CN101511691A

CN101511691A - Food product container

Info

Publication number: CN101511691A
Application number: CNA2007800333332A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 乔纳森·E·拉思伯恩; 马修·R·J·杰克逊; 托马斯·C·斯通伯格; 乌贾尼·迈特-谢
Original assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Co
Current assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Co
Priority date: 2006-09-08
Filing date: 2007-09-06
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Also published as: WO2008030906A3; EP2106371A2; CA2662339A1; RU2009109594A; WO2008030906A2; MX2009002623A

Abstract

A food product container includes a base and a cover. the base includes an opening, a top, and a bottom. At least one wall extends between the top and the bottom to define a container volume with a height, a width, and a depth. The depth is smaller than the height and the widht. The cover is connected to the base and disposed over the opening. The cover includes a dispensing opening. A plurality of food products is disposed within the container volume. The length of the food product is greater than the depht of the container volume.

Description

Food containers

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of food containers.

Background technology

Food containers not only holds food, and that provide convenience for the user and functional equipment.The outward appearance of container and functional can both be important properties.Have size and determine to such an extent that make the user feel convenient and can one of primary distribution or the container of several food, this will be useful.

Summary of the invention

In all fields, provide a kind of food containers.This food containers is applicable to distribution food especially.

In one aspect, a kind of food containers comprises base portion and lid.This base portion comprises opening, top and bottom.At least one wall extends the vessel volume that has height, width and the degree of depth with qualification between this top and this bottom.This degree of depth is less than this height and this width.This lid is connected to this base portion and is placed on this opening.This lid comprises dispense aperture.A plurality of food are placed in this vessel volume.The length of this food is greater than the degree of depth of this vessel volume.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the transparent view of embodiment in off position of container;

Fig. 2 is the transparent view of container in open position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is the transparent view of base portion of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is the transparent view of lid of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is first side sectional view of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is second side sectional view of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is the amplifier section of the details 7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 A is the top view of a container embodiments, and wherein food is in first shape;

Fig. 8 B is the top view of a container embodiments, and wherein food is in second shape;

Fig. 8 C is the top view of a container embodiments, and wherein food is in the 3rd shape;

Fig. 8 D is the top view of a container embodiments, and wherein food is in the 4th shape;

Fig. 8 E is the top view of a container embodiments, and wherein food is in the 5th shape;

Fig. 8 F is the top view of a container embodiments, and wherein food is in the 6th shape;

Fig. 9 A is the top view of another container embodiments, and wherein food is in first shape;

Fig. 9 B is the top view of another container embodiments, and wherein food is in second shape,

Fig. 9 C is the top view of another container embodiments, and wherein food is in the 3rd shape;

Fig. 9 D is the top view of another container embodiments, and wherein food is in the 4th shape;

Fig. 9 E is the top view of another container embodiments, and wherein food is in the 5th shape;

Fig. 9 F is the top view of another container embodiments, and wherein food is in the 6th shape;

Figure 10 A is the top view of a vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in first shape;

Figure 10 B is the top view of a vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in second shape;

Figure 10 C is the top view of a vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in the 3rd shape;

Figure 10 D is the top view of a vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in the 4th shape;

Figure 10 E is the top view of a vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in the 5th shape;

Figure 10 F is the top view of a vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in the 6th shape;

Figure 11 A is the top view of another vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in first shape;

Figure 11 B is the top view of another vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in second shape;

Figure 11 C is the top view of another vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in the 3rd shape;

Figure 11 D is the top view of another vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in the 4th shape;

Figure 11 E is the top view of another vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in the 5th shape;

Figure 11 F is the top view of another vessel port embodiment, and wherein food is in the 6th shape.

The specific embodiment

Present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein utilizes identical label to represent components identical.Relation and function by the following explanation various elements that the present invention may be better understood.So each aspect that limits all can combine with any other one or more aspect, unless clearly be illustrated as opposite situation.Only embodiment is described below, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment that illustrates in the drawings by example.

At food containers shown in Fig. 1 and 2 10.Food containers comprises base portion 20 and lid 30.Fig. 3 illustrates base portion 20, and base portion 20 comprises opening 22, top 24,

bottom

26 and 24 extends to bottom 26 to limit at least one wall 28 of vessel volume 40 from the top.As shown in Fig. 5 and 6, vessel volume 40 has height 42, width 44 and the degree of depth 46.The degree of depth 46 is less than height 42 and width 44.

