U.S. patent application number 14/116916 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for package for a fluid.
This patent application is currently assigned to TRENDZPAK LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Louis Rinze Henricus Adrianus Willemsen. Invention is credited to Louis Rinze Henricus Adrianus Willemsen.
Application Number | 20140069927 14/116916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46197654 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140069927 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Willemsen; Louis Rinze Henricus
Adrianus |
March 13, 2014 |
PACKAGE FOR A FLUID
Abstract
The present invention provides a package (1) for a fluid. The
package (1) comprises a container body (2) provided with an opening
(26) and, near said opening (26), a flanged edge (5) provided with
a recessed outflow channel (12). A linear weakened or broken zone
(15) is provided in the flanged edge (5). A separation part can
(16) be or is separated from the flanged edge (5). The package (1)
further comprises a sealing foil (10) which sealingly bonds to at
least a part of the flanged edge (5), including the separation part
(16) thereof, which sealing foil (10) covers the outflow channel
(17), which outflow channel (17) is entirely provided on the side
of the weakened or broken zone (15) remote from the separation part
(16), wherein the sealing foil (10) has a release area (23) that
extends on the inner side of the weakened or broken zone, within
which release area (23) at least the closed end (14) of the outflow
channel (12) is located, wherein the release area is bounded by a
boundary line located opposite the weakened or broken zone (15),
which crosses the flow channel (12).
Inventors: |
Willemsen; Louis Rinze Henricus
Adrianus; (Las Pinas City, PH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Willemsen; Louis Rinze Henricus Adrianus |
Las Pinas City |
|
PH |
|
|
Assignee: |
TRENDZPAK LTD.
Labuan FT
MY
|
Family ID: |
46197654 |
Appl. No.: |
14/116916 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
May 11, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL2012/050327 |
371 Date: |
November 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/359.2 ;
206/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2221/00 20130101;
B65D 77/2052 20130101; B65D 77/2064 20130101; B65D 81/32 20130101;
B65D 81/3261 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/359.2 ;
206/222 |
International
Class: |
B65D 77/20 20060101
B65D077/20; B65D 81/32 20060101 B65D081/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2011 |
NL |
2006767 |
Claims
1. A package for a fluid, comprising a container body having an
interior volume and being provided with an opening, wherein the
package comprises a flanged edge near the opening, in which a
recessed outflow channel is formed, which outflow channel is in
communication with the interior of the container body via said
opening at one end and which is closed at an opposite end, wherein
a linear weakened or broken zone is provided in the flanged edge so
as to make it possible to separate a separation part of the flanged
edge located on the outer side of said weakened or broken zone from
the container, said package further comprising a sealing foil which
sealingly bonds to at least a part of the flanged edge, including
the separation part thereof, which sealing foil covers the outflow
channel, which outflow channel is entirely provided on the side of
the weakened or broken zone remote from the separation part,
wherein the sealing foil has a release area that extends on the
inner side of the weakened or broken zone, within which release
area at least the closed end of the outflow channel is located,
wherein the release area is bounded by a boundary line located
opposite the weakened or broken zone, which crosses the flow
channel, wherein the sealing foil bonds to the flanged edge at the
location of the release area, said bond being of the releasable
type, and wherein the releasable bond of the release area is at
least partially adjacent to the weakened or broken zone, wherein
the sealing foil is connected to the flanged edge by a permanent
bond at least at the location of the boundary line.
2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the bond between the
sealing foil and the flanged edge outside the release area is of
the permanent type over at least part of said area outside the
release area.
3. The package according to claim 1, wherein the container body is
made of polypropylene.
4. The package according to claim 1, wherein the container body
comprises an endless upright circumferential wall which, at least
in an open condition of the package, is deformable under the
influence of an axial pressure force applied to the circumferential
wall for reducing the volume of the package for the purpose of
emptying the package at least partially.
5. The package according to claim 1, wherein the separation part is
entirely separated from the flanged edge for thus forming the
linear broken zone.
