EP0588740B1 - Package for food products with superposed stacking elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The field of the invention is that of packages, particularly for storing and transporting food products. The package according to the invention is of the type comprising a receptacle (1) closed by a removable lid (2) receiving at least one tray (31 to 35) on which food products may be placed. According to the invention, the horizontal overall size of the said trays (31 to 35) is substantially equal to the inner cross section of the said receptacle (1) in at least two different centring directions, and the package also comprises at least one spacing element (41 to 45) forming a stacking element (spacer) between two adjacent trays (31 to 35) or between a tray (31) and the lid (2), the said spacing elements (41 to 45) being extended in at least certain portions of its outer edge by wedging tongues (91 to 94) intended to abut against the inner wall of the receptacle (1). In this manner, each tray is wedged vertically owing to the superposition of the trays and of the stacking elements over which the lid is closed, and is wedged in the horizontal direction under the double effect of its overall size inscribed substantially in the horizontal cross section of the receptacle and of the gripping phenomenon induced by the superposition of trays and stacking elements, the latter themselves being wedged horizontally with the tongues. <IMAGE>

Description

The field of the invention is that of packaging, in particular for the storage and transport of food products.

More specifically, the invention relates to a packaging of the type comprising a receptacle closed by a removable cover accommodating one or more trays on which products, in particular foodstuffs, can be placed.

The invention has many applications, such as for example a buffet box for storing, transporting and presenting cakes or petit fours, or even packaging for storing and transporting smoked salmon.

More generally, it can be applied in all cases where food products to be stored and transported can be placed on trays.

The simplest known solution for storing and transporting food products placed on trays consists in using a receptacle, closed by a removable cover, for each tray.

This known solution, if it offers the advantage of being simple, has several disadvantages.

First of all, the number of trays is high, and consequently the handling of receptacles is numerous since the number of receptacles is equal to the number of trays. Also, the cost of the assembly is increased.

In addition, even if the horizontal size of the tray is close to the interior section of the receptacle, there are still movements of the tray relative to the internal walls of the receptacle. These tray movements cause displacements of the food products on the tray. These movements can cause the internal products of the receptacle to touch or touch the internal walls of the receptacle. Consequently, these plateau movements can lead to partial or total degradation of the food products.

For example, in the case of a buffet box for storing, transporting and presenting cakes, the transport phase of this buffet box presents high risks of damage to the cakes.

Other known solutions for storing and transporting products food placed on trays consists of using receptacles that can accommodate several trays.

In this case, the trays must be sufficiently distant (vertically) from each other so that the products placed on a tray do not come into contact with the upper tray.

A first solution of this type is linked to the use of trays having side walls. The trays can be superimposed: each tray resting on the side walls of the lower tray.

This solution, for example described in document GB-A-925971, does not make it possible to overcome the problem of relative movement of the plates relative to the internal walls of the receptacle.

In addition, the height of the side walls of the trays depends on the height of the food products placed on these trays. This presence of side walls of generally quite high height makes it impossible to use these trays directly as a presentation support. Such trays cannot, for example, be used to present petit fours at a cocktail party. Therefore, it is necessary to transfer the food products from the transport trays to presentation trays. This operation is long, and therefore costly. In addition, handling of food products during this operation tends to increase the risk of degradation of these products.

A second solution of the receptacle type accommodating several trays consists in placing inside the receptacle wedging means for each tray in a reserved location. Thus, each tray can slide horizontally to fit into a reserved location.

Whatever their embodiment, the wedging means located on the internal walls of the receptacle increase the cost of manufacturing the packaging.

In addition, food products are not enclosed on the shelf and can collide, which can cause their partial or total degradation.

Furthermore, good stability of the plates inside the receptacle can only be ensured by the wedging means at the cost of high complexity and therefore costly (the plates can, for example, slide on slides fixed to the internal walls of the receptacle).

Finally, with such a solution, the modification of the height between two trays (linked to a change in the nature of the food products transported) is difficult since it requires a displacement of the wedging means located inside the receptacle.

The invention particularly aims to overcome these various drawbacks of the state of the art.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a packaging for the storage and transport of food products, accommodating at least one tray on which the food products are placed, which prevents any relative movement of the trays relative to the internal walls of the receptacle.

