The present disclosure relates generally to packaging. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to containers for storing consumable products and methods of using same.
Packages for consumable products come in a variety of sizes, shapes, materials and designs. These sizes, shapes, materials and designs can differ, for example, for aesthetic reasons. Although consumable product packaging may be provided to enhance aesthetic qualities of packages, the purposes for consumable product packaging are not limited to only this purpose.
Indeed, consumable product packages aimed at providing improved aesthetic qualities of a package may not always provide optimal functionality or use, and may not sufficiently aid consumers in handling of the packages, completely emptying the packages, storing the packages, stacking the packages, displaying the packages, etc. Instead, consumable product packages having specific shapes, sizes, and characteristics designed for convenience may provide functional advantages for a consumer and/or user of such packages in addition to possible aesthetic advantages.
The present disclosure is related to packages for housing consumable products. The packages may be functional, contemporary packages that provide easy handling of the packages by a toddler during feeding, improved storage and stackability, and increase purchase interest and marketability amongst consumers.
In an embodiment, a flexible package is provided. The package includes a body defining an interior configured to house a consumable product. The body includes a bottom surface having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, a front surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a back surface that is opposed to the front surface and is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis.
In an embodiment, the package further includes a top surface having an outlet. The outlet may be selected from the group consisting of a hole, a straw, a substantially hollow projection, a slit, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the package further includes a lid that is so constructed and arranged to close the outlet.
In an embodiment, the top surface is angled away from the vertical axis. The top surface may be angled at an angle ranging from about 5° to about 45°, or from about 10° to about 40°, or from about 15° to about 35°, or from about 20° to about 30°, or the top surface may be angled at an angle of about 25°.
In an embodiment, the flexible package is sized and shaped for a child's grasp.
In an embodiment, the body further includes an indicia. The indicia may placed on the body by a method selected from the group consisting of embossing, debossing, printing, engraving, a sticker, or combinations thereof. The indicia may also be selected from the group consisting of a fruit, a vegetable, a grain, a protein, an age-appropriate indicator, nutritional information, product information, a nutritional panel, branding indicia, an image that corresponds to a type of consumable product housed by the body, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the product information is selected from the group consisting of an amount of the product, product ingredients, allergen information, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the indicia is nutritional information.
In an embodiment, the package is plastic.
In yet another embodiment, a flexible package is provided. The package includes a body having a top having an outlet, a base having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base, a first surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein the second surface is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The body defines an interior configured to house a consumable product, and the interior includes a channel that is fluidly connected to the outlet.
In an embodiment, the channel is substantially linear. Alternatively, a shape of the channel follows a curvature of the body. The channel may be located along either the first or second surface, or the channel may be located in a middle of the interior of the body. In an embodiment, the channel is so constructed and arranged to aid in emptying a product from the body. The channel may extend substantially along a height of the package, or along only a portion of the height of the package.
In an embodiment, the outlet is selected from the group consisting of a hole, a straw, a substantially hollow projection, a slit, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the package further including a lid that is so constructed and arranged to close the outlet.
In an embodiment, the top surface is angled away from the vertical axis. The top surface may be angled at an angle ranging from about 5° to about 45°, or from about 10° to about 40°, or from about 15° to about 35°, or from about 20° to about 30°, or the top surface may be angled at an angle of about 25°.
In an embodiment, the flexible package is sized and shaped for a child's grasp.
In an embodiment, the body further includes an indicia. The indicia may placed on the body by a method selected from the group consisting of embossing, debossing, printing, engraving, a sticker, or combinations thereof. The indicia may also be selected from the group consisting of a fruit, a vegetable, a grain, a protein, an age-appropriate indicator, nutritional information, product information, a nutritional panel, branding indicia, an image that corresponds to a type of consumable product housed by the body, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the product information is selected from the group consisting of an amount of the product, product ingredients, allergen information, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the indicia is nutritional information.
In an embodiment, the package is plastic.
In still yet another embodiment, a consumable product package is provided and includes a first container for housing a first consumable product. The first container includes a bottom surface having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, and a top surface having a neck portion that is offset and angled away from the vertical axis. The package further includes a second container for housing a second consumable product, wherein the second container is located adjacent the first container and is substantially identical to the first container with respect to its shape and size. The package also includes a sleeve configured to surround at least a portion of both of the first and second containers and having an indicia.
In an embodiment, the first consumable product and the second consumable product are the same product. Alternatively, the first consumable product and the second consumable product are different products.
In an embodiment, the sleeve is made of a material selected from the group consisting of shrink-wrap, plastic, cardboard, card stock, paper, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, a front surface of the first container is located adjacent to a front surface of the second container.
In an embodiment, the first container and the second container are offset horizontally with respect to each other. For example, the first container and the second container may be offset by a distance of about 0.25 inches to about 1.5 inches, or about 0.5 inches to about 1.0 inches, or the first container and the second container are offset by a distance of about 0.75 inches.
In an embodiment, the neck portion is angled away from the vertical axis. The neck portion may be angled at an angle ranging from about 5° to about 45°, or from about 10° to about 40°, or from about 15° to about 35°, or from about 20° to about 30°, or the neck portion may be angled at an angle of about 25°.
In an embodiment, the top surface of the first container and a top surface of the second container are located adjacent each other.
In an embodiment, the sleeve surrounds the first and second containers in a horizontal direction.
In an embodiment, the neck portion includes an outlet selected from the group consisting of a hole, a straw, a substantially hollow projection, a slit, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the neck portion further includes a lid that is so constructed and arranged to close the outlet.
In an embodiment, the first and second containers are sized and shaped for a child's grasp.
In an embodiment, the body further includes an indicia. The indicia may placed on the body by a method selected from the group consisting of embossing, debossing, printing, engraving, a sticker, or combinations thereof. The indicia may also be selected from the group consisting of a fruit, a vegetable, a grain, a protein, an age-appropriate indicator, nutritional information, product information, a nutritional panel, branding indicia, an image that corresponds to a type of consumable product housed by the body, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the product information is selected from the group consisting of an amount of the product, product ingredients, allergen information, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the indicia is nutritional information.
In an embodiment, the first and second containers are plastic.
In another embodiment, a package is provided. The package includes a body defining an interior for housing a consumable product. The body includes a first surface having a flexible neck portion that is so constructed and arranged to be received by a portion of the interior during storage of the package, and to be removed from the portion of the interior during use of the package, and a second surface opposing the first surface and including a recess that is so constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of the flexible neck portion for stacking of the package.
In an embodiment, the flexible neck portion is received by the portion of the interior by pushing the flexible neck portion into the interior. Alternatively, the flexible neck portion may be removed from the portion of the interior by pulling the flexible neck portion out of the interior.
In an embodiment, the body has a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, hexadecagon, icosagon, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the flexible neck portion includes an outlet selected from the group consisting of a hole, a straw, a substantially hollow projection, a slit, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the package further including a lid that is so constructed and arranged to close the outlet.
In an embodiment, the package is sized and shaped for a child's grasp.
In an embodiment, the body further includes an indicia. The indicia may placed on the body by a method selected from the group consisting of embossing, debossing, printing, engraving, a sticker, or combinations thereof. The indicia may also be selected from the group consisting of a fruit, a vegetable, a grain, a protein, an age-appropriate indicator, nutritional information, product information, a nutritional panel, branding indicia, an image that corresponds to a type of consumable product housed by the body, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the product information is selected from the group consisting of an amount of the product, product ingredients, allergen information, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the indicia is nutritional information.
In an embodiment, the package is plastic.
In yet another embodiment, a method for providing a consumable product to a child is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package having a body defining an interior housing a consumable product. The body includes a bottom surface including a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, a front surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a back surface that is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The method further includes instructing the child to consume the product housed in the package.
In still yet another embodiment, a method for providing a consumable product to a child is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package including a body that defines an interior housing a consumable product, and the interior includes a channel. The body includes a top having an outlet that is fluidly connected to the channel for removal of the consumable product, a base having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base, a first surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein the second surface is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The method further includes instructing the child to consume the product housed in the package.
In another embodiment, a method for providing a consumable product to a child is provided. The method includes providing a first container housing a first consumable product. The first container includes a bottom surface having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, and a top surface including a neck portion that is offset and angled away from the vertical axis. The method further includes providing a second container housing a second consumable product, wherein the second container is substantially identical to the first container with respect to its shape and size, and is located adjacent to the first container, wherein a sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the first and containers and including an indicia. The method also includes instructing the child to consume the product housed in at least one of the first and second containers.
