Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cardboard pallet-like container which also acts as an exhibitor.  
     The container is obtained from a single sheet of die-cut and folded cardboard by means of which the entire structure is obtained.  
     The container is a parallelepiped which is cut, on each lateral face, along a diagonal so as to obtain a base semi-container provided with legs and a top semi-container which can be fitted over the base semi-container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application number PCT/IB99/01372 filed on Aug. 2, 1999.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a cardboard pallet-type container/exhibitor.  
           [0003]    In recent times, a type of large container made of a single material is becoming increasingly widespread in packaging technology due to ecological reasons and package-recycling laws.  
           [0004]    This is in fact the only way to reduce the relative amount of material assigned to packaging and at the same time allow complete recycling of the package without having to separate parts made of different materials.  
           [0005]    A second strongly felt requirement, particularly in the field of packaging meant for products to be distributed in shops and supermarkets, is that the container must be able to also act as an exhibitor, so that the customer can directly take the packages contained therein in the required amount.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The aim of the present invention is to provide a container which can be manufactured by using a single material and can be obtained with a very simple operation.  
           [0007]    An important object is to provide a container which can be placed directly in the point of sale so that it constitutes the exhibitor for the products contained therein.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a large container which can be easily filled in an orderly fashion even without necessarily resorting to automatic loading systems.  
           [0009]    A further important object of the present invention is to provide a container which can be easily and completely filled with products intended for sale and then emptied manually or through automatic equipment and allows easier access.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a container/exhibitor at low-cost.  
           [0011]    A container/exhibitor made in folded cardboard is known from the document GB-A-2 027 413.  
           [0012]    The aim and the objects of the present invention and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved instead by a container/exhibitor having the features of claim  1 .  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a top view of a cardboard sheet from which a container/exhibitor according to the present invention is to be obtained;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container/exhibitor according to the invention, freshly obtained from the cardboard sheet of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a view of the container/exhibitor of FIG. 2, divided along the die-cut lines into a base semi-container and a top semi-container;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a view of the container/exhibitor, reassembled after filling with small products;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a view of the container/exhibitor, open and acting as an exhibitor;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of the lower part of the container/exhibitor of FIG. 5;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a detail of FIG. 6.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    With reference to the above figures, a container/exhibitor according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10  and is obtained starting from a sheet  11  made of corrugated cardboard.  
         [0022]    Said sheet  11  is substantially rectangular and has first mutually opposite sides  12  and second longer mutually opposite sides  13 .  
         [0023]    Proximate to one of said second sides  13 , which forms the upper part of the container/exhibitor  10  as will become apparent hereinafter, first parallel transverse slots  14  are provided at regular intervals.  
         [0024]    At the other second side  13 , which forms the lower part of the container/exhibitor  10 , second slots  15  are provided which are also parallel and define a central portion  16  and first and second portions  17  and  18  to the sides of said central portion.  
         [0025]    Tabs  19  are formed by cutting in said central portion  16 , and each tab has a free end  36  which is wider than the rest.  
         [0026]    Shaped holes  37 , associated with a retention tab  38 , are formed in said first portions  17 , each of which is arranged to one side of the central portion  16 .  
         [0027]    Said central portion  16  constitutes the bottom  20  of the container/exhibitor, since it is adapted to be conveniently assembled, by means of suitable interlocks between the edges formed by said second slots  15 , to the second portions  18 .  
         [0028]    First pressed lines  21  which constitute guiding lines for folding are formed in said cardboard sheet  11  along lines which are parallel to said first and second mutually opposite sides  12  and  13 .  
         [0029]    In particular, said first pressed lines  21  are spaced from the corresponding second sides  13  by a distance which corresponds to the extension of the respective first and second slots  14  and  15 .  
         [0030]    It is observed that second mutually parallel pressed lines  39  are formed in said first portions  17 , as will become apparent hereinafter.  
         [0031]    Moreover, through cuts  22  are provided in the sheet  11  and form, as a whole, a discontinuous straight path so as to constitute guides for tearing.  
         [0032]    Said through cuts  22  are obtained in the sheet  11  by die-cutting, preferably simultaneously with said first and second slots  14  and  15 .  
         [0033]    In particular, third transverse slots  23  are formed in the cardboard sheet  11  proximate to the regions where said through cuts  22  change direction, as will become apparent hereinafter.  
         [0034]    Starting from the cardboard sheet  11  and performing the appropriate folds according to the corresponding folding guides formed by said first pressed lines  21 , and after performing the appropriate interlocks between the edges formed by said first and second slots  14  and  15 , an internally hollow parallelepiped is obtained from which said container/exhibitor  10  is obtained by following said tearing guides formed by the through cuts  22 .  
         [0035]    In particular, it is necessary to produce, on the first portions  17 , the folds formed by said second pressed lines  39  so as to give each portion a U-like cross-section whose wings  40  diverge outward.  
         [0036]    In this manner, each one of said first portions  17  constitutes a first component for supporting legs, generally designated by the reference numeral  28 , of the container/exhibitor  10 .  
         [0037]    Said container/exhibitor  10  comprises a base semi-container, designated by the reference numeral  24 , which is constituted by said flat bottom  20 , provided with the legs  28  as better described hereinafter, from which there protrude a low front wall  25 , a quite high rear wall  26 , and mutually opposite side walls  27  which are delimited in an upward region along the diagonals.  
         [0038]    The upper profile of the front wall  25 , of the rear wall  26  and of the side walls  27  is formed by the path of said through cuts  22 .  
         [0039]    In this constructive configuration, each one of said supporting legs  28  is obtained by inserting in the corresponding first U-shaped portion  17  a second component  41  known per se, for example of the type disclosed in EPA No. 96938186.2 of Nov. 12, 1996.  
         [0040]    Thereafter, the assembly of the legs  28  is completed by inserting each one of the tabs  19  in the wider part of the corresponding shaped hole  37 , in which it is retained by interlocking, due to the weight of the container/exhibitor  10  and of the items contained therein, also in association with the retaining tab  38  which retains the corresponding free end  36 .  
         [0041]    Said container/exhibitor  10  further comprises a top semi-container  29  whose structure is complementary to the base semi-container  24  and has a top surface  30  from which there extend a front wall  31 , whose height substantially corresponds to the height of the rear wall  26  of the base semi-container  24 , a rear wall  32  of reduced height, and mutually opposite side walls  33 , whose profiles follow the profiles of the corresponding side walls  27  of the base semi-container  24 .  
         [0042]    Said top semi-container  29  is suitable to be fitted over said base semi-container  24  thanks to the presence of said third transverse slots  23 , which allow a suitable widening of the front wall  31  and of the side walls  33  of the top semi-container  29  with respect to the corresponding walls  25  and  27  of the base semi-container  24 .  
         [0043]    The coupling of said top semi-container  29  on the base semi-container  24  is possible by overlapping a portion that corresponds to the distance, schematically designated by the reference numeral  34 , which lies in FIG. 2 between the profile of the rear wall  26  of the base semi-container  24 , formed by the through cuts  22 , and the corresponding first pressed portion  21  that forms the fold between the top surface  30  and the rear wall  32  of the top semi-container  29 .  
         [0044]    As regards the structure of the container/exhibitor  10 , access to its interior is facilitated thanks to the low front wall  25  of the base semi-container  24 , so that the insertion of the products, schematically designated by the reference numeral  35 , and their subsequent removal can be performed easily.  
         [0045]    In practice it has been found that the present invention has achieved its aim and all its objects.  
         [0046]    It is in fact interesting to notice that the container/exhibitor  10  obtained with the present invention is made of a single fully recyclable material.  
         [0047]    It is also important to note the fact that said container/exhibitor  10  can be arranged directly in the point of sale, since it acts as an exhibitor for the products  35 , of the individually-packaged type, contained therein.  
         [0048]    Accordingly, a purchaser can easily remove, in the chosen amount, the products that he intends to acquire.  
         [0049]    A particular advantage is ensured with the present invention in that a container has been provided which allows easy removal or insertion of items therein or therefrom even in the vicinity of the bottom, since access to its interior is facilitated.  
         [0050]    Another considerable advantage is clearly linked to the fact that the described container/exhibitor can be manufactured with machines and equipment which are conventional in the field, at a low cost and by using a single recyclable material, preferably cardboard, by assembling the parts by interlock couplings without using adhesives.  
         [0051]    The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the claims.  
         [0052]    The materials used, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements.  
         [0053]    All the details may also be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.  
         [0054]    The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD98A000192 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.