MXPA97007770A - Unit of containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging unit, comprising a packaging material, liquid food inside the packaging material, and a tubular element through an outer end of which a consumer owes the liquid food, the packaging material which it can be opened to discover the outer extremity of the tubular element and allow the liquid food to be consumed, characterized in that an opening means which can be opened prevents the flow of the liquid food from the interior of the packaging material to the outside by means of the tubular element when the packaging material is opened to discover the outer extremity

Description

PACKAGING UNIT The invention relates to a packaging unit for liquid foods. This can be applied particularly to food products that can be ingested in liquid or solid form, as preferred by the consumer, such as sugar syrups or drinks; for example based on fruit, which can be solidified to obtain in general ice cream or popsicles of ice or food products, liquids, solidified. The prior art comprises cartons for liquids typically in the form of a parallelepiped, in which, in order to favor the consumption of the beverage contained therein, a separate, external straw is provided, packaged in its own wrapping fixed in a removable manner. to the outside of its carton in a diagonal position of a side surface. Such packages have disadvantages in that the straw first has to be removed from its wrapping, then introduced through an opening that has been made in a position corresponding to that of a pierceable membrane.

REP: 25838 from the container by manually pushing a pointed end of the straw through the membrane. European patent application No. 0213673 describes a somewhat similar package, but in which a bag is formed by two plastic films, heat welded together around a contour, a plastic strip or a third plastic film that is welded heat one of the films to provide an external receptacle for a drinking straw. To consume the food contents, liquids from the bag formed in this manner, the straw sinks to cause a pointed end of the straw in the receptacle to puncture the film. Another prior art comprises containers for liquids in which the straw is in the liquid food in the container and the opening of the container results in the straw being made available for use in the consumption of the liquid food. For example, patent application W = A = 95/11176 describes a pouch with collar that includes a drinking straw, which extends adjacent to the bottom of the pouch in the neck of the pouch, the neck having a line of weakness that makes It is possible that the free end of the neck is broken to expose the outer end of the straw. The pouch consists of two plastic films, thin sheets of metal or coated paper sheets sealed together around an outline. Application WO-A-95/05749 discloses a container, obtained by heat welding a pair of plastic sheets around the contour, and thermoforming the sheet material within the contour to form a pair of semi-sleeves or half-shells welded together. The container has a tube-fortified cavity that houses a tubular element, partially immersed in the food, which can function as either a handhold, when the food is solid at low temperature and consumed as an ice cream, or sorbet after the linings they have been detached in parts and removed, or as a straw, when the consumer, after having only partially detached the half-pieces to reach the tubular element, decides to ingest the food in liquid form at a higher temperature when sucking it through the element tubular.

This last type of container, while constituting a considerable improvement over another prior art, has been found to be not completely satisfactory since the tubular element tends to fill with the liquid food during packaging and consequently, when the food is swallowed in a solid, which is like an ice cream or sorbet, a certain amount of food can melt and drip on the hand. Other kinds of packaging, but not including straws or food products, are described in French patent application No. 2032496, patent application DE-A-2900827, British patent application No. 663031. It is an object of the present invention improve the prior art containers for food products, liquids. According to the present invention, there is provided a packaging unit, comprising a packaging material, a liquid food within the packaging material, and a tubular element through an outer extremity from which a consumer drinks the liquid food, the Packaging material can be opened to discover the outer end of the tubular element and allow the liquid food to be consumed, characterized in that an opening means that prevents the flow of liquid food from the interior of the packaging material to the outside by means of of the tubular element when the packaging material is opened to reveal the outer extremity. Due to the invention, it is possible to provide a package incorporating a straw, but in which, due to the provision of the opening means that can be opened, there is no undesirable leakage of the food through the straw. The invention is particularly applicable to a container where the consumer is free to select how to consume the food in liquid or solid form, as he wishes. In a preferred embodiment, the package includes a liquid food that can be solidified, an envelope containing the food and having a cavity fortified with openable tubes, and a tubular element that is inside the envelope and partially inserted into the container. the tubular cavity, with airtight seal to the fluid. The tubular element is partially submerged in the food and provides a passage for the food in liquid form; although the passage is able to communicate with the outside, the container has means of closing, which can be opened, whereby the outer end of the passage communicates selectively with the food in order to prevent an undesired spillage of the food. The sawing means can prevent the feed from penetrating into the tubular element during packaging, or during subsequent handling; therefore, the risk of an inconvenient and unhygienic leakage of the liquid can be eliminated. In one version, a cover or liner is placed between the tubular element and the tubular wall of the cavity and is externally equipped with coupling means that make it possible for the cover or liner to be placed securely and in this way provide a reliable seal against leakage of liquid between the cover or liner and the side wall; the tubular element engages with the cover or liner so that the element can be slid and / or rotated inwardly, and that the element is placed more securely and reliably with respect to the wrapping.

In a further version, the closure means consists of a membrane that closes in an operable manner, one of the ends of the envelope. This makes it possible for the closure means to be obtained in a particularly simple manner. The envelope has one of its outer ends to a wider part of the envelope containing the food, the other end is in direct contact with the food. The tubular element has an axial dimension that is greater than the length of the cover or liner. The tubular element may have a hole with longitudinal outlet which constitutes the passage of the food in liquid form. The end of the tubular element placed adjacent to the membrane can be formed as the nozzle of an indicator, to function as a means to pierce the membrane when the consumer, to ingest the food in liquid form, slides the element axially into the interior of the cover that surrounds it. Alternatively, the tubular element may have a dead hole, axially communicating with at least one hole with radial outlet to make it possible to pass the food in liquid form. This makes it possible to easily open, and possibly re-close, the closure means with an axial displacement, simple, or with an angular rotation of the tubular element with respect to the envelope. In a still further version, at least one hole with radial outlet is made between two notches in the tubular element to co-operate with the sealing elements on the inner surface of the tubular wall of the cover or liner. This makes it possible for the food in the package to be communicated with the outside by simply sliding the tubular element towards the interior of the container, so that the consumer can drink the food when emptying it, or sucking it, in his mouth. Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated, purely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view partially interrupted and sectioned of a packaging unit, in a version with a tubular element inserted axially in a cover or coaxial, tubular coating having end regions symmetrical in the shape of truncated cones, with the cover or liner extending into a cavity in the packaging; Figure 2 is section II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is the detail or particularity, interrupted and elongated, of the lower part of the packaging unit in Figure 2, in a condition with the tubular element that functions as a straw, submerged in liquid food; Figure 4 is a view as in the Figure 1, but in a version with the cover or liner, provided with the means for coupling the cover or liner with a tubular wall of the cavity; Figure 5 is an elongated and sectioned detail or particularity of the coupling means of the casing with the tubular wall of the cavity, in a cross-section, curved version; Figure 6 is a detail or particularity as in Figure 5, but in a version in which the coupling means is of the cross section, angular; Figure 7 is a longitudinal, fragmentary section through a packaging unit in a version in which the tubular element and the cover or liner are provided with the intermediate end, closing means, both shown in closed conditions; Figure 8 is a section as in Figure 7, but with the intermediate closure means in an open condition and the closing end means in a closed condition; Figure 9 is a section as in Figure 8, but in a modified version, with the closing end means in an open condition and the intermediate closing means in a closed condition; Figure 10 is a section as in the Figure 7, but showing a longitudinal, external notch of the tubular element extending along a substantial portion of its lateral surface; Figure 11 is a section as in the Figure 10, but showing another modified version in which the intermediate closure means includes openings in the form of slots, in order to allow the passage of the liquid therethrough also when the closing end means is in an open condition; Figure 12 is a view as in Figure 1, but with the closure means consisting of openings in the tubular member 'and in the cover or liner which may be relatively placed by an axial movement of the tubular member; Figure 13 is an interrupted detail, partially elongated and sectioned, of the closure means in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a section as in Figure 13, but in a version with a closure means that can be opened by rotating the tubular member about its longitudinal axis; Figure 15 is a view as in Figure 1, but in a version with the tubular element having a pair of end holes that do not communicate with each other; Figure 16 is a view as in Figure 15, but with the tubular element in an open condition, which is suitable for sucking the liquid; and Figure 17 is an elongated detail or particularity of the zone of the tubular element, dedicated to the passage of the liquid. A packaging unit 1 consists of a pair of semi-liners 2, defining a recess 3, in which an edible product is contained, and joined along a joining line 4 by means of heat welding; the recess 3 includes a cavity 5 in which an external surface area of a tubular cover 6 is received in a fluid-tight manner, the area tapering advantageously outwards. The cover 6 internally receives, as a sliding fit, a tubular element 1, which has a hole with axial outlet 8. The cover 6 and the element 7 can function as a handle to enable the food to be sustained when in solid form , as in the case of sorbets, or ice cream, once the container 2 has been removed from the food: this is achieved by separating the semi-pieces 2 from each other: to this end, as shown in Figure 2, the semi -Forces are provided with respective ears 9, external to the joining line 4 and diverging from each other, which can function as elements for fastening during separation.

The cover 6 is shorter in length than the tubular element 7 to an extent such that the element can be placed, during packaging, with its outer end 10 protruding from the corresponding end 11 of the cover 6 by a predetermined distance A. The handle 6, 7 is inserted into the container 2, the food is then introduced, and the packaging unit is finally sealed, in a manner described in International Publication O = A = 95/05749 mentioned above. The inner end 12 of the cover 6 is located in the food and is provided with the end means of the closure which consists of a membrane 13 that can be opened when drilling by the corresponding end 14, formed as the nozzle of a record, of the tubular element 7 when the latter is pushed along the cover 6 by a segment corresponding to the length A. To open the packaging unit, the consumption separates (pulling) the ears 9, either to completely separate the two halves of the packaged in case the food is solid, where the articles 6, 7 can serve as a handle for the pallet, or to partially separate them, in case the food is liquid, in which case the tubular element 7 can serve like a straw to empty or suck the liquid into the consumer's mouth. In the last alternative, the consumer only has to partially separate the ears 9, interrupting the opening of the semi-sleeves 2 in a position corresponding to that of one of the pairs of the opposite, preferential folding or turning lines 14a made in the halves opposite of the container 2 adjacent to the cavity 5. Then, when, as shown in Figure 3, the inner end 14 has drilled through the membrane 13, the food can be taken in liquid form in the direction indicated by the arrow F when sucking at the outer end of the hole 8. Instead of having a symmetrical shape with respect to a transverse plane, medium (as in Figures 1 to 3) the cover can be symmetrical with respect to that plane, for example as in Figure 4, where the cylindrical cover would otherwise substantially circular, has an intermediate portion 6a in the shape of a truncated cone present in the cavity 5. The outer surface of the cover 6 is provided with the coupling means with the tubular wall of the cavity 5, which consists of an annular groove 16 on the cover co-operating with a corresponding annular protrusion of the wall with cavity; the cross section of the notch 16 and the corresponding annular protrusion can, for example, be curved circularly, as in Figure 5, or angular, as in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 7, between the cavity 5 and the 6c cover portion extending within the larger part of the cavity 3, the cover can be formed with a ring of openings 18 that includes the intermediate closure means for the liquid food. The intermediate closing means also includes a second ring of openings 17 formed in the tubular element 7 which is aligned with the corresponding openings 18, when the tubular element 7 slides into the hollow 3 by a segment of length B which is more short that the segment A that causes the opening of the closing end means 13.

At the end of the segment of length B the limb 14 preferably faces the inner surface of the membrane 13 without having to pierce it, as shown in Figure 8. Once the tubular element 7 has moved the entire segment A, as shown in Figure 9, the openings 17 are no longer aligned with the openings 18 and, therefore, the liquid can no longer pass through the sides of the cover 6 and the tubular element 7 but only through the limb 14, which has pierced through the membrane 13. In this way, it is possible for the consumer to drink the food contained in the cavity 3 when sucking it through the closing means 17, 18, when the unit packaging extends upwardly from the mouth of the consumer, or from the bottom through the closing end means 13, when the unit extends downwardly from its mouth. In order to prevent the occurrence of the angular, disadvantageous displacement of the tubular element 7 with respect to the cover 6, the cover can be provided with a guide fitting 19 which engages in a notch 20 in the tubular element 7, extending in a parallel direction with the axis of the element 7. The notch 20 may be of a length substantially corresponding to that of the segment A and may be of different depths for, for example, offering a resistance to sliding, greater when the inner end 14 of the tubular element 7 it engages when drilling through the membrane 13. In order to facilitate the insertion of the tubular element 7 into the cover 6, the sample 20 can extend along the entire length of this element included between the guide accessory 19 and the inner end 14, as shown in Figure 10. The openings 17 may also be in the form of grooves, preferably circular holes, in a It is such as to make it possible to pass the liquid through these even when the end means of the closure 13 is open, as shown in Figure 11. In this case, it becomes possible for the consumer to drink the food at through the intermediate means of the closure 17, 18 at the same time as from the bottom. As shown in the version in Figures 12, 13 and 14, it is possible for the tubular element 7 to have, in addition to the ring of the intermediate openings 17b constituting, together with a corresponding ring of the intermediate openings 18b in the cover 6 , the intermediate closure means, a ring of end openings 17c co-operating with a ring of the end openings 18c in the cover. The innermost end of the tubular element 7 is provided with the end means of the closure 19, to prevent feeding of the leakage of the tubular element when the consumer wishes to ingest the food in solid or semi-solid form. While Figures 12 and 13 show a version in which, in order to open the intermediate closing means 17b, 18b and the end means of the closure 17c, 18c, the tubular element 7 has to be moved axially with respect to the cover 6 , in, the version of figure 14 the tubular element 7 is provided with a pair of control accessories, opposite 30 which make it possible for the element to be rotated about its axis in order to communicate the interior of the tubular element 7 with the hollow 3 through the closing means 17b, 18b, 17c, 18c, the openings 17b and 17c which are angularly offset from the openings 17c and 18c, in the enclosed condition. In the version shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17, the tubular element 7 is provided with at least one dead hole, axial 21 communicating with at least one radial hole 22: the tubular element 7 is shown as being symmetrical with with respect to a medium transverse plane (for the simplification of the correct insertion) even though the holes 21 and 22 are functionally necessary only for the portion of the element inserted in the cavity 5. It should be noted that in this version a cover 6 is not necessary, since the tubular wall of the cavity 5 is capable of providing the required stability of the tubular element 7 placed therein. In this version, a predetermined fracture line 14b intersects the extension of the cavity 5, whereby tearing off an end portion including the ears 9 does not cover the outer end zone of the element 7, making it available to the consumer so that suck the liquid. At least one radial hole 22 is made in an intermediate portion of the axial extension of the tubular element 7 between two annular grooves, axially spaced, coupled by corresponding annular protrusions of the tubular wall of the cavity 5, which constitute the coupling means between the element 7 and the cavity 5. As shown in Figure 15, when the tubular element 7 has to function as a handle, the holes 21, 22 of the outer, end area do not communicate with the product.; when, on the other hand, the tubular element 7 has to act as a straw, after having separated the end portion along the fracture line 14b, the consumer slides the hollow element 7 axially into the interior of the recess 3 through a predetermined segment Z, for example, which corresponds to the distance between the inner end of the tubular element 7 and the bottom of the packaging unit 1. As the same distance Z is substantially displayed between the notches 23, the insertion of the tubular element 7 in the recess 3 by a segment Z causes the engagement of the outermost notch 23 by the inner annular protrusion, with a liquid-tight seal. With such a Z motion, the annular protrusions are forced out elastically until they return to the end of the movement. In this condition, the holes 21 and 22 communicate with the cavity 3 and the consumer can drink the food by sucking it through the hole 22, possibly until the end of the packaging unit to cause the food to descend into the holes 21, 22 when such a radial hole 22 is no longer immersed in the liquid. Furthermore, it is preferable for one of the annular protrusions to be located in a position, corresponding to the portion of the tubular wall of the recess 5 which is removed together with the ears 9 when the container opens along the predetermined fracture line 14b .

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (16)

1. A packaging unit, comprising a packaging material, liquid food inside the packaging material, and a tubular element through an outer extremity from which a consumer drinks the liquid food, the packaging material which can be opened to discover the outer end of the tubular element and allowing the liquid food to be consumed, characterized in that an opening means that prevents the flow of the liquid food from the interior of the packaging material to the outside by means of the tubular element when the packaging material opens to discover the outer extremity.

2. A packaging unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular element can be moved between a first position in which the liquid food is prevented from flowing through the tubular element and a second position in which the liquid food is consumed through the tubular element.

3. A packaging unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact means or stop defines at least one of the first and second position of the tubular element.

4. A packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular guide means is interposed in a sealable manner between the tubular element and a tubular wall of a cavity within the packaging material.

5. A packaging unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the tubular guide means is provided externally with the coupling means for axially placing the guide means in the cavity.

6. A packaging unit according to claim 4 or 5 as appended to claim 3, characterized in that the tubular guide means and the tubular element are equipped with the contact means or stop comprised of an internal projection fitting and an indentation in which the accessory can be inserted.

7. A packaging unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the indentation is a notch extending along the tubular element and of a length at least equal to a segment A to limit the axial movement of the tubular element in the middle of tubular guide.

8. A packaging unit according to any of claims 4 to 7 as appended to claim 2, characterized in that the tubular element is equipped with an accessory for rotating the tubular element with respect to the tubular guide means between the first position and the second position.

9. A packaging unit according to any of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the tubular element has a length that is greater than the length of the tubular guide means.

10. A packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure means includes a membrane that removably closes one end of the tubular guide means, or the tubular element.

11. A packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular element has an axial hole communicating with at least one side opening.

12. A packaging unit according to claim 11 as appended to claim 4, characterized in that the guide means is provided with at least one lateral opening that can be carried in communication with at least one opening.

13. A packaging unit according to claims 3 to 11, characterized in that the tubular element and a tubular wall of a cavity within the packaging material comprise the contact means or stop in the form of a pair of notches spaced apart from each other as length of the tubular element with at least one opening between them, and corresponding to the annular projections.

14. A packaging unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the distance Z between the notches corresponds substantially with the distance between the inner end of the tubular element and a face wall portion of the packaging material.

15. A packaging unit according to claim 11, 13 or 14, characterized in that the axial hole is without outlet or blind.

16. A packaging unit according to any of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that at least one opening and / or at least one opening is / is longitudinally elongated from the tubular element.