[0001] This invention concerns a container for delicacies, especially confectionery and
similar products intended to be eaten by children.
[0002] The container that is the subject of the invention is conceived in such a way that
it offers small children something much more attractive than the simple buying of
the delicacy.
[0003] This aim is achieved by the special design of the container, which allows the buyer
to be offered the chosen product or delicacy, and also a surprise gift preferably
consisting of a toy or a small-sized present, generally of a non-edible nature.
[0004] The walls of the container can be made opaque and include pictures or information
on their outside relating to the edible product or delicacy contained inside, but
without making any reference to the gift item, so that this becomes a surprise for
the small child.
[0005] The container that is the subject of the invention is also designed in such a way
that the delicacies are kept separate and isolated from the surprise or the gift item
with which, in the general case of both items being of a different nature, one edible
and the other one not, there is no risk of any kind of undesirable contamination occurring
for the delicacy or edible product.
[0006] In accordance with this invention, the container preferably consists of flexible
walls enclosing two independent compartments that open on to the same side, having
coplanar openings that are closed by means of a cover or a laminar lid. These two
compartments are kept separate by a narrow intermediate space. The walls of the two
compartments are joined together via an intermediate strip that is an extension of
the adjacent edges of these walls. The other edges of the walls forming the borders
of the two compartments are extended in a continuous peripheral rim which, along with
the intermediate area mentioned above, acts as a surface to take the lamina or cover
that closes the two compartments.
[0007] The coplanar openings of the two compartments will preferably be closed with a single
lid common to both openings, though they could also be closed by means of independent
lids.
[0008] One of the compartment of the container is intended to hold the edible product, for
example a delicacy. The other compartment will contain a surprise or a gift item,
preferably non-edible, which could consist of a small-sized toy.
[0009] The container's two compartments can have different dimensions, with the smaller
one intended for the delicacy or edible product being smaller and the larger one for
the gift item or surprise.
[0010] The whole container could consist of an internal wall, which will be shaped by the
compartments mentioned above, and a cover or an outer wall that is made to look attractive,
perhaps having drawings or information relating to the edible product that it contains.
[0011] The design of the container that is the subject of this invention will be more easily
understood with the following description, which refers to the attached diagram showing
a perspective view of an example - not intended to be restrictive - of this invention.
[0012] The container shown in the attached diagram consists of a flexible wall of narrow
thickness and made of a plastic material. This container includes two compartments,
referenced with numbers 1 and 2, the compartment with number 1 being larger than the
other. The two compartments could have the same height, with their shape being varied.
[0013] In the example shown in the diagram, compartments 1 and 2 have the approximate shape
of a right-angle prism, with rounded edges and corners, but they could be adapted
to any other shape, for example, cylindrical, truncated conical, etc.
[0014] Compartments 1 and 2 are open on the same side. In the example given here, they open
via one of their bases, with the openings or open bases being coplanar and edged by
a continuous peripheral rim 5.
[0015] Compartments 1 and 2 are separated by an intermediate space 6 of narrow width, joining
together the adjacent parts of the wall of the two compartments via an intermediate
strip, 4.
[0016] The strip 4 and the rim 5 are coplanar with each other and create the surface for
attaching the closing lamina or cover, 7. The lamina can also be made of plastic or
be metallic, or even have a plastic coating on its underside so that it can be joined
to the peripheral rim 5 by means of thermosoldering.
[0017] The smaller compartment 2 is intended to take the edible product - the delicacy -
while the larger compartment will contain the toy or gift item - the surprise.
[0018] As already explained above, the whole container can consist of an internal wall,
which can have a transparent wall and shape the compartments 1 and 2, and an outer
wall that would preferably be opaque so that the gift item or object contained in
compartment 1 would not be visible from the outside.
[0019] With the design described here, a container is achieved for delicacies that would
be highly attractive for young children due to the fact that, as well as containing
food, it would also enclose a gift item or object.
[0020] Though the example shown in the diagram has the two compartments 1 and 2 being closed
by means of a close lid 7 common to both compartments, independent lids could also
be used.
1. Container for delicacies, consisting of a flexible wall of narrow thickness, characterized
by the fact that it includes two independent compartments that open onto the same
side, having coplanar openings that are closed by means of a cover or a laminar lid,
one of the compartments holding an edible product while the other contains a surprise
object, preferably non-edible, such as a toy.
2. Container as per patent claim 1, characterized by the openings of the compartments
being edged by a continuous peripheral rim to which the lid is attached.
3. Container as per patent claim 1, characterized by the two compartments being of different
sizes.
4. Container as per patent claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said two compartments
are separated by a narrow intermediate space, leaving their wall joined together by
means of an intermediate strip that is an extension of the adjacent borders of these
walls and coplanar with the said rim.
5. Container as per patent claim 1, characterized by the fact that it includes an internal
wall that shapes the said compartments and a cover or outside wall that is opaque
and designed to look attractive.