GB2241223A

GB2241223A - Container/dispensing apparatus for wafer cones

Info

Publication number: GB2241223A
Application number: GB9103933A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerard Carroll
Original assignee: MULCAHY MARTIN Ltd
Current assignee: MULCAHY MARTIN Ltd
Priority date: 1990-02-26
Filing date: 1991-02-26
Publication date: 1991-08-28
Also published as: GB9103933D0; IE900676A1

Abstract

A container/dispensing apparatus for wafer cones comprises a container which is subdivided into a plurality of compartments, each of which may contain a stack of wafer cones. Each compartment is provided with a perforated lab (30) which is removable to reveal an orifice through which a wafer cone may be extracted. Each compartment is also provided with at least one flexible retaining finger (32) which is capable of supporting a stack of cones when the perforated tab has been removed and is sufficiently flexible to allow a wafer cone to be extracted from the container without the cone being significantly damaged. The removable perforated tab (30) includes a segment (31) which is removable to reveal a finger access portion, through which a user may insert his finger in order to exert a force on the tab, thereby breaking the perforation and effortlessly removing the tab (30). <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER/DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR WAFER CONES The present invention relates to a container/dispensing apparatus for wafer cones.

Wafer cones used for the sale of whipped ice cream, hard ice cream or other confectionary products are very fragile items which are easily damaged when being packaged, transported and dispensed. Also, as they are food items, wafer cones must be hygenicially packed and have to be protected from any possible contamination and from dampness.

Prior art containers for wafers have been found lacking in respect of these requirements. Furthermore, many prior art container/dispensing apparatus are unsuitable for use with wafer cones due to the brittle and fragile nature of the latter.

The object of the invention is to alleviate the disadvantages associated with prior art containers and dispensing apparatus for wafer cones.

The present invention accordingly provides a container for wafer cones comprising a plurality of compartments each of which is adapted to contain a stack of wafer cones, access means at one end of the container to allow access to each compartment, the access means including a tab which is provided at the end of each compartment and which is removable to reveal an orifice through which a wafer cone may be extracted and at least one flexible retaining finger for supporting the stack of cones, whereby the or each retaining finger is sufficiently flexible to allow a wafer cone to be extracted from the container without the cone being significantly damaged.

Conveniently, the end of the container includes a plurality of removable tabs and a skeletal framework for supporting the retaining fingers.

Advantageously, the tabs are secured to the skeletal framework by a series of perforations whereby the tabs may be removed without damaging the skeletal framework.

Each tab, preferably, includes a finger access portion through which a user may insert his finger so as to exert a force on the tab and thus break the perforations. This makes for easy removal of a perforated tab from the container.

The tab, conveniently, has a segment which is removable to reveal the finger access portion.

Advantageously, the container is manufactured from a carton blank, one section of which provides the said one end of the container and on which is formed the plurality of tabs.

The compartments are formed, preferably, by a plurality of interlocking dividers, each divider comprising a flat sheet of material with at least one slot extending approximately half-ways along the sheet of material whereby two dividers may be interlocked by inverting one divider relative to the other.

Advantageously, the container includes an outer layer of shrink wrapped plastics material.

The present invention also provides a dispensing apparatus for wafer cones, including a container according to the invention and a bracket for supporting the container, the bracket including means for connection to a supporting surface.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only, one embodiment of a container/dispensing apparatus according to the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a container dispensing apparatus according to the invention may be assembled; Figure 2 is a plan view of a divider, a plurality of which form the compartments of the container; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of dividers when assembled; Figure 4 is a perspective view in partial section of a stack of cones in a compartment of the container; Figure 5 is a perspective view from below showing a cone protruding through an access orifice, the cone being supported by the retaining fingers; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bracket into which the assembled container may be placed.

Referring to the drawings, the container/dispensing apparatus according to the invention is assembled from a blank 10 which has four panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 separated by fold lines 15. The panels 11 to 14 form the four sides of the container. The top of the container is formed by folding over the flaps 20 when the container is filled with wafer cones. The flaps 20 may be glued or stapled together.

The end of the container is formed from a panel 25. Nine perforated tabs 30 are provided on the panels. tach tab 30 includes a removable perforated finger insert 31 and two opposed retaining fingers 32 which are frustoconically shaped. Each perforated tab 30 is attached to the base af the container at a limited number of points of attachment, usually five, with one point of attachment being on the removable perforated finger insert 31. The points of attachment are positioned so as not to coincide with the weakest points on the skeletal frame work which remains after a perforated tab 30 has been removed.In order to remove a tab 30, a user forces his finger through the removable perforated finger insert 31 and he may then place his finger behind the perforated tab 30 and effortlessly pull the perforated tab 30 away from the panel 25 thereby revealing an access orifice. Once a tab 30 has been removed from the panel 25, the retaining fingers 32 remain to support a stack of cones 45 in the compartment directly above. Before removing a cone from the stack of cones 45, the retaining fingers 32 are bent outwardly at an angle of approximately 450. A cone may then be pulled through the access orifice and the retaining fingers 32 act to retain and support the remaining cones in the stack of cones 45.

