height of the slot;

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5 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 the upper sheet has a vertical fold which divides it into two sides inclined so as to give the shirt a form of prism with triangular section;
- the shirt has complementary means of locking the liner in the closed position;
- the shirt is made in one piece of rigid material or semi-rigid cut and folded, especially of cardboard or paper cardboard cut and folded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which will follow for the understanding of which will be referred to the accompanying drawings wherein :
FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above of a first embodiment of a packaging according to the teachings of the invention which is shown in closed position in association with an individual square of chocolate wrapped in a ring;
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the square chocolate contained in the packaging of Figure 1;
FIG. 3 is a view from above illustrating the packaging of Figure 1 in its initial state unfolded or deployed;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to the previous one on which the packaging is shown in open position with the square of chocolate in position retained by the tongue according to the invention;
FIG. 5 is a bottom end view along the arrow F5 of FIG.
Figure 4 and on which is also represented in silhouette the conditioning in closed position;
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a product packaged according to the technique "flow-pack" and illustrated in association with a retaining tab;
FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view along the line 7-7 of Figure 6; and FIGS. 8 and 9 are views similar to those of FIGS.
3 and 4 which illustrate another embodiment of the packaging according to the invention;

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6 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 - Figures 10 and 11 are views similar to those of Figures 8 and 9 which further illustrate another embodiment of the conditioning according to the invention;
FIG. 12 is an end view of the illustrated packaged product in Figure 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In the following description, identical components, similar or similar will be designated by the same references.
In a non-restrictive way, in order to facilitate the understanding of 1o description, claims and drawings, we will use as a non limiting the terms vertical, upper, lower, horizontal, longitudinal, transversal with reference to the triad V, L, T indicated in FIGS.
FIG. 2 shows a first food product packaged 10 of rectangular parallelepiped general shape which is here an individual chocolate square 12 which is surrounded by a ring packing 14.
For reasons of simplification, the individual chocolate 12 is shown without its first contact-type packing sheet food and is thus in the form of a simple rectangular parallelepiped delimited by two large square faces lower 16 and upper 18, two large side faces and opposite left 20 and right 22, and two small side faces opposite 24 and 26.
The packing ring 14 consists of a strip, for example of paper, of rectangular general shape which is rolled up around the main faces lower 16 and upper 18 and lateral 24 and 26 of the square of chocolate.
According to a known design not represented in challenges, the 3o strip 14 is delimited laterally by two longitudinal edges parallel and opposite 28 and 30 and by two transverse edges overlapping outer and outer ends to form two mutual recovery zones allowing the closure and adhesive bonding, generally substantially over the entire recovery.
The product 10, of known general design, thus offers the possibility, used in the context of the present invention, to slide WO 2006/024774

7 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 horizontally a tongue-shaped object under the band or ring 14, and for example from left to right under the strip 14 and above the upper face 18.
As can be seen in particular in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, the conditioning 32 according to the invention is in the form of a shirt which is for example made by cutting and folding a lightweight carton in the illustrated closed position particular in Figure 1, to give it the form of a "folder" intended to house, for example, the individual square of chocolate 10, 12 shown in FIG.
1o figure 2.
The outer jacket 32 thus comprises a lower sheet 34, on the left considering the figures, and an upper sheet 36 to right which are interconnected by a vertical intermedia back, ire 38.
More specifically, and by convention, the bottom sheet rectangular 34 is delimited longitudinally or horizontally, along the L axis of the trihedron, by a free vertical edge before 40 and by a vertical back edge 42, while the rectangular top sheet 36 is bounded by a rear free vertical edge 44 and an edge vertical front 46, the edges 42 and 46 delimiting between them the vertical back 38 which, in folded and closed position of the conditioning as illustrated in Figures 1 and 5, constitutes the rear right edge of the conditioning 32.
To facilitate closing by folding the shirt constituting the packaging 32, the parallel vertical edges 42 and 46 are preferably marked in the form of folds.
The jacket 32 is generally delimited vertically by two high horizontal edges 33 and 35 that extend between opposite free vertical edges 40 and 44.
In accordance with the teachings of the invention, centered vertically along the free edge before 40, the sheet lower 34 extends horizontally forward by a tongue 50 for retaining the product 10.
The tongue 50 is made integrally in one piece by cutting and folding with the shirt 32.
The tongue 50 is delimited vertically by two edges horizontal high 52 and low 54 that extend from the vertical edge WO 2006/024774

