U.S. patent application number 10/503876 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for laminate packaging for ice cream cones.
Invention is credited to Veciana I Membrado, Josep Maria.
Application Number | 20050040214 10/503876 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27736128 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050040214 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Veciana I Membrado, Josep
Maria |
February 24, 2005 |
Laminate packaging for ice cream cones
Abstract
Of the type constituted by a laminar body, based on a
paper-aluminium composition which shapes a cone (5) coincident in
form and dimensions with the cone biscuit which it shall hold in
its interior, having on its closing edge (6) a seam (8) of angular
configuration, so that in the area immediately above this seam a
tab for tearing (10) is configured which is recessed with respect
to the closing edge (6). The vertex (11) of said angular seam (8)
constitutes a guide which facilitates the tearing of the wrapping.
Optionally, the laminar body which configures the cone (5) can come
with a circumferential cutting line (15) located below the pulling
flap (13), defining a tear line for the wrapping in the operation
of opening the same, emerging from that circumferential cutting
line (15) another cutting line (18) parallel and next to the
adhesive strip (17), the purpose of this second cutting line (18)
being to interrupt a possible de-layering between the paper and the
aluminium, during the opening operation.
Inventors: |
Veciana I Membrado, Josep
Maria; (Tarragona, ES) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
|
Family ID: |
27736128 |
Appl. No.: |
10/503876 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
February 3, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ES03/00064 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/87.05 ;
229/87.08 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5833 20130101;
B65D 85/78 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/087.05 ;
229/087.08 |
International
Class: |
B65D 065/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 8, 2002 |
ES |
P200200309 |
Feb 14, 2002 |
ES |
P200200354 |
Claims
1. Laminar wrapping for a cone type ice cream confection, the
wrapping having a laminar body based on a paper-aluminum
composition which shapes a conical body, empty, open at its base,
in form and dimensionally appropriate for a cone biscuit of the
confection which has to be held in an interior of the body, said
laminar body being closed on itself to configure the cone by an
adhesive strip which is extended between a vertex and the open base
of the cone, a flap for gripping purposes being defined in a middle
area of a closing edge for subsequent opening of the wrapping,
wherein in that the laminar body (1) has a paper inner sheet (2)
and an outer layer of aluminum (3) joined by an intermediate layer
of adhesive (4), the paper inner sheet (2) having a continuous or
discontinuous circumferential cutting line (15), located between
the flap (13) for gripping purposes and the vertex, so that during
an opening operation and upon pulling said flap (13) a tearing of
the laminar body (1) takes place unavoidably in correspondence with
said cutting line (15), which is preestablished for this
purpose.
2. Laminar wrapping for a cone type ice cream confection according
to claim 1, wherein the cutting line (15) is irregular.
3. Laminar wrapping for a cone type ice cream confection according
to claim 1, wherein the cutting line (15) has a spiral form,
forming an angle with respect to a mouth (16).
4. Laminar wrapping for a cone type ice cream confection according
to claim 1, wherein a second cutting line (18) in the inner paper
sheet (2) of the laminar body (1) is located between the cutting
line (15) and a mouth (16) of the wrapping, parallel and next to
the adhesive strip (17) which closes the laminar body (1) on
itself, said second cutting line (18) interrupting de-layering
between the layers constituting the laminar body (1) that usually
takes place when pulling tab flap (13) serving as a grip, since on
reaching the second cutting line (18) the de-layering is
interrupted and starting therefrom the paper inner sheet (2)
remains unavoidably bound to the outer layer of aluminum (3),
accompanying the aluminum layer in its detachment with respect to a
lower part of the cone.
5. Laminar wrapping for a cone type ice cream confection according
to claim 4, wherein the cutting lines (15) and (18), established
only in the paper inner sheet (2) and not in the outer layer of
aluminum (3) used as an insulating layer, are produced by means of
mechanical cutting with blades, dies or by laser cutting.
6. Laminar wrapping for a cone type ice cream confection according
to claim 1, wherein the laminar body (1) is formed by a single
material or laminar combinations of at least two materials.
