ES2890139T3 - Container for stacked food products - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (10) for food products, the container comprising: a shell (12) having a cylindrical interior surface (20) extending from a proximal end (22) to a distal end (24) about a first longitudinal axis (A1), the inner surface defining a height HI ranging from 6.35 cm (2.5 inches) to 35.36 cm (14 inches) and a width D1 ranging from 12.7 to 17.78 cm (5 inches). to 7 inches), the ratio of height HI to width D1 being less than 2/1; a spacer (14) disposed within the housing, the spacer having first, second and third radially extending fins (28-n) defining first, second and third pie-shaped chambers (40-n) within of the casing, each of the first, second and third fins including an inner edge (34) and an outer edge (36), the inner edges contact at a joint (38) and the outer edge of the first fin enters in contact with the inner surface of the casing at a first contact location (39-1), the outer edge of the second fin contacts the inner surface of the casing at a second contact location (39-2), the outer edge of the third fin contacts the inner surface of the casing at a third contact location (39-3); and a first, a second and a third stack (16-n) of ellipsoidal food products (18) disposed within the first, second and third chambers respectively, each of the first, second and third stacks of ellipsoidal food products being stacked in a direction along respective second, third and fourth longitudinal axes (A2-n) parallel to the first longitudinal axis (A1), and wherein a first ellipsoidal food product includes a first major axis (A3-1) and a first secondary axis (A4-1), the first secondary axis intersecting the joint and the main axis intersecting at least two of the first, second and third contact locations.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Container for stacked food products

COUNTRY

The present disclosure relates generally to a container for food products and more particularly to a container for use with stacked food products.

BACKGROUND

A variety of food and snack products are produced in stacked and/or nested configuration. For example, potato chips, cookies, crackers, and other food products can be produced so that a first side or bottom side of one food product engages or engages a second side or top side of another food product. Accordingly, said food products can be arranged in a stacked configuration.

Stacked food products can be packaged and stored using a variety of packaging and packaging configurations. For example, bags, trays and containers can be used to package stacked food products. To protect the integrity of a stack of food products, rigid packaging may tightly enclose the food products it contains. Such a package is a cylindrical container or package. For example, food products can be stacked within cylindrical packaging to maintain the integrity (eg size, shape, etc.) and organization of the food products while at the same time providing robust, easy-to-use packaging. handle. Documents US 2014/110283 and EP 0995688 are known. Document US 2014/110283 discloses a package insert for use with ice cream, frozen yogurt or other foods or substances. The prospectus comprises a first part adjoining a second part along a first line, a third part adjoining the second part along a second line and a fourth part adjoining the third part along a third line . EP 0995688 discloses a tubular container including a tubular body open at both ends and a spacer positioned within the body. The divider separates the body into two tubular compartments, each accessible through one of the open ends of the body.

While cylindrical containers adequately maintain a stacked configuration of food products disposed therein, such containers must be relatively long to accommodate a desired amount of food products. Furthermore, such containers are difficult to use once about more than half of the food product is removed, thereby making it difficult to remove the food product located near the bottom of the container.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a complete disclosure of its full scope or all of its characteristic features.

A container for food products is provided and includes a shell with a cylindrical interior surface extending from a proximal end to a distal end about a first longitudinal axis, the interior surface defining a height ranging from 6.35 cm (2. 5 inches) to 35.36 cm (14 inches) and a width ranging from 12.7 to 17.78 cm (5 to 7 inches), the ratio of height to width being less than 2/1; a spacer disposed within the housing, the spacer having first, second and third radially extending fins to define first, second and third pie-shaped chambers within the housing, each of the first fins including, second and third an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edges contact at a joint, and the outer edge of the first fin contacts the inner surface of the casing at a first contact location, the outer edge of the second fin contacts the inner surface of the casing at a second contact location, the outer edge of the third fin contacts the inner surface of the casing at a third contact location; and a first, a second and a third stack of ellipsoidal food products disposed within the first, second and third chambers respectively, each of the first, second and third stacks of ellipsoidal food products being stacked in a lengthwise direction of respective second, third and fourth longitudinal axes parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein a first ellipsoidal food product includes a first major axis and a first minor axis, the first minor axis intersecting the joint and the major axis intersecting at least two of the first, second and third contact locations.

In one configuration, the spacer is removably disposed within the housing. Furthermore, the first, second and third fins may be arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis. The gasket can be substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the casing.

The first, second and third food products can be fitted within each of the first, second and third. The food products disposed within the first, second and third chambers may be the same, or alternatively, at least one of the first, second and third food products may be different from the rest of the food products.

The second food product may include a second major axis and a second minor axis and the third food product may include a third major axis and a third minor axis. The second and third minor axes may intersect the joint and the first minor axis and the second and third major axes may intersect at least two of the first, second and third contact locations.

Other areas of application will become apparent from the description provided in this invention. The description and specific examples in this summary are offered for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described in this invention are for illustrative purposes of selected configurations only and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

Figure 1 is a top view of a food product container in accordance with the invention showing three separate stacks of food products housed within respective chambers of the container; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 showing the food product removed for clarity;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Figure 1 taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example configurations will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The example configurations are provided so that this disclosure is complete and fully conveys the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Specific details such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that the exemplary configurations may be embodied in many different ways, and that the specific details and exemplary configurations should not be construed in a manner that limits the scope of the disclosure.

The terminology used in this invention is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in this invention, the singular articles "a", "a/an" and "the" may be construed to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprise", "comprising", "including" and "having" are inclusive and, therefore, specify the presence of characteristic features, stages, operations, elements and/or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more characteristic features, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. The steps, processes, and operations of the method described in this invention should not be construed as necessarily requiring execution in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of execution. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When referring to an element or layer that is "in/on", "hooked", "attached", "attached" or "docked" to another element or layer, it can be directly in/on, hooked to, connected to, attached to or coupled to the other element or layer, or intermediate elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as “directly in/on”, “directly hooked/to”, “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” another element or layer , there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted similarly (eg, "between" vs. "directly between", "adjacent" vs. "directly adjacent", etc.). As used in this invention, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed associated elements.

The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used in this invention to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections. These elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may only be used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. Terms such as "first", "second" and other numerical terms do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of example configurations.

Referring to the figures, a container 10 is provided and includes a cooperating housing 12 and spacer 14. to house and contain one or more stacks 16-1, 16-2, ...16-n (referred to in this invention as stacks 16) of food products 18. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 However, the container 10 can house three stacks 16 of food products 18. However, it will be appreciated that the container 10 houses more or less than three stacks 16 of food products 18 depending on the particular shape of the separator 14. As will be described in more detail The container 10 then allows the stacks 16 of food products 18 to be stored and handled in a convenient and hygienic manner.

Casing 12 may be formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material. For example, in some configurations, the casing 12 may be formed of one or more materials, such as cardboard, plastic, or metal.

Housing 12 may define a generally hollow cylindrical construction having an interior surface 20 extending from a proximal end 22 to a distal end 24 along a central longitudinal axis A1 (FIG. 3). Proximal end 22 may be open, while distal end 24 may be closed. In this regard, proximal end 22 may be sized and shaped to accommodate a cap (not shown) or other suitable closure mechanism.

As illustrated, housing 12, including interior surface 20, defines a cylindrical construction. Inner surface 20 may define a first dimension (eg, height) that extends in a direction substantially parallel to longitudinal axis A1, and a second dimension (eg, width, length, etc.) that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1. In this sense, the first dimension of the interior surface 20 can include a height HI (FIG. 3) that extends from the proximal end 22 to the distal end 24, and the second dimension of the interior surface 20 can include an interior radius R1 (Figure 1). The inside radius R1 ranges from about 6.35 cm (2.5 inches) to 8.89 cm (3.5 inches) so that a diameter D1 of the shell 12 ranges from about 12.7 cm (5 inches) to 17.78 cm (7 inches). In some configurations, the inner radius R1 may be substantially equal to 5.08 cm (2 inches) and the diameter D1 is substantially equal to 10.16 cm (4 inches). HI height ranges from 6.35 cm (2.5 inches) to 35.56 cm (14 inches). In this regard, the ratio (eg, an aspect ratio) between the height HI and the diameter D1 is less than 2.0. An aspect ratio of less than 2.0 can improve the stability of the container 10. In particular, an aspect ratio between 0.5 and 2.0 can improve the stability of the container 10 when the container 10 rests on the distal end 24. In this regard, an aspect ratio between 0.5 and 2.0 may allow the distal end 24 to rest on a support surface (eg, a table, the floor, the floor, etc.) without tipping over, so that the longitudinal axis A1 maintains a perpendicular orientation with respect to the support surface. In particular, an aspect ratio between 0.5 and 2.0 can allow the longitudinal axis A1 to form and/or maintain an angle between zero and forty-five degrees with respect to the normal of the bearing surface without causing the container 10 tipping over.

