WO2010002079A1

WO2010002079A1 - Beverage pack

Info

Publication number: WO2010002079A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/007124
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoo Kim; Hyoung Kwan Lee
Original assignee: Yoo Kim; Hyoung Kwan Lee
Priority date: 2008-06-30
Filing date: 2008-12-03
Publication date: 2010-01-07

Abstract

The present invention relates to a beverage pack which includes: a predetermined volume of space portion formed at the inside thereof; a straw insertion hole formed on a predetermined position on the top surface thereof in such a manner as to be closed by means of a sealing sheet and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of a straw into the space portion from the outside therethrough; and at least one air introduction hole formed on the top surface of the beverage pack in such a manner as to be closed by means of the sealing sheet and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of the straw or a separate tool into the space portion from the outside therethrough, one of the air introduction holes being partially superposed on the straw insertion hole formed on the top surface of the beverage pack.

Description

Description BEVERAGE PACK

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a beverage pack, and more particularly, to a beverage pack that is configured to contain a general beverage or wellness beverage therein so as to allow a beverage drinker to drink the beverage contained therein through a straw, wherein no noise is generated while the beverage is being sucked by means of the straw, thereby permitting the beverage drinker to comfortably drink the beverage, without giving any interference to people who are in public facilities like libraries, cinemas, and so on where they should be quiet, and wherein the sanitary state of the beverage contained therein is greatly improved and many conveniences in use are provided to those who have poor space perception capability and feel uncomfortable when they move their hands, such as children, the aged, patients, the handicapped, etc.. Background Art

[2] Recently, a lots of kinds of beverages such as fruit juice, carbonated beverages, wellness beverages, sports beverages, alcoholic beverages, etc., have been developed and is put on the market, and a variety of beverage containers such as traditional bottle type beverage containers having a cap, can type beverage containers, and pack type beverage containers have been developed in various materials and shapes to contain such a beverage therein.

[3] In case of the bottle type beverage containers, they are typically made of glass or synthetic resin (polyethylene terephtalate: PET) material. If the beverage containers don t have any airtightness in storing the carbonated beverage in which carbon dioxide is contained or alcoholic beverage in which alcohol is contained, the carbon dioxide or alcohol leaks to the outside to cause the beverage taste to be undesirably changed. Thus, the bottle type beverage containers are widely used in this fields since they maintain the beverages contained therein at an original state, but it is inconvenient to handle them and the waste beverage containers cause the environmental pollution.

[4] Also, in case of the can type beverage containers, they can be recycled, but since they have no cap, the beverage contained therein should be all drunk once they are opened, which limits the use range to specific beverages.

[5] In the meantime, as shown in FIG.1, a beverage pack 10 is recently developed and put on the market, which is made of a paper material and is coated on the inner surfaces thereof with polyethylene resin so as to contain a relatively small quantity of fruit juice or soy milk therein.

[6] The beverage contained in such a beverage pack 10 is sucked by a user by means of a separate straw 12, and in order to insert the straw 12 into the beverage pack 10, the beverage pack 10 has a straw insertion hole 16 formed on one side of the top surface thereof, which is normally closed by means of a sealing sheet 14 like a silver foil and is opened by the insertion of the straw 12 so as to drink the beverage contained in the beverage pack 10.

[7] In case of the conventional beverage pack 10 having such a configuration, the straw

12 is inserted into the straw insertion hole 16, and if the beverage contained in the beverage pack 10 is sucked in a state where the outside distal end portion of the straw 12 is held by a beverage drinker s lips, it flows into his or her mouse through the straw 12, even without any separate container like a cup, such that advantageously the beverage pack 10 can be conveniently used in public facilities like libraries, reading rooms, cinemas, and so on.

[8] In case of the conventional beverage pack 10, however, while the user sucks the beverage through the straw 12, the air inside the beverage pack 10 is sucked together with the beverage, such that the edges of the beverage pack 10 are contracted to the inside thereof to make a noise occurring when the air is exhausted to the outside. In addition, at the moment when the beverage drinker s mouse is separated from the straw 12, the outside air is introduced again to the inside of the beverage pack 10 through the straw 12 since the air pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the beverage pack 10 is generated, such that the contracted beverage pack 12 is expanded to its original state, and at this time, an unpleasant noise is also generated. As a result, if the beverage contained in the beverage pack 10 is sucked by a user in public facilities like libraries, reading rooms, cinemas, and so on where a quiet atmosphere is needed, unexpected interference may be given to peoples around there.

[9] In order to solve this problem, thus, there is provided a beverage pack which has a separate hole formed on the top surface thereof in such a manner as to be distant from the straw insertion hole, but in this case, after the straw is inserted into the straw insertion hole it should be drawn from the straw insertion hole so as to rupturedly open the separate hole formed on the top surface of the beverage pack. During this process, dust, foreign substances, or bacteria may be adhered on the outer surfaces of the beverage pack enter the interior of the beverage pack through the straw, thereby problematically making the beverage contained in the beverage pack unsanitary.

[10] Additionally, in case of those who have poor sight and feel uncomfortable when they move their hands, such as children, the aged, patients, the handicapped, etc., it is very inconvenient to insert the straw into the separate hole after they draw the straw from the straw insertion hole. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems occurring in the prior arts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage pack that is configured to contain a general beverage or wellness beverage therein so as to allow a beverage drinker to drink the beverage contained therein through a straw, wherein no noise is generated while the beverage is being sucked by means of the straw, thereby permitting the beverage drinker to comfortably drink the beverage, without giving any interference to people who are in public facilities like libraries, cinemas, and so on where they should be quiet, and wherein the sanitary state of the beverage contained therein is greatly improved and many conveniences in use are provided to those who have poor space perception capability and feel uncomfortable when they move their hands, such as children, the aged, patients, the handicapped, etc.. Technical Solution

[12] To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage pack which comprises: a predetermined volume of space portion formed at the inside thereof; a straw insertion hole formed on a predetermined position on the top surface thereof in such a manner as to be closed by means of a sealing sheet and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of a straw into the space portion from the outside therethrough; and at least one or more air introduction holes formed on the top surface of the beverage pack in such a manner as to be closed by means of the sealing sheet and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of the straw or a separate tool into the space portion from the outside therethrough, one of the air introduction holes being partially superposed on the straw insertion hole formed on the top surface of the beverage pack.

[13] According to the present invention, the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole have any one selected from circle, triangle, square, polygon, and heart-like shapes.

[14] To achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage pack which comprises: a predetermined volume of space portion formed at the inside thereof; a straw insertion hole formed on a predetermined position on the top surface thereof in such a manner as to be closed by means of a sealing sheet and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of a straw into the space portion from the outside therethrough; and an air introduction hole formed at an adjacent position to the straw insertion hole in such a manner as to communicate with the straw insertion hole by means of a connection passageway, the straw insertion hole, the air introduction hole, and the connection passageway being closed by means of the sealing sheet.

[15] According to the present invention, the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole have any one selected from circle, triangle, square, polygon, and heart-like shapes.

Advantageous Effects

[16] According to the present invention, there is provided the beverage pack that has at least one air introduction hole as well as a straw insertion hole formed on the top surface thereof, such that when it is desired to drink the beverage contained in the beverage pack, the air introduction holes are rupturedly opened by using a straw or a separate tool and the straw is inserted into the straw insertion hole, which allows the beverage contained in the beverage pack to be introduced to a beverage drinker s mouse through the straw and at this time allows the outside air to be sucked to the inside of the beverage pack through the air introduction holes, thereby preventing an unpleasant noise from being generated during the drinking and further giving no interference to people who are in public facilities when the beverage is sucked by using the straw.

[17] Further, in the state where any one of the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole is opened by means of the straw only if the straw is gently pushed to the other hole not opened yet, the straw insertion hole, the air introduction hole, and the connection passageway all communicate with each other, such that it is very convenient for those who have poor sight and feel uncomfortable when they move their hands, such as children, the aged, patients, the handicapped, etc., to suck the beverage contained in the beverage pack.

[18] Additionally, in the state where the straw is inserted into the straw insertion hole or the air introduction hole, it is not necessary to draw the straw from the inserted hole, such that dust, foreign substances, or bacteria which may be adhered on the outer surfaces of the beverage pack do not enter the interior of the beverage pack through the straw, thereby greatly improving the sanitary state of the beverage contained in the beverage pack. Brief Description of Drawings

[19] FIG.1 is a perspective view showing a conventional beverage pack.

[20] FIG.2 is a perspective view showing a beverage pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[21] FIG.3 is a sectional view showing the beverage pack according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[22] FIG.4 is a perspective view showing a beverage pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [23] FIG.5 is a sectional view showing the beverage pack according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[24] FIG.6 is a perspective view showing the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole each having a triangular shape in the beverage pack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[25] FIG.7 is a perspective view showing the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole each having a square shape in the beverage pack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[26] FIG.8 is a perspective view showing the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole each having a heart-like shape in the beverage pack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[27] *Explanations on the reference numerals of the main parts in the drawings*

[28] 30, 30 : beverage pack 34: sealing sheet

[29] 36: straw 38, 38 : straw insertion hole

[30] 40, 40 : air introduction hole

[31] 42: connection passageway

Mode for the Invention

[32] Hereinafter, an explanation on a beverage pack according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be given with reference to the attached drawings.

[33] FIG.2 is a perspective view showing a beverage pack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.3 is a sectional view showing the beverage pack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[34] FIG.4 is a perspective view showing a beverage pack according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.5 is a sectional view showing the beverage pack according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[35] FIG.6 is a perspective view showing the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole each having a triangular shape in the beverage pack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.7 is a perspective view showing the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole each having a square shape in the beverage pack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[36] FIG.8 is a perspective view showing the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole each having a heart-like shape in the beverage pack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[37] Referring to the drawings, there is provided a beverage pack 30 having a predetermined volume of space portion 32 formed at the inside thereof and a straw insertion hole 38 formed on a predetermined position on the top surface thereof in such a manner as to be closed by means of a sealing sheet 34 and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of a straw 36 into the space portion 32 from the outside therethrough.

[38] According to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.2 and

3, a beverage pack 30 forms one or more air introduction holes 40 on the top surface of the beverage pack 30 in such a manner as to be closed by means of the sealing sheet 34 and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of the straw 36 or a separate tool into the space portion 32 from the outside therethrough or by means of a force generated by pushing the straw 36 inserted into the straw insertion hole 38 toward the air introduction hole 40, the air introduction hole 40 being partially superposed on the straw insertion hole 38 in such a manner as to communicate with the straw insertion hole 38.

[39] In the meanwhile, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.4 and 5, a beverage pack 30 forms a separate air introduction hole 40 at a position adjacent to a straw insertion hole 38 on the top surface of the beverage pack 30 , wherein the straw insertion hole 38 and the air introduction hole 40 communicate with each other by means of a connection passageway 42.

[40] According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the straw insertion hole 38 , the air introduction hole 40 , and the connection passageway 42 are closed by means of the sealing sheet 34 .

[41] In the beverage pack according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the straw insertion hole and the air introduction hole have any one selected from circle, triangle, square, polygon, and heart-like shapes, and additionally, they may have various shapes like oval, diamond, and star.

[42] Generally, the beverage pack 30 has the space portion 32 formed by folding a sheet of paper to a hexahedral shape and bonding the edges and is coated with polyethylene resin on the inner surfaces with which a beverage is contacted.

[43] Further, the straw 36 is provided separately from the beverage pack 30 or is attached on the outer surface of the beverage pack 30.

[44] Next, an explanation on the operation of the beverage pack 30 according to the present invention will be given.

[45] Referring first to FIGS.2 and 3, when it is desired to drink the beverage contained in the beverage pack 30, the sealing sheet 34 blocking the straw insertion hole 38 and the air introduction hole 40 formed on one side of the top surface of the beverage pack 30 is pierced and opened by using the sharp end portion of the straw 36 attached on the outer surface of the beverage pack 30 or provided separately therefrom. After that, if the straw 36 is pushed toward the air introduction hole 40 or the straw insertion hole 38, the sealing sheet 34 is ruptured to allow the straw insertion hole 38 and the air introduction hole 40 to be all opened. [46] In this state, the inner end portion of the straw 36 is inserted deeply into the space portion 32 of the beverage pack 30 so as to suck the beverage contained in the beverage pack 30.

[47] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS.4 and 5, when it is desired to drink the beverage contained in the beverage pack 30 according to the second embodiment of the present invention wherein the straw insertion hole 38 and the air introduction hole 40 communicate with each other by means of the connection passageway 42, in the state where the straw 36 is first inserted into the straw insertion hole 38 or the air introduction hole 40 , the straw 36 is pushed toward the air introduction hole 40 or the straw insertion hole 38 not opened yet, such that the sealing sheet 34 blocking the straw insertion hole 38 , the connection passageway 42, and the air introduction hole 40 is ruptured by means of the force generated by pushing the straw 36, which allows the straw insertion hole 38 and the air introduction hole 40 to communicate with each other, thereby permitting the straw insertion hole 38 and the air introduction hole 40 to communicate with the inside of the beverage pack 30 .

[48] At this time, if the outside end portion of the straw 36 is held by the user s lips so as to suck the beverage contained in the beverage pack 30 or 30 , the beverage is sucked to his or her mouse and at the same time the outside air is introduced to the space portion 32 of the beverage pack 30 or 30 through the air introduction hole 40 or 40 and the connection passageway 42, such that the beverage pack 30 or 30 is not contracted to the inside thereof, thereby preventing an unpleasant noise from being generated during the sucking.

[49] Further, if the straw 36 is separated from the user s lips, the air pressure in the space portion 32 of the beverage pack 30 or 30 is the same as in the outside, such that the beverage pack 30 or 30 is not contracted or expanded at all, thereby preventing an unpleasant noise from being generated at that time.

[50] Therefore, even if the user sucks the beverage contained in the beverage pack 30 or

30 in public facilities like libraries, reading rooms, cinemas, and so on, no interference is given to people around there.

Claims

[1] A beverage pack 30 which comprises: a predetermined volume of space portion

32 formed at the inside thereof; a straw insertion hole 38 formed on a predetermined position on the top surface thereof in such a manner as to be closed by means of a sealing sheet 34 and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of a straw 36 into the space portion 32 from the outside therethrough; and at least one air introduction hole 40 formed on the top surface of the beverage pack 30 in such a manner as to be closed by means of the sealing sheet 34 and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of the straw 36 or a separate tool into the space portion 32 from the outside therethrough, one of the air introduction holes 40 being partially superposed on the straw insertion hole 38 formed on the top surface of the beverage pack.

[2] The beverage pack as defined in claim 1, wherein the straw insertion hole 38 and the air introduction hole 40 have any one selected from circle, triangle, square, polygon, and heart-like shapes.

[3] A beverage pack 30 which comprises: a predetermined volume of space portion

32 formed at the inside thereof; a straw insertion hole 38 formed on a predetermined position on the top surface thereof in such a manner as to be closed by means of a sealing sheet 34 and to be rupturedly opened by means of a force generated upon the insertion of a straw 36 into the space portion 32 from the outside therethrough; and an air introduction hole 40 formed at a position adjacent to the straw insertion hole 38 in such a manner as to communicate with the straw insertion hole 38 by means of a connection passageway 42, the straw insertion hole 38 , the air introduction hole 40 , and the connection passageway 42 being closed by means of the sealing sheet 34.

[4] The beverage pack as defined in claim 3, wherein the straw insertion hole 38 and the air introduction hole 40 have any one selected from circle, triangle, square, polygon, and heart-like shapes.