FR2775666A1 - Protection piece for projecting parts of piled objects e.g. cartons of food products - Google Patents

Abstract

The molded protection piece (1) is constituted by a sheet or plate shaped to have relief patterns (2). These reliefs define two spaced, parallel contact planes (S,F) formed by their respective flat tops (3,4). The flat bottoms (5) of the projecting reinforcement parts occupy complementary surfaces in a median cut plane of the piece.

Description

-] 1-

DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to the field of storage and handling of objects or products, in particular containers. It relates to a protective part of one or more prominent part (s) of objects, in particular of containers of substantially parallelepiped shape intended to be stored by stacking or stacking and more particularly of bricks

cardboard food.

  The present invention applies to all packages which can be stacked or sheaves and which have at least one protruding part, for example

  example on their tops preferably horizontal or substantially horizontal.

  We can cite as an example of prominent parts, necks and caps of containers, hooking, support or transport means (handles, hooks, handles ...), mechanical parts (protruding nuts), switchgear bodies control (switches, buttons, steering wheels ...), etc. The example of cardboard bricks with a prominent cap

  will be detailed by way of nonlimiting example below.

  The liquids currently sold on the market are sold in a wide variety of containers. Among these containers, many of them have simple, square geometric shapes intended to facilitate handling and to optimize the space necessary for their storage. This is particularly the case of cardboard volumes, commonly called "bricks". In particular in the food industry, these bricks have replaced part of the bottles, cans and other containers for many more or less viscous liquid products (juice

  fruit, milk, mineral water, wines, creams, soups, sauces ...).

  Today the original shape of the rectangular parallelepiped from which the bricks took their name, is available in many variants. Likewise, the closure systems have been varied by providing the latest generations of bricks with real screw caps offering numerous advantages such as improved comfort and precision of use, perfect sealing and therefore

  also better preservation of the contents when the container has been opened.

  These stoppers, larger than conventional pouring spouts, can also more easily be fitted with devices which guarantee that the

  bottle closure was not violated.

  Faced with all these advantages, these screw caps pose a

other kind of problem.

  -2- Indeed, screw caps are generally placed on the top or upper side of bricks where they protrude much more than did the old flat pouring spouts. Optimal arrangement and stacking is no longer possible. In addition, the caps must be protected against unintentional deformation and / or tearing which may occur during transport, handling or storage. Currently, padding is used, for example in expanded polystyrene, to complete the hollow spaces between the bricks whose top which carries the plug is made, for example, in the form of a sloping roof (inverted V). A lot of useful storage space is thus lost by the fact that we cannot use bricks whose shapes are optimal (regular parallelepipeds) for a compact stack in height, in

length and / or width.

  In addition, these padding becomes bulky and useless once the product is unpacked, for example, before shelving. They are therefore expensive and help to increase the already considerable volume of unpacking waste which the seller must regularly dispose of. In this sense, they are

  also harmful to the environment.

  The object of the present invention is in particular to overcome the

aforementioned drawbacks.

  To this end, it relates to a protective part of one or more prominent part (s) of objects, in particular of containers of substantially parallelepiped shape intended to be stored by stacking or stacking, characterized in that it is produced in the form of a part, in particular molded or thermoformed, consisting of a sheet or a plate shaped to present raised patterns, the latter defining two spaced parallel contact planes formed by the flat tops, respectively the flat bottoms , of protruding portions, respectively of recesses, occupying

  complementary surfaces in a median section plane of said part.

  Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to use containers with flat tops which are easily storable and stackable with a loss of space linked to the stopper which is minimal (regular parallelepipeds). By distributing over a larger area, the weight of the container (s), which is / are stacked (s) or stacked on one of these, the present invention allows the cap to be

  protected against crushing or sinking into the brick.

  This also prevents deformation or piercing of the bottom of the container above the cap. In addition, the protective part according to the invention also makes it possible to protect the stopper against openings, damage and soiling which may occur during the handling of objects or during their

  warehouse or store storage.

  The protective part according to the invention can also serve as a wedging part for, by trapping the prominent part of the packaged object, limiting its lateral movements and keeping the objects grouped together. The protective part of the present invention can also be used to arrange objects in the form of sets or lots made up, for example, of two, three, four or six units, the set (part (s) and object ( s)) being maintained by a common packaging, for example, a heat-shrunk film, preferably transparent. The protective part, made for example in a transparent synthetic material, then does not need to be removed before shelving in sales outlets, which saves time and

  saving of large bulky waste.

  The parts according to the invention can be produced in series, in particular by molding or thermoforming, and can be nested or stacked one inside the other, which makes it possible to reduce production and storage costs. In addition, given the small dimensions and the low weight of the

  parts produced their cost price is particularly interesting.

  Ecologically, these parts can be made from

  recycled synthetic materials and take up less space in garbage cans.

  Of course, and as already mentioned, the invention does not only apply to food bricks but to any type of object which can be

  stacked or stacked and which has at least one prominent part.

  The invention will be better understood thanks to the description below, which

  relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a part according to the invention intended to cover a object; FIG. 2A represents a perspective view of a part according to the invention intended for two objects; Figure 2B shows a top view of the part according to Figure 2A; FIG. 2C represents a side view of the part according to FIG. 2A; FIG. 3A represents a perspective view of a part according to the invention intended for three objects; FIG. 3B represents a top view of the part according to FIG. 3A; FIG. 3C represents a side view of the part according to FIG. 3A; FIG. 4A represents a perspective view of a part according to the invention intended for four objects; Figure 4B shows a top view of the part according to Figure 4A; Figure 4C shows a side view of the part according to the figure

4A;

  FIG. 5A represents a perspective view of a part according to the invention provided for six objects; Figure 5B shows a top view of the part according to Figure A; FIG. 5C represents a side view of the part according to FIG. 5A, and; FIG. 6 represents a variant of a part according to the invention

planned for four objects.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the protective parts 1 according to the invention are produced in the form of parts 1, in particular molded or thermoformed, constituted by sheets or plates shaped to present raised patterns 2, the latter defining two spaced parallel contact planes S and F formed by the flat tops 3, 3 ', 4, 4', respectively the flat bottoms 5, of protruding portions, respectively of recesses, occupying complementary surfaces in a median section plane said

parts 1.

  In order to illustrate an embodiment of the protective parts according to the invention, and without this being any limitation whatsoever, these have been chosen as being intended to receive a determined number of identical objects of the cardboard container or "brick" type, in particular for liquids, having the shape of a parallelepiped whose upper and lower faces are substantially planar and horizontal squares or rectangles. The shape and number of objects received by the protective parts which are shown here by way of illustration do not constitute any limitation either. One can, for example, design a protective part adapted to the shape of a brick of rectangular section, a protective part which can receive two different objects, a protective part produced in the form of a large plate -5 - size that can accommodate, for example, ten, twenty-five or an even greater number

  important of objects, for example arranged on pallets.

  As an illustrative example of the prominent part, the type of container mentioned above may have a stopper. This stopper can, for example, be produced in the form of a screw stopper of any geometric shape and, preferably, of cylindrical shape and relatively flat. Likewise, this prominent stopper can be located on any one of the faces of the container, even if, for obvious practical reasons, it will preferably be located on the face

superior of the latter.

  In order to be able to stack these bricks vertically on top of each other, it is necessary to make the upper faces of the bricks lying in the intermediate layers flat and to protect the plugs in order to prevent them from deforming or sinking under the weight of said upper layers. To do this, the parts according to the invention have a surface of the contact plane, formed by the flat tops of the relief patterns, greater than the

  contact surface of the protruding parts to be protected.

  In this way, the force resulting from the weight of the objects which is exerted on the prominent part to be protected is distributed over a larger surface,

  thus reducing the pressure applied.

  In a particularly simple embodiment, the protective part according to the invention is intended to protect a single prominent part

  of a single object. Figure I illustrates a piece I of this type.

  Such a part 1 is then characterized in that it is produced in the form of a part, in particular molded or thermoformed, constituted by a sheet or a plate of a thermoplastic material shaped to present a single raised pattern 2, the latter defining a contact plane S formed by the flat top 3 of the protruding portion. The shape of the surface of the protruding part P of the object to be protected is indicated by dotted lines. The contiguous peripheral side walls 7 delimit the external contour of the part 1. They are slightly inclined towards the outside in the direction of their lower edges which extend into an edge 11 folded outwards and have at least one peripheral recess 8 and stiffening patterns 9 molded or formed in said walls, said patterns providing additional bearing surfaces 10. The outer border 11 can be connected, in the corners, to the

  peripheral side walls 7 by one or more rib (s) 12 of reinforcement.

  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C represent a part 1 according to the invention intended to receive two objects, for example "bricks" of the type described above -6- by way of example, each brick being, for example, provided of a protruding plug P. The zones corresponding to the surfaces of these protruding plugs P are supposed to be discs and are shown in dotted lines. The part I comprises two spaced parallel planes: an upper contact plane S defined by relief patterns 2, namely by the flat vertices 3, 4 of protruding portions

  and a lower plane F defined by flat bottoms 5 of recesses.

  As very clearly shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, each protruding part P to be protected from the two containers (not shown) is associated with a relief pattern 2, in this case a flat top 3 of protruding portion, the shape of which, here square or rectangular, is adapted to that of the prominent part P. In order for the contact between the relief pattern 2 and the prominent part P to be optimal, it is recommended that the upper faces of the prominent parts be plane and of a sufficiently large section . Essentially, the surface of the contact plane S formed by the flat vertices 3, 4 and, where appropriate, flat vertices 3 ', 4' of the relief patterns 2, which are here protruding portions, is greater than the surface of the prominent parts P to be protected. Thus, the force which would have been exerted on the flat areas of the unprotected plugs P is distributed over the entire surface of the contact plane S reducing the pressure actually applied to the plugs P. FIGS. 2A and 2B also show that each protruding part P to be protected is associated with one or more pattern (s) in relief 2 shaped (s) to wedge, by imprisoning, the prominent part P and / or limit the lateral movements. The opposite side walls 6 which define certain sides of the flat tops 3, the shapes of which are adapted to the prominent parts P. as well as the peripheral side walls 7 of the part I serve to limit the lateral movements of these prominent parts P. The part I according to the invention can therefore also play the role of a hold or of holding objects having the

  prominent parts P to be protected.

  The relief patterns 2, the shapes of which are adapted to the shapes of the protruding parts P, can be linked together by one or more other relief pattern (s) 2. Thus, for example, the flat vertices 3 of portions protruding, whose shapes are adapted to the shapes of the protruding parts P of the two objects to be covered, can be connected to each other by flat vertices

  4 of additional protruding portions of more or less elongated shape.

  The part I further comprises contiguous peripheral side walls 7 delimiting the external contour of the part 1, the height of which is substantially equal to that of the highest protruding part P of the object to be stacked or stacked . As can be seen particularly clearly in FIGS. 2A and 2C, the contiguous peripheral side walls 7 delimiting the external contour of the part 1 are slightly inclined towards the outside in the direction of their lower edges. Similarly, the opposite side walls 6 delimiting the relief patterns 2 are also inclined so as to converge slightly in the direction of the flat vertices 3 and 4 to allow their interlocking. It is thus possible to store the parts I according to the invention with a minimum space requirement, for example, during their production, their transport or their storage with a view to

  their disposal (trash, containers).

  In order to reinforce the rigidity of the pieces I in the direction of the weight forces exerted by the objects placed on them, the contiguous peripheral side walls 7 delimiting the external contour of the piece 1 and / or the opposite side walls 6 delimiting the patterns in relief 2 have one or more peripheral recess (s) 8, in particular at their edges

superiors.

  For the same purpose, the contiguous peripheral side walls 7 delimiting the external contour of the part 1 also have one or more stiffening pattern (s) 9 molded or formed in said walls 7. The pattern (s) ( s) of stiffening 9 molded or formed in the peripheral side walls 7 and / or opposite 6 of said part form (s) at this level one or more additional support surface (s) 10 which allows (tent) to increase the contact surface formed by the flat bottoms 5 on the lower plane F. The stiffening pattern (s) 9 also facilitate stacking or nesting

  several pieces 1 on top of each other and their setting in the nested state.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the contiguous peripheral lateral walls 7 delimiting the external contour of the part I extend in their lower parts into an edge 11 folded outwards. The edge 1 1 is preferably folded towards the outside of the part 1 at a right or substantially right angle. Like the surfaces resulting from the flat bottoms 5 and the bearing surfaces 10, the border 1 thus makes it possible to increase the contact surface of the plane.

lower F of part 1.

  Furthermore, this outer edge 11 of the part 1, produced in accordance with the present invention, can be connected, in the corners, to the peripheral side walls 7 by one or more reinforcing rib (s) 12 which provide (s) rigidity. sufficient in these particularly exposed places of the part 1. This or these rib (s) 12 preferably extend outwards from the corner (s) in the direction of the bisector (s) of each corner. Although all the parts 1 of the present invention may be provided with one or more of these ribs 12, only the parts I in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings

  attached have been shown as being provided with such reinforcing ribs 12.

  Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show a part 1 according to the invention intended to receive three objects. It contains characteristic elements

  similar to that of the room for two objects which has been described in detail above.

  The upper contact plane S of the part 1 is defined by flat vertices 3, three of which have shapes adapted to the three prominent parts P and

other flat tops 4.

  FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C represent a part I according to the invention intended to receive four objects. It also has elements

  characteristics similar to that of the parts which have been described in detail above

  above. The upper contact plane S of such a part 1 is defined by four flat vertices 3 having shapes adapted to the four prominent parts

  named P as well as by other flat vertices 4, 4 '.

  As clearly shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the flat top 4 ′ is made in the shape of a cross being completely surrounded by the flat bottoms 5. In this way the width of the latter remains constant and the numerous rounded right angles which result therefrom form as many stiffening corners of the part 1. The opposite side walls 6 ′, 6 "which are the widest among the opposite side walls 6 delimiting the central flat top 4 ′, the shape of which is not adapted to the protruding parts P, allow to incorporate two recesses 8 ', 8 "opposite as well as two stiffening patterns 9', 9" opposite with their bearing surfaces 10 ', 10 "similar to those present on the side walls

peripherals 6.

  It will be noted, as can be seen in FIG. 4B, that the opposite stiffening patterns 9 'and 9 "are aligned with stiffening patterns 9 located at this level on the peripheral side walls 7. The opposite recesses 8' and 8" are preferably made at the same height as the step

device 8.

  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show a part I according to the invention capable of receiving or intended to cover six objects. It also has certain characteristics of the previous pieces. Furthermore, it will be noted that one of the six flat tops 3 whose shape is adapted to the shape of the protruding part P is produced in the form of a flat top 3 'completely surrounded

  by flat recesses 5.

  -9- Like the previous part, the part 1 intended to receive six objects has a central flat top 4 ′, the shape of which is not adapted to that of the prominent parts P. completely surrounded by flat bottoms 5. This flat top 4 'central has two pairs of opposite walls 6', 6 "wider also each provided with two recesses 8 ', 8" opposite, two stiffening patterns 9', 9 "opposite and two bearing surfaces 10 ', 10 ". The remarks concerning these structures which were made for the preceding figure remain valid. As can be seen in FIG. 6, a variant of the part I intended to cover four objects can also be produced in such a way that the relief patterns 2, the shapes of which are adapted to the shapes of the protruding parts P, are produced in the form of bottoms flat 5 recesses cut out and completely or partially surrounded by flat vertices 4. The central flat bottom 5 produced in the form of a longitudinal channel is not cut and serves, with the outer edge 11 and the bearing surfaces 10 of the stiffening patterns 9 on the peripheral side walls 7, of stiffening element and bearing surface on the lower plane F. The part I can also have two recesses 8 ′, 8 "opposite on two opposite walls of the peripheral side walls 7 preferably in the form of two lines parallel to the channel of the central flat bottom 5. This piece I can, like all the previous pieces, also have reinforcing ribs 12 (not shown), for example in each

  corner formed by the outer peripheral side walls 7 of the part 1.

  The part (s) I according to the invention is / are attached (s) to the top (s) of an object, set or group of objects and can / can be maintained (s) on the object, l 'together or grouping of objects by surrounding packaging, in particular of the heat-shrink type. It is thus possible to form a set of two, three, four, six or n objects having, attached (s) on its top, one or more piece (s) 1 produced according to the invention and which protect the parts

prominent P of said objects.

  For example, a batch of six bricks, for example fruit juice, each provided with a stopper can be arranged in six bricks sold individually, each brick being provided with a piece of the type of piece 1 intended to receive an object. , in the form of three lots of two bricks maintained and protected by a piece I receiving two objects, in the form of two lots of three bricks connected by a piece 1 shaped to protect three objects or in the form of a single covered lot by a piece I protecting both the six plugs. The different pieces 1 used to associate the number

- 10 -

  desired objects can be simply placed on said objects without a special fixing by gluing or taping is necessary. The part 1 according to the invention can also be linked with the protected objects by surrounding the assembly with a conventional packaging film, for example of the heat-shrinkable type. Finally, one or more transport devices such as handles, handles, etc. can be incorporated between the part 1 according to the invention and the film or, for example,

  directly glued to said part 1.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of

protection of the invention.

