Straw pierceable flexible pouch

Abstract

A beverage container and method for forming a beverage container having a straw pierceable portion in a wall. The beverage container has a port formed of a rigid frame having a membrane covering an aperture. The frame member is bonded to a flexible wall of a pouch. The membrane is mounted to the frame member to separate from the frame member when pushed by a straw. The frame guides the straw to the membrane. An alternative embodiment includes a dimple formed under heat and pressure in a mold pierceable by a straw.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of forming a beverage container comprising the steps of: 
 placing a locating indicia on a web of flexible moldable material;    positioning said web between a male mold element and a female mold element, closing said male and female elements on a portion of said web adjacent said locating indicia;    heating said portion of said web in said mold elements to form a dimple in said web, said dimple having a thickness less than a thickness of said web;    forming said container with said dimple on a wall of a container.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said dimple is formed with a parabolic shape.  
     
     
         3 . The method of forming of  claim 1 , wherein said web is formed into at least one panel after said heating set.  
     
     
         4 . A container for holding a beverage comprising: 
 a wall of a flexible moldable material, said wall having a locating indicia formed in said wall adjacent a dimple, said dimple extending inwardly into said contain and having a thickness less than a thickness of said wall.    
     
     
         5 . The container for holding beverage of  claim 4 , wherein said container is a pouch formed from a web of flexible material.  
     
     
         6 . The container for holding beverage of  claim 5 , wherein said locating indicia is a circle printed on said wall around said dimple.  
     
     
         7 . The container for holding the beverage of  claim 4 , wherein said dimple has a parabolic shape.  
     
     
         8 . A method of forming a pouch with a frangible portion for piercing by a straw, said method comprising the steps of: 
 forming a web having at lest two layers of flexible material;    positioning said web at a cutting station;    forming a cut in said wall which extends inwardly from a top surface of the web but does not extend to a bottom layer to form a flap.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said cut extends in an arc of at least 270°.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said material further comprises the step of forming a locating indicia on said flap.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of circumferencing a weld in said web around said cut.  
     
     
         12 . A container for holding beverage comprising: 
 a wall of flexible material, said web having at least two layers, one of said at least two layers being an outer layer and an other of said layers being an inner layer, said web having a cut extending through all of said at least two layers except said inner layer, said cut having a diameter larger than said straw.    
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein said cut extends in an arc of at least 270°.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein a locating indicia is formed on said flap.  
     
     
         15 . A container for holding a beverage comprising: 
 a wall formed of flexible material, said wall having an inner surface;    a frame affixed to the wall, said frame having an outer side and an inner side, said outer surface bonded to said inner surface of said wall, said frame having a center aperture adapted to receive said straw;    a membrane of flexible material detachably mounted to said inner side of said frame, said membrane being separable from said frame when pushed by said straw.    
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein said outer side of said frame member is flat.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein said inner side has a flange extending outwardly away from said outer side.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein said membrane is formed of foil.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein said membrane is formed of plastic.