EP0378245A1 - Closed service container for liquids, especially for condensed milk - Google Patents

Abstract

In a closed serving container for condensed milk, in the upper side of which is provided a tearable pouring opening (4) and whose bottom is provided as a filling opening, it is intended to provide an easy-to close, yet stable bottom. For this purpose, the bottom is of multi- part form in that a heat-sealable film (15) which closes the filling opening in a leak-tight manner is sealed on the bottom flange (14), the outside of which film being covered by a rigid plastics cover (16) held on the bottom flange (14). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a closed serving container for liquids, in particular condensed milk, with a hollow base made of plastic, in the top of which a receptacle is provided, and whose downwardly extending container walls run out into an approximately horizontal, circumferential bottom flange which forms a filling opening of the Surrounds the container and to which a bottom which closes the filling opening and is adapted to the plan of the container is fastened.

There has recently been an increasing tendency for condensed milk to be served directly from the sales containers. In addition to an attractive shape, such containers must also have pouring properties that are similar to conventional milk jugs. They must also be easy to open without liquid leaking from the inside of the container. For this reason, the tear opening is usually kept quite small, so that it is hardly possible to fill the container through the removal opening due to its size.

In a serving container known from practice, which is also described in DE-OS 33 37 456, the container is filled with the bottom removed. Like the wall material of the container, the base also consists of a plastic which has approximately the same thickness as the wall material. In practice, this plastic floor is made using ultrasonic welding Bottom flange connected. This process is relatively difficult to use and requires expensive machines. It is also possible to glue the floor in place, but this is even more complex and often does not meet the high tightness requirements. Furthermore, in the known plastic container handle part and pouring part are molded into the container wall, whereby the filling volume of the container can be increased, but on the other hand there are dead corners in the container which make it difficult to clean the container beforehand, which has a negative effect on the durability of the condensed milk can. Pouring out the milk is also difficult in the known container.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a serving container of the type mentioned, in particular with regard to its handling.

This object is achieved in that the bottom is formed in several parts by a heat sealable, sealing the filling opening sealing film is sealed on the bottom flange, the outside of which is covered by a rigid plastic lid held on the bottom flange.

This solution considerably simplifies the handling of the serving container when filling with the milk. The use of heat-sealable films for closing disposable containers is common in the packaging industry; however, the heat sealable films are always used to close the top of the container. The rigid plastic cover, which hides the outside of the film and is held on the base flange, on the one hand achieves a mechanical stiffening of the base, which the heat-sealable film is not able, on the other hand the film is protected against damage. By separating the sealing function and the stiffening function of the base into two separate parts of the base, the serving container can be closed very easily after it has been filled. The same machines can be used with which conventional disposable cups, such as. B. yogurt cups are closed. The rigid plastic lid can simply be clamped onto the base flange, since its sealing properties are no longer important. Favorably, the plastic lid has essentially the same wall thickness as the container walls; it is preferably also made of the same material.

A particularly simple fastening of the plastic cover to the base flange is obtained if an apron, which extends downward and surrounds the external periphery of the plastic cover and into which the plastic cover is clamped, adjoins the outer periphery of the base flange. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if an inward circumferential locking shoulder is formed on the lower inner edge of the apron, which engages under the outer ring of the plastic cover. This allows for a particularly simple assembly of the plastic cover, and above all it ensures that the end consumer avoids removing the plastic cover. The plastic lid cannot be recognized as such, since the outer edge is covered by the inward-facing locking shoulder of the apron. it would also be possible to attach detents distributed over the circumference that could similarly ensure the holding function, but then the outer edge of the plastic cover would be recognizable under certain circumstances.

It is particularly preferred if the plastic cover is S-shaped in cross-section in the outer edge area, the lower part of the S-shape forming a circumferential standing bead and the upper part of the S-shape forming the outer edge of the plastic cover, which lies against the base flange and the contour of the Apron to rest shoulder follows. Since the riot bead extends below the lower edge of the apron, it is e.g. B. possible to design the container in two colors by giving the plastic lid a different color than the base body of the serving container. The riot bead also stiffens the plastic cover. At the same time, the radially elastic compliance of the cover is achieved through the cross-section S-shaped outer edge area, which facilitates the insertion of the plastic cover into the apron.

It is also particularly expedient if the central region of the plastic cover is arranged at a distance from the film. On the one hand, this protects the heat-sealable film even better; on the other hand, this space between the film and the plastic lid achieves a certain insulating effect, which ensures that even if only small amounts of milk are left in the serving container and the serving container is on the table for a long time, the temperature of the milk rises less strongly, than with conventional serving containers, so that the milk stays fresh longer.

It has proven to be particularly favorable if the heat-sealable film is designed as a plastic-clad metal film, in particular aluminum film. These are so-called composite films that have been used in the disposable container area for a long time.

The handling of the serving container when pouring out the condensed milk is made considerably easier if the presentable removal opening in the top of the base body is at least partially surrounded by a pouring rim which forms a pouring spout and extends upwards beyond the top side of the base body. As a result, the pouring spout is separated from the tear-open removal opening, so that a uniform pouring stream can always be formed which is completely unaffected by whether the removal opening is torn open or whether burrs have remained there. Since these improved pouring properties also occur when the bottom is closed in a different way, independent protection is sought for the special design and arrangement of the pouring rim.

If the pouring rim is arranged in the edge region of the upper side, where it merges into the container walls, the pouring rim encloses a relatively large area, which creates a pouring situation which comes very close to conventional milk jugs made of porcelain or the like.

The pouring properties are further improved if the tear-open removal opening is arranged in the region of the pouring spout and is delimited by two interconnected weakening lines which run in the material of the upper side and which end on the edge side of the removal opening facing away from the pouring spout into a common pivot hinge line oriented transversely to the pouring spout . This is associated with a further advantage that the removal opening can be reclosed. The removal opening is only opened in the area of the two lines of weakness. The swivel hinge line running transversely to this end is also weakened with respect to the material of the upper side, but it is thicker than the weakened lines intended to be torn open. The area torn open from the top is thus held on the top by means of the swivel hinge line and, when the container is put back in the refrigerator, can be swung back into the top, so that the removal opening is closed again. This also results in a relatively tight reclosure, since the material in the area of the lines of weakness is slightly stretched when torn open, so that a type of sealing lip is formed.

If the two lines of weakness, forming a tip, converge in a V-shape towards the pouring spout, on the one hand the tearing of the removal opening is facilitated, since the forces concentrate on the tip at the beginning of the tearing open, on the other hand the tip already causes the outlets to emerge from the removal opening Milk, so that the pouring can take place in a more targeted manner.

To make tearing easier, a tear ring is also attached between the lines of weakness in the area of the tip of the tear-open removal opening.

It is particularly expedient if the base body of the container is formed essentially from two truncated cones arranged one above the other, the inner sides of the container inner walls enclosing the cavity being essentially rotationally symmetrical to the vertical axis of the container. In this way, a relatively large, safe footprint of the serving container is achieved, on the one hand, and on the other hand the top, in which the removal opening is located, is advantageously reduced in size. The step-like arrangement also ensures that a horizontal surface, namely the top of the lower truncated cone, rotates below the pouring rim. This has the advantage that a drop of milk running down the outside of the pouring spout gets onto this peripheral surface and dries there without this drop also being able to run down the lower truncated cone in order to contaminate the tablecloth. Another major advantage is that the cavity has no dead corners. Thus, if the serving container is rinsed with condensed milk before filling, the likelihood that germs will remain inside the container is much lower than in conventional containers, so that the condensed milk in the container has a longer shelf life. Since these advantages also occur when the floor is closed in a different way than with a heat-sealable film, independent protection is also sought for the shape of the base body.

The interior is more easily accessible for flushing and cleaning if the upper truncated cone is more inclined to the horizontal than the lower truncated cone.

In order to simplify the stackability of the serving containers before filling, it is advantageous if the upper edge of the pouring rim lies essentially in a common plane which is parallel to the bottom surface of the container. In this way it is possible to stack the containers that are open on the bottom into one another without having to pay attention to the orientation of the containers about their vertical axis. The upper container is supported with the upper inside of the lower truncated cone on the From the top edge of the pouring rim of the container below.

It is also favorable for handling the serving container if a handle is attached to the side of the hollow base body facing away from the pouring spout, the upper edge of which lies in the same plane as the upper edge of the pouring rim. Particularly when the pouring rim is not guided through 360 °, the top edge of the handle together with the top edge of the pouring rim provides uniform support for the stacked containers.

If the radial extension of the pouring rim and handle protruding outward beyond the upper truncated cone ends within an imaginary, upwardly extended lateral surface of the lower truncated cone and outside the base area of the upper truncated cone, this not only contributes to the favorable stackability, but also ensures that the The pouring spout in the pouring rim can be drawn out as far as possible, but it still ends above the top of the lower truncated cone, so that a falling drop falls on this top and cannot run down the outer wall of the container.

• Fig. 1 einen erfindungsgemäßen Servierbehälter in einer teilweise geschnittenen Seitenansicht, und
• Fig. 2 den Servierbehälter aus Fig. 1 in einer Draufsicht.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show it:

• Fig. 1 shows a serving container according to the invention in a partially sectioned side view, and
• Fig. 2 shows the serving container of Fig. 1 in a plan view.

