[0001] This invention relates to a header for a pouch-type bag, in particular, for a multicompartment
pouch-type bag, and a consumer article comprising a header and a multicompartment
pouch-type bag.
[0002] The use of headers is well established in the retail industry as stiffeners, for
providing advertising board for products to which the headers are attached and also
to providing means for enabling display of the attached products by, for example,
hanging from a suitable display rail. Where the product is bagged, attachment of the
header to the bag is typically accomplished through the use of, for example, adhesive,
staples or ultrasonic sealing.
[0003] Particular problems present themselves when a header is attached to a bag comprising
a chilled or frozen food article. For example if the header is glued to the bag, the
joint may weaken under humid conditions through hydrolysis of the adhesive bond. Furthermore
the temperature at which the gluing step during packaging takes place must be carefully
considered to minimise stresses on the adhesive joint caused by a combination of any
mismatched coefficients of expansion of the header, bag and adhesive material and
temperature fluctuations which may lead to joint rupture. As for the use of staples,
this is not considered safe in food packaging. Ultrasonic sealing is very expensive
being about ten times more expensive then conventional thermal sealing.
[0004] In the pre-prepared meals sector of the food industry, it is sometimes advantageous
to package the various components of a pre-prepared meal separately. Examples include:
vegetables with a pre-prepared sauce added when cooking the vegetables; and pasteurised
dehydrated egg and water, again, added on cooking the egg. In each of the two aforementioned
examples, the pre-prepared meal is packaged in a bag comprising two separate compartments.
[0005] Thus the invention provides a solution to the problems associated with attaching
a header to a bag comprising a food article and, in particular, to a bag comprising
more than one compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0006] In a first aspect of the invention, a header for a pouch comprising at least two
compartments separated by a seal is provided, the header comprising a device from
which the said pouch can hang whereby in use at least one of the said compartments
hangs to one side of the device and at least another one of the said compartments
hangs on an opposing side of the device. A particular advantage of this arrangement
of header is that attachment to a bag is through a means which is both non-permanent,
and hence flexible, and does not in any way interfere with the bag which would risk,
for example, puncturing or tearing the bag, thereby leaving the bag intact.
[0007] In particular, the device comprises an upper edge of at least one flap whereby in
use at least one of the said compartments hangs adjacent one side of the flap and
at least another one of the said compartments hangs adjacent an opposing side of the
flap.
[0008] The header may additionally comprise opposing first and second side walls and a crease
line separating the said side walls wherein the upper edge of the at least one flap
is congruent with the crease line when the header is assembled. A particular advantage
of this arrangement is that when assembled and in combination with a bag, the seal
is sandwiched firmly between the upper edge of the at least one flap and the crease
line reducing any slippage of the bag with respect to the header.
[0009] Preferably the device comprises the upper edge of two flaps.
[0010] For simplicity of construction the header is desirably unitary, that is to say, is
constructed from a single piece.
[0011] In a further aspect of the invention, the header additionally comprises a means for
arranging at least one of the compartments above at least another one of the compartments
whereby in use to permit any contents of the at least one upper compartment to fall
into the at least one lower compartment thereby to mix with any contents of the at
least one lower compartment when the seal is broken. An advantage of such an arrangement
is that the contents of the at least two compartments can be combined together in-situ
without recourse to a mixing vessel and furthermore without any risk of spillage.
With respect to a food article, the now mixed food article can be heated in-situ by
microwave or a conventional oven.
[0012] In particular the means for arranging at least one of the compartments above at least
one of the compartments comprises a pivotable panel, the pivotable panel comprising
attaching means for the at least one upper compartment, whereby in use the pivotable
panel pivots about the at least one lower compartment thereby to arrange the at least
one upper compartment above the at least one lower compartment. Preferably the attaching
means comprises the at least one flap.
[0013] The header may further comprise opposing first and second side walls and an opposing
pair of intermediate walls for arranging the opposing first and second side walls
in spaced relationship wherein the pair of intermediate walls are adjustable thereby
to vary the distance between the opposing first and second side walls within a defined
range. An advantage of this technical feature is that any one assembled header can
accommodate a range of bag sizes within a defined range thus reducing the stock range
size. Preferably each intermediate wall comprises a pair of overlapping side wall
flaps.
[0014] A header may additionally comprise at least two side wall flaps and bottom wall flap
thereby to form a box-like header with the opposing first and second side walls. An
advantage of this arrangement is that the header is inherently self-standing and fully
protects the pouch from, for example, tampering.
