Food packaging containers

Abstract

To provide a food packaging container capable of preventing contents from leaking through an air passage even if the container is tilted during packaging of food. [Solution] The container comprises a container body, a lid, an outer peripheral groove portion, a first ventilation passage, and a second ventilation passage. The container body has a bottom, a food removal opening, and a fitted portion. The removal opening is disposed opposite the bottom. The fitted portion is disposed along the edge of the removal opening. The lid has a fitting portion on the periphery. The outer peripheral groove is linear and is formed in the fitted portion along the edge of the removal opening. The first ventilation passage is formed in the fitted portion and connects the outer peripheral groove to the inside of the container body. The second ventilation passage is formed in the fitted portion at a position away from the first ventilation passage along the edge of the removal opening.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a food packaging container, and more particularly to a food packaging container that allows food inside the container to be heated in a microwave oven or the like without removing the lid of the container. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a packaging container that includes a container body that contains food and a lid that closes the removal opening of the container body, as a packaging container that packages food so that it can be heated in a microwave oven, etc. In the packaging container described in Patent Document 1, the lid has a fitting portion on its periphery that fits with the edge of the removal opening, and the fitting portion of the lid fits with the edge of the removal opening to seal the removal opening of the container body.

[0003] In addition, a groove-shaped ventilation passage is provided on the edge of the removal opening to connect the inside and outside of the container body. Therefore, when food inside the container is heated in a microwave oven, steam can escape through the ventilation passage, allowing food to be heated with the lid on the container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-202254 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the food packaging container described in Patent Document 1 can cause problems when packaging food with liquid. For example, if the container is placed in a shopping bag at an angle, liquid may leak out of the container through the air passage.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a food packaging container that can prevent the contents from leaking through the air passage even if the container is tilted while packaging food. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The food packaging container disclosed in the present application comprises a container body (10, 10A), a lid (20), an outer peripheral groove (30), a first air passage (40), and a second air passage (50). The container body (10, 10A) has a bottom (11), a food removal opening (12, 12A), and a fitting portion (13), and contains food. The removal opening (12, 12A) is disposed opposite the bottom (11). The fitting portion (13) is disposed along the edge of the removal opening (12, 12A). The lid (20) has a fitting portion (21) on its peripheral portion, and closes the removal opening (12, 12A). The fitting portion (21) fits into the fitting portion (13). The outer circumferential groove portion (30) is linear and formed in the fitted portion (13) along the edge of the removal opening (12, 12A). The first air passage (40) is groove-shaped and formed in the fitted portion (13) to connect the outer circumferential groove portion (30) to the inside of the container body (10, 10A). The second air passage (50) is groove-shaped and formed in the fitted portion (13) at a position away from the first air passage (40) along the edge of the removal opening (12, 12A) to connect the outer circumferential groove portion (30) to the outside of the container body (10, 10A).

[0008] In the food packaging container disclosed in the present application, the contour shape of the removal opening (12, 12A) is approximately polygonal, the first air passage (40) is formed approximately in the center of one side of the contour shape of the removal opening (12, 12A), and the second air passage (50) is formed near corners located at both ends of the one side.

[0009] In addition, in the food packaging container disclosed in the present application, the corners located at both ends of one of the sides are rounded, and when the container body (10, 10A) is tilted so that the one of the sides faces a horizontal supporting surface (P), the second air passage (50) is arranged at the corner so as to be located higher than the first air passage (40). Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the food packaging container of the present invention, even if the container is tilted while packaging food, the contents can be prevented from leaking out through the air passage. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a container body of a food packaging container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is a plan view showing the container body of the food packaging container of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the food packaging container of FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view showing the container body of the food packaging container of FIG. 1 in a tilted state. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a container body of a food packaging container according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The food packaging container according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is a preferred specific example for carrying out the present invention, and therefore various technical limitations are imposed thereon, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment unless otherwise specified in the following description to the effect that the invention is limited thereto.

[0013] A food packaging container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a container body of a food packaging container according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the container body of the food packaging container of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the food packaging container of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the container body of the food packaging container of Fig. 1 in a tilted state.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the food packaging container according to the embodiment is formed from a resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, etc., and is suitable for packaging various foods, particularly foods that contain liquid such as sweet and sour dumplings and sweet and sour pork, and comprises a container body 10, a lid body 20, an outer peripheral groove portion 30, a first air passage 40, and a second air passage 50.

[0015] 1 and 2, container body 10 has a bottom 11, a food removal opening 12, and a fitting portion 13, and contains food with bottom portion 11 facing down. Below, the embodiment will be described with the up and down directions defined based on the state in which container body 10 is placed on a horizontal stand such as a table with bottom portion 11 facing down.

[0016] The removal opening 12 is disposed opposite the bottom 11, and is normally oriented upward when food is contained in the container body 10. In this embodiment, the outline shape of the removal opening 12 is substantially square, and the corners are rounded.

[0017] The fitted portion 13 of the container body 10 is disposed so as to go around the edge of the removal opening 12 along the edge of the removal opening 12, and is fitted with the lid 20. The upper surface of the fitted portion 13 is a flat surface having a substantially constant width and being substantially horizontal, and a closed linear peripheral groove portion 30 is formed around the edge of the removal opening 12 near the center in the width direction. In the present invention, the peripheral groove portion 30 may be formed as an open linear shape having both ends as long as it is formed linearly along the edge of the removal opening 12 and is at least partially connected to the first ventilation passage 40 and the second ventilation passage 50.

[0018] In the embodiment, of the upper surface of the fitted portion 13, the portion inside the outer circumferential groove portion 30 is referred to as an inner flat portion 13a, and the portion outside the outer circumferential groove portion 30 is referred to as an outer flat portion 13b.

[0019] The fitted portion 13 includes an outer peripheral surface portion 13c and an inner peripheral surface portion 13d. The outer peripheral surface portion 13c is a long and narrow plate of a constant width that is substantially perpendicular to the outer flat portion 13b, and is connected to the outer flat portion 13b so as to extend downward from the outer peripheral edge of the outer flat portion 13b. The inner peripheral surface portion 13d is a long and narrow plate of a constant width that is substantially perpendicular to the inner flat portion 13a, and is connected to the inner flat portion 13a so as to extend downward from the inner peripheral edge of the inner flat portion 13a.

[0020] 3, the lid 20 has a fitting portion 21 on its periphery and closes the removal opening 12. The fitting portion 21 fits into the fitted portion 13. In the embodiment, the fitting portion 21 includes an upper contact portion 21a, an inner contact portion 21b, and an outer contact portion 21c.

[0021] The upper contact portion 21a is a long and thin plate curved in a direction parallel to the main surface, is disposed opposite the upper surface of the fitted portion 13, and abuts against the inner flat portion 13a and the outer flat portion 13b of the fitted portion 13 to seal the removal opening 12. The inner contact portion 21b is a long and thin plate, is disposed opposite the inner peripheral surface portion 13d of the fitted portion 13, and abuts against the inner peripheral surface portion 13d to seal the removal opening 12. The outer contact portion 21c is a long and thin plate, is disposed opposite the outer peripheral surface portion 13c of the fitted portion 13, and abuts against the outer peripheral surface portion 13c to seal the removal opening 12.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the first ventilation passage 40 is a short groove formed in the fitted portion 13, and communicates between the outer circumferential groove portion 30 and the inside of the container body 10. In the embodiment, the first ventilation passage 40 is formed in the inner flat portion 13a at approximately the center of each side in the contour shape of the removal opening 12, one end is connected to the outer circumferential groove portion 30, and the other end is open toward the inside of the container. In the embodiment, the first ventilation passage 40 is formed on all sides in the contour shape of the removal opening 12, but in other embodiments, the first ventilation passage 40 may be formed on any side in the contour shape of the removal opening 12 and on another side that is not adjacent to that side, and may be formed on at least one side, preferably two or more sides.

