GB2292732A

GB2292732A - Infusion packages

Info

Publication number: GB2292732A
Application number: GB9517803A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Frank Thomas Stevenson
Original assignee: Tidy Tea Ltd
Current assignee: Tidy Tea Ltd
Priority date: 1994-08-31
Filing date: 1995-08-31
Publication date: 1996-03-06
Also published as: GB9517803D0; GB9417472D0

Abstract

An infusion package comprises a closed bag 100 containing an infusible substance for infusion in a liquid and formed from panels 101, 102 of porous material which are sealed together along at least a portion of their peripheral margins 103; the infusion package having a tag 112 which is connected to the bag 100 along the said portion of the peripheral margins 103 by releasable connecting means 114; and at least one string 104, the or each string 104 having an end 108, 109 which is secured to the tag 112, the or each string 104 extending from the tag 112 through the seal between the panels 101, 102 and across the interior of the bag to an anchoring point 107 at an opposed location thereon, the or each string 104 being looped within the bag 100 to provide a length of slack string therein; said releasable connection means 114 being releasable prior to use of the bag 100 to enable the tag 112 to be pulled away from the bag 100, thereby to pull the or each length of slack string out of the bag 100 through the seal. <IMAGE>

Description

INFUSION PACKAGES This invention relates to packages for infusible substances such as tea and coffee, and to methods for their manufacture.

Tea bags are sealed soft porous bags containing tea leaves which are placed in cups, mugs or teapots of boiling water to produce a drink of tea. When the bags are placed in cups or mugs of boiling water, they are usually removed prior to the tea being drunk - this can also, although not necessarily, be the case when the bags are placed in the teapot. When removing the bags either from the cup, mug or teapot, it is quite normal to squeeze the bags into a relatively dry state, usually by employing a kitchen utensil such as a teaspoon. Removal of excess liquid from the tea bag, in order to prevent the tea bag from dripping or leaving puddles of liquid on the surface with which it is in contact, is most desirable in view of the strongly staining nature of tea.However, a problem with using such kitchen utensils is that it is not easy to achieve sufficient removal of excess liquid from the tea bag, and frequently the tea bag will have a tendency to drip even after it has been squeezed. Also some people like to squeeze infusion bags to a relatively dry state to extract more taste and colour from the bag.

This problem has been overcome by the infusion package disclosed in our earlier applications WO-A-9206903 and WO A-93/19997 which each disclose infusion packages provided with drawstrings which enable the tea bag to be collapsed after use, thereby expressing residual liquid therefrom.

In the case of W0-A-93/19997, the potential problem of drawstring entanglement from a packaging viewpoint is overcome by holding the drawstring inside the infusion package interior until immediately before use, at which time the tag and infusion bag are pulled apart such that the excess drawstring length within the infusion package interior is pulled out through the seals at the peripheral margins of the infusion package.

Infusion packages of the type described in WO-A93/19997 function very efficiently to avoid the problem of dripping encountered with conventional infusion packages such as tea bags. However, a potential problem in relation to such infusion packages is that during packaging and particularly whilst in transit, the infusion package tag could inadvertently be dragged or pulled away from the infusion bag leading to premature partial withdrawal of the excess drawstring length from within the infusion package interior.It will be appreciated that in a box of infusion packages in which the majority thereof have their tags neatly arranged adjacent the infusion bag, the presence of one or more packages in which the tag has become partially separated from the bag, and a loop of drawstring has thereby been withdrawn from the bag interior, would present an unsightly appearance. Moreover, in the situation where the tags of several infusion packages have been pulled away from their associated bags, there could be a tendency for the exposed drawstrings to become tangled.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides an infusion package comprising a closed bag containing an infusible substance for infusion in a liquid; the closed bag being formed from panels of porous material which are sealed together along at least a portion of their peripheral margins; the infusion package having a tag which is connected to the bag along the said portion of the peripheral margins by releasable connecting means; and at least one string, the or each string having an end which is secured to the tag, the or each string extending from the tag through the seal between the panels and across the interior of the bag to an anchoring point at an opposed location thereon, the or each string being looped within the bag to provide a length of slack string therein; said releasable connection means being releasable prior to use of the bag to enable the tag to be pulled away from the bag, thereby to pull the or each length of slack string out of the bag through the seal.

The releasable connection means may, for example, take the form of a peelable or frangible connection between the tag and the bag.

In one embodiment, the releasable connection means takes the form of a peelable or tearable connection means.

For example, the tag may be connected to the closed bag along the portion of the peripheral margins at which the panels of porous material are sealed together, the tag being secured to at least one of the panels of porous material, which panel is provided with a line of weakness enabling the tag to be torn away from the bag.

The line of weakness may, for example, take the form of a row of perforations, or skip-cuts, or indentations created by heavy embossing.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an infusion package comprising a closed bag containing an infusible substance for infusion in a liquid; the closed bag being formed from panels of porous material which are sealed together along at least a portion of their peripheral margins; the infusion package having a tag which is connected to the bag along the said portion of the peripheral margins by being secured to at least one of the panels of porous material; and at least one string, the or each string having an end which is secured to the tag, the or each string extending from the tag through the seal between the panels and across the interior of the bag to an anchoring point at an opposed location thereon, the or each string being looped within the bag to provide a length of slack string therein; the panel of porous material to which the tag is connected being provided with a line of weakness enabling the tag to be torn away from the bag, thereby to pull the or each length of slack string out of the bag through the seal.

The infusion package may be, for example, a tea bag or coffee bag, or a selection of fruits or herbs for infusion.

The bag can be square, or round, or of any other shape, but preferably it is round or square.

The bag can be formed from a pair of panels sealed together around substantially their entire peripheral margins.

Preferably the string or strings define two drawstring ends, which drawstring ends are secured to the tag. The string ends are preferably secured to the tag by virtue of being held between two sealed-together flaps of the tag.

The two drawstring ends may form part of a pair of discrete separate drawstrings, each separately anchored, but preferably the two drawstring ends are the two ends of a single continuous piece of string.

The string is preferably anchored in or adjacent the peripheral margins, and most preferably is anchored by means of a seal between portions of the panels of the bag.

For example, the string or strings may be anchored by virtue of being held between two sealed-together portions of the panels of the bag. In one embodiment, when a single length of string is employed, the two ends of which function as drawstrings, the string may be anchored by virtue of being arranged in a channel defined by two regions in which the panels are sealed together.

Both the said two regions may be within the peripheral margin, or one or both of the said two regions may be disposed inwardly of the peripheral margin.

In another embodiment, the string may be anchored by virtue of being looped round a region in which the panels are sealed together.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the bag is provided with a pair of drawstrings, the arrangement being such that following detachment of the tag from the bag, and withdrawal of slack drawstring length therefrom, and following infusion in a liquid, pulling the drawstrings in generally opposite directions causes the bag to collapse, thereby to express liquid absorbed by the infusible substance during infusion.

The invention will now be illustrated in more detail, but not limited, by reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an - infusion package according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the encircled region A in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the infusion package of Figure 1 in folded form; Figure 4 is a sectional elevation along line I-I in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a side sectional elevation of an infusion package according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating an alternative means of anchoring the drawstring in the infusion package.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, an infusion package according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a closed bag 100 comprising a pair of panels 101, 102 of porous material, e.g. of the type typically used for tea bags. The panels 101, 102 are sealed together around substantially the entirety of their peripheral margins 103, e.g. by conventional heat sealing. A single length of string 104 is arranged such that it enters the infusion package through the seals between the panels 101, 102 at spaced apart locations 105, 106 on the peripheral margin 103 and extend across the interior of the infusion package to the anchoring point 107 at an opposed location on the peripheral margins 103 where the string 104 is anchored by being held between the panels 101, 102 and looped about the region 103a at which panels 101 and 102 are sealed together.As can be seen from the figures, the length of string 104 between the anchoring point 107 and the entry points 105, 106 is looped such that the greater part of the total length of the string 104 is held within the bag interior. The two ends 108, 109 of the string 104 are anchored between the two layers 110, 111 of a stiff paper or light card material which together constitute tag 112.

Tag 112 is provided with a row of perforations 113 which enable the tag to be torn in half to afford two individual tagged drawstring ends.

In order to avoid the potential problem of premature separation of the bag and tag, and premature withdrawal of the string from the tea bag interior, the lower edges 110a, llla of the layers 110, 111 making up the tag overlay and are sealed against the upper edges 101a, 102a of the panels 101, 102 of porous material. Thus, the tag 112 and bag 100 are held firmly in juxtaposition prior to use. In order to allow the bag 100 and tag 112 to be separated in use, a line of perforations or "skip cuts" 114 is provided across the panels 101, 102 just below the edges of the layers 110, 111 of the tag. By using a pulling apart action along the line 114 the tag and bag can easily be separated and the slack drawstring length withdrawn from the bag interior.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the tag 112 is secured to both panels 101, 102 of the bag 100. However, it need not be, and could instead be secured to only one of the panels, thereby providing a single ply connection between tag 112 and bag 100. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 5.

Thus, as with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the infusion package comprises a closed bag 200 comprising a pair of panels 201, 202 of porous material, the panels 201, 202 being heat sealed together around substantially the entirety of their peripheral margins 203. As with the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4, a single length of string 204 is arranged such that it enters the infusion package through seals between the panels 201, 202 at spaced apart locations on the peripheral margin 203 and extend across the interior of the infusion package to the anchoring point 207, the string being looped within the bag as with the aforementioned embodiment.

The difference between the embodiment of Figure 5 and the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 resides in the manner in which the bag 200 is secured to the tag 212. Thus, in the embodiment of Figure 5, the upper edge 202a of the panel 202 is overlaid by the lower edge 211a of the layer 211 of tag material. However, the lower edge 210a of opposing layer 210 of the tag does not overlay the upper edge 201a of panel 201. Thus, there is only a single ply connection between the tag 212 and the bag 200. A line 214 of skipcuts running along the upper part of panel 202, in a manner similar to that described in Figure 2 above, provides a line of weakness enabling separation of the tag and bag.

In use, the tag 112/212 and bag 100/200 are separated by pulling apart or tearing along 114/214 such that sLack drawstring length is pulled out through the seals. The tag 112/212 is then torn along the row of perforations 113 so that two tag drawstring ends hang loose from the bag. The bag is then steeped in hot water in, e.g. a cup, teapot or coffee pot in conventional fashion for the required period, the tag drawstrings being arranged to hang outside the cup or pot so as not to slide into the hot water. Once the infusion bag has been steeped in hot water for an appropriate length of time, it is lifted from the cup or pot by the tag drawstring ends which are then pulled apart to bring about collapse of the bag and expression of any residual liquid therefrom.The result is an infusion package such as a tea bag which does not drip and leave a mess on surrounding surfaces. Rather than being torn apart prior to steeping in hot water, the tag 112/212 may be left intact, and thus, together with the drawstrings, forms a loop which can be hooked over a handle or other protrusion on a cup of pot to prevent the bag from sliding into the hot water. Once the infusion process is complete, the tag may then be torn apart and the bag caused to collapse as described above. An advantage of the form of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings is that undesirable premature separation of tag and bag may be avoided, but without introducing any further complexities into the manufacturing process.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification to the manner in which the string 104/204 is anchored. Thus, a loop of string 304a enters the peripheral margin 303 at anchoring location 307 and extends through a region 307a at which the panels 301/302 are not sealed together. Region 307a thus defines a channel between sealed-together portions 307b and 307c. It has been found that by positioning the loop of string 304a in a channel between two sealed-together regions 307b and 307c, there is an enhanced resistance to the drawstring loop 304a being pulled through and detached from the anchoring point.

It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings without departing from the principles underlying this invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. An infusion package comprising a closed bag containing an infusible substance for infusion in a liquid; the closed bag being formed from panels of porous material which are sealed together along at least a portion of their peripheral margins; the infusion package having a tag which is connected to the bag along the said portion of the peripheral margins by releasable connecting means; and at least one string, the or each string having an end which is secured to the tag, the or each string extending from the tag through the seal between the panels and across the interior of the bag to an anchoring point at an opposed location thereon, the or each string being looped within the bag to provide a length of slack string therein; said releasable connection means being releasable prior to use of the bag to enable the tag to be pulled away from the bag, thereby to pull the or each length of slack string out of the bag through the seal.

2. An infusion package according to claim 1 wherein the releasable connection means takes the form of a peelable or frangible connection between the tag and the bag.

3. An infusion package according to claim 2 wherein the tag is connected to the closed bag along the portion of the peripheral margins at which the panels of porous material are sealed together, the tag being secured to at least one of the panels of porous material, which panel is provided with a line of weakness enabling the tag to be torn away from the bag.

4. An infusion package according to claim 3 wherein the line of weakness takes the form of a row of perforations, or skip-cuts, or indentations created by heavy embossing.

5. An infusion package according to claim 1, the infusion package comprising a closed bag containing an infusible substance for infusion in a liquid; the closed bag being formed from panels of porous material which are sealed together along at least a portion of their peripheral margins; the infusion package having a tag which is connected to the bag along the said portion of the peripheral margins by being secured to at least one of the panels of porous material; and at least one string, the or each string having an end which is secured to the tag, the or each string extending from the tag through the seal between the panels and across the interior of the bag to an anchoring point at an opposed location thereon, the or each string being looped within the bag to provide a length of slack string therein; the panel of porous material to which the tag is connected being provided with a line of weakness enabling the tag to be torn away from the bag, thereby to pull the or each length of slack string out of the bag through the seal.

6. An infusion package according to any one of the preceding claims which is a tea bag or coffee bag, or which contains a selection of fruits or herbs for infusion.

7. An infusion package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bag is square or round.

8. An infusion package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bag is formed from a pair of panels sealed together around substantially their entire peripheral margins.

9. An infusion package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the string or strings define two drawstring ends, which drawstring ends are secured to the tag.

10. An infusion package according to claim 9 wherein the string ends are secured to the tag by virtue of being held between two sealed-together flaps of the tag.

11. An infusion package according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the two drawstring ends are the two ends of a single continuous piece of string.

12. An infusion package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the string is anchored in or adjacent the peripheral margins of the bag.

13. An infusion package according to claim 12 wherein the string is anchored by means of a seal between portions of the panels of the bag.

14. An infusion package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bag is provided with a pair of drawstrings, the arrangement being such that following detachment of the tag from the bag, and withdrawal of slack drawstring length therefrom, and following infusion in a liquid, pulling the drawstrings in generally opposite directions causes the bag to collapse, thereby to express liquid absorbed by the infusible substance during infusion.

15. An infusion package substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.