CONTAINERS WITH SEVERAL PORTIONS OF LIQUID FOODSTUFFS

Abstract: The invention relates to containers that are closed air tightly with aluminium foil or pertinent material and are equipped with a second lid (13) to cover them after opening. A similar container appropriately fitted, may be used for sterilized or non sterilized liquid foodstuffs in portions (e.g. two or more portions of milk for coffee, two or more portions of fruit juices fit for tea or cocktails). The invention with appropriate adjustments on the container and on the second lid (13) achieves easy and with acceptable accuracy dispensing of the portions, in hygienic conditions. Also the containers are aesthetically acceptable. The advantage of the invention is that it reduces drastically the cost per portion, keeping the product at high quality levels at the same time.

Description: CONTAINERS OF TWO OR MORE PORTIONS OF LIQUID FOODSTUFFS The invention relates to containers that hold two or more portions of a liquid foodstuff, are closed air tightly with appropriate material and are equipped with a second lid to cover them after opening. Known are the common opaque cups used for yogurt, fats etc which are closed air tightly with aluminium foil or pertinent material that is sealed to the flange (2) and are also equipped with a second lid (1 ), usually transparent, so that when are unsealed to be covered with it. A similar container appropriately fitted may be used for sterilized or non sterilized liquid foodstuffs in portions (e.g. two or more portions of milk for coffee, two or more portions of fruit juices fit for tea or cocktails). The invention, with appropriate adjustments on the container and on the second lid (1 ) achieves easy and with acceptable accuracy dispensing of the portions, in hygienic conditions. Also the containers are aesthetically acceptable. Until now no one has thought to use such kinds of containers for liquid foodstuffs in two or more portions. The advantage of the invention is that it reduces drastically the cost per portion, keeping the product at high quality levels at the same time. FIG. 1 shows indicatively, in cross section, a common container, unsealed and covered with a usual second lid (1 ). FIG. 2 shows indicatively, in cross section, a container of 2 portions, unsealed and covered with the new second lid (3). FIG. 3 shows indicatively, in cross section, a container of 2 and 1/4 portions, unsealed and covered with a variation of the new second lid (3). The features of the invention are the following: A. The containers hold more than one portions (as a minimum portion is considered the least quantity that can be used for a time). Separation of the portions holding in the container may be made in some of the known ways [e.g. approximately when we don ' t need particular accuracy or by means of the usual volume indications (printed or embossed) on the external of the container, when the containers are transparent]. Separation of the portions may be also made by means of the usual volume indications (printed or embossed) on the internal of the container, when the containers are opaque. Separation of the portions easily and with acceptable accuracy either the containers being transparent or not, may be effected through step-like scaling of the container. The container is divided into sections (usually of equal volume) corresponding to the portions, with step-like scaling (7). The straight line (8) shows the liquid level. The container of FIG. 2 holds two equal portions. Separation of the portions may be also made with the employment of different colors. The parts of the container (usually of equal volume) that correspond to the portions, may have different color (e.g. the part of the container corresponding to the first portion to be white, the one corresponding to the second portion to be red, that of the third portion to be white again etc). The step-like scaling or the colors may correspond to fractions of the portion as well (e.g. 1/2 of the portion). Further there might be a combination between them or/and at the same time to mention the usual volume indications. At the lower part of the container (preferably) may be held a small extra quantity of liquid, additionally to the portions (e.g. 1/2 or 1/4 of the portion) just in case someone needs an extra quantity (9). The container of FIG. 3 holds two equal portions and 1/4 of the portion extra quantity. Separation of the extra quantity is made in the same ways. The container may have a lip or/and a handle like in jugs or in saucepans. B. The containers are equipped with a second lid that covers them after being unsealed (no matter how the portions are separated). The second lid may be the common second lid (1 ) that closes the whole opening of the container. Instead of the common second lid (1 ) the containers may be equipped with the new second lid (3). The new second lid (3) does not close the entire opening of the container, but at the segment where the liquid comes out it has an appropriate opening for passage of the liquid, so that every time we need a certain quantity of the liquid, we are not obligated to lift the lid. The new second lid (3) at the segment of pouring for protection of the container and of its contents from impurities or/and for better control of the pouring, (i) may projects a little over the flange (2), (ii) may have a minor curvature (4) of various sizes, (iii) may have proper additions (5) for protection of the brim of the lid as well as for protection of the whole opening from impurities. To obtain easy pouring of the liquid, the lid must allow intake of air through its opening if sufficiently large or from some point peripherally (6), when the liquid comes out. Of course the liquid comes out only through the opening, without drippings. The part of the container where the liquid pours may be pre-determined (e.g. when it is equipped with a lip or by the design and the overall shaping of the container) or it may be determined by the opening of the lid (e.g. when the top of the container is round). Given that, usually, to protect their contents the containers are opaque, the lid is as a rule transparent. Certainly the new second lid (3) as well may be taken off completely, if so wished. If not all the portions are consumed, the container may be kept in the fridge. The unsealed container is secure since it is put in the fridge after one or more portions are consumed, when it is difficult to spill the liquid owing to some awkward movement. In case the liquid in the unsealed container is of room temperature, when the container is put into the fridge its lid mists. With proper design and appropriate material of the lid we can reduce duration of the mist (e.g. inner side of the lid to be relatively rough, the lid to have sloping and horizontal sections, the peak of the lid to be at the level of opening and flat). For reasons of protection, the whole container may be packaged in cellophane or only the new second lid (3). The most economical way is to package the containers in twos, threes, fours etc , in cellophane.

Claims: C A I M S 1. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs are closed air tightly with aluminium foil (or pertinent material) that is sealed to the flange (2) and are also equipped with a second lid, usually transparent, that covers the container after the aluminium foil is detached and are characterized in that separation of the portions is effected through step-like scaling of the container, so the container is divided into sections (usually of equal volume) corresponding to the portions, with step-like scaling (7) and is equipped with the new second lid (3) that does not close the entire opening of the container, but at the segment where the liquid comes out has an appropriate opening for passage of the liquid, so that every time we need a certain quantity of the liquid we are not obligated to lift the lid. 2. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claim 1 are characterized in that separation of the portions is made with the employment of different colors, so the adjoining parts of the container that correspond to the portions have different colors. 3. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claim 1 are characterized in that separation of the portions is made by means of the usual volume indications (printed or embossed) on the internal of the container, when the containers are opaque. 4. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claims 1 , 2, 3 are characterized in that the step-like scaling or the colors, correspond to fraction of the portion as well, also there might be a combination between them or/and at the same time to mention the usual volume indications. 5. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claims 1 , 2, 3, 4 are characterized in that at the lower part of the container (preferably) is held a small extra quantity of liquid, additionally to the portions (9) just in case someone needs an extra quantity. 6. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claim 1 are characterized in that separation of the portions is made in any other way and the containers are equipped with the new second lid (3). 7. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claims 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are characterized in that the new second lid (3) at the segment of pouring projects a little over the flange for protection of the container and of its contents from impurities or/and for better control of the pouring. 8. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claims 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are characterized in that the new second lid (3) at the segment of pouring has a minor curvature (4) of various sizes for protection of the container and of its contents from impurities or/and for better control of the pouring. 9. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claims 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 are characterized in that the new second lid (3) at the segment of pouring has proper additions (5) for protection of the brim of the lid as well as for protection of the whole opening from impurities. 10. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claim 1 are characterized in that the containers are equipped with a usual second lid (1 ). 11. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claim 2 are characterized in that the containers are equipped with a usual second lid (1 ). 12. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claim 3 are characterized in that the containers are equipped with a usual second lid (1 ). 13. The containers of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claim 4 are characterized in that the containers are equipped with a usual second lid (1 ). 14. The container of two or more portions of liquid foodstuffs according to claim 5 are characterized in that the containers are equipped with a usual second lid (1 ).

Inventors: FOTOPOULOS G ANASTASIOS, FOTOPOULOS, G., ANASTASIOS
Applicants: FOTOPOULOS G ANASTASIOS, FOTOPOULOS, G., ANASTASIOS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D51
IPC codes: B65D25, B65D47, B65D51