GB2337978A

GB2337978A - Multi-pocketed pouch for a single serving of a meal

Info

Publication number: GB2337978A
Application number: GB9911769A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Roy Brocklesby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-03
Filing date: 1999-05-21
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Also published as: GB9815099D0; GB9911769D0

Abstract

A pouch comprises at least two pockets or compartments 3, 6, 7 in Figure 1 or 1-5 in Figure 2 suitable for accommodating different foods making up a single serving of a meal. Access to all the compartments may be through a mouth or mouths along a single edge of the pouch, and there may be weakened seams between compartments to facilitate mixing within the pouch. The base of the pouch may be gusseted to act as a bowl for consumption of the meal direct therefrom. For example, in Figure 1, compartment 3 holds cereal, compartment 6 milk and compartment 7 a spoon; and in Figure 2, compartments 1 and 3 of a microwaveable pouch hold water, compartments 2 and 4 hold dehydrated vegetables, compartment 5 a protein product and compartment 6 a spoon or fork.

Description

2337978 MULTI --PC1Cl,'.'ETED MEAL SINGLE SERVING CONTA11,.JER This

invention relateg to a container formed from fle-ible sheet material of synthetic resin. The container is Particularly adapted to provide a servina holder for 7 single of one course of a meal, whilch COUrSE a o m pr I s= e 5 a v a r I e ty c T E 1E-i-ise nts.

Mariv meals. of single are made Ltri Cif a mUltiplicity cf& different elements. This is trUC- -1for meals of cultural ethnic Origin, be it Western, Af-ricar, or Eastern.

For instance in the Enalish culture, a traditional rneal of fried fish and chips, riot onl..,, has the two main elements referred to, but for taste generally has other elements such as salt, vinegar and trji-...- Rtri 1"etCt-iL(P combined with it. Again a traditional breakfast of cereal will comprise milk. and Sugar aS WE:11 aS the grain derived breakfast food.

in a Japanese culture a main fish element mav be accompanied with a variety of other sea-food items, sea-weed, strong mustard condiments, sauces and the li,e.

It is a Purpose Of this invention to provide the matched elements for the preparation and serving of such.1 course, each contained in a different pocket Of a single irie,.,,pc-nSiVe MUlti-pocketed flexible cart tainer. The indiVidUal pockets may either be formed from the wall cif the contairse-i-!t may be welded onto it. or may be separate sachet-like containers simply placed in the main pock.et. A pocket may be included to accosmirjcdatL- a disposable spoon or other eating aid.

9 Another PUrPOSe"Of the container is to mak.e it inexpensive and discardable. It nay be- Ltsed to prepare a COL11-5a Of food, either cold, or hat clens-rally being heated in a microwave oven.

It is also a Purpose of the invention to provide a, container to be Used for eating fromn, thUS avoiding the need for a secondary contzin. iner with related criGt=, and poor hygiene. The use of a bowl or plate with the subseqUent need for cleansing., or the cost of a SUitable discardable LLtC-riSil is thus avoided.

ThOLL9h LISinC lrlexible sythentic the c-ntaire..- is so t;-. _Jer, t I.' r C. 'U US t t C:. h C. 1 t I i c, c d ce ---ned -,I hiz 'i b L1 c 'I t h. _= c c) r. ta i n e a iS -fCi--t!ied a C-USEP-t. thus 1 of the container at the base, permitting it to stand upright and to provide easy access to a spoon or other eating utensil.

In a preferred form of the invention a rectangular sheet of suitable laminated sythetic resinous film is prepared with printed instructions sandwiched with the layers c-,' the composite film. The rectangle is significantly longer on its main axis than on the cross axis. The f i lm is p lea ted abau t the cen tre of the rec tang le on either side of the cross axis, and the main faces reflected against each other thus forming a section generally simulating a capital W. The outer borders of the sheets are welded together, thus forming a pouch with an open mouth and a gussetted base.

In a simple form of the invention, a single portion of a. breakfast cereal is introduced into the base of the container, and the film above is welded transversely thus-clcsing the base off, retaining its contents, at least one weld line is made at right angles to this transverse weld and parallel to the border welds, thus forming at least two pockets in the ppper portion of the pouch. Suitably pasteurised milk is introduced into one of the upper pockets and a plastic spoon is introduced. into the other. The mouth of the pouch is welded shut. Thus a container is formed with three discreet pockets each containing an element of the desired meal.

In use the upper and lower portions of the pouch may fold against each other allowing the container to fit comfortably into a child's pocket andbe opened for a. supervised meal during school time.

Many forms of the invention are envisaged. In some a sheet cOntaining depressions may be welded against the inner face of the pouch creating separate pockets which are each filled with the measured element of the meal. In others perforations may be introduced between some cf, the pockets to facilitate their separation, one from another. In other form of the invention, zip-like closure may be welded into the pouch to allow for temporary closure and subsequent re-opening, thus part of a meal may be eaten, the pouch closed and re-opened for the later consumption of the rest of the food.

Par a better understanding of the invention reference shnuld be made to the diagrams below.

In fig. 1, an isometric elevator of a typical three pocketed pouch is shown. Various AspectE of the couch are labelled.

UPCight.

12 tting the pouch % ow..

2 - j are the welded borders of the pouch. 2a being the original side welds formincl- the Pouch, and 2b being the final weld closing thIC- MOUth of the pouc h 3 :, - is the contents, being pre-sugared cornf lakes -4k is the transverse weld separating the upper and lower portions of the Pouch. is the longitudinal weld forming two discreet packets on either side of it. In - is the pocket containing pasteurised milk. 7 - is the packet containing the plastic spoon.

In figure 2, a section of a typical multi-packeted container is shown where water is contained in two pockets, to be mixed with a dehydrated food products neighbouring pockets below, ready to be cook-ed, or at least heated in a microwave oven and then dispensed into a main container below, which contained a vacuum packed protein product. Thus the main components may be eaten with rehydrated vegetables. 1 - is the smaller water pocket leading into 2 - the smaller vegetable pocket for rehydration 3 - is the larger water pocket leading into 4 - the large vegetable pocket for rehydration 5 - is the main pocket containing the protein 6 - is the pocket to accomodate the plastic spoon/fork 7 - is a lign of ' weakness where the container will be torn open, once the rehydration and cooking bias taken place and the food is ready for consumption.

It should be noted that the upper portion of the pouch may be folded down in the direction of the arrats.

In another form of the invention, an area of weakness is introduced in the transv'erse welds made in laminated material. Here the weld is weakened in the inner face of the material within the welded line separating an Uppelt- pocket containing a liquid from a lovier packet containing ciehydrated material. External pressure or, the, pocket containing the ' liquid bursts this area of allotesing the liquid to be fc.i-cc-d into the lower pocket for mixing.

In figure 3. a plan Of a typical MUlti-POCket Version of the- invention where the left hand upper pocket 1 Contains a liquid to be introduced into a mixing poc[.et 2 containing a solid. The transverse weld 3S.. includes an area of weakness 4, shown within the dotted lines.

3 In Fig 4, an isometric elevator of a two pocketed pouch is shown.

Various aspects of the pouch are shown.

1. Is the gussetted base, permitting the pouch to.stand upright.

2. Are the welded borders of the pouch. 2a. Being the origanal side welds forming the pouch and, 2b. Being the final weld closing the mouth of the pouch.

3. Is the contents.

4. Is the transverse weld seperating the upper and lower portions of the pouch.

5. Is the sealed pack- containing spoon.

6. Is an individual pouch containing pasterised milk.

Claims

CLAIMS. Page 1 of 1.

1. A pouch of flexible plastic film formed to provide separate pockets, particularly to hold different foods for a single serving of a meal.

2. An open mouthed pouch, the mouth being common to atleast two compartments to contain different foods for a single serving of a meal.

3. An open mouthed pouch the mouths being common to atleast two compartments to contain different foods for a single serving of a meal, the foods being held at the lower end of the pouch, where length permits the subsequent introduction of a dividing seal which in tum permits the forming of future compartments to hold other different foods or utensils.

4. A pouch such as 3. Above but where the separating divider may differentiate to be easily released to permit the mixing of specific different food elements in a single serving meal.