ITMO20080132A1 - CONTAINER FOR FOOD PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) for food products comprises a first half-shell (2) which is hollow for containing at least an accessory (3,4) and has a first opening edge (5), and a second half-shell (6) which is hollow, is split into a first containing compartment (10) for a first food product (7) and into a second containing compartment (11) for a second food product (8) and has a second opening edge (9), the half -shells being associable with each other at the opening edges to form an egg-shaped pack.

Description

Description of Patent for Industrial Invention entitled:

"CONTAINER FOR FOOD PRODUCTS".

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a container for food products.

Different types of containers for food products are known which have the shape of an egg divided into two half-shells, one of which is intended to contain an accessory, a game and / or a surprise, while the other is suitable for containing a product. food.

Each half-shell is provided with an opening edge which is intended to be substantially associated with the opening edge of the other half-shell.

The half-shells are usually made of plastic material and both the accessory and the food product can be taken from the outside once the half-shells have been separated from each other.

In some containers, however, one or both of the half-shells are made of edible material and themselves constitute the packaged food product.

In a particular type of container, the half-shells can be associated and separated from one another along one of the egg symmetry planes, have an identical shape to each other and are provided with ogival shaped opening edges.

In another type of container, however, the two half-shells can be associated and separated along the median transverse plane, meaning by the median transverse plane that which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the ovoid package and which is arranged at the height at which the diameter of the opening edges, circular in shape, is maximum.

These known types of containers have some drawbacks, including the fact that they are purely intended for the consumption of a single food product and, therefore, are significantly limited in terms of variety and assortment of flavors offered to consumers.

In this regard, it is emphasized that in this specific commercial sector there is a particular need and need to renew its products and to constantly present new ones in order to better distinguish them from those of the competition and to encourage consumers to purchase products. own articles.

It should be noted, in fact, that the commercial success of these products is often linked to the novelty of the product itself and the possibility of making consumers interact with it, who are often young children, both by making the toy / surprise available and by offering food products. not only nutritious but also varied.

Another drawback of containers of the known type consists in the fact that their particular ovoid shape makes it difficult both to store them in suitable displays and to simply rest them on a surface.

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a container for food products which is of practical, easy and functional use and which allows to nourish and entertain consumers at the same time. A further object of the present invention is to meet the aforementioned commercial needs, making available a container for food products which is of considerable appeal to consumers.

Not least object of the present invention is to provide a container for food products which can be easily handled both for its storage and for its simple support on a surface.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a container for food products which allows to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in the context of a simple, rational, easy and effective use and low cost solution.

The objects set out above are achieved by the present container for food products, comprising at least a first half-shell which is substantially hollow for containing at least one accessory and is provided with a first opening edge, and at least a second half-shell which is substantially hollow for the containment of at least one food product and is provided with a second opening edge, said half-shells being associable with each other at said opening edges to form a substantially ovoid package, characterized in that said second half-shell is divided into at least a first compartment containment of a first food product and in at least a second containment compartment of a second food product.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a container for food products, illustrated by way of indication, but not of limitation, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the container according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the container according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a series of first half-shells according to the invention stacked together;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a series of second half-shells according to the invention stacked together;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of a detail of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a bottom axonometric view of the container according to the invention;

Figure 7 is an axonometric view of a product holder display for the containers according to the invention.

With particular reference to these figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a container for food products.

The container 1 comprises a first half-shell 2, which is substantially hollow to contain one or more accessories 3, 4 and which is provided with a first opening edge 5, and a second half-shell 6, which is substantially hollow to contain at least one food product 7, 8 and which is provided with a second opening edge 9.

The half-shells 2, 6 can be associated with each other at the opening edges 5, 9, ie with the first opening edge 5 and the second opening edge 9 arranged one against the other, to form a package with a substantially ovoid shape.

In particular, the opening edges 5, 9 are formed in correspondence with a plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ovoid package and, more specifically, in correspondence with the median transverse plane.

The first half-shell 2 has an ogival conformation typical of the upper part of an egg, while the second half-shell 6 has, as a whole, the substantially spherical shape typical of the lower part of an egg.

