Multi-function condiment container

• US 9,061,796 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H.J. Heinz Company Brands LLC (The Kraft Heinz Company)
• Original Assignee: H.J. Heinz Company
• Inventors: Caldwell, Craig S., Marshall, John, Rasile, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): YAGER, JAMES C
• Application Number:
  US12/766,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 428/35.7, 426/122
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0202 and loosely interengaged by integral complementary shapes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2221/00 Small packaging specially adapted for product samples, single-use packages or échantillons
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2313/00 Connecting or fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/326 and forming one compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/72 for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials

Abstract

A container for condiments includes a container portion having generally planar bottom, a generally parallel flange, a discharge spout, and a sidewall extending between the bottom and the flange. A generally planar cover portion is secured to the flange by an adhesive such that there exists a non-bonded region between the cover and the flange. At least one section of the flange in the non-bonded region is bent downwardly away from the cover portion to form therebetween a finger-access gap. The sidewall includes a front portion disposed below the spout and extending downwardly with respect thereto. The sidewall front portion is configured to prevent the spout from becoming displaced upwardly in response to the sidewall front portion being contacted by the rear portion of another container in a package of the containers.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a container portion fashioned from a container material having a first bending stiffness, defining a receptacle having a volume and a spout, having a generally planar bottom with a width, having a generally planar flange generally parallel to the planar bottom, spaced therefrom, and surrounding the receptacle, having a sidewall extending between the bottom and the flange;

a removable cover portion fashioned from a cover material having a second bending stiffness which is less than the first bending stiffness, the cover portion substantially covering the generally planar flange;

adhesive between the container portion and the cover portion in the region of the generally planar flange, such that there exists a non-bonded region between the cover portion and the flange portion to facilitate removal of the cover portion;

wherein the sidewall includes a front portion disposed below the spout at a location offset from a discharge end of the spout, an upper section of the sidewall front portion extending downwardly with respect to the spout in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the flange,

wherein the cover portion and the flange form a bonded region substantially along a perimeter of the receptacle, and the cover portion and the flange additionally form a securing region structured and arranged with an increased peeling resistance relative to a peeling resistance of the bonded region, and

wherein the bonded region and the securing region are formed with first and second different sealing die patterns, such that the bonded region has a first sealing pattern and the securing region has a second sealing pattern, wherein the first and second sealing patterns are different.

2. The container of claim 1, further including an embossed portion in the generally planar bottom operable to increase the bending stiffness of that generally planar bottom.

3. The container of claim 1, including an embossed portion in the generally planar bottom.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container portion and the cover portion include a generally symmetrical pair of cuts extending from sides of the container toward a container end so as to define a pair of ears.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the ears include a surface adhering treatment.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the container portion is fabricated from material having an oxygen control barrier.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover portion is fabricated from a material having an oxygen control barrier.

8. The container of claim 1, further including a peel initiator located in longitudinal alignment with the spout portion.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the peel initiator is located opposite from the spout portion.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the adhesive provides a resistance to peeling in the range of about 2 to about 10 pounds force.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a width, a depth, and a length, and is proportioned such that the depth is less than about 50% of the width, and the depth is less than about 35% of the length.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein the container can support an applied weight of about 50 lbs.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein the receptacle contains a condiment.

14. The container of claim 1, wherein the receptacle contains a condiment selected from the group consisting of ketchup, mayonnaise, and sauce.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein the receptacle contains ketchup.

16. The container of claim 1, wherein the container material and the cover material are selected such that the condiment has a shelf-life of at least about six months.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein shelf-life is determined using a colorimeter operating in the L*a*b* color space, and an L*-value does not degrade more than about 10% during a six-month period.

18. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover portion includes a foil layer.

19. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover portion and the container portion are opaque.

20. The container of claim 1, where in the material of the cover portion is selected from the group consisting of PET, APET, OPET, MET-PET, PE, LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE, mPE, EVA, PP, mOPP, PS, HIPS, foil, EVOH, polyamide, Nylon, PVC, biaxially oriented materials, and combinations thereof.

21. The container of claim 19, wherein the cover portion includes at least two layers, at least one layer selected from the group consisting of PET, APET, OPET, MET-PET, PE, LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE, mPE, EVA, PP, mOPP, PS, HIPS, foil, EVOH, polyamide, Nylon, PVC, biaxially oriented materials, and combinations thereof.

22. The container of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the cover portion lies in the range of about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

23. The container of claim 1, where in the material of the container portion is selected from the group consisting of PET, APET, OPET, MET-PET, PE, LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE, mPE, EVA, PP, mOPP, PS, HIPS, foil, EVOH, polyamide, Nylon, PVC, biaxially oriented materials, and combinations thereof.

24. The container of claim 22, wherein the container portion includes at least two layers, at least one layer selected from the group consisting of PET, APET, OPET, MET-PET, PE, LOPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE, mPE, EVA, PP, mOPP, PS, HIPS, foil, EVOH, polyamide, Nylon, PVC, biaxially oriented materials, and combinations thereof.

25. The container of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the container portion lies in the range of about 3 mils to about 20 mils.

