Tray for transporting and displaying fruit or vegetables, and use of this tray

Abstract

Tray (1) for the transport and presentation of fruits or vegetables, obtained by cutting and folding a blank of a semi-rigid material, said tray comprising a bottom wall (2) provided with sides extended by respective side walls (3, 4), said side walls being joined consecutively to form a closed perimeter, and further comprising one or two folding tabs (50) which extend one or two side walls to form an openable wall (5) extending opposite the bottom wall, in which the bottom wall (2) is provided with several windows (20).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a tray for the transport and presentation of fruits or vegetables, the tray being obtained by cutting and folding a blank of a semi-rigid material.

[0002] The invention finds application in the field of packaging fruits (such as apples, pears, oranges, etc.) and vegetables, for transport and presentation on a market stall or shop stall. [State of the art]

[0003] As is well known, fruits and vegetables can be presented and sold loose, and they can also be presented and sold in batches packaged in closed trays.

[0004] Such trays are advantageous for transporting fruits and vegetables, with good conditions for preservation against shocks, and also for displaying fruits and vegetables on a market or shop stall.

[0005] In the field of closed trays, it is known, for example from documents WO2019 / 195243, US2968392, and FR2632273, that a bottom wall has sides extended by their respective lateral walls. These lateral walls are joined consecutively to form a closed perimeter. In addition, one or two hinged tabs extend from one or two lateral walls to form an opening opposite the bottom wall. Thus, on the packaging line, the trays are opened, with the tab(s) open, to allow the fruit or vegetables to be placed inside. The trays are then closed by folding the tab(s), and the fruit or vegetables are thus packaged. The trays will only be reopened by the end consumer.

[0006] With this type of tray, the opening side, formed by the closed tab(s), is exposed on top of the display, visible to shoppers, while the solid bottom wall forms the base of the tray on which the fruit or vegetables rest. It is also common to use an adhesive label on the tab(s) to keep them closed. This adhesive label is typically used to display information such as the product name, brand, logo, origin, qualities, benefits, and / or regulatory information.

[0007] One disadvantage of this type of tray is that it has one or two tabs and an adhesive label which largely conceal the fruits or vegetables, so that the consumer only gets a slight glimpse of the products contained in the tray.

[0008] The state of the art can also be illustrated by the teachings of document EP2316746 which describes a tray for the transport and presentation of fruits or vegetables, obtained by cutting and folding a blank of a semi-rigid material (cardboard for example), this tray comprising a bottom wall with sides extended by respective side walls, these side walls being joined consecutively to form a closed perimeter, and further comprising a hinged tab which extends a side wall to form an opening wall extending opposite the bottom wall.

[0009] As described in this document, the base has several windows, and the opening flap also has large openings to form a handle; these large openings represent almost 50% of the surface area of ​​the opening flap. This tray can therefore be presented with the handle on top (i.e., with the opening flap facing up) so that it can be grasped manually at the handle. While improving the visibility of the fruits or vegetables through the large openings, this tray is not entirely suitable for the marketing information one might want to display to the customer. [Summary of the invention]

[0010] The invention aims to provide a tray that presents an increased surface area for information, and in particular marketing information such as attractive visuals, a logo, designs with shapes and colors adapted to the product, etc., while increasing the visibility of the fruits or vegetables contained in the tray.

[0011] To this end, the invention provides a tray according to claim

[0012] Thus, the invention proposes to provide windows in the back wall, in order to present the tray on the stand upside down, in other words with the back wall forming the top of the tray (contrary to common practice which is that the opening wall forms the top of the tray), which has the advantage of offering an increased surface for marketing information, while leaving the fruits or vegetables visible through the windows.

[0013] Furthermore, the hinged side panel has a large surface area, being greater than or equal to 70% of the surface area of ​​the base panel, which ensures that the fruits or vegetables are securely held in place when the tray is upside down at the point of display and sale. For the purposes of this invention, this surface area of ​​the hinged side panel corresponds to the surface area of ​​the semi-rigid material within the panel, so the surface area of ​​any openings in the hinged side panel is not included in this measurement. In contrast, the surface area of ​​the base panel corresponds to its total surface area, including any windows. Indeed, what matters is the surface area of ​​the material in the hinged side panel projected onto the total surface area of ​​the base panel, which determines the extent of the material within the hinged side panel that contributes to supporting the fruits or vegetables when the tray is upside down.

[0014] On the packaging line, it's advantageous to have an open tray, with the tab(s) open, and to place the fruit or vegetables upside down inside the tray, then close the tray by fastening the tab(s) (for example, with an adhesive label or any other suitable closure). During transport, the tray can be stored right-side up or upside down, it doesn't matter. However, once on the shelf, the tray is placed upside down (with the opening but closed side facing down and the bottom wall facing up) so that the fruit or vegetables are right-side up and visible through the windows in the bottom wall.

[0015] Advantageously, the opening wall does not include or form a handle or grip.

[0016] Indeed, according to the invention, this opening panel is not intended to provide a handle or grip for the customer, as it is located underneath and is not visible to the customer. Furthermore, such a handle or grip would be poorly suited, if not incompatible, with the intended use of the invention, namely, presenting the tray upside down. In fact, incorporating a handle or grip into the opening panel would require large openings in this panel, through which the fruits or vegetables could easily escape once the tray is upside down.

[0017] In an advantageous design, the windows are sized and located so that the fruits or vegetables, when present in the tray according to a given distribution pattern, cannot pass through the windows.

[0018] Thus, depending on the fruits or vegetables and their distribution pattern in the tray, the windows are shaped or arranged to prevent them from passing through these windows on the assembly line or during transport (tray right-side up).

[0019] According to one characteristic, the windows each have at least one dimension, called the minimum dimension, which is less than a diameter of the fruits or vegetables.

[0020] According to another characteristic, the minimum dimension of the windows is less than or equal to 8 centimeters, and for example less than or equal to 5 centimeters.

[0021] Such a size for the windows is advantageous for being able to clearly display the fruits or vegetables on the stall (tray upside down), while preventing them from passing through these windows on the assembly line or during transport (tray right side up).

[0022] According to one possibility, the multiple windows provide a grid-like structure to the back wall.

[0023] According to a second possibility, the fruit or vegetable distribution pattern has at least two rows and at least two columns, and the windows are positioned between two rows and / or between two columns.

[0024] Thus, by positioning the windows between two rows and / or between two columns of fruits or vegetables, they will extend across two fruits or vegetables, or even between four fruits or vegetables, thus preventing them from passing through these windows.

[0025] According to another possibility, the back wall provides a given area, and the windows together define an open area that represents between 25 and 60% of the area of ​​the back wall.

[0026] According to another possibility, the tab or both tabs are closed by means of an adhesive label.

[0027] One advantage of this adhesive label is that, once the tray is upside down, the mandatory information (indication of origin, weight, price, nature of the product, etc.) can be present on this adhesive label, therefore under the tray which is upside down, while the marketing information (logo, slogan, brand, etc.) is on the back wall and therefore visible to the consumer.

[0028] According to another possibility, the tab or both tabs are closed by gluing, stapling, punching, or by fitting between tabs and slots.

[0029] In a particular embodiment, which tongue or both tongues is solid or are solid.

[0030] Alternatively, the tab or each of the two tabs has an opening.

[0031] In this case, the area of ​​the openable wall corresponds to the overall area of ​​the openable wall minus the areas of these openings.

[0032] In a particular embodiment, the area of ​​the back wall represents at least 80% of the area of ​​the back wall.

[0033] In other words, the surface area of ​​the opening wall (or of the tab(s)) corresponds to at least 80% of the surface area of ​​the bottom wall; so that this opening wall, when the tray is upside down, offers an increased surface area of ​​its semi-rigid material to support the fruit or vegetables.

[0034] The invention also relates to the use of a tray according to the invention, for the transport and presentation of fruits or vegetables, in which the several windows in the bottom wall are sized and located so that the fruits or vegetables present in the tray according to a given distribution pattern cannot pass through the windows, and in which the tray is displayed in a place of display and sale upside down with the bottom wall on top to make the fruits or vegetables visible through the windows.

[0035] According to one design, the windows each have at least one dimension, called the minimum dimension, which is less than a diameter of the fruit or vegetables present in the tray.

[0036] According to another embodiment, the fruit or vegetable distribution pattern has at least two rows and at least two columns, and the windows are positioned between two rows and / or between two columns. [Brief description of the figures]

[0037] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, along with several non-limiting examples of implementation, made with reference to the accompanying figures in which: [ Fig 1 ] is a schematic perspective view of a first tray according to the invention, viewed from the side of its opening wall, in other words in a "right-side-up" presentation; [ Fig 2 ] is a schematic perspective view of the first tray, viewed from the side of its bottom wall, in other words, in an "upside-down" presentation; [ Fig 3] is a schematic perspective view of the first tray, viewed from the side of its back wall (an "upside-down" presentation) and showing the presence of fruit or vegetables inside the first tray; Fig 4 ] is a schematic side view (width side) of the first tray, showing the presence of fruit or vegetables; Fig 5 ] is another schematic side view (lengthwise side) of the first tray, showing the presence of fruit or vegetables; Fig 6 ] is a schematic view of a second tray according to the invention, viewed from the front side of its opening wall, in other words in a "right-side-up" presentation; [ Fig 7 ] is another schematic view of the second tray, seen from the back of its bottom wall, in other words, in an "upside-down" presentation; Fig 8 ] is a schematic side view (lengthwise side) of the second tray, showing the presence of fruit or vegetables; Fig 9] is a schematic perspective view of a third tray according to the invention, viewed from the side of its bottom wall (inverted presentation) and with fruit or vegetables inside the third tray; and [ Fig 10 ] is a schematic perspective view of a fourth tray according to the invention, viewed from the side of its bottom wall (presentation "upside down") and with the presence of fruit or vegetables inside the fourth tray. [Detailed description of examples of implementation of the invention]

[0038] THE Figures 1 to 5 relate to a first tray 1 conforming to the invention, the Figures 5 to 8 relate to a second tray 10 conforming to the invention, the Figure 9 relates to a third tray 100 according to the invention and the Figure 10relates to a fourth tray 101 according to the invention. For the remainder of the description, the same numerical references will be used for structural or functional elements that are identical or similar in the four trays 1, 10, 100, 101.

[0039] The tray 1, 10, 100, 101 is obtained by cutting and folding a blank of semi-rigid material, such as cardboard, into which transverse and longitudinal fold lines are provided to define walls 2, 3, 4, 5; such a tray 1, 10 is intended for the transport and presentation of fruits or vegetables 9. These fruits or vegetables 9 are arranged inside the tray according to a distribution pattern that has at least two rows and at least two columns. In other words, the fruits or vegetables 9 are distributed in at least two rows and at least two columns. In the illustrated examples, there are two rows of three fruits or vegetables 9, and therefore two rows and three columns.

[0040] More specifically, the tray 1, 10, 100, 101 comprises a base 2 with sides 21, in which windows 20 are provided. This base 2 may have a general rectangular shape with four sides, possibly beveled at its four corners. The windows 20 may be of various shapes, such as polygonal, circular, oval, or more complex shapes, such as, for example, and without limitation, the profile of a fruit or vegetable (as is the case on the Figure 9 with an apple-shaped profile) or heart-shaped (as in the example of the Figure 10 ). The 20 windows have dimensions that are less than or equal to 5 centimeters, and for example less than or equal to 3 centimeters.

[0041] In the modes of embodiment of figures 2 , 3 And 7 , these 20 windows provide a gridded structure to the back wall 2, with at least ten 20 windows.

[0042] In the modes of embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 These windows, number 20, are two in total.

