Packaging containers

Abstract

To provide a packaging container which can be subdivided reliably and easily.SOLUTION: In a packaging container 100 which is provided with a bottom surface 110 and a partition 140 erecting from the bottom surface 110, a perforation 150 is provided at an upper end 141 of the partition 140, and a cutout 145 is provided at an end 144 of the partition 140.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging container.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, packaging containers for storing foods such as meat and fish have been used in supermarkets, convenience stores, and the like.

[0003] And, after purchasing food, consumers sometimes take the food out of the packaging container at home or the like, divide it into smaller portions, and store it in another container. However, since the food is divided into smaller portions in another container, there is a problem that it takes time and effort. Therefore, it has been desired to divide the packaging container itself and use the divided container as a container for dividing food. And, the packaging container of Citation Document 1 has a partition (rib) that bulges from the bottom surface, and the container can be broken at a notch provided in the partition (rib). However, in the packaging container of Citation Document 1, although the notch serves as a starting point for starting the breakage, the partition cannot be broken surely and easily.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a packaging container that can be surely and easily divided into smaller portions.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the packaging container according to claim 1 of the present invention is a packaging container having a bottom surface and a partition rising from the bottom surface, wherein a perforation is provided at the upper end of the partition and a notch is provided at the end of the partition. The end of the perforation stops just before the notch. It is characterized by the following:

[0007] According to the above features, the notch becomes the starting point for the packaging container to be torn along the perforations, so the packaging container can be easily divided into two halves along the perforations, starting from the notch. In this way, the packaging container can be reliably and easily divided into smaller containers.

[0008] Furthermore, the packaging container according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that the notch portion is provided with reinforcing ribs.

[0009] Based on the above features, the packaging container maintains sufficient strength to withstand normal use, as it is reinforced with reinforcing ribs, preventing the perforations from being accidentally torn. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The packaging container of the present invention allows for reliable and easy portioning. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is an overall perspective view of the packaging container of the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) is a top view of the packaging container, and (b) is a side view of the packaging container. [Figure 3] (a) is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 2(a), (b) is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 2(a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view of CC in Figure 2(a). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0012] 100 Packaging containers 110 Base 140 compartments 141 Upper end 145 Notch 150 perforations [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this specification, "upward" refers to the direction upward in the vertical direction when the packaging container is placed on a horizontal surface with its opening facing upward, "downward" refers to the direction downward in the vertical direction, and "sideways" refers to the direction in the horizontal direction.

[0014] First, Figures 1 to 3 show the packaging container 100 of the present invention. Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of the packaging container 100, Figure 2(a) is a plan view of the packaging container 100, Figure 2(b) is a side view of the packaging container 100, Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2(a) at AA, Figure 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2(a) at BB, and Figure 3(c) is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2(a) at CC.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the packaging container 100 has a shallow dish shape with an upward opening, and comprises a flat bottom surface 110 that is approximately rectangular in plan view, a side wall 120 that extends diagonally upward from the outer circumference 111 of the bottom surface 110, and a flange 130 that extends laterally from the upper end of the side wall 120.

[0016] Furthermore, the packaging container 100 is equipped with a partition 140 that is formed to protrude upward from the bottom surface 110. This partition 140 has partition surfaces 143 that slope from the upper end 141 toward the lower ends 142 on both sides, and the cross-sectional shape of the partition 140 is roughly V-shaped, widening from the upper end 141 toward the lower ends 142, as shown in Figure 3(b). The partition 140 also extends linearly toward the side walls 120 on both sides.

[0017] At both ends 144 on both sides of the partition 140, notch portions 145 recessed downward from the ends 144 are formed. Although the notch portions 145 are formed on both sides of the partition 140, the lower end 142 of the partition 140 near the notch portions 145 is connected to the adjacent side wall 120. Further, in the notch portions 145, reinforcing ribs 146 extending linearly along the extending direction of the partition 140 are formed. The reinforcing ribs 146 extend from the side wall 120 toward the upper end 141 of the partition 140 and serve to reinforce the end portions 144 of the partition 140 around the notch portions 145.

[0018] Note that the notch portions 145 are provided at both end portions 144 on both sides of the partition 140, but are not limited thereto, and the notch portions 145 may be provided only at one end portion 144. Further, the reinforcing ribs 146 are formed in a convex shape upward, but are not limited thereto, and may have any shape such as a concave shape as long as they can reinforce the end portions 144 of the partition 140 around the notch portions 145. Further, the reinforcing ribs 146 are formed linearly and longitudinally in a plan view from the side wall 120 to reach the upper end 141 of the partition 140, but are not limited thereto, and may be formed in any shape such as a wave shape or a cross shape and in any length as long as they can reinforce the end portions 144 of the partition 140 around the notch portions 145.

[0019] Further, at the upper end 141 of the partition 140, a linear perforation 150 is provided along the extending direction of the partition 140. Since both end portions 151 on both sides of the perforation 150 stop in front of the notch portions 145, the perforation 150 is not provided in the notch portions 145. On the other hand, reinforcing ribs 146 are provided in the notch portions 145, and in a plan view, the perforation 150 and the reinforcing ribs 146 are arranged linearly side by side.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 3(b), the bottom surface 110 of the packaging container 100 is separated left and right with the partition 140 as the boundary. However, the bottom surfaces 110 on both sides are connected to each other by the side walls 120 adjacent to the end portions 144 on both sides of the partition 140. Therefore, the entire bottom surface 110 of the packaging container 100 is reinforced, and even if food is placed on the bottom surface 110, the bottom surfaces 110 on both sides will not accidentally bend or warp.

[0021] Also, the perforation 150 is provided as one on the upper end 141 of the partition 140, but it is not limited to this, and any number of perforations, such as two perforations provided at any position, may be provided. Further, one partition 140 provided with the perforation 150 is provided, and as will be described later, the packaging container 100 is divided into two parts on both sides, but it is not limited to this, and two or more partitions 140 provided with the perforation 150 may be provided, and the packaging container 100 may be divided into three or more parts by the perforation 150.

[0022] Also, the perforation 150 is provided continuously in a straight line, but it is not limited to this, and it may be provided in a curved shape or intermittently. By providing the perforation 150 on the upper end 141 of the partition 140, the perforation portion becomes weak against stress, and the partition 140 can be effectively bent and divided left and right. Further, the perforation means a portion where the wall thickness becomes thin or a through hole is continuously formed at a predetermined interval in a part of the partition 140.

[0023] Although the packaging container 100 is roughly rectangular in plan view, it is not limited to this, and the packaging container 100 can be any shape, such as a square, circle, or polygon in plan view. The packaging container 100 is made by sheet molding (for example, vacuum forming, pressure forming, hot plate pressure forming, vacuum pressure forming, double-sided vacuum forming, etc.) using a synthetic resin sheet with a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 4.0 mm. For example, expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene, expanded polyethylene terephthalate, etc. can be used as the synthetic resin sheet. In this embodiment, the packaging container 100 is made of expanded synthetic resin, and by using expanded synthetic resin, the packaging container 100 has flexibility and is easy to fold into valley folds. Furthermore, by using expanded synthetic resin, when the packaging container 100 is folded into valley folds and the partition 140 is bent, the partition 140 is easily plastically deformed to the extent that it cannot return to its original shape, or it is easily torn and broken.

[0024] Next, we will describe how the packaging container 100 can be divided and used as individual containers for portioning. Although Figures 1 to 3 do not show food, in reality, food is contained in each of the bottom surfaces 110 on both sides separated by the partition 140. When a user divides the packaging container 100 at the partition 140 and uses each divided packaging container 100 as a container for portioning food, the user grasps the side walls 120 on both sides with their hands and folds the packaging container 100 into a valley fold.

[0025] Specifically, as shown by arrow P in Figure 2, the user holds the side walls 120 on both sides of the packaging container 100 with their hands and pushes them upward, folding the partition 140 into a valley fold. When the partition 140 is folded into a valley fold, as shown by arrow P in Figures 3(b) and (c), the bottom surfaces 110 on both sides lift upward, causing the partition surfaces 143 of the partition 140 to open up and separate from each other. As a result, stress concentrates near the upper end 141 of the partition 140, and the area near the perforations 150 is crushed and weakened. From this state, the user further pulls the side walls 120 on both sides along the perforations 150 of the partition 140 to divide the packaging container 100 into two halves. In this process, the notch 145 becomes the starting point for the packaging container 100 to be broken along the perforation 150, so the packaging container 100 can be easily divided into two halves along the perforation 150, starting from the notch 145. In this way, the packaging container 100 can be reliably and easily divided into smaller containers.

[0026] As described above, the method of dividing the packaging container 100 is as follows: Before dividing the packaging container 100, in stores, homes, etc., the packaging container 100 is stored with food etc. contained in its bottom surface 110. Since food is contained in both sides of the bottom surface 110 separated by the partition 140, the weight of the food is applied to each bottom surface 110. When a user lifts the packaging container 100 by holding one side wall 120 with one hand, the bottom surface 110 on the opposite side of the side wall 120 being held will bend downward due to the weight of the food. At that time, stress is concentrated in the perforations 150 of the partition 140, so there is a risk that the perforations 150 may break unintentionally. However, since the notches 145 on both sides of the partition 140 do not have perforations 150 and are reinforced by reinforcing ribs 146, the packaging container 100 can maintain sufficient strength to withstand normal use, so that the perforations 150 are not accidentally torn.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(c), the reinforcing rib 146 is convex upward, so the back surface of the reinforcing rib 146 has a recessed groove 147. Therefore, as indicated by arrow P, when dividing the packaging container 100 into two halves along the perforation 150 of the partition 140, the groove 147 on the back surface of the reinforcing rib 146 bends and tears, widening the groove, so the packaging container 100 can be easily divided. In addition, since the groove 147 of the reinforcing rib 146 is continuous from the side wall 120 to the upper end 141 of the partition 140, the container can be easily divided continuously from the side wall 120 to the upper end 141 of the partition 140. Moreover, as shown in Figure 2, in a plan view, the groove 147 of the reinforcing rib 146 is aligned in a straight line with the perforation 150, so the stress when folding and dividing the packaging container 100 is efficiently concentrated from the groove 147 to the perforation 150, so the packaging container 100 can be easily divided.

[0028] Furthermore, in the normal use state before the packaging container 100 is folded and divided, the weight of the food is placed on each bottom surface 110 on both sides of the partition 140. Therefore, when the packaging container 100 is lifted, as shown in Figure 3(c), a downward stress (force in the opposite direction of arrow P) is applied to each bottom surface 110. As a result, the grooves 147 of the reinforcing ribs 146 sandwiched between the bottom surfaces 110 on both sides are elastically deformed and compressed to close. Therefore, the overall strength of the reinforcing ribs 146 is temporarily increased, and the packaging container 100 can maintain a stronger strength to withstand normal use, preventing the perforations 150 from being unintentionally broken.

[0029] Furthermore, the packaging container of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and combinations are possible within the scope of the claims and embodiments, and these modifications and combinations are also included within the scope of the patent rights.

Claims

1. A packaging container having a bottom surface and a partition that rises from the bottom surface, Perforations are provided at the upper end of the partition. A notch is provided at the end of the partition, A packaging container characterized in that the end of the perforation stops just before the notch.

2. The packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the notch portion is provided with reinforcing ribs.

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