WO2003000572A1

WO2003000572A1 - Flower presentation packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2003000572A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/001967
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurent Michel José NUTTENS
Original assignee: La Malle Au Tresor S.A.R.L.
Priority date: 2001-06-20
Filing date: 2002-06-08
Publication date: 2003-01-03
Also published as: FR2826341B1; EP1401736A1; FR2826341A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a one-piece blank that is used to form a container intended for packaging and presenting everyday items, such as flower arrangements. The aforementioned blank comprises weakening lines (1 to 7) which define a central polygonal area (8), said polygonal area being designed to form the base of the container. Moreover, said blank comprises lateral areas (9 to 12) which extend alongside the edges of the polygon to form the lateral walls of the container. Said lateral areas are successively interconnected by means of junction areas (13 to 16) which can be folded like an accordion (19). The junction areas (13 to 16) are folded outwards like an accordion (19), while the lateral areas (9 to 12) comprise weakening lines (5) so that said lateral areas can be folded in towards one another close to the top of the container such that the opening thereof can be at least partially closed.

Description

PACKAGE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF FLOWERS

The invention is in the field of packaging and presentation of articles of current consumption, and more particularly floral compositions or the like. In particular, these compositions can be made from natural or artificial elements, such as plants or flowers. It relates to a blank of semi-rigid material to form a container for receiving such articles, as well as the container obtained from such a blank.

Containers are known for transporting and presenting floral arrangements. Among these containers are known those formed from a precut blank which is foldable on itself. We can for example refer to patents W09637133 (CHARRIN), EP0881167 (BERTOLA), FR2741594 (MOSCHETTO) and EP2763230 (DUBOIS) which describe such blanks.

A major drawback of these containers lies in their closure by interlocking tabs inside openings, or even in their shaping by assembly of elements. Such arrangements go against a desirable seal of the container, in particular intended to receive floral compositions which must be maintained in a humid or even liquid medium.

It has been proposed by US5005760 (LAMBERTUS et al.) To form a container from a blank comprising weakening lines for its fold back on itself. These weakening lines delimit a polygonal central zone of the blank intended to form the bottom of the container, this central zone being bordered at its sides by lateral zones connected successively to each other by junction zones to form the lateral walls of the container. The blank being folded up to form the container, the latter is kept in conformation by means of a lace circulating at its top through openings made in the lateral areas of the blank. It will then be noted that it is necessary that the blank material be resistant and of good resistance, and that the container, although obtained by folding a blank, be arranged to have sufficient resistance compatible with the possible reception of a substrate for the flower arrangement. Still according to US5005760, it has been proposed to fold the bellows junction zones, to fold them against the internal face of the side areas of the blank in order to stiffen the side walls of the container, giving them an increased thickness with respect to the thickness of the blank itself.

It will also be noted in this connection that it has been proposed by FR2788041 (VIEVILLE) a structurally preformed container in the shape of a basket obtained by injection of plastic material. However, if such a container preformed during molding has qualities of good resistance and sealing, it has the disadvantage of being expensive, which is prohibitive for use as an accessory for floral compositions, on which is primarily in the interest of consumers.

Furthermore, and again with regard to the interest shown by consumers in the packaging of floral compositions, it is necessary for the container formed by folding a blank to have an attractive external appearance. It will be noted that the arrangement of the means of stiffening the container offered by US5005760, gives the latter an austere external appearance which is hardly compatible with the expectations of consumers.

Another specific problem with flower arrangements is the support of their visible part when they are packed in the container. For this, it is known to provide the containers with a collar formed at their top, in the manner described by FR2788041. It should be noted, however, that the arrangement of the collar must allow satisfactory support of the floral composition, without however detracting from the general aesthetics of the container.

The overall problem posed for containers intended to receive articles of current consumption for their packaging and their presentation is to find a compromise between the various constraints mentioned above. These constraints relate in particular to a matching of their functionality, their external appearance and their cost of obtaining, so as to best meet the requirements of customers with competitive criteria compatible with the market. The object of the present invention is to provide a container for the storage, transport, handling, and presentation of articles of current consumption, floral arrangements or the like in particular, or even confectionery or similar items for example. More particularly, the aim of the present invention is to propose a blank for the formation of such a container, as well as a container obtained from such a blank, the arrangement of which satisfies the various requirements which have been stated, from intuitive choices in response to the aforementioned compromise to be found.

The present invention will be described in relation to the figures of the appended plates, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, in which plates: FIG. 1 is a top view of a blank according to a first alternative embodiment of the invention, fig.2 is a side view of a container obtained from the blank shown in fig.1, fig.3 is a top view of a blank according to a second variant of the invention, Fig.4 is a side view of a container obtained from the blank shown in Fig.3, Fig.5 is a top view of the container obtained from the blank shown in Fig.3.

On fig.1 and fig.3, the blank proposed by the present invention is of the kind as described by patent US5005760, which are in one piece and which include weakening lines such as 1 to 7, for their fold back on themselves for the formation of a container, delimiting a polygonal central zone 8 intended to form the bottom of the container, each of the edges of this central zone 8 being bordered by lateral zones 9,10,11, 12 extending them respectively. These lateral zones 9 to 12, intended to form the lateral walls of the container, are successively connected to each other by junction zones 13, 14, 15, 16 foldable in bellows. These bellows 19 participate in the continuity between the side walls 9 to 12 of the container, to give it a seal and to participate in its stiffening notwithstanding its formation from a blank.

This blank is advantageously made of semi-rigid material, preferably waterproof. To clarify the modalities of folding the blank to form the container, it will be noted in FIGS. 1 and FIG. 3 that the external edges and the internal edges of the container obtained, in correspondence with FIGS. 2 and FIG. 4, are respectively shown in regularly broken lines and in solid lines.

It will also be noted as of now that such a blank is designed to be equipped with means for holding in conformation, such as consisting of a lace 17, visible in FIGS. 4 and FIG. 5, flowing through openings, such as 18, at least formed in the lateral zones 9 to 12 of the blank. It will however be noted that in a similar manner, the means for shaping and closing the container may consist of any of the means comprising a lace, a ring, a clip, clamping members cooperating by interlocking or else a rope. rigid.

It will be noted that the container proposed by the present invention is more particularly arranged for the packaging of floral compositions or the like, without however this particular destination indicated being restrictive as to other possible destinations of the proposed container.

According to the present invention, such a blank is recognizable in that the junction zones 13 to 16 are foldable in bellows, such as 19, towards the outside of the container, while the lateral zones 9 to 12 have lines of weakness. , such as 5. It will be understood that these weakening lines can be indifferently marked by lines of weakness of the blank, and / or be spontaneously marked from the fold of the blank during the formation of the container. These arrangements are such that the side walls 9 to 12 of the container can be folded down in the direction of one another in the vicinity of the top of the container, so as to at least partially close its outlet, advantageously by the means 17,18 for keeping the setting in conformation of the container.

Furthermore, the folding of the junction zones 13 to 16 in bellows 19 oriented towards the outside of the container firstly gives it robustness and a satisfactory natural behavior, the junction zones 13 to 16 folded in bellows 19 constituting wings of external stiffening interposed between the substantially adjacent edges of the side walls 9 to 12 of the container.

Secondly, such a folding of the junction zones 13 to 16 gives the container a stable base with regard to the load which it is possibly intended to support in the vicinity of its top, due in part to the faculty offered by 'a projecting extension of the bellows 19 towards or even beyond the perimeter of the polygon of the central zone 8 of the blank intended to form the bottom of the container, as illustrated in fig.4 and fig.5, and on the other hand by shaping the useful interior volume of the flared container downwards, from the flap towards each other of its side walls 9 to 12 in the vicinity of the top of the container. These provisions are also such that the container has a particular external appearance which is attractive to customers, but which does not, however, prevent its technical functionality. This external appearance results from the alternation of projecting members, formed by the bellows 19, braced by the side walls 9 to 12 which delimit the interior volume of the container which is generally flared downwards, its upper outlet being narrowed relative to its bottom, while its general external appearance which is visible laterally is flared upwards.

Finally, the container thus formed has a periphery giving it a star appearance seen from above, as visible in FIG. 5, and seen from the side, alternating shading zones and laterally tapered projections. Finally, it will also be noted, still concerning the external appearance of the container, that its upper outlet is also preferably enhanced by a flange 20. Thus and according to another aspect of the invention, the lateral zones 9 to 13 of the blank each have their outer end an extension such as 21, comprising at least one weakening line 6,7 so as to be foldable in spoiler 22.

These arrangements are such that the spoilers 22 jointly form the flange 20, in association with the top of the junction zones 13 to 16 folded in bellows 19 outwards. It appears that the flange 20 is a continuous member bordering the periphery of the at least partially closed outlet of the container, which gives the latter an ability to effectively support the visible part of a floral composition at any point thereof. . Furthermore, the continuous nature of the collar 20 participates in the star appearance of the top of the container. Preferably, the weakening lines 2 of the lateral zones 9 to 12 of the blank and the weakening lines 6,7 of shaping into a spoiler 22 of the extensions 21 of the lateral zones 9 to 12, are substantially convergent in a zone 23, for one step to alter the regularity of the general conformation of the container, and therefore not to affect its stability and the balance of its general external appearance.

The means for maintaining the conformation of the container being constituted by a lace 17 flowing through orifices 18 formed in the blank, these orifices 18 are preferably formed both in the lateral zones 9 to 12 and in the junction zones 13 to 16, as in the example illustrated in fig. 3. These provisions are such that the means 17, 18 for keeping the container in shape, which furthermore generally constitute, as mentioned above, means for at least partially closing its outlet, jointly maintain each of its lateral zones 9 to 12 and its junction zones 13 to 16 folded in bellows 19. Preferably, the holes 18 for passing the lace

17 are provided below extensions 21 for the formation of spoilers 22. These provisions aim firstly not to interfere with the formation of the collar 20 or to clutter its close environment by the presence of the lace 17 through it, and secondly to strengthen the aesthetic highlighting of the collar 20, by making it appear at its base a necklace increasing its highlighting.

In the examples illustrated in the figures, the weakening lines 3, 4 of the junction zones 13 to 16, or even also the weakening lines 5 in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, are substantially convergent towards the angles of the polygon of the central area 8 of the blank. More precisely, this convergence is preferably carried out towards a secondary segment, such as 24, marked or not, formed in the angles of the polygon.

These provisions are intended to prevent the formation of a blank break point in this area, which could affect the tightness of the container. It will also be understood that the polygonal conformation of the blank may include any number of sides, this polygonal conformation can preferably be any of the conformations comprising the triangle, the square, the rectangle, the hexagon or the octagon, or even a polygon with more than eight sides, even according to an extreme embodiment, with a number of sides until reaching a circular conformation.

It will also be understood that the conformation of the perimeter of the blank is not necessarily placed under the dependence of the conformation of the polygon, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 3. In other words, the blank polygon may have N sides while its perimeter may have N ', N being different from N'. For example, and according to an extreme approach to this characteristic, the perimeter of the blank may tend to have an infinity of edges to form a circular perimeter. It will be understood in this that the outer edges of the blank, at least taken in certain zones, are not necessarily straight, without derogating from the rules concerning it which have been exposed.

Claims

1.- Monobloc blank for the formation of a container intended for the packaging and the presentation of articles of everyday life, such as floral compositions, this blank comprising weakening lines (1 to 7), in order to its folding back on itself for the formation of the container, delimiting a polygonal central zone (8) intended to form the bottom of the container, each of the edges of this central zone (8) being bordered by lateral zones (9 to 12) extending respectively, these lateral zones (9 to 12) being intended to form the lateral walls of the container, and being successively connected to each other by junction zones (13 to 16) foldable in bellows (19), this blank being arranged to be equipped with means for holding in conformation, characterized: in that the junction zones (13 to 16) are foldable in bellows (19) towards the outside of the container, while the lateral zones (9 to 12) have lines d weakening (5) for their flap in the direction of each other in the vicinity of the top of the container so as to at least partially close its outlet.

2. A blank for the formation of a container according to claim 1, characterized: in that the weakening lines (5) are marked by lines of weakening of the blank and / or indifferently result from the folding of the blank during the container formation.

3.- blank for the formation of a container according to claim 1, characterized: in that the junction zones (13 to 16) are foldable in bellows (19) with an extension projecting beyond the perimeter of the polygon formed by the central area (8) of the blank.

4. A blank for forming a container according to claim 1, characterized: in that the lateral zones (9 to 13) of the blank each have at their outer end an extension (21) comprising at least one line of embrittlement ( 6,7) so as to be foldable in spoiler (22), to jointly form a flange (20), in association with the top of the junction zones (13 to 16) folded in bellows (19) towards the outside of the container.

5. A blank for the formation of a container according to claim 4, characterized: in that the weakening lines (2) of the lateral zones (9 to 12) of the blank and the weakening lines (6,7) of shaping into spoiler (22) extensions (21) of the lateral zones (9 to 12) are substantially convergent.

6. A blank for the formation of a container according to claim 1, characterized: in that the means for holding in conformation also constitute means (17, 18) for at least partial closure of its outlet.

7. A blank for the formation of a container according to claim 6, characterized: in that the means (17,18) of at least partial closure of its outlet being constituted by a lace (17) flowing through orifices ( 18) formed in the blank, these orifices (18) are formed both in the lateral zones (9 to 12) and in the junction zones (13 to 16) below the extensions (21) for the formation of the spoilers (22) .

8.- container obtained from a blank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized: in that it comprises bellows (19) formed by folding of the junction zones (13 to 16) of the blank, which constitute external stiffening wings interposed between the substantially adjacent edges of the side walls (9 to 12) of the container.

Container obtained from a blank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized: in that it has a useful interior volume flared downwards while it has a lateral external appearance flared upward, and a star aspect seen from above.

10.- container obtained from a blank according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized: in that it comprises a collar (20) enhancing its upper outlet, formed jointly by the spoilers

(22) in association with the top of the bellows (19), which continuously border the periphery of the at least partially closed outlet of the container.