WO2001085561A1

WO2001085561A1 - Packing system as well as connecting means and packings included in the same

Info

Publication number: WO2001085561A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/000992
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Sjöholm
Original assignee: Eco Lean Ab
Priority date: 2000-05-09
Filing date: 2001-05-08
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Also published as: SE515959C2; AU5896501A; SE0001724L; SE0001724D0

Abstract

A packing system for liquid foodstuffs or pharmaceutical preparations, comprising disposable portion packs containing the liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation. Each pack comprises an openable opening means. The packing system is characterised by a reusable connecting means which is made separately from the opening means and which, in the open state of each opening means, is connectible to the same and through which the liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation is dischargeable from the respective pack. Each connecting means is made in the form of a sealed protrusion which is openable by cutting or the like and which is formed in one piece with two opposite side panels of the pack, and which in its open state forms a duct-like opening communicating with the interior of the pack. The present invention also relates to a connecting means and a container included in said packing system, as well as a method for connecting such a connecting means to such a container.

Description

PACKING SYSTEM AS WELL AS CONNECTING MEANS AND PACKINGS INCLUDED IN THE SAME

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a packing system for liquid foodstuffs or pharmaceutical preparations as well as connecting means and containers included in said packing system. The invention also relates to a method for connecting a connecting means included in such a packing system to a container for liquid foodstuffs or pharmaceutical preparations included in the same packing system.

Background Art

Some liquid foodstuffs, such as infant formula, are usually distributed not in liquid form but in powdered form. To prepare, for example, infant formula, powdered infant formula is mixed with a liquid, such as water. The mixing can take place, for example, in a feeding bottle. The liquid can be heated in advance or the ready-mixed infant formula contained in the feeding bottle is heated in a microwave oven. This procedure is time-consuming and complicated for the user, and therefore a solution is desired, which allows more time-efficient handling of infant formula and similar foodstuffs.

The invention is based on the understanding that more efficient handling of infant formula and similar foodstuffs could be achieved if the foodstuff was distributed in ready-mixed state in disposable containers.

However, the present invention is applicable to liquid foodstuffs in general, and also to liquid pharmaceutical preparations, such as different types of nutrient solutions.

It is known to distribute liquid foodstuffs, such as milk, fruit juice etc, in different types of disposable containers. Such containers often have some kind of sealed opening device . One type of such opening devices is openable by being torn, cut or the like.

An opening device which is thus opened by being torn or cut has, however, in many cases unsatisfactory properties, which means that the liquid foodstuff held in the container cannot be handled in a satisfactory fashion. In some cases, the opening device does not allow the foodstuff to be poured out in a satisfactory manner. In other cases, the opening device is not resealable. This is in particular a problem in the case where the container is made of a flexible material, such as plastic film.

To solve this problem, the container can be made with an integrated, specially designed opening device. This can be fitted with a screw cap or with a cap which is openable in some other manner. The opening device can also be given such a form as to achieve satisfactory pouring properties. Finally the opening device can also be designed in some other manner to achieve the desired property.

Such a container with an integrated opening device is known from, for example, JP 7061453. The opening means is a duct means inserted between two side walls of the container and having a sealed end portion. The end por- tion is removed to open the container, whereby the thus- released end portion is insertable into the duct means to allow resealing of the container.

The manufacturing process for making such containers provided with specially designed opening devices, how- ever, is fairly complicated. This, along with the cost of the actual opening device, means that the production cost of each container will be rather high.

Thus there is also a need for a disposable container which at a reduced production cost allows satisfactory handling of a liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation contained therein. Summary of the Invention

A first object of the present invention thus is to provide a packing system which allows satisfactory handling of a liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation held in containers. The packing system should advantageously allow easy handling of liquid foodstuffs for children, such as infant formula.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a method which allows satisfactory handling of a foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation held in disposable containers.

