WO1992019504A1

WO1992019504A1 - Food package

Info

Publication number: WO1992019504A1
Application number: PCT/AU1992/000185
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey H. C. Stevenson
Original assignee: Stevenson Geoffrey H C
Priority date: 1991-04-26
Filing date: 1992-04-24
Publication date: 1992-11-12

Abstract

A food wrapping receptacle (10) comprises a shell (11) formed of a supportive, bendable material such as cardboard. The shell (11) is in a concertina form being extendable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. Bonded or otherwise secured to the internal surface of shell (11) is a liquid impermeable liner (40) within which a food article such as a sausage roll, kebab, spring roll, hot dog or the like may be located. Upon consumption of the food article, a user may contract shell (11) in concertina form to expose the same.

Description

FOOD PACKAGE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The following invention relates to a food package or wrapping, and more particularly, though not exclusively to a concertina package to surround elongate food articles.

PRIOR ART

Elongate fast food articles such as sausage rolls, kebabs, spring rolls, hot dogs etc are usually sold in some form of paper bag or wrapping such as foil or waxed paper.

It is a disadvantage of the known methods of wrapping such food articles that the wrapping must be folded or torn away from the food article as the article is consumed. That is, in the instance of a spring roll for example sold in a wax impregnated paper bag, the bag must be either rolled down or torn away from the spring roll as successive bites are taken therefrom.

Where messy food items such as kebabs or hot dogs are sold in paper bags, a further problem of leakage arises.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or

substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a food wrapping receptacle comprising; an outer shell formed from a sheet of supportive, bendable

material, the shell surrounding a hollow into which food is receivable, and comprising a plurality of annular bend lines allowing the shell to concertina in a longitudinal direction thereof, and

a flexible liner within the shell and secured thereto such that upon concertinaing of the shell, a substantially constant cross-section of the hollow is maintained.

Preferably, the shell is divided into a plurality of longitudinal segments such that a transverse cross-section of the receptacle is defined as a polygon.

Preferably, each segment, being concertinaed comprises a plurality of inner fold lines and outer fold lines and adjacent concertinaed segments being interconnected at the inner fold lines. Preferably, one end of the receptacle is open whereas the opposing end is closed by way of extensions of each adjacent longitudinal segment, which extensions are preferably triangular and fold inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

Alternatively one end of the receptacle is open whereas the opposing end is closed by way of extensions of each adjacent longitudinal segment, which extensions are adapted to fold inwardly and define a recess at the closed end.

Preferably, the liner is formed from a sheet of plastics material such as polypropylene.

Preferably, the flexible liner is adhered to the shell by way of adhesive.

Alternatively, the flexible liner is adhered to the shell by way of stitching for example.

As an advantage of the above described invention, the receptacle may be concertinaed towards the closed end while the food article contained therein is consumed. That is, no tearing of the receptacle is required.

As a further advantage of the above described invention, no leakage of liquid from messy food articles occurs as a result of the liner which may be substantially Impermeable to liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1(a) is a schematic elevational view of a food wrapping receptacle in an extended configuration,

Fig. 1(b) is a schematic elevational view of the food wrapping receptacle in a semi-compressed configuration,

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a blank of supportive, bendable material such as cardboard used to construct an outer shell of the receptacle of Figs. 1(a) and Kb).

Fig. 3 is a schematic end view of the blank of Fig. 2 in

semi-folded and folded configurations thus forming the receptacle of Figs. 1(a) and 1(b), and

Fig. 4 is a schematic end elevational view showing an opposing end of the articles depicted in Fig. 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a food wrapping receptacle 10. Receptacle 10 comprises a shell 11 formed of a supportive, bendable material such as cardboard.

As depicted in Figs. 1(a) and 1(b), the receptacle is in a concertina form being adapted to extend between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration.

Turning now to Fig. 2, a blank 20 is depicted. Blank 20 comprises a plurality of horizontal bend lines 12 and 13. Bend lines 12 correspond to the outer region of adjacent concertina segments 15, whereas bend lines 13 are inner bend lines. A plurality of lengthwise cuts 17 are provided in blank 20. Cuts 17 it should be appreciated, do not extend continuously throughout the length of blank 20 as the cuts are divided into individual segments separated by regions 18 which serve to attach adjacent rows of concertina segments 15.

The blank 20 further comprises a plurality of triangular end segments 14 which upon construction of the food wrapping receptacle fold inwardly to form a bottom 19 thereof. In the in-use configuration, the bottom 19 of receptacle 10 may be slightly recessed.

As an alternative to the provision of blank 20, the receptacle 10 may be moulded from a material such as polystyrene so as to define a circular cross-section for example. That is, rather than folding a blank 20, the receptacle 10 may be formed as a single, seamless piece.

A liquid impermeable liner 40 is attached by way of adhesive or stitching for example to the inner edge 30 of each fold line 13. For example, liner 40 may be attached to respective inner edges 30 by way of heat sensitive plastics stitching 41 which may be cured into adhesion with shell 11 by way of heat treatment. The liner defines a cavity 16 therein to receive a food article. At the bottom end 19 of receptacle 10 the impermeable liner which is typically formed of polyethylene or wax impregnated paper for example is sealed onto itself and/or onto

triangular flaps 14 so as to prevent spillage of any liquid from cavity 16 therethrough.

The liner 30 is typically glued, heat cured, or stitched to blank 20 prior to blank 20 being folded into the configuration depicted in Fig. 1. Upon blank 20 being folded into the configuration depicted in Fig. 1, cuts 17 open to form openings 19. Cuts 17 may extend further into concertina segments 15 so as to provide larger openings 19, thus providing greater breathing between the shell and liner 30.

It should be appreciated that the finished article may be packed flat so as to readily facilitate bulk storage.

It should be also appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, shell 11 may be formed of a polystyrene material which may have greater heat insulative properties than cardboard for example thus allowing for comfortable handling of hot food articles contained therein.

Although specific mention has been made herein of the suitability of the invention to the storage of sausage rolls, kebabs, spring rolls, hot dogs etc, it is envisaged by the applicant that frozen food articles such as ice cream or other flavoured frozen confectionary may be packaged within the receptacle.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A food wrapping receptacle comprising;

an outer shell formed from a sheet of supportive, bendable material, the shell surrounding a hollow into which food is receivable, and comprising a plurality of annular bend lines allowing the shell to concertina in a longitudinal direction thereof, and

2. The food wrapping receptacle of claim 1 wherein the shell is divided into a plurality of longitudinal segments such that a transverse cross-section of the receptacle is defined as a polygon.

3. The food wrapping receptacle of claim 1 wherein the shell is circular in transverse cross-section.

4. The food wrapping receptacle of claim 1 wherein each segment, being concertinaed comprises a plurality of inner fold lines and outer fold lines and adjacent concertinaed segments being interconnected at the inner fold lines.

5. The food wrapping receptacle of claim 1 wherein one end of the receptacle is open whereas the opposing end is closed by way of

extensions of each adjacent longitudinal segment, which extensions are preferably triangular and fold inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

6. The food wrapping receptacle of claim 1 wherein one end of the receptacle is open whereas the opposing end is closed by way of

extensions of each adjacent longitudinal segment, which extensions are adapted to fold inwardly and define a recess at said closed end.

7. The food wrapping receptacle of claim 1 wherein the liner is formed from a sheet of plastics material such as polypropylene.

8. The food wrapping receptacle of claim 1 wherein the flexible liner is adhered to the shell by way of adhesive.

9. The food wrapping receptacle of claim 1 wherein the flexible liner is adhered to the shell by way of stitching.

10. A food wrapping receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.