NZ618364B - Resealable pouch assembly for containing liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

618364 A resealable pouch assembly has a pouch formed by seals and has a straw inserted which can be moved from a stowed bent position within a chamber adjacent to the pouch, to a drinking position outside of the chamber. In another embodiment the chamber has a zipper type seal above the straw so as to seal off the chamber. as to seal off the chamber.

Description

Our ref: LUC001 Patents Form No. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 40 RESEALABLE POUCH ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINING LIQUID I, Darcy Mark Lucas, a New Zealand Citizen, of 26 Whitcombe Terrace, Hokitika, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, 45 and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: RESEALABLE POUCH ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINING LIQUID TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to water containers and pouches. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a resealable pouch assembly for containing liquid, and for ease of access of the liquid in the pouch assembly.

BACKGROUND ART Conventional water containers are typically contained in plastic bottles or aluminium cans, with such bottles or cans being cylindrical in form for ease of handling. Such bottles and cans are costly to manufacture. A problem with plastic bottles is that the rigid form of such bottles require ample volume or space for storage and distribution before the point of sale, and the overall volume required can result in high costs of transporting bottled water from plant to consumers, and storage costs can be higher due to the overall storage area required for pallets of bottled water. When consumed, the plastic containers represent a significant quantity of plastics material that must be either recycled or buried in landfills.

Water or milk containers have also been manufactured and supplied in water impervious cardboard containers with various layers of aluminium or plastics materials forming water impervious containers. Such packaging can be difficult to reseal without a screw cap, and therefore once opened, the water or milk is typically either consumed immediately, or is stored in a relatively open state and not resealed, and such containers are exposed to air contamination that can shorten its shelf life, and also the container can be subject to leakage.

Furthermore, the use of plastic bags and pouches can be manufactured as sealed bags containing liquid or water. However, once opened, they are generally not resealable, and the contents are usually consumed immediately when opened. Moreover, it can also be difficult to drink from a sealed bag when opened for immediate consumption.

It is a non-limiting object of the invention to provide a resealable pouch containing liquid which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

It is a non-limiting object of the invention to provide a pouch assembly for containing liquid which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a liquid impervious pouch member for retaining liquid, the pouch member being formed with a front wall, rear wall, top seam, bottom seam and side seams and being adapted to receive an open first end of a tube member being locatable within the pouch member, the other second end of the tube member being of a sufficient length to be retainable within a resealable chamber, the chamber adjoining the pouch member being provided with a resealable means, in use, for allowing a user to access the chamber and the other end of the tube member for drawing or transferring liquid from the pouch member, and wherein the tube member is adapted with a means to stop the flow of liquid therethrough when the tube member is moved between a first open flow position and a second closed flow position.

Preferably the pouch member is made of a flexible plastics material. Desirably the chamber is made of a flexible plastics material.

Advantageously the pouch member is provided with heat sealed edges forming seams to define a pouch for containing liquid.

Preferably the tube member is heat sealed into the top seam adjoining the pouch member and the chamber. Optionally the first end of the tube member protrudes into the liquid being contained within the pouch member.

Desirably the tube member includes a straw made of a suitable plastics material. Optionally the straw is formed from polypropylene material.

Preferably the tube member is made of a plastics material such that when it is bent at an acute or obtuse angle, the tube member will partially collapse to form a liquid resistant barrier.

Optionally the tube member includes a valve means in a suitable area of the tube member such that when the tube member is moved between a first open flow position and a second closed flow position about the valve means, liquid will not flow through the tube member.

Desirably the pouch assembly further comprises a chamber resealing means, the chamber resealing means being provided in the chamber for allowing, in use, the tube member to be repositioned and held in a portion of the chamber to move the tube member to a second closed flow position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: Shows a diagram of a pouch assembly in a sealed arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: Shows a diagram of a pouch assembly with the seal into the chamber being broken; Figure 3: Shows a diagram of a tube member being retained within the resealable chamber; Figure 4: Shows a diagram of a plurality of pouch assemblies being filled with liquid; and Figure 5: Shows a diagram of a tube member being retained within the resealable chamber according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to figures 1 to 3, a liquid pouch assembly, generally referred to as 1, according to one non-limiting preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The liquid pouch assembly 1 preferably includes a liquid storage pouch member 2 for retaining liquid. The pouch member is made of any suitable durable and resilient material.

Preferably the material is made of a flexible plastics material such as a suitable grade of polyethylene , suitable polyethylene plastic resins or thermoplastic polymers for ease of use, and storage and distribution purposes.

Optionally the pouch assembly 1 may be made of a laminated plastics material, be non- woven, and can include rubber, metal film, paper or any combination thereof. Preferably the pouch assembly 1 is made of a plastics material, such material being of a suitable thickness for durability, and to prevent splitting, or becoming overly brittle and cracking.

Advantageously the material is made of a recyclable material and can be biodegradable when disposed of in landfills.

The first non-limiting preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the pouch assembly being made primarily of a suitable flexible plastics material with heat sealable seams.

The pouch assembly 1 is configured and arranged and adapted to retain a liquid, such liquid can broadly, but not exclusively, be described as including water, milk, sports or health tonic water, wine, soups, fluid medications, dietary supplements in liquid form, or other forms of liquid for human or animal consumption. For purposes of ease of description herein, liquid or fluid will be referred to as water, although it will be appreciated that any form of liquid that can be retained in the pouch assembly 1 for consumption by humans or animals is envisaged in accordance with an aspect of the invention.

The pouch assembly 1 can be alternatively referred to as a receptacle, cavity, bladder or container or the like, but for purposes of ease of description will be referred herein as a pouch assembly 1. The pouch assembly 1 for containing or storing liquid can be fabricated with heat sealable materials desirably in the form of a suitable flexible plastics material, or more particularly and preferably a suitable form of polyethylene, with low density or other suitable properties, with the pouch member 2 being of any desirable size and shape to define an area for retaining a desired volume of liquid.

The pouch member 2 includes a front wall 2a and a rear wall 2b formed of sheets of film or plastics material sheets that are fabricated and cut and sized and then desirably heat sealed with a suitable width of seam to define side seams 3, a bottom seam 4, and a top seam 5 thus forming a pouch member 2, and the seams can be fabricated by heat sealing by any known and suitable heat sealing means and method.

The seams can be of a sufficient width and can include a perforation line (not shown) punched or formed in the side seams 3 and optionally the bottom seam 4, such that desirably a plurality of pouch assemblies 1 can be manufactured as adjoining pouch assemblies 1 and wherein the perforation line(s) can be provided to tear and separate each adjoining pouch assembly 1 when required.

The pouch assembly 1 advantageously includes a liquid conduit member desirably in the form of a tube member 10. The tube member 10 can be optionally formed as a semi-rigid yet bendable straw and adapted to allow a user to draw liquid therethrough as being retained in the pouch member 2. The tube member 10 is of any shape or made of any material capable of drawing liquid from the pouch member 2. It will be appreciated that the larger the quantity of liquid in the pouch member 2, the larger the diameter or capacity of the tube member to draw liquid from the pouch member 2.

The top seam 5 is advantageously formed as a heat sealed seam and being formed to separate a pouch member 2 from a chamber 6. The chamber 6 having chamber side seams 7 and a chamber top seam 8. The chamber 6 is configured and arranged to provide a tamper-proof chamber area that protects the integrity of the top or other end 12 of a tube member 10 within the chamber 6 until the time of opening and use by a consumer, and also to prevent any leakage of liquid from the pouch member 2 in the time between manufacturing, transportation, and consumption of liquid from the pouch member 2.

The top seam 8 of the chamber 6 can be formed by heat sealing, suitable adhesives, heat or hot gas welding , or by any other suitable sealing method, and it is envisaged that a resealing means can be optionally formed along at least a part of a seam in the chamber 6 to allow a user to break or rip open means along a rip line 9 optionally provided in the top seam 8 and optionally in a part of the left side seam 7 to allow entry into the chamber 6 and the other end 12 of the tube member 10, as seen in figures 1 and 2, to enable a user to consume the liquid within the pouch member 2. A user can then bend the tube member 10 back into a pocket portion of the chamber 6 on the area to the right of the chamber 6 as illustrated, and then reseal at least a portion of the top seam 8 along the retaining seam 15.

The pocket portion in the right side area of the chamber 6 can include a tube member retaining seam 15 with an entry aperture 16 provided therein for allowing the other end 12 of the tube member 10 to be fed back through into the pocket portion of the chamber 6, in use, if desired.

It is seen that the resealing feature allows a user to draw and consume a part of the liquid in the pouch member 2, and then can reseal the tube member 10 and pouch assembly 1 so as to minimise contamination or leakage, and then consume the remaining portion of the liquid at a later time, if desired.

The tube member 10 has an first end 11 opening into the cavity of the pouch member 2. The first end 11 as an end portion of the tube member 10 may be provided with apertures or openings along the end portion of the tube member 10 providing additional inlets for liquid to be drawn through the tube member 10, if desired.

The first end 11 of the tube member 10 can desirably extend or protrude into the pouch member 2 in any sufficient length to enable liquid to be drawn into the first open end of the tube member 10. Although it is seen in figure 1 that the first end 11 extends well into the pouch member 2, it is considered an option for the open end 11 of the tube member 10 to be adapted to be formed adjacent the pouch member top seam 5, if required or desired.

The tube member 10 can be heat or chemical sealed through the top seam 5 to form a desirable form of seal such that liquid will not leak or pass from the pouch member 2 into the chamber 6 except through the tube member 10.

The other end 12 of the tube member 10 is of a sufficient length for ready access to liquid drawn through the tube member 10. In this respect the length of the tube member 10 from adjacent the seam 5 to the other end 12 can serve as a mouthpiece for drawing out the liquid, but also can allow for a form of resealing means for keeping the remaining liquid in the pouch member 2 by bending the tube member 10 and refitting the tube member 10 at an acute or obtuse angle within the area of the chamber 6. It is seen that the tube member 10 can be formed of a material that bends or collapses about the apex of the bend 13 as seen in figure 3, so as to close off flow of liquid being drawn or transferred from the pouch member 2. In this respect it is seen that the tube member 10 is adapted such that it can be moved between a first open flow position (as seen in figure 2) to allow a user to draw or transfer liquid therethrough, and a second closed flow position (as seen in figures 1 and 3).

It is envisaged that the tube member 10 may be desirably adapted at the area of the bend 13 with a valve means such that when the tube member 10 is moved to a bent and closed flow position, the valve means will close the tube and stem and close off any flow of liquid that may flow into the open end 11 of the tube member 10, and then when the tube member 10 is withdrawn from the chamber 6 and straightened, the valve means will open and allow liquid to be drawn from the pouch assembly 2.

Referring to figure 4, a plurality of pouch assemblies 1, generally referred to as 50, being manufactured and before separation, is illustrated.

The pouch assemblies 50 may be formed of a plurality of pouch assemblies 1 as described with reference to figures 1 to 3, and the description of similar features will not necessarily be repeated, and references to one pouch assembly 1 will still be referred to as a pouch assembly 1. Perforations lines 51 can be provided to allow for separation of each pouch assembly 1 when desired.

It is seen that the pouch assemblies 50 can be manufactured as a plurality of units during the fabrication stage, and a sample of three adjacent pouch assemblies is illustrated. It will be appreciated that the production line can be formed by a sequential feeding of pouch assemblies 1 with as many groups or clusters as considered expedient or desirable. The number of adjoining pouch assemblies 1 before separation of any desirable number of adjoining pouch assemblies 1 is not limited, although it can be considered as long as the matched sheets of material for fabricating the pouch assemblies 50.

The filing of liquid in the pouch member 2 of each pouch assembly 1 can be by any quick and convenient method, and in the final part of the process the liquid can be introduced in the pouch member in the required quantity as measured and controlled, and the bottom seam 4 can be heat sealed.

It will be appreciated that pouch assemblies 50 can be sold as a bundle or set, and even be manufactured with different flavours in different pouches, if desired.

Referring to figure 5, a liquid pouch assembly, generally referred to as 100, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

Many aspects of this alternative embodiment of the invention are similar as for the pouch assembly 1, and do not need to be repeated. The liquid pouch assembly 100 preferably includes a liquid storage pouch member 102 for retaining liquid. As for the pouch assembly 1, the pouch member 102 includes front and rear wall portions formed of plastics material sheets fabricated and cut and sized and then desirably heat sealed with a suitable width of seam to define side seams 103, a bottom seam 104, and a top seam 105. The top seam 105 is advantageously formed by heat sealing and separates the pouch member 102 from a resealable chamber 106. The resealable chamber 106 is fabricated with the side seams 103 extending to adjoin a chamber top seam 108.

A tube member 110 is fabricated through the top seam 105 to form a desirable and suitable seal such that liquid will not leak or pass from the pouch member 102 into the chamber 106 except when passing through the tube member 110.

The resealable chamber 106 is configured and arranged to provide a tamper-proof chamber area that protects the integrity of the exposed portion of the tube member 110 locatable within the chamber 106 until the time of opening and use by a consumer.

Advantageously, the chamber top seam 108 includes a rip open entry means 115 across the top area of the pouch assembly 100 for allowing easy entry into the chamber 106 and tube member 110. At least one notch 117 is desirably provided on the outer edge of the side seams 103, 107 to allow a user to locate the rip open area of the pouch assembly 100. For resealing the area of the chamber 106, a pair of opposing resealing interlocking members 116 are desirably provided between the side seam 103 and the chamber top seam 108 which when interlocked and closed, will reform a seal and allow the chamber 106 an additional sealing option for protecting the contents of the pouch assembly 100, including the tube member 110.

Details of the two resealing interlocking members 116 are not further described as such pouch closure means are in common use in various forms and are therefore known by a person skilled in the art.

It will be appreciated the position of entry into the chamber 106 relative to the side seams 103 can be fabricated in a position that best allows ease of entry to the tube member 110, for ready movement of the tube member 110, advantageously being flexible, between the first open position and the second closed position.

Wherein the aforegoing reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from the principles taught herein.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated.

Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

Claims:

1. A resealable pouch assembly for containing liquid, the pouch assembly including a liquid impervious pouch member for retaining liquid, the pouch member being 5 formed with a front wall, rear wall, top seam, bottom seam and side seams and being adapted to receive an open first end of a tube member being locatable within the pouch member, the other second end of the tube member being of a sufficient length to be retainable within a resealable chamber, the resealable chamber adjoins the pouch member about the pouch member top seam and is 10 provided with a resealable means, in use, for allowing a user to access the resealable chamber and the other end of the tube member for drawing or transferring liquid from the pouch member, and wherein the tube member is made of a flexible material, in use, to bend and partially collapse in the area of the bend so as to limit or stop the flow of liquid therethrough when the tube member 15 is moved between a first open flow position and a second closed flow position.

2. A resealable pouch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the pouch member is made of a flexible plastics material. 20

3. A resealable pouch assembly according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the chamber is made of a flexible plastics material.

4. A resealable pouch assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the top seam, bottom seam and the side seams are formed as heat sealed 25 edges to define a cavity pouch member for containing liquid.

5. A resealable pouch assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tube member is heat sealed into the top seam adjoining the pouch member and the chamber.

6. A resealable pouch assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first end of the tube member protrudes into the liquid being contained within the pouch member.