POUCH WITH WIDENED SEAL FOR ELONGATED DIAGONAL CUT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U S. Provisional Application No. 60/737,802, filed ^" November i 8. 2005, which is hereby express!}- incorporated by reference herein,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention is directed to an improv ement in what is known as "pouch" or "pouch -style " packages. Pouch packages are the well-known type of dispensing packages that are used, for example, in the packaging of condiments such as ketchup as may be found at typical fast-food restaurants. Pouch packages are formed of thin films (e.g., of aluminum foi! or foil/plastic laminates) sealed together to form a containment pouch for a product to be dispensed The product to be dispensed is contained within the pouch package until the package is opened, for example by tearing.

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 6,783,030 relates to pouch packages and explains their universal use. Il states, at coi. L lines 44-48. "The universal use of pouch sty le packages for a broad spectrum of products ranging from ketchup and other condiments to health and beauty aids as well as medical products in addition to various other foods and technical products is well known." U.S. Patent No. 6,783.030 discloses layered films and aperture forming means for pouch packages, U.S. Patent No. 6.783,030 also discloses the formation of preformed bulges in pouches to increase product containment capacity , reduce materials costs and/or eϋminate wrinkles in the pouches. U.S. Patent No. 6,783,030 is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

[0004] Regular pouches often have tear directions w ritten on the end comer of the pouch and depend on a serrated cut at the end to start, the tear. An example is shown in Figure 1. The pouch 1 in Figure 1 has an edge seal 3 which extends around all four edges of the pouch I . The edge seals on the two side edges (the right and ieft edges) of ihe pouch are substantially uniform in width and may have substantially the same width a.s each other. The edge seals on the top and bottom edges of the pouch may also be substantially uniform in width and mav have substantially the same width as each other. The edge seals on the top and bottom edges of the pouch may also have substantially ihe same width as the edge seals on the side edges of the pouch The pouch 1 has tear directions w ritten on the end comer.

However, forming a tear in this prior art package is often difficult and is not directional Iy controlled.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A pouch-style containment package for containing and dispensing products is provided, comprising a front fdm and a back film sealed to the from film along a series of edge seals. In accordance w ith an embodiment of the invention, the pouch-sty le containment package comprises a w idened sea! portion extending inwardly from a first edge sea! of the series of edge seals and an elongated diagonal cut extending substantially across the first edge seal and into the widened seal portion. The widened sea! port! on and elongated diagonal cut facilitate simple, directionally controlled tearing.

[0006] The series of edge seals may comprise edge seals at two side edges and top and bottom edges of the pouch. The edge seals at the two side edges of the pouch may be substantially uniform in width and substantially the same width as each other. Similarly , the edge seals at the top and bottom edges of the pouch may be substantially uniform in width and substantially the same width as each other. The edge seals at the two side edges and the top and bottom edges of the pouch may he substantially the same w idth as each other

[0007] The w idened seal portion may extend inwardly from one of the side edge seals, the top seal or the bottom seal. More than one widened seal portion may be provided, extending from any combination of these seals. The elongated cut mas- extend substantially across the edge seal from which the widened seal area extends, and the elongated cut may extend into the widened seal portion. The elongated cut may extend substantially across the widened seal portion.

[0008] The width of the widened edge seal may be substantially the same as. greater than, or less than the w idth of the edge seal from which it extends.

[0009] in an embodiment of the invention, a pouch-sty Ie containment package for containing and dispensing products is provided, comprising a front film and a back film sealed to the front film along a series of edge seals, hi accordance with this embodiment, the pouch-style containment package has a preformed bulge in the front film, the back film, or both. The pouch-style containment package comprises a widened seal portion extending inwardly from at least a first edge seal of the series of edge seaJs and an elongated diagonal cut extending substantially across the first edge seal arid into the w idened seal portion. In a specific embodiment, the pouch-style containment package comprises a widened seal portion extending inw ardly from two edge seals adjacent the comer where the two edge seals meet.

The widened seal portion can form a generally triangular shape. An elongated diagonal cul can extend substantially across one of the edge seals and into the widened seal portion In a specific embodiment, tw o elongated diagonal cuts can extend substantially across adjacent edge seals into the widened seal portion, facilitating fearing off a general!) triangular corner portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 shows a phrior art pouch

[00l l] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a pouch in accordance with the present invention.

[0012) Figure 3 shows the pouch of Figure 2 with an end comer torn off

[0013) Figure 4 shows a second embodi ment of a pouch in accordance with the present im ention.

[0014] Figure 5 shows the pouch of Figure 4 with an end comer torn off.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a pouch in accordance with the present invention. The pouch ma> be made of any pouch material known in the art. in the embodiment of Figure 2, the pouch-style containment package is rectangular and the series of edge seals comprises four edge seals, with one edge seal extending along each side of the rectangular pouch-sty le containment package.

[0016] The pouch shown in Figure 2 has an elongated diagonal cut 2 made into a smooth edge seal 4. \\ sth the cut 2 extending well bey ond the width that the seal would ha\ e if the seal were just the straight seal Howev er, this cut 2 does not extend into the product containment area of the pouch because the im ention includes sealing a small widened portion 6 from the straight seal 4 The cut 2 extends into this widened seal portion

[0017] The cut 2 provides a directional tearing to the pouch The w idened seal portion 6 allows the long cut 2 which facilitates tearing. The im ention allows relatively simple and consistent tearing off of the pouch comer to create an outlet.

[00I8| A user of the pouch can simply begin the tear along the cut 2, The cut

2 prov ides a direction to the tear and allows the tear to easily continue along the direction of cut 2 across the comer of the pouch.

[0019] Figure 3 shows lhe pouch of Figure 2 with an end corner torn off As can be seen in Figure 3. the tear continued generally m the diagonal direction of {he cut 2. An end comer 8 of the pouch is easih torn off, creating an outlet opening 10 for dispensing tide product from the pouch, [0020] The edge seals arid widened seal portion 6 max be made by any suitable means For example, heat sealing may be utilized. As persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, this ma\ be accomplished by seating dies

}0021 S Figures 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the im ention. Figure 4 shows a pouch-style containment package 20 for containing and dispensing products. comprising a front film and a back film sealed to the front film along a series of edge seals 21 , 22, 23. 24. In accordance with this embodiment the pouch-style containment package has a preformed bulge 32 in the front film. A bulge may also he formed in the back film. The pouch-st\ le containment package 20 comprises a widened seal portion 25. 26 extending mw ardh from two edge seals 22. 23 adjacent the corner where the two edge seals 22, 23 meet The widened seal portion 25. 26 can form a generally triangular shape. A channel 29 is left unsealed Thus, m the w idened seal portion 25. 26. the front film is sealed to the back fi lm, except at the unsealed channel 29 Two elongated diagonal cuts 27, 28 extend substantially across the adjacent edge seals 22. 23 into the widened seal portion 25, 26, facilitating tearing off a generally triangular corner portion The arrangement of the cuts causes the tear to be made across the unsealed channel 29.

|0022j Figure 5 shows the pouch of Figure 4 with an end corner torn off. As can be seen m Figure 5, a tear started at cut 27 continued generally in the diagonal direction of the cut 27 and through the cut 28. which is generally linearly aligned w ith the cut 27, With the two cuts 27, 28. the tear ma\ be facilitated by twisting An end corner 30 of the pouch is easily torn off, creating an outlet opening 31 for dispensing the product from the pouch.

Because the tear w as drrectionally controlled across the unsealed channel 29, the channel 29 serves as a dispensing channel for the product, the dispensing channel ending at the outlet opening 31 .

10023] The channel 29 may take various shapes For example, the channel ma> be made narrower or wider, longer or shorter. Changes to the channel shape or si/e can be accomplished b> changing the seal areas For more viscous products, the channel may he wider For less viscous products, the channel may be narrow to permit a controlled dispensing steam In fact the channel may be shaped narrow enough to prevent product from

spilling out allowing product to be dispensed onh when finger pressure ts applied to squeeze the pouch

[0024| Figure 4 shows the two cuts 27 and 28 generally along the same line as each other. In a v aπation, the cuts may be angled with respect to each other For example. the two cuts may be angled such that the tmagmars continuations of the cuts intersect at an oblique angle

[0025] It will be appreciated that numerous variations may be made to the embodiments shown and described herein. For example, the widened seal portion may extend inwardh from a side edge sea! or a top or bottom edge seal or am combination The size of the widened edge seal may be any suitable size, for example having a width substantially the same as. greater than, or less than the width of the edge sea! from which it extends The shape of the widened edge seal may also vary. The length and direction of the cut may also vary. It need not be straight, but can be curved. The cut mas he a series of smaller cut portions, like a dashed line The word "cut" is used to include continuous or dashed cuts, continuous or dashed notches of various shapes, and the like Other variations will be readsh envisioned based on the disclosure herein