Package for loose articles, in particular food products

Abstract

 A package includes a wrapping (1) made of a piece of tubular net that contains a batch quantity of products and which is closed at both extremities by staple means (2), that tie the wrapping (1) in bows. A strip (3), made of flexible material and folded longitudinally, is fastened externally to the tubular wrapping extremities by means of the same staples (2). The strip (3) can be unfolded so as to form a kind of bag (11) around the wrapping (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging of products, in particular food products, such as shellfish and the like.

[0002] Various food products, e.g. those belonging to the shellfish group, such as mussels, clams and others, are usually closed and put on sale in sealed packages.

[0003] Therefore, the final purchaser is given a guaranteed origin and packaging date of the shellfish, while other commercial information and information facts required by law (so-called sanitary certification label) are printed on a suitable support, that form an integral part of the sealed package.

[0004] Such a package is formed by means of e.g. a wrapping, made of a piece of tubular net, mainly of plastic material, that is closed on both extremities by metallic staples, thus giving form to corresponding tie-bows in the tubular net.

[0005] Sometimes, a slack strap of plastic material or synthetic cloth is also fastened by the staples in order to facilitate picking up and transport of the package.

[0006] The strap can also include a product and producer identifying notice, as well as obligatory information.

[0007] The tubular wrapping, if well closed, guarantees good preservation of the shellfish, which at purchase, are arranged tight and therefore do not open.

[0008] In fact, it is to be pointed out that the valves opening makes the liquid contained therein go out and consequently, the shellfish die rapidly.

[0009] This is a considerable disadvantage for obvious quality decline of the packaged product, since it is absolutely necessary for the shellfish to be alive at the purchase moment.

[0010] Moreover, the product packaged in a tubular net can be well seen.

[0011] Further ways of packaging of the above mentioned articles are known.

[0012] For instance, measured quantities of the product are put into tubs, which are made of wood or other suitable material and whose bottom and walls are suitably shaped and connected to one another by bridges of metallic thread.

[0013] In order to keep tight the product inside the tub, a cover is put over it and the tub is wrapped tightly with one or more strips of plastic material.

[0014] Another known wrapping is made of a tubular piece of plastic perforated material, suitably closed at the ends after the product had been introduced.

[0015] The articles packaged in the above described way, usually are not put on the counter for direct access of the customers, but are brought when asked by the personnel, who wrap the package in a suitable protective bag so as to avoid dispersion of water in the shop and other similar disadvantages.

[0016] This results in a considerable limit of the above mentioned products sale in stores of large-scale distribution, such as supermarkets, where, as it is well known, the articles are usually put on counters accessible to consumers and can be taken freely.

[0017] The object of the present invention is to provide a package, in which products to be protected, such as shellfish and others, are directly accessible to customers and can be taken freely.

[0018] The above mentioned objects are achieved in accordance with the contents of the claims.

[0019] The characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following description with specific reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a schematic lateral view of manufacturing of a particular of the package being the subject of the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of this particular of the package;
• Figure 3 shows a different embodiment of the same particular of the package;
• Figure 4 shows a package according to the invention, in a completely folded configuration;
• Figures 4 to 8 show different unfolding steps of the subject package in a perspective view;
• Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the above mentioned different embodiment of the package.

[0020] With reference to the above described figures, numeral 1 indicates a wrapping made of a piece of tubular net, that contains a measured quantity of articles, in particular food products such as shellfish and the like.

[0021] The wrapping 1 is closed on both ends by metallic staples 2, that form corresponding tie-bows of this tubular wrapping 1.

[0022] It is understood that the present description, together with the figures, refers to a wrapping 1 made of tubular net only as example.

[0023] This wrapping 1 could be made also according to other known procedures, like the above mentioned tubs, with sheets or tubular pieces of perforated plastic material or any other suitable material.

[0024] Also the way of closing the wrapping 1 merely relates to the described example and could be different in relation to different types of wrapping, since the subject of the present invention does not pertain to the above mentioned closing ways. A strip 3, made of flexible, preferably plastic and impermeable material, is fastened externally to the tubular wrapping 1.

[0025] The strip 3 is bellows-folded longitudinally.

[0026] The strip 3 is fastened to the above mentioned ends of the tubular wrapping 1 by means of the staples 2 and can be unfolded so as to envelop this tubular wrapping 1.

[0027] More precisely, as schematically shown in Fig. 1, the strip 3 can be obtained from e.g. a thin sheet 4 of impermeable material, that while unwinding from a roll 5, is made to pass through folders 6,7 designed to form opposite folds 8 longitudinally to the sheet 4.

