Punnet for packaging fruit and vegetable articles or the like

Abstract: The object of the invention is a punnet meant for packaging, for example, fruit and vegetable articles, or any other kind of articles. The invention aims to make as simply and economically as possible, a punnet provided with a higher strength against any punnet-deforming pressure, applied particularly on the punnet bottom area. The invention proposes a punnet fitted with side-by-side stiffening ribs (103), each extending about the connection edge (4) between the sidewalls (2) and the bottom (5) of punnet (1).

Description: The invention relates to a punnet made of plastics material, according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, which is meant for packaging, for example, fruit and vegetable articles, or any other kind of articles. A punnet of this kind is known from the document GB-A-2 200 340. In this punnet, the lower end portions of the stiffening ribs extending around the connection edge between the sidewalls and the bottom of the punnet, terminate immediately beyond the said connection edge, close to the edge portion of the punnet bottom and at a distance from the downwardly projecting bottom member. In another punnet-like container which is provided on its sidewalls with a plurality of side-by-side stiffening ribs, and is known from the document FR-A-1 214 932, the lower end portions of the stiffening ribs reach only to the connection edge between the sidewalls and the bottom of this known punnet-like container and do not extend around this edge, and the bottom of this container is not provided with a downwardly projecting member. The invention aims to provide a punnet of plastics material according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1, that will be capable to afford a higher stiffness and a greater strength, particularly against a punnet-deforming pressure being applied on its bottom area, however by using very simple and low-cost constructional means. The invention attains this object by the provision of the features according to the characterizing part of claim 1. The particular features of the punnet according to the invention, proved to be highly efficient in that the punnet is thus imparted a considerable stiffness and strength particularly against a punnet-deforming pressure being applied on the punnet bottom area. This advantageously avoids that the goods accomodated in the punnet may become damaged as the goods are being, for example, handled or carried. Further preferred features of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The advantages arising from the features of the invention will more clearly appear from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the punnet according to the invention, Figure 2 is a view similar to that in Figure 1, showing the punnet in its upturned position. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the punnet shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is a view similar to that in Figure 2, showing a detail in an enlarged scale of the punnet according to the invention. In the Figures a punnet is shown, designated as a whole by reference numeral 1, which is specifically made by molding a foil of plastics material, such as PVC, polypropylene, or the like. The punnet 1 has its sidewalls 2 fitted with a plurality of side-by-side stiffening ribs 3 extending in a substantially vertical direction from the punnet upper part to the punnet bottom. The stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections of the stiffening ribs 3, extend about the connection edge 4 between the punnet sidewalls 2 and the punnet bottom 5. The stiffening ribs 3 provided in punnet 1, and the stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections thereof, are made of one piece with the adjacent portions of punnet 1 and, more particularly, these stiffening ribs are obtained by having the plastics material foil for a punnet properly bent out. The stiffening ribs 3 are triangular in shape, and are tapered toward the stiffening ribs 103 substantially having an unvarying width. According to another feature of punnet 1, the connection edge 4 between the punnet sidewalls 2 and the punnet bottom 5 has a rounded shape. This turns to advantage not only from the manufacturing standpoint, but also in that longer stiffening ribs 103 can be made. By a respective step-like means 203, the stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections of the stiffening ribs 3, are respectively connected to the stiffening ribs 3 for stiffening the associated sidewalls 2 of punnet 1. The step-like means 203 are formed in the bottom region of the punnet sidewalls 2, near to the location at which the sidewalls 2 are attached to the rounded connection edge 4. By the provision of the step-like means 203 the stiffening ribs 3 are further bent out, which contributes to increase the stiffening action on the rounded connection edge 4 between the bottom 5 and the sidewalls of punnet 1. As it clearly appears in the Figures, and particularly in Figure 4, this also allows to have the stiffening ribs 3 for stiffening the associated sidewalls 2 of punnet 1, as well as the stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections thereof, more easily made with a different shape in cross-section. In this instance, the stiffening ribs 3 associated with the punnet sidewalls 2, are actually square in cross-section, and the stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections thereof, have a rounded shape. According to a further feature of the invention, as seen in Figures 2 to 4, the punnet bottom 5 is provided with a part 6 forming a downwardly projecting member thereon. More particularly, the said downwardly projecting member 6 is in form of a continuous annular element extending over the whole perimetric portion of the bottom 5 of punnet 1, at a slightly retracted position relative to the rounded connection edge 4, which element is formed with transverse members 106 for linking the opposite long sides of punnet 1 to each other. The stiffening ribs 103 forming the lower end sections of the stiffening ribs 3, are connected substantially perpendicularly to a side edge of the downwardly projecting, continuous annular member 6 extending from the punnet bottom 5, so as to be flush with the bearing bottom side of said member 6. As an alternative to the shown embodiment, the stiffening ribs 103 for stiffening the connection edge 4, may, for example, form the portions on the said edge 4, of continuous stiffening ribs starting from the upper part of one sidewall 2 of punnet 1, and extending through the punnet bottom 5, to the upper part of the opposite sidewall of punnet 1. Otherwise, the said stiffening ribs 103 may form the end sections of stiffening ribs extending from side to side over the punnet bottom 5.

Claims: A punnet made of plastics material, which is provided on its sidewalls (2) with a plurality of side-by-side stiffening ribs (3), each having its lower end portion extending around the connection edge (4) between the sidewalls (2) and the bottom (5) of punnet (1), and is provided on its bottom (5) with a downwardly projecting member (6), characterized in that the lower end portions (103) of the stiffening ribs (3) are connected to a side edge of the projecting member (6) extending from the bottom (5) of punnet (1). The punnet according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower end portions (103) of the stiffening ribs (3) are connected to the respective ribs through step-like means (203) changing the shape and/or increasing the cross-sectional area of the stiffening ribs (3). The punnet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stiffening ribs (3) for stiffening the punnet sidewalls (2) are triangular in shape and are substantially directed vertically, the said stiffening ribs (3) being tapered from their upper ends lying near to the border of punnet (1) toward the lower end portions (103) extending around the connection edge (4). The punnet according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower end portions (103) of the stiffening ribs (3) that are meant for stiffening the connection edge (4), substantially have an unvarying shape in cross-section. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffening ribs (3) for stiffening the punnet sidewalls (2) are square in cross-section, and the lower end portions (103) of the stiffening ribs (3) for stiffening the connection edge (4) are differently shaped in cross-section, and may have a rounded shape. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection edge (4) between the punnet sidewalls (2) and the punnet bottom (5) is given a rounded shape. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the downwardly projecting member (6) extending from the punnet bottom (5) is in form of a continuous annular element, and extends over the whole perimetric portion of bottom (5), which is associated with the connection edge (4), at a slightly retracted position relative to the said edge (4), the lower end portions (103) of the stiffening ribs (3) for stiffening the connection edge (4) extending perpendicularly to the said downwardly projecting, continuous annular member (6), so as to be flush with the bearing lower side thereof. The punnet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed from a foil of plastics material, such as PVC, polypropylene, or the like, and the stiffening ribs (3), as well as their lower end portions (103) and the downwardly projecting member (6) extending from the bottom (5) of punnet (1), are made of one piece therewith, as the foil-molding process is being carried out.

Inventors: TEMPORIN CARLETTO GIOVANNI, TEMPORIN, CARLETTO GIOVANNI
Applicants: NESPAK SPA, NESPAK S.P.A. SOCIETA GENERALE PER L'IMBALLAGGIO
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65D1
IPC codes: B65D1, B65D85