Tubular Bag Provided with a Cover

Abstract

The invention relates to a tubular pouch (10) having a tubular pouch body (20) and a lid piece (30) and, optionally, a base, especially a standing base or stand-up base, the tubular pouch body (20) having, in a lid-piece region (35), a sloped and/or angled peripheral rim (40) suitable for attachment of a lid piece (30).

Description

The invention relates to a tubular pouch in accordance with the preamble of patent claim 1.

Tubular pouches of the kind in question herein are generally known and are used for conserving, storing and transporting liquid, paste-form, powdered, pourable and solid contents as well as for bringing such contents into commercial availability; such tubular pouches and packagings produced therefrom have proved to be extremely advantageous inter alia on account of their being lightweight and easily shapeable and printable. A further advantage of such tubular pouches is their ease of disposal.

The opening behaviour of such tubular pouches or tubular pouch packagings has proved to be problematic, however. Such packagings are usually opened by tearing open the packaging, it being usual to provide a notch in a lateral sealing seam by means of which further tearing of a foil forming the tubular pouch, generally of two side wall foils, is initiated.

A further possible way of opening such a tubular pouch packaging is to pull apart two side faces forming the tubular pouch in the region of a seal, the seal breaking open.

Those two variants of opening have the serious disadvantages, however, that when the packaging is torn into or torn open, the foil forming the tubular pouch tears in an undirected and uncontrolled way, so that the contents of the packaging are spilled, resulting in loss of the packaged goods.

Furthermore, after such tearing-open, the interior of the tubular pouch is often poorly accessible, because torn or residual portions of the packaging make it difficult to gain access to the interior of the tubular pouch, for example with the hand or a spoon. Intentionally pouring out the contents of the packaging is also often impeded by residual portions of the packaging, so that the contents of the packaging on the one hand also come into contact with outer parts of the packaging, with the result that firstly the contents of the tubular pouch can be contaminated on being poured out and on the other hand can be dispensed only in an uncontrolled way.

Finally, a further variant of opening comprises the use of a pair of scissors by means of which an upper portion of the closed tubular pouch is cut off and removed, so that the interior volume of the tubular pouch is then freely accessible. Although that variant enables a tubular pouch portion that closes the tubular pouch to be cleanly separated, it creates the problem firstly that it is necessary always to have a pair of scissors to hand and secondly, if the scissors used are dirty, there is a risk that both the cut edges and the contents of the tubular pouch will be contaminated, with the result that the contents may become unusable.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide a tubular pouch of the kind mentioned at the beginning which can be opened hygienically, simply and without aids, so that the interior of the tubular pouch is accessible without problems.

That problem is solved by a tubular pouch according to patent claim 1.

The problem is solved, in particular, by a tubular pouch having a tubular pouch body and a lid piece and, optionally, a base, especially a standing base or stand-up base, the tubular pouch body having, in a lid-piece region, a sloped and/or angled peripheral rim suitable for attachment of a lid piece.

The peripheral rim is in the form of an annular angle profile which preferably forms substantially a right angle.

The angle profile is attached to the tubular pouch body, preferably by means of an adhesive connection and/or sealing connection, so that one limb of the angle profile extends slightly, for example from 1 mm to 10 mm starting from the rim of the tubular pouch body, over the opening of the tubular pouch body. For that purpose, the angle profile can be either sealed or adhesively bonded, preferably to the inside of the tubular pouch body. In a second alternative, the limb of the angle profile that does not extend over the opening of the tubular pouch body is sealed and/or adhesively bonded to the tubular pouch body on the outside.

An important concept of the invention is that on the tubular pouch body there is provided a portion which extends substantially in a direction spanning the opening of the tubular pouch body, on which the lid piece can be joined to the angle profile, and thereby to the tubular pouch body, by means of an adhesive connection and/or sealing connection which is especially at least partially releasable.

When the angle profile is mounted on the inside of the tubular pouch body, the lid piece is mounted on the inner side of a limb of the angle profile. The inner side of the angle profile in the context of this invention is to be understood as being that side of the angle profile that includes the smaller angle, especially the 90° internal angle. The outer side of the angle profile is to be understood as being the side opposite from the inner side of the angle profile, which outer side, when the inner side has a 90° angle, then in turn describes a 270° external angle.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the lid piece is accordingly mounted on the outer side, in accordance with the definition, of a limb of the angle profile, which outer side in this case faces away from the tubular pouch body.

Advantageously, the lid piece of the tubular pouch according to the invention is of planar construction and has at least one tab or ring which serves as a pulling device for opening the tubular pouch.

The tubular pouch is opened by gripping the tubular pouch body with one hand, or by fixing the tubular pouch body in some other way, while using the other hand to grip the tab of the lid piece or the ring attached to the lid piece. By pulling on the ring or the tab, the lid piece is then detached from the angle profile which, during closure of the tubular pouch, has been joined to the lid piece by means of an adhesive or by means of a sealing connection which is arranged to be at least partially releasable.

Depending upon the adhesive used, the tubular pouch can be reclosable by renewed pressing of the lid piece onto the adhesive surface of the angle profile.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment the lid piece has at least one predetermined breaking location, especially a predetermined tearing line, along which the tubular pouch can be at least partially opened. By means of such a predetermined tearing line it is possible in the first instance to remove only a portion of the lid piece, which is particularly advantageous in the case of liquid contents in order to avoid spillage of the contents. With such a predetermined tearing line it is also possible to optimise the opening behaviour of the tubular pouch, a preferential breakage edge being formed along the predetermined tearing line when the tubular pouch is opened.

It should be emphasised at this point that the scope of this invention also includes multiple-chamber pouches the compartments of which are each individually openable using afore-mentioned predetermined tearing lines in the lid piece.

Otherwise, the tubular pouch body itself and, where applicable, the lid piece and/or the base of the tubular pouch is/are of relatively rigid construction. This is particularly advantageous when the tubular pouch contains liquid or paste-form contents. When the contents are solid, they can themselves impart a certain stability to the tubular pouch body.

A considerable advantage of a tubular pouch according to the invention is that substantially the entire cross-sectional opening of the tubular pouch body can be opened, so that optimum access is gained to the interior volume of the tubular pouch, including, for example, with a spoon, a fork or some other utensil.

Furthermore, when the contents are liquid, spillage thereof over the rim of the tubular pouch body can be avoided according to the invention by configuring the limb of the annular angle profile that extends slightly over the opening of the tubular pouch body so that in the first instance the liquid laps against the underside of that limb portion but cannot spill over the rim of the tubular pouch body. The length of that limb portion can be adapted as necessary; that is to say, it can be made shorter or longer.

In accordance with one embodiment, the tubular pouch body is formed by means of fin-seal and/or lap-seal sealing or, alternatively, is extruded, especially seamlessly, in the form of a tube.

Furthermore, the tubular pouch body is preferably made from a laminate, especially an aluminium laminate, having at least one sealing layer and optionally at least one barrier layer. The barrier layer preferably consists of SiO₂, AlO_x, ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) or a metal foil, for example an aluminium foil.

Moreover, the lid piece and/or the base are made substantially of the same materials as the tubular pouch body. As a result, the tubular pouch can be produced very cost-effectively, because both the lid piece and the base are made of the same foil or the same laminate as the tubular pouch body itself. For that purpose, it is possible to use either the foil forming the future tubular pouch body, prior to formation of the tubular pouch body, or a length of extruded tube, which are in each case detached for forming the lid piece and the base.

For example, it is possible for such a short length of tube simply to be sealed on one side to form the base and then incorporated into the tubular pouch body, with the latter optionally being stretched, and joined sealingly thereto, that is to say sealed or adhesively bonded thereto.

Both the lid piece and the base and/or the tubular pouch body have a thickness in the range of from 50 μm to 1000 μm, preferably from 80 μm to 500 μm, and especially from 100 μm to 350 μm. Adhering to those dimensions on the one hand ensures that the tubular pouch is lightweight and has sufficient durability and stability, including for carbonic-acid-containing pouch contents. Furthermore, the lid piece, the base and the tubular pouch body itself is sterilisable, so that foods, beverages and stimulants can also be introduced into the tubular pouch and packaged hygienically therein.

Further embodiments of the invention will be found in the subsidiary claims.

The invention is described below on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are explained in greater detail with reference to the Figures.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a tubular pouch according to the invention in which the lid piece has been mounted on the outer side of the angle profile;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a tubular pouch according to the invention in which the lid piece has been mounted on the inner side of the angle profile; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a tubular pouch according to FIG. 2, wherein the lid piece has been slightly opened.

In the description which follows, parts that are the same or have the same action have been given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a tubular pouch 10, consisting of a tubular pouch body 20 and a lid piece 30. The lid piece 30 has been sealed onto an angle profile 45. The angle profile 45 is sealed by its shorter limb, which extends in the direction towards the base of the tubular pouch 10, to the outside of the tubular pouch body 20. The longer limb of the angle profile 45, which extends over the opening of the tubular pouch body 20, serves for attachment of the lid piece 30. The inner side 47 of the angle profile faces the interior of the tubular pouch, while the lid piece 30 is arranged on the outer side 49 of the angle profile 45. The lid piece 30 has a tab 50. The dotted line indicates the angle profile extending around the rear peripheral rim of the tubular pouch body 20.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a tubular pouch according to the invention in which the angle profile 45 is attached to the inside 25 of the tubular pouch body. In this variant, the outer side 49 of the angle profile 45 faces in the direction towards the interior of the tubular pouch, while the lid piece 30 is attached to the inner side 27 of the angle profile. The angle profile 45 itself is welded or sealed by its short limb in FIG. 2 to the rim of the tubular pouch body in the lid-piece region 35 thereof.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment according to the invention of a tubular pouch 10 in which the tubular pouch according to FIG. 2 is shown except that, by pulling on the tab 50, the lid piece 30 has been opened slightly and detached from the inner side 47 of the angle profile 45.

It should be pointed out here that all the above-described parts, considered alone and in any combination, especially the details shown in the drawings, are claimed as being important to the invention. Modifications thereof will be familiar to the person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 10 tubular pouch
• 20 tubular pouch body
• 25 inside of tubular pouch body
• 30 lid piece
• 35 lid-piece region
• 40 peripheral rim
• 45 angle profile
• 47 inner side
• 49 outer side
• 50 pulling device, tab/ring

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A tubular pouch comprising:

a tubular pouch body including a lid-piece region; and

a lid piece adapted to be attached to said tubular pouch body at said lid-piece region; wherein said tubular pouch body has, in said lid-piece region, a rim for the attachment of said lid piece, said rim being selected from the group consisting of a sloped peripheral rim, an angled peripheral rim, and a sloped and angled peripheral rim.

22. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein said pouch further includes a stand-up, standing or other base.

23. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein the peripheral rim is in the form of an annular, substantially right-angled or other angle, angle profile.

24. A tubular pouch according to claim 23, wherein the angle profile is mounted on the inside or other location on the tubular pouch body, by means of a connection selected from the group consisting of an adhesive connection, a sealing connection, and an adhesive and sealing connection.

25. A tubular pouch according to claim 23, wherein said lid piece is mounted on the inner side of said angle profile.

26. A tubular pouch according to claim 23, wherein said lid piece is mounted on the outer side of said angle profile.

27. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein said lid piece is joined to said angle profile by means of a connection selected from the group consisting of an adhesive connection, a sealing connection, an adhesive and sealing connection, an at least partially releasable adhesive connection, an at least partially releasable sealing connection, and an at least partially releasable adhesive and sealing connection.

28. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein said lid piece is of planar construction.

29. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein said lid piece has at least one pulling device selected from the group consisting of a tab, and a ring.

30. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein said lid piece includes at least one predetermined tearing line or other predetermined breaking location, along which said tubular pouch is adapted to be at least partially opened.

31. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein part(s) selected from the group consisting of said tubular pouch body, said lid piece, and said tubular pouch body and said lid piece is/are of relatively rigid construction.

32. A tubular pouch according to claim 22, wherein part(s) selected from the group consisting of said tubular pouch body, said lid piece, said base, any two thereof, and all three thereof is/are of relatively rigid construction.

33. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein said tubular pouch body has a construction selected from the group consisting of a fin-sealed body, a lap-sealed body, a fin-sealed and lap-sealed body, and an extruded tube.

34. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein said tubular pouch body is made from an aluminium or other laminate, having at least one sealing layer.

35. A tubular pouch according to claim 34, further including at least one layer selected from the group consisting of a barrier layer, an SiO2 barrier layer, an AlOx barrier layer, an ethyl vinyl alcohol barrier layer, and a metal foil barrier layer.

36. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein said lid piece is made substantially of the same materials as said tubular pouch body.

37. A tubular pouch according to claim 22, wherein part(s) selected from the group consisting of said base, and said lid piece and said base is/are made substantially of the same materials as said tubular pouch body.

38. A tubular pouch according to claim 21, wherein part(s) selected from the group consisting of said lid piece, said tubular pouch body, and said lid piece and said tubular pouch body has/have a thickness selected from the group consisting of a thickness in the range of from 50 μm to 1000 μm, a thickness in the range from 80 μm to 500 μm, and a thickness in the range from 100 μm to 350 μm.

39. A tubular pouch according to claim 22, wherein part(s) selected from the group consisting of said base, said lid piece and said base, said tubular pouch body and said base, and said base, said lid piece and said tubular pouch body (20) have a thickness selected from the group consisting of a thickness in the range of from 50 μm to 1000 μm, a thickness in the range from 80 μm to 500 μm, and a thickness in the range from 100 μm to 350 μm.

40. A tubular pouch according to claim 22, wherein said lid piece, said tubular pouch body and said base are adapted to be sterilised.