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Patent 2799980 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2799980
(54) English Title: PACKAGING CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREOF
(54) French Title: CONTENANT D'EMBALLAGE ET DECOUPE ASSOCIEE
Status: Deemed Abandoned and Beyond the Period of Reinstatement - Pending Response to Notice of Disregarded Communication
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • A47G 21/00 (2006.01)
  • B65D 5/54 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • D'AMATO, GIANFRANCO (Italy)
(73) Owners :
  • SEDA S.P.A.
(71) Applicants :
  • SEDA S.P.A. (Italy)
(74) Agent: ROBIC AGENCE PI S.E.C./ROBIC IP AGENCY LP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(86) PCT Filing Date: 2011-05-20
(87) Open to Public Inspection: 2011-11-24
Examination requested: 2012-11-20
Availability of licence: N/A
Dedicated to the Public: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/EP2011/002534
(87) International Publication Number: EP2011002534
(85) National Entry: 2012-11-20

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
20 2010 007 121.6 (Germany) 2010-05-21

Abstracts

English Abstract

A packaging container has a bottom part comprising a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls, and has a lid part comprising a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls. The rear walls are pivotably connected with a swivel joint line therebetween. Further, there are locking means of bottom and lid part for releasably closing the container. To improve such a container in a way that the container can be used for consuming the food as long as possible directly from the container, and to also allow easy access to the food, even if it is already partly consumed, at least a tearing line for dividing the container is formed perpendicular to the swivel joint line in the front walls, rear walls, and bottom and front walls of bottom part and lid part. Furthermore, also a two-dimensional blank for forming such a packaging container is proposed.


French Abstract

L'invention concerne un contenant d'emballage qui comporte une partie inférieure comprenant une paroi inférieure, une paroi antérieure, une paroi postérieure et des parois latérales, et comporte une partie formant un couvercle comprenant une paroi supérieure, une paroi antérieure, une paroi postérieure et des parois latérales. Les parois postérieures sont raccordées de manière pivotante et séparées par une ligne de joint de pivotement. Des moyens de blocage de la partie inférieure et de la partie formant un couvercle sont également présents pour permettre une fermeture de manière dissociable du contenant. Pour améliorer ce contenant de sorte qu'il puisse être utilisé pour consommer l'aliment le plus longtemps possible directement à partir du contenant, et aussi pour permettre d'accéder aisément à l'aliment, même si celui-ci a déjà été en partie consommé, au moins une ligne de déchirure qui sert à diviser le contenant est formée perpendiculairement à la ligne de joint de pivotement dans les parois antérieures, les parois postérieures, et les parois inférieure et antérieures de la partie inférieure et de la partie formant un couvercle. L'invention concerne aussi une découpe bidimensionnelle pour la formation de ce contenant d'emballage.

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


15
CLAIMS
1. Packaging container (1) with a bottom part (2) comprising a bottom wall
(4), a front wall
(5), a rear wall (6), and side walls (7, 8) and with a lid part (3) comprising
a top wall (9), a
front wall (10), a rear wall (11), and side walls (12, 13), wherein the rear
walls (6, 11) are
pivotably connected with a swivel joint line (20) therebetween, and with
locking means
(14, 33, 34, 35, 36) of bottom and lid part (2, 3) for releasably closing the
container,
characterized in that at least a tearing line (62 ; 63) for dividing the
container is formed
perpendicular to the swivel joint line (20) in the front walls (5, 10), rear
walls (6, 11), and
bottom and front walls (4, 10) of bottom part (2) and lid part (3).
2. Packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that two locking
means (14,
16, 33, 34, 35, 36) are spaced with respect to each other with said tearing
line (62)
therebetween.
3. Packaging container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that side
walls (7, 8; 12,
13) of bottom part (2) and/or lid part (3) are concavely curved between front
and rear
walls (5, 6; 10, 11).
4. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that
upper and/or lower edges (17, 18) of the side walls (7, 8; 12, 13) of bottom
and/or lid part
(2, 3) are convexly curved.
5. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that the
tearing line (62) comprises a hand hold portion (19) at least at one end (59)
of the line
(62).
6. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that a
second tearing line (63) extends along the first tearing line (62) defining a
tearing strip
(15) therebetween.
7. Packaging container according to claim 6, characterized in that the first
and the second
tearing lines (62, 63) are parallel to each other.

16
8. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that the
tearing strip (15) or each tearing line (62, 63) has lateral edge portions
(21, 22) extending
at least in places from the strip (15) and overlapping connecting edges (23,
24) of the top
wall (9), rear walls (6, 11), front walls (5, 10), and bottom wall (4),
wherein said edges
(21, 22; 23, 24) are releasably fixed to each other.
9. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that
lateral edge portions (21, 22) of the tearing strip (15) or each tearing line
(62, 63) and/or
connecting edge portions (23, 24) of the corresponding walls have a reduced
thickness
of material.
10. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that
lateral edge portions (21, 22) of the tearing strip (15) or each tearing line
(62, 63) and
connecting edge portions (23, 24) have the same width (25, 26).
11. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that
lateral edge portions (21, 22) of the tearing strip (15) or each tearing line
(62, 63) and
connecting edge portions (23, 24) together have the same thickness of material
as the
rest of the tearing strip (15) and/or walls (4-13).
12. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that
lateral edge portions (21, 22) and connecting edge portions (23, 24) are glued
to each
other.
13. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims,
characterized. in that
lateral edge portions (21, 22) and connecting edge portions (23, 24) are
defined by partly
impressed cut lines (27-30) which are separated from each other.
14. Packaging container according to claim 13, characterized in that said cut
lines (27-30)
extend parallel to each other and are impressed from an upper surface (31) and
a lower
surface (32) of the tearing strip (15) or each tearing line (62, 63).
15. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that the
locking means (14, 16) comprises a locking slit (33, 34), and a locking lug
(35, 36),

17
wherein the locking lug (35, 36) in particular protrudes from an upper edge
(37) of the
front wall (5, 10).
16. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that the
locking lug (35, 36) has lateral locking extensions (38), wherein the length
(39) of the
locking lug (35, 36) with the locking extensions (38) corresponds to the
length (60) of the
locking slit (33, 34) with lateral cut lines (40).
17. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that the
lateral cut lines (40) of the locking slit (33, 34) are formed by cut lines
(41) of folding lines
(42) between front wall (10) and top wall (9), wherein in particular each
folding line (42)
between walls (4-13) comprises a number of cut lines (41) with impressed line
section
(61) therebetween.
18. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that the
front wall (10) of the lid part (3) has cut outs (44) adjacent to the hand
hold portion (19) of
the tearing strip (15).
19. Packaging container according to one of the previous claims, characterized
in that the
front wall (10) on both sides of the at least one tearing line (62) has two
wall sections (52)
of different lengths.
20. Packaging container according to claim 19, characterized in that the front
wall (52) with
the bigger length is curved at one edge in direction to the at least one
tearing line (62).
21. A two-dimensional blank (45) for forming the packaging container (1)
according to one of
the previous claims, said blank (45) comprising two bottom panels (46), two
top panels
(47, 48), four rear and four front wall panels (49, 50; 51, 52), wherein pairs
of those
panels are separated by at least one tearing line (62).
22. Blank according to claim 21, characterized in that the tearing line (62)
extends
essentially perpendicular to corresponding folding lines (42) connecting
bottom and front
panels (46, 47, 48), bottom and rear panels (46, 49, 50), rear and top panels
(49, 50, 51,
52), top and front panels (47, 48, 51, 52).

18
23. Blank according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that a second tearing
line (63)
extends along the first tearing line (62) defining a tearing strip (15)
therebetween,
wherein in particular the first and the second tearing lines (62, 63) are
parallel to each
other.
24. Blank according to claims 21 or 23, characterized in that each folding
lines (42)
comprises a number of cut lines (41) separated from each other along the
folding line,
with impressed line sections (61) therebetween
25. Blank according to one of claims 21-24, characterized in that a partially
impressed first
cut line (27, 28) is formed in an upper surface (31) of the blank (35) and a
partially
impressed second cut line (29, 30) is formed in a lower surface (32) of the
blank, wherein
the first and the second cut lines (27, 28; 29, 30) are separated from and
parallel to each
other and define the tearing strip (15) or each tearing line (62, 63).
26. Blank according to one of claims 21-25, characterized in that folding
lines (42)
connecting side panels (53-56) and bottom panels (46) or side panels and top
panels
(47, 48) are concavely curved, wherein end edges (57, 58) of the side panels
(53-56)
adjacent to the top panels (47, 48) are in particular convexly curved.
27. Blank according to one of claims 21-26, characterized in that at least one
removable
card (64) is arranged in one of the panels (46-48, 51-56).

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


CA 02799980 2012-11-20
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1
Packaging Container and Blank Thereof
The invention relates to a packaging container and an appropriate blank
therefore. The
packaging container comprises a bottom part and a lid part. Both parts
comprise a number of
walls, wherein the bottom part comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear
wall, and side walls.
The lid part comprises a top wall, a rear wall, a front wall, and also side
walls.
A swivel joint line is arranged along a joining edge of the rear walls of the
bottom and lid parts for
pivotably connecting both parts. Furthermore, a locking means is provided at
the bottom and the
lid parts for releasably closing the packaging container.
A packaging container is known in practice for storing fast food like
hamburgers or similar
products. Generally, to remove the fast food, a lid part is swiveled upwards
relative to the bottom
part, so that the content of the packaging container is accessible for
removal. Such a container
is described in EP 1 785 359 Al. Sometimes, the user of such a packaging
container would like
to consume the fast food directly from the container without taking it out of
the container.
JP 2003 072 749 A discloses a packaging container with a bottom part and a lid
part, wherein
each of those parts comprises a swivel joint for folding a half of the lid or
bottom part upwards or
downwards. In this way, the packaging container may be opened without taking
the fast food out
of the container.
JP 2002 347 756 A discloses a further container for solid food that has a
bottom and a top, with
the top comprising two flaps that can be locked to each other to close the
upper opening of the
container. Essentially, in the middle between the top and bottom, there is a
angular, tearing
working part that enables an upper half part of the container body to be
removed, such that the
solid food can be eaten directly from the lower half part of the container.
It is an object of the present invention to improve a container according to
EP 1 785 359 Al in
such a way that the container can be used for consuming the food as long as
possible directly
from the container, and to also allow easy access to the food, even if it is
already partly
consumed.
This object is solved by the features of claim 1, with a corresponding blank
for forming such a
container disclosed in claim 21.

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2
According to the invention, at least one tearing line for separating the
bottom part and lid part is
formed perpendicular to the swivel joint line in the front walls, rear walls,
and bottom and top
walls of the bottom part and the lid part.
According to JP 2003 072 749 A, the corresponding pivotable halves of the lid
and the bottom
part are always connected to the rest of the container. Even if it is possible
to partially consume
the food directly from the container, those pivotable halves are still
connected to the container,
and are an obstacle to the user during eating the food. Moreover, those
pivotable container
halves are not fixed in their open position and may fall back in direction of
the food, such that
they have to be held by the user. As the corresponding food may have
ingredients that adhere to
the pivotable container halves, there is also a danger of contaminating the
user's hands or
clothes during consumption.
The container according to JP 2002 347 756 A is a container that has no
pivotably connected
container halves, but will just be divided more or less in the middle of the
standing container.
This allows the user to consume about half of the food from the container. The
other half is then
to be taken out of the container, which might be difficult since the
corresponding container
opening is quite close, and the user has to use his fingers to remove the rest
of the food,
wherein his fingers have to be introduced between the food and the edge of the
opening.
According to the present invention, the packaging container is divided by
using the tearing line
such that two container halves are obtained, each of which is quite similar to
the complete
packaging container and only has a lateral opening. This lateral opening is
used to remove one
of the container halves and to use the other container half to consume the
food directly from this
container half. Moreover, the container half in use still comprises a portion
of each of the bottom
part and the lid part, and also a portion of the swivel joint line, such that
the corresponding
portions of the bottom and lid parts may still be opened to take out the rest
of the food if it is no
longer possible to consume same directly from the corresponding container
half.
It is even possible to close the remaining container half if the user does not
want to completely
consume the food, but to take it away for later consumption. There are no
parts of the container
that are an obstacle with respect to consumption, or that make it difficult to
take out the rest of
the food when it can no longer be consumed directly from the container.

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3
To allow an easy opening and closing of each of the container halves mentioned
above, it might
be considered as advantageous if two locking means are spaced with respect to
each other with
the tearing strip therebetween. In this way, each of the corresponding
container halves can be
opened or closed in a simple way. Also the closing of each container half
might be important for
further storing the food for later consumption.
It is also possible that there is only one locking means in particular at the
remaining container
half. This locking means allows an easy opening of this remaining container
half to take out the
rest of the food which cannot be further consumed through the corresponding
lateral opening of
this remaining container half. A corresponding locking means is not necessary
for the removed
container half.
To increase the stability, and particularly the shape stability of each
container half, the side walls
of the bottom part and/or the lid part may be concavely curved or rounded
between the front and
the rear walls. By such concave curvature, each of the container halves is
stabilized, and each
may be used for consuming the food directly from the container half.
Furthermore, this concave
curvature of the side wall forms some indentation or recessed grip that can be
used for at least
some of the user's fingers to support the container half or to hold the
container during removal of
one container half. It might be possible that such concave curvature is only
provided on one side
of the packaging container, such that only one of the container halves after
using the tearing line
will have this concavely curved side walls. To avoid a definite selection of
one of the container
halves for consumption of the food, it is advantageous for both of the
corresponding sides of the
packaging container to comprise such concavely curved side walls.
The corresponding effects as described will be even more enhanced if upper
and/or lower edges
of the side walls of the bottom and/or lid parts are convexly curved or
rounded.
To allow an easy usage of the tearing line, the tearing line can comprise a
handheld portion at at
least one end of the line.
It is further possible that there is a second tearing line which extends along
the first tearing line
defining a tearing strip between the two tearing lines. This tearing strip may
be removed in total
using both of the limiting tearing lines.

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4
It is possible, that the first and the second tearing line obliquely extend
relative to each other. In
such a way, the tearing strip will change its width, wherein the smallest part
of the tearing strip
may be used for starting the removal.
It is further possible, that the first and second tearing lines are parallel
to each other, such that
the tearing strip has a constant width.
It is possible to provide a corresponding tearing strip or tearing lines that
are separated from the
rest of the container by cut lines that extend along the tearing strip or
lines and are separated
from each other by quite a short distance. The tearing strip or lines are then
removed or used by
tearing the material between the cut lines, wherein the direction of the cut
lines defines lateral
edges of the tearing strip or lines.
However, such cut lines may also comprise openings that might allow leakage of
some of the
food's ingredients and may, of course, deteriorate the outer appearance of the
container and
might also contaminate the user and, particularly, his clothes.
To prevent this, the tearing strip or lines can have lateral edge portions
extending at least in
places from the strip or lines, and there can be overlapping connecting edge
portions of the top
wall, rear walls, front walls, and bottom wall, wherein said edges are
releasably fixed to each
other. According to the overlap of these edges, there is no direct opening of
the container, and
any leakage from inside the container is prevented.
For removing the tearing strip or during use of the tearing lines, the
corresponding fixing of these
edges is released. The tearing strip may be removed in total.
It is possible that the tearing strip or lines are fixed to edge portions of
the corresponding walls.
However, to avoid any protrusion of the tearing strip or lines from the
corresponding walls, the
lateral edge portions of the tearing strip or lines and/or the overlapped
connecting edge portions
of the walls have a reduced thickness of material. In this way, the added
thickness of lateral
edge portions and connecting edge portions is rather small.
It might further be considered as advantageous if the lateral edge portions of
the tearing strip or
lines and the overlapping connecting edge portions of the corresponding walls
have the same

CA 02799980 2012-11-20
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width. In this way, there will only be an overlap between the outer edge
portions and the
connection edge portions.
It is further possible that the lateral edge portions of the tearing strip or
lines and the overlapped
connection edge portions of the walls together have the same thickness of
material as the rest of
the tearing strip/lines and/or walls. In such a way, the tearing strip or
lines will not protrude from
the packaging container.
There are different possibilities for releasably fixing the edge portions,
wherein one possibility is
to glue the edge portions to each other. However, if gluing is used, the
tearing strip has to be
assembled separately. To avoid such separate assembly of the tearing strip, it
is possible that
the lateral edge portions and the connection edge portions are defined by
partially impressed cut
lines that are separated from each other. Those only partially impressed cut
lines prevent any
leakage and, at the same time, allow easy removal of the tearing strip. Any
gluing is not
necessary, as the tearing strip is an intrinsic part of the rest of the
container and is only defined
by such partially impressed cut lines. An easy arrangement of the cut lines
might be considered,
according to which they are parallel to each other and are impressed from
upper and lower
surfaces of the corresponding tearing strip or container walls. It is also
possible that they are not
strictly parallel or even have a structure such as a zig-zag structure or the
like. This is also valid
in view of the tearing lines, see in particular the partially impressed cut
lines.
To obtain an easy possibility for closing both or one of the container halves
after separating
them by removing the tearing line, the locking means may comprise a locking
slit and a locking
lug.
In case only one locking means is used, it may be advantageous if this locking
means is
provided at the remaining container half such that this remaining container
half used for
consuming the food may then be opened to consume also the rest of the food
within this
remaining container half.
The locking lug may protrude from an upper edge of the front wall of the
bottom part with the
corresponding locking slit arranged along a folding line between the front
wall and the top wall of
the lid part. The opposite arrangement is also feasible.

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6
To allow easy insertion of the locking lug and simultaneously prevent any easy
release of same,
the locking lug may have lateral locking extensions, wherein the length of the
locking lug with
locking extensions corresponds to a length of the locking slit with lateral
cut lines of the slit. The
lateral cut lines, together with the locking slit are then used for
introducing the locking lug with its
locking extensions, wherein those locking extensions will avoid any easy
release of the lock, as
the length of the locking slit more or less corresponds only to the length of
the locking lug without
the locking extensions.
The lateral cut lines of the locking slit may be formed by cut lines formed in
folding lines between
the front wall and top wall.
All the other folding lines between other walls may comprise such cut lines
that are separated
from each other with impressed line sections therebetween.
To maintain the three dimensional structure of the packaging container in an
easy way, fixing
lugs may be arranged at lateral ends of at least the rear walls and/or the
front walls of the bottom
and/or lid parts. The fixing lugs are glued to interior surfaces of adjacent
side walls.
To securely close the container and to further stabilize same, the front walls
and/or side walls of
the lid part of the bottom part may at least partially overlap the front wall
and/or side walls of the
bottom part, or the lid part, respectively. The opposite arrangement is also
possible.
To allow easy access to the handheld portion, the front wall of the lid part
may have cutouts
adjacent to the handheld portion of the tearing strip.
According to one embodiment of the present invention the front wall on both
sides of the at least
one tearing line may have front wall sections of different lengths. The front
wall section with the
longer length may then be used for removing one of the container halves by
separating same
along the at least one tearing line.
It might also be advantageous if the front wall section with the longer length
is curved at one
edge in direction to the at least one tearing line. This particular curved
edge may then be used
as some kind of hand held portion during separation of the container halves
along the tearing
line.

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7
According to the invention, the simple two-dimensional blank can be used for
forming the
packaging container as mentioned above. Such a blank can comprise two bottom
panels, two
top panels, four rear and four front wall panels, wherein pairs of the panels
are separated by the
at least one tearing line. The two bottom panels form the bottom wall of the
bottom part, and the
two top panels form the top wall of the lid part. Each of the corresponding
parts also comprises
two rear and two front wall panels that are all separated by said tearing
line.
The tearing line extends essentially perpendicular to the folding lines,
connecting bottom and
front panels, bottom and rear panels, rear and top panels, and top and front
panels. As already
outlined, any folding may be simplified when each folding line comprises a
number of cut lines
that are separated from each other along the corresponding folding line, with
impressed line
sections therebetween.
The tearing line is already formed in the blank, wherein this blank comprises
a partially
impressed first cut line that may be formed in an upper surface of the blank,
and a partially
impressed second cut line that may be formed in the lower surface of the
blank. Those cut lines
are separated parallel from each other and define the tearing line
therebetween. It is further
possible to arrange a second tearing line extending along the first tearing
line defining a tearing
strip therebetween. With respect to those two tearing lines it is possible
that they are arranged in
parallel to each other.
First and second cut lines are then arranged in pairs at both lateral edges of
the tearing strip and
define the lateral edge portions and overlapped connecting edge portions that
were already
mentioned.
The folding lines connecting side panels and bottom panels, or side panels and
top panels, may
be concavely curved. Furthermore, the end edges of the side panels adjacent to
the top panels
may be convexly curved.
To provide any possible user of the container with some reward it is possible
to arrange at least
one removable card in one of the panels of the blank. This card may have some
printing or other
index on an inner surface directed to the inner of the container and may be
removed for
collection or for receiving some present.
It is also possible to arrange a number of such cards in one container.

CA 02799980 2012-11-20
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8
In the following, advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed and
described in the
accompanied description and figures.
In the following figures are shown:
Figure 1 a perspective view of the packaging container according to the
present invention;
Figure 2 a view of the packaging container according to figure 1 in an open
position;
Figure 3 the packaging container according to figure 1 in a separated
condition;
Figure 4 a blank for producing a packaging container according to figure 1,
and
Figure 5 a blank for producing a second embodiment of a packaging container
according to the
present invention.
In figure 1, one embodiment of a packaging container 1 according to the
present invention, is
shown in a perspective view from the top.
The packaging container 1 comprises a lid part 3 and a bottom part 2, see also
figure 2. Each of
the parts 2, 3, comprise a front wall 5 or 10, the rear wall 6 or 11, side
walls 7, 8, or 12, 13, and a
bottom wall 4, see the bottom part, or a top wall 9, see the lid part.
There are locking means 14 and 16 that are separated from each other with a
tearing strip 15
therebetween for closing the container and locking same in the closed
position. This tearing strip
15 extends through front wall 10, top wall 9, the rear walls 6 and 11, see
figure 2, the bottom wall
4, and the front wall 5 of the bottom part, see again figure 2. The strip is
defined by a first and a
second tearing line 62, 63, which extend in parallel to each other.
The locking means 14, 16, each comprise a locking slit 33 or 34, and a
counterpart 35, 36, in the
form of a locking lug. The locking lug protrudes from an upper edge 37 of the
front wall 5 of the
bottom part 2. They are inserted in the corresponding locking slits 33 and 34,
in the case of a
close position of the packaging container 1, see figure 1.

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9
Most of the walls are planar. However, the side walls 7, 8, and 12, 13, are
concavely curved in
direction of the interior of the packaging container 1. At least the upper and
lower edges 17, 18,
of the side walls 12, 13, of the lid part 3 are convexly curved, such that in
the case of a closed
packaging container, see figure 1, the corresponding side walls 12 and 13, and
also 7 and 8 of
both parts 2, 3, are concavely curved into the interior in two directions
perpendicular to each
other, see the height direction and width direction of the side walls.
The tearing strip 15 is defined by a number of cut lines 27-30, see figures 1
and 2, which define
lateral edge portions 21 and 22 of the tearing strip 15 and complimentary
connecting edge
portions 23 and 24 of the top wall 9, which are overlapped by the lateral edge
portions 21 and
22.
In figure 2, the packaging container according to figure 1 is illustrated in
an open position. The
cut lines 27-30 are partially impressed into upper and lower surfaces 31 and
32 of all of the walls
to define the tearing strip 15 and the corresponding edge portions 21-24.
On the lower surface 32, see figure 2, there are only cut lines 28 and 30, and
on the upper
surface 31, see figure 1, there are the other cut lines 27 and 28. The cut
lines 27 and 28 are
arranged parallel to each other and to the other cut lines 28 and 29, wherein
there is a small
distance between each of the cut lines 27 and 29, or 28 and 30. The cut lines
28 and 29 are
arranged in a greater distance from the tearing strip 15 than the further cut
lines 27 and 28. The
width 25, 26 of corresponding edges 21, 22, and 23, 24 is the same.
For gripping the tearing strip 15 and removing same, it comprises a handheld
portion 19 at one
end 59, see in particular figures 1 and 3. To more clearly define this
handheld portion 19, there
are cutouts 44 directly adjacent to the handheld portion, wherein those
cutouts 44 are formed in
the front wall 10 of the lid part 3.
According to figure 2, the corresponding locking lugs 35 and 36 have lateral
locking extensions
38 that are hook-like and are also inserted in the corresponding locking slits
33, 34. Those
locking slits are continued with lateral cut lines 40 that are arranged at
both longitudinal ends of
the corresponding slit 33, 34, see also figure 4.
Fixing lugs 43 are provided that extend from end edges of front walls 5 and
10, and rear walls 6
and 11 to fix the front wall or the corresponding rear wall with the adjacent
side walls. Those

CA 02799980 2012-11-20
WO 2011/144356 PCT/EP2011/002534
fixing lugs 43 are fixed to interior surfaces of corresponding side walls 7,
8, or 12, 13, by
applying an adhesive.
Along an upper edge of the two rear walls 6, 11, they are connected to each
other by swivel joint
line 20 for pivotably connecting the bottom part 2 and the lid part 3.
According to the embodiment of figure 2, upper edges of the side wall 7, 8, of
the bottom part
are not convexly curved, but are straight edges. In the closed position
according to figure 1, the
side walls 12, 13, of the lid part 3 and the front wall 10 of the lid part 3
overlap corresponding
side walls 7, 8, and front wall 5 of the bottom part 2.
In figure 3, the packaging container according to figures 1, 2, is illustrated
with a removed
tearing strip 15 and bottom part and lid part 2, 3, separated in two halves of
the packaging
container 1. Each of the container halves comprises half of the bottom part
and half of the lid
part, and also one of the locking means 14 or 16, respectively. Accordingly,
each of the
container halves is releasably closed and can also be opened, see figure 2.
Tearing strip 15 also has folding lines 42, see also figure 4, which connect
walls of bottom part
and lid part, see also figures 1 and 2.
Moreover, the tearing strip 15 has lateral edge portions 21 and 22, which are
reduced in
thickness with respect to the rest of the tearing strip. The container halves,
according to figure 3,
have complimentary connecting edge portions 23 and 24 at the outer surface
that extend along
the separation lines of the container halves. Also, these connecting edge
portions 23 and 24 are
reduced in material thickness, wherein the combination of one lateral edge
portion and
corresponding connection edge portion have the same material thickness as the
rest of the
container material. The edge portions are defined by the cut lines 27-30 that
were already
mentioned above. The cut lines 27 and 28 are partially impressed from the
outer surface of the
container, and the cut lines 29 and 30 are partially impressed from the inner
side of the
container, see again figures 1 and 2.
In the separate position according to figure 3, it is possible to consume fast
food or the like within
the packaging container from one container half, wherein the other container
half may be
disposed.

CA 02799980 2012-11-20
WO 2011/144356 PCT/EP2011/002534
11
After the fast food has been consumed as much as possible from the remaining
container half, it
can be opened, and the rest of the food can be removed for manual consumption.
It is also
possible to keep one container half with the rest of the food for consumption
later.
The packaging container according to the invention can also be used for
providing two fast
foods, one in each container half, wherein this packaging container is some
kind of partner
container. After buying the partner container, it can be separated, and two
people can share the
container's contents, wherein each person gets one container half.
It is also possible to arrange different food in the container halves that may
then be consumed
separately by one or two people.
The container's material is paper or cardboard or another recyclable material.
It is possible to
impregnate such material or apply some fluid tight material to the surfaces,
such as
corresponding resin layers. It is also possible to print advertisements or
other things on the
exterior of the container. Moreover, the tearing strip can be used as some
kind of gratification or
the like with printing on its inner surface, wherein the collection of a
number or such tearing
strips 15 may be rewarded by some present from the seller.
In figure 4, there is a blank 45 as a single blank for producing the container
according to figures
1 to 3. The blank 45 comprises a number of panels 46-56, which form
corresponding walls. For
example, top panels 47 and 48 with the tearing strip 15 therebetween form the
top wall 9 of the
lid part 3. Front panels 51, according to figure 4, form the front wall 5 of
the bottom part 2.
Folding lines 42 are arranged between all of the different panels, wherein
each of the folding
lines 42 comprise cut lines 41 that are separated from each other along the
folding lines 42. The
side panels 55 and 56, see also side walls 12 and 13 according to figure 1,
have convexly
curved end edges 57 and 58. Corresponding side panel fixing lugs 43 are
arranged at both
ends. Those are later connected to the inner surface of the side panels 55 and
56, see also
figure 2. Fixing lugs 43 are also arranged adjacent to lateral ends of side
panels 53 and 54,
which form the side walls 7 and 8 of the bottom part 2. The corresponding
fixing lugs are fixed to
inner surfaces of said side panels, see again figure 2.
The two locking slits 33 and 34 are arranged along the folding lines
connecting the front panels
52 and top panels 47 and 48. They are continued in longitudinal direction by
adjacent cut lines

