WO2000076883A1

WO2000076883A1 - Package for eggs

Info

Publication number: WO2000076883A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/001186
Authority: WO
Inventors: Axel HÖGMAN
Original assignee: Eggstra Pack AB
Current assignee: Eggstra Pack AB
Priority date: 1999-06-11
Filing date: 2000-06-08
Publication date: 2000-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2001-12-11
Also published as: SE9902222D0; AU5583200A

Abstract

The invention concerns a package for holding articles, such as eggs, comprising a number of interconnected storage compartments. The package comprises one upper and one lower container unit and upper and lower article-holding parts arranged in the respective container units. Upon joining-together of the upper and lower container units, pairs of the upper and lower article-holding parts form compartments adapted for storage of the articles for which the package is intended. In addition, the upper or lower article-holding parts are re-introduceably detachable from the associated container unit and each article-holding part comprises a foot portion (9) to allow them to be placed in a standing position on their own after their removal from their associated frame part.

Description

PACKAGE FOR EGGS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a package, and more particularly to a package designed to hold articles, such as eggs, and comprising a number of interconnected storage compartments.

Background

One package of the kind defined above is for example the conventional cardboard container often used to package eggs. This container usually is made from cardboard and comprises one upper and one lower part, at least the lower part being formed with depressions designed to hold the eggs captive between the upper and lower parts. However, this type of package essentially is of expendable type, and in most cases, the package is thrown away once the product is finally consumed.

Object of the Invention

One object of the invention therefore is to provide a package that is re-useable and in addition may be used for other purposes .

Summary of the Invention

The above objects are achieved in accordance with the teachings of the invention by means of a package comprising one upper and one lower container unit. Upper and lower article-holding parts, respectively, are arranged in respectively the upper and lower container units. The article-holding parts are arranged in pairs, such that when the upper and the lower container units are joined together, one lower article-holding part corresponds to one upper article-holding part. In this position, the article-holding parts thus brought together form spaces or compartments, which preferably have a configuration adapted to the product for which the package is intended, such as an egg-shaped configuration, when the package is to hold eggs. In addition, at least one of the article-holding parts of each pair is arranged to be re-introducably detachable from the respective container unit and is provided with a foot portion allowing the article-holding parts, when removed from the container unit, to assume a standing position on their own and thus to form a standing or serving unit . Preferably, said one or several container units comprise frame parts for receiving said article-holding parts .

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container units are provided with mutually co-operating locking means by means of which the container units may be locked to one another when in their joined-together position, ensuring safe transportation of the articles. The locking means may be located either on the frame parts or on the article- holding parts.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the above-mentioned spaces or compartments that the upper and lower article-holding parts define when joined together in pairs, are of egg-shaped configuration in order to make it possible to transport the eggs safely and to allow re-use of the upper or lower article-holding parts as egg cups .

In accordance with yet another embodiment, at least one of the joined-together upper and lower article- holding parts of each pair is re-introducably detachable from the associated frame part. In this manner, the entire package may be re-used, for example for its original purpose .

In addition, the facing ends of the article-holding parts may be arranged to mutually seal the joint between the two seal elements in the joined-together position. The space or compartment thus formed constitutes a tightly sealed unit, provided the article-holding parts have no openings formed therein.

In order to achieve efficient loading and packing for transport, the frame parts advantageously may be given a polygonal shape, which furthers arrangement of a plurality of packages in juxtaposed relationship.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the package preferably is provided with a handle to allow convenient lifting and transportation of the package. In addition, the handle preferably is articulated and foldable, such that the handle, during transport, may extend along one of the polygonal lateral edges of the package, in order to facilitate arrangement of the packages adjacent and on top of one another, but may be folded up to a position of use for lifting. Also, the handle may by detachably secured to the package.

Advantageously, the two frame parts may be interconnected by articulation means, such as hinges, which facilitates handling and reduces the need for the locking means mentioned above.

Finally, the frame parts advantageously are in the form of plates with openings formed therein. The article- holding parts are easily insertable through said openings .

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig 1 is a perspective view of the package in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, showing the package in the open position of the latter,

Fig 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig 1, the package assuming a closed position,

Fig 3 is a perspective view, in a view as seen obliquely from below, of detail components removed from the package of Figs 1 or 2 , Fig 4 is a perspective view of another detail component removed from the package of Figs 1 or 2 , shown in position of use,

Fig 5 is a sectional perspective view of the package of Figs 1 and 2 , and

Fig 6 is a perspective view of two sets of the components shown in Fig 3 in a position stacked one upon the other.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig 1 comprises an upper frame part 1 and a lower frame part 2, having an essentially rectangular shape in accordance with the shown embodiment. Upper and lower article- holding parts 3 and 4, respectively are fitted into the frame parts 1, 2, the article-holding parts, when in their joined-together position shown in Fig 2, defining a space or compartment for holding articles. The upper article-holding parts 3, six in the present case, together with the upper frame part 1 form an upper container unit 5, and in a corresponding manner the lower article-holding parts form a lower container unit 6 together with the lower frame part 2.

In the embodiment shown, the frame parts 1, 2 are configured as plates having openings formed therein, through which the article-holding parts 3, 4 are inserted. Once the article-holding parts 3, 4 are thus received in the openings, resilient pressure means 18, see Fig 5, prevent them from dislodging from their position by themselves. Each article-holding part 3, 4 is formed with a wider upper border rim 7, 8, see Fig 3, and when the article-holding parts are inserted in their respective frame part 1, 2, said border rims abut against the face surrounding the corresponding opening. A ledge (not shown) preferably is formed around the periphery of the respective opening for the purpose of receiving said wider border rim, such that those faces of the article- holding parts 3, 4 that are turned towards one another in the joined-together position, more or less register with those faces on the respective frame part 1, 2 that are turned in the same direction. By fitting the article- holding parts narrowly in the openings, it is possible to eliminate the above-mentioned resilient pressure means 18 or equivalent means.

In accordance with this embodiment, the upper as well as the lower article-holding parts 3 and 4, respectively, may be re-introducably and detachably received in the openings, and consequently the article- holding parts 3, 4 are re-introducably detachable from the respective frame parts 1, 2. Foot portions 9 are arranged on the lower article-holding parts 4, said foot portions 9 being configured as depressions and protrusions formed in the product material itself, see Fig 3. The foot portions 9 allow the lower article- holding parts 4 to stand on their own when detached from the lower frame part 2 , see Fig 4. When in their standing position, the lower article-holding parts 4 may be used to display and serve the packaged articles 10, which in the present case are eggs. In addition, the foot portions 9 also are instrumental in guiding an upper package when stacking of the latter on a lower one, in that the top portions 11 of the upper article-holding parts 3 have a configuration matching that of the foot portions 9 of the lower article-holding parts 4, the support faces 14, 15 of the foot portions being configured to ensure that they abut against said top portions 11, see Figs 3 and 6. In the shown embodiment, said support faces 14, 15 are configured as a inverted bowls, gripping the top portion of the underlying article-holding part upon stacking. This arrangement provides an extended load-receiving area while at the same time mutual horizontal displacement movements of stacked packages are prevented, such as may occur for instance during transport. In addition, an articulated joint 12 is provided between the upper and lower container units and this embodiment also includes a handle to allow the package to be lifted in a simple manner.

Fig 2 shows the package of Fig 1 in a closed position. In this position locking means 16 disposed on the upper frame part 1 engage the border rim of the lower frame part 2, see Figs 2 and 5.

Fig 3 illustrates an upper article-holding part 3 and a lower article-holding part 4 as detached from the frame parts 1 and 2, respectively, and assuming a joined- together position so as to form a unit . Those faces of the article-holding parts 3, 4 that are turned towards one another preferably are provided with locking means (not shown) for interlocking the parts in the position shown in Fig 3. The locking means could be designed in a number of various ways, for instance as snap-type fastener means .

Fig 4 shows a lower article-holding part 4 in a position in which it is used for serving, an egg in the present case. The article-holding part 4 stands in an upright position thanks to its foot portion 9.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawing figures but could be varied as to its details within the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims without departure from the basic idea of the invention. For example, the various frame parts may have a different shape. Like in the enclosed drawing figures, the frame parts may have a rectangular shape but they could likewise for instance be triangular, hexagonal or circular, depending on the intended applications. Furthermore, the number of respectively upper and lower article-holding parts is not relevant to the invention. The container units could, as mentioned previously, be provided with locking means and such means could be configured in different ways and be disposed either on the article-holding parts or the frame parts. For example, the locking means could include snap means or means that grippingly engage the edges of the frame parts. In addition, it is not necessary that the upper and lower frame parts are hingedly interconnected, but the upper frame part could be freely supported on the lower frame part in the joined-together position.

In order to make the package even easier to pack, the above-mentioned handle could be hingedly connected to one of the lateral edges of the package, in order to allow the handle to be folded to a position, wherein it extends in juxtaposed relationship to the side edge, and thus occupies less space laterally. The handle could also be detachably fastened to the package. Furthermore, the upper and lower article-holding parts could be attached to or be detachably fastened to the associated frame part, and a number of combinations of respectively attached and detachable upper and lower article-holding parts are conceivable. For example, the upper article- holding parts could be attached to the upper frame part whereas the lower article-holding parts are detachably secured to the lower frame part. In this case, the lower article-holding parts preferably could have a complementary configuration, allowing them, when removed from the lower frame part, to be joined together in pairs and to form storage units. A number of different fastening arrangements to attach the article-holding parts to the associated frame parts are possible, and for some types of applications the locking means could even be eliminated. Although the package described above is primarily intended for package of eggs, the package could of course be used for other types of products as well. For example, those article-holding part faces that are turned towards one another could be arranged as mutually sealing faces, making the package useable to hold liquid products. The configuration of the article-holding parts could differ to fit different products. To pack similar products with the aid of different article-holding parts, the fastening parts of the article-holding parts could be adapted to fit into the same frame part, which makes it possible to keep production costs low. In this manner, also different types of article-holding parts may be fitted into the same frame part. The above-described type of package thus is very versatile.

In addition, the upper part could for instance be a plate-shaped member or an integrally formed unit, such as for example the upper part of the initially mentioned egg carton of conventional type.

Claims

1. A package for holding articles, such as eggs, comprising a number of interconnected storage compartments, c h a r a c t e r i s d in that the package comprises one upper and one lower container unit (5 and 6, respectively) and upper and lower article- holding parts (3 and 4, respectively) arranged in said upper and lower container units, pairs of said upper and lower article-holding parts (3 and 4, respectively), upon joining-together of the upper and lower container unit (5 and 6, respectively), forming compartments adapted for storage of said articles, at least one of said upper and lower article-holding parts (3 and 4, respectively) of said pair being re-introducably detachable from the associated container unit and comprising a foot portion (9) to allow the article-holding part in question (3 and 4, respectively) to stand on its own separately after its removal from said container unit (5 and 6, respectively) .

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable article-holding parts (4) are set in a frame structure (2), preferably a plate having openings formed therein for reception of said article-holding parts.

3. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the package comprises one upper as well as one lower frame part (1 and 2, respectively) and upper and lower article-holding parts (3 and 4, respectively) fitted into said frame parts to form one upper and one lower container unit (5 and 6, respectively), pairs of said upper and lower article-holding parts (3 and 4, respectively) , upon joining together of the upper and lower container units (5 and 6, respectively), forming spaces adapted for storage of said articles.

4. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower container units (5 and 6, respectively) are provided with mutually co- operating locking means (16) to secure said units in their joined-together position to ensure safe storage of said articles located inside said spaces.

5. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking means (16) are disposed on one upper and one lower frame part (1 and 2, respectively) .

6. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking means (16) are disposed on the upper and lower article-holding parts (3 and 4, respectively).

7. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each pair of upper and lower article- holding parts (3 and 4, respectively) together form an egg-shaped space.

8. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the facing end portions of the article- holding parts (3 and 4, respectively) are arranged for mutual sealing.

9. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container units (5 and 6, respectively) have an essentially polygonal configuration .

10. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said package is provided with a handle (13) .

11. A package as claimed in claim 9 and 10, wherein said handle (13) is articulated and foldable between a position of use and a position of transportation, in which latter position said handle essentially extends in juxtaposed relationship with one of the polygonal side edges of the package defined by the container unit (5,

6) .

12. A package as claimed in claim 10, wherein said handle is detachably secured.

13. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper container unit (5) is connected to the lower container unit (6) via a hinge means (12) .