WO2020109578A1

WO2020109578A1 - Receptacle for food and/or beverages

Info

Publication number: WO2020109578A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/083138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel DE BLOOS
Original assignee: Kiobox Srl
Priority date: 2018-11-29
Filing date: 2019-11-29
Publication date: 2020-06-04
Also published as: BE1026284B1; US20220024639A1; EP3887274B1; EP3887274A1; CA3120420A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a receptacle (1) for food and/or beverages comprising a container (2) and a lid (3) designed to hermetically seal the container (2). A bottom of the container (2) is provided with protuberances (20) extending towards the outside and the lid (3) is provided with recesses (10) opening towards the outside. The number of protuberances (20) is less than the number of recesses (10) and each protuberance (20) is located respectively in line with a first corresponding recess (10) when the lid (3) hermetically seals the container (2).

Description

CONTAINER FOR FOOD AND / OR BEVERAGES

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of containers for food and / or drinks comprising a container and a lid designed to hermetically seal the container. State of the art

Such containers are known from document US2007 / 000922A1.

In this known configuration, the lid of a large container has protuberances making it possible to fit a smaller container on said lid. Such a container does not, however, make it possible to fit several large containers or to fit several small containers or to fit containers whose external dimensions are not compatible with the shape and arrangement of the protrusions of the lid of the large container.

Such containers are also known from document US20150021322. In this known configuration, it is however difficult to stack containers of different dimensions given the number of protrusions.

Also known from such containers are documents US8017681 and

JP2005001736. In these known configurations, it is intended to stack only containers of identical dimensions.

Such containers are also known from document DE4326176. In this known configuration, it is intended to stack only containers of two different dimensions.

Such containers are also known from document D5 - US9108766. In this known configuration, it is not possible to stably stack a large container on top of several smaller containers. Summary of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a container for food or drink which allows more flexibility in the stable stacking of several containers.

The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

According to the invention there is provided a container for food or drink comprising a container and a cover adapted to seal the container. A bottom of the container is provided with protrusions extending outwards and the cover is provided with recesses opening towards the exterior, each protuberance being capable of being introduced at least partially into each recess. The number of protrusions is less than the number of recesses and each protrusion is located respectively at the right of a corresponding recess when the lid hermetically closes the container.

Thanks to said protuberances and recesses as well as to their number, it becomes possible more easily to stack containers one on the other in a stable manner laterally. It is for example easier to stack a container comprising for example four protuberances, transversely above two other containers of the same size and whose lids each have eight recesses. For example, it is also easier to stack a container having for example four protrusions, above two other smaller containers whose lids each have four recesses. As will be illustrated by means of examples below, the stacking of many other combinations of containers will be facilitated.

With containers according to the invention, the stack does not require either that the shape and the external dimensions of the bottom of a first container are compatible with the fitting means provided on the cover of a second container on which just stack the first container, which offers more flexibility in the dimensions and shapes of the containers to be stacked. Preferably, each protuberance is able to fit into each recess, which increases the lateral stability of two containers when they are stacked one on the other.

The protrusions and indentations can have several shapes and dimensions, as long as the protrusions are capable of respectively entering at least partially into the indentations. Preferably, at least one of the protrusions and at least one of the recesses are of cylindrical, or conical, or frustoconical, or parallelepipedic shape.

Preferably, the protrusions all have the same shape and the same dimensions and the recesses all have the same shape and the same dimensions.

Preferably, the number of protrusions of a container is less than or equal to 4. More preferably, the number of protrusions of a container is equal to 4.

Preferably, in an orthonormal reference frame XY, the distances (e) along X and along Y between the centers of any two adjacent recesses are all identical.

Preferably, apart from the protuberances and the recesses, an upper face of the container lid is planar or mainly planar and a lower face of the bottom of the container container is planar or mainly planar.

The invention also relates to a kit comprising several containers according to the invention and having different dimensions, in particular having different volumes.

Preferably, said kit comprises at least a first container according to the invention and a second container according to the invention, the kit being characterized in that, in an orthonormal reference frame XY, the distances (e) along X and along Y between the centers of any two adjacent recesses of the first container and the distances (e) along X and along Y between the centers of any two adjacent recesses of the second container are all identical. The invention also relates to a container and a kit as described above, by inverting the terms “protrusions” and “indentations”.

Brief description of the figures

These aspects as well as other aspects of the invention will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the drawings of the figures, in which: Fig.1 shows schematically and in section a container according to the state of the art;

Fig.2 schematically shows in section three containers according to Fig.1 when they are stacked;

Fig.3 shows schematically and in section a container according to the invention; Fig.4 shows schematically and in section two containers according to Fig.3 when they are stacked;

Fig.5 shows schematically and in top view a first example of the lid of a container according to a preferred version of the invention;

Fig.6 shows schematically and in top view a second example of the lid of a container according to a preferred version of the invention;

Fig.7 shows schematically and in top view a third example of the lid of a container according to a preferred version of the invention; Fig. 8 shows schematically and in section a kit comprising

containers according to a version of the invention when stacked; Fig. 9 shows schematically and in section a kit comprising

containers according to a preferred version of the invention when stacked;

Fig.10 shows schematically and in perspective a first example of a kit comprising containers according to the invention;

Fig.1 1 shows schematically and in perspective a second example of a kit comprising containers according to the invention;

Fig.12 shows schematically and in perspective a third example of a kit comprising containers according to the invention; The drawings of the figures are neither to scale nor proportioned. Generally, similar or identical elements are denoted by identical references in the figures.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

Fig.1 shows schematically a section along a vertical plane of a known container (1). It is a container for containing food and / or drinks and which comprises a container (2) and a cover (3) designed for and therefore capable of hermetically closing the container (2). As seen in Fig.1, a bottom of the container (2) is provided with protrusions (20) extending outwards and the cover (3) is provided with recesses (10) opening towards the outside. At least two of the protuberances (20) are located in line with at least two recesses (10) respectively when the cover (3) hermetically closes the container (2). Furthermore, said at least two protrusions (20) are capable of respectively being introduced at least partially into said at least two recesses (10).

Preferably said at least two protrusions (20) are capable of fitting respectively into said at least two recesses (10).

Preferably, at least one of the protrusions (20) and at least one of the recesses (10) are of cylindrical, or conical, or frustoconical or parallelepiped shape. More preferably, the protrusions (20) of the container (2) all have the same shape and the same dimensions and the recesses (10) of the cover (3) all have the same shape and the same dimensions.

Fig.2 shows schematically a section along a vertical plane of three containers (1) according to Fig.1 when they are stacked and when the protrusions (20) of the container (2) of a container (1) are introduced into the recesses

(10) of the cover (3) of a lower container (1).

In the example of Fig1 and Fig.2, each container (1) has two protrusions (20) and two recesses (10), but there may be more than two per container (1) in each case, as will be seen in other examples described below in connection with the invention.

Preferably, the number of protrusions (20) is less than or equal to 10, preferably less than or equal to 5, preferably equal to 2 or 3 or 4, and the number of recesses (10) is less than or equal to 20, preferably less than or equal to 16, preferably equal to 2 or 4 or 8 or 16.

Fig.3 schematically shows a section along a vertical plane of a container (1) according to the invention. This container is identical or similar to the containers described in relation to Figs. 1 and 2, except that here the number of protrusions (20) is less than the number of recesses (10) and that each protuberance (20) is located respectively at the right of one

corresponding recess (10) when the cover (3) closes

hermetically the container (2).

In this example, the lid (3) of the container (1) has four

recesses (10) and the container (2) of the container (1) has two protrusions (20). Fig.4 schematically shows a section along a vertical plane of two containers (1) according to Fig.3 when they are stacked.

In another example (not illustrated), the cover (3) of the container (1) comprises for example eight recesses (10) and the container (2) of the container (1) comprises four protrusions (20).

Preferably, each protuberance (20) is able to fit into each recess (10), which increases the lateral stability of two containers when they are stacked on top of each other.

The protrusions (20) and recesses (10) can have several shapes and dimensions, provided that the protrusions (20) are able to at least partially enter the corresponding recesses. Preferably, at least one of the protrusions (20) and at least one of the recesses (10) are cylindrical, or conical, or frustoconical, or parallelepipedic. Preferably, the protrusions (20) all have the same shape and the same dimensions and the recesses (10) all have the same shape and the same dimensions.

Preferably, the number of protrusions of a container (1) is less than or equal to 4. More preferably, the number of protrusions of a container (1) is equal to 4.

Whatever the embodiment of a container (1), and apart from the protrusions (20) and the recesses (10), an upper face of its cover (3) is flat or mainly flat and a lower face of the bottom of its container (2) is flat or mainly flat.

Preferably, in an orthonormal reference frame XY, the distances (e) along X and the distances (e) along Y between the centers of any two adjacent recesses (10) are all identical. The examples of Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate this preferred characteristic in respectively three embodiments of the cover (3) of a container (1) according to the invention.

Fig.5 shows schematically and in top view a first example of the cover (3) of a container (1) according to this preferred version of the invention. In this example, said cover (3) has four recesses (10). One notices there said orthonormal reference frame XY as well as the distances (e) along X and along Y between the centers of two adjacent recesses (10).

Fig.6 shows schematically and in top view a second example of the cover (3) of a container (1) according to this preferred version of the invention. In this example, said cover (3) has eight recesses (10) arranged in two rows of four.

Fig.7 shows schematically and in top view a third example of the cover (3) of a container (1) according to this preferred version of the invention. In this example, said cover (3) has sixteen recesses (10) arranged in four rows of four.

Many other embodiments are of course possible. The invention also relates to a kit comprising at least a first container according to the invention and a second container according to the invention, the kit being characterized in that, in an orthonormal reference frame XY, the distances (e) along X and along Y between the centers of any two adjacent recesses of the first container and the distances (e) along X and along Y between the centers of any two adjacent recesses of the second container are all identical.

Fig.8 shows schematically and in section a kit according to the invention and comprising containers (1) according to the invention when they are stacked.

Preferably, a kit according to the invention comprises at least a first container (1) according to the invention and a second container (1) according to the invention, the volume of an envelope of the first container (1) being an integer multiple (K1) of the volume of an envelope of the second container (1). Preferably, said integer multiple (K1) is an integer and not zero power of 2, preferably 2 or 4 or 8.

Preferably, a kit according to the invention comprises at least a first container (1) according to the invention and a second container (1) according to the invention, the height (H2) of an envelope of the first container (1) being an integer multiple (K2) of the height (H1) of an envelope of the second container (1). Preferably, said integer multiple (K2) is an integer and not zero power of 2, preferably 2, 4, or 8.

Fig.9 shows schematically and in section a kit according to this preferred version of the invention and comprising containers (1) according to the invention when they are stacked. In this example, the kit notably includes two containers (1) each having a height H1 as well as a container (1) of height H2, with H2 = 2.H1. As shown on the assembly of Fig. 9, this makes it possible to level the upper surface of the stack, which makes it possible to add other containers (not shown) over the upper surface of

stacking. Fig.10 shows schematically and in perspective a first example of a kit comprising containers (1) according to the invention and a way of stacking them.

Fig.1 1 shows schematically and in perspective a second example of a kit comprising containers (1) according to the invention and a way of stacking them. Fig.12 shows schematically and in perspective a third example of a kit comprising containers (1) according to the invention and a way of stacking them.

Preferably, the lid (3) of a container (1) according to the invention has an overall surface which is between 1000 mm square and 60,000 mm square, preferably between 3000 mm square and 45,000 mm square.

Preferably, the container (2) of a container (1) according to the invention is made of plastic, glass or organic material.

The invention also relates to a container (1) as described above and in which the protrusions (20) are replaced by recesses (10) and vice versa. Using the example of Fig.3, it would be a container in which the bottom of the container is provided with recesses (10) and whose cover is provided with protrusions (20).

The invention also relates to a kit comprising several containers (1) as described above and in which the protuberances (20) are replaced by recesses (10) and vice versa.

The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which have a purely illustrative value and should not be considered as limiting. In general, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and / or described above. The presence of reference numbers in the drawings cannot be considered to be limiting, including when these numbers are indicated in the claims.

The use of the verbs "to understand", "to include", "to include", or any other variant, as well as their conjugations, cannot in any way exclude the presence of elements other than those mentioned. The use of the indefinite article "a", "an", or of the definite article "le", "la" or "G", to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements. The invention can also be described as follows: a container (1) for food and / or drinks comprising a container (2) and a cover (3) designed to hermetically seal the container (2). A bottom of the container (2) is provided with protrusions (20) extending outwards and the cover (3) is provided with recesses (10) opening outwards. Number of

protrusions (20) is less than the number of recesses (10) and each protrusion (20) is located respectively at the right of a first recess (10) corresponding when the cover (3) closes

hermetically the container (2).

Claims

1. Container (1) for food or drink comprising a container (2) and a cover (3) designed to seal the container (2), a bottom of the container (2) being provided with protrusions (20) extending towards the outside, the cover (3) being provided with recesses (10) opening towards the outside, each protuberance (20) being able to be introduced at least partially into each recess (10),

characterized in that the number of protrusions (20) is less than the number of recesses (10) and in that each protuberance (20) is located respectively at the right of a corresponding recess (10) when the cover (3) closes tightly the container (2).

2. Container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each

protuberance (20) is able to fit into each recess (10).

3. Container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the protrusions (20) and at least one of the recesses (10) are of cylindrical, or conical, or frustoconical or parallelepiped shape.

4. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the protrusions (20) all have the same shape and the same dimensions and in that the recesses (10) all have the same shape and the same dimensions.

5. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the number of protrusions (20) is less than or equal to 4, preferably equal to 4.

6. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that, apart from the protrusions (20) and the

recesses (10), an upper face of the cover (3) is essentially planar and a bottom face of the bottom of the container (2) is essentially planar.

7. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that, in an orthonormal reference frame XY, the distances (e) along X and along Y between the centers of any two adjacent recesses (10) are all identical.

8. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the lid (3) of the container (1) has an overall surface which is between 1000 square mm and 60000 square mm, preferably between 3000 square mm and 45000 square mm.

9. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the container (2) is made of plastic, glass or organic material.

10. Kit comprising at least a first container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and a second container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in an orthonormal coordinate system XY, the distances ( e) along X and along Y between the centers of any two recesses (10) adjacent to the first container (1) and the distances (e) along X and along Y between the centers of any two recesses (10) adjacent to the second container ( 1) are all identical.

1 1. Kit according to claim 10, characterized in that the volume of a

envelope of the first container (1) is an integer multiple (K1) of the volume of an envelope of the second container (1).

12. Kit according to claim 1 1, characterized in that said integer multiple (K1) is an integer and not zero power of 2, preferably 2 or 4 or 8.

13. Kit according to claim 10, characterized in that the height (H2) of an envelope of the first container (1) is an integer multiple (K2) of the height (H1) of an envelope of the second container (1) .

14. Kit according to claim 13, characterized in that said integer multiple (K2) is an integer and not zero power of 2, preferably 2, 4, or 8.

15. Container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or kit according to any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the terms "protrusions (20)" and "recesses (10)" are reversed.