SINGLE-SERVING DISPOSABLE CONTAINER (VARIANTS)

Abstract

The group relates to single-serving disposable containers for packaging. A single-serving disposable container is proposed, comprising a front wall of the container and a back wall of the container, which are connected to each other forming an inner sealed cavity designed to contain a granular product with a weight from 1 to 20 g. According to the first variant, in the container, the front and the back walls of the container are made of paper with a density from 18 g/m.sup.2 to 90 g/m.sup.2 with a laminating layer with a density from 10 g/m.sup.2 to 40 g/m.sup.2. According to the second variant, in the container, the front and the back walls of the container are made of a polymer film with a thickness from 12 microns to 80 microns. The invention is aimed at the creation of a container, while opening which with one hand a uniform and more accurate extraction of a granular product from the dispensing outlet of the product, located in the bottom part of the container, is ensured.

Claims

1. A single-serving disposable container (100) comprising a front wall of the container (101) and a back wall of the container (102), which are connected to each other forming an inner sealed cavity (103) designed to contain a granular product (104) with a weight from 1 to 20 g, wherein the front wall of the container (101) and the back wall of the container (102) are made of paper with a density from 18 g/m.sup.2 to 90 g/m.sup.2 with a laminating layer with a density from 10 g/m.sup.2 to 40 g/m.sup.2, the front wall of the container (101) and the back wall of the container (102) are connected to each other along a perimeter by pressing to form a sealed strip (109) on an upper side (105), lateral sides (106) and (107), and in a bottom part (108), a dispensing outlet of the product (104) is located on the tapering portion of the bottom part (108), with the possibility to be torn when the container is squeezed simultaneously in an upper part of the lateral sides (106) and (107) with the fingers of one hand towards each other, and the upper side (105) is straight, and the width of the sealed strip (109) is from 1 to 12 mm, preferably from 3 to 5 mm.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the front wall of the container (101) and the back wall of the container (102) are made of paper with a density from 40 g/m.sup.2 to 50 g/m.sup.2 with a laminating layer with a density from 10 g/m.sup.2 to 15 g/m.sup.2.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein a cut (110) is performed on the sealed strip (109) in the bottom part (108) to indicate the dispensing outlet of the product (104) from the container.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the front wall of the container (101) and/or the back wall of the container (102) are made with a transparent insert (112).

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the front wall of the container (101) and the back wall of the container (102) are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity (103) in the form of an incomplete circle or oval.

6. The container according to claim 4, wherein the front wall of the container (101) and the back wall of the container (102) are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity (103) with a longitudinal bottom.

7. The container according to claim 4, wherein the front wall of the container (101) and the back wall of the container (102) are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity (103) in a form of a trapezoid with a narrow bottom.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the front wall of the container (101) and the back wall of the container (102) are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity (103), a top of which is concave towards the bottom.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cross detail (111) of the sealed strip (109) is performed additionally in the bottom part (108).

10. A single-serving disposable container (200) comprising a front wall of the container (201) and a back wall of the container (202), which are connected to each other forming an inner sealed cavity (203) designed to contain a granular product (104) with a weight from 1 to 20 g, wherein the front wall of the container (201) and the back wall of the container (202) are made of a polymer film with a thickness from 12 microns to 80 microns, the front wall of the container (201) and the back wall of the container (202) are connected to each other along a perimeter by pressing to form a sealed strip (209) on an upper side (205), lateral sides (206) and (207), and in a bottom part (208), a dispensing outlet of the product (104) is located on the tapering portion of the bottom part (208) with the possibility to be torn when the container is squeezed simultaneously in an upper part of the lateral sides (206) and (207) with the fingers of one hand towards each other, and the upper side (205) is straight, and the width of the sealed strip (209) is from 1 to 12 mm, preferably from 3 to 5 mm.

11. The container according to claim 10, wherein the front wall of the container (201) and the back wall of the container (202) are made of a polymer film with a thickness from 20 microns to 35 microns.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the front wall of the container (201) and the back wall of the container (202) are made of biaxially oriented polypropylene film, or oriented polypropylene film, or non-oriented polypropylene film.