Nine compartments are formed in the container by interengaging four dividers 50 (Figure 2) by means of slots 52. The assembled dividers 50 are placed into the container to form nine compartments into each of which placed a stack of wafer cones 45. There is a clearance distance of 3.5mm between a stack of wafer cones 45 and a wall of each compartment. The filled container is then covered with a plastics coating such as shrink wrap polyethylene film. Thus, when cones are required the plastics coating and one of the tabs 30 are removed to reveal an access orifice to enable cones to be extracted from a compartment. In this way, the eight other compartments remain closed until required.

The container is manufactured from corrugated cardboard including three types of material which provide a sandwich effect (1) 120 gauge W which constitutes the outer paper layer of the container; (2) 120 gauge FL which provides a fluting effect thereby providing the corrugation which is sandwiched between the outer and inner layers of the container (3) 125 gauge T which provides the inner layer The dividers are also manufactured from corrugated cardboard including the following types of material in a sandwich arrangement: (1) 125 gauge T of which provides the inner and outer layers of the sandwich (2) 120 gauge Ft of which the corrugated sandwiched layer is comprised.

The approximate dimensions of the completed container are 600 mm x 200 mm x 200 mm.

The bracket 51 shown in Figure 6 enables the container to be located adjacent the point af use. The bracket supports the container at the optimum angle to enable a user to easily remove a cone through the access orifice.

The bracket 51 includes two restraining walls 52, a mounting plate 53 and a side wall 54. The side wall 54 includes a lip 55. The side wall 54 and lip 55 resiliently engage the corners of a container. The bracket 51 may be attached to an ice cream dispensing machine or some other suitable surface by screws or such like which may be inserted through holes 56 located on the mounting plate 53. Alternatively, double sided tape may be used to attach the bracket 51 to a surface. The bracket ol may be attached to, for example, the ice-crean dispensing machine at any optimum angle for dispensing, in which case, either one or other of the restraining walls 52 will prevent the container from sliding out of the bracket 51.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown in the drawings), the corners of the container are chamfered to prevent tearing of the plastics coating covering the container.

In another alternative embodiment (not shown in the drawings), the container is provided with retaining means to ensure that the flaps of the panel 25 are securely held inside the container. The flaps of the panel 25 may, for instance, be stapled to the container walls.

The container/dispensing apparatus has the advantage that cones may be removed through an access orifice without the cone being significantly damaged. Furthermore, removal of a perforated tab 30 from one compartment allows cones to be dispensed from that compartment only, the cones in the other compartment therefore remaining hygienically enclosed until required.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container for wafer cones comprising a plurality of compartments each of which is adapted to contain a stack of wafer cones, access means at one end of the container to allow access to each compartment, the access means including a tab which is provided at the end of each compartment and which is removable to reveal an orifice through which a wafer cone may be extracted and at least one flexible retaining finger for supporting the stack of cones, whereby the or each retaining finger is sufficiently flexible to allow a wafer cone to be extracted from the container without the cone being significantly damaged.

2. A container for wafer cones according to Claim 1, in which the end of the container includes a plurality of removable tabs and a skeletal framework for supporting the retaining fingers.

3. A container for wafer cones accprding to Claim 2, in which the tabs are secured to the skeletal framework by a series of perforations whereby the tabs may be removed without damaging the skeletal framework.

4. A container for wafer cones according to Claim 3, in which each tab includes a finger access portion through which a user may insert his finger so as to exert a force on the tab and thus break the perforations.

5. A container for wafer cones according to Claim 4, in which the tab has a segment which is removable to reveal the finger access portion.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the container is manufactured from a carton blank, one section of which provides the said one end of the container and on which is formed the plurality of tabs.

7. A container for wafer cones according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the compartments are formed by a plurality of interlocking dividers, each divider comprising a flat sheet of material with at least one slot extending approximately half-ways along the sheet of material whereby two dividers may be interlocked by inverting one divider relative to the other.

8. A container for wafer cones according to any one the preceding claims, including an outer layer of shrink wrapped plastics material.

9. A dispensing apparatus for wafer cones, including a container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a bracket for supporting the container, the bracket including means for connection to a supporting surface.

10. A container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A blank for a container as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to and ae shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A bracket for use with a dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.