Pouch

Abstract

A pouch (1) comprises: a package (100) that includes a seal part (120); and a holding member (200) that is provided to the seal part (120) and can hold part of the package (100). In the package (100), an outflow port can be formed by cutting part of an obverse sheet (101) and part of a reverse sheet (102), and the package (100) can be deformed into a closed orientation in which the outflow port is closed by bending the obverse sheet and the rear sheet and an opened orientation in which the outflow port is opened. The seal part (120) includes a holding part (125) that holds the holding member (200), and a locked part (126) that engages with the holding member (200). The holding member (200) includes a fixing part (210) fixed to the holding part (125), and a locking part (220) detachably engaged with the locked part (126). The locked part (126) is provided at a position where the packaging body (100) is in the closed orientation when engaged with the locking part (220).

Description

Pouch

[0001] The present invention relates to a pouch.

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-55211 discloses a stand-up container that can stand on its own even when the contents are low and is easy to handle. The stand-up container has a main container and a mouth portion connected to the upper end of the main container. In this container, one engaging portion engages with the other engaging portion, causing one upper end and the other upper end to be folded back, so that both upper ends of the main container become cylindrical, and the overall shape of the main container becomes approximately conical.

[0003] JP 2024-55211 A

[0004] On the other hand, in the case of a pouch that does not have a spout (mouth), when the outlet needs to be resealed, it is desirable that the resealing be easy.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a pouch whose outlet can be easily resealed.

[0006] A pouch according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a packaging body having a front sheet and a back sheet sealed to each other, including a seal portion surrounding a storage section capable of storing contents, and a holding member provided in the seal portion of the packaging body and capable of holding a part of the packaging body, wherein the packaging body is capable of forming an outlet for allowing the contents to flow out of the storage section by cutting a part of the front sheet and a part of the back sheet, and is deformable between a closed position in which the outlet is blocked by folding the front sheet and the back sheet, and an open position in which the outlet is opened, wherein the seal portion includes a holding portion that holds the holding member and an engaging portion that engages with the holding member, and the holding member includes a fixed portion fixed to the holding portion and an engaging portion that detachably engages with the engaging portion, and the engaging portion is provided in a position that causes the packaging body to assume the closed position when engaged with the engaging portion.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pouch whose outlet can be easily resealed.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of a pouch in a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a flow-out portion. FIG. 3 is a front view of a holding member. FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing opening and resealing of a pouch. FIG. 5 is a front view of a pouch in a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view schematically showing opening and resealing of a pouch. FIG. 7 is a front view schematically showing a modified example of a pouch in the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view schematically showing a modified example of a locked portion. FIG. 9 is a view schematically showing a modified example of a locked portion. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a modified example of a relationship between a holding portion and a holding member. FIG. 11 is a view schematically showing a modified example of a relationship between a holding portion and a holding member.

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0010] 1 is a front view of a pouch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the pouch 1 includes a packaging body 100 and a holding member 200.

[0011] The package 100 has a front sheet 101, a back sheet 102, and a bottom sheet 103. The edges of the sheets 101 to 103 are sealed together. The pouch 1 of this embodiment is a so-called standing pouch. However, the bottom sheet 103 may be omitted.

[0012] The package 100 has a sealed portion 120 that surrounds a storage portion 110 capable of storing contents (liquid, powder, etc.). The sealed portion 120 is a portion where the sheets 101 to 103 are welded together. The sealed portion 120 includes a side sealed portion 120S and a bottom sealed portion 120B. The side sealed portions 120S are provided on both ends in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1). The bottom sealed portion 120B may be curved so as to be convex downward.

[0013] The packaging body 100 can have an outlet 130a formed therein for allowing the contents to flow out of the storage section 110 by cutting a portion of the front sheet 101 and a portion of the back sheet 102. The packaging body 100 includes an outlet section 130 connected to the outlet 130a, and the outlet 130a is formed by cutting a portion 135 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) of the outlet section 130 along a cutting line L (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In this embodiment, the outlet section 130 is formed in a corner of the top of the packaging body 100. However, the outlet section 130 may also be formed in the center of the top of the packaging body 100, for example.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sealing portion 120 has a pair of defining portions 128 that define the outflow portion 130. The base ends of the defining portions 128 are connected to the first base portion 121 and the second base portion 122, which will be described later, and the tip ends of the defining portions 128 are connected to the sealing portion of a portion 135 of the outflow portion 130. In FIGS. 1 and 2 , a center line CL passing through the center of the outflow portion 130 is indicated by a dashed line. The center line CL is a direction along the outflow direction of the contents from the outflow port 130a. The center line CL may be the bisector of the angle formed by an imaginary extension of the inner edge portion 129 of each defining portion 128, or may be a line perpendicular to the center of the straight line described by the outflow port 130a.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, the package 100 can be transformed into a closed position in which the outlet 130a is closed, and an open position in which the outlet 130a is open.

