FR2781459A1 - Cover for open topped vegetable packaging crate - Google Patents

Abstract

The cover comprises a top panel (1) with a contour adapted to the top (2) of the crate (II). There is a pair of opposite sides (5) each foldable on a folding line (6) withdrawn from the corresponding part of the contour. There is a zone of least resistance (9) in one of the sides. An adhesive line (20) joins the cover to the crate.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of packaging of

  various products in packages, in the form of a box or crate, generally comprising an open top from which the packaged products are accessible. The technical field concerned is, more particularly, that of packaging which is produced by folding on site, or even by gluing, of a blank of raw material precut and marked so as to be able to be delivered flat. Such packaging is, generally, made of corrugated cardboard, single or double groove, but, within the meaning of the invention, it must be considered that any other raw material can also be used, such as compact cardboard, or even the plastic material. Such packaging is known for its advantages of good temporary mechanical strength, low cost, ease of flat transportation and great possibility of recycling. Due to their very embodiment and assembly, such packages are generally devoid of lids closing their open top and from which the packaged products can be accessed. At most, in certain practices, is it possible to note the installation, on the open top, of an openwork veil of any suitable material, which is stapled or otherwise fixed to

packaging.

  Depending on the applications envisaged, the packaging can be produced to present a height suitable for the product to be packaged, allowing the storage of one or more

of several product beds.

  The height of such a packaging can therefore vary while, generally, its dimensional characteristics in width and in length fall under standardized formats. If such packaging is satisfactory, it turns out that, in certain fields of implementation or for certain products to be packaged, or even according to certain habits or practices, it is desired to package the products in a container having a closed top. This is the case,

  in particular, for the marketing of certain fruits and vegetables.

  It is understood that the use of packaging of the above type does not allow

  to meet this requirement, due to the absence of an adaptable cover.

  This is the reason why it is generally recommended, in order to satisfy such a request for closed packaging, to use a container belonging to the method of construction of the so-called American boxes, and to adapt, to such a box once loaded, a cover which is, in reality, the counterpart of such a box on

  which it can be mounted like a cap.

  Such a proposal is not satisfactory for the following reasons.

  First of all, such packaging is in reality made up of two interlocking elementary American boxes, so that it is of high cost for production, but also for commissioning, because of the need to resort to

  an additional set-up operation.

  Another reason is the importance of the waste constituted by the caps or lids which must be disposed of on the sites of

  marketing, as soon as the container has been opened.

  A third reason relates to the difficulty of being able to ensure, on the places of storage or in the means of transport, adequate ventilation of the internal volume of such loaded containers, precisely because of the presence of the cover or

cover fitted.

  An additional reason is the relatively large handling requirement involving vigilant staff who must be present at all times to adapt the number of open containers according to the demand for

  sampling at marketing sites.

  In addition, another reason should be mentioned which is related to the large surface area offered by the cap-shaped covers. It is indeed usual to provide, on packaging, regulatory or advertising information, which is provided by colored prints. The fact that the cover is presented as a cap greatly increases the surface to be considered and encourages users to take advantage of all this surface to display this information. This results in a printing cost very much higher than what

  would normally be sufficient to perform the same function.

  In addition, this information disappears once the cover is removed, which poses a real problem when faced with the obligation to provide the buyer with information

  complete and lasting concerning the product offered for sale.

  There is therefore, obviously, a need to be satisfied which would be to allow the adaptation of an easily removable cover, capable of additionally performing several functions on traditional type packaging which

  did not originally have a vocation to include them.

  Satisfying this need would make it possible to always have the advantages of packaging produced by folding, or even by gluing on site, while offering the possibility of meeting demand when it is appropriate for such packaging to be equipped.

a removable cover.

  It is precisely one of the objects of the invention to meet this need, by proposing a cover for packages of the crate or box type, such a cover having the particularity of being able to be delivered flat in the form of a pre-cut and preformed blank, so that it can be fitted or adapted at the end of the line on the packaging site for packaging which is not originally intended to contain a

such cover.

  One of the objects of the invention is therefore to propose a cover which is of an attractive cost price, which can be manufactured and stored under the best conditions, which can be adapted only when desired on traditional packaging and which offers, in addition, a possibility of rapid opening, as well as an ability to constitute, when open, a panel

  information or even advertising in relation to the packaged products.

  Another object of the invention is to provide a cover which can be automatically mounted on a packaged packaging, at the end of the packaging line, without using any technical means in particular

expensive and difficult to drive.

  An additional object of the invention is also to offer a possibility of improving the packaging of products in traditional packaging and, more particularly, to allow the production of such packaging with a consumption of raw material lower than that which might be required. for

  the packaging of several bunk beds of packaged products.

  To achieve the above objectives, the cover according to the invention is characterized in that it is in the form of a precut blank which can be delivered flat and comprising: e a top panel defining in plan a contour adapted to- above the box or crate to be closed, * at least one pair of opposing wings that can be folded each on a fold line marked back from the corresponding part of the outline by a measurement at least equal to the thickness of said blank, e at least one zone of least resistance presented by at least one of the wings, * connecting means provided in relation to the wings to ensure the maintenance of the cover on the body or the crate in a situation

  closing the open top of the latter.

  Another subject of the invention is a packaging package, of the type

  box or crate, fitted with such a cover.

  Various other characteristics emerge from the description given below in

  reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples,

  embodiments of the subject of the invention.

  Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cover according to the invention in a flat state.

  Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the shape of the cover according to the

  fig. 1 and its adaptation on a package.

  Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the adaptation of the cover in the packaging. Fig. 4 is a perspective showing a constructive characteristic

  appearing after fitting the cover on a package.

  Fig. 5 is a perspective highlighting the opening of a package

  equipped with a cover according to the invention.

  Fig. 6 is a perspective showing particular characteristics

  when the cover is put into service after opening.

  Fig. 7 is a cross section showing, on a larger scale, a

  characteristic element of the subject of the invention.

  Fig. 8 is a perspective, similar to FIG. 2, showing another shape

  of some of the means of the cover.

  Fig. 9 is a cross section, similar to FIG. 7, but corresponding to the variant according to FIG. 8. Figs. 10 to 12 are perspectives illustrating certain variant embodiments. Fig. 1 shows the cover according to the invention, designated as a whole by the reference I. According to this figure, the cover is presented as a blank which can be delivered flat in order to be shaped on site of use. The blank according to fig. 1 present

the following features.

  First of all, the blank I delimits a top panel 1 whose shape or geometrical outline in plan is adapted above a package, such as II (fig. 2), on which it is intended to be placed. The plan shape of the panel 1 can therefore vary and the representation, given in FIG. 1, is provided for illustrative purposes only, as being generally the most common. It is a rectangular plan shape, the width L and the length I of which meet the standardization measures which are generally used for the construction of a package such as II. Within the meaning of the invention, the dimensions L and i are however retained by default, so that the surface covered by the top panel 1 does not exceed that of the top 2 of the package II. In addition to respecting the dimensions L and 1, the top panel 1 may include rounded or truncated angles, as well as cutouts 3 provided for

  the stacking ears passage 4 rising from the top 2 of the package II.

  The top panel 1 is provided with two wings 5 which extend in opposition from two sides of the panel 1, such that the sides corresponding to the longitudinal sides. It should be understood, within the meaning of the invention, that the wings 5 could also be provided from the transverse sides, such as lb. Each wing 5 extends, from a fold line 6 which is marked parallel to the side la while being set back, however, with respect to the latter, by a measure e which is at least equal to the thickness of the blank I. The measure e, the function of which appears in the following, can therefore be essentially variable and depends on the nature of the material constituting the blank I which can be produced in compact cardboard, in corrugated cardboard, single or double

  groove, or even plastic.

  Each wing 5 is also made to have a length less than the corresponding extent, ie 1, of the panel 1 and is delimited by two transverse edges 7 which are cut out in the corresponding part of the top panel 1, so to join the fold line 6. It is advantageous, for reasons which will appear in what follows, that at least one side of the panel 1 forms, at right

  transverse sides 7, two legs 8.

