Expander device for keeping an opening in food packaging open

Abstract

The invention relates to a package system ( 200 ), which comprises a pouch ( 400 ) for a food product and an expander device ( 100 ) for keeping a pouch opening ( 411 ) of the pouch ( 400 ) open. The expander device ( 100 ) comprises a ring member ( 110 ) with a central opening ( 111 ) that is surrounded by an outer circumferential fitment section ( 112 ), which faces away from the central opening ( 111 ). The ring member ( 110 ) is convertible between a collapsed constitution for being inserted into the pouch opening ( 411 ) and an expanded constitution for securing the pouch opening ( 411 ). Therein, an outer circumferential perimeter of the ring member ( 110 ) at the fitment section ( 112 ) is smaller in its collapsed constitution than in its expanded constitution. The expander device ( 100 ) is configured to be inserted in the collapsed constitution with the fitment section ( 112 ) into the pouch opening ( 411 ) to keep the pouch opening ( 411 ) open by fitment of the fitment section ( 112 ) against an inner side surface ( 413 ) of the pouch opening ( 411 ) when the ring member ( 110 ) is converted into the expanded constitution. The invention further relates to a method of using said package system ( 200 ).

1 . A package system comprising
 a pouch carrying a food product, and   an expander device for keeping a pouch opening of the pouch open, the expander device comprising a ring member, by which a central opening is at least partially surrounded, wherein the ring member comprises an outer circumferential fitment section that at least partially surrounds the central opening and faces away from the central opening,   the ring member is convertible between a collapsed constitution and an expanded constitution, wherein an outer circumferential perimeter of the ring member at the fitment section is smaller in its collapsed constitution than in its expanded constitution, and   the expander device is configured to be inserted with at least the fitment section into the pouch opening in the collapsed constitution in order to keep the pouch opening open by fitment of the fitment section against an inner side surface of a circumferential rim section of the pouch opening when the ring member is converted into the expanded constitution.   
     
     
         2 . The package system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring member is biased towards its expanded constitution when being converted from the expanded constitution into the collapsed constitution, and
 the ring member is elastically deformed when being converted from the expanded constitution into the collapsed constitution.   
     
     
         3 . The package system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring member extends substantially within a plane, and the ring member is configured such that its conversion between the collapsed constitution and the expanded constitution takes place within the plane. 
     
     
         4 . The package system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring member is circumferentially closed at least in the collapsed constitution. 
     
     
         5 . The package system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring member comprises circumferentially overlapping end sections. 
     
     
         6 . The package system according to  claim 5 , wherein the expander device extends between the overlapping end sections, and
 wherein the expander device is configured such that the end sections are moved relatively to each other under the influence of compressive force onto the fitment section, which preferably is applied onto two sections of the fitment section that are on opposite sides with respect to the end sections.   
     
     
         7 . The package system according to  claim 1 , wherein the expander device comprises gripping sections for receiving fingers of a user for gripping. 
     
     
         8 . The package system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fitment section at least partially comprises an inhibiting feature. 
     
     
         9 . The package system according to  claim 1 , wherein the expander device comprises a circumferential device rim section protruding away from the central opening and parallel to the plane, for supporting the expander device on the rim section of the pouch opening and on a support rim section of a support. 
     
     
         10 . The package system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lid for closing the central opening at least in the expanded constitution. 
     
     
         11 . The package system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support having a support opening for receiving the pouch and the expander device. 
     
     
         12 . The package system according to  claim 11 , wherein the support is a storage container having a container opening as the support opening for receiving the pouch and the expander device. 
     
     
         13 . The package system according to  claim 11 , wherein in the expanded constitution, the expander device presses the rim section towards or against a circumferential inner wall section of the support. 
     
     
         14 . A method for use of a package system, comprising:
 providing a package system,   opening the pouch to provide a pouch opening,   converting a ring member of the pouch from an expanded constitution into a collapsed constitution,   inserting an expander device at least with a fitment section into the pouch opening, and   converting the ring member from the collapsed constitution into the expanded constitution so that the fitment section fits against an inner side surface of a rim section to keep the pouch opening open.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing a support of the package system and receiving the pouch inside the support.