EP1452453A1 - Wedging element for articles of different dimension - Google Patents

Abstract

The packing unit has a sheet (1) of a flexible deformable material to support upper sides of articles. The sheet is integrated with two parallel edges of two rigidification units in a semi-rigid material such as carton. Two distinct lateral flaps (3) are articulated on the rigidification units to support against an internal face of the two parallel walls (7) of a package for maintaining the articles in a position. An independent claim is also included for a package for containing different articles.

Description

The present invention relates to a wedging element of articles various inside a packaging. The invention relates to also a packaging containing such articles and equipped with a wedging element thereof within the package.

It has long been known that it is difficult to maintain position inside a packaging or packaging of objects various shapes and sizes, which fill only a part of this packaging or this packaging and that it is desirable to immobilize during transport or handling operations.

A widely used solution for many years consisting of making various parts of the packaging integral with one or more films of a heat-shrinkable material, the objects of which are covered with times these put in position, and that is then brought by heating to using radiant panels at a temperature sufficient to cause their retraction, so as to firmly enclose the objects conditioned.

Such a process has been very successful and the Applicant, in particular, proposed under the trade name GROUPAC of many types of packaging, devices and processes for of this technique.

Thermoplastic films are unfortunately not not biodegradable and the protection of the environment led, these recent years, to avoid more and more their use.

Other techniques were therefore considered and this is how FR-A-2815 014 discloses a method and a device for wedging objects in a box with a square or rectangular section, according to which introduced into this box a sheet of foldable material, for example made of cardboard, this sheet having a central portion whose dimensions are substantially equivalent to those of the bottom of the body, so that it can be moved towards the bottom of it, and on at least two opposite sides of this central portion, at at least one foldable flap, said foldable flaps being folded upwards. The packing sheet thus shaped and prepared can then be inserted into the crate until it comes into contact with the surface superior objects housed in this crate, while its shutters are pushed back, applied and fixed against the internal face of the side walls of the box, so as to achieve a solid fixation of the sheet of wedging on these walls and to ensure the setting of objects housed in it.

The present invention is concerned with setting elements of this general type, but having, instead of a sheet of a material foldable such as cardboard, a sheet of deformable flexible material, for example woven or non-woven material, paper, film plastic, in a mesh or net, or others, able to marry faithfully the shape of the upper part of the packaged objects.

The invention also aims to propose such a wedging element wherein the sheet of a flexible material is secured according to least two parallel edges of stiffening elements, for example in a semi-rigid material, comprising lateral lugs hinged to these elements and able to be made integral with the internal faces of two parallel walls of the packaging to be equipped, in order to lock in position the sheet made of a flexible material and the objects on which she takes support.

The invention therefore relates to a wedging element of various articles inside a packaging, characterized in that it comprises a sheet of deformable flexible material, suitable for take support on the upper end of these items by marrying their shape, this sheet being secured according to at least two edges parallel of two stiffening elements in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard from which protrude laterally distinct legs, able to be straightened to come take support against the inner face of two parallel walls of the conditioning and to be made in solidarity, in particular by bonding, to lock in position the sheet of flexible material and the articles on which it is based.

We know of course, by US 6 206 194 A (see Figures 22 to 25 and 27 to 29) V-section wedges, 54-56 and 55-57, on one side of which is fixed a sheet of a flexible material 52. This ply 52 is intended to bear on the upper face packaged article and packaging elements are interposed between this article and two opposite walls of the package.

Parts 56 and 57 of the wedging elements are, however, not glued against the walls of the packaging, because it is the article conditioning that supports the flexible tablecloth. In addition, these parts 56 and 57 of the wedging elements are rectangular panels not having separate legs capable of coming into application in one plurality of positions against the walls, so that the flexible sheet can marry the shape of a lot of sundries packaged in packaging.

If we look at Figures 27 to 29 of this US patent, we see in addition to the flexible sheet 62 can be glued directly on U-shaped structures 64-67 and 65-68 facing each other without setting elements in the usual sense of the term.

It is therefore clear that the aim pursued by US 6 206 194 and the means it proposes to use are completely different from those of the present invention, which aims to maintain in position, in a partially filled packaging, articles of various shapes, which are enclosed by a flexible sheet secured to two side walls opposite of the package by means of wedging elements with tabs glued against these walls.

According to the invention, the stiffening elements can be consisting simply of strips of cardboard or corrugated cardboard and the legs attached to them can be glued to the face internal associated walls of the packaging.

Advantageously, from the ends of the fold lines by which the legs are articulated on the stiffening element associate extend transversely to this element of the fold lines perpendicular to the previous ones, so as to be deformable easily the stiffening elements so that the sheet of material deformable wife freely form the upper part of packaged articles. Deformable angles are thus produced, which can be made integral with the internal faces of the contiguous walls in the most favorable position for positioning in position of articles conditioned.

The packaging in which these items are housed and equipped of a wedging element according to the invention, integral with the inner face of two of its side walls, is another object of the invention.

It will be noted that the packaging may be of any material rigid or semi-rigid, and that the panel constituted by the flexible sheet in a deformable material and the stiffening elements may have a shape substantially similar to that of the bottom of the packaging that it is intended to equip and a surface slightly greater than that from this background.

Legs (or flaps) can optionally be hinged at the ends of the stiffening elements in such a way that they can be straightened to come against the inside walls of the conditioning perpendicular to those against which are applied the other legs of this element and to be made solidary.

Alternatively, the corresponding ends of each element stiffening can be joined by strips of the same material semi-rigid articulated on these elements by folding lines perpendicular to those by which the legs are articulated on them, these bands coming to be applied against the internal faces of the walls of packaging perpendicular to those with which are associated the stiffening elements, to be made integral.

Les figures 1, 2 et 3 sont trois vues en plan d'éléments de calage conformes à l'invention, vus du côté tourné vers l'intérieur du conditionnement qu'ils sont destinés à équiper ;

Les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en perspective, illustrant l'utilisation de tels éléments de calage pour maintenir des articles divers à l'intérieur du conditionnement.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows of various embodiments thereof. In this description, reference will be made to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are three plan views of wedging elements according to the invention, seen from the side facing inward of the packaging they are intended to equip;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating the use of such wedging elements for holding various articles within the package.

In all the figures, the members that are identical or have a analogous function are designated by the same reference numerals.

The wedging element shown in FIG. rectangular sheet 1 made of a deformable flexible material, for example of non-woven material, the longitudinal edges of which are fixed by example by gluing, on two stiffening strips 2 of a material semi-rigid such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard.

From the longitudinal edge of each farthest strip 2 the other band 2 project outwardly from the separate legs 3, articulated on the associated strip 2 by fold lines arranged in the extension of each other.

Each leg 3 is separated from the adjacent leg or legs 3 by a cutout 4 in the shape of a V, whose tip is turned towards the strip 2 associated and located between the fold lines by which two legs 3 contiguous are articulated on the strip 2.

From the tip of each V-cut extends, transversely to the contiguous strip 2, a fold line perpendicular to the lines by which the legs 3 are articulated on this band, so as to allow each band 2 to deform freely.

The panel constituted by the sheet 1 in a flexible material and the strips 2 of a semi-rigid material has a shape substantially similar to that of the bottom of the packaging 6 that the wedging element is intended to equip (see Figure 4) and a surface slightly superior to that of this background, to be able to style articles conditioned.

The flexible sheet 1 of the wedging element is indeed intended for take support by marrying their shape on the objects of forms and varied dimensions resting on the bottom of the packaging, tightly, while the legs 3 in one semi-rigid material are straightened laterally to come apply and lock against the inner side of the longitudinal walls 7 of the packaging 6, to wedge the objects in position in the conditioning. If you want to lock in position the element of wedging and the objects enclosed by the sheet 1, one can advantageously stick the legs 3 against the inner face of the walls 7.

We see, as explained above, that bands 2 of each wedging element and the adjoining legs 3 form deformable angles, which greatly favor the introduction of the wedging element and the conformation of the sheet 1 to the shape of the upper part of the packaged objects.

The wedging element shown in FIG. 2 is similar, in principle, to that of FIG. 1, but the tabs 3a articulated at each end of the strips 2 are adjacent, by a fold line perpendicular to that by which these tabs 3 a are perpendicular to the band 2 associated with a flap 8, intended to be folded perpendicular to the corresponding lug 3a, to come to bear against the inner face of a wall of the package perpendicular to those against which the legs are applied 3. Each flap 8 is here adjoined by a fold line to a flap 9 intended to be folded in the plane of the corresponding strip 2.

The sheet 1 of the deformable material has been represented on the Figure 2 as extending between the flaps 8, but it could also not be present between these components.

In the embodiment of the wedging element of FIG. 10 is provided at each lateral end of the sheet 1 in flexible deformable material, perpendicular to the strips 2, to ends of which it is articulated by a parallel fold line to that extending transversely to strips 2, from the cutting edge 4.

As seen in FIG. 5, in the position of use of the wedging element, the strips 10 come to bear against the face internal transverse walls 11, perpendicular to the walls 7 against which the legs are applied. may be made integral with the walls 11, for example by bonding.

The invention thus provides a particularly simple means and easy to implement to wedge shaped objects in position varied inside a package, the element 1 of a material deformable that can adapt precisely to the shape of the party superior of the objects on which it is based, because of the ability to to deform that present lateral elements of stiffening which this element 1 is integral.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the forms of placing implemented which have been described, and the legs 3, the shutters 8 or the strips 9 could, of course, have a different shape. Similarly, provided between the legs 3 V-shaped cutouts 4, these cutouts could have the shape of a U.

Claims (9)

Stabbing element for various articles inside a packaging (6), characterized in that it comprises a sheet (1) of deformable flexible material, able to bear on the upper end of these articles conforming to their shape, this sheet (1) being secured along at least two parallel edges of two stiffening elements (2) made of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated board, from which separate legs laterally project; (3), adapted to be straightened to bear against the inner face of two parallel walls (7) of the packaging and to be made integral, in particular by gluing, to lock in position the sheet (1) of flexible material and the articles on which it is based. Wedging element according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening elements consist of strips (2) of cardboard or corrugated cardboard on which the tabs (3) are articulated by fold lines aligned with each other. Wedging element according to claim 2, characterized in that from the ends of the fold lines by which the legs (3) are articulated on the strips (2) extend on these bands fold lines perpendicular to the preceding and intended to promote the deformation of these strips (2) in the position of use of the wedging element. Wedging element according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tabs (3) are separated from the adjoining tabs by a V-shaped or U-shaped cutout (4). Calibration element according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the panel consisting of the flexible sheet (1) made of a deformable material and the strips (2) which are integral with it have a shape substantially similar to that of the bottom conditioning (6) that it is intended to equip and a surface slightly greater than that of this background. Locking element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that tabs or flaps (8) are articulated on tabs (3a) arranged at the ends of the stiffening elements (2), in such a way that they may be straightened perpendicularly to the tab (3a) to come to bear against the inner face of walls (11) of the packaging (6) to be fitted with this wedging element, perpendicular to those against which the other legs are applied ( 3) adjacent to these elements (2) of stiffening, the flexible sheet (1) of deformable material extending or not between these flaps (8). Wedge element according to claim 6, characterized in that flaps (8) are articulated by a fold line on a tab (9) perpendicular disposed in the same plane as the stiffening element (2) corresponding. Wedge element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the corresponding ends of the stiffening elements (2) are joined by strips (10) of the same semi-rigid material articulated on these elements (2). by fold lines perpendicular to those by which the tabs (3) are hinged to these elements, these strips (10) being intended to be applied against the inner faces of the walls of the packaging perpendicular to those to which the legs are associated ( 3) stiffening elements (2), to be made integral. Packaging in which are housed various articles and equipped with a wedging element according to one of claims 1 to 8, the flexible sheet (1) is supported by following their shape on the part packaged articles, while the legs (3) of the stiffening elements (2) are straightened and come to bear on the inner face of two parallel walls (7) of the packaging, of which they are made solidary, in particular by collage.

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