Multiple compartment pouch and beverage container with smooth curve frangible seal

• US 7,055,683 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Materials NA, Inc. (Dow, Inc.), Kornick Lindsay, Ocean Spray Cranberries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.), Kornick Lindsay, Ocean Spray Cranberries Incorporated
• Inventors: Chung, Daniel Young-Doo, Visioli, Donna Lynn, Lee, I-Hwa, Olivares-Cordoba, Jose Tirso, Estabrook, Richard M., Bourque, Raymond Anthony, Hahm, Diane McCauley, Kane, James P. Jr., Henderson, James L., Kornick, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US10/454,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20040118710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 206219-221, 604408-416, 383 38- 40, 383/104
• US Class Current: 206/219
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/76 Making non-permanent or releasable joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/133 Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible the parts to be joined being rigid B29C66/1312
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/232 said joint lines being multiple and parallel, i.e. the joint being formed by several parallel joint lines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/24221 being circular B29C66/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43129 said flat seams being transversal but non-orthogonal with respect to the tubular or hollow articles, i.e. oblique
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/53262 Enclosing spouts between the walls of bags, e.g. of medical bags
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72321 consisting of metals or their alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72328 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72341 for gases
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72343 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91411 of the parts to be joined, e.g. the joining process taking the temperature of the parts to be joined into account
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/919 characterised by specific temperature, heat or thermal flux values or ranges specific electrical resistance values B29C66/81262
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91935 lower than said fusion temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/944 by controlling or regulating the time
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/949 characterised by specific time values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/0625 : LLDPE, i.e. linear low density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/083 : EVA, i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/086 : EVOH, i.e. ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/18 : Polymers of hydrocarbons having four or more carbon atoms, e.g. polymers of butylene, e.g. PB, i.e. polybutylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/008 : Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel"
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/563 : Integral handles or suspension means B65D75/566 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5883 : connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3266 : separated by a common rupturable seal, a clip or other removable fastening device
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0815 : Copolymers of ethene with aliphatic 1-olefins
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0853 : Vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0876 : Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/12 : Polypropene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/142 : at least partially crystalline copolymers of propene with other olefins
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/20 : having four to nine carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/06 : Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

A polymeric film, multiple-compartment, pouch having an internal frangible seal for confining a fluid and related beverage container with a re-closable fitment for storing and delivering two different flavored liquids or the like. The frangible seal of the clear plastic pouch will burst when sustained squeezed thus allowing the flavors to swirl and mix within the pouch.

Claims

1. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch comprising:

(a) a first sheet of polymeric film;

(b) a second sheet of polymeric film superimposed on said first sheet of polymeric film wherein said first and second sheets of polymeric film are sealed to each other directly or indirectly through a third intervening polymeric film thus defining a generally rectangular sealed perimeter having a first end and a second end and two opposed sides, forming a closed pouch;

(c) at least one smooth curve frangible seal internal to the sealed perimeter and said at least one smooth curve frangible seal divides said closed pouch into separated compartments comprising a first compartment and a second compartment;

(d) the first compartment comprises or confines a liquid beverage;

(e) the second compartment comprises or confines another ingredient; and

(f) a fitment in said first end;

wherein the second end is the end opposing the fitment and the at least one smooth curve seal extends from said first end to one of said opposed sides.

2. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch of claim 1 wherein said another ingredient is a liquid flavoring concentrate.

3. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch of claim 1 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal delaminates upon sustained manual compression producing a pressure increase within the first compartment of up to 12 psig.

4. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch of claim 1 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal delaminates upon sustained manual compression producing a pressure increase within the first compartment of from 0.5 psig to 2.0 psig.

5. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch of claim 1 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal has a seal strength of front 130 grams per inch to 5,000 grams per inch.

6. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch of claim 5 wherein said seal strength is from 400 grams per inch to 2,500 grams per inch.

7. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch of claim 5 wherein said seal strength is from 1,000 grams per inch to 2,000 grams per inch.

8. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch of claim 1 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal experiences a seal breaking force of between 400 grams per inch and 6,000 grams per inch upon sustained manual compression producing a pressure increase within the first compartment of from 0.5 psig to 5.0 psig.

9. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch of claim 1 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal contains at least one force concentrating means for selectively exceeding seal strength of said at least one smooth curve frangible seal by experiencing a seal breaking force of from 1,500 grams per inch up to 10,000 grams per inch at a pressure increase within said first compartment of from 0.5 psig to 10 psig.

10. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch as in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal is produced by heat-sealing said first sheet of polymeric film to said second sheet of polymeric film and wherein the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films comprises a blend of (a) 80 to 93 weight percent of an ethylene/acid ionomer wherein at least 50 weight percent of said ethylene/acid ionomer is derived from ethylene comonomer and wherein the degree of neutralization of acid is from 5 to 45 percent and (b) 20 to 7 weight percent of a propylene/α

-olefin copolymer wherein the α

-olefin comonomer comprises 1 to 12 weight percent of said copolymer.

11. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch as in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal is produced by heat-sealing said first sheet of polymeric film to said second sheet of polymeric film and wherein the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films at the frangible seal is a blend comprising (a) an acid modified ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or acid modified ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer as the major component and (b) a partially neutralized ethylene acid ionomer as the minor component.

12. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch as in claim 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal is produced by heat-sealing said first sheet of polymeric film to said second sheet of polymeric film and wherein the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films comprises a blend of (a) a partially neutralized ethylene acid ionomer as the major component and (b) polybutene-1 homopolymer or copolymers as the minor component.

13. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch as in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal is produced by heat-sealing said first sheet of polymeric film to said second sheet of polymeric film and wherein the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films comprises a blend of (a) a metallocene polyethylene as the major component and (b) polypropylene or polybutene-1 homopolymer or copolymers as the minor component.

14. A flexible multiple-compartment beverage pouch as in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 wherein said perimeter forms a closed pouch and said pouch is a stand-up pouch.

15. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch comprising:

(a) a first sheet of polymeric film;

(b) a second sheet of polymeric film superimposed on said first sheet of polymeric film wherein said first and second sheets of polymeric film are scaled to each other directly or indirectly through a third intervening polymeric film thus defining a generally rectangular sealed perimeter having a bottom end;

an end opposing the bottom; and

two opposed sides, forming a closed stand-up pouch;

(c) at least one smooth curve frangible seal internal to the sealed perimeter and said at least one smooth curve frangible seal divides said closed pouch into separated compartments comprising a first compartment and a second compartment; and

(d) a fluid confined to the first compartment wherein the seal strength of said sealed perimeter is sufficient to withstand manual compression of the fluid and the seal strength of said at least one smooth curve frangible seal is insufficient to withstand manual compression of the fluid thus allowing said fluid to commingle with the contents of the second compartment;

wherein the at least one smooth curve frangible seal extends from the end opposing the bottom to one of said opposed sides.

16. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 15 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal delaminates upon sustained manual compression producing a pressure increase within said first compartment of up to 10 psig.

17. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 16 wherein the pressure increase is from 0.5 psig to 2.0 psig.

18. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 15 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal has a seal strength of from 130 grams per inch to 5,000 grains per inch.

19. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 18 wherein the seal strength is from 1,000 grams per inch to 2,000 grams per inch.

20. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 15 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal experiences a seal breaking force of between 400 grams per inch and 6,000 grams per inch upon sustained manual compression producing a pressure increase within said first compartment of from 0.5 psig to 5 psig.

21. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 15 wherein said pouch is a stand-up pouch.

22. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch as recited in claim 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal seals said first sheet of polymeric film to said second sheet of polymeric film and is produced by heat-seating or zone coating and the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films comprises a blend of (a) 80 to 93 weight percent of an ethylene/acid ionomer wherein at least 50 weight percent of said ethylene/acid ionomer is derived from ethylene comonomer and wherein the degree of neutralization of acid is from 5 to 45 percent and (b) 20 to 7 weight percent of a propylene/α

-olefin copolymer wherein the α

-olefin comonomer comprises 1 to 12 weight percent of said copolymer.

23. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch as recited in claim 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 wherein said at least one smooth curve frangible seal seals said first sheet of polymeric film to said second sheet of polymeric film and is produced by heat-sealing or zone coating and the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films at the frangible heat seal is a blend comprising (a) an acid modified ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or acid modified ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer as the major component and (b) a partially neutralized ethylene acid ionomer as the minor component.

24. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch comprising a first sheet of polymeric film sealed to a second sheet of polymeric film with at least one smooth curve frangible seal produced by heat sealing or zone coating internal to the perimeter of said pouch wherein said pouch is a stand-up pouch;

said at least one smooth curve frangible seal divides said pouch into separated compartments comprising a first compartment and a second compartment and experiences seal breaking force of from 400 grams per inch up to 6,000 grams per inch at a pressure increase of from 0.5 psig to 5 psig within the first or second compartment;

the stand-up pouch is generally rectangular having a bottom, an opposing end to the bottom, and opposed sides to the bottom and the opposing end; and

the at least one smooth curve frangible seal extends from the opposing end to one of said opposed sides.

26. The flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 24 or 25 wherein the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films comprises a blend of (a) 80 to 93 weight percent of an ethylene/acid ionomer wherein at least 50 weight percent of said ethylene/acid ionomer is derived from ethylene comonomer and wherein the degree of neutralization of acid is from 5 to 45 percent and (b) 20 to 7 weight percent of a propylene/α

-olefin copolymer wherein the α

-olefin comonomer comprises 1 to 12 weight percent of said copolymer.

27. The flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 24 or 25 wherein the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films at the at least one smooth curve frangible seal is a blend comprising (a) an acid modified ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or acid modified ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer as the major component and (b) a partially neutralized ethylene acid ionomer as the minor component.

28. The flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 24 or 25 wherein the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films at the at least one smooth curve frangible seal is a blend comprising (a) a partially neutralized ethylene acid ionomer as the major component and (b) polybutene-1 homopolymer or copolymers as the minor component.

29. The flexible multiple-compartment pouch of claim 24 or 25 wherein the inner surface of at least one of said polymeric films at the at least one smooth curve frangible seal is a blend comprising (a) a metallocene polyethylene as the major component and (b) polypropylene or polybutene-1 homopolymer or copolymers as the minor component.

25. A flexible multiple-compartment pouch comprising a first sheet of polymeric film sealed to a second sheet of polymeric film with at least one smooth curve frangible seal produced by heat sealing or zone coating internal to the perimeter of said pouch wherein said pouch is a stand-up pouch;

said at least one smooth curve frangible seal divides said pouch into separated compartments comprising a first compartment and a second compartment and comprises at least one force concentrating means for selectively exceeding seal strength of said at least one smooth curve frangible seal by experiencing a seal breaking force of from 1,500 grams per inch up to 10,000 grams per inch at a pressure increase of from 0.5 psig to 10 psig within the first or second compartment;

the stand-up pouch is generally rectangular having a bottom, an opposing end to the bottom, and opposed sides to the bottom and the opposing end; and

the at least one smooth curve frangible seal extends from the opposing end to one of said opposed sides.