AU769550B2 - Containers with several portions of liquid foodstuffs - Google Patents

Description

CONTAINERS WITH SEVERAL PORTIONS OF LIQUID FOODSTUFFS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to containers that hold two or more portions of a liquid foodstuff, are closed air tightly with appropriate material and are equipped with a second lid to cover them after opening.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Known are the common opaque cups used for yogurt, fats etc. which are closed air tightly with aluminium foil or other pertinent material that is sealed to a flange 2 and are also equipped with a second lid 1, usually transparent, so that when are unsealed to be covered with it.

A similar container appropriately fitted may be used for e sterilized or non-sterilized liquid foodstuffs in portions (e.g.

"i two or more portions of milk for coffee, two or more portions of fruit juices fit for tea or cocktails or for flavoring of drinking water).

The invention provides the second lid with an appropriate peripheral opening for passage of the liquid, so that every time we need a certain quantity of the liquid we 25 are not obligated to lift the second lid. It provides also the container with various means for easy indication of the 2 portions.

Until now no one has thought to use such kinds of containers for liquid foodstuffs in two or more portions. The relevant prior art consists of the following documents: US A 5 363 983 Proshan Nov. 15,1994) US A 5 538 157 Proshan Jul. 23, 1996) The object of the present invention is a container that holds more than one portion of a liquid foodstuff, is closed air tightly with appropriate material and is equipped with a second lid to cover it after opening.

The second lid may not close the entire opening of the container 3 and at the segment where the liquid comes out has an appropriate opening for passage of the liquid i.e.

to 0 peripherally, so that every time we need a certain quantity of the liquid, we are not obligated to lift the second lid.

S•The cups in the above documents are different lids with different function. Apart from other differences, SThe opening of the new second lid 3 is peripheral 25 and has completely different shape.

0 The pin hole 14 does not exist.

e The cups cannot be fitted over the aluminum foil or other pertinent material because they have not appropriate shape.

The advantage of the present invention is that it reduces drastically the cost per portion, keeping the product at high quality levels at the same time. Also the containers are aesthetically acceptable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 Shows indicatively, in cross section, a common prior art container, closed air tightly with appropriate material and covered with a second lid 1 that closes the whole opening of the container.

FIG. 2 Shows indicatively, in cross section, a container of 2 portions, unsealed and covered with a new second lid 3.

o* S o FIG. 3 Shows indicatively, in cross section, a container of 2 and 1/4 portions, unsealed and covered with a variation of the new second lid 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 25 The features of the invention are the following: A. The containers hold more than one portions. As a S...i minimum portion is considered the least quantity that can be used for a time.

Indication of the portions holding in the container may be made in some of the known ways e.g. approximately when we do not need particular accuracy or by means of the usual as on a volumetric tube) volume indications (printed or embossed) on the external of the container, when the containers are transparent or on the internal of the container, when the containers are opaque.

Indication of the portions easily and with acceptable accuracy either the containers being transparent or not, may be effected through step-like scaling form of the container.

The container is divided into sections (usually of equal volume) corresponding to the portions, with step-like scaling 7. The straight line 8 shows the liquid level. The container of FIG. 2 holds two equal portions.

Indication of the portions may be also made with the o employment of different colors. The parts of the container 20 (usually of equal volume) that correspond to the portions, may have different color e.g. the part of the container corresponding to the first portion to be white, the one corresponding to the second portion to be red, that of the third portion to be white again etc.

*lOO The step-like scaling or the colors may correspond to fractions of the portion as well 1/2 of the portion).

Further there might be a combination between them and/or at the same time to mention the usual as on a volumetric tube) volume indications.

At the lower part of the container preferably may be held a small extra quantity of liquid, additionally to the portions 1/2 or 1/4 of the portion) just in case someone needs an extra quantity 9. The container of FIG. 3 holds two equal portions and 1/4 of the portion extra quantity. Indication of the extra quantity is made in the same ways.

The container may have a lip and/or a handle like in jugs or in saucepans.

B. The containers are equipped with a second lid that covers them after being unsealed (no matter how the portions are separated).

The second lid may be a second lid 1 that closes the S:whole opening of the container for better protection of the container and of its contents but every time we need a 20 certain quantity of the liquid, we are obligated to lift the S*.1 second lid 1.

Instead of the second lid 1 that closes the whole opening of the container, the containers may be equipped with a new S. 25 second lid 3. The second lid 3 does not close the entire opening of the container, but at the segment where the liquid comes out it has an appropriate opening for passage of the liquid, so that every time we need a certain quantity of the liquid, we are not obligated to lift the second lid 3.

6 The second lid 3 at the segment of pouring for protection of the opening and of the contents of the container from impurities and/or for better control of the pouring, may projects a little over the flange 2, (ii) may have a minor curvature 4 of various sizes, (iii) may have proper additions like a shield, for protection of the brim of the lid as well as for protection of the whole opening from impurities.

To obtain easy pouring of the liquid, the second lid 3 must allow intake of air through its opening if sufficiently large or from some point peripherally 6, when the liquid comes out. Of course the liquid comes out only through the opening, without drippings.

The part of the container where the liquid pours may be pre-determined when it is equipped with a lip or by the design and the overall shaping of the container) or it may be determined by the opening of the second lid 3 when the top of the container is round).

Given that, usually, to protect their contents the containers are opaque, the second lid is as a rule transparent. Certainly the second lid 3 as well may be taken off completely, if so wished.

If not all the portions are consumed, the container may be kept in the fridge. The unsealed container is secure since it is put in the fridge after one or more portions are consumed, when it is difficult to spill the liquid owing to some awkward movement.

In case the liquid in the unsealed container is of room temperature, when the container is put into the fridge its second lid mists. With proper design and appropriate material of the second lid 3 we can reduce duration of the mist (e.g.

inner side of the second lid 3 to be relatively rough, the second lid 3 to have sloping and horizontal sections, the peak of the second lid 3 to be at the level of opening and flat).

For reasons of protection, the whole container may be packaged in cellophane or only the second lid 3. The most economical way is to package the containers in twos, threes, fours etc., in cellophane.

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Claims (7)

1. A container with several portions of liquid foodstuff, closed air tightly with aluminium foil or other pertinent material which is sealed to a flange provided round the opening of the container, the container being also equipped with a second lid which covers it after opening, characterized in that the second lid does not close the entire opening of the container, but at the segment where the liquid comes out it is provided with an appropriate peripheral opening for passage of the liquid, so that the liquid can be poured out without lifting the second lid.

2. The container with several portions of liquid foodstuff according to claim 1 wherein indication of the portions of the contained liquid is effected through step-like scaling form of the container, so that the container is divided into sections corresponding to said portions, with step-like scaling.

3. The container with several portions of liquid foodstuff according to claim 1 wherein indication of the portions is made with the employment of different colors, so that the adjoining parts of the container that correspond to the portions of the liquid 25 have different colors. 0 6%.ee

4. The container with several portions of liquid foodstuff according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein at the lower part of the container preferably is held a small extra quantity of the liquid, additionally to the portions, just in case someone needs an extra quantity.

The container with several portions of liquid foodstuff according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the second lid at the segment of pouring projects a little over the flange for protection of the opening and of the contents of the container from impurities and/or for better control of the pouring.

6. The container with several portions of liquid foodstuff according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the second lid at the segment of pouring has a minor curvature of various sizes for protection of the opening and of the contents of the container from impurities and/or for better control of the pouring.

7. The container with several portions of liquid foodstuff according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the second lid at the segment of pouring further including proper additions like a shield for protection of the 25 brim of the lid as well as for protection of the whole opening from impurities. O* .t= :i