Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
  • B65D51/28—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
  • B65D51/20—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
  • B65D51/246—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with eating utensils or spatulas
  • B65D51/247—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with eating utensils or spatulas located between an inner and an outer closure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/32—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture

Definitions

• This invention relates to a container for food products.
• Each half-shell has an opening edge intended to be substantially associated coinciding with the opening edge of the other half-shell.
• the half-shells are usually made of plastic material and both the accessory and the food product can be removed from the outside once the half-shells have been separated the one from the other.
• one or both the half-shells are made of edible material and themselves represent the packed food product.
• the half-shells are associable and separable the one from the other along one of the symmetry planes of the egg, are of identical shape and have opening edges of ogival shape.
• the two half-shells are associable and separable along the median cross plane, meaning by median cross plane that which is at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the egg-shaped pack and which is arranged at the height in which the diameter of the opening edges, with round shape, is biggest.
• the main aim of this invention is to provide a container for food products that is practical, easy and functional to use and that permits nourishing and at the same time amusing consumers.
• a further object of this invention is to cater for the above commercial requirements and make available a container for food products that is considerably appealing for consumers.
• Last but not least object of the present invention is to provide a container for food products that can be easily handled both for storing and for simply resting on a shelf.
• Another object of this invention is to provide a container for food products which overcomes the above-described drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational solution that is easy to use and low in cost.
• this container for food products comprising at least a first half-shell which is substantially hollow for containing at least an accessory and has a first opening edge, and at least a second half- shell which is substantially hollow for containing at least a food product and has a second opening edge, said half-shells being associable with each other at said opening edges to form a substantially egg-shaped pack, characterized in that said second half-shell is split into at least a first containing compartment for a first food product and into at least a second containing compartment for a second food product.
• Figure 1 is an exploded view of the container according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a section view of the container according to the invention
• Figure 3 is a section view of a series of first half-shells according to the invention stacked one on top of the other;
• Figure 4 is a section view of a series of second half-shells according to the invention stacked one on top of the other;
• Figure 5 is a section view on an enlarged scale of a detail of Figure 2;
• Figure 6 is an axonometric view from below of the container according to the invention;
• Figure 7 is an axonometric view of a product display unit for the containers according to the invention.
• the container 1 comprises a first half-shell 2, which is substantially hollow to contain one or more accessories 3, 4 and which has a first opening edge 5, and a second half-shell 6, which is substantially hollow to contain at least a food product 7, 8 and which has a second opening edge 9.
• the half-shells 2, 6 are associable the one with the other at opening edges 5, 9, i.e., with the first opening edge 5 and the second opening edge 9 arranged one against the other, to form a pack with a substantially egg shape.
• the opening edges 5, 9 are obtained on a plane substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the egg-shaped pack and, more in detail, on the median cross plane.
• the first half-shell 2 has an ogival shape typical of the upper part of an egg
• the second half-shell 6 has, on the whole, the substantially spherical shape typical of the lower part of an egg.
• the second half-shell 6 is split into a first compartment 10 for containing a first food product 7, and into a second compartment 11 for containing a second food product 8.
• the first food product 7 consists, e.g., of a fluid substance like a cream, an aromatic mousse, a yoghurt, or the like, while the second food product 8 preferably consists of a substance having a preset solidity such as pieces of cereals, bread sticks, fruit, or other foods that can be soaked and/or dipped in the first food product 7.
• Both the first compartment 10 and the second compartment 11 have a respective access mouth 12 obtained at the second opening edge 9, so that both compartments 10, 11 are accessible from outside once the first half-shell 2 has been removed.
• the second half-shell 6 comprises two partition walls 13 suitable for separating the two compartments 10, 11.
• the partition walls 13 are joined together at a connection segment 14 which is arranged near the second opening edge 9 and which, in point of fact, separates the access mouths 12 of the two compartments 10, 11.
• connection segment 14 From the connection segment 14 the partition walls 13 substantially extend along a longitudinal symmetry plane of the egg-shaped pack and are arranged facing and distanced from each other to define a slit 15 substantially parallel to the partition walls themselves.
• the slit 15, in point of fact, is designed to allow resting the container 1 on a product display unit 16 having a series of substantially vertical support walls 17.
• the product display unit 16 e.g., is made of cardboard, plastic or the like, and permits supporting the container 1 arranging the two compartments 10, 11 astride the support walls 17.
• the second half-shell 6 has a series of stiffening elements 18 suitable for stabilising the partition walls 13.
• the stiffening elements 18, e.g., consist in a plurality of connection blades placed between the partition walls 13 and aligned along their connection segment 14.
• connection blades 18, besides stiffening the partition walls 13, permit stacking and unstacking the second half-shells 6 in a practical and easy way during the assembly phase of the containers 1.
• the second half-shells 6 can be stacked one on top of the other resting on the connection blades 18 and remaining separated at such a distance as to prevent the one remaining fast inside the other.
• At least one portion 19 of the second half-shell 6 is substantially flat and suitable for permitting its stable resting on a surface.
• the portion 19 is obtained from a substantially opposite part with respect to the second opening edge 9 at the bottom of the egg-shaped pack.
• a closing capsule 20 suitable for maintaining the cavity of the first half-shell 2 separate from the cavity of the second half-shell 6.
• the closing capsule 20 consists of an aluminium foil which has inside a thermal lacquer suitable for allowing its hot welding on the second opening edge 9 and on the connection segment 14, so as to close and hermetically separate both the access mouths 12 of the two compartments 10, 11.
• connection means 21, 22 are of the slot-in type and consist of a connection tooth 21, of annular shape, which is obtained inside the first opening edge 5 and is engageable by interlocking on a respective protrusion 22 obtained on the second opening edge 9.
• connection means are composed of a first thread obtained on one of the opening edges 5, 9 and engageable by screwing in a second thread obtained on the other opening edge 5, 9.
• the first half-shell 2 has a plurality of internal locator beads 23 which are distributed with substantially constant pitch in the vicinity of the summit of the first half-shell 2 and are suitable for maintaining the accessories 3, 4 in a substantially preset position.
• the internal locator beads 23 are shaped to obtain easy and practical stacking and unstacking of the first half-shells 2 during the assembly phase of the containers 1.
• the first half-shells 2 can be stacked one on top of the other resting on the internal locator beads 23 and remaining in any case separated at such a distance as to prevent the one remaining fast inside the other.
• the internal locator beads 23 permit automating the production line of the containers
• the internal locator beads 23 are shaped so as to also act as inner reinforcement ribs
• the internal locator beads 23 and the inner reinforcement ribs 24, in actual fact, are substantially coincidental, but alternative embodiments are possible in which are provided internal locator beads 23 and inner reinforcement ribs 24 that are distinct and separated from each other.
• the accessories 3, 4 contained in the first half-shell 2 are two in number.
• a play article 3 such as a figurine, a miniature, a little car, etc., which is placed inside a receptacle 25 or, alternatively, inside a protective bag.
• the other accessory consists e.g., of an implement, such as a spatula 4, a teaspoon or the like, suitable for allowing the user to collect the first and the second food product 7, 8 and carry it to his/her mouth.
• an implement such as a spatula 4, a teaspoon or the like
• covering labels 26 intended to bear wording, figures and identification marks of the container 1 and of the products contained in it.
• the covering label 26 is just one, is shaped like a cap to reproduce the shape of the half-shells 2, 6 and wraps around both the half-shells 2, 6 to allow further sealing and protecting their contents.
• the first half-shell 2 has a rounded- off part 27 at the first opening edge 5.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)
• Meat, Egg Or Seafood Products (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=40302856

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (5)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (5)

• 2008
  • 2008-05-05 IT IT000132A patent/ITMO20080132A1/it unknown
• 2009
  • 2009-04-29 WO PCT/IB2009/005423 patent/WO2009136246A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2009-04-29 EP EP09742419A patent/EP2310288B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2009-04-29 AT AT09742419T patent/ATE546381T1/de active
  • 2009-04-29 ES ES09742419T patent/ES2386502T3/es active Active

Patent Citations (5)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events