GB2478575A

GB2478575A - A packaging element for a cup cake

Info

Publication number: GB2478575A
Application number: GB1004027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Michael Skinner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-11
Filing date: 2010-03-11
Publication date: 2011-09-14
Also published as: GB201004027D0

Abstract

A packaging element 10 includes a generally planar support 20 having means defining a location 22 for a food product such as a cup cake 12 and a plurality of tabs 28 arranged about said location 22. The tabs 28 are hinged 30 to the support 20 to extend away from the plane of the support 20. Each of the tabs 28 has an aperture 34 through which, in use, a skewer 32 may be inserted to pass into the food product 12, thereby to retain the food product 12 in place on the packaging element 10. Preferably the location 22 is defined by a generally circular opening with a plurality of radial slits. Preferably the packaging element 10 fits within an outer box. A packaging solution is thereby provided for the secure transport of cup cakes and similar food products by reducing the risks of damage during handling.

Description

A PACKAGING ELEMENT FOR A FOOD PRODUCT

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to packaging for a food product and in particular for the type of food product having a soft body with a delicate exterior surface, such as cup cakes, otherwise known as fairy cakes or butterfly cakes.

Background to the invention

Cup cakes are individual cakes baked in a paper or aluminium cup. Generally, they are iced and decorated, often extensively so. Cup cakes are becoming increasingly popular as mail-order items, in addition to the tradition of being home-made.

Being extensively decorated and generally delicate, cup cakes are difficult to transport without damage. Cake boxes are of course well known and are often quite suitable for transporting more substantial and less delicate cakes with care.

Nevertheless, the transportation of cakes of any type, for example by mail, generates a problem if the packaging for the cake should be accidentally inverted or shaken about during handling.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a packaging solution for the secure transport of cup cakes and similar food products by reducing the risks of damage during handling.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a packaging element for a food product of the type having a soft body with a delicate exterior surface, comprising a generally planar support having means defining a location for a food product and a plurality of tabs arranged about that location, the tabs being hinged to the support to extend away from the plane of the support, each of the tabs having an aperture through which, in use, a skewer may be inserted to pass into the food product, thereby to retain the food product in place on the packaging element.

The food product will typically be a baked product, such as a cup cake.

The invention is also directed to the combination of a packaging element as described above with a food product positioned at the food product location, skewers being provided each passing though the aperture in one of the tabs and into the food product.

Although three or more tabs may be provided arranged about the location of the food product, preferably there are two tabs. Ideally the two tabs are arranged diametrically opposite to each other to best support the food product. More tabs may be required for larger food items.

The means defining the location of the food product on the support preferably comprises an opening in the support, although other means such as ribs formed on the surface of the support could be used. Where an opening through the support is used, it is preferably generally circular, although rectangular, triangular or other shaped openings are possible, as may be dictated by the cross-section of the food product. A circular opening is particularly convenient when the food product has an inverted frusto-conical shape having a largest diameter greater than the diameter of the opening. Although not essential, a plurality of radial slits may be provided through the support around the circumference of the opening, to give the circumference of the opening a degree of flexibility, thereby reducing the risks of a sharp edge to the opening damaging the food product.

Usually, the packaging element according to the invention will be part of an overall package, which includes an outer box within which the element is a tight fit.

The support may conveniently be formed of corrugated card or carton board, although the use of other materials, including plastics materials, is not excluded.

Usually, the support will include means defining a plurality of food product locations, each of which is associated with a respective plurality of tabs. In a typical example, six such locations may be provided in a single support, for the packaging of six individual food products.

The skewer may be formed of any suitable material which will not spoil the food product, such as wood or a plastics material. It is preferably substantially rigid, i.e. less flexible that the material of which the support is formed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the skewer is of such a length that once inserted from a third to half way through the food product, its free end is adjacent a portion of the support limiting its freedom of movement in a tipping direction, i.e. towards the plane of the support.

The invention is also directed to a blank for forming a packaging element as described above, the blank having an opening, and slits through the blank defining a plurality of tabs positioned around the opening, each of the tabs having means defining an aperture therethrough. The means defining the aperture in the tab may simply be punched holes or a pair of intersecting slits cut through the blank, the aperture being formed as the skewer is pushed therethrough.

A finger hole may be cut out of the blank adjacent each tab, to assist in hinging the tab into a position extending away from the plane of the blank.

A convenient retail item would include a kit of parts comprising the blank and a plurality of skewers, the number of skewers being at least equal to the number of tabs defined in the blank.

Introduction to the drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail, purely by way of example, with reference to te accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the support of a packaging element according to the invention, for packaging a cup cake; Figure 2 shows the support of Figure 1, with a cup cake retained therein; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill -Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows the packaging element of Figure 2 located within an outer box; and Figure 5 shows a blank for forming the support of Figure 1.

Description of preferred embodiments

The drawings show a packaging element 10 for a cup cake 12.

The packaging element 10 includes a generally planar support 20, of say 160 mm by 90 mm, formed of corrugated card. An opening 18 defines a location 22 for a cup cake 12. The cup cake is a baked food product of the type having a soft body 14 with a decorated exterior surface 16. The cup cake 12 has an inverted frusto-conical shape, and has been baked within a paper case 36.

The opening 18 is circular to match the cross-section of the cup cake 12.

Sixteen T-shaped radial slits 60 are provided through the support 20 around the circumference of the opening 18, to give the circumference of the opening a degree of flexibility by bending downwardly (as viewed in the Figures), thereby reducing the risks of a sharp edge to the opening damaging the cup cake 12.

The opening 18 has a diameter d0, of say 40 mm, smaller than the largest diameter dmax, of say 45 mm, of the cake 12. The cup cake is inserted into the opening 18 with its narrower base 24, having a diameter of say 35 mm, below the plane of the support 20 and its wider upper part 26 above the plane of the support 20.

A pair of tabs 28 are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the location 22, the tabs 28 being hinged at folds 30 to the support 20 to extend upwardly (as viewed in the Figures) away from the plane of the support 20.

Two rigid wooden skewers 32 are provided, each of which passes though an aperture 34 in one of the tabs 28 and into the soft body 14 of the cup cake 12.

The skewers 32 hold the cup cake in place during transportation and handling, without need to contact the base 24 of the cake or its decorated surface 16. Each skewer 32 is of such a length, of say 65 mm, that once inserted by say 10 mm into the cup cake 12, its free end 38 is adjacent a portion 40 of the support 20 limiting its freedom of movement in a tipping direction, i.e. towards the plane of the support 20. This feature prevents the cake from falling away from the support 20, even if the support were to be inverted, since initial tilting of the skewer 32 would bring its free end 38 into contact with the portion 40 of the support 20, thereby preventing further such tilting.

In an alternative mode of use, the tabs 28 may be hinged to extend downwardly, the skewers 38 then passing into the lower portion 62 of the cup cake.

The packaging element 10 is part of an overall package, which includes an outer box 42 (shown in broken lines in Figure 4) within which the element 10 is a tight fit. The support 20 includes downwardly extending side members 44 and upwardly extending side members 46, which are of such dimensions, that when the packaging element is positioned inside the outer box 42 the base 24 of the cup cake is spaced from the base 48 of the box 42 and the upper decorated surface 16 of the cake is spaced from the lid 50 of the box. In this manner the cake may be transported in the box without damage.

Figures 1 to 4 show a packaging element for a single cup cake. In a modification the packaging element will be adapted to support, for example, six cup cakes. In this embodiment the support 20 would include six apertures 18 defining a six locations 22 for the cup cakes 12, each of the openings being associated with a pair of tabs 28. In a further modification, two or more packaging elements 20 may be stacked, one above another, in the same outer box.

The support 20 is formed from a blank 52 as shown in Figure 5. The blank has the opening 18, and slits 54 cut through to define the tabs 28 either side of the opening 18. Each of the tabs 28 has a pair of intersecting slits 56 cut through the blank, to define the aperture 34 therethrough. A finger hole 58 is cut out of the blank adjacent each tab 28, to assist in hinging the tab 28 into a position extending away from the plane of the blank.

An alternative to the" raised tabs and skewers" packaging solution proposed above is to provide a ring, formed preferably of a moulded plastics material, having number, say three, equally spaced claws on its underside for twist-locking into slots formed in the support 20 around the opening 18. The ring would carry a number, say three, equally spaced upstanding arms each having a radially inwardly directed prong on its free end for penetrating the cup cake by say 10 to 12 mm. This "pronged ring" solution may be used together with the raised tabs and skewers solution described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A packaging element for a food product of the type having a soft body with a delicate exterior surface, comprising a generally planar support having means defining a location for a food product and a plurality of tabs arranged about said location, the tabs being hinged to the support to extend away from the plane of the support, each of the tabs having an aperture through which, in use, a skewer may be inserted to pass into the food product, thereby to retain the food product in place on the packaging element.
2. A packaging element according to claim 1, wherein two of said tabs are arranged about said location.
3. A packaging element according to claim 2, wherein said two tabs are arranged diametrically opposite to each other.
4 A packaging element according to any preceding claim, wherein the means defining said location comprises an opening in said support.
5. A packaging element according to claim 4, wherein said opening is generally circular.
6. A packaging element according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of radial slits through the support are provided around the circumference of said opening.
7. A packaging element according to any preceding claim, further comprising an outer box within which the element is a tight fit.
8. A packaging element according to any preceding claim, wherein the support is formed of corrugated card or carton board.
9. A packaging element according to any preceding claim, wherein the support includes means defining a plurality of said locations, each of which is associated with a respective plurality of said tabs.
10. The combination of a packaging element according to any preceding claim with a food product positioned at said location, skewers being provided each passing though said aperture in one of said tabs and into the food product.
11. The combination according to claim 10, the means defining said location comprises a generally circular opening in said support and said food product has an inverted frusto-conical shape having a largest diameter greater than the diameter of said opening.
12. The combination according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said food product is a baked product, such as a cup cake.
13. The combination according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the skewer is of such a length that once inserted from a third to half way through the food product, its free end is adjacent a portion of said support limiting its freedom of movement towards the plane of the support.
14. The combination according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the skewer is formed of wood or a plastics material.
15. The combination according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the skewer is less flexible that the material of which the support is formed.
16. A blank for forming a packaging element according to any one of claims I to 9, the blank having an opening, and slits through the blank defining a plurality of tabs positioned around said opening, each of the tabs having means defining an aperture therethrough.
17. A blank according to claim 16, wherein a finger hole is cut out of the blank adjacent each tab, to assist in hinging the tab into a position extending away from the plane of the blank.
18. A kit of parts comprising a blank according to claim 16 or 17, and a plurality of skewers, the number of skewers being at least equal to the number of tabs defined in the blank.