U.S. patent application number 16/975825 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for drinks pouch.
The applicant listed for this patent is HANDIPAK HOLDINGS LTD. Invention is credited to Ryan HORN, Kit Mason KAYE, James NASH.
Application Number | 20200399038 16/975825 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005105775 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200399038 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NASH; James ; et
al. |
December 24, 2020 |
DRINKS POUCH
Abstract
A fully sealed pouch contains a drink and a straw. The pouch has
a front face and a rear face, and defines: a top edge where the
front face and the rear face are sealed to each other, a bottom
portion where the front face and the rear face are connected to
each other optionally via a gusset, a first side edge extending
from the top edge to the bottom portion, the front face being
sealed to the rear face along the first side edge, and a second
side edge also extending from the top edge to the bottom portion,
the front face and the rear face either being continuous with each
other or sealed to each other at the second side edge, and an
extended corner portion defined between the top edge and the first
side edge. The interior volume of the pouch is divided into a minor
portion adjacent the first edge and extending into the extended
corner portion, and a major portion communicating with the minor
portion. The front face and the rear face are sealed to each other
throughout the extended corner portion except where the minor
portion extends into the extended corner portion. The straw is
located in the minor portion with an end thereof extending into the
extended corner portion. A predetermined tear line is defined in
the extended corner portion along a line that extends from a
position at or adjacent the first side edge, across the minor
portion where it extends into the extended corner portion, and
along a curved path to or adjacent to the top edge at a position
spaced from the join between the top edge and the first side. The
tear line constrains a user seeking access to the straw readily to
tear therealong to expose the end of the straw and to allow the
user thereafter to drink from the pouch via the straw.
Inventors: |
NASH; James; (Surrey,
GB) ; HORN; Ryan; (London, GB) ; KAYE; Kit
Mason; (Bristol, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HANDIPAK HOLDINGS LTD |
Kent |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005105775 |
Appl. No.: |
16/975825 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
February 26, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2019/000035 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/545 20130101;
B65D 75/5822 20130101; B65D 75/008 20130101; B65D 85/72
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 75/58 20060101
B65D075/58; B65D 75/00 20060101 B65D075/00; B65D 85/72 20060101
B65D085/72; B65D 75/54 20060101 B65D075/54 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 26, 2018 |
GB |
1803123.7 |
Sep 14, 2018 |
GB |
1815027.6 |
Claims
1. A fully sealed pouch containing a drink and a straw; the pouch
having a front face and a rear face, and defining: a top edge where
the front face and the rear face are sealed to each other, a bottom
portion where the front face and the rear face are connected to
each other optionally via a gusset, a first side edge extending
from the top edge to the bottom portion, the front face being
sealed to the rear face along the first side edge, and a second
side edge also extending from the top edge to the bottom portion,
the front face and the rear face either being continuous with each
other or sealed to each other at the second side edge, and an
extended corner portion defined between the top edge and the first
side edge; the interior volume of the pouch being divided into a
minor portion adjacent the first edge and extending into the
extended corner portion, and a major portion communicating with the
minor portion, the front face and the rear face being sealed to
each other throughout the extended corner portion except where the
minor portion extends into the extended corner portion; the straw
being located in the minor portion with an end thereof extending
into the extended corner portion; and a predetermined tear line
being defined in the extended corner portion along a line that
extends from a position at or adjacent the first side edge, across
the minor portion where it extends into the extended corner
portion, and along a curved path to or adjacent to the top edge at
a position spaced from the join between the top edge and the first
side, the tear line constraining a user seeking access to the straw
readily to tear therealong to expose said end of the straw and to
allow the user thereafter to drink from the pouch via the
straw.
2. A fully sealed pouch according to claim 1, wherein the straw is
fixed in position by being attached to at least one of the front
face and the rear face with the said end of the straw being located
at or adjacent an end of the minor portion within the extended
corner portion.
3. A fully sealed pouch according to claim 1, wherein the minor
portion defines a headspace located in the corner portion and
containing the said end of the straw, a lower section of the minor
portion which is in communication with the major portion and a
middle section of the minor portion which is of reduced width
compared to the headspace and lower section; and the straw is
sealed into and entirely fills the middle section.
4. A fully sealed pouch according to claim 1, wherein one end of
the predetermined tear line terminates short of the top edge so
that tearing along the tear line up to the said termination leaves
an almost fully detached corner portion still attached to the
remainder of the pouch at said termination.
5. A fully sealed pouch according to claim 4, wherein the tear line
is defined by a first section comprising laser cut lines on the
external side of each of the front and rear faces which extends
from a notch formed in the first side edge, crosses the minor
portion and ends at a hole which extends through both the front and
rear faces where they are sealed to each other in the extended
corner portion, and by a second section comprising a perforated
line in which perforations extend through both the front and rear
faces, the perforated line following a curved path to terminate
adjacent the top edge.
6. A fully sealed pouch according to claim 1, wherein one end of
the predetermined tear line terminates at or adjacent the top edge,
and an instruction icon is provided on the extended corner portion
adjacent said one end to identify an intended direction of tearing
from the top edge downwardly and towards the side edge.
7. A fully sealed pouch according to claim 6, wherein the other end
of the predetermined tear line terminates inboard of a notch formed
in the first side edge so that tearing along the tear line leaves
an almost fully detached corner portion still attached to the
remainder of the pouch adjacent the said side edge notch.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This disclosure relates to a drinks pouch.
[0002] The invention of the present disclosure may be regarded as
an improvement or modification of the invention disclosed in our
co-pending British Patent Application No: 1720237.5, the entire
disclosure of which is to be regarded as incorporated into the
present disclosure by reference.
[0003] The disclosures of Application No: 1720237.5 sought to
overcome or reduce the occurrence of problems associated with
spillage when seeking to open previously proposed drinks pouches.
In particular, with pouches that needed a corner portion to be torn
off to reach a straw within the pouch, it was noted that there was
a danger of spillage when making the tear. Even with practical
embodiments of pouches of the kind described in WO 2016/124881 of
Delivery Flexibles Ltd, with a line of weakness provided between a
side edge of the pouch and a top edge of the pouch, the tear from
the side to the top sometimes continues right across the top of the
pouch so that the contents spill. Even worse would be the result of
tearing from the top edge towards the side edge if the tear
continues down the side.
[0004] Embodiments of drinks pouch described in our aforesaid
Application No: 1720237.5 sought to limit the extent of the tear by
providing a secondary heat seal between front and rear faces of the
pouch positioned inboard of a first side edge of the pouch from
which the tear is to be made and terminating the line of weakness
defining the tear at the second seal by one means or another. A
minor portion of the pouch interior is defined between the second
heat seal and the first side edge for accommodating the straw. In
one embodiment, the second seal is bifurcated by a cut extending
from the top edge and the line of weakness ends at the cut. In
another arrangement, the line of weakness terminates at an abutment
joining the front face of the pouch to its rear face. Another
arrangement utilises a graspable tear strip to limit the extent of
the tear.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] As will become clear from the detailed description
hereinbelow, we have now found that the line of tear can be
restrained to a predetermined path by broadening out what is
effectively the top end of the second heat seal of Application No:
1720237.5 into an extended corner portion in which the front and
rear faces are sealed to each other, into which extended corner
portion the minor portion of the interior volume containing the
straw extends, and by and defining the line of tear wholly within
this extended corner portion, along a line which crosses the said
minor portion and extends by a curved perforated line to or
adjacent to the top edge, in which perforated line the perforations
extend through both the front and rear faces.
[0006] We have also found that with at least some of the
embodiments disclosed in Application No: 1720237.5 in which only a
small corner portion was removed, when trying to drink from the
pouch, a user's nose could come into contact with the remaining
part of the top edge left after removing the corner portion.
[0007] Thus, in accordance with the present disclosure, there is
provided a fully sealed pouch containing a drink and a straw; the
pouch having a front face and a rear face, and defining: a top edge
where the front face and the rear face are sealed to each other, a
bottom portion where the front face and the rear face are connected
to each other optionally via a gusset, a first side edge extending
from the top edge to the bottom portion, the front face being
sealed to the rear face along the first side edge, and a second
side edge also extending from the top edge to the bottom portion,
the front face and the rear face either being continuous with each
other or sealed to each other at the second side edge, and an
extended corner portion defined between the top edge and the first
side edge; the interior volume of the pouch being divided into a
minor portion adjacent the first edge and extending into the
extended corner portion, and a major portion communicating with the
minor portion, the front face and the rear face being sealed to
each other throughout the extended corner portion except where the
minor portion extends into the extended corner portion; the straw
being located in the minor portion with an end thereof extending
into the extended corner portion; and a predetermined tear line
being defined in the extended corner portion along a line that
extends from a position at or adjacent the first side edge, across
the minor portion where it extends into the extended corner
portion, and along a curved path to or adjacent to the top edge at
a position spaced from the join between the top edge and the first
side, the tear line constraining a user seeking access to the straw
readily to tear therealong to expose said end of the straw and to
allow the user thereafter to drink from the pouch via the straw.
The position of the end of the curved path at or adjacent the top
edge is suitably chosen so that after tearing, a user can drink
from the straw without their nose engaging the remaining portion of
the top edge.
[0008] Preferred embodiments may have one or more of the following
features: [0009] The straw is fixed in position by being attached
to at least one wall with the said end of the straw being located
at or adjacent an end of the minor portion within the extended
corner portion. [0010] The minor portion defines a headspace
located in the corner portion and containing the said end of the
straw, a lower section of the minor portion which is in
communication with the major portion and a middle section of the
minor portion which is of reduced width compared to the headspace
and lower section; and the straw is sealed into and entirely fills
the middle section. [0011] One end of the predetermined tear line
terminates short of the top edge so that tearing along the tear
line up to the said termination leaves an almost fully detached
corner portion still attached to the remainder of the pouch at said
termination. [0012] The tear line is defined by a first section
comprising laser cut lines on the external side of each of the
front and rear faces which extends from a notch formed in the first
side edge, crosses the minor portion and ends at a hole which
extends through both the front and rear faces where they are sealed
to each other in the extended corner portion, and by a second
section comprising a perforated line in which perforations extend
through both the front and rear faces, the perforated line
following a curved path to terminate adjacent the top edge. [0013]
Alternatively, one end of the predetermined tear line terminates at
or adjacent the top edge, and an instruction icon is provided on
the extended corner portion adjacent said one end to identify an
intended direction of tearing from the top edge downwardly and
towards the side edge. [0014] In this alternative arrangement, the
other end of the predetermined tear line terminates inboard of a
notch formed in the first side edge so that tearing along the tear
line leaves an almost fully detached corner portion still attached
to the remainder of the pouch adjacent the said side edge
notch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Reference may now be made to the accompanying drawing, by
way of example only, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a somewhat schematic view of a transparent
pouch from its front side; and
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a somewhat schematic view of an alternative
embodiment of transparent pouch from its front side.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The pouch 1 shown in FIG. 1 contains a drink 2 and a straw 3
sealed within the pouch. The pouch 1 has a front face 4 and a rear
face 5, a top edge 6, along which the front face 4 and the rear
face 5 are sealed to each other, and a bottom portion 7 where the
front 4 and rear 5 faces are connected to each other, optionally
via a gusset 8.
[0019] Respective first and second side edges 9, 10 of the pouch 1
extend from the top edge 6 to the bottom portion 7. The front face
4 of the pouch 1 is sealed to the rear face 5 along the first side
edge 9. At the second side edge 10, the front and rear faces 4, 5
may again be sealed to each other as shown in the Figure.
Alternatively, the front 4 and rear 5 faces may be formed from a
single sheet which is folded at second side edge 10 so that the
front and rear faces are continuous with each other at second side
edge 10.
[0020] An extended corner portion 11 is positioned between the top
edge 6 and the first side edge 9, for a purpose to be
explained.
[0021] The pouch defines an internal cavity 12 which is divided
into two portions; a minor portion 13 that lies adjacent to the
first side edge 9 and extends into the extended corner portion 11
to form a headspace 14 for the straw in the extended corner
portion, and a major portion 15 which communicates with the minor
portion 13. Except where the minor portion extends into the
extended corner portion, the front and rear faces 4, 5 are sealed
to each other throughout the extended corner portion.
[0022] The straw 3 is located within the minor portion 13 of the
internal cavity 12 so that its upper end 16 extends into the
headspace 14, and preferably ends at or adjacent upper end 17 of
headspace 14. In the Figure, minor portion 13 has a middle section
18 of lesser width than the headspace 14 or lower section 19 which
communicates with the major portion 15 of internal cavity 12. As
illustrated, the straw 3 is preferably of a width substantially or
entirely to fill the width of middle section 18, and is suitably
fixed in position in minor portion 13 by being adhered to one or
both of the front and rear faces 4, 5. With a straw 3 that
substantially fills the middle section 18, the risk of leakage when
the pouch is opened as explained below is reduced. With a straw
that entirely fills the middle section, the risk of leakage is
virtually eliminated, as explained below.
[0023] A major part of extended corner portion 11 is designed to be
torn from pouch 1 to allow a user access to the straw 3 and thus to
drink 2 sealed within the pouch. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1, a predetermined tear line 20 is defined by a laser cut line
21 on the external side of each of the front 4 and rear 5 faces
which extends from a notch 22 formed in the first side edge 9,
crosses the minor portion 13 and ends at a hole 23 which extends
through both the front and rear faces. Beyond hole 23, the tear
line 20 is defined by a perforated line 24 in which perforations 25
extend through both the front 3 and rear 4 faces, the perforated
line 24 following a curved path 26 to terminate at or adjacent the
top edge 6 at a position 27 spaced from first side edge 9. In the
embodiment of FIG. 1, line 24 terminates just short of top edge 6
so that the tear may not be complete, leaving the torn off portion
of extended corner portion 11 still attached to the remainder of
the pouch at position 27. This arrangement reduces the likelihood
of a torn off portion forming litter. Having a straw 3 adhered to
one or both of the front and rear faces 4, 5, especially when it
entirely fills middle section 18, avoids the problem of the straw
itself being discarded as litter.
[0024] The notch 22 and hole 23 define opposite ends of the laser
cut line, and serve to confine the line of tear to the laser cut
line 21. The perforated line 24 is already weak since its
perforations go right through both the front and rear faces. Thus
the illustrated predetermined tear line 20 effectively confines any
tear in use to that line, greatly reducing the risk of an
inadvertent tear elsewhere with resultant spillage of the drink 2.
At the same time forming the corner with an extended corner portion
11 in which the front 4 and rear 5 faces are sealed to each other
both makes for easy manufacture and provides a degree of strength
to the corner portion reducing the possibility of any tear straying
from the predetermined line 20.
[0025] Users can readily reach the end 16 of the straw 3 by tearing
along laser cut line 21 from the notch 22 to the hole 23 and then
along the curved perforated line 24. When the major portion of
extended corner portion 11 is removed in this way, the pouch is
still effectively sealed, but the straw end protrudes and can be
reached by a user's mouth without their nose engaging remaining
part 28 of top edge 6.
[0026] Thus, while the present disclosure in its broadest context
is silent as to the direction in which the tear line was intended
to be torn, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the laser cut line 21
extended from a position close to but separated from notch 22
formed in a side edge 9 of the pouch, and terminated at hole 23
which extended through both the front and rear faces 4, 5 of the
pouch where these were sealed together in the extended corner
portion 11. The curved path defined by the tear line beyond the
hole terminated a short distance from the top edge 6. As described
above, the tear was said to be made from the notch 22 on the side
edge to end just short of the top edge 6 so that the corner portion
11, when essentially fully detached to allow access to the straw,
nevertheless remained still attached in a minor fashion to the
remainder of the pouch at the top edge.
[0027] Described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 2 is an
alternative embodiment in which the tear is made in the opposite
direction from the top edge to the notch formed in the side edge.
Features of the FIG. 2 embodiment which are the same or closely
similar to corresponding features of the FIG. 1 embodiment use the
same reference numeral.
[0028] As before, the straw 3 is located within the minor portion
13 of the internal cavity 12 so that its upper end 16 extends into
the headspace 14, and preferably ends at or adjacent upper end 17
of headspace 14. In the Figure, minor portion 13 has a middle
section 18 of lesser width than the headspace 14 or lower section
19 which communicates with the major portion 15 of internal cavity
12. For clarity of illustration, the straw is shown as being of
lesser width than middle section 18. However, in practice the straw
3 will be sealed in and to middle section 18 with the straw fully
filling middle section 18, so that there is no leakage between the
straw and middle section 18 when the pouch is opened as explained
below. This virtually eliminates unwanted leakage since the only
remaining route for the drink to escape is up the straw.
[0029] A major part of extended corner portion 11 is designed to be
torn from pouch 1 to allow a user access to the straw 3 and thus to
drink 2 sealed within the pouch. In the embodiment of FIG. 2,
predetermined tear line 20 is again defined by a laser cut line 21
on the external side of each of the front 4 and rear 5 faces which
extends from a notch 22 formed in the first side edge 9, and
crosses the minor portion 13, but ends at one end 30 of a
relatively wide through cut 31 which extends in an interrupted
fashion from the end of laser cut line 21 to terminate in a
v-shaped notch 32 in the top edge 6. In this case, the through cut
31 is formed as two through cut portions 33, 34, and the detachable
part of the extended corner portion is connected to the remainder
of the pouch by narrow interconnections 35, 36 respectively
provided between the two portions 33, 34 of the cut and between
portion 34 and the v-shaped notch. The interconnections 35, 36 are
readily severable by tearing downwardly and outwardly from the
V-shaped notch 32 towards notch 22 formed in first side edge 9.
Suitably, an instruction icon 37 printed on to the corner portion
will direct users to open the pouch in this specific fashion. If
the laser cut line 21 commences just inboard of notch 22, the
otherwise almost fully detached corner 11 may be left hanging
adjacent notch 22, well out of the way of a user's nose when
drinking from the straw.
* * * * *