Two part container and method of opening said container.

Abstract

 A two-part container (200) comprising a base-portion (205) and a lid-portion (203), wherein the lid-portion (203) provides a first-compartment (202) and the base-portion (205) provides a second-compartment (204), wherein in an un-opened condition an opening of the first compartment (202) is adjacent an opening of the second compartment (204) and the two compartments are separated by at least one cover (206), wherein the container (200) is arranged such that the cover is rupturable whilst the lid portion (203) is attached to the base portion (205) thereby connecting the first (202) and second compartment (204).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to packaging. In particular, but not exclusively, this invention relates to two-packaging. The invention may relate to two part packaging comprising a membrane that keeps contents apart. The packaging is typically food packaging.

Background of the invention

[0002] It is convenient to describe the invention in terms of food packaging but it may find wider applicability. Foodstuffs, such as yoghurt, etc. is sometimes sold in a two-part container 100, schematically as shown in Figure 1, which comprises a first 102 and second 104 internal compartment separated by a cover 106. In the example shown in Figure 1 the first compartment 102 is provided with a lid portion 103 and the second compartment 104 is within a base portion 105 of the container. In this example, the lid portion snap fits onto the base portion and the two are sealed together.

[0003] Typically the first compartment contains a first foodstuff, such as yoghurt and the second compartment contains a second foodstuff such as granola or the like which a user can add to the first foodstuff. The second compartment may often be provided a s a lid which can be separated from the first compartment.

[0004] For such a container, a user would typically remove the lid, thus separating the first and second compartments, open the seal and then mix the contents of the two compartments. However, such operation may not be as convenient as desired since there is scope, with the compartments separated from one another, to spill the contents of one or both of the food stuffs.

Summary of the invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a two-part container comprising a base-portion and a lid-portion. The lid-portion may provide a first-compartment and the base-portion may provide a second-compartment. Conveniently, in an un-opened condition an opening of the first compartment is adjacent an opening of the second compartment. Further, the two compartments may be separated by at least one cover. Conveniently, the container is provided with an opening mechanism allowing the cover to be opened with the lid portion attached to the base portion thereby connecting the first and second compartments once the opening mechanism has been operated.

[0006] Such a container is advantageous in that, should different foodstuffs be provided in the two compartments they can be mixed with the lid still in place thereby helping to prevent spillage of those foodstuffs.

[0007] Typically, the lid portion is removable from the base portion so as to grant access to the two compartments. Thus, in use a user may remove the lid-portion from the base-portion to gain access to the foodstuffs once the contents of the two compartments have been mixed.

[0008] In one embodiment, the opening mechanism comprises a tab on the cover providing a mechanically simple yet effective mechanism. The tab will generally be an elongate-tab.

[0009] The tab, in the un-opened condition may be arranged to fold back on itself such that a user pulling the tab will tend to pull it across the cover.

[0010] In some embodiments, the cover may be provided with one or more weakened regions to facilitate the opening of the cover.

[0011] In other embodiments, there may be provided no weakened regions and the tab may be arranged to remove the or each cover from the lid and/or base portions.

[0012] In some embodiments, opening of the cover may be via rupturing of the cover. In other embodiments, opening of the cover may be via removal of the cover from the portion to which it is attached.

[0013] The lid and/or the base portion may be provided with an opening allowing the tab to protrude therethrough.

[0014] The cover may conveniently be provided from a plastics material. In other embodiments, the or each cover may be a foil or the like.

[0015] In other embodiments, one of the lid and/or the base portion may be provided with a cover rupturing mechanism to provide the opening mechanism.

[0016] The cover rupturing mechanism may comprise a spike, or the like arranged to pierce the cover.

[0017] In some embodiments, the cover rupturing mechanism may be provided substantially centrally of the cover.

[0018] In other embodiments, the cover rupturing mechanism may be provided off-centre such that movement of the lid portion relative to the base portion moves the cover rupturing mechanism relative to the cover. Such and arrangement is convenient since it can allow the cover to be ruptured in more than one location thereby facilitating connection of the first and second compartments.

[0019] The cover rupturing mechanism may be moulded with at least one of the lid portion and base portion, and generally the lid portion. Such a structure may provide for a simple means to fabricate the cover rupturing mechanism; perhaps as a single piece moulding.

[0020] In some embodiments, there may be provided a plurality of covers. For example, each of the first and second compartments may be sealed with its own cover. In such embodiments, the cover-opening mechanism may be arranged to open all of the plurality of covers.

[0021] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of opening a two-part container comprising a base-portion and a lid-portion, wherein the lid-portion provides a first compartment and the base-portion provides a second compartment, and in an un-opened condition, the first and second compartments are provided with a cover separating the two compartments, wherein the method comprises providing the container with an opening mechanism allowing the cover to be ruptured whilst the lid-portion remains in situ on the base-portion.

[0022] The skilled person will appreciate that the features of the first aspect of the invention may be applied mutatis mutandis to the second aspect of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

[0023] There now follows by way of example only a detailed description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 (Prior Art) shows a prior-art two-part container having a base portion having a cover and a lid portion;

Figure 2 shows a two-part container according to an embodiment of the invention in which the cover has a tab;

Figure 3a shows the two-part container of Figure 2 on which the lid has been engaged and with the tab in an un-opened condition;

Figure 3b shows the two-part container of Figure 2 with the tab in a partially opened condition;

Figure 3c shows the two-part container of Figure 2 with the tab in a fully opened condition;

Figure 4a shows a plan view of the tab in the condition shown in Figure 3a;

Figure 4b shows a plan view of the tab in the condition shown in Figure 3b;

Figure 4c shows a plan view of the tab in the condition shown in Figure 3c;

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a two-part container;

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of a two-part container;

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the cover of the embodiment of Figure 6;

Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 9 shows a further alternative embodiment.

Detailed description of the drawings

[0024] The skilled person will appreciate that whilst embodiments of the invention are described in relation to foodstuffs, this need not be the case and the invention may find utility in other arts.

[0025] An embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2 and like parts compared to Figure 1 are shown with similar reference numbers but in the two-hundred series rather than a one-hundred series as in Figure 1.

[0026] Thus, Figure 2 shows a two-part container 200 which comprises a first 202 and second 204 internal compartment separated by a cover 206. In the example shown in Figure 2 the first compartment 202 is provided with a lid portion 203 and the second compartment 204 is within a base portion 205 of the container. In this example, the lid portion snap fits onto the base portion and the two are sealed together.

[0027] It will be seen that the cover 206 comprises an elongate-tab 208 extending away from the cover 206 wherein the elongate-tab 208 provides a cover-opening mechanism. In this embodiment, the elongate-tab 208 has a length slightly over longer than the diameter of the cover 206. From the following discussion, the skilled person will readily appreciate how to modify the length of the elongate-tab 208 for containers which are not circular in plan as is the case with the two-part container 200 of Figure 2.

[0028] In some embodiments, the cover 206 has regions of weakness 210 (illustrated in the Figure by the dashed line) arranged to cause the cover to tear preferentially therealong.

[0029] A further modification to the embodiment shown in Figure 2 when compared to the example of Figure 1 is a slit 212 within a lower region, near to a circumference214 of the lid portion 203. The slit 212 provides an opening within the container which allows the tab to protrude therethrough. In use, and as described in relation to Figure 3, the slit 212 allows the elongate-tab 208 to extend through the lid-portion 203 when the lid-portion 203 is sealed onto the base-portion 205.

[0030] Figures 3a to 3c shows a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the lid-portion 203 sealed in place upon the base-portion 205. Typically, the seal (not shown) as is known in the art is provided by a user removable film which secures the lid-portion 203 to the base-portion 205 and must be removed before the two can be separated.

[0031] As can be seen to the left side of the two-part container 200, the elongate-tab 208 extends outside of the lid 203 and base 205 portions and protrudes through the slit 212 in the lid-portion 203. Thus, the elongate-tab 208 is folded back on itself such that a force applied to the elongate-tab 208 tends to cause the cover 206 to be pulled back on itself. It will be appreciated that the cover 206 separates the first-compartment 202 from the second-compartment 204 such that a foodstuff contained in the first-compartment 202 does not mix with a foodstuff contained in the second-compartment 204. As such, and in the un-opened condition as shown in Figures 3a and 4a, an opening of the first compartment 202 is adjacent an opening of the second compartment 204 but the compartments are separated from one another by the cover 206.

[0032] In some embodiments, both the base-portion 205 and the lid-portion 203 are provided with their own cover. Each of these covers may comprise a tab, similar to the elongate-tab 208 and the skilled person will know how to construct such an arrangement, mutatis mutandis, to provide an embodiment of the invention.

[0033] In use, a user pulls the elongate-tab 208 in the direction of the arrow 216 so that it is pulled back on itself. In the embodiment being described, the cover 206 fails along the regions of weakness 210 (ie weakened regions) and thus cover 206 is caused to fail and the foodstuffs within the first-compartment 202 can mix with the foodstuff within the second-compartment 204 without the need to remove the lid-portion 203 from the base-portion 205.

[0034] In other embodiments, there may be provided no weakened regions 210 and the tab 206 may be arranged to remove the or each cover 206 from the lid and/or base portions.

[0035] This opening process is further described with the aid of Figures 3b and c and also with Figures 4a to 4c.

[0036] Figure 4a shows the cover 206 and the elongate-tab 208 in plan view with the elongate-tab 208 in the condition as shown in Figure 3a; ie with the elongate-tab 208 folded back across the cover 206 with a small portion 218 extending beyond the leftmost (as viewed in the Figure) side of the cover 206.

[0037] As shown in Figures 3b and 4b, as a user pulls in the direction of arrow 216, the elongate-tab 208 is pulled back on itself and a rectangular-opening 220 forms in the cover 206 thereby allowing the contents of the first 202 and second 204 compartments to mix thereby fully connecting the first 202 and second 204 compartments. The skilled person will appreciate that the compartments will initially be connected as soon as the cover 206 is ruptured.

[0038] Figures 3c and 4c show that as the user continues to pull the elongate-tab 208 in the direction 216 the rectangular-opening 220 increases in size until the ultimately, the elongate-tab 208 becomes separated from the cover 206. If there were more than one cover then opening within the plurality of covers would likely be aligned such that the contents of the first 202 and second 204 compartments are still free to mix and the elongate-tab 208 has acted as a cover-opening mechanism.

[0039] Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the a cover-opening mechanism and like parts of the Figure are referred to with like reference numbers.

[0040] It will be seen that the cover 206 does not comprise a tab but instead the lid-portion 203 comprises a cover-rupturing mechanism which is in this case a spike 500 in order to provide a cover-opening mechanism. In this embodiment, the spike 500 is provided generally central to the lid portion 203 and the lid-portion 203 is fabricated from a flexible material (typically a food grade plastics material) such that a user can press the spike 500 and cause it to rupture the cover 206 thereby connecting the first 202 and second compartments 204 with one another and allowing the foodstuffs therewithin to mix without the need to remove the lid-portion 203 from the base-portion 205.

[0041] The skilled person will appreciate that in other embodiments, the spike 500 may be provided on the base-portion.

[0042] In order that the spike does not rupture the cover 206 inadvertently then a disc of rigid material 502 or the like may be secured over a top region of the lid-portion 203 in order to prevent the spike 500 being depressed in advertently. In use, a user would remove the disc of rigid material 502 (or at least semi-rigid) before depressing the spike 500 to allow the contents of the two compartments 202, 204 to mix. The disc of rigid material may be fabricated from cardboard or a plastics material or the like.

[0043] Figure 6 shows a further embodiment, in which the cover-opening mechanism comprises a spike 600 (which may also be thought of as a cover-rupturing mechanism). In this embodiment, the spike 600 is not provided centrally of the lid-portion 203 and is provided at a radius (R) from the centre of the lid. Again, a disc (or indeed, any other shape) of rigid material 602 is provided over the lid-portion 203 to prevent the spike 600 from inadvertently being made to pierce the cover 206.

[0044] In use, and because the spike 600 of Figure 6 is off-centre, the lid-portion 203 can be rotated relative to the base-portion 205 and cover 206 pierced multiple times using the spike 600 and this is represented in Figure 7 which shows a plan view of the cover of Figure 6.

[0045] It will be recalled that the spike 600 is at a radius R from the centre of the lid-portion and is therefore at a distance R from a centre region of the cover 206. Thus, when a user presses the spike 600 it causes a hole 700 to be pierced in the cover 206 at the radius R from the centre. If the lid-portion 203 is rotated relative the to the base-portion 205 then the spike 600 moves relative to the cover 206 and further holes (eg 702, 704) can be pierced into the cover 206. Thus, a greater communication between the first compartment 202 and second compartment 204 can be created.

[0046] Figure 8 shows an embodiments which is similar to that shown in Figure 2 but wherein the cover 206 is mounted upon the lid portion 203 rather than the base portion 205. The necessary changes to the embodiment will be apparent to the skilled person. One such change is the movement of the slit 212 from the lid portion 203 to the base portion 205. The functionality of the elongate-tab 208, is as described in relation to Figures 3 and 4.

[0047] Figure 9 shows a further embodiment in which similar reference numbers to earlier embodiments have been used but with the first digit replaced with a '9'.

[0048] Thus, in this embodiment, a lid portion 903 having a first internal compartment 902. A base portion 905 is provided having a second internal compartment 904 therein.

[0049] At a base region of the lid portion 903 there is provided a cover 906 which seals a bottom region of the first internal compartment 902 such that when the lid portion 903 is placed upon the base portion 905 the two compartments are separated from one another. However, it is noted that it is the cover 906 which prevents the first 902 and second 904 compartments being connected to one another when the cover 906 is in place and un-ruptured.

[0050] On a top portion of the first compartment 902 (ie at a top region of the lid portion 903) there is provided a further cover 920 and a protection member 922. The further cover 920 is arranged to seal a top region of the first compartment 902 such that when both the cover 906 and further cover 920 are in place the first compartment 902 is sealed.

[0051] Thus, some embodiments have both a cover on a top region 920 and a bottom region 906 of at least one of the compartments 902. In the embodiment described it is the first compartment 902 within the lid portion 903 that has the two covers 906, 920.

[0052] The skilled person will appreciate that during transit, etc. the further cover 920 might be vulnerable to puncture. As such, some embodiments may be provided with the protection member 922 which is arranged to protect the further cover 920. For example, the protection member 922 may be fabricated from cardboard, a plastics material, etc.

[0053] Further, some embodiments may provide the protection member 922 with regions of weakness 924, such as perforations, or the like, in order to allow the protection member 922 to be ruptured. The skilled person will appreciate that the protection member 922 is likely to be stronger than the further cover 920 and/or the cover 906 and whilst wither of these cover may also be provided with areas of weakness, that it is likely to be more important to provide such regions in the protection member 922.

[0054] In yet further embodiments, the protection member 922 may be arranged to be removable from the further cover member / a top region of the lid portion 903.

[0055] In use, a straw, spoon, fork or the like, which provides a cover opening mechanism may pushed through the further cover 920 and the cover 906 thereby joining the first and second compartments 902, 904. The straw, etc. may be pushed through the protection member 922 or the protection member 922 may be removed.

Claims

1. A two-part container comprising a base-portion and a lid-portion, wherein the lid-portion provides a first-compartment and the base-portion provides a second-compartment, wherein in an un-opened condition an opening of the first compartment is adjacent an opening of the second compartment and the two compartments are separated by at least one cover, wherein the container is arranged such that the cover is rupturable whilst the lid portion is attached to the base portion thereby connecting the first and second compartment.

2. A two-part container according to claim 1 in which the container is provided with an opening mechanism allowing the cover to be opened with the lid portion attached to the base portion thereby connecting the first and second compartments.

3. A two-part container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid-portion is removable from the base-portion so as to grant access to the two compartments.

4. A two-part container according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening mechanism comprises a tab on the cover, wherein tab, may in the un-opened condition, be arranged to fold back on itself such that a user pulling the tab will tend to pull it across the cover.

5. A two-part container according to claim 4, wherein the lid and/or the base portion is provided with an opening allowing the tab to protrude therethrough.

6. A two-part container according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is provided with one or more weakened regions to facilitate the opening of the cover.

7. A two-part container according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tab is arranged to remove the or each cover from the lid and/or base portions.

8. A two-part container according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the opening of the cover is via rupturing of the cover and wherein at least one of the lid and/or the base portion is provided with a cover rupturing mechanism to provide the opening mechanism, wherein the cover rupturing mechanism may comprise a spike arranged to pierce the cover.

9. A two-part container according to claim 8, wherein the cover rupturing mechanism is provided substantially centrally of the cover.

10. A two-part container according to claim 8, wherein the cover rupturing mechanism is provided off-centre such that movement of the lid portion relative to the base portion moves the cover rupturing mechanism relative to the cover, allowing the cover to be ruptured in more than one location.

11. A method of opening a two-part container comprising a base-portion and a lid-portion, wherein the lid-portion provides a first compartment and the base-portion provides a second compartment, and in an un-opened condition, the first and second compartments are provided with a cover separating the two compartments, wherein the method comprises rupturing the cover whilst the base-portion remains on the base portion thereby connecting the first and second compartments.

12. A method according to claim 11 comprising providing the container with an opening mechanism allowing the cover to be ruptured whilst the lid-portion remains in situ on the base-portion, wherein the lid-portion may be removable from the base-portion so as to grant access to the two compartments.

13. A method of opening a two-part container according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the opening mechanism comprises a tab on the cover and the method comprises pulling the tab in order to open the cover whilst the container remains in the un-opened condition.

14. A method of opening a two-part container according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein at least one of the lid and/or the base portion is provided with a cover rupturing mechanism and the method comprises using the rupturing mechanism to rupture the cover.

15. A method of opening a two-part container according to claim 14, wherein the cover rupturing mechanism is provided off-centre and the method comprises rupturing the cover with the rupturing mechanism in a first orientation, moving the base portion relative to the lid portion and rupturing the cover with the rupturing mechanism in a second orientation.

Drawing