GB2212051A

GB2212051A - Containers for foods

Info

Publication number: GB2212051A
Application number: GB8726589A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roberto Fraquelli
Original assignee: SPAGHETTI HOUSE Ltd
Current assignee: SPAGHETTI HOUSE Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-13
Filing date: 1987-11-13
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Also published as: GB8726589D0

Abstract

A container for the serving of food portions for consumption comprises a casing having a main receptacle (1) for an inner tray, and an integrally hinged lid (2) which carries in its inside at least one item of cutlery (6). There may be a raised boss (8) for placing the inner tray upon, and interference fit projections (14) and holes (15) to help keep the container closed. <IMAGE>

Description

Containers for foods This invention relates to containers for the serving of foods ready for consumption.

The container specifically described below comprises an outer casing having a receptacle and an integral lid, an inner tray located in the receptacle and at least one item of cutlery stored in and retained by the lid.

The complete container may be used for the storage transit and eventual cooking and service of a food portion stored in the tray. Alternatively the tray, with its food portion, may be heated separately and loaded into the receptacle at the point-of-sale of the cooked and heated food portion.

One form of container in accordance with the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the container, without its inner tray; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the container, again with the inner tray omitted; Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse and longitudinal sections taken on the lines IV-IV and V-V of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a scrap perspective view of the hinge of the container.

The container shown in the drawings comprises a main receptacle 1 having a lid 2 connected to it by an integrally moulded hinge 3, and a separate, inner tray 4 which fits easily in the receptacle 1. The lid 2 is adapted to retain one or more items of cutlery, such as the illustrated fork 6.

In this embodiment, the fork 6 is retained by engagement of its opposite ends in slots 7 pierced through the wall of the lid in opposite corner thereof. The fork is of moulded plastics material as is the lid 2, both being resilient so that by designing a degree of interference between the parts, the fork and/or the lid are slightly strained on loading of the fork into the lid, and this results in increased frictional engagement between the lid and fork.

The receptacle 1 is formed with discontinuities in its walls, such as the raised boss 8 in its bottom wall and ribs 9 in its side walls. These discontinuities serve two purposes, one being to give the receptacle walls increased stiffness and the other to decrease the area of surface contact between the walls and the inner tray 4, so as to reduce the heat transmitted to and through the wall of the receptacle.

The tray 4 itself is of thin walled, moulded construction but of relatively rigid plastics material so as to have sufficient strength for handling by itself, prior to loading into the receptacle 1.

Referring now to the hinge 3, this comprises two plate flanges 11, 1 2 integral with the respective parts 1 2 and with each other through a narrow connecting web 13, which may be delineated by crease lines as indicated in Fig. 3. The plates are formed with interengaging projections 14 and holes 16, the projection being dimensioned to make an interference fit in the holes. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the holes have narrow radial slots 16 running into them so as to render the flange material more flexible in these regions. The web 13 tends to act as a vertical spacer, so that when the lid is closed and the flanges are pressed together, they are slightly spaced apart at their rear edges but converge forwardly.This means that there is some space between the inner faces of the flanges in the regions of the projections 14 and holes 16 and the flanges may therefore be squeezed more tightly together in those regions to ensure good interengagement of the projections in the holes.

It will be appreciated that other arrangements of projections and holes will be possible. For example, there may be one (or more) projections and holes in one flange a corresponding arrangement of holes and projections in the other.

It will be seen that the above described composite container has several meritorious features. It is easily manufactured by moulding, the main receptacle with its integral lid preferably being made from a lightweight material such as polystyrene. At its point of use, it is particularly convenient for the user. in that the fork, or other cutlery is readily to hand and cannot be forgotten and the container is comfortable to hold, even when the contents of the inner tray are very hot.

The integral hinge serves not only as a hinge but also provides a useful degree of retention of the lid in its closed position.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container for the serving of foods ready for consumption, comprising a casing having a receptacle and a lid integrally hinged thereto, the receptacle being adapted to receive a separate tray for containing food, and at least one item of cutlery being stored in and releasably retained by the lid.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the item of cutlery is retained in the lid by engagement of its opposite end portions in openings formed in the lid.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the base and, optionally, the side walls of the receptacle is (or are) formed with internal discontinuities which serve to decrease the surface contact between the tray and the wall or walls of the receptacle.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said discontinuities are so formed as to increase the stiffness of the receptacle walls.

5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the receptacle and lid are integrally connected together by a pair of flanges of plate-like form fast with the receptacle and lid respectively, the said flanges being connected to each other by a flexible hinge portion and being formed with interengageable means which, when engaged, hold the plates in face-to-face contact and thereby hold the lid in its closed position, relative to the receptacle.

6. A container as substantially herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.