EP3529165B1

EP3529165B1 - Sealed pouch for dispensing material and method to open a sealed pouch

Info

Publication number: EP3529165B1
Application number: EP17772441.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pedzinski JAKUB
Original assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Current assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Priority date: 2016-10-18
Filing date: 2017-09-28
Publication date: 2020-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-28
Also published as: AR109960A1; EP3529165A1; AU2017347365B2; WO2018072982A1; AU2017347365A1

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a sealed pouch for dispensing material. The sealed pouch is in particular suitable to dispense flowable material. The invention further relates to a method to open a sealed pouch.

Background of the invention

Pouches having a front sheet and a back sheet comprising flexible film type material sealed to each other at their edges are known in the art. Such pouches are widely used for packaging fluids and pourable substances of all kinds. To remove the content from the pouch, the pouch is torn open or cut open using scissors at a place designated for that purpose.
A particular type of pouches comprises pouches having an evacuation funnel to dispense the content of the pouch.
Although pouches may be provided with a tearing notch for example in the sealing seam, pouches known in the art require high forces to be opened. Furthermore in many cases the pouches are not reliably opened. The problem of not reliably opening is even more pronounced for pouches having an evacuation funnel.
Patent document GB1297302A describes a container bag for holding a fluid, which is formed by flexible panels of plastic sheet material. The bag has a discharge opening formed as a tapered nozzle left open in a transverse seam that seals the panels. A transverse weakening line extends near the mouth of the nozzle and parallel to the transverse seam.
Patent document WO2014/003108A1 describes various packaging bags. One such bag is formed by rectangular wall sections, which are mutually connected along sealed edges, and includes a tapered spout section in a top central region of the bag. An opening line is provided across this spout section, which can be torn to open the spout section.
There is a need to provide improved sealed pouches and in particular improved sealed pouches having an evacuation funnel.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pouch for dispensing material, in particular flowable material, avoiding the drawbacks of the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pouch that can be torn open in an easy way, without using excessive forces and without using a mechanical aid.
It is a further object to provide a pouch having an evacuation funnel that enables full opening of the evacuation funnel.
Furthermore it is an object to provide a pouch with slit lines to direct the tearing of the pouch during opening to the ideal tear line.
It is a further object to provide a pouch that allows opening whereby the front sheet and the back sheet of the funnel have the same or a similar tear line or tear pattern.
According to a first aspect of the invention a sealed pouch according to claim 1 is provided. The pouch is suitable for dispensing material, preferably flowable material.
The pouch has a length L and a width W. The pouch comprises a front sheet and a back sheet. Both of the front and the back sheet preferably comprise a flexible material and more preferably a flexible material that is heat sealable.
The front sheet and the back sheet preferably form a hollow body.
The pouch has a first side edge, a second side edge, a front edge and a back edge. The first side edge and the front edge form a first corner, the second side edge and the front edge form a second corner.
The front sheet and the back sheet are secured together along the first side edge by a first side seal, along the second side edge by a second side seal and along the front edge by a front seal. Possibly, but not necessarily the front sheet and the back sheet are secured together along the back edge by a back seal.
The first side seal has a width W_1ss, the second side seal has a width W_2ss, the front seal has a width W_fs. If the pouch has a back seal, the back seal has a width W_bs. The front sheet and the back sheet are further secured together by a first corner seal and by a second corner seal.
The first corner seal is positioned close to the first corner and extends from a position along the first side edge to a position along the front edge.
The second corner seal is positioned close to the second corner and extends from a position along the second side edge to a position along the front edge. The first corner seal has a width W_1cs and the second corner seal has a width W_2cs.
The first corner seal forms a first edge of an evacuation funnel and the second corner seal forms a second edge of this evacuation funnel. The second corner seal extends to a position along the front edge located at a distance D_W2cs from said second side edge.
