AU2008249572A1

AU2008249572A1 - Packaging container

Info

Publication number: AU2008249572A1
Application number: AU2008249572A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Adam Gaudion
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-30
Filing date: 2008-11-28
Publication date: 2009-06-18

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT APPLICANT: Adam GAUDION INVENTION TITLE: PACKAGING CONTAINER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: - -2 PACKAGING CONTAINER Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to food packaging containers. It is particularly related to a disposable food packaging but is not limited to such. Background to the Invention Foods with pips, stones, solid centres, bones and other food by-products are often 10 purchased in disposable packaging containers. These containers are solely designed for storing food, It is not beneficial to place the waste alongside the remaining food in the packaging as such co-positioning could either affect the remaining food or at least reduce the appeal of the remaining food and leave a final negative opinion on the packaged food. 15 The major solution to date is that the consumer will often dispose of the waste by littering on the ground or placing the waste in a visible spot, such as a plate in the middle of the table. This decreases the ambience of the location to the consumer and to fellow consumers. However further it is not discreet and often culturally 20 unacceptable. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art and enables a person to dispose of the waste in a appropriate and convenient manner. 25 Summary of the Invention A packaging container for food, which provides a means of storing, carrying and disposing of any waste, while a person is eating, and enabling a person to dispose of the waste in an appropriate and convenient manner. 30 The present invention provides a packaging container including: a body portion for containing food products; and at least one waste pocket at least partially held by the body portion providing the means of storing, carrying and disposing of any waste while a person is eating and enabling a person to dispose of the waste in an 35 appropriate and convenient manner.

-3 It is preferred that the packaging container can be made of a cardboard or plastic material which is easy to manufacture and can be recycled when disposed. It is preferred that the body portion has provided at least one, four, side walls which 5 are adapted to be integrally formed along at least one side edge. It is preferred that a first outer side wall has provided a side flap portion which is adapted to be folded and attached to an inner wall of the second outer side wall in order to connect the two outer side walls and form a perimeter for the body portion 10 and define a cavity for receiving food therein. It is preferred that the body portion has provided a bottom portion formed by at least one bottom flap. 15 It is further preferred that first bottom flap has provided a cut-out portion which is adapted to receive an outwardly extending portion of a second bottom flap to provide a securing means for the bottom portion. It is preferred that the body portion has provided a lid portion which is adapted to be 20 integrally formed with the top edge of a side wall having free side edges so that it can be folded inwardly to cover and provide a seal for the body portion of the packaging container. It is further preferred that the lid portion has provided a flap portion which is adapted 25 to be folded inwardly and be inserted within the open top end of the body portion to lie against an opposite inner side wall in order to keep the lid portion securely in place. It is preferred that the waste pocket is adapted to be attached to the body portion of 30 the container and is adapted to be positioned within the cavity defined by the side walls of the body portion. It can therefore be seen the invention provides a food packaging container which provides a separate storage area for placing uneaten food or inedible parts of food 35 and thereby providing a packaging container for food which provides a means of storing, carrying and disposing of any waste while a person is eating, as people generally do not like placing their waste or left-overs with food still to be eaten.

-4 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention can be more readily understood an embodiment will be described by way of non-limiting example only with reference to the drawings 5 wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packaging container in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a portion of a flat sheet of multiple packaging containers in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 10 Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention Whilst the invention can be applied to the storing, carrying and disposal of any food having pips, stones, solid centres, bones and/or any other food by-products, for convenience sake it shall be described herein in terms of packaging container for fruit 15 with pips or stones or the like. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a packaging container 21 for food which provides a means of storing, carrying and disposing of any waste while a person is eating and enabling a person to dispose of the waste in 20 an appropriate and convenient manner. The packaging container shall be described herein in terms of a packaging container for fruit having pips or stones or the like for disposal. However, the container can also be applied to any other suitable food having pips, stones, solid centres, bones and 25 other food by-products. It is envisaged that the shape, style, dimensions and features of the packaging container and/or its components can be varied as required to suit the requirements of a food product, user and/or other applications. The packaging container is made of a cardboard or plastic material which is easy to 30 manufacture and can be recycled when disposed. As shown in Figure 1, the packaging container 21 includes a body portion 22 for containing food products and a waste pocket 24 held by the body portion providing the means of storing, carrying and disposing of any waste while a person is eating 35 and enabling a person to dispose of the waste in an appropriate and convenient manner.

-5 It is envisaged that the material of the body portion and waste pocket can be coloured, opaque or transparent as desired in order to hide or just contain the waste. The size of the container should be suitable to accommodate the required amount of fruit and resultant waste once the food has been consumed by a person. 5 The packaging container 21 has provided a body portion which is substantially rectangular box like in shape having at least four side walls A, B, C, and D which are adapted to be integrally formed along at least one side edge. When the container is folded out into an open plan configuration as shown in Figure 2, it will be seen that 10 the outer side wall portions are alongside each other. A first outer side wall D has provided a side flap portion Z which is adapted to be folded and attached to an inner wall to the second outer side wall A in order to connect the two outer side walls A and D and form a perimeter for the body portion 15 and define a cavity 22 for receiving food therein. The side flap portion Z can be attached via an adhesive, heat seal or any other suitable securing means. The outer surface of the side walls can be decorated as desired with information and/or pictures relating to the contents of the container and/or supplier. 20 The body portion has provided a bottom portion. The bottom portion is formed by a plurality of interlocking bottom flaps Y. The bottom flaps Y are adapted to be integrally formed with the bottom edge of the side walls A, B, C and D and be separated along their side walls so that they can be folded inwardly beneath the side walls to create the bottom portion. A first bottom flap has provided a cut-out portion 25 which is adapted to receive an outwardly extending portion of a second bottom flap to provide a securing means for the bottom portion. The remaining bottom flaps Y are adapted to be folded first inside of the first and second flap so that they will be secured in place once the outwardly extending portion of the second flap is inserted into the cut-out portion of the first flap. 30 The body portion has provided at least one upper flap portion CC. The upper flap portion is adapted to be integrally formed with a top edge of one side portion C and can be folded inwardly to cover the open top end of the body portion over the fruit and/or waste pocket. However, in an alternative embodiment of the invention it is 35 envisaged that the upper flap(s) can be omitted.

-6 The body portion has provided a lid portion L. The lid portion L is adapted to be integrally formed with the top edge of a side wall B and having free side edges so that it can be folded inwardly to cover and provide a seal for the body portion of the packaging container. The lid portion B has provided a flap portion F which is adapted 5 to be folded inwardly and be inserted within the open top end of the body portion to lie against an opposite inner side wall in order to keep the lid portion securely in place. In a further embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that the body portion can have provided a slit or the like for receiving the flap portion to lock the lid portion in place. 10 The packaging container has provided a waste pocket 24 for storing, carrying and disposing of any pips, stones or other food by-products. The waste pocket is in the form of a rectangular box-like pocket. However, it is envisaged that any other suitable shape or form can also be employed. The waste pocket is adapted to be attached to 15 the body portion of the container and is adapted to be positioned within the cavity defined by the side walls of the body portion. The waste pocket 24 is formed by opening portion 0 integrally formed with side wall A and further having an inner wall portion OS attached to the opening portion distal 20 from the side wall A. The inner wall portion OS can fold within the cavity of the body portion and together with the side wall A and parts of side walls B and D form a waste pocket 24 with an opening in the opening portion 0. The lid L can extend over both the food receiving cavity and the waste pocket. 25 However in a further embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that the pocket can also be temporarily or permanently attached to the outer surface of the body portion. It is preferred that the waste pocket has provided its own bottom portion so that it can be removed from the container to have the contents emptied and/or disposed of. In a preferred embodiment, the waste pocket is detachable for emptying and disposing of 30 the contents and/or the waste pocket. In a preferred embodiment, the waste pocket can be attached via at least one perforated edge so that a person can tear the waste pocket along the perforated edge in order to dispose of the waste pocket. However, it is envisaged that any other suitable means of attachment can also be employed. 35 While the invention has been described in terms of a packaging container with an integrated waste pocket, it is to be acknowledged that the waste pocket can also be -7 supplied separately for use with existing containers and lids with hollow centres. Accordingly, the waste pocket can have provided a temporary attachment means. While we have described herein a particular embodiment of a packaging container, it 5 is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims that follow defining the invention. 10

Claims

1. A packaging container for food which provides a waste pocket providing a means of storing, carrying and disposing of any waste while a person is eating and enabling a person to dispose of the waste in an appropriate and 5 convenient manner.

2. A packaging container including: a. a body portion for containing food products; and b. at least one waste pocket at least partially held by the body portion 10 providing the means of storing, carrying and disposing of any waste while a person is eating and enabling a person to dispose of the waste in an appropriate and convenient manner.

3. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein 15 the waste pocket is adapted to be attached to the body portion of the container.

4. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the waste pocket is adapted to be attached to the body portion of the 20 container to form a lid to the body portion for containing food products.

5. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the waste pocket is adapted to be detachable to the body portion of the container for separate removal and disposal. 25

6. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the packaging container includes a plurality of waste pockets each adapted to be detachable to the body portion of the container for separate removal and disposal to allow the package food to be consumed at different times. 30

7. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the waste pocket is adapted to be positioned within the cavity defined by a plurality of side walls of the body portion. 35

8. A packaging container according to claim 6 wherein the waste pocket is adapted to be detachable to the body portion of the container for separate removal and disposal. -9

9. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims made of a cardboard or plastic material which is easy to manufacture and can be recycled when disposed. 5

10. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims having a perforated or pre-cut surface or opening to the waste pocket that allows the waste or by-product to pass through and be contained in the waste pocket. 10

11. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims having an opening to the waste pocket that acts to allow the waste or by-product to pass through and be contained in the waste pocket and to aid preventing the egress of the waste from the waste pocket. 15

12. A packaging container according to claim 11 wherein the opening includes a resilient closing flap.

13. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims has provided at least one waste pocket and four side walls which are adapted to 20 be integrally formed along at least one side edge.

14. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims including a waste pocket formed integrally with a body portion for containing food products and with a common lid from a single flat sheet of material wherein a 25 unitary container is formed providing a means of storing, carrying and disposing of a food product and any waste while a person is eating and enabling a person to dispose of the waste in an appropriate and convenient manner and enabling closing of the lid over the food product and the waste of the food product. 30

15. A packaging container according to claim 14 having a further lid for particularly closing over the food product and separate from the waste product. 35

16. A packaging container according to claim 15 having an opening to the waste pocket that acts to allow the waste or by-product to pass through and be -10 contained in the waste pocket and to aid preventing the egress of the waste from the waste pocket.

17. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein 5 a first outer side wall has provided a side flap portion which is adapted to be folded and attached to an inner wall of the second outer side wall in order to connect the two outer side walls and form a perimeter for the body portion and define a cavity for receiving food therein. 10

18. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body portion has provided a bottom portion formed by at least one bottom flap.

19. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein 15 first bottom flap has provided a cut-out portion which is adapted to receive an outwardly extending portion of a second bottom flap to provide a securing means for the bottom portion.

20. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein 20 the body portion has provided a lid portion which is adapted to be integrally formed with the top edge of a side wall having free side edges so that it can be folded inwardly to cover and provide a seal for the body portion of the packaging container. 25

21. A packaging container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid portion has provided a flap portion which is adapted to be folded inwardly and be inserted within the open top end of the body portion to lie against an opposite inner side wall in order to keep the lid portion securely in place. 30

22. A packaging container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.