Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/06—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
  • B32B27/08—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/34—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyamides
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/36—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/32—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture
  • B65D81/3261—Flexible containers having several compartments
  • B65D81/3266—Flexible containers having several compartments separated by a common rupturable seal, a clip or other removable fastening device
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2439/00—Containers; Receptacles
  • B32B2439/70—Food packaging

Definitions

• This invention relates to a multi-compartment flexible package, to a film therefor, and to a product such as convenience meal comprising the package.
• Background of the Invention It is often desirable to have products packaged together, yet separated, for later mixing. Such packaging is advantageous where the several products have differing physical characteristics or are incompatible during storage and are to be mixed shortly before consumption.
• An example is a package or pouch to contain multiple foodstuffs separated by one or more seals. The foodstuffs require mixing or combining either sometime during or at the end of the cooking cycle.
• Various ingredients cannot be mixed together prior to cooking generally because they are incompatible in storage, or because qualities (e.g.
• the invention also comprises multi-compartment package comprising first sheet of polymer film, second sheet of polymer film and at least one temperature-dependent frangible seal.
• the invention also comprises a multi-compartment package comprising first sheet of polymer film, second sheet of polymer film and at least one temperature-dependent frangible seal.
• package can comprise or produced from a polymeric film comprising or produced from at least one polymer layer and a sealant layer comprising a polymeric material.
• the polymer layer can comprise or be produced from at least one polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinylidene chloride and ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer.
• the sealant layer can comprise or be produced from amorphous polyethylene terephthalate or ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer.
• the sealant layer is capable of forming a seal with strength greater than 1 ,500 g/inch (590 g/cm) and a temperature dependent frangible seal.
• the polymer layer that can be used to produce the packages can be in flexible sheet or film form.
• the multilayer polymer film or sheet can involve at least three layers, including but not limited to, an outermost structural or abuse layer, an inner or outer barrier layer, and an innermost layer and optionally one or more adhesive or tie layers therebetween.
• a preferred material for the strength layers is a polyamide such as biaxially oriented nylon from about 0.5 mil (12.7 ⁇ m) to about 3 mils (76.2 ⁇ m)in thickness.
• nylon used as an outer layer is preferably from about 1 (25.4 ⁇ m) to 3 mils (76.2 ⁇ m) thick.
• Nylon used as an inner layer in combination with another layer is preferably from about 0.5 to 1.5 mils (12.7 to 38.1 ⁇ m) thick.
• the structural layer can also include one or more barrier layers, depending on which atmospheric conditions (oxygen, humidity, light, and the like) that potentially can affect the product inside the pouch.
• Barrier layers can be for example, oriented PET, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), nylon or biaxially oriented nylon, blends or composites of the same as well as related copolymers thereof.
• PVDC polyvinylidene chloride
• EVOH ethylene vinyl alcohol
• Barrier layer thickness may depend on the sensitivity of the product and the desired shelf life.
• the functions of structure and barrier layers may be combined in a single layer of a suitable resin.
• nylon or PET are suitable for both structure and barrier functions.
• the innermost layer of the package is the sealant.
• An amorphous PET copolyester heat-sealant can be derived from at least the following components: from about 10 to about 60 mole% terephthalic acid ("Monomer A”); from about 10 to about 60 mole % ethylene glycol (“Monomer B”); and from about 5 to about 60 mole % of a third monomer being a secondary di-acid (“Monomer C”) and/or a secondary diol (“Monomer D").
• the invention also provides the aforesaid packages further comprising a foodstuff confined to one of said separated compartments and at least one other foodstuff confined to at least one other separated compartment.
• the invention also includes a multiple-compartment package, which can be suitable for use in such packages comprising or produced from (a) at least one layer comprising at least one polymeric material comprising or selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinylidene chloride and ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; (b) a sealant layer comprising a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate or ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer; wherein said sealant layer is capable of forming a seal with strength greater than 1 ,500 gram/inch and also capable of forming a temperature dependent frangible seal; and optionally (c) at least one insulating layer.
• the top of the pouch thereby allowing for locating a notch at the side of the desired area for opening.
• a notch For example, one could place the notch slightly above the "bottom" compartment of a pouch. After the frangible seal(s) rupture and all the previously separated products are combined into the single compartment remaining, the notch is used to propagate the directional tearing feature across the package side seals to open the pouch. This provides for shortening of the pouch and the meal can be consumed directly from the bottom portion with the top being discarded; or the meal can be placed on a secondary dish if so desired.
