CONTAINER SUITABLE FOR HOLDING PORTIONED FOOD AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY OF SUCH A CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR DISASSEMBLY OF SUCH A CONTAINER

Abstract

A container suitable for holding portioned food has an outer part and an inner part. The outer part is made from a material that contains cardboard and/or paper and is tray-shaped or cup-shaped, the outer part having a bottom and either a circumferential sidewall, if the outer part is cup-shaped, or has several sidewalls that rise from the bottom, if the outer part is tray-shaped. The inner part is made from a plastic material and is tray-shaped or cup-shaped. The inner part is arranged inside the outer part and has a rim that protrudes over the outer part. The inner part has at least one protruding nose arranged distanced from the rim, and the outer part has a window, wherein the nose protrudes from the inside of the outer part through the window.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. Container suitable for holding portioned food, the container having: an outer part that is made from a material that contains cardboard and/or paper and is tray-shaped or cup-shaped, the outer part having a bottom and either a circumferential sidewall that rises from the bottom, if the outer part is cup-shaped, or has a plurality of sidewalls that rise from the bottom, if the outer part is tray-shaped, and an inner part that is made from a plastic material and is tray-shaped or cup-shaped, the inner part having a bottom and either a circumferential sidewall that rises from the bottom, if the inner part is cup-shaped, or has a plurality of sidewalls that rise from the bottom, if the inner part is tray-shaped, wherein the inner part is arranged inside the outer part, wherein the inner part has a rim that protrudes over the outer part, wherein the inner part has at least one protruding nose, wherein the nose is arranged distanced from the rim and the outer part has a window, wherein the nose protrudes from the inside of the outer part through the window.

16. Container according to claim 15, wherein the nose is arranged closer to the rim than to the bottom of the inner part.

17. Container according to claim 15, wherein: the inner part and the outer part are cup-shaped and a plurality of noses are arranged to protrude from the circumferential sidewall of the inner part, wherein the outer part has a plurality of windows arranged on the circumferential sidewall of the outer part, wherein each nose protrudes from the inside of the outer part through one of the plurality of windows, or the inner part and the outer part are tray-shaped, wherein the inner part has a plurality of noses, wherein the respective one of the plurality of noses is arranged to protrude either from one of the sidewalls or from a corner that is formed where two neighboring sidewalls join, wherein the outer part has a plurality of windows, wherein the respective one of the plurality of windows is in one of the sidewalls or in a corner that is formed where two neighboring sidewalls join, wherein each nose of the plurality of noses protrudes from the inside of the outer part through one of the plurality of windows.

18. Container according to claim 17, wherein: the inner part and the outer part are tray-shaped, wherein the inner part has a number of n sidewalls and a number of n corners, wherein the respective corner is formed where two neighboring sidewalls join, wherein the inner part has a number of n noses, wherein at each of the n corners one nose is arranged to protrude from said corner, wherein the outer part has a number of n sidewalls and a number of n corners, wherein the respective corner is formed where two neighboring sidewalls join, wherein the outer part has a number of n windows, wherein at each of the n corners one window is arranged, wherein each nose protrudes from the inside of the outer part through one of the windows.

19. Container according to claim 18, wherein the number n is either 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8.

20. Container according to claim 15, wherein: the inner part is a deep-drawn (thermoformed) part and/or the outer part is made from a blank of a material that contains cardboard and/or paper by way of bending and attaching individual parts of the blank to other parts of the blank.

21. Container according to claim 15, wherein the outer part has at least one venting opening arranged either in the bottom or in a part of a sidewall that is close to the bottom or in a transition zone between the bottom and a sidewall.

22. Container according to claim 15, wherein the inner part has a transition zone between the bottom and a sidewall or a transition zone between the bottom and a corner that is formed where two neighboring sidewalls join, wherein a step that protrudes into the inside of the inner part is arranged at the transition zone.

23. Container according to claim 15, wherein the inner part is not glued to the outer part.

24. Container according to claim 15, wherein the nose has a first surface section that is pointing away from the rim and a second surface section that is facing the rim and wherein the first surface section joins the second surface section by way of forming a ridge of the nose.

25. Container according to claim 15, further comprising a lid attached to the rim of the inner part and/or a foil that closes the inner part attached to the rim of the inner part.

