Flexible mouth insert for pouch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12269662-B2
Application number	US-202217979268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2022
Priority date	Nov 2, 2021
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

Abstract

A mouth insert for a flexible pouch. The mouth insert defines a passageway that extends along an axis from an axially outer end of the mouth insert to an axially inner end of the mouth insert. The mouth insert is flexible and includes a sealing portion and a lip portion. The sealing portion is for forming a sealed connection to the flexible pouch. The lip portion is configured to extend axially outwardly from the flexible pouch. The lip portion has an axial height that is less than ⅓ of the axial height of the mouth insert.

First claim

We claim:

1. A flexible pouch comprising:
a film that defines an internal compartment of the flexible pouch; and
a mouth insert that is sealed between a first portion of the film and a second portion of the film to define a mouth of the flexible pouch;
the mouth insert defining a passageway that extends along an axis from an axially outer end of the mouth insert to an axially inner end of the mouth insert;
wherein the passageway extends from the internal compartment of the flexible pouch, at the axially inner end of the mouth insert, to an external environment, at the axially outer end of the mouth insert;
wherein the mouth insert is flexible;
wherein the mouth insert comprises:
a sealing portion that is sealed between the first portion of the film and the second portion of the film; and
a lip portion configured to extend axially outwardly from the film;
wherein the lip portion defines the axially outer end of the mouth insert;
wherein the mouth insert has a mouth insert axial height, the sealing portion has a sealing portion axial height, and the lip portion has a lip portion axial height;
wherein the lip portion axial height is less than ⅓ of the mouth insert axial height;
wherein the sealing portion defines the axially inner end of the mouth insert; and
wherein the mouth insert axial height is a sum of the sealing portion axial height and the lip portion axial height.

2. The flexible pouch according to claim 1 , wherein, when the mouth insert is in an unbiased condition, the mouth insert has an eye-like shape when viewed from the axis, with two convex walls that are connected at two corners; and
wherein the passageway is defined between the two convex walls.

3. The flexible pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the mouth insert is at least one of:
injection molded;
extrusion molded;
formed from LDPE;
formed from PET; and
formed from rPET.

4. The flexible pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the mouth insert and the film are formed from the same material; or
the film has an inner layer that is sealed to the mouth insert, and the mouth insert and the inner layer of the film are formed from the same material.

5. The flexible pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the mouth insert extends less than 5 mm axially outwardly from the film.

6. The flexible pouch according to claim 5 , wherein the sealing portion has a first sealing wall and a second sealing wall;
wherein the first sealing wall and the second sealing wall each have an outer surface and an inner surface;
wherein the outer surface of the first sealing wall is scaled to the first portion of the film;
wherein the outer surface of the second sealing wall is sealed to the second portion of the film; and
wherein the passageway is defined, in part, between the inner surface of the first sealing wall and the inner surface of the second scaling wall.

7. The flexible pouch according to claim 6 , wherein the lip portion has a first lip that extends axially outwardly from the first sealing wall of the sealing portion;
wherein the lip portion has a second lip that extends axially outwardly from the second sealing wall of the sealing portion;
wherein the first lip and the second lip each have an outside surface and an inside surface;
wherein the passageway is defined, in part, between the inside surface of the first lip and the inside surface of the second lip; and
wherein the inside surface of the first lip extends radially inwardly, past the inner surface of the first sealing wall, and the inside surface of the second lip extends radially inwardly, past the inner surface of the second sealing wall.

8. The flexible pouch according to claim 7 , further comprising an attachment that is attached to the mouth insert;
wherein the attachment extends into the passageway;
wherein the attachment is attached to the lip portion of the mouth insert; and
wherein the attachment is unattached to the sealing portion of the mouth insert.

9. The flexible pouch according to claim 6 , wherein the attachment comprises at least one of: a spout, a closure, and a pump; and
wherein the attachment is connected to the mouth insert by at least one of: a snap fit connection, a laser weld, and an ultrasonic weld.

10. The flexible pouch according to claim 8 , wherein the attachment has at least one groove that receives the inside surface of the first lip and the inside surface of the second lip in a snap fit.

11. The flexible pouch according to claim 8 , wherein the mouth insert forms a liquid tight seal with the attachment:
wherein the attachment is formed from a different material than the mouth insert;
wherein the attachment is rigid; and
wherein the attachment is formed from at least one of: HDPE and PP.

12. The flexible pouch according to claim 7 , wherein the outside surface of the first lip extends radially outwardly, past the outer surface of the first sealing wall, and the outside surface of the second lip extends radially outwardly, past the outer surface of the second sealing wall;
wherein the first lip has a first axially inwardly facing shoulder that is positioned axially outwardly from an axially outer end of the first portion of the film; and
wherein the second lip has a second axially inwardly facing shoulder that is positioned axially outwardly from an axially outer end of the second portion of the film.

13. The flexible pouch according to claim 6 , wherein the first sealing wall has at least one slot that extends radially through the first sealing wall from the inner surface to the outer surface;
wherein the second sealing wall has at least one slot that extends radially through the second sealing wall from the inner surface to the outer surface; and
wherein the at least one slot in the first sealing wall and the at least one slot in the second sealing wall each extend in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the axis.

14. The flexible pouch according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one slot in the first sealing wall and the at least one slot in the second sealing wall each have a wave-like shape.

15. The flexible pouch according to claim 5 , wherein the passageway is obstructed by a membrane;
wherein the membrane is elastic; and
wherein the lip portion axial height is less than ⅙ of the mouth insert axial height.

16. The flexible pouch according to claim 9 , wherein the attachment has at least one groove that receives the inside surface of the first lip and the inside surface of the second lip in a snap fit;
wherein the mouth insert forms a liquid tight seal with the attachment;
wherein the attachment is formed from a different material than the mouth insert;
wherein the attachment is rigid; and
wherein the attachment is formed from at least one of: HDPE and PP.

17. The flexible pouch according to claim 16 , wherein the outside surface of the first lip extends radially outwardly, past the outer surface of the first sealing wall, and the outside surface of the second lip extends radially outwardly, past the outer surface of the second sealing wall;
wherein the first lip has a first axially inwardly facing shoulder that is positioned axially outwardly from an axially outer end of the first portion of the film;
wherein the second lip has a second axially inwardly facing shoulder that is positioned axially outwardly from an axially outer end of the second portion of the film;
wherein the first sealing wall has at least one slot that extends radially through the first sealing wall from the inner surface to the outer surface;
wherein the second sealing wall h

Assignees

• Op Hygiene Ip Gmbh

Inventors

• Ophardt Heiner
• Mcdonagh Padraig
• O'Malley John
• Mirbach Ali
• Geurts Patrick

Classifications

• B65D2575/586

  with means for reclosing · CPC title

• B65D2575/583

  the non-integral spout having an elongate cross-sectional shape, e.g. canoe or boat shaped · CPC title

• B65D75/30

  Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding · CPC title

• B65D75/5883 Primary

  connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls · CPC title