GB2564445A

GB2564445A - Flexible drinks receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2564445A
Application number: GB1711094.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sheikh Shahid
Original assignee: CLIFTON PACKAGING GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: CLIFTON PACKAGING GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-10
Filing date: 2017-07-10
Publication date: 2019-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-10
Also published as: GB2564445B; GB201711094D0

Abstract

A multi-ply laminate polymer ice pail pouch 10 for beverage containers (34, figure 4) comprising a rectangular base panel 20 and upstanding front 12, rear 14, and opposing side panels 16, 18. Apertures forming a carrying handle 22, 24 are provided in an upper region of the front 12 and/or rear 14 panel and the panels 12, 14 may be closeable in the vicinity of the carrying handle above the beverage containers therein, perhaps with a fastening such as a zipper. An edge seal 27, perhaps made of a more rigid polymer, is provided at every adjoining edge between the base and the upstanding panels. The pouch may comprise a flat and/or block-bottom base panel. The pouch construction could allow it to be provided at the point of purchase of six to sixteen beverage cans and opened to provide a flexible ice pail. Such a retail article comprising the flexible ice pail is claimed.

Description

Flexible Drinks Receptacle

The present disclosure concerns drinks receptacles, i.e. receptacles for carrying, storing and/or displaying beverage containers.

Aside from conventional carrier bags, it is known to provide specific receptacles for carrying drinks, i.e. due to the weight of multiple bottles of liquid. Receptacles of this kind have taken the form of cardboard holders and the like.

It is also known to provide so-called chiller bags comprising a textile material and an insulating/foil liner to help maintain chilled contents of the bag below ambient temperature for longer than a simple plastic bag. Other examples make use of neoprene material, or similar to provide the desired insulating bag properties. However such chiller bags are expensive to produce and are thus sold as separate articles to consumers for repeated use or offered as promotional articles at significant expense to the supplier.

Other forms of chiller bag exist, for which the primary purpose is that of chilling contents during transit.

It has also been proposed to provide gift bags for individual bottles of wine in which ice can be inserted to keep the wine chilled. An example of such ice bag products is provided by European Community Registered Design Nos. 616057-0001. Such bags are formed of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and have a handle of PVC or rope attached thereto.

Whilst such articles are suitable as novelty/gift bags, they are relatively expensive to produce and are tailored to use with wine bottles. Furthermore, when compared to conventional carrier bags, such gift bags are less practical as a simple receptacle, i.e. favouring appearance over practicality.

The present invention aims to provide an alternative receptacle for drinks, which also serves as an ice pail.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a flexible ice pail for beverage containers comprising a multi-ply laminate polymer material formed into an upstanding pouch having a polygonal base and upstanding panels depending from the base, wherein a handle formation is provided in an upper region of one or more upstanding panel and an edge seal is provided at each edge formed between the base and the upstanding panels.

Edge seals may be provided around the entire perimeter of the base.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flexible ice pail for beverage containers comprising a multi-ply laminate polymer material formed into an upstanding pouch having front and rear panels and an opening formed in an upper region of the front and/or rear panel to provide a carrying handle, wherein the front and rear panels are closeable beneath the opening to enclose the beverage containers therein.

The upstanding ice pail pouch may serve as a bag when using the carrying handle(s).

The multi-ply polymer material may comprise three, four or more plies.

The front and rear panels may be releasably closeable.

The front and rear panels may be sealable, e.g. releasably sealable.

The front and/or rear panel may comprise a fastener or seal. An elongate fastener or seal may be provided, e.g. oriented in a direction between opposing lateral edges of the front and/or rear panel. The fastener/seal may extend across the full width of the front and/or rear panel, e.g. across the entire width of the interior of the pouch. A release strip may be provided.

The fastener/seal may comprise an adhesive. The fastener/seal may comprise opposing engageable formations on the front and read panel, such as zipper or gripseal formations.

The pouch may comprise a closure between the front and rear panels. The closure may be attached/closeable beneath the opening. The closure may comprise a flap, e.g. formed of said polymer material. The closure may be sealed, e.g. heat sealed and/or releasably fastened, to the front and/or rear panel, e.g. using a laterally extending seal.

The upstanding pouch may comprise a flat base, e.g. a block bottom, which may be rectangular in form.

