Package

• US 8,403,161 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H.J. Heinz Company Brands LLC (The Kraft Heinz Company)
• Original Assignee: H.J. Heinz Company
• Inventors: Van Puijenbroek, Alexander Josephus Maricus
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELOSHWAY, NIKI MARINA
• Application Number:
  US13/078,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20110198259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 220/4.21, 220/266, 220/270, 220/359.1, 220/359.2, 220/359.3, 222/107, 222/212, 222/491, 222/494, 206/532, 206/813
• US Class Current: 220/4.21
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/4012 for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5811 and defining, after tearing, a small dispensing spout, a small orifice or the like

Abstract

The invention relates to a package suitable for containing a perishable product, comprising a first shell element provided with an upright circumferential edge and a central portion for accommodating said perishable product, as well as a closure element provided with a circumferential edge which closure element is placed with its circumferential edge on the upright circumferential edge of said first shell element in an adhering and closing manner and wherein said closure element is provided at its circumferential edge with a protruding lip, which lip does not adhere to the circumferential edge of said first shell element, for the purpose of peeling off said closure element from said first element. Near said lip the two circumferential edges are provided with a closed channel being in communication with said central portion, and wherein at least one of said circumferential edges is provided with a fracture line extending substantially perpendicularly to said channel.

Claims

1. A package suitable for containing a perishable product, comprising:

a first shell element provided with a generally planar bottom surface and an circumferential wall extending upwardly from the generally planar bottom surface, defining a central cavity, wherein at least a portion of the wall also includes a lower lip;

a closure element placed on the circumferential wall of the first shell element in an adhering manner so as to close the central cavity, wherein at least a portion of the closure element includes a protruding lip, which does not adhere to the lower lip of the circumferential wall of the first shell element, so that the portion of the closure element facilitates peeling the closure element from the first shell element to expose the central cavity; and

wherein the first shell element and the closure element also define a closed channel in communication with the central cavity, and wherein the first shell element includes a fracture line extending transversely of the closed channel to facilitate opening the closed channel as a metering opening and notches on either side of the fracture line.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the first shell element and the closure element are fashioned from different materials.

3. A package according to claim 1, wherein the first shell element and the closure element are fashioned from the same material.

4. A package according to claim 1, wherein each notch terminates at a point close to the channel.

5. A package according to claim 1, wherein the first shell element and the closure element are substantially identical.

6. A package according to claim 1, wherein the cavity contains a liquid.

7. A package according to claim 1, wherein the cavity contains a suspension-like foodstuff.

8. A package according to claim 1, wherein the cavity contains a gel-like substance.

9. A package according to claim 1, wherein the cavity contains a sweet product.

10. A package according to claim 1, wherein the cavity contains a body care product.

11. A package according to claim 1, wherein the cavity contains ketchup.

12. A package according to claim 1, wherein the cavity contains mayonnaise.

13. A package suitable for containing a perishable product, comprising:

a first shell element provided with a generally planar bottom surface and an upright circumferential wall that projects upwardly from the generally planar bottom surface so as to define a planar circumferential surface that is spaced away from said planar bottom surface, and a central portion for accommodating said perishable product;

a closure element provided with a circumferential edge, which closure element is placed with its circumferential edge on the upright circumferential wall of said first shell element in an adhering relationship with said circumferential surface and in a closing relationship with said first shell;

wherein at least a portion of said closure element is provided at its circumferential edge with a protruding lip, which lip does not adhere to the circumferential edge of said first shell element, for the purpose of substantially completely peeling off said closure element from said first element to expose the central portion, such that near said lip the two circumferential edges are provided with a closed channel arranged in communication with said central portion and further wherein at least one of said circumferential edges is provided with a fracture line extending substantially perpendicularly to said channel.