Flexible container with pop-up spout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173813-B2
Application number	US-201615280447-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2016
Priority date	Sep 29, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a flexible container. In an embodiment, the flexible container includes a first multilayer film and a second multilayer film. Each multilayer film comprises an inner seal layer. The multilayer films are arranged such that the seal layers oppose each other and the second multilayer film is superimposed on the first multilayer film. The multilayer films are sealed along a common peripheral edge. The flexible container includes an orifice in one of the multilayer films, and a pop-up spout extends through the orifice. The pop-up spout has a flange sealed to the multilayer film around the orifice. The pop-up spout comprises an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flexible container comprising:
a first multilayer film and a second multilayer film, with the second multilayer film superimposed on the first multilayer film, the first multilayer film and the second multilayer film each comprising an inner seal layer, the multilayer films arranged such that the inner seal layers oppose each other, the multilayer films sealed along a common peripheral edge;
an orifice in one of the multilayer films;
a pop-up spout extending through the orifice and having a flange sealed to the multilayer film around the orifice; and
the pop-up spout comprising an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer consisting of an ethylene monomer and a C 4 -C 8 α-olefin comonomer.

2. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the pop-up spout comprises an outlet, a plurality of foldable panels, a plurality of flexible elbows integrally connecting the foldable panels to each other; and
the foldable panels and the flexible elbows integrally connecting the flange to the outlet.

3. The flexible container of claim 2 wherein the pop-up spout has a retracted state wherein each flexible elbow is retracted; and
a seal film adhesively attached over the pop-up spout to hold the pop-up spout in the retracted state.

4. The flexible container of claim 3 wherein the pop-up spout automatically moves to a neutral state when the seal film is removed from the pop-up spout.

5. The flexible container of claim 4 wherein at least one flexible elbow automatically moves from a retracted state to a fully extended state when the seal film is removed from the pop-up spout.

6. The flexible container of claim 3 , wherein the foldable panels emerge outward from the flange, and each of the foldable panels has a radius, with the radius becoming smaller with each foldable panel away from the flange, such that the foldable panels nest concentrically within each other when in the retracted state.

7. The flexible container of claim 2 wherein the pop-up spout has an extended state wherein each flexible elbow is fully extended.

8. The flexible container of claim 7 wherein each flexible elbow has a respective radius of curvature (Rc) when the pop-up spout is in the extended state.

9. The flexible container of claim 2 wherein the pop-up spout defines a channel, and the pop-up spout comprises a flexible valve extending across the channel which opens to permit flow therethrough, the flexible valve comprising the ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer.

10. The flexible container of claim 9 wherein the flexible valve is located in the outlet.

11. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the pop-up spout is composed of a polymeric blend comprising from greater than 75 wt % to 99 wt of the ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer and from less than 25 wt % to 1 wt % of a high density polyethylene.

12. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the pop-up spout is an injection molded spout.

13. The flexible container of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer comprises hard segments consisting of greater than 90 weight percent ethylene and less than 10 weight percent comonomer, and soft segments consisting of ethylene and greater than 5 weight percent comonomer.

14. A flexible container comprising:
a front panel and a rear panel, the front panel superimposed on the rear panel;
a first gusset panel and a second gusset panel located between the front panel and the rear panel, each panel composed of a multilayer film and each multilayer film comprising an inner seal layer, the panels heat sealed along a common peripheral edge;
an orifice in one of the panels; and
a pop-up spout extending through the orifice and having a flange sealed to the inner seal layer of the panel at the orifice, the pop-up spout comprising an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer consisting of an ethylene monomer and a C 4 -C 8 α-olefin comonomer.

15. The flexible container of claim 14 wherein the pop-up spout is located in the front panel.

16. The flexible container of claim 14 wherein the pop-up spout is located in a top segment of the flexible container.

17. The flexible container of claim 14 comprising an upper handle.

18. The flexible container of claim 14 comprising a lower handle.

19. The flexible container of claim 14 wherein the pop-up spout is composed of a polymeric blend comprising from greater than 75 wt % to 99 wt % of the ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer and from less than 25 wt % to 1 wt % of a high density polyethylene.

20. The flexible container of claim 14 , wherein the pop-up spout further comprise an outlet and a plurality of foldable panels; and
a plurality of flexible elbows integrally connects the foldable panels to each other such that the foldable panels emerge outward from the flange, the foldable panels and the flexible elbows integrally connecting the flange to the outlet, and each of the foldable panels having a radius, with the radius becoming smaller with each foldable panel away from the flange, such that the foldable panels nest concentrically within each other when in the retracted state.

Assignees

• Dow Global Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Ma Liangkai
• Caminero Gomes Jorge
• Kaleyta Scott R
• Ramirez Daniel
• Jenkins Ronald K
• Church Kevin L
• Zawisza Jeffrey D
• Crabtree Sam L
• Kauffmann Keith L
• Schulz Peter J
• Kohn John F
• Schuette Chad V

Classifications

• B65D53/08

  Flexible adhesive strips adapted to seal filling or discharging apertures · CPC title

• B65D75/5877 Primary

  connected to a planar surface of the package wall · CPC title

• B65D75/008 Primary

  Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel" · CPC title

• B65D75/566

  Hand holes or suspension apertures · CPC title

• B65D25/44

  Telescopic or retractable nozzles or spouts · CPC title