CA2502125A1 - Container - Google Patents
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- Publication number
- CA2502125A1 CA2502125A1 CA002502125A CA2502125A CA2502125A1 CA 2502125 A1 CA2502125 A1 CA 2502125A1 CA 002502125 A CA002502125 A CA 002502125A CA 2502125 A CA2502125 A CA 2502125A CA 2502125 A1 CA2502125 A1 CA 2502125A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- wall
- bottom part
- zone
- container bottom
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 49
- 239000012265 solid product Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 5
- 210000003811 finger Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 235000015250 liver sausages Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 235000013580 sausages Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 238000007669 thermal treatment Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000005489 elastic deformation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 3
- 210000004080 milk Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 3
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 230000009969 flowable effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000012054 meals Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 244000052616 bacterial pathogen Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000021152 breakfast Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011111 cardboard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011087 paperboard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/32—Containers adapted to be temporarily deformed by external pressure to expel contents
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2231/00—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents
- B65D2231/005—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents the container being rigid
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Glass Compositions (AREA)
- Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
- Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
In a container for deformable products which, at room temperature, are essentially solid, particularly food products, including a bowl shaped container bottom part for receiving the product, the container bottom part includes in a wall thereof a zone which is more easily deformable than the rest of the wall areas of the container bottom part so that, upon compression of wall sections, the more easily deformable wall zone is bent outwardly to form a passage for air to enter below the product in the container bottom part to facilitate its removal.
Description
CONTAINER
Background of the Invention The invention resides in a container for products which are essentially solid and slightly deformable at room tempera ture, particularly for food products, comprising a container bottom part which is essentially a bowl-shaped molded part for containing the products.
Such a container is described in the unpublished European patent application 03 010 270.1. This unpublished European patent application relates mainly to a particular embodiment of the top part of the container, also called the lid. However, the basic design of the container is known from this applica-tion.
Containers of this type are used in various embodiments particularly for the packaging of food product, for example, for the storage and presentation of milk, meat and sausage products that is essentially for all solid paste-like and flow-able or particulate products on the basis of milk, meat and sausage products.
Certain types of milk, meat, and sausage products which are placed into those containers, packaged and then thermally treated in order to obtain, after the thermal treatment, their final consistency, so that they are solidified in the container into which they have been earlier introduced in a pasty-liquid state. After thermal treatment which may be performed in dif-ferent ways, the products are solid so that they must be cut by the user for example by a knife. A typical example of such a product which is introduced into the container bottom part in a pasty-liquid state and then thermally treated is the so-y called lever pate, which is, particularly in the Scandinavian countries, an essential food product considered to be a sausage product. This lever pate is presented to the users in a solid form as removed from the bottom part of the container for exam-ple on the breakfast table so that the consumers can cut off any desired amount using a knife. After the meal, the remain-ing lever pate which has not been consumed can be returned to the bottom part of the container to be stored in the refrigera-tor up to the next meal.
A particular problem with the use of products contained in IS such a container in which the product is first contained in a solid form for cutting is that such products can often not eas ily be removed for presentation or respectively placement on a support device such as a plate or only by damaging or even de stroying the lower container part. The reason herefor is that, after manufacture and thermal treatment or by the addition of means for curing the flowable or particulate product, the prod-uct is in firm contact with the inner wall of the container bottom part so that the ambient air pressure effective on the cured product firmly holds the product in the container. Fur-thermore, there are adhesion forces and other attachment forces in effect between the surface of the container bottom part and the surface of the product because of certain components of the product.
For the removal of the product from the bottom part of the container in such a way that it can be presented on a support plate, sometimes the container is heated in order to reduce the adhesion forces between the inner surface of the container bot tom part and the surface of the adjacent product by a partial transfer of the product adjacent the container wall into a plastic or paste-like state so that the product can then be pressed or pulled out of the container bottom using an instru-ment such as a fork or a knife. This method however is, on one hand, elaborate since the container can be heated only in a wa-ter bath or in an oven and, on the other hand, certain products which are contained in such a container are not suitable for partial heating.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a container of the type referred to above, from which the solid product contained therein can be easily removed in a simple manner without tools and without thermal or any other treatment and, after partial use thereof, can be returned to the container bottom part for storing for later repeated reuse without damage to the container during the first and later re-moval of the product contained in the container.
Summary of the Invention In a container for deformable products which, at room tem perature, are essentially solid, particularly food products, including a bowl-shaped container bottom part for receiving the product, the container bottom part includes in a wall thereof a zone which is more easily deformable than the rest of the wall areas of the container bottom part so that, upon compression of wall sections the more easily deformable wall zone is bent out-wardly to form a passage for air to enter below the product in the container bottom part to facilitate its removal.
The advantage of the solution according to the invention resides essentially in that, as a result of the fact that the container bottom part is a bowl-shaped molded part, by the ap plication of a force to certain areas of the container bottom part and the resulting deformation of a first part of the con-tainer by the force transfer in the wall of the molded part, other areas of the container bottom part are sufficiently de-formed to permit ambient air to enter between the solid product and the inner surface of the molded part or, respectively, the container bottom part, which, as a result of the deformation of the bottom part, subsequently reaches the whole inner surface of the container bottom part. The initialization for this ef-fect however is conditioned on the fact that the remainder of the wall of the container bottom part remains stable with re-spect to the area which is more easily deformable and which permits the intended inflow of the ambient air between the sur-face of the solid product and the inner surface of the con-tainer bottom part. Without the measure according to the in-vention, by applying a pressure to certain areas of the wall, only a small deformation, if any, of other areas of the wall could be achieved as a result of the force transfer in the ma-terial of the container bottom part, and a release of the sur-face of the solid product from the surface of the container could not be achieved.
Since, in accordance with the invention, the deformation occurs only by the application of an appropriate outside force to the container bottom part, for example, by the fingers of the user, for example, by compressing the container between the pointing finger and the thumb, the solid product can be removed from the container or from the bottom part of the container without tools and without damaging or destroying the container bottom part.
In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the in-vention, the easily deformable area of the wall is so shaped that, with the application of a suitable force to the outside of the container, it can be at least elastically deformed. An elastic deformation, in this connection means, that the con-tainer bottom part, after the application of a force to the container bottom part for example between the pointing finger and the thumb of the user, returns automatically to its origi-nal undeformed shape, particularly also the area which is eas-ily deformable. With the easy deformability of the area as a result of its design and the material used for the container bottom part, after termination of the application of forces to the container bottom part, a return of all areas or zones of the container bottom part to the undeformed rest- or respec-tively, initial shape of the container bottom part is ensured.
Basically, however, it is also possible to make the easier l0 deformable zone of the wall such that, after the first force application in the way described above, it is deformed non elastically and remains in that shape so that the solid prod uct, if it is very sticky can be easily removed for later use.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inven tion, the at least one area of the wall is made easily deform able with respect to the rest of the wall by a reduced wall thickness. As indicated earlier, it is possible, in principle, to provide the easier deformable zone of the wall by design features that is, as described already as being advantageous, by a smaller thickness of that wall area of the container bot-tom part in comparison with the rest of the wall. However, the easier deformability can also be achieved in that for example the material is modified in the easier deformable area with re-spect to the rest of the wall, or by a combination of a reduced wall thickness the use of materials for this zone which are different from those used for the rest of the wall.
If, for example, the better deformability is obtained by a thinner wall of the respective zone, it is advantageous if the wall thickness of the thinner wall is about 50$ of that of the thicker wall areas. Preferably, the thinner wall area has a wall thickness in the range of about 30 to 70$ of the thicker wall area. The reduction of the wall thickness for the easier deformable zone may be selected depending on the size of the lower container part, the product to be contained therein and the material of which the lower container part consists.
In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the container the deformability of the easier deformable zone with respect to the rest of the wall of the container bottom part is in the area of 1 mm based on the normal shape of the container.
The provision of the deformability in the area of up to about 1 mm is not a limitation usable for any possible application and uses of the container bottom part. Rather this value relates to a possible order of size because, depending on the size of the container bottom part, the material of which it consists, the geometry and the form of the easier deformable zone thereof and also the consistency of the product contained in the con-tainer bottom part, for certain constellations, in the sense of the preceding description already a few tenths of a millimeter may be sufficient to permit air to enter between the inner sur-face of the container bottom part and the adjacent product.
Containers according to the invention may have any shape since the solution of the above object as proposed in accor dance with the invention is independent of the selected con tainer shape. However, if the container bottom part has essen-tially the shape of a cuboid, it is advantageous to form the thin-walled zone on at least a small front end wall of the con-tainer bottom part.
