U.S. patent application number 10/595090 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for paper package and straw.
Invention is credited to Norihiko Akahane, Toshiya Daikyo, Toshiyuki Hamasaki, Kiyohide Takahashi, Chisato Tanai, Yuji Uda.
Application Number | 20070108259 10/595090 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34131675 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070108259 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daikyo; Toshiya ; et
al. |
May 17, 2007 |
Paper package and straw
Abstract
A person thrusts a straw into a press-foldable paper package
(20) through an insertion section (36) formed in the top thereof,
whereupon he or she can pressingly fold the package flat from
outside so as to press out the contents for drinking. The top and
bottom of the package are bent flat, and triangular projections
(21) disposed in the top and projection left and right are bent
downward and are weakly adhesively bonded to the lateral surfaces
(25) of the package by thermal processing. Disposed below the
opposite surfaces (25) of the package are an inverted V-shaped fold
(27) in a triangle surface with their bottoms (24) on the bottom
side, and vertical folds (29) extending vertically upward from the
vertexes (28). The lateral surface (25) of the package can be
folded flat by folding the vertical folds (29) and inverted
V-shaped folds (27). A first horizontal fold (31) and a second
horizontal fold (34) are disposed below and above the front surface
(30), respectively, to allow the front half of the upper surface
and the front half of the bottom surface to be folded flat onto the
front surface (30).
Inventors: |
Daikyo; Toshiya; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Hamasaki; Toshiyuki; (Tokyo, JP) ; Uda;
Yuji; (Tokyo, JP) ; Tanai; Chisato; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Akahane; Norihiko; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Takahashi; Kiyohide; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
34131675 |
Appl. No.: |
10/595090 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
August 6, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/11682 |
371 Date: |
May 4, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/103.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2231/02 20130101;
A47G 21/18 20130101; B65D 5/065 20130101; B65D 77/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/103.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 77/28 20060101
B65D077/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 11, 2003 |
JP |
2003-291777 |
Claims
1. A paper package wherein thick paper material having a waterproof
thin film on its inner surface is cylindrically formed, its upper
and lower edges are sealed and bent to form a top portion (35) and
a bottom portion (24) opposite to each other, a front portion (30)
and a back portion (38) opposite to each other, a pair of lateral
surfaces (5, 25), triangular projections (21, 21) disposed upward
and projected right and left are brought in close contact with the
lateral surfaces (25, 25), triangular projections (22, 22) disposed
downward and projected right and left are brought in close contact
with the bottom portion (24) to form a square box shape, an
insertion section (36) for inserting a straw is formed on the top
portion (35), and the upper triangular projections (21, 21) are
weakly bonded to the lateral surfaces (25, 25) by thermal
processing.
2. A paper package wherein thick paper material having a waterproof
thin film on its inner surface is cylindrically formed, its upper
and lower edges are sealed and bent to form a top portion (35) and
a bottom portion (24) opposite to each other, a front portion (30)
and a back portion (38) opposite to each other, a pair of lateral
surfaces (25, 25), triangular projections (21, 21) disposed upward
and projected right and left are brought in close contact with the
lateral surfaces (25, 25), triangular projections (22, 22) disposed
downward and projected right and left are brought in close contact
with the bottom portion (24) to form a square box shape, an
insertion section (36) for inserting a straw is formed on the top
portion (35), and the upper triangular projections (21, 21) are
sealed and wrapped around the lateral surfaces (25, 25) with a film
(40).
3. A paper package wherein thick paper material having a waterproof
thin film on its inner surface is cylindrically formed, its upper
and lower edges are sealed and bent to form a top portion (35) and
a bottom portion (24) opposite to each other, a front portion (30)
and a back portion (38) opposite to each other, a pair of lateral
surfaces (25, 25), triangular projections (21, 21) disposed upward
and projected right and left are brought in close contact with the
lateral surfaces (25, 25), triangular projections (22, 22) disposed
downward and projected right and left are brought in close contact
with the bottom portion (24) to form a square box shape, an
insertion section (36) for inserting a straw is formed on the top
portion (35), and the pair of lateral surfaces (25, 25) has
inverted V-shaped folds (27, 27) deciding triangular surfaces (27a,
27a) of isosceles triangular shape using base portions that are
intersections formed by the lateral surfaces (25, 25) and the
bottom portion (24) as base sides and vertical folds (29, 29)
extending to vertexes (23, 23) of the upper triangular projections
(21, 21) from vertexes (28, 28) of the triangular surfaces (27a,
27a).
4. The paper package according to claim 1, wherein the paper
package comprises a first horizontal fold (31) passing through both
vertexes (28, 28) of the triangular surfaces (27a, 27a) and being
in parallel with the bottom portion (24).
5. The paper package according to claim 4, wherein the first
horizontal fold (31) passes through at least one of the front
portion (30) and the back portion (38).
6. The paper package according to claim 4, wherein a distance (d1)
between the first horizontal fold (31) and the bottom portion (24)
is 1/2 of a width (w1) of the bottom portion (24).
7. The paper package according to claim 4, wherein the paper
package comprises at least one auxiliary fold (32) having a
distance corresponding to a natural number multiple of a width (w1)
of the bottom portion (24) from the first horizontal fold (31), and
being parallel with the first horizontal fold (31).
8. The paper package according to claim 1, wherein the paper
package comprises a second horizontal fold (34) passing through
both vertexes (23, 23) of the upper triangular projections (21, 21)
and being in parallel with the top portion (35).
9. The paper package according to claim 8, wherein a distance (d2)
between the second horizontal fold (34) and the top portion (35) is
1/2 of a width (w2) of the top portion (35).
10. The paper package according to claim 7, wherein the insertion
section (36) is disposed on a back surface potion of the top
portion (35) and the second horizontal fold (34) passes through the
front portion (30).
11. The paper package according to claim 1, wherein contents having
viscosity of 10 mPas and more are packed.
12. A straw that is a straw (4b) removably secured to a straw
insertion section (36) formed on a press-deformable package (20),
comprising: a cylindrical base section (12); a stop section (6a)
connected to an inner surface of the package to prevent detachment
of the straw; and at least one through hole (7a) being adjacent to
the stop section, wherein a total of an opening area of the through
hole is equal and greater than a cross section of the base section
in a diameter direction.
13. The straw according to claim 12, wherein the stop section (6a)
has a taper portion with its outer diameter gradually decreasing to
the through hole side from an opening for drinking.
14. The straw according to claim 12, wherein an maximum outer
diameter of the taper portion of the stop section (6a) is smaller
than a sum of an outer diameter of the base portion (12) and a
thickness of a straw tube wall and greater than the outer diameter
of the base portion.
15. The paper package according to claim 2, wherein the paper
package comprises a first horizontal fold (31) passing through both
vertexes (28, 28) of the triangular surfaces (27a, 27a) and being
in parallel with the bottom portion (24).
16. The paper package according to claim 3, wherein the paper
package comprises a first horizontal fold (31) passing through both
vertexes (28, 28) of the triangular surfaces (27a, 27a) and being
in parallel with the bottom portion (24).
17. The paper package according to claim 2, wherein the paper
package comprises a second horizontal fold (34) passing through
both vertexes (23, 23) of the upper triangular projections (21, 21)
and being in parallel with the top portion (35).
18. The paper package according to claim 3, wherein the paper
package comprises a second horizontal fold (34) passing through
both vertexes (23, 23) of the upper triangular projections (21, 21)
and being in parallel with the top portion (35).
19. The paper package according to claim 2, wherein contents having
viscosity of 10 mPas and more are packed.
20. The paper package according to claim 3, wherein contents having
viscosity of 10 mPas and more are packed.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a press-deformable paper package
and a straw wherein contents of juice, refreshing drinks,
particularly, jelly food and the like contained in a paper package
are drinkable by an external pressure without using a sucking
force.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As illustrated in FIG. 16, a paper package 1 containing
various kinds of refreshing drinks such as milk, a refreshing
drink, juice and the like has an insertion section 2 into which a
straw 3 is thrust in a top surface section 9 of the package to
drink various kinds of refreshing drinks therein to allow drinking
from an upper end of the straw whose tip end is thrust into a
sealed film covering the insertion section. Unexamined Japanese
Patent Publication 2000-313435 discloses such straw 3 which has a
tip end that is obliquely shaped to be easily thrust into the
insertion section 2 and which is attached to an outer surface of
the package in a state that it is contained in a transparent bag
5.
[0003] The conventional straw 3 is formed longer than the height of
the paper package 1, and is obliquely attached to the outside of
the package and the tip end inserted into the insertion section 2
has a length reaching a bottom of the package, and the tip end of
the straw reaches the bottom even if a liquid level of the contents
falls, thus making it possible to drink the contents put to one
side by inclining the package without leaving them. However, when a
person holds the straw thrust into the insertion section 2 in
his/her mouth and drinks the contents while sucking the straw or
the contents are transferred to a feeding bottle or a cup, the
interior of the package is gradually decompressed to make it
impossible to draw the contents through the straw upon flow of the
contents outside, and as a result there is need to press the
package from outside to improve internal pressure.
[0004] When the package in which the contents are reduced by
drinking is inverted, the tip end of the straw is exposed from the
refreshing drink, so that he/she cannot drink the contents.
Moreover, since the straw 3 with a cross-section of the same shape
was simply thrust into the insertion section 2, there was a
possibility that the straw would be easily detached from the
insertion section 2 when being erroneously pulled outward, causing
the contents to flow from the package to dirty a dress and the
like. Straws with consideration given to such a problem of the
conventional straw are disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent
Publication 2002-249172 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication
2002-355161.
[0005] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an improved straw 4a, which is to
be inserted into an insertion section 36 formed in a
press-deformable package 20 made of paper and the like, has a stop
section 6 of an arbitrary shape at its substantially intermediate
portion and is hooked on the insertion section 36. A through hole 7
is formed at a position with a distance, which is substantially the
same as a width W of material that forms the package 20, from the
stop section 6 and an oblique opening 8 is formed at the tip end of
the straw, respectively. The number of through holes 7 may be one
or multiple. The refreshing drink in the package is made to flow
through the through hole 7 besides the opening 8, making it
possible to drink the refreshing drink.
[0006] In the case where the contents are transferred to the cup or
feeding bottle through the straw 4a thrust into the insertion
section 36, one or two or more through holes 7 are formed close to
the stop section 6 of the straw, so that the refreshing drink in
the package 20 is taken in through the opening 8 or the through
hole 7 to make it possible to transfer to the other container. In
this case, with the conventional long straw, the reduction of the
refreshing drink in the package causes the tip end of the straw to
be exposed outside the refreshing drink, making it impossible to
drink the contents, however, since the straw 4a illustrated in FIG.
1 has the through hole 7 close to the wall surface of the package
20 in addition to the opening 8 formed at the tip end, it is
possible to drink the contents completely and transfer them if the
package is inverted (FIG. 14).
[0007] In another improved straw 4b illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4
using the principle of the aforementioned straw 4a, the tip end
thereof has an oblique opening 8a formed at an tip end of a taper
cylinder 11 that is taper shaped to be easily thrust into the
insertion section 36 formed in the package, and an intermediate
portion has a stopping portion 6a having substantially a
taper-shaped diameter and a stopper function, a step portion 6a,
and a through hole 7a close to the stop section in order to prevent
easy detachment of the straw 4b thrust into a bellows portion 10
that is extendable and bendable in a fixed range and the insertion
section 36. The straw illustrated in FIG. 3 has the vertical step
portion 6b, which is continuous to a maximum outer diameter portion
of the stop section 6a, on a straw outer periphery surface, and the
straw illustrated in FIG. 4 has the step portion 6b, which is
formed vertically from an end portion of a cylinder section 6c
being continuous to the maximum outer diameter portion of the stop
section 6a and having a reinforcing function, in such a manner to
be continuous to a base section 12 on the straw outer periphery
surface.
[0008] When the contents of the package 20 are reduced to expose
the opening 8a at the tip end of the straw 4b outside the
refreshing drink (FIG. 14), the contents enter the straw through
the through hole 7a. In other words, when the person sucks the
straw 4b thrust into the insertion section 36 while holding the
straw in his/her mouth with the bottom of the package 20 upward,
he/she can drink the contents completely. Moreover, in the case of
transferring the contents to the cup or feeding bottle, since the
contents can be taken in through the through hole 7a even if the
residual quantity is reduced to expose the opening 8a of the straw
outside the refreshing drink, it is possible to transfer the
contents to the other container.
[0009] Though the typical conventional paper package 1 is
illustrated in FIG. 16, thick paper material with a water-proof
thin film 13 such as aluminum foil, polyethylene resin, etc. on its
inner surface (FIG. 14) is cylindrically shaped, its upper and
lower edges are brought in close contact with each other to be bent
in a square box shape, triangular projections, which are projected
to the upper and lower and right and left of both lateral surfaces
respectively, are bent downward, and the lateral surfaces and the
bottom surface are adhesively bonded to each other to assemble the
entirety in a rectangular box shape.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0010] The water-proof film, which seals the insertion section 2
formed in the top surface section 9 of the paper package 1, comes
in close contact with the outer periphery surface of the straw and
seals the outer section when the straw 3 is thrust thereinto, and
when the person sucks the contents with the straw held in his/her
mouth, the package is pressed from outside and deformed by a
negative pressure caused in the interior of the package 1 according
to reduction in the contents. After that, when the straw 3 is
removed from his/her mouth, air is taken into the interior by the
negative pressure and the package is returned to the original
condition, the person sucks the straw again while holding the straw
in his/her mouth again to drink the contents by repeating the
above. Generally, it is common that the person holds the straw with
his/her mouth to drink the contents of the package by a sucking
force.
[0011] However, in the case of the contents of viscous liquid
having viscosity such as a jelly drink rather than a solution such
as a refreshing drink, a strong sucking force is required to drink
them through the straw. For this reason, it was difficult for
persons such as infants, sick persons, old persons, who were too
weak physically to produce a strong sucking force, to drink the
contents.
[0012] Furthermore, there is a package made of soft resin material,
for example, soft material such as polyethylene resin, aluminum
foil wherein a person holds a squeezable package in his/her hand
and presses out a jelly drink as contents while squeezing them. In
this case, there were problems in which a strong force for
squeezing was required instead of the sucking force, the cost of
package material was increased, and much time was required for
garbage disposal since packages whose contents were drunk up had to
be sorted.
