GB2356853A

GB2356853A - Container for foodstuffs with an integral beverage holder

Info

Publication number: GB2356853A
Application number: GB0025498A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Ashley
Original assignee: Euro Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Euro Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1999-10-29
Filing date: 2000-10-18
Publication date: 2001-06-06
Also published as: GB9925544D0; GB0025498D0

Abstract

A container for sandwiches or other foodstuffs incorporates an integral holder for a beverage can or other item. The external closed form of the container consists of a top face (1) and a bottom face (2) of an equal number of edges, separated and conjoined on all those edges by quadrilateral side faces. The container is opened by pulling up the top face (1), which is attached along edge (4a) to side face (3<SP>opp</SP>), which in turn is attached along edge (4b) to the bottom face (2). Face (3<SP>opp</SP>) is rotated about edge (4b), and the top face is rotated about edge (4a), until both faces lie on the same plane as the bottom face, forming an area (13) that may be used as a plate. A secondary top face (10) is revealed as the original top face (1) is pulled away, which contains an aperture (11) of dimensions such that a beverage container (16) may be inserted into the aperture, thus utilising the container as a holder for the beverage container. The container may have an aperture (12) glazed with a clear plastic film.

Description

1 2356853 Container for foodstuffs with an integral holder or a beverage

can or other item This invention relates to a container for sandwiches or other foodstuffs, integral to which is a holder for a beverage container or other item; the container generally being for temporary use while eating on the move.

This invention recognises that it is often awkward to eat and drink while on the move, because food is held in one hand and a beverage in the other, so that there is no hand free to manipulate the food or beverage with. This invention provides a solution to this problem by providing a means of holding a beverage and food in one hand, so that the other hand is free to manipulate the food or beverage with.

Advantageously, this container may be formed from a single blank of sheet material. The blank may be cut to shape and formed with fold lines in one operation. Other methods of creating the container, such as thermoforming from a sheet of plastics material are also possible.

If the container is manufactured from an opaque material such as cardboard, then any of its faces may contain apertures, which may be glazed with a transparent material such as a clear plastic film, through which the contents inside may be seen.

The external closed form of the container consists of a top"and a bottom face of an equal number of edges, separated and conjoined on all those edges by quadrilateral side faces.

At least one common edge of a pair of quadrilateral side faces may be shorter than the other common edges of the quadrilateral side faces.

This causes the container to be tapered towards the shorter common edge. Advantageously, the tapered packs may be nested inside each other when not in use, to save space.

One specific embodiment of this invention has a closed form similar to that of existing, widely used, triangular sandwich packs, that hold a pair of triangular sandwiches.

The container is opened by pulling up the top face, which is attached along one edge to one of the quadrilateral side faces, which in'turn is attached along one edge to the bottom face. The quadrilateral side face is rotated about its edge that is attached to the bottom face, and the top face is rotated about its edge that is attached to the quadrilateral side face, until both faces lie on the same plane as the bottom face, forming an area that may be used as a plate.

Preferably, tabs are provided on the unattached edges of the top face and quadrilateral side face described above, which add considerable rigidity to these two faces when the container is opened; which greatly improves their function as a plate.

Additionally, these tabs may locate into corresponding slots in the container, to hold the container closed, and assist in the containment of the foodstuffs inside.

Closure of the container may be achieved purely through the mechanical interface between the tabs and their associated slots, or through additional or alternative fastening means, such as a staple or adhesive tape.

The tabs in the quadrilateral side face may also block off cut-outs in the adjacent quadrilateral side faces. These cut-outs provide a means of easily reaching the contents of the container for extraction onto the plate area.

The entire container may be shrink-wrapped to further seal it up.

A secondary top face is revealed as the original top face is pulled away.

This secondary top face contains an aperture of dimensions such that after the contents of the container have been moved onto the opened out plate area, a beverage container may be inserted into the apertpre, thus utilising the body of the foodstuff container as a beverage container holder.

Preferably the aperture is of sufficient size to accommodate a standard 330mi beverage can. If there is not sufficient space to create an aperture of this size on the secondary top face, a flap may be provided to extend the secondary top face, to provide enough space so that the aperture may be created. The flap folds under or over the secondary top face when the container is closed.

For hygiene purposes, the aperture in the secondary top face may be sealed by a perforated piece of film or paper that breaks away round the perforations when the beverage container is inserted.

The following description is of a specific embodiment of this invention, which makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the closed container; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container in the process of being opened; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container fully opened and holding a beverage container.

Figure 5 shows the cut and folded/creased blank of card from which the container as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 is formed; Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the closed external form of the container has a top face (1) and a bottom face (2). Both the top and bottom faces have the same number of sides. The top face is connected to the bottom face by quadrilateral faces (3), which comprise of a pair of edges (4) that are also edges of the top and bottom faces respectively, and another pair of edges (5), whose lengths provide the depth of the container.