[0015] In a still further aspect of the invention, a consumer article is provided including
a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal and a header as set
forth hereinabove. Preferably the pouch comprises two compartments.
[0016] The pouch preferably comprises a food article, more preferably a food article which
is frozen or chilled to below room temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention is illustrated with reference to the following figures in which:
Figure 1 shows construction of a first embodiment of the inventive header in a sequence
of steps;
Figure 2 shows construction of a second embodiment of the inventive header in a sequence
of steps;
Figure 3 shows construction of a third embodiment of the inventive header in a sequence
of steps; and
Figure 4 shows use of a fourth embodiment of the inventive header for arranging a
first compartment above a second compartment in a sequence of steps thereby to mix
the contents of both compartments in-situ.
Figure 5 shows construction of a fifth embodiment of the inventive header in a sequence
of steps thereby to form a header box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of header constructed from a single unitary piece
of cardboard comprising first and second side walls (101a, 101b) defined by first
and second parallel crease lines (102a and 102b) respectively, and a top wall (107)
defined by both first and second parallel crease lines (102a and 102b). The first
side wall (101a) is flanked by an opposing pair of first side wall flaps (103) each
linked to the first side wall (101a) by first side wall flap crease lines (104). In
addition the first side wall (101a) is flanked by an opposing pair of side flaps (105)
each linked to the first side wall (101a) by side flap crease lines (106). The side
flaps (105) are proximal to the first parallel crease line (102a) as the first side
wall flaps (103) are distal from it such that the upper edge of each side flap (108)
is a continuation of the first parallel crease line (102a). The second side wall (101b)
is flanked by an opposing pair of second side wall flaps (109) each linked to the
second side wall (101b) by second side wall flap crease lines (110).
[0019] In use with a bag comprising two compartments separated by a seal, the seal is placed
on and in alignment with the first parallel crease line (102a) and the opposing pair
of side flaps (105) folded towards each other at side flap crease lines (106) so that
they rest on a compartment. Then the second side wall (102b) is folded towards the
pair of side flaps at the first and second parallel crease lines (102a and 102b).
Finally the opposing pair of first side wall flaps (103) are folded towards each other
at the first side wall flap crease lines (104) until they are approximately perpendicular
to the first side wall (101a) and the opposing pair of second side wall flaps (109)
are folded towards each other at the second side wall flap crease lines (110) until
they meet the first side wall flaps (103) thereby to define the thickness of the assembled
header. Attachment of the first and second side wall flaps is effected with adhesive.
[0020] A variant embodiment differs only in comprising a single side flap rather than a
pair of opposing side flaps (105).
[0021] Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of header constructed from a single unitary piece
of cardboard comprising first and second side walls (201a, 201b) defined by first
and second parallel crease lines (202a and 202b) respectively, and a top wall (207)
defined by both first and second parallel crease lines (202a and 202b). The first
side wall (201a) is flanked by an opposing pair of first side wall flaps (203) each
linked to the first side wall (201a) by first side wall flap crease lines (204). In
addition the first side wall (201a) is joined at counter flap crease line (206), which
is parallel to the first parallel crease line (202a), by a single counter flap (205).
The counter flap crease line (206) is not continuous comprising two isolated counter
flap crease lines adjacent the first side wall flaps (203) thereby defining a gap
between the counter flap (205) and the first side wall (201a). The edge of the counter
flap distal from the first parallel crease line (208) is defined such that when the
counter flap (205) is folded towards the first side wall (201a), the edge (208) is
congruent to the first parallel crease line (202a). The second side wall (201b) is
flanked by an opposing pair of second side wall flaps (209) each linked to the second
side wall (201b) by second side wall flap crease lines (210).
[0022] In use with a bag comprising two compartments separated by a seal, a first compartment
is passed through the aforementioned gap until the seal can be placed on and in alignment
with the first parallel crease line (202a). The counter flap (205) is then folded
towards the first side wall (201a) at counter flap crease line (206) so that it rests
on the first compartment. Then the second side wall (202b) is folded towards the counter
flap at the first and second parallel crease lines (202a and 202b). Finally the opposing
pair of first side wall flaps (203) are folded towards each other at the first side
wall flap crease lines (204) until they are approximately perpendicular to the first
side wall (201a) and the opposing pair of second side wall flaps (209) are folded
towards each other at the second side wall flap crease lines (210) until they meet
the first side wall flaps (203) thereby to define the thickness of the assembled header.
