SINGLE SERVE FILLABLE CONDIMENT PACKET

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to food service dispensing containers and, more particularly, to a single serve fillable condiment packet having discrete tear notches at opposing ends.

Description of the Prior Art

The use and design of conventional single serve condiment packets is well known. A problem which still exists, however, is that such conventional single serve condiment packets typically must be filled at some point prior to distribution. As end users are generally unable to fill an empty, unused condiment packet while with a desired sauce while present in a favorite foodservice outlet, if the foodservice outlet does not have prefilled packets, end users would generally be unable to transport their desired sauce. Thus, there remains a need for a single serve condiment packet which could sold empty and filled by an end user. It would be helpful if such a single serve condiment packet included mirror image ends, each having a integrated resealable closure. It would be additionally desirable for such a single serve condiment packet to have a heat sealed top section which included a plurality of tear notches therein.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a single serve condiment packet adapted to allow a user to fill it with a desired substance at either end prior to use. The primary aspects in Applicant's single serve condiment packet are a packet body having opposing resealable ends and a top edge having tear notches. When in operation, the single serve condiment packet enables an end user to store a desired substance while present in a favorite foodservice outlet for use at a later time. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A single serve, fillable condiment packet for use by an end user to selectively retain and then dispense a desired substance. The single serve condiment packet comprises an elongated packet body which defines a flexible container that has opposing resealable ends, a permanently sealed top edge, and a permanently sealed bottom edge. In the preferred embodiment, each end of the packet body is defined by a conventional zip lock style closure which is individually operative to be opened by pulling apart the elements of the closure and sealed by pressing together the elements of the closure. The top edge is heat sealed and includes a tear notch adjacent to each end, positioned to allow a user to easily open the packet body at a location adjacent to the respective end.

It is an object of this invention to provide a single serve condiment packet which could sold empty and filled by an end user.

It is another object of this invention to provide a single serve condiment packet which includes mirror image ends, each having a integrated resealable closure.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a single serve condiment packet having a heat sealed top section which includes a plurality of tear notches therein.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a single serve condiment packet built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a single serve condiment packet 10 is shown as an elongated packet body 11 which has opposing resealable ends 12 and a permanently sealed top edge 13. The packet body 11 is formed from opposing planar sheets attached together at their edges, thereby defining a conventional flexible container. As such, the packet body 11 is suitable for use to contain and dispense single-use quantities of foods or consumer goods. In the preferred embodiment, the opposing planar sheets which define the packet body 11 are formed form a single planar body which has been folded over at a bottom edge 14.

In one embodiment, the packet body 11 measures four inches by one and a quarter inches and is constructed of a paper, foil, or plastic film material.

Each end 12 of the packet body 11 is defined by a conventional zip lock style closure 20 having a zip fastener and a lock fastener on an opposing surfaces of the planar sheets which define the packet body 11. In this regard, each end 12 of the packet body 11 is separately operative to be opened by pulling apart the elements of the closure 20 and sealed by pressing together the elements of the closure 20.

In the preferred embodiment, adjacent to the top edge 13 is a heat sealed section 30 which operates to permanently seal the packet body 11 along the top edge 13. Towards each of the opposing ends 12 is a tear notch 31 in the top edge and sealed section 30. Each tear notch 31 is positioned to allow a user to easily open the packet body 11 at a location adjacent to the respective end 12. It is appreciated that the tear notches may allow a user to selectively create a hole or even rip off the respective end 12.

When in use, an end user may fill an unused single serve condiment packet 10 with a desired substance for use at a later time. In this regard, the end user may open the closure 20 at either end, insert the desired substance, and reseal the opened end 12. At a later point, the user could tear open either end and squeeze the single serve condiment packet 10 to dispense the substance which had been previously filled therein.

It is contemplated that in some instances, a user may open both ends 12 when filling the single serve condiment packet 10 so as to maximize the amount of air that can be ventilated out prior to resealing the single serve condiment packet 10.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.