Openable and re-closable container and method for making the container having contents stored therein

Abstract

A storage section 18 , a communicating section 22 , an openable section 20 , and a discharged section are provided. Regions of container walls 12 a ( 12 b ) that form an opening 21 to be formed by tearing the openable section 20 are approchable each other, and regions of the container walls 12 a ( 12 b ) that form the communicating section 22 are approchable each other. When the regions of the container walls 12 a ( 12 b ) that form the opening 21 are separated from each other over the entire width thereof, the regions of the container walls 12 a ( 12 b ) that form the communicating section 22 can be separated from each other. Seal sheets 28 a ( 28 b ) are respectively joined to the regions of the container walls 12 a ( 12 b ) that form the communicating section 22 . The seal sheets 28 a ( 28 b ) are opposite each other and extend toward the storage section 18 . The seal sheets 28 a ( 28 b ) include sealing portions 32 that adhere to each other in a condition where they are separatable from each other over the entire width of the communicating section 18 from joined positions 30 thereof to storage section 18 . When the sealing portions 32 of the seal sheets 28 a ( 28 b ) are separated from each other and re-adhere to each other, the opening 21 can be re-closed.

1 . An openable and re-closable container comprising: 
 an internal space formed by a container wall;    said internal space having a storage section, an openable section, and a communicating section communicating with said openable section and said storage section;    said openable section being adapted to form an opening by tearing said container wall of said container wall;    said communicating section being formed into a substantially flat-shape; and    re-closing means provided in said communicating section for facilitating openable sealing of said communicating section to close a side of said storing section that is adjacent to said opening;    said re-closing means comprising opposite seal sheets disposed between opposite wall regions of said container wall which positionally correspond to said communicating section;    said opposite seal sheets comprising:    joined portions joined onto an inner surface of one of said opposite wall regions and an inner surface of the other of said opposite wall regions, respectively, along the entire width of said communicating section; and    sealing portions extending from said joined portions toward said storage section in unjoined conditions relative to said opposite wall regions;    at least parts of said sealing portions being opposite each other so as to be adherable to each other and separable from each other substantially along the entire width of said communicating section.    
   
   
       2 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said opposite seal sheets are adapted to adhere to each other by causing said opposite seal sheets to be pressed against each other in a thickness direction.  
   
   
       3 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said sealing portions of said opposite seal sheets have adhesion.  
   
   
       4 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 3 , wherein at least opposite surfaces of said sealing portions of said seal sheets are formed of a mixture of thermoplastic resins and adhesion-adding resins.  
   
   
       5 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 4 , wherein said thermoplastic resins comprise polypropylene and said adhesion-adding resins comprise stereoregular and block copolymer of polypropylene.  
   
   
       6 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 3 , wherein said seal sheets comprise adhesive layers forming opposite surfaces thereof, and non-adhesive layers adjacent to said container wall.  
   
   
       7 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 6 , wherein resin forming said adhesive layers have a melting point of at least 100° C. or higher.  
   
   
       8 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 6 , wherein resin forming said non-adhesive layers have a melting-point of at least 100° C. or higher.  
   
   
       9 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container further includes a hanging means provided at a side of said openable section which is adjacent to said storage section, and a discharged means provided at a part of said container wall which is located at a lowermost position when said container is hung through said hanging means.  
   
   
       10 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 9 , wherein said hanging means is provided at a part of said container wall which is adjacent to one of both sides of said openable section, and said discharged means is provided at a part of said container wall which is diagonal to said hanging means.  
   
   
       11 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said opening has the substantially same width as that of the opening side of said communicating section.  
   
   
       12 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said opening has a width wider than that of the opening side of the communicating section.  
   
   
       13 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said opposite seal sheets are joined at both side edges thereof to both side edges of said opposite wall regions forming said communicating section.  
   
   
       14 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said opposite seal sheets are at least partially joined to each other at ends thereof which are adjacent to said storage section.  
   
