CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims benefits of U.S. provisional patent application number 61/808,977 filed April 5, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This relates to straw attachments, straw assemblies, and containers for flowable materials such as liquids having straw attachments and assemblies, as well as related methods.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Containers for holding liquids and other flowable materials are known. Some such containers are used for holding flowable materials that may be consumed by human beings. Such flowable materials include liquids comprising beverages. There are various designs for such containers including, doypacks (sealed plastic bags), flexible pouches and bags, and rigid and semi-rigid containers made in part from cardboard and/or other materials that are impermeable to the liquid/flowable material. Various designs of such containers provide containers that allow a user to easily extract such liquids or other flowable materials directly from such containers. Some such designs include containers such as juice pouches and juice boxes having straws that can be used to be inserted into the container to aid in the extraction of the liquid or other flowable material from the container.

[0004] Known designs may have a variety of shortcomings including but not limited to the following. One shortcoming is that straws may not be sufficiently well attached to the container such that they may become disconnected and lost prior to a user wishing to consume the liquid in the container. Another shortcoming is that known manufacturing processes for assembling and attaching straws to containers can be complex and relatively expensive.

SUMMARY

[0005] A container may comprise two components: a container and a straw attached to the container. The container may have a wall structure with an aperture region that may include a frangible area or seal. The aperture region may be

punctured with and by the pivoting motion of the straw allowing an inlet of the straw to be received into the cavity where a liquid is non-operational, facilitating extraction of the liquid from the container such as for example by a user sucking on a protruding outlet of the straw.

[0006] According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a container comprising: a wall structure defining an interior cavity for holding a flowable material; a straw having an inlet and an outlet; an attachment mechanism attaching the straw to the wall structure; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while remaining attached to the container body, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operational position, and configured such that during operation, the rotation of the straw to the operational position, the straw is operable to puncture the wall structure such that the inlet is received within the cavity.

[0007] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a container comprising a flexible pouch or semi-rigid container, the container comprising: a wall structure defining an interior cavity for storing a flowable material; a straw having an inlet and an outlet; a connector connecting the straw to the wall structure; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while connected to the container body, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operational position, and configured such that during operation, the rotation of the straw to the operational position, the straw is operable to puncture the wall structure such that the inlet is received within the cavity. [0008] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a pouch for holding liquids, comprising: a flexible body having a wall structure defining a cavity for storing a liquid; a straw having an inlet and an outlet ; a connector connecting the straw to the container body; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while attached to the container body, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operation position, whereby during the rotation of the straw, the straw is operable to puncture the wall such that the inlet is received within the cavity.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a straw attachment for attaching to a container adapted for holding a flowable material, the assembly comprising: a straw having an inlet and an outlet; an attachment

mechanism operable to attach the straw to a wall of the container body; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while attached to the container body, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operation position, whereby during the rotation of the straw, the straw is operable to puncture the wall such that the inlet is received within the cavity.

[0010] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of accessing the interior cavity of a container with a straw, the container comprising: a wall structure defining an interior cavity for holding a flowable material; a straw having an inlet and an outlet; an attachment mechanism attaching the straw to the wall structure; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while remaining attached to the container body, the method comprising: using the pivot mechanism, rotating the straw to puncture the wall structure such that the inlet is received within the cavity.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a container comprising: (a) forming a straw attachment, the straw

attachment comprising: (i) a straw having an inlet and an outlet; (ii) a connector operable to connect the straw attachment to the container; (iii) a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw when attached to the container body by the attachment mechanism, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operation position, whereby during the rotation of the straw, the straw is operable to puncture the wall such that the inlet is received within the cavity; and (b) attaching the straw attachment to a container using the connector.

[0012] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a plurality of containers, the method comprising: (a) forming a plurality of straw attachments, each of the straw attachments comprising: (i) a straw having an inlet and an outlet; (ii) an attachment mechanism operable to connect the straw attachments to the container; (iii) a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw when attached to the container body by the attachment mechanism, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operation position, whereby during the rotation of the straw, the straw is operable to puncture the wall such that the inlet is received within the cavity; and (b) attaching each of the straw attachments to a container using the attachment mechanism.

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a plurality of straw attachments, each straw attachment adapted for use with a container, each of the straw attachments comprising: a straw having an inlet and an outlet; an attachment mechanism operable to connect the straw to the container body; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while attached to the container body by the attachment mechanism, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operation position, whereby during the rotation of the straw, the straw is operable to puncture the wall such that the inlet is received within the cavity; wherein the method comprises: feeding a first layer; feeding a plurality of straws in series onto the first layer; feeding a second layer to partially cover the first layer and the straw; attaching a portion of the first layer to a portion of the second layer with the straw attached thereto, the portions of the first and second layers forming at least part of the pivot mechanism.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a plurality of straw attachments, each straw attachment adapted for use with a container, each of the straw attachments comprising: a straw having an inlet and an outlet; an attachment mechanism operable to connect the straw to the container body; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while attached to the container body by the attachment mechanism, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operation position, whereby during the rotation of the straw, the straw is operable to puncture the wall such that the inlet is received within the cavity; wherein the method comprises: feeding a pair of first layers; feeding a plurality of straws in series onto the pair of first layers; feeding a pair of second layers to partially cover the pair of first layer and the straw; attaching a portion of each of the first layer to a portion of the pair of second layer with the straw attached thereto, the portions of the first and second layers forming at least part of the pivot mechanism for each straw attachment.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a plurality of straw attachments, each straw attachment adapted for use with a container, each of the straw attachments comprising: a straw having an inlet and an outlet; an attachment mechanism operable to connect the straw to the container body; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while attached to the container body by the attachment mechanism, to rotate from a non-operational position to an operation position, whereby during the rotation of the straw, the straw is operable to puncture the wall such that the inlet is received within the cavity; wherein the method comprises: feeding a layer; attaching at least a portion of the first layer to the straw, the portion of the layer forming at least part of the pivot mechanism.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a plurality of containers comprising: (a) forming a plurality of straw attachments, each for use with a container, each of the straw attachments comprising: a straw having an inlet and an outlet; an attachment mechanism operable to connect the straw to the container; a pivot mechanism operable to permit the straw while attached to the container body by the attachment mechanism, to rotate from a non- operational position to an operation position, whereby during the rotation of the straw, the straw is operable to puncture the wall such that the inlet is received within the cavity; (b) attaching each of the plurality of straw attachments to a respective container.

[0017] Other features will become apparent from the drawings in conjunction with the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the figures which illustrate example embodiments,

[0019] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a container, in particular a pouch, for liquids with a straw shown in a non-operational position.

[0020] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view at 1B-1B in FIG. 1A.

[0021] FIG. 2A is a front elevation view of the pouch in FIG. 1 A prior to being filled with a liquid.

[0022] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the pouch in FIG. 2A taken at 2B- 2B, with a portion thereof shown enlarged.

[0023] FIG. 3A is a front elevation view of the pouch prior to being filled with a liquid.

[0024] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the pouch in FIG. 3A taken at SB- SB.

[0025] FIG. 3C is a front elevation view of an alternate embodiment of a pouch prior to being filled with a liquid.

[0026] FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view of the pouch in FIG. 3C taken at 3D- 3D. [0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pouch with the straw in an operational position.

[0028] FIG. 5A is a simplified side elevation view of the pouch with the straw in between the non-operational position and operational positions.

[0029] FIG. 5B is a simplified side elevation view of the pouch with the straw in an operational position.

[0030] FIGS. 5C (I) to (V) are schematic side views showing the relative rotational movement of a straw and straw assembly relative to an aperture region in the pouch.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a simplified schematic view of a manufacturing line for making straw attachments that may thereafter be attached to containers.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a top view of the manufacturing line's product at a stage in manufacturing marked as 7 in FIG. 6.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a top view of the manufacturing line's product at a stage marked as 8 in FIG. 6.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a top view of the manufacturing line's product at a stage marked as 9 in FIG. 6.

[0035] FIG. 10 is a top view of the manufacturing line's product at stage marked as 10 in FIG. 6.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an example manufacturing line's process for producing straw attachments that are to later be attached to containers for liquids.

[0037] FIG. 12 is a simplified schematic view of an alternate manufacturing line for making straw attachments that may thereafter be attached to containers for liquids. [0038] FIG. 13 is a top view of the manufacturing line's product at a stage marked as 13 in FIG. 12.

[0039] FIG. 14 is a top view of the manufacturing line's product at a stage marked as 14 in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 A illustrates a container 100. Container 100 may be of a variety of different types of containers including but not limited to a flexible package such as is made by Doypack, a flexible pouch, a flexible bag, a stand-up pouch or package, or a semi-rigid carton made from cardboard and other materials such as the packages made by the company Tetra Pak . As depicted, container 100 may be a flexible pouch 102 that may be suitably adapted for holding a flowable material. The flowable material may be any kind of flowable material suitable for use directly from flexible pouch 102 by a user, including but not limited to a liquid beverage suitable for consumption by a user.

[0041] Pouch 102 may be configured in any one of many different shapes and sizes and may have a body with a wall structure defining an interior cavity for holding the liquid. For example, pouch 102 may have a wall structure that may include a base wall panel 230 (that may be gusseted) and opposing front and rear side wall panels 220, 210 respectively. The front and rear side wall panels 210, 220 may terminate at a top portion 109. The base wall panel 230 may be continuously formed with the front and rear side wall panels 220, 210, and the opposing front and rear side wall panels 220, 210 may be suitably sealed in any suitable manner such as with heat sealing, adhesives, etc. along side edges 106 and 107. Side wall panels 220, 210 may also be sealed at the top portion 109 in any suitable manner including, adhesives, heat sealing and ultrasonic welding along a top edge 108. The edges 106, 107, and 108 can demarcate a sealed border 104 that together with base wall 230 may define the interior cavity. The wall panels 230, 220, 210 may be made of a suitable material or materials that are impermeable both to the liquid held in the cavity and optionally also impermeable to air. Examples of suitable construction for the pouch 102 are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,425,583 issued June 20, 1995 to Wild, in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2003/0128899 published July 10, 2003 to Dennis and U.S. Patent No.

6,116,782 issued September 12, 2000 to Arkins et al., the entire contents of each being wholly hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0042] Pouch 102 may be provided with an aperture region 111 which may provide an opening through which the liquid may be removed such as by being extracted by a user. Aperture region 111 may be simply where liquid is accessed through an opening formed by a straw 120 puncturing directly through a typical part of front side wall panel 220. The opening in aperture region 111 will be large enough to allow an inlet end 124 of straw 120 to be received into the interior cavity of the pouch 102.

