FR2813589A1 - Packaging for group of containers comprises side walls and lower and upper end walls with transverse retaining strap for containers located near lower end wall - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging which encases a group of containers (3) which are arranged in two rows (10) along a longitudinal direction comprises two side walls (16,22), a lower end wall (20), an upper end wall (15) and a side end opening. There is a transverse retaining strap (30) for the containers which is located near the lower end wall and connected to the side walls by folding lines (32). There is a longitudinal strap locking element (52) for the transverse holding of the containers. The locking element is cut out in the lower end wall and in a central region (51) of the retaining strap and connected to them by folding lines (56,58). An Independent claim is included for a blank to form the packaging.

Description

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The present invention relates to a package for wrapping a group of containers arranged in at least two rows extending in a longitudinal direction of the package, the package being of the type comprising two side walls, a bottom end wall and an upper end wall, and having at least one open side end, the package further comprising at least one transverse container retaining strap, which is located in the vicinity of a first end wall and connected to the walls lateral by fold lines, the transverse strap can be folded and held inside the package so that a central region of the strap extends through the open end of the package.

The invention applies, for example, to sheath 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 front and rear side ends of the package are each provided with a retaining strap which is usually folded over to the first end wall, which is the bottom end wall. The strap is generally turned inside the packaging so that lateral regions of the latter are pressed against the side walls of the packaging. The strap is held in this position by elastic return of the strap material.

An object of the invention is to provide a packaging of the aforementioned type in which the blocking of the retaining strap is improved.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a packaging of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises a longitudinal element for blocking the strap and for transversely holding the containers of the two rows, the longitudinal element being on the one hand cut in the first end wall and in the central region of the retaining strap, and on the other hand connected to these by first fold lines, the longitudinal element being able to be turned over to project into the packaging between the two rows to transversely hold the adjacent containers and lock the retaining strap, the longitudinal element then being held in this position for holding the containers and locking the strap by elastic return.

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 According to particular embodiments, the packaging may include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically possible combination - the longitudinal element has an intermediate fold line closer to one of the first fold lines than the other, and dividing the longitudinal element into two parts; - one of the flaps close to the retaining strap has a shape converging towards the inside of the packaging; - the objects being arranged in at least two transverse lines, the packaging comprises a transverse strip for the longitudinal holding of the containers which can be turned inside the packaging between the two transverse lines for the containers, in a longitudinal holding position containers of these lines, the transverse strip then being maintained in this position by elastic return; - the transverse strip is cut in an end wall and in the side walls of the package, and connected to the side walls by fold lines set back relative to fold lines connecting said end wall to the walls lateral; - The transverse strip has tabs connected to the rest of the strip by fold lines to be folded against the containers of the two transverse lines; and - said end wall is the bottom end wall. The subject of the invention is also a blank for the formation of a package as defined above, characterized in that it comprises successive panels intended to form the side walls of the package, with lower and upper ends of the packaging, and in that it comprises at least one strap situated in the vicinity of the panel intended to form the first end wall and connected to the panels intended to form the side walls by fold lines, the strap being adapted to be folded and held inside the package so that a central region of the strap extends through the open end of the package, and in that it comprises a locking element of the strap and transverse holding of the containers of the two rows, the longitudinal element being on the one hand cut in the panel intended to form the first end wall and in the central region of the strap

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 retained, and on the other connected to them by first fold lines, the longitudinal element being adapted to be turned over to project into the packaging between the two rows to transversely hold the adjacent containers and lock the strap retained, and be held in this position by elastic return.

According to particular embodiments, the blank may include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically possible combination - the longitudinal element has an intermediate fold line closer to one of the first fold lines than each other, and dividing the longitudinal element into two parts; - one of the flaps close to the retaining strap has a shape converging towards the inside of the blank; the objects being arranged in at least two transverse lines, the blank comprises a strip adapted to be turned inside the packaging formed between the two transverse lines of container in a position for longitudinally holding the containers of these lines, and be held in this position by elastic return; - the strip is cut from a panel intended to form an end wall and from the panels intended to form the side walls of the package, and connected to these panels intended to form the side walls by folded lines located in the setback with respect to fold lines connecting said panel intended to form an end wall to the panels intended to form the side walls; - The transverse strip has tabs connected to the rest of the strip by fold lines to be folded against the containers of the two transverse lines; and, - said panel intended to form the end wall is the panel intended to form the lower end wall.

The invention further relates to an assembly comprising a group of containers arranged in at least two rows extending in a longitudinal direction and a package as defined above extending longitudinally and enveloping the group of containers, the strap transverse being folded inside the package and its central region extending through

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 the open end of the packaging, and the longitudinal element being turned inside the packaging between the two rows of containers in its position for holding the containers and for locking the strap, the longitudinal element being maintained in this position by elastic return.

According to particular embodiments, the assembly may include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically possible combination - the objects are arranged in at least two transverse lines, and the packaging comprises a transverse band for holding the containers longitudinally, this transverse band being turned inside the packaging between the two transverse lines of the container, in a position for longitudinally holding the containers of these lines, the transverse band being maintained in this position by elastic return; - The containers have converging ends, and the converging ends of the containers are arranged opposite an end wall in which the transverse strip is cut; - The transverse strip has legs connected to the rest of the band by fold lines, the legs being folded against the containers of the transverse lines; and - the tabs are folded back towards said end wall.

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, - Figure 3 is a plan view of a cardboard blank to form the package of Figure 1, and - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a cardboard blank for the formation of another embodiment of the package of Figure 1.

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 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.

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

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 cutouts 18 in the shape 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 upper wall 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 bottom wall 20 by a longitudinal and discontinuous fold line 23, and having a fold line 24 median and longitudinal, a flap 25 for fixing the left side wall 22 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 bottom wall 20 by transverse fold lines 31, and at the ends i nférieures front and rear edges of the side walls 16 and 22 by fold lines 32 oblique.

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.

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 median fold line 19 or 24. These middle fold lines 19 and 24 therefore form the bases of the tongues 36.

The lower wall 20 comprises a front section 38, arranged opposite the front tongues 36, an intermediate section 40, arranged opposite

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 intermediate tabs 36, and a rear section 42 disposed 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.

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 transverse fold line 57 to the small base of the first

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 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 to the 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 lower level, 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.

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.

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 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 bent, 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.

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

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 structure of these bands 44 also contributes, but independently, to reducing the cost of 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 then ensures 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 equidistant from fold line 58 and

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 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.

Thus, Figure 4 illustrates a blank 13 for another embodiment of the packaging 4 adapted to the packaging of four containers arranged in a single level, and in two longitudinal lines and in two transverse rows.

The blank 13 of FIG. 4 is therefore essentially distinguished from FIG. 3, on the one hand, by the fact that the side walls 16 and 22 are of reduced height, do not have lines of center fold 19 and 24 nor of tongues 36, and on the other hand by the fact that a single strip 44 is disposed between the front section 38 and the rear section 42. The lower wall 20 does not have an intermediate section 40.

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Claims (19)

1. Package (4) for wrapping a group of containers (3) arranged in at least two rows (10) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) of the package, the package being of the type comprising two side walls ( 16, 22), a lower end wall (20) and an upper end wall (15), and having at least one open side end, the package further comprising at least one transverse retaining strap (30) containers, which is located in the vicinity of a first (20) end wall and connected to the side walls by fold lines (32), the transverse strap can be folded and held inside the package so that a central region (51) of the strap extends through the open end of the package, characterized in that it comprises a longitudinal element (52) for locking the strap and for transversely holding the containers of the two rows, the longitudinal element inal being on the one hand cut in the first end wall (20) and in the central region (51) of the retaining strap, and on the other hand connected to these by first fold lines (56, 58), the longitudinal element (52) being able to be turned over to project into the packaging between the two rows to transversely hold the adjacent containers and block the retaining strap, the longitudinal element then being maintained in this position for holding the containers and strap locking (30) by elastic return. 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal element has an intermediate fold line (57) closer to one of the first fold lines (58) than the other (56), and sharing the 'longitudinal element (52) in two parts (54, 55). 3. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that one (54). flaps close to the retaining strap (30) has a shape converging towards the inside of the packaging. 4. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the objects (3) being arranged in at least two transverse lines (11), the packaging comprises a transverse strip (44) for longitudinal maintenance of containers which can be turned inside the packaging (4) between the two transverse lines of containers, in a holding position <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  longitudinal of the containers of these lines, the transverse band then being maintained in this position by elastic return. 5. Package according to claim 4, characterized in that the transverse strip (44) is cut in an end wall (20) and in the side walls (16, 22) of the package, and connected to the side walls ( 16, 22) by fold lines (45) set back with respect to fold lines (21, 23) connecting said end wall to the side walls. 6. Packaging according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the transverse strip (44) has tabs (47) connected to the rest of the strip by fold lines (48) to be folded against the containers (3) of two transverse lines. 7. Packaging according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said end wall is the lower end wall (20). 8. Blank (13) for the formation of a package according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises successive panels (15, 16, 20, 22) intended to form the side walls of the packaging, from the lower and upper ends of the packaging, and in that it comprises at least one strap located in the vicinity of the panel intended to form the first end wall (20) and connected to the panels intended to form the side walls (16, 22) by fold lines (32), the strap being adapted to be folded and held inside the packaging so that a central region (51) of the strap extends to the across the open end of the package, and in that it comprises an element (52) for locking the strap and for transversely holding the containers of the two rows, the longitudinal element being on the one hand cut from the panel intended to form the first end wall and in the central region the (51) of the retaining strap, and on the other hand connected to these by first fold lines (56, 58), the longitudinal element (52) being adapted to be turned over to project into the packing between the two rows to transversely hold the adjacent containers and block the retaining strap, and to be held in this position by elastic return. 9. Blank according to claim 8, characterized in that the longitudinal element has an intermediate fold line (57) closer to one of the first fold lines (58) than the other (56), and sharing the 'longitudinal element (52) in two parts (54, 55). <Desc / Clms Page number 14>  10. Blank according to claim 9, characterized in that one of the flaps close to the retaining strap (30) has a shape converging towards the inside of the blank. 11. Blank according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, the objects (3) being arranged in at least two transverse lines (11), the blank comprises a strip (44) adapted to be turned over, the interior of the package formed between the two transverse container lines in a position for longitudinally holding the containers of these lines, and being held in this position by elastic return. 12. Packaging according to claim 11, characterized in that the strip (44) is cut from a panel intended to form an end wall (20) and from the panels intended to form the side walls (16, 22) of the packaging, and connected to these panels intended to form the side walls (16, 22) by fold lines (45) set back with respect to fold lines (21, 23) connecting said panel intended to form a wall end to the panels intended to form the side walls (16, 22). 13. A blank according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the transverse strip (44) has tabs (47) connected to the rest of the strip by fold lines (48) to be folded against the containers (3) of the two transverse lines. 14. Blank according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said panel intended to form the end wall is the panel intended to form the bottom end wall (20). 15. An assembly (1) comprising a group of containers (3) arranged in at least two rows (10) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and a package according to any one of claims 1 to 7 extending longitudinally and enveloping the group of containers, the transverse strap (30) being folded inside the packaging and its central region (51) extending through the open end of the packaging, and the longitudinal element (52) being turned over in the packaging between the two rows of containers in its position for holding the containers and blocking the strap (30), the longitudinal element being held in this position by elastic return. 16. Assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that the objects are arranged in at least two transverse lines (11), and in that <Desc / Clms Page number 15>  the packaging comprises a transverse strip (44) for holding the containers longitudinally, this transverse strip (44) being turned inside the packaging (4) between the two transverse lines of the container, in a position for longitudinally maintaining the containers of these lines, the transverse band being maintained in this position by elastic return. 17. Packaging according to claim 16, characterized in that the containers have converging ends, and in that the converging ends of the containers are arranged opposite an end wall (20) in which the transverse strip (44) is cut out. 18. The assembly of claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the transverse strip (44) has tabs (47) connected to the rest of the strip by fold lines (48), the tabs (47) being folded against the containers (3) of the transverse lines (11). 19. An assembly according to claims 17 and 18 taken in combination, characterized in that the tabs (47) are folded towards said end wall (20).