Food containers 10 has elongated shape basically.Yet this shape can be any configuration.For example, this container can be a cuboid, has the oblong cross section and becomes four vertical walls of sharp comer bonded assembly.Alternately, as shown in FIG. 3, the end can be level and smooth and sphering, has basic plurality of stepped serrations, thereby does not have any sharp comer.Other shape is possible, such as oblong, rounded rectangular, square, circle or polygonal cross-section.

Lid 30 is connected to base portion 20 and is placed on the opening 22.As seen in fig. 4, lid 30 comprises dispense aperture 32.The length 33 of dispense aperture 32 can be width 44 only about half of of container 10.Renovating 34 is hinged to lid 30 and covers dispense aperture 32.Thereby hinge 35 connects lids 30 and renovates 34 first end 31 and is provided at motion between off position and the open position.Hinge 35 can be " loose-joint butt ", that is, with lid 30 with renovate 34 one-tenth integrally or form.

With first end 31 relatively, renovate the 34 extension antelabium 36 that can comprise corresponding to the shape of dispense aperture 32.Thereby antelabium 36 can form interference or bayonet fitting with dispense aperture 32 to be helped to be maintained in its closed position renovating 34.For example, as shown in FIG. 7, extend the surface 37 that antelabium 36 can engage cover 30, inside compressing antelabium 36 in surface 37 wherein are to provide bayonet fitting.As shown in FIG. 4, renovate 34 can also comprise place on the antelabium 36 and when renovate 34 be suitable for when being closed engaging dispense aperture 32 surface 37 one or more projection or swell 49.Projection 49 can be placed in any position along the periphery of antelabium 36.Just renovate 34 be fully closed before, projection 49 provides other resistance for renovating 34.Renovate 34 two projections 49 that preferably include on each side that places part antelabium 36, relative with hinge 35.

Lid 30 can comprise the 30 thin stretch flange formabilities 29 that extend around dispense aperture 32 from lid.Stretch flange formability 29 provides other sealing with respect to extending antelabium 36.Alternately, replace stretch flange formability 29, thereby lid 30 can be included on the downside of lid 30 the protrusion (not shown) that is provided with around opening 32 at lid 30 with renovate the sealing that provides other between 34.Dispense aperture 32 can be oval-shaped, has corresponding oval-shaped lip 32.Substantially oval-shaped dispense aperture 32 makes the area maximization of dispense aperture 32, and the width of dispense aperture 32 is minimized.Renovate 34 and also can comprise the extension protrusion 38 that makes that user's thumb is easy to engage.In off position, the part of protrusion 38 leans against on the top surface 39 of lid 30, can be from the top contact protrusion 38 of top surface 39.Except renovating 34, lid 30 can comprise the closure member of other type, for example slip lid.

In one aspect of the invention, when holding container 10 in palm, the thumb of the same hand can contact protrusion 38, thus when renovate 34 in the closed position in the time, it can be moved to open position.When closing, renovating 34 can provide and renovate 34 by the audible indication of positive engagement.Can cause this audible indication with engaging of surface 37 by antelabium 36.Can also cause this audible indication with engaging of surface 37 by projection 49.This projection 49 provides other resistance for renovating 34, causes and renovates 34 and be fully closed relevant audible indication or " patter sound ".Additionally, can work as and renovate 34 audible indication is provided when being opened.When the audible indication of closing and opening when renovating 34 also can be attended by the tangibly " buckle " that causes by projection 49.

As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of food 60 are placed in the vessel volume 40.As also at Fig. 8 A to the 8F finding, food 60 has length (longest dimension) 62, width (second longest dimension) 64 and the degree of depth (the shortest size) 66.The length 62 of food 60 is greater than the degree of depth 46 of vessel volume.Therefore, in the time of in being placed in container, food 60 is set about volume 40.Container 10 has small depth 46.The degree of depth 46 of container 10 can be greater than about 0.6 and less than 1.0 with the ratio of the length 62 of food 60.The degree of depth 46 of container can be less than 2 with the ratio of the width of food 60.The ratio of the degree of depth 46 of container and the degree of depth of food 60 can be between 1 to 3.15.

