FR2813587A1 - Packaging for group of containers located in two levels comprises side walls lower and upper end walls and tongue separating containers in two levels - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging which encases a group of containers (3) located in two levels comprises two side walls (16,22), a lower end wall (20), an upper end wall (15) and tongue (36) for separation of the containers in the second level from those in the first level. The tongue is cut out in the first side wall and connected to it by a folding line (19,24) in order to be folded inside the packaging and inserted between first and second level containers. An Independent claim is included for a blank to form the packaging.

Description

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The present invention relates to a packaging for wrapping a group of containers arranged in at least a first and a second superimposed level, the containers of the second level each surmounting a container of the first level, the packaging being of the type comprising two side walls, one wall lower end and an upper end wall, and means for separating the containers of the second level from the containers of the first level.

The invention applies, for example, to packaging for packaging yoghurt or compote jars.

In such packaging, the side walls, lower and upper ends are produced from the same blank, the front and rear lateral ends of the packaging being open. The means for separating the pots of the first level from the pots of the second level comprise an attached interior insert. This spacer can be formed by the lower panel of an element, an upper panel of which is pierced with holes for receiving the bottoms of the pots of the second level to hold them.

Such separation means lead to an increase in the cost of the packaging.

An object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing packaging of the aforementioned type which is of lower cost.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a package of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the separation means comprise at least one tongue cut out from a first side wall and connected to the latter by a fold line to be folded back inside the packaging and interposed between at least one container of the first level and at least one container of the second level.

According to particular embodiments, the packaging can include one of the following characteristics - the folded tab releases in the first side wall an opening for viewing the essentials of one of the containers; and - the folded tab releases in the first side wall an opening for receiving an end flange of one of the containers.

The subject of the invention is also a blank for the formation of a package as defined above, characterized in that it comprises pan-

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 successive loops intended to form the side walls, lower and upper ends of the package, and in that at least one tab is cut from at least one panel intended to form a first side wall and connected to it by a folding line, in order to be able to fold the tongue inside the packaging formed and to insert it between at least one container of the first level and at least one container of the second level.

According to particular embodiments, the blank may include one of the following characteristics - the tongue has a shape adapted to release in the first side wall, when the tongue is folded inside the packaging formed, an opening of display of the essentials of one of the containers; and - the tongue has a shape adapted to release in the first side wall, when the tongue is folded inside the packaging formed, an opening for receiving an end flange of one of the containers.

The invention further relates to an assembly comprising, on the one hand, a group of containers arranged in at least first and second superposed levels; the containers of the second level each surmounting a container of the first level, and on the other hand a package as defined above enveloping the group of containers, the tab being folded inside the package and interposed between at least one first level container and second level container.

According to particular embodiments, the assembly may include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically possible combination - the first side wall has an opening for viewing the essentials of a containers, this opening being released by the folded tab; - The first side wall has an opening receiving an end rim of one of the containers, this opening being released by the folded tab; and - the objects are pots closed by an upper lid and the tongue is a tongue for protecting the lid of at least one pot on the first level.

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 The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an assembly comprising a group of containers wrapped in a package according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a schematic view, enlarged and in section taken along line II-II of Figure 1, and - Figure 3 is a plan view of a cardboard blank to form the packaging of Figure 1.

FIG. 1 represents an assembly 1 comprising a group 2 of pots 3 of yogurt and a sheath packaging 4 enveloping group 2.

The pots 3 are identical, arranged vertically, and have a generally frustoconical shape converging downwards. They each have at their upper open end an annular rim 6 and a circular cover 7 closing the open end.

Group 2 comprises twelve pots 3, but some of these pots have not been shown and a pot 3 has been shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity.

The pots 3 are arranged in two superposed levels, namely a lower level or first level, and an upper level or second level. The pots 3 of the second level each surmount a pot 3 of the first level.

For each level, the six pots 3 are regularly arranged in two rows 10 extending in a longitudinal direction L of the package 4, and therefore in three transverse lines 11.

The longitudinal rows 10, which each comprise three pots, are joined so that the upper edges 6 of the pots of a row 10 are in contact with those of the pots of the other row 10 as seen in FIG. 2.

The transverse lines 11, which each comprise two pots, are joined so that the upper edges 6 of the pots of a line 11 are in contact with those of the pots 3 of the adjacent transverse line or lines 11.

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 The structure of the package 4 will now be described from FIGS. 1 and 3. In this description, the terms longitudinal, transverse, vertical, horizontal, front, rear, lower, upper, right and left will be understood with respect to the packaging 4 as shown in FIG. 1.

The package 4, which is formed from a cardboard blank 13 previously cut and grooved (FIG. 3), essentially comprises - a substantially rectangular upper wall 15, - a straight rectangular side wall 16 substantially rectangular connected to the upper wall 15 by a longitudinal fold line 17 interrupted by three cutouts 18 in the form of an enlarged U, the wall 16 having a median and longitudinal fold line 19, - a lower wall 20 of generally rectangular shape and of dimensions corresponding substantially to those of the wall upper 15, and connected to the right side wall 16 by a longitudinal and discontinuous fold line 21, - a left side wall 22 of the same dimensions as the right side wall 16, connected to the lower wall 20 by a longitudinal fold line 23 and discontinuous, and having a middle and longitudinal fold line 24, - a flap 25 for fixing the left side wall 2 2 to the upper wall 15, this flap 25 being connected to the left side wall 22 by a longitudinal fold line 26 interrupted by three cutouts 27 in the shape of an enlarged U, and - two retaining straps 30 connected to the front and rear edges of the lower wall 20 by transverse fold lines 31, and at the lower ends of the front and rear edges of the side walls 16 and 22 by oblique fold lines 32.

Two spaced transverse cutting lines 35 extend from each of the cuts 18 and 27 of the side walls 16 and 22 towards the bottom wall 20.

In addition, for each of these side walls, three tabs 36 are cut between the center fold line 19 or 24 and the bottom wall 20.

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 These tongues 36 are identical, and of elongated triangular shape with rounded tip and converging towards the lower wall 20: The tongues 36 of the same side wall are spaced from one another, each arranged opposite a cutout 18 or 35, and are each connected to the rest of the side wall considered by the center fold line 19 or 24. These center fold lines 19 and 24 therefore form the bases of the tongues 36.

The lower wall 20 comprises a front section 38, disposed opposite the front tabs 36, an intermediate section 40, arranged opposite the intermediate tabs 36, and a rear section 42 arranged opposite the rear tabs 36.

The intermediate section 40 is separated from the front 38 and rear 42 sections by transverse retaining strips 44 cut out in the bottom wall and in the side walls 16 and 22. The lateral ends of each transverse strip 44 are connected by fold lines 45 longitudinal to the side walls 16 and 22. These fold lines 45 are situated slightly set back from the fold lines 21 and 23 connecting these side walls 16 and 22 to the bottom wall 20.

Each strip 44 comprises a rectangular central region 46. Four triangular legs 47 are delimited in each corner of each central region 46 by fold lines 48. Each central region 46 is connected to the corresponding fold lines 45 by lateral regions diverging towards the side walls 16 and 22.

The fold lines 32 of the straps 30 each extend from a corner of the bottom wall 20 at an angle of about 45 with the fold line 21 or 23 connecting the corresponding side wall 16 or 22 to the bottom wall 20.

An oblique fold line 49 extends from the same corner in the corresponding strap 30 at a slightly smaller angle relative to the fold line 21 or 23.

Thus, each strap 30 has two fold lines 49 which delimit in the strap 30 two lateral triangular regions 50 and a central region 51 in the form of an elongated trapezoid.

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 An element 52 is cut in the bottom wall 20 and in each strap 30.

The front element 52 comprises a first flap 54, in the shape of a trapezoid converging longitudinally towards the inside of the bottom wall 20 and cut in the front strap 30 and in the front section 38 of the bottom wall 20, and a second flap 55 square, cut in the front section 38. The first flap 54 is connected to the front strap 30 by a transverse fold line 56 set back from the front fold line 31. The second flap 55 is connected by a fold line 57 transverse to the small base of the first flap 54, and by a fold line 58 transverse to the front section 38. The fold line 57 is closer to the fold line 58 than of fold line 56.

The rear element 52 has a structure similar to that of the front element 52, but its orientation is opposite to that of the front element 52.

To form the packaging 4 of FIG. 1, the flap 25 is glued to the free end of the upper wall 15 of the blank 13. This produces a sheath packaging of substantially hexagonal cross section due to the slight folding of the side walls 16 and 22 at their median fold lines 19 and 24 as seen in FIG. 2. Thus, these side walls 16 and 22 have a slight concavity directed towards the interior of the package 4. Furthermore, the ends front and rear sides of package 4 are open.

The pots 3 of the three transverse lines 11 of the lower level rest respectively on the front 38, intermediate 40 and rear 42 sections of the lower wall 20. These sections 38, 40 and 42 are substantially planar and horizontal and the lower pots 3 rest vertically on them.

The tongues 36 are folded around the fold lines 19 and 24 inside the packaging 4. The tongues 36 are then substantially horizontal and each rest on a cover 7 of a pot 3 of the level. lower, as seen in Figure 2.

The tongues 36 thus folded release in the side walls 16 and 22 openings 60 of shape corresponding to that of the tongues 36.

These openings 60 each receive, under the corresponding center fold line 19 or 24, an upper rim 6 of a pot 3. In addition, these openings 60 allow the essentials of this to be seen from outside the packaging 4. pot 3.

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 The pots 3 of the upper level each take vertically full support on a tongue 36, and their upper edges 6 are engaged in upper openings of the side walls 16 and 22. These openings correspond to the cutouts 18 and 27, bear the same references, and result on the one hand, of the folding of the side wall 16 with respect to the upper wall 15 around the fold line 17 and, on the other hand of the folding of the fixing flap 25 with respect to the left side wall 22 around the fold line 26.

Thus, the tongues 36 separate the pots 3 of the upper level from the pots 3 of the lower level, allowing the pot 3 of the upper level to rest entirely, by means of these tongues 36, on the pots 3 of the lower level. Thus, the risks of damage to the lids 7 of the pots 3 of the lower level by the bottoms of the pots 3 of the upper level are limited.

It will be noted that this result is obtained without added interlayer and that consequently the cost of the package 4 is reduced. Furthermore, the tongues 36 make it possible to form in the packaging 4 openings 60 for viewing the pots 3 of the lower level and for receiving their upper edges 6. Thus, these openings 60 contribute in particular to the maintenance of the pots 3 of the assembly 1.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the transverse retaining bands 44 are folded thanks to the fold lines 45 inside the packaging 4 with respect to the front 38, intermediate 40 and rear 42 sections of the bottom wall 20 , The transverse bands 44 are then curved, with a concavity directed downwards, and are located above the sections 38, 40 and 42 of the wall 20.

Each strip 44 then projects inside the packaging 4 between two transverse lines 11 of pots 3 of the lower level. The tabs 47 of the central regions 46 of the strips 44 are then folded down against the pots 3 of the adjacent transverse lines 11.

Furthermore, the contours of the divergent lateral regions of the strips 44 substantially match the frustoconical shape of the pots of the adjacent transverse lines 11.

The bands 44 then contribute to the longitudinal maintenance of the transverse lines of the pots 3 of the lower level.

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 The strips 44 are held in their holding positions by elastic return of the material of the strips 44. This elastic return effect is obtained in particular thanks to the fact that the fold lines 45 are located set back from the fold lines 21 and 23 connecting the wall lower 20 to the side walls 16 and 22.

Thus, the bands 44 are of relatively simple structure and make it possible to ensure satisfactory longitudinal maintenance of the pots 3. Thus, the structure of these bands 44 also contributes, but independently, to reducing the cost of the packaging 4.

It will also be noted that the tabs 47 are automatically folded against the pots 3 during the insertion of the bands 44 into the packaging 4, due to the convergent shape of the pots 3.

In addition, the retaining straps 30 are folded inside the package 4 by folding around the fold lines 32 and 49 as is known.

The central regions 51 of the straps 30 then extend horizontally and transversely through the open front and rear lateral ends of the package 4.

As is known, the front strap 30 thus retains the bottoms of the pots 3 front of the lower level, and the rear strap 30 retains the bottoms of the pots 3 rear of the lower level.

