ITVR20110048A1 - CONTAINER FOR WALKING FOOD AND METHOD FOR ITS REALIZATION - Google Patents

Description

CONTAINER FOR WALKING FOOD AND METHOD FOR ITS MAKING

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a container for walking food, of the type which also allows the simultaneous support of a container for a drink such as a glass or a bottle, and a method for its realization.

On many occasions in daily life, people may find themselves in the situation of having to eat and drink while standing or walking. For example, this can happen both in the context of refreshments, parties, etc., and in the case of foods bought in fast food restaurants but consumed while walking; for example, a person can buy French fries on one side, a glass or a bottle of soft drink on the other. The present invention is mainly intended for this last sector.

The problem, in these situations, is that having both hands busy (one from the food the other from the drink) it is difficult to eat without dropping anything.

For this reason, over the years a series of solutions have been developed that allow you to support both the food container and the drink container with a single hand.

For example, US patent 7,453,869 describes a complex support which can be used to support both a plate and a glass with one hand.

However, this is a completely inadequate implementation solution for the fast food sector, where the need is to have simple low-cost objects that can be thrown away after use.

The most interesting solutions for that sector are those in which the support for the drink itself constitutes the container for the food.

A first type of these supports provides that the glass for the drink and the container for the food constitute a single body and cooperate with each other. For example, in patents US 5,725,117 and US 2005/0133580, the food container is obtained by means of a hopper-shaped cardboard that hooks onto the upper part of the drink glass, so that the lid of the glass forms the bottom of the container for food. To drink, however, the user must necessarily use the straw that goes through both the lid of the glass, both the food and the food container.

However, this first type of support is not free from drawbacks.

Firstly, the fact that the bottom of the food container consists of the lid of the glass, through which the straw is inserted, means that there is a risk of contamination of the drink with food; for example, if there are French fries in the container, there is a risk that salt or sauces could infiltrate the hole for the straw and reach the drink.

Secondly, since the lid of the drink is always handled by the sales staff, the fact that it is subsequently placed in contact with food poses a risk with regard to hygiene.

Furthermore, if the food is finished before the drink, with this type of support it is not realistically possible to keep only the glass, throwing the rest, since the lid of the glass and the straw are dirty with food.

Similar problems, even if with reversed parts, are also encountered in the case of the embodiment of the patent application US 2003/089725 which provides that the container for the food constitutes the lid of the cup. A further known typology, which conceptually also includes the construction solution object of the present invention, provides instead that a single object on the one hand constitutes the container for the food, on the other it defines the support for a glass / bottle containing a beverage.

Examples of such solutions are described in US patent applications 2006/0261075, US 2004/0084458, US 2004/0040882, US 2006/0118453 and in US patent 5,184,750.

In all known solutions, the support has a mainly horizontal development and comprises at least two portions side by side; a first portion in the shape of a plate / tray designed to contain the food, and a second portion that defines a housing in which the glass can be inserted.

Although more comfortable than the previous ones, even this construction solution is not free from drawbacks.

The main drawback is the fact that this type of supports is not easy to support. The user, in fact, must hold the support by one edge, that is to say with all the weight overhanging. Given that the weights in question can easily exceed six / seven ounces, in the long run supporting them cantilevered can be tiring since it is necessary to keep the arm constantly bent at right angles to keep the support horizontal, and to keep the finger grip tight. .

Secondly, since the weight is unbalanced with respect to where the container is held, there is always the risk of spilling either the food or drink.

Thirdly, this type of support must normally be created by molding plastic materials with a negative impact on production costs.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a container for walking food which remedies the aforementioned drawbacks.

In particular, the technical task of the present invention is to provide a container for food for walking which allows the separate housing of food and drink and which is easier to hold in the hand than those known today.

A further technical task of the present invention is to provide a container for walking food which is easy to manufacture and has a limited cost.

