FR2697331A1 - Spoon for dispensing medicine, e.g. in hospital or chemists - has medicine contained in spoon cup by sealing film which also provides protection against heat - Google Patents

Abstract

The spoon cup(1) contains a dose of a required product(2) which is protected by a heat applied sealing film(4) which covers the outside surface(4) of the spoon. The film(3) has at one end a tongue(5) as a film removing aid, which is pressed into a slot(6) formed in the spoon handle(7). Another slot(8) removes warm air produced during sealing from the product, this slot is closed during the sealing process. USE/ADVANTAGE- Can be used in numerous places for dispensing set amount of product, e.g. in hospitals or chemists, or in food industry; in restaurants on trains, planes, or ships.

Description

SMALL DOSING SPOON
The present invention relates to a small measuring spoon containing a dose of a desired food or drug product protected and closed by a protective food film.

 In known devices of this kind, no object has performed the same function as this. Currently, it is necessary to have the desired product in a box, take a certain amount with a small spoon and mix it in water or milk, or another liquid, contained in a glass or a bowl.

 However, this has the drawback of having the product in a box which will be opened and closed each time it is used, thus making the product more perishable. In addition, the desired product will have to be dosed each time with the disadvantage of taking too much or not enough, or overturning the box.

 By comparison, there is also a measuring spoon, but this has the disadvantage of only serving as a volume indicator.

 The device according to the invention makes it possible to avoid these drawbacks. The small measuring spoon contains a dose of the desired product, which is protected and closed by a protective food film. Thus protected, the product can be stored. In addition, the content is already dosed at a certain variable amount depending on the desired product.

 The use of the small measuring spoon is simple and quick, so it can be used by a child as well as an adult.

It is enough for this to remove the protective film using its small tab which it is provided with, then the small measuring spoon with its content dosed at a certain variable quantity according to the desired product is immersed in a liquid, water, milk or other, hot or cold, contained in a glass or in a bowl with freeze-dried products. The mixing of the product with the liquid is done instantly by stirring slightly with the teaspoon and you get a drink or a soup or a medicinal remedy ready to be consumed.

 The sale of small measuring spoons can be in the form of individual sachets or in packages.

 The device which is the subject of the invention comprises a small measuring spoon which contains a dose of the desired food or drug product, protected and closed by a heat-sealed plastic food film or any other heat-weldable material of equivalent technical characteristic. The small measuring spoon which is made of plastic or metallic material contains a dose of desired product such as, for the food sector: soup, soluble coffee, chocolate, milk powder, freeze-dried tea, freeze-dried herbal tea, this with or without sugar. For the medical field: aspirin, vitamins, antibiotic, syrup or any other medical substance to be absorbed in oral doses.

 The small measuring spoon will be of several formats depending on the amount of product required. If it is a freeze-dried soup, the measuring spoon will be larger than if it is a soluble coffee. The desired product found in the small measuring spoon is protected by a heat-sealed plastic food film which is transparent or opaque. This protective and obturating film is provided at one end with a small uncapping tab which is pressed into a protective groove located on the handle of the small spoon, this in order to avoid accidental removal of the protective and obturating film.

 This food film is heat-sealed over the entire periphery of the teaspoon. A vent groove is arranged on the top of the mold of the small spoon to allow to expel the hot air produced by the thermal welding by exerting a pressure to press the film against the product and thus avoid the rest of air which , depending on the product, could be harmful to their conservation. Then this vent groove is in turn closed by heat sealing.

 The different phases of the heat seal are as follows: 1 / Heat seal of the periphery of the spoon.

2 / Pressure on the film during welding to expel the hot air from the inside through the vent groove.

3 / Heat sealing the film on the vent groove to close the assembly.

 A film forming a colander allows the use of products such as ground coffee or natural tea leaves or herbal teas. This film forming a strainer or filter will be made of perforated woven or non-woven plastic, or of fabric gauze. It will be placed above the product and below the protective film. It will also be heat-welded around the entire periphery of the teaspoon.

 Alternatively, the strainer film can be replaced with a filter bag containing the product. This sachet can be free inside the spoon or fixed punctually inside. In the case of lyophilized product, the second inner film forming a strainer or filter or the inner bag can be omitted.

 According to a second variant, the protective and sealing food film can serve as an advertising medium.

 According to a third variant, the tongue protection groove can be suppressed insofar as it is not necessary to ensure its protection against accidental tearing.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, an embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

 As shown on board 1/1, the device comprises a small dosing spoon 1 which contains a desired product 2 protected by a food film 3 heat-sealed on the periphery 4 of the small spoon 1. The food film 3 is provided at one end with a small uncapping tab 5 which is pressed into a protective groove 6 located on the handle 7. A vent groove 8 located in the protective groove 6 makes it possible to expel the hot air produced by heat sealing the food film 3.

 According to a variant, a woven or perforated film 9 forms a colander or a filter.

 The device object of 1 invention can be used for catering, in transport such as rail, air, sea, road or also in the medical field in hospitals, pharmacies, or in the food trade.

Claims (3)

1 / Small dosing spoon containing a dose of a desired food or drug product, characterized in that it comprises a food film (3) heat-sealed on the periphery (4) of the small spoon (1) and provided with one end of a small uncapping tab (5) which is pressed into a protective groove (6) and a vent groove (8) located on the handle (7), as well as a second film (9) in woven or non-woven perforated plastic or in gauze of heat-sealed fabrics on the periphery (4) of the small measuring spoon (1) forming a colander or a filter located between the product (2) and the protective and obturating film (3 ). 2 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat-sealed food film (3) is transparent or opaque, made of food-grade plastic or any other heat-weldable material, of equivalent characteristic, which can also serve as an advertising medium. 3 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second film (9) colander or filter, can be removed and or replaced by a filter bag containing the product (2), this bag being fixed or free in the teaspoon.