Flexible pouch with a larger opening

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible pouch (1) having a wider opening (2) allowing to get a better access of the content of the pouch (1). The perimeter (a) of the opening (2) of the flexible pouch (1) is greater than the perimeter (b) of its bottom (3). At least one of the lateral folding lines (5) of the flexible pouch (1) comprises a welding line (6) of a width (w). A part or all of the lateral welding lines (6) of the flexible pouch (1) have a width (w) which is not constant along its length. The invention also relates to a kit-of-part comprising the flexible pouch (1) according to the invention and a container (14) adapted to receive said flexible pouch (1).

Claims

1. A flexible pouch comprising: an opening with a first perimeter; a bottom with a second perimeter, a ratio of the first perimeter over the second perimeter is from 1.1 to 1.25; at least two side walls; and at least two lateral folding lines, at least one of the at least two lateral folding lines comprising a lateral welding line, and the lateral welding line having a length and a first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width is greater than the second width.

2. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising two side walls, two lateral folding lines, and two lateral welding lines.

3. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising four side walls, four lateral folding lines, and four lateral welding lines.

4. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising four lateral welding lines that include the lateral welding line, each of the four lateral welding lines having the first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width is greater than the second width.

5. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the lateral welding line is one of at least two lateral welding lines of the flexible pouch, each of the at least two lateral welding lines having the first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width is greater than the second width.

6. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising at least one lateral welding line having a width that varies regularly or irregularly along the length of the at least one lateral welding line.

7. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising at least one lateral welding line that has an interruption between the opening and the bottom at a distance from the opening.

8. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, further comprising at least two shoulders at a distance from the opening.

9. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising four side walls, four lateral folding lines, four lateral welding lines, all of the four side walls, the four lateral folding lines, and the four lateral welding lines each having an interruption at a similar distance from the opening, and four shoulders located at the similar distance from the opening.

10. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the opening is closed with a closing member.

11. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the flexible pouch is a stand-up pouch.

12. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the bottom comprises a member that improves stability of the flexible pouch.

13. The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the flexible pouch is manufactured by vertical form-fill-seal technology.

14. The flexible pouch according to claim 6, wherein the width of the at least one lateral welding line decreases proportionally from the bottom to the opening.

15. The flexible pouch according to claim 10, wherein the closing member is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of reclose strips, a sticker, and combinations thereof.

16. A kit comprising: a flexible pouch comprising an opening with a first perimeter, a bottom with a second perimeter, at least two side walls, at least two lateral folding lines, at least one of the at least two lateral folding lines comprising a lateral welding line, a ratio of the first perimeter over the second perimeter is from 1.1 to 1.25, the lateral welding line having a length and a first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width greater than the second width; and a container comprising a container base having a third perimeter, a container opening having a fourth perimeter, at least two container side walls, the container is adapted to receive the flexible pouch.

17. The kit according to claim 16, wherein the container is adapted to receive the flexible pouch even when the flexible pouch is open.

18. The kit according to claim 16, wherein the third perimeter of the base of the container is smaller than the fourth perimeter of the opening of the container.

19. The kit according to claim 16, wherein the container opening can be closed or hermetically closed with a lid.

20. A method for storing and/or dispensing dried food products, the method comprising storing the dried food products in a flexible pouch, the flexible pouch comprising an opening with a first perimeter, a bottom with a second perimeter, at least two side walls, at least two lateral folding lines, at least one of the at least two lateral folding lines comprising a lateral welding line, a ratio of the first perimeter over the second perimeter is from 1.1 to 1.25, the lateral welding line having a length and a first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width greater than the second width defining a conical shape of the flexible pouch when the flexible pouch is open.

21. A method for providing access to a product stored in a flexible pouch, the method comprising storing the product in the flexible pouch, the flexible pouch comprising an opening with a first perimeter, a bottom with a second perimeter, at least two side walls, at least two lateral folding lines, at least one of the at least two lateral folding lines comprising a lateral welding line, a ratio of the first perimeter over the second perimeter is in a range from 1.1 to 1.25, the lateral welding line having a length and a first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width greater than the second width.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention and some particular embodiments thereof will now be described in more details with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show manners of implementing the present invention and are not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

(2) FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view showing schematically a flexible pouch according to the present invention, in an open position, having two side walls, two lateral folding lines and two lateral welding lines wherein one lateral welding line has a width that varies regularly along its length.

(3) FIG. 2 are three dimensional views representing schematically some examples of different regular and irregular variations of the width of the lateral welding lines: 2A: proportional decrease of the width of the lateral welding line from the bottom to the opening 2B1 and 2B2: examples of interruption of the lateral welding line 2C1 and 2C2: examples of irregular variations of the width of the lateral welding line

(4) FIG. 3 is a three dimensional view showing schematically a flexible pouch according to the present invention, in an open position, having four side walls, four lateral folding lines and two lateral welding lines which have a width that varies regularly along their length.

(5) FIG. 4 is a three dimensional view showing schematically a flexible pouch according to the present invention, in an open position, said pouch having four side walls, four lateral folding lines and three lateral welding lines which have a width that varies either regularly or irregularly along their length.

(6) FIG. 5 is a three dimensional view showing schematically a flexible pouch according to the present invention, in an open position, having four side walls, four lateral folding lines and four lateral welding lines which have a width that varies regularly along their length.

(7) FIG. 6 is a three dimensional view showing schematically a flexible pouch according to the present invention, in an open position, having a funnel shape when open, said pouch having four side walls, four lateral folding lines and four lateral welding lines which are interrupted.

(8) FIG. 7 is a three dimensional view showing schematically a flexible pouch according to the present invention, in an open position, having a conical shape, said pouch having six side walls, six lateral folding lines and six welding lines which have a width that varies regularly along their length.

(9) FIG. 8 are three dimensional views showing schematically a flexible pouch of the invention that is in closed position, the top of the flexible pouch is folded into a gusset and the flexible pouch is hermetically sealed via a transversal welding line.

(10) FIG. 9 is a three dimensional view showing schematically a flexible pouch of the invention that is in closed position, the flexible pouch being hermetically sealed via a zip.

(11) FIG. 10 are three dimensional views showing schematically a kit according to the present invention: 10A: a flexible pouch according to the invention, in a closed position, in a container which is adapted to receive the flexible pouch 10B: a flexible pouch according to the invention, in an open position, in a container which is adapted to receive the flexible pouch even when the pouch is open.

(12) In the figures and/or description, the reference numbers correspond to the following technical features: (1) flexible pouch (2) opening of the flexible pouch (3) bottom of the flexible pouch (4) side wall of the flexible pouch (5) lateral folding line of the flexible pouch=folding line found along the edge of the side wall (4) extending from the opening (2) to the bottom (3) (6) lateral welding line (7) interruption of the lateral welding line (6) (8) shoulder (9) gusset (10) transversal welding line (11) zip (12) curved bottom (13) skirt surrounding the bottom (3). (14) container (15) base of the container (16) opening of the container (17) side wall of the container (18) lid of the container (a) perimeter of the opening (2) of the flexible pouch (1) (b) perimeter of the bottom (3) of the flexible pouch (1) (c) distance between the opening (2) and the interruption (7) of the lateral welding line (6) of the flexible pouch (1) (d) distance from the opening (2) to the bottom (3) of the flexible pouch (1)=length of the lateral folding line (5) of the flexible pouch (1) (e) distance between the opening (2) and the shoulder (8) of the flexible pouch (1) (f) perimeter of the base (15) of the container (14) (g) perimeter of the opening (16) of the container (14) (w) width of the lateral welding line (6) of the flexible pouch (1) (w1) width near the bottom (3) of the lateral welding line (6) of the flexible pouch (w2) width near the opening (2) of the lateral welding line (6) of the flexible pouch

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(13) The next paragraphs give the definition of some terms and expressions used in the present application.

(14) A pouch is a package or a packaging having an enclosed volume that can comprise the content of the pouch. The content is a product, particularly a dried product, especially a dried food product. Non-limiting examples of dried food products include for instance all types of powdered or particulate products such as infant formula, infant cereals, soluble coffee, soluble coffee mixes, soluble tea, soluble chocolate powder for beverages, and any other powdered beverages; grocery products such as flour, oat flakes, breakfast cereals, sugar, rice, pasta, ground coffee, tea leaves; flaky products such as seasoning, or culinary powder.

(15) A pouch with X side walls means a pouch having X lateral/vertical facings, i.e. the bottom wall is not taken into consideration for the calculation of the side walls.