Attachment of the first and second side wall flaps is effected with adhesive.
[0023] Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of header constructed from a single unitary piece
of cardboard comprising first and second side walls (301a, 301b) defined by first
and second parallel crease lines (302a and 302b) respectively, and a top wall (307)
defined by both first and second parallel crease lines (302a and 302b). The first
side wall (301a) is flanked by an opposing pair of first side wall flaps (303) each
linked to the first side wall (301a) by first side wall flap crease lines (304). In
addition the first side wall (301a) is flanked by an opposing pair of side flaps (305)
each linked to the first side wall (301a) by a pair of opposing side flap crease lines
(306). The side flaps (305) are proximal to the first parallel crease line (302a)
as the first side flaps (303) are distal from it such that the upper edge of each
side flap (308) is a continuation of the first parallel crease line (302a). The second
side wall (301b) is flanked by an opposing pair of second side wall flaps (309) each
linked to the second side wall (301b) by second side wall flap crease lines (310).
[0024] A variant embodiment differs only in comprising a single side flap rather than a
pair of opposing side flaps (305).
[0025] In use with a bag comprising two compartments separated by a seal, the seal is placed
on and in alignment with the first parallel crease line (302a) and the opposing pair
of side flaps (305) folded towards each other at the pair of opposing side flap crease
lines (306) so that they rest on one of the compartments. The distance between the
pair of opposing side flap crease lines defines the thickness of the compartment under
the opposing pair of side flaps (305). Then the second side wall (302b) is folded
towards the pair of side flaps at the first and second parallel crease lines (302a
and 302b). Finally the opposing pair of first side wall flaps (303) are folded towards
each other at the first side wall flap crease lines (304) until they are approximately
perpendicular to the first side wall (301a) and the opposing pair of second side wall
flaps (309) are folded towards each other at the second side wall flap crease lines
(310) until they meet the first side wall flaps (303) thereby to define the thickness
of the assembled header. Attachment of the first and second side wall flaps is effected
with adhesive.
[0026] Figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment of header which is a variant of the first and
third embodiments set forth hereinabove comprising a front perforated tear line (401)
which is a continuation of the lower edge of each side flap (108 and 308) thereby
dividing the first side wall (101a and 301a) into a pivotable panel (402) and a fixed
panel (403). This embodiment is adapted for use with a bag comprising a seal with
a weakened section susceptible to bursting on the application of over-pressure to
one or other of the compartments.
[0027] In use with the header assembled, the front perforated tear line (401) is broken
and the pivotable panel is rotated about the second parallel crease line (102b and
302b) by approximately 180 degrees thereby to relocate an upper compartment above
the other lower compartment. The contents of the upper compartment can be disgorged
into the lower compartment by over pressurising the upper compartment thereby bursting
a weakened section of seal.
[0028] Figure 5 shows a fifth embodiment of header constructed from a single unitary piece
of cardboard comprising first and second parallel crease lines (502a and 502b) in
alignment with central crease line (502c), first parallel crease line (502a) and central
crease line (502c) defining a first top wall (507a), second parallel crease line (502b)
and central crease line (502c) defining a second top wall (507b), first and second
top walls (507a and 507b) meeting at central crease line (502c) and first side wall
(501a) meeting first top wall (507a) at first parallel crease line (502a), and second
side wall (501b) meeting second top wall (507b) at second parallel crease line (502b).
The first side wall (501a) is flanked by an opposing pair of first side wall flaps
(503) each linked to the first side wall (501a) by first side wall flap crease lines
(504). The second side wall (501b) is flanked by an opposing pair of second side wall
flaps (509) each linked to the second side wall (501b) by second side wall flap crease
lines (510). The first top wall (507a) is flanked by an opposing pair of first top
wall flaps (505a) each linked to the first side wall (507a) by first top wall flap
crease lines (506a). The second top wall (507b) is flanked by an opposing pair of
second top wall flaps (505b) each linked to the second top wall (507a) by second top
wall flap crease lines (506b). First bottom flap (511a) is connected to first side
wall (501a) at first bottom flap crease line (512a) located parallel to first parallel
crease line (502a). Second bottom flap (511b) is connected to second side wall (501b)
at second bottom flap crease line (512b) located parallel to second parallel crease
line (502b). First bottom flap (511a) is flanked on opposing sides by a pair of bottom
side flaps (513) which are connected to first side wall flaps (503) at a pair of bottom
side flap crease lines (514).
[0029] In use with a bag comprising two compartments separated by a seal, the seal is placed
on and in alignment with the central crease line (502c) and the opposing pair of second
top wall flaps (505b) folded towards each other at second top wall flap crease lines
(506b) so that they rest on a compartment. Then the second side wall (502b) is folded
towards the pair of second top wall flaps (505b) at the first and second parallel
crease lines (502a and 502b) and the central crease line (502c). The opposing pair
of second side wall flaps (509) are folded towards each other at the second side wall
flap crease lines (510) until they are approximately perpendicular to the second side
wall (501b), and the opposing pair of first side wall flaps (503) are folded towards
each other at the first side wall flap crease lines (504) and the opposing pair of
first top wall flaps (505a) are likewise folded towards each other at the first top
wall flap crease lines (506a) until they meet the second side wall flaps (509) thereby
to define the thickness of the assembled header. Attachment of the first and second
side wall flaps (503, 509) and first top wall flaps (505a) is effected with adhesive.
[0030] Then the pair of bottom side flaps (513) are folded towards each other at a pair
of bottom side flap crease lines (514) and first bottom flap (511a) folded towards
the pair of bottom side flaps (513) at the first bottom flap crease line (512a) and
attachment thereto effected with adhesive. Finally the second bottom flap (511b) is
folded towards the first bottom flap (511a) at second bottom flap crease line (512b)
and attachment thereto effected with adhesive thereby to form a box-like header.
1. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal, the
header comprising a device from which the said pouch can hang whereby in use at least
one of the said compartments hangs to one side of the device and at least another
one of the said compartments hangs on an opposing side of the device.
2. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to claim 1 wherein the device comprises an upper edge of at least one flap (108, 208
and 308) whereby in use at least one of the said compartments hangs adjacent one side
of the flap and at least another one of the said compartments hangs adjacent an opposing
side of the flap.
3. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to claim 2 wherein the header additionally comprises opposing first and second side
walls (101a, 201a, 301a, 101b, 201b and 301b) and a crease line separating the said
side walls wherein the upper edge of the at least one flap (108, 208 and 308) is congruent
with the crease line when the header is assembled.
4. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the device comprises the upper edge of two flaps (108
and 308).
5. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to any one of the preceding claims wherein the header is unitary.
6. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal in accordance
with any one of the preceding claims wherein the header additionally comprising a
means for arranging at least one of the compartments above at least another one of
the compartments whereby in use to permit any contents of the at least one upper compartment
to fall into the at least one lower compartment thereby to mix with any contents of
the at least one lower compartment when the seal is broken.
7. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to claim 6 wherein the means for arranging at least one of the compartments above
at least another one of the compartments comprises a pivotable panel (402), the pivotable
panel (402) comprising attaching means for the at least one upper compartment, whereby
in use the pivotable panel (402) pivots about the at least one lower compartment thereby
to arrange the at least one upper compartment above the at least one lower compartment.
8. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to claim 7 wherein the attaching means comprises the at least one flap (108, 208 and
308).
9. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to any one of the preceding claims further comprising opposing first and second side
walls (101a, 201a, 301a, 101b, 201b and 301b) and an opposing pair of intermediate
walls for arranging the opposing first and second side walls (101a, 201a, 301a, 101b,
201b and 301b) in spaced relationship wherein the pair of intermediate walls are adjustable
thereby to vary the distance between the opposing first and second side walls (101a,
201a, 301a, 101b, 201b and 301b) within a defined range.
10. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to claim 9 wherein each intermediate wall comprises a pair of overlapping side wall
flaps (103, 203, 303, 109, 209 and 309).
11. A header for a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated by a seal according
to any one of claims 3 to 10 additionally comprising at least two side wall flaps
() and bottom wall flap () thereby to form a box-like header with the opposing first
and second side walls (101a, 201a, 301a, 101b, 201b, 301b, 501a and 501b).
12. A consumer article including a pouch comprising at least two compartments separated
by a seal and a header according to any one of the preceding claims.
13. A consumer article according to claim 12 wherein the pouch comprises two compartments.
14. A consumer article according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the pouch comprises a
food article.
15. A consumer article according to claim 14 wherein the food article is frozen or chilled
to below room temperature.