[0043] It may be relatively difficult for a straw 120 to puncture directly through a normal part of the wall structure. To enable a straw 120 to more easily puncture the front wall panel 220 of pouch 102, the aperture region 111 may have a seal device 110 or other mechanism that allows aperture region 111 to be weaker thus having less puncture resistance than the rest of the front wall panel 220. This may be achieved for example by providing a frangible seal device 110 that may include an opening through the front wall panel 220, with an additional polyethylene layer surrounding and blocking the opening through the wall panel 220 in region 111. Another alternative mechanism is to eliminate a part of a multi-layer wall structure in aperture region 111 (such as just removing a strong, outer layer portion of a multi-layer construction, thus creating an area that is less resistant to puncturing. When the seal device 110 or the other mechanism is intact, it prevents liquids from exiting from the cavity in the pouch 102 where it is held, but when seal device 110 or other mechanism is broken, it may allow the liquid to exit the interior cavity of pouch 102 through the opening. [0044] A connector may be provided to connect the straw 120 to the pouch 102. The connector may be incorporated as part of a straw assembly 123 may be provided to connect straw 120 to pouch 102. Straw assembly 123 may be configured to provide both an attachment mechanism providing for the attachment of the straw to pouch 102 as well as a pivot mechanism to allow straw 120 to be rotated between a non- operational position (such as a stored position) and an operational position, as described further below. Straw assembly 123 may provide the attachment mechanism and pivot mechanism as a unitary or single assembly.

[0045] Straw 120 may have an outlet end 122 and an inlet end 124. It should be noted that throughout this patent document, the word "straw" means any tube, pipe or other body having a hollow channel extending between the inlet end 124 and the outlet end 122. Straw 120 will be adapted such as by selection of an appropriate material for its structure, to have sufficient rigidity to be able to perform the function of rotating and puncturing the aperture region 111 of the wall structure, such as breaking through the frangible liquid-tight seal device 110, as described further below. Straw 120 may be made from any one or more of a variety of materials including suitable metals, plastics, composites, etc. In some embodiments, straw 120 may be made from a rigid plastic such as by way of example only extruded polyethylene.

[0046] As described below, inlet end 124 of the straw 120 may be adapted to be able, when rotated, to puncture the pouch 102 in aperture region 111 such as by breaking through the frangible liquid-tight seal device 110, to enable liquid to be extracted from pouch 102. Straw 120 may have an outlet end 122 that is especially adapted to enable the straw outlet end 122 to puncture pouch 102 in region 111. For example, the outlet end 122 of straw 120 may be angled and may have a relatively sharp edge so that when pushed against the wall 220 in region 111 it causes the wall to be punctured providing an opening through which the inlet end 124 may pass.

[0047] Straw 120 may be attached to pouch 102 in a variety of different ways that enable the straw to pivot relative to the front side wall panel 220, and thereby puncture the pouch in aperture region 111. Straw 120 may be attached to front side wall 220 in a manner that allows straw 120 to pivot relative to a side wall 220 while remaining attached to the side wall panel 220 and which allows straw 120 to puncture side wall panel 220 during the rotation by a user, without the straw having to make any substantial amount of translational or longitudinal movement relative to front side wall 220. In such embodiments, it is substantially just the rotational pivoting movement that causes the straw 220 to puncture the front side wall 220 in aperture region 111.

Additionally, before, during, and after the rotation of straw 120 to puncture aperture region 111 of side wall panel 220, a liquid tight seal, and preferably also an air tight seal, may be provided and maintained between the straw 120 and the side wall panel 220, in region 111 surrounding the opening where the straw punctures the side wall 220.

[0048] In one particular embodiment as illustrated herein, straw 120 may be attached to a side wall 220 of pouch 102 using a straw assembly 123 that includes an attachment mechanism and pivot mechanism, that may comprise a first layer 130 and a second layer 140. Layers 130 and 140 may be made from one or more suitable materials and the material(s) may be impermeable to the liquid held in pouch 102 and to air. Layers 130 and 140 may each also have on at least one side surface thereof, a suitable layer or coating of adhesive or other bonding agent that enables that layer or coating on the surfaces of 130 and 140 to bond with an adjacent surface of another component. For example, layers 130, 140 may both be made from a tape material such as by way of example only, a polypropylene backing with a layer of an acrylic or rubber based adhesive on one surface. Other types of backing and adhesives may be used including an oriented polypropylene backing layer. Layers 130, 140 may interconnect the straw 120 to the front wall panel 220 in the vicinity of the aperture region 111 and maintain an air and liquid tight seal throughout its use. Layers 130, 140, in conjunction with straw 120, may also together, in effect form a separate straw attachment that may be applied to a container like pouch 102 in a manner like applying a label to the pouch. This may be done generally using and possibly readily adapting a label applicator and placing system such as is generally known that may be used for applying labels to objects such as containers.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 1A, layer 130 may have an upper panel or portion

130a, and a lower panel or portion 130b. Similarly, layer 140 may have an upper panel or portion 140a, and a lower panel or portion 140b. Lower panel 140b of layer 140 may have its adhesive surface facing and bonded to an opposing adhesive surface of upper panel 130a of layer 130. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1A

(which may be referred to as a non-operational configuration), upper panel 130a of layer 130 may be folded back onto lower panel 130b and the panels 130a, 130b may meet at a fold line 150 with joining ends or corners 138a and 138b. In such a configuration shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the adhesive surface side of both panels 130a, 130b are not positioned adjacent or facing each other. Lower panel 130b of layer 130 has its adhesive surface 193 (FIG. 1B) oriented downwards against the surface of front wall 220 of pouch 102, so that panel 130b serves to assist in attaching assembly 123 to front wall 220. Upper panel 130a of layer 130 has its adhesive surface 195 facing upwards in FIG. 1B and is bonded to the downward facing surface 197 of lower panel 140b of layer 140. Upper panel 140a of layer 140 has its adhesive surface oriented downwards against the surface of front wall 220 of pouch 102, so that panel 140a also serves to assist in attaching assembly 123 to front wall 220.

[0050] Upper panel 140a and lower panel 140b of layer 140, in the configuration of FIG. 1A, meet at a fold line 151 having joining ends or corners 138a and 138b. Fold line 151 of layer 140 may be substantially aligned with or be adjacent to fold line 150 of layer 130. However in the configuration of FIG. 1A, upper panel 140a and lower panel 140b are not folded relative to each other about fold line 151 , but are capable of being rotated relative to each other about fold line 150.

[0051] Thus, in the configuration of FIG. 1A, underlying layer 130 may extend upwards from a first bottom edge 131a, up to fold line 150 with the adhesive on the lower side surface of the layer 130 bonding the layer to side wall 220 of pouch 102. Then panel 130b of layer 130 may extend from fold line 150, back down to second bottom edge 131b with the adhesive on the upper side of the layer 130 also bonding the layer 130 to straw 120 and layer 140. Straw 120 can thus have a portion located between lower panel 130b of layer 130 and upper panel 140a of layer 140 so that straw 120 is partially sandwiched and secured there between. In the manufacturing process of the straw 120 and straw attachment and pivot assembly 123, straw 120 can be secured and wrapped between layers 130 and 140 in such a way as to create a near perfect air and liquid tight seal around the straw, and when attached to the pouch, also sealed with the opening when the straw punctures the aperture region 111. In this way, in use, a user sucking on the outlet end 122 of straw 120 will be able to create sufficient vacuum within the interior cavity of pouch 102 to substantially draw out all liquid held therein, particularly if a user also simultaneously compresses the wall structure of the pouch 102 to assist in forcing liquid out of the cavity through the straw.

[0052] Straw 120 may be received into a channel or groove extending within layer 140 and in particular within panel 140b, such that the outer circumferential edge 120a of the straw does not extend outwards beyond the groove (see FIG. 1B). In this way, when panel 130a of layer 130 overlies panel 140b of layer 140, the panels 130a and 130b generally lie flat against the front wall panel of pouch 102 and the straw protrudes outwards in the groove of panel 140b.

[0053] Straw 120 and assembly 123 can be manufactured as a unitary straw attachment that can, like a label, as part of the manufacture of a pouch 102 filled with a liquid, be applied to the wall structure such as front wall 220 of the pouch in a position that will enable the straw, when rotated, to puncture the aperture region 111.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1A, straw 120 may have an end portion located proximate inlet end 124 of straw 120 that extends beyond fold line 150 such that inlet end 124 is positioned proximate to aperture region 111 of pouch 102 and may thus be positioned adjacent to frangible liquid-tight seal device 110. In the configuration as shown in FIGS. 1A and IB, layer 140 can be positioned above both layer 130 and straw 120 and extend from an upper edge 141a, downwards to a lower edge 141b (FIG. 1A) so that an end portion proximate outlet end 122 of straw 120 is not covered by overlapping panels 140b, 130a of layers 130, 140 respectively. Fold lines 150, 151 can create a pivot as overlapping panels 140b, 130a can rotate about the folding lines 150, 151, with straw 120 relative to the respective adjacent panels 140a, 130b.

[0055] Turning now to FIG. 2A, pouch 102 is shown separate from the other elements of container 100 (depicted in FIG. 1A). Pouch 102 may be made from a one or more materials comprised of one or more layers in a known manner. Pouch 102 is shown in FIG. 2A prior to being filled with liquid and therefore prior to being sealed such as being sealed such as by heat sealing or by ultrasonic welding along upper edge 108 of top portion 109 (see FIG. 1A). Pouch 102 has a frangible liquid-tight seal device 110 in region 111.

[0056] Turning now to FIG. 2B, the cross-section of pouch 102 (in FIG. 2A) is shown along section line 2B-2B., Pouch 102 has rear side wall 210, front side wall 220, and bottom wall 230. Bottom wall 230 is depicted in a folded state that is characterized by folds 234a, 234b, and 234c that will unfold when pouch 102 is filled with liquid. Front wall 220 contains frangible liquid-tight seal device 110 in region 111. The enlarged section of FIG. 2B depicts a closer view of frangible liquid-tight seal 110. The wall structure of pouch 102 including wall 220 may be made of a multiple layer compound such as three layers: an inner layer 220a, a middle layer 220b, and an outer layer 220c. Each of layers 220a, 220b, 220c may be suitably bonded together. By way of example only, the wall structure material may be made from an outer layer 220c of a material highly resistant to piercing such as a polyester material (which may have a thickness of about 12 microns); a metalized foil middle layer 220b (which may have a thickness of about 2 microns) and a polyethylene foil inner layer 220a (which may have a thickness of about 100 microns). The layers may be bonded together in any suitable manner such as for example with a coating between adjacent layers of a suitable adhesive such as by way of example only an acrylic based adhesive. Examples of suitable construction for the multi-layer wall structures for pouch 102 are disclosed in US Patent No. 5,425,583 issued June 20, 1995 to Wild, and in US Patent Publication No. US 2003/0128899 published July 10, 2003 and US Patent No.

