Flexible pouch with microcapillary dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10597210-B2
Application number	US-201615740140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a flexible pouch. In an embodiment, the flexible pouch includes opposing flexible films. The opposing flexible films define a common peripheral edge. The flexible pouch includes a microcapillary strip sealed between the opposing flexible films. A first side of the microcapillary strip is located at a first side of the common peripheral edge. A second side of the microcapillary strip is located at a second side of the common peripheral edge. A peripheral seal extends along at least a portion of the common peripheral edge. The peripheral seal includes a sealed microcapillary segment.

First claim

We claim:

1. A flexible pouch comprising:
opposing flexible films, the flexible films defining a common peripheral edge;
a microcapillary strip sealed between the opposing flexible films, the microcapillary strip composed of a matrix of a polymeric material, and a plurality of channels wholly disposed in the matrix polymeric material;
a first side of the microcapillary strip located at a first side of the common peripheral edge and a second side of the microcapillary strip located at a second side of the common peripheral edge;
a peripheral seal along at least a portion of the common peripheral edge, the peripheral seal comprising a sealed microcapillary segment.

2. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the peripheral seal forms a closed flexible pouch having a storage compartment.

3. The flexible pouch of claim 2 comprising a liquid in the storage compartment.

4. The flexible pouch of claim 1 comprising a fill inlet.

5. The flexible pouch of claim 1 , wherein the common peripheral edge defines a 4-sided polygon, the first side of the microcapillary strip is located at a first side of the 4-sided polygon; and
the second side of the microcapillary strip is located at an intersecting side of the 4-sided polygon.

6. The flexible pouch of claim 1 , wherein the common peripheral edge defines a 4-sided polygon, the first side of the microcapillary strip is located at a first side of the 4-sided polygon; and
the second side of the microcapillary strip is located at a parallel side of the 4-sided polygon.

7. The flexible pouch of claim 1 comprising a release member, the release member comprising a portion of the sealed microcapillary segment, the release member exposing channels of the microcapillary strip when the release member is removed from the flexible pouch.

8. The flexible pouch of claim 7 comprising:
a squeezing force imparted upon the storage compartment; and
a flow of the liquid through the exposed channels of the microcapillary strip.

9. The flexible pouch of claim 1 comprising a closure for the exposed channels.

10. A flexible pouch comprising:
opposing flexible films, the flexible films defining a common peripheral edge;
a microcapillary strip located at an edge offset distance between the opposing flexible films, the microcapillary strip sealed between the opposing flexible films, the microcapillary strip composed of a matrix of a polymeric material, and a plurality of channels wholly disposed in the matrix polymeric material;
a first side of the microcapillary strip located at a first side of the common peripheral edge and a second side of the microcapillary strip located at a second side of the common peripheral edge; and
a peripheral seal along at least a portion of the common peripheral edge.

11. The flexible pouch of claim 10 wherein the common peripheral edge comprises a sealed microcapillary segment.

12. The flexible pouch of claim 10 wherein the peripheral seal forms a closed flexible pouch having a storage compartment and a pocket.

13. The flexible pouch of claim 10 comprising a liquid in the storage compartment.

14. The flexible pouch of claim 10 comprising a fill inlet.

15. The flexible pouch of claim 10 , wherein the common peripheral edge defines a 4-sided polygon, the first side of the microcapillary strip is located a first side of the 4-sided polygon; and
the second side of the microcapillary strip is located at an intersecting side of the 4-sided polygon.

16. The flexible pouch of claim 10 , wherein the common peripheral edge defines a 4-sided polygon, the first side of the microcapillary strip is located at a first side of the 4-sided polygon; and
the second side of the microcapillary strip is located at a parallel side of the 4-sided polygon.

17. The flexible pouch of claim 12 wherein channels of the microcapillary strip are exposed when the pocket is removed from the flexible pouch.

18. The flexible pouch of claim 17 comprising:
a squeezing force imparted upon the storage compartment; and
a flow of the liquid through the channels of the microcapillary strip.

19. The flexible pouch of claim 10 comprising a closure for covering the exposed channels.

20. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the flexible pouch is a stand-up pouch.

Assignees

• Dow Global Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Franca Marcos P
• Pereira Bruno Rufato
• Huang Wenyi
• Dietsche Laura J

Classifications

• B05B11/047 Primary

  characterised by the outlet or venting means (B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D37/00

  Portable flexible containers not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B65D75/5811 Primary

  and defining, after tearing, a small dispensing spout, a small orifice or the like · CPC title

• B05B1/14

  with multiple outlet openings (B05B1/02, B05B1/26 take precedence); with strainers in or outside the outlet opening · CPC title

• B05B11/048

  characterised by the container, e.g. this latter being surrounded by an enclosure, or the means for deforming it (B05B11/041, B05B11/046 take precedence) · CPC title