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(11) | EP 3 640 151 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | PACKAGING BOX FOR FRUIT, BERRIES AND VEGETABLES |
| (57) Packaging box and lid for fruit, berries and vegetables comprising coupling devices
providing enhanced coupling strength between packaging box and lid.
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TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging box for fruit, berries and vegetables, where the packaging box may be made of environmental friendly materials, such as cardboard, as well as to a lid for use with the packaging box.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The packaging industry for packaging portions and small quantities of fruits, vegetables, berries and the like for consumers is dominated by plastic based packaging solutions. Recent discoveries have proven that use of plastic is a real threat to nature, and it has become evident that humans need to produce less plastic waste.
[0003] Using environmentally friendly materials in such packaging is problematic, since the requirement for safekeeping, fresh keeping, transport friendliness and production cost are all elements that need to be considered when selecting packaging method and material.
[0004] Plastic packaging has proven to be cheap and easy to produce, easy to make robust enough to stack, and product quality can be maintained at an acceptable level. The flexibility of plastic and the ability to produce almost any form using production techniques such as machines that can heat the plastic material (PVC, PP, PE, POF, PPT, PTGF, APET, ABS, OPP, PS, PET, etc) and make them soft, then vacuum suction and transform sheet material into various plastic blisters, or extruding techniques is considered a great advantage.
[0005] When minimzing the use of plastic in packaging, a problem associated with non-softening or non-extrudable materials is how to make the packaging flexible, reusable, strong and at the same time made at an acceptable production cost.
[0006] When producing packaging for fruit, berries and vegetable products for the consumer market, it is also vital to provide a packaging that can store products in a manner that helps preserve the product, providing an environment that is endurable for the packaged products. Problems are typically associated with ventilation, withstanding moisture from the environment or the packaged goods, ability to stack packaging units on top of each other, and use of environment friendly materials.
[0007] When a packaging box for fruits and berries requires to be provided with a lid fastened to the box, the plastic industry may solve this by providing a lid that is fastened to the box by a ledge on the upper edge of the box, and a ledge on the lower edge of the lid wherein the ledges comprise interacting grooves and ridges for a "click"-fastening feature. This solution may be repeatedly released and fastened. Such a solution is difficult to provide in a cardboard box, where repeated release and lock quickly will damage the integrity of the material and the box will lose its ability to lock. A solution based on gluing a lock to the box will not be reusable.
[0008] Previous solutions have been provided wherein a lid is provided with protruding ledge in the corners of the lid, and corresponding slots are provided in the upper portion of the corners of the box, wherein the protruding ledges of the lid can be inserted, and thereby provide a locking mechanism. This solution also provides a reusable feature in that when lid, when provided in a flexible/bendable material, can be removed and refitted to the box.
[0009] The problem with the latter solution is that lifting the box requires a person to grip the box itself. This will bend the sides of the box inwards at the risk of damaging the fruit, berries or vegetables inside.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] It is the aim of the present invention to provide a solution to, or at least alleviate, some or all of the problems described above.
[0011] The invention will hereinbelow be described primarily in the context of providing a cardboard box and a lid for packaged fruit, berries and vegetables, but the device may readily be modified to be utilized for other products, made of different materials, and in different form factors.
[0012] The present invention provides a packaging box and a lid, further comprising coupling devices providing enhanced coupling strength between packaging box and lid, providing advantageous features such as a lid locking feature enabling repeated open and close action, easy mounting of lock, maintaining locking feature even when lifting the packaging box when gripping only the lid, flexible stacking capability and improved ventilation.
[0013] These illustrative aspects and features are mentioned not to limit or define the invention, but to provide examples to aid understanding of the inventive concepts disclosed in this disclosure. Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent after review of the entire disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The following figures are provided as non-limiting examples of embodiments of various features of the invention, and provides support for the objectives, aspects, and embodiments described in the description and claims.
- Fig. 1
- - Packaging box, oblique view from above
- Fig. 2
- - Packaging box, view from above
- Fig. 3
- - Lid, oblique view from above
- Fig. 4
- - Lid, view from below
- Fig. 5
- - Lid, side view
- Fig. 6 A and 6B
- - Packaging box with lid mounted, front view, 2 box designs
- Fig. 7
- - Packaging box with lid mounted, side view
- Fig. 8
- - Packaging box with lid mounted, view from above
- Fig. 9A and 9B
- - Packaging boxes with lids mounted, stacked, 2 box designs
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The present invention comprises a packaging box adapted for being used for, but not limited to, holding goods such as fruit, berries and vegetables.
