U.S. patent application number 14/153704 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-17 for pouch anti-sag measures.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pouch Pac Innovations. LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Pouch Pac Innovations. LLC. Invention is credited to R. Charles Murray.
Application Number | 20140199002 14/153704 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51165189 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140199002 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murray; R. Charles |
July 17, 2014 |
POUCH ANTI-SAG MEASURES
Abstract
The flexible pouch includes a first outer panel and a second
outer panel. The first panel and the second panel each having an
outer peripheral edge and the first outer panel and the second
outer panel connected at least partially at the outer peripheral
edge of the first panel and at the outer peripheral edge of the
second panel. A seal is disposed on at least a portion of an outer
peripheral edge of the flexible pouch. A reinforcement is provided
positioned adjacent to or on the seal of the flexible pouch
operable to support the first outer panel and the second outer
panel.
Inventors: |
Murray; R. Charles;
(Sarasota, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pouch Pac Innovations. LLC |
Sarasota |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Pouch Pac Innovations. LLC
Sarasota
FL
|
Family ID: |
51165189 |
Appl. No.: |
14/153704 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61751450 |
Jan 11, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/119 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/02 20130101;
B65D 77/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/119 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/02 20060101
B65D033/02 |
Claims
1. A flexible pouch for holding a liquid, the flexible pouch
comprising: a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and
the second panel each having an outer peripheral edge, the first
panel and the second panel connected at least partially at the
outer peripheral edge of the first panel and at the outer
peripheral edge of the second panel; a seam disposed on at least a
portion of an outer peripheral edge of the flexible pouch; a
reinforcement positioned adjacent to or on the seal of the flexible
pouch operable to support the first panel and the second panel.
2. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is a
reinforcement strip.
3. The flexible pouch of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement strip is
positioned on the seal.
4. The flexible pouch of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement strip is
positioned between a plurality of layers of the first panel and the
second panel.
5. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is a
plurality of ribs.
6. The flexible pouch of claim 5 wherein the ribs are cold seal
ribs.
7. The flexible pouch of claim 5 wherein the ribs vary in length
wherein the cold seal ribs are longer at various points thereby
providing for increased strength.
8. The flexible pouch of claim 7 wherein the ribs are longer
towards the bottom of the pouch and shorter in length towards the
top of the pouch.
9. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is a
removable straw.
10. The flexible pouch of claim 9 wherein the first panel includes
an elongated pocket positioned on an outer surface of the first
panel, the removable straw mounted within the pocket.
11. The flexible pouch of claim 10 wherein an elongated pocket is
positioned between the first panel and the second panel, the
removable straw mounted within the pocket.
12. The flexible pouch of claim 4 wherein the reinforcement strip
is thicker than the material of either the first panel or the
second panel.
13. The flexible pouch of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement strip
is made of a material having a higher melting temperature than the
material of both the first panel and the material of the second
panel.
14. The flexible pouch of claim 4 wherein the reinforcement strip
has a greater mass than the material of either the first panel or
the second panel.
15. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein additional panels are
provided, the panels connected at the seam.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/751,450 filed Jan. 11, 2013, which is
incorporated herein by reference in the entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to pouches. More
particularly, this invention relates to beverage pouches having
increased structural measures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various beverage packages operable to accommodate fluids
such as juice, wine, beer, liquors, water or other beverages are
well known in the art. These containers typically include a wide
base allowing the pouch to stand upright on its own. However, these
packages frequently sag or lean because of the large volume and
weight of the liquid contained therein. Although this sagging does
not prevent the pouch from standing upright or inhibit the use of
the pouch, the sagging is an unattractive feature for which
correction or mitigation is desired. Accordingly, there exists a
need in the art to provide a beverage pouch having anti-sag
measures to prevent or mitigate sagging of a beverage pouch from
standing in an upright position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a plurality of related means
for preventing sagging of a stand-up pouch. Although the present
embodiment uses by way of example a beverage pouch, the pouch may
be used to hold other liquids, food products, dry goods, chemicals
. . . etc. The flexible pouch includes a first outer panel and a
second outer panel. The first panel and the second panel each
having an outer peripheral edge and the first outer panel and the
second outer panel connected at least partially at the outer
peripheral edge of the first panel and at the outer peripheral edge
of the second panel. A seal is disposed on at least a portion of an
outer peripheral edge of the flexible pouch. A reinforcement is
provided positioned adjacent to or on the seal of the flexible
pouch operable to support the first outer panel and the second
outer panel. In one embodiment, the reinforcement is a
reinforcement strip. The reinforcement strip may be positioned on
the seal or between a plurality of layers of the first panel and
the second panel.