[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a paper
package and straw wherein a press-deformable paper package is
pressed and folded from the outside thereof to make it possible to
drink contents therein completely without the need of a sucking
force and transfer the contents to the other container.
[0014] The present invention is a paper package wherein thick paper
material having a waterproof thin film on its inner surface is
cylindrically formed, its upper and lower edges are sealed and bent
to form a top portion 35 and a bottom portion 24 opposite to each
other, a front portion 30 and a back portion 38 opposite to each
other, a pair of lateral surfaces 25, 25, triangular projections
21, 21 disposed upward and projected right and left are brought in
close contact with the lateral surfaces 25, 25, triangular
projections 22, 22 disposed downward and projected right and left
are brought in close contact with the bottom portion 24 to form a
square box shape, an insertion section 36 for inserting a straw is
formed on the top portion 35, and the upper triangular projections
21, 21 are weakly bonded to the lateral surfaces 25, 25 by thermal
processing or heat treatment. Since the triangular projections are
weakly bonded to the lateral surfaces, they can be easily peeled
off from the lateral surfaces without causing damage on the nails
and the upper portions of the lateral surfaces of the package are
easily folded to allow the contents to be pushed out.
[0015] Moreover, the present invention is a paper package wherein
thick paper material having a waterproof thin film on its inner
surface is cylindrically formed, its upper and lower edges are
sealed and bent to form a top portion 35 and a bottom portion 24
opposite to each other, a front portion 30 and a back portion 38
opposite to each other, a pair of lateral surfaces 25, 25,
triangular projections 21, 21 disposed upward and projected right
and left are brought in close contact with the lateral surfaces 25,
25, triangular projections 22, 22 disposed downward and projected
right and left are brought in close contact with the bottom portion
24 to form a square box shape, an insertion section 36 for
inserting a straw is formed on the top portion 35, and the upper
triangular projections 21, 21 are sealed and wrapped around the
lateral surfaces 25, 25 with a film 40. Since the triangular
projections are peeled off from the lateral surfaces by breaking
the film, the upper portions of the lateral surfaces of the package
are folded to allow the contents to be pushed out.
[0016] Furthermore, the present invention is a paper package
wherein thick paper material having a waterproof thin film on its
inner surface is cylindrically formed, its upper and lower edges
are sealed and bent to form a top portion 35 and a bottom portion
24 opposite to each other, a front portion 30 and a back portion 38
opposite to each other, a pair of lateral surfaces 25, 25,
triangular projections 21, 21 disposed upward and projected right
and left are brought in close contact with the lateral surfaces 25,
25, triangular projections 22, 22 disposed downward and projected
right and left are brought in close contact with the bottom portion
24 to form a square box shape, an insertion section 36 for
inserting a straw is formed on the top portion 35, and the pair of
lateral surfaces 25, 25 has inverted V-shaped folds 27, 27 deciding
triangular surfaces 27a, 27a of isosceles triangular shape using
base portions 26, 26 that are intersections formed by the lateral
surfaces 25, 25 and the bottom portion 24 as base sides and
vertical folds 29, 29 extending to vertexes 23, 23 of the upper
triangular projections 21, 21 from vertexes 28, 28 of the
triangular surfaces 27a, 27a. Thus, since the vertical folds formed
on the paired lateral surfaces of the square box shape whose upper
and lower edges are sealed are connected to the vertexes of the
inverted V-shaped folds disposed downward, the triangular surfaces
disposed on the lower portions of the lateral surfaces are
projected outward and the lateral surfaces are folded in two and
made flat to allow the contents to press outward.
[0017] Moreover, in the present invention includes a first
horizontal fold 31 passing through both vertexes 28, 28 of the
triangular surfaces 27a, 27a and being in parallel with the bottom
portion 24. For this reason, the front portion of the bottom
portion of the square box shape can be folded flat on the front
portion.
[0018] Still moreover, in the present invention, the first
horizontal fold 31 passes through at least one of the front portion
30 and the back portion 38. The first horizontal fold 31 may be
formed on the front portion 30, and even if it is formed on the
back portion 38, a similar function can be obtained.
[0019] Still moreover, in the present invention, a distance d 1
between the first horizontal fold 31 and the bottom portion 24 is
1/2 of a width w1 of the bottom portion 24. For this reason, the
front portion of the bottom portion 24 can be folded flat on the
front portion 30 with the first horizontal fold 32 inside.
[0020] Still moreover, the present invention includes at least one
auxiliary fold 32 having a distance corresponding to a natural
number multiple of a width w1 of the bottom portion 24 from the
first horizontal fold 31, and being parallel with the first
horizontal fold 31. In such a large-sized container, if the
auxiliary fold 32 is formed on the front portion 30, the contents
are moved upward while the bottom portion 24 folded flat on the
front portion 30 is bent sequentially, making it possible to push
the contents outward from the straw.
[0021] Still moreover, the paper package includes a second
horizontal fold 34 passing through both vertexes 23, 23 of the
upper triangular projections 21, 21 and being in parallel with the
top portion. For this reason, the front half of the top portion 35
is folded flat on the front portion 30 with the second horizontal
fold 34 formed on the front portion inside without peeling off the
upper triangular projections 21, 21 from the lateral surfaces 25,
25, making it possible to press the contents outward.
[0022] Still moreover, in the present invention, a distance d2
between the second horizontal fold 34 and the top portion 35 is 1/2
of a width W2 of the top portion 35. For this reason, the front
portion of the upper surface 35 can be folded flat on the front
portion 30 with the second horizontal fold 34 inside.
[0023] Still moreover, in the present invention, the insertion
section 36 is disposed on a back surface potion of the top portion
35 and the second horizontal fold 34 passes through the front
portion 30.
[0024] Still moreover, in the present invention, contents having
viscosity of 10 mPas and more are packed. In the case of the
refreshing drinks, it is possible to suck them by even a weak
sucking force since the viscosity is low, however, in the case of
the contents having a high viscosity such as rice gruel, it is
difficult to suck the contents unless a strong sucking force is
generated. For this reason, according to the present invention,
even when the strong sucking force is required, for example, in the
case of eating the contents having a high viscosity of 10 mPas and
more, it is possible to easily eat them by only a pressing force
from outside without the need of the sucking force.
[0025] Still moreover, the present invention is a straw that is a
straw 4b removably secured to a straw insertion section 36 formed
on a press-deformable package 20, including a cylindrical base
section 12; a stop section 6a connected to an inner surface of the
package to prevent detachment of the straw; and at least one
through hole 7a being adjacent to the stop section, wherein a total
of an opening area of the through hole is equal and greater than a
cross section of the base section in a diameter direction.
[0026] Still moreover, in the present invention, the stop section
6a has a taper portion with its outer diameter gradually decreasing
to the through hole side from an opening for drinking.
[0027] Still moreover, in the present invention, a maximum outer
diameter of the taper portion of the stop section 6a is smaller
than a sum of an outer diameter of the base portion 12 and a
thickness of a straw tube wall and greater than the outer diameter
of the base portion.
[0028] The present invention is the paper package and straw which
includes a foldable package and viscous fluid and which facilitates
the flow of contents, and since the contents of the
press-deformable package are drunk, even if a person does not suck
the straw thrust into the insertion section of the package or
cannot suck the straw, guiding folds are formed to fold the package
flat and the package is pressed from outside to be deformed flat to
allow the contents to be pressed outward from the straw. Though the
strong sucking force is required to drink the contents having a
high viscous fluid, even persons such as infants, old persons, sick
persons, who are too weak physically to generate a strong sucking
force, can press the contents of the package outward by the
pressing force from outside to make it possible to drink them.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first straw;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a plane view of a second straw;
[0031] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a general part
of FIG. 2;
[0032] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a general part
illustrating another embodiment of a straw;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a paper package according to
the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a front view of a state in which triangular
projections of an upper portion of the package are bent upward;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a front view of a state in which a front portion,
which forms a top portion of a package where a straw is thrust into
an insertion section, and a back surface are respectively made flat
and are brought in close contact with each other;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a plane view of a state in which a front half of a
package bottom portion is folded to a front side from a first
horizontal fold and is made flat;
[0037] FIG. 9 is a plane view of a state in which a bottom portion
is folded upward to a front side from an auxiliary fold and is made
flat;
[0038] FIG. 10 is a plane view of a state in which a bottom portion
is folded upward to a front side from a second auxiliary fold and
is made flat;
[0039] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a paper package of a second
embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 12 is a plane view of a state in which the same package
is folded flat;
[0041] FIG. 13 is a back view of FIG. 12;
[0042] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a
straw is thrust into an insertion section of a package;
[0043] FIG. 15 is a side view of a state in which three paper
packages are wrapped together with a transparent film; and
[0044] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a conventional paper
package.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0045] The following will specifically explain embodiments of the
present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0046] Referring to the explanation of a press-deformable package
20 illustrated in FIG. 5, a pair of both lateral surfaces 25, 25, a
front portion 30 and a back portion 38 of a box shape 15, which is
formed in such a way that thick paper material having a water-proof
thin film 13 (FIG. 14) on its inner surface is cylindrically shaped
and its upper and lower edges are sealed and bent, and upper and
lower portions of the front surface and the back surface are bent
flat to be projected right and left to form triangular projections
21, 21, 22, 22, respectively. The lower triangular projections 22,
22 are bent downward to be bonded to a lower surface of a bottom
portion 24, respectively (FIG. 6). Moreover, the upper triangular
projections 21, 21 are bent downward and weakly thermal bonded to
the lateral surfaces 25, 25 (FIG. 6).
[0047] At the lower portions of the paired lateral surfaces 25, 25
provided in the square box shape 15 that forms the package 20,
there are disposed triangular surfaces 27a, 27a formed by base
portions 26, 26 that are edges of the bottom portion 24 and
inverted V-shaped folds 27, 27 that connect vertexes of edge lines
of right-angled isosceles triangles using the base portions as
bottom sides. Moreover, vertexes 28 of the inverted V-shaped folds
are connected to vertical folds 29 vertically formed in
intermediate portions of the lateral surfaces, and upper ends of
the vertical folds 29 are extended to upper ends of the lateral
surfaces. Furthermore, a first horizontal fold 31, auxiliary folds
32, 33 are formed in a front surface 30 in order from the lower
portion to be parallel with the bottom portion 24, respectively,
and an insertion section 36 through which the straw is thrust is
formed in a top portion 35.
[0048] An upper surface of the press-deformable package 20 is
brought in close contact with both lateral surfaces 25, 25 by
downward folding the triangular projections 21, 21 projecting to
the right and left of the top portion 35 that is made flat in
substantially parallel with the bottom portion 24, or the
triangular projections 21, 21 are weakly bonded to the lateral
surfaces by thermal processing or heat treatment. In other words,
bonding strength can be freely adjusted by controlling heating
temperature or heating time. More specifically, the bonding
strength is set to preferably 15N/15 mm or less and more preferably
10N/15 mm in order that even persons such as infants, sick persons,
who are weak physically, can easily feel the triangular projections
21, 21. The triangular projections 21, 21 are folded downward to be
brought in close contact with the lateral surfaces 25, 25, and
sealed and wrapped with a transparent film 40 from outside thereof,
thereby reinforcing the lateral surfaces 25, 25 placed at the upper
portion of the package 20.
[0049] In the case where three packages 20 are wrapped with the
transparent film to be easily dealt as one pack as illustrated in
FIG. 15, the upper triangular projections 21, 21 are brought in
close contact with the lateral surfaces 25, 25 to reinforce the
upper portions of the lateral surfaces by the film. In the case
where the number of packages 20 is one and the outside of the
package is not wrapped with the transparent film 40, the triangular
projections 21, 21 are weakly bonded to the lateral surfaces 25, 25
by thermal processing or heat treatment to reinforce the upper
portions of the lateral surfaces 25, 25.
[0050] The triangular projections 22, 22 that project right and
left at the lower portions of the package 20 are folded to the
lower surface of the bottom portion 24 and are integrally bonded
thereto, and the lower portions of the lateral surfaces 25, 25 are
reinforced by the base portions 26 placed at the edges of the
bottom portion. Accordingly, both lateral surfaces 25, 25 of the
package 20 are reinforced by the upper and lower triangular
projections 21, 21, 22, 22 to allow the square box shape 15 to be
maintained.
[0051] When the upper triangular projections 21, 21, which are in
close contact with the lateral surfaces 25, 25, are peeled off by
breaking the transparent film 40 or the upper triangular
projections 21, 21, which are weakly bonded to the lateral surfaces
25, are peeled off by a long nail with polish, a weak force may be
required, so that nail polish is not removed and the long nail is
not cracked. If the triangular projections 21, 21 are bent upward
to be positioned horizontally (FIG. 6), strength of the upper
portions of the lateral surfaces 25 in an axial direction are lost.
For this reason, when both corner portions A, A (FIG. 5) of the
upper portions of the package are pressed from outside,
respectively, the upper portions of the lateral surfaces are folded
in two with vertical folds 29, 29 upward, the triangular
projections 21, 21 are cancelled, the front portion 30 and the back
portion 38 are folded in two from the vertical folds 29, 29 and
made flat, and the upper portions of the package are deformed flat
by a pressing force applied from outside to allow the contents to
be pressed outward through the straw 4b (FIG. 7).
[0052] Though the contents such as refreshing drinks having a low
viscosity can be sucked even if the sucking force is low, it is
appropriate that an upper limit of viscosity of jelly food such as
rice gruel be one million mPas and that a lower limit thereof be 10
mPas and more. Namely, in the case of the contents having a high
viscosity, sick persons, old persons and the like can not eat the
contents unless they suck the straw with a strong sucking force,
however, according to the present invention, it is possible to
press out the contents by pressing the package from outside without
the need of sucking force. Accordingly, care assistants except such
persons press the package to make it possible to have such persons
eat the contents.
[0053] At the lower portion of the front portion 30, there is
formed a first horizontal fold 31, which is parallel with the
bottom portion 24, is formed by connecting an intersection of
horizontal lines S, S, which pass through the vertexes 28, 28 of
the inverted folds 27, 27 disposed at the lower portions of the
lateral surfaces 25, 25 of the package and the front portion 30, so
that a substantially front half of the bottom portion can be folded
flat on the front portion 30 with the fold 31 inside when both
corner portions B, B at the front side of the bottom portion 24 of
the package are pressed obliquely upward (FIG. 8). When the front
half of the bottom portion 24 with width W1 is folded on the front
portion 30 with the first horizontal fold 31 inside, in the lower
portions of the lateral surfaces 25, 25, the triangular surfaces
27a, 27a having the vertexes 28, 28 at which the inverted V-shaped
folds 27, 27 are folded and projected outward are projected to both
outsides of the bottom portion 24.
[0054] The bottom portion 24 and the respective triangular surfaces
27a placed at both sides of the bottom portion form a bottom part
integrally with the bottom portion 24, the front portion of the
bottom portion folded with the first horizontal fold 31 inside is
folded on the front portion 30, the vertical folds 29, 29
connecting to the vertexes 28, 28 project outward, the lateral
surfaces 25, 25 are folded in two, the front portion 30 and the
back portion 38 are folded flat, and the contents flows outward
through the straw inserted into the insertion hole 36.
[0055] Since the first horizontal fold 31 disposed in parallel with
the bottom portion 24 is formed on the front portion 30 and a
distance between the fold 31 and the bottom portion 24 is set to a
length d1 corresponding to a half of width w1 of the bottom portion
24, the front half of the bottom portion 24 folded with the first
horizontal fold 31 inside is folded flat on the front portion 30
(FIG. 8).
[0056] An auxiliary fold 32 is formed in parallel with the first
horizontal fold 31 disposed on the front portion 30 of the package
and with substantially the same distance as width w1 of the bottom
portion 24, and when the package 20 is long, a second auxiliary
fold 33 may be formed as required so that the bottom portion 24 is
sequentially folded in the same direction to press out the contents
of the package (FIG. 10).
[0057] As mentioned above, since the vertical folds 29, 29
vertically disposed at the intermediate portions of both lateral
surfaces 25, 25 and the vertexes 28, 28 of lower inverted V-shaped
folds 27, 27 are connected, when the upper triangular projections
21, 21 are separated from the lateral surfaces 25, 25 and are
positioned horizontally (FIG. 6) and, thereafter, the respective
intersections A, A, A, A of both upper end corners are pressed and
folded from outside and both corners B, B of the lower front side
are pressed obliquely upward, the bottom portion 24 is folded flat
with the first horizontal fold 31 inside as illustrated in FIG. 8.
Since the first horizontal fold 31, the auxiliary folds 32, 33 are
disposed on the front portion 30 from the lower portion, the
vertical folds 29 are projected outward and are folded in two and
made flat on both lateral surfaces 25 and the front half of the
bottom portion 24 with width w1 is folded flat on the front portion
30 with the first horizontal fold 31 inside, allowing the contents
to be pressed out.
[0058] Referring to the explanation of another embodiment of the
present invention based on FIG. 11, a small-size press-deformable
package 20a with capacity of about 100 to 125 ml has substantially
the same shape as that of FIG. 5 and some difference in folds
therefrom, upper and lower ends of cylindrical-shaped thick paper
material are sealed and bent to the square box shape 15 to form
both lateral surfaces 25, 25, the front portion 30, and the back
portion 30, and the upper and lower portions of the square box
shape 15 are formed flat. The upper and lower triangular
projections 21, 21, and 22 and 22 (FIG. 8), which are formed by
projecting the upper and lower portions of the package 20a right
and left, are bent downward, respectively, the upper triangular
portions 21, 21 and the lower triangular portions 22, 22 are bonded
to the lateral surfaces 25, 25 and the lower surface of the bottom
portion 24, respectively. In addition, the same reference numerals
as those aforementioned indicate the same portions as those
aforementioned.
[0059] At the lower portion of the square box shape 15, the
vertexes 28, 28 of the inverted V-shaped folds 27, 27, which
connect vertexes of edge lines of right-angled isosceles triangles
using the base portions 26 that are edges of the bottom portion 24
as bottom sides, are connected to the vertical folds 29, 29 that
are vertically placed at the intermediate portions of the lateral
surfaces 25, 25. The upper portions of the vertical folds 29, 29
are connected to one ends of horizontal lines T, T passing through
the lower portions of the upper triangular projections 21, 21, and
connects an intersection of the other ends of the horizontal lines
T, T and the front portion 30, so that a second horizontal fold 34,
which is parallel to the bottom portion 24, is formed on the front
portion 30. Moreover, at the lower portion of the front portion 30,
there is formed the first horizontal fold 31 disposed on a straight
line that connects the intersection of the horizontal lines S, S,
which pass through the vertexes 28, 28 of the inverted V-shaped
folds 27, 27, and the front portion 30. Additionally, unlike FIG.
5, the insertion section 36 formed on the top portion 35 is formed
on a side opposite to a side having a package ear portion 35a, and
even if the top portion 35 of the front side of the package ear
portion 35a is folded on the front portion 30 with the second
horizontal fold 34 inside, the top portion at the side having the
insertion port 36 is not positioned at the side where it is folded
with the second horizontal fold 34 inside, so that an excessive
force is not applied to the straw inserted into the insertion hole
36.
[0060] In the case of drinking the contents of the package 20a,
when the person thrusts the straw into the insertion section 36 and
holds the end portion of the straw in his/her mouth and presses
both upper sides of the front portion 30 and the back portion 38 of
the package downward and both lower front sides upward from
outside, the lateral surfaces 25, 25 are folded in two and made
flat by projecting the vertical folds 29, 29 disposed at their
intermediate portions upward, thus making it possible to the
contents to be pressed outward through the straw thrust into the
insertion section 36.
[0061] When the package 20a is folded in a state that the second
horizontal hold 34 disposed on the upper portion of the front
portion 30 and the first horizontal fold 31 disposed on the lower
portion are positioned inside, respectively, the top portion 35 and
the bottom portion 24 are made flat on the front portion 30 to
press the package from outside, making it possible to press the
contents outward. As illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13, the bottom
portion 24 and the top portion 35 are made flat and are folded on
the front portion 30, so that the interior of the package is
narrowed. In this case, when the front portion 30 and the back
portion 38 are pressed from outside, the front half of the top
portion 35 with width W2 is folded on the top portion 30 with the
second horizontal fold 34 inside and the front half of the bottom
portion 24 is folded on the front portion 30 with the first
horizontal fold 31 inside, so that the package 20a is folded flat.
In the back view of the package, the back portion 38 is plane
shaped as illustrated in FIG. 13 and the package is crushed flat to
make it possible to press out the contents through the straw 4b by
the pressing force from outside without the need of sucking force.
Particularly, in the case of the small-size package of about 100 ml
or 125 ml, unlike FIG. 5, there is no need to form the auxiliary
folds 32, 33 on the front portion 30. Accordingly, unlike the first
embodiment, since there is no need to peel off the triangular
projections 21, 21 from the lateral surface 25, no damage is caused
to the nails and this offers convenience to the sick persons having
handicapped finger tips, old persons, and infants.
[0062] Thus, the package 20 is pressed from outside and is folded
flat, persons such as sick persons, old persons, infants, who are
weak physically, can press the contents with high viscosity outside
the package through the straw and eat them safely without the need
of sucking force. The press-deformable package used here includes a
paper package, a plastic package and the like, and indicates a
general package formed of material that is folded flat by being
pressed outside.
[0063] Referring to the explanation of the straw of the embodiment
of the present invention, the straw, made of paper material,
synthetic resin, is cylindrically shaped, and includes the stop
section having the bellows portion 10, which is bendable from the
opening for drinking at its intermediate portion of the straw, and
a taper portion that gradually decreases toward the top end, the
through hole 7a formed close to the stop section 6a, a taper
cylinder 11, and an opening 8a, respectively. When being thrust
into the insertion section 36, the taper cylinder 11 can be guided
to the taper portion to be correctly thrust thereinto even if it is
slightly deviated from the center. The through hole 7a has an
opening area, which is equal and greater than a cross section of
the straw in a diameter direction. The opening area mentioned here
indicates an area on a plane where the outer periphery surface of
the straw is developed. In other words, when the size of the
opening area of the through hole formed on the straw is below the
cross section of the straw, there is a possibility that a force
required for pressing out will be excessively increased. Moreover,
in view of the point that strength of the straw is ensured, the
opening area of the through hole is preferably three or less times
larger than the cross section of the straw.
[0064] The stop section 6a of the straw is formed to have the taper
portion whose outer diameter is tapered toward the through hole 7a
from the opening for drinking. Then, it is required that a maximum
outer diameter of the stop section be smaller than a sum of an
outer diameter of the straw and a tube wall thickness of the straw.
For example, the outer diameter of the straw is 6.3 mm, the tube
wall thickness is 1 mm, and the maximum outer diameter, which is
the sum of both, is 7.3 mm. Then, when the maximum outer diameter
of the stop section 6 is 7.3 mm or more, there occurs a
manufacturing problem in which the stop section 6a of the straw
cannot be thrust into the insertion section 36 of the package.
Furthermore, it is required that a minimum outer diameter of the
stop section 6a be shorter than the straw outer diameter of 6.3 mm.
Accordingly, since the stop section 6a has the taper portion that
gradually decreases toward the through hole from the opening for
drinking, such an effect is provided that the straw is easily
inserted into the insertion section 36 and is less prone to be
detached therefrom once it is inserted.
EXAMPLE
[0065] Viscous fluid of 30 ml was packed in the interior of the
paper package 20, a fixed external pressure of 5 kPa was applied to
the package, and time until all of the contents of 30 ml were
discharged was measured, obtaining the following result. Here, the
cross sectional outer diameter of the conventional straw is 5 mm or
6 mm, and the tube wall thickness is 1.0 mm. In contrast to this,
the outer diameter of the present straw is 6.3 mm.
[0066] Conventional straw 4 seconds
[0067] Present straw 2 seconds
[0068] In the case of drinking the contents of viscous fluid by use
of the straw, the straw 4b using the present invention reduced the
time to a half as compared with the conventional straw 3.
* * * * *