EP1128752A1 - Recipient alimentaire presentant une face exterieure comprenant une quantite limitee de materiaux liants - Google Patents

Recipient alimentaire presentant une face exterieure comprenant une quantite limitee de materiaux liants

Info

Publication number
EP1128752A1
EP1128752A1 EP99971678A EP99971678A EP1128752A1 EP 1128752 A1 EP1128752 A1 EP 1128752A1 EP 99971678 A EP99971678 A EP 99971678A EP 99971678 A EP99971678 A EP 99971678A EP 1128752 A1 EP1128752 A1 EP 1128752A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
food container
facing
particulate material
external facing
food
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99971678A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
John William Toussant
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Publication of EP1128752A1 publication Critical patent/EP1128752A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G19/00—Table service
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G19/00—Table service
    • A47G19/02—Plates, dishes or the like
    • A47G19/03—Plates, dishes or the like for using only once, e.g. made of paper

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to food containers, and more particularly to food containers having a user facing surface which provides improved cut resistance.
  • Disposable food containers are well known in the art.
  • Disposable food containers include common paper plates, bowls, clam shells, trays, cutting boards, etc.
  • the art has paid considerable attention to making, molding, and deforming these food containers out of a single plane. In this latter process a blank is provided. The blank is inserted between mating platens and pressed. The periphery of the blank may have radial grooves. The radial grooves provide for accumulation of the material deformed by the platens.
  • Exemplary art includes U.S. Patents 3,033,434, issued May 8. 1962 to Carson; 4,026,458, issued May 31 , 1977 to Morris et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference; 4,606.496.
  • Shanton teaches a coated paper board having two coatings, a base coat and a top coat. Each coating consists of a polymer latex and a particulate pigment. The top coat has a blend of about 90 parts kaolin clay, having approximately 80% of the particles less than two microns in size. Furthermore, U.S. 5,709,913 issued Jan. 20, 1998 to Andersen et al. discloses, in Example 112, inorganically filled paper plates which are allegedly more rigid than conventional paper plates.
  • mineral pigments such as titanium dioxide
  • water and soluble particulate fillers such as kaolin clay
  • opacifying agents such as tissue. Examples include commonly assigned U.S. 4,952,278 issued Aug. 28, 1990 to Gregory et al.; U.S. 5,611 ,890 issued Mar. 18, 1997 to Vinson et al.; and 5,672,249 issued Sept. 30, 1997 to Vinson et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • fillers and cationic starch have been taught in nonanalogous arts such as the production of news print as found in U.S. 5,670,021 issued Sept. 23, 1997 to Owens.
  • this invention provides a food container having a cut resistance surface which is simpler in execution and consumer preferred over the surfaces provided by the attempts in the prior art.
  • this invention provides a food container having a cut resistance surface which not only improves resistance to inadvertent cutting and to penetration by liquid such as grease, but also provides a preferred tactile feel, when using common eating utensils such as silverware.
  • This invention comprises a food container.
  • the food container has a first user-facing surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface.
  • the food container has a cut-resistant particle containing external facing juxtaposed with, and preferably coincident, the first surface.
  • the external facing has particulate material and a second binder material disposed therein.
  • the particulate material has a Mohs hardness of at least 3 and preferably at least 7.
  • an intermediate facing may be disposed between the external facing and the substrate. At least one of the intermediate facing and external facing are free of clay, free of resin, or free of both.
  • the particulate material has a particle size of at least 5 microns, and preferably at least 10 microns.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food container according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic fragmentary sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2 and showing a food container having an intermediate facing.
  • the food container 10 may comprise a plate, bowl, tray, clam shell, cutting board or any other configuration known in the art.
  • the food container 10 has a concave first surface 11 and a convex second surface 12.
  • the concave first surface 11 of the food container 10 is that side which typically faces the user while in use.
  • the convex side of the food container 10 typically faces away from the user in use and may rest upon a horizontal surface such as a table.
  • the food container 10 thus comprises a first user-facing surface and a second surface 12 opposed to the first surface 11.
  • the food container 10 further has a cut-resistant external facing 32 juxtaposed with, and preferably coincident, the first surface 11.
  • the cut-resistant external facing 32 comprises particulate material 34 disposed in a single stratum. Particulate material 34 of the cut- resistant external facing 32 is disposed on and carried by a substrate 30.
  • the food container 10 comprises a central region 14 and a circumjacent periphery 16.
  • the central region 14 and periphery 16 are preferably disposed in two different planes, although a flat food container 10 is contemplated as a less preferred embodiment.
  • a flat food container 10, may, for example, have utility as a food tray or cutting board.
  • the food container 10 is preferably multi-planar.
  • multi-planar it is meant that the different portions of the food container 10 lie in different planes.
  • An example of the multi-planarity of the food container 10 of the present invention is illustrated by the central region 14 and periphery 16 of the food container 10. The central region 14 and periphery 16 of the food container 10 are spaced apart in the Z-direction, thus rendering the food container 10 multi- planar.
  • the central region 14 or the periphery 16 be parallel to the XY plane or generally planar.
