IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,016,505
Granted Patent B2
US 9,016,505 · App. 13/002,714 · Granted Apr 28, 2015

Flexible container for packaging, in particular in sterile conditions, of food products and relative package comprising said flexible container

Inventor: Pierottavio Canegallo (Tortona, IT)
Assignee: GRC Pack Luxembourg S.A.
B65D75/008B65D51/226B65D75/5883B65D2101/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,016,505
App. No.
13/002,714
Granted
Apr 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention regards a package ( 1 ) for food products comprising a flexible container ( 2 ) having a first wall ( 5 ) and a second wall ( 6 ) opposite each other and peripherally sealed along at least the respective side edges ( 5 a , 6 a , 5 b , 6 b ), a space ( 8 ) inside said walls containing, optionally in sterile conditions, a food product ( 73 ), and a gusset element ( 10 ) extended between the upper edges ( 5 c , 6 c ) of said first wall ( 5 ) and of said second wall ( 6 ), said gusset element ( 10 ) defining a pocket ( 14 ) turned towards the interior of said flexible container ( 2 ), characterized in that it comprises an opening and closing device ( 3 ) housed in said pocket ( 14 ) and constrained to said flexible container ( 2 ), said opening and closing device ( 3 ) comprising a pourer body ( 15 ) associated with an opening and closing cap ( 16 ), and cutting means ( 42 ) suitable to perforate said flexible container ( 2 ) at the time of the first opening of said packaging ( 1 ). The invention also regards a method for packaging a food product, in particular in sterile conditions, in a package of the aforesaid type, a flexible container for a package of the aforesaid type as well as a method for producing such container.

Claims (11)

1. A package for food products comprising a flexible container having a first wall and a second wall opposite each other and peripherally sealed along at least the respective side edges, a space inside the walls containing, optionally in sterile conditions, a food product, a gusset element extended between the upper edges of the first wall and of the second wall and a mouth formed between the upper edge of the first or second wall and an upper edge of the gusset element, the container being hermetically sealed through sealing of the mouth and the gusset element defining a pocket on the external side of the container which is turned towards the interior of the container and has a first tilted wall and a second tilted wall, the package also comprising an opening and closing device housed in the pocket and constrained to the flexible container, the opening and closing device comprising a pourer body associated with an opening and closing cap, and a cutter configured to perforate the flexible container at the time of the first opening of the package so as to put the inner space in fluid communication with the pourer body, wherein the pourer body comprises a base provided with a substantially cylindrical through channel of pre-established axis and wherein the base is housed in the pocket and sealed by means of its two opposite sealing surfaces to the first tilted wall and to the second tilted wall of the gusset element.

2. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the gusset element is formed by a folded end portion of one of the first wall and the second wall, the end portion being extended towards the other of the first wall or the second wall, and being laterally sealed to the first wall and the second wall and to the upper edge of at least one of the first wall and the second wall.

3. A package according claim 1 , wherein the gusset element has a substantially “V” shape comprising the first tilted wall and the second tilted wall converging towards the interior of the container and terminating at its lower part in a fold.

4. A package according to claim 1 , characterized in that the flexible container is obtained by a single sheet of flexible material, folded and sealed so to form the first wall and the second wall, the gusset element and optionally the gusset bottom.

5. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the pourer body also comprises a coaxial neck rotatably engaged in the channel of the base, the neck being provided on its lower part with the cutter.

6. A package according to claim 5 , characterized in that the neck is movable in rotation in the channel between an upper end stop position wherein the cutting means are situated in the channel in the position of maximum removal from the container and a lower end stop position wherein the cutting means are in a maximum advancement position and are capable of perforating the gusset element of the container.

7. A package according to claim 5 , wherein the base has a lower end portion tapered on its lower part so to have a substantially conical form in cross-section, the end portions having an axial notch with curvilinear profile formed at the channel.

8. A package according to claim 5 , wherein the base also comprises a substantially cylindrical collar formed integrally therewith and projecting above it as an extension of the channel outside the base, an annular band outside the collar being provided with a plurality of teeth integrally formed in circumferential succession.

9. A package according to claim 5 , wherein the neck comprises a substantially cylindrical body, coaxial with respect to the aforesaid axis and having an upper end portion provided with an outer thread along an axial part thereof, a lower end portion also provided with an outer thread along an axial part thereof, an intermediate portion free of thread and an integrally formed cylindrical jacket rising over the intermediate portion and provided on its upper part with a plurality of teeth in circumferential succession along an annular band and projecting therefrom, and on its lower part with an inner annular recess intended to be substantially fit-coupled with the teeth of the collar when the neck reaches the lower end stop.

10. A package according to claim 9 , wherein the cap comprises an annular jacket externally provided with knurling and internally provided with a thread, the cap being rotatably engaged with the neck and being integral in rotation therewith by means of a thread coupling between the inner thread of the annular jacket and the outer thread of the upper end portion of the neck, the cap also having a guarantee band composing of a ring fit on the annular jacket and internally provided with a plurality of teeth which are engaged between the teeth of the cylindrical jacket of the intermediate position according to a substantially grooved coupling.

11. A package according to claim 9 , wherein the neck is rotatably engaged on the lower part with the base by means of a thread coupling between the outer thread of the lower end portion and the inner thread of the channel of the base and wherein the thread of the upper end portion of the neck and the thread of the lower end portion are made in substantially opposite directions, so to allow, at the time of the first opening of the package, the perforation of the gusset element and the subsequent screwing off of the cap by means of a prolonged rotary movement in one single direction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2022
From: GRC PACK LUXEMBOURG S.A.
To: ELLA S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 059648/0935 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2011
From: CANEGALLO, PIEROTTAVIO
To: GRC PACK LUXEMBOURG S.A.
Reel/Frame 026040/0865 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 08012211 · Jul 7, 2008 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110167769A1 · Jul 14, 2011