JP2017100797A - Container and food package - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container and a food package enabling smoothly performing a storage operation of content, and excellent in handleability.SOLUTION: A container 1A has a projection part 24 projecting to an upper opening 22 of a storage part 2, in the center part of a bottom surface 2U of the storage part 2 for storing content. The projection part 24 is extended in one direction X when viewing from an upper opening 22 side, and has a longitudinal direction X, and a length along the longitudinal direction X of the projection part 24 has a tapered part 241 which is gradually reduced from a bottom surface 2U side to an upper side. The bottom surface 2U of the storage part 2 has a long shape in the one direction X in a plan view, and it is preferable that one direction X matches the longitudinal direction X of the projection part 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a container for containing food or the like. The present invention also relates to a food package in which food is contained in such a container.

  Conventionally, food packaging that can be used simply by storing cooked food in a container, storing it at room temperature, refrigerated or frozen, etc., and simply heating it with a heating device such as a microwave oven at the time of use has been widely used. Various techniques have been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a microwave oven container having a hollow bottom-up portion that protrudes toward the upper opening of the container at the center of the bottom surface of the container that is substantially rectangular in plan view. The bottom-up portion extends along the longitudinal direction of the substantially rectangular bottom surface of the container when viewed from the upper opening side of the container. The bottom raised portion has a substantially rectangular shape in a side view from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface of the container. That is, the length along the longitudinal direction of the bottom raised portion is substantially in the height direction. Constant. According to Patent Document 1, the food, which is the contents, can be heated quickly and uniformly by the microwave oven, for example, by appropriately adjusting the distance between the bottom raised portion and the main body side wall rising from the outer peripheral edge of the container bottom. Has been. Further, Patent Document 1 describes that in order to achieve such an effect, it is necessary to store the food in the container to the extent that the food as the content covers the upper surface of the bottom-up portion. That is, in the food packaging body using the container described in Patent Document 1, the accommodation height of the food that is the contents exceeds the height of the bottom raised portion, and the entire bottom raised portion is buried in the food.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when curry rice with curry roux on rice is heated in a microwave oven, it cannot be heated sufficiently to the bottom of the rice, or the curry is overheated and burnt. For the purpose of preventing the occurrence, a hollow column that stands from the bottom surface toward the upper opening of the container is provided at the center of the bottom surface inside the container on which the object to be heated is placed, and steam is formed at the upper end of the column. It is described that a lead-out hole is provided and a hole that communicates the hollow portion of the column and the outside of the container is provided. Patent Document 3 also describes a food container for a microwave oven having the same configuration as that described in Patent Document 2.

JP 2015-37954 A JP2011-229875A JP 2001-278362 A

In the production of food packages, when foods with fluidity such as sauces and soups are stored in containers, the food is usually not scattered outside the container during the storage operation, but quickly and uniformly in every corner of the container. It is desirable to go around. This is because if such a food storage operation is not smoothly performed, there is a risk of inconveniences such as a decrease in the production efficiency of the food package. However, a container that meets such requirements has not yet been provided.
In addition, food packaging containers are not only used as containers for heating and containing food, but they are also used as tableware for heated foods. It is required to have good strength and handleability.

  The subject of this invention is related to providing the container and food packaging body which can perform the accommodation operation of the content smoothly, and were excellent also in the handleability.

  The present invention is a container having a protrusion at the center of the bottom surface of the storage portion in which the contents are stored, protruding toward the upper opening of the storage portion, the protrusion being viewed from the upper opening side. The container has a portion extending in one direction and having a longitudinal direction, and the length of the projecting portion along the longitudinal direction gradually decreases from the bottom side toward the upper side. is there.

