Process for making a squeezable container for solid or frozen foods and container so obtained

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making a squeezable container for solid or frozen food comprising a main body (2) having a top opening (3) and a bottom area of said main body (2), means (20,21,22) for removing said bottom area, a closing member (4) of said bottom area fitted inside said container body (2) having an opening (41) for dispensing the product; and sealing means (8) of said top opening (3).

Description: The present invention relates to a process for making a foodstuff container, and, more precisely, to a process for making a squeezable container for solid or frozen food, and also to a container obtained according to such process. To date, containers for the containment and the sale of solid food products such as pralines, sweets and the like, that, after breaking the seal, are also apt to dispense the single product units contained therein, are already known. Such containers have various shapes and are made of different materials, and are provided with a dispensing opening, usually sealed or inaccessible at the moment of purchase and formed onto the container with dimensions allowing the output of a product. Moreover, according to the shapes of suchlike containers, the dispensing opening is formed in an area of the container that is suitable for allowing the approach of the opening to the user's mouth, thereby easing a direct dispensing therein. Thus, the contact of the food product with the user's hands can be avoided, partially improving the cleanliness required for the consumption of the product. An embodiment of this kind of container is disclosed in US 1,961,535 A. However, this type of container is disadvantageous in that it is exclusively apt to contain solid non-sticky products, as the sticking could hinder the dispensing thereof through the container, since a sticky mass could not pass through the opening unless a partial destruction of the container is carried out. Moreover, another type of dispensing containers is known to the art, specifically for dispensing frozen food product units or the like and suitable for dispensing the individual product units by means of a opening formed onto the container, sealed beforehand and of suitable dimensions. This type of containers, due to the use thereof, is usually made of a material, like cardboard, apt to be stored in very cold sites. This type of container is disadvantageous in that the individual product units, being frozen, tend anyway to stick one to the other during the consumption thereof, thus preventing a smooth dispensing thereof through the opening, unless the user intervenes by partially destroying the container. Moreover, such kind of container is not designed for directly bringing the food to the user's mouth. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks providing a dispensing container for unitary solid and/or frozen food products that be apt to guarantee the dispensing of single units even for sticky food. A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing container for individual units of solid and/or frozen food that be apt to be squeezed in a non-destructive manner for physically detaching sticky food units thereamong. A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing container for individual units of solid and/or frozen food having a shape apt to safely and hygienically ease the dispensing of the products to the user's mouth. Therefore, the present invention, provides a dispensing container of solid and/or frozen food according to claim 2. Moreover, the present invention provides a process for making a dispensing container for solid and/or frozen food products according to claim 1. Further, preferred embodiments are disclosed in dependent claims 3 to 9. A first advantage of the present invention is that a container that is remarkably safe when used by children is provided. A second advantage of the container of the present invention lies in the fact that the same so assembled has a remarkable handiness, given by the shapes and the easy opening thereof. A third advantage of the container of the present invention is that so assembled it is particularly suitable for solid food, both frozen or at room temperature, as well as for liquid food. A fourth advantage of the present invention lies in that the container is formed so as to be suitable for dispensing individual food units by means of the suitable shaping of the opening towards the hand or directly towards the mouth of the user, anyhow guaranteeing a remarkably hygienic food consumption. A fifth advantage of the container of the present invention lies in the fact that the same guarantees an integral and unaltered product preservation over time, it being possibly to deploy the same even in a cold processing line. A sixth advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the container is formed in materials and shapes allowing a shaking/squeezing thereof in order to ease the output of the product therefrom, concomitantly guaranteeing the integrity of the whole assembly, thereby preventing dangerous ruptures or accidental spillage of the product. The present invention will be hereinafter disclosed according to a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. Reference will be made to the annexed drawings, wherein: figures 1 (a) to 1(e) schematically and subsequently show the steps of the process according to the present invention; figure 2 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the container and of the closing member according to the present invention; figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing member of the container of figure 2; figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the closing member of the container of figure 2; and figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container of figure 2 in a partially assembled condition. With reference to figures 1(a) to 1(b), hereinafter the process for making the container of the present invention will be disclosed. According to the first step process of the present invention, a container 1 having a substantially cylindrical- or frustoconical-shape main body 2 with a top opening 3 is provided in an operative condition. Then, a dome-shaped closing member 4 suitable to being arranged in the bottom area of the container 2 is subsequently provided inside the main body 2. The closing member 4 has clamping means 5 apt to engage by interference in a complementary area 6 formed onto the inner peripheral surface of the container 2. Then, the closing member 4, once inserted through the opening 3 into the container 1, is positioned at the bottom area of the container 2 until bringing the clamping means 5 into engagement with the respective complementary area 6 formed onto the inner wall of the container 2, locking, thereby, the member 4. Moreover, the body 2 of the container has, at the bottom area and onto the outer wall thereof, a further area 20 with preferential break lines 21 and a tab 22. On the other hand, the member 4 has, formed at the centre portion thereof, a product dispensing opening 41. The opening 41 is suitably dimensioned so as to allow a unitary dispensing of the food product during the use thereof (better illustrated hereinafter). In this condition, the container 2 is conveyed to the next step, in which it is filled up with a solid and/or frozen food product 7, subsequently it is conveyed to a sealing step, in which a sealing member 8 is arranged at the area of the opening 3. The sealing is carried out by heat-sealing the member 8 onto the peripheral area of the top opening 3. It has to be pointed out that the shape, as well as the material of the sealing member 8, is selected beforehand according to the shape and to the material in which the container 2 is made. The sealing of the member 8 onto the body 2 is carried out according to a process determined by the material in which the sealing member 8 and the body 2 are made. Then, the container 1 is ready to be conveyed to the distribution (and consumption) line of the food product contained therein. Furthermore, it has to be pointed out that the main body 2 is made in a shape apt to guarantee the stackability thereof during the dispensing step of the individual body 2 in the production line, and in such a manner that the same can be provided by an automatic downloading and loading system in the filling line of the food product 7. Likewise, also the closing member 4 is made in a shape which allows the stackability thereof, and in such a manner that it can be loaded in stacks into an automatic downloading and loading system in the assembly line of the container 1. Referring now to Figures 2 to 5, therein a preferred embodiment of the container 1 of the present invention is illustrated. According to this embodiment of the invention, the container 1 has a main body 2, having a substantially inverted frustoconical-shape, with a blind bottom and a top opening 3. At the peripheral area of the top opening 3 a peripheral ribbing generating a rounded rim is formed. Moreover, the body 2 of the container has, at the bottom area and onto the outer wall thereof, a peripheral groove 6. Furthermore, at the bottom of the peripheral groove 6 an area 20 with preferential break lines 21 and a tab 22 (better illustrated hereinafter) is formed. On the other hand, a closing member 4 of the bottom area of the container 1, substantially dome-shaped and having an outwardly-protruding peripheral edge 5, a top wall 42 and a side wall 43, is provided. Further, onto the upper portion of the closing member 4, near a edge area between the top wall 42 and the side wall 43, the dispensing opening 41 is formed. Furthermore, a disk-shaped member 8, for sealing the top opening 3 of the container 2 once the latter has been filled with the food product, is provided. The sealing member 8 is apt to be fitted at the edge area of the opening 3, and to be secured therein by a sealing step like, e.g. heat-sealing. With particular reference to Figure 5, it shows the arrangement of the closing member 4 at the bottom area of the container body 2 prior to the filling thereof. For the assembling thereof, firstly the closing member 4 is inserted through the top opening 3 until reaching the bottom area of the body 2, where the protruding edge 5 of the closing member 4 engages by interference in the groove 6. It has to be pointed out that in this condition the closing member 4 is clamped by the clamping of the edge 5 inside the groove 6, as well as the abutment of the side wall 43 of the closing member onto the side wall of the container body 2. The container 1 thus assembled is ready for the subsequent step of the food product filling followed by the sealing step of the top opening 3 with the sealing member 8. For the consumption of the food product, at first the container is upturned, i.e. with the greater diameter area thereof facing downwards and with the bottom area thereof facing upwards. Then the tab 22 is manually torn out, thereby allowing the detachment of the bottom area off the body 2 of the container 1. Then the closing member 4 as well as the opening 41 are exposed outwards. Advantageously, according to the invention, it has to be pointed out that, prior to the detachment of the bottom area, the opening 41 is tight-sealed inside the container 1, thus ensuring remarkably hygienical conditions until the food consumption. Therefore, in this condition the product can be dispensed by a partial upturning of the container 1 towards the hand or the mouth of the user and through the opening 41. Of course, the container can have specific shapes and dimensions that differ from the above-disclosed ones, provided that the locking of the closing member 4 inside the main body 2 is guaranteed. This lies in the fact that the container can be made in materials and shapes that allow a shaking and/or squeezing thereof in order to ease the output of the product therefrom when the single product units are lumped or fused together, concomitantly ensuring the integrity of the structure. For instance, the main body 2 can typically be formed of cardboard coupled with polyethylene in presence of inserts of other materials or not. Likewise, also the closing member 4 can be made of a suitable material, e.g. plastics, in order to allow the closing of the container as well as the sealing thereof with a suitable sealing process. For instance, preferably for making the body 2 of the container 1, the sealing member 8 is selected in a material allowing the heat-sealing thereof in order to make the sealing process faster and easier. Also the sealing member 8 is preferably selected in a material like, the aluminium coupled to the polyethylene in order to allow the latter to be heat-sealed to the body 2 of the container 1. Furthermore, the entire container 1 can be wholly made in the same material, according to the type of product to be contained therein.

Claims: A process for making a container (1) for the dispensing solid and/or frozen food, comprising the steps of: arranging a container body (2) having an open top end (3); filling with a solid and/or frozen food product (7) said container body (2) through said open top end (3); and fitting a removable sealing member (8) at said open top end (3), characterised in that it comprises the step of fitting through said top end (3) and before the filling step, a closing member (4) having a opening (41) for dispensing the food product at the bottom area of the container body (2) . A dispensing container (1) for solid and/or frozen products comprising a main body (2) having a top opening (3) and a bottom area of said main body (2), means (20,21,22) for removing said bottom area, and means (8) for sealing said top opening (3), characterised in that it further comprises a closing member (4) of said bottom area fitted inside said container body (2) and having an opening (41) for dispensing the product. The dispensing container (1) for solid and/or frozen products according to claim 2, wherein said means for removing said bottom area comprises an annular area (20) formed onto the wall of the container body (2), delimited by preferential break lines (21) and having a tab (22). The dispensing container (1) for solid and/or frozen products according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said main body (2) has clamping means (6) of said closing member (4) of said bottom area. The dispensing container (1) for solid and/or frozen products according to the preceding claim, wherein said clamping means of said closing member (4) is an annular groove (6) formed onto the side wall of said main body (2). The dispensing container (1) for solid and/or frozen products according to any one of the claims 2 to 5, wherein said closing member (4) has clamping means (5) of said closing member (4) onto said main body (2) of the container. The dispensing container (1) of solid and/or frozen food according to the preceding claim, wherein said clamping means is a protruding peripheral edge (5) formed on said closing member (4) and apt to engage by interference the external groove (6) formed on said main body (2). The dispensing container (1) for solid and/or frozen food according to claims 2-7, wherein said closing member (4) is substantially dome-shaped and wherein said opening (41) is formed at the upper area (42) of said closing member (4). The dispensing container (1) for solid and/or frozen products according to claims 2-8, wherein said sealing means is a disk-shaped member (8) fitted onto said top opening (3).

Inventors: D AMATO GIANFRANCO, D'AMATO, GIANFRANCO
Applicants: SEDA SPA, SEDA S.P.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: B65D3, B65D85