(19)
(11) EP 2 644 531 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
02.10.2013 Bulletin 2013/40

(21) Application number: 12164732.5

(22) Date of filing: 19.04.2012
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B65D 77/20(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME

(30) Priority: 27.03.2012 LT 2012025

(71) Applicant: UAB "Mantinga"
68261 Marijampole (LT)

(72) Inventor:
  • Agentas, Klemencas
    68261 Marijampole (LT)

(74) Representative: Zaboliene, Reda 
METIDA law firm of Reda Zaboliene Business center VERTAS Gyneju str. 16
01109 Vilnius
01109 Vilnius (LT)

   


(54) Container with a double cover


(57) The invention refers to a container with a double cover, which is designed to be filled with liquid or thick food product which is rapidly prepared, preferably soup. Also, the invention refers to the method of production of the container with a double cover, where the container has a double cover (2) which consists of the upper cover (2a) and the lower cover (2b), where the upper cover (2a) has a tongue (4) designed to tear off the aforementioned upper cover, and the lower cover (2b) has a hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval designed for the consumption of the product. Prior to the consumption the upper cover (2a) is torn off while the lower cover (2b) remains to cover the container.




Description

Field of the invention



[0001] The invention refers to the container with a double cover, the upper cover of which is torn off prior to the consumption while the lower cover remains to cover the container, and has a hole in a shape of an elongated oval, through which the product is consumed. Also, the invention refers to the method of obtaining the container with a double cover.

Technical level



[0002] For the rushing, fast food has long been a part of the daily food ration. Currently various porridges, pastas, and soups are being offered, which are produced by pouring boiled water or heated up in a microwave. Fast food must be not only rapidly prepared but also conveniently consumed: it can be consumed during walking, driving or likewise. It is important that food is fresh and well balanced.

[0003] The aim of our invention is to develop a comfortable disposable container for various types of already prepared soups, which are heated prior to consumption.

[0004] The patent EP2125568 is known, where the system and method for soup preparation and presentation in the public catering during a flight is described. Soup is poured into disposable containers, the cover is placed, which is secured by the label. The cover has holes for air discharge. However, the drawback of the product is that soup in the container can be used only for 5 days after filling, the whole cup is opened during the time of consumption, there is a possibility of spillage.

[0005] The patent JP11011543 is known, which presents a cup designed for the heating in the microwave, having a double-structure cover. Therefore, one of the parts of the structure, which has holes, is designed to discharge steam during the heating of the contents of the cup, but it does not have the hole which is specially designed for the consumption of the product.

[0006] The patent application JP2007091317 is known, which describes a container with a double cover, the upper cover of which is continuous, covering the container and detachable. The lower cover covers only the half of the container and has small holes. The container's inner cover with holes is designed to pour off the water from the container; however it is not intended for consumption of the prepared product.

[0007] The patent application JP200929490 is known, which describes a container for the preparation of fast food, which in its cover has laminated hardening strips, which automatically press the cover to the container, when the cover is torn off and the required amount of water is added.

[0008] The patent CA2133479 is known, where a cup for juice and wine is presented, which has a two-layer cover, between which a wafer is placed. However, in this invention both layers are torn off in turn, the second layer of which is intended for a wafer. Therefore, a two-layer cover has a different purpose.

[0009] The patent EP1559658 is known, which describes a container which has a two-layer cover, the upper cover of which is continuous, while the lower cover has perforated strips intended to be torn off prior to the consumption. The removal of the strips is intended for the steam discharge during the heating and removal of the product, however, it is not designed for a comfortable consumption of the product.

Description of prior art



[0010] This invention relates to a round container for a liquid or thick product. It is better when the product is a soup, especially a thick soup. The container is covered with a double cover which consists of the upper cover and the lower cover. Before the consumption, the upper cover is torn off while the lower cover, which has a hole in a shape of an elongated oval, through which the product is consumed, is left untouched.

[0011] The invention provides a container with a double cover designed for a liquid or thick product, preferably a soup, which is intended for the distribution in supermarkets and is very comfortable to use. The hole in a shape of an elongated oval at the bottom cover allows comfortably to drink the soup without spilling or splashing.

[0012] The container is filled with a liquid or thick product, preferably a soup. The soup can be of various types: cream of chicken soup, of broccoli soup, of Mexican soup, of potato, of peas, of ham and other soups. Moreover, the invention presents various types of soups which can be frozen. The soups presented in this invention are not limited to the examples. Soups are produced industrially with appropriate ingredients according to the chosen type.

[0013] Also this invention presents the method of the production of the container, which has a double cover, where the double cover is attached to the edge of the container by the hot stamping method.

Brief description of the drawings



[0014] 

Fig. 1 - according to this invention, general view of the container with the upper cover which is closed;

Fig. 2 - general view of the container with the upper cover which is partially torn off;

Fig. 3 - general view of the container without the upper cover, only with lower cover;

Fig. 4 - double cover.


Detailed description of the invention



[0015] The presented container (Fig. 1) consists of a round body (1) and a double cover (2). The diameter of the container is 65-95 mm, volume 200-400 ml. The container (1) can be produced from various plastic materials. According to this invention, the container (1) can be heated up to 130°C, therefore it is made from heat-resistant material. The plastic packaging, preferably of polypropylene (PP), is suitable for the production of the container. The container is put into carton case/label, which allows to hold the container in hands after its heating. The double cover of the container is attached to the edge of the container by the hot stamping method. The cover can be used for tight covering of various liquid and thick foods.

[0016] The cover of the container consists of the upper cover (2a) and the lower cover (2b) (Fig. 2), where the aforementioned double cover is attached to the edge of the container (1) in such a way that the upper cover (2a) is easily torn off from the edge of the container and the lower cover (2b) remains to cover the container.

[0017] The upper cover (2a) completely covers the container (1) and at one edge of the container (1) it has an extended tongue (4) designed to tear off the upper cover (2a). The upper cover (2a) is produced from metal foil, preferably aluminium foil, and completely torn off prior to the heating of the product in the microwave.

[0018] Before the consumption, the container, in which the soup is packed, is shaken, its upper cover (2a) is torn off completely and it is heated in the microwave up to desired temperature (Fig. 2).

[0019] The heated soup is consumed through the hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval at the remaining lower cover (2b), (Fig 3).

[0020] The lower cover (2b) (Fig. 4) is produced from plastics, which can be selected from the group of polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, preferably from polypropylene. The lower cover has a hole in a shape of an elongated oval, the narrow end of which is situated along the centre of the lower cover (2b), while the wider end is along the edge of the container (1), and which is designed not only for steam discharge during the heating but also for a comfortable consumption of the product. The length of the elongated oval is 30-41 mm, width 14-41 mm. Since the lower cover (2b) remains to cover the container, the hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval does not allow for the soup to cool and allows to drink soup comfortably, for example when walking or driving, without spilling or splashing.

The most appropriate option of implementation



[0021] The cooked soup of the temperature of 75-85°C is industrially poured into the container (1). The double cover (2) is attached to the edge of the container by the hot stamping method. The hermetically sealed container with the soup is kept turned upside down for 1-3 minutes to disinfect the soup by means of hot fill technology. The container (1) is covered with paper case/label which retains heat. The container with the soup is prepared for consumption. The container with the soup is chilled down and stored at the temperature of +6°C.

[0022] Before the consumption, the container, where the soup is stored, is shaken, the metallized upper cover (2a) is torn off by means of the tongue (4), and the container (1) is heated up to the desired temperature in the microwave. The heated soup is consumed through the hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval at the lower cover (2b).

[0023] In order to illustrate the invention, the examples are presented which do not limit the use of the invention.

Example 1



[0024] The round container (1) is industrially filled with the cream of broccoli soup which is boiled at the temperature of 75-85°C. The container is sealed with double cover (2) by means of the hot stamping method and turned upside down for 1 to 3 seconds to sterilize. Before the consumption, the container is shaken, the upper cover (2a) is torn off by means of the tongue (4), and the container with the cream of broccoli soup is heated up to the desired temperature in the microwave. The lower cover (2b) remains to cover the container and the soup is consumed through the hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval at the lower cover.

Example 2



[0025] The round container (1) is industrially filled with ham soup which is boiled at the temperature of 75-85°C. The container is sealed with double cover (2) by means of the hot stamping method and turned upside down for 1 to 3 seconds to sterilize. The container with soup is cooled down to of +6°C, then in order to freeze, it is stored at -18°C temperature for 5 days, later, it is stored at -18°C temperature, it expires after 6-12 months. Before the consumption, the upper cover (2a) is completely torn off by means of the tongue (4) and the container is heated up to the desired temperature in the microwave. The lower cover (2b) remains to cover the container and the soup is consumed through the hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval at the lower cover.

[0026] In order to illustrate and describe the invention, the most appropriate implementation options are described above. This is not an complete or limiting invention aiming to determine an exact form or implementation option. The aforementioned description should be perceived as an illustration and not as a limitation. It is evident that for professionals of the field there may be obvious many modifications and variations. Implementation options are selected and described in order the specialists of the field to provide the best explanation of the principles of the invention and their best practical application for different implementation options with different modifications suitable for a particular usage or application of implementation. The scope of the invention is specified in its claims and its equivalents where all said terms have meaning at the widest limits unless it is specified otherwise. It must be recognized that in relation to the implementation options, described by professionals of the relevant field, modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention, as it is presented in the following claims.


Claims

1. The container with a two-layer cover, which consists of the upper cover (2a) and the lower cover (2b), which are adjacent to one another, where the upper cover has a tongue (4) designed to tear off the aforementioned upper cover, characterized in that the lower cover (2b) has a hole (3) through which the product is consumed, where the aforementioned double cover is attached to the edge of the container (1) in such a way that the upper cover (2a) is easily torn off from the edge of the container and the lower cover (2b) remains to cover the container.
 
2. The container with a two-layer cover according to the Claim 1, characterized in that the lower cover (2b) has a hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval, the narrower end of which is closer to the centre of the cover, while the wider end is closer to the edge of the container (1).
 
3. The container with a two-layer cover according to the Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower cover (2b) of container is produced from plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polystirole, preferably from polypropylene (PP).
 
4. The container with a two-layer cover according to any of the Claims 1-3, characterized in that it is filled with a liquid or thick product, preferably soup.
 
5. The container with a two-layer cover according to the Claim 4, characterized in that the soup is a thick soup.
 
6. Method for production of the container with a two-layer cover according to any of the Claims 1-5, characterized in that method comprises following steps:

a) in the lower cover (2b) a hole (3) is made, preferably in a shape of an elongated oval, which is intended for product consumption;

b) the two-layer cover (2), which consist of the upper cover (2a) and the lower (2b) cover, which has a hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval, is attached by means of the hot stamping method;

c) prior to the consumption the upper cover (2a) is removed, while the lower cover (2b) remains to cover the container.


 
7. Method for production of the container with a two-layer cover according to the Claim 6, characterized in that the lower cover (2b) of container is produced from plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polystirole, preferably from polypropylene (PP).
 
8. Method for production of the container with a two-layer cover according to the Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that prior to the consumption the upper cover (2a) is torn off, while the lower cover (2b) remains to cover the container.
 
9. Method for production of the container with a two-layer cover according to any of the Claims 6-8, characterized in that the lower cover (2b) has a hole (3) in a shape of an elongated oval, the narrower end of which is closer to the centre of the cover, while the wider end is closer to the edge of the container (1).
 
10. Method for production of the container with a two-layer cover according to any of the Claims 6-9, characterized in that it is filled with a liquid or thick product, preferably soup.
 
11. Method for production of the container with a two-layer cover according to the Claims 10 characterized in that that the soup is a thick soup.
 




Drawing
















Search report









Search report




Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



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.

Patent documents cited in the description