26. The container of claim 1 wherein the container envelops a product or material and provides both metered and unmetered access thereto.

27. The container of claim 26 wherein the product or material is edible.

28. The container of claim 27 wherein the product or material includes a condiment, a sauce, a dairy product, a soup, or a liquid.

29. The container of claim 26 wherein the product or material includes a pharmaceutical, a paint, a powder, a liquid, or a particulate material.

30. The container of claim 1, wherein the securing region is arranged beyond a perimeter of the bonded region.

31. The container of claim 1, wherein the securing region is arranged proximate the spout.

32. The container of claim 1, wherein the container portion comprises APET.

33. The container of claim 1, further including a weakened region in substantially transverse alignment with the spout, wherein the container portion and the cover portion are breakable along the weakened region so as to remove a portion of the cover portion and a portion of the container portion and expose the spout.

34. The container of claim 33, wherein the weakened region including a pair of aligned cuts, positioned on corresponding sides of the spout.

35. The container of claim 33, wherein the weakened region is applied mechanically.

36. The container of claim 33, wherein the weakened region comprises a laser score.

37. A container comprising:

a container portion fashioned from a container material having a first bending stiffness, defining a receptacle having a volume and a spout, having a generally planar bottom with a width, having a generally planar flange generally parallel to the planar bottom, spaced therefrom, and surrounding the receptacle;

a manually removable cover portion fashioned from a cover material having a second bending stiffness which is less that the first bending stiffness, the cover portion substantially covering the generally planar flange;

adhesive between the container portion and the cover portion in the region of the generally planar flange, such that there exists a non-bonded region between the cover portion and the flange, to facilitate manual removal of the cover portion;

wherein at least one section of the flange in the non-bonded region is offset downwardly away from the cover portion to form therebetween a finger-access gap for facilitating manual gripping of the cover portion,

wherein the cover portion and the flange form a bonded region substantially along a perimeter of the receptacle, and the cover portion and the flange additionally form a securing region structured and arranged with an increased peeling resistance relative to a peeling resistance of the bonded region, and

wherein the bonded region and the securing region are formed with first and second different sealing die patterns, such that the bonded region has a first sealing pattern and the securing region has a second sealing pattern, wherein the first and second sealing patterns are different.

38. The container of claim 37, wherein the non-bonded region extends along a side of the receptacle disposed opposite the spout and includes opposite ends, there being a finger-access gap at each end of the non-bonded region.

39. The container of claim 37, wherein a lower edge of each offset portion is bent rearwardly to form a generally horizontal lip.

40. The container of claim 37, further including an embossed portion in the generally planar bottom operable to increase the bending stiffness of that generally planar bottom.

41. The container of claim 37, including an embossed portion in the generally planar bottom.

42. The container of claim 37, wherein the container portion and the cover portion include a generally symmetrical pair of cuts extending from sides of the container toward a container end so as to define a pair of ears.

43. The container of claim 42, wherein the ears include a surface adhering treatment.

44. The container of claim 37, wherein the container portion is fabricated from material having an oxygen control barrier.

45. The container of claim 37, wherein the cover portion is fabricated from a material having an oxygen control barrier.

46. The container of claim 37, further including a peel initiator located in longitudinal alignment with the spout portion.

47. The container of claim 46, wherein the peel initiator is located opposite from the spout portion.

48. The container of claim 37, further including a weakened region including a pair of aligned cuts, positioned on corresponding sides of the spout.

49. The container of claim 48, wherein the weakened region is applied mechanically.

50. The container of claim 48, wherein the weakened region comprises a laser score.

51. The container of claim 37, wherein the adhesive provides a resistance to peeling in the range of about 2 to about 10 pounds force.

52. The container of claim 37, wherein the receptacle has a width, a depth, and a length, and is proportioned such that the depth is less than about 50% of the width, and the depth is less than about 35% of the length.

53. The container of claim 37, wherein the container can support an applied weight of about 50 lbs.

54. The container of claim 37, wherein the receptacle contains a condiment.

55. The container of claim 37, wherein the receptacle contains a condiment selected from the group consisting of ketchup, mayonnaise, and sauce.

56. The container of claim 55, wherein the receptacle contains ketchup.

57. The container of claim 56, wherein the container material and the cover material are selected such that the condiment has a shelf-life of at least about six months.

58. The container of claim 57, wherein shelf-life is determined using a colorimeter operating in the L*a*b* color space, and a L*-value does not degrade more than about 10% during a six-month period.

59. The container of claim 37, wherein the cover portion includes a foil layer.

60. The container of claim 37, wherein the cover portion and the container portion are opaque.

61. The container of claim 37, where in the material of the cover portion is selected from the group consisting of PET, APET, OPET, MET-PET, PE, LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE, mPE, EVA, PP, mOPP, PS, HIPS, foil, EVOH, polyamide, Nylon, PVC, biaxially oriented materials, and combinations thereof.

62. The container of claim 60, wherein the cover portion includes at least two layers, at least one layer selected from the group consisting of PET, APET, OPET, MET-PET, PE, LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE, mPE, EVA, PP, mOPP, PS, HIPS, foil, EVOH, polyamide, Nylon, PVC, biaxially oriented materials, and combinations thereof.

63. The container of claim 37, wherein the thickness of the cover portion lies in the range of about 1 mil to about 5 mils.

64. The container of claim 37, where in the material of the container portion is selected from the group consisting of PET, APET, OPET, MET-PET, PE, LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE, mPE, EVA, PP, mOPP, PS, HIPS, foil, EVOH, polyamide, Nylon, PVC, biaxially oriented materials, and combinations thereof.

65. The container of claim 62, wherein the container portion includes at least two layers, at least one layer selected from the group consisting of PET, APET, OPET, MET-PET, PE, LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE, mPE, EVA, PP, mOPP, PS, HIPS, foil, EVOH, polyamide, Nylon, PVC, biaxially oriented materials, and combinations thereof.

66. The container of claim 37, wherein the thickness of the container portion lies in the range of about 3 mils to about 20 mils.

67. An assembly of a plurality of containers, each container comprising:

a container portion fashioned from a container material having a first bending stiffness, defining a receptacle having a volume and a spout extending in a longitudinal direction of the receptacle, having a generally planar bottom with a width, having a generally planar flange generally parallel to the planar bottom, spaced therefrom, and surrounding the receptacle, with a rear portion of the flange disposed opposite the spout, having a sidewall extending between the bottom and the flange and including a sidewall front portion disposed below the spout at a location offset from a discharge end thereof and extending downwardly with respect to the spout;

a removable cover portion fashioned from a cover material having a second bending stiffness which is less that the first bending stiffness, the cover portion substantially covering the generally planar flange;

adhesive between the container portion and the cover portion in the region of the generally planar flange, such that there exists a non-bonded region between the cover portion and the flange to facilitate removal of the cover portion;

wherein the plurality of containers includes first and second containers disposed adjacent one another with their respective spouts in mutual alignment and with the spout of the first container arranged in overlapping relationship to the rear portion of the flange of the second container, an upper section of the sidewall front portion extending downwardly with respect to the spout and configured to prevent the spout of the first container from being displaced upwardly in response to the upper section of the sidewall front portion being contacted by the rear portion of the flange of the second container,

wherein the cover portion and the flange form a bonded region substantially along a perimeter of the receptacle, and the cover portion and the flange additionally form a securing region structured and arranged with an increased peeling resistance relative to a peeling resistance of the bonded region, and

wherein the bonded region and the securing region are formed with first and second different sealing die patterns, such that the bonded region has a first sealing pattern and the securing region has a second sealing pattern, wherein the first and second sealing patterns are different.

68. The assembly of containers according to claim 67, wherein the upper section of the sidewall front portion is disposed substantially perpendicular to a plane of the flange.

69. The assembly of containers according to claim 67, wherein the plurality of containers includes additional containers disposed adjacent the first and second containers in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal direction, wherein flanges of the first and second containers and respective flanges of the additional containers are disposed in mutually overlapping relationship in the lateral direction.

70. A package comprising a box and an assembly of a plurality of containers disposed in the box, wherein each container comprises:

a container portion fashioned from a container material having a first bending stiffness, defining a receptacle having a volume and a spout extending in a longitudinal direction of the receptacle, having a generally planar bottom with a width, having a generally planar flange generally parallel to the planar bottom, spaced therefrom, and surrounding the receptacle, with a rear portion of the flange disposed opposite the spout, having a sidewall extending between the bottom and the flange and including a sidewall front portion extending downwardly from an underside of the spout;

a removable cover portion fashioned from a cover material having a second bending stiffness which is less that the first bending stiffness, the cover portion substantially covering the generally planar flange;

adhesive between the container portion and the cover portion in the region of the generally planar flange, such that there exists a non-bonded region between the cover portion and the flange to facilitate removal of the cover portion;

wherein the plurality of containers includes first and second containers disposed adjacent one another with their respective spouts in mutual alignment and with the spout of the first container arranged in overlapping relationship to the rear portion of the flange of the second container, an upper section of the sidewall front portion extending downwardly with respect to the spout and configured to prevent the spout of the first container from being displaced upwardly in response to the upper section of the sidewall front portion being contacted by the rear portion of the flange of the second container,

wherein the cover portion and the flange form a bonded region substantially along a perimeter of the receptacle, and the cover portion and the flange additionally form a securing region structured and arranged with an increased peeling resistance relative to a peeling resistance of the bonded region, and

wherein the bonded region and the securing region are formed with first and second different sealing die patterns, such that the bonded region has a first sealing pattern and the securing region has a second sealing pattern, wherein the first and second sealing patterns are different.

71. The assembly of containers according to claim 70, wherein the upper section of the sidewall front portion is disposed substantially perpendicular to a plane of the flange.

72. The assembly of containers according to claim 70, wherein the plurality of containers includes additional containers disposed adjacent the first and second containers in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal direction, wherein flanges of the first and second containers and respective flanges of the additional containers are disposed in mutually overlapping relationship in the lateral direction.