U.S. patent application number 12/194556 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-16 for stand-up package of flexible material, particularly for granular or powdery products.
This patent application is currently assigned to GOGLIO S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Giorgio Bottini, Franco Goglio.
Application Number | 20090097786 12/194556 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39185942 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090097786 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goglio; Franco ; et
al. |
April 16, 2009 |
STAND-UP PACKAGE OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, PARTICULARLY FOR GRANULAR OR
POWDERY PRODUCTS
Abstract
A package (1) of the stand-up type is described, of flexible
material, to contain granular or powdery products, comprising a
supporting base (2) from which two opposite side walls (3) are
erected, joined to the perimeter of said base (2) and joined to
each other along the side edges up to a certain height, so as to
leave free upper areas (7) of the side walls, coinciding with which
a perforated sheet (9) fixed permanently along its edge (5', 20) on
the inside of said side walls of the package is applied, and closed
peelably on itself along its edge (5'', 20') when said upper areas
(7) of the side walls are brought together, so as to leave free top
flaps (12) which are pulled to bring about the opening of said
peelable closure (5'', 20') and thus the exposure of said
perforated sheet (9), through which the product contained in the
package (1) can be dispensed.
Inventors: |
Goglio; Franco; (Milano,
IT) ; Bottini; Giorgio; (Gallarate, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
GOGLIO S.P.A.
MILANO
IT
|
Family ID: |
39185942 |
Appl. No.: |
12/194556 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/211 ;
383/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/06 20130101;
B65D 75/008 20130101; B65D 75/5855 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/211 ;
383/105 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16; B65D 33/00 20060101 B65D033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 15, 2007 |
EP |
07425647.0 |
Claims
1. A package (1) of the stand-up type, of flexible material, to
contain granular or powdery products, comprises a supporting base
(2) wherefrom two opposite facing side walls (3) are erected, each
seated to a respective half-perimeter of the base (2) and sealed to
each other along the side edges (5), characterised in that said
side seals (5) do not extend for the entire height of the package
(1) so as to leave free upper areas (7) of the side walls inside
which is applied a perforated sheet (9) permanently sealed along
its edge (5', 20) to said walls of the package and peelably sealed
to itself along its edge (5'', 20') when said upper areas (7) of
the walls are brought together, leaving free respective top flaps
of wall (12), the whole so that on exerting a traction on said
flaps (12) said peelable seals (5'', 2''') are caused to separate,
exposing said perforated sheet (9) though which the granular or
powdery product contained in the package (1) can be dispensed.
2. A package according to claim 1, characterised in that said
perforated sheet (9) is substantially rectangular in shape, said
permanent seal (5') and said peelable seal (5'') constituting an
extension of said seals of the side edges (5) of the package,
whereas said permanent seal (20) and said peelable seal (20') close
the package at the top.
3. A package according to claim 1, characterised in that said free
top flaps (12) of the side walls (3) of the package (1) have at the
centre respective protruding tongues (13) with a convex profile,
adapted to facilitate the gripping during the opening of the
package.
4. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that a cut (14)
is provided on one of the free top flaps (12), whilst a tongue (15)
is provided on the other flap (12), designed to be inserted in said
cut (14) during the re-closure step of the package (1) to keep said
flaps (12) together.
5. A package according to claim 1, characterised in that a
transverse band (30), into which the top flaps (12) are inserted
during the re-closure step of the package, is provided on one of
said side walls (3).
6. A package according to claim 1, characterised in that respective
recesses (8) adapted to facilitate the gripping of the package by
the user are provided on said side edges (5) at a short distance
from said base (2) of the package.
7. A package according to claim 1, characterised in that said
perforated sheet (9) has a plurality of holes or microholes (10)
sized according to the product to be delivered, contained in the
package (1).
8. A package according to claim 1, characterised in that said
perforated sheet (9) is a multi-ply sheet, so as to have one side
of a material compatible with that of the inner surface of the
package (1) to be able to be permanently sealed thereto, and the
other side of a peelably heat-sealable material.
9. A package according to claim 1 in which said peelable seal (5'',
20') is obtained by using fugitive glues or lacquers.
Description
[0001] The present invention refers to a stand-up package of
flexible material, particularly for granular or powdery products,
provided with a system that allows an easy dispensing of the
product, but also an easy and secure re-closure of the package.
[0002] Packages of the above mentioned type, known by the name of
stand-up packages in that they are self-supporting when filled with
the product, are normally made of flexible single-ply or multi-ply
material, with one or both sides heat-sealable, for example of
polyethylene, and are obtained by successive folding and sealing,
normally from a double film. They normally have a reinforced
supporting base, from which are erected two side walls heat-sealed
along the side and top edges.
[0003] For practical reasons, stand-up packages for granular or
powdery products are increasingly in demand, in particular in the
food sector, for example to contain cocoa, icing sugar, flour,
grated cheese and the like, such as to allow a direct dispensing of
the product.
[0004] Some of these packages present drawbacks from the point of
view of the opening thereof, requiring, for example, the use of
scissors to cut the heat-sealed top edges of the package.
[0005] Other packages present drawbacks from the point of view of
the dispensing of the product, which must be taken from the
package, for example, with a spoon.
[0006] Other packages still present drawbacks from the point of
view of the closure of the package, which practically remains
exposed to foreign agents.
[0007] Naturally, one or more of the above drawbacks may be present
at the same time in the packages of the prior art.
[0008] Object of the invention is just to overcome the
abovementioned drawbacks by providing a stand-up package that is
easy to open, does not require the use of scissors or of other
implements, allows a direct sprinkling of the product and allows an
easy and secure re-closure of the package after each use thereof
for a partial removal of its contents.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide such a package
that is practical to use, versatile, and simple and cheap to
make.
[0010] These objects are achieved by the package according to the
invention, which has the characteristics set forth in the appended
independent claim 1.
[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in
the dependent claims.
[0012] Essentially, the package of flexible material according to
the invention, to contain granular or powdery products, has a
substantially rectangular or ovoid supporting base, from which are
erected two opposite side walls, each joined to a half-perimeter of
the base and joined to each other along the side edges, which can
be suitably shaped in order to customise the package or to make it
easier to grip. In particular, respective semicircular recesses to
facilitate the gripping of the package are provided on said side
edges.
[0013] Said side edges are sealed to each other for less than the
whole length of the package, so as to leave open an upper area, on
which is applied a sheet of perforated film, which is disposed
astride the inner surfaces of the two walls of the package and
which closes like a book on itself when said walls are coupled.
[0014] Said perforated sheet has a heat-sealable surface, so as to
be fixed permanently to the walls of the package, and the other
surface made of a peelable material, so as to bring about a
peelable closure of the package.
[0015] In this manner, the package can be opened easily by gripping
the two top flaps thereof and by exerting a traction to cause the
separation of the peelable heat-seal and the exposure of the
perforated sheet, through which the product can be sprinkled by
shaking and tilting the package.
[0016] After the use, the top flaps of the side walls of the
package are brought together, inserting a tongue formed in one of
them into a corresponding cut or slot formed in the other top flap,
so as to avoid the accidental separation of said flaps. According
to an alternative embodiment, the top flaps, brought together, are
folded and inserted into a transverse band provided on one of the
side walls of the package.
[0017] Further characteristics of the invention will be made
clearer by the detailed description that follows, referring to a
purely exemplifying and therefore non limiting embodiment thereof,
illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a package according to the
invention, shown in the closed and upright state;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a view like that of FIG. 1, in which the package
is shown in the open state, ready for use;
[0020] FIG. 3 is an axonometric view like that of FIG. 2, in which
the perforated sheet for the delivery of the product is shown
separated from the package;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a view like that of FIG. 1, showing the package
re-closed after a use;
[0022] FIGS. 5 and 6 are two axonometric views of the upper part of
the package, showing a variant embodiment of the re-closing
means.
[0023] With reference to these figures, the package according to
the invention is denoted as a whole with the reference numeral 1.
It is a package designed in particular to contain granular or
powdery products--also known by the name of stand-up package in
that it is capable of supporting itself--made from a single-ply or
multi-ply film of a flexible material, heat-sealable on at least
one side.
[0024] The package 1 has a supporting base 2, from which two
opposite side walls 3 are erected, each sealed to a respective
half-perimeter 4 of the base 2 and sealed to each other at the side
edges 5 up to a certain height, so as to leave at the top
respective free areas 7 of the walls (see in particular FIG. 3) not
sealed to each other.
[0025] Each bottom seal 4 is joined to the side edges 5 by means of
respective pairs of inclined portions 6 to allow the widening of
the supporting base 2 of the package. The package thus structured
takes on a tapered shape towards the top and, after being filled
with the product, can be closed at the top in the manner that will
be described hereunder.
[0026] Said side edges 5 of the package, to a short distance from
said base 2, have respective recesses 8, substantially semicircular
in shape, adapted to facilitate the gripping of the package.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, a sheet or strip 9, substantially
rectangular in shape and provided with a plurality of holes or
microholes 10, sized according to the type of product contained in
the package 1, is applied to coincide with the upper free areas 7
of the walls, opened so as to be arranged flat.
[0028] The sheet 9 is advantageously multi-ply, so as to have a
surface (the lower or the inside one with reference to FIG. 3) of
the same material (for example, polyethylene) as the inner layer of
the package 1 so as to be able to be sealed permanently to the
package, and the other surface (the upper one on view in the
drawings) of a different material that does not allow a permanent
heat-sealing but a peelable one.
[0029] In this manner, the sheet 9 can be heat-sealed permanently
along its border to the inner surface of the package, causing
vertical seals 5' (when the package is closed), which form
extensions of the seals of the side edges 5 of the package, and
horizontal seals 20, which close the walls 3 of the package at the
top. The upper areas 7 of the wall with the sheet 9 applied
thereto, are brought together by folding them along the fold line
11, thus causing the sheet 9 to fold over on itself like a
book.
[0030] Peelable seals 5'' and 20' are then made along the
superimposed vertical and horizontal edges of the sheet 9, as
schematised in FIG. 1.
[0031] In practice, the sheet 9 is disposed, as shown in FIG. 2, on
the upper areas 7 of the walls, which are folded to be brought
together, causing a folding like a book of the sheet 9 interposed
therebetween, after which a single heat-seal is made along the side
and the top edges of the folded sheet 9, thus causing the permanent
sealing of the sheet 9 to the package 1 along the above mentioned
portions 5' and 20, and the peelable sealing of the sheet 9 to
itself along the above mentioned portions 5'' and 20'.
[0032] As shown in the figures, the upper horizontal heat-seals 20
and 20' are disposed at a certain distance from the top edge of the
package, so as to determine on each side wall 3 of the package a
respective free top flap 12, from which a tongue 13 with a convex
profile protrudes centrally.
[0033] A cut or slot 14 with a curved profile is formed on one of
the flaps 12, whilst a tongue 15 destined to be inserted in the cut
14 is formed on the other flap 12.
[0034] The closed and seated package appears as shown in FIG.
1.
[0035] To bring about the opening thereof, it is sufficient to grip
the protruding tongues 13 of the free top flaps 12 with the fingers
and to exert a traction thereon, so as to cause a separation of the
peelable heat-seals 20' and 5'' and thus the opening of the
package, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0036] At this point, the package can be gripped with one hand at
its base 4 and at the gripping recesses 8 on the side edges 5,
possibly shaken and suitably tipped or turned upside down to cause
the sprinkling of the granular or powdery product contained
therein.
[0037] After the use, the package is brought into the original
upright position, the top flaps 12 are brought together again and
the tongue 15 is inserted into the cut 14, thus ensuring that the
abovementioned flaps 12 are retained and thus that the package is
securely re-closed.
[0038] From what has been described, the advantages of the package
according to the invention are obvious in that it allows an easy
opening thereof without having to resort to implements such as
scissors, an easy direct distribution of the product thanks to the
provision of the suitably sized holes 10 on the sheet 9 and a
reliable re-closure which safeguards the hygiene of the
package.
[0039] Of course, the invention is not limited to the particular
embodiment previously described and illustrated in the appended
drawings, but numerous changes of detail within the reach of a
person skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing
from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended
claims.
[0040] According to the variant embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
a transverse or horizontal band 30, fixed at its ends to the side
edges 5 of the package, is provided on a side wall 3 of the
package, in proximity to the above mentioned horizontal seal 20 or
20'.
[0041] To re-close the package, the top flaps 12 are brought
together, folded downwards onto the side wall 3 having the band 30
and inserted into said band, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0042] According to this embodiment, the top flap 12 coincident
with the side wall bearing the band 30 could even not be
provided.
* * * * *