GB2361906A

GB2361906A - Sachet containing alcoholic beverage

Info

Publication number: GB2361906A
Application number: GB0010853A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-05
Filing date: 2000-05-05
Publication date: 2001-11-07
Also published as: GB0010853D0

Abstract

A sachet for retention of an alcoholic beverage such as whisky comprises walls of metallic foil with a plastics material lining, the capacity of the sachet corresponding to a legal measure of the beverage or an integral multiple thereof. Preferably the sachet is shaped in the form, or bearing a representation, of a bottle having a characteristic shape associated with the included beverage. The sachet can have a viewable surface bearing, or adapted to bear, advertising or identifying information. It is readily torn open along line 19 where it is weakened by perforations in the plastics lining, the metallic (e.g. aluminium) foil being unperforated.

Description

2361906 SACHET This invention relates to a sachet. It is particularly

concerned with a sachet for containing a liquid. A sachet is widely used typically in the retention of a material whose batch size needs to be closely controlled but is readily stored and dispensed and which is not liable to impact damage. It was common to use a glass container for materials such as mustard, oil and sauce. However providing individual portions in this way is relatively expensive and partially filled containers are not necessarily hygienic or readily stored. In any event a glass container is liable to fracture if subject to impact with consequent waste of content and possible injury to a handler.

According to the present invention there is provided a sachet for retention of a liquid comprising walls of metallic foil with a plastics material lining wherein the liquid is an alcoholic beverage, the capacity of the sachet corresponding to a legal measure of the beverage or an integral multiple thereof.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the sachet is in the form, or bears a representation, of a bottle having a characteristic shape associated with the included beverage.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof having a viewable surface bearing, or adopted to bear, advertising or identifying information.

2 According to a third preferred version of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the sachet is equipped with means facilitating access to the interior of the sachet so as to provide for the ready dispensing of the included beverage. Typically the means facilitating access to the interior of the sachet serves to define an aperture in the sachet at a location corresponding to a representation on the sachet of a closure, such as a cork or cap, of a conventional container for alcoholic beverage.

According to a particularised version of the third preferred version of the present invention the means facilitating access comprises a region of the plastic lining material provided with a series of perforations, the series serving to define a weakened path of plastics material for tearing. Typically the region of the plastics lining material. is juxtaposed with a covering region of the metallic foil wherein the covering region does not include means defining a weakened path of metallic foil corresponding to the series of perforations in the region of the plastics lining so that in tearing the sachet the weakened part defined by the series of perforations serves to define a preferred tearing path through the plastic lining and the covering region.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a pack, storage or transport unit, or display unit incorporating a of plurality of sachets according to the present invention.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a sachet for a measure of whisky of which 3 Figure 1 is a front view; and Figure 2 is an enlarged section on section II-II of Figure 1.

The figures variously show a sachet 11 having outer walls 12,13 of aluminium foil which have deposited on their inner wall, respectively walls 12A, 13A a plastics material liner 14, 15 serving to house a measure of alcoholic beverage 16.

The outer wall 12B (and also wall 13B though not here shown) bears a printed representation of a typical whisky bottle 17 with a cap 18. In this case the sachet 11 has a bottle shaped outline reflecting a conventional bottle shape for the beverage involved. However the sachet can have any desired shape. Typically it could have a rectangular outline to facilitate storage in numbers in a package, display means or dispensing machine.

In order to facilitate opening of the full sachet 11 without spillage of the contents the plastics material liner 14 (line 15 corresponding) has a linear region 19 where a weakened tearing path extending the full width of the sachet from starting point S. The linear region 19 is at the same level on the sachet 11 as the representation of the cap 18. The aluminium foil walls 12, 13 tear readily in contrast to the material of the plastics liner 14, 15. Consequently it has been found that a weakened linear region corresponding to region 19 that in the liner 14, 15 is not required in the foil walls 12, 13 On starting to tear the sachet at S the weakened tearing path 20 readily defines smooth tearing of both the separation of the plastics material and the foil without inadvertent spillage of the liquid content.

4 The technology available provides for high quality reproduction of any required representational, text, colouring or other material on the exposed surfaces of the sachet. Although the exemplary embodiment shows a sachet including a legal measure of whisky a sachet can be provided to house any required amount in an attractive way and in a containment which is not susceptible to impact damage in the same way as a glass bottle. The proposed sachets have a wide variety of uses and are readily dispensed to provide alcoholic beverages in a range of portion sizes for consumers in a wide range of locations including transport, stations, entertainment, catering centres, sports venues, picnics, barbecues and so on.

Claims

1 A sachet for retention of a liquid comprising walls of metallic foil with a plastics material lining including an alcoholic beverage, the capacity of the sachet corresponding to a legal measure of the beverage or an integral multiple thereof.

2 A sachet as claimed in Claim 1 shaped in the form, or bearing a representation, of a bottle having a characteristic shape associated with the included beverage.

3 A sachet as claimed in any preceding claim having a viewable surface bearing, or adopted to bear, advertising or identifying information.

4 A sachet as claimed in any preceding claim equipped with means facilitating access to the interior of the sachet so as to provide for the ready dispensing of the included beverage.

5 A sachet as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the means facilitating access to the interior of the sachet serves to define an aperture in the sachet at a location corresponding to a representation on the sachet of a closure, such as a cork or cap, of a conventional container for alcoholic beverage.

6 6 A sachet as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the means facilitating access comprises a region of the plastic lining material provided with a series of perforations, the series serving to define a weakened path of plastics inaterial for tearing.

7 A sachet as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the region of the plastics lining material is juxtaposed with a covering region of the metallic foil wherein the covering region does not include means defining a weakened path of metallic foil corresponding to the series of perforations in the region of the plastics lining so that in tearing the sachet the weakened part defined by the series of perforations serves to define a preferred tearing path through the plastic lining and the covering region.

8 A plurality of sachets as claimed in any preceding claim contained in a pack for storage, transport, sale or display purposes.

9 A sachet as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.