EP2301854B1 - Container with retaining means for its contents - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) has two pivoting flaps (3, 4) supported at a shell like-base section (2) using integral hinges for opening and closing the container. The base section and the flaps surround an inner space of the container in a closed condition. An elastic region (6) is formed on opposite sides of the base section. An object i.e. foodstuffs, arranged in the container is grippingly fixed at the base section using the elastic region. The flaps rest on each other with U-shaped edges in the closed condition, where the edges form a center separating plane.

Description

The present invention relates to a container, in particular for foodstuffs, with a bowl-shaped bottom part, on which two pivotable flaps for opening and closing the container are mounted, and the bottom part and the flaps in the closed position surround an interior of a container, according to the preamble of Claim 1.

There are containers for food, in which a pivotable flap is arranged on a bottom part, so that the inside food can be removed. The food comes into contact with the hands and can be contaminated, especially if there is no way to clean the hands. Then the contaminated food is eaten. In addition, the hands are contaminated when contacting the food, which requires additional measures to prevent soiling of the clothing.

In the WO 2006/014882 a transport container for pipettes is shown, which consists of a cup-shaped bottom part, are mounted on the two pivotable flaps for opening and closing the container. The bottom part of the container has elastic receptacles into which the pipette can be clamped. The elastic clamping area is deformable from the inside -also after opening the flaps. The elastic elements have a circular, pin-shaped geometry, wherein the elastic elements, starting from the bottom of the container, extend vertically upwards into the space defined by the container.

In the US 2,979,246 a cardboard packaging container is described which has foam pads inside. The foam cushions serve to protect the packaged items from fragile materials by providing cushioning zones which dampen impacts on the package which could otherwise result in the destruction of the packaged items.

In the US 2005/0167475 A1 A hexagonal container for cardboard or foamed polystyrene foodstuffs is presented which is suitable for packaging foodstuffs without being directly in contact with them, for consumption or during consumption.

In AU-B-12641/97, a food holder is presented which allows food to be gripped and then consumed without touching it directly by hand. The elasticity of the side portions of the holder is achieved by the special geometry of the side portions which are folded in the form of an accordion.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container for food, which allows a hygienic food intake and avoids contamination of the hands as possible.

This object is achieved with a container having the features of claim 1.

In the container according to the invention, the two pivotable flaps can be opened, so that then the interior of the container is accessible. The user can engage the bottom part at the at least one elastic region to clampingly fix an object arranged in the container. As a result, when consuming a food, such as a bread or a piece of cake, the user no longer has to grasp the food directly, but can fix and eat the food via the elastic region on the bottom part. Only the last part of the food, which is clamped in the bottom part, then has to be grasped at the end or eaten directly from the bottom part. In this respect, contact of the hands with the food is largely avoided, which is advantageous both in terms of hygiene and on a possible contamination of the hands.

According to the invention, a wall section of a different material is formed on the at least one elastic region than a material of a region surrounding the wall section. The bottom part is thus formed from at least two different materials, namely on the one hand the material of the elastic region, for example rubber, silicone or an elastic plastic, while the remaining region of the bottom part to maintain the dimensional stability of a stiffer material is formed, in particular plastic. Of course, it is also possible to form the elastic regions by a smaller wall thickness than other regions, thereby increasing the elasticity. Preferably, the material of the elastic region is stretchable by more than 20%, preferably more than 40%. This ensures that the material of the elastic region can be pressed far enough into the bottom part to clamp an object. In this case, in each case an elastic region may be provided on opposite sides of the bottom part, so that an object is clamped between the material of two spaced elastic regions.

The container is preferably formed substantially cuboid, wherein the flaps are pivotally mounted on opposite side walls in a central region of the side walls. In this case, each flap can be pivotally mounted on the bottom part via a film hinge, so that the container is integrally formed and thus easy to handle.

In the closed position, the flaps abut each other with U-shaped edges which form a central parting plane. This ensures that when the container is opened an object protrudes from the bottom part and the flaps are sufficiently far away that the object can be guided well to the mouth. The flaps extend for this purpose over the entire length of the container. Furthermore, the flaps preferably extend over more than 40%, in particular more than 50%, of the width of a side wall of the container. This ensures that the interior of the container after opening the flap by more than 40%, in particular more than 50%, is released and accessible on all sides.

The flaps are secured in the closed position, preferably via a closure device, which may have, for example, corresponding latching or clamping means.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Behäl- ters in der geschlossenen Position;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Behälters der Figur 1 mit geöff- neter Verschlusseinrichtung;

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Behälters der Figur 1 in einer geöffneten Position;

Figur 4

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht des Behälters der Figur 3;

Figur 5

eine Unteransicht des Behälters der Figur 3;

Figuren 6 bis 8

mehrere Ansichten des Behälters der Figur 1 in der geschlosse- nen Position.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a container according to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 2

a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 with opened closure device;

FIG. 3

a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 4

a sectional side view of the container of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5

a bottom view of the container of FIG. 3 ;

FIGS. 6 to 8

several views of the container FIG. 1 in the closed position.

A substantially cuboidal container 1 comprises a cup-shaped bottom part 2, on which a first flap 3 and a second flap 4 are pivotable are stored. The flaps 3 and 4 are fixed in a closed position by a closure device 5 to each other. Formed on the bottom part 2 is an elastic region 6 which extends over a region of a side wall of the container 1 and is made of a different material than the non-boiling material of the bottom part 2.

The elastic region is connected at an edge 7 with a surrounding material 8, wherein the surrounding material 8 may be formed of the same material as the flaps 3 and 4, for example plastic. The elastic region 6 is formed of a material which is stretchable, preferably more than 20%. The material of the elastic region may include, for example, rubber, silicone or an elastic plastic.

In FIG. 3 the container 1 is shown in an open position. On the flap 3, a protruding edge 10 is formed, while on the flap 4, a protruding edge 11 is formed. The respective U-shaped edges 10 and 11 are in the closed position against each other can be applied. In the open position, the flaps 3 and 4 form a receptacle with side edges, so that when eating food crumbs can be collected.

At opposite end faces of the cup-shaped bottom part 2 projections 12 are formed, which engage in corresponding receptacles on the edges 10 and 11 of the flaps 3 and 4 in the closed position, so that an interior 9 of the container 1 in the closed position on all sides of the bottom part and the flaps 3 and 4 is surrounded.

The flap 3 is connected via a film hinge 15 with the bottom part 2, while the flap 4 is connected via a film hinge 16 with the bottom part 2. The film hinges 15 and 16 may be formed by a thinning of material or a hinge of an elastic material, wherein a stop may be provided to limit the opening movement of the flaps 3 and 4 in a range of about 90 °. This ensures that the flaps 3 and 4 do not complicate the attack on the bottom part 2 and also form a tray-like receptacle for food particles.

The closure device 5 comprises a tab projecting from the flap 4, on which a latching projection 13 is formed. The latching projection 13 can be inserted into a latching receptacle 14 on the flap 3.

With the container 1, a food can be stored and eaten in a hygienic way. For this purpose, the flaps 3 and 4 are opened so that the in FIG. 3 shown position is reached. The user can compress the elastic portion 6 to fix the food in the bottom portion 2. The film hinges 15 and 16 of the flaps 3 and 4 are arranged in a central region of a side wall, so that about half of the interior 9 of the container 1 when opening the flaps 3 and 4 is released. Thereby, a food placed in the container protrudes upward from the bottom part 2 and can now be eaten.

In order to also eat the portion of the food arranged in the bottom part 2, the elastic portion 6 may be formed so as to be pushed out upwardly from the bottom part. This allows the food from the bottom part 2 out to the mouth.

In the embodiment shown, the elastic region is formed by a U-shaped material portion which is embedded in the bottom part 2. The elastic region 6 extends over more than 70%, in particular more than 80%, of the length of the bottom part 2, so that an object arranged in the bottom part 2 can be easily gripped. Of course, it is possible to design the elastic region 6 differently, for example, a plurality of individual elastic grip portions may be formed on the bottom part 2.

Claims (10)

1. Container (1), particularly for foodstuffs, with a bowl-shaped base part (2) at which two pivotable flaps (3, 4) for opening and closing the container (1) are mounted, and the base part (2) and the flaps (3, 4) in the closed position enclose an interior space (9) of the container (1), wherein at least one resilient region (6) by means of which an object arranged in the container (1) is fixable to the base part (2) by clamping is formed at the base part (2), characterised in that a wall section of a material different from a material surrounding the wall section is formed at the at least one resilient region (6).
2. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that the material of the resilient region (6) is extensible by more than 20%, preferably by more than 40%.
3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a respective resilient region (6) is provided at each of the opposite sides of the base part (2).
4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the container (1) is of substantially block-shaped construction and the flaps (3, 4) are pivotably mounted at opposite side walls in a middle region of the side walls.
5. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each flap (3, 4) is pivotably mounted on the base part (2) by way of a film hinge (15, 16).
6. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the flaps (3, 4) are pivotable from the closed position through 80° to 150°, preferably through 90° to 110°, from the closed position up to an abutment in an opened position.
7. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the flaps (3, 4) in a closed position bear against one another by U-shaped edges (10, 11) which form a centre plane of separation.
8. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that flaps (3, 4) on the side remote from the pivot axis have a locking device (13, 14).
9. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the flaps (3, 4) extend over the entire length of the container (1).
10. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the flaps (3, 4) extend over more than 40%, preferably more than 50%, of the width of a side wall of the container (1).

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