Food serving container and food freezing method

Abstract

To provide a food serving container for efficiently freezing food with the food in the container which is used for selling or serving the food.SOLUTION: A food serving container 100 is composed of a container body 101. The container body 101 is a box-shaped container for storing and packaging food F inside. The container body 101 includes a food containing body 110 that forms the lower half of the storage space S for storing the food F, and a lid body 120 that forms the upper half. The lid body 120 includes cold air vents 130 that enable cold air C to go outside and inside of the storage space S. The cold air vents 130 are composed of multiple circular through-holes of the same diameter. These multiple through-holes are arranged in a lattice pattern over approximately the entire surface of the lid sides 122, 124. The cold air vents 130 are covered by a covering body 140. The covering body 140 is formed in a sheet shape and is attached to the lid body 120 by an adhesive portion 141.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a food serving container that can be used as a packaging container for freezing food while it is being stored therein, and a method for freezing food using this food serving container. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been food serving containers for efficiently freezing food while the food is contained in the container. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a tray for quick-freezing food, in which the bottom of the tray on which the food is placed is provided with multiple protrusions for supporting the food, and a gap is formed between the food and the bottom to allow cold air to circulate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 3-87681

[0004] However, with the tray for quick-freezing food described in Patent Document 1, when trying to freeze food purchased at a facility such as a retail store, it is necessary to remove the food from the container and transfer it to the tray for quick-freezing food, which poses the problem that the preparation work for freezing food is cumbersome and unsanitary.

[0005] The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a food serving container that allows food to be efficiently frozen while it is contained in a container used when selling or serving food. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is characterized by a food serving container having a container body that can freeze food while it is contained therein and that is used as a packaging container for the food when the food is served, and the container body is equipped with a cold air vent for directing cold air from outside into the container body.

[0007] According to the features of the present invention configured in this manner, the food serving container is equipped with a cold air vent for directing cold air from outside into the container body, so that the food can be directly exposed to cold air while contained within the container body, allowing the food to be frozen more efficiently than in a packaging container that does not have a cold air vent.

[0008] Here, the provision of food according to the present invention refers to the act of selling food in a store or a service that allows customers at a food establishment such as a coffee shop or restaurant to take food served to them outside.

[0009] Another feature of the present invention is that in the food serving container, the container body is provided with a food container having an opening that opens upward and for containing food, and a lid that covers the opening.

[0010] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the food serving container has a container body with an opening, a food container body for containing food, and a lid body for covering the opening, so that food can be easily put in and taken out of the container body, thereby increasing convenience when serving food.

[0011] Another feature of the present invention is that in the food serving container, the cold air vent is provided in the lid.

[0012] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the food serving container has a cold air vent provided in the lid, which prevents food contained in the container body from leaking out through the cold air vent to the outside.

[0013] Another feature of the present invention is that in the food serving container, the cold air vent is located at a height such that the lower end of the opening of the cold air vent is lower than the height of the upper end of the food contained in the container body.

[0014] In other words, the food serving container is configured so that the cold air vent is located at a height approximately equal to the height range of the food contained in the container body. According to another feature of the present invention configured in this way, the food serving container is configured so that the cold air vent is located at a height such that the lower end of the opening of the cold air vent is lower than the height of the upper end of the food contained in the container body, so that cold air can be directed toward the food contained in the container body, thereby effectively freezing the food.

[0015] Another feature of the present invention is that in the food serving container, the cold air vent is formed to open horizontally into the container body so that cold air can circulate horizontally.

[0016] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the food serving container is formed so that the cold air vent opens horizontally into the container body and cold air flows horizontally, i.e., the cold air vent is formed in the direction of flow of the cold air and parallel to the flow direction, so that the cold air blown horizontally toward the food can be efficiently taken into the container body, and the food can be effectively frozen.

[0017] Another feature of the present invention is that the cold air vents are provided on opposite sides of the food serving container.

[0018] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the food serving container has cold air vents provided on opposing sides of the container body, thereby improving ventilation between the outside and inside of the container body, thereby increasing the circulation of cold air and enabling food to be frozen effectively.

[0019] Another feature of the present invention is that in the food serving container, the cold air vents on the opposing sides are formed at positions that are offset from each other.

[0020] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the cold air vents of the food serving container are formed in positions where the positions of the cold air vents on opposite sides are offset from each other, so that the cold air flowing in from outside can be distributed over a wider area within the storage space, thereby effectively freezing food.

[0021] Another feature of the present invention is that in the food serving container, the cold air vent is made up of a large number of small holes.

[0022] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the cold air vent of the food serving container is composed of a large number of small holes, which ensures the amount of cold air flowing into the container body while increasing the wind speed as the cold air passes through the cold air vent, thereby improving ventilation between the outside and inside of the container body and allowing food to be frozen effectively.

[0023] Another feature of the present invention is that the food serving container further comprises a cover for covering the cooling air vent.

[0024] According to another feature of the present invention, the food serving container further includes a cover that covers the cooling air vent, which prevents foreign matter from entering the container body from the outside through the cooling air vent, thereby maintaining sanitary conditions inside the container body. The food serving container also prevents food contained in the container body from leaking out through the cooling air vent.

[0025] Another feature of the present invention is that, in the food serving container, the cover can be opened and closed freely relative to the opening of the cold air vent.

[0026] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this manner, the cover body of the food serving container is configured to be freely opened and closed relative to the opening of the cold air vent, so that after the cold air vent is opened, it can be closed again, and the same effect can be obtained even after the cold air vent is closed as before it was opened.

[0027] Specifically, the food serving container can close the cold air vent with the cover, preventing foreign matter from entering the container body from the outside through the cold air vent after freezing, thereby keeping the inside of the container body hygienic. It can also prevent food stored in the container body from leaking out through the cold air vent even after freezing.

[0028] Another feature of the present invention is that in the food serving container, the cover body is formed integrally with the container body.

[0029] According to another feature of the present invention configured in this way, the food serving container has a cover body formed integrally with the container body, which makes it easy to configure and handle.

[0030] Furthermore, because the food serving container has the above-described configuration, the cover and the container body do not separate when the cold air vent is opened, which reduces waste compared to when they are separated. The food serving container also simplifies preparation work for freezing food contained in the container body. Specifically, the food serving container has the above-described configuration, which eliminates the need to store the removed cover separately until the next use, making preparation work easier.

[0031] Furthermore, the present invention can be embodied not only as an invention of a food serving container, but also as an invention of a food freezing method.

[0032] Specifically, the food may be frozen using any one of the food serving containers described above. In this way, the food freezing method can be expected to have the same effects as the food serving container described above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the outline of the external configuration of a food serving container according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the flow of cold air when food is frozen using the food serving container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic outline of the external configuration of the food serving container shown in FIG. 1, further comprising a cover body. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the food serving container shown in FIG. 3 with the cold air vent open. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of a food serving container according to another modified example of the present invention with its opening open. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of a food serving container according to another modified example of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of a food serving container according to another modified example of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of a food serving container according to another modified example of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing the state in which the cold air vent of the food serving container shown in FIG. 8 is open. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] An embodiment of a food serving container 100 and a method for freezing food F according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic outline of the external configuration of a food serving container 100 according to the present invention. Note that the drawings referred to in this specification are schematic, with some components exaggerated to facilitate understanding of the present invention. For this reason, the dimensions and proportions of the components may differ.

[0035] (Configuration of food serving container 100) This food serving container 100 is a container that can be frozen while containing food F, and is a packaging container for containing food F when serving the food F.

[0036] Food F is, for example, food ingredients such as meat, seafood, seaweed, fruits and vegetables, grains, eggs or raw milk, or eggs or dairy products produced by processing these ingredients, oils or seasonings, sweets, semi-cooked foods (foods that have been processed up to the stage before final cooking), or dishes.

[0037] Furthermore, the provision of food F is the act of selling food F in a store or a service that allows customers at a cafe, restaurant, or other eating establishment to take food F outside.

[0038] This food serving container 100 includes a container body 101. As shown in Figure 1, the container body 101 is a box-shaped container that contains and packages food F. This container body 101 mainly includes a food container 110 and a lid 120.

[0039] Food container 110 is a component that forms the lower half of space S (hereinafter also referred to as "storage space S") that stores food F inside container body 101, and is formed in the shape of a vessel that is open upward and is made of a resin material (for example, polypropylene, polystyrene, or a foamed resin made by foaming these). In this embodiment, food container 110 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view using a transparent resin material so that the inside of food container 110 can be seen from the outside. Food container 110 is mainly composed of bottom 111, container side surfaces 112-115, and container-side flange 117.

[0040] The bottom portion 111 constitutes the bottom of the storage space S and is the portion on which the food F is placed, and is formed in the shape of a square plate in a plan view. In this embodiment, the bottom portion 111 is formed in the shape of a rectangle that extends horizontally in a plan view.

[0041] The container side surfaces 112-115 constitute the side surfaces surrounding the food F placed on the bottom 111 on all four sides, and are formed of plates rising from the four sides of the bottom 111. In this case, the container side surfaces 112 and 114 are formed on the two short sides of the bottom 111, respectively, and face each other in the long side direction. The container side surfaces 113 and 115 are formed on the two long sides of the bottom 111, respectively, and face each other in the short side direction. The container side surfaces 112-115 are formed in an orientation that tilts outward in the horizontal direction as they extend upward from the bottom 111. As a result, the storage space S is formed to expand upward from the bottom 111 side. A container-side opening 116 is formed at the edge of the upper end of each of the container side surfaces 112-115.

[0042] Container-side opening 116 is a portion for putting food F into and taking it out of the lower half of storage space S, and opens upward in an annular shape. As shown in FIG. 2, container-side opening 116 has container-side flange 117 formed on its outer periphery.

[0043] Container-side flange 117 is a portion to which lid 120 is detachably connected, and is formed in the shape of a flat ring that protrudes horizontally outward from the outer periphery of container-side opening 116. Container-side flange 117 is mainly configured to include container-side fitting portion 117a and container-side handle portion 117b.

[0044] Container-side fitting portion 117a is a portion that fits into lid-side fitting portion 127a of lid body 120. Specifically, container-side fitting portion 117a extends horizontally outward from container-side opening 116 and then bends downward and hangs down, thereby forming a substantially convex cross-sectional shape.

[0045] Container-side handle 117b is a portion that a user grasps with their hand when attaching or detaching lid 120 to food container 110, and is formed by projecting horizontally outward from the lower end of the hanging outer periphery of container-side fitting part 117a. Bottom 111, container side parts 112-115, and container-side flange 117 are integrally molded from the same material, thereby forming food container 110 as a single unit.

[0046] Lid 120 is a component that forms the upper half of storage space S that stores food F inside container body 101, and is made of a resin material (such as polypropylene, polystyrene, or a foamed resin obtained by foaming these) in a hat shape that opens downward. That is, lid 120 forms storage space S together with food container 110. In this embodiment, lid 120 is made of a transparent resin material and is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view corresponding to food container 110 so that the internal storage space S can be seen from the outside through lid 120. Lid 120 is mainly composed of ceiling portion 121, lid side surface portions 122 to 125, and lid flange portion 127.

[0047] The ceiling portion 121 constitutes the ceiling of the storage space S and covers the food F, and is formed in the shape of a square plate in a plan view. In this embodiment, the ceiling portion 121 is formed in the shape of a rectangle that extends horizontally in a plan view.

[0048] Lid side surfaces 122-125 constitute the side surfaces surrounding the food F placed below ceiling 121 on all four sides, and are formed as plates hanging down from the four sides of ceiling 121. In this case, lid side surfaces 122 and 124 are formed to hang down from the two short sides of ceiling 121, respectively, and face each other in the long side direction. Lid side surfaces 123 and 125 are formed to hang down from the two long sides of ceiling 121, respectively, and face each other in the short side direction. Lid side surfaces 122-125 are formed to be inclined outward in the horizontal direction downward from ceiling 121. As a result, storage space S is formed to widen downward from the ceiling 121 side.

[0049] Of these lid side surfaces 122 to 125, lid side surface 122 and lid side surface 124 are each provided with a cold air vent 130 and a cover body 140. Furthermore, lid side openings 126 are formed in the edges of the lower ends of these lid side surfaces 122 to 125.

[0050] Lid-side opening 126 is a portion for allowing food F placed in food container 110 to be placed in and removed from the upper half of storage space S when lid 120 is placed over food container 110, and opens downward in a circular shape. Lid-side opening 126 has lid-side flange 127 formed on its outer periphery.

[0051] Lid-side flange portion 127 is a portion that is detachably connected to container-side flange portion 117 of food container 110, and is formed in the shape of a flat ring that protrudes horizontally outward from the outer periphery of lid-side opening 126. Lid-side flange portion 127 is mainly configured to include lid-side fitting portion 127a and lid-side handle portion 127b.

[0052] Lid-side fitting portion 127a is a portion into which container-side fitting portion 117a of food container 110 fits. Specifically, lid-side fitting portion 127a extends horizontally outward from lid-side opening 126 and then bends downward and hangs down, thereby forming a substantially concave cross-sectional shape.

[0053] Lid handle 127b is a portion that a user grasps with their hand when attaching or detaching lid 120 to or from food container 110, and is formed by projecting horizontally outward from the lower end of the hanging outer periphery of lid fitting part 127a. Ceiling part 121, lid side surfaces 122-125, and lid flange 127 are integrally molded from the same material, thereby forming lid 120 as a single unit.

[0054] This lid flange portion 127 is placed on top of the container flange portion 117, and the container fitting portion 117a is fitted into the lid fitting portion 127a, whereby the lid body 120 is attached to the food container 110 in a detachable manner.

[0055] The cold air openings 130 are vents that allow cold air C to pass in and out between the storage space S and the space outside the storage space S. In this embodiment, the cold air openings 130 are formed in the lid side surface portions 122 and 124 of the lid side surface portions 122 to 125 that make up the lid body 120, as shown in FIG.

[0056] This cold air vent 130 is composed of a plurality of circular through-holes. In this embodiment, the cold air vent 130 is composed of a plurality of through-holes with the same diameter of approximately 6 mm. The cold air vents 130 composed of these through-holes are arranged in a lattice pattern over substantially the entire surface of the lid side surface portion 122 and the lid side surface portion 124. Specifically, the cold air vents 130 are formed in an array of 7 x 3 in the longitudinal direction x lateral direction of each of the lid side surface portions 122, 124. In this case, the cold air vents 130 are formed so that adjacent cold air vents 130 are spaced equally apart.

[0057] Furthermore, the cold air vent 130 opens horizontally into the container body 101 and is formed at a height such that the lower end of the opening of the cold air vent 130 is lower than the upper end of the food F in the container body 101. Furthermore, the opposing through-holes formed in the lid side surface portion 122 and the lid side surface portion 124 of the cold air vent 130 are arranged on the same straight line extending in the longitudinal direction of the lid body 120. In other words, the cold air vent 130 formed in the lid side surface portion 122 and the cold air vent 130 formed in the lid side surface portion 124 are opposed to each other with the respective through-holes formed in the same positions between the opposing lid side surface portions 122 and 124. These cold air vents 130 can be formed together by integrally molding the lid body 120 when molding the lid body 120, or they may be formed by punching the lid body 120 after molding. These cold air vents 130 are covered by a cover body 140 as shown in FIG.

[0058] 4, the cover 140 is a component provided on the outside of the lid 120 for freely closing and opening the cold air vent 130, and is made of a flexible resin material (such as polypropylene or polystyrene). In this embodiment, the cover 140 is formed in the shape of a rectangular sheet in a plan view using a transparent resin material so that the inside of the container body 101 can be seen from the outside. The cover 140 mainly includes an adhesive portion 141 and a handle portion 142.

[0059] The adhesive portion 141 is a portion for removably attaching the cover body 140 to the lid side portions 122, 124, and is made of an adhesive or double-sided tape. The adhesive portion 141 is provided on the inner surface 140a, which is the surface of both sides of the cover body 140 that closes the cold air vent 130. The adhesive that makes up the adhesive portion 141 has enough adhesive strength to allow it to be repeatedly attached to and peeled off from the lid side portions 122, 124.

[0060] The handle portion 142 is a portion that a user can grasp with their hand or hook with their fingernail when attaching or detaching the cover body 140 to or from the container body 101. In this embodiment, the handle portion 142 is formed in a piece-like shape that protrudes outward from the center of one of the two short sides of the cover body 140. The handle portion 142 is formed integrally with the cover body 140. The handle portion 142 may also be provided at a corner of the cover body 140. FIG. 4 shows a state in which part of the cover body 140 has been turned up to expose part of the inner surface 140a, and the adhesive portion 141 formed on this inner surface 140a is indicated by hatching.

[0061] (Operation of food serving container 100) Next, we will explain the operation of the food serving container 100 configured as described above. An operator who serves food F using the food serving container 100 first prepares the food serving container 100 and the food F. In this embodiment, the operator separately prepares the food container 110 and the lid 120 as the food serving container 100, and prepares a side dish as the food F.

