Disposable fluid container

Abstract

A disposable container for an edible fluid defines a top edge and a bottom edge. The container includes a side wall extending between the bottom edge and the top edge. The fluid is stored in a chamber of the container. A layer of flexible film defines a channel extending between the bottom edge and the top edge. The channel is positioned next to the side wall. The layer of flexible film may be fixed to the side wall. The layer of flexible film may be made from a sheet defining the side wall. A disposable container may be provided with an optional mouthpiece. The mouthpiece moves between 3 positions. In the first position, the mouthpiece is closed and has not been opened. When the mouthpiece moves to the second position, the user gains access to the contents of the container. The mouthpiece may be moved to a third position, in which the mouthpiece is closed, but it is apparent that the container has been opened.

1 . A disposable container for an edible fluid, the container defining a top edge and a bottom edge, the container comprising: A side wall extending between the top edge and the bottom edge; A chamber for storing the fluid up to a defined level between the top edge and the bottom edge; A channel for fluid communication between the bottom edge and an opening adjacent the top edge; and The channel being defined by a layer of flexible film extending vertically adjacent the side wall. 
   
   
       2 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layer of flexible film is secured to the side wall. 
   
   
       3 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layer of flexible film is made from a sheet defining the side wall. 
   
   
       4 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the channel is located within the chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening is located at the top edge. 
   
   
       6 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening is sealed with a destructible seal. 
   
   
       7 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a spout for selective fluid communication with the chamber. 
   
   
       8 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spout operates between: a first position in which the spout is unused and closed against fluid communication with the chamber; and a second position in which the spout is open for fluid communication with the chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The container claimed in  claim 8  in which the spout operates between: the first position; the second position; and a third position in which the spout is closed against fluid communication with the chamber, indicating that the spout has moved from the first position. 
   
   
       10 . The container claimed in  claim 8  in which the spout operates between the third position and the second position, and the spout is prevented from returning to the first position. 
   
   
       11 . The container claimed in  claim 8  in which the seal is destroyed when the spout moves from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       12 . The container claimed in  claim 8  comprising a movable projection for piercing the seal when the spout moves from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       13 . The container claimed in  claim 1  comprising a removable protective cover located outwardly of the opening, and the cover being positioned over a user contact surface surrounding the opening. 
   
   
       14 . The container claimed in  claim 1  wherein the opening is generally round, having a diameter greater than a width defined by the channel. 
   
   
       15 . The container claimed in  claim 1  being reusable. 
   
   
       16 . The container claimed in  claim 1  being refillable. 
   
   
       17 . A spout for use in a disposable container, the container defining a chamber to contain an edible fluid, the spout operating between: a first position in which the spout is unused and closed against fluid communication with the chamber; a second position in which the spout is open for fluid communication with the chamber; and a third position in which the spout is closed against fluid communication with the chamber, indicating that the spout has been moved from the first position. 
   
   
       18 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  operating between the third position and the second position, and the spout is inhibited against returning to the first position. 
   
   
       19 . The spout claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the spout moves from the first position to the second position and destroys a seal preventing fluid communication with the chamber. 
   
   
       20 . The spout claimed in  claim 19  comprising a movable projection for piercing the seal when the spout moves from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       21 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  biased for one way movement from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       22 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  comprising a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece defining a drinking tube. 
   
   
       23 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  comprising: a mouthpiece; and a tamper evident element to warn a user that the mouthpiece has been moved from the first position. 
   
   
       24 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  comprising: a tubular mouthpiece defining a housing; a tamper evident element breakably secured to the mouthpiece, the tamper evident element breaking away from the mouthpiece when the spout is moved away from the first position; a tubular track for rotatably supporting the mouthpiece; and a seal destroying element to open fluid communication with the container, the seal destroying element extending into a hollow core defined by the track when the spout is in the first position. 
   
   
       25 . The spout claimed in  claim 24  wherein the mouthpiece and the tamper evident element are made in a single workpiece; the tubular track and the seal destroying element are made in another single workpiece; and the two workpieces are secured together in snap-fit relation. 
   
   
       26 . The spout claimed in  claim 24  wherein the tamper evident element and the tubular track are secured to a wall of the container. 
   
   
       27 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  comprising: a cutter operating in at least two steps: in a first step, the cutter pierces a film defining a wall of the container; and in a second step, the cutter stretches a first portion of the film and cuts a second portion of the film, to create an opening for fluid communication with the chamber and a flap cut from the second portion of the film, the flap being connected to the wall along the second portion of the film. 
   
   
       28 . The spout claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the cutter comprises a set of teeth, the set of teeth comprising: a first teeth pattern comprising at least one tooth for piercing the film and stretching the first, portion of the film; and a second teeth pattern for piercing the film and cutting the second portion of the film. 
   
   
       29 . The spout claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the first teeth pattern comprising at least one tooth defines a first radius of rotation defined by the cutter; and the second teeth pattern defines a second radius of rotation defined by the cutter, the second radius being less than the first radius. 
   
   
       30 . The spout claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the first teeth pattern comprises at least one tooth for piercing the film and stretching the first portion of the film, the at least one tooth defining a rounded leading edge for stretching the first portion of the film. 
   
   
       31 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  comprising a cutter operating in at least two steps: in the first step, the cutter slides toward a film defining a wall of the container; and in the second step, the cutter pierces the film to form an opening for fluid communication with the chamber. 
   
   
       32 . The spout claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the cutter operates in at least three steps: in the third step, the cutter rotates about an axis; stretches a first portion of the film; and cuts a second portion of the film into a flap, the flap being connected to the wall adjacent the opening. 
   
   
       33 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  comprising a dispensing tip biased for one way movement from the first position to the second position, and the dispensing tip rotating to a third position defined by less than 360 degrees of rotation from the first position. 
   
   
       34 . The spout claimed in  claim 17  comprising a dispensing tip, the dispensing tip defining a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the chamber when the spout is in the second position.