US20180257818A1

US20180257818A1 - Packaged food material, stack, and packaged stack

Info

Publication number: US20180257818A1
Application number: US15/712,727
Authority: US
Inventors: Jiro Kuze
Original assignee: Nagatanien Holdings Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nagatanien Holdings Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-09
Filing date: 2017-09-22
Publication date: 2018-09-13
Also published as: CN108569485A; JP2018150054A

Abstract

A packaged food material includes a first container, a second container, and a food material. In the packaged food material, the opening portion of the first container is not closed. The packaged food material is such that when two or more packaged food materials are stacked, a bottom portion of the first container of one of the packaged food materials is located in the first container of another packaged food material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2017-045306, filed Mar. 9, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a packaged food material, a stack, and a packaged stack.

BACKGROUND

Examples of instant foods to be eaten after adding hot water are drinks such as miso soup, soup, tea, and coffee and chazuke. Many of such instant foods are distributed in a state in which a packet storing solid ingredients or powder is stored in a moisture-proof container having enough volume to add hot water, and the container is sealed with a cover body. However, such a container requires an effort to take out the ingredients or powder from the packet. In addition, the hands may soil, or the packet may be lost at that time.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-58760 describes a packaged food material including a cup whose bottom portion is recessed downward at the center to form a first storage portion as a region above the recessed portion and a second storage portion in the recessed portion. The second storage portion stores soup, sauce, powder, or the like. An inner cover is peelably provided on the opening portion of the second storage portion. The inner cover is provided with a pull-tab portion extending in a strip shape from the opening portion of the second storage portion to the opening portion of the first storage portion. In addition, an outer cover is peelably provided on the opening portion of the first storage portion.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-153996 describes a two-liquid drink container as a packaged food material. In this two-liquid drink container, an auxiliary container is stored in a drink container. An auxiliary liquid is stored in the auxiliary container. The opening portion of the auxiliary container is sealed with an auxiliary container cover made of a material that is breakable when pressing a straw or the like against it. In the drink container, a main drink is stored in a region of the internal space other than the space where the auxiliary container is placed. The opening portion of the drink container is sealed with a container cover made of a material that is breakable when pressing a straw or the like against it.

