Abstract:
A packaging method for solid, liquid and dry-powdered comestibles to mitigate a condition of human fatigue among others, with a gauging means including a portion of the container permitting a user to portion a quantity of comestible according to an estimated time-duration for biological activity for the quantity of comestible once it is ingested.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application no. 61/613,586 filed Mar. 30, 2012. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates generally to a packaging method for gauging the amount of comestible ingested by time incremented portioning means on the packaging. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Time incremented serving means offers a novel way to ingest liquid or dry powdered comestibles which include compositions to alleviate hypoglycemia, and vitamin and energy boosting compositions, among others. Many energy boosting compositions contain caffeine. While concern has been raised about the health effects of over-consuming certain caffeine containing products (Meier, Barry. “Safety Becomes a Concern With High-Caffeine Drinks” New York Times 23 Oct. 2012), it is likely that in the U.S., such products will remain unregulated. 
         [0007]    It would especially desirable to provide comestibles for energy boosting purposes among others, in a package having time-incremented graduations so that a user can gauge the amount of product will be biologically active in their system once ingested. 
         [0008]    It would be desirable to provide a means of gauging the amount of comestible consumed, whether by single dose packaging in which the entire contents are placed into the mouth at one time, or multiple dose packaging. 
         [0009]    It would be desirable if the means and methods used to package the comestibles were applicable for treatment not only of the hypoglycemic condition, but additionally, for use as energy boosters and dietary supplementation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Disclosed are embodiments according to the present invention that permit a user to easily measure a quantity of comestible required for an desired duration for biological activity once the comestible is consumed. The gauging means of the instant invention (1) permits the user to see the quantity of product remaining at any time in the product container, and (2) view markings representing increments of time, such as a window with graduated indicia, so that the contained product is divisible by time increments, which allows the user to gauge the approximate time a given quantity of product will be active in their body after ingestion. This is particularly important with energy boosting products containing caffeine where a user would not want to over consume the product. An example of this would be a student wishing to have no more than two hours of boosted energy to study for an exam, but planning to sleep thereafter. Consuming more product than necessary in this case would be detrimental to sleep. 
         [0011]    In an aspect of the invention, liquid or powdered comestibles for correcting or augmenting human energy levels are supplied in flavored form in a package or container having a viewing window with graduated markings representing increments of time. Along with a transparent viewing window visible on the outside of the container, conceivably, the graduation means can be a dropper having increments representing any unit of time, whether seconds, minutes, hours or days. Preferably, in the case of energy boosting compositions, the time increments would be in one hour increments. It is also conceivable that the graduation means of the instant invention include markings corresponding to body weight that are adjacent the markings for time increments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts. Drawing figures used in this disclosure may include trademarked or copyrighted material. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention that shows a container, here a can, for containing a powdered composition including a translucent window with time incremented graduations to indicate product bioactivity by time duration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention that shows a container, here test tubes, which include a window with time incremented graduations to indicate product bioactivity by time duration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention that shows a container, here a bottle-type container, with time incremented graduations to indicate product bioactivity by time duration; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention that shows a container, here a tubular-type package, with time incremented graduations to indicate product bioactivity by time duration; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention that shows a container, here a dropper-type bottle for use with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is detail view showing the graduations on the dropper given in hours; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top view of one embodiment according to the present invention showing a container, here a paper or plastic package for a solid, bar-type comestible, with a window having graduations in one-hour increments; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is side view of one embodiment according to the present invention showing a container with a window with product level indicated by  15  with sliding indicator  14  to measure a portion by the hour; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows the sliding indicator aligned at the top with product level  15 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  depicts an embodiment according to the present invention showing a container with a window with product level indicated by  15  with sliding indicator  14  which correlates a weight range  11  according to one hour of estimated biological activity; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  depicts a detail view of the sliding indicator  14 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    U.S. application Ser. No. 13/354,252 filed Feb. 22, 2012 and U.S. application Ser. No. 13/564,887 filed Aug. 2, 2012, both sharing the same inventor of the instant application and disclosing relevant aspects of the instant invention, are incorporated herein in their entirely by reference. In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will comprehend that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. Accordingly, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Unless otherwise explained, any technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “image” refers to any kind of marking applied at any point in the disclosed production process to the sleeved device whether textual or decorative. The term “comprises” means “includes.” The term “time graduated” or “time graduations” or “time incremented” means any visible indicator of time-duration applied to the level or amount of comestible product remaining in a container after a first, or subsequent use. The term “graduations” without the “time” qualifier can mean any type of graduated markings Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described below. Publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein, if any, are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. In case of conflict, the present specification, including explanations of terms, will control. 
