EP1140636B1 - 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

The subject of the present invention is a device universal packaging intended more particularly for packaging and 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 an item large individual such as a bottle.

It is known to use as packaging for sweets, sugared almonds, chocolates or other objects, sachets or cardboard or flexible plastic boxes, which packages are stored flat, in a deployed form, by stack.

The document W096 / 37133 relates to a device for the presentation of individual bouquets of flowers, which includes a sheet rolled up in a cone or a cylinder to form a support while a waterproof sheet is placed under the bottom of this support and is raised along the side wall of it to be held by means of a tape nearby of the upper end of said support, which is shaped to allow the introduction of water and flowers.

Such a packaging device cannot be used instantly it is stored in a deployed, flat form, and it has to be transformed by the user for its volume, represents a constraint and a waste of time for the latter, which goes against the aim sought by the presented invention.

We also know from document US 5,005,760, a rectangular packaging obtained by folding a square sheet, and having a flat square bottom, four sides linked two by two by a bellows folded inwards and counter-folded twice along a diagonal of said square. This packaging includes folding means making it possible to do so pass, by tightening of its upper part, from an open state where it has a generally cylindrical shape and flared towards the top, to the packaging.

Such packaging has the same disadvantages as the one mentioned before, in fact, so as not to be bulky, it can only be stored flat, which requires before use time-consuming formatting.

We also know, from document EP 0.369.947, a fancy box specially intended to contain articles confectionery such as fine chocolates, pralines, candy, etc., the main characteristic of which is present the shape of a precious stone. This shape particular is obtained from a sheet of cardboard or similar, cut folded and glued, so as to form a bottom and a dome presenting respectively, the shape of a pyramid inverted octagonal and the shape of an octagonal pyramid right, these two pyramids having the same base and being of a in one piece. Note that to be maintained in a vertical position, such a box must be associated with a support.

Besides that it cannot contain flowers and their water, such a box can not, and again without taking into account of a possible support, be stored other than flat with the aforementioned drawbacks that this entails.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these disadvantages by proposing a universal packaging device, particularly suitable for the presentation of bouquets of flowers, already preformed so as to suppress the operations of volume of existing devices that can be stored easily by nesting with a small footprint.

The universal preformed packaging device for objects solid or liquid according to the invention is of the constituted type a deformable receptacle comprising a base and means for folding allowing, in combination with closure means, to pass it, by concentric tightening of its part high, of an open state where it has a shape overall cylindrical and flared upwards able to receive one or several objects to be packed, in a closed packaging state where it has a generally conical shape, and it is characterized essentially in that said folding means comprise the upper edge of said receptacle which has a shape in sawtooth, and fold lines extending between said upper edge and said base to form over the entire periphery of the receptacle for the inside folds, which are each consisting of three fold lines extending from point from said base to said sawtooth edge in three corresponding points at two upper ends and at one lower end of said serrated edge, said upper ends being located directly on the side and on the other of said lower end.

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

The device can advantageously include a flange ensuring passage with the closure means snapshot of the open state of the receptacle in the closed state packing by concentric tightening of said flange.

The closure means may be in the form of a cord surrounding said flange or sliding in holes made over its entire periphery.
The flange is preferably made up of tongues which each occupy one of the hollows of the upper serrated edge of the receptacle and which extend backwards or beyond the upper ends of the latter while diverging with respect to the axis of the receptacle, and in that said tabs each comprise a fold line which extends centrally over its entire height, in line with the central fold line of the corresponding return 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 present between its two branches an angle determined according to the inclination that we want to give to the tabs by relation to the axis of the receptacle in the closed state of packaging of the device, namely the more the angle will be opened the more tabs will tilt towards the base of the receptacle in the state closed packaging of said receptacle.

So the V-fold line can present an obtuse angle so that the tabs tilt automatically to the base of the receptacle when switching to the closed state of packing to be able to snap a cap of closure on these.

In another embodiment of the collar this consists of tabs which each occupy one of the hollows in the upper edge and which extend back from the upper ends of this last diverging from the axis of the receptacle, said tabs each having a fold line which extends centrally over their entire height in the extension of the central fold line of the inside fold corresponding, 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 with lugs intended to be snapped automatically in recesses made in the tabs or under said tabs near the V-fold line

The packaging device according to the invention will be preferably made in one piece of plastic by injection, extrusion or other known process.

• la figure 1 représente une vue de profil à l'état d'ouverture du dispositif d'emballage selon la présente invention dans un mode de réalisation préférentiel.
• la figure 2 représente plusieurs dispositifs précédents empilés pour leur stockage.
• la figure 3 représente une vue de profil du dispositif d'emballage précédent avec une variante des moyens de fermeture.
• la figure 4 représente une vue de profil du dispositif précédent comportant une rehausse.
• la figure 5 représente une vue de profil du dispositif précédent comportant une rehausse de plus grande hauteur.
• la figure 6 représente une utilisation du dispositif d'emballage selon l'invention pour un bouquet de fleurs.
• la figure 7a représente une vue de profil du réceptacle du dispositif selon l'invention avec une collerette venant en retrait du bord supérieur du réceptacle et adaptée pour sa fermeture par un capuchon.
• la figure 7b représente une vue en coupe longitudinale du réceptacle de la figure précédente à l'état fermé d'emballage.
• la figure 8a représente une vue de profil du réceptacle du dispositif selon l'invention avec une collerette s'étendant au-delà du bord supérieur du réceptacle et adaptée pour sa fermeture à l'aide d'un capuchon.
• la figure 8b représente une vue en coupe longitudinale de la partie supérieure du réceptacle à l'état fermé d'emballage du dispositif précédent.
• la figure 9a représente une vue en coupe partielle du réceptacle selon l'invention avec différentes inclinaisons des languettes de la collerette.

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

• Figure 1 shows a side view in the open state of the packaging device according to the present invention in a preferred embodiment.
• Figure 2 shows several previous devices stacked for storage.
• 3 shows a side view of the previous 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 preceding device comprising an 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.
• Figure 7b shows a longitudinal sectional view of the receptacle of the previous 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 flange 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.
• Figure 9a shows a partial sectional view of the receptacle according to the invention with different inclinations of the tabs of the collar.

If we refer to Figure 1 we can see that the packaging device according to the present invention is consisting of a receptacle 1 which is generally deformable cylindrical and flared upwards, the base 10 of which is polygonal, ready to use and can be stored in this shape, as can be seen in Figure 2, by nesting and stacking of receptacles 1 in each others, which allows for a reduced footprint for the storage.

The upper edge 11 of the receptacle 1 is cut out sawtooth and each lower edge 13 of this last part a central fold line 14 which extends up to a point 14 'located at base 10 of the receptacle 1, and from which point, 14 'leave two lines of lateral folding 15 each joining an upper edge 16, which upper edges 16 are located directly on either side of the lower edge 13.

We can also see that the device packaging according to the invention comprises tabs 2 which are each located in a hollow 12 of the upper edge 11 and which extend diverging from the axis of the receptacle 1 beyond the upper edges 16 of the edge upper 11 sawtooth. Tabs 2 have each a fold line 20 which extends centrally from the corresponding lower edge 13 to the edge upper 21 of the tongue 2 so as to form a fold outgoing 7.

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

The walls of the inside folds 16 ′ will be preferably thinner than the outer walls 17 located between the re-entrant folds 16 '.

The tongues 2 thus form a collar 22 to facilitate the closing of the receptacle 1 in passing for example a cord 3 around the tabs 2, at the level of its junction with the upper edge 11, which has to tighten the flange 22 and close the receptacle 1 in closed packaging state.

After tightening the flange 22, at the closed state of packaging of the receptacle 1, the tabs 2 which form an outgoing fold are slightly open towards inside the flange 22.

Tabs 2 may also include each a hole 23, as can be seen in FIG. 3, allowing the cord 3 to slide in the holes 23 to further facilitate the closing of the receptacle 1.

If we now refer to Figures 4 and 5 we can see that the base 10 of the receptacle 1 can extend down so as to raise it according to the objects to be packaged, the receptacle 1 of FIG. 5, the enhancement of which has a cylindrical shape, being particularly suitable for packaging a bottle 4. It should be noted that the extensions can have various forms depending on the or objects to be wrapped.

FIG. 6 shows a receptacle 1 of the type of that of FIG. 1, particularly suitable for the packaging of a bouquet of flowers 5 whose stems 50 have have been introduced into receptacle 1. The flange 22 has been tightened by a cord 3 surrounding it and the tabs 2, bent and slightly open towards the rods 50 and forming a flared collar upwards, allow to maintain shaped bouquet of flowers 5.

The tabs 2 of the flange 22 can also be inclined towards the base 10 of the receptacle 1, as shown in Figure 8a and Figure 8b, so that allow the closure of the receptacle 1 by a cap 6 the lower edge 60 of which has an annular projection internal 61 coming to hang under the edge of the end free 27 of the tabs 2 by snapping on the cap 1 on the flange 22 thus formed.

FIG. 9 shows three junction lines 26, 24, 25 V-shaped tongue 2 with the receptacle 1, which each have an angle respectively obtuse aperture a, b, c different depending on the inclination that we want to give to the tongues 2 in the state closed packaging of receptacle 1. We can see in particular that for an angle determined a tongue 2 is more tilted downwards only for angles b or c less open.

In a variant for closing a receptacle 1, as shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b, the collar 22 is formed of 2 'tabs similar in structure and in their shape to the previous 2 tabs, unlike that they occupy the hollows 12 of the upper edge 11 in teeth of receptacle 1 by extending back from the edges 16 on the other hand, the tongues 2 ′ have 20 'holes for snapping the lugs 60' of a 6 'closing cap.

The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to produce various packaging such as jewel packaging for jewelry or perfumery but also packaging for sweets, sugared almonds, chocolates or packaging for bouquets of cut flowers and can also form in the latter case a disposable vase.

Claims (10)

1. Pre-formed universal packaging device for solid or liquid objects of the type comprised of a distortable receptacle (1) including a base (10) and folding means (11, 14, 15) that, in association with closing means (3, 6, 6'), allow causing it to pass, through concentrically narrowing its top portion, from the open state, in which it has a globally cylindrical shape widened upwardly, capable of receiving one or several objects to be packed, into a closed packing state, in which it has a globally conical shape, characterised in that said folding means include the upper edge (11) of said receptacle (1), which has a saw-tooth shape, and folding lines (14, 15) extending between said upper edge (11) and said base (10), in order to form, at the complete periphery of the receptacle (1), re-entrant folds (16') that are each comprised of three folding lines (14, 15) extending from one location (14') on said base (10) to said saw-tooth-shaped edge (11), at three locations (13, 16) corresponding to both upper ends (16) and one lower end (13) of said saw-tooth-shaped edge (11), said upper ends (16) being located directly on both sides of said lower end (13).
2. Packaging device according to claim 1, characterised in that it includes a collar (22) ensuring, with the closing means (3, 6, 6'), the instantaneous passing over from the open state of the receptacle (1) into a packing state, through concentrically narrowing said collar (22).
3. Packaging device according to claim 2, characterised in that the collar (22) is formed of tongues (2, 2') that each occupy one of the recesses (12) of the upper saw-tooth-shaped edge (11) of the receptacle (1) and that extend setback or beyond the upper ends (16) of the latter by diverging from the axis of the receptacle (1), and in that said tongues (2, 2') each include a folding line (20) that extends centrally over its full length in the extension of the central folding line (14) of the corresponding re-entrant fold (16') forming an outwardly protruding fold (7), the connection line between said tongue (2, 2') and the upper edge forming a V-shaped folding line.
4. Packaging device according to claim 3, characterised in that the V-shaped folding line has, between its two legs, an angle determined as a function of the slant one wants to impart to the tongues (2) with respect to the axis of the receptacle when the latter is in the packing state.
5. Packaging device according to claim 4, characterised in that the V-shaped folding line has an obtuse angle determined so that the tongues (2) are automatically inclined towards the base (10) of the receptacle (1) during passing over into the closed packing state, in order for a closing cap (6) to be capable of being snapped onto said inclined tongues (2).
6. Packaging device according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the closing means consist of a cord (3) surrounding the collar (22) or sliding in holes (23) provided for at the complete periphery of the collar (22).
7. Packaging device according to claim 3, characterised in that the closing means are in the form of a cap (6') including catches (60') capable of automatically engaging into recesses (20') provided for in the tongues (2) extending setback of the upper ends (16) of the upper saw-tooth-shaped edge (11).
8. Packaging device according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the closing means are in the form of a cap (6) including an internal annular protrusion capable of being locked under the edge of the free end (27) of the tongues (2) forming the collar (22).
9. Packaging device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the receptacle (1) includes, at its base (10), a high extension.
10. Packaging device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is made out of one single plastic piece.

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