The invention also aims to provide such packaging which keeps the food products on the trays and avoids any contact between the food products placed on a tray and the upper tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide such packaging which allows the trays to be used as a presentation support.

An additional objective of the invention is to provide such simple and inexpensive manufacturing packaging.

Another object of the invention is to provide such packaging requiring no wedging means fixed to the internal walls of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a packaging that can easily accommodate trays on which food products of varying heights are placed, these different heights being able to be modified during each new use of storage and transport.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved according to the invention using a package comprising a receptacle closed by a removable cover accommodating at least one tray on which food products can be placed, the horizontal dimensions of said plates being substantially equal to the internal section of said receptacle in at least two different centering directions, the packaging also comprising at least one spacer element forming a spacer between two adjacent plates or between a plate and the cover, said spacer elements being extended in at least certain portions of their outer edge by wedging tongues intended to come into abutment against the internal wall of the receptacle ..

In this way, the spacers (or spacers) prevent the products placed on a tray from coming into contact with the upper tray.

Each tray is propped vertically due to the superimposition of trays and spacers on which the cover closes, and is propped in the horizontal direction under the double effect of its size registered substantially in the horizontal section of the receptacle, and the phenomenon of tightening induced by the superposition of trays / spacers, the latter themselves being wedged horizontally with the tongues.

These tongues extend in a substantially horizontal direction so as to bear against the internal wall of the receptacle as mentioned above. It is advantageous to slightly oversize them in order to obtain a good setting of the spacers. This setting of the spacers is obtained by playing on the elasticity of the material, either within the tongue itself, or on the bending of the edges of the spacer when the latter is hollowed out in its center.

Advantageously, said spacing elements comprise at least side walls forming an intermediate support between two adjacent plates or between a plate and the cover, and freeing up at least one space for housing food products.

Preferably, said packaging is used for the storage and transport of food products.

Advantageously, said centering directions are wedging directions and said wedging tabs are positioned in the zones of the internal wall of the receptacle intercepted by said centering directions.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said receptacle, said cover and said spacing elements are produced by the volume of flat cutouts.

Preferably, at least one of the lateral faces of said receptacle can be folded down completely so that the stack of trays and spacers which are alternately superimposed can be pulled out laterally from said receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the side walls of said spacers is pierced with at least one window.

Thus, the windows allow, for example, the passage of gas mixtures at low temperature ensuring the preservation of food products. More generally, these windows allow ventilation of the interior of the receptacle, and more particularly of the volumes between two trays.

Advantageously, each of said wedging tongues of a spacer element is cut out from a side wall of said spacer element, the setting in volume of each of said wedge tongue cutouts creating one of said windows.

Preferably, the shape of the interior section of said receptacle, of said cover and the shape of the section of said spacers belongs to the group comprising all substantially polygonal shapes having at least four sides.

• une forme sensiblement carrée et des plateaux sensiblement circulaires ;
• une forme sensiblement rectangulaire et des plateaux sensiblement ovales ;
• une forme sensiblement rectangulaire et des plateaux sensiblement rectangulaires.

Thus, several cases can be envisaged, namely:

• a substantially square shape and substantially circular plates;
• a substantially rectangular shape and substantially oval trays;
• a substantially rectangular shape and substantially rectangular plates.

• chaque paroi latérale desdits éléments d'espacement est percée une fenêtre placée sensiblement à égale distance des extrémités de ladite paroi latérale ;
• les fenêtres percées sur des parois latérales opposées et parallèles desdits éléments d'espacement sont situées face à face ;
• les fenêtres percées sur des parois latérales opposées et parallèles desdits éléments d'espacement sont décalées les unes par rapport aux autres.

According to the embodiments, the number and the position of the windows vary, and, for example, the following arrangements can be envisaged:

• each side wall of said spacer elements is pierced with a window placed substantially at equal distance from the ends of said side wall;
• the windows drilled on opposite and parallel side walls said spacers are located face to face;
• the windows pierced on opposite and parallel side walls of said spacers are offset from each other.

• le plastic ;
• le carton enduit ;
• le carton aluminisé ;
• le carton plastifié ;
• le métal.

Advantageously, said receptacle, said cover and said spacing elements are made of a material belonging to the group comprising:

• plastic;
• coated cardboard;
• aluminized cardboard;
• plasticized cardboard;
• metal.

Advantageously, the said plate or plates comprise on their upper face means for blocking the side walls of a spacer element.

In an advantageous embodiment, the height of the cover is chosen so that the cover makes it possible to block a stack of trays and spacers superimposed alternately, even when said opening side face is completely folded down.

• la figure 1 présente un emballage selon l'invention comprenant un réceptacle fermé par un couvercle amovible, accueillant cinq plateaux et cinq éléments d'espacement.
• la figure 2 présente une vue de face d'une découpe dont la mise en volume permet d'obtenir un réceptacle tel que présenté sur la figure 1.
• la figure 3 présente une vue de face d'une découpe dont la mise en volume permet d'obtenir un couvercle tel que présenté sur la figure 1.
• la figure 4 présente une vue de face d'une découpe dont la mise en volume permet d'obtenir un élément d'espacement tel que présenté sur la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, and of the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a package according to the invention comprising a receptacle closed by a removable cover, accommodating five trays and five spacers.
• FIG. 2 presents a front view of a cutout, the volume of which makes it possible to obtain a receptacle as presented in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 presents a front view of a blank, the volume of which makes it possible to obtain a cover as shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 shows a front view of a cut-out, the volume of which makes it possible to obtain a spacer element as presented in FIG. 1.

The packaging described below is an embodiment of a buffet box for storing, transporting and presenting cakes and / or petit fours.

It is clear however that the invention is not limited to this single embodiment, nor to this single application, and more generally relates to all the cases where it is desired to store, transport, then present food products placed on trays .

The packaging according to the invention presented in Figure 1 comprises a receptacle 1 closed by a removable cover 2, accommodating five trays 3₁ to 3₅ and five spacers 4₁ and 4₅.

One of the lateral faces of the receptacle 1 can be folded down completely and constitutes an opening face 5 making it possible to exit from the receptacle 1 the stack of trays 3₁ to 3₅ and spacing elements 4₁ to 4₅ alternately superimposed.

The lateral faces 6, 7 located on either side of the opening face 5 of the receptacle 1 have handles 8.

The cover 2 is a bell cover which prohibits an unexpected folding down of the opening face 5 of the receptacle 1. In addition, the height of this cover 2 is chosen so that the cover 2 makes it possible to block the stack made up of the five trays and five spacers alternately superimposed, even when the opening face 5 of the receptacle 1 is completely folded down.

The plates 3₁ to 3₅ are rectangular and the receptacle 1 is rectangular. The horizontal size of the plates 3₁ to 3₅ is substantially equal to the internal section of the receptacle 1.

The spacer elements 4₁ to 4₅, also rectangular, form a spacer between two adjacent plates or between the upper plate 4₁ and the cover 2 when the latter is placed on the receptacle 1.

Each spacer element 4₁ to 4₅ is extended on each of its edges exterior by a wedging tab 9₁ to 9₄ intended to abut against the internal wall of the receptacle 1.

In addition, each spacer 4₁ to 4₁ comprises side walls forming an intermediate support between two adjacent plates or between the last plate 4₁ and the cover 2, thus freeing up a space for housing food products. The height of these side walls depends on the height of the food products placed on the trays.

Finally, each side wall of the spacing elements 4₁ to 4₅ is pierced with a window 10 placed at equal distance from the side ends of this side wall. Each window 10 located on a side wall corresponds to the setting in volume of a tab 9₁ to 9₄ cut from the same side wall.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the windows drilled on opposite side walls are located face to face.

It is clear that many other embodiments of the invention can be envisaged. One can in particular provide a receptacle of polygonal inner section comprising more than four sides, and trays of shapes other than rectangular.

In this more general case, the horizontal size of the plates is chosen to be substantially equal to the internal section of the receptacle in at least two different centering directions, and at least some of the outer edges of the spacers are extended by wedging tongues. .

In certain particular embodiments, the centering directions are wedging directions and the wedging tabs are positioned in the zones of the internal wall of the receptacle intercepted by these centering directions.

For example, the interior section of the receptacle may be substantially square, and the plates substantially circular.

It is also possible to provide spacers comprising more than one wedging tab and / or more than one window per side wall.

