POUCH WITH LENTICULAR IMAGE

Abstract

A flexible pouch is having a lenticular image is provided. The lenticular image may be used to add depth or an animated effect to the aesthetic design of the flexible pouch. The lenticular layer is incorporated into the laminate of the flexible pouch. A lenticular patch is also applied to a surface of the flexible pouch. The lenticular image may be visible about the sealed portions of the flexible pouch. Since the appearance of the lenticular image will be distorted if the lenticular lens is bent or stretched, the lenticular image may be used as a stress indicator to signify portions of the flexible pouch that have been structurally compromised.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/783,049 filed on Mar. 14, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a flexible pouch. More particularly, the invention relates to a flexible pouch having a lenticular image. The lenticular image is incorporated into the aesthetic design of the flexible pouch and also serves as a stress indicator to signify if the flexible pouch has been compromised.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of disposable portable containers are known in the art for storing a fluid or dry product such as a liquid, granular material, powder, or the like. One example of such a container is a flexible pouch. Many consumers prefer the convenience of flexible pouches due to their shape, size, and shelf life.

Flexible pouches can be made from a flexible material, preferably a laminate composed of sheets of plastic, aluminum, or the like. The sheets are folded together and sealed along the side edges so as to form a pouch body. The opening typically can be a perforated tear-off portion of the pouch or it may be a plastic fitment sealed to the flexible pouch that optionally may allow sealing of the pouch after it has been opened.

Rather than having a label, flexible pouches can have product designs and information incorporated directly into the laminate used to form the flexible pouch. This allows the product design used in the laminate to be easily changed according to the manufacturer's needs.

Many commercial packages to draw consumers' attention to their packages. Lenticular images produce printed images with an illusion of depth or additionally the ability to change or move the image as it is viewed from different angles. Lenticular images may also appear as three dimensional (3D) or have an animated effect. It would therefore be beneficial to incorporate the lenticular imaging into a laminate to form a flexible pouch with a more eye-catching design.

Unfortunately, lenticular images require precise alignment to function properly and are easily subject to distortion. To prevent this distortion, lenticular images are not often used in applications where the lenticular image could potentially be subjected to bending, stretching, or other physical manipulation.

A benefit of using flexible pouches instead of rigid packaging, such as cans or boxes, is that flexible pouches can withstand minor physical contact without suffering noticeable damage to the aesthetic appearance of the flexible pouch. In comparison, cans or boxes may become dented, torn, or otherwise physically damaged. However, while a dented can or a torn box may indicate a damaged product, it is not always readily apparent if a flexible pouch has been structurally compromised beyond a tolerable level.

Flexible pouches are often used to accommodate fluids such as juice, wine, or other beverages and may leak if the seals around the flexible pouch become weakened. Extreme pressure applied to the exterior of the pouch or expansion of the liquid contained therein may weaken the seals of the flexible pouch without visually damaging the flexible pouch itself. It would therefore be beneficial for a manufacturer or consumer to be able to visually ascertain whether the seals of a flexible pouch have been compromised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a flexible pouch is provided having a lenticular image incorporated into the laminate. The lenticular image may be used to add depth or an animated effect to the aesthetic design of the flexible pouch. The lenticular image is also incorporated into the laminate so as to be visible about the sealed portions of the flexible pouch. Since the appearance of the lenticular image will be distorted if the image is bent or stretched, the lenticular image may be used as a stress indicator to signify portions of the flexible pouch that have been structurally compromised.

In a second aspect of the invention, a lenticular patch having an adhesive backing is applied to an exterior surface of a flexible pouch. The lenticular patch provides the same aesthetic and stress indicator benefits of the previous aspect of the invention, but is not incorporated directly in the laminate of the flexible pouch.

In this way, the use of lenticular images in the laminate of a flexible pouch or applied on an exterior surface of a flexible pouch allows for an improved aesthetic design that can also be used to determine the structural integrity of the flexible pouch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompany drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a filled embodiment of a flexible pouch having a lenticular image;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the front of the filled embodiment of the flexible pouch from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a an elevational view of the side of the filled embodiment of the flexible pouch from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan top view of the filled embodiment of the flexible pouch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the side of the flexible pouch having a lenticular patch;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a panel of the flexible pouch of FIG. 1 along the line 6-6; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the lenticular patch with an adhesive backing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention involves a flexible pouch 10 formed from a laminate 20 having a lenticular image 50. In a first preferred embodiment, a lenticular layer 51 is incorporated into the laminate 20 that forms the pouch body 70. In a second preferred embodiment, a lenticular patch 100 having an adhesive backing 120 is applied to an exterior surface of the flexible pouch 10. Embodiments of the lenticular image 50 add 3D, flip, or animated effects to the aesthetic design of the flexible pouch 10. The lenticular layer 51 is also used in the pouch body 70 and along the sealed edges 40 of the flexible pouch 10 to visibly identify portions of the flexible pouch 10 that have been structurally compromised.

A first preferred embodiment of a flexible pouch 10 having a lenticular layer 51 disposed within the laminate 20 is generally shown in FIG. 1. The flexible pouch 10 is formed by folding together sheets of flexible material 22, 24 and sealing the sheets around the edges 40 to form a pouch body 70. The sheets of flexible material 22, 24 are preferably laminates composed of plastic, aluminum, or the like. Using laminates allows for the flexible pouches 10 to have labels, designs, and other product information incorporated directly into the flexible pouch 10. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible pouch has a fitment 80, a clip hole 82, and a scalloped edge 84.

A cross sectional view of the laminate 20 of the first preferred embodiment along line 6-6 is shown in FIG. 6. In the first preferred embodiment, a lenticular layer 51 is disposed between two sheets of flexible material 22, 24 to form the laminate 20. The lenticular image 50 is a printed image that produces a visible effect. Examples of the visible effect include a flip effect, a 3D effect, and an animated effect. In a preferred embodiment, the lenticular layer 51 has a lens layer 52 and an image layer 54. The image layer 54 has a plurality of sequentially interlaced images 56a, 56b that form the lenticular image. The lens layer 52 has a plurality of ridges 53 that are aligned with the interlaced images 56a, 56b.

In an exemplary embodiment, the image layer 54 has two interlaced images. In this embodiment, two sequentially interlaced images 56a, 56b are aligned with each ridge 53 of the lens layer 52. One skilled in the art will appreciate that different arrangements and configurations of the image layer 54 and the lens layer 52 of the lenticular layer 50 are used to produce various visual effects such as a flip effect, a 3D effect, and an animated effect. The arrangement depicted in FIG. 6 is merely exemplary and the invention should not be limited to the embodiment shown.

The lenticular layer 50 is disposed between at least two sheets of flexible material 22, 24 to create the laminate 20. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the lenticular layer 51 is disposed between a first layer of flexible material 22 and a second layer of flexible material 24. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that additional layers may be incorporated into the laminate 20. For instance, the laminate 20 may be composed of various combinations of lenticular image layers 51, conventional product design layers, and flexible material layers 22, 24. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that the opacity, thickness, and other physical properties of the flexible materials 22, 24 may be adjusted according to the intended use of the flexible pouch 10.

In the first preferred embodiment, the first layer of flexible material 22 forms the exterior surface of the pouch 10 and the second layer of flexible material 24 forms the interior surface of the pouch 10. The lenticular layer 51 is disposed between the first and second layers of material 22, 24 so that the lens layer 52 is between the first layer 22 and the image layer 54. In this embodiment, the first layer 22 is transparent and the lenticular image 50 is visible through the first layer 22.

In alternative embodiments, the lenticular image 50 is visible through various transparent portions of the pouch 10. For example, a front panel 72 of the pouch 10 is transparent and the lenticular image 50 disposed in a rear panel 74 of the pouch 10. In this configuration, the lenticular image 50 is visible through the front panel 72 and the fluid contained in the pouch 10. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the position visibility of the lenticular image 50 on the pouch 10 may be modified without departing from the sprit of the present application.

The lenticular image 50 also functions as a stress indicator for the flexible pouch 10. Flexible pouches 10 are often used to contain liquids such as juice, wine, or other beverage within the sealed pouch 10. External and internal pressure applied to the pouch during shipping or storage may compromise the seals 40 around the perimeter of the pouch 10. However, unlike cans or cardboard boxes which permanently deform or show visible signs of wear, the physical condition of a flexible pouch 10 is not always ascertainable from its appearance.

Lenticular images 50 that are subjected to bending, stretching, or other deformations appear visibly distorted. An additional benefit of incorporating lenticular images 50 into flexible pouches 10 is to identify portions of the flexible pouch 10 that have been stressed or structurally compromised. Accordingly, a distortion of the lenticular image 50 is indicative of deformed portion of the pouch 10.

For example, in the first preferred embodiment a portion of the lenticular layer 50 used throughout the flexible pouch 10 has sequentially interlaced colors 56a, 56b. When an area of the pouch 10 is deformed or stressed, particularly a seal 40, the lenticular image 50 in the deformed area appears distorted in comparison to a normal or unstressed area of the pouch 10. The disparity between a normal state of the lenticular image 50 and a stressed state of the lenticular image 50 can be enhanced using interlaced images 56a, 56b that are contrasting or that will draw attention to a stressed area of the pouch 10.

The lenticular image 50 also functions as a structural reinforcement for the flexible pouch 10. An advantageous feature of flexible pouches 10 relative to plastic bottles, metal cans, and preassembled cardboard containers is that empty pouches 10 may be flattened for shipping or disposal. In this way, empty flexible pouches 10 take up less space than other conventional fluid containers. However, as flexible pouches 10 are not entirely rigid structures, the pouch body 70 may collapse or lose shape as fluid is emptied from the pouch 10.

An additional benefit of the lenticular image 50 is that the ridges 53 of the lens layer 52 provide structural reinforcement to the laminate 20. In a preferred embodiment, the pouch 10 stands in an upright position. The lenticular image 50 disposed within the laminate 20 prevents the pouch body 70 from collapsing as the fluid is emptied from the pouch. However, in this arrangement the lenticular image 50 does not prevent an empty pouch 10 from being flattened for shipping or disposal. As such, the lenticular image 50 allows the flexible pouch 10 to retain the advantage of flat packaging when empty while adding structural reinforcement when the pouch 10 is partially filled.

In a second preferred embodiment, depicted in FIG. 5, a lenticular patch 100 having an adhesive backing 120 is applied to a surface of the pouch body 70. A cross sectional view of the lenticular patch 100 is shown in detail in FIG. 7. Similar to the lenticular layer 50, the lenticular patch 100 has a lens layer 130 and an image layer 110. The adhesive backing 120 allows the lenticular patch 100 to be applied to a surface of the pouch body 70.

In an exemplary embodiment, the image layer 110 has two interlaced images. In this embodiment, two sequentially interlaced images 110a, 110h are aligned with each ridge 131 of the lens layer 130. One skilled in the art will appreciate that different arrangements and configurations of the image layer 110 and the lens layer 130 of the lenticular patch 100 are used to produce various visual effects such as a flip effect, a 3D effect, and an animated effect. The arrangement depicted in FIG. 7 is merely exemplary and the invention should not be limited to the embodiment shown.

The lenticular patch 100 allows the previously discussed benefits of the lenticular image 50 to be applied to select portions of the pouch body 70. The lenticular patch 100 produces visual effects, functions as a stress indicator for the flexible pouch 10, and provides targeted reinforcement to portions of the pouch body 70.

As seen from the foregoing, the lenticular layer 51 disposed within the laminate 20 and the lenticular patch 100 are used as both a design feature and a functional component of the flexible pouch 10. The lenticular image 50 produces a visual effect on the flexible pouch 10 while also serving as a stress indicator and a structural reinforcement. The visible distortions of the lenticular image 50 indicate areas where the flexible pouch 10 is physically compromised.

However, the design and shape of the flexible pouch is merely exemplary and the invention should not be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. The invention is not to be limited to the described embodiments herein, but it should be appreciated that one skilled in the art would make various changes, modifications, etc. and still fall within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the application should be interpreted broadly.

Claims

1. A flexible pouch comprising:

a pouch body formed from a laminate material, the laminate material having a first layer of flexible material, a second layer of flexible material, and a lenticular layer disposed between the first and second layers of flexible material.

2. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the lenticular layer has a lens layer and an image layer.

3. The pouch of claim 2, wherein the image layer has a plurality of sequentially interlaced images.

4. The pouch of claim 2, wherein the lens layer has a plurality of ridges.

5. The pouch of claim 3, wherein the lens layer has a plurality of sequential ridges, the plurality of sequential ridges aligned with the plurality of sequentially interlaced images.

6. The pouch of claim 3, wherein the plurality of sequentially interlaced images are a plurality of different viewing angles of a single image.

7. The pouch of claim 2, wherein the first layer of material is an exterior surface of the pouch body, the second layer of material is an interior surface of the pouch body, and the lens layer is disposed between the first layer of material and the image layer.

8. The pouch of claim 7, wherein the first layer of material is formed of a transparent material.

9. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the lenticular layer is visibly deformable between a normal state and a stressed state.

10. A flexible pouch comprising:

a pouch body formed from a laminate material, the pouch body having an exterior surface; and

a lenticular patch having an adhesive backing, the adhesive backing affixing the lenticular patch to the exterior surface of the pouch body.

11. The pouch of claim 10, wherein the lenticular patch has a lens layer and an image layer.

12. The pouch of claim 11, wherein the image layer has a plurality of sequentially interlaced images.

13. The pouch of claim 11, wherein the lens layer has a plurality of ridges.

14. The pouch of claim 12, wherein the lens layer has a plurality of ridges, the plurality of ridges aligned with the plurality of sequentially interlaced images.

15. The pouch of claim 12, wherein the plurality of sequentially interlaced images are a plurality of different viewing angles of a single image.

16. The pouch of claim 11, wherein the image layer is disposed between the lens layer the adhesive backing.

17. The pouch of claim 10, wherein the lenticular layer is visibly deformable between a normal state and a stressed state.

18. A method of forming a flexible pouch comprising the steps of:

providing a first roll of material forming an exterior surface, a second roll of material forming an interior surface, and a third roll of lenticular material disposed between the exterior surface and the interior surface;

cutting the first, second, and third rolls of material into a laminate layer forming a front or a back panel of a pouch body; and

mounting the back panel to the front panel to form the pouch body.