GB2262274A

GB2262274A - Flexible containers

Info

Publication number: GB2262274A
Application number: GB9126190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Sanders
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-12-10
Filing date: 1991-12-10
Publication date: 1993-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-10
Also published as: GB9126190D0; GB2262274B

Abstract

A flexible container (10) is formed from a lay flat tube (11) having gussets (12, 13), a transverse weld (14), a cut (15) or line of weakness extending through one of the gussets (13) and inwardly of the tube (11) in a direction parallel to the weld (14) and having secured thereto an outer sheet (16) covering the cut (15). The container (10) is opened by pivoting a corner thereof above the sheet (16) in a clockwise direction of a pivot (21), as indicated by the arrow A, so that an interior of the container is accessible through the cut (15). <IMAGE>

Description

Flexible Containers This invention relates to flexible containers.

In EP-A-O 317 334 there is disclosed with reference to Figure 15 a flexible container formed by a seamed tube method comprising a tubular portion having an opening location extending in a circumferential direction and an internal sheet located adjacent the opening location intended to provide a barrier for inhibiting unintended egress of contents of the container. The opening location is established by a row of serrations. The container is intended to provide a "flip-top" arrangement whereby opening would be effected by severing the material of the container along the row of serrations and applying a rearward force to an adjacent upper corner of the container.

A disadvantage of such containers is that they are restricted to manufacture by the seamed tube method whereas flexible containers are commonly manufactured from an extruded tube of plastics material.

The present invention is characterised in that, instead of providing an internal sheet adjacent the opening location, there is provided an external sheet attached to an outer surface of the tubular portion so as to extend in a circumferential direction of the tubular portion and cover the opening location thereby inhibiting unintended egress of contents of the container.

Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross section on the line II -II of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a container 10 formed from a gussetted layflat tube 11 having gussets 12, 13. The material of the tube 11 is either weldable or an inner surface of the tube 11 is weldable and the tube 11 is provided with a transverse weld 14. The tube 11 also is provided with a rectilinear cut 15 extending adjacent and parallel to the weld 14, the cut 15 extending inwardly from a longitudinal margin of the tube 11 and through one of the gussets 13. The tube 11 is provided on an outer surface thereof with an elongate cover sheet 16 of plastics film material, the sheet 16 being transparent and the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a circumferential direction of the tube 11 so that the sheet 16 covers the cut 15 and bridges the gusset 13. The sheet 16 is secured to the outer surface of the tube 11 in a profile 17.

The container 10 is provided with contents by inverting the container 10 from the position shown in Figure 1 and inserting the contents into the container 10 through an end portion of the tube 11 remote from the weld 14. The end portion is then closed and sealed and the container 10 is returned to the position shown in Figure 1.

The container 10 is opened by grasping an upper corner of the container 10 above the cover sheet 16 and turning the corner in a rearward direction towards the opposite upper corner of the container 10, as indicated by the arrow A in Figure 1. The cover sheet 16 thus is lifted above a lower lip of the cut 15 thereby opening the container 10 so that contents of the container can be poured outwardly therefrom. The container 10 is reclosed merely by releasing the rearwardly turned upper corner thereof and the resilient characteristics of the material of the container 10 effect return of the sheet 16 to the position shown in Figure 1 covering the cut 15.

It will be appreciated that, if the container 10 in the closed position shown in Figure 1 is inverted or pivoted in an anticlockwise direction of Figure 1, pressure exerted by the contents of the container against a portion of the wall of the tube 11 adjacent the cover sheet 16 has the effect of forcing the wall of the tube 11 towards the cover sheet 16 thereby enhancing closure of the opening provided by the cut 17 and inhibiting unintended egress of the contents of the container.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, there is shown a container 18 which is similar to the container 10 and is provided with a cover sheet 19. However, unlike the container 10, the cover sheet 19 of the container 18 is provided with a gusset 20 which follows the contour of an adjacent gusset of the container 18.

It will be appreciated that the material of either of the containers 10 or 18, instead of being provided with a cut 15, may be provided with a line of weakening extending in a direction circumferentially of the container 10, 18. In this manner, the container 10, 18 is provided with a tamper evident feature since the line of weakening can be observed through the transparent cover sheet 16, 19 and, if the container 10, 18 has been opened, the line of weakening will have been severed and this condition will be apparent from a view through the transparent cover sheet 16, 19.

The profile 17 may extend at inner ends thereof for a short distance at right angles to the cut or line of weakening 15 and in a direction away from the transverse weld 14, as shown at 21. The extensions 21 reduce the risk of the cut or line of weakening 15 extending beyond the cover strip 16, 19 and strengthen the materials of the container 10, 18 at pivot locations of the cover sheet 16, 19.

The material of the cover strip 16, 19 may be provided with a coating of an adhesive on a surface thereof which faces the container 10, 18 the adhesive becoming active when heated and continuing to provide a bond after cooling. A hot melt adhesive would be suitable.

Alternatively, the cover strip 16, 19 may be a co-extrusion such that a surface thereof which faces the container 10, 18 is heat weldable. If the container 10, 18 is formed of plastics material, the cover strip 16, 19 would be welded thereto by the application of heat to provide the profile 17, 21.

The profile 17, 21 would be provided by means of a pair of heated jaws which would locate the tube 11 therebetween and would apply heat at a temperature sufficient to unite a cover strip 16, 19 to a container 10, 18 but which, if the tube 11 is of plastics material, is lower than that which would cause the material to weld, thereby avoiding opposite faces of the tube 11 from welding one with another.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the tube 11 may be of plastics material, or paper or any other flexible sheet material and may be a seamed tube or a seamless tube.

Claims

1. A component for a flexible container comprising a tubular portion having an opening location extending in a circumferential direction thereof and a sheet located adjacent the opening location characterised in that the sheet is attached to an outer surface of the tubular portion and extends in a circumferential direction thereof so as to cover the opening location thereby inhibiting unintended egress of the contents of the container.

2. A component as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the tubular portion comprises gussets.

3. A component as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the sheet is gussetted in conformity with an adjacent gussets of the tubular portion.

4. A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the sheet is transparent.

5. A component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the opening location is a cut.

6. A component as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the opening location is a line of weakening.

7. A component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the sheet is adapted to adhere to the tubular portion when heated.

8. A component as claimed in Claim 7 characterised in that the sheet is formed of a coextruded material.

9. A container formed from a component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.

10. A sheet adapted for a component as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8.