         [0025]    The following are merely examples of ways the time-incremented graduating means of the present invention can be used with various liquid and solid or powdered dry compositions, and are illustrative only. 
         [0026]    Hypoglycemic Corrective 
         [0027]    1) At least 9 grams of total carbohydrates to include at least 7 grams of sugar obtained from the D-glucose/Maltodextrin composition, or package in a single dose package including at least 4 grams of total carbohydrates to include at least  4  grams of sugar in the form of the D-glucose/Maltodextrin composition; and, 
         [0028]    2) with a liquid carrier such as water, or in dry powdered form, package single dose package or multiple-dose packaging as depicted in  FIGS. 1-10  in which the container possesses a viewing window sufficiently translucent to enable a consumer to view the level of product present in the container. The viewing window has markings on it or adjacent to it that allow the consumer to estimate the duration of time for the biological activity for a discrete quantity of product once it is consumed. 
         [0029]    Energy Booster 
         [0030]    1) Beginning with a composition such as the hypoglycemic corrective, add flavoring and energy boosting ingredients which are capable of passing through at least a #80 mesh screen which are taken from at least one of the following: ginseng, gotu kola, ginger, tumeric, maitake, MSM, DMAE, NADH, licorice root, black walnut, fennel, peppermint, and cayenne, rhodiola, DHA, EPA, ascorbic acid, B-vitamins, CO-Q10, caffeine; and, 
         [0031]    2) mix in a drying (dehydrating) powder blender for at least 20 minutes; and, 
         [0032]    3) with a liquid carrier such as water, or remaining in dry powdered form, package single dose package or multiple-dose packaging as depicted in  FIGS. 1-10  having a window that shows the current product level. It should be noted in the case of energy boosters and vitamin supplements with and without caffeine, the graduations represent time increments such as 1 hr, 2 hr , 3 hr and so forth. 
         [0033]    Vitamin Supplement 
         [0034]    1) Beginning with a composition such as the hypoglycemic corrective, add flavorings and ingredients which are capable of passing through at least an #80 mesh screen which are taken from at least one of the following: ginseng, gotu kola, ginger, tumeric, maitake, MSM, DMAE, NADH, licorice root, black walnut, fennel, peppermint, and cayenne, rhodiola, DHA, EPA, ascorbic acid, CO-Q10, B-vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, folic acid, biotin, panothenic acid, iodine, iron, magnesium, zinc, inositol, calcium, selenim, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, potassium, boron, betaine Hcl, caffeine; 
         [0035]    2) mix in a drying (dehydrating) powder blender for at least 20 minutes; and, 
         [0036]    3) with a liquid carrier such as water, or remaining in dry powdered form, package single dose package or multiple-dose packaging as depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0037]    Dietary Fiber Supplement 
         [0038]    1) Beginning with base composition, add flavorings and ingredients which are capable of passing through at least an #80 mesh screen which are taken from at least one of the following: soluble fiber, insoluble fiber; 
         [0039]    2) mix in a drying (dehydrating) powder blender for at least 20 minutes; and, 
         [0040]    3) with a liquid carrier such as water, or in dry powdered form, package single dose package or multiple-dose packaging as depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0041]    Because caffeine, as well as other energy boosting stimulants are metabolized by the body at a certain rate, the consumer using the methods disclosed herein, can gauge how much product to ingest for a given duration of time which is useful to avoid ingesting more product than required. The graduated window also indicates to the consumer how much product they have previously ingested, lest they forget. The gauging means having demarcations that indicate increments of time or time durations be used with dry or liquid based compositions. 
         [0042]    Generally referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , various product packages  10 ′ are shown having a window  12  which is sufficiently translucent or transparent to permit viewing of an instant product level. The windows are accompanied by markings of time increments. The time increments can be any increment of time, but are preferably given in hours because of the half-life of a given quantity of caffeine in the human body is approximately five hours. The package can be of any suitable material, the form the packaging takes, includes, but is not limited to: cans, cellophane packaging or the like, test tubes, bottles, paper or plastic packages of any shape and size, or dropper-type bottles. The window can be formed with the package, or added to the package, such as a printed sleeve placed over a container portion of the package. An example of this is when the package or container is clear, and the sleeve includes opaque portions or decorative elements, and a translucent window  12  which would permit viewing of the packaged contents. 
         [0043]    Regardless of the added flavorings and ingredients, ingestion of discrete quantities of the comestible can be gauged by a user according to an estimated time duration for biological activity by using the time-incremented gauging means. As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the gauging means can include a sliding indicator  14  to align with the instant product level  15 . Along with a single window having one instance of a time increment such as 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour, the gauging means can incorporate weight ranges ( FIG. 10 ) for even more accurate gauging means for estimating biological activity. 
         [0044]    While the invention has been described by the embodiments given, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed.