EP0727362A1 - Presentation and packaging device for sporting articles like table tennis bats - Google Patents

Abstract

The package is made from a panel of a suitable rigid or semi-rigid material, such as card, thin wood, metal or plastic. The panel is then cut out and folded to form two flat and parallel layers, joined by an edge strip and open at one end. The package has at least one U- or V-shaped recess adjacent to the open end which allows the main part of the packaged article to be examined or touched. An aperture in one of the layers allows a prospective purchaser to examine the handle (35). The completed package has a lower section, covering the handle, which is basically triangular or trapezoid in shape, and an upper section which is basically rectangular and has holes through it for suspending from a rod or peg (37).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the support, presentation and packaging of sporting articles with handle, of the table tennis racket type.

The sale or presentation for sale of sporting goods is more and more frequently carried out in self-service type sales outlets, where the articles are displayed on shelves, shelves, hooks, suspensions or any other similar system.

This raises several difficulties.

It is first of all necessary to fix the articles in a stable but also removable manner to allow the customer to take said articles, once his choice made.

In addition, the removability must allow the customer to take the article to look at it and possibly replace it without difficulty.

The arrangement of the articles must also be carried out so as to allow maximum exposure of each article.

In addition, the customer wants to be able to not only see the article, but also to touch and try it. This is all the more important for articles of the table tennis racket type.

Finally, the packaging must have a minimum size and a reduced manufacturing cost.

However, the known devices suffer from numerous faults and, in any event, do not make it possible to reconcile the contradictory constraints mentioned above.

Indeed, the devices known in the form of a plastic shell (blister), if they allow visual examination of the article, do not allow access to it or touch it; they are also relatively expensive.

There are also known packages using a shrink film. This type of packaging does not allow hanging, except to associate it with a cardboard panel which leads to increasing the cost of the packaging then made of two different materials. In addition, it is fragile and has the same defects as the blister, with regard to access and touch of the article by the customer.

Devices have been proposed in the form of a cardboard box. These do not allow to visually examine the product and even less to touch it.

In addition, known devices have in common the fact that they present faults on the one hand to be made bottom-up since they are destroyed and then thrown away by the customer once the purchase has been made and on the other hand not to allow the customer to remove the item from the packaging to try it at the point of sale.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and proposes a device intended to allow the support, the presentation, the packaging of a sporting article such as a table tennis racket, allowing the attachment to a pin, to visualize, touch and take said article, having a reduced bulk and allowing to take out the article and try it, and finally having an additional function and utility that can be used by the user once the item has been purchased.

To this end, according to the invention, the device for the support, the presentation and the packaging of sporting articles with handle, such as rackets of table tennis, of the type comprising means able to cooperate with a body of 'hooking (such as a rod), is characterized in that it is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material and has two substantially flat and parallel panels connected, at least on a part of the periphery, by a strip or section of tape.

In order to allow the article to be removed, the device has an opening, preferably at the top.

The device comprises at least one hole or light provided on one face for attachment, preferably in the upper part.

In order to allow the article to be touched without removing it from the support and packaging device, the latter comprises at least one lumen on one of the faces, and preferably two, one for the handle. , the other for the active part of the racket.

So that the user can grasp the item and remove it from the device, the device has two notches facing each other and of similar shape and size.

Advantageously, the notches are U-shaped or with a rounded bottom and preferably with an axis inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the device.

With the particular aim of simplifying production and reducing costs, the device is produced by folding from a single flat sheet whose folded edges are assembled by gluing, welding, stapling, heat sealing or the like.

According to a particular embodiment, it has, in plan view, a substantially triangular or trapezoidal lower part and a substantially quadrangular upper part.

For safety reasons and to facilitate handling, the edges of the panels have curved and / or rounded shapes.

The device can be made of plastic, metal, cardboard or wood.

