FR2941440A1 - Lid for use with bread dough fermentation vat of bread baker, has ventilation face whose edge has elongated excrescences longitudinally extending along edge on length portion in median position - Google Patents

Abstract

The lid has a closing face providing closing function and a ventilation face providing ventilation function. An edge of the ventilation face has elongated excrescences (100) longitudinally extending along an edge (10) on a length portion in a median position. A peripheral edge (11) connects the excrescences, and has a continuous plane surface of one of the excrescences. A base plane is delimited by a circumference connecting the base plane to the peripheral edge that occupies a raised position with respect to the base plane on a side of the ventilation face.

Description

Cover intended to be associated with a tray, positionable on the tray reversibly to occupy either a closed position or a ventilation position. The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of packaging materials. More specifically, the invention relates to a cover intended to be associated with a tray that can be positioned on the tray reversibly, either in a closed position or in a ventilation position in which ventilation passages are formed between the lid and the tray to allow the passage of air from outside to inside the tray, or vice versa. A particular application of a lid according to the invention relates to the fermentation of bread dough for bakers. Of course, the invention can be applied to other fields, for example to ensure the ventilation of the interior of a container containing fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, etc. In the field of the invention, it has been proposed several techniques associating a tray and a lid in which the lid can be positioned either in the closed position of the tray or in the ventilation position of the interior of the tray. The solution described by the patent document published under number US-5,697,500 relates in particular to a tray system for the storage of perishable goods, the tray being constituted asymmetrically by having it shifted on two opposite sides. two by two, on the one hand protrusions on the upper part of the flanges and on the other hand notches 25 in the lower part of the flanges. Such a tray can be stacked with another tray of the same design in two configurations: closed stack configuration in which the protuberances and notches coincide with the growths and notches of the other tray; a ventilated configuration in which the excrescences and notches of the tray are offset from those of the other tray, the not yet filled notches forming passage for air.

This document also describes a lid having notches intended to cooperate with the excrescences of a tray, in coincidence or staggered with the excrescences of the tray, to be placed in a closed configuration or in a ventilated configuration of the tray. Such a solution therefore allows the ventilation of the interior of the tank (or its closure) but involves the design and manufacture of a specific tank whose rim has an alternation of growths and indentations. In other words, such a solution does not allow the use of traditional trays having a rim whose four sides are inscribed continuously in a single plane.

Also known is the solution described by the patent document published under the number FR-2 895 215 which relates to a fermenting tray baker bread dough. According to the technique described by this document, the lid is reversible according to the use that is made of it (closed position or ventilation position), the cover in use of ventilation being composed in its underside of at least four lugs and two nipples minimum in its lengths to ensure the passage of outside air by its sides. This cover has on its opposite side four notches to allow the stacking of other bins. The solution described by this document has disadvantages in practice. A first disadvantage lies in the implementation of nipples which are by definition small elements which cause in particular the following problems: such a cover being preferably made of plastic, and this by a molding process, the nipples can cause problems. difficulties in demolding the covers, for example the presence of burrs or malformations; the nipples, by the smallness of their dimensions, are fragile elements which are therefore subject to premature wear and deterioration during repeated handling of the lid. Another disadvantage of the lid described by this document lies in the mechanical strength of the latter. Indeed, a cover of this design made of plastic material is relatively flexible and deformable. Also, after repeated handling and stacking of the covers, they can over time take a distorted configuration that no longer allows to position correctly, either on a tray or to stack the covers between them.

The invention particularly aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, the invention aims to provide a cover to be associated with a tray, reversibly or in a closed position of the tray or in a ventilation position, which has reliable mechanical characteristics and perennial. The invention also aims to provide such a lid that retains the possibility of using conventional trays having a top rim whose four sides are inscribed continuously in a single plane.

The invention also aims to provide such a lid that retains the ability to ensure a wedging of a tray stacked on the lid. Another object of the invention is to provide such a cover which is simple in design and easy to manufacture, in particular by a plastic molding process. These objectives, as well as others which will appear later, are achieved by virtue of the invention, which relates to a cover intended to be associated with a tray, the lid having two pairs of opposite edges and two distinct faces. one, said closure, intended to provide a closure function and the other, called ventilation, intended to provide a ventilation function, characterized in that each edge of said ventilation face has, in the middle position, at least one longitudinal protrusion extending longitudinally along said edge over a length portion thereof. In this way, the lid according to the invention combines the advantages of: providing a satisfactory rigidity to the lid, tending to avoid the deformations of the lid over time, this thanks to the shapes and dimensions of the protruding protrusions on each edge of the lid tending to stiffen the corresponding edge and, therefore. providing resistance to sagging and / or avoiding the appearance of permanent deformation; to obtain a reliable and durable mechanical resistance longiform growths, these being resistant to wear or other damage, this again because of their shapes and dimensions; allow the use of the lid according to the invention with trays of traditional design, having an upper edge whose four sides are inscribed continuously in a single plane; - Allow the stacking of the lids between them and / or the stacking of a tray on a lid according to the invention, this while obtaining a wedging between them stacked elements; - Allow easy manufacture of the lids according to the invention, this in particular by a plastic molding process, with good demoldability.

According to an advantageous solution, the cover has a peripheral rim connecting said excrescences in pairs, said rim having a continuous flat surface from one protrusion to the other. In other words, the lid according to the invention has in this case on its face intended to be placed facing the tray in the ventilation position, only excrescences in the middle position on each edge. These excrescences alone are sufficient to ensure on the one hand the ventilation of the interior of the tray and, secondly, to ensure the stability of the lid on the tray. Advantageously, the cover comprises a base plane delimited by a periphery connecting said base plane to a peripheral extension forming a plane parallel to said base plane, said rim occupying a raised position relative to said base plane on the side of said ventilation face. Thus, when the lid is placed in the closed position on a tray, the base plane of the lid takes position inside the tray. Only the peripheral edge is supported on the edges of the tray. In this way, a configuration is obtained that facilitates stacking the container / lid or lid / lid. In this case, each protrusion protrudes from said peripheral rim. According to a preferred embodiment, each protuberance extends to a wedging flange abutting said circumference and a height greater than that of said periphery, each projection being preferably connected to the top of said bead by a curved surface. In this way, the projecting elements on the side of the ventilation face of the lid, have a dual function: - that of providing a space for the passage of air between the lid and the tray, function exerted by the growths; that of stalling a tray stacked on the lid, a function exerted by the beads. In addition, the two parts (protuberances, beads) of the projecting elements on the ventilation face of the cover visually form a single element, each protrusion being in the continuity of the corresponding bead, which gives a pleasant aesthetic appearance to the lid.

In addition, the projecting elements are characterized by curved surfaces, which avoids sharp angles likely to cause possible clashes and / or promote wear zones. According to a particular embodiment, said protuberances extend over portions of length representing between 8% and 12% of the length of said corresponding edge. In this range, a satisfactory compromise is obtained between the stability and the rigidity imparted by the protrusions, while preserving sufficient air passages. According to another characteristic of the invention, said closure face has wedging beads, said wedging beads of said closure face preferably extending to the corners of said cover. In this case, said angles advantageously have an arcuate shape, said wedging beads of said closure face extending at each angle along the length of said arc.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of indicative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which: Figure 1 is a top view of a lid according to the invention, ventilation side side; Figure 2 is a sectional view of a lid according to the invention, according to the section AA shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lid according to the invention, ventilation face side; - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a lid according to the invention, closing side side; FIG. 5 is a view of detail E shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a view of detail H shown in FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a view of detail G indicated in FIG. 3; FIG. 8 is a view of FIG. detail F indicated in Figure 4; Figure 9 is a partial sectional view of a lid according to the invention, according to section BB indicated in Figure 1; FIG. 10 is a view of the detail C indicated in FIG. 2. As indicated above, the principle of the invention lies in the fact of proposing a cover intended to be associated with a tray, having a closing face and a ventilation face, in which each edge of the ventilation face has, in median position, a protruding protrusion. Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is disclosed a lid according to the invention 20 to be associated with a tray (such as the tray 2 shown in section in Figure 2, shown here in two possible depths). A lid according to the invention may have a rectangular or square shape, and in any case has two pairs of opposite edges parallel to each other and two distinct faces. One of these faces is a so-called closing face: when this face of the lid is placed facing the tray (the lid resting on the tray), the lid has a function of complete closure of the tray (with games close). This closing face appears in FIG. 4. The other face of the lid is a so-called ventilation face: when this face of the lid is placed facing the container (the lid resting on the container), 10 air passages are provided between the lid and the tank, allowing ventilation of the interior of the tank. This ventilation face is illustrated in FIG. 3. According to the principle of the invention, each edge has, on the ventilating face side of the cover, a longitudinal protrusion 100, extending in the median position with respect to the corresponding edge 10, this longitudinally along the corresponding edge 10 over a length portion thereof. Such protuberances 100 therefore form extra thicknesses on the peripheral rim 11 of the ventilation face of the lid. Therefore, when the lid is placed in contact on the upper edge of a tray, the ventilation face facing the interior of the tray, it is the protrusions 100 which rest on the upper rim of the tray, thus maintaining the rim device 11 of the cover spaced from the upper edge of the tray, which allows the passage of air between the peripheral rim of the lid and the upper rim of the tray.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cover comprises a base plane 12 delimited by a periphery 13 connecting the base plane 12 to the peripheral rim 11 which is part of a plane parallel to that of the base plane 12. the position shown in Figure 3, the peripheral flange 11 thus occupies an enhanced position relative to the base plane 12.

In addition, the peripheral flange 11 connects the projections 100 two by two with a continuous planar surface from one projection to the other. In addition, each protrusion 100 is inscribed in the width of the peripheral rim 11, projecting from the peripheral rim 11, as shown in FIG. 5.

As an indication, for a rectangular cover having a length of 530 mm and a width of 410 mm, the longiform protuberances have a length of 40 mm, or even 50 mm. In such a configuration, the protuberances extend over a portion of length representing 8 to 9% of the length of the lid and 10 to 12% of the width of the lid.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 and 10, each protrusion extends to a wedging bead 14 to take place, once the lid positioned on a tray in the ventilation position, inside the perimeter delimited by the upper edge of the tray, thus constituting abutments in contact with each side of the upper rim of the tray, which leads to wedge the cover in position on the tray. In addition, it is noted that each wedging flange 14 is leaned against the periphery 13 of the cover and extends over a height greater than that of the periphery 13.

As is clear from FIG. 10, the protuberances 100 are connected to the corresponding wedging bead 14 by a curved connecting surface 140. According to another characteristic of the invention, the closure face of the lid illustrated in FIG. 4 has cushioning beads 15, 16, intended to register, when the lid is placed in the closed position on a tray, in the perimeter delimited by the upper edge of the tray while coming into contact with this rim, thus constituting stops which lead to wedge the cover in position on the tray. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the closure face of the lid has wedging beads 15 at each corner of the lid. According to the present embodiment, the corners of the lid have an arcuate shape, the wedging beads 15 extending at each corner of the lid over the length of the arc of a circle, that is to say say on 45 °. Referring to Figure 7, it is noted that the ventilation face is at the corners of the lid, as a negative of the closure face, the wedging beads 15 projecting on the closure face forming gutters on the ventilation face . Furthermore, the closing face also has wedging beads 16 extending in the middle position on each edge of the lid. These wedging beads 16 extend over the same portion of length as the corresponding protrusion 100, and constitute on the closure face of the cover extensions of the wedging beads 14 present on the ventilation face. The closing face has pins 17 of complementary wedging: these pins are two in number, one per longitudinal edge, and occupy an eccentric position on the corresponding longitudinal edge. The two lugs are positioned symmetrically with respect to the center of the lid. Meanwhile, the tray has orifices on its longitudinal edges to coincide with the lugs 17. In addition, two orifices 18 are provided on the longitudinal edges of the cover, in positions symmetrical to those of the lugs 17 relative to a central axis of the cover . In this way, a user whose bins are not provided with orifices intended to cooperate with the lugs 17, can take a lid, position it on the tray and locate on the tray the locations of the orifices to be made, this being done using the orifices 18 of the lid.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Cover intended to be associated with a tray, the lid having two pairs of opposite edges and two distinct faces, one, said closure, intended to provide a closure function and the other, called ventilation, intended to provide a ventilation function, characterized in that each edge of said ventilation face has, in the median position, at least one longitudinal protrusion extending longitudinally along said edge over a length portion thereof. 2. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a peripheral flange connecting said excrescences in pairs, said flange having a continuous flat surface from one outgrowth to the other. 3. Cover according to one of claims 1 and 2, comprising a base plane bounded by a periphery connecting said base plane to a peripheral rim forming a plane parallel to said base plane, said flange occupying a position enhanced by report to said base plane on the side of said ventilation face. 4. Lid according to claim 3, characterized in that each protrusion protrudes from said peripheral rim. 5. Lid according to claim 4, characterized in that each protrusion extends to a cushioning flange abutting said circumference and a height greater than that of said periphery. 6. Lid according to claim 5, characterized in that each protrusion is connected to the top of said bead by a curved surface. 7. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said protuberances extend over length portions representing between 8% and 12% of the length of said corresponding edge. 8. Lid according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said closure face has wedging beads. 9. Lid according to claim 8, characterized in that said wedging beads of said closure face extend at the corners of said lid. 10. Lid according to claim 9, characterized in that said angles have an arcuate shape, said wedging beads of said closure face extending at each angle along the length of said arcuate. .