Flexible Container with Fitment and Process for Producing Same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016679-A1
Application number	US-201514800312-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2015
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flexible container is provided. The flexible container includes four panels. The four panels form (i) a body portion; (ii) a neck portion, and a flare portion that extends from the neck portion; (iii) a tapered transition portion between the body portion and the neck portion; and (iv) the neck portion has a reduced width. The flare portion has an expanded end. The width of the flare portion gradually increases from the neck portion to the expanded end.

First claim

1 . A process comprising:
(A) providing a flexible container with four panels, the four panels forming
(i) a body portion,
(ii) a neck portion, and a flare portion that extends from the neck portion,
(iii) a tapered transition portion between the body portion and the neck portion,
(iv) the neck portion having a reduced width, the flare portion having an expanded end, and the width of the flare portion gradually increases from the neck portion to the flare expanded end; and
(B) inserting a fitment into the flare portion from the expanded end.

2 . The process of claim 1 wherein the inserting comprises supporting the fitment on a mandrel and inserting the fitment first into the expanded end, then into the flare portion, and then into the neck portion.

3 . The process of claim 2 wherein fitment comprises a base having a circular cross section, the process comprising supporting the base with the mandrel and inserting the base into the neck portion.

4 . The process of claim 2 comprising supporting a fitment comprising a polymeric composition having an Izod impact resistance from greater than 50 J/m to 500 J/m.

5 . The process of claim 1 comprising adjoining the fitment to the neck portion.

6 . The process of claim 5 wherein the adjoining comprises heat sealing a base of the fitment to the neck portion.

7 . The process of claim 6 comprising forming, with the adjoining, an excess flare portion.

8 . The process of claim 7 comprising removing the excess flare portion from the flexible container.

9 . The process of claim 2 comprising inserting the fitment through the flare portion;
contacting a score device with the neck portion;
supporting the neck portion with the mandrel during the contacting; and
rotating the neck portion to cut excess flare portion from the neck portion.

10 . The process of claim 9 comprising removing the excess flare portion from the neck portion.

11 . The process of claim 1 comprising, adding through the expanded end, before the inserting, a flowable substance into the container interior.

12 . A process comprising:
A) providing a flexible container with four panels, the four panels forming
(i) a body portion,
(ii) a neck portion,
(iii) a tapered transition portion between the body portion and the neck portion,
(iv) the neck portion having a reduced width,
(B) adding, through the neck portion, a flowable substance into the container interior; and (C) sealing the neck portion.

13 . The process of claim 12 comprising heat sealing the neck portion.

14 . The process of claim 11 wherein the flexible container comprises a flare portion having an expanded end, the width of the flare portion gradually increases from the neck portion to the flare portion expanded end; and
sealing the flare portion.

15 . The flexible container of claim 11 comprising opening the seal and re-sealing the seal.

Assignees

• Dow Global Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Pereira Bruno R
• Franca Marcos P
• Wilkes Kenneth R

Classifications

• B31B2160/20

  with structural provision for thickness of contents · CPC title

• B65B61/188 Primary

  by applying or incorporating profile-strips, e.g. for reclosable bags · CPC title

• B65B3/02

  Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B31B70/74

  Auxiliary operations · CPC title

• B65B7/02

  Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks · CPC title