GB2328431A - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container suitable for a frozen cake or dessert has a peripheral wall (16) with upright flutes, except in one or more regions serving as tear paths (20) adjacent tear initiation nicks (26). Preferably there are two diametrically opposed tear paths (20), and the base (10) of the container has a hinge line linking them.

Description

CONTAINER The present invention relates to containers. It relates particularly (but not exclusively) to containers for cakes and other foodstuffs, especially frozen foodstuffs.

It is known to provide a cake or frozen dessert in a thin plastic container having a base, an upstanding peripheral wall, and an out-turned flange at the top of the wall. The wall has vertically extending flutes or corrugations for strengthening (and possibly also for moulding the contents). The flange includes a tab extending radially outwardly of the rest of the flange.

This is provided with a nick or cut. The intention is that the end customer tears the container, starting at the nick or cut. Desirably, the cut once initiated, extends down the wall to the base, making it relatively easy to separate the container from the contents.

However, it not infrequently happens that the tear propagates in an undesired direction, making the removal of the food product more difficult.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container having a base, an upstanding peripheral wall having flutes or corrugations extending in the height direction of the wall, and at least one tear initiation site for initiating tearing of the wall; wherein the wall in the region of the initiation site is configured to define a tear path, e.g. being without flutes or corrugations.

Generally the container will have an out-turned flange at the top of the wall. This may extend substantially all around the container. The (or each) initiation site may be defined by a nick or cut in the flange, preferably in an outwardly projecting tab portion.

There may be two diametrically opposed initiation sites, with associated tear paths.

The base may have means defining a preferred line of bending or hingeing. This may extend adjacent the bottom of a tear path, and preferably extends between regions adjacent the bottoms of two tear paths.

The container may be circular in plan or of other shapes, e.g. square, rectangular, oval or polygonal with five or more sides. An upper portion may have a shape different from that of a lower portion.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view from above of a cake container embodying the invention; Fig 2 is a perspective view from beneath of the container shown in Fig 1; Fig 3 is a top plan view of the container; and Fig 4 is a side elevation of the container.

The illustrated container is a thin plastics moulding, suitably formed of high impact polystyrene, since this is a material with suitable properties for the packaging of food products to be deep-frozen. The illustrated container has a circular base 10 having a diametrically extending hinge line 12 formed as an upstanding V-section groove. The base has criss-cross ribbing, apart from a smooth annulus 14.

A peripheral wall 16 rises upwardly from the base, diverging slightly from the vertical, over most of its height(see Fig 4). It is fluted (or corrugated), the flutes starting at the base 10, and terminating near the top, leaving a (non-diverging) plain upper margin 18 which serves as a denesting feature. Adjacent the ends of the hinge line 12, there are zones 20 without fluting.

As will be explained later, these constitute tear paths.

At the top of the wall 16, there is an out-turned flange 22. This is of uniform radial extend all around the container, except for two regions in line with the tear paths 20, where it is more radially extended to form tabs 24. Each tab has a central cut 26, extending from its radially outer edge.

When the container is in use, it contains a food product such as a cake. The end customer will generally remove the cake from the container while the cake is still frozen. To do this, the customer begins at one of the tears 26, and proceeds to tear the container wall.

The associated tear path 20 guides the tear, so that it extends substantially vertically down the wall, to the base. The customer then makes a corresponding tear using the other tab 24. It is then a simple matter to flex the container, hingeing about the hinge line 12. The cake can then be transferred to a plate.

Claims (9)

1. A container having a base, an upstanding peripheral wall having flutes or corrugations extending in the height direction of the wall, and at least one tear initiation site for initiating tearing of the wall; wherein the wall in the region of the initiation site is configured to define a tear path.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said tear path is provided by a part of the wall not having flutes or corrugations.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the container has an out-turned flange at the top of the wall and the or each initiation site is defined by a nick or cut in the flange.

4. A container according to any preceding claim having two diametrically opposed initiation sites, with associated tear paths.

5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the base has means defining a preferred line of bending or hingeing which extends adjacent the bottom of a tear path.

6. A container according to claim 4 wherein the base has means defining a preferred line of bending or hingeing which extends between regions adjacent the bottoms of the two tear paths.

7. A container according to any preceding claim formed from high impact polystyrene.

8. A container substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A packaged frozen cake or frozen dessert comprising a cake or dessert in a container according to any preceding claim.