DE102014109633A1 - dispatch bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A postal shipping bag (10) constructed as a sterile plastic bag having four or more flat seams (18, 20, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 24), the flat seams being sealed over a width of at least 8 mm. An acute oval insert (12) with closable opening (12a) is received in a sealed flat seam (24). A sealed flat seam (20) is stamped and formed as a carrying handle (26), and is adjacent to the flat seam (24) with the insert (12) and the opening (12a). The bag (10) withstands without leakage also a local pressure load of 75 kg and more. The bag (10) is dimensioned so that it is less than 50 mm high in the filled state, so that it can be sent as a letter. All plastic parts coming into contact with the water sample are approved for food and water analysis, in compliance with the relevant standards DIN EN ISO 19458 (water quality - sampling for microbiological tests ISO 19458: 2006) and DIN EN ISO 5667-1 (water quality - Sampling techniques ISO 5667-1: 2006) or comparable international, US and possibly further national regulations.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a bag for shipping by mail.

STATE OF THE ART

Clean water is important, but not everywhere, so that in many places people want to know the nature of their water, especially after illnesses. The investigation on pathogens and foreign substances such as heavy metals and organic pollutants should be carried out regularly to minimize the health risks for humans and animals. Already the aspirating of water droplets can cause life-threatening illnesses, a danger as it emanates from Legionellen in air conditioning and hot water plants. Here are the managers of the real estate in the duty and liability.

The water quality requirements are not easy to meet, because many lack the equipment; on the other hand, because microbiological and other contaminations are often difficult to detect and detect. There is therefore a desire among consumers and businesses for an analysis by a certified and accredited water laboratory. Before that, however, there is the logistical problem of having to take a sample of the water and transport it to the laboratory. As a rule, a certified or trained person must take the sample and bring it to the laboratory. This is associated with high expenditure of time and costs. The prior art therefore presents a problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The problem is solved by a bag for the mailing of water samples and a kit of parts according to claims 1 and 8. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The bag for the mailing of water samples as a letter or packet is designed as a sterile plastic bag with four or more sealed flat seams of a width of at least 8 mm. In a sealed flat seam, an acute oval insert with a sleeve for filling and pouring is welded, hereinafter referred to as Spout. A sealed flat seam of the bag is stamped and formed as a carrying handle. The formed as a carrying handle flat seam is adjacent to the flat seam with the insert or Spout. The insert with the pouring opening lies within a letter-sized rectangle described by substantially parallel sealed flat seams. The bag can withstand usual pressure load of 75 kilograms and more by allowing the water sample in the bag to partially dodge to the side, the prescribed filling of at most 5/6 of the bag volume is maintained. The wall thicknesses and seams on the bag are further dimensioned so that when properly filled the bag is not thicker than 50 mm, so can be shipped worldwide as a letter or as a package. The spout is designed as a screw cap, which cooperates with a screw cap or screw cap. The screw cap has formed on the underside of the lid an annular sealing groove with lateral sealing lips, which cooperates with the distal edge of the spout so that in a simple screwing the lid on the spout already a fully sealing closure is guaranteed. All plastic parts in contact with the water sample are approved for food and water analysis, in compliance with the relevant Standards DIN EN ISO 19458 (Water quality - Sampling for microbiological tests ISO 19458: 2006 ) and DIN EN ISO 5667-1 (Water quality - sampling techniques ISO 5667-1: 2006 ) or comparable international, US and national regulations.

Such a bag for liquids is unknown. Conventional sterile bags, for example for plasma and blood samples, can only be shipped and transported in stable cartons. They are unsuitable for the mailing of water samples, since they can not be reliably closed by hand so tightly sealed after filling that you can send them as a letter or parcel. The walls of the bag are still made for the high demands of sorting machines from a thick weldable multilayer film. The multilayer film for this purpose comprises: an outer layer of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 5 to 50 μm, preferably at least 10 to 25 μm; a middle layer of oriented polyamide of a thickness of 5 to 30 microns, preferably 10 to 20 microns, so that there is relative tightness to oxygen and other gases; and an inner layer of a thermoplastic polyethylene having a thickness of 120 to 180 μm, preferably 140 to 160 μm, so that heat-sealable stable flat seams can be produced which withstand the highest loads. The layers mentioned can furthermore be welded together by means of thin intermediate layers of thermoplastic polyethylene of a thickness of 10 to 30 μm.

In a preferred embodiment, the spout has one or more further sealing rings and lips which cooperate with the screw cap.

The bag may be about 250 mm long and about 180 mm wide. The opening in the pointed oval insert (Spout) can have a diameter of 15 to 40 mm, preferably 20 to 35 mm, so that the maximum thickness of the bag with attached closure or screw cap is less than 50 mm, preferably 35 mm, the usual opening width a mailbox. Particularly preferred is a bag for sending a water sample with the maximum dimensions below a so-called Maxibriefes - a letter with a length of up to 353 mm, a width of up to 250 mm and a height of up to 50 mm, preferably 35 mm.

Furthermore, the flat seams are sealed on both sides of the pointed oval insert, so that liquid can not pass through within the flat seams. The spout insert is inserted at an angle α in the bag, wherein the angle α is 30 to 60 degrees relative to the substantially parallel sealed flat seams, preferably 40 to 50 degrees.

In a preferred embodiment, the multilayer film is transparent, so that one can see the degree of filling. As mentioned, it can have further adhesive layers between the individual layers. The adhesive layers may be 10 to 30 microns and be made of polyethylene, for example, low density polyethylene (LDPE) or linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).

In one embodiment, the flat seams are welded so that there is a grating pattern that seals in two directions within the flat seams. The pointed-oval spout is preferably made of polypropylene or another plastic that can be welded to the multilayer film. The pointed-oval spout insert is grooved and grooved for welding to the flexible bag wall at the edge, so that multiple sealing areas after sealing with the multilayer film make the connection leak-proof.

In one embodiment, the bag has a mark indicating a maximum fill level, corresponding to at most 5/6 of the possible bag volume.

Further, the disclosure relates to a kit of parts comprising a sterile bag for postal dispatch as a packet, an addressed return folding carton which is at most 50 mm high, preferably 35 mm. The bag may also have identifiers such as a quick-response code (QR code) or a bar code for subsequent assignment of the analysis result. The parts kit may have an instruction manual, outer package, analysis sheet or printout with the same QR code or bar code or the same identifier, so that the sender can use the code to directly read the analysis result on the Internet. Appropriate programs ("apps") are on the market. A label of the label with relevant information for the analysis can also serve the identifier. Likewise, the results of the analysis can be sent by e-mail or by post.

Another aspect relates to a method of making a postal bag, comprising the steps of: extruding a laminated multilayer film comprising an outer layer of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 5 to 50 μm, preferably at least 10 to 25 μm; a middle layer of oriented polyamide having a thickness of 5 to 30 μm, preferably 10 to 20 μm; and an inner layer of polyethylene having a thickness of 120 to 180 μm, preferably 140 to 160 μm; Forming a bag by folding the multilayer film so that two films are superimposed and the layers of polyethylene are arranged to each other, and flat-seam sealing of the edges over a width of at least 8 mm in such a way that the inner volume of the bag in the water-filled state only until to 50 mm, preferably up to 35 mm; Attaching a pointed oval insert (Spout) with a closable opening, for example a screw opening, within a letter-sized rectangle described by substantially parallel, sealed flat seams; Receiving the insert with an opening in a sealed flat seam, so that a liquid-tight bag is formed; Punching a hole in a sealed flat seam so that the flat seam with the hole punching forms a carrying handle and is adjacent to the sealed flat seam with the insert and the screw opening; optionally marking the bag below the insert, the marker indicating the maximum fill level of no more than 5/6 of the total bag volume available, and sterilizing the bag.

Furthermore, the disclosure relates to the use of the bag for mailing an analytical sample as a letter or packet, for example in a padded envelope or flat folding carton with letter dimensions.

Further advantages, objects and embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of illustrations and examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

It shows:

1 a graphic representation of the bag with attached screw cap;

2 a section of the 1 with a graphic representation of the pointed oval insert and the screw opening;

3 a diagrammatic representation of a sterile-packed screw cap;

4 a section of 1 with a graphic representation of the cross-sealed flat seams on the pointed oval insert;

5 a diagrammatic representation of the lid with annular sealing beads on the underside of the screw cap, alone and in cooperation with the pouring opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The determination of foreign substances and microorganisms in water requires a controlled preanalytics. It is important that the water sample can be taken without contact; Also, after sampling no contamination may falsify the result. Finally, the bag must be leak-proof and sortable by the logistics companies as letter or parcel. The bag must therefore be such that a water sample can be taken pre-analytically fair and sent by mail as a letter or parcel. The submitted water sample is then examined in the laboratory and then the result is transmitted to the sender, for example by e-mail or Internet. The bag preferably carries an identification, preferably a so-called quick response code (QR code) or a simple bar code. There are different bags and identifiers may be provided, depending on the extent of the desired water examinations. For the examination of a water sample, therefore, only one sample bag plus the addressed insert folding box (not shown) must be purchased and then the desired examination is obtained. The purchase price of the bag thus usually includes the analysis service.

Please refer 1 , The leakproof multi-layer bag 10 has a mission 12 with an opening 12a (Spout), closable by a screw cap 14 , The opening may be preceded by a sterile seal 16 be closed. The seal can be a glue seal 16 be; please refer 2 , Preference is given to an externally attached to the screw cap seal. Otherwise, adhesive residues at the opening may possibly impair the leakproofness of the screw cap. All parts in contact with the water sample - inner wall of the multilayer film, cap 14 , Seal 16 and use 12 - are approved for water analysis. The letter bag 10 is made of a weldable food safe multilayer film. The multilayer film 32 is preferably three-ply and transparent, so that you can see the filling state. The outer layer is in the concrete embodiment 12 microns thick and made of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The middle layer consists of oriented polyamide (OPA); it has a thickness of 15 microns. OPA is oxygen-impermeable and shields the sample from the atmosphere. The inner layer is made of polyethylene (PE) and it has a thickness of 140 to 160 microns, so that the multilayer film is extremely tear and shock resistant. Between the PET, OPA and PE there are 20 μm thick PE layers made of a low-melting thermoplastic PE for thermal sealing of the flat edges 18 . 20 . 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d . 24 , The additional intermediate layers also serve the better connection of the layers. Thus, the letter bag can withstand a pressure load of 75 kg and more. The maximum filling height of the sample bag contributes to this. The bag is with four or more sealed flat seams 18 . 20 . 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d . 24 educated. The flat seams are tightly sealed over a width of at least 8 mm, so that leakage even at high mechanical loads as they occur in particular in the sorting machines of the logistics, is avoided. The flat seams are additionally connected together by hot pressing. By thermal sealing are the marginal edges 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d . 24 and the edges welded around the carrying handle.

2 shows the pointed oval Spouteinsatz 12 with the pouring opening 12a , At the stake 12 subsequent flat seam 18 is sealed because of the special loads occurring there smooth, so no licking across and along the extension of the insert 12 occurs. The opening 12a on the insert is as a screw cap 12a . 14 educated. The use 12 is made of polypropylene, so a food safe plastic. The opening 12a can by a sterile seal 16 be protected, for example, by a crushing seal. The screw cap 12a . 14 may have a tamper-evident closure (not shown). The opening 12 has a diameter of 30 mm for easy filling. The use 12 lies within a letter-sized rectangle, which is the substantially parallel flat seams 22a -D describe. The use 12 is to be formed at an angle of 45 degrees to the parallel edge seams.

The letter bag is sterile as described and free of foreign substances. The sterilization of bags 10 and screw cap 14 for example, by treatment with ionizing radiation or alternatively by treatment with ethylene oxide, nitrogen dioxide or ozone. The screw cap 14 can through an outer packaging 14b be protected, which consists of a conventional plastic film, see 3 , In a further embodiment, the bag 10 a crushing or peeling seal (not shown).

4 shows in detail the sealing of the flat seams 18 on both sides of the pointed oval insert 12 , The area between use 12 and flat seam 18 can also be sealed with the aid of adhesive (hot-melt adhesive). The adhesive serves the better connection between use 12 and multilayer film.

5 shows in detail the underside of the screw cap 14 with the annular sealing beads 36 , The sealing beads 36 are slightly conical, with its outer circumference with the inner wall 38 the opening 12a so cooperates that in the filled state no liquid can escape. The opening 12a is on the edge 40 essentially flat, leaving a sealing contact between the opening 12a and screw cap 14 arises. Optionally, the arrangement of screw cap 14 and screw opening 12a still a bayonet lock (not shown), which indicates by audible and tactile snapping the tight connection of the cap and spout.

See again 1 , Furthermore, a wide flat seam 20 punched and as a carrying handle 26 educated. The carrying handle 26 is arranged so that the bag 10 how a jug can be kept for sampling. This facilitates the one-handed handling of the bag 10 during sampling and the second hand remains free for controlling interventions. The as a carrying handle 26 trained wide flat seam 20 . 22d is to the flat seam with the insert 12 adjacent. The advantage of this arrangement of carrying handle 26 and use 12 with opening 12a lies in the fact that the carrying handle 26 - held vertically or horizontally - always resulted in a controllable filling position. This design promotes ideal weight distribution during filling and reloading and easy sampling.

The bag 10 is transparent and can be a stroke mark 28 for the maximum filling height. The maximum filling level corresponds to a maximum of 5/6 of the bag volume (about 400 ml). Will the bag 10 so filled, it can also withstand local pressure load of 75 kg and more. The length and width of the bag are sized to fit into a flat carton or envelope for shipping by mail. It preferably has a length of up to 250 mm and a width of up to 180 mm. The bag 10 then fits into a cover or outer carton with a maximum length of up to 260 mm, a width of up to 190 mm and a height of up to 50 mm. Due to the flat shape of the envelope or the outer carton fits into the opening of a standard mailbox. The bag 10 is designed to be less than 50 mm high and weighs significantly less than 500 grams of water sample. Further disclosed is a parts set for a postal shipment as a letter.

The method of making the bag 10 comprises the following steps: a multilayer film of PET, OPA and PE layers of said thicknesses is produced by extrusion laminating of plastic granules: on the outside a layer of polyethylene terephthalate with 10 to 25 μm; in the middle a layer of oriented polyamide of 15 microns and inside a layer of polyethylene with about 150 microns. Between each still 20 micron thick adhesive layers of thermoplastic polyethylene. Such a multilayer film is flexible and shock and tear resistant. The multilayer film is at the same time so rigid that the water bag is kept in shape, not thicker than 50 mm. The shape is also determined by the width of the flat seam with the support hole. Although the person skilled in the art knows many ways of forming a foil pouch, he will usually first join the insert to the multilayer foil and then weld the marginal edges over a width of at least 8 mm or more. According to the invention, the flat seams are made leak-tight by hot pressing, ie mechanically by a fine crossover or lattice pattern. This increases the leak safety. At the insert are for better connection with the multilayer film sealing grooves 24 intended.

On both sides of the pointed oval insert 12 are the flat seams 18 smooth sealed and sealed by adhesive. Finally, in the wide flat seam is a carrying handle 26 punched, and so that at least 8 mm wide flat seams 20 remain around the support hole.

The bag 10 is used as follows: i) unscrew the cap 14 ; ii) water sample, z. B. from a tap in the soft stream in the bag 10 fill up to 5/6 of the total volume; iii) sealing the water bag 10 with the screw cap 14 ; iv) Labeling the label 30a . 30b and notation of the identifier for later assignment of the analysis; v) (optional) Insert the bag 10 with the water sample in a plastic zipper bag; vi) Inserting the bag 10 in a return envelope or outer carton; and vii) sending the sample to the water laboratory. The result of the examination is then communicated, for example by email or setting the result using the QR code set on the Internet. The result can also be communicated in any other form.

The bag is particularly compatible for detection of legionella, faecal or intestinal germs, coliforms, enterococci, heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc, as well as other substances such as ammonium, calcium, chloride, copper, molybdenum, phosphate, sulfate , Iron, manganese, nitrate and nitrite. The samples can therefore be taken from hot water systems, water pipes, pipelines, wells, chillers, air scrubbers, heating water, air conditioners, Whirlpools, showers, etc. Also, coffee and espresso machines, especially after descaling, high levels of lead (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)). So everyone can check for themselves whether his coffee machine is affected. The result is reported by the water laboratory after a few days (usually 3-5).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

letter bag

12

commitment

12a

Lockable opening

14

screw cap

14a

screw cap; sterile-packed

14b

packaging

16

sterile seal

18

Flat seam; smooth-sealed

20

Flat seam; designed as a carrying handle

22a to d

Flat seams; finely cross-sealed

24

Flat seams on the insert; compressed

26

carrying handle

28

line marking

30a, 30b

label

32

walls

34

sealing ring

36

sealing closure

38

Lockable opening; inner wall

40

Lockable opening; edge

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited non-patent literature

• Standards DIN EN ISO 19458 [0005]
• ISO 19458: 2006 [0005]
• DIN EN ISO 5667-1 [0005]
• ISO 5667-1: 2006 [0005]

Claims (10)

Bag ( 10 ) for shipping, which is designed as a sterile plastic bag with four or more flat seams ( 18 . 20 . 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d . 24 ), wherein - the flat seams ( 18 . 20 . 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d . 24 ) are sealed over a width of at least 8 mm; - in a sealed flat seam ( 24 ) an acute oval insert ( 12 ) with closable opening ( 12a ) is included; - a sealed flat seam ( 20 ) and as a carrying handle ( 26 ) is trained; - as a carrying handle ( 26 ) formed sealed flat seam ( 20 ) to the flat seam with the insert ( 12 ) and the opening ( 12a ) is adjacent; - the use ( 12 ) with the closable opening ( 12a ) lies within a letter-sized rectangle that is substantially parallel to each other sealed flat seams ( 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d ) is described; - the bag ( 10 ) without being able to withstand a local pressure load of 75 Kg and more; - the bag ( 10 ) is dimensioned so that when filled it is less than 50 mm high so that it can be sent by post; - the closable opening ( 12a ) is designed as a screw cap, and a screw cap ( 14 ) an annular sealing closure ( 36 ) connected to the inner wall ( 38 ) of the closable opening ( 12a ) for the sealing closure of the bag ( 10 ) cooperates; and - all plastic parts in contact with the liquid are approved for food. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the multilayer film comprises An outer layer of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 5 to 50 μm, preferably at least 10 to 25 μm; A middle layer of oriented polyamide having a thickness of 5 to 30 μm, preferably 10 to 20 μm; and - An inner layer of polyethylene having a thickness of 120 to 180 microns, preferably 140 to 160 microns. Bag according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the closable opening ( 12a ) has a diameter of 15 to 40 mm, preferably 20 to 35 mm, and by a sealing ring ( 34 ) is sealed from leakage. Bag according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bag ( 10 ) each having at most a length of 250 mm and a width of 180 mm. Bag according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sealed flat seams ( 20 . 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d ) finely patterned so that within the flat seams ( 20 . 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d ) creates a sealing grid pattern. A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insert ( 12 ) with closable opening ( 12a ) an angle with respect to the substantially parallel sealed flat seams (US Pat. 22a . 22b . 22c . 22d ) of 30 to 60 degrees, preferably 40 to 50 degrees. Bag according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bag ( 10 ) a mark ( 28 ), which indicates a maximum filling level when filled with liquid, corresponding to at most 5/6 of the largest possible bag volume. Set of parts for shipping as a letter, comprising - a sterile letter bag ( 10 ) for the postal delivery as a letter according to one of claims 1 to 7; and - a return carton in which the letter bag ( 10 ) is recorded. Method for producing a bag ( 10 for mailing by letter, comprising the steps of extruding a laminated multilayer film comprising an outer layer of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 5 to 50 μm, preferably at least 10 to 25 μm; A middle layer of oriented polyamide having a thickness of 5 to 30 μm, preferably 10 to 20 μm; and - an inner layer of polyethylene having a thickness of 120 to 180 μm, preferably 140 to 160 μm, - forming a bag by - folding the multilayer film so that two foils connected on one edge are superimposed and the layers of polyethylene are arranged relative to one another , and - flat-seam sealing of the entire peripheral edges over a width of at least 8 mm, so that the internal volume of the bag when filled is at most up to 50 mm high at shipment; Attaching a pointed oval insert with a closable screw opening within a letter size rectangle described by substantially parallel sealed flat seams; - Receiving the insert with closable opening in a sealed flat seam, so that a liquid-tight bag is formed; - Punching a hole in a sealed flat seam, so that the flat seam with the punching forms a carrying handle and is adjacent to the sealed flat seam with the insert and the screw hole; and - sterilizing the bag. Use of the bag according to any one of the preceding claims for shipping an analytical liquid sample.

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