• la figure 1 montre une vue en plan d'une feuille de matériau, déployée à plat, destinée à réaliser le dispositif de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 montre le dispositif de la figure 1 où les pattes latérales sont rabattues ;
• la figure 3 montre une vue en perspective du dispositif une fois assemblé ;
• la figure 4 montre de dispositif de l'invention en perspective et une raquette de tennis de table ;
• la figure 5 montre une vue du dispositif contenant une raquette de tennis de table et suspendu à un crochet ;
• les figures 6 et 7 montrent une variante de réalisation déployée à plat, respectivement en vue de face intérieure et de face extérieure ; et
• la figure 8 est une vue partielle de détail des languettes et pattes de fixation à la base du dispositif, en position repliée.

The invention will be clearly understood in the light of the following description relating to an illustrative but nonlimiting example of the invention, with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• Figure 1 shows a plan view of a sheet of material, deployed flat, for making the device of the invention;
• Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 where the side tabs are folded down;
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the device once assembled;
• Figure 4 shows a device of the invention in perspective and a table tennis racket;
• Figure 5 shows a view of the device containing a table tennis racket and hanging from a hook;
• Figures 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment deployed flat, respectively in view of inner face and outer face; and
• Figure 8 is a partial detail view of the tabs and lugs for fixing to the base of the device, in the folded position.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a flat sheet of rigid or semi-rigid material. In the context of the embodiment described, said material is made of cardboard, but it is understood that any other similar material is likely to be suitable, such as for example light wood, plastic or metal.

The single sheet comprises a first panel 1 and a second panel 2 connected by a central flank 3 of junction, along at least a part of two sides respectively 4 and 5 of the latter. Sides 4 and 5 form fold lines. The first and second panels each have an upper part inscribed substantially in a rectangle, respectively 6 and 7, and a lower part substantially triangular or trapezoidal, the point being directed on the side opposite to the upper part and bearing the respective references 8 and 9.

The first and second panels 1 and 2 have, with respect to a longitudinal axis not shown (vertical in FIG. 1), passing through the middle of the joining flank 3, a substantially symmetrical shape, with the exception of the elements mentioned above. after.

The second panel 2 comprises a rectangular strip 10 and elongated in the longitudinal direction of said panel, and attached to the base 11 of the trapezoid formed by the second lower part 9 which constitutes the junction line between the panel 2 and the strip 10. The line 11 is a fold line. The strip 10 comprises five successive segments 12 to 16, linked in pairs by a fold line 11a to 11d.

The first panel 1 comprises three substantially rectangular tabs 17, 18 and 19, respectively connected to the panel 1 by a fold line 20, 21 and 22, along a part of the sides of the panel 1.

The first tab 17 is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panel, along the side 20 of the quadrangular part 6 of said panel. The second and third legs 18 and 19 are arranged along the oblique sides 21 and 22 of the trapezoid formed by the second lower part 8 of said first panel 1.

Each tab 17, 18 and 19 comprises a longitudinal fold line, substantially median 23, 24 and 25, delimiting, for each tab, two parallel strips 17A, 17B; 18A, 18B; 19A, 19B. The distal bands 17A, 18A and 19A are bevelled on their transverse edges and thus form a trapezoid.

• une échancrure respectivement 26, 27 en forme générale de U ou de V à fond arrondi, et d'axe incliné par rapport à l'axe longitudinal de chaque panneau 1 et 2 .
• une lumière circulaire 28, 29 à proximité du bord supérieur transversal 30, 31 ; lesdits bords supérieurs présentant une forme courbe à concavité tournée vers les panneaux.

The upper parts 6 and 7 of the panels 1 and 2 each comprise, symmetrically:

• a notch 26, 27 respectively in the general shape of U or V with rounded bottom, and axis inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of each panel 1 and 2.
• a circular lumen 28, 29 near the transverse upper edge 30, 31; said upper edges having a curved shape with a concavity facing the panels.

The first panel 1 comprises in its trapezoidal lower part 8, an oblong opening 32, of substantially trapezoidal shape, the large base of which is situated on the lower side 33 of the panel 1.

