US2373285A - Container - Google Patents

Description

C. A. BAER Ami? 10, 1945,

CONTAINER Filed March 31, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l AT FORNEYS April 10, 1945.. Q BAER 2,373,285

CONTAINER Filed March 31, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 10, 1945 2,373,285, CONTAINER Carl A. Baer, New York; N. Y. Application March 31, 1939, Serial No. 265,072

* 1 Claimsi (01. 229-62) This invention relates to envelopes orcontainers usually of envelope shape and of the type adapted to contain commodities. More particularly, the invention relates to the production of an improved tobacco pouch which 'may be employed in the packaging of tobacco products,v by the manufacturer or packer thereof and which will preserve the odor and taste-imparting constituents of-the tobacco in a fresh condition.

It has heretofore been proposed .to' provide a tobacco pouch which will serve as a package or container in which the tobacco may be dispensed as by the retailerand which will also serve as a pouch for use by the purchaser during the period the'tobacco is..being consumed.- a

The primary object of this invention is to provide a flexible container of an inexpensive but durable -moistureproof and greaseproof material which cannot easily be torn, fractured or perforated and which, will serve as a pouch for the packaged material from the time the container is filled until t e contents are ultimately consumed though this be in small increments.

'Another object of the invention is an envelope container. of the character described which can ,be permanently sealed along the side edges and temporarily sealed at the mouth so that the mouth may be opened and the container used as a pouch without destruction of the material of which the envelope container i made. In carrythis aspect of the invention into efiect, there is" utilized a sheet or layer of thermoplastic material of such characteristics that juxtaposed surfaces of the material may be caused to be joined by merger of the material by the application of relatively high temperature and low pressure and which merged material cannot be separated except by disruption of the material, while, by the application of relatively lower temperature but relatively higher pressure than is required to cause the merging of the material, juxtaposed surfaces of the material may also be caused to adhere superficially with an autogenous bond separable in the plane of contact of the original surfaces. In some situations, predetermined pore tions of said sheet or layer are so superficially adhered and in other situations in addition there-.

to other portions of said sheet or layer are joined by merger of said material. Other aspects of the sition the thermoplastically cohesive lining layer preferably by regulated heat and pressure, the thermoplasticallycohe'aive qualities of the lining materialbeing availed of for this purpose. After the contents have been introduced, the mouth of the container is similarly sealed or caused to temporarily adhere together also by regulated heat and pressure of a different order from that utilized along the side edges usually higher pressure and lower temperatures.

The invention also seeks a pouch or container which is ornamental and practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and durability and flexibility in use.

This invention provides a container comprising a sheet one side of which carries a layer of normally lubricous but thermoplastically cohesive material to serve as a liner for the container folded to form a receptacle with edges arranged to position the thermoplastically adhesive layer face to face and serve as closures for the container. 1

Further provided by this invention is a container comprising a sheet, carrying on one face a layer of normally lubricous but thermoplastically cohesive material to serve as a liner for the container, one section of which is folded back on itself to form a pocket with the layer of material on the inside, the two edges of the pocket ending at the fold and the edge between these two edges being sealed by the cohesive action of the layer of thermoplastically cohesive material the seal along one of said edges being relatively weaker than the others.

An important feature of this invention resides in providing a container comprising a sheet, one side of which is,adhered to a layer of normally lubricous but thermoplastically cohesive material to serve asa liner for the container, folded to form a receptacle with edges arranged to pction embodied in a, tobacco pouch illustrated in open position, that is, with the flap of the envelope in prolongation of the container portion;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of a filled and closed pouch;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation showing diagrammatically a sealing device;

Figure 4 is a sectional partially exploded view along the lines 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a front perspective view showing a -modified form of container;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section along the line ii of Figure 5;

Figure 'l is a front perspective view similar to Figure 5 after'folding; and

Figure 8 is a top plan view-of Figure 7.

To construct a container or pouch of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2, a rectangular strip or sheet of moisture-proof material, hereinafter more specifically described, is, as shown injFlgi are 1, folded on a transverseline I substantially one-third the distance between the ends" of the strip so that the lower .third or section I. of the 'strip is folded back upon section 9. Sections I The sheet of moisture-proof material of which,

the pouch is mademay take any convenient form although" in the embodimentillustrated in Figure 1 it is shown as comprisin an intermediate sheet I! which may conveniently be of fibrous or cellulosic material such as'tissue paper. The outer surface of the sheet may be covered by an adhered lamination of a metallic nature such as indicated at I! toadd'strength and improve the appearance ofthe package aswell as serving in other important ways. 0n theopposite side of the sheet i! from the impervious sheet I9 is a lining 2| which is preferably thermoplastically cohesive such as a rubber hydrohalide. This may be the rubber hydrohalide commercially known 88 H over the portion 7 to close the mouth" as Pliofllm" adhesively applied, for instance, as a. preformed layer on the surface of the sheet l1.

While rubber hydrohalide is mentioned as a suitable material. for the purpose, it is to be understood that other normally lubricous nontaclry thermoplastically cohesive materials may be applied either as a preformed layer or a coat-' proof mouth seal be provided along the edge 13 of the portion 1 to seal the same to the portim 0 so long as the container is on the dealer's shelf, butthis seal at the edge 23 must be such that it can be opened to provide access totlm contents ofthe pouch without damaging the envelope. It will be obvious that in opening the mouth at the edge 23', the'seal there must be of a temporary nature so that it can be opened by the purchaser without destroying the sheet material lI-il. Such temporary seal is accomplished in substantially, the same manner as that for sections 18 and 'l I, but by the application of greater pressure than'that used to seal the side edges l3 and Il and the use at less heat. Once opened, however. the material U at this point is not tacky or adhesive, but remains as an" impervious layer so that the packaged materials flowing through the mouth will not adhere to the layer 2|.

It will thus be seen that. the pouch so provided.

is such that the contained tobacco or other commodity will be kept fresh foran extended period of time, so that the retailer may keep an ample supply of tobacco on hand withoutits becoming ll stale and dry, as is the case with tobacco packed in tin cans andordinary bags. when the purchaser desires access .to the content of the pouch,

' lip 23. at the seal line may be readily separated from theinner surface of the parts 9 and H to I0 break the mouth seal thus permitting the desired ing so that when two layers are juxtaposed by a the overlapping of the part I on the part 9, the

two edge portions l3 and limay be caused to I adhere by the application of heatand pressure.

Such material 2|, however. must be so selectedthat at normal temperatures it is not tacky. For

the constructional details only the free edge portions i3 and I! of the sections 1 and! need be provided with such a thermoplastic material. It will be appreciated that in the interest of quantity production and increasing the protection to the contents itis desirable that the entire sheet be coated with the thermoplastically cohesive 6 material in order that blanks of the shape of the combined sections "I, l I, 8 may be cut there'- from. I

It is desirable and, in-fact, contemplated by the present invention that the side edges I3, I! of thesections I and 9 shall be permanently adhered together to form the receptacle. This is accomplished by placing. these side edges between platens, at least one of which is heated and pressing the edges together by the applicationof pressure until the application of such regulated heat and pressure seals these sides with a permanent seal and the side edges of the sheet I and Scannot be separated without destroying the material of which the sheet is formed, that is, wlthoutactualhr tearing the material including layers i1 and I9.

On the other, hand, it is desirable after the pouch is filled with, tobacco or other, product 21 by the manufacturer or packer, that a moisturequantity of the contents to be removed throush the mouth of the pouch; thereafter this mouth will not seal but the pouch may be used as any common tobacco pouch by folding down the flap It has heretofore been proposed to form a seal at the mouthby coating the adjacent area with a, liner which is normally both adhesive and cohesive. These surfaces thenrequired treatment by a powder such as one. comprising a starch whereby the surfaces will not be tacky. to the tbuch, Experience has shown that such a powder covered surface for the tobacco pouch has not found favor with the public due in part to the fact that the effect of the powder is temporary and particles of the tobacco adhere to the linin tothe annoyance of the user. Furthermore, containers provided with a complete coating of an terior surface was not moistureproof and the contents quickly dried out.

With the pouch of this invention escape of the material is not usual because the closure flap may be wrapped around the body portion of the pouch and, as the contents are removed, the flap I may be folded over along a linens low as or below the mouth.

In the embodiment of-the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the material from which the container is constructed comprises three principal layers. These are, respectively, the metal foil II which is adhered by a resinous type of adhesive to a supporting layer of paper or the 5 like H in turn adhered to the moistureproof 70 be embossed, printed, or otherwise embellished ll of material. However, since it is preferwith various decorative features. In addition to improving'the appearance of .the container ultimately constructed, the metal foil on the outside.

adds substantial structural strength to the uncured rubber dusted with powder on the insupport must be given to this foil.

able to employ a relatively thin layer of foil, some The amount of support is dependent upon a number of factors as is also the character of the support. For example, where the foil is of extrem thinness, as.

on the order of four ten thousandths' of an inch, considerable support is necessary, while on the other hand, if the foil is of a thickness of about one thousandthof an inch, less support is necessary. In the first instance, it is usually desirable to interpose a layer of paper. This may be bleached kraft, sulflte. jute tissue, pre-glassine or a twist tissue. Pre-glassine is that form of paper which is prepared for the manufacture of glassine papers involving processing in a high pressure calender. This processing may be omitted when the paper is employed in the present construction where transparency is not necessary. In some constructions, particularly those omitting the metal foil the entire sheet may be transparent.

This intermediate layer of paper is adhered to the metal with a suitable adhesive which may be any of the well known types that may or may not be applied with a solvent or on the other hand,

paper is adhered to a film or layer which is normally non-tacky but which can be made adhesive or cohesive by the application of heat and pressure. In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the inner layer is a rubber hydrohalide of the type commercially known as Pliofllm. This i generally manufactured as a continuous film and a sheet of Pliofilm is adheredto the paper usually after it carries the foil with a suitable adhesive. A latex adhesive is useful for this purpose. It is also proposed that instead of precasting a sheet of Pliofilm and adhering such sheet to the paper that the rubber hydrohalide be applied directly to the paper from a solution or by molten application.

In the manufacture of a container which is made of .a laminated material having three layers of the type above described, the paper serves particularly to add body and feel to the material but also serves the function of assisting in the adhesion between the inner thermoplastic layer and the metal. Some thermoplastic layers can b applied to the metal directly but as a general rule it has been found preferable to interpose the layer of paper which can then be adhered to the metal and in turn to the inner layer.

On the other hand, where a heavier sheet of metal foil is employed, the inner layer may be applied directly to the metal foil either by its own adhesiveness or by the interposition of an additional adhesive which provides a bond between the metal and the inner film. Of this type is the laminated sheet in which a coating of a rubber hydrohalide is cast directly on the metal without an adhesive. In all cases where a metal foil is employed, it is preferably an annealled foil.

Instead of constructing the laminated sheet in the manner above described by including a film of a rubber hydrohalide other thermoplastic coatings may be substituted. For example, it is possible to use a resinous material which may, if desired, be precast as a sheet and then adhered to the paper layer.

Considered generally, the inner layer of the ultimate container should be a material which is preferably odorless and which has a relatively smooth lubricous nonadhesive surface at the normal temperature to which the package will be exposed in order that there will be no adherence between'the contents of the package and the inner lining or layer. 0n the other hand, this inner layer or lining must have the property of adhesiveness under elevated temperatures or at high pressures or a combination of both and should preferably be effected by them so that it will selectively bond with' itself with difierent certain cellulose derivatives including the cellulose esters, and cellulose ethers when properly plasticized with selected plasticizers in suitable 'glassine type of paper with a nitrocellulose coating on eachside of such sheets, the two sheets being cemented together with a suitable adhesive.

coating on both exposed faces is a plasticized This construction which includes a nitrocellulose 1 semi-transparent or opaque as determined by the selection of materials.

In another construction, an inner layer of opaque or semi-opaque material such as paper is first printed on what will be the exposed surface and then thi exposed surface is coated with a transparent layer or film applied either as a coating or an overlaid sheet. This coating or overlaid sheet may be Cellophane, a transparent lacquer, Pliofilm, or the like. In this manner the printing on the intermediate sheet is visible on the outside of the package and presents a smooth appearance. There will, of course, be attached to the inner side of the intermediate layer a coating or film of the types described which is thermoplastically cohesive.

In a continuous method for preparing a container of the type illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the laminated sheet is made up in long rolls which have a width comparableto'the combined sec tions 1, 9 and ll. -As the sheet-is withdrawn from theroll, one edge is flrstifolded over to form the pocket by the fold along the'line a inv Figure 1. when the fold has been completed,

- the web is passed'between' heated members which can apply heat and pressure, along the sections sure, suitable cutters are'provided which sever the containers along the line. about midportion of the adhered sections =I 3 and! between adjacent containers. In one of the preferred methodsfor constructing containers according to the teachings of this-invention; there is provided suitable members rotated about parallel shafts one-of which has a neoprene surf'ace' heated to a temperature of about 150 F. and the other a metal surfaceheated to about'300" F. These members engage the section's t3 and lhand apply the necessary heat and pressure 'fdr providing adhesiveness between the inner layers; It'will be evident, of course, thatthe exact temperatures employed will *depend upon the physical charac teristics of the liningjzmaterial and should pro'-' duce a bond as strong-or stronger than the bond between the lining and its support.

It will also be understood that instead of adhering the lining'materials by the application of heat and. pressure that it-would be possible to.

apply a" small amount of solvent along the edges desired to be sealed and then pressing the edges together, ,This' procedure is recommended when the containers are in effect made individually.

In thecontainer construction of Figures 1 and 2 it will-be noted that only one surface of the sheet need be provided with the thermoplastic coating since all of the closures are between the same-"faces; Thisfeature of the invention may be embodied a container construction as is i1- lustrated in 5 to 8, inclusive. As shown in Figure 5, the sheet ll provided on the interior surfacewith a normally lubricous but thermoplasticallyrcohesive' layer ills formed from a continuous sheet shaped into the form of a cylinder and the'adjacent edges of the sheet 34 and it brought into juxtapositionjwith the edge portions of the inner surface 12 in contact. Heat and pressure is applied along these edges to form a cohesive union between'the same face of the between heated rollers which will apply the heat and pressure necessary to form the seal between the edges 3| and 3. Members such as S and 52 of Figure 3 with heating elements 53 and it may be employed for this purpose. After the faces-or an irregular rollermay be" employed which produces some embossing action.-

with the construction such as shown in Figures 1 andz as well as in Figures to 8, inclusive, it; will be evident that where the lining material 32;

isof amoistureproof character, the receptacle will retain the contents thereoi'in their fresh condition. p

The use of an outer foil produces an opaque package preventing deterioration of the contents caused by exposure to light and also preserves the characteristics of the other laminations which were subject to the influence of light.

The 'embodimentof the invention illustrated edge of the section I in order that when the user desires to" open the mouth and expose the contents, he. may have a short, area which may be grasped by the fingers to be pulled to break the seal. This cohesiveseal at the mouth should be weaker than the bond between the l ing and its support. .When the seal is broken the severance ing without plucking lope, the mouth is sealed as indicated at 23 and,

should be between the two layers of adhered linfrom either layer to preserve the liner. r

As illustrated in Figure 2, after the tobacco or other product has been inserted into the envethe flap section II folded over. This flap may be of a size comparable to the envelope itself or joint has been formed, the cylinder may be folded inany manner, as for example, that illustrated in Figures '1 and 8 wherein the joint is put on the center ofone face and permanent creases or folds provided along the edges ll and 40. .One

products. Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition of the sheet mat:-

may be of a smaller sizedepending upon the ultimate purpose. Inthe case of a tobacco pouch, however, this 'is preferably of such 'a size that when the pouch is folded just below the final or mouth seal 23, the flap will cover one complete side and also pass around to the back surface. It may be held in this position by a, seal such as the revenuestamp 25 commonly used for tobacco rial of which the pouch is manufactured as well as in the configuration and disposition of the component parts thereof and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing specification or illustrations in the accompanying drawings except as indicated in the appended claims.

As previously pointed out intlre specification, the sheet of material of which the envelope is fabricated may take any convenient form and, where it includes one or more backing sheets of paper, foil or other material, the innermost of such backing sheets may be wholly covered by a film of thermoplastic material, or its free edges or other selected areas only provided with filmlike coverings of such material. Theterm she t material which appears in the appended claims is broadly descriptive of the various constructional forms of the material of which the envelope may be fabricated.

What is claimed is:

- 1. A hermetically sealed envelope comprising a rectangular sheet oi metal foil provided with a film of rubber hydrochloride secured to one face high to cause merger and permanent union of the films, and a zone adjacent the free edge of said folded portion but spaced therefrom being superficially sealed by means of pressure applied at a temperature below the temperature causing merger and permanent union of the films, said zone extending from one permanently sealed edge to the other'and said films at said zone being readily manually separable in the plane of contact of the joined surfaces.

2. A method of forming a hermetically sealed envelope comprising, securing a film of rubber hydrochloride to one face of a rectangular sheet of metal foil, laterally folding substantially one third of said sheet upon the adjacent portion in edge coinciding relation with said film on the inside, applying sealing pressure throughout the opposite coinciding edge portions at a permanent sealing temperature, said temperature being sufficiently high to cause merger and permanent union of the films and applying sealing pressure to a zone of said folded portion adjacent to the free edge thereof but spaced therefrom and extending from one permanently sealed edge to the other, the last named sealing pressure being applied at a temperature below the permanent sealing temperature whereby a superficial bond is formed which is readily manually separable in l the plane of contact of the joined surfaces.

3. An envelope of sheet material completely enclosing a space for the storage of material such as tobacco, contiguous portions thereof bordering said space being film-like and fabricated of rubber hydrochloride, selected areas of the contiguous portions of said sheet material bordering said storage space being permanently sealed together by means of pressure applied at a temperature sufliciently high to cause cohesion and permanent union thereof, and the remaining areas of such contiguous portions being superficially sealed by means of sufiicient pressure applied at a temperature below the temperature causing cohesion and permanent union, the superflcially sealed adhering areas of said contiguous portions being readily separable manually without injury to either to permit access to the material storage space.

4. An envelope of sheet material completely enclosing a space for the storage of material such as tobacco, contiguous portions thereof bordering said space being film-like and fabricated of vinyl resin, selected areas of the contiguous portions of said sheet material bordering said storage space being permanently sealed together by means of pressure applied at a temperature sufficiently high to cause cohesion and permanent union thereof, and the remaining areas of such contiguous portions being superficially sealed by means of pressure greater than that necessarily used in producing the permanent seal and applied at a temperature below the temperature causing cohesion and permanent union, the superficially sealed adhering areas of said contiguous portions being readilyseparable manually without injury to either to permit access to the material storage space.

5. An envelope of sheet material completely enclosing a space for the storage of material such as tobacco, contiguous portions thereof bordering said space being fabricated of paper coated with a film of plasticized nitrocellulose having thermoplastic properties, selected areas of the contiguous portions of said sheet material bordering said storage space being permanently sealed together by means of pressure applied at a temperature sufilcientlyhigh to cause. cohesion and permanent union thereof, and the remaining areas of such contiguous portions'being superficially sealed by means of suflicient pressure applied at a temperature below the temperature causing cohesion and permanent union, the superficially sealed adhering areas of said conti uous portions being readily separable manually without injury to either to permit access to the material storage space.

6. An hermetically sealed envelope of sheet material completely enclosing a space for the storage of commodities such as tobacco, contiguous portions thereof bordering said space being filmlike and fabricated of material free fromtackiness at normal atmospheric temperatures and having such thermoplastic cohesive properties that they may be selectively bonded together either permanently or superficially by the application of varying degrees of heat and pressure, selected registering areas of the contiguousportions of said sheet material bordering said storage space being bonded together so as to form a permanent hermetic seal by the application of pressure while said areas are heated to a temperature sufiiciently high to cause cohesion and permanent union thereof, the remaining areas of said portions being bonded together so as to form a separable superficial hermetic seal for the envelope by the application of sufiicient pressure, applied at a temperature below the temperature causing cohesion and permanent union of the film-like portions, whereby said portions may be readily manually separated without injury to either to permit access to the material storage space.

7. The method of forming a hermetically sealed envelope for material such as tobacco comprising shaping sheet material which is free from tackiness at normal atmospheric temperatures and m which has such thermoplastic cohesive properties that it may be selectively bonded together either permanently or superficially by the application of heat and pressure in such manner as to define a wholly enclosed material storage space with portions thereof bordering said space in contiguous relationship, permanently sealing certain areas of said contiguous bordering portions by pressing said areas together while heated to a temperature sufiiciently high to cause cohesion and permanent union thereof, and superficially sealing the remaining areas of said contiguous portions by the application of suflicient pressure at a temperature below the temperature causing cohesion and permanent union of the film-like portions, thus producing surface adhesion but not cohesion and permanent union, the adhesively joined areas being readily manually separable without injury to either to permit access to the material storage space.

8. An hermetically sealed envelope of sheet material completely enclosing a space for the storage of commodities such as tobacco, contiguous portions thereof bordering said space being film-like and fabricated of material free from tackiness at normal atmospheric temperatures and having such thermoplastic cohesive properties that they may be selectively bonded together either permanently or superficially by the application of varying degrees of heat and pressure, a permanent hermetic seal being effected when said film-like portions are pressed together while heated to a temperature sufiiciently high to cause cohesion and permanent union thereof, the contiguous portions of said sheet material bordering said storage space, or selected areas thereof, be-

ing bonded together so as to form a separable superficial hermetic seal for the envelope by the application of sufllcient pressure, applied at a temperature below the temperature causing cohesion and permanent union of the-film-like portions, whereby said portions may be readily manually separated without injury to either to permit access to the material storage space.

9. The method of forming an hermetically sealed envelope for material such as tobacco comprising shaping sheet material which is free from tackiness at normal atmospheric temperatures and which has such thermoplastic cohesive properties that it may be selectively bonded together either permanently or superficially by the application of heat and pressure in such manner as to define a wholly enclosed material storage space with portions thereof bordering said space in contiguous relationship, and superficially sealing said portions, or selected areas thereof, by the application of pressure sufficient, at a tempera ture below the temperature causing cohesion and permanent union of the film-like portions, to produce surface adhesion but not cohesion and permanent union thereof, said portions, or the areas thereof thuscaused to adhere being readily manually separable.

10. A method of forming an hermetically sealed envelope comprising securing a film of a vinyl resin to one face of a rectangular sheet of metal foil, laterally folding substantiall one-third of said sheet upon the adjacent portion in edge-coinciding relation with said film on the inside, applying sealing pressure through the opposite coinciding, edge portions at a permanent sealing temperature, said temperature being sufiiciently high to cause merger and permanent union of the films and after filling said envelope applying asvaass sealing pressure to a zone of said folded portion adjacent to the free edge thereof but spaced therefrom and extending from one permanently sealed edge to the other, the last-named sealing pressure being applied at a temperature below the said permanent sealing temperature whereby a superficial bond is formed which is readily manually separable in the plane of contact of the joined surfaces.

11. An hermetically sealed envelope of sheet material completely enclosing a space for the storage of commodities such as tobacco, contiguous portions thereof bordering said space being film-like and fabricated of material free from tackiness at normal atmospheric temperatures and having such thermoplastic cohesive properties that they may be selectively bonded together either permanently or superficially by the application of varying degrees of heat and pressure, selected registering areas of the contiguous portions of said sheet material bordering said storage space being bonded together so as to form a permanent hermetic seal' by the application of pressure 'while said areas are heated to a temperature suiliciently high to cause cohesion and permanent union thereof, the remaining areas of said portions being bonded together so as to form a separable superficial hermetic seal for the envelope by the application of pressure greater than the pressure utilized when said cohesion and permanent union of the film-like portions is being effected, applied at a temperature below that to which said film-like portions are raised when said permanent union is being effected, whereby said portions may be manually separated without injury to either-to permit access to the material storage space.

CARLA. BAER.

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