Field

We provide a flexible package that may be used for packaging liquids or gels and may be manufactured on

automated production machinery. The package can protect the contents from contamination or leakage during transport. The package may also be used to contain two separate liquids or gels for simultaneous dispensing, while enabling

convenient discharge of the contents for use without the need for additional screw caps, pull tabs etc. We also provide a dispenser for such packages.

Background and Summary

Packaging of products serves several functions, including protecting the contained item from contamination or

deterioration, and minimising mechanical damage during handling or transport.

Currently, liquids are packed and dispensed from a number of different types of containers, such as bottles, plastic containers and metal cans. Simple, one wall plastic

structures such as milk bags have been introduced in an attempt to reduce costs and bring environmental benefits, but these offer little impact or barrier protection to the contents . Liquids contained in such packs are often dispensed via an external opening device such as a screw cap or ring pull, which adds to the cost and production complexity. However, screw caps and ring pulls etc. tend to increase the bulk or weight of the package or a consignment of packages, and thereby increase costs and waste along the supply chain. Our UK Patent GB 2475770 B, dated 16 November 2010, and equivalents elsewhere describe and claim a package for an article comprising a pressurised outer bag having gas-tight seals at opposite ends, and an inner pouch for supporting the article within the outer bag, wherein the pouch extends along the length of the outer bag and is secured to the outer bag only at the gas-tight seals, and wherein the pouch is maintained under sufficient tension by the pressure within the outer bag to suspend the article within the bag and to maintain a space between the article and the outer bag on all sides of the article; characterised in that back seals closing the inner pouch and the outer bag respectively are laterally offset from one another. GB 2475770 B also describes and claims a corresponding method of packaging an article and a packaging machine for packaging a continuous stream of articles.

We now provide a modification of the invention of

GB 2475770 B directed towards the packaging of liquids or gels.

In accordance with a first aspect, there is provided a package for liquids or gels comprising an inner pouch suspended within an outer bag and including a valve

associated with a dispensing outlet from the inner pouch, which valve opens when the pressure inside the inner pouch exceeds a predetermined value.

The term "pouch" as used herein is intended to include any receptacle, cavity or wrapping surrounding and

containing a liquid or gel.

In particular, the valve may be a slit valve covering the dispensing outlet. The inner bag, or at least the slit valve, is made of a relatively flexible material, such as for instance silicone rubber, polyvinyl chloride, urethane, ethylene vinyl acetate, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, cast polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon and the like. Upon application of a squeezing force on the package, the slit valve opens due to the increased pressure within the inner pouch and the liquid or gel contents dispense through the slit. Upon removal of the squeezing force, the slit closes and the contents are prevented from flowing out of the package. The stiffness of the slit valve is sufficient to prevent the slit from opening under the hydrostatic pressure of the contents of the pouch in the absence of an external squeezing force. Thus the dispensing outlet may be drip- free .

This self-sealing property of a slit valve or equivalent enables only part of the contents of the pack to be

dispensed at any one time. The pack remains sealed between successive discharges of the contents.

The positioning and size of the valve may be varied in accordance with the viscosity of the liquid or gel product contained in the pouch.

In a particular configuration, any seals closing the inner pouch and the outer bag respectively are laterally offset from one another. The outer bag may include

longitudinally extending welded pinches to impart a cusped cross-section to the outer bag. This can improve the stackability of packages and offer additional protection to the contents. The outer bag may be pressurised, for example with an inert gas or gaseous mixture. Thus, the inner pouch is held in suspension within a sealed inflated bag and may be protected against mechanical impact. In a particular configuration, the package may comprise an outer bag having gas-tight seals at opposite ends, and an inner pouch within the outer bag, wherein the inner pouch extends along the length of the outer bag and is secured to the outer bag only at the gas-tight seals, and wherein the inner pouch is maintained under sufficient tension by the pressure within the outer bag to suspend the inner pouch within the outer bag and to maintain a space between the inner pouch and the outer bag on all sides thereof.

Alternatively, the outer bag may be adapted to contain a substance capable of reacting with the contents of the inner pouch. For example, if the liquid contents may be harmful to people or the environment, the outer bag may contain a neutralising agent or an absorbent as a precaution against leakage or spillage from the inner pouch.

The present package is suitable for two-component

systems, such as some adhesives or paints, or an oil/vinegar emulsion, for example. The two components are retained in the outer bag and the inner pouch respectively. They are mixed together to form the end product when discharged from the outer bag and inner pouch, with or without a chemical interaction.

According to another aspect, we provide a package as described above wherein the outer bag is adapted to contain a liquid or gel and the package includes a further valve, such as a slit valve, associated with a dispensing outlet from the outer bag, which further valve opens when the pressure inside the outer bag exceeds a predetermined value. The contents of the outer bag may be capable of reacting with the contents of the inner pouch.

In order to reduce leakage or spillage, the package may include an additional closure, for example a plug, for the or each dispensing outlet. The additional closure is removed, temporarily or permanently, before squeezing the package to discharge the contents through the valve or valves. Conveniently, at least one additional closure is a tamper-proof seal, that is the closed container cannot be opened without leaving visible evidence of access. The seal may be demountable, in which case it should not be

resealable, or a user may gain access to the contents of the container by cutting or tearing the container or closure, for example by means of a tear strip. In another

embodiment, the dispensing outlet may be blocked downstream of the valve, for example by heat-sealing. The dispensing outlet is opened by cutting or tearing across the dispensing outlet at a location between the blockage and the valve, and discarding the portion so excised.

This packaging system can thus provide an integrated pack that protects and cushions a liquid or gel product, while reducing extraneous packaging material. The pack can be produced on a range of automatic packaging machinery or from pre-made pouches.

Especially when a number of packages are produced on automated or semi-automated machinery, those portions of the inner pouch adhering to the outer bag may be sealed thereto in substantially the same manner as the pouch is sealed. Ideally, each sealed portion comprises substantially the whole of the relevant edge of the inner pouch. By "seal" is meant substantial integration of the material or materials contacting each other. Depending on the package

requirements, all seals should be substantially hermetic, at least for the expected lifetime of the unopened package.

The outer bag may be pressurised with air or any inert gas or mixture of gases. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen are convenient and readily available. Alternatively, the outer bag may contain a liquid or gel to cushion the inner pouch.

The inner pouch and the outer bag may be made of the same or different materials, provided that they can readily be sealed or otherwise adhere to each other. Materials to produce both the inner pouch and outer bag can each be tailored to the varied requirements of the products contained. A wide range of flexible packaging materials may be utilised. Particular examples of suitable materials are:

(a) Recyclable materials such as Mono or co-extruded Polyethylene- and Mono Polypropylene-based flexible materials ;

(b) Co-extrusions of (for example ) Polyethylene/Nylon/ Polyethylene, where oxygen barriers may be incorporated in the co-extrusion;

(c) Two layer laminates of Oriented

Polypropylene/modified Polyethylene (sealing compatible to the OPP) ; and

(d) Three or more layer laminates of (for example) Polyethylene/ Polyester/Polyethylene ;

together with the materials listed above.

The package may allow the potential replacement of several current packaging systems offering product

protection methods that are more energy hungry in their construction and manufacture. The package uses air or an inert gas as the protective medium rather than rigid or semi-rigid constructions such as: glass, PET or PET bottles, aluminium cans The packaging system may thus be environmentally friendly.

The packaging system may allow lower weight flexible materials to be tailored to the exact oxygen and barrier requirements of the product. It may be possible to enable significant reductions in the total weight of packaging material required and in the carbon footprint resource.

The package also offers the potential to use recycled materials in its construction and to use recyclable materials to pack many products. Some embodiments may enable continuous assembly of packages by modifying existing machines. According to another aspect, we provide an assembly comprising a

plurality of packages as described above connected end to end to one another.

According to another aspect, we provide a dispenser for a package as described above including a pair of rollers adapted to apply sufficient pressure to the package to open the valve or valves and discharge the contents through the respective dispensing outlets. Where the outer bag is presurised, it may be convenient for the dispenser to include means to puncture the outer bag while the package is traversing the dispenser, which can reduce problems when winding the bag around the rollers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The packaging system will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a package for a liquid or gel with a single dispensing outlet;

Fig. 2 is a view of a package for two liquids or gels with two dispensing outlets;

Fig. 3 is a view of a dispenser for the present package;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the dispenser; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the dispenser with a package in position . Description of Embodiments

The package comprises a flexible inner pouch 1, suspended within an outer bag 2 by heat-sealed areas 3A and 3B at opposite ends. A dispensing outlet 4 exiting both the inner pouch 1 and the outer bag 2 is closed by a slit valve 5 at the point where dispensing outlet 4 leaves the inner pouch 1. In order to prevent leakage during transport or storage, the end of dispensing outlet 4 remote from the inner pouch 1 is closed by a tamper-proof sealing strip or tab 6, which may be removed and discarded by cutting or tearing along the dashed line indicated in Figure 1. Alternatively, the sealing strip or tab 6 may be reusable, as a supplement to slit valve 5.

Optionally, a hangar 7 may be attached to the package, usually at the end remote from dispensing outlet 4.

In use, the inner pouch 1 contains the desired liquid or gel contents. The outer bag 2 forms a double skin which helps to prevent leakage or damage to the inner pouch and contents. The outer bag 2 may be pressurised with air or any suitable gas to cushion the inner pouch 1 and its contents. Alternatively, the outer bag 2 may itself contain a liquid or gel, which can be inert to cushion the inner pouch 1 or can constitute a neutralising agent or absorbent as a further protection against harmful consequences of leakages from the inner pouch 1.

The package of Figure 2 is identical with that of Figure 1, except that the inner pouch 1 and outer bag 2 are

provided with separate dispensing outlets, 4A and 4B

respectively, each with its own slit valve 5. The inner pouch 1 and outer bag 2 contain two different products, such as the components of a two-part adhesive, which react together when they mix on discharge through the dispensing outlets, 4A and 4B. The relative proportions of the two components can be controlled by varying the size or position of the two slit valves 5.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a hand-operated dispenser for a packages as described. The dispenser has a housing 31. Handle 32 rotates a roller 32A. Clamps 33 can retain a package, indicated generally at 37 in Figure 5, against the roller 32A. Tangs 34 deflate the outer air from between the inner and outer bag .

Hinged flap 35 bears an idler roller 36, which is urged against roller 32A by a spring 38. Tangs 34 on roller 32A can engage the package as it passes through the rollers 32A and 36 and deflate the outer bag, the air having served its purpose of protecting the product up to the moment of inserting into the dispenser.

In use, the pressure exerted by the pair of rollers 32A and 36 is sufficient to open the package valves and extrude the contents 39. The valve or valves close once the package leaves the dispenser and the pressure is relieved.

The packages as described may be produced and filled in any convenient manner, for example as described in

GB 2475770 B.

The present packages may be made lighter or with less material than known packages, which may reduce transport costs and benefit the environment. Depending on the

contents, the packages may be made from recycled materials. Where appropriate, empty packages may be recycled or

returned to the supplier and re-used.