Advantageous embodiments of the invention shall now be explained in more detail in the following with reference to figures attached to a drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a cup-shaped container comprising a covering means;
FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a square container comprising a covering means;
FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of a cup-shaped container of a substantially triangular cross-section;
FIG. 4 is a top view on a two-dimensional blank for a cup-shaped container according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side view of a cup-shaped container comprising an outer sleeve; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of a cup-shaped container with a double wall structure.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a container 1 in the form of a cup 11. Said container comprises a surrounding wall 2, which is closed at its lower end by a bottom 3. Opposite to bottom 3, the cup 11 comprises a discharge opening. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, said opening is closed by a closing member 5 in the form of a foil sealed onto a rim 12 of the discharge opening.
The container 1 or cup 11 is made from materials permitting the arrangement and heating of a foodstuff contained in the interior in a microwave oven. Such materials are, for example, paper, cardboard, plastics, or the like, and it is also possible to use a plurality of layers made from said materials, for example for the container wall.
As a rule, the rim 12 is folded or rolled radially to the outside.
In an upper section 7 of the wall 2, a covering means 6 is arranged. Said means is formed by a metallic coating 8, a metalized foil 9 or a metallic film 10. The metal contained in the covering means 6 serves to reflect microwaves when the container 1 is arranged in a microwave oven for heating the foodstuff contained in its interior. This means that foodstuff arranged in the area of the covering means 6 is not directly heated by the microwaves.
In FIG. 1, the corresponding covering means 6 is arranged on an outside of the wall 2. As an alternative or in addition, the covering means 6 may also be arranged accordingly on an inside of the wall 2; see, for example, FIG. 3.
The covering means 6 according to FIG. 1 can be directly applied as a corresponding coating, foil or film onto the wall 2. It is also possible that the covering means 6 is a separate part with respect to wall 2, which part is for example slid or pushed from the outside onto the container 1 into the position shown in FIG. 1 and is secured there, if necessary. Such a separate covering means 6 may also be configured as a covering part 17; see also FIG. 1.
Such a covering part 17 may only comprise the corresponding covering means 6 (see FIG. 1) or may also be slidable in the form of an outer sleeve 18 (see FIG. 3) together with the corresponding covering means 6 from the outside onto the container.
Depending on the type of covering means 6, the means is mounted accordingly. In the case of a metalized foil 9 as the covering means 6, mounting may for example be performed by way of hot stamping. If a foil or a coating is used, laminating is also possible, or in the case of a film, a powder or a liquid, an application by injection or spraying, or the like, may be performed with subsequent curing or drying, if necessary.
The corresponding covering means 6 may also extend over the whole height of the container or cup or, as an alternative or in addition, it may be arranged in a lower section; see the second covering means 6 in FIG. 1. This applies by analogy to all of the other containers described in the following. It is also possible that the different covering means, or also a covering means extending over the total height of the container, differ in their reflecting characteristics with respect to heat or microwave radiation. For instance, the covering means that is at the top in FIG. 1 is substantially configured to be totally reflective with respect to heat rays, whereas the covering means 6 arranged at the bottom in FIG. 1 is made reflective only in part. For instance, different temperature ranges can be easily accomplished in the foodstuff arranged in the container. In this example the middle section of the container of FIG. 1 is nowhere shielded so that maximum heating of the corresponding foodstuff takes place in this section.
FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a square container 1. In this container, the covering means 6 is provided on the container 1 as a surrounding ribbon in an upper section 7. The covering means 6 can be arranged accordingly on an outer and/or inner surface of the container 1 in the upper section 7.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the covering means 6 is spaced apart from an upper discharge opening 4. According to FIG. 1 the covering means 6 is arranged directly next to the discharge opening 4, the covering means 6 possibly comprising the folded or rolled rim 12.
As a rule, a height 16 of the covering means 6, with which the means extends in height direction of the corresponding container 1, is the same along the wall 2 of the container 1 or cup 11. The corresponding thickness of the covering means 6 may also be the same.
In a further embodiment, and particularly in the absence of a turntable in the microwave oven, it may be enough to arrange the covering means 6 on opposite sections of the wall 2. In this case the covering means 6 does not extend along the whole periphery of the container 1 or the cup 11.
FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of a further cup 11 as the container 1, which differs from the cup shown in FIG. 1 by its cross section. The cross-sectional form of the corresponding container is substantially of any desired shape according to the invention because the covering means 6 can be arranged or mounted accordingly in any cross-sectional shape. This applies by analogy also to a single-, double- or multi-walled container, and the covering means may here be arranged on one wall, on two walls or also on several walls. This applies by analogy to the inner and outer surface of the corresponding wall.
In FIG. 3, the covering means 6 is arranged on an inner surface 14 of the wall 2 of the cup 11. This cup has a substantially triangular cross-section. The covering means 6 extends up to the rim 12 and may enclose the same.
In containers serving to receive food, a fluid-impermeable foil coating 14 is normally applied to the inner surface 14. The covering means 6 may here be arranged on an outer surface of this foil coating or between foil coating and wall 2. Likewise, a combination of the two arrangements is possible, and a covering means 6 may additionally be arranged on an outer surface of the wall.
FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a cup 11, in which an outer sleeve 18 is slid or pushed thereonto from the outside in the form of a covering part 17 and is normally secured in its pushed-on position. Such an outer sleeve 18 serves, for example, an easier handling of cups into which a very hot foodstuff, such as coffee or tea, is filled. The corresponding double wall structure of the cup makes it possible to grip the cup containing such a hot foodstuff.
In this case, too, a corresponding covering means 6 may be provided. Said means can be arranged on an outer and/or inner surface of the outer sleeve 18.
Projections that form heat-insulating air chambers between outer sleeve 18 and container wall 2 may be provided between outer sleeve 18 and cup wall 2. Moreover, the outer sleeve may be provided on its outer and/or inner surface with a structure formed, for example, by corrugations, projections or dimples. The covering means 6 can also be applied to such a structured surface.
In yet another embodiment, a corresponding structure is for example only provided in the area of the covering means 6. Since the covering means prevents heating of the foodstuff contained in the container by microwaves, the handling of the container in the area of the covering means is of advantage because it is at said place that little or no heated foodstuff is in contact with the container wall 2. As a result, areas of the container 1 that contain heated or hot foodstuff need not be touched.
FIG. 4 is a top view showing a substantially two-dimensional blank 15 particularly for a cup 11 according to FIG. 1. According to the invention the covering means 6 may be applied in the form of a metallic coating, metalized foil or a metalized film 8, 9, 10 directly onto the blank in an upper section 7. A corresponding height 16 or also thickness of the covering means 6 is the same along the whole extension of the covering means along the blank.
As has already been stated, the covering means 6 may here be arranged on an outer surface of a fluid-tight foil coating 13 or also between said coating and the container wall 2. A combination of both arrangements is also possible; if the two arrangements are combined, a complete extension along the blank 15 need not be present. For instance, one of the covering means 6 may only extend in places along the blank, the further covering means 6 complementing the other covering means accordingly.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show further embodiments of a container 1 formed as a cup 11. In FIG. 5, the corresponding container 1 comprises an outer sleeve; see also FIG. 3. Said sleeve is slid onto or wrapped around the corresponding container wall and substantially extends over the total height of the container up to and underneath the corresponding container rim 12. Such an outer sleeve may have a surface structure. The corresponding covering means 6 may be part of the outer sleeve and/or of the container wall covered by the outer sleeve. By analogy with FIG. 1, a plurality of covering means are possible, or also one covering means extending over the total height of the container. Furthermore, one covering means may be part of the outer sleeve and another covering means may be part of the container wall. Said covering means may also show different reflection characteristics with respect to the heat or microwave radiation.
In FIG. 6, the cup 11 comprises a double-walled container wall 2. By analogy with the containers that have so far been described, said wall is provided with one or more covering means 6. It is here again possible that the corresponding covering means is arranged on an outer and/or inner surface of the outer container wall and/or on an inner and/or outer surface of the inner container wall. Likewise, when several covering means are used, said means may show different reflection characteristics with respect to the heat rays. Moreover, in such a double wall structure of the container wall, said wall may enclose air chambers or another material which just shows little heat conduction. This facilitates the handling of very cold or very hot foodstuff.
It should once again be pointed out that according to the invention the container may substantially have any desired shapes or cross sections, and a corresponding covering means can also be arranged as an individual means or as a plurality of means independently of a single-, double- or multi-walled structure of the container. This equally applies to structured container walls or to outer sleeves or covering parts that are mountable on the container wall from the outside.
Patent Application
20070267429
