Patent Grant
10919686
The present invention generally relates to containers used in food packaging industry, particularly to thermoformed plastic containers, such as pots for dairy products, for instance creams or custard-like products which have been set, thus having a certain consistency.
To consume such products, especially creams which have been set, so-called cream caramels, or similar food products having a firm texture, it is preferable to release them from the container, which makes them easier to consume and more appetizing, especially if the container in which they have been molded has beforehand been lined with caramel or similar sweet taste substance in accordance with a known technique. However, performing this release from the container through the wide mouth presents certain manipulative difficulties and the shape of semi solid or solid molded food can be spoiled.
In the case of industrial production, especially using thin-walled disposable packages, it is known that the release from the mould can be facilitated by piercing the bottom of the container, after it has been turned upside down, by tearing a removable tab, as shown for instance in the document FR 2 178 413. Use of caramel also facilitates the release and correct detachment from the bottom.
Forming an air entry in the bottom facilitates releasing operations, only by gravity effect, and the mass may be possibly covered by a topping (caramel or liquid jam for instance) initially contained in the bottom part of the container. However, for some molded food products, the user often has to wait almost one minute for the release. Additionally, the bubble of air formed by air entry often causes deformation of the food mass.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide containers efficient for releasing a mass of food product without spoiling its shape while at the same time having a user friendly actuation to obtain such efficiency.
To this end, embodiments of the present invention provide a cup-like plastic container for a molded food product, comprising a bottom, a side wall tightly connected to the bottom, so as to define an interior volume of the container, and an opening at the opposite from the bottom,
wherein the bottom comprises:
The fact that three or more spaced vent holes are formed in the bottom is advantageous to keep the shape of the molded food product. It has also been observed that the time sufficient for the sliding decrease significantly when three or more spaced vent holes are formed. The three distinct regions may define angular sectors of the bottom, distributed around a longitudinal axis of the container. The container is thus user-friendly and simultaneous break of frangible connections is advantageous to control air entry inside the interior volume at the bottom side. With such distribution of the vent holes, distinct air bubbles can be formed rather than one single central air bubble. Air pushing of the product is performed according to a controlled longitudinal direction. It has been observed that forming a single bubble through a single vent hole does not allow such an efficient control.
Optionally, the frangible connections are unaligned and there exits for the side wall at least one virtual median plane that intersects the bottom between two bottom halves, with the provision that the vent holes are distributed in the two bottom halves, at a distance from the virtual median plane. With such arrangement, air entering through the bottom does not accumulate in a single place and deformation of the product is prevented.
To better preventing deformation, each of the vent holes are laterally shifted relative to the longitudinal axis of the container. With vent holes arranged close to the outer edge of the bottom, the shape of the product at the bottom side remains unchanged or not significantly altered. When the opening is facing downwardly, after the actuating member has been displaced, the molded food product is replaced by air entering through the spaced vent holes. Such food product is discharged according to a controlled direction (vertical direction coinciding with gravity effect), so that it is released substantially vertically as one single block through the opening (no side falling before another side of the food product).
In one embodiment, the bottom may be defined by a single layer of plastic material and the actuating member essentially comprises the same plastic material as for this single layer of the bottom. Such containers can be produced for highly competitive markets, using processes that reduce the unit cost of each packaging, especially when the actuating member, the bottom and the side wall are formed by injection molding of the same plastic.
In various embodiments of the container of the invention, recourse may optionally also be had to one or more of the following dispositions:
The empty recipient, defined by a plastic or thermoplastic hollow body (starting recipient that can be filled with food composition), used for such process is provided with an upper opening and comprises the hollow body which defines a single cavity of the container. The upper end of the recipient (which defines the upper opening) is preferably flanged. The container forms part of a sealed packaging and the interior volume of the container is a single filling volume extending as far as the bottom. It is thus understood that the container according to the invention is used to contain a molded mass of a solid or semi solid dairy product.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art during the description which will follow, given by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings.
In the various figures, the same references are used to designate identical or similar elements.
Referring to
The bottom 3 has an outer edge 3a and a non-planar exterior surface S. The hollow body 2, 102, 202 is here a thermoplastic body. Optionally, it is obtained from a plastic sheet, preferably a sheet including a mix of PE (polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene), or using similar stretchable material that can be rolled on a reel. It is understood that the bottom 3 is here defined by a single layer of plastic material and the food product fills a single compartment defined by the (undivided) interior volume V. The side wall 4 may be simple and conventional, without recourse to partitioning wall to define an additional compartment. Spaced frangible connections 7 are provided in the bottom 3. Transparent plastic may be used and a mix PE/PP (for instance with at least 30 wt % for PE, and preferably at least 50 wt %) is particularly suitable to obtain the hollow body 2, 102, 202 with such frangible connections 7, here defined by a local reduction of thickness in the bottom 3. The frangible connections 7 are optionally curved or angled. A V-shape may be provided for these frangible connections 7. But other shapes, in particular L-shape, U-shape, C-shape or J-shape may be used.
The bottom 3 has a configuration adapted for maintaining the container 1 in a more or less vertical position. Here the outer edge 3a is part of an annular bearing member B and extends at a free end of the container 1. Such outer edge 3a may have a continuously rounded shape or alternative shapes with corners, preferably rounded corners. The bearing means are optionally chosen amongst a plurality of pegs and an annular lower projection. More generally, the bearing means of the container are integral with one of the bottom 3 and the side wall 4. A self standable container 1 is thus formed when the opening 5 is facing upwardly. The bearing means may comprise one ore more protruding bearing members B to prevent contact between wall portions of the bottom 3 provided with the frangible connections 7 and a horizontal planar surface in contact with the bearing members B.
In a preferred option as shown in
Here, three frangible connections 7 are provided but their number may be increased. Each closing member 8, 108 tightly joins two adjacent of the intermediary wall parts 10 at the frangible connections 7 and is configured to interact with an actuating member 12 (here a single actuating member). The actuating member 12 comprises an actuation portion 12a which is preferably located centrally in the bottom 3 and surrounded by the intermediary wall parts 10.
The actuating member 12 is movable relative to the outer edge 3a and is configured to actuate simultaneously the relative change of position between the closing members 8, 108 and the plurality of intermediary wall parts 10 of the bottom 3, in order to break each of the frangible connections 7 and form at least three spaced vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c in the bottom 3. As shown in
It may be advantageous, in some options, to provide one or more bearing members B (preferably of continuously annular shape) that define an internal recess HR to contain a remaining part of the product DP near the side wall and are arranged at lower level than the frangible connections 7. Indeed, after breaking of the frangible connections 7 and release of the product DP, the container 1 may be placed vertically on a support with minimized risk of leakage of the remaining food part through the bottom 3. The remaining food part that is in contact with the side wall 4 can flow toward the internal recess HR and cannot escape through the vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c that here extend radially at a distance from the outer edge 3a (i.e. in an inwardly shifted position relative to the peripheral part 14 that comprises the outer edge 3a and the bearing member B). Here, the peripheral part 14 may define a continuously annular outer surface 50, not flexible, that extends around a flexible part of the bottom 3.
The regions 17, 18, 19 each provided with one of the vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c may correspond to an angular sector around the longitudinal axis X, as visible in
In all the
As shown in
⅕d8/d3≤⅔
where d3 is a characteristic size of the bottom 3 chosen amongst a diameter and a length, and
d8 is the shortest distance between two of the closing members 8, 108, 208, 308.
With such sufficient distance d8, several distinct air bubbles can be formed when breaking the frangible connections 7 and repartition of the vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c is optimal with a sufficient flow of air to obtain quick detachment of the dairy product DP (or the like, possibly with an additional layer AL) that is contained in the container 1.
A specific description of first and second embodiments of the invention is now provided with reference to
In the first and second embodiments shown in
Referring to
In the non-actuated state shown in
Referring to
The intermediary wall parts 10 are sloped as compared to a plane of the bottom 3. As shown in
To facilitate exact separation between the intermediary wall parts 10 and the closing elements 8, at least one rib R1 may be used on the inner face of the bottom 3 to reinforce each of the closing elements 8. Other ribs R2 may be provided to reinforce the peripheral part 14, such ribs R2 being useful for stacking of a plurality of containers 1, while maintaining a space between the flanges F of two adjacent containers 1 in the stack.
In the first embodiment shown in
In the second embodiment shown in
The closing members 108 remain as static as the peripheral part 14, not following movement of the actuation portion 12a. With such configuration, a dome shape of the bottom 3 is also obtained in the actuated state and the closing elements 108 protrude (externally) around the central pushed area. Such arrangement may be useful to prevent improper pushing action at a distance from the longitudinal axis X since the user feels more rigidity at the location of the closing elements 108 and is thus incited to push at the centre of the actuation portion 12a.
According to an option useful with several alternative embodiments for actuating the opening of the vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c, the actuation portion 12a has a maximal size (typically a diameter defined by a circular outer rim 12b), which is inferior to 30 or 35 mm. Such size, which remains superior to about 15 or 20 mm, is well adapted to define an efficient push button or push area and prevent incomplete break of all the frangible connections 7. It is understood that the longitudinal axis X intersects the actuation portion 12a and the vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c are all laterally shifted with respect to the actuation portion 12a. Indeed, the actuating member 12 is arranged distal from the side wall 4, while the closing members 8, 108 are preferably located in an annular region of the bottom 3 surrounding a central region of the bottom 3. Such distribution may also apply for closing members 208, 308 of other embodiments.
Now referring to
Notches or sharp edges may be formed on the bottom 3, in order to define the closing elements 8. Here, the closing elements 8 extend as protrusions protruding from the bottom outer face. Optionally, a cutting tooling may be used to define the frangible connections 7 at a junction between the closing elements 8 and the bottom outer face. According to an option, the actuating member 12 comprises a plurality of piercing elements according to a same distribution as the frangible connections 7 and the actuating member 12 is movable relative to the outer edge 3a to simultaneously break the frangible connections 7 by the piercing elements.
As shown in
Referring to
Here, the hollow body 302 comprises a bottom 3 having a circular outer edge 3a. The annular bearing member B extends around a cavity that contains the actuating member 12. An axial space is provided between the central actuation portion 12a and a central portion 3b of the bottom 3a. The user can push or alternatively pull the central actuation portion 12a to obtain simultaneous break of the frangible connections 7, thus defining a corresponding plurality of vent holes (three vent holes in this non-limiting illustrated example).
As in the preceding embodiments, it can be seen that the frangible connections 7 are unaligned, and preferably regularly distributed. Three regions 16, 17, 18, defining angular sectors of the bottom 3, can be observed and are distributed around the longitudinal axis X of the container 1. A higher number of such regions may be provided in alternative options.
There exits for the side wall 4 at least one virtual median plane P4 that intersects the bottom 3 between two bottom halves. After the actuation, the vent holes are distributed in these two bottom halves, at a distance from the virtual median plane P4 (that here contains the longitudinal axis X). The actuating member 12 may be reinforced by one ore more ribs and arms 61, 62, 63 are of higher strength than the frangible connections 7.
In the fourth embodiment as illustrated in
A process of making a packaging that includes the container 1, a closing system and the food content is now described referring to
A filling step is performed with a pouring of the food product inside a container 1 such as above described, through the opening 5. Here, the food product entirely extends in a single compartment defined by the container 1. When several layers are used to define the food product, the layers are successively filed. When the food product consists in a mixture of at least two compositions, the filling of each container 1 may include one or more steps, possibly with more than one injection outlet when two or more compositions are mixed. It is understood that the bottom 3 is in direct contact with the food product, in particular the composition that has been firstly received in the container 1.
Optionally when a firm part M, M′ of the food product comprises milk, fermentation is allowed in the container 1. The milk is fermented by the lactic acid bacteria, typically to a final pH lower than setting pH. A set fermented dairy composition thus can be obtained, defining a firm part M, M′ of the food product.
After the filling, and provided that the food product is in a molded state in the container 1, the food product is recovered. Alternatively when fermentation occurs, a sealing for recovering the food product can be performed before the firm part M of the food product is in a definitive set state. The container 1 is sealed, possibly by fixing a seal membrane 5a onto the upper face of a flange F or similar annular top of the container 1. A flexible film, possibly comprising one or more metallised layers, can form part of the seal membrane 5a which provides per se the lid function, without any additional rigid cover. Alternatively, a rigid closure lid 11 may be used (either to cover the membrane seal 5a, or to directly seal the container 1). The closure lid 11 may be for instance comprises a hard plastic cover.
In a non-limiting manner, the containers 1 can be used for 50-500 g capacity, preferably 75-200 g capacity.
The containers 1 typically contain a product to be released from the container 1 upon actuation. This releasing operation is also referred to as unmolding. The product is typically an edible product, also referred to herein as “food content”. The product has typically a volume of from 80% to 100% of the container capacity.
The food content released using the container 1 is now described with reference to
The product comprises at least one part that is firm M, M′, and optionally another part that is not firm 30, 31, referred to as “non-firm”. The firm product or part M, M′ typically is in contact with the container 1, and has shape at least partly corresponding to the shape of the container 1. Herein a “firm” product or part M, M′ refers to a solid or semi-solid product or part that would retain a shape after unmolding, after 5 minutes at room temperature, preferably 20° C., preferably with a shape corresponding to the shape of the container 1. In a preferred embodiment the firm part M, M′ has between 20 to 60 g of texture (typically measured with a TaXT2 texture analyzer with the following settings: Speed before analysis: 0.5 mm/s; Speed during analysis: 1 mm/s; Speed after analysis: 10 mm/s; Length: 4 mm; Time: 30 s; Strength mini: 0.5 g), at temperature of use or at 10° C.
The product might comprise at least one part that is not firm 30, 31. Herein a “not firm” or “non firm” product or part refers to fluid or semi-fluid product or part that would flow after 5 minutes at room temperature, preferably 20° C.
When another part (preferably a flowable part as above defined) distinct from the firm part M, M′ is provided, the firm part M, M′ is preferably present in an amount of 70 to 99% by weight approximately, preferably between 80 and 98%. The other part may thus be present in a proportion of 1 to 30% by weight.
In one embodiment as illustrated in
In one embodiment the product comprises a firm part M and at least one not firm part that are arranged in layers. Preferably, the non-firm part (typically a topping 30) is in contact with the bottom 3 before the pushing and deformation of the actuation portion 12a. In other words, the non-firm part is a layer at the bottom of the container 1, that would form a top part upon unmolding (defining the topping 30 as illustrated in
The firm part M, M′ can typically be a milk-based firm product, comprising milk or reconstituted milk and gelling agent. Examples of firm products M, M′ include, custards, gelled yogurts, gelled cheeses, puddings, flans etc . . . . Such examples are non limiting and, for instance, a firm part can be obtained using soy yogurt. It is understood that the firm part M, M′ is not fragmented and, preferably, only one firm part M, M′ is received in the container 1, especially when the food product is layered.
The non-firm part 30, 31 can be sauce, for example a chocolate, coffee or caramel sauce or a fruit preparation, for example a coulis or a jam. In a preferred embodiment the fruit preparation has a fluidity of 3 & 15 cm/min as a determined by cenco analysis, at temperature of use or at 10° C. In a preferred embodiment the non-firm part has a viscosity of from 1 to 1000 mPa·s, preferably from 1 to 500 mPa·s, at a shear rate of 64 s−1, at temperature of use or at 10° C.
Release of the food content is illustrated in
The actuating member 12, for instance a push member, is then actuated in an actuation step 54. In the illustrated example, a substantially vertical pressure is exerted downwardly as indicated by the black arrow 53. After the release, the peripheral part 40 of the firm part M extends from a wider part 41 in contact with the support plate 34 to a narrow part 42. The topping 30, which is optionally a flowable product, may at least partly cover a peripheral face 40 of the firm part M after the release from the container 1.
More generally, it is understood that the actuation step 54 is immediately followed by a substitution step 55, in which the molded food product received in the container 1 (here a single compartment container) is replaced by air 45 entering through the spaced vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c. With such substitution step 55, and because the actuating member 12 has been displaced longitudinally in a same direction/orientation as effect of gravity, the firm part M keeps its integrity and is discharged as one single block through the opening 5. Increase of pressure in this part of the container 1 (at the end of the food content, which is here narrower than the wider part 41) has an auxiliary push effect. After the actuation step 54, the molded food product is replaced by air 45 entering inside the container 1 without any additional user action. Preferably, air enters through the spaced vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c that extend between the central actuation portion 12a and the hinge 15 (as shown in
It is understood that the volume V1 of the firm part M is substantially unchanged before and after the release (same molded shape). The firm part M has here a significantly greater volume V1 as compared to the volume of the non firm part. Referring to the example of
Typically, a user will start eating the food by extracting a first piece of product 35 (at step 56, using a spoon 37 or similar utensil) that belongs to the top of the firm part M. Such first piece of product 35 thus may comprise a part 30′ of the topping 30 stored at the top Then, the topping reservoir initially defined at the top is emptied by an additional downward sliding of the flowable compound or mixture used to define the topping 30
Of course, geometry of the bottom 3 and distribution of the vent holes 13a, 13b, 13c may vary to obtain the same substitution effect with air replacing the food content without undesirable tilting effect. For instance, the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
When the food content is a dairy product or other temperature sensitive edible product, the container 1 filled with the food content and sealed with a rigid cover and/or flexible seal membrane 5a is preferably stored in a cooled state. Storage at chilled 1-10° C. temperature is typically used. Alternatively for some compositions and/or depending on the intended use (fast consumption expected for instance), storage at room temperature is sufficient.
Of course, the containers 1 of the present invention are not in any way limited to custard products and yoghurt having a firm texture but can be intended to contain all sorts of solid and semi-solid products.
The present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments. These embodiments, however, are merely for example and the invention is not restricted thereto. Although the Figures show a body 2, 102, 202, 302 having a circular cross-section and a circular opening 5, other shapes may be used, for instance a rectangular shape with rounded corners or an oval shape.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications can easily be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, thus it is only intended that the present invention be limited by the following claims.
Any reference sign in the following claims should not be construed as limiting the claim. It will be obvious that the use of the verb “to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of any other elements besides those defined in any claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2014/002735 | 11/27/2014 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2016/083859 | 6/2/2016 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3432027 | Mueller | Mar 1969 | A |
| 4154345 | Davis et al. | May 1979 | A |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 20 2011 001219 | Apr 2011 | DE |
| 2 718 413 | Oct 1995 | FR |
| 2 719 828 | Nov 1995 | FR |
| 2719828 | Nov 1995 | FR |
| Entry |
|---|
| Human Translation of Linard FR 2719828. (Year: 1995). |
| International Search Report, dated Jul. 27, 2015, from corresponding PCT application. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170355510 A1 | Dec 2017 | US |