Preferably lid 30 is attached to base portion 20 by bayonet fitting.Can realize this bayonet fitting by any suitable structure.For example, as best seen in Fig. 5-7, base portion 20 can comprise that ridge 52 and lid 30 can comprise raceway groove 54.Ridge 52 extends in the raceway groove 54 so that bayonet fitting to be provided.Lid 30 can comprise inner lip 53 and sidewall 56.Antelabium 53 and sidewall 56 limit opening 55.Sidewall 56 extends on the top 24 of base portion 20, and the part at ridge 52 and top 24 is placed in the opening 55.Sidewall 56 is preferably made to allow around base portion 20 on the lid 30 insertion base portions 20 by submissive material.

The various structures that are used for the bayonet fitting between base portion 20 and lid 30 all are possible.Ridge 52 and raceway groove 54 can be respectively along the whole periphery of base portion 20 and lid 30 or only its part extensions.Base portion 20 can comprise two

convex ridges

52,58 that extend around the periphery near top 24.Top ridge 52 is as the raceway groove 54 in the engage cover 30.Ridge 52 and raceway groove 54 structures provide excellent sealing and prevent that lid 30 from easily coming off between base portion 20 and lid 30.Bottom ridge 58 usefulness act on the locating part of the sidewall 56 of lid 30.Convex

ridge

52,58 also makes moist to prevent food 60 as sealing member.Convex

ridge

52,58 can be provided with in a horizontal manner around the top 24 of base portion 20.As shown in FIG. 3, convex

ridge

52,58 can also change around the vertical position of the periphery of base portion 20.Can see that in Fig. 3 on even keel is provided with top ridge 52 relatively, and with on the

longer sidewall

25,27 of base portion 20, compare, on the

short sidewall

21,23 of base portion 20, bottom ridge 58 can be lower.

Enter on the size of food containers 10 now, container 10 preferably has and is suitable for being placed on user's hand and the size in the pocket.For user's hand and pocket, elliptic cross-section is easily.Oval rounded form provides excellent sealing between lid 30 and base portion 20.Elliptic cross-section perhaps has other configuration of narrow width, also allows easily to distribute, and this is because for distributing from oval dispense aperture 32, food 60 trends towards in suitable direction directed.The degree of depth 46 of the volume 40 of container can be at about 10mm with approximately between the 30mm, and width 44 can be at about 40mm with approximately between the 60mm, and height 42 can be at about 60mm with approximately between the 100mm.If base portion 20 is semi-translucents, then the user can see in container 10 and to exist or remain how much food 60.Food 60 can have at approximately 15mm and the approximately length 62 between the 25mm, at approximately 10mm and the approximately width 64 between the 20mm, and at approximately 6mm and the approximately degree of depth 66 between the 12mm.The volume 40 of container can be confirmed as having hold about 20 and about 30 between the size of food 60.

In use, renovate 34 by pushing to open on protrusion 38, the user can open container 10.Renovate 34 and be shaped to feasible can easily opening it with hand.Can distribute food 60 by container 10 is toppled over then.The size of opening 32 is determined to be feasible only several (about one to five) the part food 60 that once will distribute usually.Container 10 is health, because food 60 need not to be touched by the user before distributing.Food 60 can be the food of any kind, comprises hard candy, soft sweets, peppermint candy, chewing gum or chewing-gum particle.The length of food 60 can 15 and 25mm between, and common approximately 20mm.

Because container 10 has small depth 46, according to the two size and dimension of container 10 and food 60, in container 10, the unique specific orientation of food 60 is possible.Enter on the relation between food 60 and container 10 now, at the embodiment of Fig. 8 A to container shown in the 8F 10 and food 60.Food 60 has length (longest dimension) 62, width (second longest dimension) 64 and the degree of depth (the shortest size) 66.The inside of container 10 has the width 44 and the degree of depth 46.The orientation of food 60 in container 10 can be expressed as the relation between product dimensions and container dimensional.Container has three orthogonal directionss, short transverse 72, Width 74 and depth direction 76.Short transverse 72 is extended between container top 24 and bottom 26.Width 74 extends between sidewall 21,23.Depth direction 76 extends between

sidewall

25,27.

