GB2506618A

GB2506618A - Container with retained sub-volume compartments

Info

Publication number: GB2506618A
Application number: GB201217698A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Gibbs; Christopher Miller Marshal; Christopher John Vincent White
Original assignee: FIDDES PAYNE Ltd
Current assignee: FIDDES PAYNE Ltd
Priority date: 2012-10-03
Filing date: 2012-10-03
Publication date: 2014-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-03
Also published as: GB2506618B; GB201217698D0

Abstract

A container 100 comprises a pot 102 with a base 106 and at least one side wall 104 defining an internal wall. A divider 108 within pot 102 divides the internal volume in to a plurality of sub-volumes by having three radially spaced walls 110a, 110b (110c, Fig 3). A dispensing lid 112 with an aperture 114, a sealing arrangement 118, and possibly a handle 116, cooperates with divider 108 so as to allow contents of each sub-volume to be selectively dispensed. At least one vertical retainer is associated with each partition so as to allow divider 102 to be retained in a vertical direction. Lid 112 may be rotated about side wall 104, via handle 116, so as to select the contents of a particular sub-volume to be dispensed. Lateral locators in the form of tracks (fig 2) may also be included. An associated kit of parts is also disclosed.

Description

COMPOSITE CONTAINER

Technical field

The invention relates to a composite container for selectively dispensing foodstuff.

Background

Containers allowing selective dispensing of foodstuffs are useful in the food industry as they allow a single container to contain a plurality of different types of foodstuff, giving the consumer greater choice within a single product.

Typically, such containers are manufactured in a moulded construction. A pot having an internal volume and walls dividing the internal volume into smaller sub-volumes are moulded from a single material. Commonly, these pots are of a rigid construction and are expensive and difficult to manufacture and inefficient to transport.

Summary

According to the invention in a first aspect, there is provided a composite container for selectively dispensing foodstuff contained therein. The container comprises a pot comprising a base and one or more sidewalls defining an internal volume for retaining foodstuff. The container also comprises a divider located within the pot for dividing the internal volume into a plurality of sub-volumes. The container also comprises a dispensing lid comprising an aperture. The dispensing lid cooperates with the divider to selectively dispense foodstuff from one of the sub-volumes. The pot comprises one or more vertical retainers configured to retain the divider in a vertical direction.

The vertical retainers allow the foodstuff to be dispensed by upending the container and shaking the container by the user without the divider becoming dislodged or falling out of the pot.

Optionally, the one or more vertical retainers comprise a retaining lug located on one of the divider and the pot and configured to cooperate with a notch in the other of the divider and the pot.

Optionally, the dispensing lid is rotatably connected to the divider and configured such that it may be rotated to a position where the aperture is aligned with a sub-volume.

Optionally, a height of the divider is reduced in a region of the rotatable connection for reducing contact between the dispensing lid and the divider.

Optionally! the container further comprises a handle positioned on the dispensing lid for allowing a user to rotate the dispensing lid.

Optionally, the handle comprises a raised edge on an upper surface of the dispensing lid for rotation of the dispensing lid by a user's finger.

Optionally, the container further comprises one or more lateral locators located inside the pot and configured to prevent rotation of the divider within the pot.

Optionally, the one or more lateral locators comprise first and second tracks extending vertically along the sidewall and configured to receive a wall of the divider therebetween.

Optionally, the first and second tracks extend vertically from a corner of the pot formed by the base and the sidewall.

Optionally, the first track is longer than the second track.

Optionally, the first and second tracks extend across the base at least part of a distance to the centre of the base.

Optionally, the pot comprises polypropylene.

Optionally, the divider comprises high impact polystyrene.

Optionally, the divider is configured to divide the internal volume into three sub-volumes.

Optionally, the container further comprises a sealing lid configured to fit onto the pot.

According to the invention in a second aspect, there is provided a kit of parts for assembly into a composite container, the kit of parts comprising: a pot comprising a base and one or more sidewalls defining an internal volume; a divider for dividing the internal volume into a plurality of sub-volumes for retaining foodstuff; and a dispensing lid comprising an aperture and configured to cooperate with the divider for selectively dispensing foodstuff from one of the sub-volumes, wherein the pot comprises one or more vertical retainers configured to retain the divider in a vertical direction.

Brief description of the figures

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a composite container; Figure 2 is an elevation of a pot; Figure 3 is an elevation of a divider; Figure 4 is an isometric view of a dispensing lid; Figure 5 is an isometric view of a sealing lid; Figure 6 is a schematic representation showing a vertical retainer; Figures 7a and 7b is a schematic representation showing a vertical retainer; and Figure 8 is a schematic representation showing a vertical retainer.

Description

Generally, disclosed herein is a composite container. The composite container is manufactured from a plurality of individual elements, which may comprise a pot, a divider and a dispensing lid The inventors have appreciated that the individual elements may be manufactured separately and from different materials. This allows the individual elements to have particular properties specific to their function to improve the features of the container.

Further, the inventors have appreciated that the individual elements have the advantage that they may be transported individually to increase transportation efficiencies. The individual elements can then be assembled locally into the composite container. Additionally, the pots may be nested, or stacked inside one another, during transport, which is not possible with a pot containing an integrated divider.

An assembled composite container 100 is shown in Figure 1. Elements of the container 100 are shown as transparent or translucent for the purposes of clarity.

However, it will be understood that in exemplary containers, the elements may have any colour or opacity.

A pot 102 comprises a sidewall 104 and a base 106. In the exemplary container 100 of Figure 1, the pot 102 has a circular base 106 and therefore comprises only a single, substantially cylindrical sidewall 104. However, other shapes of pot 102 are envisaged.

Located within the pot 102 is a divider 108. The divider 108 includes three radially spaced walls llOa-c (only llOa and ilOb are shown in Figure 1), each with 120 degrees separation. The divider 108 divides the internal volume of the pot into three sub-volumes. It is noted that in exemplary containers, a divider may comprise any practical number of walls and divide the internal pot volume into any number of sub-volumes. For example, in a particular exemplary container, the divider comprises four dividing walls, each separated by ninety degrees.

A dispensing lid 112 cooperates with the divider 108 for selective dispensing of foodstuffs contained within the sub-volumes. The dispensing lid 112 comprises an aperture 114 and a handle 116. The aperture 114 is shaped to correspond to a cross section of a sub-volume. The handle 116 comprises a raised edge extending radially over at least a part of an upper surface of the dispensing lid. The dispensing lid is rotatably connected to the divider 108 at its centre. The dispensing lid is thereby able to rotate in either direction to place the aperture 114 over one or more of the sub-volumes. In particular exemplary containers, the dispensing lid 112 may be rotated to place the aperture 114 over a single sub-volume to dispense foodstuffs from that sub-volume in isolation. The raised edge is sized such that a user's finger may apply sufficient force to rotate the dispensing lid 112 and also so that a sealing lid 118 (discussed below) may be fitted onto the pot 102 without interference from the handle 116.

For the avoidance of doubt, relative terms used herein such as "upper", "base", "vertical" and "lateral" are not intended to be limiting on the exemplary containers disclosed, but are used merely to aid understanding. The relative terms are used herein according to a frame of reference in which "vertical" runs from a base of a container to a lid of a container and in which a base is considered to be "lower" than a lid, and in which a "lateral" direction runs perpendicular to the vertical direction.

A sealing lid 118 is fitted over the pot 102 by way of a snap fit. This prevents foodstuff in the sub-volume below the aperture 114 from escaping when the container 100 is stored or transported. The sealing lid 118 is shown as being transparent in Figure 1 so that other elements of the container 100 may be clearly seen. The sealing lid 118 is configured such that, when it is fitted to the pot 102, an airtight seal is produced to maintain the freshness of the foodstuff contained within the container 100.

Typically, in an integrated container construction, the internal dividing walls must be angled. That is, they are thinner at top and thicker at the base. This is to allow for the pot to be removed from a mould. However, using the composite structure defined herein, this restriction does not exist. Therefore, if the components are manufactured separately, each, and in particular, the dividing walls can be parallel in form and, therefore, thinner.

Figure 2 shows an elevation of a pot 102. Internal features of the pot 102 are shown using dashed lines. The pot comprises a lip 120 configured to facilitate a snap fit with the sealing lid 118. Further, the base 106 of the pot 102 comprises a central circular indent 122. An interior surface 124 of the sidewall 104 of the pot 102 is shown as a dashed line.

On the interior surface 124 of the pot 102, are positioned a plurality of retainers. In the exemplary pot 102 of Figure 2, the retainers comprise retaining lugs 126a-c that extend into the internal volume of the pot 102. The retaining lugs are configured to cooperate with notches in the walls llOa-c of the divider 108 as explained below.

Lateral locators 128a-c are also positioned on the interior surface 124 of the sidewall 104 of the pot 102. The lateral locators are configured to secure the divider 108 in a lateral direction, e.g. to prevent rotation of the divider 108 within the pot 102. In exemplary pots, each lateral locator 128a-c comprises a pair of parallel tracks: a first track 130a-c and a second track 132a-c. These can be seen most clearly (and so are indicated) on lateral locator 128b. The first track 130a-c is longer than the second track 132a-c. The pair of tracks 130a-c, 132a-c extend vertically along at least part of the sidewall 104 from the corner of the pot formed by the base 106 and the sidewall 104.

The tracks 130a-c, 132a-c also extend radially toward the centre of the base 106.

An elevation of a divider 108 is shown in Figure 3. The divider 108 comprises three dividing walls llOa-c. Located at the top of the divider 108 is a pin 134 configured to connect to the dispensing lid 112. The pin 134 is positioned in the centre of an upper surface of the divider 108, at a point where the three dividing walls llOa-c meet. The pin 134 comprises a lip 136 and is deformable such that it permits a corresponding hole in the dispensing lid 112 to snap fit over the pin 134.

Each dividing wall llOa-c also comprises a shoulder 138a-c at its upper outer corner.

The shoulders 138a-c are for receiving a flange of the dispensing lid 112, as explained below. Each of the dividing walls llOa-c also comprises a notch 140a-c (only 140a and 140c are shown in Figure 3) formed on its outer edge. The notches 140a-c are configured to cooperate with the retaining lugs 126a-c of the pot 102 when the divider 108 is placed therein so as to retain the divider 108 in a vertical direction.

In exemplary dividers 108, the vertical height of the divider may be reduced in a region of the pin 134. This reduces the amount of contactbetween the dispensing lid 112 and the divider 108 during rotation of the dispensing lid 112. Reduced contact between the divider 108 and the dispensing lid 112 reduces the amount of friction, wear and squeaking as the dispensing lid 112 is rotated.

The dividing walls 1 ba-c have a uniform thickness, which makes them easier and cheaper to manufacture. That is, the thickness of each dividing wall llOa-c is substantially the same at any point on the wall and, in particular, at the outer edges.

Typically, in containers having an integrated design, in which the divider and the pot are integrated and formed from the same material, the dividing walls are thicker and taper outwards at the edge.

It is noted that in other exemplary containers, retaining lugs may be formed on dividing walls of a divider, and the notches may be formed on an interior surface of a pot.

In exemplary containers, the pot 102 may be formed from polypropylene (PP). PP is a soft plastics material that allows deformation when fitting the divider 108 into the pot 102. This provides the advantage of a snugger fit, which in turn helps to prevent cross contamination of foodstuff between the sub-volumes. A PP pot 102 also allows resilient deformation of the retaining lugs 126a-c. Therefore, the retaining lugs 126a-c are able to deform as the divider 108 passes over them, and then rebound into the notches 140a-c of the divider 108 to secure the divider 108 in the pot 102. The use of PP also reduces scratching and chipping of the pot, which is important as, in exemplary containers, the pot 102 is transparent or translucent to allow a consumer to view the foodstuff contained therein. In such containers, if the pot scratches or is chipped, cracked or broken, this would be viewable by the consumer.

Further, in exemplary containers, the divider may be formed from high impact polystyrene (HIPS). HIPS is a rigid material relative to PP. HIPS is also less transparent than PP. HIPS can be used for the divider 108 as it has sufficient stiffness to provide rigidity to the container 100. The dividing walls lbOa-c therefore provide an internal structure to the container 100 that helps prevent crushing of the container 100 during storage and transportation. The relatively rigid dividing walls lbOa-c also facilitate a better cooperation between the retaining lugs 126a-c and the notches 140a-c.

More generally, the combination of the relatively flexible PP and the relatively stiff HIPS is complimentary. The stiff HIPS divider 108 allows the pot 102 to be manufactured from the more flexible and more transparent PP, allowing better viewing of the foodstuff by the consumer.

A dispensing lid 112 is shown in Figure 4. The dispensing lid 112 may comprise HIPS.

The dispensing lid 112 comprises a single aperture 114 configured to correspond to the dimensions of a cross section through one of the sub-volumes. That is, the aperture 114 comprises at least part of a sector of the dispensing lid 112 with an internal angle of 120 degrees. In other exemplary containers, the aperture 114 may be smaller than the aperture described above. In other exemplary containers, the aperture 114 may have a different shape to the aperture described above. For example, the aperture 114 may be circular or square, or may comprise a plurality of apertures, such as in a sprinkler configuration.

The dispensing lid 112 further comprises a hole 144 at its centre for receiving the pin 134. The handle 116 comprises a raised edge positioned directly opposite a centre of the aperture 114. The vertical height of the handle 116 is such that it does not prevent application of the sealing lid 118. In exemplary containers, the vertical height of the handle 116 is such that, when the sealing lid 118 is applied, the underside of the sealing lid 118 applies a force to the handle 116 to prevent rotation of the dispensing lid 112. The dispensing lid 112 also comprises a vertical flange 142 around an outer edge. The flange 142 is configured to fit over the shoulder 138a-c formed in each of the dividing walls 11 Oa-c of the divider 108 when the dispensing lid 112 is rotatably connected to the divider 108.

A sealing lid 118 is shown in Figure 5. The sealing lid 118 is configured to fit the pot 102 byway of a snap fit.

The individual elements of the composite container 100 may be assembled to form the container of Figure 1. The dispensing lid 112 is connected to the divider by passing the pin 134 through the hole 144. The lip 136 of the pin 134 has an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the hole 144 such that, when the pin 134 has passed through the hole 144, the dispensing lid 112 is retained by the lip 136. The pin 134 and/or the lip 136 is deformable such that the pin 134 and the lip 136 may be passed through the hole 144 despite the lip 136 having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the hole 144. When the dispensing lid 112 has been connected to the divider 108, the dispensing lid 112 may be rotated relative to the divider 108.

The divider 108 and dispensing lid 112 may then be located within the pot 102. This is done by aligning the dividing walls llOa-c with the tracks 130a-c, 132a-c, such that each dividing wall llOa-c is positioned between a corresponding pair of tracks 130a-c, 132a-c. The divider 108 is then inserted into the pot 102. The tracks 130a-c, 132a-c secure the divider 108 laterally and prevent rotation of the divider 108 within the pot 102.

As the divider 108 is inserted into the pot 102, the dividing walls llOa-c deform the retaining lugs 126a-c until the notches 140a-c are aligned with the retaining lugs 126a- c, at which time, the retaining lugs 126a-c rebound into the corresponding notch 140a-c. In this way, the divider 108 is vertically retained within the pot 102, as the retaining lugs 126a-c resist vertical movement of the divider 108. Therefore, as the container is upended in order to dispense foodstuff, the divider 108 does not fall out of the pot 102.

When assembling the container 100 it may be practical to first insert the divider 108 into the pot 102. The divided sub-volumes may then be filled with foodstuff. The dispensing lid 112 may then be connected to the divider 108. The sealing lid 118 may then be fitted for storage and transportation.

In use, the sealing lid 118 is removed and the dispensing lid 112 is rotated such that the aperture 114 is located over a selected one of the sub-volumes to selectively dispense the foodstuff contained therein. The foodstuff is dispensed by upending the container 100. The individual elements of the container 100 are held in position as described above such that a user is able to shake the container 100 to dispense foodstuff and the container will remain assembled.

