Pouch having expanded polymer edges

Abstract

A heat sealed pouch with tactile friendly edges is provided from the expansion of an expandable polymer, triggered either during the heat sealing process or subsequent to the heat sealing process. The pouch consists of two adjacent panels which are sealed along at least one edge.

1 . A pouch comprising: 
 a front layer and a back layer;    an expandable polymer positioned between the two layers; and    a seam joining together at least one edge of the two layers;    the expandable polymer in an expanded state forming a bead along the seam.    
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the expandable polymer bead is formed along three seams.  
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the expandable polymer is a heat activated polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 3  wherein the expandable polymer is a plastisol based ink.  
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 3  wherein the expandable polymer is a heat activated puff ink.  
     
     
         6 . The pouch in  claim 1  wherein the expandable polymer is triggered to expand by radio frequency.  
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 1  further comprising a gusset panel secured to the front and rear layers to form a gusseted stand-up pouch.  
     
     
         8 . A pouch comprising: 
 a front panel, a back panel and a bottom gusset;    the front panel, the back panel and the bottom gusset each having a plurality of laminate layers;    an expandable polymer positioned between two of the laminate layers in at least one of the panels and the bottom gusset, or in both the front panel and the back panel;    a seam joining together at least one edge of the front panel with at least one edge of the back panel, a seam joining together at least one edge of the front panel with at least one edge of the bottom gusset, or a seam joining together at least one edge of the back panel with at least one edge of the bottom gusset; and    the expandable polymer in an expanded state forming a bead along the joined seam.    
     
     
         9 . The pouch of  claim 8  wherein the expandable polymer is a heat activated polymer.  
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 9  wherein the expandable polymer is a plastisol based ink.  
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 9  wherein the expandable polymer is a heat activated puff ink.  
     
     
         12 . The pouch in  claim 8  wherein the expandable polymer is triggered to expand by the application of electron beams, microwaves, or the like.  
     
     
         13 . A multi-layered stand-up pouch comprising: 
 a pair of opposed side wall panels joined to each other about the periphery thereof;    an expandable polymer in an expanded state forming a bead along the joined periphery.    
     
     
         14 . The pouch of  claim 13  wherein expandable polymer is a heat activated polymer.  
     
     
         15 . The pouch of  claim 13  wherein the expandable polymer is a plastisol based ink.  
     
     
         16 . The pouch of  claim 13  wherein the expandable polymer is a heat activated puff ink.  
     
     
         17 . A method of making a heat sealed pouch, comprising the steps of: 
 positioning the expandable polymer between two pouch panel layers;    placing the front panel and the back panel together into a sealing jaws;    the sealing jaws heat sealing the front panel and back panel together along at least one edge; and    activating and expanding the expandable polymer outwardly along the at least one edge.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the sealing jaws are chamfered on the outer edge to direct the expandable polymer outwardly during heat sealing and heat activation.  
     
     
         19 . The pouch of  claim 17  wherein the expandable polymer is a plastisol based ink.  
     
     
         20 . The pouch of  claim 17  wherein the expandable polymer is a heat activated puff ink.  
     
     
         21 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the expandable polymer is triggered to expand by electron beams, microwaves, or the like.