MXPA05011049A - Package having reclosable pour spout and method of forming same - Google Patents

Abstract

A package (10) having a reclosable pour spout is disclosed, with the package including front and rear package panels (12, 14) which may be joined at respective side edges thereof by inwardly extending side gussets (16, 18). An upper edge portion (25) of the package is removable, including one of the side gussets, to form a pour spout (28) for dispensing the contents of the package. A fastener strip (30) extends between confronting inside surfaces of the front and rear package panels, adjacent to the pour spout, whereby the pour spout can be conveniently closed after the package is initially opened.

Description

PACKAGING THAT HAS A REBOUND NOZZLE THAT CAN BE RE-CLOSED AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to reclosable gaskets, and more particularly to a gasket having a nozzle or pouring duct, which can be configured to include corner or lateral reinforcement brackets, and which is particularly suitable for use in the packaging of contents that can be poured, dried. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Re-resealable gaskets have become increasingly widely used in view of the convenience they provide to consumers and other users to allow a portion of the contents of the package to be used, and packaging It will close effectively again. For this purpose, the packages have been provided with reclosable elements including profile fastening strips, cooperative adhesive strips, hook and loop fasteners, and the like, to allow a package to be closed again. conveniently after its initial opening. U.S. Patents No. 5,782,733, No. 4,655,862, No. 4,844,759, and No. 4,909,017, all incorporated by them here by reference, describe several packaging constructions that can be closed again, and the methods to carry out their training. The packages formed in accordance with the patents referenced above typically include a packing portion which can be removed for the initial opening of the package, and to provide access to a profile fastening strip or other type of item that can be returned to close. In typical constructions known hitherto, the resealable element of the package extends substantially in its entirety through one dimension of the package, i.e., completely across the width of the package. This facilitates access to packaging contents. For some applications, however, it may be desirable to maintain the sealed integrity of a portion of the package, while the associated portion of the package is configured for the reclosable opening. Such an arrangement allows a package to be formed to include a pouring nozzle or conduit, thus facilitating convenient pouring of packaging contents, such as dog food, fertilizers, dry cereals and other dry materials, which can be poured. The present invention is directed to a package that includes a pouring nozzle or conduit, which packaging can be desirably configured to include lateral corner reinforcement brackets, thus desirably increasing the internal capacity of the packaging with the efficient use of packaging materials. Brief Description of the Invention The present invention is directed to a package that includes a pouring nozzle or duct conveniently after the package has been initially opened. Notably, the present package can be configured to include lateral reinforcement corners or squares, which provide the package with a configuration which provides the package with the desired internal volume, and the efficient use of the packaging materials. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the package, the described method that facilitates the use of packing with high speed forming, filling and sealing packaging machinery (FFS), for economical and efficient use. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the present package includes a packaging front panel and a packaging back panel, with the illustrated embodiment also including a pair of corner reinforcement brackets or brackets joining the respective opposite edges of the panel to each other. front and the rear panel. While the present packaging is illustrated as including the corners or brackets of lateral reinforcement, it will be understood that the present package can be configured without such corners or lateral reinforcement brackets, in a configuration called, "pillow pack". The package of the present invention further includes a reclosable fastening strip, extending from the confronting inner surfaces, of the front and rear packing panels, i.e., from a portion of an inner surface of the front panel to a portion of an inner surface of the rear panel. If the package is configured to include corner reinforcement or corner brackets, the fastening strip extends along an inner surface of one of the corner posts or reinforcement brackets. The fastening strip can be provided in the form of a profile fastening strip, an adhesive fastening strip, or a hook and loop fastening strip, such that the fastening strip is configured to detachably connect to the fastening strip. same The front and rear panels, and the corner reinforcement brackets or brackets, if provided, are sealed with one another at an upper edge of the gasket to form a manifold, a portion of which can be removed to form a pour nozzle or conduit. of the packaging. The removable portion of the manifold is up and adjacent to the strip of fastening the packing, with the fastening strip which is thus positioned to close the nozzle or pouring duct after the initial