GB2358344A - Vessel containing an instant beverage, medicine or foodstuff - Google Patents
Vessel containing an instant beverage, medicine or foodstuff Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2358344A GB2358344A GB0029191A GB0029191A GB2358344A GB 2358344 A GB2358344 A GB 2358344A GB 0029191 A GB0029191 A GB 0029191A GB 0029191 A GB0029191 A GB 0029191A GB 2358344 A GB2358344 A GB 2358344A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vessel
- insert
- interior
- compartment
- walls
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 22
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 235000012171 hot beverage Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- HSRJKNPTNIJEKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Guaifenesin Chemical compound COC1=CC=CC=C1OCC(O)CO HSRJKNPTNIJEKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- 229940069435 retaine Drugs 0.000 claims 1
- 235000016213 coffee Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 235000013353 coffee beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 244000269722 Thea sinensis Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000019219 chocolate Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000014347 soups Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000013616 tea Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 240000007594 Oryza sativa Species 0.000 description 2
- 235000007164 Oryza sativa Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000035622 drinking Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000012149 noodles Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000009566 rice Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000021170 buffet Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000010006 flight Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000015203 fruit juice Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920005669 high impact polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004797 high-impact polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000015110 jellies Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000008274 jelly Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000020094 liqueur Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- MYWUZJCMWCOHBA-VIFPVBQESA-N methamphetamine Chemical compound CN[C@@H](C)CC1=CC=CC=C1 MYWUZJCMWCOHBA-VIFPVBQESA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000004080 milk Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000015927 pasta Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000008476 powdered milk Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000015504 ready meals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- ACXGJHCPFCFILV-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetate;3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid Chemical compound [Na+].COC1=C(Cl)C=CC(Cl)=C1C(O)=O.CC1=CC(Cl)=CC=C1OCC([O-])=O ACXGJHCPFCFILV-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 235000020354 squash Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
- B65D85/816—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package into which liquid is added and the resulting preparation is retained, e.g. cups preloaded with powder or dehydrated food
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
A vessel 10 for containing an instant beverage, medicine or foodstuff has a compartment 17 for holding a component of the instant beverage, medicine or foodstuff and is provided with an insert 24 that resiliently engages with the vessel so as to be releasably retained within the vessel. The vessel may be constructed from a resiliently compressible closed cell foam such as polystyrene and may be tapered to facilitate stacking with identical vessels. The insert may be of a rigid or semi-rigid plastics material and may comprise a disc 20 and handle 21 to facilitate the removal of the insert, the handle also possibly comprising a pull-tab 25 which rests on the lip of the vessel. The insert may compress or deform the interior wall of the vessel to create a shoulder 16 which retains the insert, the seal thus created preferably being air-tight. Also disclosed is a method for sealingly installing the insert whilst simultaneously forming a stack of vessels.
Description
2358344 C523.00/F Title: Vessels
Field-of the Inventio
The present invention relates to vessels and more particularly vessels suitable for the consumption of foods, medicines and/or beverages therefrom. The invention also relates to methods for providing at least one seal in a tapered vessel and for forming a stack of nested tapered vessels each having a sealed compartment.
Background of the Invention
Beverages and foodstuffs pre-packaged in their dried form which merely require hot water to be added before serving, provide a convenient means for rapidly dispensing said beverages and foodstuffs to consumers. Prepackaged refreshments presented in this format are becoming increasingly prevalent in modem catering practices, often encountered for example on trains, where they are supplied in a buffet car, or from a refreshment trolley service. Increasingly, the airline industry is also recognising the benefit of pre-packaged refreshments on short haul, or low budget flights, where the emphasis is moving away from serving beverages in reuseable cups from pots of tea or coffee, to using convenient disposable vessels in which beverages have been pre-packaged in their dried form. Pre-packaged beverages such as soups, chocolate, tea and coffee are also often available in many workplaces. Additionally, this format is proving popular with consumers of ready made meals of noodles, pasta and rice for example.
