PACKAGE WITH FOIL SEALS AND PENETRATING MEANS
Improved packages, methods for manufacturing the packages and methods for producing beverages using the packages are provided. The packages include a cap, a container, and an adapter positioned between and connected to the cap and container. The adapter is configured to penetrate seals on the cap and the container by means of a spike member to allow contents of the cap to mix with contents of the container.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/395,491, filed Apr. 30, 2012, which is a U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2010/062493, filed on Aug. 26, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/242,080, filed on Sep. 14, 2009, the entire contents of which are being incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates generally to sterile packaging. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to improvements in aseptic packaging of food ingredients into various containers.
Aseptic filling of food materials into containers is commonly known in the industry as an often used method for providing shelf stable food products that do not require refrigeration or freezing before and after purchase. Aseptic filling of food materials into rigid containers (cups, bottles etc.) requires the sterilizing of the product as well as the packaging material housing the product. Packaging material is typically sterilized by hydrogen peroxide, superheated steam or gamma-irradiation. Gamma-irradiation is frequently used to sterilize closing parts on a package such as, for example, caps, foils and lids.
The use of probiotic ingredients or other sensitive ingredients (e.g. oils) is also commonly known in the industry. However, use of these ingredients is generally limited to either dry products or liquid products with a limited shelf life of two to four weeks. In order to use probiotic ingredients or other sensitive ingredients in combination with shelf stable liquid products (i.e. products with shelf stability of six weeks to two years), alternative approaches have been used such as straws (e.g. BioGaia) or caps with a separate compartment. However, such caps usually need to be sterilized by gamma-irradiation, which can destroy or damage unstable probiotic ingredients or other sensitive ingredients contained in the caps.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure is directed to packages, methods for manufacturing the packages and methods for producing beverages using the packages. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a container including a first open end sealed by a first seal, an adapter fixed to the first open end of the container and a cap including a second open end sealed by a second seal. The adapter is fixed to the second open end of the cap and is configured to penetrate the first seal and the second seal when activated.
In an embodiment, the adapter further includes a spike member positioned within the adapter and positioned between the first seal and second seal, which can both be foils. The adapter can also include a plurality of spike members. The spike member can be substantially centered within the adapter and can include a first tip adjacent the first seal and a second tip adjacent the second seal.
In an embodiment, the adapter further includes an annular ledge on the inside wall of the adapter. The ledge can be configured to receive the cap and fix the adapter to the second open end of the cap. The adapter can further include internal threads configured to threadeably engage external threads on the container to fix the adapter to the first open end of the container.
In an embodiment, the adapter is further configured to move from a first position to a second position for penetrating the first seal and the second seal. A removable band can be positioned between the adapter and the container to maintain the adapter in the first position.
In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a package. The method includes providing a container including a first open end, a cap including a second open end, and an adapter including a first end and a second end, where the container is sterilized and filled with a liquid and the container is sealed with a first seal in a sterile environment. The method further includes filling the cap with an ingredient and sealing the cap with a second seal in a non-sterile environment, affixing the first end of the adapter over the first open end of the container, and affixing the second end of the adapter over the second open end of the cap. The method can even further include inserting a band around the container and affixing the first end of the adapter over the first open end of the container to abut the band.
In an embodiment, the ingredient is a powder. The ingredient can also be selected from a group including, for example, a probotic, an oil, or a combination thereof.
In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for producing a beverage. The method includes providing an adapter including a spike member, a container including a first open end sealed by a first seal, and a cap including a second open end sealed by a second seal. The method further includes affixing a first end of the adapter over the first open end of the container, affixing a second end of the adapter over the second open end of the cap, and penetrating the first seal and the second seal with the spike member such that an ingredient housed in the cap mixes with a diluent housed in the container to form a beverage.
In still another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a packaged product. The packaged product includes a sealed container including a diluent and a sealed cap including an ingredient. The product also includes an adapter positioned between the container and cap. The adapter is so construed and designed that it can penetrate the container and cap to allow the ingredient to mix with the diluent
An advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved shelf-stable package that includes shelf-sensitive ingredients.
Another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved method for manufacturing a package with a cap housing shelf-sensitive ingredients.
Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved method for producing a beverage using a single package for mixing two components.
Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved adapter for separating two beverage components during transport.
Another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved adapter for mixing beverage two components.
Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.
