Patent Abstract:
A single-dose container for liquids and/or solids, comprising: a wrapper, provided with at least an opening; at least a cannula sealedly arranged though the at least an opening such as to extend internally of the wrapper and project partially externally of the wrapper.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a single-dose container for liquids and/or solids. In particular the container is preferably realized as a sachet and is usefully applied for conservation and transport of fruit juices, integrators or other drinks, including medical and pharmaceutical liquids. 
         [0002]    Sachet containers of many and varied shapes are known, all having in common an external wrapper made of a deformable material and provided with an opening which is generally provided with a spout having a cap through which spout the contents of the wrapper can be poured to the outside, or directly drunk. The spout is an element which in general is external of the deformable wrapper and exhibits a small portion at which it is associated to the wrapper. 
         [0003]    Obviously the containers of known type are suitable for containing liquid substances which can be assumed via the opening or the spout they are provided with, while they are very poorly functional for the conservation of solid substances deriving for example from freezing the liquid contents of the container itself. 
         [0004]    In European patent application EP 188 35 86, belonging to the inventor of the present patent application, a single-dose container is illustrated which is practical and functional both where it contains a liquid and where it contains a solid. The container illustrated in patent EP 188 35 86 comprises a wrapper, provided with at least an opening, and at least a cannula, i.e. a relatively slim tubular element sealedly arranged through the opening such as to extend internally of the wrapper and to project partially externally of the wrapper. The wrapper is constituted by a deformable sachet, made for example of a laminate for food use, which can easily be compressed to facilitate exit of the liquid container inside through the cannula. The cannula extends for a relatively long tract internally of the wrapper, up to in proximity of an edge which is opposite the edge in which the opening is afforded. The wrapper is further predisposed to be at least partially opened and to free the contents thereof. To this end, the wrapper is realized through coupling of two layers of laminate material for food use which exhibit a joining edge which is detachable by traction of two shaped flaps or two unjoined corners. In this way, on freezing the contents of the wrapper, the cannula becomes imprisoned in the solid mass and can very practically perform the function of a support handle. In a case in which the substance contained in the wrapper is liquid, it can easily be aspirated through the cannula. 
         [0005]    The inventor has discovered that the container described in the above-mentioned patent application can be improved in some aspects thereof. Primarily, especially when the container exhibits a relatively-high capacity, for example above 150 ml, it is preferable that the container be able to take on and maintain an erect position resting on a surface. This is to free the user of the need to hold the container by hand up to total consumption of the product. 
         [0006]    Secondly, the predisposing of a joining edge which can be detached between two levels of laminate materials for foods, which detachment can be caused by traction of two shaped flaps or two unjoined edges, is not without risk of accidental and undesired opening. 
         [0007]    The aim of the present invention is to provide a single-dose container for liquids and/or solids which obviates the drawbacks of the containers of known type. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Characteristics and advantages of the invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows, provided by way of non-limiting example made with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an overall view of the container; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a container in a perspective view which shows the bottom in particular; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows the container in a first example of use; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows the container in a second example of use. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    With reference to the figures of the drawings, the container of the invention comprises a wrapper  2 , provided with at least an opening  3 , and at least a cannula  4 , i.e. a relatively slim tubular element, sealedly arranged through the opening  3  such as to extend internally of the wrapper  2  and to partially project externally of the wrapper  2 . Preferably the wrapper  2  is constituted by a deformable sachet, made for example of a laminate for food use, which can easily be compressed to facilitate the exit of the liquid contained internally through the cannula  4 . The cannula  4  extends for a relatively long tract internally of the wrapper  2  up to in proximity of an edge which is opposite the edge at which the opening  3  is afforded. In this way, on freezing the contents of the wrapper  2 , the cannula  4  remains imprisoned internally of the solid mass and can very practically perform the function of a carrying handle. When the contained substance is in a liquid state it can easily be sucked in through the cannula  4 . 
         [0014]    In the preferred embodiment, the wrapper  2  is provided with a bottom portion  2   a  conformed such as to allow the wrapper  2  to be rested in an erect position on a surface. The bottom portion  2   a  comprises a sheet of laminate material  20  folded on itself along at least a first fold line  21  and at least a second fold line  22 . In proximity of each of the fold lines  21 ,  22 , the sheet is folded on itself, forming two superposed layers which are coupled to one another. A portion of sheet of a predetermined size is extended between the two fold lines  21 ,  22 , and in particular between the two zones in which the two layers of sheet are coupled to one another. Starting from the bottom portion  2   a , the sheet of laminate material is superposed in two coupled layers at external edges  24  thereof, such that the two fold lines  21 ,  22  are also coupled at ends thereof. This enables the fold lines to be distanced from one another in the zone comprised between the ends, in particular when the container is full, such as to define a resting edge for the container. The portion of sheet comprised between the two fold lines  21 ,  22  defines the bottom  23  of the container. 
         [0015]    The wrapper  2  preferably comprises a removable appendage  5  predisposed to hermetically seal the portion of cannula  4  which projects externally of the wrapper  2 . The function of the removable appendage  5  is hygienic and serves to protect the cannula  4  from possible contamination, also closing the wrapper  2  and preventing the exit of the contents if these are in liquid form. By providing perforated cutting lines and/or peripheral cuts, removal of the appendage  5  can be facilitated. The perforation cutting lines and the peripheral cuts are not however free of the risk of accidental opening, especially in a case of impacts or excessive compression of the container. Considerably more resistant, and also easy to open, are cutting lines obtained by partial laser incision of the container surface. 
         [0016]    The wrapper  2  is preferably further predisposed to be at least in part opened in order to liberate the contents thereof. In the preferred embodiment the wrapper  3  is realized starting from a sheet of laminate material  20 , folded into two layers and coupled along the external edges  24 . The external joining edges  24  can be detachably coupled by means of the traction of two shaped flaps or two unjoined corners. Alternatively, one or more cutting lines  25 , preferably constituted by partial laser cuts of the container surface, can for example be positioned along the sides of the container  3  in order to facilitate opening of the wrapper by acting on shaped flaps. As already specified in the introductory part of the description, the predisposition of a detachable joining edge and/or the cutting lines along the sides of the wrapper exposes the container to the risk of accidental opening. A particularly advantageous solution for improving the resistance of the container to accidental impacts consists in realizing a cutting line, preferably constituted by a partial laser cut, on the bottom  23  of the container. The cutting line preferably extends between the ends of the cutting lines  21 ,  22  in a median position on the bottom  23 . In this way, by exerting a traction of a predetermined intensity on the two fold lines which tends to distance them from one another, the bottom  23  opens, enabling access to the inside of the container and freeing the product contained therein. Starting from the opening of the bottom  23 , the container can be opened even more by separating the two layers of laminate material along the edges of the lateral joints of the container. 
         [0017]    In a case in which the contents of the wrapper  3  are in the solid state, by removing the wrapper the contents can be eaten like an ice lolly. The freezing of the substance closed by the container can be very useful in a case in which the substance exhibits a particularly intense taste. The taste of a frozen substance is in fact considerably reduced in strength in comparison to the same substance in the liquid state, and this is particularly important if a substance having a particularly strong taste is to be given to a child.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1