FR2806709A1 - Moulded plastic food container has eating implement such as spoon, fork or knife moulded together with it and detachable for use - Google Patents

Abstract

Food container (1), has an eating implement (2) such as a spoon, fork or knife moulded together with it, lying in the plane of one of its surfaces and sealed by a protective film, or located in a recess in the container wall and covered by a label. A food container (1) such as a pot or tray has an eating implement (2) such as a spoon, fork or knife moulded together with it, lying in the plane of one of its surfaces and sealed by a protective film, or located in a recess in the container wall and covered by a label. A batch of containers moulded together in pairs or fours can have an implement for each container moulded along the outer edges of the batch. Other variants of the design can have one or more implements on a hinged flap folded into a compartment of the container during packaging and covered by a seal. The implements can be attached to the container, flap, or to one another by perforated lines and detached prior to use. The container and implement(s) can be made from a two-dimensional plastic shape produced by press injection and then shaped into three dimensions by thermo-forming.

Description

The present invention relates to a cup device, or container incorporating an instrument on one of its faces, manufactured in the same manufacturing cycle.

This present description is a patent of improvement relating to patent number 94 033 88, publication number 2 360 filed on 21/03/1994 Mr Jean Paul PECHE residing in Eloyes, 6 Le Haut Pré, France The device described in the patent whose coordinates are stipulated above does not allow to integrate a large instrument. It is limited to the fun size of the sides of the top face of the container.

The device of the first patent does not place the instrument in a plane other than the upper plane of the container.

The device of the first patent describes an instrument placed on the upper face thereof. Several containers next to each other. The separation different containers is made by breakability which, in the case described, may lead to a securing of the container with its accompanying instrument. complex container / instrument is then broken.

The device described in the first patent automatically causes a round shape of the container.

The device described in the first patent only works for an instrument such as a spoon or spatula and not for other instruments such as a fork or a knife.

The instrument described in the first patent can not be protected under good conditions.

The instrument of the first patent must be juxtaposed to the upper projected surface of the container, which can lead to packaging constraints.

The device described in the first patent requires a film closure to the exclusion of any other form of closure.

The device of the first patent does not allow to manufacture an instrument long enough to reach the bottom of the container, in the case where the latter has a normal depth of use. The device of the first patent is mainly intended to receive semi-liquid products, such as yogurts, compotes and other liquid deserts, see fully liquid products. It can not (in state, accept products such as salads or others, which must be handled with the help of an instrument such a fork.

The complete device as described in the first patent, can not include several instruments, identical different.

The instrument manufactured in the same manufacturing cycle as the container, can not, according to the first patent have a large volume, it must remain relatively flat, including its periphery.

AU-B-604,770 discloses a pot device including a spatula. The latter can not access the bottom containing, without the user to put the fingers. Moreover according to its profile, it can scrape the bottom of the container in good conditions, leaving some of the content.

DE-A-32 42 257 is a patented device for incorporating an instrument compartment into a container, in the same manufacturing cycle as the latter. Various ingenious solutions are described, but the concept does not include the instrument in the same production cycle. It is therefore impossible to manufacture the instrument at the same time as the container, it must be added, in the second cycle, on the container.

DE-A-29 49 056 discloses a device which includes, next to a container, a sausage compartment, so that the user does not directly touch the sausage with the fingers. For convenience, the compartment can be detached from the base container. This concept can only be used for the function described above.

FR-A-1,582,230 is a meal tray device including instruments, it is, by definition, designed to receive food. This concept is according to the description and presentation impossible to manufacture injected plastic or thermoformed, so virtually impossible to achieve in industry. Moreover neither the products nor the instruments are covered, or at least protected against the external aggressions, because of this, they could not, today, meet the sanitary standards for agri-food uses.

The patent CH-A-667 788 concept only intended for the coffee cup and the meal tray (meal tray, no longer meeting current sanitary guidelines). The spoon seems, for reasons of stacking, to be manufactured in double thickness, technically and industrially impossible to manufacture. Depending on the base version, devices can be stacked.

DE-A-20 45 449 is another meal tray with instruments, which like other patents describing such concepts, no longer meets the health and agri-food standards in force in most countries.

Another problem inherent in this type of stackable cups, usually not reattached, after use, take this enormously place in the waste, so an improvement from the point of view of these cups would be welcome.

The improvements made to the first patent and current techniques overcomes all the aforementioned drawbacks, and offer many new possibilities.

The manufacture of the device according to the invention remains possible as well with injection molding techniques, as by thermoforming.

The innovations are, especially for the complex separation container / instrument, the placement of instruments on the peripheral side of the batches formed of several complex container / instrument, allows a better separation, so as to preserve the entire complex.

This feature of novelty allows a better packaging of the containers together, a better presentation of the whole, as well as a decrease in the embrittlement of the container / instrument complex.

The improved device allows to place the spoon instrument, or spatula in a plane other than that of the upper face of the container. The instrument can be placed on any of the dimensions of the container, and in particular on one of the heights of the latter. The container may have a shape other than round.

In this case the instrument can be made in a sufficient length to reach the bottom of the container.

The instrument can also be folded on the side of the container to simplify packaging.

The aluminum used for threading can also cover the bottom of the instrument to better protect it.

The improved device also allows a closure system other than necessarily the thread, as described in the first patent, and which can not effectively protect the instrument especially when the latter is a fork or a knife, or other instrument not having a periphery at the same height on its outer periphery.

Several closure systems can be envisaged and in particular a cover device reclosable at will, allowing the instrument to be protected from both the product and external aggressions.

In the extension of the lid the instrument can be formed during the same manufacturing cycle as the container. The instrument juxtaposed to the lid can then pivot on a hinge so that it can find its place in a housing provided for this purpose in the lid. A display label being placed on the top of the cover can be used to protect the instrument until it is used.

In the same context several instruments can be manufactured next to each other, always in the same manufacturing cycle, so that they can then be placed inside the housing provided for this purpose.

Several variants have been thought of and are described later in the drafting.

The improvements and innovations of the device according to the invention will be better understood thanks to the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the attached diagrammatic drawings, in which: which Figure 1 is a side view of one of the improvements made, the instrument is placed along the container height; Figure 2 is a side view of a variant of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a variant of the device according to the invention of Figure 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a top view of the device of Figures 1 to 2; Figure 5 shows a lot of complex different from the first patent in that the instruments are placed outer ends of the containers; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative to the device of Figure 5 different in that it is designed 2 compartments (containing two compartments) with instrument in longitudinal position; Figure 7 is a variant of the device of the previous figure, different in that the instrument is placed in a lateral position; Figure 8 is a perspective view of another improvement, for integrating an instrument on a tray or container, especially used for salads and catering dishes; Figure 9 is a top view of the device of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a variant of Figure 8, incorporating an instrument compartment in the lid of the container; Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the device of Fig. 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view, schematically a variant of the device of Figure 10, different in that the instrument compartment is placed next to the container; Figure 13 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a sectional view, showing the plate obtained by plastic injection, which we see the different parts, different layers; FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the bi-compartment lid device, incorporating the instrument and the second component; FIG. 16 is a front view, showing another enhancement provided, making it possible to manufacture several instruments in the same manufacturing cycle as the container <B>; </ B> Figures 17, 18 and 19 schematize the different possibilities of cumulation of the instruments (perspective of Figure 16) Figure 20 is a view of the container of the figure 5 representing the rods for bonding the aluminum film; Fig. 21 is a sectional view of the container showing the aluminum bonding rods placed on the instrument, can also distinguish the aluminum film surrounding the instrument; </ B> Fig. 22 is a view of face of a variant to the base container, where the spoon may be inclined to the side of the container; Figure 23 is a sectional view of the device of the previous figure; FIG. 24 represents one of the last improvements made, characterized in that the instrument, spoon or spatula is profiled in a certain way, so as to be able to reach every nook and cranny of the container; Figure 25 shows the instrument of the previous figure, in use position; Fig. 26 shows a foldable cup; Figure 27 is a top view of the device of Figure 26; Figure 28 is a variant of the device of Figure 26; Figure 29 is a top view of the device of the previous figure; Figure 30 is a top view of a variant of the device of Figure 28; Figure 31 is a side view of a variant of the device of the previous figure; A pot or container also called container (1) and an instrument (2) are shown in Figure 1. The instrument (2) is manufactured in the same manufacturing cycle as the container (1) and is juxtaposed to the latter, thanks to a notch (3) that allows the formation of only one piece. The stop (4) shows dashed material, so that the instrument (2) can be separated from the container (1) by breakability for use.

Under (effect of a constant inclination pressure on the part of the user, the instrument (2) will break along (stop (4), along the dotted line (4) so that the user can use it.

Such Figure 2 is a variant of the device shown schematically in Figure 1, different in that it allows to stack several containers (1) one in (other.

Indeed in this configuration the instrument is placed vertically relative to the bottom of the container (1) and the notch (3) is much smaller, to allow the devices to be stacked.

The instrument (2) is manufactured along the container (1) and is folded inwardly of the container (1) in the instrument compartment (5) provided for this purpose. The notch (3) forming an angle of 90 relative to the instrument (2) allows this manipulation. The separation of the instrument (2) and the container (1) is at the hinge (6); in this way the user can better maintain the instrument (2) for use.

The closure of the instrument compartment is achieved by means of decorating paper and presentation (7) which covers the walls of the container (1). To open the user must exert continuous pressure on the paper at the compartment (5) to release the instrument (2).

The instrument (2) is juxtaposed vertically relative to the container (1). The same concept can be used with the instrument (2) placed horizontally with respect to the container (1).

Unlike the first patent, the round shape of the container is not mandatory in this improvement (see Figure 4).

The instruments (2) are now placed on either side of the complex batch containing the instrument. In other words, the containers (1) are placed by two, by four, by six, by eight, in the center, and the instruments (2) are placed on the periphery. The separation of the complexes containing / instrument between them, is largely simplified, the chances of keeping the whole complexes are even higher, as shown in Figure 5.

Containers (1) bi-compartment can also be made by including an instrument either laterally or longitudinally.

The improvement brought essentially allows to use the device for the packaging of several other contents that semi-liquid products such as yogurts and other desserts, including salads, catering, etc ...

Indeed according to some improvements the instrument mainly a spoon, or a spatula can be replaced by a fork that can be used for handling products such as salad, and other.

The fork (2) is obviously manufactured in the same material and in the same manufacturing cycle as the container (1).

The fork (2) is placed along the container (1), and connected thereto through a notch (3). An instrument compartment (5) is placed in the container (1), the instrument (2) is, when the packaging is folded inwards, by means of the hinge (6) of the notch (3), allowing the instrument to be placed in the compartment (5) provided for this purpose.

The dots (4) allow a separation of the instrument (2) and the notch (3). For closure the container (1) is covered with a plastic cover (7), which also closes the compartment (5) thereby protecting the instrument (2).

The compartment (5) can respectively be placed outside or inside the container (1), as shown in Figures 8 and 13.

Depending on the shape of the container (1), the notches (3) must be of smaller or smaller sizes, and be placed in number.

Alternatively, the compartment (5) is placed in the cover (8). The lid is part of the container (1), a hinge (6) can rotate it for opening and closing (see Figure 10).

A notch (9) allows the user to better grasp and seal the lid (8) and thus to open or close the latter. This configuration is already used on many containers (1) of the type.

A shutter serving as a presentation of the contents, can allow a hermetic closure of the compartment (5) protecting the same fork (2).

The fork (2) is given as an example, it can happily be replaced by another instrument such as large spoon, knife or other without departing from the context of the patent.

another variant, when the cover (7) is not desired, allows to integrate the compartment (5) next to the container (1). Closing is then done through the lid part (8) independent or not of the container (1). The lid (8) closes the contents of the container as well as the instrument compartment (5).

Instrument compartments (5) can be placed vertically as well as horizontally.

In the same context, another variant of the device described above allows to associate several instruments (2) (at least 2), obviously in the same material, in the same manufacturing cycle as the container (1). Allowing to combine fork and knife, or fork and spoon, the number of instruments is therefore unlimited. Dashed lines (4) separate the instruments (2) from one another for use (Figure 16-19).

They can then be superimposed, or simply placed next to each other in the compartment (5) provided for this purpose.

The lid (8) independent or not container (1) can accommodate instrument compartment (5) in its upper part, and in its lower part a second component compartment (21) can be used especially for a topping, or a another two-component product. The two compartments (5 and 21) are obviously independent of each other. They are both closed by a seal (7) owner to each of them as schematized in Figure 15. Some improvements have been added to the level of the small container (1) base.

The gluing rods (10) of the aluminum film (7) can also be added to the instrument (2) (including spoon), both on the top and on the bottom of the latter. As a result, the spoon (2) is entirely protected by the film (7) against all external aggressions, and can better meet the sanitary standards of the sector.

These rods (10) must at least be placed on parts of the instrument (2) entering the mouth of the user.

The second improvement made to the base container (1) rotates the spoon instrument (2) on an axis (11) placed between the upper projected surface of the container (1) and the spoon (2).

In this way it is not necessary to change sizes of containers (1), simply the mold of manufacturing complexes (containers with instrument).

The improvement can only have interesting results if the instrument (2) is correctly protected by the film (7).

From a manufacturing point of view, the process used would be a process using several plastic forming techniques.

Indeed, in a first step the outer shape of the various elements and their corresponding thicknesses (containing (1), instrument (2), lid (8) etc ...) are made by injection molding plastic in traditional press, allowing 'get the finished shapes of the complex with the various technical elements (hinge (6), dotted (4), etc ...) in 2 dimensions.

Then the plates thus obtained, are then passed through thermoforming, passing from 2 dimensions to 3 dimensions, allowing, by the same, a fast sterilization, simple and without additional cost.

This bi-process technique allows to obtain high quality results, allowing to obtain smooth and rounded fields or finished edges (thus a penetration in the mouth of the users). Also allowing to play on the thicknesses (contrary to traditional thermoforming means starting from film of the same thickness), as well as to gain on the matter (without material loss) to be compared with the traditional way starting from film, and finally a sterilization at a lower cost.

more plates out of injection can be delivered, at lower cost, in the state, the conditioner which only has to thermoform and even sterilize.

This technique also makes it possible to work on several layers of material at the injection outlet. So that the instrument (2) is placed on the bottom of the container (1), the instrument (2) must be placed on the bottom of the layer will form the container (1). This application is shown schematically in Figure 14. After thermoforming, the instrument will actually be placed on the bottom of the container (1).

recent improvements makes it possible, thanks to an instrument (2) such a spatula, profiled so as to be able to take out all the contents of the container (1). A notch (12) allows the instrument to take the contents placed between the container cavity (13) and the outer wall of the container (1).

The container cavity (13) is often required to give the container (1) better rigidity and strength.

last improvement refers to the pot or cup which allows thanks to a folding groove (16) placed in the bottom (14) and in the dimensions (15) of the cup (1), to fold the latter, so as to decrease ninety percent the volume taken by the latter in the waste.

a simple pressure exerted on the walls, parallel to the grooves (16), makes it possible to fold on itself the cup (1).

According to one variant, a double-bottom device makes it possible to obtain the same results. A double bottom (17) half of which is glued to the bottom (14) allows the same gesture to fold on itself the cup (1).

Another variant consists of a central round (18) placed in the bottom (14) of the cup (1) delimited by a circular groove and at least 2 radii of grooves from the central circle (18) towards the walls (15) allowing, by a simple pressure on the central circle (18) to fold the cup (1) on itself.

A final variant allows the portion delimited by the central circle (18) to be glued to a second bottom (17) slightly larger in its circumference to keep the two bottoms (14 and 17) under pressure, allowing through a counter pressure applied on the central circle (16) to automatically fold the cup (1) on itself.

The portion defined by the central circle (18) of the bottom can also be slightly curved (19) and glued to a second bottom (20) also bent in the opposite direction and slightly larger in its circumference to keep the two bottoms (19). and 20) under pressure, allowing to keep them in the open position or in the closed position, and to pass from one to the other through a pressure from the top down to open and use the cup (1) or from the bottom to the top to make it fold automatically on itself.

The invention makes it possible to meet new expectations, integrating an instrument (2) with a container such as a pot, container, cup, tray (1), still made of the same material, in the same manufacturing cycle, decreasing by both the total cost of manufacturing, shaping packaging, to associate several instruments with the same manufacturing technique, to be able to enter through a spatula (2) specific all the contents of the container (1).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented by the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements, or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (8)

1) pot device, container, or container called container (1) having at least one instrument (2) such as spoon, spatula, knife, fork other, placed in any of the planes relative to the upper plane of the container (1) manufactured in the same manufacturing cycle as the container (1), provided with a compartment (6) placed in any plane with respect to the upper plane of the container (1) hermetically sealed by means of protection (7) such as film or other. 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the instrument can be placed vertically relative to the bottom of the container (1) and be folded towards the inside of the container (1) where an instrument compartment (5) is integrated , the printing and presentation paper (7) closes the instrument compartment (5) so as to protect the instrument (2). 3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the instruments (2) are placed on either side of the batch of complex containing / instrument, the containers (1) are placed two by four in the center, and the instruments (2) are placed at the periphery. 4) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that an axis (11) is placed between the container (1) and the spoon (2) for pivoting the instrument (2) on the axis (11) so as to place it vertically along the container (1). 5) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the instrument (2) is placed along the container (1), and connected thereto through a notch (3), an instrument compartment (5) is placed in the container (1), the instrument (2), is, when the packaging is bent inwards, thanks to the hinge (6) of the notch (3), allowing the instrument to be placed in the compartment (5) provided for this purpose, the compartment (5) can be placed inside or outside vertically or horizontally relative to the container (1), the instrument compartment (5) is then closed hermetically by a cover (8) or a cover (7) 6) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the lid (8) independent or not of the container (1) can accommodate the instrument compartment (5) in its upper part, and in its lower part a second component compartment (21). ) that can be used in particular for a topping, or another two-component product, the two compartments (5 and 21) are obviously independent of one another; they are both closed by a cover (7) owner and solidarity to each of them. 7) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that several instruments (2) can be associated, obviously in the same material, in the same cycle of manufacture as the container (1), thus allowing to combine fork and knife, or fork spoon , the number of instruments (2) being thereby unlimited, dotted (4) to separate the instruments (2) from each other for use, they can then be superimposed, or simply placed the 'side of others in compartment (5) provided for this purpose. 8) Device according to claims 2 and 3 characterized in that the gluing rods (10) of the aluminum film (7) can be added to the instrument (2) (including spoon), both on the top than on the bottom of the latter, thus the spoon (2) is fully protected by the film against all external aggression, and can better meet the health standards of the sector, they must at least be placed on the parts of the instrument (2) entering the mouth of the user. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the instrument (2) such as a spatula, is profiled so as to be able to exit the entire contents of the container through a notch (12), which allows the instrument (2) taking the contents placed between the container cavity (13) and the outer wall of the container (1). 10) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it is provided with folding grooves (16) placed in the bottom (14) and in the walls (15) of the cup (1) allowing, by a simple pressure on the walls, parallel to the grooves (16) to fold the walls (15) and the bottom (14) inwardly so as to substantially reduce the volume thereof, the grooves (16) of the bottom (14) of the cup (1) can be replaced by a double bottom (17), the latter being on half of its surface bonded to the bottom (14), and allows the same means, to fold on itself the cup (1) , the bottom (14) can also be designed with a central round (18) defined grooves (16), accumulated at least two grooves (16) in the bottom (14) allowing through a pressure exerted on the round (18) ) to fold the cup (1) on itself, this part delimited by the central circle (18) of the slightly curved bottom ( 19) can be glued to a second bottom (20) also hanger in the opposite direction and slightly larger in its circumference to keep the two bottoms (19 and 20) under pressure, allowing to keep in the open position or in the closed position, and move from one to the other through a counter pressure, and automatically bend cup (1) on itself. 12) A method of manufacturing the device according to the preceding claims characterized by a bi-process means, including a plate of different thicknesses, defined shape and cut, with smooth and rounded fields for mouthing, forming, for example, the complex containing with instrument (2) in 2-dimensional format, obtained by means of injection in plastic press, this plate thus obtained is then passed in thermoforming to pass from 2 dimensions to 3 dimensions, allowing to create the necessary volume, this technique bi-process also makes it possible to work with several thicknesses of material, several layers, so as to integrate for example the instrument (2) on the bottom of the compartment (1).