EP2415680A1 - Packaging having at least one illuminated pattern - Google Patents

Abstract

The package has pinpoint light sources (3) placed in a manner to form a luminous pattern on a part of an external surface of the package. A power supply circuit has an energy source to supply energy to the pinpoint light sources. An internal volume is delimited by side walls (1). The light sources are assembled with the side walls and/or to that a bottom and/or a lid. The pinpoint light sources are LEDs and optical fibers, where the pinpoint light sources are monochromatic or polychromatic. An independent claim is also included for a shelf for goods comprising a zone of self-service.

Description

The present invention relates to a package having at least one light pattern. It finds particular application in the field of the packaging of objects such as consumer goods or goods.

Such packaging made of cardboard is known for developing delicatessen products such as champagne bottles.

These packaging generally have an aesthetic signature giving them a visual identity capable of capturing the consumer's attention in search of a well-defined product.

However, it has been found that these packagings have little or no effect on a consumer passing close to the gondolas or shelves displaying these goods when the consumer is looking for another product.

In addition, manufacturers are constantly looking for new ways to gain visibility of their product in self-service shelving compared to competitive products.

The objective of the present invention is therefore to propose a packaging, simple in its design and in its operating mode, the original design of which makes it possible to solve the technical problems posed by the packages of the prior art and offers a new way of capturing the consumer's attention.

Another object of the present invention is a packaging whose system for generating a light pattern has a long service life.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a packaging of at least one article comprising an internal volume for receiving said at least one article.

According to the invention, this packaging comprises point light sources placed so as to form a light pattern on at least part of the external surface of this packaging, said packaging comprising a power supply circuit comprising a power source for energy said point light sources.

"Luminous pattern" means one or a set of characters, one or a set of numbers, one or a series of letters intended to form a word or an expression, a drawing or a model and combinations of these elements.

This luminous pattern may, for illustrative purposes, include at least one number and at least one letter, or a drawing and a word.

These elements can be integrally defined in their form by the point light sources or on the contrary, be written, printed or engraved, the point light sources then being implemented only in support to attract the attention of a passing consumer. near the packaging. In the latter case, the number of point light sources used may then be smaller.

Advantageously, a coating of these writings, prints or engravings will be used to reflect the light generated by these point light sources to enhance the clarity of the light pattern.

This packaging has been particularly designed to present a low power consumption so as to have a long service life while having a high brightness and brightness.

The luminous pattern can be apparent in a specific area and local packaging or otherwise be apparent on all of this packaging.

In addition, the point light sources may be covered with a translucent and possibly waterproof protective material such as an insulating resin.

• ce volume interne étant délimité au moins par des parois latérales, ledit conditionnement comprenant ou non un fond et/ou un couvercle, lesdites sources lumineuses ponctuelles sont assemblées à au moins une desdites parois latérales et/ou audit fond et/ou audit couvercle,
• le conditionnement comportant des parois latérales délimitant ce volume interne, au moins une desdites parois comporte des orifices pour recevoir lesdites sources lumineuses ponctuelles,

In different particular embodiments of this packaging, each having its particular advantages and susceptible to many possible technical combinations:

• this internal volume being delimited at least by side walls, said packaging comprising or not a bottom and / or a cover, said point light sources are assembled to at least one of said side walls and / or said bottom and / or said cover,
• the packaging comprising lateral walls delimiting this internal volume, at least one of said walls has orifices for receiving said point light sources,

• lesdites sources lumineuses ponctuelles sont des diodes électroluminescentes, des fibres optiques ou une combinaison de ces éléments,
• lesdites sources lumineuses ponctuelles sont monochromatiques ou polychromatiques,
• le conditionnement comprend une unité de contrôle pour contrôler indépendamment ou non chacune de ces sources lumineuses ponctuelles,

These orifices are for example formed by drilling this side wall by means of a laser beam in order to precisely define the dimensions of said orifices. Alternatively, they can be made by mechanical drilling such as by micro-milling.

• said point light sources are light-emitting diodes, optical fibers or a combination of these elements,
• said point light sources are monochromatic or polychromatic,
• the conditioning comprises a control unit for controlling independently or not each of these point light sources,

• le circuit d'alimentation comporte un Interrupteur principal,

This control unit is advantageously programmable to determine for example the intensity and / or the color and / or the duration of lighting of each of these light sources. It is then possible to define ignition cycles for each of these point light sources (flashing, fixed, etc.).

• the power circuit has a main switch,

• ledit circuit d'alimentation comprend des moyens pour commander l'activation et la désactivation dudit motif lumineux,

For purely illustrative purposes, this switch may be an on / off button or a light intensity sensor. In the latter case, for example, the packaging being plunged into the dark, the sensor acts as a switch in the open position (stop). When the packaging is exposed to artificial light or daylight, the sensor acts as a switch in the closed (on) position.

• said supply circuit comprises means for controlling the activation and deactivation of said light pattern,

Preferably, these means for controlling the activation and deactivation of the light pattern comprise a presence detector and a delay device for deactivating the light pattern.

This presence detector may be a presence detection cell whose angle and / or the detection distance are adjustable. The detection distance is for example adjustable by means of a control potentiometer.

Alternatively, the presence detector may be a cell detecting remote heat variations such as an infrared cell.

The delay device makes it possible to stop the supply of the point light sources after an adjustable time τ without motion detection.

Advantageously, the presence detector is placed on a front face of said conditioning so that said detector detects no presence when an obstacle such as another conditioning is placed in front of it.

• ledit volume interne comprend deux compartiments distincts, un premier compartiment destiné à recevoir ledit au moins un article et un autre compartiment recevant une partie au moins dudit circuit d'alimentation,

Thus and for illustrative purposes, when the packages are placed in self-service shelving while being aligned, only the packages of the first row facing the consumers are operational. The detectors of the packaging rows arranged behind this first row can detect no presence and point light sources are not powered even if for example the main switch of the supply circuit of each of these packages is in position closed, that is to say in the "on" position. This ensures the longevity of the display of light packaging.

• said internal volume comprises two separate compartments, a first compartment intended to receive said at least one article and another compartment receiving at least a part of said supply circuit,

• les compartiments sont séparés par une paroi de séparation rigide ou semi-rigide, ledit conditionnement étant d'un seul tenant,

This other compartment may be a double bottom or a double side wall.

• the compartments are separated by a rigid or semi-rigid partition wall, said packaging being in one piece,

For purely illustrative purposes, this rigid or semi-rigid wall may be integral with at least some of said side walls of the packaging so that it separates the internal volume into two compartments vertically superimposed. The packaging being made of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, this partition wall can be obtained by folding at least one flap, each of said flaps being attached by a weakening line forming a hinge to a flap constituting a side wall of this packaging . This flap may further comprise one or more secondary weakening lines forming hinges and to adjust the dimensions of this flap to form two separate compartments in the internal volume of the packaging. The tabs resulting from the folding of this flap around the secondary weakening lines also allow an assembly of the partition wall to the internal surfaces of the side walls of the packaging. This assembly which can be achieved by gluing, for example, advantageously provides sufficient mechanical strength to the partition wall for supporting one or more articles to be received in said packaging.

The presence of the at least one flap during the cutting of a sheet of material such as cardboard, corrugated board or plastic, to form the contours of the packaging simplifies the manufacture of this packaging and reduces the manufacturing costs of this packaging avoiding additional operations of making the partition wall and assembly of this wall in a packaging already manufactured.

More generally, the present invention therefore also relates to a blank for producing, from a sheet, the packaging as described above.

According to the invention, this blank being in one piece comprises a central part comprising the lateral faces of said packaging, weakening lines to ensure the folding of said lateral faces, a bottom and / or a top attached to at least one of said lateral faces by a preformed fold line and at least one flap for forming a partition wall of the internal volume of said package, connected directly to at least one of said side faces, said bottom or said top by a preformed fold line.

This sheet may be of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, plastic or other,

• ladite paroi de séparation comporte un logement pour recevoir une partie au moins dudit circuit d'alimentation,

Preferably, this flap comprises secondary lines of weakness forming hinges to adjust the location of the separation of the compartments in the internal volume of the packaging and / or to form by folding tabs allowing the assembly of the partition wall with the walls side of the packaging.

• said partition wall includes a housing for receiving at least a portion of said supply circuit,

Again, the packaging being made of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, the folding flap may include a pre-cut area such as a strip of cardboard bounded by dashed lines and having transverse fold lines, making it possible to fold a housing . This housing may have a shape substantially U.

The invention also relates to the use of the packaging as described above for packaging goods.

The invention also relates to a goods rack having a self-service area, said self-service area comprising at least one commodity consisting of at least one item received in a packaging.

According to the invention, this packaging is a packaging as described above.

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement une vue partielle et élargie de la face latérale avant d'un conditionnement selon un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention;
• la figure 2 montre de manière schématique le circuit d'alimentation du conditionnement de la Figure 1;

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 schematically represents a partial and enlarged view of the front side face of a packaging according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 schematically shows the conditioning supply circuit of the Figure 1 ;

The Figures 1 and 2 show a package according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

This packaging of an article comprising an internal volume delimited by four substantially rectangular lateral faces, a bottom and a movable top allowing access to the contents of said packaging.

On the front side 1 of this packaging is printed the mark 2 of the article contained in the packaging. The front side 1 of the packaging is pierced with holes placed in line with the letters 2 of this mark in order to each receive the free end of a point light source 3. These point light sources 3 are here optical fibers emitting a white light.

The number of these holes is such that the printed mark 2 on the box forming the packaging is illuminated during the detection of a movement in front of this packaging.

These holes are made here by micro-milling. Optionally, once the optical fibers 3 inserted in the holes, a protective coating (not shown) can be applied to the front side face to protect these light sources point external aggression. This coating may be covering either the entire surface of the front side face, or only point light sources. This protective coating is advantageously translucent.

The packaging further comprises a power supply circuit comprising a power source for supplying power to these point light sources 3. The entire supply circuit is placed in a double bottom of the packaging. A partition wall (not shown) separates the compartment from the package for receiving the article from the compartment receiving the supply circuit. This partition wall of course has a mechanical strength to support the article.

The packaging comprises a main switch of this supply circuit placed on the rear side face of the packaging. The switch is here a manual switch.

The supply circuit further comprises a presence detector placed on the front lateral face of the packaging. The detection distance of this detector is advantageously adjustable by means of a control potentiometer.

A delay device makes it possible to stop the supply of the point light sources 3 after an adjustable time τ without detection of presence.

The passage of a person in front of the presence detector (PIR) causes an electrical signal which is processed by a first control unit (IC1) which is a microcontroller. This signal is then amplified and put shaped (first control unit IC1 and the electronic components wired on pins 3, 1, 14 and 16).

The signal obtained is then sent on a window comparator. If this signal is outside the voltage window defined by the comparator, the presence detection is positive.

A set of components connected to pin 8 of the first control unit makes it possible to set the duration of the signal sent by the first control unit IC1 to a second control unit IC2.

This second control unit IC2 is a programmable control unit for individually controlling each of the light fibers to generate a light pattern at the mark inscribed on the front side wall of the package.

As long as the second control unit IC2 receives a signal emitted by the first control unit IC1, the light pattern is activated.

In order to save the batteries, the packages placed in shelves are aligned in successive rows so that the presence detectors of the packaging placed behind a first line are masked by these packaging placed in the first line.

Advantageously, said control unit and said supply circuit are received in a sealed envelope comprising clipping means on one of the walls of the packaging or on a wall placed inside the packaging, the latter wall forming a separation between the internal volume receiving the article to be packaged and the volume receiving the light sources and its control electronics.

This wall receiving the sealed envelope advantageously comprises orifices cooperating with these means of elipsing.

Claims (15)

Packaging of at least one article comprising an internal volume intended to receive said at least one article, characterized in that said packaging comprises: - point light sources (3) placed so as to form a light pattern on at least part of the external surface of said packaging, said packaging comprising a power supply circuit comprising a power source for supplying said point light sources with energy (3), and - A control unit for independently controlling or not each of said point light sources (3). Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that said internal volume being delimited at least by side walls (1), said packaging comprising or not a bottom and / or a cover, said point light sources (3) are assembled at least one of said sidewalls (1) and / or said bottom and / or said cover. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that said packaging comprising side walls (1) defining said internal volume, at least one of said walls comprises orifices for receiving said point light sources (3). Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said point light sources (3) are light emitting diodes, optical fibers or a combination of these elements. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said point light sources (3) are monochromatic or polychromatic. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said control unit is a programmable control unit. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said supply circuit comprises a main switch. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said supply circuit comprises means for controlling the activation and deactivation of said light pattern. Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that said means for controlling the activation and deactivation of said light pattern comprise a presence detector and a delay device for deactivating said light pattern. Packaging according to claim 9, characterized in that said presence detector is placed on a front face of said conditioning so that said detector detects no presence when an obstacle such as another packaging is placed in front of it. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said internal volume comprises two separate compartments, a first compartment for receiving said at least one article and another compartment receiving at least a portion of said supply circuit. Packaging according to claim 11, characterized in that said compartments are separated by a rigid or semi-rigid partition wall, said packaging being in one piece. Packaging according to claim 12, characterized in that said partition wall comprises a housing for receiving at least a portion of said supply circuit. Use of the packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 13 for packaging goods. Shelving for goods having a self-service area, said self-service area comprising at least one goods consisting of at least one article received in a packaging, characterized in that said packaging is a packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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