Food package

Abstract

A food packaging is described with a container (3) made of a deep-drawn cardboard tray (1) and a separate lid (4) which rests against an edge flange (5) projecting outwards from the tray edge of the container (3). In order to create advantageous construction conditions, it is proposed that the lid (4), also formed from a deep-drawn cardboard tray (2), rests against the edge flange (5) of the container (4) with an edge flange (6) projecting outwards from the tray edge, and that one of the two edge flanges (5, 6) has at least two connecting tabs (7) provided on opposite circumferential sides, extending from the tray edge, laterally exposed and formed with an undercut (9) in the exposure area, and the other edge flange (6) has receiving slots (10) running along the tray edge for the connecting tabs (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a food packaging with a container made of a deep-drawn cardboard tray and a separate lid which rests on an edge flange projecting outwards from the tray edge of the container.

[0002] To avoid the use of plastic trays as containers for food packaging, it is known to use containers made from a deep-drawn cardboard tray. These trays form a circumferential edge flange extending from the tray edge for connection to a separate lid, which is usually sealed with a plastic lid. However, liquid-tight packaging is not required for certain foodstuffs, so replacing the plastic lid with a non-adhesive cardboard lid is a viable option. If adhesive bonding between the container and lid is to be avoided, however, it is difficult to ensure a dimensionally stable connection between the container and lid without having to forego a repeatedly detachable connection between the container and lid. In this context, it is important to note that the edge flange required for the dimension stability of the container must be retained.

[0003] The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a food packaging made of cardboard in such a way that an easy-to-handle, repeatedly detachable connection between the container and the lid is achieved while maintaining sufficient dimensional stability.

[0004] Starting from a food packaging of the type described at the outset, the invention achieves the stated object in that the lid, which is also formed from a deep-drawn cardboard tray, rests against the edge flange of the container with an edge flange projecting outwards from the tray edge and in that one of the two edge flanges has at least two connecting tabs provided on opposite circumferential sides, extending from the tray edge, laterally released and formed with an undercut in the release area and the other edge flange has receiving slots for the connecting tabs running along the tray edge.

[0005] The fact that both the container and the lid are made of deep-drawn cardboard trays with flanges extending outward from the tray edge ensures the required dimensional stability of the food packaging both open and closed. Despite this dimensional stability, an easy-to-use plug-in connection can be achieved by providing one of the two flanges with laterally exposed connecting tabs extending from the tray edge on opposite circumferential sides and receiving slots for these connecting tabs running along the tray edge in the area of the adjacent flange.Since these connecting straps are laterally exposed, the edge flange is interrupted in its course by the connecting webs with the effect that the shell walls in the area of the connecting straps can be elastically pressed against each other according to their insertion depth so that the connecting straps engage in the receiving slots of the adjacent edge flange as soon as the elastic restoring forces return the shell walls to their original position.

[0006] To release the connection, reverse the locking sequence and pull the connecting tabs out of the receiving slots by elastically pressing the opposing shell walls against each other. In the locked position, the connecting tabs, with their undercuts, grip the outer side of the shell wall in the end area of the receiving slots, thereby securing the closed position and preventing accidental release of the lock.

[0007] For the basic functionality of the plug-in connections between the container and the lid, it is irrelevant whether the connecting tabs are attached to the container or the lid. However, handling conditions are usually more favorable if the connecting tabs are located near the edge flange of the container and the receiving slots are located in the lid, because containers generally have higher shell walls, which provide better elastic properties for the required wall deformation.

[0008] To improve the hold of the connecting tabs in the receiving slots, the receiving slots can be designed with a toothed profile so that the connecting tabs are held under a certain pretension between the tooth tips of the opposite slot edges.

[0009] If the edge flange of the cardboard tray with the receiving slots forms a flanged outer edge that encompasses the edge flange with the connecting tabs, an independent alignment of the lid with respect to the container can be achieved in a simple manner if the lid is placed with its edge flange on the edge flange of the container.

[0010] The drawing shows an example of the subject matter of the invention. Fig. 1 shows the container of a food packaging according to the invention in a top view, Fig. 2 shows the lid of this food packaging in a partially opened bottom view and Fig. 3 shows a section through a plug connection between container and lid on a larger scale.

[0011] A food packaging according to the invention consists of two deep-drawn cardboard trays 1, 2, a container 3 and a lid 4. These cardboard trays 1, 2 each have an edge flange 5, 6 projecting outwards from the tray edge. The edge flanges 5, 6 lie flat against one another when the lid 4 is in place, as is the case with the Fig. 3 can be seen.

[0012] In order to connect the lid 4 placed on the container 3 to the container 3, the edge flange 5 of the cardboard tray 1 of the container 3 forms connecting tabs 7 on opposite circumferential sides, which are laterally exposed by lateral recesses 8 in the edge flange 5 and have an undercut 9 in the exposure area.

[0013] The edge flange 6 of the cardboard tray 2 of the lid 4 is provided with receiving slots 10 for the connecting tabs 7 on opposite circumferential sides, corresponding to the arrangement of the connecting tabs 7 of the container 3. These receiving slots 10 run along the tray edge and preferably have serrated edges 11.

[0014] In order to lock the lid 4 in the closed position, in which the edge flanges 5, 6 of the container 3 and the lid 4 abut one another, with the container 4, two opposing tray walls 12 of the cardboard tray 1, each provided with connecting tabs 7, are elastically pressed against one another, as shown in the Fig. 1 is indicated schematically by dash-dotted lines. The recesses 8 interrupt the edge flange 5 of the container 3, thereby supporting the elastic pressing of the shell walls 12 against each other.

[0015] Due to the elastic deformation of the shell walls 12, the connecting tabs 7 are displaced towards the interior of the shell, so that with a minimum displacement corresponding to the insertion depth of the connecting tabs 7, the connecting tabs 7 come to rest in front of the receiving slots 10. When the shell walls 12 are relieved of pressure, the connecting tabs 7 are inserted into the receiving slots 10 by the elastic restoring forces of the shell walls 12 that then become effective, wherein in the locking position the undercuts 11 of the connecting tabs 7 engage over the outer side of the shell walls 12 in the area of the two ends of the receiving slots and thus cause a locking action that secures the locking position between the container 3 and the lid 4.

[0016] To release the locking mechanism, first press the shell walls 12 against each other in reverse order to pull the connecting tabs 7 out of the receiving slots 10 until the receiving slots 10 release the connecting tabs 7 and the edge flanges 5, 6 can be released from each other.

[0017] In order to enable easy alignment of the lid 4 relative to the container 3, the edge flange 6 of the cardboard tray 2 of the lid 4 can be provided with a flanged outer edge 13 which engages around the edge flange 5 of the cardboard tray 1 of the container 3 and thus secures the closed position of the lid 4 relative to the container 3.

Claims

1. Food packaging with a container (3) made of a deep-drawn cardboard tray (1) and a separate lid (4) which rests on an edge flange (5) projecting outwards from the tray edge of the container (3), characterized in that the lid (4), which is also formed from a deep-drawn cardboard tray (2), rests against the edge flange (5) of the container (4) with an edge flange (6) projecting outwards from the tray edge, and that one of the two edge flanges (5, 6) has at least two connecting tabs (7) provided on opposite circumferential sides, extending from the tray edge, laterally released and formed with an undercut (9) in the release area, and the other edge flange (6) has receiving slots (10) running along the tray edge for the connecting tabs (7).

2. Food packaging according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe edge flange (5) of the container (3) has the connecting tabs (7) and the lid (4) has the receiving slots (10) for the connecting tabs (7).

3. Food packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving slots (10) have a toothed profile.

4. Food packaging according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the edge flange (6) of the cardboard tray (2) with the receiving slots (10) forms a flanged outer edge (13) encompassing the edge flange (5) with the connecting tabs (7).

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