FOOD PACKAGING CONTAINING AN INNER BAG
Packaging including a container, and a closure system made up of a frame and a lid hinged to the frame and able to close the container opening in a fitted manner. An upper fitment part of the frame tightly covers the upper rim and a lower insert part is provided to protrude in the interior volume of the container. The gusset bag stored inside the container in a predetermined position unfolds from a partially open configuration to a fully open configuration due to a pressing effect of axial guiding extensions defined by the insert part and engaged through a single opening of the bag. The insert part has one or more notches defined between two of the axial guiding extensions, facilitating complete unfolding of the bag side wall.
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This invention relates to a packaging having a closure lid adapted to provide easy access to a product contained in a bag used as refill. More specifically, the invention relates to a food packaging adapted to make installation of a gusset bag inside an outer container easier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONGusset bags having a flexible side wall are well-known for containing a variety of products, especially flowable food products. Refillable food pouches are known, for instance from WO 2014/120258. But for air-sensitive contents, for example powdered milk or cereals, such kind of refillable pouch cannot be used.
Less sensitive food can also be supplied to a secondary market as a sealed gusset pouch or similar flexible bag. Conventional gusset bags for this purpose are provided with two opposite gussets. After removal of a top portion, the gussets can unfold from a partially open configuration to a fully open configuration. Such flexible bags (for example as disclosed in US 2011/0293208) are not well adapted for a pouring operation.
Rigid boxes are sometimes used to receive food content initially stored in flexible bags. The box can be repeatedly filled up with such kind of food. But practically, loss of food product from a gusset bag or similar bag often occurs when pouring the flowable food content into the box.
Besides, boxes are not particularly well adapted to store a gusset bag that is in an open state because the product can flow between the flexible bag and the inner face of the box. This typically happens when the whole packaging is turned upside down in a closed state of the box. And if the box is not correctly closed by a lid positioned at the top of the box or if the sealing performed by the lid is not efficient, the product may be quickly altered and loss of product may occur.
Document WO 2012/085117 discloses a gusset bag stored in a box. The box sidewall has an inner circumference adapted to guide the annular side of the bag, whereby the bag is standing in a predetermined position in the packaging. Because of the guiding by the box sidewall, the inner flexible bag cannot move laterally inside the container (fit of the bag inside the box). Such cooperation between an inner bag and an outer container, with a single predetermined position of the inner bag, is well-known in the art. The gusset bag is provided with flaps that extend beyond the upper edges of the box. In order to correctly close the top of the box, a closure system is provided with annular frame that accommodates the upper edges of the box with the flaps folded around these upper edges. Due to this accommodation, the gusset bag in the predetermined position is widely open and there is no leakage of product between the bag and the box sidewall, with provision that the flaps have been correctly folded and positioned.
With such arrangement, a user may have difficulty to accurately position the flaps or the annular frame. Additionally, the need for large flaps (useless for the purpose of storing the food product that is contained entirely inside the box) can significantly increase the bulk of the gusset bag before integration in the box.
Documents JP2012197105A, JP2012197106A, JP2012197107A, JP2012197108A, JP2012197109A and JP2012197110A also relate to refillable food pouches that are maintained in a rigid box. At the top of the box, a specific insert is used to obtain a wide opening of the pouch and a cover can close the top access opening defined by the insert.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a reclosable packaging which gives the content of the packaging good protection every time the lid is closed and which is efficiently refillable.
To this end, embodiments of the invention provide a packaging for a food product comprising:
- an outer container longitudinally extending about a central axis from a bottom to an upper face having an opening, the outer container having a peripheral upper rim delimiting the opening and a sidewall defining an interior volume of a determined height, the sidewall having two opposite inner faces, preferably planar,
- a closure system comprising a frame which is annular and fixed in a removable manner to the peripheral upper rim, and a lid hinged to the frame to allow movement of the lid between an open position and a closed position, in which the lid closes the opening of the container, the frame comprising an upper fitment part covering the upper rim;
- a gusset bag filled with food product and flexible, comprising a bottom, an upper end adapted to define an opening of the bag at the opposite from the bottom, an annular side wall provided with at least one gusset, preferably two opposite gussets, so that the bag is adapted to unfold from a partially open configuration to a fully open configuration, the sidewall of the outer container having a shape, especially a cross sectional shape, and size matching with the annular side wall of the bag so as to prevent the bag to be eccentrically positioned inside the interior volume (predetermined position of the bag);
wherein the frame further comprises: - an insert part that extends in the interior volume and is radially spaced inwardly from the sidewall of the container, the insert part extending annularly entirely below the upper rim, and
- a plurality of axial guiding extensions that belong to the insert part and configured to engage the bag through the opening of the bag to hold open the bag, the insert part having a notch defined between two of the axial guiding extensions, along one of said two opposite inner faces.