[0016] The packaging box, as shown in figure 1 and 2, comprise a bottom 11 and at least four walls 12, 13, 14, 15 being at least a front wall 12, two opposing side walls 13, 14 and a back wall 15. The packaging box may be constructed in different shapes, for example having walls of equal width (square shape), walls of different width such that the space defined by the walls and bottom having a rectangular shape, walls having smaller or grater height than width, some walls having a different height that the other walls, walls with height varying along the width of the wall, the box having more than 4 walls such as for example 6 walls giving it a hexagon shape, or even 8 walls and an octagon shape.
[0017] The packaging box further has on two opposing sidewalls 13, 14 a slot 16 comprised in its upper section 19 for receiving a portion of a lid. Typically these two sidewalls 13, 14 may have a greater height that the other walls 12, 15, such that when a lid 30 is mounted to the packaging box 10, a front 32 and a back 35 wall of the lid 30 are partially or completely exposed.
[0018] The packaging box may be provided with one or more holding devices configured to engage a portion of a lid when said portion is inserted into the slot 16. In one embodiment the holding device comprises a stop member 20. The stop member 20 is used to interact with a portion of a lid when the lid is mounted on the packaging box, and a base 21 of the stop member 20 is integrated in the sidewall 13, 14 at a first side 17, 18 of the slot 16 being arranged to protrude into the opening of the slot 16, and a top 22 of the stop member 20 is pointing towards a second side 17, 18 of the slot 16. The stop member itself may be an extension of the sidewall raging into the slot 16 opening like a tongue, preferably having a certain flexibility letting it bend outwards of the from the slot opening on either side of the side wall 13, 14 when mounting or retracting the lid portion in the slots 16. As described below the stop member also interact advantageously with the lid portion that is inserted through the slot 16 when mounting the lid 30.
[0019] In a further embodiment the packaging box is provided with a smaller circumference in the bottom than in the top. The difference preferably being large enough such that the top side 31 of a lid 30 may comprise a raised ridge 41 along the outer edge of the top side 31, providing a lid receiving recess 42 for receiving the bottom side of a packaging box 10. Thus easy and secure stacking of packaging boxes 10 may be provided as exemplified in figures 9A and 9B.
[0020] The lower part of some or all of the walls (12, 13, 14, 15) may comprise downward protruding leg members 25. The walls and bottom may be comprised in a single foldable piece cut out from a flat sheet of material, and the leg members 25 will leave openings 26 in the bottom 11 when the packaging box is folded and mounted. The openings provides ventilation through the bottom. The leg members 25 supports the packaging box and elevates the bottom from an underlying surface. This increase ventilation 45 from below in that air may flow in from the sides and up through the bottom inside the packaging box.
[0021] Any of the walls and the bottom may be provided with additional ventilation holes 24 for increased air flow inside the packaging box.
[0022] Although it is possible to use a wide variety of materials when producing the packaging box of the present invention, the design is specifically advantageous for making the packaging box of cardboard. All features for the packaging box discussed above may be provided when the packaging box is cut out in a single form from a flat sheet of cardboard, and then folded and mounted before use. The cardboard may be impregnated/coated on one or both sides to add properties such as damp resistance, flame retardant, bacterial resistance and other. Using cardboard instead of plastic also contribute to the reduction of plastic waste.
[0023] The present invention further comprise a lid 30, as briefly discussed above, adapted for use with a packaging box, for example a packaging box 10 as described above. The lid, as illustrated in figure 3 and 4, comprise a top side 31, and at least four walls 32, 33, 34, 35 having a front wall 32 two opposing side walls 33, 34 and a back wall 35. The number and forms of the walls may also differ in the same manner as discussed above for the walls of the packaging box. When lid 30 and a packaging box is used together to provide an enclosed storage it is obviously an advantage to use the same format (number of walls and area) on packaging box and lid.
[0024] The lid 30 may be designed to comprise, on each of the two opposing side walls 33, 34 in its lower section, a protruding lid member 36 for engagement with a packaging box. The protruding lid member 36 is formed to fit into slots or recesses comprised in the side walls of a packaging box.