The thin-walled zone itself may have any suitable geomet-ric structure with respect to the area of the zone and the lim-its of the zone as long as the mechanical and thermal overall stability of the lower container part is ensured. It is how-ever particularly advantageous, if the thin-walled zone is in the form of strips extending essentially from the bottom of the container bottom part up to the area of the opening of the con-tainer bottom part. Such a configuration of the thin-walled zone has the advantage that the thin-walled zone remains lim-ited to the size as needed for use of the container in the sense of the invention, but the elastic deformation of such a thin-walled zone is always ensured and air can enter up to the bottom area of the container bottom part evenly spread across the bottom part so that the product is released also in this area. From there, the air can spread to the remaining parts of the wall of the container bottom part.
In certain embodiments of containers of the type with which the present invention is concerned, the container bottom part includes a collar extending at least partially around the container bottom part - see for example EP 03 010 270.1, which has not been published yet. Such a collar has a stabilizing effect on the lower container part and also serves for example for the mounting of an upper container part, that is a con-tamer lid, which can be removed from the container bottom part for opening the container. This collar which increases the stability of the container bottom part however may be an obsta-cle as far as the deformability of the lower container part is concerned. In order to counteract the smaller deformability of 2o the lower container part in thin-walled zone thereof, the col lar is at least partially slotted in the area of the thin walled zone so that, in this part of the collar of the lower container part, the deformability of the lower container part is ensured as if the lower container part would not have such a circumferential collar.
The lower container part may consist of any suitable mate-rial, but it is advantageous if it consists of a plastic mate-rial, preferably polypropylene, so that it can be injection-molded. But also other plastic materials may be used and also compound materials may be used. Furthermore compound materials of plastic including reinforcement materials may be used. Even metallic materials may be used as well as suitably shaped and possibly impregnated paper or cardboard materials.
Background of the Invention The invention resides in a container for products which are essentially solid and slightly deformable at room tempera ture, particularly for food products, comprising a container bottom part which is essentially a bowl-shaped molded part for containing the products.
Such a container is described in the unpublished European patent application 03 010 270.1. This unpublished European patent application relates mainly to a particular embodiment of the top part of the container, also called the lid. However, the basic design of the container is known from this applica-tion.
Containers of this type are used in various embodiments particularly for the packaging of food product, for example, for the storage and presentation of milk, meat and sausage products that is essentially for all solid paste-like and flow-able or particulate products on the basis of milk, meat and sausage products.
Certain types of milk, meat, and sausage products which are placed into those containers, packaged and then thermally treated in order to obtain, after the thermal treatment, their final consistency, so that they are solidified in the container into which they have been earlier introduced in a pasty-liquid state. After thermal treatment which may be performed in dif-ferent ways, the products are solid so that they must be cut by the user for example by a knife. A typical example of such a product which is introduced into the container bottom part in a pasty-liquid state and then thermally treated is the so-y called lever pate, which is, particularly in the Scandinavian countries, an essential food product considered to be a sausage product. This lever pate is presented to the users in a solid form as removed from the bottom part of the container for exam-ple on the breakfast table so that the consumers can cut off any desired amount using a knife. After the meal, the remain-ing lever pate which has not been consumed can be returned to the bottom part of the container to be stored in the refrigera-tor up to the next meal.
A particular problem with the use of products contained in IS such a container in which the product is first contained in a solid form for cutting is that such products can often not eas ily be removed for presentation or respectively placement on a support device such as a plate or only by damaging or even de stroying the lower container part. The reason herefor is that, after manufacture and thermal treatment or by the addition of means for curing the flowable or particulate product, the prod-uct is in firm contact with the inner wall of the container bottom part so that the ambient air pressure effective on the cured product firmly holds the product in the container. Fur-thermore, there are adhesion forces and other attachment forces in effect between the surface of the container bottom part and the surface of the product because of certain components of the product.
For the removal of the product from the bottom part of the container in such a way that it can be presented on a support plate, sometimes the container is heated in order to reduce the adhesion forces between the inner surface of the container bot tom part and the surface of the adjacent product by a partial transfer of the product adjacent the container wall into a plastic or paste-like state so that the product can then be pressed or pulled out of the container bottom using an instru-ment such as a fork or a knife. This method however is, on one hand, elaborate since the container can be heated only in a wa-ter bath or in an oven and, on the other hand, certain products which are contained in such a container are not suitable for partial heating.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a container of the type referred to above, from which the solid product contained therein can be easily removed in a simple manner without tools and without thermal or any other treatment and, after partial use thereof, can be returned to the container bottom part for storing for later repeated reuse without damage to the container during the first and later re-moval of the product contained in the container.
Summary of the Invention In a container for deformable products which, at room tem perature, are essentially solid, particularly food products, including a bowl-shaped container bottom part for receiving the product, the container bottom part includes in a wall thereof a zone which is more easily deformable than the rest of the wall areas of the container bottom part so that, upon compression of wall sections the more easily deformable wall zone is bent out-wardly to form a passage for air to enter below the product in the container bottom part to facilitate its removal.
The advantage of the solution according to the invention resides essentially in that, as a result of the fact that the container bottom part is a bowl-shaped molded part, by the ap plication of a force to certain areas of the container bottom part and the resulting deformation of a first part of the con-tainer by the force transfer in the wall of the molded part, other areas of the container bottom part are sufficiently de-formed to permit ambient air to enter between the solid product and the inner surface of the molded part or, respectively, the container bottom part, which, as a result of the deformation of the bottom part, subsequently reaches the whole inner surface of the container bottom part. The initialization for this ef-fect however is conditioned on the fact that the remainder of the wall of the container bottom part remains stable with re-spect to the area which is more easily deformable and which permits the intended inflow of the ambient air between the sur-face of the solid product and the inner surface of the con-tainer bottom part. Without the measure according to the in-vention, by applying a pressure to certain areas of the wall, only a small deformation, if any, of other areas of the wall could be achieved as a result of the force transfer in the ma-terial of the container bottom part, and a release of the sur-face of the solid product from the surface of the container could not be achieved.
Since, in accordance with the invention, the deformation occurs only by the application of an appropriate outside force to the container bottom part, for example, by the fingers of the user, for example, by compressing the container between the pointing finger and the thumb, the solid product can be removed from the container or from the bottom part of the container without tools and without damaging or destroying the container bottom part.
In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the in-vention, the easily deformable area of the wall is so shaped that, with the application of a suitable force to the outside of the container, it can be at least elastically deformed. An elastic deformation, in this connection means, that the con-tainer bottom part, after the application of a force to the container bottom part for example between the pointing finger and the thumb of the user, returns automatically to its origi-nal undeformed shape, particularly also the area which is eas-ily deformable. With the easy deformability of the area as a result of its design and the material used for the container bottom part, after termination of the application of forces to the container bottom part, a return of all areas or zones of the container bottom part to the undeformed rest- or respec-tively, initial shape of the container bottom part is ensured.
Basically, however, it is also possible to make the easier l0 deformable zone of the wall such that, after the first force application in the way described above, it is deformed non elastically and remains in that shape so that the solid prod uct, if it is very sticky can be easily removed for later use.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inven tion, the at least one area of the wall is made easily deform able with respect to the rest of the wall by a reduced wall thickness. As indicated earlier, it is possible, in principle, to provide the easier deformable zone of the wall by design features that is, as described already as being advantageous, by a smaller thickness of that wall area of the container bot-tom part in comparison with the rest of the wall. However, the easier deformability can also be achieved in that for example the material is modified in the easier deformable area with re-spect to the rest of the wall, or by a combination of a reduced wall thickness the use of materials for this zone which are different from those used for the rest of the wall.
If, for example, the better deformability is obtained by a thinner wall of the respective zone, it is advantageous if the wall thickness of the thinner wall is about 50$ of that of the thicker wall areas. Preferably, the thinner wall area has a wall thickness in the range of about 30 to 70$ of the thicker wall area. The reduction of the wall thickness for the easier deformable zone may be selected depending on the size of the lower container part, the product to be contained therein and the material of which the lower container part consists.
In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the container the deformability of the easier deformable zone with respect to the rest of the wall of the container bottom part is in the area of 1 mm based on the normal shape of the container.
The provision of the deformability in the area of up to about 1 mm is not a limitation usable for any possible application and uses of the container bottom part. Rather this value relates to a possible order of size because, depending on the size of the container bottom part, the material of which it consists, the geometry and the form of the easier deformable zone thereof and also the consistency of the product contained in the con-tainer bottom part, for certain constellations, in the sense of the preceding description already a few tenths of a millimeter may be sufficient to permit air to enter between the inner sur-face of the container bottom part and the adjacent product.
Containers according to the invention may have any shape since the solution of the above object as proposed in accor dance with the invention is independent of the selected con tainer shape. However, if the container bottom part has essen-tially the shape of a cuboid, it is advantageous to form the thin-walled zone on at least a small front end wall of the con-tainer bottom part.
The thin-walled zone itself may have any suitable geomet-ric structure with respect to the area of the zone and the lim-its of the zone as long as the mechanical and thermal overall stability of the lower container part is ensured. It is how-ever particularly advantageous, if the thin-walled zone is in the form of strips extending essentially from the bottom of the container bottom part up to the area of the opening of the con-tainer bottom part. Such a configuration of the thin-walled zone has the advantage that the thin-walled zone remains lim-ited to the size as needed for use of the container in the sense of the invention, but the elastic deformation of such a thin-walled zone is always ensured and air can enter up to the bottom area of the container bottom part evenly spread across the bottom part so that the product is released also in this area. From there, the air can spread to the remaining parts of the wall of the container bottom part.
In certain embodiments of containers of the type with which the present invention is concerned, the container bottom part includes a collar extending at least partially around the container bottom part - see for example EP 03 010 270.1, which has not been published yet. Such a collar has a stabilizing effect on the lower container part and also serves for example for the mounting of an upper container part, that is a con-tamer lid, which can be removed from the container bottom part for opening the container. This collar which increases the stability of the container bottom part however may be an obsta-cle as far as the deformability of the lower container part is concerned. In order to counteract the smaller deformability of 2o the lower container part in thin-walled zone thereof, the col lar is at least partially slotted in the area of the thin walled zone so that, in this part of the collar of the lower container part, the deformability of the lower container part is ensured as if the lower container part would not have such a circumferential collar.
The lower container part may consist of any suitable mate-rial, but it is advantageous if it consists of a plastic mate-rial, preferably polypropylene, so that it can be injection-molded. But also other plastic materials may be used and also compound materials may be used. Furthermore compound materials of plastic including reinforcement materials may be used. Even metallic materials may be used as well as suitably shaped and possibly impregnated paper or cardboard materials.
Basically, the principle according to the invention is in-dependent of the lid which is provided for covering and closing the container bottom part. The provisions of a lid which is required for many products in the area of food products that can easily be spoiled has the advantage that a container top part in the form of a container lid, which is removable for opening the container bottom part, can be re-attached to the container bottom part, thereby to prevent access of germs and other contaminations also during storage of the container in l0 the refrigerator. A container top part in the form of a con-tainer has, in co-operation with the lower container part, the advantage that, in an upside down position of the container, the product can be supported on the container lid which can be used in this way as a presentation support plate for the prod-uct. By placing the container bottom part again over the cover on which the product is disposed, the product can again be transferred into the container bottom part without touching the product.
Below the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:
Brief Description of the Drawing Fig. 1 shows a container in a longitudinal sectional view taken along line AB of Fig. 2, Fig. 2 is a top view of a container including a container top part and a container bottom part, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container consisting of a container top part and a container bottom part wherein a solid product (not visible) is contained in the container bot tom part, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a container as shown in Fig. 3, wherein the container bottom part is partially removed from the container top part by tilting so that the product con-tained in the container bottom part is partially visible, and Fig. 5 shows, in a perspective view, a container bottom part without the container top part wherein, at the front sides of the essentially cuboid-shaped container bottom part, thin walled zones are present which are in the form of strips.
Description of a Particular Embodiment Figs. 1 to 4 show a container 10 which comprises a con tamer bottom part 12 and a container top part 13 in the form of a container lid. Such containers 10 are known for packaging products 11 which are essentially solid at room temperature, particularly food products. A typical representative of such a product 11 is for example solid lever pate, which, after being t5 filled into the container 12 and a subsequent thermal treat-ment, forms in the container bottom part a solid product which can be cut into pieces.
Since such a container 10 or, respectively container bot tom part 12 and, if present, container top part 13, is gener 2o ally known in its basic design and described in EP 3 O10 270.1, it does not have to be described here, in detail.
Particularly Figs. 1 and 3 show a container 10 in which the product 11 is contained after having been filled into the container and thermally treated. Because of the thermal treat-25 ment, the product 11 has such a consistency that it is disposed in the container 12 as an essentially solid body. Then the container 10 can be positioned upside down as it is shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4 or in a normal position as shown in Fig. 5.
There however the container bottom part is shown without the 30 product 11 to show the features of the container bottom part 12.
The container bottom part 12, see Fig. 5, comprises two zones 14 which are strip-shaped and extend essentially from the bottom 18 of the container bottom part 12 to the area of the opening 13 of the container bottom part 12. These zones 14 in-clude wall areas 150 of, with respect to the other wall areas 15, reduced thickness which are more easily deformable than the other wall 15 of the container bottom part 12. The thin-walled zones 150 are formed in the shown embodiment at the small front ends 17 of the container bottom part 12 of the container 10 which is shown in Fig. 5, essentially in the form of a cuboid.
The zones 14 with the thin walls 150 however may also be dis-co posed at any other suitable location of the wall 15 of the con-tainer bottom part 12 and several zones 14 of thin wall areas 150 may expediently provided for a container bottom part.
If the product 11 which is disposed in the container bot tom part 12 is to be removed, the container bottom part 12 is grasped for example by the pointing finger and the thumb as in dicated by the arrows 20, 21 in Fig. 3 and a force is applied to the side walls of the container bottom part 12 in the direc-tion of the arrows 20, 21. As the force is passed through the container wall material the front sides 17 of the container 2o bottom part 1~ are significantly more deformed than the other walls 15 since the front walls 17 include the thin-walled zones 15. The front walls 17 - in Fig. 3, only one front wall is designated - are therefore elastically deformed outwardly in the direction of the arrow 22. As a result, the inner surface of the container bottom part 12 is slightly lifted at these lo-cations off the adjacent surfaces of the product 11 for example by up to about 1 mm over the normal position of the wall of the container bottom part 12 so that air can flow into the gap formed between the container bottom part 12 and the product 11 3o and be distributed or expanded at least partially over the in-ner surface of the container bottom part 12 and advance into the bottom areas so that that the product 12 is released from the inner surface of the container bottom part 12. Subse-l0 quently, the container bottom part 12 can be either tilted up or removed essentially vertically upwardly in accordance with the arrow 23, see Fig. 4.
If the container 10 also includes a container top part 13 in the form of a container lid, the container top part 13 can be grasped for example at a handle 130 provided thereon so that the container bottom part 12 can easily be tilted up by the user in the direction of the arrow 23.
The container bottom part 12 may include for example a t0 circumferential collar 120 - see Figs. 2 to 5. The area of the collar 120 adjacent the thin-walled zone 150 may include a plu rality of slots 173 which facilitate an elastic deformation of the thin-walled zones.
If, after the use of the product 11, it is again to be en closed in the container 10, the container bottom part 12 is re attached upside down to the container top part 13 in the direc tion opposite to that indicated by the arrow 23 of Fig. 4 over the product 11 disposed on the container lid and is then depos ited in this position at a storage location for example in a refrigerator. Of course the container may also be stored in the opposite position that is with the container bottom part dis-posed at the bottom and the container top part disposed on top, that is turned over from the position shown in Figs. 1 - 3.
Below the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:
Brief Description of the Drawing Fig. 1 shows a container in a longitudinal sectional view taken along line AB of Fig. 2, Fig. 2 is a top view of a container including a container top part and a container bottom part, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container consisting of a container top part and a container bottom part wherein a solid product (not visible) is contained in the container bot tom part, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a container as shown in Fig. 3, wherein the container bottom part is partially removed from the container top part by tilting so that the product con-tained in the container bottom part is partially visible, and Fig. 5 shows, in a perspective view, a container bottom part without the container top part wherein, at the front sides of the essentially cuboid-shaped container bottom part, thin walled zones are present which are in the form of strips.
Description of a Particular Embodiment Figs. 1 to 4 show a container 10 which comprises a con tamer bottom part 12 and a container top part 13 in the form of a container lid. Such containers 10 are known for packaging products 11 which are essentially solid at room temperature, particularly food products. A typical representative of such a product 11 is for example solid lever pate, which, after being t5 filled into the container 12 and a subsequent thermal treat-ment, forms in the container bottom part a solid product which can be cut into pieces.
Since such a container 10 or, respectively container bot tom part 12 and, if present, container top part 13, is gener 2o ally known in its basic design and described in EP 3 O10 270.1, it does not have to be described here, in detail.
Particularly Figs. 1 and 3 show a container 10 in which the product 11 is contained after having been filled into the container and thermally treated. Because of the thermal treat-25 ment, the product 11 has such a consistency that it is disposed in the container 12 as an essentially solid body. Then the container 10 can be positioned upside down as it is shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4 or in a normal position as shown in Fig. 5.
There however the container bottom part is shown without the 30 product 11 to show the features of the container bottom part 12.
The container bottom part 12, see Fig. 5, comprises two zones 14 which are strip-shaped and extend essentially from the bottom 18 of the container bottom part 12 to the area of the opening 13 of the container bottom part 12. These zones 14 in-clude wall areas 150 of, with respect to the other wall areas 15, reduced thickness which are more easily deformable than the other wall 15 of the container bottom part 12. The thin-walled zones 150 are formed in the shown embodiment at the small front ends 17 of the container bottom part 12 of the container 10 which is shown in Fig. 5, essentially in the form of a cuboid.
The zones 14 with the thin walls 150 however may also be dis-co posed at any other suitable location of the wall 15 of the con-tainer bottom part 12 and several zones 14 of thin wall areas 150 may expediently provided for a container bottom part.
If the product 11 which is disposed in the container bot tom part 12 is to be removed, the container bottom part 12 is grasped for example by the pointing finger and the thumb as in dicated by the arrows 20, 21 in Fig. 3 and a force is applied to the side walls of the container bottom part 12 in the direc-tion of the arrows 20, 21. As the force is passed through the container wall material the front sides 17 of the container 2o bottom part 1~ are significantly more deformed than the other walls 15 since the front walls 17 include the thin-walled zones 15. The front walls 17 - in Fig. 3, only one front wall is designated - are therefore elastically deformed outwardly in the direction of the arrow 22. As a result, the inner surface of the container bottom part 12 is slightly lifted at these lo-cations off the adjacent surfaces of the product 11 for example by up to about 1 mm over the normal position of the wall of the container bottom part 12 so that air can flow into the gap formed between the container bottom part 12 and the product 11 3o and be distributed or expanded at least partially over the in-ner surface of the container bottom part 12 and advance into the bottom areas so that that the product 12 is released from the inner surface of the container bottom part 12. Subse-l0 quently, the container bottom part 12 can be either tilted up or removed essentially vertically upwardly in accordance with the arrow 23, see Fig. 4.
If the container 10 also includes a container top part 13 in the form of a container lid, the container top part 13 can be grasped for example at a handle 130 provided thereon so that the container bottom part 12 can easily be tilted up by the user in the direction of the arrow 23.
The container bottom part 12 may include for example a t0 circumferential collar 120 - see Figs. 2 to 5. The area of the collar 120 adjacent the thin-walled zone 150 may include a plu rality of slots 173 which facilitate an elastic deformation of the thin-walled zones.
If, after the use of the product 11, it is again to be en closed in the container 10, the container bottom part 12 is re attached upside down to the container top part 13 in the direc tion opposite to that indicated by the arrow 23 of Fig. 4 over the product 11 disposed on the container lid and is then depos ited in this position at a storage location for example in a refrigerator. Of course the container may also be stored in the opposite position that is with the container bottom part dis-posed at the bottom and the container top part disposed on top, that is turned over from the position shown in Figs. 1 - 3.
Claims (12)
1. A container (10) for deformable products (11) which, at room temperature, are essentially solid, particularly food products, comprising an essentially bowl-shaped container bot-tom part (12) for receiving the product (11) the container bot-tom part (12) including in a wall (15) thereof a zone (14) which is more easily deformable then the rest of the wall areas of the container bottom part (12).
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the zone (14) of the reduced thickness in the wall zone (14) which is more easily deformable, is so formed so as to be deformed elasti-cally outwardly when the forces are applied to the outside (16) of the container wall.
3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the zone (14) of the wall (150) has a reduced thickness which is less than that of the rest of the container bottom wall (15) for obtain-ing the good deformability of the at least one zone.
