Container with separate compartments and relative method of manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (1) for edible products with separate compartments, comprising a first container body (3) configured to define a first open compartment (30), a second container body (5) configured to define a second open compartment (50), and a connecting and closing element (7) which allows the opening and closing of each and both compartments (30, 50) of the container (1).

Description

[0001] “CONTAINER WITH SEPARATE COMPARTMENTS AND RELATIVE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING”

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a container for edible products, with separate compartments, having at least one connecting element that allows the opening and closing of the container, maintaining the freshness of the product and distinctly separating the compartments, thus allowing edible products -even mutually different from one another - to be allocated in each compartment.

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] Containers for edible products with multiple compartments are known, having shapes and dimensions such as to allow a good display of the products on shelves, also in terms of visibility of distinctive or graphic signs, such as trademarks, affixed on the containers themselves. The known containers must also ensure the integrity of the product contained therein, for example in terms of level of freshness, and must also meet practical requirements, such as preventing the products from being damaged during shipping. The known containers also provide the consumer with the possibility of consuming the product on several occasions, and are therefore reclosable and reusable.

[0006] Multi-compartment containers are known, such as those described in documents W02009 / 151504 and W02005 / 110885, made by die-cutting and folding flexible or semi-rigid materials such as cardboard. However, these known containers present significant drawbacks with regard to maintaining the integrity and freshness of the product, in particular once the container has been opened. In fact, such containers make it necessary to adopt additional inner packages such as blisters or protective films in order to prevent the product from remaining exposed to the external environment, as well as to hold it stably inside the container itself once the container has been opened.

[0007] The container described in document US20240043199 proposes an improvement in the preservation of the product through the use of a rigid container composed of two complementary shells that define two compartments for containing the product. However, opening the container simultaneously exposes all the compartments to the external environment, and the opening mechanism in no way guarantees the stability of the edible product contained therein, making it necessary to fix the edible product to the container in order to prevent it from coming out at the moment of opening or closing of the same.

[0008] Another drawback of the container described in document US20240043199 concerns the fact that, although it is potentially suitable for hosting different varieties of edible product, experience shows that unless an additional packaging of the single portion of edible product is used, in containers in which products of different flavors are hosted there arises a transfer of aromas from one to the other. In fact, the aromas consist of necessarily volatile flavoring substances, which tend to saturate the headspace of the container. In a dynamic equilibrium, such aromas can be reabsorbed by the food itself. Therefore, a headspace common to foods with different aromas becomes a point of exchange of flavoring substances between one food and another. This generates a contamination among the different types of product possibly present in the two compartments, which leads to an alteration of the taste perceived by the final consumer, since either there is a stronger and more persistent aroma that prevails over the other, or a mixed aroma is obtained, resulting from the mixture of the two aromas. This therefore does not allow the consumer to enjoy two products of different flavors, or in any case makes available to the consumer products with flavors altered compared to those that he expected at the time of purchase (so-called purchase frustration).

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVETION

[0010] In light of the above, the task of the present invention is to provide a container for edible products with separate compartments that overcomes the limitations of the known art, making it possible to guarantee the integrity and freshness of the product and to optimize its usability by the consumer.

[0011] Within this task, an object of the present invention is to provide a container for edible products that does not necessarily require particular means of protection and of fixing the products inside the container itself.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for edible products with separate compartments, which however allows opening and closing, also individually, of only one of the compartments.

[0013] A further object of the invention consists in providing a container for edible products with separate compartments which, in the case of edible products with different organoleptic properties, prevents the transfer of aromatic notes from one product to another.

[0014] Yet another object of the invention consists in providing a container for edible products with separate compartments that allows the consumer to open the safety or freshness seal of a single compartment at a time.

[0015] A further object of the invention consists in providing a container for edible products that is capable of giving the widest guarantees of reliability and safety in use.

