FR2915465A1 - Food container e.g. salad minicup, has deformable exterior wall portion in which user exerts axial pressure on reservoir to eject liquid in inner cavity defined by bowl and cover, without opening container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a bowl (1) and a cover (2) conformed for being assembled in sealed contact along peripheral edges (110, 210) of the bowl and the cover and for being separated by an action of a user. The bowl and the cover define an inner cavity surrounded by outer walls (10, 20) of the bowl and the cover, and a deformable reservoir (3) inside the outer walls contains a liquid. A deformable exterior wall portion (30) is provided in which the user exerts an axial pressure (F1) on the reservoir to eject the liquid in the inner cavity without opening the container.

Description

The present invention relates to food containers.

  The invention relates more particularly to trays that can contain salad and a dose of salad dressing. One type of salad container already known comprises a bowl and a lid which are shaped to be assembled in sealed contact according to their peripheral edge and to be separated by the action of a user. This bowl and lid define an interior cavity in which the salad is placed and a flexible, sealed, deformable and separate reservoir, which can contain a liquid such as salad dressing. Thus, the salad can be preserved without the risk of being gradually deteriorated by the sauce, the latter being enclosed in the sealed bladder. This known container thus comprises three distinct elements: a bowl, a lid and a sauce tank. To fill the container, an operator or an automaton introduces the salad into the interior cavity of this container. Independently, the flexible tank, deformable and separated, is previously filled with salad dressing and is closed. This sauce tank is then positioned among the salad leaves in the interior cavity of the container. A user wishing to taste his salad accommodated salad dressing will have to perform several successive operations. The first operation is to separate the lid of the bowl. The second operation is to take in hand the sauce tank. The third step is to tear the sauce tank and spread the sauce into the inner cavity. In the fourth and fifth operations, the user adapts the lid again on the bowl of the container, then agitates the container to mix its salad and thus distribute the sauce in the middle of the salad. Finally, to taste his salad, the user must perform a sixth operation of removing the lid of the bowl again. This container has the disadvantage of requiring the user to perform six successive operations before being able to taste his salad saucée, including two separations of the bowl and lid, and an assembly of these two elements. And there is a risk of spreading the sauce out of the container during the third sauce spreading operation, or even during the fifth brewing operation if the container has not been properly closed.

  The problem proposed by the present invention is to design such a container for separately containing food on the one hand and a liquid on the other hand, and to release to the inside of the container the liquid without O87FD} P.doc 2 require the opening of said container. In this way, it eliminates the risk of spreading the liquid out of the container during the liquid spreading and brewing steps.

  The invention also aims at producing such a container in two main parts, thus avoiding the operation of introducing the liquid reservoir into the container.

  container, and reducing the cost of production and implementation of the container.

  To achieve these goals as well as others, the invention proposes a

  food container, comprising:

  a bowl and a lid shaped to be assembled in sealed contact along their peripheral edge and to be separated by the action of a user, defining an interior cavity surrounded by an outer wall, and

  inside the outer wall of the container, a deformable reservoir that can contain a liquid and eject it under the action of an external pressure,

  wherein the container comprises at least one outer wall portion

  Deformable by which the user can exert pressure on the reservoir to eject the liquid into the interior cavity without having to open the container.

  In the description and claims, the word "liquid" is intended to denote any type of food whose fluidity allows its flow out of a tank by pressure on the walls of the tank. It can thus be a food

  Substantially liquid such as a dressing, but also more viscous elements such as mayonnaise, cream, dough, or even a powder.

  It can be advantageously provided that the container comprises two opposite portions of outer wall, arranged to be pressed towards one another by the fingers in opposition to a hand of the user, at least one

  Opposite wall portions being deformable, the tank being located at least partly between said two opposite outer wall portions.

  This solution is simple, inexpensive and easy to manufacture and use. This particular structure advantageously makes it possible not to

  transmit to the rest of the container structure the forces due to the pressure

30 exercised by the user.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, the reservoir may be in one piece with the outer wall of the container.

  Thus shaped, the container of the invention has the advantage of only two essential elements, namely a bowl and a lid. The

  The container comprises a smaller number of distinct pieces. Indeed, the liquid tank is here directly integrated in the container. The reprocessing of waste will be facilitated. The pressures made by the user are applied directly to the tank, which has the effect of improving the emptying of the liquid tank, because the user can control the deformation of the liquid tank. Advantageously, it may be provided that said deformable outer wall portion is located in a peripheral recess of the container, so as to be easily grippable to be compressed by axial pressure perpendicular to the joint plane between the bowl and the lid. So that the liquid is released from the reservoir only by the will of the user, it can be provided that the reservoir is closed by a lid, which can advantageously be placed substantially in the joint plane between the bowl and the lid over a zone of sealing to facilitate the flow of the liquid and its distribution in food. The operculum is a simple, effective and inexpensive way to close the tank.