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein a cut (210) is performed on the sealed strip (209) in the bottom part (208) to indicate the dispensing outlet of the product (104) from the container.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the front wall of the container (201) and the back wall of the container (202) are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity (203) in the form of an incomplete circle or oval.

15. The container according to claim 13, wherein the front wall of the container (201) and the back wall of the container (202) are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity (203) with a longitudinal bottom.

16. The container according to claim 13, wherein the front wall of the container (201) and the back wall of the container (202) are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity (203) in a form of a trapezoid with a narrow bottom.

17. The container according to claim 10, wherein the front wall of the container (201) and the back wall of the container (202) are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity (203), a top of which is concave towards the bottom.

18. The container according to claim 10, wherein the cross detail (211) of the sealed strip (209) is performed additionally in the bottom part (208).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention will become more fully understood upon consideration of detailed description therein given below, including references to the accompanying drawings, presented here only as an illustration of the invention, and by no way limit the present invention, where:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a single-serving disposable container according to the first variant of the invention (front view);

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1 along a line A-A;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows the container view according to claim 3;

[0035] FIG. 5 shows the container view according to claim 4;

[0036] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D show the container view according to claim 6;

[0037] FIG. 7 shows the container view according to claim 7;

[0038] FIG. 8 shows an upper part of the container according to claim 8;

[0039] FIG. 9 shows container view according to claim 9 (bottom view);

[0040] FIG. 10 shows a single-serving disposable container according to the second variant of the invention (front view);

[0041] FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of the container shown in FIG. 10;

[0042] FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 10 along a line A-A;

[0043] FIG. 13 shows the container view according to claim 13;

[0044] FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D show the container view according to claim 16;

[0045] FIG. 15 shows the container view according to claim 16;

[0046] FIG. 16 shows an upper part of the container according to claim 17;

[0047] FIG. 17 shows the container view according to claim 18 (bottom view);

[0048] FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate methods of the container opening according to variants of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Additional applicability of the present invention will become evident based on the detailed description provided herein. However, it should be understood that this detailed description and the specific examples given therein, although they indicate preferred variants of the present invention, are added only by way of illustration of the invention since various changes and additions are possible without exceeding the essence and scope of the invention, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description provided herein.

[0050] In FIGS. 1-3 as an example is shown, a packaging container 100 (according to the first variant of the invention), which comprises two structural details of paper with a laminating layer: a front wall of the container 101 and a back wall of the container 102.

[0051] The connection of structural details to each other along a perimeter is performed by heat pressing or another known method. As a result, a sealed part (cavity) 103 is formed, providing an inner chamber for containing packaged granular product 104. After heat pressing along an entire perimeter of the container, along an upper side 105, lateral sides 106, 107, and in a bottom part 108, a sealed strip 109 is formed, which prevents spontaneous dispensing of the contents from the sealed part 103. In different variants of the invention, the dimensions of the sealed part 103 may be as follows: 2-9 cm in width, 1-6 cm in height.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, said single-serving container 100, has an inner sealed cavity 103, generally in the form of an incomplete circle or oval, which is formed by the connection of the front wall of the container 101 and the back wall of the container 102 during the heat pressing process.

[0053] In the proposed container, walls 101 and 102 are made of paper with a density from 18 g/m.sup.2 to 90 g/m.sup.2 with a laminating layer with a density from 10 g/m.sup.2 to 40 g/m.sup.2.

[0054] Paper with a density from 40 to 50 g/m.sup.2, laminated by polyethylene with a density from 10 to 15 g/m.sup.2 is the optimal choice for the production of disposable single-serving containers, taking into account the optimal properties, including tensile strength, resistance to external influences; has relatively good resistance to water permeability; the resistance of the sealed strip formed as a result of heat pressing to external influences; preservation of the saleable condition and consumer properties; ease of the extraction of the contents by squeezing the container from two lateral sides towards each other with the fingers of one hand.

[0055] Paper with a lower density holds its shape badly and is more susceptible to damage during transportation, storage, and use.

[0056] Paper with a higher density is economically less profitable because its cost is higher. Also, the production of containers from paper of high density requires the modernization of modern equipment.

[0057] Lamination of paper with polyethylene of lower density is practically not carried out by manufacturers, since this does not provide sufficient sealing of the inner sealed part and protection of its contents, and as a result, the contents may be exposed to external factors. A significant increase in the density of the lamination layer is not advisable or justified, and will also lead to a difficult extraction of the contents from the container by squeezing the container from two opposing lateral sides with the fingers of one hand and will increase the cost of production.

[0058] In the proposed container, the width of the sealed strip 109 is from 1 to 12 mm, preferably from 3 to 5 mm. The chosen sealed strip width provides optimal resistance of the sealed strip to rupture or accidental damage, ensuring integrity and sealing of the inner sealed part of the single-serving disposable container, as well as providing the possibility of easy extraction of the contents by squeezing the single-serving disposable container from the opposing lateral sides with fingers of one hand.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the upper side 105 of the container is performed straight and wider than the bottom part 108. The dispensing outlet of the product 104 is located on the tapering portion of the bottom part 108. Said constructive design allows easy extraction of the contents of the sealed part 103 of the container to be removed by simultaneous squeezing of the opposing lateral sides 106 and 107 of the wide upper part of the container towards each other with the fingers of one hand (as shown in FIG. 18), resulting in the bottom part 108 of the container tears or moves apart in the place of the lower sealed strip 109 and the contents of the container are spilled out vertically downward smoothly and relatively evenly, and the product gets into the chosen place of the dispensing much more accurately.

[0060] As shown in the alternative embodiment in FIG. 4, on the sealed strip 109 in the bottom part 108 a cut 110 can be performed in the lowermost part of the bottom 108 to indicate the dispensing outlet of the product 104. Said realization facilitates the process of the product extraction, and the tearing of the container in the lower part goes faster since the cut weakens the sealed strip strength.

[0061] One or both of the structural details of the single-serving disposable container for granular products, entirely or partially, can be made transparent, so that the contents of the container can be seen by the consumer. For example, FIG. 5 shows the container in which one of the walls (the front wall 101) is performed with a transparent insert 112.

[0062] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D show the container in which the front wall of the container 101 and the back wall of the container 102 are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity 103 with a longitudinal bottom.

[0063] FIG. 7 shows the container in which the front wall of the container 101 and the back wall of the container 102 are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity 103 in a form of a trapezoid with a narrow bottom.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows the container in which the front wall of the container 101 and the back wall of the container 102 are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity 103, a top of which is concave towards the bottom.

[0065] FIG. 9 shows the container in which the bottom part 108 additionally has a cross detail 111 of the sealed strip 109. Said cross detail 111 is intended to facilitate rupture of the container at its bottom part and the extraction of the contents by squeezing the single-serving disposable container from the opposing lateral sides with the fingers of one hand.

[0066] To produce the containers, according to the first variant of the invention, a vertical automatic packaging machine VZ-320 can be used, originally intended for the production of containers with sugar (sticks) of the prior art with a packaging speed, according to the characteristics stated by the manufacturer, equal to 35-70 containers per minute, where the container is filled with granular contents and using a special press mold the sealed strip is formed along an entire perimeter of the container with a width of 3-5 mm and a trimming to intended shape is performed. To produce disposable single-serving containers according to the invention, a special press mold was made, and the packaging machine was reconfigured without changing its structural details. The maximum packaging speed for disposable single-serving containers according to the invention was 60-70 containers per minute. During the experiments, it was possible to easily extract the contents from the received container by simultaneous squeezing of the container in the upper part from the opposing lateral sides with the fingers of one hand towards each other. And the contents of the container have been dispensing vertically downward rapidly and relatively evenly.

