AU687635B2 - A food product and its packaging - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Soremartec S.A.

Actual Inventor(s): Franco Truscello Giuseppe Terrasi Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: A FOOD PRODUCT AND ITS PACKAGING Our Ref 430832 POF Code: 1249/174411 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): I I A FOOD PRODUCT AND ITS PACKAGING the present invention relates to a food product including a shell forming a container of the product.

A wide variety of products of the type specified above is known in the art. This is true particularly as regards the shell-type containment layer which, especially in mass-produced confectionery, is typically a half-shell or cup made of wafer or the like (see, for example, the document EP-A-0 064 155) or, for example, in small bakeries, is often a pastry container and which is filled Swith a quantity of filling: this applies to all smallbakery products commonly known as "cup-cakes".

Over the last few years there has been a growing trend in the food industry, especially in the field of confectionery, towards the manufacture of products which 0. are very similar to traditional bakery products, both in their appearance and in the way they are presented to the 0 consumer. At the same time, however, this trend must take into account the fact that, unlike traditional bakery products which are intended to be eaten soon after 2 they are made, and usually locally, industrial products must be transported (sometimes far from the place of production) and/or must be kept and displayed in conditions which will not spoil their appearance and appeal to the consumer. One may consider, for example, to products which include a creamy decoration (such as a twirl of cream on top, such as chantilly cream or the like); in products of this type which are to be massproduced and mass-marketed, any decoration smeared on the packaging will certainly prove off-putting. A tendency to smear the consumer's hands as he grasps the product is another negative phenomenon which producers endeavour to avoid. This is all the more important since, unlike traditional cakes (generally intended to be served and eaten at a table, for example to finish off a meal), mass-produced confectionery is often served and eaten in conditions (in bars and other social meeting places and in vehicles, for example) where consumers object strongly to getting their hands soiled.

The object of the present invention is to provide a Onre. or- y'orzc of solution to the problems described above.

RA4A NTd According to one aspect, the present invention provides a food product including: a shell forming a container of the product, wherein the shell has an interior surface and an annular flanged rim which projects radially outwardly of the product, the annular flanged rim providing a gripping means so as to enable a consumer to carry the food product by taking hold of the rim; a syrup cavity for holding a syrup, having a sealing vane with an uppersurface and an under-surface whose peripheral edges are in contact with the interior surface of the shell, the syrup cavity being defined by the undersurface of the sealing vane, and the interior surface of the shell below the under-surface of the sealing vane; and a filling cavity for holding a filling, the filling cavity being defined by the upper-surface of the sealing vane and the interior surface of the shell above the upper surface of the sealing vane.

According to another aspect, this invention provides packaging for a product as described above wherein it includes: a bearing surface able to support the product, and at least one retaining formation which can cooperate with the annular 20 rim so as to hold the product resting on the bearing surface.

S" According to a further aspect, the invention provides a food product and packaging unit including: a food product having a flange which is substantially annular and which 25 has an upper surface, a bottom, an upper portion including so much of the food OV.0:product as is above the plane defined by the flange, and a lower portion which includes so much of the food product as is below the plane defined by the flange, wherein the lower portion tapers from a largest circumference near the flange to a smallest circumference near the bottom; a cap having three dimensions and an interior with a shape and A dimensions sufficient to encompass withoult touching the food product, and CAINWORDUENNY\SPECM4519.MDOCC

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3a further having one or more retaining formations which project towards the cap interior, each retaining formation having a lower surface; a base having three dimensions, an opening in one surface having an inner peripheral edge, and an interior cavity which may be accessed by the opening; wherein the lower portion of the food product is positioned within the interior cavity of the base so that the inner peripheral edge of the opening contacts the lower portion in plural areas between the flange and the bottom; wherein where the lower surface of one or more of the retaining formations contact the upper surface of the flange; wherein the cap cooperates with the base to encapsulate the food product and the cap contacts the base in plural areas; and wherein the food product is securely held by the combination of the cap and the base.

The above and other features of the present invention will now be more fully described, purely by way of non-limitative example, in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the °accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a food product of the invention; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows packaging for the product of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

p a p p C:\WINWORODENNYSPECM4t9-95.00C L- -I I In the drawings, a food product, generally indicated 1, is illustrated, purely by way of non-limitative example, as a confectionery product such as a cake.

The product (see Figure 2 in particular) includes a shell-type containment layer 2, constituted in the embodiment illustrated by a cup of edible material such as chocolate (or a like product) or wafer, for example.

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According to a characteristic which will be described in greater detail later, the shell 2 has an annular flange S• 3 around its top opening which projects radially outwardly therefrom by a certain distance (for example 2 or 3mm).

The criteria for the manufacture of shell-like containers with an internal flange 3 from a single edible material are widely known in the art and do not need to be described herein.

If, for instance, it is decided to make the shell 2 out of chocolate, it is possible to use the moulding technique (often called "slush moulding") which is

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currently used in the manufacture of the half shells of Easter eggs or the hollow hemispherical half-shells of pralines to be filled with liqueur or a creamy filling.

Naturally, the above is true even if the shell 2 is made of another edible material such as wafer or the like.

As to the implication that the flange 3 is annular, it should be pointed out that the description should in no way be seen as restricted to a continuous circular development as shown by way of example in the appended drawings. The annular flange 3 may have a S, polygonal or more complicated outline and/or may have other discontinuities such as notches or pleats and the D like without any effect on the performance of the flange 3 in the terms which will be explained in greater detail below.

With reference once again to the embodiment illustrated in the appended drawings, it is intended that a syrup 4, flavoured for example with coffee, hazelnut, orange or the like, be poured into the bottom of the shell 2 of the product 1 shown here, this then being closed by a lid or seal 5 formed by pouring on a molten mass of chocolate, sugar or the like.

A quantity of creamy filling or topping 6, of lighter or denser consistency, is deposited inside the shell 2 on top of the barrier or vane formed by the lid or seal 5 and may project above the edge formed by the flange 3 to form a decorative twirl. This decoration will be more or less solid according to the solidity of the filling material 6 (which may, for example, harden once it is on the too product) and may be further embellished by the placing, on top of the twirl, of an additional decorative element 7 constituted, for example, by a coffee bean or a piece of dried or candied fruit or the like. It is clear that, o :in any case, the embodiment illustrated is purely an example and should not be seen in any way as limiting the scope of the invention.

As mentioned earlier, a main characteristic of the product of the invention consists in the presence of the annular rim or flange 3 which projects outwardly of the product itself and, particularly of the decorative twirl 6 and even of the case 8 which typically is constituted by a frusto-conical container of card (or another laminar material) with a pleated peripheral wall enclosing the outer surface of the shell 2.

As may better be seen from the cross-sectional view of Figure 2, the flange 3 enables the consumer to take hold of the product, for instance to remove it from its case 8, without touching the filling 6 (especially the decorative twirl) and, in any case, minimises the surface area of the product contacted during consumption. In t°o practice, the consumer takes the product 1 by gripping 99: .9 two diametrally opposite portions of the radially outer t.o S:..surface of the flange 3 between a finger and thumb.

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Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the role played by the flange 3 during the packaging, transport and display of the product 1 in its packaging, generally indicated It should be pointed out in this context that Figures 3 and 4 give an overall view of a single packaging unit, that is, a packaging element designed to hold one product, such as the product 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The structure of the unit illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is, however suitable for production in a modular

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8 form so as to provide packaging which can contain any number n of products such as the product 1 of Figures 1 and 2.

It is possible, for example, to imagine putting together several units such as the unit 10 shown in Figures 3 and 4 so as to form a multipack for containing a line of products 1. The repetition of this arrangement in two dimensions can provide multipacks with matrices which can contain a plurality of products in an array comprising a given number of rows and a given number of lines. The rows or lines may be staggered longitudinally *9 9 so as make the arrangement more attractive. In any case, all these possible developments preserve the basic 9 characteristic illustrated with regard to the single unit 10 of Figures 3 and 4, that is, the joint provision of: a support or bearing surface for the product 1, which surface is constituted, in the embodiment illustrated, by a base 11 of the individual unit on which the bottom of the case 8 containing the product 1 rests, and one or more retaining formations 12 which can cooperate with the annular flange 3 in such a way that i i the product 1 is held in the package 10 between the bearing or support surface II and the retaining formations 12.

In the embodiment illustrated, the retaining formations 1. are constituted by profiled portions (nail-shaped indentations) which project radially inwardly from a S" protective cap 13 of transparent material above the o* Sposition of the flange 3. This cap 13 covers the decorative twirl 6 which projects above the flange 3 but 49 *0 is spaced from it and thus does not contact the product e 1. The cap 13 is connected to the base 11 by a tubular extension 14 which rests on, and at least partly 9oo 99** surrounds, the top 15 of the container (constituted in the example illustrated by a cardboard box), of which the base 11 is a part. The top 15 has an opening 16, which 9 is circular in the embodiment illustrated, for receiving the shell 2 of the product 1 in its case 8.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining unchanged, manufacturing details and embodiments may be varied widely from those described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the present invention. This applies to various aspects of the arrangement illustrated by way of example in the appended drawings.

A first variant may concern, for example, the shape of the bearing or support base 11. It may easily be seen from Figure 4 that the product 1 may be retained ".correctly inside the packaging 10 even if the bottom of 0 the shell 2 (and of the case 8 containing it) does not rest on the base 11. At least in principle, the product could be held by resting the peripheral surface of the product 1 on the peripheral edge of the opening 16 in the top 15 and by holding the product 1 in this positio- ny .means of the retaining formations 12 in the cap 13 which cooperate with the flange 3.

000* In the embodiment illustrated in the appended drawings, the cap 13 is made of a transparent material through which the product 1 may be viewed. This cap need not, of course, be transparent and could be replaced by a nontransparent protective cover.

With regard to the retaining formations 12, the use of 11 nail-shaped formations which project inwardly from the base of the cap 13 is currently preferred for reasons of simplicity but is not imperative. Substantially similar support by the flange 3 could be achieved, for example, by an annular projection formed at the base of the cap 13 so as to bear on the annular flange 3. It will readily be understood from the above that the arrangement illustrated by way of example in the appended drawings 600*0 (continuous flange and discontinuous retaining formations 12, constituted by indentations equally spaced

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around the periphery of the base of the cap 13) could be S S reversed by providing a continuous annular retaining formation, as suggested above, and making the flange 3 discontinuous.

Claims (23)

1. A food product including a shell forming a container of the product, wherein said shell has an interior surface and an annular flanged rim which projects radially outwardly of the product, said annular flanged rim providing a gripping means so as to enable a consumer to carry said food product by taking hold of said rim; a syrup cavity for holding a syrup, having a sealing vane with an upper- surface and an under-surface whose peripheral edges are in contact with the interior surface of said shell, said syrup cavity being defined by the under- surface of said sealing vane, and the interior surface of said shell below the under-surface of said sealing vane; and a filling cavity for holding a filling, said filling cavity being defined by the upper-surface of said sealing vane and the interior surface of said shell above the upper surface of said sealing vane.

2. A product according to Claim 1, wherein the shell is generally cup- shaped and wherein the annular rim is provided around the top opening of this •cup.

3. A product according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein it includes a decorative mass which projects out of the shell above the annular rim.

4. A product according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the 25 shell, including the annular rim, is made from an edible material.

A product according to Claim 1 or Claim 4, wherein the shell is made of o* chocolate or wafer.

6. A product according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the shell is held in a case of sheet material and in that the annular rim projects B p radially beyond this case of sheet material. C:WINWORDUENNY\SPE2C1451995.0C I 13

7. A product according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the annular rim is substantially continuous.

8. A product according to Claim 1 wherein said filling further includes a confectionery cream.

9. A food product substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Packaging for a product according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein it includes: a bearing surface able to support the product, and at least one retaining formation which can cooperate with the annular rim so as to hold the product resting on the bearing surface.

11. Packaging according to Claim 10, wherein the bearing surface is constituted by a base for supporting the bottom of the shell.

12. Packaging according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein it includes a cap S: 20 portion for covering the portion of the product which projects above the annular rim, the said at least one retaining formation projecting radially inwardly of the S" cap at the base of the cap itself. ii 25

13. Packaging according to Claim 10, wherein the cap is ma(' of 25 transparent material.

14. Packaging according to Claim 9, wherein the support base constitutes the base of a box container having a top with at least one opening for receiving the product. Packaging according to Claim 12, where"i the cap has extension portions which rest on the top with the at least one opening.

G;\WINWOPRDJENNSPECIW451-g5DOC I-I 14

16. A food product and packaging unit including: a food product having a flange which is substantially annular and which has an upper surface, a bottom, an upper portion including so much of the food product as is above the plane defined by said flange, and a lower portion which includes so much of the food product as is below the plane defined by said flange, wherein said lower portion tapers from a largest circumference near said flange to a smallest circumference near the bottom; a cap having three dimensions and an interior with a shape and dimensions sufficient to encompass without touching said food product, and further having one or more retaining formations which project towards said cap interior, each retaining formation having a lower surface; a base having three dimensions, an opening in one surface having an inner peripheral edge, and an interior cavity which may be accessed by said opening; wherein said lower portion of said food product is positioned within the interior cavity of the base so that said inner peripheral edge of said opening contacts said lower portion in plural areas between said flange and said bottom; wherein where said lower surface of one or more of said retaining 2 •formations contact the upper surface of said flange; wherein said cap cooperates with said base to encapsulate said food product and said cap contacts said base in plural areas; and a o wherein said food product is securely held by the combination of said cap and said base. ••o 25

17. The food and packaging unit of Claim 16 wherein the bottom of said food product does not contact said base.

18. The food and packaging unit of Claim 16 wherein the bottom of said food product does contact said base. CANWNWOMO\ENNSPEC34511.DOC C 9 Mql~LI

19. The food and packaging unit of Claim 16 wherein the cap and base are modular so that plural packaging units may be arranged adjacent to one another to form a multipack.

20. The food and packaging unit of Claim 16 wherein said flange is continuous and said one or more retaining formations are discontinuous.

21. The food and packaging unit of Claim 20 wherein each of said retaining formations is nail-shaped.

22. The food and packaging unit of Claim 16 wherein said flange is discontinuous and said one or more retaining formations are continuous.

23. A food product and packaging unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 20 November, 1997 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK S 20 Attorneys for: SOREMARTEC S.A. o -6 R* 4/ cQ\WlNWO RDENNYSpEClI4519-95.000 -I