Technical Field

This invention relates to a container for food products.

Background Art

Various different types of containers for food products are known which have the shape of an egg split into two half-shells, one of which is intended to contain an accessory, a game and/or a surprise, while the other is suitable for containing a food product.

Each half-shell has an opening edge intended to be substantially associated coinciding with the opening edge of the other half-shell.

The half-shells are usually made of plastic material and both the accessory and the food product can be removed from the outside once the half-shells have been separated the one from the other, as shown in EP 1 533 245 Al.

In some containers, on the other hand, one or both the half-shells are made of edible material and themselves represent the packed food product.

In a special type of container, the half-shells are associable and separable the one from the other along one of the symmetry planes of the egg, are of identical shape and have opening edges of ogival shape.

In another type of container, instead, the two half-shells are associable and separable along the median cross plane, meaning by median cross plane that which is at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the egg-shaped pack and which is arranged at the height in which the diameter of the opening edges, with round shape, is biggest.

These containers of known type have a number of drawbacks among which the fact that they are mainly intended for the consumption of just one food product and, therefore, they are considerably limited in terms of variety and assortment of the flavours offered to consumers.

In this respect, the fact is underlined that in this specific commercial sector, the need and requirement are very much felt to renew products and to constantly present new ones in order to distinguish these to a greater extent from those of the competition and prompt consumers to purchase these articles.

It should in fact be noted that the commercial success of these products is often tied to the novelty of the product itself and to the possibility of its interacting with consumers, who are often young children, both by placing at disposal the toy/surprise and offering food products that are not only nourishing but also variegated.

Another drawback of the containers of known type consists in the fact that their particular egg shape makes them hard to store in specific display units, and to simply rest on a shelf.

To obviate at least in part this drawback the use is known of containers in accordance with the teachings of the patent document EP 2 310 288 which however, are susceptible of further improvements aimed, in particular, at increasing the practicality and safety of use.

Such containers, in fact, have a substantially hood-shaped protection label that surrounds both half-shells and that is not always easily removable.

In addition, the use of such containers involves a risk of choking if a child swallows one of the two half-shells.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of this invention is to provide a container for food products that is practical, easy and functional to use and that permits nourishing and at the same time amusing consumers.

A further object of this invention is to cater for the above commercial requirements and make available a container for food products that is considerably appealing for consumers.

Last but not least object of the present invention is to provide a container for food products that can be easily handled both for storing and for simply resting on a shelf.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container for food products that has an easily removable protection label.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for food products that greatly reduces the risk of choking in case of swallowing of the half-shells by a child.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container for food products which overcomes the above-described drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational solution that is easy to use and low in cost.

The objects stated above are achieved by the container for food products as defined in claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of this invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, of a container for food products, illustrated purely as an example but not limited to the annexed drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the container according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the container according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the container according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a section view of the container according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a section view of a series of first half-shells according to the invention stacked one on top of the other;

Figure 6 is a section view of a series of second half-shells according to the invention stacked one on top of the other;

Figure 7 is a section view on an enlarged scale of a detail of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an axonometric view, from another angle, of the container according to the invention;

Figure 9 is an axonometric view of a product display unit for the containers according to the invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such illustrations, globally indicated by 1 is a container for food products.

The container 1 comprises a first half-shell 2, which is substantially hollow to contain one or more accessories 3, 4 and which has a first opening edge 5, and a second half-shell 6, which is substantially hollow to contain at least a food product 7, 8 and which has a second opening edge 9.

The half-shells 2, 6 are associable with each other in correspondence of opening edges 5, 9, i.e., with the first opening edge 5 and the second opening edge 9 arranged one against the other, to form a substantially ovoid package.

In particular, the opening edges 5, 9 are obtained on a plane substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the egg-shaped pack and, more in detail, on the median cross plane.

The first half-shell 2 has an ogival shape typical of the upper part of an egg, while the second half-shell 6 has, on the whole, the substantially spherical shape typical of the lower part of an egg.

With respect to the vertical position of an egg, therefore, the first half-shell 2 and the second half-shell 6 can be configured as the upper half-shell and the lower half-shell respectively.

The second half-shell 6 is divided into a first compartment 10 for containing a first food product 7, and into a second compartment 11 for containing a second food product 8.

The first food product 7 consists, e.g., of a fluid substance like a cream, an aromatic mousse, a yoghurt, or the like, while the second food product 8 preferably consists of a substance having a preset solidity such as pieces of cereals, bread sticks, fruit, or other foods that can be soaked and/or dipped in the first food product 7.

Both the first compartment 10 and the second compartment 11 have a respective access mouth 12 obtained at the second opening edge 9, so that both compartments 10, 11 are accessible from outside once the first half-shell 2 has been removed.

Usefully, the second half-shell 6 comprises two partition walls 13 suitable for separating the two compartments 10, 11.

The partition walls 13 are joined together at a connection segment 14 which is arranged near the second opening edge 9 and which, in point of fact, separates the access mouths 12 of the two compartments 10, 11.

From the connection segment 14 the partition walls 13 substantially extend along a longitudinal symmetry plane of the ovoid package and are arranged facing and spaced apart from each other to define a slit 15 substantially parallel to the partition walls themselves.

The slit 15, in point of fact, is designed to allow resting the container 1 on a product display unit 16 having a series of substantially vertical support walls 17. The product display unit 16, e.g., is made of cardboard, plastic or the like, and permits supporting the container 1 arranging the two compartments 10, 11 astride the support walls 17.

Near the connection segment 14 the second half-shell 6 has a series of stiffening elements 18 suitable for stabilising the partition walls 13.

The stiffening elements 18 consist in a plurality of connection blades placed between the partition walls 13 and aligned along their connection segment 14. The connection blades 18, besides stiffening the partition walls 13, permit stacking and unstacking the second half-shells 6 in a practical and easy way during the assembly phase of the containers 1.

As shown in the figure 6, in fact, the second half-shells 6 can be stacked one on top of the other resting on the connection blades 18 and remaining separated at such a distance as to prevent the one remaining fast inside the other.

This, in actual fact, allows automating the production line of the containers 1 without the risk of blockages and stoppages caused by the wrong unstacking of the second half-shells 6.

Advantageously, at least one portion 19 of the second half-shell 6 is substantially flat and suitable for permitting its stable resting on a surface.

The portion 19 is obtained from a substantially opposite part with respect to the second opening edge 9 at the bottom of the egg-shaped pack.

With the first opening edge 5 and/or with the second opening edge 9 is associable a closing capsule 20 suitable for maintaining the cavity of the first half-shell 2 separate from the cavity of the second half-shell 6.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the illustrations, e.g., the closing capsule 20 consists of an aluminium foil which has inside a thermal lacquer suitable for allowing its hot welding on the second opening edge 9 and on the connection segment 14, so as to close and hermetically separate both the access mouths 12 of the two compartments 10, 11.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which the closing capsule 20 is made integral with the first opening edge 5, or in which a closing capsule 20 is provided both on the first opening edge 5 and on the second opening edge 9.

The opening edges 5, 9 are reciprocally associable with one another by placing connection means 21, 22 of a temporary type in between.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the illustrations, the connection means 21, 22 are of the slot-in type and consist of a connection tooth 21, of annular shape, which is obtained inside the first opening edge 5 and is engageable by interlocking on a respective protrusion 22 obtained on the second opening edge 9.

Alternative embodiments of the container 1 cannot however be ruled out in which, e.g., the connection means are composed of a first thread obtained on one of the opening edges 5, 9 and engageable by screwing in a second thread obtained on the other opening edge 5, 9.

The first half-shell 2 has a plurality of internal locator beads 23 which are distributed with substantially constant pitch in the vicinity of the summit of the first half-shell 2 and are suitable for maintaining the accessories 3, 4 in a substantially preset position.

The internal locator beads 23 prevent the accessories 3, 4 from arranging themselves perpendicularly to the closing capsule 20 and accidentally piercing it.

In parallel, the internal locator beads 23 are shaped to obtain easy and practical stacking and unstacking of the first half-shells 2 during the assembly phase of the containers 1.

As shown in figure 5, in fact, the first half-shells 2 can be stacked one on top of the other resting on the internal locator beads 23 and remaining in any case separated at such a distance as to prevent the one remaining fast inside the other. Similarly to the connection blades 18 for the second half-shells 6, therefore, the internal locator beads 23 permit automating the production line of the containers 1 without the risk of blockages and stoppages caused by the wrong unstacking of the first half-shells 2.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the illustrations, the internal locator beads 23 are shaped so as to also act as inner reinforcement ribs 24 suitable for making the first half-shell 2 more resistant.

The internal locator beads 23 and the inner reinforcement ribs 24, in actual fact, are substantially coincidental, but alternative embodiments are possible in which are provided internal locator beads 23 and inner reinforcement ribs 24 that are distinct and separated from each other.

Usefully, the accessories 3, 4 contained in the first half-shell 2 are two in number.

One of these is a play article 3 such as a figurine, a miniature, a little car, etc., which is placed inside a receptacle 25 or, alternatively, inside a protective bag. The other accessory, on the other hand, consists e.g., of an implement, such as a spatula 4, a teaspoon or the like, suitable for allowing the user to collect the first and the second food product 7, 8 and carry it to his/her mouth.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which inside the first half-shell 2 only one accessory 3, 4 is provided.

The container 1 comprises at least one cover band 30 made at least partly in heat-shrink material.

Advantageously, the cover band 30 has a substantially tubular shape that extends, along a central axis 31, between a first open extremity 32 and a second open extremity 33.

Preferably, the cover band 30 is only one, and its tubular shape enables to adhere and wrap both half-shells 2, 6, allowing to further seal and protect their contents.

The cover band 30 is able to seal the opening edges 5, 9 and to cover partially the first half-shell 2 and the second half-shell 6.

In detail, the cover band 30 leaves uncovered the top of the first half-shell 2 emerging from the first open extremity 32 and the bottom of the second half- shell 6 emerging from the second open extremity 33.

The cover band 30 is fitted around the half-shells 2, 6 when packing the container 1.

To make the cover band 30 easier to fit, the first half-shell 2 has a rounded-off part 27 at the first opening edge 5.

Once fitted around the half-shells 2, 6, the cover band 30 shrinks as a result of heating so as to adhere perfectly around the half-shells themselves.

In addition to seal the opening edges 5, 9, the cover band 30 also has the function of bearing lettering, images and identification marks of the container 1 and of the products contained in it.

Advantageously, the cover band 30 is removable by tearing it off.

For this purpose, the cover band 30 comprises at least one pre-cutting line 34, 35 able to facilitate the tearing off of the cover band 30 itself.

With reference to the particular embodiment represented in the figures, the cover band 30 comprises a first pre-cutting line 34 and a second pre-cutting line 35.

The first pre-cutting line 34 and the second pre-cutting line 35 extend longitudinally, i.e. substantially parallel to the central axis 31.

It is not ruled out, however, that the pre-cutting lines 34, 35 may have different orientations, being, e.g., inclined with respect to the central axis 31.

Preferably, at least one of the first pre-cutting line 34 and the second pre-cutting line 35 is arranged in the proximity of the slit 15.

In particular, at least one of the pre-cutting lines 34, 35 is positioned so as to substantially mate the slit 15.

It is easy to understand that the position of the pre-cutting lines 34, 35 with respect to the slit 15 is set when packing the container 1, when the cover band 30 is fitted around the half-shells 2, 6.

In this regard, however, it is underlined that the first pre-cutting line 34 and the second pre-cutting line 35 are arranged staggered at an angular distance 36 of between 80° and 100°.

With reference to a preferred embodiment, shown in the figures, the angular distance 36 is substantially equal to 90°.

In the context of the present treatise by "angular distance" is meant the amplitude of the angle lying in the median transversal plane of the ovoid package, having its vertex on the central axis 31 and included between the first pre-cutting line 34 and the second pre-cutting line 35.

The amplitude of the angle 36 allows to have, in most cases, one of the pre- cutting lines 34, 35 adjacent to or mating the slit 15, considerably facilitating the tearing off of the cover band 30.

The tearing off of the cover band 30, in fact, takes place by manually forcing, at the height of the slit 15, the cover band itself. It is easy to understand, therefore, that when one of the pre-cutting lines 34, 35 match exactly the slit 15, the breaking of the cover band 30 is fairly quick and easy for the user.

It is emphasized, however, that even when none of the pre-cutting lines 34, 35 matches exactly the slit 15, the special measure of arranging the pre-cutting lines 34, 35 at an angular distance 36 of 90° allows to ensure that at least one of them will always be at an angular distance 36 not more than 45° with respect to the slit 15, allowing also in this case to tear the cover band 30 off in a fairly easy and practical manner, by manually forcing the cover band itself at the height of the slit 15.

Advantageously, furthermore, the container 1 comprises a safety hole 37 arranged on the top of the first half-shell 2.

The safety hole 37 can significantly reduce the risk of choking in case of swallowing of the first half-shell 2 by a child.

With reference to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the safety hole 37 has a circular shape.

It cannot however be ruled out that the safety hole 37 has different shapes and locations.