• Another embodiment of the invention employs forming a web of the packaging film with gussets to fabricate a stand-up pouch (SUP) by heat- sealing the built-in sealant.
• SUP stand-up pouch
• the thermal insulating layer comprises an organic thermoplastic fiber based material comprising polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene.
• the thermal insulating layer is a fiberfill batt that can comprise or produced from polyester.
• a fiberfill batt sold as THERMOLITE ® Active Original by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont), Wilmington, Delaware can be used.
• the fiberfill batt used can have an areal weight in the range of 10 gm/m 2 to 200 gm/m 2 , and a bulk density of less than 0.3 gm/cm 3 .
• the thermal insulating layer may comprise melt blown fibers, such as melt blown polyolefins, sold as TH INSULATE ® , by 3M.
• the thermal insulating layer may comprise a foam.
• the foam may be polyurethane or polypropylene, or any other foam composition as known in the art.
• the thermal insulating layer may be alternatively made of an inorganic thermoplastic fiber based material comprising glass wool, borosilicate glass or rockwool.
• the thermal insulating layer may comprise a knit fabric, made, for example from a tetrachannel or scalloped oval fiber, sold under the trademark COOLMAX ® by DuPont.
• the thermal insulating layer may also be a woven or fleece material.
• the insulating layer could also comprise some sort of nonwoven textile, such as felt, or a highloft nonwoven or needled nonwoven fabric.
• a preferred film comprising at least one insulating layer comprises at least one layer of polyester (e.g. oriented PET) as a structural layer and a layer of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate copolymer as the sealant.
• co-extrudable adhesives are optionally used between functional layers to adhere the layers to each other and to provide structural integrity.
• the multi-layered films are typically from 0.75 mils to 5.0 mils thick, preferably about 1.5 to about 3.0 mils thick. Also, to provide additional thickness (if desired by the consumer for a particular application), bulk layers of polyolefin or chopped remnants of the multilayer film trimmed during pouch fabrication can be incorporated within the multilayer structure. It is contemplated that the sheet of polymeric film (i.e., the so-called "web stock”) may be produced using any combinations of the processes generally known in the art, such as monolayer or multilayer casting, blowing film, extrusion lamination, and adhesive lamination and combinations thereof.
• Processing aids as generally known in the art, including by way of example but not limited thereto; slip agents (such as amide waxes), antiblocking agents (such as silica), and antioxidants (such as hindered phenols), may be incorporated in the web stock to facilitate either manufacture of the film or pouch formation.
• Pouches can be formed from web stock by either cutting and heat sealing separate pieces of web stock or by a combination of folding and heat sealing with cutting.
• pouches are formed from two film sheets.
• the two film sheets may be two individual sheets of film.
• a single web of film may be folded onto itself to provide two overlying sheets, or a tube of film may be formed such that two overlying portions of the tube provide the equivalent of two sheets of film.
• the heat sealed ' perimeter of the pouch according to the instant invention can be achieved by superimposing the first and second sheets of polymeric film and then heat sealing each directly to the other or heat sealing them indirectly through the use of an intervening third polymeric film, again as generally known and practiced in the art.
• the frangible seals can be installed either during or after pouch formation. Pouch making equipment such as that made by Totani Corporation, Kyoto, Japan or Klockner Barlelt Co., Gordonsville, VA can be used.
• An example multi-compartment package in the form of a generally flat rectangular pouch-like shape is formed of two juxtaposed sheets of thin, flexible, impervious polymeric material as described above. Particular embodiments of the present invention include those wherein the multi- compartment package has two or three compartments.
• Structural Components Outer Structure Layer nylon 6; 2 mil (50.8 ⁇ m) thickness available under the tradename Dartek ® B601 from DuPont of Canada/Liqui-Box.
• Lamination Adhesive solvent-based polyester urethane adhesive available under the tradename Adcote 503A/Catalyst F from the Morton division of Rohm and Haas.
• Seal Layer biaxially oriented polyester (OPET) coated with an amorphous PET copolymer (APET) heat seal layer; 0.5 mil (12.7 ⁇ m) available under the tradename Mylar ® OL13 from DuPont Teijin Films.
• Example 3 This example illustrates heating packages of Example 2 such that the temperature dependent frangible seals release, allowing the previously separated contents to be mixed.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)
• Wrappers (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)
• Grain Derivatives (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (35)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (22)

• 2004
  • 2004-10-13 CN CNA2004800369985A patent/CN1894142A/zh active Pending
  • 2004-10-13 BR BRPI0415581-5A patent/BRPI0415581A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-10-13 AU AU2004281278A patent/AU2004281278A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-13 DE DE602004016203T patent/DE602004016203D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-13 EP EP04795587A patent/EP1680336B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-13 JP JP2006535417A patent/JP2007512187A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-10-13 US US10/963,933 patent/US20050079252A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-13 WO PCT/US2004/034445 patent/WO2005037679A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (5)

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