Wedging element for wedging and protecting an electric cooking appliance, blank and manufacturing method

Abstract

The invention relates to a wedging element (2) which delimits a main recess (9) configured to at least partially house an electric cooking appliance (3), and which comprises a fastening element (12) provided on an upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) and a retaining part (13) projecting with respect to the upper face of the upper wall (4), the retaining part (13) comprising a first end portion (13.1) connected to the upper wall (4) by a main folding line (14) and a second end portion (13.2) provided with a fastening member (130) that engages with the fastening element (12) so as to fasten the second end portion (13.2) to the upper wall (4).

Description

[0001]

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of wedging elements configured to wedge and protect an electric cooking appliance in a package.

[0003] State of the art

[0004] In order to protect, in particular against impacts, an electric cooking appliance during its transport or storage, it is known to place this electric cooking appliance in a cardboard packaging box and to wedge it in the packaging box using one or more wedging members made for example from expanded polystyrene. Such a material makes it possible to easily and inexpensively produce wedging members of very varied shapes and significant thicknesses.

[0005] However, for regulatory and ecological reasons, the use of expanded polystyrene is increasingly prohibited for the production of wedging components.

[0006] To compensate for the use of expanded polystyrene, it is known to use cellulose-based packing elements, and more particularly corrugated cardboard or honeycomb cardboard. However, when the electric cooking appliance is equipped with cooking utensils, such as pans for a raclette machine or a crepe maker or fondue forks for a fondue machine, it is necessary to have a multitude of packing elements that can be glued together, in order to ensure satisfactory holding of such cooking utensils. Thus, the multiplicity of packing elements and the use of glue complicate the industrial packaging process and increase the environmental impact.

[0007] Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

[0009] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular in providing a wedging element for an electric cooking appliance which is of simple and economical structure, avoiding the use of wedging members dedicated to the cooking utensils equipping the electric cooking appliance and whilst ensuring satisfactory holding of these cooking utensils.

[0010] For this purpose, the invention relates to a wedging element configured to wedge and protect an electric cooking appliance, such as a raclette machine, a crepe maker or a fondue maker, in packaging, such as a packaging box, for example made of cardboard, the wedging element being at least partly made of a cellulose-based material, the wedging element comprising an upper wall and at least partly delimiting a main housing which is configured to house at least partly a main part of the electric cooking appliance and which is provided with an upper opening opening into the upper wall of the wedging element and through which the main part of the electric cooking appliance can be introduced into the main housing, the wedging element comprising a fixing element, such as a fixing orifice,provided on the upper wall of the wedging element and a retaining portion projecting from the upper face of the upper wall of the wedging element, the retaining portion being formed by a cut-out portion, such as a main tab, which is cut from the upper wall of the wedging element, the retaining portion comprising a first end portion connected to the upper wall of the wedging element by a main fold line located at a distance from the fixing element and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion and provided with a fixing member, such as a fixing finger, cooperating with the fixing element provided on the upper wall of the wedging element so as to fix the second end portion of the retaining portion to the upper wall of the wedging element,the retaining portion and the upper wall of the wedging element delimiting at least in part a retaining compartment configured to house, at least partially, at least one cooking utensil, such as a cooking dish also called a frying pan, of the electric cooking appliance.,

[0011] Such a configuration of the wedging element according to the present invention, and in particular the production of the retaining part by cutting and folding a cut part, makes it possible to easily assemble the wedging element, without requiring on the one hand the use of glue and / or an additional assembly element and on the other hand the use of complex and expensive assembly equipment, which significantly reduces the manufacturing costs of such a wedging element. In addition, the specific configuration of the retaining compartment ensures good holding of the at least one cooking utensil, in particular during transport or when a package containing a wedging element according to the present invention is dropped.

[0012] Furthermore, the fact that the cushioning element is made at least partly from a cellulose-based material gives the cushioning element a very high recyclability rate.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main fold line, which connects the retaining portion to the upper wall of the wedging element, partly forms the upper opening of the main housing.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cut-out portion has a surface area that is smaller than a passage section of the upper opening of the main housing. According to one embodiment of the invention, the cut-out portion is a residual portion of at least one cut-out having formed the upper opening of the main housing.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main folding line is located in the extension of the at least one cutout having formed the upper opening of the main housing.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining compartment is located at least partly above the upper face of the upper wall of the wedging element.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining part comprises:

[0018] - a first flap comprising the first end portion of the retaining part, the first flap forming a first side wall of the retaining compartment,

[0019] - a second flap which is connected to the first flap by a first additional fold line and which forms an upper wall of the retaining compartment, and

[0020] - a third flap comprising the second end portion of the retaining part, the third flap being connected to the second flap by a second additional fold line and forming a second side wall of the retaining compartment, the second side wall of the retaining compartment being located at least partly opposite and at a distance from the first side wall of the retaining compartment.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining portion is configured such that, when the fixing member is fixed to the fixing element, the lateral edges of the first flap are substantially located respectively in line with two adjacent lateral edges of the upper wall of the wedging element.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining portion is configured such that, when the fixing member is fixed to the fixing element, the lateral edges of the third flap are substantially located respectively in line with two adjacent lateral edges of the upper wall of the wedging element.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper wall of the holding compartment is configured to cover the at least one cooking utensil when the at least one cooking utensil is disposed in the holding compartment.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main fold line and the first and second additional fold lines are substantially parallel. According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second side walls of the holding compartment are substantially parallel to each other. The first and second side walls of the holding compartment may, for example, be parallel to each other, or be inclined to each other by an angle of inclination of less than 15°, and for example less than 10°.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first flap has a maximum transverse dimension which is greater than a maximum transverse dimension of the third flap.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the maximum transverse dimension of the first flap is greater than the length of the main fold line.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second flap has a generally rectangular shape.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the third flap has a generally polygonal shape.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the wedging element is obtained by folding a blank made of a cellulose-based material, and advantageously of cardboard, and for example of corrugated cardboard.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the wedging element is three-dimensional.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the wedging element is made of cardboard, and for example corrugated cardboard.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper wall of the wedging element has a substantially quadrilateral shape, the wedging element comprising side walls opposite each other in pairs, each side wall of the wedging element extending downwards relative to the upper wall of the wedging element and being connected to a respective side edge of the upper wall of the wedging element by a respective first fold line, the wedging element further comprising lower walls folded towards the inside of the wedging element and each connected to a respective side wall of the wedging element by a respective second fold line, the lower walls extending opposite the lower face of the upper wall of the wedging element and at a distance from said upper wall so as to form a bottom portion of the wedging element.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixing element is located near a corner of the upper wall of the wedging element. According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second fold lines associated with the same side wall of the wedging element are substantially parallel.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the wedging element comprises fixing openings provided at least partly on the lower walls, and fixing tabs folded downwards and partly delimiting the upper opening of the main housing, the fixing tabs being configured to cooperate with the fixing openings so as to lock the lower walls in position.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the wedging element comprises a retaining opening provided on the upper wall of the wedging element and opening into the retaining compartment, the at least one cooking utensil being configured to be partially inserted into the retaining opening when the at least one cooking utensil is housed in the retaining compartment.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main housing is three-dimensional.

[0037] The present invention also relates to a blank made of a cellulose-based material for forming a wedging element according to the invention, the blank comprising a main panel which comprises a panel portion configured to form the upper wall of the wedging element, the main panel further comprising at least one main recess configured to form at least in part the upper opening of the main housing and a cut-out portion configured to form the retaining portion, the cut-out portion comprising a first end portion connected to the panel portion by a fold line intended to form the main fold line and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion and provided with the fixing member, the fixing member being provided on the panel portion and at a distance from said fold line.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main panel has a substantially quadrilateral shape, the blank comprising side flaps opposite each other in pairs, each side flap of the blank being connected to a respective side edge of the main panel by a respective first side fold line and being configured to form a respective side wall of the wedging element, the blank further comprising side flaps each connected to a respective side flap of the blank by a respective second side fold line, the side flaps being configured to form the bottom portion of the wedging element.

[0039] The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a wedging element configured to wedge and protect an electric cooking appliance and at least one cooking utensil in a package, such as a packaging box, for example made of cardboard, the manufacturing method comprising the following steps: - providing a blank made of a cellulose-based material, the blank comprising a main panel which comprises a panel portion configured to form the upper wall of the wedging element,

[0040] - cutting the panel portion to form a fixing element,

[0041] - cutting the main panel so as to form a cut-out part, the cut-out part comprising a first end portion connected to the panel portion by a main fold line located at a distance from the fixing element and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion and provided with a fixing member configured to cooperate with the fixing element,

[0042] - folding the cut-out portion at least along the main fold line and attaching the attachment member to the attachment element, so as to attach the second end portion of the cut-out portion to the panel portion and to form a retaining compartment configured to house, at least partially, at least one cooking utensil, such as a cooking dish also called a frying pan, of the electric cooking appliance, the retaining compartment being delimited at least in part by the cut-out portion and the panel portion.

[0043] The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a wedging element according to the invention and an electric cooking appliance comprising at least one cooking utensil.

[0044] Brief description of the figures

[0045] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawings representing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this wedging element.

[0046] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wedging element according to the invention in which an electric cooking appliance is wedged.

[0047] Figure 2 is a top view of a blank for forming the wedging element of Figure 1.

[0048] Figure 3 is a partial top view of an alternative embodiment of the blank of Figure 2.

[0049] Figure 4 is a partial top view of the blank of Figure 3 after folding a cut-out portion.

[0050] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the wedging element of Figure 1.

[0051] Figure 1 represents a wedging element 2 configured to wedge and protect an electric cooking appliance 3, such as a raclette appliance, a crepe maker or a fondue appliance, in packaging, such as a packaging box, for example made of cardboard.

[0052] The wedging element 2 comprises an upper wall 4 which is planar and which has a substantially quadrilateral shape, and for example square or rectangular, and side walls 5 opposite each other in pairs. Each side wall 5 is rectangular in shape and extends vertically downwards relative to the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2. Each side wall 5 is connected to a respective lateral edge of the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 by a respective first lateral fold line 6. Each first lateral fold line 6 may for example be formed by a scoring line or a series of rectilinear cutouts which are aligned and spaced apart from each other.

[0053] The wedging element 2 further comprises lower walls 7 folded towards the inside of the wedging element 2 and each connected to a respective side wall 5 of the wedging element 2 by a respective second fold line 8. The lower walls 7 extend opposite the lower face of the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 and at a distance from said upper wall 4 so as to form a bottom portion of the wedging element 2. Advantageously, the first and second fold lines 6, 8 associated with the same side wall 5 of the wedging element 2 are substantially parallel. Each second fold line 8 may for example be formed by a scoring line or a series of rectilinear cutouts which are aligned and spaced apart from each other.

[0054] The wedging element 2 delimits a main housing 9 which is three-dimensional and which is configured to house at least in part a main part of the electric cooking appliance 3. The main part of the electric cooking appliance 3 may for example be a cooking plate or a main housing of the electric cooking appliance 3.

[0055] The main housing 9 is provided with an upper opening 11 opening into the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 and through which the main part of the electric cooking appliance 3 can be introduced into the main housing 9.

[0056] The wedging element 2 also comprises a fixing element 12 provided on the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 and located for example near a corner of the upper wall 4. The function of the fixing element 12 is described below. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the fixing element 12 is a fixing orifice which can for example be rectilinear.

[0057] The wedging element 2 further comprises a retaining portion 13 projecting relative to the upper face of the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2. The retaining portion 13 comprises a first end portion 13.1 connected to the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 by a main folding line 14 located at a distance from the fixing element 12 and a second end portion 13.2 located opposite the first end portion 13.1 and provided with a fixing member 130, such as a fixing finger, cooperating with the fixing element 12 provided on the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 so as to fix the second end portion 13.2 of the retaining portion 13 to the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2. Advantageously, the main folding line 14, which connects the retaining portion 13 to the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2, partly forms the upper opening 11 of the main housing 9.

[0058] The retaining portion 13 and the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 delimit, with the bottom portion formed by the lower walls 7, a retaining compartment 15 configured to house, at least partially, one or more cooking utensils 16 of the electric cooking appliance 3. The retaining compartment 15 can for example be configured to house several cooking cups when the electric cooking appliance 3 is a raclette appliance. Advantageously, the wedging element 2 comprises a retaining opening 17 (see FIG. 2) provided on the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 and opening into the retaining compartment 15. The or each cooking utensil 16 is configured to be partially inserted into the retaining opening 17 when said cooking utensil 16 is housed in the retaining compartment 15, so as to ensure even greater retention of the cooking utensil(s) 16 in the retaining compartment 15.

[0059] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining compartment 15 comprises a first side wall 15.1 and a second side wall 15.2 which is located at least partly opposite and at a distance from the first side wall 15.1. The retaining compartment 15 is advantageously configured such that the cooking utensils 16 extend substantially vertically between the first and second side walls 15.1, 15.2 of the retaining compartment 15 when they are arranged in the retaining compartment 15. The first and second side walls 15.1, 15.2 of the retaining compartment 15 may for example be parallel to each other, or be inclined to each other by an angle of inclination of less than 20°, and for example less than 15°.

[0060] The retaining compartment 15 also comprises an upper wall 15.3 connecting the upper edges of the first and second side walls 15.1, 15.2 of the retaining compartment 15 and configured to cover the cooking utensils 16 when the latter are arranged in the retaining compartment 15. Advantageously, the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2 forms a bottom wall of the retaining compartment 15.

[0061] The wedging element 2 is advantageously obtained by folding and assembling a blank 18 made of cardboard sheet, and for example made of corrugated cardboard sheet. As shown in FIG. 2, the blank 18 comprises a main panel 19 having a substantially quadrilateral shape, and for example square or rectangular. The main panel 19 comprises a panel portion 20 configured to form the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2. Advantageously, the panel portion 20 is a peripheral portion of the main panel 19.

[0062] The main panel 19 also comprises a main recess 21 configured to at least partially form the upper opening 11 of the main housing 9. Advantageously, the main recess 21 is formed in a central portion of the main panel 19.

[0063] The main panel 19 also comprises a cut-out portion 22, such as a main tab, configured to form the retaining portion 13. Advantageously, the cut-out portion 22 is a residual portion of the at least one cut-out having formed the upper opening 11 of the main housing 9, and thus has a surface area which is less than a passage section of the upper opening 11 of the main housing 9.

[0064] The cut-out part 22 more particularly comprises:

[0065] - a first flap 23 comprising the first end portion 13.1 of the retaining part 13 and being connected to the panel portion 20 by the main fold line 14, the first flap 23 being configured to form the first side wall 15.1 of the retaining compartment 15,

[0066] - a second flap 24 which is connected to the first flap 23 by a first additional fold line 25 and which is configured to form the upper wall 15.3 of the retaining compartment 15, and

[0067] - a third flap 26 comprising the second end portion 13.2 of the retaining part 13, the third flap 26 being connected to the second flap 24 by a second additional fold line 27 and being configured to form the second side wall 15.2 of the retaining compartment 15.

[0068] Advantageously, the main fold line 14 and the first and second additional fold lines 25, 27 are parallel. Each of the main fold line 14 and the first and second additional fold lines 25, 27 may for example be formed by a respective scoring line or a series of respective rectilinear cuts which are aligned and spaced apart from each other.

[0069] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first flap 23 has a maximum transverse dimension, namely a maximum width, which is greater than a maximum transverse dimension, namely a maximum width, of the third flap 26 and which is also greater than the length of the main fold line 14. The second flap 24 may for example have a generally rectangular shape, and the third flap 26 may for example have a generally polygonal shape, and in particular a generally pentagonal shape.

[0070] Advantageously, the cut-out portion 22 is configured such that, when the fixing member 130 is fixed to the fixing element 12, the lateral edges of the first flap 23 are substantially located respectively in line with two adjacent lateral edges of the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2. Similarly, the cut-out portion 22 could also be configured such that, when the fixing member 130 is fixed to the fixing element 12, the lateral edges of the third flap 26 are substantially located respectively in line with two adjacent lateral edges of the upper wall 4 of the wedging element 2.Such a configuration of the cut-out portion 22, and therefore of the retaining portion 13, ensures increased retention of the cooking utensils 16 in the retaining compartment 15, due to the fact that the respective side walls of the packaging box receiving the wedging element 2 are then located close to the retaining compartment 15 and make it possible to at least partially close the two open ends of the retaining compartment 15.

[0071] The blank 18 also comprises side flaps 28 opposite each other in pairs. Each side flap 28 of the blank 18 is connected to a respective side edge of the main panel 19 by a respective fold line, forming a respective first side fold line 6, and is configured to form a respective side wall 5 of the wedging element 2. The blank 18 further comprises side flaps 29 each connected to a respective side flap 28 of the blank 18 by a respective fold line, forming a respective second side fold line 8, the side flaps 29 being configured to form the lower walls 7 of the wedging element 2, and therefore the bottom portion of the wedging element 2.

[0072] The blank 18 also comprises fixing openings 31 provided at least in part on the side flaps 29, and fixing tabs 32 configured to partly delimit the upper opening 11 of the main housing 9 and to be folded downwards, the fixing tabs 32 being configured to cooperate with the fixing openings 31 so as to lock the side flaps 29 in position. Advantageously, the fixing tabs 32 are distributed around the periphery of the upper opening 11 of the main housing 9.

[0073] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the second end portion of the cut-out portion 22 could be connected to a fixing lug 32 by a connecting portion 33, intended to be discarded, so as to ensure that the cut-out portion 22 is held in the plane of the main panel 19 until the cut-out portion 22 is folded to form the retaining portion 13. An example of a method for manufacturing a wedging element 2 according to the present invention is described below. Such a manufacturing method comprises the following steps:

[0074] - supply of a blank 18 made of cardboard, and for example of corrugated cardboard, the blank 18 comprising a main panel 19, four side flaps 28 and four side flaps 29,

[0075] - cutting the main panel 19 so as to form the fixing element 12 and the retaining opening 17,

[0076] - cutting the main panel 19 so as to form the cut-out part 22, the panel portion 20 and the fixing lugs 32,

[0077] - folding of the side flaps 28 and the side flaps 29,

[0078] - folding the fixing lugs 32 and inserting the fixing lugs 32 into the fixing openings 31 so as to lock the side flaps 28 and the side flaps 29 in position,

[0079] - folding the cut-out portion 22 along the main fold line 14 and the first and second additional fold lines 25, 27,

[0080] - fixing the fixing member 130 to the fixing element 12, so as to fix the second end portion of the cut-out part 22 to the panel portion 20 and to form the retaining compartment 15.

[0081] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only as an example. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Wedging element (2) configured to wedge and protect an electric cooking appliance (3), the wedging element (2) being at least partly made of a cellulose-based material, the wedging element (2) comprising an upper wall (4) and at least partly delimiting a main housing (9) which is configured to at least partly house a main part of the electric cooking appliance (3) and which is provided with an upper opening (11) opening into the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) and through which the main part of the electric cooking appliance (3) can be introduced into the main housing (9), the wedging element (2) comprising a fixing element (12) provided on the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) and a retaining portion (13) projecting relative to the upper face of the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2), the retaining portion (13) being formed by a cut-out portion (22) which is cut from the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2), the retaining portion (13) comprising a first end portion (13.1) connected to the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) by a main fold line (14) located at a distance from the fixing element (12) and a second end portion (13.2) located opposite the first end portion (13.1) and provided with a fixing member (130) cooperating with the fixing element (12) provided on the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) so as to fix the second end portion (13.2) of the retaining part (13) to the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2), the retaining part (13) and the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) delimiting at least in part a retaining compartment (15) configured to house, at least partially, at least one cooking utensil (16) of the electric cooking appliance (3).

2. Wedging element (2) according to claim 1, in which the main folding line (14), which connects the retaining part (13) to the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2), partly forms the upper opening (11) of the main housing (9).

3. Wedging element (2) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the cut-out portion (22) has a surface which is smaller than a passage section of the upper opening (11) of the main housing (9).

4. Wedging element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the cut-out part (22) is a residual portion of at least one cut-out having formed the upper opening (11) of the main housing (9).

5. Wedging element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the retaining part (13) comprises: - a first flap (23) comprising the first end portion (13.1) of the retaining part (13), the first flap (23) forming a first side wall (15.1) of the retaining compartment (15), - a second flap (24) which is connected to the first flap (23) by a first additional fold line (25) and which forms an upper wall (15.3) of the retaining compartment (15), and - a third flap (26) comprising the second end portion (13.2) of the retaining part (13), the third flap (26) being connected to the second flap (24) by a second additional fold line (27) and forming a second side wall (15.2) of the retaining compartment (15), the second side wall (15.2) of the retaining compartment (15) being located at least partly opposite and at a distance from the first side wall (15.1) of the retaining compartment (15).

6. Wedging element (2) according to claim 5, in which the first flap (23) has a maximum transverse dimension which is greater than a maximum transverse dimension of the third flap (26).

7. Wedging element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is obtained by folding a blank (18) made of a cellulose-based material.

8. Wedging element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is made of cardboard.

9. A wedging element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) has a substantially quadrilateral shape, the wedging element (2) comprising side walls (5) opposite each other in pairs, each side wall (5) of the wedging element (2) extending downwards relative to the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) and being connected to a respective side edge of the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) by a respective first fold line (6), the wedging element (2) further comprising lower walls folded towards the inside of the wedging element (2) and each connected to a respective side wall (5) of the wedging element (2) by a respective second fold line,the lower walls (5) extending opposite the lower face of the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) and at a distance from said upper wall (4) so ​​as to form a bottom part of the wedging element (2)., 10. Wedging element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which comprises a retaining opening (17) provided on the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2) and opening into the retaining compartment (15), the at least one cooking utensil (16) being configured to be partially inserted into the retaining opening (17) when the at least one cooking utensil (16) is housed in the retaining compartment (15).

11. Blank (18) made of a cellulose-based material for forming a wedging element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the blank (18) comprising a main panel (19) which comprises a panel portion (20) configured to form the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2), the main panel (19) further comprising at least one main recess (21) configured to form at least in part the upper opening (11) of the main housing (9) and a cut-out portion (22) configured to form the retaining portion (13), the cut-out portion (22) comprising a first end portion connected to the panel portion (20) by a fold line intended to form the main fold line (14) and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion and provided with the fixing member (130), the fixing element (12) being provided on the panel portion (20) and at a distance from said fold line.

12. Method for manufacturing a wedging element (2) configured to wedging and protecting an electric cooking appliance (3) and at least one cooking utensil in a package, the manufacturing method comprising the following steps: - providing a blank (18) made of a cellulose-based material, the blank (18) comprising a main panel (19) which comprises a panel portion (20) configured to form the upper wall (4) of the wedging element (2), - cutting the panel portion (20) so as to form a fixing element (12), - cutting the main panel (19) so as to form a cut-out portion (22), the cut-out portion (22) comprising a first end portion connected to the panel portion (20) by a main fold line (14) located at a distance from the fixing element (12) and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion and provided with a fixing member (130) configured to cooperate with the fixing element (12), - folding the cut-out part (22) at least along the main folding line (14) and fixing the fixing member (130) to the fixing element (12), so as to fix the second end portion of the cut-out part (22) to the panel portion (20) and to form a retaining compartment (15) configured to house, at least partially, at least one cooking utensil (16) of the electric cooking appliance (3), the retaining compartment (15) being delimited at least in part by the cut-out part (22) and the panel portion (20).

13. Assembly comprising a wedging element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and an electric cooking appliance (3) comprising at least one cooking utensil (16).

Images