[0016] A further object of the invention consists in providing a container for edible products that is easy to manufacture and economically competitive if compared to the known art. Yet another object of the invention consists in providing a container with separate compartments that can be used several times and in which one of the two compartments can be refilled with product independently of the opening of the other compartment of the container.

[0017] The above-stated task, as well as the objects mentioned and others that will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a container for edible products with separate compartments according to claim 1, as well as by a method for its manufacture according to claims 14 and 15.

[0018] Other features are provided in the dependent claims.

[0019] LIST OF FIGURES

[0020] Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the exemplary but not limiting description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, illustrated with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a container for edible products with separate compartments, according to the invention, illustrated in closed configuration;

[0022] - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1, illustrated in fully open configuration;

[0023] - Figures 3a, 3b and 3c are side elevation views of the container of Figure 1, respectively in closed configuration, fully open configuration and partially open configuration;

[0024] - Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1, as it comes out of the manufacturing mold, before assembly;

[0025] - Figure 5 is a perspective view of a first variant of the container of Figure 1, as it comes out of the manufacturing mold, before assembly;

[0026] - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second variant of the container of Figure 1, as it comes out of the manufacturing mold, before assembly;

[0027] - Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a container for edible products with separate compartments, according to the invention, illustrated in closed configuration;

[0028] - Figure 8 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 7, illustrated in fully open configuration;

[0029] - Figure 8a is a side elevation view of the container of Figure 7, illustrated in fully open configuration;

[0030] - Figure 9 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 7, illustrated in partially open configuration;

[0031] - Figure 9a is a side elevation view of the container of Figure 7, illustrated in partially open configuration;

[0032] - Figure 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a container for edible products with separate compartments, according to the invention, illustrated in closed configuration;

[0033] - Figure 11 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 10, illustrated in fully open configuration;

[0034] - Figure I la is a side elevation view of the container of Figure 10, illustrated in fully open configuration;

[0035] - Figure 12 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 10, illustrated in partially open configuration;

[0036] - Figure 12a is a side elevation view of the container of Figure 10, illustrated in partially open configuration.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] With particular reference to the figures, the container for edible products with separate compartments, generally indicated with the reference number 1, comprises a first container body 3 configured to define a first open compartment 30, a second container body 5 configured to define a second open compartment 50, and a connecting and closing element 7 respectively connected to the first container body 3 and to the second container body 5.

[0039] According to the invention, the connecting and closing element 7 is permanently connected to both the first container body 3 and the second container body 5. Furthermore, the connecting and closing element 7 is configured to alternately close the first compartment 30 or the second compartment 50, and is also configured to simultaneously close the first compartment 30 and the second compartment 50, thereby separating the first compartment 30 from the second compartment 50, and vice versa.

[0040] Advantageously, therefore, the connecting and closing element 7, in addition to keeping the first container body 3 and the second container body 5 mutually connected by means thereof, allows opening and closing independently, one at a time, of the first compartment 30 and of the second compartment 50, as well as the simultaneous closing of both compartments 30, 50. Thanks to the fact that both compartments 30 and 50 can be closed separately with respect to each other or also simultaneously, the compartments 30 and 50 are never in communication with each other, thus avoiding possible contamination between the products contained therein. Even in the case where both compartments 30 and 50 remain open, they are not in direct communication with each other, but both communicate with the same external environment.

[0041] The container 1 may comprise a single safety seal that guarantees the overall closure of the container 1 itself, that is, that guarantees the maintenance of the closed configuration simultaneously for both the two container bodies 3 and 5 with the connecting and closing element 7. Preferably, however, the container 1 comprises two distinct safety seals, a first safety seal configured to guarantee the closure of the connecting and closing element 7 on the first container body 3, and a second safety seal configured to guarantee the closure of the connecting and closing element 7 on the second container body 5. In this way the consumer can decide to open the two container bodies 3 and 5 at different times, keeping the one that will be opened at a later moment still provided with its own safety seal.

[0042] Preferably, the first compartment 30 and the second compartment 50 are configured to contain each a plurality of edible products selected from chewing gum and candies (hard, soft, jelly-like), mints, chocolate, dried and dehydrated fruit, flavored edible powder, nonpareils, as well as edible decorative elements of various shapes. Compartments 30 and 50 may also be filled with sheets for wrapping and disposing of used gum boluses

[0043] Preferably, the first container 30 is configured to contain a first type of edible product, while the second container 50 is configured to contain a second type of edible product, wherein the first type and the second type differ from each other at least in the flavor of the edible product.

[0044] Edible products, such as for example chewing gum and candies, can be inserted into compartments 30 and 50 of container 1 by different methods. In particular, the two compartments 30 and 50 can be filled with a preformed assembly of edible products, for example collected in a bundle or tray, according to the shape of the internal volume of the compartment 30, 50 itself. Alternatively, it is possible to insert loose edible products into compartments 30 and 50. In this way the container 1 can also be used as a refillable package, and therefore not only as a disposable article.

[0045] Preferably, the connecting and closing element 7 comprises at least one separation wall 70, 80 configured to alternately close the first compartment 30 or the second compartment 50, and also configured to simultaneously close the first compartment 30 and the second compartment 50, thereby separating the first compartment 30 from the second compartment 50, and vice versa, as explained above.

[0046] The at least one separation wall 70, 80 is substantially flat. The at least one separation wall 70, 80 substantially acts as an openable closing cap for two compartments 30 and 50.

[0047] In more detail, the wall 70, 80 together with other elements of the connecting and closing element 7, such as the perimeter wall 71, 72, constitutes a closing cap that engages the edges of the perimeter wall 71, 72 itself with the edges delimiting the container bodies 3 and 5, thus closing the compartments 30 and 50. Preferably, as detailed below, said edges engage with each other, for example by means of suitable matching profiles to form an effective closure of the compartments 30 and 50 themselves and of the container 1 as a whole. The closing function of one or both compartments 30 and 50 by the wall 70 and 80 is therefore advantageously assisted by other elements defining the connecting and closing element 7.

[0048] According to the first embodiment of the container 1, illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, as well as in the two related variants illustrated respectively in Figures 5 and 6, the connecting and closing element 7 comprises a single separation wall 70 that closes, with a first face, the first compartment 30, and with a second face, opposite to the first face, the second compartment 50.

[0049] As illustrated in Figure 3a, in the fully closed configuration of container 1, the first container body 3 and the second container body 5 can be arranged so as to be mutually aligned with each other, in which case both compartments 30 and 50 are closed by the connecting and closing element 7, and in particular by the separation wall 70.

[0050] In Figure 3b, instead, a fully open configuration of container 1 is illustrated, in which the container bodies 3 and 5 are placed side by side and the connecting and closing element 7 is positioned so that the separation wall 70 does not close either the first compartment 30 or the second compartment 50.

[0051] Finally, in Figure 3c, a partially open configuration of container 1 is illustrated, in which the two container bodies 3 and 5 are placed side by side, but the connecting and closing element 7 is positioned so that the separation wall 70 closes one of the two compartments 30, 50, specifically in Figure 3c the compartment 30 of the first container body 3, leaving the second compartment 50 open.

[0052] Preferably, the connecting and closing element 7 is connected to the first container body 3 by means of a first hinge 37. The first container body 3 is therefore rotatable about the hinge axis of the first hinge 37.

[0053] Preferably, the connecting and closing element 7 is connected to the second container body 5 by means of a second hinge 57. The second container body 5 is therefore rotatable about the hinge axis of the second hinge 57. The term ‘hinge’ is understood to mean any joining system between two components or elements that allows the rotation of said two components or elements around an axis. For example, the hinge may be defined by a thinning of the material in which the components of the container 1 are made along a straight line, such thinning being such as to allow the reciprocal rotation of the portions of material that straddle the thinning itself.

[0054] Preferably, the connecting and closing element 7 comprises at least one perimeter wall 71, 72 orthogonal to the at least one separation wall 70, 80. Said at least one perimeter wall 71, 72 is configured to engage with the first container body 3 and / or with the second container body 5 when the connecting and closing element 7 closes the first compartment 30 of the first container body 3 and / or the second compartment 50 of the second container body 5.

[0055] Preferably, the at least one separation wall 70, 80 has a shape complementary to the shape of the opening of the first container body 3 and of the second container body 5, that is, a shape complementary to the shape of the mouth of the respective compartment 30, 50.

[0056] Similarly, the at least one perimeter wall 71, 72 has a shape complementary to the shape of the side walls of container bodies 3 and 5.

[0057] The at least one perimeter wall 71, 72 is delimited by an edge having a shape complementary to the edge of the first container body 3 and of the respective compartment 30 and of the second container body 5 and of the respective compartment 50, so that, by acting on the hinge 37, the rotation of one or both container bodies 3 and 5 brings the edges of one or both said container bodies 3 and 5 to match the edge of the perimeter wall 71, 72 of the connecting and closing element 7. If only one of the container bodies 3 or 5 performs the rotation, the matching action engages only part of the edge of the perimeter wall 71 (where the perimeter wall 72 is not also provided, as illustrated in Figures 3, 5, 6). Instead, in the case of the presence of both perimeter walls 71 and 72 (as illustrated in Figures 7, 9, 10, 12) the rotation of one of the two container bodies 3, 5 around the respective hinges 37 and 57 leads to the matching action of the entire edge of perimeter walls 71 and 72 with the edges of the respective container bodies 3 and 5.

[0058] In this way, as illustrated for example in Figures 1 and 2, when the container 1 is in the fully closed configuration, the two container bodies 3 and 5 and the perimeter wall 71, 72 of the connecting and closing element 7 form a box-like body.

[0059] Preferably, the at least one perimeter wall 71, 72 comprises at least one wall having an enlarged surface area, so as to facilitate the application of graphic and / or distinctive signs.

[0060] The wall with enlarged surface area is preferably a wall opposite the hinges 37 and 57, and identifies the front of the box-like body of the container 1 in the fully closed configuration. In this way the presence of the wall with enlarged surface area also guides the consumer in intuitively identifying the direction of rotation of the container bodies 3 and 5 with respect to the hinges 37, 57, favoring their correct handling for the purpose of opening and closing the container bodies 3 and 5 themselves.

[0061] In particular, the enlarged extension of one wall of the perimeter walls 71, 72 allows said wall with enlarged extension to be held firmly by the consumer in the act of opening one of the two container bodies 3 or 5, starting from the fully closed configuration. For example, in the case of opening the container body 5, the consumer may hold the container 1 in the left hand with the container body 3 partly on the palm of the hand and on the fingers from the index to the little finger, while the thumb easily presses on the wall with enlarged extension of the perimeter wall 71, 72, facilitating the opening of the container body 5, which rotates about only one of the two hinges 37, 57, while said container body 5 is grasped by the right hand. The wall with enlarged extension, in this respect, is easily identifiable and provides a greater gripping surface for the thumb. In the case of graphic and / or distinctive signs in relief, positive or negative, or in the case of a rough surface, the grip by the consumer is further facilitated.

[0062] For example, in the embodiments illustrated in the appended figures, the at least one perimeter wall 71, 72 in turn comprises four walls connected to each other so as to form, precisely, a perimeter wall 71, 72, wherein one of these walls, in particular the wall which in the closed configuration of container 1 faces forward, has an enlarged surface area and, in the specific example, has a substantially rhomboid shape.

[0063] By the expression ‘enlarged surface area’ it is meant that the wall having an enlarged surface area has a surface area comprised between 10% and 60%, preferably comprised between 20% and 50%, more preferably comprised between 25% and 40%, of the surface area of the face of container 1 on which, in the fully closed configuration of container 1, the wall with enlarged surface area is located. For example, in the examples of container 1 illustrated in the appended figures, the wall of the perimeter wall 71, 72 having enlarged surface area is the front wall and has an extension equal to about one third of the surface area of the front face of container 1 in the closed configuration.

[0064] According to the second and the third embodiment of container 1, illustrated respectively in Figures 7-9a and 10-12a, the connecting and closing element 7 comprises two connecting and closing sub-elements 7a, 7b respectively connected to the first container body 3 and to the second container body 5 and further mutually connected to each other. As illustrated in the respective figures, the first connecting and closing sub-element 7a is connected to the first container body 3 by means of a first hinge 37, similarly to container 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0065] Similarly, the second connecting and closing sub-element 7b is connected to the second container body 5 by means of a second hinge 57, similarly to container 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0066] Preferably, the two connecting and closing sub-elements 7a, 7b are mutually connected to each other by means of an additional hinge 77.

[0067] The first connecting and closing sub-element 7a and the second connecting and closing sub-element 7b respectively comprise a first separation wall 70 and a second separation wall 80 configured to respectively close the first compartment 30 and the second compartment 50.

[0068] In this case, the connecting and closing element 7 comprises two perimeter walls 71 and 72 orthogonal respectively to the first separation wall 70 and to the second separation wall 80.

[0069] A first perimeter wall 71 is configured to engage with the first container body 3 when the respective separation wall 70 closes the first compartment 30, while a second perimeter wall 72 is configured to engage with the second container body 5 when the second separation wall 80 closes the second compartment 50 of the second container body 5.

[0070] When container 1 is in the fully closed configuration, illustrated in Figures 7 and 10, or when container 1 is in the partially open configuration, illustrated in Figures 9 and 11, the two separation walls 70 and 80 are rotated about the axis of the additional hinge 77 so as to face each other.

[0071] Preferably, the first separation wall 70 and the second separation wall 80 have a complementary shape to each other, so as to allow the first separation wall 70 and the second separation wall 80 to couple with each other according to a form-fitting connection. This preferably occurs when the connecting and closing element 7 simultaneously closes the first compartment 30 and the second compartment 50.

[0072] In essence, the two sub-elements 7a, 7b can be coupled to each other according to said form-fitting connection both in a fully closed configuration of container 1 and in a partially open configuration, as well as in a fully open configuration.

[0073] Preferably, the first separation wall 70 comprises a convex projection 700, while the second separation wall 80 comprises a concave seat 800 having a shape complementary to the shape of the convex projection 700. In this way, when the two separation walls 70 and 80 face each other, the convex projection 700 is inserted into the concave seat 800 according to a malefemale coupling system. Preferably, such coupling is a snap-fit coupling, which ensures that the two connecting and closing sub-elements 7a, 7b can engage with each other in a stable and lasting manner, although reversible.

[0074] According to the second embodiment of container 1, illustrated in Figures 7 to 9a, at least one wall, preferably the front wall, of the perimeter walls 71 and 72 has an enlarged surface area, so as to facilitate the application of graphic and / or distinctive signs.

[0075] In the second embodiment, when the separation walls 70 and 80 are coupled, the perimeter walls 71 and 72 identify contiguous surfaces integral with each other, so that preferably the wall with enlarged surface area of perimeter wall 71 is contiguous with the wall with enlarged surface area of perimeter wall 72, thereby defining a single wall with enlarged surface area that solves the same technical problems and achieves the same technical advantages as the wall with enlarged surface area according to the first embodiment.

[0076] According to the third embodiment of container 1, illustrated in Figures 10 to 12a, the perimeter walls 71 and 72 all have the same height. Any shaped surfaces 4 designed to facilitate and make more evident the application of graphic and / or distinctive signs can be made directly on the container bodies 3 and 5.

[0077] As shown in Figures 7 and 10, the visual effect of container 1 in the fully closed configuration is substantially the same in the two different embodiments described above.

[0078] Preferably, the connecting and closing element 7 is made of a rigid material, more preferably selected from polymeric materials of the rigid plastic type or from metals.