  • bowls having a generally concave shaped bottom will be suitable for use with the present invention.
  • the boundary and shape of the periphery 16 are defined by the edge 18 of the food container 10.
  • the dimensions and relative proportions of the periphery 16 and central region 14 of the food container 10 will vary according to the exact size and intended use of the food container 10. While a round food container 10 is contemplated, one of ordinary skill will recognize that any suitable shape and depth of food container 10 may be selected for use with the present invention and the invention is not so limited. Other suitable shapes include squares, rectangles, ovals, various polygons, etc.
  • the substrate 30 of the food container 10 may be comprised of at least two plies, a first ply and a second ply.
  • the second ply may be smaller that the first ply, so that at least part of the food container 10 is free from the second ply.
  • the second ply and the first ply may be concentric.
  • an alternative embodiment (not shown) of the food container 10 may comprise three or more plies.
  • the food container 10 comprises a single ply of a rigid material, particularly a material which provides for carrying the cut-resistant external facing 32 in juxtaposition and preferably coincident with the user-facing surface of the food container 10. Suitable rigid materials include foam, plastic and various other synthetic materials.
  • the food container 10 is preferably made of cellulose and may be made of kraft, solid bleached sulfite (SBS), or layers of various paper fibers including recycled cellulose.
  • the food container 10 may be molded from a pulp slurry or pressed from a blank between mating platens. Both methods of manufacture are well known in the art.
  • the external facing 32 provides resistance to penetration of hot greasy foods into the substrate 30 of the food container 10. Also, the external facing 32 provides a tactile sensation which is not unpleasant when the user touches the first surface 11 of the food container 10, or cuts food thereon with an eating utensil such as a knife.
  • a particulate material 34 is particularly preferred for the external facing 32.
  • a material having discrete and separate particles allows the facing to be hard and cut resistant without being brittle. This combination allows the food container 10 to be handled, shipped, etc., during normal transportation and use - without breaking, spalling, delamination or chipping of the external facing 32 surface.
  • first surface 11 of the food container 10 be hard yet flexible - rather than hard and brittle. This arrangement further allows the first surface 11 of the food container 10 to be cut-resistant. As used herein, a surface is considered to be "cut-resistant” if the surface allows the user to exert normal pressures while eating cooked and other prepared foods without ordinarily penetrating through the substrate 30 of the food container 10. It is further important that the first surface 11 provides the proper tactile sensation directly to the fingertips and as transmitted through various eating utensils.
  • the particulate material 34 comprising the external facing 32 have a Mohs hardness of at least 3, preferably at least 7, and even approaching or greater than 9.
  • a Mohs hardness between 6.5 and 7.5 has been found suitable for use with the food container 10 of the claimed invention.
  • the Mohs hardness scale (measured on a 1 to 10 talc to diamond scale) of the particulate materials 34 of the external facing 32 are well documented in reference handbooks such as pages 4-132 to 4-139, 12-93 to 12-97, and 12-205 to 12-206 of The Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 78 th Edition, 1997-1998 incorporated herein by reference.
  • the hardness of the particulate material 34 comprising the external facing 32 is determined prior to incorporating the particulate material 34 into or disposing the particulate material 34 on the substrate 30 of the food container 10.
  • a food container 10 having the proper and preferred tactile sensation is attainable.
  • Such a hardness allows the user to cut foods on the food container 10 with a sharp knife, without experiencing the unpleasant occurrence when the knife cuts through the food container 10, allowing gravy, au jus, etc., to leak through the food container 10.
  • the particulate material 34 has a preferred particle size.
  • the preferred particle size is necessary to impart the tactile sensation of toughness without being unpleasant to the touch. The, user will not be afraid to cut food disposed on such a food container 10 with a sharp knife or other eating utensil.
  • the particulate material 34 comprising external the facing 32 has a particle size of at least 5 microns, and preferably 10 microns.
  • the particulate material 34 may range in size from 20 to 200 microns, and possibly range from 50 to 200 microns. Particle size is measured using an L3P Sonic Sifter Separator, ATM available from VWR Scientific Products Corp., catalog number 57353-035.
  • the particulate material 34 comprising the external facing 32 may be a mixture of or several mixtures of mineral and other types of particulates known in the art and commercially available.
  • various particulates comprising alumina, silica, carbonate, oxides, carbides, nitrides, bromides, hard metals, hard alloys, hard elements.
  • suitable carbides include tantalum carbide, tungsten carbide, zirconium carbide, beryllium carbide or silicone carbide (carborundum).
  • suitable borides include aluminum boride, tantalum boride, zirconium boride, and titanium boride. Boron may also be used.
  • suitable nitrides include aluminum nitride, zirconium nitride and titanium nitride.
  • Metals including hard metal alloys, such as iron, steel and chromium may be used for the particulate material 34. Ceramics, such as stoneware and particularly porcelain type ceramic particulate materials 34 have been found suitable. More particularly, aluminum oxide (corundum), silicone dioxide (quartz), calcium carbonate, potassium aluminum silicate and feldspar are suitable. Silicone dioxide, calcium carbonate, and aluminum oxide are available from the J.T. Baker Company, a division of Mallincroft Baker, Inc., of Phillipsburg, NJ, under catalog numbers JT3405, JT1301 , and JT0536, respectively.
  • the particulate material 34 may further comprise clay.
