POUCH ANTI-SAG MEASURES

Abstract

The flexible pouch includes a first outer panel and a second outer panel. The first panel and the second panel each having an outer peripheral edge and the first outer panel and the second outer panel connected at least partially at the outer peripheral edge of the first panel and at the outer peripheral edge of the second panel. A seal is disposed on at least a portion of an outer peripheral edge of the flexible pouch. A reinforcement is provided positioned adjacent to or on the seal of the flexible pouch operable to support the first outer panel and the second outer panel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/751,450 filed Jan. 11, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in the entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pouches. More particularly, this invention relates to beverage pouches having increased structural measures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various beverage packages operable to accommodate fluids such as juice, wine, beer, liquors, water or other beverages are well known in the art. These containers typically include a wide base allowing the pouch to stand upright on its own. However, these packages frequently sag or lean because of the large volume and weight of the liquid contained therein. Although this sagging does not prevent the pouch from standing upright or inhibit the use of the pouch, the sagging is an unattractive feature for which correction or mitigation is desired. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to provide a beverage pouch having anti-sag measures to prevent or mitigate sagging of a beverage pouch from standing in an upright position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a plurality of related means for preventing sagging of a stand-up pouch. Although the present embodiment uses by way of example a beverage pouch, the pouch may be used to hold other liquids, food products, dry goods, chemicals . . . etc. The flexible pouch includes a first outer panel and a second outer panel. The first panel and the second panel each having an outer peripheral edge and the first outer panel and the second outer panel connected at least partially at the outer peripheral edge of the first panel and at the outer peripheral edge of the second panel. A seal is disposed on at least a portion of an outer peripheral edge of the flexible pouch. A reinforcement is provided positioned adjacent to or on the seal of the flexible pouch operable to support the first outer panel and the second outer panel. In one embodiment, the reinforcement is a reinforcement strip. The reinforcement strip may be positioned on the seal or between a plurality of layers of the first panel and the second panel.

In an alternative embodiment, the reinforcement is a plurality of ribs, where the ribs are cold seal ribs. The ribs may vary in length wherein the cold seal ribs are longer at various points thereby providing for increased strength. More specifically, the ribs are longer towards the bottom of the pouch and shorter in length towards the top of the pouch.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the reinforcement is a removable straw. The first outer panel includes an elongated pocket, the removable straw is mounted within the pocket. The elongated pocket is positioned between a plurality of layers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the cross-sectional view of the pouch of the first embodiment having a reinforcing strip;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view along the section 5-5 as shown in FIG. 1—without any depression;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective side view of the pouch having a reinforcing strip;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the pouch having a reinforcing strip;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section view the cold seal ribs of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of the pouch having a plurality of cold seal ribs;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the pouch having a plurality of cold seal ribs;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the pouch having a reinforcing straw; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of the pouch having a reinforcing straw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a plurality of related means for preventing sagging of a stand-up pouch. Although the present embodiment uses by way of example a beverage pouch, the pouch may be used to hold other liquids, food products, dry goods, chemicals . . . etc. The flexible pouch includes a first outer panel and a second outer panel. The first panel and the second panel each having an outer peripheral edge and the first outer panel and the second outer panel connected at least partially at the outer peripheral edge of the first panel and at the outer peripheral edge of the second panel. A seal is disposed on at least a portion of an outer peripheral edge of the flexible pouch. A reinforcement is provided positioned adjacent to or on the seal of the flexible pouch operable to support the first outer panel and the second outer panel.

The first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-4 utilizes a reinforcing strip disposed between various layers of a beverage pouch. The beverage pouch 100 includes a reinforcing strip 102. The beverage pouch includes a first outer panel 101 and a second outer panel 102. The panels connect at an outer peripheral edge 104 where both of the first outer panel 101 and the second outer panel each include an outer edge. The panels 101, 103 connect to form a seam (or seal) at the outer peripheral edge 104. The panels 101,103 may be made of one material or include a plurality of materials such as shown in FIG. 2. The layers as shown in FIG. 2 may also be pre-formed as a laminate to form 2 panels and later connected together at a seam.

The reinforcing strip 102 is positioned at the outer peripheral edge 104 of the pouch 100. The pouch 100 further includes an inner portion 106 operable to hold liquid. The liquid is filled and inserted into the pouch 100 at the fill area 108. The pouch 100 includes an upper portion 110 and a lower portion 112. The lower portion 112 is a base allowing the pouch 100 to stand upright.

The reinforcing strip 102 is made of a plastic, metal, polymer, polymer-like, or plastic-like material providing further stability to the pouch 100. In the present embodiment, a reinforcing strip 102 is provided on either side of the pouch 100. The reinforcing strip 102 is provided sealed between a plurality of layers creating the pouch. FIG. 2 illustrates the various layers including the reinforcing strip 102. A first inner layer 120 is provided at the interior of the beverage container (inner 106 of the container or pouch 102). The reinforcing strip 102 is then provided between the inner layer 120 (comprised of LLDPE) and an interior layer 122 (NY). Further outer layers include layer 124 made of Aluminum to act as an oxygen barrier, a layer of print (or suitable material capable of being printed on) 126 and an outer layer of PET 128.

The reinforcement strip 102 may have a higher density than the plurality of layers to further support the pouch. The reinforcement strip 102 is thicker than the layers described above. The reinforcement strip 102 may also have a higher rigidity as compared to the layers. The reinforcement strip 102 also may also have a greater mass than the layers described above.

The reinforcement strip is made of a material operable to provide additional rigidity and support to the pouch. The reinforcement strip may be made from LLDPE (made thicker and having greater mass as compared to the layers). The reinforcement strip 102 must be made of a material (or have the respective structural properties) which will allow the reinforcement strip 102 to stay structurally sound through a heat seal (or cold seal) process. The reinforcement strip 102 must have a higher melting temperature as compared to the LLPDE and NY (or other materials) of the layers.

By way of example, A first layer of the flexible pouch is made og LLDPE (Linear low-density polyethylene) and has a melting range between 120 to 160° C. A second layer is made of nylon and melts around 265° C. As such, any sealing process can occur at temperatures around 265° C. Accordingly, the reinforcement strip could be made of any of the following materials since they have a significantly higher melting point as compared to LLDPE and Nylon: PEEK (Polyether ether ketone) which melts around 343° C., PES (Polyethersulfone) which melts around between 343-377° C. or Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, aka Teflon) which melts around 327° C. All of these materials require a significantly higher melting temperature as compared to both LLDPE and Nylon, the two materials used in the layers of this example.

The strip may also be made of a combination of these materials or other materials. These above listed materials are suitable for use as the reinforcement strip because the strip will not melt (and accordingly lose any structural properties) during any sealing process.

In an alternative embodiment to the plurality of layers described above, the pouch simply includes a first layer, a second layer and the reinforcement strip is provided between the two layers.

The reinforcing strip 102 acts as a strengthener for the pouch 100. When liquid is filled into the pouch 100, the reinforcing strip provides further structure instability thereby preventing any sag of the pouch 100.

A second embodiment providing anti-sag of a pouch is illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a pouch 200 having a plurality of cold seal ribs 202. The beverage pouch includes a first outer panel 201 and a second outer panel 202. The panels connect at an outer peripheral edge 205 where both of the first outer panel 201 and the second outer panel each include an outer edge. The panels 201, 203 connect to form a seam at the outer peripheral edge 205.

The cold seal ribs 202 are provided along an edge 208 of the pouch 200 (and of seam). The cold seal ribs (or indentations depending on the side of the pouch one is viewing) 202 vary in length wherein the cold seal ribs are longer at various points requiring further strength. The cold seal ribs may also be provided over or adjacent to a reinforcement strip. By way of example, the cold seal rib 204 provided towards an upper end 210 of the pouch 200 is shorter in length as compared to the cold seal rib 206 provided at a lower end 212. The cold seal rib 204 has a length A. The cold seal rib 206 has a length B. In the present embodiment, the length B is greater than the length A. Various lengths are provided and changed as further structure and support is required.

FIG. 5 illustrates the apparatus 228 adapted to create the cold seal ribs 202 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The apparatus 228 includes an upper plate 230 and a lower plate 232. The upper plate 230 includes a protrusion 234. The lower plate 232 includes an indentation 236 operable to accept the protrusion 234 of the upper plate 230. The outer edge 208 of the pouch 200 is positioned between the upper plate 230 and the lower plate 232 and pressed between the two plates. The end result is the cold seal ribs 202 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In an alternative embodiment, the plates 230, 232 need be heated to further and assist in the creation of the cold seal ribs 202.

FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment for an anti-sag measure for a beverage pouch. The beverage pouch 300 as shown in FIG. 9 includes a straw 302 and a straw pocket 304. The beverage pouch includes a first outer panel 301 and a second outer panel 302. The panels connect at an outer peripheral edge 304 where both of the first outer panel 301 and the second outer panel each include an outer edge. The panels 301, 303 connect to form a seam at the outer peripheral edge 304.

The straw pocket 304 includes an upper opening 306 and a lower base 308. The straw 302 is inserted to the straw pocket 304 at the opening 306. The straw pocket 304 may be created between multiple layers of the beverage pouch 300.

The beverage pouch 300 includes an upper end 310 and a lower end 312. The lower end 312 is operable to act as a base allowing the pouch 300 to stand upright even when filled with liquid. The straw 302 is made of a plastic or polymer or polymer-like or plastic-like material thereby adding further structure to the pouch 300. The straw may also be made of a material having a higher melting temperature as compared to the material the layers are made of. The straw 302 prevents sag and movement of the beverage pouch 300 when the pouch 300 is filled with liquid. The straw 302 may then be removed from the straw pocket 302 for use in connection with the beverage inside the pouch 300.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrated examples and embodiments described above. The embodiments are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. Methods, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A flexible pouch for holding a liquid, the flexible pouch comprising:

a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel each having an outer peripheral edge, the first panel and the second panel connected at least partially at the outer peripheral edge of the first panel and at the outer peripheral edge of the second panel;

a seam disposed on at least a portion of an outer peripheral edge of the flexible pouch;

a reinforcement positioned adjacent to or on the seal of the flexible pouch operable to support the first panel and the second panel.

2. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is a reinforcement strip.

3. The flexible pouch of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement strip is positioned on the seal.

4. The flexible pouch of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement strip is positioned between a plurality of layers of the first panel and the second panel.

5. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is a plurality of ribs.

6. The flexible pouch of claim 5 wherein the ribs are cold seal ribs.

7. The flexible pouch of claim 5 wherein the ribs vary in length wherein the cold seal ribs are longer at various points thereby providing for increased strength.

8. The flexible pouch of claim 7 wherein the ribs are longer towards the bottom of the pouch and shorter in length towards the top of the pouch.

9. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is a removable straw.

10. The flexible pouch of claim 9 wherein the first panel includes an elongated pocket positioned on an outer surface of the first panel, the removable straw mounted within the pocket.

11. The flexible pouch of claim 10 wherein an elongated pocket is positioned between the first panel and the second panel, the removable straw mounted within the pocket.

12. The flexible pouch of claim 4 wherein the reinforcement strip is thicker than the material of either the first panel or the second panel.

13. The flexible pouch of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement strip is made of a material having a higher melting temperature than the material of both the first panel and the material of the second panel.

14. The flexible pouch of claim 4 wherein the reinforcement strip has a greater mass than the material of either the first panel or the second panel.

15. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein additional panels are provided, the panels connected at the seam.