GB2380469A

GB2380469A - Hand-held food container with plural compartments

Info

Publication number: GB2380469A
Application number: GB0213876A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gareth Budd
Original assignee: Molkerei Alois Mueller GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Molkerei Alois Mueller GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2001-10-05
Filing date: 2002-06-18
Publication date: 2003-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2022-06-18
Also published as: GB0213876D0; GB2380469B; GB0123905D0

Abstract

A hand-held food container 30 has two or more compartments 32, 34 extending adjacent to each other, which are each opened at the same end of the container, enabling the contents to be simultaneously directly consumed by sucking squeezing and/or pouring. In use, the compartments are vertically oriented. Opening means may be provided for the compartments, consisting of lines of weakness, perforations or a preformed cut. The compartments can be of different sizes. The container is manufactured from plastics material, in such a fashion that it is defined by top and bottom seams 38, 40, a seam 36 separating the two compartments, and folds in the plastics defining the side edges. The seams are produced by heat sealing. One embodiment of the opening means is a seam 38 with a deeper mid-portion 42, with a slot 44 extending across. Weak points 45 at either end of slot 44 will cause tear propagation along dotted lines 46, opening both compartments.

Description

Food Container This invention concerns improvements in or relating to food containers, and particularly but not exclusively to a food container for two or more food products which are to be consumed simultaneously.

People's eating habits are continuously evolving and it is appropriate for food packaging and containers to develop to match these habits. Convenience foods are becoming more popular, including foods which can readily be eaten "on the go"where seating, tables, cutlery and other utensils are not available.

According to the present invention there is provided a food container which can readily be hand held, the container comprising first and second flexible compartments for containing respectively different foods, the compartments in a correct orientation of the container extending vertically adjacent each other such that parts of the compartments can be opened to enable the contents of both compartments to be simultaneously directly consumed by sucking, squeezing and/or pouring.

The compartments may be of different relative sizes.

A formation or formations may be provided to facilitate opening of the compartments. The formation or formations may comprise a preformed cut, a line of perforations, or a line of weakness in a seam or other part of the container. The formation or formations may be provided at an upper part of the container.

The formation or formations may be arranged such that material from the different compartments can be consumed at different rates.

The formation or formations may be arranged such that when opened, openings of substantially the same size are provided in each of the compartments.

The container may be formed of plastics materials, and the shape thereof may be defined by seams between two layers of plastics material. A seam may be provided to define any or all of the top, bottom, sides of the compartment, or a divide between the compartments. Seams may be formed by heat sealing together of the layers of plastics material.

In one arrangement the compartments are defined by top and bottom seals, and a dividing seal between the compartments, with the side edges of the compartments being defined by folds in the plastics material.

The opening formation or formations may be provided in the top seal.

Opening formations may extend from the dividing seal, and desirably to each side. The top seal may have a mid portion which extends downwards further than on each side thereof. The opening formations are preferably provided in the mid portion, and desirably extend laterally and at such a position that when opened, and particularly when the container is folded about the dividing seal, they open across the mid portion and then cause upper parts of each compartment to be opened.

More than two compartments may be provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a first food container according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line X-X of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but of a second food container according to the invention; and Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 but of a modified food container according to the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings show a first food container 10 suitable for containing for instance a two part food product such as a yogurt and a fruit sauce. The container 10 is formed from a folded sheet of flexible plastics material configured to define first and second compartments 12,14 which extend in a correct orientation vertically adjacent each other. The compartments 12,14 are defined by folds in the sheet, a heat sealed dividing seam 16 between the compartments 12,14, and also upper and lower heat sealed seams 18,20. The first compartment 12 is larger than the second compartment to hold for instance the yogurt part of the above described product.

In use part or all of the upper seam 18 is removed for instance by cutting and the contents of the first and second compartments 12,14 can be simultaneously consumed. The container 10 can be folded about the dividing seam 16 such that the compartments 12,14 lie against each other during consumption of the product.

Fig. 3 of the drawings shows a second food container 30 of generally similar configuration to the container 10. The container 30 again has first and second compartments 32 and 34 separated by a dividing seam 36. Upper and lower seams 38,40 are also provided.

The upper seam 38 has a mid portion 42 which extends below the remainder of the seam 38 and is equally spaced at each edge from the outer sides of the compartments 32,34. A slot or cut 44 is provided extending laterally in the mid portion 42 to either side of the seam 36, part way across the portion 42.

Fig. 4 shows a modified version of the container 30. In this instance a slot 44 is provided, and the ends 45 of the slot 44 taper to a central apex to aid horizontal tearing from the slot 44.

In use, the container 30 is filled and sealed in a conventional manner. To obtain product from the container 30, the compartments 32,34 are folded on top of each other about the seam 36 and the top of the container 30 can be torn

off by pulling laterally relative to the remainder of the container 30. The lateral pulling will cause the cut or slot 44 to increase in size laterally to provide equal size openings in the top of each compartment 32,34, such openings being shown in Fig. 3 by dotted lines 46. This arrangement therefore provides for ready opening and with equal size openings 46. Furthermore, inadvertent opening of the container 30 is highly unlikely, as the container 30 can only be readily opened with the compartments 32,34 folded on top of each other.

There are thus described food containers which readily permit two-part food products of the type outlined above to be carried for instance in a pocket or otherwise, and to be readily opened and consumed"on the go"by a person who may be standing or walking. Thereafter the empty container can easily be discarded or stored in a relatively small volume.

The containers are of relatively simple construction and yet provide a food container which provides for considerable advantages over existing containers, and readily permit products to be directly consumed without the need for cutlery or other utensils in contrast with present normal practices.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the container can be formed by a different method. Other formations could be provided to ease opening of the container such as a line of weakness, or a line of perforations. Preformed sealed openings could be provided with means for opening same, and the size of such openings could be arranged such that materials from the different compartments are consumed at the same or a different rate. It would be possible for containers to have more than two compartments, and obviously the different relative sizes of the compartments can be chosen as is appropriate.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A food container which can readily be hand held, the container comprising first and second flexible compartments for containing respectively different foods, the compartments in a correct orientation of the container extending vertically adjacent each other such that parts of the compartments can be opened to enable the contents of both compartments to be simultaneously directly consumed by sucking, squeezing and/or pouring.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the compartments are of different relative sizes.
3. A container according to claims 1 or 2, wherein a formation or formations is provided to facilitate opening of the compartments.
4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the formation or formations comprises a preformed cut, a line of perforations, or a line of weakness in a seam or other part of the container.
S. A container according to claims 3 or 4, wherein the formation or formations is provided at an upper part of the container.
6. A container according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the formation or formations is arranged such that material from the different compartments can be consumed at different rates.
7. A container according to any of the claims 3 to 6, wherein the formation or formations is arranged such that when opened, openings of substantially the same size are provided in each of the compartments.
8. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is formed of plastics materials.
9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the shape of the container is defined by seams between two layers of plastics material.

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10. A container according to claim 9, wherein a seam is provided to define any or all of the top, bottom, sides of the compartment, or a divide between the compartments.
11. A container according to claim 10, wherein seams are formed by heat sealing together of the layers of plastics material.
12. A container according to claims 10 or 11, wherein the compartments are defined by top and bottom seams, and a dividing seam between the compartments, with the side edges of the compartments being defined by folds in the plastics material.
13. A container according to claim 12 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the opening formation or formations is provided in the top seam.
14. A container according to claim 13, wherein opening formations extend from the dividing seam.
15. A container according to claim 14, wherein opening formations extend from the dividing seam to each side.
16. A container according to claim 15, wherein the top seam has a mid portion which extends downwards further than on each side thereof.
17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the opening formations are provided in the mid portion.
18. A container according to claim 17, wherein the opening formations extend laterally and at such a position that when opened, and particularly when the container is folded about the dividing seam, they open across the mid portion and then cause upper parts of each compartment to be opened.
19. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein more than two compartments are provided.

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20. A food container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
21. A food container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
22. A food container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
23. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.