WO2003039990A1

WO2003039990A1 - Easy open sachet for an alcoholic beverage

Info

Publication number: WO2003039990A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/004880
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malcolm Leslie Parker
Original assignee: Malcolm Leslie Parker
Priority date: 2001-11-05
Filing date: 2001-11-05
Publication date: 2003-05-15

Abstract

A sachet for retention of a liquid comprising walls of metallic foil (12, 13) with a plastics lining (14, 15) material for including an alcoholic beverage (16) and equipped with means for facilitating access to the interior of the sachet so as to provide for the ready dispensing of the included beverage comprising a region of the plastic lining material provided with a weakened path, such as a series of perforations (20), for tearing to enable a part of the sachet to be detached so as to reveal a specific outlet for sachet contents from the remainder of the sachet.

Description

EASY OPEN SACHET FOR AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a sachet. It is particularly concerned with a sachet for

retention of a liquid. Such a sachet is widely used in the retention of a materials whose

batch size needs to be closely controlled but is capable of being readily stored and

dispensed without being liable to impact damage. It is common to use a glass

containers for this purpose. However such a container is liable to fracture if subject to

impact with consequent waste of content and possible injury to a handler.

BACKGROUND ART

International Publication WO 96/11578(Brown-Forman) discloses a container in the

form of a plastic pouch, comprising one of the following multi-layered structures:

Structure A (a) polyester film;

(b) aluminum foil;

(c) polyester film;

(d) linear low density polyethylene film.

Structure B (a) polyvinylidene chloride coated bi-axially oriented nylon or any other Nylon film;

(b) Nylon/ethylene/vinyl alcohol co-extruded layer film

(c) linear low density polyethylene film. Structure C (a) Nylon film;

(b) aluminum foil;

(c) copolymer of ethylene and propylene. A container according to the specified structures of the Brown-Forman publication

serves to provide a container for a ready-to-freeze alcoholic beverage comprising

water, at least one sugar, a flavouring, a beverage alcohol, and a stabilizing system

which includes guar gum and locust bean gum, and optionally, pectin. The beverage is

intended to be shelf stable and to be frozen in a freezer to produce a frozen or semi-

frozen, slushy cocktail which retains its consistency for a prolonged time period.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sachet (11) for

retention of a liquid comprising walls of metallic foil (12, 13) with a plastics lining

material (14, 15) for including an alcoholic beverage and equipped with means for

facilitating access to the interior of the sachet so as to provide for the ready dispensing

of the included beverage comprising a region (19) of the plastic lining material (14, 15)

provided with a weakened path (20), such as a series of perforations, for tearing to

enable a part of the sachet to be detached so as to reveal a specific outlet for sachet

contents from the remainder of the sachet.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention the

region (19) of the plastics lining material (14, 15) is juxtaposed with a covering region

of the metallic foil wherein the covering region does not include means defining a

weakened path of metallic foil corresponding to the series of perforations (20) in the region (19) of the plastics lining (14, 15) so that in tearing the sachet (11) the weakened

part (S) defined by the series of perforations (20) serves to define a preferred tearing path through the plastic lining (14, 15) and the covering region. According to a second preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or

of the first preferred version thereof the sachet (11) has a viewable surface bearing, or

adopted to bear, advertising or identifying information (17, 18).

According to a third preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of

any preceding preferred version thereof the sachet (11) is shaped in the form, or bears

a representation, of a bottle (17, 18) having a characteristic shape associated with the

included beverage.

According to a fourth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of

any preceding preferred version thereof the means for f cilitating access to the interior

of the sachet (11) serves to define an aperture in the sachet (11) at a location

corresponding to a representation on the sachet (11) of a closure (18), such as a cork or

cap, of a conventional container (17) for alcoholic beverage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a plurality of

sachets (11) according to the first aspect or of any preferred version thereof in a pack

for storage, transport, sale or display purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a sachet for a measure of whisky of which:

Figure 1 is a side view; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on section II-LI of Figure 1. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The figures variously show a sachet 11 having outer walls 12, 13 of aluminium foil

which have deposited on their inner wall, respectively walls 12A, 13A a plastics

material liner 14, 15 serving to house a measure of alcoholic beverage 16.

The outer wall 12B (and also wall 13B though not here shown) bears a printed

representation of a typical whisky bottle 17 with a cap 18. In this case the sachet 11 is

rectangular in overall shape. However in an alternative version the sachet could have

an outline corresponding in shape to that of a bottle.

In order to facilitate opening of the full sachet 11 without spillage of the contents the

plastics material liner 14 (line 15 corresponding) has a region 19 where a weakened

tearing path 20 extending the full width of the sachet from starting point S.. The path

20 is at the same level of the sachet as the representation of the cap 18. The aluminium

foil walls 12, 13 tear readily in contrast to the material of the plastics liner 14, 15.

Consequently it has been found that a weakened tearing path in the foil walls 12, 13

corresponding to path 20 in the liner 14, 15 are not needed. On starting to tear the

sachet at S the weakened tearing path 20 readily defines smooth separation of the torn

plastics and foil without inadvertent spillage of the content. In this way there is

provided a pouring spout in the vicinity of the representation of the cap 18 by means

of which the contents of the sachet can be poured in a controlled manner. Thus the use of weakened path 20 provides both for the ready opening of the sachet without

inadvertent ejection of the contents and thereafter for the controlled dispensing of the contents through a clearly defined opening. The technology available provides for high quality reproduction of any required

representational, text, colouring or other material on the exposed surfaces of the

sachet.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Although the exemplary embodiment shows a sachet including a legal measure of

whisky a sachet can be provided to house any required amount in an attractive way

and in a containment which is not susceptible to impact damage in the same way as a

glass bottle. The proposed sachets have a wide variety of uses and are readily

dispensed to provide alcoholic beverages in a range of portion sizes for consumers in a wide range of locations including transport, stations, entertainment, catering centres,

sports venues, picnics, barbecues and so on.

Claims

1 A sachet (11) for retention of a liquid comprising walls of metallic foil (12, 13)

with a plastics lining material (14, 15) characterised by retaining, or being

adapted to retain, an alcoholic beverage and equipped with means for

facilitating access to the interior of the sachet so as to provide for the ready

dispensing of the included liquid the means comprising a region (19) of the

plastic lining material (14, 15) provided with a weakened path (20), such as a

series of perforations, for tearing to enable a part of the sachet to be detached so

as to reveal a specific outlet for sachet contents from the remainder of the

sachet.

2 A sachet (11) as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the region (19) of the

plastics lining material is juxtaposed with a covering region of the metallic foil

wherein the covering region does not include means defining a weakened path

of metallic foil corresponding to the series of perforations (20) in the region (19)

of the plastics lining (14, 15) so that in tearing the sachet (11) the weakened part

(S) defined by the series of perforations (20) serves to define a preferred tearing

path through the plastic lining (14, 15) and the covering region.

3 A sachet (11) as claimed in any preceding claim characterised by a viewable surface bearing, or adopted to bear, advertising or identifying information (17,

18). A sachet (11) as claimed in any preceding claim characterised by being shaped

in the form, or bearing a representation, of a bottle (17, 18) having a

characteristic shape associated with the included beverage.

A sachet (11) as claimed in any preceding claim characterised by the means for

facilitating access to the interior of the sachet serving to define an aperture in

the sachet at a location corresponding to a representation on the sachet of a

closure (18), such as a cork or cap, of a conventional container (17) for alcoholic

beverage.

A plurality of sachets (11) as claimed in any preceding claim characterised by

containment in a pack for storage, transport, sale or display purposes.