[0062] Next, the worker packages food F using food serving container 100. Specifically, the worker places food F on bottom 111 of food container 110. Next, the worker places lid 120 over food container 110 containing food F, and then packages food F by fitting container-side fitting portion 117a and lid-side fitting portion 127a together.

[0063] Here, food serving container 100 is formed with cold air vent 130 and is provided with cover 140 that covers cold air vent 130. This prevents foreign matter from entering container body 101 from the outside through cold air vent 130, and the inside of container body 101 can be kept hygienic.

[0064] Next, the worker arranges the food F packaged in the food serving container 100 on a display shelf. Here, a display shelf is a shelf on which products are displayed for customers in a store such as a supermarket that sells groceries, and in addition to display shelves with a heat retention or cold retention function, there are also display shelves on which food F can be displayed at room temperature. This allows the worker to serve food F using the food serving container 100 as a packaging container.

[0065] Furthermore, the food serving container 100 can be frozen while holding food F inside. (The freezing process for food F described below corresponds to the method for freezing food F according to the present invention.) In this case, the worker freezes food F using a freezer (not shown), and this freezer can be a known freezer that has a space for holding the food to be frozen and freezes the food using cold air C. In this embodiment, the freezer is a freezer that can freeze food F by blowing cold air C horizontally against the food serving container 100 using a cooling fan (not shown).

[0066] The worker first prepares to freeze the food F. Specifically, the worker removes the cover body 140 provided on the lid body 120 to open the cold air vent 130. In this embodiment, the worker removes each of the cover bodies 140 provided on the lid side surface portion 122 and the lid side surface portion 124 by grasping the handle portion 142 and rolling up the cover body 140. In this case, the worker stores the cover body 140 removed from the lid body 120 in a state where it can be used again.

[0067] Next, the worker places the food serving container 100, with the cover 140 removed, in the freezer. Specifically, the worker places the food serving container 100 so that the cold air vent 130 faces the cold air C blown from the cooler, that is, so that the cold air C blows into the cold air vent 130. The worker also places the food serving container 100 at a position and height where the cold air C blown from the cooler directly hits the food serving container 100.

[0068] During this operation, the worker may shake or tilt the food serving container 100 containing the food F to adjust the orientation and position of the food serving container 100 within the freezer. However, in this embodiment, the food serving container 100 has the cooling air vent 130 provided in the lid 120, so it is possible to prevent the food F from leaking out through the cooling air vent 130 during the adjustment operation.

[0069] Next, the worker operates the freezer to begin freezing the food F. During this freezing process, cold air C blown from the air cooler flows into the container body 101 through the cold air vent 130. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the cold air C flows into the storage space S through the cold air vent 130 provided on the lid side surface portion 122. This allows the food serving container 100 to directly expose the food F to the cold air C while it is contained in the container body 101, and therefore the food F can be frozen more quickly than in a packaging container that does not have a cold air vent 130.

[0070] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the food serving container 100 is formed with the cold air vent 130 opening horizontally into the container body 101, that is, the cold air vent 130 is formed in the flow direction of the cold air C and parallel to the flow direction, so that the cold air C blown horizontally onto the food F can be efficiently taken into the container body 101.

[0071] Furthermore, since the cold air vent 130 of the food serving container 100 is located at a height such that the lower end of the cold air vent 130 is lower than the height of the upper end of the food F contained in the container body 101, cold air C can be introduced toward the food F contained in the container body 101.

[0072] The cold air C that has flowed into the storage space S hits the food F in the storage space S to cool it, and then flows out of the storage space S through the cold air vents 130 provided in the lid side surface 124. In this way, the food serving container 100 has cold air vents 130 provided in the lid side surface parts 122, 124 that face each other on the container body 101, so that the ventilation between the outside and inside of the container body 101 is improved, and the circulation of the cold air C can be increased.

[0073] Next, when freezing of the food F is complete, the worker removes the food F from the freezer. In this case, the worker can check the frozen state of the food F in the storage space S through the cold air vent 130 before or after removing the food serving container 100 from the freezer.

[0074] Next, the worker covers and closes the open cold air vents 130 with the cover 140. In this embodiment, the worker covers each cold air vent 130 provided on the lid side surface portion 122 and the lid side surface portion 124 with the stored cover 140, respectively, and closes each cold air vent 130 again. In this way, the food serving container 100 is configured so that the cover 140 can be opened and closed freely relative to the opening of the cold air vent 130, and therefore, after the food F has been frozen, foreign matter can be prevented from entering the container body 101 from the outside through the cold air vent 130, and the inside of the container body 101 can be kept hygienic.

[0075] Furthermore, by closing the cold air vent 130, the food serving container 100 can prevent outside air (warm air) from entering the food serving container 100 and the cold air C from escaping from inside the food serving container 100, thereby preventing the food F from thawing inside the container body 101. The food serving container 100 can also prevent food F contained in the container body 101 from leaking to the outside through the cold air vent 130 after freezing.

[0076] Next, when thawing frozen food F, the worker can use the food serving container 100 to thaw the food F. Specifically, the worker first removes the cover body 140 from the lid body 120 again to open the cold air vent 130. Next, the worker places the food serving container 100 with the cold air vent 130 open in a room-temperature space. During this thawing process, cold air C within the container body 101 of the food serving container 100 flows out through the cold air vent 130, and room-temperature outside air outside the container body 101 flows into the food serving container 100. This allows the food serving container 100 to be directly exposed to room-temperature outside air while the food F is contained within the container body 101, allowing the food F to thaw more quickly than a packaging container without a cold air vent 130.

[0077] As can be understood from the above operation description, according to the above embodiment, the food serving container 100 is provided with cold air vents 130 on the lid side portions 122 and 124 that constitute the lid body 120 in the container body 101, so that the food F can be directly exposed to cold air C while contained within the container body 101, allowing the food F to be frozen efficiently.

[0078] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the following description of each modification, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping parts will be omitted.

[0079] For example, in the above embodiment, container body 101 is formed in a box shape and is configured to include food container 110 and lid 120. However, container body 101 only needs to have storage space S that can store food F. Therefore, container body 101 can also be formed in a shape other than a box by omitting food container 110 and lid 120. For example, container body 101 can be formed in the shape of a paper or resin bag with an opening for putting food F in and taking it out.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, container body 101 is configured with food container 110 and lid 120 as separate components. However, as shown in FIG. 5, container body 101 may be configured with food container 110 and lid 120 formed as an integrated unit. In this case, food container 110 and lid 120 can be integrally formed by connecting to each other at one edge (connecting portion 118) of container flange 117 and lid flange 127 that surround container opening 116 and lid opening 126 on all four sides. This simplifies the configuration and handling of container body 101, as food container 110 and lid 120 are integrally formed.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the lid 120 is formed in a hat shape that opens downward. However, the lid 120 only needs to be configured to cover and close the container-side opening 116. Therefore, the lid 120 can also be formed in a shape other than a hat shape, such as a dome shape, a film shape, or a flat plate shape. In this case, when the lid 120 is formed in a film shape or a flat plate shape, the lid side portions 122 to 125 can be omitted from the lid 120.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the cold air vents 130 are formed in the lid side surface portions 122 and 124, which face each other, of the lid body 120. As a result, the cold air vents 130 are provided in the opposing portions of the lid body 120, which improves ventilation between the outside and inside of the container body 101 and increases the flow of cold air C. However, the cold air vents 130 may be provided in any position in the container body 101 that allows cold air C to pass in and out between the inside and outside of the storage space S, and the location of the cold air vents 130 is not particularly limited. Therefore, the cold air vents 130 may also be formed in portions other than the lid side surface portions 122 and 124, such as the food container 110 (FIG. 6) and / or the lid body 120.

[0083] For example, the cold air vent 130 can be formed in at least one of the bottom 111, the container side surfaces 112-115, the ceiling 121, and the lid side surfaces 122-125. More specifically, the cold air vent 130 can be formed in various positions in the container body 101, such as only a portion of the bottom 111, a portion facing each other such as between the lid side surfaces 123 and 125, a portion adjacent to each other such as between the lid side surface 123 and the container side surface 113, or a portion spaced apart from each other between the ceiling 121 and the container side surface 114.

[0084] 7, when cool air vent 130 is formed in ceiling portion 121, cool air C flowing into container body 101 from above can be spread in the planar direction to cool food F inside container body 101. In this case, cool air vent 130 can also be formed in lid side surface portions 122-125 such as lid side surface portions 122, 124 or container side surface portions 112-115. In this way, cool air vent 130 can cause cool air C that has flowed into container body 101 from cool air vent 130 in ceiling portion 121 to flow out from cool air vent 130 provided in lid side surface portions 122, 124, thereby improving ventilation between the outside and inside of container body 101 and increasing the circulation of cool air C.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the cold air vent 130 is configured as a circular through-hole. However, the cold air vent 130 may be configured in a shape other than circular as long as it is configured to allow cold air C to flow in and out between the inside and outside of the storage space S. For example, the cold air vent 130 may be configured as an elongated hole, a polygonal hole, a louvered opening, or a mesh-like opening. Furthermore, when the cold air vent 130 is configured with multiple through-holes, each through-hole may be formed in a different shape.

[0086] In the above embodiment, the cool air vent 130 is configured with multiple through holes having the same diameter of approximately 6 mm. However, the size and number of the through holes in the cool air vent 130 are not particularly limited, and the size of the through holes may be smaller or larger than those in the above embodiment, or the number of through holes may be one. Furthermore, the cool air vent 130 may be formed so that each through hole has a different size.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the cold air vents 130 are arranged in a grid pattern over substantially the entire surfaces of the lid side surface portions 122 and 124. In this case, the cold air vents 130 have adjacent through-holes arranged at equal intervals. However, the cold air vents 130 may also have through-holes arranged in an array other than a grid pattern. For example, the cold air vents 130 may have through-holes arranged in a staggered pattern.

[0088] In addition, the cold air vent 130 may be configured with a number of small holes, for example. In this case, the cold air vent 130 may be configured with a number of small holes arranged to form a circle or other shape.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the cold air vent 130 is formed to open horizontally into the container body 101. This allows the cold air vent 130 to be formed in the direction of flow of the cold air C and parallel to the flow direction, thereby allowing the cold air C blown horizontally toward the food F to be efficiently introduced into the container body 101. However, the cold air vent 130 may also be formed to open in a direction other than horizontally into the container body 101. For example, the cold air vent 130 may be formed to open in the thickness direction of a plate-like element that constitutes the portion of the container body 101 where the cold air vent 130 is formed. This allows the cold air vent 130 to introduce the cold air C toward the food F in the storage space S when the portion where the cold air vent 130 is formed is inclined toward the inside of the storage space S.

[0090] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cold air vent 130 is formed at a height such that the lower end of the opening of the cold air vent 130 is positioned lower than the upper end of the food F in the container body 101. This allows the cold air vent 130 to introduce cold air C toward the food F contained in the container body 101. However, the cold air vent 130 can also be formed at a height such that the lower end of the opening of the cold air vent 130 is positioned higher than the upper end of the food F in the container body 101. This prevents the cold air C from directly hitting the food F contained in the container body 101, and can prevent the food F from collapsing or being overcooled or overly dried out.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the cold air vent 130 is configured by arranging the opposing through-holes formed in the lid side surface portion 122 and the lid side surface portion 124 on the same straight line extending in the longitudinal direction of the lid body 120. This allows the cold air vent 130 to improve ventilation between the outside and the inside of the container body 101. However, in addition to arranging the opposing through-holes formed in opposing parts of the container body 101 on the same straight line as in the above embodiment, the cold air vent 130 can also be formed in positions offset from each other. This allows the cold air C flowing in from the outside to spread over a wider area within the storage space S.

[0092] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the food serving container 100 is configured with the cover body 140. This prevents foreign matter from entering the container body 101 from the outside through the cooling air vent 130, and keeps the inside of the container body 101 hygienic. The food serving container 100 can also prevent food F contained in the container body 101 from leaking to the outside through the cooling air vent 130. However, the food serving container 100 can also be configured without the cover body 140 and with the cooling air vent 130 open.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cover 140 is configured to be able to open and close the opening of the cool air vent 130. This allows the cover 140 to open the cool air vent 130 and then close it again, thereby achieving the same effect after closing the cool air vent 130 as before it was opened. However, the cover 140 can also be configured to only open the cool air vent 130. For example, the cover 140 can be configured with an adhesive portion 141 that cannot be reattached after being peeled from the container body 101, i.e., an adhesive that is neither removable nor re-adhesive.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the cover body 140 is formed in a sheet shape. However, the cover body 140 can also be formed in a shape other than a sheet shape. For example, the cover body 140 can be configured as a plug-shaped body that is inserted into the cold air vent 130 to close the cold air vent 130. In this case, the cover body 140 can be configured without the adhesive portion 141 and the handle portion 142.

