FR2873659A1 - One-piece closure system for thermoformed package comprises hinged flap with middle fold line and fastening engaging with other side of opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure system for a thermoformed package (1) used to transport and display goods, e.g. in a store, consists of a hinged flap (4) that covers an opening (3) in the package. The flap's hinge (5) is created by a line of reduced resistance where it joins the package; it has a central fold line (9) across the middle of the parallel to the hinge, and a fastening (13) connecting the free edge of the flap to the surface of the package opposite the hinge. The fastening can be in the form of a tongue that engages with a slit in the package, an adhesive, two pads of miniature hooks and loops, or a plastic button that fits into a matching cavity. The central fold is produced by a line of reduced elasticity in the flap that allows it to be folded as it is opened or closed.

Description

4583DEP 2873659

  The present invention relates to thermoformed packaging intended to contain products for their transport and presentation, in particular on a store shelf.

  Many types of thermoformed packaging are already known, comprising a body of which at least part is made from a sheet of thermoformable plastic material shaped hot and under pressure.

  Some thermoformed packages are entirely made of thermoformable plastic material, comprising for example two thermoformed half-shells connected to each other either by snap-fastening means, or by a combination of hinge and latching means, or by welding or peripheral bonding.

  Other thermoformed packages may consist of a half-shell of thermoformed plastic material, closed by a plate of another material, for example of cardboard.

  The invention relates more particularly to thermoformed packages in which the thermoformed packaging part comprises a lumen or opening formed in a thermoformed packaging face, with a flap dimensioned and articulated so as to be pivotable between an open position in which it s' angularly away from the light and a closed position in which it covers the light to close it.

  In a portion of thermoformed packaging, the difficulty lies in the realization of a shutter which, in the closed position, comes into at least partial overlap of the edges of the light, to ensure a satisfactory closure of the light.

  It has already been proposed to make the shutter shutter by a reported plate, secured to the face provided with light for example by gluing or welding. But this embodiment requires an additional operation of bonding or welding, which increases the cost of production and complicates the implementation.

  Thermoformed packages made entirely from a single sheet of thermoformable material have also been proposed: the sheet is then formed into two half-shells connected to each other by a linear hinge zone, the two half-shells being hulls fitting one against the other in an outline having at least a radially protruding portion; a light is produced in one of the half-shells, in the vicinity of the radially protruding portion; a shutter is cut in the radially protruding portion of the half-shell provided with the light, while maintaining a zone 4583DEP 2873659 2 full of hinge, not cut, in the vicinity of said light; the shutter can be folded down to block the light; it is possible to provide a folding flap of sufficient size to overflow around the light in the closed position, provided that the protruding part of the half-shells has a sufficient dimension.

  Such a structure requires a surplus of material, to constitute the protruding parts of half-shells, and substantially increases both the radial size of the packaging to achieve said protruding parts, and the overall dimensions of the packaging to achieve a light of sufficient size, being observed that the light is generally necessary for the at least partial gripping of the products housed inside the packaging, so that the light must have a sufficient size for the passage of the fingers of the user. The increase in radial size and depth congestion is a significant disadvantage in the packaging of products to be placed on the self-service store shelves. This in fact reduces the number of products that can be presented on a given size linear. And the increase in material leads to increase also the cost of production of the packaging.

  The problem proposed by the present invention is to design a new light closure structure in a thermoformed packaging part, and a method for producing it, which makes it possible to produce a one-piece system for closing the light by means of a shutter made by thermoforming and cutting from the single sheet of thermoformable material constituting the packaging part, without having to resort to the presence of radially protruding portions of thermoformed shell, or to an increase in thickness of the packaging for realization of a lateral light.

  According to the invention, it is sought to produce the closable lumen in any part of the thermoformed packaging, and not only on a lateral edge adjacent to a radially projecting portion.

  The invention aims at simultaneously reducing material losses and losses, to avoid the presence of surplus material or lost edges of the package beyond the portion containing the products.

