Refill container arrangement for oral portion products

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to a container arrangement for oral portion products. The container arrangement comprising a depot container and a lid sealably and removably connectable to said depot container. The lid comprises an upper part configured to accommodate a can for oral portion products. The lid further comprises a lower part comprising a first dosage volume, wherein said dosage volume is entirely transferable to the internal volume of the can for oral portion products. The present disclosure further relates to a kit arrangement comprising a container arrangement and a can for oral portion products configured to be accommodated in the lid of the container arrangement. Finally, the present disclosure relates generally to a method to refill a can for oral portion products in an easy and hygienic manner with oral portion products contained in a depot container.

Description

REFILL CONTAINER ARRANGEMENT FOR ORAL PORTION PRODUCTSTechnical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a container arrangement for oral portion products. The container arrangement comprising a depot container and a lid sealably and removably connectable to said depot container. The lid comprises an upper part configured to accommodate a can for oral portion products. The lid further comprises a lower part comprising a first dosage volume, wherein said dosage volume is entirely transferable to the internal volume of the can for oral portion products. The present disclosure further relates to a kit arrangement comprising a container arrangement and a can for oral portion products configured to be accommodated in the lid of the container arrangement. Finally, the present disclosure relates generally to a method to refill a can for oral portion products in an easy and hygienic manner with oral portion products contained in a depot container.Background art

[0002] Oral portion products, such as oral pouched products or chewing gum for instance, are traditionally packaged in cans being of small size. It is convenient if the cans are pocket sized as it allows a user to carry the can around. As a consequence of the small size, the can is however able to contain only a limited amount of products.

[0003] However, from an environmental point of view, small cans containing a small amount of products are not desirable because of the material consumption required to produce the amounts of cans needed to contain a large amount of products.

[0004] An obvious solution to the above-mentioned problem is to package the oral portion product in a larger container, thus reducing the material consumption needed to contain a large amount of product. However, from a user's perspective, this is undesirable as a larger container is less convenient to carry around for the user.

[0005] If a large container is provided, not being of a small size allowing a user to easily carry the can around, it is important that the user is able to easily and hygienically fill a small sized can with products contained in the larger container. Furthermore, as the products are to be used orally by the user, it is essential that the transfer of products can be performed in a hygienic manner requiring as little contact with the oral portion products as possible.

[0006] To the applicant’s knowledge, there is a need for a container arrangement providing for easy and hygienic transfer of oral portion products from a large depot container to smaller can.Summary of invention

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is the provision of a container arrangement for oral portion products enabling easy and hygienic refill from a depot container to a can. The can being of a smaller size compared to the container arrangement.

[0008] A further object of the present disclosure is the provision of a container arrangement for oral portion products enabling for effective storage of the oral portion products in a depot container.

[0009] A further object of the present disclosure is the provision of a kit arrangement comprising a container arrangement and a can for oral portion products.

[0010] A further object of the present disclosure is the provision of a method to refill a can for oral portion products with products contained in a depot container in an easy and hygienic manner.

[0011] In a first aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a container arrangement for oral portion products, the container arrangement comprising: a depot container configured to accommodate a plurality of oral portion products. The depot container comprises a depot container bottom and a depot container lateral wall extending upwards from the depot container bottom towards an opentop part of the depot container; a lid sealably and removably connectable to said open top part of the depot container, wherein the lid comprises an upper part and a lower part. further, the upper part of the lid is configured to substantially accommodate a can for oral portion products, wherein the can for oral portion products has a predefined can internal volume V1 for containing oral portion products, wherein the upper part of the lid comprises a circumferentially extending internal flange and an upper part lateral wall extending upwards from the flange, wherein the flange is configured to admit the can for oral portion products to rest thereon; further, the lower part of the lid comprises a lower part bottom and a lower part lateral wall extending downwards from the circumferentially extending internal flange towards the lower part bottom. The lower part lateral wall extends in a direction opposite to the upper pat lateral wall, and wherein the lower part of the lid is configured to accommodate a first dosage volume v1 ; wherein the first dosage volume v1 is entirely transferable to the can internal volume V1 .

[0012] The oral portion products may be any one of or a combination of, but not limited to, oral pouched products, oral pouched nicotine products, gums and tablets.

[0013] The depot container is configured to accommodate a plurality of oral portion products. It is understood that the depot container bottom and the depot container lateral wall extending upwards from the depot container bottom define a depot container internal volume V2. The depot container internal volume V2 is configured to accommodate a quantity of oral portion products to be stored inside the depot container internal volume.

[0014] The lid is sealably and removably connectable to the open top part of the depot container. As such, when the lid is connected to the open top part of the depot container, the lid seals the depot container internal volume V2. By sealing the depot container internal volume V2, a suitable environment for storage of oral portion products is formed. The sealing may for instance be achieved, but notlimited to, by cooperating threads located on the lid and on the depot container lateral walls.

[0015] It is understood that the upper part and the lower part of the lid refer to their relative position in relation to the depot container when the lid is connected to the depot container. To clarify, the lid is configured so that the lower part of the lid is arranged closer to the depot container than the upper part of the lid when the lid is connected to the open top part of the depot container. A similar reasoning applies to the expressions “downwards” and “upwards” used to the describe the embodiments of the present disclosure. As previously explained, the lid comprises an upper part and a lower part. The upper part is configured to accommodate a can for oral portion products by the provision of the circumferentially extending internal flange configured to admit the can for oral portion products to rest thereon. The can for oral portion products may be a can in a portable size being suitable for a user to carry the can in a pocket or a handbag for instance, such as a conventional circular can for oral pouched products. The can for oral portion products has a predefined can internal volume V1 for containing oral portion products. V1 is smaller than V2 (the depot container internal volume). As the can for oral portion products is able to be accommodated in the upper part of the lid, a user can easily carry both the container arrangement and the can for oral portion products if desiring to move them.

[0016] The extension of the upper part lateral wall may be substantially parallel to the extension of the depot container lateral wall. The lid comprises a lower part, configured to accommodate a first dosage volume v1 . It is understood that the first dosage volume v1 is a volume defined by the lower part bottom and the lower part lateral wall extending from the circumferentially extending internal flange. The skilled person understands that the first dosage volume v1 is thus formed by the volume defined by the lower part bottom, the lower part lateral wall, and an imaginary plane flush with the circumferentially extending internal flange. The first dosage volume v1 is thus separate from the upper part configured to substantially accommodate a can for oral portion products. The first dosage volume v1 is entirely transferable to the can internal volume V1 .

[0017] The container arrangement according to the present disclosure enables easy and hygienic refill of oral portion products, from a depot container to a separate smaller can. As the depot container internal volume V2 is larger than the can internal volume V1 , the depot container functions as a storage environment for a larger quantity of oral portion products being containable in the can for oral portion products.

[0018] The refill of the can for oral portion products with oral portion products contained in the depot container can be made in an easy and hygienic manner not requiring the user to touch the oral portion products to be transferred from the depot container to the can. The user can easily fill the desired amount of oral portion products he wishes to transfer from the depot container to the can for oral portion products by filling the first dosage volume v1 accommodated in the lower part of the lid. As the first dosage volume v1 is smaller than or equal to the can internal volume V1 , an easy refill is achieved as the quantity of oral portion products placed inside the first dosage volume v1 will be transferable to the can internal volume V1. If v1 would be larger than V1 , the quantity of oral portion products placed inside the first dosage volume v1 would be greater than the quantity possible to store in V1 . The can for oral portion products can be placed on the circumferentially extending internal flange with its opening facing the first dosage volume v1 . By tilting and flipping the lid, the content of the first dosage volume v1 is transferred to the can for oral portion products.

[0019] The transfer of oral portion products may therefore be made in a way not requiring the user to touch the oral portion product, thus achieving a more hygienic transfer. If an oral portion product, touched by the user, would be transferred back to the depot container after a failed refill attempt, contamination of other oral portion products coming into contacted with the touched oral portion product from the failed refill attempt in the depot container could occur.

[0020] The outer section of the depot container lateral wall (not facing the inside of the depot container) may be provided with a label for marketing purposes and for improving the sealing between the depot container and the lid.

[0021] In one exemplary container arrangement, V1 >v1 .

[0022] In one exemplary container arrangement, the predefined can internal volume V1 and the first dosage volume v1 are substantially equal.

[0023] In one exemplary container arrangement, the lid may be configured so that the lower part of the lid effectively covers the open top part of the depot container when the lid is connected to said open top part of the depot container. By such an embodiment, dispensing of oral portion products from the depot container is avoided when the lid is connected to the depot container.

[0024] In one exemplary container arrangement, the circumferentially extending internal flange and the upper part lateral wall define a retaining volume v2 configured to accommodate the can for oral portion products.

