Container WIth Removable Portion

Abstract

A container is provided with a body defining an interior space having an opening. A filter is disposed in the body to define an ingredients chamber. Ingredients are disposed in the ingredients chamber and a cover is disposed over the opening to seal the interior space. The container is adapted to allow cover and filter with ingredients contained in ingredients chamber to be separated from the remainder of body.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a body defining an interior space having an opening;   a filter disposed in said interior space to define an ingredients chamber, said filter being bonded to said body with a first bond, said first bond being a peelable bond;   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber;   a cover disposed over said opening for covering said interior space, said cover being bonded to said filter at a periphery to said opening with a second bond;   
       wherein said cover is adapted to be removed together with said filter upon the application of sufficient force by hand following use of the container. 
     
     
         2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a tab adapted for providing a grip to remove said cover with said filter and said ingredients chamber from said body. 
     
     
         3 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a notch is defined in the interior surface of said body, said notch providing a predicted point of weakness in said body. 
     
     
         4 . A container as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said notch extends substantially about the periphery of said opening. 
     
     
         5 . A container as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said body is formed of a multilayered material that includes a barrier layer disposed between a sealing layer and an outer layer, and wherein said notch is defined in said sealing layer. 
     
     
         6 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said filter has a basis weight in the range of 8 to 400 gsm. 
     
     
         7 . A container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said tab is formed from said cover. 
     
     
         8 . A container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said tab is formed from a portion of said body defined by a separation point at a location where said filter is bonded to said body. 
     
     
         9 . A container as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said separation point is defined in said flange of said body to define said tab. 
     
     
         10 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first bond is formed with a first bonding material disposed between a first surface of said filter and a first surface of said body. 
     
     
         11 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said body is formed of a multilayered material that includes a barrier layer disposed between a sealing layer and an outer layer, and wherein said first bond between said filter and said body is formed with said sealing layer. 
     
     
         12 . A container comprising:
 a body defining an interior space having an opening, said body having a flange surrounding said opening;   a filter disposed in said body to define an ingredients chamber, said filter being bonded to a first surface of said flange with a first bond, said first bond being a peelable bond;   a separation point defined in said flange, said separation point defining a tab that is adapted to be separated from the remainder of said flange upon the application of sufficient force by hand;   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber;   a cover disposed over said opening for covering said interior space, said cover being bonded to said filter with a second bond,   wherein said tab and said cover is adapted to be removed together with said filter and said ingredients chamber containing said ingredients following use of the container by the application of force by hand.   
     
     
         13 . A container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said flange has a uniform width. 
     
     
         14 . A container as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a tab indicator disposed on the exterior of said body to indicate the location of said tab. 
     
     
         15 . A container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a notch is defined in the interior surface of said body, said notch providing a predicted point of weakness in said body. 
     
     
         16 . A container as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said notch extends substantially about the periphery of said opening. 
     
     
         17 . A container as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said body is formed of a multilayered material that includes a barrier layer disposed between a sealing layer and an outer layer, and wherein said notch is defined in said sealing layer. 
     
     
         18 . A container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said body is formed of a multilayered material that includes a barrier layer disposed between a sealing layer and an outer layer, and wherein said first bond between said filter and said body is formed with said sealing layer. 
     
     
         19 . A container comprising:
 a body defining an interior space having an opening, said body having a flange surrounding said opening;   a separation point defined in said flange, said separation point defining a tab that is adapted to be separated from the remainder of said flange upon the application of sufficient force by hand;   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber;   a cover disposed over said opening for sealing said interior space, said cover being bonded to said flange with a peelable bond;   wherein said cover is adapted to be removed by the application of sufficient force by hand to separate said tab and peel said cover from the remainder of said flange.   
     
     
         20 . A container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said flange has a uniform width. 
     
     
         21 . A container as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a tab indicator disposed on the exterior of said body to indicate the location of said tab. 
     
     
         22 . A container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein a notch is defined in the interior surface of said body, said notch providing a predicted point of weakness in said body. 
     
     
         23 . A container as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said notch extends substantially about the periphery of said opening. 
     
     
         24 . A container as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said body is formed of a multilayered material that includes a barrier layer disposed between a sealing layer and an outer layer, and wherein said notch is defined in said sealing layer. 
     
     
         25 . A container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said body is formed of a multilayered material that includes a barrier layer disposed between a sealing layer and an outer layer, and wherein said first bond between said filter and said body is formed with said sealing layer. 
     
     
         26 . A container comprising:
 a body defining an interior space having an opening, said body having a flange surrounding said opening;   a separation point defined in said body around its circumference at a desired location for separating one portion of said body from the remainder of said body,   ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber;   a cover disposed over said opening for covering said interior space;   wherein said separation point is adapted to provide a point of separation under the application of sufficient force to separate a portion of said body, including said flange with said cover, from the remainder of said body.   
     
     
         27 . A container as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said force is an opposing twisting force applied to said flange and the remainder of said body.