SINGLE SERVE FILLABLE CONDIMENT PACKET

Abstract

A single serve, fillable condiment packet for use by an end user to selectively retain and then dispense a desired substance. The single serve condiment packet includes an elongated packet body that has opposing resealable ends, a permanently sealed top edge, and a permanently sealed bottom edge. In one embodiment, each end of the packet body is defined by a conventional zip lock style closure which is individually operative to be opened by pulling apart the elements of the closure and sealed by pressing together the elements of the closure. The top edge is heat sealed and includes a tear notch adjacent to each end, positioned to allow a user to easily open the packet body at a location adjacent to the respective end.

Claims

1. A single serve, fillable condiment packet, comprising: a single planar packet body defining a flexible container adapted to contain and dispense single-use quantities of foods or consumer goods; said packet body including opposing end sections, wherein each opposing end sections includes a resealable closure, wherein said resealable closure defines a zip lock closure which is adapted to be opened by pulling apart the resealable closure; and said packet body including a permanently sealed top edge.

2. The condiment packet of claim 1, wherein said packet body includes a heat sealed section adjacent to said top edge, thereby permanently sealing the top edge.

3. The condiment packet of claim 2, additionally comprising at least one tear notch in said top edge and heat sealed section.

4. The condiment packet of claim 3, wherein said packet body includes one tear notch positioned adjacent to each end.

5. The condiment packet of claim 1, wherein said opposing end sections are mirror images of one another.

6. (canceled)

7. (Canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a single serve condiment packet built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a single serve condiment packet 10 is shown as an elongated packet body 11 which has opposing resealable ends 12 and a permanently sealed top edge 13. The packet body 11 is formed from opposing planar sheets attached together at their edges, thereby defining a conventional flexible container. As such, the packet body 11 is suitable for use to contain and dispense single-use quantities of foods or consumer goods. In the preferred embodiment, the opposing planar sheets which define the packet body 11 are formed form a single planar body which has been folded over at a bottom edge 14.

[0013] In one embodiment, the packet body 11 measures four inches by one and a quarter inches and is constructed of a paper, foil, or plastic film material.

[0014] Each end 12 of the packet body 11 is defined by a conventional zip lock style closure 20 having a zip fastener and a lock fastener on an opposing surfaces of the planar sheets which define the packet body 11. In this regard, each end 12 of the packet body 11 is separately operative to be opened by pulling apart the elements of the closure 20 and sealed by pressing together the elements of the closure 20.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment, adjacent to the top edge 13 is a heat sealed section 30 which operates to permanently seal the packet body 11 along the top edge 13. Towards each of the opposing ends 12 is a tear notch 31 in the top edge and sealed section 30. Each tear notch 31 is positioned to allow a user to easily open the packet body 11 at a location adjacent to the respective end 12. It is appreciated that the tear notches may allow a user to selectively create a hole or even rip off the respective end 12.

[0016] When in use, an end user may fill an unused single serve condiment packet 10 with a desired substance for use at a later time. In this regard, the end user may open the closure 20 at either end, insert the desired substance, and reseal the opened end 12. At a later point, the user could tear open either end and squeeze the single serve condiment packet 10 to dispense the substance which had been previously filled therein.

[0017] It is contemplated that in some instances, a user may open both ends 12 when filling the single serve condiment packet 10 so as to maximize the amount of air that can be ventilated out prior to resealing the single serve condiment packet 10.

[0018] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.