In yet another embodiment, a method for providing a consumable product to a child is provided. The method includes providing a first flexible package including a body defining an interior housing a consumable product. The body includes a first surface having a flexible neck portion that is so constructed and arranged to be received by a portion of the interior during storage of the package, and to be removed from the portion of the interior during use of the package, and a second surface opposing the first surface and including a recess that is so constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of a flexible neck portion of a similar package for stacking. The method further includes instructing the child to consume the product housed in the package.
In still yet another embodiment, a method for marketing consumable products is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package includes a body defining an interior housing a consumable product. The body includes a bottom surface having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, a front surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a back surface that is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The method further includes placing the package on a retail shelf.
In yet another embodiment, a method for marketing consumable products is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package having a body that defines an interior housing a consumable product, and the interior includes a channel. The body includes a top having an outlet that is fluidly connected to the channel for removal of the consumable product, a base having a centrally-located vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base, a first surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein the second surface is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The method further includes placing the consumable product package on a retail shelf.
In another embodiment, a method for marketing consumable products is provided. The method includes providing a first container housing a first consumable product, the first container including a bottom surface having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, and a top surface including a neck portion that is offset and angled away from the vertical axis. The method further includes providing a second container housing a second consumable product, wherein the second container is substantially identical to the first container with respect to its shape and size, and is located adjacent to the first container, wherein a sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the first and containers and includes an indicia. The method also includes placing the sleeved containers on a retail shelf.
In still yet another embodiment, a method for marketing consumable products is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package including a body defining an interior housing a consumable product. The body includes a first surface having a flexible neck portion that is so constructed and arranged to be received by a portion of the interior during storage of the package, and to be removed from the portion of the interior during use of the package, and a second surface opposing the first surface and having a recess that is so constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of the flexible neck portion for stacking of the package. The method further includes placing the package on a retail shelf.
It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide improved consumable product containers.
It is also an advantage of the present disclosure to provide consumable product containers that are aesthetically pleasing to children.
It is another advantage of the present disclosure to provide consumable product containers that aid children in self-feeding.
It is yet another advantage of the present disclosure to provide consumable product containers having improved stackability.
It is still yet another advantage of the present disclosure to provide consumable product containers that improve the emptying efficiency of the containers during consumption.
It is another advantage of the present disclosure to provide consumable product containers that improve marketability of the containers.
It is a further advantage of the present disclosure to provide consumable product containers that are easily gripped by toddlers for handling of children's foods.
Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.
The present disclosure provides packages for housing consumable products. The packages may be custom designed for ease of use by toddlers, and may also be designed for efficient stacking/storage of the packages. In this regard, the packages may use specific shapes, complementary shapes, functional design aspects, or such features to provide easy handling of the packages by a toddler or caregiver during feeding, efficient emptying of the package contents, efficient stacking and storage of the packages, and increased purchase interest and marketability amongst consumers.
The consumable products housed by the packages may be any semi-solid, gel, liquid, or pureed consumable products including, for example, baby foods, snack foods, full meals, side meals, etc. In an embodiment, the packages house foods for children (e.g., infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, etc.) including, for example, fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, pastas, etc. The teachings of the present disclosure, therefore, are not dependent upon the consumable products being of any particular type so long as the products fit within, and is able to be removed from, the packages described herein.
In an embodiment, the bodies of packages of the present disclosure may be made from a molded plastic material such as, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, or combinations thereof. The bodies may be formed using conventional thermoforming or molding processes including, but not limited to, injection molding, injection blow molding and extrusion blow molding. In another embodiment, the bodies of packages of the present disclosure may be made from layered materials to provide a flexible, soft-sided package that is able to stand upright but still be deformable by a toddler's grasp. Alternatively, the bodies may be manufactured from non-plastic materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, metal, styrofoam, etc. Further, at least a portion of the bodies can be either transparent or translucent so that a consumer can readily discern what types of products are housed in the compartments of the packages. Alternatively, at least a portion of the bodies may be opaque. In an embodiment wherein a lid is provided, the lid may be manufactured from a same or different material as the body and may be translucent while the body is opaque, or vice versa.
