JP7560106B2 - Kagami mochi-shaped ornament - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a kagami mochi-shaped ornament for display during New Year's and other celebrations.

In Japan, it is customary to decorate kagami mochi (rice cakes) on New Year's Day and other special occasions. However, in recent years, opportunities to make mochi at home have decreased, and many kagami mochi-shaped ornaments that imitate the shape of kagami mochi are now commercially available.

Patent Document 1 describes an invention relating to a packaged kagami mochi, in which mochi is packed inside a synthetic resin container for kagami mochi that has the external shape of a kagami mochi. The packaged kagami mochi can be obtained by filling the container with softened mochi through an opening formed on the bottom of the container, attaching a film to the flange formed on the bottom of the container, and subjecting the container to boiling sterilization.

JP 2005-170397 A

By the way, when Kagami mochi is displayed during the New Year, it is customary to eat it as sweet soup or zoni at the Kagami-biraki ceremony after the end of the New Year period. For this reason, when the Kagami mochi is packed inside a Kagami mochi container, the mochi is removed from the container before cooking, but as it is too large when removed from the container, it must be cut to the appropriate size.

However, it is not easy to cut hardened, thick mochi, so if you leave it as it is, it will go stale and you will have to throw it away.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and has an object to provide a kagami mochi-shaped ornament that can reduce food waste.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a kagami mochi-shaped container that has an external shape resembling at least two round rice cakes stacked one on top of the other and has an opening formed at the bottom, a sealant that is joined to the bottom of the kagami mochi-shaped container to close the opening, a cap that is fitted onto the top of the kagami mochi-shaped container, and a decorative item that is housed inside the cap, and a solid food item (excluding rice cakes) is housed inside the kagami mochi-shaped container.

Here, examples of solid foods that can be stored inside the Kagami-mochi-shaped container include grains such as rice and wheat. When rice is stored inside the Kagami-mochi-shaped container, it can be removed immediately by peeling off the sealing material, and can be used for cooking as is. This can prevent situations where food is left behind and has to be discarded, and can reduce food waste.

The present invention provides a kagami mochi-shaped ornament that can reduce food waste.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the kagami mochi-shaped ornament of the present embodiment. A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a kagami mochi-shaped ornament. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the kagami mochi-shaped ornament, and a side view of each component that constitutes the kagami mochi-shaped ornament. FIG. A perspective view of a kagami mochi-shaped ornament from below. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a modified example of a kagami mochi-shaped ornament.

The following describes a kagami mochi-shaped ornament embodying the present invention.
1 and 2, the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 of this embodiment includes a kagami mochi-shaped container 10, a cap 20, a sealing material 30, an ornament 40, and a label 50. The inside of the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 is filled with rice 60 as a solid food.

The Kagami mochi-shaped container 10 is a molded body made by molding synthetic resin material into a hollow Kagami mochi shape. There are no particular limitations on the type of synthetic resin, but a thermoplastic resin, particularly hard polypropylene, is preferred. The Kagami mochi-shaped container 10 of this embodiment is transparent or translucent. In addition, the thickness of the Kagami mochi-shaped container 10 is preferably about 0.6 to 1.4 mm.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 comprises a mochi-shaped main body 11 and a flange portion 12. The mochi-shaped main body 11 has an external shape that imitates two round mochi, which are flattened spheres, stacked one on top of the other. In what follows, the part with the external shape of the upper round mochi will be referred to as the upper tier 13, and the part with the external shape of the lower round mochi will be referred to as the lower tier 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 15 that opens downward is formed on the underside of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, i.e., the underside of the lower section 14. The opening 15 is formed in a portion surrounded by the lower edge of the lower section 14, and has a circular cross-sectional shape.

The flange portion 12 is formed integrally with the mochi mold body portion 11 and extends outward from the lower edge of the lower portion 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the flange portion 12 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cap 20 is a sheet-formed body made of a transparent resin material, and has a thickness of approximately 0.2 to 0.3 mm. The cap 20 is formed in a shape in which an upper storage section 21 and a lower mounting section 22 are integrally connected. The storage section 21 is approximately cylindrical in shape, with a tube section 23 extending in the vertical direction, and the upper part of the tube section 23 is closed by a lid section 24 connected to the upper edge of the tube section 23.

The mounting portion 22 extends vertically and has a generally cylindrical shape with a tubular portion 25 that is larger in diameter than the tubular portion 23 of the storage portion 21. It is equipped with the tubular portion 25 and a flange portion 26 that is connected to the lower end edge of the tubular portion 25 and has a shape that gradually increases in diameter downward. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper portion of the tubular portion 25 has a shape that gradually decreases in diameter upward, and its upper end edge is connected to the tubular portion 23 of the storage portion 21. The vertical cross section of the upper portion of the tubular portion 25 has a curved shape that protrudes outward.

As shown in FIG. 3, a small diameter portion 25a is formed in the lower part of the tubular portion 25, above the flange portion 26. Due to the formation of the small diameter portion 25a, the main part of the tubular portion 25 in the vertical direction has a diameter slightly larger than that of the small diameter portion 25a. For convenience, the part other than the small diameter portion 25a is referred to as the large diameter portion 25b. Due to the formation of the small diameter portion 25a in the tubular portion 25, a step 25c is formed at the boundary between the small diameter portion 25a and the large diameter portion 25b.

As shown in FIG. 4, a groove 27 extending in the vertical direction is recessed into the inner surface of the tube portion 25. The width of the groove 27 is about 1.0 mm, and the depth of the groove 27 is about 0.4 to 0.5 mm. By recessing the groove 27, a protrusion (not shown) extending in the vertical direction is formed on the outer surface of the tube portion 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the size of the mounting portion 22 is set to match the size of the upper portion 13 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. Specifically, the diameter L1 of the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 25 of the mounting portion 22 is slightly larger than the diameter L2 of the outer circumferential surface of the upper portion 13. In addition, the height H1 of the tubular portion 25 is slightly smaller than the height H2 of the upper portion 13.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the sheet-like sealing material 30 is joined to the underside of the flange portion 12 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 by means of heat sealing or the like. The sealing material 30 has the same shape and size as the flange portion 12, and covers the entire underside of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. By joining the sealing material 30, the opening 15 that opens into the underside of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 is blocked by the sealing material 30. As shown in Figure 5, the sealing material 30 of this embodiment is joined by multiple annular heat seal portions 31 that extend concentrically with the opening 15 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, a product description section 32 is printed on the underside 30a of the sealing material 30. The product description section 32 explains the quality, content, storage method, nutritional information, etc. of the rice 60 contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1. The product description section 32 is in the shape of a square with sides of approximately the same length as the diameter of the opening 15 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10.

The product description section 32 is printed on the underside 30a of the sealing material 30 at a position biased toward one of the pair of opposing sides 30c, 30d, the side 30d. Specifically, it is printed at a position biased from the side 30c to which the label 50, which will be described later, is affixed, to the side 30d to which the label 50 is not affixed. The edge of the product description section 32 on the side 30c side is located closer to the side 30d than the periphery of the opening 15 located on the side 30c side. In other words, the edge of the product description section 32 on the side 30c side is located behind the front end of the lower section 14 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 when the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 is displayed with the label 50 facing forward.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an ornament 40 is housed inside the housing 21 of the cap 20. In this embodiment, the ornament 40 is made of colored synthetic resin and has a shape that resembles an orange. The ornament 40 has a fruit portion 41 that resembles an orange fruit, a leaf portion 42 that resembles an orange leaf, and a branch portion 43 that resembles an orange branch.

As shown in FIG. 3, the size of the ornament 40 is set to match the size of the storage section 21 of the cap 20. The lateral width L3 of the fruit section 41 and the leaf section 42 is formed to be approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter L4 of the inner peripheral surface of the storage section 21 of the cap 20. In addition, the height H3 of the fruit section 41 and the branch section 43 is formed to be slightly smaller than the height H4 of the storage section 21 of the cap 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, a label 50 is attached to the outer surface of the lower section 14 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. The origin and brand of the rice 60 stored inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 are printed on the label 50. The upper edge of the label 50 is located above the lower edge of the mounting section 22 of the cap 20. The lower edge of the label 50 is the lower edge of the lower section 14 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, and is located near the upper surface of the flange section 12. As a result, when the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 is viewed from the front side of the label 50, the lower edge of the mounting section 22 of the cap 20 is covered by the upper part of the label 50.

As shown in FIG. 2, an oxygen absorber 70 is contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 in such a manner that it contacts the upper surface 30b of the sealing material 30. Any conventionally known oxygen absorber can be used as the oxygen absorber 70.

Next, a method of manufacturing and using the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 of this embodiment will be described together with its function.
When manufacturing the kagami mochi-shaped decorative tool 1, rice 60 is first filled into the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 with the opening 15 of the container facing upward. After filling, the oxygen absorber 70 is placed on top of the rice 60. Then, the sealant 30 is joined to the underside of the flange portion 12 by heat sealing means. As a result, the rice 60 and the oxygen absorber 70 are contained in a sealed state inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. The oxygen absorber 70 is held in contact with the upper surface 30b of the sealant 30.

Then, the ornament 40 is inserted into the storage section 21 of the cap 20. The lateral width L3 of the fruit portion 41 and the leaf portion 42 of the ornament 40 is formed to be approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter L4 of the inner peripheral surface of the storage section 21 of the cap 20, so that the fruit portion 41 and the leaf portion 42 abut against the inner peripheral surface of the storage section 21. This keeps the ornament 40 inside the storage section 21 and prevents it from falling out of the storage section 21.

Then, the mounting portion 22 of the cap 20 is fitted onto the upper portion 13 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. At this time, a groove 27 extending in the vertical direction is recessed into the inner surface of the tube portion 25 of the mounting portion 22, so that the outside and inside of the cap 20 are connected via the groove 27. This makes it easier for the air inside the cap 20 to escape to the outside, and the cap 20 is fitted onto the outside smoothly.

2, the cap 20 fitted onto the upper portion 13 has the lower edge of the tubular portion 25 of the mounting portion 22 located at the boundary between the upper portion 13 and the lower portion 14 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, and the flange portion 26 abuts the upper portion of the lower portion 14. Since the diameter L1 of the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 25 of the mounting portion 22 is formed slightly larger than the diameter L2 of the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion 13, the cap 20 is fixed to the upper portion 13 and is prevented from falling off the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. In addition, a step 25c is formed in the tubular portion 25 of the mounting portion 22 at the boundary between the small diameter portion 25a and the large diameter portion 25b. Therefore, the step 25c is located at the lower portion of the upper portion 13 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, and the cap 20 is prevented from falling off the kagami mochi-shaped container 10.

When the cap 20 is attached to the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, the ornament 40 held within the storage section 21 of the cap 20 has the bottom surface of the fruit section 41 abutting the top surface of the upper section 13 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, and the top end of the branch section 43 abutting the top surface of the storage section 21 of the cap 20. This is because the height H3 of the fruit section 41 and the branch section 43 is formed slightly smaller than the height H4 of the storage section 21 of the cap 20. As a result, the ornament 40 within the storage section 21 is held in a state where movement in the vertical direction is restricted.

Next, a label 50 is attached to the outer surface of the lower section 14 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. The label 50 is attached to the side 30c of the lower surface 30a of the sealing material 30, opposite the side to which the product description section 32 is biased. In this way, the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 is obtained.

When using the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1, the side with the label 50 attached is displayed as the front. At this time, the label 50 covers the lower edge of the mounting portion 22 of the cap 20. Also, the edge of the side 30c side of the product description section 32 is located on the side 30d side of the periphery of the opening 15 located on the side 30c side, and is located behind the front end of the lower section 14, so the product description section 32 is not located on the front flange section 12. As a result, when the side with the label 50 attached is displayed as the front, the lower edge of the cap 20 and the product description section 32 are difficult to see, resulting in a good external appearance.

After using the Kagami mochi-shaped decorative tool 1 as a New Year's decoration or the like, the rice 60 stored inside the Kagami mochi-shaped container 10 is used. At this time, first, the sealing material 30 of the Kagami mochi-shaped container 10 is peeled off. Next, the oxygen absorber 70 is removed, and the rice 60 can be taken out. In this state, the rice is placed in a rice cooker or clay pot as appropriate, washed, cooked, and then served for consumption.

Next, the effects of the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 of this embodiment will be described below.
(1) The kagami mochi-shaped decorative device 1 of this embodiment has rice 60 contained inside a kagami mochi-shaped container 10 having an external shape that imitates a kagami mochi.

Therefore, softened mochi is easier to use than stuffed and solidified mochi. It is less likely to have to be discarded, as would be the case if mochi was stuffed, and food waste can be reduced.

