The invention relates to a container for a food product (for example a drink flavouring) with a dispenser and a wrapper.

Hand actuated dispensers are known for conveniently dispensing an amount of food product (e. g. syrups for flavouring coffee). Such dispensers are typically provided separately from a container in which the food product (e.g. flavouring) is provided. Containers for food products generally include a tamper evident seal for indicating that the contents have not been tampered with prior to opening by the purchaser. Such a tamper evident seal is desirable for a product intended for consumption.

A container that enables convenient dispensing of a product is desired, preferably the container further includes a tamper evident seal .

According to the invention, there is provided a container comprising:

a body for housing a food product, the body having a body opening;

a hand operable dispenser secured to the body opening for dispensing the product through a dispenser opening; and

a dispenser wrapper that is arranged to cover at least a portion of the dispenser so as to prevent dispensing of the product through the dispenser opening until the dispenser wrapper is removed;

wherein the dispenser wrapper comprises a bottom edge that connects the dispenser wrapper to a body wrapper.

The body wrapper may conform to the exterior profile of the body over a perimeter (or circumference) of the body. The dispenser wrapper and body wrapper may each comprise parts of a product wrapper.

The product wrapper may comprise a single sheet of material , bonded along an edge, and shrink wrapped around the body and dispenser. The dispenser may be operable by manually reciprocating an actuator element, the dispenser being arranged to dispense the product as the actuator element is moved from a first position to a second position. The actuator element may comprise the dispenser opening.

The dispenser may comprise a piston.

The dispenser may comprise an elastic element arranged to return the piston from the second position to the first position.

The elastic element may comprise or consist entirely of a polymeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer. The elastic element may comprise a bellows, which may be defined by a hel ical fold.

Alternatively, the elastic element may be a metal spring.

The dispenser may include a locking element, that is moveable between a locked position in which the dispenser cannot be used to dispense product, and an unlocked position in which the dispenser can be used to dispense product.

The locking element may be moved between the locked position and the unlocked position by rotation of the actuator element.

The dispenser wrapper may comprise a portion of a product wrapper, the product wrapper covering at least a portion of the body.

The dispenser wrapper may cover the dispenser opening.

The dispenser wrapper may prevent movement of the locking element from the first position to the second position.

The body wrapper may comprise printed information. The information may comprise a graphical design and/or information relating to the contents of the container. The dispenser wrapper may cover an actuator element perimeter (or partial ly cover the actuator element perimeter) and comprise a top edge adj acent to the actuator element perimeter. The actuator element perimeter may be the perimeter of the actuator element when the actuator element is viewed along the vertical axis.

The top edge may have a perimeter that is smaller than the actuator element perimeter.

The bottom edge may be defined by perforations in the product wrapper.

The dispenser wrapper may be manually separable from the body wrapper by tearing the bottom edge.

The perimeter of the bottom edge may be smaller than the actuator element perimeter.

The bottom edge may be arranged in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis.

The bottom edge may be substantially coincident with an edge of a graphic element of the product wrapper (e.g. of the body wrapper). This may make the bottom edge less noticeable, and therefore make the container more visual ly appeal ing.

The dispenser wrapper may comprise a first perforated line, extending between the top edge and the bottom edge of the dispenser wrapper.

The first perforated l ine may be configured to allow the dispenser wrapper to b e unwrapped from covering the portion of the dispenser, so as to facilitate operation of the dispenser. The first perforated line may extend in a general ly vertical direction. The first perforated line may extend in a substantial ly helical direction around a dispenser axis.

The dispenser wrapper may comprise a second perforated line. The second perforated line may extend between the top edge and the bottom edge of the dispenser wrapper. The second perforated line may be adjacent to the first perforated line.

The second perforated line may extend from a first end of the first perforated line at the bottom edge to a position on the top edge that is separate from a second end of the first perforated line at the top edge. The second perforated l ine may be at an angle to the first perforated line. The angle may be from 1 to 30 degrees, and optional ly between 5 and 15 degrees.

A distance between the ends of the first and second perforated lines at the top edge (along the top edge) may define an opening edge. The opening edge may be between 2mm and 20mm long, and more preferably between 8mm and 1 5mm long.

The dispenser wrapper may carry information. The information carried by the dispenser wrapper may comprise instructions relating to how to remove the dispenser wrapper.

The instructions may comprise an (or at least one) alphanumeric character, indicating a preferred order of operations for removing the wrapper. The instructions may indicate that the user should begin removing the dispenser wrapper by tearing the first perforated line (optionally, together with the second perforated line), from the top edge. The instructions may indicate that the next operation is disconnecting the dispenser wrapper from the remainder of the product wrapper by tearing of the bottom edge.

The body may comprise a transparent body region and the product wrapper may comprise a transparent wrapper region or window, the body and the product wrapper being arranged to allow the level of the product within the body to be determined by looking through the transparent body region and transparent wrapper region or window.

The body may consist of a transparent material, for instance a transparent polymeric material. The information on the product wrapper may comprise a scale that relates the level of product within the body to a volume of product corresponding to the level .

The volume of product may be expressed as a number of servings of a recommended volume. The scale may relates a level of product to a number of servings that is in turn defined by a recommended number of dispensing operations of the dispenser.

The body may comprise a vertical axis and a base, the vertical axis extending substantially perpendicular to the base.

The body may vary in cross sectional area along the axis.

The body may comprise a waist portion that has a smaller cross sectional area than respective regions adj acent to the wa ist region on either side along the cross sectional axis.

The body may taper towards the opening.

The opening may be substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis.

The centroid of the opening may be substantially coincident with the vertical axis. For instance, where the opening is circular, the centre of the circular opening may be substantially coincident with the vertical axis. The body may be substantial ly axisymmetric about the vertical axis. The body may have n-order symmetry about the vertical axis, where n is an integer selected from : 2, 3 , 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 and 12.

The container may contain food product.

The food product may be a drink product. The drink product may be for dilution with water or another liquid to produce a flavoured drink.

Example embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is schematic sectional drawing of a container according to an embodiment;

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional detail drawing of the container of Figure 1, showing the dispenser and dispenser wrapper in more detail;

Figure 3 is a view of a dispenser and dispenser wrapper of an embodiment;

Figure 4 is an alternative view of the dispenser and dispenser wrapper of the embodiment of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of a container according to an embodiment;

Figure 6 is a further view of the container of Figure 5, showing detail of the dispenser and dispenser wrapper;

Figure 7 is a side view of the product wrapper, showing a transparent wrapper region for determining a product level, Referring to Figures 1 to 7, a container 100 is shown, comprising a body 110 and a dispenser 150. The body 110 in this example is a bottle, which may comprise a polymeric material (typically a thermoplastic polymeric material). The bottle 110 comprises a base 102, for standing the bottle 110 on a surface. The bottle 110 has a vertical axis 101 substantially perpendicular with the base 102, and has an opening substantially co-incident with the vertical axis 101 at the top of the bottle (when the bottle is standing on its base 102). The bottle 110 comprises a neck 111 that defines the opening, and which comprises an external thread.

The dispenser body 152 is secured to the bottle 110 by the cap 158, and is received within the bottle 110. The dispenser 150 is secured to the bottle 110 at the opening and comprises: cap 158, elastic element 157, dispenser body 152; dip tube 151; piston 153, actuator element 154, body valve 155 and piston valve 156. The dispenser 150 is operable to dispense a liquid from within the bottle 110 when the actuator element 154 is pushed downwards, towards the base 102. The elastic element 157 subsequently urges the actuator element 154 back up, ready for another dispense operation. The liquid is dispensed from a dispenser opening 1 59 in the actuator element 1 54.

The cap 1 58 comprises an internally threaded portion for engagement with an external thread of the neck of the bottle 1 1 0, so as to secure the dispenser 1 50 to the bottle 1 1 0.

The actuator element 154 is attached to a piston 1 53 , which sweeps an interior region of the dispenser body 152 when the actuator element 154 is moved from a first position to a second position (as indicated by arrow 1 59). When the piston 1 53 i s moved downwards (for instance by manually pressing on the actuator element 1 54) the body valve 155 is closed, so that liquid within the dispenser body 152 is forced through the piston valve 156 into a vertical channel within the piston 153 , and ultimately out of an opening 1 59 in the actuator element 1 54. Once the actuating force is removed from the actuator element 1 54, the elastic element 1 57 urges the piston 1 53 back up to the first position. During this movement the piston valve 1 56 is c losed, and the body valve 155 is open, which results in fluid to refilling the dispenser body via the dip tube 1 5 1 . The dip tube 15 1 extends from an opening in the bottom of the dispenser body 152 to a location at or near the base 102 of the bottle 1 10.

The dispenser 1 50 may entirely consist of polymeric materials (such as po lypropylene or polyethylene). The elastic element 1 57 may comprise a thermoplastic e lastomer, which may be formed into a bellows shape. The bellows may be defined by a helical fold, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

The dispenser 1 50 comprises a locking element (not shown) that, in a locked position, prevents the piston 153 being moved downwards from the first position. The locking element is moveable to a second position, in which the piston 1 53 is moveable to dispense product from the bottle 1 10. The movement of the locking element from the first position to the second position is effected by rotation of the actuator element 1 54 about the vertical axis 1 01 (when the dispenser 1 50 is attached to the bottle 1 1 0).

The dispenser wrapper 125 must be removed (or at least damaged in a way that is clearly visible) in order to move the dispenser 1 50 to an unlocked configuration by rotating the actuator element 1 54. Further, the dispenser wrapper 1 25 covers the dispenser opening 159. The dispenser wrapper thereby provides a tamper evident seal for the bottle 110. The dispenser wrapper 125 must be also removed or damaged before the dispenser 150 can be disengaged from the neck of the bottle 110 (by unscrewing the respective threads of the dispenser cap 158 and bottle neck 111), because the bottom edge 121 of the dispenser wrapper 125 is disposed below the dispenser cap 158.

The dispenser wrapper 125 is intended to be removed by a user so that they can dispense the product within the bottle 110. The dispenser wrapper 125 is therefore joined to the body wrapper 120 (which is not intended to be removed) at a bottom edge 121 by perforations. The perforations at the bottom edge 121 are configured to allow the dispenser wrapper 125 to be separated from the body wrapper 120 by ripping along the perforations of the bottom edge. The dispenser wrapper 125 extends from the bottom edge 121 to a top edge 126. The dispenser wrapper 125 partially covers the actuator element 154, and the top edge 126 of the dispenser wrapper 125 is adjacent to an upper surface of the actuator element 154, such that the perimeter of the top edge 126 is smaller than the perimeter of the actuator element 154 when viewed along the vertical axis 101. Because the perimeter of the actuator element 154 is larger than the cross section of the cap 158 and the bottle neck 111, the dispenser wrapper tapers away from the perimeter of the actuator element 154. The asymmetric shape of the dispenser actuator 154 (about the vertical axis 101) means that the actuator element 154 is restricted from rotating by the dispenser wrapper 125.

Referring to Figure 6, the dispenser wrapper 125 is provided with a first perforated line 161 and second perforated line 162, extending from the top edge 126 to the bottom edge 121 of the dispenser wrapper 125. The first and second perforated lines 161, 162 are spaced apart at the top edge 126, to define an opening edge 163 (along the top edge 126, between the first and second perforated lines 161, 162). The first and second perforated lines 161, 162 meet at the bottom edge 121 of the dispenser wrapper 125, defining a substantially triangular portion of the dispenser wrapper 125, which may be thought of as a tear strip. In order to remove the dispenser wrapper 125 , a user may lift the opening edge 163 (e.g. using a finger-tip), and grasp the opening edge 163 (e. g. between finger and thumb), The dispenser wrapper 1 25 may then be torn along the first and second perforated lines, down to the bottom edge 12 1 . Subsequently, the dispenser wrapper 1 25 may readily be unwrapped from the dispenser 1 50 and separated from the remaining product wrapper 1 20 by ripping the bottom edge 1 21 .

An opening edge 1 63 of around 1 cm provides a user with an edge that is large enough to lift and grasp. Locating the opening edge 163 on a side region of the actuator cap 1 54 means that the opening edge 1 63 is relatively straight, which also makes it easier to lift and grasp. If the opening edge 1 63 were more curved (due to conforming to a region of the actuator cap 1 54 with a smaller radius of curvature, for instance at the back of the actuator cap, at the opposite end to the dispenser opening 1 59), it would be more difficult to lift and grasp. Having the first and second perforated lines 161 1 62 converge to meet at the same location on the bottom edge 1 21 of the dispenser wrapper makes it easier to completely remove the tear strip without damaging the body wrapper 120, because once the first and second perforations 1 61 , 162 are completely torn, the tear strip is not fixed to the bottom edge at all (or is only fixed at a point location, which is very weak).

If the first and second lines 1 61 , 1 62 were paral lel, the tear strip defined therebetween would still be attached at the bottom edge 121 after the first and second perforated lines 161 , 1 62 were completely torn. This may result in tearing forces being applied to the body wrapper 120 as tearing loads are transferred to the bottom edge 1 21 at the end of the first and second perforated l ines 1 61 , 1 62. This may increase the chance of damaging the product wrapper of the bottle 1 20 (below the bottom edge 1 2 1 of the dispenser wrapper 125) during removal of the dispenser wrapper 125.

It will be appreciated that different configurations of perforations may be used to facilitate unwrapping of the dispenser wrapper 1 25 from the dispenser 1 50. A continuous line of perforations between the top edge 1 26 and bottom edge 1 2 1 makes it straightforward for a user to unwrap the dispenser wrapper 125. In some embodiments only a single line of perforations 161 may be used to assist the user in unwrapping the dispenser wrapper. The line (or lines) of perforations between the top and bottom edges 1 21 , 126 need not be substantially vertical, and need not be straight. Embodiments are envisaged in which a helical line of perforations extends between the top edge 12 1 and bottom edge 1 26. Wavy or sawtooth shaped lines of perforations may also be used. In some embodiments, there may be no perforations, and instead regions of weakness may be introduced by scoring or thinning the material of the dispenser wrapper 1 25, and/or by introducing a stress concentrating feature at such as a sharp nick at the top edge 126. As shown in Figure 6, the dispenser wrapper 125 is provided with instructions for a user indicating the operations that are required to remove the dispenser, and a recommended order for undertaking the operations. The words "Open here" are printed on the tear strip, adjacent to the top edge 163, and the numeral "2" is printed adjacent to the first perforated line 16 1 , proximate to the bottom edge 121 , along with arrows that indicate the dispenser wrapper 1 25 is to be unpeeled from the dispenser 1 50. A user unsealing the container for the first time is thereby in no doubt how to go about this.

The dispenser wrapper 125 and body wrapper 120 are both portions of a product wrapper. The product wrapper is formed from a single sheet of material by bonding the sheet to itself along seam 1 27, so as to form a tube, and then heat shrinking the tubular product wrapper to conform to the body 1 10 and dispenser 1 50. The perforations defining the bottom edge 121 , and first and second perforated lines 1 6 1 , 162 may be defined in the product wrapper while the product wrapper is flat, either before or after the sheet is bonded along seam 127.

The bottle 1 10 is substantially transparent, and the product wrapper 120 comprises a transparent window 122, extending from near the base 102 to near the neck 1 1 1 . The transparent window 122 allows a user to observe a level of product within the bottle 1 1 0. The product wrapper 1 20 includes a scale 1 23 , adjacent to the window 122, translating a level of product within the bottle 1 1 0 to a number of recommended servings of the product. The product wrapper 120 further includes further information that may indicate the user should re-order the product when the level reaches a threshold. In this example, the food product may be a concentrate for dilution with water, for making a flavoured drink (e .g. a fruit flavoured drink) . In the specific example shown in Figures 3 to 7, the flavoured drink is a concentrated fruit drink, in which three pumps of the dispenser 125 provides sufficient product to produce a 250ml drink of the recommended strength . The scale 1 23 relates a level in the bottle 1 1 0 to a number of servings based on each serving having three dispense operations of the dispenser 1 25.

Although a specific example has been described, the skilled person will understand that a number of other variations are possible, and that the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims .