Container for transporting foods

Abstract: Container for transporting foods, parallelepiped, formed by an hollow body (1) and a cover (3), in plastic material, in which interior it is provided a plurality of spaces (5) and/or wells (9, 11, 13, 15) for transporting foods, drinks and cutlery. The container is provided with suitable means for the application of a closing strap (29) and with cavities (31) for taking and lifting the cover (3).

Description: The present invention refers to a container for transporting foods, and more precisely to a plastic container in which said foods, already prepared and protected, scheduled for a day's feeding, can be transported to the consumers so that they can eat them. More and more diffused is the use of transporting pre-cooked foods, for a local use after a simple heating, when necessary, in order to effect a domiciliary service. This is obviously valid for communities, schools, old people's houses, social services and meals management societies, where it is preferable and sometimes hygienically and sanitarily more safe transporting packed foods rather than prepare it in place. EP-A-0622309 discloses a container provided with wells for storing food holders made of e.g. porcelain which can be also mounted one above the other (cf preamble of claim 1). The arrangement according to EP-A-0622309 however, renders the taking of the superimposed food difficult, especially when a plurality of food holders is stored in the wells and the food holders have to be taken one at a time on the occasion of different meals during the day. Another container for food is disclosed in DE 297 05 286 Ul which refers to a plastic meal tray system comprising stacking and separable plates having wells defined therein. A classic container for transporting foods is disclosed in DE 9420946, which however is not designed for storing superimposed dishes or food holders. Another traditional container for transporting foods is disclosed in US 3,805,018. The container according to US 3,805,018 can be heated and is shaped so as to define a plurality of compartments therein within which loose food may be stored. Purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid and other drawbacks found in normal containers used for transporting pre-cooked foods, providing a suitable container, in which it is scheduled and provided all the necessary for a day and wherein every thing has its place and wherein a place is provided for every thing. The essence of the invention will be clear from the following claims. The invention will now be described in detail with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, furnished as a not limitative example, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the container according to invention, closed; Figure 2 is a plan view of the container of Figure 1 without cover; Figure 3 is a lateral view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross section performed according to line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross section performed according to line V-V of Figure 1. As it appears evident from the Figures, the present container is substantially an hollow parallelepiped body 1 provided with a cover 3. Said container is made of suitable plastic material, washable and reusable several times. In its central part it is provided a space 5 for containing dishes, wherein are provided six courses superimposed, packed and heat sealed with suitable plastic material on corresponding single-use dishes, three courses for the lunch and three for the supper. Said central space 5 is provided squared, like obviously the dishes (not shown in Figure) that are to be inserted, and it is provided with two opposite enlargements 7, between the sides walls and the superimposed dishes, provided for the taking of said dishes together with the corresponding courses. Sideways to said central space 5, are further provided on one side two spaces or wells, a circular one 9 for a (plastic) water bottle and a rectangular one 11 for a paper bag containing wine, as "Tavernello" or similar. The wall 12 that divides said rectangular well 11 from the central space 5 is provided with a trapezoidal opening 14 for the taking of said paper bag. On the other side, sideways to said central space 5 are provided two other square wells 13 and 15, one for the bread and the cutlery, the other for the fruit. Said two square wells 13 and 15 are also provided separated by a wall 16 equipped with a U opening 18 for the taking of the bread and the fruit. The cover 3 is provided substantially plain with an upper perimetral edge 17, interrupted on the small sides by two cavities 19, and an inferior edge 21 allowing the insertion of said cover 3 in the body 1 and its closing; moreover on the plain upper surface of said cover 3 it is provided a rectangular hollow 23 and on the plain lower surface a prominence 25, also rectangular. The cover 3 and the bottom of the body 1 are so shaped in order to allow their superimposition during storing and transporting. The parallelepiped body 1 is provided with an external groove 27 running longitudinally along the center line of the bottom wall in order to allow the application of a closing strap 29 when the container is closed, said strap running in said groove 27 and being closed on the upper part passing through the cavities 19 of the cover 3. It is to be noted the cavity 23 provided on the cover 3, on its external side, that allows, when the strap 29 is placed, to take and lift the closed container, obviously with the appropriate cautions; said strap 29 and said cavity 23 acting as a handle for the taking and the lifting of the closed container, with suitable means. The prominence 25 provided on the lower surface of the cover 3 can be used as an upper support for an eventual thermal plate, placed between said prominence 25 and the foods for maintaining the correct temperature inside the container. It is to be noted again that on each of the small sides of the parallelepiped container it is provided, in correspondence of the center line of said sides, two adjacent semi-cavities, one on the edge of the cover 3 and the other on the edge of the body 1, which, when the cover is applied, form two real cavities 31, that constitute two invitations for lifting the cover 3 from the body 1 of the container and to open it.

Claims: Container for transporting foods, comprising an hollow parallelepiped body (1) and a cover (3) made of a suitable plastic material, washable and reusable and provided in its inside part with a plurality of spaces (5) and/or wells (9, 11 13, 15) for containing the foods, the drinks and the cutlery, said spaces or wells being separated by corresponding walls (12,16), characterised in that at least one of said spaces or wells separating walls (12,16) is provided with an opening (14,18)) for the taking of the content of the corresponding space or well, whereby when a plurality of pieces is staked in said spaces or wells the taking thereof one at a time is facilitated. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that: in its central part it is provided a space (5) for containing dishes, in which are provided several courses superimposed, packed and heat sealed on corresponding single-use dishes, half for the lunch and half for the supper; said central space (5) is provided squared, like the dishes that are to be inserted, and is provided with two opposite enlargements (7), between the internal side walls of the container (1) and the pile of dishes, provided for the taking of said dishes containing the respective courses to be eaten, after eventual heating; sideways to said central space (5) are provided on one side two spaces or wells, a circular one (9) for a bottle of water and rectangular one (11) for a paper bag of wine; on the other side, always sideways to said central space (5), are provided two other squared wells (13, 15), one for the bread and the cutlery, the other for the fruit. Container according to claim 2, characterised in that the wall (12) that separates said rectangular well (11) from the central space (5) is equipped with a trapezoidal opening (14) for the taking of said paper bag, and that the wall (16) that separates said two squared wells (13) and (15) is equipped with a "U" shaped opening (18) for the taking of both the bread and the fruit. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that the cover (3) is substantially flat with an upper raised perimetrical edge (17), interrupted on the short sides by two cavities (19), and a lower edge (21) that allows its insertion in the body (1) and its closure; on the upper plain surface of said cover (3) being provided a rectangular cavity (23) and on the lower plain surface a rectangular prominence (25), and that the parallelepiped body (1) is provided with an external groove (27) running longitudinally along the center line of the bottom wall in order to allow the application of a closing strap (29) when the container is closed, strap that runs in said groove (27) and passes through the cavities (19) of the cover (3). Container according to claim 1, characterised in that on each of the short sides of the parallelepiped that forms the container are provided, in correspondence with the center line of said sides, two adjacent semicavities, one on the edge of the cover (3) and the other on the edge of the body (1), which, when the cover is applied, form two real cavities (31), that constitute two invitations for taking and lifting the cover (3) from the body (1) and opening the container. Container according to claim 2, characterised in that the number of provided courses in the spaces (5) of the body (1) is equal to six: three for the lunch and three for the supper. Container according to claim 4, characterised in that the cavity (23) provided on the cover (3), on its external part, allows, when the strap (29) is applied, to take and lift the closed container, obviously with the appropriate cautions; said strap (29) and said cavity (23) acting as a handle for the taking and the lifting of the closed container, with suitable means. Container according to claim 4, characterised in that the cover (3) and the bottom of the body (1) are so shaped that they permit their stacking in the stocking transporting phases. Container according to claim 4, characterised in that the prominence (25) provided on the flat lower surface of the cover (3) can be used as an upper support for an eventual thermal plate, placed between said prominence (25) and the foods for maintaining the correct temperature.

Inventors: CRIDAN DI DANILO RUSCONI
Applicants: CRIDAN DI DANILO RUSCONI
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A47J47
IPC codes: A47J47