Package for frozen products

Abstract

The invention relates to a package (10) for receiving a flat frozen product (1), in particular a frozen pizza, wherein the package has a top (11), a bottom (12), a front (13), a back (14) and at least two further sides (15, 16) which form an interior for receiving the frozen product, and consists essentially of a single piece of folded and glued corrugated cardboard, the front having a flap (23) and a slot (25), the package having a tear perforation (20) which encloses the flap and a lid part (21) of the top, so that by tearing along the tear perforation and opening the lid part (21) the package is opened, wherein by opening the lid part into an open position an opening in the shape of the lid part is created in the top through which the frozen product can be removed from the interior.The opening can be closed again by folding the lid part back into a closed position, whereby in the closed position the tab can be inserted into the slot, and by inserting the tab into the slot the lid part can be fixed in the closed position.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging for frozen foods, in particular frozen pizza and similarly shaped products, such as frozen pinsa, tarte flambée or lahmacun.

[0002] It is common knowledge that frozen pizzas and similar products are packaged in flat cardboard boxes. These boxes are machine-foldable and contain the frozen product, which is usually also shrink-wrapped. They are thus similar to the outer packaging of other frozen products. They are lightweight, space-saving, stackable, and cost-effective to produce, store, and transport.

[0003] However, this type of packaging has certain disadvantages. In particular, it is unsuitable for transporting prepared pizza, for example, from the preparation location to another place for consumption. While such packaging has an opening to allow removal of the frozen, foil-wrapped product, this opening is not well-suited for placing the hot, prepared pizza back into the packaging. Furthermore, the packaging is neither sufficiently heat-insulating nor protected against deterioration from grease or steam from the prepared pizza, causing the pizza to cool down after only a short time and the packaging to become unstable. This type of packaging is also unsuitable as a serving dish – for example, if no suitable tableware is available.Firstly, it would be cumbersome to unfold, and secondly, it is too thin to effectively protect the underlying surface from cuts, heat, and contamination by liquid components of the product.

[0004] For transporting hot pizza (and similar products), the use of special folding boxes made of cardboard is well-known. For example, such so-called pizza boxes are used by pizza delivery services. Generic pizza boxes are disclosed, for example, in DE 195 32 473 A1 and WO 2022 / 184196 A1. They are folded by hand, are large and heavy, and therefore generally unsuitable as packaging material in the industrial production of frozen products. Furthermore, it is not immediately apparent to the consumer whether the packaging of such boxes has already been opened, which means that the food safety of the frozen product is not guaranteed.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide improved packaging for frozen pizza and similar products that addresses these problems. In particular, an object is to provide such packaging that is lightweight, space-saving, and stackable, as well as cost-effective to manufacture, store, and transport.

[0006] Furthermore, one task is to provide packaging suitable for the further transport of the prepared product, in particular allowing easy insertion and removal of the prepared product and also protecting it from rapid cooling.

[0007] Another task is to provide packaging that remains dimensionally stable during the transport of the prepared product, and in particular is resistant to moisture penetration by the prepared product.

[0008] Furthermore, one task is to provide packaging that is suitable as a base when consuming the prepared product, in particular offering some protection to the underlying surface from heat, cuts and contamination.

[0009] Another task is to provide packaging that ensures the food safety of the prepared product during further transport and / or use as a base.

[0010] At least one of these tasks is achieved through the features of independent claims or dependent claims.

[0011] A first aspect of the invention relates to packaging designed to hold a flat frozen product, for example, a frozen pizza. The packaging has a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and at least two further sides, which together form an interior space for holding the frozen product. It consists essentially of a single piece of folded and glued cardboard, wherein at least the front consists of two parts of the cardboard glued together, a first of the two parts forming a common first edge with the top and a second of the two parts forming a common second edge with the bottom. According to the invention If the cardboard is corrugated cardboard, the first part of the front has a flap, and the second part of the front has a slit, and the packaging has a tear perforation that encloses the flap and at least partially a part of the top (lid part).

[0012] The tear perforation encloses the flap and the lid part in such a way that the packaging is opened by tearing (along the tear perforation) and unfolding the lid part, whereby By opening the lid part into an open position, an opening in the shape of the lid part is created in the top, through which the frozen product can be removed from the interior, and by folding the lid part back into a closed position, the opening can be closed again, wherein the tab and slot are dimensioned and arranged such that in the closed position the tab can be inserted into the slot, and by inserting the tab into the slot the lid part can be fixed in the closed position.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the packaging is designed to hold a frozen product, which is shaped like a pizza, pinsa, tarte flambée, or lahmacun. Optionally, the frozen product is wrapped in plastic film.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the packaging, the lid part is connected to the back of the packaging along a lid edge, this lid edge having a crease, e.g., a scored line, and / or a tear-off perforation. In the case of a tear-off perforation, this can optionally be less pronounced than the tear-off perforation, i.e., the tear-off perforation offers greater resistance when the lid part is torn off than the tear-off perforation does when it is torn open.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the packaging, the corrugated cardboard consists of at least 50% virgin fibers. In one embodiment, the virgin fiber content is 100%. This increases, among other things, the heat resistance. Optionally, the corrugated cardboard can be heat-resistant up to at least 220°C.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the packaging is essentially cuboid. Optionally, at least the top surface is essentially square (optionally also the bottom surface).

[0017] According to another embodiment, the length and width of the packaging are each at least eight times greater than the height of the packaging. In another embodiment, the length and width are each at least ten times greater than the height. In one embodiment, the length differs from the width by less than 10%, in particular by less than 2%.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the packaging, the lid part is dimensioned in such a way that the frozen product can be guided through the resulting opening regardless of its orientation (that of the frozen product).

[0019] According to another embodiment of the packaging, the lid part comprises at least 80% of the surface of the top, in particular at least 90%.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the packaging, the lid part comprises at most 98% of the surface of the top, in particular at most 95%.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the packaging, the lid part does not include any of the corners of the top. This advantageously increases the stability of the packaging after the lid part has been torn open (and possibly removed).

[0022] According to another embodiment of the packaging, the two parts of the front are arranged such that the first part covers the second part from the outside by at least 95%.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the packaging, at least two of the additional sides each consist of two cardboard parts glued together, wherein a first of the two parts forms a common first edge with the top side and a second of the two parts forms a common second edge with the bottom side. Optionally, the two parts of each additional side can be arranged such that the first part covers at least 95% of the second part from the outside.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the packaging, the tear-off perforation extends partially along the edges of the top to the at least two further sides, in particular along the edges of the top with the first parts of the at least two further sides.

[0025] A second aspect of the invention relates to a packaged frozen product, wherein the frozen product is packaged in packaging according to the first aspect of the invention. Optionally, the frozen product can be additionally wrapped in a plastic film within an interior space of the packaging.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the frozen product, it has a flat shape (e.g., flatbread-like), wherein the height of the frozen product is less than one-tenth of its width, length, or (particularly in the case of round shapes) its diameter. The frozen product can therefore be designed, in particular, as a pizza, pinsa, tarte flambée, or lahmacun.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the frozen product, it is designed to be prepared by heating. In this embodiment, the frozen product is designed to be placed back into the interior of the packaging after preparation (for example, for further transport or as a base for consumption), wherein the frozen product and an opening in the packaging are dimensioned such that the frozen product can be guided through the opening into the interior regardless of its orientation.

[0028] Further advantages of the present invention are evident from the detailed description and the drawings. Figs. 1a-b show a generic packaging for a frozen pizza in the closed and open states; Figs. 2a-b show an exemplary embodiment of the packaging according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows the packaging of the Fig. 2a-bwith the lid open; Fig. 4 shows a folding diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the packaging according to the invention; and Fig. 5 shows the packaging of the Fig. 3 with the lid removed.

[0029] The Figures 1a and 1b show a generic and generally known packaging for a frozen pizza. Figure 1a Figure 1 shows the packaging in its closed state. The packaging is essentially cuboid in shape with a top 11 and a bottom, each having a relatively large surface area, as well as a front 13, a back and two further sides 15, each having smaller surface areas.

[0030] The top and bottom surfaces are essentially square. However, depending on the specific dimensions of the product inside, the top and bottom surfaces can also have other shapes, particularly rectangular or polygonal.

[0031] The packaging typically consists of a single piece of folded and glued cardboard, with three sides usually formed from two pieces of cardboard glued together. The two pieces are glued in such a way that the outer piece essentially completely covers the inner piece from the outside. The packaging is usually printed with information about the product inside.

[0032] Figure 1b Figure 1 shows the generic packaging in its opened state. By unfolding the two glued parts 13a, 13b of the front, a narrow opening 18 is created, which is sufficient to remove the frozen product from the interior. As in Figure 1b As can be seen, a first part 13a of the front side has a common edge with the top side 11 and a second part 13b with the bottom side.

[0033] The Figures 2a and 2bFigure 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of the packaging according to the invention. Figure 2a shows a view of the top and Figure 2b on the underside of the packaging 10.

[0034] As well as the packaging of the Figures 1a and 1bThis packaging 10 is essentially cuboid and has a top 11 and a bottom 12, each with a relatively large surface area, as well as a front 13, a back, and two further sides 15, 16, each with smaller surface areas. That is, the length L and the width B of the packaging are equal or approximately equal, while the height H is significantly less. Typically, L and B are at least about ten times as large as H. The top and bottom 11, 12 are also essentially square here, but depending on the dimensions of the product contained, they can also have other shapes, in particular rectangular or other polygonal shapes (e.g., triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal). The packaging 10 consists of a single piece of folded and glued cardboard.For example, three of its sides can be formed from two pieces of cardboard glued together, with each piece being glued in such a way that an outer piece essentially completely covers an inner piece from the outside. The packaging material is preferably corrugated cardboard with at least one corrugated middle layer. Two or more corrugated layers are also possible. Preferably, the corrugated cardboard—or at least the layer surrounding the interior and thus potentially in contact with the product—can consist entirely or mostly of virgin fiber.

[0035] Creases or score cuts can be made in the material along the edges of the packaging, allowing the material to be folded more precisely and with less force by machine at these points. Crease cutting involves mechanically creating a notch (groove) in the cardboard. Score cutting, on the other hand, involves partially cutting through the corrugated cardboard, for example, to the center of the material, to achieve this effect.

[0036] According to the invention, the packaging 10 has a tear-off perforation 20 that extends at least across the top 11 and preferably also across the front 13. A flap 23 is provided on the front 13, which can be separated from the rest of the front by means of the perforation 20. On the top 10, the perforation 20 extends such that a large part of the top 10 forms a lid section 21, which is connected to the flap 23.

[0037] Figure 3Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the packaging 10 according to the invention in its opened state. The lid part 21 with the flap 23 is folded upwards to form a lid. The packaging has been opened along the tear perforation 20, creating an opening in the top 11 corresponding to the size of the lid part, through which the product 1 can be easily removed and replaced. The flap 23 can serve as a handle during the opening process. Advantageously, a portion of the top 11 remains intact and is therefore not part of the lid 21. This enhances the stability of the opened packaging 10. As shown here, the corners of the top 11 should remain intact. To achieve this, the lid 21 can have rounded corners, as shown here, but otherwise extend to the edges of the side parts 13, 14, 15, 16.

[0038] In the example shown here, the lid 21 is connected to the back 14 of the packaging via an edge 24 formed by scoring or scoring. Alternatively, the lid 21 can also be connected to the remaining top 11. This then requires an additional scoring or scoring on the top 10 to ensure that the lid 21 can be easily opened. Optionally, in addition to or as an alternative to scoring or scoring along the edge 24, a perforation can also be provided, which allows the lid to be easily torn off along the edge 24 (tear-off perforation).

[0039] To allow the lid 21 to be resealed – for example, for transporting the prepared product 1 – the front 13 has a slot 25 into which the tab 23 can be inserted. The open tear-off perforation 20 makes it immediately apparent from the outside whether the packaging 10 has already been opened.

[0040] Figure 4 Figure 30 shows the folding diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the packaging according to the invention. As can be seen here, in the example shown, three sides are formed from two glued cardboard parts 13a,b, 15a,b, 16a,b, wherein the two parts can be glued together in such a way that an outer part essentially completely covers an inner part from the outside. The inner parts 13b, 15b, and 16b can preferably be slightly wider than the outer parts 13a, 15a, and 16a. For example, an interior space 30 mm high is suitable for holding a standard frozen pizza. In this case, the inner parts 13b, 15b, and 16b can, for example, have a width (height when folded) of 29 mm, and the outer parts 13a, 15a, and 16a a width of 28 mm.

[0041] The material is preferably corrugated cardboard with one or more corrugated core layers. Each of these layers increases both the stability of the packaging and its thermal insulation, while simultaneously increasing the packaging's volume and mass. Each corrugation layer increases the insulating air layer, which helps stabilize the temperature inside the packaging, thus keeping the prepared product warmer for longer when it is placed back in the packaging. Preferably, the corrugated cardboard can be made entirely or partially from virgin fibers. These give the packaging greater stability than recycled materials, are more heat-resistant, and have a better odor seal, which contributes to increased food safety by preserving the freshness and quality of the pizza for longer and preventing any unpleasant odors during transport of the prepared product in the resealed packaging.In one embodiment, the material can also be heat-resistant (e.g., due to a sufficiently high proportion of virgin fibers) so that the frozen product can be prepared in the packaging (open or closed) or on the torn-off lid. This prevents the oven from becoming soiled. In particular, the corrugated cardboard used should be heat-resistant for at least 15 minutes up to 220°C, preferably up to 250°C. For example, the product can be prepared on the torn-off lid and then eaten with the packaging as a base (or vice versa).

[0042] To facilitate the machine folding of the sturdy corrugated cardboard, the following are included: Figure 4The edges shown are preferably grooved. For example, edges between adhesive tabs 31-34 and other parts may have a simple groove, and all other edges between the different parts may have a groove cut. The tear-off perforation 20 may run partially along the edges of the top surface 11; this is shown here with a dashed line.

[0043] At the edge 24 between the top 11 and back 14, this perforation 20 is either completely absent or less pronounced to prevent accidental complete tearing of the lid 21 when opening. Complete tearing of the lid 21 may be desired to allow either the packaging 10 or the lid 21 (or both) to be used as a base for preparing and / or consuming the product. Depending on the thickness of the corrugated cardboard, a crease or a score line may suffice, or an additional tear-off perforation (optionally less pronounced than the tear-off perforation) may be provided.

[0044] Figure 5The packaging 10 shows the lid torn off. The prepared product 1' lies on the underside 12 of the packaging and can be eaten directly from the opened package. Ideally, the packaging should be made of corrugated cardboard made from virgin fiber. Compared to cardboard made from recycled material, this is more heat-resistant and increases food safety. The prepared product 1' can be, in particular, a hot pizza. These are traditionally round, as shown here as an example, but can also be oval or rectangular, especially square. As with reference to Figure 4As described, after opening, the lid is connected to the back 14 of the packaging along edge 24. This edge is either scored (e.g., by means of a scoring cut), perforated, or both, so that the lid can be easily torn off without damaging the lid or the rest of the packaging 10. Preferably, tearing off the lid requires slightly more force than tearing it along the perforation to prevent accidental tearing. The corrugated cardboard underside 12 also provides downward-facing thermal insulation when open, allowing the packaging with hot contents to be placed on heat-sensitive surfaces. This also allows, for example, the user to place the package containing the prepared product 1' on their lap while seated, without risk of burns, even when a table or other suitable surface is unavailable.The side panels 13-16 prevent the product 1' from slipping, for example on uneven surfaces, and also prevent any leakage of liquid components such as fat or sauce. The remaining parts of the top 11 after removing the lid provide stability to the side panels 13-16.

[0045] Although the invention has been explained with reference to its preferred embodiments, further modifications and variations can be made without exceeding the scope of the present invention. The patent claims also cover such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. Packaging (10) designed to hold a flat frozen product (1), in particular a frozen pizza, wherein the packaging has a top (11), a bottom (12), a front (13), a back (14) and at least two further sides (15, 16) forming an interior for holding the frozen product (1), and consists substantially of a single piece of folded and glued cardboard, wherein at least the front (13) consists of two glued parts (13a, 13b) of the cardboard, a first (13a) of the two parts forming a common first edge with the top (11) and a second (13b) of the two parts forming a common second edge with the bottom (12), characterized by the fact that- the cardboard is corrugated cardboard; - the first part (13a) of the front has a flap (23), and the second part (13b) of the front has a slot (25);- the packaging (10) has a tear perforation (20) that encloses the flap (23) and at least partially a lid part (21) of the top (11), such that the packaging (10) is opened by tearing along the tear perforation (20) and unfolding the lid part (21), wherein - by unfolding the lid part (21) into an open position, an opening in the shape of the lid part is created in the top (11), through which opening the frozen product (1) can be removed from the interior, - by folding back the lid part (21) into a closed position, the opening can be closed again, wherein the flap (23) and slot (25) are dimensioned and arranged such that in the closed position the flap can be inserted into the slot, and - by inserting the flap (23) into the slot (25) the lid part (21) can be fixed in the closed position.

2. Packaging (10) according to claim 1, wherein the frozen product (1) is designed as: - pizza, - pinsa, - tarte flambée, or - lahmacun, in particular wherein the frozen product (1) is packaged in plastic film.

3. Packaging (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lid part (21) is connected to the back along a lid edge (24), wherein the lid edge (24) has a groove, in particular a groove cut, and / or has a tear-off perforation, in particular wherein the tear-off perforation is less pronounced than the tear-off perforation (20).

4. Packaging (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the corrugated cardboard consists of at least 50%, in particular 100%, virgin fibers, in particular wherein the corrugated cardboard is heat-resistant up to at least 220°C.

5. Packaging (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging is substantially cuboid, in particular wherein the top (11) is substantially square.

6. Packaging (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a length (L) and a width (B) of the packaging are each at least eight times, in particular at least ten times, greater than a height (H) of the packaging.

7. Packaging (10) according to claim 6, wherein the length (L) differs from the width (B) by less than 10%, in particular by less than 2%.

8. Packaging (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid part (21) is dimensioned such that the frozen product (1) can be guided through the resulting opening regardless of its orientation.

9. Packaging (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid part (21) comprises at least 80% of the surface area of ​​the top (11), in particular at least 90%, and / or at most 98% of the surface area of ​​the top (11), in particular at most 95%.

10. Packaging (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid part (21) does not include any of the corners of the top (11).

11. Packaging (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two parts (13a, 13b) of the front (13) are arranged such that the first part (13a) covers the second part (13b) from the outside to at least 95%.

12. Packaging (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of the further sides (15, 16) each consist of two parts (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) of the carton glued together, wherein a first (15a, 16a) of the two parts forms a common first edge with the top (11) and a second (15b, 16b) of the two parts forms a common second edge with the bottom (12), in particular wherein - the two parts (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) of the further sides (15, 16) are arranged such that the first part (15a, 16a) covers at least 95% of the second part (15b, 16b) from the outside; and / or - the tear perforation (20) runs partially along the edges of the top surface (11) with the first parts (15a, 16a) of at least two further sides (15, 16).

13. Packaged frozen product (1), wherein the frozen product is packaged in a package (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular wherein the frozen product (1) is additionally packaged with a plastic film within an interior of the package (10).

14. Packaged frozen product (1) according to claim 13, having a flat shape, wherein the height of the frozen product (1) is less than one tenth of the width, length or diameter of the frozen product (1), in particular wherein the frozen product is designed as a pizza, pinsa, tarte flambée or lahmacun.

15. Packaged frozen product (1) according to claim 13 or claim 14, configured to be prepared by heating, wherein the frozen product is configured to be placed back into an interior of the packaging (10) as a prepared frozen product (1'), wherein the frozen product (1) and an opening in the packaging are dimensioned such that the frozen product (1) can be guided through the opening into the interior regardless of its orientation.

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