EP1099645A1 - Package with cleanliness and safety device - Google Patents

Abstract

The pack (1) has a uni- or multi-layer structure (5) forming a hermetically sealed wall bounded by a welded bead (6) and forming a container (7) for the product. A pre-cut line (9) allows a tear-off strip to be removed to open the container, and peel-back layers (10) then leave a clean zone (11) which makes contact with the lips when the product is consumed.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging for the packaging of liquid, semi-pasty or solid products with small particle sizes such as as yogurts, ice creams, sauces and medicines intended to be consumed while wearing a packaging directly in contact with the lips.

The invention will find its application in all industries of manufacture of packaging and packaging for food and medical products. She will then be made available to consumers in commercial areas or pharmacies.

Liquid, semi-pasty or solid products with small particle sizes are consumed by carrying the packaging directly to the mouth. The consumption is done by sucking, sucking or simply swallowing the product directly conditioned. The packaging consists of a hermetically sealed film structure closed by means of a weld bead which delimits a container capable of receiving the product to be packaged.

These packages generally have a tubular or rectangular shape varying in length, width and thickness depending on the products to be packaged. So we will find particularly long sticks for ice cream products or yogurts, while for sauces, powdered confectionery or drugs will be in less elongated but more rectangular packaging large.

Packages are generally provided with a precut paste which detaches a separable area on the packaging and opens the container, allowing then the consumption of the product. They are intended for single use.

The consumer then places part of the surface of the packaging at touch his lips, then swallow, suck or suck the contents. This surface on the packaging in contact with the lips is located for example at and below the opening of the container.

This type of packaging is intended for all generations depending on the product consumable inside. So adolescents will rather use it for dairy products, confectionery or ice cream and adults for sauces or medicines.

From the packaging of products to their consumption, the packaging comes into contact with sometimes dirty and dusty surfaces, also causing an unhygienic deposit on said packaging.

In fact, the packaging circulates on the packaging machines and are handled by operators or robots until they are stored in boxes, then they are manipulated again by other operators to be placed on the shelves stores or pharmacies and finally purchased by the consumer. This chain of distribution therefore leads to unhygienic deposits on the packaging.

It is the same after the purchase of the products since the people can carry the packaging in their pocket, bag or satchel and touch the products several times before consuming them and even dropping them on the ground.

These packaging therefore do not fully comply with hygiene rules food or medical, even if the product which has been packaged has been sterile. This product is therefore no longer under good sterile consumption conditions. Indeed, the consumer is in contact with dirt from dirt and dust when he brings the surface of the packaging to his lips when consuming the product. By swallowing this soiling, consumers can then be poisoned food or medical and being sick.

The packaging containing the product on the market is of more printed to indicate what is the brand of the product, its composition, its deadline consumption, or the place of manufacture. These impressions are made all over the surface of the product and generally with very varied and vivid colors.

The consumer who carries the product container by mouth can then come into contact with ink or adhesive residue. Indeed, the surface in contact with the lips is also printed, and when the consumer brings this surface to the mouth, it tends to wet the printed surface. Since the consumption of product lasts several minutes, it is very likely that after some time the printed colors, solvents and adhesive residue in contact with the lips of the consumer can cause irritation or allergies.

Hence a lack of respect for food or medical hygiene.

The present invention aims to remedy the above drawbacks and one of the main goals is to provide packaging for liquid, semi-pasty products or solids with a small particle size whose surface in contact with the lips is perfectly clean, uncontaminated at the time of consumption of the product, to ensure strict food and medical hygiene safety.

For this, the invention has the advantage of covering and protecting the dust and dirt the part of the packaging intended to be in contact with the lips and keep it clean, free of dust and dirt, until the packaging is opened and consumption of the product.

The invention also has the advantage of eliminating all printing on the surface intended to be in contact with the lips when the the packaging, removing the dust and dirt protection that covers the surface in contact with the lips, to avoid any risk of allergy and food poisoning or contact with harmful ink or adhesive residue.

Another object of the invention is to avoid any risk of incident during the consumption of the liquid, semi-pasty or solid product with small particle size. Indeed, the present invention has the advantage of evacuating the protection against dust and dirt that cover the surface in contact with the lips to release a clean surface and not contaminated when the packaging is opened and thus prevent the consumer swallows the protection by sucking or sucking the product contained in the packaging.

Another advantage of the present invention is to facilitate the removal of the protection when opening the packaging so that the consumer can handle very easily the opened container without dropping the liquid, semi-pasty or powdery, simply by holding said flexible container in one hand and evacuating protection with the other hand.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during of the following description which is not intended to limit it.

• une structure monocouche ou multicouches qui constitue une paroi hermétique de l'emballage délimitée par un cordon de soudure qui scelle ledit emballage et définit un conteneur renfermant le produit,
• des moyens de prédécoupe qui permettent la séparation d'une zone détachable de l'emballage et ouvre le conteneur pour donner accès aux produits liquides, semi-pâteux ou solides à faible granulométrie.

et est caractérisé par le fait qu'il dispose des moyens protecteurs pour libérer une zone propre sur la structure de l'emballage correspondant à la partie de l'emballage qui entre en contact avec les lèvres de l'utilisateur au moment de la consommation du produit contenu à l'intérieur, afin d'assurer les règles d'hygiène strictes et d'éviter ainsi que le consommateur ne porte à sa bouche un emballage souillé.The present invention relates to a packaging for the packaging of liquid, semi-pasty or solid products with a small particle size such as yogurts, ice creams, powdered confectionery, sauces and medicines intended to be consumed by carrying part of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, said packaging comprises:

• a monolayer or multilayer structure which constitutes a hermetic wall of the package delimited by a weld bead which seals said package and defines a container containing the product,
• precut means which allow the separation of a detachable zone from the packaging and open the container to give access to liquid, semi-pasty or solid products with small particle size.

and is characterized by the fact that it has protective means for freeing up a clean zone on the structure of the packaging corresponding to the part of the packaging which comes into contact with the lips of the user when the consumption of the product contained inside, in order to ensure strict hygiene rules and thus prevent the consumer from bringing dirty packaging to his mouth.

• la figure 1 qui présente en vue de coupe et en vue partielle l'emballage selon l'invention
• la figure 2 qui présente l'emballage dans son ensemble avant consommation du produit
• la figure 3 qui présente quelques variantes de l'emballage tel que présenter en figure 2
• la figure 4 présentant l'emballage après ouverture libérant alors la zone propre.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description which is based on drawing boards, namely:

• Figure 1 which shows in sectional view and in partial view the packaging according to the invention
• Figure 2 which shows the packaging as a whole before consumption of the product
• Figure 3 which shows some variants of the packaging as shown in Figure 2
• Figure 4 showing the packaging after opening, freeing up the clean area.

Figure 1 shows the packaging (1) for packaging (2) liquid, semi-pasty or solid products with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, powdered confectionery, sauces and medicines.

The packaging is carried out on specially designed machines where the packaging is first preformed and then filled with liquid, semi-pasty or solid product small particle size after which it is hermetically closed.

These products (2) using the packaging (1) of the present invention are intended for consumption by carrying part (3) of the said packaging directly to the lip contact, then swallowing, sucking or sucking said products.

This part (3) is located in a space close to the orifice (4), shown in Figure 4, appearing on the package after opening.

The packaging (1) consists of a monolayer structure (5) or multilayer which will be in a flexible or semi-rigid preferential mode produced by lamination or by coextrusion. This structure (5) constitutes a delimited hermetic wall by a weld bead (6) which hermetically seals the packaging and defines a container (7) containing the liquid, semi-pasty or solid product with small particle size.

The structure (5) monolayer or multilayer, flexible or semi-rigid, laminated or coextruded, will be in a preferred but non-limiting mode produced in a polymer. It may contain a high barrier oxygen film which increases airtightness packaging before opening. The polymer material of the monolayer structure (5) or multilayer will be chosen in a preferred and non-limiting mode from polyester amorphous or expanded, PVC, polypropylene expanded or not, PET, amorphous PETG, crystalline or expanded, polystyrene expanded or not, polypropylene oriented or not, the polyethylene, oriented or not, high barrier or peelable, polycarbonate, liquid crystal polymer (LCP) or any other combination of laminate or coextruded materials mentioned above.

The weld bead (6) can be made on three sides of the packaging as shown in Figure 2 or on four sides of the packaging as shown in Figure 3.

The packaging (1) comprises, in a preferred embodiment, means for pre-cut (9) which facilitate the opening of the container for consuming the product. These precut means (9) allow the separation of a detachable area (8) on the packaging which, once removed, opens the container (7) and gives access to the product (2). This detachable area (8) corresponds to the upper part of the packaging (1) located above precut means (9).

These precut means (9) could for example be produced as in Figure 2 with a precut paste (9a) on one side of the package. They can also be made with two precut pastes (9a and 9b), as Figure 3, one located on each side (12a and 12b) of the package.

The packaging has protective means (10) which free up an area clean (11) on the structure (5). This clean area (11) corresponds to the part (3) of the packaging which comes into contact with the lips of the user at the time of consumption of the product. This clean zone therefore ensures that the consumer puts at his seal a clean packaging, not soiled by dirt and dust, and thus ensures a hygiene security.

Clean area means that the area is free of any dirt from dust and dirt from the surrounding environment at the time of opening the container, printing inks and adhesive residue.

The protective means (10) which release the clean zone (11) on the structure (5) consist of a substrate film which envelops the entire structure. This film substrate (10) will be produced in a preferred but non-limiting manner in polyester material or polypropylene. It can also be monolayer or multilayer, flexible or semi-rigid, laminated or coextruded.

These protective means (10) have three zones (13, 14 and 15). The first zone (13) and third zone (15) are glued zones on the structure (10) so that they are assembled with the structure (5). These two zones (13 and 15) are sealed with the structure by gluing and are then completely secured to the structure. Gluing is carried out for example by depositing an adhesive with or without solvent between the structure (5) and the substrate film (10) in the areas (13 and 15) concerned.

The area (14) is a non-glued area on the structure. Which means on this non-glued area (14) on the substrate film (10) adheres with the structure (5) without be sealed on it. The substrate film is then simply deposited on the structure by delamination on the unglued area (14) and therefore leaves the film free and independent substrate and structure on this area.

This area (14) not glued corresponds to the part (3) of the packaging. which is intended to be in contact with the lips during consumption of the product.

The area (14) of the substrate film therefore covers the structure (5) on the part (3) of the packaging (1) and protects it against soiling from dust and dirt from the environment before opening the container.

In this way, the packaging has a clean area (11), not contaminated, located between the substrate film (10) and the structure (5) in the unglued area (14). This clean area corresponds to the part (3) of the packaging which comes into contact with mouth after opening the container.

For this, the non-glued area (14) of the substrate film (10) folds over itself until it reaches the end (16) of the second non-glued area (15) and thus frees the clean area of the structure which can be brought to the mouth to swallow the food or medical product.

The first glued area (13) of the substrate film is located at the level of the detachable area (8) of the packaging. It must be completely evacuated when opening container (7) to ensure that there are no adhesive residues on the part (3) of the packaging that comes into contact with the lips and that the unglued area is actually released to be folded back on itself and reveal only the clean area on the part (3) of the structure in contact with the mouth at the time of consumption of the product.

For this, the precut means on the packaging must be made below the end (17) of the first glued area (13), that is to say outside of the glued area (13) and in the unglued area (14), so that the unglued area is open when the detachable area is removed and thus can be folded down to release the clean area.

The detachable area therefore includes the first glued area (13) while whole and a piece of the non-glued area (14) corresponding to the part of the film substrate (10) located between the end (17) of the zone (13) and the precut means (9).

The second zone (15) is located over the entire lower part of the packaging. which corresponds to the part that the user holds in his hand when he consumes the product. This glued area (15) must be large enough to facilitate the handling of the packaging when the clean area is uncovered.

In fact, the packaging is generally in a flexible structure or semi-rigid and contain low liquid, semi-pasty or solid products particle size, so that if the holding surface is too small, the user will have tendency to mis grasp the packaging and press too hard on it until it opens container and flap the unbonded substrate film, and therefore it will drop product from packaging.

Similarly, the end (16) of the glued area (15) which delimits the folding part of the substrate film corresponding to the non-glued area (14), and the position precut pastes (9) in the area of adhesion of the substrate film to the structure without sealing facilitate handling of the packaging. When the user opens packing at the level of the precut pasta with one hand while holding the packaging in the holding area with the other hand, the unglued area of the film substrate separates from the structure at the orifice (4) of the container and the consumer can then easily grab the substrate film and fold it down until it reaches the limit fixed by the end (16) of the glued area (15).

The unglued area (14) of the substrate film (10) is folded down completely to the end (16) then the user carries the clean area of the structure in contact with the lips. For this, the non-glued area must extend for example over a distance of several tens of millimeters to ensure that only the part (3) of the container comes into contact with the mouth and thus avoid any risk of incident. Indeed, the user swallows, sucks or sucks the product, and in the case where the length of the clean zone would be too short, it would put the folded part of the substrate film in the mouth risking then swallow the substrate film which could be torn off by sucking or sucking the product. A sufficiently large distance from the non-glued area therefore makes it possible to distance from the part (3) in contact with the lips the substrate film which is folded down and therefore eliminating the risk of incident.

To eliminate any risk of incident, it is also possible to make a tear primer (18) as shown in Figure 3. This primer tearing is carried out on the entire periphery of the packaging and therefore makes it possible to tear the unglued area (14) of the substrate film (10) and evacuate it from the container (7).

This tear initiation can for example be obtained by a laser precut on the entire periphery of the packaging or by perforation. It is located at near the end (16) of the glued area (15) so that the entire clean area is released when evacuating said tear primer (18) from the container.

Packaging for the packaging of liquid, semi-pasty products or solids with a small grain or food size are printed with texts and colored drawings to present the brand of the product, its composition, its place of manufacture and its expiration date.

The package (1) of the present invention also has all of these texts and printed designs. These prints are made on the substrate film in order to ensure that consumers do not bring harmful ink impressions to their lips on the container which may cause skin reactions in the user after prolonged contact when the latter swallows, sucks or sucks the product.

Indeed, by printing on the substrate film, we evacuate everything printed text which is in the first glued area (13) and in the non-area glued (14) since the first zone (13) is removed with the detachable zone (8) of the packaging and the area (14) is folded over the second glued area (15) corresponding to the holding area. In this way the user only carries the clean area, not contaminated in the mouth.

To strengthen the cleanliness of the part (3) in contact with the lips, printing of texts on the substrate film is carried out on the external face (19) of the film substrate, ie in direct printing. So the printing ink is not accessible on the internal face (20) of the substrate film and therefore cannot contaminate the clean area. Indeed, printing "sandwich" texts that penetrate the ink through the film would risk contaminate the clean area with ink.

The present invention therefore provides consumers with a product meeting important hygienic safety conditions by providing a clean product, uncontaminated on the part of the packaging which is intended to enter contact with the consumer's lips. It thus removes any eventuality food or medical poisoning that could be caused by swallowing germs from dust and dirt or in contact with chemical agents from inks or adhesives.

Other implementations of the present invention, within the scope of the Man of the Art, could have been envisaged without departing from the framework of the present invention.

Claims (8)

Packaging (1) for the packaging of liquid, semi-pasty or solid products with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, sauces, powdered confectionery and medicines intended to be consumed by carrying part (3) of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, said packaging comprises: a monolayer or multilayer structure (5) which constitutes a hermetic wall of the package (1) delimited by a weld bead (6) which seals said package and defines a container (7) containing the product, precut means (9) which allow the separation of a detachable area (8) of the packaging and opens the container (7) to give access to the product (2) liquid, semi-pasty or solid with small particle size. and is characterized by the fact that it has protective means (10) for releasing a clean zone (11) on the structure of the packaging corresponding to the part (3) of the packaging which comes into contact with the lips of the user at the time of consumption of the product inside, in order to ensure strict hygiene rules and thus prevent the consumer from bringing dirty soil to his mouth. Packaging (1) for packaging liquid products (2), semi-pasty or solid with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, sauces, confectionery powder and medicines intended for consumption while wearing a portion (3) of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, according to claim 1, characterized by fact that the protective means (10) for releasing a clean area (11) on the structure are consisting of a substrate film which has two glued areas (13 and 15) on the structure packaging and an unglued area (14), free vis-à-vis the packaging structure (5), which covers and protects the part (3) intended to be in contact with the lips against dust and dirt, allowing consumption of the product safely hygiene. Packaging (1) for packaging liquid products (2), semi-pasty or solid with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, sauces, confectionery powder and medicines intended for consumption while wearing a portion (3) of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that after opening the packaging, the non-glued area (14) folds down to the end (16) of the second glued area (15) and releases the clean area (11) corresponding to the part (3) in contact with the lips. Packaging (1) for packaging liquid products (12), semi-pasty or solid with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, sauces, confectionery powder and medicines intended for consumption while wearing a portion (3) of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the first glued area (13) is located at the detachable area (8) of the packaging, and the second glued area (15) is located in a holding area for packaging when consuming the product. Packaging (1) for packaging liquid products (2), semi-pasty or solid with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, sauces, confectionery powder and medicines intended for consumption while wearing a portion (3) of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, according to claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that the precut means (9) are located below and outside the first glued area (13) so that when opening the packaging the non-glued area (14) of the substrate is released to allow the flap of the unglued area to the end of the second glued area (15). Packaging (1) for packaging liquid products (2), semi-pasty or solid with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, sauces, confectionery powder and medicines intended for consumption while wearing a portion (3) of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, according to claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that the packaging (1) has a tear primer (18) on the substrate film (10) at the end (16) of the second non-glued zone (15) allowing, after opening the packaging to tear off the unglued area of the substrate and separate it from the container (7). Packaging (1) for packaging liquid products (2), semi-pasty or solid with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, sauces, confectionery powder and medicines intended for consumption while wearing a portion (3) of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, according to claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the unglued area (14) of the substrate film (10) extends over a length of several tens of millimeters to avoid the risk of incidents when the user consumes the product. Packaging (1) for packaging liquid products (2), semi-pasty or solid with small particle sizes such as yogurts, ice creams, sauces, confectionery powder and medicines intended to be consumed by suction or aspiration while wearing a part (3) of the packaging directly in contact with the lips, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the substrate film (10) has on its external surface (19) of printing of texts or images in order to allow these impressions to be evacuated when the container (7) is opened and free the clean area (11) without risk of contamination by inks, solvents and adhesive residue.

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