Container for packaging and displaying products and method for forming it

Abstract

 A container (1) for packaging and displaying products, comprising a sheet-like element that can be separated detachably into at least two parts, a first part being a tray (3) with a base (2) and lateral protrusions (7), a second part being a lid (8) with lateral containment elements (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a container for packaging and displaying products and to a method for forming it.

[0002] Containers for packaging and displaying food products, cosmetic products, pharmaceutical products, et cetera are known which are normally made of paper and cardboard and comprise two open die-cut elements.

[0003] The first die-cut element constitutes the base of the container, is known as tray and is provided with two lateral protrusions and two central tabs designed to contain the product.

[0004] This base is originally associated with an upper die-cut element, which constitutes the packaging of the container for facilitating its transport and shipping.

[0005] Containers of this type are produced in two production cycles: one is aimed at packaging the base or tray and at inserting the packages inside it, and the other one relates to closing the container with the upper open die-cut element, which is of course removed when the products are to be displayed.

[0006] The provision of this container therefore entails a very complicated production cycle, with two sub-cycles which overlap when the box is to be closed.

[0007] In addition to logistical problems, all this also entails investment in machinery needed to provide the lower open die-cut element, to insert the products into it, to provide the upper open die-cut element, and to mate the two die-cut elements in order to close the container by means of a lidding machine.

[0008] One problem linked to the provision and closure of such container relates to production times, which cannot be competitive in view of what has been said.

[0009] Moreover, the combination of the two sub-cycles is not always straightforward and simple, also entailing problems in terms of space as well as in terms of timing of the various production steps.

[0010] The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks noted above in known types of containers for packaging and displaying products, which makes it possible to simplify and speed up the packaging of products in the box.

[0011] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a container for packaging and displaying products and a method for forming it which makes it possible to reduce the costs for the production of the container and the packaging of the packages to be displayed.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a container for packaging and displaying products that is of the type with a tray and a lid.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a container for packaging and displaying products by means that are easily commercially available and by using commonly available materials, so that the device is economically competitive.

[0014] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a container for packaging and displaying products, according to the invention, which comprises a sheet-like element, characterized in that said sheet-like element can be separated detachably into at least two parts.

[0015] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the container for packaging and displaying products and of its forming method, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a first embodiment of a container in the open configuration;

Figure 2 is a view of the step for folding of the lateral containment elements for product insertion;

Figure 3 is a view of the step for folding the upper lid and sealing it by means of the connecting element;

Figure 4 is a view of the step for folding the first and second external flaps of the box;

Figure 5 is a view of the step for folding the protruding flaps and the external flaps of the box;

Figure 6 is a view of the separation of the lateral containment elements from the base or tray of the container;

Figure 7 is a view of a second embodiment of the container without external flaps and closure flaps, provided with other means for detachable association, in the closed configuration;

Figure 8 is a view of a third embodiment of the container without closure flaps, provided with other means for detachable association, in the closed configuration;

Figure 9 is a view of a fourth embodiment of the container, provided with other detachable association means, in the open configuration and provided with lateral protrusions that have a different shape than the ones shown in Figure 1.

[0016] With reference to the figures, a container for packaging and displaying products according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a sheet-like element.

[0017] One particularity of the container is that the sheet-like element comprises at least two parts, one of which is superimposed at least partially on the other and which can be mutually detachably separated.

[0018] Advantageously, the first of these two parts comprises a tray 3, which has a base 2 which is connected, at two mutually opposite flaps thereof, to at least two lateral protrusions 7.

[0019] Advantageously, each one of these lateral protrusions 7 has means 5 for detachable association with two lateral containment elements 4.

[0020] These removable association means 5 can for example consist of spots of glue (see Figures 1-6) or by a button that can be mated with a slot

[0021] (see Figures 7, 8 and 9).

[0022] Preferably, at least one of the two lateral containment elements 4 is connected to an upper lid 8. This connection is performed at the flap opposite to the position of the lateral protrusions 7.

[0023] Advantageously, the sheet-like element comprises at least one sealing element 10 for the container.

[0024] One embodiment provides for the connection of the element 10 to the upper lid 8; another embodiment can have the sealing element 10 connected to one of the containment elements 4. It is also possible to provide two sealing elements 10, for example one connected to the upper lid 8 and the other one connected to the element 4 to be mated to the lid 8.

[0025] Normally, the base 2 has two front and rear containment protrusions 12, which are arranged mutually opposite at the two sides that are adjacent to the lateral protrusions 7.

[0026] For facilitating the closure of the box, there is a pair of lateral lugs 11 connected to each one of the lateral protrusions 7.

[0027] Each one of the containment elements 4, connected to the base 2, can have a pair of mutually opposite external flaps 6, which are connected to the elements 4 on the two sides that are adjacent to the base 2.

[0028] The lid 8, which as mentioned is connected to one of the two lateral containment elements 4, can comprise a pair of mutually opposite closure flaps 9, which are arranged on the sides that are adjacent to the element 4.

[0029] For facilitating the folding of each individual part of the die-cut element (or die-cut elements), a series of creases has been provided:

• a first crease 21 in the juncture between the base 2 and the lateral containment elements 4;
• a second crease 22 between the lateral protrusions 7 and the lugs 11;
• a third crease 23 between the base 2 and the containment protrusions 12;
• a fourth crease 24 between the element 4 and the upper lid 8;
• a fifth crease 25 in the juncture between the closure flaps 9 and the lid 8;
• a sixth crease 26 between the external flaps 6 and the containment elements 4;
• a seventh crease 27 between the sealing element 10 and the element 4 to which it is connected (or between the element 10 itself and the upper lid 8 in the solution shown in Figure 9).

[0030] The method for forming a container for packaging and displaying products 1 has a particularity that consists in folding two lateral containment elements 4 onto a base 2 of a sheet-like element which is detachably associated therewith, so as to provide a substantially U-shaped configuration of the container, in introducing the products to be packaged and displayed by supporting them on the base 2, in folding the upper lid 8, which is connected to at least one of these two lateral containment elements 4, in sealing the container by means of a sealing element 10 which is connected to the sheet-like element.

[0031] Advantageously, there is a removable separation of at least two parts of the container formed by the folding of the sheet-like element.

[0032] Preferably, said detachable separation consists in detaching the two lateral containment elements 4 from the lateral protrusions 7 connected to mutually opposite edges of the base 2: in this manner it is possible to display the products inserted within the container 1.

[0033] The operations of folding the lateral containment elements 4, the lid 8, the flaps 6, 9 and 12, the pair of lugs 11 and the other components occur along the profiles formed by the creases 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.

[0034] Normally, simultaneously with the folding of the outer flaps, folding of the protruding flaps also takes place and consists in folding the flap 12 along the crease 23 and subsequently the pair of lugs 11 along the creases 22.

[0035] From what has been described above it is therefore evident that the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that a container for packaging and displaying products and a method for forming it are provided which allows quicker packaging and packing of the products inside the box, simplifying its closure.

[0036] In particular, connecting the base or tray to the lateral containment elements and to the lid makes it possible to have a single linear production cycle, allowing elimination of the lidding machine.

[0037] Another advantage of the invention is that the elimination of a machine such as the lidding machine and the acceleration and simplification of the steps for packaging the container allow a considerable reduction in production costs.

[0038] Another advantage of the container according to the invention allows packaging of the products inside the container in a more compact space, ensuring better logistics and limiting production costs.

[0039] Another advantage of the container for packaging and displaying products is that it achieves packaging of the products in a type of package that the market demands strongly, allowing cheaper, faster and more easily manageable production.

[0040] Another advantage of the invention is that it allows the user to store the tray and the lid that constitute the container by using a single reference instead of two.

[0041] Moreover, the use of easily commercially available means and the use of common materials make the device even more competitive.

[0042] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0043] All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0044] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements as long as they are compatible with the constructive aim.

[0045] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. AR2009A000020, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

[0046] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A container (1) for packaging and displaying products, comprising a sheet-like element, characterized in that said sheet-like element can be separated detachably into at least two parts.

2. The container for packaging and displaying products according to claim 1, characterized in that a first part of said at least two parts comprises a tray (3) provided with a base (2) connected, at two mutually opposite flaps thereof, to at least two lateral protrusions (7).

3. The container for packaging and displaying products according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said at least two lateral protrusions (7) comprises means for detachable association (5) with two lateral containment elements (4).

4. The container for packaging and displaying products according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said two lateral containment elements (4) is connected to an upper lid (8) at its opposite flap with respect to the connection to said base (2).

5. The container for packaging and displaying products according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sheet-like element comprises at least one sealing element (10) for the container, which is connected to said upper lid (8).

6. The container for packaging and displaying products according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sheet-like element comprises at least one sealing element (10) for the container, which is connected to at least one of said two lateral containment elements (4).

7. A method for forming a container for packaging and displaying products, characterized in that it comprises the steps of folding two lateral containment elements (4) on a base (2) which is associated detachably therewith of a sheet-like element, so as to provide a substantially U-shaped configuration of the container, inserting the products to be packaged and displayed by supporting them on said base (2), folding an upper lid (8) which is connected to at least one of said two lateral containment elements (4), and sealing the container by means of a sealing element (10) which is connected to said sheet-like element.

8. The forming method according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises the step of detachably separating at least two parts of the formed container.

9. The forming method according to claim 8, characterized in that said separationing step consists in detaching said two lateral containment elements (4) from lateral protrusions (7) which are connected to mutually opposite edges of said base (2).

Amended claims

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.

1. A container (1) for packaging and displaying products, comprising a sheet-like element that can be separated detachably into at least two parts, a first part of said at least two parts comprising a tray (3) provided with a base (2) connected, at two mutually opposite flaps thereof, to at least two lateral protrusions (7), a second part of said at least two parts comprising an upper lid (8) connected to two lateral containment elements (4), characterized in that, in the open flat configuration of said sheet-like element, each one of said at least two lateral protrusions (7) comprising means for detachable association (5) with a respective one of said two lateral containment elements (4), and, also in the open flat configuration of said sheet-like element, a first one of said two lateral containment elements (4) being connected to said upper lid (8) at its opposite flap with respect to the connection to said base (2), and said sheet-like element comprising at least one sealing element (10) for the container, which is connected to said upper lid (8) and/or to a second one of said two lateral containment elements (4) for connecting said second one of said two lateral containment elements (4) to said upper lid (8) in the closed configuration of said sheet-like element forming said container.

2. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that said tray (3) further comprises front and rear containment protrusions (12) arranged on said base (2) mutually opposite at the two sides that are adjacent to said lateral protrusions (7), and a pair of lateral lugs (11) connected to each one of said lateral protrusions (7).

3. The container according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said two lateral containment elements (4) has a pair of mutually oposite external flaps (6).

4. The container according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first part further comprises a pair of mutually opposite closure flaps (9) of said upper lid (8).

5. The container according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detachable association means (5) consist of spots of glue.

6. The container according to any one or more of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that said detachable association means (5) consist of a button that can be mated with a slot.

7. A method for forming a container according to any one or more of the preceding claims 1-6, comprising the steps of folding said two lateral containment elements (4) on said base (2) which is associated detachably therewith of said sheet-like element, so as to provide a substantially U-shaped configuration of the container, inserting the products to be packaged and displayed by supporting them on said base (2), folding said upper lid (8) which is connected to said one of said two lateral containment elements (4), and sealing the container by means of a said sealing element (10).

8. The forming method according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises the step of detachably separating said at least two parts of the formed container.

9. The forming method according to claim 8, characterized in that said separating step consists in detaching said two lateral containment elements (4) from said lateral protrusions (7) which are connected to mutually opposite edges of said base (2).

Drawing