FR2739355A1 - Transport crate for tree saplings - Google Patents

Abstract

The crate has four side walls (2) and a base (1) formed as a palette. At least one of the sidewalls has door (5) formed in it. The door section can be removable, and may be articulated on the wall in which it is provided, by its lower horizontal edge. Alternatively, the door panel can be articulated on its upper edge (7) and the crate can have supports (8) to hold the panel in the open position. The crate can have an upper cover tarpaulin (6) which can have a panel selectively engaging the door.

Description

 Box for the transport, handling and presentation of shrubs such as Christmas trees.

 The field of the invention is that of transport, handling and presentation of shrubs. More specifically, the invention relates to packaging for carrying out such actions. The invention applies in particular but not exclusively to the packaging of Christmas trees of all sizes (for example between 0.8 m and 1.5 m) and in all forms (cut, in pots, in nets, etc ... ).

 In general, shrubs can be transported and handled either in bulk or in packaged form, for example in cases.

 In the case of bulk transport and handling, the operations of loading and especially unloading the shrubs in and out of the transport trucks are difficult and require a large workforce, which increases the final cost shrubs. In addition, when loose, the shrubs are damaged by rubbing against each other or by entanglement of their branches.

 Due to the aforementioned drawbacks associated with transport in bulk, shrubs are most often pre-conditioned. This pre-conditioning is generally carried out using wooden boxes of the type comprising four side walls and a bottom consisting of a pallet. Each box (or "box-pallet") contains a certain number of shrubs depending on the size of these and can be easily handled using a forklift.

 The known "box-pallets" nevertheless have several drawbacks. When they arrive in stores, the shrubs they contain must be extracted from them (unpacking) and then made available to the public (presentation for sale).

 The deconditioning operation requires a large workforce at the place of sale, and risks damaging the shrubs once again.

 Christmas trees are generally sold in the halls of stores or in areas fitted out in front of stores, for reasons of space but also of storage temperature (this is to avoid any risk of overheating and loss of 'needle).

 In addition, sellers are generally obliged to install a fence around these outdoor sales areas, in order to avoid theft, which involves the purchase or rental of equipment or personnel and therefore an additional financial burden.

 In addition, in order to protect themselves from the bad weather which could damage the shrubs, the sellers also generally install, in these outdoor sales areas, a shelter structure (for example a tent). This shelter structure, which is often only temporarily installed (for example, for a few weeks in the case of Christmas trees) also represents an additional financial burden.

 In addition, neither fences nor tents make it possible to completely prevent theft, since shrubs are generally laid out in an accessible manner.

 Finally, the presentation of the shrubs, most often in bulk, does not enhance the shrubs and does not facilitate the consumer's choice.

 The invention particularly aims to overcome these various drawbacks of the state of the art.

 More specifically, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a case for transport and handling but also the presentation of shrubs.

 The invention also aims to provide such a box which makes it possible to limit the damage to the shrubs.

 Another objective of the invention is to provide such a box making it possible to minimize the costs of transport, handling and presentation of the shrubs.

 Yet another objective of the invention is to provide such a box which facilitates the presentation of the shrubs and thereby the choice of consumers.

 These various objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved according to the invention with the aid of a box for the transport and handling of shrubs, of the type comprising four side walls and a bottom made of 'a pallet, at least one of said side walls comprising at least one door element.

Thus, the invention proposes, according to a first of its essential characteristics, to provide one of the side walls with a door element. In this way, the case of
The invention is a display for the shrubs it contains, and customers can use it directly. The shrubs therefore do not have to be taken out of the boxes to be presented, which reduces labor costs and the risk of damage to the shrubs. Costs are also reduced because it is no longer necessary to have a fence around the shrubs for sale. Finally, the door can be closed, the risk of theft is also reduced.

 Advantageously, said door element is removable.

 In a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, said door member is articulated on the wall on which it is provided, by its horizontal lower edge.

 In a second advantageous embodiment of the invention, said door element is articulated on the wall on which it is provided, by its horizontal upper edge, and in that said body comprises means for holding said door element in a open position.

 Preferably, said box comprises a tarpaulin making it possible to close said box from above. Thus, it is no longer necessary to install a tent (or any other shelter structure) to protect the shrubs from the weather.

 Advantageously, said cover has a flap that can be folded at least partially over said door element.

 Advantageously, said door member and said flap form a canopy when said door member is in said open position.

 Preferably, at least one of said side walls has an advertising support surface (Point of Sale Advertising) and / or a consumer information support surface and / or a price display surface.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of
the invention;
- Figure 2 shows a side view of a second embodiment
of the invention;
- Figure 3 shows a side view of a third embodiment
of the invention.

 Referring to Figure 1, the crate for the transport of Christmas trees is based on a pallet 1 constituting its bottom and four side walls 2 consisting of uprights 3 and wooden crosspieces 4. According to the invention, the front side wall has an element 5 forming a removable door also consisting of uprights 3a and cross 4a of wood. This element 5 is intended to close the upper part of the facial wall. For this purpose, it can be detached from the box and replaced on it at will according to the need. In FIG. 1, this element 5 is shown separated from the box, so as to allow access to the Christmas trees (not shown) present therein.

 Furthermore, when the exhibition and sale take place outdoors, the box is provided with a tarpaulin 6 in its upper part, said tarpaulin constituting a roof and making it possible to protect the shrubs it contains.

 According to FIG. 2, representing a second embodiment of the box according to the invention seen from the side, the door element 5 is fixed to the box by its upper edge 7 so as to be able to articulate on said box while being able to adopt a raised position as shown in Figure 2 and a lowered position. In the raised position, the door 5 cooperates with fastening parts 8 making it possible to maintain it in this position. In the lowered position, the door member closes the box and protects the articles it contains.

 Furthermore, the sheet 6 is provided in this embodiment to cover not only the roof but also part of the side faces of the body as well as the door element and part of the rear face of the body. In this way, in the raised position, the sheet forming door element constitutes a canopy 12 for people wishing to choose one of the Christmas trees present in the box.

 Finally, supports 9 are provided on the side walls as point-of-sale (POS) advertising, consumer information (for example on the nature and characteristics of the shrubs) or price display.

 With reference to FIG. 3, a third embodiment of the invention is also shown from the side. According to this embodiment, the door element 5 is fixed to the body not by its upper edge as in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 but by its lower edge 10. The cover 6 extends in turn on the roof and on part of the side faces as well as on part of the rear face of the body.

 The embodiments of the invention described here are not intended to reduce the scope thereof. Numerous modifications may therefore be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present patent application. In particular, it will be noted that the box according to the invention may have all the possible dimensions depending on the size of the shrubs transported. This box can also be made of various materials and have sides with a structure different from that shown in the diagrams.

Claims (8)

 CLAIMS 1. Box for the transport and handling of shrubs, of the type comprising four side walls (2) and a bottom (1) consisting of a pallet, characterized in that at least one of said side walls (2) comprises at least one door element (5). 2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that said door member (5) is removable. 3. Box according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said door member (5) is articulated on the wall on which it is provided, by its lower horizontal edge (10). 4. Box according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said door member (5) is articulated on the wall on which it is provided, by its horizontal upper edge (7) and in that said box comprises means (8) for holding said door element (5) in an open position. 5. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a cover (6) for closing said box from above. 6. Box claim 5, characterized in that said cover (6) has a flap that can be folded at least partially on said door member (5). 7. Box according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that said door member (5) and said flap form a canopy (12) when said door member (5) is in said open position. 8. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one of said side walls (2) has an advertising support surface and / or a consumer information support surface and / or a price display area.