According to the present invention, the first object is achieved by a packing system having the features stated in claim 1, a connecting means having the features stated in claim 6, and a container having the features stated in claim 19. Preferred embodiments of the packing system are evident from claims 2-5, preferred embodiments of the connecting means are evident from claims 7-18, and preferred embodiments of the container are evident from claims 20-24.

According to present invention, the second object is achieved by a method having the features stated in claim 25.

More specifically, according to the present inven- tion a packing system for liquid foodstuffs or pharmaceutical preparations is provided, comprising disposable portion packs containing the liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation, each pack comprising an openable opening means, said pack being characterised by a reusable connecting means made separately from the opening means, which connecting means, in the open state of each opening means, is connectible to the same and through which the liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation is dischargeable from the respective pack, each opening means being made in the form of a sealed protrusion which is openable by cutting or the like, which is formed in one piece with two opposite side panels of the pack, and which in its open state forms a duct-like opening communicating with the interior of the pack.

As a result, a packing system is provided, which allows satisfactory handling of liquid contents held in containers while the containers included in the system can be produced at an advantageously low cost. The packing system comprises disposable portion packs with opening means in the form of a protrusion which is formed in one piece with the respective pack and which by cutting or the like is openable to form a duct-like opening communicating with the interior of the pack. Packs of this type are extremely inexpensive to produce. Moreover the inventive system comprises a reusable connecting means which is made separately from the opening means and is connectible to each opening means and which in its connected state allows discharge of the contents contained in each pack. Thus one and the same connecting means can be used for several packs. The connecting means can further be given such a design as to achieve a desired pro- perty. The property can be, for instance, resealability or good serviceability. Owing to the present invention it will thus be possible to use in a packing system containers of the above-described advantageous type while the contents held in the containers can be handled in the desirable way by means of a suitable design of a connecting means included in the system. The connecting means is preferably insertable and fixable in the ductlike opening of each container. To fix the connecting means in said duct-like opening, the connecting means advantageously comprises a fixing means which may comprise an expanding means which in operation is intended for increase of its diameter.

According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive packing system, the connecting means comprises a suction means, in which case a foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation held in a container is dischargeable by applying suction over the suction means of a connecting means con- nected to said container. This results in a packing system which allows, for instance, distribution of a liquid foodstuff for children, such as infant formula, which foodstuff can be distributed ready-mixed in disposable portion packs. When consuming the foodstuff held in a container, the connecting means is arranged in the opening means of the container, after which the foodstuff, optionally after heating in a microwave oven, can be offered a user, such as a child. The user can consume the foodstuff by applying suction over the suction means. The inventive packing system thus offers extremely easy handling of the foodstuff. All mixing work is eliminated. Moreover the washing work is significantly reduced. All that need be washed is the reusable connecting means. Furthermore, according to the present invention, a connecting means in disposable containers for liquid foodstuffs or pharmaceutical preparations is provided, comprising an essentially tubular piece which is open at both ends and which internally defines a flow path, and a fixing means arranged on said piece, the tubular piece being connectible to a duct-like opening of each container, communicating with the interior of the container, said connecting means being characterised by an end portion at a first of the two ends of the tubular piece, said end portion being insertable into duct-like openings of containers made of a flexible material, such as plastic film, and having opening means comprising sealed protrusions, which are openable by cutting or the like to form said duct-like openings, the fixing means being operable to fix the connecting means in the respective duct-like opening when said end portion has been inserted in the same.

As a result a reusable connecting means is provided, which is connectible to disposable containers, which con- tainers can be produced in an extremely cost-efficient way. The connecting means defines a flow path which in the mounted state of the connecting means puts the inte- rior of the container in fluid communication with the surroundings. The connecting means is reusable, which means that one and the same connecting means can be used for several containers. Thus each container can be pro- duced without an integrated, specially designed opening device. Of course, this is economically and also environmentally advantageous. The connecting means can further be designed as desired to achieve an optional property, such as good pouring properties, resealability etc. The piece is advantageously at least partly circular in cross-section and is preferably also of a shape tapering towards the first end. For instance, a cylindrically designed piece can have a bevelled portion at said first end. As a result a connecting means is provided, which is easily insertable into the duct-like opening of the container .

