FR2822453A1 - Box with hinged lid, especially for eggs, has fastenings to show that lid has not been opened - Google Patents

Abstract

A box consists of a thermoformed transparent plastic base (12) with rows of cells (18), a square or rectangular upper edge (26), and a cardboard lid (14) with a flat top (46) and side walls (50, 52) with lower edges (56, 60) engaging with a peripheral groove round the base. A box consists of a thermoformed transparent plastic base (12) with rows of cells (18) to hold the contents, a square or rectangular upper edge (26), and a cardboard lid (14) with a flat top (46) and side walls (50, 52) with lower edges (56, 60) engaging with a peripheral groove round the base. One of the lid's side walls is fastened to the base and has a fold line forming a hinge for opening the lid. The opposite side wall has one or more detachable portions (78) with perforated lines which are stuck to projections (30) on the base by an adhesive that fastens the lid prior to first opening, when the detachable portions are torn along the perforated lines.

Description

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"Improved packaging box with hinged lid and opening indicator, especially for eggs"
The present invention relates to a packaging for food articles.

 The invention relates more particularly to a two-part egg box. Many examples of the design of such a type of packaging are known, in which the lower part comprises at least one row of aligned cells, each of which is designed to receive and protect a food item such as for example an egg, and in which an upper part forming a cover is provided for closing the packaging.

 According to a first known design, the upper part forming a cover also comprises as many cells as the lower part, the horizontal plane of joint between the two lower and upper parts extending substantially halfway up the cells, and this upper part forming a cover can be produced integrally in one piece with the lower part, the connection zone between the two parts constituting a hinge, or it can, as a variant, be produced in the form of a part independent attached to the lower part to ensure the closure of the box.

 According to these different known designs, part, or both parts, of the box can be produced by shaping a sheet of plastic or paper-cardboard.

 When the upper part forming the cover also has cells, and whatever the means for holding the cover in the closed position on the lower part, it is necessary to provide additional means for labeling the box, such as for example a label stuck on one and / or the other of the two upper faces of the lid or lower of the lower part of the box, or such

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 than an additional paper or cardboard sleeve inside which the closed box is inserted horizontally.

 Generally, when the cover is made from a transparent plastic sheet, the labeling of the box requires affixing on the upper face of the cover an additional label.

 In order to solve these various problems, a packaging box has already been proposed for eggs, fruit, or other food articles of the type comprising a lower part which comprises at least one row, and preferably two parallel rows, cells, each of which can receive an article, and the open upper face of which is delimited by an upper edge of rectangular or square contour, and of the type comprising a complementary and removable upper part forming a hollow cover which has a substantially upper wall horizontal and four substantially vertical side walls whose lower edges delimit a lower edge, of rectangular or square contour, of the open lower face of the cover which is received in vertical support in sections of a peripheral groove of the lower part adjacent to said edge upper and open vertically upwards, each section of groove é both formed in a peripheral portion of the lower part laterally delimiting between them two neighboring cells, of the type comprising means for locking the cover on the lower part which retains it vertically relative to the latter, and of the type in which each of the peripheral cells is delimited transversely towards the outside by a substantially vertical internal facet which ends in a section of said upper edge.

 This design in which the box is constituted by two distinct parts makes it possible to produce a cover, in particular of paper or cardboard, the different walls of which, and more particularly the upper horizontal wall, are substantially flat walls making it possible to produce directly

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 by printing the labeling of the box and also making it possible to create a fancy decorative motif.

 According to this known design, the means for locking the cover in the closed position on the lower part of the box are constituted by two opposite lugs belonging to the lower part and which extend transversely and horizontally so that each of them is received in a complementary notch formed in a corresponding side wall of the cover, the free lower edge of the cover being a smooth and continuous edge in a horizontal plane.

 This design has proved to be insufficient insofar as it has been found that the holding of the cover in the closed position is insufficient, in particular during the numerous manipulations of the packaging inherent in the storage and marketing operations of this type of product.

 In order to remedy these drawbacks, French patent No. FR-B1-2 has been proposed. 779.130 a package of the type mentioned above, in which the cover comprises a series of retaining tabs, each of which extends substantially vertically from the lower edge of the cover and in line with one of said facets of the lower part along which it extends vertically when the cover is in the closed position of the box.

 This characteristic guarantees perfect holding of the cover in the closed position of the box, the opening of the latter remaining as easy as in the design according to the prior art.

 Similarly, the installation of the cover on the lower part of the box with a view to closing it is particularly simple and can in particular be automated.

 However, these known designs of the various means, more or less perfected, for locking the cover in the closed position on the lower part of the

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boîte ont pour inconvénient de permettre d'ouvrir la boîte, puis de la refermer sans laisser subsister de traces visibles de cette opération d'ouverture.

The drawback of the box is that it allows the box to be opened and then closed without leaving visible traces of this opening operation.