opening of the packing. This is easily done by folding the fastening strip and connecting it, thus closing the nozzle or pouring conduit of the packing. While a portion of the sealed collector of the package can be removed, the remainder of the sealed collector remains intact, thus maintaining the integrity of the package. To facilitate the opening of the removable portion of the sealed manifold, the package preferably includes at least one weak region, such as that provided in the form of an incision, perforations, or the like. If the package is provided with corner reinforcements or lateral reinforcement brackets, the flimsy region preferably extends through one of the corner reinforcement braces provided on that portion of the packing that provides the pour nozzle or conduit. The efficient formation of the present package is achieved by providing a web of material having a longitudinal axis, and by applying a plurality of fastening strips to the web of material at intervals corresponding to the length of each of the packages that are formed. Each clamping strip extends from the longitudinal axis of the network of material. As will be appreciated, a web of material having fasteners pre-applied thereto can be rolled and stored, and is then used in conjunction with a forming, filling, and sealing machine to complete the formation of the server package for filling the product. Alternatively, the present packages can be formed in a process called "in line", where the fastening strips are applied to the web of material according to the material and the strips are fed to a forming, filling and sealing machine. The formation of the packing is done by folding the web of material, and sealing the material itself to form a tube. The tube is transversely sealed to form a packing line in an end-to-end relationship, with each package including a front packing panel and a packing back panel. One of the respective fastening strips extends from a portion of the front panel to a portion of the back panel of the respective gasket, thereby forming the respective reclosable pouring nozzle or conduit. A pair of inwardly extending lateral reinforcement corners or cornering brackets may be formed in the tube prior to the transverse sealing passage, with each fastening strip extending from the front panel to the rear panel of the respective gasket along the surface internal of one of the corners or respective reinforcement brackets. The present packaging can be formed in other alternative ways, depending on its specific application. In one form, the material network seals itself usually along the back panel of each package. The formation in this manner includes the application of a plurality of fastening strips to the web of material displaced from the longitudinal axis thereof, thereby providing the nozzle or pouring duct in an upper corner of each packing that is formed. Alternatively, the web of material may seal itself generally along one edge of the front panel or the back panel of each package, such as in one of the corner posts or reinforcement brackets, which may be desirable for provide a seamless back panel that has suitable graphics or the like on it. The formation in this way can be effected by means of the application of a plurality of fastening strips to the web of material in alignment with the longitudinal axis thereof, that is, with each of the fastening strips that intercepts the axis longitudinal. Training in this way may be desirable if packages are to be formed by pre-applying fastening strips to the web of material, followed by the formation of a roll of the material for its subsequent unwinding and use with a forming, filling and sealing machine. The manner in which each clamping strip is positioned in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the web of material provides a "centered" arrangement for the clamping strips, thereby facilitating the formation of the web reel of material with the clamping strips pre-applied Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a package including a reclosable pouring nozzle or conduit, which incorporates the principles of the present invention, with the illustrated embodiment including corner or angle brackets. of lateral reinforcement; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the package shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating the package after the nozzle or pouring duct has been opened; FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrating the present package after the nozzle or pouring duct has been closed; FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present package, taken generally along lines 4-4 of the FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the present package, taken generally along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the present package, taken generally along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the present package, taken generally along lines 7-7 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the present package, taken generally along lines 8-8 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 9 is a perspective, schematic view illustrating the formation of the present package; and FIGURE 10 is a perspective, schematic view illustrating a modified method for forming the package of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention While the present invention is susceptible to incorporation in various ways, there is described in the drawings, and will be described below, the