WO2009016568A1

WO2009016568A1 - Container for dispensing food products

Info

Publication number: WO2009016568A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/052995
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adolfo Marinelli; Francesca Marinelli
Original assignee: Adolfo Marinelli; Francesca Marinelli
Priority date: 2007-08-02
Filing date: 2008-07-25
Publication date: 2009-02-05
Also published as: ITPD20070074U1

Abstract

The invention is a new container (C) for food products, for example dry pasta, divided into two or more inner compartments (C1), each containing or suited to contain a quantity of food product corresponding to a single portion. In the preferred embodiment of the invention said container has the shape of a prism with regular hexagonal cross section and is divided into six or four equal prismatic compartments (C1) with square or equilateral triangular cross section. The container comprises also a cover (P) for closing said compartments (C1), for example rotating around a pin (C2) constrained to the container (C) itself, and wherein said cover (P) is provided with at least one opening (P50) whose size is equal to or smaller than the cross section of said compartments (C1). The container is completely or partially made of transparent or semi-transparent plastic or glass.

Description

CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING FOOD PRODUCTS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns the containers for food products and in particular it concerns a new container for food products provided with modular inner compartments for dispensing the food products and in particular for dispensing dry pasta.

Various types of containers for food products, either solid or liquid, are known.

In particular, as far as solid food is concerned, disposable or reusable containers are known, the former typically made of cardboard, plasticized cardboard or multilayer materials, the latter usually made of rigid or semirigid plastic (for example PET), metallic materials or other materials.

Solid food products, like for example pasta, are usually sold in disposable containers, that is, containers that cannot be reused, obtained from a sheet of die cut and creased cardboard, which is folded and closed during the packaging operation.

Pasta is packaged at the end of its production process, which substantially includes the steps of kneading, extrusion through dies and final drying, during which the product loses most of the water it contains and assumes the known appearance and consistency.

The dry pasta processed as described above is thus put on conveyor belts or devices and conveyed into dispensing units that divide it into predetermined quantities to be packaged individually.

Each one of said quantities is automatically or semiautomatically introduced into the die cut container, according to the type of product to be packaged.

For example, packets containing 250 g, 500 g or 1000 g of pasta are known and particularly widespread for domestic use. Said containers made from die cut cardboard cannot be sealed repeatedly but once they have been opened they can be closed, for example, by fitting a peripheral part or a tab of the cover into a special slot created in the opposite side of the container. Since in this way the container is closed but not sealed, insects or dirt may get into it and furthermore the pasta is exposed to air and thus deteriorates more quickly, with consequent bad smells and tastes. The problem exists mainly in case of use of large packets, containing 50O g of product or even more, since the packet, once it has been opened, remains open for a long time.

In fact, due to the increasingly widespread habit to consume meals out of home, the domestic consumption of pasta is limited, so that, once opened, a 1000 g packet, for example, is left open for many days. The percentage of families composed of one or two members is also increasing, which means that a limited number of pasta portions is consumed.

Furthermore, nowadays there is an increasing percentage of people on low calorie and balaced diets, which prescribe a controlled consumption of pasta, with individual portions that reasonably do not exceed 80 g. The consumer, therefore, must always use a scale and a tray or plate in order to be able to calculate the exact quantity of pasta to eat, which means that a series of simple but time-demanding operations must be carried out. When the consumer wants to eat, he/she opens the packet of pasta, for example by lifting or even tearing the cover or another part of the container, and then dispenses, for example by weighing, the desired quantity of pasta.

The product that has not been used is left in the original container, which is closed without being sealed, or transferred into another sealed container. For this purpose glass or plastic containers with a sealing cover are particularly appreciated, since they guarantee that the organoleptic properties of the pasta, for example its taste and smell, remain unchanged and at the same time ensure protection from dirt and humidity. Differently from glass or plastic, in fact, cardboard is not particularly suitable for preserving food products in the long term, since it does not protect the product completely, for example against humidity and bad smells. A further drawback posed by the known packets lies in that unskilled consumers, who do not know how to cook or do not have the habit of cooking pasta for a given number of persons, run the risk of cooking an incorrect quantity of pasta, which may thus be too much or too little for himself/herself and any guests, with consequent wastes or organizational problems. The object of the present invention is a new type of container for food products provided with one or more modular inner compartments, for dispensing food products and in particular for dispensing dry pasta. The main object of the present invention is to preserve food products like dry pasta or other products, by dividing the contents of the container into predefined portions, preferably individual portions, and wherein each portion is contained in a modular compartment.

Another important object of the present invention is to guarantee the correct preservation of the product, even after the packet has been firstly opened, by leaving the residual, unused product in compartments that remain closed, where it is protected against humidity and dirt. Another important object of the present invention is to provide a container that can be reused, for preserving food products that are sold and originally packaged in the known disposable containers, which for example are made from cardboard and cannot be sealed.

Another important advantage offered by the present invention lies in that it can be mass produced, using simple and economic materials and equipment. Another important advantage of the container that is the subject of the invention lies in that it is compact, not bulky and easy to be stored, both in the warehouse - or for transportation - and at home, where it can be used also as a decorative as well as functional item.

The new container may also be made up of other containers of the same type to form assembled units that can be used also as accessories to be positioned in the room so that they can be seen, which does not happen with the known containers that do not have any decorative function or value. A further important advantage offered by the present invention is represented by the fact that it protects the product contained therein from bad smells, dirt, humidity, being preferably made of plastic or glass. Another important advantage offered by the present invention lies in that it is preferably made of recyclable and completely biodegradable plastic material, originated from production processes with zero impact that employ renewable sources, like wind energy. Another important advantage offered by the present invention lies in that it can be carried out in different shapes, according to the numerous types of food products and in particular of dry pasta.

These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new container for food products provided with one or more modular inner compartments, for dispensing food products and in particular for dispensing dry pasta.

The new container can be effectively and innovatively used for preserving dry pasta, which is packaged divided in predefined portions, preferably single portions, one in each of said compartments, so that the consumer can promptly dispense the exact quantity of pasta to be cooked, according to the need and the number of persons.

Dispensing the correct quantity of pasta limits wastes and allows anyone not acquainted with cooking pasta to cook the sufficient quantity for himself/herself and any guests.

The new container comprises a bottom, sides and one or more substantially vertical inner partitions suited to divide the inner volume of the container into two or more modular compartments, where the volume of each one of said compartments is such as to contain a predefined maximum quantity of a certain type of product, for example of a given type of pasta. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said inner compartments have all the same shape and volume, and the volume of each compartment is such as to contain maximum a single portion of the type of pasta for which it has been designed, for example spaghetti with a given diameter (we talk about spaghetti number 3, 5, etc.), or long or short pasta (maccheroni, ...), or small pasta or other typologies of the same product.

According to the invention, each packet contains for example six, four or more compartments, each one suited to contain one portion of pasta, that is, a quantity of pasta that on average is considered sufficient for one person for one meal. Said quantity of pasta is usually and traditionally considered to be equal to 80 g.

Depending on the shape of the pasta, said container has such a size and shape to ensure that the inner volume of each compartment is sufficient to contain approximately one portion of pasta of a given shape.

In detail, since it is possible to evaluate the volume occupied by 80 g of dry pasta of a given shape obtained with the known industrial processes, it is possible to size the container so that the inner volume of each compartment is substantially equal to said volume.

However, the container should preferably be sized so as to be slightly larger than necessary, in order to take into consideration the percentage of empty spaces deriving from the casual and unorderly arrangement of the pasta, a percentage that for example is very limited in the case of spaghetti but increases in the case of pasta having an irregular shape.

The same container may also be provided with inner compartments having different volumes, in order to contain the same quantity of pasta of different shapes.

The new container may be in the shape of a prism with hexagonal, square, triangular, octagonal cross section or the like. The new container may also be cylindrical.

For example, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the new container is in the shape of a right-angled prism, with hexagonal cross section, divided into six inner compartments, preferably having all the shape of a prism with equilateral triangular cross section, defined by said sides and by said inner partitions, arranged radially and all converging towards the longitudinal axis of the container. According to a further possible embodiment of the invention, the new container is in the shape of a right-angled parallelepiped, that is, with square or rectangular cross section, divided for example into modular inner compartments with triangular or square cross section.

Said container also comprises at least one covering element or cover, preferably suited to allow one or more compartments to be opened/closed at a time.

For example, according to a possible embodiment of the invention, said cover may comprise a flat element whose shape and dimensions substantially correspond to the section of the prism or cylinder, fixed to the upper edge of one or more sides and/or of one or more partitions, suited to close all the compartments, and wherein said cover, made for example from a plastic or plasticized cardboard sheet, is provided with pre-cut or pre- drilled lines that define detachable parts, each one in a position corresponding to each one of said compartments defined by the partitions inside the container. In particular, each one of said detachable parts may have a shape corresponding to and dimensions comparable to or slightly smaller than the cross section of the compartment defined by the sides and the partitions. In this case, in order to open one or more compartments of the new container, it is sufficient to tear one or more of said detachable parts along the pre-cut lines, leaving the others intact, so that the remaining compartments are left closed.

As an alternative, according to the invention said cover may comprise separate parts, each part serving as the cover of a compartment and being able to be opened/closed independently of the others. In this case, according to the invention each one of said parts is joined to the upper edge of the sides or partitions at the level of the corresponding compartment and can be folded, that is, can be lifted, for example through a tearing action, and if necessary can also be closed, for example through a sort of cogging. The consumer who intends to use one or more portions of the product opens only one or more of said compartments, opening the corresponding parts of the cover, so that the other compartments remain closed and the product contained therein may be preserved for a long time in the best conditions, that is, in the same packet in which it was packaged.

According to a further alternative solution, said cover is a substantially flat element, whose shape and size substantially correspond to the cross section of the prism or cylinder, and which is fixed to the top of the container, in order to close the compartments.

Always according to the invention, said cover is fixed to the container in a central point, on the longitudinal axis of the container itself, for example at the height of the central point of convergence of said partitions arranged radially, and rotating relative to it on the plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.

According to the invention, in order to open/close at least one compartment at a time, said flat rotating cover may comprise an openable part, for example a part that can be teared open, and by rotating the cover so that the opening is at the level of at least one compartment it is possible to pour the contents of the corresponding compartment by simply turning the container.

The other compartments remain closed and to open them it is sufficient to keep rotating the cover, emptying the compartments one by one. Said cover may also comprise at least one pair of overlapping flat elements, rotating independently of each other relative to the container around the longitudinal axis of the container itself, both said containers being provided with at least one opening.

When said openings overlap, it is possible to empty the underlying container, while when the openings do not overlap, all the compartments are closed. Said openings may also be larger than a single compartment, so that when they coincide perfectly two or more compartments, for example, are open, while when they overlap partially one compartment only is open. In order to obtain the total or partial overlapping of the openings, or no overlapping at all, it is sufficient that one or both said flat overlapping elements of the cover comprise, on the side facing towards the opposite flat element, one or more teeth or knurled parts intended to stop any relative rotation. The container, therefore, is extremely practical to use and makes it possible to promptly dispense the exact quantity of product required, with no need to use scales, and furthermore it does not require the transfer of the residual unused product in other sealed containers. The container may also usefully indicate the correct quantities of product necessary for a given purpose. In the case of pasta, for example, it will be possible also for unskilled consumers to dispense the exact quantity of pasta sufficient for an average consumer.

The new container can be obtained from die cut plastic sheets, rigid plastic, glass or any other suitable material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the new container is made from a material of vegetable origin, the so-called "bioplastic", for example polyactic acid (PLA) obtained from the processing of corn sugar. This material costs less than PET, has lower density and is obtained through "zero impact" production processes, employing renewable resources. According to the invention, at least the sides and/or the bottom and/or the cover of the new container may be completely or partially made of a transparent material, coloured or not, in order to allow the user to see inside each compartment. For the same purpose, said sides and/or bottom and/or cover of the new container may be made of non transparent material and provided with windows or openings closed with a transparent material, which can be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible, in order to allow the consumer to see inside the compartments.

The container is thus user-friendly and the user can clearly see not only how much pasta to use, but also the number of remaining portions, thus being able to evalutate if it is necessary to buy further packets of pasta. The characteristics of the new container will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the drawings attached as non- limiting examples.

Figure 1 shows a container (C) with regular hexagonal cross section, provided with inner prismatic compartments (Cl), all in the same size and in the shape of an equilateral triangle.

Figures Ia and Ib show two possible embodiments of the cover (P), comprising a flat element divided into parts (PlO, P20), each suitable for opening/closing the corresponding compartment (Cl). Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a further possible embodiment of the container (C), comprising a central coaxial pin (C2), around which the cover

(P) rotates, at right angles to the longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C) itself, said cover (P) comprising a flat part with a detachable part (P40), suited to define an opening (P50). Figure 2a shows the container (C) completely assembled, with the cover (P) rotated so that said opening (P50) is positioned at the level of a compartment (Cl).

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a further possible embodiment of the container (C), comprising a central coaxial pin (C21), around which the two flat parts (P61, P62) making up the cover (P) rotate independently of each other and at right angles to the longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C), each of said flat parts (P61, P62) being provided with an opening (P51, P52). Figure 4 shows the prismatic container (C) with square cross section, provided with inner prismatic compartments (Cl) with triangular cross section, all in the same size and shape.

The container (C) for food products, for example dry pasta, comprises at least one bottom (F), sides (L) and inner partitions (S) dividing the inner volume of the container (C) into two or more compartments (Cl) substantially prismatic or cylindrical in shape, wherein the volume of each one of said compartments (Cl) is such as to contain a quantity of product equal to a single portion of product, that is, a quantity that on average is considered sufficient for a single person for one meal, or a multiple of said quantity.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, represented in Figures 1-3, said container has the shape of a prism with regular hexagonal cross section, wherein said partitions (S), orthogonal to said bottom (F), are arranged radially, converging towards the longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C), in such a way as to divide the inner volume in six prismatic compartments

(Cl) having the same volume and equilateral triangular cross section. As an alternative, as shown in Figure 4, said container may have a different shape, for example that of a prism with square cross section, wherein said partitions (S), orthogonal to said bottom (F), are arranged radially, converging towards the longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C), in such a way as to divide the inner volume in four prismatic compartments (Cl) with square or triangular cross section.

The new container (C) comprises at least one substantially flat covering element or cover (P), with shape and size substantially corresponding to the cross section of the container (C), and wherein said cover (C) is fixed to the top of said container (C) to close said compartments (Cl). As shown in Figure Ia, said cover (P) comprises one or more pre-cut or pre- drilled lines (P 12) defining detachable parts (PlO), each one in a position corresponding to at least one of said compartments (Cl). According to the invention, said cover (P) may comprise one or more lateral tabs (Pl 1) that allow it to be fastened to the sides (L) of the container (C). According to the solution represented in Figure Ib, said cover (P) comprises two or more separate parts (P20), each fastened, for example with folding tabs (P21), to the top of said container (C) and folding relative to it in such a way as to create the cover of each compartment (Cl), and wherein each one of said parts (P20) has shape and size substantially corresponding to the cross section of the relative compartment (Cl).

According to the solutions represented in Figures 2 and 2a, said cover (P) rotates, on the plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C), around a pin (C2) constrained to the container (C) itself and coaxial with said longitudinal axis (X). Said cover comprises a detachable part (P40) suited to define an opening (P50) whose size is equal to or smaller than the cross section of the compartments (Cl).

According to the alternative solution illustrated in Figure 3, said cover (P) may also comprise two overlapping flat elements (P61, P62), preferably having the same shape and size, each one of which rotates independently of the other on the plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C).

In particular, said flat elements (P61, P62) rotate around the same pin (C2) constrained to the container (C) itself and coaxial with said longitudinal axis (X). Each one of said flat elements (P61, P62) comprises at least one opening

(P51 , P52) and said openings (P51 , P52) can partially or completely overlap, at the level of one or more of said compartments (Cl), in order to allow extraction of the product contained therein.

All the compartments (Cl) can be completely closed by rotating one or both of said flat elements (P61, P62) so that said openings (P51, P52) do not overlap.

Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.

Claims

1. Container (C) for food products, for example dry pasta, characterized in that it comprises at least one bottom (F), sides (L) and partitions (S) dividing the inner volume of the container (C) into two or more compartments (Cl) substantially prismatic or cylindrical in shape, wherein each one of said compartments (Cl) contains a quantity of food product corresponding to a single portion, that is, a quantity that on average is considered sufficient for a single person for one meal.

2. Container (C) for food products, for example dry pasta, characterized in that it comprises at least one bottom (F), sides (L) and partitions (S) dividing the inner volume of the container (C) into two or more compartments (Cl) substantially prismatic or cylindrical in shape, wherein the volume of each one of said compartments (Cl) is such as to contain a quantity of product corresponding to a single portion, that is, a quantity that on average is considered sufficient for a single person for one meal.

3. Container (C) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said compartments (Cl) have all the same volume.

4. Container (C) according to claim 3, characterized in that it has the shape of a prism with regular hexagonal cross section, wherein said partitions (S), orthogonal to said bottom (F), are arranged radially, converging towards the longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C), in such a way as to divide the inner volume in six prismatic compartments (Cl) with equilateral triangular cross section.

5. Container (C) according to claim 3, characterized in that it has the shape of a prism with square cross section, and wherein said partitions (S), orthogonal to said bottom (F), are arranged radially, converging towards the longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C), in such a way as to divide the inner volume in four prismatic compartments (Cl) with triangular or square cross section.

6. Container (C) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one substantially flat covering element or cover (P), with shape and size substantially corresponding to the cross section of the container (C), and wherein said cover (C) is fixed to the top of said container (C) to close said compartments (Cl).

7. Container (C) according to claim 6, characterized in that said cover (P) comprises two or more parts (P 10, P20), each one fixed to the top of said container (C) in such a way as to form the openable cover of each compartment (Cl) of the container (C), and wherein each one of said parts (PlO, P20) has shape and size substantially corresponding to the cross section of the relative compartment (Cl).

8. Container (C) according to claim 7, characterized in that said cover (P) comprises one or more pre-cut or pre-drilled lines (P 12) defining said detachable parts (PlO), each one in a position corresponding to at least one of said compartments (Cl).

9. Container (C) according to claim 6, characterized in that said cover (P) rotates, on the plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C), around a pin (C2) constrained to the container (C) itself and coaxial with said longitudinal axis (X), and wherein said cover (P) is provided with at least one opening (P50) whose size is equal to or smaller than the cross section of said compartments (Cl).

10. Container (C) according to claim 6, characterized in that said cover

(P) comprises two overlapping flat elements (P61, P62), each one of which rotates independently of the other, on the plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis (X) of the container (C), around the same pin (C2) constrained to the container (C) itself and coaxial with said longitudinal axis (X), and wherein each one of said flat elements (P61, P62) is provided with at least one opening (P51 , P52).

11. Container (C) according to claim 10, characterized in that one or both of said openings (P51, P52) have shape and size substantially corresponding to the cross section of said compartments (Cl).

12. Container (C) according to claim 10, characterized in that one or both of said openings (P51, P52) have shape and size substantially corresponding to the cross section of two or three adjacent compartments

(Cl).

13. Container (C) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is completely or partially obtained from rigid or flexible plastic and/or glass and/or metal and/or plasticized paper and/or a multilayer material and/or another material suitable for use with food products.

14. Container (C) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sides (L) and/or said bottom (F) and/or said cover (P) are completely or partially made of a transparent or semi- transparent material.