 Consequently, a buyer cannot be guaranteed that the box he is buying is "free" from any opening by a third party after it has been closed after it has been filled by the producer or the packer.

 In addition, during its use by the customer, it may happen that the customer loses or damages the cover, or even that he cannot easily put it back in the closed position on the box inside which it has just taken part of the eggs it contains.

 In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention provides a packaging box of the type mentioned above comprising means for locking the cover on the lower part which hold it vertically relative to the latter, characterized in that the cover is mounted articulated relative to the lower part between a closed position and an open position, around a substantially horizontal axis close to a lower edge of one of the side walls, and in that it comprises means for temporarily locking the cover in closed position which intervenes until the first opening of the cover.

 According to other features of the invention: - the temporary locking means comprise at least one detachable tab belonging to one of the side walls of the cover and which is fixed to the lower part of the box; - the detachable tab is delimited by a cutting contour, two sections of which terminate in the lower edge of said side wall; - the cutting contour has a symmetry of drawing with respect to a median vertical axis;

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 - the locking tab is fixed to the lower part of the box by gluing; - The locking means comprise two locking tabs arranged symmetrically and belonging to the same side wall of the cover; - The hinge means of the cover consist of at least one horizontal hinge fold formed in one of the side walls of the cover; - Each temporary locking tab belongs to the side wall which is opposite to that in which the articulation fold is formed; - The lower edge of the side wall comprising the articulation fold comprises sections which are received, in particular in vertical support, and glued in sections of the peripheral groove of the lower part; - The cover is made in one piece in the form of a sheet of cardboard cut, folded and glued; - Each of the side walls of the cover is inclined relative to the vertical to give the cover a shape in the form of a pyramid trunk with a rectangular or square base; - The lower part is made by thermoforming from a plastic sheet, in particular a transparent sheet.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of three-quarters front which illustrates the two parts of an egg box, produced in accordance with the teachings of the invention, which are shown before the original closure of the box; - Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of rear three quarters of the box of Figure 1;

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 - Figures 3 and 4 are detail views according to illustrations similar to those of Figures 1 and 2 which show the cover in the closed position fixed on the lower part of the box, before its first opening; - Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view through a broken transverse plane; and - Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to those of Figures 1 and 2 which show the hinged cover in partially open position.

 There is shown in the figures an embodiment which is a box 10 for packaging eggs, here six in number, the general design of which is of the type described and shown in French patent No. FR-B1-2. 779.130, to the content of which we can refer to know many details of implementation.

 The box 10 is made up of two independent parts comprising a lower part 12 of known general design and an upper part 14 forming a cover for closing the box which is improved in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

 We will first describe in detail the lower part 12 of the box which, by way of nonlimiting example, is a part molded by thermoforming from a transparent plastic sheet.

 The "useful" area of the lower part 12 is the interior of the box which here comprises six cells 18, each of which is capable of receiving an egg, and which are arranged in the form of two adjacent and parallel rows of three cells each .

 The six flattened bottoms 20 of the six cells 18 constitute the closed lower face of the lower part 12 while its upper face is open to allow it to be filled by placing the eggs in place.

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In order to closely match the shape of an egg, each cell 18 is for example delimited by four facets 22 arranged in a square and which are connected together by four sections of curved angles 24.

 The upper edge of rectangular outline 26 which delimits the open upper face of the lower part is a continuous rolled edge.

 In the embodiment illustrated with two parallel rows of cells 18, each of the four cells arranged at the four corners of the lower part 12 is adjacent to the edge 26 by two of its facets 22, each of these facets extending in its part upper substantially vertically and ending in a corresponding section of the continuous edge 26.

 Each of the two central cells is in turn adjacent to the edge 26 by only one of its facets 22. At least along the edge 26, two adjacent cells 18 are separated by an intermediate part which projects in relief above the horizontal plane. in which extends the continuous edge 26 and which is adjacent to the edge 26 by one of its substantially vertical facets oriented towards the outside of the box.

 Thus, along the two lengths of the box, the three adjacent cells 18 are separated by two intermediate raised portions 28 each with a facet 30 oriented towards the outside while, along the two widths of the box, the two cells adjacent 18 are separated by an intermediate portion in relief 32 with a facet 34 facing outwards.

 In the center of the lower part, and between four adjacent cells arranged in a square, the lower part has a central part 36 in relief forming a foot which projects above the plane of the edge 26 and above the intermediate parts 28, 32, to form two central support legs for the upper wall of the cover 14 and each of which has a flat and horizontal top facet 38 (see FIG. 5).

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 In line with each intermediate part 28, 32 and between the facet 30, 34 and the edge 26, there is provided a section 40 of a horizontal rectilinear groove, of U-shaped section, which is open vertically upwards and which is parallel to the adjacent section of the continuous edge 26.

 Thus, in the embodiment shown in the figures, six groove sections 40 are provided which are all located in the same plane with their groove bottom offset vertically downward relative to the plane of the continuous upper edge 26 (see figure 5).

 In each corner of the lower part 12, the groove 40 is replaced by four cut horizontal faces 42 which are coplanar with the bottom of the groove sections 40.

 We will now describe in detail the cardboard cover 14 which is produced by cutting, folding and gluing from a blank of cut cardboard.

 The hollow cover 14 is in the general shape of a pyramid trunk with a rectangular base.

To this end, the cover 14 comprises a horizontal upper wall 46 delimited by a peripheral fold 48 of rectangular outline from which extend two pairs of side walls 50, 51 and 52 among which the first 50 and 51 corresponding to the length of the cover and the 52 seconds corresponding to the width of the cover
Each side wall is generally trapezoid-shaped and it is delimited by a section of the fold 48, by two vertical folds inclined at the corners or by two vertical edges at the corners 54.

 The two opposite side walls, front 50 and rear 51 of greater length, extend, beyond the corner folds 54, by two bonding tabs (not visible in the figures), the external faces of which are glued under facing parts. -vis the internal faces of the opposite side walls 52

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Each of the side walls 50, 51 and 52 is also delimited vertically downwards by a straight edge 56, 58 and 60 which delimits the open underside of the cover.

 The four edges 56 to 60 are coplanar and horizontal.

Each groove section 40 is thus designed to receive a free lower edge corresponding 58 to 60 of the cover 14, the dimensions of the rectangular outline of the edges 58 to 60 and of the groove 40 being complementary for this purpose.

 In order to allow the mounting of a cover according to the invention on an unchanged lower part according to the state of the art, the two small side walls 52 each have a notch 64, here open vertically downward, flaring to open out in the lower edge 60 and which is thus provided to allow passage to a beak or hook opposite 44 belonging to the lower part 12 and each of which extends transversely outwards from an intermediate part 32.

 In accordance with the teachings of the state of the art, and in order to improve the resistance in the closed position of the cover 14 on the lower part 12, the cover 14 comprises two pairs of retaining tabs 66 which extend vertically downwards. from the bottom edges 60.

 The retaining tabs 66 are rectangular in shape and each is delimited with respect to the edge 62 by a fold 68 which extends in the extension of the lower edge 60.

 The slightly marked fold 68 constitutes a hinge which allows each retaining tab 66 to pivot around this fold.

 Each of the holding tabs 66 extends vertically downwards in line with a facet 22.

 When the cover 14 is placed on the lower part 12, the horizontal lower edge 70 of each of the retaining tabs 66 cooperates with the internal surface of the corresponding facet 22 so that the tab 66 extends along the facet 22 inside the associated cell 18.

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 Initially, that is to say after the completion of the cover 14 and before its first installation, each of the holding tabs 66 can be inclined transversely inwards so as to facilitate the installation of the cover 14, in particular automatically.

 When the cover 14 is in the closed position, each of the tabs 66 extends transversely opposite an associated facet 22 and they thus all participate in retaining the cover in the closed position.

 In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the cover 14 comprises, on the one hand, means for making it a pivoting or articulated cover and, on the other hand, temporary locking means in the closed position which take place until the first opening. of the cover.

 To this end, and as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 7, the rear side wall 51 has a horizontal articulation fold 72 which is initially marked in the thickness of the cardboard and which will then constitute a hinge of articulation of the cover 14 relative to the lower part 12.

 The fold 72 is horizontal and parallel to the lower edge 58, arranged close to the latter.

 To allow pivoting around the fold 72, the corner folds or rear corners 54 are open or cut at least in part over their height starting from the bottom and up to fold 72, as can be seen in FIGS. 2.4 and 7.

 As can be seen in Figure 2, the lower edge 58 of the rear longitudinal wall 51 also has a pair of legs 74 similar to the legs 66 mentioned above.

 To secure the cover 14 on the lower part 12, two adhesive spots 76 are provided, for example, in the sections of the groove 40 which receive the lower edge 58, in line with the tabs 74.

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 The temporary locking means here consist of two identical locking tabs 78 belonging to the front longitudinal wall 50.

 The two locking tabs 78 are identical and arranged symmetrically in the vicinity of the longitudinal ends of the wall 50.

 Each tab 78 is in the form of a truncated triangle.

 The contour of the cutout of each tab 78 is symmetrical with respect to a vertical vertical axis V.

 The outline of the tab has two precut inclined edges 80, the tab being initially attached to the rest of the wall 50 by attachment points 82 distributed along the edge 80.

 At its upper end, the locking tab 76 is delimited by a free horizontal upper edge 84 which belongs to a complete cutout 86 in the general shape of a semicircle.