preferred embodiments of the invention, with the understanding that the present description should be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. The present invention discloses a package, which can be configured to include corner reinforcement or corner brackets, wherein an upper corner of the package can be open to form a pour nozzle or conduit. As will be described later, the package includes a fastening strip inside the package, which facilitates convenient re-sealing of the nozzle or pouring duct after the initial opening. A fastening strip is used which is flexible enough to allow the package to assume a normal configuration prior to opening, with the fastening strip having a general W-shape if the packing includes corner posts or lateral reinforcement brackets. After the initial opening of the packaging, a pouring nozzle or pouring duct with a general U shape is formed, with the fastening strip inside the packing that allows the pouring nozzle or duct to be closed again conveniently for pouring Subsequent packaging contents. The present package is particularly suitable for use for dry, pourable contents, such as dog food, dry cereals, fertilizers, and the like. With particular reference to FIGURE 1, the present packaging 10 can be suitably formed from a wide variety of materials, including plastic film, paper, laminates, and the like, as is well known in the art. The package 10 includes a rectangular front packing panel 12 in general, and a rear panel 14 in general rectangular, which in the illustrated embodiment are joined to each other at the respective opposite edges by means of a pair of corner reinforcements or brackets, 16 and 18, of lateral reinforcement extending inwards. As will be appreciated, the package embodying the principles of the present invention can be provided without the corner posts or reinforcement brackets, with the respective edge portions of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14, directly connected to one another, in shape of a so-called "pillow pack". As will be described later, the package 10 is formed from a network of material which is formed into a tube, with the material attached to itself along a seam which extends along the length of the seam. network of material. The package 10 therefore includes a subsequent seam 20, but it is within the scope of the present invention that the seam in which the web of material itself is attached can generally be provided at the edge of the front panels or back, with the seam that generally positioned within one of the reinforcing brackets or brackets 16, 18. The packing 10 is closed and sealed in the upper and lower portions thereof by means of transverse seals. The lower seal 22 joins the panels, 12 and 14, front and rear one with the other, and the corner or reinforcement brackets 16, 18, side. Depending on the specific configuration desired, the corner reinforcement brackets or corner brackets can be sealed "closed" on the upper and lower seals, or they can be left "open", as illustrated, ie, each of the corners or lateral reinforcement brackets form a generally V-shaped form in the upper and lower parts of the package. An upper transverse seal of the gasket 10 connects the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14 with one another, and the corner reinforcement brackets 16 and 18, lateral, and thus forms a sealed collector 24 of the gasket 10. According to With the present invention, a marginal corner portion 25 of the gasket 10, which includes a portion of the sealed manifold 24, can be removed to form a pour nozzle or conduit for the gasket 10. To this end, the gasket 10 is provided with a flimsy region 26 in an upper corner of the package, which facilitates the removal of portion 25, generally within the flimsy region 26. The Weak region 26 may comprise suitable perforations, incisions such as by knife or laser, or other weakening of the region to facilitate convenient removal of the upper corner portion 25 of the package by a consumer. In the illustrated embodiment, the flimsy region 26 is shown as a series of perforations, with the flimsy region extending towards and through a corner reinforcement bracket 16 which is provided on that side with the package 10 in which Provide the nozzle or spout. FIGURE 2 illustrates the present package 10 after the fracture of the weak region 26, and the removal of the portion 25 of the package, which includes a portion of the sealed manifold 24, to form a pouring nozzle or conduit, generally designated as 28. As will be seen, the lateral reinforcement corner or square 16 is inverted in general or turned outwardly for the formation of the pouring nozzle or duct 28, thereby facilitating convenient assortment of the contents of the package 10. As shown in FIG. shows, the remaining portion of the sealed manifold 14 remains intact, thereby providing the desired integrity for the package when it is manipulated to pour the contents therefrom. According to the present invention, the re-sealing Convenient of the pouring nozzle or duct 28 is effected by the supply of the fastening strip 30 which is secured to the internal surface of the packing 10. As illustrated, the fastening strip 30 extends between the confronting surfaces of the front panel 12 and rear panel 14, that is, it extends along the front panel and a portion of the rear panel, generally below the pouring nozzle or conduit 28 defined by the flimsy region 26 of the packaging, in general preferably along one side of the longitudinal centerline of