FR3072950A1 - BOX OF PLASTIC MATERIAL WITH FIRST OPENING LAMP - Google Patents

Abstract

The box comprises a base (4) and a cover (6) connected by a hinge (8) comprising at least one hinge portion (10) connected to the lid 6 by a frangible connection (18) configured to break at the first opening of the lid (6). The box comprises a tongue (20) extending from the cover (6) and beyond the hinge pin (A), so that when the box is closed, the tongue (20) extends towards the outside of the box from the cover (6) protruding with respect to the hinge (8) beyond the hinge pin (A), a pulling of the tongue (20) allowing opening the cover (6) by breaking each frangible connection (18), a cover portion (14) of each hinge portion (10) remaining integral with the base (4) and dissociated from the cover (6), being protruding.

Description

Plastic box with first opening indicator

The present invention relates to the field of plastic boxes comprising a base and a cover hinged to each other by means of a hinge.

It is possible to market food products in plastic boxes comprising a base and a cover hinged to the base by means of a hinge, the base and the cover being provided with complementary closure reliefs configured to engage. to keep the lid closed.

It is desirable to provide such a box with a first opening indicator allowing the consumer to verify that the box has not been opened and then closed.

W02008 / 008343A1 discloses a box comprising a base and a cover connected by a hinge, the base comprising a peripheral heel extending upward and preventing grasping a peripheral edge of the lid to open the latter, the articulation comprising a frangible part the removal of which frees an arm enabling the cover to be grasped in order to open it. To be able to open the cover, the user must therefore break the frangible part of the joint which thus forms a witness of first opening.

US8608008B2 discloses a box comprising a base and a cover connected by a joint, the base comprising a peripheral heel extending upward so as to prevent grasping a peripheral edge of the cover to open the latter, the joint being frangible, the base and the cover being provided with tabs which can be grasped by the user to lift the cover by breaking the articulation. When the cover is closed, the tabs carried by the base and the cover do not extend from the base and the cover beyond the hinge axis. The broken joint at the first opening of the cover forms a first opening indicator.

One of the aims of the invention is to provide a box with a first opening indicator which exhibits reliable closing while presenting an easy opening for the user.

To this end, the invention provides a box with first opening indicator, the box being made in a single piece of plastic material and comprising a base and a cover connected by a film of material in which is formed a hinge comprising at least one hinge part configured to fold along an axis of rotation for the first closure of the cover, each hinge part having a cover portion connected to the cover by a frangible connection configured to break at the first opening of the cover, the box comprising a tongue s extending from the cover and beyond the hinge axis, so that when the box is closed, the tongue extends outward from the box from the cover projecting from the hinge beyond the articulation axis, a pull of the tongue allowing the lid to be opened by breaking each frangible connection, the cover portion of the corresponding hinge part remaining integral with the base (4) and dissociated from the cover, being protruding.

The tongue extending beyond the axis of articulation projecting relative to the hinge, and which can for example be integrated in the film of material in which the hinge is formed, is easily identifiable by the user and allows easy opening by the user.

According to particular embodiments, the box includes one or more of the following optional characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combination:

- the tongue is formed in the film of material,

- The tongue is cut from the film of material along a cutting line;

- the tongue is joined with each part of the hinge;

- the hinge has two hinge parts located on either side of the tongue;

- each frangible link extends from one end of a tongue cutting line;

- The base has a circumferential protective heel raised relative to the peripheral edge of the cover when the latter is closed, the peripheral protective heel being interrupted in a passage zone through which pass each hinge part and the tongue;

- the base and the cover include complementary closure reliefs configured to be force-fitted one into the other so as to keep the cover closed.

- The base and the cover each have a generally circular shape;

- Each articulation part comprises a base portion secured to the base and a folding portion connecting the base portion to the cover portion secured to the cover.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an open box, before its first closure;

- Figure 2 is a detail view of Figure 1 illustrating a hinge of the box;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the box during its first closure;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the closed box, before the first opening;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of the open box after its first opening; and

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the box closed after its first opening.

The box 2 illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 comprises a base 4 and a cover 6 articulated on the base 4 by means of a hinge 8 defining an articulation axis A around which the cover 6 pivots during the first closure from box 2.

Box 2 is for example a packaging box for food products.

Box 2 is made from a single piece of plastic. The base 4 and the cover 6 are thus produced in a single piece of plastic. The plastic material is for example PET (polyethylene terephthalate or poly (ethylene terephthalate)).

The box 2 is for example produced by thermoforming a plastic sheet with the assistance of a mold.

The hinge 8 comprises at least one hinge part 10, here two hinge parts 10.

