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.-15. (canceled)

16. A tubular pouch, comprising:

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

a lid piece adapted to be attached to the tubular pouch body at the lid-piece region;

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

wherein the lid piece is mounted on an outer side of the peripheral rim.

17. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein the pouch further comprises a base.

18. The tubular pouch of claim 17, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of a standing base and a stand-up base.

19. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein the peripheral rim is in the form of an annular angle profile.

20. The tubular pouch of claim 19, wherein the angle profile is substantially right-angled.

21. The tubular pouch of claim 19, wherein the lid piece is joined to the angle profile by means of a connection selected from the group consisting of an adhesive connection, a sealing connection, and an adhesive and sealing connection.

22. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein the lid piece is of a planar construction.

23. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein the lid piece has at least one pulling device selected from the group consisting of a tab, and a ring.

24. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein the lid piece includes at least one predetermined breaking location, along which the tubular pouch is adapted to be at least partially opened.

25. The tubular pouch of claim 24, wherein the breaking location comprises a predetermined tearing line.

26. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein the angle profile is mounted 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.

27. The tubular pouch of claim 26, wherein the angle profile is mounted on an inside location of the tubular pouch body

28. The tubular pouch of claim 17, wherein part(s) selected from the group consisting of the tubular pouch body, the lid piece, the base, any two thereof, and all three thereof is/are of relatively rigid construction.

29. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein the tubular pouch body is formed by means selected from the group consisting of a fin-seal, a lap-seal, a fin-seal and a lap-seal, and extrusion in the form of a tube.

30. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein the tubular pouch body is made from a laminate having at least one sealing layer.

31. The tubular pouch of claim 30, wherein the laminate comprises an aluminum laminate.

32. The tubular pouch of claim 30, wherein the laminate further comprises a 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.

33. The tubular pouch of claim 17, wherein at least one of the lid piece and the base is made of substantially the same material as the tubular pouch body.

34. The tubular pouch of claim 17, wherein part(s) selected from the group consisting of the lid piece, the base, the tubular pouch body, any two thereof, and all three thereof have a thickness selected from the group consisting of a thickness in the range from about 50 μm to about 1000 μm, a thickness in the range from about 80 μm to about 500 μm, and a thickness in the range from about 100 μm to about 350 μm.

35. The tubular pouch of claim 16, wherein at least one of the lid piece, the tubular pouch body and the base is adapted to be sterilized.