Abstract
The present invention relates to a stand-up packaging (1) for food products comprising at least one pouch (2) for carrying a food product, an outer packaging (3) having two cover elements (31,32) at least partially sandwiching the pouch (2), and at least one further element (33,2′) being at least partially sandwiched between the pouch (2) and one of the cover elements (31). The further element (33,2′) is penetrated by a through hole (22,36). The one cover element (31) is glued (G) to the pouch (2) via the through hole (22,36).
Claims
1. A stand-up packaging for food products, the stand-up packaging comprising: at least one pouch for carrying a food product, and an outer packaging comprising a first cover element, a second cover element integral with the first cover element, a base element integral with the second cover element, and a third cover element integral with the base element, wherein the second cover element and the third cover element at least partially sandwich the at least one pouch, wherein a portion of the third cover element is at least partially sandwiched between the at least one pouch and the first cover element, wherein the third cover element is penetrated by a through hole; and wherein the first cover element is glued to the at least one pouch via the through hole.
2. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, comprising at least one additional pouch for carrying a further food product.
3. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, comprising an additional pouch penetrated by a further through hole, wherein the through hole penetrating the third cover element and the further through hole of the additional pouch are aligned with each other.
4. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pouch comprises a sealing region.
5. The stand-up packaging according to claim 4, wherein the sealing region circumferentially surrounds the at least one pouch to form a pocket.
6. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein the through hole comprises at least two or more distant through holes, and wherein the at least two or more distant through holes are aligned to each other, respectively.
7. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein the through hole has a rounded or polygonal shape.
8. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first cover element is directly glued to at least one of the third cover element or an additional pouch.
9. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein glue is provided as one of glue dots or a line of glue at least partially covering the through hole.
10. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first cover element has a gluing region and a flap region being divided by a weakened tear-opening region configured to allow separation of the gluing region and the flap region.
11. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein the base element is configured for supporting the stand-up packaging, wherein the base element is formed with the second cover element and the third cover element and covers a bottom region of the at least one pouch.
12. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein the outer packaging comprises a cut-out region to expose the at least one pouch.
13. The stand-up packaging according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pouch is made of a food safe material.
14. The stand-up packaging according to claim 6, wherein the at least two or more distant through holes and at least two or more distant further through holes of an additional pouch are aligned to each other, respectively.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows perspective views of two embodiments of a stand-up packaging according to the present invention with a loop-shaped outer packaging and without (FIG. 1a) and with a cut-out region (FIG. 1b),
(2) FIG. 2 shows perspective views of two further embodiments of a stand-up packaging according to the present invention with a U-shaped outer packaging and with similar (FIG. 2a) or different pouches (FIG. 2b),
(3) FIG. 3 shows perspective views of two further embodiments of a stand-up packaging according to the present invention with a box-shaped outer packaging and without (FIG. 3a) or with a cut-out region (FIG. 3b),
(4) FIG. 4 shows three steps of manufacturing a stand-up packaging according to FIG. 1a,
(5) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of an outer packaging of a stand-up packaging according to another embodiment of the present invention in an unfolded state,
(6) FIG. 6 shows three steps of manufacturing a stand-up packaging according to another embodiment of the present invention having an outer packaging according to FIG. 5,
(7) FIG. 7 shows a detail of two embodiments of a stand-up packaging based on FIG. 6 and comprising a line of glue (FIG. 7a) or glue dots (FIG. 7b).
(8) In the figures there are shown different embodiments of a stand-up packaging 1 for food products according to the present invention. Food products can be any consumable products in any given state like a fluid, flowable, pasty, jellylike, powdered or solid state.
(9) The stand-up packaging 1 comprises at least one or more pouches 2 for carrying a food product. These pouches 2 can, for instance, be made of a food safe material, preferably plastics. They can have any desired flexibility and tear strength commonly provided for such pouches 2. The pouches 2 are preferably made of a transparent material so that the user can inspect the contents thereof. The pouches 2 may have a sealing region 20. The sealing region 20 may circumferentially surround the pouch 2 to form a pocket 21 to preferably sealingly carry the food product.
(10) The stand-up packaging 1 further comprises an outer packaging 3 having two cover 35 elements 31, 32 (here a first cover element 31 and a second cover element 32) at least partially sandwiching the pouch 2. The outer packaging 3 can be made of any material commonly used for outer packagings, like cardboard or plastics. The outer packaging 3 may carry an imprint to provide information about the stand-up packaging 1 and its content.
(11) The stand-up packaging 1 further comprises at least one or a plurality of further elements. The further element may comprise a third cover element 33 of the outer packaging 3 and/or at least one additional pouch 2′ for carrying food products. The additional pouches 2′ are preferably similar or generally identical to the at least one pouch 2 described herein above, so that—for the sake of convenience—it is referred to the description of the at least one pouch 2 which also applies for the additional pouches 2′. The further elements 33, 2′ are at least partially sandwiched between the pouch 2 and one of the two cover elements (here the first cover element 31).
(12) With respect to FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 and 6, the cover elements 31, 32, 33 can be integrally provided with each other to form the outer packaging 3. With respect to FIG. 2, the two cover elements 31, 32 are integrally provided with each other to form a U-shaped outer packaging 3.
(13) FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 show embodiments in which the three mentioned cover elements 31, 32, 33 are preferably integrally provided with each other to form a loop-shaped outer packaging 3. By overlap of the first cover element 31 and the third cover element 33, the overlapping regions can be secured to each other to provide a closed loop-shaped outer packaging 3 securely surrounding the pouches 2, 2′.
(14) The embodiment of FIG. 3 shows a further layout of the outer packaging 3 having a box-shape. This can, for instance, be obtained by the outer packaging 3 having the three mentioned cover elements 31, 32, 33 and further having lateral cover elements 34 to at least partially cover the lateral sides of the stand-up packaging 1 to thus provide a stable stand-up packaging 1 securely housing the pouches 2, 2′. Preferably, these cover elements 31 to 34 are all integrally formed.
(15) In a preferred embodiment, the outer packaging 3 further comprises a flat base element 35 for supporting or even carrying the stand-up packaging 1. This base element 35 may also be integrally formed with at least one and preferably all of the cover elements (here with all of the other cover elements 31 to 34). As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the base element 35 preferably covers bottom regions of the pouches 2, 2′.
(16) To easily manufacture the stand-up packaging 1, the cover elements 31 to 35 can be connected by bending regions 37 for facilitating folding of the outer packaging 3 into its final shape to obtain the stand-up packaging 1.
(17) In a preferred embodiment, the bending region 37 connecting the base element 35 with the neighbouring cover elements 32, 33 may comprise contoured cut-out regions 38 which are outwardly exposed in the folded state of the outer packaging 3 constituting supporting feet 39 of the stand-up packaging 1 (see FIG. 6).
(18) As can be clearly seen in FIG. 4a, the further element(s) (i.e. the third cover element 33 and/or additional pouches 2, 2′) is/are penetrated by through hole(s) 22, 36, respectively. The through hole 22, 36 can have any shape, e.g. a rounded or polygonal shape. In the shown embodiment of FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the through hole 22, 36 has an oval shape. However, the shape can also be circular or can be square or of any other shape.
(19) As can be derived from FIG. 4b, the one cover element (i.e. the first cover element 31) and the at least one pouch 2 are glued (G) to each other by glue G via the through hole(s) 22, 36 of the further element(s) 33, 2′. The glue G thus forms kind of bolt or plug to allow the outer packaging 3 to be connected with the at least one pouch 2 and—together—carry the additional pouch(es) 2′.
(20) As can be clearly seen in FIG. 4a, it is preferably the sealing region 20 of the additional pouches 2′ which is penetrated with the through hole(s) 22, 36. Hence, the food product will not be affected by fixing of the additional pouches 2′ to the outer packaging 3 and in particular by the glue G used therefore.
(21) The one cover element 31 is glued to the at least one pouch via at least one and preferably via each of the through holes 22, 36 of the further elements (i.e. third cover element 33 and/or additional pouches 2′) as can be seen, for instance, in FIG. 4. It is also possible that the one cover element 31 is glued G to at least one of the further elements 33, 2′—and particularly the additional pouches 2′—via at least one of the through holes 22, 36. This allows a flexible attachment of the further elements 33, 2′ with respect to each other, the at least one pouch 2 and the outer packaging 3.
(22) The through hole(s) 22, 36 of at least two and preferably of all of the further elements 33, 2′ can be aligned to each other. This applies for the through holes 22 of the additional pouches 2 and the through hole(s) 36 of the third cover element 33 with respect to each other. In the shown embodiments and particularly with respect to FIGS. 4a and 4b, all of the through holes 22, 36 are aligned to each other. The one cover element 31 is then glued to the at least one pouch 2 via each of the through holes 22, 36 at once. However, it is also possible that the through holes 22, 36 or the respective elements carrying the through holes 22, 36 (i.e. the additional pouches 2′ and/or the third cover element 33) are offset with respect to one another. If so, at least one of the additional pouches 2′ is provided with its through hole 22, 36 such that the one cover element 31 is directly glued to the at least one pouch 2 via this through hole 22, 36. In a preferred embodiment, even with an offset layout, the through holes 22, 36 are provided such that the one cover element 31 can be glued to the at least one pouch 2 via at least some and preferably all of these through holes 22, 36. However, it might also be possible that some of the through holes 22, 36 are provided such that the one cover element 31 is glued via said through hole(s) 22, 36 to one of the further elements 33, 2′ (e.g. at least one of the additional pouches 2′) with which an intermediate further element 33, 2′ carrying said offset through hole 22, 36 is sandwiched.
(23) As can be gathered from FIGS. 5 to 7, at least one of the through holes 22, 36 and preferably all through holes 22, 36 comprise at least two or even more of distant through holes 361, 362. The distant through holes 361, 362 of at least two through holes 22, 36 and preferably of all of the through holes 22, 36 are aligned to each other, respectively, so that the one cover element 31 is directly glued to the at least one pouch via each of an aligned group of distant through holes 361, 362, respectively. The provision of at least two distant through holes 361, 362 allows for a stable fixation of the pouches 2, 2′ to the outer packaging 3 and may reduce the risk of twisting moments acting upon the glued fixation of the one cover element 31 and at least one pouch 2 via the through hole(s) 22, 36 of the further elements 33, 2′.
(24) As can be exemplarily seen in FIG. 7, glue G can be provided in different ways. For instance, glue G can be provided as glue dots (FIG. 7b) or as a line of glue (FIG. 7a). In any case, the glue G at least partially covers the through holes 22, 36. With the provision of glue dots as shown in FIG. 7b, a reduced amount of glue G can be provided to allow for a secure fixation and closing of the stand-up packaging 1. The use of a line of glue as shown in FIG. 7a allows for a quick and easy application of glue G on the stand-up packaging 1.
(25) As can be seen in the embodiments of FIG. 7, there is provided glue G in and via (i.e. through) the through holes 22, 36. In addition, there can also be provided glue G directly on at least one of the further elements 33, 2′ neighboring the one cover element 31 (here on the third cover element 33; alternatively or additionally on the additional pouch(es) 2′). In this regard, at least one of the two cover elements 31, 32—here preferably the first cover element 31—can be directly glued to at least one of the (neighboring) further elements (here to the third cover element 33; alternatively or additionally to the additional pouch(es) 2′). This either directly by flat contact and glue G being provided between these elements as shown in FIG. 7 or via a through hole 22, 36 provided in an intermediate further element (e.g. additional pouch 2′ and/or third cover element 33) being sandwiched by the corresponding cover element 31 and the respective further element 33, 2′.
(26) As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, at least one of the cover elements—here the first cover element 31—may comprise different functional regions. In particular, the cover element 31 may comprise a gluing region 310 forming the region being glued to the at least one pouch 2 via the through holes 22, 36. The first cover element 31 may further have a flap region 311, which is divided from the gluing region 310 by a weakened tear-opening region 312. The tear-opening region 312 can be configured in any desired manner to allow separation of the gluing region 310 and the flap region 311. In a preferred embodiment, the tear-opening region 312 is provided such that it is removable from the stand-up packaging 1 in a destructive or non-destructive manner to thus release the flap region 311 to access the pouches 2, 2′ in the stand-up packaging 1.
(27) As can be further seen in FIGS. 1b and 3b, the outer packaging, preferably at least one of the cover elements—here the third cover element 33—, may comprise a cut-out region 330 to expose at least one of the pouches 2, 2′. The cut-out region 330 may thus form an inspection window to allow the user inspection of the content of the corresponding pouches 2, 2′. The cut-out region 330 is here shown as a circular window. However, neither the shape nor the position nor the dimension of the cut-out region 330 is limited by the present invention. Inspection of the pouches 2, 2′ may alternatively or additionally be enhanced if the pouches 2, 2′ are provided such that they do only partially overlap with one another as can, for instance, be seen in FIG. 2b. Here, the partial overlap is obtained by the pouches 2, 2′ having different dimension and/or shapes to thus allow at least part of the respective pouches 2, 2′ being outwardly exposed. Alternatively or additionally, the pouches 2, 2′ may also be offset with respect to one another.
(28) FIG. 6 shows a most preferred embodiment of the present invention. Here, the stand-up packaging 1 for food products comprises a (one) pouch 2 for carrying a food product. Further, the stand-up packaging 1 comprises an outer packaging 3 having a generally loop-shaped layout. Therefore, different cover elements 31, 32, 33, 35 are integrally formed with each other and bend 37 to obtain the loop-shape. The packaging 3 comprises two cover elements 31, 32 at least partially sandwiching the pouch 2. Moreover, the packaging 3 comprises a further element being a third cover element 33 of the packaging 3 which is at least partially sandwiched between the pouch 2 and the first cover element 31. Second cover element 32 and third cover element 33 are connected by a further cover element being a flat base element 35 for supporting/carrying the stand-up packaging 1. First cover element 31 and the third cover element 33 overlap with each other in an overlapping region. In this overlapping region, these cover elements 31, 33 can be connected (e.g. glued) to each other to form a closed loop-shape packaging 3. The third cover element 33 is penetrated by a through hole 36 comprising two distant through holes 361, 362 in the shown embodiment. The first cover element 31 is glued (via glue G in form of glue dots or a line of glue or the like) to the pouch 2 via (i.e. through) the through hole 36. The glue G provided to glue the first cover element 31 directly to the pouch 2 via (i.e. through) said through hole 36 of the third cover element 33 can be provided such that it also covers regions of the third cover element 33 facing the first cover element 31 surrounding or between the through holes 36. The glue G used for connecting the first cover element 31 with the pouch 2 can thus also be used to fix the first cover element 31 to the third cover element 33 thus obtaining the closed loop-shaped packaging 3.
(29) The first cover element 31 can comprise a gluing region 310 forming part of the overlapping region. The gluing region 310 is the region overlapping with the through holes 36 of the third cover element 33 to be directly glued G to the pouch 2 via said through hole 36. The first cover element 31 may then further comprise a flap region 311 being connected to the gluing region 310 by a weakened tear-opening region 312 being removable to thus release the flap region 311 to access the pouch 2. The flap region 311 is therefore connected to the second cover element 32 via a bending region 37 to allow optional opening of the packaging 3 by bending the flap region 311 with respect to the second cover element 32 to thus access the pouch 2.
(30) In a further aspect of the invention relates to a stand-up packaging (1) for food products comprising:
(31) one pouch (2) for carrying a food product,
(32) an outer packaging (3) having two cover elements (31, 32) sandwiching the pouch (2), and
(33) one further element (33) sandwiched between the pouch (2) and one of the cover elements (31),
(34) wherein the further element (33) is penetrated by a through hole (36), and
(35) wherein the one cover element (31) is glued (G) to the pouch (2) via the through hole (36).
(36) FIGS. 4 and 6 show examples of manufacturing the stand-up packaging 1 according to the present invention. In a first step, the pouches 2, 2′ and the outer packaging 3 (here having the first to third cover elements 31, 32, 33) are positioned with respect to each other. In particular, the through holes 22, 36 of the respective elements (additional pouches 2′ and third cover element 33) are provided such that at least via one of the through holes 22, 36 the at least one pouch 2 is accessible/visible. In the shown embodiment, all of the through holes 22, 36 are aligned to one another so that the at least one pouch 2 is accessible/visible through the whole group of aligned through holes 22, 36. In a next step, glue G is provided such that it at least partially covers the through holes 22, 36 and extends through the through holes 22, 36. As such, glue G is applied to the at least one pouch 2. This can be done either by a glue nozzle N, which is inserted through the through holes 22, 36 to be positioned on or close to the at least one pouch 2, where glue G can be applied onto the at least one pouch 2. When retracting the glue nozzle N out of the through holes 22, 36, glue can be further applied to thus provide glue G from the at least one pouch 2 through the through holes 22, 36. In another embodiment, glue G can also be applied as a line of glue G. Therefore, a glue nozzle can be moved in a direction in parallel with a plane of at least one of the cover elements 31, 32, 33 or pouches 2, 2′ such that glue G is applied to cover at least one and preferably all of the through holes 22, 36. In a preferred embodiment, also regions surrounding the through holes 22, 36 or therebetween can be applied with glue G either by the defined line of glue (see FIG. 7a) or by glue dots (see FIG. 7b) or the like. This allows for additional fixation of neighboring elements (here first and third cover elements 31, 33) as described in the following. After having applied the glue G to the stand-up packaging 1, the one cover element—here the first cover element 31—is positioned or moved into its final position to form the completed stand-up packaging 1. In the shown embodiments, the outer packaging 3 is integrally formed so that the outer packaging 3 is “closed” by simply bending the first cover element 31 via a bending region 37 over the upper rim portions of the pouches 2, 2′ to be thus positioned opposite to the second cover element 32 and at least one pouch 2. In a preferred embodiment, a gluing region 310 of the first cover element 31 is thus placed in a region where glue G extends from the at least one pouch 2 through the through holes 22, 36 to thus glue the one cover element 31 to the at least one or plurality of pouches 2 via the respective through holes 22, 36.
(37) The present invention is not limited by the embodiments as described hereinabove, as long as being covered by the appended claims. All the features of the embodiments described herein above can be combined in any possible way and can be interchangeably provided. If the singular form for the features like “through hole” or “pouch” or “cover element” is used in the present invention, it also covers its plural form like “through holes” or “pouches” or “cover elements”, respectively. The “at least one pouch” means the pouch 2 to which the one cover element 31 is glued to. The “additional pouch” means the pouch 2′ being a further element. If not otherwise indicated, “pouch” covers both of these groups of pouches 2, 2′.
