TWI557041B - Refillable product dispenser system - Google Patents

Description

Refillable product distribution system

The systems disclosed herein are generally related to product packaging for powdered products, and in particular to packages suitable for dispensing of powdered infant formula products.

Powdered infant formulas are typically sold in cans, with each can having a capacity ranging from about 12 ounces to about 38 ounces. The canister is initially sealed with a tamper-proof seal and additionally includes a reusable cover for sealing the can after the damaged seal is removed. . Scots may be provided to remove portions of the powdered infant formula from the canister for mixing with water to prepare a liquid food for feeding the baby.

However, when the can body becomes empty, the conventional system must purchase a replacement can, which is accompanied by waste, inefficiency, and environmental disadvantages of repeatedly purchasing and discarding the can.

What is needed is a system for replacing a powdered infant formula in a can while ensuring that it does not break and maintain the desired level of sterility.

In an embodiment, a refillable product dispensing system for a powdered infant formula comprises an initial product package comprising a reusable container and an initial product bag received within the container.

In another embodiment, the refillable product dispensing system includes a reusable plastic container, an initial product pouch received in the container and filled with a powdered infant formula, and a refill for replacing the original product pouch Product bag body.

In another embodiment, the refill product bag may have a smaller refill volume than the initial volume of the powdered infant formula present in the initial product bag.

In another embodiment, the initial product pocket may be constructed from a flexible material and is generally in the shape of a parallelpiped. The bag body can have a pleated folded top that is held in place by a peelable adhesive strip.

In another embodiment, the refillable product dispensing system can include a disposable refill outer package and two or more refill product pockets received within the outer package. Alternatively, the reusable tweezers can be included in the refilled outer package.

In an embodiment, the refillable product dispensing system can use a refill product package that includes a disposable refill external package, wherein the disposable refill external package is generally a rectangular parallelpiped shape and includes received Refilling two and only two refilled product pockets in the outer package and one stacked on top of the other, and each of the refilled product pockets is constructed of a flexible material and is generally a parallelepiped shape.

In another embodiment, a refillable product dispensing system for a powdered infant formula can include an initial product package comprising a reusable container, an initial product bag received in the container and filled with a powdered infant formula product The body, and the reusable forceps received in the container. The system can additionally include a refill product package that includes a disposable refill external package and two or more refill product pockets that are received within the outer package.

In another embodiment, a refillable product dispensing system for a powdered infant formula comprises a reusable container having an initial product bag received within the container. The refill for the reusable container is provided in a similar refill product bag that can have a smaller volume than the original product bag. The refill pouch can be packaged in a refilled outer package containing two or more refill pouches.

Numerous objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent from the <RTIgt;

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, a refillable product dispensing system, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown. System 10 includes an initial product package 12 and a refill product package 14. For the sake of clarity, not all reference numerals are necessarily present in every figure of the drawings. In addition, positional terms such as "upper", "lower", "side", "top", "bottom", etc. refer to a container when oriented in the orientation shown in the figures. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the container may take different orientations when in use.

FIG. 2 schematically shows components that can be included in the initial product package 12 and the refill product package 14. For example, in an embodiment, the initial product package 12 can include a reusable container 16, an initial product bag 18, and a reusable forceps 20. In another embodiment, the interior of the initial product package 12 may have a product without the underlying product pocket 18 and with or without the reusable forceps 20. Also, in an embodiment, the refill product package 14 can include a disposable refill outer package 22, two or more refill product pockets such as 24 and 26, and a second reusable forceps 28.

As best seen in Figures 3 through 5, the reusable container 16 can include a base or base 30, and a generally generally erected wall portion 32 that defines a top opening 34 that is continuous over the perimeter. A cover 36 is associated with the wall portion 32 for closing the opening 34. The cover 36 can be pivotally coupled to the peripheral wall portion 32 at the hinge 38. The cover includes a latch 31 that engages a locking shoulder 33 that extends from the wall portion 32.

The base 30 and peripheral wall portion 32 can be described as forming a tub portion 35 of the container 16. The barrel portion 35 can include a skirt 37 that extends downwardly from the peripheral wall portion 32 below the base 30.