We will now describe, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the production and shaping of the device of the invention, from the sheet of material shown flat in FIG. 1.

Initially, the legs 17, 18 and 19 are folded at 90 ° along the fold lines (23, 20); (24, 21); and (25, 22) so that the strips of each tab form, with the panel 1, a sort of U, seen in a plane transverse to the plane of said panel. This leads to the configuration of Figure 2.

Then, the first panel 1 is folded over the panel 2 and parallel to it, using the longitudinal fold lines 4 and 5, common to the central junction flank 3.

Once the panels 1 and 2 are placed facing and superimposed, the joining flank 3 is arranged perpendicularly to the latter, and the distal bands 17A, 18A and 19A bear against the panel 2, where they are then fixed by any suitable means , such as for example gluing, in the case of cardboard material.

The device then takes the form shown in perspective in FIG. 3, after the lower strip 10 has been folded and assembled by successive folds along the fold lines 11, 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d, so that two successive segments of the strip 10 are perpendicular to each other. More particularly, the strip 10 is folded on itself in a "spiral".

The first segment 12 is perpendicular to the panels 1 and 2; the segment 13 is disposed against the panel 1; the segment 14 is perpendicular to the panels and penetrates inside the oblong opening 32; the fold line joining the segments 13 and 14 is parallel and against the large base of the trapezoid formed by light 32; the segment 15 is disposed against the panel 2; and the last segment 16 is perpendicular to the panels and pressed against the underside of the first segment 12.

Securing means by stapling or gluing for example, are provided for fixing together the first and last segments 11 and 16 of the strip 10. The latter constitutes a means of strengthening and stiffening the lower part of the device.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a perspective view of the device of the invention once completed, and a table tennis racket 34 ready to be arranged inside the device. The racket 4 can be wrapped in a transparent plastic film (not shown).

The device defines a closed volume, with the exception of an upper opening through which the racket is introduced (arrow f), parallel to the panels 1 and 2, the handle 35 downwards and the active part 36 upwards.

FIG. 5 shows the device inside which the racket 34 is placed and suspended from a display comprising a horizontal rod 37, integral with a base 38, itself fixed to a wall, piece of furniture or the like, for the purpose of presentation of the racket.

The rod 37 is introduced into the circular slots 28 and 29, until the end 39 of the rod protrudes from the first panel constituting the front panel.

There is shown in Figures 6 and 7 an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, deployed flat, respectively showing an internal view and an external view of the device. The common elements of the device of FIGS. 6 and 7 on the one hand and of the device shown in the other FIGS. 1 to 5 on the other hand, and which are similar, equivalent or identical, bear the same references. By interior view is meant a view showing the faces arranged opposite in the assembled position of the device.

The variant embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 differs in particular from a different embodiment of the fixing lugs to the small base of the trapezoid formed by the lower part of the device and by lugs in which the fixing method is different. Note that FIG. 6 corresponds to the representation of FIG. 1, with the alternative embodiments.

Referring to Figure 6, the first panel 1 has a notch 32 ', substantially equivalent to the lumen 32 of the device of Figure 1. The notch 1 is open downwards, on the side opposite to the fixing holes 28 and 29 of the device.

The first panel 1 has three rectangular tabs 17C, 18C and 19C, respectively connected to said panel by fold lines 20, 21 and 22 respectively, along a part of the sides of said panel. Along each fold line is provided a recessed portion of elongated and narrow shape, over a portion of the length of the fold lines 20, 21 and 22. These recessed elongated portions bear the references 47 (for tab 17C), 48 (for 18C leg) and 49 (for 19C leg).

The ends of the legs 18C and 19C (arranged along the oblique sides of the trapezoidal lower part 8), 5 are each extended by a tongue 18D and 19D respectively, of quadrangular shape and having a length substantially or very substantially less than the length 18C and 19C legs. The tongues 18D and 19D are connected to the legs 18C and 19C by a fold line, respectively 50 and 51.