6. The package according to claim 1, wherein the separation part
has a circumference that extends concavely opposite the weakened or
broken zone.
7. The package according to claim 1, wherein the separation part
has a circumference, and wherein the separation part has a
projecting engagement edge near that part of the circumference
which is located opposite the weakened zone.
8. The package according to claim 1, wherein the boundary line
extends substantially parallel to the linear shape of the weakened
or broken zone.
9. The package according to claim 1, wherein the outflow channel is
oriented perpendicularly to the linear shape of the weakened or
broken zone, at least at the closed end thereof.
10. The package according to claim 1, wherein the flanged edge has
a part that projects relative to the other part of the package,
which projecting part comprises the separation part and which
extends in the direction in which the outflow channel extends from
the interior of the container body.
11. The package according to claim 1, wherein the release area is
at least partially clear of the flanged edge, wherein the release
area is surrounded by a surface where there is indeed bonding
between the sealing foil and the flanged edge.
12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the bond between the
sealing foil and the flanged edge outside the release area is
stronger over at least part of said area outside the release area
than the bond between the sealing foil and the flanged edge within
the release area, which bond is furthermore preferably of the
permanent type.
13. The package according to claim 12, wherein said permanent bond
has been obtained by using a cordon seal.
14. The package according to claim 1, wherein the linear shape of
the weakened or broken zone is straight.
15. The package according to claim 1, wherein two outflow channels
are formed in the flanged edge.
16. The package according to claim 15, wherein the interior of the
container is divided into two completely separated compartments,
wherein each of the two outflow channels is in communication with
one of the two compartments with one of its ends.
17. The package according to claim 15, wherein the container has
only one separation part.
18. The package according to claim 1, wherein the container body is
manually compressible.
19. The use of a package according to claim 1.
20. The use according to claim 19, wherein the sealing foil remains
intact when the release surface is detached.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a package for a fluid. The
invention particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a package
for liquid food products such as coffee creamer, ketchup,
mayonnaise or other sauces. The interior volume of such a package
usually suffices for accommodating a few millilitres to a few
centilitres of a fluid. Such packages are usually mass products of
the disposable type, which are generally used once only as portion
packs. The packages according to the invention can in principle
also be used for packaging product types other than food products,
for example glues, paint materials, toothpaste, shampoos, liquid
soap or cream.
[0002] A number of aspects are to be considered in the design of
such packages. On the one hand, there is the understandable aim to
produce the packages at the lowest possible cost price. The use of
raw materials plays a part, but also, for example, the speed and
the cost of the machines by means of which the packages can be
produced in an automated manner. In general it is in any case
advantageous if a new type of package can be produced on existing,
preferably standard machines, so that there is no need for large
investments in costly and/or new production machines and/or tools
to be used in combination therewith.
[0003] In addition to that it is essential that a package be
functional. Ease of use and, connected therewith, a user's
intuitive sense of how to open a package are important aspects in
that regard. Existing packages usually do not score high on these
aspects, the result being that the liquid contents of a package
unexpectedly flow out upon opening the package, for example, or
that the consumer is insufficiently able to have the contents of
the package flow out of the package in a controlled manner after
having opened the package. As a result, a consumer will easily tend
to choose a different type of package in the future.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a package
which can be produced at a relatively low cost price and which, in
addition, is very user-friendly. In order to accomplish that
object, the invention provides a package as defined in claim 1.
[0005] The package for a fluid according to the present invention
comprises a container body having an interior volume and being
provided with an opening, wherein the package comprises a flanged
edge near the opening, in which a recessed outflow channel is
formed, which outflow channel is in communication with the interior
of the container body via said opening at one end and which is
closed at an opposite end, wherein a linear weakened or broken zone
is provided in the flanged edge so as to make it possible to
separate a separation part of the flanged edge located on the outer
side of said weakened or broken zone from the container, said
package further comprising a sealing foil which sealingly bonds to
at least a part of the flanged edge, including the separation part
thereof, which sealing foil covers the outflow channel, which
outflow channel is entirely provided on the side of the weakened or
broken zone remote from the separation part, wherein the sealing
foil has a release area that extends on the inner side of the
weakened or broken zone, within which release area at least the
closed end of the outflow channel is located, wherein the release
area is bounded by a boundary line located opposite the weakened or
broken zone, which crosses the flow channel. At the location of the
boundary line, the sealing foil is connected to the flanged edge by
a permanent bond.
[0006] At the location of the release area, the sealing foil bonds
to the flanged edge, said bond being of the releasable type. The
release area is at least partially adjacent to the weakened or
broken zone.
[0007] It is conceivable for the separation part and the other part
of the container to be integrally connected, in which case the
weakened zone makes it possible to break said integral connection.
It is also possible, however, for the separation part to be
completely separate from the other part of the container, that is,
the separation part is only connected to the sealing foil, thus
forming a broken zone.
[0008] The above aspects of a package according to the invention
make it possible to provide a package that can be handled, in
particular opened, in a very intuitive manner, which makes the
package very user-friendly. As it is, opening the package can be
done by first separating the separation part from the container, if
a weakened zone is provided. During said separation, the package in
fact remains closed, since the sealing foil still covers the
recessed outflow channel. The risk of unexpected spillage upon
separation of the separation part is minimal. If a broken zone is
provided, the separation part can readily move, without any risk of
unintentional opening, because the release area is at least
partially adjacent to the broken zone, so that there is a bond at
the location of the broken zone.
[0009] In any case, the closed (at least in the starting situation)
end of the outflow channel, and thus the package, can then be
simply opened by detaching the sealing foil at least within the
release area by moving the separation part with the sealing foil
away from the container from the weakened or broken zone in the
direction of the boundary line located opposite the weakened or
broken zone up to the boundary line, so that the sealing foil is
removed from the flanged edge as far as the boundary line. As a
result, the aforesaid, initially covered end of the outflow channel
becomes accessible and the contents of the package can exit the
package in a controlled manner via the outflow channel. Moreover, a
possibility is provided to configure the package such that it can
be produced by means of existing production equipment, for example
in that the configuration corresponds to those of already existing
packages, for example coffee creamer cups. At the location of the
boundary line, the sealing foil is connected to the flanged edge by
a permanent bond. Such a boundary line, which does not correspond
to the line defined by the weakened zone, therefore, can prevent
the sealing foil from being detached too far, that is, beyond the
outflow channel, seen from the weakened zone, which might lead to
the loss of the advantageous metering properties obtained by the
use of an outflow channel.
[0010] The container body is preferably made of polypropylene and
preferably comprises several layers of material.
[0011] In one embodiment, the container body comprises an endless
upright circumferential wall which, at least in an open condition
of the package, is deformable under the influence of an axial
pressure force applied to the circumferential wall for reducing the
volume of the package for the purpose of emptying the package at
least partially. In this way precise metering is possible. If the
container body is made of polypropylene, the wall will hardly tend
to spring back after being deformed, if at all, so that second or
further metering can take place in a quick and precise manner after
initial metering concerning only a part of the total contents. The
fact is that metering is directly possible upon application of a
pressure force.
[0012] In particular in the case of a container made of
polypropylene, it is preferable if the separation part is entirely
separated from the flanged edge for thus forming the linear broken
zone. The fact is that polypropylene is difficult to break, so that
opening via a weakened zone is more difficult. This may play a part
with other materials as well, to such an extent that it may be
preferable to use a broken zone.
[0013] It will add to the ease of use if the boundary line extends
parallel to the linear shape of the weakened zone. Thus, a strip of
the sealing foil can be detached from the flanged edge via two
parallel opposite sides, thereby releasing at least the closed end
of the outflow channel.
[0014] If the outflow channel is oriented perpendicularly to the
linear shape of the weakened zone, at least at the closed end
thereof, this provides the advantage that the outflow channel is
oriented in the direction from which the outflow channel is opened
in use, as it were.
[0015] The use of the package is simplified in particular if the
flanged edge has a part that projects relative to the other part of
the package, which projecting part comprises the separation part
and which extends in the direction in which the outflow channel
extends from the interior of the container body. The projecting
part will be intuitively regarded as the part of the package that
is to be engaged for opening the package.
[0016] Engaging the separation part is facilitated if the
separation part has a circumference that extends concavely opposite
the weakened zone. In said concave part, an index finger will fit,
for example.
[0017] Engaging the separation part is also facilitated if the
separation part has a circumference, and wherein the separation
part has a projecting engagement edge near that part of the
circumference which is located opposite the weakened zone.
[0018] It is furthermore advantageous if the release area is at
least partially clear of the flanged edge, wherein the release area
is surrounded by a surface where there is indeed bonding between
the sealing foil and the flanged edge.
[0019] To prevent a situation in which too large a part of the
sealing foil is pulled off the flanged edge, it is preferable if
the bond between the sealing foil and the flanged edge outside the
release area is stronger over at least part of said area outside
the release area than the bond between the sealing foil and the
flanged edge within the release area, which bond is furthermore
preferably of the permanent type.
[0020] The weakened zone is preferably straight, so that separating
the separation part from the container will be easy. The weakened
zone can for example be realised by making the material of the
flanged edge thinner at the location of the weakened zone, or by
perforating said material. Separating the separation part can for
example take place by folding over and breaking off the separation
part.
[0021] The invention can also be used very well with a package in
which to outflow channels are formed in the flanged edge, in which
case the interior of the container may be divided into two
completely separated compartments, wherein each of the two outflow
channels is in communication with one of the two compartments with
one of its ends. Think in this regard of separate compartments for
two sauces that are often eaten together, or for the two components
of an epoxy glue.
[0022] If the container comprises only one separation part, both
outflow channels can be opened by separating said one separation
part and subsequently pulling off the sealing foil at the location
of the release area.
[0023] Metering the contents of the package is easy for a user in
particular if the container body can be manually compressed.
[0024] The package may to that end be configured as a sachet, for
example. Alternatively, an upright wall of a container joining the
bottom of a package may to that end have an accordion-like
configuration, or in any case comprise wall parts positioned one
above another, which can pivot relative to each other. Such a
container body is described in Dutch patent application NL 2006515,
for example, the contents of which application can be considered to
be incorporated herein. In general it is noted that the shape of
the container body of the package according to the invention can be
freely selected. Thus, it may for example be round, oval, square or
rectangular in shape, seen in top plan view, and have rounded
corners, for example, and an endless upright wall of the container
may be tapered. The container body may be made of a relatively
stiff plastic material, for example, but also of a flexible,
foil-like material in the case of a sachet-like package.
[0025] A possible method of using a container according to the
invention as described above comprises the successive steps of:
[0026] providing a package according to the invention, which
package is filled with at least one fluid; [0027] manually
separating the separation part from the container at the location
of the weakened zone; [0028] detaching the release area of the
sealing foil from the flanged edge from the weakened zone as far as
the boundary line.
[0029] According to one aspect thereof, the invention also relates
to the use of a package as described above.
[0030] If the sealing foil remains intact upon detachment of the
release area, this may have the advantage that possible resealing
will be easier, whilst in addition the package can remain one whole
upon being opened.
[0031] The invention will now be explained in more detail below by
means of a description of possible embodiments, not to be construed
as being limitative to the scope of the present invention, of a
package according to the invention, in which reference is made to
the following figures:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective top plan view of a possible
embodiment of a package according to the invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective top plan view of the package of FIG.
1 in an upside-down position;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a view of the package of FIG. 1, in which various
bonding areas are shown on the flanged edge of the container;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a view of the package of FIG. 3 in an open
condition;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a view of a part of another possible embodiment of
the package according to the invention in an open condition;
and
[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective top plan view of yet another
possible embodiment of a package according to the invention.
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a package 1 according to the invention. The
package 1, which is of the disposable type, is for example a
package for coffee creamer. The package 1 comprises a container
body 2 of plastic material, such as polystyrene or polypropylene.
The container body 2 is at least substantially tub-shaped, with a
bottom 3 which blends into an upright wall 4 via a rounded part.
The container body 2 further comprises an endless, in this case,
flanged edge 5 that extends radially outward, which flanged edge
joins the upper edge of the upright wall 4. The main shape and the
dimensions of the container body 2 correspond to those of existing
disposable packages for coffee creamer, so that the container body
2, and also the entire package 1 for that matter, can be produced
with at least substantially the same production means as those used
for producing existing disposable packages.
[0039] The upright wall 4 is at least substantially made up of a
lower wall part 4a and an upper wall part 4b, which join one
another at a slight inward angle at the location of an endless fold
line 6. The upper wall part 4b comprises obliquely oriented
portions 7, which are provided in a regular pattern along the
circumference of the upper wall part 4b. Because of the use of the
wall parts 4a, 4b as described above, the container body 2 tends to
be compressed when a pressure force is applied thereto in axial
direction as indicated by the arrow 8, resulting in the fold line 6
moving inward and the distance between the bottom 3 and the flanged
edge 5 decreasing. During said deformation, the contents (not
shown) of the package 1 will be pressed out, as will become clear
yet hereinafter. The bottom 3 and the upright wall 4 define the
interior 9 of the container body 2, which interior 9 is open on the
underside of the flanged edge 5. A detailed description of the
container body as the container body 2 is given in Dutch patent
application NL 2006515, whose contents are to be considered
incorporated herein.
[0040] The package 1 further comprises a sealing foil 10 (see also
FIG. 4) which completely seals the open upper side of the container
body 2 in the starting situation (in which the package 1 is filled
with liquid material and is closed) and bonds to the entire upper
surface of the flanged edge 5. In one embodiment (not shown) a
concentric recess may be provided in the flanged edge 5, in which
the sealing foil is bonded for forming a so-called cordon seal. The
sealing foil may be made of plastic or aluminium, or at least
comprise said materials. The circumference of the sealing foil 10
follows the circumference of the flanged edge 5. She sealing foil
10 used in FIGS. 1-3 may be considered to be transparent, so that
it cannot be distinguished in said figures.
[0041] The width (or, in other words, the radial dimension) of the
flanged edge 5 is constant over the larger part of the
circumference of the flanged edge 5. The flanged edge 5 also has a
projecting part 11, however. Within the region of the projecting
part 11 the flanged edge is slightly recessed locally, so that an
outflow channel 12 is formed in the flanged edge 5.
[0042] The outflow channel 12, which is covered by the sealing foil
10 in the starting situation, has an elongated shape that extends
in radial direction. The end 13 of the outflow channel 12 that is
directed towards the interior of 9 of the container body 2 is in
open communication with the interior 9, to which end an opening 26
has been left in the upright wall 4 at the location of the outflow
channel 12, more specifically the end 13 thereof. The end 14
opposite the end 13 of the outflow channel 12 is closed.
[0043] The projecting part 11 of the flanged edge 5 is further
provided with a weakened zone configured as a break-off edge 15, or
with a broken zone configured as a broken edge. At the location of
the break-off edge 15, the material of the flanged edge 5 is
thinner, so that the separation part 16 of the flanged edge 5
located on the outer side of the break-off edge 15 can be broken
off the container body 2 by bending it upward about the break-off
edge 15. At the broken edge, no direct contact exists between the
separation part 16 and the other part of the flanged edge 5. The
break-off edge 15, and also the broken edge, is rectilinear and
extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the outflow
channel 12. The circumference of the separation part 16 is concave
in shape opposite the break-off edge 15 or broken edge, so that a
user holding the container body 2 with a thumb and a middle finger
can easily fold the separation part 16 about the break-off edge 15
with one of his fingers, usually an index finger. If the separation
part 16 is provided with a break-off edge 15, the separation part
16 can be separated from the container body 2 in this manner. The
sealing foil 10 remains intact while this takes place. To realise
an even better engagement of the separation part 16 by the user's
(index) finger, the separation part 16 may be provided with an
engagement edge 17 at the bottom side (see in particular FIG. 2),
near the concave part of the circumference of the separation part
16.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows in the striped and dotted parts thereof two
different types of bond of the sealing foil 10 to the upper side of
the flanged edge 5. In the striped regions 21, 22, the bond is a
permanent bond, which is explicitly intended not to be released
upon opening of the package 1. In the dotted region 23, the bond
between the flanged edge 5 and the sealing foil 10 is a releasable
bond, which is explicitly intended to be released upon opening of
the package 1. The region 21 concerns the upper surface of the
separation part 16. The region 23 concerns a so-called release
area, which extends from the break-off edge 15, in the direction of
the interior 9 of the container body 2, to a straight boundary line
extending parallel to and opposite the break-off edge 15. Said
boundary line 24 crosses the outflow channel 12 near the end 13
thereof. The boundary line is defined by the transition between the
permanent bond region and the releasable bond region.
Alternatively, a boundary line may also be defined by, for example,
a number of aligned spot bonds. The permanent bond in the regions
21, 22 and the releasable bond in the region 23 can be realised by
using suitable glue types as known to the skilled person. A glue
type that is suitable both for the regions 21, 22 and for the
region 23 is a glue of the hot melt type. Different types of hot
melt glue are selected for the regions 21, 22 on the one hand and
for the region 23 on the other hand, so as to obtain the desired
properties as regards the permanent bond in the regions 21, 22 and
the releasable bond in the region 23. Preferably, the glue is
applied to the sealing foil 10, after which the sealing foil 10 is
bonded to the flanged edge 5 of the container body 2. The selection
of the glue also depends on the material of at least the upper
surface of the flanged edge 5 of the container body 2. This may be
polypropylene or polyethylene, for example, or possibly
polystyrene.
[0045] The open condition of the package 1 shown in FIG. 4 is
realised in that a user folds the separation part 16 upward about
the break-off edge 15, as a result of which the separation part 16
is detached from the container body 2, whilst a connection
continues to exist between the separation part 16 and the container
body 2 via the sealing foil 10. In the alternative embodiment, the
separation part 16 is already separated from the container body, in
that a broken zone as already described above remains. Subsequently
the separation part 16 is moved along the release area 23, as a
result of which the bond between the sealing foil 10 and the
flanged edge 5 in the release area 23 is released and the package
is not actually opened until then. This way of opening the package
1 essentially corresponds to the way in which an average user is
already used to opening existing cups for coffee creamer, which
cups are still being widely used at the time of the invention but
which do not have an outflow channel, for example. A user will
intuitively open the package 1 correctly, therefore. The user can
do so with one hand, clamping the container body 2 between his
thumb and his middle finger and folding over the separation part 16
with his index finger and moving it past the outflow channel 12 so
as to release the bond between the sealing foil 10 and the flanged
edge within the release area 23, thereby opening the package 1.
Normally, the outflow channel 12 will be directed away from the
user, thereby minimising the risk of liquid contents of the package
being unintentionally spilled on the user, the more so because the
package is not automatically opened by breaking off the separation
part 16.
