WO2003068630A1

WO2003068630A1 - A mould protecting a food cupu and food cup's protection methods

Info

Publication number: WO2003068630A1
Application number: PCT/PL2003/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Borowiecki; Robert Dymkowski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-24
Filing date: 2003-01-15
Publication date: 2003-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2004-07-24
Also published as: PL351849A1; AU2003217082A1; PL200282B1

Abstract

The moulding is a thin-wall jacket (1) having an open base and open top of a shape mating at least with a part of the upper side surface (2a) of the cup and full lower surface of the cup flange (2b). It consists of multilateral and/or radially curved side surface, its interior dimensions being equal/bigger than the external dimensions of the cup side surface (2a) and a flange (1b) attached as a whole to the said side surface (1a), having circumference bigger than perimeter of the cup flange (2b). The method of protection lies in that a mould is placed on the cup from below and attached to the cup flange by welding.

Description

HERMETIC SEAL FOR A FOOD CONTAINER

This invention deals with a mould protecting a food cup and with the methods of food cup's protection. It is understood that a food cup serves as a unit package for food products of liquid consistence which are intended for direct pouring out, in particular for drinking from a cup as a single use utensil. In particular, it relates to milk-like products such as kefir, buttermilk, cream, yoghurt, curdled milk, milk beverages etc.

A plastic food container resembling a flat box or cup is commonly known as a food box, container or a food cup. They are small-size packages, mostly of basic weight ca 500 g or volume capacity 500 ml. In closed operating conditions they consist of what follows: a) own body, b) at least one element covering an open upper base of the body which serves as an outlet.

The own body consists of the bottom consituting a lower base in the polygon and/or closed curve project; of one or multilateral side surface radially curved or having different narrowings, connected in onw whole with the bottom; of a flange surrounding an open upper base, protruding beyond an outline of side surface at the outlet. The body is usually shaped in form of a rectangular and/ or trapezoidally inverted polygon, or in form of a rolled or inverted conoidally- truncated cylinder or it is a combination of both a polygon and cylinder. Those packages of which the height of side surface is smaller than a diameter or width of an open upper base are called boxes or just containers. Those with the height of side surface being equal /bigger than a diameter or width of an outlet - are called cups. As a rule, it relates to consistence of a foodstuff (fluid, loose, oiling or gelatine) and an assumed method of taking the stuff out from the package: directly (by pouring out or drinking from a container) or by means of cutlery or fingers.

There are two kinds of closing elements and three methods of closing an open upper base of the body of both the food boxes or cups with the use of the said elements. The first element is a foil jacket being a thin- layer coat mostly made of metal of modified plastic, attached over the outlet of an upper base and on the upper surface of the flange to which it is fixed by welding. The other element is a clamp cover mostly made of plastic, consisting of a top and low side surface, profiled to mate with a cup flange as a catch- resistant edge facilitating stepped placing on and "below the flange and being resistant to the movement up. The first method of closing a cup lies in fixing a foil jacket (its welding) to the upper surface of a flange; the other method is based on stepped placing of a cover until it is in a slightly narrowed position below the cup flange; the third method means combination of the two aforementioned modes, ie. first, covering with a foil jacket and then with a clamp cover.

The aforementioned closing elements and the methods of closing of food packages called cups filled with fluid substance (liquid, half-liquid) imply double risk:

1) the area at the outlet may be infected,

2) both the product and a consumer's mouth will get into touch with the said area.

A foil jacket protects only the upper surface of the flange. A clamp cover protects tightly only side surface of the flange, the remainder being covered curtain-like, with a certain distance, usually ca 10 mm of side surface below the flange. It is but insufficient from an anatomic point of view if one takes into account natural vertical spacing of the consumer's mouth while drinking. Furthermore, lateral distance of the cover does not protect either side surface or lower surface of the flange against potential infection generated by such carriers as eg. human hands, insects, rodents, saprophytes, droplet secretion etc. There are at least two situations where a consumer of a product may touch the cup's surface which might have been infected. It is where the consumer drinks a product directly from the cup touching its edge and the bottom of the flange, sometimes even side surface below the flange. The other is a case where the consumer pours the product from the cup eg. into a glass or onto any meal. It often happens that a stream of liquid or fluid mass flows along the rim of a plate (it is not seldom it flows on side surface which makes one lick or wipe the remnants of the products with one's fingers). None of the foregoing instances may be excluded. Drinking straight from the cup is very comfortable eg. in tourist conditions; besides, it does not cause any loss of a product while pouring into another utensil where ususally a portion of a product may remain in the cups.

Risk of infection accompanies also pouring of a product into other utensils. It is only consumption by means of a spoon or straw which makes it completely safe though not comfortable. On the other hand, it would require the producer to provide for such cups the referred to accessories.

The present invention is aimed at protecting of cups and the users of products which have been confectioned therein - against risk of infection without any Jieed to provide for ancillary items to be attached to the cups.

The essence of this invention is a mould protecting a food cup. It is a thin-layer coat with an open upper base and a lower base maping at least upper side surface of the cup and complete lower surface of the cup flange. The mould consists of a multilateral or radially curved side surface; its interior dimensions are equal /bigger than the external dimensions of both side surface of the cup and a linear or profiled flange (attached to the said side surface at an angle or a degree or contact arc), having circumpherence bigger than perimiter of the cup flange. Side surface has differentiated height beneficially near the lower edge or it has thickened section of a material from outside, flat- shaped or in form of bead. Beneficially near the lower edge, side surface has narrowing at a degree or contact arc or bend at an angle. In its side section, the flange is beneficially a straight line segment or a segment of radial convex-up line. The flange is beneficially in its side section a Z-profile of inside height between the degrees being at least equal to the thickness of the cup flange and of upper surface of upper degree lying in the plane not lower than the plane of upper surface of the cup flange. The flange is beneficially in its side section a channel profile of inside height between the arms being at least equal to the outside peripheral thickness of the cup flange , with a perimeter of an upper arm narrower inside than perimeter of a lower arm and-with lower surface of the upper arm lying equal to or higher than the plane of upper surface of at least full outline of the cup flange. The channel -profile flange has beneficially the incision in the upper arm, vertical to the surface and crosswise to the flange perimeter.

The essence of this invention as regards protection of a food cup lies in mating of a foil coat and/ or a clamp cover with a mould protecting at least the upper side surface of a cup and the entire lower surface of the cup flange. It proceeds as follows: the mould is placed on the cup from below until resistant contact of an upper surface of the mould flange with a lower surface of the cup flange is attained or - until resistant step of the upper surface of a profiled flange of the mould is stated at least above the upper surface of the cup flange. Next, the mould is attached to the cup flange by welding or gluing of a foil coat and/ or by means of after- step clamp of a profiled flange of the mould. The mould may also be attached from outside by after-step clamp of the cover, closing the cup from above by itself or additionally. The mould with a lined or Z- profile flange placed on the cup prior to closing it by means of a foil coat may be attached beneficially only by a fixing weld of a coat mounted at the same time to the upper surface of a flange of the mould and that of the cup. The mould with a channel- profile flange, placed on the cup prior to its closing by a foil coat is beneficially attached first by an after-step clamp of its flange on the cup flange, and afterwards, by a fixing weld of a foil coat which is concurrently attached to the arm of the upper flange of the mould and to an open upper part of the cup flange. The mould with a channel- profile flange is placed beneficially upon closing the cup with a foil coat and attached only by an after-step clamp of its flange on the cup flange. Thus positioned mould which has been attached to the cup welded to a foil coat may be covered beneficially by a clamp cover -placed from above and attached on the lower surface of the mould flange by an after-step of its own profile. The mould with a channel- profile flange is beneficially placed on the cup prior to its closing by a clamp cover itself and attached first by an after-step clamp of its own flange on the cup flange on which a clamp cover is placed from above and attached to the lower surface of the mould flange by an after-step clamp of its own profile.

The object of this invention is shown in operating conditions with a protecting mould presented in a few versions of placing on the food cup and attached by means of the referred to methods. Respective drawings illustrate exemplary use of the mould in a schematic arrangement, in a vertical section and partly in a longitudinal section. In one case a detail is shown in a top view. In all the demonstrated examples a cup is in form of an inverted truncated cone with the bottom closing a^" lower base in the plane of truncation and with an open upper base rimmed by a protruding flange. In one situation it is a cone with side surface narrowed by a degree. Fig. 1 demonstrates a mould with a lined flange covered by a foil coat bent on the periphery. Fig. 2 shows a detail A from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 exemplifies a mould with Z- flange covered by a similar foil coat. Fig. 4 shows a detail B from Fig. 3. Fig. 5 presents a ^"mould with a channel flange in a version with a foil coat to cover the cup after the mould has been placed on the cup. Fig. 6 shows a detail C from Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an overview of a detail of the mould flange from Fig. 6. Fig. 8 exemplifies a mould with a channel flange in a version with a foil coat covering the cup prior to placing the mould on the cup. Fig. 9 demonstrates a detail D from Fig. 8. Fig. 10 shows a cup and a mould having side surfaces with a degree. Fig. 11 presents a method of closing the cup with a mould with an additional cover thereon.

Fig. 1 & 2 show a protecting mould \ as an inverted cone- truncated sleeve with side surface la maping an upper part of side surface 2a of a food cup and rimmed on the top with a flat^' flange lb-1 and a bead /shoulder/ γ_ with a wavy lower edge. Prior to or upon filling the cup 2 with a liquid product, the mould 1 is placed on the cup 2 from below and it adjoins an appropriate part of side surface 2a and the lower surface of the cup flange 2b_. Afterwards, it is placed along the perimeter by welding (weld S ), connecting a foil coat Q by two lines, one line with the cup flange 2b_and the other line with a broader flange of the mould 1 b. Thus, while mating with the mould }_^_ in operating conditions, a foil coat Q - whether welded or glued - at the same time closes an open upper base of the cup 2 as well as an element fixing the mould _1 which has been placed on the cup 2_ A wavy lower edge γ_ absorbs clamp stresses and signals positioning of the mould L Bead γ of this segment serves as a hand grip. The cup 2 is opened by detaching a foil coat Q from welds S_ and then sliding it down and taking the mould \ away from the cup 2. The actions of closing and protection are closely interrelated while the cup is closed and opened which gives an absolute protection of the cup surface and its infrangibility. Fig. 3 &Fig. 4 show the- solutions which differ from the foregoing description only in that the mould flange lb is Z- profiled lb-2 . It causes that upon placing the mould i on the cup 2_ the cup flange 2b is socket-seated in the mould flange lb-2, clasping the cup flange at the bottom and on the side. Owing to it, the cup 2 may^" be closed and the mould i fixed by a foil coat Q placed flat without folding it on the rim as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 which protects the foil against impairment when folded. Figs. 5 & 6 show the solution with a channel-profiled lb-3 flange 1 b of a mould. It causes that the mould placed on the cup from below and passing the upper arm of Jhe channel flange lb-3 of the mould above and on the upper surface of the cup flange 2b , is attached to the cup mechanically. Next step is to weld a foil coat Q on the_cup flange 2b , on a part of its open upper surface and on the upper arm of the mould flange lb-3. Fig. 7 is an overview of an incision X_ of an upper arm of the channel mould lb-3 which enables its stepped placing above the cup flange 2b. -The solution illustrated in Figs. 8 & 9 differs from the one shown in Figs. 5 & 6 only in that the cup flange 2b is first closed by a foil coat Q_ fixed by welds S to the upper surface of the cup flange 2b which is typical for the methods of closing. Then, the mould is placed from below of the cup and fixed mechanically (after stepped placing) with its lower surface of the upper arm of its flange lb-3 to upper surface of the mould flange 2b covered with a foil coat Q.

Fig. 10 shows the solution dealing with a shape of the cup having side surface narrowed by a degree. In this example, the mould has analogical Z- profile which ensures sealing of side surface from below against any dust or gas infection. This solution may be applied in each variant of a mould and in each method of closing the cup.

Fig 11 shows the solution illustrated in Figs. 3 & 4, ie. with the mould having a Z- profile flange. Such the mould is placed on the cup and immediately connected with a foil coat. The cup and the mould are covered by a clamp cover V as an additional closing which requires its removal while opening the cup.

Claims

C L A IM S

1. A mould protecting a food cup with the bottom connected with multilateral and/ or radially curved side surface, finished with a flange protruding beyond an outline of an open upper base is distinctive to an extent it is a thin- wall coat (Y) with an open lower base and an upper base, of a shape maping at least a part of the upper side surface (2a) of the cup and full lower surface of the cup flange (2b); it consists of multilateral and/ or radially curved side surface, its interior dimensions being equal/ bigger than the external dimensions of the cup side surface (2a) a and linear or profiled flange (lb) (attached as a whole to the said side surface (la) at an angle or a degree or contact arc), having circumpherence bigger than perimeter of the cup flange

(2b).

2. A protecting mould as per Claim 1 is distinctive by its side surface (la) having differentiated height beneficially near the lower edge or it has also thickened section of a material , flat - shaped γ_ or in form of bead.

3. A protecting mould as per Claim 1 or 2 is distinctive with its side surface (La) having narrowing (Z) beneficially near the lower edge in form of a degree or contact arc or bend at an angle.

4. A protecting mould as per Claim 1 or 2 or 3 is distinctive by its flange (lb) being beneficially in its side section a straight line segment or a segment of radial convex-up line.

5. A protecting mould as per Claim 1 or 2 or 3 is distinctive by its flange (lb) being beneficially in its side section a Z-profile (lb-2) of inside height between the degrees being at least equal to the thickness of the cup flange (2b) and of upper surface of upper degree lying in the plane not lower than the plane of upper surface of the cup flange (2b).

6. A protecting mould as per Claim 1 or 2 or 3 is distinctive by its flange (Lb) being beneficially in its side section a channel- profile (lb-3) of inside height between the arms being at least equal to the outside peripheral thickness of the cup flange (2b) , with a perimeter of an upper arm narrower inside than perimeter of a lower arm and with lower surface of the upper arm lying equal to or higher thari the plane of upper surface of at least full outline of the cup flange (2b).

-7. A protecting mould as per Claim 6 is distinctive by its flange (lb-3) having beneficially the incision (X) in the upper arm, vertical to the surface and crosswise to the flange perimeter (lb-3).

8. The method of protecting a food cup with a mating flange after it has been filled and closed with a foil coat attached to the upper surface of the flange and/ or with a clamp cover placed from above on or below the rim of the flange is distinctive to an extent the method s executed by mating of a foil coat (Q) and or a clamp cover (V) with a mould I) protecting at least upper part of side surface (2a) of the cup and full lower surface of the cup flange (2b) lying in that the mould (J is placed on the cup (2) from below until resistant contact of an upper surface of^" the mould flange (lb) with lower surface of the cup flange (2b) is attained or - until resistant step of the upper surface of a profiled flange of the mould (lb) is stated at least above upper surface of the cup flange (2b) and that the mould is attached to the cup flange (2b) by welded or glued weld (S) of a foil coat (Q) and/ or by means of after-step clamp of a profiled flange of the mould (lb) and possibly attached from outside by after-step clamp of the cover closing the cup (2) from above, by itself or additionally.

9. The method of protecting a food cup as per Claim 8 is distinctive to an extent that the mould £]_} with a linear flange (lb-1) or Z- profile flange (lb-2) placed on the cup (2) prior to closing it by means of a foil coat (Q) may be attached beneficially only by a fixing weld (S) of a coat (Q) mounted at the same time to upper surface of a flange of the mould (lb-1 or lb-2) and the cup flange (2b).

10. The method of protecting a food cup as per Claim 8 is distinctive to an extent that the mould (1) with a channel- profile flange (lb-3), placed on the cup (2) prior to its closing by a foil coat (Q) is beneficially attached first by an after^step clamp of its flange (lb-3) on the cup flange (2b) , and afterwards, by a fixing weld of a foil coat (Q which is concurrently attached to the arm of the upper flange (lb-3) of the mould and to an open upper part of the^" cup flange (2b).

11. The method of protecting a food cup as per Claim 8 is distinctive to an extent that the mould (L) with a channel- profile flange (lb-3), is beneficially placed on the cup (2) upon closing the cup with a foil coat (Q) and attached only by an after-step clamp of its flange (lb-3) on the cup flange (2b).

12. The method of protecting a food cup as per Claim 9 or 10 or 11 is distinctive to an extent that the clamp cover (V) is beneficially placed on the mould (1) already placed on the cup (2) closed by a foil coat (Q) . The clamp cover is placed addtionally from above and mounted on the lower surface of the flange (lb-1 or lb-2 or lb-3) by after-step clamp of its own profile.

13. The method of protecting a food cup as per Claim 8 is distinctive to an extent that the mould (I) with a channel- profile flange (lb-3) is beneficially placed on the cup (2) prior to its closing by a clamp cover (V) and attached first by an after-step clamp of its own flange (lb-3) on the cup flange (2) on which a clamp cover (V) is placed from above and attached to lower surface of the mould flange (lb-3) by an after-step clamp of its own profile.