ITMI20111740A1 - COVERAGE ELEMENT, IN PARTICULAR FOR CONTAINERS AND / OR TRAYS FOR FOOD, PACKAGE FOR FOOD, REALIZED PROCEDURE AND USE OF A COVERAGE ELEMENT - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Attached to a patent application for an INDUSTRIAL INVENTION PATENT entitled:

â € œ COVER ELEMENT, IN PARTICULAR FOR FOOD CONTAINERS AND / OR TRAYS, FOOD PACKAGING, FABRICATION PROCEDURE AND USE OF A COVER ELEMENTâ €

FIELD OF THE TROVATO

The present invention relates to a covering element for food containers or trays. In particular, the present invention finds application to define a packaging of pastry products such as pastries, pretzels and the like, in particular when the covering element is coupled to cardboard trays.

STATE OF THE ART

As is well known, it is customary for take-away food products to be packaged in such a way as to allow both transport and protection from external agents.

In particular, referring to the packaging of small-sized pastry products, the package includes a serving tray that allows the positioning and support of a predetermined number of products such as pastries, biscuits, pizzas, pretzels, etc.

The package also includes an external cover designed to cooperate with the tray and act as a protection and shelter for food products, as well as a decorative element.

The most followed practice involves the positioning of pastry products on a tray and the wrapping of the tray through a series of cardboard reinforcing elements that define a support frame to provide a support surface for the externally wrapped decorated paper sheet .

As previously mentioned, in this way a packaging is obtained in which the weight of the products is supported by the tray, while the paper wrapping that surrounds the latter acts as a protection and shelter against any external atmospheric agents, as well as aesthetic appeal.

The supporting ribs, which give a certain structural coherence to the paper wrapping, are generally made of cardboard and are placed above the tray so as to define a corresponding "frame" (consisting of one or more arches extending between opposite sides of the tray same). This frame acts as a support for the decorative paper and prevents the lower surface of the latter from coming into contact with the underlying food products. Finally, to give the necessary stability to the packaging thus obtained, a ribbon-like element is used around the package in such a way as to prevent the decorative paper from separating even partially from the tray.

It should be noted that the preparation of such a packaging is long and complex: in fact it is practically essential to pass the covering paper under the tray after filling it and to associate any stiffening ribs to the tray before proceeding with the complete wrapping of the same. through decorative paper; finally, as mentioned, it is typically necessary to wrap the ribbon-like element several times and in different directions around the package. All the aforementioned operations significantly increase the time needed to obtain a package with the required characteristics of stability and aesthetic appeal, also entailing the risk of overturning and ruining the pastry products contained (especially in the case in which the operator in charge of packaging is not particularly skilled or experienced).

Furthermore, this packaging procedure obviously requires the use of a considerable quantity of decorative paper: to ensure perfect closure of the package, several flaps are required, protruding in various ways, subsequently folded (and mutually bound) towards the package itself; however, a not negligible amount of decorative paper is necessarily passed under the tray: this translates into an excess of decorative paper consumption (compared to the amount that theoretically would be sufficient to define the packaging), which negatively affects costs overall of the product.

Finally, both the structural and aesthetic quality of the packaging is linked to the subjective skill of the operator in charge.

A second known solution, described in document EP 1477419 and filed by the Applicant, provides for the use of covering elements made of cardboard and shaped in such a way as to be able to be removably coupled to trays for pastry products.

In particular, the trays are provided with a suitable folded outer edge, while the covering element comprises, in correspondence with one of its lower free edges, a curl respect suitable for snap engagement with the folded edges of the tray.

In this way, once the products have been positioned inside the tray itself, it is possible to couple the latter to the corresponding covering element in an extremely rapid and effective way.

This last known technique, briefly described above, although performing very well to all the tasks to which it is predisposed, nevertheless has some limitations. In fact, first of all, it should be noted that the realization of a covering element in single deformed sheet greatly limits the overall height of the covering element which may not prove to be suitable in situations where the food products to be packaged are of considerable height / dimensions. .

In further known techniques, for example in accordance with the Italian patent n ° IT 1374325 or with the Italian patent n ° 1375555, also filed by the Applicant, the use of a food tray and a corresponding covering element is envisaged. The latter is made of cardboard and presents, under the geometric profile, a substantially convex shape shaped in such a way as to be able to be coupled removably to the tray. More in detail, the covering element has a series of through slits at the outer edge that are able to engage, in a firm and removable manner, with relative fins emerging from the tray.

The flaps are arranged at the edge of the tray and emerge away from the edge itself.

This last known technique described allows to realize a coupling between the covering element and the tray which is simple to implement but at the same time able to guarantee a firm maintenance of the position of the covering element on the tray.

Although the covering just described has numerous advantages with respect to the previously described wrapping techniques, it can be improved only in some aspects.

In particular, the covering element does not however have an optimal adaptability to products with large vertical dimensions as the containment volume is once again limited by the deformation possibilities of the cardboard used.

A final example, described in the Italian document RM 2009A000297, provides for the use of a cover element for the packaging and transport of pastry trays consisting of a sheet of cardboard which, after a punching phase, is adequately assembled in order to obtaining a convex covering element, in particular having a truncated pyramidal shape with an octagonal base shaped to engage with a pastry tray.

The cardboard sheet, following the punching step, has a central panel having a substantially rectangular shape rounded at the corners.

Side panels with a rectangular shape extend from the longer sides of the central panel, while end panels also have a rectangular shape from the shorter sides. From the sides defining the bevels of the central panel extend respective angular closing portions connected with the lateral portions of the central panel. These corner closure portions comprise fixing tabs which, during the assembly step, overlap the end panels.

In detail, the closing portions are bound to the respective end panels by gluing. In this way the roofing element stably maintains the convex truncated pyramidal shape.

In addition to the fastening flaps, the corner lock portions include slots that allow the attachment to corresponding corners of the pastry tray.

The covering element just described, despite having a vertical development that can be increased at will by varying the dimensions of the various panels, requires, during the assembly phase, a phase of glue application and a precise overlapping of the edges to be couple by gluing.

This last aspect aggravates the product costs and adds a further rather delicate production phase with the need for optimal dosages and precise positioning of the glue to guarantee at the same time a correct and firm engagement of the parts avoiding glue leaks from the joined edges to be joined; all this translates into a consequent increase in the overall costs of the hedging element.

