EP0147346B1 - Bag of synthetic flexible material having a removable rigid element serving as a stopper element - Google Patents

Abstract

A bag made of flexible synthetic material is provided with a removable stiffening element that can serve as both a handle and a stopper element after the bag has been opened.

Description

The present invention relates to a flexible plastic bag for packaging liquids of the type comprising a stiffening and gripping handle essentially consisting of a rigid or semi-rigid element disposed inside a secondary cavity, separated from the main cavity containing the liquid by a continuous line of welding.

The invention also relates to a string of such sachets.

Sachets of this type are known. They were the subject of French patent application FR-A-2474457 in the name of the applicant.

The bags described in this application, to which express reference is made here, all comprise a solid stiffening means incorporated in the aforementioned secondary cavity. The different solutions offered are entirely satisfactory.

The bag is opened by cutting the upper corner opposite the handle.

However, it was found that one of the problems posed to the user was the filling of the bag after a first use. Indeed, it is unlikely that the content of such a sachet, for example, 1 liter, is used at one time, and it is therefore necessary for a simple reason of hygiene and safety, to be able to recap the sachet .

Starting from the observation that the need for corking arises when that of grasping dies out, the idea is therefore imposed to try to reconcile the imperatives. of the two functions.

French patent 1216 102 teaches in this regard a device for opening and closing a bottle or bag made of flexible synthetic material consisting of a stylus or punch serving both as a means of opening and plugging the bag. However, it has the disadvantage of risking tearing the bag undesirably during its storage in a pocket or pocket attached to the bag.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a bag of the type described above which allows to optimize, at lower cost, the requirements of the gripping functions on the one hand and capping on the other hand.

In accordance with the invention, this result is obtained with a flexible plastic bag for packaging liquids, of the type comprising a stiffening and gripping handle constituted essentially by a rigid or semi-rigid element disposed inside of a secondary cavity separated from the main cavity containing the liquid by a continuous line of welding, characterized in that the rigid or semi-rigid element is disposed removably in said secondary cavity, so that it can be used as a sealing element for the sachet after opening thereof, said element being an oblong hollow body of synthetic material closed at at least one of its ends and of generally tapered shape.

Thus the same element is used to successively ensure the gripping and the plugging of the sachet. Of course, this element may have multiple forms which simply have to be compatible with the two functions, that is to say having no sharp-angled sections.

• réalisation d'un bouchage simple et compréhensible aisément par tout utilisateur.
• économie du fait de l'utilisation d'un seul élément pour deux fonctions différentes,
• apport d'un avantage supplémentaire sans remettre en cause les autres paramètres (inviola- ^bilité, etc...)

This embodiment has, compared to the embodiments of the prior art, multiple advantages such as, without limitation:

• realization of a simple and easily understandable closure by any user.
• economy due to the use of a single element for two different functions,
• providing an additional advantage without calling into question the other parameters (inviolability ^, etc.)

The rigid element can be made of any food-grade synthetic material. It can also serve as advertising or consumer information support.

The sachets objects of the invention can also be presented in the form of strings of sachets and no longer in individual form, it will be sufficient for a single rigid element per strand, which results in an additional gain in material.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en élévation latérale du sachet conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en élévation latérale du sachet de la figure 1 en position de versage,
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en élévation latérale du sachet de la figure 1 en position de bouchage.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description below of a non-limiting mode of implementation, with reference to the appended drawings in which,

• FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of the bag according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the bag of FIG. 1 in the pouring position,
• Figure 3 is a schematic side elevational view of the bag of Figure 1 in the plugging position.

The bag (1) is made up in itself known, and which will therefore not be explained in more detail, of a main cavity (2) intended to receive the liquids to be packaged and of a secondary cavity (3) separated from said main cavity by a continuous weld line (4) of any shape, straight or not.

The bottom of the bag can be of any structure, for example in W or flat.

The two walls of the bag can come from the same adequately folded film or from two separate strips.

Likewise, the sachet can be produced both in a so-called horizontal machine and in a vertical machine using a vertical film-forming mandrel in sheath.

According to the invention, there is in the cavity (3) a rigid element (5) removable.

The cavity (3) may for example be open on its upper edge to allow the removal of the element (5) by the user. Optionally the element (5) will protrude slightly outside the cavity (3).

The cavity (3) can also be closed by a weld line (6) possibly provided with a precut. The user therefore uses for example scissors to cut this line or tears according to the precut line. Hygiene is thus preserved.

For the actual pouring, the user conventionally cuts the upper corner (7) of the bag opposite the handle, to determine a pouring orifice (8). The pouring is illustrated in FIG. 2, the rigid element (5) being arranged in the cavity (3) and therefore playing its role of stiffening for the pouring.

Once the pouring is completed, the user removes the element (5) and places it in the orifice (8) as shown in Figure 3.

In order to allow compatibility of the element (5) with all the diameters of orifices (8), which are random, unless there is a precut or determined opening area, due to cutting by scissors , the section of the oblong element (5) will decrease progressively from one end of the element to the other. This also facilitates insertion into the orifice (8).

The element (5) will preferably be closed at its end with the smallest section, for hygienic reasons.

As shown in Figure 3, it will be seen that the element (5), depending on the blockage, can also serve as a gripping and carrying element for the bag, by taking it from above. This prevents unwanted expulsion of the stopper and the contents of the sachet, compared to lateral gripping and carrying.

It is clear that the element (5) may affect any shape and section compatible with its functions. It may or may not be transparent and be closed at both ends.

Preferably, the element (5) will be inserted frictionally into the cavity (3) which will therefore be adjusted as best as possible, to allow better grip of the sachet out of the pouring.

The invention also relates to strings of sachets of this type, which can be in vertical or horizontal alignment. Very advantageously, the rosary will comprise a single rigid handle, the element (5) being able to be used for each sachet successively.

Claims (4)

1. Sachet of flexible synthetic material for the packaging of liquids, of the type comprising a stiffening and grasping handle constituted essentially by a rigid or semi-rigid element disposed inside a secondary cavity separated by a continuous weld line from the principal cavity containing the liquid, characterised in that the rigid or semi-rigid element (5) is removably disposed in the said secondary cavity (3) in order to be able to be utilised as stopper element of the sachet after opening of the latter, the said element (5) being an oblong hollow body of synthetic material, closed at one at least of its extremities and of tapered general form.

2. Sachet according to Claim 1, in which the cavity (3) is closed by a weld line (6), characterised in that the weld line (6) is doubled by a pre-cutting line.

3. Sachet according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the element (5) is inserted under friction into the cavity (3).

4. Chain of sachets according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises one single element (5).

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