Patent Description:
There is a benefit in extending the period of time which perishable goods, such as food produce, remain fresh. By increasing the freshness time, the goods remain fit for use or consumption longer, reducing the risk of the goods soiling before use and being wasted. One way to increase the freshness time is to modify the atmosphere within which the goods are packaged. For example, using a modified atmosphere to prevent food waste is well known in the art. However, once this modified atmosphere is released from the packaging, the user has a limited period in which to consume the goods before they soil. This is a particular issue when the goods are not fully consumed once opened.

In this way, there is a need for a means to restore and reintroduce a modified atmosphere after the initial modified atmosphere of the packaging has been broken.

<CIT> discloses a cap according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, for reviving the carbonation level of a carbonated beverage. The cap is configured to be screwed on the opening of the beverage bottle. The cap has a pressurized gas compartment that is sealed until selectively pierced by the user by pressing on a piercing means, after such piercing of the seal, the gas inside the pressurized gas compartment is free to move into the beverage container and into the liquid, providing carbonation to the liquid.

Objects and aspects of the present invention seek to alleviate at least these problems with the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid structure for a container according to claim <NUM>, lid structure comprising; a first lid member, and a second lid member, the first lid member connected to the second lid member to form a gas tight cavity between the first lid member and the second lid member, the gas tight cavity substantially filled with an inert atmosphere; wherein the first lid member comprises at least one piercing structure configured to be operable by the user to pierce the second lid member and release the inert atmosphere from the gas tight cavity, and wherein said piercing structure is configured to irreversibly deform after operation by said user.

In this way there is provided a means to reintroduce an inert atmosphere into a container. As such, a modified atmosphere for prolonging the freshness of the container contents can be restored. Such a lid structure is particularly advantageous for prolonging the freshness of perishable food items, such as salad and other produce and in applications wherein the container contents are not fully spent or consumed. In the following description, it is understood that an inert atmosphere is a dedicated or modified atmosphere beneficial to the application of the lid structure. Namely, the inert atmosphere differs from the external atmosphere in a way that is beneficial in the application.

Preferably, the second lid member comprises a film. In particular, it is envisaged that the film is a plastic, foil or paper film.

Preferably, the piercing structure comprises at least one piercing member. Preferably, the at least one piercing member is positioned substantially centrally within the piercing structure. In this way, the piercing member is configured to pierce the second lid member at substantially the weakest point of the second lid member, reducing the force required during user operation.

Preferably, the at least one piercing member comprises a spike. Preferably, the at least one piercing member comprises at least one rib. Preferably, the at least one rib comprises a plurality of ribs located symmetrically about the spike. In this way, the at least one rib improves the strength of the spike, increasing the piercing strength of the at least one piercing member.

Preferably, the piercing structure is positioned substantially centrally within the first lid member. Preferably, the piercing structure comprises a plurality of ribs. More preferably, the plurality of ribs are located symmetrically about the piercing member. The plurality of ribs improve the rigidity and strength of the piercing structure, increasing the force required to deform the piercing structure. In this way, the risk of accidental deformation of the piercing structure, and thus accidental puncturing of the second lid member, is reduced. This is particularly advantageous during transportation, storage and display, such as when a plurality of containers comprising the lid structure are stacked on top of one another.

The piercing structure is configured to irreversibly deform after operation by the user. In this way, the piercing structure remains in a deformed state to assist the release of the entire inert atmosphere from the gas tight cavity. Further, the deformed state of the piercing structure serves as visual evidence of tampering and accidental operation of the piercing structure.

Preferably, the operation of the piercing structure by the user reduces the volume of the gas tight cavity to less than <NUM>% of its initial volume. More preferably, the operation of the piercing structure by the user reduces the volume of the gas tight cavity to less than <NUM>% of its initial volume. Still more preferably, the operation of the piercing structure by the user reduces the volume of the gas tight cavity to less than <NUM>% of its initial volume.

