Flexible packages with self-folding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11312550-B2
Application number	US-202117150073-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2021
Priority date	May 26, 2017
Publication date	Apr 26, 2022
Grant date	Apr 26, 2022

Abstract

Packages made from flexible material, wherein the packages include one or more self-folds formed by applying activation energy to the flexible material are presented. The packages include a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film is formed from one type of polymer, and wherein the flexible material defines an enclosed product volume. The packages include a first panel formed from the flexible material and a second panel formed from the flexible material. The packages include a self-fold that has an overall thickness that is about 5% to about 30% greater than a thickness of the flexible material outside of the self-fold. The self-fold has a differential thermal-mechanical set than the flexible material outside of the self-fold, and forms an angle of about 100 degrees to about 170 degrees between the first panel and the second panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A package comprising:
a flexible material comprising a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film is formed from one layer of polymer, wherein the polymer is a single type of polymer, and wherein the flexible material defines an enclosed product volume;
a first panel formed from the flexible material, wherein at least a portion of the first panel is adjacent to a self-fold in the flexible material, and wherein the portion of the first panel adjacent to the self-fold is about flat; and
a second panel formed from the flexible material, wherein at least a portion of the second panel is adjacent to the self-fold in the flexible material, and wherein the portion of the second panel adjacent to the self-fold is about flat;
wherein the self-fold has an overall thickness that is about 5% to about 30% greater than a thickness of the flexible material outside of the self-fold;
wherein the self-fold has a differential thermal-mechanical set than the flexible material outside of the self-fold; and
wherein the self-fold forms an angle of about 100 degrees to about 170 degrees between the first panel and the second panel.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein the angle faces away from the product volume.

3. The package of claim 1 , wherein the self-fold has a degree of prestrain that is about 30% to about 100% less than a degree of prestrain in the flexible material outside of the self-fold.

4. The package of claim 1 , wherein the angle is about 110 degrees to about 160 degrees between the first panel and the second panel.

5. The package of claim 1 comprising:
an energy absorbing material locally disposed at the self-fold;
wherein the flexible material has a first degree of energy absorption for a particular activation energy; and
wherein the energy absorbing material has a second degree of energy absorption for the particular activation energy; and
wherein the second degree of energy absorption is greater than the first degree of energy absorption.

6. The package of claim 5 , wherein the particular activation energy is laser energy having a wavelength of 150 nanometers to 1 millimeter.

7. The package of claim 5 , wherein the particular activation energy is microwave energy having a wavelength of 1 millimeter to 1 meter.

8. The package of claim 1 comprising:
an energy absorbing material globally disposed on the flexible material;
wherein the flexible material has a first degree of energy absorption for a particular activation energy;
wherein the energy absorbing material has a second degree of energy absorption for the particular activation energy; and
wherein the second degree of energy absorption is greater than the first degree of energy absorption.

9. The package of claim 8 , wherein the particular activation energy is laser energy having a wavelength of 150 nanometers to 1 millimeter.

10. The package of claim 8 , wherein the particular activation energy is microwave energy having a wavelength of 1 millimeter to 1 meter.

11. The package of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyethylene.

12. The package of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyethylene terephthalate.

13. The package of claim 1 , comprising a shielding material locally applied to the flexible material, wherein the shielding material is disposed on a side of the flexible material opposite the angle.

14. The package of claim 13 , wherein the shielding material comprises a metallization layer.

15. A package comprising:
a flexible material comprising a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film is formed from one layer of polymer, wherein the polymer is a single type of polymer, and wherein the flexible material defines an enclosed product volume;
a first panel formed from the flexible material, wherein at least a portion of the first panel is adjacent to a self-fold in the flexible material, and wherein the portion of the first panel adjacent to the self-fold is about flat; and
a second panel formed from the flexible material, wherein at least a portion of the second panel is adjacent to the self-fold in the flexible material, and wherein the portion of the second panel adjacent to the self-fold is about flat;
wherein the self-fold has an overall thickness that is about 5% to about 30% greater than a thickness of the flexible material outside of the self-fold;
wherein the self-fold has a differential thermal-mechanical set than the flexible material outside of the self-fold;
wherein the self-fold forms an angle of about 100 degrees to about 170 degrees between the first panel and the second panel; and
wherein the angle faces toward the product volume.

16. The package of claim 15 , comprising a shielding material locally applied to the flexible material, wherein the shielding material is disposed on a side of the flexible material opposite the angle.

17. The package of claim 15 , wherein the polymer is polyethylene.

18. The package of claim 15 , wherein the polymer is polyethylene terephthalate.

19. A package comprising:
a flexible material comprising a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film is formed from one type of polymer, and wherein the flexible material defines an enclosed product volume;
a first panel formed from the flexible material, wherein at least a part of the first panel is adjacent to a self-fold in the flexible material, and wherein the part of the first panel adjacent to the self-fold is about flat;
a second panel formed from the flexible material, wherein at least a part of the second panel is adjacent to the self-fold in the flexible material, and wherein the part of the second panel adjacent to the self-fold is about flat; and
wherein the self-fold has a different thermal-mechanical set than the flexible material outside of the self-fold; and
wherein the self-fold forms an angle of about 100 degrees to about 170 degrees between the first panel and the second panel.

20. The package of claim 19 , wherein a vertex of the angle is disposed inboard of the first panel and the second panel relative to the product volume.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• O'Donnell Hugh Joseph
• Remus Michael
• Rogers Neil John

Classifications

• B65D75/20 Primary

  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

• B31B2155/0014

  having their openings facing transversally to the direction of movement · CPC title

• B65D75/52

  Details · CPC title

• B31B70/00

  Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags · CPC title

• B65B61/24

  for shaping or reshaping completed packages · CPC title