8 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 front free end 55 of the tongue 50 to the vertical edge front free end 40 of the lower sheet 34.
Near the edge 40, the retaining tab 50 has a marked fold 56 of vertical orientation. As can be seen at Figures 1,4 and 5, the dimensions of the retaining tab 50 are as they allow the introduction of the tongue 50 under the strip 14 and along the upper face 18 of the chocolate 12.
As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the product 10 is then housed above the inner face 37 of the lower sheet 34 with its lower face 16 adjacent to the inner face 37. Depending on the product positioning the retaining tab 50 is adjacent to the upper face 18 or the lower face 16 of the product 10.
Due to the dimensions of the tongue 50 and the product 10, this last is retained in the shirt 32.
The product 10 is retained in the vertical direction V in the extent that its opposite horizontal edges 52 and 54 are received within band 14, practically without play, in thus opposing any vertical movement of the product 10 inside of the shirt 32.
In the closed position of the shirt and as can be seen in particular in Figure 1 and in silhouette in Figure 5, the product 10 is held in both directions horizontally to the left and towards the right, on the one hand by the vertical strip 57 of the tab 50 delimited by the edges 55 and 40 and, on the other hand, by the inner face 39 of the back vertical 38.
Finally, the product 10 is retained in the direction T inside.
of the closed shirt 32 to the extent that he is caught in sandwich between the lower sheets 34 and 36 with its underside 16 adjacent to the inner face 37 while its upper face is facing the inner face 41 of the upper sheet 36.
By way of non-limiting example, and according to another characteristic of the invention, the figures of FIG.
means for maintaining or "locking" the shirt 32 in closed position.
These locking means are for example also made material in one piece by cutting and folding with the 32 and includes here a rear central locking lug WO 2006/024774

9 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 58 whose opposite ends high 60 and low 62 are received respectively in high 64 and low 66 slots formed in along the front edge 40 in association with two "latches" at the 68 and low 70.
The latches 68 and 70 are shaped to facilitate the locking and unlocking for opening.
In addition to its product protection function 10, the conditioning constituted by the jacket 32 constitutes a support ideal advertising, especially by its large surface.
The product is perfectly maintained inside the shirt and this practically without play because of the resulting pinch effect the closure of the shirt 32, especially when the latter comprises locking means in the closed position.
Messages with advertising content may appear no only on the inner back of the shirt 32 constituted by the faces 37, 39 and 41 (here represented by the letters V), but of course also and preferentially on the outer face of the shirt 32 constituted by the external faces 37 ', 39' and 41 'of the jacket 32 (represented here by the letters R).
Advantageously, the jacket 32 constitutes after its utization (that is after opening for consumption product 10), an advertising medium that the consumer can keep.
The area or area available for content messages advertising is much more important than that surface or area of the wrapping tape 14.
In addition the choice of materials available for the shirt 32 makes printing much easier to implement offering unlimited creative possibilities.
It is also particularly advantageous to be able to use a product 10 standard or neutral, that is to say not including particular advertising message other than its manufacturer's mark and its food composition, in association with a shirt of personalized packaging 32, in particular according to a advertising campaign.
The tongue 50 with its two inner and outer faces opposite is also an additional advertising space.

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10 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 When the product is not perfectly parallelepipedic, for example convex such as a candy, a madeleine or a nougat, it is possible to provide a cut for example in the sheet upper and / or lower and / or to conform the central part of this curved form sheet complementary to the product.
This is possible in particular if the shirt is made of sheet of thermoformed plastic material. In the case where a cut-out is used, which can ensure the retaining the product in the shirt.
FIG. 6 schematically shows a product 10 packaged in "flow-pack" packaging.
The product 10 is here as an example a square of chocolate rectangular individual or a flat rectangular biscuit such as a speculos (not visible in Figure 6).
The packaging of the product is constituted here, in a known manner, by a strip or sheet 14 of flexible material, for example a transparent or opaque plastic sheet whose closure waterproof is provided by thermoforming or heat sealing.
This defines a central portion 72 of general shape analogous to and complementary to that of the product it houses, and rectangular parallelepiped example similar to that of chocolate individual content inside, and two high end portions 74 and low 76 "without thickness".
The sealing technique of the package 10 is such that it results, in particular in the central part 72, in training a cover 78 delimiting a slot in which, like this is schematically illustrated in Figure 6, it is possible to introduce at least one free end section delimited by the vertical edge 55 a retaining tab 50 similar to that described above.
This possibility is also illustrated schematically at the sight in section of Figure 7.
Due to the heat sealing of the parts high end 74 and low 76, the slot (under the cover 78) in which is received the retaining tab 50 is also closed to its two opposite vertical ends.
Such a product 10 with its packaging "flow-pack" can therefore be put in place and retained in a conditioning shirt 32 WO 2006/024774

11 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 of the type described and shown with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, in the same way as a chocolate with its ring.
Whether it's a chocolate with a ring or a chocolate in a flow-pack, the retaining tab 50 can extend "above" the upper face 18 of the product 10 "covering" this last as illustrated in the figures or alternatively as a variant shown, extend "below" the bottom face 16 of the product 10, that is to say that there is then only the thickness of the paper of the ring or the pack "flow-pack" 14 between the tab 50 and the face internal 37 of the lower sheet 34.
According to a variant not shown, the retaining tab 50 can extend over the entire height of the vertical edge before 40 in thus having the same height as the lower leaves 34 and upper 36, while the product 10 then protrudes upwards and downwards beyond the edges 33 and 35, the locking means in closed position that can also intervene at the edges opposite 56 and 44.
According to yet another variant not shown, the tongue retainer is not centered in the vertical edge 40 but may be shifted up or down.
In the case of a package "f (ow-pack", the shirt of conditioning is rigid and homogeneous which greatly facilitates the implementation and distribution of this type of products in screw type automatic distributors mentioned above.
As shown in Figures 6 and 7, to increase still the "advertising" surface and above all better maintain or retain the product, here packaged in "flow-pack" packaging, it is possible to two high 80 and 82 low shutters (made from material by cutting and folding) which - in the position of the product 10 inside the jacket 32 -extend opposite high end portions 74 and low 76 "without thickness" of the wrapping sheet 14 which wraps the product consisting of chocolate 12.
The dimensions of the different cuts are such that the side high 86 and low 88 of the product 12 are received, practically without play, between the edges facing lower 90 and high 92 flaps 80 and 82 respectively.

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12 PCT / FR2005 / 002012 This two-pronged restraint design allows where necessary, and especially if no slot is available or if the slot is not not closed at its two opposite vertical ends to ensure the product retention.
This two-fold design up and down 80, 82 is also particularly suitable for the packaging of "non dishes ", that is to say of a generally convex shape such as candies, nougats, madeleines, etc.
Another embodiment modified for this purpose is illustrated in Figures 10 and following, here for the packaging of a small madeleine contained in a package of "flow-pack" type.
Since the packaged product is a product of left form in volume and more or less variable contour, that is to say to say non regular like a parallelepipedic chocolate square rectangle, the conditioning shirt 32 is first modified in that its upper sheet 36 is divided or split in two sections 36a and 36b which are separated by a vertical fold 94 so as to to be able to conform the upper face 36 folded into an inverted V, as can be seen in Figure 12 and thus the shirt 32 in a product of globally triangular section.
The general polyhedral shape or sectional prism triangular of the shirt 32 can house a product forms diverse and bulky while retaining all the benefits inherent to the invention, and in particular those relating to the maintenance or retaining the product in the shirt 32.
For this purpose, the edges 90 and 92 of the cutouts delimiting the flaps 80 and 82 and the tab 50 are V-shaped opposite with the Concave inner parts of the two capital Vs facing each other as can be seen in Figure 10.
As can be seen in Figure 11, this allows to house the product packaged in its "flow-pack" between the two cuts 90 and 92 and therefore between the two flaps 80 and 82 easily and of such way that the free ends 81 and 83 of the shutters 80 and 82 ensure a effect of "clamp" retaining even more the product.
The cut constituted by the two opposed V edges 90 and 92 is thus globally complementary to the periphery of the shape of the product to be housed and conditioned.

