US3279331A

US3279331A - Process in the manufacture of flexible containers

Info

Publication number: US3279331A
Application number: US379616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric W Platt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-08
Filing date: 1964-07-01
Publication date: 1966-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-18
Also published as: GB1063862A

Description

E- W. PLATT Oct. 18, 1966 PROCESS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Filed July 1, 1964 FIG. 2

United States Patent PROCESS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Eric W. Plait, 14 Harcourt St., New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Fiied July 1, 1964, Ser. No. 379,616 (Ilaims priority, appiication Australia, July 8, 1963, 32,776/63 3 (Claims. (Ci. 93-35) This invention relates to an improved flexible container and the process in its manufacture, and is particularly directed to a rapid and efflcient method of separately sealing, unsealing, and rescaling the mouth opening of each of a number of separate bag units which go to make up the flexible container.

The paper bag has been in use for many years as a means for packaging goods for carrying purposes. Following the recent development of plastic material there have been occasions when it has been found preferable to replace a paper bag with one constructed from a thin sheet of polyvinyl chloride or some other suitable plastic substance. The use of a plastic bag introduces the acceptable properties of added strength and transparency, and has the definite advantage over a paper bag in that it may be used for the carriage of liquid, a use to which a paper bag cannot be satisfactorily applied.

In the known construction of paper bags, and in the more recent construction of plastic bags, no provision appears to have been made for a rapid sealing of the bag opening to retain the goods therein; a rapid unsealing of the bag opening to remove some of the goods therefrom; and a rapid rescaling of the bag opening after some of the goods have been removed therefrom to retain the remaining goods in closed condition within the bag.

It is the principal object of the present invention to meet the above weakness revealed in present day flexible bag construction.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a method for the construction of flexible containers, said method consisting of the process of selecting a rectangular sheet of flexible material considerably greater in length than in width; folding the sheet about a longitudinal axis to enable the two side edges to lie in proximity to one another; applying one or more narrow strips of adhesive substance over the surface of the folded sheet, each strip extending for the full length of the flexible material; sealing the end edges of the folded sheet to form a long flexible container; applying a number of intermediate seals to divide said flexible container into a number of individual bag units each having a mouth opening which may be sealed and resealed by the application of finger pressure to the adhesive substance.

One specific method of application of this invention consists in the process of selecting a rectangular sheet of fluid impermeable flexible material having predetermined length and width; folding said sheet about its mid-axial line such that its two side edges meet; inwardly folding each of the meeting side edges to form a pair of inturned lips of equal width along the mouth edge of the container; applying a fluid impermeable seal along the open end edges of the container formed from folding the sheet of flexible material; applying a fluid impermeable seal at spaced intervals across the width of the folded container to divide it into a number of individual bag units; forming a fluid impermeable adhesion between the confronting surfaces of the inturned lips, said adhesion being limited to the extent of providing a narrow opening to receive a length of tubing for the admission or withdrawal of fluid or granular substance into or from each individual unit;

3,279,331 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 resealing the opening after the fluid or granular substance has been admitted or withdrawn from an individual unit of the container; and forming perforations extending within the length of each seal dividing the container into a number of individual units to separate each bag unit from the container as desired.

In applying this invention to paper bag construction, the seals at the end edges of the container, and the intermediate seals dividing the container into a number of individual bag units, are formed by the use of any well known strongly binding glutinous material.

When applying this invention to the construction of a flexible plastic container it has been found preferable to form the rectangular sheet from polyvinyl chloride. As this is a thermoplastic substance, the seals at the end edges of the container and the intermediate seals dividing the container into a number of individual bag units may be formed by the application of heat or high frequency current to the outer surface of the folded sheet.

When applying the intermediate seals to divide the flexible container into a number of individual bag units, it is preferable to form a tear strip down the centre of each of the intermediate seals. This tear strip permits easy detachment of bag units from the container length, and may be constructed of any well known form, such as a strip of weakened material, or a line of perforations.

It has been found convenient to support the container length by winding it around the outer surface of a roller housed within a dispenser. When it is desired to sever a bag unit from the container it is only necessary to unwrap the required length of container from the roller to the extent of bringing its tear strip into contact with a sharp edge located along one side of the dispenser.

Although for general purposes the seal dividing the container into separte bag units is formed as a straight sealing strip, for novelty and advertising purposes, the side edges of the dividing seals may be curved to present a series of bag units shaped into the form of animals, clowns, or other novelties particularly appropriate as a method of drawing public attention to the virtues of the substance within the bags.

The narrow strip or strips of adhesive substance over the surface of the folded sheet may be applied thereto in a number of different ways. One method is to have a surface layer of suitable adhesive material directly sprayed onto the sheet. A second method is to utilize a double sided adhesive tape, one side adhering firmly to the surface of the folded sheet and the other side providing the desired sealing and rescaling facilities across an opening in the container. A third method is to utilize a single sided adhesive tape. One section of the width of this single sided adhesive tape adheres to the surface of the sheet adjacent the edge of an opening into the container, whilst the other section of the tape width forms a tongue which extends slightly into the opening and thereby serves as a strip for sealing and resealing the opening. A fourth method is to fold the width of a long double sided adhesive strip over the end edge of an inner wall of the contaner. In this latter method a sealing strip is provided which is double acting in that it serves to seal and reseal openings on either side of the wall.

-On each occasion when a double sided adhesive tape is employed it may be expedient to supplement the grip of the tape over the surface of the folded sheet by the addition of a slightly stronger adhesive substance at spaced intervals along its length. This would expel any chance of the tape being pulled away from the surface of the container when applied as a seal across openings within the container.

When forming the container it has been found convenient under certain circumstances to extend the end edges of the container walls slightly beyond the outer side edges of the strips of adhesive substance. This enables tabs to be formed which serve to provide finger gripping means at positions in proximity to the scalable opening. To break the seal formed by the adhesive substance across the opening, an outward pull is applied manually to these tabs.

It has been found in practice that a container having a sealing strip applied thereto in the manner as revealed in this specification can be rapidly and tightly sealed and resealed at least thirty times without losing any power of adhesion from the adhesive material.

The container, together with each of the bag units formed from this container, may be constructed of a particular cross-sectional shape depending upon the use to which it is to be applied. A number of suitable shapes will now be described by reference to FIGURES 1 to 14 of the accompanying drawing.

Referring to FIG. 1, the initial fold of the rectangular sheet is formed about a mid-axial line, and the mouth of the container is provided between a pair of inturned lips 1, 2. A pair of matching double sided adhesive tapes 3, 4, pass over the two facing surfaces of the inturned lips. In this type of construction, by the use of fluid impermeable polyvinyl chloride sheeting as the substance forming the container, the mouth opening may be sealed to retain liquid therein, and may be unsealed to the extent of providing a narrow opening to receive a length of tubing for the passage of liquid to or from the container. A liquid container of this form has the advantage that owing to its flexibility, the weight of the liquid may retain the container in upright disposition when placed upon a fiat surface. In addition, the pressure of any liquid or granular substance passing into the pockets 5, 6, formed by the inturned lips will assist to retain the seal over the mouth opening of the container. The use of a pipe or a straw as a tubular length to pass the liquid into the container and withdraw the liquid from the container serves to prevent the retention of liquid over the adhesive surfaces, which under some circumstances may result in a deterioration of the holding power of the adhesive surfaces.

In FIG. 2 a single inturned lip 7 is formed adjacent the mouth opening of the container formed by the flexible sheet. The end edge of the straight side 3 of the container extends slightly beyond the mouth opening to form a tab which enables an easy grip to be obtained to assist in unsealing the container mouth. The adhesive material for closure of the mouth opening consists of a strip of single sided adhesive tape with the width section 9 having its adhesive surface firmly attached to the inner surface of the inturned lip 7, and the width section depending below the lower edge of the inturned lip 7 to enable the closure of the mouth opening when the adhesive surface over the section 10 engages the inner surface of the side wall 8 of the container. This construction has the advantage that very little of the adhesive surface contacts the material as it is withdrawn from the container. It may be desired to package a granular substance within this form of container construction and withdraw it without any contact with an adhesive layer. This may be effected by forming a vertical slit through the tape widths 9, 10, and extending this slit through the wall of the inturned lip 7. This construction permits a discharge of the material from the container through the slit in the inturned lip when the mouth of the opening is unsealed, and a drawing together of the sides of the slit when the adhesive surface 10 seals the mouth opening.

