U.S. patent application number 13/513271 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-20 for pouch packaging with adhesive bonding tab.
This patent application is currently assigned to Huhtamaki ronsberg ZN der Huhtamaki Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Agnes Mannel, Manfred Marz, Roberto Pesce, Agata Surdziel, Nils Walters.
Application Number | 20120321229 13/513271 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43734146 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120321229 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Surdziel; Agata ; et
al. |
December 20, 2012 |
POUCH PACKAGING WITH ADHESIVE BONDING TAB
Abstract
The present invention relates to a bag pack (10) with an opening
portion which is intended to be used for opening the pack (10) or
at which the pack (10) has already been opened, wherein the pack
(10) comprises at least one laminate bag side (12), which is formed
from a laminate which comprises at least one outer layer, arranged
on an outer bag side, an inner layer, arranged on an inner bag
side, and an adhesive-bonding layer arranged between the outer
layer and the inner layer, wherein the at least one laminate bag
side (12) has formed in it a release portion (18) in which a
predetermined release region (28) of the outer layer, together with
the adhesive-bonding layer, can be released from the inner layer to
expose an adhesive surface of the adhesive-bonding layer which is
directed away from the outer layer, wherein the release portion
(18) differs from the opening portion, and therefore the release
portion (18) of the laminate bag side (12) is, and remains, closed,
when used as intended, by way of at least the inner layer.
Inventors: |
Surdziel; Agata; (Kempten,
DE) ; Mannel; Agnes; (Obergunzburg, DE) ;
Walters; Nils; (Kempten, DE) ; Pesce; Roberto;
(Capriata d'Orba (AL), IT) ; Marz; Manfred;
(Waltenhofen/Hegge, DE) |
Assignee: |
Huhtamaki ronsberg ZN der Huhtamaki
Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Ronsberg/Allgau
DE
|
Family ID: |
43734146 |
Appl. No.: |
13/513271 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
November 30, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP10/68526 |
371 Date: |
September 7, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/207 ;
383/200; 383/211 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/20 20130101;
B65D 31/02 20130101; B65D 75/26 20130101; B65D 33/1658
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/207 ;
383/211; 383/200 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/00 20060101
B65D033/00; B65D 33/18 20060101 B65D033/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 1, 2009 |
DE |
10 2009 047 369.6 |
Claims
1. Pouch packaging (10; 110) with an opening portion which is
intended to be used for opening the packaging or at which the
packaging (10; 110) has already been opened, the packaging (10;
110) comprising at least one laminate pouch side (12; 112) which is
formed from a laminate which comprises at least three layers,
namely an outer layer (34) located farther from the internal cavity
of the pouch, an inner layer (30) located nearer the internal
cavity of the pouch and an adhesive layer (32) located between the
outer layer (34) and the inner layer (30), a release portion (18;
118; 218; 318; 418a, 418b; 518; 618a, 618b, 618c) being formed in
the at least one laminate pouch side (12; 112), in which a
predetermined release region (28) of the outer layer (34), together
with the adhesive layer (32), can be released from the inner layer
(30) to expose an adhesive surface (38) of the adhesive layer which
is directed away from the outer layer (34), characterised in that
the release portion (18; 118; 218; 318; 418a, 418b; 518; 618a,
618b, 618c) differs from the opening portion with the result that
the release portion (18; 118; 218; 318; 418a, 418b; 518; 618a,
618b, 618c) of the laminate pouch side (12; 112) is sealed and
remains sealed by at least the inner layer (30) when used as
intended.
2. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised in
that the adhesive layer (32) adheres more strongly to a laminate
layer (34) directly adjacent to the adhesive layer in a direction
towards the outer side of the pouch than to a laminate layer (30)
directly adjacent to the adhesive layer in a direction towards the
inner side of the pouch.
3. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised in
that the adhesive layer (32) is made from a material which allows
the adhesive layer (32) to be repeatedly bonded to and released
from a surface on the outer side of the pouch.
4. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised in
that all sides of the pouch (12, 14; 112, 114) are formed as
laminate pouch sides, preferably with an identical layer
structure.
5. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised in
that an outer edge of the release portion (18; 118; 218; 318; 418a,
418b; 518; 618a, 618b, 618c) is at least in portions defined by a
material weakness (20; 120) extending substantially linearly in at
least the outer layer (34) of the laminate.
6. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 5, characterised in
that the material weakness (20; 120) is formed by removing material
and/or by material displacement and/or by at least partial material
separation.
7. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 5, characterised in
that the inner laminate layer (30), at least in the region of the
release portion (18; 118; 218; 318, 418a; 418b; 518, 618a, 618b,
618c), is free from any material weakness (20; 120).
8. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 5, characterised in
that the material is continuously weakened from at least the outer
laminate layer (34) along the material weakness (20; 120) which
extends substantially linearly.
9. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 5, characterised in
that the material of at least the outer layer (34) of the laminate
is only weakened locally, e.g. in the form of laser perforation or
punching, along the material weakness (20; 120) which extends
substantially linearly.
10. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised
in that the release portion (18; 118; 218; 318; 418a, 418b; 518;
618a, 618b, 618c) is substantially elongated in shape, one of its
two longitudinal ends facing the opening portion and being located
a predetermined distance from this opening portion in the
longitudinal direction of the release portion (18; 118; 218; 318;
418a, 418b; 518; 618a, 618b, 618c).
11. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 10, characterised
in that the longitudinal end of the release portion (18; 118; 218;
318; 418a, 418b; 518; 618a, 618b, 618c) facing the opening portion
has an edge region which is designed in the form of a grip tab (22;
122; 222a, 222b; 322; 422a, 422b; 522; 622a, 622b, 622c).
12. Pouch packaging (10; 110) according to claim 11, characterised
in that the adhesive layer (32) of the release region (28) displays
a reduced adhesive force, down to zero if applicable, in the region
of the grip tab (22; 122; 222a, 222b; 322; 422a, 422b; 522; 622a,
622b, 622c).
13. Pouch packaging (10; 10) according to claim 10, characterised
in that the release region (28) is permanently connected to a
laminate region located outside the release portion (18; 218; 318,
418a; 418b; 518, 618a; 5; 618b, 618c) at the longitudinal end of
the release portion (18; 218; 318; 418a, 418b; 518; 618a, 618b,
618c) distal to the opening portion.
14. Pouch packaging (110) according to claim 10, characterised in
that the release region can be detached fully from the laminate of
the at least one laminate pouch side (112).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a pouch packaging with an opening
portion which is intended to be used for opening the packaging or
at which the packaging has already been opened, the packaging
comprising at least one laminate pouch side which is formed from a
laminate which comprises at least three layers, namely an outer
layer located farther from the internal cavity of the pouch, an
inner layer located nearer the internal cavity of the pouch and at
least partially an adhesive layer located between the outer layer
and the inner layer, wherein a release portion is formed in the at
least one laminate pouch side, in which a predetermined release
region of the outer layer, together with the adhesive layer, can be
released from the inner layer to expose an adhesive surface of the
adhesive layer which is directed away from the outer layer.
[0002] Note that the term "opening portion" in the present patent
application is understood to mean a region of the pouch packaging
surrounded by an opening edge. Portions of the opening edge may be
adjacent to each other when the packaging is sealed. Also note that
the term "pouch packaging" is not intended to define a specific
shape or material for the packaging, but that this term merely
means that the packaging has certain flexible properties such that
it can easily be deformed when a consumer applies even moderate
force. The pouch packaging may in this case be made from film
material, preferably laminate film material.
[0003] Such pouch packagings are already known in the prior art.
For example, US 2005/0276525 A1 discloses a generic pouch packaging
in which the upper side of the pouch comprises a laminate. A
release portion is formed in this laminate pouch side on which a
tab in the form of a lid allows the pouch packaging to be opened by
tearing apart. An adhesive surface of the adhesive layer is exposed
at least partially on a surface of the tab in this process. In
particular, the pouch packaging is opened in an opening portion
which is located inside the release portion. Once the packaging has
been opened, the tab in the form of a lid can be used to reseal the
packaging if necessary by means of the adhesive surface of the
adhesive layer provided on the tab.
[0004] However, the disadvantage of this pouch packaging is that
the pouch always has substantially the same external dimensions
regardless of its filling level. Thus, regardless of the pouch
packaging filling level, the maximum packaging volume is always
required as the storage volume.
[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a resealable pouch packaging with external dimensions which can
simply be adapted to the respective filling level of the pouch
packaging.
[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by a
pouch packaging of the type mentioned initially, in which the
release portion is different from the opening portion such that the
release portion of the laminate pouch side is sealed and remains
sealed by at least the inner layer when used as intended.