Furthermore, the presence of glues in the vicinity of food products is normally to be avoided in order to eliminate problems of contamination of the food itself.

PURPOSE OF THE FIND

The aim of the present invention is therefore to substantially solve all the drawbacks and limitations of the previous solutions.

A first objective of the invention is to provide a roofing element that is substantially able to offer an optimal aesthetic appearance, but which at the same time presents a simplification of the manufacturing and assembly processes, particularly in relation to the number of operations. to be carried out in subsequent work stations, i.e. in which the process of drawing and assembling the parts starting from the flat sheet can be carried out in a limited number of steps (possibly in a single stroke).

One goal is also to avoid the use of adhesives, reducing the cost of the product and avoiding food contamination problems while maintaining optimal coverage stability.

An additional purpose is also that of allowing high developments in the vertical direction of the covering element so as to be able to house food products with large vertical dimensions on the tray.

A further main purpose of the invention is to devise a cover element that can be adapted without special precautions to already existing trays, ensuring an extremely fast and stable connection and a high protection capacity of the internal contents.

It is an auxiliary objective of the invention to devise a covering element that allows a significant saving of material, and in particular allows to significantly reduce the consumption of decorative paper, while maintaining an unchanged aesthetic impact in the eyes of the consumer.

The secondary purpose of the invention is to provide a covering element that can be used several times by the consumer and then disposed of by recycling it, once its function is exhausted, without particular problems related to the non-biodegradability of the material in which It is realized.

Finally, a technical object inherent in the present invention is given by the fact of obtaining a covering element that can be made with extremely simplified industrial operations, to the full advantage of production economics and ultimately of the purchase cost.

One or more of the objects described above and which will appear better in the course of the following description are substantially achieved by a covering element in accordance with one or more of the appended claims.

Aspects of the invention are described below.

In a 1st aspect a covering element is provided, in particular for containers or trays for food, comprising a main body made from a flat element in a sheet of paper material developing in a prevailing plane, said flat element in sheet presenting a first and a second surface opposite each other and further comprising a coating in plastic material arranged on said first surface, said main body having: a central element, a plurality of lateral elements emerging away from said central element and spaced one apart the other, each lateral element presenting a first edge connected perimeter to the central element and a second edge opposite the first edge, each lateral element also comprising at least a third and a fourth edge laterally delimiting said lateral elements and which connect the first and second edge, a predetermined number of co elements connection emerging away from the central element and connected to two side elements consecutively arranged around said central element; said main body being in an operating condition in which the central element and the plurality of lateral elements define a convex housing compartment designed to contain and cover food products whose internal surface is defined by a portion of the first surface of the main body having the plastic coating, said third lateral edge, in the operating condition of the main body, being substantially in proximity to or in contact with the fourth lateral edge of an adjacent lateral element, the second edge of each lateral element defining, in the operating condition of the main body , a respective portion of the free edge delimiting said housing compartment and defining an opening located in the lower part of the covering element itself; said main body further comprising hooking elements associated with at least two lateral elements and configured to allow removable engagement of the covering element with food trays.

In a 2nd aspect a covering element is provided, in particular for food containers or trays, comprising: a main body in sheet material which, after a deformation phase, is in an operating condition in which it defines a convex housing compartment designed to contain and cover food products, said main body having a free edge delimiting said housing compartment and defining an opening located in the lower part of the covering element itself; and hooking elements associated with the main body, in particular arranged substantially in correspondence with the free edge, and capable of allowing a removable engagement of the cover element to a tray for food, said hooking elements emerging transversely from the internal surface of the housing compartment in a direction entering with respect to the housing compartment itself; the coupling elements comprise a first portion having a substantially elongated shape and having a first end connected to the main body and a second end arranged substantially inside the housing compartment, said coupling elements further comprising a second portion having a substantially elongated and having a first end connected to the second end of the first portion and a second end connected to the main body, said first and / or second portion extending along a substantially rectilinear direction of development.

In a 3rd aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects in the operating condition of the main body, at least a portion of the lining present on the connection element and a portion of the lining present on a lateral element adjacent to it are in contact and constrained between them, the bond between the cladding portions of the side element and the connection portion allowing the main body to remain stably in the operating condition, said at least a portion of the cladding present on the connection element and said portion of the cladding present on a lateral element adjacent to it in contact and constrained to each other belonging to the same first surface of the body.

In a 4th aspect in accordance with any of the previous aspects, the connection element, in the operating condition, is folded inside the housing compartment so as to define on the second surface at least one overlapping area between two respective faces and defining on the first surface at least a first and a second face having said coating, at least one of said faces, in the operating condition, being in contact with a coating portion of an adjacent lateral element.

In a 5th aspect in accordance with the previous aspect, the two respective faces between the overlapping area are not coated with film or polythene.

In a 6th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the side elements comprise main elements which, in the operating condition, face two by two.

In a 7th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the side elements comprise corner elements which, in the operating condition, face two by two.

In an 8th aspect in accordance with the previous aspect, the corner elements are interposed between adjacent main elements.

In a 9th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the side elements have a substantially rectangular shape.

In a 10th aspect in accordance with any of the 1st to 8th aspects, the first edge is defined by a substantially arched section and the first, second and third edges are defined by substantially retilinear sections.

In an 11th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the first edge has a first and a second extremity opposite each other, the first end of a lateral element being connected with the second end of a lateral element subsequently disposed on the main body. In a 12th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the second edges of the side elements, before the deformation step of the main body, are spaced apart while, in the operating condition, the second edges of the side elements are connected to each other.

In a 13th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the connecting elements have a substantially triangular shape. In a 14 ° aspect in accordance with the previous aspect the connection elements presenting a first and a second lateral edge which intersect at a first end and connect to the main body, said connection elements also presenting an edge extremal which connects a second extremity of the first and of the second lateral edge opposed to the first extremity.

In a 15th aspect in accordance with the previous aspect the first edge of a connecting element is connected with the fourth edge of a lateral element, said second lateral edge of said connecting element is connected with the third edge of a lateral element subsequently disposed on the main body, the extremal edge being connected to the second edge of lateral elements subsequently disposed on the main body.

In a 16th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the hooking elements are arranged substantially in correspondence with the second edge of each lateral element.

In a 17th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the hooking elements, in the operating condition, emerge transversely with respect to the lateral element to which they are associated in an inward direction with respect to the housing compartment, said hooking element defining, compared to the side element to which it is associated, an undercut designed to allow the removable engagement of the cover element to food trays.

In an 18th aspect in accordance with the previous aspect, the coupling elements comprise main coupling elements arranged on end portions of at least two main elements in correspondence with the second edge of said main elements.

In a 19th aspect in accordance with any one of the 14th to 16th aspects, the hooking elements further comprise auxiliary hooking elements arranged on end portions of at least two corner elements in correspondence with the second edge of said corner elements.

In a 20th aspect in accordance with the previous aspect, the main hooking elements and / or said auxiliary hooking elements optionally extending along the entire development of the side element to which they are associated.

In a 21 ° aspect in accordance with the 1st aspect and with any of the aspects from the 3rd to the 20th, the main coupling elements have, according to a cross section with respect to the second edge, a first portion emerging transversely from said lateral element and having a substantially elongated shape, said first portion having a first end connected to the side element, in particular connected to the second edge of the side element, and a second end, opposite to said first end substantially arranged inside the compartment said main coupling elements also have, again according to a cross section with respect to the second edge, a second portion having a substantially elongated shape which has a first and a second end, the first end of the second portion being connected with the second extremity of the first portion while the second extremity of the sec wave portion is substantially connected to the lateral element, said main coupling elements also have, again according to a cross section with respect to the second edge, a third portion connected to the second portion and emerging transversely with respect to the second portion itself, the third portion substantially developing along the side element and presenting a contact surface in cohesion with the internal surface of the main body.

In a 22 ° aspect in accordance with any of the aspects from the 19 ° to the 21 ° the auxiliary coupling element has an overlapping portion connected with the second edge of the side element to which it is associated and which extends substantially along the side element itself.

In a 23 ° aspect in accordance with the previous aspect, the overlapping portion presenting a contact surface in cohesion, at least in part, with the internal surface of the main body and a free end spaced from said lateral element and from the second edge and also configured to allow interference engagement to a lower edge of a tray. In a 24 ° aspect in accordance with the previous aspect each connecting element, in the operating condition, is folded on the adjacent corner element.

In a 25 ° aspect in accordance with the previous aspect, the contact surface of the overlapping portion is partly in contact with the internal surface of the main body and partly with portions of the first and second face respectively of adjacent connecting elements folded on the same corner element they are associated with.

In a 26 ° aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects the main body is made in one piece.

In a 27 ° aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the lateral elements, in the operating condition, substantially define the height of the covering element.

In a 28 ° aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects the main body has a thickness of less than 5 mm.

In a 29 ° aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects the main body has a thickness of less than 3 mm.

In a 30 ° aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects the main body has a thickness of less than 2 mm.

In a 31st aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the plastic film has a thickness of less than 1 mm.

In a 32 ° aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the plastic film has a thickness of less than 0.5 mm.

In a 33 ° aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, the plastic film has a thickness of less than 0.2 mm.

In a 34th aspect in accordance with any of the preceding aspects, at least one lateral element comprises a separation element configured to be arranged in a condition of detachment in which said separation element allows to vary, in particular to increase, the dimensions of the opening of the housing compartment in order to facilitate the disengagement of the covering element with containers or trays for food.

In a 35 ° aspect in accordance with the previous aspect, the separation element, in the condition of detachment, is configured to allow relative movement, in particular the separation, between the third and fourth edge of the element side to which it is associated.

In a 36 ° aspect in accordance with the 34 ° or 35 ° aspect, the separating element comprises a removable tab bounded perimeter by a plurality of discrete incisions, in particular in which said incisions are passing through.

In a 37 ° aspect in accordance with any of the aspects from 34 ° to 36 ° the separation element, in the condition of detachment, defining a through opening on the side element extending from the second edge approaching the first edge .

In a 38 ° aspect in accordance with the previous aspect the through opening extends from the second edge to the first edge.

In a 39th aspect, a process is provided for making a covering element, in particular for containers or trays for food, comprising the following steps: preparing a flat sheet of paper material; arranging, on at least one first face of the flat sheet, a film of plastic material; cutting said sheet to define a blank delimited by an external perimeter; deform said blank to define a main body defining a substantially convex housing compartment whose internal surface is defined by the plastic film, said housing compartment being designed, in operating conditions, to contain covering products, for example food and defining a free edge which in turn defines an opening placed below the covering element, said plastic film being configured to maintain and constrain each other, in the operating condition, respective portions of the same first coated face of film of said covering element.

In a 40th aspect, a package for food products, in particular for pastry products, is provided, comprising: a tray; and a covering element designed to be fitted and removably engaged above said tray, said covering element being of the type in accordance with any of the aspects from 1 to 38 ° and in accordance with a manufacturing process in accordance with 39 ° aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments and some aspects of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for illustrative and therefore non-limiting purposes only, in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a covering element according to the present invention according to a first embodiment; > Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the covering element of Figure 1;

> Figure 3 is a side view of the roofing element referred to in the previous figures;

> Figure 4 is a bottom view of the covering element referred to in the previous figures;

> Figure 5 is a cross-section of the roofing element according to any one of the preceding figures carried out in correspondence with a lateral edge of a corner element;

> Figure 6 is a cross-section of the roofing element in accordance with any of the previous figures taken at the center line of a corner element;

> Figure 6 A is a detail of Figure 6;

> Figure 7 is a cross section of the roofing element in accordance with any of the previous figures taken at the center line of a main element;

> Figure 7 A is a detail of Figure 7;

> Figure 8 is a plan view of a blank relative to a covering element according to any one of the previous figures;

> Figure 9 is a plan view of a blank relative to a covering element according to a second embodiment;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are perspective views of covering elements relating to further embodiments; And

> Figure 13 is a plan view of a sheet of paper material unwound from a reel to make the covering element shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As can be seen from the accompanying figures, 1 indicates a covering element as a whole, in particular for containers or trays for food. The covering element 1 comprises a main body 2 made of paper sheet material which has a first and a second surface 2a, 2b opposite each other. In the preferred embodiment, the main body 2 is made of a single piece, for example of cardboard, which alone defines the entire cover with the desired flexibility and deformability.

In order to protect food products from excessive exposure to external light and at the same time to offer an adequate aesthetic appearance to the finished product, the main body 2 is made of non-transparent material.

On the first surface 2a there is a coating 3 of plastic material, for example a film, which at least partially covers the first surface 2a itself. In particular, the plastic film 3 entirely covers the first surface 2a of the main body 2.

The coating 3 has the purpose of defining a barrier in particular to water and / or humidity that prevents the weakening and loss of structure with consequent deformation of the paper material constituting the cover.

In general we speak of polythene coating on one (internal side 2a) or on both sides (surfaces 2a and 2b) of the paper material with values that can for example vary between 10 and 50 gr / m of coating material (i.e. polythene) .

The plastic coating material can be chosen for example from the following materials: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PE.

In a further embodiment, the coating film 3 can be arranged on both surfaces of the main body 2.

The main body 2, in an operating condition of Figures 1 and 2, defines a convex housing compartment 7 whose internal surface is defined by the first surface 2a of the main body 2 having the plastic coating film 3.

Conveniently, the convex shape of the housing compartment 7 is such as to be able to accommodate objects even of a much higher height than that of the tray that houses them without the risk of interference. In other words, the housing compartment 7 is designed, in operating conditions, to contain, covering them, food products of various sizes.

As can be seen from the accompanying figures, the housing compartment 7, in the operating condition, is delimited by a free edge 8: it should be noted that this free edge 8 in practice defines an opening 9 located below (in conditions of use of the element cover 1), through which pastry products or food products in general are "passed" (to cover them) at the time of packaging.

At this point it should be noted that the main body 2 does not have any bottom wall or any similar element (from the functional point of view) able to completely close the aforementioned opening; in essence, this is made necessary by the fact that the cover element 1 is in practice used as the lid of a package or tray for food products which is itself intended to form the bottom of the package and of which more details will be given later in this document. Description.

As can be seen from the accompanying figures and in particular from the blank illustrated in figure 8, the main body 2 comprises a central element 4 which also defines the upper wall of the covering element 1 in its drawn configuration. The main body 2 also comprises a plurality of side elements 5 emerging transversely from the central element 4 and which define, as a whole and in the drawn configuration, the side wall of the covering element 1. Each side element 5 has a first edge 5a connected perimeter to the central element 4 and a second edge 5b opposed to the first edge 5a with respect to the side element 5 itself. The second edges 5b of the side elements 5 define the free edge 8 of the housing compartment 7 in the three-dimensional configuration of the covering element.

It is possible to observe from the accompanying figures that the lateral elements 5 further comprise a third and a fourth edge 5c, 5d which laterally delimit said lateral elements 5 and which connect the first and second edges 5a, 5b to each other.

More in detail in the assembled configuration, the third edge 5c of a side element is in contact with the fourth edge 5d of an adjacent side element 5.

As can be seen from the accompanying figures, the side elements 5 comprise main elements 12 and corner elements 13: both the main elements 12 and the corner elements 13 are respectively facing two by two on opposite sides of the blank (figs. 8 and 9). In particular, it is possible to note from the accompanying figures that the side elements 5 are substantially arranged around the central body 4 with an alternation of main elements 12 and corner elements 13. More specifically, the corner elements 13 are interposed between main elements 12 consecutively arranged on the central body 4.

From a geometric point of view, the side elements 5 have a substantially rectangular shape. In the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, the first edge 5a of the main elements is substantially arched, while the first edge 5a of the corner elements is substantially straight. As regards the second, third and fourth edges 5c, 5d and 5e, the latter are substantially straight.

The arched portion of the first edge 5 a of the main elements 12 allows to define on the main body 2 some connecting portions 38 between the central body 2 and said main elements 12. These connecting portions 38 physically connect the central body 4 to the side elements 5 and have a predetermined sequence of radii of curvature, which varies continuously or discontinuously (depending on the design requirements). The concavity of the connecting portions 38 can be turned towards the internal space of the covering element 1. In particular, the accompanying figures show a covering element in which the connecting portions 38 arranged in correspondence with the main elements 12 have the concavity facing inwards while the connecting portions 38 arranged in correspondence with the corner elements 13 have the concavity facing the outside of the housing compartment 7. The connecting portions 38 allow to give the covering element a more pleasant aesthetic appearance, but also a product that is devoid of edges (also the corner elements 13 allow to improve the aesthetic aspect and connect the main elements 12 in a row).

In an alternative embodiment not shown in the accompanying figures in its three-dimensional configuration, each of the edges which defines the shape of the side elements 5 is substantially rectilinear (see Figure 9). Even more in detail, the first edge 5a has a first and a second end 14, 15 opposite each other: the first end 14 of a side element 5 is connected with the second end 15 of a side element 5 subsequently arranged on the main body 2.

The covering element 1 in accordance with the present invention is also equipped with hooking elements 10 associated with the main body 2 and configured to allow a removable engagement to a food tray as will be better explained. In particular, the hooking elements 10 are associated with a predetermined number of side elements 5 (in particular with at least two opposite side elements and in detail with each side element 5) and are arranged substantially in correspondence with the second edge 5b of each respective element side 5: in this way it is possible to exploit the entire height of the housing compartment 7 so as not to interfere with the food placed on the tray after the engagement between the cover element and the tray.

More in detail, the hooking elements 10 emerge transversely with respect to the side element 5 to which they are associated in a direction entering the housing compartment 7 to define, with respect to the same side element 5, an undercut configured to allow engagement removable cover element 1 to food trays.

Even more in detail, the coupling elements 10 comprise main coupling elements 19 arranged on some or all of the main elements 12 and auxiliary coupling elements 20 arranged on some or all of the corner elements 13.

Under the geometric aspect, the main coupling elements 19 have a first portion 21 emerging transversely from said lateral element 5 (in particular from the free edge 8) in a direction entering with respect to the housing compartment 7. The first portion 21 has, in a non-limiting way, a substantially elongated band shape (with profile in rectilinear section - figure 7A), and in which a first end 22, of said first portion 21, is connected to the side element 5, in particular connected to the second edge 5b, and a second end 23, opposite to the first end 22, is arranged substantially inside the housing compartment 7. The main coupling elements 19 also have a second portion 24 also having, not limiting, a substantially elongated band shape (with profile in rectilinear section - figure 7A). A first end 25 of said second portion 24 is connected integrally with the second end 23 of the first portion 21, while a second end 26 of said second portion 24 is substantially constrained (welded) to a surface inside the compartment 7 of the ™ side element 5.

As can be seen from the sectional view of figure 7, the main coupling elements 19 define, according to a cross section to the second edge 5b, a substantially triangular sectional shape which extends, in a non-limiting way, along the entire longitudinal development of the lateral element 5 to which the respective main coupling element 19 is associated. In particular, the first and second portions 21, 24 are substantially rectilinear and the second portion 24 forms an angle with the side element 5, taken within the triangular shape defined by said portions, between 45 ° and 180 °, in particular between 60 ° and 150 °, even more particularly in which the angle is around 90 ° so that the stop surface defined by the second portion 24 which will receive the corresponding lower free edge of the tray is substantially horizontal in conditions of use of the covering element, i.e. it emerges substantially orthogonally from the side wall 5.

The main coupling elements 19 also comprise, in a non-limiting way, a third portion 27 connected to the second portion 24 and emerging transversely with respect to the second portion 24 itself. The third portion 27 develops substantially parallel to and along the side element 5 presenting a contact surface 28 in contact with the internal surface 2a of the main body 2.

More in detail, the third portion 27 is fixed to the side element 5 so as to support the first and second portion 21, 24 keeping them in a stable and firm position and such as to consequently guarantee an optimal stability of the hooking elements themselves. ; in this way the engagement between the covering element 1 and the tray is optimal. As for the first and second portion, the third portion 27 also extends, in a non-limiting way, along the entire development of the side element 5 to which it is associated,

It should be noted that the engagement of the third portion 27 to the inner wall 2a of the side element is guaranteed, as better clarified below, by the fact that respective facing surfaces, both facing each other with coating film, in detail polythene, are brought into contact with each other.

Therefore, in the deformation phase and in the presence of heat, the film-coated surface 3 (defined by a surface portion 2a of the blank) of the third portion 27 and the film-coated surface 3 (defined by a surface portion 2a of the blank) of the The lateral element are in direct contact and the heat, by melting or softening the films, allows a direct reciprocal engagement without the aid of glues or adhesives.

On the other hand, as regards the auxiliary coupling elements 20, the latter are arranged in correspondence with said angular elements 13 and also have, as for the main coupling elements 19, a protruding portion which allows the removable cover element with the tray (in particular with a lower perimeter edge of the tray).

In particular, the auxiliary coupling elements 20 have an overlapping portion 29 connected with the second edge 5b of the side element 5 to which they are respectively associated and which extends substantially along a direction parallel to the side element 5 itself. Inside the housing seat 7. More in detail, the overlapping portion 29 has a contact surface 30 in bonded (by welding of the respective coating films), at least in part, with the internal surface 2a of the main body 2. As for the main hooking elements 19, the auxiliary hooking elements 20 extend, in a non-limiting way, for the whole extension of the second edge 5b of the side element 5 to which the auxiliary hooking elements are associated.

In addition, to allow simplified disengagement of the covering element 1 from the tray, it is possible to equip the covering element 1 with at least one separation element 31 arranged on at least one side element 5 and configured to be easily detached in a way to affect the structural integrity of the covering element and to allow the housing compartment 7 to be opened by means of a movement of relative rotation between the two half-parts into which the containment element is divided.

More in detail, the separation element 31, in the detached condition, is configured to allow relative movement, in particular the removal, between the third and fourth edges 5c, 5d of the side element 5 to which It is associated.

From the structural point of view, the separation element comprises a removable tab 32 bounded on the perimeter by a plurality of discrete incisions 33, in particular in which the incisions are passing through. The incisions 33 make it possible to easily detach the tab 32 from the side element 5 so as to define a through opening on the side element 5 itself: this opening substantially divides the side element into two portions. The opening extends from the second edge 5b approaching the first edge 5a, in particular the through opening extends from the second edge 5b to the first edge 5a.

Returning to the configuration of the covering element 1, it is then possible to provide also a gripping element 39 which can be associated with the main body 2 such as to allow the package to be transported in a completely easy way. For example, this gripping element 39 can be defined by a handle made of cardboard bonded to the main body 2. Alternatively, the gripping element can be a common cloth tape suitably bonded to an upper central portion of the main body 2 itself (in correspondence, for example, with the central element 4).

The accompanying figures show a preferential shape of the gripping element 39, in which the latter has a handle 40 having a substantially arched shape suitable for allowing the package to be gripped. The gripping element 39 also comprises a first and a second locking portion 41, 42 connected to the gripping portion and emerging transversely with respect to the latter.

The first and second locking portions 41, 42 engage with the contral body 4, in correspondence with the first surface 2a. More in detail, the central body 4 has a first and a second slot 43, 44 passing through. The first and second locking portions are configured to be arranged in a first passage condition in which the latter are able to pass through said main body 2 through said first and second slots 43, 44. The first and second portions of locking are also configured to be arranged in a locking condition in which they are suitable for defining an undercut which allows the gripping portion to be constrained to the central body 4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 2 intended to define the covering element 1 is made starting from a flat sheet of paper material (Figure 8 or 9). The main body 2 comprises a plastic coating film 3: this element makes the covering element substantially waterproof and allows to avoid any direct contact between food and the paper sheet,

The latter is cut in such a way as to define a blank 45 which is also flat delimited by a closed external perimeter. Previously, at the same time or after the blanking step, a predetermined number of notches 35 or through slits are also made on the sheet of paper material to allow the sheet to be manipulated.

As can be seen from the accompanying figures, the blank 45 comprises the central element 4 from which a plurality of side elements 5 emerge. The side elements 5 on the blank 45 are consecutively arranged around said central element 4 and are substantially spaced apart. More in detail, the first edge 5a of each side element 5 is perimeter connected to the central element 4.

