EP2746186B1

EP2746186B1 - Wrapped confectionery products positioning and retaining device and flat blanks assembly for formimg said device

Info

Publication number: EP2746186B1
Application number: EP13199585.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Battaglino
Original assignee: Soremartec SA
Current assignee: Soremartec SA
Priority date: 2012-12-24
Filing date: 2013-12-24
Publication date: 2017-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-24
Also published as: EP2746186A1; ITTO20121146A1; PL2746186T3

Description

The present invention concerns a wrapped praline positioning and retaining device.
In particular, the present invention concerns a positioning and retaining device to arrange and maintain a plurality of wrapped pralines in pre-defined positions.
Currently, wrapped confectionery products are packed using cell trays, i.e. with a plurality of seats or housings, each of which is adapted to house a relative confectionery product. The confectionery products are then maintained inside the respective housings using sheet elements or shaped or non-shaped plate bodies which, when blocked with respect to the tray, prevent the confectionery products from coming out of their seats.
Although universally used, the packing method described above is not fully satisfactory for several reasons.
Firstly, when the sheet material or the plate portion are removed by the consumer in order to take the products out, all the products are free to abandon the relative housings if the package is accidentally overturned or simply inclined.
In addition to this, after the first opening it is often impossible to restore the original condition of firm maintenance of the products in the relative seats, especially if they are retained by sheet materials.
Lastly, the need is now increasingly felt to be able to display the wrapped confectionery products, making them directly visible from the outside without interposing transparent screens or other elements that can alter or make it difficult to perceive the exterior characteristics that enhance the wrapped confectionery products.
Document EP0441102A1 discloses an element for holding and presenting confectionery products and the like, and corresponds to the preamble of claim 1. Document WO2007/089844A1 discloses a device for retaining bottles or cans comprising a first and a second plate portions having, for each seat, a first through opening and a second through opening, wherein each of the first openings is an opening with fixed dimension and each of the second through opening is an opening with variable dimension having a plurality of yieldable independent retaining tabs. The object of the present invention is to provide a wrapped praline positioning and retaining device, which simply and inexpensively solves the above-mentioned problems and meets the needs described.
According to the present invention, a wrapped praline positioning and retaining device, comprising the wrapped pralines, is produced, as claimed in claim 1.
The present invention furthermore concerns a flat blanks assembly made of paper material.
According to the present invention, a flat blanks assembly made of paper material is provided, as claimed in claim 10. The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment example thereof, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a wrapped praline positioning and retaining device, produced according to the teachings of the present invention;
figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of figure 1;
figure 3 is a section, on an enlarged scale, according to the line III-III of figure 1;
figure 4 is a figure analogous to figure 1, and illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a wrapped praline positioning and retaining device, produced according to the teachings of the present invention;
figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device of figure 4; and
figures 6 and 7 are sections, on an enlarged scale, according to line VI-VI and line VII-VII of figure 4 respectively.

