U.S. patent application number 13/955291 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-05 for spout forming strip remnant.
The applicant listed for this patent is Momentive Performance Materials, Inc.. Invention is credited to Matthew Louis Fitzgerald, IV.
Application Number | 20150034671 13/955291 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52426723 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150034671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fitzgerald, IV; Matthew
Louis |
February 5, 2015 |
SPOUT FORMING STRIP REMNANT
Abstract
A packet for viscous material includes a pouch that comprises an
expressing-shaped first closure end and a second closure end and at
least two opposing sidewalls. The closure ends and sidewalls define
an enclosure. At least one closure end has an expressing shape and
a separate rigid foldable flat cradles the pouch. The flat is of a
material that is more rigid than the pouch. A spout-forming area
separate from the pouch and the rigid foldable flat, is positioned
on a rigid foldable flat side of the packet. The area is of
intermediate rigidity or thickness to the pouch and the rigid
foldable flat. The spout-forming area is derived as a remnant from
a semi-rigid material strip that acts as a pouch-forming tacking
strip during a pouch forming process. The spout-forming area
reinforces at least a part of the pouch at the pouch expressing
shape first closure end. The separate rigid foldable flat overlaps
the spout-forming area to cradle the spout-forming area with the
cradled pouch. A crease extends longitudinally in the flat and
along the pouch to facilitate folding or rolling the more rigid
flat to compress the pouch with the spout-forming area to express a
content through the expressing-shaped first closure end.
Inventors: |
Fitzgerald, IV; Matthew Louis;
(Tomhannock, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Momentive Performance Materials, Inc. |
Albany |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52426723 |
Appl. No.: |
13/955291 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/107 ; 222/92;
53/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 3/045 20130101;
B65D 75/5811 20130101; B65B 51/10 20130101; B65B 1/02 20130101;
B65D 35/44 20130101; B65D 83/0094 20130101; B65B 2051/105 20130101;
B65B 43/08 20130101; B65D 35/38 20130101; B65B 43/06 20130101; B65B
3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/107 ; 222/92;
53/412 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/38 20060101
B65D035/38; B65B 43/08 20060101 B65B043/08; B65B 3/04 20060101
B65B003/04; B65B 51/10 20060101 B65B051/10; B65D 35/44 20060101
B65D035/44; B65B 3/02 20060101 B65B003/02 |
Claims
1. A packet for viscous material, comprising: a pouch comprising:
an expressing-shaped first closure end and a second closure end and
at least two opposing sidewalls; the closure ends and sidewalls
defining an enclosure, and at least one closure end comprising an
expressing shape; a separate rigid foldable flat cradling the pouch
and comprising a material that is more rigid than the pouch; and a
spout-forming area separate from the pouch and the rigid foldable
flat and positioned on a rigid foldable flat side of the packet and
of intermediate rigidity or thickness to the pouch and the rigid
foldable flat, wherein the spout-forming area is derived as a
remnant from a semi-rigid material strip that acts as a
pouch-forming tacking strip during a pouch forming process and
wherein the spout-forming area reinforces at least a part of the
pouch at the pouch expressing shape first closure end; and wherein
the separate rigid foldable flat overlaps the spout-forming area to
cradle the spout-forming area with the cradled pouch; and a crease
extending longitudinally in the flat and along the pouch to
facilitate folding or rolling the more rigid flat to compress the
pouch with the spout-forming area to express content through the
expressing-shaped first closure end.
2. The packet of claim 1, wherein the more rigid flat comprises a
stiff paper, cardstock, fiberboard or thermoplastic material.
3. (canceled)
4. The packet of claim 1, wherein the more rigid flat comprises a
fluted corrugated medium sandwiched between flat paper pieces.
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. The packet of claim 1, wherein the more rigid flat comprises the
crease extending along the pouch between the two closure ends to
facilitate folding or rolling the rigid flat and wherein the crease
is a longitudinal divide in the rigid flat sections configured to
form cradling compression surfaces against the enclosure.
8. (canceled)
9. The packet of claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises a multilayer
polymer and aluminum layer laminate having a thickness between
about 0.0045 and about 0.0075.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. The packet of claim 1, wherein the more rigid flat comprises
corrugated fiberboard having a thickness between about 0.045 and
0.065.
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. The packet of claim 1, comprising a funnel shapeable
reinforcing material at an expressing end that forms a shape to
facilitate expressing of the material as a bead.
17. The packet of claim 1, comprising a reinforcing material at the
expressing-shaped closure end, wherein the reinforcing material is
trapezoidal-shaped with slanted sides toward the expressing closure
end to form a tapered nozzle when folded or rolled with the rigid
flat.
18. The packet of claim 1, comprising a reinforcing material at an
expressing end that forms a funnel-shape to facilitate expressing
of the material as a bead wherein the reinforcing material is a
shaped area comprising high density polyethylene (HDPE) having a
thickness between about 0.012 and 0.018 inches.
19. The packet of claim 1, comprising a reinforcing material at an
expressing end that forms a funnel-shape to facilitate expressing
of the material as a bead wherein the reinforcing material is a
shaped area comprising high density polyethylene (HDPE) having a
thickness about 0.015 inches.
20. The packet of claim 1, comprising a reinforcing material at an
expressing end wherein the more rigid fiat is substantially more
rigid than the pouch and rigidity of the reinforcing material is
intermediate between that of the pouch and that of the
material.
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. (canceled)
27. The packet of claim 1, comprising a pouch having dimensions of
20 cm to 4 cm by 15 cm to 2 cm with a filled thickness of 0.5 cm to
2 cm.
28. (canceled)
29. (canceled)
30. The packet of claim 1, comprising a pouch holding an amount of
caulk sealant portioned or measured to seal an identified job.
31. (canceled)
32. (canceled)
33. (canceled)
34. (canceled)
35. A method of forming and filling a squeezable package, the
method comprising: directing a web of flexible film and a
semi-rigid strip in a machine direction; folding the web of film to
have a pair of opposing walls having a front wall and a back wall
and positioning the strip between the front and back wall;
selectively sealing a first opposing wall to the strip but not a
second of the opposing walls to form an opening; removing sections
from the folded web of film to provide multiple pouches connected
at an upper portion thereof; separating the connected pouches from
the web of film to provide at least one individual pouch with an
upper opening; filling an interior section of the at least one
individual pouch through the upper opening of the at least one
pouch with a flowable material; sealing the second opposing wall to
the strip to close the opening; and removing a non-linear section
in the upper portion of the pouch to form the squeezable package
having a trapezoid-shaped inner section derived as a remnant from
the strip.
36. (canceled)
37. (canceled)
38. The method of claim 35, comprising identifying melt temperature
of the web of film and selectively attaching the strip to only one
of the opposing walls by controlling heating to the identified melt
temperature of one of opposing walls of the pair to define an
opening between upper edges of the opposing walls.
39. The method of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid strip is high
density polyethylene and the web of film is linear low density
polyethylene.
40. The method of claim 1 wherein temperature applied to one wall
is about 265.degree. F. to about 340.degree. F. and to the opposing
wall is 72.degree. F. to about 100.degree. F.
41. The method of claim 1 wherein temperature applied to one wall
is about 310.degree. F. to about 330.degree. F. and to the opposing
wall is at about ambient.
42. folding the more rigid flat to express the sealant from the
packet to an exterior.
43. A kit, comprising: an enclosure; a plurality of sealed packets
contained within the enclosure, at least one packet comprising a
pouch comprising: an expressing-shaped first closure end and a
second closure end and at least two opposing sidewalls; the closure
ends and sidewalls defining an enclosure, and at least one closure
end comprising an expressing shape; a separate rigid foldable flat
cradling the pouch and comprising a material that is more rigid
than the pouch; wherein the pouch comprises a spout-forming area
separate from the pouch and the rigid foldable flat and positioned
on a rigid foldable flat side of the packet and of intermediate
rigidity or thickness to the pouch and the rigid foldable flat,
wherein the spout-forming area is derived as a remnant from a
semi-rigid material strip that acts as a pouch-forming tacking
strip during a pouch forming process and wherein the spout-forming
area reinforces at least a part of the pouch at the pouch
expressing shape first closure end; and wherein the separate rigid
foldable flat overlaps the spout-forming area to cradle the
spout-forming area with the cradled pouch; and a crease extending
longitudinally in the flat and along the pouch to facilitate
folding or rolling the more rigid flat to compress the pouch with
the spout-forming area to express a content through the
expressing-shaped first closure end; and a sealant contained within
the at least one pouch.
44. (canceled)
45. (canceled)
46. (canceled)
47. (canceled)
48. (canceled)
49. (canceled)
50. (canceled)
51. (canceled)
52. (canceled)
53. (canceled)
59. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/613,661, filed Dec. 20, 2006, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and this
application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.
12/200,376, filed Aug. 28, 2008 which claims benefit of provisional
application 60/969,232 filed Aug. 31, 2007, which are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to forming a packet, the packet and
kit and method for dispensing a viscous material.
[0003] Viscous materials include sealant, mastic, adhesive,
glazing, caulk, grout and glue compositions. Viscous materials also
include silicone sealants and caulks that are used in building and
construction applications. Some of these compositions are referred
to as room temperature vulcanizable (RTV) compositions. They may
include a moisture-curable polyorganosiloxane polymer, filler and a
condensation cure catalyst.
[0004] In one procedure, a quantity of sealant is directly
expressed from a dispensing tube or cartridge to a crevice or other
area in need of sealing. Typically, the dispensing tube or
cartridge is unwieldy and difficult to use on small jobs. Also, the
tube or cartridge usually contains more material than an amount
required for a particular job and some unused portion of the tube
contents remains after a required amount has been dispensed. A
dispensing tube with an unused portion is discarded or is saved for
future use. Discarding is uneconomical and may be highly
undesirable for environmental reasons. At present, there is no
known recycling available for the wide variety of sealant
compositions available on the market. If the container with
residual sealant is not discarded, it is capped to save the
material for future use. But, the sealant may include a volatile
component that will evaporate to harden residual material. Other
sealants may be settable from exposure to atmosphere oxygen. In
these cases, unless the container is correctly reclosed, residual
material will be lost.
[0005] Some dispensing containers are merchandised with a
nozzle-engaging, snap-fit bead and grooved or screw threaded cap to
provide a secure fit to the container body. But these caps are
fragile pieces that are easily split or otherwise damaged from
over-tightening. Or, the snap-fit bead and groove may not provide
an enduring reclose fit until the time when the tube is next
required for a caulk job. Some informal capping devices have
included a nail that can be placed into the tube opening to effect
a plug type reclosure. Or, the container cap may be merchandised
with a plug member to provide this function. But, these solutions
do not avoid content hardening for more than a short period of
time.
[0006] Other reclosing approaches have included wrapping the
container tip with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, securing with a
rubber band and enclosing the entire container in a sealable
plastic packet. But, oftentimes these mechanisms do not work
because the packets rupture or the packets contain enough air to
dry the tube contents. Additionally, a foil or wrap can not be
closely and tightly fitted around the tube and nozzle without air
gap.
[0007] There is a need for a viscous material dispensing packet
that overcomes these problems of waste and difficulty of use. Also,
there is a need for a reasonably priced solution to these
problems.
[0008] Additionally, the present invention relates to a horizontal
packaging machine and method to efficiently and economically
produce the viscous material dispensing packet of the invention. In
one method and apparatus, a continuous web of material is converted
into a plurality of individual pouches. The continuous web of
material is folded in half over a plow to form two continuous side
panels joined by a bottom fold. The folded web is passed through a
series of seal bars which form transverse seals between the side
panels, thereby forming a strip of pouches interconnected by
transverse seals. A cutter cuts through each transverse seal to
form individual pouches with unsealed top edges. The individual
pouches are transferred to pouch filler, filled with product, and
sealed. The sealed pouches are then collected for transport.
[0009] There is a need to improve this method to address a problem
of efficiently and economically forming and filling the viscous
material dispensing packet of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The invention provides a packet, method and kit to overcome
current problems of waste, cost and difficulty of use of viscous
material dispensing packets. Additionally, the invention provides a
method and apparatus to efficiently and economically form and fill
the invention viscous material dispensing packet.
[0011] In an embodiment, the invention is a packet for viscous
material includes a pouch that comprises an expressing-shaped first
closure end and a second closure end and at least two opposing
sidewalls. The closure ends and sidewalls define an enclosure. At
least one closure end has an expressing shape and a separate rigid
foldable flat cradles the pouch. The flat is of a material that is
more rigid than the pouch. A spout-forming area separate from the
pouch and the rigid foldable flat, is positioned on a rigid
foldable flat side of the packet. The area is of intermediate
rigidity or thickness to the pouch and the rigid foldable flat. The
spout-forming area is derived as a remnant from a semi-rigid
material strip that acts as a pouch-forming tacking strip during a
pouch forming process. The spout-forming area reinforces at least a
part of the pouch at the pouch expressing shape first closure end.
The separate rigid foldable flat overlaps the spout-forming area to
cradle the spout-forming area with the cradled pouch. A crease
extends longitudinally in the flat and along the pouch to
facilitate folding or rolling the more rigid flat to compress the
pouch with the spout-forming area to express a content through the
expressing-shaped first closure end.
[0012] In another embodiment, A method of forming and filling a
squeezable package, the method comprising: directing a web of
flexible film and a semi-rigid strip in a machine direction;
folding the web of film to have a pair of opposing walls having a
front wall and a back wall and positioning the strip between the
front and back wall; selectively sealing a first opposing wall to
the strip but not a second of the opposing walls to form an
opening; removing sections from the folded web of film to provide
multiple pouches connected at an upper portion thereof; separating
the connected pouches from the web of film to provide at least one
individual pouch with an upper opening; filling an interior section
of the at least one individual pouch through the upper opening of
the at least one pouch with a flowable material; sealing the second
opposing wall to the strip to close the opening; and removing a
non-linear section in the upper portion of the pouch to form the
squeezable package having a trapezoid-shaped inner section derived
as a remnant from the strip.
[0013] A kit according to the invention, comprises: an enclosure; a
plurality of sealed packets contained within the enclosure, at
least one packet comprising a pouch comprising: an
expressing-shaped first closure end and a second closure end and at
least two opposing sidewalls; the closure ends and sidewalls
defining an enclosure, and at least one closure end comprising an
expressing shape; a separate rigid foldable flat cradling the pouch
and comprising a material that is more rigid than the pouch;
wherein the pouch comprises a spout-forming area separate from the
pouch and the rigid foldable flat and positioned on a rigid
foldable flat side of the packet and of intermediate rigidity or
thickness to the pouch and the rigid foldable flat, wherein the
spout-forming area is derived as a remnant from a semi-rigid
material strip that acts as a pouch-forming tacking strip during a
pouch forming process and wherein the spout-forming area reinforces
at least a part of the pouch at the pouch expressing shape first
closure end; and wherein the separate rigid foldable flat overlaps
the spout-forming area to cradle the spout-forming area with the
cradled pouch; and a crease extending longitudinally in the flat
and along the pouch to facilitate folding or rolling the more rigid
flat to compress the pouch with the spout-forming area to express a
content through the expressing-shaped first closure end; and a
sealant contained within the at least one pouch.
[0014] In an embodiment, the invention is a packet for viscous
material that comprises a pouch comprising: an expressing-shaped
first closure end and a second closure end and at least two
opposing sidewalls; the closure ends and sidewalls defining an
enclosure, and at least one closure end comprising an expressing
shape; a separate rigid foldable flat cradling the pouch and
comprising a material that is more rigid than the pouch; wherein
the pouch comprises a spout-forming area separate from the pouch
and the rigid foldable flat and positioned on a rigid foldable flat
side of the packet and of intermediate rigidity or thickness to the
pouch and the rigid foldable flat, wherein the spout-forming area
is derived as a remnant from a semi-rigid material strip that acts
as a pouch-forming tacking strip during a pouch forming process and
wherein the spout-forming area reinforces at least a part of the
pouch at the pouch expressing shape first closure end; and wherein
the separate rigid foldable flat overlaps the spout-forming area to
cradle the spout-forming area with the cradled pouch; and a crease
extending longitudinally in the flat and along the pouch to
facilitate folding or rolling the more rigid flat to compress the
pouch with the spout-forming area to express a content through the
expressing-shaped first closure end.
[0015] And in another embodiment, the invention is a packet,
comprising: a pouch having at least two opposing sidewalls; a first
closure end; and a second closure end; the sidewalls and closure
ends defining an enclosure; and at least one closure end comprising
an expressing shape comprising a reinforcing material derived as a
remnant from a semi-rigid material tacking strip for opposing walls
formed from a folded pouch-forming web of film, wherein the
reinforcing material forms a funnel-shape to facilitate expressing
of material from the enclosure as a bead.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0016] FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a packet,
front and back;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cut-away view through A-A of the FIG. 2
packet;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the packet, showing structures
that comprise the packet;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic elevation of an apparatus for forming
and filling a flexible package;
[0020] FIGS. 6 and 7, are schematic perspective views of stages or
stations of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 9B, 9D, 10A and 10B are schematic
illustrations of functions of stages or stations of the apparatus
of FIG. 1; and
[0022] FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14,15 and 16 are schematic perspective
views of use of the packet; and
[0023] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a kit and FIG. 18 is a
perspective view of a kit with a plurality of packets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The term "sealant" as used herein includes an entire variety
of caulks including silicones, latex and acrylic caulk; filler
compounds; adhesive or mastic-type materials, such as stucco,
concrete and cementious-material patching and crack filling
compounds; gasketing compounds; gutter, flashing, skylight, or fish
tank seam or sealant compounds; butyl or rubber sealants, cements
and caulk; roof cements; panel and construction adhesives; glazing
compounds and caulks; gutter and lap sealants; silica gel-based
firebrick, masonry and ceramic crack fillers and cements;
silicone-based glues; ethylene glycol-containing latex glazing
compounds; and the like.
[0025] One preferred sealant is an organopolysiloxane room
temperature vulcanizable (RTV) composition. The room temperature
vulcanizable silicone elastomer composition can contain a silanol
stopped base polymer or elastomer, reinforcing and/or extending
filler, cross-linking silane and cure catalyst. These RTV
compositions are prepared by mixing diorganopolysiloxanes having
reactive end groups with organosilicon compounds that possess at
least three hydrolyzably reactive moieties per molecule. The known
RTV compositions are widely used as elastic sealing materials for
applications involving the gaps between various joints such as:
gaps between the joints of structures; joints between structural
bodies and building materials in buildings; gaps between a bathtub
and wall or floor; cracks on tiles in bathrooms; gaps in the
bathroom such as those around the washbasin and those between a
washbasin supporting board and a wall; gaps around a kitchen sink
and the vicinity; spacings between panels in automobiles, railroad
vehicles, airplanes and ships; gaps between prefabricated panels in
various electric appliances, machines; and the like. Room
temperature vulcanizable silicone sealants thus may be utilized in
a wide variety of caulking and sealing applications.
[0026] Features of the invention will become apparent from the
drawings and following detailed discussion, which by way of example
without limitation describe preferred embodiments of the
invention.
[0027] FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate an embodiment
of the invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of
a packet, front and back and FIG. 3 is a cut-away view through A-A
of the FIGS. 1 and 2 packet. FIG. 1 is a front view of the packet
10. FIG. 2 is a frontal perspective of the packet 10. FIG. 3 is a
cut away side view of the packet 10. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of
the packet 10, showing upper and lower walls, 18, 20 that form
pouch 12, flat 14 and trapezoid-shaped area 16 of rigid or thicker
material than the material making up the walls 18, 20.
[0028] The packet 10 comprises a pouch 12 of plastic or foil film,
a rigid flat 14 comprising a more rigid or thicker material than
the pouch 12 film and the trapezoid-shaped area 16. The area 16
comprises a shaped material of intermediate thickness and rigidity
between that of the material of the pouch 12 film and the material
of the flat 14. In the embodiment shown in the figures, area 16 is
trapezoidal-shaped with slanted sides from the sidewalls of the
flat 14 toward the packet tip end 20. The trapezoid-shaped area 16
forms a tapered nozzle as shown in FIGs. 13, 14 and 15 when folded
or rolled with the rigid flat 14.
[0029] The pouch 12 can be heat-sealed or otherwise cradled to the
flat 14 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 12-15. A first closure end 22
of pouch 12 forms an expressing shape tip 24. In FIGS. 1, 3 and 5,
the more rigid flat 14 has crease 26 that can be a fold or score
running along the longitudinal axis of the more rigid flat 14 from
first closure end 22 to a second closure end 28. The crease 26 is
marked into the flat 14 surface to facilitate longitudinal folding
of the packet 10, as hereinafter described. The crease 26 can be a
pressed, folded, wrinkled, embossed line or score. The crease 26
can run generally longitudinal to a long axis of the packet 10 from
one end 28 of the packet 10 toward the tip end 22.
[0030] The packet 10 further includes a semicircular-shaped tear
tab 30 to facilitate opening closure end 22.
[0031] The crease 26 promotes longitudinal folding of opposite
rigid flat sections against the pouch 12 to compress the pouch 12
to express sealant 24 from the pouch 12 interior. The more rigid
flat 14 comprises a rigid or conformable surface that is configured
to form cradling compression surfaces against pouch 12 when folded
by a force applied to opposite sections of rigid flat 14 as
hereinafter described. The more rigid flat 14 can be a flat
comprising any material that is more inflexible or rigid than the
pouch 12 material. S shown in 4, trapezoid-shaped area 16 on the
rigid flat 14 side of the packet 10 comprises a shaped strip of
intermediate thickness and rigidity between the material of the
pouch 12 and the material of the flat 14.
[0032] Materials suitable for pouch 12 include single layer,
co-extruded or laminated film or foil. The pouch 12 material can be
impermeable or only slightly permeable to water vapor and oxygen to
assure content viability. For example, the film can have a moisture
vapor transport rate (MVTR, ASTM D3833) of less than 10
g/day/m.sup.2. In an embodiment, the MVTR of the film is less than
5 g/day/m.sup.2 and preferably less than 1 g/day/m.sup.2 and most
preferably of less than 0.5 g/day/m.sup.2. Preferably the material
has a permeability rating of 1 or lower. Suitable film materials
include a plastic film, such as low-density polyethylene or other
thermoplastic or foil film material such as polypropylene,
polystyrene or poly-ethylene-terephtalate. The foil is a thin,
flexible leaf or sheet of metal such as aluminum foil for example.
The pouch 12 film can be of various thicknesses. The film thickness
can be between 10 and 150 .mu.m, preferably between 15 and 120
.mu.m, more preferably between 20 and 100 .mu.m, even more
preferably between 25 and 80 .mu.m and most preferably between 30
and 40 .mu.m.
[0033] In one embodiment, the film is a polyethylene and bioriented
polypropylene coextruded film. An aluminum foil is a preferred
pouch 12 film material. Suitable foil can be derived from aluminum
prepared in thin sheets with a thickness less than 0.2 mm/0.008 in,
although much thinner gauges down to 0.006 mm can be used. A
suitable foil can comprise a laminate with other materials such as
a plastic or paper.
[0034] The more rigid flat 14 comprises a substantially rigid
substrate with a fold-imparting crease 26 or a substantially
conformal substrate that can be rolled or folded against the pouch
12. The rolling or folding compresses the pouch 12 to cause sealant
24 to be expressed from pouch 12 interior through a nozzle 24
formed at the end 22. The material of the more rigid flat 14 is
substantially inflexible and less compliant than the material of
top film 12. In this application, the term "rigid" means having the
physical property of being stiff and resistant to bending. In an
embodiment, the bottom material 14 is more rigid as measured in
accordance with a Taber Stiffness method such as the ASTM D1044
Taber test.
[0035] The flat 14 can comprise a suitable material such as
cardboard, paperboard, corrugated board and any wood-based type of
paper or rigid or semi-rigid plastic sheet material. Cardstock is a
suitable more rigid material. Cardstock thickness is often
described by pound weight. Pound weight is the weight of 500, 20''
by 26'' sheets. In the US, cardstock thickness is usually measured
in points or mils that gives the thickness of the sheet in
thousanths of an inch. For example, a 10 pt. more rigid flat is
0.010 inches thick; 12 pt. is 0.012 inches.
[0036] The flat 14 can comprise a combination of paperboards,
usually two flat pieces of paper and one inner fluted corrugated
medium. Further suitable more rigid flat materials include stiff
paper, cardboard, pasteboard or paperboard including corrugated
paperboard and polyethylene such as 0.0015 inch high density
polyethylene. The more rigid flat 14 can comprise a substantially
rigid material such as a thermoplastic, for example ABS
(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene). One preferred flat 14 material
is a paperboard that is 10 mils or 0.010 inches in thickness or
greater.
[0037] Corrugated fiberboard is a preferred material for flat 14.
Corrugated fiberboard has two main components: a linerboard and a
medium. Both can be made of a heavy paper called containerboard.
Linerboard is a flat facing that adheres to the medium. The medium
is typically an inner fluted corrugated material. The corrugated
board can be one medium glued to one flat sheet of linerboard, a
medium between two sheets of linerboard and even three sheets of
linerboard with two mediums between. The fluted medium forms rigid
arched columns that can resist bending and pressure from all
directions. It has been found that a corrugated board serves
especially well as a flat to cradle a sealant-filled pouch to aid
in expressing sealant as hereinafter described with reference to
FIGS. 12 through 16.
[0038] In embodiments, the pouch 12 comprises a multilayer polymer
laminate along with an aluminum layer having a thickness between
about 0.0045 and about 0.0065, preferably about 0.0055 inches. The
area 16 comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE) having a
thickness between about 0.012 and 0.018 inches, preferably about
0.015 inches. The rigid material 14 comprises corrugated fiberboard
having a thickness between about 0.045 and 0.060, preferably
between 0.050 and 0.055 inches.
[0039] The suitable pouch 12, flat 14 and area 16 materials can be
subject to the proviso that the rigidity of the flat 14 material is
greater than that of the pouch 12 material and the rigidity of area
16 material is intermediate between that of the pouch 12 and that
of the flat 14 materials.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a preferred
embodiment of the invention showing modules of an apparatus 110 for
forming and filling a flexible package. The apparatus 110 includes
a forming stage 112 and a filling/final stage 114. FIG. 5 shows an
in-feed module 122 that directs a web of film 156 and a semi-rigid
material strip 176 in a machine processing direction to a first
pouch forming stage 124. It is an aspect of the invention, that
pouch area 16, which is trapezoidal-shaped in the embodiment of the
drawings, is derived from semi-rigid material strip 176 as
hereinafter described in detail.
[0041] In further reference to FIG. 5, the apparatus 110 includes a
gusset-forming station 126 that folds the web of film 156 to the
semi-rigid material strip 176 so that the semi-rigid strip is
between a pair of opposing film walls; a rocker arm tacking station
128 that attaches the strip to one of the pair of opposing walls;
sealing stations 130 and 132 that sequentially seal opposing walls
of the web of film together at spaced sealing regions to form
pouches between the sealed regions; first cooling station 134 and
bottom die cutter 136 to form a gusseted pouch blank. Feed roller
138 feeds the gusseted pouch blank to filling/final stage 114.
Filling/final stage 114 includes inflating station 140 where the
pouch is blown open, fill station 142 to fill the pouch with
product, de-airing station 144 that removes air from the filled
pouch, first top seal station 146 that applies a first seal, second
top seal station 148 that applies a second seal, second cooling
station 150 to cool the pouch, top die cutter station 152 to cut
top blank material from the pouch and pick off area 154.
[0042] The apparatus 110 produces pouches from a continuous web of
material 156. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show sections of in-feed module 122
of the apparatus 110. Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a
roll of web laminate 156 is rotatably connected by means of reel
158. The reel 158 is driven by the same motor (not shown) as the
drive of reel 180 (hereinafter described) to apply the same tension
to laminate 156 as to the semi-rigid material 176. The web 156 is
fed from reel 158 via rack 160 that includes pinion 162 that is
controlled by idler shaft 164 to apply a tension to rollers 166, as
shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. The web 156 is threaded over the
tension rollers 166 to first pouch forming stage 124 that includes
plow assembly 168 (shown in detail in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B) for
folding the web 156 to form side panels 170 joined at a common
bottom edge 172. The upper pouch forming wall 118 can be pleated to
allow for an increased volume of a sealant 124.
[0043] FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show an in-feed module 174. Shown
is a spool of semi-rigid material strip 176. In one embodiment, the
semi-rigid material strip 176 can be a high density polyethylene or
co-extrusion of metallocene and high density polyethylene. The
semi-rigid material strip 176 is fed as a strip from reel 180 over
idler 182 via rack 184 and pinion 186 assembly (shown in FIG. 8A
and FIG. 8B) via constant tension rollers 188 to first pouch
forming stage 124. The reel 180 may be driven by a dedicated unwind
motor (not shown) for varying an unwind speed or as in the
embodiment, driven with the same motor together with web 156.
[0044] FIG. 8A shows a rack 190 and pinion 192 to feed web laminate
156 and FIG. 8B shows a rack 194 and pinion 196 to feed semi-rigid
material strip 176. Rack 190 and pinion 192 include downward
biasing spring 198. The spring loaded rack 194 bobs up and to down
so that the feed roller 138 imparts a constant tension under
periodic transient feed motion to web 156. Pinion 196 includes
bottom % biasing spring 200 (weak spring) that follows the periodic
feed motion imparted to web 156. The pinion 196 is preloaded at the
top with weights 202. The spring 200 and weight 202 combination
biases the rack away from the material strip 176 to avoid a harsh
back-pressure tug on the feeding material strip 176.
[0045] Gusset-forming station 126 folds the web of film 156 to the
semi-rigid strip 176 so that the semi-rigid strip 176 is between a
pair of opposing film walls; rocker arm tacking station 128
attaches the strip 176 to one of the pair of opposing film walls;
sealing stations 130 and 132 sequentially seal opposing walls of
the web of film together at spaced sealing regions to form pouches
between the sealed regions; and first cooling station 134 and
bottom die cutter 136 form a gusseted pouch blank. Feed roller 138
feeds the gusseted pouch blank to filling final stage 114. Filling
final stage 14 includes inflating station 140 where a pouch is
blown open, fill station 142 to fill the pouch with product,
de-airing station 144 that removes air from the filled pouch, first
top seal station 146 that applies a first seal, second top seal
station 148, second cooling station 150 to cool the pouch, top die
cutter station 152 to cut top blank material from the pouch to form
a narrowed neck adjacent a first closure end of the pouch blank 210
and pick off area 154.
[0046] FIG. 9A shows functioning of gusset forming station 126
including HDPE idler 204, vertical crease bars 206 and
gusset-forming plow 168. Web laminate 156 is oriented to the
vertical so that imprinting on the web laminate 56 is to the top
vertical. The strip 176 is twisted from horizontal feed to a
vertical feed. The laminate 156 is then folded bottom to top
against the strip 176 to form a pouch blank 210. The plow 168 then
forms a W-shaped laminate bottom edge by supporting the pouch blank
210 at upper lines on either pouch blank side and imposing into a
middle line between the lower supported lines to form a gusset
shape or roughly W-shaped cross section. Then, the supported
W-shape is creased through vertical crease bars 206 to form blank
210 shown in FIG. 98.
[0047] The FIG. 9B blank 210 next is conveyed to rocker arm tacking
station 128 as shown in FIG. 5. Details of the tacking station are
shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. FIG. 10A is a side elevation view of
the rocker arm tacking station 128 and FIG. 10B is an exploded,
perspective view of the station 128 and lower guide 226. In FIG.
10A and FIG. 10B, the station 128 includes upper heated bar 216 and
upper cooler bar 218. A guide bar (not shown) can hold the blank
semi-rigid strip 176 that forms blank 210 (FIG. 9B) for back side
tacking to web laminate 156. Guide 226 maintains the pouch gusset
and prevents web laminate 156 from sagging.
[0048] Referring again to FIG. 5, a succession of flexible packages
is formed and filled by in-feeding a web laminate 156 and
semi-rigid material strip 176 in parallel to a first pouch forming
stage 124. The web 156 is folded at first pouch forming stage 124
into have a pair of opposing walls with the semi-rigid strip 176
held in between ends of the folded web 156 walls. The semi-rigid
strip 176 is attached to one of the formed opposing walls. A gusset
can be formed in the folded web 156 bottom at gusset-forming
station 126. Then the opposing walls of the web of film 156 are
sealed together at spaced sealing regions at sealing stations 130
and 132 to form pouches between the sealed regions. At top die
cutter station 152, a section of the sealing regions is removed at
a lower portion to provide multiple pouches connected at an upper
portion. Then the pouches can be separated from the folded web of
film 156 to provide an individual pouch and an interior section of
the individual pouch can be filled with a flowable material through
an opening in the upper portion of the pouch. Or conversely, the
pouches can first be filled and then separated to provide the
individual pouches.
[0049] A top sealed region is formed at first top seal station 146
and second top seal station 148 to close the opening in the pouch
where the pouch was filled. A portion of the top sealed region can
then be removed at top die cutter station 152 to form a plurality
of final filled flexible pouches of the type identified as 12 in
FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4
[0050] The removal also forms an interior trapezoid-shaped piece,
identified as 16 in FIGs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Packet 10 is then formed
by sealing (not shown) pouch 12 onto flat 14. FIGs. 11, 12, 13, 14,
15 and 16 are schematic perspective views illustrating a use of the
packet 10. In FIG. 11, the packet 10 is held in one hand while
opened with the other hand by tearing away tab 30 as illustrated.
In applying a viscous material such as a caulk, the packet 10 can
be grasped by hand with pouch 12 side up as shown in FIG. 12. Thumb
32 and second finger 34 are located on opposing edges 36, 38 of the
more rigid flat 14. Index finger 40 is impressed against pouch 12
toward crease 26 to commence folding of more rigid flat 14. With
the force applied by thumb 32 and second finger 34 to opposing
edges 36, 38, the packet 10 begins to fold along crease 26. Folding
can be facilitated by a user imposing the length of index finger 40
against the pouch 12 while the side force is applied by thumb 32
and second finger 34 as shown in FIG. 12. In this example, more
rigid flat 14 comprises a substantially rigid material with planar
face underlying the pouch 12 that cradles the pouch 12 as more
rigid flat 14 is folded along crease 26 as shown in FIG. 13.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the folding drives enclosed
sealant 24 from within pouch 12 up through tip-shaped first closure
end 20 as shown in FIG. 13. Initially, the sealant 24 can be
contained within the pouch 12 of the packet 10 and the shaped area
16 will be flat and devoid of sealant 24. But, as the packet 10 is
folded and pressed as shown in FIG. 13, the sealant is forced into
area 16. The area 16 is derived from semi-rigid strip 176 during
the forming and filling process described with reference to FIGS.
5-10 as described above. As the packet is folded, area 16 forms the
expressing tip shape 24.
[0052] The substantially rigid structure formed from the folding of
two sides of the packet 10 can be firmly held and guided to express
a controlled sealant bead 218 from area 16 as shown in FIGS. 13, 14
and 15. The area 16 is shaped to allow sealant to fill the rest of
the tip and flow from the tip. The area 16 can be shaped to an
appropriate bead size, for example, 1/8.sup.th inch in diameter. A
user can further regulate bead size by applied pressure and speed
as illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15. Once sealant bead 218 has
been applied and the pouch 12 voided of material, the empty packet
10 can be discarded as illustrated in FIG. 16.
[0053] FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 illustrate an embodiment of the
invention wherein a plurality of packets 10 are provided in a kit
50. The kit 50 includes an enclosure 52, which is a box-shaped
structure with a "punch-out" section 54 comprises a wall section 56
of the box with extending fingers 58 having securing tab ends 60
defined on either side of the enclosure 52. The "punch-out" section
54 is defined into the structure 52 by serrated embossing that is
separated from the enclosure structure 52 and folded outwardly to
present the enclosure 52 contents as shown in FIG. 18. The
enclosure 52 is sealed at the top for transportation but the top
can be removed to further present the kit 50 packet 10 content as
shown in FIG. 18. The contents comprise a plurality of packets 10.
The plurality of packets 10 can be the same shape or a variety of
shapes or the same size or a variety of sizes, for example 8
cm.times.6 cm or 4 cm by 2 cm to provide measured amounts of
sealant for a variety of jobs. The kit 50 provides a variety of
sized packets 10 so that one packet 10 can be selected to match the
requirements of any particular job.
[0054] A selected packet 10 from a kit of the invention can provide
a desired amount of sealant for any particular job. No caulk gun is
needed to apply the sealant. Indeed, no extra tools or materials
are needed. The packet is relatively small and easily maneuverable
to apply an appropriate bead. Appropriately sized beads can be
formed as trapezoid-shaped area 16 folds into a tip shape to
express a desired bead. In this respect, the shaped area 16 is
multifunctional. The area 16 is derived as a remnant of semi-rigid
material strip 176 that acts as a tacking structure to form pouch
12 during the pouch manufacturing process. The packet requires
little application of force for dispensing and in most instances,
sealant can be fully dispensed by one hand. Saving left over caulk
is eliminated. Both kit and packet packaging are inexpensive.
EXAMPLES
[0055] In this evaluation, each user squeezed a caulk-containing
packet with one hand. Users then rated the packets on accurate
dispensing, percent of dispensing and ease of use. The packets were
evaluated accordingly and also according to manufacturability and
cost.
Example 1
[0056] This EXAMPLE describes a series of iterative evaluations of
packet samples to determine a best more rigid material.
[0057] First, a range of materials including a paperboard, plastic
sheet and corrugated fiberboard were evaluated for output
performance. Sample paperboard thickness was varied from
approximately 0.010'' to 0.100''; a high density polyethylene sheet
(HDPE) was varied in thickness from approximately 0.005'' to
0.100''; and a corrugated fiberboard corrugation was varied from B
flute to N flute.
[0058] User ratings determined that a paperboard with a thickness
less than approximately 0.080'' did not have sufficient stiffness
for acceptable dispensing and "ease of use." A thicker paperboard
gave improved performance results but was rated unacceptable
because of bulky feel. Thinner HDPE samples below 0.040'' in
thickness, were rated unacceptable because of insufficient
stiffness. Thicker HDPE samples showed improved performance but
increased cost.
[0059] Performance for corrugated fiberboard was best in the E- and
F-flute range. The letter designation relates to flute size or
refers to the number of flutes per lineal foot. An E-flute has
90+/-4 flutes per lineal foot and a flute thickness of 1/16 inch
and an F-flute has 128+/-4 flutes per lineal foot and a flute
thickness of 1/32 inch. The E-fluted and F-fluted corrugated
fiberboard packets had a single handed use dispensing percentage of
approximately 80% and greater. The E-flute corrugated fiberboards
also received the best "ease of use" ratings.
Example 2
[0060] Another series of tests was conducted to determine a best
performing packet in terms of sealant bead shape. A standard bead
was defined as a deposit of sealant with a circular cross
section.
[0061] First tested packets had only a top film pouch and thicker
bottom material sidewall. The thicker material sidewall was folded
to form a nozzle. However, the nozzles formed from the folded
sidewall were flexible and formed a non-uniform bead. A bead cross
section would initiate in a shape of a thin horizontal diamond.
Then later in the dispensing, the bead cross section would be
formed in the unacceptable shape of a thin vertical diamond.
Furthermore, the top film tended to form sharper folds and creases
at the nozzle, making the cross section less uniform.
[0062] In the tests of this EXAMPLE, a semi-rigid material was
added to one sidewall adjacent to the packet tip end. In these
EXAMPLES, when the more rigid material sidewall was folded along
its longitudinal axis to squeeze the pouch, the semi-rigid material
bent in a controlled manner to a substantially U-expressing shape.
The U-expressing shape ensured that one half of the cross section
was more uniform and round and constrained edges of the flexible
sidewall to provide a uniform and round expressed bead.
Example 3
[0063] 3HDPE was selected as a cost-acceptable material for a top
film pouch. The HDPE was found to adhere to the rigid foldable
sidewall material. In expressing tests, the HDPE materials
cooperated with the U-expressing shape in forming a desirable cross
section bead. Optimum HDPE was determined through a series of
experiments on 0.005'' to 0.030'' thick HDPE. A 0.015'' thickness
was found to have the best performance of that range of materials
in forming bead cross section.
Example 4
[0064] a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), melting point
248.degree. F., 0.009 to 0.10 mm thick material was used as the web
laminate 56 material and an HDPE material, melting point
266.degree. F., 0.008 to 0.10 mm thick (HDPE) was used as the
semi-rigid strip 176. The tacking station 128 included lower gusset
seal bars 124 that sealed the lower gusseted end of the blank
pouch. Upper heating bar 116 was heated to about 319.degree. F.
Cool air from a cooling tube blows on an inner side of the upper
cool bar 128 to maintain one side of the cool bar 118 at
approximately ambient (72.degree. F.), a lower temperature than the
approximate 319.degree. F. heated side of the heated bar 16. Then,
sealing of one wall to the laminate 56 is accomplished by selective
heating and pressuring according to the heat capacities,
thicknesses of the wall and strip and dwell time of the
heating/cooling application In the example, the temperature
differential between bars 116, 118 along with a tacking pressure
(0.2 to 10.0 pounds/in.sup.2) and dwell time (0.5 to 8 seconds),
prevents the seal from entirely closing the blank so that the blank
can be filled with product at a later station. In this embodiment,
the heating bar 116 can be at a temperature from about 265.degree.
F. to about 340.degree. F., preferably at a temperature from about
310.degree. F. to about 330.degree. F. and the temperature of bar
118 can be at a temperature from about 72.degree. F. to about
100.degree. F., preferably at about ambient.
[0065] In a method to form a squeezable package with adjusting
relative temperatures at a rocker arm tacking station 128, a blank
is advanced through a sealing section of the apparatus 110 in which
a number of pouch forming operations take place. FIG. 5 shows
sealing section 130 and sealing station 132. The two sealing
sections divide side seal tasks into two separate operations. This
overcomes any problem with variation in the strip 176 location,
which otherwise could result in an improper sealing of the web
laminate 156 to the strip 176.
[0066] Referring again to FIG. 5, at cooling station 34, 40.degree.
C. water flows through sides of a cooling tool to properly cool
blank 210 to allow shearing of web laminate 56. Blank 210 is shaped
at bottom die cutter 136. The pouch blank 210 is inflated at
inflation station 40 and filled with product at fill station 142.
Here, vacuum suction cups can be applied to an outer surface of
opposing walls of the pouch 210 to hold the pouch open while
filling. Air is removed from the pouch blank 210 at de-airing
station 144. The blank 210 is top sealed at first top seal station
146 and second top seal station 48 and cooled at second cooling
station 150.
[0067] In an embodiment, apparatus 10 can be used to produce a
strip of multiple pouches. In this embodiment, a portion of sealed
regions at a lower portion can be removed to provide multiple
pouches connected by at an upper portion. The connected pouches can
be separated at connecting web 56 to provide individual 14 pouches.
Interiors of the individual pouches can be filled with flowable
material through an opening in an upper portion of the pouch. Then,
a top sealed region of the pouch can be closed and excess material
removed from the top region by a die cutter to form a shaped spout
area tapering toward the top sealed opening with a portion of the
semi-rigid material strip adjacent the sealed opening to reinforce
the opening.
[0068] In an embodiment, a pouch produced by apparatus 110, can be
applied to a flat or card and filled with a sealant such as a
caulk, to form a package, for example, a flexible package according
to FIGS. 1, 2,3 and 4.
[0069] In this application, a "pouch" is a bag or container to hold
material. A package" a packet or container bundle that may include
a pouch. FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic perspective views of a
flexible package, front and back and FIG. 9 is a cut-away view
through A-A of the FIGS. 7 and 8 flexible package. The figures show
the flexible package 210 comprising a pouch 212 supported by a
foldable flat 214. The size of fillable flexible package 210 can
vary, but in some embodiments can be about 20.+-.5 cm by 15.+-.3 cm
or smaller.
[0070] The fillable flexible packet 10 comprises pouch 12 of
plastic or foil film formed from web laminate 156 in the forming
method described above. The pouch 12 further includes flat 14
comprising a more rigid or thicker material than the pouch 12 film
and a spout-forming area 16 on the rigid flat 14 side of the
fillable flexible packet 10. The area 16 comprises a shaped
semi-rigid material of intermediate thickness and rigidity between
that of the material of the film 12 and the material of the pouch
12. The rigidity can be imparted from the section of semi-rigid
strip 176 that is used in the forming process to tack web laminate
156. In the embodiment shown in the figures, area 16 is
trapezoidal-shaped with slanted sides from the rigid material
sidewall toward the tip end 24 that forms a tapered nozzle 24 when
folded or rolled with the rigid flat 14. In forming packet 10, the
flat or "back card" 14, can be folded to bow the semi-rigid
material 176 behind shaped area 16 to define an arcuate outlet
adjacent an opening at the first closure end 20.
[0071] The fillable pouch 12 further includes a semicircular-shaped
tear tab 30 to facilitate opening at the tip 24. The top film can
be pleated to allow for an increased volume of a sealant and the
bottom can comprise a gusset to accommodate an increased amount of
fill material.
[0072] The pouch 12 can be heat-sealed or otherwise cradled to the
flat 14 as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. A first closure end of
pouch 12 forms an expressing shape tip 24. The more rigid flat 14
has crease 26 that can be a fold or score running along the
longitudinal axis of the more rigid flat 14 from tip 24 to a second
closure end 28. The crease 26 is marked into the flat 14 surface to
facilitate longitudinal folding of the fillable flexible packet 10.
The crease 26 can be a pressed, folded, wrinkled, embossed line or
score. The crease 26 can run generally longitudinal to a long axis
of the fillable flexible packet 10 from one end of the fillable
flexible packet 10 toward the tip end 24. The crease 26 promotes
longitudinal folding of opposite rigid flat sections against the
pouch 12 to compress the pouch 12 to express sealant from the pouch
12 interior. The more rigid flat 14 comprises a rigid or
conformable surface that is configured to form cradling compression
surfaces against pouch 12 when folded by a force applied to rigid
flat 14 opposite sections. The more rigid flat 14 can be a flat
comprising any material that is more inflexible or rigid than the
pouch 12 material. An area 16 (from semi-rigid material strip 176)
along a top interior portion of pouch 12 at area 16, comprises a
shaped strip of intermediate thickness and rigidity between the
material of the pouch 22 and the material of the flat 14.
[0073] Materials suitable for pouch 12 include single layer,
co-extruded or laminated film or foil. Preferably the material has
a permeability rating of 1 or lower. Suitable film materials
include a plastic film, such as low-density polyethylene or other
thermoplastic or foil film material such as polypropylene,
polystyrene or polyethylene-terephthalate. The foil is a thin,
flexible leaf or sheet of metal such as aluminum foil for example.
In one embodiment, the film is a polyethylene and bi-oriented
polypropylene co-extruded film. An aluminum foil is a preferred
pouch 12 film material. Suitable foil can be derived from aluminum
prepared in thin sheets 16 with a thickness less than 0.2 mm/0.008
in, although much thinner gauges down to 0.006 mm can be used. A
suitable foil can comprise a laminate with other materials such as
a plastic or paper.
[0074] The pouch 12 material can be impermeable or only slightly
permeable to water vapor and oxygen to assure content viability.
For example, the film can have a moisture vapor transport rate
(MVTR, ASTM D3833) of less than 10 g/day/m.sup.2. In an embodiment,
the MVTR of the film is less than 5 g/day/m.sup.2 and preferably
less than 1 g/day/m2 and most preferably of less than 0.5
g/day/m.sup.2. The pouch 212 film can be of various thicknesses.
The film thickness can be between 10 and 150 .mu.m, preferably
between 15 and 120 .mu.m, more preferably between 20 and 100 .mu.m,
even more preferably between 25 and 80 .mu.m and most preferably
between 30 and 40 .mu.m. In an embodiment, the pouch 12 comprises a
bi-axle oriented nylon (print layer), adhesive and a PET layer
adhered to a liner low density polyethylene film.
[0075] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described, the present invention is capable of variation and
modification and therefore should not be limited to the precise
details of the Examples. The invention includes changes and
alterations that fall within the purview of the following
claims.
* * * * *