Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a container assembly for delivering food products for on the go consumers. The exemplary container assembly is composed of two containers or vessels having different dimensions and volumes and different sized outlets to permit two products to be dispensed in accordance with proportionally predetermined amounts. The container is provided with nestling capability, which prevents splaying and creates package integrity to provide for a near homogenous product offering that can be easily gripped and consumed by the individual.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/781,582 filed Feb. 12, 2001, the disclosure of which including that found in the claims is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a container assembly for dispensing consumable products. More particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a multi container assembly in which different consumable products are contained within different sized containers that are easily grippable, which nestle together and have outlets positioned to enable the contents of each container to be simultaneously delivered to the mouth of the consumer.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Consumable food products, such as ready to eat cereal (“RTE”) and milk, are typically sold in individual containers. In some cases different food products are provided in separate compartments of a common container sealed by a common seal or closure. Exemplary food products, include such things as potato chips and chip dip which may have separate compartments, but which are provided in a single, sealed container. Still further containers of food products may provide rupturable cells or cups in a single container, which require a physical breaking to access the compartments. However, such arrangements may require the products to follow tortuous paths to escape the container, causing such problems as clogging, premature dispensing or mixing or delayed delivery to that of the other product provided in the container.  
           [0004]    Interconnnected containers have also been used but they typically consist of identical containers, which are secured to one another. However, this type of container suffers from the defect that the manufacturer is forced into a one size fits all scenario, even if the manufacturer intends to provide varying amounts of different materials. This can create a problem of the receptacle only appearing half full. Other problems with multiple containers, which are secured to one another, are that the containers may not readily separate from one another such that the consumer cannot discard an undesired portion of the container assembly.  
           [0005]    Multiple vessel assemblies usually require the contents of the vessels or containers to be physically mixed together by a user before consumption. The mixing may occur in the container, such as in the case of the rupturable cell or cup, or in a receptacle, which is external to the container, such as a bowl or plate. In either instance, this may be awkward and messy and the contents may easily spill or the consumer may be required to provide an additional receptacle to receive the contents of the container prior to mixing. It may also be difficult for a consumer to consume the food products “on the go” as such products require an external receptacle and may need the consumer to use both hands to eat the products. In addition, where plural, similar sized, interconnected containers are used, the size of the containers and their respective openings may cause the consumer to receive too much of one product and not enough of the other product due to differences in product viscosity, density or volume.  
           [0006]    Other problems with these structures include having to mix the contents or having the contents combined before the consumer is ready to consume the products. This is particularly prevalent with RTE cereals and milk, where the cereal flakes can become soggy and cling to the interior of the container making the cereal not only unpalatable but also difficult to remove from the container. Other multiple compartment solutions, suffer from the difficulty of delivering equivalent amounts of the contents of the compartments at the same time. For example, with milk and RTE cereals, the consumer may get either a mouthful of milk or cereal at one time as opposed to a mix of the two which is the goal of the manufacturer. In addition, when products or “charges” of products are mixed internally, the products can dissolve, become soggy or suffer other deleterious effects before being consumed and the consumer may not be able to complete the serving immediately upon mixing.  
           [0007]    What is therefore needed, is a container assembly in which multiple consumable products may be supplied and delivered in a proportionally predetermined amount and which overcome the foregoing problems in the prior art solutions.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a readily grippable container assembly for the convenient consumption of a combination of consumable products “on the go” without suffering from the following problems.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a container assembly comprising containers filled with different consumable products and having differing viscosities or densities adapted to simultaneously deliver the products to a user for direct consumption without the need of additional receptacles, and in a manner, which delivers the products in a proportionally predetermined amount.  
           [0010]    These objects are to be read disjunctively with the object of at least providing the public with a useful choice.  
           [0011]    According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container assembly for dispensing consumable products that includes a first generally elongate container that is sized and configured and has a first dimension to receive a first consumable product. The container has an outlet at one end thereof, and the outlet has a first opening area.  
           [0012]    A second generally elongate container is sized and configured and has a second dimension different from the first dimension to receive a second consumable product. The second container has an outlet at one end thereof, and the outlet has a second opening area different from said first opening area. The outlets of each of the first and second containers are configured and dimensioned to nestle together when the containers are positioned adjacent one another to form a container assembly outlet of a size that can be accommodated by a human mouth. The first and second containers are placed in a cooperative engagement such that the first and second containers do not splay out of an alignment with one another.  