[0067] In FIGS. 10-12 as an example is shown, of a packaging container 200, which comprises two structural details of plastic film: a front wall of the container 201 and a back wall of the container 202. The connection of structural details to each other along a perimeter is performed by heat pressing or another known method. As a result, a sealed part (cavity) 203 is formed, providing an inner chamber for containing packaged granular product 104. After heat pressing along an entire perimeter of the container, along an upper side 205, lateral sides 206, 207, and in a bottom part 208, a sealed strip 209 is formed, which prevents spontaneous dispensing of the contents from the sealed part 203. In different variants of the invention, the dimensions of the sealed part 203 may be as follows: 2-9 cm in width, 1-6 cm in height.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 10, said single-serving container 200, has an inner sealed cavity 203, generally in the form of an incomplete circle or oval, which is formed by the connection of the front wall of the container 201 and the back wall of the container 202 during the heat pressing process.

[0069] In the proposed container, walls 201 and 202 are made of a polymer film with a thickness from 12 microns to 80 microns.

[0070] The single-serving container according to the invention is made of a polymer film, for example, biaxially oriented polypropylene film, or oriented polypropylene film, or non-oriented polypropylene film.

[0071] The choice of the kind and type of polymer film is carried out according to the requirements for the packaging of a particular granular product. The use of the polymer film, in particular, biaxially oriented polypropylene film, allows protecting contents of the disposable single-serving container for sugar from moisture influence and penetration of foreign odors, extending shelf life, resulting in that the contents can be stored usable for much longer compared to paper packaging.

[0072] The use of a film with a thickness of 20-35 microns is sufficient to ensure the protection of the contents of the disposable single-serving container, preservation of the saleable condition. Also, polymer films of this thickness are the most common on the market of packaging materials for comestibles, therefore, market prices for such are optimal considering the high competition between film producers among themselves, which makes its use economically profitable and convenient.

[0073] A polymer film with a higher density is economically less profitable because its cost is higher. Also, the production of containers from films of high density requires the modernization of modern equipment.

[0074] In the proposed container, the width of the sealed strip 209 is from 1 to 12 mm, preferably from 3 to 5 mm. Said sealed strip width provides optimal resistance of the sealed strip to rupture or accidental damage, ensuring integrity and sealing of the inner sealed part of the single-serving disposable container, as well as providing the possibility of easy extraction of the contents by squeezing the single-serving disposable container from the opposing lateral sides with fingers of one hand.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 10-15, the upper side 205 of the container is performed straight and wider than the bottom part 208. The dispensing outlet of the product 104 is located on the tapering portion of the bottom part 208. Said constructive design allows easy extraction of the contents of the sealed part 203 of the container to be removed by simultaneous squeezing of the opposing lateral sides 206 and 207 of the wide upper part of the container towards each other with the fingers of one hand, resulting in the bottom part 208 of the container tears or moves apart in the place of the lower sealed strip 209 and the contents of the container are spilled out vertically downward smoothly and relatively evenly, and the product gets into the chosen place of the dispensing much more accurately.

[0076] As shown in the alternative embodiment in FIG. 13, on the sealed strip 209 in the bottom part 208 a cut 210 can be performed in the lowermost part of the bottom 208 to indicate the dispensing outlet of the product 104. Said realization facilitates the process of the product extraction, and the tearing of the container in the lower part goes faster since the cut weakens the sealed strip strength.

[0077] FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D show the container in which the front wall of the container 201 and the back wall of the container 202 are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity 203 with a longitudinal bottom.

[0078] FIG. 15 shows the container in which the front wall of the container 201 and the back wall of the container 202 are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity 203 in a form of a trapezoid with a narrow bottom.

[0079] FIG. 16 shows a container in which the front wall of the container 201 and the back wall of the container 202 are connected to each other forming the inner sealed cavity 203, a top of which is concave towards the bottom.

[0080] FIG. 17 shows the container in which the bottom part 208 additionally has a cross detail 211 of the sealed strip 209. Said cross detail 211 is intended to facilitate rupture of the container at its bottom part and the extraction of the contents by squeezing the single-serving disposable container from the opposing lateral sides with the fingers of one hand.

[0081] To produce the containers, according to the second variant of the invention, a vertical automatic packaging machine VZ-320 was used, originally intended for the production of containers with sugar (sticks) of the prior art with a packaging speed, according to the characteristics stated by the manufacturer, equal to 35-70 containers per minute, where the container is filled with granular contents and using a special press mold the sealed strip is formed along an entire perimeter of the container with a width of 3-5 mm and a trimming to intended shape is performed. To produce disposable single-serving containers according to the invention, a special press mold was made, and the packaging machine was reconfigured without changing its structural details. The maximum packaging speed for disposable single-serving containers according to the invention was 60-70 containers per minute. During the experiments, it was possible to easily extract the contents from the received container by simultaneous squeezing of the container in the upper part from the opposing lateral sides with the fingers of one hand towards each other. And the contents of the container have been dispensing vertically downward rapidly and relatively evenly.

[0082] The proposed invention is explained by examples.

EXAMPLE 1

[0083] In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, to produce a single-serving disposable container for sugar with a capacity of 5 g product 104 a paper with a density of 45 g/m.sup.2 laminated by polyethylene with a density of 13 g/m.sup.2 was used. The mechanism of the opening of such a container is clearly explained in FIG. 18. FIG. 18 shows that when pressure is applied to the lateral sides 106 and 107 of the container held by the phalanges of the thumb and index fingers, the container bottom part 108 tears in the place of the lower sealed strip, and sugar (product 104) under the pressure of the upper sugar layer and the force of gravity spills out vertically downward rapidly and precisely into the chosen place (for example, into a cup of coffee).

[0084] FIG. 19 shows the alternative mechanism of the opening. FIG. 19 shows that the container is gripped with the index finger and thumb from the front and the back, in the center or closer to its lower part, and the container is rubbed between the fingers, resulting in a rupture of the container bottom part 108 in the place of the lower sealed strip and sugar (product 104) under the pressure of the upper sugar layer and the force of gravity spills out vertically downward rapidly and precisely into the chosen place (for example, into a cup of coffee).

EXAMPLE 2

[0085] Example 2 is similar to Example 1 with the only difference in that the polymer film with a thickness of 25 microns was used for the production of the single-serving disposable container for sugar with a 5 g product capacity.

[0086] The examples and preferred embodiments disclose a single-serving disposable container for a granular product that can be conveniently opened with one hand. Usually, this is more convenient than using both hands and can be of particular importance when the user has only one free hand to manipulate the container, for example, when it is desired to add a product to the beverage while the other hand of the user is holding the beverage.

[0087] The proposed group of inventions is aimed at the creation of the improved container that: [0088] can be opened with one hand; [0089] the extraction of the inner contents occurs due to a smooth rupture of the single-serving container in its bottom part, which ensures even and much more accurate extraction of the contents of the granular product, in comparison with stick-packs, when opened with the fingers of one hand; [0090] convenient one-handed extraction for people with reduced mobility of the joints of the hands, for example, with arthritis. When squeezing a single-serving disposable container according to the invention, minimal flexion of the fingers is required to extract the contents; [0091] reliably protects the contents from moisture ingress, as it is made either of paper with the polyethylene laminating layer or of the polymer film; [0092] connection of the container details along a perimeter is carried out by pressing, resulting in the forming of the sealed strip, thus preventing spontaneous dispensing of the contents from the sealed part of the container; [0093] depending on the capacity, it provides an economy of materials for the production of a single-serving disposable container in comparison with the production of stick-packs and standard rectangular containers for sugar; [0094] easily provided by means of dating or identification; [0095] no glue is used to seal the contents of the container.

[0096] The proposed containers can be used for packaging various granular products such as sugar, salt, other comestibles, and non-comestible granular products, medicines, and materials.