U.S. patent application number 10/341372 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-15 for stand-up pouch.
Invention is credited to Wilson, Derek.
Application Number | 20040136620 10/341372 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32711509 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040136620 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilson, Derek |
July 15, 2004 |
Stand-up pouch
Abstract
A pouch formed of sheeted material for use to contain a liquid
is provided. The pouch comprises first and second walls formed by
the sheeted material with each wall having peripheral edges; a body
having a base, first and second upper body side edges, and first
and second lower body side edges; a neck integrally formed with the
body; and an internal reservoir defined by the body and the neck
between the walls and above the base. The pouch generally has a
broad base and a narrow neck. When the internal reservoir is filled
with a liquid and the pouch is sealed, the pouch stands on the base
on a supporting surface, and is stable in an upright position.
Inventors: |
Wilson, Derek; (Belfountain,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARKS & CLERK
1075 NORTH SERVICE ROAD WEST
SUITE 203
OAKVILLE
ON
L6M 2G2
CA
|
Family ID: |
32711509 |
Appl. No.: |
10/341372 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/008 20130101;
B65D 75/5866 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/104 |
International
Class: |
B65D 030/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pouch formed of sheeted material for use to contain a liquid,
said pouch comprising: first and second walls formed by said
sheeted material, each wall having peripheral edges; a body having
a base, and first and second upper body side edges, and first and
second lower body side edges; a neck integrally formed with said
body, said neck having a top edge, and first and second neck side
edges; and an internal reservoir defined by said body and said neck
between said walls and above said base; wherein said first and
second lower body side edges extend between said base and said
respective first and second upper body side edges, forming first
and second base corners and first and second body corners,
respectively, and wherein said first and second lower body side
edges are angularly directed away from said base such that the
distance between said first and second body corners is greater than
the distance between said first and second base corners; and
wherein said internal reservoir is formed when said peripheral
edges of said first and second walls are in an opposed relationship
and are in contact each with the other; whereby when said internal
reservoir of said pouch is filled with a liquid and said pouch is
sealed, said pouch stands on said base on a supporting surface, and
is stable in an upright position.
2. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said pouch is formed from said
sheeted material such that at least one of said first and second
upper body side edges, said top edge of said neck, and said base,
is a fold between said first and second walls so as to be
seamless.
3. The pouch of claim 2, wherein said pouch is formed from said
sheeted material in the form of a tube such that said top edge of
said neck and said base are seamless.
4. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said body further comprises first
and second shoulders which extend inwardly from said respective
first and second upper body side edges and terminate at said neck,
and wherein said neck extends upwardly from said first and second
shoulders.
5. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said pouch is symmetrical about a
longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of said top edge of
said neck to a midpoint of said base.
6. The pouch of claim 4, wherein said pouch is symmetrical about a
longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of said top edge of
said neck to a midpoint of said base; and wherein said pouch is one
of a plurality of similar pouches, and each one of said pouches is
in a complementary fashion one to another during the pouch
formation process, whereby said neck of a first pouch is adjacent
to said body of a second pouch, and said body of said first pouch
is adjacent to said neck of said second pouch.
7. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said first and second lower body
side edges are angularly directed away from said base in such a
manner that each of said first and second lower body side edges
forms an exterior angle between 50 to 70 degrees relative to said
base when said pouch is in a flattened empty condition.
8. The pouch of claim 7, wherein said exterior angle is between 55
to 65 degrees when said pouch is in a flattened empty
condition.
9. The pouch of claim 8, wherein said exterior angle is 60 degrees
when said pouch is in a flattened empty condition.
10. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said first and second lower body
side edges are chosen from the group of geometric elements
consisting of a straight line extending between said base and said
respective first and second upper body side edges, a curved line
extending between said base and said respective first and second
upper body side edges, and a sawtooth extending between said base
and said respective first and second upper body side edges.
11. The pouch of claim 10, wherein said first and second lower body
side edges are curved lines, and wherein said curved line is chosen
from the group of curvilinear elements consisting of a portion of
an ellipse, a portion of a parabola, a portion of a circle, and a
portion of a hyperbola.
12. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said neck additionally comprises
first and second top side edges extending outwardly from said
respective first and second neck side edges to said top edge of
said neck, forming first and second top side corners, such that
said top edge of said neck defines a distance less than the
distance between said first and second top side corners.
