EP0723519A1 - Necked container including a drinking straw - Google Patents

Necked container including a drinking straw

Info

Publication number
EP0723519A1
EP0723519A1 EP94930250A EP94930250A EP0723519A1 EP 0723519 A1 EP0723519 A1 EP 0723519A1 EP 94930250 A EP94930250 A EP 94930250A EP 94930250 A EP94930250 A EP 94930250A EP 0723519 A1 EP0723519 A1 EP 0723519A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
neck
container according
straw
sachet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP94930250A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0723519B1 (en
Inventor
Ian Michael Daines Top Flat GAYLOR
Donna Joy Top Flat WILSON
Kenneth Reginald Duffield
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cambridge Consultants Ltd
Original Assignee
Cambridge Consultants Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cambridge Consultants Ltd filed Critical Cambridge Consultants Ltd
Publication of EP0723519A1 publication Critical patent/EP0723519A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0723519B1 publication Critical patent/EP0723519B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/22—Details
    • B65D77/24—Inserts or accessories added or incorporated during filling of containers
    • B65D77/28—Cards, coupons, or drinking straws
    • B65D77/283—Cards, coupons, or drinking straws located initially inside the container, whereby the straw is revealed only upon opening the container, e.g. pop-up straws
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5805—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture for tearing a side strip parallel and next to the edge, e.g. by means of a line of weakness
    • B65D75/5811—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture for tearing a side strip parallel and next to the edge, e.g. by means of a line of weakness and defining, after tearing, a small dispensing spout, a small orifice or the like

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to a package and in particular a fluid or powder food, drink or pharmaceutical package from which the contents are intended to be consumed directly through a straw.
  • a necked container containing a fluid or powder food, drink or pharmaceutical, a straw within the container and extending from adjacent the bottom of the container into the container neck, which is sealed fully to enclose the container contents and the straw, the container neck having a line of weakening, herein referred to as a tear initiator, enabling the free end of the neck to be broken away to expose the end of the straw.
  • the straw may be sealed to the container neck below the tear initiator.
  • the straw may stand freely within the container, so that it can be raised outwardly of the container once the free end of the neck has been broken away.
  • the container preferably takes the form of a heat sealed sachet which may be heat sealed, ultra-sonically welded or cold sealed, for example made of co-extended plastics film, laminated plastics film, polymer coated metallic foil or coated paper.
  • the line of the tear initiator on the neck is preferably aligned with the direction of orientation of the polymer chains, or the orientation of the fibres in the case of a paper sachet .
  • the invention may be extended to a two fluid (or powder) compartmented sachet having a single neck into which two straws extend from the respective compartments, or having two necks each provided with a tear initiator.
  • the neck may be cut between the two straws down to the level of the tear initiator, and optionally perforations may be provided in the partition wall between the compartments below the tear initiator to enable the compartments to be separated.
  • the partition wall may be perforated over its entire length to enable the sachet to be divided into two parts, each with its own neck and straw.
  • Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a food sachet
  • Figure 2 is a transverse cross section through the sachet:
  • Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the top of a two compartment sachet
  • Figure 4 is a transverse cross section through the sachet of Figure 3.
  • Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the top of an alternative two compartment sachet.
  • the food package shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a sachet 10 containing a fluid food 12 such as a drink or possibly a powder food such as powdered sherbet.
  • the sachet 10 comprises two opposed sheets of orientated polypropylene joined together by a process of heat sealing, at a peripheral web 9.
  • the dotted line 19 indicates the orientation of the polymer chains of the polypropylene forming a neck 14 of the sachet. Sealed within the sachet, in addition to the food 12, is a straw 16, extending from adjacent the bottom of the sachet up into the neck 14.
  • the neck 14 is formed with a pair of opposed nicks 18.
  • Each nick 18 can act as a tear initiator, so that the free end portion of the neck 14 above the nicks 18 can be broken away, as by twisting, to expose the top of the straw 16.
  • the tear created by this process will be substantially parallel to line 19.
  • the straw 16 may stand freely in position within the sachet 10, or be sealed to the neck 14 of the sachet beneath the nicks 18.
  • the sachet 20 is divided by a partition wall 22 into two compartments 24, 26, respectively for containing alternative differing foods such as two different flavours of fruit drink.
  • the sachet 20 has a single neck 28 into which the partition wall 22 extends, and two straws 30, 32 are sealed within the sachet 20 with their upper ends extending up into the neck from the respective compartments 24, 26, respectively on opposite sides of the partition wall 22.
  • the neck has a pair of nicks 34 which can act as tear initiators for each straw, as heretofore described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Twisting off the free end portion of the neck exposes the upper ends of both straws 30, 32.
  • the neck 14 is preferably cut within the partition wall 22 down to the level of the nicks 34, as indicated at 36, and below this point the partition wall 22 may optionally be perforated, as indicated at 38, so that the two compartments 24, 26 of the sachet can be split apart.
  • Figure 5 shows a modification in which, in a dual compartment sachet 40, two separate necks 42, 44 are provided, each with its own pair of nicks, respectively 46, 48.
  • the partition wall 50 may have perforations 52 to enable the two compartments to be split apart.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

