EP1017593B1 - Resealable pouch for tobacco - Google Patents

Resealable pouch for tobacco Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1017593B1
EP1017593B1 EP98924490A EP98924490A EP1017593B1 EP 1017593 B1 EP1017593 B1 EP 1017593B1 EP 98924490 A EP98924490 A EP 98924490A EP 98924490 A EP98924490 A EP 98924490A EP 1017593 B1 EP1017593 B1 EP 1017593B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pocket
mouth
closure strip
pouch
tobacco
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98924490A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1017593A1 (en
Inventor
Colin Dennis Luton
Kenneth John Rawcliffe
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.)
Imperial Tobacco Ltd
Original Assignee
Imperial Tobacco Ltd Great Britain
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 Imperial Tobacco Ltd Great Britain filed Critical Imperial Tobacco Ltd Great Britain
Publication of EP1017593A1 publication Critical patent/EP1017593A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1017593B1 publication Critical patent/EP1017593B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
    • B65D81/22—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient in moist conditions or immersed in liquids
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F23/00—Cases for tobacco, snuff, or chewing tobacco
    • A24F23/02—Tobacco pouches
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B19/00—Slide fasteners
    • 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
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
    • B65D33/25—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners
    • B65D33/2508—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a resealable pouch for tobacco. More particularly, it relates to a pouch formed of a flexible plastics material having a pocket for containing tobacco and a flap for folding over the opening of the pocket to prevent spillage of the tobacco from the pocket.
  • a pouch for tobacco is conventionally formed from a rectangular sheet of a thermoplastics material folded over itself and welded together at the edges to form a pocket. A portion of the rectangular sheet extending beyond the opening of the pocket is folded over the pocket to form a closing flap.
  • Such pouches are filled with tobacco, sealed and wrapped for sale to the consumer.
  • the means used to seal the filled pouch after the filling operation in the factory is, after being opened by the consumer, either completely nonresealable or is resealable only to a limited extent.
  • the problem with such conventional pouches is that, after initial opening by the consumer, they are incapable of preventing spillage of the contents and are incapable of preventing the loss of moisture and aroma from the tobacco in the pouch.
  • Reclosable bags and pouches are known in the art for a variety of uses.
  • AT-B-366340 discloses a bag as defined in the preamble of claim 1 for collecting refuse which has a pocket that is reclosable by means of poppers or a minigrip strip.
  • GB-A-2034274 discloses a package for containing moisture-containing refresher tissues which has a reclosable access.
  • US-A-3,696,917 describes a pouch for tobacco having a pocket which is reclosable by means of a pair of resilient beads.
  • EP-A-0450741 discloses a sealed multi-ply bag which is capable of being resealed by means of a closure comprising two interlocking portions, each respectively mounted across the top edges of the front and back panels of the bag.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a pouch for tobacco which is resealable and, therefore, capable of better moisture retention and of preventing spillage of the contents of the pouch.
  • the present invention provides a pouch for tobacco comprising a pocket for containing the tobacco and having a mouth providing access to the interior of the pocket and a flap capable of folding over the pocket at or near the mouth wherein the mouth of the pocket is provided, with a closure strip adapted to interengage with a complementary closure strip to reclosably seal the mouth of the pocket wherein the closure strip and the complementary closure strip are bonded to the respective opposing surfaces on the inside of the mouth and wherein the closure strip and the complementary closure strip are permanently sealed together at their ends.