It has been known for some time to provide pre-packaged premixes of dried beverages such as coffee, chocolate, soup and powdered milk within sealed compartments of vessels formed from plastics materials.
2 ins rts d tat The compartments are formed by heat sealing laminated foil e to the vessels, s( the inserts adhere to the vessel walls, thereby isolating from the atmosphere the ri Cd beverage contents within the compartments. When a beverage is to be made, a vessel.s f il insert is removed and hot water added to the pre-packaged dried components.
The aforementioned method is particularly suitable for sealing vessels made of pls t. [c which are able to withstand the temperatures used in the heat sealing method with lilt compromising the vessel's structural integrity. However, such vessels have poor, at andle when they contain al 1 t insulation properties and can therefore be difficult to h liquid. Vessels made of cellular material such as polystyrene have better heat insu14ti ig properties, but are not able to withstand the heat needed to secure a laminated foil insert.
SummaI3 of the Inventio According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vessell or containing a beverage, medicine or foodstuff, the vessel having a closed compartmei pr holding a component of the beverage, medicine or foodstuff, the compartment be: gg defiried by part of the interior of said vessel and an insert, wherein the insert is a cic) lit within the vessel and at least one of the inserts and the vessel is resilient so that the is and interior walls are urged into engagement with each other in such a way that the io irt is releasably retained within the vessel by the interior walls of said vessel.
Thus the insert is retained in position by its frictional interaction with the vessel walls,! i the closed compartment is formed without the need to heat seal or in any other way aO, e the insert to the vessel.
The invention is therefore particularly applicable to vessels formed from at least (ne resiliently compressible material, eg polystyrene, which have good heat insiLI41 properties, but which typically disintegrate upon heating.
3 Accordingly the vessel is preferably formed from least one resilient material. Resilient materials suitable for use herein include cardboard, or closed cell foams and the like, which may be treated as in the case of cardboard for example, to form an aqueous protective barrier.
Preferably the material is resiliently compressible.
Preferably the material comprises a closed cell foam, preferably polystyrene.
Vessels of the present invention may conveniently be tapered to facilitate the stacking of identical vessels thereoL Preferably, the vessel is a drinking vessel for holding a hot beverage.
Preferably, the insert comprises at least one rigid or semi-rigid plastics material (for example PVC, HIPS and the like, paper such as cardboard, or laminates thereof).
However, the shape of an insert should preferably match the shape of a horizontal cross section of the vessel into which it is to be employed so as to provide said close fit. For example, if the vessel is cylindrical or ftusto-conical, the insert will be circular, or if the vessel is a cube, the insert will be square. The insert may be pre-formed in a mould, or cut from a material by precision cutting or any other suitable method therefore.
The insert may also have a handle which extends out of a vessel to facilitate removal of the insert. Preferably, the handle is formed integrally with the insert. For example the insert and handle may be formed as a single unit in a mould, or cut as from a sheet of material to a desired shape. Conveniently, the handle may have a tab, wherein another fold is made in the handle, at a position flu-ther along said handle. The tab so created may rest on the lip of a vessel.
4 The insert preferably compresses or deforms the interior walls of the said vessel to cr(,it a shoulder which retains the insert.
The compartment may contain a composition including but not limited to beverages in dried or liquid form such as coffee, tea, chocolate, cordial, fruit juice or milk and the,il foodstuffs in dried or liquid form, such as soup, rice, jelly crystals, noodles or vegela.. Cs and the like.
Preferably the insert forms a substantially airtight seal with the vessel walls.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method 1 r providing at least one seal in a tapered vessel having resiliently compressible walls,: t i e method comprising; a) placing at least one insert into the vessel; and b) depressing the at least one insert, until the said insert is retained within part of' Am 1 - vessel by the interior walls of said vessel thereby to create a sealed compartment defin, 5,1 by the interior surfaces of said vessel and the at least one insert.
