US20130112742A1

US20130112742A1 - Packaging container and blank thereof

Info

Publication number: US20130112742A1
Application number: US13/699,342
Authority: US
Inventors: Gianfranco D'Amato
Original assignee: Seda SpA
Current assignee: Seda SpA
Priority date: 2010-05-21
Filing date: 2011-05-20
Publication date: 2013-05-09
Also published as: DE202010007121U1; AR081500A1; WO2011144356A1; CA2799980A1; EP2571403A1

Abstract

A packaging container has a bottom part including a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls, and has a lid part comprising a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls. The rear walls are pivotably connected with a swivel joint line there between. A locking means for the bottom and lid part is provided for releasably closing the container. To improve such a container in a way that the container can be used for consuming the food as long as possible directly from the container, and to also allow easy access to the food, even if it is already partly consumed, at least—one tearing line for dividing the container is formed perpendicular to the swivel joint line in the front walls, rear walls, and bottom and front walls of the bottom part and lid part. A two-dimensional blank for forming such a packaging container is also disclosed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2011/002534, filed May 20, 2011, and claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 20 2010 007 121.6, filed May 21, 2010 both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The International Application published in English on Nov. 24, 2011 as WO 2011/144356 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a packaging container and an appropriate blank therefore. A swivel joint line is arranged along a joining edge of the rear walls of the bottom and lid parts for pivotably connecting both parts. The invention includes a locking means provided at the bottom and at the lid parts for releasably closing the packaging container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A packaging container is known in practice for storing fast food like hamburgers or similar products. Generally, to remove the fast food, a lid part is swiveled upwards relative to the bottom part, so that the content of the packaging container is accessible for removal. Such a container is described in EP 1 785 359 A1. Sometimes, the user of such a packaging container would like to consume the fast food directly from the container without taking it out of the container.
JP 2003 072 749 A discloses a packaging container with a bottom part and a lid part, wherein each of those parts comprises a swivel joint for folding a half of the lid or bottom part upwards or downwards. In this way, the packaging container may be opened without taking the fast food out of the container.
JP 2002 347 756 A discloses a further container for solid food that has a bottom and a top, with the top comprising two flaps that can be locked to each other to close the upper opening of the container. Essentially, in the middle between the top and bottom, there is a angular, tearing working part that enables an upper half part of the container body to be removed, such that the solid food can be eaten directly from the lower half part of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved container that can be used for consuming the food as long as possible directly from the container, and to also allow easy access to the food, even if it is already partly consumed.
According to the invention, at least one tearing line for separating the bottom part and lid part is formed perpendicular to the swivel joint line in the front walls, rear walls, and bottom and top walls of the bottom part and the lid part of the container.
According to JP 2003 072 749 A, the corresponding pivotable halves of the lid and the bottom part are always connected to the rest of the container. Even if it is possible to partially consume the food directly from the container, those pivotable halves are still connected to the container, and are an obstacle to the user during eating the food. Moreover, those pivotable container halves are not fixed in their open position and may fall back in direction of the food, such that they have to be held by the user. As the corresponding food may have ingredients that adhere to the pivotable container halves, there is also a danger of contaminating the users hands or clothes during consumption.
The container according to JP 2002 347 756 A is a container that has no pivotably connected container halves, but will just be divided more or less in the middle of the standing container. This allows the user to consume about half of the food from the container. The other half is then to be taken out of the container, which might be difficult since the corresponding container opening is quite close, and the user has to use his fingers to remove the rest of the food, wherein his fingers have to be introduced between the food and the edge of the opening.
According to the present invention, the packaging container is divided by using the tearing line such that two container halves are obtained, each of which is quite similar to the complete packaging container and only has a lateral opening. This lateral opening is used to remove one of the container halves and to use the other container half to consume the food directly from this container half. Moreover, the container half in use still comprises a portion of each of the bottom part and the lid part, and also a portion of the swivel joint line, such that the corresponding portions of the bottom and lid parts may still be opened to take out the rest of the food if it is no longer possible to consume same directly from the corresponding container half.
It is even possible to close the remaining container half if the user does not want to completely consume the food, but to take it away for later consumption. There are no parts of the container that are an obstacle with respect to consumption, or that make it difficult to take out the rest of the food when it can no longer be consumed directly from the container.
