EP2163485A1

EP2163485A1 - Package for fruit

Info

Publication number: EP2163485A1
Application number: EP08380230A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jesús Gómez Yelo; Gerardo Gómez Yelo
Original assignee: Frutas Esther SA
Current assignee: Frutas Esther SA
Priority date: 2008-07-29
Filing date: 2008-07-29
Publication date: 2010-03-17
Also published as: GB2462153A; DE102008064091A1; GB0903486D0; DE102008064091B4

Abstract

A package for fruit, formed by a stackable tray (1) with an elongated configuration and by a wrapping (2) with a flexible wall covering and enclosing the entire tray, characterized in that the tray (1) has walls slightly diverging towards the free base, with a small intermediate horizontal bend, the concavity of which is inwardly directed, the angles defined between consecutive walls being rounded and the smaller walls (6) having a curved-concave inner outline, approximately tangent to the adjacent rounded angles, said smaller walls (6) and adjacent angle together delimiting an approximately frustoconical surface diverging towards the open base of the tray; and in that the wrapping (2) has at least the area covering the open base of the tray with a transparent nature and provided with ventilation holes.
The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray has a bottom with a planar inner support surface.
The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls of the tray have vertical conformations determining, at their outer and inner surfaces, alternate recessed and projecting areas varying in width in an opposite direction, which can be coupled to one another when two or more packages are stacked.
The package according to the previous claims, characterized in that the wall of the tray is finished in an inner step followed by a peripheral flange which is coplanar in the entire contour.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a package for fruit, especially for fresh fruit, formed such that it preserves and isolates the fruit from external blows and contact and conserves it in a good condition until the time it is consumed.
More specifically, package of the invention is of the type formed by a stackable tray with an elongated configuration and by a flexible paper wrapping.

Background of the Invention

Packages of the indicated type are already known, in which the tray, generally made of plastic material, has a rectangular contour, the walls forming angles of approximately 90° between one another, which do not offer a suitable support for perishable products such as fruit, especially fleshy fresh fruit, which runs the risk of deterioration due to contact or blows.
Traditional trays further have ribs at the bottom, against which the fruit can collide or be compressed, with the subsequent deterioration thereof.

Description of the Invention

The object of the present invention is a package for fruit, of the type indicated above, formed such that it offers an effective protection for the packaged fruit, preserving them from external action which can deteriorate its appearance and/or quality.
According to the invention, the tray forming part of the package has walls slightly diverging towards the free base, its larger walls are planar, the angles defined between consecutive walls are rounded and the smaller walls have a curved outline, approximately tangent to the adjacent rounded angles. The smaller walls and adjacent angles thus determine an approximately frustoconical, curved surface diverging towards the open base of the tray, thus forming a suitable support surface for the fruit, with a larger support surface area, furthermore generally adapted to the outer surface of the fruit, such that it cannot cause unwanted actions thereon.
As regards the wrapping forming part of the package of the invention, it has at least the area covering the open base of the tray with a transparent nature and provided with ventilation holes. The inside of the package can thus be ventilated, maintaining the fruit in a suitable condition, which fruit can furthermore be observed from outside the package without needing to open it.
The bottom of the tray has a completely planar surface for supporting the fruit, without projections with can damage the condition of the fruit.
In addition, the walls have vertical conformations determining, at their outer and inner surfaces, alternate recessed and projecting areas which can be coupled to one another when two or more packages are stacked. To that end, these alternate recessed and projecting areas will vary in width in an upward and downward direction, also in an alternate manner.
The wall of the tray is finished in an inner step followed by a peripheral flange which is coplanar in the entire contour of the tray.
In short, the package of the invention includes a tray in which all the edges, projections and surfaces, both of the bottom and of the walls, which can cause alterations in the characteristics of the fruit are eliminated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The attached drawings show a non-limiting embodiment with which the features and advantages of the package of the invention can be better understood, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package for fruit formed according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section view of the package of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tray forming part of the package of Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, a side elevational view and a front elevational view of the tray of Figure 3.
Figures 6 and 7 are partial longitudinal section views of the tray, taken according to section lines VI-VI and VII-VII, respectively, of Figure 4.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment

Figures 1 and 2 show a package formed according to the invention, including a stackable inner tray 1 and an outer wrapping 2 with a flexible wall.
The wrapping 2 has at least the area covering the open base of the tray 1 with a transparent nature and provided with ventilation holes 3.
The wrapping 2 can be closed by means of transverse and longitudinal heat welding strips 4.
The tray 1 is shown in Figures 3 to 7 and has an elongated configuration, with a generally rectangular base, with the angles defined between the larger walls 5 and the smaller walls 6 being rounded and these smaller walls 6 furthermore having a curved outline, approximately tangent to the adjacent rounded angles. The bottom 7 of the tray is planar and the longitudinal walls 5 and transverse walls 6 have, as can better be seen in Figures 4 and 5, a slight intermediate bend 8 determining upper section 9 and lower section 10 with a different inclination, defining a slight inwardly directed concavity.
The walls thus have an inner surface on which the curvature of the fruit can be perfectly adapted, both due to the bend 8 and due to the curvature of the smaller walls 6 and angles formed by the latter and the larger walls 5. At the same time, since the bottom 6 has no ribs, it also offers a good support for the fruit.
As can be seen in Figures 4 to 7, the walls of the tray 1 have conformations determining, at their outer and inner surfaces, areas 11 and 12, the first of which project inwardly and the second of which project outwardly, which areas vary in width in a reverse manner in an upward and downward direction, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, such that when two packages are coupled to one another, the externally projecting areas 12 close to the bottom with a smaller width will be easily introduced through the upper section of these same internally recessed areas 12, thus facilitating the stacking between trays, which stacking will be limited by the upper step 13 in which the walls of the tray are finished, which walls are further finished in a peripheral flange 14 which is coplanar in the entire contour of the tray.
With the package of the invention, the condition of the contained fruit is maintained due to the inner ventilation which is achieved through the openings 3 of the wrapping 2. Furthermore, since this wrapping, at least in the area covering the open base of the tray 1, has a transparent nature, the condition of the fruit can be perfectly observed without needing to open the package.
In addition, the tray 1 forming part of the package provides a suitable lower and side support the fruit, without elements which can deteriorate its appearance or condition.

Claims

A package for fruit, formed by a stackable tray with an elongated configuration and by a wrapping with a flexible wall covering and enclosing the entire tray, characterized in that the tray has walls slightly diverging towards the free base, with a small intermediate horizontal bend, the concavity of which is inwardly directed, the angles defined between consecutive walls being rounded and the smaller walls having a curved-concave inner outline, approximately tangent to the adjacent rounded angles, said smaller walls and adjacent angle together delimiting an approximately frustoconical surface diverging towards the open base of the tray; and in that the wrapping has at least the area covering the open base of the tray with a transparent nature and provided with ventilation holes.
The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray has a bottom with a planar inner support surface.
The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls of the tray have vertical conformations determining, at their outer and inner surfaces, alternate recessed and projecting areas varying in width in an opposite direction, which can be coupled to one another when two or more packages are stacked.
The package according to the previous claims, characterized in that the wall of the tray is finished in an inner step followed by a peripheral flange which is coplanar in the entire contour.