FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The disclosure relates generally to the field of containers. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to beverage containers having an opening system to expose a beverage stored therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Typical containers, including those that contain a liquid or beverage, embody a sealed, air-tight pouch containing a circular area for access to a contained liquid. These typical beverage containers include a straw with a pointed end that, upon a force, pierces a circular, piercable area.

[0003] To form the piercable area, the typical pouch has several circular slits cut in a face portion of the pouch forming a circle. The user can forcefully push the included straw through the circular area and access the volume, risking the possibility that all or a portion of what was just pushed through will fall into the volume. Once the included straw pierces the piercable portion and forms a circular hole, accessing the enclosed beverage, the circular hole remains open and is prone to spill if the pouch is not upright or is compressed. The typical pouch has no means for covering or sealing the circular hole to stop or control spillage of the enclosed beverage after the circular hole has been formed.

[0004] Further, since the typical container is sealed, with the only means of easy access being the circular, piercable area, it is very difficult for a user to open the container with their hands or the provided straw. [0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a pouch that addresses the above and other issues.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] The container of the present application is directed towards a pouch comprising: a single film portion, the single film portion comprising at least two layers, wherein the single film portion is sealed along the edges creating a container comprised of the single film portion to form a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom portion, with a top formed by the sealing of the front wall and rear wall and a volume enclosed by the front wall, rear wall, bottom portion and top, with the enclosed volume configured to hold a liquid, and has a single slit passing through each of the at least two layers, forming a "U"-shaped flap in the front wall and a strip is adhered to the internal face of the front wall, covering the single slit, the strip capable of being pierced by a straw so that the straw will be in contact with the liquid in the enclosed volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0001] The present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following drawings of which:

[0002] FIG.l illustrates a single film portion laying flat, with the interior side of the single film portion being visible;

[0003] FIG.2 illustrates a cross section of two layers of the single film portion;

[0004] FIG. 3 illustrates a magnified view of a slit in the exterior side of the front wall;

[0005] FIG. 4 illustrates a pouch arranged to remain vertical by resting on a bottom portion;

[0006] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of forming a pouch; and [0007] FIG. 6 illustrates a magnified view of a slit forming a U-shaped flap in the exterior side of the front wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] The present application is directed towards a container with an opening system. Although the container is directed to beverage containers having an opening system to expose a beverage stored therein, the containers could be applied to any design to hold a liquid, such as liquid chemicals, including petrochemicals, among other designs.

[0008] In FIG. 1, the container with an opening system is shown. FIG. 1 represents a portion of material for the production of one container. This portion of material may be joined in series to several other portions on a length of material, making a length of material capable of forming several containers. This length of material capable of forming several containers may be stored on a roll. This roll can be un-rolled and appropriate sections can be cut therefrom.

[0009] In FIG. 1, the portion of material is a single film portion 4 that will form pouch 2. Single film portion 4 can be formed of one continuous piece of material or can be made of several pieces of material that are connected to each other. If single film portion 4 is formed of several pieces of material, the several pieces of material can be connected together by any suitable means such as adhesives or heat seals. For exemplary purposes, single film portion 4 is referred to herein as a single piece of material. Pouch 2, as formed from single film portion 4 is shown in FIG. 4. The view of FIG. 1 is the single film portion 4 laying flat, with the interior side being visible. The interior and exterior side will be further explained below. [0010] Single film portion 4 includes at least two layers but can include more than two layers. FIG. 2 is a cross section of one example of the single film portion having two layers, an internal layer 6 and an external layer 8. Internal layer 6 can be any material capable of holding a liquid, such as a low density polyethylene (LDPE) film or polypropylene. External layer 8 can be any material capable of forming a pouch, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PTE), any suitable polyester and any suitable nylon. External layer 8 acts as a protective layer and can be used to print graphics and the like. An adhesive is placed between the internal layer and external layer. Any suitable adhesive may be used that is capable of holding two layers together for a period of time, such as a polyethylene extrudate.

[0011] Single film portion 4 can also include more than two layers, such as three or four layers. In one example an intermediate layer can be placed between internal layer 6 and external layer 8. This intermediate layer can be any suitable material, such as an aluminum layer, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer or a polyester coated with aluminum oxide or silicon oxide. This intermediate layer can act as a barrier to oxygen or moisture passing through single film portion 4.

[0012] Referring again to FIG. 1, single film portion 4 is shown prior to being formed into pouch 2 as seen in FIG. 4. In FIG. 1, the internal side of rear wall 10, the internal side of front wall 12 and internal side of bottom portion 11 will form the pouch 2 of FIG. 4.

[0013] Single film portion 4 is sealed by folding rear wall 10 over front wall 12, or vice versa, and sealing rear wall edge portions 14 to front wall edge portions 16. Any suitable seal that can seal the front wall 12 to the rear wall 10 can be used, including a heat seal to thermally seal rear wall edge portions 14 to front wall edge portions 16. Rear wall edge portions 14 to front wall edge portions 16 form a top 15 (as best seen in FIG. 4) and a bottom portion 11.

[0014] Bottom portion 11 is located between front wall 12 and rear wall 12 on single film portion 4 and creates the bottom of pouch 2 (as seen in FIG. 4). Bottom portion 11 can be the edge formed by the seal between rear wall edge portions 14 to front wall edge portions 16 or bottom portion can be a predetermined width, as seen in FIG. 1 so that bottom portion 11 is gusseted. If bottom portion 11 is gusseted, it can be expanded and provide support so that pouch 2 (as seen in FIG. 4) can stand vertically (as shown in FIG. 4).

[0015] An enclosed volume is formed in the area on the inside of dashed portions, which is inside the rear wall edge portions 14, front wall edge portions 16, top 15 (as seen in FIG. 3) and bottom portion 11.

[0016] A single slit 18 is formed in front wall 12. Slit 18 passes through each of the at least two layers of single film portion 4 and is formed in a "U" shape. One embodiment of slit 18 shown in FIG. 1 is also shown in a magnified view in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 3, single slit 18 is formed in front wall 12 and is formed in a "U" shape. This "U" shape creates an un-cut portion 20 that connects a flap 22 to the remainder of front wall 12. As illustrated in FIG. 3, flap 22 would be capable of being moved above and below the front wall 12, while front wall 12 remained stationary.

[0017] A magnified view of another embodiment of single slit 18a is shown in FIG. 6. As seen in FIG. 6, single slit 18a is formed in front wall 12 and is formed in a "U" shape with a flattened bottom portion 21. In this embodiment, the "U" shape is shown as having rounded portions along its perimeter, but these portions may also be at an angle, such as a right angle. This "U" shape creates an un-cut portion 20a that connects a flap 22a to the remainder of front wall 12. Although flap 22a is shown as being smaller than flap 22 of FIG. 3, flap 22a operates in substantially the same fashion. As illustrated in FIG. 6, flap 22a would be capable of being moved above and below the front wall 12 while front wall 12 remained stationary.

[0018] Referring again to FIG. 1, a strip 24 is adhered to the internal side of front wall 12. Any suitable adhesive can be used to adhere strip 24 to the internal side of front wall 12, also, strip 24 can be heat sealed or melted onto the internal side of front wall. Strip 24 can be any suitable shape including a rectangular shape or a shape similar to the one shown in FIG. 1, among others. The strip 24 can span across the interior side of front wall 12 and be sealed between rear wall edge portions 14 and front wall edge portions 16 on one or both sides of front wall 12. Or strip 24 can be located on a portion of the interior side of front wall 12. Strip 24 can be any suitable material capable of storing a liquid and capable of being pierced by a straw 26 (as can be seen in FIG. 4). The strip 24 can be any suitable material including linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) among other materials.

[0019] As can be seen from FIG. 1, strip 24 covers slit 18 and does not allow liquid stored in the enclosed volume from leaving the enclosed volume. To access the enclosed volume, flap 22 (as can be seen in FIG. 3) is pressed inwards by straw 26 (as can be seen in FIG. 4) until strip 24 is pierced. Straw 26 (as can be seen in FIG. 4) is further pressed inwards until it comes in contact with the liquid stored in the enclosed volume.

[0020] In one embodiment, a weakened portion 28 is formed in front wall 12 and rear wall 10. Weakened portion 28 is formed by weakening the at least two layers of single film portion 4 through a thermal or mechanical process. Also formed on the front wall 12 and rear wall 10 is a notched portion 30. By pulling on the area formed by weakened portion 28 and notched portion 30, a user can remove a portion of the front wall 12 in a tearing fashion and rear wall 10 creating a removable portion 32 (as seen in FIG. 4). In FIG. 4, removable portion 32 is shown as being removed from the corner of front wall 12 and rear wall 10 but removable portion can be used to remove any other portion of front wall 12 and rear wall 10, including the sides of front wall 12 and rear wall 10. Removable portion 32 exposes the enclosed volume and the liquid stored therein and provides another way to access the stored liquid and an alternate method to access the stored liquid with the straw. Strip 24 can act as a rip or tear stop and can be used to prevent spreading of a rip or tear beyond weakened portion 28.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, pouch 2 is seen arranged to remain vertical by resting on bottom portion 11. Straw 26 is shown inserted through slit 18, piercing the strip 24 and in contact with the liquid stored in the enclosed volume. A user has pulled on the area formed by weakened portion 28 and notched portion 30 and has removed the removable portion 32, exposing the liquid stored in the enclosed volume. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, flap 22 (as shown in FIG. 3) will also act to reduce or eliminate spills if pouch 2 is placed on its side after strip 24 has been pierced. The bias of flap 22 causes flap 22 to return to the plane of front wall 12 even after straw 26 has pressed against it and reduces or eliminates liquid from leaving the pouch 2 through the hole formed in strip 24 by straw 26.

[0022] One embodiment of a method of forming pouch 2 will now be described, as illustrated in FIG. 5. A roll of film material 34 is a continuous roll of material that is used to form single film portion 4. At cutting step 36, single film portion 4 is cut from roll of film material 34 to a predetermined dimension. At cutting step 36, a single, "U" shaped slit 18 and notched portion 30 are also formed. A roll of strip material 38 is a continuous roll of material that is used to form strip 24. At strip cutting step 40, strip 24 is placed over "U" shaped slit 18, adhered to the internal face of front wall 12 and then cut from roll of strip material 38 to a predetermined dimension. In strip application step 42, strip 24 can be adhered to the internal face of front wall 12 through a melting process or a process delivering sufficient pressure to cause strip 24 to adhere to the internal face of front wall 12.

[0023] At pouch forming step 44, single film portion 4 is sealed by folding rear wall 10 over front wall 12, or vice versa, and sealing rear wall edge portions 14 to front wall edge portions 16, without sealing top 15 (as best seen in FIG. 4). At filling step 46, a beverage is added to the enclosed volume and top 15 (as best seen in FIG. 4) is sealed. Pouch 2 is now ready for use.