U.S. patent application number 11/428054 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for combination ingestible-product and beverage packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to Steven Collotta. Invention is credited to Steven Collotta, Samuel L. Millen.
Application Number | 20080000786 11/428054 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38657273 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000786 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Collotta; Steven ; et
al. |
January 3, 2008 |
Combination Ingestible-Product and Beverage Packaging
Abstract
A combination package for both an ingestible product, such as a
medication, and a beverage, such as water, is of a unitary,
single-use design. The medication and the beverage, of which only a
small amount is provided, can be stored in separate sealed cavities
defined by the package. The combination package can be designed so
as to be easily and conveniently hung from a display rack in a
store. A consumer can open the package to gain access to each
cavity and can then orally consume the medication and then wash it
down with the beverage.
Inventors: |
Collotta; Steven; (Grafton,
MA) ; Millen; Samuel L.; (Somerville, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY;AND POPEO, P.C.
ONE FINANCIAL CENTER
BOSTON
MA
02111
US
|
Assignee: |
Collotta; Steven
Grafton
MA
|
Family ID: |
38657273 |
Appl. No.: |
11/428054 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/217 ;
206/223; 206/495; 206/528 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5811 20130101;
B65D 81/3261 20130101; B65D 73/0085 20130101; B65D 73/0057
20130101; B65D 77/28 20130101; B65D 75/30 20130101; B65D 51/28
20130101; B65D 75/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/217 ;
206/223; 206/495; 206/528 |
International
Class: |
B65D 77/00 20060101
B65D077/00; B65D 71/00 20060101 B65D071/00; B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00; B65D 85/42 20060101 B65D085/42 |
Claims
1. A combination package comprising: a unitary package defining at
least two cavities and including a tab in the form of a hook or
defining an orifice so as to enable the package to be hung from the
tab in a store display; a liquid beverage in a first of the
cavities; and an ingestible product that offers a health benefit to
a human in a second of the cavities.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein both the beverage and the
ingestible product are in contact with the package
3. The package of claim 1, wherein the liquid beverage comprises
water.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein the liquid beverage consists
essentially of water.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the ingestible product is a
medication
6. The package of claim 5, wherein the medication is a pain-relief
or anti-inflammatory drug.
7. The package of claim 5, wherein the medication is in a pill or
capsule form.
8. The package of claim 7, wherein no more than two pills or
capsules are contained in the second cavity.
9. The package of claim 1, wherein the package comprises
plastic.
10. The package of claim 1, wherein the package backing comprises
metal foil.
11. The package of claim 1, wherein 20 to 120 mL of the liquid
beverage is in the first cavity.
12. A combination package comprising: a unitary package defining at
least two cavities; a liquid beverage in a first of the cavities;
an ingestible product that offers a health benefit to a human in a
second of the cavities; and one or more pull-tabs configured to
open the package and provide access to the beverage and/or to the
ingestible product when pulled by a user.
13. A combination package comprising: a unitary package defining at
least two cavities; a liquid beverage in a first of the cavities;
an ingestible product that offers a health benefit to a human in a
second of the cavities; and a perforated strip which is defined in
the package at a position such that a user can gain access to the
beverage or to the ingestible product when tearing the package
along the perforated strip.
14. A combination package comprising: a unitary package defining at
least two cavities; a liquid beverage in a first of the cavities;
and an ingestible product that that offers a health benefit to a
human in a second of the cavities; and one or more notches which
are carved out of an edge of the package to facilitate tearing of
the package by a consumer to access the beverage or the an
ingestible product.
15. A combination package comprising: a unitary package defining at
least two cavities; a liquid beverage in a first of the cavities;
and an ingestible product that offers a health benefit to a human
in a second of the cavities; and a pair of layers that are joined
about their perimeters and between which the cavities are
defined.
16. The package of claim 15, wherein the two layers are laminated
to form a substantially planar perimeter region.
17. The package of claim 16, wherein one of the layers is a
substantially planar substrate, and wherein the other layer
includes a pair of blisters extending from the substantially planar
substrate to define the two cavities.