SUMMARY

In the packaged food material described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-58760, since the pull-tab portion is provided on the inner cover, the hands hardly soil when taking out the contents of the second storage portion. However, since the first storage portion and the second storage portion are integrally provided, it is not easy to provide the inner cover on the opening portion of the second storage portion.
Manufacturing the packaged food material described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-153996 is technically easy because the auxiliary container storing the auxiliary liquid and having its opening portion closed by the auxiliary container cover is prepared first and then placed on the bottom portion inside the drink container.
However, when transporting the packaged food material described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-58760 or 2005-153996, the packaged food materials are stacked by placing the bottom portion of one packaged food material on the outer cover of another packaged food material. This needs a large storage space and increases the transport cost. In addition, when stockpiling the packaged food materials to prepare for a disaster or emergency or loading an aircraft with the packaged food materials, it is necessary to stock the packaged food materials as many as possible in a limited space.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a packaged food material capable of saving a space to stock.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stackable packaged food material, comprising a first container having a cup shape, a second container stored in the first container, and a food material sealed in the second container, wherein an opening portion of the first container is not closed, and the packaged food material is configured to be stacked such that a bottom portion of the first container of a certain packaged food material is located in the first container of another packaged food material.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stack including a plurality of the packaged food materials according to the first aspect, which are stacked such that a bottom portion of the first container of a certain packaged food material is located in the first container of another packaged food material.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaged stack including the stack according to the second aspect, and a packaging material packaging the stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a packaged food material according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing the packaged food material shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a first container included in the packaged food material shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a second container included in the packaged food material shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing a stack formed by stacking a plurality of packaged food materials shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing the packaged stack in which the packaged food materials of the stack shown in FIG. 5 are integrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals denote elements having the same or similar functions, and a repetitive explanation thereof will be omitted.
<Packaged Food Material>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a packaged food material according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing the packaged food material shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a first container included in the packaged food material shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a second container included in the packaged food material shown in FIG. 1.
A packaged food material 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a first container 10, a second container 20, and a food material 30. In the packaged food material 100, the opening portion of the first container 10 is not closed, and the packaged food material 100 is such that when two or more packaged food materials 100 are stacked, a bottom portion 12 of the first container 10 of one of the packaged food materials 100 is located in the first container 10 of another packaged food material 100, as will be described later.
As shown in FIG. 3, the first container 10 is a cup-shaped container having an opening portion at the top. The first container 10 includes a sidewall portion 11 and the bottom portion 12 and is tapered from the opening portion to the bottom portion 12. Projecting portions 13 projecting to the internal space of the first container 10 are provided on the inner surface of the sidewall portion 11. The projecting portions 13 will be described later in detail.
Examples of the material of the first container 10 are paper, polystyrene or polypropylene foam, and a laminated product thereof.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second container 20 is stored in the first container 10. The second container 20 includes a container body 23 and a cover body 24, as shown in FIG. 4.
The container body 23 is a cup-shaped structure including a bottom portion 22 and a sidewall portion 21. As show in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the second container 20 is stored in the first container 10, the bottom portion 22 and the sidewall portion 21 face the bottom portion 12 and the sidewall portion 11 of the first container 10, respectively.
The container body 23 has almost the same shape as the shape of the inner surface of the first container 10 near the bottom portion 12. Note that the container body 23 may have a shape different from the shape of the inner surface of the first container 10 near the bottom portion 12. In the case in which the container body 23 has almost the same shape as the shape of the inner surface of the first container 10 near the bottom portion 12, the risk that the food obtained by adding water or hot water to the food material 30 enters the gap between the first container 10 and the container body 23 and remains while a user eating can be reduced.
In addition, if a large gap exists between the first container 10 and the container body 23, the air included in the gap may expand to push the container body 23 upward, consequently the second container 20 may be unstably fixed in the first container 10. For this reason, the gap is preferably small.
The container body 23 has a flange on the opening portion. The container body 23 has such a size and shape that the flange is located under the projecting portions 13 (to be described later) when the container body 23 is stored in the first container 10. For example, the diameter of the flange is larger than the diameter of a circle inscribed in a plurality of projecting portions 13, and smaller than the inner diameter of the first container 10 just below the plurality of projecting portions 13. If the flange is provided on the opening portion, a cover portion 25 can easily be sealed to the opening portion of the container body 23.
The container body 23 preferably has high barrier properties as compared to the first container 10. Both the first container 10 and the container body 23 may have high barrier properties, for example, high gas barrier properties such as high moisture barrier properties. However, the first container 10 is not required to have high moisture barrier properties. Hence, if, for example, among the first container 10 and the container body 23, only the container body 23 has high moisture barrier properties, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared to a case in which both the first container 10 and the container body 23 have high moisture barrier properties.
Examples of the material of the container body 23 are a polypropylene or polyvinylidene chloride laminated material, an aluminum foil laminated material, and a silica or alumina-deposited material.
The cover body 24 includes the cover portion 25 and a tab portion 26.
The cover portion 25 closes the opening portion of the container body 23. The cover portion 25 preferably has easy peeling properties and peelably closes the opening portion of the container body 23. In addition, the cover portion 25 preferably has high barrier properties, for example, high gas barrier properties such as high moisture barrier properties.
The material of the cover portion 25 is appropriately selected depending on the adhesion target or contents. Examples of the material of the cover portion 25 are an aluminum foil-laminated material with an easy peel sealant material laminated, polypropylene, polyester, and paper.
The tab portion 26 projects outward from the edge of the cover portion 25, and is formed integrally with the cover portion 25. The tab portion 26 may be formed separately from the cover portion 25. In a case in which the tab portion 26 is formed separately from the cover portion 25, the material of the tab portion 26 is not particularly limited. However, the tab portion 26 preferably has such a strength not to rupture the tab portion 26 or the joint between the tab portion 26 and the cover portion 25 when the second container 20 is opened by pulling the end of the tab portion 26. The tab portion 26 may be omitted. However, if the tab portion 26 is provided, the second container 20 can easily be opened.
The material of the tab portion 26 can be the same as the material of the cover portion 25 as long as it has an appropriate tensile strength. The material of the tab portion 26 may be different from the material of the cover portion 25. The material of the tab portion 26 is, for example, polyester or polypropylene. The tab portion 26 may have a film shape or a string shape.
In a state in which the second container 20 is stored in the first container 10, the tab portion 26 has such a length that the distal end passes across the opening portion of the first container 10 when the tab portion 26 is extended toward the opening portion of the first container 10 along the sidewall portion 11 of the first container 10. The tab portion 26 may have a length shorter than the above length. However, in the case in which the tab portion 26 has the above length, it is possible to hygienically open the second container 20 because the user need not put the hand in the first container 10.
The second container 20 is fixed to the first container 10. Here, the second container 20 is locked on the first container 10. More specifically, the second container 20 is locked by being located such that the upper surface of the flange of the second container 20 comes into contact with the lower surfaces of the plurality of projecting portions 13 projecting from the inner surface of the sidewall portion 11 to the internal space of the first container 10. When the second container 20 is fixed to the first container 10, the second container 20 never moves even in a case in which, for example, the user largely tilts the first container 10 upward during eating of the food.
The second container 20 may be fixed by one projecting portion 13 extending along the inner surface of the first container 10. The second container 20 may be fixed to the first container 10 not by the projecting portions 13 but by one or more recessed portions provided in the inner surface of the sidewall portion 11.
