Cooling container and cooling method, especially for ice cream

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for cooling a product, in particular an ice cream product, in which at least one cooling element (6, 7) is introduced into the cooling section of a cooling container and the product is introduced into the receiving space of the cooling container. The present invention also relates to a corresponding cooling container. The problem of the present invention is to create a method and a container for cooling a product, for example a ready-made ice cream product, which takes into account the special properties of the various product components and allows the product to be transported and delivered in an optimal condition. This problem is solved by dividing the receiving space into two zones, cooling the first zone at the bottom of the receiving space to a first temperature below -10°C and the second zone at the top of the receiving space to a second temperature close to or above the freezing point of water.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for cooling a product, in particular an ice cream product, in which at least one cooling element is introduced into a cooling section of a cooling container and the product is introduced into a receiving space of the cooling container. The invention further relates to a corresponding cooling container.

[0002] A cooling container for transporting ice cream is known, for example, from German Utility Model No. 29707280. It describes a transport container for filled ice cream wafers and ice cream cups. The transport container consists of a foldable sleeve made of cardboard or plastic, in which an inner portion for holding the ice cream cups or ice cream wafers is arranged. A sliding compartment for holding ice packs may be provided in the cavity. The transport container is intended to allow the ice cream wafers and the ice cream portions freshly produced in the ice cream cups to be transported without impairing the quality.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-067116 discloses a container for delivering ice cream products. The package has two cups joined together. The lower cup contains ice cream and the upper cup contains a soup, with the upper cup acting as a lid for the lower cup.

[0004] US Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0072523 describes a two-stage dry ice system for storing perishable goods during transport. The dry ice is associated with a PCM (phase change material) material with a high cooling temperature. The dry ice and PCM material divide the container in the middle into a very cold holding space adjacent to the dry ice and a slightly warmer holding space adjacent to the PCM module. US Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0008623 discloses a beverage container with two temperature zones that hold beverages at two different temperatures: a hot zone located inward toward the outlet opening and a colder consumption temperature zone. Coolers with containers for cooling elements that divide the interior of the cooler into different zones are known from German Utility Model No. 8713329, German Patent No. 102016107813, European Patent Application Publication No. 3090961, and US Patent No. 4294079. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0148409 describes an insulated cardboard box for refrigerated products. Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0357645 relates to a receiving container for ice cream cups with a dry ice receiving space above the ice cream cup. Chinese Utility Model No. 211168094 describes an ice cream container with a hollow lid incorporating a cooling element within the cavity, and Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0008816 describes an ice cream cup with a cooling space in the base for receiving dry ice.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to create a method and a container for cooling a product, for example a ready-made ice cream product, which allows for the transportation and delivery of the product in optimal conditions, taking into account the particularities of the various product components.

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved by dividing the receiving space into two zones, cooling a first zone at the bottom of the receiving space to a first temperature below -10°C and a second zone at the top of the receiving space to a second temperature close to or above the freezing point of water.

[0007] Thus, instead of proposing two different containers for separately holding two different product components, the holding space for holding the ready-to-eat product is divided into two zones that can be cooled to two different temperatures, while the cooling container remains portable and does not require an external power source.

[0008] This proposal is based on the fundamental consideration that high-quality ice cream products often contain, in addition to the ice cream, decorative elements or additional ingredients that require temperatures different from those of the ice cream itself. As a general rule, the optimal temperature for ice cream is below -10°C, e.g., -14°C. At this temperature, the ice cream is firm but soft, not crunch-like. Lower temperatures can lead to ice cream becoming too hard and losing flavor. Higher temperatures can lead to ice cream becoming too soft and melting prematurely. In contrast, additional ingredients used in ice cream, such as fruit, fruit sauce, cream, chocolate, or pastry strips, have much higher optimal consumption temperatures, e.g., in the refrigerated temperature range of 0-7°C. Cream, in particular, should not be cooled below its freezing point; otherwise, this ingredient will separate during subsequent thawing, resulting in the loss of the cream's desired texture. Fruit and fruit sauces also change texture below their freezing point, and subsequent thawing above their freezing point can result in a loss of flavor. Fruits, particularly strawberries, can become watery or mushy due to juice loss during thawing.

[0009] For this reason, a cooling container is proposed as a transport container having at least one continuous receiving space with two zones for products that can be cooled to different temperatures. The first, lower zone, which receives the ice cream cup or ice cream cone, is cooled to the ice cream's optimal serving temperature. The second, upper zone is cooled to a temperature near or above the freezing point, preventing the additional components of the ice cream product placed in this second zone from losing quality due to excessive cooling. As a result, the ice cream product is maintained at a constant optimal serving temperature within the container. Therefore, when consumed immediately after removal from the cooling container, the customer is provided with the optimal texture and flavor of the ice cream product, just as if it were consumed in an ice cream parlor immediately after production.