With respect to the vertical arrangement of an egg, therefore, the first half-shell 2 and the second half-shell 6 can respectively be configured as the upper half-shell and the lower half-shell.

The second half-shell 6 is divided into a first compartment 10 for containing a first food product 7, and in a second compartment 11 for containing a second food product 8.

The first food product 7 consists, for example, of a fluid substance such as a cream, a flavored mousse, a yogurt, or the like, while the second food product 8 preferably consists of a substance with a predetermined solidity such as pieces of cereals. , bread sticks, fruit, or other foods that can be dipped and / or dipped in the first food product 7.

Both the first compartment 10 and the second compartment 11 are provided with a respective access mouth 12 obtained at the second opening edge 9, so that both compartments 10, 11 are accessible from the outside once the first half shell 2 has been removed.

Conveniently, the second half-shell 6 comprises two dividing walls 13 suitable for separating the two compartments 10, 11.

The dividing walls 13 join together at a connection segment 14 which is arranged in proximity to the second opening edge 9 and which, in practice, separates the access openings 12 of the two compartments 10, 11.

From the connecting segment 14 the dividing walls 13 extend substantially along a longitudinal plane of symmetry of the ovoid package and are arranged facing each other and spaced apart to define a slot 15 substantially parallel to the dividing walls themselves.

The slot 15, in practice, is intended to allow the container 1 to rest on a product holder display 16 provided with a series of substantially vertical support walls 17.

The product holder display 16, for example, is made of cardboard, plastic or the like, and allows the container 1 to be supported by arranging the two compartments 10, 11 astride the supporting walls 17.

In proximity to the connection segment 14, the second half-shell 6 is provided with a series of stiffening elements 18 adapted to stabilize the dividing walls 13.

The stiffening elements 18, for example, consist of a plurality of connection blades interposed between the partition walls 13 and aligned along their connection segment 14.

The connection lamellas 18, in addition to stiffening the partition walls 13, allow the second half-shells 6 to be stacked and unstacked in a practical and easy way during the assembly phase of the containers 1.

As illustrated in Figure 4, in fact, the second half-shells 6 can be stacked one on top of the other by resting on the connecting lamellae 18 and remaining spaced by such a distance that it prevents them from being stuck one inside the other.

In practice, this allows to automate the production line of the containers 1 without the risk of jamming and stoppages due to the incorrect unstacking of the second half-shells 6.

Advantageously, at least a portion 19 of the second half-shell 6 is substantially flat and able to allow it to rest steadily on a plane. The portion 19 is formed on the part substantially opposite to the second opening edge 9 at the bottom of the ovoid package.

A closing cap 20 can be associated with the first opening edge 5 and / or the second opening edge 9, able to keep the cavity of the first half-shell 2 separate from the cavity of the second half-shell 6.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, for example, the closing cap 20 consists of an aluminum sheet which has a thermo-lacquer inside which allows it to be heat-sealed on the second opening edge 9 and on the connection segment. 14, so as to hermetically close and separate both access openings 12 of the two compartments 10, 11.

However, alternative embodiments are not excluded in which the closing cap 20 is made integral with the first opening edge 5, or in which a closing cap 20 is provided both on the first opening edge 5 and on the second opening edge. 9.

The opening edges 5, 9 can be mutually associated by interposition of connection means 21, 22 of the temporary and interlocking type.

These connection means consist, for example, in a connecting tooth 21, with an annular shape, which is formed inside the first opening edge 5 and can be engaged by interlocking on a respective projection 22 formed on the second opening edge 9.

The first half-shell 2 has a plurality of internal abutment baffles 23 which are distributed with a substantially constant pitch in the vicinity of the top of the first half-shell 2 and are suitable for maintaining the accessories 3, 4 in a substantially predetermined position.

The internal abutment baffles 23, for example, prevent the accessories 3, 4 from being arranged perpendicularly to the closure cap 20 and accidentally piercing it.

At the same time, the internal abutment baffles 23 are shaped to obtain an easy and practical stacking and unstacking of the first half-shells 2 during the assembly phase of the containers 1.

As illustrated in Figure 3, in fact, the first half-shells 2 can be stacked one on top of the other by resting on the internal abutment partitions 23 and still remaining spaced by such a distance that it prevents them from being interlocked.

Similarly to the connection strips 18 for the second half-shells 6, therefore, the internal abutment baffles 23 allow to automate the production line of the containers 1 without the risk of jams and stoppages due to the incorrect unstacking of the first half-shells 2.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the internal abutment baffles 23 are shaped so as to also act as internal reinforcing ribs 24 suitable for making the first half-shell 2 more resistant.

In practice, the internal abutment baffles 23 and the internal reinforcement ribs 24 are substantially coincident, but alternative embodiments are possible in which internal abutment baffles 23 and internal reinforcement ribs 24 are provided which are distinct and separate from each other.

Usefully the accessories 3, 4 contained in the first half-shell 2 are two. One of them is a playful item 3 such as a puppet, a miniature, a toy car or whatever, which is placed inside a containment box 25 or, alternatively, inside a protective bag.

The other accessory, on the other hand, consists for example of a tool, such as a scoop 4, a teaspoon or the like, designed to allow the user to collect the first and second food products 7, 8 and bring them to the mouth.

However, alternative embodiments are not excluded in which only one accessory 3, 4 is provided inside the first half-shell 2. Finally, on the external surface of the first half-shell 2 and the second half-shell 6, one or more labels can be associated. cover 26 intended to bear inscriptions, figures and identification signs of the container 1 and of the products contained therein.

Preferably the cover label 26 is only one, it is shaped like a cap to reproduce the shape of the half-shells 2, 6 and wraps both the half-shells 2, 6 to allow sealing and further protecting their contents.

To facilitate the fit of the cover label 26, the first half-shell 2 is provided with a rounding 27 at the first opening edge 5.

In practice it has been found that the described invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims (23)

CLAIMS 1) Container for food products, comprising at least a first half-shell which is substantially hollow for containing at least one accessory and is provided with a first opening edge, and at least a second half-shell which is substantially hollow for containing at least one food product and is provided with a second opening edge, said half-shells being associable with each other at said opening edges to form a substantially ovoid package, characterized in that said second half-shell is divided into at least a first compartment for containing a first product food and in at least a second containment compartment of a second food product. 2) Container according to claim 1, characterized in that said opening edges are formed in correspondence of a plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of said substantially ovoid package. 3) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second half-shell comprises at least one dividing wall suitable for separating said compartments. 4) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dividing wall extends substantially in correspondence with a plane of symmetry of said substantially ovoid package. 5) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second half-shell comprises at least two of said dividing walls arranged substantially facing and spaced apart to define a slot substantially parallel to said dividing walls. 6) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second half-shell comprises at least one element for stiffening said dividing walls. 7) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stiffening element comprises at least one connecting plate interposed between said dividing walls. 8) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that characterized by! the fact that each of said first and second compartments is provided with a respective access mouth formed in correspondence with said second opening edge. 9) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one cap for closing at least one of said first opening edge and said second opening edge. 10) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closing cap can be hermetically associated with at least one of said access mouths. 11) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that at least a portion of said second half-shell is substantially flat and able to allow it to rest on a surface. 12) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said portion is obtained on a part substantially opposite to said second opening edge. 13) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said portion is formed at the bottom of said substantially ovoid package. 14) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said opening edges can be associated with each other by interposition of interlocking connection means. 15) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection means comprise at least one connecting tooth obtained on at least one of said opening edges and engageable by interlocking on a respective projection obtained on the other of said opening edges opening. 16) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said first half-shell comprises at least one internal abutment partition suitable for maintaining said accessory in a substantially predetermined position. 17) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first half-shell comprises at least one internal reinforcing rib. 18) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said internal abutment partition and said internal reinforcing rib are substantially coincident. 19) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said accessory is a play item. 20) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said accessory can be placed inside a containment sleeve. 21) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said accessory can be placed inside a protective bag. 22) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said accessory is a tool suitable for collecting at least one of said food products. 23) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one cover label which can be associated with the external surface of at least one of said first half-shell and said second half-shell and is capable of bearing written, figures and signs of identification.