18. The package of claim 16, wherein the cavity in which the
beverage is contained includes a neck region at one end that is
substantially narrowed from the rest of the cavity to facilitate
drinking of the beverage from the neck region by a consumer.
19. The package of claim 16, further comprising a tab in the form
of a hook or defining an orifice so as to enable the package to be
hung from the tab in a store display.
20. A combination package comprising: a front shell and a removable
sealing layer bonded with the front shell, wherein at least two
cavities are defined between the shell and the sealing layer; a
liquid beverage in a first of the cavities; and an ingestible
product that offers a health benefit to a human in a second of the
cavities, wherein the sealing layer includes a pull tab extending
from the package and configured such that the sealing layer can be
removed from the first cavity when the pull tab is pulled by a
user.
21. The package of claim 20, further comprising a pull tab
extending from the package and configured such that the sealing
layer can be removed from the second cavity when the pull tab is
pulled by a user.
22. A combination package comprising: a unitary package defining at
least two cavities; a liquid beverage in a first of the cavities,
wherein a perforated strip or a notch is defined in the package at
a position such that a user can gain access to the beverage or to
the ingestible product when tearing the package along the
perforated strip or at the notch; and an ingestible product that
offers a health benefit to a human in a second of the cavities.
23. A combination package comprising: a unitary package comprising
a pair of layers that are joined about their perimeters and
defining at least two cavities between the layers; a liquid
beverage in a first of the cavities; and an ingestible product that
offers a health benefit to a human in a second of the cavities.
24. A combination package comprising: a unitary package defining at
least two cavities; a liquid beverage in a first of the cavities,
wherein the first cavity includes a neck region at one end that is
substantially narrowed from the rest of the cavity to facilitate
drinking of the beverage by a consumer from the neck region; and an
ingestible product that that offers a health benefit to a human in
a second of the cavities.
25. A method for fabricating a combination package containing an
ingestible product that offers a health benefit to a human and a
liquid beverage, the method comprising: providing a front shell
including a pair of bubbles; placing ingestible product in one of
the bubbles; placing a liquid beverage in the other bubble; placing
a back shell on top of the front shell to contain the ingestible
product and the liquid beverage in separate cavities between the
two shells; and bonding the back shell to the front shell to seal
the two cavities.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein between 20 and 120 mL of the
liquid beverage is placed in the bubble.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the shells are bonded using
ultrasonic welding.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein the shells are thermally
bonded.
29. A combination package comprising: a unitary package defining at
least two cavities; to 120 mL of a liquid beverage in a first of
the cavities; and an ingestible product that offers a health
benefit to a human in a second of the cavities.
30. The method of claim 24, wherein the package is hung from the
tab on a rod.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Various over-the-counter medications are routinely sold in
pharmacies and convenience stores in bottles. In recent years,
single-dosage-sized packages have also become available and may,
e.g., be hung from display racks at the cashier's counter.
[0002] Likewise, liquid beverages, such as water, are routinely
available at convenience stores and generally sold in the form of a
plastic bottle, typically in volumes of 500 mL or more. The bottles
typically include a metal or plastic cap that can be screwed on and
off of the container part of the bottle. These bottles are
generally purchased by customers to quench a thirst or to wash down
a meal. Consequently, they are sold in sizes providing for more
than a few swallows of the beverage by the consumer, and the
replaceable cap allows for the beverage to be consumed in stages;
for example a user can take a few sips of the beverage and then
replace the cap and finish the beverage at a later time.
SUMMARY
[0003] Disclosed herein is a combination package containing both an
ingestible product that offers a health benefit to humans and a
liquid beverage, such as water. A fairly small volume of the
beverage can be provided--i.e., just enough for a user to wash down
the ingestible product when ingesting it; consequently, the package
can be much more compact than previous designs. In one embodiment,
the package is of a unitary structure that defines a pair of
cavities, one each for the ingestible product and for the
beverage.
