Packaging for confectionery products

Abstract

 A box-type package with a lid that opens like a casket, designed to contain foodstuff products, in particular confectionery products,
the package comprising:
- a paperboard casing (2) defining a base (4) and a lid (6) connected to the base (4) so as to be able to oscillate between a position of opening and a position of closing of the package; and
- a support (8) made of polymeric material defining a plurality of cells designed to receive the products, which is carried by the base (4);

the package being characterized in that the base of the casing comprises a bottom (41) and at least one tab (42), which can be folded with respect to the bottom, and in that the support (8), which is set on the aforesaid bottom, comprises at the bottom a slot (81) within which the at least one tab (42) is inserted, for connecting the support to the casing in a configuration in which the support defines outer side walls of the container of the box-like package.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a box-type package with a lid that opens like a casket, designed to contain foodstuff products, in particular confectionery products such as for example chocolates, pralines, etc., said package comprising:

• a paperboard casing defining a base and a lid connected to said base so as to be able to oscillate between a position of opening and a position of closing of the package; and
• a support made of polymeric material defining a plurality of cells designed to receive said products, which is carried by the base of said casing.

[0002] In known packages of the type referred to above the casing itself forms a box and is prearranged for receiving within it the support made of polymeric material. Said configuration poses, however, non-negligible production problems. For example, it is of fundamental importance that the space inside the box should be of a size exactly corresponding to the dimensions in plan view of the support in order to prevent anti-aesthetic empty spaces between the internal walls of the box and the support.

[0003] In this context, the object of the present invention is to provide a package that will be constructionally simpler than the ones known in the art, and that will guarantee in any case an optimal aesthetic result, at the same time with a saving of paper material.

[0004] The object referred to above is achieved by a package having the characteristics of Claim 1.

[0005] The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the invention.

[0006] The invention will now be described purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the annexed representations, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the package described herein;
• Figure 2 illustrates the package of Figure 1 in the open condition;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the casing of the package of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is an exploded view of the package of Figure 1 and Figure 4A is cross-sectional view of a detail of the container of the box of Figure 1; and
• Figure 5 is a perspective view from beneath of the support of the package of Figure 1.

[0007] In the ensuing description, various specific details are illustrated aimed at providing an in-depth understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be obtained without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, or materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations not are illustrated or described in detail so that the various aspects of the embodiment will not be obscured.

[0008] The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and hence do not define the sphere of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

[0009] With reference to the figures, designated by 10 is a box-like package with a lid that opens like a casket, designed to contain a plurality of foodstuff products, in particular confectionery products such as, for example, chocolates, pralines, biscuits, etc.

[0010] The package 10 comprises, in general, a paperboard casing 2, defining a base 4, and a lid 6, connected to the base 4 so as to be able to oscillate between a position of closing and a position of opening of the package. The package 10 further comprises a support 8 made of polymeric material, for example PET acetate or else PVC acetate or equivalent materials that can be formed via an operation of thermoforming or injection moulding, which defines a plurality of cells 8' designed to receive each a respective product.

[0011] As has already been said at the start, in packages of the known art the paperboard casing forms both the container and the lid of the box, and the polymer support is set inside the container. Instead, according to an important characteristic of the package described herein, the casing 2 does not form in itself a box, but it is only the package itself as a whole that forms the box, after the casing 2 and the support 8 have been assembled together. In particular, in the package described herein, the base 4 comprises a bottom 41 and at least one tab 42, which can be folded with respect to the bottom, and the support 8, which is set on the bottom 41, has at the bottom a gap or slot 81 within which the tab 42 is inserted so as to anchor the support to the casing (and vice versa) in a configuration in which the support 8 defines outer side walls of the container of the package, i.e., at least top portions of the outer side walls of the container of the package. In various preferred embodiments, the support 8 comprises a single moulded body defining a tray portion 82, on which the cells 8' are identified, and a side wall 83 that delimits the top surface of the tray portion laterally. The side wall is provided with an edge folded back; i.e., it has a flap 85 that is folded on the outside downwards, which sets itself opposed and substantially parallel to the non-folded part of the wall 83, thus forming the aforesaid slot 81. In various particularly preferred embodiments, as in the one illustrated, the wall 83 of the support 8 surrounds the tray portion 82, thus defining a slot 81 that extends along the entire perimeter of the support 8.

[0012] In various particularly preferred embodiments, as in the one illustrated, the bottom 41 has a shape in plan view corresponding to that of the support 8 and a plurality of tabs 42 inserted in the slot 81 (see Figure 4). In various embodiments, as in the one illustrated, the support 8 and the bottom 41 are polygonal in plan view, for example rectangular, square, etc. Rotatably connected to one side of the bottom 41, via a segment 45, is the lid 6, whilst connected to each of the other sides is a tab 42.

[0013] In the light of the foregoing, it is evident that in the package described herein it is basically the support 8 that defines the container of the box, whereas the casing 2 defines only the lid 6 and the means of anchorage of the casing to the support. In this connection, it is to be noted that the bottom 41 and the tabs 42 guarantee a simple and stable connection to the support 8, which is preferably ensured via application of adhesive material, for example at least one spot of glue, between the outer side of the bottom of the cells 8' and the bottom 41.

[0014] The flap 85 can have a height that varies with respect to the tabs 42 so as to cover said tabs completely or only in part (as in the preferred embodiment illustrated), in the latter case it being envisaged that, in its position of closing of the package, the lid 6 covers the remaining visible part of the tabs with its side edges.

[0015] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what has been illustrated herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the annexed claims. For example, the support 8 may also not come into contact with the bottom 41 and be supported by just the tabs 42. Moreover, the general shape of the package may be different from the one illustrated in the figures, for example cylindrical.

Claims

1. A box-type package with a lid that opens like a casket, designed to contain foodstuff products, in particular confectionery products,
said package comprising:

- a paperboard casing (2) defining a base (4) and a lid (6) connected to said base (4) so as to be able to oscillate between a position of opening and a position of closing of said package; and

- a support (8) made of polymeric material defining a plurality of cells designed to receive said products, which is carried by said base (4);

said package being characterized in that said base of said casing comprises a bottom (41) and at least one tab (42), which can be folded with respect to said bottom, and in that said support (8), which is set on said bottom (41), comprises at the bottom a slot (81), within which said at least one tab (42) is inserted, for connecting said support to said casing in a configuration in which said support defines outer side walls of the container of said box-like package.

2. The package according to Claim 1, wherein said support comprises a tray portion (82), identified on which are said cells (8'), and a side wall (83) that delimits said tray portion laterally, said side wall having a flap (85) folded out downwards so as to form said slot.

3. The package according to Claim 2, wherein said side wall (83) delimits the top surface of said tray portion, and said flap (85) is folded so as to set itself opposed to the non-folded part of said wall (83).

4. The package according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein said wall (83) surrounds said tray portion (82) in such a way that said slot (81) extends along the entire perimeter of said support (8).

5. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom (41) has a plurality of foldable tabs (42) inserted in said slot (81).

6. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom (41) has a shape in plan view corresponding to that of said support (8).

7. The package according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said support (8) and said bottom (41) have a polygonal shape in plan view, at one side of said bottom (41) there being rotatably connected said lid (6), whilst one of said at least one tab (42) is connected to each of the other sides of said bottom.

8. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support is formed in a single body obtained by thermoforming or injection moulding.

9. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said casing is formed by a single paperboard panel.

10. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support (8) is anchored to said bottom (41) via application of at least one spot of glue or other adhesive material.

Drawing