  Each wing 5, or even one of them only, has a zone of least resistance 9 which is formed, parallel to the fold line 6, being located at a distance d from the latter. The importance of the distance d will appear

in the following.

  The panel 2 also includes a cutout 10 with connection points or bridges 11 of low mechanical strength. The cutout 10 is connected to two partial fold lines 12 which are executed from the transverse edges 1b in order to extend in alignment with one another and, preferably, along a median axis situated at equal distance from the fold lines 6. The cut 10 is formed so

  to present a layout appropriate to the special function which will be highlighted below

  afterwards and whose objective is to give one of the top half-panels Il or 12, as they could be considered from the alignment of the fold lines 12,

  a surface predominant to that of the other.

  The cover described above can be transported and stored in a flat stack, so that it can be mounted on a package, such as II, a particular embodiment of which is more particularly illustrated in FIG. 2. The packaging H according to this figure corresponds to a crate or a crate which can be of the tray type, admitting a packaging bed for products, such as fruit, or two bunk beds, or even three. Such a crate generally comprises transverse sides 13, longitudinal sides 14, a bottom 15, the assembly defining the open top 2 from which the ears rise 4. In a known manner, the sides provided with the ears , have, in the lower part, a window

correspondent 16.

  It is usual for such packages, the formation of which results from the folding of a precut blank, involving head returns 18 intended to reinforce their

  mechanical resistance, in particular to compression or lateral resistance.

  It is also usual for such packages to be produced so that each of the longitudinal sides 14 has a longitudinal notch 19, lowering, by a measurement D, the height of the upper edge of this side, in order to provide a lateral opening which favors air circulation conditions

  suitable for packaging and preserving products.

  The HI packaging therefore meets dimensional characteristics determined in width L and in length! and cover I is therefore chosen appropriately

  so that the top panel 1 can close the open top 2.

  The establishment of the cover I on the packaging II, consists of forming the fold lines 6 so as to fold in the same direction the two wings 5 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the top panel 1. The cover is then presented in superposition of the open top 2, so that the wings 5 are fitted inside the longitudinal sides 14. Such fitting is made possible due to the offset e existing between the edges la and the lines 6. In this respect, measurement e is preferably chosen to correspond to the thickness of each longitudinal side 14, which can be between two and three times the thickness of the blank constituting the package H, when the latter is in particular

  produced by folding from a compact or corrugated cardboard blank.

  The engagement and fitting of the cover is carried out until the top panel 1 is supported on the open top plane 2, which is defined by the upper edges of the different sides supplemented, if necessary, by head returns 18. In the example illustrated, this nesting is also carried out so that the

  stacking ears 4 are engaged in the cutouts 3.

  According to an advantageous arrangement, provision is made to confer, on the wings 5, a height H which is considered to be close, by default, to the depth of the packaging IH, so that the suitable fitting of the cover is defined by the feed in

  abutment of the extreme edges of the wings 5 on the internal face of the bottom 15 (fig. 3).

  As said previously, the cover is produced as a function of the type of packaging, so that, in the nesting situation which has just been specified, the zone of least resistance 9 of at least one of the wings 5 is located , as shown in fig. 4, just above the upper edge 19, notched or not, on the longitudinal side 14. In the position thus reached, it is, within the meaning of the invention, implemented means for ensuring the connection between the cover I and packaging II. These means may advantageously be bonding points or lines, such as 20, which are attached to the external face of each wing, so as to establish a connection by contact with the internal face of the longitudinal sides 14. As is usual, the bonding points or the lines 20 are affixed, preferably, before the fitting of the cover I. It is understood that an operation of fitting a cover I can be carried out mechanically and automatically, at the end of packaging line for packaging II and that this operation, which only involves prior folding and fitting of the cover, can be carried out on demand on packaging of the same conformation which may or may not be equipped with a lid. Such an installation can therefore take place at the end of the packaging line or in

  recovery from storage chamber exit.

  By the means of the invention, it therefore becomes possible to use a single type of packaging to meet the two requirements and to implement the equipment of a cover only when desired, without such an option. negatively affects the progress of temporary packaging or storage operations. When a package II, equipped with a cover, is delivered to the marketing site, its opening can be easily obtained by taking advantage of a hole or a notch 21 which is made from one of the edges 7 of minus one

  wing 5 and in such a way that the line of least resistance 9 ends there.

