WO2003071852A2

WO2003071852A2 - Pouch container for liquid material and method for making the same

Info

Publication number: WO2003071852A2
Application number: PCT/KR2003/000377
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jung-Min Lee
Original assignee: Jung-Min Lee
Priority date: 2002-02-26
Filing date: 2003-02-26
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: WO2003071852A3; AU2003212663A8; AU2003212663A1

Abstract

In a method for making a pouch container, a film released from a roll is firstly folded into two halves along a longitudinal centerline, and vertical cutting lines are formed on the folded film, the vertical cutting lines being spaced away from each other. Then, the film is secondly formed by putting the longitudinal center line into between the folded film, and the folded film is sealed in a desired shape. An outline of the sealed portion is cut.

Description

DESCRIPTION POUCH CONTAINER FOR LIQUID MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR

MAKING THE SAME TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pouch container for holding liquid material and, more particularly, to a container that is designed to securely maintain its self-standing force while having a variety of lovely outer appearance.

In addition, the present invention further relates to a method for easily making a pouch container by inputting a roll type pouch material through an automatic process.

BACKGROUND ART Generally, liquid contents such as detergent, cleaning material, and. medicinal liquid are packaged, delivered and sold in a state where they are contained in a variety of containers.

The pouch container is formed in a variety of shapes. To drink the contents contained in the pouch container, the user opens the container by cutting a portion of a seal portion or putting a straw through the container. For example, Korean Utility Model No. 1991-5740 discloses a container for liquid material that is designed for the user to dispense and suck the liquid content contained in the container.

Such a container has a lightweight and is flexible to make it convenient to handle the same. However, since the container should maintain its predetermined shape, there is a limitation in reducing the volume thereof, because of which it is inconvenient in custody and delivery.

That is, such containers are classified into a standing pouch, an M-type pouch and a trihedron pouch.

The standing pouch is designed having a foldable bottom so that it can be folded or unfolded as occasion demand. However, it is a simple vertical self-standing type, a specific shape cannot realized.

The M-type pouch has M-shaped both sides that is folded and unfolded. This is also a vertical type without any specific shape.

The trihedron pouch has a problem that it cannot be smoothly folded in a flat state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention has made in an effort to solve the above-described problems.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a pouch container for liquid material, which is designed to securely maintain its self-standing force while having a variety of lovely outer appearance. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a method for easily making a pouch container by inputting a roll type pouch material through an automatic process.

To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a pouch container for liquid material comprising a pouch main body having rectangular top-side and bottom portions, the pouch main body being folded along centerlines of the top-side and bottom portions such that the bottom portions is disposed inward; and first and second seal portions formed in a crossing direction with respect to each other, the centerline of the bottom portion has both ends contacting the first and second seal portions, respectively, and one end of the both ends of the centerline of the bottom portion contacts a mid-point of one of the first and second seal portions.

The top-side and bottom portions of the present invention can be integrally formed. The top-side and bottom portion is made of a synthetic resin film or paper. At this point, the film is a multi-layered film. Alternatively, the top-side portion is formed of the synthetic resin film and the bottom portion can be formed of the paper. The top-side portions is provided with a spouting portion defined by a cutting line or a cutting groove.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for making a pouch container, comprising the steps of firstly folding a film released from a roll into two halves along a longitudinal centerline; forming vertical cutting lines on the folded film, the vertical cutting lines being spaced away from each other; secondly folding the film by putting the longitudinal center line into between the folded film,^' and sealing the folded film in a desired shape and cutting an outline of the sealed portion. The method may further comprise the step of, after the step of firstly folding, folding the centerline inward such that a sectional shape can take a M-shape.

The method may further comprise the step of, before the first folding the film, forming punctuation holes on the centerline, the punctuation holes being formed between the cutting lines to be formed. Preferably, holes are formed on each end of the cutting lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a folded stat of a pouch container according the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 4 are views illustrating a variety of modified examples of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a pouch container on which a pump dispenser is assembled according to the present invention;

FIGS. 7 to 11 are views illustrating a method for making a pouch container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIGS. 12 to 14 are views illustrating a method for making a pouch container according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described more in detail hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the inventive pouch container 1 for liquid material is designed in a tetrahedron so that it has a stable self-standing structure when the liquid material is filled therein. The tetrahedron structure is folded in a flat state to be compact when no liquid material is filled therein.

That is, the pouch container 1 comprises a top-side portion 100 and a bottom portion 200. The top-side portion and the bottom portion 200 are sealed at their periphery portions. The top-side portion is also sealed at its contacting portion. The pouch container 1 comprises horizontal and vertical seal portions 101 and 102 formed at front and rear sides. The top-side portion 100 and the bottom portion 200 are folded along their center folding lines 104 and 201. The center folding line 201 has opposite ends contacting the seal portions 101 and 102, respectively.

Particularly, a first end the center folding line 201 of the bottom portion 200 is designed to contact a mid-point of the horizontal seal portion 101, and a second end of the center folding line 201 is designed to contact the lower end of the seal portion 102.

Alternatively, the vertical seal portion 102 can be branched into two ways at its lower portion and the second end of the center folding line 201 is designed to contact the branch portion of the vertical seal portion 102.

In the present invention, the top-side portion 100 is designed to determine the volume of the container and integrally formed with the bottom portion. Accordingly, when the contents are filled in the container, the top-side portion is inflated to be a self-standing state by the vertical and horizontal seal portions 101 and 102.

The bottom portion 200 is unfolded having a triangular-shape or a streamline-shape based on the seal portion 102 when the contents are filled therein.

To enhance the self-standing force, a longitudinal seal portion can be formed between the horizontal and vertical seal portions 101 and 102.

In addition, if required, the folding lines 104 and 201 can be omitted. However, in this case, the manufacturing process is complicated.

A spouting portion is formed on a portion of the top-side portion 100 of the pouch container 1. The spouting portion is generally defined by a cutting line 105 or a cutting groove.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, a content filling portion can be formed on the pouch container 1. That is, a portion of the vertical seal portion 102 is remained as an unseal portion 106 through which the contents can be filled in the container. After filling the contents, the unseal portion is sealed.

Alternatively, the center folding line 104 of the top-side portion 100 can be processed as a seal portion.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, the lengths 1 and L determining the area of the top-side portion 100 can be designed identical to each other or different from each other. In addition, the horizontal seal portion can be divided into two parts. One part is a single seal portion and the other part is branched seal portions branched from the lower end of the single seal portion. An angle "a" between the single seal portion and the branched seal portion can be determined within a range of 20-160 degrees. In addition, an angle "A" between a horizontal line and the vertical seal portion is also determined within a range of 20-160 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 4, a height "b" from a horizontal bottom line to a portion where the center folding line 201 of the bottom portion 200 meets with the horizontal seal portion and a height "B" from a horizontal bottom line to a portion where the center folding line 201 of the bottom portion 200 meets with the vertical seal portion can be variably determined. Particularly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pouch container 1 of the present invention can be variously applicable. That is, the horizontal and vertical seal portions 101 and 102 are arranged in parallel or to meet each other at their extending lines.

When the contents are filled in the pouch container 1, one end of the bottom portions 200 becomes wider than an angular point portion, thereby providing the more stable self-standing state.

In addition, when the pouch container 1 is inflated by the contents to self-stand by the widened seal portion, since the branched seal portions are pulled by the branch point, the outer appearance of the container can be improved. That is, the outer appearance of the container takes on a variety of animal shapes, promoting the customer's interest.

At this point, the seal portion 102 is branched into three ways. Accordingly, when the contents are filled in the container, the seal portion 102 is stretched into the three ways based on the branch point, which is raised from the bottom surface at a predetermined height.

Furthermore, in accordance with the cutting angle of the seal portions 101 and 102, the shape of the container can take on a variety of natural shapes.

Meanwhile, specially prepared spouting means can be assembled on the above described pouch container.

For example, a pump dispenser 300 can be assembled on an outlet of the pouch container 1. Describing more in detail, a portion of the top-side portion 100 of the pouch container 1 is cut away at a predetermined size, an outlet member 400 is attached on the cut-away portion. After filling the contents through the outlet member 400, and the pump dispenser 300 is coupled on the pump dispenser 300. Self-standing support means is assembled on a lower portion of a housing of the pump dispenser 300 so that the pouch container is not collapsed even when a button of the pump dispenser is depressed.

The self-standing support means comprises a support tube mounted on an outlet of the lower housing of the pump dispenser 300 and a spouting hole.

As another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 shows a pouch container provided with a spout assembly 600 formed on an outlet of the container. The spout assembly is provided to suck or dispense the contents stored in the container.

A method for making the above described pouch container through an automatic process will be described hereinafter in detail.

As shown in FIG. 7, a film F released from a roll is first folded into half along its longitudinal centerline Fl, and then the folded film is further folded symmetrically such that the sectional view of the folded portion F2 takes on an M-shape.

Then, plural cutting lines F6 are formed in the vicinity of the M-shaped portion F2 at a predetermined space in the longitudinal direction, and inner ends of the plural cutting lines F6 are provided with holes F5.

In addition, punching holes F7 are formed on the M-shaped portion F2. Preferably, the punching holes F7 are formed at a mid-point between the cutting lines F6.

The punching holes F7 are provided to prevent resistance from being applied to the film in the course of folding process for forming the M-shaped portion.

From this state, M-shaped sections between the cutting lines F5 and the punching holes F7 are folded inward such that the centerline F3 is further inserted into the main body film F4 as shown in FIG. 9. Then, peripheries of each overlapped film portion are sealed in a desired shape as shown in, for example, FIG. 10. As a final process, outer lines of the seal portions are cut, thereby completing the individual pouch containers as shown in FIG. 11.

By the above process, a stroke of folding process of the centerline F3, two symmetrical pouch containers can be formed.

By varying the design, more than a pair of pouch containers can be formed in accordance with the size of the pouch making machine. FIGS. 12 to 14 show another embodiment of the present invention for making independent pouch containers.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, cutting lines F6 with the holes F5 are formed spacing away at a predetermined distance in the vicinity of the M-shape folded portion F2. The predetermined distance corresponds to the length of the pouch container.

When the centerline F3 is further inserted into the main body film, the centerline F3 is located at a predetermined depth and angle as shown in FIG. 12. The, periphery portions of the overlapped portions are sealed as shown in FIG. 13, and the outer lines of the seal portions are cut, thereby completing the pouch container.

The seal portions can be variously formed to realize a variety of pouch container shapes as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. The reason for forming the holes F5 is to prevent the film F being damaged by the cutting lines F6 in the course of releasing process from a roll.

In addition, the reason for folding the film in the M-shape is to make it easy to insert the centerline F3 into the main body film F4.

Accordingly, the M-shape can be modified in a variety of examples within a scope of the present invention.

As in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, a portion which is extended out of the main body F4 when the center line F3 is inserted in the main body F4 can be cut away through a punctuation process Furthermore, a variety of intermediate processes can be added in the above described consecutive processes.

That is, a shape-making process or a film attaching process can be added.

The film used for making the pouch container can be made of a multi-layered film having a synthetic resin film laminated with an aluminum layer.

In addition, paper material can be also used for the container. For examples, paper coated with water-proof material such as a synthetic resin film or an aluminum layer.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the pouch container for liquid material is designed having a stable self-standing ability when content is filled therein. In addition, the container is designed to be collapsible to be compact, thereby reducing the volume of waste and delivering costs.

Furthermore, the container is made through a series of automatic processes, the manufacturing costs can be reduced and the mass production is possible.

In addition, according to the seal and the cutting line, the container can realize the variety of three-dimensional shapes such as a variety of animals.

Claims

1. A pouch container for liquid material, comprising: a pouch main body having rectangular top-side and bottom portions, the pouch main body being folded along centerlines of the top-side and bottom portions such that the bottom portions is disposed inward; and first and second seal portions formed in a crossing direction with respect to each other, the centerline of the bottom portion has both ends contacting the first and second seal portions, respectively, and one end of the both ends of the centerline of the bottom portion contacts a mid-point of one of the first and second seal portions.

2. A pouch container of claim 1 wherein the top-side portions is provided with a spouting portion.

3. A pouch container of claim 2 wherein the spouting portion is defined by a cutting line or a cutting groove.

4. A pouch container of claim 1 wherein the second seal portion is branched into three ways and the other end of the centerline of the bottom portion contacts a branch point of the second seal portion.

5. A pouch container of claim 1 wherein the centerlines of the top-side and bottom portions are processed as seal portions.

6. A pouch container of claim 1 wherein when liquid material is filled into the pouch container, the bottom portion becomes wider than the top-side portion. 7. A pouch container of claim 1 wherein the top-side portion is designed such that its width is reduced as it goes upward.

8. A pouch container of claim 2 wherein the spouting portion is defined by a spout member or a pump dispenser.

9. A method for making a pouch container, comprising the steps of: firstly folding a film released from a roll into two halves along a longitudinal centerline; forming vertical cutting lines on the folded film, the vertical cutting lines being spaced away from each other; secondly folding the film by putting the longitudinal center line into between the folded film; and sealing the folded film in a desired shape and cutting an outline of the sealed portion.

11. A method of claim 10 further comprising the step of, after the step of firstly folding, folding the centerline inward such that a sectional shape can take a M-shape.

12. A method of claim 10 further comprising the step of, before the first folding the film, forming punctuation holes on the centerline, the punctuation holes being formed between the cutting lines to be formed.

13. A method of claim 10 wherein holes are formed on each end of the cutting lines.

14. A method of claim 10 wherein the film is a multi-layered film.

15. A method of claim 10 wherein the film is formed of paper.