EP1052178A2

EP1052178A2 - Display container

Info

Publication number: EP1052178A2
Application number: EP19990500130
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emilio Mur Gimeno
Original assignee: Assidoman Iberoamericana SA
Current assignee: Assidoman Iberoamericana SA
Priority date: 1999-05-05
Filing date: 1999-07-30
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: ES1043421U; ES1043421Y

Abstract

An exhibitor container formed by two bodies (33,34), wherein the container body (33) is a truncated quadrangular pyramid one of the larger sides of which is higher than the others. The smaller or minor sides of the container enclosure are cut vertically, each forming a higher sector that forms a dihedral angle with the rear side.

The second body (34), acting as a cover, has an inverted truncated pyramidal shape with a rectangular base wherein the larger sides are parallel and the smaller sides ascend along converging planes, closing the overall enclosure, the enveloping and the container bodies having, in their smaller sides, respective ample openings (14,30) for airing the contents. The assembly is retained in its closed condition by means of a crest (12) emerging from the upper edge of the container body of one of its smaller sides, which crest fits into a coinciding opening (29) in the second body or cover.

Description

OBJECT OF THE MODEL

The object of the model is to provide a new container formed by two reciprocally adaptable bodies which jointly form a closed container fitted with attachment means allowing for several subsequent homologous containers to be superposed.
The container proposed by the invention comprises two independent preformed sections made of a stampable material, such as corrugated cardboard, one of the sections constituting the main body of the container and the other section forming a second independent body which closely adapts itself to the main body in order to envelop it.
The attachment of both bodies forms a closed, very robust container fitted with attachment means allowing several containers to be superposed, adhered and mutually retained to form very stable and strong piles.
The container thus arranged is extremely appropriate for storing and transporting certain perishable goods.

BACKGROUND OF THE MODEL

Several container models are known to use corrugated cardboard stamped sections to form boxes which are preferably utilized for containing perishable goods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables and others. These containers normally constitute totally open boxes fitted with attachment means allowing several layers of homologous boxes containing perishable goods to be successively superposed, whereby the box located on an upper plane covers and closes the box located on the immediate lower plane, each box fitting into other boxes. Ample open spaces in the form of windows are provided between each two superposed boxes, generally along their larger sides, allowing air to circulate as needed for preserving the packed perishable goods in the course of storage or transport periods.
Practice reveals that although these containers allow for efficient storage and preservation of certain perishable goods such as citrus fruits, tubercles, cucurbitaceous and similar products, this is not the case with other goods such as vegetables, asparagus, greens and other vegetable products when stored one over the other in a manner that precludes adequate airing of the products located on the lower planes of each superposed box, which become rapidly damaged.
The container proposed by the present invention efficiently solves this important drawback, providing for the storage of perishable goods without the need to superpose them, since they are positioned vertically inside the container, in side to side contact, without one unit resting on the other and with all the products receiving the necessary amount of air to ensure proper preservation.
An object of the invention consists in providing a container in which the packed perishable goods are kept inside the container collaterally leaning on each other and in an upright position, without being superposed, thus ensuring their proper preservation.
A further object of the invention consists in providing a container formed by two independent bodies laterally adjacent each other, one body acting as a deposit for the product and the other as a cover; upon separating the cover from the container, the upper part of the goods are partially exposed for inspection and/or direct removal by the consumer.
A further object of the invention consists in providing an exhibitor-container comprising two independently preformed sections, optionally made of corrugated cardboard, the container being assembled by a totally manual process which requires no extremely costly and complex folding machines and adhesive-applying devices, thus obtaining important cost savings which allow the boxes to be fabricated with high quality materials.
One characteristic of the proposed container model is that one side of the container body in which the products, e.g. asparagus, are stored is considerably upwardly elongated and constitutes a perpendicular supporting wall which maintains the packed perishable goods adjacent each other, in an upright position and without the product units leaning on one another.
A further characteristic of the invention consists in that, when the box is open, the higher wall of the container body maintains the packed goods in an upright position and allows them to be exhibited, also enabling this wall, as a result of its greater height, to have indications and/or visible legends printed on it relating to the packed product.
A further characteristic of the proposed container consists in that the smaller lateral sides of the storage body extend upwards along their edge hinged to the rear elevated wall of the box's body, said wall, and consequently the upper part of the box's body, thus becoming considerably reinforced.
Other objects and characteristics related to the benefits and economy of the new proposed container are discussed in the following description, wherein the preferred assemblies and particulars of the invention are described in detail.
A fuller idea of the invention is provided by the following description when considered jointly with the attached drawings, in which, in a rather schematic form and merely as an example, a practical embodiment is set forth for the proposed container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows the arrangement of the preformed section corresponding to the main storage body, namely the place where the perishable goods are stored.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the storage or main body of the container, showing one of the inner side flaps which form the container body in its offset position.
Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the second body, which functions as a lid which covers and laterally and upperly encloses the storage body.
Figure 4 is a perspective and conventionally sectioned view of the second body closing the storage space.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the two reciprocally aligned bodies, storage and cover, which jointly form the container. In this figure, the two bodies, storage and cover, are shown facing each other, with the container opening and closing movements shown in phantom lines.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container's storage body and cover body enclosing it, and clearly shows the configuration of the arrangement with its protrusions, attachment lodgings, airing spaces and handles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODEL

Commenting on the drawings, number 1 generally designates the preformed cardboard section forming the main body of the container and acting as a storage body. This section is divided into several sectors by means of stamped folding lines marking the limit of bottom 2 which, in the embodiment shown, forms a substantially rectangular quadrangle, the dimensions of which are the most suitable in each case for containing the product intended to be packed. Along the longer edges of bottom 2 hinge respective flaps 3 and 4, the first of which is larger and forms the rear side of the box by rotating 90° upwards to an upright position over the corresponding bottom 2 edge onto which it is hinged. The second flap 4 forms the front side of the container, its height being lower than that of rear side 3 (approximately half). Said front flap 4 also rotates 90° upwards to achieve a perpendicular plane parallel to rear side 3.
Rear side 3 forms the higher wall of the box's main body 33, its vertical edges descending somewhat slantingly in divergent directions, its lower end being slightly wider than its upper edge and thus forming a quadrangle trapezium hinged along one of the longer bottom 2 edges.
Second extension 4, forming a rectangular quadrangle, hinges on the front edge of bottom 2 and rotates 90° upwardly, to a vertical position, occupying a perpendicular plane that is parallel to rear wall 3.
Extension 4, forming the front side of the box, presents, hinged to its side edges, respective extensions or flaps 11 which rotate 90° to form the respective walls that rise perpendicular over bottom 2 of the container and onto which attach, on either side, two corresponding sectors 5, 6 of the ample flap forming the rear panel 3 of the box's body.
As shown in Figure 1, the larger panel 3 of main body 33 has, hinged onto its vertical edges, respective homologous flaps divided into three sectors, a central sector 5 thereof having the same height as the rear panel 3 and is fitted along its lower edge with an ample flap 8 which rotates 90° to achieve a horizontal plane over container bottom 2.
Said central sector 5 on the side in question presents a slanting cut 32 that starts on its upper edge and extends approximately down to the central zone to form an ample flap 6, the upper edge of which is fitted with an attachment crest 9 closely fitting into the perforation 10 practiced in the upper edge of sector 8, thus immobilizing the whole of side 5 over the bottom 2.
Via these arrangements, the flaps 11 of front side 4 directly adhere to the inner plane of the respective sides 5 of the box's body, on which flaps hinge the sectors or flaps 6 of the sides in question. The assembly thus arranged maintains its mounted position by means of the attachment crests 9 which emerge from the upper bottom of flaps 6, said crests being inserted in the coinciding perforations 10 practiced in the hinge line between side 5 and its lower extension 8.
The rear panel 3, the highest in the container, is fitted with a small attachment crest 12 along its upper edge which is inserted in the coinciding perforation 13 practiced in the lower edge of a homologous box positioned in an immediate upper plane, thereby impairing lateral movement.
Body 33, arranged according to the preceding description, forms a storage section of the container and is fitted with a rear side 3 that is higher than the front side 4. The lateral sides 5 present a sector having the same height as the larger side 3 and another sector having the same a height as front side 4.
The main body 33 of the container forms an enclosure for storing the products to be packed, said enclosure having its front 4 and rear 3 sides reciprocally parallel and its smaller or minor sides descending to the bottom 2 somewhat slantingly and in diverging directions.
The rear wall 3 of said container body 33 is higher than the rest of the walls, projecting over them and over the packed goods and allowing indications or references in relation to the product to be printed on the upper side of said main side, so that, upon removal of the enveloping body or cover 34, said indications are visible above the packed product.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, they show that the preformed cardboard section 16 forming the enveloping body or cover 34 is of a design and arrangement similar to that of section 1 forming the container body 33, composed of a substantially rectangular base and forming a truncated quadrangular pyramid, its upper portion being open and its rear side 3 and lateral side 5 being partially higher than the rest of the sides.
Upper body 34, acting as a cover, is superposed on the container body 33, fits laterally thereon, closes the enclosure and covers the packed product. Both bodies, 33 and 34, are of a similar design, their various parts being mutually juxtaposed in a relatively loose fit. This arrangement requires enveloping body or cover 34 to have its minor sides 20 slanting in a different direction to that of body 33, its larger sides 18, 19 being reciprocally parallel. According to this arrangement, closure body 34 is placed in an inverted position over container body 33, covers it from above with its central section 17 and closes the enclosure containing the perishable goods.
These details, which differentiate the container body 33 from the enveloping body or cover 34, can be readily understood by comparing Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings; in the case of cover 34, its horizontal closure beam 17 and the edge of its larger sides are reciprocally parallel and respectively hinged onto larger side 18 and opposite side 19.
The body 34, on the free edge of its larger side 18, presents an attachment notch 28 for lodging crest 27, which emerges from another homologous container located on an immediate lower plane. The central partition 17 in cover 34, on the edge of reciprocally parallel sides 18, 19, presents respective cuts 27 and 29. The first of these cuts forms an attachment crest, protruding vertically from plane 17, which covers the upper part of container body 33 and lodges into the coinciding cut 28 of another identical or similar container onto which it is superposed, occupying the upper plane. Cut 29 is provided for the purpose of receiving crest 12 emerging from the upper edge of container body 33, both bodies becoming thus attached to one another.
Sides 20, hinging on the vertical edges of higher side 18, are cut by respective slanting lines 35 to form the trapezoidal flaps 21 which fold along two parallel folding lines 22 to adapt onto flap 26, fully enveloping it, and subsequently fitting its crest 24 in the coinciding lodging 25 cut into the flaps 23, which adapt onto sector 17 to close container body 33.
Figure 5 shows that the proposed container is formed exclusively by two bodies 33 and 34, the first of which, 33, constitutes a container body shaped like a truncated quadrangular pyramid internally forming the enclosure where the packed goods are arranged and. maintained in a collateral adjacent upright position. Two sides of this body, advantageously the smaller or minor sides 5, show a slight inclination and follow converging-diverging planes to form a quadrangular pyramid-shaped body having an upper part that is narrower than the lower part. By means of this arrangement, when enveloping body 34 is placed on container body 33, it envelops the latter, whereby both reciprocally adapted bodies 33 and 34 form a container generally in the shape of a truncated quadrangular pyramid the sides of which present free spaces in the form of windows 14, 15 and 30 through which air circulates as necessary for proper preservation of the packed perishable goods. Spaces 14, 30 can also serve as handles for manipulating the containers.
The object of the present utility model being thus adequately described, it should be understood that the proposed container is not strictly limited to the exact details of this description, since, in practice, detail modifications are liable to be introduced provided said variations do not change, alter or modify the essential nature of the exhibitor container as described herein.

