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The present invention relates to packages for at least two-component products according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a blank for producing such packages and a method of producing such packages.
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In many applications, it is advantageous that the two components are only brought together when the consumers so desires, for example immediately prior to consumption of a food product. For instance, a first component may be milk and a second component may be cereal which should be mixed only immediately prior to consumption in order to avoid a premature soaking of the cereal with milk.
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A cereal package of the above type is disclosed, for example, in
US 2003/0161915 A1 . This package is provided with a midportion having compressible side walls and a bisecting wall member which separates the compartments and contents and allows the contents of each to be mixed when so desired by the combination of a pull tab/bladder configuration for the milk and hand pressure. By pulling a first end of a pull tab, the milk and the cereal are connected. Then, by applying pressure to a top wall of the package, a corrugated rib portion is compressed, which causes the milk to pass through an aperture and into a lower compartment and intermix with the cereal. However, connecting the two components requires two distinct movements which have to be performed in sequence. It is even necessary to release the pull tab after the first step and grip the upper portion of the package in order to perform the second step. This makes consumption inconvenient.
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US 5,514,394 A also discloses a packaging assembly for cereal. This packaging assembly is provided with a compressible side wall portion and an impervious membrane having a frangible portion. The membrane separates the compartments such that applied pressure on the top of the package compresses the side wall portion and the downward pressure of the substance in the upper compartment causes the frangible portion of the membrane to rupture and thus allow the two substances to mix together. However, since a simple downward pressure suffices to connect the components, this can happen rather inadvertently.
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It is an object of the present invention to overcome the inconveniences of the known packages for at least two-component products. In particular, the package should allow the at least two components to be connected in an easy way and intuitive way. On the other hand, the risk of causing this connection inadvertently should be reduced.
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In a first aspect of the present invention, these and further objects are achieved by a package for an at least two-component product. The product may be an at least two-component food product. The package is transferrable from a separation state to a connection state. In the separation state, the package comprises a first compartment for a first component of the product and a second compartment for a second component of the product. Of course, the product, in particular the food product, can contain more than three components. For this purpose, the package can comprise, in the separation state, a respective compartment for each of the components.
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The package further comprises separation means, which are designed and arranged such that in the connection state, but not also in the separation state, the first component and the second component are in connection with each other. In particular, the at least two components can be in fluid connection when the package is in the connection state, but not when it is in the separation state. In particular, the at least two components can be mixable with each other when the package is in the connection state, but not when it is in the separation state.
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According to the invention, the separation means are designed and arranged such that the package is transferrable from the separation state to the connection state by a screw motion of the second compartment relative to the first compartment. Within the context of the present application, a screw motion is understood as a motion in which there occurs a simultaneous translation of the second compartment relative to the first compartment along a translation axis and rotation of the second compartment relative to the first compartment about a rotation axis. Preferably, at least in the separation state, the translation axis and/or the rotation axis intersects both the first compartment and the second compartment. Also preferably, the translation axis and the rotation axis are essentially parallel to each other or even coincide.
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The package according to the invention can be offered to the consumer in the separation state, in which the at least two components are not in connection. Thus, with preference, the package is provided in the separation state. By performing a screw motion of the second compartment relative to the first compartment, the package is transferred into the connection state, in which the at least two components are in connection and, in particular, can be mixed with each other. The screw motion can be performed by the consumer in a particularly easy way. In particular, it does not require two distinct steps which have to be performed in succession or between which a part of the package even has to be released. The motion is also very intuitive, as it is similar to the motion of a screw cap of a one-component package. On the other hand, a screw motion bears a relatively low risk of being performed inadvertently. Quite surprisingly, a screw motion with the above function can be achieved by a rather simply unfolding mechanism which will be described in detail below.
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With preference, the package comprises at least three, preferably at least four, most preferably exactly four side walls, wherein the separation means comprise, in particular consist of, separation sections of the side walls. Thus, parts of the side walls provide or at least contribute to the separation of the components in the separation state. Additional parts, such as the membrane disclosed in
US 5,514,394 A , can therefore be dispensed with. Such a package is thus constructively easy and can be simply manufactured and stored. In the connection state, the entire side walls (including the first sections, the second sections and the separation sections) may delimit the space formed by the connected compartments.
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With further advantage, the side walls each comprise a first section and a second section, and the separation sections are each arranged between the first section and the second section. In the separation state, the first sections and at least a portion of the separation sections at least partially delimit the first compartment and the second sections and at least a portion of the separation sections at least partially delimit the second compartment.
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Advantageously, the separation sections each comprise a first separation section portion and a second separation section portion. The first separation section portion of each side wall adjoins, at a first folding edge, the first section of this side wall. In the separation state, the first sections and at least a portion of the first separation section portions at least partially delimit the first compartment. The second separation section portion of each side wall adjoins, at a first folding edge, the second section of this side wall. In the separation state, the second sections and at least a portion of the first separation section portions at least partially delimit the second compartment.
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Also with preference, the package comprises a top wall and a bottom wall. In the separation state, the first sections, the top wall and at least a portion of the separation sections, in particular the first separation section portions, delimit the first compartment. Also in the separation state, the second sections, the bottom wall and at least a portion of the separation sections, in particular the second separation section portions, delimit the second compartment.
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The first separation section portion of each side wall may adjoin, at a middle folding edge, the second separation section portion of this side wall.
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In particular, each first separation section portion may have the shape of an equilateral, right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse, a first cathetus and a second cathetus and each second separation section portion may likewise have the shape of an equilateral, right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse, a first cathetus and a second cathetus. In particular in this construction, the separation sections interact in a way similar to an opening iris diaphragm (but with an additional translation in a third space direction) when the package is transferred from the separation state to the connection state.
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With further preference, the first catheti of the first separation section portions form the first folding edges, the first catheti of the second separation section portions form the second folding edges; each second cathetus of a first separation section portion of a side wall adjoins, at a longitudinal folding edge, a second cathetus of a second separation section portion of an adjacent side wall; and the hypotenuses of the first separation section portions and the second separation section portions form the middle folding edges.
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It is also advantageous when, in the separation state, the first separation section portion of each side wall contacts, preferably congruently contacts, the second separation section portion of this side wall. This provides a compact form of the package in the separation state.
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In the connection state, the side walls may be flat and have the shape of a parallelogram, in particular of a rectangle. Thus, when the package contains exactly four side walls, these four side walls may be arranged such that they delimit a parallelepiped space, in particular a cuboid space. This further simplifies manufacturing and storing the package.
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In order to further guarantee that the components are separated in the separation state, the separation means may further optionally comprise at least one seal, which is designed and arranged, in the separation state, between the first compartment and the second compartment such that it is destroyed during transfer of the package from the separation state to connection state. This destruction of the seal occurs automatically when the package is transferred from the separation state to connection state, so that no additional operating step is necessary as for example the step of pulling the tab in
US 2003/0161915 A1 .
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The seal may be in the form a foil. The seal may comprise or consist of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, paperboard, plastic materials, rubber and metals as well as composite materials thereof. The seal may be attached to the remaining parts of the package, in particular to at least one of the sidewalls, by a form fit (for example obtainable by a rotational or a screw motion), by a friction fit (for example obtainable by plugging in the seal) or by an adhesive joint (for example obtainable by welding such as ultrasonic welding or gluing).
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A second aspect of the invention relates to a blank for producing a package as described above. In one alternative, this blank comprises fold lines which define the separation means, in particular fold lines which define the first folding edges, the second folding edges and the middle folding edges. In a second alternative, the blank may comprise one or more markings for such fold lines. The blank may be provided in a flat state in order to simplify their storage. The blank may then be folded along the fold lines in order to obtain the package. In the second alternative, fold lines are first provided at the markings.
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The package and the blank may comprise or consist of a material known as such for packages, in particular food packages. For example, the package and the blank may comprise or consist of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, paperboard, rubber, metals and plastic materials (in particular plastic materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE)) as well as composite materials made thereof.
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The first and/or the second component may be a liquid or paste of any suitable viscosity or a solid, for example a powder or granular material having any suitable particle sizes. Possible combinations of the first component and the second component of a food product are:
- cereal / milk or yogurt;
- milk powder / water;
- coffee powder / water;
- soup powder / water;
- noodles / sauce;
- soup / bread crumbs;
- salad sauce / croutons;
- beverage / dice of flesh of fruit;
- milk, water fruit juice, yogurt, sweet beverage / functional (in particular probiotic) ingredient in powder form;
- basic food component / food supplement.
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Possible combinations of the first component and the second component of non-food products are
- household applications:
- o two components of a detergent;
- animal food:
- o dry food / water;
- o basic food component / food supplement;
- medical applications:
- craft:
- o two-component adhesive;
- o two-component cement.
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A further aspect of the invention pertains to a method of producing a package as previously described which is filled with an at least two-component food product. The method comprises the following steps:
- a) providing a package as described above in the connection state, in particular from a blank as described above;
- b) optionally filling a first component of the product into the package;
- c) transferring the package from the separation state to the connection state by a screw motion of the second compartment relative to the first compartment, thereby forming a first compartment for a first component of the product, in particular a first compartment in which the first component is contained, and a second compartment for a second component of the product;
- d) filling a second component into the second compartment.
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Step a) may be performed by a folding operation or by a blowing operation (such as in the production of PET preforms). When optional step b) is not performed before step c), it may be performed afterwards, i. e. the first component may be filled into the first compartment between steps c) and d), during step d) or after step d).
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At least one seal as described above may be provided between the first compartment and the second compartment before step c), during step c) or after step c) (in particular between steps c) and d), during step d) or after step d)). In particular, such a seal may be attached to at least one side wall of the package, in particular in the area of separation sections of such side walls. It may be attached by a form fit (for example obtainable by a rotational or a screw motion), by a friction fit (for example obtainable by plugging in the seal) or by an adhesive joint (for example obtainable by welding such as ultrasonic welding or gluing).
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The invention is now further described by reference to an exemplary embodiment, wherein
- Figure 1
- shows a first embodiment of a package according to the invention in its connection state in a perspective view;
- Figures 2a to f
- show the process of transferring a second embodiment of a package according to the invention from a separation state to a connection state;
- Figure 3
- shows a method of manufacturing the package according to Figures 2a to f.
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Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a package 10 for a two-component food product in its connection state C in which both components are in fluid connection. The first component may be cereal and the second component may be milk or yogurt.
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The package 10 contains four side walls 13, a top wall 29 and a bottom wall 30. The top wall 29 has a spout 32 and a lid 33. Each side wall 13 is flat and has a rectangular shape in the connection state C and comprises a first section 14, a second section 15 and a separation section 16 which is arranged between the first section 14 and the second section 15. The separation sections 16 together with an optional seal form separation means whose function is explained in further detail below.
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The separation sections 16 each comprise a first separation section portion 17 and a second separation section portion 18. Each first separation section portion 17 has the shape of an equilateral, right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse 23, a first cathetus 24 and a second cathetus 25. Likewise, each second separation section portion 18 has the shape of an equilateral, right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse 26, a first cathetus 27 and a second cathetus 28.
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The first separation section portion 17 of each side wall 13 adjoins, at a first folding edge 19, the first section 14 of this side wall 13, wherein the first catheti 24 of the first separation section portions 17 form the first folding edges 19. Similarly, the second separation section portion 18 of each side wall 13 adjoins, at a second folding edge 20, the second section 15 of this side wall 13, wherein the first catheti 27 of the second separation section portions 18 form the second folding edges 20. The first separation section portion 17 of each side wall 13 adjoins, at a middle folding edge 21, the second separation section portion 18 of this side wall 13, wherein the hypotenuses 23, 26 of the first separation section portions 17 and the second separation section portions 18 form the middle folding edges 21. Each second cathetus 25 of a first separation section portion 17 of a side wall 13 adjoins, at a longitudinal folding edge 22, a second cathetus 28 of a second separation section portion 18 of an adjacent side wall 13.
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Figures 2a to f schematically show the process of transferring a second embodiment of a package 10 according to the invention from a separation state S (Figures 2a and b) to a connection state C (Figures 2e and f). Figures 2a, c and e show side views, and Figures 2b, d and f show sectional views.
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In the separation state S shown in Figures 2a and b, the package 10 forms a first compartment 11 for a first component 51, for example cereal, and a second compartment 12 for a second component 52, for example milk. In this specific example, the milk 52 is thus contained in the lower compartment 12, which reduces the risk that the package 10 may tilt. The top wall 29, the first sections 14 and a portion of the first separation section portions 17 delimit the first compartment 11. The bottom wall 30, the second sections 15 and a portion of the second separation section portions 18 delimit the second compartment 12. The first separation section portion 17 of each side wall 13 congruently contacts the second section portion 18 of this side wall 13.
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Immediately prior to consumption, the consumer can perform a screw motion of the second compartment 11 relative to the first compartment 12 in order to transfer the package 10 from the separation state S to the connection state C, in which the cereal 51 and the milk 52 and in fluid connection and can be mixed. In more detail, a simultaneous translation along an axis A and rotation about the same axis A is performed. Figures 2b, 2d and 2f illustrate how the separation sections 16 interact in a way similar to an opening iris diaphragm (but with an additional translation along the axis A) when the package 10 is transferred from the separation state S to the connection state C. The spout 32 is arranged near the straight prolongation of one of the longitudinal folding edges 22, which facilitates emptying the package 10 during consumption. Moreover, a portion 63 of the top wall 29 which is arranged opposite the spout 32 is inclined with respect to the axis A, which also facilitates consumption of the product.
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In an exemplary method of manufacturing according to the present invention as shown in Figure 3, a package 10 in its connection state S is provided in a step a). In particular, such a package 10 may be produced in a folding operation from a blank 60 having several fold lines 61 which define the first folding edges 19, the second folding edges 20, the middle folding edges 21 and the longitudinal folding edges 22 and also further folding edges. A top wall 29 having a spout 32 and a lid 33 are then also attached from the bottom, for example by ultrasonic welding.
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In a subsequent step b), a first food product 51, for example cereal, is filled into the package 10, more precisely into the space delimited by the top wall 29 and the side walls 13.
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In a step c), a lower portion of the package 10 comprising the second sections 15 of the side walls 13 is moved in a screw motion relative to an upper portion of the package 10 comprising the first sections 14 of the side walls 13 and the top wall 29. This also implies a screw motion of the upper portion of the package 10 relative to a lower portion of the package 10. In more detail, a simultaneous translation along an axis A and rotation about the same axis A is performed. This may be achieved by a first plunger (not visible here) which has a cross section similar to that of the interior of the package 10 and which is inserted into the package 10 and then rotated and simultaneously moved downwards. Afterwards, a second plunger 62 is inserted in order to bring the first separation section portions 17 and the second separation section portions 18 into close contact. At this stage, a seal, which is not visible here, may also be inserted in the area of the separation sections 17.
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In a further step d), a second food product 52, for example milk, is filled into the second compartment 12, i. e. into the space delimited by the second sections 15 and the separation sections 16 of the side walls 13. Finally, the bottom wall 30 of the package 10 is closed, for example by ultrasonic welding, and the package 10 is reversed so that the top 29 wall is directed upwards.
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The separation sections 16 together with the optional seal form separation means which are designed and arranged such that in the connection state C (see Figures 1, 2e and 2f), but not also in the separation state S (see Figures 2a and 2b), the first component 51 and the second component 52 are in fluid connection with each other.
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The package 10 may comprise or consist of paper, paperboard, rubber, metal or a plastic material (for example PET, PP or PE) or a composite material made thereof.
