IT202000024934A1 - DISPOSABLE CONTAINER FOR DRINKS - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled:

"DISPOSABLE DRINK CONTAINER"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

Embodiments described here refer to a disposable container for beverages, for example based on fruit, tea, milk or the like, and the relative package. Not ? excluding the use of the container according to the present invention for containing wine, water or other types of drinks. This container? suitable to be easily transported by a user allowing the consumption of the drink in a simple and fast way.

STATE OF THE ART

Containers for beverages are known, such as for example fruit juices, but not only, which are generally associated with straws to allow a user to consume their contents. These containers are commonly called ?bricks?.

With reference to fig. 1, the containers of the prior art are in the shape of a parallelepiped or prism with a square base and develop mainly in the direction of the height from a back wall to a top wall. opposite. To these bottom and top walls? four side walls are connected in a single body, facing each other in pairs.

The straw ? suitable to penetrate a perforable portion, the cio? weakened, generally supplied on the top wall? of the container, to be inserted into it, until it reaches at least the back wall. In general the straw? supplied contained in a package glued to a side wall of the container, for example to the one with the largest surface.

A drawback of the prior art? that this solution requires, for the easy suction of the drink, to provide a straw of greater length than the height of the container, which constitutes its main extension. In many cases, the length of the straw ? superior even to the diagonals of the side walls.

Consequently, to allow its association within the dimensional limits of the container, this straw must be suitably formed, for example comprising a bellows portion, a bent portion and/or two or more straws. reunited telescopic parts.

In general, the straw must be made of specific materials that allow the aforementioned processes.

These drawbacks lead to further problems of a similar nature, for example the need to to pack the straw in an envelope that conforms to its size.

The drawbacks described make the containers of the prior art particularly disadvantageous, both in terms of manufacturing economy and of environmental impact. In fact, the association of each container with a straw of relatively large dimensions, with a view to large-scale productions, determines high costs for the raw material and for the processes and connected problems of final disposal and/or recycling.

Is there therefore a need? to perfect a container which can overcome or significantly reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, an object of the present invention ? that of making a container for drinks that can limit the use of the material necessary for the production of the straw.

Another object of the present invention ? that of allowing the realization of a container provided with a straw for which the times of realization are reduced with respect to those of the prior art. Yet another purpose? that of making it possible to use other materials to make the straw of the container.

Another object of the present invention ? that of creating a container for beverages that can limit the packaging necessary to guarantee the hygienic characteristics of the straw.

To obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and to obtain these and other objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

DISCOVERY DISPLAY

The present found ? expressed and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims disclose other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the idea of the main solution.

In accordance with the above purposes, a disposable container for beverages is described which overcomes the limits of the prior art and eliminates the defects present therein.

Said disposable beverage container comprises a top wall and a back wall connected in a single body by four side walls facing each other in pairs. The distance between the top wall? and the back wall defines the height of the container, and the distances between facing side walls respectively define the width and depth of the container. of the same. At least one between? Height, width and depth? constitutes the main development of the container. In other words, at least one of the height, width and depth? ? greater than the others.

According to one aspect of the invention, the container comprises at least one pierceable portion arranged on at least one wall defined in one dimension by said main extension of the container. This pierceable portion can be placed anywhere on the aforementioned wall.

The pierceable portion constitutes a weakened portion of the wall on which willing and ? suitable to be easily penetrated by a straw operated by a user.

In a preferred embodiment? the height to constitute the main development of the container and the pierceable portion ? placed on one of the side walls. In these conformations the width pu? be greater than or equal to the depth? and the perforable portion pu? be placed on one of the side walls defined by the width and height.

Advantageously, in this case, the container according to the present invention offers the possibility to use a straw of reduced overall length with respect to the prior art. Indeed, ? Is a suitable straw sufficient to travel through the container and the opposite wall with respect to the one equipped with the perforable wall, only in the sense of depth? or the width.

In preferred embodiments, the container may be supplied in a package with a straw suitable for penetrating said pierceable portion.

This straw can be wrapped in a protective wrapping that can be glued to at least one of the six walls of the container.

In some embodiments, this straw can be of a substantially straight tubular shape and with a smaller extension than the prevailing development of the container.

In further embodiments, the straw and/or the casing thereof can be made of paper-based, paper-based, biodegradable and/or compostable material.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DESIGNS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- fig. 1 ? a schematic representation of a disposable beverage container according to the prior art;

- the f?gg. 2 and 3 are schematic representations of a disposable beverage container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For ease of understanding, identical reference numerals have been used wherever possible to identify identical commonalities in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarification.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Will it be done? now reference in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more? examples are illustrated in the attached figures by way of non-limiting example. Even the phraseology and terminology used here? for non-limiting example purposes.

With reference to fig. 2, the number 10 indicates a disposable container for beverages, hereinafter container 10, according to embodiments of the present invention. Container 10 ? suitable for containing beverages such as fruit juice, milk, tea, milk-based beverages, but also wine, wine-based beverages, alcoholic beverages and more. The shape of the aforementioned container 10 ? such as to allow a user to transport it easily and to consume its content in a simple and fast way.

Container 10 ? formed, at least partially, from liquid-tight material, such as for example plastic material or cardboard covered with one or more? plastic and/or aluminum film, or a mutual combination thereof.

According to one aspect of the invention, said container 10 comprises a plurality of walls 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b, suitable for defining in cooperation with each other a containment volume for the drink.