The technical task and the indicated aims are substantially achieved by a container for walking food and by a method for its realization, in accordance with what is described in the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a container for walking food and of a method for its realization illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows in an axonometric view from above, a piece of material from which a container according to the present invention can be obtained;

Figures 2 to 6 show successive steps for manufacturing a container according to the present invention starting from the piece of material of Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows the container for walking food obtained according to the succession of steps of Figures 1 to 6;

Figure 8 shows a first variant of the piece of material of Figure 1; figure 9 shows a variant of the container of figure 7 obtainable with the piece of material of figure 8;

Figure 10 shows a second variant of the piece of material of Figure 1; And

- figure 11 shows a second variant of the container of figure 7 obtainable with the piece of material of figure 10.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the reference number 1 globally indicates a container for walking food made according to the present invention.

Note that, in the attached figures, the dashed lines indicate, on a flat element, lines along which a subsequent bending of the material used is expected. In the illustrated embodiment, in fact, the entire container 1 is obtained by folding a single piece of material 2 with a mainly rigid or semi-rigid flat development (advantageously cardboard).

For the sake of simplicity, hereinafter the preferred method for manufacturing the container 1 object of the present invention will be presented first, then the container 1 itself will be described in its more general characteristics.

The manufacturing method object of the present invention is intended for the realization of a container 1 for walking food which comprises a first housing 3 for containing at least one walking food and at least a second housing 4 for supporting a container containing a beverage.

This method provides first of all to take a piece of rigid or semi-rigid flat material 2, such as for example a food cardboard, which has the shape mainly of a quadrilateral and in which an upper edge 5, a lower edge 6 and two side edges 7 can be identified. It should be noted that in the context of the present invention the mainly quadrilateral shape is intended to indicate the coarse shape of the piece of material 2, without taking into account any particular shapes of each edge 5, 6, 7. Consequently, this definition includes both the piece of material 2 plane of figure 1, both that of figure 8 (in the rough definition of the shape, the appendix 8 protruding from the lower edge 6 towards the outside can be neglected), and that of figure 10. In the embodiment preferred, then, the piece of material 2 has a substantially symmetrical shape with respect to a plane of symmetry perpendicular to it and passing through the center of the upper edge 5 o'clock and of the lower edge 6.

It should be noted, however, that the pieces of material illustrated in figures 1, 8 and 10, are pieces of material 2 which have already undergone also the subsequent phase envisaged by the method object of the present invention, that of making a cut 9 in the piece of material 2 mainly U-shaped in order to delimit, in the same piece of material 2, a strip of material 10 which is connected to the remaining material at the top of the U, and which is instead separated from it along the rest of its perimeter, to be then folded as better explained below.

The U-shaped cut 9 is then performed with an orientation such that the upper part of the U faces the upper edge 5. Advantageously, in the preferred embodiment, the U is symmetrical with respect to the aforementioned symmetry plane. The U-shaped flap of material 10, then, has a higher height than the height of the strip 11 of material that separates it from the upper edge 5; as will become clearer in the following, in fact, the flap of material 10 has a height equal to the sum of the height and depth of the first housing 3 of the container 1 that will be obtained. On the lower side, on the other hand, the distance of the edge of material 10 from the lower edge 6 can be any according to requirements. As will become clearer in the following, in fact, in the finished container 1, the band 12 of material comprised between the flap of material 10 and the lower edge 6, defines part of the second housing 4. Finally, as regards the profile of the U, it should be noted as in the illustrated embodiment, it presents an irregular course; the shape is in fact studied to best realize the first housing 3 with container 1 finished. However, depending on the form of implementation, the profile may vary.

As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the method then provides for folding the flap of material 10 towards the upper edge 5, at least with respect to the remaining material. In the preferred embodiment, however, the flap of material 10 is also folded back on itself. In general, this folding step continues until the flap of material 10 is at least partially substantially facing the portion of material comprised between the flap of material 10 itself and the upper edge 5, but at a distance from it (Figure 4).

In the preferred embodiment, in particular, the flap of material 10 is bent on average by about 90 ° with respect to the remaining material along a first transverse arcuate bending line 13, which joins the ends of the U, and by further on average about 90 ° on it. along a second arcuate folding line 14, placed at a certain distance from the first folding line 13 and with a concavity opposite to it. To allow correct bending and a correct shape of the bottom of the first housing 3 (consisting of the part of material between the first 13 and the second bending line 14), a third bending line 15 is then provided, intermediate between the first two. which causes the bottom of the first housing 3 to have a slightly cusp shape towards the inside of the housing itself (figure 5).

The method then provides for a second folding step during which the lateral portions 16 of material adjacent to the lateral edges 7 are folded towards each other (both with respect to the rest of the material and on themselves). Each of these side portions 16 is folded until an at least partial overlap is obtained between it and the folded edge of material 10 (in the illustrated embodiment it is the lateral portion 16 which overlaps the edge of material 10). Furthermore, the two side portions 16 are folded in such a way as to be surmounted one to the other at least in correspondence with the lower edge 6 as shown in figure 6. In the preferred embodiment, then, the step of folding the side portions 16 of adjacent material at the lateral edges 7, provides for the folding of the material itself more in correspondence with the lower edge 6 than at the upper edge 5 so that the container 1 has a decreasing section from the upper edge 5 towards the lower edge 6. In other words, when folding is completed , the container 1 has an overall roughly truncated conical shape. This is advantageously obtained by means of a plurality of fold lines 17 inclined with respect to the lateral edges 7, in such a way as to converge between them towards the lower edge 6.

Note that the time sequence of the various bends can be any according to the needs. In other embodiments, moreover, all the various folds can be obtained not along fold lines but by simple bending of the material.

The last essential step of the method object of the present invention provides for fixing the flap of material 10 and the other folded side portions 16 in their final reciprocal positions (those illustrated in figure 6). While in the illustrated embodiment this is obtained by gluing, in other embodiments the same result can also be obtained with other methods (for example by interlocking suitable elements obtained in the piece of material 2 in a similar way to what is known in the production of objects three-dimensional using folded cardboard, such as for making shoe boxes).

Once the container 1 has been completed, in light of the use that will then have to be made of it, in addition to an upper part and a lower part (corresponding respectively to the upper and lower edges), a main front face 18 (visible in figure 7), a rear main face 19 (figure 6 - this is the face where the various folded parts overlap) and two secondary lateral faces 20. Figures 8 to 11 then show two possible variants of the method described up to now.

As far as figures 8 and 9 are concerned, as mentioned, they show the case in which the piece of starting material 2 is also obtained with a protruding appendix 8. In this case, the appendix 8 itself is bent at 90 ° with respect to the rest of the sheet and at 90 ° on itself to form a bottom element 21 for the second housing 4. The folded outer end of the The appendix 8 can then be blocked between the superimposed parts of the two lateral portions 16 of the piece of material 2.

As regards instead figures 10 and 11, in them the only variant as regards the method consists in an additional phase of execution of a plurality of small transversal cuts 22 starting from the U-shaped cut 9 and towards the outside . As better explained below, these cuts identify a series of fins 23 which in use can be folded to lock the container in the second housing 4.

Up to now the method devised by the applicant for the realization of the preferred embodiment of the container 1 object of the present invention has been described.

In the following, however, the container 1 per se will be described in detail 9, which, obviously, depending on the requirements, can also be made with methods other than the one just described.

In accordance with the present invention, in general the container 1 comprises a first portion 24 which defines a first housing 3 for containing at least one walking food (such as potato chips, popcorn, etc.) and at least a second connected portion 25 to the first portion 24 and which defines a second housing 4 for supporting a container containing a drink. As regards the first portion 24, it has at least one bottom wall 26 and at least one perimeter side wall 27 coupled to the bottom wall 26 to define with it at least the first housing 3.

According to the inventive aspect of the present invention, in the position of use of the container 1, the first 3 and the second housing 4 are arranged one at a higher level and one at a lower level and are spaced apart in such a way as to allow a independent access by the user to both the first housing 3 to insert and remove food in / from it, and to the second housing 4 to insert and remove a container in / from it.

In the preferred embodiment, then, on the one hand the first housing 3 is arranged above the second housing 4, on the other hand the second housing 4 consists of the internal part of the second portion 25 which is shaped like a ring. In other embodiments, however, it is also possible that the first housing 3 is arranged under the second housing 4. Advantageously, however, in the preferred embodiment the first 3 and the second housing 4 are substantially aligned with each other, in so that during use the vertical projection of the center of gravity of one passes through the other.

In the preferred embodiment, then, the container 1 also comprises at least a third connecting portion 28 fixed to the first portion 24 and to the second portion 25 and defining at least one opening 29 for accessing the housing located at the lower level. In the embodiment illustrated, in particular, the third portion 28 consists of two lateral shoulders which constitute a single piece both with the side wall of the first portion 24 and with the second portion 25. The opening 29 is also constituted by a free space present, at the front face 18, between the first portion 24 and the second portion 25.

In order to facilitate the retention of the container for the drink, the container 1 then advantageously comprises at least first retaining means 30 for retaining the container inserted in the second housing 4 from below. In the illustrated embodiment, the first retaining means 30 are at least partially consisting of the inner part of the ring defined by the second portion 25, which is made with a section decreasing downwards. In this way, in fact, with an appropriate sizing, it is possible to guarantee the joint between the inner part of the ring and a traditional truncated conical drink glass.

In addition or as an alternative to this, the first retaining means 30 can comprise at least one bottom element 21 mounted in the second housing 4. This embodiment is illustrated in Figure 9, where the bottom element 21 consists of the cited Appendix 8 folded. This bottom element 21 is particularly advantageous for holding cylindrical containers (such as plastic bottles) which otherwise could fall through the bottom hole of the second housing 4. As illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the container 1 can comprise in addition, second holding means 31 for retaining a container for a beverage inserted in the second housing 4 from above and thus preventing the container from accidentally disengaging from the second housing 4.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 11, the second retaining means 31 comprise one or more locking tabs 23 movable between a first position in which they lock a container contained in the second housing 4 preventing its removal (not illustrated) and a second position in which allow its removal instead (position illustrated in figure 10).

In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 10, two fins 23 are provided for each side of the container 1 (for different sizes of the container), delimited by three cuts substantially perpendicular to the lateral edge of the piece of material 2 which constitutes the container 1. The passage of each flap 23 from the second position to the first position therefore takes place by folding the flap 23 towards the inside of the container 1. The use of the container 1 object of the present invention immediately follows from the above description.

In use, in fact, the container 1 is arranged substantially vertical (with the lower edge 6 facing downwards) and the food is inserted into the first housing 3. If the user also has a container for a drink such as a glass or bottle, can be inserted into the second housing 4 (in the embodiment illustrated through the free space defined by the third portion 28).

At that point the user can hold the container 1 with one hand in correspondence with any part of it and use the other for drinking or eating. If the container is then fitted with a straw, the user can then drink without removing the container itself from the second housing 4 since the straw can be made to protrude outwards at the front opening 29.

In the case of using a container 1 made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard, it should then be noted that if the container has a truncated cone shape, when it is inserted into the second housing 4, with its own weight it can deform the second portion 25 transforming the ring with polygonal section in a ring with almost circular section. According to the dimensions, then, in the case of the container 1 of Figure 1, the container partially protrudes from the second portion 25 towards the bottom.

The present invention achieves important advantages.

In the first place, the container object of the present invention on the one hand allows the separate housing of food and drink, on the other hand it is absolutely easier to support than known containers. In fact, it is sufficient to support the upper portion of the container by holding it normally, to also hold the lower one. Furthermore, the container can be easily supported both with the arm bent (typical position when you want to drink or take food) and with the arm extended along the body. In fact, since the container can be gripped higher than its center of gravity, it is almost impossible to accidentally overturn the contents since the force of gravity always tends to place the container vertically, that is to say in its position of use.

Furthermore, the container object of the present invention can be easily made also by means of a sheet of folded material which makes it absolutely economical and therefore usable without problems even in disposable mode.

Finally, it should be noted that the present invention is relatively easy to produce and that the cost associated with its implementation is also not very high.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept that characterizes it.

All the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones and the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, may be any according to requirements.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1. Walking food container comprising: a first portion (24) having at least one bottom wall (26) and at least one perimeter side wall (27) coupled to the bottom wall (26) to define with it at least a first housing (3) for containing at least one food walking; and at least a second portion (25) connected to the first portion (24) and defining at least a second housing (4) for supporting a container containing a beverage; characterized in that, in the position of use of the container (1), the first (3) and the second housing (4) are arranged one at a higher level and one at a lower level and are spaced from each other in such a way as to allow independent access by the user both to the first housing (3) to insert and remove food in / from it, and to the second housing (4) to insert and remove a container in / from it. Walking food container according to claim 1 characterized in that the first housing (3) is arranged above the second housing (4), in that the second portion (25) has a ring shape, and in that the second housing (4) is defined by the internal part of this ring. A container for walking food according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises at least first holding means (30) for retaining a container for a drink in the second housing (4) from below. 4. Container for walking food according to claims 2 and 3 characterized in that the inner part of the ring defined by the second portion (25) has a decreasing section downwards and therefore defines the first retaining means (30). Container for walking food according to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that the first holding means (30) comprise at least one bottom element (21) mounted in the second housing (4). 6. A container for walking food according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises second holding means (31) for holding a container for a drink inserted in the second housing (4) from above. 7. Container for walking food according to claim 6 characterized in that the second holding means (31) comprise one or more locking tabs (23) movable between a first position in which they lock a container contained in the second housing (4) preventing its removal and a second position in which they allow its removal instead. 8. A container for walking food according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first (3) and the second housing (4) are substantially aligned with each other. Container for walking food according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises at least a third connecting portion (28) fixed to the first portion (24) and to the second portion (25) and defining at least one opening (29) for access to the housing located at the lower level. Container for walking food according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a single piece of substantially flat, rigid or semi-rigid material (2), folded and glued on itself. 11. Method for making a container (1) for walking food comprising a first housing (3) for containing at least one walking food and at least a second housing (4) for supporting a container containing a drink, characterized by the fact of understanding the operational phases of: take a piece of rigid or semi-rigid flat material (2) mainly in the shape of a quadrilateral, in which an upper edge (5), a lower edge (6) and two side edges (7) can be identified; make a mainly U-shaped cut (9) in the piece of material (2) to delimit in it a strip of material (10) connected to the remaining material, the cut (9) being oriented with the upper part of the U facing towards the upper edge (5); fold the flap of material (10) at least with respect to the remaining material towards the upper edge (5), until it is at least partly substantially facing and spaced from / from the portion of material between the flap of material (10) itself and the edge upper (5); fold the lateral portions (16) of material adjacent to the lateral edges (7) towards each other until an at least partial overlap is obtained between each of them and the flap of material (10) folded and between them at least at the edge lower (6); And secure the flap of material (10) and the other side portions (16) folded into place. 12. Method according to claim 11 characterized by the fact that the step of folding the lateral portions (16) of material adjacent to the lateral edges (7), provides for the folding of the material itself more in correspondence with the lower edge (6) than at the upper edge (5) so that the container (1) has a decreasing section from the upper edge (5) towards the lower edge (6).