Multi-Layer Product With Sealing Areas Of Varying Temperature

Abstract

An article of manufacture that has at least three layers of heat sealable material. There is at least one first heat seal between at least two of the layers in a first area effected at a first temperature. There is also at least one second heat seal between at least two more layers, where at least one of these two layers is distinct from the at least two layers joined by the first heat seal, in a second area effected at a second temperature, where the second temperature is different than the first temperature, thereby allowing for heat sealing of discrete areas of the article in discrete steps.

1 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 at least three layers of heat sealable material;   at least one first heat seal between at least two of said at least three layers in a first area effected at a first temperature; and   at least one second heat seal between at least two of said at least three layers,   wherein at least one of the at least two layers joined by said second heat seal is distinct from the at least two said layers joined by said first heat seal, in a second area effected at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is different than said first temperature, thereby allowing for heat sealing of discrete areas of the article in discrete steps.   
     
     
         2 . The article of manufacture according to  claim 1  wherein the at least three layers of heat sealable material comprise at least one laminate sheet, said sheet comprising a first face sealable at the first temperature and a second face sealable at the second temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The article of manufacture according to  claim 1  wherein said article is a flexible ported pouch, and wherein said at least three layers of heat sealable material comprise two pouch layers with said first heat seal there between and two port layers with said second heat seal there between. 
     
     
         4 . The article of manufacture according to  claim 1  wherein said article is a dual layer baffle system, and wherein said at least three layers of heat sealable material comprise two exterior layers connected to a plurality of baffles by a plurality of said first heat seals and a plurality of two baffle layers with said second heat seal there between. 
     
     
         5 . A method for forming an article of manufacture, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least three layers of heat sealable material;   heating at least one of said at least three layers and at least one opposing layer of said at least three layers to a first temperature in a first area to effect at least one first heat seal; and   heating at least one of said at least three layers and at least one opposing layer of said at least three layers to a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is different from said first temperature, in a second area to effect at least one second heat seal, thereby allowing for heat sealing of discrete areas of the article in discrete steps.   
     
     
         6 . The method for forming an article of manufacture according to  claim 5  wherein the at least three layers of heat sealable material comprise at least one laminate sheet, said sheet comprising a first face sealable at the first temperature and a second face sealable at the second temperature. 
     
     
         7 . A flexible ported pouch having an interior, said pouch comprising:
 a first pouch sheet and a second pouch sheet formed by a first heat seal at a first temperature around a periphery of said first and second pouch sheets, said first heat seal having at least one gap having an opening spaced from said first heat seal for providing a channel between said first pouch sheet and said second pouch sheet; and   a port interposed between said first pouch sheet and said second pouch sheet, and in communication with said interior of said pouch, said port comprising a first port sheet and a second port sheet, and formed by a second and third heat seal along longitudinal edges of said first and second port sheets, at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than said first temperature, and wherein said first and second port sheets are further heat sealed to said pouch where said first and second port sheets intersect with said periphery of said first and second pouch sheets at said first temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The flexible ported pouch according to  claim 7  wherein at least one of the first and second port sheets is a laminate comprising a first face sealable at the first temperature and a second face sealable at the second temperature wherein said first face forms an exterior face of said port. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible ported pouch according to  claim 7  wherein the first and second pouch sheets comprise a single pouch sheet folded about an axis to create a folded pouch edge, and at least two open pouch edges. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible ported pouch according to  claim 9  wherein the first heat seal around said periphery comprises a first heat seal along said at least two open pouch edges. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible ported pouch according to  claim 7  wherein the first and second port sheets comprise a single port sheet folded about an axis to create a folded longitudinal port edge and an open longitudinal port edge. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible ported pouch according to  claim 11  wherein the second and third heat seals comprise a single heat seal along said open longitudinal port edge. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible ported pouch according to  claim 11  wherein the single port sheet comprises a laminate comprising a first face sealable at the first temperature and a second face sealable at the second temperature wherein said first face forms an exterior face of said port. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a flexible ported pouch comprising the steps of:
 providing a first and second port sheet of heat sealable material in parallel;   heating said first port sheet and said second port sheet along the longitudinal edges of said first and second port sheets to a first temperature to effect a first and second heat seal forming a port with an exterior and an interior;   providing a first and second pouch sheet of heat sealable material in parallel;   introducing said port by interposition between said first and second pouch sheets; and   heating a periphery of said first pouch sheet, said second pouch sheet and said exterior of said port where said exterior of said port intersects with said periphery of said first and second pouch sheets to a second temperature, wherein said second temperature is lower than said first temperature, to effect a third heat seal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of manufacturing a flexible ported pouch according to  claim 14  wherein the first and second port sheets comprise a single port sheet of heat sealable material folded about an axis to create a folded longitudinal port edge and an open longitudinal port edge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing a flexible ported pouch according to  claim 14  wherein the first and second pouch sheets comprise a single pouch sheet of heat sealable material folded about an axis to create a folded pouch edge, and at least two open pouch edges. 
     
     
         17 . A dual layer film baffle system comprising:
 a first and second sheet of heat sealable material; and   a plurality of baffle elements interposed between said first and second sheets, said baffle elements comprising a third sheet of heat sealable material heat sealed at said first temperature along one edge of said third sheet and latitudinally across said first sheet and a fourth sheet of heat sealable material heat sealed at said first temperature along one edge of said fourth sheet and latitudinally across said second sheet and further heat sealed to said third sheet at a second temperature wherein said second temperature is higher than said first temperature, along a common edge of said third sheet and said fourth sheet.   
     
     
         18 . The dual layer film baffle system according to  claim 17  wherein the first and second sheets of heat sealable material are low temperature heat sealing material and the third and fourth sheets of heat sealable material are laminates comprising a first face of high temperature sealing material and a second face of low temperature sealing material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing a dual layer baffle system comprising the steps of:
 providing a first and second sheet of heat sealable material in parallel;   heating said first sheet and said second sheet at a first temperature latitudinally across said first and second sheets at a longitudinal interval to effect a plurality of first heat seals;   perforating said first sheet and said second sheet latitudinally across said first and second sheets at said longitudinal interval effecting a plurality of perforated lines;   introducing a third sheet of heat sealable material to the exterior of said first sheet;   introducing a fourth sheet of heat sealable material to the exterior of said second sheet;   heating said third sheet, said first sheet, said fourth sheet and said second sheet to a second temperature, wherein said second temperature is lower than said first temperature, latitudinally across said first, second, third and fourth sheets at said longitudinal interval, effecting a plurality of second heat seals between said fourth sheet and said first sheet and a plurality of third heat seals between said third sheet and said second sheet; and   spreading said fourth sheet away from said third sheet thereby separating said first and second sheet along said perforated lines to effect baffles between said fourth sheet and said third sheet.