Infusion packet and its manufacture

Abstract

The present invention relates to an infusion packet ( 51 ) comprising a top ( 52 ), a bottom ( 53 ), a first side ( 54 ) and a second side ( 55 ); wherein the bottom ( 53 ) of the packet is defined by a gusset ( 61 ) and each side ( 54, 55 ) of the packet is defined by a seal that extends between the top ( 52 ) and bottom ( 53 ) of the packet; the packet ( 51 ) being characterised in that the seals defining the sides ( 54, 55 ) are arranged such that the packet has a compartment with a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

1 . An liquid-permeable infusion packet comprising a top ( 2 ,  52 ), a bottom ( 3 ,  53 ), a first side ( 4 ,  54 ) and a second side ( 6 ,  55 ); wherein the bottom ( 3 ,  53 ) of the packet is defined by a gusset ( 11 ,  61 ) and each side ( 4 ,  5 ,  54 ,  55 ) of the packet is defined by a seal that extends between the top ( 2 ,  52 ) and bottom ( 3 ,  53 ) of the packet; the packet ( 1 ,  51 ) being characterised in that the seals defining the sides ( 4 ,  5 ,  54 ,  55 ) are arranged such that the packet has a compartment ( 10 ,  60 ) with a substantially trapezoidal cross-section, wherein infusible material is enclosed within the compartment ( 10 ,  60 ). 
     
     
         2 . An infusion packet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the packet ( 1 ,  51 ) comprises a first gusset ( 11 ,  61 ) defining the bottom the packet and a second gusset ( 12 ,  62 ) defining the top of the packet. 
     
     
         3 . An infusion packet as claimed in  claim 1  or claim wherein the compartment ( 10 ,  60 ) has a substantially isosceles trapezoidal cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . An infusion packet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each gusset ( 11 ,  12 ,  61 ,  62 ) consists of two gusset panels ( 13 ,  63 ) and three gusset creases ( 14 ,  15 ,  64 ,  65 ). 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An infusion packet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the infusible material enclosed within the compartment ( 10 , 60 ) is tea and/or herb plant material. 
     
     
         7 . An infusion packet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the seals defining the sides ( 4 ,  5 ,  54 ,  55 ) of the packet are separated by a width W1 of 30 to 80 mm at the bottom ( 3 ,  53 ) of the packet and by a width W2 of 20 to 70 mm at the top ( 2 ,  52 ) of the packet, and wherein W1 is wider than W2. 
     
     
         8 . An infusion packet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the top ( 2 ,  52 ) and bottom ( 3 ,  53 ) of the infusion packet are separated by a distance D of 35 to 80 mm. 
     
     
         9 . An infusion packet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the packet comprises packaging material that covers n area A of less than 12000 mm 2 . 
     
     
         10 . An infusion packet as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the area A is from 5000 to 11000 mm 2 . 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing an infusion packet from a liquid-permeable web of packaging material ( 21 ,  71 ), the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) sealing the web of packaging material ( 21 ,  71 ) to form a tubular web;   (b) indenting the tubular web to introduce creases ( 14 ,  15 ,  64 ,  65 ) into the packaging material, the creases defining at least one gusset ( 11 ,  12 ,  61 ,  62 );   (c) forming a first seal ( 31 ) across the tubular web;   (d) dosing ( 70 ) a substance comprises infusible material ( 34 ) into the tubular web; and   (e) forming a second seal ( 31 ) across the tubular web,   wherein the first and second seals are formed such that they define a compartment ( 10 ,  60 ) with a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the method comprises the additional step of:
 (g) separating the compartments ( 10 ,  60 ) defined by the seals into individual packets by severing the web at the seals. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the infusible material ( 34 ) is tea material. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the packaging material is heat sealable.