[0010] In practice, at least one first cooling element having a first temperature may be introduced into a first cooling section of the cooling container adjacent to the first zone, and at least one second cooling element having a second temperature may be introduced into a second cooling section of the cooling container adjacent to the second zone. The cooling elements, also known as ice packs, contain a cooling liquid. The cooling liquid is cooled to a specific temperature. The cooling liquid maintains that temperature for a specific time, thereby maintaining a low temperature in the vicinity of the cooling element. For example, if the cooling container is intended to receive a cup of ice cream product with cream and fruit placed on top, a first cooling zone may be located in the lower part of the cooling container to receive the ice cream cup, and a second cooling zone may be located in the upper part of the cooling container to receive the cream and fruit.

[0011] In particular, cooling elements in which the cooling liquid undergoes a phase change are also known. Such cooling liquids are also called PCM materials (phase change materials). These cooling liquids are characterized by their particularly effective cooling at a given temperature. In practice, cooling elements with different cooling liquids can be used to cool different zones. The phase change temperature of the cooling liquid in the cooling element in the first cooling section, which cools the ice cream, is below -10°C, preferably in the range of -14 to -18°C. On the other hand, the phase change temperature of the cooling liquid in the cooling element in the second cooling section can have a much higher value, allowing the second cooling section to be cooled to a refrigeration temperature, for example 0 to 7°C.

[0012] In practice, the first cooling section and the first zone may be located in the base body of the cooling container, and the second cooling section and the second zone may be located in the lid of the cooling container. In this case, the product is placed in the base body, and the lid is placed on the base body to close the receiving space. Thus, the base body encloses a cup or wafer into which ice cream is inserted. The lid encloses the area above the cup, where additional elements such as cream, sauce, and fruit are usually placed.

[0013] In practice, an insert may be placed within the base body, a dome-shaped cover cap may be placed within the lid, and the cover cap may be latched to the base body or the insert. The additional elements on the ice cream cup are often very delicate. Especially when cream, sauce, or fruit pieces are decoratively placed on the ice cream cup, special care must be taken to prevent contact between the cooling container and these decorative elements after placing the ice cream cup. This risk is eliminated by proposing a base body with an insert that forms the lower part of the cooling container and secures the cup inside. A second cooling element is placed within the lid of the cooling container, and the second cooling element is housed within it. The second cooling element is separated from the zone of the receiving space where the decorative element is located by a cover cap, made of, for example, transparent plastic. The cover cap is latched to the insert or base body to hold it in place. This reliably prevents the decorative element from coming into contact with the outside, especially the cooling container, and being damaged. The cover cap can also be used to control the temperature of the second upper zone. For example, the cover cap may be made of an insulating material that protects the decorating element located on top of the ice cream product from the excessive cooling effect of one or more cooling elements in the cooling container. However, the cover cap itself may be double-walled, enclosing a cavity filled with a PCM cooling liquid. The PCM cooling liquid in the cover cap is then cooled to a temperature close to its freezing point, maintaining a target temperature in a second zone of the receiving space for the ice cream product much higher than the temperature in the first zone.

[0014] In practice, two complementary latching elements can be engaged with one another, one on the cover cap and the other on the insert or base body, with at least one latching element located on a displaceable wall, which is released by changing the wall's position. For example, the cover cap may have a protruding rim that latches with a slot on the insert or base body. As discussed below, the insert and base body preferably comprise folded cardboard blanks. The slot may be located in a tearable area of ​​the insert or base body where the holes are formed. Tearing this area releases the latch connection. However, the slot may also be located in the area of ​​a crease along which an element of the base body or insert is folded when the cooling containers are joined together. Folding the element back releases the latching protrusion received in the slot. A practical embodiment of this proposal is described in detail below.

[0015] In practice, a pull element is placed in the cooling container and the product can be removed from the base body by pulling the pull element. Usefully, the cooling container is a closed body, for example in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylinder. The base body forms one half of the container, in which an ice cream cup is accommodated. The lid forms the other half of the cooling container and covers the cream, fruit, sauce or other ice cream decoration. After the lid is removed, the ice cream decoration is exposed. However, it is not possible to grasp the cup without touching and damaging the decoration. For this reason, a pull element has been proposed for removing the product from the base body.

[0016] In practice, the first zone can be cooled to a temperature below -10°C, preferably about -14°C. The temperature of the second zone can be different. In particular, in a preferred use for transporting ice cream products with ice cream in a cup and cream, fruit pieces, and fruit sauce on the cup in the second zone, the second zone can be cooled to about 0°C or slightly higher. This allows for a ready-to-serve ice cream product to be completed and then transported to the customer. Cooling to the optimal serving temperature with a cooling element can maintain the ice cream product at the optimal serving temperature for an extended period, e.g., 30 to 60 minutes, thereby maintaining an optimal eating texture. This cooling process allows ready-to-serve ice cream products to be packaged and delivered to customers via delivery services without loss of quality, even in warm countries such as Arabia and Africa, or in summer temperatures. The ice cream product can be maintained at the optimal temperature for the standard delivery time of 30 minutes, or for up to 60 minutes. During this time, the ice cream is maintained at a serving temperature of about 14°C, and the cream and / or fruit is maintained at a temperature of about 0 to 7°C. The ice cream product is ready to consume immediately after removal from the receptive space.

[0017] In a variant of the cooling method, the receiving space may include at least one region having multiple walls. The cooling fluid may be introduced into a cavity formed between the walls. In this way, a cooling element is permanently introduced into the cavity between the walls. Alternatively, to insulate the receiving space, the cavity between the walls may be filled with a medium having low thermal conductivity. In this embodiment, the cavity acts as an insulator and reduces heat exchange with the environment. This variant, which includes at least one cavity formed by the walls of the receiving space, is preferably intended for repeated use. The walls forming the cavity may be made of a durable material such as plastic or metal. By filling the cavity with one of the above-identified media, the cavity integrated into the package has either a cooling effect or an insulating effect. When the cavity is filled with air, which has low thermal conductivity, the receiving space of the cooling container is insulated. When the cavity is filled with a cooling liquid, in particular a phase change material, it acts as a temperature accumulator, very slowly increasing the temperature to which the cooling container is cooled. Of course, as will be further explained below, two cavities may be formed, with the outer cavity surrounding the inner cavity, and the outer cavity may contain a thermal insulating medium, while the inner cavity may be filled with a cooling liquid.

[0018] The present invention therefore also relates to a cooling container having at least one receiving space for a product and a cooling sector for receiving a cooling element adjacent to the receiving space, wherein, in order to be able to optimally cool delicate products such as ice cream products with different ingredients at different temperatures, the receiving space is adjoined by at least two cooling sectors into which cooling sector cooling elements can be introduced to cool the receiving space to two different temperatures in at least two zones.

[0019] The cooling vessel preferably has an insulated outer wall that keeps the air cool inside the vessel and protects the two zones from heating up too quickly. A cardboard outer wall meets these requirements. The outer wall can also be multi-layered to improve insulation.

[0020] In practice, the cooling container may include a base body made of thin-walled material having a first zone for receiving a cup surrounded by a first cooling sector. The cooling container may also include a lid made of thin-walled material having a second zone surrounded by a second cooling sector. Both the base body and the lid may be formed from a cardboard blank that is formed along fold lines to form the respective elements of the cooling container. Both the base body and the lid may have multi-layer walls to provide increased insulation through the wall material.

[0021] In practice, the base body of the cooling container may have an insert that holds the cup in the first zone. This insert can also be formed as a folded cardboard blank. However, the insert can also be a more durable and reusable part, for example, made of metal or plastic. In particular, the insert may have a cavity surrounding the cup and filled with a PCM cooling liquid. The insert itself can thus be designed as an ice pack. It is then cooled to the required ice cream temperature, cooling the cup enclosed in the insert cavity with little clearance. In particular, the insert can be designed so that the cup can be freely removed from the insert by gripping the upper rim of the cup. However, in the case of such a complex insert, it is preferable that the insert can be reused multiple times. After the ice cream product has been delivered, the insert can be returned to the supplier, preferably together with the rest of the package, so that it can be used multiple times for delivering ice cream. Similarly, a cover cap may be formed in the lid with a cavity that receives a cooling liquid, which is cooled to a higher temperature in a second cooling zone having a higher temperature.

[0022] The lid may include a dome-shaped cover cap. This cover cap can separate a secondary cooling section with an internal cooling element from the product contained in the cooling container. Because air has low thermal conductivity, the air enclosed in the cover cap further protects the decoration from cooling below 0°C. This prevents the top of the product, or in the case of ice cream products, the cream or decoration, from being accidentally touched and damaged. The cover cap can be latched to the insert or base body. This securely fastens the cover cap to the insert or base body, protecting the top of the product until the cover cap is removed for consumption. Two complementary latch elements can be disposed on the cover cap and the insert or base body. For example, a latch protrusion on the cover cap engages with a latch slot on the insert. At least one of the latch elements can be disposed on a displaceable wall, allowing the snap engagement to be released by changing the wall's position. For example, the edge of the latch slot can be disposed on one of the tearable cardboard walls with holes formed therein. Tearing the area surrounded by the holes releases the latch. For example, the edges of the latch slot may extend close to the fold line along which the displaceable wall can be folded, so that folding the wall releases the latch connection.

[0023] In practice, the insert for the base body of the cooling container can have a pull tab that allows the cup held therein to be pulled out of the base body. Therefore, the cup filled with ice cream and toppings, such as cream, can be pulled out of the base body of the cooling container using the pull tab without having to be grasped. In practice, the latch opening of the insert can function as a first latch element, and the latch protrusion on the cover cap can function as a second latch element. In this case, the latch opening is located on the pull tab of the insert, and the pull tab can be folded down to release the latch protrusion when the insert is removed from the base body. Therefore, the insert can be first removed from the base body by pulling the pull tab, and then the pull tab can be folded down to release the latch connection between the cover cap and the insert.

[0024] As mentioned above, the insert may actually consist of a flat blank, particularly a cardboard blank. The blank may have a support wall with an opening for receiving the cup and a plurality of side walls connected to the support wall by fold lines. In the assembled cooling container, the side walls hold the support wall at a distance from the bottom wall of the base body. This distance may form a first cooling section in which the insulated cooling element is received. However, the insulated cooling element may be located in a separate space partitioned below the bottom wall of the base body. After removing the insert from the base body, the side walls can be unfolded and pressed down to the bottom of the product, particularly an ice cream cup, it contains. The ice cream cup can then be easily removed. In practice, the side walls are spring-like and resiliently press against the outer wall of the base body when the insert is received in the base body and spring up when the insert is removed from the base body. This movement allows the user to fully unfold the side walls of the insert and easily remove the cup by simply pressing down on the support wall.

[0025] In a reusable version of the cooling container, its components may be made of durable materials such as plastic or metal, especially aluminum or stainless steel. In this version, the base body or the lid or both components of the cooling container may have a region with multiple walls between which a closed cavity is formed. As explained above, the cavity may be filled with a cooling liquid. In this case, the cooling liquid forms the cooling element introduced into the cooling container. Alternatively, the cavity may be filled with air or another gas with low thermal conductivity. This gas has a negative pressure and can optimally form a vacuum to further reduce thermal conductivity. In this case, the low-thermal-conductivity gas forms an insulator that prevents rapid heating of the container's receiving space. Of course, an outer cavity with a low-thermal-conductivity gas and an inner cavity with a cooling liquid can also be provided adjacent to each other in the lid or base body.

[0026] The features of the cooling vessel according to the invention may be individually present in the cooling vessel or may be advantageously developed. In particular, the following features may be individually realized in a cooling vessel with two-zone cooling and a continuous receiving space: The base body has at least one insert that holds the cup in the first zone. The insert in the base body has a cavity surrounding the cup, which forms the first cooling element. The lid has a dome-shaped cover cap. The cover cap has a cavity that forms the second cooling element. The cover cap can be latched onto the insert or base body. Two complementary latch connection elements are arranged, one on the cover cap and the other on the insert or base body. At least one latch element is arranged on the displaceable wall and can be released by changing the position of the wall. The displaceable wall has holes formed in it and can be torn apart. Displaceable walls can be folded along fold lines. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] Further practical embodiments and advantages of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional front view of the cooling vessel described herein. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the cooling vessel of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the cooling vessel of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of the lid of the cooling vessel of FIG. 1, viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the base body of the cooling vessel of FIG. 1, viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional oblique top view of the insert of the cooling vessel. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional oblique plan view of a further insert for the cooling vessel. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a cutaway front view of the insert of FIG. 7 with the cup received therein. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 8, in which the cover cap is also shown. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 8, in which the insert of FIG. 6 is also shown. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows a three-dimensional view of the insert with the cup and cover cap of FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a second embodiment of the cooling vessel. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows a representation of the cooling vessel of FIG. 12 corresponding to FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 shows a three-dimensional view of two inserts of the cooling vessel of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the insert of FIG. 14 with the cup and cover cap. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 shows the arrangement of FIG. 15 in a three-dimensional top view. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 12 of a variation of the cooling vessel made of durable material. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 shows a modification of the insert that includes a space for receiving the PCM coolant.

[0028] 1-11 show a first embodiment of a cooling container that allows two-zone cooling as described herein. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cooling container comprises a base body 1 and a lid 2 and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The lid 2 and the base body 1 both have the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped shell. The base body 1 and the lid 2 are joined to each other in a substantially sealed manner and together can enclose a receiving space. The shape of the cooling container shown in the drawings can vary and can differ from the rectangular parallelepiped shape shown. For example, the cooling container can be cylindrical or have another shape. The material can also vary. Cardboard, plastic, and especially foam, as well as glass and metal, are suitable for manufacturing the outer wall of the cooling container.

[0029] The outer wall of the base body 1 is shown in Figure 5. The insulating lid 2 can be seen in Figure 4. The base body 1 and the lid 2 may be made of insulating synthetic foam. Foamed plastics based on polymerized lactic acid are suitable for this purpose and are known to be completely biodegradable. Such rectangular trays can also be made from cardboard. When selecting the material, care should be taken to ensure sufficient thermal insulation. For example, if the tray walls are made from cardboard, they can be manufactured with multiple layers to achieve the desired thermal insulation.

