EP3063078A1

EP3063078A1 - Presentation assembly for grouping tray and items having a round base such as yoghurt pots

Info

Publication number: EP3063078A1
Application number: EP14805990.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vincent Ferry
Original assignee: Gervais Danone SA
Current assignee: Gervais Danone SA
Priority date: 2013-10-31
Filing date: 2014-10-27
Publication date: 2016-09-07
Also published as: FR3012432A1; US20160251133A1; WO2015063403A1; FR3012432B1

Abstract

The items (2) having a round base are grouped together on a tray (4) to form a presentation assembly (1) that allows the items to be kept in a specific orientation in rows (R1, R2, R3, R4), even in the absence of locking projections or shapes in the cavities defined by recesses (3) in the tray. Each of the items (2) has, at the upper end of the recipient (5), a flange (5c) that supports a closing element (12). The flange has at least two locking edges (14, 15, 16, 17) cut in a non-circular shape, and the distribution of the cavities allows two locking edges (16', 17) of two adjacent items to bear against each other, directly or indirectly, preventing items (2) from rotating individually relative to the tray (4).

Description

Presentation set with grouping tray and round bottom items such as yogurt jars

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to display devices for consumer goods, which are typically sold on store shelves or other displays. More specifically, it relates to displays for presentation in a display, consisting of a common grouping support and articles having a round bottom, typically yoghurt pots, and are kept grouped by means of a network. of impressions formed in the common support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This type of assembly is encountered in the field of food processing, particularly for the packaging of bottles or cup-shaped drinking containers. These articles typically include a label with information that is presented, when the presentation package is on a shelf, to consumers. When the bottom of the articles is round (with symmetry of rotation about a vertical axis, on the side of the bottom of the article) or when the cavities are of reduced height relative to the height of the articles, a defect of presentation of these articles are often met. In the case of round-bottomed articles, rotation changes the direction of presentation of one or more of the labels. And if the articles are not maintained with a tightening in the cavities, there is a disorganization of the presentation as soon as an operator transports the packaging assembly to its destination (shelf radius). Disorganization is also observed when handling items by the consumer on the shelves. In any case, the operator of a store must waste time repositioning the items correctly if an optimal presentation is desired.

It is known, from US 4 944 400, to use grouping and presentation trays which has reliefs near the upper outlet of the cavities. This type of solution is however complex to set up. In addition, especially in the case of yoghurt pots or similar containers that are formed with very little plastic, the integrity of the article can be altered by contact with the reliefs. It is also known, from US 5,695,060, a yoghurt pot grouping tray that fits a wide variety of pot sizes.

For this, an elastically flexible tab is provided on one side of the cavity housing the circular bottom of a pot.

This solution makes sure that the spacing between items does not vary, thanks to the cooperation and the maintenance of the round bottom and cavities.

However, a disadvantage of this type of solution is the high cost of the tray, knowing that the tray can be discarded after only one or two uses. In addition, the engagement against the bottom of the yoghurt pot tends to deform the side wall of the pot which is very fragile (the side wall being all the thinner and brittle at this place that there is usually no decorative banner near the bottom of the pot).

There is therefore a need for more practical assemblies for presenting jars of yogurts or similar articles with a round / round bottom, held in cavities of a support. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome one or more of the disadvantages encountered in the prior art.

For this purpose, it is proposed according to the invention a set of presentation of round bottom articles, comprising:

a grouping self-supporting plate which comprises a plurality of cavities forming cavities distributed in two distinct (for example perpendicular) directions and defining at least two rows of cavities, each cavity being delimited by a bottom wall and a continuous or discontinuous inner face; , the plateau defining a plane which is horizontal in a layout configuration of the assembly;

a plurality of round bottom articles each placed in one of the cavities, preferably with a slight clearance with respect to the associated inner face,

and wherein each of the articles comprises:

a container having said round bottom in contact with the associated bottom wall, a side wall of circular section at least near the bottom, and a flange which extends around a container opening parallel to the plane of the tray, knowing that the side wall joins said flange which forms an upper face of the container; and

a closure member in contact with the upper face of the container and closing said opening; knowing that each flange has at least two locking edges which each have a non-circular outer edge, and preferably rectilinear, the articles placed in the cavities having the same angular orientation (predetermined orientation) in each of the rows so that two locking edges of two adjacent articles are supported on each other, directly or indirectly, to oppose individual rotation of articles relative to the tray.

