AU2012301356B2

AU2012301356B2 - Pack for food, set for forming such a pack, and material sheet for such a set

Info

Publication number: AU2012301356B2
Application number: AU2012301356A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andreas Pohl
Original assignee: Ferrero Deutschland GmbH; Ferrero OHG
Current assignee: Ferrero Deutschland GmbH; Ferrero OHG
Priority date: 2011-08-31
Filing date: 2012-02-28
Publication date: 2015-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-28
Also published as: AU2012301356A1; WO2013029806A1; PL2655217T3; US20140356489A1; DE202011105180U1; EP2655217A1; EP2655217B1; AR085496A1; BR112013019387A2

Abstract

Pack for food, in particular for an item of confectionery, comprising an originally flat material sheet (10) which is folded to form a three‑dimensional, in particular theme‑related, object, preferably a sports‑related object, in particular a rattle, wherein the object comprises a holder (20) in which at least one separately packed food is accommodated.

Description

PACK FOR FOOD, SET FOR FORMING SUCH A PACK AND MATERIAL SHEET FOR SUCH A SET 5 The present invention in the widest sense concerns the packing of food, here in particular the packing of food for presentation in the retail trade in order to give customers a stimulus to buy. Products such as food, including confectionery, are offered in the retail trade in a wide 0 range of packaging and presentation concepts. In particular, promotions in the context of major events such as for example World and European Championships are used to increase the buying stimulus, wherein the product is presented with an event- or theme related packaging. 5 In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a pack for food for presentation to the customer and for creating a buying stimulus, which stands out from the former concepts but at the same time is economical and easy to produce. Advantageous refinements of forms of the present invention are recited in one or more of 0 the claims. The present invention is based on the concept of folding an originally flat material sheet into a three-dimensional object in which the separately packed food is accommodated. The object can be theme- and/or event-related, and form an actual object independently or 5 in conjunction with the food. Purely as an example this could be a rattle, a trophy cup or a ball. In the case of the rattle, the food to be used in particular is food which is packed in bulk and which can imitate the noise of a rattle. According to one form of the present invention there is provided pack for food, 30 comprising: a three-dimensional object formed by folding an originally flat material sheet to form a folded shape, wherein the object comprises a receiver for accommodating at least one separately packed food, wherein the three-dimensional object is maintained in the 35 folded shape by an additional element in engagement with the material sheet of the folded object, wherein the additional element has a cut-out having at least one longitudinal slot running through the center of the element. 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 2 Accordingly, one form of the present invention proposes a pack for food, in particular confectionery. Confectionery includes in this context all foods which do not belong to basic nutrition foods. These include amongst others boiled sweets, candy, chewing gum, 5 different types of chocolates, cookies etc. In particular the pack is used to accommodate sweets held in bulk in a container or vessel, such as for example boiled sweets, candy or chewing gum. The pack according to the present invention comprises an originally flat material sheet. The material sheet can 0 consist of paper, cardboard, plastic or a combination thereof and comparable materials. Preferably however paper or cardboard are used. The term "flat" here means that the large outer faces of the material sheet, before folding, lie in a common uncurved plane. A synonym for "flat" is therefore "planar". This originally flat material sheet according to 5 the invention is folded into a three-dimensional, in particular theme-related object. A three-dimensional object in particular means an imitation of a three-dimensional actual object to which the customer regularly attributes a particular property and/or function. Furthermore a receiver is provided in which the at least one separately packed food is accommodated. In the example of boiled sweets, candy or chewing gum, in a plurality 0 these can be held in a container e.g. a paper bag, a cardboard or plastic box, which in turn is accommodated in the object. Since the separately packed food can be presented in the object and the customer associates the object with a unique property and/or function separate from the food, a distinction is made from existing comparable foods and hence a buying stimulus is created. 5 Preferably such a pack is used in connection with major sporting events such as for example World and European Championships. Purely as an example here, reference is made to the football World and European Championships. Here it is preferred to fold the three-dimensional object into a sport-related object, in particular a rattle, a trophy cup or a 30 ball. The rattle, in particular in connection with the abovementioned bulk food contained in a container, e.g. confectionery, in particular boiled sweets, chewing gum or candy, can be used as a rattle actually producing noise to support a chosen team. To structure the production process simply and economically, it is preferred to form the 35 receiver either directly by folding the original flat material sheet into a three-dimensional object, or from a separate material sheet which is also originally flat. The material sheet can be held in the folded state by the use of glues. It is however preferred that the material sheet is held in the folded state by form-fit engagement of 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 3 engagement devices and/or is held in the folded state by the three-dimensional object. It is also conceivable that the receiver folded from the material sheet is held in the folded state exclusively by the three-dimensional object. Thus no glue is required and the production process can be optimized. 5 Also the connection of the receiver with the three-dimensional object advantageously takes place by form fit and/or by force fit i.e. without the use of glues and other material fit connections, in particular only by form fit and/or force fit. Thus usually it is advantageous to use primarily form-fit connections which are supported by an additional 0 force-fit component. Also the separately packed food is preferably held in the receiver or pack only by form fit and/or force fit. In addition it is furthermore advantageous to hold the three-dimensional object in the folded state primarily by form- and/or force-fit connecting elements. In particular here it is 5 preferred to produce these by the engagement of engagement devices which are part of a material sheet. Alternatively or additionally it is also conceivable to provide an additional, also preferably flat element from the same or comparable materials as the material sheet, and bring this 0 into engagement with the material sheet from which the three-dimensional object is folded or with the three-dimensional object, in order to hold the three-dimensional object in the folded state. For the latter embodiment it has proved advantageous if the additional element surrounds 5 the three-dimensional object completely and thus holds it together. Here it is preferred that the additional element is pushed over the three-dimensional object and holds this together or in shape in the radial direction and/or circumferential direction. To prevent removal of the separately packed food from the pack, advantageously the outer 30 contour can be formed closed. In order however to give a view of the food or its pack, it can be advantageous to provide an inspection window in the region of the outer contour of the three-dimensional object, in particular an inspection window closed by a transparent material. 35 As well as the abovementioned pack, the present invention concerns a material sheet for forming the three-dimensional object for such a pack, as defined in the claims. In particular when forming the three-dimensional object as a rattle, it has proved advantageous for the material sheet to have several flat portions corresponding in cross 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 4 section to the outer contour of the three-dimensional object and connected together via first fold lines. Furthermore the individual portions are fitted with a second fold line, preferably along 5 their center line, so that the portions can be folded in half on each other along the first fold line and thus, on folding into the three-dimensional object, in particular the rattle or trophy cup, the second fold lines of the portions in folded state lie in the middle of the object. Thus the regions of the portions lying on each other extend in the manner of a star or radially out from the center. In other words the object is formed star-shaped in cross 0 section. Here it is advantageous that the individual portions have a part region forming the rattle head or trophy cup head and a part region forming the rattle handle or trophy cup foot. In order to be able to accommodate the food in the folded state, it is preferred if the 5 portions are each fitted with a cut-out so that, in the example of the rattle or trophy cup, a cavity exists in the center of the rattle or trophy cup head in which the food can be held preferably purely by form fit. To support this, it can be advantageous to provide a separate receiver in this cavity which for example can take the form of a box with an opening on one side. 0 In particular in the embodiment as a ball, it is advantageous to equip the material sheet with several fields which form the outer faces of the three-dimensional object and are arranged in a row, and for example are connected together via first fold lines, wherein to form a ball preferably three rows of fields are arranged next to each other and the fields of 5 adjacent rows are connected together where applicable via second fold lines. To be able to produce a more or less round object, it is furthermore advantageous to provide third fold lines in every second field of at least one row, which lines run from one side to the other of the field into a triangle, the tip of which lies on one side on a center line of the field, wherein for three rows, preferably only the outer rows have such third fold lines and the 30 tips of the respective triangles of the outer rows point away from each other. In addition, in particular in the embodiment of a closed ball-like object and to prevent the removal of the separately packed food, it has proved advantageous to form at least one field, preferably however two or more adjacent fields, of transparent material in order to 35 form an inspection window, or to design these such that they comprise transparent material. This prevents intervention in the ball-like object but at the same time allows a view of the packed food. 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 5 In addition the present invention also proposes a set for production of a pack as explained above, as defined in claims 16 to 18. In particular to form a rattle or a trophy cup, it is preferred to provide a further, preferably 5 flat, element which can be pushed onto the three-dimensional object made of the folded material sheet in order to hold the three-dimensional object folded from the material sheet in the folded state. It is particularly preferred to provide a cut-out in the flat element which has at least one and preferably several longitudinal slots running through the center. Particularly preferably the flat element is designed round. Further preferably, on use as a 0 rattle or trophy cup, in regions (walls) lying on each other of the individual portions which extend radially from the center, the cut-outs are made corresponding to the radially extending walls so that the radially extending walls can be held evenly spaced in the circumferential direction by pushing on the additional element, and hence the object remains in the folded state. 5 When formed as a ball-shaped object, in particular a ball, it is further preferred to provide a further flat material sheet to form a receiver, which evidently is also conceivable in the embodiment as a rattle or a trophy cup. 0 In the embodiment as a ball-shaped object, it is particularly preferred to form the receiver from three fields which are connected via fourth fold lines, wherein the outline of the outer fields corresponds in cross section to the inner contour of the folded three dimensional object, e.g. these can be octagonal, while the center field has a connecting portion which is preferably rectangular, and connects together two portions, the outline of 5 which corresponds to half the outline of the other fields, i.e. has four corners, wherein the outer fields combined form an octagon in contour. The two portions are advantageously connected to the connecting portion via fifth fold lines. To form the receiver, the two portions of the center field are folded onto the outer fields and the two portions folded about the fifth fold line so that the connecting portion forms a vertically running wall in 30 the finished pack. Thus it is possible to introduce one of the outer portions, which run horizontally in this case, into the partly folded three-dimensional object and fold the opposite, also horizontal field about the fifth fold line in a vertical direction before or after introduction, in order to insert the separately packed food. Then the outer field can again be pivoted about the fifth fold line into a horizontal position before the three-dimensional 35 object is closed. This allows simple filling of the ball-shaped, closed object with the food. To hold the food by form fit in the simplest manner, it can be preferable to provide a cut out in at least one portion of the middle field, in particular in one of the two portions, preferably a tab can be folded out of at least one of the cut-outs. The tab forms a stop and 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 6 by the edges of the cut-outs, which are limited downwards in folded state by one of the outer fields when one of the two portions is folded onto the outer field, thus creates e.g. a rectangular receiver for the packed food without additional elements being required. 5 Further features and advantages of the present invention which can be implemented with one or more of the above features, unless the features contradict each other, arise from the following description of preferred embodiments. This is given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 0 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention without separately packed food; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the pack in figure 1 with separately packed food; 5 Figure 3 shows a view from below of the pack in figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a top view of a material sheet to form the three-dimensional object of the pack in figure 1; 0 Figure 5 shows an additional element for holding in folded state the three-dimensional object from figures 1 and 3 which has been folded from a material sheet according to figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a pack according to a second embodiment of the present 5 invention without separately packed food; Figure 7 is a top view of a material sheet for forming the three-dimensional object of the pack in figure 6; 30 Figure 8 shows an additional element for holding in folded state the three-dimensional object from figure 6 which has been folded from a material sheet according to figure 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a pack according to a third embodiment of the present invention without separately packed food; 35 Figure 10 shows a top view of a material sheet for forming the three-dimensional object of the pack in figure 9; and Figure 11 is a top view of a material sheet for forming a receiver for the pack in figure 9. 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 7 In the various drawings and embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar elements. In the description below, the corresponding elements are usually only explained once and the description of an element in one embodiment also applies to 5 the same element in another embodiment. A first embodiment of the present invention is explained below with reference to figures 1 to 5. 0 The pack 1 is formed from a flat material sheet, in particular of paper or cardboard as shown in figure 4, a receiver 20 also made of paper or cardboard, and an additional element 30 as shown in detail in figure 5 and which also consists of paper or cardboard. Here the three-dimensional object of the pack is formed as a rattle. 5 The material sheet 10 has several (here six) portions 11 which can here be divided into two sub-regions, a head region 12 of the rattle and a handle region 13 of the rattle. The respective portions 11 are connected together via first fold lines 14, wherein the outer portions 11 are connected to another portion on one side only and the inner portions 11 are 0 each connected to a portion 11 on opposite sides via fold lines 14. In the area of the head region 12, each portion 11 has a cut-out 15. The cut-outs 15 in the two outer portions 11 each have a rebate 16 in their bottom and outer corner. Such a rebate 16 is also provided in the mutually facing lower corners of the cut-outs 15 of the portions 11 lying centrally next to each other. 5 In addition the portions 11 are each fitted with second fold lines 17 which run along a center axis and allow the respective portions 11 to fold in the middle. The second fold lines 17 divide the individual portions 11 into a left and a right sub-section 19 L and 1 9

R

30 The head region 12 is separated from the handle region 13 by grooves 18 lying opposite each other in relation to the center line. The receiver 20 visible in figures 1 and 2 is also formed from a flat material sheet which is not shown separately, and is folded into a box open at the top. The box is held in this state 35 by tabs 21 glued to the side walls 12 (figure 1). The additional element 30 (figure 5) has a substantially round basic form or outer contour with a center 31. In addition there are three longitudinal, rectilinear slots 32 which each 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 8 run through the center 31, i.e. radially. This gives a substantially star-shaped cut-out in the additional element 30, formed by the slots 32. To form a pack as shown in figures 1 and 2, the left section 1 9 L of the portion 11 on the 5 outside left in figure 4, and the right section 1 9 R of the portion 11 on the outside right in figure 4, are folded up about the second fold line 17, and from left to right, the respective right sections 1 9 R with the respective left sections 1 9 L of adjacent portions 11 are folded to the back about the second fold lines 17 or the first fold lines 14 in figure 4. Then the left section 1 9 L of the portion 11 on the outside left in the figure, and the right section 1 9 R 0 of the portion 11 on the outside right in the figure, are also laid with their backs on each other so that the second fold lines 17, as shown in figure 1, point towards each other. The respective sections 1 9 R and 1 9 L of the portions 11 lying on each other form individual walls 23 which run radially from a center 31 of the pack. This gives a cavity 24 in the head region 12, which is formed by the cut-outs 15 of the individual portions 11. The 5 rebates 16 form corresponding grooves in two diametrically opposed walls 23 in order to hold the receiver 20 in the cavity 24 by form fit in the vertical direction. For this the previously folded receiver 20 is introduced into the cavity 24 diagonally through the areas between two walls 23 shown in figure 1, and then engages in the rebates 16, wherein the base 25 of the receiver 20 is supported on the upward-pointing edges of the portions 11 0 delimiting the respective cut-outs 15 in the vertical direction. To hold the three-dimensionally folded object in folded state, the additional element 30 is pressed from below onto the holder portion 13, whereby the walls 23, formed by folding in the region of the handle portion 13, engage in the longitudinal slots 32 of the additional 5 element 30, or the additional element 30 is pushed upward along the walls 23 by the handle portion 13 as far as the head portion, where the diametrically outer ends 33 of the slots 32 engage in the groove 18 and thus by form fit prevent removal of the additional element 30. This state is illustrated most clearly in figure 3. 30 Advantageously, several e.g. four containers containing preferably bulk food, e.g. boiled sweets, are held in the receiver 20. The pack for these foods is preferably a box of plastic and/or cardboard, wherein the sweets do not fill the box completely so that when shaken, a rattling noise is created. The pack of the first embodiment with separately packed food inserted is shown in figure 2. When a user grips the pack of the first embodiment in the 35 handle region 13 and shakes the pack, the movement of the food, e.g. the boiled sweets, in the separate pack creates a rattling noise which for example can be used for encouragement in sporting events. 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 9 The pack 40 preferably lies on the upper edges of the portions 11 delimiting the openings 15 in the vertical direction in order to avoid its falling out, i.e. the packs are held by form fit in the vertical directions by the receiver 20 and the upper edges of the cut-outs 15 of the portions 11, and in the horizontal direction by the side walls 22 of the receiver 20. 5 A further embodiment of the present invention, in which the three-dimensional object resembles a trophy cup, is explained below with reference to figures 6 to 8. Substantially reference is made to the statements concerning the first embodiment in figures 1 to 5, and only the differences are emphasized. 