FR2874002A1 - PACKAGING FOR A CONFECTIONERY ITEM SUCH AS AN INDIVIDUAL SQUARE OF CHOCOLATE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a packaging (32) for a food product (10) packaged in a rectangular strip (14) of material which is wound around the product and which is closed, characterized in that it comprises: - an outer jacket (32 ) comprising an upper sheet (36) and a lower sheet (34) interconnected by a vertical rear spine (38), and which respectively extend opposite upper (18) and lower (16) faces substantially parallel of the product - And means, for example in the form of a retaining tab (50), for retaining the product (10) inside the sleeve (32). The packaging sleeve advantageously constitutes an advertising medium.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging of a product

  food, including rectangular parallelepiped general shape such as a square of chocolate, a candy or a biscuit or a bar.

  The invention thus relates to a packaging for a food product distributed to the general public, especially in cafes, brasseries and hotels to accompany the cafes served by these merchants.

  The food product of this type most commonly distributed, free of charge with each cup of coffee, is an individual chocolate square accompanying a so-called "espresso" coffee, the packaging of which usually comprises a first food-contact sheet which completely protects the square of coffee. chocolate, and whose external appearance is usually metallized or shiny, and an outer envelope called "chocolate ring".

  The outer ring consists of a longitudinal strip of rectangular shape of a material which is most often a rectangular sheet of paper and which, in the manufacturing and packaging process, is wrapped around the square of chocolate with its sheet of paper. food contact and which is then closed by gluing an area of the back of the band on a portion vis-à-vis the recto it covers.

  The ring-shaped band thus perfectly matches the shape of the food product, and in particular the rectangular parallelepiped shape of the chocolate, and its primary function is to keep the chocolate packaged in the first food contact sheet, avoiding any unwanted unpacking and for second function , to include on its front, that is to say on its face visible by the consumer, certain information such as for example the name of the establishment which distributes the chocolates and other indications concerning the composition of the chocolate and its origin.

  The opening of the packaging for consumption is a particularly delicate operation requiring some dexterity of the consumer, in particular to allow him to catch any part of the ring to open it. In all cases, the opening results in tearing the ring.

  Although disposable packaging disposable, and in addition to the difficulty of use, the destruction of the ring for the opening of the package makes its use unsuitable for the effective dissemination of messages perennial advertising on its faces, and in particular on its front and back, while such a paper support is an important vector for the dissemination of advertising messages given the large amount of products concerned and the type of consumer target that it can help to aim.

  The invention also relates to a so-called "flow-pack" packaging commonly used in the field of the distribution of various food products, in particular confectionery products.

  This type of packaging and in particular used for the distribution of chocolate squares mentioned above.

  In this case, a "square" of chocolate is of rectangular parallelepiped shape with two main and lower main parallel faces, each of rectangular outline with a large vertical edge or height and a small horizontal edge.

  Like the packaging ring mentioned above, a "flow-pack" type packaging consists of a rectangular sheet of flexible material which is wrapped around the product, for example around the square of chocolate, and which is closed by heat-sealing of two zones opposite the two opposite longitudinal ends of the strip or sheet of material which is generally a sheet or film of plastic material, transparent or opaque.

  In the case of the paper ring mentioned above, the closure of the paper sheet is ensured by gluing while, in the present case of the "flow-pack", the closure is provided on the one hand by heat sealing of the two sections of paper. opposite longitudinal end of the strip, but also by heat sealing the opposite horizontal edges, top and bottom, of the strip so as to constitute a sealed package.

  In addition to the packaging of the individual chocolate squares, this technique is used for the packaging of rectangular biscuits, especially "speculos", which can replace the chocolate squares and which must be kept individually each in a sealed package.

  Packaging in the form of a "flow-pack" envelope is very important in the field of confectionery. Indeed, in addition to packaging chocolate squares or cookies, many chocolate bars or the like are thus packaged, individually or in multiple copies, for distribution.

  This distribution is for example provided in vending machines of the type in which each unit product, or group of products, is inserted between two consecutive turns of a helical worm wire wound.

  The structure of the packaging and the good behavior of the product or products in the envelope are crucial for the proper functioning of such a dispenser. In addition, each dispensed product undergoes a significant vertical drop after its release from the screw which may damage it.

  Whatever the application, the band of flexible material of the package "flow-pack" has the same difficulties of opening as those mentioned above and is not suited to advertising communication.

  In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention proposes a packaging of a food product, in particular of rectangular parallelepipedal general shape such as a square of chocolate, a candy or a biscuit or a bar, packed in a rectangular strip of material which is wound around the product and which is closed at least by attachment, in particular by bonding or heat sealing, of two zones opposite the two longitudinal ends of the strip, characterized in that it comprises: an outer jacket comprising a upper sheet and a lower sheet interconnected by a rear vertical back, and which respectively extend opposite substantially parallel upper and lower faces of the product; and means for retaining the product inside the liner.