The upstanding pouch may comprise opposing side/intermediate panels, or panel portions, extending between the front and rear panels. The intermediate panels or panel portions may be of a height that is less than the height of the opening.

The front and/or rear panel, or a frontal portion thereof, may extend above the side panels, or side panel portions.

The front and/or rear panel may comprise a varying height profile, e.g. across the width of the pouch. The front and/or rear panel may comprise a curved upper edge. The front and/or rear panel may have a maximum height towards the centre of the pouch and/or reduced height towards either or both lateral edge of the pouch.

The front and/or rear panel may comprise a pouch enclosure portion and an upper/extension portion in which the handle opening is provided.

The front and rear panel may be closeable over a contact area comprising and/or surrounding the handle opening.

The side/intermediate panels may terminate at, adjacent or beneath a location/height at which the front and rear panels are closeable.

The upstanding pouch may be formed from a sheet material blank. The upstanding pouch may comprise an edge seal formed between adjacent panels, e.g. between the front and/or back panel and the adjoining base panel. The upstanding pouch may comprise lateral/side edge seals and a plurality of base panel edge seals.

The upstanding pouch may comprise four side edge seals (i.e. at each of four upright edges of the pouch) and/or four base panel edge seals (e.g. at each of four edges lying in a plane of the base panel). The base edge seals may be perpendicular to the side edge seals and/or each other.

Any, any combination, or all of the edge seals may comprise an overlapping region between adjacent panels.

Forming a pouch in this manner provides an upstanding pouch with sufficient strength to carry multiple beverage containers.

The upstanding pouch may be of greater width than its depth. The upstanding pouch and/or its base panel may be at least 250 mm, 270 mm, 280 mm or 290 mm wide. The upstanding pouch and/or its base panel may be at least 180 mm, 200 mm, 210 mm or 220 mm deep.

The base panel may have an area of at least 500 cm2, 550 cm2, 600 cm2, 620 cm2 or 630 cm2.

Any or any combination of the front, rear and/or side panels may comprise one or more fold line such that the ice pail can be folded flat when not in use.

The front and/or rear panel may be printed.

The handle opening may be reinforced, e.g. comprising a further material layer or other reinforcing material surrounding the opening.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a flexible ice pail for beverage containers comprising a multi-ply laminate polymer material formed into a pouch having a rectangular base panel and upstanding panels comprising front and rear panels and opposing intermediate side panels, wherein an opening is formed in an upper region of the front and/or rear panel to provide a carrying handle, wherein an edge seal is provided at every adjoining edge of the upstanding panels.

The edge seals may comprise overlapping edge regions or strips of the adjoining panels.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a retail article comprising the flexible ice pail according to either previous aspect and a plurality of beverage containers therein.

The flexible ice pail of either aspect may hold beverage cans, e.g. six, eight or more cans. The ice pail may hold up to twelve or sixteen cans.

The upstanding pouch may close closely over the drinks cans/containers therein.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming the flexible ice pail of any preceding aspect.

Any of the preferable features defined above in relation to any one aspect may be applied to any further aspect.

Practicable examples of the invention are described in further detail below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an ice pail pouch according to an example of the invention in an open condition;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a blank for forming the pouch of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a below view of the pouch of figure 1; and

Figure 4 shows a front view of a further example of the invention with drinks cans contained within the pouch.

The present invention has been designed for the purpose of providing a bag for multiple drinks cans at the point of retail, which can subsequently be used/reused as an open ice pail for holding said cans and a volume of ice. The ability for a flexible bag/pouch to offer the structural strength to accommodate between six and sixteen cans over a suitable base area to accommodate cans arranged in a side-by-side format, whilst also offering a self-supporting, open-topped ice pail configuration, has resulted from development of a bespoke product format.

Having been developed for this purpose, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the sole use of carrying/chilling cans, but may also be used for other drinks containers such as bottles, cartons or pouches. The invention is advantageous in that it can accommodate an array of such containers over a relatively large base area, whilst still retaining its desired shape.

Also the construction of the panel allows it to be printed, e.g. by printing onto one or more layer of the sheet laminate material used for the pouch blank. The pouch is therefore better suited to use as promotional merchandise when compared to the plain/translucent gift bags of the prior art.

