TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to containers for beverages and more particularly to flexible pouches having a straw.

BACKGROUND ART In the past, rectangular box-shaped containers manufactured with paper products have been used to contain the beverage. A foil sealed opening is provided at the top of the container. A straw with a pointed tip sealed in a sanitary plastic wrap is typically affixed to the side of the box. The straw so wrapped can be removed from the box, the plastic wrap removed and the pointed tip of the straw used to pierce the foil seal to create an opening. The straw is then inserted into the opening so that the beverage is made available for consumption via the straw.

One of the disadvantages of the prior art containers is the cost in manufacturing the container having the sealed opening and the separate straw with seal wrapper affixed to the side of the box.

Flexible pouches are generally known for holding fluids such as juices and other beverages. The pouch is typically comprised of two flexible, liquid impermeably superimposed sheets, the two superimposed sheets are heat sealed together in liquid-tight relation on the peripheral edges to form therebetween a liquid storage compartment.

Flexible pouches are also known to include a stand-up feature such as that disclosed by Doyen et al in U.S. Patent No. 3,380,646. Doyen et al discloses a container formed by welding two sheets together along the top and side edges of the sheets. A third panel or sheet is welded to the first and second sheets at the bottom of the first and second sheets so as to form a storage

compartment between the sheets and in a manner which enables the container to stand upright.

Often it is desirable to provide a pouch with a straw to provide a convenient means of extracting the liquid from the storage compartment of the pouch. Prior art pouches have included a pre-punched portion at the top of one sheet. A straw sealed in a plastic wrap is affixed to the container in a manner similar to that as described above. The pre-punched portion aids in piercing the sheet so as to form an opening to accept the straw. However, the straw can be inadvertently detached from the container while on display for purchase or during handling by the consumer prior to consumption, etc. Without the readily available use of the straw, the convenience of the single server prepackaging of the beverage is hampered. Further, such prior art type containers are often marketed for use by young children who may inadvertently pull the straw out of the opening in the container, possible contaminating the straw and otherwise detracting from the convenience aspect of the packaging.

In addition, the prior art also suffers in that fluid is often inadvertently expelled from the straw shortly after the straw is inserted into the container due to pressure within the container.

Kugler, U.S. Patent No. 3,171,581 discloses a dispensing flexible bag. A material such as polyethylene may be used in the fabrication of the package. The bag is formed by first and second walls with the four marginal edges heat-sealed to form a storage compartment. A side edge and a top edge of the container are also joined together to form expansion pleats or gussets. The bottom of the side gusset is opened to the storage compartment. A perforated line is located between the storage compartment portion of the bag and the top gusset and additionally a scored or second perforated line is

provided at one end of the top gusset remote from the end which is adjacent the side gusset. The beverage within the bag is dispensed by tearing the bag along the perforated line and scored line. The top gusset can then be inserted into the mouth of the person desiring to consume the beverage much as one would with a conventional straw. However, the top gusset can be difficult to control and handle due to the flexible nature of the material.

In addition, certain prior art straws formed from two flexible superimposed sheets are known to collapse under the suction created by the user, leading to difficulties during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a flexible pouch is provided which avoids the prior art problems.

The present invention therefore provides a pouch comprising a back wall panel formed of polymeric material, a front wall panel formed of polymeric material, the front wall panel being superimposed on the back wall panel, a seal extending substantially along the peripheral edges to form a storage compartment between the back and front wall panels. The seal also forming a delivery tube extending along an edge of the pouch. The pouch includes means for detaching a portion of the length of the delivery tube from the remaining portion of the pouch and means for reinforcing the detached portion of the delivery tube.

In one embodiment, the reinforcing means provides at least one support column to maintain the delivery tube in an erect position.

The reinforcing means may also provide reinforcement to the delivery tube to prevent collapsing of the tube under suction during use.

In one preferred embodiment, the means for

detaching consists of a perforated line extending between the delivery tube and the remaining portion of the pouch and further extends across the end of the delivery tube, whereby a user can open the end of the delivery tube and separate the tube from the remaining portion of the pouch in one motion of tearing along the perforated line.

The pouch of the present invention can be utilized with pouches having a stand-up feature as discussed in the aforesaid Doyen et al patent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pouch of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the pouch of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the pouch of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of yet a further embodiment of the pouch of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The pouch 10 of the present invention is generally shown in Figure 1 to include a front wall panel 12 superimposed over a back wall panel 14. A seal extends substantially along the peripheral edges of the pouch 10 and is generally depicted in Figure 1 by reference numeral 16. The seal 16 can be formed for example by a heat seal process in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The seal forms a storage compartment 18 between the front wall panel 12 and back wall panel 14. The seal further defines a delivery tube 20 which is shown in Figure 1 to extend along a side edge of the pouch 10 in a vertical direction. The seal 16 further defines a channel 22 within the delivery tube 20. The channel 22 is in fluid communication with the storage compartment 18 and provides a means of expelling or delivering the beverage from the storage compartment 18 to the user. A line of perforations 24 extends between the storage compartment 18

and delivery tube 20 so as to provide a means of detaching a portion of the delivery tube 20 from the remaining portion of the pouch 10. A further line of perforations 26 is provided at the end of the delivery tube and across the channel 22 so that the delivery tube 20 can be opened by severing a portion of the delivery tube 20 across the line of perforations 26.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the pouch 10 of the present invention and illustrates the invention in greater detail.

In particular, a first support column 28 is shown extending adjacent one side of the channel 22 and a second support column 30 is shown extending adjacent the other side of the channel 22. The first and second support columns 28, 30 are opened to and in fluid communication with the storage compartment 18. In this manner the support columns 28, 30 are capable of maintaining the delivery tube 20 in a stiffened condition to varying degrees dependent in part on the external pressure applied to the storage compartment portion of the pouch by the user's hand. In the alternative, the first and second support columns 28, 30 can include a plurality of pockets 32 which may be individually sealed and filled with either air or fluid. In the alternative, the plurality of pockets 32 can be in fluid communication with the storage compartment 18. In any event, the support columns 28, 30 provide a means of reinforcing the delivery tube 20.

Figure 2 further depicts the portion of the back wall panel 14 forming the channel 22 to include a geodesic structure within the film. The geodesic structure may be embossed within the film or provided by any other suitable means. The front wall panel 12 may similarly be provided with a complimentary geodesic structure. The geodesic structure provides a certain degree of rigidity to the channel 22 formed by the front and back wall panels 12, 14

and the seal 16. In particular, the geodesic structure has a tendency to prevent the channel 22 from collapsing while the user is applying suction to the opened end of the channel 22 by way of the user's mouth in order to drink the beverage within the pouch 10.

The pouch 10 of Figure 2 is also shown to include a punched-hole 34 positioned at the remote end of the line of perforations 24. The punched-hole 34 provides a means of resisting further tearing of the front and back wall panels 12, 14 when severing the pouch 10 along the line of perforations 24. A plastic reinforcing ring 35 is provided about the periphery of the punched-hole 34.

The further line of perforations 26 is clearly shown to extend across the channel 22, whereas the first and second support columns 28, 30 are shown to end short of the line of perforations 26.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the pouch 10 of the present invention. The pouch 10 is shown to have a tube 36 within the channel 22. The tube 36 can be a J-shaped rigid plastic tube sealed within the channel 22 to provide a means of reinforcing the delivery tube 20. In particular, the plastic tube provides rigidity to the delivery tube 20 and also avoids the above noted situation wherein the channel 22 may collapse under suction during use. It can be seen that the tube 36 ends before the line of perforations 26. The end 37 of the tube 36 is flared shaped to accommodate the flow of fluid into the tube 36.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of yet a further embodiment of the pouch 10 of the present invention. The pouch 10 of Figure 4 is shown to be oriented in a manner wherein the delivery tube 20 extends in a horizontal direction along the top edge of the pouch 10. Figure 4 depicts the pouch 10 with the first and second support columns 28, 30 with the plurality of

pockets 32 and the geodesic structure within the channel 22. Alternatively, the orientation as depicted in Figure 4 can be provided with the other various disclosed support columns 28, 30 and the embodiment having the J-shaped plastic tube 36.

Figure 4 also depicts the line of perforations 24 extending in a curved manner and blending with the further line of perforations 26 so as to provide essentially a single line of perforations.

It can be seen from the foregoing that the channel 22 can be readily opened and the delivery tube 20 partially separated from the pouch by severing the front and back wall panels 12, 14 along the perforated line. The user can then hold the storage compartment portion of the pouch in one hand while manipulating the delivery tube into one's mouth so as to expel the contents of the storage compartment by creating a suction with the user's mouth.