 At its lower end, each tab 76 extends slightly downward beyond the lower edge 58 to form a short tab 88 similar to the tabs 66 and 74 for holding and guiding when being put in place for mounting and fixing it by gluing the cover 14 to the lower part 12.

 As regards the lower edge 56 of the front longitudinal wall 50, the fixing of the cover 14 is also ensured by gluing, here by means of two glue points 90 in the sections of the groove 40 which receive the lower edge 56, in line with the legs 88.

 The initial fixing of the cover 14, in the original closed position illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, is therefore ensured by glue dots for gluing the lower edges 56 and 58 of the walls 50 and 51, here thanks to two pairs of points glue 76 and 90.

 In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the four glue dots are aligned transversely two by two 76, 90, that is to say that the glue is put in place at the four points

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concernés des tronçons de rainure 40, ; et que le couvercle est ensuite mis en place indifféremment dans un sens ou dans l'autre, la partie inférieure 12"encollée"étant parfaitement symétrique.

concerned groove sections 40,; and that the cover is then placed indifferently in one direction or the other, the lower part 12 "glued" being perfectly symmetrical.

On the other hand, the lower edges 60 of the small side walls 52 received in the groove 40 are free from any fixing.

Initially, and until the first opening of the cover 14, the articulation fold 72 is simply marked, but the rear longitudinal wall 51 is planar.

To open the cover 14, the user must detach the tabs 76 precut from the front longitudinal wall 50.

To do this, it advantageously introduces the end of a finger into a cutout 86 to lift the front wall 50 generally vertically, thereby causing tearing of the tabs 76 which remain permanently glued in place on the lower part 12.

The vertical movement of the wall 50 corresponds to a pivoting of the cover 14 around the fold 72 which then forms an opening hinge.

The cover remains linked to the lower part 12 because the rear longitudinal wall 51 is glued to the lower part 12 by the glue dots 90.

It is of course possible to close the cover, this closure being able, depending on the material, its thickness and the shape of the fold 72, to be almost automatic due to the elasticity of the cover 14 previously deformed during opening.

Of course, the locking tabs 78 are never connected again to the front wall 50 and they show that the box has been opened at least the first time.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment which has just been described.

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 The cover 14 can thus be made of a plastic sheet, transparent or not, cut folded and glued, or molded by thermoforming.

Claims (12)

 CLAIMS 1. Box (10) of packaging for eggs, fruit, or other food items of the type comprising a lower part (12) which comprises at least one row of cells (18), each of which can receive a article, and the open upper face of which is delimited by an upper edge (26) of rectangular or square outline, and of the type comprising a complementary upper part forming a hollow cover (14) which comprises a substantially horizontal upper wall (46) and two pairs of opposite side walls (50-51,52) substantially vertical, the lower edges (56-58,60) delimit a lower edge, of rectangular or square contour, of the open lower face of the cover (14) which is received in vertical support in sections of a peripheral groove (40) of the lower part (12), and of the type comprising means for locking the cover (14) on the lower part (12) which hold it vertically by relative to the latter, characterized in that the cover (14) is mounted articulated with respect to the lower part (12) between a closed position and an open position, around a substantially horizontal axis (72) close to an edge lower (58) of one of the side walls (51), and in that it comprises means (78) of temporary locking of the cover (14) in the closed position which intervene until the first opening of the cover (14) .  2. Box according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the temporary locking means comprise at least one detachable tab (78) belonging to one (50) of the side walls of the cover (14) and which is fixed to the lower part (12) from the box.  3. Box according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the detachable tab (78) is delimited by a cutting contour, two sections (80) of which end in the lower edge (56) of said side wall (50). <Desc / Clms Page number 15>  4. Box according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cutting contour (80) has a symmetry of drawing with respect to a vertical median axis (V).  5. Box according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the locking tab (78) is fixed to the lower part (12) of the box by gluing (90).  6. Box according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the locking means comprise two locking tabs (78) arranged symmetrically and belonging to the same side wall (50) of the cover (14).  7. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means of articulation of the cover (14) consist of at least one horizontal fold (72) of articulation formed in one (51) of the side walls of the cover (14).  8. Box according to the preceding claim taken in combination with any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each temporary locking tab (78) belongs to the side wall (51) which is opposite to that (50) in which is formed the articulation fold (72).  9. Box according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the lower edge (58) of the side wall (51) comprising the articulation fold (72) comprises sections which are received and glued in sections of the peripheral groove (40) of the lower part (12).  10. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (14) is made in one piece in the form of a sheet of cardboard cut, folded and glued.  11. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the side walls (50,51, 52) of the cover (14) is inclined relative to the vertical to give the cover (14) a trunk shape pyramid with base (56,58 and 60) rectangular or square. <Desc / Clms Page number 16>  12. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (12) is produced by thermoforming from a plastic sheet, in particular a transparent sheet.