PACKAGING

Abstract

A packaging for foodstuff the packaging comprising a body defining an elongate cavity therein, the body having a first closable aperture and a second opposing closable aperture and a partition located within the cavity and dividing the cavity into first and second receiving portions, wherein access to the first portion is via the first aperture and access to the second portion is via the second aperture, and wherein foodstuff retained within the first receiving portion cannot access the second receiving portion, and foodstuff retained within the second receiving portion cannot access the first receiving portion.

Description

The present invention relates to packaging, in particular the present invention relates to packaging able to accessibly retain two types of foodstuff independently.

Packaging is used to contain many different products. In the case of foodstuff, it has long been common for single items or types of foodstuff to be packaged together to protect the foodstuff from external contaminants. This packaging could be in the form of tin cans, glass jars or bottles, cardboard boxes, paper or plastic containers including paper or plastic bags.

In the case of pre-packed fresh foodstuff, such as fruit, vegetables and bakery products, the packaging is typically a flexible bag, for example a paper or plastic bag such as that shown in FIG. 1A. This plastic bag 10 typically has one sealed end 12, and one open end 14 through which the foodstuff enters the bag. The foodstuff may be any type of suitable product, for example, in the illustration of FIG. 1B, the foodstuff place within the bag 10 is bread 16. Once the desired quantity of bread 16 is placed in the bag 10, the open end 14 of the bag 10 is gathered together and sealed with a removable seal 18 so as to retain the bread 16 in the bag 10 and protect it from external contamination. In many cases the removable seal 18 is re-usable meaning that after a desired amount of bread 16 has been removed from the bag 10, a user can once again gather together the open end 14 and use the removable seal 18 to reseal the remaining bread 16 within the bag 10.

The present consumer environment has seen an increased demand for choice and variety. At the same time, households are typically much smaller in size. Coinciding with this demographic is a drive to reduce food waste and reduce the amount of food packaging used. This has lead to the need for food production companies to investigate ways in which to provide consumers with a greater variety of smaller quantities of food packaged in an effective way to meet consumer demand whilst maintain the integrity of the foodstuff. Therefore, packaging which can be used to effectively retain more than one type of foodstuff at a time is in great demand.

Whilst the type of plastic bag 10 detailed above is effective in storing one type of foodstuff at a time, it is less suitable for use with more than one food type at a time. The single compartment 20 in which the food is retained would make it difficult to avoid the two types of foodstuff from becoming mixed up together. For some types of foodstuff where mixing or cross contamination is not a problem e.g. two different varieties of apples, this may not be a problem. However, for other types of foodstuff where mixing or cross contamination could be a problem, for example wheat bread and gluten free bread, this would become a significant problem.

Another issue with this type of plastic bag 10 is that even when mixing or cross contamination between different foodstuffs is not a problem in itself, there is still only a single open end 14 access to the foodstuff retained the packaging. For example, if both brown bread and white bread are retained the bag 10 together, only one type of bread will be closest to the single open end 14. To access the other type of bread, the user could attempt to extract the desired bread type by pulling it out from beneath the other bread type within the bag 10 and extracting it through the open end 14, However, this may cause damage to both the types of bread contained within the bag 10. Alternatively, the user must removed all the bread from the bag 10, select the bread they wish to use at that time, then return the remaining bread to the bag 10. However, this would increase the chance of damage to the unused bread as well as exposing the unused bread to a greater risk of contamination.

Therefore, there is a need for packaging which is able to retain two types of foodstuff independently in a manner which each type of foodstuff can be easily accessed.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the aforementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided packaging for foodstuff, the packaging comprising: a body defining a cavity therein, the body having a first closable aperture and a second closable aperture; and a partition located within the cavity and dividing the cavity into first and second receiving portions, wherein access to the first portion is via the first aperture and access to the second portion is via the second aperture, and wherein foodstuff retained within the first receiving portion cannot access the second receiving portion, and foodstuff retained within the second receiving portion cannot access the first receiving portion.

The cavity may be any desired shape, but is preferably a longitudinal cavity.

The second closable aperture may be located distal to the first closable aperture or may be located substantially adjacent the first closable aperture.

The arrangement of the packaging having a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion separated by a partition enables one type of foodstuff to be retained in the first receiving portion and a second type of foodstuff to be retained within the second receiving portion with no possibility of the first and second types of foodstuff coming into contact with each other within the packaging.

The body of the packaging may be formed of a flexible material such as, but not limited to, a thin plastics-based material.

To close each closable aperture, a portion of the body at each closable aperture may be gathered to form a respective sealed portion. Each closable aperture may be provided with a releasable closing mechanism. The releasable closing mechanism may be an adhesive strip which releasably attaches to the portion of gathered body and may also releasably attach to itself. The releasable closing mechanism may alternatively be a removable tag which mechanically secures the portion of gathered body or any other suitable closing means known to the skilled person. The releasable closing mechanism is preferably re-useable.

A releasable closing mechanism enables each closable aperture to be re-opened after closure such that any contents in the respective receiving portion may be accessed. A re-usable releasable closing mechanism will enable a user to reseal the respective receiving portion each time the releasable closing mechanism is released.

In an alternative embodiment, each closable aperture may be provided with a permanent closing mechanism such as, but not limited to, an adhesive closing mechanism. Alternatively each closable aperture may be closed by application of a permanent sealing technique such as a heat sealing process.

A permanent closing mechanism may be desirable in circumstance where the packaging may contain foodstuff to be subjected to a treatment to facilitate stability and reduce perishability of the foodstuff.

The partition may be integrally formed with the body of the packaging. Alternatively the partition may be secured to the body of the packing using securing means such as, but not limited to, adhesive material, heat bonding or laser welding. The partition may be a single wall partition or alternatively may be a double wall partition. Each wall of a double wall partition may be spaced apart from the other wall to form a partition cavity. Alternatively, each wall of the double partition is secured to the other wall. Each wall of the double partition may be secured to the other wall using securing means such as, but not limited to adhesive material, heat bonding or laser welding.

A single wall partition would particularly facilitate manufacturing processes which could create an integrally formed partition in the packaging or could simplify the securing of the single wall within a suitable packaging manufacture process. A double wall could be formed within the body of the packaging during a suitable manufacturing process or could be created by the formation of two body parts each having a respective sealed end whereby each of the sealed ends are then secured to one another to created a double walled partition. The two body parts may be secured to one another by adhesive or by means of adhesive tape or by any other suitable securing means known to the skilled person.

The body may be a tubular seam free body within which the partition is located. Alternatively, the body may be formed of one or more component parts secured together by one or more seams to form a tubular body within which the partition is located. Although a tubular body having a square or rectangular cross-sectional shape is preferred, it is to be appreciated that any suitable cross-sectional shape may be employed as an alternative.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be provided, by way of example only, and with reference to the following figures, in which:

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional side view of a known packaging bag;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional side view of the packaging bag of FIG. 1A containing foodstuff;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a packaging bag according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of the packaging bag of FIG. 2 containing foodstuff according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of the packaging bag of FIG. 2 containing foodstuff according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of packaging in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a packaging bag in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 2 there is shown a packaging bag 30 comprising a body 32, in this case formed of a seam free tube 33 of flexible thin polythene sheet, wherein the internal wall 34 of the tube 33 defines a cylindrical elongate cavity 35. The body 32 has a first closable aperture 36 and a second opposing closable aperture 38. Partition 40, formed of a single sheet of the same flexible thin polythene is located within the cavity 35 and secured to the internal wall 34 of the tube 33 by a laser welded bond 39. The partition 40, divides the cavity 35 into a first receiving portion 42 and second receiving portion 44. Access to the first receiving portion 42 is via the first aperture 36 and access to the second receiving portion 44 is via second aperture 38.

As can be seen in FIG. 3A, in use, the first receiving portion 42 of the packaging 30 is provided with foodstuff which in this case is brown bread 46 which was inserted into the first receiving portion 42 through first closable aperture 36. The polythene sheet of the tube 33 at the first closeable aperture 36 is then gathered together and releasably closed using a first releasable closure mechanism, in this case a first adhesive strip 50 which is wrapped around and secured to the gathered polythene sheet of tube 33 before being secured to itself at first closing mechanism end section 51. The second receiving portion 44 is also provided with foodstuff, in this case white bread 48 which was inserted into the second receiving portion 44 through the second closable aperture 38. The polythene sheet of the tube 33 at the second closable aperture 38 is then gathered together and closed using a second releasable closure mechanism; in this case a second adhesive strip 52 is wrapped around and secured to the gathered polythene sheet of tube 33 before being secured to itself at second closing mechanism end section 53. The partition 40 prevents the brown bread 46, retained within the first receiving portion 42, from coming into direct contact with the white bread 48 retained within the second receiving portion 44 and vice versa. When a user wishes to access the white bread 48 retained within the second receiving portion 42, the user would release the second adhesive strip 52 from around the gathered polythene of tube 33 at the second closable aperture 38. The user would then be able to remove a desired quantity of white bread 48 from the packaging 30. Should a user wish to access the brown bread 46 a corresponding process would take place at the first closable aperture 36.

In FIG. 3B there can be seen an alternative embodiment of the packaging 30 whereby the polythene sheet of the tube 33 at the first closeable aperture 36 is compressed together and permanently sealed closed at first seal 60 by application of a permanent sealing technique, in this case a heat sealing process. Similarly, the second closeable aperture 38 is compressed together and permanently sealed closed at second seal 62 by application of a permanent sealing technique, in this case a heat sealing process. As with previous embodiments, the partition 40 prevents the brown bread 46, retained within the first receiving portion 42, from coming into direct contact with the white bread 48 retained within the second receiving portion 44 and vice versa. The permanent seals 60, 62 enables packaged foodstuff 46, 48 to be subjected to a treatment such as pasteurization to facilitate stability and reduce perishability. In this embodiment, when a user wishes to access the white bread 48 retained within the second receiving portion 42, the user would need to creating an opening in tube 33 at any section corresponding to the second receiving portion 44. The user would then be able to remove a desired quantity of white bread 48 from the packaging 30. Should a user wish to access the brown bread 46 a corresponding process would take place at the first receiving portion 42.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the packaging 30 in which the two receiving portions 42, 44 are formed separately and then joined together by means of adhesive tape 55, thereby forming a double-walled partition 40. This method of manufacture is most easily facilitated by filling each receiving portion with the desired amount of foodstuff such as bread 46, 48 to provide structure to the packaging 30. The two receiving portions are then located adjacent one another and securing in position relative to one another by means of tape 55. Tape 55 may be adhesive tape or may be heat bonded to the packaging or retained in place by any other suitable means known to the skilled person.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a packaging bag 30 according to the present invention, comprising a body 32 defining a cavity 35. The body 32 has a first closable aperture 36, and a second closable aperture 38 located substantially adjacent the first closable aperture 38. Partition 40 is located within cavity 35, thereby dividing cavity 35 into first receiving portion 42 and second receiving portion 44. Access to the first receiving portion is via the first aperture 36 and access to the second receiving portion is via second aperture 38. As before, the two receiving portions 42, 44 may be formed integrally or may be formed separately and subsequently joined together, for example by means of adhesive or heat bonded tape or some other suitable material known to the skilled person, thereby forming partition 40 as a double walled partition (not shown).

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the embodiment hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the body 32 of the packaging has been described as being formed of a seam free tube 33 of flexible thin polythene sheet. However it will be clearly understood that the body 32 may be formed of any suitable flexible material such as, but not limited to, any thin plastic based material. Furthermore, the body 32 may be formed of one or more component parts of flexible material which are secured together by one or more seams to form a tubular body within which the partition 40 is located.

The first and second releasable closing mechanisms have been described as first and second adhesive strips 50, 52. However, the releasable closing mechanisms may be any suitable mechanism including, but not limited to a removable tag formed of resilient plastic sheet provided with a retaining portion which is placed around and mechanically secures the portion of gathered tube 33 at the respective closable aperture. It will be clearly understood that depending on the type of releasable closing mechanism selected for use, each releasable closing mechanism may be re-useable thus enabling a user to close or reseal the respective receiving portion each time the releasable closing mechanism is released.

Permanent sealing of the first and second closable apertures 36, 38 has been described with reference to application of a permanent sealing technique, in this case a heat sealing process. However, it will be clearly understood that other suitable permanent sealing techniques, including, but not limited to laser welding, may be used. Alternatively, each closable aperture 36, 38 may be provided with a permanent closing mechanism such as, but not limited to, an adhesive closing mechanism.

In the described embodiments, the partition 40 is secured to the body 32 of the packing 30 using heat bonding. However, the partition 40 may alternatively be integrally formed with the body of the packaging. In addition, the partition 40 may be secured to the body of the packing using alternative securing means such as, but not limited to, adhesive material or laser welding.

The partition 40 has been described as a single wall partition. However the partition, 40 may alternatively be a double wall partition. Furthermore, it will be clearly understood that in a double wall partition, each wall may be spaced apart from the other wall to form a partition cavity. Alternatively, each wall of the double partition may secured to the other wall using securing means such as, but not limited to adhesive material, heat bonding or laser welding. In addition, a double wall could be formed within the body 32 of the packaging 30 during a suitable manufacturing process or could be created by the formation of two body parts each having a respective sealed end whereby each sealed end is then secured together to created a double walled partition.

Claims

1. A packaging for foodstuff, the packaging comprising:

a body defining a cavity therein, the body having a first closable aperture and a second closable aperture;

and a partition located within the cavity and dividing the cavity into first and second receiving portions,

wherein access to the first portion is via the first aperture and access to the second portion is via the second aperture, and wherein foodstuff retained within the first receiving portion cannot access the second receiving portion, and foodstuff retained within the second receiving portion cannot access the first receiving portion.

2. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second closable aperture is located distal to the first closable aperture.

3. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second closable aperture is located substantially adjacent the first closable aperture.

4. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body of the packaging is formed of a flexible material.

5. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flexible material a thin plastic based material.

6. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the body at each closable aperture may be gathered to form a respective sealed receiving portion.

7. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1, wherein each closable aperture is provided with a closing mechanism.

8. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 7, wherein each closable aperture is provided with a releasable closing mechanism.

9. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 7, wherein the closing mechanism is an adhesive strip.

10. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 7, wherein the closing mechanism is a removable tag

11. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 7, wherein the closing mechanism mechanically closes the closable aperture.

12. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 8, wherein the releasable closing mechanism may be re-useable.

13. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 7, wherein each closable aperture is provided with a permanent closing mechanism.

14. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 13, wherein the permanent closing mechanism is an adhesive closing mechanism.

15. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 13, wherein the permanent closing mechanism is application of a permanent sealing technique.

16. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 15, wherein the permanent sealing technique is a heat sealing process.

17. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1 wherein the partition is integrally formed with the body of the packaging.

18. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1, wherein the partition may be secured to the body of the packaging using securing means.

19. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 18, wherein the securing means is an adhesive material.

20. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1 wherein the partition is a single wall partition.

21. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1, wherein the partition is a double wall partition.

22. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 21, wherein each wall of the double wall partition is spaced apart from the other wall to form a partition cavity.

23. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 21, wherein each wall of the double wall partition is secured to the other wall.

24. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is a tubular seam free body within which the partition is located.

25. A packaging for foodstuff as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is formed of one or more component parts secured together by one or more seams to form a tubular body within which the partition is located.