Figure 1 shows an ice pail pouch 10 according to an example of the invention. Figure 2 shows a blank 11 used for the construction of the pouch 10 and figure 3 shows a view of the pouch 10 from below. The pouch is shown as being transparent although it may be opaque, coloured and/or printed in other examples.

The blank and pouch 10 are formed of a three or four ply laminate/polymer sheet material. The laminate sheet material typically comprises polyethylene (PE), such as a low density polyethylene (LDPE) or equivalent material. Some or all layers may be formed of PE, or equivalent, including at least the outer layer to be used to provide the edge seal between adjacent panels. One or more further/intermediate ply could comprise an alternative material, e.g. a polymer or metallic layer, if desired.

The ice pail pouch 10 generally comprises front 12 and rear 14 panels, intermediate side panels 16 and 18, and a base panel 20. Each panel shares an adjoining edge seal with its adjacent panels. Each upstanding panel shares adjoining edge seals with three adjacent panels and the base panel shares adjoining edges with all four upstanding panels.

Each panel is generally rectangular in form, although the front 12 and rear 14 panels have rounded upper edges in this example which protrude up above the height of the side panels 16, 18.

The upper rounded portions of the front 12 and rear 14 panels comprise aligned openings 22 and 24 respectively. Each opening 22, 24 takes the form of an elongate slot in the respective panel, extending in a generally lateral direction, although a slight curve/arch in the openings may be provided if required.

The openings 22, 24 define handle portions, allowing a user to grip the pouch via the region of panel material between the openings and the upper edge of the front and rear panels. The openings 22, 24 can be stamped or cut from the sheet laminate material.

The upper rounded portions of the front 12 and rear 14 panels can be brought together in the region of the handles so as to close the pouch at its upper end. The pouch can be carried by the handle portions of both front and rear panels when brought together in this manner.

Turning to figure 2, it can be seen that each panel comprises an edge region 26 extending along an edge adjoining to an adjacent panel when forming the pouch. The edge region 26 comprises a relatively narrow strip along the relevant side/edge of the panel. The edge regions of adjoining panels are arranged to overlap and then sealed together to form edge seals 27 of the pouch 10.

The overlapping edge regions 26 of adjoining panels are sealed, e.g. along the full length of the respective edge, using heat and/or adhesive. Heating and pressing the edges together causes fusing of the edge regions 26 to form a strong seal.

It can be seen in figure 2 that certain adjoining edges of the panels are already joined in the sheet blank 11. Thus it may be considered that an edge seal is not required for those edges. However it has been found that the provision of an edge seal for all adjoining edges provides the pouch not only with further weight-bearing strength when used as a bag for carrying multiple drinks containers, but also additional structural rigidity to prevent collapse or yielding of the upstanding panels when used as an open ice pail.

The edge regions, and resulting, edge seal may be greater than 5 mm in width, e.g. between 5 and 15 mm in width. In this example, the edge seals may be approximately 10 mm in width or greater than 10 mm in width.

The edge region 26 of each side/panel may be trapezoidal in shape, e.g. with an obliquely angled edge or line of weakness at each end of the edge region. Opposing edge regions 26 of a common edge seal may be correspondingly trapezoidal in shape.

The edge regions may be folded (i.e. angled or obliquely oriented) with respect to either or both adjoining panel once formed. The edge seals 26 depend outwardly of the pouch once formed as shown in figures 1 and 3.

The panels are generally perpendicularly oriented when the pouch 10 is upstanding in an open condition as shown in figure 1.

The side panels 16 and 18 comprise lines of weakness or fold lines 28A-28C such that the pouch can fold flat in a storage condition. A central upright fold line 28A and oblique lower fold lines 28B and 28C may be provided. A further fold line may be provided across the lower portion of the front or rear panel as necessary.

The side panels act as collapsible gussets.

In an alternative construction to that of figures 1-3, the front and rear panels of the pouch may not have rounded/domed upper edges but may have a generally rectangular upper section protruding above the side walls as shown by pouch 10A in figure 4. In other examples, the front and rear panels of figure 4 could have rounded upper corners instead of the angled corners shown in figure 4.