6,116,782 issued September 12, 2000 to Arkins et al., the entire contents of each being wholly hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0057] As for providing an aperture region 111 in such a wall structure, there are many techniques that may be employed to make it easier for a straw 120 to puncture the wall structure. One example is reducing the wall structure's resistance to puncturing by employing mechanical means to weaken the wall structure in region 111 such as by mechanical stamping, cutting into part of the wall structure. Alternatively, aperture region 111 could be made relatively weaker, by removing the outer layer 220c and middle layer 220b in region 111 such as with laser etching. For example, a common laser may be directed at the wall structure in region 111. The laser may have a power of in the range of about 150 to 450 watts and be controlled by a control system such that it is provided with a predetermined path that has been optimized so that the laser beam burns away the less frangible polyester layer and then reflects off of the metalized foil leaving the frangible metalized foil and polyethylene layers intact as a weakened, less puncture resistant liquid barrier in region 111. By removing a small section of outer layer 220c and middle layer 220b in region 111 , inner layer 220a can be partially exposed. Once layer 220a is partially exposed, frangible liquid-tight seal 110 is effectively created by making it easier to puncture the wall structure using inlet end 124 of straw 120 (see FIG. 1A) during rotation of straw 120 by a user, than if the straw had to puncture through all three layers 220a, 220b and 220c. An example of suitable laser etching of a pouch wall structure is disclosed in U.S. Patent

Publication No. US 2003/0128899 to Dennis published July 10, 2003 the entire contents of which, is wholly hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0058] Turning now to FIG. 3A, container 100 is shown prior to having its interior cavity being filled with a liquid and prior to being sealed at the top portion 109 (see FIG. 1A). As described above, the straw attachment includes a straw 120 which may be attached to pouch 102 using a straw assembly 123. The assembly 123 may include an attachment mechanism, and a pivot mechanism incorporated therewith. The straw assembly 123 may be constructed using layer 130, which is folded at fold line 150 with corners 138a and 138b, and with layer 140 having a fold line 151 with corners 148a, 148b (see FIG. 4). Container 100 may also employ a removable sanitary film 160 that may be located above straw 120 proximate the outlet end 122 of straw 120. Film 160 may protect the straw from the environment, contaminants, etc. and help to maintain straw 120 in a sanitary state prior to use when in the stored positions, such that the straw is clean when it is used to extract liquid by a person who sucks on the end 122 of straw 120. Sanitary film 160 can be made from a film product made by Berry Plastics.

[0059] With reference to FIG. 3B, the cross-section of container 100 (in FIG. 3A) is depicted to further illustrate how straw 120 is attached to pouch 102 with the straw assembly 123. As indicated above, layer 130 has an adhesive side that allows lower panel 130b of layer 130 to attach to front wall 220. Layer 130 is folded about pivot fold line 138 such that a portion of the adhesive side faces away from front wall 220, enabling straw 120 to attach to the adhesive side of upper panel 130a of layer 130. Layer 140 has an adhesive side that allows upper panel 140a of layer 140 to attach to wall 220 of pouch 102 above the frangible liquid and air tight seal in aperture region 111, and has lower panel 140b extending downward and attaching to straw 120. As a result of this construction, upper panel 140a of layer 140 covers aperture region 111 with frangible seal device 110. Sanitary film 160 covers the top of at least part of layer 140 and the portion of straw 120 that would otherwise be exposed to the environment if it was not for the presence of sanitary film 160.

[0060] With reference now to FIGS. 3C and 3D, a slightly different embodiment is illustrated that is similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3A. However, in this embodiment, there is no separate film like film 160. Rather layer 140 has in addition to panels 140a and 140b, an additional lower panel 140c, which extends to cover the full length of straw 120 and beyond. Thus lower panel 140c, with its adhesive surface facing towards the front wall panel 220, will cover the outlet end 122 of straw 120 and be bonded partly onto lower panel 130a of layer 130 and partly onto the surface of front wall panel 220. At its lowest end, panel 140c, may be folded over at a fold line 146 between corners 147a and 147b to create a tab 145. The length of layer 140 covers straw 120 and as a result, this embodiment does not require a separate sanitary film 160 (see FIG. 3A). In use, tab 145 can be grasped by a user and the panel 140c pulled back from disengagement with lower panel 130a of layer 130 and the surface of front wall panel 220. This will then release the pivot mechanism of the bonded panels 140b/130b enabling those panels and straw 120 to be rotated.

[0061] With particular reference now to FIGS. 1 A, 4 and 5A, the use of pouch 102 is now explained. As previously noted, in FIG. 1A, pouch 102 is shown with straw 120 in a non-operational (e.g. stored) position. The stored position is a position in which the pouch 102 is manufactured and maintained prior to use by a user. The non- operational position is characterized by: (1) straw 120 being oriented in a generally flat orientation and being generally parallel to the outer surface of front wall panel 220 of pouch 102 (e.g. it does not protrude up significantly from the surface of wall panel 220); and (2) outlet end 122 of straw 120 is oriented downwards towards the base wall panel 230.

[0062] By contrast, FIG. 4 depicts container 100 with straw 120 in an

operational (e.g. drinking) position. The operational position is characterized by: (1) straw 120 having been rotated an angular distance R1 about the closely aligned fold lines 150, 151 relative to the front wall 220 of pouch 102; (2) inlet end 124 having punctured frangible liquid-tight seal device 110; and (3) inlet end 124 as a result of the rotation of straw 120 having passed through an opening formed in front wall 220 so that it is positioned within in the interior cavity of pouch 102. Angular distance R1 may be somewhere in the range of about a minimum of 30-45 degrees to a typical operational position of greater than 90 degrees. Preferably angular distance R1 would in the range of about 150 to 180 degrees. However, the actual angular distance R1 can be selected by the user as a matter of personal choice and may vary to some extent during use.

[0063] In use, straw 120 can be moved from the non-operational / stored position in FIG. 1A to an operational/drinking position such as depicted in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5B so that a user can access the fluid held in the interior cavity of the pouch 102. Initially, sanitary film 160, if present, can be removed (e.g. peeled off, torn away) to expose the outlet end 122 of straw 120 and the portion of the straw proximate thereto. Second, the portion of the straw 120 proximate outlet end 122 that extends beyond the first and second layers 130, 140, can be grasped and rotated by a user such that straw 120 pivots as upper panel 130a of layer 130 pivots about fold line 150 and lower panel 140b of layer 140 pivots about adjacent or substantially aligned fold line 151. As straw 120 is rotated, the lower panel 140b of layer 140, having upper corners 148a and

148b, is rotated with upper panel 130a of layer 130 as they rotate together about fold lines 150, 151. Corners 148a and 148b of layer 140 may be directly adjacent to corners 138a and 138b of layer 130. During such rotation, the upper panel 140a, and lower panel 140b of layer 140, along with upper panel 130a of underlying layer 130, may maintain a substantially liquid and air tight seal around region 111 and straw 120. As straw 120 pivots, at some point during the rotation, inlet end 124 of straw 120 will puncture wall 220 in region 111 , such as breaking frangible liquid-tight seal 110 and inlet end 124 and an end portion of the straw proximate thereto, can enter the interior of pouch 102. This allows for communication of the liquid held in the interior cavity of pouch 102 to be communicated from interior cavity of pouch 102 into the straw inlet 124 to the straw outlet, such as if a user applies suction with their lips and mouth to draw fluid through the straw to thereby consume the liquid. It should be noted that a user should be able to substantially empty interior cavity of pouch 102 by squeezing the pouch to allow the liquid to pass through the straw, without having any translational movement of the straw relative to the pouch walls. [0064] FIG. 5A is a schematic side view of container 100 with straw 120 at an intermediate position between the non-operational and operational positions. Frangible liquid-tight seal 110 is depicted at an approximate location on pouch 102. Straw 120 is shown between layer 130 and layer 140 and a liquid and air tight seal can be provided between the straw 120, the layers 130, 140 and aperture region 111. Outlet end 122 has been rotated from the stored position and this has caused upper panel 130a of layer 130 to unfold partially at location 138. The movement has also caused lower panel 140b of layer 140 to fold partially at a location 148. These folds of layers 130, 140 at locations 138 and 148 along fold lines 150, 151 establish a pivot mechanism to allow for the rotation of the straw 120.

[0065] Once the straw 120 reaches the angular position shown in FIG. 5B, the inlet end 124 has penetrated into the interior cavity of pouch 102. It should be noted that in doing so, a small portion of layer 140 that is located on and above straw 120 may be pulled into the opening in wall panel 220 created by the puncturing action of inlet end 124. This may produce some frictional effect that creates a resistance to additional rotational movement. Additionally, some of the material of wall panel 220 in region 111 surrounding the opening that remains after inlet end 124 punctures the wall, may have some resiliency and may engage the material and push upon the portion of Iayer140 that has been dragged into the opening in wall panel 220. One or both of these effects, may cause a force or forces to be applied to the straw 120 tending to keep the straw in the operational configuration shown in FIG. 5B, including a force acting to keep the straw in that depicted rotational position.

[0066] An example of the progressive rotational movement of straw 120 and associated movement of the surrounding layers 130, 140, during rotation of the straw 120 as inlet end 124 penetrates the wall structure of pouch 102 and enters the interior cavity is shown in FIGS. 5C (I) to (V). It can be observed that once the rotation is complete, the material of the wall structure surrounding the opening and the materials of layer 140 received into opening, can cause a holding force to be applied to the straw that will tend to cause the straw to be held in or move towards an operational position rather than return to a non-operational position.

[0067] The aforementioned figures depict a couple of embodiments of a container that can be used for storing a liquid or other flowable material and easily accessing the same. However numerous modifications can be made. Some of the many examples of modifications include changes to pouch 102, to aperture region 111/frangible seal device 110, and to layers 130 and 140. For example, flexible pouch 102 may be replaced by another type of container (e.g. a semi-rigid box). In some embodiments, different straw attachment mechanisms and/or assemblies might be utilized. By way of example only, straw 120 may be attached to pouch 102 using fewer layers (i.e. only one layer) or more layers, or using a different configuration of overlapping and underlying layers. In other embodiments, different types of pivot mechanisms may be employed.

[0068] Containers, such as pouches 102, having straw and straw assemblies like straw assemblies 123 attached thereto, can be manufactured in many different ways. One example of a system and method for forming a plurality of straw

attachments is depicted in FIG. 6. A manufacturing line 500 - shown schematically - may be configured to produce a roll 590 comprising a plurality of straw attachments, each such straw attachment including a straw 120 and straw assembly 123. Each of the straw attachments can be separately applied to a container using one of many known label application processes and machinery in a label like manner to a container 100 such as a pouch like pouch 102.

[0069] Line 500 may commence with a roll 510 of sanitary film 160i and a roll 520 of a layer 140i (that may be made from a material or materials and adhesive like sanitary film 160 and layer 140 described above). Supplies from rolls 510 and 520, namely sanitary film 160i and layer 140i, may be fed and drawn downstream by conventional types of processes and machinery (such as machinery made by Seon Jin M&S Co., Ltd - Korea supplier of drinking straws, drinking straw making machinery, and plastic straw wrapping machinery.

[0070] Film 160i and layer 140i may be brought into contact with each other to form a web having a configuration as is depicted in FIG. 7, with the adhesive side of the layer 140i facing upwards and having lower overlap portion that bonds to upper overlap portion of the downward facing surface of sanitary film 160i. The upward facing surface of film 160i may also have a layer of a suitable adhesive. Once initially formed from the sanitary film 160i and the layer 140i, the web then proceeds downstream towards a set of groove forming rollers 530. Groove forming rollers 530 may imprint / create a continuous series of grooves such as grooves 534a-c on the web as depicted in FIG. 8 to prepare the web to receive straws 120i that are

dispensed from a straw hopper 540.

[0071] After passing between the groove forming rollers 530, the web passes below a straw dispensing wheel 544. Wheel 544 may be provided with spaced cavities around its periphery and each of the cavities may be configured to hold a straw. Straws 120 may be fed in series from straw hopper 540 into cavities in dispensing wheel 544. The wheel 544 may rotate each straw around to face the web and then transfer the straws sequentially from cavities in wheel 544 into the spaced grooves such as grooves 534a-c on the web and which become then bonded to the upward adhesive surface of layer 140i (see FIG. 9).

[0072] After passing straw dispensing wheel 544, the web moves towards a set of sealing rollers 560. Sealing rollers 560 combine the web with, and bond the web to, a layer 130i as depicted in FIG. 10 (see below). Layer 130i may be of material and adhesive like layer 130 referenced above. Layer 130i may be provided from a roll 550 and fed to be joined to the web. However, a fold may required in layer 130i (like layer 130 as discussed above in relation to FIGS. 1A, 3, 3B, 4, 5) so that two thicknesses of layer 130i are provided prior to it being combined with the web by sealing rollers 560. This fold may be made using a folding unit 554 that may include a plurality of guide rails/ploughs that cause the layer 130i to be folded prior to being interconnected to the web.

[0073] After the web emerges from sealing rollers 560, the web may then have a release paper liner attached to it. A release liner is a paper based carrier web material, which is coated on one side with a release agent (e.g. silicon), which provides a release effect against any type of a sticky material such as an adhesive. The release liner provides a cover over the outward facing adhesive surfaces of the layers 130i, 140i, but which can be easily removed by a labelling machine when it is required to apply the a label comprising a straw attachment to a container.

[0074] It is desirable that the two layers 130i, 140i wrap tightly around the straws and having formed grooves in the surface of the web as described above, helps to ensure this occurs. It should also be noted that the finished web with straw attached thereto, would be flat on one side and would protrude by the thickness of the straw on the other side of the web. The formation of the grooves such as grooves 534a-c ensure the establishment of this feature. This may also be useful when at a later stage it is desired to attach separate attachment mechanisms from the role 590 as the protruding straws from the web can act with a cog-like effect for labelling type equipment that might be employed to attach the attachment mechanisms to

containers.

[0075] Thereafter, the web proceeds to die cut unit 580. The die cut unit 580 can cut the web into individual labels. The die cutter 580 may be configured to cut through the label material comprising the layers 130i, 140Ϊ and sanitary film 160i, but not the release paper. As a result there will be individual labels on the label web, before forming the end product which is a roll 590 consisting of a plurality of straw assemblies with straws attached thereto, formed in series along the web.

[0076] Turning now specifically to each of FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10, the web that is formed by manufacturing line 500 (depicted in FIG. 6) is depicted at different points. FIG. 7 depicts the web as it approaches groove forming rollers 530 (depicted in FIG. 6). In FIG. 7, the overlapping portion of sanitary film 160' is located beneath layer 140'.

[0077] FIG. 8 depicts the web after it has passed groove forming rollers 530. In FIG. 8, the overlapping portion of sanitary film 160' is still beneath layer 140'.

However, the groove forming rollers 530 have imprinted a continuous series of grooves such as grooves 534a, 534b, and 534c on the web.

[0078] FIG. 9 depicts the web after it has passed straw feeding roller 544

(depicted in FIG. 6). In FIG. 9, sanitary film 160' is still beneath layer 140'. However, straws 120'a, 120'b, and 120'c have been placed in grooves 534a, 534b, and 534c (depicted in FIG. 8).

[0079] FIG. 10 depicts the web after it has passed sealing rollers 560 (depicted in FIG. 6). In FIG. 10, the overlapping sanitary film 160' is still beneath layer 140' with straws 120' a, 20'b, and 120'c above both film 160' and layer 140'. Above straws 120'a, 120'b and 120'c is layer 130'. Layer 130' was folded and fed to join the web from folding unit 554 (depicted in FIG. 6).

[0080] Turning now to FIG. 11, the method of manufacture depicted in FIG. 6 is summarized in a flow chart.

[0081] Once a roll of straw attachments 590 has been produced, the roll may be used in part of a manufacturing line for the formation and filling of containers 100 such as pouches 102. The roll of straw attachments 590 may be suitably positioned in a pouch manufacturing and filling line and conventional labelling equipment (possibly with some minor modifications) could be deployed to successively attach straw attachments to the side wall portions of containers 100 either before or after filling the pouch with a flowable material. There are many types of labelling machines that might be used to attach the label to the pouch. Webber, CMT, Quadrel and Avery are known manufacturers that supply pressure sensitive label application systems. The straw attachment labels may be applied to the pouches with the aid of a vacuum fixture and compression.

[0082] With reference now to FIGS. 12 - 14, an alternate manufacturing line 1500 is illustrated. Line 1500 is similar to line 500 but can produce a two lane web having two parallel oriented webs of straw assemblies and straws. The manufacturing process for the dual lane system is substantially the same as the single lane system as described in FIGS. 6 to 11 above with the primary difference being there are two parallel lanes of label forming webs and the straw initially applied to the webs can be common to both webs and would be cut, such as with a laser after the forming process is substantially complete.

[0083] Line 1500 may commence with a roll 1510 comprising two side by side sanitary films 1160i and a roll 1520 comprising two side by side layers 11401 (that may each be made from a material or materials and adhesive like sanitary film 160 and layer 140 described above) Supplies from rolls 1510 and 1520, namely a double sanitary film 1160Ϊ and a double layer 1140Ϊ, may be fed and drawn downstream together by substantially conventional types of processes and machinery (such as machinery manufactured by Seon Jin M&S Co., Ltd ) and brought into contact with each other to form a pair of parallel webs. Once formed, the webs then proceed together downstream towards a set of groove forming rollers 1530. As referenced above in line 500, groove forming rollers 1530 may imprint grooves on the webs to prepare the web to receive straws 120a-e that are dispensed from a straw hopper 1540 .

[0084] After passing between the groove forming rollers 1530, the webs pass together below a straw dispensing wheel or roller 1544. Wheel 1544 may be provided with spaced cavities around its periphery and each of the cavities may be configured to hold a straw. Straws 120 may be fed in series from straw hopper 1540 into cavities in dispensing wheel 1544. The wheel 1544 may rotate each straw around to face the webs and then transfer the straws sequentially into the spaced grooves and extend across both webs (see FIG. 13).

[0085] After passing straw dispensing wheel 1544, the double webs move together towards a set of sealing rollers 1560. Sealing rollers 1560 combine the webs with, and bond the web to, double layers 1130Ϊ in side by side relation. Layers 1130Ϊ may be of material and adhesive like layer 130 referenced above. Layers 1130i may be provided from a roll 1550 and fed to join the web. However, folds may be required in both layers 1130Ϊ (like layer 130 as discussed above in FIGS. 1 , 3, 3B, 4, 5) prior to the layers being combined with the web by sealing rollers 1560. The folds may be made using a folding unit 1554 that may includes a plurality of guide rails/ploughs (not shown) that cause the double layers 1130i to be folded prior to being interconnected to the webs.

[0086] After the web emerge from sealing rollers 1560, the web may then have a release paper attached to it as described above. Thereafter the web proceeds to die cut unit 1580 before forming the end product which is a roll 590 consisting of a plurality of straw assemblies with straws attached thereto, formed in series along the web. Also the straws common to both webs when inserted into the aligned grooves of the two webs can then be cut into two, so each web carries a separated straw.

[0087] The primary reasons for the two lane manufacturing system is that is may approximately double the machine output when operating at the same linear speed and it can also permit the handling of a longer straw in the straw placing step, which may be more effective.

[0088] The aforementioned figures depict one embodiment of a method of manufacturing straw attachments. Those skilled in the art appreciate that this embodiment (i.e. manufacturing line 500 depicted in FIG. 6) is capable of being modified in various ways and that such modifications may remain within the scope of the invention. Examples of modifications that would remain within the scope of the invention include adjustments for different configurations of straw attachments and the doubling or tripling of manufacturing line 500. For example, if the straw attachment is to be made without sanitary film 160i, then sanitary film roll 510 can be removed. If fewer or more adhesive layers are required, then components can be removed or added as necessary. If an increase in production is required, manufacturing line 500 can be modified such that multiples of the components can be implemented to increase production rates. For example, the production line 1500 in FIG. 12 may be utilized.

[0089] Of course, the above described embodiments are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting. The described embodiments of carrying out the invention are susceptible to many modifications of form, arrangement of parts, details and order of operation. The invention, rather, is intended to encompass all such modification within its scope, as defined by the claims.

[0090] When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiments thereof, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.