Separator element and pack of cups comprising a separator element

Abstract

Disclosed is a flat cardboard separator element intended to hold cups in a pack, where the pack includes bottom cups from a lower layer and top cups from an upper layer and where the separator element includes at least one first side-panel, one central-panel and one second side-panel. The central-panel includes first openings, where each first opening is suited and intended to surround one top cup. The first and second side-panels include second openings, where each second opening is suited and intended to come to stop against a bottom cup. The second openings are arranged at a distance from the central-panel along a longitudinal direction.

1 . A flat cardboard separator element ( 1 ) intended to hold cups ( 2   a ,  2   b ) in a pack ( 20 ), where the pack ( 20 ) comprises bottom cups ( 2   a ) from a lower layer and top cups ( 2   b ) from an upper layer and where the separator element ( 1 ) comprises at least one first side-panel ( 8 ), one central-panel ( 9 ) and one second side-panel ( 10 ),
 wherein:
 The central-panel ( 9 ) comprises first openings ( 13 ), where each first opening ( 13 ) is suited and intended to surround one top cup ( 2   b ); 
 The first and second side-panels ( 8 ,  10 ) comprise second openings ( 14 ), where each second opening ( 14 ) is suited and intended to come to stop against a bottom cup ( 2   a ); and 
 The second openings ( 14 ) are arranged at a distance (D) from the central-panel ( 9 ) along a longitudinal direction (L). 
   
     
     
         2 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each second opening ( 14 ) is delimited by at least one first cut-line ( 15 ) and one second cut-line ( 16 ), where the first cut-line ( 15 ) is suited and intended to come to stop against a bottom cup ( 2   a ). 
     
     
         3 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side-panels ( 8 ,  10 ) are identical to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side-panel ( 8 ), the central-panel ( 9 ) and the second side-panel ( 10 ) are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction (L). 
     
     
         5 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side-panels ( 8 ,  10 ) can thus swing about the central-panel ( 9 ) respectively along the fold lines ( 11 ,  12 ) extending along the transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L). 
     
     
         6 . A pack ( 20 ) comprising:
 A lower layer comprising bottom cups ( 2   a ) and an upper layer comprising top cups ( 2   b ), where the top cups ( 2   b ) are arranged on the bottom cups ( 2   a ) and where each cup ( 2   a ,  2   b ) comprises a bottom wall ( 3   a ) and a lateral wall ( 3   b ); and   A package ( 40 ) comprising at least one separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         7 . The pack ( 20 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the central-panel ( 9 ) of the separator element ( 1 ) is raised for a separation (H) relative to the lower cups ( 2   a ). 
     
     
         8 . The pack ( 20 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein each first opening ( 13 ) of the separator element ( 1 ) completely surrounds the lateral wall ( 3   b ) of one top cup ( 2   b ). 
     
     
         9 . The pack ( 20 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein each first opening ( 13 ) of the separator element ( 1 ) is suited and intended to stop one top cup ( 2   b ) on the lateral wall ( 3   b ) thereof, near the bottom wall ( 3   a ) thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The pack ( 20 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the package ( 40 ) also comprises an expanded blank ( 30 ) for surrounding the bottom cups ( 2   a ) and the top cups ( 2   b ). 
     
     
         11 . The pack ( 20 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the separator element ( 1 ) is shaped by folding the first and second side-panels ( 8 ,  10 ) about the central-panel ( 9 ), where the blank ( 30 ) holds the shaped separator element ( 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . A method for forming a pack ( 20 ), wherein:
 A separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , a blank ( 30 ), bottom cups ( 2   a ) and top cups ( 2   b ) intended to be part of the pack ( 20 ) are provided, where each cup ( 2   a ,  2   b ) comprises a bottom wall ( 3   a ) and a lateral wall ( 3   b );   Successively or simultaneously, the bottom cups ( 2   a ) are arranged in a lower layer on the blank ( 30 );   The separator element ( 1 ) is arranged on the layer of bottom cups ( 2   a );   Successively or simultaneously, the top cups ( 2   b ) are arranged in an upper layer on the bottom cups ( 2   a ); and   The blank ( 30 ) is expanded around the bottom cups ( 2   a ) and top cups ( 2   b ) so as to hold the separator element ( 1 ) in shape.   
     
     
         13 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second side-panels ( 8 ,  10 ) are identical to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the first side-panel ( 8 ), the central-panel ( 9 ) and the second side-panel ( 10 ) are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction (L). 
     
     
         15 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the first side-panel ( 8 ), the central-panel ( 9 ) and the second side-panel ( 10 ) are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction (L). 
     
     
         16 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second side-panels ( 8 ,  10 ) can thus swing about the central-panel ( 9 ) respectively along the fold lines ( 11 ,  12 ) extending along the transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L). 
     
     
         17 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second side-panels ( 8 ,  10 ) can thus swing about the central-panel ( 9 ) respectively along the fold lines ( 11 ,  12 ) extending along the transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L). 
     
     
         18 . The separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the first and second side-panels ( 8 ,  10 ) can thus swing about the central-panel ( 9 ) respectively along the fold lines ( 11 ,  12 ) extending along the transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L). 
     
     
         19 . A pack ( 20 ) comprising:
 A lower layer comprising bottom cups ( 2   a ) and an upper layer comprising top cups ( 2   b ), where the top cups ( 2   b ) are arranged on the bottom cups ( 2   a ) and where each cup ( 2   a ,  2   b ) comprises a bottom wall ( 3   a ) and a lateral wall ( 3   b ); and   A package ( 40 ) comprising at least one separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 .   
     
     
         20 . A pack ( 20 ) comprising:
 A lower layer comprising bottom cups ( 2   a ) and an upper layer comprising top cups ( 2   b ), where the top cups ( 2   b ) are arranged on the bottom cups ( 2   a ) and where each cup ( 2   a ,  2   b ) comprises a bottom wall ( 3   a ) and a lateral wall ( 3   b ); and   A package ( 40 ) comprising at least one separator element ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 .