Abstract:
A box-shaped container is formed with two container halves joined together for swiveling along an adjoining edge. Each of the halves comprises a bottom wall, side walls protruding away from same, and rear walls joining them at their ends. The joining edge is formed by the upper end edges of the rear walls. To improve such a box-shaped container in that removal of the food stuff is simplified in a simple constructive manner and without dispensing with the advantages of known containers and at the same time avoiding dirtying the user, the side walls of the first container half are formed with increasing height, and the side walls of the second container half are formed with decreasing height in the respective direction to the front wall.

Description:
BRIEF SUMMARY  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a box-shaped container and an appropriate blank. The box-shaped container comprises two halves of the container joined together along a joining edge which can be swivelled about said edge. Each of these first and second container halves comprises a bottom wall, first and second side walls which protrude away from said wall and front and rear walls joining them at their ends. The joining edge is formed by the upper end edge of the rear wall.  
         [0002]     This sort of box-shaped container is known in practice for hamburgers or similar products. To remove the hamburger, for example, the first container half is swivelled upwards relative to the second container half, so that the content of the container is accessible for removal. It has become established that with such containers of the prior art each container half also essentially accommodates or covers an upper or lower half of the appropriate foodstuff such as a hamburger or similar product. This means that with the first half of the container open, approximately the lower half of the foodstuff is covered by the lower container half from all sides, making removal difficult in view of the generally restricted free space around the foodstuff. Often, particularly when removing a hamburger, the fingers come into contact with the meat product in the centre or with sauces or similar applied to it. This leads already on the removal of the foodstuff to dirtying the fingers, which is sometimes regarded as unpleasant.  
         [0003]     The object of the invention is to therefore improve a box-shaped container of the type mentioned in the introduction such that removal of the foodstuff is simplified in a simple constructive manner and without dispensing with the advantages of the known container and at the same time avoiding dirtying the user.  
         [0004]     The object is solved by the features of claim  1 . The invention is particularly characterised in that the side walls of the first container half are formed with increasing height and the side walls of the second container half are formed with decreasing height in each case in the direction of the front wall. Consequently, on one hand complete closure of the box-shaped container is possible to transport the appropriate foodstuff safely and without direct contact. On the other hand, on opening the first container half the removal of the foodstuff is simplified and occurs generally without contact with, in the case of a hamburger, the meat product arranged in the centre and further additives, such as sauces or similar products, from the second container half, because it exhibits, in particular in the region of its front wall, a reduced height of the side walls. In this way the foodstuff can be removed by simply grasping underneath it without contact with the above mentioned products.  
         [0005]     There is essentially the possibility of the increase or decrease in height occurring in steps, for example, over one or more steps in height. The manufacture of the container and also the visual appearance can however be improved if the appropriate heights continually increase or decrease.  
         [0006]     The manufacture of the container can be further simplified if the slopes of the free end edges of the side walls of both container halves are essentially equal.  
         [0007]     In order to otherwise essentially retain the shape of the container with respect to known containers, the rear walls can, for example, be congruent. The height of the container can be determined by these rear walls.  
         [0008]     To ensure secure coverage of the foodstuff until opening and removal of the foodstuff, a free end edge of the front wall of the first container half can be convex. With a container placed on an underlay or held in the hand, the first container half is here generally the upper container half, whereas the second container half is the lower one.  
         [0009]     Analogously to the free end edge of the front wall, a free end edge of the front wall of the second container half can be concave. This concave curvature further simplifies the removal of the foodstuff from the container.  
         [0010]     Since the front wall of the first container half is also formed appropriately with a larger height than the front wall of the second container half—refer to the corresponding height relation for the side walls—with a closed container a relatively large area is formed by the front wall of the first container half, which for example can be advantageously used for printing with appropriate information or for advertising.  
         [0011]     The removal of the foodstuff can be further improved if the front wall of the second container half exhibits a lower height than the front ends of the side walls assigned to it. This means that the side walls in the region of the front wall protrude upwards above it and the front wall only forms a slight impairment when removing the foodstuff. Furthermore, the corresponding sections of the side walls protruding over the front wall can be formed as engagement sections which protrude upwards above the front wall in extension of it. These engagement sections can be used to close the container.  
         [0012]     In a simple embodiment these engagement sections in extension of the side walls exhibit protruding means of latching or other means of fastening which interact with the side walls or also with the front wall of the first container half when the container is closed.  