[0007] The empty portion of the pouch packaging can be simply
rolled or folded down due to the spatial distance between the
release portion and the opening portion, so that the pouch can be
subsequently resealed by means of the release region released from
the release portion. In this process the release region with the
adhesive surface of its adhesive layer is preferably bonded over
the rolled or folded-down region of the pouch packaging with the
opening portion in such a way that the partially empty pouch
packaging is securely resealed and simultaneously prevents
unintentional unrolling or unfolding of the region of the pouch
packaging comprising the opening portion. To this end, the adhesive
surface of the adhesive layer of the release region is required to
bond to at least one portion of the outer surface of the pouch
packaging.
[0008] Note that the term "laminate pouch side" as defined in the
present invention is understood to mean that the complete side,
e.g. the complete rear side of the pouch, is made from laminate and
not that laminate is only partially present on one side of the
pouch. In particular, the term "laminate pouch side" should not be
understood to mean a pouch side on which only a removable adhesive
strip has been additionally applied.
[0009] To ensure that the adhesive layer located between the inner
layer and the outer layer releases from the inner layer together
with the outer layer when releasing the predetermined release
region from the inner layer in the release portion, it is
advantageous if the adhesive layer adheres more strongly to a
laminate layer directly adjacent to the adhesive layer in a
direction towards the outer side of the pouch than to a laminate
layer directly adjacent to the adhesive layer in a direction
towards the inner side of the pouch. This can, for example, be
achieved by designing the surface of the laminate layer facing the
adhesive layer, which is adjacent to the adhesive layer directly
towards the inner side of the pouch, as a release layer, especially
by making it siliconised or waxed or coated with a release varnish.
In addition, or alternatively, at least one additional functional
layer may be provided between the outer layer of the laminate and
the adhesive layer, such as an adhesion-promoting layer or a
barrier layer or similar.
[0010] In order to guarantee repeated resealability of the pouch
packaging, it is also advantageous if the adhesive layer is made
from a material which allows the adhesive layer to be repeatedly
bonded to and released from a surface on the outer side of the
pouch. In particular, the adhesive layer may comprise an adhesive
material which ensures a permanent bonding action in a temperature
range from -20.degree. to 50.degree. C., and especially from
10.degree. C. to 50.degree. C., in order to achieve this. In
addition, the surface of the outer side of the pouch may be smooth,
at least in part.
[0011] In a development of the invention, it is proposed that all
sides of the pouch are formed as laminate pouch sides, preferably
with an identical layer structure. In this way, the at least one
laminate pouch side and the remaining pouch sides of the pouch
packaging can be made from a single material or even a single
sheet, which reduces the number of joins required to manufacture
the pouch packaging. This thus generally allows to reduce the
manufacturing costs for the pouch packaging and, in the case of a
single-sheet material, increases the stability of the finished
pouch packaging as joins often represent weak points in the pouch
packaging.
[0012] It is also proposed that an outer edge of the release
portion may at least in portions be defined by a material weakness
extending substantially linearly in at least the outer layer of the
laminate. In this way it is possible to guarantee that the release
region can be separated from a region of the laminate pouch side
located outside the release portion along the material weakness
which extends substantially linearly. Depending on the
configuration of this material weakness, the material of the outer
layer on one side of the material weakness which extends
substantially linearly may either still be at least partially or
fully connected to the material of the outer layer on the other
side of the material weakness or be already separated before the
release region is released from the inner layer in the release
portion for the first time.
[0013] In this case, the material weakness may in particular be
formed by removing material and/or by material displacement and/or
by at least partial material separation. Stamping is an example of
a possible material displacement method and cutting is an example
of a possible material separation method. The material weakness
which extends substantially linearly can also be incorporated in
the pouch material by means of a laser, e.g. in the form of a laser
perforation. In this process, the material weakness can either be
formed merely in the outer layer or also in other layers of the
laminate. In order to allow a particularly simple release of the
release region from the inner layer, the material weakness is
preferably formed not only in the outer layer of the laminate, but
also in the adhesive layer and if applicable in layers of the
laminate located between the outer layer and the adhesive
layer.
[0014] However, to prevent an opening being created unintentionally
in the pouch packaging when releasing the predetermined release
region from the inner layer of the release portion, it is
preferable for the inner layer of the laminate to be free of any
material weakness, at least in the vicinity of the release
portion.