[0030] Figures 2 and 3 each show a cross section of the cooling container of Figure 1 with a cup 3 inserted therein and a cover cap 4 protecting the contents of the cup 3, in particular the decoration placed above the cup rim 5. The cup 3 is intended to be filled with ice cream. The ice cream decoration, i.e. whipped cream, fruit pieces or fruit sauce, pastry strips, chocolate, etc., is placed on the ice cream above the cup rim 5. This decoration is placed inside the cover cap 4 and is protected from accidental contact.

[0031] A first cooling section is formed inside the base 1 and is surrounded by the bottom and side walls of the cup 3 and the bottom and side walls of the base 1. Two cooling elements 6, 7 are arranged in the first cooling section. The first cooling element 6 has a disk-like shape and is placed on the bottom wall of the base 1 so as to be located directly below the cup 3. The second cooling element 7 has the shape of an annular sleeve and surrounds the side wall of the cup 3. Both cooling elements 6, 7 are cooled to a low temperature to maintain the ice cream at an optimal consumption temperature, which is typically between -14 and 18°C. The temperature of the cooling elements 6, 7 can be selected to be somewhat lower if the ice cream is intended to be consumed only after a long period of time.

[0032] A second cooling section is located within the lid 2 above the thin partition 8. This cooling section also houses a cooling element 9. The cooling element 9 extends over substantially the entire inner surface of the cooling section within the lid 2 and is capable of providing cooling to temperatures below low temperatures. The temperature of this cooling element 9 is below the freezing point of water and cools the second cooling section to a temperature of approximately 0°C to 7°C. The partition 8 is provided with a number of slots 26, 27 and openings 25 to allow for heat transfer from the cooling element 9 by convection.

[0033] In this way, a first cooling zone is created above the cooling element 6 and inside the sleeve-shaped cooling element 7, which is cooled to a low temperature that essentially corresponds to the serving temperature of the ice cream. The cup 3 holding the ice cream is inserted into this first zone. A second cooling zone is created above the cup 3 and inside the cover cap 4, which is cooled to a much higher second temperature. This second temperature is above the freezing point of water, for example 0-7°C. This prevents the cream and decorations on the ice cream from freezing, thereby preserving the original texture and high quality of the ice cream.

[0034] 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10, it can be seen that the cup 3 is supported by a support wall 10 that is part of the first insert 11. The support wall 10 of the first insert 11 has a large central opening 12 for this purpose. The rim 5 of the cup 3 has an outer diameter that is larger than the diameter of the opening 12. The rim 5 therefore rests in the area of ​​the support wall 10 that surrounds the opening 12, preventing the cup 3 from falling through the opening 12.

[0035] The support wall 10 defines a cooling zone at the top of the interior of the base 1. This can be seen particularly in FIG. 7, where the insert 11 is shown in its entirety. The insert 11 essentially consists of four side walls 15 that extend downward from the edge of the support wall 10 and thus support it. Around a large central opening 12 in the support wall 10, air passages 13 and receiving openings 14 are provided. The air passages 13 are located directly above the sleeve-shaped cooling element 7. This allows the sleeve-shaped cooling element 7 to cool not only the cup 3 but also the cooling zone inside the cover cap 4 by convection. Therefore, in practice, cooling according to the method described here can be achieved even without a cooling element in the lid 2, by maintaining a low temperature inside the cup 3 and a relatively high temperature inside the cover cap, but below the ambient temperature outside the cooling container. The cooling provided by the cooling element 7 surrounding and cooling the cup 3 to a low temperature may also be sufficient to cool the cooling zone inside the lid 4. Accessories such as ice cream spoons and straws can be inserted into receiving openings 14 in the support wall 10 .

[0036] All cooling elements 6, 7, 9 are preferably filled with a liquid to maintain their temperature for as long as possible. Phase change coolants (PCMs) are particularly suitable for creating cooling vessels that maintain specific temperatures in two zones for extended periods. In principle, the cooling effect can also be achieved with other coolants, such as dry ice. However, in this case, direct or too close contact with the dry ice must be avoided, and the receiving chamber must be separated from the dry ice by a partition, if necessary an insulating partition, to the extent that the two zones in the receiving chamber do not fall below the desired different temperatures.

[0037] The cover cap 4 is latched to the second insert 16. The insert 16 is shown in FIG. 6. The second insert 16 is inserted into the base body 1 and also has the shape of a rectangular shell. The side walls 18-21 of the second insert 16 are located along the outer wall of the base body 1. The second insert 16 contains the cooling elements 6, 7, and the first insert 11 holding the cup 3 therein is inserted therein (see FIG. 10). The cooling element 6 rests on the bottom wall 28 of the second insert 16.

[0038] The side walls 16-20 of the second insert 16 (see Figure 6) have horizontal slots 21 which form latch openings for rims 22 of the cover cap 4. The portions of the rims 22 of the cover cap 4 which are located in the area of ​​the latch openings 21 form latch protrusions which engage in the latch openings 21 to secure the cover cap 4.

