GB2378170A

GB2378170A - Multi-product package with measurement means, allowing optional dispensing of one or more of the products

Info

Publication number: GB2378170A
Application number: GB0118985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-03
Filing date: 2001-08-03
Publication date: 2003-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-03
Also published as: GB2378170B; GB2378170A9; GB0118985D0

Abstract

A product package for a multiple-component product is disclosed, that may be formed from a folded blank of flexible material. The product package has primary and secondary chambers (16,18) for containing primary and secondary components of a product. There is a dividing seal (14) between the primary and secondary chambers. The package can be opened at a first location to cause breakage of the dividing seal (14), thereby allowing primary and secondary components to mix prior to dispensing the product from the package. The package may alternatively be opened at a second location such that the dividing seal will remain intact. The package includes measurement means whereby a user can control the quantity of the secondary component that will mix with the primary component upon opening of the package at the first location. Such means may include printed indicia (22,24). Embodiments of the invention include several secondary chambers that contain various secondary product components. Opening may be assisted by lines of weakness (26), notches or other formations.

Description

Product Package This invention relates to a product package. It has particular, but not exclusive, application to a package for a multiple-component product, such as a multiplecomponent snack food product.

In my UK Patent No. 2 352 705 I disclosed a product package particularly suited for a food product that includes multiple components, such as a main product (e. g. nuts, potato crisps, etc. ) and a seasoning (e. g. salt). A user can select whether or not to add seasoning to the main product by opening the package at one end or the other.

Although my previous product package has proven to be effective and useful, there are applications in which it is desirable to offer a user a greater degree of control over the amount of additive that is added to the main product. An aim of this invention is to provide a product package that has the convenience and applicability of my previous package, while offering a user greater control over application of the additive to the main product.

Therefore, from a first aspect, this invention now provides a product package comprising primary and secondary chambers for containing primary and secondary components of a product, and a dividing seal between the primary and secondary chambers, the package being openable at a first location such that upon opening, breakage of the dividing seal will occur, thereby allowing primary and secondary components to mix prior to dispensing the product from the package, and being openable at a second location such that the dividing seal will remain intact, wherein the package includes measurement means whereby a user can control the quantity of the secondary component that will mix with the primary component upon opening of the package at the first location.

Thus, the user can choose whether mix use all, none, or an intermediate quantity of the secondary component with the primary component.

For example, the measurement means may enable a user to isolate (for example, discard) a quantity of the secondary component prior to mixing the remainder of it with the primary component. Alternatively, the measurement means may enable a user to ensure that a quantity of the secondary product component remains within the secondary chamber (and, for example, may be discarded with the secondary chamber), so that the retained quantity of the secondary component is not mixed with the primary component.

Conveniently, the first and second locations may be close to different (e. g. opposite)

edge regions of a generally polygonal, and most typically rectangular, package. e 1, In preferred embodiments, the package may be opened at the first location after a quantity of the secondary product component has been removed from the secondary chamber.

In a first arrangement of the invention, the measurement means includes a plurality of indicia, typically printed markings, formed on the package in the region of the secondary chamber. Such indicia can provide a user with a guide as to the amount of the secondary product component within a region of the secondary chamber identified by the indicia. The indicia may be simple marks, or they may indicate a quantity of the secondary component in absolute terms (e. g. as a weight or a volume) or as a proportion (e. g. a percentage) of the total quantity of the secondary component.

In further embodiments of the invention, the product package may have one or more opening means operable by a user to open the secondary chamber through which an unwanted quantity of the secondary component can be removed by the user. The user may determine the quantity of the secondary product to be discarded by making reference to the indicia described in the last-preceding paragraph. Each of such opening means may include a notch at which a user can initiate a tear in the material of the product package. The opening means may alternatively or

additionally include a line of weakness.

In a modification of the invention, the primary and secondary chambers may be readily separable by a user. For example, there may be a frangible region (e. g. a perforated line or a line of weakness) between the primary and the secondary chambers. Typically, the secondary component is mixed with the primary component after separation of the two chambers. In such embodiments, the measuring means may enable a user to ensure that a quantity of the secondary component is retained within the secondary chamber and is not mixed with the primary component.

A package embodying the invention may have a plurality of secondary chambers. Each of the secondary chambers, advantageously, can be opened independently of any other of the secondary chambers. More advantageously, a user may select whether to use none, some or all of the content of each of the secondary chambers independently of any other of the secondary chambers. The several secondary chambers may contain different secondary components, or they may contain the same product component.

A product package embodying the invention is typically formed of a flexible plastic material. Such a material may be coated with metal foil. Alternatively, a package may be formed from of predominantly metal foil.

In any embodiment, the package advantageously bears instructions to a user indicating how the product package may be opened. Form a second aspect, this invention provides a packaged product that includes primary and secondary components contained within a product package embodying the first aspect of the invention.

A product according to this aspect of the invention is typically a snack food product. In such embodiments, the primary product component may be a bulk article, such as nuts, potato crisps, pasta, noodles etc. , and the secondary product component may be a flavouring, such as salt or a sauce.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a product package being a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in use; Figure 3 illustrates a modification to the package of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a further modification to the package of Figure 1; Figure 5 illustrates another use of the package of Figure 1 and 2; Figures 6a and 6b illustrate a further alternative mode of use of the package of Figure 1 and 2; and Figures 7a to 7c illustrate a further embodiment of the invention.

With reference first to Figure 1, a product package embodying the invention is a generally rectangular package formed from a single folded and seamed sheet of flexible plastic material. To form the package, the sheet is folded into a tubular configuration, and a seam 10 is formed along its length.

A lower end portion of the package is then closed by forming a lower seal 12 across the width of the tubular configuration. This forms a generally pocket-like enclosure that can be filled with a primary product component. A sealed primary product chamber 16 can then be constructed by forming a dividing seal 14 across the tubular formation, spaced from the lower seal 12.

Once the dividing seal 14 has been formed, an upper end of the package forms a small pocket-like enclosure that can be filled with a secondary product component.

A sealed secondary product chamber 18 can then be constructed by forming a top seal 20 across a top region of the tubular formation.

Several indicating marks 22 are printed onto the package upon the outer surface of the secondary product chamber 18. Several of the indicating marks are labelled, as at 24, to indicate a quantity of secondary product that they represent, in this

example, as a percentage of the total. A line of weakness 26 is formed in the secondary product package.

An example of a package product that might be supplied in a package such conforming to this embodiment of the invention is a flavoured snack food product, such as potato crisps. In this example, the primary product component is the crisps themselves, and the secondary product component is a flavouring compound, such as salt.

When a user opens the package, they have several choices as to how to do so, dependent upon their wish to use the secondary product component.

First, if the user does not wish to use any of the secondary product component, then the user can position the package with the lower seal 12 uppermost, and then rupture the lower seal 12 by pulling upon the material of the package. This gives direct access to the primary product chamber 16 while the secondary chamber 18 remains sealed.

Second, if the user wishes to use all of the secondary product component, the user first positions the package with the lower seal 12 downwards. The user then pulls on the material towards the centre of the package to cause the dividing seal 14 to rupture first, thereby allowing the secondary product component to fall into the primary product chamber 16. The user can then mix the primary and secondary components, before rupturing the top seal 20 to gain access to the mixed product.

Third, the user may wish to use some of the secondary product component. In this case, the user first grasps the package in the region of the secondary chamber 18, as shown in Figure 2, to isolate one end of the camber 18 from the other with finger pressure. The user then uses the line of weakness 26 to rupture the secondary chamber 18, and discards a quantity the secondary product component through the rupture 30 thus formed. The amount of the secondary product component that will be discarded is determined by the position of the user's grasp upon the package. The user can the open the package following the procedure described in the last preceding paragraph.

The labels 24 for the indicating marks can indicate to a user how much of the secondary product that they will retain if his or her grasp is placed upon the mark. In this example, if the user's grasp is close to the mark labelled 75%, about 25% of the secondary product will be discarded leaving about 75% to be mixed with the primary product.

The upper part of a product package being a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, there is an opening formation associated with each indicating mark 22. Each opening formation comprises a notch 30 formed in an edge of the top seal 20, and a line of weakness 32 that extends through the top seal into the secondary chamber 18. A user can use the notch 30 to initiate a tear in the top seal 20, and the tear will be guided by the line of weakness 32 to pass close to the associated indicating mark 22. A user can then discard an unwanted quantity of secondary product component through the tear formed in the secondary chamber 18. In this embodiment, the amount of secondary component remaining in the secondary chamber is indicated by labels 24 showing a weight in grammes.

A third embodiment is shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, a line of weakness, in this case, a line of perforations 40 is formed across the package within the dividing seal 14. The user can open the package at one end or the other, depending upon whether they wish to use all or none of the secondary component, much as described with respect to the two preceding embodiments. Alternatively, the user can tear the package along the perforated line 40 to separate the secondary product chamber 18 from the primary product chamber 16.

The secondary chamber 18 is provided with indicating marks 22 and some arrangement whereby a user can open the chamber 18 to discard unwanted secondary product component, either before or after the secondary chamber 18 has been detached from the primary chamber 16.

An alternative procedure for using this embodiment will now be described. First, the user detaches the secondary chamber 18 from the primary chamber 16. The

user then ruptures the dividing seal 14, thereby opening the primary chamber 16.

Next, the user grasps the secondary chamber at a location indicated by an indicating mark, and ruptures a line of weakness 42 at an end of the secondary chamber 18.

