Pouch container containing a beverage and exterior sheet material therefor

Abstract

A pouch container generating hydrogen water is provided. A beverage containing at least water and a hydrogen generating substance that reacts with water to generate hydrogen gas are contained in a pouch container that is sealed. Even when hydrogen in a gas form leaks from a sealed part or the like of the pouch container to the outside, new hydrogen gas is generated by the reaction of the water and the hydrogen generating substance in the pouch container. Hydrogen water having sufficient hydrogen gas dissolved therein can be provided even after the long-term preservation. For example, the hydrogen generating substance may be contained in a straw or may be kneaded into an exterior sheet material.

Claims

1. A pouch container containing a beverage, wherein the pouch container is sealed and contains a beverage including at least water and wherein the pouch comprises a hydrogen generating substance which is reactive with water to generate hydrogen gas, wherein the pouch container comprises a laminate comprising an exterior sheet having an inner sheet and an outer sheet laminated directly on the outside of the inner sheet, and the laminate further comprises a barrier substrate layer comprising an aluminum foil and disposed on the outside of the exterior sheet, wherein the hydrogen generating substance is kneaded into the outer sheet of the laminate, and wherein the inner sheet comprises holes configured to not permit liquid water to pass therethrough and permit water vapor to pass therethrough.

2. The pouch container containing a beverage of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen generating substance is a fine powder kneaded into the outer sheet of the laminate.

3. The pouch container containing a beverage of claim 2, wherein the hydrogen generating substance is metal magnesium.

4. The pouch container containing a beverage of claim 1, wherein the inner sheet is the only sheet in the pouch container that is configured to not permit liquid water to pass therethrough and permit water vapor to pass therethrough.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pouch container to which the present invention is applied.

(2) FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a straw integrated with the pouch container in FIG. 1 and a ceramic contained in the straw.

(3) FIG. 3 is a partial sectional side view illustrating the straw in FIG. 1 with a cap and a locking member removed therefrom.

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention and is a sectional view of a main part of an exterior sheet material.

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of FIG. 4 and is a sectional view of a main part of an exterior sheet material.

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of FIG. 2 and is a sectional view of a main part of the vicinity of an other-end opening part of the straw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 1 illustrates a pouch container 1 that is assembled by integrating a container main body 10 and a straw 20. For example, the container main body 10 is formed as a sealed container by sealing (connecting) four exterior sheet materials forming front, rear, right, and left surfaces at the outer peripheral edges of the exterior sheet materials.

(8) The straw 20 has one end exposed to the outside of the container main body 10 and the other end inserted in the container main body 10. As a matter of course, a connection part between the container main body 10 and the straw 20 is also sealed. The one end of the straw 20 that is exposed to the outside is a mouth 21. The mouth 21 is normally covered with a cap 22. The aforementioned respective sealed parts and (the microspace of) the covered part with the cap 22 can prevent liquid from passing therethrough completely but can fail to prevent hydrogen gas from passing therethrough.

(9) What are contained in the pouch container 1, that is, the container main body 10 are described below. First, purified water that is beverage having impurities sufficiently removed therefrom is contained in the container main body 10.

(10) A ceramic ball 30 formed of a spherical ceramic is further contained in the container main body 10 (see FIG. 2). The ceramic ball 30 contains a hydrogen generating substance (which is metal magnesium in the embodiment) and a mineral substance (which is calcium in the embodiment) for generating mineral ions. More specifically, the ceramic ball 30 is obtained by sintering the kneaded mixture of metal magnesium powder and calcium powder.

(11) The purified water and the ceramic ball 30 are filled in the pouch container 1 before the pouch container 1 is sealed. FIG. 1 illustrates a state where the mouth 21 is covered with the cap 22 while the purified water and the ceramic ball 30 have been contained in the pouch container 1.