Preferably, the fixing means of the connecting means comprises an expanding means, which is operable to increase the diameter of the same . The expanding means may comprise a ring of an elastic material, said ring being arranged on the outside of said piece, and a screw means, which is arranged on the outside of said piece and is intended for threaded engagement with said piece, said screw means being applicable to said ring by turning. By turning the screw means, this will thus be applied to the ring, which will consequently, under the action of the pressing force, be forced to expand in the radial direction. By ensuring that this expansion occurs when the ring has been inserted into the duct-like open- ing, a reliable fixing of the connecting means in the opening is obtained.

According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive connecting means, it comprises an openable top arranged at a second of the two ends of the piece. As a result, the previously mentioned resealability is obtained. Said second end can have an external thread and the top can have an internal thread which is formed complementarily to said external thread, which top is thus screwable on said piece for closing the second end of the piece .

According to a further preferred embodiment of the inventive connecting means, it comprises an end sleeve arranged at the second end of the piece and a screw means screwable on the same, said end sleeve having an end wall which has an opening formed therein at a radial distance from the centre of the end wall and a central projection, and said screw means having a centrally arranged through discharge opening formed complementarily to said projection, said projection being insertable into said opening by screwing on the screw means. When screwing on the top, the projection will thus be arranged in the discharge opening of the screw means, thereby closing the opening. By unscrewing the top, a connection is provided between the flow path and the surroundings through the opening in the end wall and the central through discharge opening.

According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive connecting means, it comprises a suction means arranged at the second end of the piece and communicating with the flow path. The suction means is adapted to discharge a liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation held in a container connected to the connecting means by applying suction over the connecting means. This results in a connecting means which is extremely suitable to be used together with disposable containers holding ready- mixed infant formula or the like. The user simply obtains such a container, and when required the connecting means is connected to the container. Then the contents are, after possible heating in a microwave oven, ready for consumption. The conventional mixing work for preparing infant formula in powdered form and most of the conventional work of washing feed bottles is consequently eliminated. The suction means advantageously comprises a cap made of an elastic material, such as rubber, and having a bulge, in which a discharge opening is formed. According to the present invention, also a disposable container for a liquid foodstuff or for pharmaceutical preparation is provided, said container being made of a flexible material, such as plastic film, having an opening means and being disposable, which container is characterised in that the opening means comprises a sealed protrusion which is openable by cutting or the like and which in its open state forms a duct-like opening which communicates with the interior of the container and to which the connecting means according to that stated above is connectible. As a result a container is provided, which can be used for distribution of a liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation and which has an easily producible opening device. This is formed as a protrusion, which by cutting, tearing off or the like forms a duct-like opening, into which the connecting means is insertable. Thus the opening means need not be designed in such manner that the. necessary properties, such as good pourability and resealability, are obtain- ed. Instead these properties are provided by the connecting means .

According to a preferred embodiment of the container, the opening means has an inner surface with a grooved structure, the opening means advantageously being formed of two opposite protruding portions of two opposite side panels which are sealed along their lateral edges, a first of the side panels having on its inner surface longitudinal grooves and a second of the side panels having on its inner surface grooves which are angled relative to the grooves formed on the opposite surface. The side panels will be easily separable to form the duct-like opening after cutting open, tearing off or the like of the opening means.

The liquid foodstuff held in the container is advan- tageously a foodstuff intended for children, such as infant formula, and the container allows advantageously heating of the liquid foodstuff held therein by means of a microwave oven.

Finally, according to the present invention a method is provided for connecting a connecting means to a con- tainer for a liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation, which method is characterised by the steps of opening by cutting or the like an opening means of the container which is a disposable portion pack made of a flexible material, said opening means forming in its open state a duct-like opening communicating with the interior of the container, subsequently inserting the connecting means into said opening, said connecting means internally defining a flow path open at both ends, and finally fixing the connecting means in said opening. As a result, a method is provided which allows extremely simple handling of liquid foodstuffs or pharmaceutical preparations. The foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation is obtained packed in a disposable container. Subsequently the reusable connecting means is applied in a duct-like opening of the container. This connecting means can be designed in a suitable way to obtain a desired property, such as good pouring properties. The container is emptied, the connecting means is removed and the container is disposed of. The connecting means is washed and is thus ready to be applied to a new container.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a connecting means according to the present invention.

Figs 2a-d illustrate schematically the method for connecting the connecting means in Fig. 1 to a container for liquid foodstuffs, such as milk, which container, together with the connecting means, is included in a first embodiment of a packing system according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a connecting means according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the connecting means in Fig. 3 mounted on a container for liquid foodstuffs, such as infant formula, which container, together with the connecting means, is included in a second embodiment of a packing system according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a connecting means according to the present invention. Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the connecting means in Fig. 5 mounted on a container for liquid foodstuffs, such as ketchup, which container, together with the connecting means, is included in a third embodiment of a packing system according to the present invention.

Description of Embodiments

The present invention relates to a packing system as well as connecting means 1 and containers 20 includ- ed therein. The containers are of disposable type and intended for liquid foodstuffs or pharmaceutical preparations .

The term liquid foodstuffs also includes viscous foodstuffs, such as ketchup. As an example of a suitable liquid pharmaceutical preparation, different kinds of nutrient solutions can be mentioned.

A number of inventive packing systems will be described below. Parts and components having a similar function have throughout been given the same reference numerals. The different packing systems will mainly be described with reference to different types of liquid foodstuffs, but as mentioned above the present invention is also applicable to different types of liquid pharmaceutical preparations.

Fig. 1, to which reference is now made, illustrates a first embodiment of a connecting means 1 according to the invention, which connecting means 1 is intended for a first embodiment of an inventive packing system.

The connecting means 1 comprises a tubular, essentially cylindrical piece 2 which thus internally defines a flow path 3 open at both ends.

The piece 2 has a bevelled portion 4 at a first end 5 and an end portion 6 connected thereto. The piece 2 thus obtains a shape tapering towards the first end 5.

In the centre of the piece 2, a fixing means in the form of an expanding means 7 is arranged. The expanding means 7 comprises a sleeve-shaped ring of an elastic material, such as rubber, which ring 8 is arranged round the piece 2. An end 9 of the ring 8 abuts against a circular shoulder 10 which is formed essentially in the cen- tre of the piece 2. The piece 2 has adjacent to the shoulder 10 circumferential protrusions 11 which act to retain the ring 8 arranged outside the protrusions. Moreover the expanding means 7 comprises a sleeve-shaped screw means 12, which is arranged on the outside of the piece 2 at an end 13 of the ring 8 facing away from the shoulder 10. The screw means 12 is intended for threaded engagement with the piece 2 and has, for this reason, an internal thread 14. The piece 2 has a complementarily formed external thread 15. By turning the screw means 12, this is thus applicable to the ring 8, which will thus be pressed against the shoulder 10. The ring 8 will, under the action of the pressing force, expand in the radial direction.

Finally the connecting means 1 also comprises a top 16 which is arranged at a second 17 of the two ends of the piece. The top 16 is arranged for threaded engagement with the piece 2 and has, for this reason, an inter-

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The first end 5 of the connecting means 1 and the end portion 6 connected thereto are thus insertable into said duct-like opening 32.

When the connecting means 1 has been inserted to a sufficient extent into the opening 32, the expanding means 7 is operated to fix the connecting means 1 in the opening 32. More specifically, the screw means 12 is turned to move the same towards the ring 8 for expanding the ring in the radial direction. The expansion takes place in the duct-like opening 32, thereby obtaining the desired fixing.

The connecting means 1 is thus connected to the con- tainer 20, and for pouring the foodstuff held in the container 20, the top 16 is removed, as is illustrated in Fig. 2d.

The container 20 of this first embodiment of the inventive packing system is extremely suitable for liquid foodstuffs, such as milk or fruit juice. It goes without saying the containers 20 allow filling under aseptic conditions .

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0 0 rt TJ μ- Hi P P 0 rt tr μ- μ- rt tr ■ : ~ φ - 3 rt LQ Hi * Φ tr P P s; P

P P 0 ii P rt rt Φ LQ 0 tr Φ P O CD X 0 φ tr Ω φ LQ tr tr O

CQ φ LQ rt tr tr fi fi ft φ φ LQ μ- rt CD rt rt SD φ φ. o SD rt Φ CQ μ-

^• rt Ω tr φ Φ O rt CD Ω tr CQ Φ P fi 0 P Φ- Ξ μ- TJ Ω Ω Ω φ.

SD tr μ- Φ. φ to 3 tr rt 3 0 0 rt SD 3 Ω Φ SD LQ O SD Ω 0 μ- SD li tr μ¹ ft P Φ SD co Hi o φ P SD P TJ tr < SD tr 3 P Φ tr μ- TJ 0 P Φ 0 fi φ

Φ ft rt 0 M 0 rt P P φ Φ φ fi Ω Φ rt -> o P SD P Ω Ul ϋ it μ- SD

Hi Φ Φ μ- T o o μ- tr o P φ P fi O SD μ- tr <J rt P φ. Φ μ- SD μ- CQ μ- < 3 ft P φ :> ft Q Φ TJ Φ Ω μ- o μ- SD O P Φ 3 Φ rt tr Φ σi P P P CQ

P SD rj¹ P CO Φ tr i rt P TJ rt P TJ <! fi 0 tr Ω DO LQ LQ LQ 0 φ fi 0 rt rt μ- TJ rt SD ft P φ μ- LQ Φ O LQ fi ^ Ω φ P ft φ > rt μ- . φ 0 μ¹ ft μ- ft ' tr P SD P Ω μ- μ- μ^j ft P P Φ μ- Φ 0 P it P Φ μ- Q O ft O ϋ p en

SD μ- SD Φ LQ rt rt CQ P ft Φ LQ ω μ- 0 ft o rt P rt μ- rt CO φ 0 0 C P 3 SD tr rt 3 rt tr Hi Φ Ω LQ CD to P TJ φ Ω < μ- rt Φ Ω P Hi P i - μ- Φ CQ μ- φ CQ φ. ft tr μ- Ω 3 LQ Φ rt CO tr φ J tr ft fi ft Φ rt P rt ft

0 P rt Ω Φ- U> μ- SD ft P fi φ μ- P 0 P P Φ μ- rt 3 P tr tr SD rt P rt tr fi CQ P fi Φ μ- SD co 3 μ- 3 TJ μ- rt O tr CQ tr fi 0 P φ CQ Φ Ω tr CQ co Φ Φ μ- 0 TJ LQ <! rt tr P φ P tr o . Φ TJ tr P Φ Φ 0 < to SD 0 Ω φ ^ P Hi 3 0 Φ μ- tr Φ CD SD LQ φ fi P SD Φ ft φ 3 Φ Ω Hi μ- Q 3 Φ

SD μ- TJ SD P Ω Φ ft 0 P Φ rt Ω SD φ TJ ft fi ft Ω TJ P

SD fi f 3 rt rt ft o Φ μ¹ fi CO 3 CQ K Ω rt < μ- O Φ O fi rt

TJ φ Φ Φ tr tr Φ TJ Ω SD 3 Φ P CD μ- 0 Ω tr φ φ SD Hi s: S ft φ Φ fi

TJ P CO SD φ Φ Φ ω 0 tr μ- φ to SD CQ TJ 0 P P 0 μ- Ω μ- fi μ- μ- it 3 SD φ Hi CQ Φ P ft o P VD P 0 o ft H¹ P TJ Φ i LQ P P ii Φ. φ ft 0 P TJ to φ

P Φ rt P CQ φ Ω 0 ϋ μ- rt <! CD φ Ω φ rt ft o 3 LQ SD Ω 3 P ft SD fi rt P 0 P SD φ SD SD tr P μ- tr O Ω SD . to ft r tr Φ rt rt φ CQ SD φ. ft P μ^j Φ LQ O μ- ϋ CD to ft SD ^ rt μ- Φ μ- rt rt tr SD SD SD tr ft μ- rt μ- M P φ X i P H μ» φ μ- P CQ μ- P μ- co tr tr fi P fi fi tr Φ P • CQ φ SD SD φ. Φ SD SD tr Ω ft Ω ft rt P φ tr D Ω Φ Φ LQ CD μ- 0

Ω ft < Ω <! 3 oo fi ϋ Hi P SD £ ft SD Φ LQ fi 0 tr Φ \—> P

Φ Φ φ rt φ TJ • Φ rt LQ CQ rt μ- μ- 3 ft 0 SD ft CQ SD Φ- ^< LQ

SD • SD P φ μ- 3 DO Φ φ rt fi fi P 3 t μ- tr fi μ- Ω rt 0 μ¹ tr μ- P rt <; P rt φ to O o fi ft tr μ- φ 0 ^• LQ φ o 3 rt LQ co fi TJ ~ rt

3 H ft μ- φ LQ tr - P <! Φ P Ω 3 ι-3 SD φ SD φ Ω φ r φ 0 ft

CQ tr 0 Φ tr μ- μ- 3 μ- Φ LQ rt SD 0 tr P P μ- tr it tr P CO μ-

Φ rt P SD tr P co tr P P Φ Hi μ- CO f-3 rt P SD Φ μ- SD Ul tr P Φ LQ μ- O ft CQ tr Φ ϋ P μ- SD

SD ft Ω fi Φ ft LQ LQ ft μ- rt tr Φ ft

Claims

1. A packing system for liquid foodstuffs or phar- maceutical preparations, comprising disposable portion packs (20) containing the liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation, each pack (20) comprising an openable opening means, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by a reusable connecting means (1) made separately from the opening means, which connecting means, in the open state of each opening means, is connectible to the same and through which the liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation is dischargeable from the respective pack (20) , each opening means being made in the form of a sealed protrusion (21) which is openable by cutting or the like, which is formed in one piece with two opposite side panels (22, 23) of the pack, and which in its open state forms a duct-like opening (32) communicating with the interior of the pack (20) .

2. A packing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means (1) is insertable into and fixable in the duct-like opening (32) of each pack (20) .

3. A packing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connecting means (1) for fixing in said duct-like opening (32) comprises a fixing means (7) .

4. A packing system as claimed in claim 3, where- in the fixing means (7) comprises an expanding means (20) which in operation is adapted to increase its diameter.

5. A packing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting means (1) comprises a suction means (33) , a liquid foodstuff or phar- maceutical preparation contained in a pack (20) being dischargeable by applying suction over the suction means (33) of a connecting means (1) connected to said pack (20) .

6. A connecting means in disposable containers (20) for liquid foodstuffs or pharmaceutical preparations, comprising an essentially tubular piece (2) which is open at both ends (5, 17) and which internally defines a flow path (3) , and a fixing means (7) arranged on said piece (2) , the tubular piece (2) being connectible to a ductlike opening (32) of each container (20) , communicating with the interior of the container, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by an end portion (6) at a first (5) of the two ends (5, 17) of the tubular piece (2), said end portion (6) being insertable into duct-like openings (32) of containers (20) made of a flexible material, such as plastic film, and having opening means comprising sealed protrusions (21) , which are openable by cutting or the like to form said duct-like openings (32), the fixing means (7) being operable to fix the connecting means in the respective duct-like opening (32) when said end portion (6) has been inserted in the same.

7. A connecting means as claimed in claim 6, where- in the piece (2) is at least partly circular in cross- section.

8. A connecting means as claimed in claim 6 or 7 , wherein the end portion (6) is of a shape tapering towards the first end (5) .

9. A connecting means as claimed in any one of claims 6-8, wherein the piece (2) is cylindrical and has a bevelled portion (4) at said first end (5) .

10. A connecting means as claimed in any one of claims 6-9, wherein fixing means (7) comprises an expand- ing means (50) which is operable to increase the diameter of the same .

11. A connecting means as claimed in claim 10, wherein the expanding means (50) comprises a ring (8) of an elastic material, said ring (8) being arranged on the outside of the piece (2) , and a screw means (12) , which is arranged on the outside of said piece (2) and is intended for threaded engagement with said piece (2) , said screw means (12) being applicable to said ring (8) by turning .

12. A connecting means as claimed in any one of claims 6-11, further comprising an openable top (16) arranged at a second (17) of the two ends (5, 17) of the piece (2) .

13. A connecting means as claimed in claim 12, wherein the piece (2) at said second end (17) has an external thread (15) and the top (16) has an internal thread (15) which is formed complementarily to said external thread (15) , said top (16) thus being screwable on said piece (2) for closing the second end (17) of the piece (2) .

14. A connecting means as claimed in any one of claims 6-11, further comprising an end sleeve (40) arranged at the second end (17) of the piece (2) and a screw means (41) screwable on the same, said end sleeve having an end wall (43) which has an opening (44) formed therein at a radial distance from the centre of the end wall (43) and a central projection (45), and said screw means (41) having a centrally arranged through discharge opening (48) formed complementarily to said projection (45) , said projection (45) being insertable into said opening (48) by screwing on the screw means (41) .

15. A connecting means as claimed in any one of claims 6-11, further comprising a suction means (33) arranged at the second end (17) of said piece (2) and communicating with the flow path (3) .

16. A connecting means as claimed in claim 15, wherein the suction means (33) by applying suction over the same is adapted to discharge a liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation held in a container (20) connected to the connecting means (1) .

17. A connecting means as claimed in claim 16, wherein the suction means (33) comprises a cap (36) made of an elastic material and having a bulge (37) in which a discharge opening (38) is formed.

18. A connecting means as claimed in claim 17, wherein the elastic material is rubber.

19. A food container for a liquid foodstuff or phar- maceutical preparation, said container being made of a flexible material, such as plastic film, having an opening means (21) and being of disposable type, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the opening means (21) comprises a sealed protrusion (21) which is openable by cutting or the like and which in its open state forms a duct-like opening (32) which communicates with the interior of the container and to which the connecting means according to any one of claims 6-18 is connectible.

20. A container as claimed in claim 19, wherein an inner surface (27, 28) of the protrusion (21) has a grooved structure (29, 30) .

21. A container as claimed in claim 20, wherein the protrusion (21) is formed of two opposite protruding por- tions (25, 26) of two opposite side panels (22, 23) which are sealed along their lateral edges, a first (25) of the protruding portions having on its inner surface (27) longitudinal grooves (29) and a second (26) of the protruding portions having on its inner surface (28) grooves (30) which are angled relative to the grooves (29) formed on the opposite surface (27) .

22. A container as claimed in any one of claims 19-21, wherein a liquid foodstuff intended for children is contained in the container (20) .

23. A container as claimed in claim 22, wherein the liquid foodstuff (20) held in the container is infant formula .

24. A container as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein the container (20) allows heating of the liquid foodstuff held therein by means of a microwave oven.

25. A method for connecting a connecting means (1) to a container (20) for a liquid foodstuff or pharmaceutical preparation, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by the steps of opening by cutting or the like an opening means (21) of the container (20) which is a disposable portion pack made of a flexible material, said opening means (21) forming in its open state a duct-like opening (32) communicating with the interior of the container (20) , subsequently inserting the connecting means (1) into said opening (32) , said connecting means (1) internally defining a flow path (3) open at both ends, and finally fixing the connecting means (1) in said opening (32) .