In figure 1, the reference number 1 indicates, as a whole, a positioning and retaining device for wrapped confectionery products F, such as the pralines commercially known as "Ferrero Rocher® or "Mon Chéri®", each of which is wrapped in a respective wrapping consisting of a simple folded sheet, as in the case of the "Mon Chéri®", and/or a paper case A, commonly known as "pastry case", as in the case of the "Ferrero Rocher®".
In the particular example described, the device 1 constitutes part of a package 2 comprising, in addition to the device 1, a packaging box 3 partially illustrated and known per se and not described in detail, and closed by a lid 4.
Alternatively, the box 3 is without the lid 4 and is wrapped in sheet material (not visible) which can be removed when the package 2 is opened.
According to a further variation not illustrated, the package 2 comprises uniquely the device 1 which is directly wrapped by a sheet material which can be removed when the package 2 is opened.
Suitably, the device 1 is made of shredded folded paper sheet material. Alternatively, the device 1 is made in one single piece, or in several pieces coupled to one another, of thermoplastic material or other equivalent deformable material.
Independently of the material it is made of, the device 1 comprises a hollow shell 5 and, for each wrapped praline F, a respective seat 7 for housing and positioning said wrapped praline F, obtained through the shell 5 (figure 3).
For each seat 7, the device 1 comprises a respective pressure or friction retaining unit 8 to retain in a releasable or extractable manner the wrapped praline F inside the respective seat 7.
Again with reference to figure 1, the shell 5 comprises, in turn, two flat plate portions 10 and 11 facing each other, parallel and transversally spaced one from the other, and a circumferential lateral wall 12 integrally connected to the plate portions 10 and 11 and delimiting with the plate portions 10 and 11 a compartment 13 having a thickness S, measured orthogonally to the plates 10 and 11, constant and pre-defined according to the dimensions of the wrapped praline F (figure 1). As can be seen from figures 1 and 3, the thickness S is determined so that the paper case A protrudes outside the shell 5 beyond the plate portion 10.
Again with reference to figure 1, each retention unit 8 is of the type with tabs independent of one another and is arranged in a position adjacent to a bottom portion of the respective seat 7 to cooperate with an external lateral wall of the paper case A of the wrapped praline F, as will be better described below.
The device 1 illustrated in figure 1 is expediently produced using only two flat blanks with shredded portions which are subsequently foldable, illustrated in figure 2 and indicated by 14 and 15.
When folded, the blank 14 defines an upper or anterior half-shell 16 of the shell 5, while the blank 15, again when folded, defines a lower or rear half-shell 17 of the shell 5 according to whether the device 1 rests flat or is positioned edgeways, for example hanging on a wall.
Again with reference to figure 2, the blanks 14 and 15 comprise respective flat intermediate portions 19 and 20 defining the portion 10 and, respectively, the plate portion 11 of the shell 5, and a plurality of respective lateral reference and fastening tabs 21 and 22 which, when folded square, overlap one another to define the outer wall 12 of the shell 5.
For each wrapped praline F, the blank 14 furthermore comprises a plurality of circular through openings 23 with fixed dimension, distributed on the portion 19, while the blank 15 comprises a plurality of circular through openings 24 with variable dimension distributed on the portion 20; when the half- shells 16 and 17 are coupled to each other to define the shell 5, each opening 23 extends along a respective opening 24 coaxially to a common axis 7a (figures 1-3) of the relative seat 7 to delimit the seat 7 itself.
The blank 14 furthermore comprises, for each opening 23, a respective intermediate reference and fastening tab 26 overhangingly protruding inside the respective opening 20. As can be seen again from figure 1, each of the intermediate tabs 26 is adapted to be folded towards the plate portion 11 and, when folded, crosses a corresponding opening 24 protruding from the opposite side of the plate 11. The blank 15 comprises, in turn, for each opening 24 a respective intermediate tab 27, which protrudes inside the relative opening 23 and is, in use, folded on the outside of the relative seat 7 and arranged in contact with the corresponding tab 26 to which it is firmly connected by means of gluing, as can be seen in figure 1. In this way, the two plate portions 10 and 11 are constrained to each other in a plurality of intermediate points and, specifically, at each seat 7.
Again with reference to figure 2, each of the openings 24 with variable dimension is delimited, in this specific case, by a crown 30 of retaining tabs 31, which overhang from the plate portion 11 and, in use, inside the relative seat 7 (figure 1), to exert a pushing action against a bottom portion F1 of the wrapped praline F when said wrapped praline F is inserted in the seat 7 and crosses the plate portion 11.
Each of the openings 24 delimited by the respective crown 30 of tabs has, in a non-deformed or rest position, dimensions smaller in size than the external dimensions of the bottom portion F1 of the wrapped praline F. Expediently, the tabs 31 are dimensionally identical to one another and independent of one another and tapered towards their free end. Expediently, furthermore, each of the tabs 31 has a comma shape and is laterally delimited by own convex curved edges 31a and frontally or axially by a concave curved edge 31b, as can be seen in figure 1.
According to one embodiment, each of the tabs 31 constitutes an extension of the flat portion 20, i.e. without the interposition of notches or tears, and elastically yields under the pushing action of the wrapped praline F entering the seat 7. Alternatively, as in the example illustrated in figure 1, the blank 15 comprises, for each of the retaining tabs 31, a respective elastic tear attachment portion 33, which defines a virtual elastic hinge for attachment of the retaining tab 31 to the intermediate portion 20.
During insertion of the wrapped praline F inside the relative seat 7, the bottom portion F1 of the wrapped praline F crosses, first, the opening 23 and moves along the axis 7a towards the relative crown 30 of tabs 31. Having reached the crown 30, a subsequent forward movement of the wrapped praline F causes the shifting of a free terminal section of the tabs 31 in the same direction of movement as the wrapped praline F and the progressive forced insertion of the terminal portion F1 between the tabs 31, as illustrated in figure 3. Once insertion has been completed, the tabs 31, due to their elasticity and/or the presence of the tear portions 33, exert on the portion F1 of the wrapped praline F a pushing action crosswise to the axis 7a or to the direction of insertion, generating between the tabs 31 and the wrapped praline F and, in this specific case, between the tabs and the paper case A, a friction component which, in the absence of external manual actions for extraction of the wrapped praline F, retains said wrapped praline F inside the seat 7, whatever the arrangement of the device 1 and also when said device 1 is completely overturned. From the above it appears evident that this mode of retention slightly deforms only the bottom portion F1 of the wrapped praline F and does not produce any deformation of the remaining part of the wrapping and, in particular, of the portion of said wrapping which protrudes outside the plate portion 10 and which is, therefore, always visible from the outside. In other words, the retention action involves only the part of the wrapping housed inside the shell 5 and never visible from the outside so that the wrapped praline or its wrapping seen from the outside always has the same characteristics in terms of aesthetics and original form.
Said retention condition remains until the wrapped praline F is extracted by gripping it manually and exerting on said wrapped praline F an action countering the friction component. In said condition, the terminal portions of the tabs 31 slide in contact with the terminal portion of the paper case A until the wrapped praline F is released.
From the above it is evident that, also following opening of the package 2 and/or removal of the sheet packaging materials, the wrapped pralines F never autonomously disengage the relative seats 7. In addition to this, since the interference between tabs 31 and the wrapped pralines is minimum, the tabs 31 do not damage the wrapping of the wrapped pralines, preserving its aesthetic characteristics also after manual extraction of the same from the packaging 2.
The embodiment illustrated in figure 4 relates to a positioning and retaining device 40, which differs from the device 1 in some production details and in which the parts common to the device 1 are indicated by the same reference numbers as the corresponding parts of device 1.
In the device 40, the openings 23 and 24 are quadrangular, expediently rectangular, and for each opening 23 there are two positioning tabs 26 facing each other; again in the device 40, each crown 30 of tabs 31 comprises a pair of larger tabs 42 arranged facing each other and of trapezoidal shape and, for each tab 26, a pair of smaller tabs 43, again trapezoidal and arranged on opposite lateral sides of the respective tab 26.
With reference to figures 6 and 7, during insertion of the wrapped praline F, like the tabs 31, also the tabs 42 and 43 rotate with respect to the respective plate body 11 or elastically deform, thus pinching together the terminal portion F1 of the wrapped praline F and retaining it until the extraction action is exerted manually on the wrapped praline.
From the above it appears evident that modifications and variations can be made to the devices 1 and 40 described.
In particular, the device 8 comprises the wrapping or part of it, and could comprise a number of retaining tabs 31, 42, 43 not only different from the one described by way of example, but said retaining tabs could present different forms and profiles from those indicated by way of example and be distributed differently around the wrapped praline, for example according to the shape of the wrapped praline and/or its wrapping. In the specific example described, the particular geometry of the retaining tabs provides stable unvaried retention over time.
In addition, the retaining tabs could constitute part of a retention unit distinct from the blanks 14, 15 and coupled or connected with the blanks 14 and 15.
The geometry of the seats 7 and, consequently, of the through holes 23 and 24, could be different from that indicated.
Lastly, the mode of coupling of the blanks to define a positioning and support shell which is as far as possible non-deformable, i.e. insensitive to the pushing insertion action of the wrapped pralines F in the respective seats, but also to the extraction action of the wrapped pralines from said seats, could be different from that described. In this regard it should be noted that following extraction of the wrapped pralines F, the retaining tabs continue to remain connected to the portion 11, thus avoiding the formation of loose portions in the packaging 2.
According to a variation not illustrated, on the other hand, the retaining tabs are connected to the plate portion 11 by means of a tear portion which defines an area of breakage or separation of said retaining tabs as soon as the manual action of extraction of the wrapped praline is exerted from the outside.

Claims

Device (1);(40) for positioning and retaining pralines, each wrapped in a wrapping surrounding at least partially said praline; the device comprising, for each wrapped praline (F):
- the respective wrapping; said wrapping consisting of a folded sheet and/or a paper case (A);

- a respective seat (7) housing said wrapped praline (F); the wrapping and the relative praline protruding outside of said seat (7); and

- releasable retaining means (8) keeping said wrapped praline (F) within said seat (7) in an extractable way;
the device further comprising:
- a first plate portion (10) and a second plate portion (11) which overlap each other and are transversally spaced apart from each other, and

- connection means (26,27) firmly connecting said first and second plate portions (10)(11) to each other;
said first plate portion (10) having, for each said seat (7), a first through opening (23) at least partly delimiting said seat (7), and crossed by said wrapped praline (F); characterised in that said second plate portion (11) has, for each said seat (7), a second through opening (24) at least partly delimiting said seat (7), and crossed by said wrapped praline (F), and in that each of said wrapped praline protrudes outside of the respective seat (7) beyond said first plate portion (10) and through said first opening (23);
and in that each of said first openings (23) is an opening with fixed dimension and each said second through opening (24) is an opening with variable dimension;
said retaining means (8) comprising, for each said seat (7), a plurality of yieldable independent retaining tabs (31); (42) (43) overhangingly protruding within said seat (7) from said second plate portion (11) to delimit said second opening (24) with variable dimension and to exercise respective pushing actions against a terminal portion (F1) of said wrapped praline (F), such terminal portion (F1) extending through said second opening (24) when the wrapped praline (F) engages said seat (7); said pushing action generating friction between said retaining tabs (31);(42)(43) and said wrapping to retain the wrapped praline (F) inside said seat (7).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining means (8) further comprise an elastic hinge (33) interposed between each of said retaining tabs (31); (42) (43) and said second plate portion (11).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining means (8) comprise, for each of said retaining tabs (31); (42) (43), a respective tear portion interposed between each of said retaining tabs (31); (42) (43) and said second plate portion (11).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining tabs (31) form extensions of said second plate portion (11) and are elastically deformable.
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said retaining means (8) comprise a crown (30) of said retaining tabs (31); (42) (43) delimiting said second opening (24).
Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said retaining tabs (31);(42)(43) are tapered towards a free terminal portion thereof.
Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said retaining tabs (31) are delimited by at least one curved outer edge.
Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection means comprise spacer tabs (26,27) for the relative positioning of said plate portions, said spacer tabs (26,27) being folded and firmly connected to each other.
Device according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one of said positioning spacer tabs (26) is connected to one (10) of said first and second plate portions, passes through both said first and second openings, and is firmly fixed to the other (11) of said first and second plate portions.
Flat blanks assembly (14,15) made of paper material for providing a positioning and retaining device (1), having all fold lines, cut lines and tabs as in the device claimed in claim 8; the assembly comprising a first (14) and a second (15) flat blank which comprise, for a same wrapped praline (F), a first (23) and a second (24) through opening respectively; said first through opening (23) being an opening with fixed dimension and said second through opening (24) being an opening with variable dimension; said second blank (15) comprising a plurality of overhanging retaining tabs (31); (42) (43) delimiting said second opening (24); wherein said flat blanks (14,15) are separated from each other, one or both said flat blanks (14,15) comprising connecting means in form of spacer tabs (26,27) for the relative positioning of said flat blanks (14,15), said spacer tabs (26,27) being adapted to be folded and firmly connected to the other blank.
Assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that said second blank (15) comprises, for each of the respective said second openings (24), a crown (30) of said retaining tabs (31) ; (42) (43) .
Assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that each of said second openings (24) is smaller in size than the outer sizes of a portion (F1) of said wrapped praline (F) adapted to cross, in use, the second opening (24).
Assembly according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said retaining tabs (31);(42)(43) are tapered towards the free end thereof.
Assembly according to one of the claims from 11 to 13, characterized in that said retaining tabs (42)(43) are trapezoidal in shape and have straight outer edges.
Assembly according to one of the claims from 11 to 13, characterized in that said retaining tabs (31) are comma-shaped and have curved outer edges.
Assembly according to any one of the claims from 11 to 15, characterized in that said second blank (15) comprises a tear portion for attaching each of said retaining tabs (31); (42) (43); said tear portion defining a virtual elastic hinge.
Assembly according to any one of the claims from 11 to 15, characterized in that said retaining tabs (31); (42) (43) form an extension of a related plate portion of said second blank (15).
Assembly according to any one of the claims from 11 to 15, characterized in that at least one of said spacer tabs (26) extends within said first opening (23) and at least one of said spacer tabs extends within said second opening.