Each strap 30 is held in its retaining position by elastic return of the strap material 30. This elastic return effect presses the regions 50 of the strap 30 against the side walls 16 and 22.

The front and rear elements 52 are also returned inside the packaging 4.

Thus, for each element 52, the first flap 54 extends substantially from the corresponding strap 30 upwards and inwards of the packaging 4, and the second flap 55 extends from the first flap 54 downwards and towards the inside of the packaging 4.

The front element 52 therefore projects inside the packaging 4 between the pots 3 before the longitudinal rows 10 of the lower level, and the rear element 52 projects inside the packaging 4 between the pots rear of the longitudinal rows 10 of the lower level. Each element 52 ensures

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 then a transverse holding of the corresponding pots 3 and a blocking of the corresponding strap 30 in its holding position.

Each element 52 is held in its position for holding the pots 3 and for blocking the strap 30 by elastic return of the material of the element 52. This elastic return effect is obtained in particular because the fold line 57 is not not located at equal distance from the fold line 58 and the fold line 56, and thanks to the fact that the fold line 56 is offset with respect to the corresponding fold line 31.

Thus, the elements 52, on the one hand improve the blocking of the straps 30 and therefore the longitudinal retention of the pots 3 of the lower level, and on the other hand ensure transverse maintenance of the pots 3 front and rear of the lower level.

It will be noted that this improved blocking of the retaining straps 30 does not require increasing the surface of the blank 13 or providing for an insert in the packaging 4.

Thus, this also contributes, but independently, to the reduction of the price of the packaging 4.

The packaging 4 can be used to condition jars containing products other than yogurt, for example compote, and more generally applies to the packaging of containers arranged orthogonally to the lower wall 20.

The packaging 4 can be made of materials other than cardboard. More generally, the lessons presented above can be applied to the packaging of groups of containers containing more or less than twelve containers and / or not arranged as in FIG. 1.

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Claims (10)

1. Packaging (4) for wrapping a group of containers (3) arranged in at least a first and a second level superposed, the containers of the second level each surmounting a container of the first level, the packaging being of the type comprising two side walls (16, 22), a lower end wall (20) and an upper end wall (15), and means (36) for separating the second level containers from the first level containers, characterized in that the separation means comprise at least one tongue (36) cut from a first side wall (16, 22) and connected to the latter by a fold line (19, 24) to be folded inside the packaging and interposed between at least one container of the first level and at least one container of the second level. 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the folded tongue (36) releases in the first side wall (16, 22) an opening (60) for viewing the essentials of one of the containers (3). 3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the folded tongue (36) @ releases in the first side wall (16, 22) an opening (60) for receiving an end flange (6) d 'one of the containers (3). 4. Blank (13) for the formation of a package according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises successive panels (15, 16, 20, 22) intended to form the side walls, lower and upper ends of the packaging, and in that at least one tab (36) is cut from at least one panel (16, 22) intended to form a first side wall and connected to this by a folding line (19, 24), in order to be able to fold the tab (36) inside the formed packaging and to insert it between at least one container of the first level and at least one container of the second level. 5. Blank according to claim 4, characterized in that the tongue has a shape adapted to release in the first side wall, when the tongue is folded inside the packaging formed, an opening (60) for viewing the 'essential of one of the receptacles (3). 6. Blank according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the tongue (36) has a shape adapted to release in the first side wall, <Desc / Clms Page number 11>  when the tongue is folded inside the packaging formed, an opening (60) for receiving an end flange (6) of one of the containers (3). 7. Assembly (1) comprising, on the one hand, a group of containers (3) arranged in at least a first and a second level superposed, the containers of the second level each surmounting a container of the first level, and on the other hand a package according to any one of claims 1 to 3 enveloping the group of containers, the tab (36) being folded inside the package and interposed between at least one container of the first level and a container of the second level. 8. An assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the first side wall (16, 22) has an opening (60) for viewing the essentials of one of the containers (3), this opening being released by the tongue ( 36) folded. 9. The assembly of claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the first side wall (16, 22) has an opening (60) receiving an end flange (6) of one of the containers, this opening being released by the folded tongue (36). 10. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the objects are pots closed by an upper cover (7) and in that the tongue (36) is a protective tongue of the cover d 'at least one pot from the first level.