EP1916194A1

EP1916194A1 - Modular vessel, particularly for ice-creams

Info

Publication number: EP1916194A1
Application number: EP07003842A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paolo Vacca
Original assignee: Giuso SpA
Current assignee: Giuso SpA
Priority date: 2006-10-26
Filing date: 2007-02-26
Publication date: 2008-04-30
Also published as: ITTO20060159U1

Abstract

A modular vessel (1) for products, particularly for ice-creams is described, comprising at least two mutually separated compartments (2) adapted to contain different types and amounts of products; moreover, such compartments (2) can be mutually joined in a detachable and re-attachable way in order to realise a modular arrangement.

Description

The present invention refers to a modular vessel, particularly adapted to contain ice-creams.
Various types of vessels are known in the art for transporting, also ice-creams, divided into compartments in order to keep their contents separated.
In the field of vessels for ice-creams to be consumed by end users, instead, so far no initiative has ever defended the real purity of artisan-made ice-creams when they are eaten. Artisan-made ice-creams have in fact always been served in such a way that their original taste has not been pointed out.
Supplied to the end user in a cone or a small cup, ice-creams are always offered in such a way as to mix and "dirty" their tastes, especially at the end of eating ice-creams themselves.
Moreover, no modular vessels are provided that can be created and immediately suited to the amount of product to be consumed.
Object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems, by providing a modular vessel, in particular for ice-creams, that allows providing the end user with ice-creams separated in their tastes.
A further object of the present invention is providing a vessel as stated above that is modular, namely that can be made by composing two or more separate portions, in order to suit the vessel to the amounts and types of provided products (ice-creams).
Through the present invention that allows mutually separating the tastes, the consumer can not only initially appreciate the characteristics of every single portion, but also, in a following stage, be guided towards different couplings and taste an harmony of tastes not mutually mixed, but "flanked", in order to be mutually exhalted.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained by a modular vessel as claimed in Claim 1. Preferred embodiments and nontrivial variations of the present invention are claimed in the dependent Claims.
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a two-compartment vessel according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second possible embodiment of a four-compartment vessel according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a top view of the vessel of Fig. 2; and
Figure 4 is a side view of the vessel of Fig. 2 that shows some alternatives of the fastening means of the various compartments.

With reference to the Figures, a preferred embodiment of the modular vessel of the present invention is described. It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to the described vessel without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as appears from the enclosed claims.
The modular vessel 1 of the present invention is adapted to contain products in general, but can be particularly and preferably applied to the field of ice-creams: it comprises at least two compartments 2 that are mutually separated and adapted to contain different types and amounts of products.
Moreover, such compartments 2 can be mutually joined in a detachable way: in particular, Figure 1 shows an example of vessel 1 in which the compartments 2 are mutually joined unmovably, while Figures 2 and 3 show the presence of compartments 2 that are mutually detachable (and/or re-attachable, as will be described below).
In order to realise the detachability characteristic, the compartments 2 are mutually joined along at least one side made of material that can be broken, or at least one side equipped with weakening notches 3 adapted to allow breaking the side joining the various compartments 2.
In order to increase the modularity of the inventive vessel, the compartments 2 can further be adapted to be mutually joined after having been detached, in order to realise various final arrangements according to their applications.
For such purpose, the compartments 2 are equipped with fastening means 5, 7, 9, adapted to fasten and keep joined the compartments 2 one to the other.
For example, but absolutely in a non-limiting way, such fastening means 5, 7, 9, can be composed of Velcro® bands 5, two of which are shown in Figure 4 under different shapes (trapezoidal, elongated, etc.).
As one of many possible alternatives, the fastening means 5, 7, 9, can instead be composed of at least one ring 7 on one compartment 2, adapted to engage at least one corresponding hook 9 placed on another compartment 2.
In the shown arrangement, therefore, the compartments 2 are arranged joined along a straight line, two (Fig. 1) or four (Fig. 2 - 4) as a number: it is obvious that other joining arrangements of the compartments 2 can be adopted, using a number of compartments 2 at will.
Still as shown, the compartments 2 are made shaped as small cups adapted to contain ice-cream. According to the common, also non-limiting, practice, the small cups can have a capacity of 75 cc each (for example in the arrangement of Fig. 1), or of 45 cc each (for example in the arrangement of Fig. 2 to 4).
Some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described: obviously, the skilled people in the art will immediately realise that numerous variations and modifications can be performed, functionally equivalent to the previous ones, that fall within the scope of the invention as pointed out in the enclosed claims.

Claims

Modular vessel (1) for products, particularly for ice-creams, characterised in that it comprises at least two mutually separated compartments (2) adapted to contain different types and amounts of products.
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said compartments (2) are detachably joined one to another.
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that said compartments (2) are mutually joined along a side made of a material that can be broken, or equipped with weakening notches (3) adapted to allow breaking the joining side between the various compartments (2).
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said compartments (2) are adapted to be joined again one to another after they have been detached.
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that said compartments (2) are equipped with fastening means (5, 7, 9) adapted to fasten and keep joined said compartments (2) one to another.
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that said fastening means (5, 7, 9,) are composed of Velcro® bands (5).
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that said fastening means (5, 7, 9,) are composed of at least one ring (7) adapted to engage at least one corresponding hook (9).
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said compartments (2) are arranged joined along a straight line.
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said compartments (2) are four.
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said compartments (2) are shaped as small cups adapted to contain ice-cream.
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that said small cups have a capacity of 75 cc. each.
Modular vessel (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that said small cups have a capacity of 45 cc. each.