WO2008073004A1

WO2008073004A1 - Transformable container

Info

Publication number: WO2008073004A1
Application number: PCT/RU2007/000703
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aleksei Vyacheslavovich Kruzenshtern; Fedor Alekseevich Kruzenshtern
Original assignee: Kruzenshtern Aleksei Vyachesla; Fedor Alekseevich Kruzenshtern
Priority date: 2006-12-14
Filing date: 2007-12-11
Publication date: 2008-06-19
Also published as: RU2006144664A

Abstract

The invention relates to packaging containers used preferably for food products. The inventive transformable container is made from a polymer film and a water resistant sheet material and comprises a polygonal bottom (1), a side surface (2) provided with folds and a fixing cover (5), wherein the lateral faces of the container are substantially embodied in the form of a quadrilaterals which are symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis. The folds (3), which are upwardly gradually expandable and the walls of which are closed to each other when the cover is closed, are embodied between the side faces, whilst the adjacent side faces are jointed to each other along the longitudinal edges. The external angle between the lateral wall plane and a horizontal plane is equal to or greater than 20°. When the cover is closed, the container generally assumes the form of a right-angle prism or a truncated pyramid.

Description

TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER

Technical field

The invention relates to packaging, and in particular to packaging containers, mainly for food products.

State of the art

Well-known packaging containers used for filling food products, for example, Tetra-Pak bags used for milk, juice, yogurt, sour cream [Information is available on the Internet at: http: //www.tetrapak.su/main.phtml? Did = l_12 & action ^z = archive & year = 20

05 & i = 0] Such containers (packages) are made of polymer-coated cardboard, have a rather rigid structure in the form of prisms and are intended for storage and sale of products that are in a state ready for use. The main disadvantage of such packaging is that to use the product it must be poured into dishes, for example, a glass.

It is known that for the implementation of a number of dry food products and concentrates (dry soups, vermicelli with a dry sauce concentrate, etc.), soft bags made of polymer film are often used [Packaging noodles “Kvisti”. Information is available on the Internet at: http://www.mlput.ru/koya.htm]. To prepare the finished product, you need to dilute it with boiling water in a separate bowl - a plate or bowl. This is a disadvantage of packaging in plastic film bags.

This disadvantage is eliminated by batch packing of concentrates in well-known disposable containers made of polymer material, for example, by vacuum molding. The dry product is placed in a container and sealed with a lid [Packaging noodles "Doshirak". Information is available on the Internet at: http://www.mlput.ru/koya.htm]. At the same time, to ensure using the container as a dish from which the finished product is brought to a standard condition, the container is only partially filled with concentrate, leaving enough space for the water used for dilution. The low fill factor is a disadvantage of this type of packaging.

As a prototype of the selected disposable container for portioned food [application WO 99/11541, publ. 03/11/99]. The container is made from a single piece, having the shape of a convex polygon and made of a sheet of multilayer material. It has a shape tapering to the top with a slightly convex bottom and side walls. In cross section, the container has a closed wavy line of irregular shape. There are folds on the walls. Some of these folds on the upper free edge are hermetically sealed so that when opened, the container does not unfold into a flat sheet, but has a cup shape and can serve as dishes from which you can eat directly. The product to be stored is placed in the workpiece, the upper edges of which are sealed with the formation of a single cross-shaped rib in the plan and a folded side surface. In this position, the internal volume of the container is minimal and can be close to the volume of the product placed in it and not have free internal space. You can open such a container by pulling at the opposite ends of the cruciform rib. In this case, the upper seam diverges, the folds of the side walls are straightened and the container is transformed into the bowl described above. Its internal volume increases and additional free space free from the product is freed up, which can be filled with water, necessary to bring the product to condition. Thus, such a container has a high fill factor and can be used as the dishes from which they eat. The main disadvantage of such packaging is its impossibility stacking (installation on top of each other), as well as a low fill factor of the outer packaging - boxes or boxes designed for storage and transportation of the described filled containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problem solved by the invention is the creation of a transformable container, which, when opened, can increase the internal volume and acquire the shape of a bowl-shaped utensil. The technical result is the provision of the possibility of stacking and increase the fill factor of the outer packaging. The problem is achieved in that the transformable container is made of a polymer film or sheet of moisture-resistant material and has a bottom in the shape of a polygon and a side surface with folds. The container differs from the prototype in that it additionally has a fixing lid, and its side faces are mainly in the form of quadrangles symmetrical about the vertical axis. Between the side faces of the container there are folds, each of which departs from the bottom and evenly expands to the top. In this case, the walls of each fold are closed to each other in a position with the lid closed, and the adjacent side faces of the container are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal edges. The external angle between the plane of the side wall and the horizontal plane is at least 20 °.

