Receptacles – Arrangements of plural receptacles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-03-06
Castellano, Stephen (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Arrangements of plural receptacles
C206S501000, C220S735000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196406
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a two-part storage container and more particularly to a two-part storage container which is used to store materials that are normally used together but which must be stored separately.
Many two-part containers are used to store materials which are used together but must be stored apart, particularly so where one of the materials to be stored would be destroyed, lose its texture, form an unsuitable solution, become sour or make one or both of the products stale. Two-part containers are generally substantially rectangular in shape and are of limited depth. The containers are covered by a foil which may be peeled back by the user. Normally one half or one corner of the rectangle is provided for one of the materials to be stored.
The above arrangements provide certain disadvantages. Firstly, the protective foil which covers the materials is easily punctured or forced inwardly, for example by pressure downwardly on the container tops due to improper stacking procedures. Any puncturing of the foil makes the article unsuitable for sale. Secondly, when the materials are to be used it is often desirable that one is poured into the other, this is not normally effected easily even where a scoreline is provided between one part of the container and the other. Additionally, due to the configuration of the rectangular container or the triangular part of a container, where a corner is cut from the rectangular container, there can be a high degree of wastage. Finally, the configuration or the foil wrapper of the known two-part containers do not allow for the storage of a spoon where the articles contained within the container are edible products. For convenience foods provided in such containers, a spoon must be supplied separately.
In one know solution described in WO 96/15950, a single use container having two parts is provided, each part hermetically sealing a product therein, the container including a wall separating the two parts. The wall includes an orifice which has a seal. The seal is broken to allow the product from one part to flow into the other part under gravity. A spoon is stored in one of the parts together with the product therein.
The above solution also presents certain disadvantages. Firstly, when the seal is broken the flow of material from one part to the other is controlled only by gravity. A user cannot decide to use a different ratio of one product to the other by controlling the flow. Secondly, this arrangement does not perform well with viscous or particulate products which would not flow freely through the orifice. In such a case, a relatively large percentage of one product would not be readily available for use by a consumer. Thirdly, the two parts of the container share a wall and are not separable. Therefore, a consumer has no access to the orifice to reseal the orifice. No consideration is given to the interruption of the use or consumption of the products or the subsequent re-use or continued consumption thereof. Finally, as the spoon is stored in one part together with the product, a user must open that part to extract the spoon before the products are mixed. As the product is presented as a convenience package, a consumer may not have opportunity to clean their hands before attempting to retrieve the spoon from within the product.
German Patent Publication No. 86 03 8904 (Meierei-Zentrale) discloses a combination breaker comprising two separate beaker halves united by means of a flap or loop-type connector. The beaker halves may be sealed shut with two separate cover foils.
German Patent Publication No. DE 33 14 097 (Ferrero) discloses a package comprising a pair of cup-shaped disposable containers each having a circumferential planar flange and a thin closure disc sealed to the flange. One of the containers is turned upside down and superimposed on the other container and the two are firmly held together by a pair of rings of cardboard or the like, secured by a staple and clamping the flanges therebetween. The containers may jointly reproduce a fruit, e.g. orange or lemon. The liquid composition may be frozen by the consumer in his domestic freezer to form ice-cream or sorbet.
German Patent Publication No. DE 20 29 648A (Hamm) discloses a package for snack articles such as peanuts, which can comprise two dishes, each having an opening which is closeable by a tear-off membrane, the dishes being securable on either side of a carrier.
It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide an improved two-part container.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a two-part container, in which each part includes a sealable aperture to access the contents, the two parts of the container being releasably securable together, one part protecting the aperture of the other part from accidental opening, each part being usable to house contents separate from the contents of the other part, characterized in that one part comprises a substantially open container having a relatively large aperture sealable by a layer of foil and the other part comprises a substantially closed container having a relatively small aperture which is closable by a foil strip.
In one arrangement, the two parts are securable together to seal the contents of the open container when the two top portions overlie one another.
This arrangement protects a foil covered aperture from being accidentally punctured when the two parts of the containers are secured to and overlying one another for storage or transportation.
In one particular arrangement, the first one part is charged with a particulate or solid material and the other part is charged with a liquid, the liquid being pourable into the particulate or solid material for use.
In another arrangement, one part is charged with a liquid, gel or creamy material and the other part is charged with a particulate material, the particulate material being added to the liquid, gel or creamy material prior to use.
Conveniently, the sealable apertures are positioned facing one another so that the container parts are securable together.
Preferably, the container or part thereof is provided with a housing to retain an implement such as a fork, spoon, measuring scoop, applicator or the like.
Advantageously, one part is profiled for use as a bowl.
Preferably the aperture is profiled to ensure that flow of the contents therefrom is regulated so that spillage is avoided and so that only the required amount of the contents is used.
Ideally, the aperture is resealable so that any contents remaining in the container may be used subsequently.
Preferably, the two parts are secured together by a band wrapped around the container when the two apertures are positioned facing one another.
Advantageously, the band secures an implement to the container, the band hygienically encompassing the implement.
Conveniently, the band comprises a plastics material which is shrink-wrapped around the container.
Preferably, the or each part is nestable with a corresponding part so that, when empty, the or each part is nested with corresponding parts for efficient storage and/or transportation.
The two-part container may be used for any products which are used together but which must be stored separately. For example, a soap powder or washing material may be stored in a base part and a fabric softener or conditioner may be stored in the corresponding overlying part; a yogurt, fromage frais or soft ice-cream may be stored in the base part and nuts, fruit or a biscuit crumb may be stored in the overlying part; and a cereal, cereal clusters or muesli may be stored in the base part and milk may be stored in the overlying part.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2979193 (1961-04-01), Fredette
patent: 3292810 (1966-12-01), Schechter
patent: 3381876 (1968-05-01), Biggins
patent: 4574174 (1986-03-01), McGonigle
patent: 4883935 (1989-11-01), Fairchild et al.
patent: 5664671 (1997-09-01), Nedblake, Jr.
patent: 5674546 (1997-10-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 2029648 (1971-12-01), None
patent: 3314097A1 (1983-12-01), None
patent: 2218962A
Castellano Stephen
High Meadow Patents Limited
Lipsitz Barry R.
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