(12) In the state in FIG. 1, calcium eluted from the ceramic ball 30 becomes positively charged calcium ions and the calcium ions are dissolved in the purified water. The metal magnesium that comprises the ceramic ball 30 reacts with the purified water to generate magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. In this hydrogen gas generating process, reduced hydrogen is generated. The reduced hydrogen is adsorbed by the calcium ions. After a predetermined time has passed and the above reaction has proceeded sufficiently, the purified water as a beverage becomes reduced-hydrogen water containing reduced hydrogen (is changed to reduced-hydrogen water). Even when hydrogen gas including reduced-hydrogen gas gradually leaks from the pouch container 1, new hydrogen gas including reduced-hydrogen gas is generated. Accordingly, the purified water can be preserved as reduced-hydrogen water in the pouch container 1 for a long time (for example, for three years).

(13) To drink the reduced-hydrogen water in the pouch container 1, a person may drink the reduced-hydrogen water from the mouth 21 while squeezing the container main body 10 with a hand or fingers after removing the cap 22.

(14) In the embodiment, the ceramic ball 30 is contained in the straw 20. This point is described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 illustrates a state where the ceramic ball 30 is contained in the straw 20. FIG. 3 illustrates a state before the ceramic ball 20 is contained.

(15) The straw 20 has a long cylindrical shape made of synthetic resin with one end (the upper end) and the other end (the lower end) opened. A one-end opening part 20a at the one-end side of the straw 20 is an opening part of the mouth 21. Reference character 20b denotes an other-end opening part.

(16) FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a connection part (a sealed part) 23 with (an exterior sheet material constituting) the container main part 10. A lower part than the connection part 23 in FIGS. 2 and 3 is inserted (positioned) in the container main body 10.

(17) The straw 20 has a plurality of side-surface opening parts 20c at positions lower than the connection part 23 and higher than the other-end opening part 20b. The diameter of the ceramic ball 30 is smaller than the inner diameter of the other-end opening part 20b. The ceramic ball 30 is contained into the straw 20 through the other-end opening part 20b.

(18) A locking member 24 having a cap-like shape is engaged with the other end of the straw 20. The locking member 24 restricts the slip-off of the ceramic ball 30 from the other-end opening part 20b of the straw 20. That is, an engaging projection 25 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the other end of the straw 20 and the locking member 24 is engaged with the engaging projection 25 while blocking the other-end opening part 20b. Accordingly, falling-off from the straw 20 is restricted. The locking member 24 can be integrated with the straw 20 by an appropriate method such as a method of bonding the locking member 24 to the straw 20 with an adhesive.

(19) The side-surface opening parts 20c each have a long hole shape with a width smaller than the diameter of the ceramic ball 30. That is, the ceramic ball 30 is prohibited from slipping off from the side-surface opening parts 20c to the outside of the straw 20. A restricting wall part 27 is formed on the inner wall of the straw 20 so as to be positioned directly above the ceramic ball 30. The restricting wall part 27 restricts the unnecessary movement of the ceramic ball 30 toward the mouth 21 side.

(20) In a state where the ceramic ball 30 is contained in the straw 20 and the locking member 24 is integrated with the straw 20 in advance, the ceramic ball 30 is mounted to the container main body 1. That is, when the straw 20 is mounted to the container main body 1, the ceramic ball 30 is automatically contained in the container main body 10. Subsequently, after the container main body 1 is filled with purified water through the mouth 21. Subsequently, the mouth 21 is covered with the cap 22. The purified water in the container main body 1 enters the straw 20 through the side opening parts 20c and contacts with the ceramic ball 30 (hydrogen water containing reduced hydrogen is generated). In some embodiments, a small hole may be formed on the locking member 24 to cause the purified water to enter toward the ceramic ball 30 through the small hole.

(21) FIG. 4 illustrates another example of containing (filling) a hydrogen generating substance in the pouch container 1 and illustrates an example where a hydrogen generating substance is kneaded into an exterior sheet material 40 constituting the outer frame of the container main body 1. The exterior sheet material 40 is configured by laminating three sheet materials that are a first layer sheet 41, a second layer sheet 42, and a third layer sheet 43 in order from the inner side to the outer side of the exterior sheet material 40. The first layer sheet 41 servers as a sealant substrate and is formed of, e.g., PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The second layer sheet 42 serves as a barrier substrate and is formed of e.g., AL (aluminum foil). The third layer sheet 43 servers as a main substrate and is formed of, e.g., PET or NY (nylon).

(22) For example, a hydrogen generating substance that is fine powder having the same components as those of the ceramic ball 30 is kneaded in the first layer sheet 41. Accordingly, purified water in the pouch container 1 constituted of the exterior sheet material 40 reacts with the hydrogen generating substance kneaded in the first layer sheet 41 to generate reduced-hydrogen water.

(23) FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of FIG. 4. That is, in FIG. 4, the first layer sheet 41 has a double-layer structure constituted of an inner sheet 41A and an outer sheet 41B. A hydrogen generating substance is kneaded in the outer sheet 41B. The inner sheet 41A has fine holes that do not permit water (liquid water) to pass therethrough but permit water vapor to pass therethrough (sheets that permit only water vapor to pass therethrough have been commercially available). The present modification is preferable for controlling an amount of hydrogen gas to be generated in the pouch container 1 per unit time (is suitable for generating hydrogen gas slowly).

(24) FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of FIG. 2 that is an example of containing the ceramic ball 30 into the straw 20 without using the locking member 24 separately. That is, engaging claws 26 are integrated with the straw 20 by folding the other end of the straw 20 toward an inner side in the diameter direction and toward the one end side. A plurality (for example, three to four) of the engaging claws 26 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. An interval between the respective ends of the engaging claws 26 is smaller than the diameter of the ceramic ball 30.

(25) The ceramic ball 30 is contained into the straw 20 through the other-end opening part 20b by deforming the engaging claws 26 elastically. After being contained into the straw 20, the engaging claws 26 restrict the ceramic ball 30 from slipping off from the other-end opening part 20b.

(26) To verify that purified water 20 in the pouch container 1 is reduced-hydrogen water (containing reduced hydrogen), experiments that are described below were conducted. An amount of purified water in the pouch container 1 was 200 cc, the diameter of the ceramic ball 40 was 5 mm, the weight of metal magnesium that was a component of the ceramic ball 30 was 30 mg, the weight of calcium sulfite that was a component of the ceramic ball 30 was 100 mg, the weight of the other components in the ceramic ball 30 was 30 mg. One ceramic ball having the above components was put into the pouch container 1. The pouch container 1 immediately after twenty four hours had passed since sealing of the purified water and the ceramic ball 30 was used (an amount of hydrogen remaining dissolved in the purified water could not be detected before being sealed in the pouch container 1 and the amount was 1.0 ppm or more at a time point at which twenty four hours had passed since the achievement of the state in FIG. 1).

(27) First, an oxidation-reduction reagent was prepared with hydrogen peroxide water and iodine mixed liquid. Drops of the appropriate amount of the oxidation-reduction reagent were added to a nonwoven fabric to generate a light-brown pseudo oxidation stain. When the purified water in the pouch container 1 was thrown over the oxidation stain, the stain turned colorless within a few seconds (it was verified that the purified water was reduced-hydrogen water having reduction action).

(28) Next, the whole of a nonwoven fabric was immersed in the oxidation-reduction reagent in a beaker and the whole of the nonwoven fabric changed into a light-brown color due to oxidation stains was prepared. When the purified water in the pouch container 1 was thrown on the diagonal line of the nonwoven fabric, only an area over which the purified water was thrown turned colorless (it was verified that the purified water was reduced-hydrogen water having reduction action).

(29) The oxidation-reduction reagent was put into a beaker and drops of the purified water were put from the pouch container 1 onto the oxidation-reduction reagent in the beaker. Immediately after the drops were put, the droplets collided against the liquid surface and the oxidation-reduction reagent became entirely clouded with bubbles. After the oxidation-reduction reagent was left to stand for approximately ten seconds, the bubbles disappeared and the reagent entirely became colorless (it was verified that the purified water 20 was reduced-hydrogen water having reduction action).

(30) Required time for generating hydrogen and an amount of the generated hydrogen vary depending on the pH value of water to be made to react with a mineral substance in the pouch container 1. For example, when a ceramic containing a mixture of metal magnesium and calcium is used, water having a lower pH value (acid) reacts more quickly to shorten the required time for generating hydrogen. Even when a ceramic containing a mixture of metal magnesium and calcium and water having a high pH value (alkaline) are used, the required time for generating hydrogen can be shortened by dissolving other minerals such as potassium or sodium having catalytic action, titanium, or iron in the water. When iron or the like that is minerals different from metal magnesium and calcium is used as a reactant, the reactant is hard to use in terms of the practicality not only because water having a higher pH value (alkaline) shortens the required time for generating hydrogen more but also because the reaction rate of iron and water is extremely low.

(31) Water to be made to react with a mineral substance in the pouch container 1 is preferably purified water with no impurities. The impurities herein are mostly organic matters. Water having inorganic matters (minerals) dissolved therein promotes reaction (electron transfer) between the water and the ceramic (that is, promotes generation of hydrogen) because such water increases the dissolved energy amount (the ion concentration) in the liquid and serves as reactive water with high conductivity. Water having inorganic matters (minerals) dissolved therein such as natural groundwater (drinking water or hot spring water) can also provide the same effects. The dissolved minerals have a function of retaining generated reduced hydrogen (H.sup.−) and hydrogen molecules (H.sub.2) in the liquid by binding to the reduced hydrogen (H.sup.−) and hydrogen molecules (H.sub.2). When water contains organic matters such as an extract of animals and plants but the mass concentration of the contained organic matters is 1% or less, the organic matters have less influence on the generation and retention of hydrogen. When water having a high concentration of organic matters is used, it suffices that generation of hydrogen is promoted by control of the pH value and the dissolved amount of minerals.

(32) The embodiments have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims. The hydrogen generating substance is not limited to metal magnesium. For example, an appropriate substance such as a nickel catalyst, pure calcium (metal calcium), ion exchange resin can be used as the hydrogen generating substance. In addition, for example, an appropriate substance such as sodium and potassium can be used as the mineral substance. In some embodiment, one large ceramic ball 30 is contained. In other embodiments, a plurality of the small ceramic balls 30 are contained. A ceramic that functions as the ceramic ball 30 is not limited to a sphere shape. A ceramic having an appropriate shape such as a bar-like shape can be used. A ceramic having an appropriate shape such as powder shape and granular shape can be also used. Alternatively, a hydrogen generating substance and a mineral substance being present independently from each other such as in a powdery or granular state may be sealed in the pouch container 1 without using a ceramic of a hydrogen generating substance and a mineral substance. A ceramic that supplies weak currents and radiates far infrared rays may be separately sealed in the pouch container 1. This case is preferable for increasing the speed (the rate) of changing purified water to reduced-hydrogen water. Not only a ceramic ball but also powders or hydrates made of platinum or diamond of a nano-colloid state are also preferable for emitting electros by the catalytic action, increasing the speed (the rate) of changing purified water to reduced-hydrogen water, and retaining the reduced hydrogen in the water.

(33) Purified water (beverage) and the ceramic ball 30 can be filled in the pouch container 1 by an appropriate method such as a method of mounting (integrating) the straw 20 having the ceramic ball 30 contained therein to the container main body 1 after filling the container main body 1 with the purified water. The number or material of layers included in the exterior sheet material 40 can be modified as appropriate. The pouch container 1 may contain (be filled with) only a hydrogen generating substance without containing a mineral component. In addition to purified water, examples of a beverage include liquids such as various types of juice, cola, and sport drink, and jellies. An appropriate beverage can be used as long as the beverage contains water component. The pouch container 1 may be a container without the straw 20. For example, the pouch container 1 may be opened by cutting off or tearing a part of the container main body 10. The shape of the pouch container 1 (the container main body 10) can be modified as appropriate. An object of the present invention is not limited to the objects specified herein. Objects of the present invention implicitly include to provide those that have been expressed as actually preferable or advantageous one herein. Further, the present invention can be considered as a filling method into the pouch container 1 as well.

(34) The present invention enables hydrogen water to be drunk easily by using a pouch container.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(35) 1 pouch container 10 container main body 20 straw 20a one-end opening part 20b other-end opening part 20c side-surface opening part 21 mouth 22 cap 23 connection part 24 locking member 25 engaging projection 26 engaging claw 30 ceramic ball (a ceramic ball+mineral) 40 exterior sheet material 41 first layer sheet 41A inner sheet 41B outer sheet 42 second layer sheet 43 third layer sheet