   
       15 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said opposite wall regions of said container wall is provided with a visual indicator means for indicating said sealing portions of said seal sheets to be pressed against each other, said visual indicator means being provided at an area of the at least one of said opposite wall regions that positionally corresponds to said seal sheets.  
   
   
       16 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said opposite seal sheets is provided with a visual indicator means for indicating said sealing positions of said seal sheets to be pressed against each other, said visual indicator means being capable of being visually perceived through said opposite wall regions from the outside of said container wall.  
   
   
       17 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container further includes a chuck means for chucking said container wall from both sides thereof to cause said sealing portions of said seal sheets to be pressed against each other, said chuck means being provided on said opposite wall regions forming said communicating section and/or area of opposite wall regions forming said storage section, which are adjacent to said communicating section.  
   
   
       18 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container further includes means for facilitating folding of said container, said means for facilitating folding of said container being provided at said communicating section and/or a side of said storage section which is adjacent to said communicating section.  
   
   
       19 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 18 , wherein said container further includes a stopper means for stopping one part of a folded container with respect to the other of said folded container, said folded container being folded through said means for facilitating folding of said container.  
   
   
       20 . An openable and closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container has first contents preliminarily stored within said storage section thereof, said container being adapted to be used by tearing said area of said container wall to form said opening, putting second contents into said storage section through said formed opening and mixing said second contents with said first contents.  
   
   
       21 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 20 , wherein said first contents comprise a concentrated substance, and said second contents comprise a dilute liquid for diluting said concentrated substance.  
   
   
       22 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 21 , wherein said concentrated substance comprises an enteral nutrient or an inspissated liquid diet.  
   
   
       23 . An openable and re-closable container according to  claim 20 , wherein said container is designed in such a manner that an upper surface of a mixture comprising said first and second contents is located at a position lower than said seal sheets in a condition where said opening and said communicating section are located at an upper position.  
   
   
       24 . An openable and re-closable container comprising: 
 a container wall having an internal space and shut at a periphery thereof;    said internal space having a storage section, an openable section, and a communicating section communicating with said openable section and said storage section;    said openable section being adapted to form an opening by tearing said container wall;    said communicating section being formed into a substantially flat-shape; and    re-closing means provided in said communicating section for facilitating openable sealing of said communicating section to close a side of said storage section that is adjacent to said opening;    said re-closing means comprising opposite adhesive seal sheets that are disposed between opposite wall regions of said container wall that positionally correspond to said communicating section, and joined to said opposite wall regions of said container wall, respectively.    
   
   
       25 . A method for making the openable and re-closable container of  claim 1 , said container having contents stored within said storage section, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) preparing said container having a pouring-opening formed in a part of a periphery of said container wall that is adjacent to said storage section;    (b) causing opposite surfaces of said sealing portions of said opposite seal sheets to be brought to a protected condition where said opposite surfaces of said sealing portions do not contact the contents which are to be stored within said storage section;    (c) thereafter putting the contents into said storage section through said pouring-opening; and    (d) sealing said second opening.    
   
   
       26 . A method for making the openable and re-closable container, according to  claim 25 , wherein the step (b) comprises the step of pressing a part of said container wall which positionally corresponds to said communicating section and/or a part of said container wall which positionally corresponds to said storage section, from both sides of said container wall by damper means, to thereby cause said sealing portions to be brought to the protected condition.  
   
   
       27 . A method for making the openable and re-closable container, according to  claim 25 , wherein the step (b) comprises the step of causing said container wall to be folded at a part of said container wall which positionally corresponds to said communicating section and/or a part of said container wall which positionally corresponds to said storage section, to thereby cause said sealing portions to be brought to the protected condition.  
   
   
       28 . A method for making the openable and re-closable container, according to  claim 25 , further including the step of turning said container in such a manner that said seal sheets are located at an upper position and said storage section is located at a lower position, after the closing of said pouring-opening, and thereafter causing opposite surfaces of said sealing portions to be released from the protected condition.