Abstract: A reusable liquid pouch primarily comprising a) a opening and closing device; and b) a liquid containing.pouch wherein the said opening and closing device is attached to the said liquid containing pouch in a secured manner and detached for further use
The present invention relates to a device to handle liquids in reusable liquid pouch which primarily consists of a liquid storage pouch with a reusable clamp having a unique design for outpouring the liquid from the said liquid storage pouch and further the said uniquely designed reusable clamp is an attachable and detachable unit of the reusable liquid pouch.
There is enough literature in the public domain with respect to specifilized liquid packing machines that uses the sealing mechanism for a given material that is used for closure of the liquid pouch units.
For centuries, people all over the world have been drinking fruit juice. Today, it is available in both frozen concentrate and liquid form and packaged in a variety of ways, including bottles, cans, and— most recently—boxes. A juice box is an individual-sized container that usually holds 4-32 oz (118-946 ml) of juice and generally comes with an attached straw that can be removed and inserted for drinking. A juice box is considered an aseptic container, meaning it is manufactured and filled under sterile conditions and requires no refrigeration or preservatives to remain germ-free. Along with its portability and convenience, the juice box has gained widespread popularity due to the brick-shaped container's composition of unbreakable materials and tight seal.
Juice boxes are typically made up of six layers of paper (24%), polyethylene (70%), and aluminium foil (6%). The paper provides stiffness and strength and gives the package its brick shape. Polyethylene serves two purposes. On the inner most layer, it forms the seal that makes the package liquid tight. On the exterior, it provides a protective coating that keeps the package dry and provides a printing surface for nutritional and marketing information. The aluminium foil forms a barrier against light and oxygen, eliminating the need for refrigeration or preservatives to prevent spoilage. The straws are made of plastic and wrapped in cellophane cover. Multipacks contain six or more juice boxes and are often wrapped in a cardboard sleeve that displays the name of the product and other specifications, then shrink-wrapped in plastic.
Although they are available in a variety of sizes, virtually all juice boxes have the same basic design
features. Each of these features was designed to serve a specific purpose. First, the rectangular,
, brickTshapedr design was.chosen, fop; its convenience,- pjr^ieula^ly dunjig tijartsport. Second,~the
materials from which juice boxes are made were selected to keep the beverages inside safe and fresh.
The third basic design feature is the drinking mechanism. This can be either a straw affixed to the side of the package that can be removed and inserted into a preformed hole in the top, or a pull tab incorporated into the top of the package that may or may not be resealable. The type of drinking mechanism used depends on the size of the juice box and/or who will be using it. For example, juice boxes designed for small children often use a straw, while boxes with more adult appeal may use a pull tab. Boxes that contain more than one serving would typically use a resealable tab.
THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The aseptic packaging process is considered a major breakthrough in the beverage industry. During the process, the juice is sterilized outside the package using an extremely high temperature (195-285°F [91-1410°C]) and then cooled before being poured into the specially designed pre-sterilized juice box. This sterilization process is called flash heating and cooling because it is accomplished within a very short amount of time, usually three to 15 seconds, substantially reducing energy use and nutrient loss associated with conventional sterilization. This process is so revolutionary that it has won an award for innovation from the Institute of Food Technologies.
BYPRODUCTS AND WASTE
Despite early scepticism from environmentalists, juice boxes and the aseptic packaging process used to fill them have proven to be highly environmentally friendly, resulting in much less waste and energy use than traditional beverage packaging methods.
Also, because of their light weight and unique brick shape design, juice boxes help save energy by taking up less space during transport than bottles or cans. In addition, aseptic packages do not require refrigeration during transport or storage, which also reduces energy use. During the aseptic filling process, the time and temperature are carefully monitored to ensure maximum energy efficiency without compromising the integrity of the product.
Recycling of used juice boxes helps reduce waste as well. In the 1990s there was an increase in the number of communities including juice boxes as part of their curbside recycling programs. Through a process called hydropulping, the paper is separated from the polyethylene and ground into pulp to be used to produce other paper products.
Beverage Packaging that Pours On the Performance
DuPont resins for beverage packaging improve the performance of glass, plastic, and juice box containers.
As the global leader in specialty polymer materials, DuPont collaborates with packaging converters to create innovative beverage packaging solutions. In fact, DuPont launched the polymer packaging revolution with the invention of the PET soda bottle.
High-performance resins used for beverage packaging include DuPont™ Surlyn'ionomer resin, DuPont™ Nucref ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, and DuPont™ Selar" barrier resins. They also provide proven application development expertise and technical support to ensure beverage packaging solution works for today and tomorrow.
Nucrel'for Juice Boxes
To preserve a perishable product like fruit juice, Nucref is used to laminate together an inner layer of polyethylene film and an outer layer of aluminium foil. This prevents the often-aggressive liquids from permeating to the outside. It also prevents the box structure from falling apart (delamination), which would then cause unwanted oxygen to penetrate the box and spoil the juice. With its superior bond strength and excellent resistance to acids, Nucrel" is the adhesive of choice for major juice box manufacturers.
Selar' PA for Plastic Bottles
Beverage packaging must control oxygen transmission in order to preserve freshness, especially for juice. In plastic bottles, a layer of Selar" PA amorphous nylon resin blended with EVOH provides a superior oxygen barrier at a lower cost than EVOH alone. Selar PA also outperforms EVOH under cold, wet conditions. Selar* PA reduces flavour scalping in gabled containers and eliminates it entirely in plastic bottles, resulting in greater product consistency and improved consumer satisfaction.
Thanks to a heat-shrinkable film that combines polyethylene with Surlyn , consumers can easily and safely reach for their favourite bundled mineral water, juice, or soft drink and access individual bottles without using scissors. The film offers a straight linear tear in the transverse direction, so consumers can just push a hole in the top of the package and easily pull it open.
The drawback that was found by the present inventor in the above prior art is that such liquid packer that contains an edible liquid such as fruit juices can only be used once and has to be discarded after use and probably may be sent for recycling.
Aseptic technology
The aseptic packaging technology is Tetra Pak's key innovation and paved the way for Tetra Pak's success. In aseptic processing the product and the package are sterilized separately and then combined and sealed in a sterile atmosphere, in contrast to canning, where product and package are first combined and then sterilized. When filled with ultra-heat treated (UHT) foodstuffs (liquids like milk and juice or processed food like vegetables and preserved fruits), the aseptic packages can be preserved without being chilled for up to one year, with the result that distribution and storage costs, as well as environmental impact, is greatly reduced and product shelf life expanded.
Packages
• Tetra Classic is the name of the first, tetrahedral package, launched by Tetra Pak in 1952, with an aseptic version released in 1961 and still in use, mainly for portion-sized cream packages and children's juices.
• The Tetra Brik, a package in the shape of a rectangular cuboid, was launched in 1963 after a long and costly development process. An aseptic version, Tetra Brik Aseptic was launched in 1969. In
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• The pillow-shaped Tetra Ftno Aseptic was introduced in 1997, aiming to provide low cost and simplicity.
• Tetra Gemina Aseptic was introduced in 2007 as the "world's first roll-fed gable top package with full aseptic performance".
• The Tetra Prisma Aseptic was launched in 1996. It has an octagonal shape with the aim of providing a more ergonomic experience.
• The Tetra Rex is a cuboid shaped package with a table-top. It was launched in Sweden in 1966.
• Tetra Recart is a newly launched package shaped as a rectangular cuboid that is meant to provide an alternative to previously canned foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruit and pet food.
• Tetra Top was launched in 1986 as a re-closable, rounded cuboid package with a plastic upper part, including opening and closure elements. The lid, moulded in polyethylene in a single mold, makes it easy to open and reclose.
• Tetra Wedge Aseptic was developed to keep packaging material to a minimum while retaining a square surface underneath. It was introduced in 1997.
• The Tetra Evero Aseptic is the latest of the Tetra Pak packages, launched in 2011 and marketed as the world's first aseptic carton bottle for ambient milk.
Recycling
Since the aseptic packages contain different layers of plastic and aluminium in addition to raw paper, they cannot be recycled as "normal" paper waste, but need to go to special recycling units for separation of the different materials. Tetra Pak has operated limited recycling since the mid-1980s, introducing a recycling program for its cartons in Canada as early as 1990. In 2000, Tetra Pak invested $ 20 million (€500,000) in the first recycling plant for aseptic packages in Thailand. Recycling of the aseptic packages has indeed been one of Tetra Pak's big challenges. Once separated, the aseptic carton results in aluminium and pure paraffin, which can be used in industry. Even without separating the carton materials, however, the aseptic carton can be reused, a Tetra Pak spokesman said, for example in engineering equipment. In 2010, 30 billion used Tetra Pak carton packages were recycled, a doubling since 2002. The company stated that it aims to help double the recycling rate : MWithin) the^nexOep Veariy 5bfarthing".that'; will ''require?'afi ehgagemehtCwrthfn the whole recycling
chain. As of 2011, 20% of Tetra Pak cartons are recycled globally, with countries like Belgium, Germany, Spain and Norway showing local recycling rates of over 50%. To increase the level of recycling and meet the targets, Tetra Pak has engaged in driving recycling activities such as facilitating the development of collection schemes, launch new recycling technologies and raise the awareness about recycling and sustainability. Used Tetra Pak packages have been used as construction material in different design projects, with varying results.
Criticism
Tetra Pak cartons have been criticized for being more difficult to recycle than tin cans and glass bottles. The difficulty lies in the fact that the process demands specific recycling plants that are not easily accessible and that if not recycled, they end up in landfills. Tetra Pak has stated that it is currently working on joint ventures with local governments around the world to increase the number of recycling facilities.
PCT/IT1999/000281 filed on 3rd September 1999 by PIAZZA Daniele, an Italian which was published on 10TH August 2000 with publication number WO/2000/046123 for the invention titled as PULL-OFF OPENING DEVICE FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH POP-UP STRAW, wherein the abstract of the invention teaches that: "Device for opening hermetically sealed containers of drinks especially cans (10) and tetrapak cartons provided by the presence of a fixed plug (20) on the top of the container (10) said plug having a tubular extension towards the inside, closed by a membrane (21) surrounded by an area prepared for easy tear-off, and connected to a pulling ring (24), the internal dimensions (35) of said extension corresponding, with a slight amount of play, to those at the top end (43), also if there is a pleated area (41), of.a floating drinking tube (40) lodged inside the container (10), so that, when the membrane (21) is pulled off, the top (43) of the drinking tube (40) emerges from the container (10) thrust upwards by hydrostatic force of the liquid, thus permitting convenient and hygienic consumption of the drink inside the container."
The diagrammatic representation of PIAZZA Daniele's invention is as shown in the following page. This diagram is inserted in the description under prior art and no way connected with the teachings of the present invention.
The Daniele's invention concerns hermetically sealed containers for drinks, especially cans closed by a metal cover opened by pulling round a prepared tear-away area. The cans normally used to contain drinks in general, especially those of aluminium, and tetrapak cartons, associate the advantages of easy storage and transport with a light weight and high resistance to shocks. The means provided for easy opening, consisting of a tear-off tab, makes any tool for the purpose unnecessary.
According to Daniele's invention against the above advantages the following disadvantages must be set. The containers are sold without any coating to protect them against dust and impurities generally in spite of the fact that they may be stored anywhere, even out in the open, and transport may be necessary over long distances to other points of storage for wholesale and retail sale. Impurities in particular are liable to accumulate just at the position of the tear-off tab. The contents of the can is often drunk by holding it directly to the mouth if a straw or glass does not happen to be available. It is therefore inevitable that many of, the impurities lying on the upper surface of the can are swallowed together with the liquid as, on leaving the can, it must pass over at least one area of the lid where dirt can collect, thus involving serious risks to health and hygiene especially bearing in mind the many diseases brought to light by modern research. These drawbacks are further aggravated by the system of opening the cans especially because, after pulling, the tab is pushed inside the can instead of outside it. Even if the drink is poured into a glass it will still be polluted by the tab, full of impurities, as this is pushed inside the can and therefore comes in contact with the liquid.
Subject of the Daniele's invention is a device for opening hermetically sealed containers of drinks, especially those of metal or tetrapak. The invention offers evident advantages. All contact between the drinker's mouth and the lid of the can, so often covered with dirt and dust, is avoided as the lips can come in contact with the tube only when it automatically emerges after opening the can. As the device consists of extremely simple means made of inexpensive material, its cost is practically negligible, especially bearing in mind the enormous health and commercial advantages obtainable.
On the perusal of the prior art the following points which were observed by the present inventor are as follows:
a) Different liquids are stored in different packaging materials depending upon their end utility. For example liquids at higher and ambient and lower temperatures can be stored by using
appropriate packaging material and packaging machines. Packing technique differs for
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b) Packing machines and their technologies differs from one another depending upon the type of packing the liquids to be packed for storing, transporting etc.
c) Packaging is aimed at non-contaminating and non-polluting environments.
d) Upon consumption the packaging material is thrown out as waste thus may or may not causing the pollution to the environment.
e) Packing material can be of any standard meeting polymeric materials or metals.
The present inventor has aimed at reducing the cost of packaging the liquid pouches. The present inventor is interested only on standardized polymeric materials for the use of packaging but not on any metallic containers. The present inventor has aimed at REUSABLE juice boxes that contain REUSABLE SEALING CLAMP, thus making the revolution in packaging technology.
PROBLEM OF THE PRIOR ART AS IDENTIFIED:
a) Generally after consumption the juice boxes are thrown out once the seal has been opened. These juice boxes which are having unique packing technology are difficult to be recycled, thus contributing towards the pollution of the environment.
b) The cost of the preparation of packing is costlier when a specified packing system is required.
c) The number of specified packing machines is less in number owing to their cost.
d) The lower availability of packing machines spurts demand and pushing the cost of packing on higher side.
e) None of the juice boxes or cans [Daniele's invention] of the prior art are reusable.
BRIEF SOLUTION [AS OFFERED THROUGH THE PRESENT INVENTION]
a) The present invention is related to a liquid pouch to which an opening and closing devise is separately attached.
b) Opened clamp is re closable upon partial use and reusable after complete use and which is an attachable and or detachable device with the liquid pouch/container.
c) By practising the present invention both the liquid storage pouch and the opening and closing devise are reusable for infinite number of times.
d) By practising the present invention there is indeed a cost reduction thus expressing the economic significance of the invention. By practising the present invention there is indeed a cost reduction thus expressing the economic significance of the invention.
e) By practising the present invention there is indeed a significant reduction to pollution thus expressing environmental benefit significance of the invention.
f) By practising the present invention and because of the reusability of the liquid containing system there is a technical advancement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
a) Figure-la and lb represents the pipe assembly of opening and closing devise.
b) Figure-2 represents the various parts of the opening and closing device wherein each part is defined with numero-alphabetic identifier, such as 2a, 2b etcetera
c) Figure-3a, 3b, 3c and 3d represents the unit of opening and closing device in secured position of different angles.
d) Figure-4 represents the attached opening and closing device preferentially located at a corner of the said liquid pouch.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
a) The first object of the invention is to invent a reusable opening and closing device with attachable and detachable means with a liquid pouch.
b) The second object of the invention is to suit the reusable opening and closing device to any type of the liquid pouch, in other words the said reusable opening and closing device has no relevance with respect to the nature of the material used for the preparation of the liquid containing pouch.
c) The third object of the invention IS TO ELIMINATE THE RECYCLING PROCESS thereby reducing the stress on the environment pollution.
d) The fourth object of the invention is TO REUSE THE OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE & THE LIQUID POUCH for many number of times till the end of the life cycle of the said liquid pouch.
e) The fifth object of the invention is to ensure a free out-flow of the liquid without any contamination with the surrounding environment thus ensuring the standards on each usage.
f) The sixth object of the invention is to provide a small cap for the tube through which the liquid from the storage container is out flown.
g) The seventh object is to minimise the cost of production of the liquid storage containers by adopting the techniques of the present invention.
h) The eighth object of the invention is to provide a technical advancement over the prior art.
i) The ninth object of the present invention is provide a movable pipe with a cap at an end projecting outside of the liquid containing pouch so as to ensure the angle of liquid flow.
j) The tenth object of the present invention is further ensuring the air-tightness of the liquid containing pouch.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
a) The opening and closing device is made up of any light weight material.
b) The opening and closing device is made up of polymeric material having sufficient strength and standards that are known to the person skilled in the art.
c) The opening and closing device is made adoptable to any material with which the liquid pouch is made of including Tetra Pack.
d) The opening and closing device has preferential and partial workability for the ease of use.
e) Though the present invention is conceptualized on the liquid storing and flow, is extendable to any flowable materials with or without pressure such as gels, creams, semi-liquids, semi-solids, powders, flours etc.
f) The opening and closing device is preferentially clamped to any corner of the liquid pouch. It shall not be construed that the said opening and closing device cannot be placed at the central portion of any edge of the liquid pouch. Preferably, if it is to be placed at any point of the liquid pouch, it is placed in an edge that has least length.
The inventor of the present invention is to state that the invention as disclosed herein shall not be construed to limit the scope of the invention with respect to the present disclosure. The present disclosure shall be construed as inclusion of other obvious modifications which may or may not be specifically detailed or exemplified throughout this description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is mainly focussed on opening and closing device which can be attached to a liquid containing pouch in the manner as described herein below. The liquid containing pouch can be made of any material, for example, from paper, paper board, plastics and any kind of polymeric materials of any size, shape and thickness. It can range from ordinary polythene cover to tetra pack. The present inventive opening and closing device is not suitable for cans made of metals.
The opening and closing devise comprises two parallel rectangular and equally sized bricks. Each birch has two screw able holes that exactly match with the other two screw able holes of the other
bar. Preferably one of the screw able holesjias a cut.opeyniqg-to one^of the^dges-for ease-in—
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opera bility. Further at the centre of each brick there is a concave groove wherein when two bricks are packed together then these central grooves forms a circular opening in between and through the bars which is perpendicular to the path of the screw able holes. A pipe of suitable length which has grooves at either end wherein one of the ends or the end that protrudes through the liquid pouch is capable of being screw ably secured with a cap. The cap prevents the outflow of the liquid from the liquid containing pouch when not in use. By unscrewing and separating the cap from the opening and closing device and either by or not applying the pressure on the liquid containing pouch the liquid pours out on tilting the liquid containing device. The pipe as described herein is having adjustable length through the circular opening that is formed of concave central grooves of the two bricks.
The opening and closing device is attached to a liquid containing pouch in the manner as described below.
The pipe of required length is inserted through the liquid containing pouch wherein the first end of the said pipe is in contact with the liquid to be out flown. Then place the two bricks one above the pipe and the other below the pipe such that the pipe is placed in the circular opening that is made out of placing the central grooves one upon the other. Then place the screws through the screw able holes and secure tightly by known methods. Preferably the screw heads of the screws of the screw able holes are placed upside and downside such that the pressure of tightening acts on opposite directions which secures extra air tightness.
As an another embodiment of the invention the contact surfaces of the bricks can optionally have a rough and groove surface such that a protruded surface of the first brick fits in a groove of the second brick and thus an extra sealing effect is achieved.
The opening and closing device can be placed at any point or on any edge of the liquid containing pouch. For the sake of convenience the opening and closing mechanism is placed at any corner of the liquid containing pouch. There is no restriction on attaching the opening and closing device at any centrally located point of an edge of the liquid containing pouch. In such case only precaution needs to be taken such that the screws passing through the screwable holes do not punch the liquid containing pouch. For a corner this problem may generally not arise because of the distance between two screwable holes of a brick is such that they may fall outside the liquid containing pouch. Whatever the mode of attachment, care needs to be taken that no puncture be made to the liquid containing pouch.
1. A reusable liquid pouch primarily comprising a) a opening and closing device; and b) a liquid
containing.pouch wherein the said opening and closing device is attached to the said liquid
containing pouch in a secured manner and detached for further use,
2. The reusable liquid pouch wherein the said opening and closing device comprises;
(a) two parallel rectangular and equally sized bricks wherein each brick has two screw able holes that exactly matches with the other two screw able holes of the other bar;
(b) preferably one of the screw able hole has a cut opening to one of the edges for ease operability;
(c) further at the centre of each brick there is a concave groove wherein when two bricks are packed together then these central grooves forms a circular opening in between and through the bars which is perpendicular to the path of the screw able holes.
(d) a pipe of suitable length which has grooves at either end wherein one of the ends or the end that protrudes through the liquid pouch is capable of being screw ably secured cap wherein the cap prevents the outflow of the liquid from the liquid containing pouch when not in use.
3. The reusable liquid pouch wherein the said opening and closing device is attached by means of;
(a) the pipe of step (d) of claim 2 of required length being inserted through the liquid containing pouch wherein the first end of the said pipe is in contact with the liquid to be out flown;
(b) then placing the two bricks one above the pipe and the other below the pipe such that the pipe is placed in the circular opening that is made out of placing the central grooves one upon the other;
(c) then place the screws through the screw able holes and secure tightly by known methods, preferably the screw heads of the screws of the screw able holes are placed upside and downside such that the pressure of tightening acts on opposite directions which secures extra air tightness.
4. The reusable liquid pouch as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein the 4 opening and closing device is made of any light weight material, preferably any known polymeric material of given standards.
5. The reusable liquid pouch as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein one of the screw able hole of one of the bricks cut is made open through the thickness of the given brick to make the usage of the opening and closing device easier white refilling the liquid of the given liquid containing pouch.
6. The reusable liquid pouch as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the opening and . closing device and the liquid containing pouch are reused continuously till the shelf-life of that parts end. ^^^ r_^
| # | Name | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Form18_Normal Request_11-04-2017.pdf | 2017-04-11 |
| 2 | Drawings_As Filed_11-04-2017.pdf | 2017-04-11 |
| 3 | Description Complete_As Filed_11-04-2017.pdf | 2017-04-11 |
| 4 | Claims_As Filed_11-04-2017.pdf | 2017-04-11 |
| 5 | Form2 Title Page_Complete_11.04.2017.pdf | 2017-04-19 |
| 6 | Form1_As Filed_11.04.2017.pdf | 2017-04-19 |
| 7 | Correspondence by Applicant_ Form 1_11.04.2017.pdf | 2017-04-19 |
| 8 | 201741012842-FER.pdf | 2021-10-17 |
| 1 | 2020-10-2816-58-57E_28-10-2020.pdf |