In an embodiment, and as shown in
The degree of contour of front and back surfaces 16, 18 may range from a very small contour, wherein package 10 stands substantially upright, to a very large contour, wherein top surface 22 of package 10 may stand at an angle (Θ) that is substantially 90° from vertical, or any degree of contour therebetween, as shown in
As is also shown in
The skilled artisan will also appreciate that the dimensions of package 10 may vary as desired or in accordance with manufacturing specifications or as desired. For example, in an embodiment, package 10 may be sized to hold about 3.5 ounces of a pureed baby food, and may be from about 4 to about 7 inches high (as measured, for example, along a surface of package 10 from bottom surface 20 to top surface 22), and from about 2 to about 5 inches wide. Alternatively, package 10 may be sized to hold anywhere from about 2 ounces to about 5 ounces of baby food, or from about 2.5 ounces to about 4.5 ounces, or from about 3 ounces to about 4.0 ounces, or about 3.5 ounces. Similarly, package 10 may be from about 4.5 inches to about 6.5 inches in height, or from about 5 inches to about 6 inches in height, or about 5.5 inches high. Package 10 may also be from about 2.5 inches to about 4.5 inches in width, or from about 3 inches to about 4 inches in width, or about 3.5 inches wide. The skilled artisan will understand that bottom surface 20 should have an area that is sufficient to retain package 10 in a standing position regardless of the degree of contour and the size of package 10.
Top surface 22 of package 10 includes an outlet 24 for emptying the consumable products during consumption. Outlet 24 of top surface 22 may be, for example, a slit, a hole, a built-in hollow projection, a straw, a spout, etc. As shown in
As shown in
In an embodiment, and as shown in
Channel 28 may be manufactured from any material that is capable of sustaining exposure to consumable products for a substantial amount of time (e.g., at least several months) without degrading and/or otherwise breaking down. For example, channel 28 may be manufactured from a plastic. Further, channel 28 may be integrally formed with body 12 and run either along a surface of body 12, or down a middle interior portion 14 of body 12. Alternatively, channel 28 may be an insert that is formed separately from body 12 during manufacturing and placed within body 12 during manufacturing of the finished package 10. Channel 28 may extend substantially the length/height of body 12 such that channel 28 is able to access any consumable product located a bottom of body 12 during emptying of the product. Alternatively, channel 28 may extend only along a portion of the length/height of body 12.
Packages 10 of the present disclosure may include an indicial thereon to aid in identifying product and brand information. The indicia may be placed on the packages by a method selected from the group consisting of embossing, debossing, printing, engraving, a sticker, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the indicia is selected from the group consisting of a fruit, a vegetable, a grain, a protein, an age-appropriate indicator (e.g., infant, sitter, crawler, etc.), nutritional information, product information, a nutritional panel, branding indicia, an image that corresponds to a type of consumable product housed by the body, or combinations thereof. The product information may be selected from the group consisting of an amount of the product, product ingredients, allergen information, or combinations thereof.
In another embodiment, and as shown in
Sleeve 36 may be manufactured from any suitable material including, for example, plastic, shrink-wrap, cardboard, paper, paperboard, cardstock, etc. In an embodiment, sleeve 36 extends entirely around first and second containers 32, 34 in a horizontal direction so as to maintain close contact therebetween. Alternatively, sleeve 36 may not extend all the way around first and second containers 32, 34; however, the skilled artisan would appreciate that, in such an embodiment, sleeve 36 should be sturdy enough to keep first and second containers 32, 34 together. Sleeve 36 may also extend along a height that is substantially the height of first and second containers 32, 34. Alternatively, sleeve 36 may extend along only a portion of a height of first and second containers 32, 34.
First and second containers 32, 34 may be identical, or substantially similar to each other with respect to shape and size. For example, first container 32 may be substantially rectangular in shape and have a neck portion that is offset horizontally and angled away from vertical. Similar to package 10 of
As shown in
As is also shown in
Similar to packages 10 of
In yet another embodiment, Applicant has found a distinctive and exciting manner in which to improve stackability of packages by providing a unique design and functionality for a neck portion of a package. For example, and as shown by
Further, top surface 56 also includes a neck portion 60 that has a hollow projection 62 that is used as an outlet to empty consumable products contained therein. As with previous embodiments, package 50 may also include a lid 64, as shown in
In contrast, however,
At the time of use of package 50, a user can simply pull neck portion 60 out of body 52, remove lid 64, and consume the product. Alternatively, if the user is temporarily finished consuming the product and would like to save the remaining portion for later, the consumer need only replace lid 64 and push neck portion 60 back into an interior of body 52. In this manner, packages 50 of
Similar to embodiments described above, packages 50 may also have indicia/labeling thereon. Again, the indicia may be placed on the packages by a method selected from the group consisting of embossing, debossing, printing, engraving, a sticker, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the indicia is selected from the group consisting of a fruit, a vegetable, a grain, a protein, an age-appropriate indicator (e.g., infant, sitter, crawler, etc.), nutritional information, product information, a nutritional panel, branding indicia, an image that corresponds to a type of consumable product housed by the body, or combinations thereof. The product information may be selected from the group consisting of an amount of the product, product ingredients, allergen information, or combinations thereof.
The skilled artisan will appreciate that any of the embodiments disclosed herein may include any of the features illustrated or described by any other embodiments disclosed herein. In this manner, for example, the packages of
In yet another embodiment, a method for providing a consumable product to a child is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package having a body defining an interior housing a consumable product. The body includes a bottom surface including a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, a front surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a back surface that is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The method further includes instructing the child to consume the product housed in the package.
In still yet another embodiment, a method for providing a consumable product to a child is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package including a body that defines an interior housing a consumable product, and the interior includes a channel. The body includes a top having an outlet that is fluidly connected to the channel for removal of the consumable product, a base having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base, a first surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein the second surface is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The method further includes instructing the child to consume the product housed in the package.
In another embodiment, a method for providing a consumable product to a child is provided. The method includes providing a first container housing a first consumable product. The first container includes a bottom surface having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, and a top surface including a neck portion that is offset and angled away from the vertical axis. The method further includes providing a second container housing a second consumable product, wherein the second container is substantially identical to the first container with respect to its shape and size, and is located adjacent to the first container, wherein a sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the first and containers and including an indicia. The method also includes instructing the child to consume the product housed in at least one of the first and second containers.
In yet another embodiment, a method for providing a consumable product to a child is provided. The method includes providing a first flexible package including a body defining an interior housing a consumable product. The body includes a first surface having a flexible neck portion that is so constructed and arranged to be received by a portion of the interior during storage of the package, and to be removed from the portion of the interior during use of the package, and a second surface opposing the first surface and including a recess that is so constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of a flexible neck portion of a similar package for stacking. The method further includes instructing the child to consume the product housed in the package.
In still yet another embodiment, a method for marketing consumable products is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package includes a body defining an interior housing a consumable product. The body includes a bottom surface having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, a front surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a back surface that is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The method further includes placing the package on a retail shelf.
In yet another embodiment, a method for marketing consumable products is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package having a body that defines an interior housing a consumable product, and the interior includes a channel. The body includes a top having an outlet that is fluidly connected to the channel for removal of the consumable product, a base having a centrally-located vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base, a first surface that is substantially convex with respect to the vertical axis, and a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein the second surface is substantially concave with respect to the vertical axis. The method further includes placing the consumable product package on a retail shelf.
In another embodiment, a method for marketing consumable products is provided. The method includes providing a first container housing a first consumable product, the first container including a bottom surface having a centrally-located, vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, and a top surface including a neck portion that is offset and angled away from the vertical axis. The method further includes providing a second container housing a second consumable product, wherein the second container is substantially identical to the first container with respect to its shape and size, and is located adjacent to the first container, wherein a sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the first and containers and includes an indicia. The method also includes placing the sleeved containers on a retail shelf.
In still yet another embodiment, a method for marketing consumable products is provided. The method includes providing a flexible package including a body defining an interior housing a consumable product. The body includes a first surface having a flexible neck portion that is so constructed and arranged to be received by a portion of the interior during storage of the package, and to be removed from the portion of the interior during use of the package, and a second surface opposing the first surface and having a recess that is so constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of the flexible neck portion for stacking of the package. The method further includes placing the package on a retail shelf.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61824981 | May 2013 | US |