  To achieve these and other goals, the invention provides a one-piece system for closing a lumen in a face of a thermoformed package, comprising a dimensionally pivotally pivoted flap around a hinge joint. shutter, between an open position in which it angularly deviates from the light and a closed position in which it covers the light, said shutter comprising a covering portion which, in closed position, overflows on the face opposite to shutter articulation; according to the invention: - the flap joint is located directly along an edge of the light, - the flap comprises at least a rectilinear transverse intermediate zone with reduced elasticity allowing its plastic deformation.

  Such a light closure structure can be made in one piece by only thermoforming and cutting operations, which substantially reduces the cost of production because the realization can be performed at a high rate, in masked time, simultaneously with the thermoforming of the shape. general packaging. Indeed, the structure of the flap can be made in the material itself constituting the opening of the light and, thanks to an elongation of this material obtained by thermoforming, cutting and plastic deformation, it is possible to obtain a flap which, in position closed, overflows beyond the outline of the light according to a covering part.

  Advantageously, the flap covering portion may comprise locking means for its releasable attachment to the face of the thermoformed packaging.

  These locking means may be of different types. For example, the locking means may comprise a tab engaging in a slot. Advantageously, the free end of the tongue can be oriented in the direction of the flap joint.

  Alternatively, the locking means may comprise an adhesive member which selectively adheres between the overlapping portion and the face of the package.

  The presence of said at least one rectilinear transverse intermediate zone with reduced elasticity is necessary for the deployment of the shutter after thermoforming and cutting. A particularly advantageous embodiment of such a rectilinear transverse intermediate zone with reduced elasticity can be obtained by giving it the shape of a hinge.

  For example, the rectilinear transverse intermediate zone with reduced elasticity is a thinning of the thermoformed material constituting the shutter.

  Advantageously, said at least one rectilinear transverse intermediate zone with reduced elasticity may be parallel to the flap joint. This produces a protruding flap portion which protrudes regularly over the entire area opposite the flap joint.

  The invention also proposes a method of manufacturing a thermoformed packaging provided with a one-piece system for closing a light in a packaging face 45S3DEP 2873659 according to the above provisions, the method comprising the following steps: a) thermoforming an area recessed or raised in the face, the recessed area or relief being limited by a contour having a rectilinear portion intended to constitute the flap joint, and the recessed or raised area comprising at least one rectilinear transverse intermediate area of reduced thickness, b) cutting the face according to the portion of the contour opposite to the rectilinear part, until reaching the two ends of said rectilinear part, c) deploying the flap thus formed, by pivoting around the flap joint and around said at least one rectilinear transverse intermediate zone of reduced thickness.

  Also, the invention provides a package having at least one thermoformed one-piece portion, said thermoformed one-piece portion having a one-piece light closure system as defined above.

  Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of thermoformed packaging with a one-piece light-closing system in closed and open positions in a tab-and-slot locking embodiment; FIG. 2 illustrates a one-piece light-closing system according to another embodiment with glue-point locking; FIG. 3 illustrates a one-piece light closure system according to another embodiment of the invention with locking by hanging surfaces; FIG. 4 illustrates a one-piece light closure system according to another embodiment of the present invention with adhesive padlocking; FIG. 5 illustrates a one-piece light closure system according to another embodiment of the present invention, thermoformed button locking; FIG. 6 illustrates another one-piece light closure system according to an embodiment of the present invention with injected button locking; FIG. 7 illustrates the thermoformed packaging portion of FIG. 1, in a first step of producing a one-piece light closure system according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 illustrates the thermoformed packaging portion of FIG. 1 during a second cutting step; FIG. 9 schematically illustrates, in side view, a thermoformed package with two half-shells provided with a one-piece light-closing system according to the invention; FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a thermoformed package according to another embodiment, with a monoblock system of light closure, the package having two articulated half-shells, illustrated in open position; and FIG. 11 illustrates the package of FIG. 10 with the two half-shells in the closed position.

  FIG. 1 is firstly considered, which illustrates in perspective a one-piece system for closing a light according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system is made in at least one thermoformed portion 1 of a partially illustrated package. The thermoformed portion 1 of packaging comprises a face 2, which may be a front face, a rear face or a side face, in which is cut a light 3 or passage between the outside of the package and the inside of the packaging. The light 3 is cut according to its periphery excluding a straight edge.

