A tub or carton retainer

Abstract

 A tub or carton retainer comprises a holder (1) adapted to accommodate a tub (2) placed therein, with means such as a ledge or a recess (5) to securely support the tub in place by a rim or rebated portion of the tub, and a removable lid (4) adapted to engage with the holder. The tub retainer may be used to retain a tub containing a consumable product such as a spreadable butter or low fat spread and is suitable for storage in a refrigerator or for table use. The tub is preferably clipped in place in the holder and the base of the holder is preferably left open to aid removal of the tub.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a tub or carton retainer, especially for use with conventional tubs containing spreadable butter or low-fat spreads.

[0002] One of the problems facing the consumer of spreadable butter and low-fat spread products is that the product cannot be removed from the tub in which it is sold, and placed on a dish without making a mess. One of the advantages of such products is that their composition and consistency is such that they are spreadable even when stored in a refrigerator, but when placed on a table for consumption, the general appearance of the tub is not pleasing to the eye. That is to say, the lid of the tub has to be removed, the protective foil peeled back, and the brand name on the tub is clearly visible. The present invention seeks to overcome these problems by providing a retainer for a tub or carton containing a consumable product such as spreadable butter or low-fat spread, which securely retains the tub and which has its own lid, being suitable for use on the table or when storing the tub in a refrigerator.

[0003] Accordingly, the present invention provides a tub or carton retainer comprising a holder (1) adapted to accommodate a tub (2) placed therein, with means (3) to securely support the tub in place by a rim or rebated portion of the tub, and a removable closure member (4) adapted to engage with the holder.

[0004] Preferably, the base of the holder defines an opening (11). The opening at the base enables the user to push a tub out of the holder, for example when its contents are exhausted.

[0005] Preferably, the tub-supporting means (3) comprises a ledge or a recess (4) adapted as a seating for an outwardly-protruding rim or rebated portion of a tub accommodated by the holder. Most tubs define an outwardly-curled or-protruding rim for strengthening purposes providing a convenient point of support for suspendably supporting a tub within the holder.

[0006] Preferably, the ledge or recess (5) is located just below the rim (6) of the holder, such that a tub accommodated by the holder fits flush with the rim of the holder. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the lid of the tub may be removed while the tub is seated in the holder and the closure member (4) may be fitted over the rim of the holder if desired.

[0007] Preferably, the tub-supporting means additionally includes means to engage over the top of a tub accommodated by the holder to restrict the freedom of movement of the tub, such that the rim (8) of the tub deforms resiliently in order to clear the said engagement means during placement in the holder. This arrangement has the advantage that a snap-fit may be achieved, and ensures that the tub cannot fall out of the holder even if inverted.

[0008] Preferably, the engagement means comprises a small domed protuberance (7) extending over a ledge or a recess (5) defining the tub-supporting means. Such an arrangement is more readily moulded, and all that is required is two domed protuberances placed at opposite ends of the holder, effectively acting as retaining clips.

[0009] Optionally, insulation may be included around the insides of the holder. Alternatively, a water bath may be included in the base of the holder. In either case, the contents of the tub may be kept cool at room temperature, after removal from a refrigerator.

[0010] Most preferably, a tub retainer as described is provided for table use and is adapted to accommodate any of the conventional tub sizes used for butter-based or low-fat spread products, such as rectangular, round or oval tubs. Tub retainers may be moulded in plastics such that a range of tub sizes may be an exact fit with the holder portion.

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tub retainer in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the holder portion of a tub retainer in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the tub retainer of Figure 2, with the lid in position, and

Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation of the tub retainer of Figures 2 and 3, when viewed on section line A-A of Figure 3.

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, a tub or carton retainer comprises a holder portion 1 having four preferably outwardly-sloping sides which is open at the top and to the base. A ledge or a recess 5 extends around the inside of the holder portion 1 just below the rim 6 of the holder to act as a seating for a tub 2.

[0013] A tub 2, such as a plastics tub containing a butter-based product such as spreadable butter or a low-fat spread, for example a standard rectangular tub having an outwardly-curled rim 8 of 226.6 grams (0.5 lbs,) net weight capacity, may be placed in the holder from above such that the rim 8 seats on the ledge 5. The tub 2 is thus securely retained in the holder 1, hanging from the ledge 5 such that the base of the tub 2 does not extend below the base of the holder 1. Generally the lid of the tub will be removed before placing the tub in the holder 1.

