EP4698450A1 - Cake/dessert box with assembly and closing system - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention applies, in general, to the packaging sector and more specifically consists of a cake box that allows for, in light of the particular die-cutting, easy assembly and simple insertion and extraction of cakes from the front side, while preventing them from being ruined though contact with the walls and flaps of the assembled box.

Description

CAKE/DESSERT BOX WITH ASSEMBLY AND CLOSING SYSTEM

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This invention applies , in general , to the packaging sector and more speci fically consists of a cake box that al lows for, in light of the particular die-cutting, easy assembly and simple insertion and extraction of cakes from the front side , while preventing them from being ruined though contact with the walls and flaps of the assembled box .

In addition, the cake box, through the assembly and closing system, allows the package to be res istant to the weight it must withstand, while remaining aesthetically pleasing with no flaps or edges protruding once the box is assembled .

Lastly, the box is easily assembled by interlocking its components and does not require the use of glues or contaminating adhesive substances .

As is well known, in the world o f confectionery, the art of presentation and preservation of desserts and cakes requires attention, care and detailorientation, to ensure that the product reaches the final consumer in optimal conditions .

Cake boxes , in essence boxes speci fically designed to hold sweets and cakes of various si zes and shapes , are a key element in this process .

Cake boxes play a crucial role in transporting, protecting and presenting the cake .

A well-designed, robust and attractive cake box helps to enhance the work of a pastry chef .

Furthermore , cake boxes have the fundamental task of protecting sweets during transport , preserving their shape and integrity, protecting them, among other things , from humidity, excessive light and external contaminants .

Cake boxes are much more than a simple container ; therefore they must be a combination of aesthetics and functionality, in order to contribute to rendering the customer' s experience unique and memorable .

Choosing the right cake box is thus a strategic decision, which reflects the quality of the dessert or cake and the identity of the pastry chef , and which can make or break the success of a pastry shop .

Cake boxes are therefore essential to enhancing the product . Like a painting enclosed in a carefully chosen frame , a cake or a dessert housed in a quality box acquires greater value in the eyes of the customer .

A well-designed cake box highlights the beauty of the cake, enhancing colors, shapes and details.

At the same time, cake boxes play a crucial role in protecting these sweets. During transport, sweets may be exposed to impacts, vibrations and changes in temperature, which can damage them or alter their freshness. Cake boxes, thanks to their structure and their shape designed to accommodate cakes of different sizes, can guarantee maximum protection, preserving the quality of the product until consumption.

Finally, the presentation of a dessert through a cake box profoundly affects the customer experience and can determine the success of a product. The thrill of opening a box and discovering an exquisite and perfectly presented dessert is an integral part of gastronomic pleasure. This moment of surprise and delight can transform an occasional customer into a loyal customer and encourage word of mouth referrals, increasing visibility and sales.

This is not a secondary detail, but rather a strategic element that contributes to the perception of the product's value, its protection and customer satisfaction .

There are cake boxes available on the market in a wide range of shapes, sizes and materials, each with its own features and purposes. Choosing the most suitable option depends on various factors, including the type of dessert to be housed, the occasion, the customer target and the specific transport and storage needs .

As for the shapes, the most common are rectangular or square ones, ideal for multi-level cakes or large desserts. Round boxes, on the other hand, are perfect for round cakes or donuts, while heart-shaped ones are often used for wedding cakes or Valentine's Day.

Then there are dome boxes for cupcakes or muffins, and prism-shaped boxes for macaroons or cookies .

Choosing the most suitable type of cake box therefore depends on a number of factors. For example, for a high-value dessert or for a special occasion, a sturdy and personalized cardboard box may be preferable, which offers protection and enhances the product .

For to-go sweets or retail sale, on the other hand, a transparent plastic box may be more practical, which allows the customer to see the product without opening the box. In any case, it is essential to consider the speci fic needs of the product and the customer, to ensure the best presentation and protection of the dessert .

In addition to their aesthetics and ability to protect the dessert , cake boxes must also be practical and functional . In fact , a good cake box should not only display the product in an attractive manner, but also facilitate assembly, transport , ensure easy opening and sealing, and ensure adequate resistance .

A customer may want to take a look at the purchased dessert or may have to open and close it several times . A practical and intuitive opening and closing system i s therefore essential to improve the customer experience and prevent possible damage to the cake during these operations . Some cake boxes are equipped with magnetic or locking systems , which guarantee a simple and secure opening and closing .

In terms of strength, a cake box must be able to withstand the weight of the cake and movements during transport , without deforming or breaking . This not only protects the dessert , but also avoids unpleasant inconveniences for the customer .

On the market , there are cake boxes with handles or with special ergonomic designs that facilitate the transport of the cake and improve the customer experience .

Therefore , one should not underestimate the practical and functional characteristics of a cake box .

Many of the solutions mentioned have been privately owned over time , including the Italian patent n . 10201900000969 , RM2009A000297 , 102016000082240 as well as the patents CN207312027 , CN108995938 , JP3157000U, KR100847275B, which, in a di f ferent way, protect a series of cake boxes with di f ferent functions and purposes .

The purpose of the this invention is to create a cardboard cake box that makes it as easy as possible for the operator to assemble it, while preventing flaps or other parts of the box from escaping or touching the cake after assembly .

In addition, the inventions has the additional purposes of allowing an easy and steady insertion and extraction of the cake from the front side of the box, and creating a pleasing aesthetic impact when opening the box to remove the cake .

