Cardboard box for horticultural products with one or multiple viewing windows

Abstract

In aspects, the invention relates to a cardboard box (10) for horticultural products, such as for example one or multiple fruit and / or vegetable products. The box (10) has one or multiple windows (3) for at least partly displaying and / or viewing the product contained therein. Preferably, the cardboard box (10) can be formed from a single diecut cardboard sheet with fold lines, preferably by means of which a box with reclosable closing means is obtained. The one or more windows (3) are included for displaying and / or viewing the product contained therein, and at least one of the one or multiple windows (3) is provided with a paper mesh (4).

Description

[0001] Title: Cardboard box for horticultural products with one or multiple viewing windows

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] In aspects, the present invention relates to a box for horticultural products, such as fruit and / or vegetable products, for instance a box of the type being formed from a diecut cardboard sheet with folding lines, preferably one which results in that a box with closing means, more preferably reclosable closing means, is obtained, wherein one or more windows are included for viewing and / or displaying at least a part of the product contained therein.

[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a box that is entirely formed of paper-based material, in particular cardboard, and that is therefore much more environmentally friendly and easy to recycle than boxes of this type in which the one or multiple windows include transparent plastic sheet for enabling viewing and / or displaying the product contained therein.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In the field of practical application of at least certain aspects of the invention, boxes are known that are formed from cardboard sheet, in particular die-cut cardboard sheet, more in particular with folding lines, for instance wherein such boxes result in a respective box with closing means, in particular reclosable closing means, wherein one or more windows are included for displaying and / or viewing the product contained therein.

[0007] In order to prevent the products contained inside the box from accidentally falling out, said boxes generally include transparent plastic sheets which are applied to said window or windows, which typically are adhered to the internal frame of the respective box.

[0008] Obviously, the different nature of the main body of the box with respect to the sheets covering the windows means that this kind of product is difficult to recycle in an appropriate manner, since the two materials have to be separated. Additionally, the environmental impact of continuing to use plastics, even when these are recyclable, may be another issue to consider.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative box, in particular an alternative box enabling viewing and / or displaying horticultural products held within the box. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative box counteracting at least one of the problems of known boxes, preferably counteracting at least one of the problems of the known boxes described above and / or counteracting at least one of the known problems described above.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] For instance thereto, in a first aspect, the present invention provides for a cardboard box for horticultural products, such as for example one or multiple fruit and / or vegetable products, having one or multiple windows for displaying or viewing the product contained therein, preferably wherein the cardboard box is formed from a single die-cut cardboard sheet with fold lines, preferably in a manner such that a box with reclosable closing means is obtained, wherein the one or more windows are included for displaying and / or viewing the product contained therein, characterized in that at least one of the one or multiple windows is provided with a paper mesh.

[0012] By providing at least one window with a paper mesh, the product can be constrained within the container / box while still being at least partly visibly without a need of using transparent plastic for said purpose.

[0013] The box proposed by such aspect of the invention may solve, or at least alleviate, one or more problems of known boxes and / or one or more problems set forth above, in particular in relatively satisfactory manner through a simple yet highly effective solution.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the paper mesh corresponding to the one or more windows may be fixed, in particular adhered, to an internal frame of the box, for instance by attaching said paper mesh to an internal peripheral edge of the respective window. As such, the box may have not only have a neatly finished appearance, but may also counteract that the mesh can come loose unintentionally.

[0015] In a further aspect, the invention also relates to a cardboard box for fruit and vegetable products having windows for displaying the product contained therein, of the kind formed from the development of a single sheet of die-cut cardboard with fold lines, by means of which a box with practicable closing means is obtained, wherein one or more windows are included for displaying the product contained therein, wherein a paper mesh is included, corresponding to the window or windows, attached to the internal peripheral edge thereof.

[0016] By providing a cardboard box for horticultural products with windows for viewing the product contained therein, of the type formed from the development of a single die-cut cardboard sheet with folding lines, resulting in a box with reclosable means, wherein one or more windows are included for viewing the product contained therein, characterized in that corresponding to the window or windows, a paper mesh is fixed to their internal perimeter edge, a box may be provided which not only can allow containing product therein in a manner in which said product can be at least partly visible without the need of using transparent plastic, but which box can also be formed relatively simply and which may preferably be arranged to be closed and / or reclosed without any further means such as adhesive tape, a rubber band and / or staples, thereby for instance even further enabling simplifying a recycling process or the like.

[0017] In order to achieve this, in embodiments, starting from a structure of a box of the type in which a single sheet of die-cut cardboard is used, and which, when assembled, results in a reclosable container / box, in particular one in which a lid or lids of the container / box form an integral part or integral parts of the container / box, the container / box can thus be provided with one or more cutouts establishing one or more windows for displaying the product contained therein. It is noted that the box of this aspect of the invention centers its characteristics on the fact that, instead of the traditional transparent plastic sheets covering one or more windows, a paper mesh is provided.

[0018] Preferably, said paper mesh may be attached, in particular adhered, internally to the peripheral frame of said window or windows.

[0019] With regard to the paper mesh, it is noted that although it may be of any suitable design and / or produced in any suitable manner, it may in embodiments be produced from fibers, in particular long fiber, of softwoods, in particular coniferous trees. In embodiments, the paper mesh may be made at least partly, and preferably entirely, from long pine fiber.

[0020] Once kraft pulp is produced, a resin, preferably at least a polyamideamineepichlorohydrin resin can added, which may provide suitable properties for rope or string production for the mesh and which may enable that the finished product can maintain its mechanical properties even under conditions of relatively high humidity.

[0021] It will be appreciated that, for instance in this way, a container or box having the same or a similar performance as a known container or box, but which is produced substantially entirely, in particular 100%, from substantially paper-based material / cardboard / paper can be provided and which can thus be much more environmentally friendly / much more ecological than such known container / box.

[0022] In a further aspect, the invention provides for a paper mesh or so-called paper net, for instance for a cardboard box as described above, wherein the paper mesh comprises strings, preferably strings from fibers, in particular long fiber, of softwoods, in particular coniferous trees, and preferably wherein the paper mesh further comprises resin. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that such paper mesh may also be advantageously used in other applications. Such paper mesh may provide for relatively good mechanical properties, in particular relatively good mechanical properties which may maintain relatively well for relatively long, more in particular even under conditions of relatively high humidity.

[0023] In embodiments, the paper mesh may be made at least partly, and preferably entirely, from long pine fiber and resin.

[0024] Additionally, or alternatively, in preferred embodiments, the resin may comprise at least polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin resin,

[0025] Additionally, or alternatively, the resin, may comprise rosin resin or so-called colophony resin.

[0026] Advantageously, the paper used for producing the mesh may have a weight of between 30 g / m2and 35 g / m2.

[0027] In embodiments, the paper mesh may comprise a string having a thickness of the order of 0.5 mm, in particular a thickness between 0.35 mm and 0.7 mm.

[0028] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to complement the description that follows below and to aid in a better understanding of the characteristics and / or features of aspects of the invention, in accordance with preferred practical exemplary embodiments of aspects of the invention, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of this description, where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following is represented:

[0030] Figure 1 - a schematically perspective view of a cardboard box for fruit and / or vegetable products having one window for displaying the product contained therein, according to an aspect of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 - a schematically perspective view of a second variant embodiment of a box according to an aspect of the invention; and Figure 3 - lastly, a schematically perspective view of a third exemplary variant embodiment of the multiple variant embodiments that the box according to the invention may present.

[0032] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figures 1 to 3 show three embodiments of a cardboard box 10 for horticultural products, such as for example one or multiple fruit and / or vegetable products.

[0034] In embodiments, at least a part of the cardboard of the box 10 may be formed as paperboard, but alternatively it may at least partly be formed as corrugated fiberboard. Additionally or alternatively, for example cardboard sheets having a density between 40 g / m2and 100 g / m2may be used.

[0035] Although the box 10 of the embodiment of Figure 1 has only one window 3 for displaying and / or viewing the product contained therein, it may have multiple windows 3 in other embodiments, as for instance can be seen in Figures 2 and 3.

[0036] Although it may be advantageous when the cardboard box 10 is formed from a single die-cut cardboard sheet 1 with fold lines, the cardboard box 10 may alternatively be formed from multiple cardboard sheets.

[0037] In particular embodiments, as can be observed in the figures included, the box 10 may relatively conventionally be formed starting from the development of a single sheet 1 of cardboard provided with cutting and folding lines, such that, when assembled, it can form a container / box in which one or more lids 2-2’ thereof are formed as integral part(s) of said container / box. It will be appreciated that this container / box 10 can adopt various forms or shapes depending on different design lines, for example such as those shown in Figures 1 to 3, as well as many others, without this affecting the essence of the respective aspect of the invention, since this design does not affect the structural characteristics on which the respective aspect of the claimed content of the present invention is based. Therefore, in accordance with the essence of respective aspects of the invention, the container / box is provided with one or more windows 3 for displaying at least a part of the interior contents of the container / box, wherein these one or multiple windows 3 can for example be distributed either on one or multiple ones of its side faces, on its one or multiple lids, if any, and / or on another top or upper face, or even jointly on both, as shown in the embodiments of Figure 1 and Figure 3.

[0038] Preferably, as is the case in the here shown exemplary embodiments, the one or multiple windows 3 can be internally supported by a paper-based mesh 4, which is fixed, in particular by means of adhesive, to the peripheral frame of the respective window 3.

[0039] These containers or boxes 10 can be assembled manually or automatically, without the essence of respective aspects of the invention being affected by this either. Similarly, the containers / boxes may have chamfered corners 8, as in the variant embodiment of Figure 2, and / or sharp corners, again without affecting the essence of respective aspects of the invention. Additionally or alternatively, the box 10 may for example include, as stated previously, at least one or at least two lids 2-2, preferably provided with respective coupling means 6, such as for example one or more tabs or the like, for ensuring the stable closure thereof.

[0040] In embodiments, the mesh 4 may be made out of strings. Advantageously, the mesh 4 may for instance be produced with long-fiber pine (preferably 100%) to which, once the kraft pulp is produced, at least a polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin resin is added, which may provide suitable properties for the production of the string and / or which may facilitate that the finished product maintains its mechanical properties under conditions of high humidity.

[0041] In addition, the water absorption capacity of the paper may preferably be controlled, for instance by adding rosin resin, which may be derived from conifer resin, which may reduce the hygroscopicity of the paper. The paper weight for paper used in the mesh 4 can for example range from 30 g / m2to 35 g / m2. Preferably, paper having such a paper weight may be used to achieve a string diameter of around 0.5 mm, such as for example a thickness between 0.35 mm and 0.7 mm.

[0042] With regard to the paper used in the main body of the box, it is noted that it may preferably have a density of between 40 g / m2and 100 g / m2.

[0043] As is shown in the Figures 1 to 3, the container / box 10 may, at least in embodiments, include other, smaller, ventilation windows or holes 7-7’, which do not have to be provided with said mesh 4 as, by virtue of their smaller size, they may already prevent that products contained inside the box can fall out through such a ventilation window or hole 7-7’.

[0044] It will be appreciate that, for example in such way or another, a container / box that is 100% recyclable, and which can integrally be disposed of in a waste paper bin or so-called blue bin, can be achieved, without the need to remove one or more parts of the container / box prior to disposing and / or recycling said container / box, and without generating waste, in particular plastic waste or the like, in the recycling process.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cardboard box (10) for horticultural products, such as for example one or multiple fruit and / or vegetable products, having one or multiple windows (3) for at least partly displaying and / or viewing the product contained therein, preferably wherein the cardboard box (10) is formed from a single die-cut cardboard sheet with fold lines, preferably by means of which a box with reclosable closing means is obtained, wherein the one or more windows (3) are included for displaying and / or viewing the product contained therein, characterized in that at least one of the one or multiple windows (3) is provided with a paper mesh (4).

2. The cardboard box (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the paper mesh (4) corresponds to the one or more windows (3) and is fixed, in particular adhered, to an internal frame of the box (10), for instance by attaching said paper mesh (4) to an internal peripheral edge of the respective window (3).

3. The cardboard box (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mesh (4) is produced with long-fiber pine and resin, preferably wherein said resin comprises at least polyamideamineepichlorohydrin resin, wherein the resin, additionally or alternatively, may further comprise rosin resin or so-called colophony resin.

4. The cardboard box (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the paper used for producing the mesh (4) has a weight of between 30 g / m2and 35 g / m2.

5. The cardboard box (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the paper mesh (4) comprises a string, and wherein the string that is present in the paper mesh (4) has a thickness of the order of 0.5 mm, in particular a thickness between 0.35 mm and 0.7 mm.

6. The cardboard box (10), according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the box (10), in particular its main body, includes one or multiple ventilation windows or holes (7-7’) which is / are smaller than the one or more windows (3) and which is / are not provided with the mesh (4).

7. Paper mesh (4), for instance for a cardboard box (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the paper mesh (4) comprises strings, preferably strings from fibers, in particular long fiber, of softwoods, in particular coniferous trees, and preferably wherein the paper mesh (4) further comprises resin.

8. Paper mesh (4) according to claim 7, wherein the paper mesh (4) may be made at least partly, and preferably entirely, from long pine fiber and resin.

9. Paper mesh (4) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said resin comprises at least polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin resin,10. Paper mesh (4) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the resin comprises rosin resin or so-called colophony resin.

11. Paper mesh (4) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the paper used for producing the mesh (4) has a weight of between 30 g / m2and 35 g / m2.

12. Paper mesh (4) according to any one of claims 7 to 11 , wherein the paper mesh (4) comprises a string having a thickness of the order of 0.5 mm, in particular a thickness between 0.35 mm and 0.7 mm.

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