The present disclosure generally relates to a packaging unit suitable for storing a solid food product within a preservation liquid. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a packaging unit having an inner container disposed inside an outer container, the outer container having a bottom portion adapted to be displaced to an upper position from a lower position to facilitate an easy removal of the solid food product from the packaging unit.
Many solid food products are kept immersed in a liquid. Some non limiting examples of such products are olives in brine/oil and peppers in vinegar/oil. This is to preserve the food products until the solid food products are completely consumed. For so doing, such food products are often stored in a container assembly having an inner container disposed inside an outer container. The solid food products are arranged inside the inner container, and are kept immersed in the liquid. When a user wishes to use the solid food products, the inner container is lifted out of the outer container, thereby capturing the solid food products and leaving the liquid in the outer container. However, for lifting the inner container, the user generally dips his finger into the liquid, which is not desirable.
Various known container assemblies include a handle attached to the inner container for facilitating a lifting of the inner container. However, a height of the container assembly is increased due to the attachment of the handle to the inner container which is not desirable.
Also, other container assemblies are known in which a spring is provided on a bottom of the inner container. In such cases, when the lid is opened, the inner container automatically rises out of the liquid. However, having the spring disposed between the bottom of the inner container and the outer container adds complexity, and therefore increases the cost of such container assemblies.
A first aspect of the current invention is therefore to provide a packaging unit having an inner container disposed inside an outer container having a bottom portion adapted to be displaced to an upper position from a lower position to facilitate an easy removal of the solid food product from the packaging unit.
These aspects are provided at least in part by a packaging unit having an outer container and an inner container. The outer container includes a bottom portion and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom portion around a longitudinal axis. The sidewall has an upper edge defining an access opening to the container. Further, the inner container is disposed inside the outer container, and includes a bottom section having a plurality of openings to facilitate an egress of liquid from the inner container. Furthermore, the bottom portion of the outer container is adapted to be displaced between a first position and a second position. Also, the inner container moves upwardly towards the access opening in response to a displacement of the bottom portion of the outer container from the first position to the second position
In another aspect, the bottom portion of the outer container includes an engagement structure and the inner container includes a cooperating structure. The engagement structure engages with the cooperating structure to prevent a rotation of the inner container inside the outer container.
In yet another aspect, the engagement structure is adapted to engage with the cooperating structure when the bottom portion is displaced to the second position.
According to a further aspect, the engagement structure is arranged as a plurality of rib elements arrayed circularly around the longitudinal axis of the outer container. Each rib element protrudes upwardly from a surface of the bottom portion. In one embodiment, the engagement structure is defined as a series of depressions or grooves in the bottom portion. In one embodiment, the engagement structure is defined as a series of protrusions extending upwardly from a surface of the bottom portion.
Further, in an aspect, the cooperating structure is arranged as a plurality of fin elements arrayed circularly around a longitudinal axis of the inner container. Each fin element protrudes downwardly from a bottom surface of the inner container. In one embodiment, the cooperating structure is arranged as a plurality of grooves or depressions in the bottom section of the inner container. In one embodiment, the openings in the bottom section of the inner container serve as a cooperating structure for cooperating with the engagement structure.
In yet another aspect, the outer container includes a step defined along an inner surface of the outer container and is disposed proximal to the access opening. The inner container is adapted to abut the step when the bottom portion is disposed in the first position.
According to a further aspect, the bottom portion includes a flexible portion configured to be displaced between a first position and a second position. The inner container moves upwardly towards the access opening in response to a displacement of the flexible portion from the first position to the second position. The bottom portion also includes a rim portion extending downwardly from the flexible portion and connecting the flexible portion to the sidewall.
According to some other aspects, the flexible portion includes an upwardly facing concave shape in the first position, and an upwardly facing convex shape in the second position.
In one embodiment, the flexible portion is a bistable portion, having a first stable position in the first position of the bottom portion and a second stable position in the second position of the bottom portion.
Further, in an aspect, the flexible portion includes a central flat portion and a curved peripheral portion connecting the central flat portion to the rim portion.
