초록 ▼

A tray intended for the packaging of at least one article. The tray includes two parts connected together by an articulation zone enabling the tray parts to pivot relative to each other about an axis X. A first tray part forms at least one open compartment. One of the two parts includes at least tw

A tray intended for the packaging of at least one article. The tray includes two parts connected together by an articulation zone enabling the tray parts to pivot relative to each other about an axis X. A first tray part forms at least one open compartment. One of the two parts includes at least two fastening means capable of engaging with two counterpart fastening means formed on the other of the two parts so as to hold both parts in a first position in which the compartment formed by the first part delimits together with the second part a closed recess capable of receiving an article. One of the two parts is also provided with at least two indentations configured to receive, in a second position of the two parts, the fastening means of a second identical tray positioned against the first.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the united states is: 1. A tray for packaging at least one article comprising: first and second parts connected together by an articulation zone enabling the first and second parts to pivot relative to each other about an axis X,

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the united states is: 1. A tray for packaging at least one article comprising: first and second parts connected together by an articulation zone enabling the first and second parts to pivot relative to each other about an axis X, such that the tray is movable between a first position in which the tray is open and a second position in which the tray is closed; wherein the first part includes at least one open compartment, and one of the first and second parts includes at least two fastening means which mate with at least two counterpart means formed on the other of the two parts so as to hold both parts in the second position in which the compartment of the first part delimits together with the second part a recess capable of receiving an article; wherein one of the first and second parts further includes at least two indentations configured to receive and mate with, in the first position of the first and second parts, the fastening means of a second identical tray positioned against said tray such that the two fastening means and the two indentations hold the tray and the second identical tray together; and wherein the fastening means mate with said counterpart means more tightly than said fastening means mate with said indentations. 2. A tray according to claim 1, wherein: the indentations are formed on the same one of said first and second parts as the fastening means, and wherein each fastening means is aligned with a respective indentation on an axis parallel to the axis X. 3. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the fastening means are each in the form of a lug and the counterpart means are each in the form of a cavity arranged to tightly receive a lug. 4. A tray according to claim 3, wherein the cavities have a circular cross-section. 5. A tray according to claim 4, wherein the lugs have a square cross-section which is received within the circular cross-section in the second position. 6. A tray according to claim 3, wherein the lugs have a square cross-section. 7. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means are each in the form of a lug and the counterpart means are each in the form of a cavity arranged to tightly receive a lug. 8. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the indentations are configured to receive in a loose-fitting manner the fastening means of an identical second tray positioned against said tray. 9. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the second part includes at least one open compartment which is symmetrical relative to axis X to the at least one open compartment of the first part, the compartment of the second part being arranged, in the second position, to delimit together with the compartment of the first part the recess for the article. 10. A tray according to claim 9, wherein the at least one compartment of the first part and the at least one compartment of the second part each have a shape of a half-cylinder. 11. A tray according to claim 9, wherein the at least one compartment of the first part and the at least one compartment of the second part each have a shape which is the same. 12. A tray according to claim 1, wherein said tray is formed by molding a thermoplastic material as a single piece. 13. A tray according to claim 12, wherein said tray is formed by one of thermoforming and thin-wall injection molding. 14. A tray according to claim 13, wherein said tray is made of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chlorides, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polystyrenes, or a complex of materials of the type polypropylene/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/polypropylene, polyethylene/polyethylene terephthalate, or polystyrene/EVOH/polyethylene. 15. A tray according to claim 1, wherein said tray is made of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chlorides, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polystyrenes, or a complex of materials of the type polypropylene/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/polypropylene, polyethylene/polyethylene terephthalate, or polystyrene/EVOH/polyethylene. 16. A tray according to claim 1, in combination with a second identical tray in said first position, wherein in said first position a first article receiving recess is formed by facing compartments of respective first parts of said trays, and further wherein the second part of each tray includes at least one compartment, and wherein when said trays are in said first position a second article receiving recess is formed by facing compartments of said second parts of said trays. 17. An arrangement according to claim 16, further including a first article disposed in said first recess and a second article disposed in said second recess. 18. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein said first and second articles comprise containers for a cosmetic product. 19. A tray according to claim 1, wherein said first part includes a flange surrounding said at least one compartment, and wherein said at least two fastening means and said at least two indentations are positioned on said flange. 20. A tray according to claim 19, wherein said first part includes a plurality of said compartments, and wherein at least one of said fastening means and at least one of said indentations are disposed on flange portions between adjacent compartments. 21. A tray according to claim 20, wherein said second part includes a plurality of compartments respectively facing the plurality of compartments of said first part in said first position, said second part including a flange extending about the plurality of compartments of the second part, and wherein at least one of said counterpart means is disposed on a portion of said flange which is between adjacent compartments of said second part. 22. A tray according to claim 21, wherein in the first position of said tray said flange of said first part is substantially parallel to said flange of said second part. 23. A tray according to claim 22, wherein one of said fastening means and one of said indentations are positioned on said first part such that an axis aligned with said one of said fastening means and said one of said indentations is parallel to said axis X. 24. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the first part includes a plurality of compartments, and wherein at least one of said fastening means and at least one of said indentations are positioned between adjacent compartments. 25. A tray according to claim 24, wherein said second part includes a plurality of compartments, and wherein when said tray is in said second position, compartments of said first part are aligned with compartments of the second part to form a plurality of recesses for receiving articles, and further wherein when the second identical tray is positioned against said tray in the first position, compartments of the second tray are aligned with compartments of the first tray to provide a first plurality of article receiving recesses associated with the first parts of the trays and a second plurality of recesses associated with the second parts of the trays. 26. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the first part includes a plurality of compartments and the second part includes a plurality of compartments, and wherein in said second position the compartments of the first part are aligned with the compartments of the second part to define a plurality of article receiving recesses, and further wherein when a second identical tray is positioned against said tray in the first position, compartments of said tray are aligned with compartments of said second identical tray to define a first plurality of article receiving recesses associated with the first parts of the trays and a second plurality of recesses associated with the second parts of the trays. 27. A tray according to claim 26, wherein the counterpart means each include a recess, and wherein when the fastening means are received in the indentations with a second identical tray positioned against said tray said recesses of said counterpart means are vacant. 28. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the first part includes a plurality of compartments, and wherein at least one of said fastening means and at least one of said indentations are positioned between adjacent compartments. 29. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the first part includes a plurality of compartments and the second part includes a plurality of compartments, and wherein in said second position the compartments of the first part are aligned with the compartments of the second part to define a plurality of article receiving recesses, and further wherein when a second identical tray is positioned against said tray in the first position, compartments of said tray are aligned with compartments of said second identical tray to define a first plurality of article receiving recesses associated with the first parts of the trays and a second plurality of recesses associated with the second parts of the trays. 30. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the counterpart means each include a recess, and wherein when the fastening means are received in the indentations with a second identical tray positioned against said tray said recesses of said counterpart means are vacant. 31. A tray according to claim 2, wherein one of said indentations and one of said fastening means are aligned on a first axis parallel to said axis X, and further wherein another of said indentations and another of said fastening means are aligned on a second axis parallel to said axis X, and wherein said first and second axes are spaced at different distances from the axis X. 32. A tray according to claim 31, wherein the first part includes a plurality of compartments and the second part includes a plurality of compartments, and wherein said fastening means and said indentations are positioned between adjacent compartments. 33. A tray according to claim 2, wherein when said tray is in said second position said indentations are vacant, and further wherein when a second identical tray is positioned against said tray such that the fastening means of the second identical tray mate with the indentations said counterpart means are vacant. 34. A tray arrangement for packaging at least one article comprising: first and second trays, each of said first and second trays including a first tray part and a second tray part wherein said first and second tray parts are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said first tray part includes at least one compartment, and further wherein in said closed position said first tray part mates with said second tray part and a product receiving recess is provided between said at least one compartment and said second tray part; and wherein said first and second trays mate with each other with the first tray part of the first tray mating with the first tray part of the second tray when said first and second trays are in their open positions, and wherein when said first and second trays mate with each other another product receiving recess is defined between the at least one compartment of the first tray part of the first tray and the at least one compartment of the first tray part of said second tray; wherein the first tray part of each tray includes a first fastener part and the second tray part of each tray includes a second fastener part, and wherein in said closed position of each tray the first fastener part mates with the second fastener part; wherein the first tray part of each tray further includes a third fastener part, and wherein when said first tray mates with said second tray said first fastener part of said first tray mates with the third fastener part of said second tray and the first fastener part of said second tray mates with the third fastener part of said first tray; and wherein when the first and second trays are in the closed position, the respective third fastener parts do not mate with another fastener part. 35. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 34, wherein said first fastener part of each tray includes a projection. 36. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 35, wherein each of the second and third fastener parts includes a recess. 37. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 36, wherein said second fastener part receives said first fastener part with a tighter fit than said third fastener part receives said first fastener part. 38. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 37, wherein each of said first and second trays includes at least two of said first fastener parts, at least two of said second fastener parts, and at least two of said third fastener parts. 39. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 38, wherein each tray is movable from said open position to said closed position by pivoting the first and second parts relative to each other about a pivot axis; wherein for each of said first and second trays, one of said at least two first fastener parts is positioned on the first tray part at a distance from said pivot axis which is greater than a distance from said pivot axis at which another of said at least two first fastener parts is positioned on said first tray part; and wherein for each of said first and second trays one of said at least two third fastener parts is positioned on the first tray part at a distance from said pivot axis which is greater than a distance from said pivot axis at which another of said at least two third fastener parts is positioned on said first tray part. 40. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 39, wherein for each of said first and second trays, a first axis aligned with said one of said first fastener parts and said one of said third fastener parts is substantially parallel to said pivot axis, and wherein a second axis aligned with said another of said first fastener parts and said another of said third fastener parts is substantially parallel to said pivot axis. 41. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 40, wherein the second tray part of each of said first and second trays includes at least one compartment which faces the at least one compartment of the first tray part when each tray is in said closed position. 42. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 41, wherein the first and second tray parts of each of said first and second trays each includes a plurality of compartments and wherein a flange extends about said compartments, and wherein at least one of each of said first, second and third fastener parts is disposed on said flange between adjacent compartments of said plurality of compartments. 43. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 34, wherein each of said first and second trays includes at least two of said first fastener parts, at least two of said second fastener parts, and at least two of said third fastener parts; wherein each tray is movable from said open position to said closed position by pivoting the first and second parts relative to each other about a pivot axis; wherein for each of said first and second trays, one of said at least two first fastener parts is positioned on the first tray part at a distance from said pivot axis which is greater than a distance from said pivot axis at which another of said at least two first fastener parts is positioned on said first tray part; and wherein for each of said first and second trays one of said at least two third fastener parts is positioned on the first tray part at a distance from said pivot axis which is greater than a distance from said pivot axis at which another of said at least two third fastener parts is positioned on said first tray part. 44. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 43, wherein for each of said first and second trays, a first axis aligned with said one of said first fastener parts and said one of said third fastener parts is substantially parallel to said pivot axis, and wherein a second axis aligned with said another of said first fastener parts and said another of said third fastener parts is substantially parallel to said pivot axis. 45. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 44, wherein the second tray part of each of said first and second trays includes at least one compartment which faces the at least one compartment of the first tray part when each tray is in said closed position. 46. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 45, wherein the first and second tray parts of each of said first and second trays each includes a plurality of compartments and wherein a flange extends about said compartments, and wherein at least one of each of said first, second and third fastener parts is disposed on said flange between adjacent compartments of said plurality of compartments. 47. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 34, wherein the second tray part of each of said first and second trays includes at least one compartment which faces the at least one compartment of the first tray part when each tray is in said closed position. 48. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 47, wherein the first and second tray parts of each of said first and second trays each includes a plurality of compartments and wherein a flange extends about said compartments, and wherein at least one of each of said first, second and third fastener parts is disposed on said flange between adjacent compartments of said plurality of compartments. 49. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 34, further including an article disposed in said another product receiving recess with said first tray mating with said second tray. 50. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 49, wherein said article is a cosmetic container. 51. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 49, wherein said article is a deodorant container which is not yet filled. 52. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 34, wherein each tray includes a first plurality of said product receiving recesses when said first tray part mates with said second tray part, and wherein said first and second trays together include a second plurality of said another product receiving recesses when said first and second trays mate with each other, and wherein said second plurality is twice as many as said first plurality. 53. A tray arrangement as recited in claim 34, wherein when the first tray mates with the second tray, the respective second fastener parts do not mate with another fastener part.