Preferably, the second lid member comprises a frangible portion. Preferably, the frangible portion comprises a line of weakness or point of weakness. More preferably, the frangible portion comprises a plurality of lines of weakness or points of weakness. In this way, the second lid member is configured to intentionally deform along the line of weakness or point of weakness.

Preferably, the inert atmosphere consists of nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas is non-reactive with food, preserving texture, flavour and extending shelf life.

Preferably, the connection between the first lid member and the second lid member comprises a heat weld. Alternatively, the connection between the first lid member and the second lid member comprises an adhesive.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts, the kit of parts comprising: the lid structure of the first aspect of the invention, and a container, wherein the lid structure is sized to form a substantially gas tight fit with the container.

Preferably, the container comprises a base portion and a sealing member, wherein the base portion and the sealing member are connected to form a second gas tight cavity. Preferably, the second gas tight cavity is substantially filled with an inert atmosphere.

Preferably, the sealing member is configured to be removed from the base portion by the user. Preferably, the lid structure is reversibly removable from the container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing the lid structure of the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising: providing the first lid member, providing the second lid member, and connecting the first lid member to the second lid member to form a gas tight cavity whilst encapsulating an inert atmosphere within the gas tight cavity.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

With reference to <FIG>, there is illustrated a lid structure <NUM> fitted to a container <NUM>. The lid <NUM> is removably retainable on the container <NUM>. In this embodiment, the contents of the container <NUM> are a salad, however the contents to be contained by the container <NUM> are not particularly limited.

The lid <NUM> comprises a first lid member <NUM> connected to a second lid member <NUM> to form a gas tight cavity <NUM> between the first lid member <NUM> and the second lid member <NUM>. The gas tight cavity <NUM> is substantially filled with an inert atmosphere. In this embodiment, the inert atmosphere consists of nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas is beneficial in preserving food items such as salad and extending the freshness of the container contents.

The second lid member <NUM> comprises a film and the connection between the first lid member <NUM> and the second lid member <NUM> comprises an adhesive. The nitrogen gas in the gas tight cavity <NUM> is at a pressure such that the pressure of the gas in the cavity <NUM> does not unintentionally break the film of the second lid member <NUM>.

The first lid member <NUM> comprises a piercing structure <NUM> configured to be operable by a user to pierce the second lid member <NUM> and release the inert atmosphere from the gas tight cavity <NUM>. The piercing structure <NUM> comprises a piercing member <NUM> positioned substantially centrally within the piercing structure <NUM>. The piercing structure <NUM> comprises a substantially rectangular base which tapers towards the piercing member <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the piercing member <NUM> comprises a cylindrical portion <NUM> and a spike <NUM>. The spike is located at the distal end of the piercing member <NUM> from the piercing structure <NUM> and is configured to pierce the film of the second lid member <NUM>. The piercing member <NUM> comprises plastic such that when the user operates the piercing structure <NUM> to pierce the second lid member <NUM>, the film is broken and the inert atmosphere from the gas tight cavity <NUM> is released.

The piercing member <NUM> further comprises three piercing member ribs <NUM> located symmetrically about the spike <NUM>. The piercing member ribs <NUM> extend the length of the cylindrical portion <NUM> and the spike <NUM>. The piercing member ribs <NUM> extend towards one another within the piercing member <NUM>. The piercing member ribs <NUM> and the cylindrical member <NUM> improve the piercing strength of the spike <NUM> by reinforcing the strength of the piercing member <NUM>.

The piercing structure <NUM> is positioned substantially centrally within the first lid member <NUM> and comprises two piercing structure ribs <NUM>. The piercing structure ribs <NUM> are located on either side of the piercing member <NUM> and extend to the edge of the piercing structure <NUM>. In this way, the piercing structure ribs <NUM> are located substantially symmetrically about the piercing member <NUM>. The ribs comprise a substantially curved surface <NUM> and extend towards the surface of the first lid member <NUM> distal the container <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is attached to the container <NUM>. The piercing structure ribs <NUM> improve the strength of the piercing structure <NUM>, increasing the force required to deform the piercing structure <NUM>.

In use, the user applies a force to the piercing structure <NUM>. The force applied by the user deforms the piercing structure and brings the spike <NUM> into contact with the second lid member <NUM>. The piercing member <NUM> pierces the second lid member <NUM>, releasing the inert atmosphere from the gas tight cavity <NUM>. When attached to a container <NUM>, the inert atmosphere from the gas tight cavity <NUM> is released into the container <NUM>.

The second lid member <NUM> comprises a frangible portion comprising a plurality of lines of weakness <NUM>. The lines of weakness <NUM> surround the piercing structure <NUM> and extend from each of the four corners of the rectangular base of the piercing structure <NUM> to the piercing member <NUM>. The piercing structure <NUM> deforms along the lines of weakness <NUM>.

The piercing structure <NUM> is configured to irreversibly deform after operation by the user. The operation of the piercing structure <NUM> by the user reduces the volume of the gas tight cavity <NUM> to less than <NUM>% of its initial volume. In this way, the height of the piercing structure <NUM> is reduced after operation by the user.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, there is depicted a kit of parts according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the kit of parts comprises the lid structure <NUM> and the container <NUM>. The lid <NUM> is sized to form a substantially gas tight fit with the container <NUM> and is reversibly removable from the container <NUM>. In this way, the user may remove the lid <NUM> from the container <NUM> to access the container <NUM> contents and then consequently replace the lid <NUM>.

The container <NUM> comprises a base portion <NUM> and a sealing member (not pictured), wherein the base portion <NUM> and the sealing member are connected to form a second gas tight cavity <NUM> substantially filled with an inert atmosphere. The base portion <NUM> comprises an opening for access to the container <NUM> contents, and the sealing member extends across the opening to form the gas tight cavity <NUM>.

The sealing member is configured to be removed from the base portion <NUM> by the user, such that any initial inert atmosphere within the container <NUM> is released into the external environment. In this way, the user can remove both the lid <NUM> and the sealing member to access the contents of the container. Next, the user can replace the lid <NUM> on the container <NUM>. The user can then operate the piercing structure <NUM>, releasing the inert atmosphere from the gas tight cavity <NUM> into the base portion <NUM> of the container <NUM>. The inert atmosphere provides a portion of the new atmosphere for the remaining contents of the container <NUM>, aiding preservation of the remaining contents of the container <NUM>. This is particularly advantageous when the contents of the container <NUM> are food that has not been fully consumed.

<FIG> depicts a schematic view of a method <NUM> of producing the lid structure <NUM> of the first aspect of the invention. The method <NUM> comprises a PROVIDE FIRST LID MEMBER step <NUM>, wherein the first lid member <NUM> is provided. There follows a PROVIDE SECOND LID MEMBER step <NUM>, wherein the second lid member <NUM> is provided. There follows a CONNECT step <NUM> comprising connecting the first lid member <NUM> to the second lid member <NUM> to form the gas tight cavity <NUM> whilst encapsulating an inert atmosphere within the gas tight cavity.

Claim 1:
A lid structure (<NUM>) for a container (<NUM>), said lid structure comprising;
a first lid member (<NUM>), and
a second lid member (<NUM>),
said first lid member (<NUM>) connected to said second lid member (<NUM>) to form a gas tight cavity (<NUM>) between said first lid member (<NUM>) and said second lid member (<NUM>),
said gas tight cavity (<NUM>) substantially filled with an inert atmosphere;
wherein said first lid member (<NUM>) comprises at least one piercing structure (<NUM>) configured to be operable by the user to pierce said second lid member (<NUM>) and release said inert atmosphere from said gas tight cavity (<NUM>), characterized in that
said piercing structure (<NUM>) is configured to irreversibly deform after operation by said user.