Container construction for powdered material

Abstract

A packaging for a powdered material includes a tub for receiving the material, the tub having a base and a peripheral wall with a top edge; an outer sleeve around at least the peripheral wall of the tub, thereby supporting the tub; a removable membrane for separating the powdered material in the tub from the environment; and a lid assembly having a peripheral rim for connection over the top edge of the peripheral wall of the tub and defining a wide access opening and a lid, hingedly attached to the rim for reclosing the access opening. A method of manufacturing such a package for a powdered material includes sliding the tub in the sleeve, such that at least the peripheral wall of the tub is enclosed by the sleeve, whereby sleeve supports the tub and the tub and sleeve form a container for the powdered material.

Claims

1. Packaging for powdered infant milk formula material comprising: a thermoformed tub for receiving the infant milk formula material, the tub having a base and a peripheral wall of polymeric material with a top edge, the peripheral wall having a thickness between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm and being provided with a barrier layer having reduced oxygen transmission, the peripheral wall being flexible; an outer carton sleeve enclosing the peripheral wall of the tub around its complete periphery, thereby engaging and supporting the peripheral wall of the tub and engaging and supporting at least a part of the base of the tub with a base of the sleeve; a removable membrane for separating the powdered infant milk formula material in the tub from the environment; and a lid assembly comprising a peripheral rim for connection over the top edge of the peripheral wall of the tub and defining a wide access opening and a lid, hingedly attached to the rim for reclosing the access opening and powdered infant milk formula filling the tub such that the powdered infant milk formula exerts an outward force on the peripheral wall flexing the peripheral wall towards the sleeve.

2. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the tub comprises a single product containing compartment.

3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein a further top edge of the outer sleeve is at a distance from the top edge of the tub.

4. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the wide access opening is a rectangular shape.

5. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the tub engages the outer sleeve with an interference fit.

6. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a weakened tear line defining an opening region, and a pull tab.

7. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the rim and the lid are integrally formed of polymeric material.

8. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material of the peripheral wall of the tub is a laminate comprising polypropylene.

9. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve has a flexural modulus that is higher than a flexural modulus of the peripheral wall of the tub, such that the outer sleeve supports the tub.

10. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the lid or the rim are provided with a tamper evident closure indication.

11. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the powdered infant milk formula is sealed within the container.

12. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said outer carton sleeve is comprised of carton of 50 to 400 g/m.sup.2.

13. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said outer carton sleeve is comprised of carton of 100 to 300 g/m.sup.2.

14. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said outer carton sleeve is comprised of carton of 50 to 400 g/m.sup.2.

15. The packaging according to claim 1, and further comprising adhesive connecting an outside of the tub and an inside of the sleeve such that it increases the composite strength.

16. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve and the tub together form a composite container for the powdered material.

17. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the flexing of the peripheral wall towards the sleeve results in the peripheral wall connecting to the sleeve.

18. A method of manufacturing a package for a powdered infant milk formula, the method comprising: providing a thermoformed tub for receiving the powdered infant milk formula, the tub having a base and a peripheral wall of polymeric material with a top edge, the peripheral wall being flexible; providing a lid assembly, comprising a peripheral rim defining a wide access opening and a lid, hingedly attached to the rim for reclosing the access opening; filling the tub with the powdered infant milk formula such that the powdered infant milk formula exerts an outward force on the peripheral wall flexing the peripheral wall; placing a carton sleeve around the tub, such that at least the peripheral wall of the tub is enclosed around its complete periphery by the sleeve, whereby the sleeve engages and supports the peripheral wall of the tub which flexes outwardly toward the sleeve and engages and supports at least a part of the base of the tub with a base of the sleeve, and the tub and sleeve together form a container for the powdered infant milk formula; providing a membrane for separating the powdered infant milk formula from the environment, the membrane having an opening region and a peripheral region, separated from each other by a line of weakness; sealing the membrane to the peripheral wall of the tub; and connecting the peripheral rim of the lid assembly over the top edge of the tub.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the tub is filled with the powdered infant milk formula prior to placing the sleeve around the tub.

20. A packaging for powdered infant milk formula material comprising: a thermoformed tub for receiving the infant milk formula material, the tub having a base and a peripheral wall of polymeric material with a top edge, the peripheral wall being flexible, having a thickness between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm and being provided with a barrier layer having reduced oxygen transmission; an outer carton sleeve enclosing the peripheral wall of the tub around its complete periphery and terminating at the base, thereby engaging and supporting the peripheral wall and at least a portion of the base of the tub with a base of the sleeve; a removable membrane for separating the powdered infant milk formula material in the tub from the environment; and a lid assembly comprising a peripheral rim for connection over the top edge of the peripheral wall of the tub and defining a wide access opening and a lid, hingedly attached to the rim for reclosing the access opening, and powdered infant milk formula filling the tub such that the powdered infant milk formula exerts an outward force on the peripheral wall flexing the peripheral wall towards the sleeve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reference to the following drawings of a number of exemplary embodiments, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a package according to a first embodiment of the present invention in partly exploded perspective view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a partially exploded view of a package 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention comprising a container 2 and a lid assembly 9. The lid assembly 9 comprises a circumferential rim 3 for connecting the lid assembly 9 to the container 2 and a lid 4 for reclosing the container 2 after opening. The container 2 comprises a tub 17 and a sleeve 18. The tub 17 has a base 5 and a peripheral upstanding wall 7 having a top edge 6. The top edge 6 of the tub 17 comprises a flange 23 that extends outwardly from the peripheral wall. A membrane 11 is connected to the top edge 6 of the tub 17 at the flange 23 for sealing the powdered product (not shown) from the environment. The sleeve 18 has a further base 19 and a further peripheral upstanding wall 14 with a further top edge 15. Alternatively, the sleeve 18 can comprise only a further peripheral wall, leaving the base 5 of the tub 17 uncovered. The tub 17 has only one compartment 24, which compartment holds the product (not shown).

(5) In this view it can be seen that the sleeve 18 of carton is provided around the tub 17 of polymer material. The sleeve 18 provides rigidity to the tub 17 and can be easily printed as may be required. The tub 17 and the sleeve 18 support each other in order to provide a wall structure that is stronger than would be the case for each of the elements when taken alone. This support is achieved by an interference fit preventing the tub 17 and the sleeve 18 from sliding out of each other during normal use and ensures that the peripheral wall 7 of the tub 17 is adequately supported. The weight of the powder contents (not shown) can assist in pressing the peripheral wall 7 of the tub 17 into contact with the outer sleeve 18. The peripheral rim 3 fits over the top edge 6 of the tub 17. The peripheral rim 3 and the top edge 6 define an access opening 8. The access opening 8 is sealed with a membrane 11 prior to use. The lid 4 and peripheral rim 3 are arranged to attach onto flange 23 to complete the package 1. To this end, the peripheral rim 3 fits over the flange 23. During manufacture, the tub 17 may first be filled with milk powder (not shown). The membrane 11 may then be connected to the top edge 6 to form a hermetically sealed unit. In a final stage of production, the outer sleeve 18 may be slid over the tub, the sleeve having the desired printing, and the lid assembly 9 may be applied. However, first sliding the sleeve 18 over the tub 17 before conducting the further manufacturing steps is possible as well. The tub 17 is then subsequently sealed with the membrane 11 over the top edge 6 and the lid assembly 9 is subsequently applied onto the top edge 6 at the flange 23.

(6) FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in perspective view. The container 2 has a depth dimension d, measured from its base 5 to a top edge 6 of its peripheral wall 7. It also has a width dimension w and a length dimension 1. The rim 3 forms an access opening 8 providing access to the interior of the container 2. During manufacture, the inner tub 17 is slid into the outer sleeve 18 forming the container 2. The inner tub 17 is then supported by the outer sleeve 18. The top edge 6 of the tub 17 and the top edge 15 of the outer sleeve are at a distance from each other, such that the tolerances in the height dimensions of these container parts may be accommodated. The membrane 11 has a weakening line 21 and a pull tab 20 that may be grasped in order to facilitate its removal along the weakening line 21. As can be seen, the tear line 21 delimits the peripheral region 13 which remains attached to peripheral wall 7 once the central opening region 12 has been removed by pulling of the pull-tab 20. In use, the package 1 is opened by hinging back the lid 4 along hinges 16 to reveal the access opening 8. The pull tab 20 may then be grasped in order to rupture the membrane 11 along the line of weakness 21. The opening region 12 may then be removed, leaving a peripheral region 13 connected to the peripheral wall 7 and exposing the powdered material (not shown). A scoop (not shown) is used to perform dosing of the powdered material. After use of the product, the lid 4 is reclosed.

(7) In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the base of the container 2 has a profile (not shown) that is complementary to the depression 22 on the lid. During storage or display, packages 1 may be stacked one upon the other whereby the base 5, 19 of one package 1 engages with the lid 4 of a package 1 beneath. On use, the user removes the membrane 11 and uses a scoop to dispense product. The lid 4 subsequently serves to close the access opening 8.