CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR STORING AND TRANSPORTING FOOD

Abstract

The scope of the invention is a single-use container system for storing and transporting foodstuffs, in particular entire menus, having two or more separate containers of the same or different volumes, preferably produced from a compostable material. Each container includes a base, side walls that are connected to the base, and an opening opposite the base through which the contents are accessible. The containers are securely connected to a common covering sheet by an upper edge such that a multi-layer structure is formed in this region. According to the invention, detachable container lids, which have the contour of the respective container openings, are provided in the covering sheet. After the container lids are removed, a skeleton of the covering sheet remains that stays connected to the container edges.

Claims

1.-31. (canceled)

32. A single-use container system for storing and transporting food, in particular meal trays, having two or more separate containers of the same or different volumes, wherein each container respectively comprises: a base, side walls connected to the base, and an opening opposite the base, wherein a common covering sheet is provided that is securely connected to the upper edge of the containers such that a multi-layer structure is formed in this region, wherein the covering sheet comprises removable container lids that have the contour of the respective container openings, and in that a skeleton of the covering sheet remains that stays connected to the container edges after the container lids are removed.

33. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the containers each have a flattened, circumferential edge of a certain width.

34. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the edge of the containers has a width between 1 and 8 mm.

35. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the containers and the covering sheet are heat-sealable.

36. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the covering sheet serves as a lid for the containers.

37. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the covering sheet is rigid, transparent or opaque, imprinted or not imprinted, and can consist of various materials that are compatible with the material of the container.

38. The container system according to claim 32, wherein pull-off tabs are provided on the container lids.

39. The container system according to claim 38, wherein the pull-off tabs are provided on the lateral edge of the covering sheet.

40. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the container lids are formed by perforations, partial perforations, incisions or half-incisions.

41. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the covering sheet comprises openings that are substantially congruent with the openings of the containers.

42. The container system according to claim 41, wherein the openings of the covering sheet can be sealed with a pull-off film.

43. The container system according to claim 42, wherein the connection between the film and the covering sheet is formed by means of a hot seal.

44. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the containers are adapted to be conical or cylindrical.

45. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the containers each have the same height and in that the openings are equal to or greater than the base surface.

46. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the containers and the covering sheet are made of materials that are biodegradable and compostable.

47. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the base and the side walls of the containers are produced from a laminate with a respective carrier layer made of cardboard produced from mechanically comminuted pulp, a single or multi-layer paper, cellulose or secondary fibers made of renewable raw materials, and at least one barrier layer made of a grease-, water- and heat-resistant material on the side facing the foodstuffs to be stored.

48. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the container is made of cardboard or paper and comprises one or more barrier layers.

49. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the container and/or the covering sheet is coated on the inside with a water-based emulsion that provides grease and moisture resistance and hot sealing properties.

50. The container system according to claim 47, wherein the barrier layer comprises a cellulose hydrate film.

51. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the covering sheet and the containers are both resistant to heat and cold.

52. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the container can be used at temperatures between 80 C. and 215 C.

53. The container system according to claim 32, wherein an adhesive is used for the secure connection of covering sheet and containers, said adhesive being suitable for contact with foodstuffs and resistant to low and high temperatures.

54. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the containers are imprinted.

55. The container system according to claim 32, wherein one of the containers comprises one or more intermediate walls.

56. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the side walls and the base of the containers are thinner than the covering sheet.

57. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the base of the container comprises depressions and/or projections to strengthen the structure.

58. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the covering sheet has a thickness of at least 0.3 mm.

59. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the covering sheet has a Taber bending moment for 15 of at least 7 mNm, in a transverse direction.

60. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the covering sheet and the container edge together have a thickness of at least 0.6 mm.

61. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the container has a constant wall thickness.

62. The container system according to claim 32, wherein the container systems can be stacked on top of one another after at least two container systems are used.

Description

[0039] Further advantages and features of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to schematic illustrations. In not-to-scale illustrations, these show in

[0040] FIG. 1: a tray with containers placed thereon;

[0041] FIG. 2: a tray having integrated containers according to the prior art;

[0042] FIG. 3: a container system comprised of a covering sheet and containers;

[0043] FIG. 4: a container system with a covering sheet and different containers;

[0044] FIG. 5: a container system with separate openings for the containers;

[0045] FIG. 6: a trolley with a container system placed therein;

[0046] FIG. 7: two container systems with openings in the covering sheet from which an object protrudes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] Hereinafter, the same reference symbols represent the same or functionally identical elements (in different figures). An additional apostrophe can serve to distinguish similar or functionally equivalent or functionally similar elements in a further embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a tray 11 with separate containers 13 that are placed on the tray 11. The tray 11 facilitates the transport of the containers 13 since not all of them have to be moved individually; the containers 13 are instead transported together with the tray 11 after having been placed on the tray 11. The containers 13 can be placed on the tray 11 at arbitrary locations and can also change their position by sliding on the tray 11. An upwards projecting edge is arranged on the edges 15 of the tray 11 such that the containers 13 cannot slide off the tray 11.

[0049] The tray 11 is adapted to be grabbed and carried by a person at its edges 15. The tray 11 is preferably held or secured on two opposite edges 15. The tray 11 absorbs the weight of the containers 13 placed thereon. The rigidity of the tray 11 must be selected sufficiently high such that it does not experience any noticeable bending when transporting a loaded tray 11.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a tray 11 comprising integrated containers 13. The containers 13 are produced simultaneously with the tray 11. The containers 13 comprise the same material as the tray 11. Partial regions of the containers 13 have a dual function and at the same time form a region of a container 13 and the tray 11. For example, the base 17 of a container 13 can simultaneously also form a region of the tray 11. Such a tray 11 can for example be produced by an injection molding process. An associated alternative embodiment not shown in the figures is formed when the opening 19 of the container is formed by an opening in the tray 11 and the container 13 is connected to the tray 11 by the edge 20 of the opening 19. Such an embodiment can be produced by molding presses and has a constant wall thickness over the tray 11 and the containers 13. The containers 13 are generated from the tray 11 by mold pressing and thus comprise the same material as the tray 11.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an inventive container system, wherein the containers are connected to one another by means of a covering sheet 21. The containers 13 have a base 17, side walls 23 connected to the base, and an opening 19 arranged opposite the base 17. The covering sheet 21 is formed in the shape of a plate such that said covering sheet 21 extends in the two directions perpendicular to its thickness. The thickness of the covering sheet is defined by the distance between the underside 25 and the upper side 27 of the covering sheet 21. The containers 13 are arranged on the underside 25 of the covering sheet 21. The connection to the covering sheet 21 is generated on the edge 20 of the opening 19 of a container 13. The edge 20 of the container 13 is formed such that it is directed in the same direction as the base 17 of the container 13. The edge 20 is thus arranged parallel to the base 17 of the container 13 and forms an area on which the covering sheet can rest. The contact surface 29 between the covering sheet 21 and a container 13 is formed by the edge 20 of the container 13. The containers 13 can be arranged at any position, in any size and in any arrangement on the underside 25 of the covering sheet 21. A possible arrangement of the containers 13 on the covering sheet 21 is shown in FIG. 3. The latter shows that the containers 13 have different sizes and shapes, but are connected to the covering sheet 21 on their edge 20. The edge 20, which forms the contact surface 29 with the covering sheet 21, is shown as a cross-hatched surface. A multi-layer structure is created on the contact surface 29 by connecting the covering sheet 21 to a container 13 on its upper edge 20. The multi-layer structure gives the connection high strength such that it can readily withstand any directed force. Loosening this connection requires exerting a purposefully directed force.

[0052] The covering sheet 21 comprises regions 31 that come to rest above a container 13. These areas 31 are intended to be detached from the covering sheet. They can be formed by perforations, partial perforations, incision or half-incisions. The contours 32 of these regions, which form a container lid 31, lie flush with the inner edge of the upper edge 20 of the container. After the detachment and removal of a container lid 31, the container 13 continues to be connected to the covering sheet 21 on its edge 20. The perforation and partial perforation are generated by small holes along the contour 32 of the container lid 31. Continuous holes are called perforations, while discontinuous holes form a partial perforation. Although the incisions run along the contour of the container lid 31, they do not have to be formed by a straight line and can also extend at angles along the contour 32. Based on the embodiment described above, the contour 32 of the container lid 31 is formed by weak lines that quickly yield when a certain force is exerted.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows two different states of the same embodiment. The covering sheet 21 is complete in FIG. 4a, whereas the container lids 31 are removed from the covering sheet 21 in FIG. 4b. As shown in FIG. 4a, the container lid 31 can have a pull-off tab 33 on a corner or edge. This pull-off tab 33 extends beyond the shadow cast by the upper edge 20 of the container. At least after removal of the container lid 31, the upper edge 20 of the container is at said location not connected to the covering sheet 21. As can be seen in FIG. 4b, the region of the upper edge 20 of the container, over which the pull-off tab 33 is arranged, is exposed after the pull-off tab 33 is removed since the pull-off tab 33 is a part of the covering sheet 21. The pull-off tab 33 can be arranged on the edge or on the corner of the covering sheet 21. This allows a person to readily grab onto the pull-off tab 33. The pull-off tab 33 can be detached from the covering sheet 21 by exerting a relatively smaller force. The pull-off tab 33 detached from the covering sheet 21 facilitates pulling the container lid 31 off the container edge by merely overcoming the peeling force. The peeling force required to detach the container lid 31 is much smaller than the tensile force required for this purpose.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows the construction of the covering sheet 21 comprised of container lids 31 and a skeleton 34. The skeleton forms the region of the covering sheet 21 that remains after the container lid 31 has been detached from the covering sheet 21. The shape of the skeleton 34 is determined by the arrangement of the containers 13 or the container lid 31. In all embodiments, the skeleton 34 forms an integral and contiguous construct. The containers 13 are mounted by their edge on the covering sheet 21 and thus on the skeleton 34 of the covering sheet such that the containers continue to form a common composite with the skeleton 34 of the covering sheet after the container lids are removed, see FIG. 4b.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a plan view and a perspective view of an embodiment in which the covering sheet 21 comprises further tabs 35. These tabs 35 are arranged in container lids 31, i.e. at those locations that come to rest above a container 13. These tabs 35 can be deflected and then form a ventilation opening 37 in the container lid 31. A metabolic process can thus take place between the interior of a container 13 and the exterior. This is of great importance, for example, when heating a container 13, since the density of the heated air in the container is reduced and the heated air requires more space due to the expansion. The pressure in the container 13 can be maintained at a desired level by allowing the heated air to escape through the ventilation openings 37 in the container lid 31. Since this function does not always have to be used, the ventilation openings 37 can be opened and closed with the aforementioned tabs 35. This process of opening and closing these ventilation openings 37 can preferably be repeated as often as desired. It is conceivable that said ventilation openings 37 are also used for other purposes.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a trolley 39 that is used to accommodate trays or inventive container sets. In the inventive container system, the covering sheet 21 forms the load-bearing structure. As already described above, the containers 13 are attached to the underside of the covering sheet 21. In the trolley 39, the covering sheet 21 is placed on two lateral supports, which absorb the weight of the entire container system. The covering sheet 21 must have such a high degree of rigidity that it can absorb the weight of the containers 13 and maintain the horizontal orientation on two opposite sides when the weight is positioned thereon. Two regions with different temperatures can be additionally provided in the trolley 39. The covering sheet 21 comes to lie in both regions, wherein one or more containers are accommodated in the cool regions and the remaining containers are accommodated in the warm region of the trolley. The covering sheet 21 must absorb the thermal stresses resulting from the temperature difference. The material of the covering sheet 21 preferably has a deep thermal conductivity such that practically no heat flow takes place through the covering sheet 21. The trolley has an intermediate wall 40 that separates the warm region from the cold region. The intermediate wall 40 comprises slots that are approximately at the height of the lateral supports. A tray is placed into the trolley by inserting the tray into the slot in the intermediate wall 40. At the same time, the tray comes to rest on the lateral supports.

[0057] The embodiments in FIG. 7 each show a covering sheet 21, which already in the initial state has openings 41 above certain containers. These openings 41 are incorporated above those containers 13 that serve to accommodate foodstuffs or objects that in turn do not require protection by a lid surface. At the same time, this embodiment allows objects and foodstuffs to be accommodated in containers 13 of the container system thatwhen placed in the container 13project upwards beyond the covering sheet 21. These openings 41 can cover the entire container opening 19 or only form a region of the container cover 31 arranged above the container 13. The container lids 31 are marked by a contour 32 around their circumference, which at the same time forms the dividing line between the container lid 31 and the remaining covering sheet 21, wherein the remaining covering sheet is formed by the skeleton 34 of the covering sheet together with the remaining container lids 31.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0058] The secure connection of the covering sheet to the containers can be achieved by sealing or gluing the edges of a series of containers on the underside to a single upper platea carrierthat holds together all components and also serves as a lid for the containers. As soon as they are connected to each other as described, the covering sheet and the containers combine their structural mechanical properties to give the innovative meal tray rigidity, wherein the thickness of both components is limited. The possible combination of different shapes and sizes of containers with the corresponding covering sheet makes the food tray flexible in its configuration. Each container forms an independent unit once it is firmly connected to the covering sheet. Each cavity can be used for foodstuffs or other elements of the meal, such as cutlery, napkins, etc. Due to the limited thickness of the individual components, the structure is light, consumes fewer raw materials, is cheaper, and is easier to dispose of. If the materials selected for the containers and the covering sheet are biodegradable and compostable, the structure (innovative food tray) can be certified as compostable by virtue of the combination of both materials.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0059] 11 Tray [0060] 13 Container [0061] 15 Edges of the tray [0062] 17 Base of the container [0063] 19 Opening of the container [0064] 20 Edge of the container [0065] 21 Covering sheet [0066] 23 Side wall of the container [0067] 25 Underside of the covering sheet [0068] 27 Upper side of the covering sheet [0069] 29 Contact surface between container and covering sheet [0070] 31 Container lid [0071] 32 Contour of the container lid [0072] 33 Pull-off tab [0073] 34 Skeleton of the covering sheet [0074] 35 Tab for air vent [0075] 37 Ventilation opening [0076] 39 Trolley [0077] 40 Intermediate wall [0078] 41 Openings in the covering sheet