In particular, the container 10 can include a top wall? 13a and a bottom wall 13b facing each other and having a substantially equal surface area. These top walls? 13a and the bottom 13b are connected to each other in a single body by four sides 11a, 11b, 12b also arranged in pairs facing each other. The distance between the top walls? 13a and bottom 13b, defines the height development L1 of the container 10. Consequently, the height development L1 defines a common dimension between the four side walls 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b. Furthermore, the respective distances between homologous, i.e. facing, side walls 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b define, respectively, the depth development? L3 and the development in width L2 of the container 10.

According to embodiments, at least one of the development in height L1, in width L2 and in depth? L3 defines the main development of the container 10. In other words, at least one measure between height L 1 , width L2 and depth? L3 of container 10 ? greater than the others.

According to preferred embodiments, the container 10 can be supplied in a package with at least one straw 20 suitable for piercing at least one pierceable portion 14 of the aforementioned container 10. This straw 20 can? be associated with one of the side walls 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b of the same (fig. 2). Alternatively, the straw 20 can? be associated with one of the top walls? 13a and bottom 13b (fig. 3).

In embodiments, the straw 20 can be contained in a package 21, suitable for wrapping it, partially or completely, to ensure its hygienic conditions. This packaging 21 can? be glued to one of the walls 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b of the container 10.

On at least one of said walls 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b ? arranged there is at least one pierceable portion 14 suitable for facilitating the insertion of the straw 20 into the? interior of the beverage containment volume. In particular, the pierceable portion 14 constitutes a weakened portion of the wall on which it is located. arranged allowing the easy penetration thereof by the straw 20. The pierceable portion 14 can? be placed anywhere on the wall, preferably near of an edge of it.

According to one aspect of the invention, said pierceable portion 14? arranged on a wall defined in one of its dimensions by the prevailing development of the container 10. Advantageously, this configuration allows the container 10 to be provided with a straw 20 of reduced dimensions compared to the containers of the prior art. Consequently, the use of material is reduced and also the number and cost of the processes necessary for its realization. In fact, a straw 20 of reduced dimensions does not require gusseted portions or bent/corrugated and/or split portions. The container 10 of the present invention therefore entails considerable advantages, allowing savings on production costs and ensuring a reduced environmental impact with respect to containers of the prior art. In preferred embodiments, with reference to figs. 2 and 3, the height L1 ? the main development of the container 10 and the pierceable portion 14 ? arranged in one of the side walls 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b thereof. Furthermore, in these embodiments the width L2 can be greater than the depth? L3 and the pierceable portion 14 can? be arranged on one of the side walls 11a, 11b defined by the width L2 and the height L1. These conformations make it possible to significantly limit the length required for the straw 20 to reach the wall opposite to that provided with the pierceable portion 14. be provided with a straw 20 of limited length but sufficient to travel along it in the sense of depth? L3, which constitutes its minor development.

In embodiments, the straw 20 can be tubular in shape and substantially straight. In fact, the reduced length of the straw 20 allows it to be easily arranged within the dimensional limits of the container 10, without therefore requiring folding or splitting and/or folding or telescopic portions.

In particular, in preferred embodiments, the straw 20 is of length less than or equal to the height L1.

In further embodiments, the straw 20 is of length less than or equal to the width L2.

It is clear that a user, in order to drink the contents of the container 10 through the straw 20, needs to position it with the wall provided with the pierceable portion facing upwards, as shown in fig. 3.

In some embodiments, the straw 20 can be made of paper or paper-based material. In addition or alternatively, the straw can? be made of highly biodegradable and/or compostable material.

In addition or alternatively, also the packaging 21 of the same can? be made of paper-based, paper-based, biodegradable and/or compostable material.

? it is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the container 10 described up to now, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

In the claims that follow, the references in brackets have the sole purpose of facilitating the reading and must not be considered as limiting factors as regards the scope of protection implied in the specific claims.

Claims (10)

1. Disposable beverage container (10) comprising a top wall? (13a) and a bottom wall (13b) connected in a single body by four side walls (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b), in which the distance between said top wall? (13a) and said bottom wall (13b) define the development in height (L1) of said container (10) and the distances between side walls (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) define the development in width (L2) and the development in depth? (L3) of said container (10), wherein at least one of said height (L1), said width (L2) and said depth? (L3) constitutes the main extension of said container (10) characterized in that it comprises at least one pierceable and weakened portion (14) arranged on a wall defined in one of its dimensions by said main extension. 2. Container (10) as in claim 1 and in which said height (L1) is the main development of said container (10), and said width (L2) ? greater than this depth? (L3), characterized in that said pierceable portion (14) ? arranged on one of said side walls (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) defined by said width (L2) and height (L1). 3. Container (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ? supplied in a package with at least one straw (20) suitable for piercing said pierceable portion (14). 4. Container (10) as in claim 3, characterized in that said straw (20) is of shorter length than said prevalent development. 5. Container (10) as in claim 3 when it depends on 2, characterized in that said straw (20) is shorter in length than said height (L1). 6. Container (10) as in claim 3 when it depends on 2, characterized in that said straw (20) is shorter in length than said width (L2). 7. Container (10) as in any one of claims 4, 5 and 6, characterized in that said straw (20) is associated with one of said bottom walls (13a), top? (13b) or lateral (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b). 8. Container (10) as in any one of claims from 3 to 7, characterized in that said straw (20) is contained in a package (21) glued to at least one of said walls (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b). 9. Container (10) as in any one of claims from 3 to 8, characterized in that at least one of said straw (20) and said package (21) ? made of paper, paper-based, biodegradable and/or compostable material. 10. Container (10) as in any one of claims from 3 to 9, characterized in that said straw (20) is tubular and substantially straight and ? free from bends, telescopic portions, bellows portions or the like.