The user then deposits a quantity secondary product component from the second chamber 18, through the rupture, into the primary product chamber 16. The secondary chamber 18 and any product remaining in it can then be discarded.

The package shown in Figure 5 has essentially the same structure as that described with reference to Figure 2. However, it is intended to be used in a different way.

The package bears instructions to a user that are printed such that a user will naturally hold the package in the orientation shown in Figure 5. The instructions tell a user to proceed as follows: Open the chamber at the bottom of the bag.

Tip the required quantity of additive into your hand.

Open the top of the bag.

Tip the additive from your hand into the opened bag.

Note that the user can select how much additive to use by gripping the secondary chamber 18 at the appropriate indicated point. This will cause unused additive to remain in the secondary chamber. The user can choose to add this to the primary product later should they choose to do so.

The package of Figures 1 and 2 can also be used in an alternative manner, as shown in Figures 6a and 6b. The package bears instructions (versed in suitable language) to the user to the following effect: Open the top of the bag partially to open the secondary chamber.

Tip out unwanted additive from the opened chamber, as shown in Figure 6a.

Turn the package upright and open it fully, allowing the additive to fall into the primary chamber to mix with the primary product.

In a modification to any of the above embodiments, the secondary chamber may be divided into separate sections, for example along a centre line. Each section may containing a different product component, or they may contain the same product component. In the former case, the user can then select to mix none, some or all of each of the secondary components with the primary component. In the latter case, the user can select how much of the secondary product to use. Such an embodiment is shown in Figures 7a to 7c.

This embodiment has a primary chamber 16, formed between a lower seal 12 and an upper seal 14, as described above. This embodiment includes several secondary chambers 50 (three of them, in this case). Each secondary chamber 50 is formed from a flap of sheet material folded and sealed at 52. In this case, each chamber is generally rectangular, with three of its sides being formed from a seal, and the fourth from a fold. An end portion of the flap is left unsealed such that it forms a free lip 54 of material that extends from a lower one of the sealed sides.

To use the package, a user first brakes the upper seal 14 to open the primary chamber. The user can then deal with the secondary components in several ways.

First, a user can elect to ignore one or more of the secondary components and leave the appropriate secondary chambers 50 sealed.

Alternatively, a user can elect to mix the content of one or more of the secondary chambers with the content of the primary chamber. To do this, the user grasps the lip 54 and breaks the seal of the secondary chamber 50, allowing its contents to fall into the primary chamber, as shown in Figure 7b.

If only a proportion of the content of one of the secondary chambers 50 is wanted, it can be folded to place its opening uppermost, whereby it acts as a pouch within which the remainder of its content can be stored, as shown in Figure 7c.

Claims

Claims 1. A product package comprising primary and secondary chambers for containing primary and secondary components of a product, and a dividing seal between the primary and secondary chambers, the package being openable at a first location such that upon opening, breakage of the dividing seal will occur, thereby allowing primary and secondary components to mix prior to dispensing the product from the package, and being openable at a second location such that the dividing seal will remain intact, wherein the package includes measurement means whereby a user can control the quantity of the secondary component that will mix with the primary component upon opening of the package at the first location.
2. A product package according to claim 1 in which the measurement means enables a user to isolate a quantity of the secondary component prior to mixing the remainder of it with the primary component.
3. A product package according to claim 1 in which the measurement means enables a user to ensure that a quantity of the secondary product component remains within the secondary chamber so that the retained quantity of the secondary component is not mixed with the primary component.
4. A product package according to claim 3 in which the secondary product component that remains within the secondary chamber can be discarded with the secondary chamber.
5. A product package according to any preceding claim in which the first and second locations are close to different edge regions of a generally polygonal, and most typically rectangular, package.

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6. A product package according to claim 5 in which the first and second locations are close to opposite edge regions of the package.
7. A product package according to any preceding claim that may be opened at the first location after a quantity of the secondary product component has been removed from the secondary chamber.
8. A product package according to any preceding claim in which the measurement means includes a plurality of indicia formed on the package in the region of the secondary chamber.
9. A product package according to claim 8 in which the indicia are printed markings.
10. A product package according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the indicia can provide a user with a guide as to the amount of the secondary product component within a region of the secondary chamber identified by the indicia.
11. A product package according to any one of claims 8 to 10 in which the indicia indicate a quantity of the secondary component in absolute terms (e. g. as a weight or a volume) or as a proportion (e. g. a percentage) of the total quantity of the secondary component.
12. A product package according to any preceding claim which includes one or more opening means operable by a user to open the secondary chamber through which opening means an unwanted quantity of the secondary component can be removed by the user.
13. A product package according to claim 12 in which each of such opening means includes a notch at which a user can initiate a tear in the material of the product package.
14. A product package according to claim 12 or claim 13 in which the opening means includes a line of weakness.

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15. A product package according to any preceding claim in which the primary and secondary chambers are readily separable by a user.
16. A product package according to claim 15 that has a frangible region such as a perforated line or a line of weakness between the primary and the secondary chambers.
17. A product package according to claim 15 or claim 16 in which the secondary component can be mixed with the primary component after separation of the two chambers.
18. A product package according to claim 17 in which the measuring means enables a user to ensure that a quantity of the secondary component is retained within the secondary chamber and is not mixed with the primary component.
19. A product package according to any preceding claim having a plurality of secondary chambers.
20. A product package according to claim 19 in which each of the secondary chambers can be opened independently of any other of the secondary chambers.
21. A product package according to claim 18 or claim 19 which enables a user can select whether to use none, some or all of the content of each of the secondary chambers independently of any other of the secondary chambers.
22. A product package according to any preceding claim that bears instructions to a user indicating how the product package may be opened.
23. A product package according to claim 22 in which the material is coated with metal foil.

23. A product package according to any preceding claim formed of a flexible plastic material.

24. A product package according to claim 23 in which the material is coated with metal foil.

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25. A product package according to any preceding claim formed of metal foil.

26. A product package substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

27. A packaged product that includes primary and secondary components contained within a product package according to any preceding claim.

28. A packaged product according to claim 27 having several different secondary components contained within several secondary product chambers.

29. A packaged product according to claim 27 or claim 28 having several portions of a secondary component contained within several secondary product chambers.

30. A packaged product according any one of claims 27 to 29 that is a snack food product.

31. A packaged product according claim 39 in which the primary product component is a bulk article, such as nuts, potato crisps, pasta, noodle etc.

32. A packaged product according claim 31 or claim 32 in which secondary product component may be a flavouring, such as salt.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A product package comprising primary and secondary chambers for containing primary and secondary components of a product, and a dividing seal between the primary and secondary chambers, the package being openable at a first location such that upon opening, breakage of the dividing seal will occur, thereby allowing primary and secondary components to mix prior to dispensing the product from the package, and being openable at a second location such that the dividing seal will remain intact, wherein the package includes measurement means whereby a user can control the quantity of the secondary component that will mix with the primary component upon opening of the package at the first location, wherein the primary and secondary chambers are readily separable by a user.

2. A product package according to claim 1 that has a frangible region such as a perforated line or a line of weakness between the primary and the secondary chambers.

3. A product package according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the secondary component can be mixed with the primary component after separation of the two chambers.

4. A product package according to any preceding claim in which the measuring means enables a user to ensure that a quantity of the secondary component is retained within the secondary chamber and is not mixed with the primary component.

5. A product package according to any preceding claim in which the measurement means enables a user to isolate a quantity of the secondary

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component prior to mixing the remainder of it with the primary component.

6. A product package according to any preceding claim in which the measurement means enables a user to ensure that a quantity of the secondary product component remains within the secondary chamber so that the retained quantity of the secondary component is not mixed with the primary component.

7. A product package according to claim 6 in which the secondary product component that remains within the secondary chamber can be discarded with the secondary chamber.

8. A product package according to any preceding claim in which the first and second locations are close to different edge regions of a generally polygonal, and most typically rectangular, package.

9. A product package according to claim 8 in which the first and second locations are close to opposite edge regions of the package.

10. A product package according to any preceding claim that may be opened at the first location after a quantity of the secondary product component has been removed from the secondary chamber.

11. A product package according to any preceding claim in which the measurement means includes a plurality of indicia formed on the package in the region of the secondary chamber.

12. A product package according to claim 11 in which the indicia are printed markings.

13. A product package according to claim 11 or claim 12 in which the indicia can provide a user with a guide as to the amount of the secondary product component within a region of the secondary chamber identified by the indicia.

14. A product package according to any one of claims 11 to 13 in which the

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indicia indicate a quantity of the secondary component in absolute terms (e. g. as a weight or a volume) or as a proportion (e. g. a percentage) of the total quantity of the secondary component.

15. A product package according to any preceding claim which includes one or more opening means operable by a user to open the secondary chamber through which opening means an unwanted quantity of the secondary component can be removed by the user.

16. A product package according to claim 15 in which each of such opening means includes a notch at which a user can initiate a tear in the material of the product package.

17. A product package according to claim 15 or claim 16 in which the opening means includes a line of weakness.

18. A product package according to any preceding claim having a plurality of secondary chambers.

19. A product package according to claim 18 in which each of the secondary chambers can be opened independently of any other of the secondary chambers.

20. A product package according to claim 18 or claim 19 which enables a user can select whether to use none, some or all of the content of each of the secondary chambers independently of any other of the secondary chambers.

21. A product package according to any preceding claim that bears instructions to a user indicating how the product package may be opened.

22. A product package according to any preceding claim formed of a flexible plastic material.