Abstract:
A twin-chambered pouch having a hard bottom for standing upright in an advertising display, and sealed chambers enclosing the same flowable or different liquid product contents accessible through spaced apart nozzles by which candy or confectionery contents can be sipped or sucked into a user&#39;s mouth separately or simultaneously according to one&#39;s taste desires.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    NONE 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Research and development of this invention and application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program. 
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    NOT APPLICABLE 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to disposable pouches containing flowable candy or confectionery product contents, in general, and to such disposable pouches of enhanced appeal to a prospective purchaser and to a retail store seller, in particular. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Disposable, flexible plastic pouches containing flowable candy or confectionery product contents are regularly sold in retail stores. Typically, the candy or confection is accessed by tearing off a top corner of the pouch, through which the product content is sipped or sucked out. Alternatively, a nozzle may be built into the top, which when uncapped allows the candy/confection, to flow into one&#39;s mouth. Usually constructed of square or rectangular shape, these disposable pouches are mostly found one atop the other on a retail store shelf in a tray, box or basket container. An arrangement providing a more attractive display to a prospective purchaser would be welcomed by the retail store seller, especially when arranged to increase the pouches&#39; selection and sales possibility. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved disposable, flexible plastic pouch for use in the liquid and flowable candy industries where its product content can be sipped or sucked out with increased attractiveness to a prospective retail purchaser. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the invention to provide such a disposable, flexible plastic pouch which can be more easily displayed on the retail store&#39;s shelf for enhanced advertising attractiveness. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention, first, is of a twin-chambered sealed pouch with each chamber being provided with its own nozzle for dispensing the liquid or flowable candy. Second, the pouch is provided with its own hard bottom for displaying the pouch vertically, in allowing one such twin-chambered pouch to sit and be displayed on a shelf, one next to another. As will be described, each chamber is fabricated from two panels of flexible multi-layered film that are heat-sealed together. A twin nozzle or spout is inserted at the top, one nozzle being inserted into each chamber of the pouch, and is heat-sealed there. A hard, twin base is inserted at the bottom, one base also being inserted into each chamber, and is heat-sealed, as well. This allows the pouch to stand vertically. 
         [0011]    As will also be described, the heat-sealed contact parts are made of the same material to allow them to seal to one another. Specifically, flexible front and back panels of each chamber are made of laminated layers of polyethylene/nylon or aluminum foil/polyethylene in that order, to be heat sealed together. In a preferred embodiment, an inner layer of each panel has the layer of polyethylene exposed in order to properly seal one chamber from the other. 
         [0012]    In accordance with the invention, the two nozzles are spaced sufficiently close to one another to allow them to both, at the same time, fit within a user&#39;s mouth. In this manner, a user can sip or suck the product content of either chamber individually, or of both chambers simultaneously, whether the product content of the chambers be the same or different. A spacing of 1¼″ for the nozzles is preferable for this. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other features of the invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  are exploded and assembled views respectively of the twin-chambered sealed pouch of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c  are views helpful in an understanding of the bottom part; or twin base, of the twin-chambered pouch; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d  are views helpful in an understanding of the twin nozzle, of the twin-chambered pouch; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   i  are illustrations of a pair of tamper resistant caps for closing off the nozzles with breakaway rings and safety belts in securing the caps to the twin-chambered pouch 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   f  are views helpful in an understanding of plugs employed in the filling of the chambers with the product contents and with the final step of assembly of the pouch; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are views helpful in understanding the arrangement of the layered laminations in fabricating the pouch. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The component parts of the twin-chambered sealed pouch of the invention are shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 1   a , arranged in its assembled view of  FIG. 1   b:    
         [0021]    a. Reference numeral  8  identifies the layered film chambers of the pouch  10  whose composition and makeup will be described below; 
         [0022]    b. Reference numeral  12  represents the twin base of the pouch which is inserted into the chambers&#39; bottom openings  14  where it is heat-sealed to insure a leak-proof seal between the twin base and the bottom of the chambers. The twin base  12  is made of the same plastic material as the inner layer of the chambers  8  in accomplishing this, preferably of polyethylene as also described below; 
         [0023]    c. Reference numeral  16  identifies the twin nozzle of the pouch, also of the same plastic fabrication as the inner layer of the chambers where it is to seal—preferably again of polyethylene. The twin nozzle is inserted into the chambers&#39; top openings  18 , and heat-sealed to ensure a leak-proof seal between the twin nozzle and the top of the chambers. Each nozzle has a ring flange  20  to attach (by a force fit over) to a twin safety belt  22  as well as screw threads  24  to attach two tamper resistant caps  26 ; 
         [0024]    d. The twin safety belt  22  employs a pair of front rings  28  which are force fit onto the nozzle&#39;s ring flange  20  located just beneath the screw threads  24 . Its other rear two rings  30  are used and force fitted to the caps  26 ; 
         [0025]    e. The caps have “break away” rings  32  built into them, with the caps  26  being screwed onto the threads  24  and force fit onto the same flanges  20  as shared by the safety belt  22 . The “break away” rings  32  separate from the caps when the caps are removed for the ver y  first time by the end user, and the seals are broken (leaving the ring  32  attached to the twin nozzle under the flange  20 )—as more clearly shown and described with respect to the views of  FIG. 4   a - 4   i;    
         [0026]    f. Reference numeral  38  identifies a pair of flexible bottom plugs which are pushed to snap into openings  40  of the twin base  12  to seal off each chamber after it is filled with its particular product content. Such container and chamber will be seen to be filled through the openings  40 , up and into the bottom of the chamber  8 . The plugs  38  are constructed to comply with child safety regulations, and once pushed in, are unable to be opened or removed without the use of tool implementations. 