[0005] In an alternative embodiment, the reinforcement is a
plurality of ribs, where the ribs are cold seal ribs. The ribs may
vary in length wherein the cold seal ribs are longer at various
points thereby providing for increased strength. More specifically,
the ribs are longer towards the bottom of the pouch and shorter in
length towards the top of the pouch.
[0006] In yet another alternative embodiment, the reinforcement is
a removable straw. The first outer panel includes an elongated
pocket, the removable straw is mounted within the pocket. The
elongated pocket is positioned between a plurality of layers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates the cross-sectional view of the pouch of
the first embodiment having a reinforcing strip;
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view along the section
5-5 as shown in FIG. 1--without any depression;
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective side view of the pouch
having a reinforcing strip;
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the pouch having a
reinforcing strip;
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section view the cold seal ribs
of FIGS. 7 and 8;
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of the pouch having a
plurality of cold seal ribs;
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the pouch having a
plurality of cold seal ribs;
[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the pouch having a
reinforcing straw; and
[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of the pouch having a
reinforcing straw.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention provides a plurality of related means
for preventing sagging of a stand-up pouch. Although the present
embodiment uses by way of example a beverage pouch, the pouch may
be used to hold other liquids, food products, dry goods, chemicals
. . . etc. The flexible pouch includes a first outer panel and a
second outer panel. The first panel and the second panel each
having an outer peripheral edge and the first outer panel and the
second outer panel connected at least partially at the outer
peripheral edge of the first panel and at the outer peripheral edge
of the second panel. A seal is disposed on at least a portion of an
outer peripheral edge of the flexible pouch. A reinforcement is
provided positioned adjacent to or on the seal of the flexible
pouch operable to support the first outer panel and the second
outer panel.
[0017] The first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-4 utilizes a
reinforcing strip disposed between various layers of a beverage
pouch. The beverage pouch 100 includes a reinforcing strip 102. The
beverage pouch includes a first outer panel 101 and a second outer
panel 102. The panels connect at an outer peripheral edge 104 where
both of the first outer panel 101 and the second outer panel each
include an outer edge. The panels 101, 103 connect to form a seam
(or seal) at the outer peripheral edge 104. The panels 101,103 may
be made of one material or include a plurality of materials such as
shown in FIG. 2. The layers as shown in FIG. 2 may also be
pre-formed as a laminate to form 2 panels and later connected
together at a seam.
[0018] The reinforcing strip 102 is positioned at the outer
peripheral edge 104 of the pouch 100. The pouch 100 further
includes an inner portion 106 operable to hold liquid. The liquid
is filled and inserted into the pouch 100 at the fill area 108. The
pouch 100 includes an upper portion 110 and a lower portion 112.
The lower portion 112 is a base allowing the pouch 100 to stand
upright.
[0019] The reinforcing strip 102 is made of a plastic, metal,
polymer, polymer-like, or plastic-like material providing further
stability to the pouch 100. In the present embodiment, a
reinforcing strip 102 is provided on either side of the pouch 100.
The reinforcing strip 102 is provided sealed between a plurality of
layers creating the pouch. FIG. 2 illustrates the various layers
including the reinforcing strip 102. A first inner layer 120 is
provided at the interior of the beverage container (inner 106 of
the container or pouch 102). The reinforcing strip 102 is then
provided between the inner layer 120 (comprised of LLDPE) and an
interior layer 122 (NY). Further outer layers include layer 124
made of Aluminum to act as an oxygen barrier, a layer of print (or
suitable material capable of being printed on) 126 and an outer
layer of PET 128.
[0020] The reinforcement strip 102 may have a higher density than
the plurality of layers to further support the pouch. The
reinforcement strip 102 is thicker than the layers described above.
The reinforcement strip 102 may also have a higher rigidity as
compared to the layers. The reinforcement strip 102 also may also
have a greater mass than the layers described above.
[0021] The reinforcement strip is made of a material operable to
provide additional rigidity and support to the pouch. The
reinforcement strip may be made from LLDPE (made thicker and having
greater mass as compared to the layers). The reinforcement strip
102 must be made of a material (or have the respective structural
properties) which will allow the reinforcement strip 102 to stay
structurally sound through a heat seal (or cold seal) process. The
reinforcement strip 102 must have a higher melting temperature as
compared to the LLPDE and NY (or other materials) of the
layers.
[0022] By way of example, A first layer of the flexible pouch is
made og LLDPE (Linear low-density polyethylene) and has a melting
range between 120 to 160.degree. C. A second layer is made of nylon
and melts around 265.degree. C. As such, any sealing process can
occur at temperatures around 265.degree. C. Accordingly, the
reinforcement strip could be made of any of the following materials
since they have a significantly higher melting point as compared to
LLDPE and Nylon: PEEK (Polyether ether ketone) which melts around
343.degree. C., PES (Polyethersulfone) which melts around between
343-377.degree. C. or Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, aka Teflon)
which melts around 327.degree. C. All of these materials require a
significantly higher melting temperature as compared to both LLDPE
and Nylon, the two materials used in the layers of this
example.
[0023] The strip may also be made of a combination of these
materials or other materials. These above listed materials are
suitable for use as the reinforcement strip because the strip will
not melt (and accordingly lose any structural properties) during
any sealing process.
[0024] In an alternative embodiment to the plurality of layers
described above, the pouch simply includes a first layer, a second
layer and the reinforcement strip is provided between the two
layers.
[0025] The reinforcing strip 102 acts as a strengthener for the
pouch 100. When liquid is filled into the pouch 100, the
reinforcing strip provides further structure instability thereby
preventing any sag of the pouch 100.
[0026] A second embodiment providing anti-sag of a pouch is
illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a pouch 200 having a
plurality of cold seal ribs 202. The beverage pouch includes a
first outer panel 201 and a second outer panel 202. The panels
connect at an outer peripheral edge 205 where both of the first
outer panel 201 and the second outer panel each include an outer
edge. The panels 201, 203 connect to form a seam at the outer
peripheral edge 205.
[0027] The cold seal ribs 202 are provided along an edge 208 of the
pouch 200 (and of seam). The cold seal ribs (or indentations
depending on the side of the pouch one is viewing) 202 vary in
length wherein the cold seal ribs are longer at various points
requiring further strength. The cold seal ribs may also be provided
over or adjacent to a reinforcement strip. By way of example, the
cold seal rib 204 provided towards an upper end 210 of the pouch
200 is shorter in length as compared to the cold seal rib 206
provided at a lower end 212. The cold seal rib 204 has a length A.
The cold seal rib 206 has a length B. In the present embodiment,
the length B is greater than the length A. Various lengths are
provided and changed as further structure and support is
required.
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates the apparatus 228 adapted to create the
cold seal ribs 202 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The apparatus 228
includes an upper plate 230 and a lower plate 232. The upper plate
230 includes a protrusion 234. The lower plate 232 includes an
indentation 236 operable to accept the protrusion 234 of the upper
plate 230. The outer edge 208 of the pouch 200 is positioned
between the upper plate 230 and the lower plate 232 and pressed
between the two plates. The end result is the cold seal ribs 202 as
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In an alternative embodiment, the plates
230, 232 need be heated to further and assist in the creation of
the cold seal ribs 202.
[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment for an anti-sag
measure for a beverage pouch. The beverage pouch 300 as shown in
FIG. 9 includes a straw 302 and a straw pocket 304. The beverage
pouch includes a first outer panel 301 and a second outer panel
302. The panels connect at an outer peripheral edge 304 where both
of the first outer panel 301 and the second outer panel each
include an outer edge. The panels 301, 303 connect to form a seam
at the outer peripheral edge 304.
[0030] The straw pocket 304 includes an upper opening 306 and a
lower base 308. The straw 302 is inserted to the straw pocket 304
at the opening 306. The straw pocket 304 may be created between
multiple layers of the beverage pouch 300.
[0031] The beverage pouch 300 includes an upper end 310 and a lower
end 312. The lower end 312 is operable to act as a base allowing
the pouch 300 to stand upright even when filled with liquid. The
straw 302 is made of a plastic or polymer or polymer-like or
plastic-like material thereby adding further structure to the pouch
300. The straw may also be made of a material having a higher
melting temperature as compared to the material the layers are made
of. The straw 302 prevents sag and movement of the beverage pouch
300 when the pouch 300 is filled with liquid. The straw 302 may
then be removed from the straw pocket 302 for use in connection
with the beverage inside the pouch 300.
[0032] The invention is not restricted to the illustrated examples
and embodiments described above. The embodiments are not intended
as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and
other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. Methods,
apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are
exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *