The present invention relates generally to flexible containers for liquids and gels, and dry contents, and more particularly to a disposable flexible pouch with a removable strip that can be pulled to gain access to the contents of the pouch.
Flexible beverage containers are well known in the art, with many shapes and sizes. Common configurations include pouches with straw holes that can be punctured to permit access to the beverage contained therein. Other types of packages include those with spouts, including threaded spouts that employ a twist-off cap. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/471,930 filed Jun. 21, 2006 by the present inventor and assigned to the present assignee discloses a method for attaching a spout to a flexible container, and the contents of that application are incorporated fully herein by reference. Another method is a “cut and pour” type of emptying the contents of a stand-up pouch (a pouch with the gusset on the bottom of the pouch).
While twist-off spouts can be utilized effectively in certain conditions, detachable caps can be misplaced or lost. If a mode of access can be improved to make it easier to open the container, this improved mode will enjoy success in the market place. However, there are many difficulties that arise when working with thin films that form the body of flexible beverage pouches, and it is important to be cognizant of waste and spillage that can arise by poorly constructed opening mechanisms that cause premature puncture or are too difficult to open. There is a need in the art for a pouch with an opening mechanism that is both secure, sterile, and easy to implement in conjunction with thin film pouches. Many stand-up pouches (gusset on the bottom) use a simple method of opening with just a cut and pour feature, although the results of using this method can be messy and not re-closable. However, with a side gusseted pouch, one cannot easily cut the top of this pouch and pour, as cutting the top will jeopardize the structure of the pouch and may cause the contents to spill. The present invention provides a low cost solution for both pouch types, including other pouch shapes as well.
The present invention is characterized by a thin film pouch with a front wall, and rear wall, and an opening in said front wall, and further comprising a closure mechanism comprising a thin membrane patch bonded to said pouch about a periphery of said opening, a platform bonded to said thin membrane patch, said platform including a window formed therein and a plurality of cutting surfaces adjacent said window, and a pull strip bonded to said thin membrane patch and attached to said platform by a frangible membrane, wherein a removal of the pull strip ruptures said frangible membrane and tears said thin membrane patch at said cutting surfaces.
a is an elevated perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention prior to release of the pull tab;
b is an elevated perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention with the pull tab partially released;
c is an elevated perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention with the pull tab fully released;
a is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the pull strip and platform prior to actuation of the pull tab;
b is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the pull strip and platform after actuation of the pull tab;
a is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the pull strip and platform prior to actuation of the pull tab;
b is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of
a is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a re-closable embodiment of
b is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of
a-1c illustrate a flexible pouch having a pull strip as part of a zip release opening that can be actuated to tear an elongate strip of pouch away from the body of the pouch to gain access to the contents therein. The pouch 10 includes a body having a base 12, a front surface 14, a rear surface 16, side surfaces 18, and a top 20. The pouch may have a gable design as shown, or can take the form of a brick, triangular, or pillow-shaped pouch. The pouch 10 may be created by any of the many known techniques for formulating a closed container that incorporates a thin walled member. As further shown in
a shows a cross-sectional view of the closure prior to actuation of the pull strip 22. The plastic strip 36 carries the pull tab 24 at a proximal end, and rests between edges 39 of the platform 38. Cutting teeth 42 are disposed along the edges 39 and project below the lower surface of the platform 38. The patch 41, 41a are bonded to the bottom surface of the plastic strip 36 and the bottom surface of the platform on opposite sides of the cutting teeth 42. To enhance ultrasonic bonding of the platform 38 and the plastic strip 36 to the membrane 41, small raised tabs can preferably extend from those surfaces where said bonding occurs. The plastic strip 36 is attached to the cutting teeth 42, 46 by a thin frangible sheet 47 in a septic embodiment shown in
The closure of the present invention can be made of any sturdy plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene, as long as economic bonding techniques such as, for example, ultrasonic bonding, will work with the plastic. Because the closure is molded in the closed position, it can be made from a single cavity mold, which is atypical for this type of closure. Using a single cavity mold significantly reduces the costs of manufacturing the closure, making the present invention very economical compared with alterative closure means.
The foregoing descriptions are intended to be illustrative of various embodiments within the scope of the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting or exclusive. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate many alternatives and deviations from those embodiments described above, and the invention is intended to include all such alternatives and deviations. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be construed according to the ordinary meaning of the terms set forth in the appended claims in view of the foregoing descriptions.