Patent Publication Number: US-6905746-B2

Title: Packaging pouch and method of making same

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/292,086, filed May 17, 2001, entitled IMPROVED PACKAGING POUCH, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if being set forth in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to packaging in general, and packaging pouches in particular. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is desirable to increase available surface area of packaging for products that is suitable for being printed upon, e.g. billboard area. Such increased surface area can be used for many purposes, including provided information about a product packaged within the packaging. 
     However, it may not be desirable to increase the size of packaging. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide packaging that features increased billboard area without increasing the size of the packaging in overall dimensions. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A substantially planar packaging device including printed indicia and defining a closed cavity being suitable for containing at least one product, the device including a first sheet forming the closed cavity, and a second sheet at least partially detachably coupled to the first sheet to allow the second sheet to be at least partially detached from the first sheet to view at least a portion of the indicia and reattached to the first sheet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The invention will be better understood with reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting drawings, in which like references there-throughout designate like elements of the invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a plan-view of a surface of a base label according to a first form of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a plan-view of a surface of a top label suitable for use with the base label of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates a plan-view of a panel for use as part of a packaging pouch using the base and top labels of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a method for making a packaging pouch according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a plan-view of a surface of a base label according to a second form of the invention; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a plan-view of a surface of a top label suitable for use with the base label of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a plan-view of a panel for a packaging pouch including the labels of  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a plan view of a surface of a base label for a packaging pouch according to a third form of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a plan view of another surface of the base label of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  illustrates a plan view of a surface of a top label suitable for use with the base label of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4D  illustrates another surface of the top label of  FIG. 4C ; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a plan view of a surface of a base label for a packaging pouch according to a fourth form of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a plan view of another surface of the base label of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 5C  illustrates a plan view of a surface of a top label suitable for use with the base label of  FIGS. 5A and 5B ; and, 
         FIG. 5D  illustrates another surface of the top label of FIG.  5 C. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in packaging. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable and/or required in order to implement the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications to such systems and methods known to those skilled in the art. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a substantially planar packaging device including printed indicia and defining a closed cavity being suitable for containing at least one product is disclosed. According to an aspect of the invention this packaging device may include a first sheet forming the closed cavity, and a second sheet at least partially detachably coupled to the first sheet to allow the second sheet to be at least partially detached from the first sheet to view at least a portion of the indicia and reattached to the first sheet. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , there is shown a base label  10  according to a first form of the present invention. According to an aspect of the present invention, the base label  10  may take the form of a planar member and may be formed of any suitable material for forming a pouch. The base label  10  includes first and second oppositely-disposed surfaces  20 ,  30  (only the surface  20  is shown in FIG.  1 A). According to this first form of the present invention, the surface  30  is secured to another planar member, or sheet, to form a pouch, cavity or pocket suitable for holding goods—such as pills, tablets, capsules or caplets, for example. According to an aspect of the present invention, the surface  20  includes a first portion  40  upon which a silicone varnish or other adhesive resistant material may be applied, and a second portion  50 . As is illustrated in the particular embodiment of  FIG. 1A , the portion  50  may surround the portion  40 , although other configurations are of course possible. According to an aspect of the present invention, a peripheral part of the portion  50  is preferably used to seal the base label  10  to the other planar member, or sheet, to form the cavity and finished pouch. 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 1B , there is shown a top label  60  suitable for use with the base label  10  of FIG.  1 A. The top label  60  is preferably a flexible planar member, and may be formed of any suitable material, for example synthetic paper. The top label  60  also includes first and second oppositely disposed surfaces  70 ,  80  (only surface  80  is shown in FIG.  1 B). The surface  80  may include an adhesive portion  90  for attaching the surface  80  of the top label  60  to the surface  20  of the base label  10 . The surface  80  preferably also includes portions  100  and  110 , which may have the adhesive properties or characteristics thereof partially deadened and preferably substantially completely deadened, respectively. Between the portions  90  and  100 ,  110  (preferably on three sides there-between) is a score  95 . Alternatively, top label  60  may be sliced, slit or cut there at, for example. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1C , there is shown a panel suitable for use as part of a packaging pouch according to the first form of the present invention. Referring now also to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , when the top label  60  is secured to the base label  10 , using the adhesive portion  90 , such that the portion  100  of the top label  60  is aligned with the portion  40  of the base label  10 : the portion  110  may remain relatively unsecured to the base label  10 , while the combination of the portions  100  and  40  make the portion  100  selectively securable, unsecurable and re-securable to the base panel  10 . That is, the combination of the partial deadener, silicone varnish and slit  95  allow the portion  100  to be coupled to the portion  40  such that it may be unsecured and re-secured using hand pressure, without a need to reapply any adhesive. Further, the portion  110  may be used as a handle, for unsecuring or uncoupling and resecuring or re-coupling the portion  100  to the base label  10 . 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the portion  100  has an effective deadening of the adhesive property thereof of about 50%, while the adhesive property of the portion  110  preferably is approximately completely deadened. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the base label  10  and/or top label  60  include printing on areas thereof. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the base label  10  includes printing in an area substantially identical to the portion  40 . According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, the top label  60  includes printing on both surfaces  70  and  80 . According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the top label includes printing on one or more of the following areas: on surface  70  in an area substantially corresponding to portion  100 , and on surface  80  in an area substantially corresponding to portion  100 . 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a peripheral part of the portion  90  may be left relatively unaltered (e.g. not include substantial printing), as it corresponds to the portion of the base label  10  which may be used to seal with the other planar member to form a finished pouch, and hence may be at least partially distorted in the finished pouch. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for making a packaging device including printed indicia and including a pouch suitable for containing a product is disclosed. According to an aspect of the present invention, this method includes at least partially detachably coupling a first sheet to a second sheet, to allow the second sheet to be at least partially detached from the first sheet to view at least a portion of the indicia and reattached to the first sheet, the first sheet may be coupled to a second panel, or folded to form a second panel, wherein the first panel and the second panel form the pouch. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a method  120  for making a packaging pouch according to an aspect of the present invention. According to the method  120 , the process begins by printing  130 ,  140  both the base label  10  and top label  60 . This printing may be accomplished using suitable printing techniques. A silicon varnish may then be applied  150  to the base label  10 . The adhesive and deadening agents are applied  160  to the top label  60 . The adhesive and deadening agent may take any suitable form. The top and base labels  60 ,  10  may then be attached  170  for example along surfaces  50  and  70  to form a front panel of the finished pouch. The front panel may then be attached to a back panel (not shown) to form a pouch which may be filled, and sealed  180 . Alternatively, the base label may be folded to form the pouch. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, there are shown top  60  and base  10  labels and a panel for a packaging pouch according to a second form of the present invention. Referring now to  FIG. 3A  in particular, again there is shown a base label  10  including first and second oppositely disposed surfaces  20 ,  30  (again, surface  30  is not shown in FIG.  3 A). Analogously to the first form of the invention, the surface  20  includes a first portion  40  upon which a silicone varnish is applied, and a second portion  50 . 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 3B , there is shown a plan-view of a top label  60  suitable for use with the base label  10  of FIG.  3 A. The top label  60  again includes first and second oppositely disposed surfaces  70 ,  80  (only surface  80  is shown in FIG.  3 B). The surface  80  includes an adhesive portion  90  for attaching the surface  80  of the top label  60  to the portion  50  of the base label  10 . The surface  80  preferably also includes portions  100  and  110 , which again have the adhesive properties thereof partially deadened and preferably substantially completely deadened, respectively. 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 3C , there is shown a panel for a packaging pouch according to the second form of the present invention. Referring now also to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , when the portion  90  of the top label  60  is secured to the portion  50  of the base label  10  such that the portion  100  of the top label  60  is aligned with the portion  40  of the base label  10 : the portion  110  remains relatively unsecured to the base label  10 , while the combination of the portions  100  and  40  make the portion  100  selectively securable, unsecurable and re-securable to the base panel  10  using the portion  110  as a handle, for example. That is, again the combination of the partial deadener and silicone varnish allow the portion  100  to be secured to the portion  40  such that it can be unsecured and re-secured using hand pressure, without a need to reapply any adhesive. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4D  there are shown a base label  10  and top label  60  suitable for forming a packaging pouch according to a third form of the present invention. Referring more particularly now to  FIG. 4A , there is shown a first surface  20  of the base label  10 . The surface  20  again includes a portion  40  having a silicon varnish applied thereto and a portion  50 . Referring now also to  FIG. 4B , there is shown a second surface  30  of the base label  10 . Again, the surface  30  is oppositely disposed from the surface  20 . According to another aspect of the present invention, the base label  10  includes the score or cut  95  which forms two foldable and re-seal-able pages. 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 4C , there is shown a first surface  70  of a top label  60  suitable for use with the base label  10  of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . According to an aspect of the present invention the surface  70  has an adhesive deposited thereon. The surface  70  also includes a portion  100  and portion  110 . According to another aspect of the present invention, the portion  100  has its adhesive characteristics partially deadened, while the portion  110  has its adhesive characteristics substantially completely deadened. Referring now also to  FIG. 4D , there is shown a surface  80  of the top label  60  of FIG.  4 C. Again, the surfaces  70 ,  80  are oppositely disposed from one another. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4D , the surface  20  of the base label  10  is adhesively coupled to the surface  70  of the top label  60 . In this way, when folded transversely in half, the combination of base and top labels  10 ,  60  form a sealable pouch having the surface  30  of the base label  10  as an interior wall of an interior cavity and surface  80  of the top label  60  forming an outside surface thereof. According to another aspect of the present invention, the base label  10  and/or top label  60  include printing in areas thereof. According to another aspect of the present invention, the base label  10  includes printing on the surface  20  in an area substantially bounded by portion  40 , and/or the top label  60  includes printing on the surface  70  in an area substantially bounded by the portion  100 , and/or on the surface  80  in one or more areas corresponding to the relatively flat areas of the pouch formed when the combination of labels  10  and  60  are folded transversely. 
     Again, the base label  10  and top label  60  may include a peripheral buffer around the printing and portion  100  so as to accommodate room for sealing the finished pouch once the combination of the base and top labels  10 ,  60  are transversely folded to form a cavity. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5D , there is shown a fourth form of the present invention. Referring first to  FIG. 5A , there may be shown a first surface  20  of a base label  10 . The surface  20  again includes a portion  40  having a silicon varnish applied thereto and a portion  50 . Referring now also to  FIG. 5B , there is shown a second surface  30  of the base panel  10 . Again, the surface  30  is oppositely disposed from the surface  20 . 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 5C , there is shown a first surface  70  of a top label  60  suitable for use with the base label  10  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B . According to an aspect of the present invention the surface  70  has an adhesive deposited thereon. The surface  70  also includes a portion  100  and portion  110 . Again, according to an aspect of the present invention, the portion  100  has its adhesive characteristics partially deadened, while the portion  110  has its adhesive characteristic substantially completely deadened. Referring now also to  FIG. 5D , there is shown a surface  80  of the top label  60  of FIG.  5 C. Again, the surfaces  70 ,  80  are oppositely disposed from one another. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5D , as set forth with regard to  FIGS. 4A-4D , the surface  20  of the base label  10  is adhesively coupled to the surface  70  of the top label  60 . In this way, when folded transversely in half, the combination of base and top labels  10 ,  60  form a sealable pouch having the surface  30  of the base label as an interior wall of an internal cavity and surface  80  of the top label  60  forming an outside surface thereof. According to another aspect of the present invention, the base label  10  and/or top label  60  again include printing in areas thereof. According to another aspect of the present invention, the base label  10  includes printing on the surface  20  in an area substantially bounded by portion  40 . According to another aspect of the present invention, the top label  60  includes printing on the surface  70  in an area substantially bounded by the portion  100 . According to another aspect of the present invention, the top label  60  includes printing on the surface  80  in one or more areas corresponding to the flat areas of the pouch formed when the combination of labels  10  and  60  are folded transversely. 
     Different from the form of the present invention pictured in and discussed with regard to  FIGS. 4A-4D , in the form of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D  the top label  60  may be smaller in overall dimensions than the base label  10 . This facilitates providing a peripheral buffer around the top label  60  so as to accommodate room for sealing the finished pouch once the combination of the base and top labels  10 ,  60  are transversely folded. 
     Any and all dimensions illustrated in the non-limiting Figures are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to be limiting in any manner. Although the invention has been described and pictured in a preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred for has been made by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.