Closed flexible sachet

• US 6,347,725 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Yoakim, Alfred, Mariller, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/482,274
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 222/81, 222/82, 222/83, 222/92, 222/94, 222/107, 222/145.1
• US Class Current: 222/82
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/804 Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ , i.e. without having been previously removed from the package B65D65/46 takes precedence; tea infusers A47G19/16; spoons or stirrers comprising beverage additives A47G21/04

Abstract

The invention is directed to a closed flexible sachet in the form of an individual portion provided for extraction under pressure, containing ground roast coffee, which sachet includes two identical flexible sheets or a single folded flexible sheet of circular, oval or polygonal shape. A space for a powdered beverage is created between the two sheets or between the two faces of the folded sheet. The two sheets or the two faces of the folded sheet are welded over their periphery so that the sachet is substantially symmetrical with respect to its welding plane. The sachet is opened through the rise in pressure which takes place upon injection of an extraction fluid, in which the two flexible sheets or the two faces of the folded sheet extend over one side of the sachet beyond their welding line to provide, between the sheets or between the two faces of the folded sheet, a channel which allows the arrival of the extraction fluid. The channel is substantially perpendicular to the welding line from which it emerges.

Claims

1. A closed flexible sachet which contains an individual portion of a powdered beverage for extraction under pressure, comprising:

at least one flexible sheet welded along a welding line around its periphery to form an interior space for containing the powdered beverage, the sachet being substantially symmetrical with respect to its welding plane; and

a channel for water ingress and having an outside portion formed by an edge of the sheet that extends beyond the welding line opposite from the interior space, the channel being oriented substantially perpendicular to the welding line;

wherein the flexible sheet is impermeable to oxygen and to water vapor, and the welding line is sufficiently weak across the channel for breaking upon injection of an extraction fluid at a sufficient pressure in the outside channel portion for opening the channel and permitting ingress of the extraction fluid through the channel into the interior space.

2. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is made of aluminum, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, paper, copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylacetate or mixtures thereof.

3. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein a single flexible sheet is provided and is folded upon itself to form the interior space.

4. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of flexible sheets are present.

5. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the channel divides into at least two channels within the sachet after the welding line in order to enter the interior space at different points.

6. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a tube adhesively bonded, crimped, or laid in position.

7. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the channel is from about 1 mm to about 15 mm and the width is from about 1 mm to about 15 mm.

8. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the channel is from about 3 to about 10 mm and the width is from about 3 to about 10 mm.

9. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the welding line opens at one side upon injection of a pressurized fluid into the interior space.

10. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 9, wherein the pressure is from 1 bar to about 7 bar.

11. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the space comprises at least two compartments.

12. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the powdered beverage is selected from the group consisting of ground roast coffee, tea, instant coffee, a mixture of instant coffee and ground coffee, a chocolate product, dehydrated milk, and dehydrated cream.

13. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 11, wherein the powdered beverage is present in an amount from about 5 g to about 50 g.

14. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the sachet has a circular, oval, rectangular or polygonal shape.

15. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 13, wherein the sachet has a rectangular shape with a width of about 2 cm to about 15 cm and a length from about 6 cm to about 20 cm.

16. The closed flexible sachet according to claim 1, wherein the channel is disposed on an opposite side of the welding line from the interior space.

17. A closed flexible sachet, comprising:

a beverage component;

at least one flexible sheet sealed along a sealing line around its periphery to define an interior space containing the beverage component, the sheet comprising overlapping edges; and

a channel configured and dimensioned for ingress of extraction fluid into the interior space, the channel having an outside channel portion defined between the overlapping edges and extending towards the sealing line on an opposite side from the interior space;

wherein the flexible sheet is impermeable to oxygen and to water vapor; and

wherein the sealing line is sufficiently weak across the channel for breaking upon injection of the extraction fluid at a sufficient pressure in the outside channel portion for opening the channel and permitting ingress of the fluid through the channel into the interior space.

18. The sachet of claim 17, wherein the beverage component comprises a powdered beverage, and the extraction fluid component comprises water.

19. The sachet of claim 17, wherein the sachet is substantially symmetrical about the sealing line.

20. The sachet of claim 17, wherein the channel is oriented substantially perpendicular to the sealing line.

21. The sachet of claim 17, wherein the channel comprises a first portion and a plurality of second portions, wherein the second portions are fluidly communicated with the first portion and extend toward the sealing line towards the inner space.

22. The sachet of claim 17, wherein the channel comprises a tube attached to the sheet.

23. The sachet of claim 17, wherein the first beverage component comprises at least one of the group consisting of ground roast coffee, tea, instant coffee, a mixture of instant coffee and ground coffee, a chocolate product, dehydrated milk, and dehydrated cream, and the second beverage component comprises water.

24. The sachet of claim 17, wherein the seal comprises a weld.