(16) A flexible pouch means a pouch which is made with at least a flexible material such as a plastic film, paper and/or aluminium. For example the flexible pouch can be made of polypropylene, polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene, polyolefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyamides, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, or the like. In a specific embodiment the flexible material is not made of cardboard. The pouch can be made of from a single or several sheets of flexible material. In a particular embodiment it is made from a single sheet of material. The sheet(s) can be laminated (layered), i.e. it/they can contain 2, 3, 4 or more layers. In a particular example the sheet of the flexible pouch is made of 3 layers, the external layer being PET or paper, the intermediary layer being aluminium and the internal one being PE. As the material is flexible, the pouch can be twisted or bended under the action of pressure, like the hand pressure.

(17) In a specific embodiment, the flexible pouch is not a composite pouch of more than one material.

(18) The flexible pouch is preferably produced by Vertical Form-Fill-Seal (VFFS) method. In this case the pouch is created from flexible material on reel stock. The material is folded and sealed around a metal tube. The product is introduced in the pouch trough the tube. In VFFS technology the final pouch is vertical. In addition, using the VFFS technology allows faster rate of production, simplier line set up and reduced production costs (less material waste . . . ).

(19) The terms greater, larger and wider can be used interchangeably in the present application.

(20) The terms shorter and smaller can be used interchangeably in the present application.

(21) By the term stand-up it is meant that that the pouch can remain upright by itself, e.g. without the aid of any external device or container.

(22) The bottom or bottom wall of the pouch represents the base of the pouch, i.e. the face on which the pouch stands up.

(23) The opening of the pouch represents the part which is generally opposite to the bottom, typically at the top of the pouch. It is a gap defined by the side walls and it allows getting access to the content of the pouch.

(24) The expressions the opening of the pouch is open, the pouch is open and the pouch is in the open position can be used interchangeably in the present application.

(25) The expressions the opening of the pouch is closed, the pouch is closed and the pouch is in the closed position can be used interchangeably in the present application.

(26) In the context of the invention, an opening/a bottom/a base with a certain perimeter means an opening/a bottom/a base delimited by a certain perimeter.

(27) In this present invention the term perimeter should be understood as the internal/interior perimeter (and not the external/exterior perimeter), that is to say the internal/interior circumference delimited by the opening or the bottom of the pouch. It therefore corresponds to the external limit of the enclosed volume of the pouch.

(28) As used in the present application the lateral folding lines correspond to the folding lines which are along the edge of the side walls extending from the opening to the bottom. They are therefore found at the lateral extremity (or edge) of the side walls, between the opening and the bottom. The length of the lateral folding lines especially corresponds to the distance (d) from the opening to the bottom.

(29) A welding line is a seam or a sealing. It is a line of a width (w) which is obtained by heatsealing (thermosealing), a gluing or the like. In a particular embodiment it is obtained by heatsealing. The pouch can be made by folding and sealing together some parts of a single sheet or of several sheets. In a particular embodiment, the pouch is obtained after folding and sealing together some parts of a single sheet. The skilled man would know how to make a welding line. By way of example, a welding line of a width (w) which is constant is typically made using a continuous movement welding machine such as an apparatus equipped of rolls or with a sealing jaw of regular shape. The temperature will be adapted depending on the materials of the pouch that are used. Depending on the desired rigidity, the welding line can be made of a succession of parallel lines (horizontal or vertical) or by crossed lines.

(30) A welding line allows improving the stability of the flexible pouch.

(31) In the present invention at least one of the lateral folding lines comprises a welding line of a width (w), which means that there is at least one lateral welding line of a width (w), i.e. there is at least one welding line which is located along at least one of the lateral folding lines. The expressions at least one of these lateral folding lines comprising/comprises a welding line of a width (w) and at least one lateral welding line of a width (w) can be used interchangeably.

(32) In the present invention, at least one (i.e. a part or all) of the lateral welding lines of the flexible pouch have a width (w) which is not constant along its length, i.e. the width (w) of the lateral welding line can be varying, i.e. not constant along its length (i.e. between the bottom and the opening). By the expression the lateral welding line has a width which is not constant along its length it is meant that the width of the lateral welding line varies along its length. The variation of the width (w) can be regular (or proportional) or irregular (or random) along its length. The variation can also be due to an interruption of the lateral welding line (i.e. of the sealing) between the opening and the bottom, and at a certain distance from said opening. This means that the width of the lateral welding line becomes zero or close to zero at a certain stage. The expressions one of the lateral welding lines is interrupted and one of the lateral welding lines has an interruption should be understood similarly. The interruption can be sharp or there can be a short transition part e.g. by the presence of a curve of small size.

(33) The skilled man would know how to make a lateral welding line having a varying width (w). By way of example, this can typically be made using an intermittent movement welding machine such as an apparatus equipped of a sealing jaw having an irregular shape. The shape of the sealing jaw will be adapted in view of the desired shape of the lateral welding line, so many configurations are possible. The temperature will be adapted depending on the materials of the pouch that are used.

(34) The variation of the width (w) and the varying width (w) should also be understood similarly.

(35) The shoulders are transversal lines located in the side walls that help to close the flexible pouch, especially by folding the top of the pouch. When the flexible pouch is manufactured, filled and closed, there are some shoulders that are generally near the opening of said pouch. The location of these lines can then vary (e.g. it can follow the decrease of the content of the pouch) when the flexible pouch is used, i.e. each time the consumers re-close the pouch by folding the side walls on themselves.

(36) The expressions kit, kit of part and kit-of-part can be used interchangeably in the present invention.

(37) The expression the container is adapted to receive said flexible pouch means that the container and the pouch are mutually shaped so that the pouch fits tightly into the container. In a specific embodiment the container and the flexible pouch are mutually shaped so that the flexible pouch fits tightly into the container even when the pouch is open.

(38) It is noted that the various aspects, features, examples and embodiments described in the present application may be compatible and/or combined together.

(39) In addition, in the context of the invention, the terms comprising or comprises do not exclude other possible elements. In some particular embodiments the terms comprising or comprises also encompass the expressions consisting of, consists of, consisting essentially of, consists essentially of.

(40) Some particular embodiments of the invention will now be described in more details with regard to the accompanying figures.

(41) FIG. 1 shows a specific embodiment of the invention. It is a three dimensional view of a flexible pouch (1) in an open position, comprising an opening (2) with a perimeter (a), a bottom (3) with a perimeter (b). The perimeter (a) is larger than the perimeter (b). The flexible pouch (1) has an oval shape. It has two side walls (4a, 4b), two lateral folding lines (5a, 5b), both of them comprising a welding line (6). There are therefore two lateral welding lines (6): a lateral welding line (6a) of a width (w) and a lateral welding line (6b) of a width that varies regularly along its length. The decrease of the width of the welding line (6b) is proportional from the bottom (3) to the opening (2).

(42) A varying embodiment can be the pouch of FIG. 1 which has two lateral folding lines but only one of them comprises a welding line (so for example the same FIG. 1 without the presence of 6a).

(43) As previously mentioned, in particular embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the lateral folding lines (5) of the pouch (1) comprises a lateral welding line (6) of a width (w) that varies along its length. The variation of the width (w) of the lateral welding line (6) can be regular or irregular along its length. FIGS. 2 A, B and C represent some examples of regular and irregular variations of the width of the lateral welding lines (6). In these different figures, the lateral welding line (6) has a width (w1) near the bottom (3) which is larger than the width (w2) near the opening (2).

(44) FIG. 2A represents a regular variation of the width of the welding line (6). There is a proportional decrease of the width of the welding line from the bottom (3) to the opening (2), like in FIG. 1.

(45) FIG. 2B show some examples of interruption (7) of the welding line (6). This interruption (7) is located at a distance (c) from the opening (2). The distance c is shorter than the distance (d) which is the distance from the opening (2) to the bottom (3) of the flexible pouch (1). In these embodiments, w2 is zero or close to zero. The interruption can be sharp as shown in FIG. 2B1 or there can be a short transition part made by a little curve as shown in FIG. 2B2.

(46) FIG. 2C give some examples of irregular variations of the width of the welding line (6). The possibilities of irregular variations are of course very wide.

(47) As previously mentioned, the number of side walls of the flexible pouch is variable. The pouch can have 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or even more side walls. As previously explained, only a part (1, a quarter of them, a third of them, half of them, two thirds of them, three quarters of them . . . ) of the folding lines of the flexible pouch or all of them can comprise a welding line.

(48) FIG. 3 is a three dimensional view showing schematically a flexible pouch (1) in an open position, comprising an opening (2) with a perimeter (a), a bottom (3) with a perimeter (b). The perimeter (a) is larger than the perimeter (b). The flexible pouch (1) has four side walls (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), four lateral folding lines (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), half of them comprising a welding line (6). The two lateral welding lines (6a, 6b) have a width (w1) near the bottom (3) which is larger than the width (w2) near the opening (2). As previously mentioned, each of the lateral welding lines of the flexible pouch can have a similar or a different varying width. In the embodiment represented in FIG. 3, both lateral welding lines (6a, 6b) have a width that varies regularly along their length: the decrease of the width (w) of each welding lines (6a, 6b) is proportional from the bottom (3) to the opening (2).

(49) As previously mentioned, in some embodiments of the invention, the flexible pouch can also have at least one lateral welding line with a width (w) that varies regularly along its length and at least one lateral welding line with a width (w) that varies irregularly along its length.

(50) FIG. 4 represents a three dimensional view of a flexible pouch (1) in an open position, comprising an opening (2) with a perimeter (a), a bottom (3) with a perimeter (b). The perimeter (a) is larger than the perimeter (b). The flexible pouch (1) has four side walls (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), four lateral folding lines (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), three quarters of them (i.e. three of them) comprising a welding line (6). The three lateral welding lines (6a, 6b, 6c) have a width (w1) near the bottom (3) which is larger than the width (w2) near the opening (2). But these three lateral welding lines (6a, 6b, 6c) have a width (w) that varies either regularly or irregularly along their length.

(51) The flexible pouch (1) represented in FIG. 5 is in an open position, it comprises an opening (2) with a perimeter (a), a bottom (3) with a perimeter (b), the perimeter (a) being larger than the perimeter (b). It has four side walls (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), four lateral folding lines (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), all of them comprising a welding line (6). The four lateral welding lines (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) have a width (w1) near the bottom (3) which is larger than the width (w2) near the opening (2) and the variation of the width is regular along their length for all the four lateral welding lines (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d): the decrease of the width (w) of each welding lines (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is proportional from the bottom (3) to the opening (2).

(52) FIG. 6 is a three dimensional view of a flexible pouch (1) in an open position, comprising an opening (2) with a perimeter (a), a bottom (3) with a perimeter (b). The perimeter (a) is larger than the perimeter (b). It has four side walls (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), four lateral folding lines (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) and all of these lateral folding lines comprise a welding line (6). The four lateral welding lines (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) are all interrupted: there is an interruption (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) located at a distance (c) from the opening (2). In this particular embodiment all the distances (c) are similar. They are shorter than the distances (d) of the lateral folding lines (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d). This flexible pouch (1) has a funnel shape when it is open.

(53) FIG. 7 represents a three dimensional view of a flexible pouch (1) in an open position, comprising an opening (2) with a perimeter (a), a bottom (3) with a perimeter (b). The perimeter (a) is larger than the perimeter (b). The flexible pouch (1) has six side walls (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f), six lateral folding lines (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f), all of them comprising a welding line (6). The six lateral welding lines (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f) have a width (w1) near the bottom (3) which is larger than the width (w2) near the opening (2) and they have all a width that varies regularly along their length: the decrease of the width (w) of each welding lines (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f) is proportional from the bottom (3) to the opening (2).

(54) This flexible pouch (1) has a conical shape when it is open.

(55) As previously mentioned the opening of the flexible pouch may be closed or hermetically closed. Some examples are illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 that represent three dimensional views of a flexible pouch (1) in closed position.

(56) FIG. 8A corresponds to the flexible pouch of FIG. 5 that is in closed position. It has four shoulders (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) located at a distance (e) from the opening. The top of the flexible pouch (1) is folded to form two gussets (9a, 9b), i.e. the top of the side walls (4) are folded at the shoulders (8) and the flexible pouch (1) is hermetically sealed via a transversal welding line (10).

(57) FIG. 8B corresponds to the flexible pouch of FIG. 6 that is in closed position. It has four shoulders (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) located at a distance (e) from the opening and also the four lateral welding lines have four interruptions located at a distance (c) from the opening. The distance (e) corresponds to the distance (c). The top of the flexible pouch (1) is folded to form two gussets (9a, 9b), i.e. the top of the side walls (4) are folded at the shoulders (8) and the flexible pouch (1) is hermetically sealed via a transversal welding line (10).

(58) In FIG. 9, the flexible pouch (1) corresponds to the flexible pouch of FIG. 1 that is hermetically sealed via a zip (11). In addition, it has a curved bottom (12) and a skirt (13) surrounding the bottom (3) to enhance its stability.

(59) FIG. 10 are three dimensional views of a kit of the present invention. In FIG. 10A the flexible pouch (1) is in a closed position in a container (14) adapted to receive it. The container (14) comprises a base (15), an opening (16) and four side walls (17). It can be closed with a lid (18). The perimeter (f) of the base (15) of the container (14) is smaller than the perimeter (g) of the opening (16) of the container (14).

(60) FIG. 10B illustrates an embodiment wherein the container (14) is adapted to receive the flexible pouch (1) even when the flexible pouch (1) is in an open position.