[0043] In general, the windows 20 are sized and located so that the fruits or vegetables 9, when present in the tray according to a given distribution pattern, cannot pass through the windows 20, in particular when the tray is exposed upside down with the bottom wall 2 on top.

[0044] Each of these 20 windows has at least one dimension, called the minimum dimension, which is smaller than the diameter of the fruits or vegetables, precisely to prevent the fruits or vegetables from falling through. This minimum dimension can be less than or equal to 8 centimeters, and for example, less than or equal to 5 centimeters.

[0045] In the examples of Figures 9 and 10The windows 20 are positioned between two rows and between two columns of fruits or vegetables 9, so that the windows 20 (for example in the shape of an apple or a heart) extend across four fruits or vegetables 9. Thus, the fruits and vegetables 9, stuck in their rows and columns, cannot pass through the windows 20.

[0046] Furthermore, the back wall 2 offers a given area (for example its length multiplied by its width in the case of a rectangular back wall 2), and the windows 20 together define an open area (the sum of the areas of the windows 20) which represents between 25 and 60% of the area of ​​the back wall 2.

[0047] The tray 1, 10, 100, 101 also includes side walls 3, 4 that extend the sides 21 of the bottom wall 2. The side walls 3, 4 have first edges 31, 41 that are contiguous with or coincident with the sides 21 of the bottom wall 2, with fold lines provided in the side to define these sides 21 of the bottom wall 2, between the bottom wall 2 and the side walls 3, 4. Once the side walls 3, 4 are folded at right angles to the bottom wall 2, the side walls 3, 4 are joined consecutively to form a closed perimeter, for example by gluing, stapling, punching, or by interlocking between tabs and slots. The side walls 3, 4 also have second edges 32, 42 that are opposite and parallel to their respective first edges 31, 41.In the illustrated examples, the tray 1, 10 comprises two side walls 3 called longitudinal side walls which extend along the length of the bottom wall 2 opposite each other, and comprises at least two side walls 4 which connect the longitudinal side walls 3 to form the closed perimeter.

[0048] The tray 1, 10, 100, 101 further includes one or two foldable tabs 50 which extend one or two side walls 3, 4 to form an opening wall 5 extending opposite the bottom wall 2. This opening wall 5 has an area (here the area of ​​the semi-rigid material, excluding any openings) which covers at least 70%, and for example at least 80%, of the area of ​​the bottom wall 2 (here the overall area, including windows); so as to offer a large area for holding the fruit or vegetables once the tray is upside down.

[0049] In the examples illustrated in the Figures, the tray 1, 10, 100, 101 comprises two tabs 50 that extend from the two respective longitudinal side walls 3. These two longitudinal side walls 3 thus have their second edges 32 which define fold lines provided in the side, between the longitudinal side walls 3 and the respective tabs 50. The other side walls 4, on the other hand, have their second edges 32 which are free. The two tabs 50 are sized to be able to partially overlap each other, so as to form an openable wall 5 extending opposite the bottom wall 2. For this purpose, the two tabs 50 can be opened, in other words, separated from each other and not joined, particularly when placing the fruits or vegetables 9 inside the tray 1, 10, 100, 101.Then the two tabs 50 can be closed by folding one over the other and held closed by means of an adhesive label 6 stuck across the two tabs 50. It is possible to keep the two tabs 50 closed by another means of closure, such as by gluing, stapling, punching, or by fitting between tabs and slots.

[0050] In an unillustrated variant, the tray includes a single tab extending from one of the side walls 3, 4, and for example one of the two longitudinal side walls 3. This tab will be sufficiently long or wide to reach another side wall 3, 4 located opposite, such as the other of the two longitudinal side walls 3. This single tab will by itself form an openable wall extending opposite the bottom wall 2. This single tab can be opened, in other words, moved away from the other side wall, and then it can be closed by being folded back onto the other side wall and held closed by means of an adhesive label or any other closing means, such as by gluing, stapling, punching, or by fitting between tabs and slots.

[0051] In the example of Figures 1 to 5 , the 50 tabs are solid (therefore without a hole), whereas in the example of the Figures 6 to 8, the tabs 50 each have an opening 51, which is advantageous for manual gripping (like a handle).

[0052] Once the tray 1, 10, 100, 101 is closed with these fruits or vegetables 9 inside, the tray 1, 10 can be transported right-side up (i.e., with the bottom wall 2 underneath and the opening wall 5 on top, as illustrated in the Figures 1 And 6 ) or upside down (that is, with the bottom wall 2 on top and the opening wall 5 on the bottom, as illustrated in the Figures 2 , 3 , 7 , 9 and 10). On the other hand, and this is the advantage of the invention, the tray 1, 10, 100, 101, once present on the market stall or in the store (in other words, the place of display and sale), the tray 1, 10, 100, 101 is displayed upside down with the bottom wall 2 on top to make the fruits or vegetables 9 visible through the windows 20. Information (inscriptions, markings, attractive visuals, logo, drawings, etc.) will advantageously be provided on the bottom wall 2 (on the exterior side visible to customers), between the windows 20, to increase the attractiveness of the product and the information communicated to buyers.

Claims

1. A tray (1:10; 100; 101) for the transport and display of fruits or vegetables (9), obtained by cutting and folding a blank made of a semi-rigid material, said tray comprising a bottom wall (2) provided with sides (21) extended by respective side walls (3, 4), said side walls (3, 4) being successively joined to form a closed perimeter, and further comprising one or two foldable tabs (50) extending one or two side walls (3) so as to form an openable wall (5) extending opposite the bottom wall (2), wherein the bottom wall (2) is provided with a plurality of openings (20), wherein: - the bottom wall (2) has a given surface area, this surface area of the bottom wall (2) corresponding to the overall surface area, including the openings (20), - the openable wall (5) has a given surface area, this surface area of the openable wall (5) corresponding to the surface area of the semi-rigid material in the openable wall (5) projected onto the overall surface area of the bottom wall (2), said tray (1; 10; 100; 101) being characterized in that the surface area of the openable wall (5) represents at least 70% of the overall surface area of the bottom wall (2).

2. The tray (1; 10; 100; 101) according to claim 1, wherein the openable wall (5) does not comprise and does not form a handle.

3. The tray (1; 10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the openings (20) each have at least one dimension, referred to as a minimum dimension, wherein the minimum dimension of the openings (20) is less than or equal to 8 centimeters, and for example, less than or equal to 5 centimeters.

4. The tray (1; 10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of openings (20) provides a grid-like structure to the bottom wall (2).

5. The tray (1; 10; 100; 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom wall (2) has a given surface area, and the openings (20) together define an open area that represents between 25 and 60% of the surface area of the bottom wall (2).

6. The tray (1; 10; 100; 101) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tab or the two tabs (50) is or are closed by means of an adhesive label (6).

7. The tray (1; 10; 100; 101) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tab or the two tabs (50) is or are closed by gluing, stapling, punching, or by engagement between tabs and slots.

8. The tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tab or the two tabs (50) is or are solid.

9. The tray (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tab or each of the two tabs (50) has an opening.

10. The tray (1:10; 100; 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface area of the openable wall (5) represents at least 80% of the surface area of the bottom wall (2).

11. A use of a tray (1:10; 100; 101) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, for transporting and displaying fruits or vegetables (9), wherein the plurality of openings (20) in the bottom wall (2) are sized and positioned so that the fruits or vegetables (9) present in the tray (1; 10) according to a given distribution pattern, cannot pass through the openings (20), and wherein the tray (1; 10) is displayed at a display and sales location upside down with the bottom wall (2) on top so as to make the fruits or vegetables (9) visible through the openings (20).

12. The use according to claim 11, wherein the openings (20) each have at least one dimension, referred to as the minimum dimension, which is smaller than a diameter of the fruits or vegetables (9) present in the tray (1; 10).

13. The use according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the distribution pattern of the fruits or vegetables (9) comprises at least two rows and at least two columns, and the openings (20) are positioned between two rows and / or between two columns.

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