[0015] Furthermore, the material may be continuously weakened at
least in the outer layer of the laminate along the material
weakness which extends substantially linearly. This allows to
achieve that a substantially constant force is required when the
release region is released from the inner layer for the first
time.
[0016] Alternatively, it is also possible for the material of at
least the outer layer of the laminate to be weakened merely locally
along the material weakness which extends substantially linearly.
Laser perforation or punching are conceivable in this case, for
example. By only locally weakening the material of at least the
outer layer of the laminate, the pouch packaging as such displays
increased stability before the release region is released from the
inner layer for the first time compared with the embodiment with
continuous weakening. The risk of the release region accidentally
releasing prematurely from the inner layer can thus also be
reduced.
[0017] To ensure that the release region released from the pouch
packaging can be bonded well over the opening portion when this is
rolled or folded down, it is proposed that the release portion has
a substantially elongated form, one of its two longitudinal ends
facing the opening portion and being a predetermined distance from
this opening portion in the longitudinal direction of the release
portion. Especially if the pouch is also elongated in shape, the
opening portion being located in the region of one its two
longitudinal ends, it is advantageous if the longitudinal direction
of the pouch and the longitudinal direction of the release portion
substantially coincide so that there are a variety of sealing
options for the partially empty pouch depending on the pouch
filling level.
[0018] In accordance with normal spoken usage, "longitudinal
direction" is understood to mean the direction of the longest
extension.
[0019] Note that the precise configuration of the pouch packaging,
especially regarding its shape, but also the type of labelling, may
be dependent on the substance to be packed in the respective pouch
packaging.
[0020] To make it easier for the user to release the release region
from the inner layer, it is also proposed that the longitudinal end
of the release portion facing the opening portion comprises an edge
region which is in the shape of a grip tab. The fact that the
release region can thus be initially released from the inner
laminate surface at the longitudinal end of the release portion
which is closest to the opening portion means that the release
region does not need to be completely released from the inner
laminate surface, but merely needs to be released along a defined
partial region of the release portion depending on the filling
level of the pouch packaging. The region of the pouch packaging
comprising the opening portion which is rolled or folded down to
reduce the pouch volume once a partial quantity of the packaging
contents have been removed may preferably also comprise a partial
region of the inner layer of the release portion, the release
region having been detached from this partial region of the inner
layer of the release portion beforehand. This portion of the
detached release region can thus be used to stick over the folded
or rolled-down region of the pouch packaging so that it cannot
unintentionally unfold or unroll and the pouch packaging thus
remains securely sealed.
[0021] To make it easier for the consumer to release the release
region, it is also advantageous if the adhesive layer of the
release region displays a reduced adhesive force, down to zero if
applicable, in the region of the grip tab. In this case, the grip
tab, along with the entire release region, is preferably not
elevated compared to the surrounding outer side of the packaging
before it is released from the remaining pouch packaging for the
first time, but lies extensive in or preferably even flush with the
outer side of the packaging. This thus makes it possible to reduce
the risk of the release region being unintentionally released from
the remaining pouch packaging, e.g. because the grip tab
accidentally gets caught somewhere.
[0022] To prevent the detached release region accidentally getting
lost, and to reduce the number of packaging parts to be disposed of
individually, it is also proposed that the release region may be
permanently, or even integrally connected to a region of the
laminate located outside the release portion at the longitudinal
end of the release portion distal to the opening portion.
Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the release region
to be detached fully from the laminate of the at least one laminate
pouch side. In this case, the release portion may advantageously be
provided in any position on the pouch packaging. If, for example,
the pouch packaging is a stand-up pouch or a block bottom pouch, it
is possible to provide the release portion on the base of the
stand-up or block bottom pouch. This means that the remaining side
surfaces of the stand-up or block bottom pouch, especially its
front and rear sides, are not visually or otherwise impaired by the
release portion.
[0023] The decision as to whether the release region should be
designed to be completely detachable from the inner layer of the
release portion or not may also depend on whether the corresponding
pouch packaging has a so-called "headspace", i.e. an unused area of
the packaging, or not. A headspace is understood to mean an inner
cavity in the upper region of the initially sealed pouch packaging
which is not filled with the packed product.