  According to other features of the invention: the liner comprises at least one retaining tab which extends horizontally from the free vertical front edge of the bottom sheet inside the liner, which cooperates with a complementary part of the wrapped product to retain the product; - The wrapped product has a vertical slot, and the retaining tongue extends horizontally through the slot; - The slot is closed at least at one of its two vertical ends to cooperate with a horizontal edge vis-à-vis the retaining tab; the slot is closed at its two opposite vertical ends, and the width of the tongue is substantially equal to the height of the slot; the retaining tab is centered vertically with respect to the front vertical edge of the lower sheet; - The retaining tab is adjacent to an upper face of the product - the retaining tab is adjacent to a lower face of the product; the liner comprises at least two retaining flaps, top and bottom, which extend horizontally from the free vertical front edge of the bottom sheet, inside the liner and towards the rear, and which extend respectively next to the top and bottom of the product packaging to frame it; - The two up and down flaps are two high and low stops vertically retaining the product packaged inside the shirt; - Product packaging extends up and down, beyond horizontal side faces high and low of the product, by high and low extensions each of which is covered by a retaining flap, high and low respectively; the liner comprises complementary means for locking the liner in the closed position; io - the shirt is made in one piece of rigid or semi-rigid material cut and folded, including cardboard or cardboard.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above of a first embodiment embodiment of a packaging according to the teachings of the invention which is shown in the closed position in association with an individual square of chocolate packed in a ring; - Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the square of chocolate contained in the packaging of Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating the packaging of FIG. 1 in its unfolded or expanded initial state; Figure 4 is a view similar to the previous one on which the packaging is shown in the open position with the chocolate square in position retained by the tongue according to the invention; - Figure 5 is an end view of the bottom according to the arrow F5 of Figure 4 and on which there is also shown in silhouette the packaging in the closed position; FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a product packaged according to the "flow-pack" technique and illustrated in association with a retaining tab; Figure 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view along line 7-7 of Figure 6; and - Figures 8 and 9 are views similar to those of Figures 3 and 4 which illustrate another embodiment of the packaging according to the invention.

  In the following description, identical, similar or analogous components will be designated by the same references.

  Without limitation, to facilitate understanding of the description and drawings, we use the terms vertical, upper, lower, horizontal, longitudinal, transverse with reference to trihedron V, L, T indicated in the figures.

  FIG. 2 shows a packaged food product 10 of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, which here is an individual square of chocolate 12 which is surrounded by a packing ring 14.

  For reasons of simplification, the individual chocolate 12 is represented without its first food-contact type packaging sheet and is thus in the form of a simple rectangular parallelepiped delimited by two large lower square faces 16 and upper 18, two large lateral faces and opposite left 20 and right 22, and two small opposite side faces 24 and 26.

  The packing ring 14 consists of a strip, for example paper, of generally rectangular shape which is wrapped around the lower main faces 16 and 18 and the upper sides 24 and 26 of the square of chocolate.

  According to a known design not shown in detail, the strip 14 is delimited laterally by two parallel and opposite longitudinal edges 28 and 30 and by two transverse outer and outer end edges which overlap so as to constitute two mutual zones of overlapping closure and bonding, generally substantially over the entire overlap area.

  The product 10, of known general design, thus offers the possibility, used in the context of the present invention, to slide horizontally a tongue-shaped object under the strip or ring 14, and for example from left to right under the strip 14 and above the upper face 18.

  As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the packaging 32 according to the invention is in the form of a jacket which is for example made by cutting and folding a lightweight carton so as to the closed position illustrated in particular in Figure 1, to give it the form of a "folder" intended to accommodate for example the individual square of chocolate 10, 12 shown in Figure 2.

  The outer jacket 32 thus comprises a lower sheet 34, on the left considering the figures, and a top sheet 36 on the right which are interconnected by an intermediate vertical back 38.

  More specifically, and by convention, the rectangular lower sheet 34 is defined longitudinally or horizontally, along the L axis of the trihedron, by a free vertical front edge 40 and a rear vertical edge 42, while the rectangular upper sheet 36 is delimited. by a rear free vertical edge 44 and a vertical front edge 46, the edges 42 and 46 delimiting between them the vertical back 38 which, in the folded and closed position of the packaging as shown in Figures 1 and 5, constitutes the right rear edge conditioning 32.

  In order to facilitate the folding closure of the jacket constituting the package 32, the parallel vertical edges 42 and 46 are preferably marked in the form of pleats.

  The liner 32 is generally vertically bounded by two top 33 and bottom 35 horizontal edges which extend between opposite free vertical edges 40 and 44.

  According to the teachings of the invention, in a centered manner vertically along the front free edge 40, the lower sheet 34 is extended horizontally forwards by a tongue 50 for retaining the product 10.

  The tongue 50 is made integrally in one piece by cutting and folding with the sleeve 32.

  The tongue 50 is delimited vertically by two high and low horizontal edges 54 which extend from the free end vertical front edge 55 of the tongue 50 to the free end vertical front edge 40 of the lower sheet 34.

  Near the edge 40, the retaining tab 50 has a marked fold 56 of vertical orientation. As can be seen in Figures 1.4 and 5, the dimensions of the retaining tab 50 are such that they allow the introduction of the tongue 50 under the strip 14 and along the upper face 18 of the chocolate 12. As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the product 10 is then housed above the inner face 37 of the lower sheet 34 with its lower face 16 adjacent to the inner face 37.

  Due to the dimensions of the tongue 50 and the product 10, the latter is retained in the jacket 32.

  The product 10 is retained in the vertical direction V to the extent that its opposite horizontal edges 52 and 54 are received within the band 14, substantially free of play, thereby opposing any vertical movement of the product 10 to inside the shirt 32.

  In the closed position of the liner and as can be seen in particular in Figure 1 and in silhouette in Figure 5, the product 10 is retained in both directions horizontally to the left and to the right, firstly by the band vertical 57 of the tongue 50 delimited by the edges 55 and 40 and, secondly, by the inner face 39 of the vertical back 38.

  Finally, the product 10 is retained in the direction T inside the closed jacket 32 to the extent that it is sandwiched between the lower sheets 34 and 36 with its lower face 16 adjacent to the inner face 37; its upper face 18 is facing the inner face 41 of the upper sheet 36.

  By way of non-limiting example, and according to another characteristic of the invention, the figures also show means for maintaining or "locking" the jacket 32 in the closed position.

  These locking means are for example also made integrally in one piece by cutting and folding with the jacket 32 and here comprises a central rear locking tab 58 whose opposite high 60 and low 62 ends are respectively received in slots high 64 and low 66 formed vis-à-vis along the front edge 40 in combination with two "latches" 68 and bottom 70.

  The latches 68 and 70 are shaped to facilitate locking and unlocking for opening.

  In addition to its function of protecting the product 10, the packaging formed by the jacket 32 constitutes an ideal advertising medium, in particular by its large surface area.

  the product is perfectly maintained inside the liner and this practically without clearance because of the nipping effect resulting from the closure of the liner 32, especially when the liner has locking means in the closed position.

  The messages with advertising content may appear not only on the inner back of the jacket 32 constituted by the internal faces 37, 39 and 41 (here represented by the letters V), but of course also and preferably on the outer face of the 32 constituted by the outer faces 37 ', 39' and 41 'of the shirt 32 (here represented by the letters R).

  Advantageously, the jacket 32 constitutes after use (that is to say after its opening for the consumption of the product 10), an advertising medium that the consumer can keep.

  The surface or area available for messages with advertising content is much larger than that constituted by the surface or area of the packaging strip 14.

  In addition the choice of materials available for the shirt 32 makes the prints much easier to implement by providing unlimited creative possibilities.

  It is also particularly advantageous to be able to use a standard or neutral product, that is to say not having any particular advertising message other than the manufacturer's mark and its food composition, in association with a packaging jacket. personalized, in particular according to an advertising campaign.

  The tongue 50 with its two opposite inner and outer faces also constitutes an additional advertising surface.

  When the product is not perfectly parallelepipedal, for example curved, it is possible to provide a cut for example in the upper sheet, and / or lower and / or to conform the central portion of the curved complementary sheet of the product. This is possible in particular if the jacket is made of plastic sheet molded by thermoforming.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows a product 10 packaged in a "flow-pack" type packaging.

  By way of example, the product 10 is a rectangular individual chocolate square (not visible in FIG. 6).

  The packaging of the chocolate square is constituted here, in known manner, by a strip or sheet 14 of flexible material, for example a transparent or opaque plastic sheet whose sealing is provided by thermoforming or heat sealing.

  A central portion 72 of rectangular parallelepipedal general shape is thus delimited, analogous to that of the individual chocolate II contained inside, and two high 74 and low 76 "parts without thickness".

  The sealing technique of the package 10 is such that it leads, in particular in the central portion 72, to the formation of a covering 78 defining a slot in which, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 6, it is possible to introduce at least one free end section delimited by the vertical edge 55 of a retaining tongue 50 similar to that described above.

  This possibility is also illustrated schematically in the sectional view of FIG. 7.

  Due to the heat sealing closure of the upper 74 and lower 76 parts, the slot under the cover 78 in which the retaining tab 50 is received is also closed at these two opposite vertical ends.

  Such a product 10 with its packaging "flow-pack" can be put in place and retained in a packaging jacket 32 of the type described and shown with reference to Figures 1 to 5, in the same way that a chocolate with his ring.

  Whether it is a chocolate with a ring or a chocolate in a "flow-pack" package, the retaining tab 50 can extend "above" the upper face 18 of the product 10 "covering" the latter as illustrated in the figures or, as a variant not shown, extend "below" the lower face 16 of the product 10, that is to say that there is then only the thickness of the paper of the ring or the pack "flow-pack" 14 between the tongue 50 and the inner face 37 of the lower sheet 34 According to a variant not shown, the retaining tab 50 can extend over the entire height of the front vertical edge 40 thus having the same height as the lower sheets 34 and 36, while the product 10 then protrudes upwards and downwards beyond the edges 33 and 35, the locking means in the closed position can also intervene on the right of the edges facing 56 and 44.

  According to yet another variant not shown, the retaining tongue is not centered in the vertical edge 40 but can be shifted up or down.

  in the case of a "flow-pack" packaging, the packaging jacket is rigid and homogeneous which greatly facilitates the setting up and distribution of this type of products in the screw-type automatic distributors mentioned above.

  Finally, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, to further increase the "advertising" area and better maintain or retain the product, here packaged in a packaging "flow-pack", can be realized, come from material by cutting and folding, two top 80 and bottom 80 flaps which, in the position of the product 10 inside the jacket 32, extend opposite upper portions 74 and lower 76 "without thickness" of the packaging sheet 14 which envelopes the product of chocolate 12.

  The dimensions of the different cutouts are such that the "horizontal" high 86 and low 88 side faces of the product 12 are received substantially without clearance between the edges facing low 90 and high 92 of the flaps 80 and 82 respectively.

  This design with two retaining flaps allows if necessary, and especially if no slot is available or if the slot is not closed at its two opposite vertical ends high and low, remove the tab "central" retaining.

Claims (13)

  1. Packaging (32) of a food product (10), in particular of rectangular parallelepiped general shape such as a square of chocolate (12), a candy or a biscuit or a bar, packed in a rectangular strip (14) of material which is wound around the product and which is closed at least by fixing, in particular by gluing or heat sealing, of two zones facing the two longitudinal ends of the strip, characterized in that it comprises: an outer jacket (32) comprising an upper sheet (36) and a lower sheet (34) connected together by a rear vertical back (38), and which respectively extend facing substantially parallel upper (18) and lower (16) faces of the product; and means (50, 80, 82) for retaining the product (10) inside the jacket (32).   2. Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the liner (32) comprises at least one retaining tab (50) extending horizontally from the front free vertical edge (40) of the lower sheet (34), inside the liner, which cooperates with a complementary portion of the wrapped product to retain the product.   3. Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wrapped product (10, 12, 14) comprises a vertical slot, and in that the retaining tongue (50) extends horizontally through the slot.   4. Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the slot is closed at least at one of its two vertical ends to cooperate with a horizontal edge vis-à-vis (52, 54) of the retaining tongue ( 50).   5. Packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the slot is closed at its two opposite vertical ends, and in that the width of the tongue (50) is substantially equal to the height of the slot.   6. Packaging according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the retaining tongue (50) is centered vertically with respect to the vertical front edge (40) of the lower sheet (34) of the jacket (32) .   7. Packaging according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the retaining tongue (50) is adjacent to an upper face (18) of the product (10).   8. Packaging according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the retaining tongue (50) is adjacent to a lower face (16) of the product (10).   9. Packaging according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the jacket comprises at least two retaining flaps, top (80) and bottom (82), which extend horizontally from the front free vertical edge ( 40) of the lower sheet (34), inside the jacket and towards the rear, and which respectively extend opposite the upper (74) and lower (76) portions of the product packaging (10). ) to frame between the two components (80, 82).   10. Packaging according to claim 9, characterized in that the two up and down flaps (80, 82) constitute two high and low vertical retaining stops of the packaged product (10) inside the liner (32).   11. Packaging according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the packaging sheet (14) of the product extends upwardly and downwardly, beyond horizontal side faces high and low (86, 88) of the product, by high and low extensions (74, 76) each of which is covered by a retaining flap, up and down (80, 82) respectively.   12. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liner (32) comprises means (58, 68, 70) complementary locking of the liner in the closed position.   13. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shirt s (32) is made in one piece of rigid or semi-rigid material cut and folded, including cardboard or cardboard.