GB2473499A

GB2473499A - Modular container system

Info

Publication number: GB2473499A
Application number: GB0916149A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ajiaz Akhter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-15
Filing date: 2009-09-15
Publication date: 2011-03-16
Also published as: GB0916149D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a modular packaging system 10 which enables food or drink to be stored in separate compartments. The system 10 includes a first 12 and second portion 14. The first portion 12 consists of a wall 18 and a base 16 including a recess. The second portion 14 also consists of a base 22 and wall 24, however the wall 24 is configured to be removeably engaged with the recess in the base 16 of the first portion 12, with the base 16 of the first portion 12 retaining the second portion 14 and forming a sealed container. An additional portion may be attached to the base 22 of the second portion 14. The first 12 and second 14 portions may be attached via interference fit, a flange or complementary screw threads (see figs 3-6). The second portion 14 may also carry a shoulder 48 upon which a receptacle 42 may rest so that it is suspended between the first 12 and second 14 portions. The wall 24 of the second 14 portion may carry a recess and a projection so that it may be coupled with like portions. The first portion 14 may carry an extensible spout (fig 12) with a cap.

Description

MODULAR PACKAGING SYSTEM

This invention relates to a modular packaging system. The packaging system may be used to store food or drink in separate yet connectable sections.

According to the present invention there is provided a modular packaging system comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising: a wall; a base including a recess; the second portion comprising: a wall; a base; wherein the wall is configured to removeably attach into the recess in the base of the first portion such that when the first and second portions are attached, the base of the first portion causes the second portion to form a sealed container.

The modular packaging system may include a third portion; the third portion comprising a wall, and a base wherein the base is configured to removeably attach to the second portion such that the base of the second portion causes the third portion to form a sealed container.

The first portion may include at least one spout projecting from the wall, the spout defining an aperture and configured to receive a cap. This enables the packaging system to have the appearance of a larger bottle whilst still retaining the ability to store multiple different food or drink stuffs in separate containers.

Optionally, the base of the first portion and/or second portion includes a recess configured to receive the wall of the second portion or third portion within it. The second and/or third portion includes a lip arranged to abut the wall of the recess in the base of the first and/or second portion thereby to form a seal The first and second portions, and/or, the second and third portions, can be configured to attach using an interference fit, a flange or complementary screw threads.

Advantageously, the modular packaging system may include a receptacle the receptacle including a flange and the second portion including a shoulder upon which the flange can rest, enabling the receptacle to be suspended between the first and second portions.

Optionally, the modular packaging system may further include at least one side portion configured to connect to the wall of the second and/or third portion. The side portion may include a projection and the second portion includes a recess configured to receive the projection.

The spout may comprises a plurality of members and can be moved between an extended and a collapsed configuration.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular packaging system comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions each comprising: a wall and a base; wherein the wall of the first portion is provided with a projection and the wall of the second portion is provided with a recess; the projection and recess being configured to retain the first and second portion in engagement either through an interference fit, a screw thread or locking means. The locking means may comprise a flange disposed on the projection and a complementary flange disposed in the recess, the flanges having ends which interlocking when the portions are connected together.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a modular packaging system of the present invention; Figures 3 to 6 illustrate different methods of connecting first and second portions of the system; Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a modular packaging system according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; Figures 9 to 11 illustrate further methods of connecting first and second portions of the system; Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a portion of the modular packaging system including a telescopic spout; Figure 14 illustrates the modular packaging system including an intermediate receptacle; Figure 15 illustrates a system according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a system of the present invention including side portions; and Figuresl8 and 19 illustrate an alternative embodiment including side connectors.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of a modular packaging system 10 in accordance with the present invention. The system 10 comprises a first portion 12 and a second portion 14 which are removably attachable to one another. Figure 1 illustrates the system 10 when the first portion 12 and second portion 14 are attached to each other; and Figure 2 illustrates the system 10 when the first portion 12 and second portion 14 are detached from each other.

The first portion 12 of the packaging 10 comprises a base 16, a wall 18, a neck 19 extending from the wall 18 and a spout 20 projecting from the neck. The spout 20 is configured to receive a cap (not shown) and, when the spout is sealed, either by a cap or another mean of covering the first portion 12 forms a sealed container. The base 16 includes a recess (not shown) comprising an indentation in the base 16.

The second portion 14 of the packaging comprises a base 22 and a wall 24 that are integral with one another. The edge of the wall 24 remote from the base 20 includes a step 24 which includes a lip 26. The lip 26 is sized to form an interference fit with the wall of the recess in the base 16 of the first portion 12. By forming an interference fit with the wall of the recess the second portion 14 can be held in attachment with the first portion 12 until the first and second portions are detached by a user. Additionally, the base 16 of the first portion 12, through the interference fit, forms a sealing cover over the second portion 14. In this way the second portion 14 can act as a sealed container when connected to the first portion 12. Thus, food or other perishables can be stored within the second portion 14.

The skilled person will understand that the second portion 14 and first portion 12 may be retained in the attached configuration using any suitable means. Examples of alternative means are illustrated in Figures 3 to 6. In Figures 3 and 4 the lip of the second portion 14 is provided with a flange 28 to improve the interference fit. The flange 28 may be integral with the lip of the second portion 14 or be formed from an alternative material such as rubber. The flange 28 may also be situated in any position on the lip 26 where it can form a seal with the wall of the recess.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 5, the second portion 14 may be provided with a number of projections 30 which extend from the shoulder of the second portion 14.

The base 16 of the first portion 12 is provided with further recesses to receive each of the projections 30 and sized to hold the projections 30 in place through an interference fit.

The projections 32 are preferably provided with a head 34. The head 34 preferably has a slightly larger circumference than the projection 30 and thus acts to facilitate the retaining of the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 in the attached configuration unless a user detaches the two portions. The hood 34 may be integral with the projection 32 or alternatively may be formed separately and attached to the projection 32.

Yet another means is illustrated in Figure 6 where the lip 26 of the second portion 14 is provided with a screw thread 35 and the recess portion of the first portion 12 is provided with a complimentary screw thread. This enables the first and second portions to be screwed together.

Although the screw thread is illustrated on the outside of the lip 26 a screw thread may be provided on the inner surface of the lip and the first portion provided with a projection or rim having a complementary screw thread.

In another embodiment of the present invention the second portion is provided with a neck and spout as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. The second portion 14 in this embodiment is provided with a neck 19 extending from the wall 24 of the second portion 14 and a spout 20 projecting from the neck 19. The recess 36 in the base of the first portion 12 of the system 10 corresponds in shape to the top of the second portion 14 and can, therefore receive the neck 19 and spout 20 of the second portion 14. The first portion 12 and second portion 14 may be held in attachment with each other using any one of the methods described above with reference to Figures 3 to 6.

These methods may be applied to a lip around the neck 19 of the relevant portion.

Alternatively, the means for attaching the two portions may be applied to the spout 20 of the second portion 20 as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Any suitable combination of methods may be used, for example, the spout may be provided with a screw-thread and the neck of the bottle with a flange or projection.

In a further development of the above embodiment the spout of the second portion is provided with a cap which acts to seal the second portion. In this development the cap may be used to attach the first and second portions together using any suitable means such as an interference fit, a flange or a ball cap 38 as illustrated in Figure 11. The ball cap 38 has a spherical portion 40 integral to it acting to facilitate the interference fit between the cap and the recess in the first portion. Alternatively, a lip around the neck of the bottle may be used to attach the first and second portions together as discussed with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

In the above embodiments the neck and spout of either the first and/or second portions may be made from multiple segments enabling the neck and/or spout to be extended and collapsed telescopically as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 illustrates the telescopic neck extended, and Figure 13 illustrates the telescopic neck in a collapsed configuration. The multiple segments are connected such that the extended or collapsed configuration is maintained until an external force is applied, for example, a user moving the neck and spout between configurations.

Optionally, as illustrated in Figure 14, the system 10 may be provided with an inner receptacle 42 which forms a further receptacle. The receptacle 42 has a flange 44 which extends from its wall 46. The second portion 14 is provided with an internal shoulder 48 sized to support the flange 44 and thereby suspend the receptacle 42 without compromising the seal between the first and second portions and enabling the second portion to maintain its storage function.

The first portion may not have a spout but may be shaped in any suitable manner. For example, as illustrated in Figure 16, it may be provided with an open top which can be closed using a lid 50. The lid 50 may attach to the first portion using complimentary screw threads as illustrated in Figure 15. Alternatively, any one of the methods discussed previously may be used, including an interference fit or a flange around the lip of the first portion.

Further, the second portion may be provided with one or more connectors 52 as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17. The connectors 52 are configured to enable one or more side portions 54 to be remotely attached to the wall of the second portion 14.

The connectors 52 may comprise a male member and a female member as illustrated in Figures 17 and 18. However, any suitable attachment means may be used. For example, a screw thread, a projection and recess having an interference fit or a flange may be used.

As will be understood by the skilled person, although the above embodiment has been described with reference to a side portion connecting to packaging having a first and a second portion, one or more portions could connect via a connector on a side wall as illustrated in Figure 18.

The connectors may use any way to engage the two portions. For example, an interference fit between or complementary screw threads on a projection in one container and a recess in the other container. Additionally, a flange may be present on a projection and/or in the recess.

As will be understood by the skilled person, although the present invention has only been described with reference to two portions the modular packaging system may include a third or any number of further portions configured in the same way as the second portion. The third or further portions are arranged to connect to a recess in the base of another second portion.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A modular packaging system comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising: a.awall; b. a base including a recess; the second portion comprising: a. a wall; b. a base; wherein the wall is configured to be removeably engaged with the recess in the base of the first portion such that when the first and second portions are engaged, the base of the first portion retains the second portion and causes the second portion to form a sealed container.
2. The modular packaging system as claimed in any preceding claim further including a third portion; the third portion comprising: a. a wall; b. a base; wherein the base is configured to removeably attach to the second portion such that the base of the second portion causes the third portion to form a sealed container.
3. The modular packaging system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first portion further includes at least one spout projecting from the wall, the spout defining an aperture and configured to receive a cap.
4. The modular packaging system as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the second and/or third portion includes a lip arranged to abut the recess wall of the first and/or second portion thereby to form a seal 5 The modular packaging system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second portions, and/or, the second and third portions, are configured to attach using an interlèrence fit, a flange or complementary screw threads.6. The modular packaging system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second portion includes a projection and the base of the first portion includes a recess configured to receive the projection.7. The modular packaging system as claimed in any preceding claim further including a receptacle the receptacle including a flange and the second portion including a shoulder upon which the flange can rest, enabling the receptacle to be suspended between the first and second portions.8. The modular packaging system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a side portion configured to connect to the wall of the second and/or third portion.9. The modular packaging system as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the side portion includes a projection and the second portion includes a recess configured to receive the projection.10. The modular packaging system as claimed in Claim 3 or any one of Claims 4 to 9 when dependent on Claim 3, wherein the spout comprises a plurality of members and can be moved between an extended and a collapsed configuration.11. The modular packaging system as claimed in Claim 3 or any preceding claim when dependent on Claim 3, further including a cap removeably attachable to the spout to close the spout.12. A modular packaging system comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions each comprising: a wall and a base; wherein the wall of the first portion is provided with a projection and the wall of the second portion is provided with a recess; the projection and recess being configured to retain the first and second portion in engagement either through an interference fit, a screw thread or locking means.13. The modular packaging system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any combination of the accompanying drawings.