Container for food

• US 20100127054A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colpac Limited
• Original Assignee: Colpac Limited
• Inventors: Mills, Franks, Goldman, Neil, Wright, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 7,950,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/116
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3607 formed by folding or erecting a single blank

Abstract

A container for receiving a food product is formed from a shaped blank of paper, paperboard, cardboard or a similar material. A hinge arrangement comprising at least two and preferably three parts is provided between one of the side walls and one of the end walls to allow the partially formed container to be moved easily between a flat configuration suitable for transportation or storage and an erect configuration for receiving a food product. In the erect configuration one part of the hinge arrangement is sandwiched between another part of hinge arrangement and the end wail. In the flat configuration these two parts of the hinge arrangement lie in substantially the same plane. An integral lid may be provided.

Claims

1. A partially assembled container for receiving a food product and formed from a blank, the container having triangular side walls and substantially rectangular end walls to enable the formation a generally triangular prism-shaped container with an opening for receiving the food product, wherein hinge means comprising a first hinge part hingedly connected to a second hinge part are provided between one of said side walls and one of said end walls to enable the partially assembled container to be moved between a substantially flat position for storage and transportation and a substantially erect position for receiving a food product.

2. A partially assembled container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hinge part is hingedly connected to said one side wall, and the second hinge part is rigidly connected to said one end wall.

3. A partially assembled container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second hinge parts lie in substantially the same plane when the container is in a substantial flat condition, and the first hinge part and said one end wall sandwich the second hinge part when the container is in a substantially erect condition.

4. A partially assembled container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hinge means additionally comprises a third hinge part hingedly connected to the second hinge part and rigidly connected to the said end wall such that the said end wall is sandwiched by the second and third hinge parts.

5. A partially assembled container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hinge means additionally comprises a third hinge part hingedly connected to the second hinge part and rigidly connected to the said end wall such that the said third hinge part is sandwiched by the end wall and the second hinge part.

6. A partially assembled container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hinge means additionally comprises a third hinge part hingedly connected to the second hinge part and rigidly connected to the said end wall, the third hinge part is hingedly connected to the second hinge part and rigidly connected to the said end wall, and the first hinge part is securely fastened to one of said triangular side walls when the container is in its substantially erect position provision.

7. A partially assembled container as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the third hinge part and the surface of the end wall to which it is connected are substantially congruent.

8. A partially assembled container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge means are integral with the said side wall.

9. A partially assembled container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an integrally formed lid is provided for covering the opening in the container when it is in its erect condition.

10. A blank for forming a container for receiving a food product, the blank having triangular side walls and substantially rectangular end walls to enable the formation a generally triangular prism-shaped container with an opening for receiving the food product, the blank further comprising hinge means, the hinge means comprising a first hinge part hingedly connected to a second hinge part and arranged between one of said side walls and one of said end walls to enable a partially assembled container formed from the blank to be moved between a substantially flat position for storage and transportation and a substantially erect position for receiving a food product.

11. A blank as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first hinge part is hingedly connected to said one side wall.

12. A blank as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the hinge means additionally comprises a third hinge part hingedly connected to the second hinge part.

13. A blank as claimed in claim 12, wherein the third hinge part and the said end wall are substantially congruent.

14. A blank as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hinge means are integral with the said side wall.

15. A blank as claimed in any one of the claims 10 to 14, wherein an integrally formed lid is provided for covering the opening in the container when it is in its erect condition.

18. A method of forming a container from a blank according to claim 10 or 11, the method comprising the following steps:

1) folding the hinge means to overlie at least the other of said side walls;

2) bringing the one of said end walls into abutment with the other of said end walls by folding the other of said side walls about a central fold line thereof;

3) gluing the abutting surfaces of the other of said end walls and the one of said end walls together to form a permanent join;

4) folding the blank about the connection between the other of said end walls and the one of said side walls to bring part of the one of said end walls into abutment with the exposed surface of the second hinge part;

5) gluing the abutting surfaces of the second hinge part and the one of said end walls together to form a permanent join;

6) pulling the side walls in opposite directions such that the container naturally opens out into an erect state.

19. A method of forming a container from a blank according to claims 12 to 14, the method comprising the following steps:

1) folding the hinge means to overlie the other of said side walls and the other of said end walls;

2) bringing the one of said end walls into abutment with the exposed surfaces of the third hinge part by folding the other of said side walls about a central fold line thereof;

3) gluing the abutting surfaces of the third hinge part and the one of said end walls glued together to form a permanent join;

4) folding the blank about the connection between the third hinge part and the second hinge part to bring part of the one of said end walls into abutment with the exposed surface of the second hinge part;

5) gluing the abutting surfaces of the second hinge part and the one of said end walls together to form a permanent join and thereby sandwich part of the one of said end walls between the third hinge part and the second hinge part;

6) pulling the side walls in opposite directions, such that the container naturally opens out into an erect state.

20. A method of forming a container from a blank according to claims 12 to 14, the method comprising the following steps:

1) fastening the third hinge part to the inner surface of the one of said end walls and folding the partially fastened container into a substantially flat configuration;

2) storing the partially fastened container and transporting it to a food producer,

3) opening the partially fastened container;

4) erecting the container by bringing the first and second hinge parts into abutment and fastening the hinge means in the abutting configuration ready for receipt of a food product.

16. A partially assembled container for receiving a food product and formed from a blank substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A blank for forming a container for receiving a food product substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.