(19)
(11) EP 0 446 494 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
16.06.1993 Bulletin 1993/24

(21) Application number: 90200614.7

(22) Date of filing: 16.03.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5B65D 30/06, B65D 77/24

(54)

Improved package for horticultural products and the like

Verpackung für Gartenbauprodukte und dgl.

Emballage pour produits d'horticulture ou similaire


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

(43) Date of publication of application:
18.09.1991 Bulletin 1991/38

(73) Proprietor: Morales Gonzalez, Ramon
E-18006 Granada (ES)

(72) Inventor:
  • Morales Gonzalez, Ramon
    E-18006 Granada (ES)

(74) Representative: Schmitz, Yvon et al
GEVERS Patents, Brussels Airport Business Park, Holidaystraat 5
1831 Diegem
1831 Diegem (BE)


(56) References cited: : 
DE-A- 2 636 821
US-A- 3 040 966
FR-A- 2 193 745
US-A- 3 768 643
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to package for horticultural products or the like, having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

    [0002] Such a package is already known (s. US-A-3040966). This known package comprises extruded sleeve with rows of spaced slits, the unslit end of said sleeve being sealed to form a bag wherein the products can be introduced.

    [0003] According to the invention, a package is especially provided for the packing and presentation of horticultural products, such as cloves of garlic, strings of onions, oranges, lemons and similar.

    [0004] Such a package according to the invention results from claim 1.

    [0005] In general, the package according to the invention is made of an unitary body, of transparent nature, preferably of the type obtained from a tubular net, of arbitrary length, and of a sufficient cross-section to include two series of a same number of bulbs, in the longitudinal direction of the package, the latter being closed at both ends by units of bulb which are centered with respect to the series.

    [0006] The tubular net comprises closing fasteners for its ends, which generate the sufficient tension for the auto-adaptation of the envelope to the configuration of the contents, this envelope forming the unitary and rigid element of the assembly, all of this with the aid of one or more bands of rigid or semi-rigid nature, which are included in the package along the series of bulbs or similar. These resistant bands provided for giving the package the sufficient rigidity and consistency can have distinctive colours which reproduce the features of the flag of a community or nation, in order to make clear the origin of the product.

    [0007] Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a package according to the invention, showing the special arrangement of the contents thereof.

    [0008] Figure 2 is a lateral view of the package according to the invention.

    [0009] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2, according to line III-III of the latter.

    [0010] With reference to the drawings, one will appreciate a package of the type made from a portion of tubular net generally designated by 1, which allows to see the packaged product. This portion of net 1 contains two series of bulbs 2, tubers, fruits and the like, these series being ended at both extremities by units 2' and 2'' on which is made the closing of the ends of the tubular net, by means of a fastener 3 or similar, comprising a ribbon 4 as a handle.

    [0011] The net perfectly adapts itself to the geometry of the contents and thus acquires the shape of this contents ; in order to maintain this shape, two bands 5 and 6 are used as reinforcements, of a rigid or semi-rigid nature, for example in cardboard.

    [0012] These bands present printed colours which are indicative of the place of origin of the products, as for example colours of the flag of a determined territory, community or nation.

    [0013] Also, in order to more precisely indicate the origin and characteristics of the packaged product, a tag 7 is provided, on which the origin of the product, the weight, the advantageous features deriving from its use, etc., are indicated.

    [0014] Due to the transparent or semi-transparent nature of the package, the contents as well as the respective bands and tags are perfectly visible and identifiable by the consumer.


    Claims

    1. Package for horticultural products (2) or the like, comprising an envelope (1) of transparent or semi-transparent nature, preferably a portion of tubular net, closed at both ends and having an integrated elongated configuration of an enclosure, whereby located within the envelope are two series (2) of an equal number of units of a product, such as bulbs, tubers, fruits or the like, characterized in that within the envelope the two series (2) are ended at both extremities by a single unit of the same product (2', 2''), the package comprising a handle at one of its ends, and in that one or more bands (5, 6) of a rigid or semi-rigid material are located in the envelope along the whole length of the sides of the two series of products between the latter and the envelope, said bands (5, 6) presenting on their external visible face printed signs indicative of the place of origin of the products.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verpackung für Gartenbauprodukte (2) oder dgl. mit einer Hülle (1) von transparenter oder fast transparenter Beschaffenheit, vorzugsweise einem Bereich eines röhrenförmigen Netzes, das an beiden Enden geschlossen ist und einstückig eine verlängerte Umfassungsausrüstung aufweist, wobei in der Hülle zwei Serien (2) einer gleichen Anzahl von Produkteinheiten, wie Blumenzwiebeln, Knollen, Früchten oder dgl. angeordnet sind,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß in der Hülle die zwei Serien (2) an beiden Enden durch eine einzelne Einheit desselben Produktes (2',2'') beendet werden, die Verpackung an einem seiner Enden einen Handgriff aufweist, und daß ein oder mehr Bänder (5,6) aus einem festen oder halbfesten Material in der Hülle über die ganze Länge der Seiten von den zwei Serien von Produkten zwischen denselben und der Hülle angeordnet sind, wobei die Bänder (5,6) auf ihren äußeren sichtbaren Flächen gedruckte Zeichen aufweisen, die den Ursprungsort der Produkte anzeigen.
     


    Revendications

    1. Emballage pour des produits d'horticulture (2) ou des produits semblables, comprenant une enveloppe (1) de nature transparente ou semi-transparente, de préférence une partie d'un filet tubulaire, fermée aux deux extrémités et ayant une configuration allongée intégrée d'une enceinte, deux séries (2) d'un nombre égal d'unités d'un produit, tel que des bulbes, des tubercules, des fruits ou des produits analogues, étant situées à l'intérieur de l'enveloppe, caractérisé en ce qu'à l'intérieur de l'enveloppe les deux séries (2) sont terminées aux deux extrémités par une unité unique du même produit (2', 2''), l'emballage comprenant une poignée à une de ses extrémités, et en ce qu'une ou plusieurs bandes (5, 6) en une matière rigide ou semi-rigide sont situées dans l'enveloppe le long de la totalité de la longueur des côtés des deux séries de produits entre ces derniers et l'enveloppe, ces bandes (5, 6) présentant sur leur face visible externe des signes imprimés indicateurs du lieu d'origine des produits.
     




    Drawing