the package. If the package 10 includes the corner reinforcement brackets or brackets as illustrated, the fastener strip 30 extends along the inner surface of the corner reinforcement brackets 16. By means of this arrangement, the fastening strip 30 generally has a W-shape prior to the opening of the package (see FIGURE 4), and generally assumes a loop shape or U-shape after the nozzle has been opened. or pouring conduit (Figure 5). The fastening strip 30 is configured to detachably connect thereto, and thus convenient closure of the nozzle or pouring conduit is facilitated after the desired quantity of the contents of the package 10 has been dispensed. is simply bent and pressed against itself, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, thus closing the pouring nozzle or duct 28. As will be seen, the 16 remains in its outwardly extended disposition, thereby facilitating the releasable securing of the fastening strip 30 itself along its full length of doubles. The package 10 is now closed for subsequent reuse. The specific configuration of the fastening strip 30 may vary as long as it is in accordance with the principles described herein. In a currently contemplated embodiment, the fastening strip 30 is provided in the form of a fastening strip designated as a profile, which typically includes at least two straight elements which define a slot therebetween, such that the slot can receive one of the straight elements when the fastening strip is folded on itself. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,655,862 and No. 4,844,759, both incorporated herein by reference herein, illustrate fastening profile straps that lock, which have the ability to lock on themselves when the profile strip is bent. Such locking profile strips contain at least one "unisex" rib and a groove assurance feature. The fastening strip 30 can alternatively be configured as an adhesive closure as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,898,787, hereby incorporated by reference. These types of adhesive closures include pressure-sensitive co-adhesive, which can be cold sealed. This type of pressure-sensitive closures exhibit a surface tack and are co-adhesive only when put under pressure in contact with one another surfaces coated with co-adhesive, which can be cold sealed. The pressure-sensitive side of these types of co-adhesive seals can be folded so that the co-adhesive side comes in contact with itself for use in a package embodying the present invention. It is further contemplated that the fastening strip 30 may be configured as a so-called hook and loop closure, as is known in the art. When configured in this way, the fastening strip can include two distinct portions, one having the elements designated as hook, and the other having the elements designated as loop, configured in general such that the strip can be fold at its midpoint and secure itself along its length of the fold. Alternatively, a hook and loop fastener can be employed which includes elements along its length, which can function as both "hooks" and "loops", by means of which the fastening strip 30 can be adhered to. herself. For example, closures of this nature are known which include a plurality of straight, narrowly-shaped, fungal-shaped elements which are configured for inter-coupling which can be separated with similar elements. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening strip 30 is shown as a flanged profile fastening strip, which includes the profile elements 32 and upper and lower flange portions 34 and 36 (see FIGURES 7 and 8). The profile elements 32 can be formed separately from, or integrally with, the flange portions 34, 36, with this current preferential that the fastening strip 30 for the package 10 is configured as a one-piece component, integrated, for the application to, and its disposition on the internal surface of the package. As will be appreciated, the profile elements 32 provide the engaging elements for the releasable connection of the fastening strip 30 itself, while the lower and upper flange portions 34, 36 facilitate the handling of each fastening strip, and securing to the network of associated material from which the package 10 is formed. In this regard, it is preferred that the profile elements 32, or the one or more coupling elements of a strip 30 of provided in another form, position yourself as closely as possible to the collector 24 sealing the package, thereby minimizing the unsealed region that exists between the manifold and the coupling element of the fastening strip. This spacing, designated S in FIGURE 3, is preferably from about 0.47625 cm (0.1875 inches) to about 1.905 cm (0.75 inches), thereby providing sufficient space to form the equipment to form the necessary seal between the flange portion 34. top and the associated film material during packaging formation. To achieve this preferred spacing, the lower flange portion 36 has a larger dimension than the upper flange portion 34. FIGURES 9 and 10 schematically illustrate the formation of the present package, which as noted above, can be made by pre-applying the fastening strips 30 fastening to a network of the material from which the packaging is formed , for subsequent use with a forming, filling and sealing machine, or is carried out in line with a forming, filling and sealing machine. A web of material W from which the package 10 is formed can be provided in the form of a roll, and is unwound so that the web of material defines a longitudinal axis. A plurality of fastening strips 30 is provided, and applied to the network of material W at intervals I which correspond to the length of each package that is formed. As noted, each fastening strip 30 is preferably applied as a single piece of material during forming in this manner, even if each fastening strip itself comprises discrete portions, such as profile elements and associated flange portions. After each fastening strip 30 is applied to the web of material so that it extends transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof, the web of material bends, and seals itself to form a tube. In this way, the subsequent seam 20 is formed. The material tube is transversely sealed to form a series of packages in end-to-end relationship, with each package including front and rear panels, as described above. As illustrated, a respective one of the fastening strips 30 extends from a front panel portion to a rear panel portion of the respective gasket, thereby forming the reclosable pouring nozzle or conduit of the gasket. If the packing is to be provided with corner reinforcements or lateral reinforcement brackets, the web of material is guided with respect to the shoes which form the corner reinforcement brackets or brackets before the transversal sealing of the tube. As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the material network W is it seals itself in generally along the rear panel 14 of each packing that is formed, with a plurality of fastening strips 30 applied to the web of material in off-center relationship from the longitudinal axis thereof. In contrast, FIGURE 10 illustrates the formation of the seam of the package in one of the lines of intersection between the front and rear panels and the corners or lateral reinforcement brackets, that is, in general in one of the edges of the front loaves and back inside the corner or lateral reinforcement bracket. If the present package is to be formed in this way, the plurality of fastening strips 30 is applied to the web of material in alignment with the longitudinal axis thereof, that is, in general intercepting the longitudinal axis. The formation in this way creates a package where the longitudinal seam of the same is not available nor. on the front panel or on the rear panel, thereby facilitating the display of graphics or the like on the panels. Additionally, when the fastening strips 30 are pre-applied to the web of material as illustrated in FIGURE 10, such as for storage in the form of rolls before being used with a forming, filling and sealing machine, the arrangement of the fastening strip usually in the centerline of the web of material, provides a more stable roll of material.

As will be appreciated, the creation of a package that has a reclosable pouring nozzle or duct, according to the present invention, contemplates that only a packing portion, in which the pouring nozzle or duct is formed, is configured for re-sealing. As such, the fastening strips 30 need only extend along a portion of each of the front and rear panels of the package, and along the interior surface of one of the corner reinforcement or side brackets of the package, if there are corner posts or reinforcement brackets. Accordingly, each fastening strip has a length, when bent in half, which is less than half the width of the tube, in a flattened state, from which the packing is formed. Therefore, a package is described which may have lateral reinforcement corners or brackets, which includes a reclosable pouring nozzle or conduit. The provision of the packing fastening strip adjacent a removable portion thereof facilitates convenient opening and re-sealing of the pouring nozzle or duct, when desired. When it is closed again, the corner reinforcement bracket or corner of the package does not need to be turned to its initial inward orientation, and therefore the packing fastening strip does not need to be turned over again to its initial W shape. Before the As an opening, it is currently preferred that the fastening strip does not attach to itself, thus facilitating convenient formation of the nozzle or pouring duct of the package after opening. However, for some applications it may be desirable for the W-shaped fastening strip to secure itself. While it is preferred that the gasket 10 be provided with a flimsy region 26 to facilitate opening, the provision of such a region is not required, since the gasket can be properly opened for example by means of a cut with scissors or knife. . Again, it is contemplated that only a portion of the sealed packing manifold will be removed during the opening, thus keeping the rest of the manifold intact for the integrity of the open package. From the foregoing, numerous modifications and variations can be made to depart from the true spirit and scope of the new concept of the present invention. It should be understood that limitations are not intended or should be inferred with respect to the specific modality described herein. The description is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications when they fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims (19)

1. CLAIMS 1. A gasket having a reclosable pouring nozzle or conduit, characterized in that it comprises: a front packing panel; a packing back panel; a pair of corner reinforcement brackets or brackets joining the respective opposite edges of said front panel and said back panel with one another; and a reclosable fastening strip extending from the confronting surfaces of said front and rear panels along an inner surface of one of said corner or reinforcement brackets, said fastening strip being configured for the releasable connection itself, to form a reclosable pouring nozzle or conduit of said gasket after the opening of said upper edge to form said pouring nozzle or conduit. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that: said front and rear panels are sealed with one another and said corner reinforcement or reinforcement brackets on said upper edge of said package, to form a sealed collector, a portion of said sealed collector that can be remove to form said nozzle or pouring duct. A package according to claim 2, characterized in that: said package includes at least one flimsy region to facilitate the removal of said portion of said collector. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that: said fastening strip comprises a profile fastening strip. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that: said fastening strip comprises an adhesive fastening strip. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that: said fastening strip comprises a hook and loop fastening strip. 7. A package having a reclosable pouring nozzle or conduit, characterized in that it comprises: a front packing panel; a packaging back panel connected to said packaging front panel; and a reclosable fastening strip, the which extends from a portion of an inner surface of said front panel to an inner surface of said rear panel, said fastening strip being configured for the releasable connection thereto, said front panel and said rear panel being they seal with one another at an upper edge of said gasket to form a sealed collector, a portion of said sealed collector which is adjacent said fastening strip, said fastening strip being configured for the releasable connection with the same for selectively resealing said nozzle or pouring duct. A package according to claim 7, characterized in that: said package includes at least one flimsy region to facilitate the removal of said portion of said manifold. A package according to claim 8, characterized in that: said package includes a pair of corner reinforcement brackets or brackets joining the respective opposite edges of said front and rear panels, said fastening strip extending between said front panels and rear along an inner surface of one of said corner posts or reinforcement brackets. 10. A package according to claim 9, characterized in that: said pair of corners or reinforcement brackets extends towards said sealed manifold, said removable portion of said sealed manifold including a portion of said one of the reinforcement corners or brackets. A package according to claim 10, characterized in that: said fastening strip is selected from the group consisting of a profile fastening strip, an adhesive fastening strip, and a hook and loop fastening strip. A package according to claim 11, characterized in that: said package is formed from a tube having a width in a flattened state, said fastening strip having a length, when it is bent in half, which is less than half of said width. A package according to claim 7, characterized in that: said fastening strip includes at least one coupling element for the connection that can be released from the fastening pull itself, said connecting element being separated from the fastening strip. said sealed collector for approximately 0.47625 cm (0.1875) inches) to approximately 1,905 cm (0.75 inches). A method for forming a package with a reclosable pouring nozzle or duct, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: providing a web of material having a longitudinal axis; applying a plurality of fastening strips to said network of material, at intervals corresponding to a length of each of said forming gaskets, said fastening strips extending each transversely of said longitudinal axis and each one that can be connected releasably with it; folding said web and material, and sealing the material itself to form a tube; transversely sealing said tube to form a series of packages in end-to-end relationship, with each of said packages including a front packing panel and a back packing panel, with a respective one of said strips extending from a portion of the panel front to a portion of the back panel of the respective gasket, to form a reclosable pouring nozzle or conduit. 15. A method for forming a package according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes: forming a pair of corner pieces or reinforcement brackets laterally extending inwards, in said tube before transversely sealing said strip, each of said fastening strips extending from the front panel to the rear panel of the respective gasket, along an internal surface of a respective one of said corners or reinforcement brackets. 16. A method for forming a package according to claim 14, characterized in that: said network of material is sealed to itself generally along the rear panel of each of said packages. A method for forming a package according to claim 14, characterized in that: said network of material is sealed to itself generally along an edge of said front panel or the back panel of each of said packages . 18. A method for forming a package according to claim 16, characterized in that: said plurality of fastening strips is applied to said web of material displaced from the longitudinal axis thereof. A method for forming a package according to claim 17, characterized in that: said plurality of fastening strips is applied to said network of material in alignment with the longitudinal axis thereof.