EP1140636A1 - Universal packing device for solid or liquid objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The inventive device consists of a deformable receptacle (1) comprising folding means (11, 14, 15) that are associated with closing means enabling the top part of said receptacle (1) to be squeezed in a conical manner and shifted from an open position, wherein it has a substantially cylindrical shape that flares outwards towards the top and can receive one or more objects that are to be packed, and a packed state in which it has a substantially conical shape.

Description

       

  
 



  Universal performance packaging device for solid or liquid objects
 The present invention relates to a universal packaging device intended more particularly for packaging and for the presentation of bouquets of flowers.



   The device according to the present invention can also be used as packaging for various objects such as candies, chocolates or sugared almonds or of a large individual element such as a bottle.



   It is known to use as packaging for sweets, sugared almonds, chocolates or other objects sachets or boxes made of cardboard or flexible plastic, which packaging is stored flat, in an unfolded form, by stacking.



   The document WO96 / 37133 relates to a packaging device making it possible to present bouquets of individual flowers comprising a waterproof sheet intended to form a cone, the base and the filling of said cone with water ensure good stability.



   However, these packaging devices which are stored in a deployed, flat form, must undergo a transformation by the user for their setting in volume, which represents a constraint and a waste of time for the latter.



   The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a universal packaging device, particularly suitable for the presentation of bouquets of flowers, already preformed so as to eliminate the volume-setting operations of existing devices and which can be stored easily. with a reduced bulk.



   The packaging device according to the invention is essentially characterized in that it consists of a deformable receptacle comprising folding means associated with closing means making it possible to pass said receptacle, by concentric tightening of its upper part, from an open state where it has a generally cylindrical shape and flared upwards, capable of receiving one or more objects to be packaged, to a closed state of packaging or it has a generally conical shape.



   According to the invention, the folding means consist of folding lines making it possible to close the receptacle in the packaging state in an accordion manner.



   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper edge of the receptacle is cut in a sawtooth fashion over its entire periphery, while on the one hand a central fold line extends from each lower end of said edge to a point. located below, said points being located at the same height and regularly spaced around the entire periphery of said receptacle, and on the other hand two fold lines each extend from said point to one of the upper ends of said edge located directly on either side of its corresponding lower end, so as to form re-entrant folds contributing to the accordion effect.



   The closure means may consist of a cap comprising lugs allowing it to snap into openings provided for this purpose in the receptacle near its upper edge, or by means of a sliding cord in openings made not far from its upper edge.



   The device can advantageously include a collar ensuring with the closing means the instantaneous passage from the open state of the receptacle to the closed state of packaging by concentric tightening of said collar.



   The closure means may be in the form of a cord surrounding said flange or sliding in holes made over its entire periphery.



   The collar will preferably consist of tongues each occupying one of the hollows of the upper sawtooth edge of the receptacle and extending beyond the latter diverging from the axis of the receptacle. On the other hand, the tongues will each comprise a fold line which will extend centrally over the entire height of said tongue in the extension of the central fold line of the corresponding returning fold so as to form an outgoing fold, the junction line between said tongue and the upper edge forming a V-fold line.



   The V-fold line will have an angle between its two arms determined according to the inclination that we want to give to the tongues relative to the axis of the receptacle in the closed state of packaging of the device, namely more the angle will be open plus the tabs will tilt towards the base of the receptacle in the closed state of packaging of said receptacle.



   Thus, the V-fold line can have an obtuse angle so that the tongues automatically tilt towards the base of the receptacle when the packaging state is closed so as to be able to clip a closure cap onto the latter.



   In another embodiment of the collar, this consists of tongues which each occupy one of the hollows of the upper edge and which extend back from the upper ends of the latter diverging from the axis of the receptacle , said tabs each comprising a fold line which extends centrally over their entire height in the extension of the central fold line of the corresponding re-entrant fold, the junction line between said tongue and the upper edge forming a V fold line .



   In this embodiment of the collar, the closure means may be in the form of a cap comprising lugs intended to be automatically clipped into recesses made in the tongues or under said tongues near the V-fold line. .



   The packaging device according to the invention will preferably be made from a single piece of plastic material by injection, extrusion or other known method.



   The advantages and characteristics of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.



   FIG. 1 represents a profile view in the open state of the packaging device according to the present invention in a preferred embodiment.



   FIG. 2 represents several previous devices stacked for their storage.



   FIG. 3a represents a profile view of the preceding packaging device in the closed state.



   FIG. 3 represents a profile view of the preceding packaging device with a variant of the closure means.



   FIG. 4 represents a profile view of the preceding device comprising an extension.



   FIG. 5 represents a profile view of the previous device comprising a height extension of greater height.



   FIG. 6 represents a use of the packaging device according to the invention for a bouquet of flowers.



   FIG. 7a represents a profile view of the receptacle of the device according to the invention with a flange coming back from the upper edge of the receptacle and adapted for its closure by a cap.



   FIG. 7b represents a view in longitudinal section of the receptacle of the preceding figure in the closed state of packaging.



   FIG. 8a represents a profile view of the receptacle of the device according to the invention with a collar extending beyond the upper edge of the receptacle and suitable for closing it with the aid of a cap.



   FIG. 8b represents a view in longitudinal section of the upper part of the receptacle in the closed state of packaging of the previous device.



   FIG. 9a represents a partial section view of the receptacle according to the invention with different inclinations of the tongues of the collar.



   Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the packaging device according to the present invention consists of a deformable receptacle 1 of generally cylindrical shape and flared upwards, the base 10 of which is polygonal, ready for use and can be stored in this form, as can be seen in FIG. 2, by nesting and stacking of the receptacles 1 one inside the other, which makes it possible to have a reduced bulk for storage.



   The upper edge 11 of the receptacle 1 is cut in sawtooth and from each lower edge 13 of the latter leaves a central fold line 14 which extends to a point 14 'located at the base 10 of the receptacle 1 , and from which point 14 ′ start two lateral fold lines 15 each joining an upper edge 16, which upper edges 16 are located directly on either side of the lower edge 13.



   It can also be seen that the packaging device according to the invention comprises tongues 2 which are each located in a recess 12 of the upper edge 11 and which extend in divergence relative to the axis of the receptacle 1 beyond the upper edges 16 of the upper edge 11 sawtooth. The tongues 2 each have a fold line 20 which extends centrally from the corresponding lower edge 13 to the upper edge 21 of the tongue 2 so as to form an outgoing fold.



   The fold lines 14 and 15 form, with the corresponding part of the upper edge 11 in the peripheral wall of the receptacle 1, re-entrant folds 16 'allowing, by an accordion effect, to put the receptacle 1, as can be seen in the FIG. 3a, in a closed state of packaging where it has a conical shape in which the walls 17 situated between the re-entrant folds 16 'form, by their external face, more or less, the external surface of the receptacle 1.



      The walls of the re-entrant folds 16 'will preferably be thinner than the external walls 17 situated between the re-entrant folds 16'.



   The tongues 2 thus form a collar 22 making it possible to facilitate the closing of the receptacle 1 by passing, for example, a cord 3 around the tongues 2, at its junction with the upper edge 11, which has the effect of tightening the collar 22 and to close the receptacle 1 in the closed packaging state.



   After tightening the collar 22, in the closed state of packaging of the receptacle 1, the tongues 2 which form an outgoing fold are slightly open towards the inside of the collar 22.



   The tongues 2 may also each comprise a hole 23, as can be seen in FIG. 3b, making it possible to slide the cord 3 in the holes 23 in order to further facilitate the closing of the receptacle 1.



   If we now refer to Figures 4 and 5 we can see that the base i0 of the receptacle 1 can extend downward so as to raise it according to the objects to be packaged, the receptacle 1 of Figure 5, the enhancement of which presents a cylindrical shape, being particularly suitable for packaging a bottle 4. It will be noted that the extensions may have various shapes depending on the object or objects to be packaged.



   FIG. 6 shows a receptacle 1 of the type of that of FIG. 1, particularly suitable for packaging a bouquet of flowers 5 whose stems 50 have been introduced into receptacle 1. The collar 22 has been tightened by a cord 3 surrounding it and the tongues 2, folded and slightly open towards the stems 50 and forming a flared collar flared upward, make it possible to keep the bouquet of flowers in shape 5.



