Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Broeess and device for spreading a tilling on bread
The invention relates to a process for spreading a
filling on bread, in particular French bread, and to a device
for carrying out the process.
It is known to provide French bread with a filling,
which may consist of a wide variety of edible food products.
For example, French bread is provided with sauces, tomatoes,
cheese, ham and the like and subseguently browned in an oven.
For this purpose, the bread has to be cut open,
provided with the filling and browned. In order that the food
products on the bread do not spoil, this procedure must always
be carried out shortly before consumption. What is
disadvantageous about this is that the preparation of filled
French bread is very time-consuming and consequently cost-
intensive.
Furthermore, such bread cannot be kept very long in
the filled state, since the filling generally softens the bread
and, what is more, quickly spoils.
In the catering and fast food sector specifically,
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such ffilled and browned French bread is very popular and is
often eaten as a snack.
It is also disadvantageous that the filling often
comes out of the bread during eating and possibly soils
clothing, which is undesired.
EP-A-612 476 discloses a process for preparing a
sandwich shortly before eating it. In this process, there is
inserted into the bread, which has not been cut open, by means
of a half-shall penetrating into the bread, a bag which has
already been opened at its front end and is then pushed at its
rear end out of the bread and out of the half-shell, the
content of the bag being pressed out by a constriction ahead of
the rear end.
The present invention is based on the object of
providing a process and a device for carrying out the process
which can be prepared quickly, freshly and easily and can be
produced at low cost [sic]. Furthermore, storage possibilities
and ease of handling when such bread is being eaten are to be
improved.
This object is achieved by the bread being cut into
at least two halves, placing between the two halves of the
bread a bag filled with a filling, spread or the like and,
before eating the bread, opening said bag at least partially at
one end, after which the bag is grasped at the other end and
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pulled out of the bread, the filling at the same time being
applied to the bread by squeezing the bag.
The present process allows an edible filling to be applied
to the bread in an evenly distributed manner by the bag
placed between two halves of the bread being opened at one
end and pulled out of the bread at the other end. At the
same time, tow elements squeeze an upper side and a lower
side of the bag, if need be applying pressure, so that the
filling with which the bag has been filled emerges at the
opened end and is distributed evenly onto the bread during
pulling out.
During this operation, the elements which press the bags
together are held in place and only the bag itself is moved
out of the bread, by means of a tab.
In one aspect of the invention there is a process for
spreading a filling on bread, which is cut into at least
two halves, a bag filled with a filling, spread or the like
being placed between the two halves of the bread and,
before eating the bread, said bag being opened at least
partially at one end, after which the bag is grasped at the
other end and pulled out of the bread, the filling at the
same time being applied to the bread by squeezing the bag.
In another embodiment of the invention there is a device
for carrying out the process according to any one of claims
1 to 12, wherein a container (9) for receiving the bread
(1), between the two halves (4, 5) of which at least one
bag (6) has been placed, has a means (2, 3, 12.1, 16) for
squeezing the bag (6).
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The filling is preferably pasty, may consist of a
wide variety of sauces, but also small pieces of food
products such as cheese, ham or the like.
It is also conceivable, however, that, by pressing
together or squeezing the bag by means of fingers of one
human hand and by pulling with the other hand, the bag can be
pulled out of the bread, while the filling can then be spread
in an evenly distributed manner on the bread or between the
halves of the bread. Subsequently, the bread can, for
example, be heated in an oven and then eaten.
The elements which press the bag together may be of
a wide variety of different types. For example, two metal or
plastic clips may be able_to be resiliently applied to each
other by means of pressure. What is important is that the
surfaces facing the bag are, if need be, rounded off or free
from edges, in order to avoid damaging the bag during pulling
through. Therefore, for example, two round or half-round
bars which are able to be applied to each other by pressure
or form just a gap for squeezing the bag may also be used.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the bread is placed with the bag and the filling
contained therein into a container. The tabs at both ends of
the bag are guided through slots arranged in end walls of the
container.
The container may in this case be opened at the end
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and/or via side walls. Said container preferably has a
rectangular cross-sectional basic shape.
The slots which are formed in the end walls of the
containers serve for squeezing the bag during pulling out.
Thus, after opening, for example by means of scissors or a
tearaway perforation, a bag filling can be applied evenly to
the bread. Here too, no remains of the filling are left
behind in the bag. The latter can subsequently be disposed
of with virtually no remains inside it.
It is also intended to be within the scope of the
present invention that the bag can be easily torn open or
torn away on a sharp edge of an end wall for opening. After
spreading the filling, the container can be opened, the bread
removed and prepared in the oven.
To keep the freshly baked bread warm for a certain
time and, if need be, to transport it, it may be placed back
into the container directly from the oven.
Since the container preferably consists of food-
compatible and heat-insulating materials, the freshly baked
bread can be kept warm for a long time.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the~present .
invention, there is the idea of additionally providing the
container with a plunger, which pushes the freshly baked
bread out of the container toward the end by means of a
slide, with the result that it protrudes out of the container
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and can be directly bitten off there. The pushing out of the
container takes place by means of the slide, which is formed
by the emptied bag.
Said bag preferably has two folding lines, in order
that it can be shaped into a ~'U~' . The folded bag is then
inserted into the container through corresponding guide slots
and the slot in the end wall and subsequently meets the
plunger, which pushes the bread lying in the container out
through the opposite, then opened, end wall.
This packaging permits very clean eating, without
parts of the filling dripping around it and possibly soiling
clothing.
If it is not wished to eat all the bread, the
container can be closed again at the end and the remaining .
bread eaten later.
It is important, however, that the filling is
applied to the fresh bread very quickly and immediately
before eating and that the bread can subsequently be browned
in the oven and eaten immediately thereafter. Therefore, it
is of great significance for catering in particular that the
preparation of the bread is performed very quickly. What is
more, a wide variety of different types of bread with
different fillings or bags with a wide variety of different
fillings can be offered.
In particular, the exceptional advantages from a
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hygienic viewpoint must also be mentioned. The filling comes
fresh~out of the bag and directly onto the bread, without
coming into contact with ether articles or hands. In the bag
itself, it can be kept germfree without any difficulties.
There has also been the idea of enclosing a napkin
in the container.
Further advantages, features and details of the
invention emerge from the following description of preferred
exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawing, in
which:
Figure 1 shows a plan view of French bread
according to the invention with a device for spreading a
continuous filling;
Figure 2 shows a plan view of a further exemplary
embodiment of the bread according to Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a diagrammatically represented
longitudinal section through a device for storing and/or
spreading a filling on the bread;
Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic cross section through
a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to
Fiqure 3;
Figure 5 shows a plan view of a bag for receiving a
filling, with folding lines;
Figure 6 shows a side view of the device according
to Figure 4;
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Figure 7 shows a side view of a further exemplary
embodiment of the device according to Figure 6.
According to Figure 1, French bread 1 is cut open,
preferably in the longitudinal direction and centrally. The
bread 1 is thereby divided at least into two halves 4, 5, the
half 4 being the upper half and the half 5 being the lower
half .
A bag 6 is placed into the bread 1 between these
halves 4, 5. This bag 6 is provided at both ends with tabs
7.1, 7.2, which protrude out of the bread 1. The bag 6 is
designed to be slightly longer than the bread 1, but it may
be of the same width.
The bag 6 is evenly filled with a filling 8, which
is durably packed therein. The filling 8 consists of a
preferably pasty composition of edible food products, the
composition of which may vary. The bag 6 may, for example,
contain compositions which are suitable as a spread for
French bread 1, in particular for browning. For example, it
may contain mustard, ketchup, cheese, ham, herbs or the like.
In order that the bread 1 can be freshly prepared,
the tab 7.2 is opened, for example by means of scissors or
the like, as indicated by dashed lines in Figure 1. The
opening of the bag 6 may also take place in a different way,
for example by tearing open or tearing away the tab 7.2.
subsequently, as represented by the direction of
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the arrow X, the bag 6 is slowly pulled out of the bread 1 by
pulling on the tab 7.1. At the same time, by means of
elements 2, 3 close to the tab 7.1 and close to the bread 1,
pressure is applied to the bag 6 on both sides, from above
and below. As a result, as the bag 6 is being pulled out,
the ffilling 8 is applied to the bread 1 evenly over the
entire surface area on the inside between the halves 4, 5.
Subsequently, the bread 1 can be browned in an
oven. It is a major advantage that the halves 4, 5 of the
bread 1 are not softened on the inside by the filling 8. The
actual application of the filling does not reguire any
additional utensils, such as for example spoons, knives or
the like, so that the bread 1 can be prepared very quickly.
A further advantage of the present invention is
that the elements 2, 3 between which the bag 6 is guided
apply adequate pressure to the latter, as represented in th'e
direction of the arrow, so that no remains of filling 8 stay
behind in the bag 6. The bag, which is completely free of
remains of filling, can subseguently be recycled.
Instead of the elements 2 and 3, two ffingers 2.1,
3.1 of a human hand may also squeeze the bag s in order to
spread the filling 8 evenly on the bread 1, as is represented
in Figure 2. What is important is that, when the bag 6 is
being pulled out of the bread l, the elements 2, 3 are moved
as little as possible.
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One advantage of the present invention is that the
bread 1 with the bag 6 placed inside can be kept fresh, for
example packed in a film wrapping, until it is prepared or
eaten.
Figure 3 shows a container 9 which serves for
packaging the bread, for keeping heated or browned bread and
also as a device for spreading the filling 8 on the bread 1,
as well as as an eating aid. It comprises walls, which farm
a rectangular body. At the ends, the container 9 is closed
by end walls 11.1, 11.2. These respectively have, preferably
in the center, a horizontal, elongate slot 12.1, 12.2.
The operating principle of this container 9 is as
follows:
The cut-open bread 1, divided into two halves 4, 5,
is placed together with the bag 6 into this container 9.
This may take place through one of the walls of the container
9, the corresponding wall being swung open. The tabs 7.1,
7.2 are guided through the slots 12.1, 12.2 in the end walls
11.1, 11.2. This already takes place when the bread 1 is
inserted with the bag 6 into the container 9. To prepare the
bread 1, the consumer need only open the bag 6 in the region
of the tab 7.2. By subsequently pulling the tab 7.1 in the X
direction, the filling 8 is distributed evenly on the bread.
The bread 1 is subsequently removed from the container 9 for
browning. The bread 1 can then be eaten or placed back in
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the container 9 to keep it warm. Since the container 9 is
preferably produced from heat-insulating materials,' it keep's
the baked bread 1 warm and fresh for a certain time.
Zn a further exemplary embodiment of the invention
according to Figure 4, there is shown a container 9.1 to
which a plunger 15 is movably assigned on the inside, near
one end wall 11.3. This plunger 15, like the end Walls 11.2,
11.3, is likewise provided with a slot-like opening 16, in
order to receive the tab 7.1 of the bag 6.
With this container 9.1, the bag 6 can be removed
from the bread 1, or container 9.1, in the way described
above, by opening the tab 7.2 and,by pulling on the tab 7.1
in the X direction represented. The bag 6 is thereby pressed
together through the slot 12.1, but also through the slot-
like opening 16 of the plunger 15, in such a way that the
filling is applied to the bread 1 or between the halves 4, 5
in an evenly distributed manner, as described above.
Subseguently, the emptied bag 6, which is
preferably provided with two elongate folding lines 13
(Figure 5), is folded in a U-shaped manner and guided from
outside through corresponding guide slots 14.1, 14.2 (see
Figure 6) and through the slot 12.1. As it does so, it meets
the plunger 15, which pushes the bread 1 out of the container
9.1 by pushing after the folded bag 6, if the end wall 11.2,
has been opened. The bread 1 can be eaten piece by piece.
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Eating such bread 1 is made easier, since no filling 8 can
escape out of the bread 1 at the sides or possibly drip out.
In a further exemplary embodiment according to
Figure 7 there is shown a container 9.2 which has in the end
wall 11.3 a slot 12.3, arranged below the center, with guide
slots i4.1, 14.2 angled away perpendicularly therefrom and
spaced apart from each other. Here too, a bag 6 folded in a
correspondingly U-shaped manner can be guided through these
guide slots 14.1 and 14.2 and the slot region 12.3 lying
therebetween, although here it is possible to dispense with a
corresponding plunger 15 for pushing the bread 1 out of the
container.
Other possible conceivable forms of such a foldable
bag 6 are also intended, however, to be within the scope of
the present invention. For example, it could be just folded
simply in an L-shaped manner.
It is also intended to be covered by the idea of
the present invention that the container 9, 9.1, 9.2 is of a
round, oval, polygonal to mufti-cornered design in order to
receive French bread or the like.
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DR. PETER WEISS
European Patent Attorney
File reference: 4467.7 , Date: 04.24.1996
List of designations
1 Hread 34 67
2 Elements 35 6g
3 E ements 36 69
4 Half 37 70
Half 38 71
6 Bag 39 72
7 Ta 40 73
8 Fill ng 41 74
9 Conta ner 42 75
Cover 43 76
11 En wall 44
12 Slot 45 78
13 Fo g line 46 7g
14 Gu de slot 47
P anger 48
16 Opening 49
50
X Direction of arrow 51
52
53
21 ~. 54
ZZ 55
23 56
z4 57
5g
26 59~
27 60
Z8 61
29 62
63
31 64
32 ~ 65
33 66
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