U.S. patent application number 11/302754 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for package having multiple sealed compartments.
This patent application is currently assigned to Unique Seal, LLC. Invention is credited to George E. Haas, Ken Marchetti, Matthias Otto.
Application Number | 20070131687 11/302754 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38055270 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070131687 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Otto; Matthias ; et
al. |
June 14, 2007 |
Package having multiple sealed compartments
Abstract
A package has a pair of separated compartments for holding two
elements. A container forms one compartment and has an opening with
a flange there around. A first cover extends across and closes the
opening by being attached to the flange. A second cover extends
over the first cover and is attached to the flange, thereby forming
a second compartment between the covers. A second element is
contained within the second compartment. By detaching a first tab
from the flange, the second cover attached to that tab can be
removed from the container. The first cover is attached to a second
tab of the flange and is removed by detaching the second tab from
the container.
Inventors: |
Otto; Matthias; (Oldsmar,
FL) ; Haas; George E.; (Elm Grove, WI) ;
Marchetti; Ken; (Park Ridge, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUARLES & BRADY LLP
411 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE
SUITE 2040
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-4497
US
|
Assignee: |
Unique Seal, LLC
|
Family ID: |
38055270 |
Appl. No.: |
11/302754 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 ;
220/359.2; 220/521 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 33/002 20130101;
B65D 51/28 20130101; B65D 77/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 ;
220/359.2; 220/521 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/00 20060101
B65D051/00; B65D 17/34 20060101 B65D017/34; B65D 1/24 20060101
B65D001/24 |
Claims
1. A package comprising: a container for receiving a first element
and having an opening with a flange extending around the opening; a
first cover releasably attached to the container thereby closing
the opening; and a second cover extending over the first cover
outwardly from the container and releasably attached directly to
the container, wherein a compartment is formed between the first
cover and the second cover within which a second element is
received; wherein second cover is removable from the container to
provide access to the second element, and the first cover is
separately removable from the container to provide access to the
first element.
2. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the first cover is
releasably attached to the container.
3. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the container includes
a flange extending around the opening and to which the first cover
and the second cover are attached.
4. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the first cover
comprises a sheet of material with a perimeter region attached to
the container.
5. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the second cover
comprises a sheet of material with a perimeter region attached
directly to the container.
6. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the container has a
first tab to which a portion of the second cover is attached, the
first tab being removable from a remainder of the container to aid
in removing at least a portion of the second cover from the
container.
7. The package as recited in claim 6 wherein the container has a
second tab to which a portion of the first cover is attached, the
second tab being removable from a remainder of the container to aid
in removing at least a portion of the first cover from the
container.
8. The package as recited in claim 7 wherein the container has a
first groove that aids in detaching the first tab, and has a second
groove that that aids in detaching the second tab.
9. The package as recited in claim 7 further comprising indicia
associated with one of the first tab and the second tab and
indicating which tab to detach first in order to open the
package.
10. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the container has a
tab to which a portion of the first cover is attached, the tab
being removable from a remainder of the container to aid in
removing at least a portion of the first cover from the
container.
11. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said first element
comprises a liquid and the second element comprises a solid.
12. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein said first element
comprises one of communion wine and communion grape juice, and the
second element comprises a communion wafer.
13. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the first cover and
the second cover are each attached directly to the container by
adhesive.
14. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the first cover
comprises a metallic foil.
15. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the second cover
comprises a plastic film.
16. The package as recited in claim 1 wherein the first cover and
the second cover each comprises a sheet of material.
17. A package comprising: a container for receiving a first element
and having an opening with a flange extending around the opening,
the flange having a removable first tab and a removable second tab;
a first cover closing the container by releasable attachment to the
flange and particularly to the second tab; and a second cover
extending over the first cover and releasably attached to the
flange and particularly to the first tab at locations surrounding
the first cover, wherein a compartment is formed between the first
cover and the second cover within which a second element is
received; wherein second cover is removable from the flange by
detaching the first tab to provide access to the second element,
and the first cover is removable from the flange by detaching the
second tab to provide access to the first element.
18. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein the flange has a
first groove that aids in detaching the first tab, and has a second
groove that aids in detaching the second tab.
