JP7851143B2 - packaging containers - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging container.

Traditionally, packaging containers for food products such as meat and fish have been used in supermarkets, convenience stores, and other similar establishments.

Consumers often remove food from its packaging at home after purchase, portion it into other containers, and store it. However, portioning food into separate containers is time-consuming. Therefore, there was a desire to divide the packaging container itself and use the divided containers as separate containers for portioning food. The packaging container in Reference 1 has a partition (rib) that rises from the bottom, and the container can be broken at a notch in the partition (rib). However, in the packaging container in Reference 1, although the notch serves as the starting point for breaking, it does not allow for reliable and easy breaking of the partition.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-207923

Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a packaging container that allows for reliable and easy repackaging.

To solve the above problems, the packaging container according to claim 1 of the present invention is a packaging container having a bottom surface and a partition rising from the bottom surface, wherein a perforation is provided at the upper end of the partition, a notch is provided at the end of the partition, and the end of the perforation stops in front of the notch .

According to the above features, the notch serves as the starting point for the packaging container to be torn along the perforations, allowing for easy division of the packaging container into two halves along the perforations, starting from the notch. In this way, the packaging container can be reliably and easily divided into smaller containers.

Furthermore, the packaging container according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that the notched portion is provided with reinforcing ribs.

Based on the above characteristics, the packaging container maintains sufficient strength for normal use, as it is reinforced with reinforcing ribs, preventing the perforations from being accidentally torn.

The packaging container of the present invention allows for reliable and easy portioning.

This is an overall perspective view of the packaging container of the present invention. (a) is a plan view of the packaging container, and (b) is a side view of the packaging container. (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 2(a), (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 2(a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 2(a).

100 Packaging container 110 Bottom 140 Divider 141 Top edge 145 Notch 150 Perforation

The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this specification, "upward" refers to the direction upward in the vertical direction when the packaging container is placed on a horizontal surface with its opening facing upwards, "downward" refers to the direction downward in the vertical direction, and "sideways" refers to the direction horizontally.

First, Figures 1 to 3 show the packaging container 100 of the present invention. Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of the packaging container 100, Figure 2(a) is a plan view of the packaging container 100, Figure 2(b) is a side view of the packaging container 100, Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 2(a), Figure 3(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 2(a), and Figure 3(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 2(a).

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the packaging container 100 has a shallow, dish-shaped opening at the top, and comprises a flat bottom surface 110 that is approximately rectangular in plan view, side walls 120 extending diagonally upward from the outer circumference 111 of the bottom surface 110, and flanges 130 extending laterally from the upper end of the side walls 120.

Furthermore, the packaging container 100 is equipped with a partition 140 formed to protrude upward from the bottom surface 110. This partition 140 has partition surfaces 143 that slope from the upper end 141 towards the lower ends 142 on both sides. As shown in Figure 3(b), the cross-sectional shape of the partition 140 is roughly V-shaped, widening from the upper end 141 to the lower end 142. The partition 140 also extends linearly toward the side walls 120 on both sides.

Notches 145 are formed at both ends 144 of the partition 140, recessed downwards from the ends 144. Although notches 145 are formed on both sides of the partition 140, the lower end 142 of the partition 140 near the notches 145 is connected to the adjacent side wall 120. Furthermore, reinforcing ribs 146 are formed in the notches 145, extending linearly along the extension direction of the partition 140. These reinforcing ribs 146 extend from the side wall 120 toward the upper end 141 of the partition 140, and serve to reinforce the ends 144 of the partition 140 around the notches 145.

The notches 145 are provided at both ends 144 of the partition 140, but are not limited to this; the notches 145 may be provided at only one end 144. Furthermore, the reinforcing ribs 146 are formed in an upwardly convex shape, but are not limited to this; any shape, such as a concave shape, may be used as long as it can reinforce the end 144 of the partition 140 around the notches 145. Also, the reinforcing ribs 146 are formed in a straight, elongated shape from the side wall 120 to the upper end 141 of the partition 140 in a plan view, but are not limited to this; any shape, such as a wave shape or a cross shape, and of any length may be used as long as it can reinforce the end 144 of the partition 140 around the notches 145.

Furthermore, a linear perforation 150 is provided at the upper end 141 of the partition 140, along the direction of extension of the partition 140. Since both ends 151 of this perforation 150 stop before the notch 145, the perforation 150 is not present in the notch 145. On the other hand, a reinforcing rib 146 is provided in the notch 145, and in a plan view, the perforation 150 and the reinforcing rib 146 are aligned in a linear fashion.

As shown in Figures 2(b) and 3(b), the bottom surface 110 of the packaging container 100 is separated to the left and right by the partition 140. However, both bottom surfaces 110 are connected to each other by the ends 144 of the partition 140 and the adjacent side walls 120. Therefore, the entire bottom surface 110 of the packaging container 100 is reinforced, and even when food is placed on the bottom surface 110, the bottom surfaces 110 on both sides will not bend or flex unintentionally.

Furthermore, although one perforation 150 is provided at the upper end 141 of the partition 140, the design is not limited to this, and any number of perforations may be provided, such as two at any position. Also, although one partition 140 with perforations 150 is provided, and the packaging container 100 is divided into two sections on both sides as described later, the design is not limited to this, and two or more partitions 140 with perforations 150 may be provided, dividing the packaging container 100 into three or more sections by the perforations 150.

Furthermore, while the perforations 150 are provided in a straight line and continuously, they are not limited to this; they may also be curved or intermittently provided. By providing the perforations 150 at the upper end 141 of the partition 140, the perforated portion becomes weaker against stress, allowing the partition 140 to be effectively folded and divided into left and right halves. The term "perforation" refers to a portion of the partition 140 where the thickness is reduced or through holes are continuously formed at predetermined intervals.

Although the packaging container 100 is approximately rectangular in plan view, it is not limited to this shape; the packaging container 100 can be any shape, such as a square, circle, or polygon in plan view. Furthermore, the packaging container 100 is made from a synthetic resin sheet with a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm, using sheet molding (e.g., vacuum forming, pressure forming, hot plate pressure forming, vacuum pressure forming, double-sided vacuum forming, etc.). For example, expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene, expanded polyethylene terephthalate, etc., can be used as the synthetic resin sheet. In this embodiment, the packaging container 100 is made of expanded synthetic resin. Using expanded synthetic resin provides flexibility to the packaging container 100, making it easier to fold. Moreover, using expanded synthetic resin makes it easier to plastically deform the partition 140 to the point where it cannot return to its original shape, or to tear and break, when the packaging container 100 is folded.

Next, we will describe how the packaging container 100 can be divided and used as individual containers for portioning. Although Figures 1 to 3 do not show food, in reality, food is contained in each of the bottom surfaces 110 on both sides separated by the partition 140. When a user divides the packaging container 100 at the partition 140 and uses each divided portion as a container for portioning food, the user grasps the side walls 120 on both sides with their hands and folds the packaging container 100 in a valley fold.

Specifically, as shown by arrow P in Figure 2, the user holds the side walls 120 on both sides of the packaging container 100 with their hands and pushes them upward, folding the partition 140 into a valley fold. When the partition 140 is folded into a valley fold, as shown by arrow P in Figures 3(b) and (c), the bottom surfaces 110 on both sides lift upward, causing the partition surfaces 143 of the partition 140 to open up and separate from each other. As a result, stress concentrates near the upper end 141 of the partition 140, and the area near the perforations 150 is crushed and weakened. From this state, the user further pulls the side walls 120 on both sides along the perforations 150 of the partition 140 to divide the packaging container 100 into two halves. In this process, the notch 145 becomes the starting point for the packaging container 100 to be torn along the perforation 150. Therefore, the packaging container 100 can be easily divided into two halves along the perforation 150, starting from the notch 145. In this way, the packaging container 100 can be reliably and easily divided into smaller containers.

As described above, while the method of dividing the packaging container 100 is described, before dividing the packaging container 100, it is stored in stores, homes, etc., with food or other items contained in its bottom surface 110. Since food is contained in each of the bottom surfaces 110 separated by the partition 140, the weight of the food is applied to each bottom surface 110. When a user lifts the packaging container 100 by holding one side wall 120 with one hand, the bottom surface 110 on the opposite side of the side wall 120 being held will bend downward due to the weight of the food. At that time, stress is concentrated in the perforations 150 of the partition 140, so there is a risk that the perforations 150 may be accidentally torn. However, since the notches 145 on both sides of the partition 140 do not have perforations 150 and are reinforced by reinforcing ribs 146, the packaging container 100 can maintain sufficient strength to withstand normal use, preventing the perforations 150 from being accidentally torn.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(c), the reinforcing rib 146 is convex upward, so the back surface of the reinforcing rib 146 has a recessed groove 147. Therefore, as indicated by arrow P, when dividing the packaging container 100 into two halves along the perforation 150 of the partition 140, the groove 147 on the back surface of the reinforcing rib 146 bends and tears, widening the groove, so the packaging container 100 can be easily divided. Also, since the groove 147 of the reinforcing rib 146 is continuous from the side wall 120 to the upper end 141 of the partition 140, it can be easily divided continuously from the side wall 120 to the upper end 141 of the partition 140. Moreover, as shown in Figure 2, in a plan view, the groove 147 of the reinforcing rib 146 is aligned in a straight line with the perforation 150, so the stress when folding and dividing the packaging container 100 is efficiently concentrated from the groove 147 to the perforation 150, so the packaging container 100 can be easily divided.

Furthermore, in the normal use state before folding and dividing the packaging container 100, the weight of the food is placed on each bottom surface 110 on both sides of the partition 140. Therefore, when the packaging container 100 is lifted, as shown in Figure 3(c), a downward stress (force in the opposite direction of arrow P) is applied to each bottom surface 110. As a result, the grooves 147 of the reinforcing ribs 146, sandwiched between the two bottom surfaces 110, elastically deform and compress to close. Therefore, the overall strength of the reinforcing ribs 146 temporarily increases, allowing the packaging container 100 to maintain a stronger strength than necessary to withstand normal use, preventing the perforations 150 from being unintentionally broken.

Furthermore, the packaging container of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications and combinations are possible within the scope of the claims and embodiments, and these modifications and combinations are also included within the scope of the patent rights.

Claims (2)

A packaging container having a bottom surface and a partition that rises from the bottom surface,
Perforations are provided at the upper end of the partition.
A notch is provided at the end of the partition,
A packaging container characterized in that the end of the perforation stops just before the notch . The packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the notch portion is provided with reinforcing ribs.