As can be seen from figures 8 and 9, the blank includes at least one emerging portion 46 which is connected (as a piece) with the side element 5, in particular in which the emerging portion 46 is connected to the second edge 5b of each side element. More in detail, the emerging portion 46 of the blank 45 is configured to define, in the operating condition of the covering element 1, said hooking elements 10. More in detail, the emerging portions 46 arranged on the main elements 12 are configured to define, in the operating condition of the covering element, said main hooking elements 19, while the portions 46 arranged on the corner elements 13 are configured to define, in the operating condition of the covering element, said auxiliary hooking elements 20 .

The main body 2 also comprises a predetermined number of connection elements 6 also emerging from the central element 4 and interposed between two side elements 5 consecutively arranged on the central element 4.

Geometrically, the connection elements 6 have a substantially triangular shape, in particular presenting a first and a second lateral edge 16, 17 which join at a first end connected to the central element 4 of the main body 2. The elements connection 6 also have an extremal edge 18 which connects a second end of the first and second lateral edges 16, 17 opposite the first end. The first lateral edge 16 of a connection element 6 coincides with the fourth edge 5d of a side element 5 while the second lateral edge 17 of said connection element 6 coincides with the third edge 5c of a lateral element 5 subsequently arranged on the main body 2; the extremal edge 18 is substantially connected to the second edge 5b of consecutive lateral elements 5. As can be seen from Figure 8, the connection elements 6 can have respective longitudinal creases 36 arranged on the center line which allow the connection elements themselves to deform and pass from a flat condition, shown in Figure 8, to a folded configuration, visible condition , for example, in Figures 2 and 4. The creases 36 on the connecting elements 6 are performed for example during the step of shearing the paper sheet to obtain the blank.

Figure 9 shows a further blank from which it is possible to obtain a further embodiment of the covering element (not represented in the accompanying figures in its three-dimensional form). In particular, from the blank of figure 9 it is possible to obtain a covering element devoid of the connecting portions 38 previously described.

As previously mentioned, the plastic film 3 is arranged, in a non-limiting way, over the entire first surface 2a which also defines the internal surface of the housing compartment 7.

In particular, in the operating condition in which the main body 2 defines said housing compartment 7, at least a portion of film 3 arranged on the connection element 6 and a portion of film 3 arranged on a side element 5 adjacent to the element connections 6 are in contact and constrained to each other: the constraint between the film portions 3 of the side element 5 and the connection portion 6 allows the main body 2 to remain stably in the operating condition.

By further detailing the three-dimensional operating condition, it is possible to observe how the connection element 6, in this condition, is bent inside the housing compartment 7 so as to define at least one overlapping area in correspondence with the second surface 2b and in correspondence with the first surface 2a at least a first and a second face 11a, 11b which are coated by the plastic film: at least one of said faces, in the operating condition, is in contact with and constrained to a portion of film 3 of a side element 5 adjacent.

Even more in detail, each connecting element 6, in the operating condition, is folded onto the adjacent corner element 13. As can be seen in figures 2 and 4, the connection element 6, folded over the corner element 13, partially overlaps the latter; the contact surface 30 of the overlapping portion 29 allows the connection element 6 to be kept in contact with the side element 5. In particular, the contact surface 30 is partly defined by a portion of the internal surface 2a of the main body 2 and in part by a portion of the first and second faces 11a, 11b respectively of adjacent connecting elements. The bond between the parts is ensured thanks to the presence of the film 3 arranged both on the overlapping portion 29, in particular on the contact surface 30, and on the first and second faces 11a, 11b. The contact between the respective portions of film 3 facing each other, in the presence of suitable pressures and temperatures, allows softening, partial interpenetration and therefore (following cooling) to constrain the corner element 13 with the connection element 6 so as to keep the main body 2 in the operating condition.

In a further configuration, not shown in the accompanying figures, it is possible to re-explain at least one connection element 6 on a main element 12: in this way at least one of the first and second faces 11a, llb is in contact with the first surface 2a of a main element 12.

As a matter of fact, in this last configuration described, it is the main hooking element 19 that allows the connection element 6 to be fixed on the side wall 5. In particular, in this situation it is the plastic film 3 of the third portion 27 to contact the film 3 of the first and / or second face 11a, 11b.

It is possible to create a further configuration in which all the connecting elements are folded over adjacent main elements.

Quantitatively, it is possible to define, in a non-limiting way, some values relating to the thickness of the main body 2 that are optimal for the realization of a covering element 1. In particular, the main body 2 can have a thickness of less than 5 mm, in particular less than 3 mm, even more particularly less than 2 mm.

It is also possible to define, without limitation, values of the coating film, in which the latter has a thickness of less than 1 mm, in particular less than 0.5 mm, even more particularly less than 0.2 mm.

In this regard, it should be noted that the cover element 1 can be associated with various types of trays. In fact, the cover element 1 described above is suitable for use with pastry trays.

Implementation procedure

The covering element 1 can be made with the procedure described below.

The covering element 1 is made starting from a sheet 47 of paper material unwound from a reel (Figure 13 shows a portion of the sheet 47 unwound from a reel and arranged on a prevailing development plane).

As mentioned, the main body 2 is a sheet of paper material which has a plastic film (for example in PE or PP) on the first surface 2a.

The main body 2 is made, prior to the reel winding, by means of a known lamination process in which the film is arranged on the first surface 2a of the main body 2 so as to create a coating or barrier on the latter.

After the continuous unwinding from the reel, the sheet is suitably sheared to define a blank 45 delimited by an external perimeter. In addition to defining the outer perimeter of the blank, the blanking phase also makes it possible to perform any incisions 33 for the separation element 31, any folds or creases 36, the notches 43 and 44 useful for coupling with the gripping element 39, to obtain any windows 35 and perform a series of traces useful for the deformation (bending) of the main body 2. Figures 8 and 9 respectively show two examples of blank showing a series of traces useful for deformation of the main body 2.

As can be seen from figure 13, the shearing step of the sheet 47 allows to obtain a predetermined number of blanks 45 and an auxiliary blank 48 for each blank 45 useful for making the gripping element 39. In this way, from the blanking step It is possible to obtain the blank for the main body 2 with the relative blank for the gripping element 39 of the cover element 1.

As for the blank 45, the auxiliary blank 48 comprises a body 49 extending along a prevailing development plane. The body has, but is not limited to, a parallelogram shape, in particular rectangular. The body 49 comprises a first and a second bending portion 50, 51 which emerge from a first and a second side of the parallelogram opposite each other. In particular, in the embodiment shown in Figure 13, the body 49 has a rectangular shape and the first and second bending portions 50, 51 emerge from the longitudinal sides of the rectangle (ie from the sides defining the prevailing length of the rectangle).

The body 49 also comprises a third and a fourth folding portion 52, 53 which emerge from a third and a fourth side of the parallelogram opposite each other. In particular, in the embodiment shown in Figure 13, the body 49 has a rectangular shape and the third and fourth folding portions 52, 53 emerge from the transverse sides (the sides defining the width of the rectangle) of the rectangle. In particular, the third and fourth folding portion 52, 53 of the auxiliary blank are the portions which define, in the operating condition of the covering element 1, respectively the first and the second locking element 41, 42 and which, as previously described, they are suitable to be inserted in the first and second slots 43, 44 of the covering element 1.

After the blanking step, the blank 45, in particular the main body 2, is deformed by bending to define the housing compartment 7 having a substantially convex shape, the internal surface of which is defined by the film 3 of plastic material. The housing compartment 7 as previously described is arranged, in operating conditions, to contain and cover products, for example foodstuffs, and defines the free edge 8 which in turn delimits the opening 9 located below the covering element 1. The plastic film 3 is intended to constrain and maintain the covering element 1 in the three-dimensional operating condition.

During the same deformation phase, the film portions of the connection elements 6 come into contact with the film portions 3 of the side elements 5, in particular of the corner elements 13. During the deformation phase, heat is also supplied to the plastic film up to producing a softening or partial melting of the same, at least in the areas of interest: the heated film parts 3 couple together substantially by welding the parts.

In a further step, the auxiliary blank 48 is deformed. The first and second folding portions 50, 51 are folded onto the body 49. The third and fourth folding portions 52, 53 are folded and placed transversely with respect to the body 49 . The engagement of the first and second locking portion in the respective slots allows to deform the body 49 and said first and second bending portion 50, 51 so as to give the gripping element 39 a substantially arched shape suitable for allow the gripping and transport of the gripping element 1.

The present invention also relates to the entire package for food products (which finds a particularly convenient application in the packaging of confectionery products such as sweets, pastries, pretzels and the like); this package essentially comprises a tray, positioned below and substantially intended to receive a plurality of food products (acting in a nutshell as a support surface for the latter) and a cover element 1 having one or more of the characteristics described above and designed to be shod over the tray itself.

Cover element and tray are reciprocally arranged in such a way as to define said package; the operator who wants to pack a variety of pastry products, will have to place them on the tray, after which (unlike what happens in the traditional case) it will only be necessary to position the covering element 1 above the tray causing a slight deformation of the coupling and / or of the perimetric lateral edge of the tray so as to couple the two snap-on elements thus making the two components integral by means of the previously described coupling elements. In particular, the operation is extremely simple and reliable, in fact the covering element 1 is positioned above the tray to which it is counter-shaped and is then fitted onto it by means of a vertical reciprocal approaching movement.

The invention achieves important advantages,

The type of coupling elements studied and realized in the present invention is in fact simple to implement, low costs and high reliability. From a manufacturing point of view, the covering element does not require complex manufacturing steps.

The use of glues or adhesives to be placed on the blank during the production phase is completely avoided, guaranteeing in any case the structural stability of the product and also the non-contamination of the packaged products.

The configuration of the blank and of coupling also guarantees the possibility of creating covering elements of any height, guaranteeing the possibility of packaging products of various kinds.

Both the covering elements and the trays remain stackable with each other and the package obtained retains all the advantages of the one currently known. In fact, first of all, the constructive architecture of the present invention allows to offer to the public an object that can be manipulated without the difficulties that allows rapid packaging with all the advantages of the "traditional" package; it should be noted that these features are to the full advantage of ease of use, even by inexperienced personnel or to quickly create a large number of packages. Finally, it is emphasized that such a covering element reduces production costs and considerably simplifies the manufacturing processes, given that particularly complex shapes do not have to be realized and that the preparation operations of the covering element itself are few (in general a single phase drawing takes the product from the flat configuration to the finished three-dimensional one) and do not present particular technical difficulties.

LEGEND

1 Cover element

2 Main body

2nd First surface

2b Second surface

3 Movies

4 Central element

5 Side element

5 on First board

5b Second edge

5c Third edge

5d Fourth edge

6 Connection element

7 Storage compartment

8 Free board

9 Opening

10 Hooking elements

First face

llb Second face

12 Main element

13 Corner element

14 First end of the first edge 15 Second end of the first edge 16 First side edge

17 Second lateral border

18 Extremal edge

19 Main attachment elements

20 Auxiliary attachment elements

21 First portion

22 First end of the first portion

23 Second end of the first portion 24 Second portion

25 First end of the second portion 26 Second end of the second portion 27 Third portion

28 Contact surface

29 Portion of overlap

30 Contact surface of the third portion 27 3 1 Separating element

32 Tab

33 Engraving

35 Notches

36 Creasing

38 Portion of fitting

39 Portion of socket

40 Handle

41 First locking element

42 Second locking element

43 First slot

44 Second slot

45 Blank

46 Emerging portion

47 Sheet

48 Auxiliary blank

49 Auxiliary blank body 50 First folding portion 51 Second folding portion 52 Third folding portion 53 Fourth folding portion

Claims (11)

