Patent EA-000262-B1 (EA)
Title: Infusion packet and its manufacture
Inventor: DRURY TIMOTHY
IPC: B65D77/00
Filed: 1996-11-15
Abstract: 1. An infusion packet comprising a pair of sealed compartments containing infusion material and joined together at opposite ends of the packet, and a drawstring secured to a connecting region between the two compartments at one of said ends extending between the compartments from said attachment to said other end of the compartments, characterised in that the drawstring is secured by a portion intermediate its length to the connecting regions and comprises respective pull portions extending between the compartments from said secured portion to be movably held at said other end, whereby said pull portions can be drawn apart to be tensioned to contract the packet. 2. A packet according to Claim 1 wherein the compartments are so joined together at said other end as to leave free channels between them in which the drawstring pull portions are held captive but are freely slidable. 3. A packet according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the drawstring is fixed by sealing means to an inner face of said end-connecting region. 4. A packet according to Claim 3 wherein the drawstring is fixed to said inner face at a location spaced from the walls of the compartments. 5. A packet according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the drawstring pull portions are detachably secured to at least one of the compartments intermediate said opposite ends. 6. A packet according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein said pull portions are each attached to a respective one of the two compartments between said ends. 7. A packet according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein said detachable securing of the drawstring pull portions is located on a sealed boundary of one or both compartments. 8. A packet according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the length of each pull portion retained etween said opposite ends of the packet is greater than the distance between said ends. 9. A packet according to Claim 8 wherein the excess length of said pull portions between said ends is at least mainly gathered adjacent said other end of the packet. 10. A packet according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wnerein said excess length of each pull portion is attached to its respective compartment in a serpentine pattern extending substantially across the width of the compartment. 11. A packet according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the drawstring is secured to said connecting region to extend across substantially the lateral extent of the region at said one end. 12 A packet according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein at said other end the pull portions are located in laterally opposite regions of the joined compartments. 13. A packet according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein tag means are attached to the pull portions at said other end. 14. A packet according to Claim 13 wherein said tag means are also attached to said other end of the packet. 15 A packet according to any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein said tag means are attached to an end margin of the packet separable from the main body of the packet by a line of weakening. 16. A packet according to any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein the tag means comprises two separable portions, each secured to a respective drawstring pull portion. 17. A method of producing a packet comprising a pair of sealed compartments containing doses of infusion material and coined together at opposite ends of the packet, a connecting region joining the compartments at one said end and a drawstring being secured to said connecting region and to the other said end, characterised in that an intermediate portion of the length of the drawstring is attached to the connecting region before the compartments are doubled over to bring their opposite ends remote from the connecting region together at said other end of the packet with pull portions of said drawstring extending from said intermediate portion and running between the compartments to said other end of the packet, the compartments being secured together at said other end in a manner which permits withdrawal of said pull portions of the drawstring therethrough to contract the packet. 18.A method according to Claim 17 wherein the packet compartments are formed and filled before attaching the drawstring. 19. A method of manufacturing a packet comprising a pair of sealed compartments containing doses of infusion material and joined together at opposite ends, the compartments being initially formed end to end and joined by a connecting region between them, a drawstring being attached to opposite ends of the packet to extend therebetween, characterised in that the drawstring is laid along the length of the two compartments, and an intermediate portion of its length is secured to said connecting region, pull portions of said drawstring extending from said intermediate portion and being detachably secured to the respective compartments, the compartments then being doubled over to bring their remote ends together, said ends being secured together to hold the drawstring pull portions between them in a manner which permits movement of said pull portions of the drawstring to contract the packet by drawing the opposite ends of the compartments towards each other. 20. A method according to any one of Claims 17 to 18 wherein parts of the pull portions of the drawstring between the compartments are attached in a convoluted form to the respective compartments. 21. A method according to any one o<= Claims 17 to 20 wherein tag means are attached to the drawstring pull portions after the compartments have been secured together at said ends remote from said connecting region. 22. A method according to Claim 21 wherein the tag means are attached to the pull portions through the web material at said ends of said compartments remote from said connecting region. 23. A method according to Claim 22 wherein a line of weakening is provided in said ends of the compartments at the tag means to facilitate detachment of the tag means with their drawstring pull portions.