A sealed, necked container (10) of, for example, powder food or drink (12) also contains a straw (16) which extends from adjacent the bottom of the container into the neck (14). Access to the straw is gained by breaking away the free end of the neck to expose the end of the straw this being done by breaking the neck in a zone of weakening serving as a tear initiator.

Description

NECKED CONTAINER INCLUDING A DRINKING STRAW
Field of the invention
This invention relates generally to a package and in particular a fluid or powder food, drink or pharmaceutical package from which the contents are intended to be consumed directly through a straw.
The invention
According to the invention, there is provided a necked container containing a fluid or powder food, drink or pharmaceutical, a straw within the container and extending from adjacent the bottom of the container into the container neck, which is sealed fully to enclose the container contents and the straw, the container neck having a line of weakening, herein referred to as a tear initiator, enabling the free end of the neck to be broken away to expose the end of the straw.
If preferred or desired, the straw may be sealed to the container neck below the tear initiator. Alternatively, however, the straw may stand freely within the container, so that it can be raised outwardly of the container once the free end of the neck has been broken away.
The container preferably takes the form of a heat sealed sachet which may be heat sealed, ultra-sonically welded or cold sealed, for example made of co-extended plastics film, laminated plastics film, polymer coated metallic foil or coated paper. In this case, the line of the tear initiator on the neck is preferably aligned with the direction of orientation of the polymer chains, or the orientation of the fibres in the case of a paper sachet . The invention may be extended to a two fluid (or powder) compartmented sachet having a single neck into which two straws extend from the respective compartments, or having two necks each provided with a tear initiator. In the former case, the neck may be cut between the two straws down to the level of the tear initiator, and optionally perforations may be provided in the partition wall between the compartments below the tear initiator to enable the compartments to be separated. In the latter case, the partition wall may be perforated over its entire length to enable the sachet to be divided into two parts, each with its own neck and straw.
Description of Embodiments
The invention will now be described, by way of exdample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a food sachet;
Figure 2 is a transverse cross section through the sachet:
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the top of a two compartment sachet;
Figure 4 is a transverse cross section through the sachet of Figure 3; and
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the top of an alternative two compartment sachet.
The food package shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a sachet 10 containing a fluid food 12 such as a drink or possibly a powder food such as powdered sherbet. The sachet 10 comprises two opposed sheets of orientated polypropylene joined together by a process of heat sealing, at a peripheral web 9. The dotted line 19 indicates the orientation of the polymer chains of the polypropylene forming a neck 14 of the sachet. Sealed within the sachet, in addition to the food 12, is a straw 16, extending from adjacent the bottom of the sachet up into the neck 14.
Approximately midway of its height, and below the top of the straw 16, the neck 14 is formed with a pair of opposed nicks 18.
Each nick 18 can act as a tear initiator, so that the free end portion of the neck 14 above the nicks 18 can be broken away, as by twisting, to expose the top of the straw 16. The tear created by this process will be substantially parallel to line 19.
The straw 16 may stand freely in position within the sachet 10, or be sealed to the neck 14 of the sachet beneath the nicks 18.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the sachet 20 is divided by a partition wall 22 into two compartments 24, 26, respectively for containing alternative differing foods such as two different flavours of fruit drink.
The sachet 20 has a single neck 28 into which the partition wall 22 extends, and two straws 30, 32 are sealed within the sachet 20 with their upper ends extending up into the neck from the respective compartments 24, 26, respectively on opposite sides of the partition wall 22.
The neck has a pair of nicks 34 which can act as tear initiators for each straw, as heretofore described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Twisting off the free end portion of the neck exposes the upper ends of both straws 30, 32.
The neck 14 is preferably cut within the partition wall 22 down to the level of the nicks 34, as indicated at 36, and below this point the partition wall 22 may optionally be perforated, as indicated at 38, so that the two compartments 24, 26 of the sachet can be split apart.
Figure 5 shows a modification in which, in a dual compartment sachet 40, two separate necks 42, 44 are provided, each with its own pair of nicks, respectively 46, 48. Optionally, the partition wall 50 may have perforations 52 to enable the two compartments to be split apart.

Claims

Claims
1. A necked container containing a substance to be dispensed therefrom through a straw, a straw accommodated within the container and extending from adjacent the bottom of the container into the container neck, the container neck being sealed to enclose the container contents and the straw, and having a weakened zone for enabling the free end of the neck to be broken away to expose the end of the straw.
2. A container according to claim 1, in which the straw is sealed to the container neck below said weakened zone.
3. A container according to claim 1, in which the straw is axially moveable relative to the container so that the straw can be raised outwardly of the container once the free end of the neck has been broken away.
4. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the container comprises a sachet.
5. A container according to claim 4, in which the sachet is sealed by a process of heat sealing, ultrasonic welding or, cold sealing.
6. A container according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the sachet is made of co-extended plastics film, laminated plastics flim or polymer coated metallic foil.
7. A container according to claim 6, in which the weakened zone on the neck is linear and is aligned with the direction of orientation of the polymer chains.
8. A container according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the sachet is made of coated paper.
9. A container according to claim 8 in which the weakened zone on the neck is linear, and is aligned with the orientation of paper fibres of the sachet.
10. A container according to any of claims 4 to 9, in which the sachet has two compartments, and two straws, each of which extends into a respective compartment.
11. A container according to claim 10, in which the container has a single neck into which both the straws extend.
12. A container according to claim 10, in which the container has two necks, into each of which a respective straw extends, each neck being provided with a respective weakened zone, weakening.
13. A container according to claim 11, in which the single neck is provided with a cut between the two straws and perforations are provided in a partition wall between the two compartments below the weakened zone to enable the compartments to be separated.
14. A container according to claim 12, in which a partition wall between the compartments is perforated over its entire length to enable the sachet to be divided into two parts, each with its own neck and straw.
15. A container according to any of claims 4 to 6 in which the weakened zone is provided by a recess in one side of the exterior of the neck.
16. A container according to claim 15 in which the sachet comprises two opposed pieces of sheet material joined together at a peripheral web, and in which the recess comprises a nick in the web.
EP94930250A 1993-10-21 1994-10-17 Necked container including a drinking straw Expired - Lifetime EP0723519B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB939321750A GB9321750D0 (en) 1993-10-21 1993-10-21 Improvements in or relating to packaging
GB9321750 1993-10-21
PCT/GB1994/002269 WO1995011176A1 (en) 1993-10-21 1994-10-17 Necked container including a drinking straw

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0723519A1 true EP0723519A1 (en) 1996-07-31
EP0723519B1 EP0723519B1 (en) 1999-06-02

Family

ID=10743922

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94930250A Expired - Lifetime EP0723519B1 (en) 1993-10-21 1994-10-17 Necked container including a drinking straw

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0723519B1 (en)
AU (1) AU7941994A (en)
CA (1) CA2174732A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69418889D1 (en)
GB (1) GB9321750D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1995011176A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002068311A (en) * 2000-08-23 2002-03-08 Hosokawa Yoko Co Ltd Beverage container

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1279791B1 (en) * 1995-04-11 1997-12-18 Unifill Spa PACKAGING UNIT FOR LIQUID OR SOLID INGREDIENT FOOD PRODUCTS
FR2782067B1 (en) * 1998-02-04 2000-09-29 Paul Nataf IMPROVEMENTS IN NON-REMOVABLE CLOSURES WITH REMOVABLE CAP, INTERDEPENDENT OF THE TUBULAR ARRANGEMENTS OF A TORCH BOTTLE FOR THE SAME CARBONATED BEVERAGES AND THEIR MANUFACTURING METHODS
EP1112160A1 (en) * 1998-08-04 2001-07-04 Paul Nataf Improvements to fixed closures with removable cap, interdependent of tubular arrangements of a bottle-straw for beverages, even carbonated drinks and methods for making same
KR19990064446A (en) * 1999-02-18 1999-08-05 이정민 Structure of the liquid filling unit and the liquid filling unit having an outlet for discharging contents
EP1133969A1 (en) * 2000-03-14 2001-09-19 Dompe' S.P.A. Container for liquid or pasty substances at differentiated doses and container sets thereof
CN1138687C (en) * 2000-06-02 2004-02-18 株式会社细川洋行 Beverage container
IT202000000226A1 (en) * 2020-01-09 2021-07-09 Unifill S R L Unit of packaged product, and method of packaging a product

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2613988A (en) * 1950-05-08 1952-10-14 Franklin E Shankle Beverage dispensing device
DE1432214A1 (en) * 1964-07-11 1968-12-12 Heinz Moelleken Ampoule-shaped container to hold flowable substances
NL6903195A (en) * 1969-02-28 1970-09-01
NL8701700A (en) * 1987-07-17 1989-02-16 Heijenga S Management B V HOLDER FOR A LIQUID OR PASTIC PRODUCT.
DE9107722U1 (en) * 1991-06-24 1991-08-08 Basf Ag, 6700 Ludwigshafen, De

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9511176A1 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002068311A (en) * 2000-08-23 2002-03-08 Hosokawa Yoko Co Ltd Beverage container
JP4590501B2 (en) * 2000-08-23 2010-12-01 株式会社細川洋行 Beverage container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1995011176A1 (en) 1995-04-27
DE69418889D1 (en) 1999-07-08
EP0723519B1 (en) 1999-06-02
CA2174732A1 (en) 1995-04-27
GB9321750D0 (en) 1993-12-15
AU7941994A (en) 1995-05-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP3380487B2 (en) Easy-open bags and packaging materials
US6244467B1 (en) Material container and dispenser having a litterless closure
US3144976A (en) Liquid filled pouch with straw
CN101657362B (en) Container and method for manufacturing thereof
KR100293485B1 (en) Stress concentration hole forming means for sealed containers and packages
EP1123875B1 (en) Dual compartment package
US4779731A (en) Cluster package construction with reinforcing and tear structure
EP0238947A2 (en) A packing container provided with a reclosable opening arrangement
EP2049408B1 (en) Gable top container with perforated opening arrangement
EP1737745A1 (en) Carton for multiple articles
BRPI0706512A2 (en) package containing a plurality of containers, package for containing a plurality of articles, and die for forming a package for containing a plurality of articles
WO2013154883A1 (en) Flexible packages having multiple lines of weakness to facilitate opening
EP0771287B1 (en) Container comprising a base and an upstanding peripheral wall extending upwardly from said base to an apex
WO1995011176A1 (en) Necked container including a drinking straw
EP3237294B1 (en) Package material and package container formed with said material
WO2006079220A1 (en) PRODUCT CONTAINER WITH FOLD-DOWN LlD
US6394340B1 (en) Package with easy-opening cover portion
MXPA02004202A (en) Divisible multi carton package.
JP3634576B2 (en) Packaging bag with dispensing function
GB2247227A (en) A beverage container with dispensing means
EP0235709B1 (en) Packing container provided with opening arrangement
EP3907153B1 (en) Sealed break-open package
EP1801021B1 (en) Package having a tear initiation for forming an opening
GB2332900A (en) Easy-tearing packages
US6345759B1 (en) Gable top carton with enlarged pour spout opening

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19960517

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19960723

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990602

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990602

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69418889

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19990708

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990903

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19991017

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19991017

EN Fr: translation not filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19991017

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A