Abstract:
Packaging suitable for food products has at least one wall which is formed in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard and has at least one edge defining an opening for inserting articles, in particular foods, and at least one first flap articulated to that edge along a folding line. The packaging can be conformed into a service configuration in which the flap uncovers the opening and a first storage configuration in which the flap closes the opening. The wall includes reversible deformation arrangements for conforming the packaging into a second storage configuration in which the first flap clamps the wall in a substantially sealed manner along the folding line and in the area of the edge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to packaging suitable for food products and a cut-out blank for forming it.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Packaging including at least one wall formed in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard, including at least one edge defining an opening for inserting articles, in particular foods, and at least one first flap articulated to the edge about a folding line, which packaging is adapted to be conformed into a service position in which the flap uncovers the opening and a storage configuration in which the flap closes the opening, is known in the art.  
           [0005]    It is routinely used to package a flexible sachet containing foods such as breakfast cereals (“corn flakes”), for example.  
           [0006]    In the storage configuration mentioned above the packaging is closed after an irreversible first opening operation in which closure members for making the packaging completely airtight are peeled off or torn.  
           [0007]    When it is in the storage configuration, the packaging generally provides a mediocre seal, as a result of which the organoleptic characteristics of its content may be degraded.  
           [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide packaging of the kind mentioned above which provides a better seal when reclosed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    This object of the invention is achieved by packaging having at least one wall formed in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard, wherein the wall has at least one edge defining an opening for inserting articles, in particular foods, and at least one first flap articulated to the edge along a folding line, which packaging is adapted to be conformed into a service configuration in which the flap uncovers the opening and a first storage configuration in which the flap closes the opening, and in which the wall includes reversible deformation means for conforming the packaging into a second storage configuration in which the first flap clamps the wall in a substantially sealed manner along the folding line and in the area of the edge.  
           [0010]    Because of these features, the opening of the packaging can be squeezed shut when the flap is closed again, which limits the exchange of air between the inside and the outside of the packaging, so that the content of the packaging is stored under conditions that are almost as satisfactory as those prevailing before it was opened for the first time.  
           [0011]    If the content of the packaging is inside a flexible sachet, clamping the wall of the packaging also holds the sachet in a position in which its top part is rolled up on itself, for example, which further improves the seal obtained.  
           [0012]    The present invention also relates to a blank formed in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard and including:  
           [0013]    first, second, third and fourth rectangular panels in succession in that order and connected to each other by first, second and third vertical folding lines,  
           [0014]    a gluing lug connected to the first panel by a fourth vertical folding line,  
           [0015]    first, second, third and fourth flaps respectively connected to the first, second, third and fourth panels by first, second, third and fourth horizontal folding lines,  
           [0016]    fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth flaps respectively connected to the first, second, third and fourth panels opposite the first, second, third and fourth flaps by fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth horizontal folding lines, and  
           [0017]    first and second groups of deformation folding lines formed on the second and fourth panels and on the second and fourth flaps, substantially defining inverted Y-shapes whose branches respectively extend substantially from the middles of the second and fourth horizontal folding lines to the first and second vertical folding lines, on the one hand, and to the third and fourth vertical folding lines, on the other hand, and whose stems are in substantially median areas of the second and fourth flaps.  
           [0018]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the following description and examining the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of packaging in accordance with the invention, respectively in a service configuration and a first storage configuration.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a similar view of the packaging in an intermediate configuration preceding a second storage configuration.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the packaging in its second storage configuration.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a view of the cut-out blank for forming the packaging shown in the previous figures.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    In the figures, identical reference numerals designate identical or similar components or sets of components.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 shows that the packaging E according to the invention includes a wall  1  defining a volume which is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, for example, when the packaging is in a service configuration (i.e. a configuration enabling it to be emptied or filled).  
         [0025]    The parallelepiped-shaped volume can be obtained by folding and gluing a cut-out blank  2  of semi-rigid material such as cardboard, for example (see FIG. 5).  
         [0026]    The wall  1  includes a first side  3 , a second side  5 , a third side  7  and a fourth side  9 , in succession in that order, and respectively having a first edge  11 , a second edge  13 , a third edge  15  and a fourth edge  17  defining an opening  21 , for example a rectangular opening.  