13 The funds of the two "V" also cooperate advantageously with the serrated edges of the flow-pack (shown in Figure 6) which then constitute holdbacks received in the funds of the ovo The length according to "L" of the two flaps 80 and 82 is preferably large enough for when folding into a triangle and the closing the shirt "to force" the flaps to extend across, that is, not parallel to the bottom sheet 34.
Thus, the restraining means constituted by the shutters 80 and 82 to prevent a user from trying to extract the product vertically according to "V" by forcing him to open the shirt, which is particularly important when the shirt 32 includes an advertisement on his back.
In this embodiment, the locking tab 58 is received in a locking slot 64 formed in the fold 40 corresponding to the front edge.
The locking tab 58 extends longitudinally towards the outside by a gripping lug 59 which facilitates the opening of the packaging in order to unfold it and to access the product it contains.
In all the embodiments that have been illustrated and described, the "flat" shirt is generally rectangular in outline.
Alternatively, it is of course possible to confer other forms so that once the product is packaged with the shirt, this one has an original shape, for example the shape of a pebble.
Likewise, the section of the shirt with several sides of its upper leaf is not limited to a triangle but can be of any polygonal shape adapted to the product to be packaged.

Claims (13)

1. ~ Packaging (32) of a food product (10), such as a square of chocolate (12), or an article of confectionery such as a candy, a biscuit or bar, which is packed in a rectangular strip (14) material that is wrapped around the product and is closed at least in two longitudinal end regions, high and low, Of the band, characterized in that the package comprises:
an outer jacket (32) having an upper sheet (36) and a lower sheet (34) interconnected by a vertical back rearward (38), and which respectively extend opposite faces opposite of the product;
- ~ and means (50, 80, 82) for retaining the product (10) to inside the shirt (32). 2. ~ Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said retaining means (50, 80, 82) are constituted by at least a portion of the liner (32). 3. ~ Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said retaining means comprise at least a retaining tab (50) extending horizontally from the front free vertical edge (40) of the bottom sheet (34) of the shirt (32), inside the shirt and backwards to cooperate with a complementary part of the wrapped product to retain the product. 4. ~ Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the retaining tab (50) is centered vertically with respect to the front vertical edge (40) of the sheet lower (34) of the jacket (32). 5. ~ Packaging according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said retaining means comprise at least two retaining flaps, top (80) and bottom (82), which extend horizontally from the free vertical front edge (40) of the sheet lower (34) of the shirt (32), inside the shirt and towards the rear, and which extend respectively in front of high parts (74) and low (76) of the product package (10) to frame it between the two shutters (80, 82). 6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that that the two up and down flaps (80, 82) constitute two high stops and vertical retaining bottom of the packaged product (10) within the shirt (32). 7. Packaging according to any one of the claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the packaging sheet (14) of the product extends up and down, beyond high and low ends (86, 88) of the product, by high and low extensions (74, 76), each of which is at least partially covered by a retaining flap, high and low (80, 82) respectively. 8. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that the wrapped product (10, 12, 14) has a vertical slot, and in that the retaining tongue (50) extends horizontally through the slot. 9. Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the slot is closed at least to one of its two vertical ends to cooperate with a horizontal edge vis-à-screw (52, 54) of the retaining tab (50). 10. Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the slot is closed at both ends opposing verticals, and in that the width of the tongue (50) is substantially equal to the height of the slot. 11. Packaging according to any one of the claims preceding, characterized in that the topsheet comprises a vertical fold (94) which divides it into two inclined faces (36a, 36b) of to give the shirt a sectional prism shape triangular. 12. Packaging according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the jacket (32) has means (58, 68, 70) complementary locking of the jacket in closed position. 13. Packaging according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the jacket (32) is made of a only piece of rigid or semi-rigid material cut and folded, in particular cardboard or cardboard cut and folded.