Each hinge part 10 is configured to fold along the hinge axis A to allow the lid 6 to be closed by pivoting the lid 6 relative to the base 4 around the hinge axis A.

Each hinge part 10 here comprises a base portion 12 secured to the base 4 and a cover portion 14 secured to the cover 6, the base portion 12 and the cover portion 14 being connected by a folding portion 16.

Each hinge part 10 is configured to fold by folding its folding portion 16. The folding portion 16 of each hinge part 10 extends along the hinge axis A. The folding portion 16 of each part hinge 10 is for example formed of a groove.

The cover portion 14 of each articulation part 10 is linked to the cover 6 by a frangible link 18 configured to break when the cover 6 is first opened.

Each articulation part 10 thus forms a first opening indicator, the cover portion 14 of each articulation part 10 remaining integral with the base 4 and dissociated from the cover 6 after the first opening, being protruding (FIGS. 5 and 6 ).

When the box 2 is closed but a hinge part 10 is broken, ie separated from the cover 6 by breaking the frangible connection 18 between the cover portion 14 and the cover 6, this means that the box 2 has been opened and then closed.

The frangible link 18 is designed to break easily. The frangible link 18 is for example formed by a rupture line extending at the junction between the cover portion 14 of the hinge part 10 and the cover 6.

The frangible line 18 is for example a precut line. Such a precut line is for example formed of a series of bridges distributed along a frangible line 18, each bridge connecting the cover portion 14 of the hinge part 10 to the cover 6.

The box 2 comprises a tongue 20 integral with the cover 6 and designed to allow the cover 6 to be opened by pulling on the tongue 20. The tongue 20 extends from the cover 6 and beyond the hinge axis AT.

When the box 2 has never been closed (Figures 1 and 2), the tongue 20 extends from the cover 6 towards the base 4.

The tongue 20 is formed so as not to bend when the cover 6 is closed for the first time.

When the box 2 is closed for the first time (Figure 4), each hinge part 10 is folded in half around the hinge axis A and is located entirely on the same side of the hinge axis A as the cover 6.

The cover portion 14 of each hinge part 10 is folded over the base portion 12 of this hinge part 10 by folding the folding portion 16.

Furthermore, the tongue 20 turns without bending. It projects from the cover 6 towards the outside of the box 2, going beyond the hinge axis A. It follows that the tongue 20 protrudes relative to the hinge 8 , beyond the hinge axis A. The tongue 20 in particular projects outwards from the box relative to the cover portion 14 of each hinge part 10.

The protruding tongue 20 makes it possible for the user to understand that it is necessary to pull on the tongue 20 to open the cover 6.

To open the box 2 for the first time (Figure 5), the user grasps and lifts the tab 20. This has the effect of breaking each frangible link 18 connecting a hinge part 10 to the cover 6.

Optionally, box 2 is provided with a sign telling the user to pull on tab 20 to open the cover. The indication can be recessed or embossed on the tongue 20, on the cover 6 or on the base 4.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the example illustrated, the hinge 8 comprises two hinge parts 10 disposed on either side of the tongue 20. The tongue 20 is located along the axis of articulation A between the two hinge parts

10. The two hinge parts 10 are spaced apart from each other along the hinge axis A.

The hinge 8 and the tongue 20 are formed in a film of material 22 initially connecting the base 4 and the cover 6, before the first closing and the first opening of the box 2.

The tongue 20 is cut from the film of material 22 along a cutting line 24.

In the example illustrated, the cutting line 24 has a U-shape, the two branches of which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of articulation A.

Each hinge part 10 is formed in the film of material 22. Each hinge part 10 results in part from the cutting of the tongue 20.

The frangible link 18 connecting each hinge part 10 to the cover 6 extends from one end of the cutting line 24 of the tongue 20. Thus, when the tongue 20 is pulled, each frangible link 18 is immediately requested, which allows an easy and fast rupture of frangiblel connection 8.

In the example illustrated, each frangible link 18 extends from a respective end of the cutting line 24.

Advantageously, each frangible link 18 extends from one end of the cutting line 24 to an edge 26 of the film of material 22 by crossing the corresponding hinge part.

In the example illustrated, the film of material 22 has two opposite edges 26 and each frangible connection 18 extends towards a respective edge 26 of the hinge film 22. The two frangible connections 18 extend progressively apart the other.

In the example illustrated, each frangible link 18 extends radially relative to the hinge axis A from the cutting line 24, then rotates substantially 90 ° to extend axially relative to the axis of articulation A, joining the edge 26 of the film of material 22.

The base 4 and the cover 6 include complementary closure reliefs making it possible to maintain the cover 6 in the closed position. The complementary closure reliefs are configured to be forced into one another.