CA 02799980 2012-11-20
WO 2011/144356 PCT/EP2011/002534
12
40. Length 60 of such a locking slit 33 or 34 with the lateral cut lines 40
correspond to the length
39 of a locking lug 35 with lateral locking extensions 38. This length is used
for introducing the
locking lugs with locking extensions.
The tearing strip 15 divides the blank 54 into two halves that are symmetrical
to each other. In
figure 4, a view on the inner surface of the corresponding blank 45 or the
container according to
figure 2 is illustrated. In this view, the tearing strip 15 is defined by
partially impressed cut lines
29 and 30, which define inner ends or lateral edge portions 21 and 22 of the
tearing strip 15. On
the outer surface or top surface of the blank 45, see also the container
according to figure 1,
there are two further partially impressed cut lines 27 and 28 that define ends
of corresponding
connecting edge portions 23 and 24. The edges overlap each other and together
have the same
material thickness as the rest of the blank.
The rear walls 6 and 11 of bottom and lid parts 2, 3, are each formed by a
pair of rear panels 49
and 50, respectively. At the ends of those rear panels, fixing lugs 43 are
arranged, wherein such
lugs are also arranged at longitudinal ends of front panels 51 and 52.
The folding lines 41 between each of the side panels 53 and 54 and the
adjacent bottom panels
46, are all convexly curved in direction to the bottom panel, see the other
folding lines 41
between the side panels 55 and 56, and top panels 47 and 48, respectively. The
swivel joint line
20, see figure 2, is formed by folding line 42 between the different rear
panels 49 and 50 of the
bottom part 2 and the lid part 3.
In figure 5 a blank 45 for a second embodiment of a packaging container
according to the
invention is illustrated.
Parts of these blanks similar to the blank of figure 4 are indicated by the
same reference
numbers and it is also referred to the corresponding description with respect
to figure 4.
In the following only some differences of the two blanks according to figures
4 and 5 are
outlined.
The main difference is the arrangement of only one tear line 62 which is used
for separating the
two container halves, see also figure 3. It is not necessary to remove a
corresponding tearing
strip 15 but by gripping corresponding handheld portion 19 as part of one of
the front panels 52

CA 02799980 2012-11-20
WO 2011/144356 PCT/EP2011/002534
13
the corresponding container halves can be separated. The corresponding front
panel 52 with the
handheld portion 19 has a longer length compared to the other front panel 52,
which two front
panels 52 are separated by the first tearing line 62.
A corresponding edge connecting the front panel 52 with the handheld portion
19 to the other
front panel 52 or to the first tear line is curved.
In both of the front panels 52 two removeable cards 64 are arranged. Those are
connected to
the front panels by some cut lines 41 and lateral perforated removal lines 65.
Each of the corresponding cards may have some printing on its inner side and
this printing may
be used for getting some reward from the seller of the container, wherein it
is also possible to
first collect a number of those cards before such a reward may be obtained.
Alternatively, cards can be used as identifying tabs to be folded by the
personnel at the selling
point, and in order to identify flavor or type of food inside the container.
It is also possible that only one locking means 14, 16 is used, see also
figure 1, comprising a
corresponding locking lug and locking slit. In case only one locking means is
used this is
advantageously arranged in the remaining container half, which means the
container half used
for consuming the food after removing the other container half. It is then
easily possible to also
open this remaining container half to take out the rest of the food which
cannot be consumed
through the corresponding lateral opening of the remaining container half, see
also figure 3.
It is of course also possible to use the locking means for again closing this
container half.
Moreover, depending on the user and if he is right-handed or left-handed, it
might be possible to
arrange the handheld portion 19 at the other front panel 52 to allow the usage
of the tearing line
62 with a preferred hand of the user.
Moreover, see also figure 1, the corresponding side walls 12 with the concave
curvature are in
particular used for supporting the container by at least some fingers of the
user not only during
consumption of the food after removing one container half, but this sidewall
is also used for
holding the container during separation of the two container halves. Moreover,
during this
separation it is also helpful if other fingers of the user grip or hold the
corresponding rear wall 6
formed by the rear panels 49 and 50. During this holding of the rear wall, it
is possible that the

CA 02799980 2012-11-20
WO 2011/144356 PCT/EP2011/002534
14
particular pairs of rear panels 49 and 50 are slightly pressed to the inside
of the container, in
particular along the corresponding swivel joint line 20, such that also the
rear wall has some
concave form which will further improve the holding of the container, in
particular during the
separation of the container halves.
This is of course also true in view of the other embodiment of the present
invention.
The particular packaging container according to the present invention allows
an easy separation
of the container in two halves, from which each half is closeable, wherein a
corresponding
tearing strip or lines extend perpendicular to a swivel joint line between the
bottom and lid parts
of the complete packaging container. The tearing strip or lines surround the
container, and it is
easily possible to remove the tearing strip or to separate the container
halves with the tearing
line and then open the packaging container by removing one of the container
halves. The other
container half can be used for consuming food directly from said container
half. This container
half can then be opened for removing the rest of the food that cannot be
consumed directly from
the container. This remaining container half can be closed again to keep the
food for
consumption later.
Any spilling out of the container or leakage is prevented by such a container,
and it is also easily
possible to remove the food from the remaining container half.

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

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Please note that "Inactive:" events refers to events no longer in use in our new back-office solution.

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Event History

Description Date
Application Not Reinstated by Deadline 2015-11-03
Inactive: Dead - Final fee not paid 2015-11-03
Deemed Abandoned - Failure to Respond to Maintenance Fee Notice 2015-05-20
Deemed Abandoned - Conditions for Grant Determined Not Compliant 2014-11-03
Notice of Allowance is Issued 2014-05-01
Letter Sent 2014-05-01
4 2014-05-01
Notice of Allowance is Issued 2014-05-01
Inactive: Q2 passed 2014-04-15
Inactive: Approved for allowance (AFA) 2014-04-15
Maintenance Request Received 2014-04-09
Amendment Received - Voluntary Amendment 2014-04-01
Inactive: S.30(2) Rules - Examiner requisition 2013-12-12
Inactive: Report - No QC 2013-11-28
Letter Sent 2013-08-15
Inactive: Single transfer 2013-07-23
Maintenance Request Received 2013-04-08
Inactive: Cover page published 2013-01-21
Inactive: IPC assigned 2013-01-11
Application Received - PCT 2013-01-11
Inactive: First IPC assigned 2013-01-11
Letter Sent 2013-01-11
Inactive: Acknowledgment of national entry - RFE 2013-01-11
Inactive: IPC assigned 2013-01-11
National Entry Requirements Determined Compliant 2012-11-20
Request for Examination Requirements Determined Compliant 2012-11-20
All Requirements for Examination Determined Compliant 2012-11-20
Application Published (Open to Public Inspection) 2011-11-24

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2015-05-20
2014-11-03

Maintenance Fee

The last payment was received on 2014-04-09

Note : If the full payment has not been received on or before the date indicated, a further fee may be required which may be one of the following

  • the reinstatement fee;
  • the late payment fee; or
  • additional fee to reverse deemed expiry.

Patent fees are adjusted on the 1st of January every year. The amounts above are the current amounts if received by December 31 of the current year.
Please refer to the CIPO Patent Fees web page to see all current fee amounts.

Fee History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Paid Date
Basic national fee - standard 2012-11-20
Request for examination - standard 2012-11-20
MF (application, 2nd anniv.) - standard 02 2013-05-21 2013-04-08
Registration of a document 2013-07-23
MF (application, 3rd anniv.) - standard 03 2014-05-20 2014-04-09
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
SEDA S.P.A.
Past Owners on Record
GIANFRANCO D'AMATO
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Description 2014-03-31 18 717
Drawings 2012-11-19 3 50
Representative drawing 2012-11-19 1 5
Claims 2012-11-19 4 157
Abstract 2012-11-19 1 64
Description 2012-11-19 14 674
Cover Page 2013-01-20 2 44
Claims 2014-03-31 5 165
Acknowledgement of Request for Examination 2013-01-10 1 175
Reminder of maintenance fee due 2013-01-21 1 111
Notice of National Entry 2013-01-10 1 202
Courtesy - Certificate of registration (related document(s)) 2013-08-14 1 103
Commissioner's Notice - Application Found Allowable 2014-04-30 1 161
Courtesy - Abandonment Letter (NOA) 2014-12-28 1 164
Courtesy - Abandonment Letter (Maintenance Fee) 2015-07-14 1 175
PCT 2012-11-19 6 220
Fees 2013-04-07 1 54
Fees 2014-04-08 1 54