CONTAINER, PACKAGE AND PROCESS OF MAKING THESE LATTER

Abstract

A container obtained by folding a single flat blank of paper sheet material includes a plurality of hollow elements joined to each other in one piece, each of the hollow elements including a base and a lateral wall; the lateral wall emerges from the base and defines with this latter a seat configured to receive at least one product. The present disclosure also describes a process of making the container and to a use of the same, and also to a package and process of making the same.

Claims

1.-30. (canceled)

31. Container for housing one or more products, said container comprising a plurality of hollow elements joined together in one piece, each hollow element of said plurality of hollow elements comprising: a base, a lateral wall emerging from the base and defining with the base a seat configured to receive at least one product, the lateral wall defining an opening delimited by a free edge and configured to allow the introduction and withdrawal of the at least one product from said seat, an outer edge with a closed profile, opposed to the bases of the plurality of hollow elements and delimiting an upper access of the container, in which the seats of the plurality of hollow elements are defined within said outer edge, at least one panel joined in one piece to at least one part of the outer edge of the container, wherein said panel is placed at least partly outside the seats of the plurality of hollow elements, wherein the container is made by folding a single flat blank made of paper sheet material.

32. The container according to claim 31, further comprising a first hollow element of said plurality of hollow elements which includes at least one flange extending externally to the seat starting from the free edge of the lateral wall of said first hollow element, said flange of the first hollow element being joined in one piece to a second hollow element of said plurality of hollow elements adjacent to said first hollow element, the lateral wall of the first hollow element is interposed between the flange and the base of the same first hollow element, wherein the second hollow element comprises a flange extending outside the seat starting from the free edge of the lateral wall of said second hollow element approaching the first hollow element, wherein the flange of the first hollow element is joined in one piece to the flange of the second hollow element, the lateral wall of the second hollow element is interposed between the flange and the base of the second hollow element.

33. The container according to claim 31, wherein the panel is directly constrained, to the lateral wall of at least one hollow element, wherein the panel lies on a plane parallel to a lying plane of the lateral wall directly carrying said panel to which said panel is directly joined in one piece.

34. The container according to claim 31, wherein the panel is stably fixed to the one later wall directly carrying said panel by means on glue portions.

35. The container according to claim 31, wherein a portion of the panel is distanced from the outer edge and constrained to the lateral wall directly carrying said panel.

36. The container according to claim 31, wherein the panel is stably constrained to the lateral wall directly carrying said panel at two areas: at the outer edge; at a substantially central area of the panel.

37. The container according to claim 31, wherein the panel comprises a first and a second panel connected at opposite sides of the outer edge.

38. The container according to claim 31, wherein the outer edge has a quadrilateral shape, wherein the container comprises a panel for each side of the perimetral outer edge.

39. The container according to claim 31, wherein the panel is fixed to the lateral wall at an area distinct and distanced from the perimetral outer edge.

40. The container according to claim 31, wherein the panel is fixed to two or more lateral walls of adjacent hollow elements of the container.

41. The container according to claim 31, wherein the panel is hinged to at least one section of the outer edge, said panel and the outer edge are relatively movable by rotation, between: a first operating position in which the panel allows communication between the openings of the plurality of hollow elements and the external environment to define an opening condition of the container to allow the withdrawal and insertion of products, a second operating position in which the panel is arranged above the openings of the plurality of hollow elements partly occluding the openings to define a closing condition of the container suitable to prevent the removal from and insertion of products into said aperture.

42. The container according to claim 41, wherein the panel comprises a first coupling portion, wherein the container comprises a second coupling portion configured to cooperate with the first coupling portion of the panel in the second operating condition of the panel, wherein the first and second coupling portions, in the second operating position of the panel, are configured to engage each other to lock the panel in the second operating position and thus keep the container in the closed condition.

43. The container according to claim 42, wherein the first coupling portion comprises a tab, the second coupling portion comprising a slot which, in the second operating position of the panel, receives through the tab of the first coupling portion, wherein the slot of the second coupling portion is distinct and distanced from the free edge of each hollow element.

44. The container according to claim 41, wherein the panel comprises a first and a second panel which, in the second operating position, are partly superimposed on each other and configured to completely occlude the openings of the plurality of hollow elements.

45. The container according to claim 44, wherein: the first coupling portion is carried by the first panel, the second coupling portion is carried by the second panel, wherein the slot of said second coupling portion carried by the second panel is configured to allow, in the second operating position of the first and second panels, the insertion of the tab of the first coupling portion inside a seat of a hollow element.

46. The container according to claim 42, wherein: the first coupling portion is carried by the panel, the second coupling portion is defined on one flange joining in one piece at least two adjacent hollow elements, wherein the slot of said second coupling portion, is configured to allow, in the second operating portion of the panel, the positioning of the tab of the first coupling portion outside the seats of the hollow elements in interposition between the lateral walls of adjacent hollow elements.

47. The container according to claim 45, wherein the first coupling portion comprises a tab joined in one piece to the first panel, wherein the tab emerges from an outer profile of the first panel.

48. The container according to claim 31, wherein the container comprises a first and a second series of hollow elements, each of them comprises a plurality of hollow elements, wherein: the hollow elements of the first series are aligned along a first trajectory, the hollow elements of the second series are aligned along a second trajectory, wherein said first and second trajectories are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the container comprises an intermediate flange joining in one piece the plurality of hollow elements of the first and second series of hollow elements at the free edges of the hollows elements of said first and second series.

49. The container according to claim 48, wherein the panel comprises a first coupling portion, the container comprises a second coupling portion configured to cooperate with the first coupling portion of the panel in the second operating condition of the panel, wherein the first and second coupling portions, in the second operating position of the panel, are configured to engage each other to lock the panel in the second operating position and thus keep the container in the closed condition, and the first coupling portion is carried by the panel, the second coupling portion is defined on one flange joining in one piece at least two adjacent hollow elements, wherein the second coupling portion is defined on the intermediate flange, wherein the slot of the second coupling portion, is configured to allow, in the second operating position of the first and second panels, the positioning of the tab of the first coupling portion outside the seats of each hollow elements in interposition between the first and second series.

50. Container for housing one or more products, said container comprising a plurality of hollow elements joined together in one piece, each hollow element of said plurality of hollow elements comprising: a base, a lateral wall emerging from the base and defining with the base a seat configured to receive at least one product, the lateral wall defining an opening delimited by a free edge and configured to allow the introduction and withdrawal of the at least one product from said seat, an outer edge with a closed profile, opposed to the bases of the plurality of hollow elements and delimiting an upper access of the container, in which the seats of the plurality of hollow elements are defined within said outer edge, at least one panel joined in one piece to at least one part of the outer edge of the container, wherein said panel comprises a first coupling portion and is placed at least partly outside the seats of the plurality of hollow elements, a second coupling portion configured to cooperate with the first coupling portion of the panel in a second operating condition of the panel, wherein the panel is hinged to a section of the outer edge, said panel and the outer edge are relatively movable by rotation, between: a first operating position in which the panel allows communication between the openings of the plurality of hollow elements and the external environment to define an opening condition of the container to allow the withdrawal and insertion of products, the second operating position in which the panel is arranged above the openings of the plurality of hollow elements partly occluding the openings to define a closing condition of the container suitable to prevent the removal from and insertion of products into said aperture, wherein the first and second coupling portions, in the second operating position of the panel, are configured to engage each other to lock the panel in the second operating position and thus keep the container in the closed condition, wherein the container is made by folding a single flat blank made of paper sheet material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0139] Some embodiments and some aspects of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the attached drawings given only in an indicative and therefore non-limiting way, wherein:

[0140] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views respectively of a container and a stack of containers according to the present invention;

[0141] FIG. 3 is a detailed top view of a container according to the present invention;

[0142] FIG. 4 is a detailed view, according to line IV-IV, of the container in FIG. 3;

[0143] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a blank for making the container in FIG. 1;

[0144] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment variant of a container according to the present invention arranged in an open condition;

[0145] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the container of FIG. 6 arranged in a closed condition;

[0146] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a cross-section of the container illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 arranged in a closed condition;

[0147] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a blank for making the container illustrated in Figure from 6 to 9;

[0148] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment variant of a container according to the present invention arranged in an open condition;

[0149] FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the container of FIG. 11;

[0150] FIG. 13 illustrates the container in FIG. 11 arranged in a closed condition;

[0151] FIG. 14 is a detailed bottom view of the container of FIG. 13;

[0152] FIG. 15 is a detailed view, according to line XV-XV, of the container in FIG. 14:

[0153] FIGS. 16 and 17 are further detailed views of the container according to FIG. 13;

[0154] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a package according to the present invention;

[0155] FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a blank for making the container illustrated in Figure from 11 to 17.

DEFINITIONS AND CONVENTIONS

[0156] It is worth noting that in the present detailed description the parts illustrated in the different figures are indicated by the same numeral references. The figures could illustrate the object of the invention by not-to-scale representations; consequently, parts and components illustrated in the figures regarding the object of the invention, could only refer to schematic representations.

[0157] The term “product” means an article or a composition of articles of any kind. For example, the product can be in a solid, liquid or gel state, in other words as two or more of said aggregation states. Moreover, the product can be understood as a package, for example a blister, containing a plurality of articles. The product can comprise: drugs, beauty products, dishwasher and washing machine capsules, house cleaning products and laundry cleaning products (e.g., detergents), foodstuff, and cigarettes.

[0158] The term “paper material” means paper or paperboard, for example featuring at least 50% by weight, optionally at least 70% by weight of an organic material comprising one or more among cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, derivatives of lignin. The paper material can be a sheet material having a grammage comprised between 100 and 500 g/m2. The sheet paper material can be coated at least partially by a plastic material coating, for example a film, destined to: reinforce the paper sheet material, define a water and/or humidity barrier. The coating can have a thickness varying between 10 μm and 50 μm and can be made by one or more of the following materials: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PE.

[0159] The term “blank” refers to a semi-finished product of sheet material, for example of paper sheet material, foldable on itself for completing a container. The blank can be in a single piece and obtainable by die cutting a single sheet.

[0160] The term “folded configuration of the blank” means a configuration in which the blank is folded to form a container.

[0161] The term “sheet material” means a material featuring two dimensions, for example the length and width, substantially greater than a third dimension, such as the thickness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0162] Container 1

[0163] The reference number 1 generally indicates a container of paper material for housing at least one food product P made by the steps of folding a single flat sheet of paper material.

[0164] The container 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of hollow elements 2 in a substantially prismatic quadrangular shape, each of them can comprise a base 3 featuring a quadrangular shape delimited by a peripheral edge and developing along a horizontal plane, each hollow element 2 comprises at least one lateral wall 4 emerging from the base 3 and defining with this latter a seat 5 configured to receive at least one product P. Each lateral wall 4 has a quadrilateral shape, optionally squared, rectangular or trapezoidal one, engaged, on one side, to the peripheral edge of the base 3 and defining, oppositely, a free edge 6 suitable to define an opening configured to allow the introduction and withdrawal of at least one product P from the seat 5. The at least one lateral wall 4 has an inclination with respect to the base 3 of the hollow element 2 itself equal to an angle comprised between 90° and 100°, optionally between 91° and 97°, measured inside the seat 5 of the respective hollow element 2. The inclination of the lateral walls 4 of each hollow element 2 allows the same to receive inside a further hollow element 2 of a different container 1; consequently, due to the inclination of the lateral walls 4, the container 1 according to the present invention, can be stacked as illustrated in FIG. 2 in order to make easier the storage and transport.

[0165] The free edge 6 of each hollow element 2, has a distance with respect to the base, which is considered equal to the length of the lateral wall 4, greater than 20 mm, optionally comprised between 20 mm and 70 mm. Moreover, it is useful to note, as shown in the attached figures, that the base 3 and free edge 6 of each hollow element lie on respective planes substantially parallel to each other, in which the minimum distance between said lying plane of the base and free edge define a depth of the seat of each hollow element 2 equal to or greater than 20 mm, optionally comprised between 20 mm and 100 mm.

[0166] In a first embodiment of the invention (not illustrated in the attached figures), the container 1 comprises at least a series of hollow elements 2 defined by at least one first and one second hollow elements 2a, 2b aligned along a predetermined trajectory A, optionally rectilinear, in which at least a lateral wall 4 of the first hollow element 2a is distanced from at least one lateral wall 4 of the second hollow element 2b. Indeed, in the first embodiment, the container comprises only two hollow elements placed side by side.

[0167] FIGS. 1, 2, 6-9 show a second embodiment of the container 1 comprising three hollow elements 2 aligned along the predetermined trajectory A. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a plurality of containers 1 according to the second embodiment, which are vertically stacked, in which each hollow element 2 of a container is housed inside the seat 5 of a hollow element 2 of an underlying container.

[0168] A third embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures from 11 to 17, on the contrary refers to a container 1 comprising at least one first and one second series of hollow elements 2 respectively aligned along a first and second trajectories A, B, optionally rectilinear, substantially parallel to each other. Indeed, each series of the container 1 according to the third series comprises a plurality of hollow elements 2 so that the container substantially defines an array of hollow elements 2. Figures from 11 to 17 show in a non-limiting way a container comprising only two series of hollow elements, each of them comprises three hollow elements aligned along a predetermined direction; it is not excluded the possibility of providing a greater number of series (in other words greater than two) in which each series comprises a number of hollow elements 2 equal to or greater than two (for example comprised between 2 and 50).

[0169] In each embodiment of the invention, the hollow elements 2 are engaged with each other in correspondence of at least part of the respective free edges 6. In particular, the first hollow element 2a can comprise at least one flange 14 extending outside the seat 5 from the free edge 6 of the same first hollow element 2a, joined in one piece to at least to the second hollow element 2b. In other words, the flange 14 is interposed between the lateral walls 4 respectively of the first and second hollow elements 2a, 2b. Still in other words, the lateral wall 4 of the first hollow element 2a is interposed between the flange 14 and base 3 of the same first hollow element 2a. Analogously to the first hollow element 2a, the second hollow element 2b comprises also a flange 14 extending outside the seat 5 from the free edge 6 of the same second hollow element 2b, towards the first hollow element 2a, joined in one piece to the flange 14 of the first hollow element 2a. Moreover, it is useful to observe, as shown for example in FIGS. 1, 2, 11, and 15, the flange 14 of the first and second hollow elements 2a, 2b lies on a plane parallel to the lying plane of the base 3 of each hollow element 2. The above cited has of the first and second hollow elements 2a, 2b, illustrated in the second embodiment of the container 1, are typical of all the embodiments of the container 1 according to the present invention; in other words, the features of the first and second hollow elements 2a, 2b are typical of each pair of immediately adjacent hollow elements 2 of the container and are joined in one piece to each other. In addition, the container 1, according to the third embodiment, comprises an intermediate flange 14a which joins in one piece two series of hollow elements 2 placed side by side to each other (see FIG. 11, for example).

[0170] The container 1 shown in the attached figures further comprises an outer perimetral edge 8, which has a substantially quadrilateral shaped closed profile opposite to the bases 3 of the plurality of hollow elements 2. The outer perimetral edge 8 delimits an upper access to the seats 5 of each hollow element 2, which are completely defined inside the same outer perimetral edge 8. In detail, the outer perimetral edge 8 can be defined by at least part of the free edges 6 of the lateral walls 4 of the plurality of hollow elements 2, developing on a lying plane parallel to the lying plane of the bases of the hollow elements 2.

[0171] The container 1 can further comprise at least one panel 9 joined in one piece to at least one segment of the outer perimetral edge 8 of the container 1 and arranged at least partially outside each seat 5 of a hollow element 2. As it will better outlined in the description of a process of making the container 1, each panel 9 can be formed by at least two elementary panels 20 (FIG. 1) each of them extends respectively from the free edge 6 of the first and second hollow elements 2a, 2b. The elementary panel 20 of the first hollow element 2a can therefore comprise at least one joining portion 21, which is configured to engage, optionally by gluing, a respective joining portion 21 of the elementary panel 20 of the second hollow element 2b, for defining the panel 9.

[0172] In a first configuration, the panel 9 is arranged next to a lateral wall 4 of at least one hollow element 2, optionally is engaged with a lateral wall 4; in such configuration, overlapping the panel 9 on at least part of the lateral wall 4 allows to increase the structural rigidity of the container 1.

[0173] In particular, in the first configuration, the panel 9 extends from the outer perimetral edge 8 towards the bases 3 of the plurality of hollow elements 2 of the container along a predetermined extension direction. The container 1 can comprise a plurality of panels 9 extending from each side of the perimetral edge 8 towards the base 3. Along the predetermined extension direction, it is therefore possible to define a height of the panel 9, which is lower than a distance present between the free edge 6 and base 3 of each hollow element measured in the same way along the same extension direction. In other words, the ratio of the height of panel 9 and the lateral wall 4, directly joined in one piece to the panel, is lower than 0.75, optionally is lower than 0.5, still more optionally is comprised between 0.45 and 0.2

[0174] The panel 9, according to the first configuration, is for example illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, associated to the container 1 according to the second embodiment; obviously, it is not excluded the provision of the panel 9 as in the first configuration, associated to the container according to the above described first and/or third embodiments.

[0175] According to a second configuration, the at least one panel 9 is engaged with the outer perimetral edge 8 and is movable with respect to this latter by rotating at least between a first and second operating positions. In the first operating position, the panel 9 allows the communication between the openings of the hollow elements 2 and the outer environment, in order to define an open condition of the container 1 suitable to enable the withdrawal and insertion products P. Viceversa, in the second operating position, the panel 9 is arranged at least partially above the openings of the plurality of hollow elements 2, occluding at least partially them, for defining a closed condition of the container suitable to prevent the products P from being withdrawn.

[0176] The panel 9 can comprise at least one first and one second panels 9a, 9b, connected to and emerging from opposite sides of the outer perimetral edge with respect to the predetermined aligning trajectory A of the hollow elements 2. However, the container 1 can comprise at least one panel 9 for each side of the outer perimetral edge 8. The first and second panels 9a, 9b are movable between a first operating position, illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 11, in which they are configured to enable to insert the products P inside the seats 5 of each hollow element 2 (FIG. 7), and a second operating position in which they are at least partially overlapped on each other and configured to completely occlude the openings of the plurality of hollow elements 2 (FIGS. 8 and 13).

[0177] Moreover, it is useful to note as the second panel 9b, arranged in the second operating position of FIG. 9, is at least partially interposed between the first panel 9a and at least one hollow element 2 completely occluding the openings of each hollow element 2.

[0178] The container 1 can comprise only a panel 9 according to the first configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 1 for example, or can comprise the panel 9 according to the second configuration (movable panel). It is not excluded the possibility of providing a container 1 comprising at least one panel 9 according to the first configuration and at least one panel 9 according to the second configuration; for example, FIGS. 6, 8, 11, and 13 illustrate a container 1 comprising the first and second panels 9a, 9b according to the second configuration (movable with respect to the perimetral edge 8) engaged on the opposite sides of the perimetral edge 8 and a further pair of opposite panels 9 according to the first configuration, in other words fixed to a lateral wall 4 of at least one hollow element 2; particularly, the pair of panels 9 fixed to the lateral wall 4 placed side by side to the first and second movable panels 9a, 9b. In other words, two opposite sides of the perimetral edge 8 stably support the first and second panels 9a, 9b are movable, while the other two opposite sides of the perimetral edge stably support the panel 9 in the first configuration, in other words fixed to the lateral wall 4 of a hollow element 2.

[0179] The container 1 can further comprise at least one first and one second coupling portions 12, 13 configured to engagingly cooperate with each other, enabling the panel 9 to remain in the second operating position and therefore to maintain the container 1 in the closed condition.

[0180] The first coupling portion 12 can comprise at least one tab 12a and is stably supported by the at least one panel 9. In particular, the tab 12a emerges from an outer profile of the panel 9. Specifically, the first coupling portion 12 is supported by the panel 9 according to the second configuration, in other words when the panel 9 is relatively movable with respect to the outer perimetral edge 8 of the container 1. For example, the first coupling portion 12, particularly the tab 12a, can be joined in one piece to the first panel 9a as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 11 and 17, for example.

[0181] The second coupling portion 13 can comprise a slot 13a configured to receive through it the tab 12a and enable to lock the tab. The slot 13a can be for example defined on a lateral wall 4 of the container 1 (this condition is not illustrated in the attached figures) or can be defined on at least one panel 9. For example, in FIG. 6 the tab 12a is supported by the first panel 9a while the slot 13a is defined on the second panel 9b, in particular at a central zone of the second panel 9b. The slot 13a supported by the second panel 9b is configured to enable, in the second operating position of the first and second panels 9a, 9b, to insert the tab 12a in the first coupling portion 12 inside a seat 5 of a hollow element 2 (FIG. 9). In such configuration, the second coupling portion 13 is configured to lock the first panel 9a above the second panel 9b in order to keep the container in the closed condition.

[0182] As an alternative, the second coupling portion 13 can be defined on the intermediate flange 14a joining in one piece two series of hollow elements 2 placed side by side. Also in this configuration, the second coupling portion 13 comprises a slot 13a carried by the intermediate flange 14a and configured to enable, in the second operating position of the first and second panels 9a, 9b, to position the tab 12a of the first coupling portion 12, outside the seats 5 of the hollow elements 2 between the lateral walls 4 of hollow elements 2 adjacent to each other and respectively belonging to the first and second series of hollow elements (see FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, for example). With reference to this latter embodiment described and illustrated in FIG. 11, the second panel 9b can comprise a recess 16 configured to enable the first panel 9a, at least in the second operating position of the first and second panels 9a, 9b, to directly face the second coupling portion 13 carried by the intermediate flange 14a. The recess 16 can have a convex profile, optionally opened, configured to enable to arrange the second coupling portion 13 inside the recess 16 itself.

[0183] Process of Making the Container 1

[0184] Moreover, it is an object of the present invention a process of making a container 1 according to the above given description and/or according to any one of the attached claims.

[0185] The process of making a container according to the first and second embodiments can comprise at least the following steps: [0186] predisposing a flat blank 50 of paper sheet material (FIG. 5) comprising at least one first and one second trapezoidal shaped sheets 50a, 50b, each of them comprises at least: [0187] a central sheet 51, [0188] a lateral sheet 52 joined in one piece to the central sheet 51 and emerging from a perimetral edge of this latter,
wherein the first and second sheets 50a, 50b are joined in one piece at respective lateral sheets 52, [0189] folding the at least one lateral sheet 52 and the central sheet 51 of the first sheet 50a with respect to each other in order to define a hollow element 2, [0190] folding the at least one lateral sheet 52 and the central sheet 51 of the second sheet 50b with respect to each other in order to define a further hollow element 2.

[0191] It is useful to observe the blank 50 can have at least one first surface defining, after the step of folding the at least one lateral sheet 52 and central sheet 51, respectively of the first and second sheets 50a, 50b, a surface of the seat 5 of the hollow element 2 suitable to receive a product P, and also a second surface defining, after the same folding step, an outer surface of the container 1.

[0192] The central sheets 51 of the first and second sheets 50a, 50b define the bases 3 of each hollow element 2. Particularly, the central sheets 51, respectively of the first and second sheets 50a, 5b, has a polygonal quadrangular shape, wherein from each side of the same quadrangular polygon, emerges at least one lateral sheet 52. In other words, the central sheets 51 of the first and second sheets 50a, 50b are reciprocally divided by at least one lateral sheet 52 of the first sheet 50a and by a lateral sheet 52 of the second sheet 50b.

[0193] As it is visible in FIG. 5, the first sheet 50a can comprise a plurality of lateral sheets 52 emerging from the respective central sheet 51.

[0194] The lateral sheets 52 of the first and second sheets 50a, 50b, after the above cited folding steps, define the lateral walls 4 of the hollow elements 2. Each lateral sheet 52 of the first and second sheets 50a, 50b is therefore arranged between its central sheet 51 and peripheral sheet 54 respectively of the first and second sheets 50a, 50b, these latter will be better described in the following detailed description.

[0195] Moreover, the first sheet 50a comprises at least one lateral connecting sheet 53 carried by at least one of the lateral sheets 52 of the first sheet 50a and featuring a triangular shape.

[0196] Following the step of folding the lateral sheets 52 with respect to the central sheet 51 of the first sheet 50a, the lateral connecting sheet 53 can be constrained, optionally by gluing, to an adjacent lateral sheet 52 in order to stably keep the tridimensional configuration of the hollow element 2.

[0197] Further, the first sheet 50a can comprise at least one peripheral sheet 54 joined in one piece to at least one lateral sheet 52 of the first sheet 50a itself, in order to define, after the step of folding this latter, the at least one panel 9 of the container. Specifically, according to the first and second embodiments of the container (FIG. 5), the first sheet 50a can comprise a plurality of peripheral sheets 54 emerging oppositely to the central sheet 51 of the first sheet 50a. Consequently, the process can comprise, after or simultaneously with the step of folding the lateral sheets 52, a step of folding each peripheral sheet 54 of the first sheet 50a with respect to the lateral sheet 52, so that the second surfaces of the peripheral sheet 54 and of the lateral sheet 52 face and are at least partially in contact with each other.

[0198] Moreover, the process can comprise the step of predisposing a tab 56 carried by at least one peripheral sheet 54 and emerging from a perimetral edge delimiting this latter. The tab 56 can be configured to define, after the step of folding the blank, the first coupling portion of the container 1.

[0199] Analogously to what was hereinbefore described, the second sheet 50b can comprise a plurality of lateral sheets 52 emerging from the respective central sheet 51, and also at least one lateral connecting sheet 53 featuring a triangular shape and carried by at least one of the lateral sheets 52 of the second sheet 50b. After the step of folding the lateral sheets 52 with respect to the central sheet 51 of the second sheet 50b, the lateral connecting sheet 53 can be constrained, optionally by gluing, to an adjacent lateral sheet 52 in order to stably keep the hollow element 2 in its tridimensional configuration.

[0200] Moreover, the second sheet 50b can comprise at least one peripheral sheet 54 joined in one piece to at least one lateral sheet 52 of the same second sheet 50b, for defining, after the step of folding this latter, the at least one panel 9 of the container.

[0201] After the step of folding each peripheral sheet 54 of the first and second sheets 50a, 50b, the process can further comprise the steps of: [0202] overlapping at least partially a peripheral sheet 54 of the first sheet 50a on an adjacent peripheral sheet 54 of the second sheet 50b, [0203] constraining, by gluing for example, a peripheral sheet 54 of the first sheet 50a to an adjacent peripheral sheet 54 of the second sheet 50b.

[0204] The process further comprises the step of predisposing at least one opening 57 obtained after a step of cutting a peripheral sheet 54 of the second sheet 50b opposite to the peripheral sheet 54 supporting the tab 56. The cutting step, performed after the step of folding the blank, defines the slot 13a of the second coupling portion 13.

[0205] Moreover, the blank 50 can comprise at least one central connecting sheet 55 configured to define, after the step of folding the at least one lateral sheet 52, at least part of a flange 14 of the hollow element 2. The central element 55 can be delimited by a perimetral edge and is joined in one piece to two lateral sheets 52 respectively of the first and second sheets 50a, 50b along respective opposite segments of the perimetral edge of the connecting sheet 55.

[0206] The blank 50 can further comprise at least one third and fourth sheets 50c, 50d made according respectively to the first and second sheets 50a, 50b of the same blank 50, and also at least one joining sheet 58 configured to join in one piece the first, second, third and fourth sheets 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d to each other along a perimetral edge delimiting the same joining sheet 58. Specifically, the joining sheet 58 comprises a first and second joining sheets 58a, 58b respectively joined in one piece to the first and third sheets 50a, 50c and to the second and fourth sheets 50b, 50d. The first joining sheet 58a is joined in one piece to respective lateral sheets 52 of the first and third sheets 50a, 50c along a first segment of the perimetral edge of the joining sheet 58. Viceversa, the second joining sheet 58b is joined in one piece to respective lateral sheets 52 of the second and fourth sheets 50b, 50d along a second segment of the perimetral edge of the joining sheet 58, opposite to the first segment, in order to define, after the step of folding each lateral sheet 52, the intermediate flange 14a. Moreover, the at least one joining sheet 58 can comprise an opening 57 obtained after at least one step of cutting this latter, for defining the slot 13a of the second coupling portion 13.

[0207] Moreover, the process comprises the step of cutting a peripheral sheet 54 of the blank 50 for defining the recess 16.

[0208] Package 100

[0209] It is also an object of the present invention a package 100 for housing a container 1 according to the above given description and/or according to any one of the attached claims.

[0210] The package 100 can comprise at least one case of sheet material, optionally made of at least one among: plastics, aluminum, or paper, featuring a housing compartment 22 having a substantially closed volume, configured to hold the container 1. As it is visible in FIG. 18, the case 17 comprises at least one end closure portion 18 joined in one piece by a lateral wall 19 for defining a tubular element receiving inside said container 1. In particular, the at least one end closure portion 18 of the case 17 comprises a first and second end closure portions 18a, 18b opposite to each other and configured to engage each other in order to occlude the housing compartment 22 of the case and to prevent the container 1 from being withdrawn from this latter.

[0211] It is useful to observe, as for example shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, that the container, once arranged inside the housing compartment 22, contains at least one product P, optionally of a food type.

[0212] FIG. 18 shows a configuration of the package 100 wherein the container 1 is arranged inside the housing compartment 22 of this latter, featuring the second panel 9b, on which it is defined the second coupling portion 13 in the second operating position, which completely occludes the access to the seats 5 of each hollow element 2. Viceversa, the first panel 9a supporting the first coupling portion 12, is arranged in the first operating position placed side by side to the lateral wall 4, configured to increase the structural rigidity of the inside of container 1.

[0213] Process of Making the Package 100

[0214] Moreover, it is an object of the present invention a process of making a package 100 according to the above given description and/or according to any one of the attached claims.

[0215] The process of making a package 100 comprises at least the steps of making a container 1 by a process according to the above given description, and also of predisposing at least one product, optionally of a food type, inside at least one hollow element of the container 1.

[0216] Further, the process comprises predisposing a case 17, comprising a flat sheet at least partially of plastic material, by which, after a step of folding this latter, a tubular element featuring two end openings 18 opposite to each other is obtained. After the step of defining the tubular element, the process further provides to insert the container 1 inside the tubular element, followed by a step of constraining the tubular element itself at the end openings 18. Performing the step of constraining the tubular element, comprising a step of heat sealing both the end openings 18, allows to define the closed end portions of the case 17, these latter being configured to prevent the container 1 from being withdrawn from the case 17 unless the same case 17 is broken.