REUSABLE STORAGE CONTAINER FOR BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES

Abstract

REUSABLE STORAGE BOX FOR BUCKWHEAT CAKES Storage box (1) for cakes comprising a rigid cylindrical base (12) forming a receptacle suitable for holding a plurality of cakes lying flat and stacked on top of each other, said base (12) having a height of less than 2 cm. Figure for abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: REUSABLE STORAGE CONTAINER FOR BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES Scope of the invention

[0001] The field of the invention relates to that of storage containers and packaging for transporting food while preserving its flavor. Prior art

[0002] Currently, single-use flexible plastic containers or packaging are known for transporting food. In particular, there are storage boxes for transporting galettes or crêpes. These boxes may be circular or cylindrical in shape, but they are generally not suitable for transporting and storing buckwheat galettes.

[0003] Indeed, existing packaging is often oversized and not designed to hold flat pancakes in a container. As a result, the pancakes or crepes being transported are most often torn and end up drying out as soon as the packaging is opened because it is not resealable.

[0004] There is a need to define a solution for manufacturing a container suitable for the storage and transport of galettes or crepes. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to one aspect, the invention relates to a storage box for buckwheat pancakes comprising a rigid cylindrical base forming a receptacle capable of holding a plurality of pancakes lying flat and stacked one on top of the other, and a lid adapted to close the receptacle, said box having a height of less than 2 cm. An advantage is that it allows the transport of several buckwheat pancakes while preserving their aroma, flavor, and freshness.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the storage box is made of polypropylene.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the storage box is made of a material of Plant-based plastic type. One advantage is that it is biodegradable.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the storage box is made of one of the following materials: polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, thermoplastic starch, bio-based polyethylene or bio-based polyethylene terephthalate

[0009] According to one embodiment, the storage box includes raised points arranged on the surface of the bottom of the receptacle.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the storage box includes a lid for closing said box, the lid having a rim for hermetically sealing the box.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the storage box comprises a semi-rigid film or flexible disc or a rigid or semi-rigid disc intended to cover a wafer arranged on the upper part of a set of wafers arranged within the receptacle.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the lid comprises a disc made integral with said lid and means for exerting a restoring force on said disc, said disc being made mobile by deformation of the means for exerting a restoring force, said disc being intended to hold wafers arranged inside said box.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the base includes a lower compartment for storing at least one semi-rigid film.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the storage box has a diameter between 28 and 42 cm.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the storage box has a diameter between 30 and 40 cm.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the base has a height of less than 1.5 cm.

[0017] One advantage of the invention is to provide an airtight storage container, Rigid and reusable, such a container can be used for deposits. Another advantage is the possibility of using recyclable plastic. It also has sufficient width to accommodate buckwheat and / or wheat pancakes.

[0018] Another advantage is to provide a container with a simple closure system to store the cakes. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying figures, which illustrate: • [Fig.1]: an example of a storage box of the invention comprising a base and a lid in the open position; • [Fig.2]: an example of a storage box of the invention comprising a base and a lid in the closed position; • [Fig.3]: an example of a lid according to the invention comprising a rim to hermetically seal the box; • [Fig.4]: an example of a base forming a receptacle for discs arranged flat on top of each other; • [Fig.5]: an example of a semi-rigid film or a flexible, rigid or semi-rigid disc to cover the stacked pancake(s) inside the receptacle for better preservation; • [Fig.6]: an example of superimposing interposed discs of semi-rigid films or flexible discs; • [Fig.7]: an example of a semi-rigid film or flexible disc with openings; • [Fig.8]: an example of a receptacle with a storage compartment for at least one semi-rigid film or at least one flexible, rigid or semi-rigid disc, • [Fig.9]: an example of a lid having a means or means for exerting a restoring force to keep the wafers flat inside the case.

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a container 1 for storing flatbreads 2, such as buckwheat pancakes or crêpes. In one embodiment, the container 1 comprises a base 12 forming a receptacle for receiving flatbreads 2. The receptacle 12 advantageously has an internal cavity. The internal cavity has a flat or substantially flat bottom 120 delimited by a circular perimeter. The surface of the cavity has the shape of a disc adapted to receive pancakes 2 of a substantially identical or smaller diameter.

[0021] The case 1 includes a lid 11 adapted to cover the base 12. The lid 11 advantageously includes means for fixing the base 12 to the lid 11 so as to make the assembly rigid and the case airtight. One advantage is to allow for good preservation of the wafers 2 placed inside the box 1.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the base 12 has a rim 121 with a height between 1 cm and 3 cm for holding several stacked discs 2 inside. According to another embodiment, the base 12 has a rim 121 with a height between 1 cm and 2 cm to allow for a thinner and more easily transportable case.

[0023] Other variations allow for the formation of a receptacle with a slightly greater height, up to 3 cm, and others with a height less than 1 cm, for example 8 mm. One advantage is the ability to create different cases adapted to hold from 2 to 15 discs, depending on the circumstances.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a storage box 1 for pancakes 2 when closed. The lid 11 is fixed to the base 12. The lid 11 can be clipped on by means of a rim 110 visible in Fig. 3.

[0025] Figure 2 represents the diameter d of the casing. It is preferably between 25 and 40 cm. In one example, it is between 30 and 40 cm. In another example, the diameter is 35 cm.

[0026] According to an example, the case has a height h, also considered as the thickness of the case because it is the smallest dimension.

[0027] According to one example, the case has a height of less than 2 cm. According to another example, it has a height of less than 1.5 cm, allowing it to be slipped between two pockets in a bag.

[0028] Fig. 3 represents the cover 11 in the reversed position in a mode where it includes a rim 110 allowing it to be placed on the circumference of the circular rim 121 of the base 12. In this case, the inner diameter of the rim 110 of the cover 11 is adjusted to exert a holding force on the outer rim 121 of the base 12.

[0029] Additionally, according to certain embodiments, a groove and / or a circumferential projection can be arranged on the circumference of the rims to improve the cooperation of the rims 121 and 110 with each other and increase the sealing of the housing 1.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the cover 11 is screwed onto the base 12 by means of an internal thread of the rim 110 and an external thread of the rim 121 of the base 12.

[0031] Fig. 4 represents the base 12 and therefore the receptacle comprising a base 120 supporting a plurality of wafers 2 superimposed one on top of the other within the case 1.

[0032] Figure 5 shows an example of a case in which the base 120 of the case 1 has raised elements 13 forming raised bumps. In one example, these raised elements are gently curved bumps designed to avoid damaging the wafers 2 and to allow for better gripping. Furthermore, these raised elements prevent or reduce the sticking of the wafers or pancakes 2 to each other or to the base, thanks in particular to the presence of air pockets and a controlled air circuit inside the case 1.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the case comprises at least a semi-rigid film or a flexible or rigid disc 3 allowing for better preservation of the discs 2 within the case. Indeed, when the case 1 contains a plurality of discs 2 stacked one on top of the other, but the case 1 is not completely filled, the semi-rigid film or the disc 3 is placed on the last disc 2 stacked on top of the others, thus preventing the discs 2 from coming into contact with too large a volume of residual air in the case 1.

[0034] According to one embodiment, at least one disc 3 includes a tab for lifting the disc. One advantage is that the disc is removed from the box more easily. In particular, another advantage is that a wafer is moved more easily across the surface of said disc.

[0035] Fig. 5 represents a semi-rigid film 3 used to cover the disc which is inserted into the box 1.

[0036] Fig. 6 represents an example case where several semi-rigid films 3 are used to be interposed between discs 2. So according to one embodiment, the case 1 comprises a plurality of semi-rigid films 3 which may or may not be used depending on the use case.

[0037] Fig. 7 represents an example of a 3' semi-rigid film having openings 30 to allow slight ventilation of the wafers.

[0038] Indeed, ventilation allows for controlled preservation while limiting the fact that the pancakes 2 do not stick together when they are stacked on top of each other.

[0039] According to one example, the flexible, rigid or semi-rigid disk is made of the same material as the casing.

[0040] Advantageously, the flexible, rigid or semi-rigid disc allows different types of galettes to be separated or, for example, to separate galettes and crepes in order to respect the flavors of each food.

[0041] The semi-rigid films 3 are advantageously stored inside the box 1 when the box 1 is empty for transport. The semi-rigid films 3 can then be used or not at the user's convenience.

[0042] Fig. 8 represents an example of a case 1 comprising a storage compartment 122, in particular for storing semi-rigid films or discs 3. This latter compartment 122 can form a double bottom of the base 12 and be accessible via another cover or a part of the base 12 made removable. Reminder force

[0043] According to one embodiment, the lid 11 includes a means 115 for exerting a restoring force FR on a second 3” disc attached to the lid 11 and made movable. The mobility of such a second 3” disc allows it to remain in contact with the pancakes or galettes 2 arranged inside the casing 1 within the receptacle 12.

[0044] The means for exerting a restoring force can be springs 115 or any other deformable element allowing a reversible elastic deformation tending to return the deformable element(s) to its initial position.

[0045] Fig. 9 represents an example of an embodiment of a second 3” disc held by springs and made mobile so as to exert a restoring force towards the discs 2 when the cover 11 is fixed to the base 12.

[0046] According to another example, a pusher element forming a movable lug, under the weight of at least one disc, exerts a restoring force that allows the 3” disc to be moved a few millimeters. Such a lug can be positioned in the center and allows the 3” disc, which rests on it, to be moved. According to other embodiments, several lugs can be arranged between the bottom of the housing and the 3” disc.

[0047] According to another example, a deformable material, for example with shape memory, can be used to be arranged between the bottom of the case and the 3" disk. Materials

[0048] According to one embodiment, the case 1 is made of a plastic or metal type material allowing sufficient rigidity to prevent its bending and the degradation of the wafers arranged inside the case 1.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the casing 1 is made of recyclable material, for example polypropylene, which provides a casing with good rigidity to prevent the discs from breaking during transport and long-term use. This material has the advantage of being bio-based.

[0050] According to another embodiment, the casing 1 is made of a plant-based plastic material. One advantage is that the casing is completely recyclable and compostable. However, in this case, its lifespan is limited to a certain number of uses.

[0051] According to a first example, the material is polylactic acid, also known as "PLA". PLA is a bioplastic made from fermented corn starch, sugar cane, or tapioca roots.

[0052] According to a second example, the material is made of polyhydroxyalkanoates, also known as "PHA". PHA is produced by microorganisms when fed with vegetable oils or sugars. This bioplastic is biodegradable.

[0053] According to a third example, the material is a thermoplastic starch. For example, a starch made from corn, wheat, or potatoes. This modified starch is a bioplastic that can be used as an alternative to traditional plastics.

[0054] According to a fourth example, the material is regenerated cellulose. Such cellulose can be derived from plants such as cotton or wood pulp and transformed into a bioplastic.

[0055] According to a fifth example, the material is a bio-based polyethylene, called "bio-PE". This polyethylene is chemically identical to traditional polyethylene, however Bio-PE is made from ethanol, which can be produced from sugar cane, wheat, or corn.

[0056] According to a fifth example, the material is a bio-based polyethylene terephthalate, known as "Bio-PET". It is similar to traditional PET but made partially from renewable raw materials such as sugarcane.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid disc is made of one of the materials shown to define the material of the box. The disc 3 or 3” and the box 1 can be made of the same or different materials. In one example, the second 3” disc is made of plastic, and the disc(s) 3 can be made of plant-based plastic.

Claims

Demands

1. Storage box (1) for wafers (2) comprising a rigid cylindrical base (12) forming a receptacle suitable for receiving a plurality of wafers (2) flat and stacked together and a lid (11) adapted to close the receptacle, said box (1) having a height of less than 2 cm.

2. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it is made of polypropylene.

3. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it is made of plant-based plastic-type material.

4. Storage box (1) according to claim 3 characterized in that it is made of one of the following materials: polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, thermoplastic starch, bio-based polyethylene or bio-based polyethylene terephthalate

5. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises raised points (13) arranged on the surface of the bottom (120) of the receptacle.

6. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a lid (11) for closing said box (1), the lid (11) having a rim (110) for hermetically sealing the box (1).

7. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a semi-rigid film or flexible disc or a rigid or semi-rigid disc (3) intended to cover a wafer (2) arranged on the upper part of a set of wafers (2) arranged within the receptacle (12).

8. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the lid (11) comprises a disc (3) made integral with said lid (11) and means (115) for exerting a restoring force (FR) on said disc (3), said disc (3) being made mobile by deformation of the means for exerting a restoring force (115), said disc being intended to hold cakes (2) arranged inside said box (1).

9. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the base (12) has a lower compartment (122) allowing at least one semi-rigid film (3) to be stored.

10.

11.

12. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it has a diameter between 28 and 42 cm. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it has a diameter between 30 and 40 cm. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the base (12) has a height of less than 1.5 cm.

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