0 The pack of the second embodiment also comprises a flat material sheet 10 which is folded into a three-dimensional object, here a trophy cup. The material sheet 10 is shown in figure 7. Also several (here six) portions 11 are provided which are connected via first fold lines 14. These portions are also divided into two sub-regions, a head portion 12 5 different to that of the embodiment in figure 1, and not a handle portion but rather a stand or foot portion 113. The individual portions 11, in contrast to the embodiment in figure 4, are connected together not only in the head region 12 via the first fold lines 14 but also in the stand portion 113. Thus cut-outs 115 result between the fold lines 14 which connect adjacent portions 11, as is best seen in figure 7. 0 A further difference from the embodiment in figures 1 to 7 lies in that the groove for fixing the additional element 30 is provided not at the interface between the head portion 12 and the stand portion 113, but rather in the stand portion 113 close to an edge 114 which in folded state forms the standing surface. 5 The additional element 30 as shown in figure 8 does not in principle differ significantly from that shown in figure 5, with the exception that it is formed precisely circular. Thus in relation to this embodiment, reference is made to the statements concerning the first embodiment. 30 The structure of pack shown in figure 6 is similar to that explained with reference to figure 1. To hold the material sheet 10 in folded state, the additional element 30 is pushed onto the stand portion 113 at the bottom, whereby the walls 23 formed by the respective sections 19 R and 19 L engage in the longitudinal slots 32 of the element 30 until the 35 element 30 engages with the grooves 118 and is thus held (figure 6). A further difference from the second embodiment is the design of the receiver 20, as shown in figure 6. The receiver 20 is held in folded state not by glue and tabs but rather because the longer side walls 22 in figure 6 have corresponding tabs (not shown) and the 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 10 shorter side walls 22 are folded twice about a fold line 26, and a protrusion 27 engages in a rebate 28 in the base 25 about the receiver 20 in folded state, wherein the tabs lie between the double-folded side walls. 5 Otherwise the second embodiment, apart from the design in the form of a trophy cup, does not differ significantly from the first embodiment so that reference is made to the statements in this connection. Finally with reference to figures 9 to 11, a third embodiment of the present invention is 0 explained in which the three-dimensional object of the pack is designed based on a ball, e.g. a football. A flat material sheet 10 to form the three-dimensional object of this pack is shown in figure 10. It is formed from several portions or fields 211 which form the outer surface of 5 the three-dimensional object. The fields 211 are arranged in three rows R 1 to R 3 lying next to each other. The adjacent fields 211 of one row are connected together via first fold lines, while adjacent fields of different rows are connected together via second fold lines 217. The fields 211 of the outer rows R 1 and R 3 are formed square, while the fields 211 of the middle row are formed rectangular, wherein the shorter sides are joined via fold lines 0 217 to the adjacent fields 211 of rows R 1 and R 3 , and the longer sides are joined via the first fold lines 214. In addition in row R 2 , one field 211 and half of two fields 211 adjacent to this field comprise a transparent material 240, wherein this can be formed by a transparent film glued onto the material sheet 10 consisting of paper. Furthermore every second field of the outer rows R 1 and R 3 has third fold lines 241 which extend from the 5 inside second fold line 217 and the inside outer edge of the respective field 211 towards each other to the outside of the respective field 211 and form a triangle, the tip of which lies on the center line of the respective field 211. The tips of the triangles in rows R 1 and

R

3 point away from each other. 30 Furthermore around the outer periphery of the material sheet 10 are provided several engagement elements 242 which can be formed as rebates 243 or tabs 244 in order to hold the material sheet 10, folded into the three-dimensional object, in folded state. Furthermore on one field 211 at one end of each of rows R 1 to R 3 , tabs 245 are provided 35 which are adapted for gluing with the respective fields 211 on the opposite ends of rows

R

1 to R 3 . To fold the object shown in figure 9 as a ball into a three-dimensional object, the tabs 245 are glued to the back of the fields 211, lying on the right in figure 10, of rows R 1 to R 3 and 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 11 the sections 245 of fields 211 with the fold lines 241 are folded inwards, as most evident from figure 9. The fields 211 of the middle row R 2 in cross section form an octagon, whereas the fields 211 without fold lines 241 of the outer rows, and the sections 245 of the respective edges of the octagon, extend obliquely upwards towards the center (center axis) 5 of the object, wherein the fields 211 without fold lines 241 are equipped with engagement devices 242 which are brought into engagement with each other to fix opposing ends of the fields 211, as shown at the top in figure 9. The same happens on the underside, wherein to improve the standing stability, first the engagement elements 242 with the rebates 243 are brought into engagement and then the tabs 244 shown on the left in figure 0 10 are inserted in the resulting slot between the engagement elements 242 brought into engagement, and then the tab 244 engages in a rebate 247 to form a flat standing surface. In particular first the lower part is closed while the upper part in figure 9 remains open in order to be able to insert the receiver 20 described below. 5 The receiver 20 is also formed of a flat, planar material sheet as shown in figure 11. Here outer fields 260 are joined with the middle field 261 via fold lines 262 (fourth fold lines). The outer fields 260 correspond to the inner contour of the formed object and in particular to the octagon visible in cross section, formed by the fields of the center row R 2 . The 0 middle field 261 has a connecting portion 263 and two portions 264 diametrically opposite the connecting portion 263, which are each connected to the connecting portion 263 via fifth fold lines 265. The portions 264 correspond in contour to around half the outer fields 260. Furthermore tabs 266 are provided on the connecting portion 263, which can be folded about the fold lines 267. 5 In addition, cut-outs 268 are provided in the portions 264, wherein a tab 269 can be folded out from one of the cut-outs 268 about a fold line 270. To form the receiver 20, the outer fields 260 in figure 11 are each folded down about the 30 fold lines 262 so that the faces of the fields 260 lying at the bottom and portions 264 come to lie on each other. The tab 269 is furthermore folded upward about fold line 270 and thus protrudes vertically from the upper face of the lower portion 264. The tabs 266 are folded down about the fold line 267 in figure 11 and thus protrude vertically to the back from the face of the connecting portion 263. Then the lower portion 264 and the lower 35 field 260 are folded forward about the fold line 265 so that the faces of these portions extend vertically to the face of the connecting portion 263. Then the receiver folded in this way is introduced into the partly folded material sheet 10 open at the top, and with a box similar to the box 40 in figure 2, can be filled with the separately packed food. This is not however shown in figure 9. Then the upper field 260 and the upper portion 264 in figure 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 12 11 are also folded about the fold line 265 into the horizontal (vertical to the connecting portion 263) and thus close the receiver at the top, wherein the upper edges of the container 40 come into engagement with the respective peripheral edges 271 of the cut out 268 in the field 264 at the top in figure 11, and hence create a form-fit holder for the 5 packs 40 at the top in the horizontal direction while the edges 271 of the cut-out 268 at the bottom provide a form fit in the horizontal direction at the bottom of the packs 40. This is furthermore supported by the upward folded tab 269, which prevents a falling forwards. Then also the upper region is closed by the engagement devices 242 as shown in figure 9 0 to produce the finished pack. Consequently in this pack too, almost no glue joints are required and the pack can be produced by merely folding and bringing into engagement a material sheet of paper or cardboard with an inspection window, wherein the inspection window for example can be 5 formed from a transparent plastic film. Thus the various embodiments of the present invention offer the possibility, in the simplest manner, of producing packs from material sheets and usually without glue joints, wherein these packs increase the buying stimulus without substantially increasing the 0 production costs for the product. The event- or sport-related design of the three dimensional object as a rattle, trophy cup or football is particularly advantageous. It is evident that the present invention can also be implemented elsewhere and can be designed related to different events or themes. 5 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where 30 the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS

Claims

1. A pack for food, comprising: 5 a three-dimensional object formed by folding an originally flat material sheet to form a folded shape, wherein the object comprises a receiver for accommodating at least one separately packed food , wherein the three-dimensional object is maintained in the folded shape by an additional element in engagement with the material sheet of the folded object, wherein the additional element has a cut-out 0 having at least one longitudinal slot running through the center of the element.

2. The pack according to claim 1, wherein the additional element surrounds the three dimensional object over the full periphery of the three-dimensional object to maintain the folded shape of the three-dimensional object. 5

3. The pack according to either one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver is folded from a separate, originally flat, material sheet to form the folded shape.

4. The pack according to claim 3, wherein the receiver folded from the material sheet 0 is held in the folded shape exclusively by the three-dimensional object or by form fit engagement elements.

5. The pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver is held in the three-dimensional object by form fit or force fit or by form fit and force 5 fit.

6. The pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the three dimensional object is held in the folded state by the engagement of two elements which are part of the material sheet from which the three-dimensional object is 30 folded.

7. The pack according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the three dimensional shape has an outer contour, wherein an inspection window is provided in the region of the outer contour of the three-dimensional object for viewing the 35 food or pack..

8. The pack according to any one of the preceding claims in which the object is a theme-related object. 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS 14

9. The pack according to claim 8 in which the theme-related object is a sport related object.

10. The pack according to claim 8 or 9 in which the object is a rattle. 5

11. The pack according to any one of the preceding claims in which the additional element is a flat element.

12. The pack according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cut-out of the 0 element has multiple longitudinal slots.

13. The pack according to any one of claims 5 to 12 in which the receiver is held in the three-dimensional object by only form fit and/or force fit. 5

14. The pack according to any one of claims 7 to 13 in which the inspection window is closed by a transparent material through which the food or pack is visible.

15. The pack according to any one of the preceding claims in which the food is confectionery. 0

16. A set consisting of a material sheet for forming a three-dimensional object of a pack according to any one of the preceding claims, the sheet having several flat portions which correspond in cross section to the outer contour of the three dimensional object and which are connected together via first fold lines, and with 5 an element which can be pushed onto the material sheet folded into the three dimensional object in order to hold the material sheet folded into the three dimensional object in the folded state, wherein the element has a cut-out which has at least one longitudinal slot running through the center of the element. 30

17. The set according to claim 16, wherein the flat portions of the material sheet each have a second fold line along their center line, so that the second fold lines of the portions, when folded into the shape of the three-dimensional object, lie in the center of the three-dimensional object. 35

18. The set according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the flat portions of the material sheet each have a cut-out which, in the folded shape of the three-dimensional object, form the receiver or which supplement each other to form a holder for the receiver. 6596078_1 (GHMatters) P94355.AU WENDYS