The invention relates to a container which is used for storing and removing food, comprising a first and a second container half, which are connected together by means of a pivotable connection in the form of a pivotable line or the like in order to pivot between an open position and a closed position.
Such a container is known for example from practice for storing and removing a hamburger, a sandwich, a piece of pastry, or the like. Normally, the corresponding food is completely removed from the container and held in ones hands for consumption.
The container halves then form an upper and a lower container half, wherein the lower container half is used for putting down the container and the upper container half can be folded upwards about the corresponding pivotable connection for removing the food. That means that with the previously known container, the corresponding pivotable connection or pivotable line extends horizontally or in the direction transverse to the food situated in the container.
Such a container is well-suited for storing and removing the corresponding food, but it cannot be used as an aid for consuming the food. Moreover, in its closed state the previously known container is sufficiently stable for transporting the food, however, in its opened state it is relatively unstable; in this state, however, the food is only removed from the container.
It is the object of the invention to improve a container of the type mentioned in the beginning such that it is also suited for consuming the food and is more stable and can nevertheless be produced economically while it is simple to assemble.
This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.
Each container half of the container according to the invention comprises an upper and a lower, polygonal container wall when viewed from above, and a lateral wall which connects the walls at a distance in relation to each other. The corresponding pivotable line of the pivotable connection is embodied between ends of the lateral walls of the container halves which face each other. The other, second ends of the lateral walls are connected together in a detachable manner in the closed position of the container halves, where the pivotable axis which is associated with the pivotable line extends essentially perpendicular to the upper and lower container walls of the container halves.
This essentially results in a container having a left and a right container half which can be opened about a pivotable axis extending essentially perpendicular to the food situated in the container, so that the food projects from the right or left container half when the container halves are in the open position and can be used for holding the food during consumption. If the container halves are in the closed position, the correspondingly polygonal left and right container halves complement each other to form a container which correspondingly has a polygonal cross-section which, due to the plurality of corners and edges, comprises improved stability not only during transport of the food, but also when only one container half is being used for consuming the food.
To give the respective container half a simpler embodiment and to also be able to produce it more easily, the upper and lower container walls of each container half can be congruent to each other.
The stability of the container is improved by its corresponding polygonal design, the upper and lower container walls, respectively, of the first and second container halves complementing each other in the closed position to form a hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal contour of the container, or a contour with even more corners.
In order not to have any gap in the container in its closed position and to completely enclose the food, the lower and/or upper container wall of one container half can comprise a shorter maximal length to a free end edge than the lower and/or upper container wall of the other container half.
In the closed position of both container halves, this permits an overlap between the longer and/or upper container walls of the one container half and the corresponding container walls of the other container half.
In order to more stably form at least one of the container halves in this context, free end edges of the upper and/or lower container wall of the corresponding container half can be connected flush with the free end edges of the lateral walls forming the pivotable line.
To support pivoting about the pivotable line, along the pivotable line a long stretched-out pivotable opening can be formed in the shape of an oblong hole.
To easily permit a detachable connection of the corresponding ends of the lateral walls in the closed position, the lateral walls can comprise a first and second end sections projecting beyond the free end edge of the upper and lower container walls at their second ends. These end sections of the lateral walls can then be detachably connected to each other by means of various techniques known per se, such as for example a detachable adhesive point, an insertion connection, a catch connection or the like.
In a simple embodiment, the end section of the lateral wall of the first container half comprises at its free end a tongue which detachably engages with an insertion slot arranged in a lateral wall of the second container half in the closed position. Naturally, a reversed arrangement of tongue and insertion slot is also possible.
To facilitate the connection between tongue and insertion slot and the shifting together of the corresponding end sections, between the end section of the second container half and the upper and lower container walls, open receiving slots can be formed in the direction towards the end section of the lateral wall of the first container half. Again, a reversed arrangement is possible. In this context, it is possible that in the closed position of the container halves, the corresponding end edges of the upper and lower container walls of the first container half are partially received in this receiving slot.
To be able to produce the corresponding polygonality of the container in a simple manner and simultaneously increase the stability of the container, the lateral wall can comprise corners of lateral folding lines connecting the upper and lower container walls.
To further increase stiffness, the lower and/or upper container wall of the corresponding container half can be formed of two or more layers, at least in portions.
The multilayer design can be realized by several layers of the same material, however, different materials can be also used for the various layers.
To produce the multilayer design in a simple manner and simultaneously permit the connection between lateral walls and container walls, the lateral wall can comprise adhesive flanges lying against inner surfaces of the upper and/or lower container wall, so that in particular the adjacent areas of the lateral wall and the container walls are stabilized by the resulting multilayer design. The arrangement of the corresponding adhesive flanges can also be performed reversely, so that adhesive flanges projecting from one of the container walls are fixed to an inner surface of the lateral wall. In this case, fixing is normally made by gluing together, but it can also be performed by melting on a foil applied to the adhesive flanges or to the lateral walls themselves.
For the adhesive flanges to be oriented corresponding to the inner surfaces of the corresponding walls, these can be connected in particular with the other lateral wall or the other container wall by means of a folding line.
As essentially half of the corresponding food is still arranged in one container half when the container halves are in the open position, and the projecting other half of the food projects for consumption, it can in this context furthermore prove to be advantageous for the first or else the second container half to comprise a tear line at least in the upper and lower container walls. This tear line is used, after the projecting portion of the food has been consumed, for further opening the corresponding container half, so that the rest of the food too can be further consumed out of the corresponding container half. In principle, for completely consuming the food it is possible to securely hold it just by means of the corresponding container half without any further aids, such as napkins or the like, and to essentially use this container half until the food is completely consumed.
In this context, it can be furthermore an advantage if not only the upper and lower container walls can be separated by the corresponding tear line, but if the corresponding lateral wall, too, can be separated or at least pivoted open more easily about a corresponding line. This can be achieved by the lateral wall of the corresponding container half comprising a lateral tear line connecting the tear line of the upper and lower container walls. However, this lateral tear line can also only be used, as illustrated above, as pivotable line and does not have to be actually used for completely removing the corresponding lateral wall portion.
It showed that a deformation of the corresponding container walls or lateral walls results from heat and vapor of the food situated in the container, if these walls are, for example, already bent. To avoid this, the upper and/or lower container walls and lateral wall sections arranged between adjacent folding lines can extend in a plane.
As the container essentially is a disposable packing, it is naturally advantageous if the corresponding material can be easily recycled. Such a material for the container is, for example, paper, cardboard, or the like.
To possibly additionally stiffen the connection between the container walls, as an alternative or complement to the adhesive flanges of the corresponding lateral wall, the upper and/or lower container wall can comprise adhesive flaps lying against the inner surface, in particular of the end section of the lateral wall, the flaps being connected to the rest of the container wall by means of a folding line.
To determine an in particular maximal open position of the container such that the corresponding container halves are not pivoted too far in relation to each other and these are instead, for example, essentially arranged next to each other in the open position, in the maximal open position of the container, the lateral wall sections of the lateral walls of the first and second container halves connected by means of the pivotable line can essentially lie against each other with their outer surfaces. Due to the fact that the container halves do not pivot open too far but only pivot open to such an extent that they face the consumer with their corresponding openings, for example crumbs or other food leftovers which are already arranged in the container half not being used for consuming the food or are gathered in the same, can be prevented from falling out.
The abutment of the corresponding outer surfaces is improved if their surfaces are essentially equal.
The production and assembly of the container can furthermore be improved by producing it from a single-pieced blank.
There moreover is the possibility for the container to comprise an in particular fluid-tight coating on its inner and/or outer surface. A coating on the outer surface of the container can also serve to improve the appearance of this outer surface or to more easily provide it with a print.
There also is the possibility of designing the corresponding container walls of container halves or the lateral wall such that the same comprise a certain heat-insulating effect by an air gap being for example present between the layers in case of multilayer walls, or heat transmission through the walls being reduced in any other way.
The invention also relates to a corresponding single-pieced blank for producing such a container, wherein such a blank comprises at least one longitudinal lateral wall strip for forming the lateral walls and upper and lower container wall sections projecting from this lateral wall strip along the longitudinal sides thereof. Between the longitudinal sides and in particular perpendicular to the same, a row of lateral folding lines are embodied in the lateral wall strip, and approximately centrically in the lateral wall strip, a pivotable line extending in parallel to the lateral folding lines is embodied.
To produce the corresponding adhesive flanges in this context in a simple manner, these can be arranged along the longitudinal sides of the lateral wall strip as essentially triangular adhesive flanges, between these and the container wall sections, a cutting line being embodied. In this manner, the adhesive flanges are also part of the blank and, after the corresponding assembly of the container, they only have to be glued to the inner surface of the corresponding container wall.
To facilitate the assembly in this context, the adhesive flanges can be connected to the lateral wall strips by a corresponding folding line.
To be able to produce the corresponding lateral walls of both container halves in a simple manner, the lateral wall strip can comprise two groups of lateral wall sections which are separated by two pivotable lateral wall sections, wherein the free ends of the lateral wall strip are formed by closing lateral wall sections.
For detachably fixing the corresponding closing lateral wall sections when the container is assembled, a closing lateral wall section can comprise a tongue projecting at its free end which can be inserted into a corresponding insertion opening in the lateral wall for defining a closed position of the container.
To later facilitate the corresponding pivoting of the container halves, an oblong hole extending along the corresponding pivotable line can be embodied between the two pivotable lateral sections.
Adhesive flaps cannot only be arranged in the area of the corresponding lateral wall sections, but the pivotable lateral section can also comprise approximately triangular adhesive flaps at its longitudinal sides.
To facilitate the insertion of the above mentioned tongue, an oblong hole can be formed along the corresponding lateral folding line between the closing lateral wall section and the following lateral wall section. This oblong hole is then used for inserting the tongue.
To facilitate the insertion of the tongue and more securely determine the closed position, the corresponding lateral folding line can comprise cutting sections at both ends of the oblong hole. These facilitate the insertion of the tongue which is longer than the oblong hole, its length essentially corresponding to the length of the oblong hole and the additional length of the corresponding cutting sections.
To facilitate the assembly of the container, in particular the gluing of the corresponding adhesive flanges, it is possible for an inclination of triangle sides of corresponding adhesive flanges to be essentially equal. Thereby, these triangle sides can be used for determining the corresponding folding position of lateral wall sections or else container wall sections, and in this determined position gluing is then performed.
According to the invention, by the corresponding container and blank, the stiffness of the container is increased and corresponding deformation when the food is being put into the container, transported or consumed is avoided. This is in particular achieved by the plurality of corners and folding lines and the use of double-walls or multilayered walls at least in portions.
By the use of essentially plane or flat walls, moreover deformation of the paper due to heat or vapor is largely avoided. The container can be used for consuming the food without contacting it with the hands of the consumer, so that further aids, such as for example a napkin or the like, are not necessary for consumption. The use of the tear lines permits the consumption of the complete food, so that the extent of hygiene is high until the food is completely consumed.
The corresponding container halves moreover prevent crumbs, liquid components of the food or else other parts of the food from exiting from the container, where in particular the container half not used for consumption can be used for gathering such parts. Furthermore, the corresponding overlap of the walls and the detachable closing of the container halves ensure that the food can be transported securely also during transport without opening the container.
In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is illustrated more in detail with reference to the figures enclosed in the drawing.
In the drawings:
The first container half 2 comprises an upper and a lower container wall 7, 8, also see
In the closed position 5 according to
Between the end section 28 of the lateral wall 12 and the upper and lower container walls 9, 10, open receiving slots 31, 32 are embodied in the direction towards the first container half 2. These facilitate the arrangement of the corresponding end section 27 and also of the upper and lower container walls 7, 8 of the first container half 2 in the second container half 3, also see
The corresponding walls or wall sections according to
This corresponding pivotable line is, also see for example
In
In
The first container half 2 comprises an end edge 24 at a first end 13 of its lateral wall 11 which is connected by means of the corresponding pivotable line 6 or lateral folding line 42 with the corresponding end edge 25 at the first end 14 of the lateral wall 12 of the second container half 3. A portion of the pivotable line 6 is the pivotable opening 26 embodied as oblong hole.
The lateral walls 11, 12 comprise, adjacent to the first end 13 or 14, respectively, outer surfaces 52 and 53 which determine a maximal open position in which the two outer surfaces 52, 53 lie against each other. These outer surfaces essentially have the same area.
The lateral walls 11, 12 comprise the same number of lateral wall sections 48 and essentially differ in corresponding end sections 27, 28 used for detachably closing the container 1, also see
Free end edges 20 and 21 of the upper and lower container walls 7, 8 of the first container half 2 pass over flush into the first end edges 24, 25 at the first end 13, 14 of the lateral walls 11, 12. The corresponding free end edges 22, 23 of the upper and lower container walls 9, 10 of the second container half 3 then project over these end edges 24, 25, also see
Adhesive flanges 50 are fixed on the inner surfaces 43, 44 of the corresponding container walls and connected by means of corresponding folding lines 45 to the laterals walls 11, 12. The corresponding adhesive flanges are essentially triangular, wherein in
In the upper and lower container walls 7, 8 of the first container half 2, tear lines 46 are centrically embodied, for example by a perforation. These are used for tearing open the corresponding container walls 7, 8, also see
In
In
By the arrangement of the corresponding adhesive flanges 50 on the inner surfaces 43 of the container walls 7 to 10, a double-layer design results in particular in this area which increases stiffness of the container, besides the increase of stiffness by the number of folding lines and corners of the container.
At this point, it should be briefly noted that in all figures the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals, and some of these reference numerals are only given in one figure and are only described in connection with one figure.
In
In
In
Here, too, corresponding same parts of the previous figures are provided with the same reference numerals.
The blank 60 in particular comprises a lateral wall strip 55 comprising a plurality of lateral wall sections which are correspondingly separated from each other by lateral folding lines 41, 42. The various sections in particular also comprise pivotable lateral wall sections 65, 66 which are arranged approximately centrically in the lateral wall strip 55 and between which the folding line 42 determines the corresponding pivotable line 6 or pivotable axis 17. The oblong hole 69 is embodied as pivotable opening 26 in the corresponding folding line 42. Furthermore, the wall sections comprise the closing lateral wall sections 67 and 68 which correspondingly form the end sections 27 and 28 of the container, also see
A further part of the single-pieced blank 60 according to
One can see in
To permit the corresponding pivoting of the adhesive flaps during the production of the container independent of the folding of the corresponding container walls 7 to 10, cutting lines 63 are arranged along a triangle side of the corresponding adhesive flaps which separate the adhesive flaps from the container walls 7 to 10 in this area.
Apart from these cutting lines 63 as one triangle side, the corresponding triangles comprise further triangle sides 72 and 73 which are used for defining a corresponding folding state of the lateral wall sections as well as of the container walls in that they abut against each other, see
One can see furthermore in
From each of the pivotable lateral wall sections 65, 66, along the corresponding longitudinal sides 56, 57 of the lateral wall strip 55, corresponding adhesive flaps 50 project in pairs which are situated oppositely, also see
In the area of the oblong hole 70 forming the insertion slot 30, cutting sections 71 are embodied along the corresponding lateral folding line 41 which support the insertion of the tongue 29 with cutting lines 75 into the insertion slot 30 and in particular the detachable holding of the tongue in the slot.
The container and the single-pieced blank, respectively, according to the invention altogether result in a container shape which permits a kind of opening the container by pivoting different to that of previously known containers, wherein according to the invention one of the container halves is used for holding food situated in the container, such as a hamburger, a sandwich or the like. In this context it should also be noted that the corresponding tear lines 46 in the representation according to
According to the invention, therefore no further aid for the consumption or for keeping the consumer clean is necessary, and even parts falling away from the food, such as crumbs, sauces or other food components, are securely received by the corresponding container halves.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
20 2005 014 738.9 | Sep 2005 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2006/008983 | 9/14/2006 | WO | 00 | 9/19/2008 |