Snap Container for Pre-Portioned Product and Related Methods

Abstract

A container for packaging a pre-portioned amount of liquid or dry product is provided that includes a one-piece outer casing defining an interior reservoir. The outer casing has a cylindrical shell that is closed at one end by a rounded tip and open at the opposing end with an open circular outer edge/rim defining a mouth. To fill the container, the product is introduced through the mouth into the interior reservoir; then opposing edges of the rim are compressed together and sealed with heat to create an elongated seal having two opposing ends. Multiple types of elongated seals are provided. In one aspect the outer casing is formed unitarily of a plastic resin. To open the container, the consumer squeezes the two opposing seal ends/termini toward each other; this deforms the elongated seal and causes the seal to snap open, which allows access to the product.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/809,460, filed on Feb. 22, 2019, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to packing, storing, handling, and then accessing a product, and, more particularly, to a one-piece packaging container, which contains a pre-portioned amount of liquid or dry product, and which can be manually snapped open to access the product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pre-portioned containers are becoming increasingly popular due to the convenience they provide for the manufacturer and retailer in packing, storing, and handling a product and for the consumer in transporting the container and in accessing the product. Particularly, pre-portioned containers are an improvement over using a dropper bottle or a measuring cup to portion out the product.

Pre-portioned containers are available in a variety of types. Single servings of edible products such as butter or jelly are available in a tub-like container with a plastic or foil seal across the top of the tub. Pre-portioned containers for brewable herbs, such as tea leaves and herbal mixtures, include tea bags with a foil or paper outer wrap. Single servings of some beverages are commonly packaged in a beverage pod containing coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or other beverage mixtures. Some products, such as single-servings of vitamins, minerals, botanical matter, or herbal mixtures, are packaged in a sealed foil or plastic pouch; the end may be cut off to dispense the product or both the end and one side may be cut off to create a shelf or canoe-shape from which the product may be poured.

However, previously provided pre-portioned containers have one or more limitations. Some containers fail to preserve the freshness of product well. For example, paper outer wrappers for tea bags do not keep out the air and humidity, so freshness is reduced. Most are not robust enough to transport in a pocket, purse, or bag. For example, tea bags are damaged when carried in a pocket or bag, and the small tub-like containers merely have a piece of foil or film adhered to the top of the tub, which is not substantial enough for transport in personal pockets and bags without the likelihood of leakage or spillage. Other pre-portioned containers cannot be opened manually without the use of a tool. For example, a foil pouch may require the consumer to obtain scissors for opening; it would be more convenient and efficient to allow the consumer to open the container without requiring a separate tool. Some types of pre-portioned containers are not easy or fast to open.

Though various attempts have been made to overcome the limitations of the containers of the prior art, often the attempt to mitigate one problem worsens other problems. For example, if the container is made of a thicker material, it may preserve freshness longer, but this may increase the difficulty of opening and increase the time required to open the container.

Accordingly, there is a need for a product container that is configured to hold a pre-portioned amount of product, that is designed to keep the product fresh, that is robust enough to transport in a pocket or bag, that is fast and easy to open, and that can be opened without a tool.

The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a container for receiving, storing, handling, and accessing a pre-portioned amount of product. The container is formed from a one-piece outer casing that defines an interior reservoir. The outer casing comprises a cylindrical shell with a closed first end and an open (until sealing) second end. A rounded tip is disposed at and closes the first end. The opposing open second end circular open edge or rim defines a mouth.

To fill the container, the product is introduced through the open mouth to fill a portion of the interior reservoir, which includes filling the rounded tip and partially filling the cylindrical body.

To secure the product within the container, which is preferably formed of a plastic material, opposing edges of the outer rim are compressed together and heated to fuse portions of the opposing edges of the outer rim to create a thin, elongated seal. The elongated seal incorporates both the right and left portions of the rim to form a thin lengthwise fused seam that terminates on opposing ends at a first seal terminus and an opposing second seal terminus.

