EP1529737B1 - Hinged lid container - Google Patents

Abstract

The case has lower and upper semi-shells (1, 2) connected by a hinge (3) to fold the semi-shell (2) on the semi-shell (1) to close the case. An outer elastic cover (24) is hooked by lugs (13, 15) to prevent the opening of the case. Blocking plates (18) contact an inner side of the semi-shell (2) to prevent the movement of a lateral wall of the semi-shell (2) towards the inner side under an effect of an external force.

Description

The present invention relates to a hinged box comprising a lower half-shell and an upper half-shell connected by a hinge for folding the upper half-shell on the lower half-shell so as to close the box. This box, which can be made of transparent plastic material, is intended for example to store products of the type pastry products, pastry or caterer, on store shelves large area. Such a box is described in DE 3108434.

In big-box stores for example, the products of the type of pastries, pastries or caterers are often stored packed in transparent plastic boxes having a lower half-shell and an upper half hinged hinged and can close one over the other. In general, these boxes are closed by means of a plurality of pressures disposed at the periphery of each of the half-shells. This type of closure has several disadvantages. First of all, the packing staff, who have to close the boxes, complain that their thumb and forefinger are sore from the pressure to close the boxes. In addition, closing the boxes by interlocking pressures has the disadvantage of being able to be opened easily and with discretion, which facilitates shoplifting. Finally, because of the type of closure, the two upper and lower shells are supported on one another by means of a flat surface in the junction plane of the two half-shells. As a result, the closure of the boxes is not extremely tight, and dust or other pollutants can easily enter the boxes.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing a hinged box comprising an upper half-shell and a lower half-shell, which can be used for packaging products such as pastries, pastries or caterer intended in particular to be exposed on store shelves large area, having a closure means easier to implement and leading to a safer and more sealed closure that the means of known closure for this type of box.

For this purpose the invention relates to a hinged box comprising a lower half-shell and an upper half-shell connected by a hinge for folding the upper half-shell on the lower half-shell so as to close the box, each half-shell having a peripheral flange, said peripheral flanges being shaped so that in the closed position of the box, the peripheral flange of the upper half-shell engages in the peripheral flange of the lower half-shell. In this box the peripheral rim of the upper half-shell comprises an elastic outer skirt oriented in the direction of the bottom of the upper half-shell and having an opening angle towards the outside of the box, the peripheral rim of the half -coque lower comprises a locking means and a locking means such that in the closed position of the box, the skirt of the peripheral rim of the upper half-shell comes to hook under the locking means to prevent the opening of the box, and the locking means come within the upper half-shell so as to prevent the displacement of a side wall of the upper half-shell inwardly under the effect of external thrust . The angle of the skirt of the rim of the upper half-shell may be variable along the periphery of the half-shell.

The locking means is constituted for example by at least one lug projecting towards the inside of the box and disposed at the upper part of the peripheral rim of the lower half-shell.

The locking means may consist of at least one stud projecting towards the opening of the lower half-shell, arranged on the lower edge of the rim of the lower half-shell.

The hinged box is for example of generally rectangular shape with straight sides and rounded corners, and the lugs are arranged in the rounded corners and along at least one rectilinear side of the edges of the lower half-shell, and at the at least one stud is disposed along at least one rectilinear side and at least one stud is disposed at the junction of a rounded corner and a rectilinear side.

Preferably, the angle of opening of the skirt is greater in the rounded corners than in the rectilinear parts.

The locking means may also comprise at least one groove extending at the periphery of the lower half-shell, in which the rim of the upper half-shell engages in the closed position.

The box may be rectangular or square, and the locking means may include at least one groove extending along a straight edge of the box.

Preferably, the attachment of the hinge to the lower half-shell is shifted towards the bottom of the lower half-shell and the attachment of the hinge to the upper half-shell is arranged along the lower edge of the skirt of the rim of the upper half-shell, to ensure a centering of the upper half-shell relative to the lower half-shell at the time of closing.

Preferably, in the closed position, the skirt of the rim of the upper half-shell is resiliently supported laterally against the inner wall of the rim of the lower half-shell, in order to seal the closure.

The rim of the lower half-shell may include in a corner a precut ear to facilitate the opening of the box. In addition, the skirt of the outer rim of the upper half-shell may comprise, in the vicinity of the corner intended to cooperate with the corner of the lower half-shell which has an ear, a pre-cut tongue intended to facilitate the opening of the box. in addition to the ear.