In one embodiment, the width 64 of food 60 and the degree of depth 66 are less than the degree of depth 46 of container 10, and product length 62 is greater than the degree of depth 46 of container 10.Fig. 8 A illustrates food 60 some possible orientations in container 10 to 8D.In Fig. 8 A, product length 62 is along Width 74 orientations of container, and product width 64 is along depth direction 76 orientations of container.In Fig. 8 B, product width 64 is along depth direction 76 orientations of container, and product depth 66 is along Width 74 orientations of container.In Fig. 8 C, product width 64 is along Width 74 orientations of container, and product depth 66 is along depth direction 76 orientations of container.In Fig. 8 D, product length 62 is along Width 74 orientations of container, and product depth 66 is along depth direction 76 orientations of container.Fig. 8 E and 8F illustrate food 60 impossible orientation in container 10.Because product length 62 is greater than the degree of depth 46 of container 10, the length of food 60 can not be along depth direction 76 orientations of container 60.Obviously, food 60 can by at Fig. 8 A to the position shape orientation between shown in the 8F those.

At Fig. 9 A another embodiment to container shown in the 9F 70 and food 60.Container 70 has the width 75 and the degree of depth 77.Product depth 66 is less than container depth 77, and product length 62 and width 64 are greater than container depth 77.Fig. 9 A and 9B illustrate the possible orientation of food 60 in container 70.In Fig. 9 A, product width 64 is along Width 74 orientations of container 10, and product depth 66 is along depth direction 76 orientations of container 10.In Fig. 9 B, product length 62 is along Width 74 orientations of container 10, and product depth 66 is along depth direction 76 orientations of container.Fig. 9 C illustrates the impossible orientation of food 60 in container 10 to 9F.Because product length 62 and product width 64 are greater than the degree of depth 77 of container 10, the length 62 of food or width 64 all can not be along depth direction 76 orientations of container 60.Food 60 can by at Fig. 9 A to the position shape orientation between shown in the 9F those.

The shape and size of the opening 32 in the lid 30 can change.Figure 10 A illustrates the various orientations of the embodiment of food 60 with respect to the embodiment of opening 32 to 10F.Opening 32 can be the ellipse that has extreme length 33 and maximum width 41.But the length 62 of food is less than the length 33 of opening 32 greater than the width 41 of opening 32.Product width 64 is less than the maximum width 41 of opening 32.Figure 10 A illustrates the possibility position shape of distributing food 60 from container 10 to 10C.Because product width 64 is less than A/F 41, if the length of food 62 perpendicular to opening 32 orientations, then food 60 can compatibly pass through opening 32, as shown in Figure 10 B and the 10C.As shown in Figure 10 D because opening 32 is oval-shaped, if product length 62 along the direction orientation of opening length 33, then food 60 can not compatibly pass through opening 32.Because product length 62 is greater than A/F 41, if the length of food 62 along the direction orientation of A/F 41, then in the orientation shown in Figure 10 E and the 10F, food 60 can not compatibly pass through opening 32.

Figure 11 A illustrates the various orientations of food 60 with respect to the embodiment of opening 43 to 11F.Opening 43 is the ellipses that have extreme length 45 and maximum width 47.But the length 62 of food is less than opening length 45 greater than A/F 47.Product width 64 is greater than the maximum width 47 of opening 43.11A illustrates possible branch coordination type to 11B.Because only product depth 66 is less than A/F 47, only when product depth 66 was directed along the direction of A/F 47, food 60 can compatibly pass through opening 43.As at Figure 11 C to as shown in the 11F, if product length 62 or width 64 along the direction orientation of A/F 47, then food can not compatibly pass through opening 43.Because opening 43 ratio opens 32 have still less may distribute orientation, and compare from opening 43, be easy to more distribute food from opening 32.

Obviously, food 60 can be directed in to 10F and 11A to the position shape between those shown in the 11F at Figure 10 A.Additionally, opening 32,43 can be other shape, and such as circle or rectangle, this can influence possible distribution orientation.

Container 10 can be made by any suitable material.Thereby container 10 can be made the content that can see container by transparent or trnaslucent materials.Container can be made by plastics (flexibility or rigidity), cardboard, coverlay film lamination cardboard, film, corrugated plating, metal or any combination of materials.When being made of plastics, the container manufacturing can utilize any suitable technology, comprises extruding, injection moulding, blowing, rotational molding, vacuum forming, thermoforming and combination thereof.