[0004] Additionally, in particular embodiments, no additional
(separate) packaging for the ingestible product and beverage is
provided. In other words, the beverage is not contained in a
bottle, which is then incorporated into the unitary package, and
the ingestible product is not contained in a separate sleeve or
canister. Rather, the sole containment for the beverage and the
ingestible product within the combination package can be the
package, itself.
[0005] Accordingly, the entire package can be very small and highly
portable and convenient; moreover, a tab in the form of a hook or
including a defined orifice can be provided so that the package can
be hung with a stack of similar packages from a display rack in a
store. The design of this combination facilitates easy purchase and
use by a consumer, wherein the consumer can easily tear open the
package to access the ingestible product and the beverage, consume
them and then throw away the package with minimal waste.
[0006] The package can be manufactured via a variety of methods
that are different from conventional bottling techniques. In one
embodiment, a front shell and a back shell are provided. The front
shell can have a pair of bubbles into which the ingestible product
and the beverage are placed and segregated. The back shell is then
placed on top of the front shell and bonded thereto. After the
bonding process the two cavities are fully sealed and segregated
from one another within the package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the accompanying drawings, described below, like
reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout
the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale,
emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating particular
principles of the methods and apparatus characterized in the
Detailed Description.
[0008] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a combination package in the
form of a blister pack structure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a combination package in the
form of a dual-pocket soft pack
[0010] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a combination package in the
form of a secondary-lid bottle.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a combination package in the
form of a peel-away-top dual-cavity plastic container.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an illustration of combination package in the form
of a canister in which a container filled with water and a
medication packet are contained.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an illustration providing a view of the front
shell of another embodiment of a blister pack.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side view (from the left, as shown) of the
blister pack of FIG. 6.
[0015] FIG. 8 is an end view (from the top of the page, as shown)
of the blister pack of FIG. 6.
[0016] FIG. 9 is an end view (from the bottom of the page, as
shown) of the blister pack of FIG. 6.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a front view of a fold-over package in the closed
position.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a front view of the fold-over package of FIG. 11
with the fold-over section unfolded to provide access to the
medication sub-package.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a one-piece, multi-fold
package containing a beverage bottle and a medication
sub-package.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the one-piece, multi-fold
package of FIG. 12 unfolded to provide access to the beverage
bottle.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a plurality of one-piece,
multi-fold packages on display for customers in a display case.
[0022] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a bent, one-piece package
construction with holes through which joined tubes for a beverage
and medication is contained.
[0023] FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the tubes in FIG. 15.
[0024] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
package including a bubble section for the beverage and a pull tab
under which a medication sub-package is contained, wherein the
package also includes a straw.
[0025] FIG. 18 is a perspective view the package of FIG. 17 with
the straw inserted through a puncture cap on the bubble for the
beverage.
[0026] FIG. 19 is a view of a backerboard for a package.
[0027] FIG. 20 is an exploded view showing the different layers of
a laminate package.
[0028] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a bubble for a
beverage.
[0029] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a cut-out frame into which
the bubble for the beverage is inserted.
[0030] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the back side of the
bubble for the beverage and the back side of the cut-out frame.
[0031] FIG. 24 is a front view of a backerboard in which a
medication sub-package is contained in a clear adhesive panel.
[0032] FIG. 25 is a front view of a backerboard with blisters for
the medication.
[0033] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a package with a
folding-open separable bubble for the beverage, with the two haves
joined by an adhesive pull strip.
[0034] FIG. 27 is an illustration of multiple packages horizontally
joined together.
[0035] FIG. 28 is an illustration of multiple packages vertically
joined.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Various embodiments of a (disposable) package or container
with two discrete cavities or compartments each hold a single
serving of an ingestible product and a small portion of a beverage
to aid in the swallowing of the ingestible product are described,
below, and illustrated in the figures. The cavity for each can be
defined by the unitary (integral) package, itself, or can be
defined by a separate structure, such as a bottle for the beverage
or a separate blister package for the ingestible product The
various embodiments are provided as non-limiting examples, and
various features from the different embodiments can also be readily
mixed and matched. Each of the packages illustrated and described
herein can be sealed in an outer layer of shrink-wrap plastic to
maintain the beverage and ingestible product compartments in a
clean, sanitary condition. In addition, multi-use configurations
are illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28.
