Alimentary product set

The present invention relates to a kit comprising a food product.

From the description IT-U-163 428 a set of this type is known.

In such sets, the two half-shells are usually chocolate half-shells, and the dish is a capsule or housing, usually made of plastic and placed in a cavity formed by the two half-shells in their connected position.

A toy element such as, for example, a small toy that can be assembled from many elements, jewelry etc. can be placed in this capsule or housing. In this sense, the term "additive," as used in this specification and / or claims, has the broadest meaning to include, for example, any object that can be used in conjunction with a food product as a "surprise" as for example a confectionery and / or additives such as a so-called "stacker" for laying a cream product, for example, on a slice of bread.

The object of the invention is to provide an assembly that is easier to manufacture, more flexible, in particular with respect to the characteristics of the edible part of the assembly, as well as with enhanced playability.

A kit containing a food product, comprising two half-shells, with their respective openings connected in a frontal manner, at least one of which may be a dish for the additive, according to the invention characterized by one of the half-shells being the edible part of the set and the other half-shells is made of inedible material and is a dish for the additive.

Preferably, one of the half-shells is formed by a body of edible material.

Preferably, one of the half-shells is in the form of a body of inedible material and includes a filling of edible material.

Preferably, the half-shells are joined together and have an oval shape when joined.

Preferably, the half-shells have approximately the same dimensions.

Preferably, at least one of the half shells comprises a body whose opening is closed by a plug.

Preferably, the plug is a layer of material such as aluminum or plastic.

Preferably, the stripping and removal element is connected to the plug.

Preferably, the stripping and removal element comprises a tongue protruding from the plug.

Preferably, the plug has a protruding peripheral edge, attached to the corresponding protruding edge of the attached body.

Preferably, one of the half shells comprises a body of edible material, the opening of which is closed by a closure, of similar edible material.

Preferably, the body and closure are of the same edible material.

Preferably, the body of one of the half-shells is made of wafer material.

Preferably, one of the half-shells has an outer layer of material such as chocolate.

Preferably, the shell body of one of the half-shells is of a material such as chocolate.

184 136

Preferably, one of the half shells comprises a filling.

Preferably, the filling is a cream filling.

Preferably, a toy and / or stacker additive is arranged in the half-shell.

Preferably, the additive comprises an element connected to the plug and selectively removed from the plug.

Preferably, both half-shells have a coating printed on them from the outside.

Preferably, the opening of at least one half shell is closed by a plug, wherein the plug is opened after the half shell is separated.

Preferably, one half shell and end cap have overlapping opening flaps and the other half shell has an opening flap attached that is offset relative to the mutually superposed opening flaps.

Preferably, the mutually applied opening flaps are separated and the plug is removable from one half-shell.

The object of the invention in an embodiment is shown in the drawing, in which fig. 1 is a perspective view of a food product assembly according to the invention, fig. 2 - a section taken along the line II-II in fig. 1, showing the first possible embodiment of the kit according to the invention, fig. 3 - exploded perspective view of the first possible embodiment of the kit according to the invention, fig. 4 another perspective view of an exploded further possible embodiment of the kit according to the invention.

Set 1 containing a food product can be used especially in combination with sugar products. This indication of possible use is not a limitation on the scope of use of the invention.

Specifically, the term "kit" is used herein to designate a kit comprising both edible and inedible parts combined together to form a specific and independent article.

In the embodiment to which the drawing refers, the set 1 has the shape of an egg, e.g. an egg having the dimensions of a chicken egg, in which two half-shells (in the embodiment shown semi-oval) can be distinguished 2 and 3.

The two half-shells 2 and 3 have approximately identical dimensions and are therefore to be connected to each other in front of their similar oval holes.

Thus, the invention is suitable for the use of various shapes, with half-shells having, for example, spherical, multi-walled shapes etc. and / or half-shells having dimensions and shapes that differ from each other.

For example, while maintaining the overall shape of the egg at all times, the two half-shells 2 and 3 can be made such that, when they are joined together, one half-shell forms the bottom end or base, and the other forms the lid or upper end of the egg shape. It doesn't matter which of the two half-shells (i.e. base or lid) forms and / or contains the edible part of the set.

While the overall appearance of the assembled set 1 (shown in Fig. 1) remains the same, the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 to 4 may differ from each other, mainly the characteristics of the first half-shell 2 to be and / or contain the edible part set.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the half-shell 2 comprises a crust-shaped body 4 made of a wafer material that includes a filling 5, such as, for example, hazelnut cream and which is closed by a closure 6, in the form of a layer also made of wafer material that extends across the hole. The outline of the closure 6 corresponds to the internal shape of the opening of the body 4 and therefore will ensure its closure and the resulting protection of the cream filling 5 against the external environment.

184 136

The set 1 thus made (which can be made using known techniques that need no representation because they are not related to the understanding of the invention) is then covered ("covered") with a layer 4a of a cream, for example a chocolate flavored cream.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, reference number 7 denotes a shell body made of chocolate or the like and containing a cream filling 8 (analogous to the cream filling 5 shown in the embodiment of figure 2). Also in this case, the opening of the shell body 7, containing the filling 8, is closed by a cover-shaped closure 9 having an oval circumference. In this case, the closure 9 is also made of chocolate or the like, applied to the orifice of the body 7 and welded therewith (using known techniques) so as to isolate the filling 8 from the external environment.

In a further embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the half-shell 2 instead comprises a shell-shaped body 14 made of inedible material (or non-food, these two terms being used synonymously here), such as, usually, molded plastic which can be used in contact with food. The body 14 includes a cream filling 15 (analogously to fillers 5 and 8 of the embodiments shown in Fig. 2 and 3), as well as possibly a layer similar or the same as the layers constituting the closure 6 and 9, actually retaining filling 15. Also in this case the opening of the body 14, which opening has, in this case, an edge 14a which projects in the direction the outer half shell 2 is closed by a coating-shaped layer or plug 16 which acts as a diaphragm, made, for example, of egg-shaped plastic. In this case, the end cap 16 is the bottom of a shallow cup body equipped around the periphery of its opening with a peripheral edge 16 a, similarly egg-shaped, joined (e.g. by welding) to the corresponding edge 14 a of the body 14 to seal the filling 15 inside the half shell 2.

In any case, the presence of a layer or diaphragm that separates the edible part from the additive 10, no matter how the layer or diaphragm was made, allows the edible material to be held in place, even if it is, or may become, liquid ( for example due to softening caused by temperature).

It is understood that the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, like the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is intended to be an example only. While the purpose of forming the half-shell is maintained, which is the edible part of the assembly 1 (possibly containing the edible element, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 and 3), possible embodiments are practically infinite, examples may include: praline shapes with paste or cream fillings, possibly containing dried fruit, liquid or syrupy interiors, etc.

In all the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the half-shell 3 is intended as a receptacle for the additive 10, containing, for example, one or more toy elements, such as a small toy and / or "stacker". Fig. 4 shows how, as an alternative to being placed in the half-shell 3, such an additive 17 in the form of a "stacker" can be made of a piece that is integral or connected to the plug 16 and made by, for example, hot forming. A portion of the end cap 16 forming the stacker can be removed from the end cap 16 by breaking one or more protrusions that attach it to the end cap 16. When the appendix 17 is the part connected to the end cap. 16, this part is usually placed on the side of the end cap 16, which is opposite to the mass of the filling 15. The half-shell 3 is here made of a body 11 made of inedible material (for example, it is a molded plastic half-shell). In the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the opening of the body 11 is closed with a plug 12 to prevent accidental falling of the toy additive. It can be, for example, aluminum foil or a sheet of other material of the type used

184 136 now for the production of plugs in the food industry, applied (preferably welded) to an opening in the body 11. In this way it can be easily peeled off and / or removed by the user, for example by pulling the removal / tearing element 13 in the form of a tongue so that uncover completely or partially the opening of the body 11 in order to gain access to the toy elements and remove them from the set 1. The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 shows how the end cap 12 may become redundant due to the presence of a end cap 16 provided with a peripheral edge 16a. By attaching its peripheral edge 16a to the edge 14a of the body 14 of the half shell 2 and to the corresponding peripheral flange 11a of the body 11 (this is usually achieved by welding from the above preparation of the kit), the end cap 16 can, in fact, act as a closure for both half shells 2, 3 .

The closing system of the set shown in fig. 4, formed by a peripheral flange 11a, and edges 14a, 16a protruding around the periphery of the connecting zone, can be made in such a way as to allow, first, the opening of the half-shell 3 containing the toy element, and only then the half-shell 2, containing edible mass. This is achieved by positioning the opening flap 19a on the half-shell containing the edible mass over the opening flap 19b of the end caps 16 in such a way that the two superimposed flaps 19a, 19b were offset from the flap 20 located on the second half shell.

In this way, the person opening the set 1 can squeeze overlapped flaps 19a, 19b with one hand and flap 20 with the other hand, and then move his hands apart. The half-shell 3 is thus separated from the half-shell 2, which, however, is securely closed with a plug 16. It can be removed from the half-shell 2 by pulling the opening tabs 19a and 19b apart.

The system by which the half-shells 2, 3 and the end cap 16 are connected can change, but must allow easy opening. For example, the end cap 16 may be heat-sealed to the half-shell 2 containing the edible mass, or instead may be attached by means released to the half-shell 3 containing the toy element. A further example may be that the end cap 16 is releasably connected to the inside of the half-shell 2 containing the edible mass, with the two half-shells 2, 3 connected together by releasing welding.

Of course, the basic object of the invention remains the same, and the construction details and embodiments may be different. This applies in particular to the many construction details of the half-shells 2 and 3, illustrated with reference to the various possible embodiments shown in Figs. 2 to 4. These details can be freely changed and transferred between different embodiments. In particular, although in both embodiments shown in Fig. 2 and 3, both openings half-shells 2 and 3 are closed (half-shell 2 by closure 6 and 9 of edible material, and half-shell 3 through a plug 12 of sheet material), this embodiment, although preferred, is not in any way superior. The half-shell 2 can, in fact, simply be a hollow half-shell made of food material that has no filling and therefore does not require closing the opening.

Similarly, the presence of a plug 12, although preferred to make the half-shell 3 a unit that can be moved, especially during the manufacture of kit 1, without risking that the additive 10 accidentally falls out, is not mandatory. The half-shell 3 can in fact be made without the attached closure, as seen in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, by using a closure (end cap 16) that closes the second half-shell 2 to close the opening of the half-shell 3. Conversely, the inedible closure connected to the half-shell 3 may close the half-shell opening 2.

The edible mass stored in the kit may also contain products with a different recipe, for example dark chocolate combined with milk chocolate, arranged in lines, spirals or droplets, supported and, possibly, limited from the top by waffle material, which acts as a storage product for is the call

184 136 to the consumer the effect of eating "bread and chocolate". All these possible variants, and others that are available to experts in the field, are naturally included within the scope of the present invention.

Preferably, when the assembly 1 is made as the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, it can be further processed, for example, by covering with a covering or banding made of sheet material, such as aluminum foil, etc .: this is achieved by current methods, used in the food industry. Conversely, the embodiment shown in fig. 4 (both half-shells 2 and 3 are externally bounded by shell bodies made of inedible material) has the further advantage that the two bodies 60 and 64 can themselves form the outer surface of the assembly by their convex surfaces that have a coating 18 in the form of decoration and / or product identification information, eliminating the need for further packaging operations.

FIG. 4

<img file="PL184136B1_D0001.tif" />

19a

184 136

PIG. 1

Γ +

PIG. 2

<img file="PL184136B1_D0002.tif" />

PIG-3

<img file="PL184136B1_D0003.tif" />

UP Department of Publications. Circulation of 50 copies Price PLN 2.00