[0024] Also note that in one embodiment of the present invention,
the outer side of the inner layer may be printed with additional
information such as the fact that the pouch packaging only has a
certain filling level. This information is only visible when the
consumer detaches the release region from the inner layer of the
release portion. In addition, or alternatively, if the pouch
packaging has a multi-layer structure, an intermediate layer may
also be printed between the release region and an inner pouch
surface facing the release portion if the overlaid layers of the
multi-layer structure are transparent, at least in part. In
addition, or alternatively, a print job may be provided on the
inner layer by reverse printing.
[0025] The present invention is described below in greater detail
with reference to the attached figures. These are as follows:
[0026] FIG. 1: a first embodiment of a pouch packaging according to
the invention;
[0027] FIG. 2: a second embodiment of a pouch packaging according
to the invention;
[0028] FIGS. 3a to 3d: various states of the first embodiment of
the pouch packaging according to the invention which show, inter
alia, how the pouch packaging according to the invention can be
resealed in different ways depending on the filling level;
[0029] FIGS. 4a to 4c: a cross-section through the laminate pouch
side of a pouch packaging according to the invention, showing how a
material weakness can be incorporated in the laminate and how a
release region can be released from the inner layer;
[0030] FIGS. 5a to 5e: rough schematic diagrams of five different
modifications with respect to the implementation of the release
region of the pouch packaging illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the general pouch
packaging according to the invention, commonly identified as 10. In
the pouch packaging illustrated in FIG. 1, this is a block bottom
pouch which is suited to standing on a flat surface. In addition to
a pouch base, the pouch packaging 10 also comprises a front pouch
side 12, a rear pouch side which is not shown in FIG. 1 and two
narrow pouch sides positioned at the sides, of which only one
narrow pouch side 14 can be seen in FIG. 1. The front pouch side 12
and the rear pouch side are connected by means of a sealing seam 16
at a longitudinal end opposite the pouch base before the pouch
packaging 10 is opened for the first time. In this case the sealing
seam 16 seals an opening through which the pouch packaging 10 is
filled with contents before it is sealed for the first time. The
sealing seam 16 can also be pulled apart again if the pouch
packaging 10 is used as intended in order to empty the pouch
packaging 10, at least partially.
[0032] In this embodiment, all sides of the pouch packaging 10 are
made from the same laminate which comprises an outer layer located
on the outside of the pouch, an inner layer located on the inside
of the pouch and an adhesive layer located between the outer layer
and the inner layer. However, in principle, it would be sufficient
if only one of the sides described above of the pouch packaging 10
according to the invention consisted of a laminate of this kind. In
particular, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it would be
sufficient if only the front pouch side 12 was made from laminate,
i.e. being the at least one laminate pouch side. Namely, a release
portion 18 which is elongated in shape is formed in the pouch front
side 12 and one of the two longitudinal ends of this release
portion faces the sealing seam 16. The outer edge of the release
portion 18 is usually defined by a material weakness 20 which
extends substantially linearly. The material weakness 20 extending
linearly at the longitudinal end of the release portion 18 facing
the sealing seam 16 is shaped such that a grip tab 22 is formed on
the release portion 18.
[0033] The material weakness which extends substantially linearly
comprises a curved section 24 at both of its ends, which is
intended to prevent the material at the ends of the material
weakness extending substantially linearly tearing any further when
a release region in the release portion is released. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the release region in the release
portion 18 is integrally and thus permanently connected between the
two curved sections 24 to a region of the front pouch side 12
located outside the release portion 18.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a pouch packaging
according to the invention. Analogous features to the first
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference
numerals, but increased by 100. In addition, the embodiment shown
in FIG. 2 is only described below to the extent that it differs
from the description of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 which
is otherwise expressly referred to.
[0035] The second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 only differs
substantially from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in relation
to two aspects. The first aspect relates to the shape of the pouch
packaging 110. This pouch packaging is indeed a pouch which has a
pouch base and is thus suited to standing on a flat surface, but
the basic shape of this pouch packaging is substantially
cuboid-shaped. Such packaging shapes are particularly known in the
trade for packing coffee.
[0036] The second aspect concerns the course of the material
weakness 120 which extends substantially linearly. In the second
embodiment, the material weakness 120 defines the release portion
118 all around. This means that a release region can be detached
fully from the inner layer of the release portion 118. Therefore,
in this case, unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, it is
not permanently connected to a region of the front pouch side 112
outside the release portion 118.
[0037] In the embodiment of the pouch packaging 10 illustrated in
FIG. 1, there is generally a headspace, i.e. a portion of the
packaging inner cavity which is not filled with the packed product,
whereas this is usually not the case in the pouch packaging 110
illustrated in FIG. 2, in which coffee is vacuum-packed for
example. In a pouch packaging without a headspace, if only a small
amount of the packed product is removed from the pouch packaging
when first opened, it may be that the upper region of the pouch
packaging, which comprises the opening edges forming the opening,
cannot be folded or rolled down far enough to be covered by a
release region permanently connected to the remaining pouch
packaging for the purpose of resealing. Therefore, in such cases, a
release region which is designed to be fully detachable from the
inner layer of the release portion is preferable. In other cases,
i.e. in cases in which the pouch packaging comprises a headspace,
the release region may however be advantageously permanently
connected to the remaining pouch packaging as demonstrated below by
way of example.
[0038] FIGS. 3a to 3d once again show the first embodiment of the
pouch packaging 10 according to the invention. Two arrows in FIG.
3a show how the pouch packaging 10 is reopened after filling and
sealing for the first time. To this end, the front pouch side 12
and the rear pouch side are pulled apart at the sealing seam 16. As
shown in FIG. 3b, this thus creates an opening located at the
longitudinal end of the pouch packaging 10 opposite the pouch base.
This opening is located in an opening portion which is defined by a
surface located within an opening edge 26. At least part of the
pouch contents can be removed from the pouch packaging 10 through
the opening thus made in the pouch packaging 10.
[0039] If the pouch packaging 10 is not completely emptied, but
instead part of the pouch contents remain in the pouch packaging
10, the pouch packaging according to the invention can simply be
resealed, wherein the outer dimensions of the pouch packaging 10
may simultaneously be adapted to the quantity of pouch contents
remaining in the pouch packaging 10, with the result that less
storage space is accordingly required for the opened pouch
packaging 10. To this end, a release region 28, which comprises the
outer layer and the adhesive layer of the laminate in the release
portion 18, can be released from the inner layer of the release
portion 18, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 3b. The opening edges 26
of the opening created in the pouch packaging 10 can then be
pressed back together and the pouch packaging can be rolled down
starting from the opening portion. The extent to which the pouch
packaging 10 can be rolled down is primarily dependent on the
quantity of the pouch contents remaining in the pouch packaging 10.
If it is no longer possible to roll the pouch packaging 10 down any
further, the release region 28 can be attached over the rolled down
region of the pouch packaging 10. This is illustrated in FIGS. 3c
and 3d by way of example, FIG. 3d showing less content remaining in
the pouch packaging 10 than in FIG. 3c. In FIGS. 3c and 3d the
release region 28 is indicated by a dashed line which shows the
situation before it is folded over the rolled-down region of the
pouch packaging 10. The folded-over release region 28 bonds to the
rear pouch side as a result of the adhesive action of the adhesive
layer of the release region 28 and thus holds the rolled-down
region of the pouch packaging 10 reliably together with the result
that the opening created in the pouch packaging 10 is resealed and
the pouch packaging 10 also takes up a volume which is adapted to
the pouch contents remaining in the pouch packaging.
[0040] FIG. 4a shows a cross-section through the laminate from
which the pouch front side 12 is created. For production reasons,
it is advantageous to manufacture all sides of the pouch packaging
10 in one piece from the same laminate. As shown in FIG. 4a, the
laminate comprises an inner layer 30 located on the inside of the
pouch, an outer layer 34 located on the outside of the pouch and an
adhesive layer 32 located between the inner layer 30 and the outer
layer 34.
[0041] Note that the laminate may also comprise additional layers,
such as a barrier layer or an adhesion-promoting layer or a varnish
layer, although in this case only the three above-mentioned layers
are illustrated for the sake of simplicity. When producing the
pouch packaging 10 according to the invention, a material weakness
20 which extends substantially linearly is incorporated in the
front pouch side 12. This is shown by way of example in FIG. 4b,
where a laser beam 36 severs the outer layer 34 and the adhesive
layer 32 along the material weakness 20 which extends substantially
linearly. However, the inner layer 30 is not cut or severed by the
laser beam 36. This is advantageous to ensure that an opening is
not accidentally made in the release portion 18 of the pouch
packaging 10 when the release region 28 is released from the inner
layer 30. FIG. 4c shows how the release region 28 is released from
the inner layer 30. The release region 28 comprises the outer layer
34 and the adhesive layer 32. It is important for the adhesive
force between the adhesive layer 32 and the inner layer to be much
weaker than the adhesive force between the adhesive layer 32 and
the outer layer 34. The adhesive force between the adhesive layer
32 and the inner layer 30 may, for example, be additionally reduced
by siliconising or waxing the surface of the inner layer 30 facing
the adhesive layer 32. The adhesive layer 32 is preferably made
from a cold adhesive which allows the adhesive layer to be
repeatedly bonded to and released from a surface on the outer side
of the pouch. When the release region 28 is released from the inner
layer 30, an adhesive surface 38 of the adhesive layer 32 is
automatically exposed. This adhesive surface 38 of the adhesive
layer can then be bonded to an outer side of the pouch to reseal
the pouch packaging 10.
[0042] FIGS. 5a to 5e show rough schematic diagrams of five
different modifications of the first embodiment of the pouch
packaging 10 according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1. In all
of these figures, the front pouch side 12 can be seen with the
upper sealing seam 16. However, the modifications are all different
and also differ from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with regard to
the shape and configuration of the respective release portions 218;
318; 418a, 418b; 518; 618a, 618b, 618c.
[0043] In FIG. 5a the release portion 218 is of substantially
rectangular basic shape, two grip tabs 222a, 222b being provided on
the side facing the sealing seam 16. Thanks to its substantially
rectangular shape, a comparatively large surface portion of the
front pouch side 12 which is also substantially rectangular can be
used to form the release portion 218. By providing two grip tabs
222a, 222b in this shape of release portion 218, it is particularly
easy for the consumer to release the release region, at least in
part, from the remaining pouch packaging 10.
[0044] In the modification shown in FIG. 5b, the release portion
318 has a very similar shape to the release portion 18 in the first
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. However, in this case, the grip
tab 322 does not have a shape which stands out particularly from
the shape of the remaining release portion 318. Instead, a
continuously rounded portion of the release portion 318 facing the
upper sealing seam 16 is designed as a grip tab 322. In this region
the adhesive action of the adhesive layer 32 between the inner
layer 30 and the outer layer 34 is reduced.
[0045] In order to distribute the holding force of the resealed
pouch packaging 10 better along the transverse direction, i.e.
along the direction in which the sealing seam 16 extends, it is
also possible for the pouch packaging 10 to have more than one
release portion as is shown in FIG. 5c by way of example. In the
modification illustrated in this figure, the front pouch side 12
has two release portions 418a, 418b, with a basic geometric shape
similar to, if somewhat narrower than the modification shown in
FIG. 5b. This also relates to the design of the two grip tabs 422a,
422b.
[0046] As elastic recoil forces which usually arise in a partially
folded or rolled-down pouch packaging 10 generally increase as the
pouch packaging 10 is rolled or folded down further, a release
portion 518 tapering towards the upper sealing seam 16 may be
provided, as shown in FIG. 5d by way of example. This means that
only a relatively narrow area of the release region in the vicinity
of the grip tab 522 is available for resealing the pouch packaging
10 when the pouch packaging 10 is only rolled or folded down to a
small extent. However, as soon as the pouch packaging 10 is rolled
or folded down further, the part of the release region which can be
used for resealing becomes gradually wider, with the result that it
is always possible to achieve a sufficient adhesive action to
reseal the pouch packaging 10.
[0047] A similar effect can also be achieved with the embodiment
shown in FIG. 5e. In this case, three release portions 618a, 618b,
618c are provided on the front pouch side 12. However, the three
release portions 618a, 618b, 618c have varying lengths, i.e. the
middle release portion 618b is longer than the other two release
portions 618a, 618c. When the pouch packaging 10 is only rolled or
folded down to a small extent, only the middle release region is
thus available to reseal the pouch packaging 10. However, if the
pouch packaging 10 is subsequently rolled or folded down further,
say because additional contents have been removed from the pouch
packaging 10, the other two release regions can also be used to
securely reseal the pouch packaging 10. Also note that release
portions 618a, 618b, 618c have grip tabs 622a, 622b, 622c
respectively, which are similar to those in the modifications shown
in FIG. 5c.
[0048] A further additional note is that the modification shown in
FIGS. 5a to 5e can of course also be used in the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 2.
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