To open the snap container holding the pre-portioned product, the consumer places a thumb on the first seal terminus and a finger on the opposing second seal terminus and applies pressure. The pressure is applied in a squeezing motion that causes the middle portion of the elongated seam to deform (the middle generally deforms downwardly). Upon application of sufficient pressure, the seal bursts, and the container snaps open; the container again has an open mouth at the top of the cylindrical body. The product can then be poured out of the container through the restored open mouth.

The casing is formed of a synthetic or processed plastic material that can be molded into shape while soft and then sets into a slightly elastic form. After sealing, the container provides a substantially airtight seal due to the material used to form the casing and due to the integrity of the seal.

The product enclosed within the container may be a liquid material or dry material. Liquids that may be enclosed include energy shots, flavorings, aromatics or perfumes, natural or processed oils, essential oils, bath oils, tinctures, elixirs, liquid plant derivatives, liquid vitamin mixtures, liquid mineral mixtures, liquid medicines, and the like. The dry material that can be packaged in the container includes, for example, powders, crystals, plant-derived materials (leaves, flowers, stems, roots, bark, seeds, herbs, brewable material (coffee, tea, herbs, etc.), smokable material, etc.), animal-derived materials (bouillon granules, powdered milk, fish oil, etc.), vitamins, minerals, food products (creamer, citrus powder, flavorings, etc.), bath salts, plant fertilizer, non-liquid medicines, and the like. A single product type may be packaged in a single container, or a mixture of multiple product types may be package in a single container.

An exemplary machine for sealing the snap containers is also disclosed herein.

The snap container provides several advantages over the prior art. One advantage is the portability of the sealed container, which is due to at least the material used, the strength of the seal, and the compact size of the container. The snap container is small and easily transported in a pocket, purse, or bag so can be readily available for the consumer. The seal is sufficiently robust to handle the jostling in a pocket or bag.

Another advantage is that the seal is easy and fast to open—and even provides an element of fun and interest to the consumer in snapping the container open. This is accomplished without the need for any tool. It is opened by merely squeezing the thumb and finger together, which causes deformation of the seal, culminating in the bursting of the seal, which creates the popping or snap sound.

A further advantage is that the packaging keeps the product fresh. The product is held securely within the container in a substantially airtight interior reservoir, which prevents the product from becoming stale. The maintenance of freshness until the enclosed product is ready to be used increases consumer satisfaction.

Dosage control is an additional advantage. If each snap container has a known quantity of a mixture, the consumer may selectively choose the desired dosage. For example, if a container holds a known quantity of vitamin C, the consumer may open and use one, two, or more containers in a smoothie drink, thereby controlling the amount or dosage of the vitamin C to be ingested.

An additional advantage is that the snap container enables easy, on-the-go creation of preferred beverages. Carrying a snap container is far lighter and more convenient than carrying a heavy pre-mixed beverage. A concentrated mixture may be contained within the snap container, which may be mixed with water or other liquid when ready to use.

Another advantage is providing the consumer with the ability to customize a mixture. The consumer can mix the pre-portioned amount of a first product from a first small container with the pre-portioned amount of a second product from a second small container to create a custom blend. Additional snap containers can optionally be obtained containing further product types that can further customize the blend. The consumer controls both the type of product and the amount of the product that is used to create the particular customized mixture. For example. if the consumer wants to create a unique-tasting tea, he might select containers with brewable herbs, such as a container of Darjeeling tea, a container of powdered ginger, and a container of cardamom. He can snap open the three containers and pour the three products into a steeping sieve and steep a few minutes to create a cup of tea tailored to his particular taste. As another example, the consumer may choose multiple snap containers of botanical matter that are mixed to create a balanced therapeutic effect, such as a snap container of cannabidiol and a snap container of chamomile. In another example, if the customer wants to create a custom-made pipe tobacco, he can choose containers of smokable material, such as one container of Virginia tobacco mixed with a container of Turkish tobacco to create a personalized blend.

Yet a further advantage of the inventive container is found when the product is a smokable product. In this case, the closed rounded tip at the rear of the cylinder may be used to tamp down the product. In the above example, after emptying the two containers containing different tobaccos and mixing the products to create the custom-made smokable blend, the consumer may turn one container over and use the rounded tip to press the smokable plant matter firmly into the pipe to achieve a better burn.

