EP2690025A1

EP2690025A1 - Packaging for foodstuff, method for manufacturing the same and method for packaging foodstuff

Info

Publication number: EP2690025A1
Application number: EP13177143.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rodolfo Anghileri; Stefano Villa
Original assignee: CARTOTECNICA ESSE-BI Srl
Current assignee: CARTOTECNICA ESSE-BI Srl
Priority date: 2012-07-24
Filing date: 2013-07-19
Publication date: 2014-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-19
Also published as: ITMI20121286A1; EP2690025B1

Abstract

A packaging (1) for foodstuffs comprising a container (2) made starting from a flat sheet element of paper material having: a base (3), a plurality of lateral elements (4) connected to the base (3) and emerging away from the latter; the container (2) is in an operative condition in which the base (3) and lateral elements (4) define a housing compartment (5) configured to contain foodstuffs. The container (2) comprises a first hooking element (9) cantileveredly constrained to a lateral element (4) and located outside the housing compartment (5). The packaging (1) comprises a covering element (11) of plastic material, exhibiting a first hooking element (12) removably engageable with the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) in order to define a removable constraint condition; the covering element (11) is configured to rotate in relation to the container (2) and to enable, under a constraint condition between the covering element (11) and container (2), the passage of the covering element (11) from a closed condition to an open condition and vice versa. The hooking elements (9; 12) of the container (2) and covering element (11) are located outside the covering element (5) such as to define a coupling outside the compartment (5) not interfering with the internal volume thereof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to the packaging of foodstuff, comprising a container of paper material and an associated covering element. Particularly, the present invention finds application in the oven preparation of foodstuff and their following exposure to the public.

STATE OF THE ART

As it is known, the candy industry uses, for the mass cooking of foodstuffs, moulds of different types, such as moulds made of paper material which are generally inexpensive and suitable for oven cooking foodstuffs.
Such moulds are adapted to be left in contact with the prepared foodstuff also in the final sale site.
Once the foodstuff has been cooked, a known solution consists of positioning the latter and its associated paper mould on a bottom made of plastic material which is in turn coupled to a covering element made of transparent material (also the covering element is generally made of a plastic material), so that the product, as prepared, can be displayed in a shop-window to be sold to the public.
Even though this first prior art accomplishes the tasks which it was devised for, it entails the use of three separate elements for cooking and successively packaging the foodstuff with consequent cost and additional times for the packaging, and environmental problems due to the use of a great quantity of plastics.
In order to at least partially overcome the above mentioned shortcomings, there are commercially available cooking mould made of paper material, which can be directly snapped on a covering element made of plastic material..
This approach simplifies the handling operations and reduces the packaging cost, however it entails the necessity of manufacturing more complicated cook moulds which exhibit suitable reinforcing small edges adapted to snap on the plastic material cover.
In a further example of the art known to date, object of patent EP 1972566 , a paper material container is manufactured by standard fold-and-glue type machines, which, in the shipment condition, lies in a plane, while, in an assembled condition, defines the housing compartment for the foodstuff.
To the container a transparent plastic covering element is welded which, once is assembled to the paper material container, defines the package cover.
This last type of known packaging is very simple to manufacture and shows relatively limited cost, although it has the unacceptable shortcoming in that it cannot be used for cooking the foodstuff because the plastic material cannot be introduced in the oven.
An additional example of a prior art, object of patent EP 1731442 , describes also a paper material container defining a housing compartment for the foodstuff. The container removably engages a covering element of transparent plastic material adapted to enable the protection, and at the same time, the exposure to the public of the packaged foodstuff.
The container shows two through-openings located on a back wall of the latter, while the covering element comprises corresponding projections adapted to removably engage inside said openings.
The engagement between the openings and projections is done by the passage of the projections through the back container wall: the shape of the openings and projections ensures, in the use condition of the container, a firm coupling between the latter and covering element.
The removability of covering element with respect to the container enables to engage the container cover only when it is necessary.
The structure of the packaging described in the second example has certain advantages with respect to the preceding one in terms of operative flexibility, however the presence of the through-openings on the lateral wall of a container does not enable to contain and then cook liquid, semiliquid or anyway pasty foodstuff which can leak from the openings.
Moreover, the foodstuff located inside the container can clog the through-openings and occupy the volume necessary to receive the same projections; in such a way the foodstuff would prevent the positioning of the cover projections in the constraint condition (on the contrary the foodstuff physical integrity would be spoiled).

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to substantially overcome one or more shortcomings and limits of the previous approaches.
A first object of the invention is to provide a packaging for foodstuffs which enables to oven cook, package and then expose the foodstuffs, by limiting the production cost and keeping simple the packaging.
A further main object of the invention is to provide a very simple and inexpensive packaging provided with a container for foodstuffs, of paper material which is at the same time adapted to reliably receive a covering element.
A further object is to enable to view the foodstuff, once the same has been inserted into the packaging.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a packaging for foodstuff which enables the final user to open and re-close in a very simple and reliable way the packaging further enabling to re-use the packaging itself.
Obviously, the object of the invention is to maintain the impilability of the container and covering element for making simple the handling and storing operations. Further, an secondary object of the invention is also to enable a simplified engagement of a container to a covering element for ensuring an easy assembly.
One or more of the above described objects, which will be better understood in the following description, are substantially met by a packaging for foodstuff according to one or more of the attached claims.
The aspects of the invention are described in the following.
In a first aspect, a packaging (1) for comestible products comprising a container (2) made starting from a flat sheet element made of a paper material developing in a main plane, said flat sheet element exhibiting a first and a second surface (2a, 2b) opposite one another, the container (2) having:

a base (3),
a plurality of lateral elements (4) perimetrally connected to the base (3) and emerging away therefrom,
the base (3) and at least one part of the lateral elements (4) define a housing compartment (5) provided to contain comestible products and an internal surface of which is defined by at least one portion of the first surface (2a) of the flat sheet element, the container (2), in operative condition, defining a free edge (6) delimiting the housing chamber (5) and defining an opening (7) located in an upper part of the container (2), the container (2) comprising at least one first hooking element (9) associated to at least one lateral element (4) and located outside the housing chamber (5);
and wherein the packaging (1) comprises at least one covering element (11) exhibiting at least one first hooking element (12) removably engageable to the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) such as to define, between the hooking elements (9, 12), a constraint condition, the covering element (11) being configured such as to define a closed condition in which the covering element (11) substantially prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), the covering element (11) being configured such as to define an open condition in which the covering element (11), during the constraint condition, enables access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), and wherein the covering element (11) is further configured such as to rotate in relation to the container (2) such as to enable, during the constraint condition between the covering element (11) and the container (2), passage from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa;
both the hooking elements (9, 12), respectively of the container (2) and the covering element (11), are located outside the housing compartment (5) of the container (2) such as to define a coupling that is outside the chamber (5) and not interfering with the internal volume thereof.

