GB2178944A - Small domestic containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container, particularly for use as a butter dish, has a treble-skinned wall portion (4, 5, 5a) giving rise to two cavities, of which the inner one (5b) may be accessible via a closable opening (7), the outer one (5c) being sealed to provide an insulating layer of quiescent air, or a vacuum, between the temperature-controlled inner cavity (5b) and the ambient. The inner cavity may be filled via opening 7 with hot or warm water to assist in raising the temperature of butter recently removed from a fridge or freezer, without risk of melting the butter. Conversely, cold or iced water may be used to keep butter cool, for example when travelling. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Small domestic containers The present invention relates to containers, in partcular the invention relates to small domestic containers, such as butter dishes.

The invention provides a container having a doubleskinned wall portion having a closable opening therein.

By providing a closable opening the wall portion may be filled with a fluid, such as cold or hot water, to regulate the temperature inside the container. For example, with a butter dish the wall portion may be filled with hot or warm water to assist in raising the temperature of butter recently removed from a fridge or freezer, without risk of melting the butter. Conversely, cold or iced water may be used to keep butter cool, for example when travelling.

The greater heat capacity of a liquid, such as water, will provide for increased performance over the simple use of a double-skinned container.

A further enhancement of the performance is achieved by providing an intermediate skin so that their is a treble-skinned construction, giving rise to two cavities, of which the inner one may be accessible via the closable opening, and the outer one of which is sealed from the inner, and may provide an insulating layer of quiescent air, or a vacuum, between the temperature-controlled inner cavity and the ambient.

The container may be manufactured in plastics material or a metal or alloy.

Preferably the container comprises a lid and a base, preferably at least the lid is double-(or treble-)skinned, the lid and base forming a closed space.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of a container according to a form of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the container of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1.

In the drawings, a container 1 according to the invention is exemplified by a butter dish comprising a double- or treble-skinned lid 2 and a base 3.

The lid comprises inner and outer walls 4, 5 which are moulded to the shape of a lid for a butter dish, the walls 4, 5 are sealed together adjacent the base 3 by an annular wall 6. The outer wall 4 has an aperture 7 formed by a cylindrical wall 8. A stopper 9 forms a liquid-tight seal with wall 8 to close aperture 7.

Stopper 9 has a lip 10 to allow easy removeal from the lid 2.

Between the walls 4 and 5 there is an intermediate wall 5a which is sealed both to the annular wall 6 and to the wall 8. The lid 2 thus has an inner internal cavity 5b and an outer internal cavity 5c. The external cavity Sc is sealed and may be partially evacuated to provide vacuum insulation, or it may merely provide insulation by means of a layer of quiesecent air. The inner cavity 5b is arranged to be filled with a temperaturecontrolled liquid via the aperture 7 and sealed by the stopper 9.

At the side of the lid 2 are provided dogs 11 which engage apertures 12 formed in side walls 13 of the base 3 to lock the lid 2 on the base 3. Side walls 13 can be flexed outwardly to release the dogs 11.

The base 3 is shown as being single-skinned but it may be double-or treble-skinned and provided with a filling apertures as for the lid 2.

Base 3 has an outer rim 14, which is increased in height to form the side walls 13. Base 3 has four downwardly projecting longitudinal ribs 1 5 arranged on the edges of a rectangle to support the base 3. Four upwardly projected longitudinal ribs 16 serve to define the area of the base which is covered by the inner wall 5 of the lid 2 and also to help locate the lid as it is placed on the base.

In use, an item such as butter is placed on the base 3 and a liquid of the appropriate temperature is poured into the inner cavity 5b of the lid 2 via the aperture 7 which is then sealed with the stopper 9. The lid is then placed on the base, the dogs 11 engaging in the apertures 12. The temperature of the space defined between the lid 2 and the base 3 is controlled by the liquid in the cavity 5b, while the cavity Sc provides insulation of this liquid from the ambient.

The base 3 and lid 2 may be manufactured in plastics material or a metal or alloy or a combination thereof.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

1. A container having a double-skinned wall portion having a closable opening therein.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, including an intermediate skin to form a treble-skinned construction, giving rise to two cavities.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, in which the inner cavity is accessible via the closable opening, and the outer cavity is sealed from the inner cavity, and provides an insulating layer of quiescent air, or a vacuum, between the inner cavity and the ambient.

4. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, manufactured in plastics material.

5. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, manufactured in a metal or alloy.

6. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a lid and a base forming a closed space.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which the lid is double-(ortreble-)skinned.

8. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Small domestic containers The present invention relates to containers, in partcular the invention relates to small domestic containers, such as butter dishes. The invention provides a container having a doubleskinned wall portion having a closable opening therein. By providing a closable opening the wall portion may be filled with a fluid, such as cold or hot water, to regulate the temperature inside the container. For example, with a butter dish the wall portion may be filled with hot or warm water to assist in raising the temperature of butter recently removed from a fridge or freezer, without risk of melting the butter. Conversely, cold or iced water may be used to keep butter cool, for example when travelling. The greater heat capacity of a liquid, such as water, will provide for increased performance over the simple use of a double-skinned container. A further enhancement of the performance is achieved by providing an intermediate skin so that their is a treble-skinned construction, giving rise to two cavities, of which the inner one may be accessible via the closable opening, and the outer one of which is sealed from the inner, and may provide an insulating layer of quiescent air, or a vacuum, between the temperature-controlled inner cavity and the ambient. The container may be manufactured in plastics material or a metal or alloy. Preferably the container comprises a lid and a base, preferably at least the lid is double-(or treble-)skinned, the lid and base forming a closed space. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of a container according to a form of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the container of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1. In the drawings, a container 1 according to the invention is exemplified by a butter dish comprising a double- or treble-skinned lid 2 and a base 3. The lid comprises inner and outer walls 4, 5 which are moulded to the shape of a lid for a butter dish, the walls 4, 5 are sealed together adjacent the base 3 by an annular wall 6. The outer wall 4 has an aperture 7 formed by a cylindrical wall 8. A stopper 9 forms a liquid-tight seal with wall 8 to close aperture 7. Stopper 9 has a lip 10 to allow easy removeal from the lid 2. Between the walls 4 and 5 there is an intermediate wall 5a which is sealed both to the annular wall 6 and to the wall 8. The lid 2 thus has an inner internal cavity 5b and an outer internal cavity 5c. The external cavity Sc is sealed and may be partially evacuated to provide vacuum insulation, or it may merely provide insulation by means of a layer of quiesecent air. The inner cavity 5b is arranged to be filled with a temperaturecontrolled liquid via the aperture 7 and sealed by the stopper 9. At the side of the lid 2 are provided dogs 11 which engage apertures 12 formed in side walls 13 of the base 3 to lock the lid 2 on the base 3. Side walls 13 can be flexed outwardly to release the dogs 11. The base 3 is shown as being single-skinned but it may be double-or treble-skinned and provided with a filling apertures as for the lid 2. Base 3 has an outer rim 14, which is increased in height to form the side walls 13. Base 3 has four downwardly projecting longitudinal ribs 1 5 arranged on the edges of a rectangle to support the base 3. Four upwardly projected longitudinal ribs 16 serve to define the area of the base which is covered by the inner wall 5 of the lid 2 and also to help locate the lid as it is placed on the base. In use, an item such as butter is placed on the base 3 and a liquid of the appropriate temperature is poured into the inner cavity 5b of the lid 2 via the aperture 7 which is then sealed with the stopper 9. The lid is then placed on the base, the dogs 11 engaging in the apertures 12. The temperature of the space defined between the lid 2 and the base 3 is controlled by the liquid in the cavity 5b, while the cavity Sc provides insulation of this liquid from the ambient. The base 3 and lid 2 may be manufactured in plastics material or a metal or alloy or a combination thereof. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A container having a double-skinned wall portion having a closable opening therein.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, including an intermediate skin to form a treble-skinned construction, giving rise to two cavities.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, in which the inner cavity is accessible via the closable opening, and the outer cavity is sealed from the inner cavity, and provides an insulating layer of quiescent air, or a vacuum, between the inner cavity and the ambient.

4. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, manufactured in plastics material.

5. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, manufactured in a metal or alloy.

6. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a lid and a base forming a closed space.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which the lid is double-(ortreble-)skinned.

8. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.