[0014] A closure member or lid 4 is then placed over the edges of the rim 6 of the holder 1, and may if necessary be provided with a hermetic seal.

[0015] Figures 2 to 4 show an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the lid 4 is provided with a moulded finger grip 9, and with moulded ribs 10 spaced at intervals inside the outer periphery of the lid 4 which ribs engage against the outer periphery of the rim 6 of the holder 1 (see Figure 4). This arrangement allows a securely fitting lid, but also allows air to pass inside the tub retainer when closed by the lid 4.

[0016] The holder 1 also comprises a skirt portion 10 around its base defining a base opening 11.

[0017] As seen in Figures 2 and 4, a ledge 5 extends around the inside of the holder 1 just below the inner periphery of the rim 6 of the holder to provide a seating for the tub 2. Two small domed protuberances 7 at opposite ends of the holder 1 extend over a cut out portion 12 (facilitating removal from the mould) of the ledge 5, such that the rim 8 of the tub 2 resiliently deforms in order to clear the domed protuberances 7, whereby the tub restores its normal shape and its rim portion 8 fits tightly between the protuberances 7 and the ledge 5. Thus the protuberances 7 provide an effective clip to hold the tub in place with a snap-fit. This restricts the freedom of movement of the tub in the holder, which will not fall out of the holder even if inverted. However, it is not difficult to push the tub out of the holder, for example when its contents are exhausted, by pushing from below through the opening 11.

[0018] The base of the holder 1 may be provided with adhesive stickers, felt, or roughened, so as to avoid sliding movement of the tub retainer when placed on a table in use.

[0019] It has been found that a single tub retainer in accordance with the present invention may be designed such that it will accommodate up to 24 different conventional rectangular containers of 226.6 grams net weight capacity of approximately the same rim dimensions, but each having slightly different rim and corner profiles. It will be appreciated that the ledge or recess defining the tub-supporting means may equally well accommodate cartons with flat rims or the rebated portion 13 of a carton below the rim.

[0020] The tub retainer is preferably moulded in plastics material such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and different sizes may be moulded to suit different sized tubs or cartons. It may also be made in ceramic materials.

[0021] While the invention has been described in the context of tubs or cartons for butter-based products or low-fat spreads, it may be used for plastic tubs or cardboard cartons containing other dairy products, or any consumable product for that matter.

[0022] Finally, it can be seen that the tub retainer advantageously possesses an attractive and pleasing appearance for table use, and can be used again and again by simply replacing the tub. It is also suitable for use in a refrigerator, and if desired insulation such as expanded polystyrene or other padding may be provided around the insides of the holder 1, or alternatively when the holder has a closed base, a water bath may be provided to keep the contents of the tub cool in summer once removed from the refrigerator.

Claims

1, A tub or carton retainer comprising a holder (1) adapted to accommodate a tub (2) placed therein, with means (3) to securely support the tub in place by a rim or rebated portion of the tub, and a removable closure member (4) adapted to engage with the holder.

2. A tub retainer as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the base of the holder (1) defines an opening (11) therein.

3. A tub retainer as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the tub-supporting means comprises a ledge or recess (5) adapted as a seating for an outwardly-protruding rim or rebated portion of a tub accommodated by the holder.

4. A tub retainer as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the ledge or recess (5) is located just below the rim (6) of the holder, such that a tub accommodated by the holder fits flush with the rim of the holder.

5. A tub retainer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the tub-supporting means additionally includes means to engage over the top of a tub accommodated by the holder to restrict the freedom of movement of the tub, such that the rim of the tub deforms resiliently in order to clear the said engagement means during placement in the holder.

6. A tub retainer as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the engagement means comprises a small domed protuberance (7) extending over a ledge or a recess (5) defining the tub-supporting means.

7. A tub retainer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including insulation around the insides of the holder.

8. A tub retainer as claimed in Claim 1 including a water bath in the base of the holder.

9. A tub retainer as claimed in any of the preceding claims for table use whenever adapted to accommodate a conventional tub for butter, butter-based, or low-fat spread products.

Drawing