DE20318469U1 - Plastics box for holding foodstuffs is of modified rectangular shape with flat floor and vertical sidewalls and has compartment in lid for cold pack - Google Patents

Abstract

The plastics box (1) is of modified rectangular shape and is open at the top. It has a rim which engages with the edge of the lid (2). The lid has a compartment to accommodate a cold pack to keep the food cold. An additional lid (3) closes the open top of this compartment. There is a fastening for the main lid (6) at the front of the box and a fastening (8) for the additional lid at the front of the main lid. The main lid hinges on a flexure and there is a hinge (9) for the additional lid at the rear of the main lid.

Description

The present invention relates to a container made of plastic, in particular for Food, with an open top, made up of a bottom and one Sidewall existing body, one the basic body occlusive Lid and an additional compartment with a cooling element contained therein.

Especially to carry along Provisions are closed by a plastic container that can be closed by a lid widely used due to their light weight and easy cleanability used. However, food is particularly sensitive on the one hand against excessive heat, and on the other hand it is also for the user is usually more pleasant if the provisions they carry are somewhat cooler than the ambient temperature is.

To keep food in a plastic container cool for longer, are so-called cold accumulators used with a housing closed on all sides a cooling medium high heat capacity exist and can be "charged" with cold, for example in the freezer, before use Become cold accumulators easy with the one to be cooled Good in the container inserted. However, this is unsatisfactory because of the cold accumulators are not fixed and due to their relatively high weight during transport damage to the container cooling Can cause well. Furthermore is the direct contact of the cold accumulators with Food for this particularly preferred use for hygienic reasons and because of the risk of cold burn undesirable.

In the DE 198 52 813 A1 It has therefore been proposed to provide a plastic container with an additional compartment inside, which receives the cold battery and thus fixes it on the one hand and on the other hand separates it from the goods to be cooled, in particular foodstuffs.

If the one from the DE 198 52 813 A1 However, known containers are to be used for other purposes, or if cooling can be dispensed with in the cold season, for example, the additional compartment for the cold battery in the interior of the container is disruptive since it divides the interior of the container.

The present invention lies hence the task of a container of the type mentioned Kind in contrast with regard to its universal usability and easy handling to improve.

This task is through a container with the Features of the protection claim 1 solved.

Preferred further developments and refinements the invention are set out in the claims 2 to 12.

The container according to the invention thus retains the advantages of a separate additional compartment for a cooling element at and is accordingly provided with one. This additional subject is, however, in contrast to the prior art, integrated in the lid, and so that it is from the outside accessible and from the interior of the container is separated. The lid itself can be pivoted via a hinge on the main body articulated, so that there is a swivel lid container, in particular to carry of provisions opposite containers with a separate lid is advantageous. Because containers for carrying Provisions are often opened, without putting it anywhere, with advantages if the lid firmly with the body is connected and does not have to be placed anywhere to hold a hand Grab the contents of the container to get free.

The arrangement of the cooling element according to the invention in the lid of the container offers advantages because the cooling element above the one to be cooled Good is arranged and cold air because of its higher density As is well known, the heat convection inside decreases container so for an optimal cooling effect provides.

The cooling element can be firmly in the lid arranged, but also be removably inserted, for example in the form of a commercially available Gel pad. Such a gel pad can then be "charged" separately in the freezer. In addition, two or more gel pillows are used so that if necessary one already gel cushion that has become warm is replaced by a freshly cooled gel cushion can be.

Especially with a removable cooling element the arrangement of the cooling element according to the invention is like a gel cushion in the lid of the container further advantageous because the cooling element lies due to gravity large area on the Underside of the additional compartment and gives the cold by means of heat conduction through the lid into the interior of the container. Especially upwards, that is to the surroundings of the container down, the heat conduction be prevented by an air cushion as far as the cooling element is dimensioned somewhat smaller than the interior of the additional compartment. There is therefore an isolation effect against itself Environment that was previously expensive in the prior art due to metal coatings or similar manufactured had to become.

A container according to the invention is preferably produced using the injection molding process, the lid and the base body being produced in one piece and connected to one another via a film hinge. In particular with this production method, there are advantages if the additional compartment is molded into the outside of the cover, for example as a trough. Here, the additional compartment can take up substantially the entire surface of the lid - which is advantageous for the cooling effect or heat transfer between the cooling element and the interior of the container -, the lid for forming the additional compartment being essentially flat with a circumferential bead. To the outside is the additional subject then lockable with an additional compartment lid.

The additional compartment lid is preferably pivotable attached to the lid, with the easy accessibility of the additional compartment thereby guaranteed can be that a locking element for locking the closing Additional compartment is provided on the additional compartment cover. This locking element can be made from a resiliently deformable U-shaped cross section Molding exist, the optionally existing bead of Cover is expedient at this point can have a recess so that the latching element can be easily opened can.

The pivotable attachment of the additional compartment lid on the lid can be made by the additional compartment lid two facing each other in flight Has pivot, while in Cover two corresponding swivel bearings are molded in which the pivots are inserted. In this way, the additional compartment lid, which is made as a separate part, very light on the rest Container, which was preferably made in one piece by injection molding be what an inexpensive Manufacturing ensures.

For easy handling and for optical reasons it is advantageous if the additional compartment lid in the closed state essentially flush with the surface of the lid, the additional subject from the outside accessible, however in the interior of the container is sufficiently designed.

An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and explained. Show it:

1 a perspective view of a container according to the invention in the closed state;

2 a sectional view of the plane AA 1 ;

3 a perspective view of the container 1 with open additional compartment, but closed lid;

4 a perspective view of the container 1 with open additional compartment and open lid.

The one in the 1 . 3 and 4 Container shown in perspective view consists of a base body 1 , a pivotable on this attached lid 2 and a turn on the lid 2 attached additional compartment lid 3 , The additional compartment lid 3 closes one in the lid 2 molded additional compartment 4 which covers essentially the entire area of the lid 2 takes and from one in the lid 2 molded circumferential bead 5 is limited. The lid 2 is on one side by means of a locking hook 6 and on the other hand with a film hinge 7 on the main body 1 established. The additional compartment cover is in a corresponding manner 3 on the one hand by means of a locking element 8th and on the other hand by means of two pivots 9 on the lid 2 established. The locking element 8th is through a recess 10 in the bead 5 accessible from the outside and thus easily detachable.

How 1 shows, the present embodiment of the invention from a conventional swivel lid container according to the prior art can hardly be distinguished from the outside.

2 , a sectional view in a plane that in 1 by means of broken lines and symbolized with the letter A, the “inner life” of the present exemplary embodiment is visible 1 is with the lid 2 over a film hinge 7 connected in one piece and manufactured together with this by injection molding. The lid 2 is flat and almost flat over almost the entire base of the container, whereby it is by means of the circumferential bead 5 the additional subject 4 forms which of the additional compartment cover 3 is closed to the outside and a cooling element 11 , in the present case includes a removable gel pad.

Based 2 it can be seen that the pivot 9 on the lid 2 hinged additional compartment lid 3 when closed, flush with the lid 2 , here the bead 5 concludes. Furthermore, it can be seen here that the cooling element 11 preferably not the entire volume of the additional compartment 4 occupies, but on the bottom of the lid 2 lies on top of the additional compartment lid 3 back, and possibly also an insulating air cushion remains on the side. The large-area contact of the cooling element 11 with the lid 2 leads to good heat transfer between the cooling element 11 and the interior of the from the lid 2 closed body 1 , where the heat transfer to the goods to be cooled takes place via convection.

Also from 2 is best seen that the locking element 8th consists of a U-shaped, resiliently deformable molded part, which is in one piece with the additional compartment lid 3 has been manufactured. About the recess 10 can the locking element 8th from the frictional connection with the lid 2 be pushed out to open or swing away the additional compartment cover 3 to enable. The pivoting design of the locking hook 6 to fix the lid 2 on the main body 1 becomes clear here.

3 again shows a perspective view of the present embodiment of the invention, with on the base body 1 closed lid 2 but the additional compartment lid is open 3 , while 4 shows the same perspective view, but here also the lid 2 is open. On the basis of these figures it is particularly clear that the additional subject 4 large area in the lid 2 molded in and only through the bead 5 is limited, and in what way the additional compartment lid 3 with its pivot 9 in swivel bearings 12 of the lid 2 sitting.

Finally, it is noted that the Purpose of the container according to the invention not on storage and the transportation of food is restricted; it goes without saying other uses conceivable and encompassed by the invention, at which the contents of the container chilled or vice versa should be kept warm.

1

body

2

cover

3

Additional cover

4

Bypass tray

5

bead

6

latch hook

7

film hinge

8th

locking element

9

pivot

10

recess

11

cooling element

12

pivot bearing

Claims (12)

Plastic containers, in particular for food, with a base body open at the top ( 1 ), the basic body ( 1 ) closing lid ( 2 ) and an additional subject ( 4 ) with a cooling element ( 11 ), characterized in that the cover ( 2 ) via a hinge ( 7 ) swiveling on the base body ( 1 ) and that the additional compartment ( 4 ) accessible from the outside and separated from the interior of the container in the lid ( 2 ) is integrated. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling element ( 11 ) from the additional subject ( 4 ) can be removed. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooling element ( 11 ) is a gel cushion. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the additional compartment ( 4 ) in the outside of the lid ( 2 ) molded in and with an additional compartment lid ( 3 ) is lockable. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the additional compartment ( 4 ) essentially the entire area of the lid ( 2 ) and the lid ( 2 ) to form the additional subject ( 4 } essentially flat with a circumferential bead ( 5 ) is trained. Container according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the additional compartment lid ( 3 ) swiveling on the lid ( 2 ) is attached. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the additional compartment lid ( 3 ) a locking element ( 8th ) for locking the additional compartment ( 4 ) having. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the latching element ( 8th ) consists of a resiliently deformable molded part with a U-shaped cross section. Container according to claim 5 and one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the bead ( 5 ) of the lid ( 2 ) in the area of the locking element ( 8th ) a recess ( 10 ) having. Container according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the additional compartment lid ( 3 ) two pivots opposite each other in flight ( 9 ) and by means of it pivotable into two corresponding, in the lid ( 2 ) molded swivel bearings ( 12 ) sits. Container according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the additional compartment lid ( 3 ) in the closed state essentially flush with the surface of the lid ( 2 ) completes. Container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lid ( 2 ) and the basic body ( 1 ) made in one piece and over a film hinge ( 7 ) are connected.