WO2011162621A1

WO2011162621A1 - Container assemblies

Info

Publication number: WO2011162621A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2010/000149
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brendan Jon Lindsay; James Richard Manley
Original assignee: Sistema Platsics Limited
Priority date: 2010-06-25
Filing date: 2010-07-20
Publication date: 2011-12-29

Abstract

Lid closable foodstuff container assemblies having a removable tray (optionally having partitioned regions) nestable into a base, yet carrying below the tray at least one utensil, one embodiment includes a closed liquid container on the tray.

Description

"CONTAINER ASSEMBLIES"

The present invention relates to container assemblies, their use and their componentry. More particularly, but not solely, the invention is a carrier or container assembly for foodstuffs, a foodstuff container assembly, and components subassemblies and assemblies suitable for the aforementioned food container assembly or carrier assembly for foodstuffs.

The present invention recognises a benefit can arise when keeping separate components of a meal or separate foodstuff items. This can relate to longevity, crispness, sogginess, options, appearance, or the like outcomes. Or, in the case of children, fun in sequencing when eating or mixing prior to eating.

By way of example there is advantage in keeping some condiments (eg. a salad dressing or the like) separate from a salad. It may be appropriate to keep breadcrumbs, grated cheese, liquids, spreads, or other complements of a meal separate from a salad, pasta or bread.

There are many combinations of foodstuff where there is advantage in keeping such separation but also keeping the condition of each such component pristine.

The present invention recognises the prospect whether for pasta, salad or other type meal bases of providing an open top container adapted to define a lower chamber for some edible content and to keep it separate from another edible component that can be kept on a tray above the tray closed first chamber and within a chamber defined at least in part by the tray closed by a lid that holds the whole assembly in an at least substantially sealed condition and as an assembly able to remain assembled in normal usage.

By way of example the present invention envisages as advantageous the provision of a tray of a single area, or multiple areas, able to be uplifted from an at least partly received or nested condition from a freestanding open top container thereby to allow access to both or to facilitate the mixing of both.

The invention also or alternatively sees as advantageous the provision of a lower chamber loaded with edible content not deleterious to the use of utensils or components of utensils that may also be stored in that same compartment, preferably supported, yet being detachable, from the underside of the tray.

The present invention in some aspects envisages the provision of an openable container of an edible component of a meal (eg. a sauce, a dressing or the like) located on the tray in the aforementioned contemplated combinations yet being removed to allow its selective application when open to an edible content of the open top container, an edible content of one or more of the areas of the tray or any combination of the aforementioned. Examples will be described hereinafter. The present invention therefore relates to such apparatus irrespective whether or not involving the edible components.

The invention in an aspect relates to a carrier assembly for foodstuffs, the assembly comprising or including

an open top container,

a tray at least partly nestable into the container,

at least one utensil, or its components, carried by the tray under the tray, and

a lid or lid assembly for the open top container over the tray and latchable to and/or from the container.

Optionally said open top container and said lid are latchable to each other by reliance upon plural latching members of the lid or lid assembly being deployed from an unlatched condition to a latched condition onto the outside of the open top container. Or said open top container and said lid are latchable to each other by reliance upon plural latching members of the container being deployed from an unlatched condition to a latched condition onto the outside of the lid or lid assembly.

Optionally said open top container is substantially circular in horizontal section at or about its top. Or said open top container is substantially rectangular or square, or some variation thereof which truncates by curving or otherwise the corners, in horizontal section.

Preferably the latches are each moulded separately from the lid portion proper of the lid assembly and are each engaged to a mounting of that lid portion that allows articulation between the latching and unlatching conditions.

Preferably there is provided a sealing member, as part of the lid assembly, interposable to assist sealing between the lid portion proper of the lid assembly and the open top container.

Preferably said tray has a periphery over most of its depth that substantially corresponds to the inner periphery of the open top container over the depth into which it is to at least partly nest.

Preferably said tray includes upstands adapted to assist retrieval of the tray from its at least partly nestable condition in the open top container.

Preferably the tray has downward protuberances with which the at least one utensil, or its and/ or their components, engage and are thus carried.

Preferably or optionally at least one utensil, or its and/ or their components, is, or is of, a spoon or fork or knife or chopsticks, or any combination of any of them.

Preferably the tray and open top container when in their at least in part nested interrelationship seat shoulder to shoulder.

The invention is also a carrier assembly of the present invention when containing edible contents. The present invention in another aspect relates to a foodstuff container assembly comprising or including

a freestanding open top container or container assembly ("open top container"), a retrievable tray nestable at least in part (and preferably at least substantially wholly) within the open mouthed container, and supported in the nested condition to define an at least substantially tray closed lower chamber within the open top container,

a utensil, or components of a utensil, carried by, the tray within said lower chamber, and a lid or lid and seal assembly ("lid") able to seal closed the open top container to define a second at least substantially closed chamber above the tray or part thereof ("upper chamber"), the lid and container having complementary latch engagement features;

wherein in use, a foodstuff (eg. cereal, porridge, muesli, baby food, or the like) in the lower chamber is or can be kept by the tray within the lower compartment separate from some complementary or other foodstuff or condiment (eg. milk, yoghurt, fruit or the like) of the upper chamber.

Optionally said open top container and said lid assembly are latchable to each other by reliance upon plural latching members of the lid assembly being deployed from an unlatched condition to a latched condition onto the outside of the open top container or said open top container and said lid assembly are latchable to each other by reliance upon plural latching members of the container being deployed from an unlatched condition to a latched condition onto the outside of the lid assembly.

Optionally said open top container is substantiaUy circular in horizontal section at or about its top or said open top container is substantially rectangular or square, or some variation thereof Which truncates by curving or otherwise the corners, in horizontal section.

Preferably said tray has a periphery over most of its depth that substantially corresponds to the inner periphery of the open top container over the depth into which it is to at least pardy nest.

Preferably said tray includes upstands adapted to assist retrieval of the tray from its at least pardy nestable condition in the open top container.

Preferably the tray has downward protuberances with which the at least one utensil, or its and/ or their components, engage and are thus carried. Preferably or optionally the at least one utensil, or its components, is any one or more of a spoon, a fork, a knife and chopsticks, or any combination thereof.

Preferably the tray carries a closeable container.

Preferably the tray has a location (eg. a pocket) defined for said tray carried closable container ie. is a "pocketed tray".

Preferably the tray defines at least two distinct carrying areas (eg. either side of the pocket).

Preferably the lid assembly holds the tray carried closable container at least substantially against the tray ie. within its pocket.

Preferably the closable container of the tray is provided with a removable and replaceable or a hinged lid.

The invention also is a foodstuff container assembly of the present invention when containing edible contents.

The invention is also a carrier assembly or foodstuff container substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

The invention is also a tray having provision for carrying at least one utensil, or its components, said tray being of or for the carrier assembly of the present invention or a foodstuff - container assembly of the present invention and/or forming part of a carrier assembly or being substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

The invention is also any component or combination of components (eg. pocketed tray and a pocketed closable container) substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

The invention is also a lunch box or similar being apparatus as previously defined.

As used herein the term "(s)" following a noun means one or both of the singular or plural forms.

As used herein the term "and/ or" means "and" or "or". In some circumstances it can mean both.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Two preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings in which

Figures 1 to 6 and 16 show one preferred form, and

Figures 7 to 15 and 17 show a second preferred form. Figure 1 shows a plan view of the first embodiment in its closed assembled condition, Figure 2 shows a front view from any of the sides substantially as shown in Figure 1 , Figure 3 is a bottom view of the closed container assembly of Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figures 1 to 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figures 1 to 4 when shown exploded from below, the exploded drawing showing a lid proper carrying four articulable latches that can be separately latched, showing a seal attachable to the lid to form part of the lid assembly, an exploded closable container nestable within a pocket of the tray, the tray carrying below (in a clip fit manner) components of two utensils (eg. a knife and fork) and the main container,

Figure 6 is a similar view to that of Figure 5 but from above showing the same sequence, this time showing the pocket optionally located centrally or substantially centrally of the tray and in the path of a partitioning arrangement to divide, on either side of the pocket, the tray into two tray regions,

Figure 7 shows a top view of a closed assembly of a second embodiment,

Figure 8 shows the arrangement of Figure 7 from below,

Figure 9 is an elevational view in the direction A with respect of Figure 7,

Figure 10 is an elevational view of the arrangement in the direction B shown in Figure 7, Figure 11 is a view C in elevation with respect of Figure 7,

Figure 12 is an elevational view in direction D with respect of Figure 7,

Figure 13 is a perspective view from above of the arrangement of Figures 7 to 12,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the exploded components showing in sequence from above the lid proper and three latches hingedly attached thereto, an annular seal attachable into the lid portion proper of the lid assembly, the tray upliftable out of the container and the container, Figure 15 shows the same arrangement of Figure 14 but from below this time showing with respect to the tray its carriage of components of an implement, in this instance two components handle and head of a spoon clip fit engaged and carried by the upliftable tray,

Figure 16 is a part sectional view in elevation of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6 partly exploded, and

Figure 17, similarly to Figure 16 shows the embodiment of Figure 7 to 15.

The components of the present invention are preferably made from materials having appropriate food safety and performance characteristics. Any suitable moulded materials can be used for the various components but preferably all are of a suitable plastics material. Most preferably the lids and containers are of polypropylene and the latches are of high impact styrene. A lid assembly showing for the second embodiment ie. that of Figure 7 to 15 and 17 is preferably identical to that disclosed in our PCT/NZ2005/000209 (published as WO2006/065151) the full content of which is here included by way of cross reference.

The latching mechanisms are such that each clip 1 journals down into an upwardly opened outstand 2 of the lid proper 3 and which allows it to be uplifted until such time as there is abutment against the upstanding region 4.

In other forms of the present invention a non-fabricated hinging arrangement can be provided from the lid (see for example the latches of our hinged lid of WO2009/028960)

Alternatively a fabricated or non-fabricated hinging arrangement can be provided for latches upwardly of the container itself (see for example our WO2006/019314).

What is important is the ability whereby when associated together the lid assemblies and the container can be latched in a closed condition.

Less important, because of the lesser peripheral curvature, becomes an upstand 4 in an arrangement as shown in Figures 1 to 6 for its clip members 5 of its lid proper 6.

In the different embodiments there can be seen, by reference to the drawings, that the lid assembly 7 has four latches 5, the lid proper 6 and also includes the peripheral seal 8, preferably with a cross-sectional section as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 5 shows from below the container 9 into which the tray 10, which carries clip fitted below a handle 11 for each of a fork head 12 and a knife head 13. Preferably such utensils can vary. Preferred forms of those disclosed in our New Zealand Registered Design 412600.

As can be seen, preferably the bottom side of the tray 10 accords to the bottom 14 of the cylindrical pocket 15 into which a closeable container 16 can be positioned. The closeable container 16 has a lid 17 able to be press fitted or screw fitted.

Preferably this engagement of the lid 17 from the container 16 is prevented from opening and the dislodgement from the pocket is prevented by the overlying lid 6 when the whole container assembly is in its closed condition.

As can be seen, the tray 10 splits into two separate tray regions 18.

As shown in Figure 16 the tray 10 nests pardy down into the container 19 such that its peripheral rib or flange 20 rests on a shoulder 21 of the base. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate from Figure 16 and the other drawings of that embodiment how the arrangement works.

The embodiment of Figures 7 to 15 and 17 has an annular seal 21 received as shown in Figure 17. Indeed, like the other embodiment, the seal (eg. of a silicone rubber or other flexible plastics material) is captured as a press fit into a downwardly directed peripheral channel of the lid. Shown in the drawings is the preferred tray form 22 and container form 23. The tray form 22 shows preferably two upstands 24 that will make retrieval of the tray easy from within its nested or pardy nested condition in the container 33.

Carried below the tray 22 is the handle 25 and spoon head 26 of a utensil clip fit engaged and carried by the downwardly shown projections of the tray 22.

The tray has a peripheral flange or lip 28 adapted to sit as shown in Figure 17 on the peripheral shoulder 27 of the container.

In use a child or adult has several options on how to approach eating using the assembly when it contains edible content.

By way of example the embodiment of Figures 7 to 15 and 17 can have a breakfast cereal, porridge, muesli in the bottom chamber 30 and milk, yoghurt or fruits in the upper chamber 29.

By way of example the other embodiment can have a salad or pasta in chamber 31, a dressing in closed container defined chamber 32, and different materials in chambers 33 (and 34 not shown) over each of tray regions 18.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A carrier assembly for foodstuffs, the assembly comprising or including

an open top container,

a tray at least pardy nestable into the container,

a lid or lid assembly for the open top container over the tray and latchable to and/ or from the container.

2. An assembly of claim 1 wherein said open top container and said lid are latchable to each other by reliance upon plural latching members of the lid or lid assembly being deployed from an unlatched condition to a latched condition onto the outside of the open top container.

3. An assembly of claim 1 wherein said open top container and said lid are latchable to each other by reliance upon plural latching members of the container being deployed from an unlatched condition to a latched condition onto the outside of the lid or lid assembly.

4. A carrier assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein said open top container is substantially circular in horizontal section at or about its top.

5. A carrier assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said open top container is substantially rectangular or square, or some variation thereof which truncates by curving or otherwise the corners, in horizontal section.

6. A carrier assembly of claim 2 wherein the latches are each moulded separately from the lid portion proper of the lid assembly and are each engaged to a mounting of that lid portion that allows articulation between the latching and unlatching conditions.

7. A carrier assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein there is provided a sealing member, as part of the lid assembly, interposable to assist sealing between the lid portion proper of the lid assembly and the open top container.

8. A carrier assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein said tray has a periphery over most of its depth that substantially corresponds to the inner periphery of the open top container over the depth into which it is to at least partly nest

9. A carrier assembly of claim 8 wherein said tray includes upstands adapted to assist retrieval of the tray from its at least partly nestable condition in the open top container.

10. A carrier assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the tray has downward protuberances with which the at least one utensil, or its and/ or their components, engage and are thus carried.

11. A carrier assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the tray has downward protuberances with which the at least one utensil, or its and/or their components, engage and are thus carried.

12. A carrier assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one utensil, or its and/or their components, is, or is of, a spoon or fork or knife or chopsticks, or any combination thereof.

13. A carrier of any one of the preceding claims wherein the tray and open top container when in their at least in part nested inter-relationship seat shoulder to shoulder.

14. A carrier assembly of any one of the preceding claims when containing edible contents.

15. A foodstuff container assembly comprising or including

a freestanding open top container or container assembly ("open top container"), a retrievable tray nestable at least in part or at least substantially wholly within the open mouthed container, and supported in the nested condition to define an at least substantially tray closed lower chamber within the open top container,

a utensil, or components of a utensil, carried by, the tray within said lower chamber, and a lid assembly or lid and seal assembly ("lid assembly") able to seal closed the open top container to define a second at least substantially closed chamber above the tray or part thereof ("upper chamber");

wherein the lid assembly and open top container are latchable to each other;

and wherein in use, a foodstuff (eg. cereal, porridge, muesli, baby food, or the like) in the lower chamber is or can be kept by the tray within the lower compartment separate from some complementary or other foodstuff or condiment (eg. milk, yoghurt, fruit or the like) of the upper chamber.

16. A foodstuff container assembly of claim 15 wherein said open top container and said lid assembly are latchable to each other by reliance upon plural latching members of the lid assembly being deployed from an unlatched condition to a latched condition onto the outside of the open top container.

17. A foodstuff container assembly of claim 15 wherein said open top container and said lid assembly are latchable to each other by reliance upon plural latching members of the container being deployed from an unlatched condition to a latched condition onto the outside of the lid assembly.

18. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein said open top container is substantially circular in horizontal section at or about its top.

19. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein said open top container is substantially rectangular or square, or some variation thereof which truncates by curving or otherwise the corners, in horizontal section. . ^'

20. A foodstuff container assembly of claim 16 wherein the latches are each moulded separately from the lid portion proper of the lid assembly and are each engaged to a mounting of that lid portion that allows articulation between the latching and unlatching conditions.

21. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 15 to 20 wherein there is provided a sealing member, as part of the lid assembly, interposable to assist sealing between the lid portion proper of the lid assembly and the open top container.

22. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 15 to 21 wherein said tray has a periphery over most of its depth that substantially corresponds to the inner periphery of the open top container over the depth into which it is to at least pardy nest.

23. A foodstuff container assembly of claim 22 wherein said tray includes upstands adapted to assist retrieval of the tray from its at least partly nestable condition in the open top container.

24. A foodstuff container assembly of claims 15 to 23 wherein the tray has downward protuberances with which the at least one utensil, or its and/ or their components, engage and are thus carried.

25. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 15 to 24 wherein the at least one utensil, or its components, is any one or more of a spoon, a fork, a knife and chopsticks, or any combination thereof.

26. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 15 to 25 wherein the tray carries a closeable container.

27. A foodstuff container assembly of claim 26 wherein the tray has a location defined for said tray carried closable container.

28. A foodstuff container assembly of claim 26 or 27 wherein the tray defines at least two distinct carrying areas.

29. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 26 to 28 wherein the lid assembly holds the tray carried closable container at least substantially against the tray.

30. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 26 to 29 wherein the closable container of the tray is provided with a removable and replaceable or a hinged lid.

31. A foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 15 to 30 when containing edible , contents.

32. A carrier assembly or foodstuff container substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

33. A tray having provision for carrying at least one utensil, or its components, said tray being of or for the carrier assembly of any one of claims 1 to 14 or a foodstuff container assembly of any one of claims 15 to 31 and/or forming part of a carrier assembly or being substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

34. Any component or combination of components substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

35. A lunch box or similar being apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 32.