Tray for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a tray (10,10',10'',10''') for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape in which tabs (12) are die-cut, which tabs (12) can be lifted by means of a simple fold, being located above the products to be packaged so that they support the weight of other trays. The invention also comprises a packaging comprising at least one of these trays.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of systems for packaging ice creams, for example to that of trays or levels which are packaged in cardboard boxes in a stackable manner. The present invention specifically relates to a tray for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape such as cans, glasses, tubs and cones for ice creams.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Boxes are currently packaged in levels or trays and in each of them six lines of cones are placed and elongated U-shaped separating cardboards are placed between them. The function of these cardboards is to support the weight of the upper trays.

[0003] Different approaches are known in the art, such as document FR2744697 (A1) which describes a tray consisting of a single cardboard panel cut to obtain a base and four raised walls. Tongues are cut from the base and folded upwards against the side walls to form ventilation holes, spacers for stacked trays or reinforcements of the walls. The tongues are cut from the panels forming the end walls and corner flaps, the tongues are folded upwards to form corner reinforcements which are coupled with the corner holes of a tray stacked on top of same.

[0004] Document ES0137926U is also known, which describes an improved package, of the type of those formed by a cover and a bottom, essentially characterized by the fact that said cover in the form of a tray comprises a series of holes arranged in rows and columns, for the location of the containers to be packaged, said holes, preferably those arranged at the ends, further comprising a collapsible tongue for erecting the assembly, from the bottom of which, also in the form of a tray, projections stand out, which projections pass through respective opposite sides of the cover to fit into the corresponding recesses existing in the cover of the box arranged on top, the boxes thus being stacked, which boxes are separated from one another and with the containers to be packaged located and projecting from their respective housings.

[0005] Therefore, there is still a need in the art for a tray for packaging products without having to make complex folds and which can be stacked in a simple manner without special folds or support of the product. In currently used trays it is necessary to fold them for their transport and unfold them for their use by workers in a production line, in which any movement entails a time and therefore a cost increase. Furthermore, the repetitive movements can affect the health of the workers. Therefore, there is also a need for a tray for packaging products which prevents these folding and unfolding needs in production lines.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention relates to a tray for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape which are fitted into one another, such as for example cones for ice creams, frustoconical tubs for ice creams, etc..., i.e., objects which are stacked forming rows or columns of packages fitted into one another contiguously. This tray is formed by a die-cut cardboard with tabs having a trapezium shape or any other shape provided that the base is smaller than the upper part or an elliptical or polygonal shape in which an upper part can penetrate the fitting such that it aids in the opening of said tabs, etc....which can be lifted by means of a simple fold from the tray itself, forming flaps above the products to be packaged so that they support the weight of trays stacked one on top of the other, or the tabs can be lowered, carrying out an identical function.

[0007] In the simplest arrangement, each tray can have two tabs between which there are defined several lines or channels in which the rows or columns of fittable products to be packaged are placed. In a more preferred embodiment the tray has six of these tabs defining the channels for placing the products to be packaged and, furthermore, a rather large number of points or areas of support for the tray placed on top of same.

[0008] The invention also consists of a package containing fittable products in the form of rows or columns which comprises at least one tray with tabs, which tabs separate the rows or columns of fittable products from one another and serve as a support for other possible trays included in the same packaging.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] The present invention will be better understood with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, provided by way of example, and which must not be interpreted as limiting the invention in any way.

Figure 1 shows a top view of the tray for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a scheme for assembling the tray for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape according to Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a tab of a tray according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows two tabs of a tray according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a tray according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 shows a tray according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 shows a tray according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0010] The present invention relates to a tray for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape. As used herein, the term "substantially tubular" must not be understood in a limiting manner, and includes shapes such as cans, glasses, tubs, cones for ice creams, etc. The cones for ice creams can be of paper, aluminium foil, aluminium, plastic, wafer and more complex wafer compounds. The tubs for ice creams generally have a frustoconical shape, although any other fanciful shape allowing the stacking therebetween is not ruled out. In the tray of the present invention, there are defined tabs which can be lifted by means of a simple fold, being located above the products to be packaged, positioned such that they support the weight of other trays.

[0011] With reference to Figure 1, a tray 10 for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape according to a preferred embodiment of the invention can be observed, which tray is made of corrugated, solid cardboard, etc.., die-cut with six tabs 12 with a substantially trapezoidal shape, although they can adopt any other shape meeting the requirement of supporting the upper tray, which have a specific support function positioned in threes in equidistant parts of the tray 10 and which are folded in directions opposite to one another so that they support the weight of other trays without needing complex folds or additional material. According to this preferred and non-limiting embodiment, the tray 10 has rounded corners which are beveled or with grooves to facilitate the extraction therefrom of a box containing multiple stacked packages.

[0012] Figure 2 shows a scheme for assembling the tray 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the die-cut tabs 12 in the tray 10 itself are lifted so that the tray 10 can be filled with the cones 14 to be packaged and the trapezium shape of which provides a stacking without needing a fitting as in other trays of the state of the art. The holes which will remain after lifting the tabs 12 are not a problem because, since the cones 14 enter therein a relatively short distance, they can support it without any effort. Likewise, the tabs (12) can be lowered, carrying out the same function.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the outer edges of the tabs 12 form lines parallel to the surface of the tray 10 and in a more preferred embodiment, at least two of the outer edges of the tabs 12 are located in a plane parallel to the tray, so that in this way the following tray 10 which is supported does so in a manner parallel to the tray 10 superimposed thereon.

[0014] This Figure 2 shows the tray 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention introduced inside a box. Indeed, the trays 10 of the present invention can be independently stacked on top of the other, or they can be introduced in boxes (one or more trays 10 being introduced in one and the same box).