Thanks to these arrangements, we obtain surprisingly effective maintenance of the initial position of the articles relative to the plate, without resorting to excessive radial support of the inner face of the cavities against the side wall of the article. The mobility in the vertical direction is prevented by the individual maintenance of the articles in the footprints (with the bottom of the article in contact with the bottom wall of the cavities). It is also understood that the inclination movement is limited or prevented because of the format correspondence between the impressions (typically of circular section) and the bottom of the article. The rotation of the article about its central axis (vertical axis) is furthermore sufficiently limited or prevented by the contact between the locking edges, so that the angular orientation of the article in the rows is unchanged or the rotation so weak that the orientation is perceived as unchanged.

Advantageously, the article may include a promotional object or a utensil for recovering the container (for example a spoon or straw) which is effectively presented on the same side of the article which corresponds to the presentation side of the tray (side who is facing the consumer in the display, the object being placed above the fingerprints). As an alternative or complement, the article may have a label (for example on the top) whose reading orientation corresponds to the consumer's vision facing the presentation side of the tray.

It may be noted that this type of support is of comparable efficiency to that which is obtained when the top of the article has a relief that cooperates with a top plate (as in the solution of US 4 944 400 to stacked state of several sets), but with the advantage of further obtaining an anti-rotation effect without tightening in the cavities. In addition, the invention makes it possible to provide a presentation assembly whose articles are completely visible from above and also clearly visible on at least one side (the presentation side), and if necessary several sides. In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following may also be used:

the tray comprises a substantially plane bottom which includes the bottom walls of the cavities (the overall height of the assembly is typically only dependent on the height of the articles;

the flange is thicker and more rigid than the side wall (so that the catch between two locking edges is typically made to a height of the order of 1 or 2 mm at least);

there is a maximum distance between two bottom walls of two adjacent cavities which is less than or equal to 20 mm and there is a maximum distance between two openings of two adjacent articles which is less than or equal to 14 mm; moreover, the impressions can be flared with an upper outlet wider than the bottom wall (the spacing between the individual articles being determined by the spacing between the impressions, it is advantageous to optimize the filling of the articles by using openings wider than the bottom of the cavities and preferably at least as wide as the upper outlet of the cavities);

the articles each have the same determined height and the cavities have a maximum height less than half of the determined height, and preferably less than or equal to one third of the determined height (this makes it possible to use decorative streamers and / or fix at least one object on the side wall of the article, with a height of streamer or object that may be greater than half of the determined height);

the tray has a periphery with at least two parallel edges, at least one of which has a maximum height less than the maximum height of the cavities (one of these edges may typically form the presentation side and may define a length of the tray when this one has a rectangular format);

the inner face extends continuously around a central axis of the cavity and has a substantially circular section (at least near the bottom wall);

the two locking edges of two adjacent articles which bear against each other are connected to one another at a breakable joint (this is advantageous for the consumer who can take directly a pack of at least two items);

the breakable junction is made between two straight outer edges of said two locking edges.

the ratio between the length of the breakable junction and the diameter of the opening of the container is between 1: 10 and 1: 0.8, and preferably between 1: 5 and 1: 1.