The bag may fully cover the inner face of the bottom and is close to the sidewall of the outer container so as to be either in contact with the two opposite inner faces, or substantially coaxial with the sidewall of the outer container with a small gap at its periphery. More generally it is understood that the bag is sized so that it cannot move significantly in a radial direction, i.e. not more than 5 or 6 mm, preferably less than 4 mm, when put in a storage position in the interior volume. Such small play typically represents less than 9 or 10 percents of the width or equivalent size of the bag as the smaller size of the container is typically greater than 60 mm, preferably greater than 80 mm.
With such arrangement of the closure system, the insert part can efficiently come into contact and push (radially outwards) portions of the bag side wall when mounting the frame, thanks to the axial extensions, without interfering with unfolding of the bag, thanks to the notch. Since the bag side wall has substantially the same shape has the container near the bottom, there is no particular requirement for any centering of the bag. The top of the side wall of the bag has not to be particularly stretched or folded more than the reminder of the side wall, which is of interest to prevent undesirable cracks in the bag material.
Additionally, the amount of plastic material to form the insert part is reduced as the notch typically defines a significant spacing between two axial extensions of a same side. This spacing may be superior to 30 mm near the free edges of the axial extensions.
When the bag and the container have a polygonal shape, for example a rectangular shape, the guiding axial extensions may be provided each with an angled free edge in order to guide each upper edges of the bag in a peripheral area that is defined between the insert part and the top of the container. The bag is typically a gusseted pre-made bag so that planar outer faces in the side wall are easy to obtain, such outer faces matching with the corresponding inner faces of the container. It should be understood that the wording “partially open configuration” may correspond to a free configuration where the opening is close to its size when the bag is configured in a fully open state. Thus the term “partially open” may simply be interpreted as “not fully open” (typically not sufficiently open to have a regular gap between the top of the bag and the container).
In accordance with a particular feature, at least one of the two opposite inner faces is defined by a panel in contact with the upper fitment part and extends between two connections (preferably curved) that each define an angle, preferably of about 90°, between two adjacent panels of the sidewall of the outer container.
In accordance with a particular feature, the sidewall of the outer container is defined by four panels interconnected at respective connections that extend each rectilinearly from the bottom to an angle of the peripheral upper rim, while the annular side wall of the bag is provided with four edges and has a predetermined periphery sized and shaped so that each of the edges is at less than about 3 mm from one of the connections when the bag is stored in the interior volume and the upper rim is engaged into a groove of the fitment part. With such arrangement, positioning the bag is intuitive and easy and the upper edges of the bag can be positioned as a lining that covers the inner face of the container sidewall. Since the bag is hold in a fully open state by the insert part (with the side wall of the bag thus longitudinally extending with a same small radial spacing with respect to the container), risk of folding the bag is prevented when retrieving the food content.
In accordance with a particular feature, one of the axial guiding extensions extends between two notches from a base adjacent to a determined hole, such hole not intersected by the central axis being delimited by a part of the frame that is entirely covered by the lid in the closed configuration of the lid. This determined hole is typically delimited by a retaining device for a measuring utensil and is preferably circular. The axial guiding extension adjacent to the determined hole may optionally have a C-shape or L-shape section when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis.
In accordance with a particular feature, the notch extends between two planar portions of two axial extensions that are angled to have each a L-shape section when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. This configuration of the axial extensions is well adapted to prevent undesirable folding (of the bag) near the angles of the outer container, especially when the packaging has a polygonal shape with angles of about 90°.
In accordance with a particular feature, the insert part comprises four bridge portions each tapering toward the bottom with small deviation as compared to the central axis, said small deviation being preferably inferior or equal to 10°, each of the four bridge portions comprising:
-
- a notch extending between two axial guiding extensions; and
- an arched section that extends above the notch, between the two axial guiding extensions.
The curved edge of the arched section may delimit all or part of the notch and may have a more or less pronounced curvature.
Optionally, the insert part has four substantially planar outer faces, each arched section defining a midsection of said outer faces of the insert part
In accordance with a particular feature, the insert part is such that the following relation is satisfied:
H−H2<5 mm<H1
where
- H1 is the maximum height of the insert part,
- H2 is a height of the flexible gusset bag in the fully open configuration, and
- H is the determined height of the interior volume.
The height H2 is measured from a bottom part of the bag that is typically planar and in contact with the food content. The bag in the open state thus does not extend beyond the opening of the container and difference in height (as compared to the level of the container opening) can be lower than about 4 or 5 mm, preferably about 2 or 3 mm. With such small difference in height and as the insert part (by definition) is received inside the volume of the bag, with a sufficient height, the bag cannot vertically escape from the fully open configuration. More generally, having a small radial play (less than 2 or 3 mm) and a small axial play for the bag is advantageous to prevent significant deformation of the bag side wall (or any change in relative position between the bag and the insert part) when the whole packaging is turned upside down.
