ES2614500T3 - Ice Cream Cones Support Container - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for transporting ice cream cones in a vertical position, comprising: a) a container (2), having dimensions such as to completely and vertically contain one or more cones filled with ice cream, comprising at least one transverse partition (203), and b) one or more removable supports (3), supported on said transverse partition (203), each of said supports (3) including a hole (301), preferably central, and at least two lateral wings foldable (304), preferably opposite, so that the lateral wings (304) are arranged in such a way that the supports (3) can be removed together with an ice cream cone inserted into the hole (301) by means of the lateral wings (304 ).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Ice Cream Cones Support Container 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for transporting ice cream cones in an upright position. Said device comprises a container where one or more cones filled with ice cream can be placed and held in an upright position, and one or more removable supports, located on a transverse division of the container;

10 said supports have at least one hole in each, preferably located in the center compared to said supports, and at least two foldable side wings, preferably opposite, to handle the ice cream cones and to facilitate inclusion within the container and the Elimination of it.

[0002] Each of the holes of the supports is preferably marked by folding flaps, such that the inclination of said folding flaps defines a hole of variable dimension indicated for

Keep ice cream cones of different sizes.

[0003] Said container also preferably includes a horizontal base and a lower transverse division, parallel to said base and said upper transverse division, said transverse division being located at

20 different heights, in relation to said base, and including one or several holes, where it is possible to place one or more ice cream cones in an upright position.

[0004] Said container and said supports can be made of any material suitable for food packaging, such as paper, cardboard or plastic materials (for example, polystyrene).

Preferably, said container and said supports are made of recyclable materials, more preferably made of paper or cardboard.

[0005] The present invention also relates to the use of the aforementioned device for the transport of conical or trunk-conical food and an efficient method for transporting stuffed cones

30 ice cream, as described below.

[0006] According to a recent analysis, each Italian consumes an average of 15 kilos of ice cream per year: the total turnover is about 5,000 million euros, of which 60% corresponds to artisanal ice cream.

35 [0007] Artisanal ice creams are consumed mainly in the form of ice cream cones. However, the

speed with which the ice cream tends to melt when it is not kept refrigerated and transport difficulties force it to be consumed near ice cream parlors. The transport of ice cream cones, for example by the buyer to another person located in a different place, is in fact extremely difficult and is limited to small distances. In addition, for a single person, it is possible to transport one or two ice creams maximum using one or 40 both hands, without the possibility of even lowering the cones temporarily.

[0008] Therefore, artisanal take-out ice cream is preferably supplied in polystyrene containers or cups. Alternatively, it is possible to transport the empty cones for later filling with ice cream. However, it is not possible to transport already filled artisan ice cream cones, from the place of purchase to another

45 place, for example to your home.

[0009] Between 1910 and 1935, several applications were submitted for devices for the transport of ice cream cones. However, all devices are imperfect and have limited use; therefore, such devices have not been extended and it is still necessary to provide an efficient and versatile system for cones of

50 ice cream already filled.

[0010] US Patent 1,338,192 describes a folding device for transporting ice cream, preferably made of cardboard, consisting of a central unit with a handle and two supports, on opposite sides of the central unit, with one or more holes to place ice cream cones, so that

55 they are essentially transported hanging, holding the device by the handle. Said device cannot be left even temporarily, once filled with one or more ice cream cones. US Patent 1,140,540 describes a folding device for the transport of ice cream cones, preferably made of cardboard. Before mounting, said device includes a central part that has several openings and four lateral parts, arranged substantially in the form of a cross. Once the device is assembled, folding it, the central part becomes the

base of the device, inside whose holes the ice cream cones are placed, while the side parts are closed on the base. In the same way as the device of US Patent 1,338,192, ice cream cones are transported hanging, protruding from the base. Such transport devices where the cones protrude from the base are not advantageous, since they cannot be placed on a surface; in addition, the use of said devices is limited to cones having the upper radius not less than the opening radius (thinking, for example, of the so-called mini-cones currently available).

[0011] US Patent 1,628,718 describes a collapsible container for the transport of cones.

of ice cream, which has a base and does not have any type of coverage. The ice cream cones are placed completely inside the container, with a horizontal division that holds them in place near the base of the container, which has one or more holes to hold the tips of the cones. Said container clearly has a low stability, since the minimum inclination of the device would cause the cones to fall easily as they are held close to the tips.

[0012] US Patent 1,674,209 discloses a rigid container for the transport of ice cream.

The cones are transported completely placed inside the container, inserted through a horizontal division that keeps them hanging in place. Here the division is located at the top of the box, so that the cone, inserted from the top, is maintained through said division at a level of the cone close to the ice cream. Although the device looks better compared to the device of patent 1628.718 of 20 United States, a single division does not, in any case, make the transport very firm. On the other hand, the ice cream cone inserted in a higher part is more difficult to remove without touching the ice cream.

[0013] Therefore, the devices of the known technique show several disadvantages, especially in relation to the current supply of cones, with sizes very different from each other.

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[0014] The present invention provides a device for transporting filled, closed or partially closed ice cream cones, which allows the protection of the ice cream cone from possible dirt or dust and facilitates thermal insulation, where the cone of Ice cream remains firm during transport and is easy to remove from the container once it reaches the destination, avoiding any possible breakage of the cone. The device of the

The present invention can also be produced at low cost.

Figure 1: Drawing of the supports and the container of the device for transporting the ice cream cones, according to a preferred embodiment. The universal holes of the supports are visible and are marked by folding tongues. The dotted lines indicate the fold lines to mount the device.

35 Figure 2: Isometric of the open container and of the support of Figure 1, with the example of folding to mount the device.

Figure 3: Perspective view of the support and the container of Figure 1 partially assembled, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The support is represented with its wings folded up. The container is shown with the divisions mounted and the lid open.

40 Figure 4: Perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 1, which contains an ice cream cone. The cover is folded forward with respect to the opposite vertical wall and is closed by a cover attachment tag within the corresponding holes in the opposite vertical wall. The support has two opposite wings to handle the cone, and two opposite wings perpendicular to the first, and bent upwards, to keep the support in place within the container.

Figure 5: Drawing of the supports and the container of the device for transporting the ice cream cones according to a preferred embodiment, where the container includes a substantially rectangular horizontal base and four vertical walls on each side of the horizontal base.

Figure 6: Isometric of the open container and the support of Figure 5, with examples of folding to mount the device.

Figure 7: Perspective view of a support and the container of Figure 5 partially assembled, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The support is represented with the wings folded up. The container is shown with the divisions mounted and with the lid open.

Figure 8: Perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 5. The lid is closed; When the lid is closed, a handle for manual transport is formed.

Figure 9: drawing of the supports and the container of the ice cream transport device, according to a preferred embodiment; The container includes several pieces to assemble.

Figure 10: Isometrla of the pieces that form the supports and the container of Figure 9, with examples of folding to mount the device.

Figure 11: Perspective view of the support and the container of Figure 9 partially assembled, according to a

preferred embodiment. The support is represented with the wings folded up. The container is shown with the divisions mounted and the lid open.

Figure 12: Perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 9; the lid is closed; When the lid is closed, a handle for manual transport is formed.

5 Figure 13: drawing of the supports and the container of the device for the transport of the ice cream cones, according to a preferred embodiment; The container includes several pieces to assemble. The cross divisions have multiple holes to insert the ice cream cones.

Figure 14: Isometrla of the pieces that form the container and the supports of Figure 13, with examples of folding to assemble the device.

Figure 15: Perspective view of the support and the container of Figure 13 partially assembled, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The support is represented with the wings folded up. The container is shown with the divisions mounted and the lid open.

Figure 16: Perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 13. The lid is closed; When the lid is closed, a handle for manual transport is formed.

15 Figure 17: drawing of the supports and the container of the device for the transport of the ice cream cones, according to a preferred embodiment; The container includes several pieces to assemble.

Figure 18: Isometrla of the pieces that form the container and the supports of Figure 17, with examples of folding to assemble the device.

Figure 19: Perspective view of the support and the container of Figure 17 partially assembled, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The support is represented with the wings folded at the top. The container is shown with the divisions mounted and the lid open.

Figure 20: Perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 17. The lid is closed; When the lid is closed, a handle for manual transport is formed.

[0015] The device of the invention, for transporting ice cream cones in vertical position, includes a

container, where one or more ice cream cones can be completely placed and kept in an upright position, and one or several supports, each with at least one hole, preferably central, and at least two preferably opposite side folding wings; with said supports located on a transverse division of said container.