  The light 3 is associated with a flap 4 which is articulated on the face 2 according to a flap 5 constituted by the uncut rectilinear edge of the light 3.

  The flap joint 5 is made in a known manner, along the uncut rectilinear edge, in the form of a straight line along which the material forming the packing part 1 has a reduced thickness, favoring the deformation. The flap 4 can thus pivot, as illustrated by the arrow 14, between an open position 4a, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, and a closed position 4b, represented in solid lines. In the open position 4a, the flap 4 angularly deviates from the light 3. In the closed position 4b, the flap 4 covers the light 3.

  The shutter 4 is dimensioned larger than the light 3, so that, opposite the flap 5 joint, the flap 4 comprises a covering portion 6 which, in the closed position, overflows on the face 2 to cover it partially. In the figure, we distinguish the covering portion 6 constituted by the flap portion 4 located between the distal edge 7 of the flap 4 and the distal edge 8 of the lumen 3.

  It can be seen that the articulation 5 of the shutter 4 is situated directly along an edge of the light 3, whose shape it forms.

  We also see that the component 4 comprises, in the illustrated embodiment, a rectilinear transverse intermediate zone 9, parallel to the hinge joint 5, and whose appearance differs from the rest of the flap 4. This intermediate zone 4583DEP 2873659 6 rectilinear transverse 9 also has a reduced thickness, resulting from a thinning of the thermoformed material, so as to have a reduced elasticity that allows its plastic deformation for pivoting between a proximal portion 4c flap and a distal flap portion 4d.

  Equivalently, one could provide a plurality of rectilinear transverse intermediate zones, each allowing a pivoting between the adjacent flap portions.

  In the overlapping portion 6 of the shutter 4, a partial cut 10 has been made which defines a tongue 11 which can be engaged in a slot 12 of the face 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the free end of the tongue 11 is oriented towards the flap joint 5. The tongue 11 and the slot 12 constitute locking means 13 for releasably securing the flap 4 in the closed position as illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1, when the tongue 11 is engaged in the slot 12.

  To open the flap 4, the tongue 11 is released from the slot 12, and the flap 4 can be pivoted as illustrated by the arrow 14 around the flap articulation 5.

  Note that the closure system illustrated in Figure 1 is monobloc, in that the flap 4 and the face 2 are in one piece, made from a single sheet of thermoformable material.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the packaging part of FIG. 1, which is distinguished by a different structure of the locking means 13.

  In this case, the locking means 13 consist of an adhesive element 15, for example an adhesive point, which ensures the selective adhesion between the covering part 6 and the face 2. For the rest, the packing part 1 comprises the same elements as in the embodiment of Figure 1, and these elements are identified by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment in which the locking means 13 consist of a hanging surface 16, for example a surface consisting of a multitude of mini hooks which engage in an opposite surface provided with a multitude of mini loops. For the rest, the packaging part has the same elements as in the embodiment of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, another embodiment of the locking means 13 is illustrated. In this case, it is an adhesive patch 17, 4583DEP 2873659 7 made of a repositionable adhesive that makes it possible to selectively operate several successive openings and closures of shutter 4.

  In FIG. 5, the locking means 13 consists of a latching button 18 made directly by thermoforming the face 2 or the surface of the flap 4, and which engages by snapping into a corresponding hole of the other surfaces of face 2 and flap 4.

  Finally, in FIG. 6, another embodiment of the locking means 13 has been illustrated, comprising two respective holes 19a and 19b in the flap 4 and in the face 2, and an injected snap button 19c shaped for snap into both holes 19a and 19b.

  Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 which illustrate the successive steps of producing a monobloc system of light closure according to Figure 1.

  As is usually the case in the production of thermoformed packaging, starting from a flat plate of thermoformable plastic material, of suitable thickness to constitute, at the end of forming, the shell of the package, and in particular the part of thermoformed packaging 1. During thermoforming to form the shell, a hollow or raised zone 20 is formed in the face 2, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Said hollow or raised zone 20 is bounded by a contour having a portion rectilinear 21 intended to subsequently constitute the articulation 5 of the flap 4. The contour of the recessed or raised zone 20 comprises an opposite portion of contour 22, in opposition with the rectilinear portion 21.

