Soup vessel

Abstract

 The invention relates to a soup vessel for serving and/or storing soup or the like, especially for use on board of aircrafts, comprising a bowl for receiving the soup or the like. According to the invention an outer vessel (10) for receiving said bowl (4) is provided, said outer vessel (10) being constructed such that it is stackable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a soup vessel for serving and/or storing soup or the like, especially for use on board of aircrafts.

[0002] Soup vessels for serving soup are well known, e. g. soup vessels in the shape of a bowl.

[0003] The known soup vessels are suitable for use in restaurants or at home. However, the known soup vessels cause handling problems if they are used for large-scale catering purposes, e. g. on board of aircrafts.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a soup vessel as defined in the preamble of claim 1 which is suitable for catering purposes and which may be handled easily.

[0005] This object is achieved by providing a soup vessel according to claim 1.

[0006] According to the invention there is provided an outer vessel for receiving said bowl, said outer vessel being constructed such that it is stackable. Due to the stackability of the outer vessels a plurality of soup vessels may be stored at a minimum space. Therefore, the soup vessel according to the invention is especially suitable for use on board of aircrafts where the storing space is restricted. However, the soup vessel may be used for other catering purposes, too.

[0007] It is a further advantage of the soup vessel according to the invention that the outer vessel has no direct contact with the soup. Therefore, when the soup received in the bowl is heated, the outer vessel remains substantially unheated and therefore can be touched without any problems.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment an open end of said bowl is sealed by a foil-like sealing member, said sealing member being attached to the rim of said bowl in a detachable manner. With this embodiment, the soup is prevented from being poured when the soup vessel is handled. The foil-like sealing member is removed before the consumer consumes the soup. E. g., when the soup vessel is used on board of an aircraft, the complete soup vessel may be inserted into an oven in order to heat the soup. After the soup has been heated, the soup vessel is served to a passenger who removes the foil-like sealing member before consuming the soup.

[0009] Preferably, said outer vessel includes an open end and a lid for covering said open end.

[0010] According to a further embodiment said bowl is constructed from plastics or the like. With this embodiment, the soup vessel may be manufactured at very low costs.

[0011] According to another embodiment said outer vessel and/or said lid is constructed from cardboard. By using cardboard the soup vessel according to the invention may be manufactured at even lower costs.

[0012] The bowl and/or the outer vessel may be reused. However, the bowl and/or the outer vessel may be disposed after use.

[0013] According to an especially preferred embodiment an outer wall of said bowl at least partially is shaped substantially complementary to an inner wall of said outer vessel. With this embodiment, the bowl is received tightly in the outer vessel. Thereby, any movement of the bowl relative to the outer vessel is prevented.

[0014] According to a further development of the embodiment with the lid said lid is integral with said outer vessel. Thereby, the outer vessel may be manufactured at even lower costs, especially if the outer vessel is manufactured from cardboard or the like.

[0015] However, according to another embodiment said lid is connected to said outer vessel in a detachable manner.

[0016] Preferably, said outer vessel is a box.

[0017] According to a further embodiment which simplifies stacking of a plurality of soup vessels according to the invention said outer vessel has the shape of a cube or a parallelepiped.

[0018] In order to further improve the stackability of the soup vessel according to the invention, the upper side and the bottom side of said outer vessel have substantially flat surfaces.

[0019] Basically, the outer vessel may include a bottom wall and sidewalls only such that the outer vessel is an open-ended vessel. However, according to a further preferred embodiment the outer vessel includes an upper wall, said upper wall having an opening under which the bowl is positioned such that the bowl is accessible through the opening. In this embodiment, the outer vessel may e.g. have the shape of a box which except for the opening in the upper wall may surround the bowl substantially completely.

[0020] According to a further embodiment the opening is shaped substantially complementary to a contour of the upper end of the bowl.

[0021] Basically, the height of the bowl may be smaller than the distance between the underside of the upper wall and the upper side of the bottom wall of the outer vessel such that the upper end of the bowl is spaced apart from the underside of the upper wall of the outer vessel. However, according to a further preferred embodiment the height of the bowl is larger than the distance between the underside of the upper wall and the upper side of the bottom wall of the outer vessel such that the upper end of the bowl protrudes into the opening of the outer vessel or that the height of the bowl is larger than the distance between the upper side of the upper wall and the upper side of the bottom wall of the outer vessel such that the upper end of the bowl protrudes over the upper side of the upper wall of the outer vessel.

[0022] In the embodiment with the outer vessel including an upper wall it is preferred that one of the sidewalls of the outer vessel has an insertion opening through which the bowl may be inserted into the outer vessel.

[0023] Basically, in the embodiment mentioned before the insertion opening may remain open after insertion of the bowl into the outer vessel. However, it is preferred that a preferably flap-like closure is provided for closing the insertion opening.

[0024] In order to simplify the manufacturing of the outer vessel the closure preferably is integral with the outer vessel.

[0025] In order to further simplify the manufacturing of the outer vessel it is preferred that the outer vessel is formed by a single piece of material, preferably cardboard. For example, a single piece of cardboard may be bent and glued together to form the outer vessel.

[0026] According to further preferred embodiments retaining means for retaining the bowl in the outer vessel and/or positioning means for positioning the bowl relative to the outer vessel may be provided.

[0027] In the embodiments mentioned before the retaining means may include at least one protrusion which is attached to the bowl, said protrusion protruding laterally over the bowl for abutting against the underside of the upper wall of the outer vessel and/or the positioning means may include at least one protrusion which is attached to the bowl, said protrusion protruding laterally over the bowl for abutting against a sidewall of the outer vessel.

[0028] According to further preferred embodiment a circumferential rim element may be provided which is spaced apart from a plane defined by the upper rim of the bowl. Said circumferential rim element may form the retaining means and/or the positioning means.

[0029] In the embodiment mentioned before it is preferred that the rim element extends substantially along the complete circumference of the bowl.

[0030] According to a further preferred embodiment the outer contour of the rim element as seen in the plan view at least sectionally is shaped substantially complementary to the inner contour of the sidewalls of the outer vessel.

[0031] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing which shows embodiments of a soup vessel according to the invention.

[0032] In the schematic drawing

Fig. 1

is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a soup vessel according to the invention,

Fig. 2

is a top plan view of a piece of cardboard for forming the outer vessel of a second embodiment of a soup vessel according to the invention,

Fig. 3

is a top plan view of the second embodiment without the bowl wherein the lid is shown in an open position,

Fig. 4

is a top plan view of a bowl of the second embodiment and

Fig. 5

is a section view along a section line III-III in Fig. 3 with the bowl received in the outer vessel.

[0033] The drawing shows a soup vessel for serving and storing soup which includes a bowl 4 which is manufactured from plastics and which has an open end. The open end of the bowl 4 is sealed by a foil-like sealing member 6 which is glued to the free rim of the bowl 4. The foil-like sealing member 6 is torn off by a consumer before the soup is consumed. The upper rim of the bowl 4 has a substantially square shape and is shaped substantially complementary to an inner wall 8 of an outer vessel 10 in which the bowl 4 is received.

[0034] The outer vessel 10 is manufactured from cardboard and comprises a lid 12 which is integral with said outer vessel 10. As can be seen from the drawing, the outer vessel 10 has the shape of a parallelepiped with substantially flat upper and bottom surfaces such that a plurality of outer vessels may be stacked. The outer vessel 10 includes sidewalls 14, 16, 18, 20 and a bottom wall 22.

[0035] The soup vessel 2 is used as following:

[0036] If e. g. the soup vessel 2 is used on board of an aircraft, a plurality of soup vessels 2 may be stacked. For heating the soup received in the bowl 4 the complete soup vessel 2 is inserted into a microwave oven. After the soup has been heated, the soup vessel 2 is taken out of the oven and is served to a passenger who first opens the lid 12 and then tears off the foil-like sealing member 6. After tearing off the sealing member 6, the passenger may consume the soup.

[0037] The soup vessel 2 according to the invention may be handled and stored in an easy manner. Furthermore, it may be manufactured at very low costs.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a single piece 24 of cardboard for forming the outer vessel 10 of a second embodiment of a soup vessel according to the invention. The piece 24 of cardboard includes a bottom wall 22 to the both sides of which sidewalls 16, 20 are connected. With the sidewall 16 a lid 12 is connected while with the sidewall 20 an upper wall 26 is connected. With one small side of the upper wall 26 a sidewall 14 is connected. Furthermore, with one small side of the bottom wall 22 a sidewall 18 is connected. The various parts of the piece 24 of cardboard are seperated from each other by folding lines which in Fig. 2 are symbolized by dashed lines.

[0039] For forming the outer vessel 10 the piece 24 of a cardboard is folded along the folding lines. In order to fix the piece 24 of cardboard in the folded position a connecting element 28 is glued to an inner surface of the sidewall 16 in a connecting area which in Fig. 2 is symbolized by a dotted line 30. Furthermore, the side wall 14 is folded into a position in which it is substantially perpendicular to the upper wall 26. The sidewall 18 forms a closure element for closing an insertion opening for inserting the bowl into the outer vessel 10.

[0040] As can be seen from Fig. 2, the lid 12 in which an arcuate cutting line 31 is formed and the closure element 18 are integral with the outer vessel 10.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of the outer vessel 10 wherein the lid 12 is shown in its open position. The lid 12 is hinged to the sidewall 16 by means of a folding line which separates the lid 12 from the sidewall 16.

[0042] As can be seen from Fig. 3 the upper wall 26 has an opening 33 under which the bowl which is not shown in Fig. 3 is positioned, such that the bowl is accessible through the opening 33.

[0043] Fig. 4 shows a top plan view of the bowl 4.

[0044] Fig. 5 shows a section view along a section line III-III in Fig. 3 wherein the bowl 4 is shown in a position in which it is received within the outer vessel 10. The bowl 4 includes an upper end 32 defining a plane 34. A rim element 36 is attached to the bowl 4, said rim element being spaced apart in the vertical direction from the plane 34.

[0045] As can be seen from a comparison of figures 3 and 4 the outer contour 38 of the upper end of the bowl 4 is shaped substantially complementary to the contour of the opening 33 such that in the position shown in Fig. 5 the bowl 4 is received within the opening 33 in a substantially form-fitting manner.

[0046] As can be further seen from a comparison of figures 3 and 4 the outer contour 40 of the rim element 36 is shaped substantially complementary to the inner contour 42 defined by the inner surface of sidewalls 14, 16, 20, such that the rim element 36 is received within the outer vessel 10 in a substantially form-fitting manner. The upper surface of the rim element 36 abuts against the underside of the upper wall 26 while the lateral surfaces of the rim element 36 abut against the inner surface of the sidewalls 14, 16, 20.

[0047] As can be seen from Fig. 5, the height of the bowl 4 is larger than the distance between the upper side of the upper wall 26 and the upper side of the bottom wall 22 of the outer vessel 10 such that the upper end 32 of the bowl 4 protrudes over the upper side of the upper wall 26 of the outer vessel 10.

[0048] For inserting the bowl 4 into the outer vessel 10 the flap-like closure element 18 is pulled outwardly. Then the bowl 4 is pushed into the outer vessel 10 there by deforming the upper wall 26 elastically. When the bowl 4 is in the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the outer contour 38 of the upper end 32 of the bowl 4 fits into the opening 33, the elastically deformed upper wall 26 snaps back into the position shown in Fig. 5. By means of the outer contour 38 of the upper end 32 of the bowl 4 abutting against the rim of the opening 33 and by means of the rim element 36 the bowl 4 is positioned and retained in its predetermined position.

[0049] As described with respect to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the bowl 4 is sealed by means of a sealing member 6 which is detachably connected to the upper end 32 of the bowl 4.

Claims

1. Soup vessel for serving and/or storing soup or the like, especially for use on board of aircrafts,
comprising a bowl for receiving the soup or the like,
characterized by
an outer vessel (10) for receiving said bowl (4), said outer vessel (10) being constructed such that it is stackable.

2. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein an open end of said bowl (4) is sealed by a foil-like sealing member (6), said sealing member (6) being attached to the rim of said bowl (4) in a detachable manner.

3. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer vessel (10) includes an open end and a lid (12) for covering said open end.

4. Soup vessel according to claim 1, wherein said bowl (4) is constructed from plastics or the like.

5. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein said outer vessel (10) and/or said lid is constructed from cardboard.

6. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer wall of said bowl (4) at least partially is shaped substantially complementary to an inner wall (8) of said outer vessel (10).

7. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lid (1) is integral with said outer vessel (10).

8. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lid (12) is connected to said outer vessel (10) in a detachable manner.

9. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer vessel (10) is a box.

10. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer vessel (10) has the shape of a cube or a parallelepiped.

11. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper side and the bottom side of said outer vessel (10) have substantially flat surfaces.

12. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer vessel (10) includes an upper wall (26), said upper wall (26) having an opening (30) under which the bowl (4) is positioned such that the bowl (4) is accessible through the opening (30).

13. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 12, wherein the opening (30) is shaped substantially complementary to the contour of the upper end (32) of the bowl (4).

14. Soup vessel as in claim 12 or 13, wherein the height of the bowl (4) is larger than the distance between the underside of the upper wall (26) and the upper side of the bottom wall (22) of the outer vessel (10) such that the upper end (32) of the bowl (4) protrudes into the opening (30) of the outer vessel (10).

15. Soup vessel as in claim 12, wherein the height of the bowl (4) is larger than the distance between the upper side of the upper wall (26) and the upper side of the bottom wall (22) of the outer vessel (10) such that the upper end (32) of the bowl (4) protrudes over the upper side of the upper wall (26) of the outer vessel (10).

16. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the upper wall (26) of the outer vessel (10) is elastically deformable such that in the deformed position the distance between the underside of the upper wall (26) and the upper side of the bottom wall (22) of the outer vessel (10) is larger than the height of the bowl (4).

17. Soup vessel as in claim 12 wherein one of the side walls of the outer vessel (10) has an insertion opening through which the bowl (4) may be inserted into the outer vessel (10).

18. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 17, wherein a preferably flap-like closure is provided for closing the insertion opening.

19. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 18, wherein the closure is integral with said outer vessel (10).

20. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer vessel (10) is formed by a single piece of material, preferably cardboard.

21. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein retaining means are provided for retaining the bowl (4) in the outer vessel (10).

22. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein positioning means are provided for positioning the bowl (4) relative to the outer vessel (10).

23. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 21, wherein the retaining means includes at least one protrusion which is attached to the bowl (4), said protrusion protruding laterally over the bowl (4) for abutting against the underside of the upper wall (26) of the outer vessel (10).

24. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 22, wherein the positioning means includes at least one protrusion which is attached to the bowl (4), said protrusion protruding laterally over the bowl (4) for abutting against a sidewall of the outer vessel (10).

25. Soup vessel as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, wherein a circumferential rim element (36) is provided which is spaced apart from a plane defined by the upper end (32) of the bowl (4).

26. Soup vessel as claimed in claim 25, wherein said rim element (30) extends substantially along the complete circumference of the bowl (4).

27. Soup vessel as claimed in claimed 25, wherein the outer contour (40) of the rim element (36) seen in the plan view at least sectionally is shaped substantially complementary to the inner contour (42) of the side walls (14,16,18,20) of the outer vessel (10).

Drawing