  • a kaolin clay has been found particularly well suited. Suitable kaolin clay is available from the J.T. Baker Company of Phillipsburg, NJ under catalog number JT2242.
  • a suitable mixture for the external facing 32 has been found to be 80% kaolin clay and 20% aluminum oxide. Another suitable mixture has been found to be 80% kaolin clay and 20% calcium carbonate. All percentages described herein are weight percentages, unless otherwise specified.
  • the particulate material 34 including any optional clay, may be added to a water-based resin to form a coating. An acrylic resin is particularly preferred.
  • a suitable coating may have 50 to 90% resin with 10 to 50% particulate material 34 mixed therein.
  • a suitable add-on level for the particulate material 34 comprising the external facing 32 of first surface 11 of the food container 10 is from about 0.5 to 100 grams per square meter, and preferably from about 1 to 50 grams per square meter.
  • a round food container 10 having a finished diameter of about 22.9 centimeters and 0J to 2 grams of particulate material 34 comprising the external facing 32 has been found suitable.
  • the particulate material 34 including any resin or other carrier used therewith, be applied to the substrate 30 of the food container 10 as a single stratum.
  • the single stratum provides the benefits over the dual strata teachings of the prior art of more precise control of the add-on levels, a single application operation, and is accommodated by a commercial drying operation.
  • the dual strata teachings of the prior art require double the inventory of raw materials and double the machinery to apply the particulate material 34 to the substrate 30.
  • the coating which ultimately comprises the external facing 32, may be applied to the substrate 30 of the food container 10 after it is formed.
  • the coating comprising the particulate material 34 may be applied by blade coating, printing, or spraying as are known in the art. If blade coating is used, the hardness of the blade must be at least as hard as the particulate material 34.
  • an air knife coating process is used to apply the particulate mixture to the substrate 30.
  • the substrate 30 of the food container 10 is not dipped into the coating - so that the second surface 12 of the food container 10 remains uncoated.
  • the particulate material 34 may be applied in a gradient.
  • the gradient preferably has a greater add-on level near the center of the food container 10 where more cutting typically occurs in use.
  • Less of the particulate material 34 may be applied to the exposed sides and periphery 16 of the food, which typically function to hold the food within the periphery 16 of food container 10. This allows for conservation of the particulate material 34 as well as concentrating the particulate material 34 in the area which typically receives the greatest wear in use.
  • Such an arrangement provides a Z-direction gradient, with concentration increasing as the center of the food container 10 is approached and decreasing as the edge of the food container 10 is approached.
  • the particulate material 34 may vary in an XY pattern between regions of the first surface 11 having the particulate material 34 and regions free of the particulate material 34.
  • the particulate material 34 may, for example, be applied in a checkerboard pattern or in stripes. Suitable patterns of stripes include concentric rings, radial lines (either straight or spiral), parallel lines, etc. This arrangement provided the benefit that the food container 10 is flexible in the regions not having the particulate material 34 and yet hard in the regions having the particulate material 34. Thus a food container 10 which has a cut resistant external facing 32 will still result.
  • the external facing 32 may be provided with at least one overcoat (not shown).
  • the overcoat serves to protect the particulate material 34 and the external facing 32 from becoming dislodged from the substrate of the food container 10. Additionally, the overcoat defines and provides a relatively smoother first surface 11. Preferably, the overcoat does not provide a first surface 11 which is too smooth, otherwise the proper tactile sensation may not result.
  • the overcoat(s) may comprise an acrylic resin.
  • the acrylic resin is relatively transparent or translucent, so that an aesthetically pleasing first surface 11 will result.
  • the overcoat may be applied by printing, spraying, dipping, blade coating, air knife coating, etc. as known in the art.
  • the external facing 32 may comprise one stratum or plural strata.
  • the external facing 32 will, at most, have only a single binder material 36 - without regard to the number of strata.
  • Binder materials 36 include clay, resin, and other particulate matter which may or may not have a Mohs hardness greater than 3, but serve to bind the particulate material 34 into a matrix comprising the external facing 32.
  • the external facing 32 will be free of clay, free of resin or free of both while still containing the particulate material 34.
  • one stratum may be free of resin while the other stratum may be free of clay.
  • One stratum may be free of both resin and clay.
  • the external facing 32 is disposed on the substrate 30.
  • the condition of being "disposed on” includes configurations where the external facing 32 resides directly upon the substrate 30 as well as configurations where the external facing 32 is connected to the substrate 30 through an intermediate member, such as an intermediate facing 40.
  • the intermediate facing 40 may have the same composition as the external facing 32. Referring to Fig. 3, preferably, however, the intermediate facing 40 and the external facing 32 have different compositions. This allows one to tailor the intermediate facing 40 and external facing 32 to the particular desired properties.
  • one of the external facing 32 and intermediate facing 40 may be free of resin.
  • the other of the external facing 32 and intermediate facing 40 may be free of clay.
  • One of the external facing 32 and intermediate facing 40 may be free of both resin and clay. The other may contain clay or resin.
  • the external facing 32 may contain only a single binder material 36 while the intermediate facing 40 contains both (or a single) binder material 36. All such variations are contemplated and within the scope of the claimed invention.

Abstract

Ce récipient alimentaire (10) présente une première surface (11) tournée vers l'utilisateur, ainsi qu'une seconde surface, opposée (12). On a juxtaposé à la première surface (11) une face extérieure (32) résistant aux coupures, laquelle, de préférence, coïncide avec la première surface. Cette face (32) comprend un matériau particulaire (34) et est dépourvue d'argile, ou dans un autre mode de réalisation, de résine. Le matériau particulaire (34) comprend, de préférence, des particules possédant une dimension d'au moins 5 microns et une dureté dans l'échelle de Mohs d'au moins 3.
EP99971678A 1998-11-09 1999-11-03 Recipient alimentaire presentant une face exterieure comprenant une quantite limitee de materiaux liants Withdrawn EP1128752A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US18860998A 1998-11-09 1998-11-09
US188609 1998-11-09
PCT/US1999/025934 WO2000027256A1 (fr) 1998-11-09 1999-11-03 Recipient alimentaire presentant une face exterieure comprenant une quantite limitee de materiaux liants

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1128752A1 true EP1128752A1 (fr) 2001-09-05

Family

ID=22693857

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99971678A Withdrawn EP1128752A1 (fr) 1998-11-09 1999-11-03 Recipient alimentaire presentant une face exterieure comprenant une quantite limitee de materiaux liants

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1128752A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2002529129A (fr)
KR (1) KR20010086001A (fr)
CN (1) CN1324224A (fr)
AU (1) AU1243100A (fr)
BR (1) BR9915173A (fr)
CA (1) CA2348901A1 (fr)
TW (1) TW442427B (fr)
WO (1) WO2000027256A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA200103016B (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TW201521886A (zh) * 2013-12-05 2015-06-16 wen-xiang Chen 餐具之製造方法及步驟
CN114190796B (zh) * 2021-12-17 2023-09-22 武汉苏泊尔炊具有限公司 砧板及其制造方法

Family Cites Families (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3033434A (en) 1961-03-27 1962-05-08 Peerless Machine & Tool Co Inc Pressed article with smooth take-up curved zones
US4026458A (en) 1975-03-27 1977-05-31 International Paper Company Deep drawn paperboard container and process for making it
US4609140C1 (en) 1982-04-13 2002-04-16 James River Corp Rigid paperboard container and method and apparatus for producing same
US4721500A (en) 1982-04-13 1988-01-26 James River-Dixie Northern, Inc. Method of forming a rigid paper-board container
AU572632B2 (en) 1984-03-20 1988-05-12 James River Corporation Of Virginia Rigid paperboard container
US4623565A (en) * 1985-05-30 1986-11-18 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Coated microwave cookware
US4873137A (en) * 1988-06-02 1989-10-10 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Food tray
US4952278A (en) 1989-06-02 1990-08-28 The Procter & Gamble Cellulose Company High opacity paper containing expanded fiber and mineral pigment
US5300747A (en) * 1989-07-17 1994-04-05 Campbell Soup Company Composite material for a microwave heating container and container formed therefrom
US5100472A (en) 1990-03-19 1992-03-31 The Mead Corporation Deionized clay and paper coatings containing the same
EP0472036B1 (fr) 1990-08-20 1995-02-15 Formica Corporation Laminé stratifié décoratif résistant à l'usure et ses procédés de fabrication
US5230939A (en) 1990-09-04 1993-07-27 James River Corporation Of Virginia Forming of pressed trays
DE4029491A1 (de) 1990-09-18 1992-03-19 Feldmuehle Ag Beschichtetes papier
WO1993015271A1 (fr) 1992-01-29 1993-08-05 Kemira Kemi Aktiebolag Procede ameliore pour la fabrication de papier
US5800647A (en) 1992-08-11 1998-09-01 E. Khashoggi Industries, Llc Methods for manufacturing articles from sheets having a highly inorganically filled organic polymer matrix
EP0586206B1 (fr) 1992-09-01 1998-07-22 Fort James Corporation Récipient rigide en carton
JPH0896B2 (ja) * 1993-02-16 1996-01-10 株式会社ダイキョー 抗菌まな板の製造方法
US5626945A (en) 1993-09-28 1997-05-06 International Paper Company Repulpable, water repellant paperboard
US5494716A (en) 1994-05-25 1996-02-27 International Paper Company Dual-ovenable food trays
US5611890A (en) 1995-04-07 1997-03-18 The Proctor & Gamble Company Tissue paper containing a fine particulate filler
US5672249A (en) 1996-04-03 1997-09-30 The Procter & Gamble Company Process for including a fine particulate filler into tissue paper using starch
US5776619A (en) 1996-07-31 1998-07-07 Fort James Corporation Plate stock

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0027256A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2002529129A (ja) 2002-09-10
TW442427B (en) 2001-06-23
WO2000027256A1 (fr) 2000-05-18
BR9915173A (pt) 2001-10-30
CN1324224A (zh) 2001-11-28
KR20010086001A (ko) 2001-09-07
ZA200103016B (en) 2002-07-11
AU1243100A (en) 2000-05-29
CA2348901A1 (fr) 2000-05-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
RU2347519C2 (ru) Одноразовая тарелка с улучшенными эргономическими характеристиками
US5230939A (en) Forming of pressed trays
US5294000A (en) Food and beverage support tray
USD441541S1 (en) Paper towel
AU755081B2 (en) Food container having cut resistance surface
EP1128753A1 (fr) Recipient alimentaire comprenant un substrat impregne de materiau particulaire
WO2000027256A1 (fr) Recipient alimentaire presentant une face exterieure comprenant une quantite limitee de materiaux liants
JP2004538047A5 (fr)
WO2002011586A1 (fr) Plateau-support pour boissons
US20090293289A1 (en) Knife having superior functionality and appeal
USD479434S1 (en) Handle for kitchen utensil
TWI826143B (zh) 紙容器結構
JP2964954B2 (ja) つく係止用の溝部を兼ねる二重糸底付き容器、及びこの容器を利用する丼鉢
JP3209865U (ja) Ｕｖ印刷を施した精巧な模様表面を持つ木製平滑平板盤。
JP3085551U (ja) 器物及び茶托
JPH0235260Y2 (fr)
JPS63281605A (ja) 容器
CN1376440A (zh) 勺子等烹调用具
TWM651802U (zh) 結合餐具之盒蓋
TWM351041U (en) Container structure improvement

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20010523

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20021010

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20030221

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: HK

Ref legal event code: WD

Ref document number: 1039736

Country of ref document: HK