EP2532598B1 - Setting of a bottle in a postal packaging unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a postal type packaging for bottle and more particularly to a shim envelope for wedging a bottle in a cardboard package.

When it comes to sending a single bottle by means of a postal service, it is usually packaged in an individual package, usually made of cardboard, especially corrugated cardboard because it absorbs well low to moderate shocks . It is desirable, however, that the bottle is not in contact with its walls, to reduce the risk of breakage during shocks of a higher level. For this purpose, a setting means is provided which aims at keeping the bottle inside the package away from the walls. It is desirable that this maintenance is firm to avoid damage to the bottle during transport.

A shim having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from the document US 2,801,783 .

The present invention relates to a wedging means for maintaining a bottle away from the walls of a package of suitable dimensions, this maintenance being as firm as possible.

The most common wine bottles are all similar in shape with a wide cylindrical barrel, a shoulder, an equally cylindrical neck and a flat or quilted bottom. However, there are differences in diameter of their barrel depending on the origin. Thus the diameter of the barrel is not the same between a Bordeaux, a Burgundy or a bottle of alsace.

The setting of a bottle in its packaging must be adapted to each type if we want it to be satisfactory and universal.

The professional distributor who uses postal packaging would like not to have to reserve packages for each type of bottle he wishes to ship.

The present invention aims to solve this problem and achieves this with a wedge of cardboard or other similar material for bottle, suitable for incorporation into a postal type package, comprising two longitudinal panels interconnected by a bottom panel. The wedge is characterized in that a bearing flap is cut in at least one of the longitudinal panels with a hinge and is movable between a retracted position in said panel and a position folded at 180 ° against said panel forming a bearing surface for a bottle disposed between the two longitudinal panels.

The solution of the invention is very simple since it is sufficient to fold or not one or two flaps to adjust the diameter of the envelope forming the wedge to the diameter of the bottle. If the bottle is narrow, flap the flaps inside the envelope to absorb the gaps between the bottle and the longitudinal panels. If the bottle is wide, we use all the panels forming the hold without folding the flaps.

According to another characteristic, a neck flap is cut in one of the two longitudinal panels, with a hinge, said flap comprising an orifice in which the neck of a bottle is likely to be engaged. This mode of holding the bottle is both simple and safe.

According to another feature, at least one of the longitudinal panels is extended by an end panel with attachment means to the other longitudinal panel. This locks the cushioning envelope around the bottle.

For example, said attachment means comprises a tab cooperating with a notch. According to an advantageous embodiment, the hinges between the bottom panel and the longitudinal panels are curved inwards so as to bend the longitudinal gutter-shaped panels when they are bent at right angles to the bottom panel. By this simple means, it is possible to lock in the folded position the support flaps.

Advantageously, the longitudinal panels are provided laterally with wedging flaps of the wedge in a parallelepiped packaging. These side flaps allow the hold of the wedge at a distance from the walls.

The invention also aims to protect a postal package comprising a parallelepiped container and a shim capable of wrapping a bottle.

The invention also aims to protect a process for packaging a bottle in a postal package comprising the steps according to which the shim according to the invention is opened, the bottle is deposited on the bottom panel, the longitudinal panels are folded against the flanks of the container. the bottle, then we check if a game is likely to be created between the longitudinal panels and the sides of the bottle, if it is the case we flap one or both of the support flaps to reduce or cancel the game, finally we locks the two panels in position against the sides of the bottle and the wedge is placed with the bottle in a container of suitable dimensions.

• La figure 1 montre le plan d'une cale selon l'invention, découpé dans un flan de carton;
• La figure 2 montre le placement d'une bouteille dans une cale de l'invention;
• La figure 3 montre un emballage avec la bouteille calée dans un récipient adapté.

An embodiment of the invention, which is not limiting and, by way of illustrative example, is described with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• The figure 1 shows the plan of a wedge according to the invention, cut from a blank of cardboard;
• The figure 2 shows the placement of a bottle in a hold of the invention;
• The figure 3 shows a package with the bottle seated in a suitable container.

The figure 1 represents a cardboard plate or any other semi-rigid material. This may include a corrugated board. Corrugated cardboard with one or more sheets of corrugated paper bonded between two or more sheets, including cover sheets, is an excellent packaging material, as is well known. On the plan the solid lines are cutouts, the dotted lines are fold lines of the cardboard.

The plate 1 comprises two elongated longitudinal panels 3 and 5, connected by a bottom panel 7. The bottom panel is hexagonal with two fold lines, 7a and 7b respectively, with the longitudinal panels 3 and 5; the fold lines are curved here in the form of two non-aligned straight segments.

Support flaps 31 and 51 are cut in the two longitudinal panels 3 and 5. They have a transverse hinge 31a and 51a which allows them to fold and fold at 180 ° against the longitudinal panel.

The panel 5 in the figure further comprises a neck flap 55 cut therein with a hinge parallel to the hinge 7b between the longitudinal panel 5 and the bottom panel 7. An opening 55b is made in the flap of FIG. collar for the passage of the neck of a bottle.

At the free ends of the two longitudinal panels of the locking end flaps 33 and 53 are provided for closing the shim; their shape is similar to that of the bottom panel. Fastening means, tabs 33a and notches 53a are capable of cooperating with each other to hold together the two panels 3 and 5.

Longitudinal wedging flaps 37, 39 and 57, 59 border the two longitudinal panels on either side of them.

The figure 2 shows the setting up of a bottle in its cushioning envelope. The neck flap 55 is folded and the neck of a bottle is introduced into its bottle holding orifice 55b.

It can be seen that the support flap 51 has been folded flat against the longitudinal panel 5.

The bottom panel 7 is in phase to be applied against the bottom of the bottle. It is observed that the hinges, fold lines 7a, 7b and 55a are curved at an angle; causing the longitudinal panels to curve along a median longitudinal line. By this deformation the support flap 51 is pressed against the panel 5. In this way the neck flap is also maintained in its upright position relative to the panel which helps to lock the bottle in its longitudinal position.

Compared to the provision of the figure 2 , the placement of the shimming envelope is completed by folding the panel 3 on the bottle, with the support flap 31 folded down if necessary, raising the locking end flaps 33 and 53 and locking the whole by the attachment means 33a and 53a.

The packaging of the bottle is finished by sliding the assembly into a container of suitable dimensions. The side flaps 37, 39 and 57, 59 ensure the remote maintenance of the walls of the bottle. We see on the figure 3 packaging ready to be closed and shipped for two different bottles. For one, the one on the left, it was necessary to fold down the support flap. For the other, on the right, the shutter is retracted.

Claims (8)

1. Cardboard wedge (1) for a bottle, capable of being integrated in a postal package, comprising two longitudinal panels (3, 5) interconnected by a base panel (7), characterised in that a support flap (31, 51) is cut out of one of said longitudinal panels (3, 5) together with a joint (31a, 51a) and can be moved between a position stowed inside said panel and a position folded against said panel forming a support surface for a bottle placed between said two longitudinal panels (3, 5).
2. Wedge according to claim 1, wherein a neck flap (55) is cut out of one of said two longitudinal panels together with a joint (55a), said flap comprising a hole (55b) into which the neck of a bottle is capable of being engaged.
3. Wedge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said longitudinal panels (3, 5) is extended by an end panel (33, 53) comprising means for fastening to the other longitudinal panel.
4. Wedge according to the preceding claim, wherein said fastening means comprise a tab (33a) cooperating with a slot (53a).
5. Wedge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the joints (7a and 7b) between said base panel (7) and said longitudinal panels (3, 5) are curved inwards so as to bend said longitudinal panels into the shape of a trough when they are folded at a right angle relative to said base panel.
6. Wedge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said longitudinal panels are laterally provided with flaps (37, 39; 57, 59) for wedging said wedge into a parallelepiped package.
7. Postal package comprising a parallelepiped receptacle (10) and a wedge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims capable of enveloping a bottle.
8. Method for packing a bottle into a postal package according to the preceding claim, comprising the step of opening said wedge (1) according to any one of claims 1, placing the bottle onto said base panel (7), folding said longitudinal panels (3, 5) against the sides of the bottle, checking whether the bottle is straight and whether any play is likely to occur between said longitudinal panels and the sides of the bottle, and if this is the case, folding one or both of said support flaps (31, 51) so as to reduce or eliminate the play, locking said two panels into position against the sides of the bottle and placing said wedge (1) together with the bottle into a suitably sized receptacle (10).

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