[0095] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cover body 140 is configured as a separate component from the container body 101. However, the cover body 140 can be formed integrally with the container body 101. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8 , the cover body 140 can be configured with a convex piece 146 that corresponds to the U-shaped notch 145 in the lid side surface 124. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9 , the cover body 140 can open the cold air vent 130 by pushing the piece 146 inside or outside the container body 101 and bending the base of the piece 146. Here, when the piece 146 is pushed outside the container body 101 and frozen with the piece 146 protruding outward, the cover body 140 can introduce the cold air C blown against the piece 146 into the container body 101, allowing the cold air C to be efficiently introduced into the container body 101. Conversely, the cover body 140 can close the cold air vent 130 by pushing the piece 146 to the outside or inside of the container body 101 and then returning the piece 146 to its original state.

[0096] With the cover body 140 configured in this manner, the cover body 140 and the container body 101 are integrally formed, which simplifies the configuration and handling. Furthermore, because the cover body 140 and the container body 101 do not separate when the cold air vent 130 is opened, the amount of waste generated can be reduced compared to when they are separated. The cover body 140 can also simplify the preparation work for freezing the food F contained in the container body 101. Specifically, because of the configuration of the cover body 140, there is no need to store the removed cover body 140 separately until the next use, which makes the preparation work easier.

[0097] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the method for freezing food F involves placing the food serving container 100 in the freezer so that the cold air vent 130 faces the cold air C blown from the air cooler, i.e., so that the cold air C blows into the cold air vent 130. However, the method for freezing food F also involves placing the food serving container 100 in a direction other than so that the cold air vent 130 faces the cold air C. For example, the method for freezing food F involves placing the food serving container 100 so that the cold air C blows toward a portion of the container body 101 where the cold air vent 130 is not formed. This method for freezing food F places the food serving container 100 in a direction other than so that the cold air vent 130 faces the cold air C, thereby preventing the cold air C from directly hitting the food F in the storage space S and preventing the food F from collapsing or being overcooled or overly dried. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] C...cold air, F...Food, S...containment space, 100...Container for food serving, 101...Container body, 110...food container, 111...bottom, 112...container side portion, 113...container side portion, 114...container side surface portion, 115...container side surface portion, 116...container side opening portion, 117...container side flange portion, 117a...container side fitting portion, 117b...container side handle portion, 118...Connection part, 120...lid body, 121...ceiling part, 122...lid side part, 123...lid side part, 124... Lid side surface portion, 125... Lid side surface portion, 126... Lid side opening portion, 127... Lid side flange portion, 127a... Lid side fitting portion, 127b... Lid side handle portion, 130...Cold air vent, 140...cover body, 140a...inner surface, 141...adhesive portion, 142...handle portion, 145...cutout portion, 146...one portion.

Claims

1. A food serving container having a container body that can be frozen while containing food and that is used as a packaging container for the food when serving the food, The container body is A food serving container characterized by having a cold air vent for introducing cold air from the outside into the container body.

2. The food serving container according to claim 1, The container body is a food container having an opening that opens upward and that contains the food; A food serving container characterized by having a lid that covers the opening.

3. The food serving container according to claim 2, The cold air vent is A food serving container characterized in that it is provided on the lid body.

4. The food serving container according to claim 1, The cold air vent is A food serving container characterized in that the lower end of the opening of the cold air vent is located at a height lower than the height of the upper end of the food contained in the container body.

5. The food serving container according to claim 1, The cold air vent is A food serving container characterized in that it is opened horizontally within the container body so that cold air can circulate horizontally.

6. The food serving container according to claim 1, The cold air vent is A food serving container characterized in that the containers are provided on opposite sides of each other.

7. The food serving container according to claim 6, The cold air vent is A food serving container characterized in that the cold air vents provided on the opposing sides are formed at positions offset from each other.

8. The food serving container according to claim 1, The cold air vent is A food serving container characterized by being composed of a large number of small holes.

9. The food serving container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: A food serving container characterized by having a cover body that covers the cold air vent.

10. The food serving container according to claim 9, The cover body is A food serving container characterized in that it can be freely opened and closed relative to the opening of the cold air vent.

11. The food serving container according to claim 9, The cover body is A food serving container characterized in that it is formed integrally with the container body.

12. 9. A method for freezing food, comprising freezing the food using a food serving container according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images