EP1870344A1 - Container for food products - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) has a circular base element (3) with a convex shape in view from exterior, where the container is made of metallic material such as aluminum and steel. The element is deformed from the convex shape to a concave shape in view from exterior, by application of pressure on its external surface, for ensuring the push toward the exterior of a conditioned foodstuff (2), where the push releases the passage for air around the foodstuff for supporting the demolding of the foodstuff.

Description

The present invention relates to the general field of packaging. It relates more particularly to an improvement in containers in which is poured or molded a foodstuff like cheese, flan, terrine or pâté, which has the property of solidifying, either directly after conditioning, or during its cooling after heating (by example after a sterilization or pasteurization operation).

Certain foodstuffs such as cheddar cheeses, puddings, terrines or pâtés, are in a semi-liquid or pasty state during their preparation and their containment, then take on a gelatinous or solid consistency ( by their intrinsic characteristics, or after cooling, especially following a sterilization or pasteurization operation).

To consume this food, it is interesting to be able to unmold it from its container, to present it entirely on a dish or a plate.

However, very often, this demolding operation is not carried out by simply turning the container, because of the slight "sticking" of the product against the walls of this container, and especially because of the presence of a phenomenon called "d "piston effect", related to the depression or vacuum of air between the bottom element of the container and the packaged product, which prevents their easy separation by simple gravity.

To achieve this release, one can act by pressure on the walls of the container, which is not easy when the latter is made of a non-easily deformable material (thick plastic or metal material like steel or aluminum), and what may cause alterations in the aesthetics of the molded product.

To overcome this drawback, some containers have a bottom element that can be degraded at least partially to allow outside air entry. However, these containers then have a fairly complex structure, or require the use of a cutting or cutting object to achieve the desired degradation.

The Applicant has developed a new container structure, the means of which facilitate the release of the packaged food have a very simple structure and very easy to implement.

In this case, the container according to the present invention comprises a base member associated with a belt of flared side walls, and said bottom member has a generally convex stable convex shape seen from the outside, which is able to be deformed by applying pressure on its outer surface, so as to provide a generally concave shape, seen from the outside; this deformation since the convex shape up to the concave shape ensures an outward thrust of the packaged commodity, this thrust releasing around said food a passage for air that promotes demolding.

According to yet another characteristic, the bottom element is surrounded by a protruding peripheral rim, with a generally U or V-shaped cross-section, forming a base structure, the height of this base structure being greater than the deflection of the base domed bottom element. This base structure is advantageously connected to the bottom element by a hinged arcuate section portion for the passage of the bottom element from the convex to concave position.

In a preferred embodiment, the bottom member is in two stable positions, one convex and the other concave.

According to a preferred embodiment, the container comprises a circular bottom element associated with a belt of frustoconical walls, said bottom element then being in the general shape of a spherical portion or spherical cap.

According to yet another characteristic, the bottom element is structured to obtain a deformation of the side wall belt during its passage from the convex shape to the concave shape, this to optimize the external air inlet between the packaged product and the container.
In this context, the base element is advantageously structured to obtain a slight decrease in its diameter during its passage from the convex shape to the concave shape (seen from the outside), this to obtain a slight further flare of the belt side walls, relative to its initial stable position, causing the entrance of outside air sought.

The container according to the present invention is advantageously made of metallic material of aluminum or steel type.

• la figure 1 montre schématiquement un contenant conforme à la présente invention, vu de côté avec un plan de coupe vertical ;
• la figure 2 montre le contenant de la figure 1 dans lequel est conditionnée une denrée alimentaire ;
• la figure 3 montre le contenant de la figure 2, représenté ici renversé en vue du démoulage de la denrée qu'il contient ;
• la figure 4 est une vue du contenant renversé de la figure 3, dans lequel l'élément de fond est déformé pour démouler la denrée conditionnée.

The invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of a possible embodiment, given solely by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows schematically a container according to the present invention, seen from the side with a vertical sectional plane;
• Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 wherein is conditioned a foodstuff;
• Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 2, shown here reversed for demolding the commodity it contains;
• Figure 4 is a view of the inverted container of Figure 3, wherein the bottom member is deformed to unmold the packaged commodity.

The container 1 according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, is suitable for containing a foodstuff 2, for example cheese, flan, terrine, pâté, etc ... whose consistency is of solid or gelatinous type after conditioning, for example after casting or molding.
As detailed below, this container 1 is structured to facilitate the demolding of this commodity 2.

The corresponding container 1 is made in one piece of a suitable rigid material, preferably a metal material of steel or aluminum type. It has a generally frustoconical shape, composed of a circular bottom element 3 associated with a belt of frustoconical lateral walls 4. The upper peripheral edge 5 of the wall belt 4 delimits a circular opening 6 adapted to be equipped with a lid reported (not shown).
The thickness of the bottom 3 and the walls 4 may be of the order of a few hundredths of a millimeter.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the bottom element 3 has a generally convex, convex bulge shape viewed from the outside; more specifically, this bottom element 3 is in the general form of a portion of sphere, dome or spherical cap. Depending on the overall dimensions of the container, the arrow f of the curved bottom element 3 may be between a few millimeters and a few tens of millimeters.