[0028] The sheet 4, provided with the folds 8, moves in the direction indicated with the arrow A, between a pair of rollers 9, which close bellows-like the sheet 4.

[0029] At this point, this folded sheet 4 can be directly connected to the relative wrapping 1, so as to be fastened thereto and cut along with it during the introduction of products to be packaged.

[0030] Otherwise, suitable cutters, connected with the folders 6,7, not shown, cut the bellows-like folded sheet 4 at regular distances, so as to obtain single strips 3, as can be seen in a more detailed way in Figure 2.

[0031] When the products are packaged, the strip 3 is fastened to the wrapping 1 in a folded form, connecting the ends of the strip 3 to the corresponding ends of the wrapping 1 by traditional staples 2 (Fig. 4).

[0032] In this folded form, the strip 3 facilitates picking up and transport of the package; moreover, it is possible to print, on a visible side of the strip 3, information required by law relative to the packaging, as well as other commercial information, as e.g. the producer trademark and name.

[0033] It is also possible to print on the strip 3 other coded information, e.g. with bar code.

[0034] This makes the package particularly suitable to be used in places, where cash operations are highly automated, such as supermarkets.

[0035] When the package is taken from the counter, the strip 3 is unfolded by drawing lateral edges in opposite sides V,W, as seen in Figure 5.

[0036] This operation can be performed by the consumers themselves.

[0037] Figures 6 and 7 clearly illustrate the gradual unfolding of the strip 3 in succession.

[0038] When the folded strip 3 is completely unfolded, the wrapping 1 is enveloped in a kind of bag 11, which hermetically closes and protects the package (Figure 8).

[0039] In another embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 3 and 9, the strip 3 is suitably equipped with a pair of handles 10, preferably manufactured by moulding of plastic material.

[0040] The handles 10 are fastened on opposite sides of the strip 3 in central position, by e.g. heat-welding.

[0041] It is to be noted that the above described and illustrated form of the handles 10 is only an example.

[0042] More generally, these handles could be made directly in the strip 3, in form of openings made near the external edges of the strip, or made in another suitable way.

[0043] According to the above mentioned alternative embodiment, before the package closure, the handles 10 are put together so as to facilitate picking up and transport of the package.

[0044] The handles 10 can be provided, in known way, with reciprocal snap fastening means organs, e.g. of pressure operated type.

[0045] Therefore, thanks to the illustrated package the products to be protected are ready accessible to the consumer and can be freely picked up so as to be transported prevented from leakage of liquid.

[0046] Besides hermetic enveloping the package, thus avoiding liquids and other leakage, the protective bag 11 allows an easier and more hygienic transport of the food products or other articles.

[0047] The described case relates specifically, for example, to food articles like shellfish, yet the package can be advantageously used for a great variety of products e.g. frozen food and the like.

[0048] In the latter case, the protective bag 11 is preferably made of a material of low heat conductivity, so as to retard the product thawing out.

[0049] If the wrapping 1 is different from the above described piece of tubular net, the strip 3 can be fastened in a different way.

[0050] For instance, if the wrapping 1 is formed by the above mentioned tub of wood or similar material, the strip 3 can be fastened to two opposite walls of the tub by suitable staples.

Claims

1. A package for loose articles, particularly for food products, includes at least one wrapping (1) that contains a batched quantity of articles and which is closed by closing means (2), characterised in that said wrapping (1) features, externally connected thereto, protection means (3), fastened on opposite ends of said wrapping (1) and normally arranged in a folded position, in which said wrapping (1) is accessible from outside, said protection means being then unfolded so as to form a kind of bag (11) around the same wrapping (1) for avoiding or limiting wrapping (1) interactions with external environment.

2. The package, according to claim 1, characterised in that said protection means (3) include a strip of flexible material, which is folded longitudinally and which can be unfolded so as to form a kind of bag (11) around the wrapping (1).

3. The package, according to claim 2, characterised in that said strip (3) is bellows-folded longitudinally.

4. The package, according to claim 2, characterised in that said strip (3) is obtained from a thin sheet (4) of impermeable material.

5. The package, according to claim 2, characterised in that said strip (3) is provided with a pair of handles (10), placed at its opposite ends in a substantially central position, destined to be joined when the same strip (3) is unfolded to form the bag (11).

6. The package, according to claim 2, characterised in that said strip (3) bears information for identifying said product particular characteristics, comprised commercial information and sanitary certification label as required by law.

7. The package, according to claim 2, characterised in that said strip (3) is made of material of low heat conductivity.

Drawing