WO1999010240A2

WO1999010240A2 - Packaging for food product, in particular for pastry and dairy product

Info

Publication number: WO1999010240A2
Application number: PCT/FR1998/001832
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Marie Linard
Original assignee: Sodiaal International - Societe De Diffusion Internationale Agro-Alimentaire
Priority date: 1997-08-22
Filing date: 1998-08-21
Publication date: 1999-03-04
Also published as: FR2767513A1; EP1015327A2; HUP0003682A3; FR2767513B1; WO1999010240A3; AU9077998A; HUP0003682A2; PL338890A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a packaging (1) for food product (5) in particular for a pastry or dairy product, comprising a base (2) and a side wall (4) articulated to the base (2) and adapted to be shaped like a pot wherein said wall (4) is raised and has a top edge (8) constituting an opening for the pot. The wall is adapted to shift from the pot shape to a plate shape wherein the side wall (4) is folded down around the base (2).

Description

"PACKAGING FOR FOOD PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY FOR PASTRY AND DAIRY PRODUCT". The invention relates to packaging for food products. It is known to package food products, in particular pastries and dairy products, in a jar comprising a circular bottom, a truncated cone wall and a lid fixed to an upper edge of the wall. When it is preferable to unmold the pastry before consuming it, the consumer overturns the pot on a plate, then activates on the bottom of the pot a device intended to bring air into the pot from the bottom, this device consisting for example in a cover that must be pierced. The entry of air causes the pastry to fall onto the plate for demolding.

With this type of packaging, the consumer must have a plate to unmold the pastry, which can dissuade him from consuming the pastry in circumstances where he does not have a plate. In addition, the sliding of the pastry along the wall of the pot and its fall on the plate during demolding can alter the presentation of the pastry, especially if it contains ingredients of different consistencies such as dough , cream, fruit etc., arranged in a certain arrangement.

Document DE-1 205 005 discloses a support for a bottle, comprising a bottom and a side wall articulated at the bottom and able to have a narrow pot configuration where this wall is erected and has an upper edge constituting an opening of the pot, configuration in which the bottle can be received alone. The packaging is suitable for having a large pot configuration where the opening of the pot is more important and allows the support to receive ice in addition to the bottle.

The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by providing a packaging for a food product which does not require a tool such as a plate for demolding, and preserving the presentation of the product during demolding.

With a view to achieving this. aim, according to the invention, provision is made for packaging for a food product, in particular for a pastry or a dairy product, comprising a bottom and a side wall articulated at the bottom and adapted to have a jar configuration where this wall is erected and has an edge. upper constituting an opening of the pot, in which the wall is adapted to pass from the pot configuration to a plate configuration where the side wall is folded around the bottom.

Thus, to consume the product, it suffices to change the packaging from the jar configuration to the plate configuration. This change in configuration avoids any friction of the product against the wall and preserves the presentation of the product during demolding. The product remains in the packaging and does not fall. Essentially, the pot configuration will be distinguished from the plate configuration in that for the pot, the free edge of the side wall defines a narrower opening than for the plate configuration. In this way, the passage in the plate configuration is sufficient to separate the side wall of the food product. The consumer therefore has better access to the product in the plate configuration than in the pot configuration.

Advantageously, the packaging comprises on the bottom or the side wall a thick wall zone thinned adapted to constitute a hinge for the articulation of the side wall at the bottom.

Advantageously, the packaging includes return means which predispose the side wall towards the attitude configuration.

Thus, the packaging spontaneously opens in a corolla under the effect of the return means towards the attitude configuration. This facilitates opening. Advantageously, the bottom has a substantially circular shape.

Advantageously, the packaging comprises folds formed in the side wall so that, in the attitude configuration, all the folds extend in a substantially radial direction relative to a center of the bottom.

Advantageously, the folds are arranged so that the successive folds are equidistant from each other.

Advantageously, the packaging comprises a removable cap adapted to be applied to the upper edge of the side wall in the pot configuration, by opposing the passage in the plate configuration.

Thus, the cap prevents any untimely passage from packaging from the pot configuration to the plate configuration.

Advantageously, the cofffe constitutes or forms part of a cover which closes the opening delimited by the upper edge of the side wall in the jar configuration.

Advantageously, an internal face of the cap has a groove intended to receive the edge of the side wall.

Advantageously, a lateral flank of the groove has a relief extending projecting into the groove. Advantageously, the cap is provided with a seal.

Advantageously, the side wall and the bottom are made of synthetic material. Advantageously, the side wall and the bottom are made of polypropylene.

Advantageously, the bottom comprises a base on an external face of the bottom.

An article is also provided according to the invention comprising a packaging according to the invention and a food product received therein.

Advantageously, the food product is solid and / or provided with cohesion, for example gelled.

Advantageously, the product is in direct contact with the bottom and preferably also with the side wall.

There is also provided according to the invention a method for packaging a food product, in particular a pastry or a dairy product, in which the product is packaged in a package according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the description which follows of a preferred embodiment of the packaging given by way of nonlimiting example. In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the packaging according to the invention having the jar configuration and closed by its cover;

- Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the packaging and the food product when the cap is removed;

- Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the packaging having the plate configuration, and the food product; - Figure 4 is a sectional view along the plane IV-IV the packaging of Figure 1, without the food product;

- Figure 5 is an enlarged view of detail D of Figure 4; - Figure 6 is a partial plan view of the packaging of Figure 3;

- Figure 7 is a partial view in axial section of the packaging of Figure 3; and

- Figures 8 and 9 are two perspective views showing two stages of a packaging process implementing the packaging according to the invention.

The packaging 1 shown in Figures 1 to 7 is intended to contain a demouldable dairy product or a pastry, for example a charlotte 5 in individual portions. This packaging comprises a flat circular bottom 2 having a base 3 on an external face of the bottom, and a single side wall 4 integrally with the bottom 2. The side wall 4 has an internal circular edge 6 adjacent to the bottom 2 and an outer circular edge 8 remote from the bottom, the two edges 6 and 8 being coaxial with each other and with the bottom 2. The side wall 4 extends in a loop and continuously around the bottom 2, the inner edge 6 being continuously connected to a circular periphery of the bottom 2. The packaging 1 further comprises a cap formed here by a circular cover 10 intended to be removably attached to the outer edge 8 remote from the bottom 2 to close the packaging.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, the side wall 4 has rectilinear folds in relief 12 and in hollow 13 each extending from the internal edge 6 to the external edge 8 of the wall. The terms “raised” and “hollow” are taken with reference to FIG. 6. The hollow folds 13 extend in a radial direction relative to a center 11 of the bottom 2. The raised folds 12 are slightly inclined with respect to the radial direction. The hollow pleats 13 are equidistant from each other. A pair of raised pleats 12 is disposed between each pair of intaglio folds 13. The raised pleats 12 of this pair are joined together at the outer edge 8 and each join a respective intaglio 13 at the inner edge 6. At the level from the outer edge 8, the side wall 4 thus has an accordion profile, while its profile is circular at the level of the inner edge 6. The arrangement of the folds 12, 13 has not been reproduced in detail in FIGS. 1 to 5 .

With reference to FIG. 7, the internal edge 6 of the side wall 4 which is contiguous to the bottom 2 has a thickness b thinned with respect to a thickness p of the rest of the side wall 4, and to a thickness f of the wall of the merit 2. In the present case, b is worth approximately one third of p or f. This internal edge 6 constitutes a hinge for the articulation of the lateral wall 4 on the bottom 2. This articulation locally rotates. By way of example, b is equal to 0.2 mm; p, equal to f, is equal to 0.6 mm; and 1 is 0.5 mm.

This arrangement of the folds 12, 13 and this articulation allow the packaging 1 to pass reversibly from a jar configuration to an open configuration in corolla, which is here a plate configuration, configurations which will now be detailed.

