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(11) | EP 1 350 453 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Double bottom container Behälter mit doppeltem Boden Conteneur à double fond |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[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] Food containers having two containing regions are disclosed in US-A-1 889 111, US-A-1 961 535, US-A-2 611 499, US-A-4 923 702, US-A-4 078 686, US-A-6 140-932, US-A-5,123,190, US-A-3 920 120 and DE-C-884 473. None of them can provide detachable opening means formed in a one-piece peripheral wall obtained form a plain blank.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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).
[0013] 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).
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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), comprising:
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), wherein said opening means are a preferential tearing line (5) extending along
and obtained onto said first wall (11), and apt to provide to said container (10)
a preferential opening region characterised in that said first wall (11) has first means (3) for removably engaging a second closing
member (7) of said container (10).
2. The container (1) according to claim 1, wherein said second closing member (7) is
apt to be removed by a pulling action causing the disengaging thereof from said engaging
means (3).
3. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first means
(3) 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 (2)
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 4 or 5 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 claim 1, 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.
8. 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).
1. Conteneur (10) comportant une première paroi (11) et une seconde paroi inférieure
(12), comportant : un premier élément de fermeture (4), situé à l'intérieur dudit
conteneur (10) et apte à y définir une séparation en deux volumes ne communiquant
pas entre eux, et des moyens (5, 6) pour ouvrir un premier desdits deux volumes obtenus
sur ladite première paroi (11) dudit conteneur (10), lesdits moyens d'ouverture étant
une ligne de déchirement préférentielle (5) s'étendant le long de ladite première
paroi (11), et obtenue sur celle-ci, et aptes à fournir audit conteneur (10) une zone
d'ouverture préférentielle, caractérisé en ce que ladite première paroi (11) a des premiers moyens (3) pour venir en prise de manière
amovible avec un second élément de fermeture (7) dudit conteneur (10).
2. Conteneur (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit second élément de fermeture
(7) est apte à être enlevé par une action de traction provoquant sa libération à partir
desdits moyens de mise en prise (3).
3. Conteneur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel lesdits
premiers moyens (3) de mise en prise sont un plissement (3) obtenu de manière périphérique
sur ladite première paroi (11) dudit conteneur (10).
4. Conteneur (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
ladite première paroi (11) a des seconds moyens (2) pour venir en prise avec ledit
premier élément de fermeture (4) sur ledit conteneur (10).
5. Conteneur (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
lesdits seconds moyens (2) destinés à venir en prise sont un plissement (2) obtenu
de manière périphérique sur ladite première paroi (11) dudit conteneur (10).
6. Conteneur (10) selon la revendication 4 ou 5, dans lequel ledit premier élément de
fermeture (4) a une forme analogue à une coupelle comportant une zone de bord pour
la mise en prise avec lesdits seconds moyens de mise en prise (2) sur ladite première
paroi (11).
7. Conteneur (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite ligne de déchirement préférentielle
(5) s'étend sur ladite première paroi (11) sur une longueur plus courte que sa périphérie,
l'agencement étant de telle sorte qu'après le déchirement de ladite ligne de déchirement
préférentielle (5), une séparation partielle de ladite première paroi (11) est effectuée,
de manière à ce que le conteneur (10) garde une configuration intégrale.
8. Conteneur (10) selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel ladite ligne de déchirement
préférentielle (5) a une zone (6) apte à coopérer avec les doigts d'un utilisateur
pour favoriser la séparation de ladite première paroi (11) en commençant à partir
de ladite zone (6).
1. Behälter (10), der eine erste Wandung (11) und eine zweite Bodenwandung (12) aufweist,
beinhaltend:
ein erstes Verschlusselement (4), das innerhalb des Behälters (10) angeordnet ist und geeignet ist, darin eine Abgrenzung zwischen zwei nicht miteinander verbundenen Volumina festzulegen; und Mittel (5,6) zur Öffnung eines der beiden Volumina, die auf der ersten Wandung (11) des Behälters (10) ausgebildet sind, wobei die Mittel zur Öffnung eine vorzuziehende Aufreiß-Linie (5) sind, die sich entlang und ausgebildet auf der ersten Wandung (11) erstreckt, und geeignet sind, einen vorzuziehenden Öffnungsbereich für den Behälter (10) zu bilden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die, erste Wandung (11) erste Mittel (3) zum lösbaren Eingriff eines zweiten Verschlusselements (7) des Behälters (10) aufweist.
2. Behälter (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zweite Verschlusselement (7) dazu geeignet ist, durch eine Zugaktion von den
Eingriffs-Mitteln (3) gelöst zu werden.
3. Behälter (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die ersten Eingriffs-Mittel (3) als eine umkreisende Rille (3) auf der ersten Wandung
(11) des Behälters (10) ausgebildet sind.
4. Behälter (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die erste Wandung (11) zweite Mittel (2) zum Eingriff mit dem ersten Verschlusselement
(4) auf dem Behälter (10) aufweist.
5. Behälter (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweiten Eingriffs-Mittel (2) als eine umkreisende Rille (2) auf der ersten Wandung
(11) des Behälters (10) ausgebildet sind.
6. Behälter nach einem der Ansprüche 4 oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das erste Verschlusselement (4) eine tassenartige Form mit einem Kantenbereich für
den Eingriff mit den zweiten Eingriffs-Mitteln (2) auf der ersten Wandung (11) aufweist.
7. Behälter (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die vorzuziehende Aufreiß-Linie (5) sich auf der Wandung (11) über eine Länge erstreckt,
die kürzer als die Umfangslänge hiervon ist, wobei die Anordnung derart ausgebildet
ist, dass nach dem Aufreißen der vorzuziehenden Aufreiß-Linie (5) eine teilweise Trennung
der ersten Wandung (11) durchgeführt ist, so dass der Behälter (10) eine integrale
Konfiguration beibehält.
8. Behälter (10) nach dem vorangehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die vorzuziehende Aufreiß-Linie (5) einen Bereich (6) aufweist, der geeignet ist,
mit dem Finger eines Benutzers zusammenzuwirken, um die Trennung der ersten Wandung
(11) beginnend von diesem Bereich (6) zu fördern.