Preferably, a second vessel is used to depress the insert to form a sealed compartment.
Therefore according to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method f r forming a stack of nested tapered vessels each having a sealed compartment, the meth@d comprising; a) placing at least one insert in one vessel; b) partially insetting at least one further tapered vessel into said one vessel; c) depressing the further vessel until said further vessel engages the insert; d) continuing to depress said further vessel against said insert until the insert is retained by the interior walls of said one vessel until the insert is resiliently retained by the walls of said one vessel, thereby forming a compartment defined by the interior surfaces of said first vessel and the insert; and e) repeating steps a) to d) until the stack is completed.
Desghp-tjon of Drawings Embodiments of a vessel in accordance with the invention are described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure I shows a cut away side view of a vessel according to the present invention, the vessel being shown without its insert; Figure 2 is a plan view of an insert for the vessel; Figure 3 is an exploded side view of the vessel with the insert; Figure 4 is a cut away side view of the vessel, showing the insert in place therein; Figure 5 is a cut away side view of a stack of two nested vessels formed by a method according to the invention.
DescriZion of Embodimen Referring to Figure 1, the illustrated vessel 10 is a drinking cup of polystyrene. The vessel 10 comprises interior walls 11 having interior surfaces 12. The walls 11 slope upwardly and outwardly from the base 13 such that the vessel 10 is tapered.
6 Referring to Figure 2, the illustrated insert 24 comprises a transparent plastic disc 20 c a diameter of approximately 5 cm integrally formed with a handle 21. The insert 4 is manufactured by precision cutting from a rigid or semi-rigid, plastic sheet. The cirilar shape of the disc 20, matches the horizontal cross sectional shape of the vessel iD. Additionally, the size of the disc 20 is determined according to the inside diamet r of vessel 10 at a desired height from the base 13 of vessel 10 at which the insert is 1) be located. The insert 24 is folded along the interface 22 of disc 20 and handle 21 to edalle ease of manoeuvring of the disc 20 and act as a means for removing the disc 20 froin i te 1 vessel 10. In addition, the handle 21 is folded along line 23 to form a tab 25 which j41 i se rests on the lip 15 of vessel 10.
A dried beverage (not shown) is added to vessel 10 before the insert 24 is put in 1A i The insert 24 is then pushed into said vessel 10 with disc 20 parallel to base 13 c)l i kLe vessel 10. The insert 24 is pressed into the vessel until retained by the interior surf(4,s 12. Insert disc is retained and located as it contacts and compresses the interior wall 12 of resilient vessel 10 of polystyrene. However, the natural resilience of the portion o 1 he walls over which the insert has just passed causes that portion to expand back toward! 1 1 lie centre of the vessel. The insert thus creates in the walls an annular, downward fai g i shoulder. That shoulder locates, and seals against the periphery of the disc 20. The vs 1 10 thus has a compartment 17 which is defined by interior surfaces 12 of vessel 10!a d disc 20, and which contains the dried beverage (not shown). The disc 20 thus seals! i [e dried beverage against the external atmosphere and protects the dried beverage Min degradation. Disc 20 is releasably retained by the interior surfaces 12 of vessel 10, so it] at the seal may be broken and the compartment 17 opened by lifting the disc 20 out of -%rd.s via the handle 21 andlor tab 25.
Figure 5 illustrates a stack of nested vessels 50 comprising a sealed compartment 17 w n vessel 10. The sealed compartment 17 is formed by using a second vessel 40 whi+ Is used to depress the at least one insert 24 until said disc 20 of insert 24 compresses. a forms an annular shoulder 16 at the position on the interior surfaces 12 of the vessel 1 thereby sealing compartment 17. A stack of nested vessels 50 is formed by placing dis 0 7 into one vessel 10, and then partially inserting a second vessel 40 into the vessel 10. The vessel 40 is then pressed in a downwards direction causing said vessel to engage the disc 20 and press the latter farther towards the bottom of the vessel 10, until the disc reaches the position in which it is retained in the way described above. A compartment 17 is thereby formed defined by the interior surfaces 12 of vessel 10 and the disc 20. The above steps are then repeated until a stack of a desired number of vessels is formed.
8
Claims (19)
1. A vessel for containing a beverage, medicine or foodstuff, the vessel ha a closed compartment for holding a component of the beverage, medicine or foodstu the compartment being defined by part of the interior of said vessel and an insert, wherein Ihe insert is a close fit within the vessel and at least one of the inserts and the vessel is resil ont so that the insert and vessel interior are urged into engagement with each other in sch a way that the insert is releasably retained within the vessel by the interior of said vessc.-,12'..
2. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the vessel is formed from at lea,,., ine resiliently compressible material.
3. A vessel according to claim 2, in which the vessel is formed from a mtte,4 comprising a closed cell foam.
4. A vessel according to claim 3, in which the vessel is constituted by polystyrene.
j
5. A vessel according to any of the preceding claims in which the vessel is taperpc to facilitate the stacking with identical vessels.
6. A vessel according to any of the preceding claims, in which the vessel is a driok jig vessel for holding a hot beverage.
7. A vessel according to any of the preceding claims, in which the insert compri at least one rigid or semi-rigid plastics material.
8. A vessel according to any of the preceding claims, in which the insert includo's m integral handle portion which extends out of the vessel to facilitate removal of the inscirt 9. A vessel according to claim 8, in which the handle portion includes a tab W1Uth rests on the lip of the vessel.
9
10. A vessel according to any of the preceding claims, in which the insert compresses or deforms the interior wall of the said vessel to create a shoulder which retains the insert.
11. A vessel according to claim 6, in which the compartment contains beverages in dried or liquid form.
12. A vessel according to any of the preceding claims, in which the insert forms a substantially airtight seal with the vessel walls.
13. A rigid or semi-rigid insert for a vessel according to claim 8, the insert comprising a substantially circular body portion, an elongate integral handle portion extending from the periphery thereof, and a foldline between the handle portion and the body portion to enable the handle portion to extend substantially perpendicularly to the body portion.
14. A method for providing at least one seal in a tapered vessel having resiliently compressible walls, the method comprising; a) placing at least one insert into the vessel; and b) depressing the at least one insert, until the said insert is retained within part of the vessel by the interior walls of said vessel thereby to create a sealed compartment defined by the interior surfaces of said vessel and the at least one insert.
15. A method according to claim 14, in which the depressing of the insert to form a sealed compartment is achieved by inserting a further, similar vessel into said vessel.
16. A me for forming a stack of nested tapered vessels each having a sealed compartment, the method comprising; a) placing at least one insert in one vessel; b) inserting at least one flu-ther tapered vessel into said one vessel; c) depressing the further vessel until said further vessel engages the insert; d) continuing to depress said farther vessel against said insert until the insert is retaine jy j the interior walls of said one vessel until the insert is resiliently retained by the walls of said one vessel, thereby forming a compartment defined by the interior surfaces of s, Id first vessel and the insert; and e) repeating steps a) to d) until the stack is completed.
17. A vessel substantially as described herein with reference to, and as fflustrate4 j ti, the accompanying drawings.
18. An insert substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrato 11 Figures 2 - 5 of the accompanying drawings.
19. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompany g drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9929195.7A GB9929195D0 (en) | 1999-12-10 | 1999-12-10 | Seal for polystyrene cups and/or containers |
| GB0014901A GB0014901D0 (en) | 2000-06-20 | 2000-06-20 | Vessels |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0029191D0 GB0029191D0 (en) | 2001-01-17 |
| GB2358344A true GB2358344A (en) | 2001-07-25 |
Family
ID=26244508
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0029191A Withdrawn GB2358344A (en) | 1999-12-10 | 2000-11-30 | Vessel containing an instant beverage, medicine or foodstuff |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2358344A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008041884A1 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2008-04-10 | Vitaly Viktorovich Sinitsyn | Expendable container for making beverages (variants) |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3669001A (en) * | 1970-04-22 | 1972-06-13 | Bev Maid Inc | Cup assembly |
| GB1603421A (en) * | 1978-04-17 | 1981-11-25 | Zichy T | Precharged disposable containers |
| GB2091538A (en) * | 1981-01-28 | 1982-08-04 | Insta Bru Developments Ltd | Stacked cups for vending apparatus |
| GB2152469A (en) * | 1984-01-03 | 1985-08-07 | Drg Uk Ltd | Stackable container with dilutable product |
| EP0254446A1 (en) * | 1986-07-21 | 1988-01-27 | General Foods Limited | Cup for the preparation of beverages |
| GB2206276A (en) * | 1987-05-27 | 1989-01-05 | Nabisco Brands Inc | Food container |
| US5941055A (en) * | 1996-12-23 | 1999-08-24 | Coates; Frank | Apparatus for making an instant beverage container with product therein |
-
2000
- 2000-11-30 GB GB0029191A patent/GB2358344A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3669001A (en) * | 1970-04-22 | 1972-06-13 | Bev Maid Inc | Cup assembly |
| GB1603421A (en) * | 1978-04-17 | 1981-11-25 | Zichy T | Precharged disposable containers |
| GB2091538A (en) * | 1981-01-28 | 1982-08-04 | Insta Bru Developments Ltd | Stacked cups for vending apparatus |
| GB2152469A (en) * | 1984-01-03 | 1985-08-07 | Drg Uk Ltd | Stackable container with dilutable product |
| EP0254446A1 (en) * | 1986-07-21 | 1988-01-27 | General Foods Limited | Cup for the preparation of beverages |
| GB2206276A (en) * | 1987-05-27 | 1989-01-05 | Nabisco Brands Inc | Food container |
| US5941055A (en) * | 1996-12-23 | 1999-08-24 | Coates; Frank | Apparatus for making an instant beverage container with product therein |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008041884A1 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2008-04-10 | Vitaly Viktorovich Sinitsyn | Expendable container for making beverages (variants) |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0029191D0 (en) | 2001-01-17 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US10189604B2 (en) | Container, packaging, and method for producing same | |
| US20010022304A1 (en) | Container | |
| US9179749B2 (en) | Combination beverage container and storage vessel | |
| KR20160019413A (en) | Packaging container | |
| EP1268291A1 (en) | Contour fit pan liner for a food service pan | |
| US20170283148A1 (en) | Packaging for storing and/or cooking a food product and cover therefor | |
| US20060144340A1 (en) | Apparatus for a disposable pet food feeding container | |
| CN101754912A (en) | Cup comprising a compartment in the form of an inverted cup | |
| KR20090026782A (en) | Packaging food | |
| US4684015A (en) | Vending package | |
| CA2626270A1 (en) | Cup | |
| EP3016877B1 (en) | Container lid construction and associated methods | |
| AU2008246286B2 (en) | Lid for container | |
| GB2358344A (en) | Vessel containing an instant beverage, medicine or foodstuff | |
| US20190357713A1 (en) | Container with coaster | |
| US20090107861A1 (en) | drinking cup having removable seal | |
| US20120258213A1 (en) | Enhanced Multicompartment Cup | |
| CN210126765U (en) | Blanking bottle lid is pressed to storing type | |
| GB2582856A (en) | Multi-tier cup | |
| CN215456091U (en) | Portable food cup | |
| GB2539025A (en) | Drink receptacle | |
| CN2425040Y (en) | Package for solid drink | |
| KR200487454Y1 (en) | Instant food set | |
| KR200202714Y1 (en) | Receptacle | |
| EP1254847A1 (en) | A container |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |