TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to a box for package, in particular to a box for multi-joint packing cups. The invention also concerns a method of combining cup-like containers and a box in a pack.

BACKGROUND ART

Nowadays, the yogurt product of multi-joint (in particular 4-joint) cups sold in the market generally consists of yogurt cups and spoons independent of one another. The disposable spoons are usually bonded to the yogurt cups by means of external means, such as glue or adhesive tape. The user often tends to directly drink the yogurt after tearing down the spoon, but he/she may easily forget the position of the spoon when he/she is drinking the yogurt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a box for housing small articles, which box can be fastened to the multi- joint cups or similar containers arranged in at least two rows in a pack without the help of external means.

According to the invention, there is provided a box that comprises a box body with two ends respectively having an end cover, characterized in that: at least one of said end covers is provided with protruding parts at its edges .

The present invention proposes in more detail the following technical solution:

A pack of food cups, comprising:

- an assembly of four cups arranged in two adjacent rows, the four cups of the assembly having respective junctions between two adjacent cups and being spaced from each other below the junctions so as to define an interspace between the four cups; and

- a box comprising a box body with two ends respectively having an end cover;

wherein the box body is fastened to the assembly and extends in the interspace.

With such configuration, the box may be easily embedded in the pack, without any increase of the bulk of the pack. Additionally, the box acts as a stiffening pillar so that accidental breakage of the junctions between the cups is prevented. The fastening of the box to combine the cups and the box is easy to perform because of the interspace in the middle of the assembly of four cups and easy access to this interspace from a middle part of the bottom of the assembly. The stacking of the packs is also obtained with a higher mechanical resistance when the pack includes such a box.

According to a particular feature, at least one of said end covers is provided with protruding parts at its edges, whereby the box is adapted to be directly inserted and maintained by friction between the four individual cup-like containers of a pack. For instance, at least one of the end covers of the box body comprises two edges, preferably parallel edges, each provided with a protruding part .

In various embodiments of the pack of the invention, recourse may optionally also be had to one or more of the following dispositions:

- the edges are opposite edges of the one of said end covers that defines a top cover of the box body, the top cover being proximal with respect to the junctions ; at least one of the end covers of the box body comprises four edges each provided with a protruding part ;

the protruding parts protrude radially outwards in at least two distinct directions to define at least two contacting rims each in contact with one of the cups of the assembly, whereby the box body is fitted in the interspace (with such a configuration, the contacting edges that are radially offset relative to the side wall are adapted for suitable contact with at least two containers of the pack, the two distinct directions preferably comprising two opposite directions);

the cups have a same height that is superior to the height of the box body, which extends around a longitudinal axis (this longitudinal axis may contain a virtual point of intersection of the junctions, whereby the box body is centered in the interspace) ;

each of the cups of the assembly comprises:

- a plastic body comprising a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom as far as a top,

- a generally planar annular flange integral with the plastic body and connected to the top of the plastic body, the flange comprising an inner edge defining an upper opening of the cup;

the flanges of each of the cups are integrally formed and separably joined to each other at a junction of two adjacent flanges of two distinct cups of the assembly;

the side wall of each of the cups comprises an upper portion adjacent to the flange covered by a label that is spaced with respect to the flange, one of the end covers comprising a protruding part in contact with one of said cups at a contact area between the label and the flange;

- each of the cups of the assembly contains a dairy product and preferably a yoghurt composition having a weight not inferior to 50 g and not superior to 500 g.

The present invention further proposes:

A box adapted to cooperate in a pack according to the invention, the box comprising a box body with two ends respectively having an end cover, the box body comprising a side wall that extends according to a same longitudinal direction between the two ends so as to define an interior volume, an opening for access to the interior volume being provided at at least one of said two ends, wherein one of the two end covers of the box body comprises :

- a covering part that extends over the opening when placed in a closed position; and

- protruding parts each defined as an extension of the covering part.

- In various embodiments of the box of the invention, recourse may optionally also be had to one or more of the following dispositions : the protruding parts are arranged at the opposite edges of the end cover; the protruding parts are continuously arranged along the edges;

- the protruding parts are arranged along the edges at intervals ;

- the protruding parts are presented as oval-shape, round-shape or square-shape.

The technical effect of providing such protruding parts arranged at the edges of the end cover is that the end of the box body with protruding parts can be inserted into the interspace at the bottom of the multi-joint yogurt cups, and the protruding parts of the end cover are supported at the top edge of the label pasted on the yogurt cups, so that the box loaded with spoons and little gifts for promotion is fastened to the multi-joint yogurt cups without using of the traditional glue or adhesive tape. The box according to the invention is not only adapted to apply to multi-joint yogurt cups, but also adapted to apply to the other multi-joint packing cups.

It is understood that the interior volume of the box body may be loaded or filled with content in a solid state, the content being an article and/or edible material for instance .

To obtain a quick opening and closing of the closing system of the box, a closing flap may be provided in one of the end covers that closes the opening. The closing flap is configured to be positioned behind a top end of a panel of the side wall when the opening is closed by said end cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the perspective view according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the view of state in use according to a preferred embodiment of the invention .

Figure 3 shows a top view of a pack in another preferred embodiment of the invention, after removal of the membrane seals.

Figure 4 is view prior to assembly of optional material used to form a box body according to an embodiment of the invention . Figure 5 is a bottom view of the pack shown in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a sectional view of a pack according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figures 7A and 7B are top views showing respective optional embodiments of the box body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the various figures, the same references are used to designate identical or similar elements.

As shown in Figure 1, the box includes a box body 1 having two end covers 2a, 2b provided at two ends 10a, 10b respectively. The box body 1 extends around a longitudinal axis X. In the box body 1, a plurality of protruding parts 3 are provided at edges 11, 12, 13, 14 of one or both end covers 2a, 2b. The plurality of protruding parts 3 comprises protruding parts 3a, 3b that can be arranged at two opposite edges 11, 12 of the end cover 2a, 2b, and can be also arranged at all of the edges 11, 12, 13, 14 of the end cover 2a or 2b. The box body 1 here defines the part of the box that can be seen from the outside. The box may also contain other elements, for instance partitioning walls (not shown) in the interior volume V of the box body 1.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be understood that the longitudinal axis X of the box body 1 may define an insertion axis for mounting the box between four cups 4 of a pack P, here between four yogurt cups 4 arranged in two adjacent rows Rl, R2.

In preferred embodiments, the protruding parts 3a, 3b are continuously arranged along the edges of the end cover 2a or 2b and present an oval shape. Figure 1 illustrates a box body 1 with an end cover 2b configured as a top cover and comprising two substantially edges 11, 12 provided with a partially oval shape. The two parallel dash lines 11a, 12a show the imaginary separation between the squared covering part 15 and the protruding parts 3a, 3b. It can be seen that the end cover 2b at the apex and the end cover 2a at the base comprise each outer rims CI, C2 having a smooth convex curvature. However, the protruding parts 3 can be also arranged along the edges of the end cover 2 at intervals and present a round or square shape, or even other irregular shape. The box body 1 as shown in Figure 1 here comprises such protruding parts 3c, 3d shaped as rectangular tabs with rounded outer corners. More generally, it is understood that each protruding part 3 is defined as an extension of the covering part 15 or 15'.

Still referring to Figures 1 and 4, it can be seen that the box body 1 may have a rectangular cross-section or similar section. The box body 1 comprises a side wall la that extends according to a same longitudinal direction between the two ends 10a, 10b so as to define an interior volume V. The side wall la of the box body 1 here comprises a front panel 6 defining a width, a rear panel 7, and two side panels 8a, 8b connecting the front panel 6 to the rear panel 7. Figure 4 shows a non-limitative example of a blank B made from a single sheet from which the box body 1 may be produced by successive folding of the different parts and pasting.

The box may be produced by folding and cutting, as illustrated in Figure 4, a blank B made from a sheet material, for example, board, paper board, cardboard, paper-based material, or other suitable material, which may be optionally plastic-coated and/or decorated externally. An optional joining strip 7a may be produced along the lateral side of the rear panel 7.

This optional joining strip 7a may be pasted to a portion of the side panel 8b to form the box body 1 after the blank B has been folded around the fold lines here parallel fold lines LI, L2, L3.

The optional joining strip 7a may be connected to the rear panel 7 by a fold line L4 that may be parallel to the abovementioned fold lines LI, L2 and L3, thus forming an exemplary parallelepiped sheath. It is contemplated that various optional methods of connecting the panels together may be used, such as, but not limited to, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, a slot and tab connection, a butt joint connection, separate male and female connectors, or any equivalent structure.

It is understood that the closed configuration of the box body 1 is obtained when the upper opening 16 and the lower opening (not shown, completely similar to the upper opening) of the sheath are covered using a closing system.

In the illustrated embodiments, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, each closing system is connected to a panel, here the rear panel 7, along a first fold line L5, respectively L6, which may be generally perpendicular to the fold lines L1-L4. When the closing system is in the closed position, the covering part 15 of the end cover 2b extends over the opening 16 used for access to the interior volume V. The covering part 15 is here a substantially planar portion. A second fold line L7, L8, may run along the opposite side to the first fold line L5, L6, connecting each covering part 15, 15' to a closing flap 17, 17'. This exemplary flap 17, 17' may be designed to fit immediately behind the top end of the front panel 6 after the box is closed. As shown in Figure 4 in particular, other flaps 21-21' and 22-22' may be provided as respective extensions of the side panels 8a and 8b. The cross section of the box body 1 is here squared. When the box body 1 is provided with two opposite protruding parts 3a-3b, 3c-3d, it can be seen that a local increase of width of the box body 1 is obtained, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 in particular. Preferably, the maximum of width W is obtained in a median plane PI (shown in Figure 5) of the box body 1, which intersects the two side panels 8a-8b and contains the longitudinal axis X. Alternatively or in addition, a similar maximum of width may be obtained in the other median plane P2, which contains the longitudinal axis X and intersects the front panel 6 and the rear panel 7. As shown in Figure 2, when in use, the end of box body 1 with protruding parts 3 can be inserted into the interspace 40 at the bottom of the multi-joint yogurt cups 4, and the protruding parts 3 of the end cover 2a, 2b are supported at the top edge 5a of the label 5 pasted on the yogurt cups 4, so that the box loaded with spoons and little gifts for promotion is fastened to the assembly A defined by the four multi- oint yogurt cups 4. Of course, the view of Figure 2 shows a reverse position of the pack as compared with the usual position ordinary seen by a consumer in a shop.

Each of the cups 4 comprises a tubular body, here a plastic body 41, a generally planar annular flange 42 integral with the body 41, and a membrane seal (not shown) . Food content is preferably filled into the cups 4 before the fastening of the box.

Still referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that the body 41 comprises a bottom 41a and a side wall 41b extending from said bottom 41a as far as a top 41c. The flange 42 conventionally comprises an inner edge 42a defining the opening 45 of the cup 4, as shown in Figure 3. The opening 45 is closed by the membrane seal after filling of the content. The flanges 42 are integrally formed and separably joined to each other at a junction J of two adjacent flanges 42.

The side wall 41b of each of the cups 4 comprises an upper portion (adjacent to the flange 42) covered by the label 5, which may be optionally defined by a decorative strip or a sticker. It can be seen in Figure 2 that the label 5 is spaced with respect to the flange 42. The end cover 2b, which is proximal with respect to the flanges 42 and the junctions J, here comprises at least one protruding part 3 in contact with one of the cups 4 at a contact area 43 (shown in Figure 6) . Such contact area 43 is defined between the top edge 5a of the label 5 and the flange 42.

Referring to Figure 3, the pack P may contain a number of cups 4 higher than four. The box body 1 acts as a stiffening element that prevents flexion along the junctions J and accidental separation of the flanges 12 is prevented, even when using brittle plastic material. Now referring to Figures 5 and 6, when in use, it can be seen that the box body 1 having four edges 11, 12, 13, 14 is fitted in the interspace 40 by a cup-box friction contact CB of the respective protruding parts 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d with the top end of the bodies 41. A lower number of protruding parts 3 may be provided. The two opposite protruding parts 3a, 3b could be sufficient for instance. The outer rims CI, C2 are thus engaging two of the cups 4 so that there are cup-box friction contacts CB in the same median plane PI of the box body 1. More generally, the protruding parts 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d may protrude radially outwards in at least two distinct directions amongst the directions Al, A2, A3, A4, so as to define corresponding outer rims CI, C2 each in contact with a corresponding one of the cups 4. A shown in Figure 6, the thickness of the end cover 2a, 2b may be substantially constant and superior to the maximum of thickness of the side wall 41b of the cups 4. Because of the flexibility of the relatively thin side wall of the cup 4, the protruding parts 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d still extend in a same plane defined by the covering part 15, 15' of the end cover 2a or 2b.

It is understood that the width LI of the side wall la of the box body 1, when measured in any of the median planes PI, P2 (as shown in Figures 5-6), is lower than the distance between the tops of two bodies 41 traversed by the same median plane PI or P2. In contrast, the maximum width W defined at the end cover 2a, 2b is at least equal and preferably slightly greater (with an excess of 1 mm for instance) than such distance between the tops of the two bodies 41. Preferably, the protruding parts 3 define a maximum width W that is inferior to the distance between the bottoms 41a of the two bodies 41 traversed by the same median plane PI or P2. Surprisingly, it has been found that such a configuration of the box body 1 does not cause any significant flexion between the flanges 42 of the cups 4 when the rims CI, C2 engage the bodies 41 to obtain the cup-box contact CB .

Referring to Figure 6, the box body 1 has a height HI that is inferior to the height H2 of the cups 4, so as to be embedded in the pack P without increasing the height or any other size thereof. In order to increase the interior volume V of the box body 1, it is advantageous (but not necessarily required) that the body 41 of the cups 4 is higher than wide as shown in Figures 2 and 6.

The side wall la here extends around the longitudinal axis X that contains a virtual point of intersection of said junctions J (here four straight junctions J) . Now referring to Figures 7A and 7B, variants are proposed for the outer profile of at least one of the end covers. As in the already described embodiments, the end cover 102b shown in Figure 7A comprises optional tab-like protruding parts 3c and 3d protruding in opposite directions A3 and A4 and a partially oval-shaped protruding part 3b protruding in direction A2. The protruding parts 3c and 3d here have the same radial extension d3 (measured in the plane P2 from the squared covering part 15) .

The end cover 102b further comprises a fork-like or concave-shaped protruding part 3a protruding in direction Al . The radial extension d2 of the protruding part 3a provided with a concave rim CI is here greater than radial extension dl of the protruding part 3b provided with a generally convex or straight rim C2. The radial extension d2 is measured at the ends of the fork-like protruding part 3a and it is understood that the radial extension measured in the median plane PI may be equal to the radial extension dl .

In the variant shown in Figure 7B, the end cover 202b comprises a tab-like protruding part 3d having a radial extension d3" longer than the radial extension d3 ' of the opposite protruding part 3c. This is illustration that the box body 1 such as shown in the already described embodiments need not to be centered with respect to the interspace 40. The end cover 202b further comprises protruding parts 3a, 3b each with a convex rim CI, C2. The radial extension dl (i.e. the maximal radial extension) is the same for the protruding parts 3a, 3b. Because of the offset enlargement of the protruding parts 3a, 3b, it is understood that the cup-box contact CB is here obtained in an area offset in the direction A4 with respect to the median plane PI . While the end cover 2b, 102b, 202b has been described as a top cover in the above embodiments, it is understood that the end cover 2a could be used as a top cover as well. Similarly, although the side wall la of the box body 1 is considered as parallelepiped in view of the drawings, a box body 1 of different shape could be used. The present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments. These embodiments, however, are merely for example and the invention is not restricted thereto. For instance, the box is not necessarily a unitary box and may be formed from separable parts or be an assembly of at least two boxes. Improvements to materials and structures or replacements by technical equivalents can be applied to the above described components and. Therefore, all the equivalent variations in structure in view of Description and Appended Drawings, or the technical equivalents directly or indirectly applied to the other relevant technical fields, will obviously be encompassed within the scope of the invention as claimed.