WO1999059890A1

WO1999059890A1 - Single dose package for a food product and method for obtaining the package

Info

Publication number: WO1999059890A1
Application number: PCT/IB1999/000837
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Grazia
Original assignee: OFFICINE MECCANICHE NATALINO CORAZZA SpA
Current assignee: OFFICINE MECCANICHE NATALINO CORAZZA SpA
Priority date: 1998-05-20
Filing date: 1999-05-10
Publication date: 1999-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2000-11-20
Also published as: ITBO980330A0; IT1300052B1; AU3439299A; ITBO980330A1

Abstract

Package for a food product, the package (10) comprising a container (12) defining an inner chamber (14), a food product housed in said inner chamber (14) of said container (12). The package comprises a hollow tubular element (24) associated to the package (10) in such a way as to present a longitudinal portion (26), terminating in a free extremity, which extends from said container (12) to realise a grip handle or a suction straw. The method to realise the package provides for the realisation of a container (12) defining a chamber (14) for housing said product (16) and having a through opening (22) which opens outwards and in said housing chamber (14), and a phase wherein the product is introduced in a substantially liquid condition inside said housing chamber. According to the method, before said product introduction phase, a hollow tubular element (24) is readied in correspondence with said opening (22), and the product (16) is introduced, in substantially liquid condition, inside said housing chamber (14) with the product (16) passing through said hollow tubular element (24).

Description

Single Dose Package For A Food Product And Method For Obtaining The

Package

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a package for a food product and a method for obtaining the package.

Background Art

A package for food product is known on the market, in particular for a cheese which is packaged in the molten state and then used by the consumer in solid condition, wherein the package comprises a stick for supporting the solid product to be consumed and wherein the package for containing the product comprises two opposite shells, made of material that can be peeled to favour the release of the contained product, which are joined to each other along the perimeter of mutual contact fully encompassing in their interior both said food product and the support stick.

The aforesaid package is obtained through a procedure wherein said package is realised in such a way that it comprises an ample chamber for housing the food product and a blind recess, in communication with said chamber, defining a seat within which said support stick is inserted, before pouring the food product inside said container. After setting the stick in the blind seat inside the container, through an opening, present in said container on the side opposite to the one wherein said seat extends, the cheese or product is introduced into the package in a molten condition, upon completion of which said opening for introducing the product is definitively closed by means of sealing.

A drawback present in this known package relates to the fact that, during the pouring of the product in molten or liquid condition, part of the material can reach the stick inside its seat defined by the blind recess, fouling and encrusting the stick itself. The result is a very disagreeable situation for the consumer who upon eating the cheese itself sustains the product by holding it from the stick and hence unpleasantly dirties the hand with which he/she holds the package.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a package having the characteristics of claim 1 , in particular a package for a food product, the package comprising a container defining an inner chamber, a food product housed in said inner chamber of said container; the package being characterised in that said container presents a through opening which opens outwards and into said housing chamber, in that it comprises a longitudinally hollow tubular element associated to the package in such a manner as to present a longitudinal portion, terminating an free extremity, which extends from said container, and in that said tubular element is associated to the package in correspondence with said through opening of said container.

With the present package structure it is possible to realise a package that can be used to contain within it both products, such as molten cheese, chocolate, ice cream, jams and the like, which although introduced into the container thereof in a liquid or viscous condition, solidify and can then be consumed in such a solid condition, with the consumer supporting said package by holding with his/her hand the tubular element that realises a suitable support stick, and products, such as yoghurt, fruit juice and other beverages, which are consumed in the liquid condition and can be drunk by the consumer who draws a suction on the tubular element which defines, in this latter case, a suction straw. With the present package the tubular element, realising on each occasion either a support element or a suction straw, presents, extending to the outside of the container, the grip portion for the consumer's hand or mouth which is clean and not fouled with the packaged material as took place instead with the products of the prior art. With the present package it is possible to use a single procedure and thus a single machine, implementing said procedure, to obtain the packaging of consumable products both in the solid condition, such as cheese, chocolate, jam and ice cream, and in the liquid condition, such as yoghurt and beverages in general. The invention further relates to a method to realise said package according to claim 33. In particular a method for realising a package of a food product, the method providing for readying a container having a housing chamber for said product, and to introduce the product, in substantially liquid condition, inside said housing chamber of the product, the method being characterised in that it provides said container with a through opening which opens towards the exterior of the container and into said housing chamber; and in that, before said product introduction phase, a longitudinally hollow tubular element is associated in correspondence with said opening, and in that the introduction of the product, in substantially liquid condition, inside said housing chamber is effected by letting the product pass through said longitudinally hollow tubular element.

