Drinks pouch

Abstract

A fully sealed pouch containing a drink is provided with a straw within the pouch accessible to allow a user to draw drink from the pouch. The pouch defines a top portion, a bottom portion, and respective side edges interconnecting the top portion and the bottom portion. A corner portion is defined between the top portion and one side edge, the corner portion being openable by a user to access the straw. The pouch forms a closed cavity containing the drink, the cavity being defined by the top portion, the bottom portion, and side edges and by at least one wall defining a front face and a rear face for the cavity. The front and rear faces are connected together in the top portion. The front and rear faces are continuous with each other at, or are connected along, the other of the side edges. The front and rear faces are connected, optionally via a gusset, to provide the bottom portion. The one side edge is formed by a first heat seal connecting the front and rear faces; and a second heat seal connects the front and rear faces and extends in an incomplete fashion from the top portion to the bottom portion, being spaced inboard of the first heat seal. The second heat seal divides the interior of the cavity into major and minor portions interconnected so that drink may flow between them, the minor portion lying between the first and second heat seals, and the straw being located within this minor portion. A number of different ways are described in which the corner portion may be opened along a line of weakness formed in the pouch and extending generally parallel to the top edge or the bottom portion from the first heat seal to and ending at the second heat seal.

1 . A fully sealed pouch containing a drink, and provided with a straw within the pouch accessible to allow a user to draw the drink from the pouch; the pouch defining a top portion, a bottom portion, and respective side edges interconnecting the top portion and the bottom portion, and a corner portion defined between the top portion and one said side edge, the corner portion being openable by a user to access the straw; the pouch forming a closed cavity containing said drink, the cavity being defined by said top portion, said bottom portion, and said side edges and by at least one wall defining a front face and a rear face for the cavity, the front and rear faces being connected together in said top portion, the front and rear faces being continuous with each other at, or being connected along, the other of said side edges, the front and rear faces being connected to provide said bottom portion, and said one side edge being formed by a first heat seal connecting the front and rear faces; and a second heat seal connecting the front and rear faces and extending in an incomplete fashion from the top portion to the bottom portion and being spaced inboard of the first heat seal over the greater part of the extent of the first heat seal, the second heat seal dividing the interior of the cavity into major and minor portions interconnected so that the drink may flow between them, the minor portion lying between the first and second heat seals, and the straw being located within said minor portion; and the corner portion being openable along a line of weakness formed in said pouch and extending generally parallel to the bottom portion from the first heat seal to and ending at the second heat seal. 
     
     
         2 . The pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the top portion has a top edge defined by a third heat seal interrupted by a cut at the second heat seal and dividing the top edge into a minor heat seal portion extending from said first heat seal to said second heat seal and a major heat seal portion separated from said minor heat seal portion and extending from said second heat seal to the other of said side edges, and said line of weakness extends from the one side edge to the cut, whereby said corner portion is openable by tearing along said line of weakness from said one side edge to said cut. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch according to  claim 2 , wherein the second heat seal is bifurcated at its end adjacent the top edge to form a first branch extending to the minor heat seal portion in the corner portion and a second branch extending to the major heat seal portion, the cut extending between the two branches, whereby said corner portion is openable by tearing along said line of weakness from said one side edge to said first branch in said cut. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat seal terminates short of the bottom portion to allow passage between the major and minor portions of the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat seal is interrupted by gaps allowing passage between the major and minor portions of the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the straw is bonded to said at least one wall, whereby the straw is fixed in position within the pouch at least until located by a user after opening the corner portion. 
     
     
         7 . The pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is formed from a heat bondable pliant packaging material in laminate form, and the straw has a first end and a second end and is bonded to at least one surface interior of the pouch selected from surfaces of said front and rear surfaces interior of the pouch at a portion of the straw intermediate its ends. 
     
     
         8 . The pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the straw is located adjacent the top portion of the pouch, and wherein the straw has a longitudinally expandable portion, preferably a concertina portion that also allows the straw to be bent. 
     
     
         9 . The pouch according to  claim 8 , wherein the expandable portion is located between an intermediate portion and the first end of the straw. 
     
     
         10 . The pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness is formed both in the front face and in the rear face and extends from the first heat seal to and ends at the second heat seal, the line of weakness being formed as dotted or dashed lines laser etched into exterior surfaces of the front and rear faces. 
     
     
         11 . The pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the heat seals is formed by application of pressure and ultrasonic vibration causing sealing by local heating where surfaces are in contact, while external surfaces remain cool. 
     
     
         12 . A pouch containing a drink, and provided with a straw within the pouch accessible to allow a user to draw drink from the pouch; the pouch defining a top edge, a bottom portion, and respective side edges interconnecting the top edge and the bottom portion, and a corner portion defined between the top edge and one said side edge, the corner portion being openable by a user to access the straw; the pouch forming a closed cavity containing said drink, the cavity being defined by said top edge, said bottom portion, and said side edges and by at least one wall defining a front face and a rear face for the cavity, the front and rear faces being connected along said top edge, the front and rear faces being continuous with each other at or being connected along the other of said side edges, the front and rear faces being connected to provide said bottom portion, and said one side edge being formed by a first heat seal connecting the front and rear faces; a second heat seal connecting the front and rear faces, and extending in an incomplete fashion from the top edge generally in a direction towards the bottom portion parallel to and spaced from the first seal over the greater part of the extent of the first heat seal, the second seal dividing the interior of the cavity into major and minor portions interconnected so that the drink may flow between them, the minor portion lying between the first and second seals, and the straw being located within said minor portion; the corner portion being openable along a line of weakness formed in said pouch and extending generally parallel to the top edge from the first heat seal to and ending at the second heat seal. 
     