         [0013]     A simple method of such interaction can be realised when the latching lug engages an open edge notch on the side ends of the front wall of the other container half when the container is closed.  
         [0014]     In particular, to simplify closure of the container such that, for example, when swivelling the container halves closed, the corresponding side walls do not come into direct contact with their free ends, the side wall can exhibit a chamfer running downwards in the direction of the bottom wall along its free edge on its end assigned to the rear wall.  
         [0015]     This chamfer also avoids possible contact of the free edges of the side walls in this region with adhesive flanges generally arranged in the interior of the container which are arranged between the rear wall and side wall.  
         [0016]     The invention also relates to a corresponding two-dimensional blank for the manufacture of such a box-shaped container. This blank exhibits first and second blank halves for the first, respectively second container half and they are joined together along a swivel joint. Each blank half comprises a central bottom section and side, front and rear wall sections protruding sideways from it.  
         [0017]     The corresponding blank is characterised according to the invention in that the side wall sections of the first half of the blank increase in height from the rear wall section to the front wall section and the side wall sections of the second half of the blank decrease in height from the rear wall to the front wall section.  
         [0018]     To increase the strength of the container, at least one of the front walls of the first or second container half can run between the corresponding side walls with an inward concave curvature. This can be achieved particularly in that a front and bottom wall section of a folding line joining at least the first blank half runs with a concave curvature. Corresponding to this curvature, with the manufactured container also the corresponding front wall runs with a concave curvature between the side walls.  
         [0019]     A swivel joint, which is simple to manufacture and can be operated without problems, can in particular be realised in that it exhibits a partially cut and/or perforated joining line between both rear wall sections. The opening and closing of the container is furthermore simplified if in particular the cut part of the joining line runs with a wavy shape.  
         [0020]     Analogously to the manufactured container, a free end edge of the front wall section of the first blank half can run with a convex curvature and the second blank half with a concave curvature.  
         [0021]     In order to simplify the joint particularly between the rear wall section and the side wall sections, the rear wall section can exhibit folding sections at its side ends for fastening with the side wall sections. Fastening can be realised using adhesive spots or a similar technique or also by melting on a sealing film optionally applied internally on the appropriate sections.  
         [0022]     To facilitate a simple arrangement of the above mentioned latching lugs in the region of the front wall of the upper or first container half, the blank can be formed such that the front wall sections of the first blank half exhibit side cut-outs adjacent to its free front end edge, via which lugs protrude to the side essentially in extension of the front end edge. These side cut-outs are then used for receiving the latching lugs and form corresponding latching receptacles.  
         [0023]     In order to simplify the arrangement of free end edges of the side walls in this region, the blank can be formed such that the side wall sections of the first blank half exhibit edge receptacles at ends of their free side end edges adjacent to adjoining folding sections, which continue in particular into the folding sections. Due to these edge receptacles, the introduction of the latching lugs on the free front ends of the side walls of the second container half when closing the container is made easier.  
         [0024]     In order to avoid a later collision of the free end edges of the side walls with the folding sections on closing the container, the side wall sections of the blank can extend relative to the folding sections further outwards with respect to the corresponding bottom section.  
         [0025]     With a closed container the free ends of the side walls, for example of the first container half, cover the corresponding free ends of the side walls of the second container half, so that the closed container in side elevation exhibits no end edges of the side walls normally running horizontally, but rather exhibits free ends of the side walls running in the direction of the front walls diagonally downwards. Consequently, a larger area of the side wall arises which, for example, can be printed with larger motifs or similar designs.  
         [0026]     In the following the invention is described in more detail based on an embodiment illustrated in the drawing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     The following are shown:  
         [0028]      FIG. 1 a  box-shaped container according to the invention illustrated in a perspective side elevation;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  the container according to  FIG. 1  in the open position, and  
         [0030]      FIG. 3 a  plan view of a two-dimensional blank for the manufacture of the container according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective side elevation of an embodiment of the box-shaped container  1  according to the invention. It exhibits a first container half  3  and a lower container half  4 , which are joined together for swivelling along a joining edge  2 , refer also to  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 1  the two container halves  3  and  4  are folded one over the other so that the container is closed.  
         [0032]     Each container half exhibits a bottom wall  5 ,  6 , refer in this respect again to  FIG. 2 , side walls  7 ,  8  or  9 ,  10  protruding away from it and front walls  12 ,  13  or rear walls  14 ,  15  which join the side walls at their ends  11  or  28 .  
         [0033]     In the closed position of the container  1  according to  FIG. 1 , the side walls  7 ,  8  of the upper or first container half  3  extend over the corresponding side walls  9 ,  10  of the second or lower container half  4 , so that a free end edge  29  of the upper side walls  7 ,  8  runs from the corresponding rear wall  14  diagonally downwards in the direction of the front wall  12 . This arises due to an increasing height  18  of the corresponding side walls  7 ,  8  between the rear wall  14  and the front wall  12 . The corresponding height  19  of the side walls  9 ,  10  of the second container half  4  in contrast decreases between the rear wall  15  and the front wall  13 .  
         [0034]     In  FIG. 1  it can be easily seen that a free end edge  20  of the front wall  12  of the first container half  3  runs with a convex curvature and the front wall  12  itself extends between the corresponding side walls  7 ,  8  with a concave curvature so that it is curved inwards in the direction of the container interior.  
         [0035]     To define the closed state of the box-shaped container  1 , the side walls  9 ,  10  of the second container half  4  exhibit at their front ends  11  engaging sections  24  with protruding latching lugs  25  adjacent to the corresponding front wall  13 , refer also to  FIG. 2 . They engage latching receptacles  26 , which are formed in the front wall  12  of the first or upper container half  3 , refer to  FIG. 1 , at the side ends  27 .  
         [0036]     In  FIG. 2 a  perspective view of a container  1  according to  FIG. 1  is illustrated in the open position. The corresponding rear walls  14 ,  15  are essentially congruent and along the corresponding joining edge  2  of these rear walls, which run along the upper end edges  16 ,  17 , an appropriate swivel joint  33 , refer also to  FIG. 3 , is formed for swivelling the container halves  3 ,  4  relative to one another. This swivel joint  33  comprises essentially a central section which is formed by a wavy cut line. At the side perforated sections can adjoin this wavy cut line. They can extend up to the side ends of the swivel joint  33  or change into corresponding folding lines.  
         [0037]     In the interior of the first container half  3 , it can be seen in  FIG. 2  that appropriate folding sections  59  are fitted to the inner side of the front wall  12 . These are joined to the side walls  7 ,  8  via folding lines.  
         [0038]     The front wall  12  of the first container half  3  extends in  FIG. 2  upwards to its convex free end edge  20 . Appropriate lugs  55 , refer also to  FIG. 3 , are formed on their side ends. Below these lugs  55  the latching receptacles  26  are formed as receptacles open at the side. In these latching receptacles  26  essentially an edge receptacle  58  opens out which is formed on the ends of the side walls  7 ,  8  pointing to the front wall  12  and which essentially is used for accommodating the engaging sections  24  of the other side walls  9 ,  10  when the container is closed, refer to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0039]     At their rear ends  28  pointing to the corresponding rear walls  14 ,  15 , the side walls  7 ,  8  and  9 ,  10  exhibit chamfers  30 ,  31  along the free edges  29 . They extend downwards in the direction of the upper end edges  16 ,  17  of the rear walls  14 ,  15 .  
         [0040]     The rear walls  14 ,  15  are essentially congruent and only differ in the wavy pattern along the corresponding cut line along the joining edge  2 . Whereas the rear wall  14  exhibits a pattern of two wave troughs and a wave crest, the corresponding rear wall  15  exhibits a pattern of two wave crests and a wave trough arranged between them.  
         [0041]     The front wall  13  of the second container half  4  is formed with a height  22  which is less than a corresponding height  19  of the corresponding side walls  9  and  10  in the region of the front ends  23  which are formed as ends  11  of the side walls. At these front ends  23  the side walls protrude beyond the front wall  13  essentially with their engaging section  24 , which, in particular at the front, exhibits latching lugs  25  protruding above the front wall.  
