FR2782310A1 - CIRCULAR JOINT CONDITIONING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The container consists of a parallelepiped box (2) which holds a number of washers (4) and has a circular recess (5) in its lid (3) to hold a single sample washer (7) that is representative of those inside the box, the recess being covered by a transparent synthetic film layer (10), e.g. of heat shrink thermoplastic. The box is placed on a card (9) coated with a synthetic material, with the film (10) covering both box and card to form a 'skin-pack'.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a packaging device for

  circular joints. This device applies more particularly to the packaging of sanitary seals. Sanitary seals are items of low unit value, representing a wide range in number of products due to a variation by nature, by diameter and by shape. The seals are often sold on a blister card or in a “skin-pack” type package by five or ten units of the same type, or in a small box comprising an assortment of seals

of different types.

  It should be recalled that a blister-type package includes a thermoformed shell closed by a film or a card, while a "skin-pack" type package includes a card coated with synthetic material, on which the products are deposited. condition, which are themselves covered with a film of thermoplastic material which is brought to temperature, after which a vacuum is exerted through the cardboard plate. The synthetic material therefore adheres to the plate by closely marrying the products which are deposited on it. In many cases, the acquisition of sanitary seals is done as part of a replacement. It is usual for the consumer to validate his purchase in store by comparing an old seal with the new one by physical superposition of the two seals. This is not always easy in the case of blister packaging or in a "skin-pack". In addition, "skin-pack" or blister packaging is not easy to open and cannot be reused for packaging the remaining products, since they are destroyed after first opening. Finally, the “skin-pack” type packaging tends to let the seals escape completely during the

first opening.

  The object of the invention is to provide a device for conditioning circular joints, which is of practical use, which allows the user to compare a worn joint with a joint to be acquired, and which also ensures the storage of the joints. not used after

opening the packaging.

  To this end, the packaging device which it concerns comprises a box intended to contain the seals, the cover of which has, on its external face, a circular recessed housing the bottom of which is parallel to the cover, and in which is deposited and positioned a witness seal, representative of the seals contained in the box, this housing being closed in a tamper-resistant manner by a sheet of material

transparent synthetic.

  The witness seal is perfectly positioned and visible, so that a consumer can present an already existing seal and superimpose it on the seal contained in the housing to verify that the box

  concerned contains the desired seals.

  According to an advantageous embodiment of this device, the box is of rectangular shape, and placed on a cardboard plate coated with synthetic material, the cardboard plate and box assembly being covered with a film of synthetic material which fixes the box on the plate, closing the housing in the cover, forming

"skin-pack" packaging.

  This technique is interesting, because it allows to benefit from the advantage of having a packaging box, and to have the inviolability of "skin-pack" type packaging. In practice, it is easier for the conditioner to fill a box with seals, then to form from this box a "skin-pack" type of packaging, rather than placing the seals directly on a cardboard plate where they will be remembered by a film. In addition, after using a first seal, the consumer can use the box to store the others

  joints until future use.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the box is made of synthetic material, such as transparent polyvinyl chloride, and is of the double shell type comprising a bottom and a cover. This box therefore allows not only the vision of the witness seal through the protective film, but also the vision of the

  other seals which are packaged in bulk in the box.

  In any case, the invention will be well understood using the

  description which follows, with reference to the attached schematic drawing

  representing by way of nonlimiting example an embodiment of this

conditioning device.

  Figure 1 is a perspective view in condition of presentation for sale; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main components;

  Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

  The packaging device according to the invention comprises a parallelepiped box comprising a bottom 2 and a cover 3, this box being of the double shell type and produced for example from transparent polyvinyl chloride. This box is intended to contain circular seals 4, for example sanitary seals. The cover 3 comprises, formed in its upper wall, a housing 5 whose bottom 6 is parallel to the cover. This housing 5, of depth at least equal to the depth of a joint, is intended for housing and positioning

  a witness seal 7 identical to the seals 4 packaged in the box.

  An identification label 8 can be placed on the cover,

next to the accommodation 5.

  The packaging device also comprises a cardboard plate 9, coated with synthetic material and comprising microperforations. The packaging device finally comprises a film 10 of thermoplastic and heat-shrinkable material. After the seals 4 have been placed in the bottom 2 of the box, the latter is closed by fitting the cover, a control seal 7 being placed in the housing 5. The assembly is placed and positioned on the plate 9, after which a film 10 is deposited on the assembly, the film 10 being brought to temperature at the same time as a vacuum is exerted through the plate 9. The film closely follows the box and fixes it firmly against the cardboard plate to provide the packaging shown in Figures 1 and 3. Since the film 10 is transparent, the witness seal 7 is perfectly visible, and a user can compare a worn seal to this witness seal to ensure that he purchases the good type of seals. The cardboard plate comprises in a manner known per se an opening 12 allowing the suspension of the device on a rod of a display

of offer for sale.

  As is clear from the above, the invention provides a great improvement over the existing technique by providing a device of simple structure, offering great ease of implementation both for the packaging of the seals and for the consumer, on the one hand at the level of the choice of seal by the consumer and on the other hand during the storage of seals which do not have

  been used after first opening the box.

  As it goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this device, described above by way of example, on the contrary it embraces all variants. Thus, in particular, this device could not comprise a cardboard plate and a film of the "skin-pack" type, but simply a box in which the housing 5 would be closed with a film specific to this function, or even that the box could have a different structure without

  We therefore go beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

  1. A device for conditioning circular seals, characterized in that it comprises a box intended to contain the seals, the cover (3) of which has, on its outer face, a hollow circular housing (5) whose bottom is parallel to the cover, and in which is placed and positioned a witness seal (7) representative of the seals (4) contained in the box, this housing being closed in a tamper-proof manner by   a sheet (10) of transparent synthetic material.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the box (2, 3) is of parallelepipedal shape, and placed on a cardboard plate (9) coated with synthetic material, the cardboard plate (9) and box assembly (2, 3) being covered with a film (10), of synthetic material which fixes the box on the plate by sealing the housing (5) formed in the   cover, forming a "skin-pack" type of packaging.   3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the box (2, 3) is made of synthetic material, such as transparent polyvinyl chloride, and is of the double type   shell comprising a bottom (2) and a cover (3).