EP1418134A1 - Disc for making a scooping tool - Google Patents

Abstract

Blank (1) made of flexible material has a separable slit (8) extending from one edge (5) of the blank toward the opposite edge (2) but ending before this edge. The distance between the edge (2-4) of the plate and the slit including the end (9) of the slit is shorter than the length of the slit. The separated parts of the slit are crossed over to form a curve in the blank at the end of the slit, which can be used as a spooning tool. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) Food packaging for spoonable contents comprising the above blank; (2) Production of a spooning tool using the above blank; and (3) Process for spooning spoonable substances using the above spooning tool. Preferred Features: The flexible material consists of at least paper, card or plastic film.

Description

The present invention relates to a product which can be produced from a disk of flexible material Scooping tool, the production of the scooping tool from the disc and the appropriately designed disc.

Many substances, for example semi-solid, flowable or scatterable foods chemical substances in liquid form or as granules and others can also be used scoop with a scoop. A simple example of a scooping tool is a Spoon. However, the invention is also directed to other scooping tools with regard to not necessarily as a spoon due to their external shape or their area of application are designated.

Scooping tools and especially spoons are as finished products made of metal, Plastic, wood and other materials are known. You can go through depending on the material Casting, forging, spraying, cutting or in any other way. In the They usually have a comparatively complex three-dimensional shape and are one largely rigid and not significantly changing in form.

The invention is based on the technical problem, a new and advantageous one Possibility to specify a scoop tool.

For this purpose, the invention is directed to a disk made of flexible material with a separable elongated slot, which starts from an edge of the pane and on the opposite edge of the disc approaches, but before this opposite Edge ends pointedly, with the edge of the disc from the slot including the end of the Slot in the disc has a smaller distance relative to the length of the slot, wherein the disc is designed by crossing those separated by the slot Parts of the washer bulge around the end of the slot in the washer to cause around, so that the disc can be used as a scooping tool.

The invention is also directed to one equipped with the pane according to the invention Food package as well as a method for producing the scoop with Help of the disc according to the invention and finally on a method for scooping scooped substances with the help of this scooping tool.

Preferred embodiments of the various aspects of the invention are in the dependent claims indicated and further emerge from the following Description. It is not in detail between procedural and Device features of the invention distinguished, so that the following disclosure in Is to be understood with regard to both categories.

The invention is based on the basic idea that a scoop tool and in particular a spoon preferred in the context of this invention for food by a suitable molded disc can be produced in a very simple manner with minimal material expenditure. To do this, the disc initially has a certain flexibility so that it can be bent. The The material of the disc must also be matched to the substance to be created and can in the case of foodstuffs, preferably an optionally water-resistant one coated cardboard. However, other materials such as sufficient come solid paper, thin plastics, metal foil, sheet metal and the like. The disc is preferably generally flat, but can also thicken at certain points be, as explained in more detail in the embodiment. For example, a Thickening in the area of the parts to be gripped improves handling the flexible properties can pull themselves or through the use of thickenings are controlled so that, for example, parts of the finished scooping tool to be gripped have a certain stiffness.

The shape of the disc has a slot that is directed from an edge of the disc runs towards the opposite edge, but does not reach it, i.e. the disc does not completely shares. The corresponding end of the slot in the disc should be in one be sufficiently sharp so that after the manufacture of the scooping tool does not result in a too large opening from which the substance to be created could leak. The The requirement for the sharpness of the slot end depends on the grain size or viscosity the substance to be created together.

The edge of the disc holds one of the slot in relation to the length of the slot smaller distance, which does not necessarily have to be constant. The two through parts of the disk which are separate from the slot, that is to say the parts of the disk between the slot and the edge just mentioned with the comparatively smaller distance from the Slot, can be in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the disc separate, i.e. remove from each other in the direction mentioned and then on top of each other cross. By crossing this, the end of the slot in the disc surrounding part of the disc bulges and forms a hollow shape. If now the two crossed parts are brought together and held together is a Scooping tool emerged.

The scooping tool is already present when the two crossed parts for example, with the fingers of a person using the tool be held. In this sense, the term "fixing" used here is too understand. However, it is preferred that the disk has a fastening device with the parts separated by the slot in the crossed state to each other are attachable. This can be, for example, an adhesive layer on one of the Act part or both. A fastening device is particularly preferred essentially consisting of two notches each on the edges of the disk stands, which can be locked together in the crossed state, so can be brought into each other and thereby fix the parts together. With these Notches can be either simple incisions or separable lines, for example Act on pre-punched lines or lines thinned in some other way similar to a predetermined breaking point. Of course, it can also be indentations that are not only linear, but have a two-dimensional dimension, for example V-shaped Slot notches, as shown by the embodiment.

The entire disc can in turn be part of a larger disc and in it Shape, that is, separable by its edge and the slot in this larger pane be defined. Again, it can be pre-cut or in some other way act separable lines.

The slot separating the two parts to be crossed in the inventive Slice can be a line, with the two separate parts in the completely flat State the condition of the pane directly next to each other, or a slot with one two-dimensional expansion, i.e. about a V-shaped slot that the two parts separates from each other even in the flat state. A V shape or other two-dimensional expansion of the slot reinforces the bulging effect when Crossing. The edges of the slot are preferably in the case of a line or also in the In the case of a two-dimensionally extended slot, essentially straight.

The edge of the disc preferably runs in the vicinity of the end of the slot roundish and particularly preferably essentially semicircular like that Embodiment shows. However, the shape can vary depending on the application of the scooping tool can also be varied. The edge on both sides of the slot is preferably essentially straight, but with the mentioned notches for locking the crossed parts the disc, if present, form an exception to the straight shape of the edge.

Otherwise, these straight parts of the edge preferably run approximately parallel to each other, with deviations of approximately +/- 20 ° can still be sufficiently parallel. It is further preferred that the edges are divergent towards the end of the slot. this applies in the case of parallelism approximately within the range of 20 °, but also in the case of non-parallel Edges. Of course, there may also be overall waisted forms of the two edges, i.e. the edges do not necessarily have to be straight. Overall is however, even with non-straight edges it is preferred that they are, so to speak, in the mean form an angle of no more than +/- 20 ° with each other.

The invention is directed, as already mentioned, in addition to the disc and the Disk-produced scooping tool also on an appropriately equipped Food package. This must be designed for a spoonable content, however in the claimed form without this content (i.e. still to be filled his). Of course, the food pack with the spoonful is also used Food Content. The disc according to the invention, optionally in the mentioned larger slice, is combined with the food pack.

Cup-shaped food packs are particularly suitable, in particular circular, elliptical or rectangular (also with rounded corners) opening shapes can have. In such cup packs, the disc can either be a component of the lid or between the lid and the cup or on the top of the lid or at all in or on the food package be enclosed. It can, for example, be attached by detachable adhesives or else be jammed.

Overall, this food pack has the advantage that the consumer is already using it an eating tool is supplied to the packaged food, so that the Food completely independent of the further circumstances in almost any Can consume situations. In particular, semi-solid, flowable or spreadable Food in the sense of a "snack" can be enjoyed on the go without it a spoon or other eating tool must be carried. The invention allows thus a very simple and inexpensive solution that does not require any material and costs Extension of classic snack products to foods that are not allowed bite or suck as a solid product and also not cheap, for example a straw can be drunk. As an example, yogurt or curd cheese is mentioned. However, other semi-solid products can also be considered. Preferably relates to Invention thereby products with a certain viscosity or stiffness (whereby here no distinction is made between semi-solid and flowable products, the concept of For example, viscosity also includes stiffer yogurt products). With thin liquids Products tend to have a greater tendency between the two through the slot separate parts. However, this can be done either by precise assembly of the scooping tool and / or by a linear connection between the parts, for example in the form of an adhesive line with a sealing effect.

Finally, the invention also relates to the production of the packaging with the pane according to the invention, ie the corresponding method in which the packaging, For example, the cup with the lid, made and then with the disc is provided according to the invention.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment, wherein the features disclosed here may also be essential to the invention in other combinations cannot and still cannot between process and device aspects of the invention is distinguished.

Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Schöpfwerkzeug,

Fig. 2 eine Seitenansicht des Schöpfwerkzeugs aus Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Scheibe zur Herstellung eines Schöpfwerkzeugs gemäß den Fig. 1 und 2,

Fig. 4 eine Seitenansicht der Scheibe aus Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 eine Draufsicht auf eine Scheibe entsprechend Fig. 3, jedoch nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, und

Fig. 6 eine schematische Darstellung einer Anwendungsmöglichkeit der Scheibe aus Fig. 5.

In detail shows:

1 is a plan view of a scooping tool according to the invention,

2 shows a side view of the scooping tool from FIG. 1,

3 shows a plan view of a disk according to the invention for producing a scooping tool according to FIGS. 1 and 2,

4 shows a side view of the disk from FIG. 3,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a disc corresponding to Fig. 3, but according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a possible application of the disk from FIG. 5.

1 shows a plan view of a scooping tool 1 according to the invention, namely one Spoon. Fig. 2 shows the same spoon 1 in a side view. The spoon 1 has in the Figures upper area a substantially semicircular outer edge 2, which in the 1 and 2 finished form shown in two of the semicircular outer edge 2nd starting converging straight edge sections 3, 4 passes. The converging straight edge sections 3, 4 delimit part of the spoon 1, which acts as a handle or handle can serve, whereas the part delimited by the semicircular edge section 2 and the immediately adjacent part at the beginning of the straight edge sections 3, 4, such as 2, bulges and forms a flat hollow shape. With this flat Hollow mold can be spooned. The dashed lines in Fig. 1 are by other parts of the spoon covered, so actually not visible in the top view.

3 and 4 show FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponding views of a flat disc 1, which is used to make this spoon. Fig. 3 shows the flat disc 1, which consists of a waterproof coated cardboard exists, in plan view and in particular that already mentioned semicircular edge section 2. This is followed by the straight Edge sections 3 and 4, which in the unfinished state according to FIG. 3 only with converge at a small angle. They run on an essentially right angle, here, however, with rounded corners, formed edge piece 5 of the disc. Shortly before this edge piece 5, the straight edge pieces 3 and 4 each have a V-shaped Notch 6 and 7, which are approximately at right angles from the respective straight edge piece 3 or 4 run inward for approximately a quarter of the width of the disc 1 present there. They are designed with an acute apex angle of 10 ° to 30 °, for example.

FIG. 4 illustrates in side view that the cardboard disc 1 shown in FIG this state is completely flat. However, the disc 1 could, for example, in the Surrounding the edge piece 5 may also be thickened, for example if it consists of plastic film. The scooping tool would then be easier to grip. Also, thickenings could be parallel the edges 3 and 4 or parallel to the slot 8 occur to the intermediate To make parts of the disc 1 more rigid.

Furthermore, the flat cardboard disc 1 from FIG. 3 has one that starts from the edge piece 5 and approximately parallel to the edge pieces 3 and 4 extending straight slot 8, the approximately at the level of the beginning of the semicircular edge section 2, ie in one about the radius of this edge section 2 corresponding distance from the Edge piece 5 opposite edge 2 of the cardboard disc 1 ends. The end is with the Number 9 denotes. This slot 8 is linear and in this embodiment initially consists only of a perforated and therefore easily separable by hand Embossing the cardboard disc 1. The cardboard disc 1 can thus be cut along this line 8 be, whereby the two parts separated by the slot 8, ie the parts between the edge section 3 and the slot 8 or the edge section 4 and the slot 8, be separated from each other. After opening for the first time, the slot 8 is natural an actually continuous slot. He can also be a continuous from the start cut slot or a sharpener similar to the notches 6 and 7 V-shaped slot.

The remaining distance between the notches 6 and 7 and the edge piece 5 in The direction of the slot 8 is preferably less than 40%, especially preferably less than 30% and in the most favorable case less than 20% of the Total length of the slot 8. The width of the parts separated by the slot 8, ie the Distance between the edge regions 3 and 4 and the slot 8 is preferably less than 30%, particularly preferably less than 25% of the total length of the Slot 8.

The production of the spoon 1 from FIGS. 1 and 2 from the cardboard disc 1 according to FIG. 3 and 4 takes place as follows: First, the cardboard disc 1 along the slot 8 separated, in which one of the two parts of the disk 1 separated by the slot 8 upwards (in the sense of FIG. 3 over the drawing plane) and the other of the two parts after is led below. In this example, the part between the outer edge 4 and the Slot 8 led upwards. Then the two parts of the disc are crossed and then approximated again in the direction perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 3, see above that the notches 6 and 7, which are no longer opposed by the crossing but are facing each other, led into each other and locked together can. This results in the shape of the spoon shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 because it by crossing over to bulge the pane 1, in particular in the area around the end 9 of the slot 8 comes around. The bulge arises from the between the Edges of the slot 8 now present angle, which can be seen in Fig. 1.

5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment and a preferred one Possible application for the spoon. The second exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG Fig. 3 shown corresponding manner, basically the same flat cardboard disk 1st 3, but also along the outer edge 2-7 in the form of perforated Lines in a larger circular cardboard disc 10 is defined. The flat disc 1 out Fig. 3 can thus by simply pushing out the remaining parts of the circular Disk 10 are separated. After separating these remaining parts, which in Fig. 5 with the Reference numerals 11 and 12 are designated, the disc 1 is obtained from FIG. 3 and can form the spoon shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 from it in the manner described.

Fig. 6 shows a food package, namely a yogurt or quark cup 13 with an associated lid 14. It can be, for example, a waterproof coated paper cups 13 act with a circular top opening that after the Filling with the food in a manner known per se with a cover film is closed. This cover film is not shown in detail in FIG. 6. One can imagine that it is already applied to the cup 13. Between the thus closed cup 13 and the actual lid 14, the disc 10 of FIG. 5th be interposed. Like the cup 13, the lid 14 actually has one more complicated three-dimensional shape than shown in Fig. 6. However, it is about Known and customary edge contours, which lock the lid 14 onto the cup 13 allow. The edge contours of the cover 14 extend beyond the disk 10 and can be locked on the cup 13 itself.

This is the disc 10 and thus the disc 1 in a very simple manner in a other conventional yogurt packaging. The consumer can choose the packaging open by lifting the lid 14 from the cup 13, by pushing out the Prepare disc 1 from disc 10 and lock notches 6 and 7 into the spoon and consume the contents of the cup 13 with this spoon. He is also on the go easily able to consume a food that spooned the cheapest for this purpose and does not have to carry a conventional spoon. There the disc 10 or the disc 1 as well as the cup 13 made of coated cardboard or can consist of another packaging material, result from the spoons according to the invention no additional garbage problems. He can either be thrown away or can be recycled in a manner already specified by the packaging. The disc 10 also does not represent any significant additional costs and materials , but gives the food packaging a whole new and essential utility.

Of course, the connection between the disc 10 or disc 1 and the Food packaging can also be done in a completely different way. For example, the Disk 10 can be clamped or glued to a lid from above. The disc can be printed as a packaging part with information and decorative imprints. she can also serve as an advertising medium, an additional, independent of the food content Allow printing, so that regardless of the use as a spoon results in additional benefits as a particularly striking and memorable advertising medium. To could a disc 1 or 10 according to the invention also independently of the Food packaging can be distributed as an advertising medium. There is an adjustment to commercially available packaging is conceivable, so that the consumer can use a Packaging of an independently purchased food.

The invention therefore preferably aims at use in typical snack, Petrol station or catering products and for use as advertising media.

Claims (16)

Disc (1)
made of flexible material
with an openable elongated slot (8) which starts from an edge (5) of the disc (1) and runs towards the opposite edge (2) of the disc (1), but ends pointedly in front of this opposite edge (2),
wherein the edge (2, 3, 4) of the disc (1) from the slot (8) including the end (9) of the slot (8) in the disc (1) is a smaller distance from the length of the slot (8) having,
wherein the disc (1) is designed, by crossing the parts of the disc (1) separated by the slot (8), to bulge the disc (1) around the end (9) of the slot (8) in the disc (1) to cause around
so that the disc (1) can be used as a scooping tool. Disc (1) according to claim 1 with a fastening device (6,7) at least one of the parts of the disc (1) separated by the slot (8), with which Fastening device (6, 7) the parts of the pane separated by the slot (8) (1) can be attached to one another in a crossed state. A washer (1) according to claim 2, in which the fastening device has two notches (6,7), which is larger in relation to half the length of the slot (8) Distance to the end (9) of the slot (8) in the disc (1) on both sides of the Slot (8) on the edge (3,4) of the disc (1) are attached and after the Cross the parts of the disc (1) separated by the slot (8) into one another can be brought to the parts of the disc separated by the slot (8) (1) to be attached to each other in the crossed state. Disc (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible material consists at least essentially of paper, cardboard or plastic film. Disc (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which by a separable Line along its edge (2-7) is defined in a larger disc (10). Disc (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the edges of the Slot (8) are straight. Disc (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the slot (8) is a Line is. Disc (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge (2) in the Surrounding the end (9) of the slot (8) runs in a round shape. Disc (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the edge (3, 4) on both sides of the slot (8), possibly with the exception of the notches (6,7), is going straight. Disc (1) according to claim 9, wherein the respective edges (3,4) on both sides of the Form slot (8) angle of not more than 20 ° with each other. Disc (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the respective edges (3,4) on both sides of the slot (8) to the end (9) of the slot (8) in the disc (1) divergent run. Food pack (10,13,14),
which is designed for a spoonable content
and having a disc (10) attached thereto according to any one of the preceding claims. Food package (10, 13, 14) according to claim 12, comprising a cup (13) having. Food package (10,13,14) according to claim 13 with a lid (14) for the Cup (13), the disc (10) being part of the lid (14) or between Cover (14) and cup (13) fixed or on the side facing away from the cup the lid (14) is fixed. Method for producing a scooping tool with a disk (1,10) according to one of claims 1-11, wherein the disc (1,10) along the slot (8) is separated, the parts of the disc (1) separated by the slot (8) are crossed and the crossed parts are fixed to each other so that the disc (1) can be used as a scooping tool. Process for scooping out scooped substances with the help of a Method according to claim 15 produced scoop tool (1).

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