The secondary claims refer to particular and advantageous embodiments. Further features and advantages of the invention shall be made more readily apparent from the content of the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent embodiments provided purely by way of non limiting example.

- Figure 1 shows a front elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the first preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention; - Figure 3 shows a side section view of the first preferred embodiment, taken according to the line III-III of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the product, packaged with the first preferred embodiment, in a condition suitable for consumption;

- Figure 5 shows an enlarged section view of the upper part of the first preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention;

- Figure 6 shows a front elevation view of a second preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention;

- Figure 7 shows a side elevation view of the second preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention;

- Figure 8 is a front elevation view of the second preferred embodiment of the package, showing the package opening phase;

- Figure 9 shows a detail view relating to a different embodiment of the means for fastening the tubular element to the container of the package of the present invention;

- Figure 10 shows a schematic representation of a machine realising the preferred method for obtaining the present package;

- Figures 11 through 16 shows the main phases of the preferred method for obtaining the present package. Figures 1 through 5 show a first preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention. It is a package for a food product, which, fed inside the container in a substantially liquid condition, is made to solidify to be consumed in the form of a solid product.

The present first embodiment of the package of the invention is used preferably for packaging a cheese, which is fed in the molten state inside the container of the package, in the manner which shall be made more readily apparent below; however, it can also be used for any other kind of food product, such as ice cream, chocolate or others, able to be fed in liquid or semi-liquid condition inside the package and to solidify in view of its use. The package 10, according to the first preferred embodiment, comprises in a substantially known manner a container 12 defining an inner chamber 14 and a food product 16 housed in said inner chamber 14 of said container.

As is readily apparent also with reference to Figure 2, the container 12 comprises a first and a second associated shells 18, 20 facing each other to realise said inner chamber 14 for housing the food product. Said shells 18, 20 are mutually joined by seal 19 (shown in dashed line in Fig. 1) obtained between the respective peripheral borders 21, 23 of mutual contact which contour, delimiting it at the centre, said housing chamber 14. The material with which said shells of the container are realised is a plastic material having at least its inner surface, destined to contact the product, which can be peeled to allow for an easy detachment of the container from the product upon consumption thereof.

The container of the present package advantageously comprises a through opening 22, which opens into said housing chamber 14 and outwards, and a longitudinally hollow tubular element 24, which is associated to the package in correspondence with said through opening 22 in such a way as to present an extreme longitudinal portion 26 which extends outside said container 12 and realises a free extremity for gripping the package. Preferably, said tubular element 24 is in the form of an element made of substantially flexible plastic material, which is fitted with means suitable to impart it at least a certain flexural rigidity, which allow to make said tubular element 24 able to define a support handle for said product 16 in solid condition (as shown in Figure 4) . As the figures, especially Figure 3, show, said means for imparting flexural rigidity to said tubular element 24 preferably comprise the part 16' of said food product which is inserted inside said tubular element 24. As shall become more readily apparent farther on, said material 16' is inserted inside said tubular element in liquid condition at the time of packaging, through the lower opening of said tubular element 24, and, once it solidifies, it provides an advantageous flexural rigidity to said tubular element.

As shown in the figures, said tubular element presents a longitudinal portion 28 for association to the package, which is inserted within said container and which extends into said chamber 14 for housing the food product to be encompassed by the food product, which adheres, once it solidifies, to the peripheral tubular surface of the tubular element thereby realising a secure union between the product and the tubular element itself.

The container 12 contacts said tubular element 24 in correspondence with and through the inner circumferential face that realises said through opening 22, in correspondence with which are provided suitable securing means between said container and the tubular element.

Said means for securing the tubular element 24 to said container 12 are, in the present preferred embodiment, defined by a seal (obtained by heating the plastic material) between the tubular element 24 and the inner peripheral face of said through opening 22, in such a way as to obtain a hermetic union between said tubular element 24 and the container 12.

The package further comprises means for closing the longitudinal passage of said tubular element. In the present preferred embodiment said means for closing the longitudinal passage are in the form of a hermetic seal 30, such as securely to join the opposite walls of said tubular element 24 and to shut hermetically the axial passage of said tubular element 24, which seal 30 is obtained on said tubular element, as shown in the figures, in correspondence with the extreme tip of said projecting external portion 26. The present realisation of the package comprises means suitable to allow the disengagement and separation of said first and second shell 18, 20 realising the container 12.

In particular, said means to disengage and separate said first and second shell 18, 20 comprise, on each of said shells of the container, respective first 32, 34 and second 36, 38 portions for gripping and separating said shells 18, 20, which are arranged in mutually opposite and close, although detached, positions.

Said opposite gripping and separating portions 32, 34 and 36, 38 are provided in the vicinity of said insertion opening, in particular to the side thereof, so that, thanks to the weakening provided by said opening to the sealed perimeter of the container, it is possible to detach said shells 18, 20 from each other in an extremely easy manner and imparting only modest traction on the two gripping surfaces, 32 and 34 or 36 and 38, moving them away from each other. The shells are detached by pulling outwards in opposite direction two corresponding gripping portions 32, 34 or 36, 38, in such a way as to obtain first the disengagement of the container from said tubular element 24 in correspondence with the seal of said opening 22, as shown by the dashed parts of Figure 3, and subsequently, continuing the traction in opposite directions, to arrive at the complete detachment of the two shells 18 and 20. The complete freeing of the product is thereby obtained. At this point, the product can be eaten by the consumer who can support it by means of the stiffened tubular element 26, as shown in Figure 4.

In traditional packages for molten cheeses able to solidify at ambient temperature, during the filling operation, in the food product that is introduced into said chamber of the container in substantially liquid condition, an air bubble is created which, before the cheese solidifies, moves, as an effect of the various handling processes which the package undergoes, inside said housing chamber and confers to the solidified product an unattractive pitted surface appearance. Moreover, due to the fact that a considerable portion of product to be consumed comes in contact with this air bubble, which is certain to contain oxidising agents and which may also contain contaminants, a premature deterioration of the product is produced in the contact area, with subsequent rapid extensions to the other areas as well.

The present package, to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art, advantageously presents means suitable to confine said air bubble, indicated with the numeric reference 40 in the figures, to a predefined position inside the package.

As the figures, and especially Figure 5, show, in a particularly advantageous and preferred manner, said means for confining said air bubble in a predefined position inside the package comprise said tubular element 24, within whose inner longitudinal cavity said air bubble is appropriately inserted, during the filling operation, and trapped. As illustrated, said air bubble 40 is conveyed and held in the upper part 26 of said tubular element 24. The diameter and length of the tubular element are suitably chosen in such a way as to prevent said air bubble, once trapped, as an effect of any motion, even in case of an upset of the package, from exiting said tubular element 24 and returning into the chamber 14 housing the food material 16. Currently, it is deemed that a 2 to 1 ratio, and greater ratios, between the length of the tubular element and the inner diameter of the cavity of the tubular element can be particularly well suited to reach the aforesaid end.

To allow the passage of air inside the straw during the filling operation, effected with the vertical straw oriented upwards, the tubular element presents, on the portion thereof that extends inside the chamber 14 of said container, in the peripheral wall 46 of the holes, a first and a second opposite holes 42, 44, for the passage of the air and of the product inside said tubular element, which holes 42, 44 are provided in the portion of tubular element which, inside the chamber 14, is positioned in the vicinity, in particular just below, the top wall 43 of the chamber

14 of the container.

For the present invention, in order to favour a better confinement of said air bubble or to provide for its nearly complete elimination upon filling and closing in 30 of the package, said tubular element 24 is such as to favour the ascent and retention therein of the food product in liquid condition by capillarity. Said capillarity effect that favours the ascent is obtained by appropriately choosing the diameter of the element depending on the surface tension characteristics of the product in liquid packaging condition.

A second preferred embodiment 100 of the package can be understood with reference to the successive figures 6 through 8.

Like the first preferred embodiment 10, this second preferred embodiment 100 presents a container 102 defining an inner chamber 104 and a food product 106 housed within said inner chamber 104 of said product. The container can be realised in two inseparable opposite shells or in a single body made of plastic material.

The present second preferred embodiment of the invention is destined to contain a food product that is introduced and is destined to be consumed in liquid or semi-liquid form. In particular, the present second package is provided for packaging yoghurt and beverages in general such as fruit juices, tea, and others.

The container 102 of the present second package also advantageously comprises a through opening 122 which opens into said housing chamber 104 and a longitudinally hollow tubular element 124 which is associated to the package in correspondence with said through opening 122 in such a way as to present an extreme longitudinal portion 126 which extends outside said container 112 and realises a free extremity for gripping the package.

In this second realisation, the present projecting tubular element 124, preferably made of flexible plastic material, serves to define a straw for taking a suction on the liquid, or substantially liquid product, 106, housed in said chamber 104 of the package.

The present second package 100 is substantially similar to said first package embodiment 10, as it presents, like the first embodiment, a longitudinal portion 128 associated to the package which is inserted into said container and extends inside said housing chamber of the food product, nearly in correspondence with the bottom of the housing chamber 104, to allow for an easy intake of all the product contained.

Moreover, in this second embodiment as well, in order to make hermetic the union between the tubular element 124 and the casing 102 suitable means are provided for securing the tubular element 126 to said container 102 which are realised by a seal, obtained by heating the plastic material, in correspondence with the internal peripheral face of said though opening 122.

The second package 100 further comprises means for closing the longitudinal passage of said tubular element, in the form of a hermetic seal 130, such as securely to join the opposite wall of said tubular element 124 and hermetically to shut the axial passage of said tubular element 124, which seal 130 is obtained on said tubular element, as shown in the figures, in correspondence with the extreme tip of said projecting external portion 126.

Means for ascent by capillarity and for allowing the confinement of the air bubble 140, as well as holes 142, 144 in the wall 146 of the tubular element positioned in vicinity with the upper wall 143 of the chamber 104, wholly similar to those of the first embodiment are also realised or realisable in this second embodiment. In order not to lengthen the present description excessively, it is not deemed necessary to repeat what has already been expressed in relation to the first embodiment, to which the reader is referred to obtain the detailed explanation of these characteristics and of the related advantages.

This second embodiment obviously presents no means to disengage and separate the shells constituting the container from each other. To allow access to the product, this second package 100 comprise suitable opening means advantageously provided on said tubular element.

Said means for opening the second package comprise at least a circumferential weakening line 132 on said tubular element 124, situated in the vicinity of the free extremity of said same tubular element, through which the tip or upper part 134, involved by the closure seal 130, of said tubular element, is ripped or, as provided herein and shown in figure 8, completely separated from the part 136 of the projecting portion 126 of the same tubular element 124. The remaining part 136 of the tubular element can thus define a bearing portion for the lips of the consumer who can consume the liquid by suction, possibly with the help of a squeezing action on the package, through the lower axial opening 138 present in the tubular element 124.

This second package embodiment allows advantageously the consumer to set his/her lips on a straw element that is not fouled with the packaged material. Moreover, the opening of the package, through the separation of the upper part containing the means for closing the axial package can be effected easily and quickly by pulling on the straw alone, without any risk of disassembling the entire package with the possible release of the product contained therein.

As shown in Figure 9, both aforementioned package embodiments can be provided with means for securing the tubular element (indicated in this picture with reference number 150) to said container (indicated herein with reference number

152) which comprise mutually engageable means present on said tubular element and on said container in correspondence with said insertion opening 158.

Said mutually engageable means for securing the tubular element 150 to said container 152 comprise, on said tubular element, a circumferential projection 154 and, on said container in correspondence with the inner face of said insertion opening 158, a circumferential groove 156 defining a seat for said peripheral projection 154 of the tubular element 156.

With the present package, since it does not provide - as the prior art did - for housing the support element entirely inside the container of the package, it is possible to use a lesser quantity of material constituting the container of the package, thereby obtaining savings.

The successive figures 10 through 16 show the various phases of a method for packaging a food product that is in substantially liquid condition upon packaging. The present method allows to obtain packages conforming to the first embodiment described above wherein a cheese, fed into the container in a condition whereby it is heated until it melts, is housed.

With particular reference to Figure 10, it can be understood that the method generally provides for the realisation of a packaging container starting from two films made of thermo-formable plastic, able to be peeled, which are fed in the form of continuous ribbons 202, 204 from respective collection coils 206, 208 and conveyed towards a first work station 210, where they are passed between respective heating elements 212 in such a way as to obtain a pre-heating of said films 202, 204.

Following the pre-heating, in a station 214, by means of heat presses 216, the two films 202 and 204 are heat formed thereby obtaining, by means of permanent heat deformation in appropriate areas of the films, pits or concavities 218 on the films themselves.

After heat forming, the films are, in 220, mutually approached and sealed thanks to a sealing device 222, with the pits 218 of the two films that face each other in such a way as to realise the housing chamber of the product of the packages. The sealed films are then cut, in 224, by means of a blanking device 226, and subdivided into strips 228 defining a plurality of individual containers 12 having a respective containment chamber. The blanking station 224 is followed by a control station 232, through a feeler device 234, which verifies the actual opening of the ducts 22 of the individual container elements 12 such as to make them suitable to receive the product to be packaged.

Figure 11 shows an enlarged detail of the blister strip for obtaining the package according to the first preferred embodiment, shown previously, in the configuration resulting at the end of the sealing operation effected in 220. As shown, this seal coupling the individual films 202 and 204 is such as to leave unsealed portions 236 of the two opposite films, thereby realising the aforesaid gripping and pulling portions 32, 34 and 36, 38 which allow to separate the shells defining the container of the package and to free from the container the food product contained therein.

As shown in Figure 11, according to the present embodiment, the phase whereby the present blister strip is readied provides for the realisation, in each container or blister 12, of a through opening 22 which opens towards the exterior of the container 12 and into the product housing chamber 14.

According to the present method, before the product introduction phase, a hollow tubular element 24 is associated to the package in correspondence with said opening 22, which allows to introduce the product 16, in substantially liquid condition, into said housing chamber 14 by making the product 16 pass through said hollow tubular element 24.

The association of the tubular element 24 to the respective containers 12 takes place in a successive station 238 where tubular elements 24 are inserted by means of an insertion device 240 into the containers or blisters 12 in the form of strips 228 which are handled along two parallel feeding lines.

These tubular elements 24 are in turn fed, starting from an orienting device

242, towards a device 244 for the sequential advance of the tubular elements 24 in parallel vertical rows. In the present case, six parallel rows of tubular elements 24 are set to provide six tubular elements 24 simultaneously for each container element 12 of each blister strip 228.

The device 240 for associating the tubular elements to the respective containers presents, for each container or blister 12, a plurality of stems or grip means 246 which, for the withdrawal of said tubular elements 24, are inserted within a respective tubular element 24, rotate 90° to position the straws 24 vertical and are lowered to insert, through the respective upper through opening 22, the same tubular elements into the containers 12 realised in the blister strips 228.

This phase wherein the tubular elements 24 are inserted can be clearly deduced also with reference to the successive Figures 12 and 13 which show an enlarged detail of the blister strips 228. From Figures 12 and 13 it is deduced that said tubular element 24 is associated to the respective container 12 by a downward displacement of the stem 246 inserted, by imparting a weak radial engagement pressure on the inner surface of the tubular element 24, in the same tubular element 24.

As Figure 14, relating to a cross section of the blister, shows, after the tubular element 24 has been inserted in the container through the opening 22, in such a way that the extreme longitudinal portion 28 of the tubular element prolongs into the chamber 14 and an upper portion 26 prolongs outside said containers 12, before proceeding with the product introduction phase, said tubular element 26 is secured to said container 12 in correspondence with said opening 22, by sealing the tubular element 24 to the inner peripheral face of the same opening 22 of the container. This seal is made possible by the presence of the stem 246 inside the tubular element 24, which contrasts the heat sealing elements 248 when they contact with pressure the container 12 in correspondence with said opening 22. Though it is not expressly shown in the figures, the container is to be subjected to pre-heating in correspondence with said insertion opening, before effecting said sealing of the tubular element to the container.

It could also be imagined, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, to engage said tubular element to the container through said mutually engageable means, shown in Figure 9, present on said tubular element and on said container in correspondence with said insertion opening and to proceed to seal the tubular element to the container in correspondence with the inner peripheral face of said opening, after completing the filling of the container with the substantially liquid product. With reference to Figure 15, it can be understood that, after the tubular element 24 has been secured to the respective container 12, and the insertion stem 246 has moved away leaving the respective tubular element integrally secured to the container of the package by means of the aforesaid sealing, which in this case provides suitable means for retaining the tubular elements able to allow the removal of the tubular elements from the support stems, the present method provides for a phase whereby the product 16, in a substantially liquid or viscous condition, is introduced into said housing chamber 14, by the passage of the product (indicated by the arrows P pointing downwards in Figure 15), released by the nozzle 25, through said hollow tubular element 24. During the filling operation the container is maintained vertical and the product in liquid or viscous condition enters by injection within the respective chamber of the package.

In the course of the filling operation, the product in liquid condition is made to pass through the cavity 29 of the tubular element 24, accumulates starting from the bottom of the housing chamber 14 and rising therein it progressively expels the air contained inside said chamber 14.

