Patent Grant
6913777
The present invention relates to a unitary container that separately contains two consumable products, preferably a dry consumable product and a liquid consumable product. More particularly, it relates to a portable, single-use container that contains both a liquid product and a dry product, such as milk and cereal, and promotes single-handed, simultaneous dispensing of the products.
A highly popular combination food item is dry cereal and milk. Typically, the cereal and milk are combined in a bowl, and then consumed using a spoon. Thus, so long as the consumer is at a stationary location and has a table and spoon available, the cereal and milk meal is readily prepared and eaten. Unfortunately, however, it is virtually impossible to easily consume the milk and cereal while traveling (or “on-the-go”) due to the open nature of the bowl and the requirement of a spoon. For example, it is highly difficult to carry a bowl of cereal and milk without spilling the combination product (e.g., walking, hiking, traveling in an automobile, etc.). Further, on-the-go consumption (i.e., no convenient structure such as a table onto which the bowl can be placed) occupies both of the user's hands; one hand holding the bowl and the other hand holding the spoon.
This lack of transportability is in direct contrast to recent consumer preferences. In particular, consumers have expressed a heightened desire for their favorite consumable products to be packaged in single-serving containers that facilitate convenient, single-handed, on-the-go consumption. In fact, manufacturers have now made available a wide variety of food products in portable, single-handed consumption packages or containers. For example, beverages, such as soda pop, milk, etc., are commonly sold in single-serving containers. Other food products, ranging from yogurt to dry snack foods, are also similarly packaged. In general terms, the packaging technique for these products is relatively straightforward in that only a single type of consumable item is contained. In other words, a single-serving beverage container need only define a single storage region for containing the beverage. Similarly, a snack food package has a single compartment enclosing a single type of snack food. In direct contrast, a container for cereal and milk must separately contain the two items prior to consumption. If the cereal and milk were initially combined within a single compartment, the quality of the cereal would quickly deteriorate, as would the milk.
Efforts have been made to provide packaging that separately contains a single-serving of cereal and a single-serving of milk. For the most part, however, these packaging efforts still require a spoon for consumption of the combined cereal and milk, and thus do not promote on-the-go consumption. Alternatively, a hand-held container defining a first compartment for milk and a second compartment for cereal has been proposed, for example, by Ness, U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,289. While satisfying several consumer preferences, the prior single container, dual compartment design raises additional potential drawbacks.
As a starting point, to be viable on a mass production basis, the milk compartment must be sanitized, preferably aseptically sterilized, prior to filling with milk, to provide an extended shelf life or ultra-pasteurized product for sale to consumers. With this in mind, the container of U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,289 utilizes a single screw cap to close integrally formed cereal and milk compartments. Unfortunately, because both compartments are fully exposed when the cap is removed, it is virtually impossible for the product manufacturer to sterilize the container, fill the compartments with cereal and milk in an acceptably sterile environment, and then seal the container without negatively impacting the quality of the milk and/or cereal. In other words, if the milk is dispensed before the cereal is placed within the cereal compartment, the subsequent cereal dispensement will destroy the requisite sterility of the milk compartment. Conversely, if the cereal compartment is filled first and then the milk compartment is sanitized, the sanitizing agent will likely contact the cereal, rendering it inedible. Further, if a consumer attempts to re-use the container, he/she will likely not appreciate the level of cleanliness required of a milk container, and may not properly sanitize the device.
An untapped consumer demand exists for a portable, combination cereal and milk packaged good item. Unfortunately, existing designs either hinder on-the-go consumption, or present potentially insurmountable manufacturing obstacles. Therefore, a need exists for a portable, single-use packaged good item that separately contains both a dry consumable product, such as cereal, and a liquid consumable product, such as milk, and a method of manufacturing such an item.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a portable, single-use container for separately containing first and second consumable products. The container includes a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment tapers at an upper portion thereof to form a spout. The spout facilitates dispensing of a contained first consumable product from the first compartment. The second compartment, in turn, tapers at an upper portion thereof to form a mouth. The mouth facilitates dispensing of a second consumable product from the second compartment. The first and second compartments are assembled to one another in a side-by-side fashion such that the spout abuts the mouth. With this configuration, during use, a first consumable product and a second consumable product can be dispensed from the container in close proximity to one another for convenient consumption. In one preferred embodiment, the first compartment contains a volume of milk and the second compartment contains a quantity of cereal.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a portable, single-use container for separately containing first and second consumable products. The container includes a first compartment, a second compartment, a first compartment opening and a second compartment opening. The first and second compartments are secured to one another in a side-by-side fashion, and combine to define a container body. The first compartment opening is provided for dispensing a first consumable product from the first compartment. In this regard, the first compartment opening has a transverse cross-sectional area that is less than a maximum transverse cross-sectional area of the first compartment. The second compartment opening is similarly provided for dispensing a second consumable product from the second compartment. In this regard, the second compartment opening has a transverse cross-sectional area that is less than a maximum transverse cross-sectional area of the second compartment. Upon final assembly, at least one of the first and second compartment openings is substantially centered relative to the container body. In one preferred embodiment, the first and second compartment openings are positioned side-by-side to define a container pour region that is substantially aligned with a central axis of the container body. With this preferred configuration, the consumable products will readily flow from the container during a pouring operation. In another preferred embodiment, the first compartment contains a volume of milk, whereas the second compartment contains a quantity of cereal.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a portable, single-use container that separately contains a first consumable product and a second consumable product. First and second compartments are provided. The first compartment is configured to contain the first consumable product and tapers at an upper portion thereof to form a spout. The second compartment is configured to contain the second consumable product and tapers at an upper portion thereof to form a mouth. Further, the first and second compartments are configured for assembly to one another in a side-by-side fashion such that the spout abuts the mouth. The first compartment is sanitized, and the first consumable product is dispensed therein. The spout is covered to seal the first consumable product within the first compartment. The second consumable product is dispensed into the second compartment. The first and second compartments are assembled to one another, and the mouth of the second compartment covered. In one preferred embodiment, the mouth and the spout are encompassed by a common cover. Regardless, the method of the present invention allows for sealed containment of a first consumable product, preferably milk, in a sterile environment, preferably an aseptically sterile environment. Upon final assembly, the spout abuts the mouth such that milk and the second consumable product, preferably ready-to-eat cereal, can be poured from the container in close proximity to each other.
One preferred embodiment of a container 10 in accordance with the present invention is provided in FIG. 1. The container 10 includes a first compartment 12, a second compartment 14, a cap 16, and a wrapper 18. As a point of reference, a portion of the wrapper 18 has been removed from the view of
As shown more clearly in
As made clearer below, the first compartment 12 is configured for assembly to the second compartment 14 in a side-by-side fashion. Thus, the side wall 22 can be referenced as having an interior surface 32 and an exterior surface 34, it being understood that upon final assembly, the interior surface 32 will be placed against a corresponding surface of the second compartment 14 and thus “hidden”, whereas the exterior surface 34 is exposed. With this designation in mind, and with additional reference to
Returning to
As best shown in
The spout 24 preferably includes an inner wall 38 and an outer wall 40 (the terms “inner” and “outer” being in reference to a position of the spout 24 relative to the second compartment 14 (
Returning to
Regardless of the exact construction and with additional references to
In general terms, the second compartment 14 is configured to correspond in shape and size with the first compartment 12, and includes a bottom 50, a side wall 52 and a mouth 54 as shown in FIG. 2. The side wall 52 extends upwardly from the bottom 50, and forms a body portion 56 and a neck 58. The side wall 52 and the bottom 50 combine to form an internal storage region 60 preferably configured to contain a dry consumable product (not shown). The neck 58 extends from the body portion 56, tapering inwardly to the mouth 54. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the second compartment 14 tapers at an upper portion thereof to form the mouth 54.
As previously described, the second compartment 14 is configured for assembly to the first compartment 12 in a side-by-side fashion. Thus, the side wall 52 can be referenced as having an interior surface 62 and an exterior surface 64, it being understood that upon final assembly, the interior surface 62 will be placed against the corresponding interior surface 32 of the first compartment 12 and thus “hidden”, whereas the exterior surface 64 is exposed. With this designation in mind, and with additional reference to
Returning to
As best shown in
The mouth 54 preferably includes an inner wall 68 and an outer wall 70 (the terms “inner” and “outer” being in reference to a position of the mouth 54 relative to the spout 24 (
The opening 72 preferably has a transverse shape corresponding with that of the inner and outer walls 68, 70. Thus, as shown in
The second compartment 14, including the body portion 56, the neck 58, and the mouth 54, is preferably integrally formed from a plastic material. In particular, the second compartment 12 is preferably blow-molded from an appropriate plastic material such as high density polyethylene, although other materials, including low density polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. As compared to the first compartment 12 previously described and in accordance with one preferred embodiment, the second compartment 14 need not incorporate a preferably flexible or “squeezable” construction. That is to say, the second compartment 14 is preferably more rigid than the first compartment 12. Alternatively, other techniques or materials may be employed. For example, the second compartment 14 can be formed from glass.
Regardless of the exact construction, the integrally formed second compartment 14 preferably conforms to several dimensional constraints. For example, the second compartment 14 is preferably constructed to contain a single-serving quantity of dry consumable product (not shown). Thus, in one preferred embodiment, the internal storage region 60 is sized to contain approximately 210 mL (7.1 fluid ounces) of a dry consumable product. In light of this preferred volume and to facilitate a uniform appearance upon assembly to the first compartment 12 (FIG. 2), the bottom 50 and the body portion 56 both provide a maximum outer dimension (preferably diameter) OD2 of approximately 2.4 inches (±0.5 inch). A height of the second compartment 14 (from the bottom 50 to a top of the mouth 54) is preferably approximately 5.5 inches (±0.5 inch) (or slightly taller than the first compartment 12), with the mouth 54 having a preferred height of approximately 0.5 inch (±0.1 inch). Finally, the opening 72 formed by the mouth 54 is preferably sized to promote controlled flow of a dry consumable product therefrom, and corresponds with the crescent transverse shape of the mouth 54. With this in mind, the opening 72 is generally transversely defined by a convex diameter (via the outer wall 70) of approximately 1.5 inch (±0.5 inch). Alternatively, other dimensions are also acceptable for the second compartment 14. Further, the second compartment 14 can contain a liquid consumable product.
While the first and second compartments 12, 14 are preferably formed independent of one another, they are sized and shaped to effectuate a uniform appearance for the container 10 upon final assembly as shown in
With specific reference to
The spout 24 and the mouth 54 combine to define a pour region 80 for the container 10. With respect to the transverse, top view of
Returning to
The wrapper 18 is provided to secure the first compartment 12 and the second compartment 14. In one preferred embodiment, the wrapper 18 is a shrink label formed about the compartments 12, 14. Alternatively or in addition, a variety of other attachment techniques can be employed. For example, the first compartment 12 can be welded or glued to the second compartment 14. Further, the first and second compartments 12, 14 can be configured to frictionally engage each other upon final assembly, such as with a snap fit. Regardless, the first and second compartments 12, 14 are preferably relatively permanently assembled to one another so that a consumer is unlikely to separate or re-use the compartments 12, 14 individually.
While the compartments 12, 14 have been described as preferably integrally forming the spout 24 and the mouth 54, respectively, other constructions are also available. For example, the compartments 12, 14 can be formed as relatively straight (i.e., non-tapering) bodies, that following assembly to one another, have a separate cover placed across one or both compartments. The cover defines the necessary flow holes (i.e., the passage 42 (
The preferred container 10 is available for containing a number of different consumable products. In a preferred embodiment, however, the first compartment 12 contains a liquid consumable product, preferably milk; and the second compartment 14 contains a dry consumable product, preferably a ready-to-eat cereal. With these preferred comestibles in mind, the container 10 is configured to promote storage of milk in a sterilized environment, preferably an aseptically sterile environment, to provide an extended shelf life or ultra-pasteurized product on a mass production basis. For example, one preferred method of manufacture in accordance with the present invention entails providing the first compartment 12 as previously described. The first compartment 12 is then sterilized. In this regard, regulations relating to storage of milk allow for an increased shelf life where the milk is stored within an aseptically sterilized environment. As such, the first compartment 12 is preferably aseptically sanitized with an appropriate sterilizing solution. A desired volume of milk (or other liquid consumable product) is then dispensed into the first compartment 12, again in a sterile environment. For example, four fluid ounces of milk are poured into the first compartment 12, although other volumes are equally acceptable. The first compartment 12 is then sealed, such as by applying the film or foil membrane 76 across the spout 24.
A dry consumable product, preferably ready-to-eat cereal, is dispensed into the second compartment 14. In this regard, a preferred dry consumable product is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/781,583, entitled “Portable Container Separately Containing Two Consumable Products, And a Dry Consumable Product, Especially RTE Cereal, For Use Therewith”, filed on even date herewith, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference. Notably, the second compartment 14 is preferably sanitized prior to receiving the dry consumable product, but need not necessarily be aseptically sterilized. In this regard, the second compartment 14 can be filled at an area or room remote from the area or room at which the first compartment 12 is filled. Further, the first and second compartments 12, 14 can be filled with the respective consumable products concurrently, or at different points in time. In fact, a mass quantity of first compartments 12 can be filled with milk at one location, while a mass quantity of second compartments 14 are filled with ready-to-eat cereal at a different location. With this preferred methodology, there is no opportunity for the preferred aseptic sterilization solution to contact or otherwise deteriorate the quality of the ready-to-eat cereal (or other dry consumable product).
The first and second compartments 12, 14 are then assembled to one another, such as by securing the wrapper 18 about the compartments 12, 14. Alternatively, the second compartment 14 can be assembled to the first compartment 12 in an empty state, and the dry consumable product then dispensed into the second compartment 14. Regardless, once the second compartment 14 has been filled, the mouth 54 is covered, such as by a foil membrane 76 and/or the cap 16.
Following manufacture, the container 10 is made available to a consumer (not shown). To consume the contained products, the consumer simply removes the cap 16 and any other closure devices (such as the foil membrane 76 otherwise applied to the spout 24). The container 10 is then grasped, preferably with a single hand, and directed toward the user's mouth (not shown). In this regard, it is preferred that the container 10 be oriented such that the mouth 54 is “above” the spout 24 as the container 10 is tilted, as shown, for example, in FIG. 6. This preferred orientation is suggested by one preferred configuration of the container 10, whereby the compartments 12, 14 have slightly differing contours that visually indicates to the consumer that the first compartment 12 is the “front” of the container 10, as previously described.
As the container 10 is tilted, milk (or other liquid consumable product) 90 flows from the first compartment 12 via the spout 24, and cereal (or other dry consumable product) 92 flows from the second compartment 14 via the mouth 54. Because the first compartment 12 is slightly shorter than the second compartment 14, the mouth 54 effectively prevents undesired backflow of milk 90 into the second compartment 14. In one preferred embodiment, the first compartment 12 is constructed to be relatively flexible or squeezable. As such, to temporarily increase the flow of milk 90 from the second compartment 12, the consumer (not shown) simply squeezes the first compartment 12. A consumer can further regulate the flow of milk 90 by simply placing his or her tongue over the spout 24, and in particular the passage 42 (FIG. 3). The passage 42 can be partially or entirely blocked, as desired, without interfering with the flow of cereal 92. Further, both products 90, 92 are easily, concurrently consumed by the consumer because the spout 24 and the mouth 54, and thus the passage 42 and the opening 72 (FIG. 4), are in close proximity to one another. Finally, with the second compartment 14 preferably being “over” the first compartment 12 during a pouring operation, the opportunity for obstruction of the cereal 92 within the second compartment 14, or at the opening 72, is minimized. In particular, as shown in phantom in
Following consumption, the container 10 is preferably recycled or otherwise disposed of. In this regard, the container 10 is configured as a single use device. Because the first and second compartments 12, 14 are relatively permanently secured to one another, they cannot easily be disassembled. Further, the only access afforded to the internal storage region 30 of the first compartment 12 is via the passage 42 in the spout 24. To this end, the passage 42 is relatively small in transverse cross-section, rendering cleaning of the first compartment 12 by a consumer (not shown) virtually impossible. Thus, the consumer will not be tempted to reuse the container 10 to store milk (or other liquid consumable product) within the first compartment 12, as the first compartment 12 cannot be cleaned. Also, the relatively small size of the passage 42 greatly impedes refilling of the first compartment 12, further discouraging reuse of the container 10. To a lesser extent, the second compartment 14 presents the same beneficial obstacles due to the relatively small size of the opening 72 formed by the mouth 54. As a result, a preferred configuration of the container 10 eliminates the manufacturer risks otherwise associated with reusable designs.
The container of the present invention provides a marked improvement over previous designs. The dual, side-by-side compartment design separately contains both milk (or other liquid consumable product) and cereal (or other dry consumable product), and promotes simultaneous dispensing of the consumable products in close proximity to one another. To this end, a size of the respective passage in the first (or liquid) compartment and opening in the second (or dry) compartment promotes dispensing of desired aliquots of each product. Further, the method of manufacture of the container promotes containment of milk (or other liquid consumable product) in a preferably aseptically sanitized environment, resulting in a packaged good article with an enhanced shelf-life. The container is highly convenient from both a manufacturing and consumption vantage point.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the chemical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, electrical, and computer arts will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the preferred embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. For example, the first compartment has been described as preferably containing milk. Alternatively, other liquid consumable products, such as water, soda pop, juice, beer, coffee, etc. are equally acceptable. Similarly, the second compartment is not necessarily limited to a ready-to-eat cereal. Instead, other dry consumable products, such as nuts, crackers, chips, etc., can be contained. Even further, a dry consumable product can be contained by the first compartment and a liquid consumable product can be contained by the second compartment. Also, both compartments can contain a liquid consumable product or a dry consumable product.
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