, Description:FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates to the field of packaging pouches. In particular, the present subject matter relates to packaging pouches for countering counterfeiting malpractices.

BACKGROUND
[0002] In developing countries, counterfeiting malpractices cause a lot of financial losses to the companies who invest in R&D for new innovative poducts. The parties conducting the counterfeiting malpractices cannot be traced back by the companies. Even in the cases where the counterfeiting parties have been traced, the financial loss has already been incurred by the company since the counterfeited product has already been circulated in the market. This dissuades the innovative companies which in practice adversely impacts the new developments in respective technology domains.. A solution to this is to make it easy for the consumer to identify the authenticity of the product being purchased. If the consumer can identify the counterfeited product, the consumer would voluntarily refrain from buying counterfeited product, thereby reducing the financial losses incurred by the company.
[0003] To this end, there is a need for a packaging pouch which provides an indication of authenticity to the consumers.

SUMMARY
[0004] The present subject matter is directed towards a packaging pouch. The packaging pouch comprises at least one laminate sheet defining a volume to receive and contain a product there within. The laminate sheet has an operative inner surface and an operative outer surface, wherein the operative inner surface defines the volume to receive and contain the product. The operative outer surface is printed with a brand information to allow consumers to identify the product packaged there within. A branding element is configured on the operative inner surface of the laminate sheet to provide an indication of originality of the product packaged within the pouch and to differentiate the pouch from a counterfeited pouch and a counterfeited product packaged within the counterfeited pouch.
[0005] In an embodiment, the laminate sheet has a paper layer sandwiched between a plurality of metallic layers, wherein the plurality of metallic layers is preferably of aluminium. In a preferred embodiment, wherein the number of metallic layers in the plurality of metallic layers is two.
[0006] In another embodiment, the pouch is configured to receive and contain an edible product.
[0007] In another embodiment, a packaging adhesive applied on at least one edge of the operative inner surface for heat sealing the at least one edge, wherein the adhesive is permitted for use in food packaging by Food Safety and Standards Regulations, India and is selected from a group consisting of guar, karaya, arabic, carobean, furcellaran, tragacanth, gum ghatti, and heat seal laquer, and preferably heat seal lacquer, .
[0008] In another embodiment, the branding element includes a logo, a text mark, or a word mark, configured on the operative inner surface via the adhesive, the branding element protruding from the operative inner surface.
[0009] In another embodiment, the laminate sheet is folded to form a bottom edge of the pouch, and a top edge and side edges of the pouch are heat sealed via the adhesive.
[0010] The present subject matter also envisages a method to manufacture the packaging pouch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
[0011] The present subject matter will now be described with the help of the non-limiting accompanying drawing, in which:
[0012] Fig. 1 illustrates schematic view of a packaging pouch, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DRAWING AND DESCRIPTION
100 - packaging pouch
102 - laminate sheet
102A - bottom edge of the packaging pouch
102B - top edge of the packaging pouch
102C, 102D - side edges of the packaging pouch
104 - branding element
106 - closure means

