Squeezable Container for Dairy Products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermoformed container ( 1 ) for flowable food products comprising a squeezable container body ( 2 ) with a flat up-per edge ( 3 ) surrounding a container body opening ( 4 ), characterized in that: (i) said container body ( 2 ) is squeezable at least in both axial and transversal directions such that its volume can be reduced by at least 85%, preferably by at least 95% upon application of manual pressure or drawing up of the contained products, and (ii) said edge ( 3 ) is rigid, and comprises a dispensing spout ( 5 ) continuous with the opening ( 4 ) of the container body ( 2 ), said opening ( 4 ) being closed by at least one primary membrane ( 6 ) that is sealed onto said edge ( 3 ).

1 . A thermoformed container for flowable food products comprising: a squeezable container body having a flat upper edge, and a container body opening, the container body is squeezable at least in both an axial and a transversal direction such that its volume can be reduced by at least 85% upon application of manual pressure, and
 the flat upper edge is rigid and comprises a dispensing spout continuous with the container body, the opening is closed by at least one primary membrane that is sealed onto the edge.   
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary membrane is sealed onto the edge and comprises a dispensing hole located in a dispensing spout region of the membrane, the dispensing hole is closed by a secondary peelable membrane that is sealed onto the primary membrane. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the dispensing hole has a diameter in the range of 1 to 15 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary membrane comprises a first portion closing the opening of the container body, that is sealed onto the flat upper edge in a fixed manner, and a second portion closing the dispensing spout, that is sealed onto the flat upper edge in a peelable manner. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the peelable portion of the membrane is foldable over the remaining membrane. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary membrane comprises a first portion closing the opening of the container body that is sealed onto the edge, and a second portion closing the dispensing spout, both the first and second portions being sealed in a peelable manner. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary membrane is a complex foil comprising at least a sealing layer and an aluminium. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the edge is a horizontal ring. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing spout defines a channel opening and has a width less than 10 mm and a height less than 10 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container body is made from a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of: polystyrene, polyactic acid, polyethylenetherephtalate (PET), polyethylene, polypropylene, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the flowable product is selected from the group consisting of a frozen, chilled, and shelf-stable dairy food product. 
     
     
         12 . A container comprising:
 a squeezable container body having a flat upper edge, and a container body opening, the container body being squeezable in both an axial and a transversal direction and is so constructed and arranged that its volume can be reduced by at least 85% upon application of manual pressure, and   an edge that is rigid and comprises a dispensing spout, the opening is closed by a primary membrane that is sealed onto the edge.   
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the volume can be reduced by 95%. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the primary membrane is sealed onto the edge and comprises a dispensing hole located in a spout region of the membrane, the dispensing hole is closed by a secondary peelable membrane that is sealed onto the primary membrane. 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the dispensing hole has a diameter comprised in the range of 1 to 15 mm. 
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the primary membrane comprises a first portion closing the opening of the container body, that is sealed onto the flat upper edge in a fixed manner, and a second portion closing the dispensing spout, that is sealed onto the flat upper edge in a peelable manner. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the peelable portion of the primary membrane is foldable over the remaining membrane. 
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the primary membrane comprises a first portion closing the opening of the container body that is sealed onto the edge, and a second portion closing the dispensing spout, both the first and second portions being sealed in a peelable manner. 
     
     
         19 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the primary membrane is a complex foil comprising at least a sealing layer and an aluminium. 
     
     
         20 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the edge is a horizontal ring. 
     
     
         21 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the dispensing spout defines a channel opening and has a width less than 10 mm and a height less than 10 mm. 
     
     
         22 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the container body is made from a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of: polystyrene, polyactic acid, polyethylenetherephtalate (PET), polyethylene, polypropylene, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the flowable product is selected from the group consisting of a frozen, chilled, and shelf-stable dairy food product.