Repturable opening for sealed container

Abstract

A container formed from a paperboard laminate and including a rupturable opening for gaining access to the contents of the container, the opening being defined by an embossment pattern in a wall of the container. The embossment defines a weakened area which includes the layers of the laminate, but without destruction or deterioration of selected ones of the barrier / sealing layers of the laminate. A method is disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable. [0002] STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0003] Not Applicable FIELD OF INVENTION [0004] This invention relates to rupturable openings useful for gaining access to the contents of a closed (sealed) container and methods for forming the same. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0005] Liquid comestibles, commonly are offered to the consumer contained within closed (sealed) containers formed from laminates which include a paperboard substrate having at least one or more outer barrier layers. Such barrier layers insulate the paperboard from access to moisture originating either internally or externally of the container. At times, the barrier layer(s) further bar or reduce the transfer of gas through the container wall. The outer layer, at times, may comprise a heat sealing layer, which may also serve a barrier function. [0006] Access to the contents of the container are commonly afforded by inserting a com...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an improved way to access the contents of a container by adding a pattern of embossments on the wall of the container. These embossments are designed to be easily ruptured using a common drinking straw, making it simple for consumers to open the container and enjoy the contents. The embossments are formed by using male and female dies, and the method ensures consistent and uniform rupture of the container's barrier layer without causing any other layers to be non-ruptured. The result is a more convenient and easy-to-use container design."

Problems solved by technology

These prior art techniques for weakening the container wall for insertion of a drinking straw, for example, suffer from various problems.

Obviously, unsealed full cuts through the thickness of the container wall are impermissible.

Known commercial production equipment used for this purpose has been found unreliable for producing such partial thickness cuts.

Known embossing patterns and their techniques of production have been found to rupture the outer layers of barrier or sealing materials that are laminated to one or both of the opposite surfaces of a paperboard substrate, thereby exposing the absorbent fibers of the paperboard to soak up liquid from inside the container, or to soak up liquid from the exterior of the container, either such event destroying the ability of the laminate to contain the contents of the container within the container, or permitting inadvertent puncture of the weakened area of the container wall.

In more severe instances, leakage of the container contents results, while in any such instance, the purity, flavor, etc. of the container contents may be compromised.

Whereas, as noted, rupture of one or more of the barrier or sealing layers of a paperboard laminate to be used to form containers for liquids, is permissible in certain containers, such layer rupture is not permissible in other containers for liquids.

Known prior art techniques, including known embossment patterns, have been found to be lacking in their ability to consistently provide a weakened area in a wall of a container for liquids employing a paperboard laminate, wherein the weakened area remains intact to the extent necessary to retain the contents within the container and / or to protect the contents of the container against undesired alterations of the contents of the container, and still is readily rupturable by a common drinking straw.

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