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(11) | EP 1 247 753 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Container for food bulk products |
| (57) The container has a rectangular body (1), a lid (2), which is hinged to the body
(1) along one of its shorter sides (1.1), inserted in each other making the opening
of the lid (2) and the body (1) inviolable, on the other three faces different to
that of articulation, together with another lid (3) arranged to fold downwards and
housed on the oblique upper larger base (2.5) of the lid (2), for unitary dispensing
of products, which is fitted with a fin (3.1) horizontally superimposed on an upper
recess (2.4) of the lid (2). |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention proposed herein refers to a loose foodstuff container, from among the containers for confectionery and similar goods, stackable and provided with side lids.
[0002] This invention is characterised in that the container is of special construction, based on a rectangular body, on which is hinged a lid on one if its short sides, said lid being permanently engaged in the body by mutual support, access for unitary dispensing of the products being achieved through another lid, incorporated in the first lid, as well as being capable of folding down on its lower rim and mounted on its upper oblique base.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] Containers for confectionery and similar goods are well known and widely employed. Among these, the non-stackable models usually have an upper sealing lid fitted with a perforation having an external threaded projection, circular in cross section and of appropriate diameter, arranged above and to the side, in such a manner that hand access is possible to the inside of either the assistant or the customer in the self-service shop, for the purpose of withdrawing from the inside of the container the individual products, generally provided with their pertinent wrapping.
[0004] There are other containers, stackable and provided with side access, which incorporate a double lid, that of largest size occupying fully a short side of the container, for the purpose of facilitating its filling with products, when this mouth of the receptacle is in the upper position, the latter then being closed with the double lid.
[0005] The second lid, of smaller dimensions than the first, is that for dispensing, and is usually positioned practically centrally on the receptacle general closure lid, the entire ensemble being enclosed in a receptacle sealing film.
[0006] The presence of three lids obliges the controlled storage of the container different components : body, lids and seal, as well as the relative assemblies of these components.
[0007] A further problem is that of easy access to the interior of the container body, by removal of the largest lid making possible bulk refilling of containers and making possible the illegitimate distribution of third party goods under a brand name that does not correspond to them.
[0008] The applicant is unaware of the existence of single-piece containers, having a fixed larger lid and with a hinge on one short side, as well as being provided with another smaller lid, offering top access for dispensing, having the characteristics expounded hereunder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention object of the present specification relates to a container for loose foodstuff, from among those containers for miscellaneous confectionery products and others similar goods, of those designed to be stackable and dispense laterally, as well as having this top lid installed on the actual sealing lid of the container.
[0010] This invention is characterised in a special construction of the container, based on a lower receptacle or body, of rectangular base and with respect to which is hinged a lid, this articulation being arranged with respect to one of its two shorter sides, for the purpose of facilitating the automatic top refilling of the container with the said loose foodstuff and this articulation being implemented on a basis of making use of the elasticity of the plastic material of the container.
[0011] In this lid the body engages in permanent fashion, with respect to the other three faces different to that of the articulation, by mutual engagement of the continuous external skirt of said body and of another internal discontinuous skirt, on which engages the upper rim of the receptacle, provided with an alignment of perforations close thereto, with respect to some opposing projections, in half-dovetail form and arranged on the inside face of the lid, situated close to its lower edge, in such a manner that after closing and mutual engagement of lid and receptacle it is not possible to open the lid without forcing it to the point where either lid or container breaks.
[0012] Access for unitary dispensing of products, is achieved through another lid located on top, provided through a central recess on the oblique axis of the container lid, intended for the insertion of the finger of the assistant or of the customer and coinciding with a fin projecting from rim of the other lid and in the same oblique plane as this lid. This smaller lid, in turn, is arranged to fold downwards and is fitted on the larger base of the inviolable lid.
[0013] The body of the container presents on its largest, upper and lower horizontal faces, some projecting platelets at right angles to this face, for self-engagement with the container stacked on top and/or underneath, as well as other projections, also at right angles and T-shaped, in the vicinity of the corners of these faces, opposite to the side of the lids, which facilitate the support of the containers when stacked.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] To complement this description a set of drawings is attached to this descriptive specification, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention in a non-restrictive manner.
[0015] Figure 1. - Shows a rear view in perspective of the container with its lids open, prior to said container being filled.
[0016] Figure 2. - Shows another perspective, in contrast to the foregoing, of two containers in stacked configuration, after the standard seals have been removed, with the larger lids now rigidly attached to the receptacle and, one of them, with the other, smaller top lid open in the dispensing position.
[0017] Figure 3. - Shows a sectional side elevation of a closed container, with a normal detail in which can be seen the means of articulation for the smaller lid and another detail in dashed lines, of the opposite side and with the means for engaging the larger lid, shown in this detail half-open with respect to the base of the receptacle.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0018] With reference to the foregoing explanation, the present invention relates to a container for loose foodstuff, from among the containers for miscellaneous products of confectionery and other goods, in plastic material, stackable and provided with a sealing lid and a second upper lid, for dispensing, and also of those which have a standard sealing film, essentially characterised in that it has a rectangular body (1) with respect to which is hinged a lid (2), on one of its short sides (1.1), the lid (2) and the body (1) being inserted in each other for inviolable opening thereof, on the other three faces different to that of the articulation, based on an external rim (2.1) and another discontinuous internal rim (2.2) of the lid (2), between which engages the upper edge of the body (1), which has some perforations (1.2) for the antagonistic insertion of some projections (2.3) in half-dovetail form, distributed along the edge of the inside face of the lid (2), as well as a lid (3) for unitary dispensing of products, provided with a fin (3.1) horizontally positioned on top of an upper recess (2.4) of the lid (2), the lid (3) being arranged to fold downwards and housed in the oblique upper larger base (2.5) of the lid (2).
[0019] The body (1) has on its larger faces (1.3) an alignment of self-engaging projections (1.4), which counteract the forward or backward motion of the container with respect to that immediately above and/or below, together with some vertical projections (1.5) and (1.6), respectively, T-shaped and angled with confronting wings, all of which support the containers stacked on top.
[0020] The arrangement of the projections (1.4) and (1.5) of the respective largest faces (1.3) is slightly offset, precisely the width of the platelet for self-engagement purposes and with respect to the engagement of the web of the projection T (1.5), this is achieved through insertion in the intermediate space between the opposing wings of the projections (1.6), whereby the lateral displacement is also avoided of whichever of the containers with respect to the other stacked immediately above or below.
1. Container for loose foodstuff, from among the containers for miscellaneous products
of confectionery and other goods, in plastic material, stackable and provided with
a sealing lid and a second upper lid, for dispensing, and also of those which have
a standard sealing film, characterised in that it has:
- a rectangular body (1),
- a lid (2), which hinges on the body (1) along one of its short sides (1.1), inserted in each other for inviolable opening of the lid (2) and the body (1), on the other three faces different to that of the articulation,
- a lid (3) being arranged to fold downwards and housed in the oblique upper larger base (2.5) of lid (2), for unitary dispensing of products, which is provided with a fin (3.1) horizontally superimposed on an upper recess (2.4) of the lid (2).
2. Container for loose foodstuff, according to the previous claim, characterised in that the lid (2) has an external rim (2.1) and another discontinuous internal rim (2.2)
of the lid (2), between which engages the upper edge of the body (1), which has some
perforations (1.2) for the antagonistic insertion of some projections (2.3) in half-dovetail
form, distributed along the edge of the inside face of the lid (2).
3. Container for loose foodstuff, according to the first claim, characterised in that the body (1) has on its larger faces (1.3) an alignment of self-engaging projections
(1.4), which also counteract the forward or backward motion as well as providing support
for the container with respect to that immediately above and/or below.
4. Container for loose foodstuff, according to the previous claims, characterised in that the body (1) has on its larger faces (1.3), some vertical projections (1.5) and (1.6),
respectively, T-shaped and angled with confronting wings, all of which give support
to the containers stacked on top.
5. Container for loose foodstuff, according to the previous claims, characterised in that the arrangement of the projections (1.4) and (1.5) of the respective larger faces
(1.3) is slightly offset, precisely the width of the platelet making possible the
self-engagement of said faces.
6. Container for loose foodstuff, according to the previous claims, characterised in that the engagement of the web of the projection T (1.5), is achieved through insertion
in the intermediate space between the opposing wings of the projections (1.6), whereby
the lateral displacement is also avoided of whatever of the containers with respect
to the other stacked immediately above or below.