FR2621778A1 - Multi-function specific packaging allowing domestic forcing of endives (chicory) - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging comprises a lower sealed hexahedron-shaped container 8 which can be nested in another hexahedron 9. The roots of endives (chicory) 11 are housed in the container 8, which is closed by a lid 12 while the product is on sale. The purchaser takes off the cover 12, removes the hexahedron 9, turns it over and fits it over the top of the container 8. The endives (chicory) therefore grow in the dark for the necessary time. This product is suitable for distribution in supermarkets.

Description

 The present invention relates to a specific multifunctional packaging allowing the domestic forcing of endives.

 It relates to the known technical field - that constitutes the process of forcing endives which, until then, is only practiced on an industrial scale in specific buildings equipped with means to maintain controlled conditions there, in particular of darkness, of temperature and humidity.

 Endive roots, which have grown in the open ground, are stored there in large numbers in large tubs containing a nutritive solution to provide, after a period of about three weeks, chicory good for consumption.

 These chicory are then cut, packaged and transported according to the standards applicable to fresh products to the points of sale.

 The primary object of the present invention is to propose a specific multifunctional packaging which allows all the functions of the industrial forcing process and of the subsequent processes above to be performed on its own, but adapted to a domestic setting corresponding to a consumption of housework.

 The invention also aims to allow an active intervention of the consumer in forcing the endives he will consume, this active intervention can be easily opened-to the natural activity and curiosity of young children living at home.

 Another object of the invention is to provide an endive which can be cut only just before consumption; However, the taste of such a completely fresh endive is different from that of an endive cut for several days and which has a bitterness sometimes too marked, which can distance some consumers.

 The invention also aims to provide a possibility of extension of the endive market, allowing the producer better regulation of his crops, due to the new possibilities of exploitation, especially in the early and late season.

For these purposes, the invention relates to a specific multifunctional packaging allowing the domestic forcing of endives, of the known type of packaging comprising a first part and a second part having the same conical shape with a flat bottom and thus capable of being stacked. one inside the other, be superimposed one above the other, characterized in that:
-this form is a regular conical convex polyhedron with
flat bottom comprising 2 n equiconical faces (n2) and whose rectilinear edges opposite and parallel to the flat bottom form regular slots;
- these two polyhedra are made of opaque material
less to red light radiation;
-the lower polyhedron is waterproof and has
means for identifying the level of a liquid that it is
likely to contain;
-a cover, also opaque at least to red light radiation, is provided to close all of the
two polyhedra when stacked and contain the
endive roots during all their transportation from produc
consumer.

 The following description of various embodiments of such packaging will show even more clearly its structure and the means which it incorporates to achieve the various aims of the invention stated above.

Reference is made to the appended drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows the cutting and folding plane flat
a sheet of semi-rigid plastic opaque to the
red light, and translucent elsewhere, allowing the
simplest realization of a container having all the
functional characteristics necessary for the implementation
work of the invention,
FIG. 2 shows the cutting and folding plane flat
a carton making it possible to form the shape of the container,
with subsequent addition of additional functional means
tional,
FIG. 3 represents in exploded perspective the differences
constituents of the complete end product, such as commercia
read,
FIG. 4 represents in perspective this final product, and
FIGS. 5 to 9 finally show, schematically, the
various phases of domestic endive forcing.

We will first refer to Figure 1. This shows the cutting and folding plane of a semi-rigid sheet of translucent plastic material opaque to red light, of the polypropylene type for example.

This plane corresponds, after cutting and folding, to the shape of a regular conical convex polyhedron (of angleo4) with a hexagonal flat bottom (1), continued upwards by six alternating equiconical trapezoids respectively,
These trapezoids (2) and (3) are of heights H and h (with h aL H), h being the height perpendicular to the base and H being the height parallel to the surface of the trapezium concerned. The triangular intermediate parts (4) fold in a bellows inside the hexahedron, the final shape of which is maintained by gluing or stapling these bellows with the trapezoids (2) and (3).

 In the case of Figure 1, the plan, cut and folded in a waterproof plastic sheet without cutting towards the center, forms a hexahedron and a sealed container. Its translucent wall will make it possible to identify the level of liquid contained in this container.

 Figure 2 shows how to make the same shape of a regular hexahedron by cutting and folding a carton.

We find the hexagonal base (1) and the six equiconical trapezoids (2) and (3) of respective heights H and h. Two additional trapezoids (2a) and (2b) of height H are provided to overlap just behind the two upper trapezoids (2) after folding
The intermediate parts (5) folded against the bottom (1) reinforce the rigidity of the assembly. Hanging tabs (6) are intended to come into corresponding cutouts (7) to assemble the hexahedron.

 In the case of this embodiment, it is obvious that the watertightness of a liquid and the identification of its level must be ensured by separate additional means, as will be seen below.

 Figure 3 shows the use of the packaging of the invention at the start of its instructions for use by the root producer.

 A regular hexahedron (8) is stacked inside another regular hexahedron (9). In the case where the hexahedron (8) is not waterproof by itself (case of FIG. 2), a thin plastic sheet (10) will compensate for it, Endive roots t1) are regularly arranged vertically inside the waterproof hexahedron (8), or made waterproof. A cover (12) opaque to red light closes the assembly. This cover is provided with two pre-punched holes intended to facilitate its subsequent removal.

 Figure 4 shows in perspective the finished product obtained, ready for marketing. The lower hexahedron (9) can bear any inscriptions or graphics useful or necessary for the communication of the product.

 Figures 5 to 9 show the successive phases of item ~ ploi of the finished product of Figure 4.

 This is transported and stored throughout the commercial distribution chain in accordance with the standards and regulations applicable to fresh products.

 When the buyer arrives home, he releases the container full of endives (8) from the lower hexahedron (9), as shown in Figure 5.

 Then he takes off the lid (12), which he throws away, and pours into two bottles of water (13) the contents of a carton (14) of concentrated nutritive solution, which can possibly be necessary in this case, the berlingot is housed between the two bottoms of hexahedra (8) and (9), as shown in Figure 6.

Then, the contents of one of the bottles of water, or possibly of dilute nutritive solution (13), are poured into the container (9), as shown in FIG. 7,
The assembly, thus prepared, is covered by the cover which constitutes the hexahedron (9) after it has been turned over and has undergone a rotation of 600 around the axis of symmetry of the assembly, as shown in FIG. 8 .

 This FIG. 8 clearly shows the advantage of the regular conical convex hexahedral shape with upper edge in regularly alternating slots, characteristic of the packaging according to the invention. It is indeed understood that the upper cover fits into the lower container with the lower parts of the slots of each hexahedron coming to bear with air and light tightness against the respective walls of the other hexahedron which end in the upper parts of the slots.

 At least once during the forcing, which lasts about three weeks, the cover (9) is lifted to add the contents of a bottle (i3), as well as to renew the atmosphere gradually overloaded with gas carbon released by chicory (15).

 Identification of the liquid level inside the lower container (8) is immediate if the latter is produced in accordance with FIG. 1. In the case of FIG. 2, a light (16) is cut out from one of the faces of the hexahedron and then closed with a translucent and opaque film with red light.

 The packaging of the invention was particularly imagined for the domestic forcing of endives, However, it could be adapted or applied for the domestic exploitation of other plant roots requiring identical or analogous forcing.

Claims (1)

 CLAIM Specific multifunctional packaging allowing the domestic forcing of endives, of the known type of packaging comprising a first part and a second part having the same conical shape with flat bottom and thus capable of being either stacked one inside the other , or superimposed one above the other, characterized in that:  -this form is a regular conical convex polyhedron with  flat bottom with 2 n equiconic faces (ni2) (-12)  and (3) and whose opposite rectilinear and parallel edges  at the flat bottom form regular slots;  - these two polyhedra are made of opaque material  less to red light radiation;  -the lower polyhedron is waterproof and has  means for identifying the level of a liquid which is above  - capable of containing;  -a cover (12), also opaque at least to radiation  of light, is expected to close the assembly  of the two polyhedra when stacked and containing  endive roots during all their transport of the pro  lead to the consumer.