-11-

Claims (18)

  1. Protective part of one or more prominent part (s) of objects, in particular containers of substantially parallelepiped shape intended to be stored by stacking or stacking, characterized in that it is produced in the form of '' a part (1), in particular molded or thermoformed, constituted by a sheet or a plate shaped to present raised patterns (2), the latter defining two contact planes (S) and (F) parallel spaced formed by the vertices flat (3, 3 ', 4, 4'), respectively, the flat bottoms (5) of protruding portions, respectively, of recesses, occupying   complementary surfaces in a median section plane (M) of said part.   2. Part according to claim 1, characterized in that it is produced in the form of a part (1), in particular molded or thermoformed, constituted by a sheet or a plate of a thermoplastic material shaped to present a single pattern in relief (2), the latter defining a plane   contact (S) formed by the flat top (3) of the protruding portion.   3. Part according to claim I or 2, characterized in that the surface of the contact plane (S) formed by the flat vertices (3, 3 ', 4, 4') of the relief patterns (2) is greater than the surface of contact of the prominent parts (P) to be protected.   4. Part according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized   in that each protruding part (P) to be protected is associated with a pattern in   relief (2) whose shape is adapted to that of the prominent part (P).   5. Part according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized   in that each protruding part (P) to be protected is associated with one or more relief pattern (s) (2) shaped (s) to wedge, by imprisoning, the part   prominent (P) and / or limit its lateral movements.   6. Part according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized   in that the relief patterns (2), the shapes of which are adapted to the shapes of the protruding parts (P), are interconnected by one or more other motif (s) in relief (2).   7. Part according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized   in that the relief patterns (2) whose shapes are adapted to the shapes of the protruding parts (P) can be produced in the form of flat vertices (3 ')   completely surrounded by flat bottoms (5) of recesses. - 12-   8. Part according to any one of claims I to 6, characterized   in that the relief patterns (2) whose shapes are adapted to the shapes of the protruding parts (P) can be produced in the form of flat bottoms (5) of indentations cut out and completely or partially surrounded by flat tops (4).   9. Part according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized   in that it further comprises contiguous peripheral lateral walls (7) delimiting the external contour of the part (1) whose height is substantially equal to that of the highest protruding part (P) of the object to be stacked or to stack.   10. Part according to claim 9, characterized in that the peripheral lateral walls (7) contiguous delimiting the external contour of the part (1) are slightly inclined towards the outside in the direction of their lower edges and in that the lateral walls opposite (6, 6 ', 6 ") delimiting the relief patterns are also inclined so as to converge slightly towards the   flat tops (3, 3 ', 4, 4') to allow their nesting.   11. Part according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the contiguous peripheral side walls (7) delimiting the external contour of the part (1) and / or the opposite side walls (6, 6 ′, 6 ") delimiting the relief patterns have one or more peripheral recess (s) (8, 8 ', 8 "),   especially at their upper edges.   12. Part according to any one of claims 9 to 11,   characterized in that the contiguous peripheral side walls (7) delimiting the external contour of the part (1) have one or more pattern (s) of   stiffening (9, 9 ', 9 ") molded or formed in said walls.   13. Part according to claim 12, characterized in that the pattern (s) of stiffening molded (s) (9, 9 ', 9 ") or formed (s) in the peripheral side walls (7) and / or opposite (6, 6 ', 6 "), of said piece (1) form (s) to this   level one or more additional support surface (s) (10, 10 ', 10 ").   14. Part according to any one of claims 9 to 13,   characterized in that the adjacent peripheral side walls (7) delimiting the external contour of the part extend in their lower parts in a   border (1) folded outwards.   15. Part according to claim 14, characterized in that the outer edge (11) is connected, in the corners, to the peripheral side walls (7) by   one or more reinforcing rib (s) (12).   -13 - 16. Part according to claim 15, characterized in that the reinforcement rib (s) (12) extends outwards from the corner (s) according to the   direction of the bisector (s) of each corner.   17. Part (s) according to any one of claims 1 to 16,   characterized in that it (s) is / are attached (s) on the top of an object or set or group of objects and in that it (s) is / are maintained (s) on the object or the grouping of objects by surrounding packaging, in particular of the heat-shrunk type. 18. Set of objects presenting, reported on its top, one or more   several part (s) (1) produced according to any one of claims 1 to 17.