Pouch with Slide-In Pocket

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a pouch (1) for tobacco comprising a first pocket, wherein at least a wall of the pouch is formed of a flexible sheet laminate (6) composed of at least a first and a second layer (61, 62), the pouch further comprising a slide-in pocket (4) formed within the flexible sheet laminate, wherein the slide-in pocket comprises a pocket front wall (42) formed of a part of the first layer (61) of the flexible sheet laminate, a pocket back wall (41) formed of a part of the second layer (62) of the flexible sheet laminate and a first opening (5) arranged in the first layer or the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate, the interior of the slide-in pocket being accessible via the first opening.

Claims

1. A pouch for tobacco comprising a first pocket, wherein at least a wall of the pouch is formed of a flexible sheet laminate composed of at least a first and a second layer, wherein the pouch further comprises a slide-in pocket formed within the flexible sheet laminate, wherein the slide-in pocket comprises: a front wall formed of a part of the first layer of the flexible sheet laminate; a back wall formed of a part of the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate; and a first opening arranged in the first layer or the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate, the interior of the slide-in pocket being accessible via the first opening.

2. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises a front wall and a back wall opposed to each other and optionally a bottom wall, one or more side walls and a flap, wherein at least one of the front wall, the back wall, the bottom wall, the side wall and the flap is formed of the flexible sheet laminate.

3. The pouch of claim 1, comprising a flap and a first pocket defined by opposing front and back walls, wherein at least one of the flap, the front wall and the back wall is formed of a flexible sheet laminate composed of at least a first and a second layer, wherein the pouch further comprises a slide-in pocket formed within the flexible sheet laminate, and wherein the slide-in pocket comprises: a front wall formed of a part of the first layer of the flexible sheet laminate; a back wall formed of a part of the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate; and a first opening arranged in the first layer or the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate, the interior of the slide-in pocket being accessible via the first opening.

4. The pouch of claim 1, wherein all walls of the pouch are formed of the flexible sheet laminate.

5. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the first opening of the slide-in pocket is formed as a straight or curved slit.

6. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the first opening of the slide-in pocket comprises ends formed in the form of a hook or branched slit to prevent further tearing of the first layer of the flexible sheet laminate.

7. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the slide-in pocket comprises a second opening arranged opposite to the first opening, the interior of the slide-in pocket being accessible via the second opening.

8. The pouch of claim 7, wherein the second opening is provided in a format identical, laterally reversed or corresponding to the first opening.

9. The pouch of claim 1, wherein, in the area where slide-in pocket is formed, the flexible sheet laminate is void of an adhesive between the first and second layer and the first layer and the second layer are not permanently laminated together.

10. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the slide-in pocket further comprises a dispensing opening formed into the front and/or back wall of the slide-in pocket in order to allow for dispensing of a product contained in the slide-in pocket.

11. The pouch of claim 10, wherein the dispensing opening is provided as straight or curved slit, with the width of the slit being adapted to a product to be dispensed through the dispensing opening.

12. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises more than one slide-in pocket formed within the flexible sheet laminate.

13. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the slide-in pocket is located on an inner side of the pouch and is not accessible from the outside when the pouch is closed.

14. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the slide-in pocket is located on the outside of the pouch and is accessible from the outside when the pouch is closed.

15. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate independently from each other comprises or consists of a polymer, a metal and/or a paper.

16. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the first layer and/or the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate is transparent.

17. The pouch of claim 3, wherein the flap, the front wall and the back wall of the pouch are all part of a single piece of flexible sheet laminate, wherein the front wall is folded against the back wall of the pouch to build the first pocket.

18. The pouch of claim 3, wherein the front wall and the back wall of the pouch are formed of separate pieces of flexible sheet material.

19. The pouch of claim 1, wherein an article or object is comprised in the slide-in pocket, and wherein the article or object is selected from a group consisting of a lighter, a booklet or a supplement.

20. A method of forming a pouch of claim 17 comprising: providing a single piece of flexible sheet laminate composed of at least a first and a second layer, wherein the first and second layer are void of an adhesive or are not permanently laminated together at an area where a slide-in pocket is to be formed; forming the slide-in pocket by introducing at least a first opening extending through the first layer but not through the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate at an edge of the area where the slide-in pocket is to be formed or by introducing at least a first opening extending through the second layer but not through the first layer of the flexible sheet laminate at an edge of the area where the slide-in pocket is to be formed; optionally, introducing further openings at the area where the slide-in pocket is to be formed; folding the single piece of flexible sheet laminate such that the front wall and the back wall of the pouch are located opposite to each other; and sealing side portions of the front and back wall of the pouch to form a first pocket.

21. A method of forming a pouch of claim 18 comprising: providing a piece of flexible sheet laminate composed of at least a first and a second layer, wherein the first and second layer are void of an adhesive or are not permanently laminated together at an area where a slide-in pocket is to be formed; forming the slide-in pocket by introducing at least a first opening extending through the first layer but not through the second layer of the flexible sheet laminate at an edge of the area where the slide-in pocket is to be formed or by introducing at least a first opening extending through the second layer but not through the first layer of the flexible sheet laminate at an edge of the area where the slide-in pocket is to be formed; optionally, introducing further openings at the area where the slide-in pocket is to be formed; arranging the piece of flexible sheet laminate with another piece of flexible sheet material such that the front wall and the back wall of the pouch are located opposite to each other; and sealing side portions of the front and back wall of the pouch to form a first pocket.

22. The method of claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the openings of the slide-in pocket are introduced into the flexible sheet laminate by physical cutting means, such as blade- or knife based cutting, liquid- or sandjet based cutting or laser based cutting.

Description

[0057] The nature of the invention is further exemplified by way of the following figures and examples.

FIGURES:

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the pouch of the invention and a cross-sectional line A-A.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the pouch of the invention of FIG. 1 in a crosssectional view along line A-A.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of (A) a second embodiment of the pouch of the invention, (B) a third embodiment of the pouch of the invention, (C) a fourth embodiment of the pouch of the invention, (D) a fifth embodiment of the pouch of the invention, (E) a sixth embodiment of the invention and (F) a seventh embodiment of the invention.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows in (A) to (L) various different embodiments of the openings of the slidein pocket of the pouch of the invention.

EXAMPLES

[0062] In FIGS. 1 and 2 a pouch 1 according to the present invention is shown. The line A-A indicates a cross-section through the pouch 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the pouch 1 of FIG. 1 in a cross-sectional view along the line A-A.

[0063] The pouch 1 is formed of one single piece of flexible sheet laminate 6 composed of a first layer 61 and a second layer 62. The pouch 1 comprises a flap 2 and a first pocket 3. The first pocket 3 is built from a back wall 31 and a front wall 32 of the pouch 1. The first pocket 3 is formed by folding back the flexible sheet laminate 6 on itself and sealing the side edges of the overlapping region to build a pocket with a back wall 31, a front wall 32 and a mouth towards the extending part of the flexible sheet laminate 6. Said extending part of the flexible sheet laminate 6 represents the flap 2 of the pouch 1. The flap 2 is shown in an open configuration; however, the flap 2 will be folded over mouth of the first pocket 3 when the pouch 1 is in a closed configuration. On the front wall 32 of the first pocket 3, there is located a slide-in pocket 4 with a first opening 5 which allows access to the interior of the slide-in pocket 4. The slide-in pocket 4 of the pouch 1 is formed of a front wall 42 built by a part of a first layer 61 of the flexible sheet laminate 6 and a back wall 41 built by a part of a second layer 62 of the flexible sheet laminate 6. The first opening 5 is introduced through the first layer 61 of the flexible sheet laminate 6, but does not extend to the second layer 62 of the flexible sheet laminate 6. Via the first opening 5, it is possible to slide in an article or object into the interior of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0064] Both, the first and the second layer 61, 62 of the flexible sheet laminate 6 are formed of a polymer which has thermoplastic properties. First layer 61 and second layer 62 are permanently laminated together by heat and/or pressure, except for the area where the slidein pocket 4 is formed. The front wall 42 and the back wall 41 of the slide-in pocket 4 do not comprise adhesive on a surface facing the interior of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0065] In FIG. 3 alternative forms of the pouch of the invention are shown.

[0066] In FIG. 3A a pouch 1 is illustrated which differs from the pouch depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the pouch 1 is formed from two pieces of flexible sheet material. In the pouch 1 of FIG. 3A the back wall 31 of the first pocket 3 and the flap 2 are not formed of a flexible sheet laminate 6 but from a one-layered flexible sheet 7 made from a material which is different from the flexible sheet laminate 6. This arrangement allows limiting the need for flexible sheet laminate to only the front wall 32 of the first pocket 3, where the slide-in pocket 4 is located in.

[0067] In FIG. 3B a pouch 1 is shown which differs from the pouch 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the slidein pocket 4 and the first opening 5 are arranged within the flap 2 on an outer surface of the pouch 1. This arrangement allows access to the slide-in pocket 4 while the pouch 1 is closed by the flap 2.

[0068] In FIG. 3C a pouch 1 is depicted which differs from the pouch 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the slide-in pocket 4 is located within the flap 2, the first opening 5 being arranged on a inner surface of the flap 2 such that the slide-in pocket 4 is not accessible while the pouch 1 is in closed by the flap 2. Access to the slide-in pocket 4 is allowed when the pouch 1 is in open configuration.

[0069] In FIG. 3D a pouch 1 is illustrated which differs from the pouch 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the pouch 1 is formed from two pieces of flexible sheet material. In the pouch 1 of FIG. 3D the back wall 31 of the first pocket 3 and the flap 2 are formed of a flexible sheet laminate 6 but the front wall 32 of the first pocket 3 is not. The front wall 32 is built from a one-layered flexible sheet 7 made from a material which is different from the flexible sheet laminate 6. The slide-in pocket 4 is located in the back wall 31 of the first pocket 3. This arrangement allows limiting the need for flexible sheet laminate 6 to only the back wall 31, where the slidein pocket 4 is located in, and the flap 2 of the first pocket 3.

[0070] In FIG. 3E a pouch 1 is shown which differs from the pouch given in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the pouch is formed from a flexible sheet laminate which comprises multiple layers, a first layer 61a in which an opening 5a allows access to a first slide-in pocket 4a formed within the flap and a second layer 61b in which an opening 5b allows access to a second slide-in pocket 4b formed on the outside of the first pocket of the pouch. The first and second layer 61a and 61b are separated by a layer 62 which serves as second layer for both, the first slide-in pocket 4a and the second slide-in pocket 4b. In this embodiment, the pouch comprises a flexible sheet laminate comprising multiple layers with two independent slide-in pockets formed into said flexible sheet laminate.

[0071] In FIG. 3F a section of a flap of a pouch of the invention is shown which differs from the pouch illustrated in FIG. 3C in that the flexible sheet laminate is composed of multiple layers which allows for the formation of a slide-in pocket in a slide-in pocket. The first slide-in pocket 4a is formed by the opening 5a in layer 61a, wherein the back wall of the first slide-in pocket 4a is formed of layer 62a and the front wall of the first slide-in pocket is formed of layer 61a of the flexible sheet laminate. In this embodiment, a second slide-in pocket 4b is formed into the front wall of the first slide-in pocket 4a by the opening 5b. The back wall of the second slide-in pocket 4b is formed by the layer 62b of the layer 61a, whereas the front wall of the second slide-in pocket 4b is formed of layer 61b of the layer 61a. In this embodiment, the pouch comprises a flexible sheet laminate comprising multiple layers with two slide-in pockets formed in a pocket-in-the-pocket architecture into said flexible sheet laminate. The front wall of the first slide-in pocket 4a serves as first and second layer 61b, 62b of the second slide-in pocket 4b.

[0072] In FIG. 4 different arrangements of openings of the slide-in pocket 4 are shown.

[0073] In FIG. 4A a slide-in pocket 4 is depicted with a first opening 5 in form of a straight slit along a long side of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0074] In FIG. 4B a slide-in pocket 4 is shown with a first opening 5 in form of a straight slit along a short side of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0075] In FIG. 4C a slide-in pocket 4 is depicted with a first opening 5 and a second opening 8, both in form of a straight slit arranged on opposing long sides of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0076] In FIG. 4D a slide-in pocket 4 is depicted with a first opening 5 and a second opening 8, both in form of a straight slit arranged on opposing short sides of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0077] In FIG. 4E a slide-in pocket 4 is depicted with a first opening 5 in form of a curved slit along a long side of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0078] In FIG. 4F a slide-in pocket 4 is shown with a first opening 5 in form of a curved slit along a short side of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0079] In FIG. 4G a slide-in pocket 4 is depicted with a first opening 5 and a second opening 8, both in form of a curved slit arranged on opposing long sides of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0080] In FIG. 4H a slide-in pocket 4 is depicted with a first opening 5 and a second opening 8, both in form of a curved slit arranged on opposing short sides of the slide-in pocket 4.

[0081] In FIG. 4I a slide-in pocket 4 is depicted with a first opening 5 in form of a curved slit along a long side of the slide-in pocket 4, wherein the ends of the slit of the first opening 5 are formed in a hook.

[0082] In FIG. 4J a slide-in pocket 4 is depicted with a first opening 5 and a second opening 8, both in form of a curved slit arranged on opposing short sides of the slide-in pocket 4, wherein the ends of the slits of the first opening 5 and the second opening 8 are formed in a hook.

[0083] In FIG. 4K a slide-in pocket 4 is shown with a first opening 5 in form of a straight slit along a long side of the slide-in pocket 4. The slide-in pocket 4 further comprises a dispensing opening 9 in form of a straight slit.

[0084] In FIG. 4L a slide-in pocket 4 is shown with a first opening 5 in form of a straight slit along a long side of the slide-in pocket 4. The slide-in pocket 4 further comprises a dispensing opening 9 in form of a straight slit. Compared to the embodiment of FIG. 4K, the width of the slit of the dispensing opening 9 is enlarged.