7. Laminar wrapping for a cone type ice cream confection according
to claim 6, wherein the materials are selected from the group
consisting of paper, plastic, treated paper and metal.
Description
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns a laminar wrapping of the
type of those usually employed for obtaining a cone based on a
paper-aluminium composition or similar, which acts as a means of
protection for the cone biscuit which in turn holds an edible ice
cream.
[0002] The object of the invention is to achieve a reduction in the
quantity of material used in the production of the wrapping, and
secondly to facilitate the subsequent opening and elimination of
the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is well known that constituting an entirely widespread
technique within the ice cream industry, specifically within the
ambit of ice creams that are delivered to the customer directly
packed from the maker, and more specifically within the ambit of
the "cone" type ice cream in which the ice cream mass fills a cone
biscuit, is the use of a wrapping based on a paper-aluminium
composition, initially of triangular configuration, with one of its
sides curved convexly, which when closed on itself forms a cone
with its base open, coincident in form and dimensions with the cone
biscuit which it has to receive well-fitted on its interior, said
laminar body being fixed in the closed situation by means of an
adhesive strip located in correspondence with one of its
generatrices.
[0004] To facilitate the subsequent operation of tearing or opening
the wrapping, one of the straight edges thereof comes with a
projecting tab, serving as a grip for said tearing action, which
signifies a twofold problem, on one hand the presence of this tab
supposes a considerable increment in the quantity of material
required for the wrapping, since besides that corresponding to the
tab itself, the material located at both sides of the same is lost
in the stamping operation, and on the other hand the tearing of the
wrapping by pulling on said tab is uncontrolled, occurring on many
occasions in unwanted areas, which do not correspond to the ideal
situation in which said tearing ought to take place on the
periphery at a level immediately below said tab, in order to retain
a small encircling cone in the area where the ice cream is
held.
[0005] Moreover and as the tab mentioned projects and is physically
independent of the base surface of the cone to which it is
initially adapted, during the normal manipulation of the ice creams
a separation frequently takes place of the same with respect to the
actual cone, which on occasions can cause ripping of the actual tab
or even a slight commencement in the opening of the container,
affecting the sealing of the same.
[0006] Moreover, because the laminar wrapping is closed on itself
by means of an adhesive strip, located in correspondence with one
of the generatrices of the cone, and due to the layered nature of
this laminar wrapping, when the tab is pulled the de-layering of
the sheet takes place on many occasions, whereby only the
detachment of the external layer takes place, that of aluminium,
the inner sheet, that of paper, remaining associated with the rest
of the structure of the cone, whereby after a first operation in
this sense it is necessary to carry out a second operation to
remove the paper layer, in this case however without having the tab
in order to pull on the same.
[0007] Due likewise to the tight bond which the adhesive defines
between the superimposed sectors of the laminar wrapping, when the
detachment of the same takes place, it happens abruptly with an
uncontrolled tear, which can run indistinctly toward the mouth of
the wrapping or toward the vertex thereof depending on the angle of
inclination with which the pulling force is applied on the tab,
obtaining as a result, in either case, a completely deficient and
undesirable opening.
[0008] In attempts to overcome this problem laminar wrappings are
known of the type mentioned in which the closing of the laminar
body is achieved by means of a continuous strip of adhesive below
the tab and a discontinuous strip above it, for example based on an
alignment of glued points, which does not resolve the mentioned
situation in a satisfactory manner insofar as the de-layering
problem remains, and it also produces a tendency to oblique tearing
of the sheet toward the vertex of the cone.
[0009] Moreover, this discontinuous closure of the upper area of
the wrapping signifies that the closure of the same is not totally
sealed, with the consequent risk of penetration by bacteria, dirt,
etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The wrapping which the invention discloses has been
conceived and structured in order to resolve in a fully
satisfactory manner the problem described above, in the aspects
mentioned.
[0011] To this end, in a more specific way and in accordance with
the invention, in the laminar body constituting the wrapping the
classic projecting tab has been suppressed, and has been replaced
by an angular seam, which in the first place supposes a substantial
saving in material, since the layered sheet with which one starts
for obtaining the wrapping can be shorter, specifically in the
measure corresponding to the width of the traditional tab and of
length coincident with the generatrix of the cone.
[0012] Moreover, the gripping tab of the cone for tearing is
defined by one of the sides of the angular seam, specifically that
nearest the mouth of the cone, whereby this tab, by not being
projecting outwards, cannot be separated accidentally or
unwittingly from the cone itself, whereby the risk that the same
can be folded outwards, folded back on itself or be ripped is
absolutely nil, and it is also impossible for accidental initiation
to occur in the opening of the container which causes the latter to
lose its perfect seal.
[0013] In addition, the vertex constituting the bottom of the
aforementioned seam acts as a guide which assures that the tearing
of the container, during the opening thereof, takes place over the
area foreseen for this end, at least in its initial phase.
[0014] Another characteristic of the laminar wrapping for cone type
ice creams resides in establishing a special arrangement for
opening in the wrapping, being based on providing the paper inner
sheet with a circumferential or peripheral cut, at middle level in
height, specifically in correspondence with the theoretical line of
rupture of the laminar wrapping, for removal of the upper part
thereof, from which circumferential cutting line emerges another
cutting line toward the mouth of the wrapping, on one of the
generatrices, located immediately inside the adhesive strip through
which the laminar body from which one starts for obtaining the
wrapping, is closed on itself in order to configure the cone.
[0015] This circumferential cutting line can be replaced by other
types, it being possible to adopt an irregular shape or be in
spiral form, which produce fancy openings.
[0016] Thus, when one pulls on the tab serving as a grip, obviously
located above the circumferential cutting line, the tear is
compelled to follow said circumferential cutting line, that is to
take place along the theoretically ideal line, and also in the
supposition that the adhesive closing the cone should cause in the
upper half thereof a de-layering effect, this effect can only take
place in a narrow marginal strip, that defined by the cutting line
in the generatrix direction, since on reaching said cutting line
the de-layering is interrupted and starting therefrom the paper
inner sheet remains unavoidably bound to the aluminium outer sheet,
accompanying the latter in its detachment with respect to the lower
part of the cone.
[0017] In this way it is achieved that after opening the wrapping a
small lower cone is defined, which remains associated with the ice
cream, having perfectly predefined dimensions and a perfect finish,
and that a wide upper strip is removed, providing access to the
cone biscuit, in a sure, quick and straightforward operation.
[0018] The cuts in the paper inner sheet can be made by mechanical
means, with the collaboration of blades, by laser or by any other
means that is considered appropriate.
[0019] Finally it is mentioned that the material of the laminar
body can be a composition of aluminium paper or other materials,
like for example, combinations of materials or single materials
like paper, plastics or others.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] To complete the description that is being made and with the
object of assisting in a better understanding of the
characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred
example of practical embodiment thereof, accompanying said
description as an integral part thereof, is a set of drawings
wherein, by way of illustration and not restrictively, the
following has been represented:
[0021] FIG. 1.--It shows a schematic representation in side
elevation of a laminar wrapping for conventional, cone type ice
creams.
[0022] FIG. 2.--It shows, according to a representation like that
of the previous figure, a wrapping for ice creams of similar
characteristics but implemented in accordance with the object of
the invention.
[0023] FIG. 3.--It shows a partial detail in perspective and
considerably enlarged of the laminar body which participates in the
wrapping of the previous figure.
[0024] FIG. 4.--It shows a development in plan of a laminar
wrapping for cone type ice creams provided with the special opening
arrangement which is part of the object of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 5.--It shows an enlarged detail in section of the
laminar wrapping of the previous figure, at the level of one of the
cutting lines which partially affect said wrapping.
[0026] FIG. 6.--It shows a view in side elevation of the same
laminar wrapping as in the previous figure, after adopting its
definitive conical configuration, in which the cuts have been
represented in which the opening arrangement is materialized,
although in an external view they are not visible through being
located on the internal face of the wrapping, for a better
understanding of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 7.--It shows, finally, a similar representation to that
of the previous figure, in a partial stage of opening.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0028] In the light of the above figures it can be observed how the
wrapping disclosed, like any conventional wrapping, is constituted
by means of a layered laminar body (1), based on a paper inner
sheet (2), an outer layer of aluminium (3) and an intermediate
layer of adhesive (4), which joins them and stiffens them, which
body has an outline in the form of a cyclic triangle capable of
forming a conical body (5), open at its base, appropriate in form
and dimensions to receive tightly on its interior the classic cone
biscuit which holds the ice cream, and whose closing edge (6)
conventionally has a flap (7), projecting outwards, by way of a
grip.
[0029] So, the wrapping of the invention, maintaining the basic
structure mentioned, replaces the aforementioned classic flap (7)
with an interior seam (8), of angular configuration whose edges
(9-9') can be curved convexly, as in the example of practical
embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, but they could likewise be rectilinear,
so that the upper edge (9) also constitutes in turn the edge of a
marginal area (10) by way of recessed tab, as a grip and for
tearing the wrapping.
[0030] Optionally the seams (8) can be two in number, to establish
between them a more clearly defined tab, although preferably there
will be a single seam (8), with the object that the vertex (11) of
the same acts as a tear guide which facilitates a correct opening
of the wrapping when the marginal area or tab (10) is pulled.
[0031] As can be deduced from that explained above, is appreciated
from observation of FIGS. 1 to 3 and as has already been pointed
out previously, this special structure for obtaining the tab (10)
not only signifies a substantial saving in material, it also
assures a perfect fitting of the tab to the actual cone and an
immobilization of the same with time, as long as it is not grasped
specifically to carry out the opening operation, which avoids
accidental deterioration of this tab, as well as the risk that in
normal manipulation of the container, prior to the consumption of
its contents, a loss of the seal could arise accidentally which
places the ice cream product in contact with the exterior.
[0032] In FIGS. 4 to 7 a variation of embodiment is shown wherein
the closing edge (12) has a flap (13) projecting outwards, although
as in the previous case it could be formed by the inner seam
(8).
[0033] In any case, the cone biscuit (14) which can be seen in FIG.
7 can have any height lying between a partial cutting line (15) and
the mouth (16) of the laminar wrapping.
[0034] Thus, in accordance with the opening arrangement of the
invention, the paper inner sheet (2) is affected by the
aforementioned cutting line (15), preferably circumferential, that
is, parallel to the mouth (16) of the laminar wrapping, and
logically located below the flap (13), so that when the latter is
pulled the weakening of the laminar body (1) produced by that
circumferential cutting line (15) causes the tearing of the
wrapping to take place precisely along the same, that is, in a
perfectly controlled manner with the arrangement foreseen for this
purpose.
[0035] Complementarily, between the aforementioned circumferential
cutting line (15) and the mouth (16) of the laminar wrapping,
immediately after the classic adhesive strip (17) with which the
laminar body (1) is closed on itself to form the conical wrapping,
a second cutting line (18) is established which affects
exclusively, like the previous one, the paper inner sheet (2), as
shown in FIG. 5, so that in the eventuality that on pulling the
flap (13) and due to the adhesive (17) a de-layering takes place
between the paper (2) and the aluminium (3), this de-layering
effect is interrupted when the aforementioned cutting line (18) is
reached, and starting from it the tearing simultaneously and
unavoidably affects the two integral layers of the laminar body
(1), as shown in FIG. 7.
[0036] Those partial cutting lines (15) and (18), can be
implemented by mechanical cutting, using blades, by cutting by
laser, or by any other means which is considered appropriate.
[0037] In any case one achieves, as has been previously stated,
that the tearing of the laminar and conical wrapping (1) for access
to the cone biscuit (14) inside, takes place in a perfectly
controlled manner through the circumferential cutting line (15)
foreseen for this purpose, and without the possibility that a
de-layering of the laminar body (1) occurs with scraps of paper
sticking to the cone biscuit (14) and/or to the conical remains of
the laminar wrapping (1) which, delimited by the circumferential
cutting line (15), should remain associated with the cone biscuit
(14).
* * * * *