Flexible container having integrally formed resealable spout

The present invention relates to a flexible container for dispensing liquids. The flexible container includes a resealable spout disposed to allow liquid to be withdrawn.

It is popular to package ingestable liquids in flexible containers made from a variety of materials. Such flexible containers are capable of being packaged with a separate straw for withdrawing liquid from the container. However, packaging a straw together with a flexible container is costly, inefficient, and often ineffective in that an extra packaging step is required and the straw is prone to coming dislodged from the container prior to use.

In order to alleviate such problems, containers have been developed which incorporate a withdrawal means which is integral with the container itself. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,359 to Franco describes a flexible pouch formed from two laminated sheets heat-sealed together and having an extensible straw mounted inside the pouch, held in place by a mounting flange which is secured to the perimeter seals of the pouch. The flange retains the straw in alignment with an openable edge of the pouch. The edge is opened by peeling apart the two sheets, providing access to the straw. The pouch is not resealable and cannot be re-closed in order to facilitate partial withdrawal of the contents.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,982 to Stenstrom et al. shows a flexible pouch having a corner thereof which forms a dispensing tube. The dispensing tube is opened by gripping a pair of free flaps at the end thereof. The weld which forms the end of the tube is identified as being peelable. The tube is not resealable nor otherwise capable of being closed once the original seal is broken.

The present invention includes a flexible container or pouch having a body portion that forms a flexible fluid reservoir and an integrally formed spout capable of being easily resealed after its initial use. The spout is made resealable, preferably, by an adhesive found on the interior surfaces of the spout opening.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a isometric view of a flexible container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a spout portion of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the spout portion in its open position.

FIG. 2C is a top plan view of an opened spout portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the spout with a portion of one side wall removed.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4 — 4 of FIG. 3 showing an embodiment of the wall of the spout.

Referring now to the figures wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, there is shown a flexible container which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, the flexible container 10 comprises a reservoir body 12 and a spout 14 which is integrally formed with the body 12 .

The container 10 comprises at least one sheet joined and sealed together at its side edges. In one embodiment, the container 10 comprises a gusseted bottom (not shown) and separate front and back side walls. The side walls extend upwardly so as to form the spout 14 . The edges of the side walls may be heat sealed together. The spout 14 may also be formed by a side edge heat seal so as to form a single discharge opening 18 .

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2 B and 2 C, and also in part in FIG. 3, at the discharge opening 18 , located at the spout 14 , a cold seal cohesive 15 is applied on the interior surfaces 30 of the side walls 16 . When the spout is in its closed position, as shown in FIG. 2A, the cold seal cohesive 15 (FIG. 2B) on the interior surfaces 30 of the two side walls 16 come into contact with each other so as to seal the spout 14 . The cohesive seal acts to prevent liquid from getting out of the reservoir body 12 within the container 10 .

The cold seal cohesive 15 preferably comprises a latex having other synthetic or natural rubber components or acrylic components. Therefore, the cohesive comprises a water based emulsion having rubber polymers and acrylic polymers. In the preferred embodiment, the ratio of rubber polymers and acrylic polymers is approximately 80% rubber to 20% acrylic. When utilizing natural rubber, a smaller percentage of rubber is desired so as to reduce the potential for allergic reactions.

Preferably, the emulsion is applied to the interior facing surface 30 by printing, such as by a rotogravure or flexographic process. As seen in FIG. 3, the cohesive 15 is applied in the form of a band or strip along the interior facing surfaces 30 of the side walls 16 at the spout 14 . The amount of cohesive 15 to be used is functionally related to the size and shape of the spout 14 , the volume of liquid to be retained in the reservoir, etc., and will vary accordingly.

A pair of tabs 19 are provided at the projected end of the spout 14 to facilitate opening. When desired, a consumer will grasp the tabs and pull apart the facing sheets 16 (as shown in FIG. 2B) to create the discharge opening 18 . Thus, access to the liquid in the reservoir body is obtained without the use of a separate withdrawal means such as a straw or cutting device. Once the spout 14 is open, liquid may be withdrawn by sucking on the spout 14 or by applying a slight hand pressure to the body 12 . The spout 14 is closed by pushing the pair of cooperating sheets 16 that form the spout 14 together so as to engage their respective cohesive areas 15 . Once closed, the spout 14 acts to effectively prevent liquid from exiting the container 10 .

As an alternative to the cold seal cohesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive may be used. For food or medical applications, it is important that the selection of cohesive or pressure sensitive adhesive be in compliance with the Food and Drug Administration's direct food contact requirements. Also, a peelable heat seal may be applied above the cohesive or adhesive at the end of the spout. To withdraw liquid, the spout 14 is opened by pulling the sheets 16 apart, using the tabs 19 , thereby breaking the peelable heat seal and exposing the cohesive, which is also separated. To close the container 10 after a portion of the liquid has been withdrawn, the spout 14 is pushed together so as to cause the cohesive located on the interior facing surfaces 30 of each side wall sheet 16 to engage each other and reseal. As an alternative, the resealable closure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,969, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference, may be utilized on the spout to form the resealable closure.

Preferably, the material that forms the bottom wall and side walls of the container 10 comprises two plies as us shown in FIG. 4 . An outer ply 20 includes an exterior surface 22 and an interior surface 24 . A second or interior ply 26 includes a first surface 28 facing the interior surface 24 of the outer ply 20 and a second interior facing surface 30 . The interior surface 24 of the outer ply 22 and the first surface 28 of the second ply 26 are preferably permanently adhered to one another over a major portion thereof.

The outer ply 20 may be made from an oriented polypropylene, polyester or other clear polymer. The second ply may be made of a clear, white or metallized polyethylene or cast polypropylene film. The second ply 26 is preferably a white polyethylene film which is capable of being heat sealable. The second ply 26 must also be compatible with a cohesive and suitable for handling ingestable liquids. To increase the stiffness of the container 10 , either the outerply 20 or the second ply 26 (or both) may comprise high density polyethylene. Alternatively, a metallic film or aluminum foil can be situated between the outer ply and the second ply.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions, and additions may be made therein and thereto, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.