ES2956027T3 - Box for food products that also contains liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

Box (1) for containing food products of the type capable of changing from a vertical working configuration (C1) to a depressed configuration at rest (C2), and vice versa, said box (1) comprising a lower wall (10) and a plurality of foldable perimeter walls (11, 12, 13, 14) with respect to said lower wall (10) to change from said depressed configuration (C2) to said vertical configuration (C1), and vice versa, said plurality of foldable perimeter walls comprising at least one front wall (11) having an inner face (11a) and an outer face (11b), and at least one side wall (12) adjacent to said front wall (11), wherein said inner face (11a) of said at least one front wall (11) is in contact with the inner face (10a) of said lower wall (10), at least when said box is in said sunken configuration (C2), said box (1) further comprising at least one sealed connection wall (20) between said at least one front wall (11) and said at least one side wall (12), which is adapted to prevent liquid from leaving the box, at least when said box is in said vertical configuration (C1), said at least one connecting wall (20) is provided with a first folding line (25) defining a first connecting fin (21) and a second connecting fin (22), a second folding line (26) arranged between said first connecting fin (21) and said at least one first front wall (11), and a third folding line (27) arranged between said second connecting fin (22) and said at least one side wall (12), said first folding line (25) comprising a first end (25a) arranged at the meeting point (P) between said at least one front wall (11), said at least a side wall (12) and said lower wall (10).), and a second free end (25b) opposite said first end, said first fin (21) also comprising a first face (21a) and a second face (21b). ), said second face comprising a gluing area (21c) for gluing to the outer face (11b) of said front wall (11), said box being characterized in that said first folding line (25) is provided with a slit (40) which starts from the second free end (25b) in the direction of said first end. (25a). (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Box for food products that also contains liquids

field of invention

The present invention relates to a box for food products. In particular, such a box is used to contain food products that may give rise to dripping and therefore leakage of liquids. Therefore, food products with a high liquid content such as, for example: already dressed salads, pasta with sauce, sweet doughs with rum, sweet doughs with honey, etc., are all within the scope of protection of this invention.

Known Prior Art

According to the known art, boxes adapted to contain such food products are known.

For example, a box is known adapted to change from a vertical working configuration to a substantially flat resting flattened position, and vice versa. Such a box comprises a quadrangular bottom wall and four foldable perimeter walls with respect to the bottom wall, such as to change from the aforementioned flattened configuration to the vertical configuration, and vice versa. The perimeter walls comprise two opposite front walls, each having an internal face and an external face, and two side walls both adjacent to the two front walls. The inner face of the two front walls is in contact with the inner face of the lower walls, when the box is in its flattened configuration. The box also comprises four watertight connection walls between the two front walls and the two side walls. These connecting walls are adapted to prevent liquid from escaping from the box, at least when the box is in its vertical configuration. Each connecting wall is provided with a first fold line defining a first connecting flap and a second connecting flap, a second folding line arranged between the first connecting flap and one of the two front walls, and a third line folding arrangement arranged between the second connecting flap and one of the two side walls adjacent to the front wall. The first folding line comprises a first end arranged at the meeting point between the front wall, the side wall and the bottom wall, and a second free end opposite the first end. Furthermore, the first flap comprises a first face and a second face, the first face comprising a gluing area to be glued to the external face of the front wall. Therefore, when the box is vertical, any fluids contained inside the box cannot escape, at the first end of the first folding line, given that there is continuity of material between the front and side walls, so way to prevent them from coming out.

For example, document US2009261151, which coincides with the preamble of claim 1, describes a box that has characteristics similar to those mentioned above.

Such a solution makes it possible to solve the problem of effectively containing liquids; However, changing from the flattened to the vertical configuration achieved by moving the two front walls from the position in which they are in contact with the bottom wall to that in which they are rotated substantially 90° with respect to the bottom, often It happens, in the vertical configuration of the box, that the first flap separates from the front wall to which it is glued, or that the first folding line is torn, starting from the second end. This happens because the user's force, used to raise the front wall 90° with respect to the bottom wall, is transmitted to the first flap, from the free end of the first fold upwards towards the second end of the first fold line. Such a situation becomes even more critical when the user, as is generally the case, rotates the front wall with respect to the lower wall by an angle slightly greater than 90°. Therefore, the greater this angle of rotation, and when it exceeds 90°, the greater the risk of causing the first flap to separate from the front wall, or of breaking the container along the first line of creased.