30

[0016] More preferably, said container also includes: a horizontal base, more preferably

rectangular, and a lower transverse division located next to said horizontal base and said upper transverse division, and including one or more holes for placing one or more ice cream cones in a vertical position.

[0017] Preferably, each of the holes in the upper division is aligned vertically with one

of the holes of the lower division, said holes of the lower division being concentric with reference to said holes of the upper division; in this way, the ice cream cone that has to be transported placed vertically inside the container, passes through an orifice of the upper division and an orifice of the concentric lower division to the first.

40

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the holes in the lower division have a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the holes in the upper division. Preferably, in addition, the height of said divisions in comparison to the base is such that, when an ice cream cone is placed in the container, a lower part of the ice cream cone, preferably near the tip, crosses the orifice of the lower division , while a top of the

The cone, preferably near the ice cream, passes through the hole in the upper division.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the central hole of the support device is secured by folding tabs, located radially around the circumference of the hole. Preferably, said tabs fold down when the ice cream cone is placed in the hole, adapting to the diameter of the

50 cone inserted, holding the cone and holding it. Thus, the presence of said tongues around the circumference of the support hole allows the ice cream cones of different sizes to be placed and held vertically.

[0020] Said supports are preferably inserted into the container and supported by the upper division, so that the support hole would be concentric compared to the holes aligned both along the length of the

superior division as of the inferior. These supports make it easy to place the ice cream, held in them, inside the container, as well as the removal of the cone itself. In fact, it is possible to remove the ice cream cone without touching it, simply by raising the support on which it is placed, by means of the folding side wings. In this way, you avoid touching the ice cream cone, as well as accidentally breaking it when you put it in or take it out of the container.

[0021] The device of the present invention is suitable for containing refrigerant material, in order to

decrease the temperature inside the container and avoid rapid melting of the ice cream.

[0022] For example, said device is suitable for containing dry ice. Said dry ice, for example,

it can be in the form of pellets or perforated piece in the center: in the latter case, the piece of dry ice can be placed on the support, or inserted between the upper division and the support, making the ice cream match the placement holes of the cone, in order to place it around the ice cream cone introduced in the container. Other examples of refrigerant materials, suitable for use inside the device of the present invention or in combination with it, are ice for spraying and ice packs (gel block).

[0023] Preferably, the container of the present invention includes at least two opposite walls

vertical, which extend upward from two sides of the horizontal base. More preferably, said container includes four vertical walls, opposite two to two, as to close the entire perimeter of the container. Optionally, two or more vertical walls of the mounted container may be resorted, as shown in Figure 12. A preferred embodiment in which said container includes two vertical walls is illustrated in Figure 1-4. A particularly preferred embodiment, wherein said container 2 includes four vertical walls is illustrated in Figure 5-20.

[0024] Preferably, the container of the present invention includes a lid comprising a handle.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, said container is obtained from a pre-assembled piece; said pre-assembled piece has several mounting points, which identify various divisions and multiple elements that coincide by superposition. The device device of the invention is mounted

25 preferably by folding and overlapping said parts and matching elements, so that said parts form the different elements of the assembled container, such as for example the horizontal base, the vertical walls, the lid and the transverse divisions. Such embodiments are illustrated in Figure 1-8.

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment, said container is obtained from several pieces that are assembled to form said container by folding and overlapping said parts and / or

part of pieces. Preferably, at least one of said parts is a pre-assembled part, as described above. Examples of said embodiment are illustrated in Figure 9-20.

[0027] Preferably, said container is obtained by assembling one or more pieces of pre-assembled cardboard and cut-out.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, said container can be disassembled and folded again, when not in use, in order to occupy less space. On the other hand, the production of said mountable container is especially cheap.

40

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0030] The container 2 of the device 1 of the present invention can be made from a single pre-assembled piece 5, in accordance with a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1-8.

[0031] Optionally, said container is made from the pre-assembled part 5, together with additional parts, preferably pre-assembled, as shown in Figure 9-20.

[0032] Therefore, said container can be obtained by folding a single pre-assembled piece.

following the folding lines 101, as in Figures 4 and 8, or combining one or more pre-assembled parts,

folding them along the folding lines 101, with one or more additional pieces, as in Figures 12, 16 or 20. Examples of folding one or more pre-assembled parts are shown in Figure 2, 6, 10, 14, 18.

[0033] Said pre-assembled parts include several separate parts of the folding lines 101. The part

pre-assembled 5 includes a part that forms the horizontal base 201 of the container; said piece 5 includes

preferably parts 212a-d, which form the vertical walls of the container, and parts 213a-d, which form the lid.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the upper division 203 is formed by folding and matching

of the symmetrical parts 203a and 203b along a medial folding line and the lower division 202 is formed through the folding and the coincidence of the symmetrical parts 202a and 202b along the medial folding line.

[0035] Parts 202a, 202b, 203a and 203b may be comprised within the pre-assembled part 5,

as in Figures 1 and 5, or form separate parts to assemble with at least one pre-assembled part 5, as illustrated for the upper division 203 in Figure 13 or for both divisions in Figures 9 and 17.

[0036] Preferably, said symmetric parts 202a, 202b, 203a and 203b, which form divisions, have one or more tongues 208 and one or more openings 209, located respectively in several symmetrical positions of

each division, in order to coincide and overlap when the two symmetric parts fold and match to form the division.

[0037] Preferably, along each medial line of said symmetrical part that forms the divisions, there is a tongue 210; said tongues 210, can be inserted in the cuts 211, preferably present in the

folding lines that delimit a vertical wall of the container, in order to keep the divisions stable and in a horizontal position parallel to the base of the container (Figures 1-8, 13-17).

[0038] Optionally one or several divisions of one or several separate pieces can be made, which can be assembled with one or more pre-assembled pieces of the container, as shown in Figures 9-20. From

according to this embodiment, said divisions are preferably formed such that the perimeter of the divisions includes two protrusions, on two opposite sides, forming tongues 210. Said tongues 210 can be inserted into the cuts 211, present in the vertical walls of the container, in order to keep the divisions stable and in a horizontal position parallel to the base of the container (figure 9-12,13-20).

25

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, parts 212a and 212b of the pre-assembled part 5 form the bottom of the vertical walls of the mounted container, which extends vertically from the base of the container to a height in accordance with the lower division 202; the parts 212c and 212d form the upper part of the vertical walls of the container, which extend vertically from a height in accordance with the upper division

30 203.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, said pre-assembled part 5 includes two more parts 212e and 212f, which form two opposite vertical walls perpendicular to the vertical walls 212a-d. Said embodiment is shown in figures 5, 13 and 17.

35

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, alternative to the previous one, said pre-assembled part 5 is assembled with one or several pre-assembled parts 6 that include parts 212g and 212h, which formalize the third and fourth vertical walls. Preferably, said parts 212g and 212h include cuts 211, where the tabs of the transverse divisions 210 are inserted when the container is mounted. This embodiment is illustrated in Figure 9-12.

40

[0042] Preferably, more parts of the pre-assembled part 5 have overlap and coincidence elements, such as tabs 206 and openings 207: inside the assembled vessel, tabs 206 are inserted into openings 2017.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, as exemplified in Figure 1, parts 213 a-d are

mounted to form the lid of said container; in particular, parts 213a and 213d form the wall of said cover, while parts 213b and 213c form the roof of said cover.

[0044] Preferably, two of the parts that form the lid include a cut each of them, much more preferably a folding tongue, made to construct the handle of the assembled container. A mounted lid of

According to this preferred embodiment, it is shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. Alternatively, said pre-assembled part 5 includes more parts 213e and 213f that form the handle of the container, as shown in Figure 5-20.

[0045] Preferably, the lower division 202 is placed at a height between 5 and 55 mm, preferably between 10 and 50 mm, even more preferably between 20 and 40 mm, with respect to the base 201.

[0046] Preferably, the upper division 203 is placed at a height between 80 and 180 mm, preferably between 100 and 160 mm, even more preferably between 120 and 140 mm with respect to the base 201.

[0047] Preferably, the holes in the lower division have a diameter between 10 and 20 mm. Preferably, the holes of the upper division 205 have a diameter between 30 and 50 mm.

[0048] Preferably, the support of the device 3 includes at least two folding wings, more preferably 5 four folding wings.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, when the support is stored inside the container, two folding wings 303 of the support 3 fold upwards, as in Figures 3, 4, 7, 11, 15 and 19, placed next to the wall vertical of the latter, in order to keep said support fixed. Two folding wings 304 fold towards

10 above, preferably, when the ice cream cone is inserted into the holder 3, which functions as a means to insert the ice cream cone into the container without touching said ice cream cone; on the other hand, said wings 304 allow to remove the supports 3 and the ice cream cones inserted inside, preventing accidental breakage of the cone.

[0050] Preferably, said support has some die cut lines 305 to facilitate removal of the 15 ice cream cones from support 3.

[0051] The presence of folding tongues 302 around the circumference of the hole 301 of the support 3, according to a preferred embodiment, allows the device of the invention to be used for the transport of ice cream cones of different sizes.

twenty

[0052] Usefully, the support of the device 3 of the present invention is compatible with any container described herein.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, said container 2 is made of one or more pieces of cardboard, said cardboard pieces being produced by die cutting.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, said container 2 is made of one or more food grade materials, for example of plastic material, producing said pieces by means of a mold.

[0055] Preferably, said device 1 for transporting ice cream cones, including container 2 and

one or more supports 3 is produced from at least 80% recyclable material, more preferably from at least 90% recyclable material, even more preferably from fully recyclable material. For example, said device may be made of cardboard.

[0056] Optionally, said device is a disposable device.

[0057] The present invention also relates to a cheap and efficient method for transporting full cones

of ice cream using the device described above. The method comprises the following steps: inserting a cone filled with ice cream into a hole 301 of a support 3; inserting said support 3, holding it by the 40 lateral wings 304, inside the container 2; container closure 2; which contains the device; opening of container 2 at the place of arrival; removing the support 3 together with the ice cream cone, using side wings 304; removal of the cone from the support 3, cutting the support 3 along the punched lines 305.

Claims (11)

1. Device for transporting ice cream cones in a vertical position, comprising: 5 a) a container (2), which has dimensions such as to completely and vertically contain one or more cones filled with ice cream, comprising at least one transverse division (203), and b) one or more removable supports (3), supported on said transverse division (203), each of said supports (3) including a hole (301), preferably central, and at least two folding side wings (304), preferably opposite, so that the lateral wings (304) are arranged in such a way that the supports (3) 10 can be removed together with an ice cream cone inserted in the hole (301) by means of the lateral wings (304). 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said container (2) comprises: i. a horizontal base (201), 15 ii. a lower transverse division (202), parallel to the horizontal base (201) and the transverse division (203); said divisions (202) and (203) are arranged at different heights with respect to said horizontal base (201) and each of them comprises one or more holes, in which it is possible to vertically place one or several ice cream cones. twenty 3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said lower transverse division (202) is placed at a distance from the base such that an ice cream cone that is placed vertically inside the container passes through the hole (204) of the lower transverse division with the cone part proximal to the tip of the cone; and said upper transverse division (203) is placed at a distance from the base so that said 25 ice cream cone pass through the hole (205) of the upper division with the cone part proximal to the base of the cone. 4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hole (301) of the other supports (3) is delimited by folding flaps (302), arranged radially along the entire 30 hole circumference (301). 5. Device according to any of claims 2-4, wherein each of the holes (205) of the upper division (203) is aligned vertically with one of the holes (204) of the lower division (202), being said holes (204) of the lower division (202) concentric to the holes (205) of the upper division 35 (203); where preferably, said holes (204) of the lower division (202) have a radius that is shorter than the radius of the holes (205) of the upper division (203). 6. Device according to any of claims 2-5 further comprising: a piece of dry ice comprising a hole with a diameter that is greater than or equal to the diameter of the holes (205) of the 40 upper division (203), wherein said piece of dry ice is placed above the upper division (203), optionally in the support (3), so that the hole of the dry ice piece is concentric to the hole (205 ) of the upper division (203). 7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said container (2) comprises at least one pre-assembled part (5) comprising multiple parts, where there is a folding line (101) between one part and the next. 8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said container (2) comprises a lid and a carrying handle. fifty 9. The use of the device according to any of the preceding claims for the transport of conical or trunk-conical food, preferably for the transport of ice cream cones. 10. The method for transporting ice cream filled cones in an upright position comprises steps 55 of: i. supply of a device according to any of the preceding claims; 11. insertion of a cone filled with ice cream into the hole (301) of a support (3); iii. inserting said support (3), holding it by the side wings (304), inside the container (2); iv. container closure (2); v. device transport; saw. opening of the container (2) at the place of arrival; vii. removal of the support (3) together with the ice cream cone, by means of the side wings (304); 5 viii. removal of the cone from the support (3), cutting the support (3) along the pre-cut lines (305).