WO2017042756A1

WO2017042756A1 - Thermal insulating container

Info

Publication number: WO2017042756A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/055599
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ricardo DE LEVANTE; Gilberto CRUZ; Rut SIERRA; Rodney DELGADO; Mariela SALGADO; Zoila CASTILLO; Sidia MORENO; Rogelio JIMENEZ
Original assignee: Universidad Tecnológica De Panamá
Priority date: 2016-07-27
Filing date: 2016-09-20
Publication date: 2017-03-16

Abstract

Thermal insulating container comprising a first container having a first outer edge with a plurality of troughs defined in said edge, and a second container having a second outer edge provided with a plurality of crests, wherein the first container and the second container are attached opposing each other by the outer edges thereof, being linked by coupling the crests of the second container in the troughs of the first container.

Description

THERMAL INSULATING CONTAINER

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists of an essentially rectangular container for solid and liquid content, which creates thermal insulation using air for reducing heat transfer, thus preserving the temperature of the content thereof, this being either hot or cold. This thermal insulating container is made of a thermoplastic material, or the like, being easily malleable, with a plurality of inverted bases that are coupled to each other by means of tucked-in closures fitted in the structure. When at least two bases are coupled a thermal insulating chamber is created.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Nowadays, people have little time to fully enjoy a meal. Fast food restaurants are intended to provide consumers with prepared dishes, such as hamburgers, fries and soft drinks. The consumer usually takes the fast food away from the dispenser to the place to eat, which can be several minutes away from the initial location, for which the consumer needs to be provided with a disposable container for carrying the food.

The usual disposable container is just a plastic or paper bag in which food is introduced. When the contents are too heavy for a bag, polystyrene containers are normally used. These containers have a very limited capability for keeping the temperature of the content thereof. This makes food, such as fries, get cold, which influences negatively on the flavour.

US patent No. 11 / 945.314 to Stauffer, comprises a design for a double wall container which has to be welded in the joining areas of two containers having different shapes, in order to form a section filled with air therein thermally insulating the container content. The inventors recognize there are several limitations, one of them being that it requires welding in the production stage, and another that the air chamber is the space which cannot be used for packaging during transport. The present invention has a design which enables a better packaging and eliminates the need for welding during assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide a thermoplastic or another easily malleable material for a disposable container which can be configured to keep the temperature of the solids or liquids contained therein.

It is another object of this invention to provide the user with the capacity of attaching two bases of a single structure to enclose air in between.

It is still another object of the present invention to guarantee the coupling process of the two bases by means of snap fastener closures, through a plurality of crests and troughs.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a means for creating the at least one section to contain air for thermal insulation. It is still another object of the present invention, to provide a design for a container which allows easy packaging with said containers themselves.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container with a section for storing solid food or drinks.

It is still another object of this invention that the temperature of the liquid or solid content stays near the temperature of the casing for it to be contained.

It is still another object of the present invention to seal the air within the air section, thus preventing it from flowing.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a design for coupling two containers for creating an enclosed section in between for storing food or liquid drinks. It is still another object of this invention to provide a design for only one container with a plurality of bases which can be coupled together in the stage of the end user to enclose only one section for storage.

It is still another objective of this invention to provide a means for stocking closed containers for transport thereof by the end user. The present invention discloses three embodiments for creating a container with air insulation of a single mould. Two of the embodiments consist of a single device which is folded in such a way that a single container having air insulation between two walls thereof is formed. The other embodiments consist of a method for a device, using the same considerations and general features of the other two embodiments, which forms a single container when combined with another device alike having air insulation. All the embodiments are provided with an easily stackable geometry for packaging thereof and they are designed for them to be folded by the end user.

The first embodiment comprises two tetrahedral containers of different sizes which face opposing planes to each other and are attached by means of a small folding hinge. Each container comprises a side to which a plurality of crests and troughs are added, these being designed for fastening thereof.

The outer limit of both sides is in the same plane of a top view such that the area of the two chambers, including the sides thereof, is the same. The containers are intended to be attached to the coupling devices in the manner of an inverted clamp, such that one container is within the other and the space between the two containers is sealed and enclosing air which allows thermally insulating the inner area of the container.

The side of each container in this embodiment comprises an engaging mechanism having troughs and crests of a single design fitting to each other. The side of the outer container, which is bigger, includes blocking troughs with the inner crests, being smaller, of the container.

The container described in the first embodiment is configured in such a way that it reduces the volume enclosed in the container to a minimum, and it allows a plurality of them to be carried for packaging. Assembly must guarantee that the outer side of the biggest containing section in a container aligns with the smallest containing section outer edge of a consecutive container which is to be packed by the user. Once both alignments are reached, the user must push a container inside the other until it is tightened. This process can be repeated with the containers to be carried. An empty container allows consecutive stacking of more containers. The container described in the first embodiment is additionally configured such that there is a section for containing solid food or drinks and an insulating air layer in the container in a different section. In order to obtain this configuration, the end user must find the outermost side of the small container and, by holding it or by other means, take it to the outer side of the biggest container rotating along the axis described by the connecting hinge. The user will notice that the crests along the smallest container side are aligned with the troughs along the biggest container edge. Once they are totally aligned, the user must push the crests through the troughs until the crest closure is produced with the projections in the troughs. Once this is reached, the container will be blocked in place and the closing sides will form a seal. The inner wall of the biggest container and the outer wall of the smallest container will surround a volume containing air.

The present invention also includes a second embodiment consisting of a container having four compartments, all of them being aligned along a single line and opposite to a single plane. The second and third compartment are at the front side of the plane and another one opposite thereto from the opposite side, each one being attached to the previous one by means of a hinge. Those from the upper side of the first and last compartment comprise a pair of couplings. The first and last hinges of the upper side are also provided with a similar fastening mechanism. Along the lips of each container a plurality of troughs and crests are defined which are facing each other. The troughs and crests form a coupling mechanism as that of the first embodiment and allow sealing the container and forming an insulating air layer. The container described in the second embodiment can be placed in a similar configuration to that of the first design for maximizing the packaging volume. The second embodiment can also be configured such that there is a food and drinks section and a section for an insulating air layer. This embodiment differs from the first one in that the section for containing solid food or drinks is completely isolated.

In order to obtain a configuration which generates a food container and an insulating air layer, the end user must find the hinge of the right end of the second container, starting from the left in a side view of the compartment. Then, the user must rotate the second container along the axis of the left hinge within the container, align the crests on the edge of the second container with the troughs on the edge of the first container and push until it is tightened. The user must notice at that moment that the third and fourth one are now to the left of the first container, locate the third container and rotate around the axis defined by the hinge which is between the second and third compartment. Once the inner area of the edge of the third compartment is in contact with the edge of the second compartment the user must stop rotation thereof and block the clamps located in the edges which are nearest to the first and third hinge. The user now must locate the edge further to the right of the last compartment and hold it, and then rotate the last compartment along the axis defined by the hinge between the third and fourth compartment. The edge of this compartment will be closed with the edge which is most to the left of the first compartment; these edges are elongated and both of them are provided with a fastening structure. Finally, the user must push the crest of the last chamber against the valley of the first container. The structure now comprises two double-wall containers, one acting as a lid and the other acting as the container itself.

A third embodiment allows two containers to be used together as a single container, thus creating the insulating air layer, with a closed section for storage of solid food or drinks. A fourth embodiment makes it possible for the end user to stack up several containers of the type described in the second embodiment, having a configuration which allows thermal insulation due to the conical shape of the container wherein the lower lid of a compartment is smaller than the upper opening. Therefore, a trough is marked in the outer wall of the fourth chamber, dimensioned for containing the lower part of the first chamber. Once this embodiment is arranged in the thermal insulating configuration described for the second embodiment, a trough projects from the upper lid such that a second container, designed as any of those described above, can be assembled on top of it. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a general upper view of a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows a general lateral view of the first embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows a general front view of the first embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 shows a view of the invention configured for creating an air chamber. Figure 5 shows a side view of an embodiment with four bases. Figure 6 shows a view in detail of the fastening mechanism.

Figure 7 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention which allows coupling two identical devices.

Figure 8 shows a side view of the four bases embodiment configured for storing a single container. Figure 9 shows a detailed view of an edge being required for closing the four bases embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The following figures are not to scale. The dimension and/or real shape of each one of the components of the container may vary. Only important details of the container are shown, however an expert in the art can see how the container may be constructed, without requiring experimentation. Since the main function of the container cannot be achieved unless the coupling components are correctly aligned and because of easiness of use, the quantity and dimensions of the troughs and crests are left without being defined. The shape and location of each feature of the container can be understood from the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a general top view of the first embodiment of the present invention. The container 1 comprises a first container 1a and a second container 1 b. The first container 1a has a first edge 2a surrounding it, having a plurality of troughs 3 along the surface thereof. The second container 1 b features dimensions which are lower than those of the first container 1a, but the second edge thereof 2b is longer so as to guarantee equal lengths. The second edge 2b has a plurality of crests 4 along the surface thereof. The first and second edge 2a and 2b are attached to each other by means of hinges 5. Figure 2 shows a side view of the first embodiment of the invention with the container 1 and the corresponding positions of the second container 1 b and of the first container 1 a. The relative positions of the side troughs 3 in the first container 1a can be seen, as well as the side crests of the second container 1 b. The hinge 5 has an outward-oriented V shape which allows the container 1b to easily rotate on the container 1 a.

Figure 3 shows a general front view of the invention. The container 1 b is nearer the first container 1 a, with the trough 3 being aligned with a crest 4 corresponding to the second container 1 b.

Figure 4 is a side view of the invention showing the container 1 configured to accommodate a container featuring air thermal insulation 6 between the first container 1a and the second container 1 b. The second container 1 b can be used for containing solid food or liquids. The troughs 3 are aligned and coupled to the crests 4 of said second container 1 b. The hinge 5 is closed.

Figure 5 is a detailed view of the coupling mechanisms between crests 4 and troughs 3. The crest 4 can be attached to a bell-shaped trough 3.

Figure 6 is a side view of the invention according to a second embodiment. The third container 7 comprises four portions 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d aligned and attached to each other by means of hinges. 7a and 7b are attached by means of the second hinge 10a, 7b and 7c by the third hinge 10b, and 7c to 7d by means of the fourth hinge 10c. The portions 7a and 7d have the edges thereof 8a and 8b elongated, each one with a fastening mechanism having a great trough 9a on the edge 8a, and a bigger crest 9b on the edge 8b.

Each container has a plurality of troughs and crests so as to enable coupling. The portions 7b and 7c are inner containers and have respectively crests 12a and 12b. The outer portions 7a and 7d have respectively a plurality of troughs 11 a and 11 b. The edges connecting hinges 10a and 10c have small elongated engaging structures 13a and 13b. Figure 7 is a side view of the second embodiment configured for creating air thermal insulation. The third container 7 has the fourth portions 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d folded by means of the corresponding second, third and fourth hinges thereof 10a, 10b, and 10c. The portions 7a and 7b together with the hinge 10a form an air chamber 14 between the outer wall of the container 7b and the inner wall of the portion 7a. The trough 11 a of portion 7a is aligned and blocked with crest 12a from portion 7b. The hinge 10b is a connecting articulation between the second group of chambers from 7c and 7d and the first group of portions 7a and 7b. These last two portions 7c and 7d are also coupled, by means of crests 12b, as those in the blocking portion 7c, with troughs as 11 b in the portion 7d; thus, the hinge 10c extends along.

This coupling creates an air chamber 15 between the inner wall of portion 7d and the outer wall of portion 7c. The inner walls of portions 7b and 7c form a single section which can be used for storing foods therein. The extended edge 8a from portion 7a and the extended edge 8b from portion 7b include a bigger coupling structure. The second structure is embedded in the edges which are attached by means of hinges 10c and 10a, these being two inclined planes 16 with a single anchoring line on the edge of the corresponding container thereof, having a latch for keeping the structure in place. Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the structure from a side perspective. 16a on the edge surrounding the hinge 10a, and 13b on the edge surrounding the hinge 10c.

Figure 9 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention. A compartment 17 comprises two portions 17a and 17b having a plurality of troughs 16a and crests 20a being configured and intended in the same manner as in figures 2 and 6, as well as hinge 15 and edges 19a and 19b as those shown in the figures. The important elements in this figure depicting the structure 17 are the crests 18a, 18b and the troughs 23a and 23b. The structure 18a and 18b is an elongated crest as that being defined in figure 5, also assembled on the edge 19b of the container. The structure 23a and 23b is a trough intended to be fitted in a crest such as 18a and 18b, but projecting from the bottom side of the edge 19b. The portion 23a of this structure is a trough intended to be fitted in a crest 18a. In the same structure 17, 18a, and 23a, 18b and 23b are repeated in the other side of the structure, in such a way that the crests and the troughs align to each other.

Claims

1. Thermal insulating container comprising:

- a first container having a first outer edge with a plurality of troughs defined in said edge, and

- a second container having a second outer edge provided with a plurality of crests,

wherein the first container and the second container are attached opposing each other by the outer edges thereof, being linked by coupling the crests of the second container in the troughs of the first container.

2. Thermal insulating container according to claim 1 , further comprising hinges for articulating the relative movement between the first container and the second container.