TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to a disposable container, preferably a one portion container, for the storage of a spreadable food in the form of fats, such as butter, margarine or spread mixture. This type of disposable container can also be used for other foodstuffs with a texture in the form of a paste, such as cream cheese, jam, liver pate, and the like.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] Such a container is shown in SE 419 532 and consists of a tube with a sealed end and open end, which is sealed with a foil designed to be torn off when the food is to be applied on, for example, a slice of bread. There are several disadvantages with this design. For example, when you want to squeeze the food out of the tube, it is natural to squeeze the middle of the tube. Such an action results in only half of the food being ejected, while half stays in the tube behind a squeezed and/or deformed part. The user then has to switch grip to press out the rest of the content. This can be especially difficult for a person without a fully functional thumb grip. Spreading the food on e.g. a slice of bread is not possible with this known design. An additional butter knife, or similar tool, must be used. A further problem with known containers is that, in practice, it is not possible to completely empty the container. Frequently, a small portion the food still remains at the bottom of the container, even when the container is squeezed sensibly and with care.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforemetioned difficulties of the prior art by provision of a disposable container, optimised for efficient usage to supply food stored or contained therein, particularly in respect of the ease of transfer of the food from the disposable container.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disposable container for a spreadable food, comprising a sleeve comprised of a flexible material, said sleeve further comprising an open first end suitable for output of a first food, said open first end being provided with a closing cover, the sleeve further comprising a sealed second end, wherein the disposable container further comprises an external, annular flange provided at the open first end and arranged to form an attach surface for the closing cover and to form an applicator for the distribution of the first food to a second food, the sleeve further comprises a first cylindrical part and a second cylindrical part arranged to provide an asymmetric, pointed part of the container, wherein the pointed part is located in a lateral surface of the second cylindrical part, a lateral surface area at the pointed part has a rigid part which extends in the direction of the first end, and the second cylindrical part and the rigid part provide a grip part, suitable to facilitate output of the first food and/or spread of the first food on the second food, and wherein the annular flange comprises a part with a straight edge, suitable for manipulation of the first food.

[0005] A container according to an embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to squeeze out a spreadable food, such as spreadable fats, from the container in a simple and convenient way, even for people without fully functional thumb grip. Further, the container of the present disclosure allows a user to completely empty a one portion container without changing grip on the container, or use a tool such as a knife, to get out all the food from the container. This provides cost-efficiency, facilitates economy and is environmentally advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a one portion (disposable) container according to an embodiment of the present invention, the figure illustrating in particular an applicator for the distribution of a spreadable food on, for example, a slice of bread;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of the one portion (disposable) container of FIG.1 , illustrating in particular that a constituent cylinder comprises a part which is arranged stiffer than the rest of envelope surface of the cylinder; and

[0008] FIGS. 3-7 are perspective views of one portion (disposable) containers according to further embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0009] With reference to FIG. 1 , there is illustrated, schematically, a disposable or one portion container 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The disposable container 10 is arranged to accommodate a spreadable food, such as spread fats, butter, margarine, liver pate, jam or similar. Further, container 10 can be arranged to accommodate a food with a texture (in the form of a paste for example) corresponding to e.g. spread fats, such as butter or cream cheese.

[0010] The disposable container 10 includes a sleeve 1 1 having an open first end 12 and a sealed second end 13 arranged opposite the first end 12. Preferably, the disposable container is filled with food from the open first end 12. The disposable container 10 further comprises an opening 14 provided at the first end 12 and a closing cover (not shown), adapted to close the opening 14. Such a closure facilitates a secure seal when food has been placed in the disposable container 10. The sleeve 1 1 defines a space for the accommodation of food therein. The sleeve 1 1, for example, is made of a plastic material. The sleeve 1 1 is, more preferably, made of a flexible plastic material, so that the sleeve 11 can be pressed to effect squeezing of the food contained inside the sleeve 1 1 out through the first open end 12. Alternatively, the sleeve can also comprise a suitable material such as paper or Calymer™, which is a mixture of chalk and plastic. The material is preferably chosen with reference to the particular characterisitcs of the food to be contained.

[0011] The closing cover (not shown) closes and/or seals the opening 14 and bears against the sleeve 1 1. The closing cover, relevant to the emdboiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 is disposable, and, consequently, the container 10 cannot be re-sealed by the closing cover. The closing cover comprises, for example, a foil or a plastic sheet: said foil, for example, is bound to the sleeve 11 by conventional means. Further, the closing cover of the sleeve 1 1 is arranged suitably bonded, so that the closing cover can be torn off and removed from the sleeve 11. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the closing cover is designed to attach against an outside, or exterior, flange 15 provided at the first end 12 of the sleeve 11. The flange 15 protrudes at an angle, e.g. 90 degrees, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the disposable container 10, whereby the flange 15 protrudes radially. The flange 15 is arranged rigid enough to be able to act as the applicator for distribution of the spreadable food (or first food) on for example a slice of bread (or second food). In a further embodiment of the present invention, the closing cover comprises a re-closable, or re-sealable, lid, especially suitable where the disposable container 10 contains a greater variety of foods and/or is not a one portion container but comprises a plurality of portions. For example, the disposable container 10 is arranged large enough to accommodate spreadable food which can be dispensed for use (or squeezed out) multiple times before the food content of the disposable container is depleted or emptied. [0012] The opening 14 comprises a cross section area that corresponds to the maximum cross- section area of the sleeve 11. For example, the opening 14 is arranged to comprise a diameter equal to the maximum diameter of the sleeve 1 1. The disposable container 10 is further arranged so that the food can be freely squeezed out through the opening 14. Thus there is sufficient free space for the food to be delivered out of, or ejected or dispensed from, the container 10, without being stopped or partially hindered by obstacles located in the axial direction of the sleeve 1 1 at a portion with the largest sleeve diameter. Thus, the disposable container 10 has no tapered front party that prevents or restricts food from being squeezed out of the container 10.

[0013] The sleeve 1 1 comprises a first cylindrical part 16 with constant diameter or first cross- sectional area, extending from the first end 12 in the direction of the second end 13. The sleeve 11 further comprises a second cylindrical part 17, having a diameter or cross-setional area which is decreasing towards the second end 13. Further, the second cylindrical part 17 is arranged to form an asymmetric, pointed second end of the disposable container 10. The first cyclindrical part 16 therefore presents a symmetric, consistently curved, surface while the second cylindrical part 17 presents a partially deformed, or flattened, surface for at least a portion of the (axial) length of the cyclindrical part 17. The first cylindrical part 16 merges to the second cylindrical part 17, preferably seamlessly. A diameter or cross-sectional area or width of the second cylindrical part 17 decreases in the direction of the second end 13 to provide an asymmetric, pointed part 18 of the container 10. Further, the pointed part 18 is located in a lateral surface of the second cylindrical part 17. Moreover, the pointed part 18 is arranged in co-operation with a rigid part 19 which extends from the pointed part 18, in the direction of the first end 12, along the (axial) length of the sleeve 11. The rigid part 19 is shown in FIG. 2, illustrated by means of with three solid lines.

[0014] The rigid part 19 of the surface is effected by making selected portions of the sleeve wall thicker, or in another appropriate way e.g. by use of a stiffening material. Provision of the rigid part 19 facilitates inclusion of a grip part of the sleeve 1 1, which a user can grip with greater precision and adhesion, for example between his thumb and index finger, to initiate movement of the flexible parts of the sleeve 1 1 against the rigid part 19 of the cylindrical surface and thus effectively squeeze out food from the container 10. When the user holds the container at the grip part (with the closing cover removed), the user can squeeze out the food without pressing any portion of the food backwards to the sealed end 13 of the container 10. Further, a user can normally empty the container with one finger, if so desired. [0015] The disclosure makes it possible to simultaneously squeeze the food out of the container 10 and spread it on, for example, a slice of bread. This is further facilitated by the flange 15, to which the closing cover was, preferably, originally attached. The flange 15 comprises an applicator for the food, or a means for spreading the food. The food, e.g. butter, can thereby be spread evenly without the use of a butter knife or other tool. The flange 15 optionally comprises a part or a straight edge or rim 20, which allows the user to control the speed of the ejected food and to spread the food evenly and as thinly as desired. In essence, the part or straight rim 20 facilitates manipulation of the food, especially once it is output from the container and in contact with another surface or second food, such as bread. It may be considered as an applicator. As shown in FIG. 1 , the straight edge 20 is preferably arranged on a side of the cylinder comprising the flattened surface of the second cylindrical part 17 and opposing the rigid part 19. However, the placement of the straight edge is not limited to such a placement and may be located anywhere on an outer edge of the flange 15.

[0016] In a further embodiment according to the present invention, a container material is fed in a suitable manufacturing machine to form a sleeve having open end and a seal end. The sleeve, is configured to have a cylindrical or a conical form, and accordingly comprises a constant diameter or varying diameter. The flexible part of the sleeve designed to form the asymmetrical and pointy end curve after sealing. During the sealing step, a tool presses this side towards the stiffer part thus forming a cup-shaped feature. This cup or bowl shape makes it easier for the user to grab on or make better contact with the container when pressure is applied for emptying the contents. The open end of the sleeve is configured to have the flange adapted to be closed by a foil or a lid. The other open end is used for filling food inside the container.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a perspective view of a disposable or one portion container 200 for a spreadable food, according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The container 200 of this embodiment is substantially structurally and functionally similar to the container 10 of the previously described embodiment. The container 200 further comprises a sleeve 211 having an open first end 212 and a sealed second end 213 opposite the first end 212. The container 200 further comprises an opening (not shown) provided at the first end 212 and a closing cover (not shown) arranged and adapted to close the opening. The container 200 further comprises a flange 215 provided at the first end 212 of the sleeve 211. The sleeve 21 1 comprises a first cylindrical part 216 with constant diameter or cross-sectional area and extending from the first end 212 in the direction of the second end 213, and a second cylindrical part 217 having a diameter or cross-sectional area which is decreasing towards the second end 213. Said decrease in the direction of the second end 213 provides an asymmetric, pointed part 218 of the container 200. The pointed part 218 is located in a lateral surface of the second cylindrical part 217. The pointed part 218 is arranged in co-operation with a rigid part (not shown) which extends from the pointed part 218 in the direction of the first end 212 along the axial length of the sleeve 21 1, and the second cylindrical part 217 and the rigid part comprise a grip part. Therefore, a user can grip with, for example, his thumb and index finger to press the flexible parts against the rigid part of the cylindrical surface and thus squeeze out food from the container 200 in an efficient manner.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a perspective view of a disposable or one portion container 300 for a spreadable food, according to a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the container 300 comprises a second cylindrical part 317 that extends down to a flange 315 of the container 300. In other words, the proportionate size (or axial length) of the first cylindrical part is small compared to that of the second cylindrical part 317. Further, the first cylindrical part may, optionally, be completely absent. Otherwise, the container 300 of the third embodiment is structurally and functionally similar to the container 200 (shown in FIG. 2) of the previously described embodiment. Therefore, detailed description of various other components of the container 300 is avoided for the sake of brevity and repetition.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a perspective view of a disposable or one portion container 400 for a spreadable food, according to a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a diameter of a sleeve 41 1, i.e. the first and second cylinder parts 416, 417, respectively, are relatively bigger when compared with a diameter of the sleeve 21 1 of FIG. 2. Also, a height of the first cylinder part 416 is somewhat smaller when compared with a height of the first cylinder part 216. In other words, the relative ratio of diameter or width against the height of the container is larger in the container of FIG.4 when compared to that of FIG. 2. Otherwise, the container 400 of this embodiment is structurally and functionally similar to the container 200 of the previously described embodiment. Therefore, description of various components of the container 400 is avoided for the sake of brevity and repetition.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a perspective view of a disposable or one portion container 500 for a spreadable food, according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The container 500 comprises a conical form, which is advanatageous to enable the container 500 to be produced by vacuum forming. The conical form of the container 500 is attained by arranging a larger diameter for a first cylinder part 516 of a sleeve 51 1 as compared to a diameter of a second cylinder part 517 of the sleeve 511. Also, the first cylinder part 516 is optionally configured to have longitudinal grooves 530 in an envelope surface thereof, making the envelope surface as flexible part of the sleeve 51 1. The envelope surface is optionally arranged to comprise all or part of the exterior surface of the sleeve 511, optionally in co-operation with any rigid part provided. Otherwise, the container 500 of this embodiment is structurally and functionally similar to the container 200 of the previously described embodiment. Therefore, description of various components of the container 500 is avoided for the sake of brevity and repetition.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 7, illustrated is a perspective view of a disposable or one portion container 600 for a spreadable food, according to a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a first cylinder part 616 of a sleeve 61 1 of the container 600 does not include (or lacks) longitudinal grooves in an envelope surface thereof. That is to say, the envelope surface is arranged as smooth. Otherwise, the container 600 is structurally and functionally similar to the container 500 of the previously described embodiment.

[0022] The containers described herein, in conjunction with FIGS. 1-5 and FIG. 7 have thinner wall thickness and a rigid (or stiff) part on envelope surfaces thereof. However, the container described in conjunction with FIG. 6 has a thicker and stiffer wall (compared to the walls of the containers of FIGS. 1-5 and FIG. 7) and includes grooves that make the wall more flexible in the corresponding area of the envelope surface.

[0023] The container described in conjunction with FIGS. 3-7 has an excentric flange. This feature gives two advantages. First, the broader part of the flange provides a broader applicator or spatula, which facilitates the spread of the food on e.g. a slice of bread. Second, the opposite narrower part of the flange opposite the broader part provides a slot between the flange and the slice of bread, when the user ejects the paste from the container, wherein a better control of the food ejection can be obtained.

[0024] Although embodiments of the invention are described in the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention is also susceptible to being implemented in many embodiments, depending on the particular application and implementation of form.

[0025] Modifications to embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as "including", "comprising", "incorporating", "consisting of, "have", "is" used to describe and claim the present invention are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. Numerals included within parentheses in the accompanying claims are intended to assist understanding of the claims and should not be construed in any way to limit subject matter claimed by these claims.