GB2545456A

GB2545456A - Packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2545456A
Application number: GB1522261.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tarrant Stephen
Original assignee: Glowcroft Ltd
Current assignee: Glowcroft Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-17
Filing date: 2015-12-17
Publication date: 2017-06-21
Also published as: GB201522261D0

Abstract

A container made of laminated material 14 including a thermoplastic layer 16 and a scented absorbent layer 18. The container can be a flexible bag with a heat welded seal 26 at each end. One end seal 126 can include a hanging hole 130. The plastic layer can be internal 20 and the scented absorbent layer can be external 22. The plastic can be polyethylene while the absorbent layer can be a fibrous material such as paper. There can be a flavor as well as a scent. Perforations can be arranged over the entire absorbent layer or both layers. An aroma compound is applied to the absorbent layer after laminating, and bonding follows that. The aroma compound can be applied by spraying. The second end of the container can be sealed after filling.

Description

Packaging

BACKGROUND a. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of packaging containers, and in particular to packaging containers in the form of bags, and to a method of manufacturing such packaging containers. b. Related Art

It is known to package a wide variety of products in various types of containers including bags and packets. For some products, such as biscuits and cakes, it is important that the packet is sealed to maintain the freshness of the product. For other products a good seal is desirable to prevent a harmful product leaking from the packaging or to prevent an undesirable smell emanating from the packet or bag.

In other situations it is desirable if the container, such as a bag or packet, includes perforations or holes to allow airflow through the packet. This may be desirable to keep a product fresh and/or dry, for example in the case of animal feed or animal bedding.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging container that overcomes at least some of the problems associated with existing packaging, whether referred to herein or otherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging container comprising a laminate material, the laminate material including a first layer made of a thermoplastic material and a second layer made of a scented absorbent material.

In preferred embodiments the laminate material is flexible. This allows the laminate material to be used as a cover of the container, for example covering an opening of a tray, or the flexible laminate material may be used to make a container in the form of a bag, packet or sachet.

The packaging container will include an internal volume that, in use, houses or contains one or more items. Typically the laminate material will be arranged such that the thermoplastic layer forms an internal layer of the container and the absorbent layer forms an external layer of the container.

The thermoplastic layer may be used to provide a barrier layer of the container. Furthermore, one or more parts of the thermoplastic layer may be heat welded to another part or parts of itself, or another part of the container, so as to form the internal volume and/or to seal the container.

In embodiments in which the container is in the form of a bag, the bag may include an aperture at a sealed end of the bag for receiving an attachment member. The attachment member may be in the form of a post on which the bag may be hung, or a clip or retaining device to retain the bag within an outer housing or chamber.

The thermoplastic material is preferably polyethylene. The absorbent material is preferably a fibrous material or a pulp material, and in preferred embodiments is paper.

In addition to the scent, the absorbent material may also be flavoured. The aroma compound, used to create the scent, and the flavour compound, used to create the flavour, may be the same chemical or natural ingredient. The aroma compound is preferably selected to have a pleasant aroma, and may be chosen to mask a scent of the contents of the packaging container.

It may be advantageous if the laminate material is perforated. The perforations may extend only through the absorbent layer in order to preserve the integrity of the thermoplastic barrier layer, while increasing the surface area of the absorbent layer to aid the absorption of the scent or aroma compound. In other embodiments the perforations may extend fully through the laminate material in order to allow a flow of air through the laminate material from the exterior to the internal volume. The perforations may be arranged in an array that extends over or covers substantially the whole surface area of the laminate material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a packaging container comprising: applying an aroma compound to an absorbent layer of a laminate material such that the aroma compound is absorbed by the absorbent layer; and bonding the laminate material to itself or to another part of said packaging container so as to create an internal volume of said container.

The method preferably comprises spraying an aroma compound onto the absorbent layer. Typically the aroma compound will be sprayed onto the laminate material before the laminate material is used to form the container; however, in some embodiments the aroma compound may be sprayed onto the absorbent layer after the container has been constructed.

The method preferably comprises forming perforations in the laminate material. The perforations may extend only through the absorbent layer or the perforations may extend fully through the laminate material.

The laminate material may be bonded to form a bag. In particular the laminate material may include a thermoplastic layer, and a part of the thermoplastic layer may be heat welded to another part of the thermoplastic layer to form a container or part of a container. A part of the thermoplastic layer may be bonded to another piece of laminate material comprising a thermoplastic layer.

The method may additionally comprise placing one or more items within an internal volume of the container, and sealing the container closed by heat welding a thermoplastic layer of the laminate material to itself or to another part of the packaging container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag having first and second sealed ends according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detail cross sectional view of one of the sealed ends of the bag of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bag according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bag according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of a container including a tray according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a container including a multi-compartment tray according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A packaging container 10 in the form of a bag 12 is shown in Figure 1. The bag 12 is made from a flexible laminate material 14 comprising at least two layers. Figure 2 is a detail cross-sectional view of a part of the bag 12 showing the layers of the laminate material 14.

The laminate material 14 comprises a first layer 16 made of a thermoplastic material and a second layer 18 made of an absorbent material. It will be appreciated that the laminate 14 may also comprise other layers; however, it is preferable if the thermoplastic layer 16 defines a first surface 20 of the laminate material 14 and the absorbent layer 18 defines a second surface 22 of the laminate material 14.

The thermoplastic layer 16 preferably comprises polyethylene, but may comprise any suitable thermoplastic that provides the necessary barrier layer or sealing material, as described further below. The absorbent material will typically comprise a fibrous or pulp material, and in preferred embodiments the absorbent material is paper.

An aroma compound is absorbed in, or otherwise incorporated into, the absorbent material so that the absorbent layer 18 is scented. The aroma or scent may be chosen to have a pleasant aroma, that may be used to mask the scent of the contents of the bag 12. The aroma may be selected to provide a scent that is related to the contents of the bag 12, or to appeal to or attract certain people or animals. The aroma compound may be naturally occurring, may be a synthetic version of a naturally occurring scent or may be a man-made scent.

The aroma or scent may be introduced or added to the absorbent layer by any known means. In preferred embodiments, however, the aroma compound or molecule is in a solvent or carrier liquid that is sprayed over the surface of the absorbent material. The aroma compound may be sprayed over the absorbent surface 22 of the laminate material 14 before or after the laminate 14 has been formed into the bag 12.

The bag 12 is manufactured from one or more sheets of the laminate material 14. The laminate material 14 is arranged so that the first surface 20, or thermoplastic layer 16, forms an internal surface of the bag 12 and the second surface 22, or absorbent layer 18, forms an external surface of the bag 12.

The bag 12 is sealed at each of a first end 24 and a second end 26 to form an internal volume of the bag 12. In preferred embodiments the first and second ends 24, 26 are sealed by heat welding opposing thermoplastic layers 16, or parts of the same thermoplastic layer 16 if the bag 12 is formed from a single sheet of the laminate material 14.

In this example the bag 12 includes perforations 28 in the laminate material 14. The perforations 28 comprise an array of holes 28 distributed over the surface of the laminate material 14. The array of perforations 28 covers substantially the whole surface area of the laminate material 14, and therefore the bag 12. In other embodiments, however, the perforations 28 may be located over only part of the surface of the laminate material 14 or bag 12. The perforations 28 preferably extend through the full thickness of the laminate material 14, i.e. through the first and second layers 16, 18. When the material 14 is formed into the bag 12 this permits airflow between an exterior and an interior of the bag 12. In other embodiments the perforations or holes 28 may only extend through some of the layers of the laminate material 14. For example, the holes 28 may only extend through the thermoplastic layer 16 due to the porous nature of the absorbent layer 18 which permits airflow through the absorbent material. In other embodiments, the perforations or holes 28 may only extend through the absorbent layer 28 and may be created to increase the surface area of the absorbent material to increase the rate of absorption and/or release of the scent.

Figure 3 illustrates a further embodiment of a bag 112 made from a laminate material 114. This bag 112 is substantially the same as the bag 12 of the first embodiment described above and like features have been indicated by reference numerals incremented by 100. The outer surface of the bag 112 is formed by a scented absorbent layer of the laminate material 114. In this example, however, the laminate material does not include perforations. A first end 124 of the bag 112 is sealed closed by heat welding thermoplastic layers of the laminate material 114. After the required items have been placed within the interior volume of the bag 112, a second end 126 of the bag 112 is sealed by heat welding, in a similar manner to the first end 124. A width of the seal at the second end 126, in a direction towards the first end 124 of the bag 112, is greater than a corresponding width of the seal at the first end 124.

An aperture, or hanger hole 130, is located in the seal at the second end 126 of the bag 112. The aperture 130 is sized to receive a post or hook so that the bag 112 may be suspended. The aperture 130 may be used to secure the bag 112 to suitable retaining means if required.

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of a bag 212 which is substantially identical to the bag 112 illustrated in Figure 3. In this embodiment two apertures 230 are located in the seal at a second end 226 of the bag 212. The apertures 230 are spaced apart and are sized to receive a securing post or hook. In some embodiments a single securing post may be threaded through both apertures 230.

