WO2014011025A2

WO2014011025A2 - Package with pressure venting seal

Info

Publication number: WO2014011025A2
Application number: PCT/MY2013/000123
Authority: WO
Inventors: Boon Eow Phee; Boon Chee Phee
Original assignee: Sin Sheng Kuang (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Priority date: 2012-07-12
Filing date: 2013-07-02
Publication date: 2014-01-16
Also published as: MY167702A

Abstract

A package (100) of storing continuous gas-generating content comprises a front sheet and a back sheet joined by a plurality of seals (110a, 110b, 110c and 130) to create a storage section (190) within the package (100) that at least one of the seals (130) carries a plurality of hollow air paths to communicate internal air pressure of the storage section (190) to external atmospheric pressure; wherein the plurality of air paths (140), each is a continuous passage formed by joining an inner channel (141) and an outer channel (142) through a middle channel (143) at an angle, fabricated within the seal (130) and arranged in a repetitive fashion to have one air path (140) spaced apart from another at a predetermined distance that the inner channel (141) and the outer channel (142) have one end joined to separate ends of the middle channel (143) while another end of the inner channel (141) and the outer channel (142) respectively extends towards the storage section (190) and the external environment to form a first opening (146) and a second opening (147) communicating with the internal and external air pressure individually; wherein the width of the first opening(146) is larger than the width of the second opening (147) and the width of the middle channel (143).

Description

Package With Pressure Venting Seal

Field Of Invention

The present invention relates to a package for storing continuous gas-generating content that the package is equipped with at least one seal carrying a plurality of air paths, namely an air venting seal, to release the additional air pressure built within the package through air paths fabricated in the venting seal. More specifically, the air paths fabricated in the seal of the disclosed package also possesses unique configuration avoiding water infiltration into the package through air channels while the additional generated gasses are released.

Background Of The Invention

Package for storing commodity, especially in large quantity, has to be mechanically strong in order to sustain the contained weight without breakage. The package is preferably made of air or water impervious material like plastic to protect the commodity from contamination or damage caused by one or more external agents. Yet, the package may further require additional feature to offer better storing environment to prolong shelf life and/or preserve freshness of the commodity. For example, spontaneous gas -generating commodities such as coffee bean, paste, fertilizer and the like need the package equipped with venting means to control the internal air pressure accumulating within the package. Different from the food packages used in microwave heating that pressure venting is only required during the heating session and the venting mechanisms in such packages are normally weak seal vulnerable to sudden increased pressure, while the gas venting mechanism in the packaging of gas-generating commodity has to continuously regulate the internal pressure in regards to the external atmospheric pressure. Consequently, the venting mechanism of commodity packaging is designed to communicate both internal air pressure and atmospheric pressure all the times and constantly exposes the stored content to external environmental agent. Thus, it is important to have such venting mechanism to carry additional features to keep the undesired external environmental agent, such as water vapour, from entering into the package and potentially leads to decomposition of the commodity. In order to attain the mentioned purposes, various configurations have been adapted in the fabrication of seal with gas venting mechanism. For example, United States patent application no. 5902046 describes a packaging bag with vent lines formed as part of the bag that film layer is incorporated into the vent line to serve as a barrier to prevent leakage of the content and provides fine interstices for gas venting at the same time. Similar technology can be seen in another United States patent application no. 7090398 using a pressure sensitive adhesive to close the venting holes until the pressure built within the bag exceeds the level the adhesive can sustain and the pressure sensitive adhesive also re-close the venting holes once the air is released. These inventions may not solve the problems completely. For example, the bag is likely to be broken during transportation of the commodities owing to sudden increase of the internal pressure caused by abrupt external force. Another United States patent application no. 6170985 attempts to overcome the problems by fabricating a plurality of parallel sealed strips with irregular discontinuities to create a maze-like structure which provides passageways to release the built pressure within the bag. Owing to its unique configuration, the manufacturing process needs to "draw" the maze-like structure on the bag and it is time-consuming compared to other heat-sealing process. Other configurations of venting mechanism can be found in European patent publication no. 1055608 and United States patent application no. 4834554 that the fabricated seals carry interconnected channels communicating both interior and exterior of the bags to balance the internal pressure. However, seals in these patents may not be ideal to form the bottom of the gas-venting package. Specifically, water splashes are commonly found on the ground of warehouse storing the commodity and the bottom seal is generally pressed to the ground level by the atop stored content rendering the interconnected channels vulnerable towards water infiltration thereof. Thus, it is preferred to have venting seal bearing configuration capable of overcoming or less affected by the abovementioned shortcomings especially with substantial resistance against water infiltration. Summary Of The Invention

The present invention aims to provide a package suitable to be used for storing spontaneous gas-producing commodity. Preferably, the disclosed invention is equipped with a gas venting mechanism which allows the internal pressure of the package constantly equal to the atmospheric pressure at the exterior of the bag.

Another object of the present invention is to disclose a package fabricated with unique seal configuration capable of venting gas generated from the stored content inside the package and avoiding infiltration of water through the seal.

Further object of the present invention is to offer a gas venting package which can be easily manufactured by heat sealing.

At least one of the preceding objects is met, in whole or in part, by the present invention, in which one of the embodiments of the present invention is a package of storing continuous gas-generating content comprising a front sheet and a back sheet joined by a plurality of seals to create a storage section within the package that at least one of the seals carries a plurality of hollow air paths to communicate internal air pressure of the storage section to external atmospheric pressure; wherein the plurality of air paths, each is a continuous passage formed by joining an inner channel and an outer channel through a middle channel at an angle, fabricated within the seal and arranged in a repetitive fashion to have one air path spaced apart from another at a predetermined distance that the inner channel and the outer channel have one end joined to separate ends of the middle channel while another end of the inner channel and the outer channel respectively extends inwardly and outwardly to form a first opening and a second opening communicating with the internal and external air pressure individually; wherein the width of the first opening is larger than the width of the second opening and the width of the middle channel. In one of the embodiment, the disclosed package further comprises a sealed strip located on the package joining the front and back sheets adjacent to the seal carrying the air paths, at a position farther from the storage section in relative to the seal carrying the air paths, with a hollow passage defined in between the sealed strip and the seal that at least a gap is disposed on the sealed strip communicating the hollow passage to the external atmospheric air pressure. The sealed strip serves as additional barrier reduces the likelihood of insects entering the package through venting seal as it decreases the number of air paths directly exposed to the external environment.

In one embodiment, the sealed blocks collectively fashion a circular formation defining a through hole at the center that the through hole communicates with external atmospheric pressure.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the disclosed package equipped without the the sealed strip; Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the disclosed package equipped with the venting seals together with the sealed strip; and

Figure 3 shows another arrangement of the venting seal having the sealed blocks arranged in a round configuration.

Detailed Description Of The Invention

The most preferred embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the figures, where like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. While specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

One embodiment of the present invention, as shown in figure 1, is a package (100) of storing continuous gas-generating content comprising a front sheet and a back sheet joined by a plurality of seals (110a, 110b, 110c and 130) to create a storage section (190) within the package (100) that at least one of the seals (130) carries a plurality of hollow air paths (140) to communicate internal air pressure of the storage section (190) to external atmospheric pressure; wherein the plurality of air paths (140), each is a continuous passage formed by joining an inner channel (141) and an outer channel (142) through a middle channel (143) at an angle, fabricated within the seal (130) and arranged in a repetitive fashion to have one air path (140) spaced apart from another at a predetermined distance that the inner channel (141) and the outer channel (142) have one end joined to separate ends of the middle channel (143) while another end of the inner channel (141) and the outer channel (142) respectively extends towards the storage section (190) and the external environment to form a first opening (146) and a second opening (147) communicating with the internal and external air pressure individually; wherein the width of the first opening (146) is larger than the width of the second opening (147) and the width of the middle channel (143). At least one of its edges, preferably the top edge, is accessible for deposition of the gas- producing content prior to sealing all the edges to finally form a complete package. Except through the air paths (140) available at the venting seal (130), the present invention preferably has the rest of the seal (110a, 110b, and 110c) prepared to be impermeable to air or air tight. This feature ensures the gas produced within the storing section by the stored content is only discharged through the designated air paths (140). As illustrated in the figure 1, sealed block (133) is found in between two spaced air paths (140) on the venting seal (130). The seals (110a, 110b, and 110c) and the sealed blocks (133) on the disclosed package can be prepared through heat sealing or the like. The seals (110a, 110b, and 110c) of the disclosed package are preferably fabricated in an edge-to-edge fashion as illustrated in figure 1 to define a storage section (190) with optimal capacity to accommodate commodity of larger quantities. In another embodiment, the disclosed package (100) carries reclosable zipper, particularly as the top seal (110a), to facilitate the user to access the stored content in multiple occasion yet substantially protects the stored content.

Preferably, the front and back sheets of the disclosed package (100) are produced from pliable plastic material. The pliable plastic material can be polymer or copolymer of polyethylene, polyprolylene, polyester, polyamides or any derivatives derived thereof. Further, the package may have the front and back sheets made of different polymers in some embodiments.

As illustrated in figure 1, the venting seal (130) of the present invention is composed of a plurality of sealed blocks (133) defining an air path (140) in between two proximate blocks. Preferably, the sealed blocks (133) are substantially rectangular in shape that the air path (140) is formed in between two short edges of two neighboring blocks. In line with the foregoing, the air path (140) in this embodiment has an abrupt lateral expansion in between the outer (142) and inner (141) channels forming the middle channel (143). Presence of the abrupt expansion, the middle channel (143), renders the air path (140) adapting a substantial Z-shaped conformation in most of the embodiments but not necessary. Particularly, the presence of the middle channel (143) prevents water from entering the storing section (190) caused by capillary effect. Moreover, the air paths (140) formed on the disclosed package are independent from one another without interconnecting channels, while interconnecting channels are commonly found in conventional packaging featuring the venting seal. Presence of interconnecting channels in these conventional packages tends to lead the infiltrating water to flow from one spot to another spot of the packaging simultaneous displacing the air out of the packaging through exits available in the interconnected channels. Preferably, the outer (142) and inner (141) channels of the present invention are substantially perpendicular towards the adjacent edge of the storage section though, in some embodiments, these channels (141 and 142) may extend in a tilted angle rather than perpendicular. To further enhance resistance of the disclosed package against water seepage, the inner channel (141) of the present invention is preferably fabricated to be greater in width compared to the outer channel (142). Or at least part of the inner channel (141) is relatively wider in width than the outer channel (142) that the abrupt increment in the width of the air path (140) disrupts water seepage caused by capillary effect in the air paths (140). To facilitate such embodiment, the width of the first opening (146) is preferably larger than the width of the second opening (147) and the width of the middle channel (143). Apart from that, the middle channel (143) may be produced with the narrower width compared to the inner channel (141) and, more preferably, the width of the middle channel (143) is greater Ί

than the outer channel (142) to attain better water seepage resistance. Particularly, the disclosed invention has two levels of abrupt increment of width in the air paths (140) to achieve better efficiency in rejecting water infiltration. Therefore, the width of the inner channel (141) is similar or greater than the width of the middle channel (143) in another embodiment. More preferably, the first opening (146) is 3 to 8 mm in width and the second opening (147) is 2 to 5 mm wide provided that the first opening (146) or the inner channel (141) has width greater than the second opening (147) or the outer channel (142). It is preferable to have the air paths of the present invention tapered from the first opening (146) towards the second opening (147). The built-up pressure within the package (100) applies a constant force onto the air paths (140) that greater localized pressure is generated thereof along the joined channels of the air paths (140) by gradually reducing the width of the air paths. The greater localized pressure at the air paths facilitates better resistance against water infiltration. Upon building up of the internal air pressure within the package (100), the additional gases generated from the content begins to continuously move out of the package (100) through the air paths (140) to attain thermodynamic equilibrium in regards to the external atmospheric or ambient pressure. The continuous flow of gas moving through the air paths (140) prevents water from infiltrating through as well. Referring to figure 2, the venting seal (130) preferably forms the bottom of the package (100), but not necessary, provides passage for the gas generated within the storage section (190) to be released into the external environment rather than accumulate within causing increased internal air pressure. Having the air paths (140) located at the bottom of the package (100) avoid air-borne particles from falling into the stored content compared to positioning the venting seal (130) at the top of the package (100). Still, the air paths (130) are positioned at the side edge of the package (100) in other embodiment. More preferably, the disclosed package (100) further comprises a sealed strip (160) located on the package joining the front and back sheets adjacent to the seal (130) carrying the air paths (140), at a position farther from the storage section (190) in relative to the seal (130) carrying the air paths (140), with a hollow passage (165) defined in between the sealed strip (160) and the seal (130) that at least a gap (166) disposed on the sealed strip (160) communicating the hollow passage (165) to external atmospheric air pressure. The presence of the sealed strip (160) provides additional barrier to prevent entry of external agent such as insects into the storage section (190). The number of non-sealed part or gap (166) found on the sealed strip (160) is much lower than the number of first openings (147) available at the venting seal (130). Particularly, the number the non-sealed part or gap (166) is, but not limited to, one or two. Thus, direct exposure of the storage content to the external environment is greatly reduced.

Apart from that, the disclosed package may have the venting seal (130) adapted another formation to attain similar object of gas venting. In these embodiments, the seal (130) carrying the air paths (140) forms a circular formation (180) defining a through hole (181) at the center that the through hole (181) communicates with external atmospheric pressure. The centrally encompassed through hole serves as a point to connect the air paths (140) to the atmospheric pressure. Venting seal (130) of such conformation may not form the entire bottom of the disclosed package but rather located around the bottom of the package (100) or forming only part of the bottom to release the generated gases. The second openings (147) are located around the center of the circular seal (130) of such embodiment while the first openings (146) are located at the circumference of the circular seal (130). The through hole (181) allows the second openings (147) to communicate with the external atmospheric pressure in this embodiment. Shown in figure 3, the sealed blocks (133) defining the air paths (140) can collectively fashion a circular formation defining a through hole (181) at the center that the through hole (181) communicates with external atmospheric pressure. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments describes above are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A package (100) of storing continuous gas-generating content comprising a front sheet and a back sheet joined by a plurality of seals (110a, 110b, 110c and 130) to create a storage section (190) within the package (100) that at least one of the seals (130) carries a plurality of hollow air paths (140) to communicate internal air pressure of the storage section (190) to external atmospheric pressure; wherein the plurality of air paths (140), each is a continuous passage formed by joining an inner channel (141) and an outer channel (142) through a middle channel (143) at an angle, fabricated within the seal (130) and arranged in a repetitive fashion to have one air path (140) spaced apart from another at a predetermined distance that the inner channel (141) and the outer channel (142) have one end joined to separate ends of the middle channel (143) while another end of the inner channel (141) and the outer channel (142) respectively extends towards the storage section (190) and the external environment to form a first opening (146) and a second opening (147) communicating with the internal and external air pressure individually; wherein the width of the first opening (146) is larger than the width of the second opening (147) and the width of the middle channel (143).

2. A package (100) of claim 1, wherein the width of the second opening (147) is smaller or identical to the width of the middle channel (141).

3. A package (100) of claim 1, wherein the width of the inner channel (141) is similar or greater than the width of the middle channel (143).

4. A package (100) of claim 1 further comprising a sealed strip (160) located on the package joining the front and back sheets adjacent to the seal (130) carrying the air paths (140), at a position farther from the storage section (190) in relative to the seal (130) carrying the air paths (140), with a hollow passage (165) defined in between the sealed strip (160) and the seal (130) that at least a gap (166) disposed on the sealed strip (160) communicating the hollow passage (165) to external atmospheric air pressure.

A package (100) of claim 1, wherein the venting seal (130) forms the bottom of the package (100).

A package (100) of claim 1, wherein the seal (130) carrying the air paths (140) forms a circular formation (180) defining a through hole (181) at the center that the through hole (181) communicates with external atmospheric pressure.

A package (100) of claim 1, wherein the front and back sheets are made of pliable plastic material.