To allow an easy opening and closing of each of the container halves mentioned above, it might be considered as advantageous if two locking means are spaced with respect to each other with the tearing strip therebetween. In this way, each of the corresponding container halves can be opened or closed in a simple way. Also the closing of each container half might be important for further storing the food for later consumption.
It is also possible that there is only one locking means in particular at the remaining container half. This locking means allows an easy opening of this remaining container half to take out the rest of the food which cannot be further consumed through the corresponding lateral opening of this remaining container half. A corresponding locking means is not necessary for the removed container half.
To increase the stability, and particularly the shape stability of each container half, the side walls of the bottom part and/or the lid part may be concavely curved or rounded between the front and the rear walls. By such concave curvature, each of the container halves is stabilized, and each may be used for consuming the food directly from the container half. Furthermore, this concave curvature of the side wall forms some indentation or recessed grip that can be used for at least some of the user's fingers to support the container half or to hold the container during removal of one container half. It might be possible that such concave curvature is only provided on one side of the packaging container, such that only one of the container halves after using the tearing line will have this concavely curved side walls. To avoid a definite selection of one of the container halves for consumption of the food, it is advantageous for both of the corresponding sides of the packaging container to comprise such concavely curved side walls.
The corresponding effects as described will be even more enhanced if upper and/or lower edges of the side walls of the bottom and/or lid parts are convexly curved or rounded.
To allow an easy usage of the tearing line, the tearing line can comprise a handheld portion at at least one end of the line.
It is further possible that there is a second tearing line which extends along the first tearing line defining a tearing strip between the two tearing lines. This tearing strip may be removed in total using both of the limiting tearing lines.
It is possible, that the first and the second tearing line obliquely extend relative to each other. In such a way, the tearing strip will change its width, wherein the smallest part of the tearing strip may be used for starting the removal.
It is further possible, that the first and second tearing lines are parallel to each other, such that the tearing strip has a constant width.
It is possible to provide a corresponding tearing strip or tearing lines that are separated from the rest of the container by cut lines that extend along the tearing strip or lines and are separated from each other by quite a short distance. The tearing strip or lines are then removed or used by tearing the material between the cut lines, wherein the direction of the cut lines defines lateral edges of the tearing strip or lines.
However, such cut lines may also comprise openings that might allow leakage of some of the food's ingredients and may, of course, deteriorate the outer appearance of the container and might also contaminate the user and, particularly, his clothes.
To prevent this, the tearing strip or lines can have lateral edge portions extending at least in places from the strip or lines, and there can be overlapping connecting edge portions of the top wall, rear walls, front walls, and bottom wall, wherein said edges are releasably fixed to each other. According to the overlap of these edges, there is no direct opening of the container, and any leakage from inside the container is prevented.
For removing the tearing strip or during use of the tearing lines, the corresponding fixing of these edges is released. The tearing strip may be removed in total.
It is possible that the tearing strip or lines are fixed to edge portions of the corresponding walls. However, to avoid any protrusion of the tearing strip or lines from the corresponding walls, the lateral edge portions of the tearing strip or lines and/or the overlapped connecting edge portions of the walls have a reduced thickness of material. In this way, the added thickness of lateral edge portions and connecting edge portions is rather small.
It might further be considered as advantageous if the lateral edge portions of the tearing strip or lines and the overlapping connecting edge portions of the corresponding walls have the same width. In this way, there will only be an overlap between the outer edge portions and the connection edge portions.
It is further possible that the lateral edge portions of the tearing strip or lines and the overlapped connection edge portions of the walls together have the same thickness of material as the rest of the tearing strip/lines and/or walls. In such a way, the tearing strip or lines will not protrude from the packaging container.
There are different possibilities for releasably fixing the edge portions, wherein one possibility is to glue the edge portions to each other. However, if gluing is used, the tearing strip has to be assembled separately. To avoid such separate assembly of the tearing strip, it is possible that the lateral edge portions and the connection edge portions are defined by partially impressed cut lines that are separated from each other. Those only partially impressed cut lines prevent any leakage and, at the same time, allow easy removal of the tearing strip. Any gluing is not necessary, as the tearing strip is an intrinsic part of the rest of the container and is only defined by such partially impressed cut lines. An easy arrangement of the cut lines might be considered, according to which they are parallel to each other and are impressed from upper and lower surfaces of the corresponding tearing strip or container walls. It is also possible that they are not strictly parallel or even have a structure such as a zig-zag structure or the like. This is also valid in view of the tearing lines, see in particular the partially impressed cut lines.
To facitate closing one or both of the container halves after separating them by removing the tearing line, the locking means may comprise a locking slit and a locking lug.
In case only one locking means is used (it is possible to use two or more locking means on the container of the invention), it may be advantageous if this locking means is provided at the remaining container half such that this remaining container half used for consuming the food may then be opened to consume also the rest of the food within this remaining container half.
The locking lug may protrude from an upper edge of the front wall of the bottom part with the corresponding locking slit arranged along a folding line between the front wall and the top wall of the lid part. The opposite arrangement is also feasible.
To allow easy insertion of the locking lug and simultaneously prevent any easy release of same, the locking lug may have lateral locking extensions, wherein the length of the locking lug with locking extensions corresponds to a length of the locking slit with lateral cut lines of the slit. The lateral cut lines, together with the locking slit are then used for introducing the locking lug with its locking extensions, wherein those locking extensions will avoid any easy release of the lock, as the length of the locking slit more or less corresponds only to the length of the locking lug without the locking extensions.
The lateral cut lines of the locking slit may be formed by cut lines formed in folding lines between the front wall and top wall.
All the other folding lines between other walls may comprise such cut lines that are separated from each other with impressed line sections therebetween.
To maintain the three dimensional structure of the packaging container in an easy way, fixing lugs may be arranged at lateral ends of at least the rear walls and/or the front walls of the bottom and/or lid parts. The fixing lugs are glued to interior surfaces of adjacent side walls.
To securely close the container and to further stabilize same, the front walls and/or side walls of the lid part of the bottom part may at least partially overlap the front wall and/or side walls of the bottom part, or the lid part, respectively. The opposite arrangement is also possible.
To allow easy access to the handheld portion, the front wall of the lid part may have cutouts adjacent to the handheld portion of the tearing strip.
According to one embodiment of the present invention the front wall on both sides of the at least one tearing line may have front wall sections of different lengths. The front wall section with the longer length may then be used for removing one of the container halves by separating same along the at least one tearing line.
It might also be advantageous if the front wall section with the longer length is curved at one edge in direction to the at least one tearing line. This particular curved edge may then be used as some kind of hand held portion during separation of the container halves along the tearing line.
According to the invention, the simple two-dimensional blank can be used for forming the packaging container as mentioned above. Such a blank can comprise two bottom panels, two top panels, four rear and four front wall panels, wherein pairs of the panels are separated by the at least one tearing line. The two bottom panels form the bottom wall of the bottom part, and the two top panels form the top wall of the lid part. Each of the corresponding parts also comprises two rear and two front wall panels that are all separated by said tearing line.
The tearing line extends essentially perpendicular to the folding lines, connecting bottom and front panels, bottom and rear panels, rear and top panels, and top and front panels. As already outlined, any folding may be simplified when each folding line comprises a number of cut lines that are separated from each other along the corresponding folding line, with impressed line sections therebetween.
The tearing line is already formed in the blank, wherein this blank comprises a partially impressed first cut line that may be formed in an upper surface of the blank, and a partially impressed second cut line that may be formed in the lower surface of the blank. Those cut lines are separated parallel from each other and define the tearing line therebetween. It is further possible to arrange a second tearing line extending along the first tearing line defining a tearing strip therebetween. With respect to those two tearing lines it is possible that they are arranged in parallel to each other.
First and second cut lines are then arranged in pairs at both lateral edges of the tearing strip and define the lateral edge portions and overlapped connecting edge portions that were already mentioned.
The folding lines connecting side panels and bottom panels, or side panels and top panels, may be concavely curved. Furthermore, the end edges of the side panels adjacent to the top panels may be convexly curved.
To provide any possible user of the container with some reward it is possible to arrange at least one removable card in one of the panels of the blank. This card may have some printing or other index on an inner surface directed to the inner side of the container and may be removed for collection or for receiving some present.
It is also possible to arrange a number of such cards in one container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed and described in the accompanied description and figures.

In the following figures are shown:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of the packaging container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 a view of the packaging container according to FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 3 the packaging container according to FIG. 1 in a separated condition;

FIG. 4 a blank for producing a packaging container according to FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 a blank for producing a second embodiment of a packaging container according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, one embodiment of a packaging container 1 according to the present invention, is shown in a perspective view from the top.
The packaging container 1 comprises a lid part 3 and a bottom part 2, see also FIG. 2. Each of the parts 2, 3, comprise a front wall 5 or 10, the rear wall 6 or 11, side walls 7, 8, or 12, 13, and a bottom wall 4, see the bottom part, or a top wall 9, see the lid part.
There are locking means 14 and 16 that are separated from each other with a tearing strip 15 therebetween for closing the container and locking same in the closed position. This tearing strip 15 extends through front wall 10, top wall 9, the rear walls 6 and 11, see FIG. 2, the bottom wall 4, and the front wall 5 of the bottom part, see again FIG. 2. The strip is defined by a first and a second tearing line 62, 63, which extend in parallel to each other.
The locking means 14, 16, each comprise a locking slit 33 or 34, and a counterpart 35, 36, in the form of a locking lug. The locking lug protrudes from an upper edge 37 of the front wall 5 of the bottom part 2. They are inserted in the corresponding locking slits 33 and 34, in the case of a close position of the packaging container 1, see FIG. 1.
Most of the walls are planar. However, the side walls 7, 8, and 12, 13, are concavely curved in direction of the interior of the packaging container 1. At least the upper and lower edges 17, 18, of the side walls 12, 13, of the lid part 3 are convexly curved, such that in the case of a closed packaging container, see FIG. 1, the corresponding side walls 12 and 13, and also 7 and 8 of both parts 2, 3, are concavely curved into the interior in two directions perpendicular to each other, see the height direction and width direction of the side walls.
The tearing strip 15 is defined by a number of cut lines 27-30, see FIGS. 1 and 2, which define lateral edge portions 21 and 22 of the tearing strip 15 and complimentary connecting edge portions 23 and 24 of the top wall 9, which are overlapped by the lateral edge portions 21 and 22.
In FIG. 2, the packaging container according to FIG. 1 is illustrated in an open position. The cut lines 27-30 are partially impressed into upper and lower surfaces 31 and 32 of all of the walls to define the tearing strip 15 and the corresponding edge portions 21-24.
On the lower surface 32, see FIG. 2, there are only cut lines 28 and 30, and on the upper surface 31, see FIG. 1, there are the other cut lines 27 and 28. The cut lines 27 and 28 are arranged parallel to each other and to the other cut lines 28 and 29, wherein there is a small distance between each of the cut lines 27 and 29, or 28 and 30. The cut lines 28 and 29 are arranged in a greater distance from the tearing strip 15 than the further cut lines 27 and 28. The width 25, 26 of corresponding edges 21, 22, and 23, 24 is the same.
For gripping the tearing strip 15 and removing same, -a handheld portion 19 is provided at one end 59, see in particular FIGS. 1 and 3. To more clearly define this handheld portion 19, there are cutouts 44 directly adjacent to the handheld portion, wherein those cutouts 44 are formed in the front wall 10 of the lid part 3.
According to FIG. 2, the corresponding locking lugs 35 and 36 have lateral locking extensions 38 that are hook-like and are also inserted in the corresponding locking slits 33, 34. Those locking slits are continued with lateral cut lines 40 that are arranged at both longitudinal ends of the corresponding slit 33, 34, see also FIG. 4.
Fixing lugs 43 are provided that extend from end edges of front walls 5 and 10, and rear walls 6 and 11 to fix the front wall or the corresponding rear wall with the adjacent side walls. Those fixing lugs 43 are affixed to interior surfaces of corresponding side walls 7, 8, or 12, 13, by applying an adhesive.
Along an upper edge of the two rear walls 6, 11, the walls are connected to each other by swivel joint line 20 for pivotably connecting the bottom part 2 and the lid part 3 of the packaging container.
According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, upper edges of the side wall 7, 8, of the bottom part of the packaging container are not convexly curved, but are straight edges. In the closed position according to FIG. 1, the side walls 12, 13, of the lid part 3 and the front wall 10 of the lid part 3 overlap corresponding side walls 7, 8, and front wall 5 of the bottom part 2.
In FIG. 3, the packaging container according to FIGS. 1, 2, is illustrated with a removed tearing strip 15 and bottom part and lid part 2, 3, separated in two halves of the packaging container 1. Each of the container halves comprises half of the bottom part and half of the lid part, and also one of the locking means 14 or 16, respectively. Accordingly, each of the container halves is releasably closed and can also be opened, see FIG. 2.
Tearing strip 15 also has folding lines 42, see also FIG. 4, which connect walls of bottom part and lid part, see also FIGS. 1 and 2.
Moreover, the tearing strip 15 has lateral edge portions 21 and 22, which are reduced in thickness with respect to the rest of the tearing strip. The container halves, according to FIG. 3, have complimentary connecting edge portions 23 and 24 at the outer surface that extend along the separation lines of the container halves. Also, these connecting edge portions 23 and 24 are reduced in material thickness, wherein the combination of one lateral edge portion and corresponding connection edge portion have the same material thickness as the rest of the container material. The edge portions are defined by the cut lines 27-30 that were already mentioned above. The cut lines 27 and 28 are partially impressed from the outer surface of the container, and the cut lines 29 and 30 are partially impressed from the inner side of the container, see again FIGS. 1 and 2.
In the separate position according to FIG. 3, it is possible to consume fast food or the like within the packaging container from one container half, wherein the other container half may be disposed.
After the fast food has been consumed as much as possible from the remaining container half, it can be opened, and the rest of the food can be removed for manual consumption. It is also possible to keep one container half with the rest of the food for consumption later.
The packaging container according to the invention can also be used for providing two fast foods, one in each container half, wherein this packaging container is some kind of partner container. After buying the partner container, it can be separated, and two people can share the containers contents, wherein each person gets one container half.
It is also possible to arrange different food in the container halves that may then be consumed separately by one or two people.
The containers material is paper or cardboard or another recyclable material. It is possible to impregnate such material or apply some fluid tight material to the surfaces, such as corresponding resin layers. It is also possible to print advertisements or other things on the exterior of the container. Moreover, the tearing strip can be used as some kind of gratification or the like with printing on its inner surface, wherein the collection of a number or such tearing strips 15 may be rewarded by some present from the seller.
In FIG. 4, there is a blank 45 as a single blank for producing the container according to FIGS. 1 to 3. The blank 45 comprises a number of panels 46-56, which form corresponding walls. For example, top panels 47 and 48 with the tearing strip 15 therebetween form the top wall 9 of the lid part 3. Front panels 51, according to FIG. 4, form the front wall 5 of the bottom part 2.
Folding lines 42 are arranged between all of the different panels, wherein each of the folding lines 42 comprise cut lines 41 that are separated from each other along the folding lines 42. The side panels 55 and 56, see also side walls 12 and 13 according to FIG. 1, have convexly curved end edges 57 and 58. Corresponding side panel fixing lugs 43 are arranged at both ends. Those are later connected to the inner surface of the side panels 55 and 56, see also FIG. 2. Fixing lugs 43 are also arranged adjacent to lateral ends of side panels 53 and 54, which form the side walls 7 and 8 of the bottom part 2. The corresponding fixing lugs are fixed to inner surfaces of said side panels, see again FIG. 2.
The two locking slits 33 and 34 are arranged along the folding lines connecting the front panels 52 and top panels 47 and 48. They are continued in longitudinal direction by adjacent cut lines 40. Length 60 of such a locking slit 33 or 34 with the lateral cut lines 40 correspond to the length 39 of a locking lug 35 with lateral locking extensions 38. This length is used for introducing the locking lugs with locking extensions.
The tearing strip 15 divides the blank 54 into two halves that are symmetrical to each other. In FIG. 4, a view on the inner surface of the corresponding blank 45 or the container according to FIG. 2 is illustrated. In this view, the tearing strip 15 is defined by partially impressed cut lines 29 and 30, which define inner ends or lateral edge portions 21 and 22 of the tearing strip 15. On the outer surface or top surface of the blank 45, see also the container according to FIG. 1, there are two further partially impressed cut lines 27 and 28 that define ends of corresponding connecting edge portions 23 and 24. The edges overlap each other and together have the same material thickness as the rest of the blank.
The rear walls 6 and 11 of bottom and lid parts 2, 3, are each formed by a pair of rear panels 49 and 50, respectively. At the ends of those rear panels, fixing lugs 43 are arranged, wherein such lugs are also arranged at longitudinal ends of front panels 51 and 52.
The folding lines 41 between each of the side panels 53 and 54 and the adjacent bottom panels 46, are all convexly curved in direction to the bottom panel, see the other folding lines 41 between the side panels 55 and 56, and top panels 47 and 48, respectively. The swivel joint line 20, see FIG. 2, is formed by folding line 42 between the different rear panels 49 and 50 of the bottom part 2 and the lid part 3.
In FIG. 5 a blank 45 for a second embodiment of a packaging container according to the invention is illustrated.
Parts of these blanks similar to the blank of FIG. 4 are indicated by the same reference numbers and are also referred to the corresponding description with respect to FIG. 4.
In the following only some differences of the two blanks according to FIGS. 4 and 5 are outlined.
The main difference is the arrangement of only one tear line 62 which is used for separating the two container halves, see also FIG. 3. It is not necessary to remove a corresponding tearing strip 15 but by gripping corresponding handheld portion 19 as part of one of the front panels 52 the corresponding container halves can be separated. The corresponding front panel 52 with the handheld portion 19 has a longer length compared to the other front panel 52, which two front panels 52 are separated by the first tearing line 62.
A corresponding edge connecting the front panel 52 with the handheld portion 19 to the other front panel 52 or to the first tear line is curved.
In both of the front panels 52 two removeable cards 64 are arranged. Those are connected to the front panels by some cut lines 41 and lateral perforated removal lines 65.
Each of the corresponding cards may have some printing on its inner side and this printing may be used for getting some reward from the seller of the container, wherein it is also possible to first collect a number of those cards before such a reward may be obtained.
Alternatively, cards can be used as identifying tabs to be folded by the personnel at the selling point, and in order to identify flavor or type of food inside the container.
It is also possible that only one locking means 14, 16 is used, see also FIG. 1, comprising a corresponding locking lug and locking slit. In case only one locking means is used this is advantageously arranged in the remaining container half, which means the container half used for consuming the food after removing the other container half. It is then easily possible to also open this remaining container half to take out the rest of the food which cannot be consumed through the corresponding lateral opening of the remaining container half, see also FIG. 3.
It is of course also possible to use the locking means for again closing this container half.
Moreover, depending on the user and if he is right-handed or left-handed, it may be possible to arrange the handheld portion 19 at the other front panel 52 to allow the usage of the tearing line 62 with a preferred hand of the user.
Moreover, see also FIG. 1, the corresponding side walls 12 with the concave curvature are in particular used for supporting the container by at least some fingers of the user not only during consumption of the food after removing one container half, but this sidewall is also used for holding the container during separation of the two container halves. Moreover, during this separation it is also helpful if other fingers of the user grip or hold the corresponding rear wall 6 formed by the rear panels 49 and 50. During this holding of the rear wall, it is possible that the particular pairs of rear panels 49 and 50 are slightly pressed to the inside of the container, in particular along the corresponding swivel joint line 20, such that also the rear wall has some concave form which will further improve the holding of the container, in particular during the separation of the container halves.
This is of course also true in view of the other embodiment of the present invention.
The particular packaging container according to the present invention allows an easy separation of the container in two halves, from which each half is closeable, wherein a corresponding tearing strip or lines extend perpendicular to a swivel joint line between the bottom and lid parts of the complete packaging container. The tearing strip or lines surround the container, and it is easily possible to remove the tearing strip or to separate the container halves with the tearing line and then open the packaging container by removing one of the container halves. The other container half can be used for consuming food directly from said container half. This container half can then be opened for removing the rest of the food that cannot be consumed directly from the container. This remaining container half can be closed again to keep the food for consumption later.
Any spilling out of the container or leakage is prevented by such a container, and it is also easily possible to remove the food from the remaining container half.

Claims

1. Packaging container with a bottom part comprising a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls and having a lid part comprising a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls, wherein the rear walls are pivotably connected with a swivel joint line therebetween, and with locking means of bottom and lid part for releasably closing the container, and at least a tearing line for dividing the container is formed perpendicular to the swivel joint line in the front walls, rear walls, and bottom and front walls of bottom part and lid part.

2. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein two locking means are spaced with respect to each other with said tearing line therebetween.

3. Packaging container according to claim 1, side walls of bottom part and/or lid part are concavely curved between front and rear walls.

4. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the upper and/or lower edges of the side walls of bottom and/or lid part are convexly curved.

5. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the tearing line comprises a hand hold portion at least at one end of the line.

6. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein a second tearing line extends along the first tearing line defining a tearing strip therebetween.

7. Packaging container according to claim 6, wherein the first and the second tearing lines are parallel to each other.

8. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the tearing strip or each tearing line has lateral edge portions extending at least in places from the strip and overlapping connecting edges of the top wall, rear walls, front walls, and bottom wall, wherein said edges are releasably fixed to each other.

9. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the lateral edge portions of the tearing strip or each tearing line and/or connecting edge portions of the corresponding walls have a reduced thickness of material.

10. claim 1 wherein the lateral edge portions of the tearing strip or each tearing line and connecting edge portions have the same width.

11. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the lateral edge portions of the tearing strip or each tearing line and connecting edge portions together have the same thickness of material as the rest of the tearing strip and/or walls.

12. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the lateral edge portions and connecting edge portions are glued to each other.

13. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the lateral edge portions and connecting edge portions are defined by partly impressed cut lines which are separated from each other.

14. Packaging container according to claim 13, wherein said cut lines extend parallel to each other and are impressed from an upper surface and a lower surface of the tearing strip or each tearing line.

15. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a locking slit, and a locking lug, wherein the locking lug in particular protrudes from an upper edge of the front wall.

16. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the locking lug has lateral locking extensions, and wherein the length of the locking lug with the locking extensions corresponds to the length of the locking slit with lateral cut lines.

17. Packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the lateral cut lines of the locking slit are formed by cut lines of folding lines between front wall and top wall, wherein in particular each folding line between walls comprises a number of cut lines with impressed line section therebetween.

18. Packaging container according to claim 1 wherein the front wall of the lid part has cut outs adjacent to the hand hold portion of the tearing strip.

19. Packaging container according to claim 1 wherein the front wall has two wall sections of different lengths on both sides of the at least one tearing line.

20. Packaging container according to claim 19, wherein the front wall with the bigger length is curved at one edge in direction to the at least one tearing line.

21. A two-dimensional blank for forming the packaging container according to claim 1 wherein the blank comprises two bottom panels, two top panels, four rear and four front wall panels, and pairs of the panels are separated by at least one tearing line.

22. Blank according to claim 21, wherein the tearing line extends essentially perpendicular to corresponding folding lines connecting bottom and front panels, bottom and rear panels, rear and top panels, top and front panels.

23. Blank according to claim 20, wherein a second tearing line extends along the first tearing line defining a tearing strip therebetween, and wherein the first and the second tearing lines are parallel to each other.

24. Blank according to claim 21 wherein each folding lines comprises a number of cut lines separated from each other along the folding line, with impressed line sections therebetween.

25. Blank according to claim 21, wherein a partially impressed first cut line is formed in an upper surface of the blank and a partially impressed second cut line is formed in a lower surface of the blank, wherein the first and the second cut lines are separated from and parallel to each other and define the tearing strip or each tearing line.

26. Blank according to claim 21, wherein folding lines connecting side panels and bottom panels or side panels and top panels are concavely curved, wherein end edges of the side panels adjacent to the top panels are in particular convexly curved.

27. Blank according to claim 21, wherein at least one removable card is arranged in one of the panels.