Flexible pouch having system for mixing two components

• US 6,752,264 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Original Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Versluys, Robert Thor
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M.
• Application Number:
  US10/188,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/220, 206/221, 206/222, 206/216, 206/217, 383/38, 383/10, 383/80, 383/104, 222/94, 222/145.1
• US Class Current: 206/219
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2575/583 the non-integral spout having an elongate cross-sectional shape, e.g. canoe or boat shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5883 connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3261 Flexible containers having several compartments

Abstract

A pouch includes multiple chambers for separate containment of liquid components or liquid and dry components. A fitment having a bore is secured at an end of the pouch. The fitment also includes passages extending from a lower portion of the bore to the chambers to provide for fluid transfer therebetween. A closure includes a cap threadedly engaging an upper portion of the bore and a plug received by a lower portion of the bore to close the passages and prevent fluid transfer between the chambers. The plug including a breakable stem for separation between the plug and the cap. Engagement between the cap and the bore without the plug providing for mixture components within the pouch.

Claims

1. A pouch comprising:

first and second flexible panels secured together along opposite sides of the panels, the first and second panels defining first and second chambers for containment of first and second components of which at least one is a fluid;

a fitment secured to the first and second panels, the fitment including a bore having first and second portions, the first portion of the bore having a diameter, the second portion of the bore defining an open end, the fitment further including first and second passages extending between the first bore portion and the first and second chambers, respectively, such that a pathway is defined between the first and second chambers for passage of fluid therebetween; and

a closure having a first portion adapted for engagement with the first bore portion, at least part of the first closure portion having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the first bore portion such that engagement between the first closure portion and the first bore portion closes the passages thereby preventing passage of fluid between the first and second chambers, the closure further including a second portion having an end to which the first closure portion is connected, the second closure portion adapted for engagement with the second bore portion to close the open end of the bore,

the connection between the first and second closure portions being frangible such that a user can disengage the closure from the bore and separate the first and second closure portions from each other, the subsequent engagement of the second closure portion and the second bore portion without the first closure portion providing for fluid passage between the chambers via the pathway for mixture of the first and second components within the pouch.

2. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein the first and second panels are further secured together between the first and second chambers along a line extending generally parallel to the opposite sides of the panels.

3. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein the fitment has a thickness that is maximum in a middle portion of the fitment and wherein the bore is located in the middle portion of the fitment.

4. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein the first and second passages of the fitment extend from opposite sides of the first bore portion.

5. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein the second closure portion includes a plug and a stem, the stem secured to the first closure portion and having a reduced cross section with respect to the plug to provide for separation of the plug from the closure by fracture of the stem caused by relative rotation between the plug and the first closure portion.

6. The pouch according to claim 5 wherein the stem includes a score line to facilitate fracture of the stem.

7. The pouch according to claim 1 further comprising a third panel, the third panel providing for self-standing support of the pouch.

8. The pouch according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second panels is transparent to provide visual inspection of components contained in the chambers.

9. A flexible container for storing a product having multiple components requiring mixture prior to use, the container comprising:

front and rear panels secured together, the panels defining a plurality of chambers for containment of multiple components;

a fitment having opposite sidewalls to which the front and rear panels are secured and opposite top and bottom ends, the fitment including a bore having an upper portion adjacent the top end and a lower portion, the fitment further including a plurality of passages each extending between the lower portion of the bore and one of the chambers;

a plug sized and dimensioned for close interfit with the lower portion of the bore to prevent transfer of the contained components between the chambers; and

a cap engageable with the upper bore portion, the cap connected to an upper end of the plug to provide for removal of the plug from the bore, the connection between the plug and the cap being breakable to provide for separation of the removed plug from the cap, engagement of the cap to the upper portion of the bore without the plug providing for fluid transfer between the chambers for mixing the components within the container.

10. The container according to claim 9 wherein the fitment is adhesively secured to the panels.

11. The container according to claim 9 wherein the engagement between the cap and the bore is provided by external and internal threads formed respectively on the cap and the upper bore portion.

12. The container according to claim 9 wherein the plug includes a first portion adapted for interfit with the lower portion of the fitment bore adjacent the passages, the plug further including a second portion having a reduced cross section with respect to the first portion.

13. The container according to claim 9 wherein the breakable connection between the plug and the cap is provided by a stem having a reduced cross section with respect to the plug, the reduced cross section of the stem providing for separation of the cap from the plug when sufficient torque is applied to the stem.

14. A flexible mixing pouch comprising:

first and second panels secured together along opposite sides of the panels, the panels defining a plurality of chambers for separate containment of components that includes at least one fluid;

a fitment secured to the panels, the fitment including a bore having upper and lower portions, the fitment member further including a plurality of passages each extending between the lower bore portion and one of the chambers; and

a closure member including first and second portions joined by a frangible connector, the frangible connector adapted to break in response to a predetermined torque applied thereto such that the first and second portion are separated from each other,

the first closure member portion receivable within the lower bore portion and dimensioned for close interfit therewith such that transfer of fluid between the chambers is prevented, the second closure member portion engageable with the upper bore portion to provide for closure of an open end thereof,

the predetermined breaking torque of the connector being sufficiently large to allow for engagement and disengagement between the closure member and the bore without separation between the first and second closure member portions resulting, the engagement of the second closure member portion to the bore after the predetermined breaking torque has been applied to the connector of a disengaged closure member to separate the closure member portions providing for fluid transfer between the chambers through the lower bore portion.