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(11) | EP 1 350 453 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Double bottom container |
| (57) A container (10) comprising a first wall (11) and a second bottom wall (12), is characterised
in that it comprises a first closing member (4) located internally to said container
(10) and apt to define a partition into two volumes not communicating thereamong in
said container (10), and means (5,6) for opening one of said two volumes obtained
on said first wall (11) of said container (10). |
[0001] The present invention refers to a container for food of a type having a double bottom wall so as to define two containing regions, closed and separate therebetween.
[0002] To date, various types of double bottom containers for food are known. According to a first type of double bottom container, the same comprises a first cylinder-shaped body provided with a bottom wall to which a second container, of same diameter and it also having a bottom wall, is removably coupled. Typically, the two containers can be made of alike or of different materials, and their connection generates a single container provided with two volumes separate therebetween. This type of container is widely employed for foods envisaging the consumption of several ingredients originally distinct thereamong.
[0003] However, this type of two-volume container entails a drawback in that it consists of plural components or bodies separate thereamong, making it scarcely practical from the viewpoint of the post-use disposal, as well as of the environmental impact thereof.
[0004] Moreover, according to another type of two-volume container, disclosed in the Italian Patent Application RM91U00214 of the same applicant, advantageously the same provides a single body apt to contain a partitioning member therein, so as to generate, upon being assembled, a container with two volumes separate therebetween. The separation of the two volumes occurs by tearing a container region according to preferential weakening lines obtained onto the container wall.
[0005] Also this type of container, though conveniently made of a single material, only partially overcomes the disposal-related problems, failing to solve the practical problem. In fact, for the separation of the two volumes, various pieces detached thereamong are anyhow generated, like a material strip and a pair of containers, thereby making it difficult for a user, above all for a younger user, to handle the various pieces, as well as to subsequently dispose them, with regard to the environmental impact.
[0006] Hence, object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks providing a double bottom container offering the optional access to the content in the two separate volumes with no need to separate the container body into plural detached parts.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-volume and double bottom container having an opening of the two volumes which is eased to the utmost and being highly practical from the viewpoint of the post-use disposal, as well as of the environmental impact thereof.
[0008] Hence, the present invention provides a container comprising a first wall and a second bottom wall,
characterised in that it comprises a first closing member located internally thereto and apt to define therein a partition into two volumes not communicating therebetween, and means for opening one of said two volumes obtained on said first wall of said container.
[0009] Hereinafter, a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention, given by way of a non-limiting example, will be provided, making reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank making the container of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation view partially showing the container of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a partially sectional elevation view showing a member of the container of the present invention; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the container of the present invention in an opened condition.
[0010] With reference now to Figure 1, a plane blank 1 that, upon being assembled, will make a container 10 according to the present invention, is illustrated.
[0011] Typically, the blank is arc-shaped, with a height equivalent to that of the container 10 to be made therefrom upon assembling. At the top edge region thereof, there are obtained a first and a second creasing 2 and 3, respectively. The first creasing 2 serves as means for engaging a first closing member 4 apt to define an inner partition of the container 10, thereby defining two volumes separate therebetween. The second creasing 3 is apt to serve as means for engaging a second removable closing member 4 that is apt to close the top opening of the container 10 (not shown in the figure and better illustrated hereinafter).
[0012] Moreover, the blank 1 has, at the bottom edge region thereof, a preferential tearing line 5 extending along almost the full length of the blank 1. Furthermore, the preferential tearing line has a region 6 cooperating with a user's finger so as to promote the opening of the bottom region of the container 1 once assembled (better illustrated hereinafter).
[0013] With reference now to Figure 2, the container 10 of the present invention is illustrated. As it is apparent from the figure, the invention provides that upon assembling the blank 1 the container 10 be generated, having a side wall 11 and a bottom wall 12 applied during the forming thereof. The container 10 thus generated is substantially frustocone-shaped and it has a bottom wall, in a manner per se already known in the art.
[0014] Inside of the container 10 thus obtained it is housed the first closing member 4, substantially cup-shaped and with a projecting edge. The shape of the closing member is such that its edge is apt to engage in a fixed manner onto the creasing 2 obtained onto the wall 11 and to rest thereon by virtue of the taper of the wall 11.
[0015] With particular reference to Figure 3, it has to be pointed out that the taper of the member 4 is intentionally gauged to that of the wall 11, so as to provide the seal thereof onto the wall 11 upon being located thereon. The member 4, when mounted onto the wall 11, partitions the container 10 so as to generate two volumes, separate and not communicating therebetween, rendering the latter apt to house two distinct products in a safe and sealed manner.
[0016] On the other hand, with reference to Figure 2, the second creasing 3 is apt to removably lock a second closing member 7 that is apt to close the top region of the container 10. The closing member 7 is substantially disc-shaped in order to be easily removable by pulling a projecting section 8 thereof as per se already known.
[0017] With reference now to Figure 4, the container 10 is illustrated in an opened condition. More precisely, after applying a tearing force onto the preferential tearing line region 6, by a mere pressure exerted by a user's finger, the region 6 yields and comes off the wall 11, thereby creating a port wherein a wall section 11 can be gripped and the detached, by tearing along the preferential tearing line 5. The specific arrangement of the preferential tearing line 5 along the wall 11 is such as to allow a separation of the sections, yet not a total detaching thereof. Thus, the practicality of use is remarkably improved and the opening of the two volumes is eased to the utmost. Moreover, keeping adjoined the distinct sections, the problem of its disposal is solved and also the environmental impact thereof is lessened.
1. A container (10) comprising a first wall (11) and a second bottom wall (12),
characterised in that it comprises a first closing member (4) located internally to said container (10) and apt to define therein a partition into two volumes not communicating therebetween, and means (5,6) for opening one of said two volumes obtained onto said first wall (11) of said container (10).
characterised in that it comprises a first closing member (4) located internally to said container (10) and apt to define therein a partition into two volumes not communicating therebetween, and means (5,6) for opening one of said two volumes obtained onto said first wall (11) of said container (10).
2. The container (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first wall (11) has first removable
means (3) for engaging a second closing member (7) of said container (10), the arrangement
being such that said second closing member (7) is apt to be removed by a pulling action
causing the disengaging thereof from said engaging removable means (3).
3. The container according to the preceding claim, wherein said first removable means
for engaging is a creasing (3) perimetrically obtained onto said first wall (11) of
said container (10).
4. The container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first
wall (11) has second means (2) for engaging said first closing member (4) onto said
container (10).
5. The container (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said second means for
engaging is a creasing (2) perimetrically obtained on said first wall (11) of said
container (10).
6. The container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first
closing member (4) has a cup-like shape comprising an edge region for the engaging
to said second engaging means (2) onto said first wall (11).
7. The container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said opening
means are a preferential tearing line (5) obtained onto said first wall (11), and
apt to provide to said container (10) a preferential opening region (5).
8. The container (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said preferential tearing
line (5) extends onto said first wall (11) for a length shorter than the perimeter
thereof, the arrangement being such that after the tearing of said preferential tearing
line (5) a partial separation of said first wall (11) is carried out, so as to give
the container (10) keep an integral configuration.
9. The container (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said preferential tearing
line (5) has a region (6) apt to cooperate with a user's finger in order to promote
the separation of said first wall (11) starting from said region (6).
10. A plane blank (1) for making the container (10) according to the preceding claims,
the blank being arc-shaped with a height defined by the height of said container (10),
and wherein a first and a second creasing (2; 3), extending along the full length
of the blank (1), and a preferential tearing line (5) also extending along almost
the full length of the blank (1), are obtained, the preferential tearing line (5)
further having a region (6) for the cooperation with a user's finger.