  • the reclosable seal provided at the mouth of the pocket makes it possible for the consumer to seal the pocket after accessing the contents of the pocket thereby preventing loss of the contents by spillage from the pocket. Also, the seal, reduces the ingress of air into the pocket and the loss of moisture from the contents of the pocket ensuring that the contents remain moist and do not dry out.
  • the pouch according to the present invention has an increased capacity for keeping the tobacco fresh (by the preservation of aroma and moisture) over a prolonged period up to and after the time of first use.
  • the pouch can be formed simply from a first rectangular flexible plastics sheet on which a pocket is provided by adhesively bonding a second smaller rectangle of similar material along three of its edges to the first sheet.
  • the pouch is formed from a blank comprising a rectangular sheet of plastics material by folding over the sheet on itself and welding together the overlapping edges to form a pocket. The portion of the original blank extending beyond the mouth of the pocket forms the flap which can then be folded over the pocket.
  • the pouch is typically formed from a sheet or film of a thermoplastics material such as a polyolefin, e.g., polyethylene.
  • a thermoplastics material such as a polyolefin, e.g., polyethylene.
  • the sheet or film may be a laminate of two or more layers of similar or different thermoplastics material, metalised or metal coated material and/or printed paper sheet as is used in the manufacture of conventional pouches.
  • a reclosable fastener At the mouth of the pocket in the pouch a reclosable fastener. This is achieved by providing one edge of the mouth of the pocket with a first closure strip and the opposing edge of the mouth of the pocket with a second closure strip having a profile complementary to that of the first closure strip and capable of interengaging therewith.
  • the reclosable fastener is a zipper, preferably a plastics zipper one element of which is a plastics strip having at least one groove and the other element of which is a plastics strip having at least one rib of profile complementary to the groove or grooves of the other strip.
  • the opposing edges of the mouth of the pocket are provided with the complementary sealing strips typically by thermally bonding the strips to the opposing surfaces of the pocket at or near the mouth thereof.
  • the opposing and complementary sealing strips at their ends are sealed together, typically by ultrasonic crushing, to provide permanent closure of the fastener at its ends.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a pouch 1 according to the present invention.
  • the pouch is formed of a rectangle of flexible thermoplastics sheet, e.g., polyethylene, which has been folded back along itself to form a base 2 and sealed along side edges 3 and 4, for instance, by thermal welding.
  • the pouch has a pocket portion 5 and a flap portion 6.
  • the flap 6 is shown in an open configuration although this will normally be folded over the pocket portion when access to the pocket is not required.
  • the pocket portion has an openable mouth 7 to allow access to the pocket.
  • a plastic zipper 8 ( Figure 2).
  • the zipper 8, as shown in Figure 3, comprises two opposing strips (9, 10) having complementary rib and groove profiles which when pressed together interengage with each other and, thus, close the mouth of the pocket.
  • the complementary shapes of the rib and groove may be chosen such that the rib and groove 'grip' each other and form an interlockable closure.
  • the opposing strips (9,10) of the plastic zipper are bonded to the respective opposing surfaces of the mouth of the pocket by thermal welding.
  • the end regions of the opposing strips are permanently sealed, by ultrasonically crushing them together, to prevent opening of the fastener from its ends.
  • the pocket portion 5 when kept sealed by virtue of the closed plastic zipper 8, maintains the freshness of tobacco 11 contained in the pocket portion of the pouch.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

A pouch (1) for tobacco comprises a pocket (5) for containing the tobacco and has a mouth (7) providing access to the interior of the pocket (5). It also has a flap (6) capable of folding over the pocket (5) at or near the mouth. The mouth (7) of the pocket (5) is provided, at one edge thereof, with a closure strip (9) adapted to interengage with a complementary closure strip (10) provided at the other edge for reclosing the mouth (7) of the pocket (5) to form a seal. The pouch keeps tobacco contained in the sealed pocket fresh by preserving the aroma and moisture content of the tobacco over a prolonged period up to and after the time of first use.

Description

The present invention relates to a resealable pouch for tobacco. More particularly, it relates to a pouch formed of a flexible plastics material having a pocket for containing tobacco and a flap for folding over the opening of the pocket to prevent spillage of the tobacco from the pocket.
A pouch for tobacco is conventionally formed from a rectangular sheet of a thermoplastics material folded over itself and welded together at the edges to form a pocket. A portion of the rectangular sheet extending beyond the opening of the pocket is folded over the pocket to form a closing flap. Such pouches are filled with tobacco, sealed and wrapped for sale to the consumer. The means used to seal the filled pouch after the filling operation in the factory is, after being opened by the consumer, either completely nonresealable or is resealable only to a limited extent. The problem with such conventional pouches is that, after initial opening by the consumer, they are incapable of preventing spillage of the contents and are incapable of preventing the loss of moisture and aroma from the tobacco in the pouch.
Reclosable bags and pouches are known in the art for a variety of uses. AT-B-366340 discloses a bag as defined in the preamble of claim 1 for collecting refuse which has a pocket that is reclosable by means of poppers or a minigrip strip. GB-A-2034274 discloses a package for containing moisture-containing refresher tissues which has a reclosable access. US-A-3,696,917 describes a pouch for tobacco having a pocket which is reclosable by means of a pair of resilient beads. EP-A-0450741 discloses a sealed multi-ply bag which is capable of being resealed by means of a closure comprising two interlocking portions, each respectively mounted across the top edges of the front and back panels of the bag.
The object of the present invention is to provide a pouch for tobacco which is resealable and, therefore, capable of better moisture retention and of preventing spillage of the contents of the pouch.
The present invention provides a pouch for tobacco comprising a pocket for containing the tobacco and having a mouth providing access to the interior of the pocket and a flap capable of folding over the pocket at or near the mouth wherein the mouth of the pocket is provided, with a closure strip adapted to interengage with a complementary closure strip to reclosably seal the mouth of the pocket wherein the closure strip and the complementary closure strip are bonded to the respective opposing surfaces on the inside of the mouth and wherein the closure strip and the complementary closure strip are permanently sealed together at their ends.
The reclosable seal provided at the mouth of the pocket makes it possible for the consumer to seal the pocket after accessing the contents of the pocket thereby preventing loss of the contents by spillage from the pocket. Also, the seal, reduces the ingress of air into the pocket and the loss of moisture from the contents of the pocket ensuring that the contents remain moist and do not dry out. Thus, the pouch according to the present invention has an increased capacity for keeping the tobacco fresh (by the preservation of aroma and moisture) over a prolonged period up to and after the time of first use.
The pouch can be formed simply from a first rectangular flexible plastics sheet on which a pocket is provided by adhesively bonding a second smaller rectangle of similar material along three of its edges to the first sheet. Preferably, however, the pouch is formed from a blank comprising a rectangular sheet of plastics material by folding over the sheet on itself and welding together the overlapping edges to form a pocket. The portion of the original blank extending beyond the mouth of the pocket forms the flap which can then be folded over the pocket.
The pouch is typically formed from a sheet or film of a thermoplastics material such as a polyolefin, e.g., polyethylene. The sheet or film may be a laminate of two or more layers of similar or different thermoplastics material, metalised or metal coated material and/or printed paper sheet as is used in the manufacture of conventional pouches.
According to the invention there is provided at the mouth of the pocket in the pouch a reclosable fastener. This is achieved by providing one edge of the mouth of the pocket with a first closure strip and the opposing edge of the mouth of the pocket with a second closure strip having a profile complementary to that of the first closure strip and capable of interengaging therewith.
Typically, the reclosable fastener is a zipper, preferably a plastics zipper one element of which is a plastics strip having at least one groove and the other element of which is a plastics strip having at least one rib of profile complementary to the groove or grooves of the other strip.
In the manufacture of the pouch the opposing edges of the mouth of the pocket are provided with the complementary sealing strips typically by thermally bonding the strips to the opposing surfaces of the pocket at or near the mouth thereof. The opposing and complementary sealing strips at their ends are sealed together, typically by ultrasonic crushing, to provide permanent closure of the fastener at its ends.
The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the Figures in which
  • Figure 1 shows a view of one embodiment of a pouch of the present invention with an open flap;
  • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pouch of Figure 1 showing a zipper along the line A-A in the direction shown by the arrows.
  • Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the zipper in Figure 2.
    • Figure 1 illustrates a pouch 1 according to the present invention. The pouch is formed of a rectangle of flexible thermoplastics sheet, e.g., polyethylene, which has been folded back along itself to form a base 2 and sealed along side edges 3 and 4, for instance, by thermal welding. The pouch has a pocket portion 5 and a flap portion 6. The flap 6 is shown in an open configuration although this will normally be folded over the pocket portion when access to the pocket is not required.
    The pocket portion has an openable mouth 7 to allow access to the pocket. On the inside of the mouth and shown holding the mouth closed is a plastic zipper 8 (Figure 2). The zipper 8, as shown in Figure 3, comprises two opposing strips (9, 10) having complementary rib and groove profiles which when pressed together interengage with each other and, thus, close the mouth of the pocket. The complementary shapes of the rib and groove may be chosen such that the rib and groove 'grip' each other and form an interlockable closure.
    The opposing strips (9,10) of the plastic zipper are bonded to the respective opposing surfaces of the mouth of the pocket by thermal welding. The end regions of the opposing strips are permanently sealed, by ultrasonically crushing them together, to prevent opening of the fastener from its ends.
    The pocket portion 5, when kept sealed by virtue of the closed plastic zipper 8, maintains the freshness of tobacco 11 contained in the pocket portion of the pouch.

    Claims (4)

    1. A pouch for tobacco comprising a pocket (5) for containing the tobacco and having a mouth (7) providing access to the interior of the pocket (5) and a flap (6) capable of folding over the pocket (5) at or near the mouth (7) wherein the mouth (7) of the pocket (5) is provided, with a closure strip (9) adapted to interengage with a complementary closure strip (10) to reclosably seal the mouth (7) of the pocket (5) wherein the closure strip and the complementary closure strip are bonded to the respective opposing surfaces on the inside of the mouth characterised in that the closure strip and the complementary closure strip are permanently sealed together at their ends.
    2. A pouch according to claim 1, wherein the closure strip comprises an extruded plastics strip having a grooved surface and the complementary closure strip comprises an extruded plastics strip having a ribbed surface wherein the ribbed surface of the complementary closure strip and the grooved surface of the closure strip are adapted to form an interlocking seal when pressed together.
    3. A pouch according to either claim 1 or claim 2 which is formed from a rectangular sheet of plastics material by folding over a portion of the sheet on itself to form a base (2), welding together the overlapping edges (3,4) to form the pocket (5), the portion of the sheet extending beyond the mouth (7) of the pocket forming the flap (6).
    4. A tobacco-containing pouch comprising a pouch (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 3 and, contained within the pocket (5) of the pouch, an amount of tobacco, wherein the moisture loss and aroma loss from the tobacco contained within the pocket (5) is reduced by maintaining the closure strip (9, 10) at or near the mouth (7) of the pocket (5) in a sealed condition except when access to the contents of the pocket is required.
    EP98924490A 1997-05-31 1998-05-29 Resealable pouch for tobacco Expired - Lifetime EP1017593B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    GB9711248 1997-05-31
    GBGB9711248.6A GB9711248D0 (en) 1997-05-31 1997-05-31 Resealable pouch for tobaco
    PCT/GB1998/001589 WO1998054060A1 (en) 1997-05-31 1998-05-29 Resealable pouch for tobacco

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP1017593A1 EP1017593A1 (en) 2000-07-12
    EP1017593B1 true EP1017593B1 (en) 2002-02-06

    Family

    ID=10813353

    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP98924490A Expired - Lifetime EP1017593B1 (en) 1997-05-31 1998-05-29 Resealable pouch for tobacco

    Country Status (9)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP1017593B1 (en)
    AT (1) ATE212937T1 (en)
    AU (1) AU7668398A (en)
    DE (1) DE69803787T2 (en)
    DK (1) DK1017593T3 (en)
    ES (1) ES2168761T3 (en)
    GB (1) GB9711248D0 (en)
    PT (1) PT1017593E (en)
    WO (1) WO1998054060A1 (en)

    Cited By (8)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE10212584A1 (en) * 2002-03-15 2003-10-09 Felix Schlosser Flip-top pack contains tobacco in airtight plastic bag in interior of main pack and packet of cigarette papers in flip-top
    EP1849372A1 (en) 2006-04-26 2007-10-31 British American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH Storage bag for tobacco with soil-resistant fastener
    DE102011053275A1 (en) 2011-09-05 2013-03-07 Nordenia Deutschland Halle Gmbh tobacco pouch
    EP2845498A1 (en) 2013-09-05 2015-03-11 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH Tobacco pouch
    EP2915442A1 (en) 2014-03-04 2015-09-09 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH Tobacco pouch
    EP3081099A1 (en) 2015-04-14 2016-10-19 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH Tobacco pouch with printed element
    WO2016169947A1 (en) 2015-04-20 2016-10-27 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken Gmbh Pouch for tobacco with an improved zipper closure
    USD805687S1 (en) 2014-10-02 2017-12-19 Digirettes, Inc. Vaping device tank

    Families Citing this family (5)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    HU224878B1 (en) * 1999-01-06 2006-03-28 Imp Tobacco Ltd Method for producing resealable filled pouch
    DE20305187U1 (en) * 2002-12-17 2004-04-29 Asf Verwaltungs Gmbh Press closure for resealable bags comprises strip with central, funnel-shaped profile with hooked ends enclosing groove, into which locking strip with arrow-shaped or circular cross-section fits
    US20070151876A1 (en) * 2003-03-24 2007-07-05 Wright Liam C Smoker's pouch
    DE102004056043A1 (en) * 2004-11-19 2006-05-24 Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) Bag for e.g. tobacco portion, has filling and withdrawal openings that are independently arranged at distance from each other, where filling opening is used for filling bag content, and withdrawal opening is provided for withdrawing content
    EP3045056B1 (en) 2015-01-16 2017-11-22 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH A pouch for tobacco with reversible pockets

    Family Cites Families (4)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US3696917A (en) * 1970-09-10 1972-10-10 Elaine G Levi Tobacco pouch closure
    SE423080B (en) * 1978-03-14 1982-04-13 Salve Sa RELEASABLE PACKAGING FOR A STACK OF WASHING OR OTHER MOISTURE MATERIAL
    AT366340B (en) * 1978-11-16 1982-04-13 Vogt Peter Dkfm BAG
    US5048692A (en) * 1990-04-03 1991-09-17 Colgate-Palmolive Company Bag closure structure in which a single resealable closure acts as both the primary and secondary closures

    Cited By (12)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE10212584A1 (en) * 2002-03-15 2003-10-09 Felix Schlosser Flip-top pack contains tobacco in airtight plastic bag in interior of main pack and packet of cigarette papers in flip-top
    EP1849372A1 (en) 2006-04-26 2007-10-31 British American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH Storage bag for tobacco with soil-resistant fastener
    DE102011053275A1 (en) 2011-09-05 2013-03-07 Nordenia Deutschland Halle Gmbh tobacco pouch
    EP2567907A1 (en) 2011-09-05 2013-03-13 Nordenia Deutschland Halle GmbH Tobacco pouch
    EP2845498A1 (en) 2013-09-05 2015-03-11 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH Tobacco pouch
    WO2015032594A2 (en) 2013-09-05 2015-03-12 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken Gmbh Tobacco pouch
    US10258082B2 (en) 2013-09-05 2019-04-16 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken Gmbh Tobacco pouch
    EP2915442A1 (en) 2014-03-04 2015-09-09 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH Tobacco pouch
    USD805687S1 (en) 2014-10-02 2017-12-19 Digirettes, Inc. Vaping device tank
    USD805686S1 (en) 2014-10-02 2017-12-19 Digirettes, Inc. Vaping device
    EP3081099A1 (en) 2015-04-14 2016-10-19 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH Tobacco pouch with printed element
    WO2016169947A1 (en) 2015-04-20 2016-10-27 Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken Gmbh Pouch for tobacco with an improved zipper closure

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    DE69803787T2 (en) 2002-08-22
    DE69803787D1 (en) 2002-03-21
    EP1017593A1 (en) 2000-07-12
    WO1998054060A1 (en) 1998-12-03
    PT1017593E (en) 2002-07-31
    DK1017593T3 (en) 2002-03-25
    GB9711248D0 (en) 1997-07-23
    ES2168761T3 (en) 2002-06-16
    ATE212937T1 (en) 2002-02-15
    AU7668398A (en) 1998-12-30

    Similar Documents

    Publication Publication Date Title
    CA2307397C (en) Segmented snap closure for flexible packages and flexible packages including the same
    US6988828B2 (en) Closure for containers and reclosable containers including the same
    US6296388B1 (en) Flexible pour-spout closure for flexible package
    CA2293909C (en) Snap closure for flexible packages and flexible packages including the same
    CA2308729C (en) Adhesively secured snap closure for flexible packages and flexible packages including the same
    US7300207B2 (en) Closure for containers and reclosable containers including the same
    US5174659A (en) Reclosable flexible bag
    US6231236B1 (en) Resealable package having venting structure and methods
    US6464394B1 (en) Handle-pour spout closure for flexible packages, flexible packages including the same and method of making such flexible packages
    CA2204712C (en) Reclosable pouch and zipper therefor
    US6533711B1 (en) Recloseable pouch with reinforced handle and method of making same
    US7673437B2 (en) Reclosable packages with front panel slider-zipper assembly
    US5346301A (en) Reclosable bag with offset end seal
    US6910805B2 (en) Method for sealing zipper assembly to bag making film at three or more points
    US6139187A (en) Pour-spout closure for flexible packages, and flexible packages including a pour-spout closure
    US20060285777A1 (en) Reclosable packages with two-dimensional zipper attachement
    WO2004043812A1 (en) Leak proof closure mechanism for resealable bag
    US6254273B1 (en) Pour-spout closure for flexible packages and flexible packages including a pour-spout closure
    EP1017593B1 (en) Resealable pouch for tobacco
    WO1998005567A1 (en) Reclosable package with tamper evident feature
    JPH11124149A (en) Packaging bag
    AU2245892A (en) Reclosable bag and container
    CA2263245C (en) Preformed tobacco package
    CA1301710C (en) Reclosable packaging and storage container

    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: 19991223

    AK Designated contracting states

    Kind code of ref document: A1

    Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI NL PT SE

    17Q First examination report despatched

    Effective date: 20000929

    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

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: GB

    Ref legal event code: IF02

    RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

    Owner name: IMPERIAL TOBACCO LIMITED

    AK Designated contracting states

    Kind code of ref document: B1

    Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI NL PT SE

    REF Corresponds to:

    Ref document number: 212937

    Country of ref document: AT

    Date of ref document: 20020215

    Kind code of ref document: T

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: EP

    REF Corresponds to:

    Ref document number: 69803787

    Country of ref document: DE

    Date of ref document: 20020321

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: DK

    Ref legal event code: T3

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: NV

    Representative=s name: R. A. EGLI & CO. PATENTANWAELTE

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: GR

    Ref legal event code: EP

    Ref document number: 20020400436

    Country of ref document: GR

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

    Ref country code: CY

    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: 20020531

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: ES

    Ref legal event code: FG2A

    Ref document number: 2168761

    Country of ref document: ES

    Kind code of ref document: T3

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: PT

    Ref legal event code: SC4A

    Free format text: AVAILABILITY OF NATIONAL TRANSLATION

    Effective date: 20020506

    ET Fr: translation 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

    Effective date: 20021107

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: FR

    Ref legal event code: PLFP

    Year of fee payment: 19

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: FR

    Ref legal event code: PLFP

    Year of fee payment: 20

    PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: NL

    Payment date: 20170421

    Year of fee payment: 20

    PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: IE

    Payment date: 20170421

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: FR

    Payment date: 20170421

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: CH

    Payment date: 20170426

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: GB

    Payment date: 20170426

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: DE

    Payment date: 20170420

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: GR

    Payment date: 20170425

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: DK

    Payment date: 20170424

    Year of fee payment: 20

    PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: ES

    Payment date: 20170607

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: BE

    Payment date: 20170424

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: AT

    Payment date: 20170421

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: SE

    Payment date: 20170425

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: IT

    Payment date: 20170421

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: FI

    Payment date: 20170421

    Year of fee payment: 20

    Ref country code: PT

    Payment date: 20170502

    Year of fee payment: 20

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: DE

    Ref legal event code: R071

    Ref document number: 69803787

    Country of ref document: DE

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: NL

    Ref legal event code: MK

    Effective date: 20180528

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: DK

    Ref legal event code: EUP

    Effective date: 20180529

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: PL

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: GB

    Ref legal event code: PE20

    Expiry date: 20180528

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: IE

    Ref legal event code: MK9A

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: SE

    Ref legal event code: EUG

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: AT

    Ref legal event code: MK07

    Ref document number: 212937

    Country of ref document: AT

    Kind code of ref document: T

    Effective date: 20180529

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: BE

    Ref legal event code: MK

    Effective date: 20180529

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

    Ref country code: PT

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

    Effective date: 20180608

    Ref country code: GB

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

    Effective date: 20180528

    Ref country code: IE

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

    Effective date: 20180529

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: ES

    Ref legal event code: FD2A

    Effective date: 20200804

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

    Ref country code: ES

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

    Effective date: 20180530