the articles are in the form of a group of exactly two articles connected by the breakable junction;

the two locking edges of two adjacent articles which bear on each other are spaced less than 5 mm, and preferably less than 2 or 3 mm apart;

the maximum spacing distance between the two locking edges is smaller than the perimeter portion formed by each of the two locking edges, for example smaller by at least a factor of 10;

the tray is made of a waterproof material which is rigid or semi-rigid;

the tray is formed by one-piece molding;

the material thickness of the plate is substantially constant with a maximum thickness of less than 2 mm, and preferably less than or equal to 1 mm, the constituent material of the plate being for example a thermoplastic polymer;

each article has a weight of at least 100 g and the maximum height of the inner face is between 5 and 30 mm, preferably between 10 and 25 mm;

the maximum spacing between the side wall of the article and the inner face which defines the cavity is less than 3 mm and greater than 0.5 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of several embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a presentation assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the case of a grouping of a dozen articles;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the plate used in the assembly of presentation of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the formation of a presentation assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A is a view from above illustrating an example of cutting the flanges in the articles of a presentation assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4B shows an individual article usable throughout Figure 4A and including an object attached to the upper portion of the container; FIGS. 5A and 5B are respectively views from above and in section of two rows of articles held in presentation position in the cavities of a tray;

Figure 6 is a top view which illustrates a variant with a spacing between articles which differs according to the respective two directions of the tray;

- Figure 7 is a top view which illustrates an alternative embodiment with a staggered distribution of the articles in the presentation assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the various figures, identical references indicate identical or similar elements.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the presentation assembly 1, with items 2 here aligned in rows R1, R2, R3, R4 substantially parallel. Each article 2, which corresponds to a pot filled with a milk composition or other food content C, is inserted into a concave impression 3 formed in a self-supporting tray 4 which allows the grouping of the articles 2. The distribution of the imprints 3 makes it possible to produce the rows R1, R2, R3, R4. The footprints 3 are for example aligned from a so-called presentation side 4a (which may correspond to the proximal side for the consumer) to an opposite side 4d (distal side) of the plate 4. The distribution of the fingerprints 3 makes it possible to define two directions distinct.

The two alignment directions of the impressions 3 are preferably perpendicular, which optimizes the filling of a tray 4 of rectangular format. Although the examples illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 show an arrangement without positional offset between two adjacent rows, it is possible to optionally use a plate with a slight offset or a staggered arrangement of the articles 2, as clearly visible in Figure 7. In this case, there may be provided for example two non-rectilinear sides and a rectilinear presentation side 4a. The rows R1 and R4 which comprise at least one article 2 positioned along the non-rectilinear sides (here convex edge) may have one article less than the other rows R2 and R3.

Furthermore, it is understood that the number of impressions 3 may vary to receive the desired number of articles 2. The number of rows R1, R2, R3 and R4 may vary and the number of articles 2 per row may be for example between 2 and 10, preferably between 3 and 6. It will be understood that the number of articles 2 in set 1 can typically vary between 4 and 100.

In a preferred embodiment, each article 2 is of the gripping type with one hand and may consist of a jar for a food product, which comprises for example a yogurt food composition, or similar container closed by a closure element 12. A sealing membrane which can be typically flat can form the closure element 12. The container 5 here forms the bottom 2a of the article 2 and comprises an opening 5a which can be for example at least as wide as the bottom 2a. The geometry of the opening 5a may vary and the example of a circular opening is given by way of non-limiting example.

On the other hand, the bottom 2a of the article 2 has a format with a continually rounded outer edge, so that the bottom 2a is round, like the cavity 8 defined by each of the footprints 3. As a result, when a single article 2 is placed on the plate 4, a rotational movement of the article 2 around the central axis X of the cavity 8 can easily be achieved while the bottom 2a is housed in the cavity

3. There is a slight clearance between the side wall 5b of the container 5 and the plate 4 (with a lateral spacing or maximum spacing, for example less than 3 mm) which is sufficient (for example with a lateral spacing of at least 0, 5 mm) so that the friction against the side wall 5b is minimized. It is understood here that the term "round bottom" refers to the fact that the bottom of the container 5 has a circular section in cross section (any other interpretation being illogical).

Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 4B, the side wall 5b of the container 5, which extends from the bottom 2a to a flange 5c which surrounds the opening 5a, is preferably also circular profile at least in the vicinity from the bottom 2a. FIG. 4B illustrates the longitudinal axis Y of a container 5. It is understood that this axis longitudinal Y coincides substantially with the central axis X of the cavity 8 when the article 2 is grouped with other articles 2 in the plate 4. The bottom 2 has a diameter d which is smaller than the substantially constant diameter D of a upper portion 10 of the container 5, which is substantially cylindrical and adapted to be covered by a decorative streamer 6. This decorative streamer 6 is formed for example by a thin film hot and printed or a sticker. Of course, containers 5 having a different upper portion 10 may be used, for example with a conical side wall making the container flared.

The articles 2 with round bottom 2a are each placed in a corresponding cavity 8 (clearly visible in FIG. 2) which is here defined by one of the cavities 3. The bottom 2a can then be in contact with a bottom wall 3a of the cavities 3 in order to limit the overall height of the presentation unit 1. The bottom wall 3a is part of a basic plane P (lower plane) defined by the plate 4. The inner face 3b, which laterally delimits the cavity 8, has a substantially circular section and preferably extends continuously around of the central axis X. The plate 4 has a height h4 determined, measured from the base plane P, which may for example substantially correspond to the depth of the cavities 8. The fingerprints 3 may may have a split cup format or not to widen the upper outlet of the cavity 8, or have a continuously circular section to define a cylindrical cavity.

The plate 4 illustrated in the figures is made of a plastic material and / or impermeable to water and the cavities 8 are obtained during the formation of the cavities 3. However, it is understood that the cavities 8 can be formed otherwise than by pressure and that the tray 4 can be made of a wide variety of material.

In a stacked state of several presentation sets 1, the plate 4 can be supported on top of the articles 2 of another set. In a manner known per se in the food packaging industry, stacks of presentation sets 1 can be formed and superimposed on a pallet for transport. The bottom walls 3a preferably have a flat bottom face which has a circular periphery, with for example a diameter corresponding to at least two thirds of the diameter D5. More generally, it is convenient for the stack to provide that the largest dimension or the diameter (very slightly greater than the internal diameter d4 visible in FIG. 3B) of the face planar lower bottom walls 3a is greater than half the diameter D5. This makes it possible to stack identical sets 1 by effectively distributing the load of the upper layers. In a variant, provision may be made for the arrangement of articles 2 to be different between two successive levels of the stack and / or for the plates 4 to have different dimensions.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5B, the shape correspondence between the lower portion 9 of the container 5 and the impression 3 is such that this lower portion 9 is inserted with a slight clearance with respect to the associated inner face 3b of the impression 3. This clearance is for example of the order of 2 mm when the diameter d of the bottom 2a is at least 40 mm and, more generally, here is understood by "low clearance" a difference of less than 8%, and preferably less than 5% between the diameter D4 defined at the upper outlet of the cavity 8 and the diameter D of the upper portion of the container 5.

It may be noted, in the example of the figures, that the plate 4 has a periphery with at least two parallel edges. In addition, at least one of these edges, preferably on the presentation side 4a, may optionally have a maximum height h2 (FIG. 2) less than the maximum height h1 of the cavities 8.

With reference to FIG. 2, the maximum height h 1 of the cavities 8 is less than half the height H of the articles 2. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to be able to grasp an article 2 easily and individually, and on the other hand to optimize the visible surface of the upper portion 10 which is here covered by the decorative streamer 6. A ratio of about 1: 3 for the ratio h1 / H may be preferred, also to minimize the amount of material to achieve the plateau 4 At least on the presentation side 4a, the height of the cavities 8 may be locally reduced.

This height h1 may also be smaller than the internal diameter d4 of the bottom of the cavity 8.

