Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PACKAGES FOR DISPENSING LIQUID AND DRY FOOD
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to food packages having features such as multiple
containers in a single package and multiple pieces for a package; the packages
can
contain multiple food products including cereal and milk, but not necessarily
cereal,
for consumption together in a convenient manner.
Background
Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, but traditional
"at
home" breakfast eating occasions are declining. Mornings are rushed so
consumers
need on-the-go (e.g., portable) breakfast product solutions. A significant
reason for
skipping breakfast is not having the time to eat at home. A portable breakfast
allows
a person to take a serving of breakfast along, away from the home, and eat the
breakfast at their morning destination or on the way to that destination.
One of the most common breakfast foods is dry cereal eaten with milk. By
conventional methods, a dry cereal is placed in a bowl or other container and
milk is
poured over the cereal. The consumer consumes the milk and cereal together
from
the bowl using a spoon. This conventional mode of cereal consumption requires
the
user to remain stationary to consume the cereal from the bowl and is not an
activity
that can be safely performed while the consumer is mobile, such as by walking,
riding, or driving a vehicle. Also, the serving of cereal is not portable for
consumption upon arrival at a destination. Understood limitations of this
basic mode
of consuming cereal are that the combination of the bowl of cereal and milk is
not
mobile, and, therefore, the consumer must place the cereal and milk into the
bowl in
one location (normally a kitchen or eating area), and to also eat the cereal
using a
spoon in that same location.
To make breakfast a more convenient meal, manufacturers have offered
breakfast bars, breakfast sandwiches, and other breakfast foods that can be
consumed
with a single hand and without preventing the person eating the food from
moving
from the location at which the food was prepared or purchased. There have also
been
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attempts to construct a container that stores cereal and milk separately and
allows the
cereal and milk to be removed from a storage location (e.g., kitchen) or place
of
purchase, to be consumed at a later time or different location. Some of these
containers are designed to allow the consumer to eat cereal and milk from a
container
using a single hand, optionally without having to be at a stationary position,
but
optionally while moving with the container while consuming the contents. These
containers may provide mobility to the cereal eater, but past package designs
have
suffered from various shortcomings. For instance, past designs may not allow
for
dispensing a desired amount of milk relative to cereal, may not allow for
controlled
delivery of cereal, or may allow cereal and milk to contact each other and
become
soggy.
Various products have been developed to contain cereal and milk separately
and then allow the cereal and milk to be mixed when consumed using a container
that
can be manipulated by one hand. Examples of such product configurations are
illustrated and described at U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,588,561, 5,753,289, 6,528,105,
and
others. Such products show a single container that may hold cereal and milk in
separate compartments of a single container, in a manner to allow the cereal
and milk
to be dispensed from the single container.
Continuing need exists for a cereal container that can contain milk and cereal
together in a single package that allows a user to dispense cereal and milk
using one
hand.
Summary
The following description relates to food packages and containers that can be
useful to hold a food (e.g., dry cereal) and a liquid (e.g., milk), in
separate containers,
and to dispense the particulate food and liquid as a combined mixture.
Packages
having multiple containers that can contain cereal and milk are also described
in
Applicant's copending United States Provisional Patent Application serial
number
61/131,508, filed June 10, 2008, titled PACKAGES FOR DISPENSING LIQUID
AND DRY FOOD, and U.S. Serial No. 12/384,709, filed April 8, 2009, by Zoss et
al.,
titled PACKAGES FOR DISPENSING LIQUID AND DRY FOOD. Packages
specifically described and illustrated herein include features also described
in those
copending application.
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The packages are particularly useful for storing and allowing consumption of
breakfast in the form of dry ("ready-to-eat") breakfast cereal, with milk.
Breakfast is
considered the most important meal of the day, but traditional "at home"
breakfast
eating occasions are declining. Mornings are rushed so consumers need on-the-
go
(e.g., portable) breakfast product solutions. A significant reason for
skipping
breakfast is not having the time to eat at home. A portable breakfast allows a
person
to take a serving of breakfast along, away from the home, and eat the
breakfast at their
morning destination or on the way to that destination.
One of the most common breakfast foods is dry cereal eaten with milk. By
conventional methods, a dry cereal is placed in a bowl or other container and
milk is
poured over the cereal. The consumer consumes the milk and cereal together
from
the bowl using a spoon. This conventional mode of cereal consumption requires
the
user to remain stationary to consume the cereal from the bowl and is not an
activity
that can be safely performed while the consumer is mobile, such as by walking,
riding, or driving a vehicle. Also, the serving of cereal is not portable, for
consumption upon arrival at a destination. Understood limitations of this
basic mode
of consuming cereal are that the combination of the bowl of cereal and milk is
not
mobile, and, therefore, the consumer must place the cereal and milk into the
bowl in
one location (normally a kitchen or eating area), and to also eat the cereal
using a
spoon in that same location.
To make breakfast a more convenient meal, manufacturers have offered
breakfast bars, breakfast sandwiches, and other breakfast foods that can be
consumed
with a single hand and without preventing the person eating the food from
moving
from the location at which the food was prepared or purchased. There have also
been
attempts to construct a container that stores cereal and milk separately and
allows the
cereal and milk to be removed from a storage location (e.g., kitchen) or place
of
purchase, to be consumed at a later time or different location. Some of these
containers are designed to allow the consumer to eat cereal and milk from a
container
using a single hand, optionally without having to be at a stationary position,
but
optionally while moving with the container while consuming the contents. These
containers may provide mobility to the cereal eater, but past package designs
have
suffered from various shortcomings. For instance, past designs may not allow
for
dispensing a desired amount of milk relative to cereal, may not allow for
controlled
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delivery of cereal, or may allow cereal and milk to contact each other and
become
soggy.
The following description includes designs for packages and containers for
separately storing milk and cereal. Embodiments of packages allow the user to
store
or transport milk and cereal together and, at their convenience, and combine
the two
for consumption. Certain package designs fit into consumers' busy lifestyles
by
enabling a consumer to eat their favorite cereals and milk while on the go, or
to
transport a single serving of cereal and milk to a location away from a point
of
purchase or storage (e.g., kitchen). Embodiments of product designs allow for
cereal
consumption with little to no preparation, primarily requiring the consumer to
grab a
combined cereal and milk package, and go; according to different embodiments a
consumer may eat upon arriving at their destination, or along the way. Certain
embodiments provide better performance relative to past designs for packages
that
include cereal and milk.
Two general approaches to meet consumer needs are described: 1. A portable
package for cereal and milk that allows a user to bring a serving of cereal
and milk to
a destination, combine the cereal and milk after arriving at their
destination, and then
eat the mixture with a spoon, and 2. A package that allows a consumer to eat a
mixture of cereal and milk with just a single hand, while in motion. Both
concepts
can either be a complete offering supplying cereal and shelf stable milk, or
may in the
form of a package that contains cereal and no milk, but permits the user to
supply
their own serving of milk. In either approach the milk and cereal remain
separate
until the consumer is ready to consume the cereal and milk together.
While the description exemplifies milk and dry cereal as being contained in
and dispensed from described packages, other forms of food will also be useful
with
packages as described. Certain package designs allow for a particulate food
and the
liquid to be stored, transported, and optionally sold or delivered, together,
then
consumed being dispensed from or removed from the package as a mixture. The
packages are particularly useful for storing and allowing consumption of
breakfast in
the form of dry ("ready-to-eat") breakfast cereal, with milk.
Exemplary described packages allow a consumer to eat a mixture of cereal and
milk with just a single hand, while in motion. Exemplary products can either
be a
complete offering supplying cereal and shelf stable milk, or may in the form
of a
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package that contains cereal and no milk, but permits the user to supply their
own
serving of milk. For example, because the packages can contain cereal and milk
separately, a package that contains cereal can be prepared, stored, shipped,
and sold
separately from a package that contains milk; the package that contains cereal
can be
combined with a separate milk product at any point of storage, preparation,
shipping,
inventorying, or commercial or retail sale, such as by a consumer who has
purchased
a cereal product and a milk product separately. In either approach the milk
and cereal
remain separate until the consumer is ready to consume the cereal and milk
together.
Any of the packages and containers described, in combination with any one or
more other features, can include specific features such as a "dose" control
feature, a
"sieve" feature, or features that involve two or more (multiple) pieces
assembled to
produce a multi-container package. Individual "pieces" can be produced by
injection
molding, thermoforming, or other methods, and may include one or more of a
"cover"
piece, a "container" piece (e.g., a "cereal container" piece), and a "lower
container"
piece. Pieces can be completely separate, or partially separate or separable,
such as
by being connected at a hinge. Other packages can involve the same features
but a
multi-piece construction or with construction as fewer pieces, e.g., a "cover
piece"
can be combined with a "container" piece or an "upper container" piece.
Various versions of multi-piece packages ("dose" control-type or "sieve" type
packages, see below) can include a "cover piece" that is not merely flat but
that is
three-dimensional. Advantageously, a three-dimensional cover can improve the
ease
with which a consumer can dispense cereal and milk from a package.
A "dose" control feature can be a feature that controls amounts of cereal and
milk that dispense from a package when tipped. This feature can involve
structural
features such as a holding stage, a milk channel, or combinations of these.
A "sieve" feature can be a feature that allows passage of liquid between an
interior space of a package that contains cereal and a space below the
interior
package. In one aspect the invention relates to a multi-container
package. The
package includes: a lower container that includes: a lower container interior
space
defined by a bottom and sidewalls, and an opening in communication with the
lower
container interior space, at an upper region of the lower container, and an
upper
container connected to the lower container, located above the lower container.
An
upper container includes: an upper container interior space defined by an
upper
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container bottom and upper container sidewalls, the upper container bottom
extending
between the upper container sidewalls at a lower region of the upper container
sidewalls, and a holding stage defined by a shelf and sidewalls, in fluid
communication with the lower container interior space through a channel, and
in fluid
communication with the upper container interior space.
In another aspect the invention relates to a package that includes an interior
space defined by a bottom, an upper opening, and sidewalls extending between
the
bottom and the upper opening, an aperture at the bottom and having a valve,
and a
liquid-tight engagement element at a lower region of the package.
In another aspect the invention relates to a multi-container package that
includes a lower container. The lower container includes a lower container
interior
space defined by a bottom and sidewalls, and an opening in communication with
the
lower container interior space, at an upper region of the lower container. An
upper
container is connected to the lower container, located above the lower
container, the
upper container including an upper container interior space defined by a
bottom and
sidewalls, the bottom extending between the sidewalls at a lower region of the
sidewalls, the upper container interior space being in fluid communication
with the
lower container interior space. The upper container includes a cover extending
between locations of a cover perimeter connected to the upper container
sidewalls, the
cover having a three-dimensional form that defines a coverspace below the
cover and
above the upper container interior space. The upper container includes a
holding
stage defined at a bottom by a stage and at sides by sidewalls, including a
front
sidewall and a backwall, in fluid communication with the lower container
interior
space through a milk channel, and in fluid communication with the upper
container
interior space through a passage defined at least in part the backwall and the
cover,
the passage having a height dimension of at least 0.5 centimeters.
In another aspect the invention relates to a multi-container package, the
package including multiple pieces including: a lower container piece that
includes a
lower container volume defined by a bottom and sidewalls, the bottom extending
between the sidewalls at a lower region of the sidewalls, an opening at an
upper
region of the lower container, and a lower container upper-container
engagement at an
upper region of the lower container; an upper container piece that includes an
upper
container volume defined by a bottom and sidewalls, the bottom extending
between
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the sidewalls at a lower region of the sidewalls, an opening at an upper
region of the
sidewalls, an upper container lower-container-engagement that engages the
lower
container upper-container engagement in a liquid-tight manner, and an upper
container upper engagement, the upper container interior space being in fluid
communication with the lower container interior space; and a cover piece that
includes a cover extending between locations of a cover perimeter, a cover
piece
engagement that engages the upper container upper engagement in a liquid-tight
manner, the cover having a three-dimensional form that defines a coverspace
below
the cover and above the upper container interior space.
In another aspect the invention relates to a package that includes: an
interior
space defined by a bottom, a cover comprising a cover opening, and sidewalls
extending between the bottom and the cover, the bottom extending between the
sidewalls at a lower region of the sidewalls; an aperture formed in the
bottom, and a
liquid-tight engagement element, the engagement element comprising a snap-fit
engagement element selected from the group consisting of: a detent, a
shoulder, a
beveled shoulder; a rounded ridge, a groove, a concave groove, and
combinations of
these.
In yet another aspect the invention relates to a package that includes: an
interior space defined by a bottom and sidewalls, the bottom extending between
the
sidewalls at a lower region of the sidewalls, the bottom comprising an
aperture; a
cover; a holding stage defined in part by a stage and sidewalls, including a
front
sidewall and a backwall; and a milk channel located below the holding stage;
wherein
the holding stage is in fluid communication with the milk channel, and is in
fluid
communication with the upper container interior space through a passage
between the
backwall and the cover, the passage having a height dimension of at least 0.5
centimeters.
In another aspect the invention relates to a multi-container package that
includes an upper container and a lower container, wherein: the upper
container
includes an opening at a lower region; the lower container includes an opening
at an
upper region; the upper region of the lower container engages the lower region
of the
upper container by a liquid-tight engagement such that the opening at the
lower region
of the upper container aligns with the opening at the upper region of the
lower
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container; and the opening of the lower container is separated from the
opening of the upper
container by a seal.
In another aspect the invention relates to a kit that includes separate milk
and cereal
containers, the kit including: a milk container containing milk; a cereal
container containing
cereal and comprising a bottom and sidewalls, and a top opening, the cereal
container
containing cereal, optionally an eating implement, optionally a napkin; the
cereal container
being sealed around the top opening by a removable layer.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a multi-
container
package comprising: a lower container comprising a lower container interior
space defined by
a bottom and sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls have an upper edge; and an upper
container
connected to the lower container above the upper edge of the sidewalls of the
lower container,
and in communication with the lower container interior space, the upper
container comprising:
an upper container interior space comprising an upper container bottom and
upper container
sidewalls extending upwardly from the upper container bottom, wherein the
upper container
sidewalls comprise an upper edge and a lower edge, and wherein the upper
container bottom
extends between the upper container sidewalls at the lower edge of the upper
container
sidewalls, a fluid channel in fluid communication with the upper and lower
container interior
spaces and positioned within the upper container interior space, the fluid
channel comprising:
a lower edge at the upper container bottom; a portion of the upper container
sidewalls; an
internal channel wall spaced internally from the upper container sidewalls;
and a shelf
comprising a fluid aperture at an upper edge of the fluid channel, wherein the
shelf extends
between the upper container sidewall and the internal channel wall at a
vertical position that is
spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the upper container sidewalls; and a
holding stage
comprising the shelf and an inner holding stage wall extending upwardly from
the shelf within
the upper container interior space, wherein the inner holding stage wall
comprises at least one
side passage in communication with the upper container interior space, and
wherein the
holding stage is in fluid communication with the lower container interior
space through the
channel and the aperture in the shelf.
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Brief Description of the Figures
Figure lA illustrates various views of a package as described.
Figure 1B is a side perspective view of a package as described.
Figure 1C is a side perspective view of a package as described.
Figure 1D includes top, side, and side cut-away views of a package as
described.
Figure 2A illustrates various views of a package as described.
Figure 2B includes top, side, and side cut-away views of a package as
described.
Figure 3A illustrates various views of a package as described.
Figure 3B includes top, side, and side cut-away views of a package as
described.
Figure 3C is a side cut-away view of features of a package as described.
Figure 4 illustrates various views of a package as described.
Figure 5A includes top, side, and side cut-away views of a package as
described.
Figure 5B includes top, side, and side cut-away views of a package as
described.
Figure 6 illustrates various views of a package as described.
Figure 7 illustrates a side perspective view of packages as described.
Figure 8 illustrates a side perspective view of packages as described.
Figure 9 illustrates a side perspective view of packages as described.
Figure 10A illustrates a side perspective cut-away view of a package as
described.
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Figure 10B illustrates a top perspective view of a piece of a package as
described.
Figure 10C illustrates a side perspective view of a package as described.
Figure 10D illustrates a side perspective cut-away view of a package as
described.
Figure 11A illustrates a top perspective view of a package as described.
Figure 11B illustrates a side cut-away view of a package as described.
Figure 11C illustrates a top view of a package as described.
Figure 11D illustrates a top perspective view of a package as described.
Figure 12A illustrates a side perspective view of a package as described.
Figure 12B illustrates a side view of a package as described.
Figure 12C illustrates a side perspective view of a package as described.
Figure 12D illustrates a top perspective view of a package as described.
Detailed Description
Below are brief descriptions and sketches of exemplary designs of packages
for storing, dispensing, or storing and dispensing dry cereal and milk for
consumption.
Following are descriptions and sketches of exemplary designs of packages for
storing, dispensing, or storing and dispensing dry cereal and milk for
consumption.
Embodiment of packages as described include separate containers for
separately containing milk and cereal or other combinations of foods.
Exemplary
packages can allow a consumer to dispense the foods, e.g., milk and cereal,
together
as a mixed stream through a single opening directly into the consumer's mouth.
In certain embodiments, cereal and milk are stored separately in two
containers of the package, an "upper" container (sometimes otherwise simply
referred
to as a "container" or as a "cereal" container) that is above a "lower"
container, and a
lower container that is below the upper container.
Certain embodiments of packages involve a "dose" control and a cereal
holding stage. Upon tipping the package to dispense the cereal and milk, dry
cereal
enters a cereal holding stage that is within the package, milk passes through
a milk
channel and also enters the cereal holding stage to contact the cereal, the
milk and
cereal contact and mix within the cereal holding stage, and the cereal and
milk (after
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coming into contact with each other within the package) are delivered from the
package to the consumer. As used herein, the terms "above" and "below" are
used in
a conventional manner to indicate a location of one feature of a package
(above or
below, i.e., higher than or lower than) relative to another feature, when the
package is
held vertically, unless otherwise indicated.
In general, such exemplary packages can include a lower container for milk
and a separate upper container for dry cereal. Use of the package is simple
and
intuitive. In embodiments where the two containers are sold together and
engaged,
the lower container is disengaged from its attachment at the bottom of the
upper
container. Optionally either milk is added to the lower container (if the
package is
sold without milk contained in the lower container) or if milk is already
contained in
the lower container a seal such as a foil (present to cover and seal the milk
in the
lower container) may be removed from the top opening of the lower container.
In
embodiments where the two containers are sold as separate products -- a milk
product
and a cereal product -- the milk product, including the lower container, can
be opened
and attached to the bottom of the cereal product, which contains the upper
container.
The lower container can be connected or re-connected to the bottom of the
upper
container. The engagement between the lower container and the upper container
may
be any liquid-tight engagement. Examples include threaded configurations,
inter-
locking or snap-fit surfaces such as a lip, flange, etc., at opposing
engagement
surfaces of the lower container and the upper container, or similar mechanical
liquid-
tight engagements.
In certain embodiments, the upper container can be opened by peeling a tab,
unscrewing a cap, or opening a seal, etc., to allow access to an interior
space such as a
cereal holding stage, which in turn accesses locations of milk and dry cereal.
The
product can be used to deliver cereal and milk in the same manner as a
beverage
dispenser (e.g., a can or bottle such as used for carbonated beverages) by
dispensing a
mixture of cereal and milk by tipping the container to cause the contents to
empty
from the top of the container into a user's mouth. (As used herein, a package
is
considered to be tipped "forward" by tipping a front side of a top of the
package in a
direction toward the user, with the front side being a side of the package
that
dispenses cereal and milk and that is generally held toward the user.)
According to
embodiments of the described packages, a combined mixture of dry cereal and
milk,
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in desired amounts or combinations of amounts, can be delivered directly to a
user's
mouth.
In certain embodiments, milk flows through a milk channel extending from the
lower container and through the upper container but not in contact with the
dry cereal
while in the milk channel. A "milk channel" is a continuous path extending
from the
lower container interior space to a location at an upper region of the upper
container,
optionally at a front location at the upper container, optionally to a milk
port (e.g., an
aperture or other opening that accesses the milk channel) at a holding stage.
Milk can
flow from the lower container, through the milk channel, to the milk port,
when the
package is tipped toward the user. The milk is delivered from a milk port
located in
the upper container, for as long as the package is in the tipped position. The
rate of
the flow can be controlled by selecting factors including the size of the
opening (milk
port) through which milk is delivered at the top of the upper container and
the size of
the milk channel.
According to exemplary embodiments of described packages that include a
"holding stage" feature, an amount, rate, or amount and rate at which dry
cereal is
delivered from a package can optionally be affected or controlled to result in
a desired
volume ("dose") of cereal delivered each time the package is tipped. A
"holding
stage" is a space located at an upper container, optionally near the a cover
opening,
optionally and preferably at a mid region or at an upper region of an upper
container,
most preferably at an upper region, such as at an upper half or upper third
(by vertical
height when the package is held vertically) of the upper container;
alternately a
holding stage can be at a location that is lower, such as at a middle region
of the upper
container between a top and a bottom. A holding stage can be defined at least
partially by a "stage" or "shelf' at a bottom of the holding stage, and
sidewalls. The
holding stage sidewalls can include a front sidewall and a backwall, the
backwall
separating the holding stage (to the front of the backwall) and the upper
container
interior space (to the rear of the backwall). The top of the holding stage can
be
directly accessible to a "coverspace" or to a cover opening so that when the
package
is tipped toward the user an amount of cereal present in the holding stage can
flow out
of the cover opening. According to exemplary embodiments a cereal passage can
be
include a channel or opening between a cereal stage backwall and a cover,
e.g., above
an upper surface of a backwall and below a cover, optionally including space
within a
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coverspace. Other cereal passages are on through openings at sides of the
holding
stage.
Control of the amount or rate of cereal delivery through the cover opening
may be affected by factors generally including the size (volume) of a cereal
holding
stage near the cover opening, the size of a cereal passage through which
cereal passes
from the upper container interior space into the cereal holding stage, sizes
of cereal
pieces, and whether or not a cereal bridge forms at a cereal passage during
flow of
cereal when the package is tipped and held in a tipped orientation. The cereal
holding
stage can be a feature of the upper container, e.g., located at an upper
region of the
upper container, near the top of the upper container, near the upper container
interior
space and in communication with the upper container interior space, near the
cover
opening and also at the top of (above) the milk channel, optionally and
preferably at
or near the "front" of the package.
In certain embodiments a package can be designed to deliver approximately
the same amount or "dose" of cereal each time a user tips the package to
deliver
cereal and milk; when the package is tipped, an amount of cereal becomes
delivered
from the upper container interior space, through a cereal passage, to the
cereal holding
stage (i.e., becomes pre-staged), and this amount of cereal becomes the next
to be
delivered the next time the package is tipped; optionally, cereal delivery
stops or is
interrupted upon formation of a cereal bridge, which is an amount of cereal
that clogs
the cereal passage to create a stoppage of cereal flowing through the cereal
passage.
The amount, rate, or amount and rate of cereal delivery can also be affected
by
the size and density of the dry cereal pieces. The size of cereal pieces can
be selected
to cause a desired flow or flow rate through passages for delivery. The size
of cereal
pieces may also be selected to create a cereal "bridge" to interrupt cereal
flow even
while the package remains tipped. For example, a package can be designed to
result
in the formation of a cereal bridge to stop cereal flow through the cereal
passage after
a desired amount (one "dose") of cereal is dispensed. A cereal bridge may form
during dispensing of the cereal when the package is tipped, at a cereal
passage or at
another opening through which cereal pieces flow. The size of a cereal passage
or
other opening that results in formation of a cereal bridge depends on the size
of cereal
particulates (pieces). Larger cereal particulates require a larger opening to
allow a
desired dose delivery followed by formation of a cereal bridge. An opening
size may
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be selected to allow a desired or predetermined volume of cereal that is
approximately
one heaping teaspoon (alternately, a volume equal to the volume of the cereal
holding
stage) to be dispensed to the user with each tip of the package, then for a
cereal bridge
to form and stop the flow of cereal.
Exemplary width and height dimensions of a cereal passage can be sufficient
to allow passage of a desired type of cereal such as a flake, a puffed cereal
piece, etc.,
which may be relatively round (TrixTm), square (Cinnamon Toast CrunchTm),
puffed
and circular, (CheeriosTm), etc. An example of a range of height dimensions of
a
cereal passage located above a backwall, defined as the distance from a top of
a
holding stage backwall to a closest location of a cover, can be from 5
millimeters to
25 millimeters, e.g., from 12 to 23 millimeters. An example of a range of
width
dimensions of a cereal passage located above a backwall, defined as a distance
along
a top of a holding stage backwall (which may be straight or arcuate), can be
from 10
to 35 millimeters, e.g. from 15 to 30 millimeters.
A container that includes an interior space designed to contain cereal (often
referred to herein as the "upper container") can be designed to engage another
container, e.g., a "lower" container, at a lower region of the upper
container, in a
liquid-tight manner. The liquid-tight engagement can allow the upper container
to be
placed above the lower container in a manner for the upper container to be in
fluid
communication with the lower container (e.g., a lower container interior
space)
through one or multiple apertures, and for the combination of engaged
containers to
deliver milk and cereal through a single cover opening at an upper region of
the
package.
Such an engagement element may be any useful mechanical or adhesive-type
engagement element that engages a corresponding element of the lower
container. An
engagement element can be located generally on a surface that extends around a
perimeter of surface of the container, which may be an external surface or an
internal
surface. An exemplary engagement can include threads that allow a threaded
engagement between two containers. Other exemplary engagements may involve one
or more snap-fit mechanisms such as one or more of: a mechanical detent, a
shoulder,
a beveled shoulder having a variable (beveled) diameter increasing toward a
bottom
or top of a package or container piece to allow an opposing structure to snap-
fit onto
the beveled shoulder; a generally planar rounded ridge, groove, concave
groove, ring,
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or annular ring; combinations of any of these; or any other type of molded or
snap-fit
structure that can be used to produce a liquid-tight engagement.
Certain embodiments as described include a "holding stage" and related
features designed to deliver a desired amount of cereal (e.g., a "dose") and a
flow of
milk. An overall design of a dosing mechanism for delivery of a desired pre-
determined amount of cereal, optionally interrupted by formation of a cereal
bridge,
can be based on features that include selection of the size of the opening of
a cereal
passage leading from an upper container interior space to a cereal holding
stage, a size
of a holding stage, and the size, shape, and density of cereal pieces. The
mechanism
is based on the tendency of particulates (cereal pieces) to bridge across an
opening if
their size is smaller than the opening, but still large in relation to the
opening, and if
the flow rate is sufficiently rapid. Formation of a cereal bridge can be used
in the
present application as a cereal delivery control mechanism in this package
design.
The control mechanism can be made to occur when an average diameter of cereal
pieces is from about 25 to about 95, e.g., from about 75 to 95 percent of a
dimension
(e.g., a height dimension) of an opening; if the opening is not square or
round the
relevant dimension is the smallest dimension of the opening.
According to various embodiments, a volume of cereal that can be delivered
as a single "dose" from a package, based on a user tipping the package a
single time,
contained in a holding stage, for pre-staged delivery, can be in the range of
about 0.25
to 4 cubic inches. This can be accomplished by package features that include a
holding stage, cover opening, and cereal passage, dimensioned to accommodate
this
dosage. An exemplary volume of a holding stage can be in a range of 0.25 to 3
cubic
inches; an exemplary area dimension of a cereal passage can be in a range of
0.5 to 2
square inches; and an exemplary dimension of a cover opening can be in a range
of
0.5 to 2 square inches, optionally round or generally round with a diameter of
from to
0.7 to 1.2 inches.
Related to the volume of a holding stage is a cross sectional area of a
holding
stage, meaning for example dimensions of a "stage" defining a lower surface of
a
holding stage, or a parallel cross section. The vertical dimension (height,
from top to
bottom) may matter less when designing a dose volume, because of the manner by
which cereal flows into the holding stage, optionally including bridging.
While a
shape of a stage or cross sectional area of a holding stage may be varied,
e.g., oval,
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circular, square, or rectangular, an exemplary side-to-side diameter or width
can be in
the range from 0.5 to 2 inches; exemplary front-to-back "depth" can be in the
range
from 0.25 to 1 inch. While top-to-bottom height can vary, an exemplary area
can be
from 0.25 to 3 cubic inches.
"Holding Stage Embodiment"
Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D show a "Holding Stage Embodiment," which is a
one-handed design for separately containing milk and cereal in a manner that
allows a
consumer to dispense the milk and cereal together as a mixed stream through a
single
opening directly into the consumer's mouth.
The cereal and milk are stored separately in two containers of the package.
Upon tipping the package to dispense the cereal and milk, the dry cereal
enters a
cereal holding stage that is within the package, milk passes through a milk
channel
and also enters the cereal holding stage to contact the cereal, the milk and
cereal
contact and mix within the cereal holding stage, and the cereal and milk
(after coming
into contact with each other within the package) are delivered from the
package to the
consumer.
In general, the package includes a lower container for milk and a separate
upper container for dry cereal. Use of the package is simple and intuitive.
The lower
container is removed from its attachment at the bottom of the upper container.
Optionally either milk is added to the lower container (if the package is sold
without
milk contained in the lower container) or if milk is already contained in the
lower
container a seal such as a foil (present to cover and seal the milk in the
lower
container) may be removed from the top opening of the lower container. The
lower
container can be re-connected to the bottom of the upper container. The upper
container can be opened by peeling a tab or seal to allow access to a cereal
holding
stage, which in turn accesses the separate locations of the milk and the dry
cereal.
The product can be used to deliver cereal and milk in the same manner as a
beverage
dispenser (e.g., a can such as used for carbonated beverages) by dispensing a
mixture
of cereal and milk by tipping the container to cause the contents to empty
from the top
of the container into a user's mouth. (As used herein, a package is considered
to be
tipped "forward" by tipping a front side of a top of the package in a
direction toward
the user, with the front side being a side of the package that dispenses
cereal and
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milk.) According to embodiments of the described packages, a combined mixture
of
dry cereal and milk, in desired amounts or combinations of amounts, can be
delivered
directly to a user's mouth.
An optional feature of a Holding Stage Embodiment package is the capability
to deliver milk through a restricted opening or milk port. Milk will flow
through a
milk channel extending from the lower container and through the upper
container but
not in contact with the dry cereal while in the milk channel. The milk is
delivered
from a milk port located in the upper container, when the package is in the
tipped
position.
An amount and rate at which dry cereal is delivered from the package can
optionally be affected or controlled to result in a desired volume ("dose") of
cereal
delivered each time the package is tipped. Control of the amount and rate of
cereal
delivery may be affected by factors generally including the size (volume) of a
cereal
holding stage near the upper cover opening, the size of side passages (see
below)
through which cereal passes into the cereal holding stage, and whether or not
a cereal
bridge forms at a side passage during flow of cereal. The cereal holding stage
is
located within the upper container and near the top of the upper container in
the
internal space of the upper container and in communication with the upper
container
internal space, near the upper cover opening and also at the top of (above)
the milk
channel. In certain embodiments, a package can be designed to deliver
approximately
the same amount or "dose" of cereal each time a user tips the package to
deliver
cereal and milk; when the package is tipped, an amount of cereal becomes
delivered
from the upper container interior space to the cereal holding stage (i.e.,
becomes pre-
staged), and this amount of cereal becomes the next to be delivered the next
time the
package is tipped; optionally, cereal delivery stops or is interrupted upon
formation of
a cereal bridge.
The amount and rate of cereal delivery can also be affected by the size and
density of the dry cereal pieces. The size of cereal pieces can be selected to
cause a
desired flow or flow rate through passages for delivery. The size of cereal
pieces may
also be selected to create a cereal "bridge" to interrupt cereal flow even
while the
package remains tipped. For example, a package can be designed to result in
the
formation of a cereal bridge to stop cereal flow after a desired amount (one
"dose") of
cereal is dispensed. A cereal bridge may form during dispensing of the cereal
when
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the package is tipped, such as at a side passage (see below) or at another
opening
through which cereal pieces flow. The size of a side passage or other opening
that
results in formation of a cereal bridge depends on the size of cereal
particulates
(pieces). Larger cereal particulates require a larger opening to allow a
desired dose
delivery followed by formation of a cereal bridge. An opening size may be
selected
to allow a volume of cereal that is approximately one heaping teaspoon
(alternately, a
volume equal to the volume of the cereal holding stage) to be dispensed to the
user
with each tip of the package, then for a cereal bridge to form and stop the
flow of
cereal.
An overall design of a "dose" mechanism for delivery of a desired pre-
determined amount of cereal, interrupted by formation of a cereal bridge, can
be
based on features that include selection of the size of the opening of a side
channel
leading to a cereal holding stage, and the size, shape, and density of cereal
pieces.
The mechanism is based on the tendency of particulates (cereal pieces) to
bridge
across an opening if their size is smaller than the opening, but still large
in relation to
the opening, and if the flow rate is sufficiently rapid. Formation of a cereal
bridge can
be used in the present application as a cereal delivery control mechanism in
this
package design. The control mechanism can be made to occur when an average
diameter of cereal pieces is from about 25 to about 95, e.g., from about 75 to
95
percent of a dimension of an opening; if the opening is not square or round
the
relevant dimension is the smallest dimension of the opening.
Certain features related to the use of the cereal package of Figures 1A, 1B,
1C,
and 1D include the following. Cereal and milk are contained in separate
containers
until dispensed, e.g., until a user dispenses a desired amount of cereal and
milk
directly into the mouth of the user by tipping the container. The package can
be sold
(e.g., prepared, stored, transported, and packaged) with milk contained in the
lower
container, or alternately with the lower container empty. If the lower
container is sold
without milk, a consumer can add milk by detaching the lower container,
placing milk
in the lower container, and reattaching the lower container to the upper
container.
The cereal and milk are consumed by manipulating the package by tipping the
package to deliver contents directly to the user's mouth in a manner similar
to
drinking from a cup or a soda can. Cereal and milk are delivered from their
respective containers within the package, to a cereal holding stage near the
opening at
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the top of the package. The cereal holding stage is located at an upper end of
a milk
channel so the cereal and milk are mixed within the cereal holding stage, just
prior to
delivery from the package. An amount of cereal that is delivered by tipping
the
package is a volume similar to the volume of the cereal holding stage. The
amount, or
"dose" delivered by a single tip of the package can optionally be interrupted
by
formation of a cereal bridge at the side passages. An increased amount of
cereal may
be delivered by optional manipulation (shaking) of the package, if desired.
Referring to Figure 1A, a combined milk and cereal package 2 includes two
separate containers, upper container 4 and a lower container 6. Lower
container 6
includes lower container sidewalls 8, lower container bottom 10, and lower
container
top opening 12, and can be engaged and sealed against upper container bottom
16 of
upper container 4. As illustrated, the sealing engagement between upper
container
bottom 16 and lower container top opening 12 of lower container 6 is a
threaded
engagement that produces a water-tight seal; the engagement is between lower
threads
14 of lower container 6 and upper threads 20 of upper container 4 (this
engagement
may alternately be a press-fit engagement, a snap-fit engagement, or any other
mechanical or adhesive fitted engagement). Upper cover 40 covers upper
container
opening 42, and includes upper cover opening 44, which can in turn be covered
by
opening cover 46. Upper cover 40 and opening cover 46 can be made of plastic,
paper, cardboard, foil, etc., with adhesive placed at one or more surfaces to
secure a
perimeter of upper cover 40 to a lip or edge of upper container 4, and to
secure
opening cover 46 to upper cover 40 to cover and close (e.g., seal) upper cover
opening
42.
Lower container 6 is designed to hold milk during use. Optionally, milk can
be contained in lower container 6 during transport or storage, in which
instance the
milk may be sealed in a separate package (e.g., a plastic bag or paper or
cardboard
carton or container) or a seal may be placed across opening 12 to seal the
milk for
refrigerated or ambient temperature storage.
Upper container 4 includes various features that may allow for improved
delivery of cereal and milk relative to earlier products designed to store and
deliver
milk together with dry cereal. Generally, interior space 38 of upper container
4
functions to contain dry cereal during use. Upper container 4 is defined at
different
portions by bottom 16, upper container sidewalls 28, and upper container top
opening
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42. A front of the upper container includes optional flat portion 5 that may
assist in
holding or aligning the package for tipping and delivery of cereal and milk.
Additional features of upper container 4 include milk channel 22 that extends
from lower milk channel opening 24 at bottom 16, to milk port 26. Milk channel
22
allows milk to flow from lower container 6, through milk channel 22, and be
delivered to cereal holding stage 36 to be combined with dry cereal and
delivered
from upper container 4 to the mouth of a consumer by tilting cereal package 2.
Milk
channel 22, as shown, e.g., at Figure 1A, extends from bottom 16, starting at
lower
milk channel opening 24, vertically along upper container sidewall 28, to milk
port 26
at shelf 18, and is further defined by internal milk channel wall 30 (wall 30
is
illustrated to be rounded in cross-section, but may alternately be angular or
linear).
Shelf 18 extends horizontally relative to sidewall 28 and milk channel wall
30. As
illustrated, milk channel 22 does not extend completely to the top of sidewall
28 but
ends at shelf 18 (which defines the bottom of cereal holding stage 36).
Interior space
38 of upper container 4 is defined in part by bottom 16, sidewalls 28, and
internal
milk channel wall 30.
At the top of milk channel 22 and within interior space 38 of upper container
4, so as to be accessible to cereal contained in upper container 4, is cereal
holding
stage 36. Cereal holding stage 36 is generally a space located above stage 18,
within
upper container 4, at the top of milk channel 22, also defined on a front side
by
sidewall 28, partially on a rear side by wall extension 48 and partially on
one or more
side by side passages 50. In the illustrated embodiment, wall extension (48)
need not
extend all the way up to contact upper cover 40, but can be sufficiently close
to
prevent flow of cereal pieces over the wall, e.g., less than within the
average diameter
of cereal pieces. Cereal holding stage 36 is accessible through upper covering
opening 44, through which cereal and milk can be dispensed by tipping
container 2,
after cereal and milk are contacted with each other at cereal holding stage
36. Cereal
holding stage 36 also is connected to interior space 38 in a manner to allow
cereal to
be transferred from interior space 38, into cereal holding stage 36, by
manipulating
cereal package 2, then further dispensed from package 2 at upper cover opening
44 by
tipping package 2. As illustrated, side passages 50 are located laterally from
wall
extension 48, between edges of wall extension 48 and a front side of upper
container
sidewall 28.
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Side passages 50 are sized to allow movement of cereal pieces from interior
space 38 into cereal holding stage 36. Optionally, side passages are sized to
allow
free movement of cereal pieces into holding stage 36 for a desired amount of
time, or
for a desired amount of cereal, followed by formation of a cereal bridge at
one or both
side passages, to interrupt or stop further flow of cereal through side
passages 50.
The cereal bridge can be shaken loose, if desired, by the user, to deliver
more cereal.
When the package 2 is transferred back to a vertical position from the tipped
position used for dispensing, any amount of cereal that is in the cereal
holding stage
may remain there for delivery when the package is tipped the next time. Any
milk
that might remain in the cereal holding stage will be passed back through milk
port 26
and return through milk channel 22 to lower container 6; re-separating the
milk and
cereal prevents the cereal from becoming soggy while being held at the cereal
holding
stage.
During use, when package 2 is tipped forward by a user in a manner to cause
upper cover opening to be located below the contents of package 2, and toward
the
user's mouth, milk flows from lower container 6 through milk channel 22,
through
milk port 26 of shelf 18, to enter cereal staging space 36. Cereal enters
cereal holding
stage 36 from interior space 38 through side passages 50. The milk and cereal
can be
caused to flow into cereal holding stage 36 by user manipulation of package 2,
especially by tilting the front part of package 2 (the side with milk channel
22 and
cereal holding stage 36) forward. Upon continued tilting the mixture of milk
and
cereal is delivered from package 2 by passing through upper cover opening 44.
One optional feature of the design of cereal package 2 is improved control of
the amount of cereal ("dose") delivered to a consumer upon each instance of
tilting
the package. A cereal dose size can be controlled by factors that include the
size of
cereal holding stage 36 and side passages 50, as well as the size and density
of cereal
pieces, and optionally but not necessarily by formation of a cereal bridge. A
total
amount of cereal delivered will be an amount contained in the cereal holding
stage,
and any additional amount that can be caused to flow from interior space 38 of
upper
container 4, through side passages 50, through cereal holding stage 36, and
then out of
upper cover opening 44, while package 2 is maintained in a tipped position.
Optionally cereal size and the size of side passages 50 may result in
formation of a
cereal bridge at side passages 50, after a certain amount of cereal is
delivered, which
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may interrupt cereal delivery; cereal flow may be restarted by manipulation of
package 2 by shaking, rolling, or additional tipping, to disrupt a cereal
bridge and
encourage additional flow of cereal from interior space 38.
The size (e.g., volume) of a cereal holding stage can be any size that allows
a
desired flow of cereal into and through the holding stage; an exemplary volume
can
be, e.g., from 0.25 to 1 cubic inch. Exemplary dimensions of a shelf, which
can
correspond to the bottom dimensions of a cereal holding stage, can be a
combination
of a width and a depth each independently within the range from 0.5 to 1.5
inch.
Exemplary height of a cereal holding stage can be in the range from 0.375 to
0.75
inch. Exemplary dimensions for each of the two side passages 50 can be, e.g.,
from
about 0.1 to 0.5 square inch. Exemplary size and shape of cereal pieces used
in
combination with these dimensions of a cereal holding stage can be
substantially
round cereal pieces having average diameter in the range from 0.2 to 0.5
centimeter.
The amount of milk (i.e., milk flowrate) can be controlled by factors that
include the size of milk port 26. An exemplary milk flow rate can be, e.g.,
from 3.5 to
16 milliliters per second, and an exemplary milk port can be sized to achieve
this
flovvrate.
A feature of the Holding Stage Embodiment package is the ability to maintain
dry cereal until right before use, i.e., until cereal and milk are dispensed
together into
cereal holding stage 36 and into a consumer's mouth. Keeping the cereal and
milk
separated during multiple dispensing (tipping) steps involving repetitive
tipping can
be a result of the milk being held back by the restricted size of milk port
26, which is
only a portion of the size of shelf 18. When package 2 is set back to vertical
from a
tipped position, milk is directed back into lower container 6, through milk
channel 22,
to stay separated from the dry cereal in interior space 38 of upper container
4. This
keeps the cereal dry and crunchy. One result is that cereal is only briefly
wetted or
prehydrated with milk at the time that the cereal is mixed with the milk in
the cereal
holding stage, into a combined stream of milk and cereal, and upon at delivery
from
upper covering 44 directly to a user's mouth.
See also Figure 1D, which shows a package having many of the same features
as that of Figure 1A.
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"Hybrid A"
Another embodiment of a combined cereal and milk package is illustrated at
Figures 2A and 2B, designated "Hybrid A." Features of Hybrid A can include a
package that can be stored, transported, offered for sale, purchased, and
used, while
containing dry cereal and optionally milk for consumption in separate
containers. The
milk may be refrigerator-stable or shelf stable milk. The upper container can
contain
milk in a sealed upper container that nests into the lower container. The
lower
container supports the upper container, e.g., at an upper interior portion of
the lower
container, and additionally contains dry cereal at a lower portion of the
lower
container. A removable cover such as a foil, paper, or cardboard film or
membrane
covers and seals a top opening of the upper container to seal the upper
container and
the contained milk. A lid (e.g., plastic) covers the upper opening of the
lower
container, while the lower container contains the upper container. The lid can
include
a space for containing an eating implement (e.g., spoon), and optionally a
napkin,
between the lid and the upper container (at the top of the lower container),
and can
also include a lid opening that can be used to deliver cereal and milk to a
user by
tipping the container toward the user's mouth. During use, the upper
container,
containing milk, is removed from within the lower container, which contains
dry
cereal. A cover of the upper container is removed to expose milk in the upper
container. The milk is poured into the lower container to produce a mixture of
milk
and cereal. The mixture of milk and cereal can be consumed in a conventional
manner by use of a spoon to remove milk and cereal from the lower container,
as with
a conventional cereal bowl. Alternately, the lower container lid may be re-
placed on
the top opening of the lower container and a mixture of milk and cereal can be
delivered to a user by a one-handed method through an opening in the lid by
tipping
the lower container toward the user's mouth.
Referring to Figure 2A, package 200 includes upper container 202 and lower
container 204. Upper container 202 can contain milk, which can be refrigerator
stable
or shelf stable, for storage, marketing, transport, and sale to a consumer.
Upper
container 202 includes top opening 214. Lower container 204, nested within
upper
container 202, can contain dry cereal for storage, marketing, transport, and
sale to a
consumer for consumption. Upper container 202 includes opening 210, covered
and
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sealed by removable (e.g., peelable) cover 208 that may be made of plastic,
paper, or
foil, and that is secured lower container 204, e.g., by adhesive, to cover
opening 210.
Top opening 214 of upper container 202 is covered by removable lid 212,
which includes opening 216. During storage, upper container 202 can be held by
lower container 204, i.e., nested, by an internal flange (224, as
illustrated), shelf, or
one or a plurality of pegs or other mechanical extensions extending from
internal
sidewall 218, or alternately may be held in place by a friction fit, in either
instance,
e.g., to sit at or below the upper edge 220 of the lower container 204.
See also Figure 2B.
"Milk Container Adaptable Embodiment A"
Another embodiment of a combined cereal and milk package is illustrated at
Figures 3A and 3B, designated "Milk Container Adaptable Embodiment A."
Features
of Milk Container Adaptable Embodiment A can include a package that can be
stored
and offered for sale while containing dry cereal and milk for consumption,
each in a
separate container. The milk may be refrigerator-stable or shelf stable milk.
During use, the upper container, containing dry cereal, is removed from the
lower container (milk chug). A cover such as a foil, that covers and seals the
lower
container, is removed. Another cover can also cover the opening of the upper
container, and can be, e.g., a dissolvable or breakable film or membrane that
can be
dissolved upon contact with water or liquid milk or broken by mechanical
contact
with dry cereal. When the upper container is re-secured to the lower
container, the
upper container cover continues to separate the milk in the lower container
from the
dry cereal in the upper container. The user shakes the package. The shaking
may
cause milk to contact the upper container cover and dissolve the cover or,
alternately,
the shaking may cause pieces of the dry cereal to mechanically contact and
disrupt the
upper container cover. After the upper container cover is dissolved or broken,
cereal
can pass from the upper container into the lower container to produce a
mixture of
cereal and milk in the lower container. A cap is located at an upper opening
of the
upper container. The user can consume the mixture of milk and cereal from the
package by removing the cap from the upper opening of the upper container and
tipping the package to deliver the cereal and milk directly to the consumer's
mouth,
from an opening in the upper container.
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Referring to Figure 3A, package 230 includes upper container 232 and lower
container 234. Upper container 232 can contain dry cereal for storage,
marketing,
transport, and sale to a consumer. Upper container 232 includes upper opening
242,
sidewalls 248, bottom opening 244, and cover 246, which can dissolve upon
contact
with liquid. Cap 250 is engaged (e.g., by threads) to close upper opening 242.
Lower
container 234 can contain milk, which can be refrigerated or shelf stable, for
storage,
marketing, transport, and sale to a consumer. Lower container 234 includes
opening
240, covered and sealed by removable (e.g., peelable) cover 238 that may be
made of
plastic, paper, or foil, and that can be secured to opening 240 of lower
container 234,
e.g., by adhesive.
Opening 244 of upper container 232 engages opening 240 of lower container
234 in a sealing engagement that is tight to liquids, for example by a
threaded
engagement or a snap fit. Upper container 232 is shaped to have convex
sidewalls
(248) to facilitate flow of cereal, milk, and wetted cereal, along sidewalls
248 without
the wetted cereal sticking to the sidewalls. The convex shape of the upper
container is
selected to maintain uninterrupted flow from the base to the mouth of the
chamber,
and does not include any sharp turns, ledges, etc. After milk and cereal are
mixed in
lower container 234, cap 250 can be removed by the user and a mixture of
cereal and
milk can be dispensed from opening 242, e.g., directly to a user's mouth.
In preferred embodiments an internal sidewall surface can be made of or
coated to exhibit a of a low surface energy, e.g., a surface energy below
about 50
dynes per centimeter, or less than 40 or 38 dynes per centimeter. Exemplary
low
surface area materials include polystyrene, polyvinylalcohol (PVA)
polyethylene,
polypropylene, and the like.
See also Figure 3B. See also Figure 3C, which shows threads used in place of
a snap-fit for securing upper container 232 to lower container 234.
"Milk Container Adaptable Embodiment B"
Another embodiment of a combined cereal and milk package is illustrated at
Figure 4, designated "Milk Container Adaptable Embodiment B." Features of Milk
Container Adaptable Embodiment B can include a package that can be stored and
offered for sale while containing dry cereal and milk for consumption, each in
a
separate container. The milk may be refrigerator-stable or shelf stable milk.
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During use, the upper container, containing dry cereal, is removed from the
lower container (milk chug). A cover such as a foil, that covers and seals an
opening
in the lower container, is removed. A valve can cover a lower opening of the
upper
container at a location where the lower opening attaches to an upper opening
of the
lower container; the valve can include a mechanical screen that allows milk to
flow
through the valve but does not allow passage of pieces of cereal. A removable
cap
can cover an upper opening of the upper container. After the cover is removed
from
the lower container opening, the upper container is replaced on the opening
with the
valve now separating the interior space of the upper container from the
interior space
of the lower container, at the location where the lower opening of the upper
container
is attached to the opening of the lower container. The valve allows milk to
pass from
the lower container into the upper container, when the package is tipped. The
removable cap located at an upper opening of the upper container can be
removed and
the user can consume the mixture of milk and cereal from the package by
tipping the
package to deliver the cereal and milk directly to the consumer's mouth, from
the
opening in the upper container. The valve that separates the upper container
from the
lower container allows milk to pass back into the lower container but keeps
cereal in
the upper container to maintain separation of the milk and cereal, preventing
the
cereal from becoming soggy.
Referring to Figure 4, package 270 includes upper container 272 and lower
container 274. Upper container 272 can contain dry cereal for storage,
marketing,
transport, and sale to a consumer. Upper container 272 includes upper opening
282,
sidewalls 288, bottom opening 284, cover 286 that covers upper opening 282,
and
valve 290 located within bottom opening 284. Cap 286 is engaged (e.g., by
threads, a
snap fit, or another mechanical or adhesive closure mechanism) to close and
optionally seal upper opening 282. Lower container 274 includes opening 276,
covered and sealed by removable (e.g., peelable) cover 278 that may be made of
plastic, paper, or foil, and that can be secured to opening 276 of lower
container 274,
e.g., by adhesive. Lower container 274 can contain milk, which can be
refrigerated or
shelf stable, for storage, marketing, transport, and sale to a consumer.
Opening 284 of upper container 272 engages opening 276 of lower container
274 in a sealing engagement that is tight to liquids, for example by a
threaded
engagement or a snap fit. Upper container 272 is shaped to have convex
sidewalls
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(288) to facilitate flow of cereal, milk, and wetted cereal, along sidewalls
288 without
the wetted cereal sticking to the sidewalls. After cover 278 is removed and
upper
container 272 is re-attached to lower container 274, the package 270 contains
milk in
lower container 274 and dry cereal in upper container 272, with the milk and
dry
cereal being separated by valve 290, which has openings that allow milk to
flow
between the two containers but that do not allow cereal pieces to pass from
upper
container 272 into lower container 274. To dispense a mixture of cereal and
milk, a
user tips package 270 to cause milk to flow from lower container 274, through
upper
container 272 and out of opening 282, which also causes cereal to flow from
upper
container 272 out of opening 282; the mixture of cereal and milk can be
dispensed
from opening 282, e.g., directly to a user's mouth. The shape of the upper
container
is selected to maintain uninterrupted flow from the base to the mouth of the
chamber.
Sharp turns and ledges are undesirable.
"Milk Container Adaptable Embodiment C"
Another embodiment of a combined cereal and milk package is illustrated at
Figure 5A, designated "Milk Container Adaptable Embodiment C." Features of
Milk
Container Adaptable Embodiment C can include a package that can be stored and
offered for sale while containing dry cereal and milk for consumption, each in
a
separate container. The milk may be refrigerator-stable or shelf stable milk.
During
use the upper container, containing dry cereal, is removed from the lower
container
(milk chug). A cover such as a foil that covers and seals an opening in the
lower
container is removed. A valve can cover a lower opening of the upper container
at a
location where the lower opening attaches to an upper opening of the lower
container;
the valve can include a mechanical screen that allows milk to flow through the
valve
but does not allow passage of pieces of cereal. A removable cover can cover
and seal
an upper opening of the upper container. After the cover is removed from the
lower
container opening, the upper container can be replaced on the lower container
opening
with the valve now separating the interior space of the upper container from
the
interior space of the lower container, at the location where the lower opening
of the
upper container is attached to the opening of the lower container. The valve
allows
milk to pass from the lower container into the upper container, when the
package is
tipped. The removable cover or cap located at an upper opening of the upper
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container can be removed and the user can consume the mixture of milk and
cereal
from the package by tipping the package to deliver the cereal and milk
directly to the
consumer's mouth, from the opening in the upper container. The valve that
separates
the upper container from the lower container allows milk to pass back into the
lower
container but keeps cereal in the upper container to maintain separation of
the milk
and cereal, preventing the cereal from becoming soggy.
Referring to Figure 5A, package 300 includes upper container 302 and lower
container 304. Upper container 302 can contain dry cereal for storage,
marketing,
transport, and sale to a consumer. Upper container 302 includes upper opening
312,
sidewalls 308, bottom opening 314 (below valve 320), an optional cover (not
shown)
that covers upper opening 312 except for an opening to access the interior of
upper
container 302. Valve 320 is located within opening 314 of upper container 302,
and
allows liquids (e.g., milk) to pass through in either direction, but does not
allow cereal
pieces to pass from upper container 302 into lower container 304.
Lower container 304 includes opening 306, optionally covered and sealed by a
removable (e.g., peelable) cover (not shown) that may be made of plastic,
paper, or
foil, and that can be secured to opening 306 of lower container 304, e.g., by
adhesive.
Lower container 304 can contain milk, which can be refrigerated or shelf
stable, for
storage, marketing, transport, and sale to a consumer.
Opening 314 of upper container 302 engages opening 306 of lower container
304 in a sealing engagement that is tight to liquids, for example by a
threaded
engagement or a snap fit. After an optional cover is removed to uncover
opening 306
of lower container 304, and upper container 302 is re-attached to lower
container 304,
package 300 contains milk in lower container 304 and dry cereal in upper
container
302, with the milk and dry cereal being separated by valve 320, which has
openings
that allow milk to flow between the two containers but that do not allow
cereal pieces
to pass from upper container 302 into lower container 304. To dispense a
mixture of
cereal and milk, a user tips package 300 to cause milk to flow from lower
container
304, through upper container 302 and out of opening 311, which also causes
cereal to
flow from upper container 302 out of opening 311; the mixture of cereal and
milk can
be dispensed from opening 311, e.g., directly to a user's mouth.
See also Figure 5B.
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"Cereal Ball"
Figure 6 illustrates a concept that involves the manufacture, marketing,
packaging, and sale, of a cereal packaged without milk, but with the package
being
adapted to accept a milk chug that could be purchased separately or in
combination
with the cereal package. As shown at Figure 6, the "cereal ball" package
includes an
upper container of a milk and cereal package that would be similar to package
300,
including upper and lower openings and a valve at the lower opening that
allows flow
of a liquid (milk) through the valve in either direction but does not allow
cereal pieces
to pass. In use, a cover can be removed from the lower opening of the package
and
the lower opening can be engaged with a milk chug of a standardized size
(e.g.,
diameter) and threading. A top cover can be removed from the upper opening of
the
package and a mixture of milk and cereal can be delivered from the upper
opening by
tipping the package. Milk flows from the lower container, through the upper
container and is delivered to a user's mouth in combination with cereal from
the upper
container. Milk that does not reach the upper opening will flow back through
the
valve into the lower container.
Referring to Figure 6, cereal package 330 includes cereal container 332 for
containing dry cereal for storage, marketing, transport, and sale to a
consumer.
Package 330 includes upper opening 340, sidewalls 328, bottom opening 334, and
cover 336 that covers upper opening 340. Cover 336 is secured to cereal
container
332 around a rim at upper opening 340 by threads, and can be threaded and
unthreaded (removed and replaced). Valve 338 is located within bottom opening
334
of container 332, and allows liquids (e.g., milk) to pass through in either
direction, but
does not allow cereal pieces to pass.
A lower container, 344, can be attached to bottom opening 334, e.g., by
threads. Lower container 304 can contain milk, which can be refrigerated or
shelf
stable, for storage, marketing, transport, and sale to a consumer. When
attached,
opening 346 of lower container 344 engages bottom opening 334 in a sealing
engagement. Container 332 is shaped to have convex sidewalls (328) to
facilitate
flow of cereal, milk, and wetted cereal, along sidewalls 328 without the
wetted cereal
sticking to the sidewalls. After cover 336 is removed to uncover opening 340
of
container 330, lower container 344 contains milk, and container 332 contains
dry
cereal, the milk and cereal being separated by valve 338, which has openings
that
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allow milk to flow between the two containers but that do not allow cereal
pieces to
pass from container 332 into container 344. To dispense a mixture of cereal
and milk,
a user tips the connected containers to cause milk to flow from container 344,
through
container 332 and out of opening 340, which also causes cereal to flow from
container
332 out of opening 340; the mixture of cereal and milk can be dispensed from
opening 340, e.g., directly to a user's mouth.
The cereal and milk packages described herein also include embodiments that
can be stored or sold to include a single serving of cereal to be consumed
with a
single serving of milk, that can be portable and that can be used for eating
cereal and
milk using a traditional method of eating the cereal and milk using a spoon.
In
general, these embodiments of combined cereal and milk packages involve two
containers, one for milk and one for cereal. The two containers may optionally
be
attached to each other and one or the other may optionally, additionally,
include a
spoon, napkin, or both, for use in consuming the milk and cereal. The two
packages
can be sized and shaped for convenient shipping together and can include
features that
facilitate use by eating using a spoon. An advantage of these types of
combined
cereal and milk package is easy transport of a serving of cereal and milk, to
allow the
user to take a serving from their home or to purchase the serving from a
vendor,
vending machine, convenience store, fast food outlet, restaurant, etc., to eat
the cereal
and milk in a location other than a conventional breakfast eating location,
e.g., at an
office or other location outside of a home or kitchen.
Referring to Figure 7, combined milk and cereal package kit 400 includes milk
package 402, containing milk; cereal package 404, containing dry cereal; a
cover (not
shown) for cereal package 404; and optional spoon 406 (shown as a foldable
spoon).
Milk package 402 and cereal package 404 are detached but could be attached in
some
form or contained together in a larger package. Spoon 406 is shown to be
packaged
inside of cereal package 404, but could also be within a larger package that
contains
milk package 402 along with cereal package 404. Milk package 402 can be a
cardboard or plastic box or carton sealed for stable refrigerated or shelf-
stable
(ambient temperature) storage. Cereal package 404 can be a cardboard or
plastic
container that includes a bottom, sides, and an open top that can be covered
(not
shown) for storage and shipment. During use, the cover can be removed from
cereal
package 404, and the milk package 402 can be opened. Spoon 406 can be removed
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and milk from milk package 404 can be poured over the cereal in cereal package
402.
The cereal and milk can be eaten using the spoon.
Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment of portable cereal and milk package
that can be used for eating cereal and milk conventionally, using a spoon.
Combined
milk and cereal package kit 410 includes upper container 412, containing milk;
lower
container 414, containing dry cereal (and optional spoon 416, illustrated to
be
foldable). Upper container 412 also functions as a cover for lower package
414.
Upper container 412 and lower container 414 are configured to be attachable by
upper
container 412 being placed securely on top of lower container 414. Upper
container
412 can on rest on a flange or widened rim of lower container 414 so that
upper
container 412 is supported and secured. Alternate modes of securing upper
container
412 above lower container 414 may include a snap-fit mechanism, a threaded
engagement between opposing surfaces of the two containers, adhesive, paper or
plastic tape, or shrink wrapping at a seam between the two packages. Milk can
be
contained in upper container 412 by placing the milk directly in upper
container 412
and placing a seal (e.g., foil or plastic) over opening 418. Alternately, a
container of
milk such as a pouch, bag, or carton, can be placed in the upper container.
The upper
container can then be placed above and secured to lower container 414 to cover
opening 420.
During use, upper container 412 can be removed from lower container 414,
which exposes opening 420 to allow access to cereal (and optional spoon 416)
within
lower container 414. Upper container 412 (or a milk pouch, bag, or carton
therein)
can be opened, and milk can be emptied into lower package 414 to mix with
cereal
contained in lower package 414. Spoon 416 can be used to eat the mixture of
milk
and cereal from lower package 414.
Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment of portable cereal and milk package
that can be used for eating cereal and milk conventionally, using a spoon.
Combined
milk and cereal package kit 460 includes milk container 462, containing milk,
and
cereal container 464, containing dry cereal (and an optional spoon, optional
napkin, or
both, not shown). Milk container 462 and lower container 464 are situated in a
side-
by-side configuration and connected together by bracket 470, which engages
milk
container 462, and which is also connected to cereal container 464 at hinge
472. Milk
container 462 is closed and sealed by cover 468 which can be any type of
sealing
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cover, such as a threaded cover. Cereal container 464 is covered and sealed by
cover
466, which can be any cover, such as a plastic, paper, cardboard, or foil film
secured
to a perimeter of cereal container 464 by, e.g., adhesive.
During use, cover 468 can be removed to open milk container 462, and cover
466 can be removed to open cereal container 464. Milk container 462 can be
pivoted
about hinge 472 to allow milk to be poured from milk container 462 into cereal
container 464. A mixture of milk and cereal can be eaten from cereal container
464.
Figures 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D illustrate a package that includes a container
for containing cereal (e.g., an "upper container"), which may be attached to a
lower
container containing milk. Package 564 includes an upper container piece 560
and
cover piece 562 comprising cover 563, perimeter 566, and cover opening 574.
The
three-dimensional form of cover piece 562 forms coverspace 565 located above
upper
container interior space 576, allowing communication between upper container
interior space 576 and holding stage 586.
Upper container interior space 576, for containing cereal, is defined by
bottom
578, back and side sidewalls 580 and front sidewall 582, and at an upper
opening
communicates with coverspace 565. Front sidewall 582 is slanted toward the
front of
the container; sidewall 582 is closer to the front at upper regions of the
sidewall and is
farther from the front at lower regions and at bottom 578. An example of the
magnitude of the slant can be in the range from between 0 to 25 degrees when
the
upper container is held in a vertical direction, with perimeter 68 being in a
horizontal
plane.
Holding stage 586 is defined on a bottom by stage 587, at a back side by
backwall 588, and on a front side by a front interior surface of cover 563,
and is in
communication above with coverspace 565, cover opening 574, and with upper
container interior space 576 by way of cereal passage 590. Below holding stage
586
is milk channel 584, defined on a front side by extension sidewall 572 and on
a back
side by sidewall 582. Milk ports (illustrated but not numbered) in stage 587
allow
milk to flow between milk channel 584 and holding stage 586.
Upper perimeter 570 at an upper region of upper container piece 560 includes
an engagement element that engages an opposing engagement element of perimeter
566 of cover piece 562 to form liquid-tight engagement 592 around opposing
perimeters 570 and 566. The engagement may be any useful liquid-tight
engagement
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and as shown is a beveled shoulder at a perimeter 570, contacting an opposing
structure at perimeter 566. The shoulder and opposing structure are made of
material
that allows the outer perimeter 566 to snap onto the beveled shoulder
perimeter to
produce liquid-tight engagement 592 between the two perimeters. Alternate
engagements could also be used such as threaded engagements, a snap-fitting
ridge
and opposing outer ring structure, opposing mechanical detents, etc.
Upper container piece 560 also includes extension sidewall 572 extending
from perimeter 570 of the upper container, at a location around and outside of
the
sidewall 580 and milk channel 584, extending toward and to a lower region of
container 560. Perimeter 568 at a lower region of extension sidewall 572
includes an
engagement element useful to attach a lower region of upper container 560 to
an
upper region of a lower container in a liquid-tight manner. As illustrated the
engagement element at perimeter 568 is a snap-fit annular rounded ridge, but
other
types of engagement elements an be used.
Bottom 578 is located at or above perimeter 568 and the engagement element
of perimeter 568. In alternate embodiments perimeter 568 may be above or below
bottom 578 (e.g., extension sidewall 572 may be longer or shorter, extending
to a
different location relative to bottom 578) and the engagement element of
perimeter
568 can be located differently in a corresponding manner.
Perimeter 568 defines bottom opening 596 that, when upper container 560 is
engaged with a lower container at perimeter 568, allows fluid communication
between the upper container and the lower container. Milk channel 584 is in
communication with the lower container when attached at perimeter 568. For
packaging and sale of package 564 (containing cereal at interior space 576)
separate
from a milk container, bottom opening 596 can be covered and sealed, e.g., by
a foil,
paper, plastic sheet, etc., e.g., by us of adhesive around perimeter 568; the
cover and
seal can be removed by a consumer immediately before attaching upper container
piece 560 to a lower container that contains milk.
As shown at Figure 10B, cover piece 562 can include a vertical mouthpiece
569 extending generally upward from cover 563 to define cover opening 574.
Mouthpiece 569 can facilitate dispensing milk and cereal to a mouth of a user.
Also
at Figure 10B are shown optional indents 567 that protrude inward from cover
563
into coverspace 565 at a front region of cover 563, on opposing sides of
mouthpiece
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569. Indents 567 can optionally be included in cover 563 to partially define
boundaries of a holding stage, cereal channel, or coverspace, e.g., to direct
flow of
cereal from an upper container interior space to a holding stage or to a cover
opening.
Figure 10A points out interior surfaces of indents 567 in relation to cover
piece 567
and features at the front thereof. Cover piece 563 illustrated at Figure 10D
does not
include indents, which are optional.
Figure 10C is a detailed view of upper container piece 560 showing features as
described, further showing details of milk ports 594, the beveled shoulder
engagement
element at perimeter 570, and snap-fitting rounded ridge engagement element
599 at
lower perimeter 568. The beveled shoulder includes horizontal shoulder surface
597,
which as illustrated is substantially horizontal when upper container piece
560 is held
vertically, and beveled shoulder surface 589. Beveled shoulder surface 589
extends
around perimeter 568 in a generally planar ring manner as a surface that is
substantially vertical when upper container piece 560 is held vertically;
surface 598
can be slightly slanted from vertical, i.e., beveled, so the diameter of the
ring at the
upper region of surface 598 (connected to horizontal surface 597) is slightly
larger
than the diameter of the ring lower levels. An example of an angle of the
bevel may
be, e.g. from about 0 to 15 degrees from vertical. The larger diameter at the
top
allows a corresponding engagement element on a perimeter of a cover piece to
be
snapped over the beveled shoulder to produce a liquid-tight engagement.
Figure 10D is a detailed view of upper container piece 560, engaged with
cover piece 562.
Figures 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D illustrate an embodiment of a package as
generally described. Referring to Figure 11A, package 610 includes a first
container
piece 602 for containing a dry food (e.g., cereal), also sometimes referred to
as an
"upper container piece" when engaged at a location above a "lower" milk
container.
Package 610 also include cover piece 604.
First container piece 602 and cover piece 604 are separate pieces that engage
in a liquid tight manner at perimeters 606 and 608 of first container piece
602 and
cover piece 604, respectively. The structures of these pieces embody two
separate
pieces of a container (610) that can be attached and separated, but according
to other
embodiments may be part of an integral, single piece container. Optional hinge
632
connects the pieces.
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First container piece 602 includes sidewalls 612, bottom 614, container inner
space 616, and perimeter 606 at an upper region of container piece 602
including
engagement element 621. Interior space 616 can be considered to be defined on
sides
by sidewalls 612, on a bottom by bottom 614, and on top by aperture 615
bounded by
a perimeter of an upper region of sidewalls 612. Bottom 614 includes front
apertures
620 which allow for fluid (e.g., milk) passage between interior space 616 and
a space
below. At a lower region of container 610 is lower engagement element 618, as
illustrated, in the form of a shoulder.
Cover piece 604 includes cover, coverspace 624, cover opening 626,
mouthpiece 628, and perimeter 630 that includes engagement element 622 that
engages opposing engagement element 621 in a liquid-tight manner.
A feature of the multi-piece package illustrated at Figures 11A through 11D is
that the upper container interior space does not extend into a lower container
interior
space, when placed above a lower container. According to alternate package
embodiments, sidewalls or a bottom that define an upper container interior
space may
be located within the lower container interior space when the upper container
piece is
engaged above a lower container piece.
Figures 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D illustrate an embodiment of a container or
container piece as generally described, having an interior space for
containing dry
food such as cereal (e.g., an upper container interior space). Referring to
Figure 12A,
container piece 637 is useful as a container for containing dry food such as
cereal.
Container piece 637 can also sometimes be referred to as an "upper container
piece"
when engaged at a location above a "lower" milk container. Perimeter 646 at an
upper region of container piece 637 includes engagement element 648,
illustrated to
be a shoulder structure but optionally another engagement element. Interior
space
642 can be considered to be defined on sides by inner sidewalls 632, on a
bottom by
bottom 634, and on top by aperture 644 bounded by an upper region of sidewalls
632.
Container piece 637 also includes extension sidewalls 636 extending from
perimeter 646 in a generally downward direction to lower perimeter 638, which
includes engagement element 640 in the form of a generally planar ring that
allows a
snap-fit engagement with a rounded or otherwise correspondingly shaped rim of
a
lower container such as a plastic cup or glass. Perimeter 638 also defines
lower
opening 639.
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Channel space 645 is defined between inner sidewalls 632 and extension
sidewalls 636. In the embodiment of Figure 12A and 12B, channel space 645 is
in
fluid communication with milk port 650 (see Figure 12A) located at an upper
region
of sidewalls 632 and 636, and at a front perimeter of an upper region of
interior space
642. In this embodiment, bottom 634 does not include a front aperture to allow
a
front side of interior space 642 to communicate with a lower container
interior space
when container piece 637 is engaged above a lower container, e.g., for milk to
flow
from a lower container interior space into interior space 642 when package
piece 640
is tipped forward. Instead, milk can flow from a lower container interior
space,
through a front side of aperture 639, through channel space 645, and through
milk
port 650, directly into a user's mouth without passing through interior space
642, the
milk avoiding contact with cereal located inside of interior space 642.
Figure 12C shows a slight variation on the piece of Figure 12A: front
apertures 651 are included in bottom 634, and milk port 650 has been removed.
In
this embodiment, when package piece is tipped forward, milk can flow from a
lower
container interior space, through a front side of aperture 639 and through
front
apertures 651, passing through interior space 642 and contacting cereal
located inside
of interior space 642, then through aperture 644 and into a user's mouth.
Figures 12A, 12B, and 12C do not show a cover piece or a cover. An optional
cover or cover piece (optionally including a three-dimensional cover that
defines a
coverspace (a volume below the cover)), or alternately flat (planar, two-
dimensional,
and not three-dimensional) could be included in combination with container
piece
637, e.g., to cover interior space 642, optionally by connecting to perimeter
646, e.g.,
by a liquid-tight engagement at engagement element 648.
Figure 12D shows a variation on the piece of Figure 12A or 12B: milk port
650 at an upper region of channel space 645 is still present, and additional
milk ports
649 are added at a middle region of interior space 642 and channel space 645.
Milk
ports 649 are apertures in a front side of sidewall 632 that connect channel
space 645
to interior space 642 so milk can flow from channel space 645 to interior
space 642
during use (tipping and un-tipping back to vertical. In this embodiment, when
package piece 640 is tipped forward, milk can flow from a lower container
interior
space below container piece 637, through a front side of aperture 639 (at the
bottom
of container piece 637, but not shown), through milk channel 645 (in front of
sidewall
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632 at a front of interior space 642) and through milk ports 649 and 650,
eventually
being dispensed with cereal from interior space 642 into a user's mouth.
Engagement
element 640 can be designed to snap fit onto a standard plastic drinking glass
or cup.
A feature of the multi-piece packages illustrated at Figures 12A through 12D
is that the upper container interior space does not extend into a lower
container
interior space, when placed above a lower container. According to alternate
package
embodiments, sidewalls or a bottom that define an upper container interior
space may
be located within the lower container interior space when the upper container
piece is
engaged above a lower container piece.
Any of the above package configurations can be used with any type of
particulate food as a dry cereal. Dry cereals are well known and examples of
useful
cereals include any breakfast (a.k.a. "ready-to-eat" cereals) available as
particulates,
flakes, etc., produced from known food ingredients such as wheat grain, corn,
rice,
oats, barley, triticale, and the like, optionally including additional
ingredients such as
salt, minerals, protein, sugar fiber (e.g., bran, cellulose, pectin),
vitamins, flavorants,
colorants, etc.
The milk may be of the type generally stored at refrigerated temperatures, or
at
ambient (e.g., "shelf stable," "extended shelf life" or "ultra-pasteurized"
milk)
conditions.
The amounts of each of the cereal and milk contained in a combined cereal
and milk package can be any amount, and in particular can be an amount
suitable for
a single serving for one individual, e.g., about % cup (or about 6 ounces) of
cereal and
abut 8 ounces of milk.
The materials of the package and containers thereof can be any packaging
material currently available or designed in the future, including, for
example, glassõ
paper, cardboard, and polymeric materials known for use in these applications.
A
glass or polymeric material may be see-through (transparent, clear, colored,
shaded),
opaque, translucent, colored, etc. Materials may be thermoplastic or
thermoformed,
or may be coated paper or cardboard, or combinations of these in multiple
layers. In
preferred embodiments an internal sidewall surface can be made of or coated to
exhibit a of a low surface energy, e.g., a surface energy below about 50 dynes
per
centimeter, or less than 40 or 38 dynes per centimeter. Exemplary low surface
area
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materials include polystyrene, polyvinylalcohol (PVA) polyethylene,
polypropylene,
and the like.
Following are exemplary embodiments that are not intended to limit the
foregoing description.
In one embodiment, a combined cereal and milk package includes a milk
container that contains milk and a cereal container that contains dry cereal,
including
one or more of the following features:
Upon tipping the package, milk and cereal can flow separately into a cereal
holding stage near an opening at the top of the package, where the milk
contacts the
cereal and the milk and cereal can be delivered through the opening to a
consumer,
The milk container can be located in a position below the cereal container and
a cereal container can contain a milk channel that leads milk from the milk
container
to the cereal holding stage,
A cereal holding stage can include an upper end of the milk tunnel in the form
of a milk port that is of a size to regulate the flow of milk from the milk
tunnel into
the cereal holding stage.
In another embodiment a combined milk and cereal container includes a milk
container and a cereal container:
The milk container can be on a bottom portion of the package and attached
directly to the cereal container, located above the milk container,
The top of the milk container may engage the bottom of the cereal container
by any secure mechanical engagement, such as by a threaded engagement or a
snap-fit
engagement,
An opening of the milk container that engages the cereal container can have a
seal,
An opening of the cereal container that engages the milk container can have a
cover that can be broken or dissolved (and that is edible),
After unsealing the milk container, the cereal container can be re-attached to
the milk container and shaken to open the cereal container and allow the
cereal to be
dispensed into the milk container,
The cereal container may be removed and milk and cereal can be delivered to
a consumer directly from the milk container.
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In another embodiment a combined milk and cereal container includes a milk
container and a cereal container:
The milk container can be on a bottom portion of the package and attached
directly to the cereal container, located above the milk container,
The top of the milk container may engage the bottom of the cereal container
by any secure mechanical engagement, such as by a threaded engagement or a
snap-fit
engagement,
An opening of the milk container that engages the cereal container can have a
seal,
An opening of the cereal container that engages the milk container can have a
cover that can be broken or dissolved (and that is edible),
The cereal container can include a second ("upper") opening through which a
mixture of cereal and milk can be dispensed after milk and cereal are combined
within
the package,
After unsealing the milk container, the cereal container can be re-attached to
the milk container and shaken to break or dissolve the cereal container cover
and open
the cereal container, allowing cereal to transfer from the cereal container to
the milk
container,
Milk and cereal can be delivered to a consumer from the upper opening at the
top of the cereal container while the cereal container is engaged with the
milk
container.
In another embodiment a combined milk and cereal container includes a milk
container and a cereal container:
The milk container can be on a bottom portion of the package and attached
directly to the cereal container, located above the milk container,
The top of the milk container may engage the bottom of the cereal container
by any secure mechanical engagement, such as by a snap-fit engagement or a
threaded
engagement, e.g., a standardized threaded engagement,
An opening of the milk container that engages the cereal container can have a
seal,
The cereal container can include a second ("upper") opening through which a
mixture of cereal and milk can be dispensed after milk and cereal are combined
within
the package, e.g., in the cereal container,
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An opening between the cereal container and the milk container can includes a
"screen" (or "filter") that allows milk to flow from the milk container into
the cereal
container, or from the cereal container into the milk container, but does not
allow
cereal to pass from the cereal container to the milk container,
After unsealing the milk container, the cereal container can be re-attached to
the milk container,
Milk and cereal can be delivered to a consumer from the upper opening at the
top of the cereal container while the cereal container is engaged with the
milk
container,
The cereal and milk containers may be packaged or sold together in
combination, e.g., as a kit, or separately.
In another embodiment, a kit that includes separate milk and cereal containers
can include:
A milk container comprising a plastic, paper, or cardboard carton or box,
A cereal container containing cereal, optionally an eating implement such as a
spoon, and optionally a napkin,
The cereal container can be sealed by a paper, cardboard, or foil layer that
is
secured to an opening on the cereal container and that can be peeled away to
open the
cereal container,
Milk can be poured into the cereal container and consumed using the spoon.
In another embodiment, a kit that includes separate milk and cereal containers
can include:
A milk container comprising a plastic, paper, or cardboard carton or box,
A cereal container containing cereal, optionally an eating implement such as a
spoon, and optionally a napkin,
A bottom of the milk container fit and engage the top of the cereal container
to
allow a "stacked" configuration,
The cereal container can be sealed by a paper, cardboard, or foil layer that
is
secured to an opening on the cereal container and that can be peeled away to
open the
cereal container,
After removing the milk container from above the cereal container and
opening the milk container, milk can be poured into the cereal container and
consumed using the spoon.
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In another embodiment, a kit that includes separate milk and cereal containers
can include:
A milk container in the form of a plastic bottle,
A cereal container containing cereal, optionally an eating implement such as a
spoon, and optionally a napkin,
A bracket and hinge that engage the milk container and the cereal container so
that the milk container can be opened and the cereal container can be opened,
and the
milk bottle can be pivoted at the hinge to pour milk into the cereal
container,
Milk and cereal can then be eaten from the cereal container.
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