In the closed position, the container is generally in the form of a straight prism, preferably a hexagonal (straight parallelepiped), or truncated pyramid.

An embodiment of the invention

In more detail, the invention is disclosed by an example in which the food container with the lid closed has the form of a substantially straight hexagonal prism and is illustrated by the Figures drawings showing: FIG. 1 is a surface scan, FIG. 2 - container - appearance with a closed lid; FIG. 3 - container in the open position, FIG. 4 - a stack of containers.

The container is made of a moisture-resistant material used for packaging food products, for example, from a polymer film or cardboard with a polymer coating. The thickness of the material is selected from the stiffness condition necessary to maintain the volumetric geometric shape. The container contains a bottom 1 of a square shape and four side faces 2 of basically rectangular shape (in the case of a container in the form of a truncated pyramid, the faces are in the form of equilateral trapezoidal shapes). The upper edge of the face can be straight, or it can be arched, curved, or wavy, or have an angled protrusion or recess. Between faces 2 there are sectors 3, the sides of each of which at an angle extend from the lower edge of the faces, i.e., from the interface line with the bottom. The angle between the sides of each face is sharp. The side surface can be connected into a single unit using valve 4, for example, by heat sealing. In the same way, a connection to the bottom can be made. A hinged lid 5 with sides can also be made from the same reamer. The cover 5 may be removable. A foil sealing the container may also be used as a lid.

In the assembled state, the sectors between the lateral faces are folded in half and form folds. Each fold, expanding, departs from the bottom, the walls of the folds are in contact with each other, and the adjacent side faces of the container are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal edges. Flattened folds are tucked inward and the container has a minimum volume. In this state, it has the shape of a straight hexagonal prism and its volume can be filled with product, almost on the top edge. The container is closed (sealed).

Before using the product, remove the lid, straighten the folds, stretching the upper part of the container to the sides. In this case, the prism transforms (opens) into a bowl-shaped dish, the internal volume increases, and the dry product or concentrate drops down, freeing the upper part of the container to fill it with liquid (water). The product is brought to condition and can be consumed directly from the container, without shifting into a separate bowl or deep plate. The external angle between the plane of the side face and the horizontal plane is at least 20 °, which does not allow the container to open into the plane and preserve the properties of dishes for food.

Thus, in the closed position, the container has a minimum volume, which is convenient and economically feasible for transportation. In open form, the volume increases significantly and free space for filling with liquid is freed.

Closed containers can be stacked on top of each other. The faceted shape of the container allows them to be placed in the outer packaging close to each other, leaving no free space. Thus, the fill factor of the portioned packaging (container) and the outer packaging is maximum.

The claimed container can be used not only for packaging food products, but also for other products, the delivery and storage of which is preferably carried out in packaging, which, when opened, can significantly increase the internal volume. An example of such products is various concentrates.

Claims

CLAIM

1. A transformable container made of a polymer film or a sheet of moisture-resistant material, having a bottom in the form of a polygon and a side surface with folds, characterized in that it additionally has a lid, the side faces of the container are mainly in the form of quadrangles symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis, between the side faces there are folds, each of which departs from the bottom and evenly extends to the top, the external angle between the plane of the side face and the horizontal plane is at least 20 °, while in the position with the lid closed, the walls of each fold are closed to each other, the adjacent side faces of the container are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal edges.

2. A transformable container according to claim 1, characterized in that it has basically the shape of a direct prism or a truncated pyramid.