[0016] The seal portion 120 has a first base portion 121 and a second base portion 122. The first base portion 121 is adjacent to and continuous with the defining portion 128. As shown in FIG. 2 , a width w21 of the first base portion 121 is greater than a width w28 of the defining portion 128.

[0017] A holding portion 125 is formed on the first base portion 121. The holding portion 125 holds the holding member 200. In this embodiment, the holding portion 125 is formed as a through-hole (for example, a circular hole).

[0018] The second base portion 122 is adjacent to the defining portion 128. As shown in FIG.

[0019] The second base portion 122 is formed with a locked portion 126. The locked portion 126 is capable of engaging with the holding member 200. In this embodiment, the locked portion 126 is formed as a through hole (e.g., a circular hole). As shown in FIG. 3 , the outer diameter (diameter in this embodiment) of the locked portion 126 is larger than the outer diameter (diameter in this embodiment) of the holding portion 125.

[0020] The shape of the through hole is not limited to a circle. In this case, the "outer diameter" is defined as the shortest line segment that is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the seal portion 120 and passes through the center of the through hole.

[0021] The first base 121 and the second base 122 require width to provide the retaining portion 125 and the engaging portion 126, whereas it is preferable that the width w28 of each regulating portion 128 is small from the viewpoint of shortening the distance between the outlet 130a and the mouth when the contents flow from the outlet 130a to the mouth of the container.

[0022] 1 and 2, the holding portion 125 is provided on one side of the center line CL, and the locked portion 126 is provided on the other side of the center line CL.

[0023] The holding member 200 is provided in the seal portion 120 of the packaging body 100. The holding member 200 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The holding member 200 is capable of holding a portion of the packaging body 100. As shown in FIG. 3 , the holding member 200 has a fixing portion 210 and a locking portion 220.

[0024] The fixed portion 210 is fixed to the holding portion 125. The fixed portion 210 has a base portion 212 and a shaft portion 214. The base portion 212 may be formed in a disk shape. The shaft portion 214 protrudes from the base portion 212 in a direction perpendicular to the base portion 212. The shaft portion 214 may have a hollow portion 214a. In this way, the amount of resin material required to form the holding member 200 is reduced. The outer diameter of the shaft portion 214 is formed to be the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the holding portion 125. The fixed portion 210 may be displaceable relative to the holding portion 125 in a direction perpendicular to the shaft portion 214.

[0025] The locking portion 220 detachably engages with the locked portion 126. The locking portion 220 is provided at the tip of the shaft portion 214. The locking portion 220 is formed in a shape that gradually reduces in diameter as it moves away from the shaft portion 214. As shown in FIG. 3 , the outer diameter of the base end of the locking portion 220 is larger than the diameter of the locked portion 126. Therefore, when the locked portion 126 passes through the locking portion 220 and engages with it, a sense of click is created due to the reduced insertion resistance. Note that the locking portion 220 may be provided with slits that divide it into multiple locking pieces, and each locking piece may be configured to be displaceable in the radial direction.

[0026] Next, an example of the operation for resealing the outlet 130a will be described with reference to FIG. 4 . First, a portion 135 of the outlet portion 130 is cut along the cutting line L. This forms the outlet 130a. Then, the outlet portion 130 is folded back near the base end of each defining portion 128. Next, the package 100 is folded so that the locked portion 126 approaches the locking portion 220 of the holding member 200, and the locked portion 126 is engaged (press-fit) with the locking portion 220. This maintains the package 100 in a closed position. Note that the outlet 130a can be opened by performing the reverse operation of the above.

[0027] It should be noted that the folding back of the outflow portion 130 near the base end of each defining portion 128 may be omitted. In this case, the engaged portion 126 engages with the engaging portion 220, causing the outflow portion 130 to bend near the center line CL, thereby bringing the front sheet 101 and the back sheet 102 into close contact with each other, and thus the package 100 assumes the closed position.

[0028] As described above, in the pouch 1 of this embodiment, the outlet 130a is closed by the engagement of the locked portion 126 with the locking portion 220, so that the outlet 130a can be easily resealed.

[0029] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the locked portion 126 is larger than the outer diameter of the holding portion 125, and the outer diameter of the locking portion 220 is larger than the outer diameter of the locked portion 126. Therefore, the holding member 200 is unlikely to come off the package 100, and the locking portion 220 can engage with the locked portion 126 so that the package 100 can deform between the open position and the closed position. Furthermore, the holding member 200 can be formed with a simple configuration.

[0030] Second Embodiment Next, a pouch 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Note that in the second embodiment, only the parts that are different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same structure, action, and effect as the first embodiment will not be repeated.

[0031] In this embodiment, the holding portion 125 and the locked portion 126 are both located on one side of the center line CL. In the example shown in Figures 5 and 6, the holding portion 125 and the locked portion 126 are located above the center line CL. This prevents the holding portion 125 and the locked portion 126 from interfering with the mouth of the container when the contents flow out of the outlet 130a into the mouth of the container. Furthermore, after the contents are filled into the container, adhesion of the contents to the holding portion 125 and the locked portion 126 is prevented when the contents leak from the outlet 130a.

[0032] However, the holding portion 125 and the locked portion 126 may be provided on both one side and the other side of the center line CL. In this case, the locked portion 126 provided on one side of the center line CL engages with the locking portion 220 provided on one side of the center line CL, and the locked portion 126 provided on the other side of the center line CL engages with the locking portion 220 provided on the other side of the center line CL, thereby maintaining the package 100 in the closed position.

[0033] Furthermore, one of the pair of defining portions 128 has a base end portion connected to the first base portion 121 and a portion on the tip side of the base end portion connected to the second base portion 122 .

[0034] The seal portion 120 includes a narrow portion 127 provided between the holding portion 125 and the locked portion 126. The dimension of the narrow portion 127 in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to an edge portion 129 of the defining portion 128 on the side closer to the holding portion 125 and the locked portion 126 is smaller than the dimension of the holding portion 125 in the orthogonal direction and is also smaller than the dimension of the locked portion 126 in the orthogonal direction. The narrow portion 127 may be formed by a part of the defining portion 128.

[0035] In this aspect, the narrow portion has lower rigidity than the holding portion and the locked portion, which makes it easier for the packaging body to bend at the narrow portion, making it easier to engage the locked portion with the locking portion.

[0036] In this embodiment, when the outlet 130a is resealed, the outlet portion 130 is folded back at the narrow portion 127 or a portion in its vicinity, as shown in Fig. 6. This causes the locked portion 126 to approach the locking portion 220 of the holding member 200. The locked portion 126 is then engaged (press-fitted) with the locking portion 220. This maintains the package 100 in the closed position.

[0037] 7 is a front view schematically illustrating a variation of the pouch in the second embodiment, in which bottom seal portion 120B is gradually inclined upward toward the outside in the width direction.

[0038] Furthermore, the side seal portion 120S has a shape that extends linearly in the vertical direction. This allows for a wider outlet 130a compared to the configuration shown in Fig. 5 . Furthermore, the expansion of the storage portion 110 is transmitted to the outlet portion 130, making it easier for the outlet portion 130 to open. For example, if the contents are liquid, the constriction at the connection between the outlet portion 130 and the side seal portion 120S, as shown in Fig. 5 , promotes the outflow of the contents. On the other hand, if the contents are solid, such as powder, granules, or particles, the linear extension of the side seal portion 120S, as shown in Fig. 7 , promotes the outflow of the contents.

[0039] Of the pair of defining portions 128, the defining portion 128 located on the side opposite the side where the holding portion 125 and the locked portion 126 are located is configured at the top of the side seal portion 120S. The widthwise dimension w2 of this defining portion 128 is smaller than the widthwise dimension w1 of the portion of the side seal portion 120S located below the defining portion 128. This makes it easier to fold back the outflow portion 130 at the defining portion 128 when resealing the outflow port 130a. Furthermore, when the outflow port 130a is unsealed, i.e., when the locked portion 126 is removed from the locking portion 220, the defining portion 128 is prevented from remaining folded.

[0040] Furthermore, because dimension w1 is greater than dimension w2, when pouch 1 is tilted to pour the contents, the path along which the contents flow from bottom seal 120B toward defining portion 128 is located lower (the destination of pouring) near defining portion 128. This further promotes the outflow of the contents.

[0041] In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, bottom seal portion 120B is inclined so that it gradually slopes upward as it moves outward in the width direction, so that when pouch 1 is in a position that allows the contents to flow out of outlet 130a (a position in which outlet 130a faces downward), the bulge of storage portion 110 becomes larger, and because side seal portion 120S is formed in a straight line, the bulge of storage portion 110 is transmitted to outlet portion 130, making it easier to promote the flow of contents out of outlet 130a.

[0042] In the above-described embodiments, examples have been shown in which the locked portion 126 is configured as a through-hole, but the configuration of the locked portion 126 is not limited to this.

[0043] 8, the locked portion 126 may be configured as a slit formed in a cross shape or the like in the second base portion 122. In this example, the outer diameter of the locked portion 126 is defined by the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the slit.

[0044] 9, the locked portion 126 may be formed in a C-shape. That is, the locked portion 126 may be configured as an arc-shaped slit formed so as to leave a connecting portion 126a that connects to the second base portion 122.

[0045] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, the engaging portion 126 may be composed of an arc-shaped slit formed so as to leave a pair of connecting portions 126a connected to the second base portion 122, and a slit formed along the diameter of the arc-shaped slit.

[0046] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, examples have been shown in which the holding portion 125 is configured as a through-hole, but the configuration of the holding portion 125 is not limited to this.

[0047] 11, the holding portion 125 may be configured as a part of the surface of the top sheet 101. In this case, the base 212 of the holding member 200 may be adhered to the holding portion 125.

[0048] The front sheet 101 has a front film 101a and a sealant layer 101b provided on the inner surface of the front film 101a. The back sheet 102 has a back film 102a and a sealant layer 102b provided on the inner surface of the back film 102a.

[0049] 12, a through-hole may be formed in a portion of the front sheet 101 so as to expose the sealant layer 102b of the back sheet 102, and the sealant layer 102b of the back sheet 102 may constitute the retaining portion 125. In this case, the base 212 may be welded to the sealant layer 102b.

[0050] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0051] 1 Pouch, 100 Packaging body, 110 Storage portion, 120 Sealed portion, 121 First base portion, 122 Second base portion, 125 Holding portion, 126 Locked portion, 127 Narrow width portion, 128 Defining portion, 129 Edge portion, 130 Outflow portion, 130a Outflow port, 200 Holding member, 210 Fixing portion, 220 Locking portion, CL Center line.

Claims

1. A pouch comprising: a packaging body having a front sheet and a back sheet sealed together, the packaging body including a seal portion surrounding a storage section capable of storing contents; and a retaining member provided in the seal portion of the packaging body and capable of holding a part of the packaging body, wherein the packaging body is capable of forming an outlet for allowing the contents to flow out of the storage section by cutting a part of the front sheet and a part of the back sheet, and is deformable between a closed position in which the outlet is blocked by folding the front sheet and the back sheet, and an open position in which the outlet is open, wherein the seal portion includes a retaining portion that holds the retaining member, and an engaging portion that engages with the retaining member, and the retaining member includes a fixing portion fixed to the retaining portion and an engaging portion that detachably engages with the engaging portion, and the engaging portion is provided in a position that causes the packaging body to assume the closed position when engaged with the engaging portion.

2. A pouch according to claim 1, wherein the packaging body includes an outflow section connected to the outflow port, the retaining section is provided on one side of an imaginary center line passing through the center of the outflow section, and the latched section is provided on the other side of the center line.

3. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the packaging body includes an outflow section connected to the outlet, and the retaining section and the latched section are provided on one side of an imaginary center line passing through the center of the outflow section.

4. A pouch as described in claim 3, wherein the sealing portion includes a narrow portion provided between the holding portion and the locked portion, and the dimension of the narrow portion in a direction perpendicular to the center line is smaller than the dimension of the holding portion in the orthogonal direction and is also smaller than the dimension of the locked portion in the orthogonal direction.

5. The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the engaging portion is larger than the outer diameter of the holding portion, and the outer diameter of the engaging portion is larger than the outer diameter of the engaging portion.

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