Resealable spout for selectively accessing coconut water within a coconut
View Patent ↗A self-contained, consumer-ready product from a coconut that has a seed-case, a layer of coconut meat inside of the seed-case, and an internal cavity containing sterile coconut water, in a condition that is ready for a consumer to access and remove the sterile water within the coconut, and a method for providing such a product. One method comprises forming an aperture that extends through the seed-case of the coconut but does not extend through the layer of coconut meat; forming a coconut pre-product in a first location, by affixing to the apertured coconut a closure member that is adapted to close the aperture and to be easily removed by a consumer in a second location different from the first location; and providing a self-contained, consumer-ready coconut product, by associating, with the coconut pre-product, a pre-selected plunger member that includes an elongated lance member that the consumer slides within the aperture after removal of the closure member in the second location and penetrates through the layer of coconut meat and into the internal cavity containing the sterile water.
1. A method for providing a self-contained, consumer-ready product from a coconut that has a seed-case, a layer of coconut meat inside of the seed-case, and an internal cavity containing sterile coconut water, in a condition that is ready for a consumer to access and remove the sterile water within the coconut, the method comprising:
(a) forming an aperture that extends through the seed-case of the coconut but does not extend through the layer of coconut meat, thereby maintaining the sterility of the coconut water;
(b) forming a coconut pre-product in a first location, by affixing to the apertured coconut a closure member that is adapted to close the aperture and to be easily removed by a consumer, in a second location different from the first location, without using any tool, the closure member likewise not extending through the layer of coconut meat, thereby maintaining the sterility of the coconut water; and
(c) providing a self-contained, consumer-ready coconut product, by associating, with the coconut pre-product of paragraph (b) a pre-selected plunger member that includes an elongated lance member that is (1) configured to slide within the aperture after the consumer has removed the closure member in the second location and (2) has a length that is sufficient to penetrate through the layer of coconut meat and into the internal cavity containing the sterile water, when inserted through the aperture and pushed in the direction of the coconut center by the consumer.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the closure member comprises a removable plug member that closes the aperture.
3. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plug member cooperates with a grommet member that surrounds the aperture.
4. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the closure member comprises a single piece.
5. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the closure member comprises a plurality of pieces.
6. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the closure member comprises a cap fitting on the grommet member.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the closure member comprises a plug member that contains a frangible membrane that is removable by perforation with the plunger member.
8. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the distal end of the elongated lance member of the plunger member comprises a sharp edge, and the plunger member comprises a hollow center recess for receiving severed coconut meat.
9. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the grommet member comprises a generally flat flange member that sits essentially flush with the coconut shell when the grommet member is affixed to the coconut.
10. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
(d) placing the consumer-ready product of paragraph (c) into commerce to be distributed to consumers.
11. A self-contained, consumer-ready coconut product from a coconut that has a seed-case, a layer of coconut meat inside of the seed-case, and an internal cavity containing sterile coconut water, in a condition that is ready for a consumer to access and remove the sterile water within the coconut, the coconut product produced by the method as defined by claim 1 .