U.S. patent application number 15/082599 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-29 for flexible pouch with reinforced side seal.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC. Invention is credited to R. Charles Murray.
Application Number | 20160280439 15/082599 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56974836 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160280439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murray; R. Charles |
September 29, 2016 |
FLEXIBLE POUCH WITH REINFORCED SIDE SEAL
Abstract
A flexible pouch formed of a sheet of laminate material sealed
together along its edges forming an outer peripheral side seal
having an inner peripheral side seal is provided. The inner
peripheral side seal extends generally from a top edge of the pouch
body and is adjacent the proximal edge of the side seal. The inner
peripheral seal extends downwardly towards a bottom end of the
pouch and includes a tapered end so as to facilitate the expansion
of a gusset.
Inventors: |
Murray; R. Charles;
(Sarasota, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC |
Sarasota |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56974836 |
Appl. No.: |
15/082599 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62139058 |
Mar 27, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/008 20130101;
B65D 75/5883 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 75/00 20060101
B65D075/00; B65D 75/58 20060101 B65D075/58; B65D 75/26 20060101
B65D075/26 |
Claims
1. A flexible pouch formed of a sheet of laminate material, the
flexible pouch configured to hold a liquid substance, the flexible
pouch comprising: a pouch body having an opening and a gusset
formed along the bottom of the pouch body; an outer peripheral side
seal extending around the periphery of the pouch body; and an inner
peripheral seal disposed adjacent and contiguous to the outer
peripheral side seal, a bottom portion of the inner peripheral seal
is tapered so as to form a generally "V" shaped pocket which
cooperates with the gusset so as to facilitate expansion of the
pouch body.
2. The flexible pouch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer
peripheral side seal has a width, and the inner peripheral seal has
a width which is twice the width of the outer peripheral side
seal.
3. The flexible pouch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opening
is generally centered along a top edge of the pouch body, and a
fitment is mounted in the opening.
4. The flexible pouch as set forth in claim 1, including two inner
peripheral seals, each inner peripheral seal is disposed on
opposing sides of the pouch body and contiguous to a corresponding
outer peripheral seal.
5. The flexible pouch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner
peripheral seal includes a top corner which is generally rounded so
as to help distribute fluid pressure along the inner peripheral
seal.
6. The flexible pouch as set forth in claim 1, further including a
stamping, the stamping formed on one of either the inner peripheral
side seal or the outer peripheral side seal, the stamping forming a
space for housing an transmitter.
7. The flexible pouch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner
peripheral side seal is of a uniform thickness relative to the
outer peripheral side seal.
8. The flexible pouch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner
peripheral side seal is thicker in dimension than the outer
peripheral side seal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/139,058 filed Mar. 27, 2015, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] A flexible pouch having a generally rectangular pouch body
with a reinforced side seal is provided.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Flexible pouches are currently known and used. An example of
a currently used flexible pouch is provided in FIG. 1. The flexible
pouch is formed of laminate material. The sides of the laminate
material are sealed together by sealing bars. An opening is formed
so as to allow a fitment to be introduced therein. The bottom of
the pouch may include a gusset. The gusset helps the pouch expand
as fluid is introduced. Typically the pouches are formed at a
manufacturing location and shipped to various distribution centers
and sales centers. During the shipment the pouches may be subjected
to force which applies pressure along the outer edges of the pouch
body so as to weaken the side seal and generate a leak.
Accordingly, it remains desirable to have a pouch body wherein the
side seals are reinforced so as to allow the pouch to withstand
additional loads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A flexible pouch formed of a sheet of laminate material is
provided. The flexible pouch includes a secondary side seal running
along a first peripheral side seal of the pouch body. The secondary
side seal extends inwardly into the pouch body and axially along
the side of the pouch so as to provide additional reinforcement to
the pouch and allow the pouch to maintain its integrity while being
subjected to loads relative to current pouches.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art pouch showing the
dimensions of the side seals;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of a flexible pouch according to the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along lines
3-3; and
[0010] FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the flexible pouch wherein the
inner peripheral seal is thicker relative to the outer peripheral
seal.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] A flexible pouch formed of a sheet of laminate material
sealed together along its edges forming an outer peripheral side
seal having an inner peripheral side seal is provided. The inner
peripheral side seal extends generally from a top edge of the pouch
body and is adjacent the proximal edge of the side seal. The inner
peripheral seal extends downwardly towards a bottom end of the
pouch and includes a tapered end so as to facilitate the expansion
of a gusset.
[0012] With reference now to FIG. 2, an illustrative view of the
flexible pouch 10 is provided. As shown, the flexible pouch 10 is
formed of a sheet of laminate material. The flexible pouch includes
a pouch body 12 configured to hold a liquid substance such as a
drink. An outer peripheral side seal 14 extends around the
periphery of the pouch body 12. The outer peripheral side seal 14
has a width "W1" and may be formed by using known techniques such
as a sealing bar which are pressed together so as to apply a
temperature treatment fusing the sheets of laminate material
together.
[0013] The pouch body 12 may further include an opening 16. For
illustrative purposes the opening 16 is shown generally centered
along a top edge 18 of the pouch body 12. A fitment 20 is mounted
in the opening 16. Fitments are currently known and used, and any
fitment currently known and used may be adapted to be used
herein.
[0014] The pouch further includes an inner peripheral seal 22. The
inner peripheral seal 22 is disposed adjacent and contiguous to the
outer peripheral side seal 14. The flexible pouch 10 includes two
inner peripheral seals 22, each disposed on opposing sides of the
pouch body 12. Each inner peripheral seal 22 is disposed on
opposing sides of the pouch body 12 and contiguous to a
corresponding outer peripheral seal 14. The inner peripheral seal
22 includes a top corner 24 which is generally rounded so as to
help distribute fluid pressure along the inner peripheral seal
22.
[0015] The inner peripheral seal 22 may be formed by application of
a seal bar. The seal bar is pressed along proximal edge of the
peripheral side seal 14. The seal bar may be configured to form
stampings 26 onto the sheet of material. As shown, one of the
stampings 26 is a generally rectangular member. Another of the
stampings 26 is a triangular shape, and yet another of the
stampings 26 is generally an oblong oval. The stampings 26 may form
a space to house a transmitter such as an RFID tag.
[0016] The inner peripheral seal 22 has a width "W2" which may be
more than twice the width of the outer peripheral side seal 14. The
inner peripheral seal 22 may be formed using a standard seal bar
currently known and used in the art wherein the same heat treatment
used to form the inner peripheral seal 22 is used to form the inner
peripheral seal 22.
[0017] A bottom portion 28 of the inner peripheral seal 22 is
tapered so as to accommodate the expansion of the pouch which is
further facilitated by a bottom gusset 30. The bottom of the pouch
body 12 may include a pair of seals having an edge angled so as to
form a generally "V" shaped pocket 32 which cooperates with the
gusset 28 so as to facilitate expansion of the pouch body 12.
[0018] Further, inner peripheral seal 22 adds structural rigidity
to the pouch 10 which helps the pouch maintain an upright position
when placed on the bottom gusset 30. It should be further
appreciated that the inner peripheral side seal 22 may be of a
uniform thickness relative to the outer peripheral side seal 14 as
shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the inner peripheral side seal 22
may be thicker in dimension than the outer peripheral side seal 14
as shown in FIG. 4.
[0019] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
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