U.S. patent application number 16/017571 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-21 for food package and method for transfer of food.
The applicant listed for this patent is Torus Pak Research and Development S.A.R.L.. Invention is credited to Rickard Gillblad.
Application Number | 20190084750 16/017571 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37215011 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-21 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190084750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gillblad; Rickard |
March 21, 2019 |
FOOD PACKAGE AND METHOD FOR TRANSFER OF FOOD
Abstract
The invention relates to a bottom part intended to receive food
thereon, and a container part where the said bottom part and the
container part are intended to enclose the said food. The package
is provided with means to hold the bottom part and the container
part together in a detachable fashion and means to separate the
said bottom part from the container part fully or partially.
Separating takes the form of removing the said bottom part with the
bottom part of the package standing in an essentially horizontal
position on a serving surface so that the food is so arranged as to
come into contact with the serving surface, as a consequence of
which the said container part is essentially retained in its
position enclosing the said food. The invention also relates to a
method for transferring food from a package to a serving
surface.
Inventors: |
Gillblad; Rickard; (Onsala,
SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Torus Pak Research and Development S.A.R.L. |
Luxembourg |
|
LU |
|
|
Family ID: |
37215011 |
Appl. No.: |
16/017571 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11919394 |
Oct 26, 2007 |
10017317 |
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PCT/SE2006/000508 |
Apr 28, 2006 |
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16017571 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 65/46 20130101;
B65D 2581/3432 20130101; A23L 5/10 20160801; B65D 65/463 20130101;
B65D 81/3294 20130101; B65D 81/3446 20130101; B65D 81/343 20130101;
B65D 81/3453 20130101; A23P 10/10 20160801 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/32 20060101
B65D081/32; A23P 10/10 20160101 A23P010/10; B65D 81/34 20060101
B65D081/34; A23L 5/10 20160101 A23L005/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2005 |
SE |
0500948-5 |
Oct 4, 2005 |
SE |
0502182-9 |
Claims
1.-26. (canceled)
27. A package for packing food in containers which comprise a lid
and a bottom part, and situated between these at least one space
for receiving food that is intended to be frozen or chilled and
subsequently heated, whereby at least one part of the package is
utilized during heating, according to claim 1 wherein the bottom
part is arranged as to receive food before the freezing or chilling
of the same, and the package comprises means for fully or partially
separating the bottom part from the container part of the package
before and/or after heating, whereby the food comes into contact
with the serving surface, and the container part is essentially
retained in its position enclosing the food
28. A method for transferring food from a package, comprising a
bottom part and a container part, to a serving surface, comprising:
placing the package on top of the storage or serving surface, and
fully or partially removing all or a part of the said bottom part
from the said container part, whereby the food comes into contact
with the serving surface, in conjunction with which the container
part is essentially retained in its position enclosing the
food.
29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the removal stage also
includes: taking hold of one or more gripping devices attached to
the bottom part, and essentially laterally, fully or partially,
pulling away all or part of the bottom part from the container
part.
30. A method according to claim 28, comprising: removing the
container part of the package and, where appropriate, the lid of
the package in the vertical sense, simultaneously or in different
steps.
31. A method according to claim 28, before removal of the bottom
part, comprising: removing a strip-shaped or a string-shaped device
surrounding at least a part of the container part of the package at
the interface with the bottom part for the purpose of facilitating
the pulling away of the bottom part.
32. A method according to claim 28, before the removal of the said
bottom part, comprising: heating the package containing the said
food in an oven or a microwave oven.
33. A method according to claim 28, after removal of the bottom
part, comprising: heating the food, with or without the container
part and the lid, in an oven or a microwave oven.
34. A method according to claim 28, comprising: placing a number of
subsidiary packages on top of the serving surface and adjacent to
one another, whereby these form a package with at least one of an
essentially circular, oval, superelliptical, and polygonal
periphery.
35. A method according to claim 28, wherein the package also
includes separate subsidiary packages arranged in different planes
for the purpose of receiving food, after heating, comprising: fully
or partially removing a bottom part from a subsidiary package
situated in conjunction with a subjacent subsidiary package,
whereby the food in the subsidiary package is caused to move
vertically downwards over or next to the food through an opening in
the lid of the subjacent subsidiary package.
