ES2661980T3 - Surprise container, particularly for chocolate eggs - Google Patents

Abstract

A package (1) for surprises, particularly for chocolate eggs, comprising two half bodies (2, 3) and at least one band (4) by means of which said half bodies (2, 3) are operatively connected together between a configuration closed and an open configuration of the container, both half-bodies (2, 3) have a closed base (13.15), an open base (14,16) and a respective lateral bounding wall (5, 9) having a first portion of outer surface (6, 10) that extends along the generatrices of a cylinder and a second portion of the outer surface (7, 12) that extends on the inside of said cylindrical generatrices, and that in the closed configuration of the container ( 1) said at least one band (4) is superimposed on said lateral boundary wall (5, 9) of both half bodies and characterized in that said at least one band (4) is principally or completely housed within a hollow (26) present in at least said second portion of outer surface (7, 12) of said lateral bounding wall (5, 9) of both half bodies (2, 3).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Surprise container, particularly for chocolate eggs

The present invention refers to a container for surprises, particularly for chocolate eggs.

It is well known that surprise packages for chocolate eggs comprise two semi-bodies operatively articulated together between a closed configuration and an open configuration of the package.

As these products are intended for children, it is essential to be sure that they can handle them safely without any risk of accidental ingestion.

For this reason the two half-bodies are as a norm reciprocally limited so that one cannot be separated from the other when they are manipulated.

The limitation between the two half-bodies must, however, be able to allow the container to be seized by the processing machine during egg packing and the container to be placed inside the egg without the latter being damaged.

One of the most widely extended solutions on the market today contemplates that the cylindrical lateral boundary walls of the half-bodies have, at least in the reciprocal articulation zone, weakened lines that suffer breakage once the container is opened. The break lines delimit a portion of the lateral bounding wall that, being separated from the rest of the lateral bounding wall, defines a longitudinal band that holds the two half-bodies connected together even in the open configuration of the container. WO2007 / 074355 discloses a surprise package according to the preamble of claim 1. The longitudinal band resists well to the efforts of a tractor and torsora nature and therefore makes it possible to have a container that is safe for the child. Safety is in fact governed by strict laws and regulations that impose compliance with minimum values of mechanical resistance to traction and / or torsion.

The drawback lies in the fact that the safety of the package is linked to its ability to be torn and consequently, after opening, the package can no longer be reused correctly for its containment function, since its structure is irreversibly impaired.

The technical task that the present invention has established is therefore to make a surprise package, particularly for chocolate eggs, which allows to overcome the technical drawbacks indicated above of the prior art.

Within the scope of this technical task, an object of the invention is to make a surprise package, particularly for chocolate eggs, which can be handled safely without any risk of accidental ingestion.

Another object of the invention is to make a surprise container, particularly for chocolate eggs, which can be comfortably used in a processing machine.

A last but no less important object of the invention is to make a container for surprises, particularly for chocolate eggs, which is fully recyclable and reusable.

The technical task, as well as these and other objects, according to the present invention are achieved by making a surprise package, particularly for chocolate eggs, comprising two half-bodies and at least one band by means of which said half-bodies are operatively connected together. between a closed configuration and an open configuration of the container, characterized in that both semi-bodies have a respective lateral boundary wall having a first outer surface portion that extends along the generatrices of a cylinder and a second outer surface portion that it extends over the interior of said cylindrical generatrices, and that in the closed configuration of the container said at least one band is superimposed on said lateral boundary wall of both half bodies, being principally or completely positioned within a recess present in said second surface portion exterior of said wall of lateral impersonator of both half bodies.

Preferably, with reference to any section of said orthogonal side bounding wall to the cylindrical generatrices of said first outer surface portion, the thickness of the part of said bounding wall to which said second outer surface portion belongs is not less than the thickness of the part of said boundary wall to which said first outer surface portion belongs.

Preferably, both in the closed configuration and in the open configuration of the package, said band is connected exclusively at the two longitudinal ends thereof to said half bodies.

Preferably, said gap extends longitudinally parallel to said cylindrical generatrices and has a constant depth.

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Preferably, in the closed configuration of the package said band extends longitudinally along said longitudinal recess.

Preferably, said band has a flattened conformation; in an intermediate portion thereof it has a narrowing in width and in the closed configuration of the container it has a concavity turned towards the bottom of said hollow. Preferably, said band has at least one pin for connecting to the bottom of said hole, said connecting pin being configured in such a way to position said band at a distance from the bottom of said hole.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the surprise package, particularly for chocolate eggs, according to the invention, illustrated by means of a non-restrictive example in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of the chocolate egg surprise container, in the closed configuration;

Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the container of Figure 1, in the closed configuration, rotated 90 °

in relation to the axis of the cylindrical portions of the two half bodies;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the container of Figure 1, in the open configuration;

Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of the container of Figure 1, in the open configuration, cut to

along a plane containing the axis of the cylindrical portions of the two half bodies;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a variant of the package in which the perimeter edge of the open base of a half-body is configured with a portion tilted downwards to facilitate closure between the two half-bodies.

With reference to the figures indicated above, a package for surprises is shown, particularly for chocolate eggs, indicated in conjunction with reference number 1.

The package 1 comprises a first half body 2, a second half body 3 and a band 4 by means of which the half bodies 2 and 3 are operatively connected together between a closed configuration and an open configuration of the container 1.

The first half-body 2 has a closed base 13, an open base 14 and a lateral boundary wall 5 having a first outer surface portion 6 extending along generatrices of a cylinder having an axis 8 and a second portion of outer surface 7 extending over the interior of said cylindrical generatrices.

The second half-body 3 in turn has a closed base 15, an open base 16 coupled with the open base 14 of the first half body 2 in the closed configuration of the container 1, and a lateral boundary wall 9 having the first outer surface portion 10 which extends along the generatrices of a cylinder having an axis 11 and a second outer surface portion 12 which extends into said cylindrical generatrices.

With reference to any section of the side bounding wall 5 of the first half-body 2 orthogonal to the axis 8, the thickness of the part 17 of the bounding wall 5 to which the second outer surface portion 7 belongs is not less than the thickness of the part 18 of the boundary wall 5 to which the first outer surface portion 6 belongs. More precisely, the thickness of part 17 is constant and slightly greater than the thickness, equally constant, of part 18.

Similarly, with reference to any section of the side bounding wall 9 of the second half body 3 orthogonal to the axis 11, the thickness of the part 19 of the bounding wall 9 to which the second outer surface portion 12 belongs is not less than the thickness of the part 20 of the boundary wall 9 to which the first outer surface portion 10 belongs. More precisely, the thickness of part 19 is slightly greater than the thickness of part 20.

The outer surface of the side bounding wall 9 of the second half body 3 exhibits, in the proximity to the open base 16, a perimeter step 21 that delimits an apical perimeter zone 22 of the side bounding wall 9 with a reduced thickness suitable to accommodate an area apical perimeter 23 of the lateral boundary wall 5 of the first half body 2.

In the closed configuration of the container 1 in particular, the perimeter edge of the open base 14 of the first half body 2 comes into contact with the perimeter step 21.

The degree of reduction of the thickness of the apical perimeter area 22 of the lateral bounding wall 9 is substantially equal to the degree of thickness of the lateral bounding wall 5, so that in the closed configuration of the container 1, in which the apical perimeter area 23 is placed on the apical perimeter area 22, the outer surface of the apical perimeter area 23 is disposed on the extension of the outer surface of the lateral boundary wall area 9 adjacent to the apical perimeter area 22.

A stable mechanical coupling between semi-bodies 2 and 3 in the closed configuration of container 1 ensures

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by plug-in coupling between a rib 24 present on the outer surface of the apical perimeter area 22 and a groove 25 which has a shape that coincides with the rib 24 and is present on the inner surface of the apical perimeter area 23.

According to a remarkable feature of the invention, in the closed configuration of the container 1, the band 4 is superimposed on the side delimiter walls 5 and 9, being positioned principally or completely within a recess 26 of the second outer surface portion 7 and 12 of the side delimiter walls 5 and 9.

The band 4 is connected, at a longitudinal end 27 thereof, to the half-body 2 and, at a longitudinal end 28 thereof, to the half-body 3. There are no other areas of connection of the band 4 to the half-bodies 2 and 3, neither in the closed configuration nor in the open configuration of the container 1.

In the specific case, the recess 26 has a part 26a that extends longitudinally parallel to the axis 8 and a part 26b that extends parallel to the axis 11. In the closed configuration of the container 1, in which the axes 8 and 11 are coaxial , part 26a and part 26b are mutually juxtaposed.

The recess 26 has a flat bottom 31 and a constant depth to the longitudinal ends thereof, one of which ends in a conical connecting part 29 between the closed base 13 and the lateral bounding wall 5 of the first half body 2, while the another ends in a conical connection part 30 between the closed base 15 and the side bounding wall 9 of the second half body 3.

The band 4 has a flattened conformation and, in an intermediate portion thereof, has a narrowing in width 32 that increases its ability to resist torsion.

In the closed configuration of the container 1 the band 4 is superimposed, with a main face thereof, at the bottom 31 of the recess 26 and is curved in a longitudinal direction in such a way that the concavity faces the bottom 31 of the recess 26.

The band 4 exhibits a first pin 33 by means of which the longitudinal end 27 thereof is coupled to the bottom of the recess 26 and a second pin 34 by means of which the longitudinal end 28 thereof is coupled to the bottom of the recess. 26.