The second panel 2 also comprises, symmetrically with respect to the panel 1, a lug 17D, a lug 18E and a lug 19E, the latter being respectively arranged symmetrically with respect to the lugs 17C, 18C and 19C of the panel 1. The legs 17D, 18E and 19E are connected to panel 2 by fold lines 20A, 21A and 22A respectively.

These same legs have, along their free longitudinal edge, a tongue of elongated and narrow shape, and over a part of the length of said legs. These tabs, bearing the respective references 47A, 48A and 49A, are likely to be associated and penetrate into the lumens 47, 48 and 49 of the panel 1 and described above.

On the panel 2 is provided a fixing assembly described below. At the base of the panel 2 (towards the small base of the trapezoid formed by the lower part 9) is provided a tab 12 connected to the panel 2 by a fold line 11, and also connected by a succession of fold lines, to a first transverse tongue 52 and a second tongue 53, arranged parallel to the first and slightly spaced from the latter, being connected by a bridge of material 54 and corresponding fold lines. The transverse tabs 52 and 53 thus comprise a central part 52A and 53A, and two lateral tabs 52B, 52C and 53B and 53C, respectively; they thus form a kind of H offset by 90 °.

We find in Figure 7 the same elements, the device being shown on the side of the outer face.

The assembly of the device of Figures 6 and 7 is as follows.

Starting from the flat arrangement of Figure 6, the tabs 17C, 18C, 19C, 19E, 18E, 17D are folded along the corresponding fold lines, so that said tabs are arranged perpendicular to the plane of the corresponding panel.

Then, the tabs 18D and 19D are in turn folded substantially transversely to the legs to which they are attached; said tabs 18D and 19D are then found substantially superimposed on each other. They are then fixed by a point of adhesive in the usual way.

The lower fixing tabs and tabs, arranged at the base of the panel 2, are folded in the following manner, with reference to FIG. 6 and to FIG. 8, showing a partial perspective view of the tabs once folded, at the exclusion of legs 18E and 19E, and of the panel, for a better understanding of the drawing.

The lower tab 12 is first folded perpendicular to the panel 2, along the fold line 11, and the transverse tabs 52 and 53 are also folded in the transverse direction (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device), along the lines of folding referenced, as shown in Figure 6, respectively 56, 57, 58 and 59. The folding is carried out so that the planes of two tabs or tabs separated by a folding line are perpendicular to each other.

Also, the pairs of lateral tabs 52B and 52C, on the one hand, and 53B and 53C, on the other hand, transverse legs 52 and 53 are folded towards the central part of the legs 52 and 53, along longitudinal fold lines .

This leads to the position shown in Figure 8 which shows only the tabs 52 and 53, and the associated tabs.

It is understood that the legs 52B and 53B, and 52A and 53A, and 52C and 53C, are respectively parallel in pairs and delimit a sort of open channel in the upper part (facing the observer, the sheet 2 being placed flat) .

By performing a tilting (rotation) movement of the first panel 1 on the panel 2, as symbolized by the arrow in FIG. 6, and by folding along the fold lines 4 and 5 of the central strip 3, the panel 1 is folded over the panel 2. In doing so, the tabs 47A, 48A and 49A are introduced, lugs 17D, 18E and 19E, in lights 47, 48, 49, legs 17C, 18C and 19D. Glue dots 60 are provided on the legs so as to allow the association of the legs 17C and 17D, 18C and 18E, and 19C and 19E.

The channel delimited by the legs and tongues of the device in the lower part (FIG. 8) is able to thus receive the lower parts 18C and 19C, and the tongues 18D and 19D, forming a sort of V with a horizontal base.

The tongues 52 and 53 constitute a means of reinforcement and stiffening of the lower part of the device.

The different tabs, tongues and the like are fixed by gluing, for example, with gluing products known in themselves.