[0037] The ingestible product offers a health benefit to a human
and generally will have a desired effect on the consumer upon
ingestion. For example, the ingestible product can be a medication,
a vitamin, an herbal remedy (e.g., ginseng, ginkgo biloba,
psyllium, spirulina, or echinacea), etc.
[0038] Medications that can be contained in the ingestible product
cavity of the package can be of many different types, e.g.,
antacids, antihistamines, aspirin, ibuprofen, oral contraceptives,
pain-relief or anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin,
acetaminophen, ibuprofen, methyl salicylate, diflunisal,
arylalkanoic acids, diclofenac, indomethacin, dulindac,
2-arylpropionic acids (profens), ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen,
carprofen, fenoprofen, ketorolac, n-arylanthranilic acids (fenamic
acids), mefenamic acid, oxicams, piroxicam, meloxicam, coxibs,
celecoxib, rofecoxib, valdecoxib, parecoxib, etoricoxib,
sulphonanilides, and nimesulide. Moreover, the form of the
medication (or other ingestible product) contained within the
"ingestible product cavity" can be of a variety of forms, including
(but not limited to) gel caps, capsules, coated or uncoated pills,
powder, etc.
[0039] The beverage is a fluid that can safely be orally ingested
by humans. Water (in a substantially pure form) is particularly
suitable as the beverage. The water can be, for example, spring or
distilled water. Alternatively, another type of beverage, such as
soda, fruit juice or even a more-viscous fluid, such as drinkable
yogurt, can be contained in the beverage cavity.
[0040] The package can be formed, e.g., of a plastic such as those
marketed under the tradenames, LEXAN (from GE Plastics of
Pittsfield, Mass., USA) and LUCITE (from Lucite International of
Southampton, UK). Examples of other suitable plastics include
polyethylene (PE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density
polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate,
polyester, etc.
[0041] An embodiment of the combination package 10 in the form of a
clear blister pack with two discrete blisters 16 and 18 is
illustrated in FIG. 1. The first blister 16 defines a cavity in
which is contained a pre-packaged single dose of medication 12.
While this concept illustrates the ingestible product in the form
of a medication 12 in tablet or capsule form, the medication 12 can
be liquid or solid and can be contained within its own sub-package,
which also may take on a variety of forms. The second blister 18 of
the blister pack defines a separate cavity in which is contained a
small portion of beverage 14 (e.g., water). This beverage 14,
similar to the ingestible product 12, can be in any of a variety of
sub-packaging containers ranging from a discrete small bottle 22
with a threaded or molded cap 24 to a separate blister pack
(similar to a packet of ketchup or mustard), which can be broken at
a corner to allow the beverage 14 to be swallowed along with the
ingestible product 12. Both of the sealed cavities defined by the
blisters 14 and 16 are surrounded by a substantially planar
scaffold 26.
[0042] Another embodiment, in the form of a minimal dual-pocket or
dual-packet ingestible-product-and-beverage package 10 (similar to
a packet of ketchup or mustard except with two discrete pockets 17
and 19 separated by a seal similar to that on the perimeter of a
ketchup packet) is illustrated in FIG. 2. The first 17 of the two
pockets defines a cavity containing an ingestible product in the
form of a single dose of medication 12. The second pocket 19
defines a separate cavity in which is contained a small amount of
beverage in the form of water to aid in the swallowing of the
medication 12. Each of the cavities defined by the pockets 17 and
19 is accessible via a perforation 30 and/or notch 32 and 34 in the
packaging, which allows the user to tear open each of the
compartments individually.
[0043] A bottle 22 filled with a beverage and having a secondary
lid or cap 36 is illustrated in FIG. 3. This secondary lid or cap
36 creates a chamber that holds an ingestible product--in this
case, in the form of a single dose of medication 12 in pill or
capsule form. A consumer can remove the secondary cap 36 to access
the ingestible product 12 and then remove the primary cap 24 to
access the small portion of a beverage 14 to aid in the swallowing
of the ingestible product 12. In this illustration, the secondary
lid or cap 36 can be snapped onto the bottle 22 and secured with a
tamper-resistant safety seal wrapped around the bottle 22.
[0044] A peel-away-top, dual-cavity, plastic package 10 with two
discrete "tops" is illustrated in FIG. 4. The first smaller cavity
contains an ingestible product--in this case, in the form of 12 a
pill or capsule. The second larger volume (inside the bottle 20)
contains a small portion of a beverage 14 to aid in the swallowing
of the ingestible product 12. A consumer first peels open the
ingestible-product compartment using the pull tab 40 to access the
ingestible product 12 for consumption. The consumer then separately
opens the cap 24 to the beverage compartment. The consumer can then
pour and swallow the beverage 14 to aid in swallowing the
ingestible product 12. An alternate version of this concept is a
package with two discrete compartments and a single "peel-away"
seal. Peeling away the seal provides access to the contents of both
compartments in a side-by-side fashion.
[0045] A canister 42 for two discrete containers is illustrated in
FIG. 5. A container (e.g., a bottle 22) for the beverage can be
placed in the canister 42 along with a packet 20 that contains the
ingestible product 12. A lid 44 can be snapped onto the top of the
canister 42 to enclose both the beverage bottle 22 and the
ingestible product packet 20 therein. The canister 42 can be formed
of a clear plastic, and the lid 44 can also be formed of plastic.
The container 22 for the beverage can likewise be formed of a clear
plastic, and the packet 20 for the ingestible product can be formed
of plastic, metal foil, or paper.
[0046] Another embodiment of a blister-pack package 10 is
illustrated from various perspectives in FIGS. 6-9. The package 10
includes a front shell 56, illustrated in FIG. 6, comprising a pair
of bubbles (which can also be viewed as bubbles or protrusions,
depending on the perspective of the observer) 46 and 52 that define
respective cavities when the front shell 56 is joined to a thin,
substantially planar back shell 58 having the same length and width
as the front shell 56. The front shell 56 is sealed to the back
shell 58 along the substantially planar scaffold perimeter 26 of
the package 10. The beverage is contained in the larger bubble 46,
while the ingestible product is contained in the smaller bubble 52.
In this embodiment, the length of the package 10 (measured from top
to bottom in the orientation of FIG. 6) is 4.90 inches. The width
of the package 10 (measured from left to right in the orientation
of FIG. 6) is 2.25 inches. The thickness of the package 10
(measured from left to right in the orientation of FIG. 7) is 0.77
inches; as shown in FIG. 9, the indention 52 for the ingestible
product extends about half of this distance. Generally, this
package 10 can be constructed in a variety of configurations
wherein the greatest dimension is less than six inches or, in this
case, less than five inches. The front shell 56 can be formed of a
plastic that will hold its shape absent excess stress, while the
back shell 58 can be formed of a material having less rigidity,
such as a plastic or metal foil, so that it can be readily pealed
away by user without spilling the beverage.
[0047] The bubble 46 for the beverage includes a neck 48 at one
end, wherein the neck 48 has a width substantially less than (e.g.,
less than half) that of the bulk or majority of the bubble. A
cut-out slot 50 is provided around the neck 48 to thereby allow the
end of the scaffold 26 (proximate to the tab 28) to be bent back to
leave the neck 48 extended from the package. The package 10 can
then be tilted to allow the beverage to flow through the neck 48
and into the consumer's mouth after the back shell 58 is peeled
away from the neck 48. The bubble 46 for the beverage also includes
a flattened portion 54 to enable the package 10 to sit flat when
the front shell 56 is placed atop a horizontal surface. The
opposite side of the package 10 (i.e., the outer side of the back
shell 58) is substantially flat, thereby facilitating stacking of
the packages.