The bottoms of the half-shells may comprise grooves arranged so that the grooves of the bottom of the lower half-shell of a box can cooperate with the grooves of the bottom of the upper half-shell of another box so as to prevent the sliding of boxes stacked on top of each other.

Preferably, the bottom of at least one half-shell comprises a grid block.

The edge of the lower half-shell may further comprise at least one ventilation rib.

The box according to the invention which is known as a click-closure hinged box has the advantage of closing easily and quickly, and without requiring any particularly troublesome effort on the part of the personnel in charge of close the boxes. This results in time and comfort savings that also generate productivity gains.

Because of its closure system, the opening of the box requires the tearing of an ear provided for this purpose, so it follows that the opening of the box is immediately visible, which discourages theft by unscrupulous visitors. In addition the closure is such that the seal is improved. As a result, inputs of dust, insects or other pollutants, as well as crumb outlets, are substantially reduced. This results in a clear improvement in hygiene for the consumer.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une boîte à charnière comprenant une demi-coque inférieure et une demi-coque supérieure reliées par une charnière permettant de rabattre la demi-coque supérieure sur la demi-coque inférieure de façon à fermer la boîte.
• la figure 2 est une vue de profil d'une boîte selon la figure 1.
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon un plan médian longitudinal d'une boîte du type représenté à la figure 1, refermée.
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'une boîte du type de la boîte représentée à la figure 1, ouverte.
• les figures 5 A à 5 K représentent des vues en coupe en différents endroits des bords latéraux des demi-coques inférieures et supérieures d'une boîte.
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessus d'une boîte fermée.
• la figure 7 est une vue de dessus d'une boîte fermée montrant des moyens d'ouverture.

The invention will now be described in more detail but in a nonlimiting manner with reference to the appended figures in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hinged box comprising a lower half-shell and an upper half-shell connected by a hinge for folding the upper half-shell on the lower half-shell so as to close the box .
• Figure 2 is a side view of a box according to Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along a longitudinal median plane of a box of the type shown in Figure 1, closed.
• Figure 4 is a top view of a box-type box shown in Figure 1, open.
• Figures 5A to 5K show sectional views at different locations of the side edges of the lower and upper half-shells of a box.
• Figure 6 is a top view of a closed box.
• Figure 7 is a top view of a closed box showing opening means.

The box shown in FIG. 1, of generally rectangular shape, comprises a lower half-shell 1, and an upper half-shell 2, connected by a hinge 3 which makes it possible to tilt the lower half-shell with respect to the half-shell. upper shell to close or open the box. In the following, it is considered that the open box is arranged horizontally, that the closure plane of the box is horizontal and that, therefore, when it indicates that a component extends horizontally, it means that it extends parallel to the plane of closure of the box, and when it indicates that it extends vertically, it means that it extends perpendicular to the plane of closure of the box.

The lower half-shell 1 has a bottom 4 and a side wall 6 extending around the bottom 4, the side wall 6 being delimited by a peripheral edge generally marked by 7. The side wall 6 has reinforcing ribs 8 some of which are extended to form grooves 9 on the bottom 4 of the lower half-shell 1. The bottom 4 comprises a grid block 5 which tends the bottom and improves the rigidity of the assembly.

The peripheral rim 7, Z-shaped section extending outwardly of the lower half-shell 1, comprises an inner horizontal strip 10 disposed at the upper edge of the side wall 6 and extending towards the outside the lower half-shell 1, all around it. This internal horizontal band 10 extends towards the outside of the box by a vertical band 11 extending around the entire periphery of the half-shell 1. This vertical band 11 extends outwards by an external horizontal strip 12 The outer horizontal strip 12 extends on 3 sides of the lower half-shell 1, the fourth side being constituted by the hinge 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the junction between the hinge 3 and the vertical strip 11 is shifted toward the bottom of the lower half-shell 1. This particular arrangement, as will be seen below, makes it possible to ensure centering the upper half-shell 2 relative to the lower half-shell 1 when closing the box.

The peripheral flange 7 of the lower half-shell 1 comprises locking lugs arranged at the upper part of the peripheral rim 7 of the lower half-shell, and projecting towards the inside of the box. These lugs are on the one hand lugs 13 arranged in the rounded corners 14 of the lower half-shell 1 (three lugs are visible in the figure but the box contains a lug in each corner), on the other hand lugs 15 s extending along the rectilinear edges 16 and the rectilinear edge 17 located opposite the hinge 3 (in the figure only a lug 15 is visible). These pins have the function as will be seen later to ensure the locking of the box when the upper half-shell 2 is folded down on the lower half-shell 1. In addition, they stiffen the longitudinal edges of the half shell.

The peripheral rim 7 also has on its lower edge, at the junction with the side walls 6 of the half-shell 1, studs 18 projecting and extending vertically upwards, that is to say, in the direction of the opening of the half-shell. These pads are intended to ensure a locking of the rim of the upper half-shell 2 when it is folded down on the lower half-shell 1. As can be seen in Figure 1, the pads 18 are distributed firstly on the rectilinear edges of the lower half-shell 1 and secondly at the junction of rounded corners and straight edges.

The upper half-shell 2 comprises a bottom 20 surrounded by a side wall 21 having reinforcing ribs 22. The bottom 20 having flutes 25 projecting outwardly of the box. The side wall 21 is delimited by a peripheral rim 23 of generally U-shaped section extending towards the outside of the box so as to constitute an outer skirt 24. This peripheral rim 23 of the lower half-shell 2 is dimensioned so that, when the half-shell 2 is folded down on the half-shell 1, the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2 engages in the peripheral rim 7 of the lower half-shell 1. The skirt 24 which extends towards the outside of the box, toward the bottom of the lower half-shell 2, is elastic so as to be able to tighten to pass between the lugs 13 and 15 when the lower half-shell 2 is folded on the lower half-shell 1, and able to expand so as to be locked under these lugs 13 and 15. The width of the peripheral rim 23 of the lower half-shell 2 is chosen so that the peripheral rim 23 of the half lower shell 2 can be interlocked between the vertical strip 11 of the peripheral flange 7 of the lower half-shell 1 and the groove studs 18 arranged on the lower edge of the flange 7 of the lower half-shell 1.

With these arrangements, when the box is closed, that is to say when the upper half-shell 2 is folded down on the lower half-shell 1 and the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2 is embedded in the peripheral rim 7 of the lower half-shell 1, the skirt 24 of the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2 is locked under the lugs 13 and 15 arranged on the upper part of the peripheral rim 7 of the half-shell 1. This locking prevents lifting the upper half-shell 2 relative to the upper half-shell 1 so as to open the box. In addition, the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2 is locked against the studs 18 of the peripheral rim of the upper half-shell 1 and which extend inside the upper half-shell. The pads provide a blocking of the side walls of the half-shell 2, when these side edges are subjected to an external pressure tending to push them inwards. As a result, the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2 is blocked on the one hand upwards, on the other hand laterally, resulting in a tamper-proof locking of the box closure.

However, and to allow the opening of the box by a user, the outer horizontal strip 12 comprises, in one of the rounded corners of the box, a prefitted lug 19 intended to be torn off to open the box.

In addition, and to facilitate opening, the skirt 24 of the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2 may comprise a tongue 19 'disposed in the vicinity of the angle intended to come into contact with the angle of the lower half-shell which includes the ear 19. The user who wants to open the box, grasped with one hand the tongue 19 'and the other ear 19, and pulls on one and the other so as to remove them, which easily unlocks the box in the corresponding corner. It is then easy to open the box completely.

Finally because of the relative dimensions of the peripheral flange 23 of the upper half-shell 2 and the peripheral flange 7 of the lower half-shell 1, and because of the elasticity of the skirt 24 of the peripheral flange 23 of the half-shell upper 2, the skirt 24 of the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2 abuts all around the vertical band 11 of the peripheral flange 7 of the lower half-shell 1. Because of this contact of the skirt 24 and the vertical wall 11, the closure of the box has a certain significantly improved sealing compared to the sealing of the known boxes of the prior art. This sealing has the advantage of preventing for example the entry of dust or the release of crumbs.

However, it is desirable that the closure of the box allows controlled ventilation, more or less important depending on the nature of the packaged products, in order to ensure that the products retain their products. qualities.

In order to provide this ventilation, the peripheral rim 7 of the lower half-shell 1 has airfoil-shaped ventilation ribs 30 projecting towards the outside of the box so as to form ventilation ducts inside. , having a baffle to prevent the passage of dust.

For example, the box has two ribs on each of the sides not having the hinge, and the two ribs on the same side are arranged in the vicinity of the two end angles, so as not to weaken the edge of the side corresponding. The number and dimensions of the ribs, in particular their depth and their width, are adapted according to the importance of the desired ventilation. The box can also, do not include such ventilation ribs.

