EP1838591A2

EP1838591A2 - Disposable container, particularly for foods

Info

Publication number: EP1838591A2
Application number: EP05774861A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Trani; Marion Sterner
Original assignee: Gruppo X di X Gruppo Srl
Current assignee: Gruppo X di X Gruppo Srl
Priority date: 2004-07-20
Filing date: 2005-07-20
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Also published as: ITVE20040033A1; WO2006008147A3; WO2006008147A2

Abstract

A disposable container (2), in particular for foods, characterised by having at least one substantially flat support surface and being provided on its outer surface with a flattenable handle (4).

Description

DISPOSABLE CONTAINER, PARTICULARLY FOR FOODS

The present invention relates to a disposable container, particularly for foods.

Disposable containers for foods are known, such as plates or trays with covering film.

Because of their poor consistency, these plates are generally used rested on a surface or, in the case of outdoor consumption, for example during a barbecue, they are held in the palm of one hand and retained at their edge by the fingers of the other hand. This system consequently prevents the consumer from holding a glass with the other hand or compels the consumer to find a temporary support on which to rest the plate.

In other cases, to release one hand, the user supports the container by holding its base with the palm and clamping its edge with the fingers of the same hand inside the plate.

In any event the plate is gripped in an unbalanced manner and sometimes may be deformed by the weight of the food or by the use of the cutlery.

Another drawback is the fact that when holding the plate with the palm of the hand, the use of the cutlery causes the plate to slide from the hand with the result that the food falls off.

Another drawback is the possible burning of the hands if the food is hot.

The same drawbacks arise for trays transporting deep-frozen foods which are heated in a microwave oven and consumed after removing the tray cover film. In this case the consumer also experiences an annoying cold sensation during transport from the freezer to the oven.

All these drawbacks are eliminated according to the invention by a disposable container, in particular for foods, as described in claim 1. A preferred embodiment of the present invention together with some variants thereof are described hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pile of disposable containers according to the invention, stacked one on another, Figure 2 shows a container during use,

Figure 3 shows a variant thereof,

Figure 4 shows a tray provide with a closure film,

Figure 5 shows a metal can,

Figure 6 shows a variant of a tray, Figure 7 shows a further variant thereof,

Figure 8 shows a further variant thereof,

Figure 9 shows a further variant thereof,

Figures 10 and 11 show a further variant thereof,

Figures 12 and 13 show a further variant thereof, and Figure 14 shows a further variant thereof.

As can be seen from the figures the disposable container of the invention consists in its most simple form, shown in Figures 1 to 3, of a plate 2 which is stacked with other plates to form a pile. The plate is preferably formed of paper, combination paper, plastic, mouldable paper, ceramic or wood and/or cellulose paste.

The outer surface of the base is provided in its central region with a handle 4 consisting of a central band 6 fixed to the base, for example by glue, bonding or heat-bonding, and two appendices 8 hinged to said band.

The handle can be applied during the plate formation step or during a subsequent step.

The appendices 8 are disposed substantially coplanar against the base of the container and can be folded over to lie substantially facing each other in such a manner as to form a rigid support for the overlying plate.

Those two appendix walls intended to come into contact are subjected to anti-slip treatment and can be provided with engaging means.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the two appendices are provided with elements 24 which are mutually engagable so that they fit more securely together. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, a tray 10 is shown provided with a covering film 12.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 the handle is formed of thermally insulating material of a certain thickness in order to also form an insulation element against the heat given off by the food contained in the tray and by the tray itself.

In this embodiment the base of the tray is shaped to provide a recess 14 in which the handle is housed when in its folded configuration so as not to increase its overall dimensions either when supported or when stacked. - A -

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 the handle consists of a three- dimensional structure 16 provided with folding lines 18 which enable it to assume a substantially flattened configuration.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 the central band is prolonged by two ribs 20 which form a sort of reinforcement for the base of the tray.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9 the container consists of two trays 22 which are connected together but which lack a portion at their circumferential edge so that access is possible to the food contained between them, for example a pizza. In the embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11 , the appendices 8 are tubular and closed at one end, and can be used as a support for sugar or mayonnaise sachets, plastic cutlery, paper napkins, etc.

These articles can already be inserted into the appendix, which may be closed and hermetically sterilized, in which case the container will have a recess of suitable dimensions, or they can be inserted into the appendix at the moment of use.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13, the appendices comprise two parallel cuts 24 which form the engagement means for the annular rim of a cup 26, which can hence be retained simultaneously with the container and support the same container

In the embodiment shown in Figure 14, the handle is applied at the moment of use by an adhesive strip 28 provided in the central band 6.

From the aforegoing it is apparent that the container of the invention presents numerous advantages, and in particular: - it presents the traditional outline of disposable containers for stacking, while at the same time is easily gripped,

- it prevents burning or frozing of the hands if the handle is formed of thermally insulating material, - it can be stably retained, so avoiding problems of deformation due to the food and/or the resting of cutlery on the container.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A disposable container, in particular for foods, characterised by having at least one substantially flat support surface and being provided on its outer surface with a flattenable handle (4).

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the handle is provided in the central region.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by consisting of a stackable plate (2).

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by consisting of a tray (10) with a closure film (12).

5. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by consisting of two plates (2) facing each other.

6. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the container base is provided with a recess (14).

7. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the handle is formed of thermally insulating material.

8. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the handle (4) consists of a band (6) fixed to the container base and of two appendices (8) hinged to said band.

9. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the handle consists of a solid geometric structure (16) provided with folding lines (18).

10. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the handle is fixed by glue.

11. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the handle is fixed by bonding.

12. A container as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the central band is prolonged by two ribs (20).

13. A container as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the two plates lack a portion at their edge.

14. A container as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the two plates are removably connected together.

15. A container as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the appendices (8) are provided with mutually engagable elements (24).

16. A container as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the appendices are of tubular shape.

17. A container as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the handle is formed separately from the container.

18. A container as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the handle is provided with two cuts in the appendices to form a support elements for the rim of a cup.