For example, the upper face of the plate 4 may be partially or entirely inclined towards the presentation side 4a. FIGS. 1 and 2 thus show an upper face that includes an inclined portion 4b and a portion

4c generally horizontal. The cavities 8 proximal to the presentation side 4a, which open each through the inclined portion 4b, envelop less the lower portion 9 of the articles 2 than the other cavities 8. Alternatively, as in the case shown in Figure 5B, the upper face of the plate 4 may be substantially horizontal. The container 5 is for example made of plastic and thermoformed, with a thickness of the side wall 5b which is very thin. The container 5 is obtained by thermoforming means of a plastic sheet to form the volume of the container body. The plastic sheet is heated and then drawn into molding cavities using vacuum or pressure. The flange 5c of the container 5, which has an annular size, has not been deformed during the manufacture of the container 5. It is therefore thicker and more rigid than the side wall 5b.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the flange 5c extends around the opening 5a, parallel to the plane P of the plate 4. The flange 5c forms an upper face of the container 5 which allows to receive the closure element 12 which closes the opening 5a. This closure element 12 is thinner than the collar 5c.

Optionally, the closure element 12 has an upper face 12a printed and / or which supports an accessory object or a coupon. This type of object is typically housed in a plastic bag which is glued on the upper face of the closure element 12. The identification of the object and / or the reading of a text printed on the upper face 12a is greatly facilitated if the article 2 is oriented in the right direction relative to the presentation side 4a of the tray 4 (the side facing the consumer). The same goes for the identification of the content C of the container 5, which is typically displayed on one side of the container 5. There is for example on this side a display area or label portion 6a which does not exceed one-third of the perimeter of the streamer 6. Indeed, one often distinguishes a visual identification side of the content C and a price coding side (with the presence of a 1D or 2D barcode), knowing a detailed list of components of the content C may also be displayed on the decorative streamer 6.

In the example of Figure 4B, the additional object is a spoon 13 housed in a transparent plastic bag S. This is a spoon 13 (which may be optionally of the telescopic handle type) but any other The object can thus be embedded with the round-bottomed article 2. The attachment, for example by gluing with a bead of adhesive material, is of a kind known per se. The object can advantageously be visible on the presentation side 4a of the plate 4, knowing that the orientation of the articles 2 is adjusted at the factory during placement on the plate 4, typically before the insertion of the assembly 1 in a carton of transport. Of course, it is possible to cumulate the options, for example by adding a coupon attached laterally to the article 2 and a promotional object or utensil (spoon or other) attached to the upper face 12a of the closure element 12.

Examples of maintaining the orientation of the articles 2 in the presentation assembly 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 -2, 4A-4B, 5A-5B and 7.

In the sets 1 shown in Figures 1, 4A and 5A and 6-7 the articles 2 are directly separable from each other, without any fixation. This allows a consumer to selectively remove an article 2. The flanges 5c may optionally be spaced apart by a distance e greater than or equal to 1 mm (spacing distance e clearly visible in Figures 5A-5B). The flanges 5, which extend exactly at the same height level with respect to the plane P (base plane) of the plate 4, have at least two edges with a non-circular outer edge, and in particular here four edges with a non-circular outer edge. . These edges, which are rectilinear here, constitute locking edges 14, 15, 16, 17.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the four locking edges 14,

15, 16, 17 define a virtual square. Here, the articles 2 are housed in the cavities 8 having the same angular orientation in each of the rows R1, R2, R3, R4, and the locking edges 14 and 15 are each parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rows R1, R2, R3, R4. The distance e between two locking edges 16 and 17 'vis-à-vis two adjacent articles 2 is then typically less than 5 mm, and preferably less than 2 or 3 mm. This approximation is allowed by the distribution of the footprints 3 in the plate 4.

In the absence of rounding at the locking edges 16 and 17 ', it is understood that a rotation on itself of the article 2 in the row R3 is blocked because the locking edge 16 comes immediately abut on the locking edge 17 'vis-à-vis (blocking edge 17' of the article immediately before in row R3). The same abutment effect is obtained opposite at the level of the locking edge 17 which bears on the locking edge 16 'of an article immediately after in the row R3.

In other words, it is understood that for a given article 2, several of the adjacent articles form an anti-rotation system with complementary coupling or coupling surfaces engaged with the outer periphery of the flange 5c of this article 2. The outer contour non-circular flange 5c which is used for the anti-rotation effect is defined by a peripheral edge which preferably comprises an even number of straight edges, with for example rounded in the corners that make the connection between two adjacent blocking edges. At least one corner portion 18 of the collar 5C may have a larger surface to facilitate the separation of the closure element 12.

Thus, an anti-rotation effect is obtained which maintains the orientation of the articles 2 in the corresponding row, for example the row R3. And this effect can be obtained even when the articles 2 of the adjacent rows R2 and R4 have been removed from the set 1. More generally, it is possible to use articles 2 having two locking edges 14 and 15 or 14 and 16 preventing rotation by resting on a complementary edge vis-à-vis. It is further understood that the support of the locking edge 14, 15, 16, 17 against an abutment edge can be direct or indirect. It is possible to provide a relatively thin spacer wall element between two adjacent collars 5c, for example to mark a visible separation between two types of content. For example, the rows R1 and R2 may include a first type of content (corresponding to a first flavor for example) and the rows R3 and R4 may include a second type of content (corresponding to a second flavor for example). The intermediate wall element, removable relative to the plate 4 and clearly visible by projecting beyond the level of the flanges 5c, then forms a straight wall bearing against locking edges, so that it does not alter the anti-rotation effect.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5A, it may be advantageous to limit the length of one or more of the locking edges 14, 15, 16, 17, in particular when they are rectilinear, in order to save material for realizing the collar 5c. The reduction in length or possible discontinuity of the engagement zone B between the locking edges is insufficient to avoid edge-to-edge support between the adjacent flanges. We can see that the length L1 of a blocking edge

(measured between the ends engaging the adjacent edge) typically remains at least 10 times greater than the spacing distance e (FIG. 5B) between two adjacent flanges 5c.

When the flange 5c has such straight edges, the ratio between the length L1 of a locking edge and the diameter D5 of the opening 5a of the container 5 may be between 1: 10 and 1: 0.8, and preferably between 1: 5 and 1: 1. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 5A, it can be seen that the ratio L1 / D5 for the locking edge 14 is between 1: 5 and 1: 2, which makes it possible to significantly limit the amount of plastic material in the collar 5c. In this case, it is preferable that the distance between two adjacent blocking edges is less than or equal to 1 or 2 mm.

With reference to FIG. 4A, the engagement zone B 'between the locking edges is wider, which is favorable for maintaining excellent orientation of the articles 2 in the plate 4. In this case, the distance e between two adjacent blocking edges may be optionally increased, preferably not exceeding 3 mm. In FIG. 4B, we can see an article 2 of the assembly 1 of presentation of FIG. 4A. The flange 5c here has several straight outer edges 25. Even with a relatively small thickness of the flange 5c (for example of the order of 100 μηι), it has been observed a blockage of the rotation due to the interaction at the the edge of the flanges 5c which have such a non-circular outer edge. The support or contact between the flanges 5c completes the individual maintenance of each article 2 at its bottom portion 9 in the cavities 8.

In the alternative option shown in Figure 7, the plate 4 'has a distribution of cavities 8 staggered. This distribution allows a single locking edge 16 or 17, which extends transversely relative to the rows R1 ', R2', R3 ', R4', to bear against the locking edges vis-à-vis two flanges 5c adjacent to oppose a rotation of the articles 2 inserted into the cavities 8. With this configuration of the presentation assembly 1 ', one also obtains excellent retention of the orientation of the articles 2 in the tray 4 .