By way of example, the material constituting the device can be cardboard, with a density of between 100 and 500 g / m ² , and preferably of the order of 400 g / m ² .

With reference to FIG. 5, the handle 35 of the racket is visible and protrudes relative to the front face of the panel 1. Thus, the handle 35 is not only visible but capable of being touched by the customer (in the no plastic film wrapping the racket).

In addition, the notch 26 provided in the first panel, allows viewing and touching a part 40 of the active part 36 of the racket.

The presence of two notches 26 and 27 facing each other, allow the customer to grasp the racket by pinching, to take it out of the support and presentation device, in order to try the racket and get an idea of its holding in hand for example.

It should be noted that these operations are made possible without alteration, modification or damage to the support / display unit of the invention.

The device is easy to make using a sheet of flat material. The assembly and fixing of the panels parallel to each other are carried out by gluing, stapling, welding, thermoforming, etc., depending on the material used. Likewise, the joining lines between the panels, strips, segments, are formed by pre-folding lines, lines of weakness, bridges of material or the like.

Finally, the device may be used after purchase by the customer as packaging for transporting the racket on the one hand and / or as a stiffening element inside a bag or any other flexible container. intended to contain the racket.

Claims (14)

Device for the support, presentation and packaging of sport articles with handles, such as table tennis rackets, of the type comprising means (28, 29) able to cooperate with a fastening member (such as 'a rod), of the type produced by folding from a single flat sheet of rigid or semi-rigid material, whose folded edges are assembled, and having two substantially planar and parallel panels (1,2), connected to the less on a part of their periphery (4,5), by a strip or section of strip (3), and delimiting an opening, characterized in that it comprises at least one notch (26, 27), facing the active part of said article, said notch opening on the side of the opening of the device. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the notch (26,27) is U-shaped or V-shaped with a rounded bottom. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises two notches arranged opposite one another. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one light (32), on one of the panels, and arranged opposite the handle of said article. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the notch (26,27) has a general direction inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the device. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each panel (1,2) has, seen in plan, a substantially triangular or trapezoidal lower part (8, 9) and a substantially quadrangular upper part (6,7 ). Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the edges of the panels (1,2) have curved and / or rounded shapes. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises elongated tabs (17A to 17D, 18A to 18E, 19A to 19E), connected to the edges of the panels on at least part of them, by fold lines (20 to 25, 20A, 21A, 22A), the tabs being capable of being fixed to each other to allow fixing from one panel to the other, the latter once folded down one over the other. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises at least two legs 17A to 17D) associated with at least part of a longitudinal side of the upper quadrangular part (6,7), and at least two sets of legs (18A to 18E, 19A to 19E) arranged along the inclined sides of the trapezoid formed by the lower part (8,9). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises reinforcement and stiffening means comprising a set of legs / tongues (10,12,52,53) arranged towards the small base of the trapezium formed by the lower part (9 ), and comprising at least one series of successive legs, in the longitudinal direction of the axis of the device and each connected to the neighbor by a transverse fold line (11, lla to lld, 56 to 59). Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the set of lower legs further comprises at least two legs (52,53) of transverse direction and connected by a tongue (54), thus forming a kind of H. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is made of plastic, metal, cardboard or wood. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two holes (28,29) arranged opposite each panel (11) and capable of cooperating with a hooking member, the holes being arranged so as to prevent removal of the article deposited in the device, when the latter cooperates with said hooking member. Device for transporting and / or protecting a sporting item with a handle, such as a table tennis racket, characterized in that it is produced by folding, from a single flat sheet, into a material rigid or semi-rigid, the edges of which folded down are assembled, and having two substantially planar and parallel panels (1, 2), said panels delimiting at least one opening through which said article is capable of being inserted / removed, and said panels being connected over part of their periphery, to the exclusion of said opening, by one or more sections of strips, so as to constitute an assembly capable of containing said article and ensuring mechanical protection of the latter.

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