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to embodiments shown by the enclosed figures. It should be emphasized that the embodiments shown are used for example purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.
Referring to
Further, the sidewall 110 may include a first portion 126 and a second portion 128 extending from the first portion 126 to the bottom edge 114 in a longitudinal direction. The first portion 126 may extend from the upper edge 116 to the second portion 128 in the longitudinal direction. In an embodiment, the base 106 and the second portion 128 together define a bottom section 130 of the inner container 102, while the first portion 126 defines an upper section 132 on the inner container 102. Further, the inner container 102 includes at least one opening 140 extending from an inner surface 142 of the inner container 102 to an outer surface 144 of the inner container 102. Although, the openings 140 are shown to be arranged on entire upper section 132 and the bottom section 130 of the inner container 102, it may be appreciated that the openings 140 may be arranged only on the bottom section 130 of the inner container 102, and the upper section 132 may be devoid of any openings. Further in certain implementations, only the base 106 may include the openings 140, and the sidewall 110 is devoid of any openings. The openings 140 facilitate an egress of the preservative liquid from the inner container 102 to the outer container 104 in response to a lifting of the inner container 102. Further, the openings 140 also facilitate an ingress of the preservative liquid inside the inner container 102 when the inner container 102 is lowered inside the outer container 104.
Still referring to
As shown in
In the second position, the flexible portion 174 may extend upwardly towards the access opening 162 from a top edge 182 of the upright wall 180, while in the first position, the flexible portion 174 may extend downwardly towards the bottom edge 156 of the sidewall 152 from the top edge 182. In certain implementations, the flexible portion 174 may include a central flat portion 186 and an inclined portion 188 extending from the top edge 182 of the upright wall 180 to the central flat portion 186. The inclined portion 188 may extend downwardly from top edge 182 when the flexible portion 174 is disposed in the first position, while the inclined portion 188 is adapted to extend upwardly from the top edge 182 towards the access opening when the flexible portion 174 is disposed at the second position. Therefore, the flexible portion 174 includes an upwardly facing concave shape in the first position, and an upwardly facing convex shape in the second position. In certain implementation, in the first position, the flexible portion 174 may remain substantially horizontal and flat.
Further, the bottom portion 150 includes an engagement structure 190 for preventing or restricting a rotation of the inner container 102 inside the outer container 104. As shown, the engagement structure 190 may include a plurality of ribs 192 extending upwardly from a surface 194 of the flexible portion 174 towards the access opening 162 of the outer container 104. In an embodiment, the ribs 192 are arrayed circularly around the longitudinal axis 154, and each rib 192 may extend from the top edge 182 towards the central flat portion 186. The ribs 192, and hence the engagement structure 190, are adapted to engage with a cooperating structure 200 of the inner container 102 to prevent/restrict the rotation of the inner container 102 inside the outer container 104. In an embodiment, the engagement structure 190 engages with the cooperating structure 200 when the bottom portion 150 (i.e. the flexible portion 174) is disposed in the second position. In certain embodiments, the engagement structure 190 is also engaged with the cooperating structure 200 when the bottom portion 150 (i.e. the flexible portion 174) is disposed in the first position. In certain implementations, in the first position of the bottom portion 150, the bottom portion 150 may be disposed at a distance from the base 106 such that a gap may exist between the base 106 and the bottom portion 150 in a longitudinal direction. In such scenarios, the engagement structure 190 may not contact the cooperating structure 200.
Further, similar to the engagement structure 190, the cooperating structure 200 may include a plurality of fin elements 202 extending downwardly from an outer surface 204 of the base 106 of the inner container 102. The fin elements are arrayed circularly around the longitudinal axis 112 of the inner container 102, and may extend from an outer periphery of the base 106 or the bottom edge 114 of the inner container 102 towards the longitudinal axis 112 in a radial direction. The fin elements 202 are adapted to engage with the rib elements 192 to prevent the rotational movement of the inner container 102 inside the outer container 104.
Although, the engagement structure 190 and cooperating structure 200 are contemplated as protrusions, it may be appreciated that the engagement structure 190 may include a plurality of protrusions, while the cooperating structure 200 may include a plurality of grooves (not shown) formed in the base 106 of the inner container 102 to receive the plurality of protrusions to restrict/prevent the rotation of the inner container 102. Similarly, in certain implementations, the cooperating structure 200 may include a plurality of protrusions, while the engagement structure 190 may include a plurality of grooves (not shown) to receive the plurality of protrusions to restrict/prevent the rotation of the inner container 200.
In one embodiment, the upwardly facing surface of the bottom portion of the outer container may comprise protrusions which extend upwardly and the bottom section of the inner container comprises openings into which the protrusions of the bottom portion can extend, at least in the second position of the bottom portion. In this way, the openings in the bottom section of the inner container can be used to allow ingress and egress of liquid while also serving as the cooperating structure for cooperating with the engagement structure of the bottom portion of the outer container.
A process of removal of a portion of the solid food products from the packaging unit 100 is now explained. Initially, for removing the solid food product from the packaging unit 100, a person may remove a lid from the outer container 104. Thereafter, the person may apply a push force on the flexible portion 174 (i.e. the bottom portion 150) in an upward direction. Due to the upward push force, the flexible portion 174 (i.e. the bottom portion 150) moves upwardly to the second position from the first position. In so doing, the bottom portion 150 may contact and push the base 106 of the inner container 102, and therefore lifts or displaces the inner container 102 upwardly towards the access opening 162. As the inner container 102 moves upwardly, the lip 122 moves away from the step 170 and may move to a location proximate to the upper edge 160 of the outer container 104. In certain embodiments, the lip 122 may move outside the outer container 104 when the bottom portion 150 moves to the second position. Further, due to the upward movement of the inner container 102, the preservative liquid stored inside the inner container 102 drains out of the inner container 102 through the openings 140. Afterwards, the person may insert their fingers to remove the portion of the solid food products stored inside the inner container 102. In this manner, the person may be able to access and remove the solid food product from the packaging unit 100 without wetting their fingers.
After removing a desired quantity of the solid food products, the person may desire to store the remaining solid food products into the preservative liquid located inside the outer container 104. For so doing, the person, after removing the solid food product from the inner container 102, may push the inner container 102 in a downward direction i.e. towards the bottom portion 150. As the base 106 of the inner container 102 is in contact/engagement with the bottom portion 150 (i.e. the flexible portion 174), the base 106 applies a force on the bottom portion 150, and thus pushes the bottom portion 150 (i.e. the flexible portion 174) in a downward direction away from the access opening 162. Due to the force applied by the inner container 102, the bottom portion 150 (i.e. the flexible portion 174) may move/snap to the first position. Due to the displacement of the bottom portion 150 from the second position to the first position and the force applied by the person on the inner container 102, the inner container 102 moves downwardly to a position in which the lip 122 of the inner container 102 abuts the step 170 of the outer container 104. An abutment of the lip 122 with the step 170 restricts a further downward linear displacement of the inner container 102 inside the outer container 104. Further, as the inner container 102 moves inside the outer container 104, the preservative liquid may ingress inside the inner container 102 through the openings 140. Thereafter, the person may apply the lid on the outer container 104 and closes the packaging unit 100.
The packaging unit 100, thus disclosed, is characterised by the bottom portion 150 that facilitates an easy lifting of the inner container 102 to facilitate an easy removal of the solid food product food products stored inside the inner container while preventing a wetting of the figures of a user. Furthermore, when the engagement mechanism and the cooperating mechanism are provided, then the inner container is prevented from rotating with respect to the outer container when removing the solid food products from the inner container. For example, when removing the food products with a spoon, the spoon does not cause the inner container to turn, thereby making it easier to remove the food products from the inner container.
It is to be noted that the figures and the above description have shown the example embodiments in a simple and schematic manner. Many of the specific mechanical details have not been shown since the person skilled in the art should be familiar with these details and they would just unnecessarily complicate this description.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PA201970618 | Oct 2019 | DK | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2020/077843 | 10/5/2020 | WO |