Exemplary containers may comprise the features disclosed above but may use a different vertical retainer as described below with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a pot 602 comprising a further exemplary vertical retainer 626. The vertical retainer 626 comprises a tooth 600 protruding inwardly from a sidewall of the pot 602. The tooth 600 is configured to cooperate with a notch 604 formed in an outer edged of a dividing wall of the divider 608. The tooth 600 comprises an angled surface 600a and a horizontal surface 600b. The angled surface 600a extends downwardly and inwardly into the pot 602 and is configured such that one or both of the pot 602 and the divider 608 is deformed as the divider 608 is inserted into the pot 602. When the notch 604 has passed over the tooth 600, the deformed pot 602 and/or divider 608 return to their original shape whereby the divider 608 is retained vertically within the pot 602.

It is noted that, in exemplary containers, the tooth may be positioned on the divider, and the notch may be positioned at a sidewall of the pot.

Figures 7a and 7b show a schematic representation of a pot 702 comprising a further exemplary vertical retainer 726. Figure 7a shows a schematic section through the pot 702 with the divider 708 inserted therein. Figure 7b shows a schematic side elevation of the divider 708.

In the exemplary pot 702 of Figures 7a and 7b, a first track 730 of a lateral locator 728 has a nipple 726 located on an inner side. A second track 732 has a chamfered surface 700 that is configured to guide the divider 708 toward the nipple 726 as it is inserted into the pot 702. A notch 740 is formed in an outer edge of a dividing wall of the divider 708 and is configured to fit around the nipple 726 to retain vertically the divider 708 within the pot 702.

It is noted that, in exemplary containers, the nipple may be positioned on the divider, and the notch may be positioned at a sidewall of the pot.

Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of a pot 802 comprising a further exemplary vertical retainer 826. The vertical retainer 826 comprises an aperture in the base of the pot 802 and a deformable retaining pin configured to snap fit into the aperture. This arrangement is similar to the arrangement for fitting the dispensing lid to the divider discussed above.

It is noted that, in exemplary containers, the aperture may be positioned on the divider, and the deformable retaining pin may be positioned at a sidewall of the pot.

The container described above is exemplary and the skilled person will be able to envisage other containers without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A composite container for selectively dispensing foodstuff contained therein, the container comprising: a pot comprising a base and one or more sidewalls defining an internal volume for retaining foodstuff; a divider located within the pot for dividing the internal volume into a plurality of sub-volumes; and a dispensing lid comprising an aperture, the dispensing lid cooperating with the divider to selectively dispense foodstuff from one of the sub-volumes, wherein the pot comprises one or more vertical retainers configured to retain the divider in a vertical direction.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more vertical retainers comprise a retaining lug located on one of the divider and the pot and configured to cooperate with a notch in the other of the divider and the pot.
3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing lid is rotatably connected to the divider and configured such that it may be rotated to a position where the aperture is aligned with a sub-volume.
4. A container according claim 3, wherein a height of the divider is reduced in a region of the rotatable connection for reducing contact between the dispensing lid and the divider.
5. A container according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a handle positioned on the dispensing lid for allowing a user to rotate the dispensing lid.
6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the handle comprises a raised edge on an upper surface of the dispensing lid for rotation of the dispensing lid by a user's finger.
7. A container according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more lateral locators located inside the pot and configured to prevent rotation of the divider within the pot.
8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the one or more lateral locators comprise first and second tiacks extending vertically along the sidewall and configuied to ieceive a wall of the dividei therebetween.
9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the first and second tracks extend vertically from a coiner of the pot formed by the base and the sidewall.
10. A container according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first track is longer than the second track.
11. A container according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the first and second tracks extend across the base at least part of a distance to the centre of the base.
12. A containei according to any preceding claim, wherein the pot compnses polypropylene.
13. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the divider comprises high impact polystyrene.
14. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the divider is configured to divide the internal volume into three sub-volumes.
15. A container according to any preceding claim, further comprising a sealing lid configured to fit onto the pot.
16. A kit of parts for assembly into a composite container, the kit of parts comprising: a pot comprising a base and one or more sidewalls defining an internal volume; a divider for dividing the internal volume into a plurality of sub-volumes for retaining foodstuff; and a dispensing lid comprising an aperture and configured to cooperate with the divider for selectively dispensing foodstuff from one of the sub-volumes, wherein the pot compnses one or more vertical retainers configured to retain the divider in a vertical direction.
17. A composite container as herein described with reference to the accompanying diawings.