IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PACKAGING OR CONTAINERS FOR A FOODSTUFF

Abstract

Disclosed is a container for a foodstuff preferably comprising a lid (12) and a secondary compartment, the container being convertible between an at least partially collapsed configuration and an erected configuration; the container being washable and re-usable and wholly or substantially formed of a synthetic plastics material which is foldable and impermeable.

Claims

1. A container for a foodstuff, the container being convertible between an at least partially collapsed configuration and an erected configuration, the container being washable and re-usable and wholly or substantially formed of a synthetic plastics material which is foldable and impermeable, wherein the container comprises a main body having a rectangular or square base surrounded by, and joined to, upright side and end walls, defining a main compartment volume for receiving a foodstuff, and a lid for covering the foodstuff within the container, and wherein, in said at least partially collapsed configuration the side and end walls are folded inwardly and the lid is folded over one of said inwardly folded side walls.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a crease or fold line, at or about a mid-line across the lid.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is wholly or substantially formed from a single piece of foldable, synthetic plastics substrate.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is erected from a flat blank.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is wholly or substantially formed from polypropylene.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is microwaveable, washable, re-usable, and, in its erected configuration, substantially leak-proof.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a secondary compartment.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid and/or the main body is provided with releasable fastening means to fasten the lid in the closed position when desired, whilst allowing the lid to be opened to permit consumption of the foodstuff.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the lid is releasably fastened by a press stud arrangement, or a tab/flap arrangement, in either of which there is co-operation between respective features on the lid and the main body of the container to effect the fastening.

10. The container according to claim 8, wherein the lid releasable fastening means comprises at least one tab on each of a pair of opposed end walls, which tab is inserted into a respective co-operating slit provided in the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic plastics material is impregnated with or otherwise comprises an antimicrobial additive.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the walls of the container each comprise at least one respective fold line or crease which facilitates inward partial collapse of the aforesaid walls.

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein at least one respective fold line or crease which facilitates inward partial collapse is provided in each of a pair of opposed end walls of the container.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein inward partial collapse of the opposed end walls induces inward folding of the opposed side walls of the container.

15. A flat blank of foldable, synthetic plastics material, adapted and configured to be folded and assembled into a container in accordance with claim 1.

16. A method of making a container according to claim 1, from a flat blank of foldable synthetic plastics material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) cutting out or other otherwise excising from a foldable synthetic plastics substrate a suitably shaped and dimensioned blank; (b) forming fold lines, creases or score lines in the substrate material; and (c) folding the blank along the fold lines, creases or score lines and securing the blank in its assembled configuration.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein step (c) comprises ultrasonic welding or other thermoplastic welding.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of assembling a separate component, and joining the assembled separate component to the rest of the container.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the separate component is a lid or a secondary compartment for the main container.

20. A packaged foodstuff, packaged within a container in accordance with claim 1.

21-23. (canceled)

Description

[0034] The various aspects of the invention will now be described by way of illustrative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a drawing of one embodiment of a flat blank suitable for assembly into a container in accordance with the invention;

[0036] FIG. 2A is a drawing of a second embodiment of a flat blank suitable for assembly into a container in accordance with the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2B is a drawing of an embodiment of a flat blank component which may be assembled into a secondary compartment and joined to a container formed from the blank illustrated in FIG. 2A;

[0038] FIG. 3A is a drawing of a third embodiment of a flat blank suitable for assembly into a container in accordance with the invention;

[0039] FIG. 3B is a drawing of an embodiment of a flat blank component which may be used to make a lid and joined to a container formed from the blank illustrated in FIG. 3A;

[0040] FIGS. 4A & 4B are drawings of a fourth embodiment of a flat blank suitable for assembly into a container in accordance with the invention; and

[0041] FIGS. 5-8 are various views of a container in assembled, erected configuration (with lid open or closed), the container being formed from a blank similar to that shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a flat blank suitable for assembly into a container in accordance with the invention comprises a sheet of Priplak® polypropylene, which is colourless, translucent, foldable, impermeable, washable and durable.

[0043] The blank comprises a rectangular base 2, a pair of end walls 4, 4a foldably attached to the base 2, and a pair of side walls 6, 6a foldably attached to the sides of the base 2. A corner tab 8 is provided at each corner of the base 2, the corner tabs being continuous with the respective adjacent end walls 4, 4a and respective adjacent side walls 6, 6a. Each corner tab 8 is bisected by a diagonal fold line, a representative one of which is denoted by reference numeral 10 in the figure.

[0044] The base 2 measures 200 mm×130 mm. The end walls 4, 4a measure 130 mm×60 mm. The side walls 6, 6a are 200 mm×60 mm. The square corner tabs 8 have sides 60 mm long.

[0045] A lid 12 is foldably attached to the edge of side wall 6. The dimensions of the lid are 200 mm by 130 mm. Foldably attached and adjacent to the other side wall 6a is one side 14 of a secondary compartment, which secondary compartment also comprises main wall 16 which is 200 mm×60 mm (i.e. the same size as the side walls 6, 6a of the main compartment), secondary compartment side wall 14a, and secondary compartment opposed end walls 18, 18a, either of which can act as a folding, sideways-opening lid for the secondary compartment, which lid is movable separately from the lid on the main body of the container. It will be apparent that the secondary compartment comprises three main walls (14, 14a and 16), with a fourth wall being provided by the side wall 6a of the main compartment, which wall is thus common to, or shared by, both the main compartment and the secondary compartment. The secondary compartment may be used to store packages or sachets of flavouring, pickles, condiments etc. and/or one or more eating implements such as a knife, fork, spoon, spork or chopsticks, and the secondary compartment is sized accordingly.

[0046] The secondary compartment does not extend beyond the length of the side walls 6, 6a of the main body, such that the assembled container is compact in design.

[0047] Each of the pair of end walls 4, 4a of the main compartment are provided with two substantially diagonal fold lines, of which a representative example is indicated by reference numeral 20 in the Figure. The fold lines run from the bottom corner of the container inwards towards a central portion of the top edge of the end walls 4, 4a. The generally diagonal fold lines approach each other, but do not meet, at the top edge of the end walls. The purpose of these fold lines or creases is to facilitate at least partial inward collapse of the container so that, when not in use, the container can be at least partially inwardly collapsed to adopt a relatively flattened shape of reduced volume for greater ease of storage and transport. The inward folding of the opposed end walls 4,4a is accompanied by, and induces, substantially simultaneous inward folding of the opposed side walls 6,6a which can fold inwards about the fold lines at their respective junction with the base 2 and thus come to overlie the base and the inwardly folded end walls. In the illustrated embodiment, the lid may then be folded over the front one of the inwardly folded side walls, resulting in an extremely compact configuration for the partially collapsed container. To facilitate this, a crease or fold line 24 is provided in the lid, at the mid-line across the lid.

[0048] Each of the pair of end walls 4,4a of the main compartment is also formed with a respective pair of rectangular tabs 22a,b. Each of these tabs 22a,b measure about 20 mm by 60 mm. The tabs 22a,b are foldably formed on the free edge of the side walls 4,4a, which free edge is the upper edge of the side walls in the assembled container. The tabs are folded inwardly, with a narrow gap between each pair of tabs 22a,b through which the edge of the lid can be threaded, passing over one of the pair of tabs and beneath the other pair of tabs, thus releasably fastening the lid in the closed position. Typically tabs 22a are folded over the lid, whilst tabs 22b are folded beneath the lid.

[0049] FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment of a flat blank suitable for assembly into a container in accordance with the invention, and comprises a sheet of polypropylene. The blank is substantially similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, and like components are denoted by common reference numerals. The most significant difference between the two embodiments is that the blank shown in FIG. 2A does not incorporate, as an integral feature, a secondary compartment. Instead, this is provided as a separate component, as the blank shown in FIG. 2B. The secondary compartment is formed by folding, cutting and assembling from the blank of FIG. 2B, and then joined (by ultrasonic welding) to the container formed from the blank of FIG. 2A. Preferably the secondary compartment is joined to the rear side wall 6 of the assembled container.

[0050] The other differences in the blank of FIG. 2A, relative to that of FIG. 1, are that: the inward projecting tabs 22a,b are trapezoidal in shape, and that the lid 12 comprises a pair of parallel slits 26. The slits 26 are positioned such that, when the lid is in a closed position, each of the slits comes into proximity with the leading, inward edge of a respective tab 22a. The trapezoidal shape of the tabs 22a,b has the effect of preventing the tabs from obstructing or interfering with each other, or with the walls of the container, when the end walls 4,4a are folded inwards to partially collapse the container. In addition, the trapezoidal shape confers a narrower portion at the leading edge of the tabs 22a,b which, in the case of the tabs 22a, facilitates their insertion into the respective slits 26 in the lid 12, thus releasably fastening the lid in a closed position. Typically tabs 22a are folded over the lid, whilst tabs 22b are folded beneath the lid.

[0051] Similarly, FIG. 3A shows a third embodiment of a flat blank suitable for assembly into a container in accordance with the invention, and comprises a sheet of polypropylene. The blank is substantially similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, and like components are denoted by common reference numerals. The most significant difference between the two embodiments is that the blank shown in FIG. 3A does not incorporate, as an integral feature, a lid. Instead, this is provided as a separate component, as the blank shown in FIG. 3B. The lid is formed by folding, cutting and assembling from the blank of FIG. 3B, and then joined (by ultrasonic welding) to the container formed from the blank of FIG. 3A. Preferably the lid is joined to the top edge wall 14a of the secondary compartment of the assembled container. The other differences relative to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are as described in relation to the second embodiment (i.e. trapezoidal shaped tabs 22a,b; and pair of slits 26 in the lid).

[0052] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a fourth embodiment of a flat blank suitable for assembly in accordance with the invention. FIG. 4A shows the embodiment with secondary compartment components (14, 14a, 16), whilst the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B is essentially identical but has no secondary compartment components. The embodiments are substantially similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1, and like components are denoted by common reference numerals. The maximum dimensions of the blank, in its flat form, are 547 mm by 360 mm in FIG. 4A, and 397 mm by 360 mm in FIG. 4B.

[0053] FIGS. 5 and 5b are pictures of a container, assembled from a blank similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1, in its erected configuration and with the lid 12 open. The main compartment 30 for temporary storage of food can be seen, along with the secondary compartment 32 which, in this instance, contains one or more items of cutlery. FIGS. 6-8 are pictures of the same container, from different angles, with the lid 12 closed.