Patent Application
20080105695
The present invention relates to an insert for inserting into a carrier bag, in particular to an insert which allows one or more containers containing liquids and/or food products to be securely transported in a carrier bag.
In recent years, in the interest of health and safety, suppliers of take-away food and beverage products have found a need to concern themselves with the provision of safe methods for consumers to transport take-away food and beverages. Consumers are often provided with a bag, usually a paper bag, for carrying their take-away beverage(s), which may be hot or cold, and/or food items, for example. Such food items may include sandwiches, baguettes, beef burgers, fries or salads for example. Take-away beverages, which may be hot, such as, for example, tea, coffee, or soup, or cold, such as soft drinks, are often supplied in disposable containers, usually paper or cardboard cups. Generally, the container is placed in the bottom of the bag together with the food item. Often, the container becomes dislodged in the carrier bag, tilting over and perhaps even spilling onto the food item(s), sometimes even destroying the food item. This is clearly undesirable. Such a method of transport for take-away beverages is particularly undesirable in the case of hot beverages where spillage could potentially cause harm, such as scalding, to a consumer. In the case of suppliers of take-away beverages, it would therefore be highly desirable to provide a safe and cost-effective method of carrying beverages, in particular hot beverages. Such a method would minimise any potential health and safety issues that may arise as a result of the transport of take-away beverages and/or food products.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,248 describes a collapsible food and beverage container. In particular it describes a beverage and food support means which is internally deployable within a bag. The structure comprises a first support means adapted to receive a beverage cup and a second (food) support means. Thus a two-part structure is described wherein each support means is maintained in a respective initial disposition for fold-flat shipment and storage by in each case a tongue which is glued to the internal wall of the bag. The first (drinks) support means includes a lip area which is glued or otherwise secured to a side wall of the bag and a support flap or leg which in use is folded downwardly 90 degrees toward the base of the bag so as to provide support for the first support means. The second support means comprises a support sheet which can be rested on top of a cup secured in the first support means following separation of the adhesive bond holding or securing the tongue of the food support means on or to the side wall of the bag. The first support means may collapse when under the weight of a container secured therein. In addition, the device described does not provide good thermal insulation between the cup(s) and food product(s) resting on the second support means.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,919,844 describes a carton for the packaging of cups and more particularly a carton for supporting a plurality of cups. The carton is stated to be especially useful for products which are partially or completely frozen after the cups have been sealed in the carton. The disclosure is in particular directed to a blank for a carton for packaging a number of smaller containers, such as cups. The blank is rectangular and has, in order, a top panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a front flap, a rack panel for accommodating the cups, and a sealing flap. Creased fold lines are provided at the junctions between the flaps and panels. The rack panel has apertures which are spaced from each other and from the edges of the panel. The bottom, top and rack panels are of identical size. A sealing flap is separated from the front flap along a line of weakness of generally U-shaped configuration extending across the blank over a major portion of its width. The ends of the line of weakness or severance are at the creased fold line between the front panel and the front flap. The main part of the line of severance is parallel to the creased fold line and is located at a spacing from the creased fold line of approximately one half the width of the front flap. The fold lines along the edges of the rack panel have a series of spaced slits, so that these fold lines offer less resistance to bending than others of the fold lines when the blank is folded.
The carton provided by the blank is adapted for positive support of cups accommodated in it against any lateral or longitudinal shifting once they have been placed in the box. The carton clamps the cups at the top and bottom, so that the covers on the cups which protect their contents cannot be disengaged until the carton has been opened. Individual cups cannot be removed from the carton without tearing or otherwise damaging the carton, so that pilfering of the carton's contents is discouraged.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,981 describes a carrying bag of a foldable type having a plate element which is secured on the internal surface of one of the walls of the bag and can selectively occupy either of two positions, the first being a storage position in which the plate element is applied against the wall of the bag, and the second being a use position in which the plate element extends transversely to the wall, substantially parallel to the bottom of the bag. A transverse flap is articulated on the plate element so as to be in the plane of the plate element in the storage position and to be perpendicular to the plate element in the use position. The flap has a first portion which is located above the plate element in the use position and a second portion which is located below the plate element in the use position. An opening in the plate element revealed by the articulation of the flap serves to accommodate a cup, which when placed within the opening revealed by the pivoting of the flap, comes to bear against the first portion of the flap located below the plate element so as to maintain the flap substantially perpendicular to the plate element. The plate element is also shown as having a second opening for maintaining another cup in a predetermined fixed position when the plate element is in the use position. In the use position, the interior of the bag is separated into two compartments, a first compartment for accommodating one or more beverage containers, and a second compartment for accommodating other foodstuffs. The two compartments are located side by side and separated by the vertical flap, which provides a partition between the compartments and may optionally be clad with a thermally insulating material, to protect a comestible food product in the second compartment from heat given off by a hot drink accommodated in the first compartment.
There is thus a need for an improved insert for a carrier bag in which a container or containers can be held securely and which is substantially rigid when in use.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide an improved insert for inserting into a carrier bag and which allows a beverage container or containers to be securely transported in a substantially upright position relative to the bag.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved insert for inserting into a carrier bag and which permits thermal insulation of a food product(s) from a container(s) containing liquid(s) held in the insert.
Accordingly, the invention provides an insert for inserting internally into a carrier bag having side walls and a base, the insert comprising:
Suitably the insert is in collapsible fold-out form. The insert according to the invention is fixable to an interior side wall of the carrier bag.
Suitably, the insert further comprises an item support stand portion having an item support portion on which an item can be carried and at least one leg portion, the item support stand being arranged, in use, to stand upon the container stand portion, by extending past the at least part of the at least one container extending above the stand portion, the item support portion, being arranged to form a barrier between the item and the top of the at least one container so as to support the item when the bag is carried.
The insert according to the invention allows containers such as cups containing beverages to be securely transported in a carrier bag in an upright position relative to the bag. The risk of the beverage spilling over and causing harm to the user is therefore minimised. Furthermore, items carried, preferably non-liquid items such as food items including sandwiches, baguettes, wraps, fries, beef burgers, salads, for example, can be supported by the insert without being in contact with the at least one container held in the container stand portion. Furthermore a desirable position of the item support portion can be achieved without interference from the container.
Suitably, the item support portion is arranged in use such that it is parallel to the container stand portion. The item support stand portion can be arranged in use so that it stands upon the container stand portion without interference from at least part of the at least one container held in the container stand portion. This means that the item support portion can be arranged in use so that it does not rest on the top of the at least one container. Desirably the item support portion provides a substantially flat surface for supporting an item, such as a food item for example, in the bag.
The item support stand portion may be arranged, in use, to stand upon the container stand portion by means of a plurality of leg portions. Preferably the leg portions extend from the item support stand portion such that they stand on the container stand portion on at least two opposing sides of the container. They may be substantially perpendicular to and resting on the container stand portion such that the item support stand portion is held, in use, above the container stand portion in a table-like manner. For further stability where a plurality of legs is provided, the legs may be connected by a leg connection portion.
In one desirable arrangement the item support stand portion comprises a base portion. Desirably the leg connection portion may be formed by at least part of the base portion. Preferably, the leg connection portion may be a continuous member adapted to extend across substantially the entire internal transverse space of the bag. The base portion may be adapted to accommodate the top end of the at least one container held in the container stand portion.
Suitably the base portion of the item support stand portion comprises at least one container receiving opening adapted to receive the top end of the at least one container held in the container stand portion. The item support stand portion accommodates the top of the at least one container held in the container stand portion such that the container cannot substantially move relative to the item support stand portion. The container is therefore held in a substantially upright position relative to the bag.
Suitably the item support portion, the base portion and the leg portions form a continuous body. Preferably the continuous body is rectangular in shape.
Preferably, the insert according to the invention comprises a continuous body. The continuous body of material is adapted to form a container stand portion and an item support stand portion, by provision of appropriate panels which can take the form required.
Suitably the insert according to the invention comprises a substantially planar member provided with a plurality of fold-lines. The insert may be folded along the fold-lines to form the container stand portion and the item support stand portion.
Preferably the container stand portion and the item support stand portion comprise a rectangular body formed by folding the insert along the fold-lines.
Suitably, the insert according to the invention is in collapsible fold-out form and more desirably is further adapted when folded out, to maintain its folded out form by tensioning itself within the carrier bag. Thus the insert can be inserted into a foldable carrier bag but which is yet collapsible and thus the bag and insert can be stored flat for convenience. The insert when folded out within the bag forms a substantially rigid self-supporting unit and provides support for the walls of the carrier bag. The insert according to the invention is adapted to support the weight of the at least one container and/or food item held therein and does not collapse under the weight of the at least one container or food item or items.
Suitably the carrier bag is rectangular in shape and the insert is shaped to match. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the insert according to the invention can be shaped to match different shapes of carrier bag.
Suitably the carrier bag comprises a paper bag. It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the insert according to the invention may be used with other types of bag. Furthermore, the size of the insert may be chosen according to the size of the carrier bag it is intended to be placed within.
Suitably the insert comprises material such as cardboard, plastics material or moulded fibre material, for example. The material provides rigidity to the insert such that the insert can support the at least one container and/or food item or items without collapsing.
It will be appreciated by the skilled person that the dimensions of the insert could be adapted so that the insert is of a size suitable to accommodate small, medium or large beverage cups or containers, for example.
In one embodiment of the invention an insert for inserting internally into a carrier bag having side walls and a base is provided, the insert having:
Suitably the support members of the item support stand portion may comprise leg portions.
Preferably, the container stand portion and the item support stand portion of the insert are connected. The container stand portion and the item support stand portion of the insert are suitably connected by means of one of said support members.
Preferably, the item support stand portion is arranged, in use, to abut the side walls of the carrier bag so as to maintain a substantially fixed position relative to the carrier bag. Such an arrangement provides extra rigidity to the bag.
Preferably, the item support stand portion has in the base thereof at least one container receiving opening which is arranged to allow insertion of the top end of the container into the space between the base and the item support portion thereof. This permits containers such as beverage cups having lids of different height or slanted lids for example, to be accommodated. In addition suitably, the top end of the container is spaced apart from the item support portion of the item support stand portion. This allows steam from hot beverages in the container to circulate. Furthermore, food products placed on the upper surface of the item support portion are not in direct contact with the container.
Suitably the upper surface of the item support portion further comprises a layer of material adapted to insulate an item carried on the item support portion from moisture and/or temperature fluctuations which may be caused by a beverage contained in the at least one container held in the container stand portion. Suitably the layer of material comprises thermal-insulating material. The insulating material may comprise aluminium foil or polystyrene.
The presence of an insulating layer means that items, in particular food items, carried on the upper surface of the item support portion are not affected by the temperature of beverages held in the container stand portion. In particular the food items will not be affected by heat or steam, for example, from hot beverages, or by cold beverages, held in the insert. Thus an insulation barrier is formed between a container or containers held in the container stand portion and a food item or items supported on the upper surface of the item support portion of the item support stand.
Suitably the at least one container engaging opening of the upper container receiving portion of the container stand portion comprises a plurality of slots adapted to grip a container. The container engaging opening may be adapted to grip the container at a position on the intermediate body portion of the container. Suitably, the slots comprise gripping mouths formed such that they have deformable grips about the mouths which deform to grip the container when inserted. Desirably the periphery of the container engaging opening can expand such that containers having different diameters may be secured therein. Suitably, the container may be removed from the container engaging opening by twisting and raising the container.
It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the container may be gripped in the slots such that the base of the container is positioned spaced apart from the base portion of the container stand portion.
Suitably the insert according to the invention is adapted such that in use, the container stand portion is lowered into position in the bag so that the at least one container can be secured therein and the item support stand portion can then be lowered to stand on the container stand portion. The top of the at least one container may then be accommodated in the item support stand portion.
In a further embodiment the invention provides an assembly comprising a carrier bag having a plurality of side walls and a base, and an insert having:
Preferably the bag comprises a foldable paper bag.
Suitably the insert according to the invention is fixable to an interior side wall of the bag.
Preferably, the insert is fixable to an interior side wall of the bag by means of a support member. Further preferably, the insert is fixable to an interior side wall of the bag by means of the support member which connects the item support stand portion and container stand portion. Suitably the support member is provided with adhesive so that it may be adhered to an interior side wall of the bag.
The invention in a first embodiment may alternatively be defined as an insert for inserting internally into a carrier bag having side walls and a base, the insert being of collapsible fold-out form and being adapted, when folded out, to comprise a container stand portion for accommodating one or more beverage-containing containers, wherein:
wherein
The container stand portion may suitably comprise an open-ended box-like rectangular structure. Thus in this embodiment, the insert may in essence consist of a collapsible open-ended box which can be transformed between a substantially flat folded configuration and an erected disposition in which it can interact with a bag for provide stable support for a drinks container. The at least one container engaging opening suitably comprises a plurality of slots adapted to grip a container. Preferably, the insert is shaped to match a carrier bag of rectangular shape and it may be further adapted to maintain a folded-out form by tensioning itself within the carrier bag. While the insert may be fixable to an interior side wall of the carrier bag, a slide-in arrangement at the point and time of use is favoured. The insert may comprise any appropriate material, e.g. selected from the group consisting of cardboard, plastics or moulded fibre.
In a second embodiment, the insert is further adapted, when folded out, to comprise:
the item support stand portion comprising said item support portion and having a leg portion and being arranged, in use, to stand upon the container stand portion by the leg portion extending past a container held in the container stand portion; the item support portion being connected to the container stand portion by means of said leg portion of the item support stand portion; and the container stand portion of the insert being adapted to be folded out into said extended position in which the base panel of the container stand portion abuts with the side walls and base of the carrier bag so as to maintain a substantially fixed position relative to the carrier bag, and, after optional placement of a beverage container into a container engaging opening of the container stand portion, the item support stand portion being adapted to be lowered to extend over a said container, and the item support portion being then arranged so as to support food item(s) placed thereon.
Thus in this embodiment, a partition is provided, which is connected to the lower drinks holder which is suitably of box-form configuration by way of an upstanding panel or leg, extending upwards from the box-like drinks holder in the assembled disposition or configuration of use of the insert. The partition is located at the upper end of the upstanding leg or support or panel and is folded down in the assembled insert to overlie a drinks container or drinks containers held in the box-configuration drinks holder. The partition thus divides the interior of a bag within which the insert has been positioned and opened out or erected into a drinks compartment and overlying food compartment. Drinks containers, such as cups, are accommodated in the drinks compartment, gripped in the drinks holder, and a food item or food items can then be carried in the food compartment, located on top of the partition and supported by it, without food coming into contact with and being possibly tainted by, the drinks, or spillage from the drinks containers. The partition may also serve to limit or even eliminate fully heat transfer from hot drinks to any food item supported on the partition. The upstanding leg or support may suitably be defined an upwardly-extended region of a side wall or panel of the box-like drinks holder.
In a favoured third embodiment of the invention, the item support portion is arranged in use to stand upon the container stand portion by means of a plurality of said leg portions, for example two side panels extending between a base panel of the item support portion and a top panel defining said partition, said leg portions defining support members of the item support stand portion.
The item support stand portion may therefore have a base panel and at least two opposing side panels, each defining a said support member, each of said side panels connecting one of opposing sides of the base panel with respective opposing sides of an upper panel defining the item support portion, the side panels being arranged, in use, to hold the upper panel spaced from and above the base panel; the base panel having at least one container receiving opening defined therein which is arranged to allow insertion of the top end of a container held in the container stand portion into the space between the base panel and the upper panel of the item support stand portion so that the upper panel is held, in use, above the container stand portion in a table-like manner and does not rest on the top of a container held in the container stand portion; the top end of said container being received within the space between the base panel and the upper panel of the item support stand portion.
The item support stand portion may thus again comprise an open-ended box-like rectangular structure, similar to that defining the drinks holder element of the invention. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the unit may consist of two box structure, one over the other in the assembled condition of the insert, with the top panel of the upper box defining the partition between the drinks region and the food region or compartment, and the two box structure being preferably linked on to the other by for example a continuous side wall a lower part of which defines a side panel of the lower box, while the upper end region of the continuous represents a side wall or panel of the upper box. The two boxes are therefore linked together to form a single unit transformable between a fold-flat condition and an erected condition in which first of all the lower box may be opened out and receive a drinks cup or cups, the second or upper box being then pivoted out from its fold-flat configuration to overlie the drinks cup or cups and provide, by way of its upper panel, the partition on which food items may be carried.
As for the lower box, the item support stand portion is preferably likewise adapted to abut side walls of the carrier bag so as to maintain a substantially fixed position relative to the carrier bag. The upper surface of the upper panel of the item support stand portion may comprises a layer of insulating material, optionally aluminium foil or polystyrene, to effect thermal separation between the food and drinks compartments or regions.
The invention also extends to a blank for an insert as previously defined, comprising at least one region having four panels, respectively top and bottom panels and two side walls connecting said top and bottom panels, and means for connecting end panels of said region to define an open-ended box-like rectangular structure in an erected configuration. Said connecting means suitably comprises a tab provided on a free end panel of the blank and attached to a side wall of the blank in said erected condition. In a favoured construction, the blank consists of a container stand portion region and an item support stand portion region, a single, optionally planar, panel defining a side wall of said container stand portion region and a side wall of said item support stand portion region. The various panels of the blank in each of its possible embodiments are suitably delimited, one from the other, by fold lines. The fold lines are preferably established in the blank in a manner such as to engender or foment the desired direction of folding at each panel to panel boundary as will result in the formation of said structure or structures during the operation of erecting the insert from the blank. Suitably, a fold bias is provided so as to inhibit or even obviate any tendency towards reverse folding along any fold line.
The invention further encompasses an assembly comprising a carrier bag having a plurality of side walls and a base, and an insert as defined hereinabove. The carrier bag suitably comprises a foldable paper bag.
In a particular construction, an insert for inserting internally into a carrier bag having side walls and a base is of collapsible fold-out form and is adapted, when folded out, to comprise a container stand portion for accommodating one or more beverage-containing containers and an item support portion for carrying food item(s). In the insert,
In a further particular construction, the insert for inserting internally into a carrier bag having side walls and a base is again of collapsible fold-out form and is again adapted, when folded out, to comprise a container stand portion for accommodating one or more beverage-containing containers and an item support portion for carrying food item(s). In the insert:
The invention may be still further defined in different terms again as an insert for a non-rigid receptacle for safe accommodation and transport of comestibles, such as edible food products, between a point of supply for the comestibles and a location of consumption, comprising a collapsible box structure for placement within the receptacle for displacement between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section and defines a region for accommodating a beaker-type beverage container, the structure being adapted to receive and hold the beverage container in a substantially upright disposition.
The box structure is suitably adapted to lie substantially flat in substantially contiguous juxtaposition to a side wall of the receptacle in the fold-flat configuration, this configuration representing a storage disposition of the insert. Preferably the box structure cooperates in an erected condition with side walls of a substantially pliant receptacle, such as a bag, to stabilise at least a lower region of the receptacle in use. In a favoured construction, the box structure is open-ended. The top panel of the box structure suitably includes an aperture substantially adapted to the cross-section of the beverage container, the periphery of the aperture being adapted to engage the periphery of the container in a releasably retentive manner. This aperture may be substantially circular and the periphery of the aperture provided with a series of generally radially directed slits to define a circumferential gripping region for engaging the circumference of a beverage container received in said structure.
The insert may further comprise a partition for separating a region within the receptacle for accommodating a non-liquid comestible from the region for accommodating a beverage container, wherein the region for accommodating a non-liquid comestible is located in use above the region for accommodating the beverage container, and the partition extends substantially horizontally in a disposition of use and is located, in use, over the top end of the beverage container.
In this variant, the partition is suitably defined by a foldable panel located at the upper end of an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure and the foldable panel is displaceable between a fold-flat disposition and a disposition in which it extends generally transverse to the upward continuation. The partition may be spaced above the top end of the beverage container.
Alternatively, the partition may defined by the top panel of a second collapsible box structure which is displaceable between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section. This second box structure suitably overlies the box structure defining the beverage container accommodating region, the bottom panel of the second box structure includes an aperture adapted to overlie the top end of a beverage container received in the beverage container accommodating region, and side walls of the second box structure are dimensioned so that the top panel of the second box structure is spaced above the top end of a beverage container received in the beverage container accommodating region. The second box structure may again be open-ended. Preferably, a side panel of the second box structure is defined by an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure defining the beverage container receiving region. In a favoured construction of the invention, the second box structure may adapted to lie substantially flat in substantially contiguous juxtaposition to a side wall of the receptacle in the fold-flat configuration, this configuration representing a storage disposition of the insert. Each box structure is preferably independently erectable from its fold-flat configuration into its erected configuration. The two box structures may however be defined by separate regions of a single blank.
In a particular embodiment, the insert for a non-rigid receptacle for safe accommodation and transport of comestibles, such as edible food products, between a point of supply for the comestibles and a location of consumption, comprises a collapsible open-ended box structure for placement within the receptacle for displacement between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section and defines a region for accommodating a beaker-type beverage container, the box structure being adapted to receive and hold the beverage container in a substantially upright disposition in the erected configuration and to lie substantially flat in substantially contiguous juxtaposition to a side wall of the receptacle in the fold-flat configuration, this configuration representing a storage disposition of the insert, the insert further comprising a partition which is defined by a foldable panel located at the upper end of an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure and is displaceable between a fold-flat disposition and a disposition in which it extends generally transverse to the upward continuation for separating a region within the receptacle for accommodating a non-liquid comestible from the region for accommodating a beverage container, the region for accommodating a non-liquid comestible being located in use above the region for accommodating the beverage container, and the partition extending substantially horizontally in a disposition of use and being located, in use, over the top end of the beverage container.
In a further particular embodiment, the insert for a non-rigid receptacle for safe accommodation and transport of comestibles, such as edible food products, between a point of supply for the comestibles and a location of consumption, comprises a collapsible open-ended box structure for placement within the receptacle for displacement between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section and defines a region for accommodating a beaker-type beverage container, the box structure being adapted to receive and hold the beverage container in a substantially upright disposition in the erected configuration and to lie substantially flat in substantially contiguous juxtaposition to a side wall of the receptacle in said fold-flat configuration, said configuration representing a storage disposition of the insert, the insert further comprising a partition defined by the top panel of a second collapsible open-ended box structure which is displaceable between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section for separating a region within the receptacle for accommodating a non-liquid comestible from the region for accommodating a beverage container, the region for accommodating a non-liquid comestible being located in use above the region for accommodating the beverage container, the partition extending substantially horizontally in a disposition of use and being located, in use, over the top end of the beverage container, and a side panel of the second box structure being defined by an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure defining the beverage container receiving region.
The invention also extends to a blank for an insert as defined hereinabove, comprising four panels, respectively top, bottom and two side walls interconnecting the top and bottom panels, and a further portion for linking end panels of the blank in an assembled condition to define a box structure having a rectangular cross-section in an erected condition. The further portion may be a flap extending from one end panel to be placed adjacent to the opposite end panel of the blank to establish said assembled condition, such as by adhesive action. Alternatively the further portion may comprise interengaging means, such as tabs, to be inserted through slits in the blank to establish said assembled condition. The blank may include an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure and a foldable panel located at an upper end of the upward continuation for displacement between a fold-flat disposition and a disposition in which it extends generally transverse to said upward continuation. A single planar panel may define one of the side walls of a first of two interconnected blanks and one of the side walls of a second of the two blanks. The or each box structure formed on erection of the blank is suitably open-ended.
The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 41 to 50 show variants of the second embodiment of the invention as follows:
A blank 1a for a first embodiment of an insert according to the invention is shown flat in
The tab 11 is suitably dimensioned such that it extends over only a limited extent of the height of the side panel or rear wall 8 in the assembled configuration of the insert, but in a variant, tab 11 may be of the same height as side panel 8, as indicated in dashed outline in
Apertures 14 are provided in top panel 6 to receive drinks containers in the assembled condition of the insert. The apertures 14 are suitably substantially circular, although other profiles are not to be excluded, and the periphery of each opening 14 is bounded by generally radial slits, extending outward from the boundary edge of the aperture 14 into the material of the top panel 6, so as to engage and grip the outer wall of a drinks container pushed into the aperture 14 in use of the insert. As indicated, the slits may follow a tortuous or non-linear path, for the formation of container-gripping tabs when the material between the slits is displaced or deformed on insertion of a drinks container, but other configurations of these slits is also to be envisaged.
As compared with the conceptual structure of the previous drawings, the tab 11 is represented as not extending over the full elongate extent or length of the side edge or fold line 2a of the top panel 6 located between the top panel 6 and the flap or tongue 11. It is not necessary for this tongue or tab to be coincident with the full extent of the panels 6, 8 which are connected by it, merely that its length be adequate to ensure reliable adhesion of these panels 6, 8 in the assembled condition.
Finally, the apertures 14 are not fully circular in shape, each end region 33a, 33b of the respective openings in the elongate direction of the generally rectangular top panel being carried out or extended in this longitudinal direction and defining a square-cornered sector 33a, 33b of the peripheral boundary of the aperture 14. Also in the structure shown, the slits 16a between the tabs 16 are fully radial and taper inward in a radially outward direction, to define respective intermediate container gripping portions of generally trapezoidal shape between the slits 16a or between a slit 16a and a square-cornered sector 33a, 33b.
In
In use of the insert according to the invention in this embodiment within a bag, the rear side wall of the drinks holder of the unit is engaged against the rear side wall of the bag when the fold-flat unit is initially slid into the bag. The blank is formed to establish a bias towards an opened-up condition of the insert, after the panels of the blank have been folded and glued together to define the insert. Thus when pressure is applied to the top of the flat-folded insert within a bag, for example by manual action, at the fold line between the front panel and top panel, the natural inherent tendency or property of the insert is to convert itself into its open-ended box configuration, in which it is ready to receive drinks containers. While not automatic, opening-out of the insert may thus be easily and reliably effected and achieved by a simple manual operation. This opening bias is suitably established by an appropriate forming of the fold lines, which are defined in such a way as to preclude, as far as possible, any susceptibility to folding of the insert in a reversed manner along any of its fold lines, and in particular, at the fold line between the front panel and the top panel.
Thus in the foregoing first embodiment, the insert for a non-rigid receptacle for safe accommodation and transport of comestibles, such as edible food products, between a point of supply for the comestibles and a location of consumption, comprises a collapsible box structure for placement within the receptacle for displacement between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section and defines a region for accommodating a beaker-type beverage container, the structure being adapted to receive and hold the beverage container in a substantially upright disposition.
The box structure is suitably adapted to lie substantially flat in substantially contiguous juxtaposition to a side wall of the receptacle in the fold-flat configuration, this configuration representing a storage disposition of the insert. Preferably the box structure cooperates in an erected condition with side walls of a substantially pliant receptacle, such as a bag, to stabilise at least a lower region of the receptacle in use. In a favoured construction, the box structure is open-ended. The top panel of the box structure suitably includes an aperture substantially adapted to the cross-section of the beverage container, the periphery of the aperture being adapted to engage the periphery of the container in a releasably retentive manner. This aperture may be substantially circular and the periphery of the aperture provided with a series of generally radially directed slits to define a circumferential gripping region for engaging the circumference of a beverage container received in said structure.
In a second embodiment, the insert further comprises an item support stand portion having an item support portion or partition on which an item can be carried, and at least one leg portion, the item support stand being arranged, in use, to stand upon or be supported above the container stand portion, by extending past at least part of a container held in and extending above the container stand portion, i.e. above the drinks-accommodating structure or portion, the item support portion or partition being arranged to form a barrier between an item to be carried and the top of the at least one container so as to support, typically, a food item when the bag is carried.
Such an embodiment is shown in
In
Referring now to
The folded down panel or partition 18 thus defines a separating barrier between a drinks-accommodating region of the interior of the bag, located towards the base of the bag, and an upper or food-accommodating region, located in an upper section of the bag. Thus any unwanted spillage of beverages in the lower region does not taint the food held in the upper region and there is a certain protection of the food items from being warmed-up by heat emanating from the lower region. This thermal protection may be further enhanced by the separating or dividing partition or panel being either formed from and/or coated within an insulating material or layer.
Indicated in dashed outline in
Finally in regard to the second embodiment,
Also indicated in
The embodiment of these figures again displays the features of fold bias and ease and reliability of assembly already adverted to in connection with the first embodiment. It again also uses the open-ended box structure to define an easy to assemble arrangement, which can be readily glued together from a blank to provide the insert, and then equally easily erected from the fold-flat condition to provide the stable drinks holder which is braced within a bag in use and prevented from unwanted reversion to its unfolded condition by this bracing feature in combination with the rigidity established by the placement of the drinks containers. The food support 18/18a extends in planar continuation of rear panel 8/20a of drinks holder 3 and is readily pivoted about a selected fold line to establish a partition between the drinks compartment of the insert and an overlying food compartment at an appropriate level within the bag. The partition is disposed substantially horizontally in its position of use and is an integral part of the insert structure, requiring neither any separate insertion into to the bag nor any form of adherent association with any wall of the bag, such as might require any independent assembly operation.
Thus is this second aspect of embodiment, the insert for a non-rigid receptacle for safe accommodation and transport of comestibles, such as edible food products, between a point of supply for the comestibles and a location of consumption comprises a collapsible open-ended box structure for placement within the receptacle for displacement between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section and defines a region for accommodating a beaker-type beverage container, the structure being adapted to receive and hold the beverage container in a substantially upright disposition; the box structure being adapted to lie substantially flat in substantially contiguous juxtaposition to a side wall of the receptacle in the fold-flat configuration, this configuration representing a storage disposition of the insert; and further comprises a partition which is defined by a foldable panel located at the upper end of an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure and is displaceable between a fold-flat disposition and a disposition in which it extends generally transverse to the upward continuation for separating a region within the receptacle for accommodating a non-liquid comestible from the region for accommodating a beverage container, the region for accommodating a non-liquid comestible being located in use above the region for accommodating the beverage container and the partition extending substantially horizontally in a disposition of use and being located, in use, over the top end of the beverage container.
Thus the insert includes a partition for separating a region within the receptacle for accommodating a non-liquid comestible from the region for accommodating a beverage container, the region for accommodating a non-liquid comestible being located in use above the region for accommodating the beverage container, and the partition extending substantially horizontally in a disposition of use and being located, in use, over the top end of the beverage container. The partition is suitably defined by a foldable panel located at the upper end of an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure and the foldable panel is displaceable between a fold-flat disposition and a disposition in which it extends generally transverse to the upward continuation. The partition may be spaced above the top end of the beverage container.
The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 17 to 26 is a third embodiment having a container stand portion and an item support stand portion. This embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the above-mentioned drawings. However, it will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that each portion forms an individual aspect of the invention and can be used independently. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 26 is an embodiment having the combined advantages of both portions of the insert according to the invention.
Referring to
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to FIGS. 20 to 26, in use, the insert 1 may be adhered to a side wall 25 of a carrier bag 26 by means of support member 8. The bag 26 comprises a standard foldable paper carrier bag commonly used by consumers, the bag having side walls 25, 25a, 25b, 25c and a base 27. In the embodiment shown, adhesive is used to fix the support member 8 to the inner side of wall 25 of the bag 26. However, in a preferred variant, the insert is slid, in fold-flat form, into the bag at the time of use and is not pre-adhered to the side wall of the bag.
The insert 1 can be flat-packed against an inner side wall 25 of the bag 26 as shown in
Referring to
A food item can then be placed on the upper surface 19 of the item support portion 18 of the item support stand portion 4. The upper surface 19 comprises a layer of thermally insulated material. The item support portion 18 forms a barrier between the top of the container 15 and a food item placed on the upper surface 19 of the item support portion 18. A food item can therefore be held in isolation from the container and will not be affected by the temperature of the beverage. This means for example, that if the container contains a hot beverage for example, the food product is prevented from heating.
The tab 11a extends over the full elongate extent of the insert 1 between the end regions 17a extending between the tab 11a and the front wall 20 of the upper part 4 of the insert 1, these end regions 17a defining base wall portions of the upper open-ended box part 4 of the insert 1 in this embodiment. The blank 1a is thus again glued together to form the assembled insert 1 which is adapted to take-up a fold-flat disposition for transport and storage, from which it can then readily be erected to define a food supporting and drinks-accommodating structure within a carrier bag for such products. Fold bias towards the opened-out condition is again established during the manufacturing process by which the blank is produced and a result of this, the assembled blank moves from the fold-flat configuration of the insert in which it lies substantially with its panels in planar juxtaposition, as previously explained, through a rhombic or trapezoidal configuration, in which is assumes the shape of a rhombus or trapezoid in end view, i.e. it is generally diamond-shaped, to take up its final configuration in which each part of the insert is substantially rectangular in end view. Thus the insert takes up the so-called box shape, as seen in end view. The fold bias again inhibits reverse bending along any fold line. Two boxes 3, 4 are this defined in the present embodiment, a lower box 3 to hold the drinks or cups 15, and an upper box 4 to overlie the lower box 3 in the erected configuration, and to provide a platform 18 on which a food product can be held above and apart from, suitably at a spacing above, the top or tops of the cups 15 held in the lower part 3. This platform or food support thus defines a partition 18 between a drinks region established or defined by the assembled unit within a carrying bag for food products and a food region located above the partition.
As will be seen from the following
The fold lines 2a, 39a between the tabs 11, 11a and the respective walls or wall portions 6, 17/17a from which they depend are preferably defined by a series of cuts interspersed with solid wall portions, while the remaining fold lines are suitably defined by the application of pressure to the blank, without actual cutting through of the material at any point along the fold line. However, in each case alternative manners of effecting the fold lines may be applied as required.
The definition of the bottom wall of this upper box structure by limb portions 17a only enables the bottom wall 17 to engage over the upper ends of drinks cups held in the base box by virtue of the bottom wall consisting predominantly of an apertured area or region 24. The front wall 20 is also deeply scalloped or indented as indicated by reference 40 to allow the assembled blank 1a to be swivelled or pivoted from its flat disposition into its erected configuration over the tops of cups 15 held in the insert base 3, for minimised dimensions of the respective front 20 and bottom 17 walls. The open or cut-out region 24 may also be carried to a slight extent into the flap or tab 11a, as indicated in
A further feature of the blank is a gripping location in the form of an elongate finger accommodating aperture 42, located midway along the fold line 38 between the top 18 and front 20 panels of the upper box 4 and equating to two U-shaped cut-outs in the respective walls, meeting along the openings of the Us.
The assembled structure is shown in
Following this step, the upper box structure 4 is then pivoted forward and down, to achieve the arrangement shown in
FIGS. 33 to 34 show the same steps in pictorial representation. In
Thus in the foregoing third embodiment, the insert for a non-rigid receptacle for safe accommodation and transport of comestibles, such as edible food products, between a point of supply for the comestibles and a location of consumption, comprises a collapsible open-ended box structure for placement within the receptacle for displacement between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section and defines a region for accommodating a beaker-type beverage container, the structure being adapted to receive and hold the beverage container in a substantially upright disposition; the box structure being adapted to lie substantially flat in substantially contiguous juxtaposition to a side wall of the receptacle in said fold-flat configuration, said configuration representing a storage disposition of the insert, and the insert further comprising a partition defined by the top panel of a second collapsible open-ended box structure which is displaceable between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section for separating a region within the receptacle for accommodating a non-liquid comestible from the region for accommodating a beverage container, the region for accommodating a non-liquid comestible being located in use above the region for accommodating the beverage container, the partition extending substantially horizontally in a disposition of use and being located, in use, over the top end of the beverage container, and a side panel of the second box structure being defined by an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure defining the beverage container receiving region.
Thus, the partition of the insert may be defined by the top panel of a second collapsible box structure which is displaceable between a fold-flat configuration and an erected configuration in which it assumes a substantially rectangular cross-section. This second box structure suitably overlies the box structure defining the beverage container accommodating region and the bottom panel of the second box structure includes an aperture adapted to overlie the top end of a beverage container received in the beverage container accommodating region, while side walls of the second box structure are dimensioned so that the top panel of the second box structure is spaced above the top end of a beverage container received in the beverage container accommodating region. The second box structure may again be open-ended. Preferably, a side panel of the second box structure is defined by an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure defining the beverage container receiving region. In a favoured construction of the invention, the second box structure may adapted to lie substantially flat in substantially contiguous juxtaposition to a side wall of the receptacle in the fold-flat configuration, this configuration representing a storage disposition of the insert. Each box structure is preferably independently erectable from its fold-flat configuration into its erected configuration. The two box structures may however be defined by separate regions of a single blank.
Finally,
All of the structures described with reference to
The blank shown in
This is shown in
The blank of
This is done after the blank is erected, depending on the height of the cups to be accommodated in the insert. The partially erected blank is shown in
In the third variant of
The invention also extends to a blank for an insert as defined hereinabove, comprising four panels, respectively top, bottom and two side walls interconnecting the top and bottom panels, and a further portion for linking end panels of the blank in an assembled condition to define a box structure having a rectangular cross-section in an erected condition. The further portion may be a flap extending from one end panel to be placed adjacent to the opposite end panel of the blank to establish said assembled condition, such as by adhesive action. Alternatively the further portion may comprise interengaging means, such as tabs, to be inserted through slits in the blank to establish said assembled condition. The blank may include an upward continuation of a side wall of the box structure and a foldable panel located at an upper end of the upward continuation for displacement between a fold-flat disposition and a disposition in which it extends generally transverse to said upward continuation. A single planar panel may define one of the side walls of a first of two interconnected blanks and one of the side walls of a second of the two blanks. The or each box structure formed on erection of the blank may be open-ended.
Various possibilities exist for use of the invention. Inserts according to any aspect of the invention, prepared from blanks are described above, may be either stored in flat-folded form and inserted into likewise stored-flat carrier bags at the point and time of use for erection to accommodate drinks and receive food on the supporting partition. Alternatively, flat-folded inserts may inserted into flat-folded bags, to provide partially per-assembled units in which the inserts can be quickly erected for use to accommodate beverages and edible products. Inserts may if desired be adhered to a wall of the bag, although this does not represent a favoured manner of implementation of the invention.
The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/816,005, US national phase of International Application No. PCT/IE2005/000013, International Publication No. WO-A1-2006/087,691. FIGS. 1 through 6 of the present application correspond to FIGS. 1A to 1E of U.S. Ser. No. 11/816,005 and FIGS. 17 through 26 correspond to FIGS. 2A through 4D. The descriptive text in respect of FIGS. 17 through 26 of the present application equates to that relating to FIGS. 2A through 4D of U.S. Ser. No. 11/816,005.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11816005 | US | |
| Child | 11931506 | Oct 2007 | US |
