U.S. patent application number 10/560123 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for container.
Invention is credited to Kevin William Joseph Clarke.
Application Number | 20060237454 10/560123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27589757 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060237454 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Clarke; Kevin William
Joseph |
October 26, 2006 |
Container
Abstract
A container (1) for hot-from-cooking poultry having a recessed
base (2) with side-walls (3, 4, 5, 6), a domed lid (7), and a hinge
(14) connecting the lid (7) to the base. The lid and the base are
adapted for closure of the container around a joint surface (11).
The hinge (14) is provided at the joint surface and at one side of
the container (1) and extending along a straight hinge region
spaced out from the intersection of one of the side-walls of the
recess and the joint surface. The side-wall has a portion (17)
angled at an acute angle with respect to the joint surface, and
being generally coplanar with the hinge region. The container can
be stood with the wall portion and the hinge on a support surface,
with the intersection of the side-wall of which it is a portion and
joint surface set up from the support surface.
Inventors: |
Clarke; Kevin William Joseph;
(Hampshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WARE FRESSOLA VAN DER SLUYS &ADOLPHSON, LLP
BRADFORD GREEN, BUILDING 5
755 MAIN STREET, P O BOX 224
MONROE
CT
06468
US
|
Family ID: |
27589757 |
Appl. No.: |
10/560123 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 25, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB04/02250 |
371 Date: |
May 8, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60514109 |
Oct 24, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/004.21 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/28 20060101
B65D006/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 10, 2003 |
GB |
0313306.3 |
Claims
1. A container formed of plastics material, the container having:
zea recessed base, with side walls along at least three sides of
the recess; zea domed lid, the base and the lid being adapted for
closure of the container around a joint surface; zea hinge
connecting the lid to the base, the hinge being provided at the
joint surface and at one side of the container and extending along
a straight hinge region spaced out from the intersection of one of
the side walls of the recess and the joint surface; the said one
side wall having: a portion angled at an acute angle with respect
to the joint surface, the said wall portion being generally
coplanar with the hinge region, whereby the container can be stood
with the wall portion and the hinge on a support surface, with the
intersection of the side wall of which it is a portion and joint
surface set up from the support surface for collection of fluid
from the contents of the container.
2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base recess is
formed with three sides intersecting the joint surface.
3. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bases recess is
formed with four sides intersecting the joint surface.
4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is an
injection moulding.
5. The container as claimed in claim l, wherein the container is a
thermoforming.
6. The container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the joint surface
is provided with complementary formations.
7. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the complementary
formations have a top hat shape.
8. The container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hinge is a
living hinge.
9. The container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hinge is
provided by an E section double channel, which has at least a
straight hinge region.
10. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is
shorter along the hinge region than in its dimension transverse to
the hinge, whereby when stood on the angled portion of the base
side wall, the container is generally stood on end, with the joint
surface inclined backwards when the hinge is forwards.
11. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the container has
a conventional bottom to the base recess, aside from the bottom
function of the said angled portion.
12. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the angled
portion is parallel to the joint surface 13.
13. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the angled
portion is arranged to incline the joint surface oppositely to when
it is stood on end.
14. The container as claimed in claim 13, wherein the inclined
bottom is substantially at right angles to the said angled
portion.
15. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dome of the
lid is symmetrical in the lid.
16. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the doming of the
domed lid is biased away from the hinge.
17. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is
provided with ears in both of the lid and base material webs.
18. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the ears have
reinforcing formations.
19. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is
of transparent or at least translucent material.
20. The container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hinge is
provided by an E section double channel, which provides a
determined hinge axis.
21. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is
provided with ears where one web is used, remote from the hinge.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a container, particularly
though not exclusively for still-hot-from-cooking poultry.
[0002] Such poultry will continue to exude juices for some time
after cooking.
[0003] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a
container adapted to collect and retain the juices in the
container, whilst the poultry is arranged on end for display.
[0004] According to the invention there is provided a container
formed of plastics material, the container having: [0005] a
recessed base, with side walls along at least three sides of the
recess; [0006] a domed lid, the base and the lid being adapted for
closure of the container around a joint surface; [0007] a hinge
connecting the lid to the base, the hinge being provided at the
joint surface and at one side of the container and extending along
a straight hinge region spaced out from the intersection of one of
the side walls of the recess and the joint surface; the said one
side wall having: [0008] a portion angled at an acute angle with
respect to the joint surface, the said wall portion being generally
coplanar with the hinge region, whereby the container can be stood
with the wall portion and the hinge on a support surface, with the
intersection of the side wall of which it is a portion and joint
surface set up from the support surface for collection of fluid
from the contents of the container.
[0009] Whilst the base recess can be formed with three sides only
intersecting the joint surface, it will normally have four such
intersecting sides.
[0010] The container can be envisaged to be an injection moulding.
However, it will normally be a thermoforming. The joint surface
will normally be provided with complementary formations. In the
case of thermoforming, the complementary formations will normally
be of top hat shape.
[0011] In the case of injection moulding the hinge can be a living
hinge. In the preferred thermoforming, the hinge is provided by an
E section double channel, which provides a determined hinge
axis--or at least a straight hinge region.
[0012] The container is preferably shorter along the hinge region
than in its dimension transverse to the hinge, whereby when stood
on the angled portion of the base side wall, the container is
generally stood on end, with the joint surface inclined backwards
when the hinge is forwards.
[0013] Aside from the bottom function of the said angled portion,
the container preferably has a conventional bottom to the base
recess. This can be parallel to the joint surface or arranged to
incline the joint surface oppositely to when it is stood on end.
This inclined bottom in the preferred embodiment is substantially
at right angles to the said angled portion.
[0014] The dome of the lid can be symmetrical in the lid. However,
in the preferred embodiment, the doming is biased away from the
hinge.
[0015] A particular feature of the preferred container is the
provision of ears in both of the lid and base material webs,
although one web only could be used, remote from the hinge. These
ears are intended for lifting the container when the contents are
hot. Preferably the ears having reinforcing formations.
[0016] Preferably the container is of transparent or at least
translucent material.
[0017] To help understanding of the invention, a specific
embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box of the invention stood
up on end;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the box of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front view of the box; and
[0021] FIG. 4 is an end view of the box when laid half back.
[0022] Referring to the drawings, a thermoformed plastics material
container 1 has a recessed base 2, with side walls 3,4,5,6 along
four sides of the recess. Also the container has a lid 7 with a
dome 8. The base and the lid have rims 9,10, together providing a
joint surface 11. Each rim is formed with a respective top hat
formation 12,13 arranged to provide for openable closure of the
container. A hinge 14 is along one edge of the container, in the
form of an E cross-section channel 15 connecting the two rims
9,10.
[0023] The hinge runs parallel to a "bottom" one 3 of the side
walls of the base. This wall has a first portion 16 extending
generally at right angles to the joint surface 11. Remote from the
joint surface, it has an angled portion 17, which is coplanar with
the hinge channel 15. The arrangement is such that the container
can be stood on a support surface S at the angled portion and the
hinge. In this position, the edge of the wall portion 16 and the
rim 9 is spaced above the surface S--despite the container being in
effect stood on its end--whereby exudate E from a cooked chicken C
in the container is retained within the container.
[0024] The base 2 has a "bottom" 18, insofar as it is parallel to
the joint surface, on which the container can be stood with the
chick when juices E are the only weight in container. This is an
unusual disposition. The side 5 opposite from the side 3 is
shallowly angled with respect to the joint surface and is in fact
at right angles to the angled portion of the side 3. The container
can be stood on this surface for carving of the chicken with the
lid hinged open. The lid is domed opposite from the side 5 for
accommodating the breast of the chicken.
[0025] Opposite from the hinge, the rims have a pair of opposed
ears 21,22, with which the container can be picked up when stood on
end.
[0026] The material of the container is transparent for display of
the chicken.
* * * * *