Claims

An exhibitor container comprising two preformed sections of a stampable material, one of the sections constituting the basic body forming the container enclosure for storing the products to be packed and the other section forming a second body which folds onto and closes said container body, functioning as a cover; both bodies collaterally adapt to each other through a simple fit, the container being characteristic in that the container body forming the enclosure where the products are stored is a truncated quadrangular pyramid one of the larger sides of which is higher than the other sides, thus constituting a support for holding the products packed in the container enclosure in an upright position and collaterally leaning on one another.
An exhibitor container according to claim 1, characteristic in that the pyramidal container body forms a substantially rectangular base enclosure, one wall being considerably higher than the others, in which enclosure the packed goods are arranged to collaterally lean onto one another and are kept in an upright position by means of the higher wall in the container enclosure and the elevated sectors of the smaller sides.
An exhibitor container according to claims 1 and 2, characteristic in that the smaller or minor sides of the container enclosure are cut vertically, each forming a higher sector that forms a dihedral angle with the higher rear side of the container enclosure, thereby reinforcing it.
An exhibitor container according to claims 1 and 2, characteristic in that the second body that adapts laterally onto the container body is formed by an inverted truncated pyramidal body with a rectangular base, the larger sides occupying planes that are reciprocally parallel and the smaller sides ascending along convergent planes which adapt to the coinciding configuration of the main container body, closing the body enclosure.
An exhibitor container according to claims 1 and 4, characteristic in that, upon the enveloping body becoming adapted to the container body, respective ample openings are formed between them, in the smaller sides, through which air circulates as necessary for adequately preserving the packed perishable goods.
An exhibitor container according to claim 1 and subsequent claims, characteristic in that the enveloping body adapts collaterally over the container body, to which it adheres by means of an attachment crest emerging from the upper edge on the higher side of said container body.
An exhibitor container according to claim 1 and subsequent claims, characteristic in that the enveloping body adapts laterally and upperly onto the container body, thereby closing the enclosure.