Therefore, such a problem leads to obtaining, when vertical, boxes that are not perfectly square or that have flaps that do not perfectly blend with the front wall, not even with folding slit lines. This, in the eyes of the customer, reduces the aesthetic quality of the product. Furthermore, such a problem may result in a non-perfect final closure of the box.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to implement a box that does not have the disadvantages of the known technique.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to prevent the box from being unattractive from an aesthetic point of view after the breakage of the glued connection between the first flap and the front wall.

A further object of the present invention is to ensure perfect closure of the box.

Summary of the invention

These and additional objects are achieved by means of a device for supporting a box for containing food products according to claim 1.

In particular, the objects are achieved by a box for containing food products of the type with the capacity to change from a vertical working configuration to a substantially flattened one, and vice versa, said box comprising a bottom wall and a plurality of perimeter walls foldable with respect to to said bottom wall to change from said flattened configuration to said vertical configuration, and vice versa, said plurality of foldable perimeter walls comprising at least one front wall having an internal face and an external face, and at least one side wall adjacent to said front wall, said internal face of said at least one front wall being in contact with the internal face of said lower wall, at least when said box is in said flattened configuration, said box further comprising at least one watertight connection wall between said at least one front wall and said at least one side wall, which is adapted to prevent liquid from leaving the box, at least when said box is in said vertical configuration, said at least one connection wall being provided with a first folding line defining a first connecting flap and a second connecting flap, a second folding line arranged between said first connecting flap and said at least one front wall, and a third folding line arranged between said second flap connection and said at least one side wall, said first fold line comprising a first end arranged at the meeting point between said at least one front wall, said at least one side wall and said bottom wall, and a second opposite free end to said first end, said first flap further comprising a first face and a second face, said second face comprising at least one gluing area to be glued to the external face of said front wall, said box being characterized in that said first line folding device is provided with a slit that starts from the second free end in the direction of said first end.

Therefore, such a solution allows the box to change from the flattened configuration to the vertical configuration so that said second flap is capable of absorbing part of the force used by the operator to carry out such an operation and to avoid, therefore , that the gluing point between said external face of said front wall and said first face of said first flap is broken, or to prevent a possible break from occurring at the origin of the first folding line.

In particular, the owner has observed that, to achieve the desired effects, said slit extends a length between 10% and 30% of the total length of said first fold line.

Preferably, said at least one first flap and said at least one second flap are substantially triangular, said first flap and said second flap being folded (and overlapping) with each other along said first fold line, at least when said box is is in its vertical configuration, and are substantially coplanar with each other in said flattened configuration, that is, they are in the same plane. Therefore, in practice, when the box is placed vertically, the first and second flaps are folded overlappingly along the first fold line and are simultaneously folded, respectively, with respect to the front and side walls. . In this way, the watertight connection wall is outside the box, with the second flap folded over the first flap and with the first flap glued to the front wall. On the other hand, when the box is in its flattened configuration, the two flaps are coplanar, that is, not folded with respect to the first folding line, thus forming a substantially rectangular wall. In this configuration, the two flaps are located between said at least one front wall and said at least one side wall adjacent to said at least one front wall.

In the specific embodiment, the bottom wall is rectangular, therefore the box accordingly comprises two front walls, two side walls and four watertight connecting walls, each positioned between a side wall and the front wall adjacent thereto. . In practice, a watertight connecting wall will be inserted between each side and front wall.

Still according to the invention, the front wall comprises a protruding tooth along a lateral edge and comprises, at least in part, said at least one second fold line; said at least one side wall comprises at least one flattened portion along a side edge comprising, at least in part, said at least one third fold line and is sized to accommodate said at least one tooth at least when said box It is in its vertical configuration.

Advantageously, said at least one tooth is coplanar with said at least one front wall.

In particular, said at least one tooth is arranged above said second folding line, while said at least one flattened portion is arranged above said third folding line, at the same height as that of the corresponding coupling protrusion tooth. .

The presence of the protruding tooth allows the front wall to be immobilized in a firm position on the side wall of the box at an angle of approximately 90°. This solves the problem of preventing the box from collapsing back into its flattened position once it is brought into its upright configuration.

In particular, said at least one projecting tooth is square, at least in the area that contacts the flattened portion, which, therefore, will also be square. This increases the tightness when the tooth locks in the protruding portion. Preferably, said at least one projecting tooth is rectangular.

Additionally, said box comprises a plurality of upper covering walls; each covering wall is foldably connected to the respective perimeter wall. Said covering walls are adapted to close said box reversibly, when it is in its vertical position.

Furthermore, the box comprises means for holding two opposite upper walls of said upper covering walls reversibly joined together.

Additionally, said box is made of paper, cardboard, said paper, or cardboard, being coated on at least one side of the box with at least one layer of plastic, or biocompostable and/or biodegradable plastic.

In the case of a plastic layer, it comprises a material selected from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Description of the figures

These and additional aspects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment provided herein by way of example only and without limitation, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the box according to the invention in its vertical configuration;

Figure 2A is an axonometric front view of the box when changing from the flattened to the vertical configuration, or vice versa;

Figure 2B is a plan view only of the box when changing from the flattened to the vertical configuration;

Figure 2C is a view of the box in its flattened configuration;

Figure 3 is a front and partial axonometric view of the box according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a front and partial view of the box according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the die-cut element for manufacturing the box according to the invention;

Figure 6A is a detailed view of the die-cut element of Figure 5;

Figure 6B is a detailed view of the die-cut element of Figure 6A, inverted 180°.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention

With particular reference to such figures, 1 denotes the box according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the box 1 for containing food products. Such a box 1 is of the type with the capacity to change from a vertical working configuration C1 (see Figure 1) to a flattened configuration at rest C2 (see Figure 2C, in which the lines that are not visible are dashed). , and vice versa. Figure 5 shows the initial die-cut element 300 to manufacture the box of Figure 1. The box 1 comprises a lower wall 10 and a plurality of perimeter walls 11, 12, 13, 14 foldable with respect to the lower wall 10 in around the folding lines 70, 71, 72, 73 (see Figures 5 and 6A), so as to change from the flattened configuration C2 mentioned above to the vertical configuration C1, and vice versa. The rotation of the folding walls 11, 12, 13, 14 mentioned above with respect to the folding lines 70, 71, 72, 73 is approximately 90°. The plurality of folding perimeter walls 11, 12, 13, 14 comprises two front walls 11, 13 opposite each other and each having an internal face 11a, 13a and an external face 11b, 13b and two opposite side walls 12, 14 each other and adjacent to the front walls 11 and 13. Preferably, the bottom wall 10 is rectangular, therefore, the perimeter walls are four in number.

It should be noted that the two front walls 11 and 13 of the box 1 are identical to each other, just as the two side walls 12 and 14 are also identical to each other.

Furthermore, the internal face 11a and 13a of the front wall 11 and 13 are in contact with the internal face 10a of the lower wall 10, at least when the box 1 is in its flattened configuration C2.

The box 1 further comprises a watertight connection wall 20 between the front wall 11 and the side wall 12 which is adapted to prevent liquid from leaving the box 1, at least when the box 1 is in its vertical configuration C1. .

It should be noted that, in the embodiment described herein, the connecting walls 20 are four in number. In additional embodiments, such number may also be different, that is, three or another, without departing from that mode of the scope of protection of the present invention. This clearly depends on the number of perimeter walls with which the box 1 is provided. The other watertight connection walls 20 are located between the front wall 11 and the second side wall 14, and between the second front wall 13 and the two side walls. 12 and 14 adjacent to it.