In a second aspect according to the preceding aspect, the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) optionally comprises at least one projection (14) emerging from an opposite side with respect to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), and wherein the covering element (11) comprises a main body (11a) which, in the closed condition of the covering element (11), at least partially covers the opening (7) of the housing chamber (5) of the container (2); said first hooking element (12) of the covering element (11) comprising at least one respective projection (15) emerging transversally with respect to the main body (11a) located outside the housing chamber (5) of the container (2).
In a third aspect according to the preceding aspect, the projection (15) of the covering element (11) is rotatingly mobile with respect to the main body (11a) of the covering element (11) such as to enable, during the constraint condition between the container (2) and the covering element (11), passage of the covering element (11) from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa.
In a fourth aspect according to the second or third aspect, the projection (14) of the container (2) comprises at least one seating or abutment suitable for removably engaging with at least one respective abutment or seating of the projection (15) of the covering element (11), the engagement between the seating and the abutment stably constraining the covering element (11) to the container (2).
In a fifth aspect according to the second or third or fourth aspect, the projection (14) of the container (2) comprises at least one tab (16) extending substantially along a main development plane between a lower surface (16a), facing towards the bottom of the container (2), and an upper surface (16b) facing towards the opening (7) of the container (2), said tab (16) exhibiting at least one seating (17) suitable for housing at least one abutment (19) of the projection (15) of the covering element (11) in order to define a removable engagement between the covering element (11) and the container (2).
In a sixth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the seating (17) comprises at least one through-opening (20) extending from the lower surface (16a) to the upper surface (16b) of the tab (16) of the container (2),
In a seventh aspect according to the preceding aspect, the projection (15) of the covering element (11) comprises a corresponding tab (18) supporting said abutment (19); the opening (20) of seating (17), at least in the constraint condition, receiving through at least one portion of the tab (18) of the projection (15) of the covering element (11).
In an eighth aspect according to anyone of the fifth-seventh aspects, the abutment (19) of the covering element (11) comprises at least one first rest portion (21) adapted to abut the lower surface (16a) of the tab (16).of the container (2).
In a ninth aspect according to anyone of the fifth-eighth aspects, the abutment (19) of the covering element (11) comprises at least one second rest portion (22) adapted to abut the upper surface (16b) of container (2) tab (16).
In a tenth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the tab (16) of the container (2), in the constraint conditions, is interposed between the first and second rest portions (21; 22) of covering element (11), said first and second rest portions (21; 22) being configured to prevent the tab (18) from translating with respect to container (2) at least along a direction crossing the tab (18) with respect to the opening (20) of seating (17).
In an eleventh aspect according to anyone of the fifth-tenth aspects, the abutment (19) substantially defines a housing seating (23) suitable for at least partially housing the tab (16) of the container (2).
In a twelfth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the housing seating (23) exhibits, in a transversal section, a substantially C-shaped profile.
In a thirteenth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the C-shaped profile of the housing seating exhibits a concavity facing away from housing compartment (5) of container (2).
In a thirteenth aspect according to anyone of seventh-twelfth aspects, the tab (18) of first hooking element (12) of covering element (11) has a lead-in portion (35) configured to guide the insertion of the same tab (18) inside the opening (20) of the seating (17) of the container (2).
In a fourteenth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the lead-in portion (35) extends from the first rest portion (21) to a transversal free end (16c) of the tab (16) of the container (2).
In a fifteenth aspect according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect, the lead-in portion (35) exhibits, according to a transversal section, a thickness having a decreasing trend from the first rest portion (21) to the free transversal end (16c).
In a sixteenth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) comprises an auxiliary tab (31) exhibiting a first transversal edge (32) connected to the free edge (6) of the container (2), and a second transversal edge (33) connected to the tab (16) of the container (2).
In a seventeenth aspect according to the preceding aspect, auxiliary tab (31) being at least partially coupled to at least one lateral element (4) of the container (2) and parallelly extending thereto.
In an eighteenth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the first hooking element (9) is joined in a single piece to container (2).
In a nineteenth aspect according to anyone of the sixteenth-eighteenth aspects, the tab (16) and auxiliary tab (31) of first hooking element (2) are joined in a single piece to each other and respectively joined in a single piece to container (2).
In a twentieth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the container (2) comprises at least one second hooking element (10) arranged on a lateral element (4) different from the lateral element (4) which the first hooking element (9) is associated to.
In a twenty-first aspect according to the preceding aspect, the covering element (11) comprises at least one second hooking element (13) configured to removably engage second hooking element (10) of the container (2) at least in the closed condition of the covering element (11) in which the covering element prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2).
In a twenty second aspect according to the twentieth or twenty first aspect, the second hooking element (10) of container (2) comprises an incision or tab adapted to abut a respective tab or incision of the second hooking element (13) of the covering element (11).
In a twenty third aspect according to anyone of the twentieth-twenty second aspects, the second honking element (10) of the container (2) comprises an incision (24) located at least on a lateral element (4) of the container (2), the second hooking element (13) of the covering element (11) comprises a blocking tab (25) which, in the closure condition of the covering element, (11), crosses at least partially the incision (24) of the second hooking portion (10) of the container (2).
In a twenty fourth aspect according to anyone of the second-twenty third aspects, the main body (11a) of the covering element (11) comprises an upper wall (27) and a lateral wall (28) perimetrally connected to the upper wall (27), the upper wall (27) and lateral wall (28) defining a convex housing compartment (26) delimited by a respective free edge (29) defining an opening (30), the housing compartment (26) of the covering element (11), in the closed condition of the latter, being faced towards the housing compartment (5) of the container (2).
In a twenty fifth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the second hooking portion (13) of the covering element (11) is arranged on the lateral wall (28) thereof.
In a twenty sixth aspect according to the twenty fourth or twenty fifth aspects, the lateral wall (28) of the covering element (11), in the closed condition of the latter, is at least partially overlapped on at least one lateral element (4) of the container (2).
In a twenty seventh aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, at least one portion of the covering element (11) is transparent such as to allow, at least in the closed condition of the covering element (11), viewing the product present internally of the housing compartment (5) of the container (2) from the outside.
In a twenty eighth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the covering element (11) comprises at least one rest portion (34) which, in the closed condition of the covering element (11), is adapted to abut at least a portion of the free edge (6) of the container (2).
In a twenty ninth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the free edge (6) of the container (2) supports the covering element (11) at least in the closed condition thereof.
In a thirtieth aspect according to the twenty eighth or twenty ninth aspect, the rest portion (34) of the covering element (11) is located on the lateral wall (28) thereof.
In a thirty first aspect according to the preceding aspect, the rest portion (34) emerges from the lateral wall (28) of the covering element (11) away from the housing compartment (26) of the latter.
In a thirty second aspect according to anyone of the twenty fourth-thirty first aspects, at least one portion of the lateral wall (28) emerges transversally and away from the upper wall (27) of the covering element (11).
In a thirty third aspect according to anyone of the twenty fourth-thirty second aspects, at least one portion of the lateral wall (28) defines with the upper wall (27) an angle inside the housing compartment (26) of the covering element (11) greater than 90°
In a thirty fourth aspect according to anyone of the twenty fourth-thirty third aspects, at least one portion of the lateral wall (28) defines with the upper wall (27) and angle inside the housing compartment (26) of the covering element (11) greater than 95°
In a thirty fifth aspect according to anyone of the twenty fourth-thirty fourth aspects, the upper wall (27) of the covering element (11) substantially extends along a main development plane and defines a polygonal profile, particularly a rectangular or square one.
In a thirty sixth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the base (3) of the container (2) extends along a main development plane and exhibits a perimeter defining a polygonal profile, particularly a rectangular or square one.
In a thirty seventh aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, at least one lateral element (4), in the operative condition of the container (2), transversally extends with respect to the base (3) and away from the latter.
In a thirty eighth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, at least one lateral element (4) of the container (2) defines with the base (3) an angle inside the compartment housing greater than 90°.
In a thirty ninth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, at least one lateral element (4) of the container (2) defines with the base (3) an angle inside the housing compartment greater than 95°.
In a fortieth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the packaging comprises at least one connecting element (36) configured to stably constrain two adjacent lateral elements (4) so that to stably maintain the container (2) in the operative condition.
In a forty first aspect according to the preceding aspect, wherein at least one connecting element (36) between the two adjacent lateral elements (4) is present.
In a forty second aspect according to the fortieth or forty first aspect, the connection element (36) is joined in a single piece to at least one of the two adjacent lateral elements.
In a forty third aspect according to anyone of the fortieth-forty second aspects, the connecting element (36) comprises a band (36a) of paper material extending between an inner surface (39) and a second outer surface (40).
In a forty fourth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the connecting element (36) comprises a connecting edge (41) connected to a lateral edge (4c) of a lateral element (4), said connecting element (36), in the operative condition of the container (2), inwardly or outwardly overlapping on the lateral element (4) adjacent which a connecting element (36) is associated to.
In a forty fifth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the covering element (11) is at least partially made of plastic material, particularly the covering element (11) being made of at least one material selected among the group comprising: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PE.
In a forty sixth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the container (2) is made of a single piece.
In a forty seventh aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the covering element (11) is made of a single piece.
In a forty eighth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the lateral elements (4) of the container (2), in the operative condition, substantially define the height of the packaging (2).
In a forty ninth aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, at least one among said first and second surfaces (2a; 2b) is at least partially covered by a film (8) of plastic material.
In a fiftieth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the film (8) at least partially covers the first surface (2a) of the container (2).
In a fifty first aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the sheet material of the container (2) exhibits a grammage comprised between 100 and 300 g/m².
In a fifty second aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the sheet material of the container (2) exhibits a grammage comprised between 120 and 280 g/m².
In a fifty third aspect according to anyone of the preceding aspects, the sheet material of the container (2) exhibits a grammage comprised between 150 and 250 g/m².
In a fifty fourth aspect it is provided a manufacturing process of a packaging for comestible products comprising the steps of:

providing a container (2) of a paper sheet in an operative condition in which said container (2) defines a housing compartment (5) defining an opening (7) located in the upper part of the container (2), said container (2) comprising at least one first hooking element (9) located outside the housing compartment (5),
providing a covering element (11) exhibiting at least one first hooking element (12),
removably engaging the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) with the first hooking element (12) of the covering element (11) outside the covering compartment (5) such as to define a constraint condition, the covering element (11) being configured to define a closed condition in which the covering element, during the constraint condition, substantially prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), the covering element (11) being further configured to define an open condition in which the covering element, during the constraint condition, enables access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), said covering element (11) being further configured to rotate relatively to the container (2) such as to enable, during the constraint condition between the covering element (11) and the container (2), to shift from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa.

In a fifty fifth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the step of providing the container (2) comprises the following steps of:

providing a flat sheet element made of paper material developing in a main plane, said flat sheet element exhibiting a first and second surfaces (2a; 2b) opposite one to the other,
die cutting said sheet element for defining a preform (100) exhibiting at least one base (3) and at least one plurality of lateral elements (4) perimetrally connected to the base (3) and emerging away from the latter,
folding said lateral elements (4) for arranging the container (2) in the operative condition in which the latter defines said housing compartment (5).

In a fifty sixth aspect according to the fifty-fourth or fifty-fifth aspect, the die cutting step defining the preform (100) is configured to define at least one connecting element (36) interposed between two consecutive lateral elements (4), said connecting element (36) being joined in a single piece to at least one of the two lateral elements (4) to which is interposed, the step of providing the container (2) further comprises the following steps of :

folding the connecting element (36) so that, in the operative condition of the container (2) the latter is located inside or outside the compartment housing (5) and in contact with at least one lateral element (4),
gluing the connecting element (36) to the lateral element (4) adjacent to the lateral element (4) to which the connecting element is associated.

In a fifty-seventh aspect according to the preceding aspect, the preform (100) comprises at least one auxiliary portion (42) perimetrally connected to at least one lateral element (4), the step of providing the container (2) comprises:

Firstly folding the auxiliary portion (42) for taking at least one portion of the latter in contact with the second surface (2b) of the container (2) for defining the first hooking element (9) located outside the housing compartment (5),
secondly folding an end portion of the auxiliary portion (42) away from the second surface (2b) for defining the tab (16),
said auxiliary portion (42), after the first and second folding steps, defining a substantially L-shaped profile.

In a fifty-eighth aspect according to the preceding aspect, after the first step of folding the auxiliary portion (42), the latter is constrained to at least one lateral element (4) to which is associated by a gluing operation.
In a fifty-ninth aspect according to the fifty-seventh or fifty-eighth aspect, the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) defines at least one projection (14) emerging from the side opposite to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), and wherein the covering element (11) comprises a main body (11a) which, in the closed condition of the covering element (11), at least partially prevents the access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), said first hooking element (12) of the covering element (11) comprising at least one respective projection (15) transversally emerging with respect to the main body (11a), the step of engaging the covering element (11) with the container (2) comprising an engaging sub-step between the projection (15) of the covering element (11) with the container (2) projection outside the housing compartment (5) of the container (2).
In a sixtieth aspect according to anyone of the fifty-fourth-fifty-ninth aspects, the projections (15) of the covering element (11) is rotatingly movable with respect to the main body (11a), the process before the step of exhibiting the packaging, comprising a closure step wherein the covering element (11), after the removable engagement with the container (2), is rotated with respect to the latter in the open condition until the closed condition.
In a sixty-first aspect according to the fifty-ninth or sixtieth aspect, the projection (14) of the container (2) comprises at least one abutment or seating adapted to removable engage with at least one respective abutment or seating of the projection (15) of the covering element (11), the step of engaging the covering element comprising a step of inserting the abutment supported by one of the two projections (14; 15) in the seating supported by the other projection (15; 14).
In a sixty-second aspect according to the preceding aspect, the projection (14) of the container (2) comprises at least one tab (16) substantially extending along a main development plane between a lower surface (16a), faced towards the bottom of the container (2), and an upper surface (16b), faced towards the opening (7) of container (2), said tab (16) exhibiting at least one seating (17) adapted to receive at least one abutment (19) of the projection (15) of the covering element (11) for defining the removable engagement between the latter and the covering element (11), and wherein the seating (17) comprises at least one through-opening (20) extending from the lower surface (16a) to the upper surface (16b) of the tab (16) of the container (2), and wherein the projection (15) of the covering element (11) comprises a respective tab (18) supporting said abutment (19);
the engagement step of said process comprises a step of inserting at least one portion of the tab (18) of the projection (15) of the covering element (11) through the opening (20) of the seating (17).
In a sixty-third aspect according to anyone of the fifty-fourth-sixty-second aspects, the step of providing the container (2) comprises a step of providing at least one second hooking element (10) arranged on a lateral element (4) different from the lateral element to which the first hooking element (9) is associated, and wherein the step of providing the covering element (11) comprises a step of providing at least one second hooking element (13) configured to removably engage the second hooking element (10) of the container (2), and wherein, at least during the step of closing the covering element (11), the second hooking element (13) of the covering element (11) is engaged with the second hooking element (10) of the container (2) in order to stably constrain the latter to the covering element (11).
In a sixty fourth aspect according to the preceding aspect, the step of providing the first and second hooking elements (9; 10) of the container (2) provides a sub-step of cutting the preform (100) for defining at least one incision (24) on a lateral element (4), and the opening (20) on a further lateral element (4), particularly opposed to the lateral element on which the incision (24) is defined, the incision (24) defining the second hooking element (10) of the container.
In a sixty-fifth aspect according to anyone of the fifty-fourth-sixty-fourth aspects, the step of providing the covering element (11) comprises a sub-step of obtaining a further preform made of plastic material extending in a main plane, and a following sub-step, after the step of providing the further preform, which forms the covering element (11).
In a sixty-sixth aspect according to the preceding aspect, during the forming step it is possible to define the main body (11a) and the first hooking element (10) of the covering element (11).
In a sixty-seventh aspect, it is provided a process for packaging foodstuff comprising the steps of:

providing a container (2) in an operative condition wherein said container (2) defines a housing compartment (5) defining an openings (7) located in the upper portion of the container (2), said container (2) comprising at least one first hooking element (9) located outwardly from the housing compartment (5),
providing a covering element (11) exhibiting at least one first hooking element (12),
inserting inside the container at least one foodstuff,
cooking the foodstuff present in the container (2),
after the step of cooking the foodstuff, removably engaging the hooking elements (9; 12) of the container (2) and of the covering element (11) for defining a constraint condition, said covering element (11) being configured to rotate with respect to the container (2) in order to define an open and closed conditions of the packaging (1), in the open condition the covering element (11) allowing the access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), while in the closed condition the covering element (11) preventing the access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2),
providing the covering element (11) in the closed condition wherein the latter prevents the access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2),
displaying said packaging (1).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments and some aspects of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the attached drawings, provided only in an illustrative way and therefore not in a limiting one, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the packaging in an open condition;
Figure 2 shows the packaging of Figure 1 in a closed condition;
Figure 3 shows a plan view of a preform of the container used in the packaging, shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a lateral-back view of the container used in the packaging of Figure 1;
Figure 4A shows a perspective lateral-front view of a container used in the packaging of the preceding figures;
Figure 4B shows a perspective lateral-back view of the container used in the packaging of the preceding figures;
Figure 5 shows a perspective lateral-back view of the covering element used in the packaging of Figure 1;
Figure 5A shows a perspective lateral-front view of the covering element used in the packaging of Figure 5;
Figure 5B shows a perspective lateral-back view of the covering element of the packaging of Figure 5;
Figure 6 shows the engagement system between a covering element and a container made of paper material;
Figure 7 shows a cross-section, according to a vertical plane, of the packaging of Figure 1;
Figure 7A is a detail of Figure 7 regarding a front portion of the packaging according to the present invention;
Figure 7B is a detail of Figure 7 regarding a back portion of the packaging according to the present invention;
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a packaging in an open condition;
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the packaging of Figure 8 in a closed condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Packaging for foodstuff.

With reference to the attached figures, 1 generally indicates a packaging for foodstuffs, particularly adapted to support, cook and finally display foodstuffs.
The packaging 1 comprises a container 2 of paper material, made from a flat preform 100 of Figure 3 and a covering element 11 made of plastic material coupable to the container.
In the preferred embodiment (Figure 1), the container 2 is in a single piece, for example, made of cardboard, and is obtained by folding and gluing a flat preform of Figure 3 until it is obtained a three-dimensional configuration defining the whole container 2 having the desired stiffness.
As it is shown in the attached figures, the container 2 comprises a base 3, which defines the lower surface (wall) of the container 2: the flat base 3 extends along a single development plane, and shows, in a non-limiting way, a rectangular shape.
Further, the container comprises a plurality of lateral elements 4 perimetrally connected to the base 3. More particularly, the lateral elements 4 exhibits a polygonal shape having a side connected in a single piece to an edge of the base 3. In a preferred embodiment, shown in the attached figures, the container 2 comprises four lateral elements 4 opposed two by two with respect to the base 3; particularly, as shown in Figure 3, the two lateral longitudinal opposed elements 4 are equal to each other. In a condition of use of the container, it is possible to identify a front lateral element, a back lateral element, and two longitudinal elements; the front and back elements define, in a non-limiting way, a rectangular profile, while the longitudinal elements define a rectangular shape radiused in the direction of the front element (see for example the preform in Figure 3 and Figure 1).
The container 2 is arranged is an operating or three-dimensional 1 condition (see for example Figures 1, 4 and 5) in which the lateral elements 4 emerge transversally from the base 3 in order to define, generally, and in the operative condition, the lateral wall of the container 2.
Base 3 and the lateral elements 4 arranged in the operative condition, define a housing compartment 5 designed to contain and support the foodstuff (substantially without openings from which the foodstuff contained inside the compartment could exit) and whose inner surface is defined by a first upper surface 2a made of a paper sheet material. In a preferred embodiment, each lateral element 4 defines, in a non-limiting way, with the base 3 an angle inside the housing compartment 5 greater than 90°, particularly greater than 92°, still more particularly greater than 95°.
As it is shown in the attached Figures 1 and 4, the housing compartment 5 is defined by a free edge 6 defining an opening 7 located on the top of the container (in the condition of use of packaging 1), through said opening the foodstuff is introduced in the container.
More particularly, in the operative condition of the container 2, each lateral element 4 exhibits a first edge 4a perimetrally connected in a single piece to the base 3; more particularly, the first edge 4a exhibits a first and second ends 37, 38 opposed to each other: the first end 37 of a lateral element 4 is connected to the second end 38 of a lateral element 4 following arranged on the container 2.
Each lateral element 4 further comprises at least one second edge 4b opposed to the first edge 4a with respect to the lateral element 4 itself; the second edges 4b of the lateral elements 4 define the free edge 6 of the housing compartment 5 in the operating or three-dimensional condition of the container 2.
It is possible to observe from the attached figures that the lateral elements 4 further comprise a third and fourth edge 4c, 4d, which laterally define said lateral elements 4 and which connects to each other the first and second edges 4a, 4b. More particularly, in the operative condition, the third edge 4c of a lateral element 4 is adjacent and substantially in contact with the fourth edge 4d of a contiguous lateral element 4.
It is possible to observe that the lateral elements 4, in the operative condition of the container 2, define the height of the container itself. Specifically, the height of the container 2 is defined by the distance between the base 3 and the second edge 4b of the lateral elements 4.
Under the dimensional profile it is possible to define a minimum height of the container 2 which is defined by the minimum distance between the base 3 and the segment of the edge 6 which is the nearest to the latter; the minimum height of the container is greater than 30 mm, particularly greater than 40 mm, still more particularly greater than 45 mm.
Advantageously, the height of the container 2 can be greater than the height of the foodstuff 2 to be packaged: in this way, after the foodstuff has been positioned inside the container 2 and after the closure of the same by a closing element 11, it is avoided the problem of an interference between the foodstuff and the covering element 11. In other words, the packaging 1 is designed to contain foodstuff of different dimensions, by covering them.
The container 2 is kept in the operative condition thanks to at least one connecting element 36 configured to stably constrain two adjacent lateral elements 4. Particularly, the packaging 1 exhibits at least one connecting element 36 for each adjacent pair of lateral elements 4.
In the preformed condition of the container 2, shown in Figure 3, the connecting element 36, in a non-limiting way, is interposed between two adjacent lateral elements and is joined in a single piece to the container 2, particularly with at least one of the two lateral elements 4 to which the connecting element 36 is interposed.
The connecting element 36 substantially comprises a band made of paper material, extending between an inner surface 39 and an outer surface 40. The connecting element 36 comprises a connecting edge 41 connected to an edge of the lateral element. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the edge 41 is connected and joined in single piece to the lateral edges 4c and 4d of the front and back lateral elements.
The connecting element 36, in the operative condition of the container 2, illustrated for example in Figures 1 and 8, is overlapped inside the compartment 35 on the lateral element 4 adjacent the element 4 to which the connecting element 36 is associated. More particularly, the connecting element 36, in the operative condition of container 2, is overlapped on and is in contact with a portion of a longitudinal lateral element of the container 2.
Still more particularly, it is possible to observe that the inner surface 39 of the connecting element 36 defines the first surface 2a of the housing compartment 5, while the outer surface 40 contacts a portion of the inner surface of the lateral element 4.
Once the overlapping area between the lateral element 4 and the connecting element 36 has been formed, these elements are fixed, in a non-limiting way, by glue or another constraint immovable system; the glue is put on the outer surface 40 of the connecting element 36 which, once has been arranged in the operative condition of the container 2, contacts a portion of the inner surface 2a of the lateral element 4, in order to enable to fix the latter to the connecting element 36. Obviously, since the connecting element 36 has been joined in a single piece to one of the two lateral elements 4 and has been fixed on the other of the two lateral adjacent element 4, it enables to substantially keep joined the respective edges 4c and 4d of the adjacent lateral elements.
Alternatively, it is possible to arrange at least one of the connecting elements 36 outside the housing compartment 5 so that the latter can contact the second surface 2b (outer surface) of the container 5. In the latter described case, the glue is arranged on the inner surface 39 of the connecting element 36 and the outer surface 40 of the latter will define the second surface 2b of the container 2. With reference also to the type of constraint of the connecting element 36 to the lateral element 4, it is possible to provide different sealing means alternative to the glue, for example, comprising staples, adhesives, mechanical joints or the like.
The container 2, according to the present invention, is also provided with at least one hooking element 9 associated to the container 2 and configured to enable a removable engagement to at least one covering element 11 which will be better described in the following. Specifically, the hooking element 9 is associated, in a non-limiting way, to the lateral element 4 which, in the condition of use of the packaging 1, defines the back portion of the latter.
As it is shown in the attached figures, the hooking element 9 transversally emerges with respect to the lateral element 4 to which is associated according to a direction oriented from the housing compartment 5 so that the latter is located outside the compartment 5 (it does not interfere with the inside of the housing compartment 5 and consequently with the foodstuff arranged inside the latter).
In a preferred embodiment, the first hooking element 9 comprises, in a non-limiting way, a projection 14 emerging from the opposite side with respect to the compartment housing 5 of the container 2 (see Figure 4). The projection 14 of the first hooking element 9 comprises, in a non-limiting way, a tab or band 16 joined in a single piece to the container 2 and located outwardly the compartment 5.
The tab 16 substantially extends along a main development plane delimited between a lower surface 16a, directed towards the bottom of the container 2, and an upper surface 16b facing towards the opening 7 of the container 2.
The tab 16 is actually a projection made of paper material transversally and cantileveredly emerging with respect to the lateral back wall 4 to which said tab is associated. More specifically (Figure 7b), the first hooking element 9 comprises an auxiliary tab 31 representing the connecting element between the container 2 and the tab 16. Also the auxiliary tab 31 extends along a main development plane (in other words has a flat configuration) and it is made in a single piece with the container 2.
From the geometrical point of view, the auxiliary tab 31 exhibits, in a non-limiting way, a rectangular shape. More specifically, the auxiliary tab exhibits a first transversal edge 32 joined in a single piece to the free edge 6 of the container 2 and a second transversal edge 33, spaced from the first transversal edge, connected in a single piece to the tab 16 of the container 2.
The auxiliary tab 31 is, in a non-limiting way, constrained to the back element along its development plane and it extends parallelly with respect to the latter. Actually, the first hooking element 9 defines, according to a transversal section, a substantially L-shape: the auxiliary tab 31 is located parallelly to the lateral element 4 while the tab 16 emerges away from the housing compartment 5.
Particularly, the tab 16 is folded with respect to the auxiliary tab 31 so that between the two tabs it is defined an internal angle comprised between 80° and 90°, particularly comprised between 82° and 87°.
As it is shown in Figure 4B, the tab 16 comprises, in a non-limiting way, a seating 17 adapted to removably engage at least one respective abutment 19 of the covering element 11: the engagement between the seating 17 and the abutment 19 enables to stably constrain the covering element 11 to the container 2.
The seating 17 comprise at least one through-opening 20 crossing the lower surface 16a and the upper surface 16b of the tab 16 of the container 2. From the geometrical point of view, the opening 20 exhibits, in a non-limiting way, a substantially elliptic shape having a main development direction substantially parallel to the main development plane of the covering element 11 to which the first hooking element 9 is associated. The covering element 11 and the respective abutment 19 will be better described in the following.
As it is shown in the attached figures, the container 2 comprises, in a non-limiting way, at least one second hooking element 10 arranged on a lateral element 4 different from the lateral element 4 to which the first hooking element 9 is associated, particularly it is arranged opposite to the first hooking element 9 with respect to the base 3. Actually, in the shown arrangement, the first hooking element 9 is located on the back wall of the container 2, while the second hooking element 10 is arranged on the front wall of container 2.
The second hooking element 10 is configured to removably constrain the covering element 11 in order to substantially stop the latter above the housing compartment 5.
From a geometrical point of view, the second hooking element 10 comprises, in a non-limiting way, an incision 24 adapted to removably constrain a respective projection of the covering element 11 which will be better described in the following.
In a first embodiment, shown for example in Figure 4A, the incision 24 is directly arranged on a lateral element 4 on the container (the front element of the packaging): so that the incision 24 substantially defines an opening delimited by the two edges of the incision. In such a condition, the engagement of the incision with the projection of the covering element 11 is performed thanks to the passage of the latter through the incision: the projection, in the constraint condition with the container 2, is at least partially inside the housing compartment (Figure 7a).
In a second embodiment, shown for example in Figures 8 and 9, the incision 24 is arranged on a front tab constrained to the front element of the container 2. In the latter described condition, the incision 24 is only arranged on the auxiliary tab: so that, in the engagement condition between the incision and the projection of the covering element 11, such projection crosses the incision without interfering with the housing compartment 5 of the container 2.
In a preferred embodiment of the container 2, the auxiliary tab is joined in a single piece to the front element; in an operative condition of the container 2, the tab is folded outwardly the housing compartment 5.
The container 2 of paper material can be further covered with a film 8 of plastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the film 8 of plastic material is present at least on the first surface 2a, the film covers at least one portion of the first surface 2a itself, particularly, the film 8 of plastic material integrally covers the first surface 2a of the container 2.
The coating film 8 has the object of defining a barrier particularly against water and/or humidity which prevents the weakening and the loss of thickness with a consequent distortion of the paper material forming the cover.
Generally, it is provided an extrusion coating on one (the inner side 2a) or on both the sides ( surfaces 2a and 2b) of the paper material.
It is possible to define, besides the thickness of the container 2, also the grammage of the paper sheet material forming the latter; the sheet material of the container 2 exhibits, in a non-limiting way, a grammage comprised between 100 and 300 g/m², particularly comprised between 120 and 280 g/m², still more particularly between 150 and 250 g/m²; the grammage of the more often used paperboard is 220 g/m². The used paperboard can be both smooth and corrugated according to the needs.
As previously discussed, the packaging 1 further comprises a covering element 11 amovably engaged with the container 2 and which is actually a cover adapted to prevent the access from the outside to the housing compartment 5.
From the structural point of view, the covering element 11 comprises a main body 11a having an upper flat wall 27 exhibiting, in a non-limiting way, a substantially rectangular profile. The main body 11a further comprises a lateral wall 28 perimetrally connected to the upper wall 27: the upper wall 27 and lateral wall 28 define a covering compartment 26 delimited by a respective free edge 29 defining an opening 30. As for the container 2, the lateral wall 28 of the covering 11 exhibits also a certain taper with respect to the wall to which said lateral elements are connected (in case of the covering element with respect to the upper wall 27). Particularly, the lateral wall 28 transversally and emerges away from the upper wall 27 of the covering element 11 for defining with the latter an angle inside the housing compartment 26 greater than 90°, particularly greater than 95°.
As it is shown for example in Figures 1, 2, 5A and 5B, the main body 11a further comprises a rest portion 34 which, in the closed condition of the covering element 11, is adapted to abut at least one segment of the free edge 6 of the container which acts as a support for the covering element 11.
In a preferred embodiment of the covering element 11, the rest portion 34 is shown, with reference to the back portion of the covering element 11, by the upper wall 27, while, with reference to the front portion, by the rest portion 34 emerging from the lateral wall 28 (from the opposite side with respect to the upper wall 27) away from the covering compartment 26.
The covering element 11 comprises, in a non-limiting way, at least one reinforcing element 43 located on the upper surface 27 and configured to make stronger the covering element 11: in such a way it is possible to ensure a greater protection to the foodstuff closed inside the packaging 1, and simply the coupling operations between the container 2 and the covering element 11.
In a preferred embodiment shown in the attached figures, the reinforcing element 43 comprises, in a non-limiting way, surface reinforcements 44 on the upper wall adapted to substantially define ribs 45 useful for stiffening the upper wall 27 itself and consequently all the main body 11a
Specifically, there are a pair of reinforcements 44 opposite one another and substantially arranged at the longitudinal edges of the main body 11a. The reinforcements 44 exhibit, in a non-limiting way, a main extension parallel to the extension of the longitudinal edges of the main body 11a.
As previously cited, the covering element 11 is removably engaged with the container 2. More particularly, the covering element 11 comprises at least one hooking element 12 removably engageable to the first hooking element 9 of the container 2 in order to define among them (the elements 9 and 12) a constraint condition. The covering element 11 is configured to define a closed condition in which the latter, during the constraint condition, substantially prevents the access to the housing compartment 5 of the container 2: in such a condition, the housing compartment 26 of the covering element 11 is faced towards the housing compartment 5 of the container 2. The covering element 11 is configured to define an open condition in which the latter, during the constraint condition, enables the access to the compartment housing 5 of the container 2. The covering element 11 is further configured to rotate with respect to the container 2 in order to enable, during the constraint condition between the covering element 11 and the container 2, the passage from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa.
Particularly with reference to Figures 4 and 7b, the first hooking element 12 of the covering element 11 comprises a projection 15 transversally emerging from the main body 11a: the latter, in the constraint condition, is also located, as the first hooking element 9 of the container 2, outside the housing compartment 5 of the container 2.
The projection 15 of the covering element 11 is joined in a single piece to the main body 11a and is rotatingly mobile with respect to the latter in order to enable, during the constraint condition between the container 2 and the covering element 11, the passage of the latter from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa by a rotation. As it is shown in the attached figures, the projection 15 exhibits, in a non-limiting way, at least one abutment 19 adapted to abut the seating 17 of the container 2 to define the removable engagement between the latter and the covering element 11.
More particularly, the projection 15 of the covering element 11 comprises a respective tab 18 having the abutment 19: the opening 20 of the seating 17, in the constraint condition, crossingly receivers at least one portion of the tab 18 of the projection 15.
The abutment 19 comprises at least one first rest portion 21 adapted to abut the lower surface 16a of the tab 16 of the container 2 and a second rest portion 22 adapted to abut the upper surface 16b of the tab 16 of the container 2.
As it is shown from the cross section of Figure 7, the abutment 19 substantially defines a housing seating 23 adapted to receive at least partially the tab 16 of the container 2: the housing seating 23 exhibits, according to a cross section, a substantially C-shaped profile, in a non-limiting way, a concavity facing towards the opposite part with respect to the housing compartment 5 of the container 2.
The tab 16 of the container 2, in the constraint condition, is interposed between the first and second rest portions 21, 22 of the covering element 11: in such a way, the first and second rest portion 21, 22 substantially prevent the tab 18 from translating with respect to the container 2 at least along a crossing direction of the tab 18 with respect to the opening 20.
As it is shown for example in the cross section of Figure 7, the tab 18 of the first hooking element 12 of the covering element 11 exhibits, in a non-limiting way, a lead-in portion 35 configured to guide the insertion of the tab 18 through the opening 20: the lead-in portion 35 extends from the first rest portion 21 to a transversal free end 16c of the tab 16 of the container 2 and exhibits, according to a cross section, a thickness having a decreasing trend from the first rest portion 21 to the free transversal end 16c.
As it is further shown in Figure 1, the covering element 11 comprises at least one second hooking element 13 configured to removably engage the second hooking element 10 of the container 2 at least in the closed condition of the covering element 11.
The second hooking element 13 of the covering element 11 is associated to the lateral wall 28 opposite to the first hooking element 12 with respect to the main body 11a.
More particularly, the second hooking element 13 of the covering element 11 comprises a blocking tab 25 which, in the closed condition of the covering element 11, crosses at least partially the incision 24 of the second hooking portion 10 of the container 2: so that, the second hooking element 13, stably stops the element 11. in the closed condition.
In case it is used the first embodiment of the container 2 (see for example the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B), the blocking tab 25 crosses the incision 24 to enter at least partially inside the housing compartment. Instead, in case it is used the second embodiment of the container 2 (see for example the embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9), the blocking tab 25 crosses the incision 24 of the auxiliary tab: in such a condition, the blocking tab does not interfere with the housing compartment 5.
The covering element 11 exhibits at least one transparent portion adapted to enable, at least in the closed condition of the covering element 11, to display from the outside the foodstuff present inside the housing compartment 5 of the container 2.
Actually, the covering element 11 is made, in a non-limiting way, of plastic material, particularly the covering element 11 is made of at least one material selected among the group comprising: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PE.
It is possible to envision also a grip element (not shown in the attached figures) associatable to the container 2 and/or the covering element 11 such to enable to easily transport the packaging. For example, a standard fabric ribbon suitable constrained to the upper wall of the covering element 11.
Process for manufacturing a packaging for foodstuffs.
The packaging 1 can be manufactured by the process described in the following.
As described above, the packaging comprises a container 2 which is made of a paper sheet material, for example unwinded from a roll, which has on the first surface 2a a film 8 made of plastic material (for example, polyethylene).
The sheet, after has been continuously unwinded from the roll, is suitably cut for defining the preform 100 delimited by an outer perimeter. The cutting step besides defining the outer perimeter of the preform 100, enables to further form the opening 20, the incision 24, the connecting elements 36, an auxiliary portion 42, possible folds or creasings useful for deforming (folding) the container 2.
After the cutting step, the preform 100, particularly the container 2, is deformed by folding it in order to define the housing compartment 5 having a substantially convex shape, whose inner surface is defined by the plastic material film 8. As described before, the housing compartment 5 is adapted, in an operating or three-dimensional condition, to contain products, for example foodstuff, by supporting them, and defines the free edge 6 which in turn delimits the opening 7 located on the top of the container.
The step of providing the container further comprises another step of folding the connecting elements 36 so that, in the operative condition of the container 2, the latter are located, in a non-limiting way, inside the housing compartment 5 and in contact with at least one lateral element 4. The step of providing the container further provides a step of providing a predetermined quantity of glue between the connecting element 36 and the lateral element 4. In a preferred embodiment of the process, the glue is arranged on the back surface 40 of the connecting element: after the folding step, the outer surface 40 is directed to contact the lateral element 4 in order to stably constrain two lateral adjacent elements. Alternatively, it is possible to constrain the connecting element 36 outside the housing compartment by positioning the predetermined quantity of glue on the inner surface 39 of the connecting element 36 and the inner surface 39 is directed to contact the outer surface 2b of a lateral element 4.
The step of providing the container further provides a step of folding the auxiliary portion 42 of the paper sheet material for defining the first hooking element 9.
Specifically, the manufacturing process further comprises a first folding of the auxiliary portion 42 for directing at least one portion of the latter in contact with the second surface 2b of the container 2 for defining the first hooking element 9 located outside the housing compartment 5. The first folding enables to rotate the auxiliary portion 42 around the free edge 6 of the container 2 for defining said auxiliary tab 31.
The process further comprises a second folding of an end portion of the auxiliary portion 42 away from the second surface 2b for defining the tab 16. The auxiliary portion 42, after the first and second folding steps, defines a substantially L-shaped profile.
The process further comprises a step of constraining the auxiliary tab 31 to the lateral element 4 to which the latter is connected. Particularly, it is provided a step of gluing the surface of the auxiliary tab 31 adapted to contact the lateral element 4: after having glued this latter elements (elements 4 and 31) they are put in contact.
The manufacturing process further comprises a step of providing the covering element 11, comprising a sub-step of providing a plastic material sheet and a following forming step adapted to define the upper surface 27 and the lateral wall 28. During the forming step, it is further defined at least the first hooking element 12.
The step of providing the covering element 11 further provides a sub-step of cutting the latter for defining the outer profile and the blocking tab 25. The cutting step can be performed, in a non-limiting way, during the step of forming the covering element 11, or can be performed before or after said forming step.
Following the step of providing the container 2 and the covering element 2, the manufacturing process comprises a step of removably engaging the first hooking element 9 of the container 2 with the first hooking element 12 of the covering element 11 outside the housing compartment 5 in order to define said constraint condition: causing a slight deformation of at least one of the hooking elements 9, 12, it is possible to snap couple the two elements (elements 2 and 11) in this way the two components, by means of the above described hooking elements, are made integral. Particularly, the operation is extremely simple and reliable, actually the covering element 11 is positioned on the top of the container to which it is counter shaped and therefore it is fitted on the same by a vertical reciprocal approaching movement.
As described before, the covering element 11 can define a closed condition in which the latter, during the constraint condition substantially prevents the access to the housing compartment 5 and an open condition in which the latter, during the constraint condition, enables the access to the housing compartment 5: the passage between the closed condition and the open condition occurs thanks to the rotation of the covering element 11 with respect to the container 2 around a segment of the free edge 6 of the latter.
The manufacturing process can further comprise a step of blocking the covering element 11 thanks to the engagement of the blocking tab 25 with the incision 24 of the container 2. The blocking step provides that the blocking tab 25 at least partially passes through the incision 24: so that the tab 18 translates from the outer environment to the housing compartment 5 of the container 2.

Process of packaging foodstuff.

It is a further object of the present invention a process of packaging foodstuff. Such process provides the step of providing the container 2 and the covering element 11.
Following the step of providing the container 2, the packaging process provides the positioning of one or more foodstuffs to be cooked inside the container 2. Following the arrangement of the foodstuff inside the housing compartment 5, the packaging process 5 provides a step of cooking and/or heating the foodstuff for example inside an oven.
After having heated and/or cooked the foodstuff, such process provides a removable coupling of the covering element 11 to the container 2. After it has been defined the constraint condition between the first hooking elements 9, 12 of the container 2 and covering element 11, respectively, the latter is positioned in the closed condition in which said covering element prevents the access from the outer side to the housing compartment 5. Lastly, the process provides the step of displaying the packaged foodstuff to the public.

Advantages of the invention.

The type of the hooking elements designed and embodied by the present invention actually is characterized by a simple implementation, reduced cost and a high reliability. From a manufacturing point of view, the container 2 does not require complicated manufacturing steps.
Further, the positioning of the hooking elements outside the housing compartment of the container enables to support/contain liquid and/or semi-liquid foodstuff. Besides that, the above described positioning of the hooking elements prevents the hooking elements from contacting the foodstuff present in the housing compartment of the containers: in this way it is possible to avoid the interference of the foodstuff with the covering element during the step of coupling the latter to the container.
The preform and coupling configurations ensure the possibility of implementing containers having any height by ensuring the possibility of packaging products of different types.
Both the container and the covering element are still reciprocally pilable and the obtained packaging keeps all the advantages of the one already known. Actually, first of all, the constructive structure of the present invention enables to offer to the public an object which can be handled without difficulties and which enables a fast packaging with all the advantages held by the "standard" packaging; it is observed that such characteristics favour the practicality of use, also by not skilled workers or for manufacturing in a short time a large quantity of packaging.
Lastly, it is outlined that such container reduces the manufacturing cost and greatly simplifies the manufacturing processes, since it is not necessary to manufacture particularly complicated shapes and since the operations for preparing the covering element itself are few (generally a single drawing step transforms the product from the flat configuration to the three-dimensional finished one) and do not present particularly technical difficulties.

LIST OF THE COMPONENTS

1 Packaging for foodstuff
2 Container
2a First surface
2b Second surface
3 Base
4 Lateral element
4a First edge
4b Second edge
4c Third edge
4d Fourth edge
5 Housing compartment
6 Free edge
7 Opening
8 Film
9 First hooking element of the container 2
10 Second hooking element of the container 2
11 Covering element
11a Main body of the covering element 11
12 First hooking element
13 Second hooking element
14 Projection
15 Projection
16 Tab of the container 2
16a Lower surface
16b Upper surface
16c Free transversal end
17 Seating
18 Tab of the covering element 11
19 Abutment
20 Opening of the seating 17
21 First rest portion
22 Second rest portion
23 Housing compartment
24 Incision of the second hooking portion 10
25 Blocking tab
26 Housing compartment
27 Upper wall
28 Lateral wall
29 Free edge
30 Opening
31 Auxiliary tab
32 First transversal edge of the auxiliary tab 31
33 Second transversal edge of the auxiliary tab 31
34 Rest portion
35 Lead-in portion
36 Connecting element
37 First ends
38 Second ends
39 Inner surface of the connecting element 36
40 Outer surface of the connecting element 36
41 Connecting edge
42 Auxiliary portion
43 Reinforcing element
44 Reinforcements
45 Ribs
100 Preform

Claims

A packaging (1) for comestible products comprising a container (2) made starting from a flat sheet element made of a paper material developing in a main plane, the flat sheet element exhibiting a first and a second surface (2a, 2b) opposite one another, the container (2) having:
➢ a base (3),

➢ a plurality of lateral elements (4) perimetrally connected to the base (3) and emerging distancingly therefrom,
the base (3) and at least a part of the lateral elements (4) defining a housing compartment (5) predisposed to contain comestible products and an internal surface of which is defined by at least a portion of the first surface (2a) of the flat sheet element, the container (2), in operating condition, defining a free edge (6) delimiting the housing chamber (5) and defining an opening (7) located in an upper part of the container (2), the container (2) comprising at least a first hook element (9) associated to at least a lateral element (4) and located externally of the housing chamber (5);
and wherein the packaging (1) comprises at least a covering element (11) exhibiting at least a first hooking element (12) removably engageable to the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) such as to define, between the hooking elements (9, 12), a constraint condition, the covering element (11) being configured such as to define a closed condition in which the covering element (11) substantially prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), the covering element (11) being configured such as to define an open condition in which the covering element (11), during the constraint condition, enables access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), and wherein the covering element (11) is further configured such as to rotate in relation to the container (2) such as to enable, during the constraint condition between the covering element (11) and the container (2), passage from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa;
both the hooking elements (9, 12), respectively of the container (2) and the covering element (11), being located externally of the housing compartment (5) of the container (2) such as to define a coupling that is external of the chamber (5) and not interfering with the internal volume thereof.
The packaging of claim 1, wherein the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) optionally comprises at least a projection (14) emerging from an opposite side with respect to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), and wherein the covering element (11) comprises a main body (11a) which, in the closed condition of the covering element (11), at least partially covers the opening (7) of the housing chamber (5) of the container (2); the first hooking element (12) of the covering element (11) comprising at least a respective projection (15) emerging transversally with respect to the main body (11a) located outside the housing chamber (5) of the container (2).
The packaging of claim 2, wherein the projection (15) of the covering element (11) is rotatingly mobile with respect to the main body (11a) of the covering element (11) such as to enable, during the constraint condition between the container (2) and the covering element (11), passage of the covering element (11) from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa.
The packaging of claim 2 or 3, wherein the projection (14) of the container (2) comprises at least a seating or abutment suitable for removably engaging to at least a respective abutment or seating of the projection (15) of the covering element (11), the engagement between the seating and the abutment stably constraining the covering element (11) to the container (2).
The packaging of claim 2 or 3 or 4, wherein the projection (14) of the container (2) comprises at least a tab (16) extending substantially along a main development plane between a lower surface (16a), facing towards the bottom of the container (2), and an upper surface (16b) facing towards the opening (7) of the container (2), the tab (16) exhibiting at least a seating (17) suitable for housing at least an abutment (19) of the projection (15) of the covering element (11) in order to define a removable engagement between the covering element (11) and the container (2).
The packaging of the preceding claim, wherein the seating (17) comprises at least a through-opening (20) extending from the lower surface (16a) to the upper surface (16b) of the tab (16) of the container (2), and wherein the projection (15) of the covering element (11) comprises a respective tab (18) bearing the abutment (19), the opening (20) of the seating (17), at least in the constraint condition, crossingly receiving at least a part of the tab (18) of the projection (15) of the covering element (11).
The packaging of claim 5 or 6, wherein the abutment (19) of the covering element (11) comprises at least a first rest portion (21) destined to abut the lower surface (16a) of the tab (16) of the container (2), and wherein the abutment (19) of the covering element (11) comprises at least a second rest portion (22) destined to abut the upper surface (16b) of the tab (16) of the container (2), the tab (16) of the container (2), in the constraint conditions, being interposed between the first and the second rest portions (21, 22) of the covering element (11), the first and the second rest portion (21,22) being configured such as to prevent the tab (18) from translating with respect to the container (2) at least along a crossing direction of the tab (18) with respect to the opening (20) of the seating (17).
The packaging of any one of claims from 5 to 7, wherein the abutment (19) substantially defines a housing seating (23) suitable for at least partially housing the tab (16) of the container (2), the housing seating (23) exhibiting, in a transversal section, a substantially C-shaped profile, in particular the profile exhibiting a concavity facing on an opposite side with respect to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2).
The packaging of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) comprises an auxiliary tab (31) exhibiting a first transversal edge (32) connected to the free edge (6) of the container (2) and a second transversal edge (33) connected to the tab (16) of the container (2), the auxiliary tab (31) being at least partly coupled to at least a lateral element (4) of the container (2) and extending parallel thereto, and wherein the tab (16) and the auxiliary tab (31) of the first hooking element (2) are joined in a single piece to one another and respectively joined in a single piece to the container (2).
The packaging of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (2) comprises at least a second hooking element (10) arranged on a different lateral element (4) to which the first hooking element (9) is associated, and wherein the covering element (11) comprises at least a second hooking element (13) configured such as to removably engage the second hooking element (10) of the container (2) at least in the closed condition of the covering element (11) in which the covering element prevents access to the housing chamber (5) of the container (2), in particular the second hooking element (10) of the container (2) being opposite the first hooking element (10) of the container (2) with respect to the base (3), the second hooking element (10) of the container (2) comprising an incision or a tab destined to abut a respective tab or incision of the second hooking element (13) of the covering element (11).
The packaging of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the covering element (11), and for example all the covering element (11), is transparent such as to allow, at least in the closed condition of the covering element (11), viewing the product present internally of the housing chamber (5) of the container (2) from outside.
A manufacturing process of a packaging for comestible products, comprising steps of:
➢ predisposing a container (2) made of a paper sheet in an operating condition in which the container (2) defines a housing compartment (5) defining an opening (7) located in the upper part of the container (2), the container comprising at least a first hooking element t(9) located externally of the housing compartment (5) and comprising at least an auxiliary portion (42) connected perimetrally to at least a lateral element (4) of the container, the step of predisposing the container (2) comprising following sub-steps:
○ a first folding of the auxiliary portion (42) in order to bring at least a part thereof into contact with a surface (2b) of the container (2) such as to define the first hooking element (9) located externally of the housing compartment (5), the first hooking element (9) comprising at least a projection (14) emerging from an opposite side with respect to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2);

○ a second folding of an end portion of the auxiliary portion (42) distancingly from the surface (2b) such as to define a tab (16), the auxiliary portion (42), following the first and second folding step, defining a substantially L-shaped profile;

➢ predisposing a covering element (11) comprising a main body (11a) which, in the closed condition of the covering element (11), at least partly prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), the covering element (11) exhibiting at least a first hooking element (12) having at least a respective projection (15) emerging transversally with respect to the main body (11a),

➢ removably engaging the first hooking element (9) of the container (2) to the first hooking element (12) of the covering element (11) outside the housing compartment (5) such as to define a constraint condition, the step of engaging the covering element (11) to the container (2) comprising a substep of engaging between the projection (15) of the covering element (11) and the projection of the container (2) outside the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), the covering element (11) being configured such as to define a closed condition in which the covering element (11), during the constraint condition, substantially prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), the covering element (11) being further configured such as to define an open condition in which the covering element (11), during the constraint condition, allows access to the housing compartment (5) of the container (2), the covering element (11) being further configured such as to rotate relatively to the container (2) such as to enable, during the constraint condition between the covering element (11) and the container (2), passage from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa.