FR2829117A1 - PACKAGING DEVICE FOR CONTAINING AT LEAST TWO PRODUCTS, AND ASSEMBLY FORMED BY SAID DEVICE AND PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging device for containing at least two products, consisting of a flexible bag (1) consisting of two outer walls (2, 3), internally divided into at least two compartments (4, 5, 6) by at least one internal wall (7, 8), said walls (2, 3, 7, 8) being made integral with each other by sealing, each of said walls (2, 3, 7, 8) being provided with a zone of embrittlement (14) extending from a same edge (9) of the packaging device in the direction of the opposite edge (10). It also relates to an assembly formed by products (11, 12, 13) intended to constitute a multilayer product and their packaging device. Said packaging device is of the above type and each of the compartments (4, 5, 6) of said device contains at least one of the products (11, 12, 13) intended to constitute one of the layers of said multilayer product.

Description

(20) slides inside the container (10).

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  The present invention relates to the conditioning and packaging of products, especially food. It relates more particularly to a device for simultaneously packaging products of different natures which must be kept separate during marketing and brought into contact S at the time of consumption or use. It may more specifically relate to the packaging of cereal-based products such as bread and dairy-based products, in particular cheeses,

  intended to be consumed together, in overlapping layers.

  There are commercially available food compositions formed by the combination of products of different natures, in particular cereal products such as bread and dairy products such as cheeses, in particular for forming sandwiches. However, these products are prepared at the time of their consumption, or within a period not exceeding one week before the latter, except for products marketed in the "frozen" department, in order to avoid too prolonged contact between the two foods. This is to avoid any migration of moisture from the wet product (cheese) to a drier product (bread) or the migration of other

  substances, for example flavorings.

  We also know so-called "tender" products sold on the "fresh" shelves (products stored at around 5 C), composed of a pastry or cookie product and a fatty filling consisting of pasteurized milk, powder milk, anhydrous protein concentrates and vegetable fats, characterized by a dry extract greater than%. In the latter case, the fat content of the fodder limits the transfer of water to the biscuit product 2s. These products have a lifespan of about ten weeks, but have the disadvantage of being difficult

  transportable at room temperature.

  But apart from the sandwiches made before consumption, or with a short shelf life, there are no similar products or sandwiches made of bakery or cookie products with a cheese-based filling with dry extract lower than 70%. This is due to the problems of conservation and migration of water from the cheese to the cereal product, since these phenomena are harmful for the organoleptic characteristics of the cereal product. They cause in particular a

  softening of the grain product.

  In order to offer such products to the consumer, particularly in the context of new consumption patterns (ambulatory consumption)

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  one of the means consists of presenting the two products, cheese and cereal product, separately to the consumer, either in separate packages, or in separate compartments of the same package so that he reconstitutes the "sandwich" at the time of consumption. Usually the latter mode of packaging is in the form of a tray having at least two compartments forcing the consumer to take separately

  with your fingers the different products to combine them before consumption.

  Document FR 2 798 369 proposes a simultaneous packaging of two or more products, produced by means of at least two joined pouches, made of a flexible material, preferably each provided at their upper part with easy opening means. The products can be released simultaneously by the user after opening the upper parts of each pouch. Two flexible reinforcing elements are associated with this set of pouches, so that the user, by pressing on the lateral edges of these flexible elements, can easily achieve a wide opening of the pouches as well as a pressure on their contents which tends to exhaust these. It is thus possible to make contact between the products contained in the various pouches only at the time of their use or consumption (if they are food products). But by the nature of this packaging and its instructions for use, such a device is practically limited to the packaging of materials intended to be then intimately mixed, and being in liquid or pasty form, or in the form of fractionated solid materials. . It is not conceivable to use it to package ingredients intended to then form a sandwich or the like, at least one of which would be constituted by a massive and rigid baker's or biscuit-maker product, because this would risk being crumbled during its expulsion from the pouch. On the other hand, the mode of expulsion of the ingredients does not lend itself well to bringing into contact, making it possible to constitute a food with superimposed layers without the intervention of

i'utilisateur.

  The object of the invention is to provide the consumer with a packaging device making it possible to simultaneously store and transport, but without mutual contact, ingredients intended to form a product, in particular food, with superimposed layers, and making it possible to form said product during same of said opening operation without

  require gripping of said ingredients by the user.

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  To this end, the invention relates to a packaging device intended to contain at least two products, characterized in that it consists of a flexible bag constituted by two external walls, divided internally into at least two compartments by at least an internal wall, said walls being made integral with one another by sealing, each of said walls being provided with a weakening zone extending from the same edge of the packaging device in

direction of the opposite edge.

  Said weakening zones of said walls are preferably

  located opposite one another when said device is in the closed state.

  The device preferably comprises means for initiating tearing on the edge of the device from which extend the weakening zones. - The means of initiation of tearing can be constituted by

a notch.

  At least some of said walls can be made in

multi-layer material.

  Said multi-layer material then preferably has one of its external layers made of an embrittable material and its other layer

  external made of a non-embrittable material.

  The invention also relates to an assembly formed by products intended to constitute a multilayer product and their packaging device, characterized in that said packaging device is of the preceding type, and in that each of the compartments of said device contains at least one of the products intended to constitute one of the layers

of said multilayer product.

  Said packaging device can comprise as many compartments as there are products intended to constitute said multilayer product. Preferably, the internal dimensions of said compartments are chosen so as to not allow any movement of said products which they contain when the packaging device has been completely sealed.

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  In a preferred application example, said multilayer product

is a food product.

  Said product can then comprise at least one layer containing

  a wet product and at least one layer of a dry product.

  For example, said wet product is or includes cheese, and

  said dry product is a cereal product.

  As will be understood, the packaging device according to the invention consists of a flexible bag, hermetically sealed after introduction of the products it contains, and divided into at least two compartments by one or internal walls. The internal and external walls of the bag each have a weakening zone, said zones preferably being located opposite one another and on a longitudinal plane

median of the sachet.

  When the sachet is opened by the consumer, the different walls separate into two parts which move apart as the opening operation progresses. In particular, the internal wall or walls of the sachet are withdrawn from the zone or zones where the products which they separate face each other, thus bringing them into contact without displacement of said products. It is thus possible for the consumer to reconstitute immediately, without digital contact with the products and without the aid of a separate utensil, a food or other product with superimposed layers, such as a sandwich or

  similar. In the following description, we will designate such a product

  reconstituted by the term "composite product". Advantageously, it is possible for the consumer not to immediately carry out a total tearing of the device, so as to be able to use it as a gripping means

of the product during consumption.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which

  follows, given with reference to the following appended figures: - Figure 1 which shows in perspective a packaging device according to the invention in the closed state; - Figure 2 which shows seen in perspective and in cross section along the median plane 11-ll this same device and its content; - Figure 3 which shows in perspective this same device in

opening price.

  The packaging device according to the invention which will be described and is shown in the figures contains, in this preferred example, three

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  components, intended to form a composite product of the "sandwich" type comprising a filling (for example cheese) and two external layers enclosing the filling (for example bread, biscuit or any other cereal product). The example described may, obviously for those skilled in the art, be suitable for the manufacture and use of a device which does not contain

  as two components, or containing more than three.

  The new packaging device according to the invention is composed of a flexible bag 1 consisting of two external walls 2, 3 and

  comprising three internal compartments 4, 5, 6 in the example shown.

  These compartments 4, 5, 6 are defined by walls 7, 8 in the form of sheets extending between the upper 9 and lower 10 edges of the bag 1 (parallel to a median longitudinal plane of the bag 1). Each compartment 4, 5, 6, contains a product 11, 12, 13. The internal walls 7, 8 and external 2, 3 are made integral by sealing to each other 11, 12, 13, each being provided with a zone of embrittlement 14. The embrittlement zones 14 of the different walls 2, 3, 7, 8 extend from the same edge 9 of the bag 1 in the direction of the opposite edge 10. They are very preferably located opposite one of the others when the device is in the closed state. This simultaneously allows the opening of the sachet, the release of the products 11, 12, 13 and the contacting of the products with each other for their consumption, in a way which allows their relative positions to be preserved as they existed before the opening of the bag 1. Preferably, the weakening zones 14 are

  formed in the middle position on the walls 2, 3, 7, 8.

  Appropriately the weakening zones 14 are designed so as not to damage the part of the material of the sheet of the walls ensuring the protection of each product, and thus to avoid any contact between the products before the opening of the packaging. Preferably, the weakening zones are produced by a laser beam, but any other suitable means making it possible to satisfy the above requirements would be

  usable in the context of the invention.

  Preferably there are on the upper edge 9 of the bag 1 at the weakening zone 14 usual means of initiation of the tear. Thus, in the example shown, this function is provided by a notch 15. Primers could also be envisaged, or any other functionally equivalent means. Sealing zones 16, 17, 18 extend initially on three sides of the bag 1, the upper edge 9 serving

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  when compartments 4, 5, 6 are filled with products 11, 12, 13 before final sealing of the bag 1 according to a fourth sealing zone 19 located

  near the upper edge 9 of the bag 1.

  The sachet 1 is opened by pulling on

  S each side of the upper part of the bag 1, according to the arrows 20, 20 '.

  The force is exerted both on the external walls 2, 3 and on the internal walls 7, 8. The tear, guided by the weakening zones 14, propagates simultaneously throughout the internal walls 7, 8 and external 2, 3 of the bag 1. This gives progressive access to the reconstituted composite product, the various products 11, 12, 13 which constitute it being brought into contact with one another as the internal walls 7 are removed,

8 torn.

  For the production of such a packaging, preferably use materials with several layers chosen from the following families: 1 S Iaque / polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - lacquer / oriented polypropylene (OPP) / Aluminum / Lacquer - Lacquer / PET / polyethylene (PE) / PET - Lacquer / OPP / PE / OPP Lacquer / metallized PET / PElOPP

- Lacquer / PET / Aluminum / Lacquer.

  Due to their nature (composite materials), these materials provide both good protection of the products 11, 12, 13, and a satisfactory ability to seal and weaken the material. Preferably, it is possible to choose a material which can be weakened to constitute the face on which the weakening zone 14 is made, and a material which is not

  embrittled for the layer opposite to it.

  These materials are given by way of example, but any other type of material with one or more layers having the same protection, flexibility and tear-off characteristics can be used in the context of the invention, if it is compatible with a prolonged contact with the products contained by the packaging device, in particular with food. We can possibly use different materials for

  constitute the various walls 2, 3, 7, 8.

  In the case of multi-layer materials, the embrittlement of the different walls 2, 3, 7, 8 is preferably made on the upper outer layer (s) of the material, leaving the inner layers intact, to leave a barrier between the products avoiding any contact between them and

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  any migration of the components from one to the other: water in the case of wet products towards dry products, flavors, etc. Of course the packaging device according to the invention can comprise as many compartments 4, 5, 6 as there are different products 11, 12, 13 intended to be superimposed at the time of consumption to form a composite product, such as a sandwich. This packaging device can also find other applications than in the

food sector.

  An exemplary embodiment of this packaging device will be given by way of illustration and not limitation. This example concerns the case where

  all the walls 2, 3, 7, 8 are made of the same material.

  We start from a coil of a suitable material such as one of those previously mentioned, having a middle weakening zone 14 located in the direction of unwinding of the coil. The unwinding is carried out so as to produce a stack of layers of material according to a number of corrugations proportional to the number of compartments 4, 5, 6 desired; the height of each corrugation defines the height of the sachet 1 and the width of the reel defines the width of the sachet 1. These corrugations are sealed on three sides (in the case of a material with several layers "flesh >> against" flesh> > and "leather" versus "leather"). The sealing is preferably carried out edge to edge

  thermally, but any other known means is possible.

  To access the product receiving cavities, simply cut the material at the unsealed edge so as to obtain a bag 1 open at its upper edge 9. Then place each product 11, 12, 13 in a compartment 4, 5 , 6, and the fourth edge 9 is hermetically sealed. A notch 15 is then made on the embrittlement zone 14, in the sealed part, if the use of this mode of assistance has been retained.

opening the bag 1.

  The advantage of this embodiment lies in the perfect

  superposition of the weakening zones 14 of the different walls 2, 3, 7, 8.

  This packaging is particularly advantageous for the packaging of products of different natures intended to be consumed together, for example bread and cheese. It is particularly suitable for making a sandwich composed of two slices of bread 11 and 13 and a slice of cheese 12 (with which other wet ingredients can be associated, such as raw vegetables, a deli product, etc ....), which will be respectively placed in the

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  compartments 4, 5, 6 of the bag 1 and will be associated when the bag 1 is opened. The latter is produced by first pulling on the tear initiation devices to engage the latter, then on the sides of the bag 1 so that the tear propagates along the weakening zones 14 placed on the internal walls 2, 3 and external 7, 8 of the bag 1, which will ensure the opening of the bag 1 and release the products 11, 12, 13 who find themselves in contact with each other and constitute the sandwich. This packaging is all the more remarkable since it is enough for the consumer with a single gesture to open the packaging and constitute the sandwich, the bottom of the partially torn sachet being used for gripping the product during consumption and avoiding all direct contact with the product. When the wet product 12 of the sandwich has several components, these can be placed all together in the same compartment 5, or be placed in separate compartments so as to be brought into contact with each other only at the moment from the opening

of the packaging device.

  This reconstitution function of a sandwich-type product is all the better assured that the various products 11, 12, 13 present in the closed packaging are maintained in their respective compartments 4, 5, 6, one opposite the other, by having only very few possibilities of movement in their compartment 4, 5, 6. For this purpose, the dimensions of the compartments 4, 5, 6 (their width and their height after sealing the packaging) are optimally chosen for n ' be only slightly larger than the corresponding dimensions of the products 11, 12, 13 which they are intended to contain. In this way, it is certain that when the packaging is opened, the various products 11, 12, 13 will overlap

to each other without overflow.

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Claims (12)

  1. Packaging device intended to contain at least two products, characterized in that it is constituted by a flexible bag (1) constituted by two external walls (2, 3), internally divided into at least two compartments (4, 5 , 6) by at least one internal wall (7, 8), the said walls (2, 3, 7, 8) being made integral with one another by sealing, each of said walls (2, 3, 7, 8) being provided a weakening zone (14) extending from the same edge (9) of the packaging device towards the opposite edge (10).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said weakening zones (14) desUites walls (2, 3, 7, 8) are located one in   facing the others when said device is in the closed state.   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises means for initiating tearing on the edge (9) of the device to   from which extend the embrittlement zones (14).   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said   tear initiation means are constituted by a notch (15).   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   that at least some of said walls (2, 3, 7, 8) are made in one multi-layer material.   6. Device according to resell ication 5, characterized in that q ue led it multi-layer material has one of its outer layers made of a fragile material and its other outer layer made of a non-fragile material. 7. Assembly formed by products (11, 12, 13) intended to constitute a multilayer product and their packaging device, characterized in that the cond ition device is of the type according to   one of claims 1 to 6, and in that each of the compartments (4, 5,   6) of said device contains at least one of the products (11, 12, 13) intended for   constitute one of the layers of said multilayer product.   8. An assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that said packaging device comprises as many compartments (4, 5, 6) as   of products (11, 12, 13) intended to constitute said multilayer product. 282 911 7   9. An assembly according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the internal dimensions of said compartments (4, 5, 6) are chosen so as to allow no movement of said products (11, 12, 13) that they   contain when the packaging device has been fully sealed.   10. Assembly according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in   that said multilayer product is a food product.   11. The assembly of claim 10, characterized in that said product comprises at least one layer (12) containing a wet product and   at least one layer (11, 13) of a dry product.   12. The assembly of claim 11, characterized in that said wet product is or includes cheese, and in that said dry product is