Punnet for packaging fruit and vegetable articles or the like

Abstract

 The object of the invention is a punnet meant for packaging, for example, fruit and vegetable articles, or any other kind of articles. The invention aims to make as simply and economically as possible, a punnet provided with a higher strength against any punnet-deforming pressure, applied particularly on the punnet bottom area. The invention proposes a punnet fitted with side-by-side stiffening ribs (103), each extending about the connection edge (4) between the sidewalls (2) and the bottom (5) of punnet (1).

Description

[0001] The object of the invention is a punnet meant for packaging, for example, fruit and vegetable articles, or any other kind of articles, which is specifically made of plastics material.

[0002] The invention aims to provide such a punnet of plastics material that will be capable to afford a higher stiffness and a greater strength particularly against a punnet-deforming pressure being applied on its bottom area, by using very simple and low-cost constructional means.

[0003] The invention attains this object by the provision of a plastics material punnet fitted with a plurality of side-by-side stiffening ribs, each extending about the connection eage between the punnet sidewalls and the punnet bottom, and being meant particularly for stiffening the punnet bottom.

[0004] These stiffening ribs are made in any suitable manner, of one piece with the punnet itself, so that no separate manufacturing steps are required for them. Generally speaking, and particularly in the instance of punnets formed from a foil of plastics material, such as PVC, polypropylene, or the like, the said stiffening ribs are directly made as a punnet is being molded, by having the punnet molds accordingly shaped, which avoids any further expenditure for the used material.

[0005] The stiffening ribs that extend about the edge connecting the punnet sidewalls to the punnet bottom, proved to be highly efficient, in that a punnet is thus imparted a considerable stiffness and strength particularly against a punnet-deforming pressure being applied on the punnet bottom area. This advantageously avoids that the goods accomodated in the punnets may become damaged as the goods are being, for example, handled or carried.

[0006] Further features of the invention are the subject of the dependant claims.

[0007] The features of the invention and the advantanges arising therefrom will more clearly appear from the following specification of one preferred embodiment thereof, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the punnet according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that in Figure 1, showing the punnet in its upturned position.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the punnet shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that in Figure 2, showing a detail in an enlarged scale of the punnet according to the invention.

[0008] In the Figures a punnet is shown, designated as a whole by reference numeral 1, which is specifically made by molding a foil of plastics material, such as PVC, polypropylene, or the like.

[0009] The punnet 1 has its sidewalls 2 fitted with a plurality of side-by-side stiffening ribs 3 extending in a substantially vertical direction from the punnet upper part to the punnet bottom. The stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections of the stiffening ribs 3, extend about the connection edge 4 between the punnet sidewalls 2 and the punnet bottom 5. The stiffening ribs 3 provided in punnet 1, and the stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections thereof, are made of one piece with the adjacent portions of punnet 1 and, more particularly, these stiffening ribs are obtained by having the plastics material foil for a punnet properly bent out. The stiffening ribs 3 are triangular in shape, and are tapered toward the stiffening ribs 103 substantially having an unvarying width.

[0010] According to another feature of punnet 1, the connection edge 4 between the punnet sidewalls 2 and the punnet bottom 5 has a rounded shape. This turns to advantage not only from the manufacturing standpoint, but also in that longer stiffening ribs 103 can be made.

[0011] By a respective step-like means 203, the stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections of the stiffening ribs 3, are respectively connected to the stiffening ribs 3 for stiffening the associated sidewalls 2 of punnet 1. The step-like means 203 are formed in the bottom region of the punnet sidewalls 2, near to the location at which the sidewalls 2 are attached to the rounded connection edge 4. By the provision of the step-like means 203 the stiffening ribs 3 are further bent out, which contributes to increase the stiffening action on the rounded connection edge 4 between the bottom 5 and the sidewalls of punnet 1. As it clearly appears in the Figures, and particularly in Figure 4, this also allows to have the stiffening ribs 3 for stiffening the associated sidewalls 2 of punnet 1, as well as the stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections thereof, more easily made with a different shape in cross-section. In this instance, the stiffening ribs 3 associated with the punnet sidewalls 2, are actually square in cross-section, and the stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections thereof, have a rounded shape.

[0012] According to a further feature of the invention, as seen in Figures 2 to 4, the punnet bottom 5 is provided with a part 6 forming a downwardly projecting member thereon. More particularly, the said downwardly projecting member 6 is in form of a continuous annular element extending over the whole perimetric portion of the bottom 5 of punnet 1, at a slightly retracted position relative to the rounded connection edge 4, which element is formed with transverse members 106 for linking the opposite long sides of punnet 1 to each other. The stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections of the stiffening ribs 3, are connected substantially perpendicularly to a side edge of the downwardly projecting, continuous annular member 6 extending from the punnet bottom 5, so as to be flush with the bearing bottom side of said member 6.

[0013] As an alternative to the shown embodiment, the stiffening ribs 103 for stiffening the connection edge 4, may, for example, form the portions on the said edge 4, of continuous stiffening ribs starting from the upper part of one sidewall 2 of punnet 1, and extending through the punnet bottom 5, to the upper part of the opposite sidewall of punnet 1. Otherwise, the said stiffening ribs 103 may form the end sections of stiffening ribs extending from side to side over the punnet bottom 5.

Claims

1. A punnet, characterized by being fitted with a plurality of side-by-side stiffening ribs (103), each extending in the area of the punnet bottom (5), about the connection edge (4) between the sidewalls (2) and the bottom (5) of punnet (1).

2. The punnet according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening ribs (103) are connected to a side edge of a downwardly projecting member (6) extending from the bottom (5) of punnet (1).

3. The punnet according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the stiffening ribs (103) form the lower end sections of the stiffening ribs (3) for stiffening the sidewalls (2) of punnet (1).

4. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that by step-like means (203) the stiffening ribs (103) are respectively connected to the stiffening ribs (3) for stiffening the punnet sidewalls (2).

5. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffening ribs (3) for stiffening the punnet sidewalls (2), are triangular in shape and are substantially directed vertically, the said stiffening ribs (3) being tapered from their upper ends lying near to the border of punnet (1), toward the stiffening ribs (103) forming the lower end sections thereof, and extending about the connection edge (4).

6. The punnet according to claim 5, characterized in that the stiffening ribs (103) that are meant for stiffening the connection edge (4), substantially have an unvarying shape in cross-section.

7. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffening ribs (3) for stiffening the punnet sidewalls (2), are square in cross-section, and the stiffening ribs (103) for stiffening the connection edge (4), may be differently shaped in cross-section, and may have a rounded shape.

8. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection edge (4) between the punnet sidewalls (2) and the punnet bottom (5), is given a rounded shape.

9. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the downwardly projecting member (6) extending from the punnet bottom (5), is in form of a continuous annular element, and extends over the whole perimetric portion of bottom (5) which is associated with the connection edge (4), at a slightly retracted position relative to the said edge (4), the stiffening ribs (103) for stiffening the connection edge (4) extending perpendicularly to the said downwardly projecting, continuous annular member (6), so as to be flush with the bearing lower side thereof.

10. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that this punnet is formed from a thin sheet of any suitable material, particularly from a foil of plastics material, such as PVC, polypropylene, or the like, and the stiffening ribs (103), as well as the stiffening ribs (3) and the downwardly projecting member (6) extending from the bottom (5) of punnet (1), are made of one piece therewith, as the foil-molding process is being carried out.

Drawing