         [0042]     At least the front wall  12  of the first container half  3 , refer also to  FIG. 1 , runs with concave curvature with respect to the container interior and is joined to the corresponding bottom wall  5 , refer to  FIG. 2 , via a folding line  46  running with concave curvature. There is also the possibility that a folding line joining the front wall  13  and bottom wall  6 , refer to reference symbol  47  in  FIG. 3 , runs with a concave curvature so that in this case both front walls exhibit a corresponding concave curvature with respect to the container interior.  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 2  in the region of the rear wall  15  of the second container half  4  the folding sections  52  or  51  can still be seen, refer to  FIG. 3 , which are joined to the rear wall  15  via a folding line and are fastened from inside on the side walls  9 ,  10  by, in particular, adhesive.  43  The free end edges  20 ,  21  of the front walls  12 ,  13  also run curved, whereby the free end edge  20  of the front wall  12  runs convex and the free end edge  21  of the front wall  13  runs with a concave curvature.  
         [0044]     In  FIG. 3 a  plan view on a two-dimensional blank  32  is illustrated from which the box-shaped container  1  can be built up according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The blank  32  comprises a first blank half  34  and a second blank half  35 . From the first blank half  34  the first container half  3  is formed and the second container half  4  is formed from the second blank half  35 .  
         [0045]     Each of the blank halves exhibits a central bottom section  36 ,  37 , side wall sections  38 ,  39  and  40 ,  41  protruding away from it and front wall sections  42 ,  43  and rear wall sections  44 ,  45  joining them at their ends. Both rear wall sections  44 ,  45  are joined together by means of the joining line  48  as swivelling line  33 . Part of the joining line  48  is formed by a wavy cut line at the ends of which perforation sections follow which then change into folding lines.  
         [0046]     Appropriate folding sections  49 ,  50  and  51 ,  52  are arranged on the side ends of the corresponding rear wall sections  44 ,  45  and they are joined to the rear wall sections by means of folding lines.  
         [0047]     Further folding lines, refer to the illustrations in  FIG. 3  shown in dashed lines, are formed between the various side wall sections and the respective bottom section as well as between the front wall sections and the bottom section. In particular the folding line  46  between the front wall section  42  and the bottom wall section  36  of the first blank half  34  is formed curved, whereby it exhibits a concave curvature. This curvature ensures the corresponding concave run of the front wall  12  in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0048]     The corresponding folding line  47  between the front wall section  43  and the bottom section  37  of the second blank half  35  can also run with a concave curvature or also in a straight line.  
         [0049]     The front wall section  42  exhibits a free front end edge  53  which forms the free end edge  20  with a correspondingly convex curvature in the finished container  1  according to  FIG. 1 . Analogously, a corresponding free front end edge of the front wall section  43  can form the concave free end edge  21  of the container, refer to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0050]     The side wall sections  40 ,  41  are separated by means of cut lines from the folding sections  60  on the side ends of the front wall section  43 , whereby the corresponding engaging section  24  is formed along these cut lines with latching lugs  25 , refer also to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0051]     On the respective ends  28  of the corresponding side wall sections  38 ,  39 ,  40 ,  41 , pointing to the rear wall sections  44 ,  45 , they exhibit, in extension of their side end edges  56  or along their free edges  29 , refer to  FIG. 2 , chamfers  30 ,  31  running diagonally downwards in the direction of the corresponding folding sections.  
         [0052]     Opposite the chamfer  30  the side wall sections  38  and  39  exhibit in addition edge receptacles  58  on the ends  57 , which run up into the corresponding folding sections  59  between the side wall sections  38 ,  39  and the front wall section  42 . With the finished container  1 , refer to  FIG. 2 , these edge receptacles  58  form corresponding latching receptacles  26  for the accommodation of the latching lugs  25  as well as also for the partial accommodation, refer to  FIG. 1 , of the upper ends of the side wall sections  40 ,  41  of the second blank half  35 .  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 3 , directly following the corresponding folding sections  59 , cut-outs  54 , open at the side, are arranged which accordingly form the latching receptacles  26  in the front wall section and interact with the edge receptacles  58  on the finished container, refer again to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0054]     The container according to the invention is characterised by improved grasping for the user, which is facilitated by the lower height of the side walls  9 ,  10  and front wall  13  in the region of the second container half  4 , refer to  FIG. 2 . This simplified removal is further supported by the appropriate curvature of the free end edges  21  of the front wall  13 . At the same time, relatively large areas for the side walls  7 ,  8  and in particular also for the front wall  12  are produced for the first container half  3 , refer to  FIG. 1 . The corresponding concave curvature of at least the front wall  12  and optionally also of the front wall  13  inwards towards the container interior increases the strength of the container.