  The hollow or raised zone 20 furthermore comprises at least one rectilinear transverse intermediate zone of reduced thickness 9. It is possible to design a hollow or raised zone 20 comprising two or more rectilinear transverse intermediate zones 9 of reduced thickness.

  During the next step, illustrated in FIG. 8, the face 2 is cut along the contour portion 22 opposite to the rectilinear portion 21, until it reaches both ends of said rectilinear portion 21. The bottom of the zone recessed or raised 20 is then partly detached, constituting the proximal portion 4c and the distal portion 4d of the flap 4 thus formed. With the proximal portion 4c and the distal portion 4d remaining folded towards each other as shown in FIG. 8, the flap 4 can be pivoted outwardly around the flap joint 5 as illustrated by the arrow 23 then can be deployed the flap 4, by relative pivoting of the distal portion 4d relative to the proximal portion 4c around the rectilinear transverse intermediate zone of reduced thickness 9 to make them coplanar. The shutter 4 4583 DEP 2873659 8 is then entirely constituted, and can be pivoted as illustrated by the arrow 14 in FIG. 1, between the open position 4a and the closed position 4b, and can be locked in the closed position by the locking means 13.

  In Figure 9, there is illustrated the application of the monoblock system of light closure described above to a package consisting of two half-shells 30 and 31 separated, snap-fit one on the other. The semicoque 30 comprises the flap 4 for closing a light 3.

  In Figure 10 and Figure 11, there is illustrated in perspective, respectively in the open position and in the closed position, another package having a one-piece light closure system according to the invention. The packaging then consists of a one-piece structure forming two half-shells 41 and 42 hinged in an intermediate hinge zone 43, the half-shell 42 having a hole 3 closed by the flap 4.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below.

4583DEP 2873659 9

Claims (9)

CLAIMS,   1 monobloc system for closing a lumen (3) in a face (2) of a thermoformed package (1), comprising a flap (4) dimensioned and articulated so as to be pivotable, around a flap joint ( 5), between an open position (4a) in which it angularly deviates from the light (3) and a closed position (4b) in which it covers the light (3), said flap (4) having a covering portion ( 6) which, in the closed position, overflows on the face (2) opposite the flap joint (5), characterized in that: - the flap joint (5) is located directly along an edge of the light (3), - the flap (4) comprises at least one rectilinear transverse intermediate zone (9) with reduced elasticity allowing its plastic deformation.   2 System according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering portion (6) comprises locking means (13) for its releasable attachment to the face (2) of the thermoformed packaging (1).   3 System according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking means (13) comprise a tongue (11) engaging in a slot (12).   4 System according to claim 3, characterized in that the free end of the tongue (11) is oriented towards the flap joint (5).   System according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking means (13) is an adhesive element (15) providing selective adhesion between the overlapping portion (6) and the face (2) of the package (1) .   6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rectilinear transverse intermediate zone (9) with reduced elasticity is hinge-shaped.   7 System according to claim 6, characterized in that the rectilinear transverse intermediate zone (9) with reduced elasticity is a thinning of the thermoformed material forming the flap (4).   8 System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said at least one rectilinear transverse intermediate zone (9) with reduced elasticity is parallel to the flap joint (5).   Process for the production of a thermoformed packaging provided with a one-piece system for closing a light in a face (2) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) thermoforming a hollow or raised zone (20) in the face (2), the recessed or raised zone (20) being limited by a contour having a rectilinear portion (21) 4583 DEP 2873659 10 intended to constitute the articulation of flap (5), and the recessed or raised area (20) having at least one rectilinear transverse intermediate zone (9) of reduced thickness, b) cutting the face (2) according to the contour portion (22) opposite to the rectilinear part (21), until reaching the two ends of said rectilinear part (21), c) deploying the flap (4) thus constituted by pivoting around the flap joint (5) and around said at least a rectilinear transverse intermediate zone (9) of reduced thickness.     Packaging having at least one thermoformed monobloc part (1), characterized in that it comprises a light closing system (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.