[0079] Preferably, the container bodies 3 and 5 are also made of a rigid material, more preferably selected from polymeric materials of the rigid plastic type or from metals.

[0080] Preferably, the container bodies 3 and 5 and the connecting and closing element 7 are made of the same material.

[0081] The use of rigid materials, for example plastic or metal, is preferred over the use of other materials, such as paper and cardboard, which have characteristics of greater permeability, in order to guarantee the absence of contamination, especially aromatic, between the different products contained inside compartments 30 and 50.

[0082] Preferably, the connecting and closing element 7 comprises retaining means 9 configured to detachably retain the first container body 3 and / or the second container body 5 associated, for example hooked, to the connecting and closing element 7.

[0083] Such retaining means 9 ensure that the opening of compartments 30 and 50 occurs only by imposing a determined separation force by the consumer, so as to avoid undesired and accidental openings. Such retaining means 9 may comprise interference means 91 configured to retain by interference the perimeter walls 71, 72 of the connecting and closing element 7 against the side walls of the container bodies 3 and 5, as in the case of the first embodiment of container 1, and its two variants, illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, and of the third embodiment of container 1, illustrated in Figures 10 to 12a.

[0084] Alternatively, the retaining means 9 may comprise elastic tabs 90 made in the connecting and closing element 7, configured to abut against the side walls of the container bodies 3 and 5, as in the case of the second embodiment of container 1, illustrated in Figures 7 to 9a.

[0085] The retaining means 9 in the various embodiments described are applicable in an interchangeable manner to the various embodiments of the invention.

[0086] For industrial manufacture of container 1, the connecting and closing element 7 may be divided into two structural components 7x, 7y rigidly fixed to each other by means of interlocking fastening means, as in the case of the variant illustrated in Figure 5, and / or by means of sliding and snap fastening means as in the case of the variant illustrated in Figure 6.

[0087] According to these two variants, at least a part (e.g., a wall) of the perimeter wall 71, for example the wall which in the fully closed container configuration is the one facing the front side of container 1 itself, can be made as a structural component 7x separate from the other structural component 7y, so that only once the two structural components 7x and 7y are assembled together is the connecting and closing element 7 obtained as a whole.

[0088] According to the variant of Figure 5, the separation wall 70 is made integrally with the first structural component 7x, while the second structural component 7y comprises one or more hooks 70x configured to receive the separation wall 70 and fasten it by interlocking.

[0089] According to the variant of Figure 6, the separation wall 70 is partly constituted by a rail 7 lx associated with a first structural component 7x and partly constituted by a slider 71y associated with the second structural component 7y. The obtaining of the connecting and closing element 7 is achieved by sliding the slider 71y in the rail 7 lx until the mutual fastening of the two elements, for example by means of an elastic snap mechanism.

[0090] Preferably, the first container body 3, the second container body 5 and the connecting and closing element 7 are made in one piece, that is in a single block, that is in a monolithic manner. Preferably this takes place by molding techniques, by means of a single mold.

[0091] This occurs in particular for the three embodiments of container 1 illustrated in the appended figures, with the exception of Figures 5 and 6 which depict two variants in which the first container body 3, the second container body 5 and a structural component 7y are made in one piece by molding techniques using a first single mold, while the other structural component 7x is made in one piece separately by molding techniques using a second single mold.

[0092] Container 1 can have any shape that allows the application of hinges. Preferably container 1 has a regular geometric shape, such as for example a parallelepiped shape, a cylindrical shape, a cubic shape, or a spherical or three-dimensional oval shape.

[0093] Preferably, container 1 has at least one flat wall to which the hinges 37, 57 are applied, while the appearance of the front of container 1 can take the parallelepiped shapes illustrated in Figures 1-11, or other shapes, for example polygonal. In a particular embodiment the two container bodies 3 and 5 may be made in different shapes (for example one rectangular, one semicircular) and in different volumes.

[0094] However, as illustrated in all Figures 1-12 relating to all the embodiments of container 1, the first container body 3 and the second container body 5 are preferably configured so that the first compartment 30 and the second compartment 50 define product containment volumes that are substantially equal to each other.

[0095] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a container 1 for edible products with separate compartments as described above. The method comprises in particular the step of molding, by means of a single mold, the first container body 3, the second container body 5 and the connecting and closing element 7, preferably using polymeric materials.

[0096] In Figure 4 container 1 is shown, according to the first embodiment, as obtained by molding techniques by means of a single mold. The container bodies 3 and 5 are already joined to the connecting and closing element 7 by means of hinges 37 and 57. Upon exit from the mold, the connecting and closing element 7 is divided into two portions 77 and 78 mutually connected by a hinge 79, assemblable with each other to form the connecting and closing element 7. To ensure the assembly of the two portions 77 and 78, a snap-fit or interlocking coupling mechanism may be provided, such as for example an interlocking coupling mechanism between a pin 770 and a respective seat 780.

[0097] In the case in which the connecting and closing element 7 is constituted by two distinct structural components 7x and 7y, the method of manufacturing container 1 comprises the steps of

[0098] - molding, by means of a single first mold, the first container body 3, the second container body 5, and the first structural component 7y of the connecting and closing element 7;

[0099] - molding, by means of a single second mold, the second structural component 7x of the connecting and closing element 7;

[0100] - assembling the second structural component 7x to the first structural component 7y to obtain the connecting and closing element 7.

[0101] Container 1 can be made of a material having an opaque appearance, not completely transparent; therefore, the graphic customization elements can be placed on the package by means of stickers on the back and on the front and / or by means of a flow-pack or other external wrapping. In a preferred embodiment, all these parts are made with the same material (for example plastic, for easier recycling). In the case where the material used for manufacturing the container is instead transparent, inside compartments 30, 50 packages may be inserted that bear the desired textual and graphic elements and that can be seen through the transparent material.

[0102] The functioning of container 1 is clear and evident from what has been described.

[0103] Container 1 can be filled with food products, in particular confectionery products, such as chewing gum, candies, tablets, chocolates. Such products can be introduced loose (e.g., naked or with wrappers of the individual pieces) or with wrappers grouping several pieces together. Such products or the wrappers containing them can be loose inside compartments 30, 50 or constrained inside at least one of the compartments by means of physical constraints (interlocking) or chemical constraints (glue).

[0104] One or both compartments 30, 50 may include an additional controlled closing wall (not shown in the figures) with an opening adapted to release the loose product in a controlled manner, preventing too many pieces from coming out at the same time in the package.

[0105] In a preferred embodiment compartments 30, 50 contain confectionery products of elongated shape, preferably strips of chewing gum, with one end in proximity to the opening of at least one of compartments 30, 50 so as to be grasped by the consumer.

[0106] In particular, the elongated confectionery product can be individually wrapped, for example with paper, plastic, aluminum and combinations thereof. One end of the wrapped product can be constrained to the bottom of at least one of compartments 30, 50 by means of a glue spot or equivalent.

[0107] In a preferred embodiment the confectionery product is inserted in groups of several pieces pre-wrapped together in a choice among boxes, bands, trays or pouches of semi-rigid cardboard, semi-rigid plastic. In this way container 1 is configured as a refillable package, prepared for multiple use. Such use, coupled with the use of pre-wrapped refills in wrappings with a reduced packaging-to-edible ratio, solves current sustainability problems of rigid material wrappings.

[0108] It has been practically found that the container for edible products, with separate compartments, according to the present invention, achieves the task as well as the intended objects, since it makes it possible to guarantee the integrity and freshness of the product and to optimize its usability by the consumer.

[0109] Another advantage of the container, according to the invention, consists in the fact of being able to contain edible products with different organoleptic properties from each other, without one type of product contaminating the other.

[0110] A further advantage of the container, according to the invention, consists in the fact of being able to prolong over time the integrity and freshness of the edible products contained therein, since the separate compartments can be opened by the consumer in sequence, one at a time.

[0111] Another advantage of the container consists in the fact of being able to be manufactured in an economical and simple manner, and therefore to be easily inserted into the production chain, even into already existing production chains.

[0112] The container for edible products, with separate compartments, thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.

[0113] Moreover, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0114] In practice, the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be of any type depending on requirements.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Container (1) for edible products with separate compartments, comprising a first container body (3) configured to define a first open compartment (30), a second container body (5) configured to define a second open compartment (50), and a connecting and closing element (7), characterized in that said connecting and closing element (7) is permanently connected to both said first container body (3) and said second container body (5), is configured to alternately close said first compartment (30) or said second compartment (50) and is also configured to simultaneously close said first compartment (30) and said second compartment (50), thereby separating said first compartment (30) from said second compartment (50).

2. Container (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said connecting and closing element (7) comprises at least one separation wall (70, 80) configured to alternately close said first compartment (30) or said second compartment (50) and also configured to simultaneously close said first compartment (30) and said second compartment (50), thereby separating said first compartment (30) from said second compartment (50).

3. Container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said connecting and closing element (7) is connected to said first container body (3) by means of a first hinge (37) and to said second container body (5) by means of a second hinge (57).

4. Container (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said connecting and closing element (7) comprises at least one perimeter wall (71, 72) orthogonal to said at least one separation wall (70, 80), said at least one perimeter wall (71, 72) being configured to engage with said first container body (3) and / or with said second container body (5) when said connecting and closing element (7) closes said first compartment (30) of said first container body (3) and / or said second compartment (50) of said second container body (5).

5. Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting and closing element (7) comprises two sub-elements of connection and closure (7a, 7b) respectively connected to said first container body (3) and to said second container body (5) and mutually connected.

6. Container (1) according to claim 5, wherein said two sub-elements of connection and closure (7a, 7b) are mutually connected by means of an additional hinge (77).

7. Container (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said two sub-elements of connection and closure (7a, 7b) respectively comprise a first separation wall (70) and a second separation wall (80), respectively configured to close said first compartment (30) andsaid second compartment (50).

8. Container (1) according to claim 7, wherein said first separation wall (70) and said second separation wall (80) have a complementary shape, so as to allow said first separation wall (70) and said second separation wall (80) to fit together in a form-fitting connection.

9. Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting and closing element (7) comprises retaining means (9) configured to detachably retain said first container body (3) and / or said second container body (5) connected to said connecting and closing element (7).

10. Container (1) according to one or more of claims 4 to 9, wherein said at least one perimeter wall (71, 72) comprises at least one wall having an enlarged surface area.

11. Container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting and closing element (7) is divided into two structural components (7x, 7y) rigidly fixed to each other, preferably by means of interlocking fastening means and / or by means of sliding and snap fastening means.

12. Container (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, wherein said first container body (3), said second container body (5), and said connecting and closing element (7) are integrally formed using molding techniques with a single mold.

13. Container (1) according to claim 11, wherein said first container body (3), said second container body (5), and a first structural component (7y) of said connecting and closing element (7) are integrally formed using molding techniques with a first single mold, and said second structural component (7x) of said connecting and closing element (7) is integrally formed using molding techniques with a second single mold.

14. Container (1), according to claim 1, wherein said first container body (3) and said second container body (5) are configured so that said first open compartment (30) and said second open compartment (50), define product containment volumes that are substantially equal to each other.

15. Method for manufacturing a container (1) for edible products with separate compartments according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, comprising the step of molding said first container body (3), said second container body (5), and said connecting and closing element (7) using a single mold.

16. Method for manufacturing a container (1) for edible products with separate compartments according to claim 11, comprising the steps of molding, using a first single mold, said first container body (3), said second containerbody (5), and said first structural component (7y) of said connecting and closing element (7); molding, using a second single mold, said second structural component (7x) of said connecting and closing element (7); - assembling said second structural component (7x) to said first structural component(7y) to obtain said connecting and closing element (7).

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