Peelable seal

• US 20040078023A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Balteau, Patrick, Houwaert, Vincent, Gollier, Paul-Andre, Peluso, Francesco
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2024 having peelable seals
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2093 Containers having several compartments for products to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3266 separated by a common rupturable seal, a clip or other removable fastening device

Abstract

The present invention provides a peelable seal for a multi-chambered container including a first edge and a second edge. At least one of the first edge or second edge includes a stress bearing portion and a non-stress bearing portion.

Claims

1. A multichambered container comprising:

a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall and second sidewall sealed along a common periphery;

a peelable seal connecting the first sidewall and second sidewall to form chambers in the container; and

the peelable seal having a length, the peelable seal having a serrated portion along at least a portion of its length.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the peelable seal extends between two points on the periphery.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the peelable seal has a first edge and a second edge, and the serrated portion is located on one of the first edge or the second edge.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the peelable seal has a first edge and a second edge, and a serrated portion is located on both the first edge and the second edge.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the serrated portion is spaced from the common periphery.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the serrated portion includes inner points, outer points, angular legs connecting the inner points and outer points, and a depth between the outer points and inner points.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the first sidewall and second sidewall of the container form an angular joint at the inner points.

8. A multichambered container comprising:

a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall and second sidewall sealed along a common periphery;

a pair of seals connecting the first sidewall and second sidewall to form chambers in the container;

the pair of seals including a first seal and a second seal, the first seal having a first peel force, and the second seal having a second peel force; and

wherein the first peel force is less than the second peel force.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the peelable seal extends between two points on the periphery.

10. The container of claim 8 wherein the first peak peel force is approximately three times less than the second peak peel force.

11. The container of claim 8 wherein the second seal is located in generally the center of the first seal.

12. A multichambered container comprising:

a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall and second sidewall sealed along a common periphery;

a peelable seal connecting the first sidewall and second sidewall to form chambers in the container; and

the peelable seal having outer edges and a central portion, the peelable seal also having a peel force gradient such that the peel force is less at the outer edges than in the central portion.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein the peelable seal extends between two points on the periphery.

14. The container of claim 12 wherein the peel force at the outer edges is approximately three times less than the peel force at the central portion.

15. A method of peeling a container having a peelable seal, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a container having a first sidewall and a second sidewall and a peelable seal connecting the first sidewall and second sidewall, the peelable seal having a serrated portion along at least a portion of its length, the serrated portion having outer points, inner points, and angular legs connecting the inner points and outer points; and

separating the first sidewall and second sidewall such that the first sidewall and second sidewall separate first along the inner points.

16. A peelable seal for a multi-chambered container comprising:

a first edge and a second edge;

at least one of the first edge or second edge including a stress bearing portion and a non-stress bearing portion.

17. The peelable seal of claim 16, wherein the seal has a length, and at least one of the first edge or second edge includes is serrated along at least a portion of the seal length.

18. The peelable seal of claim 16, wherein the seal has a length, and at least one of the first edge or second edge includes is scalloped along at least a portion of the seal length.

19. The peelable seal of claim 16, wherein the seal has a length, and at least one of the first edge or second edge includes is trapezoid shaped along at least a portion of the seal length.

20. The peelable seal of claim 16, wherein the seal has a length, and at least one of the first edge or second edge includes is polygonal shaped along at least a portion of the seal length.

21. The peelable seal of claim 16, wherein the seal has a length, and at least one of the first edge or second edge includes is geometrically shaped along at least a portion of the seal length.