Pouch with oxygen scavenger and method of forming pouch with oxygen scavenger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11021312-B2
Application number	US-201816229550-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2018
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

The pouch includes a pouch material defining an inner cavity, the pouch material includes a first polymer layer and a gas impermeable layer, the first polymer layer forms an inner surface of the inner cavity, a consumable item in the inner cavity, and an oxygen scavenger, the oxygen scavenger includes at least one active element dispersed within a matrix material, the oxygen scavenger is at least partially connected to the first polymer layer within the inner cavity, and the first polymer layer and the matrix material both include a first polymer material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pouch, comprising:
a pouch material defining an inner cavity, the pouch material including a first polymer layer and a gas impermeable layer, a first surface of the first polymer layer forming an inner surface of the inner cavity;
a consumable item in the inner cavity; and
an oxygen scavenger, the oxygen scavenger including at least one active element dispersed within a matrix material, at least one first portion of the oxygen scavenger being infused within the first surface of the first polymer layer, the first polymer layer and the matrix material both including a first polymer material.

2. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the gas impermeable layer is moisture impermeable.

3. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen scavenger is adhered to the first polymer layer by the matrix material being at least partially melted into the first polymer layer.

4. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the pouch includes a seam, at least one second portion of the oxygen scavenger is at least partially enveloped within the seam, and an end of the at least one second portion of the oxygen scavenger extends from the seam into the inner cavity.

5. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the gas impermeable layer includes:
a foil layer.

6. The pouch of claim 5 , wherein the foil layer forms an outer surface of the pouch material.

7. The pouch of claim 5 , wherein the pouch material further comprises:
a second polymer layer on an outer surface of the pouch material.

8. The pouch of claim 7 , wherein the gas impermeable layer is directly connected to the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer.

9. The pouch of claim 7 , wherein the pouch material further includes:
a third polymer layer between the second polymer layer and the foil layer; and
an adhesive between the first polymer layer and the foil layer.

10. The pouch of claim 9 , wherein
the first polymer layer and the third polymer layer are made from at least one of polyethylene or a polyethylene based sealant, and
the second polymer layer is a layer of biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET).

11. The pouch of claim 5 , wherein the first polymer layer has a lower melting point than the foil layer.

12. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the at least one active element includes iron fragments.

13. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer material has a melting point between about 137° C. and 205° C.

14. The pouch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light-sensitive activator configured to bind with free-oxygen to activate the at least one active element following an exposure to light.

15. The pouch of claim 14 , wherein the light-sensitive activator is a uni-molecular free-radical generating photo-initiator.

16. The pouch of claim 14 , wherein the light-sensitive activator is homogeneously mixed with the at least one active element.

17. The pouch of claim 14 , wherein the light-sensitive activator is infused within the oxygen scavenger.

18. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen scavenger is configured to reduce an oxygen level in the inner cavity to a level that is 2% oxygen or less within a period of 30 days or less, and an initial gas in the inner cavity is ambient air.

19. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen scavenger is configured to reduce an oxygen level in the inner cavity to a level that is 2% oxygen or less within a period of 17 days or less, and an initial gas in the inner cavity is ambient air.

20. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen scavenger is configured to reduce an oxygen level in the inner cavity to a level that is 1% oxygen or less within a period of 30 days or less, and an initial gas in the inner cavity is ambient air.

21. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the consumable item is a part of an e-vaping device that includes a pre-vapor formulation.

22. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer material is configured to allow oxygen migration through the first polymer material.

23. The pouch of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer layer and the matrix material have substantially a same melting point.

24. A pouch, comprising:
a pouch material defining an inner cavity, the pouch material including a first polymer layer and a foil layer, a first surface of the first polymer layer forming an inner surface of the inner cavity;
a consumable item in the inner cavity; and
an oxygen scavenger, the oxygen scavenger including at least one active element dispersed within a matrix material, at least one first portion of the oxygen scavenger being infused within the first surface of the first polymer layer, the first polymer layer and the matrix material both including a first polymer material.

25. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the foil layer forms an outer surface of the pouch material.

26. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the first polymer layer and the matrix material have substantially a same melting point.

27. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the first polymer material is configured to allow oxygen migration through the first polymer material.

28. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the foil layer is gas impermeable.

29. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the foil layer is moisture impermeable.

30. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the oxygen scavenger is adhered to the first polymer layer by the matrix material being at least partially melted into the first polymer layer.

31. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the pouch includes a seam, at least one second portion of the oxygen scavenger is at least partially enveloped within the seam, and an end of the at least one second portion of the oxygen scavenger extends from the seam into the inner cavity.

32. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the pouch material further comprises:
a second polymer layer on an outer surface of the pouch material.

33. The pouch of claim 32 , wherein the foil layer is directly connected to the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer.

34. The pouch of claim 32 , wherein the pouch material further includes:
a third polymer layer between the second polymer layer and the foil layer; and
an adhesive between the first polymer layer and the foil layer.

35. The pouch of claim 34 , wherein
the first polymer layer and the third polymer layer are made from at least one of polyethylene or a polyethylene based sealant, and
the second polymer layer is a layer of biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET).

36. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the first polymer layer has a lower melting point than the foil layer.

37. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the at least one active element includes iron fragments.

38. The pouch of claim 24 , wherein the first polymer material has a melting point between about 137° C. and 205° C.

39. The pouch of claim 24 , further comprising:
a light-sensitive activator configured to bind with free-oxygen to activate the at least one active element following an exposure to light.

40. The pouch of claim 39 , wherein the light-sensitive activator is a uni-molecular free-radical generating photo-initiator.

41. The pouch of claim 39 , wherein the light-sensitive activator is homogeneously mixe

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Fath Scott A
• Mitten Robert T
• Macko Jason A

Classifications

• B65D81/267

  the absorber being in sheet form · CPC title

• B65D75/20

  in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding · CPC title

• B65B2051/105

  Heat seal temperature control · CPC title

• B65B61/20 Primary

  for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents (adding unpacking elements B65B61/18) · CPC title

• B65B55/19

  by adding materials intended to remove free oxygen or to develop inhibitor gases, e.g. vapour phase inhibitors · CPC title