EP2162362A1

EP2162362A1 - Packaging particularly for soft cheese of the type including a lid clipped on a base

Info

Publication number: EP2162362A1
Application number: EP08805639A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sébastien Pauty; Isabelle Perrard; Philippe Arnoux
Original assignee: Compagnie des Fromages et RichesMonts SCA
Current assignee: Compagnie des Fromages et RichesMonts SCA
Priority date: 2007-06-07
Filing date: 2008-06-03
Publication date: 2010-03-17
Also published as: FR2917075B1; FR2917075A1; WO2009004177A1

Abstract

The invention relates to packaging particularly adapted for containing a soft cheese in improved maturing and preserving conditions. The packaging (1) of the invention includes a base (2) and a lid (3) of the bell type made of a deformable plastic material removably mounted on the peripheral ledge (6) of the base via clip means (7) formed as a lower peripheral edge (8) of the lid. According to the invention, the clip means includes a plurality of lugs (7) formed so as to protrude towards the outside of said lower edge and capable of being reversibly clamped under a bead (6a) for by said ledge, the base being made of a material including plant fibres such as wood and/or carton, particularly in order to allow an air flow between the lid and the base and the absorption of water by the latter.

Description

PACKAGING IN PARTICULAR FOR SOFT PASTE CHEESE, OF A TYPE COMPRISING A CLIPED COVER ON A BASE.

The present invention relates to a package particularly adapted to contain a soft cheese under improved ripening and preservation conditions, the package comprising a rigid base and a bell-shaped deformable lid which is clipped on a rim of this base. .

The invention is generally applicable to the packaging of any cheese or cheese specialty such as, in addition to soft cheeses, those with fresh dough, cheeses of the blue type and those with pressed dough.

It is known from document E-A-1 767 458 to package dairy products in a rigid bell which is removably mounted on a flat base also rigid, which is made of a plastic material. The base is provided with a plurality of lugs under which abuts a discontinuous peripheral gutter of the bell, for locking the bell in the closed position on the base, the unlocking being achieved by pulling and rotating the bell on the base.

Note that in this document the bell is not secured by clipping with the base, ie by deformation of one or more deformable elements in contact with a receiving element, and that this bell and plastic base packaging is not suitable for the packaging of soft cheeses.

The document FR-A-2 819 496 has a substantially rectangular cheese package which is also obtained by removably mounting a bell against the edge of a base, the bell and the base being also made of plastic. The base has a rigid peripheral bead obtained by molding which has lights cooperating with complementary projections formed above the lower edge of the bell, and which has means for clipping the bell in each of its corners.

As for the first document cited, a major disadvantage of the packaging described in this second document is that it does not allow not to ensure satisfactory ripening or conditioning of soft cheeses such as pie charts, among others.

An object of the present invention is to provide a package in particular adapted to contain a soft cheese under improved ripening and preservation conditions, the package comprising a rigid base and a bell-type lid of deformable plastic material which is removably mounted against a peripheral rim of the base via clipping means formed in a lower peripheral edge of the cover, packaging that overcomes the aforementioned drawback. For this purpose, a package according to the invention is such that these clipping means comprise a plurality of lugs which are formed protruding outwardly from said lower edge and which are able to become wedged reversibly under a bead formed by said rim, said base being made of a material based on plant fibers, such as wood and / or cardboard, so as to allow in particular a flow of air between the lid and the base and a water absorption by the latter .

By "soft cheese", is meant in known manner a cheese whose consistency or firmness of the dough, defined by the percentage of water content in the cheese degreased (TEFD), is greater than 67 (for example a camembert, non-restrictive), this percentage being calculated according to paragraph 7.1.1. of the general standard for CODEX cheese STAN A-6-1978, Rev. 1-1999. As stated in this standard, the TEFD (%) is equal to 100 x (weight of water in cheese) / (total weight of cheese - weight of fat in cheese).

By "base" is also meant in a manner known in the present description a substantially rigid plate and substantially flat shape which is intended to support the lid of the package.

Note that this combination of a relatively flexible plastic cover and a base specifically based on plant fibers (typically wood surrounded by deformable cardboard bead), unlike the prior art usually mentioning the pedestals also plastic, allows the clipping of the lid on this base while optimizing the refining and preservation of soft cheese housed between the base and the cover.

