Device For Holding And Transporting At Least One Container Containing A Food Product, Such As Ice Cream, And Freezer Designed To Hold This Device

Abstract

A device for housing and transporting at least one carton ( 3 ), containing a food product, such as ice cream, includes a thermally-insulated chamber ( 1 ) and an insulated lid ( 9 ). The device includes an element for retaining the carton within a housing ( 2 ) provided in the insulated chamber when a user removes product from the carton and essentially flat element for contact with a hand or fingers of the user, arranged on the upper part of the device.

1 . Device for holding and transporting at least one container ( 3 ) containing a food product, such as ice cream, comprising: 
 a thermally insulated chamber ( 1 ,  1 ′),    an insulating lid ( 9 ),    means of retaining ( 7 ) said container within a housing ( 2 ) provided in said insulated chamber when a user removes product from said container, and    essentially flat means of receiving the pressure of a hand or fingers of said user, arranged on the upper part of said device.    characterized in that it also comprises means for holding and retaining on the insulating lid ( 9 ,  26 ) at least one lid ( 8 ,  25 ) of a container stored in said device.    
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the means of retaining the container ( 3 ) comprise means ( 7 ) of gripping and compressing walls of said container.  
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) is arranged to favour a flaring of flat parts of the container ( 3 ) outwards rather than inwards.  
     
     
         4 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the retaining means comprise means of locking by elastic deformation.  
     
     
         5 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each housing ( 2 ) is shaped in accordance with the impression of a container.  
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it also comprises means ( 30 ) of retaining the insulating lid ( 9 ) in a partially open position.  
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that it also comprises means ( 261 ) of creating a layer of air between the container and the insulating chamber and 
 means ( 19 ,  23 ,  25 ) of allowing said layer of air to communicate with the outside air when the insulating lid ( 9 ,  26 ) is in the partially open position.    
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that it comprises cold accumulation means ( 20 ), and in that the means of retaining the insulating lid ( 9 ,  26 ) in the partially open position are moreover arranged to hold the container ( 3 ) in an position in which a layer of air is created between the bottom of the container and the cold accumulation means.  
     
     
         9 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the insulated chamber comprises a recess ( 6 ,  18 ) opening upwards and onto the housing, arranged to allow a container to be extracted from said housing and/or a lid of said container to be removed.  
     
     
         10 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises several container housings and several insulating lids ( 26 ).  
     
     
         11 . Device according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the insulating lid ( 9 ) also comprises at least one recess ( 10 ) arranged to allow said container lid ( 8 ) to be removed from the means of holding and retaining the lid.  
     
     
         12 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the insulated chamber ( 1 ) and the insulating lid ( 9 ) are separately watertight.  
     
     
         13 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it also comprises optionally detachable cold accumulator means ( 20 ,  33 ), arranged inside the insulated chamber and in thermal contact with the container(s) ( 3 ) arranged in said insulated chamber ( 1 ).  
     
     
         14 . Device according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the cold accumulator means ( 20 ,  33 ) include at least one housing ( 2 ) shaped to hold a container.  
     
     
         15 . Device according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the accumulator housing is shaped in accordance with a total or partial impression of the shape of a container intended to be held in this device.  
     
     
         16 . Device according to  claim 13 , characterized in that it also comprises means ( 125 ,  126 ) of providing a layer of air between the cold accumulator means and the internal walls of the insulated chamber.  
     
     
         17 . Device according to  claim 13 , characterized in that it also comprises means ( 13 ) of positioning a container within the insulated chamber, either in a first position in which said container is in thermal contact with the cold accumulator means ( 20 ), or in a second position in which said container is no longer in thermal contact with said cold accumulator means.  
     
     
         18 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it is arranged to be placed in a freezer.  
     
     
         19 . Device according to  claim 18 , implemented in a freezer ( 104 ) provided with a horizontal opening door ( 103 ), characterized in that it is designed to be placed in a retractable and optionally detachable tray ( 1 ′) moving with said door when it is opened.  
     
     
         20 . Freezer ( 104 ) provided with a horizontal opening door ( 103 ), designed to hold a device ( 1 ′) according to  claim 1 , comprising means ( 100 ,  108 ) of retaining the door and the tray, both in the retracted position, indeformably.