In some embodiments, the container 16 can include a sealing lip 29 that extends laterally outwardly near the upper end of its opening for providing a sealing engagement with the cover 36 when the cover 36 is closed. Further details of the exemplary form of this embodiment of the construction of the container 16 and in particular the sealing engagement of the cover 36 with the flexible seal 29 can be found in the agent case assigned to the assignee of the present invention and filed on the same day. No. (attorney docket number) U.S. Patent application serial No. entitled MJE00287NP improved container seal (improved container seal), which details are incorporated herein by reference.

As seen in Figure 3, the peripheral wall portion 32 has a generally oval cross-section that can also be described as an elongated cross-section having a length 40 and a width 42 with the wall portion or side wall 32 at the longitudinal end portion. 44 and 46 are curved across the end of the cross section.

As best seen in Figure 4, the opening 34 of the reusable container 16 can be defined by a smooth molded inner wall surface 48 that does not have any product pockets that will be further described below. For example, 18, 24, or 26 inserts and removes internally protruding lips or ribs that interfere with each other.

In an embodiment, the cover 36 includes a latching device that includes at least two flexible tabs 50 and 52 for resiliently retaining any of the latches 20 or 28 underneath the cover 36. .

The container 16 including the barrel portion 35 and the lid or lid portion 36 can be constructed by injection molding the container from a plastic material.

The initial product bag 18 is received within the container 16 and is constructed of a flexible material that can be manipulated to reduce the volume occupied by the bag when the bag is partially or completely emptied during use. For example, as shown schematically in Figure 6, the bag body 18 can include a folded upper or top portion 54 that can be folded with an increasing number of folds as the bag gradually becomes empty. The bag may also be manipulated in other ways, such as by rolling up the top portion, or in any other suitable manner. The initial product bag 18 has an initial volume filled with a powdered infant formula 56. As seen in Figure 2, the initial product bag 18 has an initial size and shape that can be completely received within the container 16 such that the cover 36 can be closed.

As seen in Figure 6, the initial product bag 18 can be described as being generally in the shape of a parallelepiped when in its filled and sealed state, and has a bottom portion of the bag defining the length 60 of the bag and the width 62 of the bag. 58. The bag bottom 58 can also be a folded bottom portion 58 similar to the previously folded top portion 54 described above. The bag body 18 additionally has an initial fill pocket height 64. The initial volume of the powdered infant formula 56 contained within the filled initial product bag 18 is approximately equal to the product of length 60 times width 62 times height 64.

In an embodiment, the bag length 60 and the bag width 62 of the initial product bag 18 may be less than the length 40 and width 42 of the cross-section of the peripheral side wall 32 of the barrel portion 35 of the container 16, respectively.

The bag body 18 can additionally include a releasable peelable adhesive strip 66 that is adhered to the side wall 68 of the bag body and the folded upper portion 54.

The use of the folded foldable top portion 54 allows the initial product bag 18 to be fully opened over the entire bag length 60 and the bag width 62, which helps to completely empty the original product bag, particularly for example If the user chooses to open the initial product bag and pour the contents of the bag into the barrel portion 35 of the container 16.

Referring now to Figure 7, each of the refilled product pockets 24 and 26 is constructed similarly to the initial product pocket 18 described above, with the difference that the refilled product pocket can be constructed to have a shorter initial fill pocket. The body height thus provides a refill volume that is less than the initial volume of the initial product bag 18.

Thus, the refill product pockets 24 and 26 can each have a bottom 70 defining a pocket length 72 and a pocket width 74, and having an initially filled refill pocket height 76. The bottom portion 70 can be a folded bottom portion, and the bag body can have a folded foldable top portion 78 that is retained by positioning by the peelable strip 80.

The initial product bag and the refill product bag can be constructed as a resealable moisture barrier bag. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, since the initial product bag 18 itself is a resealable moisture barrier bag, there is no need to have a breakage seal that traverses the opening 34 of the barrel portion 35, and thus the barrel The body portion 35 can be closed only by the cover 36 at the beginning, without being sealed by breaking the trace film or the like.