As the bag may be typically maintained without any fold or any collapse at the top side (the side wall of the bag having a shape matching with the inner face of the rigid container), a partly or fully transparent box could also advantageously be used with a satisfactory display of information marked on the outer faces of the bag side wall.
In some variants, height of the bag may be lower, providing that the insert part is of greater height and/or the container is provided with one or more holding members or similar adjusting means for supporting the bag at a distance from the level of the bottom.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, use is furthermore made of at least one of the following arrangements:
- the bag and the container have each a polygonal shape, preferably a rectangular shape, the axial guiding extensions being provided each with an angled free edge in order to guide each upper edges of the bag in a peripheral upper area that is defined between the insert part and an upper part of the container, entirely above the angled free edges in a fitted configuration of the fitment part (typically, each branch of the angled free edge is at least longer than 10 mm).
- the insert part comprises four axial guiding extensions that are entirely located inside a virtual cuboid, which has a rectangular first section inferior or equal to a rectangular second section defined by the bottom of the bag (peripheral rectangular edge of the bottom of the bag).
- the insert part is provided with a first notch and a second notch at the opposite from the first notch, each of the first notch and the second notch being wider than high, the bag comprising two opposite gussets that unfold through the first notch and the second notch, respectively.
- the packaging further comprises a measuring utensil having a cup and a handle, the measuring utensil being received by a retaining device in a storage position, in which the handle extends entirely above the insert part (with such storage position, typically a horizontal position, the measuring utensil can extend above the food content and does not interfere with the axial guiding extensions of the insert part).
- the first notch is at least partly adjacent to the cup in the storage position, the retaining device being connected to a first side of the frame, the second notch extending proximate to a second side of the frame which is parallel to the first side of the frame (accordingly, the cup is hold at a distance from the central axis of the container, while the handle to be catched by the user can intersect this central axis or extend close to this central axis).
- the bag has an inner face provided with at least one initially energized annular elastic tape interfering with the two gussets, configured to deform radially outwards (because of its energized state and its shape memory) so that the bag automatically unfolds from an initial partially open configuration to another configuration that is close or identical to the fully open configuration (the bag, which is typically a refill initially provided with a closing band at the top, can reach the fully open configuration more easily with such biasing effect obtained after removal of the closing band).
- in the storage position, the cup is entirely offset with respect to a virtual median plane of the container which intersects the first notch and the second notch.
- the frame comprises an annular transition part between the insert part and the fitment part, the transition part tapering downwardly and defining a concave surface facing outwardly (the curvature of the annular transition part is suitable to push the upper edges radially outwards rather than crush downwardly such upper edges; besides, such transition part is of interest to provide an efficient guiding effect by the insert part without exerting a vertical pushing effect or undesirable tearing action).
- the annular transition part has a radial extension (measured from the junction with the fitment part) that is greater than a maximum of radial extension of the insert part.
- in the fully open configuration, the flexible bag defines an upper face that is facing or is in contact with a continuously curved outer surface that connects tangentially with an annular outer surface defined by the insert part, the curved outer surface having an upper portion adjacent to a groove in which the upper rim is engaged.
- the frame comprises a levelling element provided with two opposite ends and a rigid free edge that extends transversally to the central axis, between the two opposite ends, the levelling element being adjacent to a same axial guiding extension at each of the two opposite ends.
- the frame comprises at least one resilient sealing element more flexible than the axial extensions (preferably an annular gasket) to define one or more radial contacts between the bag—at an upper part thereof—and the frame.
- the two opposite inner faces are less spaced in an area proximate the bottom of the container, so as to have less interspace between the bag and the container in a lower part of the interior volume.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, which is given by way of non-restrictive example with reference to the figures, in which:
In the various figures, identical reference numerals designate identical or similar elements.
It should be noted that the following detailed description and illustration are directed to a packaging 1 including a box and a flexible gusset pouch or similar bag B that is not resealable (not tightly closed after removal of a top portion), the packaging being well adapted for easy retrieval of the food product contained in the bag B. A variety of products may be contained in the bag B, preferably food products such as powdered milk, dry or powdered beverages, dry soups, coffee, tea, whey powder or the like, butter milk powder, spices, and other flowable solid food products.
Referring to
The cross section perpendicular to the central axis X of the container 2 may be basically rectangular with rounded corners. It ensures vertical strength of the packagings 1 when stacked.
When the sidewall 4 of the container 2 has a rectangular cross section, two opposite inner faces F1, F2 are defined by planar panels and the distance between these inner faces F1, F2 may correspond to a width of the interior volume V. The determined height H, here measured from a planar inner face F3 of the bottom 20 to the top face is preferably between 120 and 190 mm to provide the normal volume for boxes intended to contain infant powdered milk. It is therefore a relatively deep container whose opening 21 must be made as wide as possible to avoid difficulty with extracting powder from close to the bottom 20 of the container 2. In addition, this wide opening 21 allows a measuring utensil 100 to be used to pick up the powder or similar food content 5.
Because of this basically rectangular cross section, shown in
Without implying any restriction, the container 2 may be made as a single thermally blow-moulded plastic component. The plastic is preferably a multilayer composite forming a highly effective oxygen barrier where used for a food content 5 such as powdered milk, but the container 2 could of course be produced in some other material, especially metal or a multilayer cartonboard.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the bag B can be a mono-web construction of a film. But in preferred embodiments, the front wall W1, the rear wall W2 and the bottom 8a are obtained by assembling at least two different parts. In such case, the bag B includes several seal areas to seal the parts together (e.g., with heat-sealed parts). In a particular embodiment of the present invention as shown in
The film material used to form the bag B can be plastic, such as low, medium or high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester (PET), polyamide or any other material that is commonly used in the packaging industry, copolymers, or blends thereof. The film material can be a single layer cast or blown film, a multi-layer coextrusion or laminate. The film material can also include one or more layers of paper, metal foil, vacuum deposited metal or inorganic layer of aluminium or silicon oxide and/or a polymer barrier layer, such as ethylene vinyl alcohol or polyvinylidene chloride. These examples are non limiting examples.
It is an important aspect that the material is flexible and capable of allowing a gusset 9a and/or 9b to be formed. Here, the two opposite gussets 9a, 9b are provided adjacent to the wide opening 11. The bag B is therefore a gusset bag. The upper end defined by the upper edges 7 is adapted to define an opening 11 substantially as wide as the bottom 8a, typically with the same shape as the bottom 8a. Besides, if the film is a multi-layer film, it is preferred that at least the inner layer of the bag B is a heat sealable layer.
Referring to
In other words, the content 5 (powdered milk or other granular or powdery product for example) is perfectly preserved in the bag B until used for the first time when the top peripheral edge (here defined by the closing band 10) is removed, optionally with the aid of one or more peeling-off tongues, tearing tongues, weakened areas or the like.
Referring to
Here, as simple cut along the dash line (a rectilinear dash line in this non limiting example as shown in
Inside the bag B, the initial level of the food content 5, typically powder material, corresponds to a height H3 that is significantly lower than a predetermined height H2 of the bag B when the bag B is in a fully open configuration (as shown in
Now referring to
While the interior volume V is here illustrated as fully matching with the outer shape of the container 2, it is understood that such interior volume V can be adjusted depending on specific configuration inside the container 2. The height H2 of the bag B is inferior to the determined height H so that the upper rim 21a extends entirely above the upper edges 7 of the bag B. The annular side wall 8 of the bag B has a shape matching with the sidewall 4 of the outer container 2 so as to prevent the bag B to be eccentrically positioned inside the interior volume V. In other words, the position of the bag B with respect to the container 2 before fixing the frame 31 is a predetermined position. As clearly apparent from
The closure system 3 is here provided with an annular fitment part 13 that comprises a peripheral groove G, in which the upper rim 21a is fitted (the annular projection defined by the top 2a being here received in the groove G). The fitment part 13 is here configured as a top part of an annular frame 31 that surrounds the opening 21.
The closure system 3 also comprises a lid 32 hinged to the frame 31 to allow movement of the lid 32 between an open position and a closed position. The frame 31 is thus directly fixed in a removable and tight manner to the peripheral upper rim 21a, while the lid 32 closes the opening 21 of the container 2 when engaged with the fitment part 13 of the frame 31. The lid 32 comprises a top wall 33 and is provided with a circumferential side wall 34 extending from the top wall 33 and an interior skirt 36 regularly spaced from the circumferential side wall so as to define with the side wall 34 a continuous groove CG. With such configuration, the fitment part 13 may be received in the continuous groove CG. The inner face of the fitment part 13 may optionally be in radial contact with the interior skirt 36 in the closed position of the lid 32 (the interior skirt 36 pressing at least partially against such inner face of the annular fitment part), so as to prevent the food content 5 (in a powder form for example) to accumulate in a lid-frame contact area 25. Here as illustrated in
The top wall 33 is here substantially planar to reduce the height of the lid 32. The frame 31 is provided with an insert part 35 optionally making the frame 31 higher than the lid 32. The lid 32 and the frame 31 are articulated together via a connection that allows the lid 32 to be moved with respect to the frame 31 and to the container 2 between an open position depicted in
The connection in this instance is a hinged connection 16 (typically one or more living hinges) in which the axis of pivoting is perpendicular to the central axis X. In the embodiment depicted, it is a plastic hinge 16 formed by a fold line, which allows the lid 32 and the frame 31 to be produced as a single component. This is a component obtained by injecting a plastic, such as polypropylene for example, into a mould. However, the hinged connection 16 could of course be obtained using two separate components assembled with one another, and it is equally possible to provide some other form of connection between the frame 31 and the lid 32.
Referring to
While the depicted embodiments show a central axis X, which is a symmetry axis for the container 2 and for the frame 31, of course other configurations may be used, depending on the geometry of the container sidewall 4. The frame 31 has not necessarily the same shape has the section of the interior volume V. In optional embodiments with partitioning elements, the sidewall 4 that surrounds the interior volume V for receiving the bag B may correspond to a part of the container side periphery and includes a partitioning element used to define the upper rim 21a.
Referring to
Now referring to
The bag B, filled with the food content 5, open and stored in the interior volume V, is in contact with the bottom 20 of the container 2 and cannot substantially move because of the small play between the side wall 8 and all or part of the inner faces of the sidewall 4 of the container 2. Indeed, the annular side wall 8 has here a shape matching with the sidewall 4. The bag B thus cannot be eccentrically positioned inside the interior volume V. In some options, the lower part 40 that is preferably of lower height H4 than height H3 is configured to locally reduce or suppress the small gap around the bag B (reduction of size in the lower part 90 of the interior volume V). It is thus understood that the container 2 is configured to define a predetermined position for the bag B having the opening 11 facing upwardly.
In this configuration without the closure system 3 fitted onto the upper rim 21a, the bag B is typically not in a fully open configuration. Each of the panels of the sidewall 4 extends between two connections 6 that each correspond to an angle, preferably of about 90° as shown in the depicted embodiments. When such kind of angle is defined between two adjacent panels of the container 2, it is understood that the corresponding corner portions of the bag B (stored in the interior volume V) cannot be sufficiently close to the connections 6. Indeed, significant folds or recessed parts (typically at the gussets 9a, 9b) are typically formed, as shown in
The flexible side wall 8, here because of the gussets 9a, 9b, can unfold from a partially open configuration to a fully open configuration, providing that the upper edges 7 are displaced (under a pressing action) and held in position away from the central axis X and along the sidewall 4 of the container 2. For this purpose, the frame 31 comprises an insert part 35 that extends in the interior volume V when the fitment part 13 is covering the upper rim 21a with a tight annular contact, and which is intended to be received inside the bag B (above the level of the food content 5). In
The insert part 35 is radially spaced inwardly with respect to the sidewall 4 of the container 2, such spacing being here obtained because of an annular transition part 38 that interconnects the insert part 35 (interior part of the frame 31) and the fitment part 13 (exterior part of the frame 31).
The annular transition part 38 can be radially connected to the fitment part 13 as shown in
-
- the tight contact at the groove G;
- the continuous contact at the groove CG, preferably using an interior skirt 36;
and if the packaging 1 is turned upside down, the food content 5 will necessarily return inside the bag B (after, in normal position) because the powder or content particles cannot be displaced beyond the concave surface S38, due to the pressing contact between the top peripheral part of the bag B (at the upper edges 7, such top is in a stretched condition) and the frame 31 (at the continuous transition part 38 and/or at the continuous annular upper end of the insert part 35).
In order to improve the radial contact, the frame 31 may comprise at least one resilient sealing element (not shown) more flexible than the axial extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 and protruding radially outwards from the outer faces F5, below the fitment part 13. An annular gasket or similar annular resilient element, which is preferably provided near the transition part 38 (and typically entirely above the notches 61, 62, 63, 64), defines one or more radial contacts between the bag B and the frame 31. Such resilient element may be curved or angled to facilitate insertion of the insert part 35 through the opening 11.
Referring to
The insert part 35 is provided with a plurality of axial guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 configured to engage the bag B through the opening 11. When mounting the closure system 3 with the bag B already extending in the interior volume V, the insert part 35 is sufficiently spaced from the container sidewall 4 to allow the upper edges 7 of the bag B to completely surround the skirt-like insert part 35 with a small play. The guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 are engaging, through the opening 11, the top of the bag B at opposite inner parts (corners or opposite sides). Due to the pressing action of the guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4, in the fitted configuration of the closure system 3, these localized parts of the bag B are firstly displaced outwards and then held in a stationary and adjacent position with respect to the respective inner faces of the container 2.
The axial guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 are not stretching or tensing the side wall 8 of the bag B beyond a virtual cuboid that is defined by the bottom 8a of the bag B. Accordingly, when the frame 31 is in a mounted state as shown in
The axial guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 have a height H1 that is greater than length of the each of the two lower rectilinear edge portions defined at the free end (L-shaped free edge FE) of the guiding axial extension E1, E2, E3, E4. Such height H1 may optionally correspond to a maximum height of the insert part 31 and is typically comprised between 5 and 40 mm.
A polygonal shape with at least four angles for both the sidewall 4 and the side wall 8 of the bag B is preferred because the inner faces of the container 2 may be substantially planar and the axial guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 may be each provided with one planar guiding section or two planar guiding sections 28, 29 configured with a L-shape when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis (X). The upper edges 7 defined at each side of the bag B are thus held in a substantially rectilinear position, without significant undulations in a transverse plane (no folding perceived by the user). Angle of the L-shape may be not inferior to 90°, which is of interest to provide a guiding effect in two distinct directions by a same member of the insert part 35. Each axial guiding extension E1, E2, E3, E4 is provided with a curved midsection 67 (
The transition part 38 is longitudinally curved to be tangentially connected to the insert part 35 that has a small radial deviation as compared to the longitudinal axis X. But such small deviation is of interest to progressively increase the pressing toward the inner faces F1, F2 of the container sidewall 4. It can be seen that the axial extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 are each less slanted than the transition part 38. The higher deviation of the transition part 38 and the substantially continuous curvature (with no horizontal surface) of the transition part 38 is here advantageous to prevent powder to accumulate on the transition part 38, i.e. out of the bag B.
When the polygonal shape is a rectangular or square shape, the sidewall 4 of the container 2 is defined by four panels interconnected at the respective connections 6 that extend each rectilinearly from the bottom 20 to an angle 211, 212, 213, 214 of the peripheral upper rim 21a, as in the non-limiting embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiments, the insert part 35 may comprise four bridge portions 66 interconnected by the axial guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4. When the guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 have a L-shape section, the insert part 35 defines four substantially planar outer faces F5. Each of the bridge portions 66 (or similar notched part) tapers toward the bottom 20 with small deviation as compared to the direction of the central axis X. Such small deviation (see
Each of the four bridge portions 66 here comprises:
- a notch 61, 62, 63, 64 extending between two axial guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 (for example the notch 63 extends on same side as and between the two extensions E1 and E4); and
- an arched section AS that extends above the notch 61, 62, 63, 64, between the two axial guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4.
It can be seen that each arched section AS may define a midsection of one of the respective outer faces F5 of the insert part 35. With such configuration with four notches 61, 62, 63, 64, each midsection of the upper edges 7 (here it can be seen that at least the shorter sides have a V-profile before the pressing) is pressed only at the end or nearly the end of the mounting of the frame 31 and the upper edges 7 of the bag B may be held in a substantially rectilinear position, along the planar outer faces F5 at the end of the unfolding.
In the non limiting embodiment of
The almost vertical configuration of the axial extensions E1, E2, E3, E4 is also advantageous because the insert part 35 does not obstruct the bag access. Only the optional retaining device 60 for receiving a measuring utensil 100 protrudes toward the central axis X, as shown in
In some options, the bag B has an inner circumference provided with an initially energized annular elastic tape 65 (shown in
Now referring to
Here, the small radial gap between the inner face of the container 2 and the upper half of the bag B is substantially constant because the upper edges 7 are not excessively stretched radially outwards. The change of geometrical conformation as illustrated at the top of
The insert part 35 has a maximum height H1, which is of course lower than the determined height H of the interior volume V, and typically inferior to 30 mm. In preferred embodiments, the following relation is satisfied:
H−H2<5 mm<H1
where H2 is the predetermined height of the flexible gusset bag B in the fully open configuration. Referring to
When the packaging 1 is turned upside down, it is understood that a mass of food content 5 accumulates inside the volume defined by the closure system 3 and around the insert part 35. Here with a bag B having the height H2 as shown in
Of course, the insert part 35 may be configured with a reduced number of notches and/or have a difference in height for at least one side of the insert part 35. More generally, the insert part 35 is provided with one or two notches 61, 62, defined between two of the axial guiding extensions E1, E2, E3, E4, and extending along one of the two opposite inner faces F1, F2 (here along the short sides 22c, 22d of the container 2). When having only one notch 62 and two gussets 9a, 9b, it may be easier to slightly tilt the frame 31 toward the side 31c without notch, so that this side 31c will push a first gusset 9a toward the corresponding face F1 or F2. Then the second gusset 9b that is less pressed than the first gusset 9a can unfold through the notch 62.
The notch 61, 62, 63, 64 opens downwardly and is preferably not divided into several slots or thin longitudinal notches. Such notch 61, 62, 63, 64 can be obtained when molding the frame 31 or by a cutting operation. Of course the term “notch” should not be interpreted in a restricted manner, as understood by one skilled in the art.
Now, the arrangement of a device for interacting with a measuring utensil 100 will be described with reference to
With regard to the measuring utensil 100 as illustrated in
When sold with the packaging 1, the measuring utensil 100 may be initially wrapped in a bag, inside the interior volume V and/or below the top wall 33 of the lid 32 or in a separated bag fastened onto an outer surface of the container 2. At least after the first opening of the closure system 3, the measuring utensil 100 can be received through a hole 60a in a retaining device 60 that is formed on the frame 31, and preferably integrally formed with the frame 31. This hole 60a is sized to retain the cup 101. The retaining device 60 is here integrally formed with the closure system 3 and extends between at least one base portion connected to the short side 31c and at least one free edge 72 that is optionally configured as a part of a levelling element 70. The retaining device 60 here extends substantially perpendicular to the central axis X. Referring to
As shown in
In a first embodiment as shown in
Here the first notch 61 is at least partly adjacent to the cup 101 in the storage position. The cup 101 may extend along an axial guiding extension E4, proximate to the junction between the sort side 22c and the long side 22b. The retaining device 60 may be connected to a first side 31c of the frame 31 and optionally to another side adjacent to the first side 31c. When the insert part 35 is provided with two opposite notches 61, 62, the second notch 62 may extend proximate to a second side 31d of the frame 31 which is parallel to the first side 31c. The handle 102 extends from the cup 101 toward such second side 31d.
In order to have the upper face of the lid 32 close to the opening plane defined by the upper rim, the lid 32 is of a substantially flat configuration and is provided with a top wall 33 defining a planar upper face, along which the measuring utensil 100 extends in the storage position. Here the levelling edge 72 is curved.
It can be seen that distance D4 between the hole 60a and the upper rim 21a is typically lower than maximum height H1 of each axial extension E1, E2, E3, E4 and lower than the characteristic size D3 (inner diameter for example) of the hole 60a. A distance D4 lower than 10 mm, preferably lower than 5 or 6 mm may be provided, which means that the interspace D2 between a free edge FE and the outer container 2 can be typically less than 3 or 4 mm. The distance D5 between the hole 60a and the central axis X may thus be of at least 20 or 30 mm, which is of interest for levelling operation (easy access and no need to tilt the measuring utensil 100 more than 45°, even when such utensil has a length similar or greater than the opening size along the short sides 22c, 22d of the container 2—see
While
In the variant shown in
In the variant illustrated in
-
- firmly secured to the container 2 on the one hand (and there is no particular requirement for attaching a part of the lid 32 to the container 2);
- easy to remove from the container by a specific pushing action simultaneously under two of the corner parts defined by the frame 31 on a same side (such pushing action releasing the corresponding inner reliefs 39 on the same side, to obtain a disengaged position), the closure system 3 being then removed by simply pivoting the frame 31 relative to the outer collar 2c of the container 2 (the other inner reliefs 39 on opposite side, typically the hinge side, being released due to the rotation effect).
As in any of the preceding depicted embodiments, an engagement rim 18′ is provided for locking the closed configuration of the lid 32 (lid not shown in
The frame 31 shown in
Here, the notches 62 and 64 are less pronounced that the corresponding notches in the other depicted embodiments. Additionally or alternatively, the axial extensions E1, E2, E3 are slightly more slanted than in the examples of
It can be seen in
In these different embodiments, the handle 102 is easy to catch and there is no need to touch the measuring utensil 100 at or near the cup 101. The handle 102 of the measuring utensil 100 extends in a plane of the opening 21 or above the upper rim 21a, which means that the consumer fingers will not touch the inner faces of the bag when catching the measuring utensil 100. This centered position of the handle 100, outside the bag B, is advantageous to avoid contacts that would tend to spoil the food content 5.
The packaging 1 may thus combine several features without impairing efficiency of the closure and it can be reused with a new bag B filled with content 5, after removal of the empty bag. The handling of the frame 31 of the closure system 3 is not troublesome and there is no need to place fingers inside the new bag.
Clearly, the embodiments described above are not restrictive in any way, and numerous variants as to the geometry of the parts making up the container 2 and the closure system 3 are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.
For instance, while the closure system 3 is here described as made of a single piece of molded plastic, it is understood that an assembly of two or more elements can be used to define the closure system. More generally, it will be obvious that the use of the verb “to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of any other elements besides those defined in any claim.
The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. Any reference sign in the following claims should not be construed as limiting the claim.
Of course, the inner circumference of the container 2 is not necessarily sized exactly as the annular side wall 8 of the bag B so as to provide a tight fit of the bag B inside the outer container. A global fit is sufficient and the inner circumference of the container 2 is, more generally, adapted to guide the annular side wall 8 of the bag B so as to locate the bag B in a predetermined position inside the interior volume V.
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A packaging for a food product comprising: wherein the bag is located in a predetermined position inside the interior volume when surrounded by the sidewall of the outer container, the bag having an opening facing upwardly at the opposite from the bottom in the predetermined position, and wherein the lid is hinged to the frame to allow movement of the lid between an open position and the closed position, the frame further comprising:
- an outer container longitudinally extending about a central axis from a bottom to an upper face having an opening, the outer container having a peripheral upper rim delimiting the opening and a sidewall defining an interior volume of a determined height, the sidewall having two opposite inner faces,
- a closure system comprising a frame which is annular and fixed in a removable manner to the peripheral upper rim, and a lid which closes the opening of the outer container in a closed position, the frame comprising an upper fitment part covering the upper rim; and
- a gusset bag filled with food product and flexible, comprising a bottom, an upper end adapted to define an opening of the bag at the opposite from the bottom, an annular side wall provided with at least one gusset, so that the bag is adapted to unfold from a partially open configuration to a fully open configuration;
- an insert part that extends in the interior volume and is radially spaced inwardly from the sidewall of the outer container, the insert part extending annularly entirely below the upper rim,
- a plurality of axial guiding extensions that belong to the insert part and configured to engage the bag through the opening of the bag to hold open the bag, the insert part having a notch defined between two of the axial guiding extensions, along one of said two opposite inner faces.
19. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the two opposite inner faces) is formed by a panel in contact with the upper fitment part and extends between two connections that each define an angle between two adjacent panels of the sidewall of the outer container.
20. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the sidewall of the outer container is defined by four panels interconnected at respective connections that extend each rectilinearly from the bottom to an angle of the peripheral upper rim, while the annular side wall of the bag is provided with four edges and has a predetermined periphery sized and shaped so that each of the edges is at less than 3 mm from one of the connections when the bag is stored in the interior volume and the upper rim is engaged into a groove of the upper fitment part.
21. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the notch extends between two planar portions of two axial extensions that are angled to have each a L-shape section when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis.
22. The packaging according to claim 21, wherein the insert part comprises four bridge portions each tapering toward the bottom with a deviation angle as compared to the central axis, the deviation angle being inferior or equal to 10°, and wherein each of the four bridge portions comprises:
- a notch extending between two axial guiding extensions;
- an arched section that extends above the notch, between the two axial guiding extensions.
23. The packaging according to claim 22, wherein the insert part has four planar outer faces, each arched section defining a midsection of said outer faces of the insert part.
24. The packaging according to claim 21, wherein the insert part comprises four axial guiding extensions.
25. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the insert part has a maximum height lower than the determined height, the following relation being satisfied: where
- H—H2<5 mm<H1
- H1 is the maximum height of the insert part,
- H2 is a height of the flexible gusset bag in the fully open configuration, and
- H is the determined height of the interior volume, measured between the bottom of the outer container and the opening of the outer container.
26. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the bag and the outer container have each a polygonal shape, the axial guiding extensions being provided each with an angled free edge in order to guide each upper edges of the bag in a peripheral upper area that is defined between the insert part and an upper part of the outer container, entirely above the angled free edges in a fitted configuration of the upper fitment part.
27. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the insert part is provided with a first notch and a second notch at the opposite from the first notch, each of the first notch and the second notch being wider than high, the bag comprising two opposite gussets that unfold by engaging through the first notch and the second notch, respectively.
28. The packaging according to claim 27, further comprising: wherein the first notch is at least partly adjacent to the cup in the storage position, the retaining device being connected to a first side of the frame, the second notch extending proximate to a second side of the frame which is parallel to the first side of the frame.
- a measuring utensil having a cup and a handle; and
- a retaining device for storing the measuring utensil in a storage position, in which the handle extends entirely above the insert part,
29. The packaging according to claim 27, wherein the bag has an inner face provided with at least one initially energized annular elastic tape in a folded configuration of the gussets when the opening of the bag is closed by a detachable closing band, the elastic tape extending transversally with respect to the gussets and being configured to deform radially outwards when the closing band is detached so that the bag automatically unfolds from an initial partially open configuration to another configuration that is close or identical to the fully open configuration.
30. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the frame comprises an annular transition part between the insert part and the upper fitment part, the transition part tapering downwardly and defining a concave surface facing outwardly.
31. The packaging according to claim 30, wherein the frame comprises a retaining device that extends perpendicular to the central axis and provided with a hole, the retaining device being directly connected to the annular transition part.
32. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the frame comprises a levelling element provided with: the levelling element being adjacent to a same axial guiding extension of the axial guiding extensions at each of the two opposite ends.
- a rigid free edge that extends transversally to the central axis, and
- two opposite ends,
33. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the lid comprises an interior skirt pressing at least partially against an inner face of the upper fitment part in the closed position to prevent food content to accumulate in a lid-frame contact area.
34. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the two opposite inner faces are less spaced in an area proximate the bottom of the outer container, so as to have less interspace between the bag and the outer container in a lower part of the interior volume.
35. The packaging according to claim 18, wherein the annular side wall of the bag is provided with two opposite gussets, the bag and the outer container having each a rectangular shape, the insert part being provided with a first notch and a second notch, each of the first notch and the second notch being:
- wider than high;
- intersected by a virtual median plane of the outer container, the central axis being included in the virtual median plane.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 5, 2016
Publication Date: Jul 5, 2018
Applicant: Compagnie Gervais Danone (Paris)
Inventor: Patrick VANDAMME (Saint Maurice De Gourdans)
Application Number: 15/740,206