  Moreover, this invention is a food packaging body containing the said container of this invention, and the foodstuff accommodated in the said accommodating part of this container.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the accommodation operation of the contents can be performed smoothly and the container and food packaging body excellent in the handleability are provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of the container of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along the line II of FIG. 1 (cross section along the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface). FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the contents are accommodated in the container shown in FIG. 1, which is an embodiment of the food packaging body of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 (a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section along the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface) of another embodiment of the container of the present invention.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a container 1A which is an embodiment of the container of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a food package 5 including a container 1A and a food 4 as its contents as an embodiment of the food package of the present invention. The container 1A has a storage portion 2 in which contents are stored. The accommodating part 2 has a bottom wall part 20 that forms a bottom surface 2U of the accommodating part 2, that is, a content placing surface, and a side wall part 21 that stands up from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall part 20, and the bottom surface 2U ( An upper opening 22 having the upper end of the side wall 21 as an opening edge is provided at a position opposite to the bottom wall 20). In the container 1A, the contents are accommodated in the internal space of the accommodating portion 2 defined by the bottom wall portion 20 and the side wall portion 21, and the contents are accommodated in and taken out of the internal space. Is performed through the upper opening 22.

  A flange portion 23 is formed at the upper end portion of the side wall portion 21 so as to protrude horizontally from the upper end portion toward the outside in the horizontal direction. The flange portion 23 is continuous over the entire length in the circumferential direction of the upper opening 22 so as to surround the upper opening 22 of the housing portion 2. The flange portion 23 functions as a gripping portion when gripping the container 1A with fingers, and as shown in FIG. 3, when using the lid body 3 that covers the upper opening 22 of the housing portion 2, the lid body 3. It functions also as a mooring support part which can be attached to the accommodating part 2 detachably.

  The material of the container 2 and the lid 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can prevent the moisture of the contents from leaking to the outside, but it is difficult to liquid or impervious, and heating such as microwave heating What has heat resistance which can endure a process is preferable, for example, various synthetic resins, such as polyethylene and a polypropylene, can be used. As the lid 3, for example, a resin plate-like member such as a fitting lid that can be anchored to the upper end portion (flange portion 23) of the accommodating portion 2, or a resin film such as a packaging wrap can be used.

  The bottom surface 2U of the housing portion 2, that is, the top surface of the bottom wall portion 20, has a shape that is long in one direction (a direction indicated by a symbol X in the drawing) in plan view. That is, the bottom surface 2U has a longitudinal direction X and a width direction (short direction) Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X. Specifically, the bottom surface 2U has an elliptical shape in plan view. However, the planar view shape of the bottom surface 2U is not limited to this, and for example, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape, a pentagonal or more polygonal shape, a circular shape, and the like can be selected as appropriate. The shape may not be long in one direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a single protrusion 24 that protrudes toward the upper opening 22 of the housing 2 is formed at the center of the bottom surface 2 </ b> U of the housing 2. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 24 is formed by projecting and deforming a part of the plate-like bottom wall portion 20 forming the bottom surface 2U, specifically, the central portion toward the upper opening 22 side. And has a hollow portion 240 on the lower surface side of the bottom wall portion 20. The protrusion 24 is lower in height from the bottom surface 2U than the side wall 21. The top 24t of the protrusion 24 is not sharp but flat. The storage portion 2 (projection portion 24) is formed symmetrically with respect to a virtual straight line (not shown) that bisects the storage portion 2 in the longitudinal direction X in plan view, and the storage portion 2 (projection portion 24). It is formed symmetrically with reference to an imaginary straight line (not shown) that bisects in the width direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X.

  As one of the main features of the container 1A of the present embodiment, when the projection 24 is viewed from the upper opening 22 side, that is, in a top view of the housing portion 2, it has a longitudinal direction X extending in one direction X. And a portion (hereinafter also referred to as a tapered portion) 241 in which the length Lx (see FIG. 2) along the longitudinal direction X of the protrusion 24 gradually decreases from the bottom 2U side to the upper side (upper opening 22 side). The point which is doing. In the present embodiment, as described above, the bottom surface 2U of the housing portion 2 has an elliptical shape in plan view and is long in one direction. In this direction, that is, the longitudinal direction X of the bottom surface 2U and the protrusions. The longitudinal direction X of 24 coincides.

