U.S. patent application number 13/877983 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-25 for blister pack for a container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ambrosios Kambouris. Invention is credited to Ambrosios Kambouris.
Application Number | 20130186779 13/877983 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45465390 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130186779 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kambouris; Ambrosios |
July 25, 2013 |
BLISTER PACK FOR A CONTAINER
Abstract
The present invention relates to a blister pack sealed to the
neck of a container and adapted to fit under the container lid
forming a seal, said blister pack containing a liquid soluble
material such as dissolvable aspirin. When force is applied to the
blister pack, the base, which is comprised of a rupturable
material, breaks and allows the liquid soluble material to be mixed
with the liquid in the container. The blister pack remains as a
seal for the container until it is desired that the user remove the
blister pack for access to the container. The user can then re-seal
the container using the container lid.
Inventors: |
Kambouris; Ambrosios;
(Mildura, AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kambouris; Ambrosios |
Mildura |
|
AU |
|
|
Family ID: |
45465390 |
Appl. No.: |
13/877983 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
October 5, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU11/01272 |
371 Date: |
April 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/085 20130101;
B65D 51/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/222 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/08 20060101
B65D025/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 5, 2010 |
AU |
2010904452 |
Claims
1. A blister pack for use with a container having a body and an
opening, said blister pack by including a rupturable base and a
cover of formable material, said base and cover defining at least
one pocket which accommodates an element to be added to existing
contents of said container body, said blister pack being further
adapted to seal said container opening.
2. The blister pack as defined in claim 1 wherein said opening is
associated with a neck portion of said container, said base
extending across the opening such that an outer perimeter thereof
is fixed to the neck and acts as an anti-tamper seal.
3. The blister pack as defined in claim 2 wherein said base
ruptures when a minimum amount of force is applied on said cover,
causing said element to fall into the container body.
4. The blister pack as defined in claim 3 wherein the seal between
the outer perimeter of the base and the container neck is such that
rupture of said base to allow for said element to be added does not
cause said seal to break.
5. The blister pack as defined in claim 2, wherein said seal is
such that the blister pack is manually detachable from the neck of
the container.
6. The blister pack as defined in claim 2, wherein said blister
pack includes tabs which, when pulled, break said seal.
7. The blister pack as defined in claim 5 wherein said container
further includes a lid that is removably attachable from said neck
such that when the lid is attached it envelops said blister
pack.
8. The blister pack as defined in claim 7 wherein said lid includes
a means of sealing said opening when the blister pack has been
removed.
9. The blister pack as defined in claim 1, wherein said base is of
a lower burst strength than said cover.
10. The blister pack as defined in claim 1, wherein the cover is of
thermoformable or coldformable plastic.
11. The blister pack as defined in claim 1, wherein the base is of
aluminum.
12. The blister pack as defined in claim 1, wherein said existing
content is a liquid and said element to be added is a liquid
soluble material.
13. The blister pack as defined in claim 1, wherein said existing
content is a liquid and said element to be added is a liquid
soluble powder.
14. The blister pack as defined in claim 1, wherein said existing
content is a liquid and said element to be added is a second
liquid.
15. The blister pack as defined in claim 1, wherein the rupturable
base is porous and adapted to diffuse oxygen through said blister
pack.
16. A container including a blister pack as defined in claim 1.
17. A container comprising: a body portion carrying a liquid, said
body portion including a neck having associated therewith an
opening; at least one blister pack including a base and a formable
cover defining a pocket therebetween, said pocket adapted to
accommodate an element to be added to said liquid, said base
extending across the opening and including an outer perimeter that
forms a seal between the blister pack and the neck portion of the
container, said base further being rupturable such that when
sufficient force is applied to the formable cover and element in a
direction against said base, the base ruptures and said element is
added to the liquid, said seal being such that the container
remains sealed after force has been applied and said base portion
ruptured.
18. The container as defined in claim 17 wherein said seal is
achieved using an adhesive between the neck of the container and
the outer perimeter of the blister pack base.
19. The container as defined in claim 17 wherein said container
further includes a removably attachable lid, said lid including a
means of sealing said opening after the blister pack has been
completely removed.
20. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a blister pack, particularly for
use with food and beverage containers.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Sealing methods for food and beverage containers are well
known and varied, the most common being a cap or lid. Drinks which
include another component or second component, such as a tablet or
powder which is added to the liquid are growing in popularity.
Usually this includes a blister pack contained in the lid which is
adapted to store material separately from the liquid in the
container.
[0003] It is preferable for the second component to be added
immediately prior to consumption, especially when ingredients to be
added are UV sensitive or do not have a long shelf life when mixed.
Adding ingredients at the point of consumption also simplifies the
production and filling of the beverages.
[0004] It is therefore known for a container to include a cap and
powder or tablet holder, or blister pack, so that when pressure is
exerted on the blister pack it allows the tablet to be mixed with
the liquid in the container.
[0005] However, there are various disadvantages in the known prior
art, for example, wherein the blister pack is completely broken by
the initial force to release the material, and therefore does not
remain sealed whilst the two components are being mixed.
Furthermore, the container cannot be resealed once the tablet
holder is broken and therefore the container cannot be reused. In
many designs, the remains of the tablet holder, once broken, cannot
be easily removed from the container, which may affect the drinking
of the beverage and its reusability.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to overcome these
disadvantages or at least provide the public with a useful
alternative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a
blister pack for use with a container having a body and an opening,
said blister pack characterised by a rupturable base and a cover of
formable material, said base and cover defining at least one pocket
which accommodates an element to be added to an existing contents
of said container body, said blister pack being further adapted to
seal said container opening.
[0008] Preferably said opening is associated with a neck portion of
said container, said base extending across the opening such that an
outer perimeter thereof is fixed to the neck and acts as an
anti-tamper seal.
[0009] Preferably said base ruptures when a minimum amount of force
is applied on said cover, causing said element to fall into the
container body.
[0010] In preference the seal between the outer perimeter of the
base and the container neck is such that rupture of said base to
allow for said element to be added does not cause said seal to
break.
[0011] In preference said seal is such that the blister pack can be
manually detached from the neck of the container.
[0012] In preference said blister pack includes tabs which, when
pulled, break said seal.
[0013] Preferably said container further includes a lid that is
removably attachable from said neck such that when the lid is
attached it envelops said blister pack.
[0014] Preferably said lid includes a means of sealing said opening
when the blister pack has been removed.
[0015] Preferably said base is of a lower burst strength than said
cover.
[0016] In preference the cover is of thermoformable or coldformable
plastic.
[0017] Preferably the base is of aluminum.
[0018] In preference said existing content is a liquid and said
element to be added is a liquid soluble material.
[0019] Alternatively said existing content is a liquid and said
element to be added is a liquid soluble powder.
[0020] Alternatively said existing content is a liquid and said
element to be added is a second liquid.
[0021] Preferably the rupturable base is porous and adapted to
diffuse oxygen through said blister pack.
[0022] In a further form of the invention there is proposed a
container including a blister pack as defined above.
[0023] In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a
container including: a body portion carrying a liquid, said body
portion including a neck having associated therewith an opening;
[0024] at least one blister pack including a base and a formable
cover defining a pocket therebetween, said pocket adapted to
accommodate an element to be added to said liquid, said base
extending across the opening and including an outer perimeter that
forms a seal between the blister pack and the neck portion of the
container, said base further being rupturable such that when
sufficient force is applied to the formable cover and element in a
direction against said base, the base ruptures and said element is
added to the liquid, said seal being such that the container
remains sealed after force has been applied and said base portion
ruptured.
[0025] Preferably said seal is achieved using an adhesive between
the neck of the container and the outer perimeter of the blister
pack base.
[0026] In preference said container further includes a removably
attachable lid, said lid including a means of sealing said opening
after the blister pack has been completely removed.
[0027] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned
above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects
mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the
embodiments described below as appropriate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various
implementations of the invention and, together with the
description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the
invention. In the drawings:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the upper portion of a beverage
container, blister pack and tablet according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blister pack;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper portion of a beverage
container with the cap removed;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the upper portion of a beverage
container and the blister pack with force being exerted;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the upper portion of a beverage
container as the tablet has been forced through the blister
pack;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the upper portion of a beverage
container with the tablet dissolving in the liquid; and
[0035] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the upper portion of a beverage
container with the blister pack removed.