The present disclosure is directed to improved packages, methods for manufacturing the packages and methods for producing beverages using the packages. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a package including a container, an adapter connected to the container at one end of the adapter, and a cap connected to the other end of the adapter. The container houses a diluent and the cap houses an ingredient to be mixed with the diluent. The adapter includes a spike member positioned between the container and the cap, with a first tip of the spike member opposing a seal on the container and a second tip opposing a seal on the cap. In a first position, the tips on the spike member are adjacent the seals on the container and cap but do not penetrate the seals. The adapter is configured, in a second position, to penetrate the seals on both the container and cap, allowing the ingredient to deposit into the container and mix with the diluent to form a beverage.
As used herein, the term “diluent” includes, but is not limited to, shelf-stable liquids that are microbiologically-safe in an ambient temperature for at least six weeks. Such liquids include, for example, water, juices, carbonated beverages, and aseptically processed milk products.
As used herein, the term “ingredient” includes, but is not limited to, shelf-stable liquid compositions or dry compositions. Such ingredients include, for example, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, nutrients, medicinal compositions, and oils such as, for example, fish oils.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular the embodiment illustrated in
Container 20 can be made from any rigid or semi-rigid material including, but not limited to, glass, plastic, metal, or any rigid or semi-rigid polymer. Container 20 can have any shape suitable for receiving and housing a diluent D. Container 20 can include a neck 22 and an annular ledge 24 extending from an outside wall 26 of neck 22. Container 20 is open-ended at neck 22 with a seal 28 formed over an open end 29 of container 20 to seal the interior of container 20. Seal 28 can be made from any penetrable material such as, for example, a foil.
Adapter 30 can be made from any flexible or semi-flexible material including, but not limited to, any flexible or semi-flexible plastic or polymer. Adapter 30 can have any shape, such as that shown in
Spike member 50, like adapter 30, can be made from any flexible or semi-flexible material including, but not limited to, any flexible or semi-flexible plastic or polymer. Spike member 50 can be made of the same material as adapter 30 and can be molded to form a single, unitary piece with adapter 30. Spike member 50 includes a first tip 52, a second tip 54, a spike extension 56 connecting tips 52/54, and a flange 58 adjacent first tip 52. Adapter 30 can include more than one spike member 50.
Cap 60 can be made from any rigid or semi-rigid material including, but not limited to, glass, plastic, metal, or any rigid or semi-rigid polymer. Cap 60 can have any shape suitable for receiving and housing an ingredient P. Cap 60 can include a sidewall 62 having a cap end 64. Cap 60 is open-ended at end 64 with a seal 66 formed over an open end 68 of cap 60 to seal the interior of the cap. Seal 66, like seal 28, can be made from any penetrable material such as, for example, a foil.
Removable band 80 can be made from any rigid or semi-rigid polymer or plastic and has a shape and size suitable for fitting over neck 22 of container 20.
To manufacture package 10 as configured in
Removable band 80 is friction-fitted over neck 22 of container 20 and abuts annular ledge 24. Lower extension 32 of adapter 30 is friction-fitted over neck 22 of container 20 such that lower end 36 of adapter 30 abuts removable band 80. In an alternative embodiment, lower extension 32 can be provided with internal threads and neck 22 can be provided with external threads such that lower extension 32 threadably engages neck 22 to fix adapter 30 to neck 22 of container 20.
Cap 60 is then fitted to upper extension 38 of adapter 30 such that cap sidewall 62 friction-fits to inner surface 40 of adapter 30 and cap end 64 abuts inner seat 42 of adapter 30. As constructed, package 10 provides adapter 30 between container 20 and cap 60 such that, in a first resting position, first tip 52 of spike 50 is adjacent seal 28 of container 20 and second tip 54 is adjacent seal 66 of cap 60.
To mix diluent D and ingredient P to produce a beverage using the embodiment illustrated in
To penetrate seal 28 on container 20, band 80 is removed, allowing adapter end 36 to move along neck 22 until it abuts ledge 24, at which point neither tip 52 or 54 has penetrated associated seal 28 or 66. A downward force is then applied to cap 60 and/or adapter 30 to manipulate adapter 30 as illustrated in
To penetrate seal 66 on cap 60, additional downward force is applied to cap 60 and/or adapter 30 to further manipulate adapter 30 as illustrated in
To allow ingredient P to mix with diluent D in container 20, the downward force is removed, causing adapter 30 to move back to the first, resting position illustrated in
In an embodiment illustrated in
To manufacture package 110 as configured in
A removable band 180 is friction-fitted over a neck 122 of container 120. Annular wall 132 of adapter 130 is friction-fitted over neck 122 of container 120 such that first end 134 of adapter 130 abuts band 180. Cap 160 is then fitted to second end 136 of adapter 130 such that a cap sidewall 162 slides within annular wall 132 until a wall end 164 rests against ledge 138 on inner surface 140 of annular wall 132. As constructed, package 110 provides adapter 130 between container 120 and cap 160 such that first tip 154 of spike 150 is adjacent seal 128 of container 120 and second tip 156 is adjacent seal 166 of cap 160.
