EP0207179A1 - Package for consumable products that perish quickly in contact with the atmosphere, such as pickles, olives, onions, pimentos, corn cobs or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A package (1) is to be provided for individual consumable products (2) of the type mentioned which is inexpensive to produce and guarantees appetising presentation over prolonged periods whilst maintaining an aroma-tight and liquid-tight closure without impairing the taste. The package consists of a deformable cover (3) made of film material which receives such consumable products individually in liquid, at least partially fits snugly around them, is hermetically sealed all-around and is welded or bonded along at least one of its edges (5).

Description

Packaging for consumption objects subject to rapid deterioration under atmospheric conditions such as appetizing cucumbers (small cucumbers, gherkins), olives, onions, pepperoni, corn cobs or the like.

The invention relates to a packaging for consumption objects subject to rapid deterioration under atmospheric conditions such as appetizing cucumbers (small cucumbers, gherkins), olives, onions, pepperoni, corn cobs or the like. and generally aims to provide small portioned units of such consumption objects.

Small fast-food stalls such as cucumbers or gherkins, olives or the like are often sold at fast food stands, in restaurants or even restaurants. provided, wherein these in plurality in a suitable seasoning liquid (infusion) a ^q e-sets and stored either in sealed cans or glass jars. Since such containers, in which the consumable objects are brought in by the manufacturer, are usually very large for the commercial sector (restaurants) for cost reasons, it can very easily happen that the consumable objects last removed from the container by the consumer for a long time in the previous vacuum-tight container, but after the first opening it no longer remains airtight. Consequently, in the course of such a storage period, there are considerable losses in taste up to the complete inedibility of the consumable object, since both infusion and consumable objects are subject to a generally rapid aging process under the influence of air. The previously known type of storage of such consumption objects is also of considerable disadvantage because the multiple immersion of tines, forks or the like. for removal at intervals without intermediate cleaning of the tool germs both on the removed mene consumption project as well as in the liquid in the container.

In addition, however, there is a tendency in gastronomy, in particular in fast food restaurants, at street vendors and similar establishments, to offer the guest ingredients for their food as hygienically as possible and thereby stimulate consumption or appetite, while on the other hand, from the point of view of economy, the aim is to use only that to issue or offer the desired consumption quantity in each case and to prevent ingredients or side dishes which are not desired by a large number of consumers and which have once been on a food plate from having to be thrown into the waste. For this reason, it has become a thing of the past to pack and present mustard in one-portion bags or milk in appropriate thermoformed trays sealed in foil. These are more or less viscous masses, which can be filled continuously in mass production, are easy to close and handle in their packaging and are easy to pack.

It is also known to individually pack sausages that have been smoked in aluminum foil, although, as a rule, each sausage is additionally surrounded by a plastic or cellophane film that closely adheres to it in order to ensure the required durability and manageability.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide packaging for individual consumption objects of the type mentioned, in which they can be presented appetizingly individually and over a longer period of time and at the same time are packed aroma-tight and liquid-tight, so that there is no loss of taste even with prolonged storage are to be feared, and which is inexpensive and quick to manufacture, so that the object of consumption packed therein is only un compared to the known large pack is significantly more expensive.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that the packaging consists of such an individually absorbing object, which at least partially conforms to it, preferably elastically and / or plastically deformable envelope made of film material, which is hermetically sealed all round and is at least a part of its edges welded or glued . The casing itself can be produced in an extremely simple manner from a casing material blank corresponding to the order of magnitude of the consumable object to be encased, for example from two separate, essentially identical casing parts, between which the consumable object is hermetically enclosed, or by using one initially on one or more of its Edges of open tubular, pouch-shaped or pocket-shaped cut, the edges of which are initially open after being filled with the object to be hermetically sealed by welding or gluing; if necessary, it can also be a deep-drawn bag. Consumption objects packaged in this way, intended as side dishes or ingredients, are considerably improved compared to the previously customary way of storing them, in that they are offered to the guest individually and in an extremely hygienic and aesthetic form and can be used or consumed by them as desired, without they are left as an unnecessary waste of destruction. The consumption controlled in this way, which can be increased even more, can easily compensate for the additional costs incurred by the individual packaging, apart from the fact that at any time, due to the advantageous form of presentation mentioned, it is also possible to sell the items individually and take them with the buyer / guest without them that special packaging measures are required. At the same time, the consumption object is in its infusion in the packaging and can therefore be kept unaffected by taste for a long time. The wrapper forming the packaging is advantageously vacuum-sealed, with the result that the inherent stability of the wrapper and the shelf life of the consumable objects are increased as a result of the absence of trapped air.

In order to facilitate the handling of the packaging, in particular when opening the packaging, according to another advantageous embodiment, the casing has at least one tear notch on its edge. This tear notch acts as a predetermined breaking point; If the user tears the cover at this point to open the packaging, an opening for removing the consumable object can be created in a simple manner without additional separate tools such as scissors or knives. In addition, it is also conceivable to attach two of these tearing notches to the casing, so that the upper part of the casing can be lifted up like a flap from the lower part while exposing the consumable object.

Although in principle any suitable shape of the wrapper forming the packaging is possible in accordance with the consumption object to be contained therein, it is particularly advantageous if the wrapper has an essentially rectangular basic shape, since this in any case consumes objects with all conceivable and non-periodic contours, for example a pickled gherkin , Corn cobs, small peppers, etc. In addition, this rectangular type of design of the casing receiving the consumable object enables very inexpensive production, on the one hand the base material present in web form for punching out or cutting out the casing contour optimally, i.e. without waste, is used and, on the other hand, standardized rectangular envelopes or envelope parts can be used for the packaging of different sized and differently shaped consumption objects.

The shell is preferably made of polypropylene or poly ethylene, since these materials are, on the one hand, inexpensive to produce enveloping materials, which have very good welding or adhesive properties to form aroma and liquid-tight packaging and, on the other hand, are suitable for packaging objects intended for consumption. The casing can also be made of aluminum composite film, which is particularly suitable when pasteurization of the packaging is desired or required.

Under the influence of visible light, many objects intended for consumption take on a color that is detrimental to their appetizing presentation. In order not to at least not completely expose the consumable object enclosed in the sheath to the visible light, according to another expedient embodiment of the invention it is of advantage to make only part of the material forming the sheath optically transparent. This can be done either by the fact that only the front, the presentation side of the cover is made of optically transparent material, while the back of the cover is made of optically opaque material, or by only a small part in the form of a viewing window of the front Part of the shell is formed, while the entire remaining part of the shell is optically opaque. The actual contents of the packaging can then be made visible in the form of printing or the like to represent the packaged food item. be applied to the part of the casing which is visible from the outside.

In order to be able to present the consumer object particularly to the consumer / buyer, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shell can carry a hanging flap, both of which can advantageously be connected to one another via a predetermined breaking point, for example in the form of creasing or perforation. The hanging tab carries a hole or similar means for hanging the case on a stand. By cutting along the Predetermined breaking point, the gqf. can also be equipped with tear-off heels which facilitate tearing in the edge area, then access to the packaged consumption object is particularly easy.

Overall, the invention provides an advantageous possibility of offering portioned consumption objects of the admonished kind in kiosks, fast-food restaurants, restaurants, butchers, etc., in order to increase sales, such packaging being inexpensive to produce and the packaged goods being inexpensive and storable for a sufficient amount of time.

• Fiq. 1 in axonometrischer Darstellung ein in der die erfindungsgemäße Verpackung bildenen Hülle eingeschlossenes Verzehrobjekt in Form einer Gewürzgurke und
• Fig. 2 eine Ansicht einer abqewandelten Ausführungsform einer Gurken-Verpackung.

Further details and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic drawing. In the drawing shows

• Fiq. 1 is an axonometric representation of a consumption object in the form of a pickled gherkin and enclosed in the envelope forming the packaging according to the invention
• Fig. 2 is a view of a modified embodiment of a cucumber packaging.

A packaging 1 for a consumption object 2 essentially consists of a rectangular-shaped casing 3, which consists of a rectangular blank. In order to form a pocket 4 which is initially open on three sides, it is folded around the rear edge 8 in such a way that two approximately equally large shell parts 9, 10 are formed.