         [0027]    A first flap  23 , a second flap  25 , a third flap  27  and a fourth flap  29  are respectively articulated to each of the aforementioned edges, the first flap  23  and the third flap  27  being wide enough to overlap at least in part.  
         [0028]    According to one essential feature of the invention, a first group  31  and a second group  33  of deformation folding lines are formed on the second side  5  and the fourth side  9  of the wall  1 .  
         [0029]    The deformation folding lines are preferably formed by scoring, rows of perforations or other kinds of internal or external marking of the blank and substantially define inverted Y-shapes (when the opening  21  is at the top, i.e. as shown in FIG. 1) whose branches  35 ,  37  and  39 ,  41  respectively extend substantially from the middles of the second edge  13  and fourth edge  17  to edges  43 ,  45  and  47 ,  49  respectively separating the second side  5  and the fourth side  9  from the first side  3  and the third side  7 , and whose stems  51  and  53  are in substantially median areas of the second flap  25  and the fourth flap  29 .  
         [0030]    The first flap  23  includes a tongue  55  and the third flap  27  and the third side  7  respectively include a first slot  57  and a second slot  59 , both of which slots are adapted to receive the tongue  55 .  
         [0031]    The bottom of the packaging E is closed by a fifth flap  61 , a sixth flap  63 , a seventh flap  65  and an eighth flap  67  which are glued or stapled together, for example.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 shows the packaging E in a first storage configuration.  
         [0033]    The first storage configuration is obtained from the previous configuration by folding the second flap  25  and the fourth flap  29  toward the interior of the packaging, folding the third flap  27  over them, and finally folding the first flap  23  over the third flap  27  and inserting the tongue  55  into the first slot  57 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 shows the packaging E in an intermediate configuration preceding a second storage configuration.  
         [0035]    The intermediate configuration is obtained from the service configuration shown in FIG. 1 by folding toward the interior of the packaging the portions  69  and  71  of the second side  5  and the fourth side  9  respectively situated between the branches  35 ,  37  and  39 ,  41  of the first group  31  and the second group  33  of deformation folding lines and by folding the second flap  25  and the fourth flap  29  in half around the stems  51  and  53  of the first and second groups of deformation folding lines so that the first edge  11  and the third edge  15  come into contact.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 shows the packaging E in its second storage configuration.  
         [0037]    The second storage configuration is obtained from the previous configuration by folding the first flap  23 , the second flap  25 , the third flap  27  and the fourth flap  29  over the third side  7  and inserting the tongue  55  into the second slot  59 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 shows the blank  2  formed in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard and adapted to be folded and assembled to form the packaging E.  
         [0039]    The figure shows that the blank  2  includes a first rectangular panel  3 , a second rectangular panel  5 , a third rectangular panel  7  and a fourth rectangular panel  9 , in succession in that order, connected together by a first vertical folding line  43 , a second vertical folding line  45  and a third vertical folding line  47 .  
         [0040]    The blank  2  also includes a gluing tab  72  connected to the fourth panel  9  by a fourth folding line  49 .  
         [0041]    The blank  2  further includes a first flap  23 , a second flap  25 , a third flap  27  and a fourth flap  29  respectively connected to the first panel  3 , the second panel  5 , the third panel  7  and the fourth panel  9  by a first horizontal folding line  11 , a second horizontal folding line  13 , a third horizontal folding line  15  and a fourth horizontal folding line  17 .  
         [0042]    The blank  2  further includes a fifth flap  61 , a sixth flap  63 , a seventh flap  65  and an eighth flap  67  respectively connected to the first panel  3 , the second panel  5 , the third panel  7  and the fourth panel  9  opposite the aforementioned four flaps by a fifth horizontal folding line  81 , a sixth horizontal folding line  83 , a seventh horizontal folding line  85  and an eighth horizontal folding line  87 .  
         [0043]    The blank  2  further includes a first group  31  and a second group  33  of deformation folding lines formed on the second panel  5  and the fourth panel  9  and on the second flap  25  and the fourth flap  29 , substantially defining inverted Y-shapes whose branches  35 ,  37  and  39 ,  41  respectively extend substantially from the middles of the second horizontal folding line  13  and the fourth horizontal folding line  17  to the first vertical folding line  43  and the second vertical folding line  45 , on the one hand, and to the third vertical folding line  47  and the fourth vertical folding line  49 , on the other hand, and whose stems  51  and  53  are in substantially median areas of the second flap  25  and the fourth flap  29 .  
         [0044]    The first flap  23  includes a tongue  55  and the third flap  27  and the third side  7  respectively include a first slot  57  and a second slot  59  adapted to receive the tongue.  
         [0045]    The first group  31  and the second group  33  of deformation folding lines are preferably formed by scoring, rows of perforations or other type of internal or external marking of the blank.  
         [0046]    How the packaging according to the invention is used and its advantages flow directly from the preceding description.  
         [0047]    To access the content of the packaging E for the first time, the conventional closure members (not shown) provided to make the packaging completely airtight are torn or peeled off and the first flap  23 , the second flap  25 , the third flap  27  and the fourth flap  29  are unfolded so that the packaging is in the service configuration shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0048]    Where applicable, the flexible sachet inside the packaging is then opened.  
         [0049]    The packaging E can be closed up again from the service configuration in two different ways.  
         [0050]    A first way is to fold the packaging E as described above into its first storage configuration, that is shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0051]    As anyone who eats breakfast cereal will be aware, this conventional storage configuration offers only a mediocre seal, given in particular the tendency of the first flap  23  and the third flap  27  to return to the open position because of their elasticity.  
         [0052]    The second way is to fold the packaging E as described above into its second storage configuration, which is that shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0053]    In this second storage configuration the first flap  1  clamps the wall  1  in a substantially airtight manner along the folding line  11 .  
         [0054]    This clamping is made possible by the first group  31  and the second group  33  of deformation folding lines.  
         [0055]    Because of these lines and the relative flexibility of the material forming the wall  1 , the wall can be deformed locally from a state in which the sides  3  and  7  are parallel throughout their height to a state in which the sides are parallel only in their lower parts (i.e. in the parts below the intersection of the branches  35 ,  37  and  39 ,  41  with the edges  43 ,  45  and  47 ,  49 ) and define a roof-shaped profile in their upper parts (i.e. in the parts above said intersections).  
         [0056]    When the first flap  23 , the second flap  25 , the third flap  27  and the fourth flap  29  are folded over the third side  7  of the wall  1 , the four edges  11 ,  13 ,  15  and  17  butt up against each other, which reinforces the clamping effect and thereby improves the seal obtained.  
         [0057]    Note in particular that the second flap  25  and the fourth flap  29  prevent any ingress of air at the ends of the first edge  11  in the second storage configuration.  
         [0058]    Note also that, if the contents of the packaging E are inside a flexible sachet, in the second storage configuration clamping the wall  1  can also hold the sachet in a position in which its top part is rolled up on itself, for example, which further improves the seal obtained.  
         [0059]    Note also that in the second storage configuration the packaging E has a vertical overall size slightly less than that of its first storage configuration, enabling it to be stored on shelves with a relatively small distance between them, for example.  
         [0060]    Note further that the locking of the opening  21  obtained when the packaging E is in its second storage configuration is significantly stronger than that obtained in its first storage configuration, and this enables the packaging to be stored on its side, for example, with no risk of its contents escaping and spilling.  
         [0061]    Note. further that the deformation which changes the packaging E from its service configuration to its second storage configuration is entirely reversible.  
         [0062]    What is more, the packaging tends to return spontaneously to its service configuration as soon as the first flap is raised, thanks to the elasticity of the material forming the wall  1 .  
         [0063]    This is very practical because it provides access to the contents of the packaging E with minimum manipulation.  
         [0064]    Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, which is provided by way of illustrative and non-limiting example only.  
         [0065]    Thus the blank for forming the packaging in accordance with the invention could be formed in a semi-rigid plastics material, for example.  
         [0066]    Thus only the part of the packaging in the region of its opening could be formed in a semi-rigid material, other parts of the packaging, such as its bottom, being formed of rigid materials.  
         [0067]    Thus the wall forming the packaging could have only one edge defining an opening, for example a circular or elliptical opening.  
         [0068]    Thus the packaging could have only one flap.  
         [0069]    Thus the opening in the packaging could extend over only a portion of its top face.  
         [0070]    Thus the deformation folding lines could be replaced by portions of the packaging that are easy to fold because they are more flexible than the remainder of the packaging.