The way the hinge 3 comes to connect on the one hand to the peripheral rim 7 of the lower half-shell 1 and on the other hand to the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2, is more visible in FIG. it can be seen that the hinge 3 connects to the peripheral rim 7 of the lower half-shell 1 at mid-height of this peripheral rim and that it is connected to the lower part of the skirt 24 of the peripheral rim 23 of the half 2. Because of this arrangement, when the upper half-shell is folded on the lower half-shell 1, the upper half-shell 2 is automatically centered relative to the lower half-shell 1, and other part in the closed position, as seen in Figure 3, the peripheral rim 24 of the upper half-shell 2 is embedded in the peripheral rim 7 of the lower half-shell 1 including along the hinge 3 In this figure 3, we also see com the peripheral rim 24 of the upper half-shell 2 is locked in the peripheral rim 7 of the lower half-shell 1, where the skirt 24 is locked under a lug 15 extending towards the inside of the box, and the peripheral rim 24 coming to lock against a stud 18 extending inside the box.

In order to ensure a good elasticity of the peripheral skirt 24 of the peripheral rim 23 of the upper half-shell 2, the outward opening angle of the skirt 24 is not constant. In particular in the parts corresponding to the straight edges of the upper half-shell, the opening angle of the skirt is relatively low by about 10 °, as can be seen in the section shown in FIG. 5 J. On the other hand, in the parts corresponding to rounded corners of the box the angle is more important as it is seen on the section HH, and makes about 20,17 °. This angle varies regularly from the most extreme value corresponding to the cut HH to the lowest value JJ, passing through intermediate values as for the section II.

As can be seen on sections AA through JJ, distributed around the half-shells, the sections of the peripheral flanges of the lower half-shell 1 and the upper half-shell 2 depend on where the cut is performed. In particular on the straight edge opposite the hinge, corresponding to the AA cut, the peripheral flange 7 of the half-shell 1 comprises on the one hand a lug 15 extending towards the inside of the box and on the other hand a stud 18 extending upwards. In the straight lateral portions of the lower half-shell 1, depending on where the cut is made, the peripheral flange 7 has a lug 15 and a flange 18 as indicated by the section DD, or only a lug 15 such as shows the cut EE, or even, neither pin nor groove pad as it corresponds to the cut FF.

In the corners, at the location corresponding to the section BB, the peripheral rim comprises only a lug 13. At the junction between the rounded corner and the rectilinear part, which correspond to the section CC, the peripheral flange 7 comprises a pin 13 and a start of pad 18 extending vertically. The cut KK shows the shape of the peripheral rims 7 and 23 of each of the half-shells and their connection with the hinge 3.

In FIG. 6, which represents a transparent closed box seen from above, in which the bottom of the lower half-shell is seen in transparency through the upper half-shell, it can be seen that the grooves 25 of the upper half-shell 2 are disposed between the grooves 29 of the lower half-shell 1. Due to this arrangement, when stacking closed boxes, the grooves of the lower half-shell of a box disposed on another box, come s' fit into the grooves of the upper half-shell of the box placed underneath. As a result, box on another box is blocked laterally which prevents the boxes from sliding over each other, even when presented on an inclined display. The advantage is noticeable both in the packaging workshop and for shelving.

The box which has just been described is of rectangular shape, but this box can also be of any shape, for example round or oval.

In the box described above, the skirt of the peripheral rim of the upper half-shell simply has two variations of inclinations. But, either when the box is round, or when the box is large, the peripheral skirt may include a plurality of variations of the inclination of the skirt, including a straight portion. These variations of inclination of the skirt of the peripheral rim have the effect of increasing the flexibility of the skirt and thus to facilitate its elastic behavior necessary to close the box.

The box that has just been described is for example transparent plastic material such as amorphous APET, or non-transparent such as crystallized CPET, and manufactured by thermoforming from a sheet of plastic material. Other plastics can be used. These boxes are used, for example, for the storage of pastries, pastries or caterers in big-box stores, but they can be used for other purposes, be they food or otherwise.

But a box of this type can also be obtained by injection. It is then possible to make a peripheral rim of the lower half-shell in the form of a groove. In this case the locking of the peripheral rim of the upper half-shell nested in the peripheral rim of the lower half-shell is no longer made by pads but by a rim of the groove. Thus the peripheral rim of the upper half-shell of the box is maintained not at a few points but over the entire periphery of the upper half-shell. This arrangement improves the inviolability of the closure.

It will be noted that the device for blocking the peripheral rim may consist of any intermediate solution between a groove and distributed studs. on the outskirts. In particular, this means may consist of one or more grooves extending along the longitudinal edges of a square or rectangular box possibly supplemented by one or more studs arranged in the corners.

Similarly, the locking lugs may be of greater or lesser width and, for example, extend over a large part of a straight edge.

Claims (15)

1. Hinged box comprising a lower half-shell (1) and an upper half-shell (2) which are connected by a hinge (3) which makes it possible to lower the upper half-shell (2) onto the lower half-shell (1) such as to close the box, each half-shell (1, 2) comprising a peripheral edge (7, 23), the said peripheral edges being formed such that in the position of closure of the box, the peripheral edge (23) of the upper half-shell (2) fits into the peripheral edge (7) of the lower half-shell (1), characterised in that the peripheral edge (7) of the upper half-shell (2) comprises a resilient outer skirt (24) which is oriented in the direction of the base (20) of the upper half-shell (2) and has an angle of opening towards the exterior of the box, and in that the peripheral edge (7) of the lower half-shell (1) comprises a locking means (13, 15) and a blocking means (18), such that in the position of closure of the box, the skirt (24) of the peripheral edge (23) of the upper half-shell (2) is hooked beneath the locking means (13, 15) in order to prevent the box from opening, and the blocking means (18) comes inside (2) the upper half-shell such as to prevent the displacement of a lateral wall (21) of the upper half-shell (2) towards the inside under the effect of an external thrust.
2. Hinged box according to claim 1, characterised in that the angle of opening of the skirt (24) of the edge (23) of the upper half-shell (2) is variable along the periphery of the upper half-shell (2).
3. Hinged box according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the locking means comprises at least one lug (13, 15) which projects towards the inside of the box and is disposed on the upper part of the peripheral edge (7) of the lower half-shell (1).
4. Hinged box according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the blocking means comprises at least one stud (18) which projects upwards in the direction of opening of the half-shell, and is disposed on the lower rim of the edge (7) of the lower half-shell (1).
5. Hinged box according to claim 4, characterised in that it has a generally rectangular shape with straight sides (16) and rounded corners (14), in that lugs (13) are disposed in the rounded corners and lugs (15) are disposed along at least one straight side (16) of the peripheral edge (7) of the lower half-shell (11), and in that at least one stud (18) is disposed along at least one straight side (16) and at least one stud (18) is disposed at the join of a rounded corner (14) and a straight side (16).
6. Hinged box according to claim 5, characterised in that the angle of opening of the skirt (24) is larger at the rounded corners than at the straight parts.
7. Hinged box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the blocking means comprises at least one groove which extends on the periphery of the lower half-shell, and in which the edge of the upper half-shell is embedded in the closure position.
8. Hinged box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it has a generally rectangular or square shape, and in that the blocking means comprises at least one groove which extends along one straight side of the box.
9. Hinged box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the fastener of the hinge (3) to the lower half-shell (1) is offset towards the base (4) of the said lower half-shell, and in that the fastener of the hinge (3) to the upper half-shell (2) is disposed along the lower ridge of the skirt of the peripheral edge (23) of the said upper half-shell (2), in order to assure centring of the upper half-shell (2) relative to the lower half-shell (1) at the moment of closure.
10. Hinged box according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that, in the closure position, the skirt (24) of the peripheral edge (23) of the upper half-shell (2) is supported resiliently laterally against the inner wall (11) of the peripheral edge (7) of the lower half-shell (1), in order to assure the sealing of the closure.
11. Hinged box according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the peripheral edge (7) of the lower half-shell comprises in one corner an ear (19) which is pre-cut in order to facilitate the opening of the box.
12. Hinged box according to claim 11, characterised in that it additionally comprises a pre-cut tongue (19') which is secured to the skirt (24) of the outer edge (23) of the upper half-shell (2) in the vicinity of the corner which is designed to co-operate with the corner of the lower half-shell (1) which comprises an ear (19), the said tongue (19') being designed to facilitate the opening of the box as a complement to the ear (19).
13. Hinged box according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the bases (4, 20) of the half-shells (1, 2) comprise channels (9, 25) which are disposed such that the channels (9) in the base (4) of the lower half-shell (1) of a box can co-operate with the channels in the base of the upper half-shell of another box, such as to prevent sliding of boxes which are stacked one upon another.
14. Hinged box according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the base (4) of at least one half-shell (1) comprises a latticed floor (5).
15. Hinged box according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the edge (7) of the lower half-shell (1) comprises at least one ventilation rib (30).

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