[0001] The present invention relates to an improved container, particularly for foodstuffs,
provided with a dripping filter.
[0002] More particularly, the invention concerns a container provided, near to its outlet,
with a filtering element which allows to make the liquid contained within the container
coming out without the getting out of the solid contents.
[0003] As it is well known, in the recent years the use of tin packaged foodstuffs has had
a great development.
[0004] In the most cases, within the tin a solid product, having different shape and dimensions,
along with a liquid product, provided for different reasons depending on the kind
of product, are included.
[0005] It can be for example a liquid suitable to preserve the solid product, or a liquid
produced by the same solid product, or a liquid useful as dressing for the solid product.
[0006] For example, we can mention the tinned beans, having their preservation liquid, the
syruped fruit, in this case being contemporaneously present pieces of fruit and the
syrup, the tinned tuna, wherein the seasoning oil is provided.
[0007] In any case, whichever is the product, and independently from the kind of container,
the final user has always the problem connected with the need of extracting the liquid
before then the solid, without the undue dispersion of the latter.
[0008] For example, everybody has opened a tin of beans and had the needing of eliminating
the liquid contents before seasoning and using the beans.
[0009] To this aim, everybody will employ provisional solutions, e.g. dripping the liquid
with the tin partially opened, using a small strainer or other containers, and so
on.
[0010] Obviously, none of the abovementioned systems is particularly convenient, and each
one involves a series of problems, among which the necessity of making dirty numerous
containers simply to open a tin. In view of the above, the applicant have realised
a solution allowing to open a container within which a solid product and a liquid
product are contemporaneously present, said products needing to be partially or completely
separated, without any difficulty and by extremely simple and fast operations.
[0011] Further, the solution according to the present invention allows to obtain the above
results in a simple and cheap way, not adding too much high costs to the container
manufacturing costs.
[0012] It is therefore specific object of the present invention a container, particularly
for foodstuffs, characterized in that it provides near the product outlet opening,
under the lid, a filtering dripping element.
[0013] Particularly, according to the invention, said container can be comprised of a metallic,
glass, or different material container, suitable to contain foodstuffs, and can be
of any shape, even if it will be preferably be cylindrical.
[0014] Further, according to the invention, said container can be provided with a tearing
opening, a screwed opening, a restrained opening, or it can be of the kind that can
be opened by a suitable tool, like a tin-opener.
[0015] According to the invention, said filtering element will be comprised of a net, realised
with metallic material or any other suitable material suitable to be in contact with
foodstuffs, the sizes of the meshes being chosen on the basis of the specific use
of the container.
[0016] Still according to the invention, said filtering element can be fixed, or removable,
in this second case being also provided with grip means for its removal.
[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention,
said filtering element completely covers the outlet opening of the same container.
[0018] According to a further embodiment of the container according to the invention, said
filtering element partially covers the outlet opening of the container, preferably
it covers half of the opening.
[0019] Further, according to the invention, between said lid and said filtering element
a free space is provided.
[0020] The present invention will be now described, for illustrative, but not limitative
purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the
figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the container according to
the invention;
figure 2 is an exploded view of the container of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a particular of the container of figure 1;
figure 4 shows the filtering element of the container of figure 1;
figure 5 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the container according to
the invention; and
figure 6 shows the container of figure 5 with the filtering element positioned.
[0021] Before beginning the description of the enclosed figures, it must be noted that they
show a kind of container, particularly a metallic tin, that must be considered only
illustrative, not being possible to limit the invention on the basis of the kind of
container.
[0022] Coming now to the figures, it is made first reference to the figures 1 - 4, wherein
a tin 1, having a lid 2, is shown.
[0023] Under the lid 2, a net filtering element 3 is provided, said element 3 allowing the
coming out of the liquid contained within the tin 1.
[0024] Said filtering element 3 is provided with a ring handgrip 4 allowing its removal
after the coming out of the liquid in order to allow the extraction of the solid products.
[0025] Between the lid 2 and the filtering element 3 a space 5 is provided.
[0026] In the solution shown in figures 5 and 6, a tin 10 provided with a lid 11, is shown.
[0027] Said lid 11 is provided with a ring 12 for automatically opening the lid 11.
[0028] Under the lid 11 a net filtering element 13 is provided, in this case covering only
half of the opening 14 of the tin.
[0029] The filtering element 13 is in this case too provided with a ring 15 for its removal,
even if for this solution it could not be necessary to provide its removal for the
exit of the solid product, since half of the opening is free.
[0030] Obviously, in both the illustrated and described solutions, the dimensions and the
kind of mesh of the filtering element 3 or 13 will be chosen in function of the kind
of solid product.
[0031] As it is well evident, the solution suggested according to the present invention
allows to evacuate the products contained within a container in a much more practical
and simple way than it is possible up to now.
[0032] The present invention has been described for illustrative, but not Imitative purposes,
according to its preferred embodiments, but it will be understood that modifications
and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from
the relevant scope as defined by the enclosed claims.
1. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, characterized in that it provides near the
product outlet opening, under the lid, a filtering dripping element.
2. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to claim 1, characterized in that
said container is comprised of a metallic, glass, or different material container,
suitable to contain foodstuffs.
3. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that said container is of any shape, preferably cylindrical.
4. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said container is provided with a tearing opening, a screwed
opening, a restrained opening, or it can be of the kind that can be opened by a suitable
tool, like a tin-opener.
5. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said filtering element is comprised of a net, realised with
metallic material or any other suitable material suitable to be in contact with foodstuffs,
the sizes of the meshes being chosen on the basis of the specific use of the container.
6. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said filtering element is fixed on the container.
7. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to one of the preceding claims 1
- 5, characterized in that said filtering element is removable
8. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to claim 7, characterized in that
grip means for the removal of the filtering element are provided.
9. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said filtering element completely covers the outlet opening
of the same container.
10. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to one of the preceding claims 1
- 8, characterized in that said filtering element partially covers the outlet opening
of the container.
11. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to claim 10, characterized in that
said filtering element covers half of the opening.
12. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that between said lid and said filtering element a free space is
provided.
13. Container, particularly for foodstuffs, according to each one of the preceding claims,
substantially as illustrated and described.