Packaging

Abstract

A foodstuff packaging assembly for transporting a sandwich, said sandwich having, a top, a bottom and a circumferential outside edge, said packaging assembly comprising a substantially cylindrical transit guard having a top end edge at one end of the cylinder and a bottom end edge at the other end of the cylinder and a side wall having an internal side wall surface and an external side wall surface, the internal side wall surface of the transit guard being so sized, shaped and configured as to substantially correspond to the circumferential outside edge of the sandwich in order to restrain the sandwich and its contents during transit. Optionally the food packaging assembly further comprises a packaging box adapted to accommodate a cylindrical transit guard, said packaging box comprising a bottom portion having a lowermost-in-use internal bottom surface, a top portion having an upper-most-in-use internal top surface, and at least one side wall having an internal side surface, the top portion and the bottom portion being adapted such that the packaging box can adopt an open configuration or a closed configuration.

Claims

1. A foodstuff packaging assembly for transporting foodstuff having a circumferential outside edge, said packaging assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical transit guard having a top end edge at one end of the cylinder, a bottom end edge at the other end of the cylinder and a side wall having an internal sidewall surface and an external sidewall surface, the internal sidewall surface of the transit guard being sized, shaped and configured so as to substantially correspond to the circumferential outside edge of a foodstuff in order to restrain the foodstuff during transit, the transit guard having diametrically opposed fold lines to permit folding and unfolding; a top portion comprising a closure portion shaped to substantially correspond to the cross sectional shape of the transit guard in an unfolded configuration of the transit guard, said closure portion acting to substantially close the top end of the cylinder when the transit guard is in an unfolded configuration, said closure portion being hingedly mounted to a portion of the sidewall to be able to fold to a flat portion when the transit guard is folded into the folded flat-packed configuration; and a guide portion hingedly mounted at a first end to an opposing portion of the sidewall and hingedly connected at a second end to the closure portion in alignment with the fold lines of the transit guard to form with the closure portion the top portion of the assembly in the unfolded configuration and to guide the closure portion to fold to the flat position in the folded flat-packed configuration by depressing the second end of the guide portion; wherein the top portion of the transit guard is foldable between a folded, flat-packed configuration and an unfolded open configuration, and wherein the second end of the guide portion is hingedly connected to the closure portion by a flap of the guide portion, and wherein, when the transit guard is in the unfolded open configuration, the flap extends back towards the opposing portion of the sidewall such that the flap and the guide portion cover a first section of the closure portion, a second section of the closure portion including at least one aperture.

2. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical transit guard comprises a substantially circular cylinder.

3. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical transit guard comprises a polygonal sided cylinder.

4. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the cylinder of the cylindrical transit guard is substantially uniform in cross-section along substantially the height of the cylinder.

5. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising one or more ventilation holes.

6. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one of the ventilation holes is located in the sidewall of the cylindrical transit guard.

7. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one of the ventilation holes is located in the top portion of the cylindrical transit guard.

8. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical transit guard is formed from a foldable sheet material.

9. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a packaging box adapted to accommodate the cylindrical transit guard, said packaging box comprising a bottom portion having a lowermost-in-use internal bottom surface, a top portion having an uppermost-in-use internal top surface, and at least one side wall having an internal side surface, the top portion and the bottom portion being adapted and such that the packaging box can adopt an open configuration or a closed configuration.

10. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the top portion and the bottom portion of the packaging box are pivotally or hingedly connected.

11. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the packaging box further comprises a fastening means adapted to retain the packaging box in a closed configuration.

12. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the height of the cylindrical transit guard substantially corresponds to the internal height of the packaging box in its closed configuration.

13. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the cylindrical transit guard has a diameter that substantially corresponds to a diameter or width of the packaging box.

14. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the operative diameter or width of the packaging box is the diameter or width of the lowermost-in-use internal surface of the packaging box or the uppermost-in-use internal top surface of the packaging box, or both.

15. A foodstuff packaging assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the packaging box further comprises one or more ventilation holes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a pattern view of a food transit guard according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the food transit guard of FIG. 1 partly assembled;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the food transit guard of FIG. 1 fully assembled;

(5) FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show how the assembled food transit guard may be folded into a flat-packed configuration;

(6) FIGS. 7 to 10 show how a transit guard according to the first embodiment, in combination with a correspondingly sized box, is used to package a burger;

(7) FIGS. 11 and 12 show box closure arrangements;

(8) FIG. 13 shows a pattern view of a food transit guard according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 14 shows the food transit guard of FIG. 13 fully assembled;

(10) FIGS. 15 and 16 show how a transit guard according to the second embodiment, in combination with a correspondingly sized box, is used to package a burger.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) The present invention will now be described by way of example only. These are not the only ways that the invention may be put into practice, but they are the best ways currently known to the applicant.

(12) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a transit guard 1 is shown being made from an elongated, foldable, sheet material which, initially flat, can have its two opposing vertical edges or ends joined by an appropriate adhesive strip, 3. Alternatively a plurality of vertical slits on opposing ends could be designed to intersect one another forming a less rigid bond. The guard could also be formed as a solid structure of metal, plastic, organic or composite nature formed via an appropriate combination of moulding and/or machining.

(13) FIGS. 4 to 6 show how a substantially circular tubular transit guard, formed of elongated, foldable, sheet material as shown in FIG. 1 can be folded into a flat pack configuration and stored flat, and erected when required for use. This saves considerably on storage space. FIG. 1 shows the flat or pattern view of the material, which has a fold line 13. Item 3 in FIG. 1 shows the area where adhesive should be applied, in order to affix the opposing end edges making, in this case, a tubular shape of substantially circular cross section, as shown in FIG. 2. Following the formation of a circular tube, top or lid portions 5 and 10 are folded vertically downwards along lines 7 and 9 to create an internal lip near to the top of the cylinder formed by the edges 14.

(14) Portion 5 comprises a closure portion dimensioned to substantially match the cross sectional shape of the transit guard to close it. The closure portion 5 is hinged to the transit guard periphery, preferably near one end of the periphery, and intermediate the fold lines 13. As a result when the transit guard is folded flat, the closure portion 5 can be folded down internally and does not impede flattening.

(15) Top portion 10 comprises a substantially semi-circular guide portion matching approximately half of the cross sectional configuration of the transit guard. Top portion 10 includes a flap which glues or otherwise adheres to the top portion 5 along respective centre lines. Top portion 10 is hingedly mounted to the opposing side of the periphery of the transit guard, again intermediate the hinge portions. The line of adhesion between top portion 9 and top portion 10 is aligned with the diameter of the transit guard intersecting the fold lines such that, in the flattened configuration top portion 10 also folds down into a flat position as can be seen in FIG. 5. Hence the upper face of top portion 10 and the opposing half of top portion 5 form a closure and the remainder of top portion 5 provides additionally structural strength.

(16) When the folded configuration is opened out, portions 5 and 10 are then folded to the horizontal position along lines 4 and 11 respectively with portion 10 resting on top of portion 5. Area 8 shows where adhesive should be applied to affix portions 5 and 10 together into a substantially circular disc 1, resting substantially horizontally as shown in FIG. 3, or in other words substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical tube, inside the tube, and butted up to the small lip created by edge 14. This then forms the top of the transit guard and maintains the cross section of the folded material. FIG. 3 shows the assembled erect transit guard. FIGS. 4 and 5, FIG. 5 being a sectional view for clarity purposes, show how by then depressing the intersection of 5 and 10 the top will collapse inside the tubular body of the transit guard by virtue of fold 8 and the tube can then be folded along line 13 and the diametrically opposite line on the other side of the tube to completely flatten the transit guard as shown in FIG. 6.

(17) The transit guard 1 may have apertures or ventilation holes 2 around the circumference, and also one or more apertures 6 on the top of the guard to allow moisture to escape from the area inside the transit guard where the food is located. This moisture may escape into the gap between transit guard and the outer packaging, see FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. In addition a plurality of ventilation holes may be located in the outer packaging, such as the series of slits shown as 23 in FIG. 10, to allow moisture to be released from the food packaging into the surrounding atmosphere. In relation to the present disclosure the term plurality means one or more.

(18) FIGS. 7 and 8 show the complete assembly of the transit guard 1, housing a sandwich 21, enclosed in a packaging box 19. FIG. 9 then shows the packaging box and transit guard in a closed configuration. Items 24 and 22 in FIG. 9 show the close proximity, but not necessarily touching, of the transit guard and the box with respect to both the upper and lower most faces of the box, as well as the internal faces around the perimeter of the transit guard to minimise movement of the food during transit. The minimal distance or clearance space between the top of the sandwich/burger and the top of the transit guard 5, 10 prevents any significant vertical movement of the sandwich within the package during transit.

(19) For optimum performance it is desirable for the outer packaging, of whatever shape chosen, to incorporate some method or locking means to keep it closed. An example of how this may be achieved is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. A flap of material 20 which has an arrow shape at its end and which extends for approximately 5 cm, protrudes from the top of the box 19. A corresponding slit 18 is cut in the opposing half of the box whose horizontal width is slight less than the widest point of the arrow 20. Thus to achieve a closing lock the arrow is inserted into the slit 18 by pushing through one of the wider parts through first, until the nominal width of the tab 20 is touching the edge of the slit 18 then simply inserting the opposing wide point on the arrow.

(20) In the examples described thus far, the transit guard is formed from a tube or a cylinder whose wall(s) are substantially complete around the perimeter of the cylinder or tube. This is not essential for the transit guard to perform its function. Thus vertical or horizontal slits or other openings may be present in the wall(s) of the cylinder body. Thus a non-continuous cylindrical body is envisaged. These slits may have other functions, such as acting as supports for one or more cross-members to be inserted across the cylinder just above the top of the sandwich, such that the top of the sandwich is prevented from lifting during transit.

(21) It will also be appreciated that the cylindrical body of the transit guard could be formed in a plurality of portions formed by horizontal or vertical sectioning of an otherwise substantially complete cylinder. This arrangement works better if the various portions of the cylinder are attached to the inside of a packaging box, such that the various elements of the transit guard come together as the box is closed.

(22) It is intended that all of these various constructional variations form part of the present invention.

(23) A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16. This embodiment, which does not necessarily include the ability to fold flat, or include as many ventilation holes in the transit guard as the first embodiment, can be created and assembled as shown in FIGS. 13-16. A sheet of elongated foldable material 25 can be used to create a tubular transit guard (shown as a substantially circular tubular cylinder in FIG. 14) which does not include a top. By joining the opposing vertical ends of sheet 25 either with adhesive, vertical slits or any other suitable fixing means, this forms a ring as shown in FIG. 14. Alternatively, as with the more complex transit guard discussed above, the transit guard may be made from a solid metal, plastic, organic or composite material if preferred. This second embodiment of the transit guard is still required, in use, to be in close proximity to the upper and lower surface of an outer box to reduce rotation and vertical movement of the guard within the box. As before, the outer circumference of the tubular transit guard is also required to be in close proximity to the internal edges around the perimeter of the upper and lower surface of the outer box to reduce lateral movement and rotation of the transit guard relative to the outer box 31 during transit. In this instance the box packaging, and subsequently transit guard, would ideally be of a height which minimises the distance between the upper surface of the outer box and the highest point on the top of the sandwich/burger 30 to approximately 1 to 5 cm to prevent excessive vertical movement of the sandwich relative to the transit guard and outer packaging.

(24) Any available surface of the transit guard or box may well be branded with logos or insignia providing the nature of the printing on any areas in direct contact with the food complies with health and safety regulations of the relevant territory.

(25) The size and shape of all parts of the assembly, including the transit guard and outer box will naturally need to be adapted to the dimensions of the sandwich which is being transported. Furthermore, where the transit guard is formed from a solid metal, plastic, organic or composite material, this material will preferably be chosen such that the transit guard is re-useable and can be cleaned, and if necessary sterilised, between uses.