  This notch, which is therefore accessible from above the notch 19, allows manual engagement favoring a pulling action in the direction of the arrow f1 (fig. 4) to cause tearing of the zone 9 and the division into two of the corresponding wing 5. The same action can be carried out similarly on the second wing 5 to detach the panel I which can thus be easily removed to uncover the top 2 and give access to the products contained in the packaging H. The particular conformation of the cover also makes it possible to proceed with an opening in a different mode. Indeed, after tearing of one of the wings 5, it is possible to lift the top panel 2 by unfolding on the line 6 of the second wing 5 not torn according to the arrow f2, so as to have an ease of manual access to, on the one hand, cause the bridges to break 11 and, on the other hand,

  form the fold lines 12, as illustrated in FIG. 5. At this point, the half

  panel 12 and torn wing 5 can be pivoted in the direction of arrow f3, simultaneously with the unfolding of the half-panel 11 in the direction of the arrow f2, to be brought into abutment against the internal face of the half-panel 1 1. By bending, it is possible to cause the engagement of the legs 8 of the half-panel 12 behind the corresponding side 14 adjoining the half-panel II, at the same time as it is possible to engage the torn wing 5 between wing 5 not torn and the packaged products. As shown in fig. 6, the half-panel 12 then presents itself vertically with a clean surface and contour conferred by the cutout 10 and assumes a pediment-display function by advertising information 22 which it

  relates to packaged P products.

  It is advantageous, in such an implementation case and when the sides 14 are indented, to give the wings 5 a length less than that of the indentation

  to facilitate the engagement of the legs 8 behind the side 14, as said above.

  This particular function of the cover I is particularly appreciable in self-service stores where it is advisable, despite the low presence, or even the absence of any personnel for this purpose, to provide the necessary information to the consumer delivered to his free will of choice, gripping, removal, selection and purchase from an offer simply constituted by the crate H. Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which it is intended to form the zone of least resistance 9 of one or preferably of the two wings 5, so that the distance d is less than the depth of the notch of the edge (s) longitudinal 14. In this way, during the tearing of the zone of least resistance 9, in order to remove the cover 1, there remains, inside the packaging II and parallel to the side 14, a wall segment vertical 25 which corresponds to the separate part of the wing 5 and which extends over a height greater than that of the bottom of the notch or the edge 19 for which it constitutes a sort of enhancement. By its presence, the wall segment 25 contributes to maintaining the upper bed of products P, in particular and advantageously if the packaging II has to be inclined. It thus becomes possible to design the box or the crate by making initial arrangements so that the development of the sides 14 is reduced in the desired proportion and allows a saving of raw material to be produced during the production of the blank.

  precut deliverable flat to constitute the packaging II.

  Figs. 1, 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment in which the connecting means between the wings 5 and the sides, for example 14, involve, on each of the wings 5, a strip 26 extending beyond a line folding 27 parallel to the line 6. The folding line 27 is formed to allow the folding of the strip 26 in the opposite direction to that of the wing 5. The strips 26 can thus be folded outwardly to the wings 5 to be applied on the outside

  of the latter, in the direction of arrow f4 in FIG. 8.

  The location of each fold line 27 is calculated so that the upper edge of the folded strip 26 can come to fit when the top panel 1 is supported on the open top 2, just below the edges 30 which are formed in lining on each longitudinal side 14, to contribute to the strengthening of the latter, as well as to the definition of the edge 19 delimiting

the corresponding notch.

  The fitting of the cover, carried out according to the variant shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, consists in inserting and fitting the wings 5 inside the sides 14 while ensuring,

  beforehand, the outward folding of the strips 26.

  Thus, by elastic deformation constraint, the wings 5 undergo an inflection of overbending, in order to allow the passage of the strips 26 which, by elastic reaction, somehow automatically snap behind the

fittings 30 (fig. 9).