Finally, since the box, obj ect of this patent , is based on an interlocking system for its assembly, the use of glues that could contaminate the confectionery product is avoided .

This invention will now be described, for illustrative purposes , in accordance with a preferred form of construction which must not be understood in any way as a limitation, with particular reference to the attached figures and drawings , taking into account that all the construction forms used, without prej udice to their functionality, may vary in si ze , number and shape without it limiting this invention : figure 1 shows the plan view of the box lying flat ; figure 2 shows a perspective view of the box being assembled; figure 3 shows a perspective view of the box during the assembly phase with walls being raised; figure 4 shows a perspective view of the box being assembled, demonstrating the insertion and movement of the flaps ; figure 5 shows a perspective view of the box being assembled, highlighting the locking snap system; figure 6 shows a perspective view of the box in a subsequent assembly phase , before closing; figure 7 shows a perspective view of the box before inserting the lid; figure 8 shows a perspective view of the box, after it's assembled with the cake/dessert being inserted inside;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the box, after it's assembled and with the cake/dessert inside, during the closing phase and with the lid being inserted.

In reference to the aforementioned figures, it appears that the cake/dessert (X) box (A) , which can be made of paper/cardboard, plastic materials or similar materials, in a stretched-out and open-flat representation during the forming phase, consists of a base 101 on which the cake is placed, after assembly, and the walls 102, 103, 104 and 105, joined together by dedicated folding lines 106, 107, 108 and 109, the latter characterized by the presence of a housing section 120.

The wall 102 is characterized by the presence of at least four foldable flaps 110 carved in the wall 102, connected to it by a fold line 111 and each equipped with a tab 112.

The walls 103 and 105 are characterized by two flaps 113 and 114 on which there are slots 115, in numbers equal to the foldable flaps 110 on wall 102 , and in which, during assembly, the tabs 112 will be housed . Furthermore , at the fold lines 122 and 123 , there are housing holes 121 , equal in number to the foldable flaps 110 on the wall 102 , in which the tabs 112 will be secured .

The walls 103 and 105 are also characteri zed by the presence of flaps 116 and 117 equipped at the ends with two flaps 118 and 119 which, once the box has been assembled, will be placed inside the housing 120 located on the fold line 109 .

Then, during the assembly phase of the box, the foldable flaps 110 located on the wall 102 wil l be raised, and the walls 103 and 105 will be raised, the foldable flaps 110 will be slipped into their respective slots 115 and then secured, inside the housing holes 121 .

This way, the walls 102 , 103 and 105 will fit perfectly together and the foldable flaps 110 , once placed inside the housing holes 121 , will not only fasten the walls securely, but they will also prevent them from escaping outside , because the length of tabs 112 should not exceed the side of the walls 103 and 105 of the box, thus preserving both the cake which will not touch the box and the aesthetics of the box itsel f , which will appear to have a perfectly fitting contour .

Once the walls 102 , 103 and 105 have been raised and j oined, the flaps 116 and 117 are folded along the fold lines 124 and 125 and the two flaps 118 and 119 will be snap-locked inside the housing 120 , located along the fold l ine 109 , securing the box which will then be completely sealed by raising wall 104 .

Before closing the box, when the flaps 116 and 117 are in an open position, wall 104 will thus act as a tray, al lowing for the cake or dessert to be inserted into and removed from the box ; meanwhile , once the box is assembled and closed with the lid 126 , it will allow the cake to be preserved without being damaged since the inner and outer walls will be smooth . This invention has been described in relation to its functionality for illustrative purposes but not limited to the same , and it must therefore be understood that the manufacture of the packaging as described may be subj ect to minor variations and/or modi fications without leaving the relative scope of protection .

Claims

1- Cake/dessert box with an assembly and closing system, characterized in an open-flat layout by a base 101 and walls 102, 103, 104 and 105, joined together by special folding lines 106, 107, 108 and 109, as follows : a) wall 102 is characterized by the presence of at least four foldable flaps 110 carved inside the same wall, connected by a fold line 111 and each equipped with a tab 112; b) walls 103 and 105 are characterized by: bl) two flaps 113 and 114 respectively, which have slots 115, in numbers equal to the foldable flaps 110 on wall 102, and inside of which, during assembly, the foldable flaps 110 will be inserted; b2) housing holes 121, along the fold lines 122 and 123, equal in number to the foldable flaps 110 on the wall 102, in which the tabs 112 will be secured.

B3) flaps 116 and 117 equipped at the ends with two flaps 118 and 119 which, once the box has been assembled, will be placed inside the housing 120 located along the fold line 109; c) a wall 104 equipped with a fold line 109 along which the housing 120 is located. 2- Cake/dessert box with an assembly and closing system, as per claim 1 ) : during the assembly phase of the box, once the foldable flaps 110 on wall 102 have been folded and raised and the walls 103 and 105 are raised, said foldable flaps 110 are passed through their respective slots 115 , located on flaps 113 and 114 , and the tabs 112 are then snap-locked inside the housing holes 121 .

3- Cake/dessert box with an assembly and closing system, as per previous claims , where the foldable flaps 110 and the related tabs 112 have a length that must not exceed the side of the walls 103 and 105 of the box .

4- Cake/dessert box with an assembly and closing system, as per previous claims : once the walls 102 , 103 and 105 have been raised and j oined, the flaps 116 and 117 are folded along the fold line 124 and 125 and the two flaps 118 and 119 will be snap-locked inside the housing 120 , found on the fold line 109 , securing the box which will then be completely sealed by raising wall 104 and by adding the lid 126 .