WO1999011542A2

WO1999011542A2 - Packaging for food additives, especially probiotics

Info

Publication number: WO1999011542A2
Application number: PCT/EP1998/005641
Authority: WO
Inventors: Josef Gossner; Kurt Zimmermann
Original assignee: Texel
Priority date: 1997-09-04
Filing date: 1998-09-04
Publication date: 1999-03-11
Also published as: AU1145199A; WO1999011542A3

Abstract

The invention relates to packaging for additives, especially food additives, which are added to food and beverages in sealed glass, cardboard or plastic containers (41). The packaging is characterized by a tight, closed compartment assigned to the container and designed to accommodate a given volume of additives to be added to the food or beverage just before consumption. Said compartment is formed as an additional element (44) to the container and is made out of a thin-walled metal or plastic material which is easy to open so that the additives can be removed.

Description

PACKAGING FOR FOOD SUPPLEMENTS, IN PARTICULAR PROBIOTICA

The invention relates to packaging for food supplements or other additives for foodstuffs or luxury foods, in particular probiotics, which, together with the foodstuffs and luxury foods, are also taken in liquid form for health care and for profilactic purposes.

Glass bottles for packaging liquids, especially milk bottles, have a neck with an external thread on which e.g. a metallic lid can be screwed on, the inside for a tight closure

Has plastic coating.

Cup-like or cup-like containers made of plastic have a projecting circumferential edge which is sealed with a film, often made of aluminum, which is welded or glued to the edge.

Containers made of cardboard coated on the inside, for example folded into a closed tetrahedron (TetraPack containers) often have a circular location on the top, which can be easily pierced by a suction tube in order to remove the liquid in the TetraPack containers by means of the suction tube without complete To be able to drink the opening of the TetraPack container. Suction tubes made of plastic in the form of straws, also with snap-off upper ends, have tapered lower ends with which the circular places in the TetraPack containers can be pierced more easily from the outside.

Other containers made of cardboard coated on the inside are known which are folded together at their upper end in a bag-like manner and often end in a narrow, tightly bonded edge strip which is pulled apart or spread apart to open the bag-like container.

Food supplements in powder form or as tablets, in particular probiotic substances, are known. The probiotic substances also include e.g. freeze-dried lacto bacteria, which are often taken with milk to supplement and regenerate the intestinal flora.

Such probiotic substances are specially packaged in order to achieve a sufficient shelf life for a specified time. The bringing together of food supplements, especially probiotics, e.g. with milk, only takes place shortly before it is taken to ensure optimal effectiveness.

The object of the invention is to pack food supplements or other addition substances, in particular the probiotics, in portions in such a way that each portion contains the correct addition amount for a particular food or drink, for example in a glass bottle, a plastic cup or in a TetraPack. Container is closed and that the portion-by-package of such additives is designed in such a way that it can be assigned to the packaging for the food or beverage, so that the right amount of the additive together with the right amount of food or beverage is added to the consumer offered in a pleasing manner and can then be taken by him at a chosen time. The packaging for the food and beverages in question and the additional packaging for the additive material together form an extensive packaging unit.

The object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous designs result from the features of the subclaims and the following description for, for example, designs which are only shown schematically in a drawing. Herein shows:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a lid according to the invention, e.g. for a milk bottle with integrated Probiotica packaging;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through another cover, e.g. for one

Milk bottle, in combination with probiotica packaging;

3 shows a vertical section through a modification of the embodiment according to FIG. 2;

Figure 4 shows a section through a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

Figure 5 shows a section through the lower part of a bottle with integrated

Probiotics packaging;

FIG. 6 shows a section through a modification according to FIG. 5;

7 shows a section through a further modification according to FIG. 5;

Figure 8 shows a longitudinal section through an inventive suction tube, e.g. for a TetraPack milk packaging;

Figure 9 is a view of a bottle with a vertical recess

Inclusion of a suction pipe according to Fig. 8; 10 shows a cross section through the bottle of FIG. 9 along the

Lines IX-IX and

FIG. 11 shows a view of a beverage packaging according to the invention with connected packaging for a food supplement.

Figure 12 is a view of packaging according to the invention, e.g. for a milk product with a partially opened lid and an integrated additional packaging for a food supplement;

FIG. 13 shows a section through the packaging according to FIG. 12 when closed

Cover;

FIG. 13a is an enlarged partial section from FIG. 13;

FIG. 14 shows a rear cover view corresponding to FIGS. 12 and 13 with the tearable additional packaging;

FIG. 15 the view according to FIG. 14 with the additional packaging partially torn open;

15 further cover views on the back with additional packaging modified from FIG. 14 to 19;

Figure 20 is a perspective view of another cup-like package according to the invention, e.g. for a milk product, shown partially broken off and with an integrated tearable additional packaging for a food supplement or the like; and

FIG. 21 shows a perspective view of a further ink-like additional packaging according to the invention, partially opened and with a integrated tearable packaging for a food supplement or the like.

Fig. 1 shows a section through a lid 1 according to the invention made of metal or plastic for closing a known glass or plastic bottle, in particular milk bottle, which is not shown here.

The lid 1 is provided on the inside with a plastic coating 2 known per se, which covers the inner surfaces of the lid as a thin film.

The cover 1 has an axially raised outer edge 3 on the end face, which comprises a trough-shaped recess or recess 4 in an annular manner, which is covered by a metal foil 5 or the like and tightly seals a space in which a powder or tablet-shaped probiotic, in particular freeze-dried lactobacteria, is included a guarantee of durability for a predetermined time is included. This can e.g. are a probiotic lactobacterial mixture of Acidophilus, Bifidus and Casei to support or regenerate the intestinal flora.

The metal foil 5 is welded onto the lid edge 3 in a known manner and can be easily removed by hand to remove the probiotic. If necessary, the probiotic is located in the cover recess 4 covered by the metal foil 5 in a separate packaging, which ensures the shelf life of the probiotic for a certain period of time.

To take the probiotic, it is removed from the lid recess 4. Then the lid is unscrewed from the bottle, not shown, in particular a milk bottle, and the powdered or tablet-shaped probiotic is added to the bottle. Then the bottle is sealed again by the lid and to dissolve the

Probioticum shaken in the milk before the milk can be drunk together with the dissolved probiotic. The lid 1 according to the invention offers a simple and sufficiently secure possibility of safely accommodating any food supplement, in particular a probiotic, in an amount in the upper lid recess 4 which is adapted to the amount of liquid in the glass or plastic bottle.

Fig. 2 shows a section through a further lid 6 according to the invention for closing a bottle, not shown, which differs from known lids in that it has at least one groove or thread on the outer periphery 7 for holding a cap-like lid attachment 8, preferably from

Plastic, which has a closed inner bottom 9.

At a distance from the bottom 9 there is a radially inwardly projecting shoulder 10 which for sealing a space 11 within the cap-like lid set 8 carries a metal foil 12 or the like, which can be welded to the inner shoulder 10.

Compared to the outer cover recess 4 in FIG. 1, the space 11 serves for the safe reception of a food supplement, in particular a probiotic.

The cap-like cover attachment 8 is snapped or screwed onto the cover 6, for which purpose the elastic, somewhat inwardly projecting cylindrical edge 13 of the cover attachment is designed accordingly. Instead of a closed cylindrical edge 13, it may be sufficient if it consists of at least two opposite webs, which hold the cover attachment 8 like a clip on the cover 6. The lid attachment 8 is supported with the inner shoulder 10 on the upper outer edge 14 of the lid.

It is clear that a corresponding lid attachment can have any shape that is suitable for the protected accommodation of a food supplement, in particular a probiotic, inside the lid attachment, which can also have an internal thread that fits into an external thread on the circumference of the lid 6 engages, as is indicated schematically by the lid attachment 15 in Fig. 3.

The cap-like lid attachment 15 can be secured in a conventional manner by a non-rotatable ring 16 on the bottle neck by the ring being narrow

Crosspieces with the cylindrical edge 17 of the top lid set is connected. The narrow webs are broken by forcible rotation of the lid attachment, so that the lid attachment can be twisted off and the food supplement in its base can be removed by pulling off the metal foil 12 so that it can be added to the bottle contents after unscrewing the lid 6 from the bottle is described above in connection with FIG. 1.

It may be sufficient to design the lid attachment without a double bottom and, if necessary, packaged separately between the inner bottom of the lid attachment and the outer bottom of the lid

Arrange food supplement.

Fig. 4 shows a vertical section through a cap-like lid attachment 18, which differs from the lid attachment 8 in Fig. 2 and 15 in Fig. 3 mainly in that it, comparatively like the lid 1 in Fig. 1 at its upper

End has a trough-shaped recess 19, which is covered by a metal foil 20 or the like, in order thereby to obtain a closed space for receiving a food supplement, in particular a probiotic.