     
         13 . The pouch according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the heat seals is formed by application of pressure and ultrasonic vibration causing sealing by local heating where surfaces are in contact, while external surfaces remain cool. 
     
     
         14 . A pouch containing a drink, and provided with a straw within the pouch accessible to allow a user to draw drink from the pouch; the pouch defining a top edge, a bottom portion, and respective side edges interconnecting the top edge and the bottom portion, and a corner portion defined between the top edge and one said side edge, the corner portion being openable by a user to access the straw; the pouch forming a closed cavity containing the drink, the cavity being defined by the top edge, the bottom portion, and the side edges and by at least one wall defining a front face and a rear face for the cavity, the front and rear faces being connected along the top edge, the front and rear faces being continuous with each other at or being connected along the other of the said side edges, the front and rear faces being connected to provide the bottom portion, and the one side edge being formed by a first heat seal connecting the front and rear faces; a second heat seal connecting the front and rear faces, and extending in an incomplete fashion from the top edge generally in a direction towards the bottom portion parallel to and spaced from the first seal over the greater part of the extent of the first heat seal, the second seal dividing the interior of the cavity into major and minor portions interconnected so that the drink may flow between them, the minor portion lying between the first and second seals; and the straw being located within said minor portion, and being bonded to said at least one wall, and the corner portion being openable along a line of weakness formed in the pouch and extending generally parallel to the top edge from the first heat seal to and ending at the second heat seal, whereby the straw is fixed in position within the pouch at least until located by a user after opening said corner portion. 
     
     
         15 . The pouch according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the heat seals is formed by application of pressure and ultrasonic vibration causing sealing by local heating where surfaces are in contact, while external surfaces remain cool. 
     
     
         16 . The pouch according to  claim 14 , wherein the pouch is formed from a heat bondable pliant packaging material in laminate form, and the straw is bonded to a surface of said at least one wall interior of the pouch defined by said laminate form at a position intermediate ends of the straw. 
     
     
         17 . The pouch according to  claim 14 , wherein the straw has a longitudinally expandable portion positioned between an intermediate position and the top edge, whereby the straw may be extended beyond the top edge by expanding said expandable portion after opening said corner portion. 
     
     
         18 . A pouch containing a drink, and provided with a straw within the pouch accessible to allow a user to draw drink from the pouch; the pouch defining a top edge, a bottom portion, and respective side edges interconnecting the top edge and the bottom portion, and a corner portion defined between the top edge and one said side edge, the corner portion being openable by a user to access the straw; the pouch forming a closed cavity containing the drink, the cavity being defined by the top edge, the bottom portion, and the side edges and by at least one wall defining a front face and a rear face for the cavity, the front and rear faces being connected along the top edge, the front and rear faces being continuous with each other at or being connected along the other of the said side edges, the front and rear faces being connected to provide the bottom portion, and the one side edge being formed by a first heat seal connecting the front and rear faces; a second heat seal connecting the front and rear faces, and extending in an incomplete fashion from the top edge generally in a direction towards the bottom portion parallel to and spaced from the first seal over the greater part of the extent of the first heat seal, the second seal dividing the interior of the cavity into major and minor portions interconnected so that the drink may flow between them, the minor portion lying between the first and second seals, and the straw being located within said minor portion; and the corner portion being openable along a line of weakness formed in the pouch and extending generally parallel to the top edge from the first heat seal to and ending at the second heat seal; and the straw comprising a longitudinally expandable portion; whereby the straw may be extended beyond said top edge after opening said corner portion by longitudinal expansion by a user of said longitudinally expandable portion. 
     
     
         19 . A pouch according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the heat seals is formed by application of pressure and ultrasonic vibration causing sealing by local heating where surfaces are in contact, while external surfaces remain cool. 
     
     
         20 . A pouch containing a drink, and provided with a straw within the pouch accessible to allow a user to draw drink from the pouch; the pouch defining a top edge, a bottom portion, and respective side edges interconnecting the top edge and the bottom portion, and a corner portion defined between the top edge and one said side edge, the corner portion being openable by a user to access the straw; the pouch forming a closed cavity containing the drink, the cavity being defined by the top edge, the bottom portion, and the side edges and by at least one wall defining a front face and a rear face for the cavity, the front and rear faces being connected along the top edge, the front and rear faces being continuous with each other at or being connected along the other of the said side edges, the front and rear faces being connected to provide the bottom portion, and the one side edge being formed by a first heat seal connecting the front and rear faces; a second heat seal connecting the front and rear faces, and extending in an incomplete fashion from the top edge generally in a direction towards the bottom portion parallel to and spaced from the first seal over the greater part of the extent of the first heat seal, the second seal dividing the interior of the cavity into major and minor portions interconnected so that the drink may flow between them, the minor portion lying between the first and second seals, and the straw being located within this minor portion; the front and rear faces defining respective interior faces in contact with the drink and respective external surfaces, and the corner portion being openable along a line of weakness formed both in the front face and in the rear face generally parallel to the top edge from the first heat seal to and ending at the second heat seal, the line of weakness being formed as dotted or dashed lines laser etched into the external surfaces of the front and rear faces. 
     
     
         21 . A pouch according to  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the heat seals is formed by application of pressure and ultrasonic vibration causing sealing by local heating where surfaces are in contact, while external surfaces remain cool.