WO2016113235A1 - Single-use, disposable device for attaching to a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an item used in the preparation of liquid food requiring the mixture of a plurality of components that cannot be mixed until the moment of use, with the aim of resolving the two major problems related to said preparation: compliance with hygiene standards and simplification of the process. The invention therefore relates to a single-use device comprising at least four elements, a container (1) for receiving a food product, said container having a first opening closed by an upper cover (2), a second opening closed by an intermediate cover (6) and a third lower cover (3) protecting the access to the intermediate cover (6).

Description

 DEVICE FOR SINGLE, DISPOSABLE USE, PROVIDED FOR FIXING ON A

 CONTAINER

Introduction The invention was conceived as part of a reflection on the preparation of liquid foods requiring the mixing of several components that can not be mixed until the moment of use, with the aim of solving the two major problems related to to this preparation: the respect of the hygiene and the simplification of the process.

STATE OF THE ART In many fields, and in particular that of infant nutrition, cited below, it appears that components intended to be mixed in the context of the preparation of a food, which components are nevertheless known to be preserved for a long time. under appropriate conditions, have a very short life once mixed. They must be kept separately until the moment of use. This implies a multiplication of steps in the preparation process: dosing, storage and other various manipulations especially during mixing. This results in a tedious process and a loss of hygiene throughout the process (before, during and after preparation).

In the field of infant nutrition for example:

Today, when you want to feed your newborn / child while traveling, several steps are necessary.

First, the milk powder initially stored in a container must be manually extracted, dosed and stored in another suitable container. The preparation of the bottle can not be made in advance, indeed the mixture of water and milk powder must be done when feeding the child. In this first step already, it is easy to imagine a loss of hygiene due to the multiplication of the necessary elements and the manual handling of these different elements.

Once this process is laborious and unhygienic carried out it is necessary to bring at least a bottle, a nipple, and a bottle of mineral water. Then when the time comes, we must then proceed to the preparation of the bottle. And especially to mix water and milk powder in the bottle. Process impractical and again unhygienic because it involves once again many manual manipulations of the various elements. Finally, once the food consumed and the various elements used (storage containers, baby bottle, ...) it is necessary to clean them before the next use. This cleaning step can once again be a source of poor hygiene (poorly cleaned, poorly dried elements ...) and lengthens the process even more. The invention therefore aims to simplify this whole process (storage, preparation, use, cleaning) and to make it more hygienic.

Brief description of the invention

It is thus proposed a disposable device comprising at least 4 elements, a container for receiving a food product, said container having a first opening closed by an upper lid, a second opening closed by an intermediate lid and a a third lower cover protecting the access to the intermediate cover.

Said container is configured to create at least two volumes, the first formed by the space between the first and the second operculum, for the food product, and the second formed by the space between the second and the third operculum. This volume is closed to prevent contamination of the second seal.

The first opening is for receiving the nipple of a bottle and the second opening is for connecting with a container containing a liquid.

The device can take the form of single doses of disposable milk powder that would attach directly to a bottle of mineral water or a bottle of choice and on which one could come to fix a pacifier on the first opening.

Brief description of sketches

Figure 1 is a vertical section that illustrates the device before use.

Figure 2 illustrates the device at the time of preparation of the food and therefore the mixture of 2 components. Figure 3 illustrates the device in its final state, ready for use. detailed description

The device of the invention consists of a single piece: a container. This container will have been filled beforehand with a container, preferably a food product (eg powder, liquid, ...) and will be sealed at three levels by means of an upper lid, an intermediate lid and a lid. a lower lid. The upper and intermediate covers define a first volume and guarantee the tightness of the contents. Operculum In addition, the lower lid is specially dedicated to the hygiene of the part of the container that will come into contact with another element (container) at the time of preparation of the food.

This container will be directly attached to a container (eg mineral water bottle, feeding bottle, ...) by means of an assembly means ensuring the seal between the two. The container will have a mechanism to release its contents, it will be activated by the process of assembly of the container and the container. On the upper part of the container, another means of assembly will come to fix a device for diffusing the preparation. The invention thus makes it possible to respond to the major problems involved in the preparation of liquid foods requiring the mixing of several components that can not be mixed until the moment of use mentioned above, namely: the respect of hygiene and the simplification of the process.

Indeed the number of elements necessary for the preparation of the food is reduced to a bare minimum ie a container and a container. As a result, there is a decrease in the steps related to preparation and use and therefore a reduction in manual handling of the contents and containers which has a positive impact on hygiene. In addition, the judicious use of a third lid guarantees hygiene at the point of contact of the container and the container. The hygiene of the process as a whole is maximized. Figure 1 is to illustrate the invention before use.

The invention consists of a part, a container 1. This container is subdivided into two parts, an upper part and a lower part, delimited by three lids, an upper lid 2, an intermediate lid 6 and a lower lid 3. In the upper part, between the operculum 2 and the operculum 6 is defined a first volume may contain a content that can take several forms (eg liquid, powder, ...) and which is retained in a sealed manner. At the upper end of the container 1, an assembly system 4 which may for example take the form of a thread, allows to come fix a device for dispensing the food.

The lower part of the container 1, between the intermediate lid 6 and the lower lid 3 defines a second volume and constitutes the assembly zone between the container 1 and a container 7. The container 7 can take several forms such as a bottle, baby bottle,... . The intermediate lid 6 is both a guarantee of the tightness of the first volume of the container and also participates in the mechanism of release of the contents. Directly below the operculum 6, an assembly means 5 makes it possible to fix a container 7 to the container 1. The lid 3 hermetically closes the assembly zone and guarantees maximum hygiene.

FIG. 2 is intended to illustrate the assembly process of the container 1 and the container 7 as well as the activation of the content release mechanism 6 and the mixing of the two components contained in the container 1 and in the container 7 which results therefrom.

The first step of this process is to unseal the lower lid 3 of the container 1. In a second step, it will be necessary to fix the upper part of the container 7 in the assembly system 5 of the container 1 provided for this purpose. This action will have two effects. Firstly, the activation of the content release mechanism 6, the content of the container 1 will be free to mix with the contents of the container 7. This mechanism can be the tearing of the intermediate lid under the action of the assembly of the container 1 and container 7. Second to seal the container 1 and the container 7 hermetically. The container 1 and the container 7 then form only one piece, which allows the user to shake the new piece to mix the content and make it homogeneous. FIG. 3 illustrates the last step of the process, namely the addition of a content diffusion device 8 on the upper part of the container 1 by means of the upper assembly system 4 provided for this purpose.

Once the content is homogeneous, the user will unseal the top cover 2. And can then come and fix a device for broadcasting the content 8, thanks to the assembly system provided for this purpose 4. The device is ready to work.

We have used the example of baby nutrition here and illustrated the mechanism of diffusion of the contents by a nipple and its assembly ring, but this device could take a different form.

In order to illustrate several possible uses of the device and their operation, here is a list of non-exhaustive examples.

As part of the infant feeding, we imagined that the contents of the container 1 would take the form of a milk powder and that the container 7 would take the form of a bottle of mineral water or a bottle . In this case, the upper assembly system 4 and lower 5 would take the form of threads. The assembly systems could also take the form of a bayonet system or clip (hook system).

The content release mechanism may be in the form of tearing of the intermediate lid under the force of assembly of said device with a container via the second opening. For example, it may be in the form of a membrane (the intermediate lid) which would be opened by the action of screwing the neck of the bottle or bottle to the container thus releasing the powder.

According to another embodiment, said mechanism may be in the form of a lid that can dissolve by the liquid contained in the container.

The diffusion device of the preparation 8 would take the form of a nipple or a rigid tip and its fixing ring which would screw on the top screw of the container.

In addition to infant feeding we have devised other areas of use such as isotonic sports drinks where the contents of container 1 could take the form of powder and the container in the shape of a gourd or a bottle of water. The top 4 and lower 5 assembly systems would also take the form of a screw or clip. The diffusion device of the preparation 8 would take the form of a rigid tip "resealable" which could possibly also play the role of upper operculum.

Another possible use could be in the field of non-alcoholic beverages in which the contents take the form of a syrup or a concentrated juice that mixes with the contents of a container of the mineral water bottle type. In the field of alcoholic beverages this time the device could be used in the context of cocktails requiring several ingredients.

Another possible use in the field of food would be that of a rapid preparation soup or dietary food where the preparation contained in the container 1 would mix with a container containing water or other liquid.

Claims

claims 1. Single-use device comprising at least 4 elements, a container (1) intended to receive a food product, said container having a first opening closed by an upper lid (2), a second opening closed by an operculum intermediate (6) and a third lower cover (3) protecting the access to the intermediate cover (6). 2. Device of claim 1, characterized in that it is intended to contain, in a first volume defined between the first cap and the intermediate cap, a food product. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first opening is adapted to receive a bottle nipple. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second opening is adapted for mounting on a bottle having a pitch. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first volume is opened by a content release mechanism, said mechanism being in the form of tearing of the intermediate cover under the force of the assembling said device with a container via the second opening. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first volume is opened by a content release mechanism, said mechanism being in the form of an intermediate seal that can dissolve by the liquid contained in a container mounted on the second opening.