The flange of the container body 23 may be omitted, and the second container 20 may be fixed to the first container 10 by providing a structure other than a flange. For example, the second container 20 may be fixed by making a recessed portion or projecting portion provided on the outer surface of the sidewall portion 21 of the container body 23 and a recessed portion or projecting portion provided on the inner surface of the sidewall portion 11 of the first container 10 fit into each other.
As another means for fixing the second container 20 to the first container 10, for example, a means for fixing the second container 20 by fitting a projecting portion projecting from the inner surface of the bottom portion 12 of the first container 10 to the internal space of the first container 10 in a recessed portion recessed from the outer surface of the bottom portion 22 of the second container 20 to the internal space of the second container 20 is usable.
Note that fixing of the second container 20 to the first container 10 may be omitted if the user never uses the packaged food material 100 while largely tiling it.
The food material 30 is stored in the second container 20.
As the food material 30, a liquid material, a semisolid material, or a solid material can be used. According to an example, the food material 30 is a material obtained by drying water-containing food, for example, miso soup, other soup, or a drink such as a tea drink or a coffee drink. The water containing food can be dried by freeze-drying method or another drying method. According to another example, the food material 30 is an alpharized dried grain or instant noodles. According to still another example, the food material 30 is a seasoning such as miso. According to yet another example, the food material 30 is a concentrated liquid, for example, a fruit juice concentrated liquid or a coffee concentrated liquid. According to still another example, the food material 30 is a material such as dried tea leaves, which does not aim at being eaten but aims at producing a liquid of a component extracted from the material to water or hot water and providing it for drinking (to be referred to as an extraction food material hereinafter). The food material 30 may include two or more of the above-described materials.
<How to Use Packaged Food Material>
How to use the packaged food material 100 when the user eats it will be described below. First, the first container 10 is fixed, and in this state, the tab portion 26 is pulled to peel the cover portion 25 from the container body 23 while keeping the container body 23 left in the first container 10. After that, water or hot water is added to the packaged food material 100. As a result, the food material 30 stored in the second container 20 absorbs the hot water or water or is diluted. Next, the packaged food material 100 is kept warm as needed to be eatable. The user eats the mixture of the food material 30 and the water or hot water. For example, if the food material 30 is miso soup obtained by freeze-drying, the user eats food changed to an eatable state by adding hot water.
<Modification of Packaged Food Material>
Various modifications can be made for the above-described packaged food material 100.
For example, the opening portion of the second container 20 may be closed by a perforated member or mesh, and the cover portion 25 may be provided on it. Here, the cover portion 25 and the perforated member or mesh are provided such that the perforated member or mesh remains on the opening portion when the cover portion 25 is peeled. The second container 20 having such a structure is suitable to store an extraction food material such as dried tea leaves as the food material 30. When the perforated member or mesh is provided on the opening portion, the internal space of the second container 20 can communicate with the space on the upper side without making the food material 30 flow out of the second container 20 even if the cover portion 25 is peeled. The user obtains an extract of tea leaves or fruit after adding water or hot water and drinks the extract.
The position of the opening portion of the second container 20 is not limited to the top and may be a side. If the opening portion is provided on the top, the food material 30 stored in the second container 20 can easily be taken out. A structure with the opening portion provided on a side is suitable for an application purpose of extracting a component from the food material 30 stored in the second container 20.
The container body 23 included in the second container 20 may include partitions provided in a vertical direction with respect to the bottom portion 22. Such a structure is suitable for storing a plurality of food materials 30 and makes it possible to store them without being mixed.
The opening portion of the container body 23 may be tilted with respect to the bottom portion 12 of the first container 10. In the second container 20 having such a structure, if the tab portion 26 projects from the position of the cover portion 25 where the height of the sidewall portion 21 is small, it is easier to pull up the tab portion 26 to peel the cover portion 25.
Note that the packaged food material 100 may further include a food material other than the food material 30 stored in the second container 20. In this case, the food material other than the food material 30 is stored in, for example, a packet or the like. Accordingly the food material stored in the packet or the like can be added, for example, after water or hot water is added to the food material 30. Note that the packet or the like is preferably fixed to the cover body 24, etc. to prevent from being lost.
<Stack>
The packaged food material 100 may be distributed solely, or a plurality of packaged food materials 100 may be stacked and distributed.
A stack formed by stacking a plurality of packaged food materials 100 will be described below.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing a stack formed by stacking a plurality of packaged food materials shown in FIG. 1. A stack 200 shown in FIG. 5 includes the plurality of packaged food materials 100 each having the above-described structure. The packaged food materials 100 are stacked such that the bottom portion 12 of the first container 10 of a certain packaged food material 100 is located in the first container 10 of another packaged food material 100.
According to this structure, the height of the stack can be reduced as compared to a packaged food material having the same structure except that the first container 10 is provided with an outer cover. In other words, space saving in the height direction can be achieved.
In the stack 200 shown in FIG. 5, the bottom portion 12 of the first container 10 of a certain packaged food material 100 and the cover portion 25 of another packaged food material 100 are in contact. The contact between the bottom portion 12 and the cover portion 25 depends on the size of the first container 10 or the size of the second container 20. The bottom portion 12 and the cover portion 25 may be in contact or not. If the bottom portion 12 and the cover portion 25 are in contact, space saving in the height direction when stacking the packaged food materials can be achieved more satisfactorily.
<Packaged Stack>
The packaged food materials 100 may be distributed in a form in which the stacked packaged food materials are packaged by a packaging material.
A packaged stack formed by packaging the stack 200 of the plurality of packaged food materials 100 by a packaging material 40 will be described below.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing the packaged stack in which the packaged food materials of the stack shown in FIG. 5 are integrated. A packaged stack 300 shown in FIG. 6 includes the stack 200, and the packaging material 40 that bundles the stack 200. Here, a shrink film is used as the packaging material 40.
The packaged food materials 100 may be distributed without the packaging material 40. However, if they are distributed in the form of the packaged stack 300, the risk that the plurality of packaged food materials 100 come apart can be reduced. That is, transportation is easy.
Here, the packaging material 40 can integrate the packaged food materials 100 of the stack 200. As the packaging material 40, for example, a wrapper used to pack the stack 200 or a bundling material used to bundle the plurality of packaged food materials 100 included in the stack 200 can be used.
The wrapper is, for example, a film, a sheet, a cushioning sheet having one or more air cells therein, or a bag made of them. For example, the envelope material is a shrink film. When the opening portion of the packaged food material 100 located at the uppermost position of the stack 200 is covered by the wrapper, or when the entire stack 200 is packed by the wrapper, the risk of contamination of the packaged food material 100 by a foreign substance can be reduced.
The bundling material is, for example, a string, metal wire, band, or tape. If integrating the packaged food materials 100 of the stack 200 by the bundling material, it is preferable to place a plate or the like on the opening portion of the packaged food material 100 located at the uppermost position of the stack 200 to reduce the risk of contamination of the packaged food material 100 by a foreign substance.
<Effects>
In the above-described packaged food material 100, the opening portion of the first container 10 is not closed. According to this structure, the packaged food materials 100 can be stacked such that the bottom portion 12 of a certain packaged food material 100 is located in the first container of another packaged food material 100. It is therefore possible to achieve space saving and reduction of the transport cost. That is, the packaged food material 100 is suitable for stockpiling food to prepare for a disaster or emergency or transporting food.
In addition, the food material 30 is stored in the second container 20, and the second container 20 is sealed. For this reason, if the second container 20 has moisture barrier properties, the first container 10 need not have high moisture barrier properties. It is therefore possible to achieve reduction of the manufacturing cost. When the user changes the food material 30, it is only necessary to change the food material 30 to be stored in the second container 20 to another food material. Hence, multi-product production is easy.
The packaged food material 100 is provided with the tab portion 26 configured to facilitate peeling of the cover portion 25. When the tab portion 26 is provided, the user can peel the cover portion 25 by pulling the tab portion 26. It is therefore possible to open the second container 20 by one operation without soiling the hands. Furthermore, the second container 20 is fixed to the first container 10. Hence, the user can eat food while largely tilting the packaged food material 100.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general invention concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A stackable packaged food material, comprising:

a first container having a cup shape;

a second container stored in the first container; and

a food material sealed in the second container,

wherein an opening portion of the first container is not closed, and

the packaged food material is configured to be stacked such that a bottom portion of the first container of a certain packaged food material is located in the first container of another packaged food material.

2. The packaged food material according to claim 1, wherein the second container includes a container body having a cup shape, and a cover body that closes an opening portion of the container body, and is stored in the first container such that a bottom portion and a sidewall portion of the second container face the bottom portion and a sidewall portion of the first container, respectively.

3. The packaged food material according to claim 2, wherein the cover body includes a cover portion that closes the opening portion of the container body, and a tab portion projecting outward from an edge of the cover portion.

4. The packaged food material according to claim 3, wherein the tab portion has such a length that a distal end passes across the opening portion of the first container when the tab portion is extended toward the opening portion of the first container along the sidewall portion of the first container.

5. The packaged food material according to claim 1, wherein the second container is fixed to the first container.

6. The packaged food material according to claim 5, wherein the second container is locked on the first container.

7. The packaged food material according to claim 1, wherein the second container has barrier properties higher than those of the first container.

8. A stack including a plurality of the packaged food materials according to claim 1, which are stacked such that a bottom portion of the first container of a certain packaged food material is located in the first container of another packaged food material.

9. A packaged stack including the stack according to claim 8, and a packaging material packaging the stack.