CONTAINER COMPRISING A SEPARABLE SHEET THAT CAN BE CONVERTED INTO A CONE

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The object of the present invention, as indicated by the title of the invention, is a packaging convertible to a cone-shaped container with a lamina that can be removed, wherein this lamina can be converted into a cone or cornet shape.

[0002] The present invention is characterized by the synergistic effect achieved by the combination of structural and design features of each and every one of the components forming part of the container and particularly of the removable lamina.

[0003] Therefore, the present invention lies in the field of containers and packaging, particularly those employed in the food sector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] On the one hand, the current state of the art in food containers is generally that of plastic, transparent materials where access is by means of the removal of a film or a lamina from the main body of the container.

[0005] On the other hand, supporting cones are also known, where the cone is understood to be paper, cardboard or wafer rolled into a conical shape and used to wrap sweets, nuts, etc., or to serve ice cream. Cones are already used for container sausages and fries, in cases when they are given to customers for immediate consumption.

[0006] However, when a container or food packaging is opened, in the case when the product is to be eaten directly from the container, the container does not have the geometry, or the design to be supported and gripped with one hand while taking the food contained therein with the other hand.

[0007] Prior art document CA1336878, describes a compositions of matter, sheet material, and packages made therefrom. Novel compositions of polypropylene and high density polyethylene are useful as sealant materials for flexible sheet material structures wherein the sheet material is sealable to a preformed container, to form a lid therefore, and is peelable therefrom, with cohesive failure of the sealant layer in the area of the formed seal. Further prior art document EP2266894 describes a blank for forming a sleeve suitable for packaging ice cream cone products.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the design of food packaging so as to ergonomically allow the consumption of products contained therein, developing a packaging such as the one described below and whose essential character is expressed in the first claim.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the present invention is, according to claim 1, a packaging which has at least one lamina which is removable from the packaging and, moreover, wherein said lamina is convertible into a cone having a means of retention which ensures that the adopted shape is maintained, said means of retention comprising on one adjacent side a groove or slit (4) and on the other adjacent side a tab (5), the groove or slit (4) having a length and position such as to allow engagement of the tab (5) therein to maintain the cone shape.

[0009] The lamina is a deformable lamina, which may be of any material, preferably plastics and the like, and which also has a means of retention which ensures that the adopted cone shape is maintained.

[0010] The said means of retention may take a variety of forms, from adhesive means to mechanical means of retention by use of a flap and a tab engaged in a groove or slit constructed for this purpose.

[0011] The means of retention may be arranged in any part of the container, preferably on two adjacent sides, which will be the sides that come together when the cone is configured.

[0012] The lamina may have any shape, typically being rectangular, square, or even circular, which is the usual geometry of the sealing laminas for packaging and that which is most suitable to form a cone.

[0013] Thanks to the described features, a packaging for food products is obtained which has a deformable removable lamina, whereby a cone can be formed which has a means of retaining the adopted shape, allowing either the products contained in the packaging or products from elsewhere to be held therein, and which also facilitates consumption in a simple way, because the cone can be held with one hand while the food held therein can be taken with the other hand.

EXPLANATION OF FIGURES

[0014] To complement this description and in order to aid a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, and wherein, in an illustrative and non-limiting character, the following is illustrated.

In figure 1, we see a perspective view of a package or container.

In figure 2, we see a possible lamina convertible to a cone.

In figure 3 we see another lamina with different means of retention from those shown in figure 2.

In figure 4, we see the cone-shaped configuration based on the lamina in figure 2.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0015] With reference to the figures, a preferred embodiment of the proposed invention is described below.

[0016] In figure 1 we see a packaging (9), or container, sealed by means of a removable lamina (1). The packaging may be for food or it may be of a different nature. It has a lamina (1) removable from the rest of the packaging and permits access to the product held inside the packaging.

[0017] Figure 2 shows a lamina (1) which is provided with means of retention to ensure the maintenance of the shape of a cone. In this embodiment, the means of retention are arranged on the adjacent sides (1.1) and (1.2) of the lamina (1), on one side emerging as a flap (3) which, at its juncture with the main surface of the lamina, has a groove or slit (4), into which a tab (5) emerging from the other adjacent side of the lamina (1) fits, the groove or slit (4) having a length and position so as to allow the tab (5) to fit inside.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, it would be sufficient for a groove or slit to be placed on one of the adjacent sides, in the vicinity of its edge, while on the other adjacent side it would have a tab (5), and the flap (3) would not be required.
The lamina, as noted above, will be made of a deformable material, and in order to take the shape of a cone, it will be folded at the bisection of the angle formed by the adjacent sides which have means of retention, until the means of retention are coupled and restrained.

[0019] In figure 3, a solution forming not part of the present invention is shown in which instead of providing means based on fitting the tab into a groove or slit, adhering means (6) and (7) are used, which are arranged on two of the lamina's adjacent sides, near its edges with an equivalent length in both cases.
Finally, figure 4 shows the removable cone (8) formed from the lamina (1), corresponding to the lamina (1) shown in figure 2 which has means of retention based on the use of a tab and a groove or slit, both of which are within the container.
Now that the nature of the present invention has been sufficiently described, as well as how to implement it, note that its essence may be embodied in other ways that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example, whereby the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Packaging for food convertible to a cone-shaped container, comprising a removable and deformable sheet (1) which after being deformed is convertible into a cone shape container characterized in that it comprises complementary means of retention on two adjacent portions (1.1, 1.2) , said means of retention comprising on one adjacent side a groove or slit (4) and on the other adjacent side a tab (5), the groove or slit (4) having a length and position such as to allow engagement of the tab (5) therein to maintain the cone shape.

2. Packaging, according to claim 1, characterized in that the complementary means of retention further comprise a flap (3) emerging from the surface of the sheet (1) which, in its juncture with the sheet, has said groove (4) having the said length and position such as to allow engagement of the tab (5) in its interior.

3. Packaging, according to any preceding claim, wherein the material from which the sheet (1) is made is plastic or similar material.

4. Packaging, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape of the sheet (1) is rectangular or quadrangular.

5. Packaging, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape of the sheet (1) is circular or similar.

Ansprüche

1. Verpackung für Lebensmittel, die in einen kegelförmigen Behälter verwandelt werden kann, welche eine lösbare und verformbare Folie (1) umfasst, die sich, nachdem sie verformt wurde, in einen kegelförmigen Behälter verwandelt werden kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie ergänzende Haltemittel an zwei benachbarten Abschnitten (1.1,1.2) umfasst, wobei die Haltemittel an einer benachbarten Seite eine Nut oder einen Schlitz (4) und an der anderen benachbarten Seite eine Lasche (5) umfassen, wobei die Nut oder der Schlitz (4) eine Länge und Position aufweisen, um das Eingreifen der Lasche (5) darin zum Halten der Kegelform zu ermöglichen.

2. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die ergänzenden Haltemittel ferner eine aus der Oberfläche der Folie (1) herausragende Klappe (3) umfassen, die an ihrem Verbindungspunkt mit der Folie die Nut (4) mit dieser Länge und Position, um das Eingreifen der Lasche (5) in ihrem Inneren zu ermöglichen, aufweist.

3. Verpackung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Material, aus welchem die Folie (1) besteht, Kunststoff oder ein ähnliches Material ist.

4. Verpackung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Form der Folie (1) rechteckig oder viereckig ist.

5. Verpackung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Form der Folie (1) kreisförmig oder ähnlich ist.

Revendications

1. Emballage alimentaire convertible en un conteneur en forme de cône, comprenant une feuille amovible et déformable (1) qui après avoir été déformée est convertible en un conteneur en forme de cône caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens complémentaires de retenue sur deux portions adjacentes (1.1, 1.2), lesdits moyens de retenue comprenant sur un côté adjacent une rainure ou fente (4) et sur l'autre côté adjacent une languette (5), la rainure ou fente (4) ayant une longueur et une position de sorte à permettre l'introduction de la languette (5) dans celle-ci pour maintenir la forme du cône.

2. Emballage, selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens complémentaires de retenue comprennent en outre un rabat (3) émergeant de la surface de la feuille (1) qui, dans sa jonction avec la feuille, a ladite rainure (4) ayant lesdites
longueur et position de sorte à permettre l'introduction de la languette (5) dans son intérieur.

3. Emballage, selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le matériau dans lequel la feuille (1) est réalisée est le plastique ou un matériau similaire.

4. Emballage, selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la forme de la feuille (1) est rectangulaire ou quadrangulaire.

5. Emballage, selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la forme de la feuille (1) est circulaire ou similaire.

Drawing