The complementary closure reliefs here comprise a circumferential closure rib 30 carried by the cover 6 and a complementary circumferential closure groove 32 formed on the base 4, designed to forcefully engage one another during closure cover 6.

The base 4 is provided with a heel 34 of circumferential protection surrounding the cover 6 and projecting upwards relative to the peripheral edge 36 of the cover 6 when the cover 6 is closed. Thus, the heel 34 prevents a user from grasping the peripheral edge 36 of the closed cover 6 to open the latter.

The heel 34 is interrupted in a passage zone 38 (or notch) situated circumferentially in line with the hinge 8 and the tongue 20. This passage zone 38 allows the passage of each hinge part 10 and of the tongue 20 towards the outside, from the peripheral edge 36 of the cover 6.

In operation, for the first opening of the box 4, the user maintains the base 4 and pulls the tab 20 upwards so as to separate the cover 6 from the base 4 (Figure 4).

The traction exerted on the tongue 20 adjoining each hinge part 10 allows a quick and easy rupture of each frangible link 18.

The tongue 20 being situated between the two hinge parts 10, the pulling of the tongue 20 makes it possible to easily break the hinge parts 10.

The location and the shapes of the frangible connections 18 situated between the cover portions 14 of the hinge parts 10 and the cover 6 ensure rapid and easy breaking as soon as the tongue 20 is pulled.

In addition, the tongue 20 being located between the two hinge parts 10, there is a short length of the peripheral edge 36 remaining free between each hinge part 10 and the heel 34 of protection. Box 2 is therefore well protected against fraudulent opening.

After the first opening of the cover 6, the latter is separated from the base 4. It is possible to close the cover 6 (Figure 6).

However, the cover portions 14 form witnesses of the first opening while remaining integral with the base 4 and separated from the cover 6, and being protruding. The user thus knows that box 2 has already been opened.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated exemplary embodiments, variants being possible.

Furthermore, the positioning of the tongue 20 between two parts of hinges is advantageous regardless of the fact that the tongue 20 projects outwards from the closed box 2 by exceeding the articulation axis A, in particular when the tongue is contiguous with each hinge part 10, and in particular delimited by a cutting line 24 in the film of material 22 in which the hinge 8 is formed.

Thus, in general, the invention also relates to a box with a first opening indicator, the box being made in a single piece of plastic material and comprising a base 4 and a cover 6 connected by a film of material 22 in which is formed a hinge 8 comprising two hinge parts 10 configured to fold along an axis of rotation A for the first closure of the cover 6 and connected to the cover by a frangible link 18 configured to be broken at the first opening of the cover 6, the box comprising a tongue 20 extending from the cover 6 being located between the two hinge parts 10, a pull of the tongue 20 making it possible to open the cover 6 by breaking each frangible link 18.

Claims (10)

8 CLAIMS 1. - Box with first opening indicator, the box being made in a single piece of plastic material and comprising a base (4) and a cover (6) connected by a film of material (22) in which a hinge is formed ( 8) comprising at least one hinge part (10) configured to fold along an axis of rotation (A) for the first closure of the cover (6), each hinge part (10) having a cover portion (14) linked to the cover (6) by a frangible link (18) configured to break at the first opening of the cover (6), the box comprising a tongue (20) extending from the cover (6) and beyond the axis articulation (A), so that when the box is closed, the tongue (20) extends towards the outside of the box from the cover (6) projecting with respect to the hinge (8) at the -beyond the articulation axis (A), a pull of the tongue (20) making it possible to open the cover (6) by breaking each frangible link (18), the cover portion (14) of the corresponding hinge part (10) remaining integral with the base (4) and dissociated from the cover (6), being protruding. 2. - Box according to claim 1, wherein the tongue (20) is formed in the film of material (22). 3. - Box according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tongue (20) is cut from the film of material (22) along a cutting line. 4. - Box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tongue (20) is joined with each hinge part (10). 5. - Box according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge has two hinge parts (10) located on either side of the tongue (20). 6. - Box according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each frangible connection (18) extends from one end of a cutting line of the tongue (20). 7. - Box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the base (4) has a circumferential protective heel (34) raised relative to the peripheral edge (36) of the cover (6) when the latter is closed, the peripheral protection heel (34) being interrupted in a passage zone (38) through which each hinge part (10) and the tongue (20) pass. 8. - Box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the base (4) and the cover (6) include complementary closure reliefs (30, 32) configured to be force-fitted into one another so as to keep the cover (6) closed. 9. - Box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the base (4) and the cover (6) each have a generally circular shape. 10. - Box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each articulation part (10) comprises a base portion (12) integral with the base and 5 a folding portion (16) connecting the base portion (12) to the cover portion (14) integral with the cover (6).