GB2537385A

GB2537385A - Infusion pouch

Info

Publication number: GB2537385A
Application number: GB1506322.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: knight Craig
Original assignee: IRIS DIGIPAC Ltd
Current assignee: IRIS DIGIPAC Ltd
Priority date: 2015-04-14
Filing date: 2015-04-14
Publication date: 2016-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-14
Also published as: GB2537385B; GB201506322D0

Abstract

An infusion pouch 1 comprising an airtight film forming a closed outer container 4, a perforated inner container 5 within and sealed to the outer container 4, at least one frangible or tearable portion 6 on the outer container 4 and an infusion material (figure 2, 7) confined within the internal container (figure 2, 5). The frangible portion may outline a flap (figure 2, 11) which in use is mountable on the side of a drinking vessel. The inner container may comprise a polymeric mesh, and the infusion material might be a companion or wild animal foodstuff. Also disclosed are methods of manufacture of an infusion pouch.

Description

INFUSION POUCH

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an infusion pouch, particularly an infusion pouch containing an infusion material.

Background to the Invention

Infusion devices have been used for hundreds of years to enable the flavours and ingredients from a plant or herb to be extracted to a solution or bev-erage. A typical use for infusion devices is in tea or herbal extract drinking.

Traditional infusion devices comprise some form of solid capsule into which a small sample of infusion material, such as tea or other herb is placed.

The capsule may be hinged in order to allow the user to introduce the tea into the capsule. In use the capsule is introduced into a cup of water and over time the ingredients from the tea or herb are infused into the water. When the capsule is required to be removed, the user lifts it out possibly by a chain attached to the outside of the capsule. Whilst useful in their day these traditional type capsules, require rinsing after ever use and are expensive to produce. As a result they are not suitable for use in modern society, where a quick single serve item is required.

In an advance from traditional infusion devices, the tea bag was devel-oped. A tea bag is a small, porous sealed bag containing tea leaves and used with water for brewing the beverage called tea, or herbs or spices for brewing herbal teas. Tea bags are commonly made of filter paper, silk or food grade plastic. The bag contains the tea leaves while the tea is steeped, making it easier to dispose of the leaves, and performs the same function as a tea infuser.

Some tea bags have an attached piece of string with a paper label at the top that assists in removing the bag while also displaying the brand and/or variety of tea. However, in order to prevent the tea within the tea bags from oxidising, tea bags are sold in airtight packages. And even if stored outside the proprietary packages, they are often stored in airtight containers. Those which are not, will tend to degrade. Adding this packaging adds to the overall cost of the product.

In an attempt to overcome this issue and with the single serve market in mind developers designed single serve tea bags. These are essentially a tea -2 -bag contained within a sealed outer package. The bag itself has a string attached to a part of the tea bag and also to part of the outer package. In use the outer package is torn open to reveal the tea bag, which is extracted from the package and placed in the cup of water, with the string (and packaging) hanging over the side. The string is there to allow the user to retrieve the bag after use.

Unfortunately this still requires the bag to be packaged and the outer packets often present a littering issue. Another problem with these single serve bags is that the infusion material does not readily diffuse into the water because the bag compresses under its own weight.

One of the more modern forms of tea brewing and an alternative to the tea bag, is the tea stick. Tea sticks are perforated metal or extruded film tubes that contain tea leaves. Unlike a tea bag that compresses under its own weight when steeped in water, a tea stick allows the tea leaves enough space to uncurl and impart its full flavour to the water they steep in. Placed in a cup, hot water is directly poured over the tea stick and allowed to steep for a few minutes. The stick also acts as a strainer and a stirrer. However as tea sticks are perforated air can readily cause the tea to oxidise unless they are contained within separate packaging. So again the user is left with the issue of two pieces of waste after using the stick, one consisting of the packaging, and one of the stick itself.

There has now been devised an infusion pouch which overcomes and/or substantially mitigates the above referenced and/or other shortcomings associated with the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an infusion pouch com-prising: an airtight film forming a closed outer container; a perforated inner container within the outer container and sealed thereto; at least one frangible portion on the outer container; and an infusion material confined within the internal container. -3 -

The infusion pouch is advantageous primarily because the inner container is within the outer container and sealed thereto. Thus there is no need for a separate packaging material to be used in order to keep the infusion material fresh. After the pouch has been used, the user is left with only one item to throw away rather than two. The outer container thus performs the function of conven-tional packaging as it forms an airtight closure initially. But by having at least one frangible portion on the outer container it means that the outer container can be opened to expose the inner container. The frangible portion of the outer container thereby performs a second function which is to readily allow water into to contact with the infusion material to affect infusion, when the frangible portion is broken.

