FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an edible wafer container, which can be used for the production of either sweet or savory food products or other, which have a gift inside.

In particular the present invention, which can be filled with a creamy, semisolid or solid filling, such as a chocolate cream, custard cream or other, can be associated with a container in which a gift is inserted, such as a toy, a pendant or other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chocolate eggs are known, which have a reduced size so they can be easily handled by a child. Known eggs comprise an external shell made of chocolate, which defines an internal cavity, externally inaccessible unless the shell is broken; the cavity is suitable to contain a gift, such as an accessory, a toy, a pendant or other.

One disadvantage of known eggs is that, because of the even partial melting of the chocolate, they are difficult and delicate to manage during the summer season. Therefore, often, their production and subsequent introduction onto the market is normally suspended, or at least greatly reduced, during the summer, which entails a stoppage in the production line and substantial economic damage because of lack of sales.

Another disadvantage of known eggs is that handling the egg and breaking the shell cause it to break into pieces of different sizes, with the subsequent soiling of clothes or other, in particular in the case of chocolate which has partly melted.

Edible containers made of wafer are also known, partly filled or which can be filled with a solid or semi-solid creamy filling, such as for example wafer cones or cups for ice cream.

From the patent CH 6887885 in the name of Soremartec S.A. a food product is also known having a container, made from the coupling of two halves of hollow shells made of wafer, filled with a first food filling. The two half-shells are provided with internal walls able to define, when in use, internal compartments inside the container to contain a second food filling, different or of the same type as the first filling. Both half-shells are reciprocally coupled along their peripheral portions and are connected so as to seal them by means of adhesion of the respective fillings or by the interposition of points or lines of chocolate in correspondence with their free edges. The coupling by means of sealing determines an increase in the times and costs of production of this food product. Moreover, sealing by means for example of points or lines of chocolate entails a coupling which is not always effective between the two half-shells even with regard to the specific preservation conditions of the product.

One purpose of the present invention is to make a food product of the type with a gift which can be preserved and distributed easily all year long.

In particular, the purpose is to make an edible container filled with a creamy filling which can be associated with a "surprise" inside, that is a gift, which prevents direct contact of the creamy filling both with the hands of the user and also with the gift inside. A further purpose is to make a food product of the type with a surprise having a lower caloric content.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, an edible container made of wafer can be used for the production of sweet or savory food products or other, of the type with a "surprise" inside.

The edible container according to the present invention comprises a hollow body, which can be partially filled inside with a creamy food filling, semi-solid or solid. The body has a first internal compartment, suitable to house a gift object, or a container containing the gift object.

The present invention also comprises a closing element, which can be coupled, during use, with the hollow body in order to close the first housing compartment.

The body also comprises at least a second compartment, inside, separated from the first compartment. The second compartment is suitable to be filled with said food filling, so as to prevent contact of the filling with the gift object. When it is coupled with the hollow body, the closing element not only closes the first compartment but also allows the closing of the second compartment, thus preventing the food filling from leaking out of the second compartment, and therefore of the final edible product. The closing element and/or the body comprise closing means suitable to cooperate with the second compartment so as to associate the body to the closing element in a stable way.

According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the body and the closing element comprise sealing means able to cooperate with the closing means and conformed to interfere mechanically in a reciprocal way and to prevent the leakage of the filling from the second compartment into the first compartment and outside the container.

According to a variant of the present invention the sealing means comprise first sealing elements disposed, at least partly, on the perimeter of the body and on the closing element. The first sealing elements are conformed so as to define a coupling through overlapping, so as to prevent the leakage of filling from the second compartment toward the outside of the container.

According to another variant of the present invention, the sealing means comprise second sealing elements, disposed at least partly on the perimeter inside the body and the closing element, conformed so as to define a reciprocal coupling to prevent the leakage of the filling from the second compartment to the first compartment.

According to another variant said closing means comprise a plurality of teeth made in a single piece with said closing element and suitable to be at least partly immersed in said food filling in said second compartment.

According to another variant the edible container comprises two substantially equal semi-bodies, of which one has the function of a closing element and the other of a container for the filling and the gift object. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: - Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first form of embodiment of an edible container according to the present invention;

- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container in fig. 1 in an open condition;

- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the container in fig. 1; - Fig. 4 is a lateral view of fig. 3;

- Fig. 5 is a lateral view of fig. 1 ;

- Fig. 6 is a view from above of fig. 1;

- Fig 7 is a front view of fig. 1;

- Fig. 8 is a section view from VIII to VIII in fig. 5; - Fig. 9 is a section view from IX to IX in fig. 5;

- Fig. 10 is a section view from X to X in fig. 7;

- Fig. 11 is a lateral view of a second form of embodiment of an edible container according to the present invention;

- Fig. 12 is a schematic lateral view of the container in fig.11; - Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the container in fig. 12 in an open condition;

- Fig. 14 is a lateral view of fig. 13;

- Fig. 15 is a section view from XV to XV in fig. 4;

- Fig. 16 is a section view from XVI to XVI in fig. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, an edible container 10 according to the present invention, is made of an edible material such as wafer, or other.

The edible container 10 comprises a casing having a body 14, or first half- shell, and a closing stopper 16, or second half-shell, which when in use are disposed reciprocally coupled, and define inside the container 10 a first compartment 20 (figs. 4 and 8) to house a capsule 12, made of plastic material for example, which in turn is able to contain a gift object, such as a small toy, a pendant or other. It is understood that the capsule 12 and the gift object can in their turn be made of an edible material, of wafer or chocolate, solid jam or other, allowing to make a food product which is completely edible. In a first form of embodiment, shown in the drawings from 1 to 10, both the first half-shell 14 and the second half-shell 16 have an identical and specular shape, substantially semi- cylindrical and rounded in correspondence with the base portions 15, at least partly flat. In this way, when the half-shells are associated along corresponding perimeter coupling edges 50, the substantially cylindrical shape (fig. 1) of the edible container 10 is defined.

Each half-shell 14, 16 is provided with a first wall 17, or external wall, connected below and above to the base portion 15. Each half-shell 14, 16 also comprises a second wall 18, made in a single piece, inside the first wall 17. The second wall 18 develops partly concentric to the first wall 17 following the profile of the edges 50 joining it in correspondence with the bottom of the compartment 20. The second wall 18 is separated from the first wall 17 by spacer elements 30, made in a single piece.

Together with the first wall 17, the second wall 18 defines a second compartment or interstice 26 which is separated from the compartment 20 housing the capsule 12 when the half-shells are coupled.

The interstice 26 is suitable to be filled with a food filling of a known type, such as for example a creamy fluid or semi-fluid chocolate based filling, or other sweet or savory filling, such as for example a sauce, liquid cheese, meat paste or other. The thickness S of the interstice 26 is such as to allow the filling by injection or other known method of the filling in fluid or semi-fluid form, also allowing the solidification of the filling in solid or semi-solid form. The spacer elements 30, of a predetermined thickness, are disposed at predetermined distances along the development of the interstice 26 and extend in a partly circular way, between the first wall 17 and the second wall 18, substantially parallel to the base portions 15, as far as the bottom of the wall 17. The spacer elements 30 are suitable to increase the consistency of the wafer container 10, that is, to increase the resistance to strains and stresses on the walls 17, 18 which can be generated both during the filling operations of the second compartment 26 with the filling and also during the distribution and sale of the final product.

Each half-shell 14, 16 comprises closing teeth 38, made in a single piece with the spacer elements 30, which protrude from the bulk of each half-shell 14, 16. The teeth 38 of each half-shell 14, 16 are suitable to be immersed in the food filling of the second compartment of the half-shells 16, 14 coupled so as to increase the reciprocal closing seal, but in any case allow an easy separation thereof in order to access the capsule 12, should the food filling have a soft consistency at the temperature at which the product is eaten. In this way it is possible to maintain the coupling between the half-shells 14, 16 during the working steps, for example during the packaging, or during the consumption of the product. The teeth 38 are made so as to have a thickness which is slightly greater than the gap separating the first wall 17 and the second wall 18. This allows an efficient mechanical seal due to interference between the half-shells 14, 16 even in the case where one or more teeth 38 are not effectively immersed, or not immersed at all, in the food filling. Each half-shell 14, 16 also comprises sealing means disposed substantially peripherally along the edges 50 and able to cooperate with the teeth 38 so as to increase the grip and to seal the second compartment, or interstice 26 and prevent the leakage of the filling both from the second compartment 26 toward the outside of the container 10 and from the second compartment 26 toward the first compartment 20.

The sealing means comprise a first sealing element made peripherally on the edge 50 in correspondence with the first wall 17 of each half-shell 14, 16. In this case, the first sealing element of each half-shell 14, 16 comprises two lower coupling portions 53 and two upper coupling portions 54 disposed alternately along the edge 50. Each lower coupling portion 53 of one half-shell is able to cooperate with an upper coupling portion 54 of the other half-shell of the container 10.

The lower coupling portion 53 is provided with a profile which is at least partly flared toward the inside of the container 10 with respect to the external surface of the half-shell. The upper coupling portion 54 is conformed so as to define a coupling by overlapping on the profile of a corresponding lower coupling portion 53 of a second half-shell, thus allowing to achieve a reciprocal mechanical interference which makes a gripping and sealing action of the second compartment 26. The sealing means comprise a second sealing element made on the edge of the second wall 18 of each half-shell 14, 16. In this case the second sealing element comprises stepped portions 57, 58 disposed alternately on the top of each internal wall 18, and provided with stepped profiles complementary with respect to each other, and able to cooperate reciprocally when the two half-shells 14, 16 are coupled to make a sealing action which prevents the filling contained in the second compartment 26 from leaking out of it and coming into contact with the capsule 12. In this way it is possible to connect, in a stable way, the half-shells 14, 16 only by mechanical coupling, allowing to keep them associated even in preservation conditions which are not ideal.

In a second form of embodiment, shown in figs. 11 to 16, the body 114, internally hollow, has a cylindrical shape defined by a first lateral external wall 117, joined at the lower part to a semi-spherical base portion 115, partly flattened, so as to allow an easy vertical disposition of the edible container 110. The body 114 is also open at the upper part and comprises an open portion 22, suitable both to be coupled with the stopper 116 which defines an access mouth to the first housing compartment 120 to insert the capsule 12, for example, on the production line.

The body 1 14 also comprises a second wall 118, made in a single piece, having a cylindrical shape and disposed concentrically inside the first wall 117. The second wall 118 therefore, protruding from the common base portion 15, develops substantially for part of the height of the body 114 and defines, together with the first wall 117, a second compartment or interstice 126 with a cylindrical development, separated from the compartment 120 housing the capsule 12.

The body 114 also comprises spacer elements 130 (fig. 16), made in a single piece and interposed between the first wall 117 and the second wall 118. The spacer elements 130, of a predetermined thickness, are disposed radially and equidistant along the circumferential development of the interstice 126 and extend vertically for at least part of the height of the second wall 118.

The spacer elements 30 also allow to divide the interstice 26 into distinct sub- compartments, each selectively able to be filled with a predetermined filling. The stopper 116, having a semi-spherical shape analogous to that of the base portion 115, is partly flattened in its upper part and hollow inside so as to define an auxiliary compartment 20a. When the stopper 116 is disposed to close the container 10, the auxiliary compartment 20a is associated with the first compartment 120 of the body 114, so as to increase the volume usable for housing the capsule 12 inside the container 110.

The stopper 116 also comprises a coupling portion 34, suitable to cooperate with the open portion of the body 114 in order to associate the stopper 116 with the body 114. In this case the coupling portion 34 comprises an annular crown 36, made in a single piece, which develops vertically for a height H and having a thickness Sl ₅ equal to or less than the thickness S of the interstice 26. The annular crown 36 is suitable to cooperate both with the first wall 117 and also with the second wall 118 so as to be inserted in the interstice 26 during the coupling of the stopper 16 with the body 14. In this way the stopper 116 allows to close simultaneously both the first compartment 20 and also the interstice 26, preventing unwanted leakages of filling both inside and outside the container 10.

The annular crown 36 comprises a lower profiling having a curvilinear development such as to define, along the circular development of the crown 36, a series of teeth 138 distributed equidistantly. The teeth 138 are suitable to be immersed in the food filling of the interstice 126 so as to increase the closing seal of the stopper 116 and to allow an easy separation of the stopper 116 from the body 114 so as to access the capsule 12, in the event that the food filling has a soft consistency at the temperature at which the product is eaten. This stratagem also allows to maintain coupling during the processing steps and during consumption of the product. The teeth 138 are made in such a manner as tq have a transverse thickness slightly greater than the gap separating the first 117 and second 118 wall. This allows to achieve an effective mechanical seal through interference, by inserting the teeth 138 under pressure between the body 114 and the stopper 116, also if one or more teeth 138 are not effectively immersed, or not immersed at all, in the filling.

Therefore, a user can handle the container 110 without coming into contact with the filling contained in the interstice 126 and therefore, without dirtying his/her hands. Furthermore, this prevents the filling contained in the interstice from coming into contact with, and thus dirtying, the external packaging. Moreover, when the container 10 is closed, that is, when it is ready to be packed up and put on sale, the capsule 12 containing the present or surprise is in practice prevented from coming into contact with the filling, and therefore remains externally clean and does not dirty the user's hands when it is opened. Furthermore, it is possible to market a filled product, having an edible hollow container comprising a capsule with the surprise, not wholly made of chocolate, even in the summer or in climatic zones when it would tend to melt, therefore becoming difficult to handle and/or losing its quality characteristics. Moreover, the fact of having a container comprising at least two distinct and easily separable elements, that is, the body 14 or first half-shell, and the stopper 16, or second half-shell, facilitates the opening of the finished product and hence access to the inner capsule 12.

Furthermore, given the same size, using a wafer type container together with a chocolate filling or other creamy filling, allows to substantially reduce the energy input of the finished product with respect to products of equal shape and size made entirely of chocolate.

Although not shown, it is obvious that the teeth 38 can be replaced by a threading or any other type of reciprocal coupling means of the body 114 and the stopper 116.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the container 10, 110 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the body 14, 114 and the stopper 16, 116 can have different shape and sizes, or can have identical shape and sizes for example semi-spherical.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of edible container 10, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.