Packaging containers 310, 410 in the form of covered trays 332, 432 are shown in Figures 5 and 6. In each of these embodiments the container 310, 410 comprises a tray 334, 434 including one or more openings that are covered by a sheet of laminate material 314, 414. The laminate material 314, 414 is the same as the laminate material 14 described above and comprises a thermoplastic layer and a scented absorbent layer.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 the tray 334 comprises a lip 336 surrounding a single opening 338. The laminate material 314 extends over the opening 338 and is bonded to the lip 336 such that the thermoplastic layer 316 is in contact with the lip 336 and the absorbent layer 318 is furthest from the tray 334. In preferred embodiments the laminate material 314 is heat welded to lip 336 of the tray 334. In other embodiments the laminate material 314 may be heat welded to another part of the tray 334, or adhered or bonded to a part of the tray 334.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6 the tray 434 is a multi-compartment tray 434. An opening 438 of each compartment 440 is formed in an upper surface of the tray 434. Bridging portions of the tray 434 extend between adjacent openings 438 and a lip 436 defines a perimeter edge of the tray 434.

The laminate material 414 includes an array of perforation holes 428 distributed substantially evenly over the surface area of the material 414. These perforations 428 preferably extend through the full thickness of the laminate material 414. In this example the container 410 also includes lines of perforations 442 extending between the compartments 440. The lines of perforations 442 extend through the laminate material 414 and the bridging portions of the tray 434 so that each of the compartments 440 may be separated from the other compartments 440 by tearing or breaking along the associated lines of perforations 442.

It will be appreciated that various features of the above embodiments may be combined where appropriate. For example, in each embodiment the laminate material 14, 114, 214, 314, 414 may or may not include perforations 28, 428.

In many embodiments it may be desirable to flavour the absorbent material in addition to including a scent. This may be the case, for example, if the container 10, 310, 410 is designed to attract an animal. The flavour compound that is incorporated in the absorbent material may be the same compound that provides the scent or may be a different compound.

The scented laminate material 14, 114, 314, 414 is preferably manufactured by spraying the scent or aroma compound onto the surface of the absorbent material. The aroma compound is, therefore, dissolved or suspended in a suitable carrier liquid that allows the aroma compound to be absorbed into the absorbent layer 18, 318. The scent is preferably added to the laminate material 14, 114, 314, 414 while in sheet form before it is formed into a bag 12, 112, 212 or cut to cover a tray 334, 434 or similar.

Perforations 28, 428 are also preferably made in the laminate material 14, 114, 314, 414 before the laminate 14, 114, 314, 414 is formed into a bag 12, 112, 212, cover for a tray 334, 434 or similar. The perforations 28, 428 may be made before or after the scent is applied to the absorbent layer 18, 318. The perforations 28, 428 preferably have a largest dimension of less than 1mm, and more preferably less than 500 pm. Typically the perforations 28, 428 will be substantially circular and may be made by a suitable pin or similar.

Claims

1. A packaging container comprising a laminate material, the laminate material including a first layer made of a thermoplastic material and a second layer made of a scented absorbent material.

2. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the laminate material is flexible.

3. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the container is in the form of a bag.

4. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the bag is made from the laminate material and the thermoplastic layer forms an internal layer of the bag and the absorbent layer forms an external layer of the bag.

5. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic layers are heat welded to seal the bag.

6. A packaging container as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the bag includes an aperture at a sealed end of the bag for receiving an attachment member.

7. A packaging container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the thermoplastic material is polyethylene.

8. A packaging container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the absorbent material is a fibrous material.

9. A packaging container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the absorbent material is paper.

10. A packaging container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the absorbent material is flavoured.

11. A packaging container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the laminate material is perforated.

12. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the perforations extend only through the absorbent layer.

13. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the perforations extend fully through the laminate material.

14. A packaging container as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein an array of perforations covers substantially the whole surface area of the laminate material.

15. A method of manufacturing a packaging container comprising: applying an aroma compound to an absorbent layer of a laminate material such that the aroma compound is absorbed by the absorbent layer; and bonding the laminate material to itself or to another part of said packaging container so as to create an internal volume of said container.

16. A method as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the method comprises spraying an aroma compound onto the absorbent layer.

17. A method as claimed in Claim 15 or Claim 16, the method comprising forming perforations in the laminate material.

18. A method as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 17, wherein the laminate material is bonded to form a bag.

19. A method as claimed in Claim 18, comprising placing one or more items within said internal volume, and sealing the container closed by heat welding a thermoplastic layer of the laminate material to itself or to another part of said packaging container.