IE52584B1 - Double bag with separate openings and process for its production - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a double pouch or sack of the kind normally utilized to package powdered or liquid food products. In particular, the present invention relates to an integral pouch or sack with two distinct interior compartments, (1, 2), each such compartment having an opening element (D1, D2) which may be separately opened.

Description

The present invention is concerned with a double bag or sack, that is, one with two compartments, each of which is provided with a separate closure, destined to contain powdered or liquid food products.

It is known that in this particular field, culinary preparations are presented in the dry, powdered state, so that they can be prepared rapidly be heating or cooking in an appropriate liquid, such as water. In certain cases, the preparation includes two different products, destined to be prepared in two successive stages, contained in two compartments of a double bag, but which has only one opening that operates on the two compartments simultaneously. A particular result of this is that the entire product must be consumed immediately without the possibility of storing one of the constituents separ15 ately.

GB-A-494,010 relates to a wage bag or envelope comprising two compartments intended to hold banknotes and coins separately. The mouth of this bag is sealed by a simple gummed flap or flaps or other adhesive. The bag is subsequently opened by removal of the same flap or flaps, thereby releasing the contents of both compartments simultaneously. There is no suggestion that the two compartments could be opened separately.

GB-A-2,030,109 discloses a sachet intended to contain food products and comprising two separate compartments, but again these cannot be opened independently. With this type of double bag, it is not possible to use tvro doses of the same product or of the same variety at different times, while maintaining the second dose under the storage conditions that existed before the opening of the first compartment.

The purpose of the present.invention is to remedy the above disadvantages by furnishing a double bag, each compartment of which has an individual closing device, characterized by a compact form, and easy and economical manufacture and filling.

According to the present invention there is provided a double bag for powdered or liquid food products constituted by an exterior sheet folded onto itself thereby forming two external walls which meet at a common fold line and by an interior sheet between said external walls, the sheets being sealed together at their edges thus forming two distinct compartments, the interior sheet being sealed to one or both of the external walls along two lines parallel to each other and to the common fold line.

According to a first embodiment, the external walls have two supplementary folds symmetrical with respect to the fold line, the respective zones between the sealing lines and the limit of each supplementary fold constituting two opening elements.

According to a second embodiment; a first zone forming an opening element of a compartment is arranged between the two sealing lines and a aec'oni zone, forming an. opening of the other compartment, is arranged beyond the seali line that is the farthest removed from the fold line.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will follow more clearly from the description that is given below of its possible forms of execution, made in consideration of the attached drawings,on which: Figure 1 represents a perspective schematic view, partially cut, of the first embodiment of a double bag according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 represent details of the embodiment according to Figure 1; Figure 4 represents a perspective schematic view, partially cut, of the second embodiment of a double bag according to the invention; and Figure 5 represents a detail of the embodiment of Figure 4.

On these drawings, the same references designate the same elements.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a double bag according to the invention consists of two compartments 1 and 2, delimited by the respective external vails 3 ad. 4 ad ty ai interior stoat 5a, 5b vhich is comm to the two compartments The external walls 3 and 4 are in fact constituted by a single sheet folded along a canton fold line A-A. The folding forms two lips inside of which the double interior sheet 5a, 5b is sealed along two sealing lines 6 and 7, which are parallel to fold line A-A and are arranged on either side of this fold line. According to this first embodiment, the bag also has two other supplementary folds 8 and 9, into which extend corresponding folds 10 of interior sheet 5a, 5b. The bag Of general reference 11 has, for example, ’a rectangular form, the edges S of thersheets which constitute it being glued'or soldered together in a manner which is known In the art. Zones DI and D2, which are respectively between sealing lines 6 and 7, and supplementary folded ridge 8,9, constitute the individual opening elements of compartments 1 and 2, parallel 'to fold line A-A. For this purpose, one may equip zones DI and D2 with precut matching notches 12.

Referring to Figure 3, if desired, one may realize the interior sheet in the simple form 5, this latter also being included in supplementary fold 9.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, and according to a second possible torn of embodiment, a bag according to the invention has two compartments, 1 and 2, as before, defined by two external walls 3 and 4 of a single sheet folded along amran find line A-A, axl by ai interior sheet 5. Us interior sheet 5 is inserted inside the lipe formed by the fold line A-A and it is sealed along two parallel sealing lines 13 and 14, arranged on the same side with respect to fold line ArA.

A first zone D3, forming the opening element of compartment 1 is between the two sealing lines 13 and 14, while the second zone, D4, forming the opening elements of compartment 2, is arranged beyond the sealing line 14 which is the farthest removed from fold line A-A. Sheet 5 is also sealed on edges B.

In order to manufacture a double bag according to the invention, one may place the single sheet forming the external walls onto a flat surface, followed by defining a fold line and carrying out the sealing of the sheet that forms the internal walls along the two lines. This is followed by folding as well as applying the supplementary folds according to the first mode of atbahmai, then sealing edges B· which are perpendicular to the fold line. Under these conditions, the bottom ol the bag is constituted by the opening elements D1-D2 or D3-D4 and one may proceed with filling the compartments. After filling, the side opposite to fold line A-A is sealed by ay ^jrqxiate ireais, fir exaipie, ty first folding the edge of the interior sheet 5 and an edge of an external wall 3 onto the other external wall 4, along the cover flap 15.

The walls may be made of any suitablex'sheet-like material, for example, from paper made impermeable, metal-like paper, or metal or plastic materials.

In the latter case, the sealing may be carried out by thermal welding.

It should be pointed out that when the bag is filled and sealed, it Is more attractive when presented with the bottom constituted by the region.of flap 15 in which case the user merely has to cut separately one of the zones that form the opening element to obtain the product o‘f one compartment while conserving the product of the other compartment under the best conditions.

Thus, after opening one or the other compartments, the present Invention permits preservation of the product, contained in the compartment that remains closed,under the Initial storage conditions up to the time when it will be used. Notably, in the case of culinary products, the invention permits guaranteed s.ife consucption with all the predictions inscribed on the packaging (conposicior node of use, storage-conditions, labelling and marking), which naincains its integrity until the use of the product that it contains.

Naturally, the present invention is described and represented only for the purpose of explanation but it does not represent a limitation and one can make any useful modifications thereto, without departing frctn the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS;

1. A double bag for powdered or liquid food products constituted by an exterior sheet folded onto itself thereby forming two external walls which meet at a common fold line and by an interior sheet between said external walls, the sheets being sealed together at their edges thus forming two distinct compartments, the interior sheet being sealed to one or both of the external walls along two lines parallel to each other and to the common fold line.

2. A bag according to Claim 1, wherein the external walls have two supplementary folds symmetrical with respect to the fold line, the respective zones between the sealing lines and each supplementary fold constituting two opening elements.

3. A bag according to Claim 2, wherein the interior sheet is double.

4. A bag according to Claim 1, wherein a first zone forming an opening element of a compartment is arranged between the two sealing lines and a second zone, forming an opening element of the other compartment, is arranged beyond the sealing line that is the farthest removed from the fold line.

5. A process for the manufacture of a bag according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, which oonprises. placing a single sheet forming the external walls on a flat surface, defining the fold line, sealing the sheet forming the interior wall along two sealing lines, making the fold and then sealing the sheets along edges which are perpendicular to the said fold line. .

6. A double bag according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 5

7. A process according to Claim 5 for the manufacture of a bag, substantially as hereinbefore described.

8. A bag whenever manufactured by a process claimed in Claim 5 or 7.