19. The package as recited in claim 17 further comprising indicia
associated with one of the first tab and the second tab and
indicating which tab to detach first in order to open the
package.
20. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein the first cover
comprises a sheet of material with a perimeter region attached
directly to the flange of the container.
21. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein the second cover
comprises a sheet of material with a perimeter region attached
directly to the flange of the container.
22. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein said first element
comprises a liquid and the second element comprises a solid.
23. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein said first element
comprises one of communion wine and communion grape juice, and the
second element comprises a communion wafer.
24. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein the first cover and
the second cover are each attached directly to the container by
adhesive.
25. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein the first cover
comprises a metallic foil.
26. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein the second cover
comprises a plastic film.
27. The package as recited in claim 17 wherein the first cover and
the second cover each comprises a sheet of material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to containers having multiple
separated, airtight compartments, and more specifically to such a
container with one compartment suited for a liquid and another
compartment for holding a non-liquid. This type of container is
particularly suited for dispensing communion elements or other
elements intended to be consumed or used with each other.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] The sacrament of holy communion, which is celebrated in most
Christian churches, involves partaking the bread followed by the
wine or grape juice. These elements often require extensive,
relatively time-consuming preparation and special serving plates or
containers which are passed to the communicants and then collected.
The communion elements (bread and wine or juice) are usually served
consecutively inasmuch as they are taken in different parts of the
service and it is relatively difficult for the average participant
to hold both elements for an extended period of time.
[0007] In some faiths, a common cup of the wine is shared by the
communicants. This poses a health problem as communicable diseases
can be passed among the people taking communion despite various
methods used to cleanse the lip of the cup between users. During
winter months when colds are prevalent, worshipers may fear
contracting communicable diseases and thus avoid taking
communion.
[0008] When communion is provided to small groups, shut-ins or in
remote areas, such as battlefield services for example, the
necessary preparations can become difficult and the communion
elements may not be readily available. Therefore, celebration of
communion can become infrequent.
[0009] Compartmentalized, single-use containers, such as the one
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,106, have be devised which contain
both the host and the liquid elements of communion. These
prepackaged communion dispensers greatly simplified the
preparations for serving communion and their disposable nature
eliminated washing cups used in the religious service. However,
many kinds of prior compartmentalized containers were difficult for
worshipers to open, especially by elderly persons who suffer from
arthritis and other conditions affecting manual dexterity. In
addition such containers must provide airtight seals for the
compartments so that the prepackaged communion elements will not
spoil or leak out during storage prior to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A package comprises a container that is sealed by a pair of
covers to form two separate compartments for hold different
elements. The container defines a first compartment for a first
element and has an opening preferably with a flange extending there
around. A first cover, such as a metallic foil for example, is
releasably attached to the flange thereby closing the container. A
second cover, such as a plastic film for example, extends over the
first cover outwardly from the container and is releasably attached
to the flange. A second compartment is formed between the first and
second covers within which a second element received. The second
cover is removable from the flange to provide access to the second
element and the first cover is separately removable from the flange
to provide access to the first element.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the flange of the container has a
first tab to which a portion of the second cover is attached. The
first tab is detachable from a remainder of the flange to aid in
removing at least a portion of the second cover from the container
and thereby gain access to the second element. A second tab of the
flange has a portion to which the first cover is bonded. The second
tab can be detached from a remainder of the flange to aid in
removing at least a portion of the first cover from the container
so as to access the first element.
[0012] The present package is particularly adapted for dispensing
the host and liquid elements of the communion sacrament during a
religious service, although it can be used to distribute medication
and other materials that are intended to be consumed or used with
each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top view of a sealed package that has two
separated compartments;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of the sealed package;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the package showing
details of a pair of covers attached to a container of the
package;
[0016] FIG. 4 is cross sectional view showing removal of a cover to
access one compartment of the package; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is cross sectional view showing removal of another
cover to access the other compartment of the package; and
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of a sealed package
with two compartments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a package 10 has
two compartments 11 and 12 for holding two elements, such as the
host and the liquid elements for communion. For example, a first
compartment 11 may contain the wine or grape juice, while the
second compartment 12 retains the host wafer. However, the package
10 also can be used to hold other liquids, such as medicines or
water for example, a solid object, a powder, a granular material,
or the like.
[0020] The package 10 comprises a container 14, preferably in the
form of a cup that has a tapered side wall 15, a closed bottom 17
and an opening 18 at the top. The container 14 includes a flange 20
extending around the opening 18 and having a flat upper surface 22.
For example, the container 14 may be fabricated of polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) plastic using a conventional molding process. The
container 14 is adapted to hold a liquid first element 16 (FIG. 3),
such as juice or wine which is an element of communion at a
religious service. Although the exemplary container 14 has a
circular cup shape with a generally round flange 20, the present
inventive concepts can be used with containers having a wide
variety of other shapes and configurations.
[0021] The flange 20 has a first tab 24 on one side of the opening
18 and a second tab 26 on the opposite side. The first tab 24 is
defined by a first groove 28 scored in the underside of the flange
20 to provide a breaking line at which the first tab 24 can be
detached from the remainder of the container 14, as will be
described. Similarly, the second tab 26 can be detached from the
remainder of the container 14 by breaking it along a second groove
30 scored in the underside of the flange 20.
[0022] With reference to FIG. 3, the opening 18 of the container 14
is sealed by first and second covers 32 and 34, respectively. The
first cover 32 extends across the opening 18 and has a perimeter
region 33 that is attached directly to the flange 20 by a suitable
adhesive, thermal bonding, or other suitable means. For example,
the first cover 32 comprises a sheet of a metallic foil or plastic,
which as shown in FIG. 1 extends around the opening 18 so that the
attachment to the flange 20 seals that opening. The first cover 32
may be colored to distinguish it from the container and a second
cover to be described. The term "attached directly" as used herein
means that the two respective components, such as the first cover
32 and the container 14, are connected to each other without any
intervening component other than adhesive or other bonding agent.
The attachment of the first cover 32 to the container flange 20
hermetically seals the first compartment 11. A portion 36 of the
first cover 32 projects over and is adhered to the second tab 26,
however the first cover does not extend onto nor is it attached to
the first tab 24. The first cover 32 is depressed into the opening
18 of the container 14 so as to form the second compartment 12
within which a second element 40 is held. When the package 10 is
used for communion purposes, the second element 40 is a host
wafer.
[0023] The second cover 34 extends entirely over the second element
40 and the first cover 32 and is attached at its perimeter region
35 to the container flange 20. In the preferred embodiment of the
package 10, the second cover 34 has a size and shape which conforms
to that of the container flange 20 and thus covers the entire upper
surface 22 of the flange 20. It should be noted that the second
cover 34 extends over and is attached to both the first and second
tabs 24 and 26. However, the two covers 32 and 34 are not attached
to one another. The second cover 34 preferably is a transparent
plastic sheet or film, for example, but may be a metallic foil or
other suitable materials. By attaching the second cover 34 entirely
around the periphery of the flange 20, a hermetic seal is created
for the second compartment 12 in which the second element 40 is
contained. In addition, such attachment of the second cover 34
provides a double seal for the first compartment 11 and the first
element 16 residing therein.
[0024] The package 10 is made by first forming the container 14 by
conventional methods. For example, a plastic container can be
fabricated by any of several molding techniques, such a
thermoforming from a plastic sheet. The first element 16, such as
grape juice or wine for communion, is placed into the formed
container 14. Then, adhesive, such as a hot glue for example, is
applied to the inner portion of the flange 20 around the opening 18
and the first cover 32 is placed onto that portion of the flange,
centered over the opening. This bonds the first cover directly to
the container 14. Next the second element 40, e.g. the host wafer,
is positioned onto the first cover 32 over the container opening
18. Then additional adhesive is applied to the outer portion of the
flange 20 around the first cover 32 and the second cover 34 is
placed over the entire assembly which bonds the second cover
directly to the container. Alternatively, the adhesive may be
applied to the entire upper surface 22 of the flange 20 at one
time, provided that the working time of the adhesive is
sufficiently long to accommodate application of both covers 32 and
34 onto the flange. As noted previously, other methods may be
employed to attach the covers to the container.
[0025] The finished package 10 then is packed with other identical
packages for shipment to a consumer, such as a church in the case
of use as a communion cup.
[0026] When the present package 10 contains the elements for
communion, a separate sealed package is distributed to each
worshiper during the religious service. Such distribution may occur
by passing a tray containing a plurality of packages 10 along the
church pews as is commonly done in Protestant services, or by
handling a package to each worshiper who walks to the front of the
church as is common in Roman Catholic services. At the appropriate
time, the worshiper opens the package 10 by grasping the container
14 in one hand and with the other hand, bending the first tab 24 up
or down along the first groove 28 to detach the tab from the
remainder of the container 14. As seen in FIG. 1, the first tab is
designated by the number "1" printed on either that tab or the
potion the second cover over that tab to indicate which tab to
break-away first. With reference to FIG. 4, the worshiper then
pulls the first tab 24 and the portion of the second cover 34
adhered thereto, upward away from the opening 18 of the container
14, as indicated by the arrow. This action opens the second
compartment 12, exposing the second element 40. The worshiper then
removes the second element 40, the communion wafer, from the
package. Depending upon the procedure of the communion service, the
worshiper may either consume a wafer immediately or hold the wafer
while opening the package 10 further. As an alternative method to
gain access to the second compartment 12 and to the second element
40 therein, a portion of the second cover 34 may not be attached to
the first tab 24 allowing the used to grasp that portion and peel
the second cover away from the container 14.
[0027] In order to access the first element 16, the grape juice or
wine for communion, the worshiper continues to hold the container
14 in one hand while now grasping the second tab 26 between the
thumb and index finger of the other hand. As seen in FIG. 1, the
second tab is designated by the number "2" printed on either that
tab or the portion the second cover 34 over that tab to indicate
which tab to break-away last. The second tab 26 is then bent up and
down along the second groove 30 to detach that tab away from the
remainder of the container 14, as depicted in FIG. 5. The first
cover 32 is then pulled upward away from the flange 20 of the
container 14, releasing the adhesive bond there between. As the
second tab 26 is pulled upward as indicated by the arrow, the
portion of the second cover 34 that is attached thereto is pulled
along with that second tab 26. The separation of the first cover 32
from the container 14 continues until a large enough opening has
been created to allow the worshiper to drink the liquid element 16.
The first cover 32 may be completely removed from the container 14
or pulled sufficiently there from such that only a small portion
that is adjacent the first groove 28 remains attached to the
container. At that time, if the wafer has not been consumed
previously, the worshiper may drip the host in the liquid within
the first compartment 11 and then consume the host.
[0028] As an alternative method to gain access to the first
compartment 11 and to the first element 16 therein, the user may
penetrate the first cover 32 without removing its perimeter section
from attachment to the container 14. In this event, the first cover
does not have to releasable from the container.
[0029] At the completion of the communion sacrament, the empty
package 10 can be disposed of in a waste receptacle or placed in
the appropriate holder on the rear of the pew in front in the
worshiper.
[0030] With reference to FIG. 6, a second version of a dual
compartment package 50 has a container 52 similar to container 14
in that it has a tapered side wall 54, a closed bottom and an
opening at the top. A flange 56 extends around the top opening and
has an outwardly projecting tab 57. However, the second container
52 has an annular rim 58 extending around the interior of the
container and spaced inwardly from the flange 56.
[0031] The second container 52 is sealed by first and second covers
60 and 62. The first cover 60 has a perimeter attached directly to
the interior, annular rim 58 by a suitable adhesive, thermal
bonding, or other suitable means. This forms a first compartment
64. The first cover 60 has a pull tab 63 by for grasping by a use
to remove the first cover from the second container 52. This forms
an inner, first compartment 64. The second cover 62 is attached at
its perimeter directly to the container flange 56 and extends over
the tab 57, thereby forming an outer, second compartment 66 in the
package 50.
[0032] The foregoing description was primarily directed to a
preferred embodiment of the invention. Although some attention was
given to various alternatives within the scope of the invention, it
is anticipated that one skilled in the art will likely realize
additional alternatives that are now apparent from disclosure of
embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention should be determined from the following claims and not
limited by the above disclosure.
* * * * *