The infusion material may comprise plant leaves, such as tea or herbs. The infusion material may comprise coffee, cocoa or other beverage mixture. The outer container is preferably formed with a seam. This makes it eas15 ier to mass produce the pouch and also means a wide variety of materials can be used for the outer container. The seam may be formed by a fixative between two opposing portions of the outer container. The fixative may be an adhesive or the like. The seam may be formed by a weld between two opposing portions of the outer container the inner container. The seam may be formed by a seal between the inner container and the outer container.

One or more portions of the inner container are preferably fixed within the seam. This means that the inner container is held within the confines of the outer container. It also means that the inner container is affixed directly to the outer container, rather than relying on a string or the like in the above men- tioned prior art. It also makes it easier to incorporate inner containers manufac-tured from thinner and more delicate materials. Such materials would otherwise disintegrate if they were attempted to be formed into a bag by being glued together or heat sealed or the like. In an example of this one or more portions of the inner container are sandwiched between layers of the outer container which form the seam. This actually surprisingly strengthens the bonding between the inner container and the bag and thus it is less likely to break apart or come away from the outer container. It also simplifies the manufacturing process. -4 -

One or more portions of the inner container may be adhered to one or more portions of the outer container. This achieves the same objective which is to hold the inner container within the confines of the outer container, whilst the inner container is fixed directly to the outer container. Adherence may be by a fixative, such as an adhesive or the like. Adherence may also be by a weld between the inner container and the outer container. Adherence may also be by a seal between the inner container and the outer container.

The perforated inner container preferably comprises a polymeric mesh. It will be recognised that the greater number of perforations in the inner container, the more efficient the infusion process will be. A mesh therefore delivers an effi-cient infusion process. The perforated inner container may comprise filter paper, silk or plastics material. These materials may be more suited to different types of infusion materials.

The frangible portion preferably comprises a predefined portion of the outer container having less structural integrity than the remainder of the outer container. Said portion therefore allows the outer container to be opened upon breaking the frangible portion. Less structural integrity may be provided by creating intentional deformed portions in the material of the outer container, for example by applying a crimping tool to the surface of the outer container. Alterna-tively less structural integrity may be introduced if the outer container is formed from a multi-layered film and at least one of the layers comprises perforated portions. Preferably the predefined portion of the outer container that has less structural integrity than the remainder of the outer container is linear. This makes said portion easier to produce and means that the outer container can be opened along a line. The line may have any width and could occupy up to one half of the outer container. Preferably the line is generally U shaped. This means that by breaking the container open along the line, a flap is formed which may be used to suspend the pouch on the rim of a drinking vessel or the like.

The frangible portion may comprise a release liner adhered to an exter-nal part of the outer container. In such an embodiment, the outer container may be formed with an opening along one side of the container, the release liner extends across the whole surface area of the opening, and is adhered to the re- -5 -gions of the outer container to the side of the opening. Adherence is preferably by a layer of frangible adhesive between the release liner and the outer container. The release liner thereby keeps the outer container air tight. In use the release liner is partially removed to expose the inner container. The liner then serves the function of the flap as discussed above and below.

In use, the frangible portion of the pouch is broken and the pouch is preferably suspended within the interior of a drinking vessel, the frangible portion forming a flap which is mountable on the rim of the vessel. This flap is useful as it means that the pouch can be hooked over the edge of a cup or mug or the like, thereby suspending the inner container in the cup or mug or the like. The user is then free to go about their business whilst the infusion takes place. In such an embodiment preferably the infusion material is suspended away from the bottom of the vessel. This means that the infusion takes place at a higher point in the liquid, and therefore mixing of the infusion products with the water is more efficient.

The frangible portion may be formed by fissures within the outer container. Such fissures preferably extend only partially through the film of the outer container. In this way the outer container remains airtight, but can be opened by the frangible portion with ease.