However, the sheath 3 does not need to be in the form of a pocket 4 which is openly prefabricated on three sides, but can also be formed by a deep-drawn tube or bag or two completely separately manufactured or cut to size upper and lower shell parts 9, 10 are formed. This type of separate formation of the upper shell part 9 and the lower shell part 10 is. Especially useful if both parts are made of different shell materials, for example if the lower part is made of non-corrugated or plastic-coated aluminum foil, while the upper part is either completely or partially made of optically permeable plastic material such as polyethylene, polyethylene or the like. consists.

After the consumable object 2, here in the form of a cucumber, has been poured into the casing 3 with its infusion, for example by laying the consumable object 2 onto the lower casing part 10 while the upper casing part 9 is still folded up or removed, the upper casing part is then folded down or laid on . The two shell parts 9, 10 are then welded or glued to one another in a known manner. During the closing of the package 1, the air enclosed inside the package 1 between the shell parts 9, 10 can be removed by suitable means, so that the enclosed consumption object 2 is packed in a vacuum-tight manner. It is of particular advantage that the vacuum-sealed envelope 3 gives it an increase in stability, so that the handling and storage of such a packaging is made more resistant to external influences such as damage or advertising, e.g. is improved during transportation.

In order to facilitate the handling of the packaging 1 during opening, the envelope has a tear notch 6 at its edge 5 in the embodiment shown. This tear notch, of which several can be arranged at a suitable point on the outer edges, forms a kind of predetermined breaking point, which allows the user to tear open the casing 3 with his fingers on this tear notch, without additional tools for Opening the packaging 1 would be necessary.

In the exemplary embodiment de FIG. 2, the casing 3, in which a cucumber is also packaged as the consumption object 2, is provided along an edge with a hanging flap 11 which can be torn off via a predetermined breaking point 12 in order to gain access to the consumption object. There is a hole 13 in the hanging tab 11, with which the object can be hung, for example, on a sales or display stand in restaurants, kiosks or other sales outlets. Of course, other hanging options are also possible by means of clamps or the like. conceivable.

Although a cucumber enclosed in the casing 3, which is a pickled or pickled cucumber, a blanched cucumber or the like, has been assumed in the drawing as the consumption object 2. can act, the packaging according to the invention is also suitable for packaging olives, mixed pickles, corn cobs (cocktail corn) and the like, regardless of whether small quantities of an infusion, i.e. an inlay or aroma liquid, are present in the consumption object in question Envelope 3 are included or not. It can be seen that opening the casing 3 and removing the consumable object 2 without pouring or leaking out the infusion essential for taste and durability are possible by a suitable arrangement of the target tube 12. Such an infusion can be filled in hot, which would make pasteurization of the consumable object unnecessary.

Such a heat treatment of the consumable object, if desired or required, will in turn determine the choice of material for the casing 3.

Approximate dimensions of packaging (length x width) from 10 cm x 5 cm to 20 cm x 10 cm are considered to be particularly expedient, while thicknesses of 40 .mu.m to 200 .mu.m are advantageous for the film material of the casing, in particular with regard to adequately firm packaging on the one hand and a sufficiently easy opening as well as a minimal use of materials.

Claims (11)

1. Packing for consumption objects subject to rapid deterioration under atmospheric conditions, such as appetizing cucumbers (small cucumbers, gherkins), olives, onions, pepperoni, corn cobs or the like, characterized in that the packaging (1) individually absorbs from such consumption objects (2) , at least partially conforming, preferably elastically and / or plastically deformable, sheath (3) made of film material which is hermetically sealed all round and welded or glued along at least part of its edges (5). 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the envelope (3) from a bag (4), a tubular or deep-drawn bag or the like. consists. 3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the envelope (3) is vacuum-sealed. 4. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the envelope (3) at its edge (5) has at least one tear notch (6). 5. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the envelope (3) has a substantially rectangular basic shape. 6. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the envelope (3) made of poly propylene exists. 7. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the envelope (3) consists of polyethylene. 8. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the envelope (3) consists of aluminum composite film. 9. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to R, characterized in that the material forming the envelope (3) is (optically) at least partially transparent. 10. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the envelope (3) carries a hanging tab (11). 11. Packaging according to claim 10, characterized in that the sheath (3) and hanging tab (11) are connected to one another via a predetermined breaking point (12).

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