EP3456646A1 - Packaging system for pourable food, in particular seasoning and seasoning mixtures - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging system (1) for pourable food, in particular spices and spice mixtures, comprising a tubular container (2) made of a flexible material with a closed or closable first end (3) and a second end (5) with a closable or closed A removal opening (4), a foot element (6) with a base (7) and a fixing portion (8), by means of which the closed or closable first end (3) of the container (2) can be fastened to the foot element (6), and a Closure (9), for closing the removal opening (4) of the container (2).

Description

The invention relates to a packaging system for pourable food and the like. With the features of the independent claim.

The packaging system according to the invention is particularly suitable for the storage and dosing of spices and spice mixtures, but also of other foods which are present as powder or granules, such as e.g. Salt, sugar, yeast powder; Bouillon powder, protein powder, nutritional supplements, etc. In the following description, spice thus means all foods which are used as powders, granules and / or crystals in the kitchen. Powders for cosmetic applications are meant as well.

Spices are usually stored in solid containers made of glass, plastic, cardboard / metal or metal with a metering opening, which can be provided with a scattering aid in the form of a grid or a perforated surface. Also, containers are known which are provided with a grinder for grinding the contents. In order to protect the contents of the container from external influences and to avoid a loss of flavor, the containers are hermetically sealed by means of a closure. The containers are preferably refillable for economic and ecological reasons. For this purpose, refill bags are commercially available, which are less suitable for the dosage of the content.

A disadvantage of the known containers is that they hold a relatively large amount of content but are rarely used. It is therefore often the case that these MDH (best-before date) have exceeded if they are needed and thus be thrown away. In addition, the known containers need a lot of space. It also happens that the spices clump together (eg by cooking vapors), so that a dosage, even with the built-in scattering aid, difficult to not possible.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging system which avoids the disadvantages of the known and in particular allows flavor retention, saves space, allows a good dosage of the content and contributes to less waste of the content by the relatively small capacity.

The object is achieved by a packaging system according to the independent claim.

The packaging system according to the invention comprises a tubular container made of a flexible material with a closed or closable first end and a second end with a closable or closed removal opening.

The packaging system further comprises a foot element with a base and a fixing portion, by means of which the closed or closable end of the container can be fastened to the foot element.

The packaging system also includes a closure for closing the removal opening of the container.

The container is designed to store spices and the like and is made of a flexible material. The flexible material allows the provision of a container which is stable but deformable by a user, so that the contents can be better dosed or crumbled, for example. In addition, the flexible material allows the container, as described later in detail, can be closed with the closure according to the invention.

The container is tubular and has a first end which is closed or can be closed during assembly of the packaging system by the foot element according to the invention and / or the closure according to the invention, as described in detail below.

The second end points
a removal opening for dispensing the content, which is closable or closed. The removal opening is preferably initially closed and is opened by a user prior to initial use.

The other end may be closed or is closed during assembly of the packaging system by the foot element according to the invention and / or the closure according to the invention, as described in detail later.

Due to the flexible material of the container in the region of the opening is in particular compressible, so that the opening is at least partially closed by superposition of the packaging material.

The container may preferably be provided as a seamless tube, rolled up from a flat blank or blow-molded. For closing the end facing away from the opening in particular sticking, welding, sewing or sealing come into question.

The foot element with its attachment portion allows the connection of the container with the foot element. In this case, the foot member may be formed so that the container is closed when connecting to the foot member. The foot element also has a footprint which allows the foot element and the container attached thereto to be placed on a surface. It should be noted that in the context of the present invention, the footprint does not necessarily have to be formed as a plane. It is conceivable that the standing surface is concave and an edge, preferably a peripheral edge of the concave base surface serves as a support for the foot element.

The closure allows the container to be closed and opened so that the contents are protected from environmental influences, such as e.g. Moisture or air oxidation can be stored protected.

Thereby, a packaging system is provided, which allows the storage of spices and the like., Allows a very simple dosing, wherein the flexibility of the container and coarse-grained contents, for example, can be crumbled / crushed.

The closed or closable end of the container preferably has a cross-section which is substantially round in relation to a longitudinal axis of the container, more preferably circular. The rest of the container may then have a different cross-section. In particular, the cross section changes along the longitudinal axis of the container (ie towards the opening) and becomes increasingly oval, as is the case, for example, with a tube.

The attachment portion of the foot member is preferably formed as a receptacle into which the closed or closable end of the container can be inserted.

The container can preferably be welded to the foot element, glued or connected by shrinking, so that a secure attachment between foot element and container arises. Also, retention means may be present which prevent or at least complicate re-separation after insertion of the container in the foot element.

The receptacle preferably has a cross section which corresponds to a cross section of the container with respect to its longitudinal axis. In particular, the cross section of the receptacle corresponds to a cross section of the closed or closable end of the container.

The receptacle may preferably be formed as a gap, in which the closable end of the container can be inserted and thereby closed. The gap may, as mentioned above, comprise retention means. Alternatively or additionally, the gap can be formed by clearance fit of two components which are joined together to form the foot element. By relative displacement of a component with respect to the other component of the container can then be clamped. The joining surfaces are preferably formed frusto-conical.

The attachment portion of the foot member may also be formed as Aufstecknoppe, on which the closable end of the container attachable and thereby closable. In this case, the Aufstecknoppe assumes the function of a plug and closes the open, the opening facing away from the end of the container.

The closure is preferably designed as a clamp closure and has two legs, which are interconnected by a connecting portion and between which a clamping gap is formed. The opening of the container is compressible in such a way that the substantially flat, open end of the container in the nip can be inserted and preserved. In this case, the container can be folded over below the opening, so that in this case four layers of the container material are inserted into the clamping gap. This is particularly advantageous because the container is better sealed to the outside by the buckling than simply by plugging the closure on the compressed opening. Also, the kinking simplifies plugging the closure.

The width of the nip, i. the distance between the two legs of the closure, may be fixed or variable, e.g. by forming the closure in the manner of a clothespin.

The legs of the clamping closure preferably each have a clamping surface facing the clamping surface, which are arranged in particular substantially parallel to each other.

The width of the closure preferably corresponds at least to the width (transverse to the longitudinal axis) of the compressed container.

At least one clamping surface of the closure preferably has at least one projection, which reduces a cross-sectional area of the clamping gap in the insertion direction of the container.

In this case, the direction of movement of the closure when closing the container is meant as insertion direction, which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The elevations, which reduce a cross-sectional area, reinforce the clamping function of the legs, so that the container is securely closed. In addition, the container, when this is inserted between the legs of the closure, not straight but undergoes a bend in the region of the survey. By this bending of the container is achieved that the adhesion between the container and closure is reinforced and in particular that a closure is not displaced by a restoring force of the compressed container or removed in the worst case.

The foot element and / or the closure are preferably made of a thermoplastic by injection molding. Alternatively, the o.g. Components are made by die casting from a metal or metal alloy, preferably aluminum, by deep drawing, by thermoplastic deformation, by machining or generative manufacturing processes (e.g., laser sintering, stereolithography, polyjet, fused filament fabrication).

The container is preferably made of plastic (eg PET or polypropylene), of a composite material (eg a PP composite or laminate film) with preferably a barrier function (eg against UV radiation and water vapor) or from a mixed composite film (eg parchment with plastic for light-sensitive contents ), also preferably with a barrier function. Alternatively, the container may be made by injection blow molding, extrusion blow molding, plug blowing, extrusion with ring die or additive manufacturing techniques.

The container preferably has a ratio of length to cross-sectional area between 3: 1 and 8: 1. These conditions are very convenient to use.

Preferably, the container has a capacity between 20 mL and 80 mL. Containers with such a capacity are very convenient to use and in particular allow a one-handed dosage of the contents.

The packaging system preferably further comprises a holder for releasably securing the container. The holder in this case comprises at least one receiving opening, wherein the foot member or the closure and the receiving opening are so complementary matched to one another that the foot member or the closure is at least partially inserted and durable in the receiving opening.
The bracket allows the attachment of one or more containers (with foot element and / or closure). The receiving opening is designed such that the foot element and / or the closure can be accommodated therein. The attachment is preferably done by positive locking.

For an improved and space-saving arrangement is possible because, for example, several containers can be releasably secured to a holder, so that they are not as previously "loose" in drawers or cabinets. In addition, the holder can increase the visibility of the container and can also be attached to cabinet doors, in particular on the inside of cabinet doors. This allows better space utilization.

The holder is preferably made of the same materials and with the same manufacturing method as the foot member and / or the closure.

The receiving opening of the holder is preferably formed as a hollow profile with a cavity and a slot. The slot extends in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile.

The foot element (with attached container) is inserted into the cavity, wherein the slot serves as a passage for the container. Thus, like a magazine, a plurality of containers with foot element can be inserted into the holder, which are then lined up one behind the other along the hollow profile. This holder is preferably suitable for exhibition and sale, since it gives the containers stability. The holder is preferably arranged inclined, so that the containers are always moved by gravity in the direction of the lower end of the hollow profile. At the low end, the hollow profile is formed so that only a container with foot element can be removed. It is understood that the container with foot element are inserted at the higher end of the hollow profile. This also has the advantage that the container provided with an earlier MDH must always be removed first.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemässen Verpackung;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der Verpackung gemäss Figur 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Fussteils der Verpackung der Figur 1;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht des Fussteils der Figur 3;

Fig. 5

den Behälter in verschiedenen Sequenzen mit zusammengedrückter und offener Öffnung;

Fig. 6

die Funktionsweise des Verschlusses vor und nach dem Verschliessen;

Fig. 7

eine erste Ausführungsform der Halterung;

Fig. 8

die Halterung des Figur 7 mit eingesteckter Verpackung;

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Verpackung der Figur 1 mit Etikett;

Fig. 10

eine zweite ausführungsform der Halterung; und

Fig. 11

eine dritte Ausführungsform der Halterung.

The invention will be described below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the figures better. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a package according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a side view of the packaging according to FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the foot part of the packaging of FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 4

a side view of the foot part of the FIG. 3 ;

Fig. 5

the container in different sequences with compressed and open aperture;

Fig. 6

the functioning of the closure before and after closure;

Fig. 7

a first embodiment of the holder;

Fig. 8

the holder of the FIG. 7 with inserted packaging;

Fig. 9

a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 1 With label;

Fig. 10

a second embodiment of the holder; and

Fig. 11

a third embodiment of the holder.

In the Figures 1 and 2 a package is shown which comprises a container 2, a foot element 6 and a closure 9. A longitudinal direction of the container 2 is schematically represented by L.

In the FIGS. 3 and 4 the foot element 6 is shown separately.

The foot element 6 comprises a base 21 with a square basic shape and with rounded corners which form a base 7 Are defined. The footprint 7 allows the packaging of the Figures 1 and 2 can be stably placed on a plane. On the side facing away from the base 7 of the base 21, a mounting portion 8 is provided for the container 2. The attachment portion 8 is formed as a projection of the base 21 and has a receptacle 12 in the form of an opening into which the container 2 can be inserted and secured.

In the FIG. 5 different states of the container 2 are shown. The container 2 is made of a flexible material and tubular. The lower end 3, which is inserted into the receptacle 12 of the foot member 6 may be closed or open, since this is already closed when mating the foot member 6 with the container 2, since a cross section of the receptacle 12 is a cross section of the lower end of the third corresponds to the container. In the example shown in the figures, this cross-section is circular.

The opening 4, which is designed to dose the content, can be compressed until the opening 4 is substantially closed (left illustration of FIGS FIG. 5 ). However, the container 2 may be formed so that in the idle state, the opening 4 is substantially closed (left illustration of FIG. 5 ). To open the opening 4, the edges 22 of the container 2 must be compressed (this is preferably done with your fingers), so that the different degrees of opening FIG. 5 can be reached, depending on the effort. This has the advantage that the dosage of the content, the cross-sectional area of the opening 5 is variable, so that the dosage can also be adapted to the needs.

For safe closure of the container 2, a closure 9 is provided, which in the FIG. 6 is shown laterally. The Closure 9 comprises two legs 13, which are connected by a connecting portion 14 with each other. Between the two, spaced-apart legs 13 a clamping gap 15 is formed. The clamping gap 15 facing clamping surfaces 16 of the legs 13 are provided with elevations 17.

The open end 5 of the container 2 is preferably folded over, as shown in the left-hand illustration of FIG FIG. 6 shown.

The closure 9 is simply attached to the folded end 5. The clamping gap 15 is dimensioned so that the container can accommodate the juxtaposed layers of the container material suitable. In addition, the elevations 17 cause a narrowing of the cross section of the clamping gap transversely to the mounting direction L (which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 2). As a result, the clamping action of the closure 9 is additionally increased.

In the FIGS. 7 and 8 a packaging system is shown by way of example in its entirety. In addition to the packaging described above, the packaging system comprises a holder 10 with a plurality of receiving openings 11, of which only two are provided with reference numerals for the sake of clarity. The holder 10 is particularly intended for the storage of the packaging at an end user's home and can for example be attached to a wall or a cabinet door. The openings 11 are shaped and matched to the contour of the foot member 6 and the lower portion of the container 2, that they can be accommodated fittingly and positively. In addition, further means may be provided which additionally connect the foot element 6 to the holder 10 in a force-fitting manner. The packaging can thus be stored space-saving and safe with the holder 10 and can be easily removed if necessary.

In the FIG. 9 a development of the packaging is shown, in which the closure 9 is provided with a label 23 having an opening 24. The opening 24 is used to hang the package. This variant is particularly suitable for presenting the packaging at a point of sale. The opening 24 is shaped accordingly and is preferably used for hanging the package in the manner of a blister pack.

In the FIG. 10 a further variant of a holder 10 is shown in cross section. The holder 10 is formed as a hollow profile 18. A cavity 19 of the hollow section 18 serves as a receptacle 12 for the foot member 6. A slot 20 in hollow profile longitudinal direction allows the protrusion of the container 2. A removal of the package through the slot 20 is not possible because the foot member 6 is greater than the width of the slot 20th is and the base 21 engages behind the hollow profile. The packages are pushed into the holder from one end side of the hollow profile 18 and can also be removed only from one end face. This type of holder 10 is also particularly suitable for the sale of packaging, as they can be presented in an appealing strung together. In addition, the hollow profile 18 can be filled from one side and placed so that the packages are removed from the other side. This ensures that the younger packaging with a longer best before date can not be removed first. If the hollow section 18 is also arranged at an angle, it can be ensured by gravity that for a buyer the packaging can always be easily removed from the deeper-applied front side of the hollow section 18.

Another bracket 10 is in the FIG. 11 shown. In this variant, the receiving openings 11 are keyhole-shaped a circular area 25 and an elongated recess 26 formed. The foot element 6 is inserted into the correspondingly dimensioned receiving opening 11 in the circular area 25. The holder 10 is arranged so that the packages reach by gravity in the elongated recess 26 and are held there, because the base 21 of the foot member 6, the exception opening 11 engages behind. To remove the packaging, it must be moved in the direction of the circular area 25 and pulled out through it. This type of holder is particularly suitable for the sale of packaging.

Claims (15)

Packaging system (1) for pourable foods, in particular spices and spice mixtures, comprising: - A tubular container (2) made of a flexible material having a closed or closable first end (3) and a second end (5) with a closable or closed removal opening (4), - A foot element (6) having a base (7) and a fastening portion (8) by means of which the closed or closable first end (3) of the container (2) on the foot element (6) can be fastened, and - A closure (9), for closing the removal opening (4) of the container (2). Packaging system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the closed or closable end (3) of the container (2) has a relative to a longitudinal axis (L) of the container (2) has a substantially round cross-section. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening portion (8) of the foot element (6) is designed as a receptacle (12) into which the closed or closable end (3) of the container can be inserted. Packaging system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the receptacle (12) has a cross section which corresponds to a cross section of the container (2) with respect to its longitudinal axis (L). Packaging system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the receptacle (12) is formed as a gap, in which the lockable end (3) of the container (2) can be inserted and thereby closed. Packaging system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastening portion (8) of the foot element (6) is designed as Aufstecknoppe, on which the closable end (3) of the container (2) can be plugged and thus closed. Packaging system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure (9) is designed as a clamp closure and two legs (13) which are interconnected by a connecting portion (14) and between which a clamping gap (15) is, wherein the opening (4) of the container is compressible such that the substantially flat, open end (5) of the container (2) in the nip (15) can be inserted and preserved. Packaging system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the legs (13) of the closure (9) each have a clamping gap (15) facing clamping surface (16), which are arranged in particular substantially parallel to each other. Packaging system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one clamping surface (16) has at least one protrusion (17), which reduces a cross-sectional area of the clamping gap (15) in the insertion direction (L) of the container (2). Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims further comprising: - A holder (10) for releasably securing the container (2), the holder (10) comprising at least one receiving opening (11), wherein the foot member (6) or the closure (9) and the receiving opening (11) so complementary matched in that the foot element (6) or the closure (9) can be at least partially inserted and held in the receiving opening (11). Packaging system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the foot element (6) in the receiving opening (11) of the holder (10) is positively retained. Packaging system (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the holder (10) as a hollow profile (18) with a cavity (19) as a receiving opening (11) and a slot (20) is formed, wherein the foot element (6). into the cavity (19) can be inserted in such a way that the container (2) fixed to the foot element (6) protrudes through the slot (20). Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that foot element and / or closure and / or holder made of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic, are produced. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is made of plastic, in particular with a barrier function. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container has a ratio Length to cross-sectional area between 3: 1 and 8: 1.

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