To mix diluent D and ingredient P to produce a beverage using the embodiment illustrated in
To penetrate seal 128 on container 120, band 180 is removed as illustrated in
To penetrate seal 166 on cap 160, additional downward force is applied to move cap 160 as illustrated in
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.
Claims
1. A package comprising:
- a container comprising a neck comprising a first open end sealed by a first seal;
- an adapter connected to the first open end of the container, the adapter comprising a first end and a second end;
- a cap comprising a second open end sealed by a second seal, the adapter is connected to the second open end of the cap;
- a spike member positioned within the adapter and comprising a first tip and a second tip; and
- a band circumscribing the neck of the container;
- wherein the package is configured to have (i) a first position in which a vertical distance from the first tip to the second tip is less than a vertical distance from the first open end of the container to the second open end of the cap, and the first end of the adapter abuts the band, (ii) a second position in which the band is removed, the adapter is positioned lower on the neck relative to the first position, and the first seal is penetrated by the first tip, and (iii) a third position in which the cap is positioned lower on the adapter relative to the first and second positions, and the second seal is penetrated by the second tip.
2. The package of claim 1, comprising a ledge on an inside wall of the second end of the adapter, the second open end of the cap abuts the ledge in the first and second positions of the package, and the second open end of the cap is located below the ledge in the third position of the package.
3. The package of claim 1, comprising a ledge that extends outward from the neck at a position below the band, and the first end of the adapter abuts the ledge in the second and third positions of the package.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein the spike member comprises a central section from which the first and second tips extend, the central section of the spike member is connected to an inner wall of the adapter by ribs, and the ribs abut the first open end of the container in the second and third positions of the package.
5. The package of claim 1, comprising a food ingredient in the cap.
6. The package of claim 1, comprising a diluent in the container.
7. The package of claim 1, wherein the spike member is substantially centered within the adapter.
8. The package of claim 1, wherein the first seal and second seal are foil seals.
9. The package of claim 1, comprising internal threads on the adapter configured to threadeably engage external threads on the container to fix the adapter to the first open end of the container.
10. A method for manufacturing a package comprising:
- providing a container comprising a neck comprising a first open end, the container comprising a band extending outward from the neck;
- sterilizing the container;
- filling the container with a liquid and sealing the container with a first seal in a sterile environment;
- filling a cap with an ingredient and sealing a second open end of the cap with a second seal in a non-sterile environment;
- affixing a first end of an adapter over the first open end of the container, the adapter comprising a spike member positioned within an interior of the adapter, the spike member comprising a first tip and a second tip; and
- affixing a second end of the adapter over the second open end of the cap to form the package, the package configured to have (i) a first position in which a vertical distance from the first tip to the second tip is less than a vertical distance from the first open end of the container to the second open end of the cap, and the first end of the adapter abuts the band, (ii) a second position in which the band is removed, the adapter is positioned lower on the neck relative to the first position, and the first seal is penetrated by the first tip, and (iii) a third position in which the cap is positioned lower on the adapter relative to the first and second positions, and the second seal is penetrated by the second tip.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the ingredient is a powder.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a probotic, an oil, and combinations thereof.
13. A method for producing a beverage comprising:
- providing a package comprising (i) a container comprising a neck comprising a first open end sealed by a first seal, the container comprising a band circumscribing the neck of the container, (ii) an adapter connected to the first open end of the container, the adapter comprising a first end and a second end, the adapter comprising a spike member positioned in an interior of the adapter and comprising a first tip and a second tip, the adapter connected to the first open end of the container, and (iii) a cap comprising a second open end sealed by a second seal, the second open end of the cap is connected to the adapter, wherein a vertical distance from the first tip to the second tip is less than a vertical distance from the first open end of the container to the second open end of the cap, and the first end of the adapter abuts the band;
- removing the band and then applying a downward force to at least one of the cap or the adapter to move the adapter lower on the neck to penetrate the first seal with the first tip; and
- applying additional downward force to the cap to move the cap lower on the adapter to penetrate the second seal with the second tip such that an ingredient housed in the cap mixes with a diluent housed in the container to form the beverage.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 13, 2015
Publication Date: Jul 2, 2015
Inventors: Jean-daniel Ginzburg (Viry), Martinas Jurgis Kuslys (Grosshochstetten)
Application Number: 14/657,310