In FIG. 3 the construction is very similar to that of FIG. 2 with the exception that the straight side of the container is lengthened slightly to form a scalable lid which has a downward fold 11. The end of this downward fold is formed with an inturned lip 13 to permit the housing of the lower portion of a double sided adhesive tape 12. The inwardly facing surface at the upper section of the tape 12 permits the end of the lid to be scaled against the outer Wall face of the container, and the inturned lip 13 provides means for gripping the lid when it is desired to break the seal. The additional compartment formed by the lid may serve as a storage for any implements or materials desired to supplement the main body of material within the container.

In FIG. 4 the seal of the mouth of the container is effected by a strip of double sided adhesive tape 15 having one side attached to the inner surface face of the container and extending adjacent the edge of a container wall which assists in the formation of the mouth opening. The other side wall of the container is extended beyond the mouth opening into a downward fold 16 to serve as a lid for the container which has an inturned end to reoeive a further strip of double sided adhesive tape in a manner identical to that described with reference to FIG. 3.

The form of folds illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 again consists of a container having one side wall upwardly extending to assist in the formation of a mouth opening, and the other side wall extending beyond the mouth opening into downward folds 18, 19, to serve as container lids. In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 5, a double sided adhesive tape 20 is bent over the upper end edge of the upright container wall 20a. This tape is finmly attached to 'both sides of wall 20a. On account of the bend in this adhesive tape it may serve the dual purpose of sealing the :mouth opening by bringing the opposite walls of the container into adhesive engagement with each other and also serves as a means for sealing the downward fold 18 of the lid of the container to the outer surface of the container wall 20a. In FIG. 6 the upright wall 22a is provided with an inturned lip 22 over which the double sided adhesive tape 21 is attached to form the dual purpose seal.

The form of fol-d illustrated in FIG. 7 is particularly acceptable in cases where it is desired to include a seala-ble pocket above the container to house material suitable for use in association with the material within the container closure. If the container enclosure includes a soft drink, the pocket may contain a drinking straw, or it may contain flavoring essence to mix with the liquid within the container to form a cocktail mixture. The scalable pocket may provide a housing for advertising matter serving to advance the sale properties of the product included within the container. The pocket 23 may house a drinking straw 24 and the Wall 25 of the container serves to divide its mouth portion from the pocket 23. The wall 26 of the container is extended beyond the mouth opening to form a lid with a downward fold portion 27. The sealing of the container mouth opening and the sealing of the pocket 23 is effected by the dual functioning of a strip of double sided adhesive tape 28 bent to pass around the upper edge of the container wall 25. A further strip 29 of double sided adhesive tape 29 is attached to the inner surface of the downward fold portion 27 of the lid.

In FIG. 8 there is illustrated the application of the invention to a container formed as a single fold. In this form of fold the

side walls

30, 31 of the container extend slightly beyond the mouth opening to provide adequate facilities for manually gripping the container when it is desired to unseal the mouth opening after it has been sealed. The sealing strip 32 is a double sided adhesive tape attached to the inner surface of the container wall 3-1 adjacent the mouth opening. This form of container construction may well be adapted to paper containers and bag units as well as containers and bag units formed of plastic sheeting.

In FIG. 9 the fold is very similar to that of FIG. 8 with the exception that the lower wall of the container is formed with a depending lip 34, and a double sided adhesive strip 35 is attached to the outer face of this lip to seal the mouth of the container against the opposing wall under finger pressure applied to the outer surface of the container. This fold has an advantage over that illustrated in FIG. 8 in that the grip of the seal across the mouth of the container may be supplemented by the pressure of some of the goods within the container.

In FIG. 10 there is illustrated a form of container which is initially closed by heat sealing the two surfaces 36, 37 together. A pocket 49 is formed over the upper surface of the container. This form of container may well be utilized as a carrier for fruit drinks, and a straw with a pointed end may be housed within the pocket opening which is sealed by a double sided adhesive strip 38 which brings the two inner side wall surfaces of the pocket into sealed engagement with each other. When it is desired to withdraw drink from the container, the pocket opening is unsealed, and a hole is punctured through the floor of the pocket with the pointed end of the straw. The straw is used to suck a desired amount of the drink from the container which is closed by resealing the pocket opening.

In FIG. 11, a folded container construction similar to that illustrated 11 FIG. 9 is provided with the exception that the double sided adhesive tape 41 is provided over the inner surface of the wall 42 of the container.

FIG. 12 is a modification of the fold construction illustrated in FIG. 7 in that a single sided adhesive tape 4-3 is provided depending from the inside surface of one of the side walls of the container to seal the mouth opening; a pocket 45 is provided to house matter which may be relevant to that supported within the container, and a double sided adhesive strip 44 is provided to seal the end of a lid formed by the folded extension 46 to the other side wall of the container. To obtain access into the container the lid is opened by manually breaking its seal, and the seal at the mouth of the container is then likewise broken. On removal of a desired quantity of material from the container it is resealed at the mouth opening and the lid portion is again rescaled adjacent its end.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate means for adapting this invention to a plastic container or a bag unit formed from this container for the purpose of displaying an attractive variety of goods to their best advantage. In this construction the mouth opening is formed over the rear surface of the container or bag which would be generally hid-den from the sight of the general public when on display.

In FIG. 13 the mouth opening is sealed by an upturned lip 48 having an outer surface which engages the outer face of a double side-d adhesive tape 49 fixed to the inner surface of the container wall 50. When it is desired that articles be removed from the bag or container the seal is manually broken, and the bag or container is resealed by finger pressure.

FIG. 14 varies the construction of FIG. 13 in that the upturned lip is dispensed with. A double sided adhesive tape 51 is formed over the outer surface wall 52 of the container.

Whilst no reference has been made in the specification to adhesive tapes of any specific colour, it is to be understood that tapes in various colours are available and a most suitable colour for use with the adhesive materials would be dependent upon the particular class of goods to be merchandised. i

A method of construction in accordance with this invention has extensive advantages over containers employed at the present time in the packaging of small goods or relatively small quantities of liquid. These are exemplified by the speed in which a bag may be sealed, and the fact that some of the goods may be removed from the bag while the remaining goods are retained within the bag which may be sealed some thirty or more times with out any noticeable reduction in the holding power of the seal.

Whilst various embodiments of this invention have been disclosed in the foregoing description I desire that it be fully understood that the limitation to the scope of this 6 invention is determined solely by the extent of the limitation imposed by the following claims: twisting, turning What I claim is:

1. A method of constructing flexible containers, said method comprising the steps of providing a sheet of flexible plastic material having opposite surfaces and spaced longitudinal edges, said sheet being considerably greater in width than in length; applying an elongated strip of single-sided adhesive tape into adhering engagement with one surface of said flexible sheet close to one of said edges thereof, such, that a portion of the width of said tape extends beyond said edge thereof in form of a tongue having an exposed surface-coating of adhesive material which latter faces in direction of the other surface of said sheet; folding said sheet of flexible material about at least one folding line intermediate and parallel to said edges so as to form at least two superposed panels having opposite inwardly directed portions of said one sur face and so that said edges lie in proximity to one another; inwardly folding that edge portion of the sheet which sup.- ports said single-sided adhesive tape to form an inturned lip; sealing the respective end edges of the folded sheet to form a long flexible container; and applying at least one intermediate seal across the width of said container to divide the same into individual smaller containers constituting bag units each of which has a mouth opening which may be sealed and rescaled by the application of pressure in a sense moving said exposed surface coating into contact with said one surface of the adjacent other panel which latter forms a portion of the outer wall of the respective individual container.

2. A method for the composition of flexible containers, said method comprising the steps of obtaining a sheet of flexible thermoplastic material which is considerably greater in length than in width; applying an elongated strip of single sided adhesive tape into adhering engagement with one surface of said flexible thermoplastic sheet close to one side edge thereof such that portion of the width of said tape extends beyond the associate side edge of the thermoplastic sheet in the form of a projecting tongue containing an exposed surface coating of adhesive material; folding said sheet of flexible thermoplastic material about its longitudinal mid axis so that its two side edges lie in proximity to one another; inwardly folding the section of the thermoplastic material supporting said single sided adhesive tape to form an inturned lip; heat sealing the end edges of the folded sheet to form a long flexible container; and applying at least one intermediate heat seal across the width of said folded sheet to divide the container into individual smaller containers constituting bag units each of which has a mouth opening which may be sealed and rescaled by the application of finger pressure to move said exposed surface coating of adhesive material into contact with the inner surface of the adjacent flexible material forming portion of the outer Wall of each individual container.

3. A method for the construction of flexible containers, said method comprising the steps of obtaining a sheet of flexible thermoplastic material which is considerably greater in length than in width; applying an elongated strip of single sided adhesive tape into adhering engage ment with one surface of said flexible thermoplastic sheet adjacent one side edge thereof such that portion of the width of said tape extends beyond the associated side edge of the thermoplastic sheet in the form of a projecting tongue containing an exposed surface coating of adhesive material; additionally applying an elongated stripof double sided adhesive tape int-o flexible thermoplastic sheet to lie in a direction parallel to said single sided adhesive strip at a spaced distance therefrom; folding said sheet of flexible thermoplastic material about its longitudinal mid-axis so that its two side edges lie in proximity to one another; inwardly folding the section of the thermoplastic material which supports the single sided adhesive tape adjacent one side edge to form an inturned lip; applying a small concertina fold over the length of the flexible sheeting adjacent the edge supporting the single sided adhesive tape to .provide a pocket for housing appropriate articles outside the confines of the container; heat sealing the end edges of the folded sheet to form a long flexible container; and applying at least one intermediate heat seal across the width of said folded sheet to divide the container into individual smaller containers constituting bag units each of which has a mouth opening which may be sealed and resealed by the application of finger pressure to move said exposed surface coating of adhesive material on the projecting tongue into contact With the inner surface of the adjacent flexible material forming portion of the outer Wall of each individual container; bending a section of the wall of the folded sheet which extends beyond the container to fonrn a lid which covers the mouth opening and the pocket of each individual container; and detachably sealing the said lid to the outer Wall bring the end section of its inner surface into engagernent with the outer adhesive surface formed over the strip of double sided adhesive tape.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,571 5/1938 Gurwick 93-35 2,265,075 12/ 1941 Knuetter 93-35 2,401,109 5/ 1946 R-oh-din 93-35 2,793,743 5/ 1957 Lefeovre 22962 X 2,949,370 8/ 1960 Hughes.

2,991,001 7/ 1961 Hughes 229-62 3,045,891 7/ 1962 Alvarez .9335 3,079,066 2/1963 -Ro0p 229-6 3,143,278 8/1964 Hieb'ert 22 BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

surface of said container by applying finger pressure to 20 D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner

Claims

1. A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING OPPOSITE SURFACES AND SPACED LONGITUDINAL EDGES, SAID SHEET BEING CONSIDERABLY GREATER IN WIDTH THAN IN LENGTH; APPLYING AN ELONGATED STRIP OF SINGLE-SIDED ADHESIVE TAPE INTO ADHERING ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE SURFACE OF SAID FLEXIBLE SHEET CLOSE TO ONE OF SAID EDGES THEREOF, SUCH, THAT A PORTION OF THE WIDTH OF SAID TAPE EXTENDS BEYOND SAID EDGE THEREOF IN FORM OF A TONGUE HAVING AN EXPOSED SURFACE-COATING OF ADHESIVE MATERIAL WHICH LATTER FACES IN DIRECTION OF THE OTHER SURFACE OF SAID SHEET; FOLDING SAID SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ABOUT AT LEAST ONE FOLDING LINE INTERMEDIATE AND PARALLEL TO SAID EDGES SO AS TO FORM AT LEAST TWO SUPERPOSED PANELS HAVING OPPOSITE INWARDLY DIRECTED PORTIONS OF SAID ONE SURFACE AND TO THAT SAID EDGES LIE IN PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER; INWARDLY FOLDING THAT EDGE PORTION OF THE SHEET WHICH SUPPORTS SAID SINGLE-SIDED ADHESIVE TAPE TO FORM AN INTURNED LIP; SEALING THE RESPECTIVE END EDGES OF THE FOLDED SHEET TO FORM A LONG FLEXIBLE CONTAINER; AND APPLYING AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE SEAL ACROSS THE WIDTH OF SAID CONTAINER TO DIVIDE THE SAME INTO INDIVIDUAL SMALLER CONTAINERS CONSTITUTING BAG UNITS EACH OF WHICH HAS A MOUTH OPENING WHICH MAY BE SEALED AND RESEALED BY THE APPLICATION OF PRSSURE IN A SENSE MOVING SAID EXPOSED SURFACE COATING INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ONE SURFACE OF THE ADJACENT OTHER PANEL WHICH LATTER FORMS A PORTION OF THE OUTER WALL OF THE RESPECTIVE INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER.