Package for eggs

Abstract

The invention pertains to an egg package comprising: a bottom part (4) formed by suction molding of a fibrous material, the bottom part (4) comprising a rear side (28), a front side (30), two end sides (32), and a plurality of egg-receiving compartments (34) having non-planar side surfaces (35) so as to match at least partially the outer contours of an egg, the plurality of compartments (34) being arranged in at least two parallel rows with upwardly extending projections (36) located between the rows of compartments (34), a cover part (6) comprising two substantially planar end surfaces (10), substantially planar rear (48) and front surfaces (12), and a substantially planar top surface (14), said cover part (6) being formed by cardboard and connected to the bottom part (4) via an elongated flap (40) extending from the rear side (28) of the bottom part (4), said elongated flap (40) being provided with a weakening in the transition between said elongated flap (40) and rear side (28) of the bottom part (4), said weakening forming a hinge (50) so as to allow the cover part (6) to move between an open position and a closed position, said elongated flap (40) at least in part overlapping the inner side (42) of said rear surface (48) of the cover part (6), said bottom part (4) comprising a retainment flap (44) hinged to the front side (30) of the bottom part (4), said retainment flap (44) comprising at least one outwardly extending retainment projection (26) for locking engagement with one or more co-operating apertures (46) in the front surface (12) of the cover part (6), said cover part (6) further comprising a substantially flat display surface (16) formed in the region between the top surface (14) and front surface (12) of the cover part (6), said substantially flat display surface (16) meeting the top surface (14) at a first obtuse angle, thereby forming a first edge (18), and said substantially flat display surface (16) meeting the front surface (12) at a second obtuse angle, thereby forming a second edge (20). The invention also pertains to a kit of parts comprising a bottom part for an egg package and a blank of cardboard material comprising preformed cutting and folding lines, the blank being configured such that, when cut and folded along said cutting and folding lines, it forms a cover for said bottom part.

Claims

1. An egg package comprising: a bottom part formed of a fibrous material, the bottom part comprising a rear side, a front side, two end sides, and a plurality of egg-receiving compartments having non-planar side surfaces so as to match at least partially the outer contours of an egg, the plurality of compartments being arranged in at least two parallel rows with upwardly extending projections located between the rows of compartments, a cover part comprising two substantially planar end surfaces, substantially planar rear and front surfaces, and a substantially planar top surface, said cover part being formed by cardboard and connected to the bottom part via an elongated flap extending from the rear side of the bottom part, said elongated flap being provided with a weakening in the transition between said elongated flap and rear side of the bottom part, said weakening forming a hinge so as to allow the cover part to move between an open position and a closed position, said elongated flap at least in part overlapping the inner side of said rear surface of the cover part, the front surface of the cover part extending downwardly to a lower edge, said bottom part comprising a retainment flap hinged to the front side of the bottom part, said retainment flap comprising at least one outwardly extending retainment projection for locking engagement with one or more co-operating apertures in the front surface of the cover part, wherein, said cover part further comprises a substantially flat display surface formed in the region between the top surface and said lower edge of the front surface, said substantially flat display surface meeting the top surface at a first obtuse angle, thereby forming a first edge, and said substantially flat display surface meeting the front surface at a second obtuse angle, thereby forming a second edge, the substantially flat display surface forming a panel which is bounded and enclosed by the first and second edges, and wherein the first edge curves upwardly, and the second edge curves downwardly.

2. An egg package according to claim 1, wherein the first and second edges meet at a first and second corner of the cover part.

3. An egg package according to claim 1, wherein the substantially flat display surface is provided with a physical feature representing the contents of the egg package, said physical feature extending beyond the substantially flat display surface (16) and partly being formed by a cutout from the top surface of the cover part.

4. An egg package according to claim 3, wherein the physical feature is formed as a two-dimensional representation of any of the following agricultural products: an egg, one or more egg shells, a hen.

5. An egg package according to claim 1, wherein the cover part is provided with a graphical and/or pictorial information, which is directly printed on said cover part.

6. A kit comprising: a bottom part of an egg package, said bottom part being formed of a fibrous material and comprising a rear side, a front side, two end sides, and a plurality of egg-receiving compartments having non-planar side surfaces so as to match at least partially the outer contours of an egg, the plurality of compartments being arranged in at least two parallel rows with upwardly extending projections located between the rows of compartments, said bottom part comprising a retainment flap hinged to the front side of the bottom part, said retainment flap comprising at least one outwardly extending retainment projection for locking engagement with one or more co-operating apertures in a front surface of a cover part, a blank of cardboard material comprising preformed cutting and folding lines, the blank being configured such that, when cut and folded along said cutting and folding lines, it forms: a cover part for said bottom part of an egg package, said cover part comprising two substantially planar end surfaces, substantially planar rear and front surfaces, and a substantially planar top surface, said cover part being connectable to the bottom part via an elongated flap extending from the rear side of the bottom part, said elongated flap being an integrally moulded part of said bottom part and being provided with a weakening in the transition between said elongated flap and rear side of the bottom part, said weakening forming a hinge so as to allow the cover part to move between an open position and a closed position, said elongated flap at least in part overlapping the inner side of said rear surface of the cover part, the front surface of the cover part extending downwardly to a lower edge, wherein, said cover part further comprises a substantially flat display surface being formed in the region between the top surface and the said lower edge of the front surface wherein said substantially flat display surface meets the top surface at a first obtuse angle, thereby forming a first edge, and wherein said substantially flat display surface meets the front surface at a second obtuse angle, thereby forming a second edge, the substantially flat display surface forming a panel which is bounded and enclosed by the first and second edges, and wherein the first edge curves upwardly, and the second edge curves downwardly.

7. A kit of parts according to claim 6, wherein the first and second edges of the cover part meet at a first and second corner of the cover part when the cardboard blank is cut and folded along the cutting and folding lines.

8. A kit of parts according to claim 6, wherein the substantially flat display surface is provided with a physical feature representing the contents of the egg package, said physical feature extending beyond the substantially flat display surface and partly being formed by a cutout from the top surface of the cover part.

9. A kit of parts according to claim 8, wherein the physical feature is formed as a two-dimensional representation of any of the following agricultural products: an egg, one or more egg shells, a hen.

10. A kit of parts according to claim 6, wherein the cardboard blank is provided with a graphical and/or pictorial information which is directly printed on said cardboard blank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings.

(2) In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, wherein

(3) FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of an embodiment of an egg package according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 2 shows the same embodiment of an egg package as illustrated in FIG. 1, but now in a state wherein the cover is open,

(5) FIG. 3A shows an end view of an egg package with a closed cover,

(6) FIG. 3B shows an end view of an egg package with an open cover,

(7) FIG. 3C shows a cross section of an egg package with an open cover,

(8) FIG. 4 shows two bottom parts moulded together,

(9) FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of an alternative embodiment of an egg package according to the invention,

(10) FIG. 6 shows the same embodiment of an egg package as illustrated in FIG. 5, but now in a state wherein the cover is open, and

(11) FIG. 7 shows a close-up view of a section of a cover part of an egg package according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will, thus, not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure.

(13) FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment of an egg package 2 according to the invention. The illustrated egg package 2 comprises a bottom part 4 and a cover part 6. The bottom part 4 is formed by suction moulding of a fibrous material, preferably pulp, and the cover part 6 is formed by cardboard. The cover part 6 comprises two substantially planar end surfaces 10 (of which only one is shown), substantially planar rear (not shown) and front surfaces 12, and a substantially planar top surface 14.

(14) The illustrated cover part 6 further comprises a substantially flat display surface 16 formed in the region between the top surface 14 and front surface 12 of the cover part 6, wherein said substantially flat display surface 16 meets the top surface 14 at a first obtuse angle, thereby forming a first edge 18, and wherein said substantially flat display surface 16 meets the front surface 12 at a second obtuse angle, thereby forming a second edge 20.

(15) In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second edges 18, 20 have a curved shape, and they meet at a first 22 and second 24 corner of the cover part 6. The first edge 18 curves upwardly and the second edge 20 curves downwardly.

(16) Also shown in FIG. 1 are the outwardly extending retainment projections 26 for locking engagement with co-operating apertures in the front surface 12 of the cover part 6 for locking the cover part 6.

(17) FIG. 2 shows the same embodiment of an egg package 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1, but now in a state wherein the cover 6 is open. In this figure is more clearly shown that the bottom part comprises a rear side 28, a front side 30, two end sides 32, and a plurality of egg-receiving compartments 34 having non-planar side surfaces 35 so as to match at least partially the outer contours of an egg, the plurality of compartments 34 being arranged in at least two parallel rows. Between said rows of compartments there are provided a plurality of upwardly extending projections 38.

(18) The cover part 6 is connected to the bottom part 4 via an elongated flap 40 extending from the rear side 28 of the bottom part 4. The elongated flap 40 at least in part overlaps the inner side 42 of said rear surface of the cover part 6.

(19) The bottom part 4 comprises a retainment flap 44 hinged to the front side 30 of the bottom part 4. The illustrated retainment flap 44 further comprises two outwardly extending retainment projections 26 for locking engagement with two co-operating apertures 46 in the front surface 14 of the cover part 6.

(20) The apertures 46 in the front surface 12 of the cover part 6 are placed adjacent to the second edge 20. Hereby is facilitated a safer and more reliable locking of the cover part 6, because the front surface 12 of the cover part 6 is more stiff in the region adjacent to the second edge 20.

(21) FIG. 3A illustrates an end view of the egg package 2 with the cover part 6 in its closed position. In this end view, the rear surface 48 of the egg package 2 is more clearly visible.

(22) FIG. 3B illustrates an end view of the egg package 2 with the cover part 6 in its open position. The elongated flap 40 is provided with a weakening in the transition between said elongated flap 40 and rear part 28 of the bottom part 4, said weakening forming a hinge 50 so as to allow the cover part 6 to move between an open position and a closed position. The elongated flap 40 is connected to the inner side 42 of the rear surface 48 of the cover part 6 by an adhesive.

(23) In order to save material for the cover part 6, it is desirable to use as thin a cardboard as possible, also because a thinner cardboard is more easily machine-handled into its desired shape. Thus, in order to provide an optimal trade-off between this and the need for a desired rigidity, the inner side of the top surface 14 of the cover 6 of the illustrated egg package 2 rests on the top 52 of the upwardly extending projections 36 of the bottom part 4 when the cover 6 is in the closed position. Without the upwardly extending projections 36 located between the rows of compartments 34 to support the cover 6 when the egg package 2 is closed, the weight of the additional egg-filled egg packages 2 will rest on the eggs of the lower packages in a stack, which may then break during storage and transport.

(24) FIG. 3C illustrates a cross section of the egg package 2 with the cover part 6 in its open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated flap 40 is configured for abutting an egg within the egg package 2, and the retainment flap 44 is configured for abutting another egg within the egg package 2 when the cover part 6 is in its closed position. Hereby sufficient cushioning of the eggs is achieved, even along the back and front surfaces 48, 12 of the cover part 6.

(25) As illustrated, the outwardly extending retainment projection 26 is tapered, whereby an ease of the closing and locking of the cover part 6 is achieved, because the front surface 12 of the cover part 6 (during closing) will slide over the retainment projection 26, whereby it will gradually bulge outwards until said projection 26 engages the co-operating aperture 46 in the front surface 12 of the cover part 6, whereupon the front surface 12 of the cover part 6 bulges back (due to the inherent rigidity of the cover material) to its original position and form, thereby keeping the cover 6 closed.

(26) In order to ensure a safe and reliable locking of the cover part 6, the position, shape and size of the one or more co-operating apertures 46 in the front surface 12 of the cover part 6 correspond to the position, shape and size of the outwardly extending retainment projections 26.

(27) With the illustrated egg package 2 is achieved an egg package 2 wherein the bottom part 4 is made of moulded fibrous material (preferably pulp), which provides a sufficient cushioning effect for the eggs to be transported in said egg package 2, and wherein the cover part 6 made of cardboard provides sufficient rigidity for the egg package 2 in order to ensuring safe handling of the egg packages 2 without a significant risk of breaking the eggs within said package 2.

(28) Since the substantially flat display surface 16 meets the top surface 14 at a first obtuse angle, thereby forming a first edge 18, and said substantially flat display surface 16 meets the front surface 12 at a second obtuse angle, thereby forming a second edge 20, it is possible to close the cover part 6 by automated egg packaging machinery (working at a tremendous speed), because when the cover part 6 is pivoted with respect to the hinge 50 and moved from its open to its closed position, then the front surface 12 will slide over the at least one outwardly extending retainment projection 26 on the retainment flap 44 until said retainment projection 26 engages a co-operating aperture 46 in the front surface 12 of the cover part 6, thereby closing and locking the cover part 6. This error-free handling of the egg package 2 by packaging machinery is important because eggs and egg packages 2 are handled by packaging machinery at a tremendous speed.

(29) Furthermore, since the cover 6 is made of cardboard, it has a surface that may easily be decorated and customized to the needs of the individual egg producer. Such decoration may be lithographic or text printed directly on the cover part. Compared to pulp or other fibrous material, cardboard is much easier to decorate with printed text and other decorations in any desirable colour.

(30) Moreover, since the substantially flat display surface 16 meets the top surface 14 at a first obtuse angle, thereby forming a first edge 18, and the substantially flat display surface 16 meets the front surface 12 at a second obtuse angle, thereby forming a second edge 20, it is achieved that the substantially flat display surface 16 will be in the immediate line of vision of a person holding the egg package 2 in his hands (when the cover 6 is in the closed position). Thus, any message written on this display surface 16 will be more conspicuous than a message on any other surface of the cover part 6. A consumer in a supermarket is constantly bombarded with messages in written and lithographic form, and is usually also very busy. Thus, it is a tremendous advantage that an important message about the product (the eggs) can be conveyed to the consumer in a simple and conspicuous way, e.g. as a buss word like Vegetarian feed, Organic, Omega 3, etc., thereby enabling the consumer to take a split-second decision on whether or not to buy the product.

(31) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bottom part 4 may be moulded as one piece together with another similar bottom part 4, the two bottom parts 4 being connected via the elongated flap 40. Hereby a simple way of manufacturing the bottom parts 4 may be achieved, which requires only a minimum degree of modification of already existing manufacturing equipment, because the part of a traditional moulding form, which is used to manufacture the cover part in traditional egg packages, may simply be exchanged with another form for the bottom part 4 according to the invention.

(32) In FIG. 5 is illustrated an alternative embodiment of an egg package 2, wherein the substantially flat display surface 16 is provided with a physical feature 54 representing the contents of the egg package 2 in order to enhance the conspicuousness of said substantially flat display surface 16. The illustrated physical feature 54 extends beyond the substantially flat display surface 16. The physical feature 54 may partly be formed by a cutout from the top surface 14 of the cover part 6. This is a practical way of achieving facilitation of said physical feature 54. The physical feature 54 may also, or alternatively, be partly formed by a cutout from the front surface 12 of the cover part 6or as illustratedsaid physical feature 54 may be partly formed as a cutout from both the top surface 14 and the front surface 12.

(33) In the illustrated embodiment, the physical feature 54 is formed as a two-dimensional representation of an egg, but it could alternatively be one or more egg shells, or a hen. Preferably, said physical feature 54 is customized, whereby it will be possible for individual egg producers to distinguish themselves from other producers in a more conspicuous way.

(34) FIG. 6 shows the same embodiment of the egg package as illustrated in FIG. 5, but now with the cover 6 in the open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner side of the top surface 14 is provided with a recipe 56 and perforations 58 around the recipe 56. Hereby is achieved an embodiment wherein the consumer can easily remove the recipe 56 from the cover part 6 and save it for later use.

(35) FIG. 7 shows a close-up view of a section of a cover part 6 of an egg package 2 according to a further embodiment of the invention.

(36) In this embodiment, the substantially flat display surface 16 comprises a physical feature 54, which is formed as two egg shells, wherein one of the egg shells is partly formed as a cutout from the top surface 14 and as a cutout from the front surface 12. The other egg shell is partly formed as a cutout from the top surface 14 only. The use of such a physical feature 54 is very conspicuous, and clearly conveys information to the consumer that the contents of the package 2 are eggs. Furthermore, this physical feature 54 is of such a shape and size that stacking of egg packages 2 on top of each other is possible.

(37) In all of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the cover part 6 may be provided with graphical and/or pictorial information which is directly printed onto said cover part 6. Preferably, the cover part 6 is customized. According to one embodiment of the egg package 2 according to the invention, the graphical and/or pictorial information which is directly printed on the cover part 6 is customized.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(38) In the following is given a list of reference numbers that are used in the detailed description of the invention. 2 egg package, 4 bottom part, 6 cover part, 10 end surfaces of the cover part, 12 front surface of the cover part, 14 top surface of the cover part, 16 substantially flat display surface of the cover part, 18 first edge, 20 second edge, 22, 24 first and second corner of cover part, 26 outwardly extending retainment projection, 28 rear side of bottom part, 30 front side of bottom part, 32 end sides of bottom part, 34 egg-receiving compartments, 35 non-planar side surface of egg-receiving compartments, 36 upwardly extending projections located between the rows of egg-receiving compartments, 40 elongated flap, 42 inner side of the rear surface of the cover part, 44 retainment flap, 46 co-operating apertures in the cover part, 48 rear surface of cover part, 50 hinge, 52 top of the upwardly extending projections, 54 physical feature of the display surface, 56 recipe, and 58 perforations around the recipe.