4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the zone (14) of reduced thickness of the wall (15) has a thickness of about 50% of the rest of the wall of the container bottom part (12).
5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the zone (14) of reduced thickness of the wall (15) has a thickness of 30 to 70% of the rest of the container wall (15).
6. A container according to claim 3, wherein the wall zones (14) of reduced thickness are deformable so as to be lifted off the product up to about 1 mm with respect to the normal position of the wall (15) of the container bottom part (12).
7. A container according to claim 3, wherein the zone (14) of reduced wall thickness is disposed on at least one of the front sides (17) of the container bottom part (12) which is es-sentially in the form of a cuboid.
8. A container according to claim 3, wherein the reduced thickness wall area (150) is in the form of strips which extend essentially from bottom (15) of the container bottom part (12) to the opening (19) of the container bottom part (12).
9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container (10) includes a container top part (13) with a circumferential collar (130) extending at least partially around the container top part (13) and being provided with slots (131).
10. A container according to claim 1, wherein, for opening the container bottom part (12), the container top part (13) is fully removable from the container bottom part (12).
11. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the container bottom part (12) and the container top part (13) consists of a plastic material with which the container parts can be manufactured by injection molding.
12. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the container bottom part (12) and the container top part (13) consists of polypropylene.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP04025034.2 | 2004-10-21 | ||
EP04025034A EP1650130B1 (en) | 2004-10-21 | 2004-10-21 | Container |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2502125A1 true CA2502125A1 (en) | 2006-04-21 |
Family
ID=34927059
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002502125A Abandoned CA2502125A1 (en) | 2004-10-21 | 2005-03-22 | Container |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060086737A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1650130B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE348046T1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2502125A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE502004002329D1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK1650130T3 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2005112101A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080254170A1 (en) * | 2007-04-12 | 2008-10-16 | Neil Edward Darin | multi-compartment produce container with controlled gas permeation |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2226846A5 (en) * | 1973-04-17 | 1974-11-15 | Monoplast | Container with base assisting removal of contents - has star shaped protrusion in base to be pushed against product |
US4043448A (en) * | 1975-06-24 | 1977-08-23 | Alpha Techno Company | Child-proof container |
US4795056A (en) * | 1988-03-31 | 1989-01-03 | Gerber Products Company | Microwave dish cover |
FR2654072B1 (en) * | 1989-11-03 | 1992-02-14 | Gervais Danone Sa | SOLID GEL CONSISTENT PACKAGING POT. |
FR2680156B1 (en) * | 1991-08-06 | 1993-11-19 | Generale Ultra Frais | PACKAGING FOR FOOD PRODUCT. |
USD379431S (en) * | 1996-03-13 | 1997-05-27 | Tenneco Packaging | Dome lid for a container |
USD394005S (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 1998-05-05 | Lawson Mardon Picopac B.V. | Container |
USD439839S1 (en) * | 2000-02-28 | 2001-04-03 | Gerber Products Company | Food container base |
US7104416B2 (en) * | 2000-12-08 | 2006-09-12 | The Procter Gamble Company | Shaped container bottom |
US20050017013A1 (en) * | 2003-07-24 | 2005-01-27 | Alberto Peisach | Container for hot fill food packaging applications |
-
2004
- 2004-10-21 DE DE502004002329T patent/DE502004002329D1/en active Active
- 2004-10-21 DK DK04025034T patent/DK1650130T3/en active
- 2004-10-21 AT AT04025034T patent/ATE348046T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2004-10-21 EP EP04025034A patent/EP1650130B1/en active Active
-
2005
- 2005-03-22 US US11/086,791 patent/US20060086737A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2005-03-22 CA CA002502125A patent/CA2502125A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2005-04-22 RU RU2005112101/12A patent/RU2005112101A/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ATE348046T1 (en) | 2007-01-15 |
DK1650130T3 (en) | 2007-01-29 |
EP1650130A1 (en) | 2006-04-26 |
US20060086737A1 (en) | 2006-04-27 |
RU2005112101A (en) | 2006-10-27 |
EP1650130B1 (en) | 2006-12-13 |
DE502004002329D1 (en) | 2007-01-25 |
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Legal Events
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EEER | Examination request | ||
FZDE | Discontinued |