ES1260334U - Packaging intended to contain eggs (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging (1) intended to contain eggs (A), such as chicken eggs (A), wherein the packaging (1) comprises a lower part (2) and an upper part (3) that are physically independent of each other., wherein the lower part (2) has a bottom (5), wherein the bottom (5) forms a plurality of housings on an inner surface (5b), wherein the upper part (3) comprises an upper wall (9), where the packaging (1) is characterized in that the bottom (2) and the top (3) are made of molded paper, because the upper wall (9) of the upper part (3) has an outer surface (9a) comprising at least one connected flat part (11) in which the gaps (12) are distributed, where the gaps (12) correspond to the protrusions (13) on an inner surface (9b) of the upper wall (9), wherein the protrusions (13) define between them housings for eggs (A) complementary to the housings of the lower part (2), and why The packaging (1) also comprises, at least, one fastening element (4) made of paper or cardboard that surrounds the upper part (3) and the lower part (2), in order to keep them together, so that the The lower part housings (2) and the upper part housings (3) together form individual cells for the eggs (A). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Packaging intended to contain eggs

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of packaging, more particularly to the field of packaging, or boxes, for eggs, and even more particularly to the field of packaging for eggs.

More specifically, the invention relates to a new totally plastic-free egg packaging

Technological background

In egg packaging, it is common practice to pack eggs in groups of twelve or more, in trays known as "tray inserts" or "family packaging", which differ from the egg carton, which generally contains a maximum of twelve eggs.

Family packaging trays are formed using inserts. The inserts should preferably be stackable, without damaging the eggs, so that they can be palletized.

It is known to cover each layer of eggs with a second insert serving as a lid, so that when the layers of eggs are separated, each layer is packed between a lower insert and an upper insert, or lid. The cap is identical to the lower insert. However, this solution poses a problem when stacking. Both the bottom insert and the lid are made of molded paper and have recesses and protrusions on their outer surface, corresponding to the cells. Thus, for example, a bulge in the lid of a first layer of eggs may appear in front of a gap in the lower part of the overlay, so that the stack wobbles and the eggs are poorly protected. Furthermore, the stiffness of the inserts may be insufficient to support the weight of several stacked layers. To overcome these problems, it is known that each layer is surrounded with a bottom insert and lid with a plastic film, often heat shrinkable, to facilitate stacking.

The use of plastic poses an ecological problem. In addition, when a label, often attached to the cap before applying the heat shrink film. The label can then be placed incorrectly when the heat shrink film is applied, rendering the information on the label illegible and increasing costs to ensure that the label is correctly positioned.

Finally, in the field of packaging, the aesthetics perceived by the consumer is often an important criterion, which must be taken into account in addition to technical considerations.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a solution to the above-mentioned drawbacks, in particular by proposing a new type of plastic-free "family packaging" type of egg packaging.

Summary of the invention

Thus, the invention relates to a packaging intended to contain eggs, such as those of chickens. The packaging comprises a lower part, which can be called an insert, and an upper part, which can be called a lid. The two parties are physically independent of each other. In particular, the lower part has a bottom that forms a plurality of housings on an inner surface, and the upper part has an upper wall. According to the invention, the lower part and the upper part are made of molded paper. In addition to this, the upper wall of the upper part has an outer surface comprising at least one connected flat part in which the gaps are distributed. The recesses correspond to protrusions on an inner surface of the upper wall, and the protrusions define between them egg housings complementary to the lower part housings. Furthermore, the packaging includes at least one paper or cardboard fastener that surrounds the upper and lower parts to hold them together, so that the lower and upper part housings together form individual egg trays.

Thanks in particular to these provisions, the packaging proposed in this way is an economic and ecological solution for the packaging of eggs, while guaranteeing their protection. In particular, the connected flat part allows the packages to be stacked properly, keeping the packages approximately parallel to each other, limiting the risk of egg breakage.

Depending on different aspects, it is possible to envisage one and / or another of the following characteristics taken separately or in combination.

According to one embodiment, the connected flat part of the upper wall of the upper part extends end-to-end with the side walls of the upper part. Thus, the connected flat part extends over almost the entire outer surface of the upper wall of the lid, limiting the risk of a package stacked on it tipping over.

In another embodiment, the fastening element comprises a sleeve and / or at least one paper strap that surrounds the lower and upper part to hold them together. In this way, the two parts are profitably held together to protect the eggs, without the use of plastic. In the case of the sleeve, it can be used as a printing medium to form a label.

In another embodiment, a paper label may be affixed to the outer surface of the upper wall of the upper section, to provide information to consumers and improve the aesthetics of the packaging.

In another embodiment, the upper wall of the upper section may include openings to provide visual access to the eggs in the package for review, for example.

According to another embodiment, the number of individual cells formed by assembling the lower part with the upper part is greater than or equal to twelve.

Brief description of the drawings

The embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which are briefly described below:

Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the lower part of a package, according to a first embodiment according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the upper part of the package in Fig. 1, without a fastening element.

Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the upper part of the package in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents an elevated three-dimensional view of an upper part of the packaging of the previous figures.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the top of figure 4.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the packaging in figure 2, where the upper part of the packaging is transparent, showing the eggs in the packaging.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the VN-VN line of the packaging of figure 6.

Fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view of the upper part of a package, according to a second embodiment according to the invention.

In the drawings, identical references designate identical or similar objects.

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows a packaging 1 according to an embodiment according to the invention. It is a package 1 specially designed to contain eggs, such as chicken, but not in a restrictive way, individually, that is, each egg is housed individually and separately from the other eggs in a housing known as a compartment. To limit the risk of egg breakage, contact between the eggs should be avoided.

The packaging 1 according to the invention consists of a lower part 2 , which is usually called an insert, and an upper part 3, which is normally called a lid. Both the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 are made of molded paper.

"Molded paper" refers here to any material made from a mixture of water and natural fibers, especially cellulose fibers. Preferably, the cellulose fibers are made from recycled paper. The molded paper is preferably completely free of plastic. It has the advantages of having a low ecological impact, being biodegradable, being made from recycled materials and being suitable to be placed in a multitude of shapes by molding.

The insert 2 and the cover 3 are different from each other, physically separated, that is, they are independent, they are not connected by a common material. They can, for example, be formed by molding independently of each other, or together and then cut apart.

The package 1 then includes a fastening element 4 , surrounding the insert 2 and the lid 3, to keep them together and keep the eggs in the alveoli. Fastener 4 is also made of paper, possibly recycled paper. The term "paper" is used here again to refer to any material made from natural fibers, especially cellulose fibers. It can be soft paper in the normal sense of the term or also stiffer cardboard in the normal sense of the term.

Insert 2 has a bottom 5 . The side edges 6 can be raised from the bottom 5. The bottom 5 has an outer surface 5a and an inner surface 5b.

In the following, the adjectives "interior" and "exterior" refer to orientation with respect to the eggs, interior being what is intended to be oriented towards the eggs.

The bottom 5 forms on its inner surface 5b a plurality of, that is to say, at least two, but in practice at least six, and preferably at least twelve, housings to form a "family package". More precisely, according to one embodiment, which is that of the figures, the bottom 5 comprises the recesses 7 and the protrusions 8 on the outer surface 5a, corresponding respectively to the protrusions and the recesses on the inner surface 5b of the bottom 5 , which form the housings for the eggs A, so that when the eggs A are in adjacent housings, they do not touch, separated by the bottom material 5.

The protrusions 8 preferably have a flared circular cross section, with a substantially flat top 8a and a diameter increasing from the top 8a towards the base.

Likewise, the recesses 7 preferably have a substantially circular bottom, wherein the corresponding protrusions on the inner surface 5b of the bottom 5 have a substantially flat top.

The function of the lid 3 is to cover the eggs when they are placed in the insert housings 2 to complete their protection.

To do this, the cover 3 comprises a top wall 9, and optionally some lateral flanges 10 that extend from the top wall 9.

Specifically, the top wall 9 consists of an outer surface 9a and an inner surface 9b. The upper surface 9a includes at least one connected flat part 11, in the the gaps 12 are distributed.

The "connected planar portion" herein refers to a substantially planar surface bounded by a single closed outer contour, which may include closed inner contours, forming holes in the surface. Any two points on the connected surface can always be connected by a curve, entirely within the connected surface.

In this case, the closed internal contours of the connected flat part 11 correspond here to the edges of the recesses 12 of the cover 3. The connected flat part 11 can extend from edge to edge with the lateral edges 10, that is, the contour The closed exterior of the connected flat part 11 may correspond to the junction with the side edges 10, but not necessarily. The connected flat part thus occupies most of the outer surface 9a of the upper wall 9.

Preferably, the recesses 12 of the cover 3 form substantially circular openings in the connected flat part 11 of the cover 3.

The recesses 12 of the outer surface 9a of the upper wall 9 of the lid 3 correspond to the protrusions 13 of the inner surface 9b, where these protrusions 13 define between them, or with one or two lateral edges 10, the egg housings , complementary to the housings of the insert 2. Preferably, the bottom of the recesses 12, corresponding to the upper part 13a of the protrusions 13 , is substantially flat.

In this way, for example, to form twelve housings, six recesses 12 are formed in the outer surface 9b of the upper wall 9 of the lid 3. Two housings are exclusively formed by four protrusions 13 corresponding to four recesses 12. The others Housings are formed between at least one protrusion 13 and at least one lateral flange 10. The lateral edges 10 may have corrugations and / or gaps to block the eggs against the protrusions 13 of their housing.

In this way, the connected flat part 11 of the lid 3 facilitates the stacking of packages 1: the upper part 8a of a protrusion 8 on the outer surface 5a of the lower part 5 of a first package can come into contact with the wall top 9 of the lid 3 of a second package 2, and has little or no risk of sinking into a recess 12 of the lid 3. The flat top 8a of each protrusion 8 of the insert 2 of the first Package 1 will be at least partially, if not completely, in contact with the connected flat part 11 of the lid 2 of the second package 1, thus leaving the first package 1 substantially parallel to the first.

The corrugations and / or gaps in the side edges of the lid 3 can contribute to increase the rigidity and reduce the risk of the lid 3 collapsing when the package 1 is stacked with other packages 1.

When the eggs A are placed in the recesses of the insert 2 and then covered with the lid 3, they are found in individual cells, separated from each other by the material of the insert 2 and the protrusions 13 of the upper wall 9 of the lid 3. In addition to this, the flat upper part 13a of the protrusions 13 of the inner surface 9b of the upper wall 9 of the lid 3 are in contact with the flat upper part of the protrusions of the inner surface 5b of the bottom 5 of the insert 2, This increases the rigidity of the stack and prevents contact between the eggs. The number of individual cells is at least two, preferably at least six and more, preferably at least twelve.

The clamping element 4 ensures that the lid 3 remains in position with respect to the insert, so that the eggs in the individual cells are protected.

Since the correct stacking of the packages 1 is facilitated and ensured in particular by the connected flat part 11 of the lid 3, the clamping element 4 may not participate in the correct stacking and therefore does not have to meet the requirements in terms of stiffness, for example. This makes it less expensive to manufacture.

In addition to this, the lid 3 may have openings to allow the eggs A within the package 1 to be seen and visually checked for damage. The openings are preferably in the connected flat part 11 of the top wall 9. The side edges of the lid 3 may also partially expose the eggs A, again for visual inspection.

The use of molded paper for both the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 allows a multitude of other features to be considered so that they are easy to install and less costly, for example to increase rigidity or improve the aesthetics of the packaging.

According to one embodiment, the fastening element 4 is, for example, a paper sleeve 14, that is to say, of soft paper or of more rigid cardboard, possibly made of paper. recycling. It can be carried out by, for example, gluing both ends of a strip of paper. The sleeve 14 covers the lower part 2 and the upper part 3, in such a way that it covers a large part of the outer surface 9b of the upper wall 9 of the upper part 3. The strip may have previously been used as a printing medium for commercial information and / or images, so that the cuff can enhance the aesthetics of the packaging 1.

According to another embodiment, the fastening element 4 is, for example, one or more belts 24, also made of thin paper or more rigid cardboard. Preferably, the fastening element comprises at least two belts 24, both surrounding the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 to hold them together, the two belts 24 being offset and parallel to each other. A label may have been adhered to the outer surface 9b of the upper wall 9 of the upper part 3 before or after the straps 24 have been attached.

The new packaging 1 thus formed makes it possible to offer a completely plastic-free solution, while maintaining the necessary criteria for optimal protection of the eggs. Therefore, the packaging 1 is economical, environmentally friendly and reliable. The use of molded paper allows it to be shaped in a multitude of shapes to satisfy both egg protection requirements and aesthetic criteria. Therefore, the packaging 1 is easy to modify to suit the needs, its manufacture is cheap and guarantees a total protection of the eggs.

Claims (7)

1. - Packaging (1) intended to contain eggs (A), such as chicken eggs (A), wherein the packaging (1) comprises a lower part (2) and an upper part (3) that are physically independent of each other. yes, where the lower part (2) has a bottom (5), where the bottom (5) forms a plurality of housings on an inner surface (5b), where the upper part (3) comprises an upper wall ( 9), where the packaging (1) is characterized in that the bottom (2) and the top (3) are made of molded paper, because the upper wall (9) of the upper part (3) has an outer surface (9a) comprising at least one connected flat part (11) in which the gaps (12) are distributed, where the gaps (12) correspond to the protrusions (13) on an interior surface (9b) of the upper wall (9), wherein the protrusions (13) define between them housings for eggs (A) complementary to the housings of the lower part (2), and because The packaging (1) also comprises at least one fastening element (4) made of paper or cardboard that surrounds the upper part (3) and the lower part (2), in order to keep them together, so that the The lower part housings (2) and the upper part housings (3) together form individual cells for the eggs (A). 2. - Packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein the flat connected part (11) of the upper wall (9) of the upper part (3) extends end-to-end with the side walls (10) of the upper part (3). 3. - Packaging (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fastening element (4) comprises a paper sleeve (14) that surrounds the lower part (2) and the upper part (3) to keep them together. 4. - Packaging (1) according to one of the claims, in which the fastening element (4) comprises at least one paper strap (24) that surrounds the lower part (2) and the upper part (3) to hold them together . 5. - Packaging (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, consisting of a paper label stuck on the outer surface (9a) of the upper wall (9) of the part upper (3). 6. - Packaging (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper wall (9) of the upper part (3) includes openings. 7. - Packaging (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the number of individual cells formed by assembling the lower part (2) with the upper part (3) is greater than or equal to twelve.