         [0000]    As will be apparent from the assembled view of  FIG. 1   b , the shape of the twin base  12  and the shape of the twin nozzle  16  are what dictate the overall shape of the pouch  10 . 
         [0027]    The various views of  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c  are helpful in understanding the twin base  12  and its assembly with the bottom of the pouch. Specifically,  FIG. 2   a  is a perspective top view of the twin base  12 , with  FIG. 2   b  being a perspective bottom view. Reference numeral  42  illustrates a multi-grooved surface on the twin base  12  to ensure that the seal to the bottom of the chamber  8  is leak resistant ( FIG. 2   c ). Reference numerals  44  are bottom openings in the twin base  12  which receive the pushed-in plugs  38  inserted after the product content is introduced to fill the two chambers, either with the same or different flowable candy or confectionery. Reference numeral  46  in  FIG. 2   a  illustrates top ring flanges in the twin base  12  to snap the plugs in position in holding them securely in place. Reference numeral  46  is also shown in  FIG. 2   c , where reference numeral  48  identifies a support for the standing of the twin-chambered pouch vertically. 
         [0028]    In like manner,  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are perspective top and bottom views of the twin nozzle  16 , with  FIG. 3   c  being a sectional view of one nozzle. The nozzle opening for sipping or sucking the product content is shown at  50  and the nozzle flange  20  of  FIG. 1   a  is replicated at  52  in holding both the safety belt  22  and the breakaway ring  32  of  FIG. 1   b . The screw threads  24  of  FIG. 1   a  are replicated in  FIG. 3   a  at  54 —with a second multi-grooved surface  56  to ensure a leak resistant seal to the top of the chamber  8 . The view of  FIG. 3   d  shows the twin nozzle  16  sealed into the top openings  18  of the two chambers in forming the twin-chambered pouch. Reference numeral  58  identifies each nozzle being sealed into one chamber, with the nozzles  58  preferably being spaced 1¼″ from one another. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c  are helpful in an understanding of the twin safety belt of the invention, while  FIGS. 4   d - 4   i  are helpful in an understanding of the nozzle caps and their interconnections. More particularly,  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  respectively illustrate top and bottom views of the safety belt  22  of  FIG. 1   a . The front rings  28  of the belt  22  snap over the nozzle flanges  20  and are held there by a force fit ( FIG. 4   c ). The rear rings  30  of the belt  22  snap over the caps  26  to force fit to the breakaway rings  32  by rotation in the direction of the arrow ( FIG. 4   h ).  FIG. 4   i  shows a cap  26  removed from a nozzle  16  to allow a sipping or sucking to occur, while the cap  16  is still attached to the safety belt. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4   d  is a sectional view of the cap  26  showing its internal structure, its outer structure being shown by the perspective view of the cap in  FIG. 4   e . Reference numeral  60  in  FIG. 4   e  indicates a cap flange which holds the rear rings  30  of the safety belt.  FIG. 4   f , on the other hand, is a bottom view of the cap, showing the bottom structure of the flange  60  for the break-away function when the cap is first unscrewed and removed. 
         [0031]    In completing this description,  FIGS. 4   g  and  4   h  illustrate the cap being screwed to the nozzle  58 , and then attached, while at the same time being force fitted over the same flange  20  as the front rings  28  of the safety belt  22 .  FIG. 4   i  shows the cap unscrewed with the breakaway ring separated from the rest of the cap although remaining on the nozzle under the flange  20 . In this manner, the cap(s) remain secured on the nozzle until twisted off for first usage by the purchaser as a new product, breaking away the seal, and then, thereafter, closing the cap when the product content is completely sipped or sucked out—or when closing off the nozzle after a partial withdrawal. Tamper resistance is thus provided, as well as preventing any cap detachment from the twin-chambered pouch since the cap is fixed to the nozzle. 
         [0032]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the chambers of the pouch are filled with their respective “product contents” through their twin base openings  40 . The final assembly step is then to snap the bottom plugs  38  into the openings  40 . As will also be appreciated, such plugs are to be designed with child safety in mind. Thus,  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b  and  5   c  respectively illustrate a perspective top view of the plug  38 , a perspective bottom view, and a sectional view. As  FIG. 5   a  illustrates, the plug  38  includes a head  70  that is smaller than its tail  72 , with both being slightly larger than the opening  40  of the base  12  into which it is inserted ( FIG. 5   d ). The head  70  is forced through the top flange  46  in the twin base opening of  FIG. 2   a —which being smaller than the head  70 , flexes to allow the head&#39;s passing, and then snaps back to secure the positioning of the head and the plug fully recessed within the base.  FIG. 5   e , in this respect, illustrates a sectional view of the plug—and, again, its insertion into the opening  40  of the twin base. The illustration of  FIG. 5   f  then shows the plugs  38  snapped all the way into the twin base  12  with the tail  72  showing. The shading of  FIGS. 5   d - 5   f  indicates the chambers as being filled with product content. 
         [0033]    A perspective view of the twin-chambered sealed pouch of the invention shown in  FIG. 6   a  has a left outer edge seal  75  and a right outer edge seal  77 . The pouch  10  has a center seal  79  in forming the double chamber whose bottom openings  14  receive the twin base  12  and whose top openings  18  receive the twin nozzle  16 . Each chamber  8  is multi-layered as shown in  FIG. 6   b , consisting of front and back panels  80 ,  82  respectively. The front panel  80 , as illustrated, consists of transparent polyethylene layers  83  and  85  separated by a nylon film or aluminum foil layer  84 . The back panel  82  includes a pair of transparent polyethylene layers  86  and  88  separated by a nylon film or aluminum foil layer  87 . The edges of the panels are heat sealed in forming the two chambers, to receive the flowable candy or confectionery product contents therebetween. 
         [0034]    In essence, and more generally, the front panel  80  includes an outer layer, a center layer and an inner layer. The back panel  82  similarly is composed of outer, center and inner layers. Laminated together, the inner and outer layers of the front and back panels  80  and  82  are of the same material composition. The center layers of the panels can be of the same material composition as each other, or different in serving as a moisture barrier. With the center layer of nylon film, for example, a user will be able to see the product content inside the chamber either through the chamber&#39;s front side or through its back side. With the center layer of aluminum foil or paper, on the other hand, the moisture barrier protection and strength they each provide to the chamber carries the disadvantage of preventing the consumer from seeing exactly what product is inside the chamber. With a nylon center layer in the front panel, and with an aluminum center layer in the back panel, the center layers not only add strength to the chamber, provide it with moisture barrier protection, and extend its shelf life, but they better serve to reflect to a prospective purchaser the color of the product content of the chamber. 
         [0035]    With the present invention, in its preferred embodiment of sealing each chamber and of separating one chamber from the other, both the inner layer of the front panel and the inner layer of the back panel are fabricated of polyethylene so that they are able to seal to one another. While the outer layer of the front panel and the outer layer of the back panel can be fabricated of different plastic compositions, in this preferred embodiment they are both composed of the same polyethylene composition. Between the front panel and the back panel, the product content of each chamber is added via the twin base  12  through its openings  40  to be then sealed. 
         [0036]    In a manufacture of the twin-chambered sealed pouch, rolls of polyethylene, nylon film and aluminum foil, are set up on a laminating machine. For the front panel, the polyethylene, nylon film and polyethylene are laminated together—while for the back panel, the polyethylene, aluminum foil and polyethylene are laminated together. The resulting three layer panels are moved to a printing machine which prints the panels with whatever advertising and directions of use are set up. The outer layer of the front panel and the outer layer of the back panel are then placed under a heat sealing machine mold able to seal the pouch in a single step. Such sealing mold, in this embodiment, includes three vertical sealing lines (approximately 4 mm wide), which simultaneously seal the two outer edges and the center seal edge, thereby dividing the pouch into two chambers with top and bottom openings. The final step is to add the twin base bottom and the twin nozzle top, inserted in the top and bottom openings of the two chambers. There, they are each once again sealed in forming the top and bottom of the pouch. With the bottom plugs inserted, and the belt and cap assemblies added, the twin-chambered sealed pouch is then formed with its hard bottom and twin nozzle. 
         [0037]    With the hard twin base bottom, the retail store seller can better display the pouches vertically on a shelf in catching a customer&#39;s eyes and improving its chances of purchase over and beyond any printed advertising that may be accompanying the product itself. With the ability to sip or suck either product content separately or together through the 1¼″ spaced twin nozzle, the pouch of the invention becomes more desirable to the consumer. This is even more so with the flexible plastic panels of the chambers, and with the chambers themselves according to the invention, becoming more and more collapsible upon continual squeezing by a user to dispense the product contents within. 
         [0038]    Thus, and in these manners, the twin-chambered sealed pouch of the invention offers benefits both to the retail store seller and to the purchasing customer. 
         [0039]    While there has been described what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention.