PRALINE PACKAGING

Abstract

To create a praline package for pralines, in particular for truffle pralines, comprising a lower housing cup, which consists of a first housing plate comprising recesses, and comprising an upper housing cup, which consists of a second housing plate comprising projections, which protects the pralines mechanically and hygienically and which can be produced in a simple and cost-efficient manner, it is proposed that, when the praline package is closed, the first and the second housing plate adjoin flatly such that a recess of the lower housing cup in each case corresponds to a projection of the upper housing cup and thus forms a capsule for one praline in each case.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a praline package generally, and more specifically to a praline package characterized by upper and lower housing plates that adjoin flatly such that a lower housing plate recess corresponds to an upper housing plate projection to form a capsule.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On the one hand, praline packages have the object of protecting the pralines from mechanical damages and, on the other hand, to keep the pralines fresh and hygienic, respectively, as long as possible.

In the case of common praline packages, each praline is either packaged individually with a packaging film, or the pralines are embedded in a tray-like cup in recesses, which are embodied in accordance with the praline shape, which, in turn, is packaged in packaging film and thus protects the pralines mechanically. The cup is then arranged in a cardboard box, which consists of a box bottom and a cover. In addition, the pralines are covered with a flat cardboard part.

From DE 195 22 367 A1, the use of so-called cups as individual packages is known in the case of a praline package. The cups are inserted on a support plate.

DE 603 08 788 T2 shows and describes a chocolate package, which encompasses a cardboard packaging comprising lateral edges, which can be separated and folded by means of angle cuts, so that they encompass edges of a transparent cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is a praline package which mechanically and hygienically protects the pralines, and which can be produced in a simple and cost-efficient manner.

According to one aspect of the invention, a package allows for a virtually air-tight individual packaging of the pralines with little effort. The praline housing provides an individual casing for each praline, so that the pralines can also be packaged without additional packaging films. It is furthermore possible to easily remove the pralines from the package. The package can also be opened comfortably. In addition, a highly original and attractive presentation of the pralines is possible.

In another aspect of the present invention, provision is made for the package for pralines to be embodied in the shape of a sphere. The lower housing cup consists of a first housing plate comprising hemispherical recesses. The upper housing cup consists of a second housing plate comprising hemispherical projections. A recess, together with a projection, forms a spherical capsule. The spherical shape is optimal, so that the pralines are protected well.

Preferably, the sections of the housing cups, which adjoin flatly, are smooth, so that air is prevented from entering into the capsule. The two cups also easily adhere to one another due to electrostatic charge.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the housing plates are provided on the edge side with a revolving force and/or form fitted connecting edge, which holds the two housing cups closed. In addition to the connecting function, the edge thus also has a sealing function, so that the pralines are packaged in an air-tight manner. Preferably, the housing plates encompass a revolving groove-web connection on the edge side, which is formed from the materials of the housing cups. Additional sealing means are not necessary because of this.

To create a package, which is as compact as possible, it is advantageous for the capsules for the pralines to be arranged in rows, which are offset to one another.

A particularly preferred further development of the invention is characterized in that each housing cup consists substantially of PET material. This material can be recycled well and is air-tight, so that the pralines remain fresh for a long time therein. It is optimal for storing pralines in the refrigerator. A cool and dry storage is possible.

A cost-efficient solution for obtaining a pleasant praline presentation from the outside is created in that the lower housing cup consists of a non-transparent, in particular a silver-colored A-PET material. The upper housing cup consists of a transparent, in particular A-PET material.

A housing cup thickness from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm in particular approximately 0.2 mm, turned out to be advantageous for good handling on the one hand and for an economical material consumption on the other hand.

A further highly important preferred measure includes that each housing cup encompasses at least one material indent on the edge, so that the material indent of the lower housing cup is arranged so as to be offset to the material indent of the upper housing cup when the praline package is closed. Both housing cups can be separated easily from one another by means of a thumb-index finger movement.

For truffle pralines, a praline capsule diameter from 26 mm to 30 mm, in particular 28 mm, is advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a praline package according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a further perspective illustration of the praline package, viewed from another perspective,

FIG. 3 shows an illustration of the package, viewed from the top,

FIG. 4 shows an illustration of a lower housing cup, viewed from the bottom,

FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the lower housing cup (without upper cup), viewed from the top,

FIG. 6 shows an illustration of the lower housing cup, viewed from the side, and

FIG. 7 shows a dimensioning example of the lower housing cup or of the upper housing cup, respectively.

The same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a praline box or a packaging 100, respectively, for truffle pralines from the side. The pralines have a spherical shape. The package 100 consists of a lower housing cup 10 and of an upper housing cup 11. The lower housing cup 10 or a lower packaging part, respectively, can be seen from the bottom in FIG. 4. It has a first housing plate 12 comprising recesses 13. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the recesses 13 are embodied as cavities.

The upper housing cup 11 or an upper packaging part, respectively, consists of a second housing plate 14 comprising projections 15 or domes, respectively, as is shown in FIG. 2.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the first housing plate 12 and the second housing plate 14 adjoin flatly when the praline package is closed. One recess 13 of the lower housing cup 10 in each case corresponds to a projection of the upper housing cup 11. That is, one cavity is assigned to a dome. A capsule 16 is thus in each case formed for a (non-illustrated) praline. A total of 13 capsules are present for 13 pralines. 5 to 25 capsules are advantageous.

As is shown in the figures, the praline box is embodied for spherically-shaped pralines. Other praline shapes or also other sweets, such as candy, are also possible. Other sweets can also be identified as pralines here, so that the term praline can be interpreted broadly here. Preferably, hemispherical recesses 13 and hemispherical projections 15 are present.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing plates 12, 14 are provided on the edge side with a revolving force and/or form fitted connecting edge 17, which holds the two housing cups 10, 11 closed. A revolving groove-web connection, which is formed from the materials of the housing cups 10, 11, is arranged on the connecting edge 17. The closed package is thus closed in an air-tight manner.

FIG. 4 clearly shows that the capsules 16 for the pralines are arranged in rows, which are offset to one another. E.g., three rows are arranged for three pralines and two rows are arranged for two pralines therebetween.

Each housing cup 10, 11 consists of PET material. As is shown in FIG. 1, the lower housing cup 10 consists of a non-transparent, in particular a silver-colored A-PET material. In contrast, the upper housing cup 11 consists of a transparent, in particular A-PET material.

Each housing cup has a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm. The edge, however, is thicker, namely due to the groove or the web, respectively. FIG. 6 shows the edge thickness RA, which can be 1.0 to 3.0 mm, in particular approximately 2 mm. The dimensions of a recess D or of a projection, respectively, are 13 mm to 15 mm, e.g. 14.5 mm.

The dimensions L1 and L2 according to FIG. 7 can be 140 mm to 180 mm. Preferably, L1=161 mm and L2=164 mm, so that the packaging shape is square or virtually square, respectively. The corners are rounded with a radius R from 6 mm to 10 mm, e.g. 8.5 mm. Each praline capsule has a diameter from 26 mm to 30 mm, in particular of 28 mm.

As can be seen well in FIG. 3, each housing cup 10, 11 is provided with at least one material indent 18 or 19, respectively, on the edge. Preferably, two indents of a cup 10 or 11 are in each case present on opposite sides. When the praline package is closed, the material indent 18 of the lower housing cup 10 is arranged offset to the material indent 19 of the upper housing cup 11.

The invention is not limited to this example. Both housing cups can thus also be connected to one another in one piece and can be folded over a film hinge, for example. Both cups can be consistently transparent or non light-permeable.

Claims

1. A praline package for pralines, in particular for truffle pralines, comprises:

a lower housing cup, having a first housing plate;

a recess formed in same first housing plate;

an upper housing cup having a second housing plate; and

a projection formed in same second housing plate, wherein, when the praline package is closed, the first and the second housing plate adjoin flatly such that a recess of the lower housing cup in each case corresponds to a projection of the upper housing cup and thus forms a capsule for one praline in each case.

2. The praline package according to claim 1, in the shape of a sphere with the lower housing cup, which consists of the first housing plate further comprising hemispherical recesses, and with the upper housing cup, which consists of the second housing plate comprising hemispherical projections.

3. The praline package according to claim 1, wherein the housing plates further comprise a revolving force and/or form fitted connecting edge, which holds the two housing cups closed.

4. The praline package according to claim 1, wherein the housing plates encompasses on the edge side a revolving groove-web connection, which is formed from the materials of the housing cups.

5. The praline package according to claim 1, wherein the capsules for the pralines are arranged in rows, which are offset to one another.

6. The praline package according to claim 1, wherein each housing cup consists substantially of PET material.

7. The praline package according to claim 1, wherein the lower housing cup includes a non-transparent, in particular a silver-colored A-PET material and in that the upper housing cup (11) consists of a transparent, in particular A-PET material.

8. The praline package according to claim 1, wherein each housing cup has a thickness from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, in particular approximately 0.2 mm.

9. The praline package according to claim 1, wherein each housing cup encompasses at least one material indent on the edge, so that the material indent of the lower housing cup is arranged so as to be offset to the material indent of the upper housing cup when the praline package is closed.

10. The praline package according to claim 1, wherein each praline capsule encompasses a diameter from 26 mm to 30 mm, in particular 28 mm.