U.S. patent application number 12/089636 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-25 for containers and methods for the reconstitution and dispensation of concentrated or powdered products.
Invention is credited to Paul B. Manning, James W. McGrath.
Application Number | 20080233252 12/089636 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38309679 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080233252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Manning; Paul B. ; et
al. |
September 25, 2008 |
Containers and Methods for the Reconstitution and Dispensation of
Concentrated or Powdered Products
Abstract
Containers are especially adapted for the reconstitution and
dispensation of concentrated or powdered products. The containers
preferably include a sealed flexible pouch body defining an
interior space; removable primary and secondary seal regions which
seal primary and secondary openings into the interior space of the
pouch body, and a resealable closure member provided adjacent the
primary seal region for reseating the primary opening upon removal
of the primary seal region. A strip thermometer may be physically
attached to the pouch body so as to provide visual temperature
indication of the reconstituted liquid product within the
container. The containers may be prepackaged with a desired amount
of concentrated or powdered product for later reconstitution. In
use, the primary seal region may be physically removed and the
resealable closure member opened so to expose the primary opening
to the interior space of the container. A reconstitution liquid may
then be introduced through the primary opening and into the
container's interior space. Resealing of the primary opening by the
closure member allows the product to be mixed with the
reconstitution liquid. Thereafter, the secondary seal region may be
removed to allow access to the reconstituted liquid product through
the secondary opening.
Inventors: |
Manning; Paul B.; (Troy,
VA) ; McGrath; James W.; (Keswick, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
901 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Family ID: |
38309679 |
Appl. No.: |
12/089636 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
October 27, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US06/42552 |
371 Date: |
April 9, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60730362 |
Oct 27, 2005 |
|
|
|
60738022 |
Nov 21, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
426/412 ;
383/120; 383/204; 383/63; 426/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2533 20130101;
B65D 33/2591 20130101; B65D 75/563 20130101; B65D 75/5822 20130101;
B65D 75/5872 20130101; A61J 9/02 20130101; B65D 2201/00 20130101;
B65D 75/5866 20130101; B65D 75/5805 20130101; B65D 75/008 20130101;
A61J 9/005 20130101; A61J 2200/72 20130101; A61J 2200/76
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/412 ; 383/63;
383/204; 383/120; 426/106 |
International
Class: |
B65B 55/14 20060101
B65B055/14; B65D 33/16 20060101 B65D033/16; B65D 33/00 20060101
B65D033/00; B65D 30/20 20060101 B65D030/20; B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a sealed flexible pouch body defining an
interior space; removable primary and secondary seal regions which
seal primary and secondary openings into the interior space of the
pouch body; and a resealable closure member provided adjacent the
primary seal region for resealing the primary opening upon removal
of the primary seal region.
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a strip thermometer
physically attached to the pouch body.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the closure member comprises
cooperative male and female ribs.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary seal
regions include respective tear notches.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein the primary and secondary seal
regions include respective tear lines to allow the primary and
secondary seal regions to be physically removed by tearing the
pouch body therealong.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the pouch body comprises a
pair of bottom gusset walls.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the pouch body comprises a
pair of opposed pinch regions
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the pouch body comprises a lip
region below the secondary seal region.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein the pouch body includes a
liquid fill line.
10. The container of claim 1, wherein the pouch body comprises a
tube member, wherein the secondary seal region comprises a
removable tip region which closes the tube member.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the tip region is removable
from the tube member along a severing line, and wherein the
severing line is a region of reduced material thickness of the tube
member.
12. The container of claim 1, wherein the pouch body includes an
annular fitting outwardly protruding therefrom, and wherein the
secondary seal region comprises a seal layer covering the annular
fitting.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein the annular fitting is
threaded.
14. The container of claim 13, wherein the threaded annular fitting
is adapted to receive an infant nipple assembly.
15. The container of claim 1, wherein the pouch body includes a
handle member.
16. The container of claim 15, wherein the handle member is
arcuately shaped.
17. The container of claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary
seal regions are unitary unitary with one another.
18. A prepackaged concentrated or powdered product comprising; a
container as in claim 1; and a concentrated or powdered product
contained within the interior space of the container.
19. The prepackaged product of claim 18, wherein the concentrated
or powdered product contained within the interior space of the
container is a pharmaceutical or nutritional drink product.
20. The prepackaged product of claim 19, wherein the concentrated
or powdered product contained within the interior space of the
container is a nutritional drink product selected from the group
consisting of adult and pediatric nutritional drinks, infant
formula, pre-natal drinks, sports drinks, pediatric electrolytes,
liquid foods, veterinary drinks.
21. The prepackaged product of claim 18, wherein the concentrated
or powdered product contained within the interior space of the
container is infant formula.
22. The prepackaged product of claim 21, wherein the interior space
of the container is substantially oxygen free.
23. A method of reconstituting a concentrated or powdered product,
comprising the sequential steps of: (a) providing a prepackaged
concentrated or powdered product as in claim 10; (b) removing the
primary seal region and opening the closure member to expose the
primary opening to the interior space of the container; (c)
introducing a reconstitution liquid through the primary opening and
into the interior; (d) resealing the primary opening by closing the
closure member; (e) mixing the reconstitution liquid and the
concentrated or powdered product within the container to form a
reconstituted liquid product; and (f) removing the secondary seal
region to allow access to the reconstituted liquid product through
the secondary opening.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the concentrated or powdered
product contained within the interior space of the container is
infant formula, and the reconstitution liquid is water.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein between steps (e) and (f) there
is practiced the step of heating the reconstituted liquid product
within the container.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
containers. In especially preferred embodiments, the present
invention relates to containers and methods which allow for the
reconstitution and dispensation of concentrated or powdered
products (e.g., potable concentrates or powders, such as
pharmaceutical and nutraceutical drink products, including adult
and pediatric nutritional drinks, infant formula, pre-natal drinks,
sports drinks, pediatric electrolytes, liquid foods, veterinary.
drinks and the like).
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A variety of potable products are provided in the form of
liquid concentrates or powders requiring the consumer to add an
additional amount of water in order to reconstitute the product to
a form that is ready to consume. There exists a need therefore in
the art for a container which allows the product manufacturer to
supply such concentrated or powdered products to the market in a
sanitary, modified atmospheric and hermetically sealed environment
while also allowing the consumer to easily reconstitute the product
and dispense it once reconstituted from the same
manufacturer-supplied container. It is towards fulfilling such a
need that the present invention is directed.
[0003] Broadly, the present invention is embodied in containers
which are especially adapted for the reconstitution and
dispensation of concentrated or powdered products. In especially
preferred embodiments, the containers of the invention include a
sealed flexible pouch body defining an interior space, removable
primary and secondary seal regions which seal primary and secondary
openings into the interior space of the pouch body, and a
resealable closure member provided adjacent the primary seal region
for resealing the primary opening upon removal of the primary seal
region. A strip thermometer may be physically attached to the pouch
body so as to provide visual temperature indication of the
reconstituted liquid product within the container.
[0004] Most preferably, the closure member includes cooperative
male and female ribs, while the primary and secondary seal regions
include respective tear notches. The primary and secondary seal
regions may also include respective tear lines to allow the primary
and secondary seal regions to be physically removed by tearing the
pouch body therealong.
[0005] The pouch body may comprise a pair of bottom gusset walls to
allow expansion the pouch body and thereby accommodate the desired
amount of reconstitution liquid. Although the shape of the
container is not critical to the present invention, it is preferred
that the pouch body be provided with a pair of opposed pinch
regions and/or a lip region below the secondary seal region. Also,
in order to ensure proper filling of the reconstitution liquid, the
pouch body most preferably includes a liquid fill line.
[0006] The containers of the present invention may be prepackaged
with a desired amount of concentrated or powdered product for later
reconstitution. Thus, in use when it is desired to reconstitute the
prepackaged liquid concentrate or powdered product in the
container, the primary seal region may be physically removed (e.g.,
by tearing along its respective tear line) and the resealable
closure member opened so to expose the primary opening to the
interior space of the container. A reconstitution liquid may then
be introduced through the primary opening and into the container's
interior space. Once the proper volume of reconstitution liquid has
been introduced into the interior space of the container (e.g.,
which may be aided by a visible fill line and/or a clear or
temperature-sensitive spot on the pouch film indicative of the
proper liquid volume), the primary opening may be resealed by
closing the closure member. While the closure member is closed, the
reconstitution liquid and the concentrated or powdered product
within the container may be mixed (e.g., by agitating the
container) so as to form a reconstituted liquid product.
Thereafter, removal of the secondary seal region will allow access
to the reconstituted liquid product through the secondary opening.
As such, the reconstituted liquid product may be dispensed from the
container, such as by pouring into another receptacle or through
straw inserted into the secondary opening.