26. Method for assembly of a container, the container having: an outer part that is made from a material that contains cardboard and/or paper and is tray-shaped or cup-shaped, the outer part having a bottom and either a circumferential sidewall that rises from the bottom, if the outer part is cup-shaped, or has a plurality of sidewalls that rise from the bottom, if the outer part is tray-shaped, and an inner part that is made from a plastic material and is tray-shaped or cup-shaped, the inner part having a bottom and either a circumferential sidewall that rises from the bottom, if the inner part is cup-shaped, or has a plurality of sidewalls that rise from the bottom, if the inner part is tray-shaped, wherein the inner part is arranged inside the outer part, wherein the inner part has a rim that protrudes over the outer part, wherein the inner part has at least one protruding nose, wherein the nose is arranged distanced from the rim and. the outer part has a window, wherein the nose protrudes from the inside of the outer part through the window; the method comprising: providing the inner part, wherein the inner part is a deep-drawn (thermoformed) part, providing the outer part, wherein the outer part is made from a blank of a material that contains cardboard and/or paper by way of bending and attaching individual parts of the blank to other parts of the blank, or providing a blank of a material that contains cardboard and/or paper and by way of bending and attaching individual parts of the blank to other parts of the blank can be formed into an outer part, if the inner part and the outer part are provided, placing the inner part inside the outer part in such a manner that the nose protrudes from the inside of the outer part through the window, if the inner part and a blank is provided, (1) either forming the outer part by way of bending and attaching individual parts of the blank to other parts of the blank and placing the inner part inside the thus obtained outer part in such a manner that the nose protrudes from the inside of the outer part through the window, (2) or bending and attaching individual parts of the blank to other parts of the blank in close proximity to the inner part and hence forming the outer part around the inner part with no need to perform the additional step of placing the inner part inside the outer part, but performing the steps of or bending and attaching individual parts of the blank to other parts of the blank in such a manner that the nose protrudes from the inside of the thus obtained outer part through the window.

27. Method for disassembly of a container, the container having: an outer part that is made from a material that contains cardboard and/or paper and is tray-shaped or cup-shaped, the outer part having a bottom and either a circumferential sidewall that rises from the bottom, if the outer part is cup-shaped, or has a plurality of sidewalls that rise from the bottom, if the outer part is tray-shaped, and an inner part that is made from a plastic material and is tray-shaped or cup-shaped, the inner part having a bottom and either a circumferential sidewall that rises from the bottom, if the inner part is cup-shaped, or has a plurality of sidewalls that rise from the bottom, if the inner part is tray-shaped, wherein the inner part is arranged inside the outer part, wherein the inner part has a rim that protrudes over the outer part, wherein the inner part has at least one protruding nose, wherein the nose is arranged distanced from the rim and the outer part has a window, wherein the nose protrudes from the inside of the outer part through the window; the method comprising: pulling the inner part out of the outer part and thereby pulling the nose back inside through the window, or pulling the inner part out of the outer part, wherein the nose is made to tear a strip of material of the outer part arranged between the window and an upper edge of the outer part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0051] Below the invention will be described with reference to Figures that show examples of the invention only. In the Figures

[0052] FIG. 1 show a schematic perspective view onto the container according to the invention in the assembled state;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective of the container according to FIG. 1 in not yet assembled state with the inner part being above the outer part;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective of a detail of the container of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a top view onto a blank that can be used to make the outer part;

[0056] FIG. 5 show a schematic perspective view onto the inner part of container according to FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a schematic top view onto the inner part of container according to FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 6 of the inner part of the container;

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of an inner part of a first container according to the invention set into the inner part of a second container according to the invention:

[0060] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the Detail F in FIG. 8;

[0061] FIG. 10 shows a schematic sectional view along the line B-B in FIG. 7 of the inner part of the container and

[0062] FIG. 11 shows a schematic perspective view of a cup-shaped container according to the invention in not yet assembled state with the inner part being above the outer part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a container 1 that is suitable for holding portioned food, for example a meat portion or a dairy product like butter or margarine. The container 1 has an outer part 2 that is made from a material that contains cardboard and/or paper. In the embodiment shown in the FIGS. 1 to 10 the outer part 2 is designed to be tray-shaped. The outer part 2 has a bottom 4 and four sidewalls 5,6,7,8 that rise from the bottom 4. The respective sidewalls 5,6,7,8 join in corners 18. There are four corners 18.

[0064] The container 1 further has an inner part 3 that is made from a plastic material. In the embodiment shown in the Fig. the inner part 3 is designed to be tray-shaped. The inner part 3 has a bottom 9 and four sidewalls 10,11,12,13 that rise from a bottom 9. The respective sidewalls 10,11,12,13 join in corners 17. There are four corners 17.

[0065] The inner part 3 is arranged inside the outer part 2. The inner part 3 has a rim 14 that protrudes over outer part 2.

[0066] The inner part 3 has at least one protruding nose 15, whereby the nose 15 is arranged distanced from the rim 14. The outer part 2 has a window 16, whereby the nose 15 protrudes from the inside of the outer part 2 through the window 16 (see e.g. FIG. 3). The nose 15 is arranged closer to the rim 14 than to the bottom 9 of the inner part 3.

[0067] The inner part 3 has four noses 15. The respective one of the four noses 15 is arranged to protrude from a corner. The outer part 2 has four windows 16. The respective one of the four windows 16 is in a corner 18. Each nose 15 of the four noses 15 protrudes from the inside of the outer part 2 through one of the four windows 16.

[0068] The inner part 3 is a deep-drawn (thermoformed) part. The outer part 2 is made from a blank 19 of a material that contains cardboard and/or paper by way of bending and attaching individual parts of the blank 19 to other parts of the blank 19. FIG. 4 shows the blank 19 and by way of use of the reference signs 5,6,7,8 indicates those parts of the blank that will become the sidewalls of the outer part 2 and by way of references sign 18 indicates those parts of the blank that will become the corners 18 of the outer part 2. The blank has tip ends 27 that will be glued to that part of the blank that is referenced with the reference sign 7. The blank has tip ends 28 that will be glued to that part of the blank that is referenced with the reference sign 6. The free areas indicated with reference sign 20 will become the venting openings of the outer part 2.

[0069] The inner part 3 has a transition zone each between the bottom 9 and each of the four corners 17. In each of the four transition zones a step 21 is provided that protrudes into the inside of the inner part 3.

[0070] The inner part 3 is not glued to the outer part 2, but is held in the outer part 2 by way of the engagement of the noses 15 with the windows 16.

[0071] As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 9, the nose 15 has a first surface section 22 that is pointing away from the rim 14 and a second surface section 23 that is facing the rim 14. The first surface section 22 joins the second surface section 23 by way of forming a ridge 24 of the nose 15.

[0072] A lid (not shown in the Fig) can be attached to the rim 14. Alternatively or in addition, a foil (not shown in the Fig) that closes the inner part 3 can be attached to the rim 14 of the inner part 3.

[0073] According to the method for assembly of a container 1 the inner part 3, whereby the inner part 3 is a deep-drawn thermoformed part, and the outer part 2, whereby the outer part 2 is made from a blank 19 of a material that contains cardboard and/or paper by way of bending and attaching individual parts of the blank 19 to other parts of the blank 19, are provided (see FIG. 2). The inner part 3 is placed inside the outer part 2 in such a manner that the nose 15 protrudes from the inside of the outer part 2 through the window 16, hence forming the container 1 as shown in FIG. 1

[0074] According to the method for disassembly of a container 1 either the inner part 3 is pulled out of the outer part 2 and thereby pulling the nose 15 back inside through the window 16 or the inner part 3 is pulled out of the outer part 2, whereby the nose 15 is made to tear a strip 25 of material of the outer part 2 arranged between the window 16 and an upper edge 26 of the outer part 2.

[0075] FIG. 11 shows the inner part 2 and the outer part 3 of a container 1 that is suitable for holding portioned food, for example a meat portion or a dairy product like butter or margarine. The container 1 is shown in a view similar to the tray-shaped container shown in FIG. 2, namely in a not yet assembled form. The container shown in FIG. 11 has an outer part 2 that is made from a material that contains cardboard and/or paper. In the embodiment shown in the FIG. 11 the outer part 2 is designed to be cup-shaped. The outer part 2 has a bottom 4 and one circumferential sidewall 5 that rises from the bottom 4.

[0076] The container 1 of FIG. 11 further has an inner part 3 that is made from a plastic material. In the embodiment shown in the FIG. 11 the inner part 3 is designed to be cup-shaped. The inner part 3 has a bottom 9 and one sidewall 10 that rises from a bottom 9.

[0077] The inner part 3 is arranged inside the outer part 2. The inner part 3 has a rim 14 that protrudes over outer part 2.

[0078] The inner part 3 has three noses 15. The respective one of the three noses 15 is arranged to protrude from the circumferential wall 10. The outer part 2 has three windows 16. The respective one of the four windows 16 is in the circumferential sidewall 5. Each nose 15 of the three noses 15 protrudes from the inside of the outer part 2 through one of the three windows 16.