In one aspect of the invention, after snapping the container open and pouring the product out of the container and into the receiving receptacle, the closed rounded tip of the outer casing may be used to tamp the dispensed product down in the receiving receptacle.

In another aspect of the invention, the outer casing is formed unitarily.

In an additional aspect of the invention, the outer casing is formed of blow-molded plastic.

In a further aspect of the invention, the elongated seal is a T-shaped seal.

In another aspect of the invention, the elongated seal is a crimped seal.

In an additional aspect of the invention, the outer casing is formed of low-density polypropylene.

In another aspect of the invention, the outer casing is formed of a recyclable plastic material.

In a further aspect of the invention, the outer casing is lined with a second material.

In another aspect of the invention, an inner coating is applied to the inside of the outer casing.

In an additional aspect of the invention, the outer casing is formed of a laminated material.

In a further aspect of the invention, the product to be stored in the container is in liquid form.

In another aspect of the invention, the product to be stored in the container is in dry form.

In an additional aspect of the invention, the product to be stored in the container is a brewable material.

In a further aspect of the invention, the product to be stored in the container is a smokable material.

The object of the invention is to provide snap container for enclosing a pre-portioned amount of a liquid or solid product which gives an improved performance over the above described prior art systems and methods.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a snap container having a T-shaped seal of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vertically-oriented snap container having a T-shaped seal of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the snap container of the present invention that includes a T-shaped seal.

FIG. 4 is a cut view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the snap container of the present invention that includes a T-shaped seal.

FIG. 5 is an end view (looking from the first, closed end) of an embodiment of the snap container of the present invention that includes a T-shaped seal.

FIG. 6 is a cut view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 of an embodiment of the snap container of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view (the view is aligned with the lengthwise T-shaped seal) of an embodiment of the snap container of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a snap container having a crimped seal of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an end view (looking from the first, closed, bottom end) of an embodiment of the snap container of the present invention that includes a crimped seal

FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment of the snap container of the present invention that includes a crimped seal.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a vertically-oriented snap container having a linear seal of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view (the view is aligned with the crimped seal) of a vertically-oriented snap container having a linear seal of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cut view taken along lines 13-13 of FIG. 12 of an embodiment of the filled and sealed snap container of the present invention that includes a crimped seal.

FIG. 14 is a cut view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 11 of an embodiment of the filled snap container of the present invention that includes a crimped seal.

FIG. 15 is a top view looking down into the open end of an empty, unsealed container of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an end view of closed end of an unsealed container of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a generally horizontally-oriented snap container with an open mouth and an unsealed rim.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a horizontally-oriented unsealed snap container of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view from the bottom rounded end of an unsealed container of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of a consumer squeezing the two opposing seal termini toward each other to snap open the sealed container of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a side perspective view of a consumer squeezing the two opposing seal termini toward each other, which causes deformation and snaps open the sealed container of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a machine for creating the fused seam of the sealed container of an embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward a one-piece container for packaging a pre-portioned amount of liquid or dry product, toward methods of packing, sealing, and accessing the product, and toward a machine designed for sealing the container. The container is configured to be manually snapped open to allow access to the enclosed product so it can be accessed and dispensed.

The snap container, shown generally as reference number 100, is illustrated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention in FIGS. 1-7 (which illustrate a sealed container with a T-shaped seal), FIGS. 8-14 (which illustrate a sealed container with a crimped seal), FIGS. 15-19 (which illustrate a container before sealing), and FIGS. 20-21 (which illustrate a container being snapped open). As shown, the snap container 100 comprises a one-piece outer casing 150 that forms the outer boundary surrounding an interior reservoir 105 (FIG. 17). The outer casing 150 includes a cylindrical shell or body 130 with a first end and an opposing second end, a closed rounded tip 120 disposed at the first end of the cylindrical body 130, and a rim 140 disposed at the second end. The rim 140 forms an open mouth that provides an entrance to the interior reservoir 105.

The closed rounded tip 120 is preferably not planar or squared off but has the shape of a mound having a central apex 125. The transition 135 between the cylindrical body 130 and the closed rounded tip 120 is preferably smooth.

