IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0414628
(2003-04-16)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
A container for vending single servings of beverages and snack foods, includes a liquid-impermeable wall providing a compartment for the beverage. An inside section of the wall defines a recess isolated from the compartment and open to the container exterior at the bottom. Near the upper end of the
A container for vending single servings of beverages and snack foods, includes a liquid-impermeable wall providing a compartment for the beverage. An inside section of the wall defines a recess isolated from the compartment and open to the container exterior at the bottom. Near the upper end of the recess, the inside wall diameter is decreased in steps, to frictionally engage a leading edge region of a snack-food cartridge or other product inserted into the recess. A pull tab between the cartridge and the recess is accessible to remove the cartridge. Alternatively, a cartridge wrapper can be shaped to provide a pull tab component. The preferred snack-food cartridge includes a compliant thin film or foil wrapping surrounding a stack of cookies, a bar, or other snack food. In alternative arrangements, the container has a vertical slot for viewing a cartridge inserted into the recess, or is formed with horizontal top and bottom wall sections. Further alternatives involve a refrigeration package or chilled cartridge insertable into the recess to cool the beverage.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A system for containing a plurality of constituents, including: a container having a container wall shaped to provide a compartment for containing a first constituent, said container wall including an outside wall section determining an outer periphery of the container; said
What is claimed is: 1. A system for containing a plurality of constituents, including: a container having a container wall shaped to provide a compartment for containing a first constituent, said container wall including an outside wall section determining an outer periphery of the container; said container wall further including an inside wall section spaced apart inwardly from the outside wall section and defining a recess separate from the compartment, having an access aperture open to an exterior of the container, and extending from the access aperture to an interior end within the container; and a cartridge removably nested within the recess, said cartridge including a second constituent and a compliant covering in surrounding relation to the second constituent whereby the second constituent substantially shapes the cartridge; and the inside wall section, along a selected region proximate the interior end, is adapted to frictionally engage a leading end region of the cartridge when inserted through the access aperture into the recess, thereby tending to retain the cartridge in the recess; and a pull tab disposed between the cartridge and the inside wall section, and accessible from outside of the recess to facilitate a removal of the cartridge from the recess by pulling the tab. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein: the covering consists essentially of a polymeric thin film. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein: the covering consists essentially of a metal foil. 4. The system of claim 1 further including: a port formed through the container wall, and a closure member adapted for a coupling with the container to close the port, and releasable from said coupling to allow liquids to enter and exit the compartment through the port, wherein the wall is liquid-impermeable and isolates the recess from the compartment. 5. The system of claim 4 wherein: the first constituent comprises a consumable liquid, and the second constituent comprises a food selected for consumption with the liquid. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein: said selected region comprises a reduced-diameter region of the recess. 7. The system of claim 6 wherein: the selected region comprises a plurality of steps providing step sections of progressively reduced diameter in the direction toward said interior end. 8. The system of claim 1 further including: a seal removably attached to the container wall to close the recess. 9. The system of claim 8 wherein: the seal is configured to provide an indication of tampering. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein: the inside wall section is cylindrical and centered on an axis, and the outside wall section surrounds the inside wall section and is coaxial with the inside wall section. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein: the container has a size and shape selected to facilitate an accommodation thereof in a vending machine. 12. The system of claim 1 wherein: the pull tab is secured to the compliant covering. 13. A device for vending product combinations, including: a container including a liquid-impermeable wall shaped to provide a compartment for containing a liquid, said container wall including an outside wall section determining a container periphery; said container wall further including an inside wall section spaced apart inwardly from the outside wall section and defining a recess isolated from the compartment, having an access aperture open to an exterior of the container, and extending from the access aperture to an interior end within the container; an accessory product removably contained within the recess; and a pull tab component associated with the accessory product and accessible from outside the recess to facilitate use of the pull tab component to remove the accessory product from the recess by pulling the tab component; wherein said inside wall section, along a selected region of the recess near the interior end, is adapted to frictionally engage a leading end region of the accessory product when inserted into the recess, thereby tending to frictionally retain the accessory product in the recess; and, a port formed through the top section, and a closure member adapted for a coupling to the container to close the port and releasable from the coupling to allow liquids to enter and exit the compartment through the port, wherein the recess is open to said exterior at the bottom of the container. 14. The device of claim 13 further including: a compliant covering in surrounding relation to the accessory product and cooperating with the accessory product to provide a cartridge whose shape is determined substantially by the accessory product, wherein a portion of the compliant covering forms the pull tab component. 15. The container of claim 14 wherein: the cartridge comprises a food selected for consumption with a consumable liquid contained in the compartment, and a compliant thin film in close surrounding relation to the food. 16. The device of claim 13 wherein: said pull tab component includes a pull tab having an inside tab portion disposed between a lead end of the accessory product and the interior end of the recess. 17. The container of claim 13 wherein: the recess is narrower along the selected region. 18. The device of claim 17 wherein: the selected region comprises a plurality of steps providing step sections of progressively reduced diameter in the direction toward the interior end. 19. The container of claim 13 further including: a seal removably attached to the first end section to close the recess. 20. The container of claim 19 wherein: the seal is configured to provide an indication of tampering. 21. The device of claim 13 wherein: the container has a shape and size selected to facilitate accommodation thereof by a vending machine. 22. The device of claim 18 wherein: the selected region further includes a plurality of radially extending shoulders alternating with the step sections, wherein the step sections extend in said direction toward the interior end. 23. The device of claim 22 wherein: a dimension of each step section in the direction toward the interior end is longer than a radial dimension of each shoulder. 24. The device of claim 13 wherein: the pull tab component includes a pull tab having a body portion extended in said direction toward the interior end and disposed between the accessory product and the inside wall section. 25. The device of claim 24 wherein: the body portion is elastically compressed when so disposed and thereby assists in frictionally retaining the accessory product within the recess. 26. The system of claim 1 wherein: the outside wall section substantially surrounds the inside wall section to position at least part of the compartment outside of the inside wall section, and between the inside wall section and the outside wall section. 27. The device of claim 13 wherein: the outside wall section substantially surrounds the inside wall section to position at least part of the compartment outside of the inside wall section, and between the inside wall section and the outside wall section.
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