The sealed pouch is further provided with at least one first slit line and with at least one second slit line. The at least one first slit line is parallel or substantially parallel oriented with the front edge. The at least one first slit line is positioned at a position along the length L of the sealed pouch located between the first corner seal and the front seal. The at least one slit line has a start position and an end position along the width W of the sealed pouch.
The start position of the at least one first slit line is located in the first side seal; the end position of the at least one first slit line is located in the first corner seal.
The start position of the at least one first slit line is positioned at a distance D₁ from one of the edges of the first side seal, for example at a distance D₁ from the outer edge of the first side seal, i.e. from the first side edge. The distance D₁ ranges between 5 % and 95 % of the width of the first side seal W_1ss. Preferably, the distance D₁ ranges between 30 % and 90 % of the width of the first side seal W_1ss.
The end position of the at least one first slit line is positioned at a distance D₂ from one of the edges of the first corner seal as measured along the first slit line, for example at a distance D₂ from the edge of the corner seal forming the outer edge of the evacuation funnel. The distance D₂ ranges between 5 % and 95 % of the width of the first corner seal W_1cs. Preferably, the distance D₂ ranges between 30 % and 90 % of the width of the first corner seal W_1cs. The distance D₂ is for example 40 %, 50 %; 60 %, 70 %, 80 % or 90 % of the width of the first corner seal W_1cs.
The at least one second slit line is not parallel oriented with the front edge, and the second slit line has a start position and an end position located in the front seal. The start position of the second slit line is located at a position along the width W of the sealed pouch at a distance from the second side edge ranging between D_W2cs + ½·W_2cs and D_W2cs. The end position of the second slit line is located at a position along the width W of the sealed pouch at a distance from the second side edge ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs-2·W_2cs.
By providing the pouch according to the present invention with slit lines as defined above, the pouch can be opened in an easy way, without using excessive forces and without using a mechanical aid such as scissors.
A sealed pouch according to the present invention has furthermore the advantages that it allows complete opening of the evacuation funnel and that the tear line or tear pattern of the front sheet is the same or similar to the tear line or tear pattern of the back sheet.
The sealed pouch according to the present invention is in particular suitable for dispensing flowable material as for example pasty, jelly or liquid products.
The front sheet and back sheet may comprise any type of sheet or foil. Preferably, the front sheet and the back sheet comprise a flexible material and more preferably a heat sealable flexible material, for example a thermoplastic material.
The material of the front sheet and the back sheet comprise for example a metal sheet, a plastic sheet, a paper sheet, a metal sheet provided with one or more plastic or paper layers, a plastic sheet provided with one or more metal or paper layers or a paper sheet provided with one or more plastic or metal layers.
Preferred plastic sheets comprise polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide and polyimide.
Preferred metal sheets comprise aluminium or aluminium alloy sheets.
Preferred metal sheets provided with one or more plastic or paper layers comprise an aluminium sheet or an aluminium alloy sheet coated, extruded or laminated with a plastic layer such as a polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide and polyimide or laminated with a paper layer.
Preferred plastic sheets provided with one or more metal or paper layers comprise a polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide or polyimide sheet coated or laminated with an aluminium or aluminium alloy layer or laminated with a paper layer. Preferred paper sheets provided with one or more plastic or metal layers comprise a paper sheet coated, extruded or laminated with a plastic layer such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyimide or laminated with an aluminium sheet or an aluminium alloy sheet.
The front sheet and/or the back sheet may be coated with one or more coating layers, for example with a barrier layer, an internal coating layer and/or an external coating layer. Examples of barrier layers comprise silicium oxide (SiOx) layer, aluminium oxide (AlOx) layer or a metallized layer for example an aluminium or aluminium alloy layer. Internal coating layers are for example applied to obtain easy-product evacuation. Examples of internal coating layers comprise hydrophobic or hydrophilic materials. External coating layers are for example applied to give the pouch a specific look and/or touch. Examples of external coating layers comprise varnish layers, such as matt or glossy varnish layers.
The front sheet and the back sheet of a pouch may comprise the same material or may comprise a different material.
The seals of the pouch according to the present invention such as the first side seal, the second side seal, the front seal, the back seal, the first corner seal and the second corner seal can be obtained by any type of sealing. Examples of sealing techniques comprise thermal sealing, induction heat sealing, laser sealing, adhesive sealing, ultrasonic sealing or a combination thereof.
The at least one first slit line can be obtained by any technique known in the art to provide slit lines. Examples comprise perforating, slitting or etching such as laser etching.
The length L of the sealed pouch ranges preferably between 2 cm and 50 cm, and more preferably between 10 cm and 20 cm, for example 12 cm, 13.5 cm or 15 cm. The width W of the sealed pouch ranges preferably between 2 cm and 25 cm, and more preferably between 5 cm and 10 cm, for example 6 cm, 7 cm or 8 cm.
The width of the first side seal W_1ss, the width of the second side seal W_2ss, the width of the first front seal W_fs and the width of the back seal W_bs (if present) preferably range between 0.1 cm and 2 cm and more preferably between 0.4 cm and 1 cm, for example 0.5 cm, 0.6 cm, 0.7 cm or 0.8 cm. The width of the first side seal W_1ss, the width of the second side seal W_2ss, the width of the first front seal W_fs and the width of the back seal W_bs (if present) can be the same or different.
The width of the first corner seal W_1cs and the width of the second corner seal W_2cs range preferably between 0.3 cm and 1 cm and more preferably between 0.3 cm and 1 cm, for example 0.4 cm, 0.5 cm, 0.6 cm or 0.8 cm. The width of the first corner seal W_1cs and the width of the second corner seal W_2cs can be the same or different.
The first corner seal is preferably extending from a position along the first side edge located at a distance D_L1cs from the front edge, whereby the distance D_L1cs is ranging between 5 and 30 % of the length L of said sealed pouch. More preferably, the distance D_L1cs is ranging between 10 and 25 % of the length L of the sealed pouch. The distance D_L1cs is measured along the first side edge from the front edge to the middle of the first corner seal.
Similarly, the second corner seal is preferably extending from a position along the second side edge located at a distance D_L2cs from the front edge, whereby the distance D_L2cs is ranging between 5 and 30 % of the length L of said sealed pouch. More preferably, the distance D_L2cs is ranging between 10 and 25 % of the length L of the sealed pouch.
The distance D_L2cs is measured along the second side edge from the front edge to the middle of the second corner seal.
Preferably but not necessarily the distance D_L1cs and the distance D_L2cs are equal or substantially equal.
The first corner seal is preferably extending to a position along the front edge located at a distance D_W1cs from the first side edge, whereby the distance D_W1cs is ranging between 5 and 40 % of the width W of the sealed pouch. More preferably the distance D_W1cs is ranging between 10 and 35 % or between 20 and 32 % of the width W of the sealed pouch.
The distance D_W1cs is measured along the front edge from the first side edge to the middle of the first corner seal.
Similarly, the distance D_W2cs between the position to which the second corner seal extends along the front edge on the one hand, and the second side edge on the other hand, preferably ranges between 5 and 40 % of the width W of the sealed pouch. More preferably the distance D_W2cs is ranging between 10 and 35 % or between 20 and 32 % of the width W of the sealed pouch.
The distance D_W2cs is measured along the front edge from the second side edge to the middle of the second corner seal.
Preferably but not necessarily the distance D_W1cs and the distance D_W2cs are equal or substantially equal.
As mentioned above, the at least one first slit line is oriented parallel or substantially parallel with the front edge of the sealed pouch at a position along the length L of the sealed pouch located between the first corner seal and the front seal. The distance between the front edge and the position of the at least one slit line along the length L of the sealed pouch is defined as D_L1sl. As the first corner seal is at a distance D_L1cs from the front edge of the sealed pouch, the distance D_L1sl is lower than D_L1cs. The distance D_L1sl is for example 80 % of D_L1cs, 70 % of D_L1cs, 60 % of D_L1cs, 50 % of D_L1cs, 40 % of Dues or 30 % of Dues.
The sealed pouch according to the present invention is preferably provided with at least one visual indication to indicate the preferred location to tear the sealed pouch open. The at least one visual indication is preferably positioned at a position along the length L of the sealed pouch corresponding or substantially corresponding with the position along the length L of the sealed pouch of the at least one slit line. The visual indication comprises for example a tearing notch, a tearing cut or a colored mark, for example a printed mark.
A preferred tearing notch comprises a V-shaped notch in the first side seal and/or in the second side seal. The depth of the notch, for example the V-shaped notch, is preferably lower than the width W_1ss of the first side seal or lower than the width W_2ss of the second side seal.
The sealed pouch according to the present invention is further provided with at least one second slit line. By providing the sealed pouch according to the present invention with at least one second slit line the opening of the sealed pouch is further simplified and the tearing of the pouch is further directed to the ideal tear line.
In a group of sealed pouches not forming part of the present invention the at least one second slit line is a slit line oriented parallel or substantially parallel with the front edge at a position along the length L of the sealed pouch located between the second corner seal and the front seal. The distance between the front edge and the position of the second slit line along the length of the sealed pouch is defined as D_L2sl. As the second corner seal is at a distance D_L2cs from the front edge of the sealed pouch, the distance D_L2sl is lower than D_L2cs. The distance D_L2sl is for example 80 % of D_L2cs, 70 % of D_L2cs, 60 % of D_L2cs, 50 % of D_L2cs, 40 % of D_L2cs or 30 % of D_L2cs.
Preferably, the position of the at least one second slit line along the length L of the sealed pouch corresponds with the position of the at least one first slit line along the length L of the sealed pouch. This means that D_L1sl and D_L2sl are preferably equal or substantially equal. The at least one second slit line of the first group of sealed pouches has a start position and an end position along the width W of the sealed pouch whereby the start position of the at least one second slit line is preferably located in the second corner seal and the end position of the at least one second slit line is preferably located in the second side seal.
The start position of the at least one second slit line is preferably positioned at a distance D₃ from one of the edges of the second corner seal, for example at a distance D₃ from the edge of the corner seal forming the inner edge of the evacuation funnel. The distance D₃ preferably ranges between 5 % and 95 % of the width of the second corner seal W_2cs. More preferably, the distance D₃ ranges between 30 % and 90 % of the width of the second corner seal W_2cs.
The end position of the at least one second slit line is preferably positioned at a distance D₄ from one of the edges of the second side seal, for example at a distance D₄ from the outer edge of the second side seal, i.e. from the second side edge. The distance D₄ preferably ranges between 5 % and 95 % of the width of the second side seal W_2ss. More preferably, the distance D₄ ranges between 30 % and 90 % of the width of the second side seal W_2ss.
In the sealed pouches according to the present invention the at least one second slit line is a slit line that is not parallel oriented with the front edge having a start position and an end position both positioned in the front seal. Preferably, the included angle between the at least one second slit line and the front edge ranges between 0 and 90 degrees, for example between 10 and 80 degrees as for example 30 degrees, 45 degrees or 60 degrees.
The at least one second slit line is preferably positioned close to the second corner seal.
The start position of the at least one second slit line is located at a position along the width W of the sealed pouch at a distance ranging between D_W2cs + ½·W_2cs and D_W2cs from the second side edge.
The end position of the at least one second slit line is located at a position along the width W of the sealed pouch at a distance ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs-2·W_2cs from the second side edge, for instance ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs - 1·W_2cs. More preferably, the end position of the at least one second slit line is located at a position along the width W of the sealed pouch at a distance ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs - ½·W_2cs from the second side edge.
According to a second aspect of the present invention a method according to claim 8 is provided.
The method to open a sealed pouch as described above comprises the tearing along the at least one first slit line.
The method to open a sealed pouch as described above further comprises the tearing along the at least one second slit line. The tearing along the at least one first slit line and the tearing along the at least one second slit line can be done simultaneously or subsequently.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

The invention will now be described into more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings whereby

Figure 1 shows an illustration of a sealed pouch not forming part of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a detail of the region around the first corner of a sealed pouch as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a detail of the region around the second corner of a sealed pouch as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows an illustration of an embodiment of a sealed pouch according to the present invention;
Figure 5 shows a detail of the region around the second corner of a sealed pouch as shown in Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows an illustration of another sealed pouch not forming part of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.
Figure 1 shows an illustration of a sealed pouch 100 not forming part of the present invention.
The sealed pouch 100 has a length L and a width W and comprises a front sheet and a back sheet. The pouch 100 has a first side edge 102, a second side edge 104, a front edge 106 and a back edge 108. The first side edge 102 and the front edge 106 form a first corner 110. The second side edge 104 and the front edge 106 form a second corner 112.
Figure 2 shows a detail of the region around the first corner 110 of the sealed pouch 100 of Figure 1 and Figure 3 shows a detail of the region around the second corner 112 of the sealed pouch 100 of Figure 1.
The front sheet and the back sheet are secured together along the first side edge 102 by a first side seal 114, along the second side edge 104 by a second side seal 116 and along the front edge 106 by a front seal 118. The first side seal 114 has a width W_1ss, the second side seal 116 has a width W_2ss, the front seal has a width W_fs. Possibly, the front sheet and the back sheet are further secured together by a back seal 119. If the sealed pouch is provided with a back seal 119, the back seal has a width W_bs.
The front sheet and the back sheet are further secured together by a first corner seal 120 and by a second corner seal 122. The first corner seal 120 extends from a position along the first side edge 102 to a position along the front edge 106; the second corner seal 122 extends from a position along the second side edge 104 to a position along the front edge 106. The first corner seal 120 has a width W_1cs; the second side seal 116 has a width W_2cs.
The first corner seal 120 is extending from a position along the first side edge 102 located at a distance D_L1cs from the front edge 106. The distance D_L1cs is measured along the first side edge 102 from the front edge 106 to the middle of the first corner seal 120.
The second corner seal 122 is extending from a position along the second side edge 104 located at a distance D_L2cs from the front edge 106. The distance D_L2cs is measured along the second side edge 104 from the front edge 106 to the middle of the second corner seal 122.
The first corner seal 120 is extending to a position along the front edge 106 located at a distance D_W1cs from the first side edge 102. The distance D_W1cs is measured along the front edge 106 from the first side edge 102 to the middle of the first corner seal 120. The second corner seal 122 is extending to a position along the front edge 106 located at a distance D_W2cs from the second side edge 104. The distance D_W2cs is measured along the front edge 106 from the second side edge 104 to the middle of the second corner seal 122.
The first corner seal 120 forms a first side edge of an evacuation funnel 124 and the second corner seal 122 forms a second side edge of this evacuation funnel 124.
The sealed pouch 100 is further provided with at least one first slit line 126. The at least one first slit line 126 is oriented parallel or substantially parallel with the front edge 106 at a position along the length L of the sealed pouch 100 located between the first corner seal 120 and the front seal 118. The distance between the front edge 106 and the position along the length of the sealed pouch 100 of the at least one first slit line 126 is defined by D_L1sl. The distance D_L1sl is measured along the first side edge 102 from the front edge 106 to the at least one first slit line 126.
The at least one first slit line 126 has a start position 128 and an end position 130 along the width W of the sealed pouch 100. The start position 128 is located in the first side seal 114, preferably at a distance D₁ from one of the edges of the first side seal 114, for example at a distance D₁ from the first side edge 102. The end position 130 of the at least one slit line 126 is located in the first corner seal 120, preferably at a distance D₂ from one of the edges of the first corner seal.
The sealed pouch is preferably provided with a visual indication 132 such as a notch to indicate the preferred location to tear the sealed pouch open.
The at least one visual indication is preferably positioned at a position along the length L of the sealed pouch corresponding or substantially corresponding with the position along the length L of the sealed pouch of the at least one slit line. The visual indication comprises for example a tearing notch or a colored mark, for example a printed mark. The sealed pouch 100 is further provided with at least one second slit line 134. As shown in figure 3, the at least one second slit line 134 is oriented parallel or substantially parallel with the front edge 106 at a position along the length L of the sealed pouch 100 located between the second corner seal 122 and the front seal 118. The distance between the front edge 106 and the position of the second slit line 134 along the length of the sealed pouch 100 is defined as D_L2sl.
The at least one second slit line 134 has a start position 136 and an end position 138 along the width W of the sealed pouch 100. The start position 136 of the at least one second slit line 134 is located in the second corner seal 122 and the end position 138 of the at least one second slit line 134 is positioned in the second side seal 116.
The start position 136 of the at least one second slit line 134 is located at a distance D₃ from one of the edges of the second corner seal 122, preferably at a distance D₃ from the inner edge of the second corner seal 122. The end position 138 of the at least one second slit line 134 is located at a distance D₄ from one of the edges of the second side seal 116, preferably at a distance D₄ from the outer edge of the second side seal 116.

An overview of the dimensions of the sealed pouch 100 shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 is given in Table 1.

Table 1

	Length, distance [cm]
L	13.5
W	8
W_fs	0.5
W_bs	0.5
W_1ss	0.5
W_2ss	0.5
W_1cs	0.3
W_2cs	0.3
D_L1cs	1.75
D_W1cs	2.65
D_L2cs	1.75
D_w2cs	2.65
D_L1sl	1.2
D_L2sl	1.2
D₁	0.4
D₂	0.1
D₃	0.2
D₄	0.1

Figure 4 shows an illustration of an embodiment of a sealed pouch 100 according to the present invention. The sealed pouch 100 of Figure 4 has a first slit line 126 as the sealed pouch shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. Figure 5 shows a detail of the region around the second corner 112 of the sealed pouch 100 shown in Figure 4. The at least one second slit line 134 is not parallel oriented with the front edge 106 having a start position 136 and an end position 138 positioned both positioned in the front seal 118. Preferably, the included angle between the at least one second slit line 134 and the front edge 106 ranges between 0 and 90 degrees, for example between 10 and 80 degrees as for example 30 degrees, 45 degrees or 60 degrees.
The at least one second slit line 134 is preferably positioned close to the second corner seal 122.
The start position 136 of the at least one second slit line 134 is located at a position along the width W of the sealed pouch at a distance ranging between D_W2cs + ½·W_2cs and D_W2cs from the second side edge 104, for example at a distance of D_W2cs + ¼·W_2cs from the second side edge 104.
The end position 138 of the at least one second slit line 134 is located at a position along the width W of the sealed pouch at a distance ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs- 2 ·W_2cs from the second side edge 104, preferably at a distance ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs-1·W_2cs from the second side edge 104, for example at a distance D_W2cs-¾·W_2cs from the second side edge 104.
Figure 6 shows an illustration of another sealed pouch not forming part of the present invention. The sealed pouch 100 of Figure 6 has a first slit line 126 and a second slit line 134. The first slit line 126 is located between the first corner seal 120 and the front seal 118. The second slit line 134 is located between the second corner seal 122 and the front seal 118.
The first slit line 126 corresponds with the first slit line 126 of the sealed pouch 100 shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
The first slit line 126 has a start position 128 and an end position 130 along the width W of the sealed pouch 100. The start position 128 is located in the first side seal 114, preferably at a distance D₁ from one of the edges of the first side seal 114, for example at a distance D₁ from the first side edge 102. The end position 130 of the first slit line 126 is located in the first corner seal 120, preferably at a distance D₂ from one of the edges of the first corner seal.
The second slit line 134 has a start position 136 and an end position 138 along the width W of the sealed pouch 100. The start position 136 is located in the second corner seal 122, preferably at a distance D₂ from one of the edges of the second corner seal. The end position 138 is located in the second side seal 116, preferably at a distance D₁ from the second side edge 104.
The sealed pouch 100 is preferably provided with one or more visual indication 132, 132' such as one or more notches to indicate the preferred location to tear the sealed pouch open. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the sealed pouch 100 is provided with a first visual indication 132 situated close to the first slit line 126 and with a second visual indication 132' situated close to the second slit line 134.
The sealed pouch 100 shown in Figure 6 is opened by tearing along the first slit line 126 and by tearing along the second slit line 134. The tearing along the first slit line 126 and along the second slit line 134 can be done simultaneously or subsequently.

References

100: sealed pouch
102: first side edge
104: second side edge
106: front edge
108: back edge
110: first corner
112: second corner
114: first side seal
116: second side seal
118: front seal
119: back seal
120: first corner seal
122: second corner seal
124: evacuation funnel
126: first slit line
128: start position first slit line
130: end position first slit line
132: visual indication
134: second slit line
136: start position second slit line
138: end position second slit line
L: length of the sealed pouch
W: width of the sealed pouch
W_1ss: width of the first side seal
W_2ss: width of the second side seal
W_1cs: width of the first corner seal
W_2cs: width of the second corner seal
W_fs: width of the front seal
W_bs: width of the back seal
D_L1cs: distance measured along the first side edge from the front edge to the first corner seal
D_W1cs: distance measured along the front edge from the first side edge to the first corner seal
D_L2cs: distance measured along the second side edge from the front edge to the second corner seal
D_W2cs: distance measured along the front edge from the second side edge to the second corner seal
D_L1sl: distance measured along the first side edge from the front edge to the first slit line
D_L2sl: distance measured along the second side edge from the front edge to the second slit line
D₁: distance between one of the edges of the first side seal and the start position of the first slit line measured along the width of the sealed pouch
D₂: distance between one of the edges of the first corner seal and the end position of the first slit line measured along the width of the sealed pouch
D₃: distance between one of the edges of the second corner seal and the start position of the second slit line measured along the width of the sealed pouch
D₄: distance between the end position of the second slit line and one of the edges of the second side seal measured along the width of the sealed pouch

Claims

A sealed pouch (100) for dispensing material, said sealed pouch (100) having a length L and a width W, said sealed pouch (100) comprising a front sheet and a back sheet, said sealed pouch (100) having a first side edge (102), a second side edge (104), a front edge (106) and a back edge (108), said first side edge (102) and said front edge (106) forming a first corner (110), said second side edge (104) and said front edge (106) forming a second corner (112), said front sheet and said back sheet being secured together along said first side edge (102) by a first side seal (114), along said second side edge (104) by a second side seal (116) and along said front edge (106) by a front seal (118), said first side seal (114) having a width W_1ss, said second side seal (116) having a width W_2ss, said front seal (118) having a width W_fs,
said front sheet and said back sheet being further secured together by a first corner seal (120) and by a second corner seal (122), said first corner seal (120) extending from a position along the first side edge (102) to a position along the front edge (106), said second corner seal (122) extending from a position along the second side edge (104) to a position along the front edge (106), said first corner seal (120) having a width W_1cs, said second corner seal (122) having a width W_2cs,
said first corner seal (120) forming a first edge of an evacuation funnel (124) and said second corner seal (122) forming a second edge of said evacuation funnel (124), and wherein said second corner seal (122) extends to a position along the front edge (106) located at a distance D_W2cs from said second side edge (104);
the sealed pouch (100) being further provided with a first slit line (126) and with a second slit line (134), said first slit line (126) being oriented parallel or substantially parallel with said front edge (106) at a position along the length L of said sealed pouch (100) located between said first corner seal (120) and said front seal (118) and said first slit line (126) having a start position (128) and an end position (130) along the width W of said sealed pouch (100),
characterized in that said start position (128) of said first slit line (126) is located in said first side seal (114) at a distance D₁ from one of the edges of said first side seal (114), said distance D₁ ranging between 5% and 95% of said width W_1ss of said first side seal, in that said end position (130) of said first slit line (126) is located in said first corner seal (120) at a distance D₂ from one of the edges of said first corner seal (120) as measured along the first slit line (126), said distance D₂ ranging between 5 % and 95 % of the width W_1cs of said first corner seal (120);
in that said second slit line (134) is not parallel oriented with said front edge (106) and has a start position (136) and an end position (138) located in said front seal (118),
in that said start position (136) of said second slit line (134) is located at a position along the width W of said sealed pouch at a distance from said second side edge (104) ranging between D_W2cs + ½·W_2cs and D_W2cs,
and in that said end position (138) of said second slit line (134) is located at a position along the width W of said sealed pouch (100) at a distance from said second side edge (104) ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs - 2·W_2cs.
The sealed pouch (100) according to claim 1, whereby said first corner seal (120) is extending from a position along said first side edge (102) located at a distance D_L1cs from said front edge (106), said distance D_L1cs is ranging between 5 and 35 % of the length L of said sealed pouch (100) and/or whereby said second corner seal (122) is extending from a position along said second side edge (104) located at a distance D_L2cs from said front edge (106), said distance D_L2cs is ranging between 5 and 35 % of the length L of said sealed pouch (100).
The sealed pouch (100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, whereby said first corner seal (120) is extending to a position along the front edge (106) located at a distance D_W1cs from said first side edge (102), said distance D_W1cs ranging between 5 and 40 % of the width W of said sealed pouch (100) and/or whereby said distance D_W2cs ranges between 5 and 40 % of the width W of said sealed pouch (100).
The sealed pouch (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby said sealed pouch (100) is provided with at least one visual indication (132) to indicate the preferred location to tear said sealed pouch (100) open.
The sealed pouch (100) according to claim 4, whereby said visual indication (132) is positioned along the length L of said sealed pouch (100) corresponding with the position along the length L of said sealed pouch (100) of said first slit line (126).
The sealed pouch (100) according to claim 4 or claim 5, whereby said visual indication (132) comprises a tearing notch or a colored mark.
The sealed pouch (100) according to any one of claims 1-6, whereby said end position (138) of said second slit line (134) is located at a position along the width W of said sealed pouch (100) at a distance from said second side edge (104) ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs - 1·W_2cs, and for instance ranging between D_W2cs and D_W2cs - ½·W_2cs.
A method to open a sealed pouch (100) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising:
tearing along the first slit line (126), and

tearing along the second slit line (134).