In the closed configuration of the container 1 the coupling pins 33 and 34 create a space between the band 4 and the bottom 31 of the recess 26 and are positioned at the same distance from the step 21, so that half the length of the band 4 is superimposed on the half body 2 and so that half the length is superimposed on the half body 3.

Finally, the coupling pins 33 and 34 are sized so that they are completely contained within the recess 26.

The invention offers innumerable advantages.

The package maintains its structural integrity even after being opened. It can therefore not only be recycled, if the material of which it is composed is recyclable, but also reused as such by the manufacturer.

As an incentive to return the container to the manufacturer, a prize can be provided, consisting, for example, in the supply of a free chocolate egg for each minimum quantity of packaging returned to the manufacturer.

In the closed configuration, the two half-bodies 2 and 3 have no possibility of relative rotation around the coaxially arranged axes 8 and 11 since the open bases 14 and 16 that are coupled together do not have a fully circular profile. This contributes to making the closed configuration of the container 1 extremely stable. The length of the band can be chosen at will without particular limitations according to the capacity of mechanical resistance to torsion that it is desired to impart to it in the design phase.

Providing a gap 26 in which the band 4 is arranged facilitates the automation of the process of packing the chocolate egg by facilitating the robotic collection of the egg and allowing the container to lodge inside the egg without the latter being damaged.

With particular reference to Figure 5, the perimeter edge of the open base of at least one half body, for example the perimeter edge of the open base 16, is configured with a downwardly inclined portion 35 to facilitate closure between the two half bodies 2 and 3

The downwardly inclined portion 35 is in a position diametrically opposite to the area where the band 4 is arranged to connect the half-bodies 2 and 3 and is formed by a cut in the face of the open base 16.

In particular, outside the cut, the perimeter edge of the open base 16 extends in a plane orthogonal to the axis 11, while at the place of the cut the perimeter edge of the open base 16 extends in a plane that is inclined relative to the axis 11.

The inclined portion 35 accelerates the operation of manually opening the capsule to insert the toy and then closing it again and consequently implies a lower labor cost and ultimately a lower cost of purchasing the capsule.

The surprise package thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all of which fall within the scope of the claims. In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the need and the current state of the art.

Claims (12)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 1. A container (1) for surprises, particularly for chocolate eggs, comprising two half-bodies (2, 3) and at least one band (4) by means of which said half-bodies (2, 3) are operatively connected together between a closed configuration and an open configuration of the container, both semi-bodies (2, 3) have a closed base (13.15), an open base (14.16) and a respective lateral bounding wall (5, 9) having a first portion of outer surface (6, 10) that extends along generatrices of a cylinder and a second portion of outer surface (7, 12) that extends on the inside of said cylindrical generatrices, and that in the closed configuration of the container (1) said at least one band (4) is superimposed on said lateral boundary wall (5, 9) of both half bodies and characterized in that said at least one band (4) is principally or completely housed within a recess (26 ) present in at least said second portion outer surface ion (7, 12) of said lateral bounding wall (5, 9) of both half bodies (2, 3). 2. The container (1) for surprises according to claim 1, characterized in that, with reference to any section of said lateral boundary wall (5, 9) orthogonal to the cylindrical generatrices of said first outer surface portion (6, 10 ), the thickness of the part (17, 19) of said boundary wall (5, 9) to which said second outer surface portion (7, 12) belongs is not less than the thickness of the part (18, 20) of said bounding wall to which said first outer surface portion (6, 10) belongs. 3. The package (1) for surprises according to any preceding claim, characterized in that both in the closed configuration and in the open configuration of the package said band (4) is connected exclusively at the two longitudinal ends thereof to said half-bodies ( 2. 3). 4. The container (1) for surprises according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the recess (26) extends longitudinally parallel to said cylindrical generatrices. 5. The surprise package (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in the closed configuration said band (4) extends longitudinally along said longitudinal recess (26). 6. The package (1) for surprises according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said band (4) has a flattened conformation. 7. The surprise package (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said band (4), in an intermediate portion thereof, has a narrowing in width (32). 8. The container (1) for surprises according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said recess (26) has a constant depth. 9. The container (1) for surprises according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said band (4) has at least one pin (27, 28) for coupling to the bottom (31) of said hole (26), said pin of coupling (27, 28) being configured in such a way to position the band (4) at a distance from the bottom (31) of said recess (26). 10. The container (1) for surprises according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in the closed configuration said band (4) exhibits a concavity facing the bottom (31) of said recess (26). 11. The package (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the perimeter edge of the open base (16) of at least one half body (3) is configured with a downwardly inclined portion (35) to facilitate closing between the two half bodies (2, 3). 12. The package (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said a downwardly inclined portion (35) is formed by a cut in the face of said open base (16).