[0025] In such exemplary container arrangement, the first dosage volume v1 is facing towards the retaining volume v2. The skilled person understands that an imaginary boundary between the first dosage volume v1 and the retaining volume v2 is present. Such imaginary boundary being flush with the circumferentially extending internal flange.

[0026] Such a container arrangement allows for an even easier and more hygienic refill of the can for oral portion products. When a user has filled the first dosage volume v1 of the lid with the desired amount of oral portion products from the depot container, the user can accommodate the can for oral portion inside the retaining volume v2 with the can internal volume V1 facing towards the first dosage volume v1 . As the can for oral portion products is accommodated inside the retaining volume v2, the user can simply turn the lid upside down. When doing so, the oral portion products contain in the first dosage volume v1 will be transferred to the can internal volume V1 of the can accommodated inside the retaining volume v2.

[0027] In one exemplary container arrangement, the upper part lateral wall comprises at least one protrusion configured to, when a can for oral portionproducts is accommodated in the upper part of the lid, engage with the can for oral portion products.

[0028] The at least one protrusion functions as a mean to retain the can for oral portion products in place when inserted into the upper part of the lid. Furthermore, it may act as a guiding member centring the can for oral portion products as well in the upper part of the lid, as well as a mean to retain the can when inserted into the upper part of the lid.

[0029] In one exemplary container arrangement, the upper part lateral wall further comprises at least one cut out extending from a top part of the upper part lateral wall towards the flange.

[0030] The cut out allows for easier insertion and removal of the can for oral portion products to / from the upper part of the lid.

[0031] In one exemplary container arrangement, the depot container and the lid have an essentially circular cross-section.

[0032] In one exemplary container arrangement, the depot container and the lid have an essentially square shaped cross-section.

[0033] In one exemplary container arrangement, the depot container comprises threads arranged to engage with corresponding threads arranged on the lid so to connect the lid to the depot container.

[0034] The threads allow for connection of the lid to the upper part of the depot container, as well as sealing the inside of the depot container from the outside environment, thereby achieving an improved conservation of the oral portion product contained therein. In one embodiment, the threads of the depot container are arranged at the outside of the open top part of the depot container.

[0035] In one exemplary container arrangement, the depot container and the lid are made of a plastic material, preferably of a food-grade plastic material.

[0036] In one exemplary container arrangement, the depot container and the lid are made of a renewable plastic material.

[0037] In one exemplary container arrangement, wherein when the lid is connected to the depot container, the first dosage volume v1 extend into and / or inside a volume defined by the depot container bottom and depot container lateral wall.

[0038] By such a container arrangement, the volume defined inside the depot container is reduced, resulting in an improved conservation of the oral portion product is achieved.

[0039] In one exemplary container arrangement, the depot container is made of PET, and the lid is made of PP.

[0040] By such a container arrangement, by combining two different materials, an even better conservation of the oral portion product is achieved.

[0041] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a kit arrangement is disclosed comprising a container arrangement according to any one of the first aspect, and a can for oral portion products configured to be accommodated in the upper part of the lid of the container arrangement.

[0042] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method to refill a can for oral portion products is disclosed, the method comprising the following steps: providing a container arrangement according to any one of the first aspect, the container arrangement containing a plurality of oral portion products; removing the lid from the depot container; filling the first dosage volume v1 with an amount of oral portion products that is able to be accommodated within the first dosage volume v1 ; accommodating the can for oral portion products in the upper part of the lid so that the can internal volume V1 is facing towards the first dosage volume v1 ; tilting the lid thereby transferring the oral portion products accommodated in the first dosage volume v1 to the can internal volume V1 ;removing the can for oral portion products from the upper part of the lid; and closing the depot container with the lid.

[0043] In one exemplary method, the method steps are performed in the above stated order.

[0044] By such a method, an easy and hygienic refill of a can for oral portion product from a depot container is achieved.Brief description of drawings

[0045] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0046] Fig. 1 depicts the depot container of the container arrangement in a side view. The depot container comprising a depot container bottom and a depot container lateral wall extending upwards towards an open top part of the depot container.

[0047] Fig. 2a depicts the lid of the container arrangement in an upper lateral view. The lid comprising an upper part lateral wall comprising protrusions and cut outs, a circumferentially extending internal flange, a lower part lateral wall and a lower part bottom.

[0048] Fig. 2b depicts the lid of the container arrangement in a lower lateral view, thus illustrating the underside of the lower part bottom, the outside of the lower part lateral wall, the outside of the upper part lateral wall with a cut out.

[0049] Fig. 3 depicts the lid in a side view orientation comprising the upper part lateral wall, protrusions and cut outs, the lid positioned above the depot container comprising the open top part, the lateral wall and the bottom.

[0050] Fig. 4a depicts the container arrangement in a side view orientation with the lid sealably and removably connected to the depot container, the lid in its upright orientation comprising the upper part lateral wall, protrusions and cut outscapable of accommodating a can for oral portion products, the can being depicted above the lid.

[0051] Fig. 4b depicts the container arrangement in a side view orientation with the lid sealably and removably connected to the depot container with a can for oral portion products positioned in the upper part of the lid.Description of embodiments

[0052] In the following, a detailed description of embodiments are presented. These embodiments are presented in conjunction with the drawings (Figure 1- 4b) to illustrate the disclosure.

[0053] Fig.1 illustrates the depot container 1 of the container arrangement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The depot container comprises a bottom 11 and a depot container lateral wall 12 extending upwards towards an open top part 13 of the depot container forming a suitable storing compartment for oral portion products. Fig. 1 shows an example where the depot container 1 comprises circumferentially extending threads on the outside of the neck enabling connecting the depot container 1 reversibly to the lid 2 when the lid comprises corresponding threads (see Fig. 2b).

[0054] Fig. 2a illustrates an upper lateral view of the lid 2 of the container arrangement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The lid 2 consists of an upper part and a lower part. The upper part comprises an upper part lateral wall 22 with protrusions 25 and two oppositely facing cut outs 26. The upper part lateral wall 22 extends upwards from a circumferentially extending internal flange 21 . The flange 21 and the upper part lateral wall 22 define a retaining volume v2 configured to accommodate a can for oral portion products. The retaining volume v2 may be defined as the volume formed by plane defined by the longitudinal extension of the flange 21 (perpendicular to the extension of the lateral wall 22) and the lateral wall 22 surrounding the internal flange. The protrusions 25 are distributed in the upper part lateral wall 22 and extends upwards from the internal flange 21 . The protrusions are configured to engage with the can wheninserted in the upper part of the lid such as to keep the can in place when resting on the internal flange 21 . The cut out 26 in the upper part lateral wall 22 extends from the top part of the upper part lateral wall towards the flange 21. The cut out serves to enable easier insertion and removal of a can from the upper part of the lid 2. The lower part of the lid 2 comprises a lower part lateral wall 23 and a lower part bottom 24. The lower part lateral wall 23 extends downwards from the edge of the circumferentially extending internal flange 21 towards the lower part bottom 24, creating a first dosage volume v1 . The first dosage volume v1 may be defined as the volume formed by the lower part bottom 24 and the lower part lateral wall 23, and an imaginary plane flush with the circumferentially extending internal flange 21 . v1 and v2 are thus facing one another with the plane defined by the longitudinal extension of the flange 21 (perpendicular to the extension of the lateral wall 22) being a virtual boundary between the volumes.

[0055] Fig. 2b illustrates a lower lateral view of the lid 2 of the container arrangement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the underside of the lower part bottom 24, the outside of the lower part lateral wall 23 and the outside of the upper part lateral wall 22 with a cut out 26. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2b the lower part lateral wall 23 extends in a direction opposite to the upper part later wall 22, i.e. lower part lateral wall 23 extends from the circumferentially extending internal flange 21 downwards and to the lower part bottom 24, and the upper part lateral wall 22 extends from the internal flange 21 upwards. The diameter of the lower part bottom 24 being smaller than the diameter of the upper part lateral wall 22. Fig. 2b also show an example where the lid 2 comprises circumferentially extending threads, enabling reversibly connecting the lid 2 to the depot container 1 when the depot container comprises corresponding threads on the outside of the neck (see Fig. 1 ).

[0056] Fig. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the present disclosure. In Fig. 3, the lid 2 is depicted in an upright orientation comprising the upper part lateral wall 22, protrusions 25 and cut outs 26. The lid 2 is positioned above the depot container 1 open top part 13 such that when the lid 2 is lowered down on top and in contactwith the depot container 1 the lid 2 reversibly seals the depot container internal volume V2 suitable for storage of oral portion products.

[0057] Fig. 4a illustrates one embodiment of the present disclosure. In Fig. 4a the lid 2 is depicted in a sealed position with the depot container 1 . A can 100 with an internal volume V1 is positioned above the lid 2 of the container arrangement. The can’s 100 diameter being less than the inner diameter of the upper part of the lid 2 such that the can 100 may be positioned and held in place inside the lid’s 2 upper part retaining volume v2 (see Fig. 2a) with the aid of the protrusions 25 when resting on the internal flange 21 (see Fig. 2a).

[0058] Fig. 4b illustrates one embodiment of the present disclosure. In Fig. 4b the container arrangement is depicted with the lid 2 in a sealed position to the depot container 1 . In the upper part of the lid 2 retaining volume v2, a can is positioned, resting on the internal flange 21 of the upper part of the lid while being held in place with the aid of the upper part protrusions 25. The lid of the can may be removed before the can is inserted inside the lid’s 2 top part with its opening facing downwards, toward the lower part of the lid 2, to facilitate refilling of the can volume V1 with an equal or smaller volume v1 of oral portion products placed in the bottom part of the lid 2 before the can is inserted into the lid’s 2 top part.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A container arrangement for oral portion products, the container arrangement comprising: a depot container (1 ) configured to accommodate a plurality of oral portion products, wherein the depot container (1 ) comprises a depot container bottom (11 ) and a depot container lateral wall (12) extending upwards from the depot container bottom (11 ) towards an open top part (13) of the depot container; a lid (2) sealably and removably connectable to said open top part (13) of the depot container (1 ), wherein the lid (2) comprises an upper part and a lower part; wherein the upper part of the lid (2) is configured to substantially accommodate a can (100) for oral portion products, wherein the can for oral portion products has a predefined can internal volume V1 for containing oral portion products, wherein the upper part of the lid comprises a circumferentially extending internal flange (21 ) and an upper part lateral wall (22) extending upwards from the flange (21 ), wherein the flange (21 ) is configured to admit the can (100) for oral portion products to rest thereon; the lower part of the lid comprises a lower part bottom (24) and a lower part lateral wall (23) extending downwards from the circumferentially extending internal flange (21 ) towards the lower part bottom (24), wherein the lower part lateral wall (23) extends in a direction opposite to the upper part lateral wall (22), and wherein the lower part of the lid is configured to accommodate a first dosage volume v1 ; wherein the first dosage volume v1 is entirely transferable to the can (100) internal volume V1 .

2. The container arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein V1 >v1 .

3. The container arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined can internal volume V1 and the first dosage volume v1 are substantially equal.

4. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the lid (2) is configured so that the lower part of the lid effectively covers the open top part (13) of the depot container (1) when the lid is connected to said open top part (13) of the depot container (1 ).

5. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the circumferentially extending internal flange (21 ) and the upper part lateral wall (22) define a retaining volume v2 configured to accommodate the can (100) for oral portion products.

6. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the upper part lateral wall (22) comprises at least one protrusion (25) configured to, when a can (100) for oral portion products is accommodated in the upper part of the lid, engage with the can (100) for oral portion products.

7. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the upper part lateral wall (22) further comprises at least one cut out (26) extending from a top part of the upper part lateral wall (22) towards the flange (21 ).

8. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the depot container (1 ) and the lid (2) have an essentially circular crosssection.

9. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the depot container (1) comprises threads arranged to engage with corresponding threads arranged on the lid (2) so to connect the lid (2) to the depot container (1 ).

10. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the depot container (1) and the lid (2) are made of a plastic material, preferably of a food-grade plastic material.11 . The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the depot container (1) and the lid (2) are made of a renewable plastic material.

12. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein when the lid (2) is connected to the depot container (1 ), the first dosage volume v1 extends into a volume defined by the depot container bottom and depot container lateral wall.

13. The container arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the depot container (1 ) is made of PET, and the lid (2) is made of PP.

14. A kit arrangement comprising a container arrangement according to any one of claims 1 - 13, and a can (100) for oral portion products configured to be accommodated in the lid of the container arrangement.

15. A method to refill a can (100) for oral portion products, comprising : i) providing a container arrangement according to any one of claims 1 - 13, the container arrangement containing a plurality of oral portion products; ii) removing the lid (2) from the depot container; iii) filling the first dosage volume v1 with an amount of oral portion products that is able to be accommodated within the first dosage volume v1 ; iv) accommodating the can for oral portion products in the upper part of the lid so that the can internal volume V1 is facing towards the first dosage volume v1 ; v) tilting the lid thereby transferring the oral portion products accommodated in the first dosage volume v1 to the can internal volume V1 ; vi) removing the can for oral portion products from the upper part of the lid; andvii) closing the depot container with the lid.

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