  With such a characteristic configuration of the protrusion 24, the container 1A according to the present embodiment can smoothly perform the operation of storing the contents in the storage unit 2. That is, for example, when a fluid food such as sauce or soup is poured from the upper opening 22 of the container 2 toward the bottom 2U, the poured food is placed in the longitudinal direction X at the center of the bottom 2U. The protrusions 24 arranged to extend preferentially flow in the longitudinal direction X, thereby reaching the corners of the bottom surface 2U uniformly and quickly.

  In addition, since the projecting portion 24 has the tapered portion 241, the decrease in the internal volume that is a concern due to the presence of the projecting portion 24 is effectively suppressed, and the contents are accommodated in the upper opening 22 and the vicinity thereof. Sufficient space for ensuring the operation can be secured, and furthermore, even when fluid food or the like is poured, it does not easily splash outside the container 1A even if it directly hits the protrusion 24 and repels. Further, since the taper portion 241 reduces the feeling of blockage of the upper opening 22 due to the presence of the protruding portion 24, particularly when the contents are stored in the container 1A manually, the storing operation is performed. For a person, the presence of the protrusion 24 is not easily disturbed not only physically but also psychologically. On the other hand, for example, in the container described in Patent Document 1, the raised portion formed at the center of the bottom of the container has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the space occupancy rate in the vicinity of the upper opening of the container and its vicinity, such as the tapered portion 241 However, since the operation effect by the projection part 24 mentioned above is not show | played, it is inferior to the container 1A of this embodiment at the point of the accommodation operativity of the content.

  From the viewpoint of further improving the contents accommodating operation, it is preferable that the tapered portion 241 exists at least on the upper side (the side opposite to the bottom surface 2U side) of the protruding portion 24 including the upper end 24t. From the same viewpoint, the ratio of the height of the tapered portion 241 to the total height of the protruding portion 24, that is, (the height of the tapered portion 241 / the total height of the protruding portion 24) × 100 is preferably 50% or more. In particular, it is preferably 70% or more, particularly 90% or more. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the entire protrusion 24 is a tapered portion 241, and the protrusion 24 has a constant longitudinal length Lx in the height direction and does not have an invariable portion. Therefore, the ratio of the height of the tapered portion 241 to the total height of the protruding portion 24 is 100%.

  Further, the container 1 </ b> A of the present embodiment is excellent in handleability due to the characteristic configuration of the protrusion 24. That is, in general, when a container (food packaging body) containing the contents is gripped and handled by hand, the entire container is often held by hand from below the contents. In order to prevent the contents from spilling out of the container during handling, the container is often held so that the temperature of the contents can be touched directly by hand, for example. In the case of such a high temperature, since the peripheral part is also at a high temperature, it is difficult to support the entire container by hand from below the contents. In the case of such high-temperature contents, if the upper opening edge of the container, such as the flange, can be gripped with one hand, there is no particular problem in handling the container. However, in the case of a conventional container, if the upper opening edge is held with one hand while the contents are contained, the entire container may be bent by its own weight, and depending on the contents, there is a risk of leaking to the outside. For example, when the container is taken out from the microwave oven after being heated in the microwave oven, both hands must be put in the narrow oven and there is room for improvement in terms of handling. On the other hand, the container 1A of the present embodiment is formed such that the protrusion 24 extends along the longitudinal direction X of the bottom surface 2U in top view, that is, the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface 2U and the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 24. Has a sufficient strength for practical use, and as shown in FIG. 3, even if an arbitrary part of the flange portion 23 is held with one hand while the contents (food 4) are accommodated, The container 1A (accommodating portion 2) is difficult to bend and has excellent handleability.

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion 24 has a mountain shape in a side view along the longitudinal direction X from the viewpoint of more surely exerting the operation and effect of the protrusion 24 described above. It does not have “corners” or “protruding portions at the ends”. More specifically, the protrusion 24 in the present embodiment has a mountain shape with no corners and an outline composed only of a curve in a side view along the longitudinal direction X as shown in FIG. Even in a side view along the width direction Y, the contour line has no corners and is composed only of a curved line. If the protrusion 24 has such a mountain shape without corners, further improvement in the securing of the internal volume of the storage portion 2 and the ease of storing the contents can be achieved. Also, if the protrusion 24 has a corner, for example, when the flange 23 is gripped in a state in which the contents are accommodated in the accommodating portion 2, the accommodating portion 2 starts from the corner of the protrusion 24. Although it is feared that it bends, in this embodiment, since the projection part 24 does not have a corner | angular part, the intensity | strength of the accommodating part 2 itself has improved and such a concern is wiped out.

From the viewpoint of ensuring the above-described effects of the projection 24, the dimensions of each portion of the projection 24 are preferably set as follows.
The ratio of the maximum value of the length Lx in the longitudinal direction X of the protrusion 24 to the maximum value of the length in the longitudinal direction X of the bottom surface 2U of the housing portion 2 (maximum length in the longitudinal direction X) is the latter / the former: Preferably it is 0.5-1.0, More preferably, it is 0.7-1.0.
The ratio of the maximum value of the length in the short direction Y of the protrusion 24 (the maximum length in the short direction Y) to the maximum value of the length in the short direction Y of the bottom surface 2U of the housing portion 2 is the latter / the former. Is preferably 0.05 to 1.0, and more preferably 0.1 to 1.0.
The ratio of the height of the protrusion 24 to the depth in the accommodating portion 2 (distance from the bottom surface 2U to the upper opening 22) is preferably 0.8 to 1.0, more preferably 0. 9-1.0.

  The type of contents contained in the container 1A of the present embodiment is not particularly limited, but is particularly suitable for foods. In particular, considering the above-described effects of the protrusions 24, “has fluidity under normal temperature and normal pressure. It is suitable for “food” (food that has fluidity when stored in the storage unit 2). Specific examples of foods that are the contents of the container 1A include noodles such as pasta, udon, soba, and Chinese noodles, cooked rice, breads, and steamed foods. Specific examples of the “food having fluidity under normal temperature and normal pressure” include so-called soups such as soups, sauces such as sauces, soups, various sauces, so-called sauces in soup, curry rice, and the like.

  By the way, the protrusion 24 not only contributes to the contents storage operation and the handling property of the container 1A as described above, but also contributes to the improvement of the heating efficiency of the contents of the container 1A. And can be heated uniformly. In particular, since the protruding portion 24 in the present embodiment has a hollow portion 240, the hollow portion 240 functions as a heat source when the contents of the container 1A are heated together with the container 1A by heating means such as a microwave oven or a hot water bath. Therefore, the contents can be efficiently heated from the central portion and the periphery, and uneven heating is less likely to occur. Such an effect can also be achieved when, for example, the contents of the container 1A are frozen, and the contents are naturally thawed together with the container 1A. Considering such a heating and uniform function of the contents by the protrusion 24, it can be said that the container 1A is suitable for containing food that needs to be cooked at the time of eating, for example, refrigerated or frozen food.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the food 4 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 2 of the container 1 </ b> A, and is a food package 5 including the container 1 </ b> A and the food 4. The food package 5 further includes a lid 3 that covers the upper opening 22 of the container 1A. The food package 5 is in a form that can be marketed by itself, and can be placed in the store as it is or in an external form, and can be delivered to a general consumer. Taking an example in which a general consumer purchases a food packaging 5 at a store, the food packaging 5 purchased at the store can be refrigerated or frozen as it is, and provided and eaten. Can be cooked by heating the individual package 10 as it is with natural thawing or a heating device such as a microwave oven. For example, the cooked food 4 is not transferred to a container for eating and providing such as a separate dish, It can be provided and eaten while being accommodated in the container 1A. The container 1A can be discarded after the food 4 is consumed. Therefore, by using the food packaging 5, it is possible to simply and hygienically execute from food preparation to serving and eating, for example, a department that does not have a dedicated kitchen in a store (for example, around a supermarket cash register) Etc. can also be cooked.

