CONTAINER FOR FOOD AND CORRESPONDING BLANK

Abstract

A container and a corresponding blank for the container are disclosed. The container may have a lower part and an upper part for receiving food. The lower and the upper part may each have six or eight side walls and a substantially flat bottom wall or top wall connected to the side walls. A pivoting connection may be formed between a connection side wall of the lower part and a connection side wall of the upper part and free ends of the side walls end in an end plane extending obliquely to the horizontal plane. Such as configuration may make facilitate on the one hand safely storing food when the container is closed and on the other hand making the food more accessible when the container is open. In addition to the improved accessibility, the food may be largely visible on the side facing the front side wall.

Claims

1. A container for food, the container comprising: a lower part having a first plurality of side walls and a substantially flat bottom wall connected to the first plurality of side walls, and an upper part having a second plurality of side walls and a substantially flat top wall connected to the second plurality of side walls, wherein a pivoting connection is formed between a first connection side wall of the first plurality of side walls of the lower part and a second connection side wall of the second plurality of side walls of the upper part, and free ends of the first plurality of side walls end in a first end plane extending obliquely to a horizontal plane; free ends of the second plurality of side walls end in a second end plane extending obliquely to the horizontal plane the first plurality of side walls includes six or eight first side walls; and the second plurality of side walls includes six or eight second side walls.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first end plane and the second end plane extend parallel to each other.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein, when the container is open, the first end plane is arranged higher than the second end plane relative to a substantially horizontal support, and at least one of the bottom wall and the top wall rests on the substantially horizontal support.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second plurality of side walls of the upper part, other than the second connection side wall, from the top wall to free ends of the second plurality of side walls, have a greater height than the first plurality of side walls of the lower part, other than the first connection side wall, from the bottom wall to the free ends of the first plurality of side walls, and the second and first connection side walls of the upper part and the lower part have substantially the same height.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second plurality of side walls of the upper part, except for the second connection side wall, partially overlap the first plurality of side walls of the lower part from the outside in a closed state of the container.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein a front side wall of the second plurality of side walls of the upper part has two locking arms projecting substantially laterally in extension of a wall plane; and in a closed state of the container, the two locking arms engage under two latching arms projecting from side walls of the first plurality of side walls of the lower part.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the front side wall has a recess above the locking arms for the arrangement of the latching arms.

8. The container according to claim 6, wherein the side walls of the second plurality of side walls of the upper part adjacent to the front side wall have receiving cut-outs for partially receiving free ends of the first plurality of side walls with latching arms.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall is substantially flat up to the side walls.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the top wall is connected to the side walls by rounded connecting sections.

11. A blank for a container, said blank comprising; at least one bottom wall part, a first plurality of side walls connected to said bottom wall part via substantially straight first fold lines delimiting said bottom wall part, a top wall part, and a second plurality of side walls connected to the top wall part and to one another via second fold lines extending outwards away from the top wall part, and a pivoting connection formed between connection side walls of the second plurality of side walls and the first plurality of side walls, respectively.

12. The blank according to claim 11, wherein the first plurality of side walls includes a first connection side wall and a first front side wall; the first plurality of side walls, other than the first connection side wall and the first front side wall, are formed with a height decreasing from the first connection side wall to the first front side wall; the second plurality of side walls includes a second connection side wall and a second front side wall; and the second plurality of side walls, other than the second connection side wall and the second front side wall, are formed with a height increasing from the second connection side wall to the second front side wall.

13. The blank according to claim 11, wherein a height of the side walls of the first plurality of side walls and the second plurality of side walls between respective connection side walls and front side walls continuously decreases or increases.

14. The blank according to claim 11, wherein adhesive flaps project laterally from at least some of the first plurality of side walls and/or the second plurality of side walls.

15. The blank according to claim 11, wherein adhesive flaps project laterally from at least some of the first plurality and are substantially triangular in shape.

16. The blank according to claim 11, wherein adhesive flaps project laterally from at least some of the second plurality of side walls and are rounded.

17. The blank according to claim 11, wherein the pivoting connection is formed by a central, substantially wave-shaped cutting line and laterally adjacent third fold lines.

18. The blank according to claim 11, wherein the first plurality of side walls includes a front side wall; and adhesive flaps project from at least some of the first plurality of side walls and have a latching arm cut between the front side wall and adjacent side walls of the first plurality of side walls.

19. The blank according to claim 11, wherein locking arms project laterally from a free end of a front side wall of the second plurality of side walls.

20. The blank according to claim 11, wherein the second plurality of side walls are rounded inwards.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In the following, an embodiment is explained in more detail using the attached Figures.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to the embodiment obliquely from the front;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the container as shown in FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the container according to FIG. 2;

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a container in the open state, as defined in the embodiment; and

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a blank for the container from the previous Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective oblique view from the front of an embodiment of a container 1 according to an embodiment. This container has a lower part 2 and an upper part 3. The lower part 2 has a bottom wall 16, see also the blank according to FIG. 5, from which six side walls 4-9 extend obliquely upwards. This results in an approximately hexagonal cross-section for the lower part. It is also possible, for example, to use an octagonal cross-section with eight side walls and a corresponding bottom wall 16.

[0030] The upper part 3 also has six side walls 10-15, see again the blank according to FIG. 5, which are connected to a corresponding and essentially flat top wall 17 via rounded connecting sections 31. This top wall is arranged approximately parallel to the bottom wall 16 when the container is closed. Between the various side walls 10-15 of the upper part 3, edges 45 are formed which extend into the connecting section 31 in the direction of the top wall 17. The edges 45 are formed by fold lines, especially in the area of the connecting section and intersection lines between the side walls, see again FIG. 5. The various side walls are bonded together by means of corresponding adhesive flaps 38 so that the edges of the side walls are edge to edge.

[0031] The side walls 4-9 of the lower part 2 also have corresponding adhesive flaps 37, see FIG. 5, by which they are connected to each other.

[0032] In the area of the front side walls 9 or 15, lower part 2 and upper part 3 are detachably connected to each other. This ensures the closed condition of container 1 according to FIG. 1. For the detachable connection of the different parts locking arms 27 and latching arms 28 are provided. The locking arms 27 project from the side walls 5 and 6 adjacent to the front side wall 9 in longitudinal direction of these side walls. According to FIG. 1 these locking arms 27 are undercut by corresponding latching arms 28. These latching arms protrude on both sides from the front side wall 15 of the upper part 3. They are approximately hook-shaped, whereby a corresponding hook design is also provided for the locking arms 27. It is easily possible for a user, for example, to release the corresponding latching arms 28 from their engagement by deflecting them forward, away from the front side wall 9 of the lower part, in order to open the container 1. The front side wall 15 has recesses 29 directly above the latching arms 28, in which the locking arms 27 are located. Furthermore, there are receiving cut-outs 30 between the front side wall 15 and the directly adjacent side walls 11 and 12, into which free upper ends 19 of the side walls 5 and 6 project.

[0033] This specific connecting device makes it possible to close and open container 1 in a simple manner and without additional measures.

[0034] In FIG. 2 the front view of container 1 from FIG. 1 is shown. In this illustration it is again recognizable in which way locking arms 27 and latching arms 28 as well as recesses 29 and receiving cut-outs 30 interact for closing the container 1. With regard to the remaining description of the side walls and the lower part and upper part reference is made to FIG. 1 as well as the following explanations. Identical parts are described in all Figures by the same reference numerals.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a side view of container 1 according to FIG. 2 or 1. In particular, it can be seen that the free ends 19 of the side walls 11 and 12 of the upper part 3 run obliquely downwards at an angle to, for example, a horizontal line. This course is only interrupted in the area of the receiving cut-out 30, whereby 30 parts of the side wall 5 are arranged in this receiving cut-out 30 and whereby the locking arm 27 protrudes obliquely forwards from this receiving cut-out 30, see also FIG. 2. The corresponding locking arm 27 is undercut in this position by the latching arm 28.

[0036] In FIG. 3 it can be seen in particular that top wall 17 and bottom wall 16 are arranged parallel to each other when the container is closed. Opposite to the front sides the corresponding rear side walls 4 and 10 are pivotably connected to each other as connection side walls by means of a pivoting connection 18, see also FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0037] In FIG. 3 it can also be seen, see also FIG. 2, that the side walls 11 to 15, i.e. except for the connection side wall 10, overlap the corresponding side walls 5-9 of lower part 2 from the outside. This does not apply to the receiving cut-out 30, in which a part of the corresponding side wall 5 of the lower part 2 up to the free end 19 is visible.

[0038] Furthermore, FIG. 3 again shows, see also FIG. 2, that the side walls merge into the top wall 17 through the rounded connecting sections 31.

[0039] In FIG. 4 the container 1 is shown in an open condition. In this state the top wall 17 and also the bottom wall 16 are in contact with a horizontal support 25. This means that in the area of the top wall and the bottom wall the lower part and the upper part respectively are essentially flat so that they lie planarly on the support 25. The contact is made in such a way that, for example, the corresponding pivoting connection 18 between the connection side wall 4 and the connection side wall 10 of the two parts is arranged at a height 44 to the support 25 and free ends 19 of all corresponding side walls essentially end in an end plane 21 or 22, which is inclined at an angle 24 to a horizontal plane 20 parallel to the support 25. A first end plane 21 may be determined for the free ends of side walls 4-9 of lower part 2 and a second end plane 22 for the free ends 19 of side walls 10-15 of upper part 3.

[0040] If an overlap of the side walls 10-15 of the upper part in the closed state with respect to the side walls 4-9 of the lower part 2 is realized, these different end planes are spaced parallel to each other, see the corresponding distance 23 between the first end plane 21 and the second end plane 22. It is also possible that the free ends 19 of all side walls end in only one end plane, in which case there would be no corresponding overlap of the side walls in the closed state. However, the container can be closed in the same way as described in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0041] The corresponding inclination of the end planes 21 or 22 is inclined downwards towards the front side wall 9 of the lower part 2 so that a user normally seated in front of this front side wall 9 of container 1 can look down on a food in the lower part 2. The front side wall 9 of the lower part 2 is much lower than the front side wall 15 of the upper part 3, so that the food is visible over a large part of its own height and, in particular, can be easily removed from or replaced in the lower part 2 when necessary.

[0042] To achieve this oblique extension of the free ends 19, the various side walls of the lower part and the upper part have a height 26 increasing in the direction of the front side wall 9 when the container 1, see FIG. 4, is open. This side wall rises continuously along each side wall, with the front side wall 9 of the lower part 2 having the lowest height and the front side wall 15 of the upper part 3 having the highest height.

[0043] With the front side wall 15 of the upper part 3, it must still be ensured that its free end protrudes slightly beyond the second end plane 22 in order to realize the corresponding locking possibility according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0044] Between the front side wall 15 and the directly adjacent side wall 14, FIG. 4 shows the receiving cut-out 30.

[0045] The corresponding angle 24 can be between 5 and 30 or preferably between 7 and 18. Furthermore it can be seen in FIG. 4 that from the side walls 5 or 6 the corresponding locking arms 27 protrude obliquely forwards and that in the closed position of container 1 the latching arms 28, see again FIG. 1 or 3, reach underneath.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a two-dimensional and one-piece blank 32 for the production of container 1 according to the previous Figures.

[0047] In particular, FIG. 5 shows that the blank 32 has a bottom wall part 33 to form the bottom wall 16, which has a hexagonal outline. It has already been pointed out that the corresponding bottom wall part 33 can also have an octagonal outline. The side walls 4-9 are connected to the bottom wall part 33 via corresponding fold lines 34. FIG. 5 also shows that the corresponding height of these side walls is lowest for the front side wall 9 and highest for the connection side wall 4. The front side wall 9 has adhesive flaps 37 at both of its ends, which are separated from the directly adjacent side walls 5 and 6 by a latching arm cut 41. Further fold lines 34 are arranged between the adhesive flaps 37 and the front side wall 9, so that when the front side wall 9 is erected obliquely upwards, the corresponding adhesive flaps 37 can be folded inwards and placed against an inner side of the adjacent side walls 5 or 6 and can be fixed there, for example by means of an adhesive. The corresponding latching arm cut 41 forms the corresponding latching arm 28 in the area of the adjacent side walls 5, 6.

[0048] Corresponding intersecting lines are formed between all side walls, whereby some side walls, e.g. side walls 7, 8 and connection side wall 4, have at least one or both sides adhesive flaps. These are also connected to the associated side wall by a corresponding fold line and, in the case of side walls erected at an angle upwards, are applied from the inside to the adjacent side walls and are joined there with an adhesive.

[0049] A substantially triangular cross-section is used for the adhesive flaps 37 for the lower part 2. The adhesive flaps are designed in such a way that, when the side walls for the lower part 2 are erected, their free ends run parallel to the free ends of the side walls and end with these in the corresponding end plane, see FIG. 4.

[0050] The upper part 3 has a corresponding top wall part 35 to form the top wall 17. This part is connected to the side walls 10-15 via the corresponding connecting sections 31. Fold lines 36 are arranged in the area of the connecting sections 31, whereby the side walls 10-15 are separated from each other in continuation of these fold lines 36. Some of the side walls have at least one or even two opposite adhesive flaps 38. Thus at least the connection side wall 10 and the front side wall 15 have two lateral adhesive flaps 38 which can be connected to the respective adjacent side walls. The adhesive flaps on the upper part 3 are rounded at their free ends and, at least in a first section of their curvature, also run parallel to free ends of the adjacent side walls and end in the corresponding end plane 22, see FIG. 4.

[0051] The corresponding side edges 42 and 43 of each side wall run towards each other and are rounded off up to the corresponding fold lines 36. This design of the upper part 3 in its blank 32 results in an approximately rounded shape for the upper part 3, especially in the area of the connecting sections 31.

[0052] It has already been pointed out that the heights of the corresponding side walls of the upper part are greater than the heights of the side walls of the lower part, so that when container 1 is closed, the side walls of the upper part overlap the side walls of the lower part.

[0053] The pivoting connection 18 is formed between the two connection side walls 4 and 15. This is composed of a wavelike intersecting line 39 and fold lines 40 arranged on both sides of it. Intersecting line 39 facilitates pivoting of the lower and upper parts relative to each other, whereby the corresponding fold lines maintain the connection between the two parts.

[0054] According to an embodiment, a container for a food, in particular a hamburger or the like, is obtained in the manner described above, with a lower part and an upper part, which in an open state both rest horizontally on a support and as a whole have an oblique course along the side ends of their side walls in the direction of the user downwards. The shape of the container may be hexagonal or octagonal, the upper part in particular being rounded in the direction of the top wall. The height of the corresponding side walls is greater for the upper part than for the lower part in order to allow a corresponding overlap when closed.