As can best be seen from FIG. 1, the serving container consists of an essentially hollow base made of plastic. The base body is made up of two truncated cones 1 and 2 arranged one above the other, the upper truncated cone 1 having a much smaller average diameter than the lower truncated cone 2. The angle of inclination α of the upper truncated cone is 15 ° and is therefore somewhat larger than the inclination of the lower truncated cone 2. In the essentially horizontal, flat upper side 3 of the upper truncated cone 1, a tear-open removal opening 4 is provided. The removal opening 4, as can be seen more clearly from FIG. 2, is surrounded by a pouring rim 5, which runs forward into a pouring spout 6. Strictly speaking, the pouring rim 5 is arranged on the outer edge of the top 3, where the top 3 merges into the container walls 7 sloping downwards. The pouring spout 6 diametrically opposite a handle 8 is provided on the top of the lower truncated cone 2 and on the outer wall of the upper truncated cone 1. The upper edge 9 of the handle 8 and the upper edge 10 of the pouring rim 5 lie in a common, also horizontal plane. The radial extension of the handle 8 and the pouring rim 5 goes so far that the handle 8 and the pouring rim 5 are still within the upwardly extended lateral surface of the lower truncated cone 2.

As can be seen particularly well from FIG. 2, the removal opening 4 is delimited by two weakening lines 11 tapering towards one another in the direction of the pouring spout 6. At their rear end, the lines of weakness 11 are connected to a transverse pivot hinge line 12. The lines of weakness 11 and the swivel hinge line 12 differ in essentially only in that the material thickness in the area of the weakening lines is less than in the area of the swivel hinge line. On the spout 6 facing tip of the triangle formed by the weakening lines 11 and the pivot hinge line 12, a tear ring 13 known per se is attached. With this ring, the triangle can be torn open beginning at the tip and then along the weakening lines 11 without the pivoting hinge line 12 running transversely thereto being damaged. This triangle can thus be used to reclose the removal opening by simply pivoting it back.

If one follows the container walls 7 further down, it can be seen that the container walls 7 run down into a radially outwardly extending, approximately horizontal, circumferential bottom flange 14 which surrounds a filling opening of the container. This filling opening of the container is closed by a bottom adapted to the plan of the container. This bottom is made of several parts and consists of a heat-sealable film 15 which is sealed onto the bottom flange 14 and seals the filling opening, and of a rigid plastic cover 16 which covers the film downwards. The heat-sealable film is a commonly used aluminum composite film in this exemplary embodiment.

At the outer periphery of the bottom flange 14 there is a downwardly extending skirt 17, surrounding the outer periphery of the cover 16, into which the plastic cover 16 is clamped. On the lower inner edge of the apron 17, an inward, circumferential locking shoulder 18 is formed, which engages under the outer edge 19. From the Cross-sectional view in Fig. 1 can be clearly seen that the plastic cover 16 is formed in the outer edge area in cross-section S-shaped (see. Right half of Fig. 1). The upper part of the S-shape forms the outer edge which, on the one hand, rests on the film 15 sealed onto the bottom flange 14 and, on the other hand, extends parallel to the apron 17 up to the latching shoulder 18. The outer edge 19 is also slightly frustoconical. The lower part of the S-shape is designed as a circumferential standing bead 20 which extends below the lower edge of the apron 17 and on which the container stands. The middle region of the cover 16 is arranged offset upwards with respect to the lower edge of the riot bead, but spaced from the underside of the film 15. This not only improves the protective function of the lid, at the same time creates an air space that contributes to the insulation of the floor.

The S-shaped design of the outer edge region of the cover 16 not only increases its torsional rigidity, but also allows a certain radially elastic compliance, which facilitates the insertion of the cover 16 into the apron 17.

It remains to be added that due to the two truncated cones 1 and 2 arranged one above the other, the inner cavity of the container is essentially rotationally symmetrical about the vertical axis of the container. The container itself, as well as the plastic lid 16, can be manufactured by injection molding.

The handling of the serving container is explained in more detail below.

When the basic bodies are manufactured and have to be stored temporarily before filling, it is important that the containers can be accommodated to save space. In Fig. 1 it is indicated how the containers can be stacked one inside the other. The containers can be stacked without having to pay particular attention to the orientation of the containers about their vertical axis.

When the containers are then to be filled, they are removed from the stack and turned so that the bottom side faces upwards. The container is rotated in this way from above, after which the film 15 is then sealed onto the bottom flange 14. The plastic cover 16 is then inserted into the apron so that its outer edge 19 engages behind the locking shoulder 18. It is then no longer possible to remove the plastic cover 16.

The serving container filled in this way then goes to the trade and from there to the end user. The serving container is ready to serve, ie it can be placed on the table without having to be transferred to another container. If you want to use the container, you open the removal opening 4 by pulling the tear ring 13 upwards. As a result, the approximately triangular removal opening 4 is opened. The container can now be handled like a normal porcelain milk jug by gripping the handle 8 and pouring the milk in the container into a coffee cup or the like. The milk first emerges from the removal opening 4 and, bound by the pouring rim 5, reaches the pouring spout 6. This pouring spout 6, which is completely smooth and is not disturbed by any tear-open edges of the removal opening in the surface, is guaranteed an even pouring stream, so that spilling the milk is practically impossible. Then the container is put back on the table so that it stands on the table with the riot bead. If a drop of milk is left on the pouring spout 6, it only reaches the top of the lower truncated cone 2, which is horizontal, and dries there. This prevents the milk drop from continuing to run along the lower container wall 7 and possibly contaminating the tablecloth.

The not completely emptied container, which is usually kept in the refrigerator, can be reclosed, since the triangle delimited by the lines of weakness 11 and closing the removal opening 4 can be pivoted back until it lies in the plane of the upper side 3. This allows a opened milk container to be kept in the refrigerator for some time without the milk spoiling.

Claims (16)

1.Closed serving container for liquids, in particular condensed milk, with a hollow base made of plastic, in the container top (3) of which a tear-open removal opening (4) is provided, and the container walls (7) extending downwards into an approximately horizontal, circumferential bottom flange ( 14) which surround a filling opening of the container and to which a bottom which closes the filling opening and is adapted to the plan of the container is fastened,
characterized by
that the bottom is formed in several parts by sealing a heat-sealable film (15) sealing the filling opening on the bottom flange (14), the outside of which is covered by a rigid plastic cover (16) held on the bottom flange (14). 2. Serving container according to claim 1, characterized in that on the outer periphery of the bottom flange (14) a downwardly extending, the outer periphery of the plastic lid (16) surrounding apron (17) connects, in which the plastic lid (16) is clamped. 3. Serving container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an inward, circumferential locking shoulder (18) is formed on the lower inner edge of the apron (17) which engages under the outer edge (19) of the plastic cover (16). 4. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plastic lid (16) in the outer edge region is S-shaped in cross-section, the lower part of the S-shape a circumferential standing bead (20) and the upper part of the S -Shapes the outer edge (19) of the plastic cover (16), which rests on the bottom flange (14) and follows the contour of the apron (17) up to the locking shoulder (18). 5. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the central region of the plastic lid (16) from the film (15) is spaced apart. 6. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heat-sealable film (15) is designed as a plastic-clad metal foil, in particular aluminum foil. 7. Serving container for liquids, with a tear-open removal opening arranged on the top, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tear-open removal opening (4) in the top of the base body at least partially from a pouring spout (6) forming pouring rim (5) is surrounded, which extends upwards over the top (3) of the base body. 8. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pouring rim (5) is arranged in the edge region of the top (3) where it merges into the container walls (7). 9. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the tearable The removal opening (4) is arranged in the region of the pouring spout (6) and is delimited by two interconnected weakening lines (11) running in the material of the top (3), which on the edge of the removal opening (4) facing away from the pouring spout (6) into a Common swivel hinge line (12) aligned transversely to the pouring spout (6) run out. 10. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the two lines of weakness, forming a tip, converge towards the pouring spout (6) in a V-shape. 11. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a tear ring (13) is fastened between the lines of weakness (11) in the region of the tip of the tearable removal opening (4). 12. Serving container with a cavity enclosing base body, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the base body of the container is essentially formed from two stair-shaped truncated cones (1, 2), the inner sides of which enclose the cavity Container inner walls (7) are essentially rotationally symmetrical to the vertical axis of the container. 13. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the upper truncated cone (1) is more inclined to the horizontal than the lower truncated cone (2). 14. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the upper edge (10) of the pouring rim lies essentially in a common plane which is parallel to the bottom surface of the container. 15. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a handle (8) is attached to the side of the hollow base body facing away from the pouring spout (6), the upper edge (9) of which lies in the same plane as the upper edge (10 ) of the pouring rim (5). 16. Serving container according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the radial extension of the outwardly projecting over the upper truncated cone (1) pouring rim (5) and handle (8) within an imaginary, upwardly extended lateral surface of the lower truncated cone ( 2) and outside the base of the upper truncated cone (1) ends.

Images