With reference to FIGS. 1 -2 and 5B, the cavities 8 formed in the plate 4 are preferably tightened relative to each other, in order to minimize the gap between the lateral walls 5b of adjacent articles 2. Thus, the number of cavities 8 Articles 2 in the presentation set 1 can be optimized. By way of example, two bottom walls 3a of two adjacent cavities 8 of the same plate 4 are separated by a maximum distance d3 which is less than or equal to 20 mm. The maximum distance d5 between two openings 5a of two adjacent articles 2 may be less than or equal to 14 mm (and less than the distance d3). This tightening makes it possible to minimize the radial extension of the flanges 5c (this extension being measured between the inner side which delimits the opening 5a and a point on the periphery of the flange

5c). It may also be noted that the locking edges 14, 15, 16, 17 may extend in an area of the flange 5c which has the minimum of radial extension.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it is also possible to lengthen the radial extension of the flanges 5c locally and / or to use only two locking edges 16, 17. In the variant illustrated here, each flange 5c presents a rounded on two opposite sides and further has two locking edges 16, 17 which optionally have a length equal to or slightly greater than the diameter D5 of the opening 5a of the container 5. When the articles 2 have this type of collar 5c, it is possible to use a plate 4 similar to that used in Figures 1 - 2, 3B, 4A, or 5A, with a substantially equal spacing between the cavities 8 according to the two directions of distribution of these cavities. However, in order to minimize the amount of material for producing the flange 5c, provision can be made, as illustrated in FIG. 6, for a tightening between the cavities 8 of the same row R1 or R2 with respect to the lateral spacing between cavities 8 of two adjacent rows. The at least one blocking zone B is here particularly wide and an effective retention of the orientation of the articles 2 is obtained.

It may be noted that articles 2 as shown in FIG. 1, 4A or 6 can be matched, for example by using a complementary packaging element which makes the connection in the upper part of two articles 2 of the same row R1 or R2.

Another example of maintaining the orientation of articles 2 in the presentation assembly 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

In this case, it must first be observed that the plate 4 may be identical to or similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 -2, 4A, 5A-5B or 6. Here, the specificity lies in the fact that the articles 2 are part of a pack 30, being interconnected in this pack 30 detachably at their flange 5c. The closure elements 12 can also be interconnected in the same junction zone. The detachable connection is obtained by a contact between two locking edges 16 ', 17 of two adjacent articles 2. Thus, the two locking edges 16 ', 17 are connected to each other at a breakable junction J. Each article 2 is connected in this way to at least two other adjacent articles of the pack. Several packs 30 having an identical or different number of articles 2 can be placed on the plate 4 with insertion of the lower portions 9 in the cavities 8. It is understood that the spacing of the lower portions 9 in a pack 30 is identical to the spacing between cavities 8 (same spatial distribution).

In this nonlimiting example, each flange 5 has a generally rectangular or square outer format and the breakable junction J is formed between two straight outer edges of the two locking edges 16 'and 17. As in the other examples, the length of the edges of blocking may vary. Thus, the ratio between the length L2 of the breakable junction J and the diameter D5 of the opening 5a of the container 5 can be between 1: 10 and 1: 0.8, and preferably between 1: 5 and 1: 1.

When the articles 2, in the filled state and hermetically sealed by the closure element 12, are inserted into the cavities 8 of the plate 4, the central axis X of the cavity 8 can define an axis of symmetry or an axis of rotation of the article 2. Due to the firm support between the locking edges, no rotation is possible. Of course, other flange sizes 5c may be used, possibly with shorter, wavy or discontinuous blocking edges 14, 15, 16. In addition, in packs 30 comprising a single row, the format shown in Figure 6 is of course usable.

In this example with the use of packs 30, it may be noted that accidental or deliberate breaking of the connection between articles 2 of a pack 30 does not cause any noticeable defect in the presentation of articles 2 of presentation set 1. In addition, the anti-rotation effect is maintained because of the complementarity of the locking edges 16 'and 17 which have a non-circular cutout.

The shape of the flanges 5c can obviously be of the type shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6. The breakable junction J can then in this case make it possible to match two articles 2. The matching (to obtain articles "in pairs") can to be done according to rows R1 -R4 and / or perpendicularly.

One of the advantages of the invention lies in the fact that the orientation of articles 2, which can be established at the factory during the placement of articles 2 in the tray 4, is in practice impossible or very difficult to modify unintentionally. This defines a presentation side 4a of the tray 4, which is known to correspond to the side of the article 2 to be seen in a display. This is for example one side with the characteristic indication of the content C and / or an image representative of the taste of the content C on a label portion 6a.

It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. In particular, although the description mentions some examples with continuously straight outer edges 25 for making the non-circular locking edges 14, 15, 16, 17, one skilled in the art can appreciate that any other flange format 5c, for example For example, with corrugated ridges and / or face-to-face ridges that have a shape complementarity, may allow slightly spaced locking edges to form an anti-rotation stop. In addition, the invention is not limited to applications of grouping and presentation of food jars like yoghurt pots. In particular, articles 2 may have a similar format without containing a dairy composition. Nonlimiting examples include semi-liquid food compositions, desserts, edible compositions that can be collected by spoon (which includes cakes or cakes), fresh fermented products, compotes, sauces. The containers 5 can correspond to a capacity of 50 to 500 g, preferably 75 to 200 g. In addition, it is permitted to use articles 2 having an upper end otherwise configured, since a flange remote from the lower portion 9 of the container 5 and which projects laterally is provided to block a rotational movement of these articles. round bottom 2.

Claims

1. A set (1; 1 ') for presenting round-bottom articles (2), comprising:

a grouping self-supporting plate (4; 4 ') which comprises a plurality of cavities (8) distributed in two distinct directions and defining at least two rows of cavities, each cavity (8) being delimited by a bottom wall (3a) and a continuous or discontinuous inner face (3b), the plate (4; 4 ') defining a plane (P) which is horizontal in a presentation configuration of the assembly (1; 1');

a plurality of round-bottomed articles (2), each placed in one of the cavities (8), preferably with a slight clearance with respect to the associated inner face,

characterized in that each of the articles (2) comprises:

a container (5) having said round bottom (2a) in contact with the associated bottom wall, a side wall (5b) of circular section at least near the bottom, and a flange (5c) which extends around a container opening (5a) parallel to the plane of the tray (P), knowing that the side wall (5b) joins said flange (5c) which forms an upper face of the container; and

a closure member (12) in contact with the upper face of the container and closing said opening (5a);

and in that each flange (5c) has at least two locking edges (14, 15, 16, 17) each having a non-circular (25), and preferably rectilinear, outer edge, the articles (2) placed in the cavities (8) having the same angular orientation in each of the rows so that two locking edges (16 ', 17) of two adjacent articles bear against each other, directly or indirectly, to oppose to an individual rotation of articles

(2) with respect to the plate (4; 4 ').

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange (5c) is thicker and stiffer than the side wall (5b).

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there is a maximum distance (d3) between two bottom walls (3a) of two adjacent cavities (8) which is less than or equal to 20 mm and there is a maximum distance ( d5) between two openings (5a) of two adjacent articles (2) which is less than or equal to 14 mm.

4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the articles (2) each have the same determined height (H) and the cavities (8) have a maximum height (h1) less than half of the determined height ( H), and preferably less than or equal to one third of the determined height (H).

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the plate (4) has a periphery with at least two parallel edges of which at least one (4a) has a maximum height (h2) less than the maximum height (h1) cavities (8).

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner face (3b) has a substantially circular section and extends continuously about a central axis (X) of the cavity (8).

7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said two locking edges (16 ', 17) of two adjacent articles (2) which bear against one another are connected to one another. other at a breakable junction (J).

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the breakable junction (J) is formed between two straight outer edges of said two locking edges (16 ', 17).

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the ratio between the length (L2) of the breakable junction (J) and the diameter (D5) of the opening (5a) of the container (5) is between 1: 10 and 1: 0.8, and preferably between 1: 5 and 1: 1.

10. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the articles (2) are in the form of a group of exactly two articles connected by the breakable junction (J).

1 1. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said two locking edges (16 ', 17) of two adjacent articles (2) which bear against each other are less than 5 mm apart, and preferably spaced less than 2 or 3 mm.

12. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (4; 4 ') is formed by molding in one piece.