A CONTAINER WITH A STRAINER

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging comprising a container (1) with a bottom (4), and in connection with said bottom an annular side wall (5) defining at its upper edge (6) an aperture, and a strainer (2) for draining a product contained in said packaging; wherein the strainer (2) is provided with a holding device (14) that can be caused to interact with the container in order to hereby secure the strainer in a position which is vertically upwardly displaced relative to the usual storage position at the bottom of the container. Preferably the strainer is to be configured with an at least partially, preferably completely annular shoulder that can, upon positioning of the strainer (2) in a draining position in which the holding device (14) interacts with the container, be caused to abut on the container edge (6) at least in a section of said shoulder (13) and edge, respectively.

Description: A container with a strainer The invention relates to a packaging of the type featured in the introductory part of claim 1. Such containers are well known and are used in particular for containing foodstuffs that require the presence in the container of a preservative liquid or the like. Since the strainer is raisable, it is able to carry the con- tained product while the preservative liquid is drained from the product. In most cases, the use of these prior art products requires that the user keeps the strainer above the container or positions it somewhere where the drained-off liquid is not a nuisance. The latter option presupposes that the strainer is removed from the container which often results in undesired spillage of preservative liquid. US patent No 5,082,135 discloses a container of the type described above. In this prior art container, the strainer is maintained in a draining position by means of support shoulders on the container inside, where the strainer is caused to interact with these shoulders by a rotational movement. This container with its strainer in- volves a substantial risk that the strainer is not securely positioned in its resting position since, in the presence of a product to be drained, the shoulders and the strainer bottom are not visible. Thus there is a risk that the strainer is caused to rest in a marginal posi- tion in which even a minor impact can cause it to drop back into container with ensuing spillage of liquid from the container or even resulting in the container with contents overturning. It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a container of the type described above, wherein the user is not required to participate in the entire draining procedure and wherein the undesired spillage of preservative liquid outside the container is avoided, safe positioning of the strainer being ensured at all times. According to the invention this is obtained with a pack ¬ aging as featured in the introductory part of claim 1 and which is characterised in comprising the characteristics featured in the characterising part of claim 1. The presence of securing means on the strainer enables raising of the strainer to a position above the level of the preservative liquid, and thus in the secured position thereof it is possible to effect the final draining with- out presupposing the presence of the user. Hereby time is saved and furthermore it means that spillage outside the container is avoided. The presence of a shoulder on the strainer allows for stable securing of the strainer relative to the container. Upon positioning of the strainer in a draining position in which the holding device inter ¬ acts with the container, the shoulder can be adopted to abut on the container edge, at least in a section of the shoulder and edge, respectively. The stable securing of the strainer relative to the container is a result of the pressure load being distributed across a larger area. This makes it possible to dimension container and strainer with a reduced strength since the load imposed by the strainer on the container is evenly distributed across a larger area and it is essentially a pressure load. In this context, the holding device may be a flap that protrudes downwards along the side wall from the shoulder; owing to the presence of the shoulder which rests on the container edge, the flap is intended exclusively to counteract sideways displacement of the strainer relative to the container. Thus, this flap can be dimensioned with poor strength. Further advantageously, the holding device on the strainer is in the form of a hook that can be caused to interact with the area at the edge of the container. This configuration of the strainer allows on the one hand that the positioning of the strainer in a draining position relative to the container can easily be performed by the user, and on the other hand it is possible to use any type of bucket which does not, in this context, have to have any particular configuration. In this context, the only requirements relate to the configuration of the shoulder and the flap that is to co-operate with the area at the edge. By configuring the strainer with a flap that faces down ¬ wards from the shoulder, a configuration is obtained which is convenient from a production point of view since only two mould parts are required for the injection moulding of such strainer. Conveniently, the strainer also comprises at least one handle intended for lifting the strainer with its con ¬ tents that are to be drained. This considerably facili ¬ tates handling of the strainer. Particularly conveniently the handle is arranged immediately above the holding de ¬ vice. This is advantageous from a handling point of view in case there is only one handle on the strainer, in which case the container is used as retainer for the lower part of the strainer during pulling out of the strainer for positioning in the draining position. Conveniently, a lid is provided to close the container. Moreover, the invention relates to a strainer for use in connection with a container as described above. The strainer is characterised by the features given in the characterising part of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the strainer will appear from claims 9 through 14. These features were described above in connection with the container comprising said strainer. A preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective and vertical sectional view of an assembled container; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of an assembled container; Figure 3 is a perspective sectional view of the strainer arranged in a draining position on the container; Figure 4 is a sectional enlarged view of the engagement area of the holding device; and Figure 5 is a perspective lateral view of the strainer, where the holding device is provided. Figure 1 is a perspective, sectional view of an assembled container comprising a container 1, a strainer 2 and a lid 3. The base configuration of the container is circular. However, other configurations are possible. The container 1 comprises a bottom 4 and in connection therewith an annular side wall 5 that ends in an edge 6. This container may be of any type and configuration. The strainer 2 arranged in the container comprises a bottom 7 which is provided with a series of apertures 8. The aper ¬ tures may have any shape. From the bottom 7 an annular side wall 9 extends that ends in an edge 10. A rib 12 protrudes radially from the side wall. It serves exclu- sively as a spacer during stacking. Approximately halfway between the bottom 7 and the edge 10, the lateral wall 9 is provided with a shoulder 13 in the form of a substan ¬ tially perpendicularly and outwardly extending side wall area. Thus, the diameter of the strainer is smaller be- tween the bottom 7 and the shoulder 13 than between the shoulder 13 and the edge 10. From the outer edge of the shoulder 13 and in a direction towards the bottom 7 a flap 14 is provided. The same constructional details are shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 illustrates the functioning of the container ac ¬ cording to the invention. Following dismounting of the lid 3, the strainer 2 is lifted upwards by means of the handle 11 which is located at the edge 10. The strainer is lifted so high that the flap 14 is capable of moving out above the container edge 6, following which the strainer is lowered until the shoulder 13 abuts on the container edge 6. Now, the flap 14 prevents radial dis ¬ placement of the strainer and thus ensures stable secur- ing thereof relative to the container 1. The abutment of the shoulder 13 further ensures convenient distribution of the load imposed by the strainer onto the container. Figure 4 illustrates the engagement area between the flap 14 and the area at the edge of the container, in an enlarged scale. Figure 5 illustrates the strainer 2 in a dismounted position. The position of the handle 11 immediately above the flap 14 is illustrated clearly. This position is convenient from a handling point of view, since it will be natural for the user to hook the flap over the container edge in a position opposite the handle.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. A packaging comprising a container (1) with a bottom (4), and in connection with said bottom an annular side wall (5) which defines, at its upper edge (6), an opening, and a strainer (2) for draining a product contained in said packaging, wherein the strainer (2) comprises a bottom portion (7), and in connection therewith an annular side wall (9), wherein the strainer (2) is provided with an holding device (14) that may be caused to interact with the container in order to hereby secure the strainer in a position which is vertically upwardly displaced compared to the usual storage position at the bottom of the container, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the strainer is provided with an at least partially annular shoulder (13) adapted to abut on the container edge (6) when the strainer (2) is arranged in a draining position in which the holding device (14) interacts with the container, and wherein the shoulder (13) is provided on the annular side wall in the desired height for a draining position relative to the strainer (7) . 2. A packaging according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the holding device on the strainer (2) consists of a hook that can be caused to interact with the area at the edge of the container. 3. A packaging according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the holding device consists of a flap (14) that protrudes from the shoulder (13) in a direction towards the bottom of the strainer (2) . 4. A packaging according to claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the shoulder on the strainer extends along the entire circumference of the strainer. 5. A packaging according to claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the strainer (2) is provided with at least one handle (11) for lifting the strainer with contents. 6. A packaging according to claim 5, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the handle (11) is arranged immediately above the holding device (14) . 7. A strainer for use in a packaging of the type featured in claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the strainer is provided with a holding device (14) that may be caused to interact with the container in or- der to hereby secure the strainer in a position which is displaced vertically and upwards relative to the usual storage position at the bottom of the container. 8. A strainer according to claim 7, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the strainer (2) comprises a bottom portion (7) and in connection therewith an annu ¬ lar side wall (9), wherein the holding device (14) is provided on the annular side wall at the desired height for a draining position relative to the strainer (7) . 9. A strainer according to claim 7 or 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the holding device on the strainer (2) is in the form of a hook that can be caused to interact with the area at the edge of the con- tainer. 10. A strainer according to any one of claims 7-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the strainer is configured with an at least partially, preferably com- pletely annular shoulder (13) which can, upon positioning of the strainer (2) in a draining position in which the holding device (14) interacts with the conLainer, be caused to abut on the container edge (6) at least in a section of the shoulder (13) and edge, respectively. 11. A sLrainer according to any one of claims 7-10, c h'-a r a • . c t e r i z e d in that the holding device consists of a flap (14) that extends from the shoulder (13) in a .direction towards the bottom of the strainer (2) . 12. A strainer according to any one ol claims 7-11, c h a r a c t e r i z e in that the strainer (2) is provided with at least one handle (11) for lifting the srrainer with contents. 13. A strainer according to any one of claims 7-12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that ' the handle (11) is positioned immediately above, the holding device (14) .

Inventors: PUDSELYKKE LARS, THORSOE HOLGER, PUDSELYKKE, LARS, THORSOE, HOLGER
Applicants: PUDSELYKKE LARS, SUPERFOS AS, THORSOE HOLGER, PUDSELYKKE, LARS, SUPERFOS A/S, THORSOE, HOLGER
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D81
IPC codes: B65D81, B65D83