   The tongues 2 of the flange 22 can also be inclined towards the base 10 of the receptacle 1, as shown in FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b, so as to allow the closure of the receptacle 1 by a cap 6, the lower edge 6G of which has a internal annular projection 61 coming to lock under the edge of the free end 23 of the tongues 2 by snap-fastening of the cap 1 on the flange 22 thus formed.



   FIG. 9 shows three junction lines 23, 24, 25 in the form of a V of a tongue 2 with the part of the upper edge 11 in corresponding sawtooth of the receptacle 1 which each have an obtuse opening angle a, b respectively , c different as a function of the inclination which it is desired to give to the tongues 2 in the closed state of packaging of the receptacle 1. It can be seen in particular that for a determined angle a tongue 2 is more inclined downward than for less open angles b or c.



   In a variant for closing a receptacle 1, as shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b, the flange 22 is formed by tongues 2 ’which are similar in their structure and in their shape to the preceding tongues 2, with the difference that they occupy the hollow 12 of the upper edge 11 sawtooth of the receptacle 1 extending back from the upper edges 16. On the other hand, the tabs 2 ′ have holes 20 ′ allowing the lugs 60 ’to be snapped on with a cap of 6 'closure.



   The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to produce various packaging such as jewel or perfume packaging, but also packaging packaging for candies, sugared almonds, chocolates or even packaging for bouquets of cut flowers which can be besides forming in the latter case a disposable vase.



   CLAIMS
 1) Universal preformed packaging device for solid or liquid objects characterized in that it consists of a deformable receptacle (1) comprising folding means (11,14,15) associated with closing means (3, 6.6 ') allowing said receptacle (1) to pass, by concentric tightening of its upper part, from an open state where it has a generally cylindrical shape and flared upwards, capable of receiving one or more objects to be packaged , in a packaging state where it has a generally conical shape.



   2) A packaging device according to claim 1 characterized in that the folding means consist of folding lines allowing to put in a firm state of packaging the receptacle (1) in accordion manner.



   3) Packaging device according to claim 2 characterized in that the upper edge (11) of the receptacle (1) is cut in sawtooth over its entire periphery while on the one hand a central fold line (14) s 'extends from each lower end (13) of said edge (11) to a point (14') located below, said points (14 ') being located at the same height and regularly spaced around the entire periphery of said receptacle (1) , and on the other hand two fold lines (15) each extend from said point (14 ') to one of the upper ends (16) of said upper edge (11),

   located directly on either side of its corresponding lower end (13), so as to form over the entire periphery of the receptacle (1) re-entrant folds (16 ') contributing to the accordion effect.



   4) Packaging device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a collar (22) ensuring with the closing means (3,6,6 ') the instantaneous passage from the open state of the receptacle (1) in the packaging state by concentric tightening of said flange (22).



   5) A packaging device according to claim 4 characterized in that the collar (22) consists of tongues (2,2 ') which each occupy one of the recesses (12) of the upper edge (11) sawtooth of the receptacle (1) and which extend back or beyond the upper ends (16) of the latter diverge from the axis of the receptacle (1) and in that said tabs (2,2 ′) each have a fold line (20) which extends centrally over the entire height of said tongue (2,2 ') in line with the central fold line (14) of the corresponding re-fold (16), the line of junction between said tongue (2,2 ') and the upper edge forming a V-fold line



   6) Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the V-fold line has between its two arms an angle determined as a function of the inclination that one wants to give to the tongues (2), extending beyond the ends upper (16) of the upper edge (11) sawtooth, in the packaging state of the device.



   7) Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the V-fold line has an obtuse angle determined so that the tongues (2) automatically tilt towards the base (10) of the receptacle (1) during the passage to the 'closed state of packaging to be able to snap a closure cap (6) on said inclined tabs.



   8) A packaging device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 characterized in that the closure means are a cord (3) surrounding said flange (22) or sliding in holes (23) formed over the entire periphery of said collar (22).



   9) Packaging device according to claim 5 characterized in that the closure means are in the form of a cap (6 ') comprising lugs intended to be engaged automatically in recesses formed in the tongues (2) which extend back from the upper ends (16) of the upper edge (11) in sawtooth.



   10) A packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the closure means are in the form of a cap comprising lugs intended to be automatically nailed in recesses made in the wall of the receptacle near its upper edge.



   11) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (1) comprises at its base (10) an extension.



   12) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made in one piece of plastic.