As will be detailed below, this curved bottom element 3 is structured to be deformed by a pressure made from the outside, so as to make it take a curved convex configuration (view from the outside).

For its stable removal on a support plane (Figure 2), the bottom element 3 is surrounded by a projecting peripheral edge monobloc 7 forming base. This base edge 7 has a general U-shaped or V-shaped section whose height is slightly greater than the arrow f of the curved bottom element 3.
The base edge 7 is connected to the periphery of this bottom element 3 by a portion in an arc 8; this portion 8 with the U-shaped or V-shaped section forms a hinge to allow the aforementioned deformation of the bottom element 3.

Since the product 2 is packaged in the container 1 (FIG. 2), the structure of the latter and in particular that of its bottom element 3 is adapted to facilitate the demolding operation through the opening 6.

For this, the container 1 is returned, its opening 6 is oriented downwards (Figure 3). Then, it suffices for a person to exert pressure (for example with the fingers) on the external surface of the bottom element 3, so as to cause its passage from the generally convex shape, to a concave shape (Figure 4).
The convex form of departure is stable; the concave shape is here also stable, but the stability once the demolding initiated, even if it is interesting, is not necessary. Thus, it is possible to envisage an embodiment variant in which the concave shape would not be stable.

This deformation of the bottom element 3 pushes the product 2 in block towards the outside of the container. The contours of the molded object 2 and that of the walls 4 of the container 1 being frustoconical, the displacement obtained releases around said molded product a passage for air which eliminates the piston effect and promotes demolding.
This air passage is illustrated by the arrows marked 10 in Figure 4. In this Figure 4, the space between the molded product 2 and the walls 4 of the container has been exaggerated to facilitate understanding.

The foodstuff 2 in block, thus separated from its container 1, is discharged through the upper opening 6, for example to be deposited on a dish for consumption.

The demolded product 2 retains the aesthetic characteristics conferred by the molding in the container 1, and it undergoes little or no deterioration during the corresponding demolding operation.

The displacement of the molded product 2, obtained by passing from the convex shape to the concave shape of the bottom element 3, is preponderant to ensure a passage of air from the outside to the space created at the level of said bottom element 3 between the container 1 and the molded product 2.
This stroke is adapted case by case, depending on the characteristics of the molded product 2, and the dimensions of the container 1. In general, the type of material used for the container 1, the thicknesses of material, the arrow f of the curved bottom element 3, the structure of the base 7 and / or the flaring of the frustoconical walls 4 are adapted to allow the convex / concave deformation described above and to optimize the desired air passage.

The container may also be structured so that the passage of the bottom member 3 of the convex shape to the concave shape causes a slight decrease in its diameter, and thus causes a slight further flare of the wall belt. 4, intended to further promote the entry of outside air between said bottom element 3 and the packaged commodity 2.

In possible embodiments, the container may have a non-circular horizontal section, for example square or rectangular. On the other hand, it is conceivable to provide a bottom element of which only a part (for example only the central part) would have a convex design.

In general, it is well understood that the container according to the invention has the advantage of allowing, by means of a very simple structure, a quick and efficient demolding of packaged food 2.

Claims (8)

Container for a foodstuff (2) such as cheese, flan, terrine, pate ... capable of solidifying after filling, which container (1) is composed of a bottom element (3) associated with a wall belt flared sides (4) whose upper peripheral edge (5) delimits an opening (6) adapted to be equipped with a lid, which container (1) comprises means for facilitating the demolding of the foodstuff (2) it is intended to contain, for the purpose of extracting said foodstuff (2), characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (3) having a generally convex, stable, convex shape seen from the outside, which bottom element (3) is able to be deformed by applying pressure on its outer surface, so as to provide a generally concave shape, seen from the outside, the deformation from said convex shape to said concave shape ensuring a thrust outward of said foodstuff (2) conditioned, this thrust releasing around said food (2) a passage for air (10) which promotes demolding. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom element (3) is surrounded by a protruding peripheral edge (7) with a generally U or V-shaped cross-section, forming a base structure, the height of said structure base (7) being greater than the arrow f of said curved bottom member (3). Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the base structure (7) is connected to the bottom element (3) by a hinge-shaped arcuate section (8) for the passage of said bottom element ( 3) from the convex position to the concave position. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a bottom element (3) with two stable positions, one convex and the other concave. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a circular bottom element (3) associated with a frustoconical wall belt (4), said bottom element (3) being then under the general shape of a sphere portion or spherical cap. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bottom element (3) is structured to obtain a deformation of the side wall belt (4) during its transition from the convex shape to the shape concave, this to optimize the outside air intake between the packaged product (2) and the container (1). Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the bottom element (3) is structured to obtain a slight decrease in its diameter during its passage from the convex shape to the concave shape, so as to obtain a slight additional flare of the side wall belt (4). Container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is made of metallic material of aluminum or steel type.

Images