Tabs (6) are provided, that protrude from the top face and locate into cuts (7) in the quadrilateral faces, and tabs (8) that protrude from the quadrilateral faces and locate into cuts (9) in the quadrilateral faces, as means of holding the container closed.

An aperture (12) glazed with a clear plastic film, is provided in face (30PP), through which the contents of the container may be seen.

With reference to figures 1 & 3, the container is opened in the following manner: The container is oriented with the top face (1) uppermost. The ' tabs (6), or the corner of the top face where the tabs are located in figure 1, is grasped, and pulled in an upward direction and towards the quadrilateral face that is opposite it (30PP). This action uncouples the top face's retaining means (in this specific embodiment of the invention, the interface between tabs (6) and slots (7)); and moves the top face in a rotating motion, with edge (4a) shared by the top face and the opposing quadrilateral face, (30PP), being the axis of rotation.

The top face is rotated in this manner, until it is in the same plane as the opposing quadrilateral face (3'PP).

This uncovers the secondary top face (10) below.the original one that has been peeled up.

Figures 3 & 4 assist in describing the remaining details of this invention.

The axis of rotation now changes to edge (4 b), shared by the bottom face and the opposing quadrilateral side face (3"PP). The top face and the opposing quadrilateral face both rotate about it further, until they lie on the same plane as the bottom face, forming a flat area that may be used as a plate (13).

A flap (15) is unfolded from beneath the secondary top face (10) until it is on the same plane as that face, to extend it.

N_ An aperture (11), cuts through this extended face, of dimensions such that a standard 330mi beverage can, or other item, may be inserted into the aperture.

The folding down of (3"PP) also reveals cut-outs (14) in the two quadrilateral side faces adjacent to (3"P), that were previously closed off by the tabs (8). These cut-outs provide a means of easily manipulating the contents of the container for extraction onto the plate area (13).

Once the food has been placed on the plate area, a beverage container (16) may now be inserted into the aperture (11).

The container now acts as a plate and beverage container holder, which may be held in one hand; leaving the other hand free to manipulate the foodstuffs and beverage with.

1

Claims

1. A container for sandwiches or other foodstuffs, integral to which is a holder for a beverage container or other item; the container generally being for temporary use while eating on the move.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, having a closed form comprised of a top and a bottom face of an equal number of edges, separated and conjoined on all those edges by quadrilateral side faces.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein any of its faces may contain one or more apertures, which may be glazed with a transparent material such as a clear plastic film, through which the contents inside may be seen.

4. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top face is hinged to one of the quadrilateral side faces (which from here on will be referred to as the specified quadrilateral face) about the edge shared by the top face and the specified quadrilateral face; and the specified quadrilateral face is hinged to the bottom face about the edge shared by it and the bottom face.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, that is opened by rotating the top face about the edge shared by the top face and the specified quadrilateral face; and rotating the specified quadrilateral face about the edge shared by it and the bottom face; until the top face and the specified quadrilateral face both lie on the same plane as the bottom face, forming an area that may be used as a plate for the foodstuffs inside the container.

6. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one common edge of a pair of quadrilateral side faces may be shorter than the other common edges of the quadrilateral side faces, causing the container to be tapered towards the shorter common edge, for the purpose of nesting the open containers inside each other when not in use.

7. A container at claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein tabs run along part of, or the entire length of the edges of the top face and the specified quadrilateral face.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tabs tuck into associated slots, to act as the sole, primary or additional means of holding the container closed.

9. A container as claimed in claims 4, 5 & 7, wherein the tabs stiffen the top face and specified quadrilateral face when these two faces are opened out for use as a plate.

10. A container as claimed in claims 4, 5 & 7, wherein the tabs on specified quadrilateral face block off cut-outs in the adjacent quadrilateral side faces that provide a means of easily manipulating the contentg' of the container for extraction onto the plate area.

11. A container as claimed in claim 5, wherein a secondary top face is revealed as the original top face is pulled away as the container is opened.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the secondary top face is extended by a flap of material that folds away above or below the top face when the container is closed.

13. A container as claimed in claims 11 or 12, wherein the secondary top face has an aperture of dimensions such that a beverage can or other item may be inserted into it, so that the body of the foodstuff container acts as a holder for the item.

14. A container as claimed in claim 13, wherein the aperture in the secondary top face is be seated by a perforated piece of film or paper, for hygiene purposes, that breaks away round the perforations when the beverage container is inserted.

15. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, that is shrink-wrapped to seal it up.

16. A container for foodstuffs with an integral holder for a beverage container or other item substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A blank for forming a container for foodstuffs with an integral holder for a beverage container or other item substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.