In particular, due to the fact that the tubular portion 28 that extends into the chamber of said container presents suitable holes 42, 44 in the peripheral wall, it occurs that, as shown by the upward arrows A in Figure 3, the air present in the housing chamber is displaced outside through the axial or longitudinal passage 29 of the tubular element 24. The air bubble generated during the filling operation inside the package is progressively passed into the tubular element and trapped therein.

In the final filling phase, the ascent of the food product in liquid condition into said tubular element can be favoured through the use of a tubular element 24 that provides for a certain capillarity effect which attracts upwards the viscous product 16.

Once filling is complete, a sealing closure phase of said container is provided, with the product inserted into said chamber of the container by means of closure of the axial passage of said tubular element.

Said closure is effected, as shown in Figure 16 relating to a cross section view of the blister, closing said tubular element 24, in correspondence with the free extremity of said projecting portion 26 of said tubular element, by means of a mutual sealing 30 of the opposite edges of said tubular element 24. Said seal being obtained thanks to the sealing elements 252 which mutually compress the part to be sealed of the tubular element.

After this sealing closure phase, said packages are mutually separated by effecting vertical cuts in the blister strip thereby obtaining packages like that of the first package embodiment described herein. The use of a tubular element made of flexible material also allows easily to effect seals 30 for the closure of the container.

The method described herein is applicable in a wholly similar manner also to obtain the second embodiment shown, with the variation of not providing a seal between shells that presents detached contact parts to define the aforementioned gripping and pulling portions which serve to separate the shells, that are expressly provided for the package of the solid product, and the additional variation of feeding longer tubular elements, presenting a pre-formed weakening line for opening the package and for using the tubular element as a straw for the intake of the packaged liquid product.

In practice, a single apparatus realising the present method allows to obtain, with modest modifications, both packages for a product, to be consumed solid, provided with an appropriate handle or support stick, and packages for liquid or semi-liquid products to be consumed through suction by means of an appropriate straw.

Thus, with the present package a considerable savings is obtained in the amount of material used for the realisation of the container of the package itself with respect to similar prior art packages.

A further advantage is given by an elongated tubular element extending into and outside of the container, possibly even only inside and outside the container itself, which also allows to introduce the material in liquid condition into the inner chamber of the container with controlled flow and lesser turbulence, thereby obtaining, among other advantages, a reduced formation of bubbles or enclosure of air in the product. The fact that the package is filled through a tubular element destined to constitute a support stick or a suction straw further allows to provide a single hole in the package, thereby attaining advantageous work process economies.

The invention thus conceived may be subject to numerous modifications and variations, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all components can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. Package for a food product, the package (10; 100) comprising a container (12; 102) defining an inner chamber (14; 104), a food product housed within said inner chamber (14; 104) of said container (12; 102); the package being characterised in that said container (12; 102) presents a through opening (22; 102) that opens outwards and into said housing chamber (14; 104), in that it comprises a longitudinally hollow tubular element (24; 124) associated to the package (10; 100) in such a way as to present a longitudinal portion (26; 126), terminating in a free extremity, which extends from said container (12; 102), and in that said tubular element (24; 124) is associated to the package in correspondence with said through opening (22; 122) of said container.

2. Package according to claim 1, characterised in that said tubular element (24; 124) is in the form of a substantially flexible element.

3. Package according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said tubular element (24) presents means to impart flexural rigidity to said tubular element (24) thereby rendering said tubular element (24) suitable to define a support handle for said product (16).

4. Package according to claim 3, characterised in that the food product is a substantially solid product (16) in use, and in that said means for imparting flexural rigidity to said tubular element (24) are constituted by a part (16') of said food product (16) which is inserted within said tubular element (24).

5. Package according to either of the previous claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the food product is a substantially liquid product (106) in use, and in that said tubular element (124) defines a straw for the intake of the liquid product (106) housed in said chamber (104) of the package.

6. Package according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said tubular element (24) presents a longitudinal portion for association to the package which is inserted within said container (12; 102).

7. Package according to claim 6, characterised in that said tubular element (24) presents an extreme longitudinal portion (28) which is inserted into said housing chamber (14) of the food product.

8. Package according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the container (12) comprises a first and a second shells (18, 20) associated in opposition to realise said inner chamber (14) for housing the food product (16).

9. Package according to claim 8, characterised in that said container (12) is realised in a plastic material which can be entirely peeled off to allow for easy detachment.

10. Package according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises means for closing the longitudinal passage of said tubular element (24;

124).

11. Package according to claim 10, characterised in that said means for closing the tubular element (24; 124) are provided on said tubular element (24) in correspondence with said external projecting portion (26; 126) of the tubular element (24; 124).

12. Package according to either of the previous claims 10 and 11, characterised in that said means for closing the tubular element (24) are in the form of a seal (30; 130) obtained to join, in a hermetic manner, opposite walls of said tubular element (24).

13. Package according to any one of the previous claims 1 through 12, wherein the food product, which is introduced into said chamber in substantially liquid condition, presents an air bubble (40; 140) generated during the filling operation inside the package (10; 100); the package being characterised in that it comprises means to confine said air bubble (40; 140) in a predefined position within the package (10; 100).

14. Package according to claim 13, characterised in that said means for confining said air bubble (40) in a predefined position inside the package (10) comprise, on the package, means for receiving said air bubble (40) realised from the internal longitudinal cavity of said tubular element (24), and means for retaining said air bubble within said receiving means.

15. Package according to any one of the previous claims 1 through 14, characterised in that the tubular element (24, 124) extends into the chamber of said container (12; 102) and presents a peripheral wall (46; 146) and at least one hole (42, 44; 142, 144) for the passage of air inside said tubular element (24; 124), said passage hole (42, 44; 142, 144) being obtained in said peripheral wall (46, 146).

16. Package according to claim 15, characterised in that said tubular element (24, 124) comprises a first and a second passage holes (42, 44; 142, 144) on opposite walls of the tubular element (24, 124) itself.

17. Package according to either of the previous claims 15 and 16, characterised in that said passage holes (42, 44; 142, 144) are provided in the portion (28, 128) of the tubular element (24; 124) situated inside the housing chamber (14; 104) in such a position that said holes (42, 44; 142, 144) are positioned in the vicinity of the top wall (43, 143) of said chamber (14; 104).

18. Package according to any one of the previous claims 13 through 17, characterised in that said means for retaining the air bubble (40) inside said elongated cavity (29) for receiving the air bubble (40) are determined by the ratio between the length of the internal cavity of said tubular element (24) and its diameter, which is such as to prevent said air bubble (40) from being released outside the receiving cavity of said tubular element (24).

19. Package according to claim 18, characterised in that said means for retaining the air bubble (40) within said elongated cavity of the tubular element (24) for receiving the air bubble (40) are determined by its diameter, which is such as to provide a capillarity effect of the liquid product within the cavity (29) for receiving the air bubble (41).

20. Package according to any of the previous claims 1 through 17, characterised in that means are provided on said package (10; 100) to favour the ascent within the tubular element (24; 124) of the food product (16; 106) in liquid condition.

21. Package according to claim 20, characterised in that said means to favour the ascent within the tubular element (24; 124) are realised by said tubular element (24; 124) which is such as to favour the ascent therein by capillarity of the food product (16; 106) in liquid condition.

22. Package according to any one of the previous claim 1 through 21, characterised in that means are provided for securing the tubular element (24; 124) to said container (12; 102).

23. Package according to claim 22, characterised in that said means for securing the tubular element (24; 124) to said container (12; 102) are provided between the tubular element (24; 124) and the inner peripheral face of said insertion opening (22; 122) of the container (12; 102).

24. Package according to either of the previous claims 22 and 23, characterised in that said means for securing the tubular element (24; 124) to said container (12; 102) comprise a sealing of said tubular element (24; 124) to said container (12; 102).

25. Package according to either of the previous claims 22 and 24, characterised in that said means for securing the tubular element (150) to said container (152) comprise mutually engageable means (154, 152) present on said tubular element (150) and on said container (152) in correspondence with said insertion opening (158).

26. Package according to claim 25, characterised in that said mutually engageable means for securing the tubular element (150) to said container (152) comprise, on said tubular element (150), a circumferential projection (154) and, on said container (152) in correspondence with the inner face of said insertion opening (158), a circumferential groove (156) defining a seat for the fitting of said projection (154) of the tubular element (150).

27. Package according to any one of the previous claims 5 through 26, characterised in that it comprises means (132), on said tubular element (124), to open said package (100).

28. Package according to claim 27, characterised in that said means to open said package (100) comprise at least a weakening line (132) on said tubular element (124) through which part (136) of said tubular element (124) is ripped or completely separated from the remaining part (136) thereof.

29. Package according to claim 28, characterised in that said weakening line (132) to open said package (100) is provided in the vicinity of the free extremity of said tubular element (24) .

30. Package according to any one of the previous claims 8 through 27, characterised in that it comprises means (32, 34 and 36, 38) for disengaging and separating said first and second shell (18, 20) realising the container (12).

31. Package according to claim 30, characterised in that said means for disengaging and separating said first and second shell (18, 20) realising the container (12) comprise, on each of said shells (18, 20) of the container (12), at least a respective portion (32, 34 or 36, 38) for gripping and separating said shells, said portions (32, 34 or 36, 38) for gripping and separating said shells (18, 20) being set in mutually opposite and detached positions.

32. Package according to claim 29, characterised in that said opposite gripping and separating portions (32, 34 or 36, 38) are provided in the vicinity of said insertion opening (22) .

33. Method for realising a package of a food product, the method providing for the readying of a container (12) having a chamber (14) for housing said product (16) and for introducing the product, in substantially liquid condition, into said chamber (14) for housing the product, the method being characterised in that it provides said container (12) with a through opening (22) that opens towards the exterior of the container (12) and into said housing chamber (14); and in that, before said product introduction phase, a longitudinally hollow tubular element (24) is associated in correspondence with said opening (22), and in that the introduction of the product (16), in substantially liquid condition, into said housing chamber (14) is effected by making the product (16) pass through said longitudinally hollow tubular element (24).

34. Method according to claim 33, characterised in that said tubular element (24) is associated to the package in such a way as to present a longitudinal extremity that extends from said container (12).

35. Method according to claim 33 or 34, characterised in that the positioning of the tubular element (24) in correspondence with said opening (22) occurs by the insertion of the tubular element (24) into said opening (22).

36. Method according to any of the previous claims 33 through 35, characterised in that the tubular element (24) presents at least one hole (42, 44) provided in the lateral wall of the tubular element (24) itself and is inserted into the chamber (14) of said container (12) in such a way that said hole (42, 44) is positioned in the vicinity of the top wall of said chamber (14) for housing the product such as to allow, during the filling of the package, the passage of the air contained in said chamber (14) into said tubular element (24) and the exit of said air from the package.

37. Method according to any of the previous claims 33 through 36, characterised in that, through capillarity, the ascent of the food product in liquid condition within said tubular element (24) is favoured.

38. Method according to any of the previous claims 33 through 37, characterised in that said phase whereby, before said product introduction phase, a hollow tubular element (24) is positioned in correspondence with said opening (22), provides for securing said tubular element (24) to said container, in correspondence with said opening (22).

39. Method according to claim 38, characterised in that said phase whereby said tubular element (24) is secured to said container (12) occurs by sealing the tubular element (24) to the inner peripheral wall of said opening (22) .

40. Method according to claim 39, characterised in that, before the tubular element (24) is sealed to the container (12), a phase whereby the container is pre- heated in correspondence with said insertion opening is provided.

41. Method according to any of the previous claims 33 through 39, characterised in that said phase whereby, before said product introduction phase, a hollow tubular element (24) is positioned in correspondence with said opening (22), provides for engaging said tubular element (24) to the container (12) with mutually engageable means (154, 156) present, respectively, on said tubular element (24) and on said container (12) in correspondence with said insertion opening (22).

42. Method according to any of the previous claims 33 through 41, characterised in that it comprises a phase whereby said package is closed with the product inserted within said housing chamber (14), and in that for the closure of the package the axial passage of said tubular element (24) is closed.

43. Method according to claim 42, characterised in that said closure of the axial passage of said tubular element (24) is realised by mutually and hermetically sealing opposite edges of said tubular element (24).

44. Method according to either of the claims 41 or 43, characterised in that said closure of the axial passage of said tubular element (24) is realised in correspondence with the free end of said projecting portion of said tubular element.

45. Method according to any of the previous claims 33 through 44, wherein the food product, which is introduced into said chamber in substantially liquid condition, presents at least one air bubble generated during filling within the package, characterised in that said air bubble is trapped within said tubular element.

46. Method according to any of the claims 33 through 45, characterised in that in order to associate said tubular element (24) to said container (12) it provides for withdrawing said tubular element by means of the insertion and engagement of said inner cavity of said tubular element (24) by means (246) for gripping said tubular element (24) .

47. Method according to claim 46, characterised in that, after engaging said tubular element, said means (246) for gripping the tubular element associate said tubular element (24) to said container (12) inserting it into said container (12) in correspondence with said insertion opening (22) of the package.

48. Method according to claim 47, characterised in that, for the release of said tubular element (24), said means (246) for gripping the tubular element are moved away from said container (12), with said tubular element (24) that has previously been made integral to said container (12).