In an embodiment, the flexible material constructing the initial product bag 18 and/or the refill product pockets 24 and 26 may comprise a multilayer material that is schematically designated 82 in FIG. The multilayer flexible material can include an outer layer 83, an intermediate layer 85, and an inner layer 87. In embodiments designed to provide a high degree of oxygen and moisture barrier, the outer layer 83 can be 48 gauge polyethylene sheets (48 gage polyethylene sheets), the intermediate layer 85 can be 0.000285 inches thick metal foil, and the inner layer 87 It can be a 3.0 mil openable polyethylene sealant layer. Inner layer 87 can be described as a peelable sealed inner layer.

The outer layer 83 can be any suitable material that allows the label information to be printed on the outer surface of the product bag. Examples include polyethylene flakes and nylon flake materials.

The intermediate layer 85 can be any suitable metal barrier layer. Examples include aluminum foil and metallized polyethylene.

The inner layer 87 can be any suitable sealable material that allows the product bag to be hermetically sealed. The seal can be formed by laminating the two inner sheets and heating the joined sheets to melt them together to form a seal therebetween. Examples of suitable sealable materials include polyester and polyethylene.

When the initial product bag 18 or the refilled product bag, such as 24 and 26, is initially filled with a powdered infant formula, the bag can be filled under vacuum and then its folded folded top portion such as 54 or 78 It is sealed by pressing together the inner layer 87 composed of opposed sheets of flexible material. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the initial product bag 18 or refilled product bags, such as 24 and 26, are filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen. A zip lock or other suitable seal can be formed between the opposing sheets. A tear-off strip or the like can be placed adjacent to the seal to allow the package to be opened at the beginning to break its vacuum seal.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the initial filled refill pocket height 76 of the refill product pockets 24 and 26 is less than the initial fill pocket height 64 of the initial product pocket 18 such that the refilled product pocket has a ratio The filling volume of the initial product bag is small. By providing a refilled product bag having a smaller volume, this helps to ensure the freshness of the powdered infant formula when used, since the powdered infant formula is exposed to oxygen after the individual bags are opened. short. Alternatively, the initial product bag 18 and the refilled product bags, such as 24 and 26, can be constructed to have substantially the same volume.

The refill product package 14 is shown in perspective view in FIG. 1 and is shown in schematic cross-sectional view in FIG. The disposable refill outer package 22 of the refill product package 14 is generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and has an outer package bottom 84 that defines a package length 86 and a package width 88 and has a package height 90 that is greater than the package length 86. The outer package 22 can be constructed from cardboard or other recyclable packaging material. The top of the package 22 can be sealed for storage and display.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, two refill product pockets 24 and 26 are received within the refill outer package 22 and are shown stacked one on top of the other.

As previously described in relation to Figure 7, each of the refilled product pockets 24 and 26 is constructed of a flexible material and is generally in the shape of a parallelepiped having a pocket length 72 and a pocket width 74. The bottom 70 of the bag has a bag height 76. It should be noted that the bag height 76 is less than the bag length 72 and the bag height 76 is less than half the package height 90. Additionally, the bag length 72 and the bag width 74 are less than the package length 86 and the package width 88, respectively. As also previously described, each of the refilled product bags 24 and 26 initially contains a refill volume equal to the length 72 of the bag multiplied by the width 74 of the bag multiplied by the height 76 of the bag, and this refill volume is Initially filled with a powdered infant formula.

As can also be seen in Figure 2, there may be space on top of the uppermost refill product pocket 26 within the outer package 22 for use with the second reusable forceps 28. The forceps 28 are preferably sealed within a disposable sanitary envelope 92, which may be, for example, a clear flexible cellophane package or the like. The forceps 20 of Figure 2 are similarly sealed within the sanitary envelope 21.

The initial product package 12 and the refill product package 14 may include first and second identification product indicia 94 and 96 disposed thereon via a label or other suitable printing method or the like. The first identification product indicia 94 is useful for identifying the brand and product nature of the initial product package 12, such as a powdered infant formula. The second identification product indicia 96 on the outer package 22 of the refill product package 14 may indicate the usability of the refill product bags, such as 24 and 26, with the reusable container 16 of the initial product package 12.

In other embodiments, the refill product package can be constructed to include two or more refill product pouches such as 24 and 26. In those other embodiments, the refill product pockets can be stacked one on top of the other, or stacked side by side, or stacked in any other suitable manner. Also, in another embodiment, the refill product pockets can be individually marketed without any outer package 22.

In an embodiment, the refillable product dispensing system 10 can be used in the following manner. The parent or other caregiver of the newborn may purchase or may receive the initial product package 12 at the hospital, which includes the container 16, the initial product bag 18 filled with the powdered infant formula, and the sealable within the sanitary envelope 21 Use the dice 20 again. The initial product bag 18 itself is a moisture tight sealed package. The reusable container 16 provides a second protective barrier to the contents due to the engagement of the lid lip 36 with the closure lip 29 when closed. The user can purchase one or more refill product packages 14 at the same time, but this is optional. The refill product package 14 can be obtained at different times and locations.

At the first use, the user opens the lid 36 of the container 16, removes the tweezers 20 from the lid 36, and opens the initial product pouch 18 to obtain its contents. The contents of the initial product bag 18 can be obtained in one of two ways depending on the user's choice.

In the first mode, the user may leave the initial product bag 18 in place within the container 16 and open the top portion 54 of the bag to obtain a powdered infant formula 56. After removal of the desired portion of the powdered infant formula with tweezers 20, the top portion 54 of the partially emptied bag 18 can be resealed and folded back and can be peeled off with a strip 66 Retained in positioning. The forceps 20 can be placed under the cover 36 using the tabs 50 and 52 as seen in Figure 3, and then the cover 36 is closed until the next use.

Alternatively, the user may choose to remove the initial product bag 18 from the container 16, open the top portion 54 of the initial product bag 18, and pour the entire contents of the initial product bag 18 into the barrel portion of the container 16. Within 35. At that time, the forceps 20 is used to remove the desired portion of the powdered infant formula from the barrel portion 35, and then the tweezers are placed under the cover 36 and the cover is closed until the next use.

When the contents of the initial product bag 18 have been used, the reusable container 16 can be refilled using one of the refilled product bags, such as 24 or 26. The refilled product bag can be used in any of the alternative ways described above for the initial product bag 18, i.e., the refilled bag can be placed in the barrel portion 35 and the powdered infant formula can be directly The bag body is removed from the refilled bag or the contents of the bag can be poured into the barrel portion 35.

In an embodiment, the material that constructs the refill outer package 22 and the initial product bag 18 and the refill product pockets 24 and 26 can be a material that can be completely recycled.

A user of system 10 can purchase an initial product package 12 and then purchase a plurality of refill product packages 14 during the entire baby food feed for nearly a year.

The use of such a refillable baby food packaging system 10 provides economic savings because each time a new amount of baby food is needed, the cost of purchasing the refilled packaged baby food is greater than the purchase of a new outer container 16 less. In addition, because the overall packaging material used to provide powdered infant formula to infants is small, it also provides significant improvements in environmental sustainability.

The use of a barrel having an opening 34 without any significant internally protruding lip allows the initial product bag 18 to be easily removed and replaced with a replacement product bag. Additionally, if the powdered infant formula is poured directly into the barrel portion 35, the absence of a lip that projects significantly inwardly may make it easier to remove all of the contents from the barrel portion 35.

The use of a peelable sealing pouch material such as the inner layer 87 shown in Figure 8 allows the product pouch to be easily opened. Alternatively, other easy to open bag designs can be used.

The use of a pocket having a fully open upper end, such as a folded upper portion 54 and 78, facilitates the entire contents of the bag to be easily poured into the barrel if this is selected.

example

In an embodiment, the barrel portion 35 can have a length 40 of approximately 152 mm (millimeters), a width 42 of approximately 102 mm, and a height 45 of approximately 136 mm. The initial product bag 18 can have a bag length 60 of approximately 130 mm, a bag width 62 of approximately 70 mm, and an initial bag height 64 of approximately 116 mm. The refill outer package 22 can have a length 86 of approximately 146 mm, a width 88 of approximately 89 mm, and a height 90 of approximately 254 mm. Each of the refilled product bags 24 and 26 can have a bag length 72 of approximately 130 mm, a bag width 74 of approximately 70 mm, and an initial bag height 76 of approximately 116 mm. Alternatively, the refill product bag may have an initial bag height 76 ranging from 80% to 100% of the initial bag height 64 of the initial product bag.

Thus, it can be seen that the apparatus and method of the present disclosure achieves the objects and advantages described and conceivable herein. While some of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described for the purposes of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art can implement numerous changes in the configuration and structure of the various parts and steps. Within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the scope of the patent application.

10. . . Refillable product distribution system

12. . . Initial product package

14. . . Refill product package

16. . . Reusable container

18. . . Initial product bag

20. . . Reusable dice

twenty one. . . Sanitary envelope

twenty two. . . Reusable refill external package

twenty four. . . Refill product bag

26. . . Refill product bag

28. . . Second reusable dice

29. . . Sealing lip, flexible seal

30. . . Base or bottom

31. . . Latch

32. . . Peripheral wall, side wall, peripheral side wall

33. . . Locking shoulder

34. . . Top opening

35. . . Bucket part

36. . . Cover body

37. . . Skirt

38. . . Hinge

40. . . length

42. . . width

44. . . Longitudinal end portion

45. . . height

46. . . Longitudinal end portion

48. . . Inner wall surface

50. . . Flexible tongue

52. . . Flexible tongue

54. . . Upper part, top part

56. . . Powdered infant formula

58. . . The bottom of the bag, the bottom part of the discount

60. . . Bag length

62. . . Bag width

64. . . Initial filling pocket height

66. . . Reusable peelable adhesive strip

68. . . Side wall

70. . . bottom

72. . . Bag length

74. . . Bag width

76. . . Initially filled refilled bag height

78. . . Discounted foldable top part

80. . . Peelable strip

82. . . Multilayer material

83. . . Outer layer

84. . . External package bottom

85. . . middle layer

86. . . Package length

87. . . Inner layer

88. . . Package width

90. . . Package height

92. . . Disposable sanitary envelope

94. . . First identification product mark

96. . . Second identification product mark

1 is a schematic perspective view of a refillable product dispensing system including an initial product package and a refill product package.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the system of FIG. 1 showing the internal components of the initial product package and refill product package.

3 is a plan view of the reusable container of the initial product package of FIG. 1 with the lid of the container pivoted to the open position.

4 is a cross-sectional front view of the reusable container of FIG. 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the reusable container of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of an initial product bag used with the system of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of one of the refilled product bags used with the system of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a multilayer flexible material that can be used to construct a product bag.

12. . . Initial product package

14. . . Refill product package

16. . . Reusable container

twenty two. . . Reusable refill external package

36. . . Cover body

86. . . Package length

88. . . Package width

90. . . Package height

94. . . First identification product mark

96. . . Second identification product mark

Claims (18)

A refillable product dispensing system for a powdered infant formula, the refillable product dispensing system comprising: a reusable container having a base, a perimeter wall defining a top opening, and associated with the wall portion a cover for closing the opening; an initial product pocket received in the container, the initial product pocket being manipulated to reduce when the initial product pocket is partially empty during use Constructed from a volume of flexible material occupied by the initial product bag, the initial product bag having an initial volume filled with a powdered infant formula, and the initial product bag having a body that can be completely received within the container An initial size and shape that allows the lid to be closed; and a refill product pocket for replacing the initial product pocket when the product from the initial product pocket is used, the refilled product pocket having a fill a refilled volume of a powdered infant formula that is manipulated to reduce the refilling of the refilled product bag when it is partially empty during use Construction of a flexible material volume occupied by the product bag, wherein the flexible material of the bag body comprises initial product multilayer material, an inner layer comprising a peelable seal. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the refill volume is less than the initial volume of the initial product bag. The refillable product delivery system as described in claim 2, further comprising: Repossessable refilling of the outer package; and two or more refill product pockets received in the outer package after the outer package is sealed for storage and display, the two or more The two refilled product bags comprise the first described refilled product bag. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 3, further comprising: a first identification product mark that is externally displayed on the reusable container; and a second identification product mark that is externally Displayed on the refilled outer package, the second identification product indicia indicates the suitability of the refilled product bag for use with the reusable container. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 3, further comprising: a reusable tweezers received in the outer package separately from the two or more refilled product bags . The refillable product dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the outer package is generally in the shape of a cuboid having a bottom defining a length and a width and having a height greater than the length; the two or more Two refill product pockets comprising two refill product pockets stacked one on top of the other in the outer package; and the reusable tweezers are sealed with a disposable sanitary envelope and placed The top of the top of the two refilled product pockets. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the outer package is generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a bottom defining a length and a width and having a height greater than the length; and the two or more The two refilled product pockets are contained within the outer package with one and only two refilled product pockets stacked on top of one another. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the refilled product bag is generally in the shape of a parallelepiped when filled, the refilled product bag having a bottom defining a length and a width And when filling, has a height that is less than the length. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 8, wherein the refilled product bag comprises a folded foldable top portion over the entire length and width of the refilled product bag It is completely opened. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the initial product bag is sealed and folded to define a top portion of the initial product bag; and the refillable product is dispensed The system additionally includes a reusable peelable adhesive strip adhered to the side wall of the initial product bag and to the folded upper portion to releasably retain the folded upper portion For positioning. A refillable product dispensing system for a powdered infant formula, the refillable product dispensing system comprising: an initial product package comprising: a reusable container having a bottom, extending upwardly from the bottom and defining a top opening a peripheral side wall and a cover associated with the side wall for closing the top opening, the peripheral side wall having an elongated cross section having a length and a width, the side wall being formed at an end of the length Curved across the width of the cross-section; an initial product bag received in the container, the initial product bag having an initial volume filled with a powdered infant formula; and a reusable forceps that are Receiving in the container; and refilling the product package, comprising: a disposable refill external package; and two or more refill product pockets that are received under the outer package being sealed Within the outer package, each of the refilled product pockets has a refill volume filled with a powdered infant formula, each of the refilled product pockets having The generation of initial product bag body is completely received in the size and shape of the initial product in the package. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the initial product bag and the refill product bag system are each manipulated to be operable when each bag is partially empty during use. Reducing the flexible material construction by the volume occupied by each pocket, each pocket is generally The parallelepiped shape has a bottom of the bag body defining a length of the bag body and a width of the bag body, and the bag body length and the bag body width are respectively smaller than the length and the width of the cross section of the peripheral side wall. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the length of the bag body of the refilled product bag body and the width of the bag body are substantially equal to the length of the bag body of the initial product bag body and the bag a width of the initial product; the initial product pocket has an initial height that, in combination with the length of the pocket of the initial product pocket and the width of the pocket, defines the initial volume of the initial product pocket; and the refilled product pocket The refill bag has a height that is less than the initial height of the initial product bag such that the refill volume is less than the initial volume. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 11, further comprising: an identification product mark externally displayed on the disposable outer package of the refill product package, the mark indicating the refill The product bag is used together with the reusable container of the initial product package. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the refill volume is less than the initial volume. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 11, further comprising: a second reusable forceps received in the refilled outer package And the cover of the initial product package includes a forceps fastening device including at least two flexible tongues for resiliently holding the anyone of the forceps under the cover. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the refilled outer package is generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having an outer package bottom defining a refill product package length and width, and having a greater than the refill The height of the product package length; and the two or more refill product pockets contain two and only two refill product pockets stacked one on top of the other within the refill outer package. The refillable product dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the upper portion of each of the pockets is sealed and folded to define a top of each pocket; and each pocket further comprises A reusable peelable adhesive strip adhered to the side walls of each individual bag and to the folded upper portion of each individual bag.