Multi-component food product

Abstract

A multi-component food product and method having a first pouch containing a first food product and a second pouch containing a second food product. The first pouch and second pouch are mated in a way that allows for simultaneous consumption of the first food product and the second food product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-component food product, comprising:
 a first flexible pouch containing a first flowable food product and having a first spout for discharging the first flowable food product from the first flexible pouch; and   a second flexible pouch containing a second flowable food product different from the first flowable food product and having a second spout for discharging the second flowable food product from the second flexible pouch,   wherein the first spout and the second spout are mated with one another in a way to permit the first flowable food product and the second flowable food product to be consumed simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the first spout and the second spout are lockingly engaged with one another. 
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising a connector member having a first portion connected to the first spout and a second portion connected to the second spout. 
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion; the second portion; or the first portion and the second portion is releasably connected to the first spout. 
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connector member having a base with a first end and a second end, a first collar member hingedly attached to the first end of the base, and a second collar member hingedly attached to the second end of the base,   wherein the base is placed between the first spout and the second spout, the first collar member is fitted around the first spout and is lockably engaged to the second end of the base, and the second collar member is fitted around the second spout and is lockably engaged to the first end of the base.   
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the first spout has a set of threads extending partially around the first spout and is substantially D-shaped with a flat surface, wherein the second spout has a set of threads extending partially around the second spout and is substantially D-shaped with a flat surface, and wherein the product further comprises:
 a connector member having a first collar member engaged with the set of threads of the first spout and a second collar member engaged with the set of threads of the second spout,   wherein the flat surface of the first spout and the flat surface of the second spout are mated in a face to face relationship and the first collar member of the connector member and the second collar member of the connector member are rotated along the first set of threads and the second set of threads to lockingly engage the first spout and the second spout.   
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first straw fluidly connected to the first spout, the first straw having a fluid passage extending therethrough; and   a second straw fluidly connected to the second spout, the second straw having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage,   wherein the first straw is connected to the second straw in a way that the second fluid passage of the second straw is fluidly connected to the fluid passage of the first straw.   
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first straw fluidly connected to the first spout, the first straw having a fluid passage extending therethrough; and   a second straw fluidly connected to the second spout, the second straw having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage,   wherein the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage of the second straw intersect with one another, and   wherein the first straw is connected to the second straw in a way that the second fluid passage of the second straw is fluidly connected to the fluid passage of the first straw.   
     
     
         9 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising a straw having a first portion fluidly connected to the first spout, a second portion fluidly connected to the second spout, and a third portion extending from the first portion and the second portion in fluid communication with the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first straw fluidly connected to the first spout; and   a second straw fluidly connected to the second spout,   wherein the first straw and the second straw are flexible in a way that the first straw and the second straw are twistable around one another.   
     
     
         11 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the first spout is substantially D-shaped with a flat surface, wherein the second spout is substantially D-shaped with a flat surface, and wherein the product further comprises:
 a straw having first end, a second end, and a fluid passage extending therethrough from the first end to the second end,   wherein the flat surface of the first spout and the flat surface of the second spout are mated in a face to face relationship and the straw is disposed about the first spout and the second spout in a way that fluid passage of the straw is in fluid communication with the first spout and the second spout.   
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the straw is threadingly connected to the first spout and the second spout. 
     
     
         13 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cup housing the first pouch and the second pouch; and   a lid having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage, the lid connected to the cup such that the first fluid passage is in fluid communication with the first spout and the second fluid passage is in fluid communication with the second spout.   
     
     
         14 . The product of  claim 13 , wherein the cup has a bottom and a sidewall extending from the bottom so as to cooperate to define an pouch receiving compartment, the sidewall having at least one opening in communication with the pouch receiving compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The product of  claim 13 , wherein the cup has a bottom and a sidewall extending from the bottom so as to cooperate to define an pouch receiving compartment, and wherein the cup has a dividing wall extending across the pouch receiving compartment to define at least two pouch receiving compartments. 
     
     
         16 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein the sidewall has a first opening in communication with one of the pouch receiving compartments and a second opening in communication with another one of the pouch receiving compartments. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a multi-component food product, comprising:
 obtaining a first flexible pouch containing a first flowable food product and having a first spout for discharging the first flowable food product from the first flexible pouch;   obtaining a second flexible pouch containing a second flowable food product different from the first flowable food product and having a second spout for discharging the second flowable food product from the second flexible pouch; and   mating the first spout and the second spout with one another in a way to permit the first flowable food product and the second flowable food product to be consumed simultaneously.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of mating the first spout with the second spout comprises lockingly engaging the first spout and the second spout with one another. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of lockingly engaging the first spout and the second spout comprises connecting a first portion of a connector member to the first spout and connecting a second portion of the connector member to the second spout; and wherein the first portion is releasably connected to the first spout; the second portion is releasably connected to the second spout; or the first portion is releasably connected to the first spout and the second portion is releasably connected to the second spout. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of mating the first spout with the second spout comprises:
 positioning a base member of a connector member between the first spout and the second spout, the base member having a first end and a second end;   fitting a first collar member hingedly connected to the first end of the base around the first spout and lockingly engaging the first collar to the second end of the base; and   fitting a second collar member hingedly connected to the second end of the base around the second spout and lockingly engaging the second collar to the first end of the base.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first spout has a set of threads extending partially around the first spout and is substantially D-shaped with a flat surface, wherein the second spout has a set of threads extending partially around the second spout and is substantially D-shaped with a flat surface, and wherein the step of mating the first spout with the second spout further comprises:
 mating the flat surface of the first spout and the flat surface of the second spout in a face to face relationship; and   rotating a first collar member engaged with the set of threads of the first spout and rotating a second collar member engaged with the set of threads of the second spout to lockingly engage the first spout and the second spout.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of mating the first spout with the second spout comprises:
 connecting a first straw to the first spout, the first straw having a fluid passage;   connecting a second straw to the second spout, the second straw having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; and   connecting the first straw to the second straw in a way that the second fluid passage of the second straw is fluidly connected to the fluid passage of the first straw.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of mating the first spout with the second spout comprises:
 connecting a first portion of a straw to the first spout; and   connecting a second portion of the straw to the second spout,   wherein the straw has a third portion extending from the first portion and the second portion in fluid communication with the first portion and the second portion.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first spout is substantially D-shaped with a flat surface, wherein the second spout is substantially D-shaped with a flat surface, and wherein the method product further comprises:
 mating the flat surface of the first spout and the flat surface of the second spout in a face to face relationship; and   disposing a straw having first end, a second end, and a fluid passage extending therethrough from the first end to the second end about the first spout and the second spout in a way that fluid passage of the straw is in fluid communication with the first spout and the second spout.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of mating the first spout with the second spout comprises:
 disposing the first pouch and the second pouch in a cup; and   connecting a lid a lid having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage to the cup such that the first fluid passage is in fluid communication with the first spout and the second fluid passage is in fluid communication with the second spout.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the cup has a bottom and a sidewall extending from the bottom so as to cooperate to define an pouch receiving compartment, the sidewall having at least one opening in communication with the pouch receiving compartment.