When the container 100 is positioned with the closed rounded tip 120 oriented downwardly, the rim 140 of the outer casing 150 will be oriented upwardly. Before sealing, the rim 140 comprises a circular open edge that forms a peripheral border or mouth at the entrance to the interior reservoir 105 into which the product 160 will be introduced before sealing. The edge of rim 140 is preferably substantially flat and circular so that a plane drawn across the mouth of the cylinder would intersect the rim 140 in substantially a circle, though the edge of rim 140 may optionally have an oblong shape. After sealing the container 100, the outer edges or rim 140 are incorporated into the seal no, i.e., fused to form the seal 110. The material forming the rim 140 has a thickness that is equal to or greater than the thickness of the cylindrical body 130.

The wall of the cylindrical body 130 may have a diameter in the range of 4 mm to 50 mm. In one aspect of the invention, the diameter of the cylindrical body 130 is in the range of 8 mm to 14 mm. The wall of the cylindrical body 130 may have a thickness in the range of 0.2 mm to 3 mm. In one aspect of the invention, the thickness of the wall of the cylindrical body 130 is in the range of 0.4 mm to 0.9 mm. The wall of the closed rounded tip 120 at the closed end of the container 100 may have a thickness similar to the thickness of the cylindrical body 130.

The length of the container 100 from the center of a diameter placed across the circular open edge 140 to the apex 125 may be in the range of 5 mm to 80 cm. In one aspect of the invention, the length of the container 100 is in the range of 10 mm to 30 mm.

To fill the container, the product is prepared for packaging, which may include curing, drying, hydrating, filtering based on such features as characteristics or size, decontaminating, irradiating, and the like. A pre-portioned amount of the product is introduced through the mouth of the container formed by the circular open edge of rim 140 and into the interior reservoir 105. The container 100 is then sealed.

To seal the container 100, two opposing edges of the circular open edge of the rim 140 are compressed or squeezed together. Heat is then applied to the two opposing rim edges that are juxtaposed (placed side by side adjacent to one another). Heat may be applied from the top of the juxtaposition, to the sides of the juxtaposition, or to both the top and the sides. Three types of elongated seals are provided, a T-shaped seal, a crimped seal, and a combination T and crimped seal. All types of seals are generally straight and are aligned with a diameter of the open, unsealed outer casing 150, particularly, the diameter between the juxtaposed edges. Due to the squeezing of the rim edges together and the deformation caused by the application of heat, the seal 110 will extend to a length greater than a diameter of the open outer casing 150 (as seen in the top views of FIGS. 3 and 10); this length is also generally equal to half of the circumference of the outer casing 150.

In one aspect of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1-7, the container 100 is configured with the T-shaped seal 110. The T-shaped seal 110 is formed when two opposing edges of the circular open edge of the rim 140 are forced together and heat is applied to the top of the juxtaposed rim edges. The application of heat causes the plastic material of the two edges to melt slightly and to fuse at seal 110 to close the top of the container 100, which creates lips 113. The seal 110 extends lengthwise having at its first end a first seal terminus 115, having at its opposing second end a second seal terminus 115, and having a center seamline 119 (shown in FIG. 10). The lips 113 are small projections formed on opposing sides of the seal 110 and extending between seal top 119 and the lip bottom niches 112 (FIG. 4). The lips 113 increase the thickness of the T-shaped seal 100 (FIGS. 3, 7) compared to the thickness of the top edge of the crimped seal 100 (FIGS. 10, 12). As seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the lips 113 project outwardly beyond the outer upper surface of the wall 118 of the body 130 a distance that is approximately equal to, or slightly greater than, the thickness of the body walls. The thickness of the T-shaped seal 100 may vary based on factors such as the temperature of the applied heat and the length of application of the heat.

In another aspect of the invention, shown in FIGS. 8-14, the container 100 is configured with a crimped-type seal 110. The crimped seal 110 is formed when the two opposing edges of the circular open edge of the rim 140 are forced together and heat is applied to the sides of the juxtaposed rim edges. The application of heat causes the plastic material of the two edges to melt slightly (without creating significant lips 113) and to fuse, which creates crimped seal 110 having a center seamline 119 and ending in opposing seal termini 115. This closes the top of the container 100 to form a generally airtight seal. In the crimped seal aspect, the outer surface of the crimped seal is substantially in line with the outer surface 118 (FIG. 13) of the cylindrical body 130 directly below the seal and does not project outwardly beyond the portion of the outer surface of the cylindrical body 130 that is directly below the seal; the crimped-type seal no does not form lips 113 as does the T-shaped seal 100.

In further aspect of the invention (which has the same appearance as the T-shaped seal of FIGS. 1-7), the container 100 is configured with a combination T-shaped and crimped-type seal 110. The combination seal 110 is formed when the two opposing edges of the circular open edge of the rim 140 are forced together and heat is applied both to the rim sides and to the rim top of the juxtaposed rim edges. The heat application causes the fusing of the two edges and creates lips 113, as in the T-shaped seal 110. However, the application of heat from both the sides and the top may provide a stronger seal, as may be desirable for some types of plastic materials, for some sizes of containers, and for some weights of product.

To open the container, the consumer places a finger or thumb on the first seal terminus (at the first end of the seal) and an opposing finger or thumb on the second seal terminus (at the opposing end of the seal). The consumer then squeezes the first seal terminus toward the second seal terminus; this deforms the seam of the elongated seal, and this deformation 117 (potentially along with other factors such as the airtight characteristic of the container) causes the seal to snap open along the seam, which allows access to the product. This bursting of the seal 110 returns the shape of the container 100 to generally the shape the outer casing 150 had before the outer casing 150 was filled with the product 160 and before sealing.

After opening the sealed container 100, the user can pour the product 160 (whether liquid or solid) over the again-open outer edge of rim 140 and into a receiving area, vessel, repository, container, or holder (which is referred to generally as a “receiving receptacle”). In some aspects of the invention (particularly if the product 160 is a smokable product), the consumer may then use the closed rounded tip 120 to tamp the dispensed product down into the receiving receptacle. For example, if an adequate amount of the smokable product is poured into the receiving chamber of a pipe, the loosely packed product may not only tend to overflow the chamber, but it may also allow too much airflow when ignited. The closed rounded tip 120 may be used to more appropriately pack and/or compress the product to insure a smooth even burn. This eliminates the need for the consumer to obtain a separate tool to use for this tamping procedure. Additionally, using this method to tamp down the dispensed product, the consumer does not need to use his fingertip for this purpose, thereby preventing soiling of the finger and preventing the smokable product from sticking to the fingertip and being lost from the pipe chamber.

The container 100 is suitable for containing any of a variety of product materials. The product may be liquid, semi-liquid (for example, a gel or colloidal suspension), or dry matter (including solids). If the product is a dry material, it may be in the form of powder, particulates, flakes, crystals, granules, or other types of particulated matter that are sized to fit within the mouth of the container 100 created by the rim 140.

The product may be natural or synthetic; may be unprocessed, semi-processed, or processed; and may be in a concentrated form, natural or undiluted form, or diluted form. The product may comprise a single ingredient, a combination of ingredients, or a mixture of ingredients. The product may be edible, may be smokable, may be brewable, or may be able to be applied to human skin, to other living animals, to plants, or to inanimate objects. Examples of liquid products include, but are not limited to, lotions, creams, energy shots, flavorings, aromatics or perfumes, natural or processed oils, essential oils, tinctures, elixirs, liquid plant extracts, liquid vitamin mixtures, liquid mineral mixtures, liquid medicines, and fruit juice concentrate. Examples of dry products include, but are not limited to, brewable material, smokable material, and ingestible material. For example, coffee, tea, herbs and other botanical matter, spices, and the like are brewable materials suitable for packaging within the container 100. Ingestible materials include milk powder, dairy creamers, sweetening agents, natural and artificial flavors, cocoa-based ingredients, medicines, dried vegetables, herbs, spices, and the like.