LIST OF COMPONENTS
[0036] 10 Beverage container [0037] 12 Container lid [0038] 14
Blister pack [0039] 16 Tablet [0040] 18 Cover [0041] 20 Base [0042]
22 Container neck [0043] 24 Adhesive seal [0044] 26 Pulp [0045] 28
Beverage
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0046] The following detailed description of the invention refers
to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following
description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of
certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or
exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.
[0047] Turning now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1
a beverage container 10comprising of a lid 12and a blister pack
14.
[0048] The blister pack 14 includes a tablet or powder material 16
within a cover 18 made from formable materials such as
thermoformable, coldformable plastic or aluminum and a rupturable
base 20 made from, but not limited to paper, paperboard, plastic,
or aluminum. The outer edges of the cover 18 and the base 20 are
sealed together to form a pocket which contains the tablet, powder
or liquid additive 16. It is to be understood that powder, tablets,
liquids or any other materials can reside in the blister pack,
depending on the desired beverage and component combination.
[0049] The outer edges of the cover 18 and base 20 are sealed to
the neck 22 of the container 10 so that the blister pack 14
stretches across and covers the neck 22, forming an effective
anti-tamper barrier. The blister pack 14 also creates a hermetic
seal of the beverage, and is also a sterile seal for the dry powder
or tablet material 16.
[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates the blister pack 14 separate from the
container 10. To seal the blister pack 14 to the neck 22 of the
container 10, an adhesive 24 is to be applied to the outer edges of
the base 20. Where induction sealing is employed, an insulating
pulp layer 26 is to be applied to the top surface of cover 18. This
insulating pulp layer 26 will prevent the screw top lid from
bonding with the thermoformable cover during the inductive heating
of the foil. Other solutions to prevent fusion between the screw
top lid 12 and the blister pack 14 may also be employed during the
induction sealing process to the neck 22 of the container 10.
[0051] The blister pack 14 preserves freshness, authenticates
product integrity, provides leak prevention, ensures consumer
confidence, prevents product contamination throughout the supply
chain and provides tamper evidence. It is conveniently positioned
atop the beverage container 10 and facilitates simple addition of
the powder or tablet ingredients 16 to the beverage 28.
[0052] The lid 12 of the beverage container 10 may be screwed onto
the container concealing the blister pack 14 beneath the lid 12.
This will prevent the blister package 14 from being dispensed into
the beverage 28 prior to point of sale. The lid 12 will be similar
in appearance to lids presently used in capping beverage
containers, however may require a taller height to facilitate the
height of the tablet 16 enclosed beneath.
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the user unscrews the lid 12 from
the beverage container 10, which may have a typical tamper evident
sealing ring on the lid (not shown). With the lid 12 removed, the
user is presented with the blister pack 14, which may be
translucent or opaque. The blister pack 14 (if translucent) may
show the tablet or powder ingredients 16 beneath, and may have
instructions printed on the cover 18 instructing the consumer to
press the tablet or powder 16 into the beverage 28.
[0054] When force is exerted onto the cover 18, preferably by a
thumb or some other manual means, it pushes against the tablet 16,
forcing the rupturable base 20 to
break as illustrated in FIG. 4. Once sufficient force is exerted to
push the table 16 completely through the base 20, the tablet 16
falls into the container 10 as illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0055] The cover 18 is therefore indented into the neck of the
container, however because of the durability of the material and
the seal to the container neck 22 the cover 18 does not rupture or
come away from the container 10, but remains sealed. This allows
the user to twist or shake the container 10 to mix the beverage 28
with the tablet 16 without having to be cautious that the liquid
may spill and allows the tablet 16 to be completely dissolved into
the beverage 28 before consumption.
[0056] While it is a preferred embodiment of the invention that the
blister pack 14 consist of one pocket, it is to be understood that
multiple pockets or compartments may be arranged on the common
blister pack to the container, or on separate blister packs
attached together to the container. Multiple pockets enable the
consumer a choice of ingredients to add to the beverage or choice
in strength of flavors added to the beverage.
[0057] The cover 18 may also have pre-weakened areas that allow the
use of straws, for example, to allow a straw to penetrate through
the pre-weakened area of the cover 18 and allow access to the
beverage 24 while maintaining the seal.
[0058] An example of a container utilizing the blister pack seal
would be a container of water and a soluble aspirin, whereby the
aspirin is in the blister pack and is forced into the water, where
it dissolves ready for the user to drink.
[0059] Another example would be a container of milk and the blister
pack containing powered flavours, whereby the user can prepare
flavoured milk. This is a circumstance where multiple blister packs
could be useful, so that the user could control the quantity of
flavoured powder that they wished to add to the milk, or possibly
add in different flavours according to taste.
[0060] The blister pack 14 also has a tab or tabs (not shown) on
the perimeter of the pack. This tab facilitates the easy peeling of
the blister pack from the neck of the container. The consumer can
grip one of the tabs between their fingers and peel the blister
pack seal from the container, removing it entirely without leaving
any residue and discarding it as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The
blister pack 14 is also of a strength required to enable clean
peeling off the neck 22 of the container 10.
[0061] The lid of the beverage container may then be re-screwed
back onto the container after the blister pack seal has been
removed, creating a water tight seal and allowing the container to
be reused.
[0062] While it is a preferred embodiment of the invention that the
container 10 be a PET bottle, it is to be understood that the
invention can be applied to containers of all materials, including
glass.
[0063] A further feature of the invention is the design of a porous
blister pack 14 to absorb gasses such as oxygen from the headspace
of the container 10. The base 20 would be adapted to diffuse oxygen
through the blister pack 14, but not liquids, therefore reducing
the oxidation of beverages such as wine but not allowing the liquid
itself to break through the seal created by the blister pack
14.
[0064] Another possible embodiment of the invention is a lidless
container, with the blister pack acts as the sealing means. This
would be useful with food products or yoghurt tubs, where there is
a solid food element such as fruit or nuts can be added to the
yoghurt at the time of consumption and there is no need to reuse
the container.
[0065] Yet another embodiment of the invention is an inverted
blister pack, whereby the blister pack resides inside the neck of
the container instead of across the opening. This therefore allows
a regular lid to be employed with the container, rather than a
taller lid in order to facilitate the height of the blister
pack.
[0066] The blister pack 14 for the beverage container 10 can be
applied to the beverage container using numerous methods and
adhesion techniques. The common adhesion techniques to seal the
blister pack 14 to the beverage container 10 are either solvent or
water based adhesive, pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), or heat
sealing. Heat sealing can be accomplished using either conductive
heat transfer, or induction.
[0067] Solvent or water based adhesion requires application of the
solvent which has potential to be a messy process and the adhesive
requires drying time, Pressure sensitive adhesion is pre dried,
however requires a backing to be removed which has potential to be
wasteful. In addition pressure sensitive adhesion requires a
machine to press the blister pack 14 onto the beverage container 10
creating the pressure upon the PSA to create the desired bond. A
uniform pressure is required to be applied around the circumference
of the beverage container neck 22 to achieve uniform adhesion. This
demands tight manufacturing tolerances on the beverage container 10
as slight deviation in height around the neck 22 of the container
will result in deviations in pressure applied to the adhesive by
the lidding machine.
[0068] Heat sealing is the preferred method of adhesion of the
blister pack 14 to the beverage container 10 for this invention. In
this process, a thermoplastic is welded to the beverage container
surface in order to produce a seal of sufficient strength. When the
polymer surface is in the molten condition and brought into
intimate contact with another substrate a strong bond is achieved.
The heat can be produced by either conduction, or induction.
[0069] Conductive heating machines require time to heat the
pressing element which prolongs start up conditions of the
packaging line. Conductive sealing, like PSA sealing, also requires
tight manufacturing tolerances in the beverage container height to
ensure uniform pressure is applied for the molten thermoplastic to
be adhered to the beverage container 10.
[0070] Induction sealing is the preferred adhesion method.
Induction can be used to heat the aluminum foil which conducts heat
into the thermoplastic causing this to melt. Induction heating is
contactless on the production line, and only heats metallic
elements (the foil covering). In this manner induction can be used
to heat seal the blister pack 14 onto the container 10 after the
lid 12 has been screwed onto the container. In this manner, the
blister pack 14 can be supplied already inserted into the container
lids 12. After the container 10 has been filled on the production
line, the lid 12 (with blister pack 14 and dry tablet ingredients
16 within it) is screwed onto the container 10.
[0071] The lid 12 has a mating surface to seal against the upper
neck 22 of the container 10. The outer circumference of the blister
pack 14 is sandwiched between the lid 12 and the neck 22 of the
container. The interaction between the lid 12 and the container
neck 22 generates the required pressure between the thermoplastic
adhesive layer and the container. With the lid 12 screwed onto the
container 10, the lid 12, container 10 and blister pack 14 are
passed beneath an induction heater on the production line heating
the aluminum foil which in turn melts the thermoplastic adhesive
layer creating a strong bond.
[0072] The blister pack 14 may require a pulp backing to the
surface under pressure against the lid 12. The pulp backing is
intended to insulate the surface mating with the lid 12 and prevent
undesirable bonding between the lid 12 and the blister pack 14.
[0073] Tab(s) hold the blister pack 14 in position within the lid
12 as described above. They may also facilitate holding the tablet
16 and blister pack 14 within the lid 12 of the container 10 prior
to applying the lid 12 to the container 10 in the filling line
process. The tablet 16 and blister pack 14 can be pushed into the
lid 12 prior to applying the lid 12 to the container 10. The
outside diameter of the blister pack 14 will be a clearance fit
within the lid 12 of the container 14, the tabs however will create
a diameter larger than the internal diameter of the lid 12, thus
aninterference fit of the tabs only. When the tablet 16 and blister
pack 14 are pushed into the lid 12, the tabs will fold downward as
it interacts with lid 12. With the tabs folded downward, this may
act as a ratchet against the internal threads of the lid 12. This
ratchet action will be sufficiently strong to hold the blister pack
14 and tablet 16 contents in place within the lid 12 prior to
applying the lid on the filling line.
[0074] Induction heating can also be applied to the blister pack 14
before the lid is screwed on. This method does however require a
mechanical means to create the required pressure between molten
thermoplastic and the beverage container 10.
[0075] The suggested method of filling the containers in a
production line would be to contract the manufacture of powder or
tablet ingredients 16, along with packaging these into the
abovementioned blister packaging to a third party pharmaceutical
company. These blister packages 14 could be supplied to the
manufacturer of the lids 12 for the beverage containers. At
completion of the injection molding process of the lids 12, the
blister packs 14 could be stamped to the required shape, and
pressed into the lids 12.
[0076] Inserting the blister pack 14 within the lids 12 at
manufacture, rather than later, is advantageous in that the lids 12
are already arranged and grasped by the molding machine. Inserting
the lids 12 at a later stage can also be accomplished however the
lids 14 need to be sorted, arranged in the correct orientation
grasped and have the blister pack 14 pushed in.
[0077] The lids 12 can be supplied to the bottling line with the
blister packs 14 within the lid 12. This is presently undertaken
with existing foil seals for beverage containers. In this manner,
the lid 12 is screwed onto the container 10 after filling in a
normal manner, and is then passed through an induction heater.
[0078] It may also be possible to press the blister packs 14 into
the lid 12 (within the bottling line facility) immediately prior to
screwing the lid 12 onto the container 10. This may provide fewer
Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) for the bottling line however requires
additional infrastructure for the bottling company over having the
lids supplied with the blister pack 14 already within the lid
12.
[0079] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to
the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although
the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to
be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized
that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit
of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details
disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims
so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any
discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in
no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely
known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this
field.
[0080] In the summary of the invention, except where the context
requires otherwise due to express language or necessary
implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of
"including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with
further features in various embodiments of the invention.
* * * * *