Package or product and a package or product roll

Abstract

The invention relates to a package or product comprising at least one space for contents or objects, formed of at least one flexible part, which is a flexible pouch type container part, and to the at least one flexible part attached at least one stiff support part, in which the at least one stiff support part forms in opened position at least part of wall structure of the package or product. The at least one flexible part and the at least one stiff support part form the at least one space for the objects or contents, when the stiff material of the support part is bent and/or the package is opened at the stiff support part. The invention also relates to a package or product roll.

Claims

1. Package or product comprising a non-opened position and an opened position, in which opened position the package or product comprises at least one expanded space for contents or objects, which at least one expanded space is formed of at least one flexible part, which is a flexible pouch type container part, and in which package or product to the at least one flexible part is attached at least one stiff support part, in which package or product the at least one stiff support part forms in the opened position at least part of wall structure of the package or product, which package or product further comprises at least one opening point, in which package or product the at least one flexible part and the at least one stiff support part form the at least one expanded space for the objects or contents and the at least one flexible part is fitted to form the expanded space for the objects or contents adapting to the support structure formed by the at least one stiff support part, and which package or product is self-standing, wherein the at least one expanded space for the objects or contents is fitted to be formed, when the stiff material of the stiff support part is bent and the package or product is opened at the stiff support part or when the package or product is opened at the stiff support part, that the at least one opening point is fitted to set the at least one stiff support part to form a supporting structure for the expanded space and the shape of the expanded space in the opened position of the package or product.

2. Package or product according to claim 1, wherein in non-opened position the package or product is planar and pouch-like and in opened position the package or product is three-dimensional having a substantially depth directional dimension.

3. Package or product according to claim 1, wherein on the stiff support part are located creases such as bend lines, cut lines, cut outs and/or tear lines for opening the package or product and/or for forming the expanded space for the objects.

4. Package or product according to claim 1, wherein the package or product is a pouch formed of two sheets, which are placed one on the other and attached together and which sheets comprises one or more material layers.

5. Package or product according to claim 1, wherein the package or product comprises at the opening point attached closure means, by pulling of which closure means the package or product is openable.

6. Package or product according to claim 5, wherein the closure means is re-closable.

7. Package or product roll comprising several packages or products according to claim 1, wherein the package roll is formed of a wound web comprising several sequentially located packages or products.

8. Package or product roll according to claim 7, wherein between two successive packages or products a tear line is located and in which package roll closure means extend on the web from one package or product to next package or product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] In FIGS. 1A-1C is shown schematically an advantageous example of a package, in particular for foodstuffs, according to the invention.

[0050] In FIGS. 2A-2C is shown schematically an advantageous example of a package, in particular for beverages, according to the invention.

[0051] In FIGS. 3A-3C is shown schematically an advantageous example of a package, in particular for foodstuffs, according to the invention.

[0052] In FIGS. 4A-4C is shown schematically an advantageous example of a package, in particular for beverages, according to the invention.

[0053] In FIGS. 5-9 are shown schematically advantageous examples of packages according to the invention.

[0054] In FIGS. 10-12 are shown schematically advantageous examples of production lines for packages according to the invention.

[0055] In FIG. 13 is shown schematically an advantageous example of a package roll according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] During the course of the following description like numbers and signs will be used to identify like elements according to the different views which illustrate the invention and its advantageous examples. In some figures repetition of the reference signs may have been omitted for clarity reasons. In FIGS. 1A-4C are illustrated examples of the invention such that in one series (1A-1C, 2A-2C, 3A-3C) figures A show an unfilled package example in unfilled stage, figures B show a filled package example during opening stage and figures C show a package in opened staged. For each opening possibility the package may comprise one or more creases for bending or the package may be bendable without creases. The space for contents or objects may vary depending on the production process of the package even though the seals and outer dimensions of the pouch would be the same.

[0057] In the examples of FIGS. 1A-9 the package 10 for storing and taking for using or to serving or taking up objects, especially bulk stuffs and items and more especially for foodstuffs and beverages and additionally for transporting and/or moving objects (bulk stuffs and items) has at least one space, a container for the objects, which space is needed when storing and/or taking up and/or taking the objects i.e. contents inside the container. The package 10 is formed of a flexible part 12, which is a flexible pouch type container part 12 and to the flexible part 12 attached, advantageously laminated, at least one support part 11 of stiff material. The at least one stiff support part 11 forms in when opened at least part of wall structure of a self-standing package 10. The flexible part 12 and the at least one stiff support part 11 together form the at least one space for the objects, when the stiff material of the support part 11 is bent and/or the package 10 is opened at the stiff material 11. There is at least one opening point 16, which when expanded is fitted to set the at least one stiff support part 11 to form a supporting structure for the space and thus the form of the space and simultaneously the flexible part 12 is fitted to form the space for the objects adapting to the support structure formed by the at least one stiff support part 11. In non-opened position, figures A the package 10 is planar and pouch-like and in opened position the package 10 is three-dimensional having also a substantially depth directional dimension. On the stiff support part 11 are located different types of creases 15 such as bend lines, cut lines, cut outs and/or tear lines for opening the package 10 and/or for forming the space for the objects. The package 10 is a pouch formed of two sheets 11, 12 that are placed one on the other and they are attached together for example at the edges by seals 14 and one of the sheets 12 is of flexible material and one of the sheets 11 is of stiff material. Advantageously the flexible material is plastic material or cloth or paper or other fiber-type material and the stiff material is board or corresponding fiber material or stiff plastic material.

[0058] Advantageously, at the opening point 16 a closure means 13 is attached, by pulling of which closure means the package 10 is openable, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, and by pressing it back onto the surface of the package 10 the package 10 is closable.

[0059] As shown in the examples of FIGS. 2C, 3C, 4C, 5, 6 the package 10 is bendable or rollable to a vertical form to a beverage can-form, wherein on one side of the package a punchable hole 17 is provided for a straw, which one side is in the can-form in top part of the can.

[0060] Thus the package 10 comprises a flexible pouch-like container i.e. flexible part 12 and to it attached, advantageously laminated, at least one support part 11 of stiff material, which together provide at least one space or container for the content/objects, when the stiff support part 11 is bent and/or the package 10 is opened at the stiff support part 11. The package 10 has at least one opening point 16 in the stiff support part 11, which opening point 16 when expanding is fitted to set the stiff support part 11 to form a support structure for the container or space and thus to form the configuration of the space. The flexible part 11 is fitted to form the space for the contents or objects adapting to the configuration formed by the stiff part 11. The stiff part 11 may also comprise at least two next to each other located stiff parts with a flexible part in between of them. The stiff support part can be made of sheet-like material comprising one layer stiff material or comprising more than one layers of material, which layers folded, combined or attached on top of each other form layered material of the stiff support part. Advantageously the at least one stiff support part 11 forms in open position side walls of the package 10. In non-opened position the package 10 is pouch-like and planar providing a flat, continuous piece. In opened position the support part 11 of stiff material converts to different position and forms the outer walls of the package 10 while the flexible part 12 remains unbroken adapting to the configuration of the stiff support part 11. The opening point at the stiff support part may also comprise a re-closable closure means 13, for example detachable an adhesive material, by removing of which the package 10 can be opened and then bent to its use form. The package 10 may comprise more than one opening point with advantageously re-closable closure means. The stiff support part 11 may also comprise creases 15 for folding, cutting and/or tearing and for easier configuring the form for the container space. The package 10 may comprise seals 14 that can be used to fasten free edges of the stiff support part 11.

[0061] In FIGS. 1A-1C, 2A-2C and 3A-3C is shown three different examples of opening the package 10 from the pouch-like form, figures A, to the opened position, for serving or use etc., figures C. In figures B is shown the package 10 during opening.

[0062] In FIGS. 1A-1C the pouch-like unopened package 10 is opened to a rectangular box-like shape. The package 10 comprises the flexible part 12 and the stiff support part 11 with creases 15 for bending. On the stiff support part 12 the opening point 16 with closure means 13 is located. The flexible part 12 and the stiff support part 11 are attached together by seals 14. As shown in FIG. 1B during opening the closure means 13 is removed and the opening point 16 is opened and expanded such that the stiff support part 11 during bending forms the outer wall structure of the package 10 and the flexible part 12 remains inside the outer wall structure.

[0063] In FIGS. 2A-2C the pouch-like unopened package 10 is opened to a triangular can-like shape. The package 10 comprises the flexible part 12 and the stiff support part 11 with creases 15 for bending and an opening point 17 for a straw 18. The flexible part 12 and the stiff support part 11 are attached together by seals 14. As shown in FIG. 2B the stiff support part 11 during bending forms the outer wall structure of the package 10 and the flexible part 12 remains inside the outer wall structure.

[0064] In FIGS. 3A-3C the pouch-like unopened package 10 is opened to a rectangular can-like shape. The package 10 comprises the flexible part 12 and the stiff support part 11 with creases 15 for bending and an opening point 16 near the upper edge forming top edge wall 19. The flexible part 12 and the stiff support part 11 are attached together by seals 14. As shown in FIG. 3B the stiff support part 11 during bending forms the outer wall structure of the package 10 and the flexible part 12 remains inside the outer wall structure.

[0065] In FIG. 4A is shown an example, in which the package 10 comprises separately by seals 14 sealed pockets. The package 10 may be bent to rectangular shape, FIG. 4B, or to cylinder form, FIG. 4C.

[0066] In FIGS. 5-6 are shown further examples; in FIG. 5 a cylinder shaped package 10 and in FIG. 6 a rectangular form package 10.

[0067] In FIGS. 7-9 are shown further examples: in FIG. 7 is shown the package 10 in the pouch-like form with one edge opened for filling, which package 10 can be opened to a cylindrical bowl-like form, FIG. 8, and to a rectangular bowl-like form, FIG. 9.

[0068] As shown in the examples of the FIGS. 1A-6 in bending and opening the package 10 one or more creases located in the stiff support part 11 can be utilized and thus the bending and/or opening point can be located in various ways based on size, location and opening manner. Additionally the package can be bent and opened without creases, wherein bendability of the stiff support part 11 and the location, size and opening manner of the opening point 16, 17 is utilized.

[0069] In FIGS. 10-12 are shown advantageous examples of production lines for packages; in FIG. 10 in a flow-pack-method packages 10 are provided directly from a web line is utilized, in FIG. 11 in a side-seal-method packages 10 are provided from a web-line formed pouches with three sides sealed and in FIG. 12 in a thermoforming-method packages 10 are provided from separate lower and upper web-lines, in which stiffer web can be used as top material and more flexible as is common in thermoforming methods generally. In each method the webs for the stiff support part 11 and for the flexible part 12 are attached together at edges by sealing and depending on the method the seals are formed at different locations on the packages 10 thus one package can be opened in different ways depending on the opening points of the package 10.

[0070] The method for producing the packages comprises a step of attaching the flexible part 12 and the stiff support part 11 of the package 10 to each other by sealing or adhering them to each other at the edge area and the packages are produced in the line several package blanks sequentially located, possibly also parallel located, in a web-like form, in which the blanks are limited by a tear crease or by a corresponding line. In the production line the creases 15 for the stiff support part 11 are formed and the closure means 13 for opening point 16 of the package 10 is added. Advantageously before the stage of taking the packages 10 to use the packages 10 are located sequentially (and additionally parallel) forming a package web, which web may be wound to a roll, wherein the closure means 13 for the opening points 16 are advantageously located extending from one package 10 to next and forming a continuous structure. Also the objects or contents of the packages 10 can be placed inside the package in the production line.

[0071] In the example of FIG. 13 the package roll 20 comprises several packages 10 and the package roll 20 is formed of a wound web comprising several sequentially located packages 10. Between two successive packages 10 in the package roll a tear line 21 is located and in which closure means 13 extend on the web from one package 10 to next package 10. The package roll 20 is provided with the seal 14 at the location of the tear line 21 between the packages 10. The packages 10 in the package roll 20 provide many different package types, for example many of those presented in the previous figures, for use. In the package roll 20 the packages 10 are closed at one end 22 and the other end 23 is open. When the package roll 20 is used the contents or objects will be put inside the package only after the package 10 has been released from the package roll 20. When the contents or objects are inside the package 10 the open end 22 is closed.

[0072] Above only some advantageous examples of the inventions has been described to which examples the invention is not to be narrowly limited and many modifications and alterations are possible within the invention.