(2) A sealant 30 is attached to the bottom of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 by heat sealing means.
Therefore, the sealing material 30 can be easily peeled off. The rice 60 contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 can be easily removed.

(3) The inner surface of the mounting portion 22 of the cap 20 abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the upper portion 13 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, and the lower edge of the mounting portion 22 is located near the lower end of the upper portion 13 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10.
Therefore, the cap 20 can be stably attached to the kagami mochi-shaped container 10.

(4) The mounting portion 22 of the cap 20 has an inner surface formed with a groove 27 extending in the vertical direction.
Therefore, when the cap 20 is fitted onto the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, the outside and inside of the cap 20 communicate with each other via the groove 27, and the air present inside the cap 20 can easily escape to the outside. This allows the cap 20 to be fitted onto the container 10 smoothly.

(5) The fruit portion 41 and the leaf portion 42 of the ornament 40 abut against the inner peripheral surface of the storage portion 21 of the cap 20 .
Therefore, unintended positional changes of the ornament 40 inside the storage section 21 are suppressed, and the ornament 40 is stably held within the storage section 21.

(6) A label 50 is attached to the outer surface of the lower section 14 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, displaying information such as the origin and brand of the rice 60.
Therefore, it is easy to obtain information about the food contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10.

(7) The label 50 is attached to the cap 20 at a position spanning the lower edge of the attachment portion 22 .
Therefore, the lower edge of the cap 20 is not noticeable, and the external appearance of the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 can be improved.

(8) The kagami mochi-shaped container 10 has a flange portion 12 extending laterally from the lower edge of the lower portion 14.
Therefore, when the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 is displayed, its state is stable.

(9) A product description section 32 is provided on the lower surface 30a of the sealing material 30.
Therefore, the product description section makes it easy to obtain information about the food contained inside.

(10) When the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 is displayed with the side to which the label 50 is affixed facing forward, the product explanation section 32 is located behind the label 50.
Therefore, if the Kagami-mochi-shaped ornament 1 is displayed with the label 50 facing forward, the product description column 32 is difficult to see from the front. When the Kagami-mochi-shaped ornament 1 is displayed, its external appearance can be improved.

(11) The sealing material 30 is joined to the flange portion 12 at a plurality of heat-sealed portions 31 that are concentric with the opening 15 .
Therefore, it is firmly joined to the flange portion 12, and a good sealed state can be maintained.

(12) An oxygen absorber 70 is contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10.
Therefore, the rice 60 contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 can be preserved in good condition.

The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modified examples can be applied in combination with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction.
The food to be stored inside the Kagami-mochi-shaped container 10 is not limited to rice 60. Any solid food can be selected as appropriate. Examples include grains such as wheat and millet, dried foods such as sesame seeds, beans, and dried shiitake mushrooms, dried fruits such as almonds, and sweets such as candy and arare.

The rice 60 may be polished rice, brown rice, or polished rice. It may also be pre-washed rice. It may also be glutinous rice.
The food contained inside the Kagami-mochi-shaped container 10 may be individually packaged as appropriate.

The shape of the Kagami-mochi-shaped container 10 is not limited to a shape that imitates two stacked round rice cakes. It may be a shape that imitates three or more stacked round rice cakes.
The kagami mochi-shaped container 10 does not have to be transparent or translucent, and may be colored by mixing a coloring agent into the synthetic resin material. For example, it may be white or milky white.

The flange portion 12 does not have to be shaped to extend outward from the lower edge of the lower stage portion 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the flange portion 12 may be shaped to extend inward from the lower edge of the lower stage portion 14.

The flange portion 12 does not have to be rectangular in top view.
The sealing material 30 is joined to the underside of the flange portion 12 by a plurality of annular heat-sealed portions 31 that extend concentrically with the opening 15 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10, but the shape of the heat-sealed portions 31 is not limited to this. The shape does not have to be annular as long as it surrounds the opening 15. Also, there may be only one heat-sealed portion 31.

The lower edge of the cap 20 does not have to be located near the lower end of the upper section 13 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. As shown in Figure 6, the cap 20 may be formed to cover the lower section 14.

The groove 27 of the attachment portion 22 of the cap 20 may be omitted. Also, the number of grooves 27 may not be one, but a plurality of grooves may be formed.
The ornament 40 does not have to abut against the inner surface of the storage portion 21 of the cap 20 .

The ornament 40 does not have to be shaped like an orange. For example, it may be a statue, character, or mascot that resembles a Chinese zodiac animal.
The cap 20 and the ornament 40 may be omitted.

- The information printed on the label 50 can be selected as appropriate. It does not have to be information about the food contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10. For example, it could be a design of a fan, a sunrise, etc.

The label 50 does not have to be attached to the lower tier 14 of the kagami mochi-shaped container 10.
The position where the label 50 is attached does not have to be a position that covers the lower edge of the attachment portion 22 of the cap 20 .

The label 50 may be omitted.
The product description section 32 may be provided approximately in the center of the flange portion 12 .
The size of the product description section 32 can be selected as appropriate. The overall size of the product description section 32 may be smaller than the opening 15. In this way, the product description section 32 is difficult to see no matter what direction the kagami mochi-shaped ornament 1 is viewed from when it is displayed.

The product description section 32 may be attached to the lower surface 30a of the sealing material 30 as a label instead of being printed on the lower surface 30a of the sealing material 30.
- The deoxidizer 70 is contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container 10 in a manner such that it is in contact with the upper surface 30b of the sealing material 30, but the deoxidizer 70 may also be attached to the upper surface 30b of the sealing material 30.

Next, technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described below.
(i) A kagami mochi-shaped container having an external shape imitating at least two round rice cakes stacked on top of each other and with an opening formed at the bottom, a sealing material which closes the opening, a cap fitted onto the top of the kagami mochi-shaped container, and a decorative item contained inside the cap while being placed on the top surface of the kagami mochi-shaped container, wherein a solid food other than rice cakes is contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container, and an oxygen absorber is contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container so as to be in contact with the top surface of the sealing material.

(b) A kagami mochi-shaped container with an external shape resembling at least two round rice cakes stacked one on top of the other and a circular opening formed at the bottom, a sealant that closes the opening, a cap fitted onto the top of the kagami mochi-shaped container, and a decorative item housed inside the cap while placed on the top surface of the kagami mochi-shaped container, where a solid food other than rice cakes is housed inside the kagami mochi-shaped container, and the sealant is joined by a plurality of annular heat-sealed parts that extend concentrically with the opening.

1...Kagami mochi-shaped ornament 10...Kagami mochi-shaped container 12...Flange portion 13...Upper portion 14...Lower portion 15...Opening 20...Cap 21...Storage portion 22...Mounting portion 27...Groove 30...Sealing material 32...Product description section 40...Ornament 50...Label 60...Rice (solid food)

Claims (4)

A kagami mochi-shaped container having an external shape with an upper part and a lower part imitating at least two round mochi stacked on top of each other and an opening part formed at the bottom;
A sealant that is joined to the bottom of the kagami mochi-shaped container and closes the opening;
A cap fitted onto the top of the kagami mochi-shaped container;
A decorative item housed inside the cap,
A solid food (excluding mochi) is contained inside the kagami mochi-shaped container,
A label displaying information about the food is attached to an outer surface of the lower part of the kagami mochi-shaped container,
The label has an upper edge located above a lower edge of the cap ,
The kagami mochi-shaped container has a flange portion extending laterally from a lower end edge of the exterior shape portion of the lower section,
The sealing material is bonded to the flange portion,
A product description section is provided on the underside of the sealing material and on the outside of the kagami mochi-shaped container,
The kagami mochi-shaped ornament is characterized in that the product description section is located behind the label when the side of the kagami mochi-shaped container to which the label is affixed is considered to be the front . The cap has a storage section in which the ornament is stored and a mounting section that is fitted onto the outside of the kagami mochi-shaped container,
The inner surface of the mounting portion abuts against the outer surface of the outer appearance shape portion of the upper portion of the kagami mochi-shaped container,
2. The kagami mochi-shaped ornament according to claim 1, wherein the lower edge of the attachment portion is located near the lower end of the external shape portion of the upper portion of the kagami mochi-shaped container. The kagami mochi-shaped ornament according to claim 2, characterized in that a groove extending in the vertical direction is formed on the inner surface of the attachment part. The kagami mochi-shaped ornament according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a part of the ornament abuts against the inner surface of the storage section.