The invention relates to a packaging for containing a food product, such as a piece of cheese or slices of cheese, the packaging comprising the features according to the preamble of claim 1.
A packaging for a piece of cheese or slices of cheese is known. This packaging consists of a tray-like container and a cover. The tray-like container has a rectangular base and four upright walls. The upright walls define an upper rim of the container, which upper rim delimits an opening. The opening can be closed by the cover. The cover has a circumferential rim which can be snapped onto the upper rim of the container.
The cover is provided with a stiffening ridge which runs along the entire circumferential rim. When the cover is mounted on the container, the packaging is quite rigid. However, when the cover is removed from the container, the cover is relatively flexible. The flexible cover is not very user-friendly, in particular when reclosing the packaging.
A problem of this container lid is that it may bend to some extend causing its dimensional stability to be reduced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a packaging for containing a food product having an increased stiffness of the lid. This object is achieved in a packaging as claimed in present claim 1.
The stiffening rib is integrally formed with the cover. The longitudinal direction of at least a portion of the stiffening rib is not parallel, but inclined to the circumferential rim of the cover. Thus, the stiffening rib in the cover tapers inwards with respect to the outer circumferential rim. As a result, the stiffness of the cover is improved, in particular when it is free from the container. This facilitates the reclosing of the packaging by snapping the cover onto the container.
It is noted that
The stiffening rib according to the invention may be configured in various ways. The stiffening rib comprises a first end arranged at the circumferential rim, wherein the stiffening rib extends inwards from said first end. Also, the stiffening rib may comprise a second end arranged at the circumferential rim, wherein the stiffening rib extends from said ends inwards into the cover. This increases the stiffness of the cover.
In an embodiment the circumferential rim of the cover comprises two long sides and two short sides, wherein the ends of the stiffening rib are arranged at one of the long sides of the circumferential rim. In this case, the ends of the stiffening rib are located at the outer rim of the cover, whereas the stiffening rib runs radially inwards in the cover between those ends. This is beneficial for the stiffness of the cover.
It is possible that the cover comprises a second stiffening rib that is provided with two ends arranged at the other long side of the circumferential rim, and wherein the second stiffening rib extends from said ends inwards into the cover. When the cover has two stiffening ribs provided at opposing long sides of the cover, respectively, the stiffness of the cover increases even further.
In an embodiment the long sides and the short sides are connected to each other at corners, wherein the ends of the stiffening rib or stiffening ribs are arranged at the corners. In this case, the stiffening ribs run from the corners of the cover inwards. This is advantageous for the stiffness of the cover.
The stiffening rib may have any shape, such as a curved shape. In a specific embodiment, the or each stiffening rib is shaped as a segment of a circle having a radius that is at least as great as the width of the short side, preferably about twice as great as the width of the short side. In this case, the portion of the cover between the stiffening rib and the outer rim of the cover can be easily grasped between the thumb and other fingers of a hand. At the same time, the portion of the cover between the stiffening ribs provides sufficient label area.
It is possible that the cover comprises a central portion that is defined between the stiffening ribs, and side portions adjacent to the central portion, each side portion being defined between one of the stiffening ribs and the circumferential rim, wherein the central portion is elevated with respect to the side portions. The central portion may be convex. As a result of the elevated central portion, the cover is stiffened effectively, whereas the label area is enlarged and its visibility is improved.
In an embodiment the base of the container comprises protrusions arranged at the long sides, which protrusions correspond to the side portions of the cover. The protrusions at the long sides of the base of a first container can be accommodated into the side portions of the cover of a stacked second packaging. This results in lateral locking of adjoining containers, which is advantageous during transport and display.
In an embodiment the cover comprises a third stiffening rib having two ends arranged at one of the short sides of the circumferential rim, wherein the third stiffening rib extends inwards from said ends, which third stiffening rib defines a receiving portion that is lower than the elevated central portion, and wherein the base of the container comprises a protrusion at one of the short sides that corresponds to the receiving portion.
The protrusion of the container of a first packaging can be received within the receiving portion of the cover of an adjacent second packaging. When a group of packaging are standing on the shelf of a supermarket, these packagings are secured in the upward direction. However, the receiving portions and protrusions allow the packagings to shift down until the packagings rest on the shelf. This is advantageous for presentation of the packagings in the refrigerated display cabinet of the supermarket.
The container of the packaging according to the invention may comprise a gas barrier layer, such as an amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET) or an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) layer. The gas barrier layer ensures that the cheese in the packaging maintains its quality for a prolonged period. Preferably, a monolayer APET is used, because it can be recycled and it is cost efficient. The gas barrier layer may also be provided in a multilayer film. For example, the multilayer film includes one or more polyethylene (PE) layers and/or an APET layer. The container can be made by thermoforming. However, it is also possible that the container is manufactured by injection moulding.
In an embodiment the opening of the container is sealed by an intermediate film that provides a gas and/or moisture barrier. Before initial use of the packaging, the intermediate film is arranged over the upper rim of the container so that the contents of the container, for example cheese, is sealed off. Owing to the intermediate film the cheese maintains its characteristics for a prolonged period in the refrigerated display cabinet. The cover is installed above the intermediate film. The consumer opens the packaging by removing the cover and the intermediate film. Subsequently, the consumer may reclose the packaging using the cover.
The cover can be produced in various ways, for example by thermoforming or injection moulding. Preferably, the cover is made by injection moulding, i.e. the cover is made of a material that allows injection moulding. For example, the cover is made of polypropylene (PP) or any other suitable plastic. When the cover is made by injection moulding rather than by thermoforming, the design freedom is improved. The injection moulded cover may have, for example, different local wall thicknesses. A local reduction of wall thickness can be advantageous in view of costs.
When the cover is made by injection moulding, its material does not provide a gas and/or moisture barrier. However, it is sufficient that the container is sealed by the intermediate film before initial use. The cover of the packaging does not have to provide a gas and/or moisture barrier.
It is possible that the circumferential rim of the cover comprises a depending skirt, which is provided with injection moulded bulges that protrude inwards and can be snapped to the upper rim of the circumferential wall of the container. When the cover is made from a material that can be injection moulded, the wall of the cover can be thickened locally. The injection moulded bulges protrude at the inside of the cover, whereas the outside of the depending skirt can remain smooth. The smooth depending skirt has an attractive appearance.
In an embodiment the cover comprises corner sections that radially protrude with respect to the long sides and the short sides. The protruding corner sections are also beneficial for the stiffness of the cover.
The corner sections may each have a lip for lifting the cover from the container. As a result, both right-handed and left-handed users may easily remove the cover from the container of the packaging.
The invention will now be described in more detail by way of an exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying figures.
The packaging is denoted in its entirety by a reference numeral 1. The packaging 1 comprises a tray-like container 3 and a cover 5. The container 3 has a rectangular base 7 and four walls upstanding from the base 7. The four side walls form a circumferential wall 8 which has an upper rim 6 that defines an opening of the container 3.
In this exemplary embodiment the container 3 is made from a multilayer film which includes a gas barrier layer, such as a monolayer APET or an EVOH layer. The gas barrier layer can be sandwiched between PE layers. The container 3 is made by thermoforming or injection moulding.
An intermediate film 4 is removably attached to the upper rim 6 of the container 3. The intermediate film 4 comprises a gas and/or moisture barrier layer. The intermediate film 4 seals the opening of the container 3 such that the contents, for example a piece of cheese 2, maintains its quality during transport and in the supermarket.
The consumer removes the intermediate film 4 from the container 3 when he opens the packaging for the first time. The intermediate film 4 has two lips 35 for pulling the intermediate film 4 from the container 3. The lips 35 are provided at two opposing corners of the intermediate film 4, which makes it convenient for both right-handed and left-handed consumers to remove the film 4.
The cover 5 is provided with a circumferential rim 14 corresponding to the upper rim of the circumferential wall 8 of the container 3. The cover 5 is substantially rectangular and comprises two long sides 9,10 and two short sides 11,12. The long sides 9,10 and the short sides 11, 12 are connected to each other at the corner sections 20. In this exemplary embodiment the cover 5 is made of a plastic material that can be injection moulded, such as polypropylene (PP). The cover 5 is made by injection moulding.
The cover 5 comprises two stiffening ribs 16,17 at the opposing long sides 9,10, and one stiffening rib 18 at the lower short side 12. The stiffening ribs 16,17,18 are integrally formed with the cover 5. The stiffening ribs 16,17 each have two ends which are arranged at an upper and lower corner section 20, respectively. The stiffening ribs 16,17 run radially inwards between its ends.
Thus, the stiffening ribs 16,17 are arranged at an angle with respect to the circumferential rim 14 of the cover 5, i.e. the stiffening ribs 16,17 are tapered with respect to the circumferential rim 14. In this exemplary embodiment each slanting stiffening rib 16,17 is shaped as a segment of a circle having a radius that is about twice as great as the width of the short sides 11,12 of the cover 5.
The cover 5 comprises a central portion 21 that is bounded between the stiffening ribs 16,17. The central portion 21 is elevated with respect to the side portions 22 between the stiffening ribs 16,17 and the circumferential rim 14 of the cover 5. The central portion 21 is convex to the outside.
The stiffening rib 18 at the lower short side 12 is also shaped as a segment of a circle which extends at an angle inwards with respect to the circumferential rim 14. The stiffening rib 18 has two ends arranged at a distance from the corner sections 20 along the lower short side 12. The stiffening rib 18 defines a receiving portion 23.
The rectangular base 7 of the container 3 is provided with a protrusion 26 at the short side corresponding to the receiving portion 23. The protrusion 26 of the container 7 of a first packaging can be received in the receiving portion 23 of the cover 5 of another packaging which is stacked against the first packaging. When a group of stacked packagings are standing on a shelf with their lower short sides 12, the packagings are fixed upwards, but may slide down until they rest on the shelf (not shown).
The base 7 of the container 3 also has protrusions 27,28 at the long sides corresponding to the side portions 22, respectively. As a result, a group of packagings 1 stacked against each other are fixed sideways, because the protrusions 27,28 of the base 7 of a first packaging engages the side portions 22 of the cover 5 of an adjacent packaging.
The circumferential rim 14 of the cover 5 comprises a depending skirt 30, which is provided with injection moulded bulges 31. The bulges 31 protrude inwards and can be snapped to the upper rim of the circumferential wall 8 of the container 7. As a result, the depending skirt 30 remains smooth at the outside.
As can be seen in
The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. The skilled person may carry out many modifications which are within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, the side portions 22 and the receiving portion 23 may have a triangular shape or any other shape instead of the shape of a segment of a circle.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.