POUCH HAVING INTERNAL STRAW WITH RESIDUAL PROTECTION FUNCTION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pouch having an internal straw, which stores liquid in a space between a first sheet material (101) and a second sheet material (102), the edges of which are welded, and in which a straw (111) is built-in. A baseline (120) where the first sheet material (101) and the second sheet material (102) meet in a floor portion inside the pouch has a straight upward gradient from a bottom point (121) to form an inverted triangular shape between the bottom point (121) and the straight upward gradient. Moreover, a lower end (111A) of the straw (111) is positioned at the bottom point (121), and the lower end of the straw is attached to the first sheet material (101) or the second sheet material (102) to maintain the position of the lower end of the straw.

Claims

1. A pouch comprising: a built-in straw which stores liquid in a space between a first sheet material and a second sheet material whose edges are welded, and into which a straw is built, wherein: the pouch has a flat shape with no under, the pouch has a baseline where the first sheet material and the second sheet material meet on the floor in the pouch, and the baseline has an upward straight gradient from a bottom point such that the bottom point and the straight gradient form an inverted triangle, the end of the lower end of the straw is positioned at the bottom point, and the lower end of the straw is fixed to the first sheet material or the second sheet material so as to allow the end of the lower end of the straw to stay the same, and the straw is welded together with the first sheet material or the second sheet material and consists of two or more resin layers, and the melting point of the outermost resin layer is lower than that of the rest inner resin layers.

2. A pouch comprising: a built-in straw which stores liquid in a space between a first sheet material and a second sheet material whose edges are welded, and into which a straw is built, wherein: the pouch is configured to be a standing pouch where under paper is interposed between the lower end of a first sheet material and the lower end of a second sheet material, the pouch has a first baseline where the first sheet material and the under paper meet on the floor in the pouch, the first baseline has an upward straight gradient from a first bottom point such that the first bottom point and the straight gradient from the first bottom point form an inverted triangle, the pouch has a second baseline where the second sheet material and the under paper meet on the floor in the pouch, and the second baseline has an upward straight gradient from a second bottom point such that the second bottom point and the straight gradient from the second bottom point form an inverted triangle, and the end of the lower end of the straw is positioned at the first bottom point or the second bottom point, and the lower end of the straw is fixed to the under paper, the first sheet material or the second sheet material so as to allow the end of the lower end of the straw to stay the same.

3. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the straw is welded together with the first sheet material or the second sheet material and consists of two or more resin layers, and the melting point of the outermost resin layer is lower than that of the rest inner resin layers.

4. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the straw has one or more pin holes with a diameter ranging from 0.1 mm to 3.5 mm.

5. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet material has a plurality of protrusion parts protruding inwards.

6. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet has a transparent window or a translucent window which exposes at least the end of the lower end of the straw.

7. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet has the picture of a straw or a picture displaying a straw printed at a position corresponding to the straw or corresponding to the end of the lower end of the straw on the outer surface of the first sheet material or the second sheet material.

8. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein: the straw has a curved part formed at the lower end of the straw, and the end of the lower end of the straw is positioned between the center and the margin of the pouch.

9. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein any one of the first bottom point or the second bottom point is positioned more than or equal to 1 mm lower than the other.

10. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet material has a window with marks for measurements.

11. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the welded edge has a hole on which a finger is hung.

12. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet material is treated with one light color so as to be semi-transmissible such that the liquid in the pouch is seen.

13. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein: the straw is welded together with the first sheet material and the second sheet material in the state where the straw is positioned close to a lateral-side weld part of any one side out of the welded edge, and a first overlapping weld part in which the lateral-side weld part, the first sheet material, and the straw are welded, and a second overlapping weld part in which the second sheet material and the straw are welded form a Y-shaped beam.

14. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 2, wherein the upper end of the pouch may be configured to have the shapes of a bottleneck, an animal, a circle, a triangle, a rectangular, a hexagon or a character.

15. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein the straw has one or more pin holes with a diameter ranging from 0.1 mm to 3.5 mm.

16. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet material has a plurality of protrusion parts protruding inwards.

17. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet has a transparent window or a translucent window which exposes at least the end of the lower end of the straw.

18. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet has the picture of a straw or a picture displaying a straw printed at a position corresponding to the straw or corresponding to the end of the lower end of the straw on the outer surface of the first sheet material or the second sheet material.

19. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein: the straw has a curved part formed at the lower end of the straw, and the end of the lower end of the straw is positioned between the center and the margin of the pouch.

20. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet material has a window with marks for measurements.

21. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein the welded edge has a hole on which a finger is hung.

22. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet material or the second sheet material is treated with one light color so as to be semi-transmissible such that the liquid in the pouch is seen.

23. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein: the straw is welded together with the first sheet material and the second sheet material in the state where the straw is positioned close to a lateral-side weld part of any one side out of the welded edge, and a first overlapping weld part in which the lateral-side weld part, the first sheet material, and the straw are welded, and a second overlapping weld part in which the second sheet material and the straw are welded form a Y-shaped beam.

24. The pouch with a built-in straw according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the pouch may be configured to have the shapes of a bottleneck, an animal, a circle, a triangle, a rectangular, a hexagon or a character.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] In terms of FIG. 1 which is a view illustrating a flat pouch with a built-in straw according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a front perspective view, FIG. 1B is a sectional view of a flat pouch with a built-in straw cut along the line A-A, and FIG. 1C is an explanatory view of the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0036] In terms of FIG. 2 which is a view illustrating a modified example of a flat pouch with a built-in straw according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a front perspective view, FIG. 2B is a sectional view of a flat pouch with a built-in straw cut along the line B-B, and FIG. 2C is an explanatory view of the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0037] In terms of FIG. 3 which is a view illustrating a standing pouch with a built-in straw according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3A is a front perspective view, FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a standing pouch with a built-in straw cut along the line C-C, and FIG. 3C is an explanatory view of the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0038] In terms of FIG. 4 which is a view illustrating a modified example of a standing pouch with a built-in straw according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4A is a front perspective view, FIG. 4B is a sectional view of a standing pouch with a built-in straw cut along the line C-C, and FIG. 4C is an explanatory view of the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0039] FIG. 5A is a view illustrating an example of a seal bar, FIG. 5B is a sectional view illustrating a cross section of a straw consisting of two or more resin layers, FIG. 5C is a view illustrating a pouch having a transparent window or translucent window, and FIG. 5D is a view illustrating a pouch on which the picture 60 of a straw is printed.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0040] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings such that those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily embody the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Further, parts bearing no relation to the descriptions will be omitted to clearly explain the present invention. Throughout the specification, like names and reference numerals denote like elements.

[0041] In terms of FIG. 1 which is a view illustrating a flat pouch with a built-in straw according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a front perspective view, FIG. 1B is a sectional view of a flat pouch with a built-in straw cut along the line A-A, and FIG. 1C is an explanatory view of the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0042] In terms of FIG. 2 which is a view illustrating a modified example of a flat pouch with a built-in straw according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a front perspective view, FIG. 2B is a sectional view of a flat pouch with a built-in straw cut along the line B-B, and FIG. 2C is an explanatory view of the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0043] A pouch with a built-in straw 100, 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first sheet material 101, 201, a second sheet material 102, 202 and a straw 111, 211, wherein an edge at which the first sheet material 101, 201 and the second sheet material 102, 202 are welded has a first lateral-surface weld part 110A, 210A, a second lateral-surface weld part 110B, 210B, an upper-end weld part 110C, 210C and a lower-end weld part 110D, 201D.

[0044] The pouch with a built-in straw stores liquid in a space between a first sheet material 101, 201 and a second sheet material 102, 202 whose edges are welded, and has a built-in straw 111. Additionally, the pouch has a flat shape with no under paper (it is compared with the standing pouch in FIGS. 3 and 4) and has the lower end thereof at which the first sheet material 101, 201 and the second sheet material 102, 202 are directly welded.

[0045] Inner walls of the first sheet material 101, 201 and the second sheet material 102, 202 may include a synthetic resin layer such as CPR polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene etc. and may further include a metal foil layer such as an aluminium foil layer etc. and a printed layer etc. to block ultraviolet rays.

[0046] The pouch 100, 200 naturally has a baseline 120, 220 where the first sheet material 101, 201 and the second sheet material 102, 202 meet on the floor in the pouch 100, 200, and a small amount of the remaining liquid moves along a valley including the baseline 120, 220.

[0047] According to a feature of the present invention, the baseline 120, 220 has an upward straight gradient from a bottom point 121, 221 of the baseline. Accordingly, the bottom point 121, 221 and the straight gradient form an inverted triangle such that the end 111A, 211A of the lower end of the straw 111, 211 is positioned at the bottom point 121,221, wherein the lower end of the straw 111, 211 is fixed to the first sheet material 101, 201 or the second sheet material 102, 202 by means of a first linear weld part 113A, 213A etc. so as to allow the end of the lower end of the straw to stay the same.

[0048] The end 111A, 211A of the lower end of the straw meets the bottom point 121, 221 at the same point and is fixed to the bottom point. Accordingly, the liquid in the pouch automatically gathers at the bottom point 121, 221 along the gradient, and the end 111A, 211A of the lower end of the straw 111, 211 fixed to the bottom point 121, 221 pulls the gathering liquid into the straw as an inlet such that there is almost no liquid left.

[0049] According to a feature of the present invention, the baseline 120, 220 is configured to be a straight line, not a curve such as a semicircle or an ellipse that hangs downwards. Accordingly, the baseline 120, 220 has a straight gradient compared to a semicircle or an ellipse that hangs downwards such that a smaller amount of liquid remains even at the same height of the end of the lower end of the straw. Further, according to a feature of the present invention, the end 111A, 211A of the lower end of the straw 111 is fixed to the bottom point 121, 221 such that the inlet is maintained in a stable manner.

[0050] A conventional pouch has no bottom point because it has a horizontal baseline. However, according to one aspect of the present invention, the pouch with a built-in straw has a bottom point formed deep into an inverted triangle so as to pull a very small amount of the remaining liquid into the straw from the deep bottom point.

[0051] Meanwhile, in a modified example of FIG. 2, the straw 211 has a curved part 211C at the lower end thereof, and the end 211A of the lower end of the straw is positioned between the center and the margin of the pouch. The bottom point 221 is moved from the center to the margin such that the length of the entire route of the straw 211 gets shorter and the flow of liquid gets faster than when the end 211A is formed at the center.

[0052] Additionally, the upper end of the pouch 100, 200 is opened by means of a notch 140, 240 and afterwards, an elastic part 111B, 211B of the straw 111, 211 is bent or extended such that the straw is conveniently used. When the elastic part 111B, 211B formed at the upper end of the straw is pulled by the hand or teeth, the elastic part is lengthened by about 150%.

[0053] The linear weld part 113A, 113B, 213A, 213B, 213C fixes the straw 111,211 to the first sheet material 101, 201 and/or the second sheet material 102, 202, and fixes the straw during the process of manufacturing the pouch 100, 200. In the manufacturing process, the straw is positioned on one of the first sheet material 101, 201 and/or the second sheet material 102, 202 (a protrusion part 130, 230 that will be described below may be formed in advance) and then, is welded and fixed by means of heat of a seal bar having the shape of the linear weld part. Afterwards, the straw is covered by the opposite sheet material, and then, the rest weld parts out of the weld parts consisting of the edge except the upper-end weld part 110C, 210C, and the weld part such as an overlapping weld part 114, 214 that will be described below etc. are welded altogether by means of heat or are divided to be welded by means of heat. Additionally, liquid (drinks) is injected into the pouch, and then, the upper-end weld part 110C, 210C is welded such that a pouch storing liquid and having a built-in straw is manufactured.

[0054] In this specification, the term linear of the linear weld part may denote a wide range of weld means including a straight line or continued dots etc.

[0055] The straw 111, 211 is welded together with the first sheet material and the second sheet material in the state where the straw 111, 211 is positioned close to a lateral-side weld part 110A, 210A of any one side out of the welded edge, wherein a first overlapping weld part 114A, 214A, in which the above-described side-lateral weld part 110A, 210A, the first sheet material and the straw are welded, and a second overlapping weld part 110B, 210B in which the second sheet material and the straw are welded form a Y-shaped beam.

[0056] The first overlapping weld part 114A, 214A and the second overlapping weld part 114B, 214B may be formed by welding the sheet materials and the straw by means of the seal bar and the like illustrated in FIG. 5A. As illustrated in the sectional views in FIGS. 1B and 2B, the first lateral-surface weld part 110A, 210A, the first overlapping weld part 114A, 214A and the second overlapping weld part 114B, 214B have a Y-shaped cross section and form a beam which extends in a length direction and acts like shaped steel used for construction (there might be a little air gap although there is no air gap in the Y-shaped beam illustrated in the sectional views in FIGS. 1B and 2B).

[0057] Synthetic resins consisting of the sheet materials and straw welded by means of heat may have increased stiffness while shrinking. When soft polyethylene film is heated and welded, the welded part shrinks while the part is cooled. Accordingly, the welded part becomes thick and stiff. Further, the welded part forms a Y-shaped beam thereby having strong stiffness similar to that of bones.

[0058] According to a feature of the present invention, the Y-shaped perpendicular beam of the weld part gives strong stiffness to the pouch such that the user feels comfortable when holding the pouch in one hand as if the user holds a stick, and easily grips the pouch in a stable manner when drinking from the pouch. Accordingly, the pouch according to one aspect of the present invention may allow the user to grip the pouch in one hand when drinking compared to a conventional pouch which might be flexible due to the liquid within the pouch. In particular, the user is allowed to drink from the pouch in a stable manner even when holding the lower end of the pouch.

[0059] In terms of a pouch with a built-in straw according to an embodiment of the present invention, the straw has a multilayer structure. The straw is welded together with the first sheet material or the second sheet material, and as illustrated in FIG. 5B, consists of two or more resin layers, wherein the melting point of the outermost resin layer 11-1 is lower than that of the rest inner resin layers 11-2.

[0060] In the process of manufacturing thousands of pouches per hour, the straw needs to be welded at a predetermined position in the pouch quickly and exactly. Accordingly, while polypropylene or high density polyethylene etc. having a high melting point may be used as a material for the resin layers inside (inner diameter) the straw like a conventional pouch, the surface of the outer diameter on the outermost resin layer is preferably coated with two layers or multi layers of low density polyethylene or linear low density polyethylene etc. which has a melting point lower than that of polypropylene or high density polyethylene and has high compatibility with physical properties of the material of the inner wall of the pouch, or low-temperature functional resins which begin to be heat-sealed at lower temperatures and have high cold tolerance to enhance productivity. A retort pouch is sterilized at temperatures between 100 C.140 C. Accordingly, CPR polypropylene etc. having high heat resistance and high compatibility with the resins of the inner wall may be used as a resin layer for the outer surface of the straw.

[0061] Additionally, the straw 111, 211 has one or more pin holes with a diameter ranging from 0.1 mm to 3.5 mm, and the first sheet material 101, 201 or the second sheet material 102, 202 has a plurality of protrusion parts 130, 230 protruding inwards (see FIGS. 1B and 2B).

[0062] When the user drinks, liquid might stop flowing because the inner walls of the pouch come into close contact with each other due to the liquid. To prevent this from happening, one or more pin holes 112, 212 with a diameter ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 3.5 mm are formed at the middle end or lower end of the straw depending on the standard size for the pouch and straw as a means to input air into the pouch, and an embossing-shaped protrusion part 130, 230 is formed on the inner wall of at least one side of the pouch to prevent both walls of the pouch from coming into close contact with each other due to the liquid in the pouch such that the liquid smoothly flow downwards without stopping thereby reducing time spent collecting the liquid.

[0063] Although the protrusion part 130, 230 is formed to prevent both walls from coming into close contact with each other, a brand, trademark or mark may be embossed, and the size or position etc. of the protrusion part may be arbitrarily determined.

[0064] In terms of FIG. 3 which is a view illustrating a standing pouch with a built-in straw according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3A is a front perspective view, FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a standing pouch with a built-in straw cut along the line C-C, and FIG. 3C is an explanatory view of the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0065] In terms of FIG. 4 which is a view illustrating a modified example of a standing pouch with a built-in straw according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4A is a front perspective view, FIG. 4B is a sectional view of a standing pouch with a built-in straw cut along the line C-C, and FIG. 4C is an explanatory view of the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0066] Below, the difference between the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described. Accordingly, parts of the second embodiment identical or similar to those of the first embodiment will not be described.

[0067] A pouch 300, 400 is configured to be a standing pouch where under paper 333, 433 is interposed between the lower end of a first sheet material 301, 401 and the lower end of a second sheet material 302, 402.

[0068] Additionally, the pouch 300, 400 has a first baseline 320A, 420A where the first sheet material 301, 401 and the under paper 333, 433 meet on the floor in the pouch 300, 400, and the first baseline 320A, 420A has an upward straight gradient from a first bottom point 321A, 421A such that the first bottom point 321A, 421A and the straight gradient from the first bottom point form an inverted triangle. Further, the pouch 300, 400 has a second baseline 320B, 420B where the second sheet material 302, 402 and the under paper 333, 433 meet on the floor in the pouch 300, 400, and the second baseline 320B, 420B has an upward straight gradient from a second bottom point 321B, 421B such that the second bottom point 321B, 421B and the straight gradient from the second bottom point form an inverted triangle. Additionally, the end 311A, 411A of the lower end of the straw 311, 411 is positioned at the first bottom point or the second bottom point, wherein the lower end of the straw is fixed to the under paper, the first sheet material or the second sheet material so as to allow the end of the lower end of the straw to stay the same.

[0069] According to a feature of the present invention, the baselines are configured to be a straight line, not a curve such as a semicircle or an ellipse that hangs downwards. Accordingly, the baselines have a straight gradient compared to a semicircle or an ellipse that hangs downwards such that a smaller amount of liquid remains even at the same height of the end of the lower end of the straw. Further, according to a feature of the present invention, the end 311A, 411A of the lower end of the straw is fixed to the bottom point such that the inlet is maintained in a stable manner. According to one aspect of the present invention, the pouch with a built-in straw has a bottom point formed deep into an inverted triangle so as to pull a very small amount of the remaining liquid into the straw from the deep point.

[0070] Additionally, in terms of a conventional pouch, a configuration in which the left half and the right half of the pouch are exactly the same has long been accepted to maintain the balance of weight. However, it is found that the pouch 300 according to the embodiment in FIG. 3 may strike a balance even when the bottom point moves between the center and the left or between the center and the right. Accordingly, this is applied to the standing pouch.

[0071] The standing pouch 400 illustrated in FIG. 4, which is configured to be a bottleneck-shaped pouch corresponding to a solid glass bottle or plastic bottle capable of containing a large amount of liquid, has a straw 411 which is configured to be perpendicularly positioned at the center of the pouch so as to be firmly fixed to the inner wall of the pouch by means of linear sealing and so as to have the end 411A of the lower end thereof meets a bottom point 421 at one point.

[0072] Additionally, any one of the first bottom point 321A, 421A or the second bottom point 321B, 421B is positioned more than or equal to 1 mm lower than the other. Because the position of the bottom point of the inverted triangle on the surface to which the straw is fixed in the pouch is formed more than or equal to 1 mm, about 1 mm5 mm lower than the position at the opposite side to create only one bottom point on the floor of the pouch 300, 400, only one bottom point is created such that the end of the lower end of the straw is fixed to the bottom point.

[0073] Additionally, a window with marks for measurements is formed at the first sheet material or the second sheet material. In particular, if alcohol is stored in the standing pouch, the stored alcohol needs to be divided into certain amounts of alcohol to be consumed. In this case, a transparent or translucent window with marks for measurements is formed as a means to check the amount of the remaining alcohol.

[0074] Additionally, a hole 430, on which a finger is hung, is formed at the welded edge (see FIG. 4). In general, the standing pouch has a size larger than that of a small pouch and contains more liquid than a small pouch. Accordingly, the standing pouch might be too slippery and heavy for the user to hold in the user's hand. In this case, the hole 430, which is formed at both wings of the upper end of the pouch and has a width similar to the width of a finger, helps the user to comfortably hold the standing pouch.

[0075] Additionally, the first sheet material or the second sheet material may be treated with one light color so as to be semi-transmissible such that the liquid in the pouch is seen. High transparent pouch fabric treated with one beautiful light color such as light blue, green, yellow, orange, red etc. may clearly show transparent beverages while protecting the beverages from ultraviolet rays and brining emotion and visual freshness to the user. Even a part of one side of the pouch treated with one light color may serve a purpose.

[0076] Additionally, the upper end of the pouch may be configured to have various shapes of a bottleneck, an animal, a circle, a triangle, a rectangular, a hexagon or a character. Although the upper end of the pouch in FIG. 4A has a bottleneck shape, the upper end may be modified in various shapes such as an animal, a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, a hexagon or a character etc.

[0077] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, a transparent window or translucent window 50 may be formed at the first sheet material or the second sheet material such that the end 11A of the lower end of the straw 11 is at least exposed. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 5D, the picture 60 of a straw or a picture displaying a straw may be printed at a position corresponding to the straw or corresponding to the end of the lower end of the straw on the outer surface of the first sheet material or the second sheet material.

[0078] Because most pouches are printed on the outer surfaces thereof or coated with aluminium to block ultraviolet rays, the inner sides of the pouches are not seen. However, the present invention, as described above, has the advantage of allowing the user to check the amount of the remaining liquid in the pouch when drinking from the pouch through the transparent or translucent window 50 which exposes at least the end 11A of the lower end of the straw 11, and also has the advantage of allowing the user to notify the existence of the straw by means of the picture 60 of a straw or a picture displaying a straw, and further has the advantage of allowing the user to position the pouch to minimize the amount of the remaining liquid.