The container 100 is particularly suitable for the packaging of botanical materials. The botanical matter utilized as the contained product 160 may be derived from any portion of the plant (stem, roots, leaves, buds, flower portions, bark, rhizomes, fruit, etc.) with different plant portions utilized depending on the particular plant variety that has been selected. The botanical matter may include, but it not limited to, leaves (such as tea or hemp leaves), flowers or buds (such as Cannabis buds), bark (such as the bark of cinnamon trees of the genus Cinnamomum), seeds (such as coffee or celery), or roots (such as the dried root of the celery plant (Apium graveolens). As an example, the botanical matter may be, but is not limited to, any of the following: tea leaves, coffee beans, yarrow flower (Achillea millefolium), Salvia species (including sages, Salvia apiana, and Salvia divinorum), Lamiaceae species (including peppermint and spearmint), Leonotis species (including wild dagga and klip dagga), plants of the Papaveraceae family (including celandine poppy and California poppy), blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea), kratom, tobacco, herbal non-tobacco, mugwort, coltsfoot leaf, Heimia salicifolia, St. John's wort, Melissa officinalis, skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia), Yerba lenna yesca, Capillaris Herba, Calea zacatechichi, Leonurus sibericus, kava, Avena sativa, kanna, Lactuca virosa, clove, myrrh, willow, Cornus (dogwood including red osier), pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), pyrola, kinnikinnik, arctostaphylos uva-ursi, camomile, manzanita, Arctostaphylos species, madrone, Arbutus menziesii, Rubus species (raspberry, blackberry, etc.), scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), Cannabis species (including sativa, indica, and ruderalis), calamus, Verbascum species (mullein), Cinnamomum species, Elettatia cardamomum, plants of the Aquilaria genus, Crocus sativus, Santalum album, Withania somnifera, Mucuna pruriens, Mimosa hostilis, Celastrus paniculatus, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, Solanum xanthocarpum, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Ocimum sanctum, Zingiberaceae family (including Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Zingiber officinale (ginger), a'hai, celery plant (Apium graveolens), Commiphora mukul, Boswellia serrata, Vitex negundo, Bacopa monnieri, Cyperus rotundus, Myristica fragrans, Valeriana wallichii, Nardostachys jatamansi, Acacia confusa, Passifloraceae species, Echinacea purpurea, milk thistle (Silybum marianum), Angelica species (including Angelica archangelica), catnip plants (Nepeta cataria), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Taraxacum species (including dandelion), linden tree flowers, lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), and gotu kola (Centella asiatica).

The outer casing 150 is preferably formed unitarily of a plastic resin, which is most preferably low-density polypropylene (LDPE). Preferably blow molding is used to create the outer casing 150. However, other methods of forming plastic containers (such as injection molding, vacuum forming, or thermoforming) are within the scope of the invention. An interior coating or an interior lining may be included within the outer casing 150 to provide benefits such as a reduction in oxygen permeability, to decrease flavor scavenging in which the plastic absorbs flavors from the product, and the like. An interior coating may be formed of polytetrafluoroethylene (such as the Teflon® brand of PTFE), nylon, aluminum, or the like.

The type and/or amount of product enclosed within the snap container 100 may be disclosed to the consumer through one or multiple means of indication. In one aspect of the invention, the plastic material is transparent or translucent; this enables the consumer to view the product packaged within the container, which may give an indication of the type of amount of product contained. In another aspect of the invention, the packager adheres a label onto the side of the container 100 to indicate the content type and amount enclosed within the snap container 100. In a further and preferred aspect of the invention the outer casing 150 is manufactured in multiple colors of plastic with each color representing a product type and/or an amount.

The usage of more than one color may provide advantages in that it enables the packager to package a first product in a first color of casing 150, to package a second product in a second color of casing 150, etc. or to package a first amount or dosage of a product in a first color of casing 150, a second amount or dosage of a product in a second color of casing 150, etc.

This color-to-type or color-to-amount coding allows the packager to indicate the product type or the product amount to the consumer, even though the consumer cannot view the product inside through transparent or translucent packaging, and even if the packager does not desire to adhere a label to a side of the container 100. The container 100 may be considered more elegant and/or more aesthetically pleasing without an adhered label.

The consumer can be notified of the coding (the association of a particular color or particular dosage with a particular enclosed product) in any of a variety of ways, even without labeling on the container 100 itself. For example, an outer wrapper, outer carton, outer box, advertising materials, signage, or the like may allow the consumer to associate a first type or dosage of product contained to a first color.

This coding indication to the consumer of the type or amount of enclosed product within the container 100 aids the consumer in both determining dosage and in creating personalized blends and mixtures. If a blue container 100 contains a defined amount of Virginia tobacco and an orange container 100 contains a defined amount of Turkish tobacco, the consumer may carry a blue container 100 and an orange container 100 with him, knowing that he can blend his own preferred custom-made pipe tobacco with the two containers he has brought with him. This occurs without the need for the packager to provide labeling on the individual container 100. Also, unless a nearby person also knows the coding system, the ingredients of the custom-made pipe tobacco are not disclosed to nearby companions.

Due to the novelty of the inventive container 100, no conventional machine was currently available for the positioning, securing, and heating of the outer casing 150 to create the container 100. Thus, FIG. 22 discloses a positioning, holding, and heating machine 200 for the creation of the containers 100 from the pre-formed outer casings 150.

The holding and sealing machine 200 comprises at least one row of multiple wells 210 and preferably multiple rows of wells 210. Each of the wells 210 have an interior diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the outer casing 150 to be sealed to allow an outer casing 150 to be introduced into a well 210. Each well 210 has a peripheral wall 211, the outer (upper) edges of which define an opening 212 that will accommodate the outer casing 150. The floor of the well 210 may be flat or may be concave in correspondence with the convex tip 120 of the casing 150.

The holding and sealing machine 200 comprises sliding rails 235, 245 that slide in opposite directions to compress the sides of the casing 150 to juxtapose opposing rim edges in preparation for formation of the seal. In the exemplary aspect shown in FIG. 22, sliding rails 245 slide to the left; sliding rails 235 slide to the right.

The left sliding rails 245 are fixedly attached to sliding shaft 240 that slides left. When left sliding shaft 240 is moved leftward (either manually or mechanically) the left sliding rails 245 slide to the left.

The right sliding rails 235 are attached to a right sliding shaft 230. When right sliding shaft 230 is pulled (either manually or mechanically) the right sliding rails 235 slide to the right.

The end one of the right sliding rails 235 may be fixedly attached to the end of the right shaft 230, but any middle ones of the right sliding rails 235 are fixedly attached to a middle portion of the shaft 230. To allow the right shaft 230 to slide, the left sliding rails 245 are configured with a channel 241 that is sized and shaped to accommodate the right shaft 230. The right shaft 230 slides within the channel 241 to move the right rails 235.

Solid structures 225 may be interspersed with open spaces along the edge of the machine 200 with the shafts 230, 240. The open spaces allow access to the shafts 230, 240, such as for manual manipulation of the shafts. The sliding of the shafts 230, 240 and of the rails 235, 245 may be actuated by an electric motor to mechanize the operation, if desired.

To use the holding and sealing machine 200, multiple outer casings 150 are obtained in one or more colors or transparencies. Each outer casing 150 to be sealed is oriented with the closed rounded tip 120 disposed within a well 210. The right sliding shaft 245 is slid right, and the left sliding shaft 235 is slid left. These movements pull the right rail 245 toward the left rail 235 and compress the rim edges of opposing sides of the cylindrical body 130 to position the opposing rim edges adjacent each other. Heat is then applied to the sides of the rim, to the top of the rim, or to both rim sides and rim top of the juxtaposed rim edges of the cylindrical body 130.

In an example of applying heat to the rim top to create a T-shaped seal, the heat is applied by a flat heated platen that pressed down onto the top juxtaposed rim edges of the cylindrical body 130 with between 5 pounds and 7 pounds of force for 2 to 4 seconds. The heated platen is preferably covered with a non-stick surface material and is heated to between 350 degrees F. and 370 degrees F. The application of the heat from the heated platen melts and flattens the top 1 mm to 2 mm of the exposed plastic into the T-shaped seal. Other similar applications of heat are within the scope of the invention. For example, heating the heated platen to a slightly higher heat may allow the heat application time to be reduced or may allow the downward force to be decreased, and heating the platen to a slightly lower heat may require a longer heat application time or a slightly greater downward force.

Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A method of packaging a product, comprising:

obtaining a container, wherein said container comprises an outer casing comprising a cylindrical body with a first end comprising a closed rounded tip and with an opposing second end comprising a circular open outer rim having a rim top and rim sides; wherein said outer casing defines an interior reservoir; and wherein said outer rim defines an open mouth to said interior reservoir;

obtaining a product;

holding said container with said outer rim positioned upright;

introducing a pre-portioned amount of said product into said open mouth to partially fill said interior reservoir;

compressing opposing edges of said outer rim together; and

applying heat to fuse the compressed opposing edges of said outer rim to create a fused seal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said outer casing comprises a single piece formed of plastic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said outer casing comprises an outer wall; wherein said seal comprises a T-shaped seal; and wherein said T-shaped seal comprises lips projecting slightly outwardly beyond said outer wall.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said product comprises a liquid product.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said product comprises dry product.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said dry product comprises a botanical matter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying heat to the compressed opposing edges of said outer rim to create a fused seal comprises:

heating a platen to between 360 degrees F. and 380 degrees F.; and

using said platen to apply a pressure of between 5 pounds and 7 pounds of force for 2 to 4 seconds to said rim top of said compressed opposing edges.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying heat to the compressed opposing edges of said outer rim to create a fused seal further comprises using a heated flat platen to apply pressure to said rim sides of said compressed opposing edges.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein applying heat to the compressed opposing edges of said outer rim to create a fused seal comprises using a heated flat platen to apply pressure to said rim sides of said compressed opposing edges.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein applying heat to the compressed opposing edges of said outer rim to create a fused seal consists of one of applying heat to said rim top, applying heat to said rim sides, and applying heat to both said rim top and to said rim sides.

11. A method of opening a sealed container, comprising:

obtaining said sealed container, wherein said sealed container comprises a plastic outer casing and an enclosed, pre-portioned amount of a product; said outer casing comprising a cylindrical outer shell, a first closed end, and an opposing second end comprising a lengthwise seal; wherein said lengthwise seal has been formed by compressing together opposing edges of a rim surrounding a mouth disposed at said second end and heating said compressed opposing edges of said rim; and wherein said lengthwise seal extends lengthwise from a first seal terminus to an opposing second seal terminus;

placing said container between a thumb and a finger of a hand;

manually applying pressure on said first seal terminus and simultaneously applying pressure on said second seal terminus to actuate the bursting of said lengthwise seal; and

accessing said product.

12. The method of opening a container as recited in claim 11, wherein said lengthwise seal comprises one of a T-shaped seal, a crimped-type seal, and a combination T-shaped and crimped-type seal.

13. The method of opening a container as recited in claim 11, wherein said product comprises botanical matter.

14. The method of opening a container as recited in claim 11, wherein said product comprises a smokable material, further comprising:

pouring said product into a receiving receptacle; and

manually using said closed rounded tip to tamp said product down within said receiving receptacle.

15. The method of opening a container as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

causing a deformation in said lengthwise seal when manually applying pressure on said first seal terminus and said second seal terminus; and

causing said rim to reopen to form said mouth.

16. A packaging container comprising:

a product to be contained; and

a unitarily formed plastic outer casing comprising a generally cylindrical outer shell, a first end, and an opposing second end; wherein said outer casing defines an interior reservoir; wherein said first end of said outer casing comprises a closed rounded tip; wherein said second end of said outer casing comprises a rim; wherein, after insertion of a pre-portioned amount of said product into said interior reservoir, a first portion of said rim and an opposing second portion of said rim are juxtaposed and fused to create a lengthwise seal extending lengthwise from a first seal terminus to a second seal terminus; wherein said lengthwise seal seals said packaging container.

17. The packaging container as recited in claim 16, wherein said product comprises botanical matter.

18. The packaging container as recited in claim 16, wherein said lengthwise seal comprises a crimped seal.

19. The packaging container as recited in claim 16, wherein said cylindrical outer shell comprises an outer wall; and wherein said lengthwise seal comprises a T-shaped seal comprising lips projecting slightly outwardly beyond said outer wall.

20. The packaging container as recited in claim 16, wherein said lengthwise seal comprises a crimped seal and a T-shaped seal.