[0039] 8-11 show the assembly of the illustrated cooling vessel. The first insert 11 accommodates the cup 3. For this purpose, the cup 3 protrudes through a central opening 12 in the support wall 10 of the first insert 11. The cup rim 5 rests on the support wall 10 around the opening 12, so that the cup 3 is held by the support wall 10 (see FIG. 8). The cup 3 is covered by a cover cap 4. This is shown in FIG. 9. It can be seen that the diameter of the cover cap 4 is significantly larger than the diameter of the cup 3. The cover cap 4 also has a radially protruding rim 22. The rim 22 of the cover cap 4 forms a latching projection. As can be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the insert 11 is inserted into the insert 16. The support wall 10 is positioned at the height of the lower edge of the slot 21 in the side walls 17-20 of the insert 16. When the cover cap 4 is fitted, the rim 22 of the cover cap 4 is resiliently compressed and resiliently engages the slots 21 in the side walls 17-20 of the insert 16. It can be seen, in particular in FIGS. 6 and 11, that the material areas of the side walls 17 and 19 above the slots 21 are separated by perforation lines 23. Tear tabs 24 extend above these perforation lines 23 and can be torn along the perforation lines 23. The slots 21 located within the torn areas of the tear tabs 24 are then no longer engaged with the rim 22 of the cover cap 4 that forms the latch projection, allowing the cover cap 4 to be removed. The tear tabs 24 thus form a displaceable wall that releases the latch opening.

[0040] An alternative design of the cooling vessel is shown in Figures 12 to 16, where identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals. In particular, in Figures 12 and 13 it can be seen that the sleeve-shaped cooling element 7' tapers downwards in the form of an approximately conical cross section and thus follows the contour of the cup 3. The lower cooling element 6' extends into the region of the base of the cup 3 and has a smaller diameter than in the first embodiment.

[0041] The inserts 11', 29 of the cooling vessel of this embodiment are shown in FIG. 14. The first insert 11' corresponds substantially to the first insert 11 of the first embodiment. The first insert 11' has a central opening 12 in the upper support wall 10' for receiving the cup 3. This insert 11' is also called a cup insert or a hole insert. The support wall 10' also has a receiving opening 14, but unlike the first embodiment, it does not have an air passage. The side wall 15' of this insert 11' is angled slightly downwards so as to essentially follow the contour of the slightly conical cooling element 7'.

[0042] A removal insert 29 rests on insert 11' and can be used to aid in removing a filled cup 3 from cooling container base 1. Removal insert 29 has a horizontal side wall 30 flanked by two bent pull tabs 31. Side wall 30 has a cup opening 32 through which cup 3 is inserted. Pull tab 31 has a slot 21' above the fold line. Side wall 30 also has a receiving opening 34. Each pull tab 31 has a gripping opening 33.

[0043] 15 and 16, it can be seen that the removal insert 29 is placed on the first insert 11' so that the openings 32, 34 in the lateral wall of the removal insert 29 are aligned with the openings 12, 14 in the support wall 10' of the first insert 11'. The cup 3 is inserted through the openings 32, 12. The cover cap 4 is placed on the lateral wall 30. The pull tab 31 is folded up. The slot 21' in the pull tab 31 forms a snap-in opening for the rim 22 of the cover cap 4.

[0044] The pull tabs 31 are folded up and protrude from the base 1 of the cooling container. To remove the cup 3, they can be pulled upwards. The rim 5 of the cup 3 rests on the lateral wall 30 of the removal insert 29. After the cup 3 has been removed, it can be placed on a table. The pull tabs 31 form a displaceable wall and can be folded laterally. This disengages the rim 22 of the cover cap 4 in the slot (latch opening) 21' of the pull tab 31. The removal insert 29 can then be pushed into the bottom of the cup to grip the cup 3.

[0045] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the cooling container may include further functional inserts. For example, in Figures 12 and 13 it can be seen that the first insert 11' and the lower part of the pull tab 31 are surrounded by a further wrapping insert 35 which connects the other inserts 11', 29 and the cooling elements 6', 7' to form a unit which can be easily inserted into the base part 1 of the cooling container.

[0046] All inserts of the cooling vessel, except for the removable insert 29, may be glued together, for example by double-sided adhesive tape.

[0047] Figure 17 shows a variant of a cooling container intended for multiple uses. This variant is shown in a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 12, where identical components bear the same reference numerals. In particular, the cup 3, the cover cap 4 and the removal insert with the pull tab 31 are designed similarly to the previous embodiment of Figures 12 to 16.

[0048] In the variant of FIG. 17, the base body 1' and lid 2' in this reusable embodiment can be made of a durable material, particularly plastic or metal. The durable material allows the base body 1' and lid 2' to be repeatedly cleaned. Furthermore, the durable material exhibits considerable strength, allowing the base body 1' and lid 2' to be made with thin walls, with at least one cavity formed between the thin walls. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the base body 1' has a first cavity 36 extending along its outer wall 37. This cavity 36 is surrounded on the inside by a wall 38 and filled with air. This cavity 36 may be sealed from the environment with negative air pressure. Air is a medium with low thermal conductivity, especially when filled with low pressure. As a result, the cavity 36 reduces heating of the receiving space disposed inside the base member 1' and protects the outer wall of the base member 1' from overcooling.

[0049] A further cavity 40 can be formed between the wall 38 and the inner wall 39 of the base body 1'. A PCM coolant can be filled into this cavity 40. The PCM coolant forms a cooling element 6'' inside the base body 1'. A cup 3 can then be placed on the inner wall 39 of the base body 1'.

[0050] The lid 2' of the cooling container of Figure 17 can be formed in a similar way. An outer wall 41 and an inner wall 42 define an air-filled cavity 43. In the upper region of the lid 2', a third wall 44 is provided which, together with the wall 42, defines a cavity 45 for receiving a cooling liquid which can form a second cooling element 9' in the lid 2.

[0051] The base body 1' may have an upper connecting wall 46 that can be inserted into the lower region of the lid 2' to seal the interior of the cooling container from the outside. Furthermore, a seal (not shown) can be provided to enhance airtightness. Also, a connecting element (not shown) can be provided to detachably connect the lid 2' and the base body 1' to each other so that the cooling container can be resealed, if necessary. Such a connecting element can be, for example, a screw connection or a buckle connection. A rubber band can also be used to elastically clamp the lid 2' and the base body 1' to each other. A flexible outer layer (not shown) of an insulating material, such as rubber or plastic, can also be applied to the outer wall of the cooling container to prevent it from becoming too cold to the touch.

[0052] FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of an insert 11" that is double-walled with a closed cavity 47. The insert 11" can be made of plastic, for example. A cooling liquid (for example a PCM liquid) is filled in the cavity 47 of the insert. The insert 11" thus forms the first cooling element 6'". The cooling effect of this insert 11" is very good, since a cup 3 can be inserted into this insert 11" without significant play and the temperature of the cooling element 6'" is transferred to the cup 3 without loss. Optimally, the cup 3 is in direct contact with the inner wall of the cooling element 6'", so that the temperature is transferred from the cooling element 6'" to the cup 3 by thermal conduction.

[0053] Similarly, in the embodiment of FIG. 18, the cover cap 4′ may be double-walled with a cavity 48 that is filled with a cooling liquid to form the second cooling element 9″. However, if the cooling effect of the first cooling element 6′″ is sufficiently high, the second cooling element 9″ in the cover cap 4′ may be omitted. The insert 11″ and cover cap 4′ are inserted into the base body 1 and lid of FIG. 13 in the closed state shown in FIG. 18. In this package, it is desirable to return at least the insert 11″ and cover cap 4″ to the supplier to ensure multiple uses of the cooling elements 6′″ and 9″. When used in ice cream parlors, these cooling elements 6′″ and 9″ can be frozen many times (up to 100 times) to function as cooling elements in ice cream transport packages. The top wall of the insert 11″ may cover the inside of the base portion of the package. The cup 3 may be slightly higher than the inside of the base portion, so that the rim of the cup 3 protrudes above the upper wall of the insert 11'', making it easy for the user to grip. The cover cap 4' here is relatively small in size. If the cover cap is to cover a large amount of decorative elements, it may have a larger diameter like the cover cap 4 in Figure 17, or may have a larger shape different from the cover cap 4' shown in Figure 18.

[0054] The cover cap in the illustrated embodiment extends only over the area of ​​the upper second cooling zone, but the cover cap is not limited to this and can be larger and partially or completely surround the first cooling zone.

[0055] The features of the invention disclosed in the specification, the drawings, and the claims may, both individually and in any combination, be essential to the realization of the invention in its various embodiments. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, within due consideration of the knowledge of a person skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1,1'...Base 2,2'…Lid 3...cup 4,4'...Cover cap 5...Cup rim 6,6',6'',6'''...Cooling element 7,7'...Cooling element 8...Partition 9,9',9''...Cooling element 10,10'…Supporting wall 11,11',11''...First insert 12...Central opening 13...Air passage 14...receptor opening 15,15'…side wall 16...Second insert 17…Side wall 18…Side wall 19…Side wall 20...Side wall 21, 21'...Slot, latch opening 22...Rim, latch protrusion 23...Perforation 24...Rip tab 25…Aperture 26…Aperture 27…Aperture 28...Bottom wall 29…Removable insert 30...Side wall 31...Pull tab 32...Cup opening 33...Gripping opening 34...receptor opening 35...Wrapping insert 36...empty space 37...Exterior wall 38...Wall 39…Inner wall 40...empty space 41...Exterior wall 42...Wall 43...empty space 44…Inner wall 45...empty space 46...Connecting wall 47...empty space 48...empty space

Claims

1. 1. A method for cooling a product, comprising: A method in which at least one cooling element (6, 7, 6', 7', 6'', 6''', 9, 9', 9'') is introduced into the cooling section of a cooling container and said product is introduced into the receiving space of said cooling container, the receiving space is divided into at least two zones, at least a first zone and at least a second zone, the first zone in the lower part of the receiving space being cooled to a first temperature below -10°C by at least one cooling element (6, 7, 6', 7', 6'', 6'''), and the second zone in the upper part of the receiving space being cooled to a second temperature between 0°C and 7°C by at least one cooling element (9, 9', 9''); The method is characterized in that the first cooling section and the first zone are arranged in a base body (1, 1') of the cooling container, the second cooling section and the second zone are arranged in a lid (2, 2') of the cooling container, the product is placed in the base body (1, 1'), and the lid (2, 2') is placed on the base body (1, 1') to close the receiving space.

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one first cooling element (6, 6', 6'', 6''') having a first temperature is introduced into a first cooling section of the cooling vessel adjacent to the first zone, and at least one second cooling element (9, 9', 9'') having a second temperature is introduced into a second cooling section of the cooling vessel adjacent to the second zone.

3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one insert (11, 16, 11', 29, 35, 11'') is introduced into the base body (1, 1') and a dome-shaped cover cap (4, 4') is introduced into the lid, and the cover cap (4) is latched to the base body (1, 1') or to the insert (11'', 16, 29).

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein two complementary latch elements (21, 21', 22), one arranged on the cover cap (4) and the other arranged on the insert (16, 29) or the base body (1), are engaged with each other, and at least one latch element (21) is arranged on a displaceable wall (24, 31), and the latch is released by changing the position of said wall (24, 31).

5. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one pull element (31) is arranged in the cooling vessel, and the product is removed from the base body (1) by pulling the pull element (31).

6. Steps below: - the first zone is cooled to a temperature below -10°C; - the first zone is cooled to a temperature of about -14°C; - cooling the second zone to a temperature above the freezing point; - cooling the second zone to a temperature of about 0°C to 7°C; 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the following is true:

7. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving space has at least one region with a plurality of parallel walls (37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 44), and the spaces between the walls are filled with a cooling liquid for accommodating the cooling element (6'', 7'') or with a thermally poorly conductive medium for insulating the receiving space.

8. A cooling container comprising at least one receiving space for a product and a cooling sector adjacent to said receiving space for receiving a cooling element (6, 7, 6', 7'), at least two cooling sectors are adjacent to the receiving space, the cooling sectors comprising cooling elements (6, 7, 6', 7', 9, 9', 9'') for cooling the receiving space to two different temperatures in at least two zones, A cooling container comprising a base body (1) made of thin-walled material having a first zone for receiving a cup (3) surrounded by a first cooling sector, and a lid (2) made of thin-walled material having a second zone surrounded by a second cooling sector.

9. Features include: the base body (1) has at least one insert (11, 11', 11'') that holds the cup (3) in the first zone; the insert (11'') of the base body (1) has a cavity (47) surrounding the cup (3) to form the first cooling element (6'''); The lid (2) has a dome-shaped cover cap (4), the cover cap (4') has a cavity (48) forming a second cooling element (9''); The cover cap (4) can be latched onto the insert (16, 30) or onto the base body (1); two complementary latching elements (21, 21', 22) arranged on the cover cap (4) and on the insert (16, 30) or on the base body (1); At least one latch element (21) is arranged on the displaceable wall (24, 31), said latch being able to be released by changing the position of said wall (24, 31); - the displaceable wall (24) is perforated and can be torn; the displaceable wall (31) is foldable along a fold line; The cooling vessel of claim 8, characterized in that it has at least one of the following:

10. The inserts (11, 11', 16, 29) have the following characteristics: a pull tab (31) by which the insert (29) holding the cup (3) therein can be pulled out from the base body (1); a latch opening (21) as a first latch element, which interacts with a latch projection (22) of the cover cap (4) as a second latch element; The latch opening (21) is located on a pull tab (31), and when the insert (29) is removed from the base body (1), the pull tab (31) can be bent to release the latch protrusion (22); The cooling vessel of claim 9, characterized in that it has at least one of the following:

11. 11. The cooling vessel according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that the insert (11, 11') consists of a flat blank having a support wall (10) with an opening (12) for receiving the cup (3) and a plurality of side walls (15, 15') connected to the support wall (10) via fold lines and holding the support wall (10) at a distance from the bottom wall of the base body (1).

12. 12. The cooling vessel according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the base body (1'') and / or the lid (2'') have an area with a plurality of walls (37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 44) between which cavities (36, 40, 43, 45) are formed.

13. Features include: A cooling liquid is filled in the cavity (40, 45), A medium with low thermal conductivity is filled in the cavity (36, 43); The cooling vessel of claim 12 characterized by at least one of the following:

14. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the product is a delicate product having different components at different temperatures.

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