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, since the tabs have an upper part with a width equal to or less than that of their base, they surpass to a greater or lesser extent the hole left by the corresponding tabs of the tray located right on top of them or of the one located under them according to whether they are folded towards one side of the tray or the other, such that they can penetrate the upper part in the fitting of another tray to aid in the opening of said tabs. In a more preferred embodiment, the sides of the tabs can, at one point, widen more than the width of the base. The surpassing part extends from this point to the upper part thereof. In another preferred embodiment, since the tabs have an upper part with a width greater than that of their base, they do not surpass said hole.

[0016] Figure 3 shows another preferred embodiment of the tab 12 of the tray 10 according to the present invention. It is observed that the upper part of the tab 12 has a projection 16, whereas in the opposite part of the tab 12 there is left a cut 18 which, when the tab 12 is folded, will generate a hole. The projection 16 of the tab 12 will fit into the hole left by the cut 18 of a corresponding tab 12 of a tray 10 located adjacent thereto. It is thus prevented that the tabs 12 are not completely vertical, or that they gradually become inclined in the transport, and that the product stored in the tray 10 is crushed due to the effect of the weight of the upper trays.

[0017] In an additional preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 4, a trepanning 20 is performed in the tab 12 which is separated from the fold line 22, producing a recess in the tab 12 such that it is supported on the tray 10 itself. It is thus prevented that, due to the fact that the weight that the tab 12 must support is received completely by the folded edge, there is a splitting following any of the cutting lines of the trepanning of the tab 12.

[0018] Figure 5 shows yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. It shows a tray 10' with a series of tabs 12. Tabs 12 of different shapes and with different features are shown merely to illustrate some of the different types of tabs 12 which can be useful according to the present invention. The tray 10' according to this embodiment furthermore has a fold 24 and grooves 26 which will coincide with the corresponding segment of the ends of the cones or other products stored in the tray 10'. The extraction of said products will thus be simpler. It is also possible to shorten the tray 10' so that it has a length less than that of the box containing it, for the purpose of achieving a better handling for picking up the cones stored in said tray 10'.

[0019] According to still another preferred embodiment shown in Figure 6, the tray 10" has at least one side notch 28 suitable for a user to pick it up and remove the tray 10" from the box in which it is contained.

[0020] Figure 7 shows yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the tray 10"' has two tabs 12 in the part coinciding with the end of the cones and with their same inclination, thus facilitating the better handling of the cones when taking them out, since the area for handling the product is left clearer.

[0021] Although the tray according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described as made of cardboard, it may also be made of any other suitable material, such as plastic, for example.

[0022] Although the present invention has been described in more detail with reference to several preferred embodiments thereof, other variations will be evident for the persons skilled in the art. Such variations are intended to be covered by the scope of the present invention, defined by the following claims.

[0023] For example, the preferred embodiment of the present invention disclosed to illustrate it has die-cut tabs with a trapezium shape, but it is evident that other suitable shapes (trapezoidal, elliptical, polygonal, etc.) can also be used, as well as the number and position of the tabs provided that there is no detriment to their support function.

[0024] Likewise, although it has been defined throughout the specification that the tabs are folded upwards to support a tray placed right on top of them, they may also be folded downwards to be supported on a tray placed under them.

Claims

1. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') for packaging products with a substantially tubular shape, characterized in that in the tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') there are defined tabs (12) which can be folded with respect to the tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') itself, separating rows or columns of products to be packaged and being formed as elements for supporting other contiguous trays (10, 10', 10", 10''').

2. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least two tabs (12).

3. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to claim 2, characterized in that it has at least six tabs (12).

4. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it has rounded corners which are beveled or with grooves to facilitate the extraction.

5. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer edge of each tab (12) defines a line parallel to the plane of the tray (10, 10', 10", 10''').

6. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to claim 5, characterized in that the outer edges of at least two tabs (12) define a plane parallel to the tray (10, 10', 10", 10''').

7. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the tabs (12) have a substantially trapezoidal shape.

8. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tabs (12) have an elliptical shape.

9. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tabs (12) have a polygonal shape.

10. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the tabs (12) surpass the hole left by the corresponding tabs (12) of the tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') located right on top of them or in the one located right under them by means of folding towards one side of the tray or the other, such that they can penetrate the upper part in the fitting of another tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') to aid in the opening of said tabs (12).

11. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the tabs (12) do not surpass the hole left by the corresponding tabs (12) of the tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') located right on top of them or of the tray located under them according to whether they are folded towards one side of the tray or the other.

12. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the upper part of the tabs (12) has a projection (16) whereas in the opposite part of the tab (12) there is left a cut (18), the projection (16) of the tab (12) being fitted into a hole left by the cut (18) of a corresponding tab (12) of a tray (10) located adjacent thereto.

13. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the tab (12) has a trepanning (20) which is separated from the fold line (22), producing a recess in the tab (12).

14. Tray (10') according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that it furthermore has a fold (24) and grooves (26) which will coincide with the corresponding segment of the ends of the products stored in the tray (10').

15. Tray (10") according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that it has at least one side notch (28) suitable for a user to pick it up and remove the tray (10") from a box in which it is contained.

16. Tray (10''') according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that it has two tabs (12) in the part coinciding with the end of the stored products and with their same inclination.

17. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it is made of cardboard.

18. Tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is made of plastic.

19. Packaging containing fittable products in the form of rows or columns which comprises at least one tray (10, 10', 10", 10''') as it is defined in claims 1 to 13 which separates the rows or columns of fittable products from one another and serves as a support for other possible trays (10, 10', 10", 10''') included in the same packaging.

Drawing