PACKAGING ITEM COMPRISING MEANS FOR RETAINING AN OBJECT

Abstract

The invention relates to a package comprising a crate having a bottom, the package further comprising retaining means comprising an elastically deformable skin for holding at least one object (O) against the bottom of the crate, characterized in that the elastically deformable skin has a central elastic area and a peripheral elastic area around the central elastic area, the central elastic area having a lower elasticity than the peripheral elastic area, and in that the elastically deformable skin also comprises at least one elastic tertiary area extending the central elastic area in the direction of an edge of the elastically deformable skin while being bordered by the peripheral elastic area, said elastic tertiary area having an elasticity lower than or equal to the elasticity of the central elastic area.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A package comprising a crate with a bottom, the package further comprising retaining means for holding, in the crate, at least one object, the retaining means comprising an elastically deformable skin intended to cover the object(s) positioned on the bottom, wherein the elastically deformable skin has a central elastic area and a peripheral elastic area around the central elastic area, the central elastic area having a lower elasticity than the peripheral elastic area, and in that the elastically deformable skin also comprises at least one elastic tertiary area extending the central elastic area in the direction of an edge of the elastically deformable skin while being bordered by the peripheral elastic area, said elastic tertiary area having an elasticity lower than or equal to the elasticity of the central elastic area.

11. The package according to claim 10, wherein the central elastic area and each elastic tertiary area are made of a first material, the peripheral elastic area being made of a second material different from the first material, the first material having a lower elasticity than that of the second material.

12. The package according to claim 10, wherein the central elastic area and each elastic tertiary area have a plurality of first cutouts, the peripheral elastic area having a plurality of second cutouts, the density and the size of the first cutouts being lower than the density and the size of the second cutouts.

13. The package according to claim 10, wherein the elastically deformable skin has a rectangular shape, and comprises four elastic tertiary areas each extending towards one of the corners of the rectangular shape.

14. The package according to claim 10, wherein the elastically deformable skin has a rectangular shape, and comprises eight elastic tertiary areas whose four elastic tertiary areas each extend towards one of the corners of the rectangular area and four other elastic tertiary areas each extend towards one of the sides of the rectangular shape.

15. The package according to claim 10, wherein the elastically deformable skin also comprises at least one subsidiary area among: a ring surrounding the central elastic area and the peripheral elastic area; a plurality of V-shapes each extending from the edge of the elastically deformable skin and pointing towards the central elastic area.

16. The package according to claim 10, wherein the crate comprises a rigid frame inside which the elastically deformable skin extends.

17. The package according to claim 16, wherein the crate comprises a peripheral rim extending the bottom, the rigid frame being rotatably mounted on the peripheral rim.

18. The package according to claim 17, wherein it also comprises: a lid rotatably mounted on the peripheral rim, a connecting rod rotatably mounted on the lid on the one hand, and rotatably mounted on the rigid frame on the other hand, the peripheral rim, the lid, the connecting rod and the rigid frame together forming a deformable parallelogram.

Description

[0069] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly upon reading the following description of one preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

[0070] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a package according to the invention, comprising means for retaining an object in the package;

[0071] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the package of FIG. 1 showing an object held in the package by the retaining means;

[0072] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a skin of the package retaining means according to the invention, according to a first embodiment;

[0073] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a skin of the package retaining means according to the invention, according to a second embodiment;

[0074] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a skin of the package retaining means according to the invention, according to a third embodiment;

[0075] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a skin of the package retaining means according to the invention, according to a fourth embodiment;

[0076] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a skin of the package retaining means according to the invention, according to a fifth embodiment.

[0077] FIG. 1 illustrates a package 1 according to the invention.

[0078] The package 1 comprises a crate 2.

[0079] The crate 2 comprises a bottom 3 and a peripheral rim 4, an upper face of which defines an opening of the crate 2.

[0080] The package 1 also comprises a lid 5 that allows closing the crate 2 and in particular authorizing or preventing access into the crate 2 by sealing the opening.

[0081] To ensure protection of an object O to be transported, the package 1 also comprises retaining means 6 mounted inside the crate 2.

[0082] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the retaining means 6 comprise a rigid frame 7 and an elastically deformable skin 8.

[0083] The elastically deformable skin 8 is positioned inside the rigid frame 7 and kept substantially stretched therein.

[0084] As described below, and with reference to FIG. 2, when an object O is intended to be kept inside the package 1, the object O is positioned on the bottom 3 of the crate 2 and the frame 7 is positioned bearing against the bottom 3 of the crate 2. In this case, the elastically deformable skin 8 is deformed and at least partially fits the object O to keep it pressed against the bottom 3 of the crate 2.

[0085] The elastic characteristic of the elastically deformable skin 8 allows adapting to the different shapes that the object O can take.

[0086] However, the package 1 is intended to allow the transport of objects O of different sizes.

[0087] To do so, the elastically deformable skin 8 can be made according to different embodiments.

[0088] FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate different embodiments of the elastically deformable skin 8.

[0089] Commonly to all the embodiments, the elastically deformable skin 8 has a central elastic area 9 and a peripheral elastic area 10 around the central elastic area 9.

[0090] Preferably, the central elastic area 9 has a lower elasticity than the peripheral elastic area 10.

[0091] This allows, depending on the presence of an object O under the elastically deformable skin 8, providing the latter with a controlled deformation.

[0092] More specifically, the central elastic area 9 deforms less than the peripheral elastic area 10 in the presence of an object O to be held.

[0093] Thus, as explained below, depending on the size of the object O and its positioning relative to the elastically deformable skin 8, the object O can be held more or less loosely depending on the need.

[0094] Indeed, an object O placed only under the central elastic area 9 will be pressed against the bottom 3 of the crate 2 in a stronger way compared to its positioning under the peripheral elastic area 10.

[0095] Thus, it is possible, depending on the fragility of the object O, to choose the holding tension applied thereto depending on its positioning under the elastically deformable skin 8.

[0096] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the elastically deformable skin 8 may have elastic tertiary areas 11 extending from the central elastic area 9 towards one of the edges of the elastically deformable skin 8.

[0097] The or each elastic tertiary area 11 extends the central elastic area 9 in the direction of an edge of the elastically deformable skin 8 while being bordered by the peripheral elastic area 10.

[0098] Like the central elastic area 9, the or each elastic tertiary area 11 has a lower elasticity than that of the peripheral elastic area 10.

[0099] More particularly, the or each elastic tertiary area 11 has an elasticity lower than or equal to the elasticity of the central elastic area 9.

[0100] This allows being able to generate pulling force lines for pulling the central elastic area 9 towards the bottom 3 of the crate 2.

[0101] To achieve this difference in elasticity between each of the areas, a first technique consists in forming the skin by assembling several pieces of different materials.

[0102] By way of example, the central elastic area 9 and each elastic tertiary area 11 are made of a first material and the peripheral elastic area 10 is made of a second material different from the first material. The first material then has an elasticity lower than that of the second material.

[0103] The assembly between the different materials can be made optionally by one of the following methods: [0104] sewing; [0105] gluing; [0106] welding; [0107] fusion.

[0108] As a variant, when each elastic tertiary area 11 has a lower elasticity than the central elastic area 9, these can be made of a third material which then has an elasticity lower than the elasticity of the first material.

[0109] According to another technique, the elastically deformable skin 8 is made in one piece and each area is made by cutting out said elastically deformable skin 8.

[0110] More specifically, with reference to the detail medallion of FIG. 3, the central elastic area 9 has a plurality of first cutouts 91 and the peripheral elastic area 10 has a plurality of second cutouts 101.

[0111] The density and the size of the first cutouts 91 is lower than the density and the size of the second cutouts 101.

[0112] In other words, the greater the size and the density of the cutouts, the more the skin is devoid of material, and therefore has a high elasticity.

[0113] In the case where the elastic tertiary areas 11 have an elasticity equal to the elasticity of the central elastic area 9, each elastic tertiary area 11 then has a plurality of first cutouts 91.

[0114] On the other hand, in the case where the elastic tertiary areas 11 have a lower elasticity than that of the central elastic area 9, then each elastic tertiary area 11 has third cutouts (not illustrated) whose density and size is lower than that of the first cutouts 91.

[0115] Preferably, the cutouts have a circular or ovoid shape, so as to avoid any angle that could generate an incipient rupture. Indeed, when an elastically deformable material hardens, in particular by the effect of time, heat or by the effect of its wear, it tends to crack, and when the cracks appear in angular areas, they promote the tearing of the elastic material.

[0116] According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the elastically deformable skin 8 has a rectangular shape, and has an elastic shape 9 extended on either side in the direction of the smaller sides of the rectangular shape by two elastic tertiary areas 11 each joining an edge of the elastically deformable skin 8, in opposite directions relative to each other.

[0117] According to a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the elastically deformable skin 8 is rectangular in shape and has four elastic tertiary areas 11 each extending from the central elastic area 9 in the direction of a corner of the rectangular shape of the elastically deformable skin 8.

[0118] According to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the characteristics of the elastically deformable skin 8, according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, are reproduced and improved.

[0119] To do so, the elastically deformable skin 8 comprises four elastic tertiary areas 11 each extending from the central elastic area 9 in the direction of a corner of the rectangular shape of the elastically deformable skin 8, as well as four elastic tertiary areas 11 each extending from the central elastic area 9 in the direction of one side of the rectangular shape of the elastically deformable skin 8.

[0120] This thus allows offering tension lines of the central elastic area 9 in the direction of the bottom 3 of the crate 2, in a substantially homogeneous manner.

[0121] To avoid excessively angular tension areas, the junctions between the elastic tertiary areas 11 and the central elastic area 9 are made by roundings.

[0122] Furthermore, to exert a force for pressing an object O against the bottom 3 of the crate 2 by the elastically deformable skin 8, the latter may comprise an overlap area C between the central elastic area 9, the area or each elastic tertiary area 11 and the peripheral elastic area 10.

[0123] This is in particular illustrated in the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0124] The overlap area C allows creating an area of elasticity greater than the elasticity of the peripheral elastic area 10, but lower than the elasticity of the central elastic area 9 and/or of the area or of each elastic tertiary area 11.

[0125] According to a fifth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the elastically deformable skin 8 also comprises at least one subsidiary area 12 among: [0126] a ring 12a surrounding the central elastic area 9 and the peripheral elastic area 10; [0127] a plurality of V-shapes 12b each extending from the edge of the elastically deformable skin 8 and pointing towards the central elastic area 9.

[0128] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the elastically deformable skin comprises both a subsidiary area 12 in the shape of a ring 12a and six V-shapes 12b.

[0129] When using the package 1, as illustrated by the arrows F in FIG. 4, the elastic tertiary areas 11 allow, through their low elasticity, limiting the deformation of the central elastic area 9, that is to say its spacing relative to the bottom 3 of the crate 2, which allows keeping an object O immobile in the crate 2 when said object O is positioned between the bottom 3 of the crate 2 and the elastically deformable skin 8.

[0130] The same applies for the subsidiary areas 12 that have an elasticity at least lower than the elasticity of the peripheral elastic area 10 and, preferably, lower than or equal to the elasticity of the central elastic area 9.

[0131] Referring to FIG. 1, the package 1 also comprises a connecting rod 13 interposed between the lid 5 and the rigid frame 7 of the retaining means 6.

[0132] Preferably, the connecting rod 13 is rotatably mounted on the lid on the one hand, and rotatably mounted on the rigid frame 7 on the other hand.

[0133] According to one particular embodiment, the connecting rod 13 forms part of the rigid frame 7.

[0134] The peripheral rim 4, the lid 5, the connecting rod 13 and the rigid frame 7 together form a deformable parallelogram.

[0135] More specifically, the lid 5, which is rotatably mounted on the peripheral rim 4, can adopt an open position in which it is substantially perpendicular to the bottom 3 of the crate 2 and does not prevent access into the crate 2, and a closed position in which it prevents access into the crate 2, and is substantially parallel to the bottom 3 of the crate 2.

[0136] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the lid 5 is in an intermediate position between its open position and its closed position.

[0137] The rotation of the connecting rod 13 relative to the lid 5 and to the rigid frame 7 allows deforming the parallelogram and in particular pivoting the rigid frame 7 when the lid 5 passes from its closed position to its open position, and vice versa.

[0138] In use, a user positions the lid 5 in its open position, the rigid frame 7 then being spaced from the bottom 3 of the crate 2. Then, the user inserts an object O into the crate and positions it on the bottom 3 of the crate 2.

[0139] The user then handles the lid 5 to place it in its closed position.

[0140] During this handling, the connecting rod 13 then drives in rotation the rigid frame 7 in the direction of the bottom 3 of the crate 2.

[0141] When the lid 5 is in its closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the rigid frame 7 is substantially parallel to the bottom 3 of the crate 2, in the vicinity of the bottom 3 and the elastically deformable skin 8 deforms when in contact with the object O located on the bottom 3 of the crate 2.

[0142] The presence of the elastic tertiary areas 11 allows limiting the deformation of the elastically deformable skin 8 and in particular the deformation of the central elastic area 9, that is to say its distance from the bottom 3 of the crate 2, which allows ensuring proper holding of the object O on the bottom 3 of the crate 2 of the package 1 for transportation.