Spacer 14 is formed from an oil resistant material. For example, spacer 14 can be formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material (eg, paper, cardboard, or the like) that has an oil-resistant coating (eg, wax, paint, or the like). In some embodiments, the first spacer 14 is formed from a flexible material. Spacer 14 may be removably arranged within housing 12. Allowing spacer 14 to be removed from housing 12 allows stacks 16-1, 16-2, ...16-n to be mixed together. inside the casing 12 once removed.

Spacer 14 may include three or more fins 28-1, 28-2,...28-n (referred to in this invention as fins 28). As illustrated, spacer 14 may include three fins 28. Each fin 28 includes a proximal end 30, a distal end 32, an inner edge 34, and an outer edge 36. In some configurations, each fin 28 may define a generally rectangular shape. such that the proximal and distal ends 30, 32 define a height H2 (FIG. 3) therebetween, and the inner and outer edges 34, 36 define a width W2 (FIG. 1) therebetween. In some configurations, height H2 may be substantially equal to height H1 of shell 12, and width W2 may be substantially equal to radius R1 of shell 12.

The inner edges 34 of the fins 28 contact at a joint 38. As will be explained in more detail below, the joint 38 may allow each of the fins 28-1, 28-2, ...28-n bends with respect to one or more of the remaining fins 28-1,28-2, ...28-n. For example, joint 38 may allow each of the fins 28 1, 28-2,...28-n to rotate about its respective inner edge 34 with respect to one or more of the remaining fins 28 1, 28-. 2, ...28-n.

As illustrated in Figure 3, in an assembled configuration, gasket 38, including inner edges 34, may be substantially aligned with longitudinal axis A1 of housing 12. As shown in Figure 3, longitudinal axis A1 may be the central axis of the casing 12. The outer edge 36 of each fin 28 contacts the inner surface 20 of the casing 12 at a contact location 39 (eg, 39-1, 39-2, ... 39-n). Accordingly, fins 28 may extend radially within housing 12 so that spacer 14 defines more than one chamber 40-1, 40-2, ... 40-n (referred to herein). invention as chamber 40) within housing 12. In particular, if spacer 14 includes three fins 28, housing 12 may include three chambers 40. In some configurations, fins 28 may be spaced symmetrically about longitudinal axis A1 of the shell. housing 12, so that spacer 14 defines chambers 40 of equal size. In particular, as illustrated in Figure 1 , in some configurations the separator 14 defines three equally sized pie-shaped chambers 40-1, 40-2, 40-3. Although the outer edge 36 of each fin 28 is described and shown in contact with the inner surface 20 of the casing 12 at contact locations 39, the outer edge 36 of each fin 28 could alternatively be spaced apart from the inner surface 20 of the housing 12. inside 20.

Each stack 16 may include more than one food item 18. For example, each stack 16 may include a plurality of potato chips, crackers, cookies, and/or other similar food items 18 . As illustrated in Fig. 3, each food item 18 may include a top side 42 and a bottom side 43. In the stacked arrangement, the top side 42 of a food item 18 may mate with the bottom side 43 of a food product 18 adjacent. Accordingly, as illustrated in Figure 1, each stack 16 of food product 18 may extend along a respective longitudinal axis A2 (eg, A2-1, A2-2, ...A2-n). In the assembled configuration, the longitudinal axes A2 of the stacks 16 are parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 of the casing 12.

As illustrated in Figure 1, in some configurations, each food product 18 defines an oval shape having a major axis A3 and a minor axis A4. Stacks 16 of food products 18 may also be arranged within housing 12 such that major axes A3 intersect and minor axes A4 intersect. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the main axes A3-1, A3-2 of the food product 18 located in the stacks 16 1, 16-2, respectively, may intersect near the contact location 39-1, while main axes A3-2, A3-3 of food product 18 located in stacks 16-2, 16-3, respectively, may intersect near contact location 39-2, and main axes A3-3, A3 -1 of the food product 18 located in the stacks 16-3, 16-1, respectively, may intersect near the contact location 39-3.

Secondary axes A4-1, A4-2, A4-3 of stacks 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, respectively, may intersect near longitudinal axis A1 of casing 12. In this regard, the axes secondary axes A4-1, A4-2, A4-3 of stacks 16-1, 16 2, 16-3, respectively, intersect at joint 38 of separator 14. Consequently, in some configurations, primary axes A3- 1, A3-2, to ^3-3 may cooperate to define a substantially triangular shape, while secondary axes A4-1, A4-2, A4-3 may define two substantially equal portions 60, 62 of chambers 40-1 , 40-2, 40-3, respectively.

The configuration and orientation of the casing 12 (eg, radius R1, height HI), separator 14 (eg, fins 28), stacks 16 (eg, shafts A2), and food product 18 (eg, axis A3, axis A4) help provide packaging (eg, at least 28 g (8 oz)) that facilitates convenient shipping and handling of container 10 and sharing of food product 18 between more than one person. For example, the arrangement of the casing 12, separator 14, and stacks 16 allows for the separation and breakage protection of multiple stacks 16 of food products 18 within the casing 12, while the detachable nature of the separator 14 allows the stacks 16 of products to be mixed. 18 within the casing 18. Accordingly, in a method of use, when the separator 14 is placed within the casing 12, the fins 28 and the interior surface 20 of the casing 12 help to maintain the integrity of the cells 16. so that that one person can get food items 18 from stack 16-1, while another person gets food items 18 from stack 16-2, and another person gets food items 18 from stack 16-3. In this sense, the container 10 can have a size (for example, diameter D1) so that the container 10 can receive more than one hand (for example, two hands, three hands, etc.) simultaneously when the separator 14 is arranged. without the housing 18. The configuration of the spacer 14 (for example, the flexible material and/or the gasket 38) may allow each of the fins 28-1, 28-2, ...28-n to bend relative to each other. to the remaining flaps 28-1, 28-2, ...28-n so that the container 10 can better accommodate one or more hands within the chambers 40-1, 40-2, ...40-n during the use. In another method of use, separator 14 may be removed from housing 12 to allow mixing of food products 18 disposed in stack 16-1 with food products 18 disposed in stack 16-2 and/or stack 16. -3.

The food products 18 arranged within the stacks 16-1, 16-2, 16-3 may be the same food products. For example, each stack 16-1, 16-2, 16-3 may contain the same particular flavor of potato chip and may be the same size and shape. Alternatively, at least one of the food products 18 may be different from the others in terms of at least one element, size, shape, and/or flavor. Finally, the three stacks 16-1, 16-2, 16-3 may contain different types of food products in terms of size, shape and/or flavor, with some or all of the food products 18 being arranged in a nested, stacked arrangement.

The foregoing description is provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit disclosure. In general, the individual features or elements of a particular configuration are not limited to that particular configuration, but where applicable, are interchangeable and may be used in a selected configuration, even if not specifically shown or described. The same can also be varied in many ways. Such variations should not be considered as a departure from the disclosure, provided that they fall within the scope of the dependent claims.

Claims (7)

1. A container (10) for food products, the container comprising: a shell (12) having a cylindrical inner surface (20) extending from a proximal end (22) to a distal end (24) about a first longitudinal axis (A1), the inner surface defining a height HI that varies from 6.35 cm (2.5 inches) to 35.36 cm (14 inches) and a width D1 ranging from 12.7 to 17.78 cm (5 to 7 inches), the ratio being HI to HI width D1 less than 2/1; a spacer (14) disposed within the housing, the spacer having first, second and third radially extending fins (28-n) defining first, second and third pie-shaped chambers (40-n) within of the casing, each of the first, second and third fins including an inner edge (34) and an outer edge (36), the inner edges contact at a joint (38) and the outer edge of the first fin enters in contact with the inner surface of the casing at a first contact location (39-1), the outer edge of the second fin contacts the inner surface of the casing at a second contact location (39-2), the outer edge of the third fin contacts the inner surface of the casing at a third contact location (39-3); Y a first, a second and a third stack (16-n) of ellipsoidal food products (18) disposed within the first, second and third chambers respectively, each of the first, second and third stacks of ellipsoidal food products being stacked in a direction along respective second, third and fourth longitudinal axes (A2-n) parallel to the first longitudinal axis (A1), and wherein a first ellipsoidal food product includes a first major axis (A3-1) and a first axis secondary (A4-1), the first secondary axis intersecting the joint and the main axis intersecting at least two of the first, second and third contact locations. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the spacer is removably disposed within the housing. 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third fins are arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis. 4. The container of claim 1, wherein the gasket is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shell. 5. The container of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third stacks of ellipsoidal food products are stacked or nested within each of the first, second, and third chambers, respectively. 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the ellipsoidal food product is nested. 7. The container of claim 1, wherein a second ellipsoidal food product includes a second major axis (A3-2) and a second minor axis (A4-2) and a third ellipsoidal food product includes a third major axis (A3-3 ) and a third minor axis (A4-3), the second and third minor axes intersecting the joint and the first minor axis and the second and third major axes intersecting at least two of the first, second and third contact locations.