           [0013]    The containers are preferably bound together by a binding element such as a heat shrinkable film, label or band. The outlets may nestle together to form a container assembly outlet suitable for receiving a closure. The closure may include a tear away band or film to enable release or it may be a threaded cap adapted to connectively engage with the threads provided on the container outlets.  
           [0014]    The first and second containers preferably include interengaging features on adjacent walls to limit relative movement between the containers when interengaged. The interengaging features may be in the form of protuberances and recesses, which extend generally, longitudinally of each of the containers. The interengaging features hold the containers together but do not lock the containers into a permanent association. In the event that the consumer wishes to separate the two containers, the consumer may do so by removal of the exterior band, label or wrapper. The bottles may be provided with deformable regions to assist in dispensing consumable products within the containers. The deformable regions may be in the form of regions having reduced thickness towards the middle of the containers. Gripping formations may be provided to assist in gripping of the container assembly and in locating the hand of the user to facilitate the deformation of the deformable regions.  
           [0015]    The first container is preferably of a larger volume or dimension than the second container. The first container preferably has a passageway through its outlet of larger diameter than a passageway through the outlet of the second container. The passageways in the outlets of the first and second containers may be dimensioned so as to allow products to flow at rates commensurate with the viscosity or density of each product and to deliver products in a proportionally predetermined amount. The outlet of the first container is somewhat crescent shaped so as to accommodate the outlet of the second container, which is substantially circular. The outlets of the container assembly when in operative association with one another is preferably substantially circular and are about 38 mm in diameter. Each container is preferably provided with an enlarged flanged foot for stability.  
           [0016]    A reclosable tab or plug may be provided to seal the outlet of the second container. Each outlet may be sealed by a seal member such as a foil liner.  
           [0017]    The first consumable product may be a granular or powdered food product, such a cereal, snacks or flakes, and the second consumable product may be a different food product, such as a flowable component or liquid, such as milk, water, syrup or yoghurt.  
           [0018]    According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a container assembly for dispensing consumable products, the container assembly includes a first container being sized and configured to receive a first consumable product. The first container has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis and has a first volume. A second container is sized and configured to receive a second consumable product. The second container has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis and has a second volume that is different than the first volume. Each of the first and second containers have an outlet, with the outlets of the first and second containers nestling together. At least one of the first and second containers has a deformable region, which is deformable upon the application of pressure in a direction, which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the container.  
           [0019]    There is further provided a container assembly, comprising at least first and second containers in which the first container has an exterior wall, a top and bottom, first and second end edges and first and second side edges and a length and a width. The first container has at least one longitudinally extending recess in the exterior wall. The first container making up a first volume of the container assembly. The second container has an exterior wall, first and second end edges and first and second side edges, and a length and a width. The second container has at least one longitudinally extending protuberance in the exterior wall, and the second container making up a second volume of the container assembly. Each of the first and second containers has an outlet in one of the first and second end edges and the outlets of the first and second containers are in co-operative association with one another. The outlets have passageways therethrough of different dimensions. The volume of the first container is greater than the volume of the second container.  
           [0020]    This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    The forgoing, as well as other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by referring to the following more detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of a container assembly according to a first embodiment  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2: shows a perspective view of the container assembly of FIG. 1 with its closure removed.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3: shows a container assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the first and second containers separated.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3A: shows a rear perspective view of the smaller container of the container assembly shown in FIGS.  1  to  3  and illustrating the interengaging protuberances.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3B: shows a rear perspective view of the larger container of the container assembly shown in FIGS.  1  to  3  and illustrating the interengaging recesses.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4: shows a perspective view of the container assembly of FIGS.  1  to  3  illustrating a cutaway view of the containers to show the granular and flowable components.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5: shows a container assembly of FIGS.  1  to  3  with heat shrinkable film surrounding the assembly.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6A: shows a side view of a closure according to an alternative embodiment.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6B: shows a bottom view of the closure shown in FIG. 6A 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    A first embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 B. The container assembly  10  includes a first container  12  and a second container  14  retained together by a closure  18 . Although the invention will be described in relation to a two container embodiment it is to be appreciated that the inventive concept could be applied to multi part container assemblies consisting of three or more containers where multiple products are to be dispersed.  
         [0032]    The first container  12  and the second container  14  may have the same or different internal volumes depending upon the consumable products to be contained therein. In this embodiment container  14  has a smaller volume than container  12 . Container  14  has an outlet  20  at one end having a passageway  27  providing a passageway from the interior of the container to the exterior thereof. The outlet  20  is substantially circular to provide ease of flow of the liquid or flowable contents  24 . Container  12  has an outlet  22  having a passageway  25  providing a passageway from the interior of the container to the exterior thereof. The outlet  22  has a crescent shape to enable nestling with outlet  20  to complete a substantially circular opening. The periphery of outlet  20  when in operative association with outlet  22  may be positioned near the periphery of outlet  22  or may be positioned slightly below the end edge or periphery of outlet  22 . In the latter embodiment, the contents of container  14  will not spill over into the contents of container  12 .  
         [0033]    Containers  12  and  14  are configured and dimensioned to interengage to form a container assembly as shown in FIG. 1. Container  12  has an exterior wall including an interior side wall  35  and an outer side wall  11 . Container  14  has an exterior wall including an interior side wall  31  and an outer side wall  13 . Interior side wall  31  of container  14  and internal side wall  35  of container  12  are provided with interengaging formations ( 32 ,  33 ,  36 ,  37  FIGS. 3A and 3B) to assist in retaining containers  12  and  14  in a desired assembled relationship. Container  14  has protruberances in the form of ribs  32  and  33  extending outwardly from the peripheral edges of interior side wall  31  and running generally in the longitudinal direction of the container  14 . Interior side wall  35  of container  12  includes recesses  36  and  37 , complementary to ribs  32  and  33 , for interengaging with ribs  32  and  33 . Recesses  36 ,  37  extend inwardly of the exterior wall and run generally in the longitudinal direction of the container  12 . Although a pair of interengaging formations are used in this embodiment it will be appreciated that one or more than two formations may be provided on each member. In order to provide stability to the containers  12  and  14  when placed in operative association with one another, the interengaging elements ( 32 ,  33 ,  36  and  37 ) are at least about 25% of the length of each of the containers  12  and  14  but preferably around 40% of the longitudinal length and more preferably greater than 50 to 60% of the longitudinal length of the containers.  
         [0034]    Outlet  22  includes a recessed portion  29  (the crescent shape referred to herein) adapted to accommodate outlet  20  which nestles there within. When containers  12  and  14  are brought into interengagement ribs  32  and  33  locate within recesses  37  and  36  and outlet  20  nestles within recess  29  in outlet  22 . Outlets  20  and  22  form a container assembly outlet of substantially cylindrical form having a typical diameter of about 38 mm. The container assembly outlet formed by outlets  20  and  22  is preferably dimensioned such that it may be accommodated by a human mouth. By providing differing sized outlets,  22  and  20 , dispensing of the contents  24  and  26  can be accomplished in a predetermined proportionate amount. For example, outlet  22 , may dispense a greater volume of product than the amount of product being dispensed from outlet  20 . Outlet  22  may dispense from 1.5 to 7 times the total volume of product being dispensed from outlet  20  depending upon the viscosity of the product in container  14 . For example, a syrup or yoghurt would flow at a substantially reduced rate when compared to a liquid such as water or milk. Proportionally predetermined dispensing amounts may range from 1 to 1 to 1 to 10, depending on the desired flow rates for the products.  
         [0035]    Outlet  20  has a threaded portion or threads  23  provided thereon and outlet  22  has a threaded portion  21  provided thereon. Each of the threaded portions  23  and  21  are provided in an area of the circumference of less than the entire exterior surface or circumference of the outlets. That is, the threads  23  do not circle the circumference of the outlets. For example, the threaded portion  23  of outlet  20  is provided in an area of less than 50% of the external circumference or surface of the outlet  20 . The threaded portion or threads  21  of outlet  22  is provided in an area of the circumference of greater than 50% but less than 100% of the surface area of the outlet  22 . When interengaged as shown in FIG. 2, a substantially cylindrical container assembly outlet is formed having a substantially continuous thread provided thereon. Closure  18  is in the form of a cap having an internal thread which can be screwed onto threads  21  and  23  of the container assembly outlet to secure outlets  20  and  22  together. A tamper evident band  16  may be joined to closure  18 , which may be separated from closure  18  when closure  18  is removed from the container outlet (see FIG. 2).  
         [0036]    When containers  12  and  14  are interengaged ribs  32  and  33  interengage with recesses  37  and  36  to relatively retain containers  12  and  14  in their desired positions, that is, interengaging member prevent the containers  12  and  14  from splaying out of alignment.  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 4 the contents of the container  12  and  14  are shown in a cut away, a liquid or other flowable material  24 , such as milk, water, syrup or yoghurt, is provided in container  14  and particulate, powdered or granular material such as snacks, puffed foods, cereal or flakes is provided in container  12 .  
         [0038]    In one embodiment a label (not shown) may extend over containers  12  and  14  and be secured to both containers to retain containers  12  and  14  together and provide additional integrity to elements  32 ,  33 ,  36  and  37 . A label may extend over both joints between containers to securely retain the containers and prevent splaying. Alternatively, or additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, a heat shrinkable film, such as polyethylene terephthlate (PET) film  28  may be applied over substantially the entire container to retain the containers together and to retain closure  18  in place. A perforation may be provided in heat shrinkable form  28  about the neck of the container assembly to enable easy removal of closure  18  A further perforation may be provided in the longitudinal direction to enable removal of the wrapper and separation of the containers from one another. Enlarged flanged feet sections  17  and  19  provide stability for the container assembly.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 6A and 6B show an alternative closure  100 , which may be substituted for closure  18  shown in the previous drawings. Closure  100  includes a top  102  having a tab  106  projecting therefrom and a tear away band  104  for facilitating the removal of the cap. This closure has the advantage that a tamper evident feature may be incorporated within the closure without requiring an additional tamper evident element.  
         [0040]    Containers  12  and  14  are preferably filled with different consumable products. Container  12  may be filled with a granular or particulate food product  26  such as a cereal. Container  14  may be filled with a flowable or liquid food product such as milk, syrup or yoghurt. Container  12  may be filled with a first food product at a first location whilst container  14  is filled with a different food product at another location. After container  12  is filled outlet  22  may be sealed by a seal  38  (see FIG. 3B), such as a foil liner. Likewise, outlet  20  of container  14  may be sealed by a seal  34  (see FIG. 3A), such as a foil liner, after filling. This allows the containers to be transported separately. The containers may then be brought together and assembled for distribution at another location. Alternatively both containers may be filled at a common site, in which case a single seal covering both outlets may be applied. A reclosure device in the form of a plug  30  may be provided to seal outlet  20  after opening to avoid spillage of the liquid or flowable component between consumption or if the portion is not consumed.  
         [0041]    Gripping formations  15  may be provided in outer wall  35  of container  12  to facilitate gripping and orientation of the container assembly. Outlet  20  is preferably located slightly underneath outlet  22  during consumption to avoid spilling or leakage of fluid into container  12 . Outlet  20  is therefore preferably located opposite gripping formations  15 . Gripping formations  15  are also preferably provided so as to position the hand of a user near deformable regions  39  and  40  of containers  12  and  14 . Exterior walls  11  and  13  of containers  12  and  14  preferably include deformable regions of reduced thickness towards the centers of the containers to facilitate deformation to eject the contents of the containers. Containers  12  and  14  are preferably formed of flexible plastics materials, and the deformable region may be of a thickness ranging from approximately seven eights to two thirds thickness of the side edges where the recesses or ribs are located. The deformable area runs relatively longitudinally of the container.  
         [0042]    In use a user may remove closure  18  or  100 ; remove seals  34  and  38  (or a single seal covering both outlets. If two seals are provided only a single seal needs to be removed if one desires to consume only one of the components of the package); grip the container assembly so that their fingers engage gripping formations  15 ; lift the container assembly and place outlets  20  and  22  within their mouth (outlet  20  being located below outlet  22 ); and, if necessary, squeeze deformable regions  39  and  40  to eject the contents of the containers. Plug  30  may be placed with the passageway  27  of outlet  20  to temporarily seal outlet  20  to avoid spilling the liquid contents therein.  
         [0043]    The container assembly of the present invention allows the containers to be filled with different food products at different locations prior to assembly and distribution. The container assembly enables different food products to be simultaneously delivered to the user. The container assembly delivers the food products in a manner which allows consumption “on the go’.  
         [0044]    It will thus be seen according to the present invention a highly advantageous container assembly has been provided. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, that many modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products.