Receptacle for food

Abstract: Receptacle for food in the shape of a basin, characterized in that the receptacle (1), connected to the side wall (3) thereof, has a raised bottom part (4).

Description: The present invention concerns a receptacle for food. It is known that food such as pâté, in particular meat paste and such, are sold, and are usually also prepared in a receptacle such as a terrine or such. Such a receptacle can be found in FR-A-2 667 575, for example. In food stores, these products are presented in their receptacle in the counter and, depending on the demand, are taken out of the receptacle by successively cutting and/or detaching portions in the shape of slices. This has the disadvantage that the consumer, at the time when such receptacle is almost empty, wrongfully thinks that the last portion in the receptacle is no longer fresh. Most consumers are mislead by this idea, and they do not buy said last portion. In order to prevent that the product concerned is no longer sold, the seller will often have to consider the last portion as waste and replace the receptacle which is not empty yet by a full receptacle. The invention aims a receptacle for food which excludes the above-mentioned disadvantages. To this end, the invention consists of a receptacle for food in the shape of a basin, the bottom of which is provided with a raised part connected to a side wall of the receptacle, whereby the top surface of the raised bottom part is situated at a small distance under the top edge of the space to be filled. By filling such a receptacle with food up to a small height above the raised bottom part, and by subsequently systematically cutting off the food as of the end opposite the raised bottom part, the consumer will no longer have the wrong impression, at the moment when only a small quantity of the food remains, that the last portion is of inferior quality. The invention also makes it possible to present different quantities of a food product in a uniform way by changing the dimensions of the raised bottom part, whereby the dimensions of the receptacle remain unaltered. Preferably, the top surface of the raised bottom part is situated at a small distance under the top edge of the space of the receptacle to be filled, in particular at a distance of less than 15 mm. According to the most preferred embodiment, the raised bottom part has the shape of a step which locally extends over the entire width of the receptacle, with a top surface which is horizontal or almost horizontal, and a front side which is vertical or almost vertical. According to the most preferred embodiment, the receptacle is also characterized in that the raised bottom part extends from the front edge of this bottom part up to the inner edge of the receptacle over a distance which is at least 3 cm in order to ideally obtain the intended effect. The invention is particularly meant to be used in terrines, in other words stoneware basins, but of course it can also be used in other receptacles. According to a special embodiment, the outer wall is made continuously, such that the raised bottom part cannot be seen from outside, so that the receptacle keeps its conventional outward appearance. As will be further described, the invention also concerns certain applications of the above-mentioned receptacle. In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiments are described as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a top view in perspective of a receptacle according to the invention; figure 2 shows a bottom view in perspective of the receptacle of figure 1; figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the receptacle according to figures 1 and 2, when filled; figure 4 shows a similar view as figure 3, whereby there is only a small quantity of food left in the receptacle; figure 5 shows a special application of the receptacle; figures 6, 7 and 8 show parts of a number of variants of receptacles according to the invention, whereby the raised bottom parts are realized in different manners. As is shown in figures 1 to 4, the invention concerns a receptacle 1 for food 2. The receptacle 1 is hereby made in the shape of a basin, in particular a rectangular terrine which, connected to the side wall 3 thereof, has a raised bottom part 4. This raised bottom part 4 has the shape of a step, which extends locally over the entire width of the receptacle 1 and which has a top surface 5 which is horizontal or almost horizontal, and a front side 6 which is vertical or almost vertical. As is represented in figure 3, the top surface 5 is situated at a small distance D1 under the top edge 7 of the space 8 to be filled, whereby this distance D1 is preferably smaller than 15 mm. The raised bottom part 4, which in this case is situated near a short side of the receptacle 1, extends from the front edge 9 of this bottom part 4 up to the inner edge 10 of the receptacle 1 over a distance D2 which is in this case at least 3 cm. In the example from figures 1 to 4, the raised bottom part 4 is a fixed part of the receptacle 1 and consists of an introversion 11 on the outside of the receptacle 1. The wall parts 12-13 which confine the long sides extend past the introversion 11, however, in particular over the entire or almost the entire length of the receptacle 1. It is clear that the receptacle 1 according to the invention is preferably provided at only one side with such a raised bottom part 4. The receptacle 1 according to the invention is meant to be filled with food 2, in particular pâté which, as is represented in figures 3 and 4, can be taken out of the receptacle 1 in portions 14 in the shape of slices or such. According to the invention, the receptacle 1 is hereby filled up to above the raised bottom part 4, as is represented in figure 3, such that this bottom part 4 is hidden from view. As the food 2 is sold, a situation as represented in figure 4 is created, whereby only a quantity of food 2 which represents one portion 14 is left in the receptacle 1. Since the consumer does not notice that this is the last portion, he will not have the wrong impression that this is a last portion of inferior quality. After said last portion 14 has been removed, the receptacle 1 is replaced by a full receptacle, whereby the small quantity of product situated above the raised bottom part 4 is waste. In case the receptacle 1 is filled with food 2 which contains a top layer 15, such as a layer of fat or a crust, as is represented in figure 5, the filling is preferably carried out such that only the top layer 15 is provided above the raised bottom part 4, so that there is no basic product 16, which is situated under the top layer 15 and which is usually expensive, above the raised bottom part 4. Finally, it should be noted that the raised bottom part 4 can also be made in other ways than by means of the above-mentioned introversion 11. By way of example, figure 6 shows an embodiment whereby the raised bottom part 4 consists of a thickening 17 in the side wall 3. In order to reduce the weight, a cavity 18 can be provided herein, as is represented in figure 7, which either or not opens in the bottom side 19. Figure 8 shows a variant whereby the raised bottom part 4 consists of an insert piece 20, which is for example glued or clamped in the receptacle, which offers the advantage that existing receptacles can simply be converted into a receptacle as described above. It should be noted that the invention can also be applied to a round or other basin, whereby the raised bottom part in this case extends over a bow section. The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and represented in the accompanying figures; on the contrary, such a receptacle as well as the applications thereof can be made in all sorts of variants while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims: Receptacle for food in the shape of a basin, the bottom of which is provided with a raised part, characterized in that the raised bottom part (4) is connected to a side wall (3) of the receptacle and that the top surface (5) of the raised bottom part (4) is situated at a small distance (D1) under the top edge (7) of the space (8) to be filled. Receptacle according to claim 1, characterized in that the top surface (5) is situated at a distance (D1) of less than 15 mm under the top edge (7). Receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the raised bottom part (4) extends from the front edge (9) of this bottom part (4) up to the inner edge (10) of the receptacle (1) over a distance (D2) which is at least 3 cm. Receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the raised bottom part (4) has the shape of a step, which extends locally over the entire width of the receptacle (1) and which has a top surface (5) which is horizontal or almost horizontal, and a front side (6) which is vertical or almost vertical. Receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a terrine, in other words a stoneware basin. Receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is rectangular and in that the raised bottom part (4) is situated near one of the short sides. Receptacle according to claim 6, characterized in that the raised bottom part (4) consists of an introversion (11) in the side wall (3) of the receptacle (1) and in that the wall parts (12-13) which confine the long sides of the receptacle extend past the introversion (11) and over the entire or almost the entire length of the receptacle (1). Receptacle according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the raised bottom part (4) consists of an insert piece (20).

Inventors: FRANCOIS JOS, FRANCOIS, JOS
Applicants: IMP MEAT PRODUCTS N V, IMPERIAL MEAT PRODUCTS N.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D1
IPC codes: B65D1, B65D85