[0007] These and other aspects and advantages will become more
apparent after careful consideration is given to the following
detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0008] Reference will hereinafter be made to the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals throughout the various
FIGURES denote like structural elements, and wherein;
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of one
preferred embodiment of a container in accordance with the present
invention which is sealed with a pre-measured amount of a liquid
concentrate or powdered product in need of reconstitution prior to
consumption;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container depicted
in FIG. 1 but without the product contained therein;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the
container depicted in FIG. 2 as taken along line 3-3 therein;
[0012] FIGS. 4-9 schematically represent one preferred technique
for reconstituting the liquid concentrate or powdered product
within the container depicted in FIG. 1; and
[0013] FIGS. 10-12 depict in perspective view alternative preferred
embodiments of containers in accordance with the present invention
which are sealed with a pre-measured amount of a liquid concentrate
or powdered product in need of reconstitution prior to
consumption.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Accompanying FIGS. 1-3 depict one particularly preferred
embodiment of container 10 in accordance with the present
invention. As shown the container 10 includes a pouch body 12
having opposed flexible pouch walls 12-1 which define therebetween
an interior space 12-2 for holding a pre-measured amount of a
liquid concentrate or powdered product 14 in need of reconstitution
prior to consumption.
[0015] The interior space 12-2 of the pouch 12 is most preferably
substantially deoxygenated so as to prolong the shelf life of the
product 14 contained therein. More particularly, the interior space
12-2 may be filled with a suitable inert gas (e.g., nitrogen,
argon, carbon dioxide or the like). Alternatively, the interior
space 12-2 may be evacuated (e.ge, a vacuum) which would then also
serve the beneficial function of assisting to maintain the pouch
walls 12-1 in a collapsed state which would thereby minimize the
size of the container 1 0 for purpose of shipment and/or storage
prior to reconstitution of the product 14 therein.
[0016] The material forming the pouch walls 12-1 of the container
10 is sealed along the entirety of their opposed edges by means of
heat-sealing, adhesive and/or ultrasonic welding to form a sealed
edge region 12-3. Gusset walls 12-4, 12-5 are formed at the bottom
of the pouch 12 so as to permit the opposed pouch walls 12-1 to
expand somewhat and thereby provide a sufficient volume of space
12-2 to accommodate the product 14.
[0017] The pouch walls 12-1 may also be provided with a measurement
marking 12-6 or "fill line". The fill line 12-6 may be printed on,
embossed into or otherwise formed integrally with the material of
the pouch walls 12-1 so as to assist the end user to determine the
proper amount of reconstitution liquid (e.g., water, fruit juice,
milk or the like) to be added to the concentrated or powdered
product 14 to thereby ensure the proper final liquid
concentration.
[0018] Alternatively (or additionally), the pouch walls 12-3 may be
provided with one or more indicator windows 12-6' to assist the
user in determining the proper volume of reconstitution liquid to
be added. Such indicator windows 12-6' may thus be advantageous if
the pouch walls 12-1 are formed of an opaque film material. The
indicator window 12-6' may be, for example, transparent or
translucent to allow a user to visibly determine when the
reconstitution liquid has reached the proper level within the
interior 12-2. The indicator window 12-6' may alternatively be a
temperature-sensitive indicator which serves to provide a visual
indication of the presence of the desired liquid volume.
[0019] In the event the reconstituted product 14 is to be served
heated (e.g., by the addition of heated water or the heating of the
entire container and reconstituted product 14 under running hot
water, in a hot water bath or in a microwave oven as may be needed
for reconstituted infant formula), the pouch 12 may optionally be
provided with a strip thermometer 16 having temperature indicators
16-1, 16-2 and 16-3 formed of reversible temperature-responsive
liquid crystal materials. By way of example only, if the
reconstituted product 14 is infant formula, the temperature
indicators 16-1 and 16-3 may respectively be colored blue and red
to indicate a temperature of the heated reconstituted product 14
that is less than or greater than the ideal temperature for an
infant's consumption (e.g., less than or greater than 98.6.degree.
F. (.+-.3.degree. F.), respectively) while the indicator 16-2 may
be colored green to indicate that the temperature is at the desired
infant consumption temperature (e.g., about is 98.6.degree. F.
(.+-.3.degree. F.)). One of the temperature indicators 16-1, 16-2
or 16-3 may also serve the concurrent function of being a visible
liquid fill indicator in the manner described above with reference
to the window 12-6'. Strip thermometers having temperature
indicators formed of reversible temperature-responsive liquid
crystal materials are well known and available from numerous
commercial sources such as from Dry Pak Industries of Studio City,
Calif. See in this regard, the strip thermometers at
www.drypak.com, the entire content of which is expressly
incorporated hereinto by reference.
[0020] Any material suitable for use with the particular product 14
within the container 10 in its concentrated (partially hydrated),
dehydrated (powdered) and fully hydrated (drinkable) forms may be
employed to form the pouch walls 12-1. In this regard, virtually
any sheet-formable thermoplastics material may be employed in the
practice of this invention, including (but not limited to) polymers
and copolymers of polyolefins (such as polypropylenes,
polyethylenes and the like), polyesters, polyamides (e.g., nylons),
polyphenylene oxides, polyphenylene sulfides, polyvinyl chlorides,
acrylonitriles and the like. Blends of such thermoplastics
materials may also be employed in any desired blend ratio to suit
desired end use applications. In addition, metal foils, e.g.,
aluminum, may also be employed in the practice of the present
invention. Particularly preferred for the ultimate fabrication of
containers for use in the present invention are food grade
polyolefins, with polyethylenes being particularly preferred.
[0021] It is especially desirable that the material forming the
pouch walls 12-1 should formed of a food grade material having
oxygen barrier properties. By the term "oxygen barrier" is meant a
material that exhibits an oxygen permeability according to ASTM
D-1434 of less than about 0.010, preferably less than about 0.005,
and most preferably less than 0.003 cc.mil/100 in.sup.2/24
hrs./atm. at 65% relative humidity (RH) and 68.degree. F. Such
oxygen barrier materials along with the inert gas-filled interior
space, will ensure that the powdered product 14 contained in the
interior space of the containers 10 will be subjected to a
substantially oxygen free (i.e., less than about 1.5% O.sub.2)
environment thereby prolonging its shelf life. In this regard, when
the powdered product 14 is infant formula, it is especially
desirable to have an environment within the interior space 12-2 of
the containers 10 which contains less than about 0.1% O.sub.2).
[0022] The oxygen barrier materials may be a thermoplastics
material or may be a metal foil. A metallized layer on
thermoplastics material is also envisioned so as to achieve the
desired oxygen barrier properties. The pouch walls 12-1 may thus be
formed of a monolayer of an oxygen barrier material per se, or may
be multiple layers of materials wherein one or more such layers are
oxygen barrier materials and one or more other layers are formed of
non-oxygen barrier materials. Suffice it to say, that the selection
of any particular oxygen barrier material is dependent upon a
number of factors, including the desired container properties and
its end use application.
[0023] Exemplary classes of oxygen barrier thermoplastics materials
include ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers (e.g.,
commercially available from Eval Company of America under the
registered trademark EVAL.RTM.), polyvinylidene chlorides (e.g.,
commercially available from Dow Chemical under the registered
trademark SARAN.RTM.), oriented and non-oriented polyamides (e.g.,
nylon 6), and oriented polyesters.
[0024] One particularly preferred multilayer thermoplastic film
that may be employed in the practice of the present invention is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,462, the entire content of which
is expressly incorporated hereinto by reference.
[0025] Important to the present invention, the container 10 of the
present invention includes a primary access opening 18 (see FIG. 5)
and a secondary access opening 20 (see FIG. 9), each being sealed
by a corresponding portion of the edge seal region 12-3 to
establish primary and secondary seal regions 18-1 and 20-1,
respectively. These primary and secondary seal regions 18-1, 20-1
are in turn provided with respective tear notches 18-2, 20-2 to
allow the pouch walls 12-1 in the vicinity of each seal region
18-1, 20-1 to be torn along the tear lines 18-3, 20-3,
respectively. Removal of the seal regions 18-1, 20-1 by tearing the
pouch walls 12-1 along the tear lines 18-3, 20-3 will therefore
expose the interior space 12-2 to access from the exterior of the
container 10 via the primary and secondary openings 18, 20,
respectively.
[0026] Also important to the present invention is the provision of
an integral resealable closure device 30 which is most preferably
comprised of interlocking male and female rib elements 30-1, 30-2,
respectively. The rib elements 30-1, 30-2 may be pressed together
manually to form a fluid-tight seal at the primary access opening
18, but may be readily separated from one another by a separatory
force to again establish access from the exterior to the interior
space 12-2 of the container 12. Virtually any known closure device
30 may be employed in the practice of the present invention such as
those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,198,228, 4,812,056, 4,186,786
and 6,826,808 (the entire content of each such patent being
expressly incorporated hereinto by reference).
[0027] While the exact shape of the container 10 is not critical to
the present invention, it is most preferred that the container 10
in the depicted embodiment include a pair of opposed pinch regions
10-1 which define therebetween a region of lesser cross-sectional
dimension to assist the user in grasping and manipulating the
container 10. In addition, the container 10 most preferably
includes a lip region 10-2 located immediately below the secondary
seal region 20-1. The lip region 10-2 provides a surface which can
be brought to bear against an edge of another receptacle when the
reconstituted liquid is being discharged from the interior space
12-2 through the secondary opening 20. In such a manner, therefore,
the lip region 10-2 assists the user in steadying the container 10
while its contents are being discharged.
[0028] It is also preferred that the container 10 in the depicted
embodiment be configured such that the secondary seal region 20-1
extends laterally outwardly so as to form a spout of sorts when the
secondary seal region 20-1 is removed to expose the secondary
opening 20. As will be explained in greater detail below, such a
spout-like configuration will more easily assist the user in
pouring the reconstituted liquid product from the container 10 and
into another receptacle (e.g., a drinking glass, an infant bottle
or the like).
[0029] In addition, it is preferred that the secondary opening 20
be considerably smaller in size as compared to the primary opening
18. Providing the primary opening 18 with a greater size will more
easily allow reconstitution liquids to be introduced into the
interior space 12-2 of the container 10 through the primary opening
18. On the other hand, providing the secondary opening 20 with a
lesser size will permit the user to exercise greater control when
discharging the contents therethrough and/or provide an access port
through which a straw may be inserted should it be desired to
consume the reconstituted liquid directly from the container
10.
[0030] As briefly noted above, the container 10 according to the
present invention is especially well suited and adapted to allow
for the reconstitution and dispensation of concentrated or powdered
products. Accompanying FIGS. 4-9 schematically depict one possible
technique for reconstituting a concentrated or powdered product 14.
In this regard, the product 14 depicted in FIGS. 4-9 may be
referred to as infant formula, but it should be kept in mind that
such a reference is for mere example only. Thus, the technique
depicted in FIGS. 4-9 may sometimes be discussed in terms of
reconstituting such concentrated or powdered infant formula 14 in
preparation for feeding an infant. Again, such description is
exemplary only and may be applied to the reconstitution and
dispensation of virtually any concentrated or powdered product.
[0031] As depicted in FIG. 4, when it is desired to reconstitute
the concentrated or powdered product 14 within the container 10, a
user grasps the container 10 and physically removes the primary
seal region 18-1 by tearing it along the tear line 18-3. As shown
in FIG. 5, applying a separatory force to the closure device 30
will therefore expose the primary opening 18 and allow
reconstitution liquid RL (e.g., water, juice, milk or the like) to
be introduced therethrough and into the interior space of the
container 10. Once a volume of the reconstitution liquid RL has
been introduced into the container 10 sufficient to fill it to the
fill line 12-6, the user may pinch the closure device 30 together
so as to reseal the primary opening 18 against fluid leakage (see
FIG. 6).
[0032] With the primary opening 18 sealed by the closure device 30
and the secondary opening 20 being sealed by the secondary seal
region 20-1, the user may physically agitate the entire container
so as to thoroughly mix the reconstitution liquid RL and the
product 14 so as to form a reconstituted liquid product LP as shown
in FIG. 7. Thus, the resealed closure device 30 and the secondary
seal region 20-1 provide the container 10 with liquid sealing
characteristics so that the reconstituted liquid product LP may be
formed therein without leakage.
[0033] At this stage, the user may warm the reconstituted liquid
product LP if desired or necessary. In this regard, hot water may
be run over the exterior of the liquid-filled and sealed container
10 or the entire container 10 may be placed physically in a water
bath or subject to microwave energy to warm its contents of liquid
product LP. Once the desired temperature indication is visible from
the strip thermometer, the container 10 may be prepared for
dispensing its contents of liquid product LP. In this regard, as
depicted in FIG. 8, a user may gain access to the secondary opening
20 by physically removing the secondary seal region 20-1 along the
tear line 20-3. The user may then discharge the reconstituted
liquid product LP through the secondary opening 20 and into another
receptacle R. In this regard, if the reconstituted liquid product
is liquid infant formula, the receptacle R may be an infant bottle
or a flexible infant bottle liner to be placed in a bottle sleeve
and capped with a suitable nipple for feeding an infant. However,
as noted previously, if the liquid product is a non-infant
consumable drink, the user at this stage may discharge the
reconstituted liquid product LP into drinking glass or cup for
consumption or may consume the liquid product LP directly from the
container 10 by inserting a straw through the secondary opening 20.
Suffice it to say, that those skilled in the art will recognize
many beneficial uses and techniques for reconstituting concentrated
or powdered product and dispensing a liquid therefrom once
reconstituted.
[0034] FIGS. 10-12 depict in perspective view alternative preferred
embodiments of containers in accordance with the present invention
which are sealed with a pre-measured amount of a liquid concentrate
or powdered product in need of reconstitution prior to consumption.
In this regard, as compared to container 10 discussed previously,
the container 100 depicted in FIG. 10 most preferably includes a
substantially rigid tube member 102 which protrudes laterally
outwardly from the pouch body 12. The tube member is most
preferably integrally molded to a collar portion 104 of the pouch
body 12 at a location below the closure member 30. A tip region
102-1 may be severed from the tube member (e.g., using scissors,
knife or like sharp cutting implements) along a severing line 102-2
so as to expose the interior of the tube member 102 to the exterior
environment. In such a manner, the user may gain access to the
reconstituted product in a manner similar to that described
previously with respect to container 10 for purpose of
consumption.
[0035] The severing line 102-2 may be provided with a region of
weakness to reduce the material thickness along the severing line
102-2 (e.g., via scoring).so that the need for a sharp cutting tool
can be avoided. If such a region of weakness is provided along the
severing line 102-2, therefore, the user will need only to effect
relative twisting or like force application between the tip region
102-1 and the tube member 102 so as to break the tip region 102-1
physically from the tube member 102.
[0036] The container 200 depicted in accompanying FIG. 11 is
similar to the containers 10 and 100 discussed previously, except
that the pouch body 12 is provided with an integrally molded rigid
annular fitting member 202 protruding laterally outwardly
therefrom. The opening to the fitting member 202 is sealingly
covered by a suitable peel-off secondary seal layer 204 formed of a
suitable film or cover stock material so as to preserve the
hygienic and sterile environment within the pouch body 12. To
facilitate manual removal by the end user, the secondary seal layer
204 may be provided with an outwardly extending tab 204-1.
[0037] As depicted in FIG. 11, the fitting member 202 just happens
to be in the form of a threaded male fitting so as to accept the
female fitting 206-1 associated with a conventional infant feeding
nipple assembly 206. Thus, the embodiment of the container 200
depicted in FIG. 11 may be employed by the end user as a
self-contained infant feeding system whereby the reconstituted
product within the pouch body 12 may be an infant formula. The end
user may thus reconstitute such infant formula in the manner
described above and thereafter remove the seal layer 204 so that
the nipple assembly 206 may be threadably engaged with the fitting
member 202. The user may then substantially invert the container
200 and present to the infant in need of feeding.
[0038] The container 300 depicted in accompanying FIG. 12 comprises
an arcuately shaped handle member 302 protruding outwardly from and
being integrally molded with the pouch body 12. Thus, as depicted
the handle member 302 includes an upper end region 302-1 which is
integrally attached to the pouch body 12 in the vicinity of the
closure member 30 and a lower end region 302-2 which is integrally
attached to the pouch body at a lower location as compared to the
upper end region 302-1. The spaced relationship of the upper and
lower end regions 302-1, 302-2, respectively, and the preferred
arcuate shape of the handle member 302 establishes a space 302-3.
In such a manner, therefore, the end user to more easily grasp and
manipulate the pouch body 12 via the handle member 302.
[0039] As will also be observed from FIG. 12, the primary and
secondary seal regions unitarily provided by means of the seal
region 304. Thus, in use, the seal region 304 may be removed by
physically tearing the same along the tear line 304-1. Removal of
the seal region 305 will thus expose the interior of the pouch body
12 to allow introduction of the reconstitution liquid in the manner
described previously. Thereafter, the closure device 30 may be
reclosed to allow the contents of the pouch body 12 to be mixed
thoroughly, following which the closure device 30 may be opened
partially along a forward end region 305 thereof. Such partial
opening of the forward end region 305 of the closure device 30
therefore structurally functions as a secondary sealing region
similar to the containers 10, 100 and/or 200 described previously,
with the principal exception being that the forward end region 305
may be resealed. Such functionality of the forward end region 305
therefore allows the end user to employ the container 300 in the
form of a resealable pitcher.
[0040] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *
References