GB2164024A

GB2164024A - Container for storing of foodstuffs

Info

Publication number: GB2164024A
Application number: GB08521923A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Faltum
Original assignee: Mayo Odense V Faltum & Sonner
Current assignee: Mayo Odense V Faltum & Sonner
Priority date: 1984-09-05
Filing date: 1985-09-04
Publication date: 1986-03-12
Also published as: DK422784D0; GB2164024B; DK153828B; DE3531749A1; DK422784A; GB8521923D0; DK153828C

Abstract

A container e.g. for foodstuffs has a marking tag (4) attached at an edge (2), a projection (5) being placed in a slit (7) in the edge (2) and a pair of flaps (6) having knobs being able to snap under the edge (2) to attach the tag to the container. The tag (4) is preferably produced from an elastic, resilient plate and may take the form of a handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for storing of foodstuffs Description The invention relates to containers, particularly for the storing of foodstuffs and with an edge or rim around the opening of the container.

Containers of this kind are widely used for packing foodstuffs as the container can be closed by pressing down a separate lid made of an elastically deformable material. The lid has a groove with its opening facing downwards, which groove is pressed down over the edge of the container where it squeezes the two parts together to form a closed container.

By using such containers with lids for packing foodstuffs to be shown in e.g. grocery shops for retail sale, the contents must usually be put in other containers forming part of a modulus of containers in sales show cases, refrigerators, etc.

To indicate contents, price, etc. for each individual container a tag is usually attached by means of a pin in the food article, the pin being inserted and held by the food article. This is for several reasons inconvenient and unhygienic. It is thus inexpedient as the tag has to be removed when the content is to be taken but of the container, and it is unhygienic if the pin and the tag are not cleaned properly.

So far it has not been possible to supply such containers with suitable tags in any other way, such containers normally being packed close to each other rendering any marking on the outer walls of the containers impossible.

It is the object of the invention to overcome these drawbacks of the hitherto known containers, and this is achieved by a container, the edge of which is constructed with one or several slits, which slits give access to a projection on a plate, when the plate is placed on the edge, the plate moreover being supplied with two flaps at the lower side abutting the lower side of the edge. By applying such containers where it is possible to attach a tag at the edge of the container, it becomes possible in a very simple and hygienic way to supply each individual container with the required marking and at the same time to avoid that the tag or part thereof touches the foodstuffs or that it is inconvenient when food is taken out or put back into the container.Furthermore, it becomes possible to deliver industrially manufactured foodstuffs in such containers with hermetically sealed lids, as the retailer or the consumer may simply place the container in the required place and remove the lid, when the contents are to be taken out. Moreover, the container can be supplied with a tag which is placed in the slit of the edge area, where it is locked to the edge when the flaps snap below the edge. Once the article has been purchased, the tag can be removed by releasing the flaps from the edge and taking out the tag. The separate lid may then be placed on the container, which is now once again closed.

By applying this method the handling of such industrially manufactured foodstuffs is simplified, as these need not be put into other containers or the like suitable for sale, and foodstuffs are thus stored in a much more hygienic way, both while in ' the shop as while being stored. Moreover, the risk of infections occurring is greatly reduced in that the food is delivered and kept in the hygienic container.

By, as dealt with in claim 2, supplying the flaps with an edge, the flaps are brought to mesh with the edge.

By constructing the tag of a piece of resilient material, as dealt with in claim 3, this may easily be made by punching or casting, and it is easily fitted to or removed from the edge of the container by a slight folding around the centre line.

By, as dealt with in claim 4, providing the projection with such a length that it abuts the wall of the container, the attachment becomes stable, and a correct angle of the tag with respect to the container is achieved.

By, as dealt with in claim 5, supplying the plate with openings, two such plates may operate as lifting handles for the container.

The invention will be described in more detail in the following with reference to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 shows a container without lid with two plates attached, Figure 2 shows one of the plates seen from the side of the container, Figure 3 shows the plate seen from the end of the container, and Figure 4 shows a section of the container without plate seen from above.

In Fig. 1 is shown an example of an embodiment for a storing and sales container 1 containing foodstuffs 3. At the top the container has a horizontal edge or rim 2 running in an unbroken line around the opening of the container. The container may be made of plastic or metal.

A separate lid (not shown) of resilient plastic and with an upwardly turning groove may be fitted, which groove may be pressed down over the edge 2 to close this.

In the opposite sides of the container, e.g. in the middle of the short sides, a pair of lengthwise slits 7 are situated, which slits are clearly shown in fig.

4.

In these slits 7 a projection 5 may be pressed down, which projection is situated on an essentially rectangular plate 4 which may be constructed of a piece of resilient plastic or metal plate.

Apart from this projection turning downwards a flap 6 is placed at both of the two side edges, which flap is formed by a horizontal cut in a plate portion turning downwards. The flap 6 will abut the lower side of the edge 2 when the projection 5 is in place in the slit 7. This is due to the fact that the projection 5 is placed in the edge area a short distance removed from the outer edge, and that the flaps 6 thus in their attached position will point toward the projection due to the resilience of the plate and thereby lock the plate 4 to the edge 2 of the container.

At the side of the flap 6 turning toward the container 1 a projection in the shape of a knob 9 may be placed, which knob partly supports the flap and partly provides a stable abutment to the lower side of the edge 2.

As is seen from fig. 2, the length of the projection 5 is of importance to the angle of the plate 4 with respect to the edge 2 of the container. If a suitable length is chosen, the angle may be adjusted according to need.

All kinds of marking may be effected on this plate 4, either by sticking a-label to the plate or by direct marking on the plate.

If handles for the handling of the container are required, the pLate 4 may be supplied with an opening 8, as is shown in fig. 1 and implied by the dotted line in fig. 3, whereby the container is easily lifted, even in cases where this is placed close to adjacent containers. This would otherwise not be possible unless adjacent containers had to be shifted.

if the plate 4 is to be removed from the container, this is done by folding the plate along its longitudinal axis in order that the two flaps 6 with the knob 9 are released from the edge 2, whereby the plate may be lifted. The plate being resilient, it may be fitted and removed numerous times without reducing its resilience effect and grip.

The present invention is explained and described with reference to a container preferably for foodstuffs, but it is within the scope of the invention to apply the invention for other types of containers provided these partially or in whole are fitted with an- edge, in which a slit 7 may be made.

In stead of the shown and described embodiment of the plate 4 with a projection 5, the plate may possibly have another embodiment, where the projection 5 is replaced by one or several short projections meshing with a corresponding number of slits 7 in the edge 2.

These short projections could be folded in such a manner that they mesh with the slit to form an abutment on the lower side of the edge in order that the plate is held firmly to the edge. The flaps 6 may here be completely avoided, whereby the plate will consist of the actual plate and two short projections turning downwards only, which projections mesh with corresponding slits in the edge.

Claims

,CLAIMS

1. Container, preferably for the storing of foodstuffs and with an edge around the opening of the container, characterized in that the edge (2) is constructed with one or several slits (7), which slits give access to a projection (5) on a plate (4), when the plate is placed on the edge (2), the plate (4) moreover being supplied with two flaps (6) at the lower side abutting the lower side of the edge (2).

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the flaps (6) are supplied with a knob (9) abutting the lower side of the edge (2).

3. Container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the plate (4) with the projection (5) and the flaps (6) is made of a piece of resilient material.

4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection (5) is of such a length that it abuts the side wall of the container (1).

5. Container according to claims 1 - 4, characterized in that an opening (8) is formed in the outer part of the plate (4).

6. A container with an outwardly-protruding rim extending around at least part of the opening of the container, the rim having at least one slit which removably receives a projection on a plate which upstands from the rim.

7. A container for foodstuffs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

7. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: *(a) Claims 1-7 above have been deleted or textually amended.

*(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:-

1. A container for foodstuffs, having an outwardly-protruding rim extending around at least part of an opening of the container, a slit in the rim, and a display member having a projection which can be removably received in the slit and, when received, abuts the outside wall of the container, an information-display portion which upstands from the rim when the projection is received in the slit, and a retaining tab portion which is laterally spaced from the projection ane which can engage beneath the rim to retain the display member on the container when its proje > tion is received in the slit.

2. A container according to claim 1, in which the tab portion is thickened in transverse section relative to the adjacent part of the display member to form a retaining knob.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, in which the display member has two retaining tabs, one at each side of the projection.

4. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the display member is apertured to form a carrying handle for the container.

5. A container according to claim 4, having a further slit at an opposite end of the container and a further said display member which is apertured to form a further carrying handle.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the display member is of resilient material.