[0023] 3, the other end opening of first ventilation passage 40 is normally blocked by inner contact portion 21b. However, when food inside the container is heated, for example, in a microwave oven, the pressure inside the container increases, causing a small gap to form between inner contact portion 21b and inner circumferential surface portion 13d, and steam inside the container flows through first ventilation passage 40 to outer circumferential groove portion 30.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the second ventilation passage 50 is a short groove, and is formed in the fitted portion 13 at a position away from the first ventilation passage 40 along the edge of the extraction opening 12, and communicates the outer circumferential groove portion 30 with the outside of the container body 40. In the embodiment, the second ventilation passage 50 is formed in the outer flat portion 13b near the corners located at both ends of each side of the extraction opening 12, with one end connected to the outer circumferential groove portion 30 and the other end opening toward the outside of the container. Note that, in the embodiment, the second ventilation passage 50 is formed on all both ends of each side in the contour shape of the extraction opening 12, but in other embodiments, it may be formed on the end of another side that is not adjacent to any side on which the first ventilation passage 40 is formed.

[0025] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the second air passage 50 is formed approximately in the center of the rounded corner, and when the container body 10 is tilted so that one side of the removal opening 12 faces the horizontal mounting surface P, the second air passage 50 is located above the first air passage 40.

[0026] As described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, according to the embodiment of the food packaging container, the container body 10 has a fitting portion 13 along the edge of the removal opening 12, the lid body 20 has a fitting portion 21 on the peripheral portion, an outer peripheral groove portion 30 is formed in the fitting portion 13 along the edge of the removal opening 12, a first air passage 40 is formed in the fitting portion 13 and connects the outer peripheral groove portion 30 to the inside of the container body 10, and a second air passage 50 is formed in the fitting portion 13 along the edge of the removal opening 12 at a position away from the first air passage 40 and connects the outer peripheral groove portion 30 to the outside of the container body 10, 10A.

[0027] According to the above configuration, when food inside the container is heated, for example, in a microwave oven, the pressure inside the container rises, causing steam inside the container to flow through the first ventilation passage 40 to the outer circumferential groove portion 30, and then through the second ventilation passage 50 to flow from the outer circumferential groove portion 30 to the outside of the container. Therefore, food inside the container can be heated in a microwave oven or the like with the lid 20 attached to the container body 10.

[0028] In addition, since the second ventilation passage 50 is formed at a position away from the first ventilation passage 40 along the edge of the take-out opening 12, even if a food with juice is stored in the food packaging container of the embodiment and the food packaging container is placed in a tilted state, for example, in a shopping bag, the juice will not leak out of the container unless it flows from the first ventilation passage 40 to the outer peripheral groove portion 30 and then flows through the outer peripheral groove portion 30 to the second ventilation passage 50. Even if the food is tilted when it is packaged, the contents can be prevented from leaking through the ventilation passage. Therefore, when a food purchaser takes out the food packaging container, it is possible to prevent the juice of the food from getting on the hands and the inside of the shopping bag from getting dirty. In particular, for foods with sticky juice such as sweet and sour dumplings and sweet and sour pork, by optimizing the cross-sectional area of ​​the outer peripheral groove portion 30 in relation to breathability, the contents can be more reliably prevented from leaking through the ventilation passage even if the food is tilted when it is packaged.

[0029] 1 and 2, in the food packaging container according to the embodiment, the contour shape of the removal opening 12 is substantially square, the first air passage 40 is formed substantially in the center of one side of the contour shape of the removal opening 12, and the second air passage 50 is formed near the corners located at both ends of one side. Therefore, even if the first air passage 40 and the second air passage 50 are provided at each side and each corner of the contour shape of the removal opening 12, the maximum distance can be provided between the first air passage 40 and the second air passage 50, and further, even if the container is tilted during packaging of food, the contents can be reliably prevented from leaking through the air passage.

[0030] As described with reference to FIG. 4, in the food packaging container disclosed in the present application, the corners at both ends of one side are rounded, and when the container body 10 is tilted so that one side faces the horizontal placement surface P, the second air passage 50 is located above the first air passage 40. More specifically, the intersection of the second air passage 50 with the outer circumferential groove portion 30 is located vertically above the intersection of the first air passage 40 with the outer circumferential groove portion 30. Therefore, in the vicinity of the corner, if the juice of the food does not flow upward through the outer circumferential groove portion 30, it will not reach the second air passage 50 and will not flow to the outside of the container through the second air passage 50, and moreover, even if the container is tilted while packaging the food, the contents can be reliably prevented from leaking through the air passage.

[0031] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a container body of a food packaging container according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 5, in this embodiment, the contour shape of the removal opening 12A in the container body 10A is a substantial pentagon. Other configurations of this embodiment are the same as those in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4. Therefore, even if the contour shape of the removal opening 12A is a substantial pentagon, the outer circumferential groove portion 30, the first air passage 40, and the second air passage 50 can be formed in the fitted portion 13, as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, and even if the container is tilted during packaging of food, it is possible to prevent the contents from leaking through the air passages.

[0033] Furthermore, even if the outline shape of the removal opening of the food packaging container of the present invention is a polygonal shape other than a rectangle or a pentagon, the outer circumferential groove portion 30, the first air passage 40, and the second air passage 50 can be formed in the fitting portion 13, as in the above embodiment, and the contents can be prevented from leaking through the air passages even if the container is tilted while packaging the food.

[0034] The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 5). However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention (for example, the following (1) to (3)).

[0035] (1) In each of the above embodiments, the first ventilation passage 40 is formed on each side of the contour shape of the take-out opening 12, 12A. This is not limited to the above, and the present invention only requires that the first ventilation passage 40 is formed on at least one side of the contour shape. However, by forming the first ventilation passage 40 on each side of the contour shape of the take-out opening 12, 12A, even if the outer circumferential groove portion 30 is clogged with food juice in a portion corresponding to one side, a ventilation passage for steam can be secured in a portion corresponding to the other side, and food can be heated more reliably in a microwave oven or the like while the lid body 20 is attached to the container body 10, 10A. In addition, two or more first ventilation passages 40 can be formed on one side instead of one on each side of the contour shape.

[0036] (2) In each of the above embodiments, the lid body 20 is provided as a separate member from the container body 10, 10A. However, in other embodiments, the lid body 20 may be formed integrally with the container body 10, 10A via a connecting portion.

[0037] (3) In each of the above embodiments, the outer peripheral groove portion 30 is formed in an approximately straight line shape with a constant width on one side of the contour shape of the removal opening 12, 12A, but in other embodiments, it may be formed in a curved shape like a sine curve (sine wave), or in a broken line shape that is continuously bent in an approximately L-shape, or it may be formed so that the width narrows along the way. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] P…Placement surface 10...Container body 11...Bottom 12...Extraction opening 13...Fitting part 20…Lid body 21...Fitting part 30...Outer periphery groove 40…First ventilation passage 50…Second ventilation passage

Claims

1. a container body (10, 10A) for accommodating food, the container body having a bottom (11), a food removal opening (12, 12A) disposed opposite the bottom (11), and a fitted portion (13) including an annular flat surface disposed along an edge of the removal opening (12, 12A); a lid (20) having a fitting portion (21) on a peripheral portion thereof that fits into the fitted portion (13) and that closes the removal opening (12, 12A); a linear outer circumferential groove portion (30) formed along an edge of the removal opening (12, 12A) so as to divide the flat surface of the fitted portion (13) into an inner flat portion (13a) on the inside of the container body (10, 10A) and an outer flat portion (13b) on the outside of the container body (10, 10A); a groove-shaped first ventilation passage (40) formed in the inner flat portion (13a) of the fitted portion (13) and communicating between the outer circumferential groove portion (30) and the inside of the container body (10, 10A); a groove-shaped second air passage (50) formed in the outer flat portion (13b) of the fitted portion (13) at a position away from the first air passage (40) along the edge of the removal opening (12, 12A) and connecting the outer circumferential groove portion (30) to the outside of the container body (10, 10A); A food packaging container comprising:

2. The food packaging container of claim 1, wherein the contour shape of the removal opening (12, 12A) is approximately polygonal, the first air passage (40) is formed approximately in the center of one side of the contour shape of the removal opening (12, 12A), and the second air passage (50) is formed near corners located at both ends of the one side.

3. The food packaging container of claim 2, wherein the corners located at both ends of one of the sides are rounded, and when the container body (10, 10A) is tilted so that any one of the sides faces a horizontal supporting surface (P), all of the second air passages (50) are arranged at the corners so as to be located above the first air passages (40) of any one of the sides.

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