WO2012090052A1

WO2012090052A1 - Container for food products

Info

Publication number: WO2012090052A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/003153
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donato D'ALESSANDRO
Original assignee: Preziosi Food S.R.L.
Priority date: 2010-12-27
Filing date: 2011-12-23
Publication date: 2012-07-05
Also published as: IT1404197B1; ITMO20100365A1

Abstract

The container (1) for food products comprises an upper half-shell (2), which has a first opening edge (5) and is substantially hollow for the containment of at least an accessory (3, 4), and a base half- shell (6) which has a second opening edge (9) and 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 half-shells (2, 6) being associable with each other in correspondence to the opening edges (5, 9) to form a substantially egg-shaped pack wherein the opening edges (5, 9) are obtained in correspondence to a plane substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the substantially egg- shaped pack, the first compartment (10) and the second compartment (11) being substantially concentric, with the second compartment (1 1) arranged around the first compartment (10).

Description

CONTAINER FOR FOOD PRODUCTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a container for food products.

Background Art

Different types of containers for food products are known which have the shape of an egg split into two half-shells, one of which is meant to contain an accessory, a game and/or a surprise, while the other is suitable for containing a food product.

Each half-shell has an opening edge meant to be associated substantially matching with the opening edge of the other half-shell.

The half-shells are usually made by moulding plastic material and both the accessory and the food product can be picked up from outside once the half- shells have been separated from one another.

In some containers instead one or both the half-shells are made of edible material and they themselves represent the packed food product.

In a particular type of container, the half-shells are associable and separable the one from the other along one of the symmetry planes of the egg, are identically shaped and have ogive-shaped opening edges.

In another type of container illustrated in the document EP 1 533 245, on the other hand, the two half-shells are associable and separable along the median transversal plane, meaning by median transversal plane that which is at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the egg-shaped pack and is arranged at the height at which the diameter of the round-shaped opening edges is greatest.

These containers of known type do have a number of drawbacks including the fact that they are prevalently intended for the consumption of just one food product and, therefore, they are considerably limited in terms of variety and assortment of the flavours offered to consumers.

Another drawback of the containers of known type consists in the fact that their particular egg shape makes them hard to simply rest on a surface.

To overcome the aforementioned drawbacks at least in part the use is known of containers in agreement with the teachings of the patent document WO 2009/136246. The containers made this way are made up of a base half-shell, which is split into a first compartment containing a first food product and into a second compartment containing a second food product, and of an upper half-shell in turn containing a toy and a palette spoon to be used to taste the food products. In particular the base half-shell comprises a pair of partition walls that separate the two compartments and which extend longitudinally to the egg-shaped pack, i.e., they are substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry of the egg-shaped pack.

The partition walls are arranged facing one another and slightly distant from each other to define a slit substantially parallel to the partition walls themselves. The slit therefore extends along the plane of symmetry of the egg and allows placing the container on a product-carrying display unit having a series of substantially vertical supporting walls astride which the two compartments of the base half-shell are arranged.

The containers in agreement with the document WO 2009/136246 are also susceptible to further upgrading.

In this respect, it must be emphasised that the separation of the two compartments by means of a longitudinal slit considerably weakens and reduces the overall sturdiness of the base half-shell.

To overcome this drawback, the base half-shell is equipped with a series of stiffening elements, which link the partition walls and stabilise these but which complicate to no small extent the plastic moulding process of the base half- shell.

Neither must the fact be neglected that the compartments of the base half-shell made this way are practically identical and symmetric the one to the other; each of them in fact is delimited by a partition wall and by a portion of spherical surface.

Such conformation of the compartments is sometimes inconvenient and not very practical for filling with food products, in particular those food products which are elongated along a longitudinal direction (e.g.., breadsticks) and can only be positioned in spherical compartments with serious waste of the space at disposal. To this must also be added that in this specific commercial sector, the need and requirement are especially felt to renew its products and constantly present new ones, in order to distinguish these more from those of competitors and prompt consumers to buy its articles.

It must be realised in fact that the commercial success of these products is often tied to the novelty of the product itself and to the possibility of making the consumers, who are often young children, interact with it by placing at disposal the toy/surprise and by presenting containers of different shapes which are more appealing for the customers, both from an aesthetic and a practical viewpoint. Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to obtain the aforementioned upgrades by providing a container for food products which is particularly strong and, at the same time, which can be fabricated in a practical, easy and functional way, without any particular process complications.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container in which the food products can be housed in a compact way without too much waste of the space available.

A further object of the present invention is to cater to the aforementioned commercial requirements by making available a container for food products which is highly appealing for consumers from both an aesthetic and practical viewpoint.

Not the least object of the present invention is to provide a container for food products which can be easily handled for simply resting it on a surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for food products that allows overcoming the mentioned drawbacks of the state of the art in the ambit of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as low cost solution.

The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present container for food products, comprising at least an upper half-shell, which has a first opening edge and is substantially hollow for the containment of at least an accessory, and at least a base half-shell which has a second opening edge and is split into at least a first compartment for containing a first food product and into at least a second compartment for containing a second food product, said half-shells being associable with each other in correspondence to said opening edges to form a substantially egg-shaped pack wherein said opening edges are obtained in correspondence to a plane substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction of said substantially egg-shaped pack, characterized by the fact that said first compartment and said second compartment are substantially concentric, with said second compartment arranged around said first compartment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not sole, embodiment of a container for food products, illustrated purely as an example but not limited to the annexed drawings in which:

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 upper half-shells according to the invention stacked one on top of the other;

figure 4 is a section view of a series of base 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.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such illustrations, globally indicated by 1 is a container for food products.

The container 1 comprises an upper half-shell 2, which has a first opening edge 5 and which is substantially hollow to contain one or more accessories 3, 4, and a base half-shell 6, which has a second opening edge 9 and which is also internally hollow.

The half-shells 2, 6 can be associated with one another in correspondence to the 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. In particular, the opening edges 5, 9 are obtained in correspondence to a plane substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the egg-shaped pack and, more in detail, in correspondence to the median transversal plane.

The upper half-shell 2 has an ogive-like shape typical of the upper part of an egg, while the base half-shell 6 altogether has the substantially spherical shape typical of the lower part of an egg.

In the present treatise, the half-shells 2, 6 are therefore defined "upper" and "base" with reference to the normal vertical arrangement of the egg-shaped pack, i.e., with its longitudinal direction in vertical; clearly such definition must not be deemed limitative, the characteristics of the half-shells 2, 6 described and illustrated here being independent of the reference arrangement of the egg- shaped pack.

To obtain the egg-shaped pack, the opening edges 5, 9 can be mutually associated the one with the other by inter-positioning connection means 21, 22 of a temporary and interlocking type.

Such connection means consist, for example, of a connection tooth 21, of annular shape, which is obtained inside the first opening edge 5 and can be engaged by interlocking on a respective protrusion 22 obtained on the second opening edge 9.

The base 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 second food product 8 consists, e.g., of a fluid substance such as a cream, an aromatized mousse, a yoghurt or the like, while the first food product 7 preferably consists of a substance having a preset solidity such as pieces of cereals, breadsticks, fruit, or other foods which can be soaked and/or dipped in the second food product 8.

Usefully, the first compartment 10 and the second compartment 11 are substantially concentric, with the second compartment 1 1 arranged around the first compartment 10.

In particular, the first compartment 10 and the second compartment 11 have a first access mouth 10a and a second access mouth 1 la respectively, so that both the compartments 10, 11 are accessible from outside once the upper half-shell 2 has been removed.

The first access mouth 10a has a substantially circular shape, while the second access mouth 1 1a has a substantially circular crown shape and is defined between the first access mouth 10a and the second opening edge 9.

Advantageously, the base half- shell 6 comprises a partition wall 12, 13, 14 suitable for separating the two compartments 10, 11.

The partition wall 12, 13, 14 comprises a first dividing wall 12 turned towards the first compartment 10, a second dividing wall 13 turned towards the second compartment 1 1, and a connecting segment 14 joining the first dividing wall 12 and the second dividing wall 13 and which, in practice, separates the access mouths 10a, 1 la of the two compartments 10, 1 1.

The dividing walls 12, 13 are arranged substantially facing one another and slightly separated to define a recess 15 with a substantially circular shape.

From the connecting segment 14, the dividing walls 12, 13 extend substantially sloping with respect to the longitudinal direction of the egg-shaped pack.

This allows stacking the base half-shell 6 with the base half-shell 6 of another container 1, with the partition wall 12, 13, 14 of a container 1 fitted in the recess 15 of the other container 1 as shown in the figure 4.

More in detail, the dividing walls 12, 13 have a substantially truncated-cone shape, with the symmetry axis coaxial to the longitudinal direction of the egg- shaped pack and with opposite concavities; in this respect, it is underlined that by the expression "opposite concavities" of the dividing walls 12, 13 is meant that while the concavity of the first truncated-cone dividing wall 12 is turned towards the second opening edge 9 (i.e., upwards, respect to the vertical arrangement of reference for the egg-shaped pack), the second truncated-cone dividing wall 13 has the concavity turned towards the opposite side (i.e., downwards).

Between the one and the other, the dividing walls 12, 13 are sloped with an opening angle of the recess between 4° and 16° and, preferably, around 8°.

With respect to the longitudinal direction of the egg-shaped pack therefore, the slope of the dividing walls 12, 13 is particularly reduced (about 4° per side). Advantageously, at least one portion 19 of the base half-shell 6 is substantially flat and suitable for allowing it to be stably rested on a surface.

The portion 19 is obtained on the substantially opposite side with respect to the second opening edge 9 in correspondence to the bottom of the egg-shaped pack and, more in detail, of the first compartment 10.

Ultimately, the first compartment 10 is delimited at the side by the first dividing wall 12 and below by the portion 19, while above it has the first access mouth 10a.

The second compartment 11, instead, is delimited internally by the second dividing wall 13 and externally by a partially spherical wall, which reproduces the lower part of the egg-shaped pack, while above, it has the second access mouth 11a.

With the first opening edge 5 and/or with the second opening edge 9 is associable a closing capsule 20 suitable for keeping separated the cavity of the upper half-shell 2 from the cavity of the base half-shell 6.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the illustration, for example, the closing capsule 20 consists of an aluminium lamina containing a heat lacquer suitable for allowing the hot sealing thereof on the second opening edge 9 and on the connecting segment 14, so as to hermetically close and separate both the access mouths 10a, 1 la of the two compartments 10, 11.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the closing capsule 20 is made integral with the first opening edge 5, or wherein a closing capsule 20 is provided both on the first opening edge 5 and on the second opening edge 9.

The upper half-shell 2 has a plurality of inner contact ribbings 23 which are distributed with substantially constant pitch in the vicinity of the summit of the upper half-shell 2 and which are suitable for keeping the accessories 3, 4 in a substantially pre-established position.

The inner contact ribbings 23, e.g., prevent the accessories 3, 4 from taking up a position perpendicular to the closing capsule 20 and accidentally perforating it. At the same time, the inner contact ribbings 23 are shaped to obtain easy and practical stacking and destacking of the upper half-shells 2 during the assembly stage of the containers 1.

As shown in the figure 3, in fact, the upper half-shells 2 can be stacked one on top of the other resting on the inner contact ribbings 23 and remaining in any case separated by such a distance as to prevent them from sticking together. The inner contact ribbings 23 therefore allow automating the production line of the containers 1 without the risk of jams and stops due to the wrong destacking of the upper half-shells 2.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the illustrations, the inner contact ribbings 23 are shaped so as to also act as inner reinforcement ribbings 24 suitable for making the upper half-shell 2 more resistant.

The inner contact ribbings 23 and the inner reinforcement ribbings 24, in practice, are substantially matching, but alternative embodiments are possible wherein inner contact ribbings 23 and inner reinforcement ribbings 24 are provided which are distinct and separated the one from the other.

Usefully, the accessories 3, 4 contained in the upper half-shell 2 are two in number.

One of these is a play article 3 such as a play figure, a miniature, a model car, etc., which is placed inside a box container 25 or, alternatively, inside a protective bag.

The other accessory on the other hand consists for example of an instrument, like a palette spoon 4, a teaspoon or the like, suitable for enabling the user to pick up the first and the second food products 7, 8 and convey them to his/her mouth.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which, inside the upper half-shell 2 just one accessory 3, 4 is provided.

On the outer surface of the upper half-shell 2 and of the base half-shell 6, finally, are associable one or more covering labels 26 intended to bear wordings, figures and identification marks of the container 1 and of the products this contains.

Preferably, the covering label 26 is one in number and has a cap shape to reproduce the shape of the half-shells 2, 6 and envelops both the half-shells 2, 6 to allow further sealing and protecting their contents. To ensure the easier fitting of the covering label 26, the upper half-shell 2 has a rounded part 27 in correspondence to the first opening edge 5.

Claims

1) Container (1) for food products, comprising at least an upper half-shell (2), which has a first opening edge (5) and is substantially hollow for the containment of at least an accessory (3, 4), and at least a base half-shell (6) which has a second opening edge (9) and is split into at least a first compartment (10) for containing a first food product (7) and into at least a second compartment (11) for containing a second food product (8), said half- shells (2, 6) being associable with each other in correspondence to said opening edges (5, 9) to form a substantially egg-shaped pack wherein said opening edges (5, 9) are obtained in correspondence to a plane substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction of said substantially egg-shaped pack, characterized by the fact that said first compartment (10) and said second compartment (11) are substantially concentric, with said second compartment (11) arranged around said first compartment (10).

2) Container (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said base half-shell (6) comprises at least a partition wall (12, 13, 14) suitable for the separation of said compartments ( 10, 1 1 ).

3) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said partition wall (12, 13, 14) comprises a first dividing wall (12) turned towards said first compartment (10) and a second dividing wall (13) turned towards said second compartment (1 1), said dividing walls (12, 13) being arranged substantially facing one another and separated to define a recess (15) with a substantially circular shape.

4) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said dividing walls (12, 13) are sloped with respect to said longitudinal direction of the substantially egg-shaped pack to allow said base half-shell (6) to be stacked onto the base half-shell (6) of another container (1), with the partition wall (12, 13, 14) of a container (1) fitted in the recess (15) of the other container (1).

5) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said dividing walls (12, 13) are substantially truncated-cone shaped with opposite concavities. 6) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said dividing walls (12, 13) are sloped with an opening angle of said recess (15) between 4° and 16°.

7) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said dividing walls (12, 13) are sloped with an opening angle of said recess (15) substantially equal to 8°.

8) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that at least one portion (19) of said base half-shell (6) is substantially flat and suitable for allowing it to be rested on a plane.

9) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said portion (19) is obtained in correspondence to the bottom of said first compartment (10).

10) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said first compartment (10) has a first access mouth (10a) which has a substantially circular shape.

1 1) Container (1) according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that said second compartment (11) has a second access mouth (11a) with a substantially circular crown shape and defined between said first access mouth (10a) and said second opening edge (9).

12) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one closing capsule (20) for closing at least one between said first opening edge (5) and said second opening edge (9).

13) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said closing capsule (20) is hermetically associable with at least one of said access mouths (10a, 11a).

14) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said opening edges (5, 9) are associable with one another by interposition of interlocking connection means (21, 22).

15) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said connection means (21, 22) comprise at least a connection tooth (21) obtained on at least one of said opening edges (5, 9) and engageable by interlocking on a respective protrusion (22) obtained on the other of said opening edges (5, 9).

16) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said upper half-shell (2) comprises at least an inner contact ribbing (23) suitable for keeping said accessory (3, 4) in a substantially pre-established position.

17) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said upper half-shell (2) comprises at least an inner reinforcement ribbing (24).

18) Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said inner contact ribbing (23) and said inner reinforcement ribbing (24) are substantially matching with each other.