[0046] Beyond the boundary line 24 the bond between the sealing
foil 10 and the flanged edge 15 remains intact because the bond is
permanent at that location. The end 13 of the outflow channel 12
thus remains covered by the sealing foil 10, so that a relatively
small passage 25, comparable as regards size with that of the
opening 26, is available, through which the liquid material present
in the package 1 can escape from the interior 3 of the container
body 2. Partially in dependence on the size of the passage 25, this
can take place under the influence of the force of gravity in that
the outflow channel 12 is directed downward, but it is also
possible, and often easier in practice, to compress the container
body 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow 8, forcing the
liquid contents of the package 1 to flow out of the package 1 via
the passage 25 in a metered manner. At least in the open condition
of the container, the upright wall 4 is thus preferably deformable
under the influence of an axial pressure force 8 applied to the
upright wall 4 for reducing the internal volume of the package 1
for the purpose of emptying the package 1 at least partially. An
embodiment of a wall 4 thus configured is described, for example,
in Dutch patent application NL 2006515. The inventor reserves the
right to incorporate at least parts of said patent application, in
particular those parts that relate to the deformable
circumferential wall 4a, 4b, in the present patent application.
[0047] In an advantageous embodiment, the package 1, or at least
the container body 2, is made of polypropylene. Such a material
tends to maintain a deformation once such a deformation has been
effected, that is, any elastic rebound will be minimal. The
deformation will thus be maintained upon compression of the wall,
so that precise metering at intervals is possible.
[0048] It may also be possible to reseal the package 1 more or less
if the contents of the package 1 have not flown out completely,
which resealing is done by returning the separation part to the
position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, so that the sealing foil 10 will
close the outflow channel 12 entirely again, at least to a
significant degree. If desired, a type of glue by means of which
the sealing foil can be reattached to the container body 2 after
being released may be used for the releasable part.
[0049] In the event that the separation part 16 unintentionally
becomes detached from the container body 2 in the starting
situation when the package is still sealed, as might happen during
rough transport, for example, the package will in fact nevertheless
remain closed on account of the bonding within the region 23 of the
sealing foil 10 to the flanged edge 5, as a result of which the
outflow channel 12 remains covered and thus closed. Liquid contents
cannot flow out of the package 1, therefore, in spite of the fact
that the separation part 16 has become detached.
[0050] FIG. 5 shows a variant of the package 1 shown in FIGS. 1-4,
which package comprises two outflow channels 122, which are each in
communication with one end thereof with the interior of the
container body in question. In a further variant of a package
according to the invention, it is also conceivable for the interior
of the package to be subdivided into two compartments, one outflow
channel 122 being in communication with one of said two
compartments and the other outflow channel 122 being in
communication with the upper compartment. Elaborating on this it is
also possible to use two compartments, each having their own
outflow channel, which outflow channels subsequently converge into
one outflow channel having a closed end. Upon opening of the
package, mixing of the liquids in the two compartments already
takes place in the outflow channel, therefore. Such a type of
package, which comprises one outflow channel or two outflow
channels, therefore, is disclosed in, for example, U.S. patent
application US 2009/0114677 A1.
[0051] FIG. 6 shows another variant of the package 1 shown in FIGS.
1-4. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same numerals. In the
package shown in FIG. 6, the release area is clear of the flanged
edge 5 in the direct vicinity of the outflow channel. Said free
part of the release area is entirely surrounded by an area where
the sealing foil bonds to the flanged edge. The bond in question
may be a releasable bond between the break-off edge and the
boundary line (the regions 23). Alternatively, in addition to the
regions 21 and 22, the bond in the region 23 may also be a
permanent bond. In this case the sealing foil will tear on both
sides of the outflow channel 12, as far as the boundary line, upon
opening of the package.
[0052] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the
possible embodiments of packages according to the invention as
described in the foregoing, but is limited in the first place by
the wording of the appended claims. It is explicitly noted, for
example, that all kinds of configurations of the container body
according to the invention are conceivable within the framework of
the present invention. Thus, the package may have an oval or an
angular shape, seen in top plan view, for example a square or
rectangular shape, and an upright wall of a container body forming
part of the package according to the invention may exhibit a
certain taper in vertical direction, seen in the circumferential
direction. Furthermore, the package according to the invention may
also be a sachet-like package, for example, in which case the
flanged edge is not an endless edge, as in the embodiments
described above with reference to the figures, but an edge that is
provided on only one side of the sachet package.
* * * * *