POUCH WITH COVER FLAP AND ADHERED EXTENSION FLAP

Abstract

A pouch (10), in particular for loose tobacco, and a method for making same are disclosed. The pouch is in its closed position and comprises a pouch front wall (22) and a pouch rear wall (24), wherein an access opening is provided between the upper edges of the pouch front wall and the pouch rear wall, the pouch further comprising a cover flap (12). The cover flap depends from the pouch rear wall. An extension flap (14) depends from the cover flap. In the closed position of the pouch, the cover flap is folded over the front wall in order to overlie the access opening. In the closed position of the pouch, the extension flap is folded between the pouch front wall and the cover flap. In the closed position of the pouch, the inner surface of the extension flap adheres peelably to the inner surface of the cover flap.

Claims

1. A pouch in its closed position comprising a pouch front wall and a pouch rear wall, wherein an access opening is provided between the upper edges of the pouch front wall and the pouch rear wall, the pouch further comprising a cover flap, wherein the cover flap depends from the pouch rear wall, and an extension flap, wherein the extension flap depends from the cover flap, wherein, in the closed position of the pouch, the cover flap is folded over the front wall in order to overlie the access opening, wherein, in the closed position of the pouch, the inner surface of the extension flap is peelably adhered to the inner surface of the cover flap, and wherein the extension flap and the cover flap have a width which corresponds essentially to the width of the pouch rear wall.

2. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein the adhesion of the inner surface of the extension flap and the inner surface of the cover flap is local or substantially throughout the inner surface of the extension flap.

3. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein in the upper third of the pouch rear wall or, alternatively, at the end of the pouch rear wall and the beginning of the cover flap there is provided a first folding line, and wherein at the end of the cover flap and the beginning of the extension flap there is provided a second folding line.

4. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein each folding line which is present along the area of the cover flap defines an end side of the cover flap and, optionally, wherein the cover flap is separated from the pouch rear wall by means of a first folding line, and wherein the extension flap is separated from the cover flap by means of a second folding line.

5. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein the force for opening the peelably adhered extension flap is from 1 to 10 Newton as measured by the peel force test for pouches.

6. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein the peelable adhesion of the extension flap is not reclosable.

7. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein the peelable adhesion of the extension flap is at least one of a chemical connection such as an adhesive, thermo sealing, cold sealing, ultrasound sealing, a mechanical connection such as a hook and loop fastener, velcro or a micro-suction surface, or an electrostatic connection.

8. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein, in the closed position of the pouch, the cover flap substantially covers the pocket panel.

9. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein, in the closed position of the pouch the cover flap covers about 95 percent to about 100 percent of the surface area of the pouch front side.

10. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein the pouch front wall and the pouch rear wall are rectangular and do have the same height.

11. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein pouch front wall and pouch rear wall are both rectangular and of same size, and wherein the cover flap is reclosably connected to the pouch by way of a sticker.

12. A pouch according to claim 1 which contains tobacco.

13. A pouch according to claim 1, wherein the pouch front wall and the pouch rear wall are permanently sealed to each other via the sides of the pouch front wall and the pouch rear wall by thermo sealing, cold sealing, ultrasound sealing or an adhesive.

14. (canceled)

15. A method of preparing a pouch according to claim 1 comprising the steps of providing a rectangular sheet, folding the rectangular sheet once by about 180 degrees or twice by about 180 degrees such that a pouch bottom wall results, the facing side edges of the folded lower part of the rectangular sheet being connected to each other, optionally after adding pouch side walls, to form a pouch with a pouch front wall, a pouch rear wall, a cover flap, an extension flap, optionally a pouch bottom wall and optionally pouch side walls, before or after folding the lower edge of the rectangular sheet, applying consumer goods to the rectangular sheet or into the pouch such that these consumer goods are within the pouch after the folding step, folding the cover flap towards the pouch front wall, folding the extension flap inwardly such that it is arranged between pouch front wall and cover flap, peelably adhering the inner surface of the extension flap to the inner surface of the cover flap, and reclosably connecting the cover flap to the pouch by way of a connecting means.

16. The pouch according to claim 2 wherein each folding line which is present along the area of the cover flap defines an end side of the cover flap and, optionally, wherein the cover flap is separated from the pouch rear wall by means of a first folding line, and wherein the extension flap is separated from the cover flap by means of a second folding line.

Description

[0059] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a pouch 10 of the state of the art in closed position;

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the pouch 10 of the invention open position;

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the pouch 10 of the invention in closed position and

[0063] FIG. 4 shows the setting of the peel force test for pouches.

[0064] The reference numerals in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 have following meaning: [0065] 10 Pouch [0066] 12 Cover flap [0067] 14 Extension flap [0068] 16 Pouch opening [0069] 22 Front wall or panel of the pouch [0070] 24 Rear wall or panel of the pouch [0071] 26 First folding line [0072] 28 Second folding line [0073] 32 Sticker [0074] 34 Adherence zone [0075] 36 Side edge [0076] 38 Clamp [0077] 40 Roll [0078] 42 Tensile measurement equipment [0079] 44 Wire

[0080] FIG. 1 is a front view of a wrapped-around pouch 10 of the state of the art. The cover flap 12 can be seen just as part of the pouch front wall 22 and a sticker 32 for closing the pouch 10. The extension panel 14 is wrapped around the pouch formed of the front wall 22 and back wall 24.

[0081] In FIG. 2 the non-wrapped-around pouch 10 of the invention is seen in a side view and in open position with pouch front wall 22 and pouch rear wall 24. The side edges 36 of the pouch front wall and the pouch back wall are permanently sealed. The pouch opening 16 is given at the top of the open pouch 10, and it can be seen that the consumer goods, for example loose tobacco inside the pouch, can easily be accessed by the consumer. Pouch front wall 22 and pouch rear wall 24 do have the same height. In the upper third of pouch rear wall 24 a first folding line 26 is given. A cover flap 12 extends between the upper end of the pouch rear wall 24 and second folding line 28, whereas the extension flap 14 depends from flap 12. The extension flap 14 is folded inwardly around second folding line 28 and is eventually arranged essentially parallel to pouch front wall 22 and cover flap 12. The inner surface of the extension flap 14 adheres to the inner surface of the cover flap 12. The adhesion may be peelable. The adhesion may be exclusively peelable. The sticker 32 is connects the cover flap 14 to the pouch.

[0082] In FIG. 3 the non-wrapped-around pouch 10 of FIG. 2 is seen in a side view and in closed position. In FIG. 3 the cover flap 12 and the extension flap 14 are folded downwards around second first folding line 26. The extension flap 14 is folded inwardly around second folding line 28 and is eventually arranged essentially parallel to pouch front wall 22 and cover flap 12. The inner surface of the extension flap 14 adheres to the inner surface of the cover flap 12 along the adherence zones 34. The adherence zones cover the side edges of the inner surfaces of the cover flap 12 and the extension flap 14.

[0083] The pouch 10 in FIG. 3 is closed by sticker 32. Part but not all of sticker 32 is fixed to part of the cover flap 12 in a permanent and under normal handling conditions of the pouch 10 non-removable way. The remaining part of sticker 32 is partially applied with an adhesive which allows a repeated opening and closing of the pouch. However, only part of the sticker 32 is applied with such an adhesive meaning that a free end 34 of sticker 32 results. This free end 34 can be used by the consumer as a grip to open and close the pouch 10.

[0084] FIG. 4 shows the peel force test for pouches. A pouch sample 10 is laid down horizontally and two clamps 38 are set at the free edge of the extension flap 14 in equal distance from the middle of the free, that means non-adhered, edge of the extension flap 14. Wires 44 lead the opening force from the clamps 38 to the Tensile testing equipment 42 over the direction roller 40. The force necessary to pull the extension flap and cover flap apart is measured.