36. A method according to claim 28, wherein the package also
includes separate subsidiary packages comprising: if the lid of a
subsidiary package includes a removable part; fully or partially
removing the part of the subsidiary package, placing a further
subsidiary package on top of the aforementioned subsidiary package,
taking hold of a gripping device attached to the bottom part of the
further subsidiary package, and pulling away the bottom part
essentially sideways, whereby the food in this further subsidiary
package is caused to move vertically downwards over or next to the
food in the lower subsidiary package.
37. A method according to claim 35, further comprising: before
heating, removing one subsidiary package from a subjacent
subsidiary package, after heating of one or more of the
aforementioned subsidiary package, attaching the subsidiary package
removed in the previous step on top of the subjacent subsidiary
package, taking hold of a gripping device attached to the bottom
part of the superjacent subsidiary package, and pulling away all or
a part of the said bottom part essentially sideways, whereby the
food in this superjacent subsidiary package is caused to move
vertically downwards over or next to the food in the subjacent
subsidiary package.
38. A method according claim 28, wherein the removal step includes:
fully or partially melting all or a part of the bottom part by
heating.
39. A method for packing food in a container which comprise a lid
and a base, and which is so arranged as to be capable of holding
the food during the period for which the food is in a frozen or
chilled state and of using at least part of the package during the
period for which the content is heated, wherein the part of the 30
package on which the food in question is intended to rest during at
least the freezing process for the food in question, but preferably
also during storage in the frozen or chilled condition is drawn
away sideways, wherein the removable surface exposes the foodstuff
in question in the removed position, viewed from the bottom of the
food, and wherein the remaining part of the package is preferably
utilized to enclose the food during the period for which the food
is heated, on a serving surface.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a package comprising a
bottom part intended to receive food thereon, and a container part
where the said bottom part and the container part are intended to
enclose the said food.
[0002] There is an increasingly large demand for meals that are
simple to prepare and for which the preparation time is short.
Sales of convenience foods in particular are increasing, which is
sold in disposable packs and is either eaten directly or requires
only to be heated before it is ready to be consumed.
PRIOR ART
[0003] Previously disclosed disposable packs for convenience food
usually consist of a tray manufactured from cardboard, metal or a
plastic material with a thin, transparent plastic film which serves
as a lid. The majority of packs are manufactured with the intention
that the food will be heated before it is consumed. A plurality of
different methods of heating is available, although the most common
is for the food to be heated in a microwave oven, in a conventional
oven or by placing the package in hot water. The lid of the package
is removed either before or after heating. The meal can then be
eaten directly from the pack. The choice of materials can mean that
the packs become moist during heating and that the packs are
instable and limp and are accordingly not particularly suitable to
eat from. The presentation of the meal is also not to a
particularly high standard, because both paper and plastic plates
impart a cheap feeling that cannot be compared to that of plates
made of porcelain or other solid materials.
[0004] An alternative to eating directly from the package is to
transfer the prepared meal manually to a plate. However, a method
of this kind leads without exception to the contents of the package
becoming mixed together in an undesired fashion, as a consequence
of which the presentation of the meal is not as intended.
[0005] A common solution for keeping the various components of a
meal apart is to subdivide the package into different sections with
dividing walls. The disadvantage of this solution is, among other
things, that the edges of the sections make it difficult to eat
directly from the tray. The presentation of the meal is also
impaired in this case by the fact that the packs are manufactured
from a disposable material. Transferring the prepared meal to a
plate without mixing the constituent parts is easier than in the
case of an ordinary package that is not divided into sections,
although this still calls for time-consuming work input and an
impaired result. The presentation of the meal by this method
depends entirely on the person who transfers the meal to the
plate.
[0006] Other previously disclosed packs include the package
described in WO-A1-2004/045970, which is subdivided into sections
and provided with valves in order to ensure that the foods in the
various sections are not subjected to high heat at different
levels.
[0007] Previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,086 is a package
subdivided into sections where the pack, after heating, must be
inverted, whereby the lid must act as a plate.
[0008] Described in EP-A1-0,760,341 is a package intended to hold
the food until the time of its consumption, which comprises a
container and a closure. After the food has been heated, the
package is inverted and is positioned on a plate. The user then
pulls out the sides of the pack, whereby the seal breaks and the
contents of the container are transferred to the plate.
[0009] None of the aforementioned documents relates to a package
from which food can be transferred in a simple and smooth manner to
a plate or some other storage place for the food, without spoiling
the presentation of the food after it reaches the plate, or without
spending a lot of time and effort in order to achieve an
aesthetically pleasing arrangement.
[0010] The need accordingly exists for a package which solves,
among other things, the above-mentioned problems in a simple and
effective manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The aforementioned object is achieved by means of a package
according to the present invention, which is characterized
essentially in that the package is provided with means for holding
the bottom part and the container part together in a detachable
manner, and with means for entirely or partially separating the
said bottom part from the said container part by removing part or
all of the said bottom part, with the bottom part of the package
standing on a serving surface so that the food comes into contact
with the serving surface, whereby the aforementioned container part
is essentially retained in its position enclosing the said food.
The bottom part can thus be removed from the said container part,
whereby the food comes into contact with the serving surface
without the said container part having to be removed.
[0012] The invention also relates to a method for transferring food
from a pack, comprising a bottom part and a container part, to a
storage place, which is characterized in that it includes the steps
of: placing the package on top of the said storage or serving
surface, and removing the said bottom part fully or partially from
the said container part, whereby the food comes into contact with
the serving surface without the said container part having to be
removed.
[0013] Preferred or advantageous embodiments are set forth in the
characterizing parts of the associated subordinate Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0014] The invention is described below in a non-restrictive
fashion with reference to a number of preferred illustrative
embodiments, whereby reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, in which
[0015] FIG. 1 shows cross-sectional views of the packaging of food
and its transfer from the package to the plate,
[0016] FIG. 2 shows cross-sectional views of the heating of food in
a package and its transfer from the package to the plate,
[0017] FIG. 3 shows cross-sectional views of the transfer from the
package to the plate followed by heating of the food with the
bottom part of the package removed,
[0018] FIG. 4 shows how a container part is separated from a rigid
bottom part according to a preferred embodiment,
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a possible embodiment of a flexible bottom
part,
[0020] FIG. 6 shows how a flexible bottom part according to FIG. 5
can be removed from a container part,
[0021] FIG. 7 shows cross-sectional views of the transfer from a
package subdivided into compartments to a plate,
[0022] FIG. 8 shows schematic representations of packages
subdivided into compartments,
[0023] FIG. 9 shows how a number of different subsidiary packages
according to the invention can be set up next to one another and
their contents are then transferred to a plate,
[0024] FIG. 10 shows different schematic alternative arrangements
of subsidiary packs,
[0025] FIG. 11 shows examples of how different subsidiary packages
can be arranged over and above the intended combinations,
[0026] FIG. 12 shows a package of food situated at separate levels
and its transfer from the package to the plate,
[0027] FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of a package according to
FIG. 12,
[0028] FIG. 14 shows an exploded view of an alternative package
according to FIG. 12,
[0029] FIG. 15 shows different alternative polygonal embodiments of
packages,
[0030] FIG. 16 shows an alternative embodiment of a package in
which the bottom part remains attached to the container part after
the food has been transferred to a serving surface,
[0031] FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of a package
subdivided into compartments with a bottom part consisting of a
number of flexible parts, one for each compartment,
[0032] FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of a package with a
bottom part consisting of two flexible parts for the same
compartment,
[0033] FIG. 19 shows a package, in which the bottom part and the
container part of the package are rotatable in relation to one
another,
[0034] FIG. 20 shows a reusable package, and
[0035] FIG. 21, finally, shows a package in which the bottom part
of the package is so arranged as to melt during heating.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] A more detailed description of the respective Figures
follows below.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows, as the subsidiary steps 1a-1f, different
stages through which the food 1 according to the invention passes.
The food 1 is packaged according to FIGS. 1a-1b in a container 2
joined together with a removable bottom 4. A lid 3 according to
FIG. 1c is then applied so that these components 2-4 together form
the package 5, which contains the said food. The package is then
transferred to a serving surface 8, which can be a plate or some
other suitable serving surface, for example, according to 1d. The
food can then be presented on this serving surface before it is
consumed by removing the bottom 4 of the package 5. The bottom 4 is
removed by taking hold of a gripping device 6 attached to the
bottom 4 and by then pulling the said bottom 4 away 7 sideways
according to FIG. 1e, so that the food is placed on the serving
surface 8. After removal of the bottom 4, the container 2 with its
lid 3 can be lifted vertically from the serving surface 8 according
to FIG. 1f without affecting the presentation of the said food.
When the food is transferred from the package 5 to the separate
serving surface 8, the food is not moved vertically or horizontally
to any significant extent, which means that the food can be
presented on a serving surface 8 precisely in the manner intended
for the packaged food.
[0038] The bottom part of the package is thus preferably intended
to serve as a receptacle for the food situated on it at the time of
packaging and until the time at which the food will be heated or
consumed. By removing the bottom part fully or partially, the food
will come into contact with the serving surface without the
container part having to be removed. At the time of removal, the
bottom part of the package is in a position essentially parallel to
a serving surface. The bottom part is then preferably in a
horizontal position and is arranged against a serving surface,
which is preferably also arranged in a horizontal position. The
package preferably rests on the serving surface throughout the
entire procedure of removing the bottom part. A force is applied
with advantage to the container part in a direction opposite to the
direction in which the bottom part is pulled away 7 in order to
prevent movements in the lateral sense or the vertical sense of a
kind which could detract from the aesthetically pleasing
arrangement of the food. Gripping devices 6 can also be arranged on
the container part 2 in order to facilitate separation of the
bottom part. The container part thus does not essentially need to
be moved from its position in order to bring about the transfer of
the food to the serving surface. A certain lateral movement can be
performed, however, and in particular if the serving surface is
fully or essentially plane and does not exhibit any edges, it is
also conceivable for the container part to be capable of being
displaced in the lateral sense. The bottom part and the container
part must be displaced relative to one another, however. The
container part is preferably manufactured from cardboard, metal or
a plastic material.
[0039] FIG. 2 shows, as the subsidiary steps 2a-2d, a method
according to the invention for the purpose, after heating food 1 in
an oven 9 or the like, contained in the package 5, of transferring
the said food to a plate or some other suitable serving surface 8.
The food can then be presented on this plate or other serving
surface 8 before it is consumed by placing the package with the
food according to FIG. 2b on top of the serving surface 8, after
which the bottom 4 of the package is removed according to FIG. 2c,
so that the said food is placed on the plate 8 without the food
being moved vertically or horizontally to any significant extent,
and so that the container 2 with its lid 3 can be lifted vertically
from the plate 8 according to FIG. 2d without the presentation of
the said food being impaired. The advantages of this method are,
among other things, that the bottom part 4 does not need to be
folded and can be of rigid execution as a result, and that the food
is hot after heating and accordingly exhibits low friction at rest,
and as such slides easily from its base 4 and the container 2. The
package in this embodiment may preferably be provided with one or
more valves in order to avoid overpressure inside the package
during heating. The container part 2 and the lid 3 are manufactured
as a single piece in this embodiment, although it is naturally also
possible to make these in two separate pieces. The lid can also be
manufactured from a different material, for example a thin plastic
film, which affords the possibility of observing the presentation
of the food before use. The lid can also be embodied so that the
lid can be removed.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows, as the subsidiary steps 3a-3d, a method
according to the invention for the purpose, before heating food 1
contained in the package 5, of transferring the said food to a
plate or some other suitable serving surface 8. The food can then
be presented on this serving surface before it is consumed by
placing the package with the food according to FIG. 3a on top of
the serving surface, after which the bottom 4 of the package is
removed according to FIG. 3b, so that the said food is placed on
the serving service without the food being moved vertically or
horizontally. The food is then heated in an appropriate fashion,
for example in an oven 9 according to FIG. 3c and is removed from
the said oven, after which the container with its lid can be lifted
vertically from the plate 8 according to FIG. 3d without the
presentation of the said food being impaired in any way. The
circumstance can naturally arise in which those parts of the food
that have been in contact with the inside of the container 2 will
be distributed over the serving surface as the container is
removed. There is no need to provide the package with valves in
this embodiment, because no overpressure is generated. The bottom
part can be made flexible, on the other hand, to facilitate its
removal, or it may have a surface with low friction, for example
Teflon.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows an example of how a container part 2 can be
connected in a sealing fashion to a removable bottom part 4. A
strip-shaped or string-shaped device with an arbitrary cross
section, for example a cord 11 that is laid in the form of a loop,
provides an effective closure, and a seal 10 for the cord 11 is
also provided in order to seal the cord 11. Pulling 13 on the cord
11 causes the bottom 4 to be loosened from the container part 2,
whereby it is easy to remove 7 the bottom part 4 sideways from the
rest of the package. A loop 12 or some other gripping device is
preferably attached at one end of the cord. The aforementioned
strip-shaped device can have a cross section that is circular,
rectangular, oval, etc., or can be a thin, flat strip or string. It
need not be the cord 11 that joins the container 2 and the bottom 4
together, but this may be provided, for example, by an attachment
function on the container part or by some form of adhesive,
perforation or the like, which either accompanies the cord or
remains in place on the container part 2 after the cord has been
removed. Instead of a cord, it is possible to use sugar, a sugar
solution or some other edible substance, for example, which melts
when it is heated, to attach the bottom 4 and the container 2. This
characteristic is particularly applicable when the bottom part must
be removed after the food has been heated, for example in an oven
according to the embodiment described in FIG. 2.
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a package in which the bottom part 4 is
provided by a flexible material, for example a thin plastic
material. The bottom part in this embodiment is folded double with
a tab 14 which extends along the entire bottom 4 of the package in
order to enable the said bottom part to be removed in a simple and
smooth manner before or after the package is heated. Accordingly,
no additional seal between the container part and the bottom part
is required in this embodiment, and these are preferably held
together with the help of an adhesive. FIG. 5b shows the package
with the bottom part 4 facing upwards.
[0043] FIG. 6 shows, as the subsidiary steps 6a-6c, a package 5 in
which the bottom part 4 is folded double in the same way as in FIG.
5, and how the container part 2 with the associated tab 14 is
removed sideways by pulling on the gripping device 6.
[0044] FIG. 7 shows a package 105 with different compartments
105A-C. The different compartments are separated by walls
2.sup.1,2, when pulling away 7 the bottom 4 according to FIG. 7c,
the foods 101B and 101C in the different compartments are retained
in the desired positions thanks to the separating walls 2.sup.1,2
of the container part. By subdividing the package into containers
in this way, different parts of the food 1A-C can be placed in a
desired location on a serving surface 8, according to FIGS. 7d-e.
As illustrated in FIG. 17, each compartment can also be attached to
a separate part of the bottom part, which only constitutes the
bottom of the specific compartment. In this way, a user can choose
only to transfer selected parts of the content of a package onto a
serving surface.
[0045] FIG. 8 shows different schematic variants of the subdivision
of packages 205 into compartments. The number of compartments
205A-C, separated by walls 2.sup.1,2,3, is arbitrary and can vary
from a single compartment in the basic embodiment up to ten or more
different compartments, if desired. Illustrated in
[0046] FIG. 8d, for example, is an embodiment with a cheese board,
which requires a large number of compartments in order to achieve a
desired presentation.
[0047] FIG. 9 shows how different subsidiary packages 305A-C can be
handled and set up to form a common package 305 containing
different dishes 1A-C, which together form a complete meal, and
which are received on a common serving surface 8. The bottom parts
4A-C of the schematic example of subsidiary packages 305A-C are
pulled away sideways 7A-C according to FIG. 9b, for example in an
oven 9, before, after or without heating. The upper parts 2A-C,
3A-C of the package 305 are then removed, after which the meal can
be presented with the contents 1A-C of the different subsidiary
packages 305A-C in the desired location on the serving surface 8
according to FIG. 9d.
[0048] FIGS. 10a-10e show different schematic alternatives of the
embodiment of subsidiary packs 305D-F that have been placed
adjacent to one another and thereby form a common package 305
containing a complete meal. In this way, the user can choose for
himself/herself the components of his meal by combining different
subsidiary packages with the desired content.
[0049] FIG. 11 shows that it is also possible for the user to
combine and, according to the method described in FIG. 9, to use a
number of subsidiary packages 305A-B, which, when placed adjacent
to one another, do not form a package 305 with a circular, oval,
superelliptical or polygonal outer edge.
[0050] FIGS. 12-14 show examples of foods 1A-B situated at separate
levels. For example, a sauce 1B can be contained in an upper
package 405B, while other food 1A is contained in a lower package
405A. The different subsidiary packages 405A-B can be manufactured
from different thermally insulating or heat-transmitting materials
depending on the degree to which it is wished for the contents of
the various subsidiary packages to be heated. A subsidiary package
which contains a sauce that must be cold, for example, may be
manufactured from a thermally insulating material, for example,
whereas a subsidiary package which contains food that must be
heated is manufactured from a heat-transmitting material.
[0051] As can be appreciated from the various subordinate stages
12a-12e, the entire package 405 consisting of the subsidiary
packages 405A-B is placed on a common serving surface 8. Before or
after the package and its contents are heated in an oven or similar
9, the lower bottom 4A is appropriately pulled away 7A, whereupon
the contents of the lower package 405A end up on the plate 8.
Subsequently, the upper bottom part 4B is pulled away so that hot
or cold sauce 1B or some other form of food runs down or flows down
over or next to the subjacent hot food 1A located on the plate 8.
The pile of container parts 2A-B and their associated lids 3A-B is
then removed. More levels than the two levels illustrated here are
naturally possible. These can be situated directly above one
another or can be displaced laterally in relation one another.
[0052] The packages 405A-B can be manufactured as a single piece or
can be formed with the help of two or more separate packages that
can be combined together. If the package is manufactured in single
piece, the subsidiary packages are separated only by the bottom
part 4B of the upper subsidiary package 405B. If it is formed with
the help of two separate packages that have been combined, the
bottom part 4B of the upper subsidiary package 405B must be adapted
in respect of its size to a hole 15 in the subjacent upper part 3A'
according to FIG. 13a, which is covered by a detachable upper part
of the lower subsidiary package 405A. In this embodiment, both the
upper part of the lower subsidiary package 405A and the bottom part
4B of the upper subsidiary package 405B must be removed in order to
cause the contents of the various subsidiary packages to come into
contact with one another. Either the upper part of the lower
subsidiary package 405A is removed before the upper subsidiary
package 405B is connected to the lower subsidiary package 405A, or
the upper part and the bottom part are removed simultaneously.
[0053] In an alternative embodiment, one or more bottom parts 4 of
subsidiary packages can consist of an edible layer which melts when
it is heated up. The layer preferably melts once a desired level of
heat has been achieved in the subsidiary package or in an adjacent
subsidiary package. For example, the layer may be constructed in
such a way that it melts precisely when the contents of a subjacent
subsidiary package have been heated to such an extent that the
content is cooked and ready to eat, and the contents of a
superjacent package then drop down over the contents of the
subjacent subsidiary package. This can be achieved by selecting
layers having a thickness and a material that are adapted for the
preparation time of the contents of the subjacent subsidiary
package. If the bottom part that is so arranged as to rest on the
serving surface 8 consists of a meltable layer, see also FIG. 21,
this should be protected from the surroundings during the period of
storage of the package by some form of protective layer, for
example a plastic film or similar, in conjunction with the meltable
layer, which can then be removed from the package before heating or
transferring the food. This protective layer can with advantage
also consist of or can be supplemented by a hard material, which
also protects the meltable layer from impacts and the like. The
meltable layer is preferably tasteless and edible, and is so
arranged as to be dissolved in its entirety when the layer is
heated. In this embodiment, the bottom part is held together with
the container part by the fact that the constitution of the bottom
part causes the bottom part to be attached to the container part,
or alternatively thanks to the presence of a removable device 11 or
an adhesive.
[0054] FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of the stacked package 405
described in FIG. 12. An upper part 3A' of the subjacent container
405A exhibits an appropriate hole or an opening 15 in order to
permit superjacent food 1B to pass through the said hole 15 in
conjunction with the removal of the bottom 4B of a superjacent
package 405B. Gripping devices 6A-B are so arranged as to project
for a short distance from the rest of the package in order to be
readily accessible. The gripping devices preferably consist of a
tab of a convenient size for gripping. As an alternative, the
gripping device can extend around the entire package or parts
thereof. The gripping device can be embodied as a ring or a ball or
can be of some other appropriate construction.
[0055] FIG. 14 shows an exploded view of a package 505 in two
planes consisting of subsidiary packages 505A-B, in which smaller
internal containers 23.sup.2-3 in the subsidiary package 505B are
received and secured between an outer container 2B and an inner
wall 2B'. The function of this is similar to that described in
FIGS. 12-13. If the food in the upper subsidiary package 505B
consists of a liquid substance, the mechanism or the means that
opens the bottom part 4B of the upper subsidiary package can also
be a zip fastener arrangement or similar.
[0056] FIG. 15 shows different alternative polygonal embodiments of
the package 605.
[0057] FIG. 16 shows, as the subsidiary steps 16a-16d, a method
according to the invention for the purpose, before, after, during
or without heating of the food 1 contained in the package 5, of
transferring the said food to a plate or some other appropriate
serving surface 8, essentially in the same way as in
[0058] FIGS. 1,2,3 and 6. The only difference is that the bottom
part 4 is not removed in its entirety from its attachment to the
periphery of the under side of the container part 2. The bottom
part thus does not require to be separated in its entirety from the
container, but only to such an extent that a desired quantity of
the food comes into contact with the subjacent serving surface. In
this way, the whole package can be disposed of in its entirety
after the food has been transferred from the package to the serving
surface. For example, that part of the bottom part 4 that is
intended to remain on the container part 2, including after the
package has been used, can be provided with stronger adhesive or a
larger quantity of adhesive in order to prevent removal of the
whole of the bottom part. It is also possible to envisage that the
said part is securely glued or welded to the container part.
[0059] FIG. 17 shows a package in which the bottom part 4 consists
of two or more parts that are folded double. The subsidiary steps
17a-17e show how a part 1B of the food 1 in the package 705 is
transferred to a serving surface 8. The bottom part in this
embodiment is folded double in the same way as in FIGS. 5 and 6,
for example, with the difference that the bottom part 4 consists of
several different double-folded parts 4A-B. On the under side of
the package, the different parts can be attached to one another
along a line or at a given point. The different parts also need not
be attached to one another on the under side, but can instead be
connected to, for example, the under side of a wall 2.sup.1 which
divides the package into different compartments. However, the
attachment or the connection preferably takes the form of
perforations along the one or more lines where the part that is to
be removed from the package is folded double, that is to say where
it is transformed from being a part on which the food is stored
into a tab 14 which never needs to come into contact with the food.
If necessary, the said connection between the different parts of
the bottom part, or between the bottom part and the container part,
can be in the form of a cord or similar, which must be removed
before the parts can be separated. It is also possible to design a
package consisting of a number of compartments in such a way that
the bottom parts of certain compartments are manufactured from a
flexible material, while the bottom parts of other compartments are
manufactured from a rigid material, a meltable material or a
rotatable and rigid material.
[0060] FIG. 18 shows a package 805 in which the bottom part 4
consists of two or more flexible parts that are folded double. The
subsidiary steps 18a-18e show how the food 1 in the package is
transferred to a serving surface 8. A tab 14A or similar belonging
to a part 4A of the bottom part 4 extends around the edges and the
lid of the package in order to converge on the upper side of the
package with other tabs 14B belonging to other parts 4B of the
bottom part 4, forming gripping devices 6A-B. The flaps 14A-B
preferably meet at a centrally located point on the upper side of
the package. For example, the tabs can sit securely in a loop in
order to facilitate the pulling away of the bottom part. The
attachment between the different parts of the bottom part can,
precisely as in FIG. 17, be in the form of sections of
perforations, removable string-shaped or strip-shaped devices, some
uniting edible substance which melts in conjunction with heating,
or else the different parts can be attached to the under side of a
wall that divides the package into different compartments. The
method of removing a bottom part 4 is performed by taking hold of
the gripping devices 6A-B that are present on the upper side of the
package and drawing these upwards in the vertical sense. The
different parts of the bottom part 4 will then be displaced
laterally 7A-B on the under side of the package, whereby the food
will be placed on a serving surface 8 under the package 1. The
package is raised in steps 18d and 18e and is separated from the
food and the serving surface. The bottom parts 4A-B can either be
left in place at this point on a part of the container part 2 or
can be removed from it.
[0061] FIG. 19 shows, as the subsidiary steps 19a-19c, an
alternative method according to the invention for the purpose of
transferring food from a package 905 to a serving surface 8. In
this embodiment, the bottom part 4 and the container part 2 of the
package are rotatable in relation to one another. The bottom part 4
is rotatably attached to a device 16 that is connected to the
container part 2. By taking hold of a gripping device 6 arranged on
the bottom part, this can be drawn sideways 7 according to stage
19b, whereby the bottom part can rotate about the attachment point
of the device to the container part, and the food that is present
inside the package can, according to stage 19c, be transferred to a
serving surface 8. The device 16 is preferably arranged
perpendicularly in relation to the bottom part. The package can
also be subdivided into compartments and can consist of a plurality
of devices 16 attached to different parts of the bottom part, so
that only the food that is present in a particular compartment, for
example, is transferred to the serving surface when the bottom part
4 rotates about the device 16. This embodiment can be combined with
advantage with a string-shaped or strip-shaped device 11, which
facilitates the separation between the container and the bottom as
shown in FIG. 4.
[0062] FIG. 20 shows an alternative package 1005 according to the
present invention. The subsidiary steps 20a-20h shows an example of
how the package can be used for the transfer of food 1 to a serving
surface 8. The bottom part is fitted underneath in the package, as
shown in steps 20a-c. In order to facilitate fitting and removal of
the bottom part, it is preferably arranged in grooves 17 that are
arranged internally in the sides of the container part 2, and are
preferably situated as low as possible. The grooves can consist of
rectangular depressions, for example. The bottom part should be
manufactured from a rigid material so that it can be pulled along
the groove without any problem for the whole of its length. Some
form of sealing device should be present between the bottom part
and the container part to ensure that the package is sealed
tightly. Steps 20d-f show how the food is arranged on the upper
surface of the bottom part with a positioning of the food which
conforms to the desired final appearance that the meal must possess
on the serving surface before it is consumed. A lid 3 can be
applied on the edges of the container part, whereby the package is
ready to be transported to a serving surface for presentation or
heated for subsequent transport. Steps 20g-h show how the bottom
part is removed and the food is transferred to the base before
proceeding to remove the container part and the lid, if it is still
present. In order to prevent overpressure and to facilitate the
subsequent removal of the bottom part, the lid should be removed if
the food is intended to be transferred to the serving surface after
heating. The parts of the package can possibly be cleaned after use
ready for subsequent reuse, or they can be sent for recycling. The
package in accordance with this embodiment is particularly suitable
for those occasions on which a meal needs to be transported before
it is consumed and it is wished to retain the aesthetic appearance
of the meal.
[0063] The above-mentioned grooves can also be arranged on the
outside of the container part. The bottom part in this case must,
on two opposing sides, extend around the bottom edges of the
container part in order to engage in the external grooves, which
may either be in the form of protuberances or depressions on the
edges. In the event that the package will be reused, this
embodiment is easier to keep clean than the embodiment with the
internal grooves. The grooves are longitudinal with advantage,
although they can also be in the form of supporting points arranged
at a distance from one another.
[0064] FIG. 21, finally, shows a package according to an
alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, in
which the bottom part of the package is so arranged as to melt
during heating. Step 21a shows how the package 5 with a bottom part
4 made from a meltable material have been placed in an oven 9
together with a serving surface 8. In step 21b, the package has
been heated, whereby the bottom part 4 has melted and the food 1 is
in direct contact with the serving surface. In step 21c, the
container part 2 with the lid 3 is removed vertically, whereby the
food is ready to be consumed.
[0065] According to a further alternative embodiment, it is
possible to envisage that the entire package consists of an edible
material which melts when heated.
[0066] The invention is naturally not restricted to the embodiments
described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Modifications are possible, in particular with regard to the nature
of the various parts, or by the use of equivalent technology, but
without departing from the area of protection afforded to the
invention, as defined in the Patent Claims.
* * * * *