The film of the outer container is preferably a multi-layered film. The film may be between 30 pm and 200pm thick. The preferred thickness of the outer container is 80Rm. This makes the pouch more damage resistant, air tight, and means that different component layers can be incorporated so that functionality can be increased. It also means that the pouch has stiffness, which means that the pouch can be used in the same manner as a tea stick, and stirred within the water without bending, in order to increase the infusion rate. The stiffness also contributes to the ability of the flap described above to suspend the pouch over the rim of a drinking vessel. The film of the outer container may comprise as an outer layer a polymer material. The polymer material of the outer layer is prefer-able polyester. The polymer material of the outer layer may be between 5 pm and 20 pm thick. Preferably the thickness of the polymer material of the outer layer is 12 prn. A polymer of this thickness on the outer layer imparts sufficient -6 -stiffness to the pouch so that it may be used like a tea stick. The film of the outer container may comprises as an intermediate layer a layer of aluminium. The intermediate layer may be between 5 um and 20 p.m thick. Preferably the intermediate layer is 7pm thick. This helps to maintain freshness and to maintain the airtightness. The film of the outer container may comprise as an inner layer a layer of thermally responsive polymer. Such thermally responsive polymers include materials which are molten when under the conditions experience in conventional heat sealing, but which rapidly solidify again when the heat is removed. The inner layer is preferably polyester. The thermally responsive mate-if) rial means that all the seams, seals and joints within the pouch are strong, do not damage the outer or inner container materials, and keep the pouch air tight. The thermally responsive material also means that when the outer container is sealed on itself with the inner container positioned between the thermally responsive material melts into the mesh of the inner container and seals it within the seam without breaking the inner container, which is very delicate. It means therefore that a much more delicate inner container can be used for the inner container which saves on production costs and reduced package size. It also means that an airtight seal is created which preserves the infusion material before the pouch is opened. The inner layer of the outer container may be be-tween 20 jim and 160 pm thick. Preferably the inner layer is 60 pm thick.

The infusion material may also comprise a companion animal or wild animal foodstuff. Animals includes birds. In such an embodiment the pouch is preferably for use in feeding companion animals or wild animals. Typical foodstuffs according to the above embodiment include seeds, seed components, nuts, nut components or fat. In such an embodiment the inner container is man-ufactured from a polymeric net, or low grade (i.e. small numbers of holes per square cm) mesh.

In a second aspect of the invention there is method of manufacture of an infusion pouch according to the above, wherein a first sheet is superimposed 30 onto a second sheet, the two sheets then folded back on themselves and sealed along three sides to close the pouch. The first sheet may be a sheet of -7 -outer container film or inner container material. The second sheet may be a sheet of outer container film or inner container material.

The outer container may formed by two sheets of outer container film superimposed on top of one another and sealed around the perimeter. The inner container may be formed by two sheets of material forming the inner container superimposed on top of one another and sealed around the perimeter.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the illustrations in which;

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional cut away view of an embodiment of an infusion pouch according to the invention before the frangible portion is broken to expose the inner container.

Figure 2 shows a three dimensional cut away view of an embodiment of an infusion pouch according to the invention after the frangible portion has been broken to expose the inner container.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional perspective view of an embodiment of an infusion pouch according to the invention before the frangible portion is broken to expose the inner container. The infusion pouch is generally designated 1 and is designed so that it has a longitudinal overall appearance and shape. The pouch 1 has an upper end 2 and a lower end 3, the end 3 being designated as lower because it is the end introduced into the drinking vessel, as explained later. The pouch 1 comprises an outer container 4, and an inner container (not shown). The outer container 4 is made from a multi-layered film of plastics. The outer layer is a PET polymer (12Rm thick). Then there is an intermediate layer of aluminium, 7Rm thick. Then for the inner layer there is a layer of polyester (60Rm thick). The outer container 4 has a frangible seal line 6. The seal line 6 forms a shape, which extends from a position halfway between the ends 2 and 3 down one side of the pouch, along the bottom end 3 and up the same side again. The seal line 6 is formed by perforations or scorings present in the -8 -outer layer of the multi-layered film. This therefore forms a weakened bottom portion of one side of the outer container 4. The inner container 5 is made from a nylon mesh. Perforations are present within the mesh to allow water into the centre of the inner container and to let the infusion material to diffuse outwards of the pouch in use.. Inside the inner container is infusion material (not shown).

In the example shown the infusion material is tea in the form of particulated leaves. There is approximately 5 grams of tea within the container 5.

The pouch 1 is manufactured as follows. A sheet of nylon mesh (to make the inner container) is superimposed on top of a sheet of polymeric film material (to make the outer container). Both sheets are folded together along the edges 8 and 9 and sealed along the long edge 10 which runs the length of the pouch. The sealing is performed by heat crimping of a portion of the mesh and the film together. A portion of the mesh is thereby sandwiched in the seals along the long edge 10. The bottom edge 11 is sealed in a similar manner also sandwich-ing the mesh. A sample of tea is then introduced into the open end at the end 2 of the pouch. The top edge 12 is then sealed in a similar manner with the mesh sandwiched between. The mesh thus forms the inner container 5. A benefit of sealing the inner container in this manner is that the mesh which makes up the container is not weakened by the seals but is actually strengthened. The pouch 1 may also be made in a production line as a continuous run. That is to say, af-ter the tea has been added the top edge 12 is sealed. This seal then forms the seal at the bottom edge of the neighbouring pouch. This process is repeated to form a continuous run of a plurality of pouches. The seals at the ends are then cut (or they can be cut when sealed) to release the individual pouches.

In use the pouch 1 is taken and the part of the outer container 4 encom- passed by the 'LI shaped frangible seal 6 is gripped causing it to rupture along the seal line. Part of the outer container 4 thereby comes away and forms a flap 13, as shown in Figure 2. In so doing the internal containers is exposed along with the infusion material 7 (tea in this case) inside the internal container 5. Wa-ter is placed in a drinking vessel such as a mug and the open pouch 1 is placed in the mug. As water enters through the perforations in the inner container, it mixes with the tea leaves. The components of the tea diffuse out of the inner -9 -container and infuse the water to create a tea beverage. The pouch can be suspended on the side of the mug by hooking the flap 13 over the rim of the mug. The inner container thereby sits just inside the top of the mug and the infusion materials are released from the pouch at the top of the contents of the mug. This makes infusion more efficient as they will naturally descend down-wards due to gravity. The pouch can also be used as a stirrer to mix the tea components with the water, and increase the infusion rate.

In an alternative embodiment of the pouch 1 is formed with release liner which covers an opening in the outer container. The opening forms the general shape formed by the frangible seal 6 in figure 1. The release liner is made from the same material are the outer container, and is adhered to the outside of the outer container using a frangible adhesive. A tab on the liner is provided which is not adhered to the outer container. In use the user grabs the tab and pulls it, thereby breaking the adhesive layer and exposing the opening. The liner is then pulled further back to form a flap (as described above). The flap can be used to hook the pouch over the edge of a cup or the like and thereby to suspend the pouch in the inside of the cup.

Claims

-10 -CLAIMS1. An infusion pouch comprising: a) an airtight film forming a closed outer container; b) a perforated inner container within the outer container and sealed thereto; c) at least one frangible portion on the outer container; and d) an infusion material confined within the internal container.
2. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer container is formed with a seam.
3. An infusion pouch according to claim 2, wherein one or more por-tions of the inner container are fixed within the seam.
4. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more portions of the inner container are adhered to one or more portions of the outer container.
5. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the perforated inner container comprises a polymeric mesh.
6. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the frangible portion comprises half of one side of the pouch.
7. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein in use, the frangible portion of the pouch is broken and the pouch is suspended within the interior of a drinking vessel, the frangible portion forming a flap which is mountable on the rim of the vessel.
8. An infusion pouch according to claim 7, wherein the infusion material is suspended away from the bottom of the vessel.
9. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the frangible portion is formed by fissures within the outer container.
10. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the frangible portion is formed by structurally deformed areas in the outer container.
11. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the film of the outer container is a multi-layered film.
12. An
13. 14. 15. 16.infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the infusion material comprises a companion animal or wild animal foodstuff.A method of manufacture of an infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein a first sheet is superimposed onto a second sheet, the two sheets then folded back on themselves and sealed along three sides to close the pouch.A method of manufacture of an infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer container is formed by two sheets superimposed on top of one another and sealed around the perimeter.A method of manufacture of an infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner container is formed by two sheets superimposed on top of one another and sealed around the perimeter.An infusion pouch substantially as described herein and/or as shown in the drawings.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. An infusion pouch comprising: a) an airtight film forming a closed outer container; b) a perforated inner container within the outer container and sealed thereto; c) at least one frangible portion on the outer container; and d) an infusion material confined within the internal container, wherein the outer container is formed with a seam along three edges and the inner container comprises portions sandwiched be-tween layers of the outer container which form the seam.An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more portions of the inner container are adhered to one or more portions of the outer container.An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the perforated inner container comprises a polymeric mesh.An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the frangible portion comprises half of one side of the pouch.An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein in use, the frangible portion of the pouch is broken and the pouch is suspended within the interior of a drinking vessel, the frangible portion forming a flap which is mountable on the rim of the vessel. An infusion pouch according to claim 5, wherein the infusion material is suspended away from the bottom of the vessel.An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the frangible portion is formed by fissures within the outer container. An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the frangible portion is formed by structurally deformed areas in the outer container.An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the film of the outer container is a multi-layered film.LO 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. lo 13.
14.An infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the infusion material comprises a companion animal or wild animal foodstuff.A method of manufacture of an infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein a first sheet is superimposed onto a second sheet, the two sheets then folded back on themselves and sealed along three sides to close the pouch.A method of manufacture of an infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer container is formed by two sheets superimposed on top of one another and sealed around the perimeter.A method of manufacture of an infusion pouch according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner container is formed by two sheets superimposed on top of one another and sealed around the perimeter.An infusion pouch substantially as described herein and/or as shown in the drawings.