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Counterfeiting of products is prevalent malpractice which has its root sunk in most of the developing countries as well as some of the developed countries. These malpractices cause a lot of financial losses to the companies. The parties conducting the counterfeiting malpractices cannot be traced back by the companies. Even in the cases where the counterfeiting parties have been traced, the financial loss has already been incurred by the company since the counterfeited product has already been circulated in the market. This is not desired. A solution to this is to make it easy for the consumer to identify the authenticity of the product being purchased. If the consumer can identify the counterfeited product, the consumer would voluntarily refrain from buying counterfeited product, thereby reducing the financial losses incurred by the company.
[0014] To this end, the present subject matter envisages a packaging pouch that allows the consumers to check for the authenticity of the product.
[0015] The present subject matter is directed towards a packaging pouch 100 that comprises at least one laminate sheet 102 defining a volume to receive and contain a product there within. The laminate sheet 102 has an operative inner surface and an operative outer surface, wherein the operative inner surface defines the volume to receive and contain the product. The operative outer surface is printed with a brand information to allow consumers to identify the product packaged there within. A branding element 104 is configured on the operative inner surface of the laminate sheet to provide an indication of originality of the product packaged within the pouch and to differentiate the pouch from a counterfeited pouch and a counterfeited product packaged within the counterfeited pouch.
[0016] In an embodiment, the laminate sheet 102 has a paper layer sandwiched between a plurality of metallic layers, wherein the plurality of metallic layers is preferably of aluminium. In a preferred embodiment, wherein the number of metallic layers in the plurality of metallic layers is two.AA packaging adhesive applied on at least one edge of the operative inner surface for heat sealing the at least one edge. The packaging adhesive can be any conventionally know adhesive used in packaging pouches.
[0017] In an embodiment, the pouch is configured to receive and contain an edible product. The edible product can either be a smokeless tobacco product, or chips, or candy. For application of packaging of edible items inside the packaging pouch 100,the adhesive required is to be permitted for use in food packaging by Food Safety and Standards Regulations. The adhesive for aforementioned application is generally selected from a group consisting of guar, karaya, arabic, carobean, furcellaran, tragacanth, gum ghatti, and heat seal laquer, and preferably heat seal lacquer.
[0018] preferred embodiment of the laminate sheet 102 includes an over coat, ink, and under coat configured on an operative outer surface of a first 6.5/7 micron aluminum foil. The operative inner surface of the first 6.5/7 micron aluminum foil is applied with an adhesive for sticking a 40/45/50 gsm mg paper thereto. The adhesive is again applied to the 40/45/50 gsm mg paper for bonding with a second 6.5/7/9 micron aluminum foil. On the operative inner surface of the second 6.5/7/9 micron aluminum foil is provided the branding element 104.
[0019] The branding element 104 includes a logo, a text mark, or a word mark, configured on the operative inner surface via the adhesive. The branding element 104 is configured such that it protrudes from the operative inner surface.
[0020] In accordance with one embodiment, the laminate sheet 102 is folded to form a bottom edge 102A of the pouch 100.A top edge 102B and side edges 102C, 102D of the pouch are heat sealed via the adhesive. In an embodiment, the pouch 100 also includes closure means 106 provided adjacent the top edge 102B of the pouch 100. The closure means 106 can be configured to facilitate in the air-tight packaging to prevent prolonged exposure of the edible product contained within the pouch 100 to the atmosphere.
[0021] The present subject matter also envisages a method to manufacture the packaging pouch. The method includes the following steps:
? rolling out a pre-determined length of laminate sheet from a laminate sheet roll, the laminate sheet having pre-configured branding information configured on an operative inner surface as well as an operative outer surface of the laminate sheet;
? applying an adhesive on a periphery of the laminate sheet;
? folding the laminate sheet to obtain a folded bottom edge of the pouch;
? heat sealing a first side edge and a second side edge of the folded laminate sheet, thereby defining a volume there within for receiving and containing a product;
? filling the volume with the product; and
? heat sealing a top edge of the folded laminate sheet to seal the product within the pouch.
[0022] The branding element 104 allows the consumer to check the product being purchased for authenticity. As soon as the consumer realizes that the branding element 104 is not present, the consumer would identify that the product purchased was a counterfeited product. The consumer can then either report the malpractice either to the company or the local government authorities for necessary action.
[0023] Different characteristics and beneficial particulars are unfolded fully with reference to the embodiments/aspects which are exemplified in the accompanying drawing and detailed in the preceding description. Descriptions of techniques, methods, components, and equipment that a person skilled in the art is well aware of or those form common general knowledge in the field pertaining to the present subject matter is not described and/or introduced for the purpose of focusing on the present subject matter and not to obscure the present subject matter and advantageous features thereof. At the same time the present subject matter and its features that are explained herein in the detailed description and the specific examples, are given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. It is to be understood that a person skilled in the art may and can think of various alternative substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or rearrangements which are considered to be within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept.
[0024] In the present specification the word "comprise", or variations thereof, such as "comprises" or "comprising", imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
[0025] Further, the use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use can be in the embodiment of the invention to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Claims:1. A packaging pouch comprising:
at least one laminate sheet defining a volume to receive and contain a product there within, said at least one laminate sheet having an operative inner surface and an operative outer surface, wherein:
said operative inner surface defines said volume to receive and contain said product;
said operative outer surface being printed with a brand information to allow users to identify said product packaged there within; and
a branding element configured on said operative inner surface of said at least one laminate sheet to provide an indication of originality of said product packaged within said pouch and to differentiate said pouch from a counterfeited pouch and a counterfeited product packaged within said counterfeited pouch.
2. The pouch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said laminate sheet has a paper layer sandwiched between a plurality of metallic layers, wherein said plurality of metallic layers is preferably of aluminium.
3. The pouch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the number of metallic layers in said plurality of metallic layers is two.
4. The pouch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pouch is configured to receive and contain an edible product.
5. The pouch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a packaging adhesive applied on at least one edge of said operative inner surface for heat sealing said at least one edge, wherein said adhesive is permitted for use in food packaging by Food Safety and Standards Regulations, India and is selected from a group consisting of guar, karaya, arabic, carobean, furcellaran, tragacanth, gum ghatti, and heat seal laquer, and preferably heat seal lacquer, .
6. The pouch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said branding element includes a logo, a text mark, or a word mark, configured on said operative inner surface via said adhesive, said branding element protruding from said operative inner surface.
7. The packaging pouch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said laminate sheet is folded to form a bottom edge of said pouch, and a top edge and side edges of said pouch are heat sealed via said adhesive.
8. A method for manufacturing a packaging pouch comprising the following steps:
rolling out a pre-determined length of laminate sheet from a laminate sheet roll, said laminate sheet having pre-configured branding information configured on an operative inner surface as well as an operative outer surface of said laminate sheet;
applying an adhesive on a periphery of said laminate sheet;
folding said laminate sheet to obtain a folded bottom edge of said pouch;
heat sealing a first side edge and a second side edge of said folded laminate sheet, thereby defining a volume there within for receiving and containing a product;
filling said volume with said product; and
heat sealing a top edge of said folded laminate sheet to seal said product within said pouch.