Referring to Figures 1, 4 and 5, when the packaging 1 has the jar configuration and the cover 10 is fixed to the side wall 4, the side wall 4 has a truncated cone shape with the narrow end of the cone directed towards the bottom 2. The folds 12, 13 are then substantially perpendicular to the bottom 2. The side wall 4 is erected above the bottom 2 and substantially vertical. Packaging 1 constitutes thus a rigid pot protecting the product from mechanical, chemical and external bacterial aggressions. Closed by its cover 10, this packaging retains its jar shape, whether empty or full. With reference to FIG. 5, an internal face of the cover 10 has an annular groove 14 with an inverted U profile having an external lateral flank 16 and an internal lateral flank 17 concentric, the groove 14 being open towards the bottom 2. and adjacent around the lid 10. This groove 14 is intended to receive a portion of the side wall 4 contiguous to the outer edge 8 in the pot configuration. The external flank 16 is then in contact with the hollow pleats 13 and the internal flank 17 is in contact with the raised pleats 12. The flanks 16 and 17 are substantially parallel to the pleats 12, 13 and ensure the fixing of the cover 10 to the side wall 4. The outer flank 16 has a relief in the form of an annular bead 18 extending projecting into the groove 14 and sinking slightly into the folds 13 in hollow to further improve this fixation. The groove 14 is provided at the bottom of the groove with a seal 19 ensuring the sealing of the closure of the packaging between the upper external edge 8 of the side wall 4 and the cover 10. This seal 19 is produced in a material compatible with food products.

With reference to FIG. 3, when the packaging 1 has the attitude configuration, the folds 12, 13 are substantially parallel to the bottom 2 and they extend substantially radially with respect to the center 11 of the bottom 2 which would therefore constitute the geometric intersection folds 13 in hollow if these were extended on the bottom 2. The side wall 4 can then have an inclination relative to the bottom 2, towards the interior of the packaging, this which limits any flow of a pastry ingredient out of the plate. The packaging 1 then constitutes a plate whose side wall 4 is rigid in the radial direction at the bottom 2, allowing the consumer to taste the pastry 5 placed on the bottom 2 and thus made accessible.

The side wall 4 and the bottom 2 of the packaging are made in one piece from plastic, for example polypropylene, by injection or thermoforming. The packaging is carried out with the plate configuration, the folds 12, 13 being preformed or slightly marked. The thinned internal edge 6, as well as the raised folds 12 and recessed 13 have good elasticity. When the packaging 1 is then given the jar configuration, this edge 6 and these folds 12, 13 constitute means for returning the packaging to make it pass from the jar configuration to the plate configuration. Thus, before consumption of the food product, the cover 10 closing the packaging 1 maintains the jar configuration against the return means, the bead 18 preventing the external upper edge 8 from coming out of the groove 14 and the latter preventing the corolla opening of the side wall 4. When the consumer removes the cover 10 of the packaging 1, the return means cause the corolla opening of the side wall 4 until reaching the plate configuration. This opening, shown during execution in FIG. 2, demoulds the pastry 5. The transition from the jar configuration shown in FIG. 1 to the plate configuration shown in FIG. 3 is rapid and practically instantaneous. Demolding is thus very easy.

After several products have been consumed, the packaging on the plate can be stacked flat on top of each other to take up little space in the garbage.

Advantageously, the folds 12, 13 will be numerous enough to give good rigidity to the pot. However, the fixing of the cover 10 to the side wall 4 will be better the fewer the folds 12, 13, the width of the groove 14 increasing when the number of folds 12, 13 decreases. For example, if the diameter of the bottom 2 is approximately 70 mm, that of the cover 10 is approximately 95 mm, and the height of the side wall 4 is approximately 50 mm when the packaging 1 has the form of a pot, the number of folds 12, 13 will advantageously be between 100 and 160, and preferably between 120 and 140. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a description will now be given of a packaging process which implements the packaging 1 which has just be described. Packages 1, initially having the plate configuration at the end of their manufacture, are stacked vertically on each other with the base 3 extending downward, the package 1 lowest in the stack being held by its side wall 4.

The stack is arranged so that the lowest package 1 faces a support 20 having a circular cell 22 having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the bottom 2, as shown in FIG. 8.

This packaging 1 is then sucked into the cell 22, which places the side wall 4 in abutment against the edge of the cell 22 and causes the side wall 4 to close in corolla, FIG. 9 showing this closing during 'execution. At the end of this aspiration, the packaging 1 took the jar configuration. Arranged in the cell 22 and thus maintained in the jar configuration, the packaging 1 undergoes conventional decontamination and drying steps, then is filled with the food product 5. The cover 10 is then fixed to the outer edge 8 of the side wall 4, which allows the packaging 1 to be removed from the cell 22 while maintaining the configuration pot.

Of course, many modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof.

The configuration of the pot may be cylindrical or in the form of a truncated cone with the narrow end of the cone opposite the bottom 2 and on the side of the outer upper edge 8.

The side wall 4 will not necessarily be in one piece with the bottom 2, these two parts can for example be joined by an attached element constituting the return means.

The packaging 1 will not necessarily be made of plastic and may have, for example, a composite structure comprising paper and / or metal. Advantageously, the packaging material will itself provide the recall in plate configuration.

The packaging may include a filling attached to the internal face of the bottom 2. The packaging is not limited to pastries and dairy products and may relate to other sweet or savory food products.

In the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, the cap is a closure cover 10 made rigid by the presence of a groove 14 on its underside. But the cap can take other forms. It could for example be a cover similar to the aforementioned cover but hollowed out at its center. In this case, the cap will not have a shutter function and will only have a function of maintaining the jar configuration. The cap may be a flat membrane glued to the outer upper edge 8 of the side wall 4.

The bottom 2 and the side wall 4 may have a general non-circular shape, for example oval.

The attitude configuration may be the configuration shown in Figure 2 in which the side wall 4 is folded around the bottom but remains slightly inclined relative to the vertical direction.

Claims

1. Packaging (1) for food product (5), in particular for a pastry or a dairy product, comprising a bottom (2) and a side wall (4) articulated at the bottom (2) and adapted to have a jar configuration where this wall (4) is erected and has an upper edge (8) constituting an opening of the pot, characterized in that the wall is adapted to pass from the pot configuration to a plate configuration where the side wall (4) is folded around the bottom (2).

2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises on the bottom or the side wall a wall zone (6) of thinned thickness (b) adapted to constitute a hinge for the articulation of the side wall ( 4) at the bottom (2).

3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises return means (6, 12, 13) which predispose the side wall (4) towards the attitude configuration.

4. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bottom (2) has a substantially circular shape.

5. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises folds (12, 13) formed defns the side wall (4) so that, in the trim configuration, all the folds (12, 13) extend in a substantially radial direction relative to a center (11) of the bottom (2).

6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that the folds (12, 13) are arranged so that the successive folds are equidistant from each other.

7. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a removable cover (10) adapted to be applied to the upper edge (8) of the side wall (4) in the pot configuration , opposing the transition to the attitude configuration.

8. Packaging according to claim 7, characterized in that the cap (10) constitutes or is part of a cover which closes the opening delimited by the upper edge (8) of the side wall (4) in the pot configuration .

9. Packaging according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that an internal face of the cap (10) has a groove (14) intended to receive the edge (8) of the side wall (4).

10. Packaging according to claim 9, characterized in that a lateral flank (16) of the groove (14) has a relief (18) projecting into the groove.

11. Packaging according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the cap (10) is provided with a seal (19).

12. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the side wall (4) and the bottom (2) are made of synthetic material.

13. Packaging according to claim 12, characterized in that the side pa * king (4) and the bottom (2) are made of polypropylene.

14. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the bottom (2) comprises a base (3) on an external face of the bottom.

15. Packaging (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, set in volume in the pot configuration.

16. Packaging (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, in attitude configuration.

17. Article, comprising a package (1) and a food product (5) received in the package, characterized in that the package conforms to one of claims 1 to 16.

18. Article according to claim 17, characterized in that the food product (5) is solid and / or provided with cohesion.

19. Article according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the product (5) is in direct contact with the bottom (2).

20. A method of packaging a food product (5), in particular a pastry or a dairy product, characterized in that the product is packaged in a package (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16.