Patent ID: 6270255
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
An easy-open beverage container in the form of a flexible pouch in which a beverage therein is consumed through a straw comprising:a front barrier wall and a back barrier wall, each said barrier wall including top edges and upper portions of opposite side edges which matingly face one another and which form an open top therebetween;a downwardly-extending bifold membrane located in the open top and having a longitudinal fold and peripheral edges disposed adjacent the top edges and upper portions of the opposite side edges of said front and back barrier walls;a membrane attaching means for securely attaching the peripheral edges of said bifold membrane to adjacent top edges and upper portions of the opposite side edges of said barrier walls such that said bifold membrane completely closes the open top and the facing top edges of said barrier walls are movable away from one another about the longitudinal fold of said bifold membrane to expose the longitudinal fold for piercing by the straw;side attaching means for securely attaching facing portions of the peripheral edges of said bifold membrane adjacent the upper portions of the opposite side edges of said barrier walls to one another whereby the facing upper portions of the opposite side edges are not movable away from one another; anda barrier peel seal provided between facing portions of the peripheral edges of said bifold membrane adjacent the top edges of said barrier walls whereby said peel seal provides a tamper-evident and sanitary seal for said bifold membrane which is easily broken in order to move the facing top edges away from one another to expose said longitudinal fold of said bifold membrane, wherein said peel seal is a weak heat seal.