  It should be considered that it is possible to combine the means 20 according to FIGS. 1 and 8 with glue dots, such as 31, which would be interposed between the face 11 of the strips 26 facing outwards after folding according to arrow f4 and the face

  inside of the longitudinal sides 14.

  The technical means described above, in relation to the subject of the invention, have been given by way of illustration in application to a package II of rectangular prismatic shape. The invention could be implemented with a packaging of different shape, having a planar conformation falling, for example, figs. 10 to 12. Whatever the plan shape of the panel 1, the wings 5 are articulated by fold lines 6 which are marked set back from the corresponding part of the

  contour defined by such a panel 1.

  Figs. 10, 11 and 12 also highlight cutout lines 101, 102 and 103 which are executed differently from one another and from that according to FIG. 1. The choice of such a route depends on the aesthetic conformation that it is desired

  give to the pediment constituted as in the example of fig. 6.

  The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown since various

  modifications can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:   1 - Lid for packaging packaging of various products, of the box or crate type, characterized in that it is in the form of a blank (I) precut, deliverable flat and comprising: e a top panel (1 ), defining in plan a contour adapted to the top (2) of the crate to be closed (II), * at least one pair of opposing wings (5) each foldable on a line (6) of folding materialized back from the part corresponding to the contour of a measurement (e) at least equal to the thickness of said blank, * at least one zone of least resistance (9) presented by at least one of the wings, * connecting means (20 or 26 ) provided in connection with the wings to ensure the retention of the cover on the body or crate in   a situation of closure of the top of the latter.   2 - Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that each wing extends over a length which is less than the corresponding extent of the panel On top.   3 - Lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the zone of least resistance (9) of at least one of the wings is located at a distance (d) from the fold line (6) which is less than the notch height (19) from one to   minus the sides (14) of the crate or the box.   4 - Cover according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wing   (5), having a zone of least resistance (9), has a notch (21) to which said zone terminates.   - Cover according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the   means (20) provided in relation to the wings, are bonding zones.   6 - cover according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the   connecting means, provided in relation to the wings, are bands (26) extending in the extension of the wings (5), beyond fold lines (27) materialized   to facilitate folding of said strips in the opposite direction to that of the wings.   7 - Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in the top panel (1), a cutting path (10) matched with breaking bridge (11) with low mechanical resistance and executed with connection to two partial fold lines (12) formed from the outline of the top panel to extend parallel to the fold lines (6) of the wings. 8 - Lid according to claim 7, characterized in that the partial fold lines (12) are marked in alignment with each other and,   preferably, equidistant from the fold lines of the wings.   9 - Packaging for various products, of the type comprising a case or a   crate (II) with open top (2) and a cover (I) according to one of claims 1   to 8, characterized in that, after fitting the cover: * the top panel (1) closes the open top (2) of the box or the crate by resting on the sides of the latter, * the wings (5) of the cover are fitted inside two of the sides (14) of the box or crate, revealing the zone of least resistance of at least one of the wings, * and the means (20), provided on the wings , provide the link between these   last and sides of the box or crate.   - Packaging according to claim 9, characterized in that the wings (5) are   fitted inside two indented sides (19) of the box or crate.   11 - Packaging according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the wings have a height (H) such that they bear on the bottom (15) of the box   or of the crate (II) in the position of the cover when closing the top (2).   12 - Packaging according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that   at least one of the wings (5) has a zone of least resistance (9) which is located, in the closed position of the cover, at a distance (d) from the fold line (6) of the lower wing at the height between the indented edge (19) on the side   corresponding and the top plan (2) of the box or crate (II).   13 - Packaging according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the   wings (5) have connecting means constituted by bands (26) folded outwards and cooperating with flanges (30) lining the internal faces of the sides (14) of the box or crate.   14 - Packaging according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the   wings (5) are bordered by two legs (8) projecting from the fold line (6) and nestable behind the outer face of the side of the box or crate opposite to that of opening the cover, after breaking the bridges connecting (11) of the cutout (10) and folding on the partial fold lines (12) to form, by said cutout, two half-panels (11 and 12) of different surface, one of which constitutes a pediment s' elevating vertically from one side of the crate or crate.