Though described the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that to make particularly and to form to change and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention with reference to preferred embodiment.Therefore it is schematic and nonrestrictive to expect that the fwd detailed description is regarded as, and should be appreciated that appended claim comprises that all equivalent form of values are used to limit scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. food containers comprises:

Base portion, described base portion comprise opening, top, bottom and extend at least one wall that has the vessel volume of height, width and the degree of depth with qualification that between described top and described bottom the wherein said degree of depth is less than described height and described width;

Lid, described lid are connected to described base portion and place on the described opening, and comprise dispense aperture; With

A plurality of food, described a plurality of food place described vessel volume, and wherein said food comprises the length greater than the degree of depth of described vessel volume.

2. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said lid also comprises to be renovated, and described renovating is hinged to described lid and covers described dispense aperture.

3. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said base portion has the cross section of substantially elliptical.

4. according to the food containers of claim 2, wherein said renovating comprises and the corresponding extension antelabium of described dispense aperture.

5. according to the food containers of claim 4, wherein to renovate when in the closed position when described, described renovating provides audible indication.

6. according to the food containers of claim 4, wherein said renovating comprises the extension protrusion.

7. according to the food containers of claim 6, the part of wherein said extension protrusion leans against on the top surface of described lid.

8. according to the food containers of claim 1, the wherein said degree of depth is approximately between 10mm and the about 30mm.

9. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said width is approximately between 40mm and the about 60mm.

10. according to the food containers of claim 1, the ratio of the degree of depth of wherein said container and the length of described food is greater than 0.6 and less than 1.0.

11. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said food comprises width, and the ratio of the width of the degree of depth of wherein said vessel volume and described food is less than 2.

12. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said food comprises width, and the width of wherein said food is greater than the degree of depth of described vessel volume.

13. according to the food containers of claim 1, the length of wherein said food is parallel to the width orientation of described vessel volume.

14. according to the food containers of claim 1, the length of wherein said food is parallel to the high orientation of described vessel volume.

15. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said food comprises width, and the width of described food is parallel to the degree of depth orientation of described vessel volume.

16. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said dispense aperture comprises length and width, and described food comprises width, and the width of wherein said food is less than the width of described dispense aperture.

17. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said dispense aperture comprises length and width, and described food comprises width, and the width of wherein said food is greater than the width of described dispense aperture.

18. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said lid is attached to described base portion by bayonet fitting.

19. according to the food containers of claim 1, wherein said lid comprises the sidewall that extends around the top of described base portion.

20. according to the food containers of claim 18, wherein said base portion comprises that ridge and described lid comprise raceway groove, wherein said ridge extends in the described raceway groove so that bayonet fitting to be provided.

21. according to the food containers of claim 19, wherein said lid comprises inner lip and the coupling opening that limits between described inner lip and described sidewall, the top of wherein said base portion is placed in the described coupling opening.

22. according to the food containers of claim 2, wherein said renovating with described lid forms.

23. a food containers comprises:

Base portion, described base portion comprise opening, top, bottom and extend to described bottom partly to limit at least one wall of vessel volume from described top that wherein said base portion has the cross section of substantially elliptical; With

Lid, described lid are connected to described base portion and place on the described opening, and comprise:

Dispense aperture; With

Renovate, described renovating is hinged to described lid and covers described dispense aperture,

Wherein said renovating comprises and the corresponding extension antelabium of described dispense aperture.

24. according to the food containers of claim 23, wherein said extension antelabium and described dispense aperture form interference fit.

25. according to the food containers of claim 23, wherein said dispense aperture is oval-shaped.

26. according to the food containers of claim 23, wherein said extension antelabium is oval-shaped.

27. according to the food containers of claim 23, wherein said lid is attached to described base portion by bayonet fitting.

28. according to the food containers of claim 27, wherein said lid comprises the sidewall that extends around the top of described base portion.

29. according to the food containers of claim 28, wherein said base portion comprises that ridge and described lid comprise raceway groove, wherein said ridge extends in the described raceway groove so that bayonet fitting to be provided.

30. a method of distributing food from food containers comprises:

A kind of food containers is provided, and described food containers comprises:

Base portion, described base portion have opening, top, bottom and from described top

Extend to described bottom partly to limit at least one wall of vessel volume;

A plurality of food, described a plurality of food are placed in the described vessel volume, wherein

Described food comprises the length greater than the degree of depth of described vessel volume; With

Distribute described a plurality of food at least one by described dispense aperture from described food containers.