[0025] In the following the lid 30 is explained when used together with the packaging box 10 as it is described in figure 1 and 2, but the lock may well be used with any type of storage box offering receiving elements for the protruding lid members 36.
[0026] Thus, the protruding lid member 36 may engagement with the packaging box 10, when the protruding lid member 36 is formed to fit into the slot 16 comprised in the side walls 13, 14 of the packaging box 10.
[0027] Although the protruding lid member may take any form, such as protruding tongue, pin, screw, fork, and other, the following description focus its detailed description on the illustrated examples of the figures. It should however be understood that other locking mechanisms may well be implemented without deviating from the inventive concept, which is how to facilitate a gentle handling of the goods in a packaging box and at the same time providing a grip on the lock that secures the locking interaction between the lock and the packaging box. One alternative locking mechanism to the embodiments discussed below would be to design the protruding members of the lid as a scaffolding toggle locking pins (not shown) which would require the storage box merely to comprise receiving elements/openings to be in the form of holes arranged in appropriate height on corresponding side walls.
[0028] In figure 3 and 4 it is shown that the protruding lid member 36 may be designed such that it comprises an upward facing ridge 37, the ridge 37 having a parallel orientation relative the side wall from which it protrudes. The lid side of the ridge and the lid side defines a groove 44. When mounting the lid 30 to a packaging box 10 the protruding lid members 36 are pushed into and through the slot 16 in respective side walls 13, 14 as far as the ridge 37 sticks out on the far side of the side wall 13, 14 relative the lid side wall. The upward facing ridge 37 thus providing resistance against movement of the protruding lid member 36 out of the slot 16 of the box 10 once it is inserted into the slot 16. The groove 44 may receive the stop member 20 protruding into the opening of the slot 16 when the base 21 of the stop members are integrated into the upper side 18 of the slot 16. When the stop member 20 is received by the grove 44 in a locking engagement it provides resistance against movement of the protruding lid member 36 out of the slot 16.
[0029] The protruding lid member 36 may also comprises a downward facing recess 38 having a parallel orientation relative the side wall from which it protrudes. The downward facing recess 38 is designed to receive the stop member 20 protruding into the opening of the slot 16 with its base 21 integrated into the lower side 17 of the slot 16. When the stop member 20 is received by the downward facing recess 38 in a locking engagement it provides resistance against movement of the protruding lid member 36 out of the slot 16. The stop member in this latter case will also ensure a biased force on the lid pushing the groove 44 upwards and interact with the upper side 18 of the slot, and thereby increase the resistance against movement of the lid 30 relative the side wall 13, 14.
[0030] Explaining the ridge 37 and recess 38 in upward respective downward manner is done to reflect the illustration in figure 3 and 4, but the protruding lid member could also be designed in the opposite orientation such that the ridge points downward, and the recess upward.
[0031] The lid may further be provided on at least two opposing walls 32, 35, other than the opposing side walls 33, 34, with gripping devices, for example in the form of concave grip recesses 39, 40, for providing a better grip. Typically the recesses may be of different size adapted on one side for a thumb fit, and on the opposing side for a 2 - 4 finger fit such that when a person use one hand to grip over the lid the recesses fits naturally to a hand/finger grip.
[0033] Gripping devices may take other forms than concave recesses, for example any formed recess, protruding shapes for better fit of gripping tool (not shown), receiving area for suction cup, or other.
[0034] When the lid is provided with a raised ridge 41 along the outer edge of the top side 31 as discussed above, providing a lid receiving recess 42 for receiving the bottom side of a further box 10 when stacking multiple boxes on top of each other as shown in figure 9A and 9B, it should be understood that the ridge may be only partially present. For example when the lid comprises grip recesses, top side of the lid will not be provided with the raised ridge in the portion of the edge where the recess is provided.
In practice multiple portions of a ridge 41 may be provided only in positions on the lid top side 31 edge close to where the legs of an above stacked packaging box will be placed on the lid top side, such that the stacked packaging box is restricted from gliding off the lid 16. Wen ridge 41 is lower than the downward protruding leg members 25, the retaining function is maintained and additionally optimal air flow 45 into the packaging box may be facilitated as seen in figure 9A and 9B.
[0035] The lid 30 may be produced of a material exhibiting a resilient behavior in order to transfer the inward pressing forces applied to the concave grip recesses 39, 40 when a person grips around the lid to outward pressing force on the protruding lid members 36 of the two opposing sidewalls 33, 34. This has the effect that when squeezing the lid between the concave grip recesses 39, 40, the protruding lid members 36 will be pushed outwards, and when the protruding lid members are inserted in the slots 16, this will result in a much firmer locking action between the packaging box and the lid. Thereby when lifting the packaging box there is no danger of the lock being dismounted.
1. Packaging box (10) for fruit, berries and vegetables comprising:
at least four walls (12, 13, 14, 15) comprising at least a front wall (12) two opposing side walls (13, 14) and a back wall (15),
a bottom (11),
each of the two opposing sidewalls (13, 14) comprising in its upper section (19) a slot (16) for receiving a portion of a lid.
2. Packaging box (10) according to claim 1, wherein the upper section (19) of the two
opposing sidewalls (13, 14) protrude higher than the upper edge of the other walls
(12, 15).
3. Packaging box (10) according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising
one or more holding devices configured to engage a portion of a lid when said portion
is inserted into the slot (16).
4. Packaging box (10) according to claim 3, wherein one or more of the holding devices
comprise a stop member (20), the stop member (20) protruding into the slot (16), wherein
a base (21) of the stop member (20) is integrated in the sidewall (13, 14) at a first
side (17, 18) of the slot (16), and a top (22) of the stop member (20) is pointing
towards a second side (17, 18) of the slot (16).
5. Packaging box (10) according to any of the previous claims, further comprising downward
protruding leg members (25) in the lower part of at least four of the walls (12, 13,
14, 15) .
6. Packaging box (10) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the packaging
box is made from a material selected from the group consisting of cardboard and cardboard
impregnated on the inward facing surfaces.
7. Lid (30) for use with a packaging box(, comprising:
at least four walls (32, 33, 34, 35) comprising at least a front wall (32) two opposing side walls (33, 34) and a back wall (35),
a top side (31), and
each of the two opposing side walls (33, 34) comprising in its lower section (30) a protruding lid member (36) for engagement with a packaging box by insertion into a receiving element comprised in side walls of the box.
8. Lid (30) according to claim 7, wherein the packaging box is a packaging box (10) as
described in one of the claims 1 to 6, and
the receiving elements are slots (16) comprised in side walls (13, 14) of the box (10).
the receiving elements are slots (16) comprised in side walls (13, 14) of the box (10).
9. Lid (30) according to claim 8, wherein each protruding lid member (36) comprises a
ridge (37) with a parallel orientation relative the side wall, from which it protrudes,
the ridge (37) being arranged for providing resistance against movement of the protruding
lid member (36) out of the slot (16) of the box (10) once it is inserted and the ridge
(37) portion of the protruding lid member (36) is on the opposite side of the side
wall (13, 14) than the lid (30).
10. Lid (30) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the protruding lid member (36) comprises
recess (38) with a parallel orientation relative the side wall from which it protrudes,
the recess (38) being arranged for receiving a stop member (20) of the box for providing
resistance against movement of the protruding lid member (36) out of the slot (16)
of the box (10) once it is inserted and the recess (38) portion of the protruding
lid member (36) has received the stop member (20).
11. Lid (30) according to any one of claim 8 to 10, wherein at least two opposing walls
(32, 35) other than the opposing side walls (33, 34) comprise gripping devices (39,
40) for providing a better grip.
12. Lid (30) according to claim 11, wherein the gripping devices are provided in the form
of concave grip recesses (39, 40).
13. Lid (30) according to claim 12, wherein the concave grip recesses (39, 40) comprise
a rough surface for providing resistance against grip slipping.
14. Lid (30) according to any one of claim 8 to 13, wherein the top side (31) comprise
a raised ridge (41) along the outer edge of the top side (31), providing a lid receiving
recess (42) for receiving the bottom side of a further box (10).
15. Lid (30) according to any one of claim 8 to 14, wherein the lid (30) is produced of
a material exhibiting a resilient behavior, such that when an inward pressing force
is applied to the concave grip recesses (39, 40), a portion of the inward pressing
force is transferred as an outward pressing force on the protruding lid members (36)
of the two opposing sidewalls (33, 34).