CLAIMS 1. Cover element (1), in particular for containers or trays for food, comprising a main body (2) made starting from a flat element in a sheet of paper material developing in a prevalent plane, said flat element in sheet presenting a first and a second surface (2a; 2b) opposite each other and further comprising a coating (3) made of plastic material arranged on said first surface (2a), said main body (2) having: > a central element (4), > a plurality of lateral elements (5) emerging away from said central element (4) and spaced apart from each other, each lateral element (5) presenting a first edge (5a) connected perimeter to the central element (4) and a second edge (5b) opposed to the first edge (5a), each lateral element (5) further comprising at least a third and a fourth edge (5c; 5d) laterally delimiting said lateral elements and which connect the first and the second edge (5a; 5b), > a predetermined number of connection elements (6) emerging away from the central element (4) and connected to two side elements (5) consecutively arranged around said central element (4), said main body (2) being in an operating condition in which the central element (4) and the plurality of lateral elements (5) define a convex housing compartment (7) designed to contain and cover food products whose internal surface is ̈ defined by a portion of the first surface (2a) of the main body (2) having the plastic coating (3), said third lateral edge (5c), in the operating condition of the main body, being substantially in proximity to or in contact with the fourth lateral edge (5d) of an adjacent lateral element (5), the second edge (5b) of each lateral element (5) defining, in the operating condition of the main body, a respective portion of the free edge (8) delimiting said compartment housing (7) and defining an opening (9) placed in the lower part of the covering element (1) itself; said main body (2) further comprising hooking elements (10) associated with at least two lateral elements (5) and configured to allow a removable engagement of the covering element (1) to food trays, characterized in that, in the operating condition of the main body (2), at least a portion of the lining (3) present on the connection element (6) and a portion of the lining (3) present on a side element (5) adjacent are in contact and constrained to each other, the bond between the cladding portions (3) of the side element (5) and the connection portion (6) allowing the main body (2) to remain stably in the operating condition, said at least a portion of the lining (3) present on the connection element (6) and said portion of the lining (3) present on a side element (5) adjacent to it in contact and constrained to each other belonging to the same first surface (2a) of the body (2). 2. Cover element according to claim 1, in which the connection element (6), in the operating condition, is folded inside the housing compartment (7) so as to define on the second surface (2b) at least one overlapping area between two respective faces, in particular not coated with film or polythene, and defining on the first surface (2a) at least a first and a second face (11a; 11b) having said coating (3), at least one of said faces, in the operating condition, being in contact with a covering portion (3) of an adjacent side element (5). 3. Cover element according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said lateral elements (5) comprise main elements (12) which, in the operating condition, face two by two, said lateral elements (5) also comprise corner elements (13) which, in the operating condition, are also facing two by two and interposed between adjacent main elements (12). 4. Cover element according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first edge (5a) has a first and a second end (14; 15) opposite each other, the first end (14) of a side element (5) being connected with the second end (5b) of a side element (5) subsequently arranged on the main body (2), and in which, before the deformation phase of the main body (2), the second edges (5b) of the side elements ( 5) are spaced apart while, in the operating condition, the second edges of the side elements (5) are connected to each other. 5. Cover element according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said connection elements (6) have a substantially triangular shape, said connection elements having a first and a second lateral edge (16; 17) which intersect at of a first end and connect to the main body (2), said connection elements (6) also presenting an extremal edge (18) which connects a second end of the first and second lateral edge opposite to the first end, in particular in wherein said first edge (16) of a connecting element (6) is connected with the fourth edge (5d) of a side element (5), called second lateral edge (17) of said connecting element (6) is connected with the third edge (5c) of a lateral element (5) subsequently disposed on the main body (2), the extremal edge (18) being connected to the second edge (5b) of lateral elements (5) subsequently of move onto the main body (2). 6. Cover element according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said hooking elements (10) are arranged substantially in correspondence with the second edge (5b) of each side element, said hooking elements (10) in the operating condition, emerging transversely with respect to the side element (5) to which they are associated according to an incoming direction with respect to the housing compartment, said coupling element (10) defining, with respect to the side element (5) to which it is associated, an undercut suitable for to allow the removable engagement of the cover element (1) to food trays. Cover element according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein said hooking elements (10) comprise main hooking elements (19) arranged on extremal portions of at least two main elements (12) at the second edge ( 5b) of said main elements (12), said hooking elements (10) further comprising auxiliary hooking elements (20) arranged on extremal portions of at least two corner elements (13) at the second edge (5b) of said corner elements (13), said main hooking elements (19) and / or said auxiliary hooking elements (20) optionally extending along the entire length of the side element (5) to which they are associated. 8. Cover element according to the preceding claim, in which said main coupling elements (19) have, according to a cross section with respect to the second edge (5b), a first portion (21) emerging transversely from said lateral element (5) and having a substantially elongated shape, said first portion (21) having a first end (22) connected to the side element (5), in particular connected to the second edge (5b) of the side element (5), and a second end (23), opposite to said first end (22) arranged substantially inside the housing compartment (7), said main coupling elements (19) also have, again according to a cross section with respect to the second edge (5b) , a second portion (24) having a substantially elongated shape which has a first and a second end (25; 26), the first end (25) of the second portion (24) being connected with the second ex tremor (23) of the first portion (21) while the second end (26) of the second portion (24) is substantially connected to the lateral element (5), said main coupling elements (19) also present, again according to a cross section with respect to the second edge (5b) a third portion (27) connected to the second portion (24) and emerging transversely with respect to the second portion (24) itself, the third portion (27) developing substantially along the side element (5 ) and having a contact surface (28) in cohesion with the internal surface (2a) of the main body (2). 9. Cover element according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said auxiliary coupling element (20) has an overlapping portion (29) connected with the second edge (5b) of the side element (5) to which it is associated and which extends substantially along the side element (5) itself, the overlapping portion (29) presenting a contact surface (30) in cohesion, at least in part, with the internal surface (2a) of the main body (2) and a free end spaced from said side element (5) and from the second edge (5b) and also configured to allow engagement by interference to a lower edge of a tray. 10. Cover element according to the preceding claim, in which each connection element (6), in the operating condition, is folded on the adjacent corner element (13), the contact surface (30) of the overlapping portion (29 ) being partly in contact with the internal surface (2a) of the main body (2) and partly with portions of the first and second face (11a; 11b) respectively of adjacent connection elements (6) folded on the same corner element (13 ) to which they are associated. 11. Process for manufacturing a cover element (1), in particular for food containers or trays comprising the following steps: > prepare a flat sheet of paper; > preparing, on at least one first face (2a) of the flat sheet, a film (3) in plastic material; > cutting said sheet to define a blank (45) delimited by an external perimeter; > deform said blank (45) to define a main body (2) defining a substantially convex housing compartment (7) whose internal surface is defined by the plastic film (3), said housing compartment (7) being designed, in operating conditions, to contain by covering products, for example food and defining a free edge (8) which in turn defines an opening (9) placed below the covering element (1), called film made of plastic material being configured to maintain and constrain each other, in the operating condition, respective portions of the same first face (2a) covered with film (3) of said covering element (1).