Wearable package for consumable products and methods for using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9629441-B2
Application number	US-201314052205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2013
Priority date	Oct 17, 2012
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

Wearable packages for consumable products and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the wearable packages include a first compartment for housing a product and a second compartment for housing a bi-stable band. The wearable packages provide several advantages and benefits including, but not limited to convenient carrying and handling of consumable products and easy two-, one-, or no-handed access to products contained within the wearable packages.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A wearable package, comprising:
a flexible container defining a first compartment and a second compartment, the flexible container having a length and a width;
a food product positioned within the first compartment; and
a bi-stable band positioned within the second compartment, the bi-stable band moveable between a straight position wherein the flexible container conforms to the contour of the bi-stable band so as to be supported in a flat orientation and a coiled position wherein the flexible container conforms to the contour of the bi-stable band so as to be positionable around the wrist of a consumer,
wherein the first compartment is sealed in a way that the food product is sealed within the first compartment and the second compartment is sealed relative to the first compartment.

2. The package according to claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve positioned in the flexible container in fluid communication with the first compartment to access the food product within the first compartment when the one-way valve is operated from a closed position to an open position.

3. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible container is from about 2 to about 10 inches long.

4. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible container is from about 0.5 to about 4 inches in width.

5. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the first compartment has a volume from about 1 ounce to about 4 ounces.

6. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the food product is at least one of a solid product, a liquid product, and a semi-solid product.

7. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the first compartment is divided into at least two separate portions, and wherein the food product is positioned within each of the separate portions.

8. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible container is provided with a line of perforations along a portion thereof in a way that the first compartment is accessed by tearing the flexible container along the line of perforations.

9. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second compartments are contiguous.

10. The package according to claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of one-way valves positioned in the flexible container in fluid communication with each of the portions of the first compartment to access the food product within the separate portions of the first compartment when the one-way valves are operated from a closed position to an open position.

11. The package according to claim 7 , wherein the flexible container is provided with a plurality of lines of perforations along a portion thereof in a way that the separate portions of the first compartment are accessed by tearing the flexible container along the lines of perforations.

12. The package according to claim 7 , wherein the separate portions of the first compartment are equal in size.

13. The package according to claim 7 , wherein the separate portions of the first compartment are different in size.

14. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the first compartment is irreversibly sealed.

15. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the first compartment is reversibly sealed.

16. A method for administering a product to a consumer, the method comprising:
providing a wearable package comprising a first compartment with a food product sealed therein and a second compartment sealed relative to the first compartment and housing a bi-stable band, the bi-stable band moveable between a straight position wherein the package conforms to the contour of the bi-stable so to be supported in a flat orientation and a coiled position wherein the package conforms to the contour of the bi-stable band so to be positionable around the wrist of a consumer;
positioning the package around the wrist of the consumer by causing the bi-stable band to move to the coiled position with the bi-stable band positioned between the wrist of the consumer and the food product;
breaking the seal of the first compartment;
removing the food product from the first compartment; and
consuming the food product.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first compartment is divided into at least two separate portions, wherein the food product is divided between the separate portions, and wherein the step of breaking the seal comprises tearing the package at a location corresponding to a selected one of the separate portions.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the step of breaking the seal comprises tearing the package.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the step of breaking the seal comprises tearing the package along a line of perforations.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the step of breaking the seal comprises opening a one-way valve positioned in the package in fluid communication with the first compartment.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Schaller Raphael
• Rodgers Matthew Blake
• Genaw Jr Joel Dean

Classifications

• A44C5/003

  with a storage compartment · CPC title

• A45F3/14

  Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses · CPC title

• A45C1/04 Primary

  Purses to be worn at the belt or bracelet; Money-belts · CPC title

• B65D75/52

  Details · CPC title

• A45F2005/008

  Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg · CPC title