PACKAGING UNIT

Abstract: A packaging unit comprises a cavity (3) formed between two plastics sheets (2) welded around an outline (4), fluid food in the cavity (3), a tubular element (7) through the outer extremity (10) of which a consumer drinks the fluid food, and openable closure means (13, 14) which prevents flow of fluid food from the cavity (3) to the exterior via the element (7) when the two sheets (2) are partially peeled apart to reveal the extremity (10) to permit the fluid food to be consumed using the element (7) as a straw. The element (7) may be slidable within a sheath (6) closed by a membrane (13) of the closure means (13, 14). With the fluid food converted to a solid state, the sheets (2) can be fully peeled apart and the element (7), or the sheath (6) and the element (7) together, serve as a lollipop stick.

Description: PACKAGING UNIT The invention concerns a packaging unit for fluid food. It is particularly applicable to food products that may be ingested in liquid or solid form, as preferred by the consumer, such as sugary syrups or drinks/ for example fruit-based, that may be solidified to obtain ice-cream, or ice-lollies, or solidifiable fluid food products in general. Prior art comprises cartons for liquids, typically in the shape of a parallelepiped, in which, to favour the consumption of the drink contained in them, an external separate straw is provided, packaged in its own envelope fixed in a removable manner to the outside of its carton in a position diagonally of a lateral surface. Such packages have disadvantages in that the straw has first to be extracted from its envelope, then introduced through an opening that has to be made in a position corresponding with that of a pierceable membrane of the container by manually pushing a sharp end of the straw through the membrane. EP-A-0213673 discloses a somewhat similar package, but in which a bag is formed by heat-welding two plastics films together around an outline, a plastics strip or a third plastics film being heat-welded to one of the films to provide an external pocket for a drinking straw. To consume liquid food contents of the bag so formed, the straw is depressed to cause a sharp end of the straw in the pocket to pierce the one film. Other prior art comprises containers for liquid in which the straw is in the liquid food in the package and opening of the package results in the straw being made available for use in consuming the liquid food. For example, WO-A-95/11176 discloses a necked sachet including a drinking straw, which extends from adjacent the bottom of the sachet into the sachet neck, the neck having a line of weakness enabling the free end of the neck to be CONFmMAΗON COPY broken away to expose the outer end of the straw. The sachet consists of two plastics films, metallic foils or coated paper sheets sealed together around an outline. WO-A-95/05749 describes a container, obtained by heat- welding a pair of plastics sheets around an outline, and thermoforming the sheet material within the outline to form a pair of opposite semi-shells welded together. The container has a tubular-walled recess housing a tubular element, partially immersed in food, that may function either as a handle, when the food is solid at low temperature and consumed as an ice-cream, or water-ice, after the shells have been peeled apart and removed, jr as a straw, when the consumer, after having only partially peeled apart the semi-shells to reach the tubular element, decides to ingest the food in liquid form at higher temperature by sucking it through the tubular element. This last type of container, whilst constituting a considerable improvement over other prior art, has been found not to be entirely satisfactory inasmuch as the tubular element tends to fill up with the liquid food during packaging and consequently, when the food is ingested in solid form, that is as an ice-cream or water-ice, a certain quantity of food may melt and drip onto the hand. Other kinds of packages, but not including drinking straws nor food products, are discosed in FR-A-2032496, DE-A- 2900827, GB-A-663031. It is an object of the present invention to improve the prior art containers for fluid food products. According to the present invention, there is provided a packaging unit, comprising a packaging material, fluid food within said packaging material, and a tubular element through an outer extremity of which a consumer drinks said fluid food, said packaging material being openable to reveal said outer extremity of said tubular element and to permit said fluid food to be consumed, characterised in that an openable closure means prevents flow of said fluid food from within said packaging material to the exterior via said tubular element when said packaging material is opened to reveal said outer extremity. Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a package which incorporates a straw, but in which, because of the provision of the openable closure means, undesired leakage of the food through the straw does not occur. The invention is particlarly applicable to a package where the consumer is free to chose how to consume the food in liquid or solid form, as he pleases. In a preferred embodiment, the package includes a fluid food that may be solidified, an envelope containing the food and having an openable tubular-walled recess, and a tubular element which is within the envelope and is partially inserted in the tubular recess, with fluid-tight seal. The tubular element is partially immersed in the food and provides a passage for the food in liquid form,- although the passage is able to communicate with the exterior, the package has openable closure means whereby the outer end of the passage is selectively communicable with the food in order to prevent an undesired outflow of the food. The closure means may prevent the food from penetrating to inside the tubular element during packaging, or during the subsequent handling; the risk of inconvenient and unhygienic leakage of the liquid can therefore be eliminated. In one version, a sheath is positioned between the tubular element and the tubular wall of the recess and is equipped externally with means of coupling that enable the sheath to be positioned securely and thus provide a reliable seal against leakage of liquid between the sheath and the tubular wall; the tubular element being coupled with the sheath so that the element may slide and/or rotate inside it, and that the element is more securely and reliably positioned with respect to the envelope. In a further version, the closure means consists of a membrane closing in openable manner one of the extremities of the sheath. This enables the closure means to be obtained in a particularly simple manner. The sheath has one of its extremities external to a wider part of the envelope containing the food, the other extremity being in direct contact with the food. The tubular element has an axial dimension which is greater than the length of the sheath. The tubular element may have a longitudinal through hole constituting the passage for the food in liquid form. The extremity of the tubular element positioned adjacent the membrane may be shaped as the mouthpiece of a recorder, to function as a means of perforating the membrane when the consumer, to ingest the food in liquid form, slides the element axially inside the sheath surrounding it. Alternatively, the tubular element may have a blind axial hole communicationg with at least one radial through hole to enable passage of the food in liquid form. This makes it possible to easily open, and possibly re- close, the closure means with a simple axial displacement, or with an angular rotation of the tubular element with respect to the envelope. In a yet further version, said at least one radial through hole is made between two grooves in the tubular element for co-operating with sealing elements on the internal surface of the tubular wall of the recess. This makes it possible for the food in the package to be communicated with the exterior by simply sliding the tubular element towards the inside of the package, so that the consumer may drink the food by pouring it, or sucking it, into his mouth. Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated, purely by way of example, in the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partially interrupted and sectioned front view of a packaging unit, in a version with a tubular element inserted axially in a tubular coaxial sheath having symmetrical end zones in the form of truncated cones, with the sheath extending inside a recess in the packaging; Figure 2 is section II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is the detail, interrupted and enlarged, of the lower part of the packaging unit in Figure 2, in a condition with the tubular element functioning as straw dipped in liquid food; Figure 4 is a view as in Figure 1, but in a version with the sheath provided with means for coupling the sheath with a tubular wall of the recess; Figure 5 is an enlarged and sectioned detail of the means of coupling the sheath with the tubular wall of the recess, in a version of curved cross-section; Figure 6 is a detail as in Figure 5, but in a version in which the coupling means is of angular cross-section; Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a packaging unit in a version in which the tubular element and the sheath are provided with intermediate and end means of closure, both shown in closed conditions,- Figure 8 is a section as in Figure 7, but with the intermediate means of closure in an open condition and the end means of closure in a closed condition,- Figure 9 is a section as in Figure 8, but in a modified version, with the end means of closure in an open condition and the intermediate means of closure in a closed condi ion,- Figure 10 is a section as in Figure 7, but showing an external longitudinal groove of the tubular element extending along a substantial portion of its lateral surface; Figure 11 is a section as in Figure 10, but showing another modified version in which said intermediate means of closure includes openings in the form of slots, in order to allow the passage of the liquid through them also when the end means of closure is in an open condition; Figure 12 is a view as in Figure l, but with means of closure consisting of openings in the tubular element and in the sheath that may be relatively positioned by axial movement of the tubular element; Figure 13 is an interrupted, partially enlarged and sectioned, detail of the means of closure in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a section as in Figure 13, but in a version with means of closure that may be opened by turning of the tubular element around its longitudinal axis; Figure 15 is a view as in Figure 1, but in a version with the tubular element having a pair of end holes which do not communicate with each other,- Figure 16 is a view as in Figure 15, but with the tubular element in an open condition, that is suitable for sucking out the liquid; and Figure 17 is an enlarged detail of the zone of the tubular element dedicated to the passage of the liquid. A packaging unit 1 consists of a pair of opposite semi- shells 2, defining a cavity 3, in which an edible product is contained, and joined along a seam 4 by means of heat- welding; the cavity 3 includes a recess 5 in which is received, in a liquid-tight manner, an external surface zone of a tubular sheath 6, the zone advantageously tapering outwardly. The sheath 6 internally receives, as a sliding fit, a tubular element 7, having an axial through hole 8. The sheath 6 and the element 7 may function as a handle to enable the food to be held when in solid form, as in the case of water-ices, or ice-creams, once the packaging 2 has been removed from the food: this is achieved by separating the semi-shells 2 from each other: to this end, as shown in Figure 2, the semi-shells are provided with respective flaps 9 external to the seam 4 and diverging from each other, that may function as elements for gripping during the separation. The sheath 6 is shorter in length than the tubular element 7 to such an extent that the element may be positioned, during packaging, with its outer extremity 10 protruding from the corresponding extremity 11 of the sheath 6 by a predetermined distance A. The handle 6, 7 is introduced into the packaging 2, the food introduced thereafter, and the packaging unit finally sealed, in the manner disclosed in the aforementioned International Publication WO-A-95/05749. The inner extremity 12 of the sheath 6 is located in the food and is provided with end means of closure consisting of a membrane 13 openable by punching by the ' corresponding extremity 14, shaped as the mouthpiece of a recorder, of the tubular element 7 when the latter is pushed along the sheath 6 for a stroke corresponding to length A. To open the packaging unit, the consumer pulls the flaps 9 apart, either to separate fully the two halves of the packaging in the event that the food is solid, whereupon the items 6, 7 can serve as a handle for the lollipop, or to separate them partially, in the event that the food is liquid, in which case the tubular element 7 can serve as a straw for pouring or sucking the liquid into the consumer's mouth. In the latter alternative, the consumer only has to partially detach the flaps 9, interrupting the opening of the semi-shells 2 at a position corresponding to that of one of the pairs of opposite preferential folding lines 14a made in the opposite halves of the packaging 2 adjacent the recess 5. Then, when, as shown in Figure 3, the internal extremity 14 has punched through the membrane 13, the food may be taken in liquid form in the direction indicated by the arrow F by sucking on the outer end of the hole 8. Instead of having a symmetrical form with respect to a median transverse plane (as in Figures 1 to 3) the sheath may be asymmetrical with respect to that plane, for example as in Figure 4, where the otherwise substantially circular cylindrical sheath has an intermediate portion 6a in the form of a truncated cone present in the recess 5. The external surface of the sheath 6 is provided with means of coupling with the tubular wall of the recess 5, consisting of an annular groove 16 in the sheath co¬ operating with a corresponding annular protrusion of the recess wall; the cross-section of the groove 16 and the corresponding annular protrusion may, for example, be circularly curved, as in Figure 5, or angular, as in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 7, between the recess 5 and the sheath portion 6c extending inside the larger part of the cavity 3 the sheath may be formed with a ring of openings 18 included in intermediate means of closure for the li-quid food. The intermediate means of closure also includes a second ring of openings 17 formed in the tubular element 7 that line up with the corresponding openings 18, when the tubular element 7 is slid towards the inside of the cavity 3 for a stroke of length B which is shorter than the stroke A which causes the opening of the end means of closure 13. At the end of the stroke of length B the extremity 14 is preferably up against the internal surface of the membrane 13 without having perforated it, as shown in Figure 8. Once the tubular element 7 has moved the entire stroke A, as shown in Figure 9, the openings 17 are no longer aligned with the openings 18 and, therefore, the liquid can no longer pass through the sides of the sheath 6 and of the tubular element 7 but only through the extremity 14, which has punched through the membrane 13. In this way it is possible for the consumer to drink the food contained in cavity 3 by sucking it through the means of closure 17, 18, when the packaging unit extends upwards from the consumer's mouth, or from the bottom through the end means of closure 13, when the unit extends downwards from his mouth. In order to prevent the occurrence of disadvantageous angular displacement of the tubular element 7 with respect to the sheath 6, the sheath may be provided with a guidance appendage 19 that engages in a groove 20 in the tubular element 7, extending in a direction parallel with the axis of the element 7. The groove 20 may be of a length which substantially corresponds with that of the stroke A and may be of differentiated depths so as, for example, to offer a greater sliding resistance when the internal extremity 14 of the tubular element 7 is engaged in punching through the membrane 13. In order to facilitate the insertion of the tubular element 7 in the sheath 6, the groove 20 may extend along the entire length of that element included between the guidance appendage 19 and the internal extremity 14, as shown in Figure 10. The openings 17 may also be in the form of slots, rather than circular holes, in such a way as to enable the passage of the liquid therethrough even when the end means of closure 13 is open, as shown in Figure 11. In this case it becomes possible for the consumer to drink the food through the intermediate means of closure 17, 18 at the same time as from the bottom. As shown in the version in Figures 12, 13 and 14, it is possible for the tubular element 7 to have, in addition to the ring of intermediate openings 17b, that constitute, together with a corresponding ring of intermediate openings 18b in the sheath 6, the intermediate means of closure, a ring of end openings 17c that co-operates with a ring of end openings 18c in the sheath. The innermost extremity of the tubular element 7 is provided with end means of closure 19, to prevent the food from leaking from the tubular element when the consumer wishes to ingest the food in solid or semi-liquid form. Whereas Figures 12 and 13 show a version in which, in order to open the intermediate means of closure 17b, 18b and end means of closure 17c, 18c, the tubular element 7 has to be moved axially with respect to the sheath 6, in the version of Figure 14 the tubular element 7 is provided with a pair of opposite control appendages 30 that enable the element to be rotated about its axis in order to communicate the inside of the tubular element 7 with the cavity 3 through the means of closure 17b, 18b, 17c, 18c, the openings 17b and 17c being angularly offset with respect to the openings 17c and 18c, in the closed condition. In the version shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17 the tubular element 7 is provided with at least one axial blind hole 21 communicating with at least one radial hole 22 : the tubular element 7 is shown as being symmetrical with respect to a median transverse plane (for simplification of correct insertion) even though the holes 21 and 22 are functionally necessary only for the portion of the element inserted in the recess 5. It is to be noted that in this version a sheath 6 is not necessary, inasmuch as the tubular wall of the recess 5 is able to provide the required stability of the tubular element 7 positioned in it. In this version, a predetermined fracture line 14b intersects the extent of the recess 5, whereby the tearing off of an end part including the flaps 9 uncovers the outer end zone of the element 7, making it available to the consumer for sucking out the liquid. The at least one radial hole 22 is made in an intermediate portion of the axial extent of the tubular element 7 between two axially spaced, annular grooves 23, engaged by corresponding annular protrusions of the tubular wall of the recess 5, constituting means of coupling between the element 7 and the recess 5. As shown in Figure 15, when the tubular element 7 has to function as a handle, the holes 21, 22 of the outer end zone do not communicate with the product; when, on the other hand, the tubular element 7 has to act as a straw, after having detached the end part along the fracture line 14b, the consumer slides the hollow element 7 axially towards the inside of the cavity 3 for a predetermined stroke Z, for example, corresponding to the distance between the internal extremity of the tubular element 7 and the bottom of the packaging unit 1. As substantially the same distance Z is envisaged between the grooves 23, the insertion of the tubular element 7 in the cavity 3 by a stroke Z causes the engagement of the outermost groove 23 by the inner annular protrusion, with a liquid tight seal. With such a movement Z, the annular protrusions are elastically forced outward until they return at the end of the movemen . In this condition, the holes 21 and 22 communicate with the cavity 3 and the consumer may drink the food by sucking it through the hole 22, possibly up-ending the packaging unit to cause the food to descend towards holes 21, 22 when such radial hole 22 is no longer immersed in the liquid. Furthermore, it is preferable for one of the annular protrusions to be situated in a position corresponding with the portion of the tubular wall of the recess 5 that is removed together with the flaps 9 when the package is opened along the predetermined fracture line 14b.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Packaging unit, comprising a packaging material (2), fluid food within said packaging material (2) , and a tubular element (7) through an outer extremity (10) of which a consumer drinks said fluid food, said packaging material (2) being openable to reveal said outer extremity (10) of said tubular element (7) and to permit said fluid food to be consumed, characterised in that an openable closure means (13, 14, 17, 18, 17b, 18b, 17c, 18c, 22) prevents flow of said fluid food from within said packaging material (2) to the exterior via said tubular element (7) when said packaging material (2) is opened to reveal said outer extremity (10) . 2. Packaging unit according to claim l, wherein said tubular element (7) is movable between a first position in which said fluid food is prevented from flowing through said tubular element (7) and a second position in which said fluid food is consumed through said tubular element (7) . 3. Packaging unit according to claim 2, wherein abutting means (19, 20, 23) defines at least one of the first and second positions of said tubular element (7) . 4. Packaging unit according to any preceding claim, wherein tubular guide means (6) is sealingly interposed between said tubular element (7) and a tubular wall of a recess (5) within said packaging material (2) . 5. Packaging unit according to claim 4, wherein said tubular guide means (6) is externally provided with coupling means (16) for axially positioning said guide means (6) in said recess (5) . 6. Packaging unit according to claim 4 or 5 as appended to claim 3, wherein said tubular guide means (6) and said tubular element (7) are equipped with said abutting means (19, 20) comprised of an internally projecting appendage (19) and an indentation (20) in which said appendage (19) is insertable. 7. Packaging unit according to claim 6, wherein said indentation (20) is a groove extending along said tubular element (7) and of a length at least equal to a stroke (A) for limiting axial movement of the tubular element (7) in the tubular guide means (6) . 8. Packaging unit according to any one of claims 4 to 7 as appended to claim 2, wherein said tubular element (7) is equipped with an appendage (30) for turning the tubular element (7) with respect to said tubular guide means (6) between said first position and said second position. 9. Packaging unit according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the tubular element (7) has an length which is greater than the length of said tubular guide means (6) . 10. Packaging unit according to any preceding claim, wherein said closure means (13, 14) includes a membrane (13) removably closing one end (14) of said tubular guide means (6) , or of said tubular element (7) . 11. Packaging unit according to any preceding claim, wherein said tubular element (7) has an axial hole (8, 21) communicating with at least one side aperture (17, 17b, 17c, 22) . 12. Packaging unit according to claim 11 as appended to claim 4, wherein said guide means (6) is provided with at least one side opening (18, 18b, 18c) that may be brought into communication with said at least one side aperture (17, 17b, 17c) . 13. Packaging unit according to claims 3 and 11, wherein said tubular element (7) and a tubular wall of a recess (5) within said packaging material (2) comprise said abutting means (23) in the form of a pair of grooves (23) spaced apart from each other along said tubular element (7) with said at least one side aperture (22) therebetween, and corresponding annular projections. 14. Packaging unit according to claim 13, wherein the distance (Z) between said grooves (23) substantially corresponds with the distance between the inner extremity of said tubular element (7) and a facing wall portion of said packaging material (2) . 15. Packaging unit according to claim 11, 13, or 14, wherein said axial hole (21) is blind. 16. Packaging unit according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said at least one side aperture (17, 17b, 17c) and/or said at least one side opening (18, 18b, 18c) are/is elongate longitudinally of said tubular element (7) .

Inventors: BARTOLI ANDREA, TABARONI ROBERTO, TRALDI FLAVIO, BARTOLI, ANDREA, TABARONI, ROBERTO, TRALDI, FLAVIO
Applicants: BARTOLI ANDREA, TABARONI ROBERTO, TRALDI FLAVIO, UNIFILL SPA, BARTOLI, ANDREA, TABARONI, ROBERTO, TRALDI, FLAVIO, UNIFILL S.P.A.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D77
IPC codes: B65D25, B65D75, B65D77