Abstract:
The present invention relates to a means of packaging to reduce decomposition of particulate products, such as dry flake cereals that are often crushed, compacted, or pulverized during shipping and handling, by distributing the product across a multiplicity of structurally isolated cellular storage sections within the package.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     References Cited 
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       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to means and methods of packaging to reduce decomposition of particulate products, such as dry flake breakfast cereals, that are often crushed, compacted, or pulverized during shipping and handling. This invention minimizes product decomposition by distributing the product into structurally isolated packaging cells. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of Background 
         [0005]    Packaging of particulate products, such as dry flake breakfast cereals, and the like have not changed significantly in 25 years. This maybe due to the increased cost of manufacturing, distribution, and shipping but more likely due to the accepted business practice of “If it ain&#39;t (Sic) broke don&#39;t fix it.” that originated with government official Bert Lance in May 1977. In the past 5 years product manufacturers were motivated by club warehouse giants, like Wal-Mart and Costco, to reduce costs and manufacturers responded by increasing their product&#39;s package size as the only cost-effective means of reducing costs. 
         [0006]    As a consequence of increasing the package size to hold more product the pressure on the product, at the bottom of the package, increased proportionally and, owing to this, so did product decomposition. This, over time and package movement, causes the product to settle and ultimately decompose into smaller and smaller granulated particulate that ultimately settles to the bottom of the packaging. In the case of edible product, such as flake cereal or shredded wheat, the percentage decomposition is considerable sometimes reducing the edible product by twenty percent or more—nobody wants to eat cereal with a texture like sand. 
         [0007]    Manufacturer&#39;s often label their product with a disclaimer stating that the product is packaged by weight, not volume, probably owing to complaints precipitated by consumers feeling shortchanged. Although this decomposition is perceived as waste by the consumer a manufacturer might fallaciously argue “The consumer will maintain product loyalty as the decomposition is only cosmetic.” Studies have shown that product loyalty has its price and consumers will go to a competitor, who offers a similar product at a competitive price, which looks better, and has less waste. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly with its major aspects already briefly recited, the present invention discloses packaging means to reduce decomposition of particulate products, such as dry flake breakfast cereals, often crushed, compacted, or pulverized during shipping and handling. The main emphasis of the invention is to minimize product decomposition into loose grains, similar to sand, caused by compaction or shifting due to the increased amount of product in larger packaging. Reduction in decomposition is accomplished by inserting sectional barriers between the product thereby emulating individual product packaging. This isolation constitutes product separation that reduces the forces exerted on the product and adjoining products. The sectional cell barriers can be made using the same material as the primary packaging making manufacturing a simple modification of the existing form. Insertion of product at manufacturing time is not changed, just reoriented, from the top of the packaging to the front, back, or sides and as such does not require major modification of packaging machinery. The consumer only has to open one perforated sectional cell compartment of the package to retrieve the product and there may be as many cell compartments as necessary to preserve the product. Package recognition by consumers is not compromised as externally the packaging and its artwork essentially remain the same. 
         [0009]    Other advantages of this structurally cellular packaging concept are its ability to: size cellular sections as a function of product, accommodate individual serving sizes, accommodate existing sealed bag technology, increase shelf time owing to individual cellular section opening-closing, be implemented at low cost. Other features and their advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art of particulate product packaging from a careful reading of the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments accompanied by the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial of particulate product packaging showing the package closed, as delivered to the consumer, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a pictorial of particulate product packaging with the package open, ready for insertion of product, during production according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows cereal, contained in a sealed bag, as an exemplary particulate product ready for insertion into packaging according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention relates to a means of packaging particulate product, such as dry flake breakfast cereals, to reduce decomposition caused by product compaction during shipping and handling. This invention minimizes product decomposition by isolating product into cell structured compartments thereby reducing gravitational and frictional forces that cause product degradation. 
         [0014]    Instead of having a single section house the product the invention partitions the packaging into several isolated cellular sections and thereby minimizes product interaction—reducing decomposition. 
         [0015]    Only minor modifications in package structure are required maintaining product recognition and manufacturing methods in form, fit, and function while promoting simplicity of product access, increased shelf-life, and use by customer. 
         [0016]    For simplicity and clarity in this description cereal will be used as an exemplary particulate product and it will be assumed that this is synonymous with any particulate product and the present invention would operate in the same fashion as described. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial of particulate product packaging showing the package closed, with a multiplicity of side cover sections  100  covering structurally isolated cells containing product, not shown, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Access to the product, not shown but located under covers  100 , is obtained by pulling tabs  110  that separate perforated cuttings  180 . When selected perforations,  180 , are punctured cover sections  100  are opened, but remain connected to the package via edge  190 , and allow access to the product. All sections may be accessed simultaneously by opening sticky edge,  175 , removing contact with the front, or back, (not shown) of the package  150 .  FIG. 1 ,  120  is by convention the top of the package and  130  is the bottom with  150  being the front, or back, (not shown) of the package containing graphics or text,  165 . 
         [0018]    There are, of course, numerous ways of implementing removable covers for the structurally isolated cells containing product other than perforated edges. These include sealants, hinges, pressure fittings and various other forms of interconnecting means. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but includes any mechanism for removing a cell section cover, or cell section, from a package without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a pictorial of particulate product, in this example cereal, packaging with the both sides,  255  and  250 , of the package open, ready for insertion of cereal, during production according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2 ,  260 , indicates the direction of closure for side,  255 , with direction of travel,  270 , for closure of side,  250 . Note that during insertion of cereal only one side,  255  or  250 , at a time would be open if the cereal was not individually packaged as shown in  FIG. 3 ,  350 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows cereal,  350 , contained in a sealed bag ready for insertion into packaging cell,  380 , structurally isolated by separator,  375 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0021]    Although  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  describe the basic configuration of the invention they are only exemplary illustrations and omission of package, dimensions, shape, products to be packaged, or the advantages of using the invention to reduce costs, increase product stability, and sales are not intended as restrictions or limitations. 
         [0022]    It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of packaging from reading the foregoing that many substitutions and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.