It should also be noted that this clipping of the cover on the base is characterized by the relative non-sealing of the closure obtained, because of the clipping lugs which are housed under the bead of the base spaced apart on the periphery of the cover, which allows to let the "flower" of the cheese (in the case of a cheese with a flowered rind) breathe optimally without drying it out, and to maintain satisfactory storage conditions before and after opening the package.

Advantageously, said base can be covered with a plastic film which is partly permeable to water, so as to allow the passage of moisture cheese to this base. Even more advantageously, this film may have a plurality of perforations which are respectively arranged opposite perforations formed on the periphery of said base, towards the inside of said bead, so as to form as many moisture evacuation channels of the cheese. .

This film, although partially permeable, thus ensures a healthy atmosphere around the soft cheese throughout the duration of its packaging.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, said base can be made of a rigid material, such as wood, and said bead can be made of a more deformable material, such as cardboard, which is attached to the periphery of the base for example by crimping.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said bead may be formed by a folded portion on itself towards the inside of said flange by defining a convex surface, preferably substantially toric and continuous. This bead preferably made of cardboard, which forms a rounded hem towards the inside of the base, thus has a rounded shape and a mechanical resistance which allows a sliding and compression of clips of the cover, to accommodate and dislodge at will these ears under and out of the bead, respectively.

Preferably, said clipping lugs each have an elliptical arc shape and extend immediately above said lower edge of the lid.

Note that these ears formed protruding from the bottom of the side wall of the lid (preferably four in number), are adapted by their shape in elliptical arc and their spacing around the cover, to be easily brought slipping, deforming and locking in the compressed state under said bead, in particular when the bead is made of cardboard.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, said lower edge of the cover and said rim of the base may both have a circular or oval geometry. Note that this circular form of the mounting interface of the cover on the base facilitates the aforementioned clipping, without having to angularly center beforehand the cover on the base.

Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the cover and the pedestal could have other geometries, for example square or rectangular geometries (e.g. adapted to contain products such as bricks, pavers or logs), without limitation.

Preferably, said cover is based on a thermoformed thermoplastic polymer preferably transparent, such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), said ears being formed on this cover by cutting a peripheral flange overlying said lower edge.

It should be noted that the transparency of the thermoformed lid advantageously allows the consumer to evaluate the quality of the cheese without having to touch it, and that the thermoformed polymer used is chosen sufficiently rigid, although deformable, to ensure the protection of the cheese despite the mechanical constraints. can be exerted on this lid. Advantageously, said cover may further incorporate, between said adjacent two-to-two lugs, outwardly projecting shoulders forming stacking wedges which are intended to receive the lower edge of another lid of a stack of lids. and which are formed by deformation inwardly of said flange.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said package may further incorporate a paper envelope which is intended to surround the cheese being for example open at its upper part and which is arranged not to be in contact with said lid, of so that this envelope absorbs the water of the cheese and allows a development of the "flower" of the latter (in the preferential case of a cheese with a rind flowery) by giving it a fluffy upper surface.

Note that this cheese and housed in the paper envelope is not compressed, and its flowy rind can develop without constraint, the paper to effectively absorb water from the surface of the cheese.

It will also be noted that this envelope may not be open at its upper part, in this case completely enclosing the cheese. Alternatively, it should be noted however that a package according to the invention could be devoid of any paper envelope surrounding the cheese, and that the latter could then be directly supported by said base.

Advantageously, said package further comprises at least one self-adhesive tamper-evident tongue glued to both the cover (preferably including its upper wall, its side wall and at least one of said ears) and under said base.

Other characteristics, advantages and details of the present invention will emerge on reading the following description of several examples of embodiment of the invention, given for illustrative and not limiting, said description being made with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which : Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view illustrating the principle of a preferred package according to the invention containing a soft cheese when the lid is assembled on the base, with the indication of the gas flow and water around it. cheese, Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the package of Figure 1 devoid of this cheese, wherein the lid is clip on the base, Figure 3 is a detail view of the clipping zone of the 2, illustrating the housing of an ear clipping the cover under a peripheral bead of the base, Figure 4 is also a detail view of the clipping zone of the package of Figure 2, showing dotted the extraction from this bead of the clipped ear according to Figure 3 (shown in solid lines), Figure 5 is a top view of the base of a package according to the invention peripheral bead reported on this base, the Figure 6 is a neck view pe according to the plane VI-Vl of Figure 5 of this base illustrating in particular the shape of this bead, Figure 7 is a detail view of the bead of Figure 6 in connection with the periphery of the base on which it is reported, the FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lid according to the invention illustrating the shape and arrangement of the four clipping lugs that it comprises, FIG. 9 is a view from above of the lid of FIG. 8, FIG. is a sectional view along the plane XX of FIG. 9 illustrating the geometry of each clip lug in relation to the lower edge of the cover, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view along the plane X1-X1 of FIG. 9 illustrating the geometry of shoulders which form stacking wedges between two adjacent ears and which are intended to receive the lower edge of another lid stacked on that shown.

The packaging 1 illustrated preferentially in Figure 1 essentially comprises a rigid base 2 which is in this example of circular shape and preferably wood, surmounted by a lid 3 of deformable plastic (preferably thermoformed and transparent PET) bell-shaped circular section. As indicated above, it will be noted that the base 2 and the cover 3 could have any other geometry adapted to the shape of the product to be packaged.

The package 1 is specially adapted to contain a soft cheese 4 with a bloomy rind, such as a camembert, by way of non-limiting example, by means of a food-paper envelope 5 which is intended to surround this cheese. 4 being open at its upper part 5a and which is arranged not to be in contact with the lid 3, so that the envelope 5 absorbs water cheese 4 and allows a development of the crust of the latter conferring a fluffy upper surface.

According to the invention, the cover 3 is removably mounted on a peripheral rim 6 of the base 2 forming a continuous circumferential bead 6a, preferably made of cardboard, via clipping lugs 7 (two of these lugs 7 are shown in FIG. are formed integrally with the cover 3 projecting outwards and at regular intervals around a lower peripheral edge 8 of the lid 3. The latter may have a substantially cylindrical or conical side wall 3a terminating in a substantially flat top 3b disk-shaped, for example.

FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate the method of clipping each ear 7, with the latter in the clipped position under the bead 6a of the base 2 in FIG. 3 following the exercise by the consumer of a force F1 downwards ( see Figure 4) and, conversely, with this lug 7 dislodged bead 6a and shown in dashed lines in Figure 4 due to a force F2 exerted upwards.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the base 2 is advantageously perforated via a plurality of small perforations 9 formed at regular intervals on its circumference and towards the inside of the bead 6a, so as to form as many channels for evacuation of the humidity. 4. In addition, this base 2 is preferably covered with a film 10 of plastic (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1) which is partly permeable to water and which has a plurality of perforations 11 respectively arranged facing the perforations 9, so as to allow the passage of the moisture of the cheese 4 towards this base 2. As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the bead 6a formed at the periphery of the base 2 is attached to the outer periphery of the latter by crimping a cylindrical portion 6b against the edge 2a of the base 2, and this bead 6a is formed by a folded portion on itself towards the inside of the base 2 by defining a substantially toroidal convex surface. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 7, this bead 6a has, for example, in section substantially a "p" shape.

The clipping lugs 7 are more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, and they are formed immediately above the lower edge 8 of the lid 3, being for example four in number (two diametrically opposed) and each in the form of elliptical arc. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, these clipping lugs 7 are formed by cutting a peripheral flange overhanging the lower edge 8 of the lid 3 and obtained after the aforementioned thermoforming of the latter.

In addition, and as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, the cover 3 further incorporates, between the adjacent two adjacent ears (ie immediately above the lower peripheral edge 8), shoulders 12 projecting slightly outwardly forming stacking wedges which are intended to receive the lower edge 8 of another lid 3 of a stack of lids 3 and which are formed by deformation towards the inside of the aforementioned collar which has given the ears 7.

Advantageously, the package 1 is further provided with one or more tamper-evident tabs (not shown) adhered both to the side wall 3a of the lid 3, on its top 3b, on at least one of the lugs 7. and on the underside of the base 2. The principle of air circulation and water absorption at the base of a package 1 according to the invention is illustrated schematically in Figure 1. In particular are visible on this figure: - Arrows A perpendicular to two points which are distributed at the mounting interface of the cover 3 and the base 2 and which symbolize the air flow between the cover 3 and the base 2 on which it is clipped in an unsealed manner via the ears 7; four-pointed arrows B which are distributed at the location of the paper envelope 5 surrounding the sides and the bottom of the cheese 4, and which here symbolize the storage by the envelope 5 of the water coming from the cheese 4 ;

large arrows C at a point directed downwards which are distributed from the bottom of the envelope 5 and through the base 2, and which symbolize the absorption of water from the cheese 4 to and through this pedestal 2;

small arrows D at a point directed downwards which extend the arrows C below the film 10 and through the base 2, and which symbolize this absorption of water by the base 2; small arrows E with two opposite points which are located through the film 10 and which symbolize the gas exchanges on either side of this film 10;

- Arrows F at a localized point at the side faces of the casing 5 and the upper face of the cheese 4 protruding from the casing 5 and which symbolize the evaporation of the water of the cheese 4;

large arrows G with two opposite points which are distributed above the upper face of the cheese 4 and which symbolize the gas exchange between the cheese 4 and the lid 3;

small arrows H with two opposite points which are distributed through the top 3b of the cover 3 and which symbolize the gas exchanges on either side of this vertex 3b; and

- Arrows I with two perpendicular points which are distributed in a circumferential manner between the cheese 4 and the lid 3 and which symbolize the circulation of air inside the latter. In summary, it will be noted that the structure used in FIG. 1 for the packaging 1 according to the invention makes it possible to refine the cheese 4 with soft dough and with a flowery rind, such as a camembert, avoiding any trauma for this crust, while optimizing the ripening and the preservation in time of the cheese 4, before and after opening the package 1. It will further be noted that this package 1 has an improved consumption practicality, especially via the clipping lugs 7 cooperating with the bead 6a.

Claims

1) Packaging (1) in particular adapted to contain a soft cheese (4) under improved ripening and preservation conditions, the package comprising a base (2) and a cover (3) of the bell type material deformable plastic which is removably mounted against a peripheral rim (6) of the base via clipping means (7) formed in a lower peripheral edge (8) of the cover, characterized in that these clipping means comprise a plurality of ears ( 7) which are projecting outwardly from said lower edge and which are adapted to become wedged reversibly under a bead (6a) formed by said flange, said base being made of a material based on plant fibers, such as wood and / or cardboard, so as to allow in particular a flow of air between the lid and the base and a water absorption by the latter.

2) Packaging (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (2) is covered with a film (10) of plastic material which is partly permeable to water, so as to allow the passage of the moisture of the cheese (4) towards this base.

3) Packaging (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said film (10) has a plurality of perforations (11) which are respectively arranged opposite perforations (9) formed on the periphery of said base (2), to the inside of said bead (6a), so as to form as many moisture evacuation channels of the cheese (4).

4) Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base (2) is made of a rigid material, such as wood, and in that said bead (6a) is made of a more deformable material, such as cardboard, which is attached on the periphery of the base (2) for example by crimping. 5) Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bead (6a) is formed by a folded portion on itself towards the inside of said flange (6) defining a convex surface, preferably substantially toric .

6) Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said clipping lugs (7) each have an elliptical arc shape and extend immediately above said lower edge (8) of the lid (3). ).

7) Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower edge (8) of the cover (3) and said flange (6) of the base (2) both have a circular or oval geometry.

8) Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lid (3) is based on a thermoplastic thermoformed polymer preferably transparent, such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), said ears (7) being formed on this lid by cutting a peripheral flange overlying said lower edge (8).

9) Packaging (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said cover (3) further incorporates, between said lugs (7) two adjacent to two, shoulders (12) projecting outwards forming wedges d which are intended to receive the lower edge (8) of another cover (3) of a stack of covers and which are formed by deformation inwardly of said collar.

10) Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims for cheese (4) soft and flowy rind, characterized in that it further incorporates a paper envelope (5) which is intended to surround the cheese being open in its upper part (5a) and which is arranged to not to be in contact with said lid (3), so that the envelope absorbs water cheese and allows development of said crust conferring a fluffy upper surface.

11) Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one self-sealing tamper-evident tab applied to both said cover (3), ear (s) (7) included (s) ), and on said base (2).