5 shows a vertical section through the lower part of a bottle, which has a depression 22 on its underside, which is covered by a metal foil 23 or the like, in order thereby to create a space for accommodating a nutritional supplement. The film 23 can be welded or glued to the outer bottom edge 24.

A variant of FIG. 5 is illustrated in FIG. 6. Here the bottle 25 has in addition to the bottom recess 27 on its circumference near the lower one Bottom end of a notch into which the inwardly bent elastic edge 29 of a plastic floor cap 30 snaps in order to securely close off a space for receiving a food supplement, in particular a probiotic.

Fig. 7 shows a further variant of Fig. 6, in which the lower end of the bottle 31 has a thread on the outer periphery to which a bottom attachment 32 made of metal or plastic can be screwed in order to in turn create a covered space for accommodating a nutritional supplement may be specially packaged, as may be the case with probiotics. the

It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the floor attachment can be designed in accordance with the lid attachment described above.

Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal section through a suction tube 33 for drinking e.g. milk from a TetraPack, a milk bottle or a glass.

According to the invention, the suction tube is at least partially filled with a food supplement 34 and the two ends 35 and 36 of the suction tube are sealed. The tube can be attached to the outside of a TetraPack so that it can be easily removed.

To drink a liquid together with the nutritional supplement 34, the closures at both ends are opened to reveal the nutritional supplement of the liquid, e.g. Milk, to be able to admit. The closures can be glued or welded-on foil sections, in particular made of aluminum or tightly attached caps or lid-like attachments made of metal and / or plastic.

The empty suction tube 33 can then be used for drinking.

In order to be able to use the suction tube 33 conveniently for drinking from a TetraPack packaging, it is slightly beveled at its lower end in a manner known per se. Appropriately, the slope is adapted The closure at the lower end of the suction tube is only removed when the TetraPack packaging has been pierced at the specified position with the still closed suction tube, in order to be able to insert the nutritional supplement from the tube into the TetraPack packaging after removing the caps.

Fig. 9 shows a bottle 37, e.g. for milk, with an outer lateral recess 38, which is able to receive the suction tube 33 from FIG. 8 in a transport-safe manner. Fig. 10 shows a cross section through the bottle 37 with the tube 33 along the lines IX - IX.

The tube 33 in the recess 38 of the bottle 37 can be covered with a label in order to hold it securely in the recess 38. However, it can also be easily detachably glued or clamped into the recess 38.

Fig. 11 still shows the view e.g. a milk carton 39 made of a plastic film lying one above the other, which is tightly welded at its edges in a known manner to form a pillow, which here is filled with milk, for example.

At the one end of the pillow-like milk carton there is, according to the invention, a narrow film strip 40, likewise consisting of two superimposed film sections, which is comparatively tightly welded at its edges but contains a food supplement, in particular a probiotic, separately from the milk. By cutting a corner of the milk carton 39, the

Milk to be emptied into a glass or the like. By cutting off a corner of the film strip 40, the nutritional supplement can be added to the milk in the glass.

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of a plastic container 41, for example for yogurt or curd cheese dishes. The container has an edge 42 on which a lid 43 made of an aluminum foil is thermally welded in a known manner in order to seal the food in the container tightly. 12 is the Lid partially shown opened. On the inside of the lid there is an additional packaging 44 according to the invention, for example for a

Food supplements. The additional packaging made of aluminum foil has a tab 45 which ends at the edge of the container 42 and with which the additional packaging can be torn open in order to securely insert the food supplements into the

To be able to bring food inside the container 41.

FIG. 13 shows a section through the container 41 according to FIG. 12 with the lid 43 closed and FIG. 13a shows a detail from an edge region of the container 41.

13 illustrates that the tear-open tab 45 ends at the container edge 42 for tearing open the container 44. After the cover has been partially removed, the end of the tear tab 45 is released. By pulling on the tear-open tab 45, expediently as long as the lid 43 still partially adheres to the container 41, the additional packaging 44 can be torn open or opened, thereby ensuring that the nutritional supplement within the additional packaging enters the food inside the container 41 and not outside of the container 41 is spilled.

14 and 15 show the rear of the cover 43 in the view. The additional packaging 44 encloses a flat space for receiving the food supplement. The room is closed off from the inside of the lid. For the tight connection of the additional packing 44 to the cover 43, this has a laterally projecting edge 46. The tear tab 45 is one

Continuation of margin 46.

15 shows the partial opening of the additional packaging by partially tearing open with the tear-open tab 45. The predetermined tear-open track 47 runs here in the middle across the additional packaging. The left tear line shown here in dashed lines can consist, for example, of a fold or a weakening of material. Solutions for this are known to the person skilled in the art. 16 and 17 show further views of the back of the cover with an additional packaging according to the invention. Here, the pull tab 45 has the entire width of the additional packaging 44 minus its outer edge 46. 17, the additional packaging 44 is partially opened by tearing at the tear-open tab 45.

18 and 19 show still further views of the back of the lid with a similar additional packaging according to the invention. Here, the tear tab 45 has the entire width of the additional packaging 44 including its edge. 9 shows the partial opening of the additional packaging after one

Tear on the tear tab.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the additional packaging according to the invention on the rear side of the cover 43 can extend over the entire cover, so that a double-walled cover is formed, the outer edges of which jointly adjoin the

Connect the edge of the container 42 of the container 41 tightly. To tear open this additional packaging, there is also a tear-open tab 45 which, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments described above, is a continuation of the inner wall of the cover which forms the additional packaging here. The inner wall of the lid expediently has a double-track tear strip of any width extending across the lid, along which the pull tab pulls the inner wall open to release the food supplement or the like between the double-walled lid.

20 shows a perspective view of a plastic container 41 corresponding to FIGS. 12 and 13, which is shown partially broken off. The lid 43 is removed from the container 41 here. In one corner of the container there is an additional packing 44 according to the invention, which is held here with its edges 46 on the side walls 47, 48 abutting one another in the corner of the container. The additional container 44 is also advantageously made of aluminum, so that the edges of the additional container, corresponding to the lid of the container can be thermally welded to the side walls of the container.

Like the previous exemplary embodiments, the additional container 44 has a corresponding tear-open tab 45, the outer end of which extends to the edge of the container

43 is enough.

After removing the lid at least in this edge area, the tab end of the tear tape can be gripped in order to tear open the additional packaging and thus ensure that the nutritional supplement comes out of the

Additional packaging safely reaches the food inside the container 41, which is not shown in FIG. 20.

Fig. 21 also shows a perspective view of a square cross-section bag made of conventionally folded cardboard for holding any beverage or other liquid food. The beverage bag is shown partially unfolded in FIG. 21. In the upper fold area 50 of the bag, on the inside 51 of a bag wall, there is an additional container 44 according to the invention, which with its edges 46 firmly adjoins the inner wall. Here too, the additional container 44 has, according to the above exemplary embodiments, a tear-open tab 45, which ends between the upper fold edges 52, which are sealed to one another in a known manner when the beverage bag is closed.

After the conventional opening and unfolding of the beverage bag, the end is

Pull tab 45 accessible. By pulling on the tear-open tab, the additional packaging 44 is torn open in the above sense, which ensures that the food supplements from the additional packaging 44 get safely into the beverage bag.

The additional packaging can be made of cardboard like the beverage bag or any other material (including aluminum foil) that depends on that Addition material within the additional packaging and the possibilities of its firm hold on the inner wall of the beverage bag 49 in its upper folding area 50.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to packaging for dietary supplements that is safe in the subject

Food or drink is to be brought in. It can be any addition substances which can be accommodated in tearable additional packaging according to the invention and which can be accommodated on the inside of a container lid or on the inside of side walls of a container or in the folding area of a beverage bag or the like.

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Packaging for additives, in particular food supplements, for addition to food or beverages in sealed containers made of glass, cardboard or plastic,

marked by

a tightly closed space assigned to the container to hold a certain amount of the additive for addition to the food or beverage immediately before consumption, which, as an additional part of the container, is made of a thin-walled material made of metal that is easy to open to remove the additive and/or plastic is formed.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the space for

Receiving the specific amount of the additive is formed by a trough-like depression on the top of the lid of an associated glass or plastic bottle, the space being closed off by a film which is tightly connected with its edges to the edge of the lid surrounding the depression.

3. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover film is glued or welded to the outer edge of the lid.

4. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the space for

Receiving the specific amount of the additive is part of a cap-like lid attachment, which is attached to the lid of an associated glass or Plastic bottle is held.

5. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized in that the lid attachment has a double bottom through which the space for receiving the specific amount of the food supplement is limited.

6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that the double bottom of the lid attachment is formed by an inner or outer film.

7. Packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that the film is glued or welded with its outer edge to an inner or outer ring shoulder on the bottom of the lid attachment.

8. Packaging according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the cap-like cover attachment has a radially projecting extension to hold it on the lid of the bottle.

9. Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the extension on the lid attachment is formed by a cylindrical edge.

10.Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the extension on the lid attachment is formed by at least two radially projecting clip-like webs.

11.Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the approach on

Lid attachment is designed to be resilient.

12.Packaging according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the lid of the bottle for holding the cap-like lid attachment has at least one circumferential groove and / or at least one circumferential bead on its outer circumference.

13.Packaging according to claim 9, characterized in that the lid of the bottle for holding the cap-like lid attachment has a thread on its outer circumference, into which the thread engages on the inside of the cylindrical extension on the lid attachment.

4. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the container for holding the liquid is a glass or plastic bottle, the bottom of the bottle having an outer trough-shaped depression for holding the specific amount of the additive, which is tightly closed by a film is.

15. Packaging according to claim 14, characterized in that the outer edge of the film is glued or welded to the edge surrounding the bottle recess on the bottom of the bottle.

16. Packaging according to claim 1 and 14, characterized in that a cap-like base attachment is present or has a radially projecting extension to hold it at the lower end of the bottle.

17. Packaging according to claim 16, characterized in that the radially projecting extension on the base attachment is formed by a cylindrical edge.

18. Packaging according to claim 16, characterized in that the radially projecting extension on the base attachment is formed by at least two radially projecting clip-like webs.

19. Packaging according to claim 16, characterized in that the radially projecting extension on the base attachment is designed to be resilient.

20. Packaging according to claim 16, characterized in that the cap-like base attachment ensures the tight seal of the trough-shaped recess Bottle bottom forms.

21. Packaging according to claim 16, characterized in that the cap-like bottom attachment has a double bottom through which the space for receiving the specific amount of the food supplement is limited, the double bottom being formed by an inner film facing the bottom of the bottle.

22.Veφackung according to one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that the bottle for holding the base attachment at the lower end of the

Bottle circumference has at least one circumferential groove and / or at least one circumferential bead.

23. Packaging according to one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that the lower end of the bottle circumference is used to hold the

Floor attachment has a thread into which the thread engages on the inside of the cylindrical extension on the floor attachment.

24. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the space for receiving the specific amount of the additive is at least partially formed by the interior of a suction tube assigned to a liquid container, which is provided with a removable closure at both ends.

25.Packaging according to claims 1 and 24, characterized in that a

Bottle made of glass or plastic as a container for the liquid has on the outside at least one elongated recess running in the axial direction of the bottle to largely accommodate a suction tube filled with an additive.

26.Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the space for receiving the specific amount of the additive from a separate section of a beverage bag made of one welded at its edges Plastic film is made.

27. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the cup or bowl-shaped container made of plastic has a circumferential edge at its upper end, which is tightly welded or glued to a final film, in particular made of aluminum, and that the space for receiving the Additive material is formed by a further film, in particular at least partially made of aluminum, which is sealed with edge regions on the inside of the film closing the container and that the film forming the space means for tearing it off or tearing it open for the

Release of the additive into the food or beverage.

28. Packaging according to claim 27, characterized in that the film forming the space is glued or welded with a circumferential edge to the inside of the film closing the container.

29.Veφackung according to claim 1, characterized in that the cup or bowl-shaped container made of plastic has a circumferential edge at its upper end, which is tightly welded or glued to a final film, in particular made of aluminum, and that the space for

Receiving the additive is formed by a further film, in particular at least partially made of aluminum, which is tightly connected with edge regions on the inside of at least one side wall of the container and that the film forming the space has means for tearing it off or tearing it open for the release of the additive in the food and beverage.

30.Veφackung according to claim 29, characterized in that the film forming the space is glued or welded with a circumferential edge to the inside of at least one side wall of the container.

31.Veφackung according to one of the preceding claims 27 to 29, characterized in that the tear-off or tear-off means is a free, extended section of the film forming the space, which is accessible at an edge of the container ends.

32. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the container made of cardboard coated on the inside is folded like a bag at its upper end and ends in a narrow, tightly glued or welded edge strip that can be pulled apart or spread to open the container and that between parts of the folded sections of the container a film forming the space for receiving the additives is arranged, which is glued or welded to the inside of one of the folded sections and that the space is filled

Film has means for tearing it off or tearing it open to release the additive into the food or beverage.

33. Packaging means according to claim 32, characterized in that the tear-off or tear-off means is a free extended section of the space forming

Film is which ends in an accessible manner in the edge strip of the container.