GB2118142A - Moulded containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container 1 with at least one compartment 10, 11 is provided with a spike 12, 13, in the or each compartment 10, 11 so that an article can be impaled on the spike 12, 13 in order to prevent it from moving around freely within the compartment 10, 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Impovements relating to containers This invention relates to an improved container and a vacuum forming tool for making the improved container.

There are many products particularly in the food industry which cannot be produced at a constant size and consequently any packaging which is designed to hold a particular food product must be capable of accommodating the largest size.

It is clear that smaller sizes of the food product are vulnerable to damage during transit since they are able to move about within the container.

Clearly the smaller the food product the more severe the damage. Moreover, it is unlikely that such damaged food products will provide a satisfactory product for a prospective consumer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container which eliminates the problem of products being damaged in transit due to being moved about in their containers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vacuum forming tool for manufacturing such an improved container.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container which comprises at least one compartment, and at least one integrally formed spike in the or each compartment, which projects into the inside of the container, wherein an article is impaled on the or each spike in order to inhibit movement of the or each article within the or each compartment.

Preferably the container is used for articles of food. Preferably the food container is a plastics material and is advantageously vacuum formed.

Prefeably one article of food is contained within the or each compartment. It is desirable that there is one spike in the or each compartment and the spike is preferably located at the base of the or each compartment.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a vacuum forming tool for use in moulding a container comprising a mould, for forming a plastics film into the shape of the container, said mould having a floor into which the bottom surface of the container is formed, and including a spike projecting upwardly from the floor, vent holes located around the periphery of the floor, and an air gap provided around the periphery of the spike, which air gap is relatively small compared with the size of said vent holes so that the plastics film is drawn slowly over the spike and is not punctured by the spike.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container; Figure 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the vacuum forming tool; and Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 of an embodiment of the vacuum forming tool.

Referring to Figure 1 a food container generally designated 1 is shown. The container is provided with a lid 2 and a base 3. The lid has studs 4, 5 and 6 which can be pressed into depressions 7, 8 and 9 respectively.

The container has two compartments 10 and 11, and in each compartment there is a spike 12 and 13. The container also has transverse ribs 14 .and vertical ribs 15.

In use, one article of food is placed in each of the compartments so that the base of the food is impaled by the spike. The lid may then be closed by pressing the studs 4, 5 and 6 into depression 7, 8 and 9.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 a vacuum forming tool for use in moulding the food conainer described above is shown and is generally designated 20. The part of the mould from which the container lid is formed is generally designated 21, and the part of the mould from which the coritainer base is formed is generally designated 22.

Studs 23, 24 and 25on the mould form the studs 4, 5 and 6 on the container, and depressions 26, 27 and 28 on the mould form the depressions 7, 8 and 9 on the container. The mould also has depressions 29 which form the vertical ribs 1 5 on the container and depressions 30 which form the transverse ribs 14 on the container. The part of the mould 22 from which the base of the food container is formed has a floor 35 and 36 on which the bottom surface of the food container is formed.

There are standard air vent holes 31 (not shown in detail) around the periphery area of the floor of the mould and these vent holes are usually sized at 1 mm. The vent holes are usually spaced at a distance of 1 5 to 25mm.

There are spikes 32 and 33 which project from the floor 35 and 36 of mould 22 and these spikes form the spikes 12 and 13 on the container. There is a gap 34 and 37 (shown enlarged for clarity) around each of spikes 32 and 33 respectively.

This gap is usually a 0.15mm clearance fit and should be relatively small compared with vent holes 31.

In use, a plastics film is spread over the mould and then heated. When the film has reached a suitable temperature a vacuum is applied between the mould and the plastics film. The air is drawn out through standard vent holes 31 and the air gaps 34 and 37. The relatively large size of the vent holes 31 compared with the air gaps 34 and 37 ensures that the outer shape of the container is formed before the spike begins to form. When the outer shape of the container is substantially formed the air is drawn out through air gaps 34 and 37 which causes the film to be pulled down over the spike. The relatively small size of the air gaps 34 and 37 ensures that the film is pulled over the spike at a slow enough rate to avoid the puncture of the film by the spike.

It is clear that the container according to the present invention is advantageous over prior containers and that it substantially reduces the occurrence of damage to products during transit.

Furthermore the advantages of the vacuum forming tool for making the improved container enable a vacuum formed article to be made which includes a spike, without the usual risk of puncturing the plastics film.

Claims (Filed on 25. 1. 83.) 1. A container for an article which comprises at least one compartment, and an integrally formed spike in the or each compartment, said spike projects into the inside of the container, wherein an article can be impaled on the spike in order to inhibit movement of the article within the or each compartment.

2. A container according to Claim 1 in which there are two compartments.

3. A container according to any preceding claim in which the spike is located at the base of the or each compartment.

4. A vacuum forming tool for use in moulding a container comprising a mould, for forming a plastics film into the shape of the container, said mould having a floor on which the bottom surface of the container is formed, and including a spike projecting upwardly from the floor, vent holes located around the periphery of the floor, and an air gap provided around the periphery of the spike, which air gap is relatively small compared with the size of said vent holes so that the plastics film is drawn slowly over the spike and is not punctured by the spike.

6. A container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1.

7. A vacuum forming tool substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in figures 2 and 3.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 27 June 1983.

Superseded claims 1 to 7.

New or amended claims: 1. A food container which comprises at least one food-receiving compartment, the or each compartment including a base and sidewalls, and a spike formed in the base of the or each compartment, wherein the base, the sidewalls and the spike are integral, and an article of food can be impaled on the spike in order to inhibit movement of the article within the or each compartment.

2. A container according to Claim 1 in which there are two compartments.

3. A container according to any preceding claim which is a plastics material.

4. A container according to Claim 3 which is vacuum formed.

5. A vacuum forming tool for use in moulding a container comprising a mould, for forming a plastics film into the shape of the container, said mould having a floor on which the bottom surface of the container is formed, and included a spike projecting upwardly from the floor, vent holes located around the periphery of the floor, and an air gap provided around the periphery of the spike, which air gap is relatively small compared with the size of said vent holes so that the platics film is drawn slowly over the spike and ,s not punctured by the spike.

6. A container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1.

7. A vacuum forming tool substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown n Figures 2 and 3.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (1)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   Furthermore the advantages of the vacuum forming tool for making the improved container enable a vacuum formed article to be made which includes a spike, without the usual risk of puncturing the plastics film.

   Claims (Filed on 25. 1. 83.)

   1. A container for an article which comprises at least one compartment, and an integrally formed spike in the or each compartment, said spike projects into the inside of the container, wherein an article can be impaled on the spike in order to inhibit movement of the article within the or each compartment.

   2. A container according to Claim 1 in which there are two compartments.

   3. A container according to any preceding claim in which the spike is located at the base of the or each compartment.

   4. A vacuum forming tool for use in moulding a container comprising a mould, for forming a plastics film into the shape of the container, said mould having a floor on which the bottom surface of the container is formed, and including a spike projecting upwardly from the floor, vent holes located around the periphery of the floor, and an air gap provided around the periphery of the spike, which air gap is relatively small compared with the size of said vent holes so that the plastics film is drawn slowly over the spike and is not punctured by the spike.

   6. A container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1.

   7. A vacuum forming tool substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in figures 2 and 3.

   New claims or amendments to claims filed on 27 June 1983.

   Superseded claims 1 to 7.

   New or amended claims:

   1. A food container which comprises at least one food-receiving compartment, the or each compartment including a base and sidewalls, and a spike formed in the base of the or each compartment, wherein the base, the sidewalls and the spike are integral, and an article of food can be impaled on the spike in order to inhibit movement of the article within the or each compartment.

   2. A container according to Claim 1 in which there are two compartments.

   3. A container according to any preceding claim which is a plastics material.

   4. A container according to Claim 3 which is vacuum formed.

   5. A vacuum forming tool for use in moulding a container comprising a mould, for forming a plastics film into the shape of the container, said mould having a floor on which the bottom surface of the container is formed, and included a spike projecting upwardly from the floor, vent holes located around the periphery of the floor, and an air gap provided around the periphery of the spike, which air gap is relatively small compared with the size of said vent holes so that the platics film is drawn slowly over the spike and ,s not punctured by the spike.

   6. A container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1.

   7. A vacuum forming tool substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown n Figures 2 and 3.