Food package

Abstract

A package for products comprises: at least two flexible adjoined layers configured to provide a cavity extending therebetween for containing a product. The at least two flexible adjoined layers are moveable between: a first closed configuration in which the flexible adjoined layers are sealed around the entire periphery thereof to isolate the cavity from an external environment; and a second open configuration in which the flexible adjoined layers extend in a substantially cone shaped configuration, and in which the base of the substantially cone shaped configuration provides an opening extending into the cavity.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: providing a pentagonal product package having a substantially truncated rectangular shape with five edges, in which the product package comprises two flexible adjoined layers configured to provide a cavity extending therebetween for containing a product; and moving the flexible adjoined layers from a first closed configuration in which the flexible adjoined layers are sealed around an entire periphery of the product package to isolate the cavity from an external environment into a second open configuration in which the flexible adjoined layers extend in a substantially cone shaped configuration defining the cavity therebetween, and in which a base of the substantially cone shaped configuration provides an opening extending into the cavity, wherein the two flexible adjoined layers are a front layer and a rear layer, wherein the five edges include a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a top end, a bottom end, and a cutout edge, and wherein the pentagonal product package is made of a single sheet of material having been folded along the first lateral edge to form the front layer and the rear layer, and wherein the cutout edge extends from the second lateral edge to the top end, wherein the front layer and the rear layer are connected to one another at the top end by a separable connection, and wherein the front layer and the rear layer are connected to one another at the bottom end by an inseparable connection.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein moving the flexible adjoined layers includes separating a seam along three of the five edges of the pentagonal product.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein separating the seam along three of the five edges of the pentagonal product includes tearing off a perforated portion of the pentagonal product.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein there is no further fold in the product package besides the first lateral edge.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the front layer and the rear layer are connected to each other by a seam along the second lateral edge, the cutout edge, and the top end, and wherein the seam does not extend along the first lateral edge and the bottom end.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein the seam is an adhesive connection.

7. The method as in claim 5, wherein the seam is a separable weld.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the single sheet of material includes a left edge and a right edge which are overlappingly adjoined along a vertical seam in the rear layer.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein the second lateral edge is shorter than the first lateral edge, and wherein the top end is shorter than the bottom end, and wherein the front layer and the rear layer are congruent.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein a connection between the front layer and the rear layer along the cutout edge is resealable.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein the flexible adjoined layers are connected to one another by a seam extending along exactly three adjacent ones of the five edges.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein a pulling force required to separate the flexible adjoining layers along the seam is less than 100 N.

13. The method as in claim 1, wherein the product is a foodstuff.

14. The method as in claim 13, wherein the foodstuff is selected from the group consisting of chips, popcorn, nuts, seeds, raisins, pretzels, crackers, cereal, cookies, confectionary, and chocolate.

15. A method, comprising: providing a pentagonal product package having a substantially truncated rectangular shape with five edges, in which the product package comprises two flexible adjoined layers configured to provide a cavity extending therebetween for containing a product; and moving the flexible adjoined layers from a first closed configuration in which the flexible adjoined layers are sealed around an entire periphery of the product package to isolate the cavity from an external environment into a second open configuration in which the flexible adjoined layers extend in a substantially cone shaped configuration defining the cavity therebetween, and in which a base of the substantially cone shaped configuration provides an opening extending into the cavity, wherein moving the flexible adjoined layers includes separating a seam along three of the five edges of the pentagonal product wherein separating the seam along three of the five edges of the pentagonal product includes separating a portion of the pentagonal product connected by an adhesive.

16. The method as in claim 5, A method, comprising: providing a pentagonal product package having a substantially truncated rectangular shape with five edges, in which the product package comprises two flexible adjoined layers configured to provide a cavity extending therebetween for containing a product; and moving the flexible adjoined layers from a first closed configuration in which the flexible adjoined layers are sealed around an entire periphery of the product package to isolate the cavity from an external environment into a second open configuration in which the flexible adjoined layers extend in a substantially cone shaped configuration defining the cavity therebetween, and in which a base of the substantially cone shaped configuration provides an opening extending into the cavity, wherein the two flexible adjoined layers are a front layer and a rear layer, wherein the five edges include a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a top end, a bottom end, and a cutout edge, wherein the pentagonal product package is made of a single sheet of material having been folded along the first lateral edge to form the front layer and the rear layer, wherein the cutout edge extends from the second lateral edge to the top end, wherein the front layer and the rear layer are connected to one another at the cutout edge by a first connection, wherein the front layer and the rear layer are connected to one another at the bottom end by a second connection wherein a force required to separate the second connection is greater than a force required to separate the first connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is an illustration of a front view of a package according to one embodiment of the present invention when the package is in the first closed position;

(2) FIG. 1B is an illustration of a rear view of the package of FIG. 1A in the first closed configuration;

(3) FIG. 2A is an illustration of a front view of a package according to a further embodiment of the present invention when the package is in the first closed position;

(4) FIG. 2B is an illustration of a rear view of the package of FIG. 2A in the first closed configuration;

(5) FIG. 3 is an illustration of a side view of the package of FIGS. 2A and 2B when in the second open position;

(6) FIG. 4 is an illustration of a further side view of the package of FIGS. 2A and 2B when in the second open position;

(7) FIG. 5 is a further illustration of a further side view of the package of FIGS. 2A and 2B when in the second open position; and

(8) FIG. 6 is an illustration of a view from above of the package of FIGS. 2A and 2B when in the second open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The disclosure concerns packaging. In particular this disclosure concerns a package for a product, such as for example a food product. The food product may be for example crisps, popcorn, nuts, confectionary or chocolate. It is however to be understood that the package may be used for containing or storing any suitable product and is not to be limited to food products.

(10) With reference to the figures, the package 10 comprises two flexible adjoined layers 12, 14. A first flexible layer 12 (front layer) provides the front face of the package 10. A second flexible layer 14 (rear layer) provides the rear face of the package 10.

(11) It is to be understood that the package may comprise any suitable number of flexible adjoined layers in order to form the package 10. In the illustrated embodiment the package contains two flexible adjoined layers 12, 14. The two flexible adjoined layers may be provided by a single flexible member that is folded to provide a first flexible layer providing a front face of the package, and a second flexible layer providing a rear face of the package. The package may in some embodiments further comprise one or more internal panels, such as for example divider panels, to provide multiple cavities within the package. Each internal panel may be provided by a flexible layer adjoined to the first and second layers. In one embodiment, each internal panel may be provided by a flexible layer adjoined to the internal surface of one of the first or second layers.

(12) In the first closed configuration, each of the flexible layers 12, 14 comprises a top end 16, 16′ and an opposed bottom end 18. Each of the flexible adjoined layers 12, 14 comprises a first corner 20 provided at the top end 16, a diagonally opposed second corner 22 provided at an opposed bottom end 18, and an openable seam 24 extending therebetween. The top end 16 and the bottom end 18 are edges of the package.

(13) In the first closed configuration, the two flexible layers 12, 14 are joined together along the bottom end 18 of the package 10. In particular, the front layer 12 and the rear layer 14 may be inseparably connected to each other by a strong weld. Within the context of this disclosure a connection between two layers will be considered “inseparable” or “strong” if a force required to separate the layers exceeds 100 N. A connection is considered “separable” or “openable” if a force required to separate the layers does not exceed 100 N. For improved usability it may be preferred to design the separable connection such that a force required to open the package does not exceed 50 N. For some use-cases it is desirable that the opening force does not exceed 25 N.

(14) The package 10 may be made of a single sheet of material that has been folded along a first lateral edge 11. The sheet may include a left edge and a right edge which are overlappingly adjoined along a vertical seam 15 extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom end 18 of the package 10. The seam 15 may be located at any suitable location on the package 10. In the illustrated embodiment the seam 15 is provided in the second flexible layer 14 at the rear of the package 10.

(15) It is however also to be understood that the package may not need a separate seam 15. Rather, the single sheet may be symmetrically folded along the first lateral edge 11 to form the front layer 12 and the rear layer 14. The front layer 12 and the rear layer 14 may then be connected to each other along a second lateral edge 30 by a seam. The folded edge 11 may extend substantially perpendicular to the bottom end 18 of the package 10.

(16) In the first closed configuration, each of the flexible adjoined layers 12, 14 comprises a third corner 26 provided at the opposed bottom end 18 and spaced apart from the second corner 22. The third corner 26 is aligned with the first corner 20 of the flexible layers 12, 14. In the first closed configuration, the package 10 forms a truncated substantially rectangular shape. It is however to be understood that the package 10 may have any suitable shape. For example, in one embodiment, the package may form a truncated substantially square shape in the first configuration. The terms “truncated rectangular” and “truncated square” are used herein to refer to rectangular or square shapes which are missing a corner.

(17) The length of the package 10 is measured between the first corner 20 and third corner 26. The length of the package 10 is measured in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the top 16 and bottom 18 ends of the package 10.

(18) The front layer 12 and the rear layer 14 are congruent and connected to one another by a lateral fold along a first lateral edge 11. The first lateral edge 11 is longer than a parallel second lateral edge 13 on an opposite side of the package. Similarly, the bottom end 18 is longer than the top end 16 of the package. The cutout edge 17 extends from the second lateral edge 13 to the top edge 16.

(19) With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, in the first closed configuration, the openable seam 24 extends along a peripheral portion of the package 10. In particular, the openable seam 24 extends along the top end 16, a cutout edge 32, and a second lateral edge 30.

(20) With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, when viewed from the front of the package, as provided by the first flexible layer 12, the openable seam 24 extends along the periphery of the package and extends in an anticlockwise direction from or adjacent the first corner 20 towards the second corner 22 of the package 10.

(21) With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, when viewed from the front of the package, as provided by the first flexible layer 12, the openable seam 24 extends along the periphery of the package and extends in a clockwise direction from or adjacent the first corner 20 towards the second corner 22 of the package 10.

(22) In the first closed position, the openable seam 24 comprises a first seam portion 28 extending along the top end 16 from or adjacent to the first corner 20 in a direction extending substantially parallel to the bottom end 18 of the package 10.

(23) In the first closed position, the openable seam 24 further comprises a second seam portion 30 extending from or adjacent to the second corner 22 in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom end 18 of the package 10 along a second lateral edge 13 of the package.

(24) In the first closed position, the openable seam 24 further comprises a third seam portion 32 extending at an angle to each of the first seam portion 28 and the second seam portion 30 and extending therebetween along a cutout edge 17.

(25) It can be seen from FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B that in the first closed position the third seam portion 32 comprises a straight portion extending between the first 28 and second 30 seam portions. It is however to be understood that the third seam portion 32, and correspondingly the cutout edge 17, may have any suitable shape. For example, the third seam portion 30 may comprise one or more arcuate portions extending between the first 28 and second 30 seam portions.

(26) In FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B it can be seen that the third seam portion 32 extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the first seam portion 28. It is however to be understood that the third seam portion 32 may extend at any suitable angle relative to the first seam portion 28.

(27) In the first closed configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, the flexible adjoined layers 12, 14 of the package are sealed around the entire periphery of the package to isolate the cavity from the external environment.

(28) The package 10 is moveable between the first closed configuration as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B and a second open configuration as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.

(29) In use, the user opens the openable seam 24. The openable seam 24 may be opened by applying a pulling force to separate the first and second flexible layers 12, 14 from each other along the length of the openable seam 24. Alternatively, the openable seam 24 may comprise a slideable opening mechanism which may be slidably opened by the user to separate the adjacent portions of the first and second flexible layers 12, 14 from each other. In one embodiment, the openable seam 24 may be provided by a tear off portion or by a line of perforations. The openable seam may be a heat sealed seam or the flexible layers may be adjoined together by adhesive along the openable seam. The adhesive or heat-sealing is indicated by a hatched area along the seam 24 in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3, and 4.

(30) The openable seam 24 opens along the entire length of the seam. In particular, the first 28, second 30, and third 32 seam portions open providing access to the contents of the package 10. It is however to be understood that in some embodiments only a portion of the openable seam 24 may be openable.

(31) In one embodiment, the package 10 is configured such that the first and second flexible layers 12, 14 are resiliently biased towards the second open configuration. In particular, the package 10 is configured such that the portions of the first and second flexible layers 12, 14 adjacent to the openable seam 24 are resiliently biased to extend away from each other.

(32) In the second open configuration, the package 10 is in a substantially cone-shaped configuration as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The third corner 26 of the package 10 forms the apex of the cone shaped configuration. The base of the cone shaped configuration of the package 10 provides the opening 34 into the cavity provided by the package 10. It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the opening 34 is substantially ovaloid in shape. It is however to be understood that the opening may have any suitable shape including for example, but not to be limited to, circular, semi-circular, polygonal, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, and other multi-sided shapes.

(33) It can be seen in FIGS. 4 to 6 that the opening 34 is offset from the length of the package 10 as measured between the first corner 20 and the apex provided by the third corner 26 of the flexible layers 12, 14. In particular, the opening 34 extends at an angle to the length of the package 10 extending between the first corner 20 and the apex provided by the third corner 26. Access through the opening 34 to the cavity provided between the flexible layers 12, 14 is in a direction extending at an angle to the length of the package extending between the first corner 20 and the apex provided by the or third corner 26 of the flexible layers 12, 14.

(34) It can be seen from FIGS. 3 to 6, that in the second open configuration the package 10 provides improved and easier access to the contents within the cavity provided between the first and second flexible layers 12, 14. In some embodiments, the package provides a more sturdy and robust open configuration compared to conventional package enabling easy and secure handling. In particular the package provides an apex (corner 26) providing easy handling of the package by the user. The opening provided by the package of the present invention provides for easier access to the contents of the package as well as providing improved visual access to the contents of the package. The user may therefore be able to share and access the contents more easily with a reduced risk of contacting the internal surfaces of the package, thereby reducing the risk of grease and/or food particle transfer onto the hands of a user. The user may also be able to visually assess the contents more easily with a view to selecting the preferred item of food product within the package when compared to conventional package.

(35) The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.