  In the food package 5, the upper end 24 t of the protrusion 24 protrudes from the surface of the food 4 (contents) in the container 2. With such a configuration, the heating uniformity of the food 4 when, for example, the entire food packaging 5 is heated with a microwave oven, a hot water bath, or the like, is higher than that in which the protrusion 24 is completely buried in the food 4. It can be further improved. From the viewpoint of the balance between the expression of such effects and the securing of the inner volume of the container 1A, the height of the protruding portion 24 protruding from the surface of the food 4 is preferably 1 mm or more, and the food between the product lots 4 is more preferable, for example, from the viewpoint of causing the protrusion 24 to protrude more reliably from the surface of the food 4 in consideration of the influence of the amount of filling 4 and the error in specific gravity.

  In general, as shown in FIG. 3, when a part of a container for containing food projects from the surface of the food, which is the contents of the food packaging, as shown in FIG. There is a possibility that an impression is given as if the amount is relatively small. Such impression may not be preferable as a food packaging product, and may not be positive in terms of appearance. However, in the food packaging body 5, a part of the container 1 </ b> A protruding from the surface of the food 4 that is the content has a tapered portion in which the length along the longitudinal direction X gradually decreases toward the upper opening 22. In addition, since the tapered portion 241 has no corners and the contour line is composed only of a curved line, it is difficult to give the viewer an impression that the upper opening 22 is closed, and the deterioration in appearance is minimal. Is suppressed.

  The food package 5 protrudes from the surface of the food 4 with respect to the total length L in the longitudinal direction X of the food 4 from the viewpoint of the balance between the appearance of the food package 5 and the heating uniformity when the food package 5 is heated. The ratio of the length Lp of the protruding portion 24 in the same direction X, that is, (longitudinal length Lp of the protruding portion protruding from the food surface / longitudinal length L of the food) × 100 is at least 10% or more. Particularly preferred is 25 to 75%, especially 35 to 60%. If the ratio of the length L of the exposed portion of the protrusion 24 from the food to the total length of the food Lp is too large, that is, if the length Lp of the protrusion is too large, the appearance becomes worse and the ratio is too small. In short, if the length Lp of the protrusion is too large, the food 4 may be unevenly heated when the food package 5 is heated.

  FIG. 4 shows a container 1B which is another embodiment of the container of the present invention. The protrusion 24 of the container 1B has an arc shape (semicircular shape) in a side view along the longitudinal direction X, and the top thereof is different from the top 24t of the container 1A and is not flat, but has a convex shape. Although the shape in the same side view differs from the part 24, the point which does not have an angle | corner is common in both. The container 1B has the same configuration as the container 1A except for the above points, and can achieve the same effects as the container 1A.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the preferable embodiment, this invention is not restrict | limited to the said embodiment. For example, the overall shape of the accommodating portion 2 and the shape of the protruding portion 24 are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the height of the protrusion 24 from the bottom surface 2 </ b> U may be higher than that of the side wall 21 as long as it does not substantially affect the lid 3. In the embodiment, the number of the protrusions 24 is one. However, a plurality of protrusions 24 may be used. In this case, for example, the plurality of protrusions 24 are arranged in one direction, preferably in the longitudinal direction, of the bottom surface 2U. Can be arranged as desired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B Container 2 Storage part 2U Bottom face 20 Bottom wall part 21 Side wall part 22 Upper opening 23 Flange part 24 Projection part 24t Upper end part 240 Hollow part 241 Tapered part 3 Cover body 4 Contents (foodstuff)
5 Food Packaging X Longitudinal direction Y Width direction

Claims (5)

A container having a protrusion protruding toward the upper opening of the storage portion at the center of the bottom surface of the storage portion in which the contents are stored;
When viewed from the upper opening side, the protrusion extends in one direction and has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the protrusion along the longitudinal direction increases upward from the bottom surface side. A container having a gradually decreasing portion.   2. The container according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the housing portion has a shape that is long in one direction in a plan view, and the one direction matches the longitudinal direction of the protrusion.   The protrusion has a chevron shape or an arc shape in a side view along the longitudinal direction of the protrusion and a side view along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and includes only a curve without a corner. The container according to claim 1 or 2.   The food packaging body containing the container as described in any one of Claims 1-3, and the foodstuff accommodated in the said accommodating part of this container.   The food packaging body according to claim 4, wherein an upper end portion of the protruding portion protrudes from a surface of the food in the housing portion.

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