13. The pouch of claim 12, wherein said pouch is symmetrical about
a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of said top edge of
said neck to a midpoint of said base; and wherein said pouch is one
of a plurality of similar pouches, and each one of said pouches is
in a complementary fashion one to another during the pouch
formation process, whereby one of said first and second top side
edges of said neck of a first pouch is adjacent to one of said
first and second lower body side edges of said body of a second
pouch.
14. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said sheeted material is chosen
from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyester, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum foil, aluminium metallized
film, and combinations thereof and therebetween.
15. The pouch of claim 14, wherein said sheeted material forming
the inside surfaces of said pouch is polyethylene, and said sheeted
material forming the outside surfaces of said pouch is
polyester.
16. The pouch of claim 14, wherein said pouch is extruded in such a
manner that said pouch has a crosswise grain.
17. The pouch of claim 1, wherein said pouch has at least one notch
along one of said first and second neck side edges so as to
facilitate tearing of said neck to access the liquid contained
therein.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to containers, and particularly
relates to containers in the form of pouches. More particularly,
the pouches of the present invention are formed of sheeted
material, and are thus flexible. Specifically, the flexible pouches
of the present invention are structured in such a manner that when
the pouches are filled and are standing on the base on a supporting
surface, the pouches are stable in an upright position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of flexible pouches has, of course, been known for
many years. Typically, flexible pouches are used to contain such
products as beverages, shampoo, soap, detergent, lotion, candies,
nuts, coffee beans, spices, fertilizers, cat food, just to name a
few.
[0003] In many instances, consumers prefer using flexible
containers such as flexible pouches rather than rigid containers
such as metallic cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, paper
cartons, and the like, for a variety of reasons. Metallic cans, for
example, are difficult to open. Furthermore, once open, the
metallic cans may have sharp edges or burrs, which is a serious
safety hazard to children drinking from such containers. Similarly,
glass bottles can crack, chip, break or even explode, resulting in
sharp edges, and are thus particularly unsuitable for children to
handle on their own. Thus, flexible containers are generally safer
for children to manipulate.
[0004] Typically, flexible pouches are made from sheets of plastic.
As a result, flexible pouches are relatively lightweight.
Furthermore, flexible pouches generally occupy much less storage
space as compared to rigid containers. Indeed, flexible pouches
which are filled with materials may be squeezed, to a certain
degree, into relatively tight nooks or crannies which would not
otherwise accommodate a rigid container of comparable general
shape. When the flexible pouches are not filled with materials,
they are compacted into a flattened condition such that they can be
stored in a relatively small amount of space.
[0005] A number of flexible pouches for use as beverage containers
are available on the market. However, when these flexible pouches
are filled, they are often unstable in an upright position even
when they are resting on a support surface. As discussed above,
flexible pouches are typically made from thin and flexible plastic
materials, and thus such flexible pouches do not have the same
sturdiness as cans, bottles and other rigid containers as well as
the stability of such rigid containers when filled and in an
upright position. In fact, many existing flexible pouches on the
market tend to wobble and thus can be easily tipped over, leading
to unnecessary beverage spills and resulting in wasted product and
a mess. This is especially a problem for children handling such
filled flexible pouches.
[0006] In order to improve the stability of filled flexible
pouches, a base, such as a bottom gusset or pad, is added to many
of the prior art flexible pouches. Typically, the base portion of
these flexible pouches is manufactured by overlapping layers of
sheeted plastics in selected locations. The layers are then fused
by heat sealing. In some instances, as many as six layers of
sheeted plastics are brought together at junctions and are fused.
With such construction, many of these flexible pouches are prone to
capillary leaks. Further, small amount of the beverage may be
trapped in the region of the thick seams, which is particularly
unappealing to the consumers.
[0007] The present inventor herein has provided a pouch formed of
sheeted material for use to contain a liquid which overcomes at
least one of the disadvantages described above. The pouch of the
present invention is flexible, lightweight, inexpensive to produce
and easy to handle. More specifically, the pouch of the present
invention is structured in such a manner that when the pouch is
filled and is standing on the base on a supporting surface, the
pouch is stable in an upright position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0008] A number of patents which describe various kinds of stand-up
pouches are known to the inventor herein. They included the
following:
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,065 issued on Jan. 3, 1995 to TOBOLKA
teaches a single, unitary piece of plastic folded and bonded
together to form a container. The container includes a body, and a
spout extending upwardly from the shoulder of the body. The spout
forms an integral straw so as to allow an individual to drink the
contents of the container. A restriction in the container is
positioned at the juncture between the body of the container and
the spout so as to reduce the pressure of liquid flowing from the
body to the spout.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,884 issued on Jun. 9, 1998 to TOBOLKA
teaches a method of making a filled container. The container as
taught therein is formed of flexible plastic and includes a body
with outwardly tapering sides defining an internal reservoir and a
tubular spout extending upwardly from the body. The spout has an
internal passage in fluid communication with the reservoir. The
method involves the step of pinching opposed bottom corners of the
body to form generally flattened triangular portions extending
outwardly therefrom, and forming seals along the pinch lines to
create a generally planar base on the pouch.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,062 issued on Sep. 1, 1998 to TOBOLKA is
a divisional patent of the above U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,884. In U.S.
Pat. No. 5,800,062, the inventor teaches a container having a body
with an internal reservoir, and a tubular spout extending from the
body and having an internal passage which is in fluid communication
with the reservoir. Further, the container has a constriction so as
to create a low pressure zone in the passage downstream of the
constriction as liquid flows from the reservoir into the passage.
The container has means to inflate the spout as liquid flows along
the passage.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,042 issued on Dec. 26, 2000 to TOBOLKA
teaches a container with a dispensing sprout and method for forming
such a fluid-filled container from an upright tube made of flexible
material. The method involves the steps of delivering fluid to the
tube to fill at least a portion of the tube, and forming lower and
then upper curved seals across the tube at vertically spaced
locations below the fluid level in the tube. The curved seals are
mirror images of one another.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,965 B1 issued on Mar. 6, 2001 to TOBOLKA
teaches a container and method of making the same. The container
has a dispensing spout and a main body with two opposed pointed
lower corners. The method for manufacturing the plurality of
containers from a tube of flexible packaging material includes the
steps of transversely severing the tube into a plurality of
individual containers, pinching the pointed lower corners of each
container so as to collapse the corners into a flattened triangular
shape. At the same time, heat is applied in order to weld the
corners. Each flattened corner is bent such that it lies under the
main body while the flattened corner retains heat.
[0014] TOBOLKA Canadian Patent Application 2,284,329 filed on Sep.
29, 1999 teaches a mechanism for forming a heat seal and a cut
transversely of a tube of flexible packaging material. The
mechanism includes a carrier to contact the tube, heat sealing
means on the carrier to form a heat seal across the tube when
contact takes place, and a resistive wire on the carrier which can
be energized to cut the tube when the carrier is in contact with
the tube after the heat seal has been formed.
[0015] TOBOLKA Canadian Patent Application 2,361,980 filed on Nov.
13, 2001 teaches a heat sealing and cutting mechanism, and a
container forming apparatus incorporating the same. A heat sealing
and cutting mechanism to form a heat seal and a cut across a tube
of flexible packaging material includes a carrier to contact the
tube. A pair of closely spaced heat sealing bands are disposed on
the carrier and are energizable to form closely spaced heat seals
across the tube when the carrier is in contact with the tube. The
heat sealing bands are configured to define temperature gradients
along the heat sealing bands. A cutting wire is also disposed on
the carrier and is positioned between the heat sealing bands. The
cutting wire is energizable to cut the tube when the carrier is in
contact with the tube.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,743 issued on Jan. 19, 1999 to LARKIN el
al. teaches a stable flexible pouch and method for making the
pouch. The pouch has a flexible compartment with a rim formed
around the bottom of the compartment. The rim is spaced from and
extends outwardly from the compartment bottom. Further, the rim has
three coplanar feet so as to stabilize the pouch when the pouch is
resting on the rim. When the pouch is in a flat, empty position,
the coplanar feet are generally flush with the rim. The inventors
also teach a method for making the pouch described immediately
above. The method includes the steps of forming the pouch with the
compartment, providing a rim around the bottom of the compartment,
spacing the rim from the bottom of the compartment, and removing a
portion of the rim at the outer edge to form the plurality of
coplanar feet.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,968 issued on Jun. 20, 2000 to SMITH et
al. teaches a flexible pouch formed from first and second sheets
which are sealed along their side edges. Two gussets are provided
at the top and the bottom, respectively, of the sheets. The bottom
of the uppermost gusset is recessed such that a pocket is formed at
one end of the pouch. The two sheets, and the two gussets form a
compartment within the pouch. In order to remove the contents from
the compartment, a straw or other suitable instrument can be used
to puncture the uppermost gusset. The pocket has a wide mouth such
that a straw can be easily inserted.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,825 issued on Dec. 26, 2000 to LARKIN el
al. is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,743 and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,076,968 which are discussed above. In U.S. Pat. No.
6,164,825, the flexible pouch has a flexible compartment with a
bottom. The pouch has a rim encircling the bottom of the
compartment with portions of the rim being removed so as to form
stabilizing coplanar feet. The pouch also has a wide-mouth pocket.
A straw can be inserted into this pocket to pierce a frangible
membrane for discharge of the contents inside the pouch.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,373 issued on Dec. 12, 1989 to CORELLA
teaches a peripherally sealed, flexible, dispensing package having
a self-supporting, stand-up configuration. The package has a
circumferential, flexible wall that defines a compartment which
contains fluidic material, an inverted portion of the flexible wall
extending into the compartment, and a self-supporting rim formed by
the confluence of the outer flexible wall with the inverted inner
wall. The outer flexible wall and the inverted inner wall are in
spaced relationship and there is no flattening of the inverted
portion due to the load of the fluidic material in the
self-supporting mode.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,912 issued on Dec. 19, 1989 to STUMPF
teaches a stand-up bag which is made of a heat-weldable sheet
material. The bag has a front face and a rear face which are
connected to one another along their edges. Either the front face
or the rear face are provided with a reclosable threaded closure.
The closure includes a pipe socket formed with screw threads for
engagement with screw threads of a removable screw cap.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,646 issued on May 28, 1991 to BILLMAN et
al. teaches a squeezable fluid container which is made of a
flexible plastic material. The container has a longitudinal axis
and a cavity for containing a dispensable fluid. Further, the
container has flexible sidewalls, a closed bottom, a pair of
spaced-apart sealed deformable side edge margins, and a sealed
deformable upper edge margin. The upper edge margin is unitary with
an upper edge portion of each of the side edge margins, and the
upper edge margin defines a fluid discharge passageway that
communicates with the fluid cavity. The container further includes
an indent, which is defined by at least one of the side-edge
margins which divide the fluid cavity into two fluid chambers along
the longitudinal axis.
[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,043 issued on Oct. 4, 1994 to TAKAGAKI
et al. teaches a self-supporting bag, a method of production
thereof, and an apparatus for production thereof. The bag has a
trunk part and a bottom part, both of which are made of a
multilayer plastic film having a heat adhesive plastic layer as the
inner layer. The inner layer or the outer layer of the film of the
trunk has a section comprising convex parts and concave parts which
are adjacent to each other. The container further has linear ribs
in the trunk section. The ribs are formed by pressing a positive
mold having linear protrusions at the top face against the
multilayer plastic film.
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,071 issued on Aug. 18, 1998 to SASAKI et
al. teaches a standing pouch for containing a fluid material. The
standing pouch is provided with a relief which is capable of
converting to a pourer at an upper corner portion. A pourer is
defined therein as an opening for pouring.
[0024] U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,617 issued on Aug. 17, 1999 to YEAGER et
al. teaches a pouch with a pre-inserted straw and a method of
making the same. The pouch is made from a web of flexible packaging
material, and the pre-inserted straw is completely enclosed within
the confines of the pouch. By removing a portion fo the pouch, the
top end of the straw is exposed.
[0025] U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,642 issued on Aug. 24, 1999 to
DARMSTADTER teaches a self-contained fluid dispensing system. The
system includes a flexible package with a removable margin portion
and retention elements by which a tube is held in a certain
position within the package. When the removable margin is detached
and pressure is applied to the exterior surface of the package
sides, the dispensing end of the tube is indirectly pushed out from
within the package inner volume and above the margin of the
package. Upon release of the pressure, the tube slides back within
the inner volume for storage of the tube.
[0026] U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,756 B1 issued on Apr. 24, 2001 to
DARMSTADTER is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,642 which is
described immediately above.
[0027] U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,613 issued on Oct. 26, 1999 to BELL
teaches bag constructions having inwardly directed side seal
portions. The bag includes first and second opposed panel sections,
a base gusset member oriented in extension between the first and
second opposed panel sections, and first and second side seals
which define a bag construction interior between the panel
sections. Each of the first and second side seals has an inner edge
portion adjacent to the bag construction interior.
[0028] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,183 issued on Sep. 19, 2000 to
BUCHANAN el al. teaches a container and a method of manufacturing
the same from a web of flexible material. The container has two
opposed sides that extend from the sides of a bottom along two
opposed inverted V-shaped junctures. The sides are sealed together
along two side seals that have side seal extensions which extend
outside of the bottom, spaced from the sides. Two opposed, inverted
V-shaped reinforcement seals extend outwardly from the two bottom
to sides junctures and from the side seal extensions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0029] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a pouch formed of sheeted material for use to
contain a liquid. The pouch comprises first and second walls, a
body, a neck integrally formed with the body, and an internal
reservoir. The first and second walls are formed by the sheeted
material, and each wall has peripheral edges. The body has a base,
first and second upper body side edges, and first and second lower
body side edges. The neck has a top edge, and first and second neck
side edges. The internal reservoir is defined by the body and the
neck between the walls and above the base.
[0030] The first and second lower body side edges extend between
the base and the respective first and second upper body side edges,
forming first and second base corners and first and second body
corners, respectively. The first and second lower body side edges
are angularly directed away from the base such that the distance
between the first and second body corners is greater than the
distance between the first and second base corners.
[0031] The internal reservoir is formed when the peripheral edges
of the first and second walls are in an opposed relationship and
are in contact each with the other.
[0032] The pouch is structured in such a manner that when the
internal reservoir is filled with a liquid and the pouch is sealed,
the pouch stands on the base, and is stable in an upright
position.
[0033] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the pouch is
formed from the sheeted material such that at least one of the
first and second upper body side edges, the top edge of the neck,
and the base, is a fold between the first and second walls so as to
be seamless.
[0034] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pouch
is formed from the sheeted material in the form of a tube such that
the top edge of the neck and the base are seamless.
[0035] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the body
further comprises first and second shoulders which extend inwardly
from the respective first and second upper body side edges, and
terminate at the neck. The neck extends upwardly from the first and
second shoulders.
[0036] Typically, the pouch is symmetrical about a longitudinal
axis extending from a midpoint of the top edge of the neck to a
midpoint of the base. In one embodiment, the pouch is one of a
plurality of similar pouches, and each one of the pouches is in a
complementary fashion one to another during the pouch formation
process, such that the neck of a first pouch is adjacent to the
body of a second pouch, and the body of the first pouch is adjacent
to the neck of the second pouch.
[0037] In one embodiment, the first and second lower body side
edges are angularly directed away from the base in such a manner
that each of the first and second lower body side edges forms an
exterior angle between 50 to 70 degrees relative to the base when
the pouch is in a flattened empty condition.
[0038] In another embodiment, the exterior angle is between 55 to
65 degrees when the pouch is in a flattened empty condition.
[0039] In yet another embodiment, the exterior angle is 60 degrees
when the pouch is in a flattened empty condition.
[0040] The first and second lower body side edges are chosen from
the group of geometric elements consisting of a straight line
extending between the base and the respective first and second
upper body side edges, a curved line extending between the base and
the respective first and second upper body side edges, and a
sawtooth extending between the base and the respective first and
second upper body side edges.
[0041] When the first and second lower body side edges are curved
lines, the curved line is chosen from the group of curvilinear
elements consisting of a portion of an ellipse, a portion of a
parabola, a portion of a circle, and a portion of a hyperbola.
[0042] In one preferred embodiment, the neck has first and second
top side edges extending outwardly from the respective first and
second neck side edges to the top edge of the neck, forming first
and second top side corners, such that the top edge of the neck
defines a distance less than the distance between the first and
second top side corners. Further, the pouch is preferably
symmetrical about a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of
the top edge of the neck to a midpoint of the base. In a
particularly preferred embodiment, the pouch is one of a plurality
of similar pouches, and each one of the pouches is in a
complementary fashion one to another during the pouch formation
process, such that one of the first and second top side edges of
the neck of a first pouch is adjacent to one of the first and
second lower body side edges of the body of a second pouch.
[0043] Typically, the sheeted material is chosen from the group
consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl
chloride, aluminum foil, aluminium metallized film, and
combinations thereof and therebetween.
[0044] In one embodiment, the sheeted material forming the inside
surfaces of the pouch is polyethylene, and the sheeted material
forming the outside surfaces of the pouch is polyester.
[0045] In one embodiment of the invention, the pouch is preferably
extruded in such a manner that the pouch has a crosswise grain.
[0046] Typically, but not necessarily, the pouches of the present
invention have has at least one notch along one of the first and
second neck side edges so as to facilitate tearing of the neck to
access the liquid contained therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use
and method of operation, together with further objectives and
advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following
drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention
will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly
understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of
illustration and description only and are not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention. Embodiments of this
invention will now be described by way of example in association
with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0048] FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a pouch in
keeping with the present invention, when the filled pouch is in an
upright position and is resting on a supporting surface;
[0049] FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a pouch in
keeping with the present invention, when the filled pouch is in an
upright position and is held by a consumer;
[0050] FIG. 3 is a front view of a first embodiment of a pouch in
keeping with the present invention, when the pouch is in an empty,
flattened condition;
[0051] FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of a first embodiment of
a pouch in keeping with the present invention, when the pouch is in
an upright position, supported on its base;
[0052] FIG. 5 is a front view of a second embodiment of a pouch in
keeping with the present invention, when the pouch is in an empty,
flattened condition;
[0053] FIG. 6 is a front view of a third embodiment of a pouch in
keeping with the present invention, when the pouch is in an empty,
flattened condition;;
[0054] FIG. 7 is a front view of a first embodiment of a plurality
of pouches in keeping with the present invention, when the pouches
are in an empty, flattened condition;
[0055] FIG. 8 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of a plurality
of pouches in keeping with the present invention, when the pouches
are in an empty, flattened condition; and
[0056] FIG. 9 is a front view of a pouch in keeping with the
present invention, when the filled pouch is squeezed by the
consumer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0057] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use
and method of operation, together with further objectives and
advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following
discussion.
[0058] Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a front view and a side
view, respectively, of a first embodiment of a pouch 10 in keeping
with the present invention are shown. Generally, the pouch 10 is
formed of sheeted material and its purpose is to contain a liquid
therein. In these two noted Figures, the pouch 10 is shown in its
filled condition.
[0059] As seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the pouch 10 has first and
second walls, 12 and 14 respectively, which are formed by the
sheeted material. Each of the first and second walls, 12 and 14,
has peripheral edges 16 (identified twice in FIG. 2, with reference
characters 16a corresponding to the peripheral edges of first wall
12, and 16b corresponding to the peripheral edges of second wall
14, but collectively referred to hereafter as 16).
[0060] Referring briefly to FIG. 3, the pouch 10 in an empty,
flattened condition is shown. The pouch 10 includes a body 18 which
has a base 20, first and second upper body sides edges 22 and 24
respectively, and first and second shoulders 26 and 28
respectively. Furthermore, the pouch has a neck 30 which is
integrally formed with the body 18. The neck 30 has a top edge 32,
and first and second neck side edges 34 and 36 respectively.
[0061] The body 18 further comprises first and second lower body
side edges 40 and 42 respectively. The first and second body side
edges 40 and 42 extend between the base 20 and the respective first
and second upper body side edges 22 and 24, thus forming first and
second base corners 44 and 46 respectively, and first and second
body corners 48 and 50 respectively. The first and second lower
body side edges 40 and 42 are angularly directed away from the base
20 such that the distance, identified as character d, in FIG. 3,
between the first and second body corners 48 and 50, is greater
than the distance, identified as character d.sub.2, between the
first and second base corners 44 and 46.
[0062] The first and second shoulders 26 and 28 respectively extend
inwardly from the respective first and second upper body side edges
22 and 24, and terminate at the neck 30. The neck 30 extends
upwardly from the first and second shoulders 26 and 28. Thus, the
pouch 10 generally has a broad base 20 and a narrow neck 30.
[0063] As particularly suggested in FIG. 1 in which the pouch 10 is
shown in a filled condition, the pouch 10 further includes an
internal reservoir 38 which is defined by the body 18 and the neck
30 between the walls 12 and 14, and above the base 20. The internal
reservoir 38 is formed when the peripheral edges 16 of the first
and second walls 12 and 14 are in an opposed relationship and are
in contact each with the other. As seen in FIG. 1, the pouch 10 is
sealed. The pouch is structured in such a manner that when the base
20 of pouch 10 is in contact with a supporting surface, hydraulic
pressure of the liquid exerted on the base 20 causes the first and
second lower body side edges 40 and 42 to collapse, so as to stable
the pouch 10 in an upright position. It is important to note that
after the collapse of the first and second lower body side edges 40
and 42 as caused by hydraulic pressure HP of the liquid inside the
pouch, the shape of the base 20 is an elongated, irregular hexagon,
as shown in FIG. 4.
[0064] Typically, the pouch 10 is formed by heat sealing,
heat-welding or ultrasonic bonding of the sheeted material.
However, adhesives, crimping or any other suitable arrangements can
alternatively be used as well to bond the sheeted material to one
another, as is known to those skilled in the art.
[0065] In one aspect of the present invention, the pouch 10 is
formed from the sheeted material in such a manner that at least one
of the first and second upper body side edge 22 and 24, the top
edge 32 of the neck 30, and the base 20, is a fold between the
first and second walls 12 and 14 so as to be seamless. In another
aspect of the present invention, the pouch 10 is formed from the
sheeted material in the form of a tube such that the top edge 32 of
the neck 30, and the base 20 are seamless.
[0066] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, pouches 10, 200 and 300
are shown in their empty, flattened condition. Pouches 200 and 300
generally have the same features as seen in pouch 10. Each of the
pouches 10, 200 and 300 is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis,
which is identified as character "l" in the figures. The
longitudinal axis extends from a midpoint (mpn), of the top edge 32
of the neck to a midpoint (identified as mpb) of the base 20.
[0067] As previously discussed, the first and second lower body
side edges 40 and 42 are angularly directed away from the base 20.
Indeed, each of the first and second lower body side edges 40 and
42 typically forms an exterior angle, identified by character "a"
in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, between 50 to 70 degrees relative to the base
20 when the pouch is in an empty, flattened condition. As
particularly suggested in FIG. 5 in which pouch 200 is shown in an
empty, flattened condition, the exterior angle is between 55 to 65
degrees. In the preferred embodiment, the exterior angle is 60
degrees when the pouch is in an empty, flattened condition.
[0068] Moreover, the first and second lower body side edges 40 and
42 respectively are chosen from the group of geometric elements
consisting of a straight line extending between the base 20 and the
respective first and second upper body side edges 22 and 24, a
curved line extending between the base 20 and the respective first
and second upper body side edges 22 and 24, and a sawtooth
extending between the base 20 and the respective first and second
upper body side edges 22 and 24.
[0069] In FIG. 3, the first and second lower body side edges 40 and
42 of the pouch 10 are shown as curved lines. Indeed, such a curved
line extending between the base 20 and the respective first and
second upper body side edges 22 and 24 may be chosen from the group
of curvilinear elements consisting of a portion of an ellipse, a
portion of a parabola, a portion of a circle, and a portion of a
hyperbola.
[0070] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the first and second lower body
side edges 40 and 42 of pouch 200 are shown as straight lines. In
FIG. 6, each of the first and second lower body side edges 40 and
42 of pouch 300 is represented by a sawtooth edge.
[0071] With reference to FIG. 6, it is important to note that the
neck 30 has first and second top side edges 52 and 54 extending
outwardly from the respective first and second neck side edges 34
and 36, forming first and second top side corners 53 and 55, such
that the top edge 32 of the neck 30 defines a distance, identified
as d.sub.3, less than the distance, identified as d.sub.4, between
the first and second top side corners 53 and 55.
[0072] Turning now to FIG. 7, a plurality of pouches 10 is shown.
Each one of the pouches is in a complementary fashion one to
another such that the neck 30 of a first pouch 10a is adjacent to
the body 18 of a second pouch 10b, and the body 18 of the first
pouch 10a is adjacent to the neck 30 of the second pouch 10b.
Typically, during the formation process of the pouches, heat seals
are formed in such a manner that the relative lengths of the first
and second upper body side edges 22 and 24, and the first and
second neck side edges 34 and 36 are equal so that adjacent pouches
are in a complementary fashion to one another. Still further, the
heat seals are configured such that the geometry of the first and
second lower body side edges 40 and 42 is also complementary to the
geometry of the first and second top side edges 52 and 54 of the
neck. Thus, limited waste sheeted material is produced during the
pouch formation process. Although in a preferred embodiment, the
pouches are in a complementary fashion to one another during the
formation process, the pouches may also be produced in such a
manner that the base 20 of adjacent pouches share a common edge. In
this latter embodiment, the waste material produced after the
formation of the pouches may be recycled.
[0073] As discussed previously, the first and second lower body
side edges 40 and 42 are angularly directed away from the base 20
such that the distance between the first and second body corners 48
and 50, is greater than the distance between the first and second
base corners 44 and 46. Furthermore, the exterior angle formed
between each of the first and second lower body side edges 40 and
42 and the base is typically between 50 to 70 degrees when the
pouch is in an empty, flattened condition. Due to these structural
features of the pouch, the pouch can therefore assume a stable
upright position when the pouch is filled and sealed, and supported
by a surface, as shown in FIG. 1. It is important to note that when
the pouch is filled and sealed, the weight of the liquid inside the
pouch creates an indent in the region around the midpoint of each
of the first and second lower body side edges 40 and 42. As a
result, when the filled pouch is supported on a surface, each of
the first and second lower body side edges 40 and 42 is folded at
the indent, and is such that each of the first and second body
corners 48 and 50 is outwardly located of the respective first and
second base corners 44 and 46.
[0074] Not only does the geometry of the first and second lower
body side edges 40 and 42 described above provide stability to the
filled pouch in an upright position when resting on a supporting
surface, the complementary geometry of the first and second neck
side edges 34 and 36 of the neck also provides a "tear-away" tab 56
(FIG. 1). Indeed, the wider portion of the neck 30 defined by the
top edge 32, and the first and second neck side edges 34 and 36
gives the consumer a greater surface of the pouch to grab onto such
that tearing of the tab is facilitated.
[0075] Further, in order for the consumer to open the pouch with
ease to access the liquid contained therein, the pouch 10 has at
least one notch 58 along one of the first and second neck side
edges 34 and 36 so as to facilitate tearing of the neck 30 (FIG.
3). Thus, the pouch 10 may be easily opened without the use of
scissors or any other auxiliary tools.
[0076] Referring now to FIG. 8, a plurality of pouches 400 is
shown. Each one of the pouches is in a complementary fashion one to
another. The structure of pouch 400 is similar to pouch 10, with
the exception that pouch 400 does not have first and second
shoulders 26 and 28, and that pouch 400 is asymmetrical. Pouch 400
has a long elongated body 18. Similar to pouch 10, the base 20 of
pouch 400 is structured in the same manner that when the pouch 400
is filled, sealed and placed on a supporting surface, hydraulic
pressure exerted by the liquid on the base 20 causes the first and
second lower body side edges 40 and 42 to collapse, so as to stable
pouch 400 in an upright position.
[0077] Typically, the sheeted material is chosen from the group
consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl
chloride, aluminum foil, aluminum metallized film, and combinations
thereof. As is known to those skill in the art, any suitable
flexible, lightweight sheeted material may be used. The sheeted
material may be a single layer or multi-layer, extruded or
co-extruded. Most importantly, the sheeted material should be
suitable for contact with food materials.
[0078] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sheeted
material forming the inside surfaces of the pouch is polyethylene,
and the sheeted material forming the outside of the pouch is
polyester.
[0079] In another embodiment of the present invention, the pouch is
extruded in such a manner that the pouch has a crosswise grain.
Thus, the lines of weakness of the pouch are formed in a crosswise
direction.
[0080] As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the filled pouch is in
an upright position and no external pressure is applied to the body
18 of the pouch 20, the liquid which is inside the pouch resides in
the body 18, and the neck 30 remains deflated. However, when
external pressure is applied to the body 18 of the pouch, as shown
in FIG. 9, the liquid inside the body flows into the neck 30, and
thus substantially inflating the neck 30.
[0081] Other modifications and alterations may be used in the
design and manufacture of the apparatus of the present invention
without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying
claims.
[0082] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow,
unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and
variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood
to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of
integers or steps but not to the exclusion of any other integer or
step or group of integers or steps.
* * * * *