Flexible pouch with microcapillary dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11104499-B2
Application number	US-201716310883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2017
Priority date	Jun 28, 2016
Publication date	Aug 31, 2021
Grant date	Aug 31, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a flexible pouch. In an embodiment, the flexible pouch includes opposing flexible films. The flexible films define a common peripheral edge. A microcapillary strip is sealed between the opposing flexible films. A first side of the microcapillary strip is 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 extends along at least a portion of the common peripheral edge. The peripheral seal comprises a sealed microcapillary segment. The peripheral seal forms a closed flexible pouch having a storage compartment. A liquid is present in the storage compartment.

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;
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;
the first side of the common peripheral edge intersecting with the second side of the common peripheral edge to form a corner;
the microcapillary strip having an outer edge, and the outer edge forms an angle with the second side of the common peripheral edge at the corner;
a peripheral seal along at least a portion of the common peripheral edge, the peripheral seal comprising a sealed microcapillary segment, the peripheral seal forming a closed flexible pouch having a storage compartment; and
a liquid in the storage compartment.

2. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the microcapillary strip is composed of a matrix material, the matrix material having a material surface tension (M-surface tension) from 15 dyn/cm to 32 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578; and
a liquid in the storage compartment, the liquid having a liquid surface tension (L-surface tension) greater than or equal to 70 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578.

3. The flexible pouch of claim 2 wherein the matrix material is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-based polymer and propylene-based polymer; and
the liquid is an aqueous-based solution.

4. The flexible pouch of claim 1 wherein the microcapillary strip is composed of a matrix material, the matrix material having a material surface tension (M-surface tension) from greater than 32 dyn/cm to 50 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578;
a liquid in the storage compartment, the liquid having a liquid surface tension (L-surface tension) less than 70 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578.

5. The flexible pouch of claim 4 wherein the liquid is a non-aqueous liquid.

6. 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;
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, the peripheral edge comprising a sealed microcapillary segment, the peripheral seal forming a closed flexible pouch having a storage compartment and a pocket;
a liquid in the storage compartment;
wherein the microcapillary strip is composed of a matrix material,
(i) the matrix material has a material surface tension (M-surface tension) from 15 dyn/cm to 32 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578, and the liquid has a liquid surface tension (L-surface tension) greater than or equal to 70 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578; or
(ii) the matrix material has a material surface tension (M-surface tension) from greater than 32 dyn/cm to 50 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578, and the liquid has a liquid surface tension (L-surface tension) less than 70 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578.

7. The flexible pouch of claim 6 wherein the matrix material is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-based polymer and propylene-based polymer; and
the liquid is an aqueous-based solution.

8. 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 comprising opposing sides and opposing edges;
a peripheral seal along at least a portion of the common peripheral edge, the peripheral seal comprising
(i) a side seal along each side of the microcapillary strip, and
(ii) an edge seal along an outer edge of the microcapillary strip;
(iii) the side seals and the edge seal abut the microcapillary strip and do not collapse the microcapillary strip; and
the peripheral seal forms a closed flexible pouch having a storage compartment.

9. The flexible pouch of claim 8 wherein a gap is present between a side seal and the respective side of the microcapillary strip, and the side seal comprises a protrusion extending across the gap.

10. The flexible pouch of claim 8 wherein the microcapillary strip is composed of a matrix material, the matrix material having a material surface tension (M-surface tension) from 15 dyn/cm to 32 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578;
a liquid in the storage compartment, the liquid having a liquid surface tension (L-surface tension) greater than or equal to 70 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578.

11. The flexible pouch of claim 10 wherein the matrix material is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-based polymer and propylene-based polymer; and
the liquid is an aqueous-based solution.

12. The flexible pouch of claim 8 wherein the microcapillary strip is composed of a matrix material, the matrix material having a material surface tension (M-surface tension) from greater than 32 dyn/cm to 50 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578;
a liquid in the storage compartment, the liquid having a liquid surface tension (L-surface tension) less than 70 dyn/cm as measured in accordance with ASTM D 2578.

Assignees

• Dow Global Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Mazzola Nicolas C
• Huang Wenyi
• Dietsche Laura J
• Chen Zhongbi
• Pereira Bruno R
• Ramesh Narayan

Classifications

• B05B11/047 Primary

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

• A61M35/003

  Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media (hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003) · CPC title

• A01G25/14

  Hand watering devices, e.g. watering cans · CPC title

• B65D83/00

  Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents (dispensing means incorporated in closures B65D47/00) · CPC title

• B65D75/5866

  Integral spouts · CPC title