When opened for the insertion/removal of drinks cans in the manner shown in figures 1 and 4, the pouch is open-ended. The upper regions of the front 12 and rear 14 panels can be brought together and closed, e.g. to provide a single carrying handle comprising the aligned openings 22 and 24.

When the upstanding pouch is closed, it may be desirable to fasten/seal the pouch and a laterally extending seal or seal region is provided for this purpose as shown by dashed line 30. A line seal may be provided in this location by way of an adhesive strip or a zip/grip seal, e.g. comprising opposing mating zip/grip formations on the inside surface of each of the front and rear panels.

Various sealing or fastening options are possible depending on the intended usage of the ice pail pouch. For example, it is possible to provide a releasable peelable adhesive across a strip beneath the handle openings 22, 24, or else over the entire upper region of the front and rear panels 12, 14. Such an arrangement may be suited to a closed retail package/article in which the contents of the pouch is predetermined and inserted into the pouch and sealed shut prior to display in a retail environment. Upon purchasing the retail article, the consumer may open the pouch and fill it with a desired volume of ice alongside the drinks cans therein to provide an ice pail/bucket.

Alternatively, the pouch could be sold or provided as a separate article, e.g. in a retail environment, and the consumer could insert the desired number and type of drinks cans into the pouch 10. The pouch may thus be provided in an open, closed condition and the seal/fastener may be selectively openable and/or resealable as desired.

In some examples, it may be advantageous to allow re-closing and or re-sealing of the pouch once ice has been inserted. For example, ice may be inserted into the article in-store or at another location prior to transporting the pouch with drinks and ice therein to the desired location for use as an open ice pail. Closing and/or sealing of the pouch with the desired contents inside may therefore be beneficial to avoid spillage of ice or water from the pouch in transit. The closing/reclosing of the pouch may be beneficial for other reasons, e.g. to allow multiple uses of the pouch or else to allow insertion of additional contents inside the pouch, such as promotional material or other items to be carried with the drinks cans.

If an adhesive seal is used instead of a zipper, it may be provided with a release liner, such that the end consumer/user can select whether or not to close and seal the pouch by removing the liner.

In some other examples, the upper region of the front and/or rear panels could be removable, e.g. by providing a line of weakness or tear line in the vicinity of line 30. The pouch may or may not be sealed shut prior to use, e.g. at or prior to the point of purchase. If sealed, the user could tear away the handle portion(s) to open the pouch and allow insertion of ice.

The pouch according to any examples described herein may be disposable or reusable as an open ice pail/receptacle.

In other examples, it has been proposed to provide an internal flap, e.g. heat sealed to the inside surface of the front and/or rear panels at a height above the base but beneath the handles, e.g. in the vicinity of the line 30. The flap may cover any drinks containers inside the pouch, e.g. during transit, but may be flapped down or removed to expose the contents for use as an ice pail. The flap could be removeable/tearable or could be refastened between the front and rear panels as desired. The use of a flap provides a further way in which the pouch can be closeable without requiring a direct fastening between the front and rear panels.

Figure 4 shows an array of drinks containers in the form of cans 32 within the pouch. The pouch allows space around the array of cans for the insertion of ice. The specific example of figures 1-4 are designed such that they can accommodate either six or eight cans stood on the base panel 20.

The height of the pouch may be tailored so that it closes and/or seals closely over the drinks containers contained therein. For example, the pouches of figures 1-4 can receive a maximum of two rows of conventional 330ml cans stacked one atop the other. The pouch may close in the vicinity of line 30 over the cans with little/minimal slack in the pouch. However the pouch could carry a single row of six or eight cans with greater slack in the upstanding panels. The base/height of the pouch may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate larger cans or other articles, such as cartons or bottles.

In the examples shown, the pouch has an internal/base width dimension of 290-300 mm, e.g. 295 mm, and an internal/base depth dimension of 220-230 mm, e.g. 225 mm.

The height of the side panels/gussets may be between 240 and 260 mm, e.g. approximately 250 mm and the height of the front/rear panel may be 320-350 mm, e.g. approximately 330 mm.

The height may be varied as discussed above. Typically the front and/or back panels providing the handle portions will be of height 50-120 mm greater than the height of the side gussets.

In all examples, the pouch provides a water tight enclosure allowing the pouch to be used as an ice pail. The open front/rear and side panels can bow slightly, i.e. outwardly, when filled with ice to provide a more rounded/open form for display of drinks cans.

The configuration of the pouch is such that it is stable as an ice pail and will tend to resist tipping over. That is to say contact with the upstanding panels of the ice pail, when at least partially filled with ice, water and/or drinks, will tend to cause reversible inward deformation of the panel, rather than tipping of the pail to spill its contents.

The pouch format described above allows the desired number of cans to be supported without additional reinforcing materials in the base. However, if desired, an additional base layer or insert could be provided.

Although it has been found to be unnecessary, it is also possible that reinforcing material could be provided in the vicinity of, e.g. around, the handle openings 22, 24. A layer of additional material could be adhered around the handle openings of the blank 11 prior to sealing the edges of the pouch. This may allow weaker material, e.g. fewer plies of material, to be used for the remainder of the pouch or may allow the pouch to be used for larger volumes/weights. However it is generally preferred that the material used to construct the pouch is of sufficient strength that it can bear the weight of its contents without handle reinforcement, since this leads to a sturdier ice pail.

Claims

Claims:

1. A flexible ice pail for beverage containers comprising a multi-ply laminate polymer material formed into a pouch having a rectangular base panel and upstanding panels comprising front and rear panels and opposing intermediate side panels, wherein a carrying handle formation is provided in an upper region of the front and/or rear panel, and wherein an edge seal is provided at every adjoining edge between the base and the upstanding panels.

2. The flexible ice pail of claim 1, wherein the multi-ply polymer material comprises three, four or more plies.

3. The flexible ice pail of claim 1 or 2, wherein the front and rear panels are closeable in the vicinity of the carrying handle above the beverage containers therein.

4. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, comprising a flat and/or block-bottom base panel.

5. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein the upstanding pouch is formed from a sheet material blank and comprises an edge seal formed at each lateral edge of the front and rear panels, said edge seal being of greater rigidity than a remainder of the front and/or rear panel so as to maintain the upstanding nature of the pouch when used as an open ice pail.

6. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein the upstanding pouch comprises four side edge seals, each side edge seal being formed between the front or rear panel and an adjoining side panel.

7. The flexible ice pail of claim 6, wherein the base panel has four base panel edge seals between the base and each of the front, rear and side panels, each base panel seal extending in a direction perpendicular to the side edge seals.

8. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim wherein any, any combination or all of the edge seals comprise overlapping portions of the multi-ply laminate polymer material.

9. The flexible ice pail pouch of any preceding claim, wherein the carrying handle formation is formed in the front and/or rear panel by way of a handle opening therein.

10. The flexible ice pail of claim 9, wherein the side panels are of a height that is less than a height of the handle opening in the front and/or rear panel.

11. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein the side panels are of a height that is less than the height of the front and/or rear panel.

12. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein the front and/or rear panel comprise a varying height profile across the width of the pouch such that front and/or rear panel have a maximum height towards the centre of the pouch.

13. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein the front and rear panel are closeable over a contact area comprising and/or surrounding the handle opening.

14. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein the upstanding pouch is at least 280 mm wide and at least 200 mm deep.

15. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein an outer surface of the front and/or rear panel have printed indicia thereon.

16. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, configured to hold between six and sixteen drinks cans.

17. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein opposing internal surfaces of the front and rear panels are releasably fastenable.

18. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, wherein a release strip, such as a zipper, is provided on the opposing internal surface of the front and/or rear panel, said strip extending in a lateral direction over at least a portion of the front and/or rear panel width.

19. The flexible ice pail of claim 9, comprising a closure between the front and rear panels at a location beneath the opening.

20. The flexible ice pail of any preceding claim, configured to close closely above one or more row of drinks containers of predetermined height contained within the upstanding pouch.

21. A flexible ice pail for beverage containers comprising: a multi-ply laminate polymer material formed into an upstanding pouch having front and rear panels and an opening formed in an upper region of the front and/or rear panel to provide a carrying handle, wherein the front and rear panels are closeable beneath the opening to enclose the beverage containers therein.

22. A retail article comprising the flexible ice pail according to any preceding claim and a plurality of beverage containers therein.