Containers and Methods for the Reconstitution and Dispensation of Concentrated or Powdered Products

Abstract

Containers are especially adapted for the reconstitution and dispensation of concentrated or powdered products. The containers preferably include a sealed flexible pouch body defining an interior space; removable primary and secondary seal regions which seal primary and secondary openings into the interior space of the pouch body, and a resealable closure member provided adjacent the primary seal region for reseating the primary opening upon removal of the primary seal region. A strip thermometer may be physically attached to the pouch body so as to provide visual temperature indication of the reconstituted liquid product within the container. The containers may be prepackaged with a desired amount of concentrated or powdered product for later reconstitution. In use, the primary seal region may be physically removed and the resealable closure member opened so to expose the primary opening to the interior space of the container. A reconstitution liquid may then be introduced through the primary opening and into the container's interior space. Resealing of the primary opening by the closure member allows the product to be mixed with the reconstitution liquid. Thereafter, the secondary seal region may be removed to allow access to the reconstituted liquid product through the secondary opening.

1 . A container comprising:
 a sealed flexible pouch body defining an interior space;   removable primary and secondary seal regions which seal primary and secondary openings into the interior space of the pouch body; and   a resealable closure member provided adjacent the primary seal region for resealing the primary opening upon removal of the primary seal region.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a strip thermometer physically attached to the pouch body. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the closure member comprises cooperative male and female ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the primary and secondary seal regions include respective tear notches. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the primary and secondary seal regions include respective tear lines to allow the primary and secondary seal regions to be physically removed by tearing the pouch body therealong. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body comprises a pair of bottom gusset walls. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body comprises a pair of opposed pinch regions 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body comprises a lip region below the secondary seal region. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body includes a liquid fill line. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body comprises a tube member, wherein the secondary seal region comprises a removable tip region which closes the tube member. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the tip region is removable from the tube member along a severing line, and wherein the severing line is a region of reduced material thickness of the tube member. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body includes an annular fitting outwardly protruding therefrom, and wherein the secondary seal region comprises a seal layer covering the annular fitting. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the annular fitting is threaded. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the threaded annular fitting is adapted to receive an infant nipple assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body includes a handle member. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the handle member is arcuately shaped. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the primary and secondary seal regions are unitary unitary with one another. 
     
     
         18 . A prepackaged concentrated or powdered product comprising;
 a container as in  claim 1 ; and   a concentrated or powdered product contained within the interior space of the container.   
     
     
         19 . The prepackaged product of  claim 18 , wherein the concentrated or powdered product contained within the interior space of the container is a pharmaceutical or nutritional drink product. 
     
     
         20 . The prepackaged product of  claim 19 , wherein the concentrated or powdered product contained within the interior space of the container is a nutritional drink product selected from the group consisting of adult and pediatric nutritional drinks, infant formula, pre-natal drinks, sports drinks, pediatric electrolytes, liquid foods, veterinary drinks. 
     
     
         21 . The prepackaged product of  claim 18 , wherein the concentrated or powdered product contained within the interior space of the container is infant formula. 
     
     
         22 . The prepackaged product of  claim 21 , wherein the interior space of the container is substantially oxygen free. 
     
     
         23 . A method of reconstituting a concentrated or powdered product, comprising the sequential steps of:
 (a) providing a prepackaged concentrated or powdered product as in  claim 10 ;   (b) removing the primary seal region and opening the closure member to expose the primary opening to the interior space of the container;   (c) introducing a reconstitution liquid through the primary opening and into the interior;   (d) resealing the primary opening by closing the closure member;   (e) mixing the reconstitution liquid and the concentrated or powdered product within the container to form a reconstituted liquid product; and   (f) removing the secondary seal region to allow access to the reconstituted liquid product through the secondary opening.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the concentrated or powdered product contained within the interior space of the container is infant formula, and the reconstitution liquid is water. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein between steps (e) and (f) there is practiced the step of heating the reconstituted liquid product within the container.