Food container

Abstract

This utility model relates to the light industry, specifically packaging, and in particular, food containers. The container is made of a pulp-and-paper material and comprises a container 1, to one side of which a lid 2 is connected by a fold of the material. The container is equipped with a lock consisting of a slit 3 and a locking tongue. The tongue 4 has a slit 6 for forming a deformable section when the container is closed, which is designed to maintain the deformable state, preventing the lock from opening. The technical result consists of increased reliability.

Description

[0001] Field of technology to which the utility model belongs

[0002] The utility model relates to light industry, namely to packaging means, in particular to containers for placing food products, and can be used for storing and transporting food products, ready-made meals in cafes, canteens, restaurants, and at home.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] A food container known from the prior art comprises a receptacle, to one side of which a lid is attached by a fold of the container material. The container is provided with a lock for holding the lid in the closed position, formed in the form of a slit in which a locking tongue is located (US Patent 5,012,971, published May 7, 1991). The main disadvantage of this container is the insufficient reliability of the lock, the design of which allows the locking tongue to slip back out of the slit.

[0005] The essence of the utility model

[0006] The objective of the utility model is to develop a container for food products that eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prototype specified in the Prior Art section.

[0007] The technical result of the utility model is to increase reliability in the closed position.

[0008] The specified technical result is achieved in that the container for food products is made from a cellulose-paper material and contains a container, to one of the sides of which a lid is connected by means of a bend in the material, said container contains a bent edge, the container is provided with a lump for holding the lid in a closed position, made in the form of a cut, made with the possibility of placing a locking tongue formed on said bent edge, characterized in that said locking tongue has a slit for forming a deformable section in the closed position of the container, made with the possibility of maintaining a deformable state, preventing the opening of the lock.

[0009] A distinctive feature of the utility model is that in the slot lock, the locking tongue is designed with the ability to deform its original shape and maintain the deformed state, preventing the lock from opening.

[0010] List of drawing figures

[0011] Fig. 1 shows the container in the open position.

[0012] Fig. 2 shows the container in the closed position.

[0013] Fig. 3 shows the container lock in the closed position.

[0014] Fig. 4, 5 show variants of the deformed state of the tongue.

[0015] Implementation of a utility model

[0016] Disposable food containers are the optimal solution in many cases because they allow the use of standard sheet metal blanks that are cost-effective to convert into bulk products from a manufacturing standpoint and provide high structural rigidity.

[0017] Hinged lid containers are easy to use because they are made as a single piece, eliminating the risk of losing one of the container parts.

[0018] A food container comprises a container 1, to one side of which a lid 2 is attached by folding the container material. The container is manufactured as a single piece by shaping a blank from sheet material. The container's shape can be achieved either by bending the sheet material or by molding a polymer material in a die. Container 1 and lid 2 are manufactured primarily from sheet cellulose paper with a protective heat-sealable coating. To produce the blanks, punching and application of the necessary creasing channels, notches, and perforations can be performed. The individual blanks are then assembled using sets of punches and dies, and thermal welding is achieved by heating the heat-sealable coating and applying pressure.

[0019] The dimensions of container 1 and lid 2 are selected depending on the shape and volume of the product being packaged.

[0020] Container 1 has a folded edge 6, which can be made either along the entire perimeter of the container or partially.

[0021] The container locking device is designed as a slot lock.

[0022] The container is equipped with a lock for holding the lid closed, formed in the form of a slit 3, which accommodates a locking tongue 4, formed on the folded edge 6 of the container as an extension thereof. Slit 3 of the lock is preferably made on the lid 2, while locking tongue 4 is made on another component and is a protrusion on the folded edge 6, formed by the shape of the original blank. Slit 3 can be either rectilinear or U-shaped, facilitating the placement of locking tongue 4 within slit 3.

[0023] The length of the locking tongue should be from 3 mm to 40 mm, and the width from 5 mm to 150 mm.

[0024] In the closed position of the lock, the locking tongue 4 is designed with the ability to maintain its deformed state, preventing the lock from opening.

[0025] It is advisable to make the locking tongue 4 with a slot to form a deformable section 5 (for example, by bending it), as shown in Fig. 3. The tongue 4 can contain two symmetrically located slots that form two symmetrical deformable sections 5 located along the edges of the locking tongue 4. With this design, the deformed state can be ensured either by bending the edges 5 in opposite directions (Fig. 4) or in the same directions (Fig. 5).

[0026] The number of locks may vary and is determined by the container size. Typically, one lock, located on the side opposite the bend connecting container 1 and lid 2, is sufficient. For larger containers, locks may also be located on the sides.

[0027] A distinctive feature of the utility model is that the locking tongue 4, after its placement in the cut 3, is designed with the ability to deform its original shape, preventing the tongue from disengaging from the cut 3, and maintaining the deformed state for a long time.

[0028] To maintain a deformed state for a long time, the material must have the necessary properties. Making the container, and therefore the locking tab 4, from a material that is too thin and loose will result in it easily disengaging from the slot 3 when attempting to open the lid 2.

[0029] Suitable materials for the problem being solved are those (pulp and paper raw materials as the frame base without additional layers) with Taber bending stiffness at 15° in the machine direction in the range of 6 to 80 mN⋅m (millinewton meters) and Taber bending stiffness at 15° in the transverse direction in the range of 2 to 30 mN⋅m (millinewton meters). Pulp and paper materials have a specific fiber direction, determined during the web production process along the machine direction of roll winding. The stiffness is always higher in the machine direction than in the transverse direction.

[0030] The device operates as follows.

[0031] Place the product to be packaged in container 1 and close it with lid 2. When closed, locking tab 4 (or all tabs 4) are positioned within slits 3 made on the other side of the container. Locking tabs 4 are captured by the edges of the corresponding slits 3 and are retained within them due to the geometry of the structure and friction.

[0032] The user deforms the protruding sections of the locking tongue by applying external force, for example by crushing its material or bending the edges 5. As a result, the original flat shape of the tongue is disrupted and its outward protruding part acquires three-dimensional outlines, preventing reverse movement within the cut 3.

[0033] The tongue is made of dense material, which ensures that the deformed state is maintained for a long time and, accordingly, the container with the product inside is securely locked.

[0034] Example of implementation of the utility model.

[0035] A rectangular container with side lengths of 200 x 300 mm was manufactured. A fold in the container material is formed on the long side, ensuring the connection of container 1 and lid 2. On the side opposite the fold, container 1 is provided with two symmetrical locking tabs 4, 7 mm long and 15 mm wide. Tabs 4 have two symmetrical 4-mm-long slits along their edges. Lid 2 has two straight slits 3 corresponding to the tabs. After the product is placed inside container 1, lid 2 is closed and locking tabs 4 pass through slits 3 and end up on the outside. External force bends the edges 5 of the tabs to form an angle of approximately 90 degrees, ensuring secure closure of the container.

[0036] The constituent elements of the utility model may have geometric deviations from the variants given as illustrations of this description.

Claims

1. A container for food products, made of a cellulose-paper material and containing a container, to one of the sides of which a lid is connected by means of a fold of the material, said container contains a folded edge, the container is provided with a lock for holding the lid in a closed position, made in the form of a cut, configured with the possibility of placing a locking tongue formed on said folded edge, characterized in that said locking tongue has a slit for forming a deformable section in the closed position of the container, configured with the possibility of maintaining a deformable state that prevents the lock from opening.

2. The container according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the lock is located on the side opposite to the location of the bend of the material.

3. The container according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the locking tongue has a length from 3 mm to 40 mm and a width from 5 mm to 150 mm.

4. The container according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the material has a polymer coating.

5. The container according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it is made from a material having a Taber bending stiffness at an angle of 15° in the machine direction in the range from 6 to 80 mN⋅m (millinewton-meter) and a Taber bending stiffness at an angle of 15° in the transverse direction in the range from 2 to 30 mN⋅m (millinewton-meter).

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