GB2254315A

GB2254315A - A retail foodstuff container

Info

Publication number: GB2254315A
Application number: GB9107014A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kai-Hsuan Wang
Original assignee: WANG KAI HSUAN
Current assignee: WANG KAI HSUAN
Priority date: 1991-04-04
Filing date: 1991-04-04
Publication date: 1992-10-07
Also published as: GB9107014D0

Abstract

A foodstuff container 1 permits the foodstuff in the container 1 to be raked out by a small rake 3 passing through an upside-down T-shaped slot 22 in the lid 2 of the container while the lid is not necessarily removed or lifted. The foodstuff may be discharged through a gate 16 into a plastic bag 4. <IMAGE>

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is now very popular to sell various foodstuffs especially refreshments, snakes, candies, etc. - by self- service. By this way, customers are permitted to buy the foodstuffs for the tpe and at the quantity completely based on their own preference without being limited bs- the packed quantity offered b the manufacturers. For young nen who envoy variety in their taste, tis self-service is real lv an economical and satisfactora way of selling.

Generally, the seller would place the foodstuffs t rect into transparent containers or boxes which have a liftable or removable lid allowing foodstuffs therein to be taken with a clip or a ladle. What should be noted is it is not always convenient to take out foodstuffs with a cli; or a ladle while the latter would frequently drop dciin into the container; besides, the lid of the container has to be opened whenever the foodstuffe are to be taken.All of these would easily permit impurities to get into the containers and have reverse influence on our food sanitation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore tried b the applicant to deveicp a retail foodstuff container to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks existing in the common retail foodstuff containers.

The present invention is characterized b a structure which allows the foodstuff in the container to be taken out with a small rake through an openin without the need to lift the whole lid of the container. This would effectively prevent impurities form dropping into the container and consequently, provides clean and sanitary foodstuffs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional analytical prespective of an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows how to use a rake to take out foodstuff in a container of the present invention; 3 3 shows how to open the lid of the container of the present invention; and Fig. 4 shows the way in which several containers of the present invent ion are stacked.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Please refer to Pig. 1 in which a substantially cuboid container 1, a lid , and a rake 3 are shown. The cuboid container 1 may be made of transparent or semitransparent material, and has a forward and downward declined opening 11 at its front top. There are to first side rails 12 separately positioned inside the opening 11 at each side for supportino, the lid 2. Two second side ra 13 are separately positioned inside the cuboid container 1 at each side under the top.Adequate space is left between the two second side rails 13 and tlie top of the container 1 allowing the lid 2 to slidably move in and out on the side rails 13.

Two projections 13' are separately provided at the front end of the to second side rails 13 to hold the lid 2. The lower front of the container 1 is a downward and inward slanted wall 14 which has a small retainer 15 projecting from its front center. The small retainer 15 has a downward and forward declined bottom and communicates with the container 1. A liftable gate 16 is provided to control a front opening of the retainer 15. In addition, a horizontal rib strip 17 is formed at the bottom of the retainer 4 t below the front opening of the same for hanging one side of a plastic bag 4.

The lid 2 is also made of transparent or semitransparent material in a size to completely close the declined opening 11 of the cuboid container 1. A downwardly projected rib strip 21 is formed underside the lid 11 at its upper ede and has a length shorter than the distance between the two side rails 13 but longer than the distance between the two ends of the to projections 13' so that the lid 2 may freely slide into the container 1 beneath the top as shown in Fig.

3 or be pulled out to close the opening 11 with the rib strip 21 being stopped by the two projections 13' as shown in Fig. 2. An upside-down T-shaped slot 22 is formed at lower portion of the lid 2 allowing a small rake 3 to get in and move inside the container 1 freely.

Please refer to Fig. 2 no. Adequate quantity of desired foodstuff may be raked into the small retainer 15 by using the small rake 3 and moving it as necessary in the upside-down T-shaped slot 22. Then, a plastic bag 4 is hung on the rib strip 17 at the bottom of the retainer 15, the gate 16 is lifted, and the foodstuff raked into the retainer 1 drops down into the plastic bag 4 clue to the downward declined bottom of the retainer 15.

As it can be seen from the above description and illustrated drawings, the foodstuffs in the container l can be raked out of the container l with the lid 2 completely closed all the time. When comparing with a conventional foodstuff container which allows foodstuff therein to be taken out only when its lid is opened or lifted, the container of the present invention is apparently much more convenient and sanitary while the quantity of desired foodstuff can be better controlled.

Please further refer to Fig. 3. The lid 2 is pushed and slides into the space left between the container top and the side rails 13. At this time, the seller may put in more foodstuffs through the opening 11 for selling.

The container 1 of the present invention may be adequately stacked as shown in Fig. 4. Since the containers 1 are designed with inwardly slanted lower front wall 14 and backward and upwardly slanted opening 11, the stacked containers l would not hinder the manipulation of the small rake 3 at all. On the other hand, stacked containers 1 may save a lot of space for storing them.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A retail foodstuff container comprising: a container made of transparent or semitransparent material and having a forward and downward declined opening at its top front, to first side rails separately located at right and left sides of said opening, to second side rails separately located at right and left sidewalls of said container under the top of said container with adequate space left between said top and said second side rails, two projections provided before said second side rails separately, a bKlclXçard and downward slanted lower front, and a small retainer centered at said slanted lower front and communicating with said container; said retainer having a liftable gate for controlling its front opening; a lid made of transparent or semi transparent material and in a size suitable or completely- closing said declined opening of said container; said li having a rib strip formed below its upper edge in a length shorter than the distance between said two second side rails but longer than the distance between said to projections before said two second side rails, and an upside-down T-shaped slot formed at its lower portion center; said lid being movable in and out said container by sliding on said first and second side rails in said space adequatel left below said top and said side rails of said container; and a small rae which can extend into said container through said upside-down T-shaped slot to freely rake out desired quantity of foodstuff into said retainer.

2.A retail foodstuff container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said small retainer has a downward and forward declined bottom and a downward projecting rib strip formed below said bottom Just behind its front opening or hanging plastic bag over there.