Flexible bags – Tamper indicating
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-18
2001-08-07
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Flexible bags
Tamper indicating
C383S035000, C383S044000, C383S202000, C383S210000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270255
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to beverage containers which are pierced by a straw to consume a beverage therein, and more particularly to a bag-shaped beverage container having a bifold membrane which is exposed and pierced by the straw to access the beverage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In bag-shaped (flexible pouch) beverage containers having a membrane seal which is to be pierced by a pointed straw, such as CAPRI SUb® or like containers which are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,646 (Doyen et al.), there is a problem of providing a sufficiently strong membrane seal to withstand the rigors of shipping while still making the membrane seal sufficiently easy for the consumer to pierce with a straw. The piercing of the membrane seal may be a particular problem for small children who frequently utilize such containers and who lack the dexterity of adults.
Typical of opening systems in the prior art are those where a small hole is provided in a barrier wall of the container, with the hole then being covered with a pierceable membrane seal. While such a membrane seal is mostly satisfactory, it is often difficult for young children (ages
4
-
9
) to use since the membrane must be struck with the straw only in the hole in the barrier wall and at the same time with somewhat of a downward angle so that the straw does not pierce as well the back barrier wall of the container. In addition, as the membrane seal is pierced, squeezing of the bag-shaped container to hold the container steady during piercing may result in the beverage being pushed up around the outside of the straw and out of the straw hole causing undesired spillage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an easy-open beverage container and opening system therefor are provided in which a beverage in the container is designed to be consumed through a straw. The opening system for the beverage container includes a first barrier wall and a second barrier wall, each barrier wall having top edges and upper portions of opposite side edges which matingly face one another and which form an open top therebetween. A bifold membrane is located in the open top and this membrane has a longitudinal fold and peripheral edges disposed adjacent the top edges and upper portions of the opposite side edges of the first and second barrier walls. A membrane attaching means securely attaches the peripheral edges of the bifold membrane to adjacent top edges and upper portions of the opposite side edges of the barrier walls such that the bifold membrane closes the open top. While the open top is closed, the facing top edges of the barrier walls are movable by the user away from one another about the longitudinal fold of the bifold membrane to expose the longitudinal fold for piercing by the straw.
In one embodiment, the bifold membrane is a simple polyethylene film which is otherwise protected, such as by a barrier peel seal. In another embodiment, the bifold membrane is a barrier layer, such as a sealing foil which provides its own protection.
In a preferred embodiment, the opening system further includes a side attaching means for securely attaching facing portions of the peripheral edges of the bifold membrane adjacent the upper portions of the opposite side edges of the barrier walls to one another. With this construction, the facing top edges of the barrier walls are movable away from one another but the facing upper portions of the opposite side edges are not so that the facing top edges tend to stay together and protect the bifold membrane.
In another preferred embodiment, the opening system includes not only the side attaching means but a peel seal as well provided between facing portions of the peripheral edges of the bifold membrane adjacent the top edges of the barrier walls. With this construction, the peel seal provides a tamper-evident and sanitary seal for the bifold membrane which is easily broken in order to move the facing top edges away from one another. For easier opening, a respective tab is attached to, or integral with, respective peripheral edges of the bifold membrane adjacent the top edges of the barrier walls. These tabs extend above the top edges so that the peripheral edges of the bifold membrane adjacent the top edges are easily pulled apart with the tabs to expose the longitudinal fold of the bifold membrane.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple to manufacture, easy-open beverage container having a pierceable bifold membrane.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an easy-open opening system for a beverage container with no removable elements.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an opening system with a membrane seal which is easily pierced while holding the beverage container at the top so that the beverage container does not have to be squeezed while the membrane seal is pierced.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an opening system with a peel seal so that the bifold membrane is kept sanitary until use and so that the opening system is thus tamper-evident should the peel seal be pulled far enough apart to access the bifold membrane.
Other features, advantages and objects of the present invention are stated in or apparent from the detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention found hereinbelow.
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Kaufman Richard H.
Labuda Ivica M.
Kraft Foods Inc.
Marcoux Thomas A.
Pascua Jes F.
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