Each connecting wall 20 is provided with a first folding line 25 defining a first connecting flap 21 and a second connecting flap 22, a second folding line 26 arranged between the first connecting flap 21 and the front wall 11 ( or the front wall 13), and a third folding line 27 arranged between the second connecting flap 22 and the side wall 12 (or the side wall 14) adjacent to the front wall 11 (or the front wall 13). The first folding line 25 comprises a first end 25a arranged at the meeting point P between the front wall 11 (or the front wall 13), the side wall 12 (or the side wall 14) and the bottom wall 10, and a second free end 25b opposite the first end 25a. The first flap 21 further comprises a first face 21a and a second face 21b, the second face 21b comprising a gluing area 21c to be glued to the external face 11b of the front wall 11.

Advantageously, the first folding line 25 is provided with a slit 40 that starts from the second free end 25b in the direction of the first end 25a. In this way, when the box 1 changes from the flattened configuration C2 to the vertical configuration C1, the second flap 22 will no longer be subjected to forces that, starting from the free end 25b, tend to tear the first fold line 25 or, in In the best cases, they separate the gluing point between the first flap 21 and the front wall 11 or 13 glued thereto.

In particular, the slit 40 extends a length of 15% with respect to the total length of the first folding line 25. In any case, in additional embodiments, said slit 40 can also extend a length between 10% or 30% of the total length of the first folding line 25, thereby without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. This is valid for each first folding line 25 of the remaining watertight connection walls 20 which - as stated above - are identical to the connection walls 20 described above. The only difference is that the connecting walls 20 are arranged between the front wall 11 and the side wall 14, and between the front wall 13 and the two side walls 12 and 14.

According to the invention, the first flap 21 and the second flap 22 of the connecting wall 20 are substantially triangular. The first flap 21 and the second flap 22 are folded superimposedly and nested along the first folding line 25, at least when the box is in the vertical configuration C1, and are substantially coplanar, that is, they are located in the same plane, at least when box 1 is in the flattened configuration C2. In this latter configuration C2, the watertight connection wall 20 becomes rectangular and is arranged between the front wall 11 and the adjacent side wall 12 (see Figure 2C), while in the vertical configuration C1, the connection wall 20 is It becomes triangular and is located outside the box 1, that is, outside the front wall 11, or 13 (see Figures 2A, 3 and 4).

According to the embodiment described herein, the front wall 11 comprises two projecting teeth 45. The first tooth 45 of such two projecting teeth is arranged along a first side edge 110a (Figure 6A) of the front wall 11 comprising , at least in part, the second folding line 26, while the second tooth 45 is arranged along the second projecting lateral edge 110b opposite the edge 110a. Furthermore, the side wall 12 comprises two flattened portions 51, 51. One of such flattened portions 51 is arranged along a side edge 120a of the side wall 12 comprising, at least in part, the third fold line 27 and It is sized to accommodate the tooth 45, at least when the box 1 is in its vertical configuration C1. The second flattened portion 51 is located along edge 120b opposite edge 120a. It cooperates with the projecting tooth 45 which is located on the front wall 13, on one edge 130a of the two edges 130a, 130b of the front wall 13.

Additionally, the two teeth 45 of the front wall 11 or the front wall 13 are coplanar with the front wall 11, or with the front wall 13.

In particular, each projecting tooth 45 is square, at least in the area that contacts the corresponding flattened portion 51, which will therefore also be square. This increases the seal when the tooth 45 is locked in the projecting portion 51. Preferably, each projecting tooth 45 is rectangular.

Furthermore, each tooth 45 is arranged above the second fold line 26.

Similarly, each flattened portion 51 is disposed above the third fold line 27. From this and hereinafter, it is understood that "above" denotes the position adopted by the projecting teeth 45 and by the flattened portions 51 when the case is vertical.

As is visible in Figures 3 and 4, when the box 1 is vertical and, therefore, the two front walls 11 and 13 were rotated with respect to the lower wall 10 by an angle slightly greater than 90°, the teeth 45, which during this rotation are dragged along the side walls 12 and 14, are pressed into the flattened portions 51, thus preventing, in fact, the return of the front walls 11 and 13 to their original position, that is say flattened on the bottom wall 10.

Additionally, the box 1 comprises a plurality of upper cover walls 15, 16, 17, 18. Each cover wall 15, 16, 17, 18 is foldably connected to the respective perimeter wall 11, 12, 13, 14. Such cover walls 15, 16, 17, 18 are adapted to reversibly close the box. , when it is in its vertical position C1, so that it covers the food product contained inside.

In particular, the box 1 comprises means 60 for holding together reversibly two upper walls 16, 18. Such holding means 60 comprise a tooth 61 and a groove 62 created, respectively, in one, 16, of the four upper walls and on the upper wall 18 opposite the upper wall 16.

Finally, the box 1 is made of paper and is covered on the internal side 1a, that is, on the side in contact with the food product to be contained, with at least one layer of biocompostable plastic. In additional embodiments, such a coating layer may also be made of biodegradable plastic or other material adapted to make contact with food.

Additionally, in further embodiments, such layer comprises a material selected from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Figure 5 shows in plan the punched element 300 to obtain the box 1 according to the invention.

Such punched element 300 comprises a plurality of folding lines 70, 71, 72, 73 to define the rectangular lower wall 10 with respect to which the perimeter walls 11, 12, 13, 14 are foldable. Such perimeter walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 then comprise two front walls 11, 13 having an internal face 11a, 13a and an external face 11b, 13b and two side walls 12 and 14 adjacent to the front walls 11 and 13. The internal face 11a, 13a of the two front walls is in contact with the internal face 10a of the lower wall 10, at least when the box is in its flattened configuration C2.

The punched element 300 also has the four still-planar, watertight connection walls 20, which are arranged between the two front walls 11, 13 and the two side walls 12, 14.

The generic connection wall 20 comprises a first fold line 25 defining a first connection flap 21 and a second connection flap 22, a second fold line 26 arranged between the first connection flap 21 and the front wall 11 (or the front wall 13), and a third folding line 27 arranged between the second connecting flap 22 and the side wall 12 (or the side wall 14) adjacent to the front wall 11 (or the front wall 13). The first folding line 25 comprises a first end 25a arranged at the meeting point P between the front wall 11 (or the front wall 13), the side wall 12 (or the side wall 14) and the bottom wall 10, and a second free end 25b opposite the first end 25a. The first flap 21 further comprises a first face 21a and a second face 21b, the second face 21b comprising a gluing area 21c to be glued to the external face 11b of the front wall 11.

The first flap 21 further comprises a first face 21a and a second face 21b, the second face 21b comprising a gluing area 21c to be glued to the external face 11b of the front wall 11 (see Figure 6B). Furthermore, the first folding line 25 is provided with a slit 40 that starts from the second free end 25b in the direction of the first end 25a (see also Figures 6A and 6B).

Still as shown in Figure 5, said slit 40 extends a length of 15% of the length of the first folding line 25.

Furthermore, although the watertight connection wall 20 is rectangular, when the die-cut element 300 is seen in plan - therefore, when the box 1 has not yet been manufactured -, the first flap 21 and the second flap 22 are substantially triangular.

Furthermore, each front wall 11 comprises two projecting teeth 45, one of the two teeth being along a side edge 110a of the front wall 11, while the other projecting tooth 45 is located along the opposite edge 110b of the front wall 11. Such side edge 110a comprises, at least in part, the second fold line 26. The side wall 12 comprises two flattened portions 51. Each flattened portion 51 is located along a side edge 120a of the side wall 12 comprising, at least in part, the third fold line 27 and each flattened portion is sized to accommodate the tooth 45, at least when the box 1 is in its vertical configuration C1.

Each tooth 45 is coplanar with the front wall 11, or 13, with which it is integrally combined.

Furthermore, the teeth 45 are arranged above the respective second fold line 26, when the box is vertical.

The flattened portions 51 are also arranged above the third fold line 27, when the box is vertical.

Furthermore, the die-cut element 300 comprises a plurality of upper cover walls 15, 16, 17, 18. Such covering walls are foldably connected to the respective perimeter wall 11, 12, 13, 14, along the folding lines 81, 82, 83, 84. Such covering walls 15, 16, 17, 18 are adapted to close the box 1 reversibly, when it is in its vertical position C1.

Finally, in Figure 5 the means 60 for keeping two opposite upper walls 16, 18 of the upper covering walls 15, 16, 17, 18 reversibly joined together are visible.

Claims (12)

1. A box (1) for containing food products of the type with the capacity to change from a vertical working configuration (C1) to a flattened configuration at rest (C2), and vice versa, said box (1) comprising a lower wall (10 ) and a plurality of perimeter walls (11, 12, 13, 14) foldable with respect to said lower wall (10), to change from said flattened configuration (C2) to said vertical configuration (C1), and vice versa, said plurality having of folding perimeter walls comprising at least one front wall (11), an internal face (11a) and an external face (11b), and at least one side wall (12) adjacent to said front wall (11), said internal face being (11a) of said at least one front wall (11) in contact with the internal face (10a) of said lower wall (10), at least when said box is in said flattened configuration (C2), said box (1) comprising ), furthermore, at least one wall (20) of watertight connection between said at least one front wall (11) and said at least one side wall (12), which is adapted to prevent the liquid from leaving the box, at least when said box is in said vertical configuration (C1), said at least one connecting wall (20) being provided with a first folding line (25) that defines a first connecting flap (21) and a second flap (22). ) connection, a second folding line (26) arranged between said first connecting flap (21) and said at least one first front wall (11), and a third folding line (27) arranged between said second flap (22). ) connection and said at least one side wall (12), said first folding line (25) comprising a first end (25a) arranged at the meeting point (P) between said at least one front wall (11), said at least one side wall (12) and said bottom wall (10), and a second free end (25b) opposite said first end, said first flap (21) further comprising a first face (21a) and a second face (21b), said second face (21b) comprising at least one gluing area (21c) to be glued to the external face (11b) of said front wall (11), said box characterized in that said first line (25) of folded is provided with a slit (40) that starts from the second free end (25b) in the direction of said first end (25a). 2. A box according to claim 1, characterized in that said slit (40) extends a length between 10% and 30% of the length of said first folding line (25). 3. A box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one first flap (21) and said at least one second flap (22) are substantially triangular, said at least one first flap (21) being folded superimposedly. and said at least one second flap (22) along said first folding line (25), at least when said box is in said vertical configuration (C1), and being substantially coplanar, at least when said box is in said flattened configuration (C2). 4. A box according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said lower wall (10) is rectangular, said box (1) further comprising two front walls (11, 13), two side walls (12, 14) and four walls (20) of watertight connection. 5. A box according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said at least one front wall (11) comprises at least one tooth (45) projecting along at least one lateral edge (110a, 110b ) of said front wall (11) and comprises, at least in part, said at least one second folding line (26), said at least one side wall (12) comprising at least one flattened portion (51) along at least one side edge (120a, 120b) comprising, at least in part, said at least one third fold line (27), said at least one flattened portion being sized to accommodate said at least one tooth at least when said box It is in its vertical configuration. 6. A box according to claim 5, characterized in that said at least one projecting tooth (45) is square, at least in the area that contacts said at least one flattened portion (51). 7. A box according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said at least one tooth (45) is coplanar with said at least one front wall (11). 8. A box according to claim 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that said at least one tooth (45) is arranged above said second folding line (26). 9. A box according to one or more of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said at least one flattened portion (51) is arranged above said third folding line (27). 10. A box according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized by comprising a plurality of upper covering walls (15, 16, 17, 18), each covering wall being foldably connected to the respective perimeter wall, said covering walls being adapted to close said box reversibly, when it is in its vertical position (C1). 11. A box according to claim 10, characterized by comprising means (60) for keeping two upper walls (16, 18) of said upper covering walls (15, 16, 17, 18) reversibly joined together. 12. A box according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterized by being made of paper, cardboard, said paper, or cardboard, being coated on at least one side with at least one layer of plastic, or biocompostable plastic and /or biodegradable.