Likewise, the windows located on opposite and parallel side walls can be offset from one another instead of being facing to face.

Finally, the upper face 11 of the spacing elements 4₁ to 4₅ which contributes, with the side walls, to carry the plate 3₁ to 3₅ higher, can be full or perforated. In FIG. 1, for example, this upper face 12 comprises only lips which delimit a filling frame. In this case, the spacing element is placed on the tray, then serves as a frame when laying the food products.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a cutout 21, the volume of which makes it possible to obtain a receptacle as presented in FIG. 1.

This cutout 21 has a bottom 22 and four side faces 23 to 26 having an identical height. The front side face 26 can be folded down when the blank is set in volume.

The two lateral sides left 23 and right 25 are extended by double flaps 27, 28. The double flaps 27, 28 comprise at their ends two pins 211 _A , 211 _B and 212 _A , 212 _B able to cooperate with openings 213 _A , 213 _B and 214 _A , 214 _B drilled on the edges of the bottom 22 joining the bottom and the left 27 and right 28 side faces.

The front 26 and rear 24 side faces are provided with closing side flaps 29 _A , 29 _B and 210 _A , 210 _B. Each closing side flap slides, during the setting in volume, between one of the left 27 and right 28 side faces, and the corresponding double flap 23, 25.

The double flaps 27, 28 also include on one side a notch 217, 218 favoring the sliding of the flaps 29 _A , 29 _B when the front side face 26 is folded down.

The left 27 and right 28 lateral faces are pierced with an opening 215, 216 forming a handle. Each of the lateral closing flaps 29 _A , 29 _B , 210 _A , 210 _B is pierced with a notch 223 _A , 223 _B , 224 _A , 224 _{B which is} threaded into one of the openings 215, 216 forming a handle when volume setting. The angles 219 _A , 219 _B of the closing flaps 29 _A , 29 _B of the front face 26 are softened in order to facilitate the folding down of this front side face 26.

• les parties externes 219, 220 des doubles rabats sont plaquées sur les parties centrales 221, 222 de ces mêmes doubles rabats ;
• les ergots 211_A, 211_B, 212_A, 212_B sont insérés dans les ouvertures 213_A, 213_B, 214_A, 214_B de façon à sécuriser la position des doubles rabats 27, 28 sur les faces latérales gauche 27 et droite 28 ramenées en position sensiblement verticale ;
• les faces latérales arrière 24 et avant 26 sont ramenées en position sensiblement verticale, les volets de fermeture 29_A, 29_B, 210_A, 210_B se glissant entre l'une des faces latérales gauche 23 ou droite 25 et le double rabat 27, 28 correspondant, la face latérale avant étant rabattable à tout moment.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the volume is produced according to the following steps:

• the external parts 219, 220 of the double flaps are pressed against the central parts 221, 222 of these same double flaps;
• the pins 211 _A , 211 _B , 212 _A , 212 _B are inserted into the openings 213 _A , 213 _B , 214 _A , 214 _B so as to secure the position of the double flaps 27, 28 on the left 27 and right 28 side faces. returned to a substantially vertical position;
• the rear 24 and front 26 side faces are brought back to a substantially vertical position, the closing flaps 29 _A , 29 _B , 210 _A , 210 _B sliding between one of the left 23 or right 25 side faces 25 and the double flap 27, 28 corresponding, the front side face being foldable at any time.

FIG. 3 presents a view of a blank 31, the volume of which makes it possible to obtain a cover as presented in FIG. 1.

This cutout 31 includes an upper face 32 and four lateral faces 33 to 36. Two of these lateral faces 33, 35 have a length greater than the other two lateral faces 34, 36.

The two longest side faces 33, 35 are extended by flaps 37, 38 comprising lugs 39 _A , 39 _B , 310 _A , 310 _B able to cooperate with openings 312 _A, 312 _B , 313 _A , 313 _B drilled on the edges of the upper face 32 joining the upper face 32 and the side faces 33, 35 the longer ones.

The two shortest side faces 34, 36 are provided with lateral closing flaps 314 _A , 314 _B 315 _A , 315 _B which slide, during the volume setting, between one of the side faces 33, 35 most long and the corresponding flap 37, 38. These closing side flaps include recesses 316 _A , 316 _B, 317 _A , 317 _B facilitating their sliding during the setting in volume.

• les ergots 39_A, 39_B, 310_A, 310_B sont insérés dans les ouvertures 314_A, 314_B, 315_A, 315_B de façon à sécuriser la position des rabats 37, 38 sur les faces latérales 34, 36 les plus courtes, ces faces latérales 34, 36 étant ramenées en position sensiblement verticale,
• les faces latérales 33, 35 les plus longues sont ramenées en position sensiblement verticale, les volets de fermeture 314_A, 314_B, 315_A, 315_B se glissant entre l'une des faces latérales 33, 35 les plus longues et le rabat 37, 38 correspondant.

The volume is produced according to the following steps:

• the pins 39 _A , 39 _B , 310 _A , 310 _B are inserted into the openings 314 _A , 314 _B , 315 _A , 315 _B so as to secure the position of the flaps 37, 38 on the shortest side faces 34, 36, these side faces 34, 36 being brought back to a substantially vertical position,
• the longest side faces 33, 35 are brought back to a substantially vertical position, the closing flaps 314 _A , 314 _B , 315 _A , 315 _B sliding between one of the longest side faces 33, 35 and the flap 37 , 38 correspondent.

FIG. 4 shows a view of a cutout 41, the volume of which makes it possible to obtain a spacer element as presented in FIG. 1.

• les dimensions (celles du couvercle sont obligatoirement supérieures à celles d'un élément d'espacement) ;
• les faces latérales 42, 43, 44, 45 comprennent une découpe 48, 49, 410, 411 délimitant une languette de calage. Cette découpe forme également une fenêtre lors de la mise en volume consistant à rabattre les faces latérales 42, 43, 44, 45 alors que les languettes de calage restent dans le plan de la face supérieure 46 ;
• la face supérieure 46 comprend une ouverture 47. Cette ouverture permet de ne conserver qu'un cadre de remplissage lorsque la découpe 41 est mise en volume.

This cut 41 differs from the cut 31 of a cover by the following characteristics:

• the dimensions (those of the cover are necessarily greater than those of a spacer);
• the lateral faces 42, 43, 44, 45 comprise a cutout 48, 49, 410, 411 delimiting a wedging tongue. This cutout also forms a window during the setting up consisting of folding down the lateral faces 42, 43, 44, 45 while the wedging tongues remain in the plane of the upper face 46;
• the upper face 46 includes an opening 47. This opening makes it possible to keep only a filling frame when the blank 41 is set in volume.

The cutouts 21, 31, 41 are, for example, made of cardboard (coated, aluminized, or plasticized).

In other embodiments (not shown), these various elements (receptacle, cover, spacing elements) can be made of plastic or metal.

Likewise, the invention is in no way limited to the cutouts presented in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 for the production of the receptacle, the cover, the spacing elements. One can in particular envisage other cutouts making it possible to produce these wedging tabs and these windows.

Claims (19)

1. Packaging comprising a container (1) closed by a removable lid (2) receiving at least one tray (3₁-3₅) on which food items can be placed, wherein the horizontal space requirement of said trays (3₁-3₅) is substantially equal to the internal section of said container (1) along at least two different directions of centring,
   characterised in that it also includes at least one spacing element (4₁-4₅) between two adjacent trays (3₁-3₅) or between a tray (3₁) and the lid (2), said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) being extended on at least certain portions of their external edge by securing tongues (9₁-9₄) designed to abut the internal wall of the container (1).
2. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterised in that it is used for the storage and transportation of food items.
3. Packaging according to either of the Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) include at least lateral walls forming intermediate supports between two adjacent trays (3₁-3₅) or between a tray (3₁) and the lid (2), and releasing at least one space to house the food items.
4. Packaging according to any of the Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the said centring directions are securing directions and said securing tongues (9₁-9₄) are positioned in the zones of the internal wall of the container that are intercepted by said centring directions.
5. Packaging according to any of the Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the said container (1), said lid (2) and said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) are made by the expansion into volume of flat cut-out elements (21; 31; 41).
6. Packaging according to any of the Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least one of the lateral faces (9) of said container (1) may fold down completely such that the stack of alternately superimposed trays (3₁-3₅) and spacing elements (4₁-4₅) can be removed laterally from said container (1).
7. Packaging according to any of the Claims 3 to 6, characterised in that each of the lateral walls of said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) is pierced with at last one window (10).
8. Packaging according to claim 7, characterised in that each of said securing tongues (9₁-9₄) of a spacing element (4₁-4₅) is cut out in a lateral wall of the said spacing element, the expansion into volume of each of said securing tongue cut-out features creating one of said windows.
9. Packaging according to any of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the shape of the internal section of said container (1), and of said lid (2) and the shape of the section of said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) belongs to the group comprising all the substantially polygonal shapes possessing at least four sides.
10. Packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that the said shape and said trays (4₁-4₅) belong to the group comprising:

    * a substantially square shape and substantially circular trays;

    * a substantially rectangular shape and substantially oval trays;

    * a substantially rectangular shape and substantially rectangular trays.
11. Packaging according to either of the claims 9 or 10, characterised in that each lateral wall of said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) is pierced by a window (10) placed substantially at an equal distance from the ends of said lateral wall.
12. Packaging according to either of the claims 9 to 10, characterised in that the windows (10) cut through on the lateral walls opposite and parallel to said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) are located face to face.
13. Packaging according to either of the claims 9 or 10 characterised in that the windows (10) cut through on the opposite and parallel lateral walls of said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) are offset with respect to one another.
14. Packaging according to any of the claims 1 to 13, characterised in that said container (1), said lid (2) and said spacing elements (4₁-4₅) are manufactured out of a material belonging to the group that includes:

    * plastic;

    * coated cardboard;

    * aluminized cardboard;

    * plasticized cardboard;

    * metal.
15. Packaging according to any of the Claims 1 to 14, characterised in that said tray or trays (3₁-3₅) include, on their upper face, means to block the lateral walls of a spacing element (4₁-4₅).
16. Packaging according to any of the Claims 6 to 15, characterised in that the height of the lid (2) is chosen such that the lid (2) enables the blocking of a stack of superimposed trays (3₁-3₅) and spacing elements (4₁-4₅), even when said opening later face (5) is completely folded down.
17. Packaging according to any of the Claims 6 to 16, characterised in that the flat cut-out element (21) out of which the container (1) is made includes a back (22) and four lateral faces (23-26), it being possible for the front lateral face (26) to be folded down,
       the two left (23) and right (25) lateral faces being extended by double flaps (27,29-8) having tabs (211_A, 211_B, 212_A, 212_B) capable of cooperating with apertures (213_A,213_B,214_A,214_B) cut through the edges of said back (22), joining the back (22) and said left (23) and right (24) lateral faces, the front (26) and rear (24) lateral faces being provided with lateral shutters (29_A,29_B,210_A,210_B), each lateral shutter sliding, when said cut-out element (21) is expanded into volume, between one of said left (23) and right (25) lateral faces and the corresponding double flap (27,28)
    in that each of said double flaps (27,28) comprises a notch (217,218), each of said lateral shutters (29_A,29_B,210_A,210_B) comprising a rounded corner (219_A,219_B),
    said notches (217, 218) and said rounded corners (219_A,219_B) facilitating the folding down of the front lateral face (26),
    and in that said left (23) and right (25) lateral faces are pierced by an aperture (215,216) forming a handle (8), each of said lateral shutters (29_A,29_B,210_A,210_B) being cut through with a notch (223_A,223_B,224_A,224_B) that gets hooked into one of said apertures (215, 216) during the expansion into volume.
18. Packaging according to any of the Claims 1 to 17, characterised in that the flat cut-out element (41) out of which a spacing element (41-45) is made comprises an upper face (46) and four lateral faces (42-45), two first opposing lateral faces (44-45) being extended by a flap including tabs capable of cooperating with apertures placed on the edges of said upper face (46) joining said upper face and said first opposing lateral faces (44,45) two second opposing lateral faces (42,43) being provided with lateral shutters comprising set-off features, each lateral shutter sliding, during the expansion into volume of said cut-out element (41), between one of said first lateral faces (44,45) and the corresponding flat, said set-off features facilitating this sliding, and in that said flaps include at least one cut-out feature (48,49,410,411) limiting a securing tongue and forming a window when the element is expanded into volume.
19. A spacing element (4₁-4₅) used in a package according to any of the claims 1 to 18.

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