WO2002044030A2

WO2002044030A2 - Container for packaging and dispensing a substance

Info

Publication number: WO2002044030A2
Application number: PCT/IL2001/000782
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yuval Lichi
Original assignee: Kibbutz Ramat Rachel
Priority date: 2000-11-30
Filing date: 2001-08-21
Publication date: 2002-06-06
Also published as: WO2002044030A3; AU2001282468A1; IL140026A0

Abstract

A container for packaging and dispensing a substance which includes a side wall (2) closed at one end by a bottom wall (1) and open at the opposite end with the bottom wall (1) being of smaller dimensions than the open end. The side wall (2) is of a material which is sufficiently flexible to enable the bottom wall (1) to be moved through the container interior towards and through the open end to reduce the internal volume of the container and to turn the container inside out. Also described are a method of making such a container and a method of packaging food product, such as ice cream, using such a container.

Description

CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING A SUBSTANCE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to the packaging of substances, particularly comestible substances.

BACKGROUND

Packaging, particularly food packaging, is a major industry. Studies have shown that consumer preference is influenced by packaging, including both the appearance of the packaging and the utility of its employment.

Packaged ready to eat food, particularly snacks and refreshments, comprises a major market niche, subject to great competition. Incentive is great to attract market share through attractive packaging. Catchy names, bright colors and a pleasing appearance have shown to be powerful forces in providing incentives to potential consumers. Functional, easy to use packaging has also proven effective because of the nature of ready to eat food which is often eaten while engaged in other pursuits rather than while sitting at the dinner table. Snacks and refreshments in particular are typically eaten when purchased directly from the package.

Another important factor in the design of packaging such snacks is the ease of access to the contents of the package. A serious drawback in the current state of packaging inherently messy snacks such as ice cream, flavored milk products, etc, is the difficulty to extricate the snack from the package in a clean and orderly manner. Attempts have been made to address this need by the use of squeezable containers that allow the consumer to express the contents by force of manual pressure, or to employ tubular means to withdraw the contents by oral suction, or to provide edible packaging comprised of a substance less messy than the principal product. Moreover, it is important to have access to all of the contents of the package.

Little children, being reluctant to forego even one drop of ice cream, exert heroic efforts to extract the last remnant remaining in the container, often resulting in the immediate need for a bath and the laundering of clothes.

The snackfood industry abounds with different packaging. However, there is still an urgent need for a packaging method that allows the consumer to easily access and consume the entire contents of a package of inherently messy snack food in a clean and orderly manner without utensils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel container for packaging and dispensing substances, particularly food of the type that is sold in a "ready to eat" fashion from the container, such as ice cream, flavored milk products, etc.

According to a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for packaging and dispensing substances comprising a side wall closed at one end by a bottom wall and open at its opposite end; the bottom wall being of smaller dimensions than the open end; the side wall being of a material which is sufficiently flexible to enable the bottom wall to be moved through the container interior towards the open end to reduce the internal volume of the container.

According to further features of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the container is made of a material which is sufficiently flexible to enable the bottom wall to be moved through the open end of the container and thereby to turn the container inside-out. According to further features of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall is sufficiently stiff so as to substantially retain its shape and to be substantially self-supporting.

According to still further features in the preferred embodiment of the invention described below, the side wall of the container includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of annularly-extending fold formations spaced apart from each other which define a plurality of annular segments of the side wall, each of which is moveable towards the open end of the container for decreasing the internal volume of the container in steps.

According to yet further features of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the open end of the container is circumscribed by an annular flange and includes a lid which is removably received thereon.

According to yet further features of the described preferred embodiment, the container is impermeable to liquids.

There are further provided a method of making a container as above described and a method of packaging a food product using the above described container to facilitate dispensing the contents of the container.

An important feature of the described preferred embodiment lies in the flexible side wall and the flexible interconnection of the side wall with the bottom wall and with the flange. Such flexibility allows the bottom wall to pass through the interior of the container and extend through the open end, thereby reversing the container. Moderate hand pressure allows the consumer to turn the container inside out in order to access all of the contents in a relatively clean and orderly manner with no utensils. Another important feature of the described preferred embodiment is its utility and attractiveness to consumers, which will enhance the marketability of the materials vended therein. It is foreseen that this container will, in and of itself, prove useful and desirable and will thus provide a value added aspect to the products packaged therein.

Accordingly, the container disclosed herein offers both functional and commercial advantages over currently available packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment and presents what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the concept of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description and the drawings making apparent to one skilled in the art how the invention may be otherwise embodied in practice.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a container for packaging and dispensing comestible substances constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. la is a sectional view along line a- a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a is a front view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3b is a top perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in an early stage of being reversed; FIG. 3 c is a bottom perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in a late stage of being reversed; and

FIG. 3d is a top perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 after being fully reversed.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The container for packaging and dispensing substances illustrated in the drawings comprises three main elements: a bottom wall 1, a flexible side wall 2, and a flange 3. The side wall 2 comprises four annular segments 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d which are interconnected at their circumferences in graduating order of size, 2a being the largest and 2d being the smallest, by means of flexible annular fold formations 4. The bottom wall 1 is connected at its circumference to the smallest segment 2d of the side wall 2 by a flexible annular fold formation 4, and the flange 3 is connected at its inside circumference to the largest segment 2a by a flexible annular fold formation 4. The interconnection of the bottom wall 1 and the side wall 2 defines the interior 5 of the container. The flange 3 circumscribes the open end 6 of the container. The container has an interior surface 7 and an exterior surface 8. The container is sealable by means of a lid 9.

Such a container may be made by forming a sheet of material into a tubular shape of decreasing transverse dimensions from one end to the opposite end and closing the smaller dimensioned end with a bottom wall 1. The sheet material is sufficiently flexible to enable the bottom wall to be moved through the container interior towards the larger dimensioned end to reduce the internal volume of the container, and is sufficiently stiff so as to substantially retain its shape and to be self-supporting. The side wall has at least one, and preferably a plurality of fold formations 4 formed annularly around the tube spaced at intermediate portions thereof. Each fold formation 4 includes a plurality of closely spaced fold lines alternating in direction. The container, in the configuration depicted in FIG. 1, is designed to package and dispense substances, particularly comestible substances, more particularly "ready to eat" snack food. Such food is customarily eaten informally, directly from its container. Accordingly, the described container, constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, may be reversed, or "turned inside out", in order to provide easy and clean access to its contents.

The capability to be reversed results from the container's flexible elements. The side wall 2, which comprises segments 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, retains a generally stiff configuration until subjected to moderate pressure applied by the consumer in the process of accessing the container's contents. As a result of such pressure, which comprises force exerted upon the bottom wall 1 in the direction of the open end 6, the side wall 2 flexes, with each of the segments 2a, 2b. 2c. 2d in turn altering its shape and orientation and reversing the direction of the fold formation 4 adjacent thereto in order to allow the bottom wall 1 to pass therethrough. At the completion of the bottom wall 1 passing through each of the segments 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, each segment in turn returns to its stiff configuration in a reversed orientation, with its interior surface 7 having become its exterior surface 8, and its exterior surface 8 having become its interior surface 7. Each segment may thus reverse with respect to its adjacent segment by the flexible nature of the sheet material of the side wall 2 and the flexible fold formations 4 that interconnect the adjacent segments along their circumferences. The entire container reverses as a result of the flexible side wall 2 just described and the flexible fold formations 4 connecting the side wall 2 to the bottom wall 1 and to the flange 3. The flexible fold formations 4 define distinct stages in the decreasing of the container's volume and the turning of the container inside out.

FIGS. 3 a, 3b, 3 c and 3d depict the container in the process of reversal to an inside out condition. FIG. 3 a shows the container in its original configuration

FIG. 3b shows the container in an initial stage of reversal. The side wall 2 is beginning to flex and change its configuration. The bottom wall 1 has moved, via the interior 5 of the container, closer to the open end 6 of the container.

FIG. 3 c shows the container in a late stage of reversal, the bottom wall having passed, via the interior 5 of the container, through each of the segments 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d of the side wall 2 and through the open end 6 of the container.

FIG. 3d shows the container in its reversed inside out condtion, with interior surface 7 having become exterior surface 8 and exterior surface 8 having become interior surface 7.

The container is capable of being sealed. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a lid 9 configured in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention which may be fitted on the flange 3 of the container.

The container is designed to be impermeable to liquid. Each fold formation 4 depicted in FIG. la may be a single fold line or a plurality of fold lines alternating in direction similar to a corrugation, integrally formed of the same sheet material as the side wall 2. The sheet material of which the container is made is preferably a plastic such as polypropylene, polyethylene or another flexible but somewhat stiff material impermeable to liquids.

The foregoing disclosure and the showings made in the drawings are to be considered merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense since many other variations and applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A container for packaging and dispensing a substance, comprising: a side wall closed at one end by a bottom wall and open at its opposite end; said bottom wall being of smaller dimensions than said open end; said side wall being of a material which is sufficiently flexible to enable the bottom wall to be moved through the container interior towards said open end to reduce the internal volume of the container.

2. The container according to Claim 1, wherein said side wall material is sufficiently flexible to permit the bottom wall to be moved through the open end of the container and thereby to turn the container inside-out.

3. The container according to Claim 1, wherein said side wall material is sufficiently stiff so as to substantially retain its shape and to be self-supporting.

4. The container according to Claim 1, wherein said side wall includes at least one annularly-extending fold formation defining a flexible interconnection between the portions of the side wall on the opposite sides of said fold formation.

5. The container according to Claim 4, wherein said side wall includes a plurality of annularly-extending fold formations spaced apart from each other and defining between the spaces a plurality of annular segments of the side wall each moveable towards the open end of the container for decreasing the internal volume of the container in steps.

6. The container according to Claim 1, wherein said side wall of the container is of decreasing transverse dimensions from the open end to said bottom wall.

7. The container according to Claim 6, wherein said side wall includes at least one annularly-extending fold formation defining a flexible interconnection between the portions of the side wall on the opposite sides of said fold formation.

8. The container of Claim 7, wherein said fold formation includes a plurality of closely spaced fold lines alternating in direction.

9. The container according to Claim 7, wherein said side wall includes a plurality of annularly-extending fold formations spaced apart from each other and defining between the spaces a plurality of annular segments of the side wall each moveable towards the open end of the container for decreasing the internal volume of the container in steps.

10. The container according to Claim 9, wherein said side wall material is sufficiently flexible to permit the bottom wall to be moved through the open end of the container and thereby to turn the container inside-out.

11. The container according to Claim 1, wherein said open end of the container is circumscribed by an annular flange.

12. The container according to Claim 11, wherein said container further includes a lid removably received on said annular flange.

13. A method of making a container, comprising: forming a sheet of material into a tubular shape of decreasing transverse dimensions from one end to the opposite end; and closing the smaller dimensioned end of the tubular shaped form with a bottom wall; said sheet material being sufficiently flexible to enable the bottom wall to be moved through the container interior towards the larger dimensioned end to reduce the internal volume of the container.

14. The method according to Claim 13, wherein said sheet material is sufficiently stiff so as to substantially retain its tubular shape and to be self-supporting.

15. The method according to Claim 13, wherein at least one fold formation is foπned annularly around the tube at an intermediate portion thereof.

16. The method according to Claim 13, wherein a plurality of said fold formations are formed annularly around the tube and spaced at intermediate portions thereof.

17. The method according to Claim 16, wherein said fold formation includes a plurality of closely spaced fold lines alternating in direction.

18. A method of packaging a food product comprising: forming a container according to Claim 13; introducing the food product into the container; and moving the bottom wall of the container through its interior to decrease the volume of the container to facilitate dispensing the contents thereof.

19. The method according to Claim 18, wherein the bottom wall of the container is moved completely through the open end of the container to turn the container inside-out to facilitate dispensing the contents of the container.

20. The method according to Claim 18, wherein the food product is a flavored milk product.