GB2205305A

GB2205305A - A cover with pockets defined by generally conical formations

Info

Publication number: GB2205305A
Application number: GB08712913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Brand Grant
Original assignee: OMNI PAC U K Ltd
Current assignee: OMNI PAC U K Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-02
Filing date: 1987-06-02
Publication date: 1988-12-07
Also published as: GB8712913D0

Abstract

A packaging article, e.g. a cover for an egg tray, has pockets defined by surface portions 60 of a plurality of cones 50. The spacing of those surface portions 60 which define a pocket define an envelope for a given grade (or size) of article (such as an egg). Each such surface portion 60 defines a primary flute (or rib) 70. Within a pocket, flutes 70 provide a reduced pocket size as compared with the pocket size otherwise defined by said cone surface portions 60 thereby to securely retain an article of the minimum size to be packed. The flutes 70 are adapted such that a given pocket may thereby readily accommodate an article of a greater size than said minimum size. Oppositely directed secondary ribs or flutes may be provided within the flutes 70 to retain securely an article of greater size. <IMAGE>

Description

A COVER WITH POCKETS AND CONES THEREFOR This invention relates to a cover with pockets and cones therefor.

More especially, a preferred embodiment provides a cover for a base tray with multiple pockets such as an egg tray. The invention is applicable to covers for trays for other articles which require individual pockets such as other produce for example fruit e.g.

apples and pears.

A package comprising a base tray and a cover or lid is provided for retail distribution. A popular size for eggs is a tray for 18, 20 or 24 eggs. The package has greater consumer appeal when the lid/cover is transparent whereby the consumer is able to view the articles with the cover in situ.

In egg packages, the base tray has compartments/pockets.

Herein, the invention is concerned with covers/lids which also have pockets whereby the tray and cover define individual compartments/pockets for each article, viz an egg. In the case of eggs it is important that the volumetric space for an egg defines an envelope which closely matches the size of the egg, itself.

Thereby each egg is received in a pocket which securely retains the position of the egg. In the U.K., eggs are graded into standard sizes, the most common being sizes 2 to 5. Hitherto it has not been practicable to provide trays and covers with pockets of a single, uniform size for each grade. If, for example, the pocket size is designed for grade 2 eggs, then a grade 5 egg will not be securely retained in the pocket. There is a risk of a grade 5 egg being displaced (e.g. by rotating or revolving) in the pocket, the displacement or movement being caused, for example, by vibration or sudden movement in the transit or handling of the package. In some instances this may result in damage to the eggs. A lesser, but equally important disadvantage from a marketing viewpoint, is that the displacement of the eggs may disuade the consumer from buying that package.

In addition there are the problems which have to be faced by the egg packaging industry. Egg packers grade and pack the eggs. Clearly, the necessity to use trays and covers with different pocket sizes for different egg grades results in their ordering, storing and handling several sizes of tray and covers. In addition, this leads-to complications and duplication in the packaging plant. For example it may be necessary to grade the eggs and then handle each grade separately in sequence at the packaging phase changing the stock of trays and covers between grades or alternatively directing batches of different grades to different locations in the plant.

Thus, the necessity to use trays and covers with specific pocket sizes for each egg grade has major economic implications for the egg packaging industry.

Whilst the aforegoing discussion of problems associated with grading and multiple pocket sizes has discussed egg packaging, it will be appreciated that similar problems arise in relation to the packaging of other articles, notably natural produce such as apples for which too large a pocket can lead to damage.

The present invention seeks to avoid the aforementioned problems by providing a cover with pockets accomodating a range of article sizes.

According to the present invention there is provided a cover with pockets comprising a top surface portion having side walls depending therefrom, said top surface and side walls being configured to register with a base tray, a plurality of pockets defined by cones formed in the cover, said cones depending from said top surface, a said pocket being defined by surface portions of a plurality of said cones, the spacing of those surface portions which define a said pocket being such as to define an envelope or pocket size for a given size or grade of articles, wherein each of the said surface portions defines a flute or rib which extends into the respective articles receiving pocket, said flutes or ribs defining a pocket size of reduced size as compared with the pocket size otherwise defined by said cone surface portion and thereby securely retain an article of the minimum size or grade to be packed, and said flutes or ribs also being adapted such that a given pocket may thereby readily accomodate an article of a greater size or grade than said miminum size or grade.

The said flute or rib, which extends into the pocket, may be adapted to accommodate a greater size or grade of article by being capable of flexing.

In an alternative embodiment, said flute or rib, which extends into the pocket, is adapted to accommodate a greater size or grade of article by the provision thereon of a secondary surface portion, said secondary surface portion being adapted to contact said article of said greater size or grade.

The said flute or rib, which extends into the pocket, may be adapted to accommodate a greater size or grade of article by being capable 6f flexing.

In an embodiment in which the cover is for an egg tray, the cover according to the invention permits the same cover to be employed for a range of egg grades. The economic advantages to the manufacturer of the trays and covers, and also to the egg packaging industry will be readily apparent.

In preferred embodiments, the cover is formed of transparent plastics material. As above mentioned, a transparent cover has the advantage that the consumer can view the merchandise. Furthermore, in the case of a cover of relatively flexible plastics material the provision of the ribs or flutes. has the secondary advantage of increasing the rigidity of the cover of a given material, which has economic implications in relation to the selection of the cover material.

Hitherto, where a certain lack of rigidity of a cover formed of plastics material has created difficulty, the problem has been addressed by selecting another, and inevitably more expensive grade of plastics material.

Here, the invention leads to a secondary advantage in widening the choice of plastic material which may be selected by the designer of a cover, and thus affording a possible further economic advantage.

The invention is also applicable to covers formed from materials other than transparent plastics materials.

The covers may be formed, for example, of pulp material or expanded, foamed material.

In the preferred embodiments, the base tray to which the cover is applied may be formed of pulp material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a cone of a packaging article, said cone having a surface portion configured and arranged to define in part an envelope of an article receiving pocket for an article to be accommodated in said pocket, said cone surface portion having a flute or rib therein which extends into said article receiving pocket and which defines a said envelope part for a first size or grade of article, said flute or rib also being adapted such that a given pocket thereby may readily accommodate an article of a greater size or grade than said first size or grade of article.

The term packaging article is intended to include both covers and base trays which include article receiving pockets. Whilst the embodiments illustrate pockets in a lid or cover, such cones and pockets may be in a base tray. Similarly, a packaging article may include a base tray and a lid or cover integrally connected thereto which may be provided with such cones in one or both parts thereof.

In one such embodiment, said secondary surface portion comprises a secondary flute or rib which is oppositely directed with respect to said first flute or rib so as to be outwardly directed with respect to said pocket.

According to a preferred feature of these embodiments the cone is of a generally circular cross-section and has a plurality of said first flutes regularly spaced about the periphery thereof. The first flutes may exhibit a generally part circular cross-section with the radius of curvature thereof being substantially smaller than that of the generally circular portions of said cone. The secondary flutes also may exhibit a generally part circular cross-section with the radius of curvature thereof being smaller still than that of said first flute. As seen in plan, the secondary flute may be located symmetrically with respect to the first flute.

The cone may have an abutment surface for abutment with another packaging article or another part of the same packaging article. The first and second flutes may extend away from said abutment surface in a longitudinal direction. The said first flute may extend longitudinally the whole length of the cone. The secondary flute may extend only partially along the length of the cone. The latter dimension is determined by the ratio of the sizes of article to be accommodated in the pocket.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an underneath plan of a fragmentary portion of a cover according to one embodiment; rigure 2 shows a sectional view taken on the line B-B of Fig. 1.; Figure 3 shows a sectional view taken on the line A-A of Fig 1; Figures 4A shows schematically an egg in a pocket of a and B package comprising a base tray and a cover such as illustrated in Figure 1; and, Figs.5A to Cshow plan,sectional, and elevation views of a cone of Fig.l modified in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention.

The cover 10 according to one embodiment is illustrated in Figs 1 to 3. It is a cover for an egg tray, the base is not illustrated, but it will be understood that the cover and base combine to form a package.

This cover 10 has a top surface portion 40 with side walls 20,30 depending therefrom and integral therewith.

It will be apparent that the walls 20 are in opposed parallel relationship, and that walls 30 (one of which is not shown) are likewise in opposed parallel relationship. As is clearly evident to those skilled in the art the cover 10 defined by top surface 40 and side walls 20,30, is configured to register with a base tray (not shown).

Cones 50 are formed on the cover 10 and are integral with and depending-from the top surface portion 40. As is well known in the art, the cones 50A located at the side walls 20,30 are of an appropriate configuration for their location (being one half the cones 50). Likewise, the cones 50B are appropriately configured (being one quarter of cones 50).

It will be readily appreciated that surface portions 60 of four cones 50 (or 50 and 50A and 50B as the location determines) define a pocket for an egg. These surface portions 60 correspond to the conventional surfaces of a cone 50 (i.e. a cone 50 without the flutes or ribs 70 described below). Thus, surface portions 60 define an envelope or pocket size for a given size or grade of article.

In this embodiment each of the surface portions 60 each further define a flute or rib 70. These ribs 70 extend outwardly of the remainder of the surface portions 60 and into the respective article receiving pocket 80.

The flutes or ribs 70 define a pocket of reduced size as compared with the pocket size otherwise defined by the cone surface portions 60.

The effect of providing the ribs 70 is illustrated in Figs. 4A and 4B. In Fig. 4A a single pocket is illustrated with both the cover 10 and the base tray 90 shown.

The pocket securely retains an egg, for example, a grade 5 size egg. The ribs 70 ensure that the egg is securely retained and cannot be displaced. In Fig. 4B, the pocket is defined by the same cover and base tray as in Fig 4A. In this pocket is placed an egg of greater size, for example, a grade 2 egg. This egg is accomodated in the pocket without difficulty due to the fact that the ribs 70 flex as illustrated.

Further features of the cover 10 of Figs. 1 to 3 will now be described. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the cones 50 have a portion 55 which is spaced from the top surface portion 40. This portion 55 may be adapted to rest on and be in surface contact with like portions of cones in a base tray. Lateral ribs 100 extend orthogonally between adjacent, pairs of cones 50. These ribs 100 are contoured in the surface portion 40 of the cover and have convergent side walls 101 and a base portion 102. Base portion 102 is spaced from and parallel with top surface portion 40. Between an outer pair of cones 50A at each of the shorter lateral ends 30 of the cover 10, the ribs 100 have a special configuration. Here the lateral ribs 100 also project downwardly in a formation defined by surfaces 103 and 105.Surface 104 links surfaces 103 and 105, and surface 106 links surface 105 and the side wall 30.

Thus surfaces 103, 105 are downwardly projecting and surfaces 104, 106 are parallel with but spaced from surface 102; surface 106 being spaced from and below cone portion 55. It will be noted that in this region, the side walls 101 of lateral rib 100 extend downwardly to the level of surface 106. This special rib configuration is designed to improve the rigidity of the cover, especially when the cover is formed of a plastics material. Certain plastics materials, which are especially advantageous for the formation of the ribs 70, may lead to a lack of rigidity in terms of the overall cover configuration.

Too little rigidity in the overall configuration of the cover 10 can lead to difficulties in that the end walls 30 may flex outwardly and fail to maintain a correct relationship with the base tray. The provision of the formations 103 to 106 avoids this problem.

It will be recognised that the cover 10 may also be provided with additional, conventional features such as a de-nesting feature or a feature for engaging with or being engaged by the base tray.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5A to C, in which there is shown a modification of the cone 50 of Fig.l. It may be assmued that other features of the cover of fig. 1 remain the same in this embodiment. Cone 50 has a surface portion 60 configured and arranged to define in part an envelope of an article receiving pocket for an article e.g.an egg. Cone surface portion 60 has a flute or rib 70 therein which extends into the article receiving pocket ( see Fig.l ) and which defines an envelope part for a first size or grade of article,e.g a grade 5 egg.The flute 70 also is adapted such that a given pocket thereby may readily accommodate an article of a greater size or grade than said first size or grade of article e.g. a grade 2 egg.For this purpose a secondary surface portion 110 is provided, which is adapted to contact said article of said greater size or grade viz. a grade 2 egg.As shown herein the secondary surface portion 110 comprises a secondary flute or rib which is oppositely directed with respect to the first flute or rib 70 so as to be outwardly directed with respect to the pocket.

Cone 50 is of a generally circular cross-section and has four of the first flutes'70 regularly spaced about the periphery thereof. The first flutes 70 exhibit a generally part circular cross-section with the radius of curvature thereof being substantially smaller than that of the generally circular portions 60 of the cone 50.

The secondary flutes 110 also exhibit a generally part circular cross-section with the radius of curvature thereof smaller still than that of the first flute 70.

As seen in plan, the secondary flute 110 is located symmetrically with respect to the first flute 70.

The cone 50 has an abutment surface 55 for abutment with another packaging article or another part of the same packaging article. The first and second flutes 70,110 extend away from abutment surface 55 in a longitudinal direction. The first flute 70 extends longitudinally the whole length of the cone. The secondary flute 110 extends only partially along the length of the cone.

The latter dimension is determined by the ratio of the sizes of article to be accommodated in the pocket.

Claims

1. A cover with pockets comprising a top surface portion having side walls depending therefrom, said top surface and side walls being configured to register with a base tray, a plurality of pockets defined by cones formed in the cover, said cones depending from said top surface, a said pocket being defined by surface portions of a plurality of said cones, the spacing of those surface portions which define a said pocket being such as to define an envelope or pocket size for a given size or grade of articles, wherein each of the said surface portions defines a flute or rib which extends into the respective articles receiving pocket, said flutes or ribs defining a pocket size of reduced size as compared with the pocket size otherwise defined by said cone surface portion and thereby securely retain an article of the minimum size or grade to be packed, and said flutes or ribs also being adapted such that a given pocket may thereby readily accomodate an article of a greater size or grade than said minimum size or grade.

2. A cover as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said flute or rib, which extends into the pocket, is adapted to accommodate a greater size or grade of article by being capable of flexing.

3. A cover as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said flute or rib, which extends into the pocket, is adapted t9 accommodate a greater size or grade of article by the provision thereon of a secondary surface portion, said secondary surface portion being adapted to contact said article of said greater size or grade.

4. A cone of a packaging article, said cone having a surface portion configured and arranged to define in part an envelope of an article receiving pocket for an article to be accommodated in said pocket, said cone surface portion having a flute or rib therein which extends into said article receiving pocket and which defines a said envelope part for a first size or grade of article, said flute or rib also being adapted such that a given pocket thereby may readily accommodate an article of a greater size or grade than said first size or grade of article.

5. A cone as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said flute or rib, which extends into the pocket, is adapted to accommodate a greater size or grade of article by being capable of flexing.

6. A cone as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said flute or rib, which extends into the pocket, is adapted to accommodate a greater size or grade of article by the provision thereon of a secondary surface portion, said secondary surface portion being adapted to contact said article of said greater size or grade.

7. A cone as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said secondary surface portion comprises a secondary flute or rib which is oppositely directed with respect to said first flute or rib so as to be outwardly directed with respect to said pocket.

8. A cone as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the cone is of a generally circular cross-section and has a plurality of said first flutes regularly spaced about the periphery thereof.

9. A cone as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the first flutes exhibit a generally part circular cross-section with the radius of curvature thereof being substantially smaller than that of the generally circular portions of said cone.

10. A cone as claimed in claim 9, wherein the secondary flutes also exhibit a generally part circular cross-section with the radius of curvature thereof being smaller still than that of said first flute.

11. A cone as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the secondary flute may be located symmetrically with respect to the first flute.

12. A cone as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 11, wherein a cone has an abutment surface for abutment with another packaging article or another part of the same packaging article.

13. A cone as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the first and second flutes extend away from said abutment surface in a longitudinal direction.

14. A cone as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said first flute extends longitudinally the whole length of he cone.

15. A cone as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the secondary flute extends only partially along the length of the cone.

16. A cover for a packaging article, arranged, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 5A to 5C of the accompanying drawings.

17. A packaging article comprising cones substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 5A to 5C of the accompanying drawings.