EP0614823A1

EP0614823A1 - Container particularly for confectionery or food products

Info

Publication number: EP0614823A1
Application number: EP93111460A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eugenio Zaghis; Maurizio Zaghis
Original assignee: DOLCIARIA ZAGHIS Srl
Current assignee: DOLCIARIA ZAGHIS Srl
Priority date: 1993-03-09
Filing date: 1993-07-16
Publication date: 1994-09-14
Also published as: ITTV930024A1; ITTV930024A0; CA2101498A1; IT1266396B1

Abstract

A container (1) particularly usable for the temporary storage of confectionery or food products which can be easily consumed by their purchasers. The container comprises a tray (2) which can be stacked prior to the step in which it is filled with the confectionery or food products (5) and has, at its upper perimetric edge (3), at least one seat (7a, 7b) for an item of cutlery (10). The item of cutlery can be accessed by the user when the product is consumed; its administration and its practicality in use are therefore facilitated.

Description

The present invention relates to a container particularly usable for confectionery or food products.
Many kinds of food products are currently commercially available which are usually stored in plastic containers and can be consumed after removing an adapted removable lid.
The use of plastic containers, used for example for yogurts, allows both preservation of the organoleptic characteristics of the product and ease in transport, since the container can withstand slight impacts.
A drawback observed in these known types of containers resides in the fact that before the step in which they are filled with the product they occupy hardly negligible spaces, thus increasing storage costs for manufacturers. Secondly, said known products can be consumed only once the purchaser has returned home, since a small spoon is required to pick up the product.
A principal object of the present invention is therefore to solve the described technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks observed in known types and thus obtaining a container for confectionery or food products which has optimum storage characteristics prior to the filling step and allows the purchaser to consume the product when desired.
Another important object is to provide a container which is reliable and safe in use in compliance with hygienic rules.
Another object is to provide a container having low manufacturing costs and which can be obtained with conventional known machines.
With these and other objects in view, there is provided, according to the present invention, a container, particularly for confectionery or food products, comprising a stackable tray having, at its upper perimetric edge, at least one seat which can be re-closed by a lid and accommodates an item of cutlery.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a top view of the container with the lid applied thereto;
figure 2 is a sectional view, taken along the plane II-II of figure 1, in which the item of cutlery and the lid have been omitted for the sake of clarity;
figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along the plane III-III, of a plurality of mutually stacked containers, in which the item of cutlery and the lid have been omitted for the sake of clarity;
figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along the plane IV-IV, illustrating a plurality of stacked containers;
figure 5 is a sectional view, taken along the plane V-V of figure 1;
figure 6 is a top view of the container with the item of cutlery applied thereto.

With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates the container, which comprises a tray 2, preferably made of plastics, which is essentially frustrum-shaped with an upper perimetric edge 3 at which there is an opening 4 for access to the confectionery or food product 5. The inclination of the side walls 6 of the tray 2 is such as to allow to stack them, together with other factors highlighted hereinafter.
A pair of seats 7a and 7b is in fact defined at the upper perimetric edge 3 of the tray 2, along at least one diagonal axis; the tip 8 and the opposite end 9 of an item of cutlery, such as for example a small spoon 10, can be rested and supported at said seats.
Advantageously, said pair of seats 7a and 7b is formed at a diagonal of the opening 4, with such a depth as to allow to contain the spoon 10 below the plane of arrangement of the upper perimetric edge 3, so as to allow to apply thereon a sealing lid 11 removable by the user.
In order to make it easier to hold the container 1, the pair of seats 7a and 7b is furthermore formed at adapted wings 12a and 12b protruding slightly beyond the side walls 6 of the tray 2.
Below at least one pair of seats 7a and 7b and at least one of the remaining corners of the tray 2 there are adapted means suitable to facilitate tray stacking; said means are constituted by adapted teeth 13, the ends 14 whereof, directed toward the bottom 15 of the tray 2, interacting either with the upper perimetric edge 3 of the underlying tray or with the bottom of one of the pairs of seats 7a and 7b. This allows to easily stack a plurality of trays without causing contact between their bottoms 15 or their side walls 6; thus, the volume occupied by the stacked trays is considerably contained on one hand, since a large number of trays can be stacked with optimum stability due to the presence of the teeth 13.
It has thus been observed that a container has been provided which advantageously on one hand can be easily stored by stacking the trays prior to the insertion of the confectionery or food products and on the other hand allows the user immediate consumption after purchase of the product contained in the tray, since it is sufficient to remove the lid, take hold of the spoon and then pick up the product.
The present invention is naturally susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.
Thus, for example, the pair of seats 7a and 7b may be formed along a side which is longitudinal or transverse to the tray 2, and a plurality of pairs of seats may also be provided for containing a plurality of items of cutlery. Furthermore, the seat for the item of cutlery may be formed inside or outside the tray, for example on its bottom; the item of cutlery may furthermore be associated outside the tray.
Naturally, the shape of the pair of seats 7a and 7b may also be the most appropriate according to the specific shape of the item of cutlery.
The materials and the dimensions of the individual components of the container according to the present invention may also naturally be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Container (1), particularly for confectionery or food products, characterized in that it comprises a stackable tray (2) having, at an upper perimetric edge (3) thereof, at least one seat (7a, 7b) which can be re-closed by a lid (11) and accommodates an item of cutlery (10).
Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a tray (2) made of plastics and essentially frustrum-shaped with an upper perimetric edge (3) at which an opening (4) is formed for access to said confectionery or food product (5), said trays being provided with side walls (6) having such an inclination as to allow the stacking of a plurality of trays.
Container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that one or more pairs of seats (7a, 7b) are defined along at least one diagonal axis at said upper perimetric edge (3), the tip (8) and the opposite end (9) of an item of cutlery (10), such as for example a small spoon, being arrangeable at said seats.
Container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that one or more seats are defined at said upper perimetric edge along at least one longitudinal or transverse axis, the tip or the opposite end of an item of cutlery, such as for example a small spoon, being arrangeable at said seats.
Container according to claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said one or more pairs of seats (7a, 7b) are defined with such a depth as to allow to contain said item of cutlery (10) below the plane of arrangement of said upper perimetric edge (3), so as to allow to apply on said edge a sealing lid (11) which can be removed by the user.
Container according to claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said one or more pairs of seats (7a, 7b) are defined at adapted wings (12a, 12b) protruding slightly beyond said side walls (6) of said tray.
Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that adapted means (13) suitable to facilitate the stacking of said trays are present below at least one of said pairs of seats and at least one of the remaining corners of said tray, said means being constituted by adapted teeth (13) in which the end (14) directed toward the bottom of said trays interacts either with said upper perimetric edge of the underlying tray or with the bottom of one of said pairs of seats.
Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the depth of said teeth (13) is such as to allow the stacking of said trays without causing the mutual contact of said bottoms (15) and of said side walls (6).
Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said item of cutlery (10) is associated inside or outside said tray.
Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said item of cutlery (10) is arranged within an adapted seat formed at the bottom or at the lateral surface of said tray.
Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said item of cutlery (10) is associated at the bottom or at the lateral surface of said tray.