  Advantageously, it can be provided that the lid has at least one weak zone capable of breaking during an overpressure of the liquid it contains. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the lid to be glued or thermally sealed on the sealing area by reserving a zone of weakness for sticking or sealing capable of letting the lid detach from the sealing area when an overpressure of the liquid contained in the reservoir. Thus, by simply voluntary pressure of the user on the tank, the liquid flows into the container containing the salad. All this without having to separate the bowl and lid.

  In practice and in the case of a substantially circular reservoir, it can be provided that the zone of weakness is formed on an angular sector substantially between 120 and about 180 and oriented towards the inside of the container. According to a first embodiment, it can be provided that the reservoir is secured to the lid. Gravity helps the sauce to fall into the sauce tank. According to a second embodiment, it can be provided that the reservoir is integral with the bowl. This can help simplify the lid structure. It can also be provided that the container comprises a peripheral cover, laterally surrounding the tank to a height at least equal to the height of the tank, and open to allow access to the tank and to allow manipulation by pressure.

  O87FDEP.doc 4 This reduces the possible deformations that the tank may undergo during the various steps preceding its voluntary manipulation by the consumer.

  The container may also include a tamper evidence such as a cap sealing the cache and adapted to be detached by the user.

  The consumer is thus assured of buying a product that has not deteriorated,

  that is to say in which the liquid is still isolated from the food.

  For reasons of low cost and ease of manufacture, it can be provided that the container is made by thermoforming sheets of thermoformable material.

  For example, the container can advantageously be made from sheets of polyester, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or polylactic acid. This material offers the advantage of being inexpensive, easily deformable by voluntary pressure of the user. A container made in one of

  The aforementioned materials, however, are rigid enough not to be damaged during the various transport steps. In addition, this material is transparent, which attracts visually the consumer.

  Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

  - Figure 1 is a general view of a food container according to a first embodiment of the invention;

  Figure 2 is a side view of the food container of Figure 1;

  Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the food container of Figure 1 at the beginning of a liquid ejection step;

  FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the food container of FIG. 1, at the end of the liquid ejection stage;

  - Figure 5 is a perspective view of a food container according to a second embodiment of the invention;

  Figure 6 is a perspective view of a food container according to a third embodiment of the invention;

  Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container of the food container of Figure 1 in a first form;

  Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the container of the food container of Figure 1 in a second form;

  Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the container of the food container of Fig. 1 in a third form; and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the container of the food container of Fig. 1 in a fourth form.

  In Figures 1 to 4, a food container is shown according to a first embodiment of the invention.

  This food container comprises a bowl 1 and a lid 2. The bowl 1 comprises an outer wall 10 having a peripheral edge 110. The bowl 1 is shaped to receive food such as salad.

  The lid 2 comprises an outer wall 20 having a peripheral edge 210.

  The bowl 1 and the lid 2 are shaped to be assembled in sealed contact along their peripheral edge 110, 210.

  Assembled, the bowl 1 and the lid 2 define an inner cavity 100 shaped to contain the food.

  The food container also includes a reservoir 3 which is

  formed in particular by a portion of the outer wall 10, 20 of the food container and which is shaped to receive a liquid such as a salad dressing.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the food container comprises a reservoir 3 secured to the lid 2.

  This reservoir 3 comprises an interior cavity 300, surrounded by a

  outer wall 30 accessible by the user, and adapted to contain the liquid (Figure 3). This reservoir 3 has a height H which is advantageously chosen to be less than the height h of the lid 2. The same food containers can thus be stacked on one another without the adjacent containers bearing on the reservoir 3 and risk to distort it.

  The reservoir 3 is advantageously of substantially circular shape when viewed from above, and is surrounded by a free peripheral space in a peripheral recess 400 of the cover 2. In other words, the reservoir 3 forms a prominence in the interior space of the recess 400, and is protected by the edges of the peripheral recess on at least three sides

side.

  A corresponding peripheral recess 500 is made in the bowl 1, so as to arrange in opposition to each other two outer wall portions of the container, namely the tank wall 30 on the one hand, and a portion 510 of bowl wall 1. Thus, the two opposite wall portions 30 and 510

  outer container are arranged to be pressed towards each other by the fingers in opposition of the same hand of the user. In this case, the pressure F1 is exerted in an axial direction generally perpendicular to the joint plane between the bowl 1 and the cover 2. Such a design and such axial pressure F1 can deform the reservoir 3 while preserving the rest of the container structure of any induced deformation. In order for the liquid to remain isolated and to be introduced into the interior cavity 100 of the container only when the user so desires, for example shortly before the food is consumed, the reservoir 3 comprises an interior opening communicating with the interior cavity 100 of the container but closed by a lid 4. The lid 4 is placed substantially in the joint plane between the bowl 1 and the lid 2. It is glued or sealed on a sealing zone 7 around the inner opening of the tank 3. To discharge the reservoir liquid 3 in the food, the user must deform the reservoir 3. The reservoir 3 is for this purpose designed deformable, for example with an outer wall 30 accordion. To deform the reservoir 3, the user can position his fingers as shown in Figure 2, with the index below the reservoir 3 and the thumb above to exert a vertical pressure F1 on the reservoir 3. Thus, the reservoir 3 , is deformed by folding back on itself (Figure 4). An overpressure then appears in the liquid and is applied to the cover 4. The cover 4, which advantageously has at least one weak zone 40 of its own structure or of its bonding or sealing, breaks or detaches itself from the sealing zone 7 at this zone of weakness 40. The liquid contained in the reservoir 3 is then introduced into the internal cavity 100 (FIG. 4).

  In this embodiment, the gravity also helps the flow of liquid into the food container. The user can then shake the container, always closed, to mix the best liquid and food. When he wants to consume the mixture, the user must then separate, for the one and only time of use, the bowl 1 and the lid 2 of the food container. Figure 5 illustrates a food container according to a second embodiment. After its manufacture, the container generally undergoes several transport operations: a first transport from the manufacturer of the container to its customer who conditions the food in the container, a second transport from the customer to the dealer, a third transport from the dealer to the consumer, and a last transport to the home of the final consumer. Between the different transport operations, the container is stored. During storage, containers are stacked on top of one another with more or less care and order. One can then fear that pressure is applied involuntarily on the tank 3.

  The embodiment of FIG. 5 makes it possible to protect the reservoir 3

  by a peripheral cover 5 which laterally surrounds the reservoir 3. This cover 5 is chosen from a height H1 at least equal to the height H (Figure 2) of the reservoir 3, and more rigid. The cover 5 is open upwards to allow access to the tank 3 and allow its manipulation by pressure F1 by the user. This cover 5 makes it possible to avoid possible deformations of the tank 3 which could intervene

  unfortunately during the various stages preceding the use of the food container by the final consumer. These unfortunate deformations could, if the tank 3 was not protected by the cover 5, cause the cover is prematurely open and the liquid is released too early in the inner cavity 100 of the food container.

  The cover 5 may be closed by a cover 6 adapted to be detached by the user. This seal 6 is a witness of inviolability. Thus, the consumer is assured of buying an undamaged product, that is to say in which the liquid is still isolated from the food.

  Figure 6 illustrates a food container in a third mode

  embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the tank 3 is integral with the bowl 1. The tank 3 has the same characteristics of circular shape and height H that the food container shown in Figures 1 to 4.

  In all the embodiments of the preceding figures, for

  release the liquid in the inner cavity 100, the user must deform the reservoir 3. Figures 7 to 10 illustrate, in cross section, four possible forms for the outer wall 30 of the reservoir 3.

  Figure 7 illustrates a shape substantially in waves. Figure 8 is a substantially staircase shape. Figure 9 illustrates a cylindrical shape

  simple. Figure 10 shows a combination of the cylindrical shape of Figure 9 and the staircase of Figure 8.

  These forms are only examples and could be modified in any way giving the outer wall 30 of the reservoir 3 a deformation capacity by simply pressing between two fingers of a user.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below. S087FDI P.doc

Claims (7)

  Food container, comprising: - a bowl (1) and a lid (2) shaped to be assembled in sealed contact according to their peripheral edge (110, 210) and to be separated by the action of a user, defining an inner cavity (100) surrounded by an outer wall (10, 20), and - within the outer wall (10, 20) of the container, a deformable reservoir (3) capable of containing a liquid and ejecting it under the action of an external pressure (F1), characterized in that the container comprises at least one deformable outer wall portion (30) by which the user can exert a pressure (F1) on the reservoir (3) to eject the liquid into the inner cavity (100) without having to open the container. 2 - container according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two opposite portions of outer wall (30, 510), arranged to be pressed towards one another by the fingers in opposition to a hand of the the user, at least one of the opposite outer wall portions (30, 510) being deformable, the reservoir (3) being located at least partly between said two opposite outer wall portions (30, 510). 3 - Container according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the reservoir (3) is in one piece with the outer wall (10, 20) of the container. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said deformable outer wall portion (30) is located in a peripheral recess (400, 500) of the container, so as to be easily grippable to be compressed. by axial pressure (F1) perpendicular to the joint plane between the bowl (1) and the lid (2). 5 - Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the reservoir (3) is closed by a lid (4), which can be placed substantially in the joint plane between the bowl (1) and the lid (2) on a sealing area (7). 6 - Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the lid (4) has at least one weak zone (40) capable of breaking or detaching during an overpressure of the liquid contained therein. 7 - container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the reservoir (3) is integral with the lid (2) .87FDEP.doc 9 8 ù Container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tank (3) is integral with the bowl (1). 9 ù container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a cover (5) peripheral laterally surrounding the reservoir (3) on a height (H1) at least equal to the height (H) of tank (3), and open to allow access to the tank (3) and to allow its manipulation by pressure (F1). Container according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a tamper evidence such as a cap (6) closing the cache (5) and 10 adapted to be detached by the user. 11 ù Container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is produced by thermoforming sheets of thermoformable material. 12. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is made of polyester, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or polylactic acid.