[0048] A blister pack, such as the package 10 illustrated in FIGS.
6-9, can be fabricated and filled by the following process. First,
the formed front shell 56 with the two discrete bubbles 46 and 52
can be placed on the bottom half of an ultrasonic welding die. The
ultrasonic welding die follows the perimeter of the two bubbles 46
and 52 in the front shell 56 of the blister pack. An ingestible
product, like for example a Medication, either as individual
capsules or pills or over-packed in a small packet or other
container, can be either automatically or manually placed in a
first 52 of the two bubbles. Additionally, either a fluid dispenser
passes over the front shell 56 or the front shell 56 passes under
the dispensing tip as the dispensing tip dispenses a specific
amount of fluid into the second bubble 46 of the front shell 56.
After the bubbles 46 and 52 are filled, the back shell 58 is laid
(either manually or automatically) on top of the front shell 56,
and the assembly is placed under another ultrasonic welding die.
Once the entire assembly is in place, the ultrasonic welding die
closes down on the assembly, thereby sealing the perimeter scaffold
26 and both bubbles 46 and 52 to seal each cavity defined therein.
The ultrasonic welding die generates high-frequency ultrasonic
acoustic vibrations to weld the shells 56 and 58 together.
Absorption of the acoustic-vibration energy in the shells 56 and 58
causes local melting of the plastic in the shells and consequent
bonding. If a graphic label is used, the label is applied either to
the front or back of the now-sealed assembly. Finally, if a graphic
card is used, it is inserted on the front shell 56 before the back
shell 58 is laid on top and is contained therein by the ultrasonic
weld.
[0049] Alternatively, other means, such as a heat-sealing die can
be used to thermally seal the back shell 58 to the front shell 56.
In another alternative process, the back shell 58 can be sealed to
the front shell 56, leaving a fill hole in the back shell 58 over
the cavity defined by bubble 46. The needle of a filling tool can
then be inserted through the fill hole to fill the bubble 46 with
the beverage. Then, a foil decal can be applied to the back shell
58 to seal the fill hole. Finally, a consumer can pierce the fill
hole with a pointed straw adhered to the package 10 to enable the
consumer to suck the beverage out of the cavity and through the
straw.
[0050] An embodiment of a fold-over package structure is
illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The package 10 includes a
folder-over section 62 that can be folded up against the front of
the scaffold 26 to encase a medication sub-package 20 under a clear
polymer panel 60, as shown in FIG. 10. The fold-over section 62 is
unfolded in FIG. 11 to reveal a adhesive strip 64 for securing the
fold-over section 62 to the scaffold 26.
[0051] Another package design is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13,
wherein the package 10 includes a one-piece, multi-fold
construction 66 formed, e.g., of a heavy paper or cardboard, which
folds over to encase a beverage bottle 22 and medication
sub-package 22. The package 10 of FIGS. 12 and 13 includes a tab 28
for hanging incorporated into the one-piece construction 66.
Though, in another embodiment, shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of the
packages 10 can be stacked in a cardboard display rack 68, which
can be mounted, e.g., on a counter in a store.
[0052] Another embodiment of a one-piece construction 66, this one
merely being bent to contain the beverage and medication
sub-packaging, is illustrated in FIG. 15. The one-piece
construction 66 here includes a pair of die-cut holes 72 through
which tubes 72 and 74 for the beverage and medication can be
inserted. Both tubes 72 and 74 are sealed to a cap 24. An exploded
view of the tubes with the tube 74 removed to reveal the medication
sub-package 20 contained therein. The cap 24 can then be removed
from the tube 72 to provide the consumer with access to the
beverage contained therein.
[0053] An embodiment of a package 10 including a straw 76 sealed
under a shrink-perforated pull tab 40 on the scaffold 26 is
illustrated in FIG. 17. The straw 76 is punched into a puncture cap
78 on the bubble 46 for the beverage, as shown in FIG. 18, to
enable the consumer to drink the beverage through the straw 76. The
puncture cap 78 can be formed, e.g., of metal foil. The medication
sub-package 20 is likewise sealed under a shrink-perforated pull
tab 40.
[0054] A backerboard 86 to which a shell including a bubble for the
beverage is ultrasonically welded is illustrated in FIG. 19. The
shell is ultrasonically welded to the backerboard 86 at the weld
line 94, and the bubble is positioned over the outline 88. As shown
the distance from the hanging tab 28 to the bottom of the package
is 3.5 inches (about 8.9 cm), while the width of the package,
measured left to right, as shown, is 2.5 inches (about 6.4 cm).
[0055] An exploded view of the different layers of a laminate
package 10 is illustrated in FIG. 20. A front shell 56 including a
bubble 46 for the beverage forms an outer front surface. Underneath
the front shell 56 is a graphic insert 96, which can identify the
brand and type of medication or other ingestible product as well as
the brand and type of the beverage as well as other source indicia,
logos, price, instructions for use, etc. Behind the graphic insert
96 and heat-sealed to the front shell 56 is a plastic backing 98,
which together with the front shell 56 forms a leak-proof enclosure
for the beverage. A medication sub-package 20 is sealed to the back
side of the plastic backing 98 via a tamper-proof adhesive seal
100.
[0056] A clear plastic shell including a bubble 46 for containing a
beverage is illustrated in FIG. 21. The beverage is sealed in the
bubble by a peal-away backing 82. The shell is inserted into a
cut-out frame 80, shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, wherein the cut-out
orifice 84 matches the outline of the bubble 46.
[0057] Two additional embodiments of backerboards 86 to which a
front shell including a bubble for the beverage is shown in FIGS.
24 and 25. A medication sub-package 20 is sealed under a clear
polymer panel 60 on the front of package in FIG. 24, while the
medication 12 is loosely contained under blisters 16 in FIG.
25.
[0058] Yet another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 26, includes a
bubble separable into two halves 89 and 90. The two halves 89 and
90 are sealed together via an adhesive pull strip 92. The strip 92
can be pulled and the scaffold 26 folded open the bubble and to
thereby afford the consumer access to the beverage contained
therein.
[0059] In other embodiments, a plurality of the packages 10 can be
joined side to side or end to end and are able to be separated by
tearing at a perforation 30, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28. A
plurality of packages can thereby be purchased as a batch by a
consumer. The perforated strip is but one packaging configuration
for the multi-use product. Packages can also be separated by
notches with easy-tear creases. The consumer can then separate a
package from the batch and use each package separately from the
others, as needed. Where the package is more cylindrical in shape,
as in FIGS. 3 and 5, a plurality of the packages can be joined
either side by side, or end to end such that the lid of one is
joined to the bottom of the other. The tab 28 can be omitted from
packages in this design to facilitate the joining of the
containers; the packages can be stacked and sealed in perforated
plastic to bind them together. In another embodiment, a plurality
of ingestible-product doses can be included in separate cavities in
the package.
[0060] As an alternative to the consumer ingesting the beverage and
the ingestible product separately, the consumer can open the
cavities and drop the ingestible product into the beverage; with
products such as antacids, the product may dissolve therein. In
still other embodiments, a membrane can be provided between the
beverage cavity and the ingestible product; and a consumer can
break that membrane to immerse the ingestible product in the
beverage.
[0061] In describing embodiments of the invention, specific
terminology is used for the sake of clarity. For purposes of
description, each specific term is intended to at least include all
technical and functional equivalents that operate in a similar
manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Additionally, in some
instances where a particular embodiment of the invention includes a
plurality of system elements or method steps, those elements or
steps may be replaced with a single element or step; likewise, a
single element or step may be replaced with a plurality of elements
or steps that serve the same purpose. Moreover, while this
invention has been shown and described with references to
particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will
understand that various other changes in form and details may be
made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
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